bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the Chinese version of the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale
Authors: Chen Chia‐Wei , Chu Hsin , Tsai Chia‐Fen , Yang Hui‐Ling , Tsai Jui‐Chen , Chung Min‐Huey , Liao Yuan‐Mei , Chi Mei‐ju , Chou Kuei‐Ru 
Published: August 2015

Aims and objectivesThe purpose of this study was to translate the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale into Chinese and to evaluate the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) and the diagnostic properties (sensitivity, specificity and predictive values) of the Chinese version of the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale.BackgroundThe accurate detection of early dementia requires screening tools with favourable cross‐cultural linguistic and appropriate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, particularly for Chinese‐speaking populations.DesignThis was a cross‐sectional, descriptive study.MethodsOverall, 130 participants suspected to have cognitive impairment were enrolled in the study. A test‐retest for determining reliability was scheduled four weeks after the initial test. Content validity was determined by five experts, whereas construct validity was established by using contrasted group technique. The participants' clinical diagnoses were used as the standard in calculating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.ResultsThe study revealed that the Chinese version of the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale exhibited a test‐retest reliability of 0·90, an internal consistency reliability of 0·71, an inter‐rater reliability (kappa value) of 0·88 and a content validity index of 0·97. Both the patients and healthy contrast group exhibited significant differences in their cognitive ability. The optimal cut‐off points for the Chinese version of the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale in the test for mild cognitive impairment and dementia were 24 and 22, respectively; moreover, for these two conditions, the sensitivities of the scale were 0·79 and 0·76, the specificities were 0·91 and 0·81, the areas under the curve were 0·85 and 0·78, the positive predictive values were 0·99 and 0·83 and the negative predictive values were 0·96 and 0·91 respectively.ConclusionThe Chinese version of the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale exhibited sound reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values.Relevance to clinical practiceThis scale can help clinical staff members to quickly and accurately diagnose cognitive impairment and provide appropriate treatment as early as possible.
Inflammation and plaque vulnerability
Authors: Hansson G. K. , Libby P. , Tabas I. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAtherosclerosis is a maladaptive, nonresolving chronic inflammatory disease that occurs at sites of blood flow disturbance. The disease usually remains silent until a breakdown of integrity at the arterial surface triggers the formation of a thrombus. By occluding the lumen, the thrombus or emboli detaching from it elicits ischaemic symptoms that may be life‐threatening. Two types of surface damage can cause atherothrombosis: plaque rupture and endothelial erosion. Plaque rupture is thought to be caused by loss of mechanical stability, often due to reduced tensile strength of the collagen cap surrounding the plaque. Therefore, plaques with reduced collagen content are thought to be more vulnerable than those with a thick collagen cap. Endothelial erosion, on the other hand, may occur after injurious insults to the endothelium instigated by metabolic disturbance or immune insults. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms involved in plaque vulnerability and the development of atherothrombosis.
The DTI Challenge: Toward Standardized Evaluation of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography for Neurosurgery
Authors: Pujol Sonia , Wells William , Pierpaoli Carlo , Brun Caroline , Gee James , Cheng Guang , Vemuri Baba , Commowick Olivier , Prima Sylvain , Stamm Aymeric , Goubran Maged , Khan Ali , Peters Terry , Neher Peter , Maier‐Hein Klaus H. , Shi Yundi , Tristan‐Vega Antonio , Veni Gopalkrishna , Whitaker Ross , Styner Martin , Westin Carl‐Fredrik , Gouttard Sylvain , Norton Isaiah , Chauvin Laurent , Mamata Hatsuho , Gerig Guido , Nabavi Arya , Golby Alexandra , Kikinis Ron 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography reconstruction of white matter pathways can help guide brain tumor resection. However, DTI tracts are complex mathematical objects and the validity of tractography‐derived information in clinical settings has yet to be fully established. To address this issue, we initiated the DTI Challenge, an international working group of clinicians and scientists whose goal was to provide standardized evaluation of tractography methods for neurosurgery. The purpose of this empirical study was to evaluate different tractography techniques in the first DTI Challenge workshop.METHODSEight international teams from leading institutions reconstructed the pyramidal tract in four neurosurgical cases presenting with a glioma near the motor cortex. Tractography methods included deterministic, probabilistic, filtered, and global approaches. Standardized evaluation of the tracts consisted in the qualitative review of the pyramidal pathways by a panel of neurosurgeons and DTI experts and the quantitative evaluation of the degree of agreement among methods.RESULTSThe evaluation of tractography reconstructions showed a great interalgorithm variability. Although most methods found projections of the pyramidal tract from the medial portion of the motor strip, only a few algorithms could trace the lateral projections from the hand, face, and tongue area. In addition, the structure of disagreement among methods was similar across hemispheres despite the anatomical distortions caused by pathological tissues.CONCLUSIONSThe DTI Challenge provides a benchmark for the standardized evaluation of tractography methods on neurosurgical data. This study suggests that there are still limitations to the clinical use of tractography for neurosurgical decision making.
Effect of dietary vanadium and vitamin C on egg quality and antioxidant status in laying hens
Authors: Wang J. P. , He K. R. , Ding X. M. , Luo Y. H. , Bai S. P. , Zeng Q. F. , Su Z. W. , Xuan Y. , Zhang K. Y. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThis study assessed the effect of dietary vanadium (V) and vitamin C (VC) on production performance, egg quality and antioxidant status in laying hens. A total of 360 laying hens (31‐week‐old) were randomly allotted into a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement treatments (four replicates and 10 chicks per replicate) with three levels of dietary V (0, 5 and 10 mg/kg) and three levels of vitamin C (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. The effect of V and VC did not alter egg production, egg weight, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio during 1–12 week. Albumen height and Haugh unit value were linearly decreased (p < 0.001) by addition of V, whereas the effect of 100 mg/kg VC was observed to counteract (p < 0.05) this effect in V‐containing treatments during 1–12 week. Hens fed V‐containing diet laid lighter (linear effect, p < 0.05) coloured eggs (higher lightness value, lower redness and yellowness value), and the VC exerted no influence on it during 1–12 week. The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities, ability to inhibit hydroxyl radical, were significantly decreased, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and V contents were increased (p < 0.05) by effect of V during 4, 8 and 12 week. The effect of VC alone and the interactive effect between VC and V were shown to increase serum (p < 0.05) SOD activity in 4 week and decrease MAD levels in 12 week. The result indicate that V decreased the egg quality and caused the oxidative stress at level of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, and the addition of 100 mg/kg vitamin C can alleviate its egg quality reduction effect and can mitigate the oxidative stress to some extent.
Expression of the Helicobacter pylori virulence factor vacuolating cytotoxin A (vacA) is influenced by a potential stem‐loop structure in the 5′ untranslated region of the transcript
Authors: Amilon Karin R. , Letley Darren P. , Winter Jody A. , Robinson Karen , Atherton John C. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe vacuolating cytotoxin, VacA, is an important virulence factor secreted by the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Certain vacA genotypes are strongly associated with disease risk, but the association is not absolute. The factors determining vacA gene expression are not fully understood, and the mechanisms of its regulation are elusive. We have identified a potential mRNA stem‐loop forming structure in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the vacA transcript. Using site‐directed mutagenesis, we found that disruption of the stem‐loop structure reduced steady‐state mRNA levels between two‐ and sixfold (P = 0.0005) and decreased mRNA half‐life compared with wild type (P = 0.03). This led to a marked reduction in VacA protein levels and overall toxin activity. Additionally, during stressful environmental conditions of acid pH or high environmental salt concentrations, when general transcription of vacA was decreased or increased respectively, the stabilising effects of the stem‐loop were even more pronounced. Our results suggest that the stem‐loop structure in the vacA 5′ UTR is an important determinant of vacA expression through stabilisation of the vacA mRNA transcript and that the stabilising effect is of particular importance during conditions of environmental stress.
Different faces of Nocardia infection in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Shrestha Shailendra , Kanellis John , Korman Tony , Polkinghorne Kevan R , Brown Fiona , Yii Ming , Kerr Peter G , Mulley William 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimNocardia infections are an uncommon but important cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients. The present study was carried out to determine the spectrum of Nocardia infections in a renal transplant centre in Australia.MethodsA retrospective chart analysis of all renal transplants performed from 2008 to 2014 was conducted to identify cases of culture proven Nocardia infection. The clinical course for each patient with nocardiosis was examined.ResultsFour of the 543 renal transplants patients developed Nocardia infection within 2 to 13 months post‐transplant. All patients were judged at high immunological risk of rejection pre‐transplant and had received multiple sessions of plasmaphoeresis and intravenous immunoglobulin before the onset of the infection. Two patients presented with pulmonary nocardiosis and two with cerebral abscesses. One case of pulmonary nocardiosis was complicated by pulmonary aspergillosis and the other by cytomegalovirus pneumonia. All four patients improved with combination antibiotic therapy guided by drug susceptibility testing. At the time of Nocardia infection all four patients were receiving primary prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) 160/800 mg, twice weekly.ConclusionPlasmaphoeresis may be risk factor for Nocardia infection and need further study. Nocardia infection may coexist with other opportunistic infections. Identification of the Nocardia species and drug susceptibility testing is essential in guiding the effective management of patients with Nocardia. Intermittent TMP‐SMX (one double strength tablet, twice a week) appears insufficient to prevent Nocardia infection in renal transplant recipients.
Arabidopsis COPPER MODIFIED RESISTANCE1/PATRONUS1 is essential for growth adaptation to stress and required for mitotic onset control
Authors: Juraniec Michal , Heyman Jefri , Schubert Veit , Salis Pietrino , De Veylder Lieven , Verbruggen Nathalie 
Published: August 2015

Summary

The mitotic checkpoint (MC) guards faithful sister chromatid segregation by monitoring the attachment of spindle microtubules to the kinetochores. When chromosome attachment errors are detected, MC delays the metaphase‐to‐anaphase transition through the inhibition of the anaphase‐promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase. In contrast to yeast and mammals, our knowledge on the proteins involved in MC in plants is scarce.

Transient synchronization of root tips as well as promoter–reporter gene fusions were performed to analyze temporal and spatial expression of COPPER MODIFIED RESISTANCE1/PATRONUS1 (CMR1/PANS1) in developing Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Functional analysis of the gene was carried out, including CYCB1;2 stability in CMR1/PANS1 knockout and overexpressor background as well as metaphase–anaphase chromosome status.

CMR1/PANS1 is transcriptionally active during M phase. Its deficiency provokes premature cell cycle exit and in consequence a rapid consumption of the number of meristematic cells in particular under stress conditions that are known to affect spindle microtubules. Root growth impairment is correlated with a failure to delay the onset of anaphase, resulting in anaphase bridges and chromosome missegregation. CMR1/PANS1 overexpression stabilizes the mitotic CYCB1;2 protein.

Likely, CMR1/PANS1 coordinates mitotic cell cycle progression by acting as an APC/C inhibitor and plays a key role in growth adaptation to stress.
An RNA‐Seq‐based reference transcriptome for Citrus
Authors: Terol Javier , Tadeo Francisco , Ventimilla Daniel , Talon Manuel 
Published: August 2015

SummaryPrevious RNA‐Seq studies in citrus have been focused on physiological processes relevant to fruit quality and productivity of the major species, especially sweet orange. Less attention has been paid to vegetative or reproductive tissues, while most Citrus species have never been analysed. In this work, we characterized the transcriptome of vegetative and reproductive tissues from 12 Citrus species from all main phylogenetic groups. Our aims were to acquire a complete view of the citrus transcriptome landscape, to improve previous functional annotations and to obtain genetic markers associated with genes of agronomic interest. 28 samples were used for RNA‐Seq analysis, obtained from 12 Citrus species: C. medica, C. aurantifolia, C. limon, C. bergamia, C. clementina, C. deliciosa, C. reshni, C. maxima, C. paradisi, C. aurantium, C. sinensis and Poncirus trifoliata. Four different organs were analysed: root, phloem, leaf and flower. A total of 3421 million Illumina reads were produced and mapped against the reference C. clementina genome sequence. Transcript discovery pipeline revealed 3326 new genes, the number of genes with alternative splicing was increased to 19 739, and a total of 73 797 transcripts were identified. Differential expression studies between the four tissues showed that gene expression is overall related to the physiological function of the specific organs above any other variable. Variants discovery analysis revealed the presence of indels and SNPs in genes associated with fruit quality and productivity. Pivotal pathways in citrus such as those of flavonoids, flavonols, ethylene and auxin were also analysed in detail.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification tests reduce nosocomial tuberculosis exposure in intensive care units: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Wang Jann‐Yuan , Lee Ming‐Chia , Chang Jer‐Hwa , Yu Ming‐Chih , Wu Vin‐Cent , Huang Kuo‐Liang , Su Chiu‐Ping , Chao Kun‐Mao , Lee Chih‐Hsin 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveThis retrospective national surveillance study investigated the burden of and risk factors for nosocomial exposure of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in intensive care units.MethodsPatients admitted to intensive care units were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database. During 2004–2009, there were 1 387 707 intensive care unit admissions of 900 562 adult patients. Pulmonary tuberculosis association was considered if the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis during admission or within 3 months after discharge. Nosocomial transmissible period was calculated based on the length of anti‐tuberculosis treatment and negative‐pressure isolation during admission.ResultsPulmonary tuberculosis was associated with 1.20% of all intensive care unit admissions and 6731 (38.9%) started anti‐TB treatment during admission. For the other 10 583 admissions, the diagnosis was made after discharge and anti‐TB treatment was not prescribed during admission. The probability paralleled the regional tuberculosis incidence. On average, 2794 pulmonary tuberculosis associated intensive care unit admissions contributed to 42 999–44 062 days of nosocomial exposure per year. The length of nosocomial transmissible period decreased with the gradual implementation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification tests in intensive care practice. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the length of nosocomial transmissible period was inversely associated with male gender, airway symptoms prior to admission and performing M. tuberculosis nucleic acid amplification tests and mycobacterial culture.ConclusionsNosocomial tuberculosis exposure is not uncommon in intensive care units. Performing rapid molecular diagnostic tests in those suspected of tuberculosis is recommended to reduce the risk of nosocomial exposure.
Constitutive and Inducible Expression of the rRNA Methylase Gene
erm
(B) in Campylobacter
Authors: Deng Fengru , Shen Jianzhong , Zhang Maojun , Wu Congming , Zhang Qijing , Wang Yang 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Macrolides are the antimicrobials of choice for treating human campylobacteriosis. The recent emergence of
erm
(B) in
Campylobacter
bacteria threatens the utility of this class of antibiotics. Here we report the constitutive and inducible expression of
erm
(B) in
Campylobacter
isolates derived from diarrheal patients and food-producing animals. Constitutive expression of
erm
(B) was associated with insertion and deletion in the regulatory region of the gene, providing the first documentation of the differential expression of
erm
(B) in
Campylobacter
bacteria.
Candida parapsilosis Resistance to Fluconazole: Molecular Mechanisms and
In Vivo
Impact in Infected Galleria mellonella Larvae
Authors: Souza Ana Carolina R. , Fuchs Beth Burgwyn , Pinhati Henrique M. S. , Siqueira Ricardo A. , Hagen Ferry , Meis Jacques F. , Mylonakis Eleftherios , Colombo Arnaldo L. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Candida parapsilosis
is the main non-
albicans Candida
species isolated from patients in Latin America. Mutations in the
ERG11
gene and overexpression of membrane transporter proteins have been linked to fluconazole resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the molecular mechanisms in fluconazole-resistant strains of
C. parapsilosis
isolated from critically ill patients. The identities of the nine collected
C. parapsilosis
isolates at the species level were confirmed through molecular identification with a TaqMan qPCR assay. The clonal origin of the strains was checked by microsatellite typing. The
Galleria mellonella
infection model was used to confirm
in vitro
resistance. We assessed the presence of
ERG11
mutations, as well as the expression of
ERG11
and two additional genes that contribute to antifungal resistance (
CDR1
and
MDR1
), by using real-time quantitative PCR. All of the
C. parapsilosis
(
sensu stricto
) isolates tested exhibited fluconazole MICs between 8 and 16 μg/ml. The
in vitro
data were confirmed by the failure of fluconazole in the treatment of
G. mellonella
infected with fluconazole-resistant strains of
C. parapsilosis
. Sequencing of the
ERG11
gene revealed a common mutation leading to a Y132F amino acid substitution in all of the isolates, a finding consistent with their clonal origin. After fluconazole exposure, overexpression was noted for
ERG11
,
CDR1
, and
MDR1
in 9/9, 9/9, and 2/9 strains, respectively. We demonstrated that a combination of molecular mechanisms, including the presence of point mutations in the
ERG11
gene, overexpression of
ERG11
, and genes encoding efflux pumps, are involved in fluconazole resistance in
C. parapsilosis
.
Identification of NDM-1 in a Putatively Novel Acinetobacter Species (“NB14”) Closely Related to Acinetobacter pittii
Authors: Espinal Paula , Mosqueda Noraida , Telli Murat , van der Reijden Tanny , Rolo Dora , Fernández-Orth Dietmar , Dijkshoorn Lenie , Roca Ignasi , Vila Jordi 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

In this study, we describe the molecular characterization of a plasmid-located
bla
NDM-1
harbored by an
Acinetobacter
clinical isolate recovered from a patient in Turkey that putatively constitutes a novel
Acinetobacter
species, as shown by its distinct ARDRA (amplified 16S ribosomal DNA restriction analysis) profile and molecular sequencing techniques.
bla
NDM-1
was carried by a conjugative plasmid widespread among non-
baumannii Acinetobacter
isolates, suggesting its potential for dissemination before reaching more clinically relevant
Acinetobacter
species.
Coculture of Escherichia coli O157:H7 with a Nonpathogenic E. coli Strain Increases Toxin Production and Virulence in a Germfree Mouse Model
Authors: Goswami Kakolie , Chen Chun , Xiaoli Lingzi , Eaton Kathryn A. , Dudley Edward G. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
O157:H7 is a notorious foodborne pathogen due to its low infectious dose and the disease symptoms it causes, which include bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps. In some cases, the disease progresses to hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), due to the expression of one or more Shiga toxins (Stx). Isoforms of Stx, including Stx2a, are encoded within temperate prophages. In the presence of certain antibiotics, phage induction occurs, which also increases the expression of toxin genes. Additionally, increased Stx2 accumulation has been reported when O157:H7 was cocultured with phage-susceptible nonpathogenic
E. coli
. This study characterized an
E. coli
O157:H7 strain, designated PA2, that belongs to the hypervirulent clade 8 cluster. Stx2a levels after ciprofloxacin induction were lower for PA2 than for the prototypical outbreak strains Sakai and EDL933. However, during coculture with the nonpathogenic strain
E. coli
C600, PA2 produced Stx2a levels that were 2- to 12-fold higher than those observed during coculture with EDL933 and Sakai, respectively. Germfree mice cocolonized by PA2 and C600 showed greater kidney damage, increased Stx2a accumulation in feces, and more visible signs of disease than mice given PA2 or C600 alone. These data suggest one mechanism by which microorganisms associated with the colonic microbiota could enhance the virulence of
E. coli
O157:H7, particularly a subset of clade 8 strains.
CONSEQUENCES AND ANTECEDENTS OF ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY IN A CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT
Authors: ADAMS DANIEL ROBERT , FLATTEN TESSA CHRISTINA , BRINKMANN HELGE , BRETTEL MALTE 
Published: August 2015

Continuous innovation is one of the key challenges businesses are currently facing, which makes organisational absorptive capacity (ACAP) — a firms ability to explore and exploit external knowledge — a highly relevant topic. This study addresses ACAPs consequences and antecedents in an international context by analysing data from 549 small and medium-sized companies in Austria, Brazil, Germany, India, Singapore, and the US First, we reveal that both potential and realised ACAP have an equally strong positive impact on firm performance around the world. Second, we assess that the relationship between organisational structure and potential ACAP is not moderated by national cultural values. Furthermore, we show that the role a formalised organisational structure plays with regard to realised ACAP is positively moderated by the national cultural characteristic of power distance and negatively by the national cultural trait of masculinity. In contrast, masculinity positively moderates the relationship between specialisation and realised ACAP. Overall, with our study, we advance research on the consequences as well as the antecedents of ACAP and provide managers with mechanisms to support corporate knowledge absorption and innovation generation throughout the world.