bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Truncated monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 can alleviate cardiac injury in mice with viral myocarditis via infiltration of mononuclear cells
Authors: Shen Yan , Zhang Feng‐Qi , Wei Xiao 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTBALB/c mice inoculated intraperitoneally with coxsackievirus group B type 3 (CVB3) were allocated to five groups; namely, a viral myocarditis group infected with CVB3 alone (control group), an antibody intervention group that received intracardiac anti‐MCP‐1, an antibody intervention control group that received goat IgG, a tMCP‐1 intervention group that received plasmid pVMt expressing tMCP‐1, and a tMCP‐1 intervention control group that received plasmid pVAX1. There was also a normal control group. The ratio of murine heart weight to body weight, pathological score of myocardial tissue, serum creatine kinase‐MB titers and CVB3 loading of myocardial tissue were assessed. The cardiac lesions in mice that received 20, 40 or 60 µg pVMt (P < 0.05) were less severe than those in control mice with untreated viral myocarditis. In addition, fewer mononuclear cells had infiltrated the myocardium of mice who received 40 or 60 µg pVMt intramyocardially (P < 0.01), whereas there was no difference in mononuclear cell infiltration between mice with viral myocarditis and those that received 20 µg pVMt (P > 0.05). There was also no difference between mice that received anti‐MCP‐1 antibody and those that received 40 µg pVMt in ratio of HW/BW, serum CK‐MB titers and pathological score (P > 0.05). This study showed that tMCP‐1 can alleviate cardiac lesions and cardiac injury in mice with viral myocarditis via infiltration of mononuclear cells. Thus, tMCP‐1 may be an alternative to anti‐MCP‐1 antibody treatment of viral myocarditis. Further research is required.
A phenomenographic investigation on the use of iPads among undergraduate art and design students
Authors: Souleles Nicos , Savva Stefania , Watters Hilary , Annesley Angela , Bull Ben 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe increasingly widespread use of iPads in higher education (HE) brings to the forefront questions about the contribution of these computer tablets towards teaching and learning. However, there is a noticeable gap of research on the instructional potential of iPads in HE. This paper describes the first stage of a research project on the use of iPads in undergraduate art and design disciplines, and is a collaboration between the research lab “Networked Learning Technologies in Art and Design” at Cyprus University of Technology, and the “Centre for Pedagogic Research” at Falmouth University in England. The participants from both institutions provided a student‐centred perspective, and the qualitative analysis (phenomenography) revealed varied perceptions. Based on the findings of this project, the implication is that there are a number of challenges and obstacles in embedding the use of iPads in art and design education. Further research in the second stage of this collaborative research will investigate the views and motivations of art and design faculty.A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBXnuVJ8eBY
Study and School in the Lives of Children in Migrant Families: A View from Rural Jiangxi, China
Authors: Murphy Rachel 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTMillions of children in China have been ‘left behind’ in the countryside while their parents work in distant places to support the social reproduction of their families. This article examines the role of study and schooling in this process. The analysis shows that family strategies to pursue socio‐economic mobility are intricately connected to state frameworks for providing support, and schools are central to this. This is because both family and state interests in the attributes and prospects of the next generation converge in schools. At the same time, on a day‐to‐day basis, the labour of children in schools and the labour of parents in the cities are intertwined. Specifically, by communicating with each other about study, and by focusing on the child's educational future as the key purpose of their daily work, both children and parents carry out their obligations towards each other, while finding ways to cope with the emotional difficulties that protracted physical separation entails.
Carbon Sequestration in Community Forests: Trade‐offs, Multiple Outcomes and Institutional Diversity in the Bolivian Amazon
Authors: Bottazzi Patrick , Crespo David , Soria Harry , Dao Hy , Serrudo Marcelo , Benavides Jean Paul , Schwarzer Stefan , Rist Stephan 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTCarbon sequestration in community forests presents a major challenge for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme. This article uses a comparative analysis of the agricultural and forestry practices of indigenous peoples and settlers in the Bolivian Amazon to show how community‐level institutions regulate the trade‐offs between community livelihoods, forest species diversity, and carbon sequestration. The authors argue that REDD+ implementation in such areas runs the risk of: 1) reinforcing economic inequalities based on previous and potential land use impacts on ecosystems (baseline), depending on the socio‐cultural groups targeted; 2) increasing pressure on land used for food production, possibly reducing food security and redirecting labour towards scarce off‐farm income opportunities; 3) increasing dependence on external funding and carbon market fluctuations instead of local production strategies; and 4) further incentivising the privatization and commodification of land to avoid transaction costs associated with collective property rights. The article also advises against taking a strictly economic, market‐based approach to carbon sequestration, arguing that such an approach could endanger fragile socio‐ecological systems. REDD+ schemes should directly support existing efforts towards forest sustainability rather than simply compensating local land users for avoiding deforestation and forest degradation.
Chemomobilization with high‐dose etoposide and G‐CSF results in effective and safe stem cell collection in heavily pretreated lymphoma patients: report from a single institution study and review
Authors: Ozkan Hasan Atilla , Bal Cengiz , Gulbas Zafer 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe optimal mobilization strategy prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (auto‐SCT) for patients with lymphoma is yet to be determined. We reviewed our institutional experience using chemomobilization with high‐dose (HD) etoposide (1.6 g/m2) and G‐CSF (300 μg/day) in 79 patients with lymphoma. The majority (76%) had received at least two prior regimens of chemotherapy, and 12 (15.2%) patients had previously failed to mobilize following HD cyclophosphamide or DHAP or ICE with G‐CSF. HD etoposide and G‐CSF chemomobilization resulted in successful collection (>2 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg) in 82.3% of patients within a median 2 (1–6) apheresis days. Patients had stem cells collected between days +8 and +15, with a median +12 day. Median total CD34+ cells/kg collected was 5.95 × 106 (0.1–36.8). Seventy‐one percent of patients yielded >2 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg in ≤2 d of apheresis and were defined as good mobilizers. While median CD34+ cells/kg collected for good mobilizers was 7.6 × 106, it was 2.6 × 106 for poor mobilizers (P < 0.001). This regimen was safe with a low rate of febrile neutropenia (7.6%) and acceptable rates of RBC (40.5%) and platelet transfusions (22.8%). Hematopoietic recovery after auto‐SCT was achieved on expected time. Therapy‐related myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia occurred in only one patient (1.3%) with in a median follow‐up of 16 months after chemomobilization. We conclude that HD etoposide and G‐CSF chemomobilization appear to result in effective, tolerable, and safe stem cell collection in the majority of heavily pretreated lymphoma patients.
Identification of three new nucleotide substitutions in the β‐globin gene: laboratoristic approach and impact on genetic counselling for beta‐thalassaemia
Authors: Vinciguerra Margherita , Passarello Cristina , Leto Filippo , Cassarà Filippo , Cannata Monica , Maggio Aurelio , Giambona Antonino 
Published: January 2014

AbstractPurposeOver the past two decades, a wide range of available methods for DNA analysis have allowed us to identify defects in globin genes associated with haemoglobin disorders and to correlate specific mutations with phenotypic expression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nature of three new nucleotide changes, mutation or single nucleotide polymorphism, found in the beta‐globin gene, to conduct an appropriate genetic counselling.Patients and methodsWe report the molecular study performed in three probands and their families, sampling during the screening programme conducted at the Laboratory for Molecular Prenatal Diagnosis of Hemoglobinopathies at Villa Sofia‐Cervello Hospital in Palermo, Italy.ResultsThis work allowed us to report three new nucleotide substitutions of the β‐globin gene: a substitution of the nucleotide 16 in the CAP site area (HBB: c.‐35 A>G), a substitution of the nucleotide 478 in the second intron (HBB: c.316‐373) in association with β‐haemoglobin variant Hb G Copenhagen (HBB:c.142G>A) and a substitution of the nucleotide 1656 within the 3′ UTR (HBB: c.*+182 G>A) in association with the 1393‐bp deletion (NG_000007.3:g.70060_71452del1393).ConclusionThe present work emphasizes the importance of reporting the observed nucleotide changes to the Haemoglobin Variant Database, especially in the case of new or rare undefined mutations, to facilitate the determination of their phenotypic expression and the possible interactions with known molecular defects and to formulate an appropriate genetic counselling for couples at risk.
A millennial‐scale chronicle of evolutionary responses to cultural eutrophication in Daphnia
Authors: Frisch Dagmar , Morton Philip K. , Chowdhury Priyanka Roy , Culver Billy W. , Colbourne John K. , Weider Lawrence J. , Jeyasingh Punidan D. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractFor an accurate assessment of the anthropogenic impacts on evolutionary change in natural populations, we need long‐term environmental, genetic and phenotypic data that predate human disturbances. Analysis of c. 1600 years of history chronicled in the sediments of South Center Lake, Minnesota, USA, revealed major environmental changes beginning c. 120 years ago coinciding with the initiation of industrialised agriculture in the catchment area. Population genetic structure, analysed using DNA from dormant eggs of the keystone aquatic herbivore, Daphnia pulicaria, suggested no change for c. 1500 years prior to striking shifts associated with anthropogenic environmental alterations. Furthermore, phenotypic assays on the oldest resurrected metazoan genotypes (potentially as old as c. 700 years) indicate significant shifts in phosphorus utilisation rates compared to younger genotypes. Younger genotypes show steeper reaction norms with high growth under high phosphorus (P), and low growth under low P, while ‘ancient’ genotypes show flat reaction norms, yet higher growth efficiency under low P. Using this resurrection ecology approach, environmental, genetic and phenotypic data spanning pre‐ and post‐industrialised agricultural eras clearly reveal the evolutionary consequences of anthropogenic environmental change.
Flexural fatigue behaviour of carbon nanofiber/epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Shokrieh M. M. , Esmkhani M. , Haghighatkhah A. R. 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTIn this research, the effect of adding carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on fatigue life of epoxy resin under flexural bending fatigue loading conditions was investigated. The fatigue tests of specimens were performed under displacement‐controlled bending loading at different displacement amplitudes at room temperature. Due to the addition of CNFs, a remarkable improvement in fatigue life of epoxy resin was observed. For instance, 24‐fold improvement in fatigue life for 0.25 wt% CNF/epoxy nanocomposites at a strength ratio of 0.43 observed in comparison with the neat epoxy resin.
Three‐dimensional stress fields due to notches in plates under linear elastic and elastic–plastic conditions
Authors: Lazzarin P. , Zappalorto M. , Berto F. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe paper deals with a 3D multi‐parametric stress field representation ahead of notches in plates of finite thickness under different loading conditions. Under certain hypotheses, the 3D governing equations of elasticity can be reduced to a system where a bi‐harmonic equation and a harmonic equation have to be simultaneously satisfied. The former provides the solution of the corresponding plane notch problem, and the latter provides the solution of the corresponding out‐of‐plane shear notch problem. The solution is valid close the notch edge, through the plate thickness, with exclusion of a very limited zone close to the free surface of the plates. Also, under elastic–plastic conditions there are circumstances where it is possible to separate the in‐plane problem from the out‐of‐plane problem. A new analytical frame is proposed, and the results are compared with those obtained from 3D finite element models of a plate with a square notch. In the presence of remote applied tensile stress, the slope of the induced, out‐of‐plane, shear stress component matches that of the mode III plastic problem.
Detection of Putative Recombination Events in the 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene of Some Members of Candidatus phytoplasma
Authors: ElSayed Abdelaleim I. , Boulila Moncef 
Published: January 2014

AbstractRecombination plays a major evolutionary role by creating genetic diversity and provides the potential to find rapid adaptation to new environmental conditions. We sought the occurrence of possible recombination events in the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of 60 accessions belonging to the group 16SrI of Candidatus phytoplasma (aster yellows phytoplasma). Three bioinformatic programs were used (TOPALI v2.5, RECCO and RDP package). All the three programs indicated the presence of putative recombination signals in aligned sequences. Recombination events located in the 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed the presence of four recombining accessions gathering sugarcane grassy shoot phytoplasmas (JF928001, DQ459439, EF614269 and JN223446).
The Response of Lettuce Cultivars against Two Lettuce mosaic virus isolates, One Able to Systemically Infect the Resistant Cultivar Salinas 88
Authors: Zanganeh Maryam , Dizadji Akbar , Mossahebi Gholam Hossein 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe response of seven lettuce cultivars to two geographically different Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) isolates (LMV‐A, LMV‐T) was statistically evaluated based on infection rate, virus accumulation and symptom severity in different time trials. LMV‐A is characterized by the ability to systemically infect cv. Salinas 88 (mo12‐carrying resistant cultivar), and inducing mild mosaic symptoms. Among lettuce cultivars, Varamin (a native cultivar) similar to cv. Salinas showed the most susceptibility to both LMV isolates, whereas another native cultivar, Varesh, was tolerant to the virus with minimal viral accumulation and symptom scores, significantly different from other cultivars at P < 0.05. LMV‐A systemically infects all susceptible lettuce cultivars more rapidly and at a higher rate than LMV‐T. This isolate accumulated in lettuce cultivars at a significantly higher level, determined by semiquantitative ELISA and induced more severe symptoms than LMV‐T isolate at 21 dpi. This is the first evidence for a LMV isolate with ability to systemically infect mo12‐carrying resistant cultivar of lettuce from Iran. In this study, accumulation level of LMV showed statistically meaningful positive correlation with symptom severity on lettuce plants. Based on the results, three evaluated parameters differed considerably by lettuce cultivar and virus isolate.
Should Dialysate Calcium be Individualized?
Authors: Messa Piergiorgio , Sherman Richard A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe growing interest in a personalized choice of dialysate calcium concentration faces some important unsolved questions. First, the desired aims to be achieved should be clarified, as different d‐Ca concentrations might differentially impact dialysis calcium balance and serum calcium concentration. A second point to be addressed is how to achieve the desired goals; the kinetics of calcium during dialysis treatment are complex. This is not an easy task and probably only an automatic device able to read serum calcium concentration in real‐time and adjust d‐Ca to it might supply an effective method for individualizing d‐Ca. Finally, it is not even clear whether individualizing d‐Ca is worth doing; cost‐effectiveness studies might give some further insights into this intricate issue.
Is group A thawed plasma suitable as the first option for emergency release transfusion? (CME)
Authors: Chhibber Vishesh , Greene Mindy , Vauthrin Michelle , Bailey Jeff , Weinstein Robert 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundGroup AB plasma, which lacks anti‐A and anti‐B isohemagglutinins, is issued for emergency transfusion when a patient's ABO group is unknown, but the relative scarcity of group AB blood donors limits its availability. We sought to establish a thawed plasma inventory to improve the rapid availability of plasma in the emergency release setting but were concerned about potential wastage of group AB plasma.Study Design and MethodsRecognizing that plasma‐incompatible apheresis platelets are routinely transfused and only rarely result in hemolytic reactions if the donor is blood group O, and considering that group A plasma would be compatible with approximately 85% of our patient population, we instituted an emergency release policy whereby thawed group A plasma is issued to all patients of unknown blood group or if compatible plasma is not available. ABO‐compatible plasma is then issued, if needed, once the patient's blood group is determined. We prospectively assessed the outcomes of all patients who received incompatible plasma under our policy.ResultsDuring the first 5 years under this policy, 385 emergency release requests for plasma were received by our blood bank. Among them, 23 group B or AB patients met criteria for receiving a median of 2 units of incompatible group A plasma. No hemolytic transfusion reactions or other adverse events related to transfusion were seen in any of these 23 patients.ConclusionWe propose that group A plasma may be an acceptable alternative to AB plasma as the first option in the emergency release setting.
The acceptance of hearing disability among adults experiencing hearing difficulties: a cross-sectional study
Authors: C Manchaiah Vinaya K , Molander Peter , Rönnberg Jerker , Andersson Gerhard , Lunner Thomas 
Published: January 2014

ObjectiveThis study developed the Hearing Disability Acceptance Questionnaire (HDAQ) and tested its construct and concurrent validities.DesignCross-sectional.ParticipantsA total of 90 participants who were experiencing hearing difficulties were recruited in the UK.Outcome measuresThe HDAQ was developed based on the Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire (TAQ). Participants completed self-report measures regarding hearing disability acceptance, hearing disability, symptoms of anxiety and depression and a measure of stages of change.ResultsThe HDAQ has a two-factor structure that explains 75.69% of its variance. The factors identified wereactivity engagementandavoidance and suppression. The scale showed a sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.86). The HDAQ also had acceptable concurrent validity with regard to self-reported hearing disability, self-reported anxiety and depression and readiness to change measures.ConclusionsAcceptance is likely an important aspect of coping with chronic health conditions. To our knowledge, no previously published and validated scale measures the acceptance of hearing disability; therefore, the HDAQ might be useful in future research. However, the role of acceptance in adjusting to hearing disability must be further investigated.
Bring on the weekend - Improving the quality of junior doctor weekend handover
Authors: Jardine Alan George Mackenzie , Page Tristan , Bethune Rob , Mourant Philippa , Deol Priya , Bowden Caitlin , Dahill Mark , Mische Claudia , Cornish Naomi , Sanders Victoria , Lee Joanne , Bethune Rob 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWhile it is widely recognised that communication and handover are a fundamental component in providing safe clinical care for hospital patients (1,2.3). The Royal College of Physicians found that the majority of hospital doctors are dissatisfied with the standard of their handovers (4). These findings were mirrored by the junior staff at the Royal United Hospital, who felt that the weekend handover was inadequate, and detrimental to patient safety.A group of eight junior doctors at the Royal United Hospital, Bath utilised The Model For Improvement to systematically analyse and improve various aspects of the weekend handover system. Handover sheets from a subset of wards were assessed to observe direct effects of staged interventions over a nine month period, allowing small-scale testing prior to widespread implementation of a standardised intranet-based weekend handover. The effects of interventions were evaluated using a predesigned scoring system and data was collected continuously throughout the project.Over a nine month period the quality of handovers improved significantly from 76% to 93% (p <0.01): a success which was supported by a 100% improvement in formal feedback collected from hospital doctors and highlighted by the desire of senior staff and directors to implement the system throughout the trust. Using The Model For Improvement a group of junior doctors were able to introduce and develop a standardised weekend handover system that met their requirements. A structured, efficient and auditable system has been successfully produced which improves the quality and safety of patient care.