bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Distribution Choice on the Modeling of Life Cycle Inventory Uncertainty: An Assessment on the Ecoinvent v2.2 Database
Authors: Muller Stéphanie , Mutel Christopher , Lesage Pascal , Samson Réjean 
Published: April 2017

SummaryLife cycle inventory data have multiple sources of uncertainty. These data uncertainties are often modeled using probability density functions, and in the ecoinvent database the lognormal distribution is used by default to model exchange uncertainty values. The aim of this article is to systematically measure the effect of this default distribution by changing from the lognormal to several other distribution functions and examining how this change affects the uncertainty of life cycle assessment results. Using the ecoinvent 2.2 inventory database, data uncertainty distributions are switched from the lognormal distribution to the normal, triangular, and gamma distributions. The effect of the distribution switching is assessed for both impact assessment results of individual products system, as well as comparisons between product systems. Impact assessment results are generated using 5,000 Monte Carlo iterations for each product system, using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2001 (100‐year time frame) method. When comparing the lognormal distribution to the alternative default distributions, the difference in the resulting median and standard deviation values range from slight to significant, depending on the distributions used by default. However, the switch shows practically no effect on product system comparisons. Yet, impact assessment results are sensitive to how the data uncertainties are defined. In this article, we followed what we believe to be ecoinvent standard practice and preserved the “most representative” value. Practitioners should recognize that the most representative value can depart from the average of a probability distribution. Consistent default distribution choices are necessary when performing product system comparisons.
Acyl ghrelin improves cognition, synaptic plasticity deficits and neuroinflammation following amyloid β (Aβ1‐40) administration in mice
Authors: Santos V. V. , Stark R. , Rial D. , Silva H. B. , Bayliss J. A. , Lemus M. B. , Davies J. S. , Cunha R. A. , Prediger R. D. , Andrews Z. B. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractGhrelin is a metabolic hormone that has neuroprotective actions in a number of neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease (PD), stroke and traumatic brain injury. Acyl ghrelin treatment in vivo and in vitro also shows protective capacity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we used ghrelin knockout (KO) and their wild‐type littermates to test whether or not endogenous ghrelin is protective in a mouse model of AD, in which human amyloid β peptide 1‐40 (Aβ1‐40) was injected into the lateral ventricles i.c.v. Recognition memory, using the novel object recognition task, was significantly impaired in ghrelin KO mice and after i.c.v. Aβ1‐40 treatment. These deficits could be prevented by acyl ghrelin injections for 7 days. Spatial orientation, as assessed by the Y‐maze task, was also significantly impaired in ghrelin KO mice and after i.c.v. Aβ1‐40 treatment. These deficits could be prevented by acyl ghrelin injections for 7 days. Ghrelin KO mice had deficits in olfactory discrimination; however, neither i.c.v. Aβ1‐40 treatment, nor acyl ghrelin injections affected olfactory discrimination. We used stereology to show that ghrelin KO and Aβ1‐40 increased the total number of glial fibrillary acidic protein expressing astrocytes and ionised calcium‐binding adapter expressing microglial in the rostral hippocampus. Finally, Aβ1‐40 blocked long‐term potentiation induced by high‐frequency stimulation and this effect could be acutely blocked with co‐administration of acyl ghrelin. Collectively, our studies demonstrate that ghrelin deletion affects memory performance and also that acyl ghrelin treatment may delay the onset of early events of AD. This supports the idea that acyl ghrelin treatment may be therapeutically beneficial with respect to restricting disease progression in AD.
Antinociceptive effect of natural and synthetic alkamides involves TRPV1 receptors
Authors: de la Rosa-Lugo Vianey , Acevedo-Quiroz Macdiel , Déciga-Campos Myrna , Rios María Yolanda 
Published: April 2017

Abstract

Objective
To establish the role of TRPV1 receptor in the antinociceptive effect of natural alkamides (i.e. affinin, longipinamide A, longipenamide A and longipenamide B) isolated from Heliopsis longipes (A. Gray) S.F. Blake and some related synthetic alkamides (i.e. N-isobutyl-feruloylamide and N-isobutyl-dihydroferuloylamide).

Methods
The orofacial formalin test was used to assess the antinociceptive activity of natural (1–30 μg, orofacial region) and synthetic alkamides (0.1–100 μg, orofacial region). The alkamide capsaicin was used as positive control, while capsazepine was used to evaluate the possible participation of TRPV1 receptor in alkamide-induced antinociception.

Key findings
Natural (1–30 μg) and synthetic (0.1–100 μg) alkamides administered to the orofacial region produced antinociception in mice. The antinociceptive effect induced by affinin, N-isobutyl-feruloylamide and N-isobutyl-dihydroferuloylamide was antagonized by capsazepine but not by vehicle.

Conclusions
These results suggest that alkamide affinin, longipinamide A, longipenamide A and longipenamide B isolated from Heliopsis longipes as well as the synthesized analogue compounds N-isobutyl-feruloylamide and N-isobutyl-dihydroferuloylamide produce their effects by activating TRPV1 receptor and they may have potential for the development of new analgesic drugs for the treatment of orofacial pain.
Hume's Table, Peacocke's Trees, the Tilted Penny and the Reversed Seeing‐in Account
Authors: Schroer Robert 
Published: April 2017

AbstractIn seeing a tilted penny, we are experientially aware of both its circularity and another shape, which I dub ‘β‐ellipticality’. Some claim that our experiential awareness of the intrinsic shapes/sizes of everyday objects depends upon our experiential awareness of β‐shapes/β‐sizes. In contrast, I maintain that β‐property experiences are the result of what Richard Wollheim calls ‘seeing‐in’, but run in reverse: instead of seeing a three‐dimensional object in a flat surface, we see a flat surface in a three‐dimensional object. Using this new account, I re‐examine the phenomenological directness of visual experience and undermine an argument for skepticism about β‐property experiences.
The δ18O and δ2H of water in the leaf growth‐and‐differentiation zone of grasses is close to source water in both humid and dry atmospheres
Authors: Liu Hai Tao , Schäufele Rudi , Gong Xiao Ying , Schnyder Hans 
Published: April 2017

Summary

The oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition of water in the leaf growth‐and‐differentiation zone, LGDZ, (δ18OLGDZ, δ2HLGDZ) of grasses influences the isotopic composition of leaf cellulose (oxygen) and wax (hydrogen) – important for understanding (paleo)environmental and physiological information contained in these biological archives – but is presently unknown.

This work determined δ18OLGDZ and δ2HLGDZ, 18O‐ and 2H‐enrichment of LGDZ (∆18OLGDZ and ∆2HLGDZ), and the 18O‐ and 2H‐enrichment of leaf blade water (∆18OLW, ∆2HLW) in two C3 and three C4 grasses grown at high and low vapor pressure deficit (VPD).

The proportion of unenriched water (px) in the LGDZ ranged from 0.9 to 1.0 for 18O and 1.0 to 1.2 for 2H. VPD had no effect on the proportion of 18O‐ and 2H‐enriched water in the LGDZ, and species effects were small or nonsignificant. Deuterium discrimination caused depletion of 2H in LGDZ water, increasing (apparent) px‐values > 1.0 in some cases.

The isotopic composition of water in the LGDZ was close to that of source water, independent of VPD and much less enriched than previously supposed, but similar to reported xylem water in trees. The well‐constrained px will be useful in future investigations of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic fractionation during cellulose and wax synthesis, respectively.
Drivers of plant species’ potential to spread: the importance of demography versus seed dispersal
Authors: Hemrová Lucie , Bullock James M. , Hooftman Danny A. P. , White Steven M. , Münzbergová Zuzana 
Published: April 2017

Understanding the ability of plants to spread is important for assessing conservation strategies, landscape dynamics, invasiveness and ability to cope with climate change. While long‐distance seed dispersal is often viewed as a key process in population spread, the importance of inter‐specific variation in demography is less explored. Indeed, the relative importance of demography vs seed dispersal in determining population spread is still little understood. We modelled species’ potential for population spread in terms of annual migration rates for a set of species inhabiting dry grasslands of central Europe. Simultaneously, we estimated the importance of demographic (population growth rate) versus long‐distance dispersal (99th percentile dispersal distance) characteristics for among‐species differences in modelled population spread. In addition, we assessed how well simple proxy measures related to demography (the number and survival of seedlings, the survival of flowering individuals) and dispersal (plant height, terminal velocity and wind speed during dispersal) predicted modelled spread rates.We found that species’ demographic rates were the more powerful predictors of species’ modelled potential to spread than dispersal. Furthermore, our simple proxies were correlated with modelled species spread rates and together their predictive power was high. Our findings highlight that for understanding variation among species in their potential for population spread, detailed information on local demography and dispersal might not always be necessary. Simple proxies or assumptions that are based primarily on species demography could be sufficient.
Cancer recurrence and mortality after pediatric heart transplantation for anthracycline cardiomyopathy: A report from the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS) group
Authors: Bock Matthew J. , Pahl Elfriede , Rusconi Paolo G. , Boyle Gerard J. , Parent John J. , Twist Clare J. , Kirklin James K. , Pruitt Elizabeth , Bernstein Daniel 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe aimed to determine whether malignancy after pediatric HTx for ACM affects overall post‐HTx survival. Patients <18y listed for HTx for ACM in the PHTS database between 1993 and 2014 were compared to those with DCM. A 2:1 matched DCM cohort was also compared. Wait‐list and post‐HTx survival, along with freedom from common HTx complications, were compared. Eighty subjects were listed due to ACM, whereas 1985 were listed for DCM. Although wait‐list survival was higher in the ACM group, post‐HTx survival was lower for the ACM cohort. Neither difference persisted in the matched cohort analysis. Primary cause of death in the ACM group was infection, which was higher than the DCM group. Malignancy rates were not different. All ACM malignancies were due to PTLD without primary cancer recurrence or SMN. Long‐term graft survival after pediatric HTx for ACM is no different than for matched DCM peers, nor is there an increased risk of any malignancy. However, risk of infection and death from infection after HTx are higher in the ACM group. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of prior chemotherapy on susceptibility to infection in this group.
The Evaluation of Noninvasive Measurements of Erythema as a Potential Surrogate for DNA Damage in Repetitively UV‐exposed Human Skin
Authors: Miller Sharon A. , Coelho Sergio G. , Yamaguchi Yuji , Hearing Vincent J. , Beer Janusz Z. , de Gruijl Frank 
Published: April 2017

AbstractErythema (i.e. visible redness) and DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in human skin have similar action spectra and show good correlation after a single exposure to UVR. We explored the potential to use instrumental assessments of erythema as a surrogate for DNA damage after repeated exposures to UVR. We exposed 40 human subjects to three different exposure schedules using two different UVR sources. Cyclobutane‐pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in skin biopsies were measured by immunofluorescence, and erythema was assessed by both the Erythemal Index (EI) and the Oxy‐hemoglobin (Oxy‐Hb) content. Surprisingly, the skin with the highest cumulative dose ended up with the lowest level of DNA damage, and with the least erythema, as assessed by Oxy‐Hb (but not EI) 24 h after the last UV exposure. Although the level of CPDs, on average, paralleled Oxy‐Hb (R2 = 0.80–0.94, P = 0.03–0.11), the correlation did not hold for the pooled individual measurements (R2 = 0.009, P = 0.37) due to potential individual differences in UV‐induced photoadaptation. We suggest that the methodology may be optimized to improve the correlation between DNA damage level and erythema to enable noninvasive risk assessment based on erythema/Oxy‐Hb content for individual human subjects.
Neutrophil alterations in pregnancy‐associated malaria and induction of neutrophil chemotaxis by Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Boström S. , Schmiegelow C. , Abu Abed U. , Minja D. T. R. , Lusingu J. , Brinkmann V. , Honkpehedji Y. J. , Loembe M. M. , Adegnika A. A. , Mordmüller B. , Troye‐Blomberg M. , Amulic B. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryPregnancy‐associated malaria (PAM) is a severe form of the disease caused by sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum‐infected red blood cells (iRBCs) in the developing placenta. Pathogenesis of PAM is partially based on immunopathology, with frequent monocyte infiltration into the placenta. Neutrophils are abundant blood cells that are essential for immune defence but may also cause inflammatory pathology. Their role in PAM remains unclear. We analysed neutrophil alterations in the context of PAM to better understand their contribution to disease development. Pregnant women exposed to Plasmodium falciparum had decreased numbers of circulating neutrophils. Placental‐like BeWo cells stimulated with malaria parasites produced the neutrophil chemoattractant IL‐8 and recruited neutrophils in a trans‐well assay. Finally, immunostaining of a PAM placenta confirmed neutrophil accumulation in the intervillous space. Our data indicate neutrophils may play a role in placental malaria and should be more closely examined as an etiological agent in the pathophysiology of disease.
Comparing the error‐related negativity across groups: The impact of error‐ and trial‐number differences
Authors: Fischer Adrian G. , Klein Tilmann A. , Ullsperger Markus 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe error‐related negativity (ERN or Ne) is increasingly being investigated as a marker discriminating interindividual factors and moves toward a surrogate marker for disorders or interventions. Although reproducibility and validity of neuroscientific and psychological research has been criticized, clear data on how different quantification methods of the ERN and their relation to available trial numbers affect within‐ and across‐participant studies is sparse. Within a large sample of 863 healthy human participants, we demonstrate that, across participants, the number of errors correlates with the amplitude of the ERN independently of the number of errors included in ERN quantification per participant, constituting a possible confound when such variance is unaccounted for. Additionally, we find that ERN amplitudes reach high consistency within participants at lower trial numbers, yet when comparisons between groups of participants are desired, increasing error‐trial numbers lead to higher statistical power. We derive concrete suggestions for specific types of analyses, which may help researchers to more effectively design studies and analyze error‐related EEG data with the most appropriate measurement technique for the question at hand and trial number available.
Randomized cross‐over trial of ventilator modes during non‐invasive ventilation titration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Vrijsen Bart , Buyse Bertien , Belge Catharina , Vanpee Goele , Van Damme Philip , Testelmans Dries 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT
Background and objectiveNon‐invasive ventilation (NIV) improves survival, quality of life and sleep in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Nevertheless, NIV titration is conducted in different ways. We aim to provide more insight into NIV titration by comparing the effects of a spontaneous (S) and spontaneous‐timed (ST) modes on gas exchange, sleep architecture and patient‐ventilator asynchronies (PVAs).MethodsAfter an initial night of NIV titration, patients were randomized to S or ST mode in a cross‐over design. NIV was titrated using polysomnography, oximetry (oxygen saturation, SpO2
%) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide (PtcCO2
) measurement. PVAs were analysed breath‐by‐breath.ResultsThirteen patients were analysed after inclusion. ST mode showed better results in gas exchange (minimal SpO2
%: 83 (80–89)% vs 87 (84–89)%; oxygen desaturation index: 15 (5–28)/h sleep vs 7 (3–9)/h sleep; PtcCO2
>55 mm Hg: 20 (0–59)% vs 0 (0–27)% total sleep time for S and ST mode, respectively, all P < 0.05) and respiratory events (obstructive: 8.9 (1.2–18.3)/h sleep vs 1.8 (0.3–4.9)/h sleep and central: 2.6 (0.4–14.1)/h sleep vs 0.2 (0.0–1.1)/h sleep for S and ST mode, respectively, both P < 0.01). No differences in sleep architecture were found. Ineffective efforts and respiratory events were more frequently present in S mode.Nevertheless, four patients were discharged on S mode as these patients showed clinically better results for sleep architecture and PVA during the night on S mode.Conclusion
ST mode shows better results in gas exchange, respiratory events and PVA. Nevertheless, accurate NIV titration remains necessary as some patients show equal or better results when using the S mode.
Chlorosis caused by two recessively interacting genes reveals a role of RNA helicase in hybrid breakdown in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Plötner Björn , Nurmi Markus , Fischer Axel , Watanabe Mutsumi , Schneeberger Korbinian , Holm Svante , Vaid Neha , Schöttler Mark Aurel , Walther Dirk , Hoefgen Rainer , Weigel Detlef , Laitinen Roosa A. E. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryHybrids often differ in fitness from their parents. They may be superior, translating into hybrid vigour or heterosis, but they may also be markedly inferior, because of hybrid weakness or incompatibility. The underlying genetic causes for the latter can often be traced back to genes that evolve rapidly because of sexual or host–pathogen conflicts. Hybrid weakness may manifest itself only in later generations, in a phenomenon called hybrid breakdown. We have characterized a case of hybrid breakdown among two Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, Shahdara (Sha, Tajikistan) and Lövvik‐5 (Lov‐5, Northern Sweden). In addition to chlorosis, a fraction of the F2 plants have defects in leaf and embryo development, and reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Hybrid chlorosis is due to two major‐effect loci, of which one, originating from Lov‐5, appears to encode an RNA helicase (AtRH18). To examine the role of the chlorosis allele in the Lövvik area, in addition to eight accessions collected in 2009, we collected another 240 accessions from 15 collections sites, including Lövvik, from Northern Sweden in 2015. Genotyping revealed that Lövvik collection site is separated from the rest. Crosses between 109 accessions from this area and Sha revealed 85 cases of hybrid chlorosis, indicating that the chlorosis‐causing allele is common in this area. These results suggest that hybrid breakdown alleles not only occur at rapidly evolving loci, but also at genes that code for conserved processes.
Transfusion of 35‐day‐stored red blood cells does not alter lipopolysaccharide tolerance during human endotoxemia
Authors: Peters Anna L. , van Hezel Maike E. , Klanderman Robert B. , Tuip‐de Boer Anita M. , Wiersinga W. Joost , van der Spek Anne H. , van Bruggen Robin , de Korte Dirk , Juffermans Nicole P. , Vlaar Alexander P.J. 
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUNDTransfusion‐related immunomodulation (TRIM) encompasses immunosuppressive and proinflammatory effects induced by red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Changes that occur during storage in the RBC product have been hypothesized to underlie TRIM, mediated by tolerance of toll‐like receptors (TLR). We investigated whether transfusion of 35‐day‐stored autologous RBCs alters cytokine production in response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipotheic acid (LTA), in a clinically relevant model of endotoxemia.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSEighteen volunteers received 2 ng/kg LPS intravenously, followed by normal saline or 2‐ or 35‐day‐stored autologous RBC transfusion. Before LPS, before transfusion, and 6 hours after transfusion blood was collected to measure cytokine gene expression. Whole blood was used for ex vivo stimulation with LPS and LTA, after which cytokine levels were measured with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTSIn vivo LPS induced a biphasic response in cytokine mRNA with peak values 2 hours after LPS infusion. Storage time of RBC transfusion did not influence cytokine mRNA levels. In vivo infusion of LPS resulted in tolerance for ex vivo stimulation with LPS and LTA. However, transfusion of either fresh or stored RBCs did not further affect the capacity to produce cytokines after ex vivo stimulation.CONCLUSIONIn a clinically relevant model of human endotoxemia, autologous transfusion of 35‐day‐stored RBCs does not influence cytokine mRNA levels nor does it change the capacity of white blood cells in whole blood to produce cytokines after ex vivo stimulation with LPS or LTA.
Competition, firm size and returns to skills: Evidence from currency shocks and market liberalisations
Authors: Raitano Michele , Vona Francesco 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe investigate the impact of product market competition on returns to skills in Italy using a longitudinal dataset on individual working histories. This impact is identified using three exogenous shocks affecting competition: the unforeseen devaluation of the Lira in 1992, its return to a fixed exchange regime in 1996 and the market liberalisation in the utility and transport sectors in the late 1990s–early 2000s. We analyse how firm heterogeneity and shocks of different types and signs affect the impact of competition on skill premia. We find that opposite shocks have opposite effects: an increase (resp. decrease) in international competition increases (resp. decreases) skill premia. Moreover, international shocks have greater effects on medium sized firms, while domestic liberalisation shocks have greater effects on large incumbents.