bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of high‐dose intravenous immunoglobulin on anti‐HLA antibodies in sensitized kidney transplant candidates
Authors: Nair Vinay , Sawinski Deirdre , Akalin Enver , Friedlander Rex , Ebcioglu Zeynep , Sehgal Vinita , Dinavahi Rajani , Khaim Rafael , Ames Scott , Lerner Susan , Murphy Barbara , Bromberg Jonathan S. , Heeger Peter S. , Schröppel Bernd 
Published: June 2012

AbstractLimited data exist on the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) on anti‐HLA antibodies as determined by solid‐phase assays. We reviewed our experience treating sensitized wait‐listed kidney transplant recipients with IVIg as a method for desensitization and report our results utilizing Luminex single antigen (LSA) bead assay to quantify antibody reactivity (MFI). Fifteen patients with a cPRA > 40% received 2 g/kg IVIg per month for four months or until transplanted. LSA testing was performed before and after IVIg. Median MFI for anti‐class I antibodies fell in 11 (73%) and increased in 4 (27%) patients after IVIg. Similar significant changes in MFI for anti‐class II antibodies were observed in 10 patients (66%). Administration of IVIg was associated with a modest decrease in reactivity to both class I and II HLA antigens (median MFI change 493 and 1110, respectively; p < 0.0001) but did not significantly alter mean cPRA (85% before IVIg vs. 80% after IVIg; p = 0.1). Our data suggest a smaller effect of IVIg on HLA antibody reactivity than previously described, leading us to question how best to measure the efficacy of a desensitization protocol in current practice.
Liver transplant center risk tolerance
Authors: Johnson Scott R. , Karp Seth J. , Curry Michael P. , Barugel Martin , Rodrigue James R. , Mandelbrot Didier A. , Rogers Christin P. , Hanto Douglas W. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractRecent changes in Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) condition for participation, using benchmark volume/outcomes requirements for certification, have been implemented. Consequently, the ability of a transplant center to assess its risk tolerance is important in successful management. An analysis of SRTR data was performed to determine donor/recipient risk factors for graft loss or patient death in the first year. Each transplant performed was then assigned a prospective relative risk (RR) of failure. Using a Monte‐Carlo simulation, transplants were selected at random that met the centers’ acceptable risk tolerance. Transplant center volume was fixed and its risk tolerance was adjusted to determine the impact on outcomes. The model was run 1000 times on centers with varying volume. The modeling demonstrates that centers with smaller annual volumes must use a more risk taking strategy than larger volume centers to avoid being flagged for CMS volume requirements. The modeling also demonstrates optimal risk taking strategies for centers based upon volume to minimize the probability of being flagged for not meeting volume or outcomes benchmarks. Small volume centers must perform higher risk transplants to meet current CMS requirements and are at risk for adverse action secondary to chance alone.
Innate Adjustment of Visitation Behavior to Rewarding and Reward‐Minimized Petunia axillaris (Solanacea) Plants by Hawkmoth Manduca sexta (Sphingidae)
Authors: Brandenburg Anna , Kuhlemeier Cris , Bshary Redouan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractPlant–pollinator interactions offer an excellent system to study the stability of mutualistic interactions. While nectar production requires resources and a reduction could in principle benefit plant fitness, only few angiosperms lack nectar, and thus cheat from a pollinator's perspective. Cheating behavior may be scarce because of pollinator foraging behaviors that select for nectariferous plants. Shorter inspection duration, interaction with fewer flowers, or even complete avoidance of plants with low/no nectar may reduce the fitness of cheating plants. The effectiveness of pollinator strategies may depend on how they are implemented. Innate strategies would invariably decrease the fitness of a cheating plant, while learned responses allow cheaters to exploit naïve pollinators. Here, we studied the foraging strategies of the hawkmoth
Manduca sexta during interactions with nectariferous and reward‐minimized
Petunia axillaris. We found that neither naïve nor experienced hawkmoths discriminated a priori between rewarding and nectar‐less plants. However, naïve hawkmoths displayed reduced probing time per flower and number of flowers visited on reward‐minimized plants during the first trial, without showing further improved discrimination with experience. In conclusion, the foraging decision rules of hawkmoths that may reduce the fitness of reward‐minimized plants appear to be innate, with little scope for additional learning.
Parotid fistula complicating postauricular basal cell carcinoma excision
Authors: Gramp Dallas , Casey Genevieve , Kim Young Jin 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTParotid fistulas after cutaneous surgery are a rare occurrence. To our knowledge there have been no cases reported of a parotid fistula occurring in the postauricular region. We present a case complicating a postauricular basal cell carcinoma excision and further discuss this rare but important complication of cutaneous facial surgery.
Food allergy testing in infantile eczema: A clinical approach and algorithm
Authors: Newland Kate , Warren Lachlan , Gold Michael 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTThe complex relationship between food allergy and infantile eczema has prompted divergent approaches to investigating potential food triggers in eczematous patients. It is well recognised that a significant proportion of infants with eczema have immunoglobulin E‐mediated food allergy, reported to range between 20–80%. Determining whether certain foods trigger an eczematous flare in individual infants with eczema is difficult. For all infants with eczema, good skin care is the mainstay of treatment but identifying and avoiding triggers (both allergic and non‐allergic) is important in some infants. Given this, we have a developed an algorithm that can be used by dermatologists in the investigation and management of food allergies in infantile eczema. Issues such as patient selection, investigation and elimination diets are addressed, with reference to relevant evidence in the literature. Our aim is to provide dermatologists with a framework to manage food allergies in infantile eczema, allowing the problem to be addressed with confidence.
‘MEIN WAHRER ARBEITSPLATZ’:THE ROLE OF THERESIENSTADT IN W. G. SEBALD'S AUSTERLITZ
Authors: Modlinger Martin 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACT The former ghetto of Theresienstadt plays a central role in W. G. Sebald's Austerlitz. Examining this place where Austerlitz's ‘wahrer Arbeitsplatz’ should have been will not only offer insights into Sebald's interest in the relationship of personal and cultural memory, the search for remnants of history, the role of the archive in the construction of identity, or the relationship of photography and film to history and historical understanding, but also help situate Theresienstadt itself and its history in contemporary German literature. Based on Sebald's notes to his manuscript held at the Deutsches Literaturarchiv Marbach, this contribution examines Sebald's position on the historiography of suffering in general and what is left of Theresienstadt in particular. It sees Theresienstadt emerge as a fortress of memory, offering a connection to the past and thereby becoming the very centre of Austerlitz's memory work, yet remaining ultimately inaccessible and dividing Holocaust history from Holocaust literature.Das ehemalige Ghetto Theresienstadt spielt eine zentrale Rolle in W. G. Sebalds Austerlitz– es sei, so Austerlitz, sein ‘wahrer Arbeitsplatz’. Eine Untersuchung der Bedeutung Theresienstadts für Sebalds Werk soll daher nicht nur Einsichten in Fragen des individuellen und kulturellen Gedächtnisses, der Rolle des Archivs in der Konstruktion von Identität, oder des Verhältnisses von Photographie und Film zu Geschichte und Geschichtsverständnis gewähren, sondern auch eine Situierung Theresienstadts selbst und seiner Geschichte in der deutschen Gegenwartsliteratur ermöglichen. Basierend auf Sebalds Originalmanuskript im Deutschen Literaturarchiv Marbach und den zugehörigen Notizen und Entwürfen beleuchtet dieser Beitrag Sebalds Position zur Historiographie des Leids im Allgemeinen und derjenigen Theresienstadts im Besonderen. Theresienstadt erweist sich so als eine Gedächtnisfestung, die zwar eine Verbindung zur Vergangenheit ermöglicht und somit zum Zentrum der Gedächtnis‐ und Erinnerungsarbeit Austerlitzens wird, gleichzeitig aber letztendlich verschlossen bleibt und so die Geschichte des Holocaust von der Holocaustliteratur scheidet.
Why can't we all just get along? Interspecific aggression in resident and non‐residentPodarcis melisellensislizards
Authors: Lailvaux S. P. , Huyghe K. , Van Damme R. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractInterspecific aggression is thought to be driven by competition over either shared resources or mates, with the latter facilitated by mistaken or poor species recognition. However, such aggression may potentially also be modulated by other factors, including residency in territorial species. We tested the relative strengths of intra‐ and interspecific aggression in the lacertid lizardPodarcis melisellensisby introducing males to both the territories of conspecific males and the territories of a sympatric lacertid,Dalmatolacerta oxycephala. We also conducted reciprocal introductions to test the effect of residency on interspecific aggression inP. melisellensis. Our results show thatP. melisellensisexhibit significantly more aggression towardsD. oxycephalathan towards conspecifics, even though these two species do not closely resemble one another and do not exhibit extensive overlap in diet preferences. We also found an overall effect of residency on behavioural measures of aggression, as well as a clear increase in interspecific aggression towardsD. oxycephalain resident relative to non‐residentP. melisellensis. These results show that interspecific aggression between sympatric species can exist in the absence of breeding competition and with little resource overlap.
Celiac Disease in Elderly Adults: Clinical, Serological, and Histological Characteristics and the Effect of a Gluten‐Free Diet
Authors: Casella Silvia , Zanini Barbara , Lanzarotto Francesco , Villanacci Vincenzo , Ricci Chiara , Lanzini Alberto 
Published: June 2012

ObjectivesTo compare celiac disease (CD) in older and younger adults and to assess the effects of a gluten‐free diet (GFD).DesignRetrospective retrieval of information prospectively entered into a structured database.Setting
CD clinic, University and Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.ParticipantsTwo cohorts were identified (older, Group A, n = 59, >65; younger, Group B, n = 1,166, 18–64), and Group B was subgrouped (B1, n = 600, 18–34; B2, n = 440, 35–49; and B3, n = 26, 50–64).MeasurementsClinical, serological, and histological characteristics of individuals with CD studied before and during a GFD.ResultsAt presentation, weight loss (37% vs 21%,
P
= .005) and dyspepsia (22% vs 12%,
P
= .04) were more frequent in older than younger participants. Incidence at diagnosis of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was much higher in older (5%) than younger participants (0.3%,
P
= .003). Prevalence of osteoporosis was 67% in older and 14% in younger male participants and 70% in older and 9% in younger female participants (
P
< .001). During treatment, adherence to a GFD was 90%, normal villous structure was reconstituted, and t‐transglutaminase antibodies were negative in 80% of older and younger participants. Lumbar‐sacral and femoral
T
scores increased significantly during a GFD in pooled results of 48 older and younger participants studied before and during GFD.Conclusion
NHL is already present at CD diagnosis in most cases in individuals aged 50 and older, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis. Older and younger individuals are equally adherent and equally benefit from a GFD, indicating that older age is not a barrier to dietary treatment.
Cooperative Pastoral Production: Reconceptualizing the Relationship between Pastoral Labor and Production
Authors: Næss Marius Warg 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACT A review of the literature concerning nomadic pastoralism reveals a prevalent assumption of a positive effect of labor inputs on pastoral production. However, studies that have tried to quantify the relationship between household labor availability and production are characterized by contradictory results where one reason may be related to the fact that nomadic pastoralists cooperate by sharing and exchanging labor. As a consequence, previous quantitative research may have neglected an important level of social organization. The prevalence of cooperative labor investment among pastoralists may indicate the presence of scale‐dependent effects of pastoral labor on production. This article aims at developing a conceptual model illustrating this possibility, where the scale dependent effects of labor inputs are conceptualized as changes in the relationship between the costs and benefits of labor at different levels of social organization. [nomadic pastoralism, labor, cooperation, production, modeling]SAMMENDRAG En gjennomgang av litteraturen om nomadisk pastoralisme, avslører en utbredt forestilling om positiv effekt av arbeidskraft på pastoral produksjon. Til tross for dette har studier søkt å kvantifisere forholdet mellom tilgjengelig arbeidskraft og produksjon, gitt motstridende resultater hvor en årsak kan være at nomadiske pastoralister gjennom samarbeid, deler og utveksler arbeidskraft. Med andre ord kan tidligere studier ha oversett et viktig nivå av sosial organisering. Utbredelsen av arbeidsinvestering gjennom samarbeid, synes å antyde tilstedeværelsen av skalaavhengige effekter av pastoral arbeidskraft på produksjon. Artikkelens mål er å utvikle en konseptuell modell som illustrerer denne muligheten, hvor de skalaavhengige effektene av arbeidskraft består av endringer i forholdet mellom kostnader og fordeler ved arbeidsinvestering på forskjellige nivåer av sosial organisering.
London 2012 and Sports Participation: The Myths of Legacy
Authors: Green Ken 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Today's young people play far less sport than before. Or do they? The evidence, says Ken Green, shows quite the reverse. We have been promised “a deep and lasting legacy” from the Olympics. The evidence shows the Olympic sports model to be irrelevant to youth participation. Have we a misguided response to a fictitious illness?
Are First-Borns More Likely to Attend Harvard?
Authors: Millner Antony , Calel Raphael 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Between 75% and 80% of students at Harvard are first-borns. Do first-born children work harder academically, and so end up overrepresented at top universities? So claims noted philosopher Michael Sandel. But Antony Millner and Raphael Calel find a simple fault in the statistical reasoning and give a more plausible explanation.
Spermatogenic defects in F2 mice between normal mouse strains C3H and C57BL/6 without mutation
Authors: Gotoh Hideo , Aoyama Hiroaki 
Published: June 2012

AbstractGenetic disorders are usually considered to be caused by harmful gene mutations, as well as by chromosomal aberrations, including small insertions, duplications and/or deletions. However, as infertile individuals often arise among the offspring of crosses between two fertile mouse strains, we postulate that a certain combination of ‘normal’ genes with neither gene mutations nor chromosomal aberrations can cause such serious phenotypic alterations as reproductive dysfunction. In this study, we show evidence that a combination of multiple normal genes from two different normal mouse strains manifests a wide range of male reproductive dysfunctions, from benign changes to complete infertility. These abnormal phenotypes are thought to have occurred by epistatic interactions of alleles.
Measurement and Analysis of Broadband UVB Solar Radiation in Spain
Authors: Martínez‐Lozano José A. , Utrillas María P. , Núnez José A. , Esteve Anna R. , Gómez‐Amo José L. , Estellés Victor , Pedrós Roberto 
Published: June 2012

AbstractMeasurements of broadband UVB irradiance (290–315 nm) at 14 locations in Spain for the period 2000–2009 have been used to generate instantaneous, hourly and daily values of irradiance (W m−2) and radiant exposure (kJ m−2). These measurements, and its statistical indices, have been analyzed. For the UVB irradiance, the values corresponding to July (maximum) and December (minimum) have been analyzed as representative of the year during the whole period for all locations. For the UVB radiant exposure, the temporal evolution of daily values has been evaluated for all locations to estimate an average yearly behavior. The accumulated radiant exposure for an average year has also been studied for each location. Finally, to determine possible trends in the evolution of the UVB levels, the linear regressions for the mean daily values for all locations have been determined.
The limits of learning: Policy evaluation and the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation
Authors: Sharaput Markus 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis article reviews recent efforts by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) to measure and evaluate the success of its policies. It argues that these efforts have been inhibited by changes in the ministry's political context and the inherent complexity of the issues that innovation policies seek to address. The innovation strategy pursued by the ministry incorporates an element of mediated causality in its program logic, which complicates efforts to determine policy outcomes. When compounded by a changing normative context for judging success, this inherent complexity makes it very difficult to accurately determine and learn from the MRI's policy outcomes. The article concludes by suggesting a preliminary process of inquiry that might address some of these difficulties.
Managing intergovernmental contracts: The Canada–Manitoba cooperation on regional economic development
Authors: Conteh Charles 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis article uses organization theory to examine the strengths and challenges of contractual arrangements between the federal government's Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and the Manitoba government to jointly manage regional economic development policy over the past two decades. This experience illustrates how strategies for managing intergovernmental cooperation on policy delivery are increasingly dictated by complex environmental forces, and how the survival of these contractual arrangements seems to rest on adaptive capacity in the face of constant change.
Decreased expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the nucleus tractus solitarii inhibits sympathetically mediated baroreflex responses in rat
Authors: Lin Li‐Hsien , Nitschke Dragon Deidre , Jin Jingwen , Tian Xin , Chu Yi , Sigmund Curt , Talman William T. 
Published: June 2012

Key points
Arteries send nerve signals to the brain in response to changes in blood pressure.
Nerves carrying these signals release chemical transmitters onto other neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii, a nucleus in the brainstem.
One chemical that has been considered such a transmitter is nitric oxide, but there has been debate over the action of nitric oxide in brainstem influences on responses to changes blood pressure.
We show that use of a molecular tool that allows us to prevent the normal production of nitric oxide by nerve cells leads to altered reflex regulation of heart rate in rats.
Our findings, which clarify the role of neuronally derived nitric oxide in control of the cardiovascular system by the brain, could lead to better control of blood pressure in individuals with either high or low blood pressure.
Abstract  Despite numerous studies it remains controversial whether nitric oxide (NO·) synthesized by neuronal NOS (nNOS) plays an excitatory or inhibitory role in transmission of baroreflex signals in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). In the current studies we sought to test the hypothesis that nNOS is involved in excitation of baroreflex pathways in NTS while excluding pharmacological interventions in assessing the influence of nNOS. We therefore developed, validated and utilized a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to reduce expression of nNOS in the NTS of rats whose baroreflex activity was then studied. We demonstrate downregulation of nNOS through transduction with adeno‐associated virus type 2 (AAV2) carrying shRNA for nNOS. When injected bilaterally into NTS AAV2nNOSshRNA significantly reduced reflex tachycardic responses to acute hypotension while not affecting reflex bradycardic responses to acute increases of arterial pressure. Control animals treated with intravenous propranolol to block sympathetically mediated chronotropic responses manifested the same baroreflex responses as animals that had been treated with AAV2nNOSshRNA. Neither AAV2 eGFP nor AAV2nNOScDNA affected baroreflex responses. Blocking cardiac vagal influences with atropine similarly reduced baroreflex‐mediated bradycardic responses to increases in arterial pressure both in control animals and in those treated with AAV2nNOSshRNA. We conclude that NO· synthesized by nNOS in the NTS is integral to excitation of baroreflex pathways involved in reflex tachycardia, a largely sympathetically mediated response, but not reflex bradycardia, a largely parasympathetically mediated response. We suggest that, at the basal state, nNOS is maximally engaged. Thus, its upregulation does not augment the baroreflex.
Rapid Redistribution of Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-Bisphosphate and Septins during the Candida albicans Response to Caspofungin
Authors: Badrane Hassan , Nguyen M. Hong , Blankenship Jill R. , Cheng Shaoji , Hao Binghua , Mitchell Aaron P. , Clancy Cornelius J. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACT

We previously showed that phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and septin regulation play major roles in maintaining
Candida albicans
cell wall integrity in response to caspofungin and other stressors. Here, we establish a link between PI(4,5)P2 signaling and septin localization and demonstrate that rapid redistribution of PI(4,5)P2 and septins is part of the natural response of
C. albicans
to caspofungin. First, we studied caspofungin-hypersusceptible
C. albicans irs4
and
inp51
mutants, which have elevated PI(4,5)P2 levels due to loss of PI(4,5)P2-specific 5′-phosphatase activity. PI(4,5)P2 accumulated in discrete patches, rather than uniformly, along surfaces of mutants in yeast and filamentous morphologies, as visualized with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-pleckstrin homology domain. The patches also contained chitin (calcofluor white staining) and cell wall protein Rbt5 (Rbt5-GFP). By transmission electron microscopy, patches corresponded to plasma membrane invaginations that incorporated cell wall material. Fluorescently tagged septins Cdc10 and Sep7 colocalized to these sites, consistent with well-described PI(4,5)P2-septin physical interactions. Based on expression patterns of cell wall damage response genes,
irs4
and
inp51
mutants were firmly positioned within a group of caspofungin-hypersusceptible, septin-regulatory protein kinase mutants.
irs4
and
inp51
were linked most closely to the
gin4
mutant by expression profiling, PI(4,5)P2-septin-chitin redistribution and other phenotypes. Finally, sublethal 5-min exposure of wild-type
C. albicans
to caspofungin resulted in redistribution of PI(4,5)P2 and septins in a manner similar to those of
irs4
,
inp51
, and
gin4
mutants. Taken together, our data suggest that the
C. albicans
Irs4-Inp51 5′-phosphatase complex and Gin4 function upstream of PI(4,5)P2 and septins in a pathway that helps govern responses to caspofungin.