bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recurrent immature teratoma of the ovary with long‐term disease‐free interval
Authors: Matsumoto Harunobu , Mizoguchi Chiharu , Nishida Masakazu , Sato Shimpei , Nasu Kaei , Narahara Hisashi 
Published: April 2014

AbstractGrade 3 immature teratoma of the ovary is rare and has a poor prognosis due to early recurrence. This report describes a case of grade 3 immature teratoma of the ovary that recurred 16 years after the last treatment. The patient underwent abdominal simple total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy, pelvic‐para‐aortic lymphadenectomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy under the diagnosis of grade 3 immature teratoma of the ovary when she was 15 years old, and complete remission was achieved. Sixteen years after the initial treatment, the tumor relapsed in her liver and pleura. She was treated by 10 courses of tri‐weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin, and was alive with stable disease for 12 months after the disease relapse. After 1 year, the tumor progressed, and she died 16 months after the relapse. This is the first report of grade 3 immature teratoma of the ovary that relapsed more than 5 years after the prior treatment.
Shedding light on painters' implicit knowledge: The effect of lighting on recognizing expression and facial impressions of a depicted person in portraits
Authors: Sakuta Yuiko , Kanazawa So , Yamaguchi Masami K. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractWe aimed to verify painters' empirical rules in painting portraits from the perspective of face perception. In particular, we examined the effects of lighting on perceiving impressions and facial expressions of a depicted person by using portrait paintings with various lighting conditions of contrast (high, low) and position (left, right). Viewers rated their impressions of the people in the portraits and those people's expressions using 7‐point scales. Impressions regarding likability or attractiveness were stable regardless of the lighting conditions, while the other impressions differed among the lighting conditions. Positive emotions were perceived more strongly in paintings with low contrast, whereas negative emotions were perceived more strongly in paintings with high contrast. Overall, these results suggest that lighting has a systematic effect on face perception even in portrait paintings. We propose that the current study provides empirical evidence of painters' implicit knowledge.
Drugs acting at 5‐HT4, D2, motilin, and ghrelin receptors differ markedly in how they affect neuromuscular functions in human isolated stomach
Authors: Broad J. , Góralczyk A. , Mannur K. , Dukes G. E. , Sanger G. J. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundProgress in identifying safer, effective drugs to increase gastric emptying is impeded by failed clinical trials. One potential reason for failure is lack of translation from animal models to the human condition. To make progress, the actions of existing drugs and new therapeutic candidates need to be understood in human isolated stomach.MethodsNeuromuscular activities were evoked in human gastric antrum circular muscle by electrical field stimulation (EFS), defined phenotypically using pharmacological tools.Key ResultsEFS evoked cholinergically mediated contractions, attenuated by simultaneous nitrergic activation. The 5‐HT4 receptor agonist/D2 antagonist metoclopramide and the selective 5‐HT4 agonist prucalopride, facilitated contractions in the absence (respectively, Emax 95 ± 29% and 42 ± 9%, n = 3–6 each concentration) and presence (139 ± 38%, 55 ± 13%, n = 3–5) of the NO synthase inhibitor L‐NAME, without affecting submaximal contractions to carbachol; the 5‐HT4 antagonist SB204070 prevented facilitation by metoclopramide 100 μM (respectively, −5 (range −26 to 34) and 167 (12–1327)% in presence and absence; n = 5–6). The selective motilin receptor agonist camicinal provided considerably greater facilitation (478 (12–2080)% at 30 μM, n = 8). Domperidone (0.001–100 μM; n = 3–6) and acylated or des‐acylated ghrelin (1–300 nM; n = 2–4) had no consistent activity, even with protease inhibitors.Conclusions & Inferences5‐HT4 receptor agonists show different efficacies. Motilin receptor activation has greater potential to increase gastric emptying, whereas ghrelin and D2 receptor antagonism have no direct activity. Drugs stimulating human gastric motility directly can act regardless of disease mechanisms, whereas drugs without direct activity but an ability to block nausea/vomiting may be effective only if these symptoms exist.
Two‐year field analysis of reduced recalcitrance transgenic switchgrass
Authors: Baxter Holly L. , Mazarei Mitra , Labbe Nicole , Kline Lindsey M. , Cheng Qunkang , Windham Mark T. , Mann David G. J. , Fu Chunxiang , Ziebell Angela , Sykes Robert W. , Rodriguez Miguel , Davis Mark F. , Mielenz Jonathan R. , Dixon Richard A. , Wang Zeng‐Yu , Stewart C. Neal 
Published: April 2014

SummarySwitchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a leading candidate for a dedicated lignocellulosic biofuel feedstock owing to its high biomass production, wide adaptation and low agronomic input requirements. Lignin in cell walls of switchgrass, and other lignocellulosic feedstocks, severely limits the accessibility of cell wall carbohydrates to enzymatic breakdown into fermentable sugars and subsequently biofuels. Low‐lignin transgenic switchgrass plants produced by the down‐regulation of caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (COMT), a lignin biosynthetic enzyme, were analysed in the field for two growing seasons. COMT transcript abundance, lignin content and the syringyl/guaiacyl lignin monomer ratio were consistently lower in the COMT‐down‐regulated plants throughout the duration of the field trial. In general, analyses with fully established plants harvested during the second growing season produced results that were similar to those observed in previous greenhouse studies with these plants. Sugar release was improved by up to 34% and ethanol yield by up to 28% in the transgenic lines relative to controls. Additionally, these results were obtained using senesced plant material harvested at the end of the growing season, compared with the young, green tissue that was used in the greenhouse experiments. Another important finding was that transgenic plants were not more susceptible to rust (Puccinia emaculata). The results of this study suggest that lignin down‐regulation in switchgrass can confer real‐world improvements in biofuel yield without negative consequences to biomass yield or disease susceptibility.
Outcome of infants presenting rectal bleeding: A retrospective study in a single institution
Authors: Mori Mari , Ohtsuka Yoshikazu , Ishida Asuka , Yamazaki Susumu , Jimbo Keisuke , Inage Eisuke , Aoyagi Yo , Kudo Takahiro , Suzuki Ryuyo , Shimizu Toshiaki 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundAlthough rectal bleeding in infancy (RBI) is not a rare phenomenon, the clinical course of RBI is not fully understood.MethodsTo investigate the outcome and pathogenesis of RBI, especially when concomitant with food‐protein‐induced proctocolitis (FPIP) and neonatal transient eosinophilic colitis (NTEC), 22 neonates with rectal bleeding with FPIP and NTEC from January 2008 to June 2012 were enrolled and their clinical course and mechanisms of inflammation were examined.ResultsThirteen infants showed rectal bleeding after feeding and were diagnosed with FPIP, and nine infants showed rectal bleeding before feeding and were diagnosed with NTEC. Elevated peripheral white blood cell (12 685 ± 3754/μl and 30 978 ± 16 166/μl) and eosinophil (1084 ± 816/μl and 4456 ± 3341/μl) were confirmed in FPIP and NTEC, respectively. Colonoscopy revealed nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, a pale mucosal surface and oozing with diffuse infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in both groups. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed enhanced expression of the interleukin‐6, CCL11, and CXCL13 genes, where CXCL13 expression was more prominent in FPIP. Mucosal infiltration by CD3‐ and immunoglobulin‐A‐ but not immunoglobulin‐E‐positive cells was confirmed. Among them, only one infant with FPIP developed milk allergy, whereas none with NTEC had developed milk allergy at the age of 1 year.ConclusionsFPIP in infancy and NTEC are similar diseases and interleukin‐6, CCL11, and CXCL13 may play a major role in the pathogenesis of rectal bleeding. Although the involvement of allergic reaction is possible, milk allergy was not a common outcome after 1 year of follow up.
Non‐Analytic Logic
Authors: Slater Hartley 
Published: April 2014

AbstractA logic focusing on the analytic a priori and explicitly rejecting the synthetic a priori developed in the early decades of the 20th century, largely through the efforts of the Logical Empiricists. This group was very influenced by Wittgenstein's early work Tractatus Logico‐Philosophicus. But Wittgenstein himself, later on, departed from the Tractatus in significant ways that the Logical Empiricists did not follow. Wittgenstein came later to accept the synthetic a priori, and out of this insight comes a non‐analytic logic that differs from standard 20th century logic in many distinct ways. This paper details these differences.
A unified model for bedform development and equilibrium under unidirectional, oscillatory and combined‐flows
Authors: Perillo Mauricio M. , Best James L. , Yokokawa Miwa , Sekiguchi Tomohiro , Takagawa Tomohiro , Garcia Marcelo H. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe development of bedforms under unidirectional, oscillatory and combined‐flows results from temporal changes in sediment transport, flow and morphological response. In such flows, the bedform characteristics (for example, height, wavelength and shape) change over time, from their initiation to equilibrium with the imposed conditions, even if the flow conditions remain unchanged. These variations in bedform morphology during development are reflected in the sedimentary structures preserved in the rock record. Hence, understanding the time and morphological development in which bedforms evolve to an equilibrium stage is critical for informed reconstruction of the ancient sedimentary record. This article presents results from a laboratory flume study on bedform development and equilibrium development time conducted under purely unidirectional, purely oscillatory and combined‐flow conditions, which aimed to test and extend an empirical model developed in past work solely for unidirectional ripples. The present results yield a unified model for bedform development and equilibrium under unidirectional, oscillatory and combined‐flows. The experimental results show that the processes of bedform genesis and growth are common to all types of flows, and can be characterized into four stages: (i) incipient bedforms; (ii) growing bedforms; (iii) stabilizing bedforms; and (iv) fully developed bedforms. Furthermore, the development path of bedform; growth exhibits the same general trend for different flow types (for example, unidirectional, oscillatory and combined‐flows), bedform size (for example, small versus large ripples), bedform shape (for example, symmetrical or rounded), bedform planform geometry (for example, two‐dimensional versus three‐dimensional), flow velocities and sediment grain sizes. The equilibrium time for a wide range of bed configurations was determined and found to be inversely proportional to the sediment transport flux occurring for that flow condition.
Getting Ahead and Falling Behind: A Sociological Elaboration of Sen's Theory of Human Development
Authors: Marsh Robert M. 
Published: April 2014

ObjectiveOne relatively neglected question raised by Amartya Sen's theory of human development is: Why do people and societies differ in their capacity to convert income and commodities into valuable human achievements (“functionings” in Sen's terminology)? I focus upon the degree to which people in developed and developing societies realize each of the six diverse types of valued functionings: long life, schooling, living in a society with less income inequality and less gender inequality, more political freedom, and greater life satisfaction.MethodsUsing data from all societies with a population of over 1 million (N= 156), I first regress each type of functioning on societies’ GDP per capita to obtain the residual scores. These scores indicate which societies do better than expected, as expected, or worse than expected on the basis of their level of economic development.Results and ConclusionTo explain these differences, I then estimate an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model whose independent variables are economic growth rate, ethnolinguistic fractionalization, civil war fatalities, corruption, and several dummy variables for cultural regions of the world.
Is There a Political Bias? A Computational Analysis of Female Subjects' Coverage in Liberal and Conservative Newspapers
Authors: Shor Eran , van de Rijt Arnout , Ward Charles , Askar Saoussan , Skiena Steven 
Published: April 2014

ObjectivesOne possible source for the gap in media coverage between female and male subjects is the political affiliation of the media source. The objective of this present study was to test whether there is a difference between more liberal and more conservative newspapers in coverage rates of female subjects.MethodsWe used computational methods to analyze a unique large‐scale data set (complied by the Lydia Text Analysis System) and compared the 2010 female coverage rates in 168 newspapers.ResultsContrary to our expectations, we found that conservative media tend to cover female subjects no less (and even slightly more) than liberal media. However, the difference was no longer significant once we controlled for newspaper distribution.ConclusionThe common view that liberal newspapers are more likely to cover female subjects was not supported by this study. Both conservative and liberal newspapers are much more likely to cover males.
Growing but not Developing: Long‐Term Effects of Clustering in the Peruvian Clothing Industry
Authors: Visser Evert‐Jan , Távara José I. , Villaran Fernando 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThis paper analyses how a cluster of clothing firms in Peru fared over a 15 year period. The question is how and why this cluster has changed. We collected data for 1993 and 2007, comparing clustered and dispersed firms. The cluster grew significantly in terms of the number of firms and employment, due to the attraction of trade activities towards the cluster. The productivity of clustered producers fell somewhat, although they maintain an advantage over dispersed firms. This is due to static advantages falling into a producer's lap once located in the area and developing at the level of transacting inputs and output. Clustered producers do not use profits to upgrade businesses but rather invest in real estate. On the whole, they are struggling. Enhancing the quality of cluster governance is critical to prevent a further decline of the production part of the cluster.
Cryptococcal meningitis post autologous stem cell transplantation
Authors: Chaaban S. , Wheat L.J. , Assi M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDisseminated Cryptococcus disease occurs in patients with defective T‐cell immunity. Cryptococcal meningitis following autologous stem cell transplant (SCT) has been described previously in only 1 patient, 4 months post SCT and while off antifungal prophylaxis. We present a unique case of Cryptococcus meningitis pre‐engraftment after autologous SCT, while the patient was receiving fluconazole prophylaxis. A 41‐year‐old man with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma underwent autologous SCT. Post‐transplant prophylaxis consisted of fluconazole 400 mg daily, levofloxacin 500 mg daily, and acyclovir 800 mg twice daily. On day 9 post transplant, he developed fever and headache. Peripheral white blood cell count (WBC) was 700/μL. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed lesions consistent with meningoencephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed a WBC of 39 with 77% lymphocytes, protein 63, glucose 38, CSF pressure 20.5 cmH2O, and a positive cryptococcal antigen. CSF culture confirmed Cryptococcus neoformans. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin B 5 mg/kg intravenously daily, and flucytosine 37.5 mg/kg orally every 6 h. He was switched to fluconazole 400 mg daily after 3 weeks of amphotericin therapy, with sterilization of the CSF with negative CSFCryptococcus antigen and negative CSF culture. Review of the literature revealed 9 cases of cryptococcal disease in recipients of SCT. Median time of onset was 64 days post transplant. Only 3 meningitis cases were described; 2 of them after allogeneic SCT. Fungal prophylaxis with fluconazole post autologous SCT is recommended at least through engraftment, and for up to 100 days in high‐risk patients. A high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose and treat opportunistic infections, especially in the face of immunosuppression and despite adequate prophylaxis. Infection is usually fatal without treatment, thus prompt diagnosis and therapy might be life saving.
Soil‐transmitted helminths in southern highland Rwanda: associated factors and effectiveness of school‐based preventive chemotherapy
Authors: Staudacher Olga , Heimer Jakob , Steiner Florian , Kayonga Yvette , Havugimana Jean M. , Ignatius Ralf , Musemakweri Andre , Ngabo Fidele , Harms Gundel , Gahutu Jean‐Bosco , Mockenhaupt Frank P. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractObjectivesPreventive chemotherapy of schoolchildren against soil‐transmitted helminths (STHs) is widely implemented in Rwanda. However, data on its actual efficacy are lacking. We assessed prevalence, associated factors and manifestation of STH infection among schoolchildren in southern highland Rwanda as well as cure and reinfection rates.MethodsSix hundred and twenty‐two children (rural, 301; urban, 321) were included preceding the administration of a single dose of 500 mg mebendazole. Before treatment, and after 2 and 15 weeks, STH infection was determined by Kato‐Katz smears and by PCR assays for Ascaris lumbricoides. Clinical and anthropometric data, socio‐economic status and factors potentially associated with STH infection were assessed.ResultsSoil‐transmitted helminth (STH) infection was present in 38% of rural and in 13% of urban schoolchildren. Ascaris lumbricoides accounted for 96% of infections. Of these, one‐third was detected by PCR exclusively. Factors associated with STH infection differed greatly between rural and urban children. Likewise, STH infection was associated with stunting and anaemia only among urban children. The cure rate after 2 weeks was 92%. Among eight non‐cleared A. lumbricoides infections, seven were submicroscopic. Reinfection within 3 months occurred in 7%, but the rate was higher among rural children, and with initially present infection, particularly at comparatively high intensity.ConclusionsThe rural–urban difference in factors associated with STH infection and in reinfection rates highlights the need for targeted interventions to reduce transmission. PCR assays may help in detecting low‐level infections persisting after treatment. In southern Rwanda, mebendazole is highly effective against the STH infections predominated by A. lumbricoides.
A mathematical approach to estimate the efficacy of individual‐donation and minipool nucleic acid amplification test options in preventing transmission risk by window period and occult hepatitis B virus infections
Authors: Vermeulen Marion , van Drimmelen Harry , Coleman Charl , Mitchel Josephine , Reddy Ravi , Lelie Nico 
Published: April 2014

BackgroundSensitivity data from a head‐to‐head comparison study in South Africa were used to compare the efficacy of the Ultrio Plus assay in individual‐donation (ID) and minipool (MP)4 and MP8 formats with that of TaqScreen MP6 in preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission risk.Study Design and MethodsThe replicate nucleic acid test (NAT) results on 106 HBV NAT (Ultrio)‐yield samples and 29 HBV DNA (Ultrio)‐negative, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive samples were used to determine the viral load in copies/mL against the Eurohep HBV standard by probit analysis. Random viral load distributions were established in 32 pre‐HBsAg window period (WP), 15 post‐HBsAg WP, and 56 occult HBV infection (OBI) donations. Regression analysis of log viral load and Poisson distribution statistics of infectious HBV particles in blood components was used to predict infectivity and efficacy of NAT options in removing HBV transmission risk.ResultsFor red blood cell transfusions (20 mL of plasma), the modeling predicted an Ultrio Plus ID‐NAT efficacy of 68 and 83% in removing WP and (antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen–negative) OBI transmission risk, respectively, compared to 52 and 49% by TaqScreen MP6. For 200 mL of fresh‐frozen plasma the estimated efficacy levels by these ID‐ and MP6‐NAT options reduced to 57 and 44% for WP and to 67 and 34% for OBI donations, respectively.ConclusionThe efficacy of the currently available commercial NAT systems in reducing HBV transmission risk is mainly driven by the pool size and the transfusion plasma volume. The modeled OBI transmission risk and NAT efficacy levels were in line with those recently reported in three lookback studies and give more insight in the incremental safety provided by HBsAg and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen testing of ID‐NAT screened blood.
Use of Six Sigma Worksheets for assessment of internal and external failure costs associated with candidate quality control rules for an ADVIA 120 hematology analyzer
Authors: Cian Francesco , Villiers Elisabeth , Archer Joy , Pitorri Francesca , Freeman Kathleen 
Published: April 2014

BackgroundQuality control (QC) validation is an essential tool in total quality management of a veterinary clinical pathology laboratory. Cost‐analysis can be a valuable technique to help identify an appropriate QC procedure for the laboratory, although this has never been reported in veterinary medicine.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the applicability of the Six Sigma Quality Cost Worksheets in the evaluation of possible candidate QC rules identified by QC validation.MethodsThree months of internal QC records were analyzed. EZ Rules 3 software was used to evaluate candidate QC procedures, and the costs associated with the application of different QC rules were calculated using the Six Sigma Quality Cost Worksheets. The costs associated with the current and the candidate QC rules were compared, and the amount of cost savings was calculated.ResultsThere was a significant saving when the candidate 1‐2.5s, n = 3 rule was applied instead of the currently utilized 1‐2s, n = 3 rule. The savings were 75% per year (£8232.5) based on re‐evaluating all of the patient samples in addition to the controls, and 72% per year (£822.4) based on re‐analyzing only the control materials. The savings were also shown to change accordingly with the number of samples analyzed and with the number of daily QC procedures performed.ConclusionsThese calculations demonstrated the importance of the selection of an appropriate QC procedure, and the usefulness of the Six Sigma Costs Worksheet in determining the most cost‐effective rule(s) when several candidate rules are identified by QC validation.