bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of photoperiod on slow and fast developing individuals in aphidophagous ladybirds, Menochilus sexmaculatus and Propylea dissecta (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Singh Neha , Mishra Geetanjali , Omkar   
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe effects of environmental parameters on insect development have been studied extensively. But the reasons for 2 differential developmental rates within same cohort under varying environmental factors have not been explored. For the purpose, in this study the existence and stability of slow and fast development under 5 photoperiods (i.e., 8L: 16D, 10L : 14D, 12L : 12D, 14L : 10D and 16L : 8D; light and dark hours per day) and its effect on body mass and reproductive attributes in 2 aphidophagous ladybirds, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) and Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) was examined on Aphis craccivora Koch at 27 ± 1 °C temperature. A clear bimodal (2 peaks, where the first peak represented the fast developing and the 2nd peak slow developing individuals) pattern of distribution at each photoperiod was found. The proportion of slow and fast developing individuals in a cohort differed with photoperiods. The slow developing individuals were more in numbers at 8L : 16D, in equal numbers at 14L : 10D and in less numbers at 16L: 8D, indicating that the variation in emergence was owing to exogenous cues influenced differential rates of mortality. Slow developing individuals had female biased sex ratio, higher longevity and lower body mass than fast developing individuals. Fast developing females laid higher numbers of eggs with higher egg viability than slow developing females. Study of such variations in development at different photoperiods is helpful to understand its role in the development of insects particularly ladybirds and permits the selection of fast developing bioagents for their use in biocontrol of pest species.
‘Land of Fires’: Urban Growth, Economic Crisis, and Forest Fires in Attica, Greece
Authors: SALVATI LUCA , RANALLI FLAVIA 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis study investigates the spatial distribution and basic characteristics of 2692 forest fires between 2000 and 2011 in Attica, Greece, a rapidly expanding urban region. Fire variables were assessed, together with variables describing the socio‐economic local context in three distinct periods of Athens’ expansion (2000–2003: semi‐compact expansion and economic growth before the 2004 Olympic Games; 2004–2007: infrastructure development and discontinuous expansion following the Olympic Games; 2008–2011: crisis‐driven decline of the construction industry). Fire characteristics changed over the three periods following the negative trends in the construction industry. Burnt areas decreased in the rural area around Athens and the opposite pattern was observed in the peri‐urban belt. Our findings suggest that the temporal and spatial distribution of forest fires in Attica reflects the construction boom stimulated by the 2004 Olympic Games and the subsequent economic crisis.
Characterization of the inflammatory response to inhaled lipopolysaccharide in mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Gupta Vandana , Banyard Antonia , Mullan Aoibheann , Sriskantharajah Srividya , Southworth Thomas , Singh Dave 
Published: November 2014

AimsLipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhalation causes increased airway and systemic inflammation. We investigated LPS inhalation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a model of bacterial exacerbations. We studied safety, changes in sputum and systemic biomarkers. We have also investigated interleukin (IL)‐17 concentrations in this model.MethodsTwelve COPD patients inhaled 5 μg LPS. Safety was monitored over 24 h. Sputum was induced at baseline, 6 and 24 h for cells and IL‐8, IL‐17, neutrophil elastase, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and macrophage inflammatory protein‐1β (MIP‐1β) in supernatants. Serum was collected at baseline, 4, 8 and 24 h for IL‐6, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and Clara cell protein (CC‐16) concentrations. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated at baseline and 4 h for systemic IL‐17 analysis.ResultsLPS 5 μg was well tolerated. The greatest FEV1 change was 11.7% (mean) at 1 h (95% CI 5.1–18.2%). There was a large range in maximal fall (2.5–37.7%). Total sputum cell count and neutrophil count significantly increased 6 and 24 h post‐LPS. There was no change in sputum supernatant mediators. IL‐6, CRP and CC‐16 increased post‐inhalation, with different temporal patterns. CD4+ and CD8+ cell associated IL‐17 significantly increased at 4 h.ConclusionsInhaled LPS in COPD patients safely causes increased airway and systemic inflammation. This may be a model for studying COPD exacerbations.
Circulating myeloid‐derived suppressor cells correlate with clinical outcome in Hodgkin Lymphoma patients treated up‐front with a risk‐adapted strategy
Authors: Romano Alessandra , Parrinello Nunziatina Laura , Vetro Calogero , Forte Stefano , Chiarenza Annalisa , Figuera Amalia , Motta Giovanna , Palumbo Giuseppe Alberto , Ippolito Massimo , Consoli Ugo , Raimondo Francesco Di 
Published: November 2014

SummaryIn the attempt to find a peripheral blood biological marker that could mirror the dysregulated microenvironment of Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), we analysed the amount of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSC), including the three main sub‐types (monocytic, granulocytic and CD34 + fraction). The absolute MDSC count was investigated in 60 consecutive newly diagnosed HL patients and correlated with clinical variables at diagnosis and outcome. Patients received standard‐of‐care chemotherapy with the exception of interim fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET‐2)‐positive patients, who were switched early to a salvage regimen. All MDSC subsets were increased in HL patients compared to normal subjects (P < 0·0001) and were higher in non‐responders. However, a strong prognostic significance was limited to immature (CD34+) MDSC. A cut‐off level of 0·0045 × 109/l for CD34+MDSC resulted in 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 52–99%) sensitivity and 92% (95% CI 81–98%) specificity. The positive predictive value to predict progression‐free survival was 0·90 for PET‐2 and 0·98 for CD34+MDSC count; the negative predictive value was 0·57 for PET‐2 and 0·73 for CD34+MDSC. PFS was significantly shorter in patients with more than 0·0045 × 109 CD34+MDSC cells/l at diagnosis and/or PET‐2 positivity (P < 0·0001). In conclusion, all circulating MDSC subsets are increased in HL; CD34+MDSC predict short PFS, similarly to PET‐2 but with the advantage of being available at diagnosis.
Sex steroids levels in chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant recipients: associations with disease severity and prediction of mortality
Authors: Grossmann Mathis , Hoermann Rudolf , Ng Tang Fui Mark , Zajac Jeffrey D. , Ierino Franscesco L. , Roberts Matthew A. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryObjectiveOur objective was to characterize and evaluate prognostic implications of circulating sex steroids in patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).DesignProspective observational cohort study.PatientsWe prospectively recruited patients with CKD III–IV, undergoing chronic dialysis and kidney transplant recipients (KTR) from a single centre in 2003–2004.MeasurementsTwo stored samples taken 3 months apart were analysed for sex hormones using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, and the mean of the two was used for analysis. We also measured novel biomarkers troponin T and NT‐proBNP. Patients were followed until death, transplant or 30 June 2013, and survival analysis performed.ResultsIn males, but not in females, both testosterone (P = 0·003) as well as oestradiol (P < 0·02) levels were lowest in dialysis patients and highest in KTR. Over a median follow up of 8·5 years (interquartile range 3·8–9·2), 52 men (36%) died and 24 (17%) received a kidney transplant. In Cox proportional hazards regression up to 9·6 years, an increase in total testosterone of 1 nmol/l was associated with a 9·8% (95% confidence interval 3·1–16·3) decrease in mortality independent of age, body mass index, stage of renal disease and circulating levels of NT‐proBNP or troponin T. By contrast, sex steroid levels were not associated with mortality in females.ConclusionsTestosterone levels differ across stages of kidney disease and low testosterone levels predict mortality in males, independent of established and novel predictors of mortality.
Osteocalcin and the pituitary‐gonadal axis in older men: a population‐based study
Authors: Limonard E.J. , van Schoor N.M. , de Jongh R.T. , Lips P. , Fliers E. , Bisschop P.H. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryObjectiveOsteocalcin is a well‐known marker of bone formation. Recently, mice lacking osteocalcin or its receptor were reported to be subfertile with low testosterone and high luteinizing hormone concentrations. In parallel, in humans, a loss‐of‐function mutation of the osteocalcin receptor was associated with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. This suggests that osteocalcin is necessary for normal pituitary‐gonadal axis function. Our objective was to determine the association between physiological variations in osteocalcin and the pituitary‐gonadal axis in older men.Design and patientsData were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), an ongoing cohort study in a representative sample of the older Dutch population (65–88 years).MeasurementsSerum levels of total (T), free (FT) and bioavailable (bioT) testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and osteocalcin were determined. Data were analysed using linear regression analyses and adjusted for age, BMI, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone and vitamin K antagonist use.ResultsA total of 614 men participated in the study. The median age was 75·4 (69·8–81·2) years, and the median osteocalcin level was 1·8 (1·3–2·4) nmol/l. Serum osteocalcin was inversely associated with FT (adjusted B = −0·22 ± 0·09 ng/dl, P = 0·012) and bioT (adjusted B = −0·26 ± 0·08 nmol/l, P < 0·01), but not with total T. Furthermore, osteocalcin was positively associated with LH (adjusted B = 0·09 ± 0·03 U/l, P < 0·01).ConclusionsSerum osteocalcin was negatively associated with free and bioavailable testosterone and positively with luteinizing hormone levels.
A Vectorial Framework for Ray Traced Diffusion Curves
Authors: Prévost Romain , Jarosz Wojciech , Sorkine‐Hornung Olga 
Published: November 2014

AbstractDiffusion curves allow creating complex, smoothly shaded images by diffusing colours defined at curves. These methods typically require the solution of a global optimization problem (over either the pixel grid or an intermediate tessellated representation) to produce the final image, making fully parallel implementation challenging. An alternative approach, inspired by global illumination, uses 2D ray tracing to independently compute each pixel value. This formulation allows trivial parallelism, but it densely computes values even in smooth regions and sacrifices support for instancing and layering. We describe a sparse, ray traced, multi‐layer framework that incorporates many complementary benefits of these existing approaches. Our solution avoids the need for a global solve and trivially allows parallel GPU implementation. We leverage an intermediate triangular representation with cubic patches to synthesize smooth images faithful to the per‐pixel solution. The triangle mesh provides a resolution–independent, vectorial representation and naturally maps diffusion curve images to a form natively supported by standard vector graphics and triangle rasterization pipelines. Our approach supports many features which were previously difficult to incorporate into a single system, including instancing, layering, alpha blending, texturing, local blurring, continuity control and parallel computation. We also show how global diffusion curves can be combined with local painted strokes in one coherent system.
Choice and caring: The experiences of parents supporting young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions as they move into adulthood
Authors: Spiers Gemma 
Published: November 2014

This paper reports findings about parents' experiences of caring for young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) moving into adulthood. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 38 parents of young people (15–21 years) with ASCs. Data were analysed thematically. In the perceived absence of service support, parents' acted as ‘care‐coordinators’ and ‘life‐supporters’ for their child as they moved into adulthood. These roles came with little choice, emotional demands and personal restrictions. Being supported was important for parents, but preferences differed regarding what this should look like. Implications for policy are discussed.
A Multidisciplinary Conceptualization of Conservation Opportunity
Authors: MOON KATIE , ADAMS VANESSA M. , JANUCHOWSKI‐HARTLEY STEPHANIE R. , POLYAKOV MAKSYM , MILLS MORENA , BIGGS DUAN , KNIGHT ANDREW T. , GAME EDWARD T. , RAYMOND CHRISTOPHER M. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAn opportunity represents an advantageous combination of circumstances that allows goals to be achieved. We reviewed the nature of opportunity and how it manifests in different subsystems (e.g., biophysical, social, political, economic) as conceptualized in other bodies of literature, including behavior, adoption, entrepreneur, public policy, and resilience literature. We then developed a multidisciplinary conceptualization of conservation opportunity. We identified 3 types of conservation opportunity:potential, actors remove barriers to problem solving by identifying the capabilities within the system that can be manipulated to create support for conservation action;traction, actors identify windows of opportunity that arise from exogenous shocks, events, or changes that remove barriers to solving problems; andexisting, everything is in place for conservation action (i.e., no barriers exist) and an actor takes advantage of the existing circumstances to solve problems. Different leverage points characterize each type of opportunity. Thus, unique stages of opportunity identification or creation and exploitation exist: characterizing the system and defining problems; identifying potential solutions; assessing the feasibility of solutions; identifying or creating opportunities; and taking advantage of opportunities. These stages can be undertaken independently or as part of a situational analysis and typically comprise the first stage, but they can also be conducted iteratively throughout a conservation planning process. Four types of entrepreneur can be identified (business, policy, social, and conservation), each possessing attributes that enable them to identify or create opportunities and take advantage of them. We examined how different types of conservation opportunity manifest in a social–ecological system (the Great Barrier Reef) and how they can be taken advantage of. Our multidisciplinary conceptualization of conservation opportunity strengthens and legitimizes the concept.
Characterizing Spatial Uncertainty when Integrating Social Data in Conservation Planning
Authors: Lechner A. M. , Raymond C. M. , Adams V. M. , Polyakov M. , Gordon A. , Rhodes J. R. , Mills M. , Stein A. , Ives C. D. , Lefroy E. C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractRecent conservation planning studies have presented approaches for integrating spatially referenced social (SRS) data with a view to improving the feasibility of conservation action. We reviewed the growing conservation literature on SRS data, focusing on elicited or stated preferences derived through social survey methods such as choice experiments and public participation geographic information systems. Elicited SRS data includes the spatial distribution of willingness to sell, willingness to pay, willingness to act, and assessments of social and cultural values. We developed a typology for assessing elicited SRS data uncertainty which describes how social survey uncertainty propagates when projected spatially and the importance of accounting for spatial uncertainty such as scale effects and data quality. These uncertainties will propagate when elicited SRS data is integrated with biophysical data for conservation planning and may have important consequences for assessing the feasibility of conservation actions. To explore this issue further, we conducted a systematic review of the elicited SRS data literature. We found that social survey uncertainty was commonly tested for, but that these uncertainties were ignored when projected spatially. Based on these results we developed a framework which will help researchers and practitioners estimate social survey uncertainty and use these quantitative estimates to systematically address uncertainty within an analysis. This is important when using SRS data in conservation applications because decisions need to be made irrespective of data quality and well characterized uncertainty can be incorporated into decision theoretic approaches.
Ambitious Advances of the European Union in the Legislation of Invasive Alien Species
Authors: Beninde Joscha , Fischer Marietta L. , Hochkirch Axel , Zink Andreas 
Published: November 2014

AbstractConservation legislation provides a legal basis for conservation action and is crucial for effective conservation management. In April 2014, the European Parliament agreed upon a proposal for an EU‐wide regulation to combat invasive alien species (IAS). The proposal incorporates many Guiding Principles of the Convention on Biodiversity for dealing with IAS. In addition, to prevention, eradication, management, and control it involves scientists, stakeholders and the public in decision making processes. It goes further by applying the “polluter‐pays” principle: costs of damage induced by IAS and costs for restoration are shifted to the natural person, that is, a human being, or legal person, for example a company, state, etc., responsible for a species introduction. Because of its deterrent and preventive effect, the “polluter‐pays” principle is a valued instrument in environmental policy. It now depends upon the Council of the European Union to agree on the ambitious proposal and adopt this modern conservation legislation. However, we recommend further improvements to achieve effective conservation management. Member States need to coordinate actions and adapt measures to newest scientific findings, best accomplished by a European center of IAS. Securing sufficient funding for such a center would greatly increase the likelihood of the regulation to facilitate efficient conservation initiatives. Before this publication went to press the Council of the European Union adopted this regulation (22. October 2014) in the version of the second proposal as referred to in this text.
Nimbolide inhibits invasion and migration, and down‐regulates uPAR chemokine gene expression, in two breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Elumalai P. , Brindha Mercy A. , Arunkamar R. , Sharmila G. , Bhat F. A. , Balakrishnan S. , Raja Singh P. , Arunakaran J. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractObjectivesBreast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women, worldwide. Urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease that is involved in cancer progression, especially invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. Nimbolide is a potent cytotoxic limnoid isolated from Azadirachta indica. Our previous studies have shown that nimbolide elicits pleiotropic effects on breast cancer cells; however, its roles in invasion and migration have not previously been fully elucidated.Materials and methodsProtein expression of pEGFR, VEGFR, NFκB, IKKα, IKKβ, MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐2 were analysed by western blotting. We also analysed expressions of uPA, uPAR genes and chemokines by real‐time PCR. Breast cancer cell invasion was assessed by transwell invasion assay and cell migration analysed by scratch wound healing assay.ResultsOur results showed that reduced protein expression of pEGFR, VEGFR, NFκB, IKKα, β, MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐2 was higher in nimbolide‐treated breast cancer cells. mRNA expression of uPA, uPAR, chemokines and their receptors were also significantly reduced in response to nimbolide treatment. Nimbolide inhibited breast cancer cell migration and invasion as shown in transwell invasion and wound healing assays.ConclusionThese results clearly proved inhibitory effects of nimbolide on tumour cell invasion and migration by down‐regulating proteins critically involved in regulation of cell invasion and metastasis, suggesting a possible therapeutic role of nimbolide for breast cancer.
Belatacept treatment for two yr after liver transplantation is not associated with operational tolerance
Authors: Schwarz Christoph , Rasoul‐Rockenschaub Susanne , Soliman Thomas , Berlakovich Gabriela A. , Steininger Rudolf , Mühlbacher Ferdinand , Wekerle Thomas 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBelatacept was recently evaluated in liver transplantation (LT) in a phase II multicenter trial, which was terminated prematurely. Patients were more than two yr post‐LT at the time. As high rates of spontaneous tolerance after LT have been reported and as belatacept has marked immunomodulatory effects, we decided to maintain the belatacept patients enrolled at our center (n = 4) on MMF monotherapy. All belatacept patients on MMF monotherapy developed graft dysfunction consistent with acute rejection after a mean period of 10.3 (7–14) wk. Patients were therefore switched to triple therapy with CNI, MMF, and corticosteroids. Graft dysfunction resolved within 1–3 wk after switch. At the time of belatacept discontinuation, mean eGFR was 105.1 mL/min/1.73 m² (92.1–118.9) in belatacept patients compared to 58 mL/min/1.73 m² (36.1–98.2) in controls (p = 0.022). One yr after the switch to CNI therapy, eGFR had declined by 27.4 mL (19.2–39.3; p = 0.008). Thus, LT patients treated with belatacept show superior kidney function that declines upon institution of CNIs. MMF monotherapy following withdrawal of belatacept is associated with a high incidence of graft dysfunction. Belatacept has no obvious immunomodulatory effects in LT recipients that would be sufficient to allow drug withdrawal with a high rate of success.
Verwendung der Peng‐Lappenplastik bei einem großen Nasenrückendefekt
Authors: Deluca Jenny , Tappeiner Lukas , Pichler Maria , Eisendle Klaus 
Published: November 2014

ZusammenfassungDer Verschluss großer chirurgischer Defekte im zentralen Nasenbereich stellt aufgrund der kosmetisch auffälligen Lokalisation eine chirurgische Herausforderung dar. Behandlungsoptionen umfassen sekundäre Wundheilung, Vollhauttransplantat und verschiedene lokale Lappenplastiken. Im vorliegenden Fall kam die „Peng‐Lappenplastik“ zur Wiederherstellung eines 3,1 x 2,7 cm großen Defekts der konvexen Kurvatur im zentralen Nasenbereich bei einer 66‐jährigen Patientin zum Einsatz. Das Verfahren wurde in einer Sitzung und ohne weitere Komplikationen durchgeführt. Durch Verwendung der umgebenden lockeren perinasalen Haut und Platzierung der Nähte in den Grenzlinien fazialer kosmetischer Einheiten sowie durch die exzellente Übereinstimmung des Lappens mit der talgdrüsenreichen nasalen Haut konnte ein gutes kosmetisches Ergebnis erzielt werden. Im Hinblick auf die geringe Anzahl möglicher Komplikationen dieses einzeitigen, ästhetisch hervorragenden Verfahrens, sollte die Peng‐Plastik nicht nur bei der kosmetisch komplexen Rekonstruktion der Nasenspitze, sondern auch als effektive Therapieoption an der konvexen Kurvatur des zentralen Nasenbereichs in Betracht gezogen werden.