bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronic methylphenidate treatment enhances striatal dopamine neurotransmission after experimental traumatic brain injury
Authors: Wagner Amy K. , Drewencki Laura L. , Chen Xiangbai , Santos F. Ryan , Khan Amina S. , Harun Rashed , Torres Gonzalo E. , Michael Adrian C. , Dixon C. Edward 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) results in functional deficits that often are effectively treated clinically with the neurostimulant, methylphenidate (MPH). We hypothesized that daily MPH administration would reverse striatal neurotransmission deficits observed in the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI. CCI or naïve rats received daily injections of MPH (5 mg/kg) or saline for 14 days and were assessed on day 15 using fast scan cyclic voltammetry. Dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) localization, DA‐related proteins, and transcription factor (c‐fos) expression were also assessed. CCI resulted in reduced electrically evoked overflow of DA and maximal velocity of DA clearance (Vmax). In contrast, CCI was associated with a decrease in the apparent KM of DAT. Daily dose of MPH after CCI resulted in robust increases in evoked DA overflow and Vmax as well as increased apparent KM. Reductions in total striatal DAT expression occurred after CCI and were not further affected by MPH. In contrast, membrane‐bound striatal DAT levels were increased in both CCI groups. MPH post‐CCI significantly increased striatal c‐fos levels compared with saline. These results support the hypothesis that daily MPH improves striatal DA neurotransmission after CCI. DAT expression and transcriptional changes affecting DA protein function may underlie the injury and MPH‐induced alterations in neurotransmission observed.
Sexual reproduction of cordgrass hybrids (Spartina foliosa x alterniflora) invading tidal marshes in San Francisco Bay
Authors: Ayres Debra R. , Zaremba Katherine , Sloop Christina M. , Strong Donald R. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTWe genetically analysed cordgrass plants and seedlings throughout the San Francisco, California, USA, estuary and found that hybrids between exotic Spartina alterniflora and native Spartina foliosa are the principal cordgrass invaders and colonizers. We hypothesized that this was due to higher seed set and siring ability by hybrids relative to the native species; too few alien parents remained in San Francisco Bay for our comparative studies. Hybrid seed comprised 91% to 98% of that set in the marsh study plants over the 2 years of the study. Total viable pollen production by hybrid plants was 400 times that of the native plants. Seed and pollen production were highly skewed towards a few hybrid genotypes. In addition to seed produced by hybrid plants, hybrid seed was produced by S. foliosa due to hybrid backcrossing. While the greatest advantage for hybrids was in pollen and seed production, hybrid seeds germinated, and seedlings survived and grew as well or better than the native species. As native S. foliosa becomes increasingly rare, hybrid seed floating on the tides will predominate, overwhelming recruitment sites and resulting in further colonization by hybrids. In an evolutionary context, hybrids with exceptional pollen and seed production will be initially favoured by natural selection, leading to the evolution of even more fertile hybrid genotypes.
Pollution reduces native diversity and increases invader dominance in marine hard‐substrate communities
Authors: Piola Richard F. , Johnston Emma L. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTAnthropogenic disturbance is considered a risk factor in the establishment of non‐indigenous species (NIS); however, few studies have investigated the role of anthropogenic disturbance in facilitating the establishment and spread of NIS in marine environments. A baseline survey of native and NIS was undertaken in conjunction with a manipulative experiment to determine the effect that heavy metal pollution had on the diversity and invasibility of marine hard‐substrate assemblages. The study was repeated at two sites in each of two harbours in New South Wales, Australia. The survey sampled a total of 47 sessile invertebrate taxa, of which 15 (32%) were identified as native, 19 (40%) as NIS, and 13 (28%) as cryptogenic. Increasing pollution exposure decreased native species diversity at all study sites by between 33% and 50%. In contrast, there was no significant change in the numbers of NIS. Percentage cover was used as a measure of spatial dominance, with increased pollution exposure leading to increased NIS dominance across all sites. At three of the four study sites, assemblages that had previously been dominated by natives changed to become either extensively dominated by NIS or equally occupied by native and NIS alike. No single native or NIS was repeatedly responsible for the observed changes in native species diversity or NIS dominance at all sites. Rather, the observed effects of pollution were driven by a diverse range of taxa and species. These findings have important implications for both the way we assess pollution impacts, and for the management of NIS. When monitoring the response of assemblages to pollution, it is not sufficient to simply assess changes in community diversity. Rather, it is important to distinguish native from NIS components since both are expected to respond differently. In order to successfully manage current NIS, we first need to address levels of pollution within recipient systems in an effort to bolster the resilience of native communities to invasion.
Comparing the rate of invasion by Heracleum mantegazzianum at continental, regional, and local scales
Authors: Pyšek Petr , Jarošík Vojtêch , Müllerová Jana , Pergl Jan , Wild Jan 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThis paper compares the rate of invasion of Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae), a Caucasian species invading Europe, at three spatial scales (continental, regional, and local). The rate of invasion was evaluated using inclusion curves, by plotting the cumulative number of invaded countries against time on the continental scale of Europe, number of occupied grid cells at the regional scale of the Czech Republic, and invaded area inferred from a series of aerial photographs taken at the local scale over a period of 49 years in the Slavkovký les region, Czech Republic. Time of 50% inclusion (with 95% confidence intervals, CI) of invaded countries, occupied grid cells, and invaded area was assessed. The invasion was slowest at the continental scale (62 years, CI = 53–70) and did not differ significantly between regional (16 years, CI = 10–20) and local (22 years, CI = 19–24) scales. Our results indicate that there are two different mechanisms of spread acting together in this system, namely human influences and natural spread, and the relative influence of these mechanisms appears to change in an inverse proportion from the largest to the smallest scale. At the local scale, under suitable habitat conditions, the process is driven by biological traits of the species related to dispersal. At the continental and regional scales, humans played a crucial role in the invasion of H. mantegazzianum by planting it as a garden ornamental. At these scales, human‐mediated dispersal seems to have been the major driver of spread, responsible for creating dispersal foci in the initial phases of invasion. Species traits played an important role in local spread, resulting in the colonization of new sites.
Consistent accuracy of the Australian weed risk assessment system across varied geographies
Authors: Gordon Doria R. , Onderdonk Daphne A. , Fox Alison M. , Stocker Randall K. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThe ecological and economic advantages of preventing introduction of species likely to become invasive have increased interest in implementing effective screening tools. We compared the accuracy of the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) system with that across the six geographies in which it has been tested (New Zealand, Hawaii, Hawaii and Pacific Islands, Czech Republic, Bonin Islands and Florida). Inclusion in four of the tests of a secondary screening tool, developed to reduce the number of species requiring further evaluation, decreased the number of species with that outcome by over 60% on average. Averaging across all tests demonstrated that the WRA system accurately identified major invaders 90%, and non‐invaders 70%, of the time. Examined differently, a species of unknown invasive potential is on average likely to be correctly accepted or rejected over 80% of the time for all of these geographies when minor invaders are categorized as invasive. Whereas increasing consistency in definitions and implementation would facilitate understanding of the general application of the WRA system, we believe that this tool functions similarly across islands and continents in tropical and temperate climates and has been sufficiently tested to be adopted as an initial screen for plant species proposed for introduction to a new geography.
The overexpression of major antioxidant enzymes does not extend the lifespan of mice
Authors: Pérez Viviana I. , Van Remmen Holly , Bokov Alex , Epstein Charles J. , Vijg Jan , Richardson Arlan 
Published: December 2008

SummaryWe evaluated the effect of overexpressing antioxidant enzymes on the lifespans of transgenic mice that overexpress copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), catalase, or combinations of either CuZnSOD and catalase or CuZnSOD and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Our results show that the overexpression of these major antioxidant enzymes, which are known to scavenge superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments, is insufficient to extend lifespan in mice.
Persistent Delirium Predicts Greater Mortality
Authors: Kiely Dan K. , Marcantonio Edward R. , Inouye Sharon K. , Shaffer Michele L. , Bergmann Margaret A. , Yang Frances M. , Fearing Michael A. , Jones Richard N. 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between persistent delirium and 1‐year mortality in newly admitted post‐acute care (PAC) facility patients with delirium who were followed regardless of residence.DESIGN: Observational cohort study.SETTING: Eight greater‐Boston skilled nursing facilities specializing in PAC.PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred twelve PAC patients with delirium at admission after an acute hospitalization.MEASUREMENTS: Assessments were done at baseline and four follow‐up times: 2, 4, 12, and 26 weeks. Delirium, defined using the Confusion Assessment Method, was assessed, as were factors used as covariates in analyses: age, sex, comorbidity, functional status, and dementia. The outcome was 1‐year mortality determined according to the National Death Index and corroborated using medical record and proxy telephone interview.RESULTS: Nearly one‐third of subjects remained delirious at 6 months. Cumulative 1‐year mortality was 39%. Independent of age, sex, comorbidity, functional status, and dementia, subjects with persistent delirium were 2.9 (95% confidence interval=1.9–4.4) times as likely to die during the 1‐year follow‐up as subjects whose delirium resolved. This association remained strong and significant in groups with and without dementia. Additionally, when delirium resolved, the risk of death diminished thereafter.CONCLUSION: In patients who were delirious at the time of PAC admission, persistent delirium was a significant independent predictor of 1‐year mortality.
Emergency Medical Service Attitudes Toward Geriatric Prehospital Care and Continuing Medical Education in Geriatrics
Authors: Peterson Lars‐Kristofer N. , Fairbanks Rollin J. , Hettinger Aaron Z. , Shah Manish N. 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVES: To understand the opinions of emergency medical service (EMS) providers regarding their ability to care for older adults, the domains of geriatric medicine in which they need more training, and the modality through which continuing education could be best delivered.DESIGN: Qualitative study using key informant interviews.SETTING: Prehospital EMS system in Rochester, New York.PARTICIPANTS: EMS providers, EMS instructors and administrators, emergency physicians, and geriatricians.MEASUREMENTS: Semistructured interviews were conducted using an interview guide that addressed knowledge and skill deficiencies, recommendations for improvement of geriatrics continuing education, and delivery methods of education.RESULTS: Participant responses were generally congruous despite the diverse backgrounds, and redundancy was achieved rapidly. All participants perceived a deficit in EMS education on the care of older adults, particularly related to communications with patients and skilled nursing facility staff. All desired more geriatric continuing education for EMS providers, especially in communications and psychosocial issues. Education was desired in various modalities.CONCLUSION: Further geriatric continuing education for EMS providers is needed. Some specific topics relate to medical issues, but a large proportion involve communications and psychosocial issues. Education should be delivered in a variety of modalities to meet the needs of the EMS community. Emerging on‐line video technologies may bridge the gap between learners preferring classroom‐based modailities and those preferring self‐study modules.
Effect of ex vivo culture duration on phenotype and cytokine production by mature dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes
Authors: Tawab Abdul , Fan Yong , Read Elizabeth J. , Kurlander Roger J. 
Published: December 2008

BACKGROUND: To generate clinical‐grade dendritic cells (DCs) ex vivo for immunotherapy trials, peripheral blood monocytes are typically cultured in granulocyte‐macrophage–colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and interleukin (IL)‐4 and then matured using one or more agents. Duration of the initial DC culture is one important variable that has not been systematically evaluated for its effect on the characteristics of the final mature DC product.STUDY DESIGN: DCs were generated from elutriated peripheral blood monocytes by incubation in medium containing 2000 units per mL each of GM‐CSF and IL‐4 for 3 to 7 days, followed by maturation with lipopolysaccharide and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). DC yield, viability, flow cytometric phenotype, and cytokine production were evaluated.RESULTS: The percentage yield and viability of mature DCs were similar after GM‐CSF/IL‐4 culture for 3 or 7 days. In either case, mature DCs expressed abundant CD80, CD86, CD83, and CCR7, but 3‐day DCs expressed these antigens in a more consistent and homogeneous manner. Mature 3‐day DCs produced much more IL‐12 and less IL‐10 after restimulation with CD40L‐LTK than 7‐day DCs. The former were also more effective in presenting immunogenic peptides to CD8 T cells. Analogous changes in cytokine production were observed in mature DCs prepared using lower concentrations of GM‐CSF/IL‐4 or when the alternative maturation cocktails poly(I:C)/IFN‐γ and soluble CD40L/IFN‐γ were used.CONCLUSION: Extended initial culture of DCs in GM‐CSF/IL‐4 does not affect yield or viability of subsequently matured DCs, but can adversely affect their ability to homogeneously express high levels of functionally important surface molecules such as CD83 and CCR7 and to produce IL‐12.
The clinical utility of an index of global oxygenation for guiding red blood cell transfusion in cardiac surgery
Authors: Orlov David , O'Farrell Rachel , McCluskey Stuart A. , Carroll Jo , Poonawala Humara , Hozhabri Siroos , Karkouti Keyvan 
Published: December 2008

BACKGROUND: This observational study explored the potential utility of oxygen extraction ratio (O2ER) as an adjunct to the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration for guiding red blood cell (RBC) transfusion decisions after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Hb and O2ER measures were obtained before as well as 15 and 120 minutes after RBC transfusion episodes (defined as 1‐2 RBC units given in succession after CPB, within 24 hr of surgery). Changes related to RBC transfusions among patients with normal (≤30%) and elevated (>30%) pretransfusion O2ERs were analyzed.RESULTS: Of the 176 patients enrolled, 74 received RBC transfusions. Of these, 50 had data available for 62 transfusion episodes. Pretransfusion episode O2ER values were elevated in 27 cases and normal in 35 (56%) cases. Among those who received transfusion for low Hb concentration, 43 percent (27/62) had normal pretransfusion O2ER values. While the posttransfusion O2ER values did not change in patients with normal pretransfusion O2ER values, they did decrease in patients with elevated pretransfusion O2ER values (% change [±SD] at 15 and 120 min after transfusion was −5.2 ± 7.8 and −3.8 ± 8.0%, respectively; p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: If a normal O2ER in anemic patients with no evidence of organ dysfunction indicates adequate tissue oxygen delivery, then our findings suggest that incorporating O2ER into the transfusion decision will substantially reduce postcardiac surgery RBC transfusions by allowing us to safely avoid transfusing this group of patients. Future studies are needed to assess the validity of this conclusion.
Likelihood evaluation using 15 common short tandem repeat loci: a practical and simulated approach to establishing personal identification via sibling/parental assessments
Authors: Tamaki Keiji , Kaszynski Richard H. , Yuan Qing‐Hua , Yoshida Koichi , Okuno Tomoko , Tsuruyama Tatsuaki 
Published: December 2008

BACKGROUND: In individual identification, often the only way to circumvent the lack of personal reference materials is to resort to a kinship analysis between the unidentified party (UP) and putative relatives.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Genotypes of 15 short tandem repeat loci in 20,000 families were simulated and the likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated based on the frequencies of alleles in the Japanese population. These LR values illustrate the likelihood of whether an alleged kin is related to a UP. First, three sets of kinship were assessed: UP and one parent (or child); UP and two children; and UP and both parents. Next, an UP was compared with one to three alleged siblings (ASs). In the end, these calculations were applied to 21 actual cases where the identity of an individual lay in dispute.RESULTS: When comparisons were made between a UP and both parents, or two children, the LR median dramatically increased (6.68 × 1011 and 1.10 × 108, respectively) in comparison to assessments involving an UP and one parent or child (48,900). Similarly, when two or three true siblings were made available for comparison, the LR was far greater (7.32 × 106 and 4.50 × 108, respectively) than in cases where only one sibling was available (9,250). Of the 21 actual cases these calculations were applied to, 1 case ended in exclusion with absolute certainty and the remaining 20 cases obtained high LRs.CONCLUSION: As demonstrated, this system is extremely effective in cases of personal identification where both parents, two or more children, or two or more ASs are available for comparison.
Examining the Antecedents and Consequences of CIO Strategic Decision‐Making Authority: An Empirical Study*
Authors: Preston David S. , Chen Daniel , Leidner Dorothy E. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTDespite the strategic importance of information technology (IT) to contemporary firms, chief information officers (CIO) often still have varying degrees of strategic decision‐making authority. In this study, we apply the theory of managerial discretion to define CIO strategic decision‐making authority and argue that the CIO's level of strategic decision‐making authority directly influences IT's contribution to organization performance. We also draw on the power and politics perspective in the strategic decision‐making literature to identify the direct antecedents to the CIO's strategic decision‐making authority. A theoretical model is presented and empirically tested using survey data collected from a cross‐industry sample of 174 matched pairs of CIOs and top business executives through structural equation modeling. The results suggest that organizational climate, organizational support for IT, the CIO's structural power, the CIO's level of strategic effectiveness, and a strong partnership between the CIO and top management team directly influence the CIO's level of strategic decision‐making authority within the organization. The results also suggest that the CIO's strategic decision‐making authority in the organization directly influences the contribution of IT to firm performance and that effective CIOs have a greater influence on IT's contribution when provided with strategic decision‐making authority.
Explaining Anomalous High Performance in a Health Care Supply Chain*
Authors: Shah Rachna , Goldstein Susan M. , Unger Barbara T. , Henry Timothy D. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTAn implicit assumption in distributing and coordinating work among independent organizations in a supply chain is that a focal organization can use financial or contractual mechanisms to enforce compliance among the other organizations in meeting desired performance objectives. Absent contractual agreement or financial gain, there is little incentive for independent organizations to coordinate their process improvement activities. In this study, we examine a health care supply chain in which the work is distributed among independent organizations. We use a detailed case study and anabductive reasoningapproach to understand how and why the independent organizations choose to coordinate and collaborate in their work. Our study makes two contributions to the literature. First, we use well‐established lean principles to explain how independent organizations achieve superior performance despite highly uncertain and variable customer demand—a context considerably different from the origins of lean principles. Second, we forward relational coordination theory to explain why the organizations in this decentralized supply chain coordinate their work. Relational coordination includes the use of shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect for one another's work as primary mechanisms to explain process improvement in the absence of any contractual incentives. Our study constitutes a first step in generating theory for work design and its improvement in decentralized supply chains.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Human Uterine NK Cells Interact with Uterine Macrophages via NKG2D upon Stimulation with PAMPs
Authors: Basu Satarupa , Eriksson Mikael , Pioli Patricia A. , Conejo‐Garcia Jose , Mselle Teddy F. , Yamamoto Satoshi , Wira Charles R. , Sentman Charles L. 
Published: December 2008

Problem  The initiation of an immune response often involves the cooperation of various innate immune cells. In the human endometrium, uterine natural killer (uNK) cells and uterine macrophages are present in significant numbers and in close proximity, yet how they cooperatively respond to infectious challenge is poorly understood.Method of study  Primary autologous uNK cells and macrophages were co‐cultured to determine functional interactions after stimulation with pathogen‐associated molecular patterns.Results  After stimulation by polyI:C, human uNK cells interact with autologous uterine macrophages and produce interferon‐γ in an NKG2D‐dependent manner. Stimulated primary uterine macrophages up‐regulated the expression of MHC Class I chain‐related protein A (MICA), but expression of the cognate receptor NKG2D remained unchanged on uNK cells, even in the presence of cytokines.Conclusion  This study demonstrates that the NKG2D‐MICA interaction is an important molecular mechanism that is involved in the innate immune response to microbial signals in the human uterine endometrium.