bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sickle cell disease in children: chronic complications and search of predictive factors for adverse outcomes
Authors: Silva Inês Vaz , Reis Ana Filipa , Palaré Maria João , Ferrão Anabela , Rodrigues Teresa , Morais Anabela 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) has extremely variable phenotypes, and several factors have been associated with the severity of the disease.ObjectivesTo analyze the chronic complications of SCD and look for predictive risk factors for increased severity and number of complications.MethodsRetrospective study including all children followed for SCD in the Paediatric Haematology Unit of a tertiary hospital in Portugal, who completed 17 yr old between the years 2004 and 2013.ResultsWe identified 44 patients, 55% female and 98% black. Chronic complications occurred in 80% of cases. Slight dilatation of the left ventricle was the most frequent complication (47.7%), followed by respiratory function disturbs (43.2%), microlithiasis or cholelithiasis (40.9%), increased flow velocity of cerebral arteries (31.8%), enuresis, delayed puberty and bone abnormalities (6.8% each), sickle cell retinopathy and leg ulcer (4.6% each) and recurrent priapism (2.3%). We identified a statistically significant association between leukocytes >15 000/μL and a higher number of hospitalizations (P < 0.001) and chronic complications of the disease (P = 0.035). The occurrence of dactylitis in first year of life was also significantly associated with a higher number of hospitalizations (P = 0.004) and chronic complications (P = 0.018). The presence of α‐thalassemia was associated with a lower number of chronic complications (P = 0.036).ConclusionsLeucocytosis and dactylitis in the first year of life can be predictors of SCD severity, while the presence of α‐thalassemia can be protective. The determination of early predictors of chronic complications of SCD may improve the comprehensive care of these patients.
Baculoviruses: diversity, evolution and manipulation of insects
Authors: Ikeda Motoko , Hamajima Rina , Kobayashi Michihiro 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBaculoviruses, members of the familyBaculoviridae, are large, enveloped viruses that contain a double‐stranded circularDNAgenome of 80–180 kbp, encoding 90–180 putative proteins. These viruses are exclusively pathogenic for arthropods, particularly insects, and have been developed, or are being developed, as environmentally sound pesticides and eukaryotic vectors for foreign protein expression, surface display, gene delivery for gene therapy, vaccine production and drug screening. The baculoviruses contain a set of approximately 30 core genes that are conserved among all baculovirus genomes sequenced to date. Individual baculoviruses also contain a number of lineage‐ or species‐specific genes that have greatly impacted the diversification and evolution of baculoviruses. In this review, we first describe the general properties and biology of baculoviruses and then focus on the baculovirus genes and mechanisms involved in the replication, spread and survival of baculoviruses within the context of their diversity, evolution and insect manipulation.
Carbon accumulation of tropical peatlands over millennia: a modeling approach
Authors: Kurnianto Sofyan , Warren Matthew , Talbot Julie , Kauffman Boone , Murdiyarso Daniel , Frolking Steve 
Published: July 2014

AbstractTropical peatlands cover an estimated 440 000 km2 (~10% of global peatland area) and are significant in the global carbon cycle by storing about 40–90 Gt C in peat. Over the past several decades, tropical peatlands have experienced high rates of deforestation and conversion, which is often associated with lowering the water table and peat burning, releasing large amounts of carbon stored in peat to the atmosphere. We present the first model of long‐term carbon accumulation in tropical peatlands by modifying the Holocene Peat Model (HPM), which has been successfully applied to northern temperate peatlands. Tropical HPM (HPMTrop) is a one‐dimensional, nonlinear, dynamic model with a monthly time step that simulates peat mass remaining in annual peat cohorts over millennia as a balance between monthly vegetation inputs (litter) and monthly decomposition. Key model parameters were based on published data on vegetation characteristics, including net primary production partitioned into leaves, wood, and roots; and initial litter decomposition rates. HPMTrop outputs are generally consistent with field observations from Indonesia. Simulated long‐term carbon accumulation rates for 11 000‐year‐old inland, and 5 000‐year‐old coastal peatlands were about 0.3 and 0.59 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, and the resulting peat carbon stocks at the end of the 11 000‐year and 5 000‐year simulations were 3300 and 2900 Mg C ha−1, respectively. The simulated carbon loss caused by coastal peat swamp forest conversion into oil palm plantation with periodic burning was 1400 Mg C ha−1 over 100 years, which is equivalent to ~2900 years of C accumulation in a hectare of coastal peatlands.
Green Consumption, Ecolabelling and Capitalism's Environmental Limits
Authors: Scales Ivan R. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractGreen consumption attempts to reduce capitalism's environmental impacts by influencing consumer behaviour. It is based on the premise that consumers can be provided with information about the environmental conditions of production through ‘eco’ labels and brands, enabling them to make choices about their consumptive patterns. In response to the growth in green consumerism, there has been a flourishing theoretical and empirical body of work in a wide range of social science disciplines critiquing green consumption from a broadly Marxian perspective and raising questions about capitalism's environmental limits. In this paper, I explore how recent scholarship has advanced Marxian and Green Marxian theory and consider its implications for green consumerism. I focus on the following three arguments: (i) that capitalism's emphasis on profit and a relentless pursuit of economic growth tends to create a ‘metabolic rift’ so that people are increasingly separated, spatially and socially, from the ecosystems that support them; (ii) whilst green consumerism plays up the ability of individual consumers to influence production, power tends to lie with large producers and retailers; and (iii) whilst in principle green consumption empowers consumers by providing with them greater information about the conditions of production, it tends to obscure more fundamental problems such as the intensity of resource consumption.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Development in Africa: Issues and Possibilities
Authors: Idemudia Uwafiokun 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe literature on the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and development in Africa is only just emerging, and it is characterized by a wide range of diverse perspectives. While the analysis of the CSR‐development nexus in Africa has been particularly insightful, there is often the lack of sufficiently grounded systematically accumulated empirical evidence. However, central to the CSR‐development nexus debate in Africa is the disagreement over the reimagining of the role of business from being the cause to becoming a part of the solution to the problem of underdevelopment in the region. This paper critically examines the CSR‐development nexus literature in Africa and lays bare the controversies that have so far emerged. The article engages with the drivers of CSR, its dynamics and nature within Africa. It then examines the debate of whether or not contextual factors matters for CSR and its relationship with development. Crucially, it identifies differences between proponents of CSR is good for development and those that share opposing views at the conceptual, practical, and discourse levels. The paper concludes by considering the emerging issues and its implications for future research agenda.
Influence of different storage conditions on quality characteristics of seed material from semi‐natural grassland
Authors: Haslgrübler P. , Krautzer B. , Blaschka A. , Graiss W. , Pötsch E. M. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractNeither methodology nor guidelines are available for defining quality characteristics and storage conditions of seed material harvested from semi‐natural grassland. Seeds from an Arrhenatherion meadow were harvested via on‐site threshing and seed stripping. After determination of purity, thousand seed weight and pre‐tests in a phytotron, germination‐capacity trials were carried out in a greenhouse. The harvested seed material was stored for up to 3 years under different conditions: (i) room temperature 18–23°C, (ii) cooling chamber (2–5°C with 40–50% humidity) and (iii) freezer (−18°C). There was a significant impact of the tested harvesting methods on seed separation, thousand seed weight and purity, but not on the germination capacity. Different storage conditions and storage length significantly influenced the germination capacity. There were also generally higher germination values for the seed‐stripping material than the on‐site threshing material (ca. 70 and 60%, respectively, in the first year). Germination capacity decreased significantly with time and was <15% after 3 years. We conclude that harvested seed material from semi‐natural grassland should preferably be stored under cool conditions and used within 2 years.
Job satisfaction and perceived future roles of Malaysian dental therapists: findings from a national survey
Authors: Abu Bakar A , Mohd Nor NA , Ab‐Murat N , Jaafar N 
Published: July 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo assess Malaysian dental therapists' perceptions of their job satisfaction and future roles.MethodsA nationwide postal survey involving all Malaysian dental therapists who met the inclusion criteria (n = 1726).ResultsThe response rate was 76.8%. All respondents were females; mean age 35.4 years (SD = 8.4). Majority were married (85.5%) and more than one‐half had a working experience of <10 years (56.1%). Majority worked in community dental service (94.3%) and in urban areas (61.7%). Overall, they were highly satisfied with most aspects of their career. However, they were least satisfied with administrative workload (58.1%), career advancement opportunities (51.9%) and remuneration package; specifically income (45.2%), allowances (45.2%) and non‐commensurate between pay and performance (44.0%). Majority perceived their role as very important in routine clinical tasks such as examination and diagnosis, preventive treatment, extraction of deciduous teeth and oral health promotion. However, fewer than one‐half consider complex treatment such as placement of preformed crowns on deciduous teeth (37.1%) and extraction of permanent teeth (37.2%) as very important tasks.ConclusionMajority expressed high career satisfaction with most aspects of their employment but expressed low satisfaction in remuneration, lack of career advancement opportunities and administrative tasks. We conclude that most Malaysian dental therapists have positive perceptions of their current roles but do not favour wider expansion of their roles. These findings imply that there was a need to develop a more attractive career pathway for therapists to ensure sustainability of effective primary oral healthcare delivery system for Malaysia's children.
Prevention of tea‐induced extrinsic tooth stain
Authors: Lee RJ , Bayne A , Tiangco M , Garen G , Chow AK 
Published: July 2014

AbstractObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine whether the addition of milk to tea reduces the ability of tea to stain extracted human teeth and, if so, to ascertain the component of milk that is responsible for milk's stain reducing properties.MethodsExtracted human teeth were immersed in a tea solution, with the addition of 2% milk, 5.26% lactose, 2.7% casein or 10% fat‐free milk for 24 h at 37°C. A dental spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade Compact) was used to evaluate the colour of the teeth both before and after immersion in the tea solutions. Commission internationale de l’éclairage (CIE) L*a*b* colour space values were recorded, and the change in colour (ΔE*) was calculated. A two‐tailed t‐test or one‐way analysis of variance (anova) was used to determine whether there were statistical differences between groups.ResultsMilk significantly reduces the ability of tea to stain teeth (P = 0.0225), specifically in the L* and a* dimensions (P = 0.0182 and P = 0.0124, respectively) of the colour sphere. Casein, which makes up 80% of the protein content in bovine milk, is the component of milk that is responsible for significantly reducing tea's ability to stain teeth (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe addition of milk to tea significantly reduces the tea's ability to stain teeth. Casein was determined to be the component of milk that is responsible for preventing tea‐induced staining of teeth to a similar order of magnitude that can be obtained by vital bleaching treatments.
Oral health‐related resources ‐ a salutogenic perspective on Swedish 19‐year‐olds
Authors: Lindmark U , Abrahamsson KH 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe aim was to explore health‐oriented resources among 19‐year‐olds and, specifically, how these resources interact with oral health‐related attitudes and behaviour. To represent individuals with various psychosocial environments and socioeconomic areas, the participants were selected from different geographical locations of the Public Dental Service clinics in the county of Jönköping, Sweden. A structured questionnaire was distributed, including the instrument ‘sense of coherence’, for description of the study group, followed by a semi‐structured thematized interview. The qualitative method used for sampling and analyses was grounded theory. Data sampling and analysis were performed in parallel procedures and ended up in a sample of ten informants (five women). In the analysis of interview data, a core category was identified, ‘Resources of Wealth and Balance in Life – a Foundation for Healthy Choices’, describing the central meaning of the informants’ perceptions of resources with an essential beneficial impact on oral health. The core category was built on five themes, which in turn had various subthemes, describing different dimensions of resources interacting with beneficial oral health‐related attitudes and behaviour: ‘Security‐building Resources and Support’, ‘Driving force and Motivation’, ‘Maturity and Insight’, ‘Health Awareness’ and ‘Environmental influences.’ The results elucidate personal and environmental health‐oriented resources with influence on oral health‐related attitudes and behaviours of young individuals. Such beneficial recourses should be recognized by dental personnel to promote oral health.
Baseline Characteristics of the 4011 Patients Recruited into the ‘Efficacy of Nitric Oxide in Stroke’ (ENOS) Trial
Authors:   Investigators ENOS†, Bath Philip M. W. 
Published: July 2014

Background High blood pressure is common in acute stroke and associated with a worse functional outcome. Many patients who present with acute stroke are taking prescribed antihypertensive therapy before their stroke. Aims ENOS tested whether lowering blood pressure and continuing pre-stroke antihypertensive therapy are each safe and effective. Methods This study is an international multi-centre prospective randomized single-blind blinded-endpoint parallel-group partial-factorial controlled trial of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate (a nitric oxide donor, given for seven-days) vs. no glyceryl trinitrate, and of continuing vs. stopping (temporarily for seven-days) pre-stroke antihypertensive drugs if relevant, in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage and high systolic blood pressure (140–220 mmHg). Results Recruitment ran from July 2001 to October 2013. Four thousand eleven patients [2097 (52·3%) in the continue/stop arm] were recruited from 173 sites across 23 countries in 5 continents (Asia 14%, Continental Europe 16%, UK 64%). Baseline characteristics include: mean age 70 (standard deviation 12) years; male 57%; mean time from stroke to recruitment 26 ( 13 ) h; mean severity (Scandinavian Stroke Scale) 34 ( 13 ) of 58; mean blood pressure 167 ( 19 )/90 ( 13 ) mmHg; ischaemic stroke 83%; and intracerebral haemorrhage 16%. The main trial results will be presented in May 2014. The results will also be presented in updated Cochrane systematic reviews and included in individual patient data meta-analyses of all relevant randomized controlled trials. Conclusion ENOS is a large completed international trial of blood pressure management in acute stroke and includes patients representative of many stroke services worldwide.
Functional characterization of sex pheromone receptors in the purple stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker)
Authors: Zhang Y.‐N. , Zhang J. , Yan S.‐W. , Chang H.‐T. , Liu Y. , Wang G.‐R. , Dong S.‐L. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe sex pheromone communication system in moths is highly species‐specific and extremely sensitive, and pheromone receptors (PRs) are thought to be the most important factors in males. In the present study, three full‐length cDNAs encoding PRs were characterized from Sesamia inferens antennae. These three PRs were all male‐specific in expression, but their relative expression levels were very different; SinfOR29 was 17‐ to 23‐fold higher than the other two PRs. Phylogenetic and motif pattern analyses showed that these three PRs were allocated to different PR subfamilies with different motif patterns. Functional analysis using the heterologous expression system of Xenopus oocytes demonstrated that SinfOR29 specifically and sensitively responded to the major pheromone component, Z11‐16:OAc [concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC50) = 3.431 × 10−7 M], while SinfOR21 responded robustly to a minor pheromone component Z11‐16:OH (EC50 = 1.087 × 10−6 M). SinfOR27, however, displayed no response to any of the three pheromone components, but, interestingly, it was sensitive to a non‐sex pheromone component Z9,E12‐14:OAc (EC50 = 1.522 × 10−6 M). Our results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of specificity and sensitivity of the sex pheromone communication system in moths.
Odorant‐binding protein (OBP) genes affect host specificity in a fig–pollinator mutualistic system
Authors: Wang N. , Wang N. X. , Niu L. M. , Bian S. N. , Xiao J. H. , Huang D. W. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe interaction between figs and their pollinating wasps is regarded as a model system for studying specialized co‐evolved mutualism. Chemoreception of fig wasps plays an important role in this interaction, and odorant‐binding proteins (OBP) function in the first step of odorant detection. The OBP repertoire of the fig wasp Ceratosolen solmsi is reported to be one of the smallest among insects; however, it is unknown how these OBPs are related to the complicated mating process occurring within the fig cavity and the extreme host specificity of the species. In the present study, we combined a structural analysis of the conserved cysteine pattern and motif order, a phylogenetic analysis, and previous studies on ligand‐binding assays to deduce the function of OBPs. We also quantified the expression of OBP genes in different life stages of female and male fig wasps by using real‐time quantitative PCR, which can help to predict the function of these genes. The results indicated that CsolOBP1 and CsolOBP2 (or CsolOBP5) in males may bind to pheromones and play important roles in mate choice, whereas CsolOBP4 and CsolOBP5 may primarily function in host localization by females through binding of volatile compounds emitted by receptive figs.
Dengue virus up‐regulates expression of notch ligands Dll1 and Dll4 through interferon‐β signalling pathway
Authors: Li Yuye , Wu Siyu , Pu Jieying , Huang Xi , Zhang Ping 
Published: July 2014

SummaryThe Notch signalling pathway is involved in multiple cellular processes and has been recently indicated to modulate the host immune response. However, the role of the Notch pathway in dengue virus (DENV) infection remains unknown. Our study has screened the expression profile of Notch receptors, ligands and target genes in human monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells in response to DENV infection. The real‐time PCR data showed that Notch ligand Dll1 was significantly induced in DENV‐infected monocytes; and receptor Notch4, ligands Dll1 and Dll4, and target Hes1 were dramatically enhanced in DENV‐infected macrophages and dendritic cells. In macrophages, induction of Dll1 and Dll4 mediated by DENV2 was increased by treatment with interferon‐β (IFN‐β), and was impaired by neutralization of IFN‐β. The DENV‐induced Dll1 and Dll4 expression level was decreased by silencing key innate immune molecules, including Toll‐like receptor 3 (TLR3), MyD88, RIG‐I and IPS‐I. In IFN‐receptor‐depleted macrophages, the Dll1 and Dll4 induction was significantly alleviated. Functionally, activation of Notch signalling by Dll1 in CD4+ T cells enhanced the expression of a T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokine IFN‐γ, while Notch activation in macrophages had no direct effect on replication of DENV. Our data revealed that the expressions of Notch ligands in antigen‐presenting cells were differentially induced by DENV via innate immune signalling, which is important for Th1/Th2 differentiation during adaptive immune response.
Utility of snout wipe samples for influenza A virus surveillance in exhibition swine populations
Authors: Edwards Jody L. , Nelson Sarah W. , Workman Jeffrey D. , Slemons Richard D. , Szablewski Christine M. , Nolting Jacqueline M. , Bowman Andrew S. 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundSporadic influenza A virus (IAV) outbreaks in humans and swine have resulted from commingling of large numbers of people and pigs at agricultural fairs in the United States. Current antemortem IAV surveillance strategies in swine require collecting nasal swabs, which entails restraining pigs with snares. Restraint is labor‐intensive for samplers, stressful for pigs, and displeasing to onlookers because pigs often resist and vocalize.ObjectiveTo evaluate the utility of snout wipes in exhibition swine as a method to make IAV surveillance efforts less intrusive, less labor‐intensive, and more widely accepted among pig owners and exhibition officials.MethodsThree materials (rayon/polyester gauze, cotton gauze, and Swiffer® Sweeper dry cloths) were inoculated with IAV, and viral recoveries from these materials were quantified using qRT‐PCR and TCID50 assays. In a field trial, paired cotton gauze snout wipes and gold standard polyester‐tipped nasal swabs were collected from 553 pigs representing 29 agricultural fairs and the qualitative results of rRT‐PCR and viral isolation were compared.Results and ConclusionsViral recoveries from potential snout wipe materials ranged from 0·26 to 1·59 log10 TCID50/ml less than that of the positive control in which no substrate was included; rayon/polyester gauze performed significantly worse than the other materials. In the field, snout wipes and nasal swabs had high levels of agreement for both rRT‐PCR detection and virus isolation. Although further investigation and refinement of the sampling method is needed, results indicate that snout wipes will facilitate convenient and undisruptive IAV surveillance in pigs at agricultural fairs.