bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two spatially and temporally distinct Ca2+ signals convey Arabidopsis thaliana responses to K+ deficiency
Authors: Behera Smrutisanjita , Long Yu , Schmitz‐Thom Ina , Wang Xue‐Ping , Zhang Chunxia , Li Hong , Steinhorst Leonie , Manishankar Prabha , Ren Xiao‐Ling , Offenborn Jan Niklas , Wu Wei‐Hua , Kudla Jörg , Wang Yi 
Published: August 2016

Summary

In plants, potassium (K+) homeostasis is tightly regulated and established against a concentration gradient to the environment. Despite the identification of Ca2+‐regulated kinases as modulators of K+ channels, the immediate signaling and adaptation mechanisms of plants to low‐K+ conditions are only partially understood.

To assess the occurrence and role of Ca2+ signals in Arabidopsis thaliana roots, we employed ratiometric analyses of Ca2+ dynamics in plants expressing the Ca2+ reporter YC3.6 in combination with patch‐clamp analyses of root cells and two‐electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) analyses in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

K+ deficiency triggers two successive and distinct Ca2+ signals in roots exhibiting spatial and temporal specificity. A transient primary Ca2+ signature arose within 1 min in the postmeristematic stelar tissue of the elongation zone, while a secondary Ca2+ response occurred after several hours as sustained Ca2+ elevation in defined tissues of the elongation and root hair differentiation zones. Patch‐clamp and TEVC analyses revealed Ca2+ dependence of the activation of the K+ channel AKT1 by the CBL1–CIPK23 Ca2+ sensor‐kinase complex.

Together, these findings identify a critical role of cell group‐specific Ca2+ signaling in low K+ responses and indicate an essential and direct role of Ca2+ signals for AKT1 K+ channel activation in roots.
Diagnostic performance of MR imaging of three major salivary glands for Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Kojima I , Sakamoto M , Iikubo M , Kumamoto H , Muroi A , Sugawara Y , Satoh‐Kuriwada S , Sasano T 
Published: August 2016

ObjectiveWe analyzed the diagnostic performance of the MR imaging findings of the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands to discriminate between patients with and without Sjögren's syndrome.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the correlation between the MR imaging and histopathological findings obtained from 69 patients with clinically suspected Sjögren's syndrome. We evaluated the heterogeneous signal intensity distribution on T1‐ and T2‐weighted images, the multiple high‐signal‐intensity spots on MR sialograms, and the volume of the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual salivary glands.ResultsThe multiple high‐signal‐intensity spots in the parotid gland showed the highest sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy (82% and 83%, respectively). In addition, the multiple high‐signal‐intensity spots and the heterogeneous signal intensity distribution in the submandibular gland showed high specificity (100% and 88%, respectively). The volume of the submandibular gland, but not that of the parotid or sublingual gland, was smaller in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.ConclusionsThe presence of multiple high‐signal‐intensity spots on an MR sialogram in the parotid gland should be considered the best diagnostic indicator for Sjögren's syndrome. The presence of spots, heterogeneity, and the change to smaller volumes in the submandibular gland were also helpful because of their high specificity, particularly in advanced cases.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND CITIZEN SATISFACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT: EVIDENCE FROM CHINESE MUNICIPALITIES
Authors: MA LIANG 
Published: August 2016

AbstractDespite the fact that performance management has been ubiquitously adopted in the public sector across the world today, there is limited and inconclusive evidence that it improves citizen satisfaction with the government. In this article, we use survey data and multilevel modelling to analyse the effects of multiple performance management components on citizens' perceptions of government performance across 19 major cities in China. The results reveal that performance management does have a positive impact on citizen satisfaction. In addition, citizen participation, performance feedback and accountability, and information openness are positively associated with citizen satisfaction along various performance dimensions in different magnitudes. While we should take account of and mitigate its unintended consequences, our results suggest that it is still promising for public organizations to implement performance management.
Patchy white matter hyperintensity in ring chromosome 18 syndrome
Authors: Anzai Mai , Arai‐Ichinoi Natsuko , Takezawa Yusuke , Endo Wakaba , Inui Takehiko , Sato Ryo , Kikuchi Atsuo , Uematsu Mitsugu , Kure Shigeo , Haginoya Kazuhiro 
Published: August 2016

AbstractRing chromosome 18 syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality in which partial deletions occur at both ends of chromosome 18, that is, distally on the short and long arms. Previously reported brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities include diffuse hyperintensity in the white matter, which has been regarded as hypomyelination because the gene for myelin basic protein production is located on the long arm of chromosome 18. We report the case of a 14‐year‐old boy with ring chromosome 18 syndrome, whose MRI showed patchy asymmetrical T2 and fluid‐attenuated inversion‐recovery hyperintensities in the deep white matter as well as diffuse hypomyelination. These patchy lesions may indicate demyelination or gliosis rather than hypomyelination. This result differs from previous reports.
Effect of Treatment Duration and Frequency on Uremic Solute Kinetics, Clearances and Concentrations
Authors: Leypoldt John K. , Meijers Björn K. I. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe kinetics of uremic solute clearances are discussed based on two categories of uremic solutes, namely those that are and those that are not derived directly from nutrient intake, particularly dietary protein intake. This review highlights dialysis treatments that are more frequent and longer (high‐dose hemodialysis) than conventional thrice weekly therapy. It is proposed that the dialysis dose measures based on urea as a marker uremic solute, such as Kt/V and stdKt/V, be referred to as measures of dialysis inadequacy, not dialysis adequacy. For uremic solutes derived directly from nutrient intake, it is suggested that inorganic phosphorus and protein‐bound uremic solutes be considered as markers in the development of alternative measures of dialysis dose for high‐dose hemodialysis prescriptions. As the current gap in understanding the detailed kinetics of protein‐bound uremic solutes, it is proposed that normalization of serum phosphorus concentration with a minimum (or preferably without a) need for oral‐phosphorus binders be targeted as a measure of dialysis adequacy in high‐dose hemodialysis. For large uremic solutes not derived directly from nutrient intake (middle molecules), use of extracorporeal clearances for β2‐microglobulin that are higher than currently available during thrice weekly therapy is unlikely to reduce predialysis serum β2‐microglobulin concentrations. High‐dose hemodialysis prescriptions will lead to reductions in predialysis serum β2‐microglobulin concentrations, but such reductions are also limited by significant residual kidney clearance. Kinetic data regarding middle molecules larger than β2‐microglobulin are scarce; additional studies on such uremic solutes are of high interest to better understand improved methods for prescribing high‐dose hemodialysis prescriptions to improve patient outcomes.
Non‐destructive Examination of Loads in Regular and Self‐locking Spiralock® Threads through Energy‐resolved Neutron Imaging
Authors: Tremsin A. S. , Yau T. Y. , Kockelmann W. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractEnergy‐resolved neutron transmission imaging is utilised forin situcomparisons of strain distributions in fastened assemblies with regular and self‐locking Spiralock® female threads. The strain maps measured within torqued steel bolts indicate that for a Spiralock® thread, the load is distributed over a larger section of the fastener, making this type of thread more suitable for fastening of assemblies subject to transverse vibrations.
Occupational hazards of traditional healers: repeated unprotected blood exposures risk infectious disease transmission
Authors: Audet Carolyn M. , Salato José , Blevins Meridith , Silva Wilson , González‐Calvo Lázaro , Vermund Sten H. , Gaspar Felisbela 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectiveHealers provide support for acute and chronic illnesses in rural Mozambique, such as socially acceptable traditional ‘vaccinations’ (subcutaneous cuts in the skin to rub herbs directly into the bloody lesion). We aimed to document the frequency of blood exposure by traditional practitioners in Mozambique.MethodsWe conducted surveys with a simple random sample of 236 traditional healers in Zambézia province. Chi‐square and Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests were used to compare ‘injection’ behaviours across districts.ResultsHealers treated a median of eight patients in the past month (IQR: 4–15). About 75% conducted ‘injections’. These healers ‘injected’ a median of four patients (IQR: 1–8), used a new razor a median of three times (IQR: 1–8), and almost never used gloves. Lifetime blood exposures among those who provided ‘injections’ during treatments were estimated to be 1758 over a healer's career.ConclusionThe majority of healers are exposed repeatedly to patient blood. Given the high prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C virus, and other blood‐borne agents, specific healer practices are an occupational hazard and reuse of razors is risky for their clients.
El Niño‐based malaria epidemic warning for Oromia, Ethiopia, from August 2016 to July 2017
Authors: Bouma M. J. , Siraj A. S. , Rodo X. , Pascual M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectiveTropical highland malaria intensifies and shifts to higher altitudes during exceptionally warm years. Above‐normal temperatures associated with El Niño during boreal winter months (December–March) may intensify malaria in East African highlands. We assessed the malaria risk for Oromia, the largest region of Ethiopia with around 30 million inhabitants.MethodsSimple linear regression and spatial analyses were used to associate sea surface temperatures (SST) in the Pacific and surface temperatures in Ethiopia with annual malaria risk in Oromia, based on confirmed cases of malaria between 1982 and 2005.ResultsA strong association (R2 = 0.6, P < 0.001) was identified between malaria and sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, anticipating a 70% increase in malaria risk for the period from August 2016 to July 2017. This forecast was quantitatively supported by elevated land surface temperatures (+1.6 °C) in December 2015. When more station data become available and mean March 2016 temperatures from meteorological stations can be taken into account, a more robust prediction can be issued.ConclusionAn epidemic warning is issued for Oromia, Ethiopia, between August 2016 and July 2017 and may include the pre‐July short malaria season. Similar relationships reported for Madagascar point to an epidemic risk for all East African highlands with around 150 million people. Preparedness for this high risk period would include pre‐emptive intradomestic spraying with insecticides, adequate stocking of antimalarials, and spatial extension of diagnostic capacity and more frequent reporting to enable a rapid public health response when and where required.
Craniosynostosis: prenatal diagnosis by 2D/3D ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.
Authors: Helfer Talita Micheletti , Peixoto Alberto Borges , Tonni Gabriele , Araujo Júnior Edward 
Published: August 2016

Craniosynostosis is defined as the process of premature fusion of one or more of the cranial sutures. It is a common condition that occurs in about 1 to 2,000 live births. Craniosynostosis may be classified in primary or secondary. It is also classified as nonsyndromic or syndromic. According to suture commitment, craniosynostosis may affect a single suture or multiple sutures. There is a wide range of syndromes involving craniosynostosis and the most common are Apert, Pffeifer, Crouzon, Shaethre-Chotzen and Muenke syndromes. The underlying etiology of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is unknown. Mutations in the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling pathway play a crucial role in the etiology of craniosynostosis syndromes. Prenatal ultrasound`s detection rate of craniosynostosis is low. Nowadays, different methods can be applied for prenatal diagnosis of craniosynostosis, such as two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan and, finally, molecular diagnosis. The presence of craniosynostosis may affect the birthing process. Fetuses with craniosynostosis also have higher rates of perinatal complications. In order to avoid the risks of untreated craniosynostosis, children are usually treated surgically soon after postnatal diagnosis.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: elastosonographic strain ratio andcross-sectional area evaluation for the diagnosis and disease severity.
Authors: Tatar Idil Gunes , Kurt Aydin , Yavasoglu NeseGungor , Hekimoglu Baki 
Published: August 2016

Aim: To evaluate the role of gray scale ultrasonography (US) and real time elastosonography (RTE) incarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Materials and methods: Both wrists of 18 healthy volunteers (n=36) formed the control group (Group 1) and 19 symptomatic outpatients of the neurology clinic constituted the patient group. According to nerve conduction study results, cases with mild CTS (n=15) formed Group 2; cases with moderate to severe CTS (n=20) formed Group 3. Cross sectional area (CSA) and strain ratio (SR) were measured at carpal tunnel inlet (CTI) and 4 cm proximal to the distal end of the radius (P). CSA and SR change score (CSACTI-CSAP; SRCTI-SRP), CSA and SR ratio score (CSACTI / CSAP; SRCTI / SRP) were calculated. Results: The median nerve was significantly stiffer in Group 2 compared to Group 1; also in Group 3 compared to Group 1 (p=0.000). For CSACTI, the difference was significant between Group 1 and Group 3 (p=0.000), also between Group 2 and Group 3 (p=0.001). For CSA change scores the difference was only significant between Group 1 and Group 3 (p=0.015). In the diagnosis of CTS the best cut-off value for CSACTI was 10.8 (p=0.001), 2.3 for SRCTI(p=0.000), 4.9 for the CSA change score (p=0.005), 0.05 for the SR change score (p=0.000), 1.3 for the the CSA ratio score (p=0.015) and 1.1 for the SR ratio score (p=0.000). Conclusion: SR measurements do not exclude patients even with mild CTS but cannot categorize disease severity. CSA measurements on the other hand can categorize disease severity.Therefore, the combined use of US and RTE is suggested.
Meta-analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the detection of gallbladder carcinoma
Authors: Wang Wei , Fei Yang , Wang Feng 
Published: August 2016

Aim: To systematically evaluate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for the detection of gallbladder carcinoma. Material and method: Relevant studies were identified searching PubMed, Embase, Elsevier, the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) database and the Cochrane Trial Register searches until August 2015. Patient clinical characteristics, sensitivity and specificity were extracted. The summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to examine the accuracy of CEUS. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the clinical utility in the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma. Sensitivity analysis was performed after omitting outliers identified in a bivariate boxplot and publication bias was assessed with Egger testing. Results: From 89 citations, 16 were included in the meta-analysis with a total of 1673 lesions. We detected heterogeneity between studies and evidence of publication bias. The methodological quality was moderate. The pooled weighted sensitivity with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.92 (95%CI: 0.90, 0.94), the specificity was 0.91 (95%CI: 0.89, 0.93), the positive likelihood ratio was 10.01 (95%CI: 7.02, 14.29), the negative likelihood ratio was 0.10 (95%CI: 0.07, 0.14), and the diagnostic odds ratio was 123.02 (95%CI: 78.40, 193.03). The area under the ROC curve was 0.9689 (95%CI: 0.9376, 0.9879). Conclusions: CEUS is a reliable, non-invasive, and no-radiation-exposure imaging modality with a high sensitivity and specificity for detection of gallbladder carcinoma. Nonetheless, it should be applied cautiously, and large scale, well-designed trials are necessary to assess its clinical value.
Molecular Insights into the Fungus-Specific Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatase Z1 in Candida albicans
Authors: Chen Emily , Choy Meng S. , Petrényi Katalin , Kónya Zoltán , Erdődi Ferenc , Dombrádi Viktor , Peti Wolfgang , Page Rebecca 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACT

The opportunistic pathogen
Candida
is one of the most common causes of nosocomial bloodstream infections. Because candidemia is associated with high mortality rates and because the incidences of multidrug-resistant
Candida
are increasing, efforts to identify novel targets for the development of potent antifungals are warranted. Here, we describe the structure and function of the first member of a family of protein phosphatases that is specific to fungi, protein phosphatase Z1 (PPZ1) from
Candida albicans
. We show that PPZ1 not only is active but also is as susceptible to inhibition by the cyclic peptide inhibitor microcystin-LR as its most similar human homolog, protein phosphatase 1α (PP1α [GLC7 in the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
]). Unexpectedly, we also discovered that, despite its 66% sequence identity to PP1α, the catalytic domain of PPZ1 contains novel structural elements that are not present in PP1α. We then used activity and pulldown assays to show that these structural differences block a large subset of PP1/GLC7 regulatory proteins from effectively binding PPZ1, demonstrating that PPZ1 does not compete with GLC7 for its regulatory proteins. Equally important, these unique structural elements provide new pockets suitable for the development of PPZ1-specific inhibitors. Together, these studies not only reveal why PPZ1 does not negatively impact GLC7 activity
in vivo
but also demonstrate that the family of fungus-specific phosphatases—especially PPZ1 from
C. albicans
—are highly suitable targets for the development of novel drugs that specifically target
C. albicans
without cross-reacting with human phosphatases.

IMPORTANCE
Candida albicans
is a medically important human pathogen that is the most common cause of fungal infections in humans. In particular, approximately 46,000 cases of health care-associated candidiasis occur each year in the United States. Because these infections are associated with high mortality rates and because multiple species of
Candida
are becoming increasingly resistant to antifungals, there are increasing efforts to identify novel targets that are essential for
C. albicans
virulence. Here we use structural and biochemical approaches to elucidate how a member of a fungus-specific family of enzymes, serine/threonine phosphatase PPZ1, functions in
C. albicans
. We discovered multiple unique features of PPZ1 that explain why it does not cross-react with, and in turn compete for, PP1-specific regulators, a long-standing question in the field. Most importantly, however, these unique features identified PPZ1 as a potential target for the development of novel antifungal therapeutics that will provide new, safe, and potent treatments for candidiasis in humans.
Eleven-year descriptive analysis of closed court verdicts on medical errors in Spain and Massachusetts
Authors: Giraldo Priscila , Sato Luke , Martínez-Sánchez Jose M , Comas Mercè , Dwyer Kathy , Sala Maria , Castells Xavier 
Published: August 2016

ObjectivesTo evaluate and compare the characteristics of court verdicts on medical errors allegedly harming patients in Spain and Massachusetts from 2002 to 2012.Design, setting and participantsWe reviewed 1041 closed court verdicts obtained from data on litigation in the Thomson Reuters Aranzadi Westlaw databases in Spain (Europe), and 370 closed court verdicts obtained from the Controlled Risk and Risk Management Foundation of Harvard Medical Institutions (CRICO/RMF) in Massachusetts (USA). We included closed court verdicts on medical errors. The definition of medical errors was based on that of the Institute of Medicine (USA). We excluded any agreements between parties before a judgement.ResultsMedical errors were involved in 25.9% of court verdicts in Spain and in 74% of those in Massachusetts. The most frequent cause of medical errors was a diagnosis-related problem (25.1%; 95% CI 20.7% to 31.1% in Spain; 35%; 95% CI 29.4% to 40.7% in Massachusetts). The proportion of medical errors classified as high severity was 34% higher in Spain than in Massachusetts (p=0.001). The most frequent factors contributing to medical errors in Spain were surgical and medical treatment (p=0.001). In Spain, 98.5% of medical errors resulted in compensation awards compared with only 6.9% in Massachusetts.ConclusionsThis study reveals wide differences in litigation rates and the award of indemnity payments in Spain and Massachusetts; however, common features of both locations are the high rates of diagnosis-related problems and the long time interval until resolution.
Arrangements of lines and monodromy of associated Milnor fibers
Authors: Salvetti Mario , Serventi Matteo 
Published: August 2016

Consider an arrangement [Formula: see text] of homogeneous hyperplanes in [Formula: see text] with complement [Formula: see text]. The (co)homology of [Formula: see text] with twisted coefficients is strictly related to the cohomology of the Milnor fiber associated to the natural fibration onto [Formula: see text] endowed with the geometric monodromy. It is still an open problem to understand in general the cohomology of the Milnor fiber, even for dimension 1. In Sec. 1, we show that all questions about the first homology group are detected by a precise group, which is a quotient ot the commutator subgroup of [Formula: see text] by the commutator of its length zero subgroup, which didn’t appear in the literature before. In Sec. 2, we state a conjecture of [Formula: see text]-monodromicity for the first homology, which is of a different nature with respect to the known results. Let [Formula: see text] be the graph of double points of [Formula: see text] we conjecture that if [Formula: see text] is connected, then the geometric monodromy acts trivially on the first homology of the Milnor fiber (so the first Betti number is combinatorially determined in this case). This conjecture depends only on the combinatorics of [Formula: see text]. We show the truth of the conjecture under some stronger hypotheses.