bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FROM SECRET AGENTS TO INTERAGENCY
Authors: DESPRET VINCIANE 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTSome scientists who study animals have emphasized the need to focus on the “point of view” of the animals they are studying. This methodological shift has led to animals being credited with much more agency than is warranted. However, as critics suggest, on the one hand, the “perspective” of another being rests mostly upon “sympathetic projection,” and may be difficult to apply to unfamiliar beings, such as bees or even flowers. On the other hand, the very notion of agency still conveys its classic understanding as intentional, rational, and premeditated, and is still embedded in humanist and Christian conceptions of human exceptionalism. This paper seeks, in the first part, to investigate the practical link between these two notions and the problems they raise. In the second part, following the work of two historians of science who have revisited Darwin's studies of orchids and their pollinators, it will observe a shift in the meaning of the concept of agency. Indeed, creatures may appear as “secret agents” as long as we adopt a conventional definition of agency based on subjective experience and autonomous intention. However, when reframed in the terms of “agencement” — an assemblage that produces “agentivity” — agency seems to be much more extensively shared in the living world. We will then explore some of the concrete situations in which these agencements are manifested, and through which creatures of different species become, one for another and one with another, companion‐agents.
ANIMAL INDIVIDUALS: A PLEA FOR A NOMINALISTIC TURN IN ANIMAL STUDIES?
Authors: HOQUET THIERRY 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on the concept of “animal individuals” and puts forward a nominalistic approach. Nominalism is an ontological thesis (only individuals exist), but also an epistemological claim: that our “nouns” are practical tools for a quick dispatch of things, but do not correspond to anything real. Hence for a consistent nominalist, “animals” do not exist, except as a powerful fiction. First, we show that the word “animal” commits what we call (after Plato) the “fallacy of the crane”: it encompasses a huge range of living entities that have only one thing in common: they are not humans. Differences between our term “animal” and the ancient Greek “zoon” also show the fluctuating boundaries of “animality.” Besides, our ways of speaking systematically deny individuality to nonhuman animals.The philosophical meaning of the term “individual” implies a genuine dimension of artistic singularity and a political claim for emancipation. Portraits of apes are striking instances of such individuality, captured by photography, as is art produced by particular animals. Methodologically, this leads also to the collection of anecdotes and a focus on animal biographies. The eighteenth‐century controversy between Buffon and Condillac helps us understand what is at stake in the tension between species and individuals. Buffon claims that each nonhuman animal species can be represented by a “specimen,” whereas Condillac shows that animal individuals feel like us and that their nature is impenetrable to us. Finally, a focus on individuals is not only a way to renew or extend historical methods. Biologists are also increasingly concerned with individuals. They develop tools to distinguish individuals from one another: “animal bertillonage” for morphology. They question standard norms of behavior and preferences. This emphasis on animal individuality has not only theoretical but also ethical and legal consequences.
Prevalence of and risk factors for pulmonary abnormalities in HIV‐infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Sampériz G , Guerrero D , López M , Valera JL , Iglesias A , Ríos Á , Campins A , Sala E , Murillas J , Togores B , Palmer J , Rodriguez M , Soriano JB , Sauleda J , Riera M , Agusti A 
Published: December 2013

BackgroundPulmonary abnormalities are often present in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of, and risk factors for, pulmonary abnormalities in HIV‐positive patients.MethodsA total of 275 HIV‐positive patients [mean (± standard deviation) age 48.5 ± 6.6 years] were included in the study, of whom 95.6% had been receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for a mean (± standard deviation) duration of 11.9 ± 5.4 years. The median (interquartile range) CD4 lymphocyte count was 541 (392–813) cells/μL, and 92% of the patients had an undetectable viral load. We determined: (1) spirometry, static lung volumes, lung diffusing capacity, pulmonary gas exchange and exercise tolerance, and (2) the amount of emphysema via a computed tomography (CT) scan.ResultsChronic cough and expectoration (47%) and breathlessness during exercise (33.9%) were commonly reported. Airflow limitation (AL) was present in 17.2%, low pulmonary diffusing capacity in 52.2% and emphysema in 10.5−37.7% of patients, depending on the method used for quantification. Most of these abnormalities had not been diagnosed or treated previously. Smoking exposure and previous tuberculosis were the main risk factors for AL, whereas smoking exposure and several variables related to HIV infection appeared to contribute to the risk of emphysema and low diffusing capacity.ConclusionsDespite HAART, pulmonary structural and functional abnormalities are frequent in HIV‐positive patients. They are probably attributable to both environmental (smoking and tuberculosis) and HIV‐related factors. Most of these abnormalities remain unnoticed and untreated. Given the relatively young age of these patients, these results anticipate a significant health problem in the next few years as, thanks to the efficacy of HAART, patients survive longer and experience the effects of aging.
Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil and sodium acetate: how they affect shelf life of vacuum‐packaged trout burgers
Authors: Ehsani Ali , Jasour Mohammad Sedigh , Hashemi Mohammad , Mehryar Laleh , Khodayari Mina 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe preservative effects of Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil (ZEO) at 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%, sodium acetate (SA) at 2% and their combination on the quality changes of vacuum‐packaged trout burgers during 21‐day refrigerated storage (4 ± 1°C) were investigated. Results showed that control and ZEO‐treated samples reached undesirable levels of rancidity (P < 0.05) at 15th day, whereas samples with the combined effect of SA and ZEOs, especially at higher concentrations, proved to be more stable in sensory, biochemical (PV, TBA, FFA and pH) and microbiological analyses (P < 0.05). Therefore, ZEO+SA‐treated samples showed good overall acceptability even until 21st day. Regarding the results obtained from ZEO‐treated samples, it becomes apparent that combined application of SA and ZEO extended the shelf life of fish burgers during cold storage to 21 days, 1.4‐fold longer than other treatments, which indicates the potential application of synergistic activity of these agents in vacuum‐packaged fishburgers.
Foreign Ownership Restriction and Momentum – Evidence from Emerging Markets
Authors: Qin Yafeng , Bai Min 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of foreign investors on stock price efficiency and return predictability in emerging markets. It finds that stocks fully investible for foreign investors exhibit stronger price momentum than non‐investible stocks. The difference in momentum effects between stocks with different levels of investibility cannot be fully explained by world market risk, size, turnover, or country‐specific factors. Further tests show that fully investible stocks have no post‐earnings‐announcement drift (PEAD), and their short‐term momentum reverses over a longer horizon. These results show that the stronger momentum of highly investible stocks does not appear to be driven by foreign investors' underreaction to firm‐specific information, but is more likely to be generated by their positive feedback trading.
Thriving in long‐term care facilities: instrument development, correspondence between proxy and residents' self‐ratings and internal consistency in the Norwegian version
Authors: Bergland Ådel , Kirkevold Marit , Sandman Per‐Olof , Hofoss Dag , Vassbø Tove , Edvardsson David 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimsTo develop an instrument for measuring thriving among residents in long‐term care facilities, to assess the correspondence between proxy ratings and self‐report and the internal consistency of the Norwegian version.BackgroundThe instrument was developed from the life‐world concept of thriving and thereby has a different theoretical basis than existing ‘dementia related’ quality‐of‐life instruments. Thriving relates the experience of older persons to the place where they live. Proxy instruments need to be developed for residents in long‐term care facilities who are not able to report their subjective experiences.DesignInstrument development using cross‐sectional survey design.MethodsThe instrument was developed in three versions (resident, family and staff) from a theory on thriving. Forty‐eight triads consisting of a resident, family member and primary nurse from 12 Norwegian nursing homes participated. Data collection took place between March–December 2011. Inter‐rater agreement between the groups was assessed by Cohen's kappa coefficient (weighted). Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha. Homogeneity was explored through item‐total correlations.ResultsAgreement between residents, family members and staff was poor or fair (<0·41) in six of 38 items. These items were excluded. The 32‐items instrument had satisfactory Cronbach's alpha values in each of the three samples and satisfactory homogeneity as item‐total correlations was substantial without being excessive and thus indicated that items were measuring the same construct.ConclusionThe instrument appears to have internal consistency and enable reliable proxy measures of the thriving construct. Further psychometric assessment including checking for possible item redundancy is needed.
Use of Artificial Neural Network for Industrial Prediction of Final Temperature of Chicken Carcasses
Authors: Silveira Christian L. , Belledeli Bernardo D. , Soares Monica B. A. , Treichel Helen , Mazutti Marcio A. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn this work, an artificial neural network (ANN) was used to predict the final temperature of chicken carcasses in an industrial scale. For this purpose, temperatures of chicken carcasses were obtained in a slaughterhouse at the end of the cooling process. The variables considered to influence the temperature of carcasses were average carcass weight, prechiller and chillers velocities, prechiller and chillers average temperatures, the absence or presence of bubbles in prechiller and chiller and bubbles intensity, which were considered as input for the ANN. For training and validation of the feed forward neural network, the above inputs were combined to minimize the weighted sum of the squares of the residues, being tested 10 transfer functions, three training algorithms and two different architectures. The best result was obtained using an ANN composed of two hidden layer (10 nodes in each layer), radial bias as transfer function and gradient descent backpropagation algorithm for training. Using this architecture, the regression coefficient was 0.9265. Even with many variables affecting the industrial cooling process of the chicken carcasses, the ANN developed showed satisfactory fitting of the final temperature of chicken carcasses. This model can be further used for optimization purposes, improving the process quality of chicken carcasses as well as process profitability.Practical ApplicationThe model used in this study can be further used for control and optimization purposes, improving the process quality of chicken carcasses as well as process profitability.
Toward gene therapy for growth hormone deficiency via salivary gland expression of growth hormone
Authors: Racz GZ , Zheng C , Goldsmith CM , Baum BJ , Cawley NX 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivesSalivary glands are useful targets for gene therapeutics. After gene transfer into salivary glands, regulated secretory pathway proteins, such as human growth hormone, are secreted into saliva, whereas constitutive secretory pathway proteins, such as erythropoietin, are secreted into the bloodstream. Secretion of human growth hormone (hGH) into the saliva is not therapeutically useful. In this study, we attempted to redirect the secretion of transgenic hGH from the saliva to the serum by site‐directed mutagenesis.Materials and MethodsWe tested hGH mutants first in vitro with AtT20 cells, a model endocrine cell line that exhibits polarized secretion of regulated secretory pathway proteins. Selected mutants were further studied in vivo using adenoviral‐mediated gene transfer to rat submandibular glands.ResultsWe identified two mutants with differences in secretion behavior compared to wild‐type hGH. One mutant, ΔN1–6, was detected in the serum of transduced rats, demonstrating that expression of this mutant in the salivary gland resulted in its secretion through the constitutive secretory pathway.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that mutagenesis of therapeutic proteins normally destined for the regulated secretory pathway may result in their secretion via the constitutive secretory pathway into the circulation for potential therapeutic benefit.
Seropositivity of HPV 16 E6 and E7 and the risk of oral cancer
Authors: Wong GR , Ha KO , Himratul‐Aznita WH , Yang YH , Wan Mustafa WM , Yuen KM , Abraham MT , Tay KK , Karen‐Ng LP , Cheong SC , Zain RB 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of HPV seropositivity among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and healthy individuals and to correlate the association between HPV 16 seropositivity and risk of OSCC.Materials and MethodsHPV 16 E6 and E7 plasmids were constructed for the production of recombinant protein, which was used as the antigen in ELISA. HPV ELISA was performed on serum samples from 50 healthy individuals and 50 patients with OSCC.ResultsUsing the HPV ELISA, 30% (OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 0.85–5.93) and 18% (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 0.53–4.92) of patients with oral cancer were found to be HPV 16 E6 and E7 seropositive, respectively. Significant association was found between HPV 16 seropositivity and increased risk of OSCC in men, but not in male subjects. A similar trend was observed in non‐betel quid chewers.ConclusionsPotential associations between HPV 16 E6/E7 seropositivity and oral cancer were revealed in men and non‐betel quid chewer subjects, suggesting a possible etiological role of HPV 16 in subgroup of patients with OSCC in Malaysia.
Increased Levels of Cytokines in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Aseptic Meningitis Caused by Mumps Virus and Echovirus 30
Authors: Sulik A. , Kroten A. , Wojtkowska M. , Oldak E. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWe measured levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with mumps meningitis, enteroviral echovirus 30 meningitis and children without central nervous system infection to investigate whether these molecules were involved in the pathogenesis of viral meningitis. The CSF was obtained from 62 children suspected with meningitis. These patients were classified to the mumps meningitis (n = 19), echovirus 30 meningitis (n = 22) and non‐meningitis (n = 21) groups. The concentrations of interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), interleukin‐1 soluble receptor type 2 (IL‐1R2), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), human interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) and human tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) were determined by immunoassay. A significant increase was noted in the levels of IL‐8, TNF‐α and IL‐1R2 in the CSF of both meningitis groups as compared to controls. The concentrations of IFN‐γ and IL‐1 differed significantly only between the mumps group and control. The levels of IL‐1, IFN‐γ and TNF‐α were significantly higher in mumps meningitis when compared to the echovirus 30 group. Of all cytokines examined, only IFN‐γ correlated with pleocytosis (r = 0.58) in the mumps meningitis group. The increased CSF cytokine levels are markers of meningeal inflammation, and each virus may cause a specific profile of the cytokine pattern.
Peripheral and Site‐Specific CD4+CD28null T Cells from Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Show Distinct Characteristics
Authors: Pieper J. , Johansson S. , Snir O. , Linton L. , Rieck M. , Buckner J. H. , Winqvist ‎O. , van Vollenhoven R. , Malmström V. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractProinflammatory CD4+CD28null T cells are frequently found in the circulation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but are less common in the rheumatic joint. In the present study, we sought to identify functional differences between CD4+CD28null T cells from blood and synovial fluid in comparison with conventional CD28‐expressing CD4+ T cells. Forty‐four patients with RA, displaying a distinct CD4+CD28null T cell population in blood, were recruited for this study; the methylation status of the IFNG locus was examined in isolated T cell subsets, and intracellular cytokine production (IFN‐γ, TNF, IL‐17) and chemokine receptor expression (CXCR3, CCR6 and CCR7) were assessed by flow cytometry on T cells from the two compartments. Circulating CD4+CD28null T cells were significantly more hypomethylated in the CNS‐1 region of the IFNG locus than conventional CD4+CD28+ T cells and produced higher levels of both IFN‐γ and TNF after TCR cross‐linking. CD4+CD28null T cells from the site of inflammation expressed significantly more CXCR3 and CCR6 compared to their counterparts in blood. While IL‐17A production could hardly be detected in CD4+CD28null cells from the blood, a significant production was observed in CD4+CD28null T cells from synovial fluid. CD4+CD28null T cells were not only found to differ from conventional CD4+CD28+ T cells in the circulation, but we could also demonstrate that synovial CD4+CD28null T cells showed additional effector functions (IL‐17 coproduction) as compared to the same subset in peripheral blood, suggesting an active role for these cells in the perpetuation of inflammation in the subset of patients having a CD28null population.
Passive Transfer of Tumour‐Derived MDSCs Inhibits Asthma‐Related Airway Inflammation
Authors: Song C. , Yuan Y. , Wang X.‐M. , Li D. , Zhang G.‐M. , Huang B. , Feng Z.‐H. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractMyeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a heterogeneous population including myeloid progenitor and immature myeloid cells, are known to inhibit T cell responses. The issue of whether tumour‐derived MDSCs regulate the immune response in an asthma environment is currently unclear. Here, we have reported that tumour‐derived MDSCs shift the balance back to normal in a Th2‐dominant asthmatic environment. In an ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced mouse asthma model, injected tumour‐derived MDSCs were recruited to the lungs of asthmatic mice by CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). MDSCs transferred into asthmatic mice via i.v. injection suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lung, the Th2 cytokine, IL‐4, concentration in bronchial lavage fluid and the serum level of OVA‐specific IgE. Increased TGF‐β1 production in the lung was detected after transfer of MDSCs. The inhibitory effects of MDSCs were reversed upon treatment with an anti‐TGF‐β1 antibody, suggesting dependence of these activities on TGF‐β1. Our findings imply that tumour‐derived MDSCs inhibit the Th2 cell‐mediated response against allergen in a TGF‐β1‐dependent manner. Based on the collective results, we propose that asthma may be effectively targeted using a novel MDSC‐based cell therapy approach.
Disease distribution in canine patients with acanthocytosis: 123 cases
Authors: Warry Emma , Bohn Andrea , Emanuelli Mauren , Thamm Douglas , Lana Susan 
Published: December 2013

BackgroundAn acanthocyte is an abnormally shaped erythrocyte. In veterinary medicine, acanthocytes have historically been associated with canine hemangiosarcoma. In human medicine, acanthocytes are rarely observed with neoplastic disease and are more commonly associated with a variety of hereditary and acquired diseases.ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to determine what disease processes are associated with the presence of acanthocytes in the peripheral blood of dogs.MethodsMedical records for dogs presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Colorado State University during January 2004 through June 2008 with acanthocytes documented in their CBCs were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsA total of 123 dogs were included, 66 of which were diagnosed with neoplastic disease, most commonly hemangiosarcoma (n = 12), osteosarcoma (n = 11), and lymphoma (n = 11). The remaining 57 dogs had nonneoplastic disease, most commonly observed were gastrointestinal (n = 13), musculoskeletal (n = 8), renal (n = 8), and immune‐mediated diseases (n = 7). No statistically significant difference was detected between percent acanthocytes present in dogs with neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases.ConclusionAcanthocytosis was observed with a variety of neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases. While clearly commonly associated, the presence of acanthocytes in a blood smear should not be considered pathognomonic for hemangiosarcoma in dogs.
Knowledge of HIV testing and attitudes towards blood donation at three blood centres in Brazil
Authors: Miranda C. , Moreno E. , Bruhn R. , Larsen N. M. , Wright D. J. , Oliveira C. D. L. , Carneiro‐Proietti A. B. F. , Loureiro P. , de Almeida‐Neto C. , Custer B. , Sabino E. C. , Gonçalez T. T. ,   for the NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study‐II (REDS‐II), International Component
Published: December 2013

BackgroundReducing risk of HIV window period transmission requires understanding of donor knowledge and attitudes related to HIV and risk factors.Study Design and MethodsWe conducted a survey of 7635 presenting blood donors at three Brazilian blood centres from 15 October through 20 November 2009. Participants completed a questionnaire on HIV knowledge and attitudes about blood donation. Six questions about blood testing and HIV were evaluated using maximum likelihood chi‐square and logistic regression. Test seeking was classified in non‐overlapping categories according to answers to one direct and two indirect questions.ResultsOverall, respondents were male (64%) repeat donors (67%) between 18 and 49 years old (91%). Nearly 60% believed blood centres use better HIV tests than other places; however, 42% were unaware of the HIV window period. Approximately 50% believed it was appropriate to donate to be tested for HIV, but 67% said it was not acceptable to donate with risk factors even if blood is tested. Logistic regression found that less education, Hemope‐Recife blood centre, replacement, potential and self‐disclosed test‐seeking were associated with less HIV knowledge.ConclusionHIV knowledge related to blood safety remains low among Brazilian blood donors. A subset finds it appropriate to be tested at blood centres and may be unaware of the HIV window period. These donations may impose a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply. Decreasing test‐seeking and changing beliefs about the appropriateness of individuals with behavioural risk factors donating blood could reduce the risk of transfusing an infectious unit.