bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel translocator protein 18 kDa ligand, ZBD‐2, exerts neuroprotective effects against acute spinal cord injury
Authors: Cheng Qiang , Sun Guo‐jing , Liu Shui‐bing , Yang Qi , Li Xiao‐ming , Li Xu‐bo , Liu Gang , Zhao Jian‐ning , Zhao Ming‐gao 
Published: June 2016

SummaryTraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) happens accidently and often leads to motor dysfunction due to a series of biochemical and pathological events and damage, either temporarily or permanently. Translocator protein 18 (TSPO) has been found to be involved in the synthesis of endogenous neurosteroids which have multiple effects on neurons, but the internal mechanisms are not clear. N‐benzyl‐N‐ethyl‐2‐(7,8‐oxo‐2‐phenyl‐9H‐purin‐9‐yl) acetamide (ZBD‐2), a newly reported ligand of TSPO, shows some neuroprotective effect against focal cerebral ischemia in vivo and NMDA‐induced neurotoxicity in vitro. The present study aims to examine the role of ZBD‐2 in SCI mice and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The SCI model was established by crushing spinal cord. ZBD‐2 (10 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the hindlimb locomotor functions after SCI and decreased the tissue damage and conserved the white matter of the spinal cord. High‐dose ZBD‐2 alleviated the oxidative stress induced by SCI and regulated the imbalance between NR2B‐containing NMDA and GABA receptors by increasing the levels of GAD67 in the spinal cord of SCI mice. Additionally, ZBD‐2 (10 mg/kg) increased phosphorylated Akt (p‐Akt) and decreased the ratio of Bax/Bcl‐2. These results demonstrate that ZBD‐2 performs neuroprotection against SCI through regulating the synaptic transmission and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Aristotelian Ethics and Luke 15:11–32 in Early Modern England
Authors: Horbury Ezra 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe discourse surrounding Luke 15:11–32 — commonly titled “the parable of the prodigal son” — in early modern England is a major site of convergence for Aristotelian and Christian ethics. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the perceived role of “prodigality” (in the sense of excessive expenditure) in the parable of the prodigal son became deeply bound up with Aristotelian ethics; the parable's evolving title and its increasingly prominent role in casus summarii both contributed to and were affected by these changes. Despite the importance of both Aristotelian ethics and the parable of the prodigal son to early modern culture, scant research exists on the vital intersection between the two. By tracing the evolution of biblical paratexts, this article explicates how the parable gained its title. It then explores how the shared use of ἀσωτία (prodigality) in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and Luke 15:13 affected the interpretation of Luke 15:11–32 in early modern England, and the repercussions this had for early modern philosophy and theology. It concludes that Aristotelian ethics were hugely influential in both the early modern interpretation of Luke 15:11–32 and the concept of “prodigality” that the parable was so often used to explore.
Integrated Management of Land Use Systems under Systemic Risks and Security Targets: A Stochastic Global Biosphere Management Model
Authors: Ermolieva Tatiana , Havlík Petr , Ermoliev Yuri , Mosnier Aline , Obersteiner Michael , Leclère David , Khabarov Nikolay , Valin Hugo , Reuter Wolf 
Published: June 2016

AbstractInterdependencies among land use systems resemble a complex network connected through demand–supply relationships. Disruption of this network may catalyse systemic risks affecting food, energy, water and environmental security (FEWES) worldwide. We describe the conceptual development, expansion and practical application of a stochastic version of the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM), used to assess competition for land use between agriculture, bioenergy and forestry at regional and global scales. In the stochastic version of the model, systemic risks of various kinds are explicitly covered and can be analysed and mitigated in all their interactions. While traditional deterministic scenario analysis produces sets of scenario‐dependent outcomes, stochastic GLOBIOM explicitly derives robust outcomes that leave the systems better‐off, independently of which scenario applies. Stochastic GLOBIOM is formulated as a stochastic optimisation model that is critical for evaluating portfolios of robust interdependent decisions: ex‐ante strategic decisions (production allocation, storage capacities) and ex‐post adaptive (demand, trading, storage control) decisions. As an example, the model is applied to the question of optimal storage facilities, as buffers for production shortfalls, to meet regional and global FEWES requirements when extreme events occur. Expected shortfalls and storage capacities have a close relationship with Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value‐at‐Risk (CVaR) risk measures. A Value of Stochastic Solutions is calculated to illustrate the benefits of the stochastic over the deterministic model approach.
Vitamin D: Australian dietitian's knowledge and practices
Authors: Dix Clare F. , Robinson Alex , Bauer Judith D. , Wright Olivia R.L. 
Published: June 2016

AimTo survey dietitians on their knowledge and practices regarding vitamin D (VitD) intake, sources, supplementation and effect on disease state.MethodsAn online survey was disseminated to members of the Dietitian Association Australia via the weekly online state newsletter during April 2015. Response rate was 3%, with 134 respondents completing the survey. The survey included questions about knowledge and current practices. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the results.ResultsDietitians have good knowledge regarding dietary sources of VitD and roles in the body, but there is confusion around supplement doses for treatment and prevention of deficiency and sun exposure guidelines.ConclusionsDietitians are well positioned to provide patients with advice on VitD supplementation and sun exposure practices, but not all are confident to provide this care. There is a need for clear and well‐disseminated guidelines for VitD management by dietitians.
Landmark papers on the discovery of methotrexate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a fascinating story
Authors: Malaviya Anand N. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis review highlights the story of how methotrexate (MTX), a drug discovered for the treatment of childhood leukemia, became the mainstay of treatment and the standard‐of‐care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and was also found useful for several additional related rheumatological diseases. As against several synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for treating RA that were discovered serendipitously, the use of low‐dose MTX (LD‐MTX) was based on sound reasoning and astute observations made in the 1940s and 1950s. The difference between high‐dose MTX (HD‐MTX) used in the treatment of childhood leukaemia and other malignancies as against LD‐MTX used in rheumatology is emphasized.
Presepsin and procalcitonin as biomarkers of systemic bacterial infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Tsujimoto Kohei , Hata Atsuko , Fujita Masaaki , Hatachi Saori , Yagita Masato 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAimTo assess the diagnostic values of presepsin and procalcitonin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by identifying those with bacterial infectionMethodDuring June 2014–September 2015, 126 patients with RA and 25 healthy controls were enrolled. RA patients were divided into an infection group and a non‐infection group. Infection was diagnosed by clinical symptoms, microbiological or radiographic methods, and good response to antibiotics. Concentrations of plasma presepsin, serum procalcitonin, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell counts (WBC) were measured and compared in each group. The correlations with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score and these markers were calculated.ResultsRA patients included 26 patients in the infection group, 45 patients in the CRP‐positive non‐infection group (CRP > 0.3 mg/dL), and 55 patients in the CRP‐negative non‐infection group (CRP < 0.3 mg/dL). Levels of presepsin and procalcitonin in the infection group were highest and significantly higher than those in the CRP‐positive non‐infection group (presepsin 682.8 ± 158.1 pg/mL vs. 192.0 ± 12.0 pg/mL [P < 0.0001]; procalcitonin 4.052 ± 1.637 ng/mL vs. 0.120 ± 0.032 ng/mL [(P < 0.0001]). According to receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, presepsin and procalcitonin levels appeared to have a higher diagnostic accuracy for infection than CRP or WBC. For the infection group, the SOFA Score positively correlated with the concentration of presepsin but not with that of procalcitonin.ConclusionPresepsin and procalcitonin may be useful to identify infection in RA patients. Presepsin may better reflect infection severity than procalcitonin.
The relative performance of AIC, AICCand BIC in the presence of unobserved heterogeneity
Authors: Brewer Mark J. , Butler Adam , Cooksley Susan L. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryModel selection is difficult. Even in the apparently straightforward case of choosing between standard linear regression models, there does not yet appear to be consensus in the statistical ecology literature as to the right approach.We review recent works on model selection in ecology and subsequently focus on one aspect in particular: the use of the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) or its small‐sample equivalent,. We create a novel framework for simulation studies and use this to study model selection from simulated data sets with a range of properties, which differ in terms of degree of unobserved heterogeneity. We use the results of the simulation study to suggest an approach for model selection based on ideas from information criteria but requiring simulation.We find that the relative predictive performance of model selection by different information criteria is heavily dependent on the degree of unobserved heterogeneity between data sets. When heterogeneity is small, AIC orare likely to perform well, but if heterogeneity is large, the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) will often perform better, due to the stronger penalty afforded.Our conclusion is that the choice of information criterion (or more broadly, the strength of likelihood penalty) should ideally be based upon hypothesized (or estimated from previous data) properties of the population of data sets from which a given data set could have arisen. Relying on a single form of information criterion is unlikely to be universally successful.
How do we want Satellite Remote Sensing to support biodiversity conservation globally?
Authors: Pettorelli Nathalie , Owen Harry Jon Foord , Duncan Clare 
Published: June 2016

Summary1. Essential Biodiversity Variable, Natural Capital, Biodiversity Indicator and Ecosystem Service are four concepts that underpin the most popular frameworks currently considered for helping to coordinate and structure biodiversity monitoring efforts worldwide. Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) has considerable potential to inform these initiatives. To date, however, discussions on the role of SRS in supporting these frameworks have mostly evolved independently; tend to be led by different groups; sometimes target slightly different scales; and are likely to reach different audiences. Because of this, there is some confusion among environmental managers and policymakers as to what the potential of SRS is or whether there is prospect in considering and promoting the use of satellite data for biodiversity conservation.2. Here, we provide a brief overview of the role of SRS to date in informing these frameworks. Through a case study focused on the Sahara Desert ecosystem, we also demonstrate the current potential for SRS‐based methodologies to support conservation in data‐deficient areas and discuss the relative applicability of SRS‐based metrics to each of these frameworks.3. The relevance and use of SRS across the four frameworks are clearly variable, due to differences and ambiguity in definitions, and due to differences in monitoring priorities. Our case study illustrates the particularly high potential for SRS approaches to provide key information relevant to the Biodiversity Indicators framework in desert ecosystems; it also identifies SRS‐based metrics relevant to all frameworks.4. Altogether, this work highlights how more dialogue is required within the biodiversity‐monitoring community for SRS to reach its full potential in conservation. In particular, agreement on what is needed in priority, given the realm of what is possible, will be of paramount importance to developing SRS‐based products that are used by policymakers and international conventions.
Severe vitamin D deficiency is common in critically ill patients at a high northern latitude
Authors: Kvaran R. B. , Sigurdsson M. I. , Skarphedinsdottir S. J. , Sigurdsson G. H. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundCritically ill patients at southern latitudes have been shown to have low vitamin D levels that were associated with prolonged hospital stay. To our knowledge no studies have been conducted on vitamin D status amongst critically ill patients at high northern latitudes. Despite the Icelandic population traditionally taking vitamin D supplements, we hypothesized that the majority of critically ill patients in Reykjavik, Iceland have low vitamin D levels.MethodsThis was a prospective observational study on 122 patients admitted to Landspitali University Hospital intensive care unit. Serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured in all patients on two occasions (first and second day). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its effect on hospital stay was calculated.ResultsOnly 9% of patients had vitamin D levels recommended for good health (>75 nmol/l) and 69% were deficient (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l). The average difference between the first and second vitamin D samples was 2.8 nmol/l. Forty‐three percentage of the severely vitamin D deficient stayed in the ICU for more than 4 days compared to 19% of patients with better status (P = 0.196).DiscussionVitamin D deficiency is very common in critically ill patients at high northern latitudes and patients with severely deficient vitamin D levels had trend towards longer intensive care unit stay. Furthermore, 43% of the patients had vitamin D levels under 25 nmol/l that is associated with osteomalacia. It appears that a single vitamin D measurement gives a reasonable clue about the vitamin D status in critically ill patients.
Vehicle–wild vertebrate collision mortality on the highways of Tigray, Ethiopia, implications for conservation
Authors: Kiros Welegerima , Kibrom Fitwi , Raman Prakasam Vadakkedath , Teferi Mokonen , Solomon Kiros , Meheretu Yonas 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn view of the upcoming road network improvement and expansion in Ethiopia, specifically in Tigray, it is also necessary to understand the potential impacts of road accidents with wildlife vertebrate animals. Road mortality detection surveys were conducted from March 2013 to June 2014. We surveyed around 530 km using vehicle with special emphasis given to roads surrounded by wetlands, forests, rocky areas and rivers each month. Additional information was also collected using a standardized questionnaire. A total of twenty species, 143 individuals of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals were recorded as road vehicular accidents in the surveyed area. Of all, mammals showed the highest species richness (80 individuals belonging to ten species) followed by birds (49 individuals belonging to eight species). The survey revealed most accidents happened during the early morning and late evening. This might be due to relatively high traffic and continued activity of wild animals at that time, besides the driver's inability to avoid accidents when it is dark. Wildlife underpasses during road construction, location of crossing structures, rules of wildlife conservation, improving driver's awareness are relevant in this context and may be the most important mitigation measures to reduce mortality of wildlife on the roads.
Ghost Workers: The Implications of Governing Immigration Through Crime for Migrant Workplaces
Authors: Horton Sarah B. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBased on interviews and fieldwork in a migrant farmworking community in California's Central Valley, this article examines the phenomenon of “identity masking” and its implications for workers’ labor conditions. It shows that labor supervisors often take advantage of unauthorized migrants’ and minors’ legal ineligibility for employment by making their employment contingent upon working a set of loaned identity documents. In doing so, employers render these groups “ghost workers”—that is, they simultaneously obscure their presence from the state and federal governments while benefitting from the wage deductions associated with such prohibited workers’ labor. By calling attention to on‐the‐ground practices of document circulation, this article thus critiques the charges of “identity theft” often levied against unauthorized migrants during worksite raids. Yet the common practice of “identity masking” not only directly benefits supervisors as individuals, but also makes injured “ghost workers” disappear. As employers wield the threat of implicating such workers in “identity theft” to suppress their workers’ compensation claims, this article illustrates the implications of the trend towards “governing immigration through crime” (Dowling and Inda 2013) on the migrant labor force.
Clinical utility of next‐generation sequencing in the diagnosis of hereditary haemolytic anaemias
Authors: Agarwal Archana M. , Nussenzveig Roberto H. , Reading Noel S. , Patel Jay L. , Sangle Nikhil , Salama Mohamed E. , Prchal Josef T. , Perkins Sherrie L , Yaish Hassan M. , Christensen Robert D. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryHereditary haemolytic anaemias are genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorders characterized by increased red cell destruction, with consequences ranging from innocuous to severe life‐threatening anaemia. Diagnostic laboratories endeavour to assist clinicians reach the exact patient diagnosis by using tests principally based on morphological and biochemical techniques. However, these routine studies may be inconclusive, particularly in newborn infants and when transfusions have recently been administered. Large numbers and size of the potentially involved genes also impose a practical challenge for molecular diagnosis using routine sequencing approaches. To overcome these diagnostic shortcomings, we have utilized next‐generation sequencing to provide a high‐throughput, highly sensitive assay. We developed a panel interrogating 28 genes encoding cytoskeletal proteins and enzymes with sequencing coverage of the coding regions, splice site junctions, deep intronic and regulatory regions. We then evaluated 19 samples, including infants with unexplained extreme hyperbilirubinaemia and patients with transfusion‐dependent haemolytic anaemia. Where possible, inheritance patterns of pathogenic mutations were determined by sequencing of immediate relatives. We conclude that this next‐generation sequencing panel could be a cost‐effective approach to molecular diagnosis of hereditary haemolytic anaemia, especially when the family history is uninformative or when routine laboratory testing fails to identify the causative haemolytic process.
VLA‐4 blockade by natalizumab inhibits sickle reticulocyte and leucocyte adhesion during simulated blood flow
Authors: White Jennell , Krishnamoorthy Sriram , Gupta Dipti , Lancelot Moira , Moore Nancy , Sarnaik Sharada , Hobbs William E. , Light David R. , Hines Patrick 
Published: June 2016

SummaryVery Late Antigen‐4 (VLA‐4, α4β1‐integrin, ITGA4) orchestrates cell‐cell and cell‐endothelium adhesion. Given the proposed role of VLA‐4 in sickle cell disease (SCD) pathophysiology, we evaluated the ability of the VLA‐4 blocking antibody natalizumab to inhibit SCD blood cell adhesion. Natalizumab recognized surface VLA‐4 on leucocytes and reticulocytes in whole blood from SCD subjects. SCD reticulocytes were positive for VLA‐4, while VLA‐4 staining of non‐SCD reticulocytes was undetectable. Titrations with natalizumab revealed the presence of saturable levels of VLA‐4 on both SCD reticulocytes and leucocytes similar to healthy subject leucocytes. Under physiological flow conditions, the adhesion of SCD whole blood cells and isolated SCD leucocytes to immobilized vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM‐1) was blocked by natalizumab in a dose‐dependent manner, which correlated with cell surface receptor binding. Natalizumab also inhibited >50% of whole blood cell binding to TNF‐α activated human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers under physiological flow at clinically relevant concentrations (10 to 100 μg/ml). This indicates that VLA‐4 is the dominant receptor that drives SCD reticulocyte and mononuclear cell adhesion to VCAM‐1 and that the VLA‐4 adhesion to VCAM‐1 is a significant contributor to SCD blood cell adhesion to endothelium. Thus, VLA‐4 blockade may be beneficial in sickle cell disease.
A Twin Factor Mixture Modeling Approach to Childhood Temperament: Differential Heritability
Authors: Scott Brandon G. , Lemery‐Chalfant Kathryn , Clifford Sierra , Tein Jenn‐Yun , Stoll Ryan , Goldsmith H.Hill 
Published: June 2016

Twin factor mixture modeling was used to identify temperament profiles while simultaneously estimating a latent factor model for each profile with a sample of 787 twin pairs (Mage = 7.4 years,SD = .84; 49% female; 88.3% Caucasian), using mother‐ and father‐reported temperament. A four‐profile, one‐factor model fit the data well. Profiles included “regulated, typical reactive,” “well‐regulated, positive reactive,” “regulated, surgent,” and “dysregulated, negative reactive.” All profiles were heritable, with lower heritability and shared environment also contributing to membership in the “regulated, typical reactive” and “dysregulated, negative reactive” profiles.
The ongoing challenge of discrepant growth hormone and insulin‐like growth factor I results in the evaluation of treated acromegalic patients: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kanakis G.A. , Chrisoulidou A. , Bargiota A. , Efstathiadou Z.A. , Papanastasiou L. , Theodoropoulou A. , Tigas S.K. , Vassiliadi D.A. , Tsagarakis S. , Alevizaki M. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryObjectiveGrowth hormone (GH) and insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) are the principal biomarkers used to assess disease activity in acromegaly, and any discrepancy between them renders interpretation of results inconclusive. Purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of this discrepancy and identify parameters that might affect its occurrence.DesignA systematic review of MEDLINE and Scopus was performed (1987–2013) followed by a meta‐analysis to address the frequency of discrepant results between GH and IGF‐I levels. Meta‐regression and subgroup analyses were performed assessing the effects of the year of publication, the different types of GH testing and GH assays used, as well as the impact of treatment with somatostatin analogues (SSAs) on the occurrence of this discrepancy.ResultsThe analysis retrieved 39 eligible studies totalling 7071 patients. The pooled discordance rate between GH and IGF‐I was 25·7% (95% CI: 22·3–29·4), and the predominant format was that of elevated IGF‐I with normal GH levels (15·3%, 95% CI: 12·5–18·7). No significant correlation between the discordance rate and the year of publication was shown; whereas, the use of ultrasensitive GH assays resulted in higher discordance rates (30·7%, 95% CI: 25·9–35·9 vs 19·8%, 95% CI: 14·1–27·2, P = 0·04) as did treatment with SSAs (32·5%, 95% CI: 27·8–37·4) vs (21·6%, 95% CI: 17·8–25·6, P = 0·001).ConclusionsDiscrepancy between GH and IGF‐I results is encountered in a quarter of treated patients with acromegaly, especially when using ultrasensitive GH assays or in patients receiving SSAs, a fact that the clinician should take into consideration when making clinical decisions.