bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tumour necrosis factor‐α contributes to improved cardiac ischaemic tolerance in rats adapted to chronic continuous hypoxia
Authors: Chytilová A. , Borchert G. H. , Mandíková‐Alánová P. , Hlaváčková M. , Kopkan L. , Khan Md. A. Hye , Imig J. D. , Kolář F. , Neckář J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimIt has been demonstrated that tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) via its receptor 2 (TNFR2) plays a role in the cardioprotective effects of preconditioning. It is also well known that chronic hypoxia is associated with activation of inflammatory response. With this background, we hypothesized that TNF‐α signalling may contribute to the improved ischaemic tolerance of chronically hypoxic hearts.MethodsAdult male Wistar rats were kept either at room air (normoxic controls) or at continuous normobaric hypoxia (CNH; inspired O2 fraction 0.1) for 3 weeks; subgroups of animals were treated with infliximab (monoclonal antibody against TNF‐α; 5 mg kg−1, i.p., once a week). Myocardial levels of oxidative stress markers and the expression of selected signalling molecules were analysed. Infarct size (tetrazolium staining) was assessed in open‐chest rats subjected to acute coronary artery occlusion/reperfusion.ResultsCNH increased myocardial TNF‐α level and expression of TNFR2; this response was abolished by infliximab treatment. CNH reduced myocardial infarct size from 50.8 ± 4.3% of the area at risk in normoxic animals to 35.5 ± 2.4%. Infliximab abolished the protective effect of CNH (44.9 ± 2.0%). CNH increased the levels of oxidative stress markers (3‐nitrotyrosine and malondialdehyde), the expression of nuclear factor κB and manganese superoxide dismutase, while these effects were absent in infliximab‐treated animals. CNH‐elevated levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 were not affected by infliximab.ConclusionTNF‐α plays a role in the induction of ischaemia‐resistant cardiac phenotype of CNH rats, possibly via the activation of protective redox signalling.
Direct Likelihood Inference and Sensitivity Analysis for Competing Risks Regression with Missing Causes of Failure
Authors: Moreno-Betancur Margarita , Rey Grégoire , Latouche Aurélien 
Published: March 2015

SummaryCompeting risks arise in the analysis of failure times when there is a distinction between different causes of failure. In many studies, it is difficult to obtain complete cause of failure information for all individuals. Thus, several authors have proposed strategies for semi-parametric modeling of competing risks when some causes of failure are missing under the missing at random (MAR) assumption. As many authors have stressed, while semi-parametric models are convenient, fully-parametric regression modeling of the cause-specific hazards (CSH) and cumulative incidence functions (CIF) may be of interest for prediction and is likely to contribute towards a fuller understanding of the time-dynamics of the competing risks mechanism. We propose a so-called “direct likelihood” approach for fitting fully-parametric regression models for these two functionals under MAR. The MAR assumption not being verifiable from the observed data, we propose an approach for performing sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of inferences to departures from this assumption. The method relies on so-called “pattern-mixture models” from the missing data literature and was evaluated in a simulation study. This sensitivity analysis approach is applicable to various competing risks regression models (fully-parametric or semi-parametric, for the CSH or the CIF). We illustrate the proposed methods with the analysis of a breast cancer clinical trial, including suggestions for ad hoc graphical goodness-of-fit assessments under MAR.
Phylogeny of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae): integrating molecular and morphological evidence into a new classification
Authors: Yu Sheng‐Xiang , Janssens Steven B. , Zhu Xiang‐Yun , Lidén Magnus , Gao Tian‐Gang , Wang Wei 
Published: March 2015

AbstractImpatiens L. is one of the largest angiosperm genera, containing over 1000 species, and is notorious for its taxonomic difficulty. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the genus to date based on a total evidence approach. Forty‐six morphological characters, mainly obtained from our own investigations, are combined with sequence data from three genetic regions, including nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid atpB‐rbcL and trnL‐F. We include 150 Impatiens species representing all clades recovered by previous phylogenetic analyses as well as three outgroups. Maximum‐parsimony and Bayesian inference methods were used to infer phylogenetic relationships. Our analyses concur with previous studies, but in most cases provide stronger support. Impatiens splits into two major clades. For the first time, we report that species with three‐colpate pollen and four carpels form a monophyletic group (clade I). Within clade II, seven well‐supported subclades are recognized. Within this phylogenetic framework, character evolution is reconstructed, and diagnostic morphological characters for different clades and subclades are identified and discussed. Based on both morphological and molecular evidence, a new classification outline is presented, in which Impatiens is divided into two subgenera, subgen. Clavicarpa and subgen. Impatiens; the latter is further subdivided into seven sections.
Development of a conceptual framework of health‐related quality of life in locally recurrent rectal cancer
Authors: Harji D. P. , Koh C. , Solomon M. , Velikova G. , Sagar P. M. , Brown J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimThe surgical management of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) has become widely accepted to afford cure and improve quality of life in this subset of patients. Thus far, traditional surgical and oncological markers have been used to highlight the success of surgical intervention. The use of patient‐reported outcomes, specifically health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), is sparse in these patients. This may be in part due to the lack of well‐designed, validated instruments. This study identifies HRQoL issues relevant to patients undergoing surgery for LRRC, with the aim of developing a conceptual framework of HRQoL specific to LRRC to enable measurement of patient‐reported outcomes in this cohort of patients.MethodQualitative focus groups were undertaken at two institutions to identify relevant HRQoL themes. The principles of thematic content analysis were used to analysis data. NViVo10 was used to analyse data.ResultsTwenty‐one patients participated in six consecutive focus groups. Two patterns of themes emerged related to HRQoL and healthcare service delivery and utilization. Identified themes related to HRQoL included symptoms, sexual function, psychological impact, role and social functioning and future perspective. Under healthcare service and delivery and utilization the subdomain of disease management, treatment expectations and healthcare professionals were identified.ConclusionThis is the first qualitative study undertaken exclusively in patients with LRRC to ascertain relevant HRQoL outcomes. The impact of LRRC on patients is wide‐ranging and extends beyond traditional HRQoL outcomes. The study operationalizes the identified outcomes into a conceptual framework, which will provide the basis for the development of a LRRC‐specific patient‐reported outcome measure.
Therapy of pyoderma gangrenosum in Germany: results of a survey among wound experts
Authors: Al Ghazal Philipp , Dissemond Joachim 
Published: March 2015

SummaryBackgroundThere are currently no therapeutic guidelines with respect to pyoderma gangrenosum (PG).Material and methodsIn order to systematically record currently practiced therapeutic options for PG, a questionnaire was developed and sent to experts at various German dermatology departments.ResultsOverall, 50 fully completed questionnaires were returned to us. On average, the diagnosis of PG is made 15 times per year. Of these patients, 11.1 % receive only topical therapy; 22.7 %, exclusively systemic therapy; and 66.2 %, both topical and systemic immunomodulatory therapy. Topically, the experts most commonly use class III (78 %) and class IV corticosteroids (88 %). All experts (100 %) reported the frequent use of systemic corticosteroids in the therapy of PG patients. Cyclosporine is used in 74 %, TNF‐α inhibitors in 24 %, and azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil each in 20 % of patients. Systemic agents such as dapsone (16 %), intravenous immunoglobulins (14 %), methotrexate (6 %), cyclophosphamide (4 %), tacrolimus (4 %), and rituximab (2 %), however, are given less frequently.ConclusionsWorldwide, no uniformly accepted standard is available for the treatment of patients with PG. In our survey among experts, treatment regimens currently used in Germany, and based on expert clinical experience, have now been recorded, analyzed, and benchmarked for the first time.
Unique Option Pricing Measure with neither Dynamic Hedging nor Complete Markets
Authors: Taleb Nassim Nicholas 
Published: March 2015

AbstractProof that under simple assumptions, such as constraints of Put‐Call Parity, the probability measure for the valuation of a European option has the mean derived from the forward price which can, but does not have to be the risk‐neutral one, under any general probability distribution, bypassing the Black‐Scholes‐Merton dynamic hedging argument, and without the requirement of complete markets and other strong assumptions. We confirm that the heuristics used by traders for centuries are both more robust, more consistent, and more rigorous than held in the economics literature. We also show that options can be priced using infinite variance (finite mean) distributions.
Variations in the Broadband‐Business Connection across the Urban Hierarchy
Authors: Mack Elizabeth A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis study estimates econometric models to evaluate the linkage between broadband Internet connections and firms in counties across the urban hierarchy within the continentalU.S. Industry‐related variations in this relationship are also explored using varied definitions of the urban hierarchy. Model results indicate broadband presence in remote areas is not an explanatory factor of establishment presence. Results also suggest the manner in which the urban hierarchy is defined matters. Traditional metropolitan/nonmetropolitan and urban/rural splits of locales are insufficient to capture the geographic and industrial nuances behind this relationship.
Juvenile Migraine and Allodynia: Results of a Retrospective Study
Authors: Raieli Vincenzo , Trapolino Davide , Giordano Giuliana , Spitaleri Chiara , Consolo Flavia , Santangelo Giuseppe , Buffa Daniela , Vanadia Francesca , D'Amelio Marco 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundThere are only 2 small sample studies investigating allodynia in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of allodynia during cephalalgic attacks in a juvenile population with primary headaches and its association with other symptoms of migraine.MethodsWe reviewed all medical records of patients with primary headache consecutively seen during a 2‐year period. Frequency of allodynia was evaluated, by means of a questionnaire, consisting of 6 questions (for example: Do you avoid touching your head when you have a migraine attack?).ResultsTwo hundred thirty children suffering from primary headache were seen during the study period. Two hundred two children were affected by migraine, 28 (12.2%) by other primary headaches. Migraineurs significantly more frequently complained of allodynia compared to other primary headaches (37% vs 0%). At multivariate analysis, allodynia was significantly associated with pain aggravated by physical activity (adjusted odds ratio [ORa ] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0, 3.8), phonophobia (ORa 2.3, 95% CI 1.0, 5.1), and nausea (ORa 1.9, 95% CI 1.0, 3.7).ConclusionAccording to our data, allodynia is common during pediatric migraine attacks. The association between allodynia and physical activity, nausea and phonophobia are supported by studies on adult population and suggests specific physiopathological mechanisms.
Family Nurture Intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit improves social‐relatedness, attention, and neurodevelopment of preterm infants at 18 months in a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Welch Martha G. , Firestein Morgan R. , Austin Judy , Hane Amie A. , Stark Raymond I. , Hofer Myron A. , Garland Marianne , Glickstein Sara B. , Brunelli Susan A. , Ludwig Robert J. , Myers Michael M. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundPreterm infants are at high risk for adverse neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes. Family Nurture Intervention (FNI) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is designed to counteract adverse effects of separation of mothers and their preterm infants. Here, we evaluate effects of FNI on neurobehavioral outcomes.MethodsData were collected at 18 months corrected age from preterm infants. Infants were assigned at birth to FNI or standard care (SC). Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (Bayley‐III) were assessed for 76 infants (SC, n = 31; FNI, n = 45); the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for 57 infants (SC, n = 31; FNI, n = 26); and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M‐CHAT) was obtained for 59 infants (SC, n = 33; FNI, n = 26).ResultsFamily Nurture Intervention significantly improved Bayley‐III cognitive (p = .039) and language (p = .008) scores for infants whose scores were greater than 85. FNI infants had fewer attention problems on the CBCL (p < .02). FNI improved total M‐CHAT scores (p < .02). Seventy‐six percent of SC infants failed at least one of the M‐CHAT items, compared to 27% of FNI infants (p < .001). In addition, 36% of SC infants versus 0% of FNI infants failed at least one social‐relatedness M‐CHAT item (p < .001).ConclusionsFamily Nurture Intervention is the first NICU intervention to show significant improvements in preterm infants across multiple domains of neurodevelopment, social‐relatedness, and attention problems. These gains suggest that an intervention that facilitates emotional interactions between mothers and infants in the NICU may be key to altering developmental trajectories of preterm infants.
Biochar amendment to soils impairs developmental and reproductive performances of a major rice pest Nilaparvata lugens (Homopera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Hou X. , Meng L. , Li L. , Pan G. , Li B. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBiochar amendments to soils had aroused much interest for having potential for greenhouse gas mitigation, soil improvement and increased crop productivity. However, little attention had been focused on the influence of biochar amendments on herbivorous insect pests. This study investigated whether a biochar amendment affected developmental and reproductive performances of the rice brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) feeding on rice plants. The biochar from the pyrolysis of wheat straw was used for treatments of soils (from a fallow rice field), and the treated soils were applied to grow rice seedlings in small vials, in which N. lugens life history was observed. The nymphal development time was delayed and nymph‐to‐adult survival decreased with a high level of 200 g/kg biochar application. Herbivore lifetime fecundity decreased with increasing amounts of biochar, from 256 eggs under the control down to 69 eggs under the high level (200 g/kg) of biochar application. Egg‐hatching rate significantly decreased at the highest biochar level (200 g/kg), compared to the other lower biochar levels. Our results suggest that biochar amendment to rice fields may have negative impacts on the rice brown planthoppers when applied at level of 200 g/kg of soil.
Evaluating the Child Abuse and Neglect Institute: Does Training Affect Decision‐Making?
Authors: Sicafuse Lorie L. , Wood Steve M. , Summers Alicia , DeVault Alicia 
Published: March 2015

AbstractTraditionally, training evaluations have focused on participants' satisfaction and self‐reported knowledge gain. The current study uses a different approach to evaluate the Child Abuse and Neglect Institute (CANI), a training program designed to educate judicial officers on best practices in child abuse and neglect cases. CANI participants were asked to review a case scenario and render decisions about the case before and after the trainings. Findings suggest CANI has several positive impacts on judicial decision‐making, including an increased willingness to engage the father, an increased focus on the child, and increased motivation to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Recidivism and Psychiatric Symptom Outcomes in a Juvenile Mental Health Court
Authors: Ramirez Aaron M. , Andretta James R. , Barnes Michael E. , Woodland Malcolm H. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractFew researchers have examined outcomes in Juvenile Mental Health Courts. Recidivism rates were assessed among 108 predominantly African American (95.3%) youth. Ages ranged from 12 to 18 (M = 15.85, SD = 1.45). Substantially fewer re‐convictions, along with re‐arrests, were exhibited among the treatment group (n = 54) compared to the control group (n = 54) after one year of participation or probation supervision. Psychiatric symptomatology among 21 youth was assessed pre‐ and post‐ intervention using the Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales‐Self Report. Cohen's d effect sizes indicated substantial reductions in mental health symptoms (.33 ≥ d ≤ .88). Results are consistent with the previous studies of problem‐solving court efficacy.
Efficacy of Ultraviolet‐C Light to Eliminate Staphylococcus Aureus on Precooked Shredded Bullfrog Back Meat
Authors: Silva H.L.A. , Costa M.P. , Frasao B.S. , Mesquita E.F.M. , Mello S.C.R.P. , Conte‐Junior C.A. , Franco R.M. , Miranda Z.B. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultraviolet (UV)‐C treatment on the decrease of the inoculated Staphylococcus aureus population in precooked shredded bullfrog meat. The precooked meat was inoculated with 8 log cfu/g of S. aureus. The packaged bullfrog's back meat was then exposed to low (0.65 mW/s/cm2), medium (1.04 mW/s/cm2) and high (1.68 mW/s/cm2) UV‐C intensities over different time intervals (60, 100 and 140 s). A reduction of 3 log cfu/g was observed in all treatments when compared with the inoculated but nonirradiated treatment (T0). All the UV‐C treatments of bullfrog's back meat used in this study reduced the S. aureus count (P < 0.05). However, this decrease was not statistically significant between each UV‐C treatment. Due to its effectiveness in log reduction, UV‐C light technology can be utilized for this type of bacteria reduction in the precooked shredded bullfrog back meat industry.Practical ApplicationsIn this work, we studied the effect of short‐wavelength ultraviolet (UV)‐C light to reduce Staphylococcus aureus levels in precooked shredded bullfrog back meat. First, this study contributes knowledge about the use of a nonthermal technology as a pathogen‐reduction step in exotic meat. Second, the UV‐C is presented as a fast, practical and inexpensive method and does not change the industrial flow. Lastly, the data showed that there was a significant reduction of these bacteria in precooked shredded bullfrog back meat and suggests that it can be effectively applied in the bullfrog meat industry.
Vaspin: a new adipokine correlating the levels of crevicular fluid and tear fluid in periodontitis and obesity
Authors: Pradeep Avani Raju , Karvekar Shruti , Nagpal Kanika , Patnaik Kaushik 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimIn the present study, we investigated the levels of vaspin in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and tear fluid in obese patients with chronic periodontitis (CP), and sought to find an association, if any.MethodsForty patients (20 males and 20 females) with moderate–severe CP were selected based on their clinical parameters of gingival index, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference, and divided into four groups (n = 10/group): group 1 (healthy non‐obese), group 2 (healthy obese), group 3 (non‐obese with CP), and group 4 (obese with CP). GCF and tear fluid vaspin levels were estimated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe mean vaspin concentration both in GCF and tear fluid was greater for group 4 (1.84 ± 0.03) and (1.98 ± 0.08), followed by groups 3 (1.35 ± 0.03 and 1.50 ± 0.06), 2 (0.95 ± 0.26 and 1.27 ± 0.51), and then 1 (0.65 ± 0.02 and 0.75 ± 0.02), respectively. Mean vaspin levels correlated with BMI, CAL, and PD. The association between GCF and tear fluid vaspin concentration was also statistically significant (P < 0.001).ConclusionVaspin can be a novel biomarker connecting inflammatory marker for the systemic inflammatory response in obesity and CP.
Quantifying the cellular uptake of semiconductor quantum dot nanoparticles by analytical electron microscopy
Authors: HONDOW NICOLE , BROWN M. ROWAN , STARBORG TOBIAS , MONTEITH ALEXANDER G. , BRYDSON RIK , SUMMERS HUW D. , REES PAUL , BROWN ANDY 
Published: March 2015

SummarySemiconductor quantum dot nanoparticles are in demand as optical biomarkers yet the cellular uptake process is not fully understood; quantification of numbers and the fate of internalized particles are still to be achieved. We have focussed on the characterization of cellular uptake of quantum dots using a combination of analytical electron microscopies because of the spatial resolution available to examine uptake at the nanoparticle level, using both imaging to locate particles and spectroscopy to confirm identity. In this study, commercially available quantum dots, CdSe/ZnS core/shell particles coated in peptides to target cellular uptake by endocytosis, have been investigated in terms of the agglomeration state in typical cell culture media, the traverse of particle agglomerates across U‐2 OS cell membranes during endocytosis, the merging of endosomal vesicles during incubation of cells and in the correlation of imaging flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy to measure the final nanoparticle dose internalized by the U‐2 OS cells. We show that a combination of analytical transmission electron microscopy and serial block face scanning electron microscopy can provide a comprehensive description of the internalization of an initial exposure dose of nanoparticles by an endocytically active cell population and how the internalized, membrane bound nanoparticle load is processed by the cells. We present a stochastic model of an endosome merging process and show that this provides a data‐driven modelling framework for the prediction of cellular uptake of engineered nanoparticles in general.