bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Professionalization of Anesthesiologists and Critical Care Specialists in Humanitarian Action: A Nationwide Poll Among Italian Residents
Authors: Ripoll Gallardo Alba , Ingrassia Pier Luigi , Ragazzoni Luca , Djalali Ahmadreza , Carenzo Luca , Burkle Frederick M. , Della Corte Francesco 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundOver the last decades, humanitarian crises have seen a sharp upward trend. Regrettably, physicians involved in humanitarian action have often demonstrated incomplete preparation for these compelling events which have proved to be quite different from their daily work. Responders to these crises have included an unpredictable mix of beginner-level, mid-level, and expert-level providers. The quality of care has varied considerably. The international humanitarian community, in responding to international calls for improved accountability, transparency, coordination, and a registry of professionalized international responders, has recently launched a call for further professionalization within the humanitarian assistance sector, especially among academic-affiliated education and training programs. As anesthetists have been involved traditionally in medical relief operations, and recent disasters have seen a massive engagement of young physicians, the authors conducted, as a first step, a poll among residents in Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine in Italy to evaluate their interest in participating in competency-based humanitarian assistance education and in training incorporated early in residencies.MethodsThe Directors of all the 39 accredited anesthesia/critical care training programs in Italy were contacted and asked to submit a questionnaire to their residents regarding the objectives of the poll study. After acceptance to participate, residents were enrolled and asked to complete a web-based poll.ResultsA total of 29 (74%) of the initial training programs participated in the poll. Out of the 1,362 questionnaires mailed to residents, 924 (68%) were fully completed and returned. Only 63(6.8%) of the respondents voiced prior participation in humanitarian missions, but up to 690 (74.7%) stated they were interested in participating in future humanitarian deployments during their residency that carried over into their professional careers. Countrywide, 896 (97%) favored prior preparation for residents before participating in humanitarian missions, while the need for a specific, formal, professionalization process of the entire humanitarian aid sector was supported by 889 (96.2%).ConclusionsIn Italy, the majority of anesthesia/critical care residents, through a formal poll study, affirmed interest in participating in humanitarian assistance missions and believe that further professionalization within the humanitarian aid sector is required. These results have implications for residency training programs worldwide.Ripoll GallardoA,IngrassiaPL,RagazzoniL,DjalaliA,CarenzoL,BurkleFMJr,Della CorteF.Professionalization of anesthesiologists and critical care specialists in humanitarian action: a nationwide poll among Italian residents.Prehosp Disaster Med.2015;30(1):1-6.
A Hierarchical Factor Model of Executive Functions in Adolescents: Evidence of Gene-Environment Interplay
Authors: Li James J. , Chung Tammy A. , Vanyukov Michael M. , Scott Wood D. , Ferrell Robert , Clark Duncan B. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractExecutive functions (EF) are a complex set of neurodevelopmental, higher-ordered processes that are especially salient during adolescence. Disruptions to these processes are predictive of psychiatric problems in later adolescence and adulthood. The objectives of the current study were to characterize the latent structure of EF using bifactor analysis and to investigate the independent and interactive effects of genes and environments on EF during adolescence. Using a representative young adolescent sample, we tested the interaction of a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and parental supervision for EF through hierarchical linear regression. To account for the possibility of a hierarchical factor structure for EF, a bifactor analysis was conducted on the eight subtests of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functions System (D-KEFS). The bifactor analysis revealed the presence of a general EF construct and three EF subdomains (i.e., conceptual flexibility, inhibition, and fluency). A significant5-HTTLPRby parental supervision interaction was found for conceptual flexibility, but not for general EF, fluency or inhibition. Specifically, youth with the L/L genotype had significantly lower conceptual flexibility scores compared to youth with S/S or S/L genotypes given low levels of parental supervision. Our findings indicate that adolescents with the L/L genotype were especially vulnerable to poor parental supervision on EF. This vulnerability may be amenable to preventive interventions. (JINS, 2014,20, 62–73)
How stress alters immune responses during respiratory infection
Authors: Griebel Philip , Hill Kevin , Stookey Joseph 
Published: December 2014

AbstractFall-weaned calves entering the feedlot experience a variety of psychological and physical stressors, including maternal separation, transportation, social mixing, restraint, and dietary changes. Mixing calves from multiple sources also exposes them to respiratory pathogens at a time when maternal immunity has waned. Using an experimental bovine respiratory disease (BRD) challenge, we analyzed the effects of specific stressors on clinical disease and immune responses following bovine herpes virus (BHV-1/IBR) infection of naïve calves. Transportation stress was compared to either abrupt weaning plus transportation or transportation following a two-step weaning process. Transportation alone significantly (P < 0.05) increased BHV-1 shedding in nasal secretions despite elevated interferon-gamma production in the upper respiratory tract. In contrast, abrupt weaning and transportation, significantly (P < 0.05) increased serum haptoglobin on day 3 post-infection (PI) and blood leukocyte tumor necrosis factor α secretion on day 5 PI. These systemic responses were reduced by instituting a two-step weaning process 4 days prior to transportation and BHV-1 infection. In conclusion, these observations are consistent with earlier studies implicating weaning and transportation as stressors contributing to BRD severity and mortality. Current studies also revealed that different stressors or combination of stressors have distinct effects on host responses to viral infection in naïve calves.
Excess mortality from mental, neurological and substance use disorders in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010
Authors: Charlson F. J. , Baxter A. J. , Dua T. , Degenhardt L. , Whiteford H. A. , Vos T. 
Published: December 2014

Aims.Mortality-associated burden of disease estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 (GBD 2010) may erroneously lead to the interpretation that premature death in people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders (MNSDs) is inconsequential when evidence shows that people with MNSDs experience a significant reduction in life expectancy. We explore differences between cause-specific and excess mortality of MNSDs estimated by GBD 2010.Methods.GBD 2010 cause-specific death estimates were produced using the International Classification of Diseases death-coding system. Excess mortality (all-cause) was estimated using natural history models. Additional mortality attributed to MNSDs as underlying causes but not captured through GBD 2010 methodology is quantified in the comparative risk assessments.Results.In GBD 2010, MNSDs were estimated to be directly responsible for 840 000 deaths compared with more than 13 million excess deaths using natural history models.Conclusions.Numbers of excess deaths and attributable deaths clearly demonstrate the high degree of mortality associated with these disorders. There is substantial evidence pointing to potential causal pathways for this premature mortality with evidence-based interventions available to address this mortality. The life expectancy gap between persons with MNSDs and the general population is high and should be a focus for health systems reform.
The structural basis for receptor recognition of human interleukin-18
Authors: Tsutsumi Naotaka , Kimura Takeshi , Arita Kyohei , Ariyoshi Mariko , Ohnishi Hidenori , Yamamoto Takahiro , Zuo Xiaobing , Maenaka Katsumi , Park Enoch Y. , Kondo Naomi , Shirakawa Masahiro , Tochio Hidehito , Kato Zenichiro 
Published: December 2014

AbstractInterleukin (IL)-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that belongs to the IL-1 family and plays an important role in inflammation. The uncontrolled release of this cytokine is associated with severe chronic inflammatory disease. IL-18 forms a signalling complex with the IL-18 receptor α (Rα) and β (Rβ) chains at the plasma membrane, which induces multiple inflammatory cytokines. Here, we present a crystal structure of human IL-18 bound to the two receptor extracellular domains. Generally, the receptors’ recognition mode for IL-18 is similar to IL-1β; however, certain notable differences were observed. The architecture of the IL-18 receptor second domain (D2) is unique among the other IL-1R family members, which presumably distinguishes them from the IL-1 receptors that exhibit a more promiscuous ligand recognition mode. The structures and associated biochemical and cellular data should aid in developing novel drugs to neutralize IL-18 activity.
Impact of oceanic-scale interactions on the seasonal modulation of ocean dynamics by the atmosphere
Authors: Sasaki Hideharu , Klein Patrice , Qiu Bo , Sasai Yoshikazu 
Published: December 2014

AbstractOcean eddies (with a size of 100–300 km), ubiquitous in satellite observations, are known to represent about 80% of the total ocean kinetic energy. Recent studies have pointed out the unexpected role of smaller oceanic structures (with 1–50 km scales) in generating and sustaining these eddies. The interpretation proposed so far invokes the internal instability resulting from the large-scale interaction between upper and interior oceanic layers. Here we show, using a new high-resolution simulation of the realistic North Pacific Ocean, that ocean eddies are instead sustained by a different process that involves small-scale mixed-layer instabilities set up by large-scale atmospheric forcing in winter. This leads to a seasonal evolution of the eddy kinetic energy in a very large part of this ocean, with an amplitude varying by a factor almost equal to 2. Perspectives in terms of the impacts on climate dynamics and future satellite observational systems are briefly discussed.
Atomic electric fields revealed by a quantum mechanical approach to electron picodiffraction
Authors: Müller Knut , Krause Florian F. , Béché Armand , Schowalter Marco , Galioit Vincent , Löffler Stefan , Verbeeck Johan , Zweck Josef , Schattschneider Peter , Rosenauer Andreas 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBy focusing electrons on probes with a diameter of 50 pm, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is currently crossing the border to probing subatomic details. A major challenge is the measurement of atomic electric fields using differential phase contrast (DPC) microscopy, traditionally exploiting the concept of a field-induced shift of diffraction patterns. Here we present a simplified quantum theoretical interpretation of DPC. This enables us to calculate the momentum transferred to the STEM probe from diffracted intensities recorded on a pixel array instead of conventional segmented bright-field detectors. The methodical development yielding atomic electric field, charge and electron density is performed using simulations for binary GaN as an ideal model system. We then present a detailed experimental study of SrTiO3 yielding atomic electric fields, validated by comprehensive simulations. With this interpretation and upgraded instrumentation, STEM is capable of quantifying atomic electric fields and high-contrast imaging of light atoms.
Serotonergic neurons respond to nutrients and regulate the timing of steroid hormone biosynthesis in Drosophila
Authors: Shimada-Niwa Yuko , Niwa Ryusuke 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe temporal transition of development is flexibly coordinated in the context of the nutrient environment, and this coordination is essential for organisms to increase their survival fitness and reproductive success. Steroid hormone, a key player of the juvenile-to-adult transition, is biosynthesized in a nutrient-dependent manner; however, the underlying genetic mechanism remains unclear. Here we report that the biosynthesis of insect steroid hormone, ecdysteroid, is regulated by a subset of serotonergic neurons in Drosophila melanogaster. These neurons directly innervate the prothoracic gland (PG), an ecdysteroid-producing organ and share tracts with the stomatogastric nervous system. Interestingly, the projecting neurites morphologically respond to nutrient conditions. Moreover, reduced activity of the PG-innervating neurons or of serotonin signalling in the PG strongly correlates with a delayed developmental transition. Our results suggest that serotonergic neurons form a link between the external environment and the internal endocrine system by adaptively tuning the timing of steroid hormone biosynthesis.
Direct evidence for BBSome-associated intraflagellar transport reveals distinct properties of native mammalian cilia
Authors: Williams Corey L. , McIntyre Jeremy C. , Norris Stephen R. , Jenkins Paul M. , Zhang Lian , Pei Qinglin , Verhey Kristen , Martens Jeffrey R. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractCilia dysfunction underlies a class of human diseases with variable penetrance in different organ systems. Across eukaryotes, intraflagellar transport (IFT) facilitates cilia biogenesis and cargo trafficking, but our understanding of mammalian IFT is insufficient. Here we perform live analysis of cilia ultrastructure, composition and cargo transport in native mammalian tissue using olfactory sensory neurons. Proximal and distal axonemes of these neurons show no bias towards IFT kinesin-2 choice, and Kif17 homodimer is dispensable for distal segment IFT. We identify Bardet–Biedl syndrome proteins (BBSome) as bona fide constituents of IFT in olfactory sensory neurons, and show that they exist in 1:1 stoichiometry with IFT particles. Conversely, subpopulations of peripheral membrane proteins, as well as transmembrane olfactory signalling pathway components, are capable of IFT but with significantly less frequency and/or duration. Our results yield a model for IFT and cargo trafficking in native mammalian cilia and may explain the penetrance of specific ciliopathy phenotypes in olfactory neurons.
Eggshell membrane ameliorates hepatic fibrogenesis in human C3A cells and rats through changes in PPARγ-Endothelin 1 signaling
Authors: Jia Huijuan , Aw Wanping , Saito Kenji , Hanate Manaka , Hasebe Yukio , Kato Hisanori 
Published: December 2014

AbstractOur previous nutrigenomic findings indicate that eggshell membrane (ESM) may prevent liver fibrosis. Here we investigated the effects and mechanisms underlying ESM intervention against liver injury by using DNA microarray analysis and comparative proteomics. In vitro hydrolyzed ESM attenuated the TGFβ1-induced procollagen production of human hepatocyte C3A cells and inhibited the expression of Endothelin 1 (EDN1) and its two receptors and extracellular matrix components. In vivo male Wistar rats were allocated into a normal control group, a CCl4 group (hypodermic injection of 50% CCl4 2×/wk) and an ESM group (20 g ESM/kg diet with CCl4 injection) for 7 wks. Dietary ESM ameliorated the elevated activity of ALT/AST, oxidative stress and collagen accumulation in liver, accompanied by the down-regulated expression of Edn1 signaling and notable profibrogenic genes and growth factors as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Concomitantly, the decreased expressions of Galectin-1 and Desmin protein in the ESM group indicated the deactivation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Through a multifaceted integrated omics approach, we have demonstrated that ESM can exert an antifibrotic effect by suppressing oxidative stress and promoting collagen degradation by inhibiting HSCs' transformation, potentially via a novel modulation of the PPARγ-Endothelin 1 interaction signaling pathway.
Inhibition of pathogenic non-enveloped viruses by 25-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol
Authors: Civra Andrea , Cagno Valeria , Donalisio Manuela , Biasi Fiorella , Leonarduzzi Gabriella , Poli Giuseppe , Lembo David 
Published: December 2014

AbstractRecent studies reported a broad but selective antiviral activity of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC) against enveloped viruses, being apparently inactive against non-enveloped viruses. Here we show that 25HC is endowed with a marked antiviral activity against three pathogenic non-enveloped viruses, i.e. human papillomavirus-16 (HPV-16), human rotavirus (HRoV) and human rhinovirus (HRhV), thus significantly expanding its broad antiviral spectrum, so far recognized to be limited to viruses with envelope. Moreover, here we disclose the remarkable antiviral activity of another oxysterol of physiological origin, i.e. 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC), against HPV-16, HRoV and HRhV. We have also identified a much weaker antiviral activity of other oxysterols of pathophysiological relevance, i.e 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol. These findings suggest that appropriate modulation of endogenous production of oxysterols might be a primary host strategy to counteract a broad panel of viral infections. Moreover, 25HC and 27HC could be considered for new therapeutic strategies against HPV-16, HRoV and HRhV.
Angiotensin-(1–7) prevents systemic hypertension, attenuates oxidative stress and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and normalizes renal angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and Mas receptor expression in diabetic mice
Authors: Shi Yixuan , Lo Chao-Sheng , Padda Ranjit , Abdo Shaaban , Chenier Isabelle , Filep Janos G. , Ingelfinger Julie R. , Zhang Shao-Ling , Chan John S.D. 
Published: December 2014

We investigated the relationship between Ang-(1–7) [angiotensin-(1–7)] action, sHTN (systolic hypertension), oxidative stress, kidney injury, ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme-2) and MasR [Ang-(1–7) receptor] expression in Type 1 diabetic Akita mice. Ang-(1–7) was administered daily [500 μg/kg of BW (body weight) per day, subcutaneously] to male Akita mice from 14 weeks of age with or without co-administration of an antagonist of the MasR, A779 (10 mg/kg of BW per day). The animals were killed at 20 weeks of age. Age-matched WT (wild-type) mice served as controls. Ang-(1–7) administration prevented sHTN and attenuated kidney injury (reduced urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, glomerular hyperfiltration, renal hypertrophy and fibrosis, and tubular apoptosis) without affecting blood glucose levels in Akita mice. Ang-(1–7) also attenuated renal oxidative stress and the expression of oxidative stress-inducible proteins (NADPH oxidase 4, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, haem oxygenase 1), pro-hypertensive proteins (angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme, sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3) and profibrotic proteins (transforming growth factor-β1 and collagen IV), and increased the expression of anti-hypertensive proteins (ACE2 and MasR) in Akita mouse kidneys. These effects were reversed by A779. Our data suggest that Ang-(1–7) plays a protective role in sHTN and RPTC (renal proximal tubular cell) injury in diabetes, at least in part, through decreasing renal oxidative stress-mediated signalling and normalizing ACE2 and MasR expression.
Activation of intracellular angiotensin AT2 receptors induces rapid cell death in human uterine leiomyosarcoma cells
Authors: Zhao Yi , Lützen Ulf , Fritsch Jürgen , Zuhayra Maaz , Schütze Stefan , Steckelings Ulrike M. , Recanti Chiara , Namsoleck Pawel , Unger Thomas , Culman Juraj 
Published: December 2014

The presence of angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptors in mitochondria and their role in NO generation and cell aging were recently demonstrated in various human and mouse non-tumour cells. We investigated the intracellular distribution of AT2 receptors including their presence in mitochondria and their role in the induction of apoptosis and cell death in cultured human uterine leiomyosarcoma (SK-UT-1) cells and control human uterine smooth muscle cells (HutSMC). The intracellular levels of the AT2 receptor are low in proliferating SK-UT-1 cells but the receptor is substantially up-regulated in quiescent SK-UT-1 cells with high densities in mitochondria. Activation of the cell membrane AT2 receptors by a concomitant treatment with angiotensin II and the AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, induces apoptosis but does not affect the rate of cell death. We demonstrate for the first time that the high-affinity, non-peptide AT2 receptor agonist, Compound 21 (C21), penetrates the cell membrane of quiescent SK-UT-1 cells, activates intracellular AT2 receptors and induces rapid cell death; approximately 70% of cells died within 24 h. The cells, which escaped cell death, displayed activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, i.e. down-regulation of the Bcl-2 protein, induction of the Bax protein and activation of caspase-3. All quiescent SK-UT-1 cells died within 5 days after treatment with a single dose of C21. C21 was devoid of cytotoxic effects in proliferating SK-UT-1 cells and in quiescent HutSMC. Our results point to a new, unique approach enabling the elimination non-cycling uterine leiomyosarcoma cells providing that they over-express the AT2 receptor.
Characterisation of measurement uncertainties due to preamplifier gain variation
Authors: Song Jian , Guo Yong Xin 
Published: December 2014

The measurement uncertainties associated with preamplifier gain variation due to temperature change are investigated. It is shown that when temperature decreases from the room temperature (25°C) to 0°C, the uncertainty of the preamplifier gain variation is found to be as large as 1.277 dB. Further investigation of mismatch uncertainty between the preamplifier and the system due to temperature change has been carried out. It is expected that mismatch uncertainty will be greatly affected if the preamplifier input and output voltage standing wave ratio varies at different operating temperatures.
Pulsed radio frequency characterisation on 28 nm complementary metal–oxide semiconductor technology
Authors: Sahoo A.K. , Fregonese S. , Scheer P. , Celi D. , Juge A. , Zimmer T. 
Published: December 2014

The influence of electrothermal behaviour on radio frequency (RF) performances of 28 nm bulk complementary metal–oxide semiconductor technology is examined. Biased continuous‐wave RF and pulsed RF (applying different DC pulse and RF pulse width combinations) characterisations are performed within the 1–30 GHz frequency domain at room temperature and the transit frequency (fT) is extracted at 15 GHz frequency. It has been found that the degradation in fT on I/O devices is about 3 GHz because of the self‐heating effect.