bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 effectively reduces the duration of acute diarrhoea in hospitalised children
Authors: Dinleyici Ener Cagri ,   PROBAGE Study Group, Vandenplas Yvan 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimGuidelines consider certain probiotics useful in the management of acute gastroenteritis. This study evaluated the use of Lactobacillus (L) reuteri DSM 17938.MethodsA multicentre, randomised, single‐blind clinical trial was performed in hospitalised children with acute gastroenteritis lasting 12–72 h. Children received conventional therapy with, or without, 1 × 108 CFU of L. reuteri DSM 17938 for 5 days. The primary endpoint was the duration of diarrhoea and secondary outcomes were days of hospitalisation and the percentage of children with diarrhoea after each day of treatment.ResultsWe compared 64 children receiving L. reuteri with 63 controls. Lactobacillus reuteri reduced the duration of diarrhoea after 24 h (p < 0.001) and more diarrhoea‐free children were seen in the L. reuteri than control group after 24 and 48 h (50% versus 5%, p < 0.001) and 72 h (69% versus 11%, p < 0.001). Lactobacillus reuteri reduced mean hospital stays (4.31 ± 1.3 days versus 5.46 ± 1.77 days, p < 0.001). Prolonged diarrhoea occurred in 17% of the controls, but none of the L. reuteri group. No adverse effects were reported.ConclusionLactobacillus reuteri effectively reduced the duration of acute diarrhoea and hospital stays in children hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis. Outpatient data are now required.
Effect of kangaroo mother care on growth and development of low birthweight babies up to 12 months of age: a controlled clinical trial
Authors: Bera Alpanamayi , Ghosh Jagabandhu , Singh Arun K. , Hazra Avijit , Mukherjee Suchandra , Mukherjee Ranajit 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimKangaroo mother care (KMC) is a nonconventional low‐cost method of newborn care. Our aim was to assess the effect of sustained KMC on the growth and development of low birthweight Indian babies up to the age of 12 months.MethodsWe enrolled 500 mother and baby pairs, in groups of five, in a parallel group controlled clinical trial. The three infants with the lowest birthweight in each group received KMC, while the other two received conventional care. All babies were exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Babies in the intervention group were provided KMC until the infant was 40 weeks of corrected gestation or weighed 2500 g. Weight, length and head, chest and arm circumferences were evaluated at birth and at the corrected ages of 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Development was assessed using the Developmental Assessment Scales for Indian Infants (DASII) at 12 months.ResultsThe KMC babies rapidly achieved physical growth parameters similar to the control babies at 40 weeks of corrected age. But after that, they surpassed them, despite being smaller at birth. DASII motor and mental development quotients were also significantly better for KMC babies.ConclusionThe infants in the KMC group showed better physical growth and development than the conventional control group.
Health related quality of life and perceptions of child vulnerability among parents of children with a history of Kawasaki disease
Authors: van Oers Hedy A. , Tacke Carline E. , Haverman Lotte , Kuipers Irene M. , Maurice‐Stam Heleen , Kuijpers Taco W. , Grootenhuis Martha A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimKawasaki disease (KD) is an acute paediatric vasculitis. The psychosocial consequences of this sudden illness for parents are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate health related quality of life (HRQOL) and parental perceptions of child vulnerability (PPCV) in parents of children with KD, and to identify variables associated with PPCV.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study included 288 parents (83% mothers) of KD patients (mean age 8.7 years). HRQOL was assessed using the TNO‐AZL Questionnaire for Adult's HRQOL (TAAQOL) and PPCV using the Child Vulnerability Scale (CVS). Scores of KD parents were compared with reference groups of Dutch parents. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associated variables.ResultsThe HRQOL of KD parents was comparable to the HRQOL of parents of healthy children. However, KD parents showed significantly higher PPCV, regarding both the median CVS total score and the percentage in the clinical range. No differences were found in CVS outcomes between KD parents and parents of a chronically ill child. None of the studied parental, child and disease characteristics were significantly associated with PPCV.ConclusionParents perceived their KD child more vulnerable to illness than healthy children, while in reality the majority had fully recovered from KD.
Andrographolide inhibits HMGB1‐induced inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and in murine polymicrobial sepsis
Authors: Lee W. , Ku S. , Yoo H. , Song K. , Bae J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimNuclear DNA‐binding protein high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein acts as a late mediator of severe vascular inflammatory conditions, such as septic shock, upregulating pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Andrographolide (AG) is isolated from the plant of Andrographis paniculata and used as a folk medicine for treatment of viral infection, diarrhoea, dysentery and fever. However, the effect of AG on HMGB1‐induced inflammatory response has not been studied.MethodsFirstly, we accessed this question by monitoring the effects of post‐treatment AG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and caecal ligation and puncture (CLP)‐mediated release of HMGB1 and HMGB1‐mediated regulation of pro‐inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and septic mice.ResultsPost‐treatment AG was found to suppress LPS‐mediated release of HMGB1 and HMGB1‐mediated cytoskeletal rearrangements. AG also inhibited HMGB1‐mediated hyperpermeability and leucocyte migration in septic mice. In addition, AG inhibited production of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and activation of AKT, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and extracellular‐regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 by HMGB1 in HUVECs. AG also induced downregulation of CLP‐induced release of HMGB1, production of interleukin (IL) 1β/6/8 and mortality.ConclusionCollectively, these results suggest that AG may be regarded as a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of vascular inflammatory diseases via inhibition of the HMGB1 signalling pathway.
Must Milton Friedman Embrace Stakeholder Theory?
Authors: Ferrero Ignacio , Michael Hoffman W. , McNulty Robert E. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMilton Friedman famously stated that the only social responsibility of business is to increase its profits, a position now known as the shareholder model of business. Subsequently, the stakeholder model, associated with Edward Freeman, has been widely seen as a heuristically stronger theory of the responsibilities of the firm to the society in which it is situated. Friedman's position, nevertheless, has retained currency among many business thinkers. In this article, we argue that Friedman's economic writings assume an economy in which businesses operate under the protections of limited liability, which allows corporations to privatize their gains while externalizing their losses. By accepting limited liability, Friedman must also accept a view of business as embedded in social interdependency, which serves as the logical and moral foundation for corporate social responsibility (CSR). To achieve consistency with his economic principles, Friedman must either abandon limited liability or modify his doctrine on CSR and his related shareholder model of business.
A Real Options Reasoning Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Integrating Real Option Sensemaking and CSR Orientation
Authors: Peters Richard , Waples Ethan , Golden Peggy 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn this article we explore the conceptual relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) orientation and real option reasoning. We argue that the firm's attitude, communication, and behavior toward CSR will act as significant determinants to the firm's sensemaking approach to real options; that is, if and how it (the firm) acknowledges, receives, and manages strategic real options. Integrating the previous work of Basu and Palazzo with Barnett, we propose a new model that extends the influence of CSR orientation/character to general strategic decision making while simultaneously developing the attention‐based view to real options.
High‐throughput sequencing for the identification of NOTCH1 mutations in early stage chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: biological and clinical implications
Authors: Lionetti Marta , Fabris Sonia , Cutrona Giovanna , Agnelli Luca , Ciardullo Carmela , Matis Serena , Ciceri Gabriella , Colombo Monica , Maura Francesco , Mosca Laura , Gentile Massimo , Recchia Anna G. , Ilariucci Fiorella , Musolino Caterina , Molica Stefano , Di Raimondo Francesco , Cortelezzi Agostino , Rossi Davide , Gaidano Gianluca , Morabito Fortunato , Ferrarini Manlio , Neri Antonino 
Published: March 2014

SummaryNOTCH1 mutations have recently emerged as new genetic lesions significantly correlated with survival in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We performed deep next generation sequencing of the NOTCH1 mutation hotspot in 384 cases at diagnosis, including 100 monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) and 284 Binet stage A CLL cases, enrolled in the Gruppo Italiano Studio Linfomi O‐CLL1 multicentre trial. The NOTCH1 c.7541_7542delCT dinucleotide deletion was detected and confirmed by an extremely sensitive polymerase chain reaction‐based approach in 11% of MBL and 13·4% of CLL patients. Remarkably, the NOTCH1 mutation was often observed at low clonal level, mainly in MBL patients. Sequential analyses in a fraction of cases showed that the NOTCH1 mutation generally does not occur during the disease course and that the mutational load in positive cases tends to be stable over time. NOTCH1‐mutated cases, even at low clonal level, displayed a significant reduction in median progression‐free survival, although NOTCH1 mutation lost its prognostic impact in a multivariate analysis including 11q and/or 17p deletion, IGHV mutational status, and MBL or CLL status. Our data highlight the importance of using highly sensitive methods to measure NOTCH1 mutations, in order to improve prognostic stratification and obtain useful information for potential therapeutic approaches.
The spatial and temporal distributions of arthropods in forest canopies: uniting disparate patterns with hypotheses for specialisation
Authors: Wardhaugh Carl W. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTArguably the majority of species onEarth utilise tropical rainforest canopies, and much progress has been made in describing arboreal assemblages, especially for arthropods. The most commonly described patterns for tropical rainforest insect communities are host specificity, spatial specialisation (predominantly vertical stratification), and temporal changes in abundance (seasonality and circadian rhythms). HereIreview the recurrent results with respect to each of these patterns and discuss the evolutionary selective forces that have generated them in an attempt to unite these patterns in a holistic evolutionary framework. I propose that species can be quantified along a generalist–specialist scale not only with respect to host specificity, but also other spatial and temporal distribution patterns, where specialisation is a function of the extent of activity across space and time for particular species. When all of these distribution patterns are viewed through the paradigm of specialisation, hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the evolution of host specificity can also be applied to explain the generation and maintenance of other spatial and temporal distribution patterns. The main driver for most spatial and temporal distribution patterns is resource availability. Generally, the distribution of insects follows that of the resources they exploit, which are spatially stratified and vary temporally in availability. Physiological adaptations are primarily important for host specificity, where nutritional and chemical variation among host plants in particular, but also certain prey species and fungi, influence host range. Physiological tolerances of abiotic conditions are also important for explaining the spatial and temporal distributions of some insect species, especially in drier forest environments where desiccation is an ever‐present threat. However, it is likely that for most species in moist tropical rainforests, abiotic conditions are valuable indicators of resource availability, rather than physiologically limiting factors. Overall, each distribution pattern is influenced by the same evolutionary forces, but at differing intensities. Consequently, each pattern is linked and not mutually exclusive of the other distribution patterns. Most studies have examined each of these patterns in isolation. Future work should focus on examining the evolutionary drivers of these patterns in concert. Only then can the relative strength of resource availability and distribution, host defensive phenotypes, and biotic and abiotic interactions on insect distribution patterns be determined.
Research Trails Affect the Abundance of an Epiphytic Tropical Bromeliad
Authors: Heymann Eckhard W. , Wörner Laura L. , Ziegenhagen Birgit , Bialozyt Ronald 
Published: March 2014

AbstractConcerns have been expressed that research methods and research infrastructure may affect the systems under study, which could lead to biased results. Effects of research activities on seedlings, saplings, and understory plants that are subjected to trampling and injury have been demonstrated. However, as of yet, no effects on epiphytic plants have been reported. In this paper, we demonstrate the impact of research trails on the abundance of an epiphytic tropical bromeliad, Guzmania vittata, at a research site in Peruvian Amazonia. Compared to the interior of the forest, the abundance of this bromeliad is significantly higher along the research trails. While we do not know the exact cause for the increased bromeliad abundance along the trails, we discuss enhanced dispersal of anemochorous seeds as a potential mechanism that generates this impact.
Precipitation Constrains Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Infection Rates in a Terrestrial Frog Assemblage in Jamaica, West Indies
Authors: Holmes Iris , McLaren Kurt , Wilson Byron 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe model Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infection rates in Jamaican frogs—one of the most threatened amphibian fauna in the world. The majority of species we surveyed were terrestrial direct‐developing frogs or frogs that breed in tank bromeliads, rather than those that use permanent water bodies to breed. Thus, we were able to investigate the climatic correlates of Bd infection in a frog assemblage that does not rely on permanent water bodies. We sampled frogs for Bd across all of the major habitat types on the island, used machine learning algorithms to identify climatic variables that are correlated with infection rates, and extrapolated infection rates across the island. We compared the effectiveness of the machine learning algorithms for species distribution modeling in the context of our study, and found that infection rate rose quickly with precipitation in the driest month. Infection rates also increased with mean temperature in the warmest quarter until 22 °C, and remained relatively level thereafter. Both of these results are in accordance with previous studies of the physiology of Bd. Based on our environmental results, we suggest that frogs occupying high‐precipitation habitats with cool rainy‐season temperatures, though zcurrently experiencing low frequencies of infection, may experience an increase in infection rates as global warming increases temperatures in their habitat.
Foraging Relationships Between Elephants and Lantana camara Invasion in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, India
Authors: Wilson Gaius , Gruber Monica A. M. , Lester Philip J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractLantana camara is a widespread exotic invasive species in India, capable of dominating and displacing native forage species. We investigated whether L. camara was associated with variation in elephant foraging behavior in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, India. The behavioral responses of elephants to L. camara were assessed from feeding and stepping rates. Elephants were never observed to feed on L. camara, but rather fed on grass and browse present within and around L. camara patches. A multiple regression analysis showed that feeding rates were negatively associated with L. camara invasion (F1, 55 = 4.26, R2 = 0.07), but not stepping rates. Instead, grass cover and browse density were associated with stepping rates (F2, 55 = 11.16, R2 = 0.30). Path analysis indicated that the total effect of L. camara on feeding rates was 11 percent (β = −0.24) less than the direct negative association (β = −0.27) owing to a positive indirect association of L. camara with feeding rates through grass cover and browse density (β = 0.03), while stepping rates were negatively associated with grass cover (β = −0.39) and positively associated with browse density (β = 0.38). Our results indicate that L. camara appears capable of modifying feeding rates of elephants, likely through a loss of grass areas due to L. camara invasion. Experimental work is needed to test for causal relationships among the variables we measured, to enhance our understanding of how invasive weeds modify elephant behavior.
Foraging Ecology of the Tropical Giant Hunting Ant Dinoponera australis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)—Evaluating Mechanisms for High Abundance
Authors: Tillberg Chadwick V. , Edmonds Benjamin , Freauff Alex , Hanisch Priscila E. , Paris Carolina , Smith Chris R. , Tsutsui Neil D. , Wills Bill D. , Wittman Sarah E. , Suarez Andrew V. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractA central goal of ecology is to understand the mechanisms behind variation in the abundance of species. Food web theory predicts higher biomass for animals at lower trophic levels. However, some high trophic level species may reach great abundance via highly efficient foraging behaviors. We evaluated ecological and behavioral traits of the giant tropical ant Dinoponera australis related to these mechanisms. We determined its distribution and abundance, documented its foraging behavior, and measured its trophic position in a population at P.N. Iguazú, Argentina. We report that D. australis colonies are overdispersed, and the species reaches a wet biomass of more than 2.5 kg/ha at this site. Dinoponera australis foraging behavior is characterized by route fidelity of individual workers, with different individuals specializing on different areas around the nest. Finally, stable isotopic evidence and direct observation suggest these ants are among the top predators in this terrestrial invertebrate community. We interpret our findings in the context of how the behavior of an abundant top predator creates an exception to the usual trade‐off between biomass and trophic level. Together these data provide insight into the biology of one of the world's largest ants and why they may be able to attain such high densities where they occur.
Human herpesvirus‐6 encephalopathy after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and class I human leukocyte antigen
Authors: Yamamoto Wataru , Ogusa Eriko , Matsumoto Kenji , Maruta Atsuo , Ishigatsubo Yoshiaki , Kanamori Heiwa 
Published: March 2014

AbstractHuman herpesvirus‐6 (HHV‐6) encephalopathy is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Although reactivation of HHV‐6 is often observed after allo‐HSCT, encephalopathy only affects a few patients with HHV‐6 reactivation. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I is expressed by most somatic cells, and a relationship between some class I alleles and neurological diseases has been reported. The HHV‐6 load at two, three, and four weeks after allo‐HSCT was examined. HHV‐6 encephalopathy was diagnosed from symptoms, results of cerebrospinal fluid examination, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. The relation between HHV‐6 reactivation or encephalopathy and the HLA class I status of the recipients was investigated. In 130 patients, 147 allo‐HSCT transplantation procedures were carried out. HHV‐6 reactivation and encephalopathy occurred in 56 and nine procedures, respectively. HLA mismatch (p = 0.008) and unrelated donor (p = 0.001) were associated with HHV‐6 reactivation, but not with HHV‐6 encephalopathy. HHV‐6 encephalopathy was more frequent in patients with HLA‐B*40:06 (p = 0.027). In addition, HLA‐A*26:01 and HLA‐B*40:06 were found to be associated with each other (p = 0.089), while HLA‐B*40:06 and HLA‐C*08:01 showed a significant association (p < 0.001). The HLA class I alleles of recipients may be associated with the occurrence of HHV‐6 encephalopathy after allo‐HSCT.
Early hospital readmissions post‐kidney transplantation are associated with inferior clinical outcomes
Authors: Luan F. L. , Barrantes F. , Roth R. S. , Samaniego M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractUnplanned hospital readmissions are common early post‐kidney transplantation. We investigated the relationship between early hospital readmissions and clinical outcomes in a single‐center retrospective study that included all adult kidney transplant patients between 2004 and 2008 with follow‐up to December 2012. The early hospital readmissions within the first 30 d were numbered and the diagnosis ascertained. Patients were grouped as none, once, and twice or more readmissions. Predictors of early readmissions were assessed, and clinical outcomes and patient and death‐censored kidney survival were compared. Among 1064 patients, 203 (19.1%) patients had once and 83 (7.8%) patients had twice or more readmissions within 30 d. Surgical complications, infections, and acute kidney injuries/acute rejection were three most common diagnoses. The length of initial hospital stay and African American race were among the variables associated significantly with readmissions. Patients with early readmissions had lower baseline renal function (p < 0.01) and more early acute rejection (p < 0.01). During follow‐up, only frequent readmissions, twice or more, within 30 d were associated with increased risk of death (AHR 1.75, p = 0.01) and death‐censored kidney failure (AHR 2.20, p < 0.01). Frequent early hospital readmissions post‐transplantation identify patients at risk for poor long‐term outcomes, and more studies are needed to understand the mechanisms.