bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of plant induced volatiles in attracting Encarsia formosa and Serangium japonicum, two dominant natural enemies of whitefly Bemisia tabaci in China
Authors: Li Shao‐Jian , Ren Su‐Li , Xue Xia , Ren Shun‐Xiang , Cuthbertson Andrew GS , van Dam Nicole M , Qiu Bao‐Li 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDWhitefly Bemisia tabaci is a globally distributed and most destructive pest to agriculture. Owing to increasing chemical resistance, a long‐lasting strategy to manage this pest must involve biological control. Herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) usually play a profoundly important role in the foraging behaviour of natural enemies. Here, the effects of HIPVs from Chinese broccoli on the foraging behaviour of two dominant natural enemy species of B. tabaci in China, Encarsia formosa and Serangium japonicum, were investigated using a four‐arm olfactometer, and exogenous jasmonic acid (JA) was used to induce plant volatiles to mimic the damage of the herbivore pest.RESULTSThe parasitoid E. formosa was found to be more attracted by the volatiles from JA‐induced broccoli than those from control plants. The residence times of E. formosa in the final‐choice areas closed to volatiles from shoot JA (SJA)‐ and root JA (RJA)‐induced plants were 119.8 ± 35.2 s and 99.8 ± 34.7 s respectively in the dual‐choice experiments, and 123.8 ± 32.0 s and 102.3 ± 28.7 s respectively in the three‐choice experiment. All are significantly longer than those spent in the final‐choice area closed to volatiles from control plants (CON). JA‐induced volatiles were also only a little more attractive to the predator S. japonicum. However, there was no significant difference between each of the two natural enemies in residence time spent in the final‐choice areas closed to SJA, RJA or CON volatiles in both the dual‐ and three‐choice experiments. Furthermore, the number of times that the parasitoid or predator entered the SJA, RJA and CON final‐choice areas was not significantly different in any of the experiments.CONCLUSIONThe present results indicate that RJA‐ and SJA‐induced plant volatiles have higher efficiencies in attracting the natural enemies of whitefly B. tabaci. The attractive efficiencies varied according to the plant volatiles that JA induced, and also depended on the natural enemy species. The parasitoid E. formosa seems to be more sensitive to and attracted by the induced volatiles than the predator S. japonicum. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Glucose‐ and pH‐Stimulated Release of Insulin
Authors: Jain Rachit N. , Huang Xiaoxi , Das Sayantani , Silva Rafael , Ivanova Vera , Minko Tamara , Asefa Tewodros 
Published: January 2014

AbstractMulti‐stimuli responsive porous silica nanoparticles for controlled release of insulin were synthesized by tethering insulin molecules onto boronic acid‐functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (BA‐MSNs) and then coating the BA‐MSNs with the bioadhesive and pH‐sensitive polymer polyacrylic acid (PAA). The insulin molecules were conjugated onto the exterior surfaces of BA‐MSNs via gluconic acid linker groups [or by making first the gluconic acid‐modified insulin (Gins)]. The surfaces of the resulting BA‐MSNs containing Gins were coated with PAA, which was used to protect the entrapped insulin from undergoing possible enzymatic degradations in such locations as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The PAA, which has excellent dispersibility and adherence to the mucosa, might also allow the permeation of such nanoparticles through the colon, and thereby improve their potential application for insulin delivery. The drug release properties of the resulting nanoparticles, denoted PAA‐Gins‐BA‐MSNs, as well as their control samples were studied in enzyme‐free simulated gastric fluid (SGF) (pH = 2.0), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) (pH = 6.8), and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) (pH = 7.4). Because of their shrinkage at low pH and swelling at high pH, the PAA‐coated MSNs exhibited pH‐dependent insulin release properties. Besides pH, glucose was shown to trigger the release of insulin from the nanoparticles, which demonstrates the nanoparticles' multi‐stimuli‐responsive properties for controlled release of insulin. Finally, we show that the PAA‐coated MSNs were non‐cytotoxic.
Is Adrenal Venous Sampling Mandatory before Surgical Decision in Case of Primary Hyperaldosteronism?
Authors: Pirvu Augustin , Naem Nora , Baguet Jean Philippe , Thony Frédéric , Chabre Olivier , Chaffanjon Philippe 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundPrimary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) is a cause of secondary arterial hypertension potentially curable by laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy. We describe the follow‐up of these patients according to their medical or surgical treatment.MethodsWe report a retrospective single‐center study of 91 patients with PHA from 1998 to 2012. Treatment was guided by computed tomography (CT) scans. Preoperative adrenal vein sampling (AVS) was performed when the CT scan did not show single solitary unilateral nodules on the adrenal glands. During the follow‐up, we considered hypertension to be cured in patients with normal blood pressure without antihypertensive medication (AM), and improvement was defined by a decrease in AM.ResultsA total of 28 patients received only AM. Of the 62 patients who underwent a unilateral adrenalectomy, 46 (74 %) had an adrenal adenoma, 14 (22 %) a hyperplasia, and the adrenal gland was normal in two cases. Hypertension was cured in 24 cases (38 %), and 28 patients (45 %) showed improvement with a reduction in AM. Predictive factors for a cure were gender, age, number of preoperative AMs, preoperative arterial systolic blood pressure, and plasma renin activity. All patients who presented with hypokalemia were cured postoperatively. We performed 38 AVS and nine of these patients were operated on based on the AVS findings, with an improvement of 100 % of arterial blood pressure after surgery.ConclusionLaparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy for PHA cured or improved hypertension in 84 % of patients. Preoperative AVS is mandatory for surgical decision making if the CT scan shows bilateral or no lesions associated with PHA.
The Death of Marriage? The Effects of New Forms of Legal Recognition on Marriage Rates in the United States
Authors: Dillender Marcus 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Some conservative groups argue that allowing same-sex couples to marry reduces the value of marriage to opposite-sex couples. This article examines how changes in U.S. legal recognition laws occurring between 1995 and 2010 designed to include same-sex couples have altered marriage rates in the United States. Using a difference-in-differences strategy that compares how marriage rates change after legal recognition in U.S. states that alter legal recognition versus states that do not, I find no evidence that allowing same-sex couples to marry reduces the opposite-sex marriage rate. Although the opposite-sex marriage rate is unaffected by same-sex couples marrying, it decreases when domestic partnerships are available to opposite-sex couples.
Relationship between metalloproteinase 2 and 9 concentrations and soluble CD154 expression in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Sanchooli Javad , Ramroodi Nourollah , Sanadgol Nima , Sarabandi Vida , Ravan Hadi , Rad Reza Saebi 
Published: January 2014

AbstractMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a critical role in the blood–brain barrier permeability and in invasion of the leukocytes into the central nervous system during multiple sclerosis (MS). In this respect, in the present study, we have evaluated the possible role of MMP‐9 and MMP‐2 on the expression of soluble CD154 (sCD154) and membrane‐bound isoform of the CD154 in Iranian MS patients. The expressions of the aforementioned protein‐related genes were analyzed at the levels of messenger RNA and proteins by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting. The results showed a high expression of CD154 isoforms, MMP‐9 and MMP‐2, in MS patients in contrast to controls (p < 0.001). We found an increase in sCD154 concentration (i.e., >3‐fold) in patients with a higher MMPs/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP‐1) ratio. Furthermore, secondary‐progressive MS patients with exacerbate period showed higher positive correlation between increasing sCD154 concentration and overexpression of MMP‐2 (p < 0.001). Our data demonstrate that following the exacerbation period, sCD154 concentration is increased in patients, which is mutually related to the MMPs/TIMP‐1 ratio. This relationship may represent a new link between sCD154 concentration and the MMPs/TIMP‐1 ratio with prognostic implications.
A Servant to Many Masters: Competing Shareholder Preferences and Limits to Catering
Authors: Manconi Alberto , Massa Massimo 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWe study what determines catering through the payout policy and how catering affects firm value. We create a catering index, measuring how the firm caters to its investors’ payout preferences. The index is based on the revealed payout preferences of mutual funds holding the firm’s stocks. Catering is constrained by market segmentation and dispersion in investor payout preferences. It is also associated with positive value effects: Firms increasing their catering index also experience an increase in value. Furthermore, greater catering ability is associated with a more positive market reaction to corporate announcements of equity issues and dividend payouts.
The goals of the EU seal products trade regulation: from effectiveness to consequence
Authors: Sellheim Nikolas 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTWhen policies are adopted, it seems reasonable to assume that they address a certain issue and provide means to mitigate specific problems. This seems the case with the EU's regime on trade in seal products, but it becomes evident that the goal formulation in this case is blurry and unclear. Taking animal welfare, the so-called ‘Inuit exemption’, and internal market harmonisation into account, this article examines the goals of the seal products trade regime and how they are applied. It becomes clear that the attainment of goals bears consequences that are unprecedented due to conceptual and formulation difficulties. Given the indistinct goal formulation during the policy-shaping process and the goal formulation in the policy itself, it seems fair to say that the regime does not aim to improve animal welfare standards in the commercial seal hunt, but rather aims to shut down the commercial hunt completely. This, however, affects Inuit and non-Inuit seal hunters equally and is inconsistent with secondary goals that are formulated in the EU's documents relating to the Arctic. Therefore, the seal products trade regime has consequences that challenge the EU's ambitions in the north.
Altered plasma glutathione levels in bipolar disorder indicates higher oxidative stress; a possible risk factor for illness onset despite normal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels
Authors: Rosa A. R. , Singh N. , Whitaker E. , de Brito M. , Lewis A. M. , Vieta E. , Churchill G. C. , Geddes J. R. , Goodwin G. M. 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundOxidative stress and neurotrophic factors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Our objective was to determine whether plasma glutathione or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were abnormal in bipolar disorder and therefore useful as possible biomarkers.MethodBlood samples were collected from subsyndromal, medicated bipolar I patients (n = 50), recruited from OXTEXT, University of Oxford, and from 50 matched healthy controls. Total and oxidized glutathione levels were measured using an enzymatic recycling method and used to calculate reduced, percentage oxidized, ratio of reduced:oxidized and redox state. BDNF was measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Self-monitored mood scores for the bipolar group were available (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology and the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale) over an 8-week period.ResultsCompared with controls, bipolar patients had significantly lower levels of total glutathione and it was more oxidized. BDNF levels were not different. Age of illness onset but not current mood state correlated with total glutathione levels and its oxidation status, so that lower levels of total and reduced glutathione were associated with later onset of disease, not length of illness.ConclusionsPlasma glutathione levels and redox state detect oxidative stress even in subsyndromal patients with normal BDNF. It may relate to the onset and development of bipolar disorder. Plasma glutathione appears to be a suitable biomarker for detecting underlying oxidative stress and for evaluating the efficacy of antioxidant intervention studies.
Stochastic optimal enhancement of distributed formation control using Kalman smoothers
Authors: Anderson Ross P. , Milutinović Dejan 
Published: January 2014

SUMMARYBeginning with a deterministic distributed feedback control for nonholonomic vehicle formations, we develop a stochastic optimal control approach for agents to enhance their non-optimal controls with additive correction terms based on the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation, making them optimal and robust to uncertainties. In order to avoid discretization of the high-dimensional cost-to-go function, we exploit the stochasticity of the distributed nature of the problem to develop an equivalent Kalman smoothing problem in a continuous state space using a path integral representation. Our approach is illustrated by numerical examples in which agents achieve a formation with their neighbors using only local observations.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF INTRAVENOUS IODINATED CONTRAST MEDIA IN ITALY
Authors: Iannazzo Sergio , Vandekerckhove Stijn , De Francesco Maria , Nayak Akash , Ronco Claudio , Morana Giovanni , Valentino Massimo 
Published: January 2014

Background:Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is defined as a deterioration in renal function after administration of radiologic iodinated contrast media (CM). Iodixanol, showed a lower CI-AKI incidence than low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM). A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed comparing iodixanol and LOCM in intravenous (IV) setting in Italy.Methods:A Markov model was developed. Patients moved across four health states: CI-AKI free, CI-AKI, myocardial infarction, and death. The simulation horizon was lifetime with 1-month cycles. Costs and outcomes were discounted at 3.5 percent rate. CI-AKI incidence was considered from published literature across different definitions. Cost-effectiveness of iodixanol was assessed in terms of incremental cost per life-year gained. Net monetary benefit (NMB) was also calculated. Both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.Results:Base-case results showed an average survival increase of 0.51 life-years and a savings of €7.25 for iodixanol versus LOCM. The cost-effectiveness of iodixanol was confirmed when other scenarios were explored, such as varying CI-AKI definition, sub-populations with specified risk factors, CM hospital bids prices, and inclusion of adverse drug reactions of allergic nature. An NMB ranging between €6,007.25 and €30,007.25 was calculated.Conclusion:Base-case results show that IV iodixanol is cost-effective compared with LOCM in the Italian clinical setting of a hospital computed tomography radiology practice. However, some caution is due, mainly linked to inherent limitations of the modeling technique and to the lack of agreement on CI-AKI incidence data in the clinical literature.
Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in children in Cyprus during three consecutive winter seasons (2010–2013): age distribution, seasonality and association between prevalent genotypes and disease severity
Authors: PANAYIOTOU C. , RICHTER J. , KOLIOU M. , KALOGIROU N. , GEORGIOU E. , CHRISTODOULOU C. 
Published: January 2014

SUMMARYThis study reports the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in hospitalized children in Cyprus over three successive seasons (2010–2013) and the association between prevalent genotypes and disease severity. RSV infections had a circulation pattern from December to March. Most RSV-positive children (83%) were aged <2 years. Genotyping of RSV isolates showed that during the first winter season of the study (2010–2011), the only RSV genotype circulating was GA2 (RSV-A), followed by genotype BA (RSV-B) in the next winter season with only few sporadic cases of GA2. During the last winter season of the study (2012–2013) the newly emerged RSV genotype ON1 (RSV-A) was virtually the only circulating genotype. Children infected with genotype ON1 suffered a significantly milder illness compared to infections with genotypes GA2 and BA with a higher percentage of BA-infected children requiring oxygen. Our findings are in contrast to the majority of published reports that suggest RSV-A causes more severe illness than RSV-B. Therefore, further investigation of the association between RSV genotypes and disease severity is required, as it might affect treatment strategies in the future.
Retrospective and prospectively assessed childhood adversity in association with major depression, alcohol consumption and painful conditions
Authors: Patten S. B. , Wilkes T. C. R. , Williams J. V. A. , Lavorato D. H. , el-Guebaly N. , Schopflocher D. , Wild C. , Colman I. , Bulloch A. G. M. 
Published: January 2014

Background.Considerable evidence now links childhood adversity to a variety of adult health problems. Unfortunately, almost all of these studies have relied upon retrospective assessment of childhood events, creating a vulnerability to bias. In this study, we sought to examine three associations using data sources that allowed for both prospective and retrospective assessment of childhood events.Methods.Methods. A 1994 national survey of children between the ages of 0 and 11 collected data from a ‘person most knowledgeable’ (usually the mother) about a child. It was possible to link data for n = 1977 of these respondents to data collected from the same people in a subsequent adult study. The latter survey included retrospective reports of childhood adversity. We examined three adult health outcomes in relation to prospectively and retrospectively assessed childhood adversity: major depressive episodes, excessive alcohol consumption and painful conditions.Results.Results. A strong association between childhood adversities (as assessed by both retrospective and prospective methods) and major depression was identified although the association with retrospective assessment was stronger. Weaker associations were found for painful conditions, but these did not depend on the method of assessment. Associations were not found for excessive alcohol consumption irrespective of the method of assessment.Conclusions.These findings help to allay concerns that associations between childhood adversities and health outcomes during adulthood are merely artefacts of recall bias. In this study, retrospective and prospective assessment strategies produced similar results.
Role of Toll-like receptors in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Mudaliar Harshini , Pollock Carol , Panchapakesan Usha 
Published: January 2014

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of kidney failure and its increasing prevalence and incidence has imposed global socio-economic stress on healthcare systems worldwide. Although historically considered a metabolic disorder, recent studies have established that inflammatory responses are central to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. TLRs (Toll-like receptors) are a family of pattern recognition receptors responsible for the initiation of inflammatory and immune responses. The regulation of TLR2 and TLR4 have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases, and emerging evidence shows their involvement in the perpetuation of inflammation in the diabetic kidney. The present review focuses on the relative contributions of TLR2 and TLR4 in recognizing endogenous ligands relevant to diabetic nephropathy and their subsequent activation of NF-κB (nuclear factor κB), which results in the synthesis and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, we discuss the pro-inflammatory signalling pathways of TLR2 and TLR4, in which their interruption or blockade may prove to be important therapeutic targets, potentially translated into clinical treatments for diabetic nephropathy. Currently, inhibitors to TLR2 and TLR4 are undergoing clinical trials in various inflammatory models of disease, but none in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Given the existing literature, there is a fundamental necessity to undertake trials in patients with diabetic nephropathy with a focus on renal end points.
Aliskiren limits abdominal aortic aneurysm, ventricular hypertrophy and atherosclerosis in an apolipoprotein-E-deficient mouse model
Authors: Seto Sai-Wang , Krishna Smriti M. , Moran Corey S. , Liu David , Golledge Jonathan 
Published: January 2014

Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor developed to treat hypertension. Several clinical studies have suggested that aliskiren has beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases beyond its antihypertensive effect. In the present study, we examined whether aliskiren limits the progression of AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm), VH (ventricular hypertrophy) and atherosclerosis in an AngII (angiotensin II)-infused mouse model. ApoE−/− (apolipoprotein-E-deficient) mice were infused subcutaneously with AngII (1000 ng/kg of body weight per day; 4 weeks) to induce AAA and VH. At the completion of the AngII infusion, mice were randomly allocated to three groups to receive vehicle control, low-dose aliskiren (10 mg/kg of body weight per day) or high-dose aliskiren (50 mg/kg of body weight per day) for 4 weeks. Suprarenal aortic diameter assessed by ultrasound was significantly smaller in mice administered aliskiren at days 42 and 56. Aliskiren also significantly reduced the normalized heart weight, ventricular myocyte cell width and aortic arch atherosclerosis. Aliskiren lowered PRR (pro-renin receptor) expression and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) activity in the suprarenal aorta and heart. Aortic infiltration of T-lymphocytes and macrophages was reduced by aliskiren. In conclusion, aliskiren limits the progression of AAA, VH and atherosclerosis in an AngII-infused mouse model.