bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Political Economy of State Capture in Central Europe
Authors: Innes Abby 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis article demonstrates that most new EU Member States experience serious problems of state capture. It argues that central European states cluster around two dominant modes of party competition. In the first, predominantly ideologically committed elites (Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Slovenia and Estonia) established relatively ‘electoral professional’ party competitions, only to face deepening fiscal constraints on mainstream ideological competition. Following the collapse of the social democratic left, both Hungary and Poland experienced attempts to reassert political monopoly, i.e., ‘party state capture’. In the second group (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Latvia), more entrepreneurial political elites established ‘brokerage’ party systems, in which public policy remains a side‐product of an essentially economic competition. All five states show high levels of ‘corporate state capture’ in which public power is exercised primarily for private gain. These findings contest the more optimistic expectations of the institutionalist literature on state‐building and democratic consolidation.
Post‐Accession Policy‐Making in Bulgaria and Romania: Can Non‐state Actors Use EU Rules to Promote Better Governance?
Authors: Dimitrova Antoaneta , Buzogány Aron 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis article investigates whether EU accession can help Bulgaria and Romania limit state capture and the undue influence of business actors on the policy process. Particularly vulnerable to such influence, Bulgarian and Romanian institutions are monitored through the EU's co‐operation and verification mechanism and the Commission and ECJ infringement procedures. We argue that, under certain conditions, these tools can improve the quality of democracy in both countries. The key conditions are the presence of domestic actors able to use the EU and carry over procedural policy requirements from the acquis to other policy‐making. Analysing policy‐making processes in the forestry sector, we find NGOs able to use EU links and governments sensitive to naming and shaming can result in a positive influence of EU rules on the policy process and quality of democracy. This is true even in least likely cases, such as non‐acquis policy areas in Bulgaria and Romania.
Pharmacokinetics of drugs in mutant Nagase analbuminemic rats and responses to select diuretics
Authors: Lee Joo Hyun , Lee Young-Joo , Oh Euichaul 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Objectives
To report (1) the pharmacokinetics of drugs that are mainly metabolized via hepatic cytochrome P450s (CYPs) or mainly excreted via the urine and bile, (2) the mechanism for the urinary excretion of drugs (such as glomerular filtration or renal active secretion or re-absorption), and (3) the diuretic effect of some loop diuretics in mutant Nagase analbuminaemic rats (NARs), an animal model for human familial analbuminaemia based on the pharmacokinetics of drugs reported in the literatures.

Key findings
In NARs, the changes in the time-averaged non-renal clearances (CLNRs) of drugs that are mainly metabolized via CYPs were explained in terms of changes in the hepatic intrinsic clearance (mainly because of changes in CYPs), free (unbound) fractions of drugs in the plasma (fp) and hepatic blood-flow rate (QH) depending on the hepatic excretion ratios of drugs.

Summary
The CLNR changes of drugs mainly metabolized via hepatic CYPs can be sufficiently explained by the three earlier mentioned factors. The plasma albumin (furosemide) or globulin (azosemide, bumetanide and torasemide) binding affects their diuretic effects.
The Competitive Advantages Arising from Different Environmental Conditions in Seabream, Sparus aurata, Production in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Llorente Ignacio , Luna Ladislao 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe economic performance of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, aquaculture in Mediterranean countries is not homogeneous despite the availability of a universalized technology and the absence of trade barriers. Differences in competitiveness among aquaculture facilities result, in part, from economic and environmental factors, which are conditioned by the geographical location of the facility. This article aims to identify and analyze the competitive advantages derived from the different environmental conditions in which seabream production has been developed along the Mediterranean Sea. A particle swarm optimization algorithm based on a seabream bioeconomic model was applied to the economic optimization of multibatch aquaculture production. The analysis involved hypothetical fattening farms located in the major areas in which this species is cultured. The water temperature was the only parameter that varied among locations. The average water temperatures in these locations were below the optimum growth temperature, around which growth progressively diminishes. The results of the study showed that the locations with higher average water temperatures and less variable water temperatures allowed the cultivation process to be more economically efficient. The seabream farms located in Greece and Turkey had a competitive advantage in terms of productivity and operating profitability because of more favorable environmental conditions.
Effects of Different Dietary Lipid Sources on Growth Performance, Fatty Acid Composition, and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity of Juvenile Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli
Authors: Aminikhoei Zahra , Choi Jin , Lee Sang‐Min , Kim Kyoung‐Duck 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis study was carried out to investigate and compare the effects of various dietary lipid sources on growth performance, body composition, fatty acid profiles, and hepatic and plasma antioxidant enzyme activities of juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. Three replicate groups of fish (initial mean weight, 1.7 ± 0.04 g) were fed four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing either fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), linseed oil (LO), or a mixture of SO and LO (SO + LO) for 8 wk. There were no significant differences in survival, weight gain, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratios of fish fed the diets containing different lipid sources (P > 0.05). The fatty acids compositions of the liver and muscle tissues reflected the dietary fatty acid compositions. Liver and muscle of fish fed the SO diet had high concentration of linoleic acid, whereas those of fish fed the LO diet were rich in linolenic acid. Liver and muscle of fish fed the FO diet had significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid than those of fish fed the SO and LO diets. Dietary lipid source had no significant effect on the hepatic and plasma enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. The results of this study suggest that SO and LO can be used as a replacement for FO in the diets of juvenile rockfish without incurring any negative effects on growth, feed utilization, and antioxidant enzyme activity, when the dietary essential fatty acid requirements are satisfied for rockfish.
The neonatal lung – physiology and ventilation
Authors: Neumann Roland P. , von Ungern‐Sternberg Britta S. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryThis review article focuses on neonatal respiratory physiology, mechanical ventilation of the neonate and changes induced by anesthesia and surgery. Optimal ventilation techniques for preterm and term neonates are discussed. In summary, neonates are at high risk for respiratory complications during anesthesia, which can be explained by their characteristic respiratory physiology. Especially the delicate balance between closing volume and functional residual capacity can be easily disturbed by anesthetic and surgical interventions resulting in respiratory deterioration. Ventilatory strategies should ideally include application of an ‘open lung strategy’ as well avoidance of inappropriately high VT and excessive oxygen administration. In critically ill and unstable neonates, for example, extremely low‐birthweight infants surgery in the neonatal intensive care unit might be an appropriate alternative to the operating theater. Best respiratory management of neonates during anesthesia is a team effort that should involve a joint multidisciplinary approach of anesthetists, pediatric surgeons, cardiologists, and neonatologists to reduce complications and optimize outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Melatonin's protective effect against UV radiation: a systematic review of clinical and experimental studies
Authors: Scheuer Cecilie , Pommergaard Hans‐Christian , Rosenberg Jacob , Gögenur Ismail 
Published: October 2013

SummaryBackgroundUltraviolet (UV) radiation is the main etiologic factor for skin cancer. The endogenous hormone melatonin has been proposed to have protective effects against sunlight.AimThe aim of this review was to evaluate melatonin's protective effects against UV radiation and to clarify the cellular mechanisms behind this effect.MethodMedline, Embase and Cinahl were searched up to January 2013 to identify studies evaluating melatonin's protective effect against UV radiation (UVR)‐induced skin erythema in humans and damage on a cellular level.ResultsFour human studies have investigated melatonin's protective effect on UVR‐induced skin damage. Melatonin was shown to have protective effects when applied before UVR, but no effect if applied after exposure. A total of 16 experimental studies evaluated melatonin's protective effect against UVR‐induced damage to cellular structures and pathways.Discussion/ConclusionThe protection against UVR‐induced skin damage was conducted by melatonin acting directly as an antioxidant, and indirectly by regulating gene expression and inducing a DNA stabilizing effect. As these results were obtained using artificial UVR and without investigating possible side effects, studies using natural sunlight and evaluating possible side effects of topical melatonin administration are warranted.
Redox signaling mediates the expression of a sulfate‐deprivation‐inducible microRNA395 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Jagadeeswaran Guru , Li Yong‐Fang , Sunkar Ramanjulu 
Published: October 2013

SummaryMicroRNA395 (miR395) is a conserved miRNA that targets a low‐affinity sulfate transporter (AST68) and three ATP sulfurylases (APS1, APS3 and APS4) in higher plants. In this study, At2g28780 was confirmed as another target of miR395 in Arabidopsis. Interestingly, several dicots contained genes homologous to At2g28780 and a cognate miR395 complementary site but possess a gradient of mismatches at the target site. It is well established that miR395 is induced during S deprivation in Arabidopsis; however, the signaling pathways that mediate this regulation are unknown. Several findings in the present study demonstrate that redox signaling plays an important role in induction of miR395 during S deprivation. These include the following results: (i) glutathione (GSH) supplementation suppressed miR395 induction in S‐deprived plants (ii) miR395 is induced in Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to Arsenate or Cu2+, which induces oxidative stress (iii), S deprivation‐induced oxidative stress, and (iv) compromised induction of miR395 during S deprivation in cad2 mutant (deficient in GSH biosynthesis) that is defective in glutaredoxin‐dependent redox signaling and ntra/ntrb (defective in thioredoxin reductases a and b) double mutants that are defective in thioredoxin‐dependent redox signaling. Collectively, these findings strongly support the involvement of redox signaling in inducing the expression of miR395 during S deprivation in Arabidopsis.
Long-Incubation-Time Gamma Interferon Release Assays in Response to Purified Protein Derivative, ESAT-6, and/or CFP-10 for the Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Children
Authors: Schepers K. , Mouchet F. , Dirix V. , De Schutter I. , Jotzo K. , Verscheure V. , Geurts P. , Singh M. , Van Vooren J. P. , Mascart F. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe diagnosis of childhood active tuberculosis (aTB) and latentMycobacterium tuberculosis(M. tuberculosis) infection (LTBI) remains a challenge, and the replacement of tuberculin skin tests (TST) with commercialized gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRA) is not currently recommended. Two hundred sixty-six children between 1 month and 15 years of age, 214 of whom were at risk of recentM. tuberculosisinfection and 51 who were included as controls, were prospectively enrolled in our study. According to the results of a clinical evaluation, TST, chest X ray, and microbiological assessment, each children was classified as noninfected, having LTBI, or having aTB. Long-incubation-time purified protein derivative (PPD), ESAT-6, and CFP-10 IGRA were performed and evaluated for their accuracy in correctly classifying the children. Whereas both TST and PPD IGRA were suboptimal for detecting aTB, combining the CFP-10 IGRA with a TST or with a PPD IGRA allowed us to detect all the children with aTB with a specificity of 96% for children who were positive for the CFP-10 IGRA. Moreover, the combination of the CFP-10 IGRA and PPD IGRA detected 96% of children who were eventually classified as having LTBI, but a strong IFN-γ response to CFP-10 (defined as >500 pg/ml) was highly suggestive of aTB, at least among the children who were <3 years old. The use of long-incubation-time CFP-10 IGRA and PPD IGRA should help clinicians to quickly identify aTB or LTBI in young children.
Detection of Resistance to Beta-Lactamase Inhibitors in Strains with CTX-M Beta-Lactamases: a Multicenter External Proficiency Study Using a Well-Defined Collection of Escherichia coli Strains
Authors: Ripoll Aida , Galán Juan-Carlos , Rodríguez Cristina , Tormo Nuria , Gimeno Concepción , Baquero Fernando , Martínez-Martínez Luis , Cantón Rafael 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTUnder the auspices of the Spanish Society for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Quality Control program, 14Escherichia colistrains masked as blood culture isolates were sent to 68 clinical microbiology laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing to β-lactam antibiotics. This collection included three control strains (E. coliATCC 25922, an IRT-2 producer, and a CMY-2 producer), six isogenic strains with or without the OmpF porin and expressing CTX-M β-lactamases (CTX-M-1, CTX-M-15, and CTX-M-14), one strain carrying a double mechanism for β-lactam resistance (i.e., carrying CTX-M-15 and OXA-1 enzymes), and four strains carrying CTX-M variants with different levels of resistance to β-lactams and β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor (BLBLI) combinations. The main objective of the study was to ascertain how these variants with reduced susceptibilities to BLBLIs are identified in clinical microbiology laboratories. CTX-M variants with high resistance to BLBLIs were mainly identified as inhibitor-resistant TEM (IRT) enzymes (68.0%); however, isogenic CTX-M mutant strains with reduced susceptibilities to BLBLIs and cephalosporins were mainly associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamase production alone (51 to 80%) or in combination with other mechanisms (14 to 31%). Concerning all β-lactams tested, the overall interpretative discrepancy rate was 11.5%, of which 38.1% were the consequence of postreading changes in the clinical categories when a resistance mechanism was inferred. Therefore, failure to recognize these complex phenotypes might contribute to an explanation of their apparent absence in the clinical setting and might lead to inadequate drug treatment selection. A proposal for improving recognition is to adhere strictly to the current CLSI or EUCAST guidelines for detecting reduced susceptibility to BLBLI combinations, without any interpretative modification.
Pre-Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing Strain Associated with Disseminated Tuberculosis in a Pet Dog
Authors: Botelho Ana , Perdigão João , Canto Ana , Albuquerque Teresa , Leal Nuno , Macedo Rita , Portugal Isabel , Cunha Mónica V. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

Resistance to isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin was detected in a
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
strain, belonging to the Beijing family lineage, isolated from two nodule exudates of a Yorkshire terrier with generalized tuberculosis. This report alerts medical practitioners to the risk of dissemination of pre-multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (preMDR-TB) through exposure to
M. tuberculosis
-shedding pets.
Mutations in the Amino Terminus of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 gL Can Reduce Cell-Cell Fusion without Affecting gH/gL Trafficking
Authors: Zhou Wenbo , Chen Feng , Klyachkin Yuri , Sham Yuk Y. , Geraghty Robert J. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
The gH/gL heterodimer represents two of the four herpes simplex virus glycoproteins necessary and sufficient for membrane fusion. We generated deletions and point mutations covering gL residues 24 to 43 to investigate that region's role in gH/gL intracellular trafficking and in membrane fusion. Multiple mutants displayed a 40 to 60% reduction in cell fusion with no effect on gH/gL trafficking. The amino terminus of gL plays an important role in the gH/gL contribution to membrane fusion.
Resistance to Infection, Early and Persistent Suppression of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac251Viremia, and Significant Reduction of Tissue Viral Burden after Mucosal Vaccination in Female Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Manrique Mariana , Kozlowski Pamela A. , Cobo-Molinos Antonio , Wang Shainn-Wei , Wilson Robert L. , Martinez-Viedma Maria del Pilar , Montefiori David C. , Carville Angela , Aldovini Anna 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe efficacy of oral, intestinal, nasal, and vaginal vaccinations with DNA simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/interleukin-2 (IL-2)/IL-15, SIV Gag/Pol/Env recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA), and AT-2 SIVmac239inactivated particles was compared in rhesus macaques after low-dose vaginal challenge with SIVmac251. Intestinal immunization provided better protection from infection, as a significantly greater median number of challenges was necessary in this group than in the others. Oral and nasal vaccinations provided the most significant control of disease progression. Fifty percent of the orally and nasally vaccinated animals suppressed viremia to undetectable levels, while this occurred to a significantly lower degree in intestinally and vaginally vaccinated animals and in controls. Viremia remained undetectable after CD8+T-cell depletion in seven vaccinated animals that had suppressed viremia after infection, and tissue analysis for SIV DNA and RNA was negative, a result consistent with a significant reduction of viral activity. Regardless of the route of vaccination, mucosal vaccinations prevented loss of CD4+central memory and CD4+/α4β7+T-cell populations and reduced immune activation to different degrees. None of the orally vaccinated animals and only one of the nasally vaccinated animals developed AIDS after 72 to 84 weeks of infection, when the trial was closed. The levels of anti-SIV gamma interferon-positive, CD4+, and CD8+T cells at the time of first challenge inversely correlated with viremia and directly correlated with protection from infection and longer survival.
PLC-γ1 Signaling Plays a Subtype-Specific Role in Postbinding Cell Entry of Influenza A Virus
Authors: Zhu Liqian , Ly Hinh , Liang Yuying 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
Host signaling pathways and cellular proteins play important roles in the influenza viral life cycle and can serve as antiviral targets. In this study, we report the engagement of host phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase γ1 (PLC-γ1) in mediating cell entry of influenza virus H1N1 but not H3N2 subtype. Both PLC-γ1-specific inhibitor and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) strongly suppress the replication of H1N1 but not H3N2 viruses in cell culture, suggesting that PLC-γ1 plays an important subtype-specific role in the influenza viral life cycle. Further analyses demonstrate that PLC-γ1 activation is required for viral postbinding cell entry. In addition, H1N1, but not H3N2, infection leads to the phosphorylation of PLC-γ1 at Ser 1248 immediately after infection and independent of viral replication. We have further shown that H1N1-induced PLC-γ1 activation is downstream of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. Interestingly, both H1N1 and H3N2 infections activate EGFR, but only H1N1 infection leads to PLC-γ1 activation. Taking our findings together, we have identified for the first time the subtype-specific interplay of host PLC-γ1 signaling and H1N1 virus that is critical for viral uptake early in the infection. Our study provides novel insights into how virus interacts with the cellular signaling network by demonstrating that viral determinants can regulate how the host signaling pathways function in virally infected cells.
Control of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Replication by Vaccine-Induced Gag- and Vif-Specific CD8
+
T Cells
Authors: Iwamoto Nami , Takahashi Naofumi , Seki Sayuri , Nomura Takushi , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Inoue Makoto , Shu Tsugumine , Naruse Taeko K. , Kimura Akinori , Matano Tetsuro 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

For development of an effective T cell-based AIDS vaccine, it is critical to define the antigens that elicit the most potent responses. Recent studies have suggested that Gag-specific and possibly Vif/Nef-specific CD8
+
T cells can be important in control of the AIDS virus. Here, we tested whether induction of these CD8
+
T cells by prophylactic vaccination can result in control of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication in Burmese rhesus macaques sharing the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) haplotype
90-010-Ie
associated with dominant Nef-specific CD8
+
T-cell responses. In the first group vaccinated with Gag-expressing vectors (
n
= 5 animals), three animals that showed efficient Gag-specific CD8
+
T-cell responses in the acute phase postchallenge controlled SIV replication. In the second group vaccinated with Vif- and Nef-expressing vectors (
n
= 6 animals), three animals that elicited Vif-specific CD8
+
T-cell responses in the acute phase showed SIV control, whereas the remaining three with Nef-specific but not Vif-specific CD8
+
T-cell responses failed to control SIV replication. Analysis of 18 animals, consisting of seven unvaccinated noncontrollers and the 11 vaccinees described above, revealed that the sum of Gag- and Vif-specific CD8
+
T-cell frequencies in the acute phase was inversely correlated with plasma viral loads in the chronic phase. Our results suggest that replication of the AIDS virus can be controlled by vaccine-induced subdominant Gag/Vif epitope-specific CD8
+
T cells, providing a rationale for the induction of Gag- and/or Vif-specific CD8
+
T-cell responses by prophylactic AIDS vaccines.