bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
C
ucurbita ficifolia Bouché (Cucurbitaceae) and D-chiro-inositol modulate the redox state and inflammation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes
Authors: Fortis-Barrera Ángeles , Alarcón-Aguilar Francisco Javier , Banderas-Dorantes Tania , Díaz-Flores Margarita , Román-Ramos Rubén , Cruz Miguel , García-Macedo Rebeca 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Objectives
Cucurbita ficifolia (characterised by its D chiro inositol (DCI) content) and of synthetic DCI on the redox state, mRNA expression and secretions of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, we evaluated the insulin-mimetic action of both treatments by assessing protein kinase B (PKB) activation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Methods
Adipocytes were treated with C. ficifolia and synthetic DCI. The redox state was determined by spectrophotometry as changes in the reduced glutathione/oxidised glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities; H2O2 levels were measured by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression and the protein level of cytokines were determinate by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The activation of PKB activation was detected by Western blot.

Key findings
C. ficifolia extract and synthetic DCI reduced oxidative stress by decreased H2O2 levels, increased glutathione peroxidase activity and changes in the GSH/GSSG ratio. Furthermore, DCI decreased the mRNA expression and secretion of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and resistin, while C. ficifolia reduced protein levels of resistin and increased IL-6 levels. Only DCI demonstrated insulin-mimetic action.

Conclusions
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of C. ficifolia extract can be explained in part by its DCI content, which modulates the GSH/GSSG ratio and contributes to a reduced proinflammatory state. C. ficifolia and DCI treatments may reduce the disturbances caused by oxidative stress. Additionally, DCI may improve insulin sensitivity through its insulin-mimetic effects.
Effects of unconditioned stimulus intensity and fear extinction on subsequent sleep architecture in an afternoon nap
Authors: Sturm Anna , Czisch Michael , Spoormaker Victor I. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryImpaired fear extinction and disturbed sleep coincide in post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the nature of this relationship is unclear. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation impairs fear extinction recall in rodents and young healthy subjects, and animal models have demonstrated both disrupted sleep after fear conditioning and normalized sleep after extinction learning. As a correlation between unconditioned stimulus (US) responding and subsequent sleep architecture has been observed in healthy subjects, the goal of this study was to test whether US intensity would causally affect subsequent sleep. Twenty‐four young healthy subjects underwent a fear conditioning session with skin conductance response measurements before an afternoon session of polysomnographically recorded sleep (up to 120 min) in the sleep laboratory. Two factors were manipulated experimentally in a 2 × 2 design: US (electrical shock) was set at high or low intensity, and subjects did or did not receive an extinction session after fear conditioning. We observed that neither factor affected REM sleep amount, that high US intensity nominally increased sleep fragmentation (more Stage 1 sleep, stage shifts and wake after sleep onset), and that extinction increased Stage 4 amount. Moreover, reduced Stage 1 and increased Stage 4 and REM sleep were associated with subjective sleep quality of the afternoon nap. These results provide evidence for the notion that US intensity and extinction affect subsequent sleep architecture in young healthy subjects, which may provide a translational bridge from findings in animal studies to correlations observed in PTSD patients.
How to contend with paraphyly in the taxonomy of the delphinine cetaceans?
Authors: Perrin William F. , Rosel Patricia E. , Cipriano Frank 
Published: August 2013

AbstractMolecular phylogenetic analyses conducted over the past 15 yr have consistently had difficulties resolving relationships among the cetacean species in the subfamily Delphininae. In addition, paraphyly of the genera Tursiops and Stenella in these molecular phylogenies has been a recurrent problem since the first appearance of such a phylogeny in 1999, suggesting that these genera do not accurately reflect the evolutionary relationships of the species they contain. Morphological analyses have not resolved the issues. The genera in Delphininae originated in the 19th Century on questionable morphological grounds. The species were nearly all originally described in the genus Delphinus of Linnaeus. Recent molecular phylogenies based on various mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers have suggested a wide range of possible relationships among these taxa, and several authors have suggested synonymizing all the taxa (Lagenodelphis, Stenella, Sousa, and Tursiops) under Delphinus. Until molecular and/or morphological analyses adequately sort out relationships in this very recently radiated group, one possible solution indeed would be to merge all the delphinine genera with Delphinus. Implications of such a move and alternatives are discussed.Editor's Note: Papers from past Norris Award winners have primarily been a revised or reduced version of the actual presentation given as a plenary talk at the biennial conference. Dr. Perrin requested being allowed to take a topic from his presentation and expand on it to present a set of ideas in the form of an essay that could pass the rigors of the peer‐review process. As a result, this Norris Award paper has undergone peer‐review and has taken longer than usual for a Norris Award paper to appear in the journal following its presentation at the biennial conference. It also has co‐authors, with varying opinions on the issues discussed in the essay, to cover appropriately and more thoroughly those components of the paper that required additional expertise. I believe this approach has produced an excellent, thought‐provoking essay and is an approach that should be available to future Norris Award winners if they so choose to take it. Since this essay is meant to elicit dialogue, comments are welcome and will be considered for publication in Letters to the Editor.
Migratory movements of individual humpback whales photographed off the eastern coast of Australia
Authors: Burns Daniel , Brooks Lyndon , Harrison Peter , Franklin Trish , Franklin Wally , Paton David , Clapham Phil 
Published: August 2013

AbstractHumpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate long distances each year on a return journey from low‐latitude breeding grounds to high‐latitude feeding grounds. Migration is influenced by subtle and complex social behaviors and the assumption that whales transit directly through the migratory corridor off the east coast of Australia requires further investigation. From 2003 to 2005, we followed the movements of 99 individual whales within one migratory cycle from three locations, off Byron Bay during the whales' northern migration and in Hervey Bay and at Ballina during the southern migration. The median sighting interval of whales between Byron Bay and Hervey Bay (n = 26) was 52 d (IQR = 42.5–75.5); between Byron Bay and Ballina (n = 21) was 59 d (IQR = 47.0–70.0); and between Hervey Bay and Ballina (n = 33) was 9 d (8.0–14.0). The overall pattern observed from these resightings suggests that Group E1 humpback whales spend approximately two months in the northern quarter of their range during the austral winter months. Intraseason resightings of whales at Ballina (n = 13, median sighting interval = 7 d) also suggest that some individuals, particularly adult males, may circle back north during their general southward journey along this part of the coast, perhaps in an attempt to increase mating opportunities.
Mutual Abrasion of Endocardial Leads: Analysis of Explanted Leads
Authors: KUTARSKI ANDRZEJ , MAŁECKA BARBARA , KOŁODZINSKA AGNIESZKA , GRABOWSKI MARCIN 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundAbrasion of the outer insulation in crush syndrome and in the pocket region is a common cause of endocardial lead failure. Lead fracture at the level of the tricuspid valve has also been described.Methods and ResultsWe examined 1,212 endocardial leads removed percutaneously from 700 patients. The average time the leads had been in place was 77.3 ± 55.9 months. Macroscopic examination revealed abrasion of the outer insulation with exposure of the metal conductor in the intracardiac parts of 199 leads removed from 177 patients. Lead abrasion was confirmed by examination with an optical microscope. Multivariate analysis showed that the phenomenon was associated with the number of extracted leads, the time the leads had been in place, infections of the cardiovascular electronic device, location of the lead in the coronary sinus, and excessive lead length.ConclusionWe conclude that the described mechanical abrasion of the outer lead insulation in the heart chambers could result from mutual friction. It is highly likely that intracardiac lead abrasion might play a role in the formation of intracardiac vegetation and lead‐dependent endocarditis.
Efficacy of subtenon block in infants – a comparison with intravenous fentanyl for perioperative analgesia in infantile cataract surgery
Authors: Sethi Sameer , Ghai Babita , Sen Indu , Ram Jagat , Wig Jyotsna 
Published: August 2013

SummaryBackgroundGeneral anesthesia with opioids provides good perioperative analgesia in infantile ocular surgeries but is associated with the risk of respiratory depression and postoperative emesis. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of subtenon block for providing perioperative analgesia in infants undergoing cataract surgeries.MethodsIn this prospective, randomized, controlled, double‐blinded trial, 63 infants of ASA grade I and II (1–12 months) were recruited to receive either subtenon block (Group SB) or 1 μg·kg−1 i.v. fentanyl (Group F) after induction of anesthesia. Primary outcome was the number of infants requiring rescue analgesia during 4‐h study period before discharge of the infants. Secondary outcomes assessed were CRIES pain score, incidence of oculocardiac reflex, surgical difficulty, and incidence of postoperative emesis.ResultsThe number of infants requiring rescue analgesia during 4‐h study period was significantly less in Group SB (n = 6/32, 18.8%) compared to Group F (n = 14/31, 45.2%, P = 0.032). CRIES scores were significantly lower at and after 40 min compared to immediate postoperative period in Group F while these were comparable at all time intervals in Group SB. CRIES scores were significantly lower in Group SB compared to Group F at all time intervals except at 1 h. The incidence of oculocardiac reflex and the postoperative emesis were comparable in both the groups.ConclusionSubtenon block is an effective superior technique for postoperative analgesia compared to intravenous fentanyl in infants undergoing cataract surgery.
Outcomes of fetal listed patients awaiting heart transplantation
Authors: Conway Jennifer , Chrisant Maryanne R. K. , West Lori J. , Ameduri Rebecca K. , Alejos Juan C. , Lamour Jacqueline M. , Das Bibhuti , Gilbert Deborah , Tresler Margaret , Naftel David C. , Miyamoto Shelley D. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractHTx in neonates is mainstay therapy for those with severe cardiomyopathies and congenital heart disease. Fetal listing for HTx has been proposed as a way to increase the potential window for a donor with outcomes predicted to be similar to the neonatal population. Data from the PHTS, a prospective multicenter study, were used to examine the outcomes of fetuses listed between 1993 and 2009. Four thousand three hundred and sixty‐five children were listed for HTx during this period. Fetuses comprised 1% and neonates 19.8% of listed patients. In those patients listed as fetus and transplanted, the median wait time from listing to HTx was 55 days (range 4–255), with a median of 25 days (range 0–233) after birth. By six months post‐listing, a higher proportion of fetal listed patients had undergone HTx with a lower waitlist mortality when compared with neonate. There was no significant difference in survival following HTx between the two group (p = 0.4). While the results of this study may be less applicable to current practice due to changes in referrals for fetal listing, they do indicate that fetal listing can be a reasonable option. These results are of particular interest at the present time given the ongoing public discourse on the proposed elimination of fetal listing within UNOS.
Micronutrient deficiencies in pediatric and young adult intestinal transplant patients
Authors: Ubesie Agozie C. , Cole Conrad R. , Nathan Jaimie D. , Tiao Greg M. , Alonso Maria H. , Mezoff Adam G. , Henderson Carol J. , Kocoshis Samuel A. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIntestinal transplant recipients are at risk of micronutrient deficiency due to the slow process of post‐transplant adaptation. Another contributing factor is calcineurin inhibitor–induced renal tubular dysfunction. Patients are typically supplemented with micronutrients during PN; however, the risk of deficiency may persist even after a successful transition to FEN. The goal was to determine the prevalence of, and associated risk factors for, iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, copper, folate, and vitamins A, D, E, and B12 deficiency in pediatric intestinal transplant recipients after successful transition to FEN. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from children who underwent intestinal transplantation at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center was done. Deficiencies of various micronutrients were defined using the hospital reference values. Twenty‐one intestinal transplant recipients, aged one to 23 yr, who were successfully transitioned to FEN were included in the study. The prevalence of micronutrient deficiency was 95.2%. The common deficient micronutrients were iron (94.7%) and magnesium (90.5%). Age ≤ 10 yr (p = 0.002) and tube feeding (p = 0.02) were significant risk factors for micronutrient deficiencies. Pediatric intestinal transplant recipients have a high risk of micronutrient and mineral deficiencies. These deficiencies were more common among younger patients and those who received jejunal feeding.
Protection against hyperoxia‐induced lung fibrosis by KGF‐induced MSCs mobilization in neonatal rats
Authors: Yao Lan , Liu Cheng‐jun , Luo Qing , Gong Min , Chen Jie , Wang Li‐Jia , Huang Ying , Jiang Xiaohua , Xu Feng , Li Ting‐Yu , Shu Chang 
Published: August 2013

AbstractMSCs have been shown to improve functional and pathological outcome in lung fibrosis. However, low in vivo cell engraftment of the transplanted cells limits their overall effectiveness. KGF (also known as FGF‐7) is a critical mediator of pulmonary epithelial repair through stimulation of epithelial cell proliferation. However, the role of KGF in MSCs and its therapeutic effects have not been identified. In this study, we investigated the effect of KGF on MSCs and its preventive role in hyperoxia‐induced fibrosis in neonatal rats. Neonatal rats exposed to normoxia or hyperoxia were randomly assigned to receive intraperitoneal injections of normal saline (PL), MSCs, or KGF pretreated MSCs on the fourth day of exposure. Our results showed that as compared to PL, while MSCs attenuated lung fibrosis, KGF pretreated MSCs exhibited enhanced preventive effect against lung fibrosis. This effect was partly attributed to enhanced mobilization of MSCs to the fibrotic lungs. In addition, the SHH signaling pathway, which is associated with the differentiation of stem cells was activated by KGF. Our data suggest that MSCs, especially KGF preconditioned MSCs, can attenuate lung fibrosis and KGF may regulate the MSCs behavior by activating SHH pathway.
Women's Religious Affiliation in the Jōdo Shinshū
Authors: Starling Jessica 
Published: August 2013

AbstractHow can we talk about female religious professionals in a non‐celibate Buddhist tradition with no formal ordination or convents for nuns? Is there any distinction between laywomen and nuns? In this survey essay, I summarize the body of research on women in the Jōdo Shinshū (True Pure Land Buddhism) to highlight the importance of women's roles as wives and mothers to their identities as religious professionals. On the other hand, laywomen in this tradition are notable for their organization into all‐female confraternities, and later into modern women's associations, whose members were voracious consumers of religious educational literature. I conclude the essay by pointing the way for future scholarship on these subjects and exploring the potential contributions of this theme to our understanding of women in Buddhism more broadly.
Foreign Direct Investment and Trade Openness in Sub‐Saharan Economies: A Panel Data Granger Causality Analysis
Authors: Seyoum Mebratu , Wu Renshui , Lin Jihong 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis study uses annual balanced panel data for 25 sub‐Saharan African economies over the period 1977‐2009 to investigate the Granger causality relationship between trade openness and foreign direct investment (FDI) for the region. We took advantage of recent developments in econometric testing techniques for Granger noncausality heterogeneous panels that takes into consideration the effects of cross section dependence across the units of the panel data set to analyse the trade–FDI nexus in the region. The empirical result of this study reveals a bidirectional causal relationship between trade openness and foreign direct investment in sub‐Saharan economies. Concurrently, African countries should devote more emphasis for the promotion and attraction of FDI in order to expand their productive capacity to produce and export; in this way, by addressing supply‐side constraints, FDI will have positive multiplier effects on trade.
Hyperleukocytosis and leukocytapheresis in acute leukaemias: experience from a single centre and review of the literature of leukocytapheresis in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Bruserud Ø. , Liseth K. , Stamnesfet S. , Cacic D. L. , Melve G. , Kristoffersen E. , Hervig T. , Reikvam H. 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYBackgroundHyperleukocytosis is usually defined as leukocyte count >100 × 109 L−1 and can be seen in newly diagnosed leukaemias. Hyperleukocytic leukaemia is associated with a risk of organ failure and early death secondary to leukostasis. Mechanical removal of leukocytes by the apheresis technique, leukocytapheresis, is a therapeutic option in these patients.MethodsDuring a 16‐year period, 16 patients were treated with leukocytapheresis (35 apheresis procedures) for hyperleukocytosis/leukostasis. We present our experience, and in addition we review previous studies of hyperleukocytosis/leukocytapheresis in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).ResultsWe used a highly standardised approach for leukocytapheresis in leukaemia patients with hyperleukocytosis. The average leukocytapheresis number for each patient was 2·2 (range 1–6). Median leukocyte count before apheresis was 309 × 109 L−1 (range 104–935); the mean leukocyte count reduction was 71%, corresponding to a mean absolute reduction of 219 × 109 L−1. No serious side effects were seen during or immediately after apheresis.ConclusionsThe data suggest that our standardised technique for leukocytapheresis effectively reduced the peripheral blood leukaemia cell counts. Previous studies in AML also support the conclusion that this is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of a potentially life‐threatening complication, but apheresis should always be combined with early chemotherapy.
Characterization of the aggregation responses of camel platelets
Authors: Ghumlas Abeer K. Al , Gader Abdel Galil M. Abdel 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundDespite evidence of active hemostasis, camel platelets barely respond to common aggregating agents at standard doses used for human platelet aggregation.ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to find out whether camel platelets can be activated by high doses or combinations of aggregation agonists, and to characterize the receptor that mediates the aggregation response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), the most potent agonist for camel platelets known so far.MethodsAggregation studies were performed with platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) in response to multiple doses or combinations of ADP, epinephrine (EPN), collagen, and arachidonic acid (AA). Aggregation responses to ADP were performed before and after the addition of the ADP receptor (P2Y12) antagonist Clopidogrel.ResultsCamel platelets responded to ADP at doses higher than the standard dose for human platelets, and to combinations of EPN and other agonists, while no aggregation was elicited with EPN or AA alone. Clopidogrel blocked the ADP‐induced aggregation responses in a dose‐dependent fashion in vitro.ConclusionsCamel platelet aggregation can be activated by increasing the dose of some agonists such as ADP, but not AA or EPN. Irreversible aggregation of camel platelets could also be triggered by a combination of EPN and ADP, and collagen and AA. Inhibition with clopidogrel suggests that camel platelets express the ADP receptor, P2Y12. Understanding platelet function in camels will add to the understanding of platelet function in health and disease.
Constructing Isogenies between Elliptic Curves Over Finite Fields
Authors: Galbraith Steven D. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractLet E1 and E2 be ordinary elliptic curves over a finite field Fp such that #E1(Fp) = #E2(Fp). Tate's isogeny theorem states that there is an isogeny from E1 to E2 which is defined over Fp. The goal of this paper is to describe a probabilistic algorithm for constructing such an isogeny.The algorithm proposed in this paper has exponential complexity in the worst case. Nevertheless, it is efficient in certain situations (that is, when the class number of the endomorphism ring is small). The significance of these results to elliptic curve cryptography is discussed.
Range of the First Three Eigenvalues of the Planar Dirichlet Laplacian
Authors: Levitin Michael , Yagudin Rustem 
Published: August 2013

AbstractExtensive numerical experiments have been conducted by the authors, aimed at finding the admissible range of the ratios of the first three eigenvalues of a planar Dirichlet Laplacian. The results improve the previously known theoretical estimates of M. Ashbaugh and R. Benguria. Some properties of a maximizer of the ratio λ3/λ1 are also proved in the paper.
The Solvable Primitive Permutation Groups of Degree at Most 6560
Authors: Eick B. , Höfling B. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe authors present an algorithm to construct conjugacy class representatives of the solvable primitive subgroups of Sd for a given degree d. Using this method, they determine the solvable primitive permutation groups of degree at most 6560 (that is, 38 – 1), up to conjugacy.
Numerical Solutions of Stochastic Functional Differential Equations
Authors: Mao Xuerong 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIn this paper, the strong mean square convergence theory is established for the numerical solutions of stochastic functional differential equations (SFDEs) under the local Lipschitz condition and the linear growth condition. These two conditions are generally imposed to guarantee the existence and uniqueness of the true solution, so the numerical results given here were obtained under quite general conditions.