bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of TLR4 C>1196T (Thr399Ile) and TLR4 A>896G (Asp299Gly) polymorphisms in a North Indian population with asthma: a case‐control study
Authors: Sinha S. , Singh J. , Jindal S. K. , Birbian N. , Singla N. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryToll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is the most important TLR among the pattern recognition receptors which recognizes lipopolysaccharide of gram‐negative bacteria. They identify a highly conserved structure of microbes called pathogen‐associated molecular patterns and activate immune and inflammatory responses that have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. The role of TLR4 gene polymorphisms in asthma was detected in a total of 964 individuals, including 483 healthy controls and 481 asthma patients from a North Indian population. The genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Statistical analysis revealed that the heterozygous genotype as well as the mutant (T) allele of the TLR4 C>1196T (Thr399Ile) polymorphism shows resistance towards asthma with OR = 0.70, 95% CI (0.49–0.99), P corrected value = 0.046 and OR = 0.72, 95% CI (0.52–0.98), P corrected value = 0.039, respectively. However, no association was found between the TLR4 A>896G (Asp299Gly) polymorphism and asthma patients (P > 0.05). This is the first study conducted in India conferring TLR4 (Thr399Ile) polymorphism resistance towards asthma, while lack of association was found between TLR4 (Asp299Gly) polymorphism and asthma in the studied North Indian population.
Body Structure Perception in Infancy
Authors: Zieber Nicole , Kangas Ashley , Hock Alyson , Bhatt Ramesh S. 
Published: October 2014

Structural cues, such as the relative size and arrangement of parts, are key aspects of adults' representation of human bodies, and they are used to derive significant social information such as age, sex, and attractiveness. Prior studies have not clearly addressed young infants' sensitivity to these body characteristics. In the current experiments, 3.5‐month‐olds exhibited a preference between images of intact bodies versus those with parts in wrong locations. Infants also discriminated between intact bodies and those with distorted part proportions. In both cases, infants discriminated when images were presented upright but not when they were inverted. These results indicate that infants are sensitive to the arrangement and size of human body parts at least by 3.5 months of age. Thus, contrary to some prior reports, body representation early in life is developed enough to include structural information.
Pin Size Selection for Normograde Intramedullary Pinning of Distal Humeral Fractures in the Dog
Authors: Shipov Anna , Biton Erez , Shati Shachar , Joseph Rotem , Milgram Joshua 
Published: October 2014

ObjectiveTo determine the optimal intramedullary (IM) pin size for open and percutaneous normograde pinning of the distal humerus.Study DesignEx vivo anatomic study.Sample PopulationSixteen canine cadavers.MethodsSixteen pairs of forelimbs were harvested from canine cadavers weighing 25–35 kg. The craniocaudal diameter of the humeral medullary canal, at the distal 80th percentile of its length, was measured on a lateral radiograph. Forelimbs within each pair were allocated to percutaneous or open pinning techniques. Cadavers were divided into three groups based on IM pin diameter relative to the medullary canal diameter: Group 25–35%, Group 36–45%, and Group 46–55%. Pins were inserted normograde into the medial epicondyle and advanced until they exited the proximal humerus. Pin tracts were dissected and damage to soft tissue, bony structures, and location of entry and exit points were documented. The humeri were also cut at the thinnest point of the medial epicondyle and damage to the bone was evaluated.ResultsThere was no difference in any of the outcomes between the open and percutaneous techniques. Cortical damage was more frequent in Group 46–55% and included blanching and or fracture of the cortex of the medial epicondyle, with fracture occurring in 6/10 limbs in this group. Pins in Group 46–55% exited the farthest and most distal from the optimal exit point and were difficult to place in all limbs.ConclusionThis study supports a recommendation for open and percutaneous pinning of the humerus with IM pins 36–45% of the medullary canal diameter measured at the distal 80th percentile of humeral length.
The labour market flexibility debate in India: Re‐examining the case for signing voluntary contracts
Authors: ROYCHOWDHURY Anamitra 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA major focus of India's ongoing policy debate over labour market flexibilization has been the statutory requirement that firms employing 100 or more workers cannot dismiss employees without prior government permission. The case for repealing that requirement (or greatly increasing the workforce threshold) is notably underpinned by Basu, Fields and Debgupta (2009). Here, the author challenges their particular theoretical argument for hiring and firing at will based on the voluntary signing of contracts, demonstrating that their general policy conclusion is logically unsustainable even within the framework of that model. The case for labour market flexibilization through voluntary contracting thus remains unfounded.
The regional distribution of skill premia in urban China: Implications for growth and inequality
Authors: WHALLEY John , XING Chunbing 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBased on urban household survey data, the authors find that skill premia increased significantly across all regions of China between 1995 and 2002, but only in coastal regions between 2002 and 2007. By then, these regions also displayed much wider wage inequality and thus contributed more to overall urban wage inequality than non‐coastal regions. While privatization was the main driver of skill premia in 1995–2002, China's (regionally uneven) integration into the global economy became the dominant influence in 2002–07. Reducing skill premia and inequality, the authors argue, calls for reform of the Hukou registration system which impedes skilled labour mobility and possibly also growth.
Why employment matters: Reviving growth and reducing inequality
Authors: NAYYAR Deepak 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe global economic crisis has led to a sharp slowdown in growth and an even greater slowdown in employment creation. The resulting deterioration in the quality of employment has exacerbated the longer‐term trend of rising inequality. Jobless growth has dampened output growth through a worsening income distribution. Wages are costs on the supply side but are also incomes on the demand side, so that profit‐led growth and wage‐led growth are complements, not substitutes. Thus, growth can create jobs, while added jobs can drive growth. More employment and better jobs can also mitigate rising inequality. If macroeconomic policies focus on fostering employment creation and supporting economic growth, rather than on price stability and balanced budgets, employment would revive growth and reduce inequality.
How disability affects absenteeism: An empirical analysis for six European countries
Authors: GARCÍA‐SERRANO Carlos , MALO Miguel Á. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractUsing data from the European Community Household Panel for six European countries (Austria, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain) for the period 1995–2001, this article investigates how disability affects workers' absenteeism. The results show that workers with disabilities are absent more often than workers without disabilities. This finding is obtained after controlling for individuals' self‐reported health, visits to doctors and nights spent in hospital. The severity of disability is also a relevant factor in higher absenteeism. The total effect of disability on absenteeism amounts to a marginal increase of six to 26 days per year (depending on the country).
¿Cómo afecta la desreglamentación a la productividad laboral? Análisis con datos de panel de 20 países de la OCDE (1960–2004)
Authors: VERGEER Robert , KLEINKNECHT Alfred 
Published: October 2014

ResumenMediante regresiones exhaustivas con datos de panel de 20 países de la OCDE (1960–2004) los autores observan que la desreglamentación ralentiza el crecimiento salarial y disminuye la participación salarial en la renta nacional, y ello reduce significativamente el crecimiento de la productividad laboral, lo cual no se explica por la entrada en el mercado de trabajadores de baja productividad, como mantiene la OCDE. El despido flexible y una rotación laboral mayor obstaculizarán la acumulación de conocimientos en las empresas debilitando el proceso de rutinización de la innovación. El análisis no valida las leyes de Baumol y de Verdoorn en este contexto.
¿Predice la producción el desempleo? Una estimación de la ley de Okun para Grecia
Authors: KARFAKIS Costas , KATRAKILIDIS Constantinos , TSANANA Eftychia 
Published: October 2014

ResumenEstimando una especificación dinámica de la ley de Okun, se examina la relación entre desempleo y producción en Grecia de 2000 a 2012. Estimada la prueba de Granger, el producto real resulta importante para comprender el comportamiento del desempleo y la razón de Okun es de tres a uno (un aumento de un 1 por ciento del desempleo está asociado a una caída de un 3 por ciento del producto real durante el periodo estudiado). El análisis de asimetría muestra que la respuesta del desempleo al producto real es más fuerte durante las contracciones que durante las expansiones de la actividad económica.
El sindicalismo israelí ante el empleo atípico. El fenómeno de la liminalidad permanente
Authors: NISSIM Gadi , DE VRIES David 
Published: October 2014

ResumenLos comités de empresa israelíes se están adaptando a la economía neoliberal y a las transformaciones laborales concomitantes con una doble postura: por un lado tratan de hacer frente a esta reformulación del capitalismo para salvaguardar los derechos de los trabajadores, y por otro aceptan cada vez más las formas atípicas de empleo. Esta contradicción los sitúa en un estadio de «liminalidad» permanente, en el que sus funciones se reducen a una mera búsqueda de compromisos y soluciones ad hoc. Como consecuencia, su lucha contra los efectos adversos del empleo atípico sigue siendo puntual y fragmentada, lo que contribuye a consolidar estas modalidades de empleo.
El debate sobre la flexibilidad laboral en la India. Argumentos en contra de los acuerdos voluntarios
Authors: ROYCHOWDHURY Anamitra 
Published: October 2014

ResumenUn punto candente del debate sobre flexibilización laboral en la India es la obligación de que las empresas de 100 asalariados o más obtengan permiso del Gobierno para los despidos. Quienes abogan por revocar dicha ley (o elevar sustancialmente el umbral de trabajadores) se basan en Basu, Fields y Debgupta (2009), cuya argumentación teórica a favor del despido y la contratación libres sobre la base de acuerdos voluntarios se cuestiona aquí: la recomendación política general de estos autores no se sostiene lógicamente ni siquiera en el marco de su propio modelo, por lo que esta alternativa de flexibilización sigue sin fundamento.
Delayed Neurological Complications of Sulphur Mustard and Tabun Poisoning in 43 Iranian Veterans
Authors: Darchini‐Maragheh Emadodin , Nemati‐Karimooy Habibollah , Hasanabadi Hosein , Balali‐Mood Mahdi 
Published: October 2014

AbstractDelayed neurotoxic complications of chemical warfare agents (CWA), such as sulphur mustard (SM) and tabun, in human beings have not been reported in detail. We thus aimed to investigate possible neurotoxic complications of these agents in Iranian veterans 22–27 years after exposure. After co‐ordination with the veteran foundation and obtaining the approval of the medical research ethics committee, 43 Iranian veterans with late complications of CWA exposure during the Iran–Iraq conflict were studied after obtaining signed written informed consent. Demographic and clinical findings were recorded on pre‐designed forms. Neurological examination was performed by a neurologist. Routine biochemical tests were performed for all the patients. Electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and electroencephalography (EEG) were carried out as clinically indicated. The majority of the patients (38) had been exposed to SM and only five patients to tabun. Hyperaesthesia was the most objective finding (72.1%). Fatigue (93%), paraesthesia (88.3%) and headache (83.7%) were the most common subjective findings in the patients. Sensory nerve impairments, including paraesthesia (88.3%), hyperaesthesia (72.1%) and hypoesthesia (11.6%), were the most common observed clinical complications. EMG and NCV were impaired in seven patients (16.3%) who were all SM‐exposed patients but did not show any significant correlation with organ complications. EEG was negative even in the seized patients. Cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels were significantly above the normal ranges. Late neurological complications of CWA, particularly SM poisoning, are considerable even after three decades of exposure and require medical attention.
Hotspot Scenario Analysis
Authors: Pelton Rylie E.O. , Smith Timothy M. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryIncreasingly, organizations are working to reduce the environmental footprint of their supply chains. The use of environmentally preferable purchasing criteria is one strategy organizations use to address this goal. However, evaluating the environmental performance of these criteria (e.g., recycled content, biodegradable, renewable, and so on) has remained elusive. Life cycle assessment (LCA) can measure the impact reduction potential of sourcing strategies. However, full process‐based LCAs are time‐consuming and costly across multiple criteria of thousands of products and inputs purchased in an organizational setting. A streamlined “hotspot” methodology is presented using a combination of environmentally extended economic input‐output (EEIO) approaches and extant literature to identify hotspots in which to constrain a parameterized process‐based LCA. A case study of breakfast cereal manufacturing is developed to (1) assess the efficiencies associated with the hotspotting approach and (2) demonstrate its applicability in generating comparable decision signals of environmentally preferable sourcing criteria for procurement and supply‐chain managers along the dimensions of global warming potential and water use.
Arabidopsis HIT4, a regulator involved in heat‐triggered reorganization of chromatin and release of transcriptional gene silencing, relocates from chromocenters to the nucleolus in response to heat stress
Authors: Wang Lian‐Chin , Wu Jia‐Rong , Hsu Yi‐Ju , Wu Shaw‐Jye 
Published: October 2014

Summary

Arabidopsis HIT4 is known to mediate heat‐induced decondensation of chromocenters and release from transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) with no change in the level of DNA methylation. It is unclear whether HIT4 and MOM1, a well‐known DNA methylation‐independent transcriptional silencer, have overlapping regulatory functions.

A hit4‐1/mom1 double mutant strain was generated. Its nuclear morphology and TGS state were compared with those of wild‐type, hit4‐1, and mom1 plants. Fluorescent protein tagging was employed to track the fates of HIT4, hit4‐1 and MOM1 in vivo under heat stress.

HIT4‐ and MOM1‐mediated TGS were distinguishable. Both HIT4 and MOM1 were localized normally to chromocenters. Under heat stress, HIT4 relocated to the nucleolus, whereas MOM1 dispersed with the chromocenters. hit4‐1 was able to relocate to the nucleolus under heat stress, but its relocation was insufficient to trigger the decompaction of chromocenters. The hypersensitivity to heat associated with the impaired reactivation of TGS in hit4‐1 was not alleviated by mom1‐induced release from TGS.

HIT4 delineates a novel and MOM1‐independent TGS regulation pathway. The involvement of a currently unidentified component that links HIT4 relocation and the large‐scale reorganization of chromatin, and which is essential for heat tolerance in plants is hypothesized.
Assessing diversity in Triticum durum cultivars and breeding lines for high versus low cadmium content in seeds using the CAPS marker usw47
Authors: Zimmerl Simone , Lafferty Julia , Buerstmayr Hermann 
Published: October 2014

AbstractCadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that occurs naturally in soils. Durum wheat is known to accumulate generally more Cd than other cereal crops. The uptake of Cd in durum wheat is governed by the gene Cdu1, which co‐segregates with several DNA markers, such as the co‐dominant marker usw47 and the dominant marker ScOPC20. A panel of 314 durum wheat cultivars or lines originating from 16 countries or regions were assessed with usw47. The plant material was mainly comprised of cultivars and modern breeding lines. From this set, 165 durum wheat lines were classified as low‐Cd accumulators, 144 high‐Cd accumulators and five were heterogeneous. A smaller subset of 16 cultivars had previously been evaluated for Cd accumulation in replicated field trials. Lines with the high‐Cd allele showed a 2.4‐fold higher Cd content in the seeds than lines with the low‐Cd allele. We also compared the utility of markers usw47 and ScOPC20 as selection tools. Marker‐assisted selection appears as a robust and practicable tool for breeding durum cultivars with low‐Cd content.
Impact of time to treatment of oseltamivir on influenza hospitalization cost among Korean children
Authors: Lim Jacqueline K , Kilgore Paul E , Aiello Allison E , Foxman Betsy , Letson G William , Jang Gi‐Young , Chung Eunhee , Song Young‐Hwan , Kim Yun‐Kyung 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBackgroundAlthough oseltamivir is a common influenza treatment, there is a lack of data on the economic benefits of timely oseltamivir treatment.MethodsFrom February 2004 through June 2007, 116 hospitalized children ≤15 years of age with laboratory‐confirmed influenza who received oseltamivir were identified via retrospective medical chart review. Demographic, clinical, and cost data were abstracted and multivariate linear regression was used to assess the association between oseltamivir time to treatment and treatment‐related costs among hospitalized children with laboratory‐confirmed influenza.ResultsOverall, 28% (n = 33) of patients were treated with oseltamivir ≥day 3 of admission. Rapid influenza diagnostic test was used in a significantly lower proportion of patients treated with oseltamivir ≥day 3 of admission compared with those who received oseltamivir earlier. On multivariate linear regression, initiation of oseltamivir ≥day 3 of admission was associated with a 60.84% increase (95%CI: 32.59–95.11) in treatment‐related hospital costs, compared with initiation on admission.ConclusionDelayed initiation of oseltamivir was found to be associated with increased treatment‐related hospital costs among children hospitalized with laboratory‐confirmed influenza.
Hepatitis B (HB) immunoglobulin plus HB vaccine for intrauterine HB virus infection
Authors: Iwasawa Kentaro , Inui Ayano , Tsunoda Tomoyuki , Kondo Takeo , Kawamoto Manari , Sogo Tsuyoshi , Komatsu Haruki , Fujisawa Tomoo 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBackgroundVaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive mothers using HB immunoglobulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B (HB) vaccine was launched in Japan in 1985. Infants testing positive for HBsAg at 1 month of age are considered to have prenatally acquired the infection and are usually excluded from the prevention program. Infants born to HB e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive mothers are at a high risk of perinatally acquiring the infection. In this study, long‐term outcome was evaluated in children with prenatal HBV infection who received the HBIG and HB vaccine in Japan.MethodsNewborns of both HBsAg‐ and HBeAg‐positive carrier mothers received HBIG within 48 h of birth and at 2 months of age. Subsequently, three doses of recombinant HB vaccine were given at 2, 3, and 5 months of age. Outcome was compared between the following two groups: infants who completed the vaccination program, even if they were HBsAg positive at 1 month of age (n = 15), and infants who did not (n = 51).ResultsSeroconversion from HBeAg to anti‐HBe antibody (HBeAb) before 3 years of age was observed in five children (33%) who completed the vaccination program and in two (4%) who did not (P = 0.005). In 2/5 children who completed the vaccination program and achieved HBeAb seroconversion, seroconversion from HBsAg to anti‐HBs antibody was also noted.ConclusionThis specific vaccination program for children with prenatal HBV infection has the potential to alter immune tolerance to HBV.
Phylogeny of the Aphnaeinae: myrmecophilous African butterflies with carnivorous and herbivorous life histories
Authors: BOYLE JOHN H. , KALISZEWSKA ZOFIA A. , ESPELAND MARIANNE , SUDERMAN TAMARA R. , FLEMING JAKE , HEATH ALAN , PIERCE NAOMI E. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe Aphnaeinae (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) are a largely African subfamily of 278 described species that exhibit extraordinary life‐history variation. The larvae of these butterflies typically form mutualistic associations with ants, and feed on a wide variety of plants, including 23 families in 19 orders. However, at least one species in each of 9 of the 17 genera is aphytophagous, parasitically feeding on the eggs, brood or regurgitations of ants. This diversity in diet and type of symbiotic association makes the phylogenetic relations of the Aphnaeinae of particular interest. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the Aphnaeinae was inferred from 4.4 kb covering the mitochondrial marker COI and five nuclear markers (wg, H3, CAD, GAPDH and EF1α) for each of 79 ingroup taxa representing 15 of the 17 currently recognized genera, as well as three outgroup taxa. Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses all support Heath's systematic revision of the clade based on morphological characters. Ancestral range inference suggests an African origin for the subfamily with a single dispersal into Asia. The common ancestor of the aphnaeines likely associated with myrmicine ants in the genus Crematogaster and plants of the order Fabales.
Genetic risk for co‐occurrence of type 1 diabetes and celiac disease is modified byHLA‐C and killer immunoglobulin‐like receptors
Authors: Smigoc Schweiger D. , Mendez A. , Kunilo Jamnik S. , Bratanic N. , Bratina N. , Battelino T. , Brecelj J. , Vidan‐Jeras B. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been reported to be 5–7 times higher than in the general population. Risk factors for co‐occurrence of both diseases have not been entirely established. The aim of our study was to analyze possible impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) on the co‐occurrence ofT1DandCD. We analyzed 67 patients withT1D, 68 patients withCD, 69 patients with both diseases (T1D+CD) and 130 controls. Statistical analysis was based on two tailed Fisher exact test with corrections for multiple testing. After stratification byDR3‐DQ2, an association ofHLAclass I part of theCOXhaplotype (A1‐B8‐Cw7‐DR3‐DQ2) was not observed with each of the studied diseases separately, but it could be shown in case of the co‐occurrence ofT1DandCD. Only in the group of patients with coexisting diseases, the presence ofHLA‐C*07(P = 8.65×10−3) andHLA‐B*08(P = 0.03) but notHLA‐A*01increased the succeptibility. Our current data indicated thatC*07, contributingC1ligand (Pc = 3.67×10−5) rather thanB*08, that possesses noKIRligand, could have an impact on the innate immunity rout of this susceptibility. The significant combination ofC1‐KIR2DL3(Pc = 1.97×10−4) observed in patients with coexisting diseases supports this hypotesis. Interestingly, no association was observed whenC1in combination with its stronger inhibitory receptorKIR2DL2was investigated. Predominantly, weak inhibition in patients with coexistingT1DandCDcould lead to a natural killer cell response, making them vulnerable for developing more than one autoimmune disease.