bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Informal employment dynamics in Ukraine: An analytical model of informality in transition economies
Authors: COMMANDER Simon , ISACHENKOVA Natalia , RODIONOVA Yulia 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe transition economies of the former Soviet Union have experienced a surge of informal employment since the 1990s. This trend, the authors argue, is driven by the structure of labour compensation inherited from central planning. Their innovative theoretical model centres on worker choices of full‐time and/or part‐time employment across formal, informal and mixed formal‐informal sectors. Factoring in the probability of payroll tax evasion detection and the non‐monetary benefits provided by state‐owned/privatized firms, it suggests that such benefits incentivize workers to combine formal and informal employment. This is confirmed empirically by panel data evidence from the Ukraine Longitudinal Monitoring Surveys.
Evaluating the acceptability and efficacy of a psycho‐educational intervention for coping and symptom management by children with cancer: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Wu Li‐Min , Chiou Shyh‐Shin , Sheen Jiunn‐Ming , Lin Pei‐Chin , Liao Yu Mei , Chen Hsing‐Mei , Hsiao Chih‐Cheng 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of a psycho‐educational intervention designed to improve effective coping and reduce symptom severity in children with cancer.BackgroundCancer treatments increase survival rates and also cause physical and psychological effects on children with cancer. A psycho‐educational intervention is used to assist children and adolescents with these effects and its efficacy has been described in several studies.DesignA randomized controlled trial.MethodsParticipants being treated were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups from September 2011–February 2013 in Taiwan. The intervention group received a psycho‐educational intervention in addition to standard care, while the control group received only standard care. Each participant was assessed using a paediatric cancer coping scale and perceived symptom severity was evaluated at three time points (baseline, 1 month and 3 months). A repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used to estimate the effects of intervention. Qualitative findings were analysed using content analysis.ResultsNo significant difference in coping scores was found between groups, but the experimental group reported significantly lower scores in gastrointestinal problems and pain. Most symptoms decreased significantly over time in both groups, except for gastrointestinal problems. The scores in pain, bone marrow suppression and body image showed significant interaction effects between groups on changes over time. Qualitative results reported that participants evaluated the intervention positively, especially about receipt of psychological support and learnt coping skills.ConclusionsThe psycho‐educational intervention administered was acceptable for children with cancer and was found to reduce gastrointestinal problems and pain.
The Indirect Nature of Social Motives: The Relation of Social Approach and Avoidance Motives with Likeability via Extraversion and Agreeableness
Authors: Nikitin Jana , Freund Alexandra M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe current study tested assumptions derived from the whole‐trait theory (Fleeson, 2012), which proposes a connection between personality and motivation. We hypothesized that individual differences in social approach and avoidance motives are associated with personality as observed by others. In addition, we expected that observed personality links social approach and avoidance motives to interpersonal outcomes. The sample was composed of 83 young adults (25.3% males, Mage = 21.66 years) who had recently moved into a shared apartment. Roommates (N = 83; 50.6% males, Mage = 22.83 years) evaluated the newcomers on Extraversion, Agreeableness, and likeability. Approach motives had an indirect positive effect on likeability through other‐reported Extraversion and Agreeableness. Although avoidance motives had some negative effects on likeability mediated through low Extraversion, they were positively associated with Agreeableness. These results demonstrate the complexity of social approach and avoidance motives. Moreover, they highlight the importance of motivational factors for observed personality.
Changes in perceived health status, physical symptoms, and sleep satisfaction of postpartum women over time
Authors: Song Ju‐Eun , Chae Hyun Ju , Kim Chang Hee 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify the changes of perceived health status, physical symptoms, and sleep satisfaction of postpartum women over time. A longitudinal design was used. Participants were 137 healthy postpartum women who had not been diagnosed with any medical diseases. Data were collected by a self‐report questionnaire at three periods, the second day, 4–6 weeks, and 12–14 weeks postpartum. Women's perceived health status was lower at 4–6 weeks than on the second day after childbirth, physical symptoms were more frequent at 4–6 weeks than on the second day after childbirth, and sleep satisfaction was lower at 4–6 weeks than at 12–14 weeks postpartum. Tiredness or fatigue was the most frequent symptom experienced by postpartum women at all three periods. These results indicate that the period from 4 to 6 weeks postpartum is the most difficult time for mothers. Therefore, there is a need to develop nursing interventions to alleviate fatigue and other symptoms, and to help and support women during the period 4–6 weeks postpartum, a critical period for interventions.
Anesthetic management of bronchial rupture following extraction of a fishbone from the bronchus after 5 months
Authors: Ma Guoping , Yang Jingli , Liu Song 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBronchial rupture occurred during bronchoscopic visualization and extraction of a fishbone from the bronchus in a 2‐year‐old male patient with a 5‐month history of foreign body aspiration. Emergency thoracotomy was scheduled for examination and surgical repair of the bronchus. The pressure of the airway and circuit fell sharply and ventilation could not be maintained after muscle relaxants were injected and spontaneous respiration ceased. Oxygenation worsened rapidly with the peripheral oxygen saturation level decreasing below 60%. An endotracheal tube was inserted into one of the main bronchi. Peripheral oxygen saturation improved from 60% to 90%, and subsequent surgery was performed without complications.
Prophylactic red blood cell exchange for ABO‐mismatched hematopoietic progenitor cell transplants
Authors: Cunard Robyn , Marquez Isagani I. , Ball Edward D. , Nelson Connie L. , Corringham Sue , Clopton Paul , Sanchez Amber P. , Lane Thomas , Ward David M. 
Published: December 2013

BackgroundTo enhance donor availability, almost half of hematopoietic progenitor cell transplants (HPCTs) cross ABO blood type boundaries. ABO‐incompatible HPCTs are well tolerated; however, there is an increased risk of delayed hemolysis in patients with minor and bidirectional ABO mismatches. Delayed hemolysis generally occurs 1 to 2 weeks after HPCT and is related to production of alloantibodies directed against recipient ABO red blood cell (RBC) antigens by passenger donor lymphocytes. One previous study has suggested that prophylactic RBC exchange in patients with minor and bidirectional ABO‐mismatched HPCT reduces the risks of severe immune hemolysis, but this recommendation is controversial.Study Design and MethodsHerein we describe our experience using prophylactic RBC exchange in patients with minor and bidirectional ABO‐mismatched HPCTs who were deemed to be at high risk for immune hemolysis. We compare the group of patients that received prophylactic RBC exchange with a historical cohort of ABO‐mismatched patients who underwent HPCT without prophylactic RBC exchange.ResultsOur study suggests that prophylactic RBC exchange in minor and bidirectional ABO‐mismatched HPCT does not reduce severe immune hemolysis, nor does it improve 1‐year survival, the number of RBC units transfused after transplant, or length of hospitalization after HPCT.ConclusionThis study failed to identify a clear role for selected prophylactic RBC exchange in patients who were deemed at risk for severe post‐HPCT immune hemolysis.
Bi‐directional modulation of somatosensory mismatch negativity with transcranial direct current stimulation: an event related potential study
Authors: Chen Jui‐Cheng , Hämmerer Dorothea , D'Ostilio Kevin , Casula Elias P. , Marshall Louise , Tsai Chon‐Haw , Rothwell John C. , Edwards Mark J. 
Published: December 2013

Key points
Sensory mismatch negativity is impaired in patients with cerebellar lesions, suggesting that the cerebellum may play an important role in this form of sensory processing.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the right cerebellar hemisphere increased the amplitude of sensory mismatch negativity to stimuli delivered to the right hand while cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation reduced it.
The cerebellum appears to be an important node in the network mediating sensory mismatch negativity, and tDCS is a useful method with which to manipulate sensory mismatch negativity for experimental studies.
AbstractAppropriate orientation towards potentially salient novel environmental stimuli requires a system capable of detecting change in the sensorium. Mismatch negativity (MMN), an evoked potential calculated by subtracting the response to a standard repeated stimulus and a rare ‘oddball’ stimulus, is proposed as such a change detection mechanism. It is most widely studied in the auditory domain, but here we chose to explore the mechanism of somatosensory MMN, and specifically its dependence on the cerebellum. We recorded event‐related potentials (ERPs) evoked in response to auditory and sensory stimuli from 10 healthy subjects before and after anodal, cathodal and sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the right cerebellar hemisphere. There was a significant increase in peak amplitude of somatosensory MMN after anodal tDCS (F(1,9) = 8.98, P < 0.02, mean difference anodal pre–post: −1.02 μV) and a significant reduction in peak amplitude of somatosensory MMN after cathodal tDCS (F(1,9) = 7.15, P < 0.03, mean difference cathodal pre–post: 0.65 μV). The amplitude of auditory MMN was unchanged by tDCS. These results reveal the capability of tDCS to cause bidirectional modulation of somatosensory MMN and the dependence of somatosensory MMN on the cerebellum.
Inhibition of cardiac pacemaker channel hHCN2 depends on intercalation of lipopolysaccharide into channel‐containing membrane microdomains
Authors: Klöckner Udo , Rueckschloss Uwe , Grossmann Claudia , Matzat Saskia , Schumann Katja , Ebelt Henning , Müller‐Werdan Ursula , Loppnow Harald , Werdan Karl , Gekle Michael 
Published: December 2013

Key points
The regulation of cardiac function is seriously impaired in severe inflammatory diseases. One characteristic of this dysfunction is a strong reduction in heart rate variability (HRV) so that the cardiac cycle is more regular. This phenomenon is strongly correlated with an unfavourable prognosis in patients with systemic inflammation.
Although the depression in HRV can be partially explained by the interplay between cardiac pacemaker channels and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) liberated from the outer walls of Gram‐negative bacteria, the underlying mechanism is still elusive.
Using HEK293 cells stably expressing a cardiac pacemaker channel, we demonstrate that only intact LPS molecules can intercalate into target cell membranes and then directly interact with extracellular parts of pacemaker channels. Intracellular signalling cascades do not contribute to LPS‐dependent channel modulation.
The present results help to elucidate how LPS interacts with pacemaker channels to attenuate the regularity of the cardiac cycle.
AbstractDepressed heart rate variability in severe inflammatory diseases can be partially explained by the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐dependent modulation of cardiac pacemaker channels. Recently, we showed that LPS inhibits pacemaker current in sinoatrial node cells and in HEK293 cells expressing cloned pacemaker channels, respectively. The present study was designed to verify whether this inhibition involves LPS‐dependent intracellular signalling and to identify structures of LPS responsible for pacemaker current modulation. We examined the effect of LPS on the activity of human hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel 2 (hHCN2) stably expressed in HEK293 cells. In whole‐cell recordings, bath application of LPS decreased pacemaker current (IhHCN2) amplitude. The same protocol had no effect on channel activity in cell‐attached patch recordings, in which channels are protected from the LPS‐containing bath solution. This demonstrates that LPS must interact directly with or close to the channel protein. After cleavage of LPS into lipid A and the polysaccharide chain, neither of them alone impaired IhHCN2, which suggests that modulation of channel activity critically depends on the integrity of the entire LPS molecule. We furthermore showed that β‐cyclodextrin interfered with LPS‐dependent channel modulation predominantly via scavenging of lipid A, thereby abrogating the capability of LPS to intercalate into target cell membranes. We conclude that LPS impairs IhHCN2 by a local mechanism that is restricted to the vicinity of the channels. Furthermore, intercalation of lipid A into target cell membranes is a prerequisite for the inhibition that is suggested to depend on the direct interaction of the LPS polysaccharide chain with cardiac pacemaker channels.
In Vitro
Synergistic Effect of Amphotericin B and Allicin on Leishmania donovani and L. infantum
Authors: Corral M. J. , González-Sánchez E. , Cuquerella M. , Alunda J. M. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

Current monotherapy against visceral leishmaniasis has serious side effects, and resistant
Leishmania
strains have been identified. Amphotericin B (AmB) has shown an extraordinary antileishmanial efficacy without emergence of resistance; however, toxicity has limited its general use. Results obtained showed, using a fixed-ratio analysis, that the combination of diallyl thiosulfinate (allicin) and AmB ranged from moderately synergic to synergic at low concentrations (0.07 μM AmB plus 35.45 μM allicin induced 95% growth inhibition). None of the treatments, alone or in combination, had noticeable adverse effects on macrophages (Mϕ) in the concentration range examined (allicin, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 μM; AmB, 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1 μM). Allicin, AmB, or the combination did not affect the infection rate (percentage of infected Mϕ) of
Leishmania
. Allicin enhanced the activity of AmB on intracellular amastigotes of
Leishmania donovani
and
L. infantum
(ca. 45% reduction of amastigote burden with 0.05 μM AmB plus 10 μM allicin); this represented nearly a 2-fold reduction in the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) of the antibiotic added alone. Results point toward the possible utility of testing this combination
in vivo
to reduce the toxicity associated with monotherapy with AmB.
Multiple Classes of Antiviral Agents Exhibit
In Vitro
Activity against Human Rhinovirus Type C
Authors: Mello Chris , Aguayo Esmeralda , Rodriguez Madeleine , Lee Gary , Jordan Robert , Cihlar Tomas , Birkus Gabriel 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

Human rhinovirus type C (HRV-C) is a newly discovered enterovirus species frequently associated with exacerbation of asthma and other acute respiratory conditions. Until recently, HRV-C could not be propagated
in vitro
, hampering in-depth characterization of the virus replication cycle and preventing efficient testing of antiviral agents. Herein we describe several subgenomic RNA replicon systems and a cell culture infectious model for HRV-C that can be used for antiviral screening. The replicon constructs consist of genome sequences from HRVc15, HRVc11, HRVc24, and HRVc25 strains, with the P1 capsid region replaced by a
Renilla
luciferase coding sequence. Following transfection of the replicon RNA into HeLa cells, the constructs produced time-dependent increases in luciferase signal that can be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by known inhibitors of HRV replication, including the 3C protease inhibitor rupintrivir, the nucleoside analog inhibitor MK-0608, and the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ (PI4K-IIIβ) kinase inhibitor PIK93. Furthermore, with the exception of pleconaril and pirodavir, the other tested classes of HRV inhibitors blocked the replication of full-length HRVc15 and HRVc11 in human airway epithelial cells (HAEs) that were differentiated in the air-liquid interface, exhibiting antiviral activities similar to those observed with HRV-16. In summary, this study is the first comprehensive profiling of multiple classes of antivirals against HRV-C, and the set of newly developed quantitative HRV-C antiviral assays represent indispensable tools for the identification and evaluation of novel panserotype HRV inhibitors.
Binding Pocket Alterations in Dihydrofolate Synthase Confer Resistance to
para
-Aminosalicylic Acid in Clinical Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Zhao Fei , Wang Xu-De , Erber Luke N. , Luo Ming , Guo Ai-zhen , Yang Shan-shan , Gu Jing , Turman Breanna J. , Gao Yun-rong , Li Dong-fang , Cui Zong-qiang , Zhang Zhi-ping , Bi Li-jun , Baughn Anthony D. , Zhang Xian-En , Deng Jiao-Yu 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

The mechanistic basis for the resistance of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
to
para
-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), an important agent in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, has yet to be fully defined. As a substrate analog of the folate precursor
para
-aminobenzoic acid, PAS is ultimately bioactivated to hydroxy dihydrofolate, which inhibits dihydrofolate reductase and disrupts the operation of folate-dependent metabolic pathways. As a result, the mutation of dihydrofolate synthase, an enzyme needed for the bioactivation of PAS, causes PAS resistance in
M. tuberculosis
strain H37Rv. Here, we demonstrate that various missense mutations within the coding sequence of the dihydropteroate (H
2
Pte) binding pocket of dihydrofolate synthase (FolC) confer PAS resistance in laboratory isolates of
M. tuberculosis
and
Mycobacterium bovis
. From a panel of 85 multidrug-resistant
M. tuberculosis
clinical isolates, 5 were found to harbor mutations in the
folC
gene within the H
2
Pte binding pocket, resulting in PAS resistance. While these alterations in the H
2
Pte binding pocket resulted in reduced dihydrofolate synthase activity, they also abolished the bioactivation of hydroxy dihydropteroate to hydroxy dihydrofolate. Consistent with this model for abolished bioactivation, the introduction of a wild-type copy of
folC
fully restored PAS susceptibility in
folC
mutant strains. Confirmation of this novel PAS resistance mechanism will be beneficial for the development of molecular method-based diagnostics for
M. tuberculosis
clinical isolates and for further defining the mode of action of this important tuberculosis drug.
A Conformational Restriction in the Influenza A Virus Neuraminidase Binding Site by R152 Results in a Combinational Effect of I222T and H274Y on Oseltamivir Resistance
Authors: Huang Lan , Cao Yang , Zhou Jianfang , Qin Kun , Zhu Wenfei , Zhu Yun , Yang Lei , Wang Dayan , Wei Hong , Shu Yuelong 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT
The I222K, I222R, and I222T substitutions in neuraminidase (NA) have been found in clinically derived 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 viruses with altered susceptibilities to NA inhibitors (NAIs). The effects of these substitutions, together with the most frequently observed resistance-related substitution, H274Y, on viral fitness and resistance mechanisms were further investigated in this study. Reduced sensitivities to oseltamivir were observed in all three mutants (I222K, I222R, and I222T). Furthermore, the I222K and I222T substitutions had a combinational effect of further increasing resistance in the presence of H274Y, which might result from a conformational restriction in the NA binding site. Of note, by using molecular dynamics simulations, R152, the neighbor of T222, was observed to translate to a position closer to T222, resulting in the narrowing of the binding pocket, which otherwise only subtends the residue substitution of H274Y. Moreover, significantly attenuated NA function and viral growth abilities were found in the I222K+H274Y double mutant, while the I222T+H274Y double mutant exhibited slightly delayed growth but had a peak viral titer similar to that of the wild-type virus in MDCK cells. The relative growth advantage of the I222T mutant versus the I222K mutant and the higher frequency of I222T emerging in N1 subtype influenza viruses raise concerns necessitating close monitoring of the dual substitutions I222T and H274Y.
A Structural Biology Approach Enables the Development of Antimicrobials Targeting Bacterial Immunophilins
Authors: Begley Darren W. , Fox David , Jenner Dominic , Juli Christina , Pierce Phillip G. , Abendroth Jan , Muruthi Muigai , Safford Kris , Anderson Vanessa , Atkins Kateri , Barnes Steve R. , Moen Spencer O. , Raymond Amy C. , Stacy Robin , Myler Peter J. , Staker Bart L. , Harmer Nicholas J. , Norville Isobel H. , Holzgrabe Ulrike , Sarkar-Tyson Mitali , Edwards Thomas E. , Lorimer Donald D. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

Macrophage infectivity potentiators (Mips) are immunophilin proteins and essential virulence factors for a range of pathogenic organisms. We applied a structural biology approach to characterize a Mip from
Burkholderia pseudomallei
(BpML1), the causative agent of melioidosis. Crystal structure and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of BpML1 in complex with known macrocyclics and other derivatives led to the identification of a key chemical scaffold. This scaffold possesses inhibitory potency for BpML1 without the immunosuppressive components of related macrocyclic agents. Biophysical characterization of a compound series with this scaffold allowed binding site specificity in solution and potency determinations for rank ordering the set. The best compounds in this series possessed a low-micromolar affinity for BpML1, bound at the site of enzymatic activity, and inhibited a panel of homologous Mip proteins from other pathogenic bacteria, without demonstrating toxicity in human macrophages. Importantly, the
in vitro
activity of BpML1 was reduced by these compounds, leading to decreased macrophage infectivity and intracellular growth of
Burkholderia pseudomallei
. These compounds offer the potential for activity against a new class of antimicrobial targets and present the utility of a structure-based approach for novel antimicrobial drug discovery.