bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural Integrity of Centromeric Chromatin and Faithful Chromosome Segregation Requires Pat1
Authors: Mishra Prashant K , Ottmann Alicia R , Basrai Munira A 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
The kinetochore (centromeric DNA and associated protein complex) is essential for faithful chromosome segregation and maintenance of genome stability. Here we report that an evolutionarily conserved protein Pat1 is a structural component of Saccharomyces cerevisiae kinetochore and associates with centromeres in a NDC10-dependent manner. Consistent with a role for Pat1 in kinetochore structure and function, a deletion of PAT1 results in delay in sister chromatid separation, errors in chromosome segregation, and defects in structural integrity of centromeric chromatin. Pat1 is involved in topological regulation of minichromosomes as altered patterns of DNA supercoiling were observed in pat1Δ cells. Studies with pat1 alleles uncovered an evolutionarily conserved region within the central domain of Pat1 that is required for its association with centromeres, sister chromatid separation, and faithful chromosome segregation. Taken together, our data have uncovered a novel role for Pat1 in maintaining the structural integrity of centromeric chromatin to facilitate faithful chromosome segregation and proper kinetochore function.
Fluid Identification in Light Hydrocarbons With Use of NMR and Downhole Fluid Analyzers—A Case Study
Authors: Van Steene Marie , Ardila Mario , Nelson Richard , Fekry Amr , Farghaly Adel 
Published: July 2013

SummaryIn hydrocarbon reservoirs, fluid types can often vary from dry gas to volatile oil in the same column. Because of varying and unknown invasion patterns and inexact clay-volume estimations, fluid-types differentiation on the basis of conventional logs is not always conclusive. A case study is presented by use of advanced nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) techniques in conjunction with advanced downhole-fluid-analysis (DFA) measurements and focused sampling from wireline formation testers (WFTs) to accurately assess the hydrocarbon-type variations.The saturation-profiling data from an NMR diffusion-based tool provides fluid-typing information in a continuous depth log. This approach can be limited by invasion. On the other hand, formation testers allow taking in-situ measurements of the virgin fluids beyond the invaded zone, but at discrete depths only. Thus, the two measurements ideally complement each other.In this case study, NMR saturation profiling was acquired over a series of channelized reservoirs. There is a transition from a water zone to an oil zone, and then to a rich-gas reservoir, indicated by both the DFA and the NMR measurements. Above the rich gas, is a dry-gas interval that is conclusively in a separate compartment. Diffusion-based NMR identifies the fluid type in a series of thin reservoirs above this main section, in which no samples were taken. NMR and DFA both detect compositional gradients, invisible to conventional logs.The work presented in this paper demonstrates how the integration of measurements from various tools can lead to a better understanding of fluid types and distribution.
New Sainfoin Populations for Bloat‐free Alfalfa Pasture Mixtures in Western Canada
Authors: Acharya Surya , Sottie Edmund , Coulman Bruce , Iwaasa Alan , McAllister Tim , Wang Yuxi , Liu Jinghui 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTSainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), a condensed‐tannin‐containing legume, when present in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pasture prevents bloat in grazing cattle. However, old sainfoin cultivars do not persist in alfalfa stands for long and in new mixed stands do not regrow at the same rate as alfalfa after cutting or grazing. This multiyear and multilocation study was initiated to determine if new sainfoin germplasm developed for their ability to survive with alfalfa can perform better than old cultivars in western Canada. In this study new sainfoin populations in pure stands persisted same as ‘Nova’ for 4 yr. In hay trials at Lethbridge under rain‐fed and irrigated conditions, four (3432, 3519, 3900, and 3902) and three (3519, 3901, and 3902) new sainfoin populations produced significantly higher dry matter (DM) than Nova, respectively. In another set of tests where multiple harvests were taken at Lethbridge (irrigation) and Saskatoon (rain‐fed), the new sainfoin populations produced higher DM yields than Nova in pure stands, persisted for three production years in mixed stands while contributing >20% DM for bloat prevention at each harvest. Nova proportions in mixed alfalfa stands decreased after the first production year. At Swift Current, however, new sainfoin populations produced significantly lower DM yield than Nova in pure stands and similar DM yield and proportions in mixed stands. Therefore, the new sainfoin populations tested may help improve hay or pasture production in most, but not in all, parts of western Canada.
Cardiorenal Syndrome
Authors: Anand Inder S. 
Published: July 2013

Summary
The cardiorenal syndrome has recently been defined as “disorders of the heart and kidney whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other.” The syndrome is extremely common and independently associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, no pharmacological therapy has been shown to improve its outcomes. Unfortunately, the mechanisms that initiate the development of renal dysfunction in heart failure are still debated. This review tries to clarify some of the misunderstanding regarding the principle hemodynamic factors that drive the kidneys to retain salt and water.
Shorter Length of Stay Is Associated With Worse Functional Outcomes for Medicare Beneficiaries With Stroke
Authors: O'Brien Suzanne R. , Xue Ying , Ingersoll Gail , Kelly Adam 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundUnderstanding of the potential impact that length of stay (LOS) may have on Medicare beneficiaries' poststroke discharge function and discharge destination since implementation of a prospective payment system is lacking.ObjectiveThis study examined the trends and associations between LOS and discharge outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries with stroke treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs).DesignA serial, cross-sectional analysis of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument dataset was conducted. The sample consisted of 371,211 patients with stroke who were over 65 years of age in all IRFs in the United States between January 1, 2002, and June 30, 2007.MethodsAnnual trends for means of LOS, admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, and percent community discharge were examined using generalized estimating equations (GEEs) with facility level control and post hoc testing. The association between discharge FIM scores and LOS was examined using a continuous, multivariate GEE model. The association between community discharge and LOS was examined using a logistic, multivariate GEE model.ResultsTime trends showed mean LOS decreased 1.8 days; admission and discharge FIM scores declined 4.4 points and 3.6 points, respectively; and mean community discharges declined 5.4%. Controlling for study year and covariates, each day was associated with an increase of 0.50 discharge FIM points (95% confidence interval=0.48, 0.52). Each day also was associated with a 0.3% decrease in odds of community discharge (95% confidence interval=0.994, 0.999).LimitationsReliability and validity of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI) are lacking. Results may have been biased by a lack of control at the patient and facility levels.ConclusionsMedicare beneficiaries with stroke treated in IRFs experienced shorter LOS, had worsening admission and discharge function, and had fewer community discharges. Worsening admission function and shorter LOS may contribute to worsening discharge outcomes, which may indicate a lack of readiness for IRF treatment and that facility-level factors may be playing a role in shorter LOS.
Nerve regeneration across cryopreserved allografts from cadaveric donors: a novel approach for peripheral nerve reconstruction
Authors: Squintani Giovanna , Bonetti Bruno , Paolin Adolfo , Vici Daniela , Cogliati Elisa , Murer Bruno , Stevanato Giorgio 
Published: July 2013

Object
The use of allografts from cadaveric donors has attracted renewed interest in recent years, and pretreatment with cryopreservation and immunosuppression methods has been investigated to maximize axonal regrowth and minimize allograft rejection. The authors wanted to assess the outcome of treatments of brachial plexus stretch injuries with cryopreserved allografts from cadaveric donors in nonimmunosuppressed patients.

Methods
Ten patients with brachial plexus lesions were submitted to electromyography (EMG) testing 1 and 3 months after a traumatic event and 1 week before surgery to localize and identify the type of lesion. Intraoperative EMG recordings were performed for intraoperative monitoring to select the best surgical strategy, and postoperative EMG was used to follow up patients and determine surgical outcomes. If nerve action potentials (NAPs) were present intraoperatively, neurolysis was performed, whereas muscular/nerve neurotization was performed if NAPs were absent. Cryopreserved allografts obtained from selected cadaveric donors and provided by the tissue bank of Treviso were used for nerve reconstruction in patients who were not treated with immunosuppressive drugs.

Results
The surgical strategy was selected according to the type and site of the nerve lesion and on the basis of IOM results: 14 cryopreserved allografts were used for 7 muscular neurotizations and for 7 nerve neurotizations, and 5 neurolysis procedures were performed. All of the patients had regained motor function at the 1- and 2-year follow-ups.

Conclusions
Some variables may affect functional recovery after allograft surgery, and the outcome of peripheral nerve reconstruction is more favorable when patients are carefully evaluated and selected for the surgery. The authors demonstrated that using cryopreserved allografts from cadaveric donors is a valid surgical strategy to restore function of the damaged nerve without the need for any immunosuppressive treatments. This approach offers new perspectives on procedures for extensive reconstruction of brachial and lumbosacral plexuses.
Clinical significance and limitations of repeat resection for pediatric malignant neuroepithelial tumors
Authors: Kawaguchi Tomohiro , Kumabe Toshihiro , Saito Ryuta , Kanamori Masayuki , Yamashita Yoji , Sonoda Yukihiko , Tominaga Teiji 
Published: July 2013

Object
Maximized tumor resection and minimized surgical morbidity are extremely important in the treatment of children with malignant neuroepithelial tumors. However, the indications for repeat surgery for these tumors remain unclear. The present study investigated the clinical significance and limitations of repeat resection for these tumors.

Methods
This study included 61 consecutive pediatric patients with malignant neuroepithelial tumor, histologically diagnosed as WHO Grades III and IV. All patients were initially treated between January 1997 and March 2011 and had follow-up of more than 2 years. The number of surgeries, presence of leptomeningeal dissemination, survival, WHO grade, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status before and after surgery were retrospectively reviewed.

Results
Repeat resections were performed for 21 patients (34.4%). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was not aggravated by surgery, even after multiple operations. The 5-year survival rates of patients who received single and repeat surgery were 58.6% and 38.7%, respectively (p = 0.12). The mean interval between initial surgery and leptomeningeal dissemination detection was 331 ± 108 days in the single-surgery group and 549 ± 122 days in the repeat-surgery group (p = 0.19). The median survival time after leptomeningeal dissemination was 580 days in the single-surgery group and 890 days in the repeat-surgery group (p = 0.74).

Conclusions
Repeat resection with minimized surgical morbidity is an effective method to achieve better local control of pediatric malignant neuroepithelial tumors. Leptomeningeal dissemination was a leading cause of death, but repeat surgery did not increase the frequency of death.
La dépendance : quelles différences entre les hommes et les femmes ?
Authors: Bonnet Carole , Cambois Emmanuelle , Cases Chantal , Gaymu Joëlle 
Published: July 2013

L’avancée en âge s’accompagne d’une augmentation des risques de perte d’autonomie, avec pour corollaire l’accroissement des situations de dépendance, nécessitant une aide. Du fait de leur surnombre, parce qu’elles vivent plus longtemps que les hommes et sont plus souvent qu’eux en situation de dépendance aux grands âges, les femmes sont aujourd’hui les principales bénéficiaires de l’aide à domicile. Elles sont également les principales pourvoyeuses d’aide au sein de la famille. Dans les décennies à venir, la population âgée va s’accroître et les hommes y seront plus nombreux parmi les dépendants et les aidants potentiels. Observera-t-on alors un rééquilibrage des rôles familiaux, et de quel type ? Le développement de l’aide professionnelle à domicile ? Une prise en charge individuelle ou collective de ces coûts ?
Mucosal Th17 Cell Function Is Altered during HIV Infection and Is an Independent Predictor of Systemic Immune Activation
Authors: Kim Connie J. , McKinnon Lyle R. , Kovacs Colin , Kandel Gabor , Huibner Sanja , Chege Duncan , Shahabi Kamnoosh , Benko Erika , Loutfy Mona , Ostrowski Mario , Kaul Rupert 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Mucosal Th17 cells maintain the gut epithelial barrier and prevent invasion by luminal bacteria through a delicate balance of immunosuppressive and proinflammatory functions. HIV infection is characterized by mucosal Th17 depletion, microbial translocation, and immune activation. Therefore, we assessed the function of blood and sigmoid Th17 cells during both early and chronic HIV infection, as well as the impact of short- and long-term antiretroviral therapy. Th17 cells were defined as IL-17a+ CD4 T cells, and their functional capacity was assessed by the coproduction of the inflammatory cytokines IL-22, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, as well as the immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10. Gut Th17 cells had a much greater capacity to produce proinflammatory cytokines than did those from the blood, but this capacity was dramatically reduced from the earliest stages of HIV infection. Immunoregulatory skewing of mucosal Th17 cell function, characterized by an increased IL-10/TNF-α ratio, was uniquely seen during early HIV infection and was independently associated with reduced systemic immune activation. Antiretroviral therapy rapidly restored mucosal Th17 cell numbers; however, normalization of mucosal Th17 function, microbial translocation, and mucosal/systemic immune activation was much delayed. These findings emphasize that strategies to preserve or to more rapidly restore mucosal Th17 function may have important therapeutic benefit.
Proteasome Inhibition by Bortezomib Increases IL-8 Expression in Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Cells: The Role of IKKα
Authors: Manna Subrata , Singha Bipradeb , Phyo Sai Aung , Gatla Himavanth Reddy , Chang Tzu-Pei , Sanacora Shannon , Ramaswami Sitharam , Vancurova Ivana 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Expression of the proinflammatory and proangiogenic chemokine IL-8, which is regulated at the transcriptional level by NF-κB, is constitutively increased in androgen-independent metastatic prostate cancer and correlates with poor prognosis. Inhibition of NF-κB–dependent transcription was used as an anticancer strategy for the development of the first clinically approved 26S proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (BZ). Even though BZ has shown remarkable antitumor activity in hematological malignancies, it has been less effective in prostate cancer and other solid tumors; however, the mechanisms have not been fully understood. In this article, we report that proteasome inhibition by BZ unexpectedly increases IL-8 expression in androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 and DU145 cells, whereas expression of other NF-κB–regulated genes is inhibited or unchanged. The BZ-increased IL-8 expression is associated with increased in vitro p65 NF-κB DNA binding activity and p65 recruitment to the endogenous IL-8 promoter. In addition, proteasome inhibition induces a nuclear accumulation of IκB kinase (IKK)α, and inhibition of IKKα enzymatic activity significantly attenuates the BZ-induced p65 recruitment to IL-8 promoter and IL-8 expression, demonstrating that the induced IL-8 expression is mediated, at least partly, by IKKα. Together, these data provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, for the gene-specific increase of IL-8 expression by proteasome inhibition in prostate cancer cells and suggest that targeting both IKKα and the proteasome may increase BZ effectiveness in treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer.
Differential Postselection Proliferation Dynamics of αβ T Cells, Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells, and Invariant NKT Cells Monitored by Genetic Pulse Labeling
Authors: Föhse Lisa , Reinhardt Annika , Oberdörfer Linda , Schmitz Susanne , Förster Reinhold , Malissen Bernard , Prinz Immo 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
The thymus generates two divergent types of lymphocytes, innate and adaptive T cells. Innate T cells such as invariant NKT cells provide immediate immune defense, whereas adaptive T cells require a phase of expansion and functional differentiation outside the thymus. Naive adaptive T lymphocytes should not proliferate much after positive selection in the thymus to ensure a highly diverse TCR repertoire. In contrast, oligoclonal innate lymphocyte populations are efficiently expanded through intrathymic proliferation. For CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are thought to be generated by agonist recognition, it is not clear whether they proliferate upon thymic selection. In this study, we investigated thymic and peripheral T cell proliferation by genetic pulse labeling. To this end, we used a mouse model in which all developing αβ thymocytes were marked by expression of a histone 2B–enhanced GFP (H2BeGFP) fusion-protein located within the Tcrd locus (TcrdH2BeGFP). This reporter gene was excised during TCR α-chain VJ-recombination, and the retained H2BeGFP signal was thus diluted upon cell proliferation. We found that innate T cells such as CD1d-restricted invariant NKT cells all underwent a phase of intense intrathymic proliferation, whereas adaptive CD4+ and CD8+ single-positive thymocytes including thymic Tregs cycled, on average, only once after final selection. After thymic exit, retention or loss of very stable H2BeGFP signal indicated the proliferative history of peripheral αβ T cells. There, peripheral Tregs showed lower levels of H2BeGFP compared with CD4+Foxp3− T cells. This further supports the hypothesis that the Treg repertoire is shaped by self-Ag recognition in the steady-state.
Public transport policy and performance: The results of a South African public opinion poll
Authors: Luke Rose , Heyns Gert 
Published: July 2013

Public opinion plays a vital role in a democracy, as democracies are, by nature responsive to the people. In South Africa, public participation is entrenched in the Constitution. Despite this, the spate of service delivery protests in South Africa in recent years would appear to indicate that the government is out of touch with the opinions of the South African citizens. Public transport policy in South Africa is described by a number of documents, mainly the White Paper on National Transport Policy, Moving South Africa and, more recently, the National Development Plan. An annual survey of 1000 South Africans is conducted to gauge opinion on transport related matters. The purpose of this article was to compare the current public transport policies (as stated above) and the public opinion on public transport (as gauged by the survey) in order to determine the extent to which these are aligned. The results show that current public transport policy is relatively strongly aligned with the public transport needs of the South African population, however, concerns regarding public transport such as mobility, accessibility, affordability and safety have not yet to be addressed satisfactorily.
A Stabilized Finite Element Method for Modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck Equations to Determine Ion Flow Through a Nanopore
Authors: Chaudhry Jehanzeb Hameed , Comer Jeffrey , Aksimentiev Aleksei , Olson Luke N. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe conventional Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations do not account for the finite size of ions explicitly. This leads to solutions featuring unrealistically high ionic concentrations in the regions subject to external potentials, in particular, near highly charged surfaces. A modified form of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations accounts for steric effects and results in solutions with finite ion concentrations. Here, we evaluate numerical methods for solving the modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations by modeling electric field-driven transport of ions through a nanopore. We describe a novel, robust finite element solver that combines the applications of the Newton’s method to the nonlinear Galerkin form of the equations, augmented with stabilization terms to appropriately handle the drift-diffusion processes.To make direct comparison with particle-based simulations possible, our method is specifically designed to produce solutions under periodic boundary conditions and to conserve the number of ions in the solution domain. We test our finite element solver on a set of challenging numerical experiments that include calculations of the ion distribution in a volume confined between two charged plates, calculations of the ionic current though a nanopore subject to an external electric field, and modeling the effect of a DNA molecule on the ion concentration and nanopore current.
A Positivity-Preserving Scheme for the Simulation of Streamer Discharges in Non-Attaching and Attaching Gases
Authors: Zhuang Chijie , Zeng Rong 
Published: July 2013

AbstractAssumed having axial symmetry, the streamer discharge is often described by a fluid model in cylindrical coordinate system, which consists of convection dominated (diffusion) equations with source terms, coupled with a Poisson’s equation. Without additional care for a stricter CFL condition or special treatment to the negative source term, popular methods used in streamer discharge simulations, e.g., FEM-FCT, FVM, cannot ensure the positivity of the particle densities for the cases in attaching gases. By introducing the positivity-preserving limiter proposed by Zhang and Shu [15] and Strang operator splitting, this paper proposes a finite difference scheme with a provable positivity-preserving property in cylindrical coordinate system, for the numerical simulation of streamer discharges in non-attaching and attaching gases. Numerical examples in non-attaching gas (N2) and attaching gas (SF6) are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the scheme.