bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Zinc, iron and calcium are major limiting nutrients in the complementary diets of rural Kenyan children
Authors: Ferguson Elaine , Chege Peter , Kimiywe Judith , Wiesmann Doris , Hotz Christine 
Published: January 2016

AbstractPoor quality infant and young child (IYC) diets contribute to chronic under‐nutrition. To design effective IYC nutrition interventions, an understanding of the extent to which realistic food‐based strategies can improve dietary adequacy is required. We collected 24‐h dietary recalls from children 6–23 months of age (n = 401) in two rural agro‐ecological zones of Kenya to assess the nutrient adequacy of their diets. Linear programming analysis (LPA) was used to identify realistic food‐based recommendations (FBRs) and to determine the extent to which they could ensure intake adequacy for 12 nutrients. Mean nutrient densities of the IYC diets were below the desired level for four to nine of the 10 nutrients analysed, depending on the age group. Mean dietary diversity scores ranged from 2.1 ± 1.0 among children 6–8 months old in Kitui County to 3.7 ± 1.1 food groups among children 12–23 months old in Vihiga County. LPA confirmed that dietary adequacy for iron, zinc and calcium will be difficult to ensure using only local foods as consumed. FBRs for breastfed children that promote the daily consumption of cows'/goats' milk (added to porridges), fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables, legumes, and meat, fish or eggs, 3–5 times per week can ensure dietary adequacy for nine and seven of 12 nutrients for children 6–11 and 12–23 months old, respectively. For these rural Kenyan children, even though dietary adequacy could be improved via realistic changes in habitual food consumption practices, alternative interventions are needed to ensure dietary adequacy at the population level.
Vulvovaginal candidosis: contemporary challenges and the future of prophylactic and therapeutic approaches
Authors: Chew Shu Yih , Than Leslie Thian Lung 
Published: January 2016

SummaryVulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is a common gynaecological disorder that is delineated by the inflammation of vaginal wall and it is caused by the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida species. In fact, three out of every four women will experience at least one occasion of VVC during some point in their lives. Although uncomplicated VVC is relatively harmless, the complicated VVC such as recurrent attack often creates restlessness and depression in the patients, thus greatly affects their quality of life. Managements of VVC are usually associated with the use of antimycotic suppositories, topical cream or oral agents. These antimycotic agents are either available over‐the‐counter or prescribed by the clinicians. In recent decades, the rise of clinical challenges such as the increased prevalence of resistant Candida strains, recurrent VVC infection and adverse effects of multidrug interactions have necessitated the development of novel therapeutic or prophylactic options to combat the complicated VVC in the future. In this review, we discuss the current antimycotic treatments available for Candida vaginitis and the problems that exist in these seemingly effective treatments. Besides, we attempt to contemplate some of the future and prospective strategies surrounding the development of alternative therapeutic and prophylactic options in treating and preventing complicated VVC respectively.
Genome–environment association study suggests local adaptation to climate at the regional scale in Fagus sylvatica
Authors: Pluess Andrea R. , Frank Aline , Heiri Caroline , Lalagüe Hadrien , Vendramin Giovanni G. , Oddou‐Muratorio Sylvie 
Published: January 2016

Summary

The evolutionary potential of long‐lived species, such as forest trees, is fundamental for their local persistence under climate change (CC). Genome–environment association (GEA) analyses reveal if species in heterogeneous environments at the regional scale are under differential selection resulting in populations with potential preadaptation to CC within this area.

In 79 natural Fagus sylvatica populations, neutral genetic patterns were characterized using 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and genomic variation (144 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) out of 52 candidate genes) was related to 87 environmental predictors in the latent factor mixed model, logistic regressions and isolation by distance/environmental (IBD/IBE) tests.

SSR diversity revealed relatedness at up to 150 m intertree distance but an absence of large‐scale spatial genetic structure and IBE. In the GEA analyses, 16 SNPs in 10 genes responded to one or several environmental predictors and IBE, corrected for IBD, was confirmed. The GEA often reflected the proposed gene functions, including indications for adaptation to water availability and temperature.

Genomic divergence and the lack of large‐scale neutral genetic patterns suggest that gene flow allows the spread of advantageous alleles in adaptive genes. Thereby, adaptation processes are likely to take place in species occurring in heterogeneous environments, which might reduce their regional extinction risk under CC.
Pre‐birth cohort study of atopic dermatitis and severe bronchiolitis during infancy
Authors: Balekian Diana S. , Linnemann Rachel W. , Castro Victor M. , Perlis Roy , Thadhani Ravi , Camargo Carlos A. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundInfants hospitalized for bronchiolitis (i.e. severe bronchiolitis) are at increased risk of childhood asthma. There are many known risk factors for severe bronchiolitis, including cardiac and pulmonary diseases. Less is known about the association between atopic diseases and risk of severe bronchiolitis. We sought to further examine risk factors for severe bronchiolitis, focusing on atopic dermatitis (AD).MethodsWe conducted a nested cohort study within the Massachusetts General Hospital Obstetric Maternal Study (MOMS), a prospective cohort of pregnant women enrolled during 1998–2006. Children of mothers enrolled in MOMS were included in the analysis if they received care within our health system (n = 5407). Potential risk factors for bronchiolitis and hospitalization data were extracted from the children's electronic health records; we also examined pregnancy and perinatal risk factors collected from the underlying MOMS data.ResultsDuring the first year of life, 125 infants (2.3%) had severe bronchiolitis. Eighteen of these patients had AD; 11 (61%) were diagnosed with AD prior to bronchiolitis hospitalization. In unadjusted analyses, AD was associated with severe bronchiolitis (χ2 14.6; p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses adjusting for nine known risk factors for severe bronchiolitis, including demographics, birth season, disposition at birth, cardiac disease, maternal parity, and delivery mode, AD was associated with increased odds of severe bronchiolitis (odds ratio 2.72, 95% confidence interval 1.60–4.63).ConclusionsAtopic dermatitis is significantly associated with severe bronchiolitis in infancy. The mechanism of the AD–bronchiolitis association is unclear and merits further study; this research may shed light on the pathogenesis of asthma.
Age, sex and the association between skin test responses and IgE titres with asthma
Authors: Mohammad Hasan Raza , Belgrave Danielle , Kopec Harding Kamilla , Murray Clare S. , Simpson Angela , Custovic Adnan 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundSkin prick tests (SPTs) and allergen‐specific serum IgE (sIgE) measurements are the main diagnostic tools for confirming atopic sensitization. Results are usually reported as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’, using the same arbitrary cut‐offs (SPT>3 mm, sIgE>0.35 kUA/l) across different ages and sexes. We investigated the influence of age and sex on the interpretation of allergy test in the context of childhood asthma.MethodsIn a population‐based birth cohort (n = 1051), we ascertained the information on asthma/wheeze (validated questionnaires) and performed SPTs and sIgE measurement to inhalant allergens (dust mite, cat, dog) at follow‐ups between ages three and 11 years. We investigated the association between quantitative sensitization (sum of SPT mean wheal diameters [MWD] and sIgE titres to the three allergens) and current wheeze and asthma across ages and sexes.ResultsWe observed a significant association between the SPT MWD and sIgE titres and wheeze/asthma at most ages and for both sexes. However, the strength of this association was age‐ and sex‐dependent. For SPTs, the strength of the association between MWD and asthma increased with increasing age; we observed the opposite pattern for sIgE titre. For any given SPT MWD/sIgE titre, boys were significantly more likely to express clinical symptoms, particularly in early life; this difference between males and females diminished with age and was no longer significant by age 11 years.ConclusionsAge and sex should be taken into account when interpreting the results of skin tests and sIgE measurement, and age‐ and sex‐specific normative data are needed for these allergy tests.
Differential response in allergen‐specific IgE, IgGs, and IgA levels for predicting outcome of oral immunotherapy
Authors: Sugimoto Mayumi , Kamemura Norio , Nagao Mizuho , Irahara Makoto , Kagami Shoji , Fujisawa Takao , Kido Hiroshi 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundOral immunotherapy (OIT) induces desensitization and/or tolerance in patients with persistent food allergy, but the biomarkers of clinical outcomes remain obscure. Although OIT‐induced changes in serum allergen‐specific IgE and IgG4 levels have been investigated, the response of other allergen‐specific IgG subclasses and IgA during OIT remains obscure.MethodsA pilot study was conducted to investigate egg OIT‐induced changes in allergen‐specific IgE, IgG subclasses, and IgA levels and search for possible prediction biomarkers of desensitization. We measured serum levels of egg white‐, ovomucoid‐, and ovalbumin‐specific IgE, IgA, and IgG subclasses by high‐sensitivity allergen microarray in 26 children with egg allergy who received rush OIT.ResultsAllergen‐specific IgE gradually decreased while IgG4 increased during 12‐month OIT. Serum levels of IgG1, IgG3, and IgA increased significantly after the rush phase, then decreased during the maintenance phase. IgG2 levels changed in a manner similar to that of IgG4. In particular, significantly high fold increases in egg white‐specific IgG1, relative to baseline, after the rush phase and high IgA levels before OIT were observed in responders, compared with low‐responders to OIT. Patients who could not keep desensitization showed relatively small changes in all immunoglobulin levels during OIT.ConclusionThe response to OIT was associated with significant increases in serum allergen‐specific IgG1 levels after rush phase and high baseline IgA levels, compared with small changes in immunoglobulin response in low‐responders. The characteristic IgG1 changes and IgA levels in the responders could be potentially useful biomarkers for the prediction of positive clinical response to OIT.
Strigolactones are required for nitric oxide to induce root elongation in response to nitrogen and phosphate deficiencies in rice
Authors: Sun Huwei , Bi Yang , Tao Jinyuan , Huang Shuangjie , Hou Mengmeng , Xue Ren , Liang Zhihao , Gu Pengyuan , Yoneyama Koichi , Xie Xiaonan , Shen Qirong , Xu Guohua , Zhang Yali 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe response of the root system architecture to nutrient deficiencies is critical for sustainable agriculture. Nitric oxide (NO) is considered a key regulator of root growth, although the mechanisms remain unknown. Phenotypic, cellular and genetic analyses were undertaken in rice to explore the role of NO in regulating root growth and strigolactone (SL) signalling under nitrogen‐deficient and phosphate‐deficient conditions (LN and LP). LN‐induced and LP‐induced seminal root elongation paralleled NO production in root tips. NO played an important role in a shared pathway of LN‐induced and LP‐induced root elongation via increased meristem activity. Interestingly, no responses of root elongation were observed in SL d mutants compared with wild‐type plants, although similar NO accumulation was induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) application. Application of abamine (the SL inhibitor) reduced seminal root length and pCYCB1;1::GUS expression induced by SNP application in wild type; furthermore, comparison with wild type showed lower SL‐signalling genes in nia2 mutants under control and LN treatments and similar under SNP application. Western blot analysis revealed that NO, similar to SL, triggered proteasome‐mediated degradation of D53 protein levels. Therefore, we presented a novel signalling pathway in which NO‐activated seminal root elongation under LN and LP conditions, with the involvement of SLs.
Sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence from high‐resolution imaging spectroscopy data to quantify spatio‐temporal patterns of photosynthetic function in crop canopies
Authors: Pinto Francisco , Damm Alexander , Schickling Anke , Panigada Cinzia , Cogliati Sergio , Müller‐Linow Mark , Ballvora Agim , Rascher Uwe 
Published: January 2016

AbstractPassive detection of sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) using spectroscopy has been proposed as a proxy to quantify changes in photochemical efficiency at canopy level under natural light conditions. In this study, we explored the use of imaging spectroscopy to quantify spatio‐temporal dynamics of SIF within crop canopies and its sensitivity to track patterns of photosynthetic activity originating from the interaction between vegetation structure and incoming radiation as well as variations in plant function. SIF was retrieved using the Fraunhofer Line Depth (FLD) principle from imaging spectroscopy data acquired at different time scales a few metres above several crop canopies growing under natural illumination. We report the first maps of canopy SIF in high spatial resolution. Changes of SIF were monitored at different time scales ranging from quick variations under induced stress conditions to seasonal dynamics. Natural changes were primarily determined by varying levels and distribution of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). However, this relationship changed throughout the day demonstrating an additional physiological component modulating spatio‐temporal patterns of SIF emission. We successfully used detailed SIF maps to track changes in the canopy's photochemical activity under field conditions, providing a new tool to evaluate complex patterns of photosynthesis within the canopy.
Rituximab Therapy for Childhood Pemphigus Vulgaris
Authors: Kincaid Leah , Weinstein Miriam 
Published: January 2016

AbstractPediatric pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune bullous dermatosis that poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Rituximab, an anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, is an important medication in adult PV but has rarely been used to treat pediatric disease. We describe successful rituximab therapy in a 4‐year‐old, the youngest patient with PV ever reported to receive rituximab. A live attenuated vaccination was later given without incident. We also review rituximab clinical outcomes, toxicity, dosing protocols, and relapse in children with PV.
Spectrum of Clinical Responses to Therapies in Infantile Bullous Pemphigoid
Authors: Taquin Hélène , Chiaverini Christine , Lacour Jean Philippe 
Published: January 2016

AbstractInfantile bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune dermatosis characterized by the presence of antibodies against basal membrane zone proteins. Histologic and immunologic features are similar to those of the adult disease, but its clinical features may vary in children. We report here four cases of infantile BP whose atypical presentation or progression shed new light on the disease.
Pane e Cioccolata: The Impact of Native Attitudes on Return Migration
Authors: de Coulon Augustin , Radu Dragos , Friedrich Steinhardt Max 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis paper addresses the link between native attitudes and return migration. We exploit the variation in xenophobia using information on media consumption by migrants in Italy. A widely documented crime provides a quasi‐experimental setting to identify the impact of Italian attitudes on migrants’ settlement intentions. Our results suggest a significant effect of anti‐immigrant attitudes on the intended duration of stay in the host country. The impact is more pronounced for low‐skilled migrants, which has consequences for how migration affects the long‐run convergence between sending and destination countries.
Patterns and the mediating role of avoidant coping style and illness perception on anxiety and depression in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Nahlén Bose Catarina , Elfström Magnus L. , Björling Gunilla , Persson Hans , Saboonchi Fredrik 
Published: January 2016

IntroductionEmotional distress in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) predicts mortality, hospital readmission and quality of life. The patient's avoidant coping style and beliefs about the disease have been linked to emotional distress in CHF. However, the pattern and transmitting effects of these variables are indefinite.AimThis study aimed to examine the links between and the potential mediating role of illness perceptions and avoidant coping style on depression and anxiety in patients with CHF.MethodSelf‐assessment data from 103 patients with CHF were subjected to path analysis in two hypothesised models. The outcome measures were coping styles, illness perception, anxiety and depression.ResultsAvoidant coping had a direct adverse effect on anxiety and depression. The perception of symptom burden and personal control, significantly mediated the effect between avoidant coping and anxiety and depression.ConclusionsAvoidant coping style appears to influence not only emotional distress, but also a malignant symptom perception and low sense of control over the illness.
Adaptive Step Size Selection for Hessian‐Based Manifold Langevin Samplers
Authors: Kleppe Tore Selland 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn this paper, I explore the usage of positive definite metric tensors derived from the second derivative information in the context of the simplified manifold Metropolis adjusted Langevin algorithm. I propose a new adaptive step size procedure that resolves the shortcomings of such metric tensors in regions where the log‐target has near zero curvature in some direction. The adaptive step size selection also appears to alleviate the need for different tuning parameters in transient and stationary regimes that is typical of Metropolis adjusted Langevin algorithm. The combination of metric tensors derived from the second derivative information and the adaptive step size selection constitute a large step towards developing reliable manifold Markov chain Monte Carlo methods that can be implemented automatically for models with unknown or intractable Fisher information, and even for target distributions that do not admit factorization into prior and likelihood. Through examples of low to moderate dimension, I show that the proposed methodology performs very well relative to alternative Markov chain Monte Carlo methods.
A Formalization of Minimalist Syntax
Authors: Collins Chris , Stabler Edward 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe goal of this paper is to give a precise, formal account of certain fundamental notions in minimalist syntax. Particular attention is given to the comparison of token‐based (multidominance) and chain‐based perspectives on Merge. After considering a version of Transfer that violates the No‐Tampering Condition (NTC), we sketch an alternative,NTC‐compliant version.
EMPTY PERICARP16 is required for mitochondrial nad2 intron 4 cis‐splicing, complex I assembly and seed development in maize
Authors: Xiu Zhihui , Sun Feng , Shen Yun , Zhang Xiaoyan , Jiang Ruicheng , Bonnard Géraldine , Zhang Jianhua , Tan Bao‐Cai 
Published: January 2016

SummaryIn higher plants, chloroplast and mitochondrial transcripts contain a number of group II introns that need to be precisely spliced before translation into functional proteins. However, the mechanism of splicing and the factors involved in this process are not well understood. By analysing a seed mutant in maize, we report here the identification of Empty pericarp16 (Emp16) that is required for splicing of nad2 intron 4 in mitochondria. Disruption of Emp16 function causes developmental arrest in the embryo and endosperm, giving rise to an empty pericarp phenotype in maize. Differentiation of the basal endosperm transfer layer cells is severely affected. Molecular cloning indicates that Emp16 encodes a P‐type pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein with 11 PPR motifs and is localized in the mitochondrion. Transcript analysis revealed that mitochondrial nad2 intron 4 splicing is abolished in the emp16 mutants, leading to severely reduced assembly and activity of complex I. In response, the mutant dramatically increases the accumulation of mitochondrial complex III and the expression of alternative oxidase AOX2. These results imply that EMP16 is specifically required for mitochondrial nad2 intron 4 cis‐splicing and is essential for complex I assembly and embryogenesis and development endosperm in maize.