bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of 0.1% pilocarpine mouthwash on xerostomia: double‐blind, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kim J. H. , Ahn H.‐J. , Choi J.‐H. , Jung D. W. , Kwon J.‐S. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 0.1% pilocarpine mouthwash in xerostomic patients. Sixty volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups. The experimental group used 0.1% pilocarpine solution, and the control group used 0.9% saline. The short‐ and long‐term effects of pilocarpine were investigated by measuring the severity of oral dryness, minor salivary flow rates and unstimulated whole salivary flow rate at predetermined times. The severity of oral dryness was decreased in both groups at 0, 30 and 60 min after mouthwashing, with no significant difference between the groups. Buccal and labial secretions were increased in both groups, but only the experimental group exhibited increased palatal secretion. Labial and palatal secretions, but not buccal secretion, differed between the groups. The unstimulated whole salivary flow rate was increased in the experimental group and differed from that in the control group. After 4 weeks, the severity of oral dryness was decreased in both groups and did not differ between them. The oral dryness at night or on awakening significantly decreased in both groups, with no significant difference between them, but the oral dryness at other times of the day and the difficulty in swallowing foods were not significantly changed in both groups. Minor salivary and unstimulated whole salivary flow rates did not increase in both groups. Until 1 h after mouthwashing, 0.1% pilocarpine mouthwash increased minor salivary and unstimulated whole salivary secretions, but was not superior compared with 0.9% saline at relieving subjective oral dryness.
The impact of daytime sleepiness on the school performance of college students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Langberg Joshua M. , Dvorsky Melissa R. , Becker Stephen P. , Molitor Stephen J. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThis prospective longitudinal study evaluated the impact of daytime sleepiness on the school performance of 62 college students diagnosed comprehensively with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The primary goal of the study was to determine if self‐reported daytime sleepiness rated at the beginning of the academic year could predict academic and overall functioning at the end of the academic year while also considering potentially important covariates, including symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, medication status and whether or not students lived at home or on‐campus. Self‐reported daytime sleepiness predicted longitudinally school maladjustment, overall functional impairment and the number of D and F grades (i.e. poor and failing) students received in courses above and beyond both self‐ and parent‐report of symptoms, but did not predict overall grade point average. Living at home served as a protective factor and was associated with less school maladjustment and overall impairment. Gender was the only significant predictor in the overall grade point average model, with female gender associated with higher overall grades. The implications of these findings for monitoring and treatment of sleep disturbances in college students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are discussed.
Asteroid spin‐axis longitudes from the Lowell Observatory database
Authors: Bowell E. , Oszkiewicz D. A. , Wasserman L. H. , Muinonen K. , Penttilä A. , Trilling D. E. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBy analyzing brightness variation with ecliptic longitude and using the Lowell Observatory photometric database, we estimate spin‐axis longitudes for more than 350,000 asteroids. Hitherto, spin‐axis longitude estimates have been made for fewer than 200 asteroids. We investigate longitude distributions in different dynamical groups and asteroid families. We show that asteroid spin‐axis longitudes are not isotropically distributed as previously considered. We find that the spin‐axis longitude distribution for Main Belt asteroids is clearly nonrandom, with an excess of longitudes from the interval 30°–110° and a paucity between 120° and 180°. The explanation of the nonisotropic distribution is unknown at this point. Further studies have to be conducted to determine if the shape of the distribution can be explained by observational bias, selection effects, a real physical process, or other mechanism.
Seasonal abundance of livestock‐associatedCulicoidesspecies in northeasternBrazil
Authors: CARVALHO L. P. C. , SILVA F. S. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractCulicoidesbiting midges (Diptera:Ceratopogonidae) are of great medical and veterinary importance because the haematophagous females of some species can transmit diseases to humans and animals. In order to determine the presence and seasonal abundance of the bluetongue virus (BTV) vectorCulicoides insignisLutz at domestic animal sheds in northeasternBrazil, insects were collected once a month betweenJanuary andDecember 2010. Light traps were set from 18.00 to 06.00 hours at a pigsty, chicken coop and bovine corral.Culicoides insignisaccounted for 81% of the 22 316 specimens collected. Other well‐represented species were:Culicoides paucienfuscatusBarbosa (3246 individuals),Culicoides diabolicusHoffman (308),Culicoides leopoldoiOrtiz (224) andCulicoides duarteiTavares and Luna Dias (221). The remainder accounted for 4% of the total sample.Culicoides insignisoccurred mostly at the cattle corral, 98.2% in the rainy season. This study confirms the presence and close association ofC. insigniswith cattle inMaranhão state, northeasternBrazil and emphasizes the risk of bluetongue infections spreading in the area.
Soybean NDR1‐like proteins bind pathogen effectors and regulate resistance signaling
Authors: Selote Devarshi , Shine M. B. , Robin Guillaume P. , Kachroo Aardra 
Published: December 2013

Summary

Nonrace specific disease resistance 1 (NDR1) is a conserved downstream regulator of resistance (R) protein‐derived signaling. We identified two NDR1‐like sequences (GmNDR1a, b) from soybean, and investigated their roles in R‐mediated resistance and pathogen effector detection.

Silencing GmNDR1a and b in soybean shows that these genes are required for resistance derived from the Rpg1‐b, Rpg3, and Rpg4 loci, against Pseudomonas syringae (Psg) expressing avrB, avrB2 and avrD1, respectively. Immunoprecipitation assays show that the GmNDR1 proteins interact with the AvrB2 and AvrD1 Psg effectors. This correlates with the enhanced virulence of Psg avrB2 and Psg avrD1 in GmNDR1‐silenced rpg3 rpg4 plants, even though these strains are not normally more virulent on plants lacking cognate R loci.

The GmNDR1 proteins interact with GmRIN4 proteins, but not with AvrB, or its cognate R protein Rpg1‐b. However, the GmNDR1 proteins promote AvrB‐independent activation of Rpg1‐b when coexpressed with a phosphomimic derivative of GmRIN4b.

The role of GmNDR1 proteins in Rpg1‐b activation, their direct interactions with AvrB2/AvrD1, and a putative role in the virulence activities of Avr effectors, provides the first experimental evidence in support of the proposed role for NDR1 in transducing extracellular pathogen‐derived signals.
Trading Partners and Trading Volumes: Implementing the Helpman–Melitz–Rubinstein Model Empirically
Authors: Santos Silva J. M. C. , Tenreyro Silvana 
Published: December 2013

AbstractHelpman, Melitz and Rubinstein [Quarterly Journal of Economics(2008) Vol. 123, pp. 441–487] (HMR) present a rich theoretical model to study the determinants of bilateral trade flows across countries. The model is then empirically implemented through a two‐stage estimation procedure. We argue that this estimation procedure is only valid under the strong distributional assumptions maintained in the article. Statistical tests using the HMR sample, however, clearly reject such assumptions. Moreover, we perform numerical experiments which show that the HMR two‐stage estimator is very sensitive to departures from the assumption of homoskedasticity. These findings cast doubts on any inference drawn from the empirical implementation of the HMR model.
Sharp Bounds on Causal Effects under Sample Selection
Authors: Huber Martin , Mellace Giovanni 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn many empirical problems, the evaluation of treatment effects is complicated by sample selection so that the outcome is only observed for a non‐random subpopulation. In the absence of instruments and/or tight parametric assumptions, treatment effects are not point identified, but can be bounded under mild restrictions. Previous work on partial identification has primarily focused on the ‘always observed’ (irrespective of the treatment). This article complements those studies by considering further populations, namely the ‘compliers’ (observed only if treated) and the observed population. We derive sharp bounds under various assumptions and provide an empirical application to a school voucher experiment.
A fusion protein derived from plants holds promising potential as a new oral therapy for type 2 diabetes
Authors: Choi Jeehye , Diao Hong , Feng Zhi‐Chao , Lau Arthur , Wang Rennian , Jevnikar Anthony M. , Ma Shengwu 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe incretin hormone glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) is recognized as a promising candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), with one of its mimetics, exenatide (synthetic exendin‐4) having already been licensed for clinical use. We seek to further improve the therapeutic efficacy of exendin‐4 (Ex‐4) using innovative fusion protein technology. Here, we report the production in plants a fusion protein containing Ex‐4 coupled with human transferrin (Ex‐4‐Tf) and its characterization. We demonstrated that plant‐made Ex‐4‐Tf retained the activity of both proteins. In particular, the fusion protein stimulated insulin release from pancreatic β‐cells, promoted β‐cell proliferation, stimulated differentiation of pancreatic precursor cells into insulin‐producing cells, retained the ability to internalize into human intestinal cells and resisted stomach acid and proteolytic enzymes. Importantly, oral administration of partially purified Ex‐4‐Tf significantly improved glucose tolerance, whereas commercial Ex‐4 administered by the same oral route failed to show any significant improvement in glucose tolerance in mice. Furthermore, intraperitoneal (IP) injection of Ex‐4‐Tf showed a beneficial effect in mice similar to IP‐injected Ex‐4. We also showed that plants provide a robust system for the expression of Ex‐4‐Tf, producing up to 37 μg prEx‐4‐Tf/g fresh leaf weight in transgenic tobacco and 137 μg prEx‐4‐Tf/g freshweight in transiently transformed leaves of N. benthamiana. These results indicate that Ex‐4‐Tf holds substantial promise as a new oral therapy for type 2 diabetes. The production of prEx‐4‐Tf in plants may offer a convenient and cost‐effective method to deliver the antidiabetic medicine in partially processed plant food products.
Impact of congenital heart disease on outcomes of pediatric heart‐lung transplantation
Authors: Keeshan Britton C. , Goldfarb Samuel B. , Lin Kimberly Y. , Kreindler James L. , Kaufman Beth D. , Gaynor James W. , Shaddy Robert E. , Rossano Joseph W. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractHLT is reserved for children with cardiopulmonary disease not amendable to alternative therapies. Children with CHD with or without ES may be considered for HLT. Outcomes of HLT in this population are not well described. To test the hypothesis that CHD without ES is associated with worse graft survival and identify factors associated with poor outcome, a retrospective analysis of the UNOS database was performed. One hundred and seventy‐eight pediatric HLTs were performed between 1987 and 2011. CHD was the diagnosis in 65 patients, of which 34 had CHD without ES. Patients with CHD without ES had decreased patient survival (median 1.31 yr) compared with CHD with ES (4.80 yr, p = 0.05). On multivariable analysis, the following were associated with graft failure: CHD without ES (adjusted HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.09–2.62), younger age (1.04, 1.01–1.08), pretransplant mechanical ventilation (1.75, 1.01–3.06), pretransplant ECMO (3.07, 1.32–7.12), pretransplant PRAs (1.53, 1.06–2.20), and transplant era (1.85, 1.16–2.94). In children with CHD who require HLT, underlying physiology influences outcomes. Those without ES have a worse prognosis. The diagnosis of CHD without ES and preoperative factors may inform decisions in a complex patient population.
Unrelated donor cord blood transplantation for non‐malignant disorders in children and adolescents
Authors: Park Meerim , Lee Young Ho , Kang Hae‐Ryong , Lee Ji Won , Kang Hyoung Jin , Park Kyung Duk , Shin Hee Young , Ahn Hyo Seop , Baek Hee Jo , Kook Hoon , Hwang Tai Ju , Lee Jae Wook , Chung Nack‐Gyun , Cho Bin , Kim Hack‐Ki , Lee Soo Hyun , Yoo Keon Hee , Sung Ki Woong , Koo Hong Hoe , Koh Kyung Nam , Im Ho Joon , Seo Jong Jin , Park Jun Eun , Lim Yeon Jung , Lyu Chuhl Joo , Lee Jae Min , Hah Jeong Ok ,   on behalf of the Korean Cord Blood Transplantation Working Party
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis study analyzes the data reported to the Korean Cord Blood Registry between 1994 and 2008, involving children and adolescents with non‐malignant diseases. Sixty‐five patients were evaluated in this study: SAA (n = 24), iBMFS, (n = 16), and primary immune deficiency/inherited metabolic disorder (n = 25). The CI of neutrophil recovery was 73.3% on day 42. By day 100, the CI of acute grade II–IV graft‐versus‐host disease was 32.3%. At a median follow‐up of 71 months, five‐yr OS was 50.7%. The survival rate (37.5%) and CI of neutrophil engraftment (37.5%) were lowest in patients with iBMFS. Deaths were mainly due to infection, pulmonary complications, and hemorrhage. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of >3.91 × 105/kg of infused CD34 + cells was the only factor consistently identified as significantly associated with neutrophil engraftment (p = 0.04) and OS (p = 0.03). UCBT using optimal cell doses appears to be a feasible therapy for non‐malignant diseases in children and adolescents for whom there is no appropriate HLA‐matched related donor. Strategies to reduce transplant‐related toxicities would improve the outcomes of UCBT in non‐malignant diseases.
Risk factors for neurological complications and their correlation with survival following pediatric liver transplantation
Authors: Lee Yun Jeong , Yum Mi‐Sun , Kim Eun‐Hee , Choi Hae‐Won , Oh Seak Hee , Kim Dae Yeon , Kim Kyung Mo , Ko Tae‐Sung 
Published: December 2013

AbstractDespite the improved outcomes of LT, post‐operative NCs remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to identify the incidence of and risk factors for NCs in children who underwent LT. The medical records of pediatric patients who underwent LT at Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital between January 1994 and December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The onset and types of NC and pretransplant variables associated with NC were evaluated. We identified 190 children (85 boys [44.7%], 105 girls [55.3%]) of mean age 4.1 ± 4.7 yr, who underwent LT. Forty‐six NCs occurred in 41 (21.6%) patients after LT, the most common being seizures (n = 13, 28.3%) and encephalopathy (n = 10, 21.7%). Of the 46 NCs, 24 (52.2%) occurred within three months after LT. Multivariate analysis showed that primary liver disease, preoperative neurological problems, preoperatively higher serum creatinine concentration, and graft failure were significant risk factors for NCs. The survival rate was significantly lower for patients with NCs than for those without (p < 0.001). NCs after pediatric LTs were common and associated with a higher mortality rate in our study. Close monitoring and appropriate risk management may improve the long‐term outcomes of pediatric patients who undergo LT.
Hepatitis C recurrence: the Achilles heel of liver transplantation
Authors: Howell J. , Angus P. , Gow P. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common indication for liver transplantation worldwide; however, recurrence post transplant is almost universal and follows an accelerated course. Around 30% of patients develop aggressive HCV recurrence, leading to rapid fibrosis progression (RFP) and culminating in liver failure and either death or retransplantation. Despite many advances in our knowledge of clinical risks for HCV RFP, we are still unable to accurately predict those most at risk of adverse outcomes, and no clear consensus exists on the best approach to management. This review presents a critical overview of clinical factors shown to influence the course of HCV recurrence post transplant, with particular focus on recent data identifying the important role of metabolic factors, such as insulin resistance, in HCV recurrence. Emerging data for genetic markers of HCV recurrence and their usefulness for predicting adverse outcomes will also be explored.
Tomato Cutin Deficient 1 (CD1) and putative orthologs comprise an ancient family of cutin synthase‐like (CUS) proteins that are conserved among land plants
Authors: Yeats Trevor H. , Huang Wenlin , Chatterjee Subhasish , Viart Hélène M‐F. , Clausen Mads H. , Stark Ruth E. , Rose Jocelyn K.C. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe aerial epidermis of all land plants is covered with a hydrophobic cuticle that provides essential protection from desiccation, and so its evolution is believed to have been prerequisite for terrestrial colonization. A major structural component of apparently all plant cuticles is cutin, a polyester of hydroxy fatty acids; however, despite its ubiquity, the details of cutin polymeric structure and the mechanisms of its formation and remodeling are not well understood. We recently reported that cutin polymerization in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit occurs via transesterification of hydroxyacylglycerol precursors, catalyzed by the GDSL‐motif lipase/hydrolase family protein (GDSL) Cutin Deficient 1 (CD1). Here, we present additional biochemical characterization of CD1 and putative orthologs from Arabidopsis thaliana and the moss Physcomitrella patens, which represent a distinct clade of cutin synthases within the large GDSL superfamily. We demonstrate that members of this ancient and conserved family of cutin synthase‐like (CUS) proteins act as polyester synthases with negligible hydrolytic activity. Moreover, solution‐state NMR analysis indicates that CD1 catalyzes the formation of primarily linear cutin oligomeric products in vitro. These results reveal a conserved mechanism of cutin polyester synthesis in land plants, and suggest that elaborations of the linear polymer, such as branching or cross‐linking, may require additional, as yet unknown, factors.
Toxicological effects and recovery of the corneal epithelium in Cyprinus carpio communis Linn. exposed to monocrotophos: an scanning electron microscope study
Authors: Uppal Ravneet Kaur , Johal Mohinder Singh , Sharma Madan Lal 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis study was conducted based on the evidence of fish habitats in North India being affected by organophosphate pesticides draining from agricultural fields into bodies of water, especially during the rainy season. Various tissues of fish such as scales, gills ovaries, kidney, and liver have been studied from the toxicological point of view, but the toxicological effects of aquatic pollutants on fish cornea have not been investigated to date. We conducted comparative toxicological studies on the cornea of Cyprinus carpio communis using two sublethal (0.038 and 0.126 ppm) concentrations of monocrotophos pesticide for 30 days. Corneas from all the groups were evaluated by a scanning electron microscope. The fish exposed to the monocrotophos pesticide developed corneal necrosis due to the formation of crystalloid‐like structures, thinning and shrinkage of microridges on the corneal epithelium. After 30 days, fish from the monocrotophos‐treated tank were transferred to normal environmental conditions. After 60 days under natural condition, epithelial cells did not fully recover. In conclusion, exposure to monocrotophos induces irreversible changes in the cornea of C. carpio communis. As fish and mammalian visual systems share many similarities, the reported finding may offer useful insights for further toxicological and ophthalmological studies in humans.
Treatment of bullous keratopathy with corneal collagen cross‐linking in two dogs
Authors: Pot Simon A. , Gallhöfer Nicolin S. , Walser‐Reinhardt Ladina , Hafezi Farhad , Spiess Bernhard M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractObjectiveCorneal collagen cross‐linking with riboflavin and UV‐A (CXL) decreases corneal oedema and increases visual acuity in human patients with bullous keratopathy. Presumed mechanisms are an increase in collagen packing density and a reduction in stromal swelling pressure. We present two cases in which CXL was used to treat bullous keratopathy in dogs.ProceduresFour eyes of two dogs with painful bullous keratopathy‐induced corneal erosions that were resistant to prior therapy were treated with CXL. Both corneas of the second patient were dehydrated to ± 400 μm corneal thickness using topical 70% glycerol solution immediately prior to CXL. Follow‐up included slit‐lamp examination, fluorescein staining and photographic documentation in both cases and high‐resolution ultrasound examination in the second patient.ResultsAll four eyes were comfortable and fluorescein negative at 1‐week post‐CXL and remained so for the rest of the follow‐up period (17.5 months for case 1 and 6 months for case 2). The owner of the first patient reported a less oedematous cornea and improvement in vision that lasted for 6 months. Despite a reported lack of improvement in vision in the second patient, corneal thickness initially decreased, but was back at baseline thickness at the 4‐month recheck.ConclusionsSimilar to humans, CXL might become a useful treatment option for bullous keratopathy‐induced therapy‐resistant corneal erosions in dogs. Patient comfort was greatly improved, but corneal thickness decrease was not as long‐lasting as reported for humans. The presently used protocols might need modification to fit the dog cornea.
Weed seed predation rate in cereals as a function of seed density and patch size, under high predation pressure by rodents
Authors: Daedlow D , Westerman P R , Baraibar B , Rouphael S , Gerowitt B 
Published: December 2013

SummaryWeed seed predation is an ecosystem service, influencing weed population dynamics. The impact of weed seed predation on weed population dynamics depends on how predators respond to seed patches at the field scale. Seed predation will be most effective if the proportion of seeds predated increases with increasing size and seed density of patches. Density‐dependent rodent seed predation was measured by varying seed density and patch size in four irrigated conventionally managed cereal fields in north eastern Spain. Artificial weed seed patches were created by applying a range of Lolium multiflorum seed densities from 0 to 7500 seeds m−2 in 225 m2 patches (2008) or in patches that varied in size from 1 to 9 m2 (2009). Seed predation was estimated using seed cards and seed frames. The granivorous rodents Mus spretus and Apodemus sylvaticus caused high seed predation rates (92%) in three fields, whereas in a fourth field, it was lower (47%). Rodents responded in an inversely density‐dependent manner, but this had little biological meaning as even in patches seeded with the highest density, the input to the soil seedbank was reduced by 88%. For the period of time this experiment lasted, hardly any new seeds would have entered the seedbank.