bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complementation of a temperature sensitiveEscherichia coli rpoDmutation usingLactobacillussigma factors
Authors: Winkler James D. , Kao Katy C. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractHousekeeping sigma factors in theσ70family, as components of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme, are responsible for regulating transcription of genes related to vegetative growth. While these factors are well understood in model organisms such asEscherichia coliandBacillus subtilis, little experimental work has focused on the sigma factors in members of theLactobacillusgenus such asLactobacillus brevisandLactobacillus plantarum. This study evaluates the ability of putativeσ70proteins fromL. brevis() andL. plantarum() to complement a temperature sensitive mutation in theE. coli285cσ70protein. This report is the first to show that these heterologous sigma factors were capable of restoring the viability ofE. coli285c for growth at 40-43.5 °C, indicating theandare capable of initiating transcription in a complex with theE. coli285c RNA polymerase. These heterologous sigma factors may therefore be useful for improving biochemical knowledge of the sigma factor family or for use in the expression of hetereologous genomic libraries.
Re-conceptualising call-centres as sites of control: the insider perspective
Authors: Kasabov Edward , C.C.C. da Cunha Anna 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The role of call-centres during service recovery has attracted much attention in research. However, marketers know less about controlling customers during recovery interactions and consequences of such control. In order to address this gap and empirically ascertain whether service interactions are marked by customer centricity or by employees exerting control over customers, the aim of the authors was to organise an empirical research in two Brazilian call-centres.Design/methodology/approach– The research consisted of direct, open observation and 33 semi-structured interviews with insiders (call-centre managers, supervisors and operatives).Findings– Four key findings emerged during interviews with insiders. First, control over customers may be more widely practiced than assumed in certain sections of marketing academe. Second, such control is viewed positively by call-centre insiders and is sanctioned by management. Third, control does not disempower and demoralise call-centre staff but protects operatives. Finally, control does not seem to unavoidably generate lasting customer dissatisfaction. These findings are incorporated in a framework of call-centre management which incorporates control through scripting.Research limitations/implications– The discussion calls for the revisit of certain marketing concepts and philosophies, including customer orientation, by demonstrating that control over customers is practised and should not be viewed negatively or avoided altogether in practice and as a topic of analysis. A re-conceptualisation of call-centres as sites of control over customers is proposed.Originality/value– Control and power are rarely analysed in services marketing. This is one of a few studies that makes sense of providers' (insiders') viewpoints and argues that control may play a constructive role and should be seen as a legitimate topic of services and call-centre analysis. As such it addresses a question of intellectual and practical importance which is rarely discussed and may be viewed as incongruous with an age when customers are assumed to have rights.
Reduction of adenovirus 36‐induced obesity and inflammation by mulberry extract
Authors: Na Ha‐Na , Park Sooho , Jeon Hyun‐Jung , Kim Hyun‐Bok , Nam Jae‐Hwan 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTAdenovirus 36 (Ad36) is known to be associated with human obesity and to trigger inflammation in murine models. However, to date no clinical drugs for treating virus‐induced obesity have been developed. Therefore, in this study, the anti‐obesity and anti‐inflammation effects of mulberry extract on Ad36 were evaluated in mice. The mulberry extract‐fed group showed a reduction in total body weight and in epidermal fat pads. A combination of various mulberry components (1‐deoxynojirimycin, kuromanin chloride and resveratrol) and a mulberry extract prevented viral replication by 50% and 70%, respectively, compared with an untreated Ad36‐infected group. Moreover, the extract decreased both concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, such as MCP‐1 and TNF‐α, and the numbers of infiltrating immune cells and macrophages in epidermal fat pads. In conclusion, dietary mulberry extract might offer an avenue for the development of therapeutic approaches for treating or preventing virus‐induced obesity and inflammation‐related metabolic diseases.
New properties of wheat bran: anti‐biofilm activity and interference with bacteria quorum‐sensing systems
Authors: González‐Ortiz Gemma , Quarles Van Ufford H. C. , Halkes S. Bart A. , Cerdà‐Cuéllar Marta , Beukelman Cees J. , Pieters Roland J. , Liskamp Rob M. J. , Pérez José F. , Martín‐Orue Susana M. 
Published: March 2014

SummarySome plant extracts, have been demonstrated to interfere with the microbial metabolism of several pathogenic bacteria. Within this antimicrobial properties it has been described the potential to inhibit or destroy biofilms or to interfere in quorum‐sensing (QS) systems. However, to our knowledge, no study exploring this potential of wheat‐bran (WB) has been published. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the anti‐biofilm activity of WB against a cow mastitis strain of Staphylococcus aureus and also its possible interference with bacterial QS systems. The potential of inhibition and destruction of the biofilm was studied by different in vitro assays. Also, we tested the ability of WB to interfere in bacterial QS by degrading acyl‐homoserine lactones (AHL) as one of the most studied QS signal molecules for Gram‐negative bacteria. The soluble extract of WB at 0.5% showed anti‐biofilm activity, inhibiting biofilm formation and also destroying it. Similarly, the > 300 kDa fraction from WB had significant anti‐biofilm activity in both in vitro assays. The WB also showed a potential to interfere with bacterial QS systems, as it was demonstrated to contain certain lactonase activity able to reduce AHL concentration in the medium. The present study reveals two additional beneficial properties of WB extract never explored before, which may be related to the presence of defence compounds in the plant extract able to interfere with microbial biofilms and also QS systems.
Template Matching for Auditing Hospital Cost and Quality
Authors: Silber Jeffrey H. , Rosenbaum Paul R. , Ross Richard N. , Ludwig Justin M. , Wang Wei , Niknam Bijan A. , Mukherjee Nabanita , Saynisch Philip A. , Even‐Shoshan Orit , Kelz Rachel R. , Fleisher Lee A. 
Published: March 2014

ObjectiveDevelop an improved method for auditing hospital cost and quality.Data Sources/SettingMedicare claims in general, gynecologic and urologic surgery, and orthopedics fromIllinois,Texas, andNewYork between 2004 and 2006.Study DesignA template of 300 representative patients was constructed and then used to match 300 patients at hospitals that had a minimum of 500 patients over a 3‐year study period.Data Collection/Extraction MethodsFrom each of 217 hospitals we chose 300 patients most resembling the template using multivariate matching.Principal FindingsThe matching algorithm found close matches on procedures and patient characteristics, far more balanced than measured covariates would be in a randomized clinical trial. These matched samples displayed little to no differences across hospitals in common patient characteristics yet found large and statistically significant hospital variation in mortality, complications, failure‐to‐rescue, readmissions, length of stay,ICUdays, cost, and surgical procedure length. Similar patients at different hospitals had substantially different outcomes.ConclusionThe template‐matched sample can produce fair, directly standardized audits that evaluate hospitals on patients with similar characteristics, thereby making benchmarking more believable. Through examining matched samples of individual patients, administrators can better detect poor performance at their hospitals and better understand why these problems are occurring.
Measurements of the Foramen Magnum and Mandible in Relation to Sex UsingCBCT
Authors: İlgüy Dilhan , İlgüy Mehmet , Ersan Nilüfer , Dölekoğlu Semanur , Fişekçioğlu Erdoğan 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate pre‐existingCBCTimages of a large sample of adult females and males to provide data on foramen magnum and mandibular measures of sexual dimorphism for use as a reference sample in cases of establishing identity in unknown fragmentary skulls. The study group consisted of 161 adult patients. 3D images of the patients were assessed retrospectively. FM measurements were obtained from reformatted axial sections. Six mandibular measurements were taken. According to the results, the study identified four mandibular measurements as final predictors of sex which are as follows: the gonial angle (G‐angle) and ramus length (Ramus‐L), gonion–gnathion length (G–G‐L) and bigonial breadth (BG‐Br). It was found that the cross‐validated grouped overall predictive accuracy was 83.2% forFMand mandible measurements. It could correctly identify males in 77.3% and females in 87.4% of the cases. To assess sexual dimorphism, the gonial angle and ramus, gonion–gnathion lengths, and bigonial breadth of the mandible and sagittal diameter of theFMmay be used onCBCTimages.
Antiapoptotic activity of 30 kDa lipoproteins family from fat body tissue of silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Pakkianathan Britto Cathrin , Singh Nitin Kumar , König Simone , Krishnan Muthukalingan 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe family of 30 kDa lipoproteins (LP1–5) is abundant in silkworm pupa fat body (FB) and hemolymph. One of its members, the 29 kDa protein decreased in concentration from peripheral (PP) FB tissue but was sustained in perivisceral (PV) FB tissue at the time of apoptosis. This study investigated the correlation of the 30 kDa proteins with FB apoptosis. Two protein fractions were purified, a 29 and a 30/31 kDa protein fraction, and they were used to test for activity against actinomycin D‐induced apoptosis in the FB tissues. Concentrations as little as 50 μg/mL of the 29 kDa protein fraction efficiently inhibited apoptosis. Less antiapoptotic activity was detected for the higher MW fraction; DNA fragmentation was observed in FB tissue treated with 50 μg/mL of the 30/31 kDa fraction. The viability of the cells in the 29 kDa protein‐supplemented culture was 40% higher than in the 31 kDa protein‐supplemented culture. However, the 30 kDa lipoproteins were not able to prevent scheduled FB degeneration during silkworm metamorphosis. Thus, it is hypothesized that the antiapoptotic 29 kDa protein needs to be proteolytically degraded by a regulatory mechanism to allow programmed cell death of FB tissue.
Functional MRI in clinical practice: A pictorial essay
Authors: van Heerden Jolandi , Desmond Patricia M , Phal Pramit M 
Published: March 2014

SummaryIn clinical practice, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a valuable non‐invasive tool particularly during preoperative work‐up of brain tumour and epilepsy patients. In this pictorial essay, we review expected areas of eloquent cortical activation during the four major clinical paradigms, discuss pitfalls related to fMRI and look at clinical examples where fMRI was particularly valuable in preoperative planning.
Periodontal disease in Thai patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Khantisopon Nuttapong , Louthrenoo Worawit , Kasitanon Nuntana , Sivasomboon Chate , Wangkaew Suparaporn , Sang‐In Supatra , Jotikasthira Nitaya , Bandhaya Panwadee 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimTo evaluate the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who attended a rheumatology clinic in a university hospital.MethodsAll consecutive patients with RA who attended the rheumatology clinic between June 2009 and January 2010 were asked to enroll in this study. All participants answered questionnaires, which included demographic data, medical history, medications used and smoking habits. A full mouth periodontal examination, including gingival index, plaque index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level was performed. Only cases that had at least 20 teeth were included in this study. Rheumatoid arthritis parameters, including number of tender and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF), hand radiographs, Disease Activity Index (DAS) and health status using the Thai Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), were determined. The association between RA parameters and periodontal condition was examined.ResultsThere were 196 participants (87.2% female) with a mean age of 51.7 ± 9.70 years, mean disease duration of 9.62 ± 7.0 years and mean DAS score of 4.64 ± 1.25. Eighty‐two per cent were RF‐positive. Moderate and severe periodontitis were found in 42% and 57%, respectively. Higher age, male gender, previous or current smoking and high level of plaque score were associated with severe periodontal disease. No differences in RA parameters were found between groups of patients who had moderate and severe periodontitis.ConclusionsWe found a high prevalence of periodontitis in Thai patients with RA. However, there was no association between RA parameters and periodontal conditions.
A novel therapeutic approach in pulmonary arterial hypertension as a complication of adult‐onset Still's disease: targeting IL‐6
Authors: Kadavath Sabeeda , Zapantis Ekaterini , Zolty Ronald , Efthimiou Petros 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAdult‐onset Still's Disease (AOSD), often though as the adult variant of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), has an incidence of 1–3 cases per 1 million. Cardinal manifestations include fever, arthritis, skin rash, sore throat, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Prolongation in diagnosing this disease results from its similarity to infectious, malignant and rheumatic diseases and lack of biomarkers. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare pulmonary complication of AOSD, and we are aware of only six cases reported in literature to date. Here we present a patient with AOSD who has developed pulmonary hypertension as a complication. We report a case of AOSD complicated by PAH treated successfully with tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to human interleukin (IL)‐6 receptor. A Pubmed and Medline search for evidence of pulmonary hypertension in AOSD and use of IL‐6 inhibition in management was performed. Data for this study was collected from the patient's chart records. No infectious or neoplastic cause of her disease was identified and after extensive diagnostic workup, the patient was diagnosed with AOSD fulfilling Yamaguchi criteria. After initiation of IL‐6 therapy the patient was followed over time to monitor the hemodynamic changes in pulmonary vasculature. Following treatment with Tocilizumab, the patient showed dramatic improvement in her clinical symptoms and remains in remission, through combination of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg), methotrexate and prednisone. Improvement of systemic symptoms, right heart catheterization (RHC) findings and the VECTRA‐DA score served as a measure of treatment response. Tocilizumab has been effective in demonstrating marked improvement in both the clinical and laboratory parameters. Tocilizumab is an effective novel treatment for AOSD with PAH. This is the first documented report of successful use of tocilizumab in AOSD patients presenting with PAH. Prospective comparative studies could help validate its efficacy and safety.
Effect of Dionaea muscipula extract and plumbagin on maceration of potato tissue by Pectobacterium atrosepticum
Authors: Szpitter A. , Narajczyk M. , Maciag‐Dorszynska M. , Wegrzyn G. , Lojkowska E. , Krolicka A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba) is a plant pathogen that causes major crop losses. Dionaea muscipula extracts and their antibacterial constituent, plumbagin, inhibit Pba growth in vitro. However, this effect is reduced when the extracts are added to bacterial cultures present on potato tubers or suspended in potato tuber filtrate (PF). To explain this, we examined the response mechanism of Pba cells to Dionaea extract and plumbagin and compared it with the effect of a bactericidal peptide – CAMEL. The addition of the extract and plumbagin to a Pba1043 culture in stationary phase increased the extracellular pectate lyase (Pel) activity in the presence of PF. While the addition of the Dionaea extract and plumbagin caused a dramatic reduction in RNA and protein synthesis in Pba1043, it did not result in cellular damage. PF alone increased the expression of Pba genes encoding protein components of cellular efflux pump systems: ompX, acrA and emrA. Application of both PF and plumbagin resulted in a synergistic stimulation of acrA gene expression. Plumbagin added to potato tubers inoculated with a field isolate Pba5A/1/2005 increased extracellular Pel activity and reduced tissue maceration but did not affect bacterial counts per gram of tissue. These results show that plumbagin in the presence of compounds from potato tuber stimulates Pel production/secretion in Pba cells and increases the expression of the acrA gene. This may be the molecular basis for the less pronounced effects of Dionaea extract on Pba in planta relative to those observed in vitro.
Antifungal and enzymatic evaluation of plant crude extracts derived from cinnamon and rosemary against Sclerotinia carrot rot
Authors: Ojaghian M.R. , Chen Y. , Chen S. , Cui Z.‐q. , Xie G.‐L. , Zhang J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe objective of this study was to assess the antifungal potential of plant crude extracts derived from cinnamon and rosemary against three isolates ofSclerotinia sclerotiorumunderin vitroandin vivoconditions. The crude extracts were obtained using two different solvents including ethyl acetate (EA) and ethanol. The results showed that crude extracts of cinnamon are able to reduce mycelial growth of isolate 2 at volatile and contact phase by 35.4% and 78.2%, respectively. Furthermore, sclerotial myceliogenic at contact phase and carpogenic germination of isolate 2 were inhibited by 94.3% and 68.1%, respectively. In general, rosemary extracts showed less inhibitory efficacy than cinnamon. As the most effective treatment,EAextract of cinnamon was analysed using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. The results showed the presence of 33 components and the major constituents were E‐cinnamaldehyde (66.4%) followed by Alpha‐Muurolene (4.86%), Alpha‐Copaene (4.73%) and2H‐1‐Benzopyran‐2‐one (3.72%). The enzyme analysis showed that the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase decrease in the inoculated carrots after application of plant crude extracts indicating that they cannot be considered as resistance inducers against Sclerotinia carrot rot. In conclusion, cinnamon extract was found to be more effective against the pathogen. Although crude extracts of cinnamon and rosemary were able to reduce severity of carrot rot during storage,EAextract of cinnamon (2 g L−1) was found to have practically significant effect against the disease.
Macrocytosis, Macrocytic Anemia, and Genetic Polymorphisms of Alcohol Dehydrogenase‐1B and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase‐2 in Japanese Alcoholic Men
Authors: Yokoyama Akira , Yokoyama Tetsuji , Brooks Philip J. , Mizukami Takeshi , Matsui Toshifumi , Kimura Mitsuru , Matsushita Sachio , Higuchi Susumu , Maruyama Katsuya 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundOxidation of ethanol by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) generates acetaldehyde (AcH), which is converted to acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase‐2 (ALDH2). Roughly 40% of East Asians are ALDH2‐deficient due to an inactive enzyme encoded by the ALDH2*2 allele. ALDH2‐deficient individuals have a dramatically elevated risk of esophageal cancer from alcohol consumption.MethodsWe investigated the relationship between ALDH2*2, ADH1B*2 (encoding a highly active ADH) and erythrocyte abnormalities, in a population of Japanese alcoholic men (N = 1,238).ResultsMacrocytosis (mean corpuscular volume [MCV] ≥100 fl) and macrocytic anemia (MCV ≥100 fl and hemoglobin <13.5 g/dl) were found in 62.4 and 24.1% of the subjects, respectively. Age‐adjusted daily alcohol consumption did not differ according to ADH1B and ALDH2 genotypes. However, macrocytosis and macrocytic anemia were strongly associated with the ALDH2*1/*2 genotype multivariate odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.85 [1.95 to 4.18] and 3.68 [2.64 to 5.15], respectively, versus ALDH2*1/*1). In comparison with the ADH1B*1/*1 and ALDH2*1/*1 genotype combination, the ADH1B*1/*1 and ALDH2*1/*2 genotype combination and the ADH1B*2 allele and ALDH2*1/*2 genotype combination increased stepwise the ORs (95% CI) for macrocytosis (1.65 [0.92 to 2.94] and 4.07 [2.33 to 7.11], respectively, p for difference in OR = 0.015) and macrocytic anemia (2.80 [1.52 to 5.15] and 5.32 [3.29 to 8.62], respectively, p for difference in OR = 0.045). Genotype effects were more prominent on the risks of the more advanced erythrocyte abnormalities. Older age, cigarette smoking, and low body mass index independently increased the risks of the erythrocyte abnormalities. Consumption of beer, which contains folate, decreased the risks, whereas consumption of alcoholic beverages lacking folate did not.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the erythrocyte abnormalities in alcoholics are attributable to high AcH exposure as well as to nutritional deficiencies and may be prevented by folate.
Maternal and Neonatal Plasma MicroRNA Biomarkers for Fetal Alcohol Exposure in an Ovine Model
Authors: Balaraman Sridevi , Lunde E. Raine , Sawant Onkar , Cudd Timothy A. , Washburn Shannon E. , Miranda Rajesh C. 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundPlasma or circulating miRNAs (cirmiRNAs) have potential diagnostic value as biomarkers for a range of diseases. Based on observations that ethanol (EtOH) altered intracellular miRNAs during development, we tested the hypothesis that plasma miRNAs were biomarkers for maternal alcohol exposure, and for past in utero exposure, in the neonate.MethodsPregnant sheep were exposed to a binge model of EtOH consumption resulting in an average peak blood alcohol content of 243 mg/dl, for a third‐trimester‐equivalent period from gestational day 4 (GD4) to GD132. MiRNA profiles were assessed by quantitative PCR analysis in plasma, erythrocyte, and leukocytes obtained from nonpregnant ewes, and plasma from pregnant ewes 24 hours following the last binge EtOH episode, and from newborn lambs, at birth on ~GD147.ResultsPregnant ewe and newborn lamb cirmiRNA profiles were similar to each other and different from nonpregnant female plasma, erythrocyte, or leukocyte miRNAs. Significant changes in cirmiRNA profiles were observed in the EtOH‐exposed ewe and, at birth, in the in utero, EtOH‐exposed lamb. CirmiRNAs including miR‐9, ‐15b, ‐19b, and ‐20a were sensitive and specific measures of EtOH exposure in both pregnant ewe and newborn lamb. Additionally, EtOH exposure altered guide‐to‐passenger strand cirmiRNA ratios in the pregnant ewe, but not in the lamb.ConclusionsShared profiles between pregnant dam and neonate suggest possible maternal‐fetal miRNA transfer. CirmiRNAs are biomarkers for alcohol exposure during pregnancy, in both mother and neonate, and may constitute an important shared endocrine biomarker that is vulnerable to the maternal environment.