bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel monoclonal antibodies broadly reactive to human recombinant sapovirus‐like particles
Authors: Kitamoto Noritoshi , Oka Tomoichiro , Katayama Kazuhiko , Li Tian‐Cheng , Takeda Naokazu , Kato Yoji , Miyoshi Tatsuya , Tanaka Tomoyuki 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTSapovirus (SaV), a member of the familyCaliciviridae, is an important cause of acute epidemic gastroenteritis in humans. Human SaV is genetically and antigenically diverse and can be classified into four genogroups (GI, GII, GIV, and GV) and 16 genotypes (7 GI [GI.1–7], 7 GII, [GII.1–7], 1 GIV and 1 GV), based on capsid sequence similarities. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are powerful tools for examining viruses and proteins. PAI myeloma cells were fused with spleen cells from mice immunized with a single type of recombinant human SaV virus‐like particles (VLPs) (GI.1, GI.5, GI.6, GII.3, GIV, or GV). Sixty‐five hybrid clones producing MAbs were obtained. Twenty‐four MAbs were characterized by ELISA, according to their cross‐reactivity to each VLP (GI.1, GI.5, GI.6, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.7, GIV, and GV). The MAbs were classified by this method into: (i) MAbs broadly cross‐reactive to all GI, GII, GIV and GV strains; (ii) those reactive in a genogroup‐specific; and (iii) those reactive in a genotype‐specific manner. Further analysis of three broadly cross‐reactive MAbs with a competitive ELISA demonstrated that at least two different common epitopes are located on the capsid protein of human SaVs in the four genogroups. The MAbs generated and characterized in this study will be useful tools for further study of the antigenic and structural topography of the human SaV virion and for developing new diagnostic assays for human SaV.
Effects of green tea consumption on human fecal microbiota with special reference to Bifidobacterium species
Authors: Jin Jong‐Sik , Touyama Mutsumi , Hisada Takayoshi , Benno Yoshimi 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTGreen tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Its beneficial health effects and components have been extensively reviewed. However, little is known about the influence of green tea consumption on the human intestinal microbiota (HIM), which plays a crucial role in human health. Ten volunteers who did not usually consume green tea, drank it for 10 days and then stopped drinking it for 7 days. Their fecal samples were collected at three time points: before beginning the 10‐day green‐tea regime, at the conclusion of that 10 days, and 7 days after stopping the regime. Their fecal samples were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism with specific primer‐restriction enzyme systems for HIM and by using a real‐time PCR method for the Bifidobacterium species. Although the HIM of each subject was relatively stable, the proportion of Bifidobacterium species played an important role in the classification of their fecal microbiota. Although there were inter‐individual differences in the Bifidobacterium species, an overall tendency for the proportion of bifidobacteria to increase because of green tea consumption was noted. However, little change was observed in the composition of Bifidobacterium species in each sample. This suggests that the change in proportion was induced, not by an inter‐species transition, but by an intra‐species increase and/or decrease. In conclusion, green tea consumption might act as a prebiotic and improve the colon environment by increasing the proportion of the Bifidobacterium species.
Getting through the day: exploring patients’ leisure experiences in a private hospital
Authors: Chan Zenobia CY , Wu Ching Man , Yip Chi Hung , Yau Ka Kin 
Published: August 2012

Aims and objectives.  To explore the patients’ leisure experience and their leisure needs and expectations during hospitalisation in a private hospital setting.Background.  Leisure plays positive roles in patient satisfaction and has functional values. However, studies on how inpatients spend their time and hospital‐based qualitative studies on leisure needs and expectation among patients were rarely conducted. Through exploring patients’ perspective on leisure, nurses could improve patient satisfaction from a different dimension and enhance quality of care.Design.  A descriptive qualitative study based on 12 semi‐structural interviews.Methods.  Applied purposive sampling to select and interview a total of 16 participants, including 12 patients and four patients’ significant others in a private hospital. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted at the patients’ bedside in summer 2011. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis approach was used to analyse data and to categorise themes.Results.  Four themes were developed: (1) getting through the day, which describes how patients spend their time during hospitalisation and their daily leisure activities; (2) necessity of leisure, which reveals the reasons why patients conducted the activity; (3) resources amelioration, which describes patients’ needs and satisfaction on current leisure resources in the hospital; (4) nurses’ roles in leisure, which is about the involvement of nurses in patients’ leisure activities.Conclusion.  As patients understand hospital is a place for recovery, they seldom discuss or request their choices of leisure activity. This study could provide some insight into patients’ needs and expectation of leisure activity during hospitalisation, allowing nurses to know the importance of providing leisure activities to patients.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study suggests that clinical nursing practice should support leisure provision and hospital resources management of facilities on the effects of leisure.
Prevalence of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Dereke J. , Nilsson C. , Landin‐Olsson M. , Hillman M. 
Published: August 2012

Diabet. Med. 29, e436–e439 (2012)AbstractAims  Gestational diabetes mellitus affects approximately 7% of all pregnant women. Some of these women develop autoantibodies that are generally characteristic of Type 1 diabetes. Autoantibodies targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase and tyrosine phosphatase‐like protein are the most frequently reported. A recently identified autoantigen in Type 1 diabetes is zinc transporter 8. Some reports suggest that the frequency of zinc transporter 8 antibodies is as high as glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in Type 1 diabetes and thus a good diagnostic marker for autoimmune diabetes. There are currently no reports of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in gestational diabetes. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the frequency of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in patients at clinical onset of gestational diabetes mellitus.Methods  Subjects included in this pilot study were all diagnosed with gestational diabetes at Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 2009–2010 (n = 193). Sera samples were analysed for antibodies using a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturers’ instructions.Results  We found that 19/193 patients with gestational diabetes, diagnosed in 2009–2010, were positive for at least one autoantibody. Glutamic acid decarboxylase was the most common single autoantibody (52.6%; 10/19), followed by zinc transporter 8 (21.1%; 4/19) and tyrosine phosphatase‐like protein (15.8%; 3/19). Combinations of two or more antibodies were rare (10.5%; 2/19).Conclusions  In this study, we found that zinc transporter 8 added 2.1% (4/193) of autoantibody positivity in women with gestational diabetes who were negative for glutamic acid decarboxylase and tyrosine phosphatase‐like protein antibodies. Glutamic acid decarboxylase was still the most prevalent autoantibody in gestational diabetes, but, as zinc transporter 8 was present even in the absence of glutamic acid decarboxylase, this autoantibody could be an important independent marker of autoimmunity in gestational diabetes.
Business strategy, executive compensation and firm performance
Authors: Chen Yasheng , Jermias Johnny 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWe investigate the impact of business strategy on the use of performance‐linked compensation (PLC) and long‐term incentive plans. We also examine the relation between strategy and compensation structure fit and performance. Using cluster and content analyses to classify a firm’s business strategy, we predict and find that product differentiation firms use a higher proportion of PLCs than cost‐leadership firms. Furthermore, we find that the misfit between business strategy and compensation structure has a negative impact on performance. This study contributes to the executive compensation literature by recognizing that business strategy influences the compensation structure and that a strategy and compensation structure misfit negatively affects performance.
Excess cash holdings and investment: the moderating roles of financial constraints and managerial entrenchment
Authors: Sheu Her‐Jiun , Lee Shiou‐Ying 
Published: August 2012

AbstractOur study investigates the relationship between excess cash holdings and investment behaviour under two dimensions of financial constraints and managerial entrenchment, based upon a sample of Taiwanese firms operating in an environment characterized by poor legal protection for investors, with data covering the years 2000–2006. We find that excess cash is significantly correlated with capital expenditure, particularly for firms financially constrained and with severe managerial entrenchment. However, the evidence shows that excess cash is insensitive to R&D expenditure under these two dimensions.
The impacts of parent’s listing status on subsidiary’s financial constraint and cost of equity capital: the case of equity carve‐outs
Authors: Tam Lewis H. K. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWe find that listed parents’ carve‐outs have investment‐cash‐flow sensitivities 70 per cent lower than unlisted parents’ carve‐outs, on average. Such a finding is stronger when we consider only equity carve‐outs in technological industries. The finding suggests that listed parents are more capable of alleviating the financial constraint of their carved‐out units than private parents. Our further analysis shows that listed parents’ carve‐outs also have a lower cost of equity than their counterparts, but such difference cannot be explained by corporate transparency, as implied by analyst coverage and analysts’ forecast dispersion. Therefore, we argue that the benefits from affiliation with a listed parent to the carve‐out come mainly from the parent’s financial support rather than an increase in corporate transparency.
RNAi suppression of lignin biosynthesis in sugarcane reduces recalcitrance for biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass
Authors: Jung Je Hyeong , Fouad Walid M. , Vermerris Wilfred , Gallo Maria , Altpeter Fredy 
Published: August 2012

SummarySugarcane is a prime bioethanol feedstock. Currently, sugarcane ethanol is produced through fermentation of the sucrose, which can easily be extracted from stem internodes. Processes for production of biofuels from the abundant lignocellulosic sugarcane residues will boost the ethanol output from sugarcane per land area. However, unlocking the vast amount of chemical energy stored in plant cell walls remains expensive primarily because of the intrinsic recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass. We report here the successful reduction in lignification in sugarcane by RNA interference, despite the complex and highly polyploid genome of this interspecific hybrid. Down‐regulation of the sugarcane caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene by 67% to 97% reduced the lignin content by 3.9% to 13.7%, respectively. The syringyl/guaiacyl ratio in the lignin was reduced from 1.47 in the wild type to values ranging between 1.27 and 0.79. The yields of directly fermentable glucose from lignocellulosic biomass increased up to 29% without pretreatment. After dilute acid pretreatment, the fermentable glucose yield increased up to 34%. These observations demonstrate that a moderate reduction in lignin (3.9% to 8.4%) can reduce the recalcitrance of sugarcane biomass without compromising plant performance under controlled environmental conditions.
Andrew, Michael D & Jelmberg, James R ed (2010) How teachers learnPeter Lang (New York & Bern) isbn978‐1‐4331‐0842‐6 220 pp $35.95http://www.peterlang.com/download/datasheet/54201/datasheet_310842.pdf
Authors: Alsawaie Othman N 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe book describes a five‐year teacher education programme at the University of New Hampshire. It includes several research articles about what supports the programme, especially the internship (teaching practice) component, which is a full year long. The book is useful for educators, especially those involved in teacher training and preparation. If its content is likely to be relevant to you, I recommend you borrow a copy for a while.Othman N Alsawaie
Jung, Insung & Latchem, Colin ed (2012) Quality assurance and accreditation in distance education and e‐learningRoutledge (New York & London) isbn 978‐0‐415‐88735‐9 285 pp $44.95http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415887359/
Authors: Sharma Ramesh 
Published: August 2012

SummaryInformative, useful, and with practical inputs on quality assurance and accreditation in open, distance and e‐learning education, this book is worthy to be consulted by teachers, researchers, quality technicians, practitioners, and policy makers. If the content of this book is likely to be relevant to you, you should arrange to borrow a copy for a while.Ramesh Sharma
A non‐targeted metabolomics approach to quantifying differences in root storage between fast‐ and slow‐growing plants
Authors: Atkinson Rebecca R. L. , Burrell Mike M. , Osborne Colin P. , Rose Karen E. , Rees Mark 
Published: August 2012

Summary

Life history theory posits that slower‐growing species should invest proportionally more resources to storage, structural (e.g. stems) or defence traits than fast‐growing species. Previously, we showed that the slower‐growing monocarpic plants had lower mortality rates and higher bolting probabilities after two defoliation events. Here, we consider a mechanistic explanation, that the slower‐growing species invested relatively more resources to storage.

We compared the relative levels of root storage compounds between eight monocarpic species using metabolomic profiling, and characterized plant growth using a size‐corrected estimate of relative growth rate (RGR).

Growth rate was negatively correlated with the proportional allocation of root metabolites identified as sucrose, raffinose and stachyose and with amino acids known for their roles in nitrogen storage, particularly proline and arginine. The total amount and concentration of energy‐corrected carbohydrates were also negatively correlated with RGR.

Our results show for the first time that slower‐growing species invest proportionally more of their total root metabolites in carbon‐ and nitrogen‐storage compounds. We conclude that the increased investment in these reserves is an important resource allocation strategy underlying the growth–survival trade‐off in plants.
Fatal meningitis during pregnancy in the Netherlands: a nationwide confidential enquiry
Authors: Schaap TP , Schutte JM , Zwart JJ , Schuitemaker NWE , van Roosmalen J ,   on behalf of the Dutch Maternal Mortality Committee
Published: August 2012

Please cite this paper as: Schaap T, Schutte J, Zwart J, Schuitemaker N, van Roosmalen J. Fatal meningitis during pregnancy in the Netherlands: a nationwide confidential enquiry. BJOG 2012;119:1558–1563.Objective  To determine the incidence of maternal deaths attributable to meningitis in the Netherlands, and to assess clinical features and risk factors.Design  Confidential enquiry into the causes of maternal deaths.Setting  Nationwide in the Netherlands.Population  A total of 4 784 408 live births.Methods  Analysis of all maternal deaths due to meningitis in pregnancy and puerperium from 1983 up to and including 2007 reported to the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.Main outcome measures  Incidence, clinical features and risk factors.Results  Fifteen maternal deaths occurred due to meningitis, representing 4.4% of all maternal deaths. Twelve women (80%) presented with meningitis during pregnancy, 8 (66%) of them in the third trimester. Presenting symptoms were altered mental status (11; 73%), fever (9; 60%), nuchal rigidity (5; 33%) and headache (13; 87%). Nine women (60%) had otolaryngological infection at presentation or in the previous days or weeks. Twelve women (80%) underwent radiological examination, of which 5 (33%) showed distinct abnormalities. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed infected CSF in 8 (53%) women. In ten women (67%) Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated. Substandard care was identified in 4 (27%) women.Conclusion  Pregnant or puerperal women presenting with classical symptoms of meningitis, particularly those with a history of otolaryngological infection or headache, should undergo thorough investigation and radiological and CSF examinations. Early diagnosis and immediate antibiotic treatment are imperative because of rapid deterioration in pregnant women. In case of doubt, the threshold for antibiotic treatment should be low and close monitoring is warranted.
The association between female genital mutilation and intimate partner violence
Authors: Salihu HM , August EM , Salemi JL , Weldeselasse H , Sarro YS , Alio AP 
Published: August 2012

Please cite this paper as: Salihu H, August E, Salemi J, Weldeselasse H, Sarro Y, Alio A. The association between female genital mutilation and intimate partner violence. BJOG 2012;119:1597–1605.Objective  To determine whether female genital mutilation (FGM) is a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) and its subtypes (physical, sexual and emotional).Design  Population‐based cross‐sectional study.Setting  The study used the 2006 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in Mali.Population  A total of 7875 women aged 15–49 years who responded to the domestic violence and female circumcision modules in the 2006 administration of the DHS in Mali.Methods  Multivariable logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to measure risk for IPV.Main outcome measures  The outcomes of interest were IPV and its subtypes.Results  Women with FGM were at heightened odds of IPV (aOR 2.71, 95% CI 2.17–3.38) and IPV subtypes: physical (aOR 2.85, 95% CI 2.22–3.66), sexual (aOR 3.24, 95% CI 1.80–5.82), and emotional (aOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.68–3.11). The odds of IPV increased with ascending FGM severity (P for trend <0.0001). The most elevated odds were observed among women with severe FGM, who were nearly nine times as likely to experience more than one IPV subtype (aOR 8.81, 95% CI 5.87–13.24).Conclusions  Study findings underscore the need for multi‐tiered strategies, incorporating policy and education, to reduce FGM and IPV, potentially improving the holistic health and wellbeing of Malian women.
Isolated dorsal root ganglion neurones inhibit receptor‐dependent adenylyl cyclase activity in associated glial cells
Authors: Ng KY , Yeung BHS , Wong YH , Wise H 
Published: August 2012

Background and PurposeHyper‐nociceptive PGE2 EP4 receptors and prostacyclin (IP) receptors are present in adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones and glial cells in culture. The present study has investigated the cell‐specific expression of two other Gs‐protein coupled hyper‐nociceptive receptor systems: β‐adrenoceptors and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) receptors in isolated DRG cells and has examined the influence of neurone–glial cell interactions in regulating adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity.Experimental ApproachAgonist‐stimulated AC activity was determined in mixed DRG cell cultures from adult rats and compared with activity in DRG neurone‐enriched cell cultures and pure DRG glial cell cultures.Key ResultsPharmacological analysis showed the presence of Gs‐coupled β2‐adrenoceptors and CGRP receptors, but not β1‐adrenoceptors, in all three DRG cell preparations. Agonist‐stimulated AC activity was weakest in DRG neurone‐enriched cell cultures. DRG neurones inhibited IP receptor‐stimulated glial cell AC activity by a process dependent on both cell–cell contact and neurone‐derived soluble factors, but this is unlikely to involve purine or glutamine receptor activation.Conclusions and ImplicationsGs‐coupled hyper‐nociceptive receptors are readily expressed on DRG glial cells in isolated cell cultures and the activity of CGRP, EP4 and IP receptors, but not β2‐adrenoceptors, in glial cells is inhibited by DRG neurones. Studies using isolated DRG cells should be aware that hyper‐nociceptive ligands may stimulate receptors on glial cells in addition to neurones, and that variable numbers of neurones and glial cells will influence absolute measures of AC activity and affect downstream functional responses.
Polymetamorphism in the mainland Lewisian complex, NW Scotland – phase equilibria and geochronological constraints from the Cnoc an t’Sidhean suite
Authors: ZIRKLER A. , JOHNSON T. E. , WHITE R. W. , ZACK T. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe metamorphic evolution of rocks cropping out near Stoer, within the Assynt terrane of the central region of the mainland Lewisian complex of NW Scotland, is investigated using phase equilibria modelling in the NCKFMASHTO and MnNCKFMASHTO model systems. The focus is on the Cnoc an t’Sidhean suite, garnet‐bearing biotite‐rich rocks (brown gneiss) with rare layers of white mica gneiss, which have been interpreted as sedimentary in origin. The results show that these rocks are polymetamorphic and experienced granulite facies peak metamorphism (Badcallian) followed by retrograde fluid‐driven metamorphism (Inverian) under amphibolite facies conditions. The brown gneisses are inferred to have contained an essentially anhydrous granulite facies peak metamorphic assemblage of garnet, quartz, plagioclase and ilmenite (±rutile, K‐feldspar and pyroxene) with biotite, hornblende, muscovite, chlorite and/or epidote as hydrous retrograde minerals. P–T constraints imposed by phase equilibria modelling imply conditions of 13–16 kbar at >900 °C for the Badcallian granulite facies metamorphic peak, consistent with the field evidence for partial melting in most lithologies. The white mica gneiss comprises a muscovite‐dominated matrix containing porphyroblasts of staurolite, corundum, kyanite and rare garnet. Previous studies have suggested that staurolite, corundum, kyanite and muscovite all grew at the granulite facies peak, with partial melting and melt loss producing a highly aluminous residue. However, at the inferred peak P–T conditions, staurolite and muscovite are not predicted to be stable, suggesting they are retrograde phases that grew during amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism. The large proportion of mica suggests extensive H2O‐rich fluid‐influx, consistent with the retrograde growth of hornblende, biotite, epidote and chlorite in the brown gneisses. P–T conditions of 5.0–6.5 kbar at 520–550 °C are derived for the Inverian event. In situ dating of zircon from samples of the white mica gneiss yield apparent ages that are difficult to interpret. However, the data are permissive of granulite facies (Badcallian) metamorphism having occurred at c. 2.7–2.8 Ga with subsequent fluid driven (Inverian) retrogression at c. 2.5–2.6 Ga, consistent with previous interpretations.