bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human kallistatin administration reduces organ injury and improves survival in a mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis
Authors: Li Pengfei , Bledsoe Grant , Yang Zhi‐Rong , Fan Hongkuan , Chao Lee , Chao Julie 
Published: January 2014

SummaryKallistatin, a plasma protein, has been shown to exert multi‐factorial functions including inhibition of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis in animal models and cultured cells. Kallistatin levels are reduced in patients with sepsis and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced septic mice. Moreover, transgenic mice expressing kallistatin are more resistant to LPS‐induced mortality. Here, we investigated the effects of human kallistatin on organ injury and survival in a mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis. In this study, mice were injected intravenously with recombinant kallistatin (KS3, 3 mg/kg; or KS10, 10 mg/kg body weight) and then rendered septic by caecal ligation and puncture 30 min later. Kallistatin administration resulted in a > 10‐fold reduction of peritoneal bacterial counts, and significantly decreased serum tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6 and high mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1) levels. Kallistatin also inhibited HMGB1 and toll‐like receptor‐4 gene expression in the lung and kidney. Administration of kallistatin attenuated renal damage and decreased blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels, but increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide levels in the kidney. In cultured endothelial cells, human kallistatin via its heparin‐binding site inhibited HMGB1‐induced nuclear factor‐κB activation and inflammatory gene expression. Moreover, kallistatin significantly reduced apoptosis and caspase‐3 activity in the spleen. Furthermore, kallistatin treatment markedly improved the survival of septic mice by 23% (KS3) and 41% (KS10). These results indicate that kallistatin is a unique protecting agent in sepsis‐induced organ damage and mortality by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, as well as enhancing bacterial clearance in a mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis.
Epidemiology of human adenovirus and molecular characterization of human adenovirus 55 in China, 2009–2012
Authors: Lu Qing‐Bin , Tong Yi‐Gang , Wo Ying , Wang Hong‐Yu , Liu En‐Mei , Gray Gregory C. , Liu Wei , Cao Wu‐Chun 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundHuman adenovirus 55 (HAdV‐55) has caused recent outbreaks of acute respiratory disease (ARD) among adults and military trainees. The active surveillance for HAdV infections was sparse in China, and current knowledge on the HAdV‐type distributions and its molecular evolution is lacking.ObjectivesTo acquire better understanding on the prevalence and molecular evolution of HAdV‐55 strains in China, for an informed strategy for disease control and prevention.Population/MethodsNasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from hospitalized children with ARTI in Chongqing during 2009–2012. The genotype of HAdV isolates were determined by sequencing the partial hexon and fiber genes. Whole genome sequences of HAdV‐55 were obtained for molecular evolution analysis.ResultsAbout 191 (8·55%) HAdV were detected in 2234 children, including 92 (48·2%) with HAdV‐7, 72 (37·7%) with HAdV‐3, 6 (3·1%) with HAdV‐55, 5 (2·6%) with HAdV‐5, 4 (2·1%) with HAdV‐1, 1 (0·5%) with HAdV‐2, and 11(5·8%) with untyped HAdV. Four of these children developed pneumonia, two of whom were diagnosed with severe pneumonia and/or encephalopathy. HAdV‐55 isolates clustered with HAdV‐11 sequences based on the hexon gene and clustered with HAdV‐14 sequences based on the fiber gene and the whole genome. The overall evolutionary rates of hexon gene, fiber gene, and whole genome of HAdV‐55 were estimated at 6·2 × 10−5 s/s/y, 8·0 × 10−5 s/s/y, and 1·7 × 10−5 s/s/y, respectively.ConclusionsThis study suggested HAdV‐55 as an emerging infectious disease pathogen has conserved genetic structure and is closely related to each other. Further molecular investigation based on HAdV‐55 of wider origin might facilitate understanding its diversity, dissemination, and transmission in China.
Multicriteria decision making under uncertainty: a visual approach
Authors: Eiselt H.A. , Marianov Vladimir 
Published: January 2014

AbstractDecision problems at the strategic level tend to have multiple criteria and outcomes that are uncertain. Many of the current decision‐making tools are too simplistic to incorporate the important features. This paper considers a multicriteria decision‐making scenario in which the outcomes of the decisions, evaluated on different criteria, are uncertain. The main contribution of this paper is the presentation of a tool that enables decision makers to visualize the expected payoff and likelihood that the payoff of a decision does not fall short of a preset target value. Furthermore, it presents decision makers with a tool that shows the tradeoff between expected payoff and downside risk. A variety of solution techniques are suggested that build upon this visualization.
Confronting Uncertainty in Life Cycle Assessment Used for Decision Support
Authors: Herrmann Ivan T. , Hauschild Michael Z. , Sohn Michael D. , McKone Thomas E. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryThe aim of this article is to help confront uncertainty in life cycle assessments (LCAs) used for decision support. LCAs offer a quantitative approach to assess environmental effects of products, technologies, and services and are conducted by an LCA practitioner or analyst (AN) to support the decision maker (DM) in making the best possible choice for the environment. At present, some DMs do not trust the LCA to be a reliable decision‐support tool—often because DMs consider the uncertainty of an LCA to be too large. The standard evaluation of uncertainty in LCAs is an ex‐post approach that can be described as a variance simulation based on individual data points used in an LCA.This article develops and proposes a taxonomy for LCAs based on extensive research in the LCA, management, and economic literature. This taxonomy can be used ex ante to support planning and communication between an AN and DM regarding which type of LCA study to employ for the decision context at hand. This taxonomy enables the derivation of an LCA classification matrix to clearly identify and communicate the type of a given LCA. By relating the LCA classification matrix to statistical principles, we can also rank the different types of LCA on an expected inherent uncertainty scale that can be used to confront and address potential uncertainty. However, this article does not attempt to offer a quantitative approach for assessing uncertainty in LCAs used for decision support.
The stories of ‘snake children’: killing and abuse of children with developmental disabilities in West Africa
Authors: Bayat Mojdeh 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundKilling and abuse of children with disabilities are covert phenomena, occurring in some developing regions, such as in some African countries. Similar to the practice of ritual killing of spirit children in Ghana, the phenomenon of the snake child in Cote d'Ivoire (known as Ivory Coast), is the ritual abandonment or killing of children with intellectual disability (ID).MethodThis study is a qualitative ethnographic investigation into understanding this phenomenon. Three major questions were of interest: (1) Who are the snake children? (2) How are these children viewed and treated? (3) What are ways of changing negative attitudes towards children with developmental disabilities?ResultsThe practices of killing, abandonment and abuse of children with disabilities take place in Cote d'Ivoire today, although the extent is not known.ConclusionKilling and abuse of children with ID are explained within the context of indigenous African religions, animism and folk culture. The concept of disability ‘otherness’ and inferiority is also explored as a framework for reflection and ethical debate.
Predominant role of plasma membrane monoamine transporters in monoamine transport in 1321N1, a human astrocytoma‐derived cell line
Authors: Naganuma Fumito , Yoshikawa Takeo , Nakamura Tadaho , Iida Tomomitsu , Harada Ryuichi , Mohsen Attayeb S. , Miura Yamato , Yanai Kazuhiko 
Published: January 2014

AbstractMonoamine neurotransmitters should be immediately removed from the synaptic cleft to avoid excessive neuronal activity. Recent studies have shown that astrocytes and neurons are involved in monoamine removal. However, the mechanism of monoamine transport by astrocytes is not entirely clear. We aimed to elucidate the transporters responsible for monoamine transport in 1321N1, a human astrocytoma‐derived cell line. First, we confirmed that 1321N1 cells transported dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Kinetics analysis suggested the involvement of low‐affinity monoamine transporters, such as organic cation transporter (OCT) 2 and 3 and plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT). Monoamine transport in 1321N1 cells was not Na+/Cl− dependent but was inhibited by decynium‐22, an inhibitor of low‐affinity monoamine transporters, which supported the importance of low‐affinity transporters. RT‐PCR assays revealed that 1321N1 cells expressed OCT3 and PMAT but no other neurotransmitter transporters. Another human astrocytoma‐derived cell line, U251MG, and primary human astrocytes also exhibited the same gene expression pattern. Gene‐knockdown assays revealed that 1321N1 and primary human astrocytes could transport monoamines predominantly through PMAT and partly through OCT3. These results might indicate that PMAT and OCT3 in human astrocytes are involved in monoamine clearance.
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Monoamine neurotransmitters should be immediately removed from the synaptic cleft to avoid excessive neuronal activity. Recent studies have shown that astrocytes and neurons are involved in monoamine removal. We aimed to elucidate the transporters responsible for monoamine transport by astrocytes in 1321N1, a human astrocytoma‐derived cell line. Kinetics analysis suggested the involvement of low‐affinity monoamine transporters, e.g., organic cation transporter (OCT) 2 and 3 and plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT). Our results indicate that PMAT and OCT3 in human astrocytes are involved in monoamine clearance.
Directionality of the associations between psychological empowerment and behavioural involvement: A longitudinal autoregressive cross‐lagged analysis
Authors: Boudrias Jean‐Sébastien , Morin Alexandre J. S. , Lajoie Denis 
Published: January 2014

Many cross‐sectional studies have suggested that psychological empowerment (PE) – a higher‐order motivational construct – is related to employees' in‐role and extra‐role behavioural involvement (BI). The objective of this study was to assess the directionality of the longitudinal relationships between PE and employees' BI. Based on theories, three alternative causal directions are examined: two unidirectional models (PE → BI, BI → PE) and one reciprocal model including effects in both directions. A total of 818 health care workers completed self‐report questionnaires at three time points, equally spaced by a 1‐year lag. The results from autoregressive cross‐lagged fully latent structural equation models showed that on the construct level, PE significantly predicts subsequent BI, while the reverse causality was not supported. However, the exploration of relationships at the dimension level of PE suggests the existence of reverse and reciprocal relationship between some PE and BI dimensions. Consistent with previous longitudinal studies, levels of PE especially, but also BI, appeared to be very stable over time. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.Practitioner points

Psychological empowerment – as a global motivational state where all dimensions are present (meaning, competence, self‐determination, and impact) – appears to be a useful lever for lasting and pervasive effects on behavioural involvement. Organizational interventions could therefore prioritize the development of these critical cognitions to empower employees to subsequently perform in‐role and extra‐role behaviours.

Encouraging behavioural involvement at the organizational level (e.g., asking an individual to participate and voice on organization issues) could alternatively be the best strategy to increase subsequent level of three PE cognitions (e.g., competence, self‐determination, and impact).

The stability of the psychological empowerment and behavioural involvement constructs could indicate the importance of appropriate selection and work environment sustaining employees' empowerment.
A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF NUTRITIONAL AND INFLAMMATORY STATUS IN PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS
Authors: Markaki Anastasia , Gkouskou Kalliopi , Ganotakis Emmanouel , Margioris Andrew , Daphnis Eugene 
Published: January 2014

SUMMARYObjectiveSeveral anthropometric, laboratory and bioelectrical impedance parameters of nutritional status and inflammation are often used as prognostic indices in patients on dialysis. Their longitudinal assessment is necessary for the estimation of their true prognostic value. We aim to estimate this prognostic value in better‐nourished dialysis patients, which are commonly under‐represented in pertinent studies.MethodsThe design is a prospective case series. Pertinent parameters were studied three times during a 20‐month period in 47 haemodialysis (HD) and 27 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with a low malnutrition‐inflammation score (MIS). Mortality rate was assessed three years after the initial evaluation. Correlation coefficients were calculated between mortality rate, the studied parameters and their alteration.ResultsSerum albumin of less than 40 g/l was strongly correlated with mortality risk. The alteration of studied parameters during a short period of time does not allow for long‐term prediction of mortality risk.ConclusionSerum albumin had the strongest predictive value of all the pertinent parameters in the study. Thus, better conjugate clinical and laboratory measurements should be developed for patients on PD, as well as for those with a relatively low MIS.
Examining the Relationship Between Uterine Fibroids and Dyspareunia Among Premenopausal Women in the United States
Authors: Moshesh Malana , Olshan Andrew F. , Saldana Tina , Baird Donna 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Introduction
Despite estimates of a high prevalence of deep dyspareunia (DD) among women in the United States, risk factors for this important area of sexual dysfunction have been largely understudied.

Aims
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between uterine fibroids and the prevalence of DD.

Methods
We used data from the Uterine Fibroid Study (enrollment 1996–1999 in a U.S. metropolitan area). Participating women were ages 35–49 and were randomly selected from the membership rolls of a prepaid health plan. Women were asked to provide detailed health information including a symptom questionnaire with questions about DD and to have a study ultrasound to screen for fibroids ≥0.5 cm in diameter. The analysis included 827 women, after restriction to participants who were premenopausal with an intact uterus, sexually active, completed the symptom questionnaire, and had fibroid status adequately assessed. Logistic regression was conducted to estimate the adjusted prevalence odds ratio (aPOR) for the association of DD with presence of fibroids after adjusting for age, ethnicity, education, depression, physical activity, parity, and pelvic pathology.

Main Outcome Measure
Our main outcome measures were the presence and severity of DD.

Results
The presence of fibroids was significantly associated with DD (aPOR = 1.7 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1, 2.5). The aPOR was stronger for severe DD, DD that interfered with normal activity “some” or “a lot” (aPOR = 3.1 95% CI 1.2, 8.2). However, there was not a significant dose response relationship between fibroid burden (measured by uterine volume) and DD. Fundal fibroids were more strongly associated with DD than other fibroids. Additional factors associated with significantly elevated odds of DD were parity, depression, younger age, and pelvic pathology.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that fibroids are associated with DD. The association may not be causal but may reflect shared etiology and/or pathologic pathways.
Disrupted rapid eye movement sleep predicts poor declarative memory performance in post‐traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Lipinska Malgorzata , Timol Ridwana , Kaminer Debra , Thomas Kevin G. F. 
Published: January 2014

SummarySuccessful memory consolidation during sleep depends on healthy slow‐wave and rapid eye movement sleep, and on successful transition across sleep stages. In post‐traumatic stress disorder, sleep is disrupted and memory is impaired, but relations between these two variables in the psychiatric condition remain unexplored. We examined whether disrupted sleep, and consequent disrupted memory consolidation, is a mechanism underlying declarative memory deficits in post‐traumatic stress disorder. We recruited three matched groups of participants: post‐traumatic stress disorder (n = 16); trauma‐exposed non‐post‐traumatic stress disorder (n = 15); and healthy control (n = 14). They completed memory tasks before and after 8 h of sleep. We measured sleep variables using sleep‐adapted electroencephalography. Post‐traumatic stress disorder‐diagnosed participants experienced significantly less sleep efficiency and rapid eye movement sleep percentage, and experienced more awakenings and wake percentage in the second half of the night than did participants in the other two groups. After sleep, post‐traumatic stress disorder‐diagnosed participants retained significantly less information on a declarative memory task than controls. Rapid eye movement percentage, wake percentage and sleep efficiency correlated with retention of information over the night. Furthermore, lower rapid eye movement percentage predicted poorer retention in post‐traumatic stress disorder‐diagnosed individuals. Our results suggest that declarative memory consolidation is disrupted during sleep in post‐traumatic stress disorder. These data are consistent with theories suggesting that sleep benefits memory consolidation via predictable neurobiological mechanisms, and that rapid eye movement disruption is more than a symptom of post‐traumatic stress disorder.
Vegetation change and eco‐evolutionary dynamics
Authors: Eriksson Ove 
Published: January 2014

AbstractQuestionEco‐evolutionary dynamics is a concept encapsulating a feedback between ecology and evolution, acting on short ecological time‐scales. Recent studies suggest that such dynamics have been generally over‐looked. The objective of this paper is to examine how eco‐evolutionary dynamics may contribute to vegetation science.LocationGlobal.MethodsIn this paper I discuss eco‐evolutionary dynamics in the context of vegetation science, with a focus on effects derived from human‐mediated niche construction, manifested as new habitats, non‐native species, and changing connectivity and spatial configuration of habitats.Results and ConclusionsI suggest that eco‐evolutionary dynamics have the potential to influence plant community composition and assembly, and thus that eco‐evolutionary dynamics should become focus of studies in vegetation science.
Algal epibiosis on Megabalanus tintinnabulum and its role in segregation of the Balanus amphitrite population
Authors: Eswaran Ranjith , Khandeparker Lidita 
Published: January 2014

AbstractUlva sp. and Gracilaria sp. were found colonizing shell surfaces of an acorn barnacle, Megabalanus tintinnabulum. However, this association was not noticed in the case of Balanus amphitrite, which was a co‐inhabitant. Such a difference in intergeneric interactions with the algae was examined in laboratory experiments. For this, the influence that extracts of algae, extracts of algae‐associated bacteria and natural leachants from M. tintinnabulum exerted on cyprid metamorphosis of B. amphitrite was examined. Extracts of algae and associated bacteria showed no effect on the metamorphosis of B. amphitrite. This may be attributed to absence of cue‐specific sugars in the exopolysaccharides and culture supernatants of bacteria. On the other hand, natural leachants of M. tintinnabulum, which showed the presence of N‐acetyl‐d‐glucosamine, a known algal spore attractant, also inhibited metamorphosis of B. amphitrite. Thus, hosting specific epibionts could have important roles in the segregation of barnacle population.
Macrobenthic composition of the southeast continental shelf of India
Authors: Manokaran Seerangan , Khan Syed Ajmal , Lyla Parameswari S. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractMacrobenthic faunal composition was studied at six different depth ranges (30–50, 51–75, 76–100, 101–150, 151–175 and >176 m) in five transects (off Karaikkal, Parangipettai, Cuddalore‐SIPCOT, Cheyyur and Chennai) in the continental shelf of southeast coast of India. Eleven diverse taxa were found, comprising 113 species of polychaetes, 14 species of bivalves, 10 species of amphipods and ‘others’ (five tanaids, five crabs, four isopods, three echinoderms, two shrimps, two cnidarians, two fishes and one cephalochordate). Polychaetes were the dominant taxa, constituting 88.5% of the total abundance and 30.7% of the total biomass. The number of species (seven per 0.2 m2 at >176 m depth range in Chennai to 46 per 0.2 m2 at 30–50 m in Cheyyur), abundance (216 per 0.2 m2 at >176 m in Karaikkal to 353 per 0.2 m2 at 30–50 m in Cheyyur) and biomass (0.09 g per 0.2 m2 at 151–175 m in Karaikkal and 4.6 g per 0.2 m2 at 30–50 m in Cheyyur) of macrobenthos decreased with increase in depth. DO decreased gradually from 30 m depth; beyond 150 m, the decrease was pronounced due to the presence of the oxygen minimum zone. Using the distance based linear model (DISTLM), it was found that the environmental variables explained about 73.3% of the total variability in macrofaunal distribution. The heavy metals cobalt and mercury, as well as water pressure (proxy for depth), showed a significant relationship with macrofauna, explaining respectively 9, 7.3 and 7% of the total variability. The contribution of other variables was smaller.