bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of iron deficiency anemia: A survey of pediatric hematology/oncology specialists
Authors: Powers Jacquelyn M. , McCavit Timothy L. , Buchanan George R.
Published: February 2015

Background

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common hematologic condition in children and adolescents in the United States (US). No prior reports have described the management of IDA by a large cohort of pediatric hematology/oncology specialists.

Procedure

A 20‐question electronic survey that solicited responses to two hypothetical cases of IDA was sent to active members of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) in the US.

Results

Of 1,217 recipients, 398 (32.7%) reported regularly treating IDA and completed the survey. In a toddler with nutritional IDA, 15% (N = 61) of respondents reported ordering no diagnostic test beyond a complete blood count. Otherwise, wide variability in laboratory testing was reported. For treatment, most respondents would prescribe ferrous sulfate (N = 335, 84%) dosed at 6 mg/kg/day (N = 248, 62%) divided twice daily (N = 272, 68%). The recommended duration of iron treatment after resolution of anemia and normalized serum ferritin varied widely from 0 to 3 months. For an adolescent with heavy menstrual bleeding and IDA, most respondents recommended ferrous sulfate (N = 327, 83%), with dosing based on the number of tablets daily. For IDA refractory to oral treatment, intravenous iron therapy was recommended most frequently, 48% (N = 188) using iron sucrose, 17% (N = 68) ferric gluconate, and 15% (N = 60) low molecular weight iron dextran.

Conclusion

The approach to diagnosis and treatment of IDA in childhood was widely variable among responding ASPHO members. Given the lack of an evidence base to guide clinical decision making, further research investigating IDA management is needed. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:842–846. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oxidant/antioxidant status in children and adolescents with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and the role of an adjuvant antioxidant therapy
Authors: Elalfy Mohssen S. , Elhenawy Yasmine I. , Deifalla Shaymaa , Hegazy Marwa , Sabra Amira , Abdelaziz Yasmine
Published: February 2015

Background

Free oxygen radicals might have an adverse effect on platelets which might be reflected either on its count and/or degree of bleeding severity.

Aim

To assess oxidant‐antioxidant systems and evaluate effect of antioxidant therapy on platelet count (PC) and bleeding score (BS) in children and adolescents with ITP.

Methods

Six months prospective randomized single blind study registered as (NCT 01763658) including 39 patients with newly diagnosed (ND) ITP; group 1 (G1) and 39 patients with chronic ITP (G2), each group was randomly allocated (2:1) to one of two subgroups respectively; (G1A and G2A) interventional arm received daily antioxidant therapy, while G1B and G2B; received a placebo. Both groups were compared with healthy controls (n = 39). The primary efficacy endpoints were the difference in the change from baseline to 6 month in ITP specific bleeding assessment tool (ITP‐BAT), PC, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and serum malondialdehyde (MDA).

Results

Baseline TAC was significantly lower in patients with (ND) ITP compared to patients with chronic ITP (P < 0.05), both showed significantly lower levels than healthy controls (P < 0.001). At end of study both BS and PC significantly improved in patients receiving antioxidant compared to placebo (P < 0.05). Patients with chronic ITP receiving antioxidant showed better improvement.

Conclusion

Reduced antioxidant mechanisms were reported in patients with ITP. Antioxidant therapy ameliorated the oxidative stress in both ND and chronic ITP groups which might explain the improvement in both BS and PC. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:830–837. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Allogeneic donor availability for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Justus David , Perez‐Albuerne Evelio , Dioguardi Jacqueline , Jacobsohn David , Abraham Allistair
Published: February 2015

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant is curative of sickle cell disease (SCD) but limited by donor availability. Searches for 85 patients with SCD without matched sibling donors from 2009–2013 using modern techniques (allele‐level HLA matching for unrelated donors and higher total nucleated cell doses for umbilical cord blood (UCB)) showed potential match probabilities of 20% for 8/8 HLA‐matched unrelated donors, 84% for 7/8 donors, and 97% for two 4‐6/6 UCBs suitable for ex‐vivo expanded/double cord transplant. Searches performed by age 43 months would have a 90% chance of finding a suitable 5‐6/6 UCB. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1285–1287. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of hybrid nanoparticles on glass transition temperature of polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Roldughin Vjacheslav I. , Serenko Olga A. , Getmanova Elena V. , Novozhilova Natalia A. , Nikifirova Galina G. , Buzin Mikhail I. , Chvalun Sergey N. , Ozerin Alexander N. , Muzafarov Aziz M.
Published: February 2015

Changes in the glass transition temperatures of composites based on polystyrene and nanosized macromolecular nanostructures (molecular silicasols, dendrimers) are reported. Silicasols are nanosized particles consisting of a silica core and an ethyl phenyl shell; dendrimers are formed using a carbosilane core with ethyl phenyl end groups. It has been observed that the glass transition temperatures of the composites (Tgc) may be either above or below the glass transition temperature of polystyrene, depending on the size of the filler particles. A theoretical model based on the relation between the glass transition temperature and the configurational entropy of the composite, which satisfactorily describes the experimental dependence, was developed. It is found that the effect of the size of the hybrid nanoparticles on Tgc was determined using two factors. First, the presence of an organic layer on the surface of nanoparticles increases the number of degrees of freedom and the entropy of the system, thereby reducing Tgc. Second, the particles present in the polymer reduce the number of configuration states of macromolecules, which reduces the disorientation entropy. This effect leads to an increase Tgc. The competition between these two main factors determines the sign of the glass transition temperature deviation. The size of the particles and their organic surface layer play the key roles in the thermodynamic properties of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1978–1990, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Regulation of the ITGA2 gene by epigenetic mechanisms in prostate cancer
Authors: Chin Suyin Paulynn , Marthick James R. , West Alison C. , Short Annabel K. , Chuckowree Jyoti , Polanowski Andrea M. , Thomson Russell J. , Holloway Adele F. , Dickinson Joanne L.
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Integrin alpha2 beta1 (α2β1) plays an integral role in tumour cell invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis, and altered expression of the receptor has been linked to tumour prognosis in several solid tumours. However, the relationship is complex, with both increased and decreased expression associated with different stages of tumour metastases in several tumour types. The ITGA2 gene, which codes for the α2 subunit, was examined to investigate whether a large CpG island associated with its promoter region is involved in the differential expression of ITGA2 observed in prostate cancer.

METHODS

Bisulphite sequencing of the ITGA2 promoter was used to assess methylation in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) prostate tumour specimens and prostate cancer cell lines, PC3, 22Rv1 and LNCaP. Changes in ITGA2 mRNA expression were measured using quantitative PCR. ITGA2 functionality was interrogated using cell migration scratch assays and siRNA knockdown experiments.

RESULTS

Bisulphite sequencing revealed strikingly decreased methylation at key CpG sites within the promoter of tumour samples, when compared with normal prostate tissue. Altered methylation of this CpG island is also associated with differences in expression in the non‐invasive LNCaP, and the highly metastatic PC3 and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cell lines. Further bisulphite sequencing confirmed that selected CpGs were highly methylated in LNCaP cells, whilst only low levels of methylation were observed in PC3 and 22Rv1 cells, correlating with ITGA2 transcript levels. Examination of the increased expression of ITGA2 was shown to influence migratory potential via scratch assay in PC3, 22Rv1 and LNCaP cells, and was confirmed by siRNA knockdown experiments.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our data supports the assertion that epigenetic modification of the ITGA2 promoter is a mechanism by which ITGA2 expression is regulated. Prostate 75:723–734, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Differential gene expression profiling of functionally and developmentally distinct human prostate epithelial populations
Authors: Liu Haibo , Cadaneanu Radu M. , Lai Kevin , Zhang Baohui , Huo Lihong , An Dong Sun , Li Xinmin , Lewis Michael S. , Garraway Isla P.
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Human fetal prostate buds appear in the 10th gestational week as solid cords, which branch and form lumens in response to androgen 1. Previous in vivo analysis of prostate epithelia isolated from benign prostatectomy specimens indicated that Epcam+CD44−CD49fHi basal cells possess efficient tubule initiation capability relative to other subpopulations 2. Stromal interactions and branching morphogenesis displayed by adult tubule‐initiating cells (TIC) are reminiscent of fetal prostate development. In the current study, we evaluated in vivo tubule initiation by human fetal prostate cells and determined expression profiles of fetal and adult epithelial subpopulations in an effort to identify pathways used by TIC.

METHODS

Immunostaining and FACS analysis based on Epcam, CD44, and CD49f expression demonstrated the majority (99.9%) of fetal prostate epithelial cells (FC) were Epcam+CD44− with variable levels of CD49f expression. Fetal populations isolated via cell sorting were implanted into immunocompromised mice. Total RNA isolation from Epcam+CD44−CD49fHi FC, adult Epcam+CD44−CD49fHi TIC, Epcam+CD44+CD49fHi basal cells (BC), and Epcam+CD44−CD49fLo luminal cells (LC) was performed, followed by microarray analysis of 19 samples using the Affymetrix Gene Chip Human U133 Plus 2.0 Array. Data was analyzed using Partek Genomics Suite Version 6.4. Genes selected showed >2‐fold difference in expression and P < 5.00E‐2. Results were validated with RT‐PCR.

RESULTS

Grafts retrieved from Epcam+CD44− fetal cell implants displayed tubule formation with differentiation into basal and luminal compartments, while only stromal outgrowths were recovered from Epcam‐ fetal cell implants. Hierarchical clustering revealed four distinct groups determined by antigenic profile (TIC, BC, LC) and developmental stage (FC). TIC and BC displayed basal gene expression profiles, while LC expressed secretory genes. FC had a unique profile with the most similarities to adult TIC. Functional, network, and canonical pathway identification using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis Version 7.6 compiled genes with the highest differential expression (TIC relative to BC or LC). Many of these genes were found to be significantly associated with prostate tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate clustering gene expression profiles of FC and adult TIC. Pathways associated with TIC are known to be deregulated in cancer, suggesting a cell‐of‐origin role for TIC versus re‐emergence of pathways common to these cells in tumorigenesis. Prostate 75: 764–776, 2015. © The Authors. The Prostate, published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sensing and catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by silicon carbide nanotubes: A DFT study
Authors: Nurazar Roghaye , Fallah Ebrahimi Zahra , Esrafili Mehdi D. , Vessally Esmail
Published: February 2015

In this study, by carrying out detailed density functional theory calculations, we investigate the adsorption and stepwise decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) over (6,0) and (7,0) zigzag silicon carbide nanotubes (SiCNTs). The results indicate that the H2O2 can be adsorbed on the exterior surface of the SiCNTs with noticeable adsorption energies and charge transfers. To gain insight into the catalytic activity of the surface, the interaction between the H2O2 and SiCNT is analyzed by detailed electronic analysis such as adsorption energy, charge density difference and activation barrier. The decomposition of H2O2 into O2 and H2 species can be viewed as the kinetically preferred reaction pathway for dehydrogenation of hydrogen peroxide over SiCNTs. There is also a curvature effect on the dehydrogenation kinetics of hydrogen peroxide, that small diameter SiCNTs with large curvature would be beneficial for decomposition of H2O2. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A realistic graph‐based alert correlation system
Authors: Fredj Ouissem Ben
Published: February 2015

This paper introduces a graph‐based attack description that comes with different analysis methods for alert correlation. The system encompasses an attack scenario detection method, an alert correlation method that recognizes multistep attacks, and graph‐based classification method to extract different types of alerts. The performance analysis shows that the system can correlate a huge number of alerts (more than 442 000 alerts) into a dozens of attack graphs. The attack graph has permitted us to extract several attack properties with high precision. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel low‐complexity scheme for improving security of NLFG‐based symmetric key cryptosystem using secure concatenated RS–QCLDPC code
Authors: Stuart Celine Mary , Pattathil Deepthi P.
Published: February 2015

The major requirements of a secure high‐speed communication system are low delay, good error performance, low redundancy, and good security. A simple nonlinear filter generator (NLFG)‐based cryptosystem is proposed in this paper to provide low delay with high security. Enhanced security is attained by embedding security in the channel encoder. An efficient concatenation of Reed–Solomon code and a secure quasi‐cyclic low density parity check code is used as channel encoder in the proposed cryptosystem to provide good error performance with low redundancy and to enhance security of NLFG with low structural complexity. The proposed efficient design of key‐based dense scrambling matrix and permutation matrix greatly simplifies the hardware structure. The novel method for generation of intentional error vector with modification of NLFG helps to reduce both the delay and power consumption. The integrated system is designed in such a way that both NLFG‐based stream cipher and secure channel coder complement each other to overcome the cryptographic weakness with a low hardware cost. The analytical and simulation results show that the proposed system attains significant security advantage against typical attacks and offers very good error performance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient management for the Hokkaido population of sika deer Cervus nippon in Japan: accounting for migration and management cost
Authors: Ijima Hirotaka , Fujimaki Aomi , Ohta Umika , Yamamura Kohji , Yokomizo Hiroyuki , Uno Hiroyuki , Matsuda Hiroyuki
Published: February 2015

We evaluated the fourth stage of the “Conservation and Management Plan for Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) in Hokkaido, Japan (CMPS4)”, focusing on its cost‐effectiveness and sika deer migration between two management areas of eastern and western Hokkaido. To clarify these factors, we constructed a stochastic matrix population model that accounts for deer migration and several uncertainties. We assumed four different budget scenarios and simple rules regarding nuisance control, and simulated four alternative management strategies. In the stochastic simulation, we calculated the probability of successfully satisfying the population target given by the CMPS4, an average total actual management cost, and a cost‐effectiveness index given four budget conditions of migration rate and budget allocation ratio. The simulation results suggest the following. First, the current management budget is so small that the probability of successfully satisfying the population targets in both areas is only 26–30 %. If the total budget remains small, it should be almost entirely invested in one area, regardless of migration situation, to maximize the probability of successfully meeting the target density in at least that area. However, these probabilities of success decrease with greater migration rate. Second, when the government invests more of its budget in the early management stage, the expected total actual cost decreases and the probability of management success increases. These findings represent cost‐effective management strategies for satisfying the CMPS4 targets.
Demography and mobility of three common understory butterfly species from tropical rain forest of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Vlasanek Petr , Novotny Vojtech
Published: February 2015

The mobility of butterflies determines their ability to find host plant species, and thus their potential host plant range, as well as their ability to maintain meta‐populations in fragmented habitats. While butterfly movement has been extensively studied for temperate species, very little is known for tropical forest species. A mark‐release‐recapture study of the three most common butterfly species in the understory of a lowland primary rainforest in Papua New Guinea included 3,705, 394 and 317 marked individuals of Danis danis, Taenaris sp. and Parthenos aspila respectively, with 1,031, 78 and 40 butterfly individuals recaptured at least once. Over a period of 6 weeks there were almost 22,000 individuals belonging to these three species hatching within or entering our four study plots totaling 14.58 ha in area. The most abundant species, D. danis, with 20,000 individuals, showed highly variable population densities during the study. The residency time in the studied plots was highest for P. aspila (84 days), as individual butterflies stayed mostly in a single gap; we estimated that less than 1 % of individuals disperse 1 km or more. Similar movement probability was found in D. danis whilst in Taenaris sp., 10 % of the population disperses ≥1 km. Movement distances of D. danis were more than sufficient to locate its host plant, Derris elliptica, which occurred in 61 % of the 20 × 20 m subplots within a 50 ha plot. Compared with temperate species, our three species have much longer life spans, but their movement patterns remain within the known mobility estimates of temperate species. The mobility of D. danis is close to the average for temperate Lycaenidae, while Taenaris sp. is more mobile and P. aspila less mobile than the mean for all temperate species.
Muconic acid production from glucose using enterobactin precursors in Escherichia coli
Authors: Wang Jie , Zheng Pu
Published: February 2015

Muconic acid (MA) is a promising bulk chemical due to its extensive industrial applications in the production of adipic acid and other valuable, biodegradable intermediates. MA is heretofore mainly produced from petrochemicals by organic reactions which are not environmentally friendly or renewable. Biological production processes provide a promising alternative for MA production. We designed an artificial pathway in Escherichia coli for the biosynthesis of MA using the catechol group of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, an intermediate in the enterobactin biosynthesis pathway. This approach consists of two heterologous microbial enzymes, including 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate decarboxylase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase. The metabolic flow of carbon into the heterologous pathway was optimized by increasing the flux from chorismate through the enterobactin biosynthesis pathway and by regulating the shikimate pathway. Metabolic optimization enabled a concentration of 605.18 mg/L of MA from glucose in a shaking flask culture, a value nearly 484-fold higher than that of the initial recombinant strain. The results indicated that the production of MA from this pathway has the potential for further improvement.
Response Styles to Positive Affect and Depression: Concurrent and Prospective Associations in a Community Sample
Authors: Nelis Sabine , Holmes Emily A. , Raes Filip
Published: February 2015

We examined the concurrent and prospective relations between response styles to positive affect and depression in a community sample. Participants (n = 345) completed self-report measures of current and past depressive episodes, depressive symptoms, anhedonia, and responses to positive affect (including dampening and positive rumination) at two time points, with a 5-month interval. Higher levels of dampening responses to positive affect were related to higher concurrent levels of depressive symptoms. The tendency to positively ruminate on positive affect was negatively related to concurrent anhedonic symptoms. When controlling for current depressive symptomatology, formerly depressed individuals had a higher tendency to dampen positive affect than never-depressed controls, and did not differ from a currently depressed group. Dampening responses did not predict depressive symptoms prospectively, but lower levels of (self-focused) positive rumination did predict higher levels of future anhedonic symptoms. Results indicate that not only currently but also formerly depressed individuals engage in dysfunctional (dampening) strategies in response to positive affect. It is possible that currently as well as formerly depressed individuals might benefit from interventions that are directed at the remediation of disturbed regulation of positive affect. However, our prospective results make clear that more research is needed to examine the precise conditions under which dampening would be a detrimental (and positive rumination a beneficial) response style in the course of depression.
The Phosphoinositide 3‐Kinase Signaling Pathway is Involved in the Control of Modified Low‐Density Lipoprotein Uptake by Human Macrophages
Authors: Michael Daryn R. , Davies Thomas S. , Laubertová Lucia , Gallagher Hayley , Ramji Dipak P.
Published: February 2015

The transformation of macrophages into lipid‐loaded foam cells is a critical early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Both receptor‐mediated uptake of modified LDL, mediated primarily by scavenger receptors‐A (SR‐A) and CD36 along with other proteins such as lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and macropinocytosis contribute to macrophage foam cell formation. The signaling pathways that are involved in the control of foam cell formation are not fully understood. In this study, we have investigated the role of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) in relation to foam cell formation in human macrophages. The pan PI3K inhibitor LY294002 attenuated the uptake of modified LDL and macropinocytosis, as measured by Lucifer Yellow uptake, by human macrophages. In addition, the expression of SR‐A, CD36 and LPL was attenuated by LY294002. The use of isoform‐selective PI3K inhibitors showed that PI3K‐β, ‐γ and ‐δ were all required for the expression of SR‐A and CD36 whereas only PI3K‐γ was necessary in the case of LPL. These studies reveal a pivotal role of PI3K in the control of macrophage foam cell formation and provide further evidence for their potential as therapeutic target against atherosclerosis.
Environmentally Friendly Determination of Quality Parameters of Biodiesel/Diesel Blends Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra
Authors: Ruschel Carla Felippi Chiella , Huang Chun Te , Samios Dimitrios , Ferrão Marco Flôres , Yamamoto Carlos Itsuo , Plocharski Rubia Carla Barato
Published: February 2015

Multivariate calibration models based on data from mid‐infrared spectroscopy of biodiesel/diesel blends were obtained. The blends were prepared from diesel oil and esters of soybean oil, waste cooking oil, and hydrogenated vegetable oil in proportions ranging from 0 to 100 % biodiesel. The results showed that the multivariate regression models with interval partial least squares (iPLS), backward interval partial least squares (biPLS), and synergy interval partial least squares (siPLS) were able to determine the fractions of the infrared spectrum that contain the relevant information for estimating the values of physicochemical properties, flash point, specific gravity, and cetane number, which are used in quality control of the blends. In the best models, the values of determination coefficients were greater than 0.9500, proving their efficiency as an alternative to traditional analytical methods.
Determination of Iron and Copper in Edible Oils by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry After Liquid–Liquid Extraction
Authors: Tokay Feyzullah , Bağdat Sema
Published: February 2015

In the present work, a novel and rapid extraction method for Fe(III) and Cu(II) from liquid edible oils is described. N,N′‐Bis(4‐methoxysalicylidene)‐1,2‐diamino ethane (MSE) was utilized for the extraction of metal ions and the determination was achieved by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). In order to optimize the extraction conditions, a central composite design (CCD) technique was employed. The optimum conditions, the ratio of MSE solution volume to oil mass, stirring time and temperature, were determined as 1.2 and 1.1 mL g−1; 24.0 and 31.8 min and 25.3 and 33.2 °C for Fe(III) and Cu(II) extraction, respectively. The feasibility of the improved method was tested with oil‐based metal standards affording 98.6 % recovery for both metals and 67.3 ng g−1 for Fe(III) and 15.3 ng g−1 for Cu(II) as limit of detection (LOD).
An All‐Natural Adhesive for Bonding Wood
Authors: Jang Yonghwan , Li Kaichang
Published: February 2015

A novel adhesive that is solely based on natural materials of defatted soy flour (SF) and magnesium oxide (MgO) has been investigated for preparation of five‐ply plywood panels. The resulting plywood panels met the industrial water‐resistant requirement for interior plywood. In this study, mechanisms by which an aqueous mixture of SF and MgO served as a strong and water‐resistant adhesive for bonding wood were investigated. SF was first fractionated into soy protein isolates (SPI), a water‐soluble fraction, and insoluble carbohydrates (ICs) that were mixed with MgO, respectively, for preparation of maple laminates. The water resistance of the resulting maple laminates was evaluated by a three‐cycle water‐soaking‐and‐drying (WSAD) test and a two‐cycle boiling‐water test (BWT). The mixture of MgO and the soluble fraction was not able to bond maple veneers together. The shear strengths of the resulting maple laminates before and after WSAD and BWT all had the following order: MgO–SPI > MgO–SF > SF only > MgO–IC. The water solubility of SF in the heat‐cured SF–MgO mixture was much lower than that of the heat‐cured SF. We believe that the low water solubility of SF–MgO and close interactions between MgO and soy proteins instead of soy carbohydrates were responsible for the superior strengths and high water resistance of the soy‐MgO adhesive.
Characterization of oxidative phosphorylation enzymes in Euglena gracilis and its white mutant strain WgmZOflL
Authors: Krnáčová Katarína , Rýdlová Ivana , Vinarčíková Michaela , Krajčovič Juraj , Vesteg Matej , Horváth Anton
Published: February 2015

The enzymes involved in Euglena oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were characterized in this study. We have demonstrated that Euglena gracilis strain Z and its stable bleached non‐photosynthetic mutant strain WgmZOflL both possess fully functional OXPHOS apparatus as well as pathways requiring terminal alternative oxidase(s) and alternative mitochondrial NADH‐dehydrogenase(s). Light (or dark) and plastid (non)functionality seem to have little effect on oxygen consumption, the activities of the enzymes involved in OXPHOS and the action of respiration inhibitors in Euglena. This study also demonstrates biochemical properties of complex III (cytochrome c reductase) in Euglena.
Modulation of domain–domain interaction and protein function by a charged linker: A case study of mycobacteriophage D29 endolysin
Authors: Pohane Amol Arunrao , Patidar Neelam Devidas , Jain Vikas
Published: February 2015

Phage‐encoded cell wall peptidoglycan hydrolyzing enzymes, called endolysins, are essential for efficient release of virions from bacteria, and show species‐specific killing of the host. We have demonstrated previously that the interaction between N‐terminal catalytic and C‐terminal cell wall binding domains of mycobacteriophage D29 endolysin makes the enzyme inactive in Escherichia coli. Here, we demonstrate that such interaction occurs intramolecularly and is facilitated by a charged linker that connects the two domains. We also show that linker composition is crucial for the inactivation of PG hydrolase in E. coli. Such knowledge will immensely help in bioengineering of endolysins with narrow or broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.
NADH oxidase and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C (peroxiredoxin) fromAmphibacillus xylanus form an oligomeric assembly
Authors: Arai Toshiaki , Kimata Shinya , Mochizuki Daichi , Hara Keita , Zako Tamotsu , Odaka Masafumi , Yohda Masafumi , Arisaka Fumio , Kanamaru Shuji , Matsumoto Takashi , Yajima Shunsuke , Sato Junichi , Kawasaki Shinji , Niimura Youichi
Published: February 2015

The NADH oxidase–peroxiredoxin (Prx) system ofAmphibacillus xylanus reduces hydroperoxides with the highest turnover rate among the known hydroperoxide‐scavenging enzymes. The high electron transfer rate suggests that there exists close interaction between NADH oxidase and Prx. Variant enzyme experiments indicated that the electrons from β‐NADH passed through the secondary disulfide, Cys128–Cys131, of NADH oxidase to finally reduce Prx. We previously reported that ionic strength is essential for a system to reduce hydroperoxides. In this study, we analyzed the effects of ammonium sulfate (AS) on the interaction between NADH oxidase and Prx by surface plasmon resonance analysis. The interaction between NADH oxidase and Prx was observed in the presence of AS. Dynamic light scattering assays were conducted while altering the concentration of AS and the ratio of NADH oxidase to Prx in the solutions. The results revealed that the two proteins formed a large oligomeric assembly, the size of which depended on the ionic strength of AS. The molecular mass of the assembly converged at approximately 300 kDa above 240 mM AS. The observed reduction rate of hydrogen peroxide also converged at the same concentration of AS, indicating that a complex formation is required for activation of the enzyme system. That the complex generation is dependent on ionic strength was confirmed by ultracentrifugal analysis, which resulted in a signal peak derived from a complex of NADH oxidase and Prx (300 mM AS, NADH oxidase: Prx = 1:10). The complex formation under this condition was also confirmed structurally by small‐angle X‐ray scattering.
Regulation of a serine protease homolog by the JNK pathway during thoracic development ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Srivastava Ajay , Dong Qian
Published: February 2015

The importance of the Jun N‐terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway during normal development and tumor invasion has been well documented inDrosophila. Here, this pathway plays important roles in epithelial morphogenesis, wound healing, apoptosis, immunity and regulation of lifespan. However, which downstream molecules facilitate these effects is not very well elucidated. In this study, data are presented on a serine protease homolog (SPH),scarface. These data show thatscarface is under regulatory control of the JNK pathway and that this pathway is both necessary and sufficient for its expression within the context of thoracic development. Consequently, down‐regulation ofscarface results in a thoracic‐cleft phenotype that phenocopies the JNK pathway defect. A possible role ofscarface during thoracic development inDrosophila is discussed.
Incidence of eclampsia with HELLP syndrome and associated mortality in Latin America
Authors: Vigil‐De Gracia Paulino , Rojas‐Suarez José , Ramos Edwin , Reyes Osvaldo , Collantes Jorge , Quintero Arelys , Huertas Erasmo , Calle Andrés , Turcios Eduardo , Chon Vicente Y.
Published: February 2015

Objective

To describe the maternal outcome among women with eclampsia with and without HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count).

Methods

A cross‐sectional study of women with eclampsia was undertaken in 14 maternity units in Latin America between January 1 and December 31, 2012. Outcomes were compared between women with and without concomitant HELLP syndrome. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors of maternal mortality.

Results

There were 196 eclampsia cases among 115 038 deliveries; 142 (72.4%) women had eclampsia alone and 54 (27.6%) women had concomitant HELLP syndrome. Severe systolic hypertension (≥ 160 mm Hg), severe diastolic hypertension (≥ 110 mm Hg), and hypertensive encephalopathy were significantly more common among women with HELLP than among those with eclampsia alone (P = 0.01 for all). There were 8 (4.1%) maternal deaths, all in the group with HELLP syndrome, and 18 (9.1%) perinatal deaths. In a multivariate regression model, maternal mortality was significantly associated with low platelet count and severe systolic hypertension (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Eclampsia with HELLP syndrome is a dangerous complication associated with pregnancy. Low platelet count secondary to HELLP syndrome and severe systolic hypertension were independently associated with maternal mortality from eclampsia.
Emotional Support, Perceived Corporate Ownership and Skepticism toward Out-groups in Virtual Communities
Authors: Johnson Devon S. , Lowe Ben
Published: February 2015

Consumers often look to virtual communities for knowledge and support in overcoming the challenges they face. This article examines the role of emotional support in virtual communities that help participants to cope with personal challenges such as healthcare, financial or legal matters. It examines the potential for peer to peer emotional support experienced in virtual communities to generate skepticism toward related out-groups such as doctors and drug companies. It also examines the degree to which corporate ownership of the virtual community reduces the level of skepticism emotional support generates toward out-groups. Guided by predictions of social identity theory, we use data from 270 regular participants in healthcare virtual communities to show that emotional support does generate skepticism toward out-groups. However, we find that this effect is reversed when the virtual community is reported by participants to be corporate owned. We offer guidance to public policy makers on the potential negative consequences of skepticism and we provide advice to managers on how to counter skepticism and improve community stickiness.
Assessing the Importance of Climate Variables for the Spatial Distribution of Modern Pollen Data in China
Authors: Li Jianyong , Xu Qinghai , Zheng Zhuo , Lu Houyuan , Luo Yunli , Li Yuecong , Li Chunhai , Seppä Heikki
Published: February 2015

To assess the importance of climate variables for the distribution of modern pollen data in China, we present a continental-scale dataset consisting of 1374 samples. Boosted regression trees and constrained ordination techniques are employed to quantify the importance of six climate variables (annual precipitation, PANN; actual/potential evapotranspiration ratio, Alpha; mean annual temperature, TANN; mean temperature of the warmest month, MTWA; mean temperature of the coldest month, MTCO; annual sum of the growing degree days above 5°C, GDD5) for the distribution of individual pollen taxa and modern pollen assemblages. The results show that taxon-specific responses to the climate variables display a wide regional diversity and that the climate variables with low collinearity that best account for the spatial variability of modern pollen assemblages differ regionally. PANN is the most important variable in northwestern and northeastern China and the Tibetan Plateau, while MTWA and MTCO are the dominant variables in east-central and southern China. This suggests that the climate variables that can be optimally reconstructed from fossil pollen data vary in different bioclimatic regions of China. This feature is typical to many continental-scale modern pollen datasets and needs to be considered in pollen-based climate reconstructions.
Emotional Labor and Occupational Well-Being
Authors: Cheung Francis , Lun Vivian Miu-Chi
Published: February 2015

In the last three decades, emotional labor has been conceptualized as comprising three strategies, namely, surface acting, deep acting, and expression of naturally felt emotion. Research suggested that each emotional labor strategy relates differently to various health and job outcomes, such as burnout and job satisfaction. These findings and the conclusions drawn are predicated on compartmentalized treatment of the three strategies. A fundamental yet unresolved question concerns whether employees adopt more than one type of emotional labor in the workplace. In this study, we adopted latent profile analysis (LPA) to examine the behavioral profile (i.e., class) of employees’ deployment of emotional labor strategies and how these profiles relate to job satisfaction and burnout. Three latent classes were identified, and the results showed that employees with these different profiles reported significantly different levels of job satisfaction and burnout. These results provide support to a person-centered approach to understand the outcomes of performing emotional labor.
It Takes Two to Be Yourself
Authors: Knoll Michael , Meyer Bertolt , Kroemer Nils B. , Schröder-Abé Michela
Published: February 2015

Basic research suggests that authenticity is a potential important antecedent of responsible organizational behavior and occupational health. However, ambiguities concerning the concept’s content and boundaries and measurement problems limit cumulative theory building and easy adaption in organizational research. We address these barriers by integrating existing conceptualizations into a two-dimensional model of authenticity comprising a self-directed and an expression-oriented dimension and developing and validating an instrument for organizational research. We furthermore use the newly developed scale to address two controversies in authenticity research: Order of causality between authenticity and well-being and health and self-other agreement on authenticity and its correlates. Results from multiple samples provide evidence for content, discriminant, and criterion validity, as well as internal and temporal consistency of the integrated short scale. Self-reports and others’ ratings support both dimensions’ relevance for work-related variables and revealed insights into how others estimate authenticity. Longitudinal data provided evidence for antecedents and consequences and uncovered differences in the malleability of the dimensions.
Do the Readability and Average Item Length of Personality Scales Affect Their Reliability?
Authors: Hamby Tyler , Ickes William
Published: February 2015

Using meta-analytic data, we investigated three attributes of personality scales – their readability, the average number of words per item, and whether adjectives or statements were used – to determine the effects that these qualities have on scale reliability (Cronbach’s α). From a large pool of studies examined in three prior meta-analyses, we extracted the relevant data for seven personality traits measured in 167 independent samples (N = 55,593), and obtained measures of the traits’ readability, the average number of words per item, and whether adjectives or statements were used as the item format. We found strong and consistent evidence that using fewer words per item produced higher scale reliabilities, and there was also evidence in favor of using adjectives, as opposed to statements, as the item format when measuring broad traits. In contrast, the results for readability were inconsistent and mostly nonsignificant. These results have practical implications for scale developers as well as researchers, and they raise the possibility that shorter and more “de-contextualized” items do a better job of assessing personality traits.
The conditional entropy power inequality for Gaussian quantum states
Authors: Koenig Robert
Published: February 2015

We propose a generalization of the quantum entropy power inequality involving conditional entropies. For the special case of Gaussian states, we give a proof based on perturbation theory for symplectic spectra. We discuss some implications for entanglement-assisted classical communication over additive bosonic noise channels.
NxTrim: optimized trimming of Illumina mate pair reads
Authors: O’Connell Jared , Schulz-Trieglaff Ole , Carlson Emma , Hims Matthew M. , Gormley Niall A. , Cox Anthony J.
Published: February 2015

Motivation: Mate pair protocols add to the utility of paired-end sequencing by boosting the genomic distance spanned by each pair of reads, potentially allowing larger repeats to be bridged and resolved. The Illumina Nextera Mate Pair (NMP) protocol uses a circularization-based strategy that leaves behind 38-bp adapter sequences, which must be computationally removed from the data. While ‘adapter trimming’ is a well-studied area of bioinformatics, existing tools do not fully exploit the particular properties of NMP data and discard more data than is necessary.

Results: We present NxTrim, a tool that strives to discard as little sequence as possible from NMP reads. NxTrim makes full use of the sequence on both sides of the adapter site to build ‘virtual libraries’ of mate pairs, paired-end reads and single-ended reads. For bacterial data, we show that aggregating these datasets allows a single NMP library to yield an assembly whose quality compares favourably to that obtained from regular paired-end reads.

Availability and implementation: The source code is available at https://github.com/sequencing/NxTrim

Contact:  acox@illumina.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Mechanical Ventilation Induces Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation
Authors: Yildiz Christopher , Palaniyar Nades , Otulakowski Gail , Khan Meraj A. , Post Martin , Kuebler Wolfgang M. , Tanswell Keith , Belcastro Rosetta , Masood Azhar , Engelberts Doreen , Kavanagh Brian P.
Published: February 2015

AbstractAbstract

By creating lung injury in mice using intratracheal lipopolysaccharide and mechanical ventilation, the authors documented that neutrophil extracellular traps were formed when lipopolysaccharide was present during high tidal ventilation and could be treated with deoxyribonuclease I. The treatment cleared the neutrophil extracellular traps and improved lung mechanics, but other measures of lung injury (including increased neutrophil count, increased protein content in lavage fluid, and low oxygenation) persisted, documenting a limited role for the neutrophil extracellular traps in this form of lung injury.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background:

Mechanical ventilation can injure the lung and induce a proinflammatory state; such ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is associated with neutrophil influx. Neutrophils release DNA and granular proteins as cytotoxic neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The authors hypothesized that NETs were produced in a VILI model and may contribute to injury.

Methods:

In a two-hit lipopolysaccharide/VILI mouse model with and without intratracheal deoxyribonuclease (DNase) treatment or blockade of known inducers of NET formation (NETosis), the authors assessed compliance, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein, markers of NETs (citrullinated histone-3 and DNA), and markers of inflammation.

Results:

Although lipopolysaccharide recruited neutrophils to airways, the addition of high tidal mechanical ventilation was required for significant induction of NETs markers (e.g., bronchoalveolar lavage fluid DNA: 0.4 ± 0.07 µg/ml [mean ± SEM], P < 0.05 vs. all others, n = 10 per group). High tidal volume mechanical ventilation increased airway high-mobility group box 1 protein (0.91 ± 0.138 vs. 0.60 ± 0.095) and interleukin-1β in lipopolysaccharide-treated mice (22.4 ± 0.87 vs. 17.0 ± 0.50 pg/ml, P < 0.001) and tended to increase monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6. Intratracheal DNase treatment reduced NET markers (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid DNA: 0.23 ± 0.038 vs. 0.88 ± 0.135 µg/ml, P < 0.001; citrullinated histone-3: 443 ± 170 vs. 1,824 ± 403, P < 0.01, n = 8 to 10) and attenuated the loss of static compliance (0.9 ± 0.14 vs. 1.58 ± 0.17 ml/mmHg, P < 0.01, n = 19 to 20) without significantly impacting other measures of injury. Blockade of high-mobility group box 1 (with glycyrrhizin) or interleukin-1β (with anakinra) did not prevent NETosis or protect against injury.

Conclusions:

NETosis was induced in VILI, and DNase treatment eliminated NETs. In contrast to experimental transfusion-related acute lung injury, NETs do not play a major pathogenic role in the current model of VILI.
MIPSTR: a method for multiplex genotyping of germline and somatic STR variation across many individuals
Authors: Carlson Keisha D. , Sudmant Peter H. , Press Maximilian O. , Eichler Evan E. , Shendure Jay , Queitsch Christine
Published: February 2015

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are highly mutable genetic elements that often reside in regulatory and coding DNA. The cumulative evidence of genetic studies on individual STRs suggests that STR variation profoundly affects phenotype and contributes to trait heritability. Despite recent advances in sequencing technology, STR variation has remained largely inaccessible across many individuals compared to single nucleotide variation or copy number variation. STR genotyping with short-read sequence data is confounded by (1) the difficulty of uniquely mapping short, low-complexity reads; and (2) the high rate of STR amplification stutter. Here, we present MIPSTR, a robust, scalable, and affordable method that addresses these challenges. MIPSTR uses targeted capture of STR loci by single-molecule Molecular Inversion Probes (smMIPs) and a unique mapping strategy. Targeted capture and our mapping strategy resolve the first challenge; the use of single molecule information resolves the second challenge. Unlike previous methods, MIPSTR is capable of distinguishing technical error due to amplification stutter from somatic STR mutations. In proof-of-principle experiments, we use MIPSTR to determine germline STR genotypes for 102 STR loci with high accuracy across diverse populations of the plant A. thaliana. We show that putatively functional STRs may be identified by deviation from predicted STR variation and by association with quantitative phenotypes. Using DNA mixing experiments and a mutant deficient in DNA repair, we demonstrate that MIPSTR can detect low-frequency somatic STR variants. MIPSTR is applicable to any organism with a high-quality reference genome and is scalable to genotyping many thousands of STR loci in thousands of individuals.