bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peripheral Identities and Hybridity in Arun Joshi’s The City and the River
Authors: Menon Nirmala 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Arun Joshi’s The City and the River has often been read as an allegorical text, sometimes as an existential one, and in other cases as a philosophical parable. Considering the fact that The City and the River reveals a distinct form, narrative technique, and political predicament in comparison to his earlier novels such as The Foreigner and The Strange Case of Billy Biswas which delve into the grime of everyday life struggles, such diverse, often conflicting reception of Joshi’s text is thoroughly justified. This paper argues that while Joshi’s commitment to the predicament of ‘everyday life struggles’ remains intact, The City and the River marks a latent shift in terms of character constellations and their predisposition to peripheral locations that make the text a precursor to later discussions of hybridity in postcolonial studies. In particular, the identity crises of its characters are inflected in the constant change of the narrative’s locations and their respective political positions.
Reducing Hypothermia in Preterm Infants Following Delivery
Authors: Russo Anne , McCready Mary , Torres Lisandra , Theuriere Claudette , Venturini Susan , Spaight Morgan , Hemway Rae Jean , Handrinos Suzanne , Perlmutter Deborah , Huynh Trang , Grunebaum Amos , Perlman Jeffrey 
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND:Moderate hypothermia (temperature &lt;36°C) at birth is common in premature infants and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity.METHODS:A multidisciplinary practice plan was implemented to determine in premature infants &lt;35 weeks old whether a multifaceted approach would reduce the number of inborn infants with an admitting axillary temperature &lt;36°C by 20% without increasing exposure to a temperature &gt;37.5°C. The plan included use of occlusive wrap a transwarmer mattress and cap for all infants and maintaining an operating room temperature between 21°C and 23°C. Data were obtained at baseline (n = 66), during phasing in (n = 102), and at full implementation (n = 193).RESULTS:Infant axillary temperature in the delivery room (DR) increased from 36.1°C ± 0.6°C to 36.2°C ± 0.6°C to 36.6°C ± 0.6°C (P &lt; .001), and admitting temperature increased from 36.0°C ± 0.8°C to 36.3°C ± 0.6°C to 36.7°C ± 0.5°C at baseline, phasing in, and full implementation, respectively (P &lt; .001). The number of infants with temperature &lt;36°C decreased from 55% to 6.2% at baseline versus full implementation (P &lt; .001), and intubation at 24 hours decreased from 39% to 17.6% (P = .005). There was no increase in the number of infants with a temperature &gt;37.5°C over time. The use of occlusive wrap, mattress, and cap increased from 33% to 88% at baseline versus full implementation. Control charts showed significant improvement in DR ambient temperature at baseline versus full implementation.CONCLUSIONS:The practice plan was associated with a significant increase in DR and admitting axillary infant temperatures and a corresponding decrease in the number of infants with moderate hypothermia. There was an associated reduction in intubation at 24 hours. These positive findings reflect increased compliance with the practice plan.
Strength Capacity and Cardiometabolic Risk Clustering in Adolescents
Authors: Peterson Mark D. , Saltarelli William A. , Visich Paul S. , Gordon Paul M. 
Published: April 2014

OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this study was to determine the gender-specific independent association between muscular strength and cardiometabolic risk clustering in a large cohort (n = 1421) of children.

METHODS:
Principal component analysis was used to determine the pattern of risk clustering and to derive a continuous aggregate score (MetScore) from various cardiometabolic risk components: percent body fat (%BF), fasting glucose, blood pressure, plasma triglycerides levels, and HDL-cholesterol. Gender-stratified risk and MetScore were assessed by using general linear models and logistic regression for differences between strength tertiles, as well as independent associations with age, BMI, estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity, and muscular strength (normalized for body mass).

RESULTS:
In both boys (n = 670) and girls (n = 751), there were significant differences in cardiometabolic profiles across strength tertiles, such that stronger adolescents had lower overall risk. Age, BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity participation, and strength were all individually correlated with multiple risk components, as well as the overall MetScore. However, in the adjusted model, only BMI (β = 0.30), physical inactivity (β = 0.30), and normalized strength capacity (β = –1.5) emerged as significant (P &lt; .05) predictors of MetScore. %BF was the strongest loading coefficient within the principal component analysis–derived MetScore outcome.

CONCLUSIONS:
Normalized strength is independently associated with lower cardiometabolic risk in boys and girls. Moreover, %BF was associated with all cardiometabolic risk factors and carried the strongest loading coefficient. These findings bolster the importance of early strength acquisition and healthy body composition in childhood.
Anatase TiO2 Nanowires, Thin Films, and Surfaces: Ab initio Studies of Electronic Properties and Non-adiabatic Excited State Dynamics
Authors: Huang Shuping , Kilin Dmitri S. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTWe analyze and compare optoelectronic properties and hot carrier relaxation dynamics in different forms of TiO2 anatase materials: nanowires and thin films. The models are chosen in such way that the same crystallographic surfaces are exposed and any difference in properties is attributed to the change of the dimensionality of the nanostructure. Specifically, we give a brief review of the electronic properties and non-adiabatic excited state dynamics of <001> anatase TiO2 nanowire as well as (100) and (001) anatase TiO2 surfaces. The calculated band gap of nanowire is larger than the ones of surfaces. The hole relaxation rate is higher than the electron relaxation rate for both the surfaces and nanowire, and the electron and hole relaxation rates of surfaces are larger than the ones of nanowire.
Tuning Band Energies in a Combined Axial and Radial GaAs/GaP Heterostructure
Authors: Wang Yuda , Kumar Parveen , Smith Leigh Morris , Jackson Howard E. , Yarrison-Rice Jan M. , Pryor Craig , Kang Jung-Hyun , Gao Qiang , Tan Hark Hoe , Jagadish Chennupati 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTWe use Raman scattering to study the spatially-resolved strain and stress in a complex zinc blende GaAs/GaP heterostructured nanowire which contains both axial and radial interfaces. The nanowires are grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition in the [111] direction with Au nano particles as catalysts, High spatial resolution Raman scans along the nanowires show the GaAs/GaP interface is clearly identifiable. We interpret the phonon energy shifts in each material as one approaches the interface.
Structure and Properties of Magnetic Ceramic Nanoparticles
Authors: Sorescu Monica , Xu Tianhong , Diamandescu Lucian 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTMost recently, magnetic ceramic nanoparticles have attracted considerable scientific interest from the basic research point of view and for their prospective use in chemical sensing, catalysis and electrochemical applications. In this paper we report the successful synthesis of xSnO2-(1-x)α-Fe2O3 system by hydrothermal synthesis and that of xZrO2-(1-x)α-Fe2O3 system by mechanochemical activation. The two nanoparticle systems were analyzed side-by-side using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The latter technique was used in its complexity, including the determination of the recoilless fraction using our dual absorber method. This was correlated with the onset of new phases in the systems of interest.
The Impact of Lookup Tables on Use Tax Reporting
Authors: Fleming Damon M. , Gill Steve L. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT
This paper examines the anchoring effects that estimates of use tax provided by the state in the form of a “lookup table” have on use tax reporting. Results indicate taxpayers presented with a lookup table are significantly less likely to simply anchor on and report $0 for the amount of use tax due—currently the most commonly reported use tax amount. In addition, significantly more use tax was reported when an aggressive lookup table value (i.e., higher use tax estimate) was provided compared to a conservative lookup table value (i.e., lower use tax estimate) or when no table was available. By contrast, significantly less use tax was reported when a conservative lookup table value was provided compared to when no table was available. Finally, results indicate the anchoring effect of an aggressive lookup table value was magnified when taxpayers had greater uncertainty about the possible amounts of use tax due.
Antibiotic susceptibility of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae isolates from Czech swine farms: a 10-year follow-up study
Authors: Prášek Josef , Šperling Daniel , Lobová Dana , Smola Jiří , Čížek Alois 
Published: April 2014

Brachyspira hyodysenteriaeis the causative agent of swine dysentery. Loss of clinical efficacy of some antimicrobial agents authorized for treating swine dysentery was observed on certain Czech pig farms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial sensitivity of six antibiotics using a set of 202 randomly selectedB. hyodysenteriaeisolates obtained from farms in the Czech Republic between years 1997 and 2006. Minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotics tylosin, lincomycin, tylvalosin, chlortetracyclin, tiamulin and valnemulin were tested, using an agar dilution method. All antibiotics tested showed an increase in minimal inhibitory concentrations. Continual decrease in susceptibility of B. hyodysenteriaeisolates to tiamulin and valnemulin was observed. MultiresistantB. hyodysenteriaewere isolated more frequently in the past years. Only a careful use of antibiotics can ensure their efficacy, especially in case of pleuromutilins, in the strategic therapy of swine dysentery. This rare study demonstrates the minimal inhibitory concentration changes of selected antidysenterics among Czech isolates ofBrachyspira hyodysenteriaeduring a ten-year period.
Phylogeny, character evolution, and biogeography of Cuscuta (dodders; Convolvulaceae) inferred from coding plastid and nuclear sequences
Authors: García Miguel A. , Costea Mihai , Kuzmina Maria , Stefanović Saša 
Published: April 2014

• Premise of the study: The parasitic genus Cuscuta, containing some 200 species circumscribed traditionally in three subgenera, is nearly cosmopolitan, occurring in a wide range of habitats and hosts. Previous molecular studies, on subgenera Grammica and Cuscuta, delimited major clades within these groups. However, the sequences used were unalignable among subgenera, preventing the phylogenetic comparison across the genus.• Methods: We conducted a broad phylogenetic study using rbcL and nrLSU sequences covering the morphological, physiological, and geographical diversity of Cuscuta. We used parsimony methods to reconstruct ancestral states for taxonomically important characters. Biogeographical inferences were obtained using statistical and Bayesian approaches.• Key results: Four well‐supported major clades are resolved. Two of them correspond to subgenera Monogynella and Grammica. Subgenus Cuscuta is paraphyletic, with section Pachystigma sister to subgenus Grammica. Previously described cases of strongly supported discordance between plastid and nuclear phylogenies, interpreted as reticulation events, are confirmed here and three new cases are detected. Dehiscent fruits and globose stigmas are inferred as ancestral character states, whereas the ancestral style number is ambiguous. Biogeographical reconstructions suggest an Old World origin for the genus and subsequent spread to the Americas as a consequence of one long‐distance dispersal.• Conclusions: Hybridization may play an important yet underestimated role in the evolution of Cuscuta. Our results disagree with scenarios of evolution (polarity) previously proposed for several taxonomically important morphological characters, and with their usage and significance. While several cases of long‐distance dispersal are inferred, vicariance or dispersal to adjacent areas emerges as the dominant biogeographical pattern.
JAK2-STAT3 Blockade by AG490 Suppresses Autoimmune Arthritis in Mice via Reciprocal Regulation of Regulatory T Cells and Th17 Cells
Authors: Park Jin-Sil , Lee Jennifer , Lim Mi-Ae , Kim Eun-Kyung , Kim Sung-Min , Ryu Jun-Geol , Lee Jae Ho , Kwok Seung-Ki , Park Kyung-Su , Kim Ho-Youn , Park Sung-Hwan , Cho Mi-La 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
IL-6–mediated STAT3 signaling is essential for Th17 differentiation and plays a central role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the antirheumatic effects and T cell regulatory effects of STAT3 inhibition, we studied the effects of the JAK 2 inhibitor AG490 on Th17 cell/regulatory T cell (Treg) balance and osteoclastogenesis. AG490 was administered to mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) via i.p. injection, and its in vivo effects were determined. Differential expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-17A, IL-1β, and IL-6, was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Levels of phosphorylated STAT3 and STAT5 and differentiation of Th17 cells and Tregs after AG490 treatment in our CIA model were analyzed by immunostaining. In vitro development of Th17 cells and Tregs was analyzed by flow cytometry and real-time PCR. AG490 ameliorated the arthritic phenotype in CIA and increased the proportion of Foxp3+ Tregs. In contrast, the proportion of IL-17A–producing T cells and levels of inflammatory markers were reduced in AG490-treated mice. Numbers of p-STAT3+ CD4+ T cells and p-STAT5+ CD4+ T cells were reduced and elevated, respectively, after treatment with AG490. Furthermore, AG490 markedly increased the expression of molecules associated with Treg development (ICOS, programmed cell death protein 1, ICAM-1, and CD103). The development and function of osteoclasts were suppressed by AG490 treatment. Our results suggest that AG490, specifically regulating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, may be a promising treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
TLR-Mediated Secretion of Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 1 from Macrophages
Authors: Goto Yoshikuni , Ogawa Kenji , Nakamura Takahiro J. , Hattori Akira , Tsujimoto Masafumi 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Macrophages play an important role in host defense under several immunological, inflammatory, and/or infectious conditions. In our previous work, we demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) was secreted from macrophages in response to LPS and IFN-γ, and it enhanced their phagocytic activity. In this study, we analyzed the mechanism of LPS/IFN-γ–induced ERAP1 secretion. LPS/IFN-γ–induced secretion of the enzyme from the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was suppressed by polymyxin B. Several agonists of TLRs, such as Pam3CSK4, FSL-1, and ODN1826, induced its secretion. In contrast, neutralizing Abs to IFN-β and TNF-α receptor type 1 suppressed its secretion. Using murine peritoneal macrophages derived from TNF-α and type 1 IFNR knockout mice, we confirmed the involvement of these two cytokines in ERAP1 secretion. In addition, secretion of ERAP1 from both RAW264.7 cells and murine peritoneal macrophages was induced by A23187 and thapsigargin and inhibited by BAPTA-AM and the calmodulin inhibitor W7. These results suggest that LPS/IFN-γ–induced secretion of ERAP1 is mediated by TLRs via induction of intermediate cytokines such as IFN-β and TNF-α, which in turn lead to enhanced cytosolic Ca2+ levels and calmodulin activation.
SAP Facilitates Recruitment and Activation of LCK at NTB-A Receptors during Restimulation-Induced Cell Death
Authors: Katz Gil , Krummey Scott M. , Larsen Sasha E. , Stinson Jeffrey R. , Snow Andrew L. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Upon TCR restimulation, activated, cycling T cells can undergo a self-regulatory form of apoptosis known as restimulation-induced cell death (RICD). We previously demonstrated that RICD is impaired in T cells from patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease, which lack SLAM-associated protein (SAP) expression. Both SAP and the specific SLAM receptor NK, T, and B cell Ag (NTB-A) are required for RICD, but the mechanism by which these molecules promote a strong, proapoptotic signal through the TCR remains unclear. In this article, we show that the Src-family kinase LCK, but not FYN, associates with NTB-A in activated human T cells. This association increased after TCR restimulation in a SAP-dependent manner, requiring both immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motifs in the NTB-A cytoplasmic tail. Both NTB-A–associated LCK phosphorylation and kinase activity were enhanced in restimulated T cells, amplifying proximal TCR signaling. In contrast, TCR-induced LCK association with NTB-A, as well as phosphorylation and kinase activity, was reduced in T cells from patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease or normal T cells transfected with SAP-specific small interfering RNA, consistent with RICD resistance. Collectively, our data reveal how SAP nucleates a previously unknown signaling complex involving NTB-A and LCK to potentiate RICD of activated human T cells.
Immunological Priming Requires Regulatory T Cells and IL-10–Producing Macrophages To Accelerate Resolution from Severe Lung Inflammation
Authors: Aggarwal Neil R. , Tsushima Kenji , Eto Yoshiki , Tripathi Ashutosh , Mandke Pooja , Mock Jason R. , Garibaldi Brian T. , Singer Benjamin D. , Sidhaye Venkataramana K. , Horton Maureen R. , King Landon S. , D’Alessio Franco R. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Overwhelming lung inflammation frequently occurs following exposure to both direct infectious and noninfectious agents and is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In that context, immunomodulatory strategies may be used to limit severity of impending organ damage. We sought to determine whether priming the lung by activating the immune system, or immunological priming, could accelerate resolution of severe lung inflammation. We assessed the importance of alveolar macrophages, regulatory T cells, and their potential interaction during immunological priming. We demonstrate that oropharyngeal delivery of low-dose LPS can immunologically prime the lung to augment alveolar macrophage production of IL-10 and enhance resolution of lung inflammation induced by a lethal dose of LPS or by Pseudomonas bacterial pneumonia. IL-10–deficient mice did not achieve priming and were unable to accelerate lung injury resolution. Depletion of lung macrophages or regulatory T cells during the priming response completely abrogated the positive effect of immunological priming on resolution of lung inflammation and significantly reduced alveolar macrophage IL-10 production. Finally, we demonstrated that oropharyngeal delivery of synthetic CpG-oligonucleotides elicited minimal lung inflammation compared with low-dose LPS but nonetheless primed the lung to accelerate resolution of lung injury following subsequent lethal LPS exposure. Immunological priming is a viable immunomodulatory strategy used to enhance resolution in an experimental acute lung injury model with the potential for therapeutic benefit against a wide array of injurious exposures.
Impact of IL-10 (-1082) Promoter–Single Nucleotide Polymorphism on the Outcome of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4 Infection
Authors: Helal Soheir F. , Gomaa Howayda E. , Thabet Eman H. , Younan Mariam A. , Helmy Neveen A. 
Published: April 2014

Immuneregulatory cytokines may influence the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection outcome. This study aimed to determine the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the interleukin (IL)-10 (-1082) G/A polymorphism, and its association with chronicity or resolution of HCV genotype 4 infection in Egypt. The frequencies of different dimorphic polymorphisms based on single nucleotide substitution in chronic HCV patients (50) and resolved HCV patients (50) were: IL-10 (-1082) G/G 22 (44%) and 18 (36%), G/A 19 (38%) and 24 (48%), and A/A 9 (18%), and 8 (16%), respectively. In the sustained virologic response (SVR) (36) and spontaneously resolved subjects (14) groups, the frequencies were: IL-10 (-1082) G/G 11 (30.6%) and 7 (50%) G/A 18 (50%) and 6 (42.9%), A/A 7 (19.4%) and 1 (7.1%), respectively. An association between male gender and chronic hepatitis C outcome ( P value 0.041) was found. However, no significant gender difference was found when we compared females versus males with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in the chronic HCV patient group ( P value = 1).ConclusionNo significant difference in the frequency of IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 1082 was found between chronic and resolved HCV subjects.
Benthic mats offer a potential subsidy to pelagic consumers in tundra pond food webs
Authors: Mariash Heather L. , Devlin Shawn P. , Forsström Laura , Jones Roger I. , Rautio Milla 
Published: April 2014

We quantified the potential nutritional contribution of benthic mats to pelagic consumers in tundra ponds using three approaches. (1) We compared benthic and pelagic habitats based on their algal biomass and community composition and assessed the dietary quality in terms of fatty acid (FA) concentrations in both habitats. The algal community compositions differed significantly between habitats. Both benthic and pelagic habitats contained saturated and unsaturated FAs, but on average there were more FAs relative to carbon in the pelagic habitat (44 ± 29 µg mg C−1) than the benthic habitat (23 ± 18 µg mg C−1) across all studied ponds. (2) We quantified the contribution of benthic mats to the whole‐lake FA pool and found that benthic mats dominate (on average > 90%) the basal FA resource within tundra ponds. (3) Using a series of feeding experiments, we found that Daphnia survival and FA concentrations increased when a benthic mat slurry supplemented low concentrations of phytoplankton. However, Daphnia could not survive solely on benthic mats, and nor did benthic mats increase adult Daphnia survival when mats were offered as coherent pieces. The extent to which pelagic consumers could be supported by benthic production challenges the view that benthic habitats are functionally separate from the pelagic food webs within northern lake ecosystems.
Corneal Biomechanical Parameters during Pregnancy
Authors: Sen Emine , Onaran Yüksel , Nalcacioglu-Yuksekkaya Pinar , Elgin Ufuk , Ozturk Faruk 
Published: April 2014

Purpose To evaluate the variation in biomechanical properties and central corneal thickness (CCT) for each trimester during pregnancy and to compare the values with those in nonpregnant women. Methods We prospectively studied the eyes of 32 pregnant and 34 age-matched non-pregnant women. The parameters included corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal-compensated IOP measured by the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA). The CCT was also measured with an ultrasonic pachymeter attached to the ORA. Results The mean age was 27.0 ± 3.8 years in the study group and 28.0 ± 4.1 years in the control group. The mean CH measurement was 10.6 ± 1.4 mmHg in the study group and 10.1 ± 1.3 mmHg in the control group. The mean CRF value was 9.6 ± 1.7 mmHg in the study group and 10.0 ± 1.4 mmHg in the control group. The mean CCT value was 541.1 ± 22.4 μm in the study group and 536.5 ± 27.1 μm in the control group. No statistically significant differences were found regarding CH, CRF, or CCT values between the 2 groups (independent t test, p = 0.160, p = 0.355, p = 0.450, respectively). Conclusions Hormonal changes during pregnancy may not affect corneal biomechanics. This may be due to the balanced effect of the various hormones on the cornea during pregnancy.