bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strain‐dependent serotonin neuron feedback control: role of serotonin2Creceptors
Authors: Calcagno Eleonora , Invernizzi Roberto W. 
Published: June 2010

J. Neurochem.(2010)114, 1701–1710.AbstractWe investigated the role of serotonin2Creceptor‐mediated feedback mechanisms in the response to citalopram in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice, which are respectively responders and non‐responders to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the forced swimming test. The microdialysis technique was used to assess changes in extracellular serotonin and GABA in the mouse dorsal raphé (DR). Citalopram (1.25–20 mg/kg) raised extracellular serotonin and GABA in the DR of both mouse strains. These effects were abolished by depleting brain serotonin with p‐chlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg × 3). Systemic and/or intra‐DR infusion of the serotonin2Creceptor antagonist 6‐chloro‐5‐methyl‐1‐[[2‐[(2‐methyl‐3‐pyridyl)oxy]‐5‐pyridyl]carbamoyl]‐indoline (1 mg/kg and 0.1 μM, respectively) enhanced citalopram’s effect on extracellular serotonin in the DR and medial prefrontal cortex and abolished the rise of GABA in the DR of DBA/2 mice but had no effect in C57BL/6 mice. The serotonin2Creceptor agonist Ro60‐0175 (0.03–3.0 mg/kg) reduced extracellular serotonin and raised GABA in the DR of DBA/2 mice but had much less effect in C57BL/6 mice. These findings show that the sensitivity of serotonin2Creceptors determines the efficacy of augmentation strategies aimed at enhancing the effect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors on extracellular serotonin through the suppression of serotonin2Creceptor‐mediated feedback control of serotonin neurons.
Male–female differences in forearm skin tissue dielectric constant
Authors: Mayrovitz Harvey N. , Carson Sophia , Luis Michelle 
Published: June 2010

SummaryTissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements at 300 MHz via the coaxial line reflection method are useful to evaluate local skin tissue water and its change, but virtually all available data relate to measurements on women. Because TDC values in part depend on skin thickness, we hypothesized that differences in male–female skin may be associated with male–female differences in TDC. To test this hypothesis, we compared TDC values in volar forearm skin of 60 young adult volunteers (30 men, 25·0 ± 2·5 years, 30 women, 27·4 ± 6·6 years) in the seated position using a probe with an effective measurement depth of 1·5 mm. Results showed that TDC values (mean ± SD) for men were significantly greater than for women (33·2 ± 4·0 versus 29·4 ± 2·7, P<0·001) constituting an overall difference of about 13%. This finding suggests that when TDC measurements are used in research or clinical studies in which both men and women are included in a common study population, it would be prudent to consider this difference in both experimental design and data interpretation. This is especially true if absolute TDC values are of interest in contrast to changes in TDC values on the same subject subsequent to time passage or secondary to an intervention. Despite greater TDC values measured in men, calculations of the impact of a greater male skin thickness indicate that the greater TDC values of men may or may not reflect a greater relative local skin tissue water in men compared to women.
The Effects of Household Income Volatility on Divorce
Authors: Nunley John M. , Seals Alan 
Published: June 2010

AbstractWe extend the literature on the effects of earnings shocks on divorce by identifying separately the effects of transitory and permanent household income shocks and by allowing the shocks to have asymmetric effects across education and racial groups. The econometric evidence suggests negative (positive) transitory household income shocks increase (decrease) the probability of divorce, while there is only weak evidence that positive (negative) permanent household income shocks raise (lower) the probability of divorce. Some differences in the effects of household income shocks on divorce propensities arise for subsamples selected by education and race.
Guanxi Management in Lean Production System—An Empirical Study of Taiwan‐Japanese Firms
Authors: Wong Meiling 
Published: June 2010

AbstractWhile the emphasis in the West is on “what you know” refers to technological expertise, including the price and quality of tendered product or service, the emphasis in Confucian societies is on “who you know,” which refers to personal connections with the appropriate authorities or individuals. These connections are known in Chinese as guanxi, on which as the basis Chinese exchange a lifetime of favors, resources, and business leverage. This study seeks to study guanxi mechanism, the unique Chinese social‐cultural element and its impact on the managerial effectiveness of Taiwanese firms with lean implementation in practice, and an empirical study is constructed to verify our proposal. Results suggest that guanxi and its networks function as the lubrication that eases interpersonal conflicts and as the buffer in solving problems, which in turn upgrades the cooperative efficiency both inter‐ and intragroups. This article provides an inner view of cultural value, which offers insights that should prove helpful to academics in management and related disciplines as well as to practitioners engaged in Chinese production management.
Propertyless in Peru, Even with a Government Land Title
Authors: Kerekes Carrie B. , Williamson Claudia R. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractThis article investigates the ability and process of government land titling as a method to achieve secure property rights institutions. Specifically, we analyze the impact of government land titling in rural Peru. Our findings suggest that land titling does not achieve the positive benefits associated with secure property, such as access to credit. We also find that individuals prefer private enforcement methods of securing property to public means. This suggests that government land titling is not always a channel through which countries can achieve secure property rights institutions.
An Exploratory Study on International R&D Strategies of Chinese Companies in Europe
Authors: Di Minin Alberto , Zhang Jieyin 
Published: June 2010

AbstractWe here present a study that arms the reader with various discussion points on the research and development (R&D) foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies of Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) in Europe. Through archival research and interviews, we adopted a multi‐case study approach to investigate how significant are these investments and how relevant do they become for the local innovation systems. Our analysis shows that the establishment of R&D centers, and more importantly the evolution of these centers, does not coincide with what international business theories would have predicted. The Chinese MNCs considered entered Europe in a variety of forms, guided by various learning goals. However, we found evidence of the growing tendency of these companies to insulate themselves from local partners and to engage in less explorative and more exploitative R&D activity, adapting technologies developed elsewhere for the European market, gaining access to good indigenous labor and technologies rather than to local partnerships.
International Cooperation to Manage High‐Skill Migration: The Case of India–U.S. Relations
Authors: Davis Ted , Hart David M. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractHighly skilled people are among the most valuable factors of production in the contemporary world economy. Some have characterized the competition among nations for these people as a “brain drain” or “war for talent,” which imposes significant costs on the countries of emigration. However, the distribution of costs and benefits that results from high‐skill migration is not necessarily zero‐sum or fixed. It may be altered through international cooperation, producing a self‐reinforcing “win–win” scenario for sending and receiving countries. Bilateral cooperation, focused on specific sectors affected by migration, is the most promising approach for realizing such a scenario. This paper explores the prospects and potential for such cooperation between India and the United States, which comprise what is probably the world's largest high‐skill mobility relationship. After sketching the broad contours of the relationship, we explore the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in three specific fields of high‐skill migration: information technology services, medicine and nursing, and graduate education.
Nitrogen fertilization effects on Myzus persicae aphid dynamics on peach: vegetative growth allocation or chemical defence?
Authors: Sauge Marie‐Hélène , Grechi Isabelle , Poëssel Jean‐Luc 
Published: June 2010

AbstractPlant nitrogen (N) fertilization is a common cropping practice that is expected to serve as a pest management tool. Its effects on the dynamics of the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were examined on young peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (Rosaceae)] trees grown under five N treatments, ranging from N shortage to supra‐optimal supply for growth. Aphid population increased over time at the three intermediate N levels. It remained stable at the lowest N level and decreased at the highest N level. Four weeks after the start of infestation, the number of aphids displayed a parabolic response to N level. The relationships between N status and parameters of plant vegetative growth (stem diameter) or biomass allocation (lateral‐total leaf area and root‐shoot ratio) were consistent with responses proposed by models of adaptive plasticity in resource allocation patterns. However, the variation in plant growth predicted aphid population dynamics only partially. Whereas aphid number was positively correlated with plant N status and vegetative growth up to the intermediate N level, it was negatively correlated with plant N status above this level, but not with vegetative growth. The concentrations of primary and secondary (plant defence‐related) metabolites in the plant shoots were modified by N treatments: amino acids (main nutritional resource of aphids) and prunasin increased, whereas chlorogenic acid decreased with increasing N availability. Constitutive changes in plant chemistry in response to N fertilization could not directly explain the reduced aphid performance for the highest N level. Nevertheless, the indirect effect of N on the induction of plant defence compounds by aphid feeding warrants further investigation. The study focuses on the feasibility of handling N fertilization to control M. persicae in orchards, but findings may also be relevant for our understanding of the physiological relationships between the host’s nutritional status and the requirements of the insect.
Severe Peters Plus syndrome‐like phenotype with anterior eye staphyloma and hypoplastic left heart syndrome: Proposal of a new syndrome
Authors: Shimizu Reiko , Saito Ryota , Hoshino Kenji , Ogawa Kiyoshi , Negishi Takashi , Nishimura Jiro , Mitsui Norimasa , Osawa Makiko , Ohashi Hirofumi 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACTPeters Plus syndrome is a very rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by ocular defects (typically Peters anomaly) and other systemic major/minor anomalies. Mutations in the B3GALTL gene encoding β 1,3‐glucosyltransferase have been found in virtually all patients with typical Peters Plus syndrome. We report on a female patient with unusually severe manifestations of Peters Plus syndrome, including anterior eye staphyloma, cleft lip and palate, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Analysis of the B3GALTL gene revealed no mutation in the patient. To our knowledge, HLHS has not previously been reported in Peters Plus syndrome so far, and anterior staphyloma, a most severe defect of the anterior eye chamber, is also apparently rare in the syndrome. Our patient might represent a new syndrome of severe Peters Plus syndrome‐like phenotype with anterior eye staphyloma and HLHS.
Lessons from the first year of the WAIVE study investigating the protective effect of influenza vaccine against laboratory‐confirmed influenza in hospitalised children aged 6–59 months
Authors: Dixon Gabriela A , Moore Hannah C , Kelly Heath , Jacoby Peter , Carcione Dale , Williams Simon , Smith David , Keil Anthony D , Van Buynder Paul , Richmond Peter C ,   the WAIVE study team
Published: June 2010

Please cite this paper as: Dixon et al. (2010) Lessons from the first year of the WAIVE study investigating the protective effect of influenza vaccine against laboratory‐confirmed influenza in hospitalised children aged 6–59 months. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(4), 231–234.Background  Influenza is major cause of paediatric hospitalisation. Influenza vaccine was offered to all children aged 6–59 months resident in Western Australia in 2008, and we wished to evaluate the effectiveness of this immunisation programme.Objectives  To assess the practicalities of a nested matched case–control design to estimate the protective effect of inactivated influenza vaccination in hospitalised children aged 6–59 months.Methods  Cases were hospitalised children with laboratory‐confirmed influenza, while matched controls were recruited from children admitted for an acute non‐respiratory illness. We estimated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza as 1 – the adjusted odds ratio from multivariate logistic regression.Results  The 2008 influenza season was characterised by a late peak and a predominance of influenza virus B. We recruited 26 hospitalised patients with laboratory‐confirmed influenza and 50 matched controls. The proportion of cases who were fully vaccinated was 7% versus 30% of controls giving an adjusted VE of 83% (95% CI −54 to 98).Conclusions  Recruiting sufficient controls was problematic and in the future, we will select controls hospitalised for an influenza‐like‐illness but influenza negative by laboratory PCR testing. The VE estimate was high but non‐significant, reflecting the low number of cases.
Intravitreal ranibizumab treatment of retinal angiomatous proliferation
Authors: Kramann Christina A. , Schöpfer Kilian , Lorenz Katrin , Zwiener Isabella , Stoffelns Bernhard M. , Pfeiffer Norbert 
Published: June 2010

Abstract.Purpose:  To determine the efficacy of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in the treatment of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration.Methods:  Retrospective, consecutive case series of 26 eyes (26 patients) treated with intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab for RAP. Patients received intravitreal injections at monthly intervals during upload phase for a 3‐month period.Results:  Mean visual acuity before treatment was 0.75 ± 0.38logMAR (mean ± SD, n = 26). In the upload phase, mean visual acuity improved 4 weeks after the initial injection to 0.6 ± 0.37logMAR (n = 26) and to 0.53 ± 0.34logMAR (n = 26) 4 weeks after the third monthly intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. The mean optical coherence tomography (OCT) central foveal thickness reduced from 345 ± 55 μm at baseline to 215 ± 87 μm at 3 months. In the maintenance phase, mean visual acuity after 6 months was 0.66 ± 0.38logMAR (n = 12) and 0.7 ± 0.37logMAR after 9 months (n = 6). The mean OCT central foveal thickness was 259 ± 59 μm (n = 13) at 6 months and 280 ± 127 μm (n = 6) at nine‐month follow‐up.Conclusion:  Intravitreal ranibizumab resulted in an improvement of visual acuity 4 weeks after the first injection but was more pronounced after 3 months. A reduction in leakage and OCT central foveal thickness was seen 3 months after the commencement of treatment.
Recombinant Diabody-Based Immunocapture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Quantification of Rabies Virus Glycoprotein
Authors: Nimmagadda Sridevi V. , Aavula Shukra M. , Biradhar Neelakantam , Rao Varaprasada Sankarasetty , Shanmugham Rajalakshmi , Chandran Dev , Thirumeni Nagarajan , Singanallur Nagendrakumar Balasubramanian , Villuppanoor Srinivasan Alwar 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

The potency of rabies vaccines, determined using the NIH mouse protection test, can be directly correlated to the amount of rabies virus glycoprotein (RV GP) present in the vaccine. In an effort to develop a simple and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using recombinant diabody for quantification of RV GP, the variable heavy (V
H
) and light chain (V
L
) domains of an RV GP-specific human monoclonal antibody (MAb) secreted by a human × mouse heterohybridoma (human MAb R16E5) was amplified, linked using splicing by overlap extension PCR (SOE PCR), and expressed as a recombinant diabody (D06) in the pET28a bacterial expression system. The diabody D06 was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography on a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) agarose column and characterized. The purified diabody was used in combination with a well-characterized RV GP-specific mouse MAb, M5B4, to develop an immunocapture ELISA (IC-ELISA) for the quantification of RV GP in human rabies vaccine preparations. The maximum detection limit of the IC-ELISA using the M5B4-D06 combination was up to 31.25 ng/ml of RV GP. The specificity of the diabody was established by its nonreactivity toward other human viral antigens as determined by ELISA and toward RV GP as determined by immunoblot transfer assay and competitive ELISA with the parent human MAb R16E5 and MAb M5B4. The adjusted
r
2
value obtained by the regression through the origin model was 0.902, and the equation for predicted potency values for M5B4-D06-based IC-ELISA and MAb M5B4 IC-ELISA were 0.5651
x
and 0.8044
x
, respectively, where
x
is the estimate of RV GP from the IC-ELISA in micrograms. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed the estimates of the two methods differed significantly (
P
< 0.001), while the predicted potencies by the two tests did not differ significantly (
P
> 0.05). The IC-ELISA can be readily adapted to measure the RV GP content in purified antigen, and a vaccine can be formulated based on the estimated GP.
New Assessment of Bovine Tuberculosis Risk Factors in Belgium Based on Nationwide Molecular Epidemiology
Authors: Humblet M.-F. , Gilbert M. , Govaerts M. , Fauville-Dufaux M. , Walravens K. , Saegerman C. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

This assessment aimed to elaborate a statistical nationwide model for analyzing the space-time dynamics of bovine tuberculosis in search of potential risk factors that could be used to better target surveillance measures. A database comprising
Mycobacterium bovis
molecular profiles from all isolates obtained from Belgian outbreaks during the 1995-to-2006 period (
n
= 415) allowed the identification of a predominant spoligotype (SB0162). Various databases compiling 49 parameters to be tested were queried using a multiple stepwise logistic regression to assess bovine tuberculosis risk factors. Two isolate datasets were analyzed: the first included all
Mycobacterium bovis
isolates, while the second included only data related to the SB0162 type strain. When all
Mycobacterium bovis
isolates were included in the model, several risk factors were identified: history of bovine tuberculosis in the herd (
P
< 0.001), proximity of an outbreak (
P
< 0.001), cattle density (
P
< 0.001), and annual amplitude of mean middle-infrared temperature (
P
< 0.001). The approach restricted to the predominant SB0162 type strain additionally highlighted the proportion of movements from an infected area during the current year as a main risk factor (
P
= 0.009). This study identified several risk factors for bovine tuberculosis in cattle, highlighted the usefulness of molecular typing in the study of bovine tuberculosis epidemiology, and suggests a difference of behavior for the predominant type strain. It also emphasizes the role of animals' movements in the transmission of the disease and supports the importance of controlling trade movements.
First Report of Septic Arthritis Caused by
Klebsiella oxytoca
Authors: Ménard Armelle , Harambat Jérome , Pereyre Sabine , Pontailler Jean-Roger , Mégraud Francis , Richer Olivier 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Klebsiella oxytoca
is known to be a pathogen in immunodeficient adults and children. Here we report the first case of a
K. oxytoca
infection associated with spontaneous arthritis of the knee in a child with no history of immunosuppressive therapy or previous bacterial infections. Despite an initial antibiotic treatment failure, a second treatment led to a cure of the infection with no joint sequelae.
Higher Prevalence of Pharyngeal than Nasal
Staphylococcus aureus
Carriage in Pediatric Intensive Care Units
Authors: Nakamura Mari M. , McAdam Alexander J. , Sandora Thomas J. , Moreira Katharina R. , Lee Grace M. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Sensitive detection of
Staphylococcus aureus
colonization is important for epidemiologic studies, infection control, and decolonization measures. We examined the sensitivity of nasal and pharyngeal sampling for
S. aureus
colonization in 331 children admitted to intensive care units. Pharyngeal screening was more sensitive than nasal screening (92.6% versus 63.1%,
P
< 0.0001).
First Case of Postaneurysmal Prosthetic Vascular Infection Due to a Nonsuperantigenic
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Strain
Authors: Loïez Caroline , Carnoy Christophe , Decoene Christophe , Pradel Elizabeth , Fichel Caroline , Courcol René , Wallet Frédéric 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

Among
Yersinia
spp.,
Y. enterocolitica
is the species most frequently isolated from infected aneurysms. This report describes the first case of postaneurysmal prosthetic vascular infection due to a superantigen-negative
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
strain, showing a potential affinity of this species for endovascular tissue.
Evaluation of the Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Test and Identification of Rare Polymorphisms Potentially Affecting Assay Performance
Authors: Pyne Michael T. , Brown Katherine L. , Hillyard David R. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the FDA-approved Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan (CAP/CTM) HIV-1 viral load assay for sensitivity, reproducibility, linearity, HIV-1 subtype detection, and correlation to the Roche Amplicor HIV-1 monitor test, version 1.5 (Amplicor). The limit of detection calculated by probit analysis was 23.8 copies/ml using the 2nd International WHO Standard and 30.8 copies/ml using Viral Quality Assurance (VQA) standard material. Serial dilutions of six patient samples were used to determine inter- and intra-assay reproducibility and linearity, which were very good (<8% coefficient of variation [CV]; between ∼1.7 and 7.0 log
10
copies/ml). Subtype detection was evaluated in the CAP/CTM, Amplicor, and Bayer Versant HIV-1 bDNA 3.0 (Versant) assays using a commercially available panel. Versant averaged 0.829 log
10
copies/ml lower than CAP/CTM and Amplicor averaged 0.427 log
10
copies/ml lower than CAP/CTM for the subtype panel. Correlation with samples previously tested by Amplicor was excellent (
R
2
= 0.884; average difference [Amplicor value minus CAP/CTM value], 0.008 log
10
copies/ml). Of the 305 HIV samples tested, 7 samples generated CAP/CTM titers between 1.0 and 2.75 log
10
copies/ml lower than those for Amplicor. Three of these samples revealed primer and probe mismatches that could account for the discrepancies. Otherwise, the CAP/CTM assay exhibits excellent sensitivity, dynamic range, reproducibility, and correlation with Amplicor in an automated format.
Human Astrovirus Infection in a Patient with New-Onset Celiac Disease
Authors: Smits Saskia L. , van Leeuwen Marije , van der Eijk Annemiek A. , Fraaij Pieter L. A. , Escher Johanna C. , Simon James H. , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACT
Many diseases with unknown etiology may be caused by unidentified viruses. Sequence-independent amplification revealed a new astrovirus, similar to VA1, in a 4-year-old male diagnosed with celiac disease. This expands the geographic range of this virus to include Europe and may associate astrovirus infection with the onset of celiac disease.