bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using TV News for Political Information During An Off-Year Election: Effects on Political Knowledge and Cynicism
Authors: Leshner Glenn , McKean Michael L.
Published: December 2011

Television news is routinely blamed for a decline in political knowledge and for a deepening cynicism among the American electorate. Yet studies attempting to measure the effects of TV news have produced decidedly mixed results. This study, using survey data from a 1994 U.S. Senate campaign in Missouri, finds that using TV news for political and government information is positively associated with knowledge about candidates and not associated with cynicism toward politicians. These results run counter to the popular notion that TV news induces “videomalaise” among viewers.
Predicting News Flow from Mexico
Authors: Johnson Melissa A.
Published: December 2011

This study investigated the role of geographic proximity, cultural proximity, and organizational factors on the quantity of U.S. newspaper coverage of Mexico, using a computer-assisted content analysis of 515 index citations from thirty-four U.S. newspapers. The percentage of the population having a Mexican heritage and circulation size were the strongest predictors of coverage of Mexico. Circulation size was the sole predictor of length and source of articles about Mexico and Mexicans. The data support cultural proximity and organizational factor concepts over geographic proximity.
A Cook, a Cardinal, His Priests, and the Press: Deviance as a Trigger for Intermedia Agenda Setting
Authors: Breen Michael J.
Published: December 2011

Certain events, seen as newsworthy because they involve deviance, serve as triggers for intermedia agenda setting on side issues with very specific results in terms of both volume and valence of ensuing stories, not directly related to the triggering events themseves. This content analysis examines one such case. Media reports of deviant acts by members of the clergy have risen dramatically in recent years. This study examines the changes in trends, in the aftermath of deviant acts by individual members of the clergy, given that such acts are “triggering events” for further negative stories.
Values and the Vote: Linking Issue Interpretations to the Process of Candidate Choice
Authors: Shah Dhavan V. , Domke David , Wackman Daniel B.
Published: December 2011

This study explores how “moral” issues interact with individuals' core values to influence the mental processes involved in choosing among candidates. Drawing upon three major domains of research - (1) construct activation and framing; (2) values and the self; and (3) decision making - we examine how individuals interpret electoral issues and the influence of these evaluations on the process of electoral choice. The same research design was used with three subpopulations - military reservists, ROTC student members, and undergraduate students - expected to be differentially involved with two issues in the study, abortion and gays in the military. Subjects were presented simulated newspaper articles about an election contest and asked to make a candidate choice. Findings indicate that an individual's interpretation of issues - as either ethical or material in nature - is strongly related to differences in the type of decision-making strategy used, even after accounting for a variety of demographic, orientational, and issue importance variables.
Toward a Troubleshooting Manual for Journalism History
Authors: Schudson Michael
Published: December 2011

It is argued that journalism historians would do well to avoid several kinds of troubles that have plagued the field in the past. Among these are (1) the assumption that the media always are central to a historical event or process; (2) the assumption that commercial forces always have a corrupting influence on journalism practice; (3) the tendency to reduce complex events to technological or economic explanations; (4) the acceptance of the view that journalism is in a constant state of decline; and, (5) the assumption that the news media came into existence because they served a popular need. Historians of journalism are urged to avoid these common mistakes by becoming less insulated from other domains of historical research.
Changes in Media Credibility when a Predicted Disaster Doesn't Happen
Authors: Major Ann M. , Atwood L. Erwin
Published: December 2011

This study examines public response to and perceived believability of information disseminated in the news media about a real-time earthquake prediction, and extends the body of media credibility research by examining these responses within the context of Taylor's (1983) cognitive adaptation theory. The theory focuses on people's illusions of well-being that under certain circumstances of threat can lead to adaptive behaviors and provides insights into why some people increased their assessments of message credibility while others lowered their evaluations; still others made no change over time in their assessments of message believability.
The American Woman Series: Gender and Class in the Ladies' Home Journal, 1897
Authors: Kitch Carolyn
Published: December 2011

Throughout 1897, the mass-circulation Ladies' Home Journal ran six full-page illustrations drawn by nationally known artist Alice Barber Stephens and collectively titled “The American Woman.” The series was among the first visual commentary on gender in a truly national mass medium. Its imagery framed larger debates about not only the proper place (literal and figurative) of American women, but also the economic and social aspirations of the “rising classes” in the United States. A rhetorical analysis of the series and its editorial context reveals the extent to which class and gender issues intersected in this era - and underscores the central role of mass media in public discussion of these emerging concerns.
Voter Learning in the 1996 Presidential Election: Did the Media Matter?
Authors: Drew Dan , Weaver David
Published: December 2011

This study examines the relationships of exposure and attention to various news media with information learned about the issue positions of 1996 U.S. presidential candidates Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, and Ross Perot; level of interest in this election campaign; and intention to vote among 534 adult residents of Indiana during late October and early November of 1996. Contrary to previous studies of voter learning in U.S. presidential elections, this survey finds statistically significant associations only between the media measures and campaign interest, but not between media exposure/attention and knowledge of candidate issue positions or likelihood of voting, after controlling statistically for various demographics and level of interest in the campaign. Possible reasons for these markedly different findings for 1996 are discussed.
Can a Single Incident Create an Issue? Exemplars in German Television Magazine Shows
Authors: Daschmann Gregor , Brosius Hans-Bernd
Published: December 2011

Recent experiments have shown that examples presented in media coverage exercise a strong influence on recipient judgments. We investigated the question of just how these examples, or exemplars, are utilized in journalistic accounts by studying certain magazine shows on German television. Results demonstrate a ubiquitous use of exemplars confirming the angle from which a story has been presented. Exemplars are often presented along with vague generalizations, which leave the viewer little chance of judging the scope or importance of an issue. This leads to the question: Rather than illustrating an issue, do exemplars create it in the first place?
Doing the Traditional Media Sidestep: Comparing the Effects of the Internet and Other Nontraditional Media with Traditional Media in the 1996 Presidential Campaign
Authors: Johnson Thomas J. , Braima Mahmoud A. M. , Sothirajah Jayanthi
Published: December 2011

This study examined the extent to which heavy users of the Internet and other nontraditional media differ from heavy users of traditional media in their knowledge of the issue stances of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole as well as their images of the two candidates. Nontraditional media had little influence on political knowledge. Although nontraditional media had a greater impact on images of the two candidates than traditional media, few relationships remained significant after controlling for other factors. In 1996, the Internet was getting a “test drive” as a new campaign medium. The election of 2000 should be studied to determine how Internet use has changed and how Internet content might affect future political campaigns.
The “Rhetorical Presidency” Meets the Press: The New York Times and the State of the Union Message
Authors: Schaefer Todd M.
Published: December 2011

In the modern era, presidential public addresses have become important political tools, but need favorable media coverage to succeed. Yet little is known about how media cover these events. This study examines New York Times coverage of State of the Union Messages to test four sets of possible influences on the press—objective reality, liberal bias, the “credibility gap,” and “news” biases toward the “game” of politics. It finds the news biases to be the most powerful explanation, indicating that the political “state of the President” determines the tone of coverage more than a liberal bias, the “credibility gap” of recent years, or even the “actual” state of the union itself.
Measuring common standards and equal responsibility-sharing in EU asylum outcome data
Authors: Bovens Luc , Chatkupt Chlump , Smead Laura
Published: December 2011

We construct novel measures to assess (i) the extent to which European Union member states are using common standards in recognizing asylum seekers and (ii) the extent to which the responsibilities for asylum applications, acceptances and refugee populations are equally shared among the member states, taking into account population size, gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP expressed in purchasing power parity (GDP-PPP). We track the progression of these measures since the implementation of the Treaty of Amsterdam (1999). These measures display divergent trends and we try to provide an interpretation of the dynamics that are constitutive of these trends.
Readers' Perception of Digital Alteration in Photojournalism
Authors: Huang Edgar Shaohua
Published: December 2011

At the beginning of the millennium, almost all of the images that we see in our daily newspapers and news magazines are digitized. However, no scholars have asked readers what they think about the appropriateness of digitally altering images. The purpose of this study is to examine how much readers trust digital images used in documentary contexts and to provide an empirical base for newsroom guidelines and principles regarding the uses of digitally altered photographs.
“Justifying Corporate Speech Regulation Through a Town-Meeting Understanding of the Marketplace of Ideas”
Authors: Kerr Robert L.
Published: December 2011

The debate between the majority and the dissenting justices in the Supreme Court's 2003 decision in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission refocused attention on one particularly intense dispute in First Amendment law that has been simmering among the Justices over the past quarter-century: corporate speech doctrine. Although the Court extended First Amendment protection to corporate political media spending in relation to referenda in 1978, subsequent cases have permitted regulation of such spending in order to prevent corruption of democratic processes in candidate elections. The Supreme Court's most recent case on corporate speech highlighted the potential for the Court to shift its jurisprudence back toward a laissez-faire doctrine that would more greatly advantage corporate participants in the marketplace of ideas and signaled the continuing relevance of scholarly and judicial debate on the subject. Dissenting justices have argued repeatedly that there is no basis in principle or in law why business corporations should be denied full First Amendment rights. This monograph argues that such a position contradicts a significant body of relevant case law, but more broadly how the reasoning that forms the constitutional basis for regulation of corporate political spending can compellingly be expressed through the procedural tenets of Alexander Meiklejohn's town-meeting model of the First Amendment. The monograph draws upon those tenets to advance a highly principled theory for considering corporate speech jurisprudence in a manner that most truly advances freedom of the political marketplace and democratic debate.
The Continuous Past: Historical Referents in Nineteenth-Century American Journalism
Authors: Winfield Betty Houchin , Hume Janice
Published: December 2011

This study examines how nineteenth-century American journalism used history. Based primarily on almost 2,000 magazine article titles, the authors found a marked increase in historical referents by 1900. Primarily used for context and placement, historical references often noted the country's origins, leaders and wars, particularly the Civil War. By connecting the present to the past, journalists highlighted an American story worth remembering during a time of nation-building, increased magazine circulation, and rise of feature stories. References to past people, events and institutions reiterated a particular national history, not only to those long settled, but also to new immigrants. Journalistic textual silences were the histories of most women, African Americans, Native Americans and immigrants. This study found historical continuity in contrast to Lipsitz and a repeated national institutional core as opposed to Wiebe. It reinforced other memory studies about contemporary usefulness of the past, and agrees with Higham's contention that the century's journalistic reports created the initial awareness of the nation's history.
Examination and Treatment of Hamstring Related Injuries
Authors: Sherry Marc
Published: December 2011

Context: There is a wide spectrum of hamstring-related injuries that can occur in the athlete. Accurate diagnosis is imperative to prevent delayed return to sport, injury recurrence, and accurate clinical decision making regarding the most efficacious treatment.

Evidence Acquisition: This review highlights current evidence related to the diagnosis and treatment of hamstring-related injuries in athletes. Data sources were limited to peer-reviewed publications indexed in MEDLINE from 1988 through May 2011.

Results: An accurate diagnostic process for athletes with posterior thigh–related complaints should include a detailed and discriminative history, followed by a thorough clinical examination. Diagnostic imaging should be utilized when considering hamstring avulsion or ischial apophyseal avulsion. Diagnostic imaging may also be needed to further define the cause of referred posterior thigh pain.

Conclusions: Differentiating acute hamstring strains, hamstring tendon avulsions, ischial apophyseal avulsions, proximal hamstring tendinopathies, and referred posterior thigh pain is critical in determining the most appropriate treatment and expediting safe return to play.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention Training in Female Athletes
Authors: Noyes Frank R. , Barber Westin Sue D.
Published: December 2011

Context: Many anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention training programs have been published, but few have assessed the effects of training on both ACL injury rates and athletic performance tests.

Objective: To determine if ACL injury prevention programs have a positive influence on both injury rates and athletic performance tests in female athletes.

Data sources: In August 2011, a search was conducted (1995–August 2011) of the PubMed, Science Direct, and CINAHL databases.

Study selection: Selected studies determined the effect of ACL intervention training programs on ACL incidence rates (determined by athlete-exposures) and athletic performance tests, such as isokinetic strength, vertical jump height, speed, agility, and dynamic balance. Because no single article contained both criteria, investigations were cross-referenced to obtain data on both factors from the same training programs.

Data extraction: The authors reviewed the selected studies for cohort population numbers, age, sports, duration of study, program components, duration of training, number of athlete-exposures, ACL injury incidence rates, and results of athletic performance tests.

Results: Initially, 57 studies were identified that described 42 ACL injury prevention training programs. Of these, 17 studies that investigated 5 programs met the inclusion criteria. Two programs significantly reduced ACL injury rates and improved athletic performance tests: Sportsmetrics and the Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance program (PEP). Sportsmetrics produced significant increases in lower extremity and abdominal strength, vertical jump height, estimated maximal aerobic power, speed, and agility. Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance significantly improved isokinetic knee flexion strength but did not improve vertical jump height, speed, or agility. The other 3 programs (Myklebust, the “11,” and Knee Ligament Injury Prevention) did not improve both ACL injury rates and athletic performance tests.

Conclusions: Only the Sportsmetrics and PEP ACL intervention training programs had a positive influence on injury reduction and athletic performance tests.
sPLA2-V inhibits EPCR anticoagulant and antiapoptotic properties by accommodating lysophosphatidylcholine or PAF in the hydrophobic groove
Authors: López-Sagaseta Jacinto , Puy Cristina , Tamayo Ibai , Allende Mikel , Cerveró Jorge , Velasco Susana E. , Esmon Charles T. , Montes Ramón , Hermida José
Published: December 2011

The endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays an important role in cardiovascular disease by binding protein C/activated protein C (APC). EPCR structure contains a hydrophobic groove filled with an unknown phospholipid needed to perform its function. It has not been established whether lipid exchange takes place in EPCR as a regulatory mechanism of its activity. Our objective was to identify this phospholipid and to explore the possibility of lipid exchange as a regulatory mechanism of EPCR activity driven by the endothelially expressed secretory group V phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-V). We identified phosphatidylcholine (PCh) as the major phospholipid bound to human soluble EPCR (sEPCR). PCh in EPCR could be exchanged for lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPCh) and platelet activating factor (PAF). Remarkably, lysoPCh and PAF impaired the protein C binding ability of sEPCR. Inhibition of sPLA2-V, responsible for lysoPCh and PAF generation, improved APC binding to endothelial cells. EPCR-dependent protein C activation and APC antiapoptotic effect were thus significantly enhanced. In contrast, endothelial cell supplementation with sPLA2-V inhibited both APC generation and its antiapoptotic effects. We conclude that APC generation and function can be modulated by changes in phospholipid occupancy of its endothelial cell receptor.
Partial plasma cell differentiation as a mechanism of lost major histocompatibility complex class II expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Wilkinson Sarah T. , Vanpatten Kristie A. , Fernandez Diane R. , Brunhoeber Patrick , Garsha Karl E. , Glinsmann-Gibson Betty J. , Grogan Thomas M. , Teruya-Feldstein Julie , Rimsza Lisa M.
Published: December 2011

Loss of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) expression is associated with poor patient outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). As MHC II molecules are lost with plasmacytic differentiation in normal cells, we asked whether MHC II loss in DLBCL is associated with an altered differentiation state. We used gene expression profiling, quantum dots, and immunohistochemistry to study the relationship between MHC II and plasma cell markers in DLBCL and plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL). Results demonstrate that MHC II(−) DLBCL immunophenotypically overlap with PBL and demonstrate an inverse correlation between MHC II and plasma cell markers MUM1, PRDM1/Blimp1, and XBP1s. In addition, MHC II expression is significantly higher in germinal center-DLBCL than activated B cell-DLBCL. A minor subset of cases with an unusual pattern of mislocalized punctate MHC II staining and intermediate levels of mRNA is also described. Finally, we show that PBL is negative for MHC II. The results imply a spectrum of MHC II expression that is more frequently diminished in tumors derived from B cells at the later stages of differentiation (with complete loss in PBL). Our observations provide a possible unifying concept that may contribute to the poor outcome reported in all MHC II(−) B-cell tumors.
MUCHA: multiple chemical alignment algorithm to identify building block substructures of orphan secondary metabolites
Authors: Kotera Masaaki , Tokimatsu Toshiaki , Kanehisa Minoru , Goto Susumu
Published: December 2011

Background

In contrast to the increasing number of the successful genome projects, there still remain many orphan metabolites for which their synthesis processes are unknown. Metabolites, including these orphan metabolites, can be classified into groups that share the same core substructures, originated from the same biosynthetic pathways. It is known that many metabolites are synthesized by adding up building blocks to existing metabolites. Therefore, it is proposed that, for any given group of metabolites, finding the core substructure and the branched substructures can help predict their biosynthetic pathway. There already have been many reports on the multiple graph alignment techniques to find the conserved chemical substructures in relatively small molecules. However, they are optimized for ligand binding and are not suitable for metabolomic studies.

Results

We developed an efficient multiple graph alignment method named as MUCHA (Multiple Chemical Alignment), specialized for finding metabolic building blocks. This method showed the strength in finding metabolic building blocks with preserving the relative positions among the substructures, which is not achieved by simply applying the frequent graph mining techniques. Compared with the combined pairwise alignments, this proposed MUCHA method generally reduced computational costs with improving the quality of the alignment.

Conclusions

MUCHA successfully find building blocks of secondary metabolites, and has a potential to complement to other existing methods to reconstruct metabolic networks using reaction patterns.
Integrative analysis workflow for the structural and functional classification of C-type lectins
Authors: Koh Geoffrey , Low Ariana , Poh Daren , Yao Yujian , Ng Say Kong , Wong Victor Vai Tak , Vagenende Vincent , Lam Kong-Peng , Lee Dong-Yup
Published: December 2011

Background

It is important to understand the roles of C-type lectins in the immune system due to their ubiquity and diverse range of functions in animal cells. It has been observed that currently confirmed C-type lectins share a highly conserved domain known as the C-type carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Using the sequence profile of the CRD, an increasing number of putative C-type lectins have been identified. Hence, it is highly needed to develop a systematic framework that enables us to elucidate their carbohydrate (glycan) recognition function, and discover their physiological and pathological roles.

Results

Presented herein is an integrated workflow for characterizing the sequence and structural features of novel C-type lectins. Our workflow utilizes web-based queries and available software suites to annotate features that can be found on the C-type lectin, given its amino acid sequence. At the same time, it incorporates modeling and analysis of glycans - a major class of ligands that interact with C-type lectins. Thereafter, the results are analyzed together with context-specific knowledge to filter off unlikely predictions. This allows researchers to design their subsequent experiments to confirm the functions of the C-type lectins in a systematic manner.

Conclusions

The efficacy and usefulness of our proposed immunoinformatics workflow was demonstrated by applying our integrated workflow to a novel C-type lectin -CLEC17A - and we report some of its possible functions that warrants further validation through wet-lab experiments.
ClipCrop: a tool for detecting structural variations with single-base resolution using soft-clipping information
Authors: Suzuki Shin , Yasuda Tomohiro , Shiraishi Yuichi , Miyano Satoru , Nagasaki Masao
Published: December 2011

Background

Structural variations (SVs) change the structure of the genome and are therefore the causes of various diseases. Next-generation sequencing allows us to obtain a multitude of sequence data, some of which can be used to infer the position of SVs.

Methods

We developed a new method and implementation named ClipCrop for detecting SVs with single-base resolution using soft-clipping information. A soft-clipped sequence is an unmatched fragment in a partially mapped read. To assess the performance of ClipCrop with other SV-detecting tools, we generated various patterns of simulation data – SV lengths, read lengths, and the depth of coverage of short reads – with insertions, deletions, tandem duplications, inversions and single nucleotide alterations in a human chromosome. For comparison, we selected BreakDancer, CNVnator and Pindel, each of which adopts a different approach to detect SVs, e.g. discordant pair approach, depth of coverage approach and split read approach, respectively.

Results

Our method outperformed BreakDancer and CNVnator in both discovering rate and call accuracy in any type of SV. Pindel offered a similar performance as our method, but our method crucially outperformed for detecting small duplications. From our experiments, ClipCrop infer reliable SVs for the data set with more than 50 bases read lengths and 20x depth of coverage, both of which are reasonable values in current NGS data set.

Conclusions

ClipCrop can detect SVs with higher discovering rate and call accuracy than any other tool in our simulation data set.
A new protein-ligand binding sites prediction method based on the integration of protein sequence conservation information
Authors: Dai Tianli , Liu Qi , Gao Jun , Cao Zhiwei , Zhu Ruixin
Published: December 2011

Background

Prediction of protein-ligand binding sites is an important issue for protein function annotation and structure-based drug design. Nowadays, although many computational methods for ligand-binding prediction have been developed, there is still a demanding to improve the prediction accuracy and efficiency. In addition, most of these methods are purely geometry-based, if the prediction methods improvement could be succeeded by integrating physicochemical or sequence properties of protein-ligand binding, it may also be more helpful to address the biological question in such studies.

Results

In our study, in order to investigate the contribution of sequence conservation in binding sites prediction and to make up the insufficiencies in purely geometry based methods, a simple yet efficient protein-binding sites prediction algorithm is presented, based on the geometry-based cavity identification integrated with sequence conservation information. Our method was compared with the other three classical tools: PocketPicker, SURFNET, and PASS, and evaluated on an existing comprehensive dataset of 210 non-redundant protein-ligand complexes. The results demonstrate that our approach correctly predicted the binding sites in 59% and 75% of cases among the TOP1 candidates and TOP3 candidates in the ranking list, respectively, which performs better than those of SURFNET and PASS, and achieves generally a slight better performance with PocketPicker.

Conclusions

Our work has successfully indicated the importance of the sequence conservation information in binding sites prediction as well as provided a more accurate way for binding sites identification.
Effect modification of environmental factors on influenza-associated mortality: a time-series study in two Chinese cities
Authors: Yang Lin , Chen Ping Yan , He Jian Feng , Chan King Pan , Ou Chun Quan , Deng Ai Ping , Malik Peiris JS , Wong Chit Ming
Published: December 2011

Background

Environmental factors have been associated with transmission and survival of influenza viruses but no studies have ever explored the role of environmental factors on severity of influenza infection.

Methods

We applied a Poisson regression model to the mortality data of two Chinese metropolitan cities located within the subtropical zone, to calculate the influenza associated excess mortality risks during the periods with different levels of temperature and humidity.

Results

The results showed that high absolute humidity (measured by vapor pressure) was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiorespiratory deaths, but not with increased risks of pneumonia and influenza deaths. The association between absolute humidity and mortality risks was found consistent among the two cities. An increasing pattern of influenza associated mortality risks was also found across the strata of low to high relative humidity, but the results were less consistent for temperature.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the need for people with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases to take extra caution against influenza during hot and humid days in the subtropics and tropics.
Effects of chronic carbon monoxide exposure on fetal growth and development in mice
Authors: Venditti Carolina C , Casselman Richard , Smith Graeme N
Published: December 2011

Background

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced endogenously, and can also be acquired from many exogenous sources: ie. cigarette smoking, automobile exhaust. Although toxic at high levels, low level production or exposure lends to normal physiologic functions: smooth muscle cell relaxation, control of vascular tone, platelet aggregation, anti- inflammatory and anti-apoptotic events. In pregnancy, it is unclear at what level maternal CO exposure becomes toxic to the fetus. In this study, we hypothesized that CO would be embryotoxic, and we sought to determine at what level of chronic CO exposure in pregnancy embryo/fetotoxic effects are observed.

Methods

Pregnant CD1 mice were exposed to continuous levels of CO (0 to 400 ppm) from conception to gestation day 17. The effect on fetal/placental growth and development, and fetal/maternal CO concentrations were determined.

Results

Maternal and fetal CO blood concentrations ranged from 1.12- 15.6 percent carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) and 1.0- 28.6%COHb, respectively. No significant difference was observed in placental histological morphology or in placental mass with any CO exposure. At 400 ppm CO vs. control, decreased litter size and fetal mass (p < 0.05), increased fetal early/late gestational deaths (p < 0.05), and increased CO content in the placenta and the maternal spleen, heart, liver, kidney and lung (p < 0.05) were observed.

Conclusions

Exposure to levels at or below 300 ppm CO throughout pregnancy has little demonstrable effect on fetal growth and development in the mouse.
Targeted sequencing library preparation by genomic DNA circularization
Authors: Myllykangas Samuel , Natsoulis Georges , Bell John M , Ji Hanlee P
Published: December 2011

Background

For next generation DNA sequencing, we have developed a rapid and simple approach for preparing DNA libraries of targeted DNA content. Current protocols for preparing DNA for next-generation targeted sequencing are labor-intensive, require large amounts of starting material, and are prone to artifacts that result from necessary PCR amplification of sequencing libraries. Typically, sample preparation for targeted NGS is a two-step process where (1) the desired regions are selectively captured and (2) the ends of the DNA molecules are modified to render them compatible with any given NGS sequencing platform.

Results

In this proof-of-concept study, we present an integrated approach that combines these two separate steps into one. Our method involves circularization of a specific genomic DNA molecule that directly incorporates the necessary components for conducting sequencing in a single assay and requires only one PCR amplification step. We also show that specific regions of the genome can be targeted and sequenced without any PCR amplification.

Conclusion

We anticipate that these rapid targeted libraries will be useful for validation of variants and may have diagnostic application.
Do we have the right models for scaling up health services to achieve the Millennium Development Goals?
Authors: Subramanian Savitha , Naimoli Joseph , Matsubayashi Toru , Peters David H
Published: December 2011

Background

There is widespread agreement on the need for scaling up in the health sector to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). But many countries are not on track to reach the MDG targets. The dominant approach used by global health initiatives promotes uniform interventions and targets, assuming that specific technical interventions tested in one country can be replicated across countries to rapidly expand coverage. Yet countries scale up health services and progress against the MDGs at very different rates. Global health initiatives need to take advantage of what has been learned about scaling up.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted to identify conceptual models for scaling up health in developing countries, with the articles assessed according to the practical concerns of how to scale up, including the planning, monitoring and implementation approaches.

Results

We identified six conceptual models for scaling up in health based on experience with expanding pilot projects and diffusion of innovations. They place importance on paying attention to enhancing organizational, functional, and political capabilities through experimentation and adaptation of strategies in addition to increasing the coverage and range of health services. These scaling up approaches focus on fostering sustainable institutions and the constructive engagement between end users and the provider and financing organizations.

Conclusions

The current approaches to scaling up health services to reach the MDGs are overly simplistic and not working adequately. Rather than relying on blueprint planning and raising funds, an approach characteristic of current global health efforts, experience with alternative models suggests that more promising pathways involve "learning by doing" in ways that engage key stakeholders, uses data to address constraints, and incorporates results from pilot projects. Such approaches should be applied to current strategies to achieve the MDGs.
The use of paediatric artemisinin combinations in sub-Saharan Africa: a snapshot questionnaire survey of health care personnel
Authors: Agnandji Selidji T , Kurth Florian , Fernandes Jose F , Soulanoudjingar Solange S , Abossolo Beatrice P , Mombo-Ngoma Ghyslain , Basra Arti , González Raquel , Kizito Gondo , Mayengue Pembe I , Auer-Hackenberg Lorenz , Issifou Saadou , Lell Bertrand , Adegnika Ayola A , Ramharter Michael
Published: December 2011

Background

Paediatric drug formulations for artemisinin combination therapy (P-ACT) have been developed over the past few years and have been shown to improve the therapeutic management of young children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. This process was however not equally paralleled by a timely adoption of P-ACT in national and international treatment recommendations. National malaria programmes in sub-Saharan Africa have not yet widely embraced this new therapeutic tool. To which extent P-ACT is used in the field in sub-Saharan Africa is not known to date.

Methods

This snapshot questionnaire survey aimed to provide an overview on the current routine practices for the availability and use of P-ACT as anti-malarial treatment for young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Health care personnel in seven countries in West-, Central, and East-Africa were invited to answer a structured questionnaire assessing use and availability of P-ACT.

Results

A total of 71 respondents including doctors, nurses and pharmacy personnel responsible for the anti-malarial treatment of young children were interviewed. P-ACT was used by 83% (95% confidence interval: 73-90%; n = 59) as first-line treatment for young children. Use of 15 different P-ACT products was reported among which only two have received WHO prequalification status and approval by a stringent registration authority. Use of a specific P-ACT product was not linked to consumer prices or availability of supporting clinical trial data, but may depend more on the marketing capacity of the manufacturer. Major differences in frequency and dosing of anti-malarial regimens with identical anti-malarial compounds and the marketing of loose combinations were recorded.

Conclusion

Paediatric ACT is widely used for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in young children. However, the majority of P-ACT formulations in use do not meet highest international quality standards evoking concerns for patients' safety and the induction of drug resistance. Improving the quality of currently marketed P-ACT should constitute a public health priority besides their adoption into official treatment recommendations.
PAX2 is activated by estradiol in breast cancer cells of the luminal subgroup selectively, to confer a low invasive phenotype
Authors: Beauchemin David , Lacombe Catherine , Van Themsche Céline
Published: December 2011

Background

Metastasis is the leading cause of death among breast cancer patients. Identifying key cellular factors controlling invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells should pave the way to new therapeutic strategies efficiently interfering with the metastatic process. PAX2 (paired box 2) transcription factor is expressed by breast cancer cellsin vivoand recently, it was shown to negatively regulate the expression of ERBB2 (erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2, HER-2/neu), a well-documented pro-invasive and pro-metastastic gene, in luminal/ERalpha-positive (ERα+) breast cancer cells. The objective of the present study was to investigate a putative role for PAX2 in the control of luminal breast cancer cells invasion, and to begin to characterize its regulation.

Results

PAX2 activity was higher in cell lines from luminal compared to non-luminal subtype, and activation of PAX2 by estradiol was selectively achieved in breast cancer cell lines of the luminal subtype. This process was blocked by ICI 182780 and could be antagonized by IGF-1. Knockdown of PAX2 in luminal MCF-7 cells completely abrogated estradiol-induced downregulation of ERBB2 and decrease of cell invasion, whereas overexpression of PAX2 in these cells enhanced estradiol effects on ERBB2 levels and cell invasion.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates that PAX2 activation by estradiol is selectively achieved in breast cancer cells of the luminal subtype, via ERα, and identifies IGF-1 as a negative regulator of PAX2 activity in these cells. Further, it reveals a new role for PAX2 in the maintenance of a low invasive behavior in luminal breast cancer cells upon exposure to estradiol, and shows that overexpression and activation of PAX2 in these cells is sufficient to reduce their invasive ability.
Liver fatty acid composition in mice with or without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Wang Xin , Cao Yuzhen , Fu Yunwei , Guo Guifang , Zhang Xiuying
Published: December 2011

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most frequent causes of abnormal liver function. Because fatty acids can damage biological membranes, fatty acid accumulation in the liver may be partially responsible for the functional and morphological changes that are observed in nonalcoholic liver disease. The aim of this study was to use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to evaluate the fatty acid composition of an experimental mouse model of NAFLD induced by high-fat feed and CCl4 and to assess the association between liver fatty acid accumulation and NAFLD. C57BL/6J mice were given high-fat feed for six consecutive weeks to develop experimental NAFLD. Meanwhile, these mice were given subcutaneous injections of a 40% CCl4-vegetable oil mixture twice per week.

Results

A pathological examination found that NAFLD had developed in the C57BL/6J mice. High-fat feed and CCl4 led to significant increases in C14:0, C16:0, C18:0 and C20:3 (P < 0.01), and decreases in C15:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 (P < 0.01) in the mouse liver. The treatment also led to an increase in SFA and decreases in other fatty acids (UFA, PUFA and MUFA). An increase in the ratio of product/precursor n-6 (C20:4/C18:2) and n-3 ([C20:5+C22:6]/C18:3) and a decrease in the ratio of n-6/n-3 (C20:4/[C20:5+C22:6]) were also observed.

Conclusion

These data are consistent with the hypothesis that fatty acids are deranged in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver injury induced by high-fat feed and CCl4, which may be involved in its pathogenesis and/or progression via an unclear mechanism.
Cathodoluminescence spectra of gallium nitride nanorods
Authors: Tsai Chia-Chang , Li Guan-Hua , Lin Yuan-Ting , Chang Ching-Wen , Wadekar Paritosh , Chen Quark Yung-Sung , Rigutti Lorenzo , Tchernycheva Maria , Julien François Henri , Tu Li-Wei
Published: December 2011

Gallium nitride [GaN] nanorods grown on a Si(111) substrate at 720°C via plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy were studied by field-emission electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence [CL]. The surface topography and optical properties of the GaN nanorod cluster and single GaN nanorod were measured and discussed. The defect-related CL spectra of GaN nanorods and their dependence on temperature were investigated. The CL spectra along the length of the individual GaN nanorod were also studied. The results reveal that the 3.2-eV peak comes from the structural defect at the interface between the GaN nanorod and Si substrate. The surface state emission of the single GaN nanorod is stronger as the diameter of the GaN nanorod becomes smaller due to an increased surface-to-volume ratio.
Swine influenza virus infection in different age groups of pigs in farrow-to-finish farms in Thailand
Authors: Takemae Nobuhiro , Parchariyanon Sujira , Ruttanapumma Ruttapong , Hiromoto Yasuaki , Hayashi Tsuyoshi , Uchida Yuko , Saito Takehiko
Published: December 2011

Background

Understanding swine influenza virus (SIV) ecology has become more and more important from both the pig industry and public health points of views. However, the mechanism whereby SIV occurs in pig farms is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to develop a proper strategy for SIV surveillance.

Findings

We conducted longitudinal monitoring in 6 farrow-to-finish farms in the central region of Thailand from 2008 to 2009. Nasal swabs and serum samples were collected periodically from clinically healthy pigs consisting of sows, fattening pigs, weaned piglets and pigs transferred from other farms. A total of 731 nasal swabs were subjected to virus isolation and 641 serum samples were subjected to detection of SIV antibodies against H1 and H3 subtypes using the hemagglutination inhibition test and ELISA. Twelve SIVs were isolated in this study and eleven were from piglets aged 4 and 8 weeks. Phylogenetical analysis revealed that SIVs isolated from different farms shared a common ancestor. Antibodies against SIVs were detected in fattening pigs on farms with no SIV isolation in the respective periods studied. These observations suggested that piglets aged 8 weeks or younger could be a main target for SIV isolation. Farm-to-farm transmission was suggested for farms where pigs from other farms are introduced periodically. In addition, antibodies against SIVs detected in fattening pigs could be a marker for SIV infection in a farm.

Conclusions

The present study provided important information on SIV surveillance that will enable better understanding of SIV ecology in farrow-to-finish farms.
Subcellular Targeting Domains of Sphingomyelin Synthase 1 and 2
Authors: Yeang Calvin , Ding Tingbo , Chirico William J , Jiang Xian-Cheng
Published: December 2011

Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) sits at the crossroads of sphingomyelin (SM), ceramide, diacylglycerol (DAG) metabolism. It utilizes ceramide and phosphatidylcholine as substrates to produce SM and DAG, thereby regulating lipid messengers which play a role in cell survival and apoptosis. Furthermore, its product SM has been implicated in atherogenic processes such as retention of lipoproteins in the blood vessel intima. There are two mammalian sphingomyelin synthases: SMS1 and SMS2. SMS1 is found exclusively in the Golgi at steady state, whereas SMS2 exists in the Golgi and plasma membrane. Conventional motifs responsible for protein targeting to the plasma membrane or Golgi are either not present in, or unique to, SMS1 and SMS2. In this study, we examined how SMS1 and SMS2 achieve their respective subcellular localization patterns. Brefeldin A treatment prevented SMS1 and SMS2 from exiting the ER, demonstrating that they transit through the classical secretory pathway. We created truncations and chimeras of SMS1 and SMS2 to define their targeting signals. We found that SMS1 contains a C-terminal Golgi targeting signal and that SMS2 contains a C-terminal plasma membrane targeting signal.
Genetic Enhancement of Behavioral Itch Responses in Mice Lacking Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-γ (PI3Kγ)
Authors: Lee Bolam , Descalzi Giannina , Baek Jinhee , Kim Jae-Ick , Lee Hye-Ryeon , Lee Kyungmin , Kaang Bong-Kiun , Zhuo Min
Published: December 2011

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are important for synaptic plasticity and various brain functions. The only class IB isoform of PI3K, PI3Kγ, has received the most attention due to its unique roles in synaptic plasticity and cognition. However, the potential role of PI3Kγ in sensory transmission, such as pain and itch has not been examined. In this study, we present the evidence for the first time, that genetic deletion of PI3Kγ enhanced scratching behaviours in histamine-dependent and protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2)-dependent itch. In contrast, PI3Kγ-deficient mice did not exhibit enhanced scratching in chloroquine-induced itch, suggesting that PI3Kγ selectively contributes to certain types of behavioal itch response. Furthermore, PI3Kγ-deficient mice exhibited normal acute nociceptive responses to thermal and mechanical noxious stimuli. Behavioral licking responses to intraplantar injections of formalin and mechanical allodynia in a chronic inflammatory pain model (CFA) were also not affected by PI3Kγ gene deletion. Our findings indicate that PI3Kγ selectively contributes to behavioral itching induced by histamine and PAR-2 agonist, but not chloroquine agonist.