bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Choriodecidual Cells From Term Human Pregnancies Show Distinctive Functional Properties Related to the Induction of Labor
Authors: Castillo‐Castrejon Marisol , Meraz‐Cruz Noemí , Gomez‐Lopez Nardhy , Flores‐Pliego Arturo , Beltrán‐Montoya Jorge , Viveros‐Alcaráz Martín , Vadillo‐Ortega Felipe 
Published: November 2013

ProblemHuman parturition is associated with an intrauterine pro‐inflammatory environment in the choriodecidua. Evidence that some mediators of this signaling cascade also elicit responses leading to labor prompted us to characterize the cellular sources of these mediators in the human choriodecidua.Method of studyLeukocyte‐enriched preparations from human choriodecidua (ChL) and intervillous placental blood leukocytes (PL) were maintained in culture. Secretions of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and MMP‐9 were documented. Leukocyte phenotype of ChL and PL was determined by flow cytometry using specific fluorochrome‐conjugated antibodies.Results and ConclusionsChL showed a distinct pro‐inflammatory secretion pattern of cytokines and chemokines when compared with PL, including higher amounts of TNF‐α and IL‐6, and decreased secretions of IL‐4 and IL‐1ra. ChL also secreted more MIP‐1α and MCP‐1 and MMP‐9 than PL. No significant differences were found in leukocytes subsets between compartments. Based on our findings, we propose that ChL isolated from fetal membranes at term are functionally different from PL and may collaborate to modulate the microenvironment linked to induction and progression of human labor.
Impact of clinical factors and personality on the decision to have a second child. Longitudinal cohort‐study of first‐time mothers
Authors: Klint Carlander Anna‐Karin , Andolf Ellika , Edman Gunnar , Wiklund Ingela 
Published: November 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate which factors related to the first birth influence subsequent reproduction within 5 years after the birth.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingUniversity hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.SampleCohort of 547 first‐time singleton mothers with a normal pregnancy recruited prospectively of whom 451 women consented to follow‐up 5 years later.MethodsData were collected by several questionnaires on sexual, reproductive and childbirth‐related factors as well as on personality, postnatal depression, fear of childbirth and contact between mother/child. Medical records were also used. Associations between these factors and having a second child were analyzed using logistic regression.Main outcome measuresWomen's subsequent reproduction.ResultsPlanning a second child at 9 months postpartum was most important in determining to have a second child. Women who had restored their sex life 9 months after birth and women who had a high score in the personality monotony avoidance scale, were less likely to give birth to a second child. No differences were observed regarding mode of delivery, factors related to birth and having a second child, nor was there an association between postnatal depression, fear of childbirth, a negative birth experience and self‐estimated contact with the child and subsequent reproduction.ConclusionsCircumstances in relation to the first birth, such as mode of delivery and a negative birth experience, did not affect subsequent reproduction. Planning another child by 9 months after birth was the strongest factor correlated with having a second child.
Pharmacokinetics of oral vs. intravenous dexamethasone in patients hospitalized with community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Spoorenberg Simone M. C. , Deneer Vera H. M. , Grutters Jan C. , Pulles Astrid E. , Voorn G. P. (Paul) , Rijkers Ger T. , Bos Willem Jan W. , van de Garde Ewoudt M. W. 
Published: November 2013

AimThe use of corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy might be effective in patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). Oral administration of dexamethasone is a practical and safer alternative to the intravenous route. Since patients hospitalized with pneumonia might have delayed gastric emptying, this study explored systemic exposure in terms of area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of oral dexamethasone in patients hospitalized with CAP.MethodsIn this randomized, open label study, 30 patients admitted with CAP were randomized to receive either 4 mg intravenous or 6 mg oral dexamethasone for 4 consecutive days. Serial blood samples were obtained before and after drug administration.ResultsMedian AUC to infinity was 626 μg l−1 h (IQR 401–1161) for the intravenous group and 774 μg l−1 h (IQR 618–1146) for the oral group. The AUC ratio of 6 mg oral and 4 mg intravenous dexamethasone was 1.22 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81, 1.82), which represents a bioavailability of 81% (95% CI 54, 121) after correction for differences in dexamethasone dose.ConclusionsBioavailability of oral dexamethasone in patients hospitalized with pneumonia is sufficient. This makes oral dexamethasone an appropriate alternative for intravenous administration in these patients.
Could comorbid bipolar disorder account for a significant share of executive function deficits in adults with attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder?
Authors: Silva Katiane L , Rovaris Diego L , Guimarães‐da‐Silva Paula O , Victor Marcelo M , Salgado Carlos AI , Vitola Eduardo S , Contini Verônica , Bertuzzi Guilherme , Picon Felipe A , Karam Rafael G , Belmonte‐de‐Abreu Paulo , Rohde Luis A , Grevet Eugenio H , Bau Claiton HD 
Published: November 2013

ObjectiveThe frequent comorbidity between attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder (BD) represents a challenge for disentangling specific impairments of each disorder in adulthood. Their functional impairments seem to be mediated by executive function deficits. However, little is known about the extent to which each executive function deficit might be disorder specific or explained by the comorbidity. The aim of the present study was to determine if comorbid BD could account for a significant share of executive function deficits when measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in adults with ADHD.MethodsAdult patients with ADHD and healthy subjects were evaluated in the ADHD outpatient Program at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Psychiatric diagnoses were based on DSM‐IV criteria. WCST scores were compared by multivariate analysis of covariance among three groups: ADHD with BD (n = 51), ADHD without BD (n = 278), and healthy subjects (n = 91).ResultsWhen compared to patients without BD and healthy subjects, patients with ADHD and comorbid BD showed lower scores in total correct answers (p = 0.003); higher scores in total errors (p = 0.004) and non‐perseverative errors (p = 0.002); and completed fewer categories (p = 0.009). Patients with ADHD without BD did not differ from healthy subjects.ConclusionsWCST impairments among patients with ADHD seem to be to a large extent attributable to comorbid BD. Although other executive function deficits (e.g., in the inhibitory control domain) have been demonstrated to accompany ADHD, the present findings suggest that set‐shifting deficits are strongly related to comorbid BD.
From Interactions to Conversations: The Development of Joint Engagement During Early Childhood
Authors: Adamson Lauren B. , Bakeman Roger , Deckner Deborah F. , Nelson P. Brooke 
Published: November 2013

This research traces the development of symbol‐infused joint engagement during mother–child interactions into the preschool years. Forty‐nine children, who had been previously observed as toddlers (L. B. Adamson, R. Bakeman, & D. F. Deckner,), were systematically observed during interactions with their mothers at ages 3½, 4½, and 5½ during activities related to the past and future, internal states, and graphic systems. Although the amount of symbol‐infused joint engagement reached a ceiling by 3½, its focus continued to become more complex and its form more balanced. Individual differences in children's symbol‐infused joint engagement were stable across 4 years. These findings highlight both how joint engagement is transformed as conversational skills develop and how it remains rooted in earlier interactions and supported by caregiver's actions.
The English National Low Rectal Cancer Development Programme: key messages and future perspectives
Authors: Moran B. J. , Holm T. , Brannagan G. , Chave H. , Quirke P. , West N. , Brown G. , Glynne‐Jones R. , Sebag‐Montefiore D. , Cunningham C. , Janjua A. Z. , Battersby N. J. , Crane S. , McMeeking A. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimAdenocarcinoma of the lower rectum is clinically challenging because of the need to choose between a wide excision to achieve oncological clearance, on the one hand, and sphincter conservation to maintain anal function, on the other. The English National Low Rectal Cancer Development Programme (LOREC) was developed under the auspices of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland and the English National Cancer Action Team to improve the outcome of low rectal cancer in England.MethodLOREC was initiated focusing on preoperative imaging, selective neoadjuvant therapy, optimal surgical treatment and detailed pathological assessment of the excised specimen. Its key elements were 1‐day multidisciplinary team (MDT) workshops, cadaveric surgical training, surgical mentoring, pathological audit and radiological workshops.ResultsOverall, 147 (89.6%) of 164 MDTs from 151 National Health Service (NHS) Trusts (some with two MDTs) in England participated in 15 workshops in Basingstoke or Leeds. In addition, 112 surgeons attended a 1‐day cadaveric training programme in Bristol, Newcastle or Nottingham, with the main focus on extralevator abdominoperineal excision and pelvic reconstruction, with input from anatomists and from colorectal and plastic surgeons.ConclusionOptimal staging, selective preoperative chemoradiotherapy and precise surgery were considered as crucial to improve the outcome for patients with low rectal cancer.
Expression pattern of Ngn3 in dairy goat testis and its function in promoting meiosis by upregulating Stra8
Authors: Tang F. , Yao X. , Zhu H. , Mu H. , Niu Z. , Yu M. , Yang C. , Peng S. , Li G. , Hua J. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractObjectivesNgn3 is a typical transcription factor and marker of differentiating spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in mouse, belonging to the basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) family. Its gene is specifically expressed in A type spermatogonia in mouse testis, thus plays a critical role in controlling differentiation of SSCs. However, roles of Ngn3 and its protein in dairy goat testis remain unknown.Materials and methodsTestis development and expression patterns of Ngn3 were analysed by immunofluorescence and quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (QRT‐PCR) in the dairy goat. Furthermore, effects of its overexpression on male germline stem cells (mGSCs) were evaluated by QRT‐PCR, immunofluorescence, luciferase reporter assay and western blotting.ResultsRevealed that Ngn3 was expressed more highly during puberty and in the adult than in testis of other ages. Overexpression of Ngn3 promoted expression of meiosis‐related gene Stra8 and stem‐cell differentiation marker CD117, but suppressed expression of Plzf, a classical marker of SSCs. Furthermore, Ngn3 did not promote expression of Stra8 directly as shown in transcription and translation levels detected by luciferase reporter assay and western blotting.ConclusionsTaken together, these results suggest that Ngn3 plays an important role in spermatogenesis and that overexpression of Ngn3 can promote meiosis in testis of the dairy goat.
Cortical response variability as a developmental index of selective auditory attention
Authors: Strait Dana L. , Slater Jessica , Abecassis Victor , Kraus Nina 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAttention induces synchronicity in neuronal firing for the encoding of a given stimulus at the exclusion of others. Recently, we reported decreased variability in scalp‐recorded cortical evoked potentials to attended compared with ignored speech in adults. Here we aimed to determine the developmental time course for this neural index of auditory attention. We compared cortical auditory‐evoked variability with attention across three age groups: preschoolers, school‐aged children and young adults. Results reveal an increased impact of selective auditory attention on cortical response variability with development. Although all three age groups have equivalent response variability to attended speech, only school‐aged children and adults have a distinction between attend and ignore conditions. Preschoolers, on the other hand, demonstrate no impact of attention on cortical responses, which we argue reflects the gradual emergence of attention within this age range. Outcomes are interpreted in the context of the behavioral relevance of cortical response variability and its potential to serve as a developmental index of cognitive skill.
Involvement of Nax sodium channel in peripheral nerve regeneration via lactate signaling
Authors: Unezaki Sawako , Katano Tayo , Hiyama Takeshi Y. , Tu Nguyen H. , Yoshii Satoru , Noda Masaharu , Ito Seiji 
Published: November 2013

AbstractNax, a sodium concentration‐sensitive sodium channel, is expressed in non‐myelinating Schwann cells of the adult peripheral nervous system, but the pathophysiological role remains unclear. We found that functional recovery of the hind paw responses from the sciatic nerve transection was delayed in Nax knockout ( ) mice. Histological analyses showed a decrease in the number of regenerated myelinated axons in sciatic nerves. The delay in the recovery in mice was improved by lactate and inhibited by a monocarboxylate transporter inhibitor. In vitro experiments using cultured Schwann cells showed that lactate release was enhanced by endothelin (ET)‐1 and blocked by an ET receptor type B antagonist. Here, it is conceivable that Nax was activated by ET‐1. The amount of lactate release by ET‐1 was lower in mice than in wild‐type mice. These results indicated that Nax is functionally coupled to ET for lactate release via ET receptor type B and is involved in peripheral nerve regeneration.
SCR: simulated concept recurrence – a non‐supervised tool for dealing with shifting concept
Authors: Sobolewski Piotr , Woźniak Michał 
Published: November 2013

AbstractMost of the approaches coping with concept drift described in the machine learning literature are focused solely on detecting the concept changes or adapting the classification system, and hardly any works exist, which try to also describe the changes in concept. Nowadays, we desire methods, which are able to detect the concept drift in the absence of information about class labels. In this article, we present a semi‐supervised method and analyze the possibilities of using the simulated concept recurrence against concept drift and also expanding the previously presented functionality of the algorithm from the sole concept characterization to both concept drift detection and concept characterization. The supervision is limited to the system setup phase, and during the evaluation of the algorithm, we assume no support from the experts. Further comparing this work to our previous publication, the scope of experiments has been extended from the single concept drift problems to the multi‐concept scenarios, and also, the new method is evaluated on three different levels of the prior knowledge presented to the system beforehand.
Genome‐wide expressional and functional analysis of calcium transport elements during abiotic stress and development in rice
Authors: Singh Amarjeet , Kanwar Poonam , Yadav Akhilesh K. , Mishra Manali , Jha Saroj K. , Baranwal Vinay , Pandey Amita , Kapoor Sanjay , Tyagi Akhilesh K. , Pandey Girdhar K. 
Published: November 2013

Ca2+ homeostasis is required to maintain a delicate balance of cytosolic Ca2+ during normal and adverse growth conditions. Various Ca2+ transporters actively participate to maintain this delicate balance especially during abiotic stresses and developmental events in plants. In this study, we present a genome‐wide account, detailing expression profiles, subcellular localization and functional analysis of rice Ca2+ transport elements. Exhaustive in silico data mining and analysis resulted in the identification of 81 Ca2+ transport element genes, which belong to various groups such as Ca2+‐ATPases (pumps), exchangers, channels, glutamate receptor homologs and annexins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that different Ca2+ transporters are evolutionarily conserved across different plant species. Comprehensive expression analysis by gene chip microarray and quantitative RT‐PCR revealed that a substantial proportion of Ca2+ transporter genes were expressed differentially under abiotic stresses (salt, cold and drought) and reproductive developmental stages (panicle and seed) in rice. These findings suggest a possible role of rice Ca2+ transporters in abiotic stress and development triggered signaling pathways. Subcellular localization of Ca2+ transporters from different groups in Nicotiana benthamiana revealed their variable localization to different compartments, which could be their possible sites of action. Complementation of Ca2+ transport activity of K616 yeast mutant by Ca2+‐ATPase OsACA7 and involvement in salt tolerance verified its functional behavior. This study will encourage detailed characterization of potential candidate Ca2+ transporters for their functional role in planta.
Hyperoxia increases the elastic modulus of alveolar epithelial cells through Rho kinase
Authors: Wilhelm Kristina R. , Roan Esra , Ghosh Manik C. , Parthasarathi Kaushik , Waters Christopher M. 
Published: November 2013

Patients with acute lung injury are administered high concentrations of oxygen during mechanical ventilation, and while both hyperoxia and mechanical ventilation are necessary, each can independently cause additional injury. However, the precise mechanisms that lead to injury are not well understood. We hypothesized that alveolar epithelial cells may be more susceptible to injury caused by mechanical ventilation because hyperoxia causes cells to be stiffer due to increased filamentous actin (f‐actin) formation via the GTPase RhoA and its effecter Rho kinase (ROCK). We examined cytoskeletal structures in cultured murine lung alveolar epithelial cells (MLE‐12) under normoxic and hyperoxic (48 h) conditions. We also measured cell elasticity (E) using an atomic force microscope in the indenter mode. Hyperoxia caused increased f‐actin stress fibers and bundle formation, an increase in g‐ and f‐actin, an increase in nuclear area and a decrease in nuclear height, and cells became stiffer (higher E). Treatment with an inhibitor (Y‐27632) of ROCK significantly decreased E and prevented the cytoskeletal changes, while it did not influence the nuclear height and area. Pre‐exposure of cells to hyperoxia promoted detachment when cells were subsequently stretched cyclically, but the ROCK inhibitor prevented this effect. Hyperoxia caused thickening of vinculin focal adhesion plaques, and inhibition of ROCK reduced the formation of distinct focal adhesion plaques. Phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase was significantly reduced by both hyperoxia and treatment with Y‐27632. Hyperoxia caused increased cell stiffness and promoted cell detachment during stretch. These effects were ameliorated by inhibition of ROCK.
Investigation of cold expansion of short edge margin holes with pre‐existing cracks in 2024‐T351 aluminium alloy
Authors: Andrew D. L. , Clark P. N. , Hoeppner D. W. 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTThe United States Air Force has requirements to inspect and cold expand potentially thousands of fastener holes for an aircraft fleet, and the presence of existing cracks at those fastener holes is expected. Fatigue experiments were performed to investigate the resulting fatigue crack growth life of a fastener hole that contained a representative ‘unknown’ crack at the time of inspection (approximately 0.050 in. in length) at a short edge margin hole that was then cold expanded and compare that to a non‐cold expanded hole and a cold expanded hole with no pre‐existing cracks. The United States Air Force analytical approach used to account for the benefit due to cold expansion was compared to the experimental data and does not consistently provide conservative predictions.
Climate‐driven uncertainties in modeling terrestrial gross primary production: a site level to global‐scale analysis
Authors: Barman Rahul , Jain Atul K. , Liang Miaoling 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe used a land surface model to quantify the causes and extents of biases in terrestrial gross primary production (GPP) due to the use of meteorological reanalysis datasets. We first calibrated the model using meteorology and eddy covariance data from 25 flux tower sites ranging from the tropics to the northern high latitudes and subsequently repeated the site simulations using two reanalysis datasets: NCEP/NCAR and CRUNCEP. The results show that at most sites, the reanalysis‐driven GPP bias was significantly positive with respect to the observed meteorology‐driven simulations. Notably, the absolute GPP bias was highest at the tropical evergreen tree sites, averaging up to ca. 0.45 kg C m−2 yr−1 across sites (ca. 15% of site level GPP). At the northern mid‐/high‐latitude broadleaf deciduous and the needleleaf evergreen tree sites, the corresponding annual GPP biases were up to 20%. For the nontree sites, average annual biases of up to ca. 20–30% were simulated within savanna, grassland, and shrubland vegetation types. At the tree sites, the biases in short‐wave radiation and humidity strongly influenced the GPP biases, while the nontree sites were more affected by biases in factors controlling water stress (precipitation, humidity, and air temperature). In this study, we also discuss the influence of seasonal patterns of meteorological biases on GPP. Finally, using model simulations for the global land surface, we discuss the potential impacts of site‐level reanalysis‐driven biases on the global estimates of GPP. In a broader context, our results can have important consequences on other terrestrial ecosystem fluxes (e.g., net primary production, net ecosystem production, energy/water fluxes) and reservoirs (e.g., soil carbon stocks). In a complementary study (Barman et al., ), we extend the present analysis for latent and sensible heat fluxes, thus consistently integrating the analysis of climate‐driven uncertainties in carbon, energy, and water fluxes using a single modeling framework.