bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association Between Body Size and Composition and Erectile Dysfunction in Older Men: Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study
Authors: Garimella Pranav S. , Paudel Misti L. , Ensrud Kristine E. , Marshall Lynn M. , Taylor Brent C. , Fink Howard A. 
Published: January 2013

ObjectivesTo examine the association between body size and composition and erectile dysfunction (ED) in older men.DesignCross‐sectional analysis of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study.SettingSix U.S. clinical sites.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling men aged 65 and older.MeasurementsBody composition measures using anthropometry (body weight, body mass index (BMI)) and dual X‐ray absorptiometry (total body fat percentage, trunk fat percentage, ratio of trunk and total body fat). ED was assessed using the single‐item Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) scale and the five‐item International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF‐5).ResultsIn men completing the MMAS scale (n = 4,108), prevalence of complete ED was 42%. In sexually active men completing the IIEF‐5 questionnaire (n = 1,659), prevalence of moderate to severe ED was 56%. In multivariate‐adjusted analyses reporting prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), the prevalence of MMAS‐defined complete ED was significantly greater in men in the highest quartile of body weight (PR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.16–1.34), total body fat percentage (PR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.13–1.40), and trunk fat percentage (PR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.15–1.38), and was greater in men with a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 than in those with BMI of 22.0 to 24.9 kg/m2 (PR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.05–1.31). Associations appeared similar for IIEF‐5–defined moderate to severe ED in analyses adjusted for age and study site.ConclusionIn a cohort of older men, high body weight, BMI, and total body fat percentage were independently associated with greater prevalence of moderate to severe and complete ED. Future studies should investigate whether interventions to promote weight loss and fat loss will improve erectile function in older men.
Tuning the mechanical properties of self‐assembled mixed‐peptide tubes
Authors: SEDMAN V.L. , CHEN X. , ALLEN S. , ROBERTS C.J. , KOROLKOV V.V. , TENDLER S.J.B. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryIn this study, nano‐ and microscale fibrillar and tubular structures formed by mixing two aromatic peptides known to self‐assemble separately, (diphenylalanine and di‐D‐2‐napthylalanine) have been investigated. The morphology, mechanical strength and thermal stability of the tubular structures formed have been studied. The tubes are shown to consist of both peptides with some degree of nanoscale phase separation. The ability of the mixed peptides to form structures, which display variable mechanical properties dependent on the percentage composition of the peptides is presented. Such materials with tuneable properties will be required for a range of applications in nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Preclinical drug evaluation system in the Plasmodium knowlesi baboon model of malaria: the methotrexate study
Authors: Ichagichu M. , Ngotho M. , Karanja S.M. , Kokwaro G. , Kariuki T. , Nzila A. , Ozwara H. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundDrug resistance against first‐line antimalarials warrants search for new lead compounds and repurposing of drugs such as methotrexate. Animal models are required for preclinical drug development before clinical testing. This study aimed to develop a preclinical drug development system in baboons infected with Plasmodium knowlesi.MethodsProtocols for drug administration, pharmacokinetics, clinical chemistry and haematology were developed in the baboon model. Baboons were infected with P. knowlesi and methotrexate administered orally for 5 days. Clinical signs, parasitaemia, gross and histopathology examinations were conducted to determine effect of methotrexate in baboons.ResultsNo major clinical chemistry, haematology and pathological changes attributable to methotrexate were observed. Parasitaemia suppression of 77.67% was achieved at a methotrexate dose of 3.0 mg/kg.ConclusionsA protocol for preclinical drug development in the baboon was optimized. Methotrexate suppressed P. knowlesi malaria in baboons. These findings warrant further characterization of methotrexate for use in combination therapy.
Kant and Kantian Themes in Recent Analytic Philosophy
Authors: Howell Robert 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThis article notes six advances in recent analytic Kant research: (1) Strawson's interpretation, which, together with work by Bennett, Sellars, and others, brought renewed attention to Kant through its account of space, time, objects, and the Transcendental Deduction and its sharp criticisms of Kant on causality and idealism; (2) the subsequent investigations of Kantian topics ranging from cognitive science and philosophy of science to mathematics; (3) the detailed work, by a number of scholars, on the Transcendental Deduction; (4) the clearer understanding of transcendental idealism sparked by reactions to Allison's epistemic account; (5) the resulting need—prompted also by new studies of the thing in itself—to face up to the old question of the philosophical defensibility of such idealism; and (6) the active engagement with Kant's ethics and political philosophy that derives from Rawls's and others' work.
Kant's Neoplatonism: Kant and Plato on Mathematical and Philosophical Method
Authors: Rescher Nicholas 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBoth Plato and Kant devote much attention and care to deliberating about their method of philosophizing. And, interestingly, both seek to expand and explain their view of philosophical method by one selfsame strategy: explaining the contrast between rational procedure in mathematics and in philosophy. Plato and Kant agree on a fundamental point of philosophical method that is at odds with the mathematico‐demonstrative methodology of philosophy found in Spinoza and present in Christian Wolff. Both reject the axiomatic approach with its insistence on fundamental truths postulated from the outset. Both alike insist that philosophizing—unlike mathematics—is an exercise in theorizing where the questions of basicness and foundations come into view only after the inquiry has gone on for a long, long time—and certainly not at its start.
Meno and the Monist
Authors: Ahlstrom‐Vij Kristoffer 
Published: January 2013

AbstractRecent critiques of veritistic value monism, or the idea that true belief is unique in being of fundamental epistemic value, typically invoke a claim about the surplus value of knowledge over mere true belief, in turn traced back to Plato's Meno. However, to the extent Plato at all defends a surplus claim in the Meno, it differs from that figuring in contemporary discussions with respect to both its scope and the kind of value at issue, and is under closer scrutiny fully compatible with veritistic value monism. Consequently, contrary to what seems to be supposed in the literature, the critics of monism have little to gain from turning to the Meno for support.
Diversity in Mechanisms of Endothelium‐Dependent Vasodilation in Health and Disease
Authors: Durand Matthew J. , Gutterman David D. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractSmall arterioles (40–150 μm) contribute to the majority of vascular resistance within organs and tissues. Under resting conditions, the basal tone of these vessels is determined by a delicate balance between vasodilator and vasoconstrictor influences. Cardiovascular homeostasis and regional tissue perfusion is largely a function of the ability of these small blood vessels to constrict or dilate in response to the changing metabolic demands of specific tissues. The endothelial cell layer of these microvessels is a key modulator of vasodilation through the synthesis and release of vasoactive substances. Beyond their vasomotor properties, these compounds importantly modulate vascular cell proliferation, inflammation, and thrombosis. Thus, the balance between local regulation of vascular tone and vascular pathophysiology can vary depending upon which factors are released from the endothelium. This review will focus on the dynamic nature of the endothelial released dilator factors depending on species, anatomic site, and presence of disease, with a focus on the human coronary microcirculation. Knowledge how endothelial signaling changes with disease may provide insights into the early stages of developing vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, or related vascular pathologies.
Pitfall scarring alopecia: Favus closely mimicking lichen planus
Authors: Poppe Heiko , Kolb‐Mäurer Annette , Wobser Marion , Trautmann Axel 
Published: January 2013

SummaryWe describe a woman presenting primarily with slowly progressing scarring alopecia. Course, symptoms, and clinical picture were highly suggestive for lichen planus. But mycological investigations revealed that cicatricial alopecia was caused by a specific infection with Trichophyton schoenleinii running a chronic course with minimal skin inflammation.
Association between age and high‐risk human papilloma virus in Mexican oral cancer patients
Authors: González‐Ramírez I , Irigoyen‐Camacho ME , Ramírez‐Amador V , Lizano‐Soberón M , Carrillo‐García A , García‐Carrancá A , Sánchez‐Pérez Y , Méndez‐Martínez R , Granados‐García M , Ruíz‐Godoy LM , García‐Cuellar CM 
Published: January 2013

ObjectiveStudies reporting low prevalence of HPV in OSCC with declining age at presentation are increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV in a group of OSCC cases and controls in a Mexican population.MethodsThe matched case‐control study included 80 OSCC cases and 320 controls. HPV/DNA presence was evaluated through PCR amplification using three sets of consensus primers for the L1 gene. A conditional logistic regression analysis was carried out for the matched OSCC cases and controls. Interactions between risk factors and OCSS were tested in the construction process of the models.ResultsHPV prevalence was 5% in OSCC cases and 2.5% in controls. HPV‐detected types were 16, 18 and 56. According to conditional logistics regression model, an association was detected between HR‐HPV and OSCC. All HR‐HPV‐positive OSCC cases corresponded to young patients (<45 years), non‐smokers and non‐alcohol drinkers.ConclusionsThe HR‐HPV can be a contributing factor to oral carcinogenesis, especially in younger individuals without known risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol.
A dual role of tobacco hexokinase 1 in primary metabolism and sugar sensing
Authors: KIM YOUNG‐MIN , HEINZEL NICOLAS , GIESE JENS‐OTTO , KOEBER JULIA , MELZER MICHAEL , RUTTEN TWAN , VON WIRÉN NICOLAUS , SONNEWALD UWE , HAJIREZAEI MOHAMMAD‐REZA 
Published: January 2013

AbstractHexokinase (HXK) is present in all virtually living organisms and is central to carbohydrate metabolism catalysing the ATP‐dependent phosphorylation of hexoses. In plants, HXKs are supposed to act as sugar sensors and/or to interact with other enzymes directly supplying metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the nucleotide phosphate monosaccharide (NDP‐glucose) pathway and the pentose phosphate pathway. We identified nine members of the tobacco HXK gene family and observed that among RNAi lines of these nine NtHXKs, only RNAi lines of NtHXK1 showed an altered phenotype, namely stunted growth and leaf chlorosis. NtHXK1 was also the isoform with highest relative expression levels among all NtHXKs. GFP‐tagging and immunolocalization indicated that NtHXK1 is associated with mitochondrial membranes. Overexpression of NtHXK1 resulted in elevated glucose phosphorylation activity in leaf extracts or chloroplasts. Moreover, NtHXK1 was able to complement the glucose‐insensitive Arabidopsis mutant gin2‐1 suggesting that NtHXK1 can take over glucose sensing functions. RNAi lines of NtHXK1 showed severely damaged leaf and chloroplast structure, coinciding with an excess accumulation of starch. We conclude that NtHXK1 is not only essential for maintaining glycolytic activity during respiration but also for regulating starch turnover, especially during the night.
Plant sugars are crucial players in the oxidative challenge during abiotic stress: extending the traditional concept
Authors: KEUNEN ELS , PESHEV DARIN , VANGRONSVELD JACO , VAN DEN ENDE WIM , CUYPERS ANN 
Published: January 2013

AbstractPlants suffering from abiotic stress are commonly facing an enhanced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with damaging as well as signalling effects at organellar and cellular levels. The outcome of an environmental challenge highly depends on the delicate balance between ROS production and scavenging by both enzymatic and metabolic antioxidants. However, this traditional classification is in need of renewal and reform, as it is becoming increasingly clear that soluble sugars such as disaccharides, raffinose family oligosaccharides and fructans – next to their associated metabolic enzymes – are strongly related to stress‐induced ROS accumulation in plants. Therefore, this review aims at extending the current concept of antioxidants functioning during abiotic stress, with special focus on the emanate role of sugars as true ROS scavengers. Examples are given based on their cellular location, as different organelles seem to exploit distinct mechanisms. Moreover, the vacuole comes into the picture as important player in the ROS signalling network of plants. Elucidating the interplay between the mechanisms controlling ROS signalling during abiotic stress will facilitate the development of strategies to enhance crop tolerance to stressful environmental conditions.
Transpiration rate relates to within‐ and across‐species variations in effective path length in a leaf water model of oxygen isotope enrichment
Authors: SONG XIN , BARBOUR MARGARET M. , FARQUHAR GRAHAM D. , VANN DAVID R. , HELLIKER BRENT R. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractStable oxygen isotope ratio of leaf water (δ18OL) yields valuable information on many aspects of plant–environment interactions. However, current understanding of the mechanistic controls on δ18OL does not provide complete characterization of effective path length (L) of the Péclet effect, – a key component of the leaf water model. In this study, we collected diurnal and seasonal series of leaf water enrichment and estimated L in six field‐grown angiosperm and gymnosperm tree species. Our results suggest a pivotal role of leaf transpiration rate (E) in driving both within‐ and across‐species variations in L. Our observation of the common presence of an inverse scaling of L with E in the different species therefore cautions against (1) the conventional treatment of L as a species‐specific constant in leaf water or cellulose isotope (δ18Op) modelling; and (2) the use of δ18Op as a proxy for gs or E under low E conditions. Further, we show that incorporation of a multi‐species L‐E scaling into the leaf water model has the potential to both improve the prediction accuracy and simplify parameterization of the model when compared with the conventional approach. This has important implications for future modelling of oxygen isotope ratios.
The response of Asterochloris erici (Ahmadjian) Skaloud et Peksa to desiccation: a proteomic approach
Authors: GASULLA FRANSCICO , JAIN RENUKA , BARRENO EVA , GUÉRA ALFREDO , BALBUENA TIAGO S. , THELEN JAY J. , OLIVER MELVIN J. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe study of desiccation tolerance of lichens, and of their chlorobionts in particular, has frequently focused on the antioxidant system that protects the cell against photo‐oxidative stress during dehydration/rehydration cycles. In this study, we used proteomic and transcript analyses to assess the changes associated with desiccation in the isolated phycobiont Asterochloris erici. Algae were dried either slowly (5–6 h) or rapidly (<60 min), and rehydrated after 24 h in the desiccated state. To identify proteins that accumulated during the drying or rehydration processes, we employed two‐dimensional (2D) difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) coupled with individual protein identification using trypsin digestion and liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Proteomic analyses revealed that desiccation caused an increase in relative abundance of only 11–13 proteins, regardless of drying rate, involved in glycolysis, cellular protection, cytoskeleton, cell cycle, and targeting and degradation. Transcripts of five Hsp90 and two β‐tubulin genes accumulated primarily at the end of the dehydration process. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicate that ultrastructural cell injuries, perhaps resulting from physical or mechanical stress rather than metabolic damage, were more intense after rapid dehydration. This occurred with no major change in the proteome. These results suggest that desiccation tolerance of A. erici is achieved by constitutive mechanisms.
Reversible Conformational Switching of i‐Motif DNA Studied by Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Authors: Choi Jungkweon , Majima Tetsuro 
Published: January 2013

AbstractNon‐B DNAs, which can form unique structures other than double helix of B‐DNA, have attracted considerable attention from scientists in various fields including biology, chemistry and physics etc. Among them, i‐motif DNA, which is formed from cytosine (C)‐rich sequences found in telomeric DNA and the promoter region of oncogenes, has been extensively investigated as a signpost and controller for the oncogene expression at the transcription level and as a promising material in nanotechnology. Fluorescence techniques such as fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and the fluorescence quenching are important for studying DNA and in particular for the visualization of reversible conformational switching of i‐motif DNA that is triggered by the protonation. Here, we review the latest studies on the conformational dynamics of i‐motif DNA as well as the application of FRET and fluorescence quenching techniques to the visualization of reversible conformational switching of i‐motif DNA in nano‐biotechnology.
Age‐Matched Dendritic Cell Subpopulations Reference Values in Childhood
Authors: Heinze A. , Elze M. C. , Kloess S. , Ciocarlie O. , Königs C. , Betz S. , Bremm M. , Esser R. , Klingebiel T. , Serban M. , Hutton J. L. , Koehl U. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen‐presenting cells and are the key link between the innate and adaptive immune response. Only a few reports with study populations of up to 50 individuals have been published with age‐based reference values for DC subpopulations in healthy children. Therefore, we aimed to establish reference ranges in a larger study population of 100 healthy children, which allowed age‐matched subgroups. Most previous studies were performed using a dual‐platform approach. In this study, a single‐platform approach in a lyse no‐wash procedure was used. DC subpopulations were defined as follows: CD45+CD85k+HLA‐DR+CD14−CD16−CD33+ cells as myeloid DCs (mDCs) and CD45+CD85k+HLA‐DR+CD14−CD16−CD123+ cells as plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs). Reference ranges were established using a semi‐parametric regression of age‐matched absolute and relative DC counts. We found a significant decline with increasing age in the medians of mDCs (P = 0.0003) and pDCs per μl peripheral blood (PB) (P = 0.004) and in the 50%, 90% and 95% reference ranges. We also identified significantly lower absolute cell counts of mDCs per μl PB in girls than in boys for all age groups (P = 0.0015). Due to the larger paediatric study population and single‐platform approach, this study may give a more precise overview of the normal age‐matched development of DC subpopulations and may provide a basis for analyzing abnormal DC counts in different illnesses or therapies such as post stem cell transplantation.
Comparing Formal Unemployment Compensation Systems in 15OECD Countries
Authors: Ozkan Umut Riza 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThis study contributes to the welfare regime literature by analyzing unemployment compensation programmes – unemployment insurance (UI)/assistance (UA) programmes and redundancy pay schemes – of welfare state/occupational welfare regimes. It covers 15 countries of theOrganisation forEconomicCo‐operation andDevelopment (OECD) selected fromSouthernEuropean,Liberal,Continental‐corporatist andSocialDemocratic country clusters. In contrast to the common argument thatSouthernEuropean countries have underdeveloped formal unemployment compensation systems, this study argues that they (especially inSpain,Portugal, and to some extent Italy) are comparable in strength to those inContinental‐corporatist countries if occupational welfare programmes – notably redundancy pay – are considered alongside welfare state programmes for unemployment protection. The study also outlines the characteristics of redundancy pay schemes in the four country clusters and shows how different redundancy pay schemes are linked toUI/UAschemes in these clusters.
The Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Adolescent Feelings of Social Isolation
Authors: Teasdale Brent , Stephens Peggy C. , Sloboda Zili , Stephens Richard C. , Grey Scott F. 
Published: January 2013

ObjectivesThis study investigates the effect of Hurricane Katrina on adolescent feelings of social isolation. Much anecdotal evidence suggests that individuals who continued to reside in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck felt isolated from the rest of the country. Based on Durkheim's concept of anomie, we suggest that adolescents in New Orleans (and the Gulf region) may experience social isolation as a result of the hurricane.MethodsWe test this hypothesis with data from the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Study, a multisite longitudinal study of adolescents in six cities around the United States.ResultsWe find that students in New Orleans are no different from students in the other five cities in their level of social isolation prior to the hurricane. In contrast, our posthurricane survey reveals significant differences between New Orleans (and Gulf region) students and students in the other five (comparison) cities in social isolation.ConclusionsOur findings lend contemporary support to the concept of anomie and suggest the importance of mental health interventions for adolescents immediately following a natural disaster.
Revisiting the tectonic evolution of South China: interaction between the Rodinia superplume and plate subduction?
Authors: Zhang Chuan‐Lin , Li Huai‐Kun , Santosh M. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractNew field observations and zircon U‐Pb age data, combined with previous studies, are employed here to evaluate the process of assembly of the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks. We show that the process started from the west prior to 1.0 Ga and migrated eastward with the final amalgamation along the suture at around 830–820 Ma. During the period of 850–820 Ma, both the mantle plume which possibly started at 850 Ma and the north‐directed plate subduction along the southern margin of the Yangtze Block controlled the formation and closure of a back‐arc basin along the middle to eastern segment of the Yangtze Block, as well as the diverse and complex magmatic activities. The closure of the back‐arc basin and almost synchronous rift basin overlying the folded “basement” sequence mark the termination of subduction when the Rodinia plume exerted a dominant control on the evolution of the middle to late Neoproterozoic basin and the related magmatic pulses.