bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systemic Reactive Amyloidosis Associated with Castleman's Disease
Authors: Gaduputi Vinaya , Tariq Hassan , Badipatla Kanthi , Ihimoyan Ariyo
Published: November 2013

We report this case of secondary amyloidosis associated with Castleman's disease. A 51-year-old man presented with systemic symptoms of generalized weakness, fatigue, unintended weight loss, anorexia and progressively worsening abdominal distension. On examination he was found to have an indurated right-sided submandibular mass and tense ascites. He was found to have multiorgan dysfunction with deranged liver function tests and renal failure. Ascitic fluid analysis revealed evidence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Biopsy of the submandibular mass revealed angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia consistent with a diagnosis of Castleman's disease. A subsequent liver biopsy showed extensive deposition of amyloid protein. Bone marrow biopsy also showed the presence of amyloid and increased kappa light chain-restricted plasma cells. The patient was not considered a candidate for chemotherapy or solid organ transplantation in view of active sepsis and poor physical condition. Secondary systemic amyloidosis complicating Castleman's disease is very rare. Untreated secondary systemic amyloidosis often has a rapidly fatal course, such as seen in our patient.
An Expert Consensus Statement on Use of Adrenal Vein Sampling for the Subtyping of Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Rossi Gian Paolo , Auchus Richard J. , Brown Morris , Lenders Jacques W.M. , Naruse Mitsuhide , Plouin Pierre Francois , Satoh Fumitoshi , Young William F.
Published: November 2013

Adrenal venous sampling is recommended by current guidelines to identify surgically curable causes of hyperaldosteronism but remains markedly underused. Key factors contributing to the poor use of adrenal venous sampling include the prevailing perceptions that it is a technically challenging procedure, difficult to interpret, and can be complicated by adrenal vein rupture. In addition, the lack of uniformly accepted standards for the performance of adrenal venous sampling contributes to its limited use. Hence, an international panel of experts working at major referral centers was assembled to provide updated advice on how to perform and interpret adrenal venous sampling. To this end, they were asked to use the PICO (Patient or Problem, Intervention, Control or comparison, Outcome) strategy to gather relevant information from the literature and to rely on their own experience. The level of evidence/recommendation was provided according to American Heart Association gradings whenever possible. A consensus was reached on several key issues, including the selection and preparation of the patients for adrenal venous sampling, the procedure for its optimal performance, and the interpretation of its results for diagnostic purposes even in the most challenging cases.
A new species in the genus Pseudorhyncomyia Peris, 1952 and the identity of P. deserticola Zumpt and Argo, 1978 (Diptera, Rhiniidae)
Authors: ROGNES KNUT
Published: November 2013

The genus Pseudorhyncomyia Peris, 1952 is re-described and shown to have two valid species: P. braunsi (Villeneuve, 1920) and P. aethiopica sp. nov. The latter is described on the basis of a single male specimen captured near Ado, Ethiopia, in 1953. Nominal species P. deserticola Zumpt and Argo, 1978 is transferred to Zumba Peris, 1951, where it is placed as a junior synonym of Z. antennalis (Villeneuve, 1929), syn. nov.
Working and reference check list for fireflies of Melanesia (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)
Authors: BALLANTYNE LESLEY A. , LLOYD JAMES E.
Published: November 2013

Twenty-three species of Lampyridae (fifteen of them new) collected during the 1969-70 Alpha Helix scientific expedition to New Guinea are now characterized by both behavioural and taxonomic data. For ease of identification, relocation of specimens, and location of all pertinent literature this check list is presented.
Cyclone Wind Field Asymmetries during Extratropical Transition in the Western North Pacific
Authors: Loridan T. , Scherer E. , Dixon M. , Bellone E. , Khare S.
Published: November 2013

Risk-assessment systems for wind hazards (e.g., hurricanes or typhoons) often rely on simple parametric wind field formulations. They are built using extensive observations of tropical cyclones and make assumptions about wind field asymmetry. In this framework, maximum winds are always simulated to the right of the cyclone, but analysis of the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis database for the western North Pacific Ocean suggests that wind fields from cyclones undergoing extratropical transition around Japan often present features that cannot be adequately simulated under these assumptions. These “left-hand-side contribution” (LHSC) wind fields exhibit strong winds on both sides of the moving cyclone with the maximum magnitude often located to the left. Classification of cyclones in terms of their most frequent patterns reveals that 67% of cases that make a transition around Japan are dominantly LHSC. They are more likely in autumn and have more intense maximum winds. The results from this study show the need for a new approach to the modeling of transitioning wind fields in the context of risk-assessment systems.
Parameter Study of Tropical Cyclones in Rotating Radiative–Convective Equilibrium with Column Physics and Resolution of a 25-km GCM
Authors: Zhou Wenyu , Held Isaac M. , Garner Stephen T.
Published: November 2013

Rotating radiative–convective equilibrium is studied by extracting the column physics of a mesoscale-resolution global atmospheric model that simulates realistic hurricane frequency statistics and then coupling it to rotating hydrostatic dynamics in doubly periodic domains. The parameter study helps in understanding the tropical cyclones simulated in the global model and also provides a reference point for analogous studies with cloud-resolving models.

The authors first examine the sensitivity of the equilibrium achieved in a large square domain (2 × 104 km on a side) to sea surface temperature, ambient rotation rate, and surface drag coefficient. In such a large domain, multiple tropical cyclones exist simultaneously. The size and intensity of these tropical cyclones are investigated.

The variation of rotating radiative–convective equilibrium with domain size is also studied. As domain size increases, the equilibrium evolves through four regimes: a single tropical depression, an intermittent tropical cyclone with widely varying intensity, a single sustained storm, and finally multiple storms. As SST increases or ambient rotation rate f decreases, the sustained storm regime shifts toward larger domain size. The storm’s natural extent in large domains can be understood from this regime behavior.

The radius of maximum surface wind, although only marginally resolved, increases with SST and increases with f for small f when the domain is large enough. These parameter dependencies can be modified or even reversed if the domain is smaller than the storm’s natural extent.
Performance of Hot Plate for Measuring Solid Precipitation in Complex Terrain during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
Authors: Boudala Faisal S. , Rasmussen Roy , Isaac George A. , Scott Bill
Published: November 2013

Solid precipitation intensity, snow density, wind speed, and temperature were collected from November 2009 to February 2010 at a naturally sheltered station located at an altitude of 1640 m MSL on Whistler Mountain in British Colombia, Canada. The snowfall was measured using the instruments OTT Pluvio; the Yankee Environmental Systems, Inc., hot plate (HP); and the Vaisala FD12P (optical weather sensor). The snow amount and density were also measured manually daily. The observed wind speeds were in the range 0–4.5 m s−1 with a mean value of 0.5 m s−1. Based on this study, the HP overestimated the snow amount by about a factor of 2 as compared to the Pluvio measurements. Further data analysis using the raw output HP data suggests that this was because of false precipitations produced, particularly by the downslope flows in the complex terrain when the wind speeds were relatively stronger. This false precipitation varied from −0.9 to 1.3 mm h−1 with two peaks at 0.1 and 0.3 mm h−1 depending on wind speed—the larger peak being at higher wind speeds. Since the observed wind speeds were relatively calm, setting the correction factor to 0.15 mm h−1 gave reasonable values as compared to the Pluvio data. The difference between the corrected HP and Pluvio accumulation data varied from 16% to 3% depending on wind speed. The observed snow density in January 2010 varied from 0.04 to 0.32 g cm−3 with a mean value of 0.08 g cm−3. The snow amount measured using the corrected HP data agreed well with the manually measured values with a correlation coefficient of 0.93.
Weather, Climate, and the Economy: Explaining Risk Perceptions of Global Warming, 2001–10*
Authors: Shao Wanyun , Keim Barry D. , Garand James C. , Hamilton Lawrence C.
Published: November 2013

Two series of national survey datasets (2001–10), supplemented with monthly temperature and precipitation data and unemployment data, are used to examine how weather and climate, economic performance, and individuals’ sociodemographic backgrounds and political orientations affect public perceptions of global warming. Consistent with previous studies, political orientations play a key role in determining public perceptions of global warming. Democrats and liberals are more likely than Republicans and conservatives to see global warming as an immediate and serious problem. Sociodemographic characteristics are also shown to be significant factors, with young people, women, and racial minorities likely to show higher concern about global warming than their counterparts. Moreover, individuals with lower income and higher levels of education tend to be more concerned about global warming. Net of these factors, summer temperature trends over the past 10 years, among other weather and climate measures, are shown to have consistently positive effects on public perceptions of global warming. This suggests that individuals who have experienced increasing summer heat are most likely to perceive immediate impacts and severity of global warming. Surprisingly, macroeconomic conditions—represented by the unemployment rate at the county level—do not appear to influence public perceptions of global warming.
Challenges in the diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning
Authors: McQuade David J , Dargan Paul I , Wood David M
Published: November 2013

Ethylene glycol poisoning, while uncommon, is clinically significant due to the associated risk of severe morbidity or lethality and it continues to occur in many countries around the world. The clinical presentation of ethylene glycol toxicity, while classically described in three phases, varies widely and when combined with the range of differential diagnoses that must be considered makes diagnosis challenging. Early and accurate detection is important in these patients, however, as there is a need to start antidotal treatment early to prevent serious harm. In this article, we will review the literature and provide guidance regarding the diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning. While gas chromatography is the gold standard, the usefulness of this test is hampered by delays in access due to availability. Consequently, there are several surrogate markers that can give an indication of ethylene glycol exposure but these must be interpreted with caution and within the clinical context. An in-depth review of these tests, particularly the detection of a raised osmolar gap or an raised anion gap acidosis, will form the main focus of this article.
Religious Prosociality and Morality Across Cultures
Authors: Stavrova Olga , Siegers Pascal
Published: November 2013

The question of whether religiosity is linked to prosocial behavior is currently hotly debated in psychology. This research contributes to this debate by showing that the nature of individuals’ religious orientations and their relationships to prosociality depend on their country’s social enforcement of religiosity. Our analyses of data from more than 70 countries indicate that in countries with no social pressure to follow a religion, religious individuals are more likely to endorse an intrinsic religious orientation (Study 1), engage in charity work (Study 2), disapprove of lying in their own interests (Study 3), and are less likely to engage in fraudulent behaviors (Study 4) compared with non-religious individuals. Ironically, in secular contexts, religious individuals are also more likely to condemn certain moral choices than non-religious individuals (Study 2). These effects of religiosity substantially weaken (and ultimately disappear) with increasing national levels of social enforcement of religiosity.
Intercultural Synthesis, Radical Humanism and Rabindranritya
Authors: Chakravorty Pallabi
Published: November 2013

Rabindranath Tagore imbued Indian dance and music with a new modern sensibility. He created novel and eclectic dance-and-music genres, Rabindranritya and Rabindrasangeet, when the national trend was toward classical revivalism. He inspired Indian women to dance on the national stage at a time when dance was associated with immorality and cultural degeneration. This article explores Tagore’s song and dance creations, connecting them to his radical political and philosophical thought on universal humanism. Focusing on his views on creativity and freedom, nationalism and cosmopolitanism, and women and essentialism, it is argued that this eclectic intercultural synthesis of ideas served to promote individual consciousness, empowerment and cosmopolitanism without rejecting their Indic cultural roots.
Implications of growth
Authors: Shapland Joanna
Published: November 2013

Restorative justice has been growing around the world in terms of its implementation, often allied to criminal justice. Its growth and increasing mainstreaming, however, reignite theoretical and practical debates current some 20 years ago but none the less valid now. They include the effects of increasing closeness to the state and to justice definitions of crime, as well as tensions for mediators and facilitators. Particularly, there is a need to draw together the common values and aims in the use of restorative justice for an increasing diversity of offences, including more serious offences and its use with adult offenders. We cannot turn back the clock, and it would be curmudgeonly to try to hold back the availability of restorative justice for victims and offenders who appreciate it and find it helpful. However, we can, and should, continue to reflect upon how the core values of restorative justice can be used to develop what are the most helpful theoretical perspectives for restorative justice for scenarios where it is not only to be used for the minority, or for diverted cases, but also leads to criminal justice decisions, such as sentences, which will be confirmed or altered by criminal justice actors.
Beyond the Triple Helix
Authors: Amir Sulfikar , Nugroho Yanuar
Published: November 2013

For the past three decades or so, the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS) has shed light on the interrelationship between modern science and technology, on one side, and contemporary society, on the other. A majority of this knowledge and insights are situated in the context of Western societies, or more precisely, in economically and technologically advanced societies in Western Europe and North America. However, STS has much to offer to the discourse of science and technology in the Global South, a territory characterized by developmental processes. Insights from different schools of thoughts in STS are arguably not only relevant but also applicable to unveil the root cause of problems that many developing societies are facing today. To make this possible, an STS-informed framework is developed to replace the Triple Helix model, which is currently a dominant perspective that prompts how science, technology, and innovation are structurally organized in the developing world. Two steps are taken in this agenda. First, limitations of the Triple Helix are exposed, and second, a new approach drawing on STS concepts is offered as an alternative model that takes into account structural, cultural, and epistemological features of technoscience.
Three-dimensional remote aggregation and steering of magnetotactic bacteria microrobots for drug delivery applications
Authors: de Lanauze Dominic , Felfoul Ouajdi , Turcot Jean-Philippe , Mohammadi Mahmood , Martel Sylvain
Published: November 2013

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) can be viewed as self-propelled natural microrobots. These bacterial microrobots can be remotely controlled using magnetic fields due to their internal chain of iron-oxide nanoparticles acting like a compass needle. This internal chain enables them to adopt a magnetotactic behavior that can be exploited to perform a variety of microscale tasks from microassembly and micro-manufacturing to the delivery through microvascular networks of therapeutic agents to tumors. To effectively support these applications, three-dimensional (3D) aggregations of MTB become essential in order to manipulate and guide the bacteria effectively in the human microvasculature to deliver a predefined dose of therapeutics. To achieve such aggregations in a 3D volume, time-varying magnetic field sequences were developed enabling us to simulate in time the existence of a magnetic monopole. This article presents and compares three different time-varying magnetic field sequences generated by three orthogonal pairs of electromagnets able to generate such 3D aggregations of MTB.
The rise of Chinese-foreign marriage in mainland China, 1979–2010
Authors: Jeffreys Elaine , Pan Wang
Published: November 2013

This research note examines the growth of Chinese-foreign marriage in mainland China since 1979. From the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 until the early 1990s, Chinese-foreign marriage was an unusual occurrence in the country. Statistics compiled by the PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs indicate that the number of couples registering a Chinese-foreign marriage in mainland China increased almost tenfold between 1979 and 2010, although that figure has since stabilized at a lower rate. The article explores these changes in three stages. First, it maps the architecture of the PRC’s Marriage Laws and reform-era regulations on marriage registration, showing how Chinese-foreign marriages have been categorized as different types of ‘cross-border’ and international marriages. Second, it provides a statistical breakdown of the number, type and gendered composition of Chinese-foreign marriages registered in mainland China between 1979 and 2010. It concludes by highlighting the gendered character and spatial dimensions of mainland Chinese-foreign marriages, and pointing to their largely ‘intracultural’ as opposed to international bases.
Aid effectiveness and imperfect monitoring: EU development aid as Prisoner’s Dilemma
Authors: Grigoriadis Theocharis
Published: November 2013

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of EU development aid to the economies of the former Soviet Union under conditions of imperfect monitoring. Transnational sovereignty partnerships (TSPs) suggest a novel type of aid recipient and an institutional component of the TACIS program. TSPs are composed of distributive planners and developmental entrepreneurs. Distributive planners set the development strategy and developmental entrepreneurs implement it based on EU development aid. I model the delivery of EU development aid to the former Soviet Union as an infinitely repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma with private signals. Aid effectiveness occurs when the European Commission signals that it will finance another TSP, without reducing its expected profit from aid implementation.
Formulation of a standardized protocol and determination of the size and appearance of the spleen in healthy cats
Authors: Sayre Rebecca S , Spaulding Kathy A
Published: November 2013

Standard protocol for splenic measurement is warranted to aid in interpretation when sonographically imaging the spleen of cats. The purpose of this study was to describe the appearance and size of healthy cat spleens, and to develop a standard method of evaluation. Data were obtained from 31 clinically healthy non-sedated cats with no sonographic abnormalities. The sonographic appearance of the spleen’s relative echogenicity compared to the left renal cortex and the hepatic parenchyma was recorded. Splenic height was measured at three sites. Three measurements were determined at each site, and the mean value of these three measurements was determined and used for data analysis. A significance level of P <0.05 was used for analysis, which was performed using S-PLUS software (version 8.1). The mean proximal height of the spleen was 7.1 mm. The mean body sagittal height was 9.3 mm. The mean height of the tail of the spleen was 8.7 mm (95% confidence interval). The splenic parenchymal echogenicity was less than the left renal cortex echogenicity and greater than the liver in 17/31cats; less than the left kidney cortex and equal to the liver in 5/31cats; equal to the cortex of the left kidney and greater than the liver in 5/31 cats; equal to the liver and renal cortex in 2/31 cats; and less than the liver and kidney with the renal cortex less than the liver in 2/31 cats. The protocol recommended for consistent evaluation of the spleen in the cat includes three specific measurements.
Is a claim for post-employment victimisation currently permissible under the Equality Act 2010?
Authors: Middlemiss Sam
Published: November 2013

This article provides an overview of the current legal rules dealing with post-employment victimisation and an analysis of the nature and scope of the law on this issue in the United Kingdom. The main focus of the article is to consider the conflicting legal decisions in this area and the impact they have had. Particularly, the detrimental effect the uncertainty arising from these cases has had, and will continue to have, on solicitors involved in claims and employees that have experienced this kind of victimisation. Finally, the need for reform of the law in this area will be considered.
Teaching race to teach Indigeneity
Authors: Walter Maggie , Butler Kathy
Published: November 2013

Australia is a relatively new nation state built on colonisation and settler migration. These origins situate Australia’s First Peoples and Indigenous/settler and nation-state relationships as central aspects of contemporary Australian society. It would seem logical to conclude that Australian sociology curricula would include a substantial range of units and courses with Indigenous themes and content. Yet, this is not the case. Indigenous sociology is largely absent from the sociology curriculum within tertiary education. In this article we argue that the lack of the Indigenous is not an oversight but can be linked to a normalisation of a more general disengagement of the discipline with the key social force of race. Apart from consistent description of Indigenous disadvantage, Indigenous and race issues are presumed to sit outside the realm of mainstream Australian sociology. We use Whiteness and Critical Race theories to explain how this curriculum absence can be seen as a particular Australian praxis of Whiteness and colour-blind racism. Our own experiences as Aboriginal sociologists in mainstream sociology departments provide the empirical base to show how Whiteness, and its privileging practices, pervades the Australian sociology curricula. Our argument extends to addressing the pedagogic challenges faced by lecturers presenting Indigenous content to a largely Euro-Australian student body.
Teaching engagement: Reflections on sociological praxis
Authors: Petray Theresa , Halbert Kelsey
Published: November 2013

Sociology has a long history of engagement with social justice issues, and through concepts like the ‘sociological imagination’ we equip our students with the ability to think through, and ideally work to change, inequities. This engagement is under threat, however, from recent changes in the higher education sector that have shifted the focus from learning experiences to qualifications. There is little room within accreditation frameworks for social justice as an educational goal. This article will place these discussions of engagement and social justice as key outcomes of a sociology degree within the broader context of the changing higher education sector, and will explore how we teach students to use their sociological imaginations outside of the classroom. We recognise that this is a messy process, involving ambiguous learning spaces, sometimes conflicting institutional versions of ‘engagement’ and unforeseen outcomes. Nevertheless, ‘engaged’ sociology should encourage students to exercise their sociological imaginations and their own capacity to act as agents of social change.
Regulating sociology: Threshold learning outcomes and institutional isomorphism
Authors: Farquharson Karen
Published: November 2013

This article examines the adoption of threshold learning outcomes (TLOs) for academic disciplines in Australia as an example of institutional isomorphism. It is argued that the type of sociology embedded in the TLOs values the sociology of the metropole and that, while the TLOs are broad enough to allow for individual sociology departments to continue to teach their own version of sociology, they further institutionalise the norm that sociology is about metropolitan theory and methods. Nevertheless, these isomorphic processes may serve to positively legitimise and institutionalise sociology, potentially enhancing the discipline’s position in higher education.
Effects of outdoor lighting on judgements of emotion and gaze direction
Authors: Fotios S , Yang B , Cheal C
Published: November 2013

Road lighting in residential roads should enhance the visual component of interpersonal judgements concerning the apparent intent of other pedestrians – whether friendly, aggressive or indifferent. This paper describes an experiment which collected forced-choice judgements of emotion and gaze direction after 1000 ms exposure under 18 combinations of lamp type, luminance and interpersonal distances. Better performance was found with higher luminance and larger task size, but with diminishing returns according to a plateau-escarpment relationship. The results were used to estimate appropriate light levels for outdoor lighting. Results for judgements of emotion from facial expression suggest a minimum luminance of the face of 0.1–1.0 cd/m2 if facial expressions are to be identified accurately at 4 m, but a luminance above 1.0 cd/m2 for identification at 10 m.
Weber on Music: Approaching Music as a Dynamic Domain of Action and Experience
Authors: Darmon Isabelle
Published: November 2013

Max Weber’s music writings (including his unfinished ‘Music Study’) have always mesmerized readers but their importance for analysing music as a cultural domain has only started to be acknowledged. This paper focuses on Weber’s approach to the inner ‘developmental momentum’ of the music domain through his study of the particular tension that pervaded Western harmonic music. By showing how composers, performers, instrument manufacturers, art recipients and the instruments themselves had to grapple with such tension, Weber was able to give an account of the inward connection to an art sphere and its structuring effects, whilst also bringing social, economic and technological factors to bear. In the current debate on the desirable ways for a renewed sociology of culture to develop, Weber’s music writings present us with a path at once precarious and bold, an account of inner connections and outer relations, which, against Weber himself, also provides bases for aesthetic judgement.
Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections and Ventilator-Associated Events in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Cohn Brad R. , Chen Lee-lynn
Published: November 2013

Central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are among the most prevalent and morbid health care–associated infections (HAIs) encountered in the ICU. The past decade has seen concerted efforts to reduce the cost of these infections, both fiscal and physical, but the evidence underlying these efforts varies in quality. Whereas the data supporting interventions to reduce CLABSI are robust and reproducible, the evidence for ventilator-associated pneumonia has suffered from inconsistencies. CLABSIs are well defined, may be confirmed by laboratory testing, and are amenable to active surveillance programs. In contrast, the clinical definition of ventilator-associated pneumonia lacks specificity and the diagnosis is confounded by inter-observer variability, thus complicating efforts to reduce its prevalence. In this context, we review recommendations for reducing these HAIs, and describe efforts to standardize surveillance definitions for VAE. These interventions are presented alongside our institution’s 5-year CLABSI and VAE data with notes on our changing practice over time. As intensivists, enacting current practice recommendations are among the best available measures to limit the incidence of HAIs in our ICUs.
Controllability for nonlinear evolution equations with monotone operators
Authors: Kang Yong Han , Jeong Jin-Mun , Rho Hyun-Hee
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we investigate the approximate controllability for nonlinear evolution equations with monotone operators and nonlinear controllers according to monotone operator theory. We also give the regularity for the nonlinear equation. Finally, an example, to which our main result can be applied, is given.

MSC:35F25, 93C20.
PlantTFcat: an online plant transcription factor and transcriptional regulator categorization and analysis tool
Authors: Dai Xinbin , Sinharoy Senjuti , Udvardi Michael , Zhao Patrick Xuechun
Published: November 2013

Background

Plants regulate intrinsic gene expression through transcription factors (TFs), transcriptional regulators (TRs), chromatin regulators (CRs), and the basal transcription machinery. An understanding of plant gene regulatory mechanisms at a systems level requires the identification of these regulatory elements on a genomic scale.

Results

Here, we present PlantTFcat, a high-performance web-based analysis tool that is designed to identify and categorize plant TF/TR/CR genes from genome-scale protein and nucleic acid sequences by systematically analyzing InterProScan domain patterns in protein sequences. The comprehensive prediction logics that are included in PlantTFcat are based on relationships between gene families and conserved domains from 108 published plant TF/TR/CR families. These prediction logics effectively distinguish TF/TR/CR families with common conserved domains. Our systematic performance evaluations indicate that PlantTFcat annotates known TF/TR/CR families with high coverage and sensitivity.

Conclusions

PlantTFcat provides an analysis tool to identify and categorize plant TF/TR/CR genes on a genomic scale. PlantTFcat is freely available to the public at http://plantgrn.noble.org/PlantTFcat/.
Dynamics of malaria transmission and susceptibility to clinical malaria episodes following treatment of Plasmodium falciparum asymptomatic carriers: results of a cluster-randomized study of community-wide screening and treatment, and a parallel entomology study
Authors: Tiono Alfred B , Guelbeogo Moussa W , Sagnon N Falé , Nébié Issa , Sirima Sodiomon B , Mukhopadhyay Amitava , Hamed Kamal
Published: November 2013

Background

In malaria-endemic countries, large proportions of individuals infected with Plasmodium falciparum are asymptomatic and constitute a reservoir of parasites for infection of newly hatched mosquitoes.

Methods

Two studies were run in parallel in Burkina Faso to evaluate the impact of systematic identification and treatment of asymptomatic carriers of P. falciparum, detected by rapid diagnostic test, on disease transmission and susceptibility to clinical malaria episodes. A clinical study assessed the incidence of symptomatic malaria episodes with a parasite density >5,000/μL after three screening and treatment campaigns ~1 month apart before the rainy season; and an entomological study determined the effect of these campaigns on malaria transmission as measured by entomological inoculation rate.

Results

The intervention arm had lower prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of asexual parasites and lower prevalence of gametocyte carriers during campaigns 2 and 3 as compared to the control arm. During the entire follow-up period, out of 13,767 at-risk subjects, 2,516 subjects (intervention arm 1,332; control arm 1,184) had symptomatic malaria. Kaplan-Meier analysis of the incidence of first symptomatic malaria episode with a parasite density >5,000/μL showed that, in the total population, the two treatment arms were similar until Week 11–12 after campaign 3, corresponding with the beginning of the malaria transmission season, after which the probability of being free of symptomatic malaria was lower in the intervention arm (logrank p < 0.0001). Similar trends were observed in infants and children <5 years and in individuals ≥5 years of age. In infants and children <5 years old who experienced symptomatic malaria episodes, the geometric mean P. falciparum density was lower in the intervention arm than the control arm. This trend was not seen in those individuals aged ≥5 years. Over the year, monthly variation in mosquito density and entomological inoculation rate was comparable in both arms, with September peaks in both indices.

Conclusion

Community screening and targeted treatment of asymptomatic carriers of P. falciparum had no effect on the dynamics of malaria transmission, but seemed to be associated with an increase in the treated community’s susceptibility to symptomatic malaria episodes after the screening campaigns had finished. These results highlight the importance of further exploratory studies to better understand the dynamics of disease transmission in the context of malaria elimination.
CCL3L1 copy number, HIV load, and immune reconstitution in sub-Saharan Africans
Authors: Aklillu Eleni , Odenthal-Hesse Linda , Bowdrey Jennifer , Habtewold Abiy , Ngaimisi Eliford , Yimer Getnet , Amogne Wondwossen , Mugusi Sabina , Minzi Omary , Makonnen Eyasu , Janabi Mohammed , Mugusi Ferdinand , Aderaye Getachew , Hardwick Robert , Fu Beiyuan , Viskaduraki Maria , Yang Fengtang , Hollox Edward J
Published: November 2013

Background

The role of copy number variation of the CCL3L1 gene, encoding MIP1α, in contributing to the host variation in susceptibility and response to HIV infection is controversial. Here we analyse a sub-Saharan African cohort from Tanzania and Ethiopia, two countries with a high prevalence of HIV-1 and a high co-morbidity of HIV with tuberculosis.

Methods

We use a form of quantitative PCR called the paralogue ratio test to determine CCL3L1 gene copy number in 1134 individuals and validate our copy number typing using array comparative genomic hybridisation and fiber-FISH.

Results

We find no significant association of CCL3L1 gene copy number with HIV load in antiretroviral-naïve patients prior to initiation of combination highly active anti-retroviral therapy. However, we find a significant association of low CCL3L1 gene copy number with improved immune reconstitution following initiation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (p = 0.012), replicating a previous study.

Conclusions

Our work supports a role for CCL3L1 copy number in immune reconstitution following antiretroviral therapy in HIV, and suggests that the MIP1α -CCR5 axis might be targeted to aid immune reconstitution.
Preoperative serum CA 72.4 as prognostic factor of recurrence and death, especially at TNM stage II, for colorectal cancer
Authors: Ayude Daniel , Rodríguez-Berrocal Francisco Javier , Ayude José , Blanco-Prieto Sonia , Vázquez-Iglesias Lorena , Vázquez-Cedeira Marta , Páez de la Cadena María
Published: November 2013

Background

Nowadays, evaluation of colorectal cancer prognosis and decision-making for treatment continues to be based primarily on TNM tumour stage. Administration of adjuvant chemotherapy is especially challenging for stage II patients that can have very different disease-related outcomes. Therefore, more reliable prognostic markers need to be developed to improve the selection of stage II patients at high risk for recurrence. Our purpose is to assess the prognostic value of preoperative serum CA 72.4 to improve the risk stratification of CRC patients.

Methods

Preoperative sera collected from 71 unselected patients between January 1994 and February 1997 was assayed for CA 72.4 and CEA levels. Patients were followed-up for at least 30 months or until relapse. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the prognostic value was determined using Log-Rank test and Cox regression analysis.

Results

Preoperative CA 72.4 levels above 7 U/mL correlate with a worse prognosis, with associated recurrence and death percentages exceeding the displayed by CEA. In a multivariate analysis, its combination with CEA proved the most important independent factor predicting survival. Remarkably, at stage II CA 72.4 also discriminates better than CEA those patients that will relapse or die from those with a favourable prognosis; however, CEA has not a negligible effect on survival.

Conclusions

The most outstanding finding of the present work is the correct classification of nearly every patient with bad prognosis (relapse or death) at TNM stage II when CEA and CA 72.4 are used altogether. This could improve the decision-making involved in the treatment of stage II colon cancer. Certainly further large-scale studies must be performed to determine whether CA 72.4 can be effectively used in the clinical setting.
Ten-year changes in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity among the Chinese adults in urban Shanghai, 1998–2007 — comparison of two cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Hou Xuhong , Liu Yu , Lu Huijuan , Ma Xiaojing , Hu Cheng , Bao Yuqian , Jia Weiping
Published: November 2013

Background

In China, obesity is expected to increase rapidly in both urban and rural areas. However, there have been no comprehensive reports on secular trends in obesity prevalence among Chinese adults in urban Shanghai, which is the largest city in southern China.

Methods

In 1998–2001 and again in 2007–2008, two independent population-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Shanghai to investigate the prevalence of metabolic disorders. These surveys obtained height, waist circumference (WC), and weight measurements for Chinese adults aged between 20 and 74 years who lived in urban communities. From the 1998–2001 survey, 4,894 participants (2,081 men and 2,813 women, mean age: 48.9 years) were recruited, and 4,395 participants (1,599 men and 2,796 women, mean age: 49.8 years) were recruited from the 2007–2008 survey. Using the World Health Organization criteria, overweight was defined as 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2 and obesity as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Central obesity was defined as WC ≥ 90 cm in men or ≥85 cm in women. The differences in prevalence of obesity, central obesity and overweight between the two surveys were tested using multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

Compared to the 1998–2001 survey, in the 2007–2008 survey the BMI distribution for men and the WC distribution for both genders is shifted significantly to the right along the x-axis (all p < 0.001). Over the ten years, the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity increased 24% (from 31.5% to 39.1%, p < 0.001) in men, but decreased 8% (from 27.3% to 25.0%; p < 0.01) in women. The prevalence of central obesity increased 40% in men (from 19.5% to 27.3%; p < 0.01), but the increase was not significant in women (15.0% to 17.1%; p = 0.051). In the total population, only central obesity showed a significant change between the populations in the two surveys, increasing 29% (from 17.3% to 22.4%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Over this 10 year period, central obesity increased significantly in the Shanghai adult population. However, the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity was significantly increased in men but not in women.
The endotoxin/toll-like receptor-4 axis mediates gut microvascular dysfunction associated with post-prandial lipidemia
Authors: Yi Ping , Pang Jia , Alexander Jonathan Steven , Rivera Chantal
Published: November 2013

Background

Postprandial lipidemia is important in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Consumption of a meal high in monounsaturated fat was correlated with acute impairment of endothelial function. However, the mechanisms underlying impaired endothelial function in the postprandial state have not yet been elucidated. The effects of polyunsaturated fat (corn oil) and monounsaturated fat (olive oil) on vascular dysfunction in intestinal postcapillary venules and arterioles were examined in wild-type (WT) mice, mice genetically deficient in TLR4 (TLR4-/-) and mice pre-treated with antibiotics by intravital microscopy which was performed 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 hours after oil administration. After intravital microscopy, samples of jejunum were therefore collected to test TLR4, pNF-kB p65 and SIRT1 protein expression by western blotting.

Results

Our findings showed that feeding mono-unsaturated olive oil or polyunsaturated corn oil promoted leukocyte and platelet trafficking in the gut microvasculature, and impaired endothelium-dependent arteriolar vasodilator responses during postprandial lipidemia. The expression of TLR4, pNF-kB p65 was significantly increased in mice gavaged with olive oil at 2 h and was significantly reduced in mice gavaged for 7 days with antibiotics and in TLR4 knockout (TLR4-/-) mice. At the same time, SIRT1 protein expression is diminished by feeding olive oil for 2 h, a phenomenon that is attenuated in mice pre-treated with antibiotics and in TLR4-/- mice. Corn oil treated mice exhibited a pattern of response similar to olive oil.

Conclusions

Dietary oils may be negative regulators of SIRT1 which activate the innate immune response through the endotoxin/TLR4 axis. Our findings establish a link between innate immunity (i.e. the endotoxin/TLR4 axis) and epigenetic controls mediated by SIRT1 in the genesis of diet associated vascular stress.
Contribution of oligomerization to the anti-HIV-1 properties of SAMHD1
Authors: Brandariz-Nuñez Alberto , Valle-Casuso Jose Carlos , White Tommy E , Nguyen Laura , Bhattacharya Akash , Wang Zhonghua , Demeler Borries , Amie Sarah , Knowlton Caitlin , Kim Baek , Ivanov Dmitri N , Diaz-Griffero Felipe
Published: November 2013

Background

SAMHD1 is a restriction factor that potently blocks infection by HIV-1 and other retroviruses. We have previously demonstrated that SAMHD1 oligomerizes in mammalian cells by immunoprecipitation. Here we investigated the contribution of SAMHD1 oligomerization to retroviral restriction.

Results

Structural analysis of SAMHD1 and homologous HD domain proteins revealed that key hydrophobic residues Y146, Y154, L428 and Y432 stabilize the extensive dimer interface observed in the SAMHD1 crystal structure. Full-length SAMHD1 variants Y146S/Y154S and L428S/Y432S lost their ability to oligomerize tested by immunoprecipitation in mammalian cells. In agreement with these observations, the Y146S/Y154S variant of a bacterial construct expressing the HD domain of human SAMHD1 (residues 109–626) disrupted the dGTP-dependent tetramerization of SAMHD1 in vitro. Tetramerization-defective variants of the full-length SAMHD1 immunoprecipitated from mammalian cells and of the bacterially-expressed HD domain construct lost their dNTPase activity. The nuclease activity of the HD domain construct was not perturbed by the Y146S/Y154S mutations. Remarkably, oligomerization-deficient SAMHD1 variants potently restricted HIV-1 infection.

Conclusions

These results suggested that SAMHD1 oligomerization is not required for the ability of the protein to block HIV-1 infection.
Histopathological changes in the liver of tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) persistently infected with hepatitis B virus
Authors: Ruan Ping , Yang Chun , Su Jianjia , Cao Ji , Ou Chao , Luo Chengpiao , Tang Yanping , Wang Qi , Yang Fang , Shi Junlin , Lu Xiaoxu , Zhu Linqun , Qin Hong , Sun Wen , Lao Yuanzhi , Li Yuan
Published: November 2013

Background

An animal model for HBV that more closely approximates the disease in humans is needed. The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) is closely related to primates and susceptible to HBV. We previously established that neonatal tree shrews can be persistently infected with HBV in vivo, and here present a six year follow-up histopathological study of these animals.

Methods

Group A consists of six tree shrews with persistent HBV infection, group B consists of three tree shrews with suspected persistent HBV infection, while group C consists of four tree shrews free of HBV infection. Serum and liver tissues samples were collected periodically from all animals. HBV antigen and HBV antibodies were detected by ELISA and/or TRFIA. HBV DNA in serum and in liver biopsies was measured by FQ-PCR. Liver biopsies were applied for general histopathologic observation and scoring, immunohistochemical detections of HBsAg and HBcAg, and ultrastructural observation with electron microscope technique.

Results

Hydropic, fatty and eosinophilic degeneration of hepatocytes, lymphocytic infiltration and hyperplasia of small bile ducts in the portal area were observed in group A. One animal infected with HBV for over six years showed multiple necrotic areas which had fused to form bridging necrosis and fibrosis, and megalocytosis. The hepatic histopathological scores of group A were higher than those of group B and C. The histopathological score correlated positively with the duration of infection.

Conclusions

Hepatic histopathological changes observed in chronically HBV-infected tree shrews are similar to those observed in HBV-infected humans. The tree shrew may represent a novel animal model for HBV infection.
Co-expression network analysis and genetic algorithms for gene prioritization in preeclampsia
Authors: Tejera Eduardo , Bernardes João , Rebelo Irene
Published: November 2013

Background

In this study, we explored the gene prioritization in preeclampsia, combining co-expression network analysis and genetic algorithms optimization approaches. We analysed five public projects obtaining 1,146 significant genes after cross-platform and processing of 81 and 149 microarrays in preeclamptic and normal conditions, respectively.

Methods

After co-expression network construction, modular and node analysis were performed using several approaches. Moreover, genetic algorithms were also applied in combination with the nearest neighbour and discriminant analysis classification methods.

Results

Significant differences were found in the genes connectivity distribution, both in normal and preeclampsia conditions pointing to the need and importance of examining connectivity alongside expression for prioritization. We discuss the global as well as intra-modular connectivity for hubs detection and also the utility of genetic algorithms in combination with the network information. FLT1, LEP, INHA and ENG genes were identified according to the literature, however, we also found other genes as FLNB, INHBA, NDRG1 and LYN highly significant but underexplored during normal pregnancy or preeclampsia.

Conclusions

Weighted genes co-expression network analysis reveals a similar distribution along the modules detected both in normal and preeclampsia conditions. However, major differences were obtained by analysing the nodes connectivity. All models obtained by genetic algorithm procedures were consistent with a correct classification, higher than 90%, restricting to 30 variables in both classification methods applied.

Combining the two methods we identified well known genes related to preeclampsia, but also lead us to propose new candidates poorly explored or completely unknown in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, which may have to be validated experimentally.