bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Family planning practice and predictors of risk of inconsistent condom use among HIV-positive women on anti-retroviral therapy in Cambodia
Authors: Nakaie Naomi , Tuon Sovanna , Nozaki Ikuma , Yamaguchi Fuzuki , Sasaki Yuri , Kakimoto Kazuhiro 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundIn Cambodia, while anti-retroviral therapy (ART) services are increasingly available, the unmet needs of family planning among general population are high. These facts raise concern on possible exposure of many HIV-positive women on ART to the potential risk of unintended pregnancy. This study aimed to clarify family planning practices in Cambodia and determine predictors of risk of inconsistent condom use among women on ART.MethodsA cross-sectional survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted at five government-run health centers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from June to September, 2012. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of risk of inconsistent condom use among regular users of contraceptive methods.ResultsOf 408 respondents, 40, 17 and 10 used the pill, IUD, and injection, respectively, while 193 used condoms. 374 were not planning to have a child. Among 238 sexually active women who were not planning to have a baby, 59 were exposed to the risk of unintended pregnancy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis that did not include variables related to partners identified "seeking family planning information" (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.6, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.1-6.2), awareness of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) (AOR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.9-11.6) and "having a son" (AOR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.9) were significant predictors of inconsistent condom use. Another model that included all variables identified “able to ask a partner to use condom at every sexual intercourse” was the only predictor (AOR: 23.7, 95% CI: 5.8-97.6).ConclusionsAbout one-quarter of women on ART are at risk to unintended pregnancy although most do not plan to get pregnant. Furthermore, women on ART could be more empowered through improvement of communication and negotiation skills with partners to demand the use of condom during sexual intercourse. The use of other contraceptive methods that do not need partner involvement should be promoted.
Time-resolved photoluminescence studies of annealed 1.3-μm GaInNAsSb quantum wells
Authors: Baranowski Michal , Kudrawiec Robert , Syperek Marcin , Misiewicz Jan , Sarmiento Tomas , Harris James S 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) was applied to study the dynamics of carrier recombination in GaInNAsSb quantum wells (QWs) emitting near 1.3 μm and annealed at various temperatures. It was observed that the annealing temperature has a strong influence on the PL decay time, and hence, it influences the optical quality of GaInNAsSb QWs. At low temperatures, the PL decay time exhibits energy dependence (i.e., the decay times change for different energies of emitted photons), which can be explained by the presence of localized states. This energy dependence of PL decay times was fitted by a phenomenological formula, and the average value of E
0, which describes the energy distribution of localized states, was extracted from this fit and found to be smallest (E
0 = 6 meV) for the QW annealed at 700°C. In addition, the value of PL decay time at the peak energy was compared for all samples. The longest PL decay time (600 ps) was observed for the sample annealed at 700°C. It means that based on the PL dynamics, the optimal annealing temperature for this QW is approximately 700°C.
Proteomic analysis of human osteoarthritis synovial fluid
Authors: Balakrishnan Lavanya , Nirujogi Raja Sekhar , Ahmad Sartaj , Bhattacharjee Mitali , Manda Srikanth S , Renuse Santosh , Kelkar Dhanashree S , Subbannayya Yashwanth , Raju Rajesh , Goel Renu , Thomas Joji Kurian , Kaur Navjyot , Dhillon Mukesh , Tankala Shantal Gupta , Jois Ramesh , Vasdev Vivek , Ramachandra YL , Sahasrabuddhe Nandini A , Prasad TS Keshava , Mohan Sujatha , Gowda Harsha , Shankar Subramanian , Pandey Akhilesh 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Background
Osteoarthritis is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterized mainly by progressive degradation of the hyaline cartilage. Patients with osteoarthritis often postpone seeking medical help, which results in the diagnosis being made at an advanced stage of cartilage destruction. Sustained efforts are needed to identify specific markers that might help in early diagnosis, monitoring disease progression and in improving therapeutic outcomes. We employed a multipronged proteomic approach, which included multiple fractionation strategies followed by high resolution mass spectrometry analysis to explore the proteome of synovial fluid obtained from osteoarthritis patients. In addition to the total proteome, we also enriched glycoproteins from synovial fluid using lectin affinity chromatography.

Results
We identified 677 proteins from synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis of which 545 proteins have not been previously reported. These novel proteins included ADAM-like decysin 1 (ADAMDEC1), alanyl (membrane) aminopeptidase (ANPEP), CD84, fibulin 1 (FBLN1), matrix remodelling associated 5 (MXRA5), secreted phosphoprotein 2 (SPP2) and spondin 2 (SPON2). We identified 300 proteins using lectin affinity chromatography, including the glycoproteins afamin (AFM), attractin (ATRN), fibrillin 1 (FBN1), transferrin (TF), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) and vasorin (VSN). Gene ontology analysis confirmed that a majority of the identified proteins were extracellular and are mostly involved in cell communication and signaling. We also confirmed the expression of ANPEP, dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 3 (DKK3) and osteoglycin (OGN) by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis of osteoarthritis synovial fluid samples.

Conclusions
We present an in-depth analysis of the synovial fluid proteome from patients with osteoarthritis. We believe that the catalog of proteins generated in this study will further enhance our knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis and should assist in identifying better biomarkers for early diagnosis.
Streptococcus acidominimus causing invasive disease in humans: a case series
Authors: Wu Chaoneng , Liang Buqing , Gong Yunguo , Zhang Lan , Zou Yunzeng , Ge Junbo 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Introduction

Streptococcus acidominimus is a member of the viridans group streptococci and is rarely pathogenic in humans, making it difficult to assess its epidemiologic and clinical significance.

Case presentation
We report the cases of five Han Chinese patients with invasive diseases caused by S. acidominimus over a one-year time frame. Three of the patients developed continuous fever after surgery, consisting of a successful elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (case 1), a laparoscopic esophageal resection and gastroesophageal anastomosis (case 2), and a liver transplant in a patient with liver cancer (case 3). For these three patients, cultures of the purulent drainage material grew S. acidominimus. Case 4 concerns a 52-year-old man who developed sepsis 48 hours after hospitalization for hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis-related glomerulonephritis. Case 5 concerns a 55-year-old woman receiving regular hemodialysis who had low-grade fever for one month. For these two patients, blood cultures grew S. acidominimus. An antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that S. acidominimus was resistant to clindamycin and, to some degree, beta-lactam or macrolides. The S. acidominimus from the patient on hemodialysis was resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Conclusion

S. acidominimus is an ever-increasing cause of disease, especially in patients who are critically ill. It is showing increased resistance to antimicrobial agents, so in patients with viridans group streptococci infections, it is necessary to identify the species to improve the clinical management of S. acidominimus.
Replication of linkage at chromosome 20p13 and identification of suggestive sex-differential risk loci for autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Werling Donna M , Lowe Jennifer K , Luo Rui , Cantor Rita M , Geschwind Daniel H 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundAutism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are male-biased and genetically heterogeneous. While sequencing of sporadic cases has identifiedde novorisk variants, the heritable genetic contribution and mechanisms driving the male bias are less understood. Here, we aimed to identify familial and sex-differential risk loci in the largest available, uniformly ascertained, densely genotyped sample of multiplex ASD families from the Autism Genetics Resource Exchange (AGRE), and to compare results with earlier findings from AGRE.MethodsFrom a total sample of 1,008 multiplex families, we performed genome-wide, non-parametric linkage analysis in a discovery sample of 847 families, and separately on subsets of families with only male, affected children (male-only, MO) or with at least one female, affected child (female-containing, FC). Loci showing evidence for suggestive linkage (logarithm of odds ≥2.2) in this discovery sample, or in previous AGRE samples, were re-evaluated in an extension study utilizing all 1,008 available families. For regions with genome-wide significant linkage signal in the discovery stage, those families not included in the corresponding discovery sample were then evaluated for independent replication of linkage. Association testing of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was also performed within suggestive linkage regions.ResultsWe observed an independent replication of previously observed linkage at chromosome 20p13 (P < 0.01), while loci at 6q27 and 8q13.2 showed suggestive linkage in our extended sample. Suggestive sex-differential linkage was observed at 1p31.3 (MO), 8p21.2 (FC), and 8p12 (FC) in our discovery sample, and the MO signal at 1p31.3 was supported in our expanded sample. No sex-differential signals met replication criteria, and no common SNPs were significantly associated with ASD within any identified linkage regions.ConclusionsWith few exceptions, analyses of subsets of families from the AGRE cohort identify different risk loci, consistent with extreme locus heterogeneity in ASD. Large samples appear to yield more consistent results, and sex-stratified analyses facilitate the identification of sex-differential risk loci, suggesting that linkage analyses in large cohorts are useful for identifying heritable risk loci. Additional work, such as targeted re-sequencing, is needed to identify the specific variants within these loci that are responsible for increasing ASD risk.
Process optimization and production kinetics for cellulase production by Trichoderma viride VKF3
Authors: Nathan Vinod Kumar , Esther Rani Mary , Rathinasamy Gunaseeli , Dhiraviam Kannan Narayanan , Jayavel Sridhar 
Published: February 2014

AbstractMicrobial cellulases are the enzymes widely studied due to their enormous applications in biochemical industry. Among 12 fungal isolates isolated from mangrove plant debris and soil sample collected from Valanthakad Mangroves, Kerala, India, 3 of them were found to exhibit cellulolytic activity. Among them, the most potent isolate which exhibited maximum cellulolytic activity was identified asTrichoderma virideVKF3 [Gene bank accession number- JX683684.1] based on colony morphology, microscopic observation and molecular centeracterization using D1/D2 region amplification. The isolateT. virideVKF3 was found to be non-phytopathogenic against the selected plants. Neighbour joining tree depicted its least divergence rate from the root taxon HM466686.1.T. virideVKF3 was grown under dynamic carbon, nitrogen sources, pH and temperature of the medium to draw out the optimum conditions for cellulase production. Protein stability kinetics and biomass production was also studied upto 11thday of incubation. It was evident from the study, that dextrose and beef extract could be used as major carbon and nitrogen sources in submerged fermentation at pH 9.0 and incubation temperature of 25°C to get maximum CMCase yield. Optimum enzyme recovery period was identified between 5thto 9thdays of incubation beyond which the enzyme activity was reduced. By comparing two fermentation methods, submerged fermentation was found to be the best for maximum enzyme production. But utilization of substrates like sugarcane bagasse and cassava starch waste in the SSF offers a better scope in biodegradation of solid waste contributing to solid waste management.
A comparison of bolus injection of landiolol versus oral administration of propranolol before cardiac computed tomography
Authors: Nakamura Yoshitaka , Yamaji Kyohei , Saho Tatsunori , Matsuzaki Zyousin , Yuda Itsuo , Soga Yoshimitsu , Shirai Shinichi , Ando Kenji , Nobuyoshi Masakiyo 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Heart rate (HR) reduction is essential to achieve good image quality for cardiac computed tomography (CCT). We evaluated the efficacy of a bolus injection of landiolol, an ultra-short acting β-blocker, without the administration of oral β-blocker to reduce HR prior to CCT. We enrolled 678 consecutive patients who underwent CCT from December 2011 to March 2012 and divided them into three groups, which were a propranolol group (n = 277), a low-dose landiolol group (n = 188), and a high-dose landiolol group (n = 213). Patients in the propranolol group received oral propranolol (10–20 mg) prior to CCT. Patients in the low-dose and high-dose landiolol groups were administered a bolus injection of landiolol (0.125 mg/kg), while the high-dose group received an additional 3.75 mg of landiolol if the baseline HR was ≥75/min. Although the average HR was significantly lower in the propranolol group (61.6 ± 8.0/min) than in the low-dose landiolol group (64.1 ± 7.4/min, P < 0.001), there was no significant difference in the image quality (P = 0.91). Among patients with baseline HR ≥75/min, the average HR tended to be lower in the high-dose landiolol group (67.2 ± 6.9/min) compared with the low-dose landiolol group (69.0 ± 6.9/min, P = 0.10), and there was a corresponding difference in image quality between these two groups (P = 0.02). In conclusion, Although the decrease of HR was significantly larger in the propranolol group than in the landiolol groups, the image quality was similar. Among the patients who received landiolol, a higher dose was associated with a lower HR and better image quality. Further investigation to assess higher-dose bolus injection of landiolol or bolus injection following oral administration of a β-blocker would be needed.
Skeletal muscle mass and mortality - but what about functional outcome?
Authors: Puthucheary Zudin A , Hart Nicholas 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe have known for over a decade that critical illness survivors suffer from significant functional disability after hospital discharge. Muscle wasting is a major contributor to this disability, occurring early and rapidly during critical illness, with the subsequent weakness associated with delayed weaning and prolonged hospital stay. The scale of this long-term public health issue is concerning for two important reasons: increasing numbers of patients survive critical illness, and this is compounded by the lack of interventions to reduce skeletal muscle wasting to combat the functional disability. In the current issue of Critical Care, Weijs and colleagues demonstrate an indirect relationship between skeletal muscle mass on admission to the ICU and mortality. Observational data were obtained from 240 critically ill patients, all of whom received abdominal computer tomography scans for clinical reasons. Skeletal muscle volume was calculated for all visible skeletal muscle at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. In both continuous and categorical regression analysis, lower muscle volume on admission was associated with higher mortality, independent of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and gender. Interestingly, no association was observed between mortality and body mass index. These data also demonstrate that more than twice as many critical illness survivors with a low muscle mass on admission, compared to those with preserved muscle mass, were discharged to a nursing home. While this approach is novel and the results support the current clinical view in this area, one must regard these data with caution. Clinically relevant details, such as prior functional status, are not available. Despite these caveats, this study has two main messages. Firstly, muscle mass on admission to the ICU is a predictor of mortality and this physiological biomarker should therefore strongly be considered as an outcome measure in interventional studies. Secondly, low admission muscle mass is associated with increased disability and, in the case of this study, associated with an increased frequency of discharge to nursing homes. Further investigation is required to demonstrate the relationship between muscle mass, functional ability and discharge location.
Mesenchymal stem cells induce endothelial cell quiescence and promote capillary formation
Authors: Pedersen Torbjorn O , Blois Anna L , Xue Ying , Xing Zhe , Sun Yang , Finne-Wistrand Anna , Lorens James B , Fristad Inge , Leknes Knut N , Mustafa Kamal 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Rapid establishment of functional blood vessels is a prerequisite for successful tissue engineering. During vascular development, endothelial cells (ECs) and perivascular cells assemble into a complex regulating proliferation of ECs, vessel diameter and production of extracellular matrix proteins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to establish an endothelial-perivascular complex in tissue-engineered constructs comprising ECs and MSCs.

Methods
Primary human ECs and MSCs were seeded onto poly(L-lactide-co-1,5-dioxepan-2-one) (poly(LLA-co-DXO)) scaffolds and grown in dynamic culture before subcutaneous implantation in immunocompromised mice for 1 and 3 weeks. Cellular activity, angiogenic stimulation and vascular assembly in cell/scaffold constructs seeded with ECs or ECs/MSCs in a 5:1 ratio was monitored with real-time RT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemical microscopy analysis.

Results
A quiescent phenotype of ECs was generated, by adding MSCs to the culture system. Decreased proliferation of ECs, in addition to up-regulation of selected markers for vascular maturation was demonstrated. Baseline expression of VEGFa was higher for MSCs compared with EC (P <0.001), with subsequent up-regulated VEGFa-expression for EC/MSC constructs before (P <0.05) and after implantation (P <0.01). Furthermore, an inflammatory response with CD11b + cells was generated from implantation of human cells. At the end of the 3 week experimental period, a higher vascular density was shown for both cellular constructs compared with empty control scaffolds (P <0.01), with the highest density of capillaries being generated in constructs comprising both ECs and MSCs.

Conclusions
Induction of a quiescent phenotype of ECs associated with vascular maturation can be achieved by co-seeding with MSCs. Hence, MSCs can be appropriate perivascular cells for tissue-engineered constructs.
Diagnosis of styles of behavior for team relationship management
Authors: Асмолова Марина , Asmolova Marina 
Published: February 2014

Human behavior cannot be separated from one’s personality,
which stems from inherited traits shaped by upbringing and
education. Understanding of these personality types can help managers
lead more effectively by creating dynamic working teams,
distributing tasks, implementing innovations, and motivating employees
to resolve conflicts based on their individual dispositions.
The simpler the diagnostic instrument, the easier it will be to implement
and enable managers to lead teams.
Diagnostics as an important feature of supply chain management
Authors: Калмыкова Динара , Kalmykova Dinara 
Published: February 2014

This article reveals the need for and role of diagnostic
supply chains as important function of management decisions. It
reveals the essence of the concept of «diagnostics» in the administrative
aspect. Author defines the concept of diagnostics of a supply
chain. The article contents of diagnostics of chains of deliveries on
the basis of the above, the authors of the algorithm is given the description
of the presented algorithm steps. It is a selection of methods
of diagnostics supply chains used at various stages.
Intellectual Property as a Significant Factor of Post-Industrial Economic Development
Authors: Левкина  , Levkina Nataliya 
Published: February 2014

Postindustrial economic order is described with the emphasis on its specific
features based on already changed role of knowledge and information. The
postindustrial economic model is characterized by (a) the crucial importance of
intangible production factors, (b) service industries, (c) creative character of
work, pivotal changes in production technologies as well as by (d) production
factors interrelation. In the postindustrial society key prerequisites of economic
growth are scientific and technological advance, and intellectualization of major
production factors. Private property and monetary capital are substituted by
intellectual property and intellectual capital. Intellectual potential of an enterprise
can be enhanced primarily via creation of new subjects of intellectual property.
The author concludes, that it is necessary to encourage economic entities to
create and exploit intellectual property which is of paramount significance for
the successful transformation of this country’s economy.
Higher Education Quality оf Employed Population in the Present-Day Russia
Authors: Басовский  , Basovskiy Leonid , Савина  , Savina Irina 
Published: February 2014

Quality of higher education is a value of benefit for an individual. Quality of
higher education is determined by income generated by human capital which an
individual receives while consuming this benefit.
Societal value of higher education quality amounts to the equilibrium market
price in terms of competitive market. Higher education markets cannot be
considered as sphere of pure competition. For estimating the societal value of
higher education the authors propose an approach, applicable to professional
business assessment. Estimates of higher education quality of employed
population is given for the period of 2007–2011. Econometric models of
production functions are created for the said period, elasticity of labor
productivity for the factor of higher educated employees to total employed ratio
is determined. Close relationship is revealed between higher education quality
and elasticity of labor productivity for the factor of higher educated employees
to total employed ratio. In 2007–2009, when economic crisis unfolded, both
higher education quality of employed population and productivity of human
capital of higher educated employees decreased. In 2010 both indicators
increased and surpassed the pre-crisis levels. By 2011 the quality of higher
education has again degraded, while the quality and productivity of higher
educated employees’ human capital have decreased drastically to the level
significantly lower than that of pre-crisis period.