bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robust Virtue Epistemology As Anti‐Luck Epistemology: A New Solution
Authors: Carter J. Adam 
Published: May 2014

AbstractRobust Virtue Epistemology (RVE) maintains that knowledge is achieved just when an agent gets to the truth through, or because of, the manifestation of intellectual virtue or ability. A notorious objection to the view is that the satisfaction of the virtue condition will be insufficient to ensure the safety of the target belief; that is, RVE is no anti‐luck epistemology. Some of the most promising recent attempts to get around this problem are considered and shown to ultimately fail. Finally, a new proposal for defending RVE as a kind of anti‐luck epistemology is defended. The view developed here turns importantly on the idea that knowledge depends on ability and luck in a way that is gradient, not rigid, and that we know just when our cognitive success depends on ability not rather, but more so, than luck.
Comparative Antibacterial Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy and Ultrasonic Irrigation Against Enterococcus faecalis In Vitro
Authors: Wang Yanhuang , Huang Xiaojing 
Published: May 2014

AbstractEnterococcus faecalis poses a challenge to the efficacy of traditional root canal disinfection methods. This study was aimed to establish a synergistic root canal disinfection strategy combining ultrasonic irrigation with photodynamic therapy (PDT) together and to test its antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis. Twenty‐seven bovine root canals infected with E. faecalis were randomly divided into three groups and treated with different disinfection methods as follows: ultrasonic irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl, methylene blue (MB)‐mediated PDT, or combined ultrasonic irrigation and PDT as described above. Quantification of E. faecalis was performed on the root canals before and immediately after the disinfection treatment. Residual bacteria were determined by counting colony‐forming units. Samples were randomly selected from the three groups, and the morphology of residual bacteria inside the dentinal tubules was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The number of surviving E. faecalis in the group treated with the combination method was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those in the ultrasonic irrigation‐treated or PDT‐treated groups. Similar results were found in the morphological studies of the three groups. The results of our study highlighted the importance of combination of ultrasonic irrigation and PDT to produce significant antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis during root canal disinfection.
Microwave ablation of a large renal aspergilloma
Authors: Waller S. , Raglow Z. , Lemons S. , Johnson P. , Eid A. , Schmitt T. , Smothers J. , O'Neil M. , Gilroy R. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIncreasing numbers of immunocompromised patients have led to a corresponding rise in the incidence of invasiveAspergillusinfections. Despite advances in antifungal therapy coupled with reduction in immunosuppression, invasive aspergillosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although surgical debulking has proven effective in difficult‐to‐treat cases, patient comorbidities may prevent such intervention. Non‐invasive alternatives to surgery are needed. Microwave ablation has many advantages over other ablative techniques, including convection profile, faster heating time, and higher intra‐lesion temperatures, which may be associated with greater therapeutic efficacy. We report a case of microwave ablation as an adjunct to medical therapy in angioinvasive renal aspergilloma.
Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Amazonia: a comparison of sex‐biased incidence among rural settlers and field biologists
Authors: Soares Letícia , Abad‐Franch Fernando , Ferraz Gonçalo 
Published: May 2014

AbstractObjectiveCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is more frequently reported in men than in women; this may be due to male‐biased exposure to CL vectors, female‐biased resistance against the disease or both. We sought to determine whether gender‐specific exposure to vector habitats explains male‐biased CL incidence in two human populations of central Amazonia.MethodsWe compared the CL incidence in one population of field researchers (N = 166), with similar exposure for males and females, and one population of rural settlers (N = 646), where exposure is overall male‐biased. We used a combination of questionnaires and clinical data to quantify CL cases, and modelled disease incidence in a Bayesian framework.ResultsThere was a moderately higher incidence of CL among men than among women in both populations, but male bias decreased as exposure time increased. Disease incidence was overall higher among field researchers, suggesting that they are an important but understudied CL risk group.ConclusionOur comparison of two contrasting populations provided epidemiological evidence that CL incidence can be male‐biased even when exposure is comparable in both sexes.
Profiling of extensively diversified plant LINEs reveals distinct plant‐specific subclades
Authors: Heitkam Tony , Holtgräwe Daniela , Dohm Juliane C. , Minoche André E. , Himmelbauer Heinz , Weisshaar Bernd , Schmidt Thomas 
Published: May 2014

SummaryA large fraction of eukaryotic genomes is made up of long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs). Due to their capability to create novel copies via error‐prone reverse transcription, they generate multiple families and reach high copy numbers. Although mammalian LINEs have been well described, plant LINEs have been only poorly investigated. Here, we present a systematic cross‐species survey of LINEs in higher plant genomes shedding light on plant LINE evolution as well as diversity, and facilitating their annotation in genome projects. Applying a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)‐based analysis, 59 390 intact LINE reverse transcriptases (RTs) were extracted from 23 plant genomes. These fall in only two out of 28 LINE clades (L1 and RTE) known in eukaryotes. While plant RTE LINEs are highly homogenous and mostly constitute only a single family per genome, plant L1 LINEs are extremely diverse and form numerous families. Despite their heterogeneity, all members across the 23 species fall into only seven L1 subclades, some of them defined here. Exemplarily focusing on the L1 LINEs of a basal reference plant genome (Beta vulgaris), we show that the subclade classification level does not only reflect RT sequence similarity, but also mirrors structural aspects of complete LINE retrotransposons, like element size, position and type of encoded enzymatic domains. Our comprehensive catalogue of plant LINE RTs serves the classification of highly diverse plant LINEs, while the provided subclade‐specific HMMs facilitate their annotation.
Paradoxical Association of Lipoprotein Measures With Incident Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Mora Samia , Akinkuolie Akintunde O. , Sandhu Roopinder K. , Conen David , Albert Christine M. 
Published: May 2014

Background—
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a strong risk factor for atherosclerosis but has an inverse association with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to provide insight into the paradoxical association of LDL cholesterol with AF by evaluating the relationship of various lipoprotein measures and incident AF.

Methods and Results—

We prospectively evaluated lipoprotein measures among 23 738 healthy middle-aged and older women (median follow-up 16.4 years; N=795 incident AF events). Baseline LDL cholesterol was directly measured, lipoprotein particle concentrations and size were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and apolipoproteins were measured by immunoassay. Cox regression models were adjusted for age, AF risk factors, inflammatory, and dysglycemic biomarkers. After multivariable adjustment, inverse associations with AF were observed (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval for top versus bottom quintile,
P
value) for LDL cholesterol (0.72, 0.56–0.92,
P
=0.009), the total number of LDL particles (0.77, 0.60–0.99,
P
=0.045), and very-low-density lipoprotein particles (0.78, 0.61–0.99,
P
=0.04), which was driven by the number of cholesterol-poor small LDL (0.78, 0.61–1.00,
P
=0.05) and small very-low-density lipoprotein particles (0.78, 0.62–0.99,
P
=0.04). By contrast, the larger cholesterol-rich LDL particles and all high-density lipoprotein measures were not associated with AF in multivariable models. Adjustment for inflammatory and dysglycemic biomarkers had minimal impact on these associations.

Conclusions—
In this prospective study, the inverse association between LDL cholesterol and AF extended to several other atherogenic lipoproteins, and these associations are unlikely to be mediated by direct cholesterol effects.

Clinical Trial Registration—
ClinicalTrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT00000479.
Human Capital and Public Policy
Authors: Sinha Chaitali 
Published: May 2014

This article surveys the theoretical and empirical literature on investment in human capital and the effect of public policies. Empirical literature shows that education carries considerable amount of risk and only 9 per cent of the variability of the returns to college education are forecastable at the time of making college choices. However, uncertain future returns in human capital investment may increase or decrease investment in skill formation. Individuals may prefer to stay in school longer with increasing risk in future earnings. As schooling and training are the two essential elements of investment in human capital, public policies become important for the incentive to acquire human capital. The link between public policies manifested in terms of taxation and subsidies generate interesting outcomes. While in some cases there may be little or no impact of taxation or subsidies on human capital formation, these may more often hamper accumulation of skill. This article discusses these and several other dimensions associated with human capital formation in developing economies. JEL Classification: H21, H23, H24, J24, J38.
Overcoming Zero Lower Bound on Interest Rate without any Inflation or Inflationary Expectations
Authors: Singh Gurbachan 
Published: May 2014

There is a widespread view that inflation or inflationary expectations are the only way to overcome the zero lower bound on interest rate. This article shows that this is not true. It is shown that a tax-subsidy scheme can be used to overcome the zero lower bound on interest rate—without any inflation or inflationary expectations. A simple ‘old’ Keynesian model is used though the treatment is novel and in-depth. The article ends with a discussion that suggests that the ‘non-inflation solution’ is superior to the ‘inflation solution’ under some conditions. JEL Classification: E31m E43, E63. The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones … . (John Maynard Keynes, 1936)
Sectoral Effects of Monetary Policy in India
Authors: Sengupta Nandini 
Published: May 2014

Every economy comprises of different sectors with divergent characteristics. These different sectors respond heterogeneously to identical unanticipated macroeconomic stimuli. Using a Vector Autoregression model this study finds that the impact of a monetary policy shock at the sectoral level is heterogeneous with manufacturing being the most responsive. The sectors such as Manufacturing, Mining and Quarrying, Construction and Trade are the fastest to respond. The differential sectoral effects depend upon factors such as capital intensity, interest sensitivity, export-orientation, production planning strategies among others. The sectors also differ in terms of the most effective channel of monetary transmission. The interest rate channel has emerged as the most efficient channel of the monetary policy transmission in most of the sectors followed by the credit channel. Therefore, the heterogeneous sectoral responses indicate the need for a more sector-specific monetary policy. JEL Classification: E50, E52, E58, O53
Ownership Choices of Indian Direct Investors: Do FDI Determinants Differ between Joint Ventures and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries?
Authors: Nunnenkamp Peter , Andrés Maximiliano Sosa 
Published: May 2014

Using count data on Indian joint ventures (JVs) and wholly owned subsidiaries (WOS), we present an empirical analysis of foreign direct investment (FDI)-related ownership choices and their relation with host country characteristics and indicators of transaction costs. Our Negative Binomial regression models offer only weak support for the bargaining perspective, according to which JVs should be more likely if the host countries were particularly attractive in terms of market access or resource endowments. Geographical and cultural distance has ambiguous effects on the choice between JVs and WOS. The composition of FDI projects tends to shift towards WOS where investment risks are contained by bilateral treaties and better control of corruption. JEL Classification: F21
Clinical features of childhood granulomatosis with polyangiitis (wegener’s granulomatosis)
Authors: Bohm Marek , Gonzalez Fernandez Maria Isabel , Ozen Seza , Pistorio Angela , Dolezalova Pavla , Brogan Paul , Barbano Giancarlo , Sengler Claudia , Klein-Gitelman Marisa , Quartier Pierre , Fasth Anders , Herlin Troels , Terreri Maria Teresa R A , Nielsen Susan , van Rossum Marion A J , Avcin Tadej , Castell Esteban Rodolfo , Foeldvari Ivan , Foell Dirk , Kondi Anuela , Koné-Paut Isabelle , Kuester Rolf-Michael , Michels Hartmut , Wulffraat Nico , Amer Halima Ben , Malattia Clara , Martini Alberto , Ruperto Nicolino ,   the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO)
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG), belongs to the group of ANCA-associated necrotizing vasculitides. This study describes the clinical picture of the disease in a large cohort of GPA paediatric patients.
Children with age at diagnosis ≤ 18 years, fulfilling the EULAR/PRINTO/PRES GPA/WG classification criteria were extracted from the PRINTO vasculitis database. The clinical signs/symptoms and laboratory features were analysed before or at the time of diagnosis and at least 3 months thereafter and compared with other paediatric and adult case series (>50 patients) derived from the literature.

Findings
The 56 children with GPA/WG were predominantly females (68%) and Caucasians (82%) with a median age at disease onset of 11.7 years, and a median delay in diagnosis of 4.2 months. The most frequent organ systems involved before/at the time of diagnosis were ears, nose, throat (91%), constitutional (malaise, fever, weight loss) (89%), respiratory (79%), mucosa and skin (64%), musculoskeletal (59%), and eye (35%), 67% were ANCA-PR3 positive, while haematuria/proteinuria was present in > 50% of the children. In adult series, the frequency of female involvement ranged from 29% to 50% with lower frequencies of constitutional (fever, weight loss), ears, nose, throat (oral/nasal ulceration, otitis/aural discharge), respiratory (tracheal/endobronchial stenosis/obstruction), laboratory involvement and higher frequency of conductive hearing loss than in this paediatric series.

Conclusions
Paediatric patients compared to adults with GPA/WG have similar pattern of clinical manifestations but different frequencies of organ involvement.
Comparative study of the effects of fetal bovine serum versus horse serum on growth and differentiation of primary equine bronchial fibroblasts
Authors: Franke Jana , Abs Vanessa , Zizzadoro Claudia , Abraham Getu 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Airway fibroblasts have become a critical addition to all facets of structural lung tissue changes such as in human asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but little is known about their role in the equine recurrent airway obstruction, a disease that resembles to the human asthma. Since the equine bronchial fibroblasts (EBF) have not been isolated and characterized yet, the use of defined medium was investigated.

Results
Primary EBF were cultured on non-collagen coated flasks without serum or in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) or horse serum (HS) or in serum depleted medium. EBF cultured in serum-free basal media and those serum deprived were not able to proliferate and even exhibited considerable cell death. In media containing FBS or HS, proliferation of the cells was reproducible between different primary cultures and cells demonstrated expression of vimentin. Large variations were found in the ability of FBS and HS to support growth and differentiation of EBF in monolayer culture. Indications of growth-promoting actions, increasing passage number as well as maintaining fibroblast morphology were found rather in FBS than in HS. EBF culturing in HS needed longer doubling and confluence time. The protein content of the cell pellets was higher in EBF cultured in medium containing HS than FBS. Alpha-smooth muscle actin seemed to be less expressed in EBF cultured in medium containing FBS than those in HS.

Conclusions
In sum, serum addition to basal EBF medium enhanced EBF differentiation into myofibroblasts, and these findings are useful to develop in vitro fibroblast culture models that mimic in vivo physiological processes and to study airway disease mechanisms and remodeling.
Truncated and modified amyloid-beta species
Authors: Kummer Markus P , Heneka Michael T 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease pathology is closely connected to the processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) resulting in the formation of a variety of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides. They are found as insoluble aggregates in senile plaques, the histopathological hallmark of the disease. These peptides are also found in soluble, mostly monomeric and dimeric, forms in the interstitial and cerebrospinal fluid. Due to the combination of several enzymatic activities during APP processing, Aβ peptides exist in multiple isoforms possessing different N-termini and C-termini. These peptides include, to a certain extent, part of the juxtamembrane and transmembrane domain of APP. Besides differences in size, post-translational modifications of Aβ – including oxidation, phosphorylation, nitration, racemization, isomerization, pyroglutamylation, and glycosylation – generate a plethora of peptides with different physiological and pathological properties that may modulate disease progression.
Behçet’s disease in HLA-B*51 negative Germans and Turks shows association with HLA-Bw4-80I
Authors: Kuranov Alexandr Borisovich , Kötter Ina , Henes Jörg Christoph , Abisheva Saule Tleubaevna , Steiert Ingeborg , Riewerts Florian , Momynaliev Kuvat Temirgalievich , Müller Claudia Anna 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Behçet’s disease (BD) as systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology is associated with HLA-B*51 in European and Asian populations. HLA-A*26 was claimed as an additional BD susceptibility marker in Japanese and Greek patients. This study was performed to test for HLA associations in HLA-B*51 negative German and Turkish BD populations.

Methods
In total, 65 German and 46 Turkish patients lacking HLA-B*51 were analyzed in comparison to healthy HLA-B*51 negative Germans (n = 1500) and Turks (n = 130). HLA-A/B genotypes were determined by SSOP. P-values with correction for multiple testing (pc), χ2- test and odds ratio (OR) were used for statistical evaluation.

Results
HLA-A*26 was significantly more frequent in HLA-B*51− German patients [pc = 0.0076, OR = 3.23, 95% CI 1.63 to 6.39] than in respective controls. HLA-A*26 was also elevated in a smaller group of Turkish patients versus the controls. Significant association of HLA-Bw4 with isoleucine at amino-acid position 80 (HLA-Bw4-80I) was found in the HLA-B*51− German cohort of BD patients [pc = 0.0042, OR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.93) and in the Turkish patients in comparison to the respective controls [p = 0.025, OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.09 to 4.31]. On the contrary, HLA-Bw4-80 T was reduced in both HLA-B*51− BD patient cohorts.

Conclusions
The study shows a significant association of HLA-Bw4-80I present on HLA-B*51 as well as on other B-locus molecules with BD. This indicates that distinctive Bw4 epitopes on HLA-B locus molecules could play a role in BD pathogenesis. The study also indicates an association with HLA-A*26 in German and Turkish BD patients as a genetic risk factor independent of HLA-B*51.
Age and decisions to limit life support for patients with acute lung injury: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Turnbull Alison E , Lau Bryan M , Ruhl A Parker , Mendez-Tellez Pedro A , Shanholtz Carl B , Needham Dale M 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Introduction
The proportion of elderly Americans admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the last month of life is rising. Hence, challenging decisions regarding the appropriate use of life support are increasingly common. The objective of this study was to estimate the association between patient age and the rate of new limitations in the use of life support, independent of daily organ dysfunction status, following acute lung injury (ALI) onset.

Methods
This was a prospective cohort study of 490 consecutive patients without any limitations in life support at the onset of ALI. Patients were recruited from 11 ICUs at three teaching hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and monitored for the incidence of six pre-defined limitations in life support, with adjustment for baseline comorbidity and functional status, duration of hospitalization before ALI onset, ICU severity of illness, and daily ICU organ dysfunction score.

Results
The median patient age was 52 (range: 18 to 96), with 192 (39%) having a new limitation in life support in the ICU. Of patients with a new limitation, 113 (59%) had life support withdrawn and died, 53 (28%) died without resuscitation, and 26 (14%) survived to ICU discharge. Each ten-year increase in patient age was independently associated with a 24% increase in the rate of limitations in life support (Relative Hazard 1.24; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.40) after adjusting for daily ICU organ dysfunction score and all other covariates.

Conclusions
Older critically ill patients are more likely to have new limitations in life support independent of their baseline status, ICU-related severity of illness, and daily organ dysfunction status. Future studies are required to determine whether this association is a result of differences in patient preferences by age, or differences in the treatment options discussed with the families of older versus younger patients.
Analysis of Accumulation of Heavy Metals and Iron in Soils (on Vladimir Region Example)
Authors: Бирюков  , Biryukov I. , Самылина  , Samylina E. , Трифонов  , Trifonov Konstantin 
Published: May 2014

Work is devoted to studying of accumulation of heavy metals and iron in soils related to Kovrov (Vladimir region) residential
suburb. Gross content and forms of heavy metals and iron, taken out by acetate-ammonium buffer solution and nitric acid
were defined during researches. The obtained data have been compared to operating values of maximum-permissible and
approximately-admissible concentration for various types of soils, and also to the background content of chemicals in soils.
Assessment of Ecological Safety of Power Plants with Diesel Engines
Authors: Маркова  , Markova V. , Девянин  , Devyanin S. 
Published: May 2014

Toxicological properties of diesel engines’ exhaust gases, in particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as diesel
engines’ exhaust gases composition, toxicity assessment technique for exhaust gases of diesel engines working at different
types of fuel have been presented. Advantages related to use in diesels a biological fuel made on basis of vegetable oils
have been shown.