bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clobetasol propionate vs. mometasone furoate in 1‐year proactive maintenance therapy of vulvar lichen sclerosus: results from a comparative trial
Authors: Corazza M. , Borghi A. , Minghetti S. , Toni G. , Virgili A. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundTwice‐weekly proactive application of mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment (MMF) over 52 weeks was found to be an effective and safe therapy option in maintaining vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) remission and in preventing relapse.ObjectiveTo assess and compare the effectiveness and safety of two different topical corticosteroids, clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment (CP) and MMF, administered twice weekly as a maintenance therapy of VLS previously stabilized with a topical corticosteroid course.MethodsForty‐eight patients affected with VLS who had responded to therapy with either CP or MMF in an earlier 12‐week randomized active treatment phase trial were enroled in a 52‐week maintenance phase (MP) to apply their previous treatment twice weekly. The main efficacy parameters were the relapse rate, the mean time of relapse, and the change in symptom and sign severity throughout MP.ResultsBy the end of the 52‐week MP, 2 (8.33%) subjects among the CP patients and 1 (4.17%) among the MMF patients experienced a relapse; among relapsing patients the mean time to relapse was 30 weeks. Neither subjective nor objective scores changed significantly during MP among CP and MMF patients. No significant differences were found in any of the assessed efficacy endpoints between CP and MMF. Both treatments were well tolerated and the proactive regimen was judged as convenient by patients.ConclusionsProactive application of the ultra‐potent CP and the potent MMF was found to be an effective, safe and suitable maintenance treatment for long‐term management of VLS. There were no differences between the two corticosteroids.
Modulation of tamoxifen-induced hepatotoxicity by tamoxifen–phospholipid complex
Authors: Jena Sunil K , Suresh Sarasija , Sangamwar Abhay T 
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Objectives
Tamoxifen (TMX), a non-steroidal antiestrogen is a first-line drug in the treatment and prevention of all stages of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. However, oxidative liver damage and hepatocarcinoma are the major problems associated with its long-term clinical use. The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of phospholipid against TMX-induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods
Fifteen female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups with five rats in each group. Group I received only standard diet and distilled water for 28 days and served as normal. Group II received TMX per day p.o., for 28 days and served as control, and group III received TMX–phospholipid complex (TMX–PLC) per day p.o., for 28 days. Rats were examined for the effect of phospholipid on TMX-induced depletion of antioxidant enzymes, serum biochemical parameters and induction of lipid peroxidation.

Key findings
Treatment with TMX–PLC significantly ameliorates the TMX-induced hepatotoxicity by diminishing the toxicity markers such lipid peroxidation, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase, accompanied by an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity in TMX-treated rats. Histological findings further confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of phospholipid.

Conclusions
Data of the present study suggests that phospholipid may prove as a useful component of combination therapy in cancer patients under the TMX treatment regimen.
Biased Social Perceptions of Knowledge: Implications for Negotiators' Rapport and Egocentrism
Authors: Lee David S. , Moeller Scott J. , Kopelman Shirli , Ybarra Oscar 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis study examines how people manage uncertain competitive social interactions. To achieve positive interaction outcomes, individuals may engage in a social perception process that leads them to believe they have obtained more information about others than these others gained about them. We investigate how asymmetric knowledge perceptions contribute to important aspects of negotiation, namely rapport building among strangers and egocentric beliefs about fairness of resource distribution. In Study 1, dyads completed measures of knowledge acquisition and partner evaluation after a rapport‐building exercise. Results showed that individuals believed they gained more information about their partner than vice versa; notably, the magnitude of this knowledge bias was associated with more positive partner evaluations. Study 2 showed that the magnitude of the knowledge bias predicted lower egocentrism in a commons dilemma task. Together, these results suggest knowledge asymmetries facilitate rapport among strangers and may have important implications for cooperation in competitive negotiation settings.
Ghrelin receptors as targets for novel motility drugs
Authors: Sessenwein J. L. , Lomax A. E. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractConstipation arises from a multitude of causes, including aging, spinal cord injury (SCI), and dietary issues. The heterogeneity of inciting factors has made the treatment of constipation particularly challenging. Agonists of ghrelin receptors have beneficial effects on delayed gastric emptying, but less is known about their ability to improve colorectal motility. Recent publications indicate that the activation of the ghrelin receptors in the spinal cord can alleviate constipation due to dietary causes, Parkinsonism, and SCI in rodents. Ghrelin‐responsive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the lumbosacral spinal cord can activate enteric microcircuits that coordinate propulsive colorectal contractions, leading to defecation. Learning more about the properties of neurons in the spinal defecation center and the roles of ghrelin receptors in the defecation reflex will accelerate the development of improved treatments of constipation.
Spatiotemporal modelling of hormonal crosstalk explains the level and patterning of hormones and gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana wild‐type and mutant roots
Authors: Moore Simon , Zhang Xiaoxian , Mudge Anna , Rowe James H. , Topping Jennifer F. , Liu Junli , Lindsey Keith 
Published: April 2015

Summary

Patterning in Arabidopsis root development is coordinated via a localized auxin concentration maximum in the root tip, requiring the regulated expression of specific genes. However, little is known about how hormone and gene expression patterning is generated.

Using a variety of experimental data, we develop a spatiotemporal hormonal crosstalk model that describes the integrated action of auxin, ethylene and cytokinin signalling, the POLARIS protein, and the functions of PIN and AUX1 auxin transporters. We also conduct novel experiments to confirm our modelling predictions.

The model reproduces auxin patterning and trends in wild‐type and mutants; reveals that coordinated PIN and AUX1 activities are required to generate correct auxin patterning; correctly predicts shoot to root auxin flux, auxin patterning in the aux1 mutant, the amounts of cytokinin, ethylene and PIN protein, and PIN protein patterning in wild‐type and mutant roots. Modelling analysis further reveals how PIN protein patterning is related to the POLARIS protein through ethylene signalling. Modelling prediction of the patterning of POLARIS expression is confirmed experimentally.

Our combined modelling and experimental analysis reveals that a hormonal crosstalk network regulates the emergence of patterns and levels of hormones and gene expression in wild‐type and mutants.
THE MITRA‐WAN FORESTRY MODEL: A DISCRETE‐TIME OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEM
Authors: LAURA‐GUARACHI LEONARDO R. , HERNÁNDEZ‐LERMA ONÉSIMO 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn this paper, we present some new properties of the Mitra‐Wan forestry model written as a discrete‐time optimal control problem. For this problem, the set of stationary states is characterized. For the optimal long‐run management, we consider the following optimality criteria: average optimality, good control policies, bias optimality, and overtaking optimality. We establish relationships between these criteria and show that the value of average optimal policies is constant and equals the value in the optimal stationary state.
Therapeutic effect of Avonex, Rebif and Betaferon on quality of life in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Mokhber Naghmeh , Azarpazhooh Amir , Orouji Elias , Khorram Bita , Modares Gharavi Morteza , Kakhi Sorayya , Khallaghi Hoda , Azarpazhooh Mahmoud Reza 
Published: April 2015

AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of various disease‐modifying therapies (DMT) on quality of life in multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsThis was a three‐arm parallel study with balanced randomization in which 90 newly diagnosed, definite MS subjects referred to Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad, Iran were enrolled between 2006 and 2009. Patients were randomly allocated into three DMT groups: Avonex, Rebif and Betaferon. Health‐related quality of life was assessed in MS patients at baseline and 12 months after treatment with DMT using the MS Quality of Life‐54 questionnaire.ResultsBoth mental and physical health scores improved within all three treatment groups after 12 months of treatment; however, this increase was only significant in the mental health composite in the Betaferon group (P = 0.024). Betaferon had the highest mental health score change (14.04) while this change was 7.26 for Avonex (P = 0.031) and 5.08 for Rebif (P = 0.017). A physical health composite score comparison among the three treatment groups revealed no significant results.ConclusionsWith a positive impact of DMT on mental and physical dimensions of QOL in MS patients, initiation of treatment soon after diagnosis is recommended. In MS patients with more mental issues and fewer physical disabilities, Betaferon might be considered as a better choice of treatment.
Similar outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation from unrelated donor and umbilical cord blood vs. sibling donor for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: Multicenter experience in China
Authors: Tang Xiangfeng , Chen Jing , Fang Jianpei , Sun Xin , Qin Mao Quan , Li Junhui , Zhu Yiping , Luan Zuo 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn a multicenter study, we have conducted a retrospective study on 73 pediatric AML patients who were primary refractory or in greater than CR1 and investigated MSD (or MMSD) (n = 20), URD (n = 23), and UCB (n = 30) HCT between January 1998 and October 2009. The median day to neutrophil engraftment was similar in all groups. The median day to platelet engraftment was longer in the UCB group. The number of HLA mismatch was higher in the UCB group (p = 0.034); however, the cumulative incidence of grade III–IV aGVHD was not different among all groups (p = 0.125); furthermore, cGVHD was lower in the UCB group (p = 0.078). The risk of relapse did not differ among all groups (RR = 1.28, p = 0.125), but the patients of MSD (or MMSD) grafts had a trend of higher risk recurrence. Sixty‐two patients survived with a median follow‐up of 58.2 months. Five‐yr LFS was 73.1%, 59.8%, and 59.6% for URD, UCB, and MSD (or MMDS), respectively (p = 0.426). Five‐yr LFS in CR1 was 68.9%, with a significantly better result compared to 41.7% in CR2 (p = 0.025). Our comparisons suggest that pediatric AML patients receiving UCB had a higher early TRM, a lower cGVHD rate, and a similar long‐term survival. The outcome of URD and UCB is comparable to that of a suitable sibling for pediatric AML.
Salicylic and jasmonic acid pathways are necessary for defence against Dickeya solani as revealed by a novel method for Blackleg disease screening of in vitro grown potato
Authors: Burra D. D. , Mühlenbock P. , Andreasson E. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPotato is major crop ensuring food security in Europe, and blackleg disease is increasingly causing losses in yield and during storage. Recently, one blackleg pathogen, Dickeya solani has been shown to be spreading in Northern Europe that causes aggressive disease development. Currently, identification of tolerant commercial potato varieties has been unsuccessful; this is confounded by the complicated etiology of the disease and a strong environmental influence on disease development. There is currently a lack of efficient testing systems. Here, we describe a system for quantification of blackleg symptoms on shoots of sterile in vitro potato plants, which saves time and space compared to greenhouse and existing field assays. We found no evidence for differences in infection between the described in vitro‐based screening method and existing greenhouse assays. This system facilitates efficient screening of blackleg disease response of potato plants independent of other microorganisms and variable environmental conditions. We therefore used the in vitro screening method to increase understanding of plant mechanisms involved in blackleg disease development by analysing disease response of hormone‐ related (salicylic and jasmonic acid) transgenic potato plants. We show that both jasmonic (JA) and salicylic (SA) acid pathways regulate tolerance to blackleg disease in potato, a result unlike previous findings in Arabidopsis defence response to necrotrophic bacteria. We confirm this by showing induction of a SA marker, pathogenesis‐related protein 1 (StPR1), and a JA marker, lipoxygenase (StLOX), in Dickeya solani infected in vitro potato plants. We also observed that tubers of transgenic potato plants were more susceptible to soft rot compared to wild type, suggesting a role for SA and JA pathways in general tolerance to Dickeya.
Is Leadership in the Eye of the Beholder? A Study of Intended and Perceived Leadership Practices and Organizational Performance
Authors: Jacobsen Christian Bøtcher , Bøgh Andersen Lotte 
Published: April 2015

AbstractLeadership is a matter of both intentions and perceptions, which do not necessarily always match. Because employees’ motivation and commitment are only affected by leadership if they notice it, employee‐perceived leadership is expected to have a stronger correlation with organizational performance than leader‐intended leadership. This expectation is tested for transformational and transactional leadership, as both types of practices are expected to increase performance. Using a sample of 1,621 teachers and 79 Danish high school principals, the authors find that leader‐intended and employee‐perceived transformational and transactional leadership are only weakly correlated and that only employee‐perceived leadership practices (both transformational and transactional) are significantly related to objectively measured school performance. The results show that it is important to distinguish between intended and perceived leadership and that leaders should be aware of how their practices are perceived.
Connecting Social Psychology and the Sociology of Sport: Using Goffman as a Framework for Sociological Sports Research
Authors: Peterson Gretchen 
Published: April 2015

AbstractResearch on the sociology of sports has much to contribute to public discourse on sports and is well positioned to do so through the connection between sociology of sports and social psychology. This article uses the work of Erving Goffman () as a framework for situating research in the sociology of sports into the themes of courage and gameness, integrity, and composure. This framework provides a way of organizing research in the field and also highlights areas where further research is needed.
Government Spending, Shocks, and the Role of Legislature Size: Evidence from the American States*
Authors: Hankins William B. 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveI examine the relationship between legislature size and several components of government spending using a methodology that allows me to estimate how legislature size influences the fiscal response to shocks that are common to all states.MethodI use nonlinear least squares on a panel of 48 of the 50 American states over the period 1978–2008.ResultsI find little evidence that states with larger than average lower or upper chambers experience a larger change in spending per capita in the presence of a shock. I do find a positive relationship between lower chamber size and the first difference of welfare spending per capita, but this increase is partially offset by a negative relationship between upper chamber size and welfare spending.ConclusionThese results are consistent with the interest groups theory of government, which states that larger legislatures can be associated with lobbying and bargaining costs that may have offsetting effects.
Marr's Levels Revisited: Understanding How Brains Break
Authors: Hardcastle Valerie G. , Hardcastle Kiah 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWhile the research programs in early cognitive science and artificial intelligence aimed to articulate what cognition was in ideal terms, much research in contemporary computational neuroscience looks at how and why brains fail to function as they should ideally. This focus on impairment affects how we understand David Marr's hypothesized three levels of understanding. In this essay, we suggest some refinements to Marr's distinctions using a population activity model of cortico‐striatal circuitry exploring impulsivity and behavioral inhibition as a case study. In particular, we urge that Marr's computational level should be redefined to include a description of how systems break down. We also underscore that feed‐forward processing, cognition disconnected from behavioral context, and representations do not always drive cognition in the way that Marr originally assumed.
Use of 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative PCR to correlate venous leg ulcer bacterial bioburden dynamics with wound expansion, antibiotic therapy, and healing
Authors: Sprockett Daniel D. , Ammons Christine G. , Tuttle Marie S. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTClinical diagnosis of infection in chronic wounds is currently limited to subjective clinical signs and culture‐based methods that underestimate the complexity of wound microbial bioburden as revealed by DNA‐based microbial identification methods. Here, we use 16S rRNA next generation sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to characterize weekly changes in bacterial load, community structure, and diversity associated with a chronic venous leg ulcer over the 15‐week course of treatment and healing. Our DNA‐based methods and detailed sampling scheme reveal that the bacterial bioburden of the wound is unexpectedly dynamic, including changes in the bacterial load and community structure that correlate with wound expansion, antibiotic therapy, and healing. We demonstrate that these multidimensional changes in bacterial bioburden can be summarized using swabs taken prior to debridement, and therefore, can be more easily collected serially than debridement or biopsy samples. Overall, this case illustrates the importance of detailed clinical indicators and longitudinal sampling to determine the pathogenic significance of chronic wound microbial dynamics and guide best use of antimicrobials for improvement of healing outcomes.
Exercise‐induced changes in tumour LDH‐B and MCT1 expression are modulated by oestrogen‐related receptor alpha in breast cancer‐bearing BALB/c mice
Authors: Aveseh Malihe , Nikooie Rohollah , Aminaie Mohsen 
Published: April 2015

Key points
Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH‐A) play important roles in sustaining the glycolytic phenotype seen in cancer.
Endurance training improves aerobic capacity; however, whether endurance training alters the metabolic phenotype of a solid tumour, from the perspective of lactate metabolism, is yet to be proven.
This study showed that endurance training decreases expression of the MCT1 basigin (CD147) and LDH‐A , and also increases LDH‐B expression in solid tumours and attenuates tumour lactate metabolism.
Similar results for MCT1 and LDH‐B were found with inhibition of the oestrogen‐related receptor alpha (ERRα). The training effects were not additive to the ERRα effects on MCT1 and LDH‐B expression in the tumour, which indicated that exercise‐induced alterations in MCT1 and LDH‐B expression were modulated by ERRα.
These results suggest that endurance training could be a useful tool in cancer therapy, especially in basal‐like and luminal‐like breast carcinomas.
AbstractSeveral factors, including overexpression of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), promote an aerobic lactate production that allows some cancer cells to sustain higher proliferation rates in hostile environments outside the cell. To elucidate the effect of endurance training on the metabolic phenotype of solid tumours, we focused on the tumour expression of LDH‐A, LDH‐B, MCT1, MCT4, oestrogen‐related receptor alpha (ERRα) and LDH isozymes in control (C), trained (T), control+XCT790 (CX) and trained+XCT790 (TX) mice. First, we found that the metabolically altered tumours from the trained animals exhibited lower values for lactate concentration than the control group. The decreased lactate concentration was associated with a shift in the tumour LDH isozyme profile towards LDH‐1. These exercise‐induced changes were also associated with decreases in the expression of the tumour MCT1, ERRα and CD147 in the trained animals. Secondly, the inhibition of ERRα by treatment of MC4‐L2 human breast cancer cells with XCT790 (inverse agonist ligand of ERRα) before injection into the animals not only increased LDH‐B expression in the tumour, but also decreased MCT1 expression in the CX group in comparison to the C group. The effects of ERRα inhibition were not additive to the training effects on the expressions of MCT1 and LDH‐B in the solid tumours. In conclusion, our results suggest that exercise‐induced suppression of ERRα expression modulates alterations in solid tumour expression of LDH‐B and MCT1 and contributes towards the prevention of tumour development.
Internal Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer Problems Associated to Film Cooling of Gas Turbines
Authors: Le Grivès Emile , Nicolas J.-J. , Génot Jeanne 
Published: April 2015

Heat transfer and aerodynamic processes within coolant ducts and film emission holes of high temperature gas turbine components have been investigated at ONERA by means of specially devised test rigs affording an adequate similitude of geometrical or aerothermal parameters. Results obtained in tests at steady or transient thermal regime are reported for several points of interest concerning internal coolant circuits:
• Heat transfer through multihole parts of turbine airfoils
• Aerodynamics of flows within perforated ducts, with special attention to coolant mass flow distribution, to pressure losses and heat transfer coefficients in small or scaled up turbine blade models
• Heat transfer over a perforated wall, with mass transfer of the coolant flow through holes of various patterns and pitch-to-diameter ratio.
Experimental data are discussed in regard to desired accuracy for the analysis of heat transfer in air-cooled gas turbines, except for the effects of rotation.
Human Invasive Muscular Sarcocystosis Induces Th2 Cytokine Polarization and Biphasic Cytokine Changes, Based on an Investigation among Travelers Returning from Tioman Island, Malaysia
Authors: Tappe Dennis , Slesak Günther , Pérez-Girón José Vicente , Schäfer Johannes , Langeheinecke Andreas , Just-Nübling Gudrun , Muñoz-Fontela César , Püllmann Kerstin 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Sarcocystis nesbitti
is a parasite responsible for a biphasic eosinophilic febrile myositis syndrome in two recent outbreaks in Malaysia. We demonstrate Th2 cytokine polarization in infected travelers, an overall cytokine production decrease in the early phase of the disease suggestive of initial immunosuppression, and elevated levels of proinflammatory and chemotactic cytokines in the later myositic phase.