bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nonresponders, Partial Responders, and Complete Responders to PDE5 Inhibitors Therapy According to IIEF Criteria: Validation of an Anchor-Based Treatment Responder Classification
Authors: Yang May , Ni Xiao , Sontag Angelina , Litman Heather J. , Rosen Raymond C. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Despite widespread use of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) in erectile dysfunction (ED) research, there are no published criteria for classifying ED treatment responders in clinical trials or patient management settings. A new classification for treatment response in men with ED has been developed and validated in a large clinical trial database.

Aim
The study aims to test discriminant and convergent validity of the responder classification and examine the role of covariates.

Method
Treatment assignment was used to test discriminant validity. The diary-based Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) question (“Did your erection last long enough for you to have successful intercourse?”) and Global Assessment Question (GAQ) (“Has the treatment you have been taking over the past study interval improved your erections?”) were used to evaluate convergent validity. Chi-square and Cochran–Armitage trend tests were used to examine outcome associations. Logistic regression was used to further assess the relationship of outcomes controlling for covariates.

Main Outcome Measure
The classification measure was developed and validated in a database from 17 clinical trials in 3,252 men with ED randomized to placebo or tadalafil. The treatment responder is defined as complete (erectile function [EF] ≥ 26); partial (EF &lt; 26; met minimal clinically important difference [MCID] criteria); or nonresponder following treatment (EF &lt; 26; did not meet MCID).

Results
The new responder definition performed consistently well in all prespecified tests of validity. Eighty-nine percent of subjects classified as complete responders were in the treatment group, and the responder definition was associated with changes on the SEP and GAQ measures, respectively (SEP odds ratio [OR] = 14, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 11–17; GAQ OR = 50, 95% CI 39–88; complete vs. nonresponders).

Conclusions
We developed and validated a novel method of defining an ED treatment responder based on multiple IIEF criteria and using other measures (SEP, GAQ) for validation. The results have implications for understanding results of clinical trials in ED, and in monitoring response to treatment in the clinic.
Mothers' lived experiences of support when living with young children with congenital heart defects
Authors: Bruce Elisabeth , Lilja Catrine , Sundin Karin 
Published: October 2013

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to illuminate the meanings of support as disclosed by mothers of children with congenital heart defects (CHD).Design and MethodNarrative interviews were conducted with 10 mothers of children withCHD. A phenomenological‐hermeneutic method was used for interpretation of the transcribed interviews.ResultsThe comprehensive understanding of mothers' lived experiences of support emerged as the experiences of receiving good support, receiving “poor support,” and absence of support.Practice ImplicationsMothers receiving person‐centered and family‐centered care feel more supported and are more likely to adapt to the stresses of parenting a child withCHD.
Criminal thinking in a Middle Eastern prison sample of thieves, drug dealers, and murderers
Authors: Megreya Ahmed M. , Bindemann Markus , Brown Anna 
Published: October 2013

PurposeThe Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) has been applied extensively to the study of criminal behaviour and cognition. This study aimed to explore the psychometric characteristics (factorial structure, reliability, and external validity) of an Arabic version of the PICTS, to explore cross‐cultural differences between a sample of Middle Eastern (Egyptian) prisoners and Western prison samples, and to examine the influence of type of crime on criminal thinking styles.MethodA group of 130 Egyptian male prisoners who had been sentenced for theft, drug dealing, or murder completed the PICTS. Their scores were compared with the reported data of American, British, and Dutch prisoners.ResultsThe Arabic PICTS showed scale reliabilities estimated by coefficient alpha comparable to the English version, and reliabilities estimated as test–retest correlations were high. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the PICTS subscale scores of Egyptian prisoners best fitted a two‐factor model, in which one dimension comprised mollification, entitlement, super optimism, sentimentality, and discontinuity, and the second dimension reflected the thinking styles of power orientation, cut‐off and cognitive indolence. Observed levels of thinking styles varied by type of crime, specifically among prisoners sentenced for theft, drug dealing, and murder. Cultural differences in criminal thinking styles were also found, whereby the Egyptian prisoners recorded the highest scores in most thinking styles, while American, Dutch, and English prisoners were more comparable to each other.ConclusionsThis study provides one of the first investigations of criminal thinking styles in a non‐Western sample and suggests that cross‐cultural differences in the structure of these thinking styles exist. In addition, the results indicate that criminal thinking styles need to be understood by the type of crime for which a person has been sentenced.
Construction and application of a novel hepatocyte‐directed vector to simultaneous knockdown and overexpression of multiple genes
Authors: Geng Jianlin , Wei Haiming , Sun Rui , Tian Zhigang 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackground & AimsLiver disease, such as malignancy and hepatitis, often correlates with several genetic disorders. We aimed to construct a hepatocyte‐specific vector that could manipulate multiple genes simultaneously.MethodsWe selected a highly efficient hepatocyte‐specific α‐foetoprotein (AFP) enhancer/albumin promoter (an RNA polymerase II promoter) to express our gene of interest and transcribe microRNA‐based shRNAs (shRNAmir). Multiple shRNAmirs were assembled together in tandem to enhance the gene‐silencing effect. By employing the AFP enhancer/albumin promoter and inserting an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), a hepatocyte‐specific, multi‐reporter vector that overexpressed both β‐galactosidase (LacZ) and DsRed2 while simultaneously knocking down both EGFP and luciferase expression was successfully constructed and functionally tested in vitro.ResultsThe reporter genes in the multireporter vector were easily replaced by immune‐related genes to construct the Multi‐Vector, which overexpressed human interleukin 10 and silenced both CCL5 and CX3CL1 (FKN) simultaneously in vivo; visualization of DsRed2 coexpressed to monitor vector function in vivo confirmed that the Multi‐Vector was successfully introduced into the host. Simultaneous manipulation of these multiple genes by the Multi‐Vector synergistically inhibited acute liver injury induced by Poly I:C/D‐GalN injection in mice. The multifunctional cassette was also packaged in and successfully delivered by an adenoviral vector.ConclusionsWe successfully engineered a vector that can simultaneously regulate multiple genes from a single multigene‐containing vector in a hepatocyte‐specific manner, suggesting the possibility that this method could be extensively and practically utilized in liver gene therapy.
BEHAVIORAL PORTFOLIO SELECTION: ASYMPTOTICS AND STABILITY ALONG A SEQUENCE OF MODELS
Authors: Reichlin Christian 
Published: October 2013

AbstractWe consider a sequence of financial markets that converges weakly in a suitable sense and maximize a behavioral preference functional in each market. For expected concave utilities, it is well known that the maximal expected utilities and the corresponding final positions converge to the corresponding quantities in the limit model. We prove similar results for nonconcave utilities and distorted expectations as employed in behavioral finance, and we illustrate by a counterexample that these results require a stronger notion of convergence of the underlying models compared to the concave utility maximization. We use the results to analyze the stability of behavioral portfolio selection problems and to provide numerically tractable methods to solve such problems in complete continuous‐time models.
Rhodotorula minuta as onychomycosis agent in a Chinese patient: first report and literature review
Authors: Zhou Jie , Chen Min , Chen Hongduo , Pan Weihua , Liao Wanqing 
Published: October 2013

SummaryOnychomycosis is a common superficial fungal infection, which usually caused by dermatophytes, yeast and non‐dermatophytic moulds. Recently, we isolated a Rhodotorula minuta isolate from a 15‐year‐old immunocompetent girl student in Hangzhou (China) that was identified using microscopy, culture morphology, histological diagnosis, API 20C AUX Yeast Identification Kit and sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer region. In vitro, antifungal susceptibility tests showed that this yeast isolate was susceptible to low concentrations of amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole and 5‐flvoriconaz but that it appeared to be dose‐dependent susceptible to fluconazole(MIC = 16 μg/ml). Furthermore, the effective result of therapy with itraconazole against R. minuta was consistent with that of susceptibility tests.
Circulating levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product are inversely associated with vascular calcification in patients on haemodialysis independent of S100A12 (EN‐RAGE) levels
Authors: Kim Hyung Soo , Chung Wookyung , Kim Ae Jin , Ro Han , Chang Jae Hyun , Lee Hyun Hee , Jung Ji Yong 
Published: October 2013

AbstractAimThe receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has emerged as a central regulator of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) has an anti‐inflammatory effect by quenching ligands for RAGE. On the other hand, extracellular RAGE‐binding protein S100A12 (EN‐RAGE) shows a pro‐inflammatory effect in a way, but may play pleiotropic roles related to inflammatory process. Therefore, we determined the levels of sRAGE and S100A12 in haemodialysis (HD) patients and evaluated their relationship with vascular calcification.MethodsWe performed a cross‐sectional study with 199 HD patients. Plain X‐ray images of the lateral lumbar spine from all subjects were studied to calculate semiquantitative vascular calcification scores (VCS), as described by Kauppila. Commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to quantify the serum concentration of sRAGE and S100A12.ResultsThe patients were 57.1 ± 13.7 years of age; 54.3% were male, 49.2% were diabetic, and 36.2% had a history of cardiovascular disease. In a univariate analysis, serum sRAGE was negatively associated with VCS (log sRAGE, r = –0.208, P = 0.003), whereas S100A12 showed a positive tendency (log S100A12, r = 0.235, P = 0.085). Even after adjustments for confounding risk factors, sRAGE was independently associated with VCS (β = –1.679, P = 0.002).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the circulating sRAGE level was inversely associated with VCS in HD patients independent of the S100A12 level and the severity of systemic inflammation.
Realising the value of plant molecular pharming to benefit the poor in developing countries and emerging economies
Authors: Ma Julian K‐C. , Christou Paul , Chikwamba Rachel , Haydon Hugh , Paul Mathew , Ferrer Merardo Pujol , Ramalingam Sathishkumar , Rech Elibio , Rybicki Edward , Wigdorowitz Andres , Yang Dai‐Chang , Thangaraj Harry 
Published: October 2013

SummaryMolecular Pharming, the production of recombinant pharmaceuticals through plant biotechnology, has the potential to transform the biologics sector of the pharmaceutical industry. More fascinating however, is how it might be used to improve access to modern medicines, and improve health of the poor in developing countries and emerging economies. Although improving global health through molecular pharming has been discussed for at least two decades, little progress has actually been made. In this manuscript, a four point plan is described to maximise the opportunity for molecular pharming to provide solutions. These are (i) to identify and prioritise important drug targets that are relevant to the poor; (ii) to support research and development partners in low to middle income countries to develop local expertise, transfer technology and build capacity; (iii) to increase collaboration between regulatory bodies to enable national regulatory frameworks to be developed in low to middle income countries; and (iv) to promote intellectual property management approaches that include socially responsible licensing. An existing case study is described to illustrate how this might be achieved.
Transcriptome dynamics during fibre development in contrasting genotypes of Gossypium hirsutum L.
Authors: Nigam Deepti , Kavita Palacharla , Tripathi Rajiv K. , Ranjan Alok , Goel Ridhi , Asif Mehar , Shukla Alpika , Singh Gunjita , Rana Debashis , Sawant Samir V. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryUnderstanding the contribution of genetic background in fibre quality traits is important for the development of future cotton varieties with superior fibre quality. We used Affymetrix microarray (Santa Clara, CA) and Roche 454 GSFLX (Branford, CT) for comparative transcriptome analysis between two superior and three inferior genotypes at six fibre developmental stages. Microarray‐based analysis of variance (ANOVA) for 89 microarrays encompassing five contrasting genotypes and six developmental stages suggests that the stages of the fibre development have a more pronounced effect on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than the genetic background of genotypes. Superior genotypes showed enriched activity of cell wall enzymes, such as pectin methyl esterase, at early elongation stage, enriched metabolic activities such as lipid, amino acid and ribosomal protein subunits at peak elongation, and prolonged combinatorial regulation of brassinosteroid and auxin at later stages. Our efforts on transcriptome sequencing were focused on changes in gene expression at 25 DPA. Transcriptome sequencing resulted in the generation of 475 658 and 429 408 high‐quality reads from superior and inferior genotypes, respectively. A total of 24 609 novel transcripts were identified manually for Gossypium hirsutum with no hits in NCBI ‘nr’ database. Gene ontology analyses showed that the genes for ribosome biogenesis, protein transport and fatty acid biosynthesis were over‐represented in superior genotype, whereas salt stress, abscisic acid stimuli and water deprivation leading to the increased proteolytic activity were more pronounced in inferior genotype.
Asymmetrical effects of mesophyll conductance on fundamental photosynthetic parameters and their relationships estimated from leaf gas exchange measurements
Authors: SUN YING , GU LIANHONG , DICKINSON ROBERT E. , PALLARDY STEPHEN G. , BAKER JOHN , CAO YONGHUI , DAMATTA FÁBIO MURILO , DONG XUEJUN , ELLSWORTH DAVID , VAN GOETHEM DAVINA , JENSEN ANNA M. , LAW BEVERLY E. , LOOS RODOLFO , MARTINS SAMUEL C. VITOR , NORBY RICHARD J. , WARREN JEFFREY , WESTON DAVID , WINTER KLAUS 
Published: October 2013

AbstractWorldwide measurements of nearly 130C3species covering all major plant functional types are analysed in conjunction with model simulations to determine the effects of mesophyll conductance (gm) on photosynthetic parameters and their relationships estimated fromA/Cicurves. We find that an assumption of infinitegmresults in up to 75% underestimation for maximum carboxylation rateVcmax, 60% for maximum electron transport rateJmax, and 40% for triose phosphate utilization rateTu.Vcmaxis most sensitive,Jmaxis less sensitive, andTuhas the least sensitivity to the variation ofgm. Because of this asymmetrical effect ofgm, the ratios ofJmaxtoVcmax,TutoVcmaxandTutoJmaxare all overestimated. An infinitegmassumption also limits the freedom of variation of estimated parameters and artificially constrains parameter relationships to stronger shapes. These findings suggest the importance of quantifyinggmfor understandingin situphotosynthetic machinery functioning. We show that a nonzero resistance toCO2movement in chloroplasts has small effects on estimated parameters. A non‐linear function withgmas input is developed to convert the parameters estimated under an assumption of infinitegmto proper values. This function will facilitategmrepresentation in global carbon cycle models.
Effects of water availability on emerald ash borer larval performance and phloem phenolics of Manchurian and black ash
Authors: CHAKRABORTY SOURAV , WHITEHILL JUSTIN G. A. , HILL AMY L. , OPIYO STEPHEN O. , CIPOLLINI DON , HERMS DANIEL A. , BONELLO PIERLUIGI 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle is a significant threat to the survival ofNorthAmerican ash. In previous work, we identified putative biochemical and molecular markers of constitutiveEABresistance inManchurian ash, anAsian species co‐evolved withEAB. Here, we employed high‐throughput high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC‐PDA‐MS)to characterize the induced response of soluble phloem phenolics toEABattack in resistantManchurian and susceptible black ash under conditions of either normal or low water availability, and the effects of water availability on larval performance. Total larval mass per tree was lower inManchurian than in black ash. Low water increased larval numbers and mean larval mass overall, but more so inManchurian ash. Low water did not affect levels of phenolics in either host species, but six phenolics decreased in response toEAB. In both ashes, pinoresinolAwas induced byEAB, especially inManchurian ash. PinoresinolAand pinoresinolBwere negatively correlated with each other in both species. The higher accumulation of pinoresinolAinManchurian ash after attack may help explain the resistance of this species toEAB, but none of the responses measured here could explain increased larval performance in trees subjected to low water availability.
Alternative transcription generates multiple Mitf isoforms with different expression patterns and activities in medaka
Authors: Li Mingyou , Zhu Feng , Hong Ni , Zhang Lei , Hong Yunhan 
Published: October 2013

SummaryMicrophthalmia‐associated transcription factor (Mitf) is best known for distinct functions in multiple cell lineages including melanocytes, mast cells, and osteoclasts. In mammals, mitf produces multiple Mitf isoforms by alternative transcription and splicing. The fish medaka has two mitf genes, mitf1 and mitf2. Here, we report differential expression and activities of medaka Mitf isoforms. Molecular cloning identified four mitf1 variants encoding isoforms Mitf1A, MitfB, MitfH, and MitfM, and only one mitf2RNA encoding Mitf2M, which exhibited differential expression. Mitf1 isoforms and Mitf2M differed dramatically in activating the dazl and tyrosinase promoters DAZ and TYR. Interestingly, Mitf1ΔN, an N‐terminus‐less Mitf1 mutant form, retained activity to activate TYR but not DAZ. Importantly, Mitf1B was also sufficient for inducing melanocyte differentiation and endogenous tyrosinase RNA expression in medaka embryonic stem cells. Intriguingly, Mitf1 isoforms possessed considerable differences in inducing the expression of multiple cell lineage marker genes. Therefore, alternative mitf transcription is a conserved mechanism from fish to mammals, and medaka Mitf1 isoforms show differences in expression and activity. We conclude that differential expression of isoforms contributes to multiple distinct functions of Mitf in vertebrates.
Bacterial Vaginosis in the Context of Lichen Sclerosus in a Prepubertal Girl
Authors: Feito‐Rodríguez Marta , Noguera‐Morel Lucero , Casas‐Rivero José , García‐Rodríguez Julio , de Lucas‐Laguna Raul 
Published: October 2013

AbstractGroup A beta‐hemolytic streptococcus cause most vulvovaginal infections seen in prepubertal girls. Bacterial vaginosis is a common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age but is rare in children. Data are insufficient to suggest that bacterial vaginosis is an exclusively sexually transmitted disease. We report a 10‐year‐old girl with no history or suspicion of sexual abuse who developed bacterial vaginosis in the context of a lichen sclerosus being treated with tacrolimus ointment. Secondary bacterial infection in lichen sclerosus is uncommon. We speculate that the immunosuppressive effect of topical tacrolimus could have triggered the infection.
Reduced intensity transplantation for congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia: Report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: Woods Gary , Bajwa Rajinder P. S. , Rose Melissa J. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractCAMT is a bone marrow failure syndrome that usually presents with isolated thrombocytopenia soon after birth. HSCT is curative, and MAC is associated with increased transplant‐related morbidity and mortality, especially in the unrelated setting. We used a RIC regimen with alemtuzumab, fludarabine, and melphalan in a seven‐month‐old patient with CAMT who underwent a MUD HSCT. The transplant was well tolerated with few complications. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment occurred on day +12 and +29, respectively, and she had 100% donor chimerisms on days +19.
Religious Environmentalism and Environmental Religion in America
Authors: Berry Evan 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis essay aims to offer a rudimentary map of the subfield of religion and ecology by describing three distinct scholarly responses to the challenge leveled by Lynn White's influential 1967 article. It articulates an organizational view of the field by accounting for the three most prevalent perspectives on the antagonism between religion and environmentalism. The first, ecotheological apologism, looks to resuscitate “Judeo‐Christian” theology from the critique that it is inherently anti‐ecological. The second, sociological operationalization, forgoes normative engagement in favor of descriptive measurement, seeking to describe in empirical terms the environmental beliefs and behaviors of religious individuals in contemporary society. The third, theoretical functionalism, works to soften the very distinction between religious tradition and ecological morality. Examining the sources and outcomes of these scholarly divergences provides a reasonable account of the development of religion and ecology as an area of study and brings to the fore the challenges presently facing the subfield. In conclusion, the essay describes the exchanges among these scholarly threads and suggests how they might be woven together more closely.