bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiation with cisplatin or carboplatin for locally advanced cervix cancer: The experience of a tertiary cancer centre
Authors: Au‐Yeung George , Mileshkin Linda , Bernshaw David M , Kondalsamy‐Chennakesavan Srinivas , Rischin Danny , Narayan Kailash 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIntroductionDefinitive treatment with concurrent cisplatin and radiation is the standard of care for locally advanced cervix cancer. The optimal management of patients with a contraindication to cisplatin has not been established. We conducted a retrospective audit of concurrent chemotherapy in a cohort of patients with locally advanced cervix cancer.MethodsAll patients with locally advanced cervix cancer treated with definitive radiation were entered into a prospective database. Information regarding their demographics, stage, histology, recurrence and survival were recorded. Pharmacy records were reviewed to determine concurrent chemotherapy use.ResultsA total of 442 patients were included in the audit. Two hundred sixty‐nine patients received cisplatin, 59 received carboplatin and 114 received no concurrent chemotherapy. Overall survival was significantly improved with the use of concurrent cisplatin compared with radiation alone (adjusted hazard ratio 0.53, P = 0.001), as was disease‐free survival and rate of distant failure. The use of carboplatin was not associated with any significant benefit in terms of overall survival or disease‐free survival.ConclusionThe results of this audit are consistent with the known significant survival benefit with concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy. However, there did not appear to be any significant benefit with carboplatin although there were potential confounding factors. The available evidence in the literature would favour the use of non‐platinum chemotherapy rather than carboplatin in patients with contraindications to cisplatin.
Human cytomegalovirus infection in humanized liver chimeric mice
Authors: Kawahara Toshiyasu , Lisboa Luiz Filipe , Cader Sonia , Douglas Donna N. , Nourbakhsh Mahra , Pu Christopher H. , Lewis Jamie T. , Churchill Thomas A. , Humar Atul , Kneteman Norman M. 
Published: October 2012

AimCytomegalovirus is a common viral pathogen that influences the outcome of organ transplantation. To date, there is no established method to evaluate the effects of human CMV (HCMV) treatments in vivo except for human clinical trials. In the current study, we describe the development of a mouse model that supports the in vivo propagation of HCMV.MethodsOne million viable human hepatocytes, purified from human livers, were injected into the spleens of severe combined immunodeficient/albumin linked‐urokinase type plasminogen activator transgenic mice. A clinical strain of HCMV was inoculated in mice with confirmed human hepatocyte engraftment or in non‐chimeric controls. Infection was monitored through HCMV titers in the plasma. Mice were administrated ganciclovir (50 mg/kg per day, i.p.) beginning at 2 days post‐HCMV inoculation, or human liver natural killer (NK) cells (20 × 106 cells/mouse, i.v.) 1 day prior to HCMV inoculation.ResultsChimeric mice that received HCMV showed high plasma titers of HCMV DNA on days 1 and 6 that became undetectable by day 11 post‐inoculation. In contrast, non‐transplanted mice had only residual plasma inoculum detection at day 1 and no detectable viremia thereafter. The levels of HCMV DNA were reduced by ganciclovir treatment or by human liver NK cell adoptive transfer, while HCMV‐infected chimeric mice that were not treated sustained viremia during the follow up.ConclusionHuman liver chimeric mice provide an in vivo model for the study of acute HCMV infection of hepatocytes.
Association of internal exposure of cadmium and lead with periodontal disease: a study of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Won Young‐Soon , Kim Ji‐Hyun , Kim Young‐Soo , Bae Kwang‐Hak 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimsThis study was performed to examine the association of the internal exposure of cadmium and lead with periodontitis in a representative sample of adults, who were involved in the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).Materials and methodsOne thousand nine hundred and sixty‐six subjects over the age of 19 who participated in KNHANES were examined. Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) exposure were grouped into three categories: low (<25th percentile), middle (25th–75th percentile) and high (≥75th percentile). The periodontal status was assessed by the Community Periodontal Index. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to get the adjusted odds ratio (OR), and subgroup analysis was also performed. All analyses considered a complex sampling design.ResultsThe multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed associations of Cd with periodontitis. Subjects with a high Cd had a 1.57 (95% CI: 1.03‐2.38) times higher OR for periodontitis than those with a low Cd. In the subgroup analysis, the association of Pb and Cd with periodontitis was different according to the strata of gender and smoking.ConclusionsHigh Cd could be associated with periodontitis in females and current smokers, and middle Pb showed associations in females and non‐smokers among a representative sample of adults in Korea.
New records of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) predation by Brazilian Hemipteran predatory bugs
Authors: Bueno V. H. P. , van Lenteren J. C. , Lins J. C. , Calixto A. M. , Montes F. C. , Silva D. B. , Santiago L. D. , Pérez L. M. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe tomato borer Tuta absoluta, native to western South America, is an extremely devastating pest in tomato crops in most of South America, Europe and Africa North of the Sahel, causes yield losses up to 100% and decreases fruit quality in open field and greenhouse crops if control methods are not applied. In Brazil two other important lepidopteran pests – Neoleucinodes elegantalis and Helicoverpa zea – occur in tomato, as well as thrips, whiteflies and aphids. For control of these pests, frequent applications of pesticides of up to 5 times per week are needed, and these resulted in the appearance of resistant populations to a number of active ingredients and decimation of natural enemies. Biological control may offer a better, safer and more sustainable opportunity for pest management. Mirid predatory bugs are currently used with success in southern Europe to control T. absoluta and other pests. In Brazil, four Hemipteran predatory bugs, not yet known to attack T. absoluta, were found to successfully prey on eggs and larvae of this pest. The first results on their predation capacity, development, survival and reproduction on T. absoluta on tomato plants are presented.
Modeling the Growth of Escherichia coli under the Effects of Carum copticum Essential Oil, pH, Temperature and NaCl Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Shahnia Maryam , Schaffner Donald W. , Khanlarkhani Ali , Shahraz Farzaneh , Radmehr Behrad , Khaksar Ramin 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe effects of temperature (20–42C), pH value (4.5–8.5), concentration of sodium chloride (0–5% w/v) and concentration of Carum copticum essential oil (0–750 ppm) on the growth parameters of Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) were investigated. The growth curves generated within different conditions were fitted using Baranyi function. To achieve much more useful results in the context of hazard analysis and critical control points and risk analysis studies, the variation on model parameters was obtained using Monte Carlo analysis. A normal distribution over the experimental data was considered. Two growth parameters (growth rate [GR] and lag time [LT]) of the growth curves under combined effects of temperature, pH, sodium chloride and essential oil were modeled using a quadratic polynomial equation of response surface (RS) model. Mathematical evaluation demonstrated that the standard error of prediction (%SEP) and root mean square error obtained by RS model were 13.941% and 0.011 for GR and 0.274% and 0.053 for LT for model establishing. The results showed that RS model provided a useful and accurate method for predicting the growth parameters of E. coli and could be applied to ensure food safety with respect to E. coli control.Practical ApplicationsThe increasing incidence of foodborne outbreaks resulting in social and economic losses still provokes the need to search for novel strategies in order to prevent food contamination. In this panorama, plant extracts have emerged as unique sources of useful metabolites to provide microbiological safety of foods. Carum copticum is an aromatic, grassy, annual plant that geographically grows in Iran, India, Pakistan and Egypt, and its antimicrobial activities have been established in previous studies. In addition, during the recent decades, there has been a dramatic enhancement in research on the development of mathematical models. Growth predictive modeling has been so widespread that it is now one of the most rapidly advancing fields of study. Over the past few years, response surface methodology (RSM) has been proposed as an efficient modeling technique in predictive microbiology. Considering this, we suggest that RSM can be used as a prediction tool in food safety.
Medical termination of pregnancy in cynomolgus macaques
Authors: Micks Elizabeth , Shekell Taylor , Stanley Jessica , Zelinski Mary , Martin Lauren , Riefenberg Serena , Adevai Tiffany , Jensen Jeffrey 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackgroundAlthough pregnancy is expected during studies of novel contraceptives in non‐human primates, gestation, delivery, and lactation remove females from groups for prolonged intervals. As the macaque cervix does not facilitate transcervical surgical termination of pregnancy, we sought to establish a medical termination protocol.MethodsA descriptive case series of outcomes of medical termination of pregnancy up to 32 days gestation in cynomolgus monkeys. Efficacy and time to uterine resolution were determined according to medication, dose, and route of administration.ResultsThirty‐seven macaques underwent 65 medical terminations. Over 80% of animals terminated after initial treatment with mifepristone 20 mg intramuscularly (IM). Intrafetal methotrexate was effective for salvage treatment. Medical termination regimens were less effective for animals receiving investigational contraceptive agents.ConclusionsMedical termination for macaques is safe and effective. We recommend a protocol with mifepristone 20 mg IM and misoprostol 200 µg buccally as initial treatment.
Regulation of iron–sulphur cluster homeostasis through transcriptional control of the Isc pathway by [2Fe–2S]–IscR in Escherichia coli
Authors: Giel Jennifer L. , Nesbit April D. , Mettert Erin L. , Fleischhacker Angela S. , Wanta Brendan T. , Kiley Patricia J. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryFe–S clusters are essential across the biological world, yet how cells regulate expression of Fe–S cluster biogenesis pathways to cope with changes in Fe–S cluster demand is not well understood. Here, we describe the mechanism by which IscR, a [2Fe–2S] cluster‐containing regulator of Escherichia coli, adjusts the synthesis of the Isc Fe–S biogenesis pathway to maintain Fe–S homeostasis. Our data indicate that a negative feedback loop operates to repress transcription of the iscRSUA–hscBA–fdx operon, encoding IscR and the Isc machinery, through binding of [2Fe–2S]–IscR to two upstream binding sites. IscR was shown to require primarily the Isc pathway for synthesis of its Fe–S cluster, providing a link between IscR activity and demands for Fe–S clusters through the levels of the Isc system. Surprisingly, the isc operon was more repressed under anaerobic conditions, indicating increased Fe–S cluster occupancy of IscR and decreased Fe–S cluster biogenesis demand relative to aerobic conditions. Consistent with this notion, overexpression of a Fe–S protein under aerobic conditions, but not under anaerobic conditions, led to derepression of PiscR. Together, these data show how transcriptional control of iscRSUA–hscBA–fdx by [2Fe–2S]–IscR allows E. coli to respond efficiently to varying Fe–S demands.
Identification of glucose kinase‐dependent and ‐independent pathways for carbon control of primary metabolism, development and antibiotic production inStreptomyces coelicolorby quantitative proteomics
Authors: Gubbens Jacob , Janus Marleen , Florea Bogdan I. , Overkleeft Herman S. , van Wezel Gilles P. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryMembers of the soil‐dwelling prokaryotic genusStreptomycesare indispensable for the recycling of complex polysaccharides, and produce a wide range of natural products. Nutrient availability is a major determinant for the switch to development and antibiotic production in streptomycetes. Carbon catabolite repression (CCR), a main signalling pathway underlying this phenomenon, was so far considered fully dependent on the glycolytic enzyme glucose kinase (Glk). Here we provide evidence of a novelGlk‐independent pathway inStreptomyces coelicolor, using advanced proteomics that allowed the comparison of the expression of some 2000 proteins, including virtually all enzymes for central metabolism. WhileCCRand inducer exclusion of enzymes for primary and secondary metabolism and precursor supply for natural products is mostly mediated viaGlk, enzymes for the urea cycle, as well as for biosynthesis of the γ‐butyrolactoneScb1 and the responsive cryptic polyketideCpkare subject toGlk‐independentCCR. Deletion ofglkAled to strong downregulation of biosynthetic proteins for prodigionins and calcium‐dependent antibiotic (CDA) in mannitol‐grown cultures. Repression ofbldB,bldN, and its targetbldMmay explain the poor development ofS. coelicoloron solid‐grown cultures containing glucose. A new model for carbon catabolite repression in streptomycetes is presented.
Arecoline‐stimulated placenta growth factor production in gingival epithelial cells: modulation by curcumin
Authors: Cheng S‐J , Ko H‐H , Cheng S‐L , Lee J‐J , Chen H‐M , Chang H‐H , Kok S‐H , Kuo MY‐P , Chiang C‐P 
Published: October 2012

ObjectivePlacenta growth factor (PlGF) is associated with the progression and prognosis of oral cancer.Materials and MethodsThis study used ELISA, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting to study the arecoline‐stimulated (PlGF) protein or mRNA expression in human gingival epithelial S‐G cells.ResultsArecoline, a major areca nut alkaloid and an oral carcinogen, could stimulate PlGF protein synthesis in S‐G cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. The levels of PlGF protein secretion increased about 3.1‐ and 3.8‐fold after 24‐h exposure to 0.4 and 0.8 mM arecoline, respectively. Pretreatment with antioxidant N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine (NAC) and ERK inhibitor PD98059, but not NF‐κB inhibitor Bay 11‐7082, JNK inhibitor SP600125, p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, and PI3‐K inhibitor LY294002, significantly reduced arecoline‐induced PlGF protein synthesis. ELISA analyses demonstrated that NAC and PD98059 reduced about 43% and 38% of the arecoline‐induced PlGF protein secretion, respectively. However, combined treatment with NAC and PD98059 did not show additive effect. Moreover, 10 μM curcumin and 4 mM NAC significantly inhibited arecoline‐induced ERK activation. Furthermore, 10 μM curcumin completely blocked arecoline‐induced PlGF mRNA expression.ConclusionArecoline‐induced PlGF synthesis is probably mediated by reactive oxygen species/ERK pathways, and curcumin may be an useful agent in controlling oral carcinogenesis.
Significant reduction of homocysteine level with multiple B vitamins in atrophic glossitis patients
Authors: Sun A , Wang Y‐P , Lin H‐P , Chen H‐M , Cheng S‐J , Chiang C‐P 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveThis study evaluated whether supplementations of different vitamins and iron could reduce the serum homocysteine levels in 91 atrophic glossitis (AG) patients.Materials and MethodsAtrophic glossitis (AG) patients with concomitant deficiencies of vitamin B12 only (n = 39, group I), folic acid only (n = 10, group II), iron only (n = 9, group III), or vitamin B12 plus iron (n = 19, group IV) were treated with vitamin BC capsules plus deficient hematinics. AG patients without definite hematinic deficiencies (n = 14, group V) were treated with vitamin BC capsules only. The blood homocysteine and hematinic levels at baseline and after treatment till all oral symptoms had disappeared were measured and compared by paired t‐test.ResultsSupplementations with vitamin BC capsules plus corresponding deficient hematinics for groups I, II, III, IV patients and with vitamin BC capsules only for group V patients could reduce the high serum homocysteine levels to significantly lower levels after a mean treatment period of 8.3–11.6 months (all P‐values < 0.05).ConclusionSupplementations with vitamin BC capsules plus corresponding deficient hematinics or with vitamin BC capsules only can reduce the high serum homocysteine levels to significantly lower levels in AG patients.
RNAi‐mediated Ultra‐low gossypol cottonseed trait: performance of transgenic lines under field conditions
Authors: Palle Sreenath R. , Campbell LeAnne M. , Pandeya Devendra , Puckhaber Lorraine , Tollack Lauren K. , Marcel Sylvain , Sundaram Sabarinath , Stipanovic Robert D. , Wedegaertner Thomas C. , Hinze Lori , Rathore Keerti S. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryCottonseed remains a low‐value by‐product of lint production mainly due to the presence of toxic gossypol that makes it unfit for monogastrics. Ultra‐low gossypol cottonseed (ULGCS) lines were developed using RNAi knockdown of δ‐cadinene synthase gene(s) in Gossypium hirsutum. The purpose of the current study was to assess the stability and specificity of the ULGCS trait and evaluate the agronomic performance of the transgenic lines. Trials conducted over a period of 3 years show that the ULGCS trait was stable under field conditions and the foliage/floral organs of transgenic lines contained wild‐type levels of gossypol and related terpenoids. Although it was a relatively small‐scale study, we did not observe any negative effects on either the yield or quality of the fibre and seed in the transgenic lines compared with the nontransgenic parental plants. Compositional analysis was performed on the seeds obtained from plants grown in the field during 2009. As expected, the major difference between the ULGCS and wild‐type cottonseeds was in terms of their gossypol levels. With the exception of oil content, the composition of ULGCS was similar to that of nontransgenic cottonseeds. Interestingly, the ULGCS had significantly higher (4%–8%) oil content compared with the seeds from the nontransgenic parent. Field trial results confirmed the stability and specificity of the ULGCS trait suggesting that this RNAi‐based product has the potential to be commercially viable. Thus, it may be possible to enhance and expand the nutritional utility of the annual cottonseed output to fulfil the ever‐increasing needs of humanity.
Criticising from “Outside”
Authors: Diamond Cora 
Published: October 2012

AbstractI look at a disagreement between Elizabeth Anscombe, on the one hand, and Peter Winch and Ilham Dilman, on the other, about whether it is legitimate to call something an error that counts as knowledge within some alien system of belief; and I look also at the question what Wittgenstein's view was. I try to show that our understanding of what is real cannot be adequately elucidated if we consider only its role within language‐games, and I argue that an important element in our thinking about what is and is not real emerges in our response to conflicting modes of thought.
CanIHave Your Pain?
Authors: Schroeder Severin 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIn the so‐called private language argument,Wittgenstein argues both against the alleged epistemological privacy of sensations and against their alleged ontological privacy, that is, the common view that somebody else cannothavemy pain. A prominent proponent of the claim of sensations' ontological privacy wasGottlobFrege, whose position has recently been defended byWolfgangKünne. This paper reconsidersWittgenstein's objections to ontological privacy and attempts to defendWittgenstein's position againstKünne'sFrege‐inspired arguments.
Firm Heterogeneity, Informal Wage and Good Governance
Authors: Marjit Sugata , Kar Saibal 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThis paper provides an analysis of enforcement policies applicable to formal sector in dual labor markets, using a framework with heterogeneous firms, endogenous determination of informal wage, and politically dictated enforcement strategies. Firms that operate both in the formal and informal sectors do very little to increase employment when faced with the opportunity of hiring workers in the informal labor market. Thus enforcement of labor laws and other regulations should not have aggregate employment effects, particularly when workers are productively homogeneous. For firms operating exclusively in the informal sector, the outcome is different. Such features determine the stringency of enforcement in a market characterized by firms with varying levels of productivity. For example, in the case of firms with relatively high levels of productivity, enforcement has to be stricter than in the case with relatively low productivity firms. Taxing the more productive seems to be the optimal strategy.
Firing Regulations and Firm Size in the Developing World: Evidence from Differential Enforcement
Authors: Almeida Rita K. , Susanlı Z. Bilgen 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThis paper examines how stringent de facto firing regulations affect firm size throughout the developing world. A large firm level dataset is used across 63 countries and within country variation in the enforcement of the labor codes in countries with very different de jure firing regulations is explored. The findings strongly suggest that firms facing a stricter enforcement of firing regulations are on average smaller. This finding is interpreted as supportive of the fact that more stringent de facto firing regulations tend to reduce average employment. Robust evidence is found that this effect is stronger for more labor intensive manufacturing firms, especially those operating in low‐technology sectors. Evidence also shows that this negative correlation does not hold in countries with a very weak rule of law.
Public Disclosure, Reputation Sensitivity, and Labor Law Compliance: Evidence from Better Factories Cambodia
Authors: Ang Debra , Brown Drusilla , Dehejia Rajeev , Robertson Raymond 
Published: October 2012

AbstractPublic disclosure of labor conditions has been suggested as one way to encourage compliance with labor law and improvements in working conditions. Analyzing labor law compliance data in the apparel industry from Better Factories Cambodia, this paper finds that after the elimination of public disclosure of factory‐level noncompliance the rate of increase in compliance slowed,but did not return to the baseline, even in the absence of a reputation sensitive buyer.
Contribution Evasion and Expected Survival: Evidence from Bulgaria
Authors: Perotti Valeria 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThis paper analyzes the evasion of social security contributions and its relationship with individual characteristics such as subjective survival expectations and perceptions on the link between contributions and benefits. In the theoretical framework, a representative worker maximizes expected intertemporal utility by choosing the optimal fraction of evaded contributions. The model predicts that under the assumption of liquidity constraints evasion may be optimal even when it has negative implications on the budget constraint, because it provides a way of weakening the liquidity constraint. In particular, evasion is decreasing in the individual's survival probability and in the Bismarckian factor characterizing the pension system. Results from the empirical analysis, carried out using data from a pilot survey in Bulgaria, show that the evasion of social security contributions is less likely among individuals with higher subjective survival probabilities and who perceive a strong link between contributions and pension benefits.