bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Some Simple Tests of the Globalization and Inflation Hypothesis*
Authors: Ihrig Jane , Kamin Steven B. , Lindner Deborah , Marquez Jaime 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis paper evaluates the hypothesis that globalization has increased the role of international factors and decreased the role of domestic factors in the inflation process in industrial economies. Towards that end, we estimate standard Phillips curve inflation equations for 11 industrial countries and use these estimates to test several predictions of the globalization and inflation hypothesis. Our results provide little support for this hypothesis. First, the estimated effect of foreign output gaps on domestic consumer price inflation is generally insignificant and often of the wrong sign. Second, we find no evidence that the trend decline in the sensitivity of inflation to the domestic output gap observed in many countries owes to globalization. Finally, and most surprisingly, our econometric results indicate no increase over time in the responsiveness of inflation to import prices for most countries.
Identifying the Effect of the Bank of Japan's Liquidity Facilities: The Case of Commercial Paper Operations During the Financial Turmoil*
Authors: Hirose Yasuo , Ohyama Shinsuke 
Published: December 2010

AbstractHow do we evaluate the effects of unconventional monetary policy measures? To answer this question, we propose a simple structural model that enables us to identify the effects of liquidity facilities during financial turmoil. Specifically, we develop a model that examines the effects of the Bank of Japan's (BoJ's) commercial paper (CP) operations on the CP primary market. On the basis of the structural model, we measure the effects of CP operations as differences between the actual rates in the primary market and the counterfactual rates without the operations, and decompose the effects into three factors. We apply our model to identifying the effects of CP operations from October 2008 to May 2009, including the period after the BoJ introduced the outright purchase of CP and its special funds‐supplying operation accepting CPs as collateral in addition to the CP repo operation. Our results suggest that the CP repo operation and the outright purchase of CP had marked effects initially; however, these effects were subdued subsequently. Moreover, the effects of the special funds‐supplying operation were substantial and persistent from January to April 2009.
Avène Thermal Spring Water: an active component with specific properties
Authors: Merial‐Kieny C , Castex‐Rizzi N , Selas B , Mery S , Guerrero D 
Published: December 2010

AbstractAvène Thermal Spring Water (TSW) is a natural active component characterized by a low mineral content. In vitro experiments have demonstrated the effect of Avène TSW on membrane fluidity, its antiradical and anti‐inflammatory properties, its effects on many mediators involved in the immune response and its stimulating effect on keratinocyte differentiation.  The clinical efficacy of the water was demonstrated at the hydrotherapy centre in chronic and disabling diseases such as atopic dermatitis but also in various settings in medical and post dermatology procedure such as photodynamic therapy or photothermolysis.  All these data support the fact that the Avène TSW is an active component.
Inhibition of TNF‐alpha induced‐adhesion molecules by Avène Thermal Spring Water in human endothelial cells
Authors: Castex‐Rizzi N , Charveron M , Merial‐Kieny C 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackground  Cell adhesion molecules, such as E‐selectin or intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1), play an important role in mediating leucocyte capture and rolling on the surface of blood vessels in atopic skin. The effectiveness of Avène hydrotherapy in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis has previously been demonstrated. Thus, we examined the effect of Avène Thermal Spring Water (TSW) on adhesion molecules to understand its mechanism of action.Methods  Human endothelial cells EA.hy926 were treated with tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) in the presence or not of Avène TSW during 4 h. As nuclear factor ‐κB (NF‐κB) is involved in the signalisation of inflammatory mediators such as the adhesion molecules, the translocation of NF‐κB in endothelial cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry with anti‐NF‐κBp65. The protein and mRNA levels of TNFα‐induced ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin were assessed by ELISA assay and RT‐PCR. These adhesion molecules were also detected by immunohistochemistry.Results  Tumour necrosis factor‐α induced the activation of p65 NF‐κB nuclear translocation. TNFα also induced E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 in a dose‐dependant manner in EA.hy926 endothelial cells. In the presence of Avène TSW, a significant inhibition of the TNFα‐induced E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 expression (−22% and −7%, respectively, P < 0.05) was observed.Conclusion  These data suggest that Avène TSW mediated inhibition of TNFα‐induced E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 expression. The inhibition of such adhesion molecules is attributable to the suppression of NF‐κB transcription factor pathway activation.
Impact of Avène hydrotherapy on the quality of life of atopic and psoriatic patients
Authors: Taieb C , Sibaud V , Merial‐Kieny C 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackground  Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis engender a significant deterioration in patients’ quality of life. Although the efficacy of patient management at the Avène hydrotherapy centre has been demonstrated by clinical studies, few data relating to changes in the quality of life following therapeutic management are available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short‐ and medium‐term effects of hydrotherapy not only on the patients’ quality of life, but also on the quality of life of the parents of the treated children.Methods  In this 6‐month longitudinal observational study, adult (n = 174) and paediatric (n = 212) atopic patients and psoriatic patients (n = 262) had to complete questionnaires relating to the quality of life at the beginning (D0) and after 3 weeks hydrotherapy (W3), and then, 3 (M3) and 6 months (M6) later. The dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and the Short‐Form‐12 Health Survey (SF‐12) generic questionnaire were given to adult patients. The children’s dermatological life quality index (CDLQI) was given to paediatric patients, and the SF‐12 to their parents.Results  At D0, the DLQI score was 29.7 ± 20.1 and 26.9 ± 18.9 for atopic and psoriatic patients, respectively. At W3, this score had decreased significantly to reach 16.8 ± 14.9 (P < 0.01) and 10.0 ± 10.5 (P < 0.001) for atopic and psoriatic patients, respectively. The DLQI scores at M3 and M6 were 20.7 ± 16.4 and 23.1 ± 18.8 for atopic patients and 18.8 ± 16.7 and 21.9 ± 19.6 for psoriatic patients and remained significantly lower in comparison with D0 values (P < 0.05).Conclusion  A 3‐week course of treatment at the Avène hydrotherapy centre significantly improved the quality of life of patients suffering from skin diseases. This improvement persisted 3 and 6 months after management by hydrotherapy.
Usefulness of TrichoScan professional in the evaluation of hair loss in females. Report of 180 cases
Authors: López V. , Martín J.M. , Sánchez R. , Ortega C. , Ricart J.M. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackground  TrichoScan Professional is a computerized program used for digital measurement of hair growth and hair loss. The aim of our study was to undertake an evaluation with TrichoScan Professional of female patients consulting at our hospitals for hair loss. The purpose of our study was to determine whether TrichoScan was able to identify differences in hair parameters that would correlate with the pattern of alopecia or according to the age of the patients evaluated.Material and methods  One hundred‐eighty women that consulted consecutively for loss of hair were included. Patients were aged between 8 and 85 years (mean age 36 years). Data including age, the number of hairs, hair density per square centimetre, anagen and telogen percentage and percentage of terminal and miniaturized hair were analysed.Results  Results observed with TrichoScan were as below: number of hairs (mean 154.9; range 34–316). Hair density per square centimetre (mean 239; range 52–486). Hair in anagen phase (mean 62.4%; range 9–93%). Hair in telogen phase (mean 37.4%; range 7–91%). Terminal hair (mean 95.2%; range 82–100%). Vellus hair (mean 4.7%; range 0–17%). Pearson′s correlation test was used to measure the strength of the association of age with the rest of parameters. The statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between age and both the number of hairs and the hair density per square centimetre. However, no significant correlation between age and rest of the parameters was observed.Conclusions  TrichoScan Professional may help to quantify hair density and in our sample, this was the only parameter showing a significant decrease according to age in various types of alopecia affecting the females.
Physiological and cellular aspects of phytotoxicity tolerance in plants: the role of membrane transporters and implications for crop breeding for waterlogging tolerance
Authors: Shabala Sergey 
Published: December 2010

SummaryWaterlogging affects large areas of agricultural land, resulting in severe economic penalties because of massive losses in crop production. Traditionally, plant breeding for waterlogging tolerance has been based on the field assessment of a range of agronomic and morphological characteristics. This review argues for a need to move towards more physiologically based approaches by targeting specific cellular mechanisms underling key components of waterlogging tolerance in plants. Also, while the main focus of researchers was predominantly on plant anoxia tolerance, less attention was given to plant tolerance to phytotoxins under waterlogged conditions. This paper reviews the production of major elemental and organic phytotoxins in waterlogged soils and describes their adverse effects on plant performance. The critical role of plasma membrane transporters in plant tolerance to secondary metabolite toxicity is highlighted, and ionic mechanisms mediating the this tolerance are discussed. A causal link between the secondary metabolite‐induced disturbances to cell ionic homeostasis and programmed cell death is discussed, and a new ethylene‐independent pathway for aerenchyma formation is put forward. It is concluded that plant breeding for waterlogging tolerance may significantly benefit from targeting mechanisms of tolerance to phytotoxins.
Differential age effects on lexical ambiguity resolution mechanisms
Authors: Lee Chia‐Lin , Federmeier Kara D. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractMultiple neurocognitive subsystems are involved in resolving lexical ambiguity under different circumstances. We examined how processing in these subsystems changes with normal aging by comparing ERP responses to homographs and unambiguous words completing congruent sentences (with both semantic and syntactic contextual information) or syntactic prose (syntactic information only). Like young adults in prior work, older adults elicited more negative N400s to homographs in congruent sentences, suggesting mismatch between the context and residual activation of the contextually irrelevant sense. However, the frontal negativity seen in young adults to homographs in syntactically well‐defined but semantically neutral contexts was absent in older adults as a group, suggesting a decline in recruiting additional neural resources to aid difficult semantic selection. A subset of older adults with high verbal fluency maintained a young‐like effect pattern.
Paranoid induction reduces N400s of healthy subjects with delusional‐like ideation
Authors: Prévost Marie , Rodier Mitchell , Lionnet Claire , Brodeur Mathieu , King Suzanne , Debruille J. Bruno 
Published: December 2010

AbstractA previous study suggests that the amplitude of the N400 event‐related potentials (ERPs) of healthy subjects does not vary with their delusional‐like ideations. This contrasts with the smaller N400 amplitudes observed in more‐ than in less‐deluded schizophrenia patients. Here, we hypothesize that these smaller N400 amplitudes were related to the paranoid feelings patients had during the ERP recording. We thus induced this type of feelings in healthy subjects. Delusional‐like ideation was assessed with the schizotypal personality questionnaire. Thirty‐four healthy subjects completed a semantic categorization task. Paranoid feelings were significantly enhanced by the induction. In these conditions, greater delusional‐like ideation scores were associated with smaller N400 amplitudes and larger late positive components. Controlling for the two other schizotypal factors strengthened these results. These findings may help us understand why delusions persist.
Kindling alters neurosteroid‐induced modulation of phasic and tonic GABAAreceptor‐mediated currents: role of phosphorylation
Authors: Kia Arash , Ribeiro Fabiola , Nelson Renee , Gavrilovici Cezar , Ferguson Stephen S. G. , Poulter Michael O. 
Published: December 2010

J. Neurochem. (2011)116, 1043–1056.AbstractWe have previously shown that after kindling (a model of temporal lobe epilepsy), the neuroactive steroid tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) was unable to augment GABA type A receptor (GABAA)‐mediated synaptic currents occurring on pyramidal cells of the piriform cortex. Phosphorylation of GABAAreceptors has been shown previously to alter the activity of THDOC, so we tested the hypothesis that kindling induces changes in the phosphorylation of GABAAreceptors and this accounts for the loss in efficacy. To assay whether GABAAreceptors are more phosphorylated after kindling, we examined the phosphorylation state of the β3 subunit and found that it was increased. Incubation of brain slices with the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) (100 nM) also increased phosphorylation in the same assay. In patch clamp, recordings from non‐kindled rat brain slices PMA also reduced the activity of THDOC in a manner that was identical to what is observed after kindling. We also found that the tonic current was no longer augmented by THODC after kindling and PMA treatment. The protein kinase C (PKC) antagonist bisindolylmaleimide I blocked the effects PMA on the synaptic but not the tonic currents. However, the broad spectrum PKC antagonist staurosporine blocked the effects of PMA on the tonic currents, implying that different PKC isoforms phosphorylate GABAAreceptors responsible for phasic and tonic currents. The phosphatase activator Li+palmitate restored the ‘normal’ activity of THDOC on synaptic currents in kindled brain slices but not the tonic currents. These data demonstrate that kindling enhances the phosphorylation state of GABAAreceptors expressed in pyramidal neurons reducing THDOC efficacy.
Understanding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease: will RNA‐Seq realize the promise of transcriptomics?
Authors: Sutherland Greg T. , Janitz Michal , Kril Jillian J. 
Published: December 2010

J. Neurochem. (2011) 116, 937–946.AbstractThe prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasing rapidly in the western world and is poised to have a significant economic and societal impact. Current treatments do not alter the underlying disease processes meaning new treatments are required if this imminent epidemic is to be averted. The clinical manifestations of AD are secondary to a substantial loss of cortical neurons. To be effective, neuroprotective strategies will need to be implemented prior to this cell loss. However, this requires the discovery of both pre‐clinical markers to identify susceptible patients and the early pathogenic mechanisms to serve as therapeutic targets. Although the biomarkers and pathogenic mechanisms may overlap, it is likely that new approaches are required to identify novel elements of the disease. Transcriptomic analyses, that assume no a priori etiological hypotheses, promise much in elucidating the pathogenesis of complex diseases like AD. Microarrays are the most popular platform for transcriptomic analysis and have been applied across AD models, patient samples and postmortem brain tissue. The results of these studies have been largely discordant which could, to some extent, reflect the limitations of this probe‐hybridization‐based methodology. In comparison, whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA‐Seq) utilizes a highly efficient, next‐generation DNA sequencing method with improved dynamic range and scope of transcript detection. RNA‐Seq is not only highly suited to investigations of the genomically complex human brain tissue but it can potentially overcome technical issues inherent to case–control comparisons of postmortem brain tissue in neurodegenerative diseases. The volume of data generated by this platform looms as the major logistical hurdle and a systematic experimental approach will be required to maximise the detection of pathogenically relevant signals. Nevertheless, RNA‐Seq looks set to deliver a quantum leap forward in our understanding of AD pathogenesis.
Learning to live with irritabel bowel syndrome. The influence of a group‐based patient education programme on peoples’ ability to manage illness in everyday life
Authors: Håkanson Cecilia , Sahlberg‐Blom Eva , Ternestedt Britt‐Marie , Nyhlin Henry 
Published: December 2010

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 491–498

Learning to live with irritabel bowel syndrome. The influence of a group‐based patient education programme on peoples’ ability to manage illness in everyday life Background:  Living with chronic irritable bowel syndrome sets limitations in peoples’ everyday lives. This is due to bad health and the difficulty to find strategies that will manage their problem. In encounters with health care providers, these people feel that they are not getting the appropriate support to manage their illness‐related troubles, and they perceive themselves to be insufficiently informed about the disease.Aim:  To evaluate the influence of a group‐based patient education programme about irritable bowel syndrome, on people’s ability to manage their illness in everyday life.Methods:  The study used an evaluative research design. Fifty‐one individuals with irritable bowel syndrome completed the ways of coping questionnaire, and the irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system, before and after participating in a multidisciplinary group‐based patient education programme.Results:  In the participants’ self assessments, statistical significances (p > 0.05) were found for the mean frequency of efforts used on the coping strategies distancing and escape‐avoidance. Distancing was used more often after the education programme, while escape‐avoidance, was used more seldom. The proportional use of the strategy self‐controlling (relative score) was enhanced after the education programme. The participants’ overall severity of symptoms was significantly reduced after the education programme. The individuals with a clinically noteworthy improvement in symptom severity (decrease ≤ 50) had greater changes in relative score values than those that showed a lesser improvement in symptom severity.Conclusion:  Coping patterns were changed and symptoms were scored significantly less severe among the participants who participated in the education programme. Controlled studies following individuals over a longer period are suggested to establish the validity and sustainability of these changes, and qualitative interview studies would provide additional understanding about the significance of the separate parts of the education programme, and about the meaning of the programme to peoples’ everyday lives as a whole.
Predicting impacts of climate change on biodiversity: a role for semi‐mechanistic community‐level modelling
Authors: Mokany Karel , Ferrier Simon 
Published: December 2010

AbstractAim  Robust and reliable predictions of the effects of climate change on biodiversity are required in formulating conservation and management strategies that best retain biodiversity into the future. Significant challenges in modelling climate change impacts arise from limitations in our current knowledge of biodiversity. Community‐level modelling can complement species‐level approaches in overcoming these limitations and predicting climate change impacts on biodiversity as a whole. However, the community‐level approaches applied to date have been largely correlative, ignoring the key processes that influence change in biodiversity over space and time. Here, we suggest that the development of new ‘semi‐mechanistic’ community‐level models would substantially increase our capacity to predict climate change impacts on biodiversity.Location  Global.Methods  Drawing on an expansive review of biodiversity modelling approaches and recent advances in semi‐mechanistic modelling at the species level, we outline the main elements of a new semi‐mechanistic community‐level modelling approach.Results  Our quantitative review revealed a sharp divide between mechanistic and non‐mechanistic biodiversity modelling approaches, with very few semi‐mechanistic models developed to date.Main conclusions  We suggest that the conceptual framework presented here for combining mechanistic and non‐mechanistic community‐level approaches offers a promising means of incorporating key processes into predictions of climate change impacts on biodiversity whilst working within the limits of our current knowledge.
Age‐associated increase in heterochromatic marks in murine and primate tissues
Authors: Kreiling Jill A. , Tamamori‐Adachi Mimi , Sexton Alec N. , Jeyapalan Jessie C. , Munoz‐Najar Ursula , Peterson Abigail L. , Manivannan Jayameenakshi , Rogers Elizabeth S. , Pchelintsev Nikolay A. , Adams Peter D. , Sedivy John M. 
Published: December 2010

SummaryChromatin is highly dynamic and subject to extensive remodeling under many physiologic conditions. Changes in chromatin that occur during the aging process are poorly documented and understood in higher organisms, such as mammals. We developed an immunofluorescence assay to quantitatively detect, at the single cell level, changes in the nuclear content of chromatin‐associated proteins. We found increased levels of the heterochromatin‐associated proteins histone macro H2A (mH2A) and heterochromatin protein 1 beta (HP1β) in human fibroblasts during replicative senescence in culture, and for the first time, an age‐associated increase in these heterochromatin marks in several tissues of mice and primates. Mouse lung was characterized by monophasic mH2A expression histograms at both ages, and an increase in mean staining intensity at old age. In the mouse liver, we observed increased age‐associated localization of mH2A to regions of pericentromeric heterochromatin. In the skeletal muscle, we found two populations of cells with either low or high mH2A levels. This pattern of expression was similar in mouse and baboon, and showed a clear increase in the proportion of nuclei with high mH2A levels in older animals. The frequencies of cells displaying evidence of increased heterochromatinization are too high to be readily accounted for by replicative or oncogene‐induced cellular senescence, and are prominently found in terminally differentiated, postmitotic tissues that are not conventionally thought to be susceptible to senescence. Our findings distinguish specific chromatin states in individual cells of mammalian tissues, and provide a foundation to investigate further the progressive epigenetic changes that occur during aging.