bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Organizing vegetable supply chains: results of a survey of farmers
Authors: Kayser M. , Schulte M. , Theuvsen L. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
German horticulture earns 21.2% of the total production value of German agriculture – on merely 1.3% of the total production area. Despite this important economic standing, agricultural economic research focuses more on other agricultural sectors like meat or milk supply chains. The present study aims to analyze the organization of the horticulture supply chain. In order to fill this gap in research, the impact of various management instruments on performance at an individual farm level as well as in the whole horticultural supply chain get analyzed by using the partial least square method. For this, German vegetable farmers participated in an online survey in 2013. The innovative empirical analysis thereby is based on existing literature and the contingency theory. The results show that the individual farm performance is positively influenced by factor endowment of the farms as well as by trust and business climate between the different levels of the supply chain. In contrast, the external situation of the farms does not exert any meaningful influence on farm performance but on organizational farm parameters of the supply chain.
Benefit to Family Members of Delivering Hand Massage With Essential Oils to Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Prichard Charlsea , Newcomb Patricia 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundIn intensive care environments, patients’ families are often encouraged to participate in their loved one’s care; however, many family members feel anxious, depressed, and unsure about how to help patients.ObjectivesTo determine (1) the feasibility of teaching family members a simple intervention combining hand massage with essential oils in a trauma intensive care unit and (2) an effect size for use in designing a more powerful trial.MethodA quasi-experimental pilot study of the effect of a family-delivered touch treatment on anxiety and depression of family members of patients. Fifteen family members were assigned to a treatment group, and 15 family members were assigned to a control group. The treatment consisted of the application of hand massage with essential oils for 6 sessions. Each session lasted 5 minutes and was presented twice a day for 3 days.ResultsThe 5-minute intervention was associated with positive change in anxiety and depression scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) among family members visiting patients. The magnitude of change (improvement) in anxiety scores within the group of treated family members was significantly greater than within family members in the control group.ConclusionAdministering a brief hand massage using pleasant-smelling oils to patients in an intensive care unit may reduce anxiety of family members who administer the treatment.
Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Imparts a Regulatory Program in Dendritic Cells and T Cells via Galectin-1–Dependent Mechanisms
Authors: Poncini Carolina V. , Ilarregui Juan M. , Batalla Estela I. , Engels Steef , Cerliani Juan P. , Cucher Marcela A. , van Kooyk Yvette , González-Cappa Stella M. , Rabinovich Gabriel A. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Galectin-1 (Gal-1), an endogenous glycan-binding protein, is widely distributed at sites of inflammation and microbial invasion. Despite considerable progress regarding the immunoregulatory activity of this lectin, the role of endogenous Gal-1 during acute parasite infections is uncertain. In this study, we show that Gal-1 functions as a negative regulator to limit host-protective immunity following intradermal infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Concomitant with the upregulation of immune inhibitory mediators, including IL-10, TGF-β1, IDO, and programmed death ligand 2, T. cruzi infection induced an early increase of Gal-1 expression in vivo. Compared to their wild-type (WT) counterpart, Gal-1–deficient (Lgals1−/−) mice exhibited reduced mortality and lower parasite load in muscle tissue. Resistance of Lgals1−/− mice to T. cruzi infection was associated with a failure in the activation of Gal-1–driven tolerogenic circuits, otherwise orchestrated by WT dendritic cells, leading to secondary dysfunction in the induction of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. This effect was accompanied by an increased number of CD8+ T cells and higher frequency of IFN-γ–producing CD4+ T cells in muscle tissues and draining lymph nodes as well as reduced parasite burden in heart and hindlimb skeletal muscle. Moreover, dendritic cells lacking Gal-1 interrupted the Gal-1–mediated tolerogenic circuit and reinforced T cell–dependent anti-parasite immunity when adoptively transferred into WT mice. Thus, endogenous Gal-1 may influence T. cruzi infection by fueling tolerogenic circuits that hinder anti-parasite immunity.
Female-Specific Downregulation of Tissue Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils Drives Impaired Regulatory T Cell and Amplified Effector T Cell Responses in Autoimmune Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Gao Yuan , Min Kyungji , Zhang Yibing , Su John , Greenwood Matthew , Gronert Karsten 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Immune-driven dry eye disease primarily affects women; the cause for this sex-specific prevalence is unknown. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) have distinct phenotypes that drive inflammation but also regulate lymphocytes and are the rate-limiting cell for generating anti-inflammatory lipoxin A4 (LXA4). Estrogen regulates the LXA4 circuit to induce delayed female-specific wound healing in the cornea. However, the role of PMNs in dry eye disease remains unexplored. We discovered an LXA4-producing tissue PMN population in the corneal limbus, lacrimal glands, and cervical lymph nodes of healthy male and female mice. These tissue PMNs, unlike inflammatory PMNs, expressed a highly amplified LXA4 circuit and were sex-specifically regulated during immune-driven dry eye disease. Desiccating stress in females, unlike in males, triggered a remarkable decrease in lymph node PMN and LXA4 formation that remained depressed during dry eye disease. Depressed lymph node PMN and LXA4 in females correlated with an increase in effector T cells (Th1 and Th17), a decrease in regulatory T cells (Treg), and increased dry eye pathogenesis. Ab depletion of tissue PMN abrogated LXA4 formation in lymph nodes, as well as caused a marked increase in Th1 and Th17 cells and a decrease in Tregs. To establish an immune-regulatory role for PMN-derived LXA4 in dry eye, females were treated with LXA4. LXA4 treatment markedly inhibited Th1 and Th17 and amplified Treg in draining lymph nodes, while reducing dry eye pathogenesis. These results identify female-specific regulation of LXA4-producing tissue PMN as a potential key factor in aberrant effector T cell activation and initiation of immune-driven dry eye disease.
IL-7 Abrogates the Immunosuppressive Function of Human Double-Negative T Cells by Activating Akt/mTOR Signaling
Authors: Allgäuer Andrea , Schreiner Elisabeth , Ferrazzi Fulvia , Ekici Arif B. , Gerbitz Armin , Mackensen Andreas , Völkl Simon 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
Recently, a novel subset of TCRαβ+ CD4− CD8− double-negative (DN) T cells was described to suppress immune responses in both mice and humans. Moreover, in murine models, infusion and/or activation of DN T cells specifically suppressed alloreactive T cells and prevented the development of graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We demonstrated that human DN T cells, like their murine counterparts, are highly potent suppressor cells of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and other lymphopenic conditions, IL-7 plays an important role in the reconstitution, survival, and homeostasis of the T cell compartment. Because IL-7 was shown to interfere with T cell functionality, we asked whether IL-7 affects the functionality of human DN T cells. Intriguingly, IL-7 diminished the suppressive activity of DN T cells toward allogeneic CD4+ effector T cells. Of interest, our studies revealed that IL-7 activates the Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in human DN T cells. Importantly, selective inhibition of the protein kinases Akt or mTOR reversed the IL-7 effect, thereby restoring the functionality of DN T cells, whereas inhibition of other central T cell signaling pathways did not. Further analyses suggest that the IL-7/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade downregulates anergy-associated genes and upregulates activation- and proliferation-associated factors that may be crucial for DN T cell functionality. These findings indicate that IL-7 and Akt/mTOR signaling are critical factors for the suppressive capacity of DN T cells. Targeting of these pathways by pharmacological agents may restore and/or enhance DN T cell functionality in graft-versus-host disease.
NASAL NK/T- CELL LYMPHOMA. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF A MEXICAN POPULATION
Authors: Avilès Augustine 
Published: September 2015

Nasal, natural-killer T-cell lymphoma (nasal NKTCL ), is a rare presentation of extranodal lymphoma in North-America and Europe, but in some countries, as China and Korea, it is extremely common: 20 to 46 % of T-cell lymphomas. Some studies, analyzed the incidence in Latin-America, but Mexico, based on political and geographic considerations, was not included in these reports. Thus, we performed a retrospective analysis of the patients diagnosed and treated as nasal, NKTCL, in our institution, that is an academic tertiary national reference hospital. From 1988 to 2014, we diagnosed and treated 14,816 cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 10,957 (73%) were of B-cell histology and 3822 (26%) were of T-cell histology. Nasal, NKTCL, was the most frequent of the T-cell histology: 40%. We compare our results with other countries and observed that nasal, NKTCL has a low number of cases in North-America, and some countries in Latin-America, as Argentina, Brazil and Chile, but our number will be similar to Guatemala and Peru, that were similar to China and Korea. We think that this neoplasm has a racial basis, independent of environmental factors.
Gemcitabine-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity: A Case Report of Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease
Authors: Turco Célia , Jary Marine , Kim Stefano , Moltenis Mélanie , Degano Bruno , Manzoni Philippe , Nguyen Thierry , Genet Bruno , Rabier Marie-Blanche Valnet , Heyd Bruno , Borg Christophe 
Published: September 2015

Introduction Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent frequently used by for the treatment of several malignancies both in the adjuvant and metastatic setting. Although myelosuppression is the most adverse event of this therapy, gemcitabine might induce severe pulmonary toxicities. We describe a case of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) related to gemcitabine. Case Presentation The patient was an 83-year-old man with a metastatic pancreatic cancer who was treated by gemcitabine as first-line therapy. He was in good health and received no other chemotherapy. A dose of 1000 mg/m2 of gemcitabine was administered over a 30-minute intravenous infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. After a period of 6 months, a complete response was observed. Nevertheless, the patient developed a severe dyspnea, with arterial hypoxemia and very low lung diffusion for carbon monoxide. A CT scan showed diffuse ground glass opacities with septal lines, bilateral pleural effusion, and lymph node enlargement. On echocardiography, there was a suspicion of pulmonary hypertension with elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure and normal left ventricular pressures. Right heart catheterization confirmed pulmonary hypertension and normal pulmonary artery occlusion pressure. Diagnosis of PVOD was made, and a gemcitabine-induced toxicity was suspected. A symptomatic treatment was started. At last follow-up, patient was in functional class I with near-normal of CT scan, arterial blood gases, and echocardiography. A gemcitabine-induced PVOD is the more likely diagnosis.
Residents as Medical Student Mentors During an Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship
Authors: Sobbing Jackson , Duong Jennifer , Dong Frank , Grainger David 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTBackgroundResident physicians provide much of the clinical teaching for medical students during their clerkship rotations, but often receive no formal preparation or structure for teaching and mentoring students.ObjectiveWe sought to evaluate a medical student mentoring program (MSMP) for students during their obstetrics and gynecology clerkship at a midwestern teaching hospital during the 2013–2014 academic year.MethodsA senior resident physician was assigned 1 to 2 medical students for a 6-week rotation. Students were provided MSMP information during clerkship orientation; residents were given information on MSMP requirements and were randomly assigned to students. We surveyed students and residents about their experience with the MSMP.ResultsOf 49 eligible medical students, 43 (88%) completed postsurveys. All students reported not having a mentoring program on other clerkships. Postclerkship, students indicated that they would participate in the MSMP again (32 of 38, 84%), and felt that having a mentor on other clerkships (30 of 36, 83%) would be beneficial. Students reported receiving educational (20 of 41, 49%) and procedural (33 of 41, 80%) instruction, personal development feedback (23 of 41, 56%), and career advice (14 of 41, 34%) from resident mentors. Out of a total of 45 possible surveys by residents, 17 (38%) were completed. Residents did not feel burdened by students (14 of 17, 82%), and all responded that they would participate in the MSMP again.ConclusionsFeedback from medical students suggests that a mentoring program during clerkships may provide potential benefits for their careers and in 1-on-1 instruction.
Recente internationale ontwikkelingen in de aanpak van belastingontwijking door multinationals
Authors: van Herwaarden A.J. 
Published: September 2015

Recente internationale ontwikkelingen in de aanpak van belastingontwijking door multinationals
De belastingheffing van multinationals staat vandaag de dag in het middelpunt van de publieke belangstelling. Met behulp van fiscale structuren kunnen multinationals op legale wijze hun effectieve (wereldwijde) belastingdruk op behaalde winsten aanzienlijk verlagen. Ter bestrijding van belastingontwijking door multinationals hebben de OESO en de G20 in 2013 het grootschalige project ‘Base Erosion and Profit Shifting’ (BEPS) opgezet. Ook binnen de EU staat belastingontwijking door multinationals hoog op de politieke agenda. Deze bijdrage bevat een bespreking van belastingontwijkingsmogelijkheden voor multinationals en de daartegen door de OESO/G20 en de EU voorgestelde oplossingsrichtingen.
Vorderingen in b2c-verstekken: toetsen of toewijzen?
Authors: Seinen C.J-A. , Ancery A.G.F. 
Published: September 2015

Vorderingen in b2c-verstekken: toetsen of toewijzen? Ambtshalve toetsen op grond van Heesakkers/Voets, de waarheidsplicht en art. 139 Rv
Ook in verstekzaken tussen een professionele eiser en een gedaagde consument zal de civiele rechter ambtshalve moeten toetsen of de vordering (deels) berust op een beding dat dwingendrechtelijke consumentenbeschermende bepalingen schendt. De auteurs schetsen het toetsingskader in het licht van art. 139 Rv. Nu verstekzaken het leeuwendeel van de civiele zaken vormen, kan de plicht tot ambtshalve toetsing tot veel extra werk, kosten en vertraging leiden. De auteurs stellen voor om in verstekzaken een op de waarheidsplicht geënt standaardformulier te gebruiken dat recht doet aan zowel de openbare belangen van consumentenbescherming, waarheidsvinding en efficiënte inzet van overheidsmiddelen als het particuliere belang van efficiënte incasso.
Challenges to Assessing Same-Sex Relationships under Refugee Law in Canada
Authors: Hersh Nicholas 
Published: September 2015

This article suggests that there are reasons to be concerned about the way relationship history impacts credibility assessments for refugee claims based on sexual orientation. Decision makers’ written assessments often reveal insufficient consideration of the psychosocial barriers that may impinge on sexual minority refugees’ ability to testify on their relationships. The multinational and multicultural setting of refugee-status proceedings poses unique challenges for sexual minority refugee claimants in having their membership in a particular social group established. Understanding and expressing sexual identity spans cultural divides, and therefore, a claimant’s expressed identity may not match the decision maker’s expectations. Notions of love and intimacy may also be culturally construed, and therefore expectations of how these notions manifest in long-term relationships may be inappropriate in the context of refugee status determination.
This article emphasizes that implausibility findings concerning claimants’ relationships should be made cautiously. Decision makers should not assume that sexual minorities in countries in which homosexuality is stigmatized or criminalized are devoid of the volition to have same-sex partners. Nor should they assume that sexual minority refugees are necessarily willing to embrace same-sex relationships soon after arriving in Canada. Evaluating same-sex relationships according to the Cass Staged-Identity model can lead to persistent doubts about claimants’ credibility.
In sum, this article attempts to canvass the potential pitfalls of Canadian adjudication methods in cases of sexual minority refugee claimants, and to propose recommendations for evaluating testimony and evidence of these relationships.
Models of Inflammation: Carrageenan‐ or Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)–Induced Edema and Hypersensitivity in the Rat
Authors: McCarson Kenneth E. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAnimal models of inflammation are used to assess the production of inflammatory mediators at sites of inflammation, the processing of pain sensation at CNS sites, the anti‐inflammatory properties of agents such as nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the efficacy of putative analgesic compounds in reversing cutaneous hypersensitivity. Detailed in this unit are methods to elicit and measure carrageenan‐ and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)–induced cutaneous inflammation. Due to possible differences between the dorsal root sensory system and the trigeminal sensory system, injections into either the footpad or vibrissal pad are described. In this manner, cutaneous inflammation can be assessed in tissue innervated by the lumbar dorsal root ganglion neurons (footpad) or by the trigeminal ganglion neurons (vibrissal pad). © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Overview of Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Breast Cancer Used in Translational Biology and Drug Development
Authors: Greenow Kirsty R. , Smalley Matthew J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBreast cancer is a heterogeneous condition with no single standard of treatment and no definitive method for determining whether a tumor will respond to therapy. The development of murine models that faithfully mimic specific human breast cancer subtypes is critical for the development of patient‐specific treatments. While the artificial nature of traditional in vivo xenograft models used to characterize novel anticancer treatments has limited clinical predictive value, the development of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) makes it possible to study the therapeutic responses in an intact microenvironment. GEMMs have proven to be an experimentally tractable platform for evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutic combinations and for defining the mechanisms of acquired resistance. Described in this overview are several of the more popular breast cancer GEMMs, including details on their value in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of this disorder. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Facile Access to 5′‐S‐(4,4′‐Dimethoxytrityl)‐2′,5′‐Dideoxyribonucleosides via Stable Disulfide Intermediates
Authors: Reddy L. Chandra Shekhar , Sharma Vivek K. , Kumar Rajesh , Singh Ankita , Parmar Virinder S. , Sanghvi Yogesh S. , Prasad Ashok K. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThionucleosides represent an important class of modified nucleos(t)ides that have found distinct applications in the chemical biology of synthetic oligonucleotides, but the use of these compounds is substantially lessened by the instability or high reactivity of the sulfhydryl group. This unit describes a protocol for the synthesis of 2′,5′‐dideoxy‐5′‐thioribonucleoside disulfides by utilizing Mitsunobu reaction conditions on 3′‐O‐levulinyl‐2′‐deoxyribonucleosides in the presence of thiobenzoic acid followed by facile hydrolysis and in situ oxidation of the resulting 5′‐thiolated nucleosides using methanolic ammonia. The utility of these disulfides has been demonstrated as stable precursors for the synthesis of 5′‐thio‐modified 2′‐deoxynucleosides. To validate the potential of the methodology, 5′‐S‐(4,4′‐dimethoxytrityl)‐2′,5′‐dideoxythymidine phosphoramidite has been synthesized by in situ cleavage of the disulfide linkage of 2′,5′‐dideoxy‐5′‐thiothymidine disulfide followed by protection with a dimethoxytriphenyl (DMT) group and 3′‐phosphitylation using 2‐cyanoethyl N,N‐diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Synthesis of Morpholino Monomers, Chlorophosphoramidate Monomers, and Solid‐Phase Synthesis of Short Morpholino Oligomers
Authors: Bhadra Jhuma , Pattanayak Sankha , Sinha Surajit 
Published: September 2015

AbstractPhosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) are a highly capable class of synthetic antisense oligonucleotides that are used to study gene functions in in vitro and in vivo models. This unit describes the synthesis of exocyclic‐amine‐protected 7′‐hydroxy and 7′‐chlorophosphoramidate‐activated morpholino monomers of A, T, G, and C, together with their incorporation into short PMO oligomers by solid‐phase synthesis. Starting from ribonucleosides, the exocyclic‐amine‐protected 7′‐hydroxy monomers are prepared following a modified Summerton protocol, which consists of a periodate cleavage/Schiff base formation/reduction cycle. The exocyclic amine protections are installed at a later stage (except G) to avoid the use of costly exocyclic‐amine‐protected counterparts that give control over protecting group manipulation. The 7′‐hydroxy monomers with N‐Trit/N‐MMTr are then converted to the 7′‐chlorophosphoramidate morpholino monomers in one step employing a combination of lithium bromide and DBU. These chlorophosphoramidate monomers are finally assembled by solid‐support synthesis to obtain the short PMO oligomers. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Convenient Technique to Fix Suspension Cells on a Coverslip for Microscopy
Authors: Mihara Keiko , Nakayama Tomofumi , Saitoh Hisato 
Published: September 2015

AbstractHuman myeloid HL‐60 cells are usually cultured in suspension in medium containing 5% to 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and thus are often difficult to adhere to a coverslip. In this unit, we describe how removal of FBS from the culture medium facilitates adhesion of HL‐60 cells to coverslips. Importantly, HL‐60 cells that adhere to the coverslips immersed in FBS‐free medium can be immobilized in situ by conventional chemical fixatives and thus permeabilized for probing cellular structures using specific dyes and/or reagents, followed by microscopic observation. All‐trans‐retinoic‐acid‐exposed differentiated HL‐60 cells, which have properties similar to neutrophils, can also adhere efficiently to coverslips in FBS‐free medium. Because the procedure is not complex and special equipment is not required, the simplicity and cost effectiveness of this FBS‐free cell adhesion protocol may be beneficial to researchers who are interested in assessing the structure and function of suspension cells using microscopy. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.