bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low frequency of filaggrin null mutations in Croatia and their relation with allergic diseases
Authors: Sabolić Pipinić I. , Varnai V. M. , Turk R. , Breljak D. , Kezić S. , Macan J. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryFilaggrin gene (FLG) null mutations are considered associated with atopic dermatitis. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of FLG null mutations R501X, 2282del4, R2447X and S3247X in the Croatian population and their role in the occurrence of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Study enrolled 440 freshmen with defined allergic diseases by means of both present symptoms in International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire (relevant respiratory and/or skin symptoms) and markers of allergic sensitization (positive skin prick and/or patch test). FLG null mutations were successfully genotyped in 423 students of which 11 (2.6%) were carriers of FLG null mutation: 1/423 (0.2%) was heterozygous for R501X and 10/423 (2.4%) were heterozygous for 2282del4. No carriers of R2447X and S3247X mutations were identified. In wild‐type FLG carriers (412 subjects), atopic dermatitis was present in 45 (11%), allergic rhinitis in 70 (17%) and allergic asthma in 29 (7%) students. Twenty‐five of 393 (7%) patch‐tested wild‐type FLG carriers had ACD. Among 11 FLG null mutation carriers, four had one or more allergic diseases, and five had reported skin symptoms without defined allergic sensitization (positive skin prick test and/or patch test). FLG null mutations were not confirmed as a predictor of analysed allergic diseases, but were confirmed as an independent predictor of skin symptoms (OR 17.19, 95% CI 3.41–86.6, P < 0.001). Our results in general indicate a low frequency of FLG null mutations in the studied Croatian population supporting a theory of a latitude‐dependent distribution of FGL null mutations in Europe, with a decreasing north–south gradient of R501X and 2282del4 mutation frequency. The relation between FLG null mutations and skin disorders was confirmed.
Cell sources for the regeneration of articular cartilage: the past, the horizon and the future
Authors: Oldershaw Rachel A. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryAvascular, aneural articular cartilage has a low capacity for self‐repair and as a consequence is highly susceptible to degradative diseases such as osteoarthritis. Thus the development of cell‐based therapies that repair focal defects in otherwise healthy articular cartilage is an important research target, aiming both to delay the onset of degradative diseases and to decrease the need for joint replacement surgery. This review will discuss the cell sources which are currently being investigated for the generation of chondrogenic cells. Autologous chondrocyte implantation using chondrocytes expanded ex vivo was the first chondrogenic cellular therapy to be used clinically. However, limitations in expansion potential have led to the investigation of adult mesenchymal stem cells as an alternative cell source and these therapies are beginning to enter clinical trials. The chondrogenic potential of human embryonic stem cells will also be discussed as a developmentally relevant cell source, which has the potential to generate chondrocytes with phenotype closer to that of articular cartilage. The clinical application of these chondrogenic cells is much further away as protocols and tissue engineering strategies require additional optimization. The efficacy of these cell types in the regeneration of articular cartilage tissue that is capable of withstanding biomechanical loading will be evaluated according to the developing regulatory framework to determine the most appropriate cellular therapy for adoption across an expanding patient population.
Meat intake in Britain in relation to other dietary components and to demographic and risk factor variables: analyses based on the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of 2000/2001
Authors: Aston L. M. , Smith J. N. , Powles J. W. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackgroundRed and processed meat intakes have been positively associated with the risk of several major chronic diseases. Understanding population intakes is important when formulating dietary recommendations. The present study investigated the dispersion of intakes of red and processed meat and associations with dietary, socio‐demographic and risk factors.MethodsThe present study comprised a secondary analysis of the British National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2000/1, including 7‐day dietary records, from 766 male and 958 female respondents aged 19–64 years. Composite dishes were disaggregated into primary ingredients. Self‐reported vegetarians (V) were grouped into one stratum and other respondents were stratified into five groups (F1–F5) according to energy‐adjusted red plus processed meat (RPM) intake, to give six strata. 7‐day RPM intakes were adjusted to estimate ‘usual’ habitual intakes, using ratios of between‐person to total variance in daily intakes.ResultsMean recorded intakes of red, processed, white and total meat were 48, 41, 40 and 129 g day−1, respectively, in males and 30, 22, 30 and 82 g day−1 in females. Estimated habitual intakes of RPM standardised to sex‐specific energy intakes across the six strata were: 12 (V), 56, 76, 90, 105 and 137 g day−1 in males and 5 (V), 34, 46, 55, 65 and 88 g day−1 in females. Lower RPM consumers tended to be of higher social class and educational level and to have more favourable levels of some risk factors.ConclusionsMean intakes of red, processed and white meat were of similar magnitude. Habitual intakes of RPM showed wide dispersion with one‐quarter of males < 55 g day−1 and one‐quarter of females < 27 g day−1. Lowering overall RPM consumption could be achieved by seeking greater reductions among current high consumers.
Magnetic resonance imaging of fixed post mortem brains reliably reflects subcortical vascular pathology of frontal, parietal and occipital white matter
Authors: McAleese K. E. , Firbank M. , Hunter D. , Sun L. , Hall R. , Neal J. W. , Mann D. M. A. , Esiri M. , Jellinger K. A. , O'Brien J. T. , Attems J. 
Published: October 2012

AimsSubcortical vascular pathology of the white and deep grey matter (WM and DGM) is associated with cognitive impairment. Routine neuropathological assessment of subcortical vascular pathology is based on semiquantitative scoring of characteristic lesions in a limited number of histological slides from selected WM and DGM areas. Clinically, WM and DGM lesions are visualized as hyper‐intensities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of MRI on fixed post mortem brain hemispheres to complement routine neuropathological assessment of subcortical vascular pathology.MethodsWe assessed subcortical vascular pathology in 40 post mortem brain hemispheres from demented (n = 26) and nondemented (n = 14) individuals (mean age 83.2 ± 14.8 years; 62.5% female) using (i) routine histological assessment; (ii) extensive histological assessment of the entire hemisphere at 7‐mm intervals; and (iii) full T2‐weighted MRI performed on fixed post mortem brain hemispheres.ResultsIn both WM and DGM routine histological scores for subcortical vascular pathology were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than the corresponding scores obtained by extensive histological assessment. In contrast, no significant differences were seen between scores obtained by MRI and extensive histological assessment in frontal, parietal and occipital lobes while MRI scores were significantly lower in the temporal WM and DGM (P < 0.01).ConclusionsThe results of our study indicate that routine histological assessment underrates subcortical vascular pathology and we conclude that MRI could be used in addition to complement neuropathological post mortem assessment of subcortical vascular pathology of the WM.
Systemicity of Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum and time to disease expression after inflorescence infection in East African highland and Pisang Awak bananas in Uganda
Authors: Ocimati W. , Ssekiwoko F. , Karamura E. , Tinzaara W. , Eden‐Green S. , Blomme G. 
Published: October 2012

Banana xanthomonas wilt (XW) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm) attacks all banana cultivars. Xcm in inflorescence‐infected Pisang Awak plants with wilting male bud bracts is restricted to the upper parts of the true stem; therefore, cutting these plants at the pseudostem base has been recommended to prevent further Xcm spread. In order to fine‐tune existing control strategies, this study examined the movement of Xcm into plants and mats, in relation to disease incubation period. Mature Pisang Awak and East African highland (AAA‐EA) plants were inoculated with Xcm through abscission wounds of female bracts, male bud bracts, male flowers, a combination of male bud bracts and flowers, and by cutting male buds with a contaminated machete. Thirty plants per genotype and treatment were monitored for 24 months for disease symptoms. An additional 68 AAA‐EA and 33 Pisang Awak plants were sampled weekly to assess the rate of Xcm spread within the plants. All floral entry points resulted in disease, with the highest incidence in combined male bract and male flower abscission wound inoculations. The study confirmed the systemicity of Xcm, with the pathogen able to live within the mat for long periods (5–16 months) without causing disease. Reliance on disease symptom expression to manage XW is therefore not sufficient. The long incubation period in lateral shoots may explain the current resurgence of the disease in locations where the disease was thought to have been successfully eradicated.
Life stage specific variation in the occupancy of ponds byLitoria aurea, a threatened amphibian
Authors: BOWER DEBORAH S. , STOCKWELL MICHELLE P. , POLLARD CARLA J. , PICKETT EVAN J. , GARNHAM JAMES I. , CLULOW JOHN , MAHONY MICHAEL J. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBreeding aggregations are a reproductive strategy to increase mate finding opportunity. However, because aggregations skew the distribution of mature animals through conspecific attraction, rather than resource availability, the distribution of breeding sites may be reduced, so that not all suitable breeding sites are used. To examine the relationship between landscape and reproductive strategies of a threatened frog,Litoria aurea, we studied its distribution atSydneyOlympicPark over two breeding seasons. We aimed to: (i) determine the distribution and predictors of breeding ponds; and (ii) assess the significance of dispersal in the juvenile age‐class. We found that the distribution of the calling males was highly skewed and occurred in large, well‐connected ponds. Despite this, breeding ponds were not aggregated; pond size was the single factor explaining the distribution of breeding ponds. Juvenile frogs dispersed from breeding ponds and were not associated with a specific pond characteristic. Less breeding occurred in the second season during which fewer ponds were used for breeding including many different ponds from the previous year. These changes suggest that breeding effort and breeding pond choice are dynamic and therefore knowledge of the factors that drive breeding events will be a powerful tool in managing species, particularly in light of changing climatic regimes.
Evaluating molecular support for and against the monophyly of the Peritrichia and phylogenetic relationships within the Mobilida (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea)
Authors: Zhan Zifeng , Xu Kuidong , Dunthorn Micah 
Published: October 2012

Zhan, Z., Xu, K. & Dunthorn, M. (2012). Evaluating molecular support for and against the monophyly of the Peritrichia and phylogenetic relationships within the Mobilida (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea). —Zoologica Scripta,00, 000–000.An ongoing debate in ciliate molecular phylogenetic analyses is whether the Peritrichia – composed of the Sessilida and the Mobilida – are monophyletic. To further investigate this group, here we increase taxon sampling with four further mobilids: Trichodinella sp., Trichodina pectenis, Urceolaria serpularum and Urceolaria korschelti. Results show that support for and against monophyly of the peritrichs depends on different methods of alignment, and different methods of masking ambiguously aligned nucleotide positions. Results from constrained analyses also are dependent on different alignment and masking methods. We propose that there is no well‐supported SSU‐rDNA evidence supporting for and against the removal of the mobilids from the peritrichs. Within the Mobilida, we find that Trichodinella nest within Trichodina, Urceolaria branch basally, and Trichodina are non‐monophyletic, and suggest that Leiotrocha be formally transferred into Urceolaria. In addition, the data support that Urceolaria‐like denticles and Urceolaria‐/Trichodina‐like adoral ciliary spiral are plesiomorphic conditions within the mobilids.
Do subitizing deficits in developmental dyscalculia involve pattern recognition weakness?
Authors: Ashkenazi Sarit , Mark‐Zigdon Nitza , Henik Avishai 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe abilities of children diagnosed with developmental dyscalculia (DD) were examined in two types of object enumeration: subitizing, and small estimation (5–9 dots). Subitizing is usually defined as a fast and accurate assessment of a number of small dots (range 1 to 4 dots), and estimation is an imprecise process to assess a large number of items (range 5 dots or more). Based on reaction time (RT) and accuracy analysis, our results indicated a deficit in the subitizing and small estimation range among DD participants in relation to controls. There are indications that subitizing is based on pattern recognition, thus presenting dots in a canonical shape in the estimation range should result in a subitizing‐like pattern. In line with this theory, our control group presented a subitizing‐like pattern in the small estimation range for canonically arranged dots, whereas the DD participants presented a deficit in the estimation of canonically arranged dots. The present finding indicates that pattern recognition difficulties may play a significant role in both subitizing and subitizing deficits among those with DD.
Rethinking Inflation: New Perspective from an Old Indicator
Authors: Ungewitter Mark 
Published: October 2012

The concept of inflation is central to economic theories, investment outlooks and policy prescriptions. It is generally understood as an over‐issue of money and credit which increases the general level of consumer prices. In light of today's ongoing debt crises, it is obvious that too much money and credit were created in the millennial decade. Yet the period is typically characterised as a disinflationary environment.This article examines inflationary processes from a variety of perspectives. It is argued that 1) inflation is an abuse of money and credit which may or may not coincide with rising consumer prices; and 2) a classic definition of inflation – the premium on gold in local currency terms – remains relevant today, providing a sanity check on conventional measures such as CPI, PCE and the GDP deflator. A simple model of ‘structural inflation’ is developed in which the inflation tax may either be levied through consumer prices or stored up in the national debt.
Mild affective symptoms in de novo Parkinson's disease patients: relationship with dopaminergic dysfunction
Authors: Ceravolo R. , Frosini D. , Poletti M. , Kiferle L. , Pagni C. , Mazzucchi S. , Volterrani D. , Bonuccelli U. 
Published: October 2012

Background and purposeThe investigation of the relationship between affective symptoms and dopamine transporter (DAT) density provided conflicting data in both Parkinson's disease (PD) and non‐PD patients. However, the potential interference of psychoactive as well as anti‐parkinsonian drugs on DAT density should be taken into account.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between affective symptoms and pre‐synaptic dopaminergic function in de novo PD patients.MethodsForty‐four de novo PD consecutive outpatients were recruited, and the severity of anxious symptoms was evaluated with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM‐A), the severity of depressive symptoms with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM‐D) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Six patients had a formal diagnosis of depression. All patients performed 123I‐FP‐CIT SPECT, and semi‐quantitative striatal indices were calculated.ResultsDisease severity, as measured by Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRSIII), was inversely correlated with bilateral striatal indices. Bilateral striatal uptake was significantly positively correlated with HAM‐D (r.329; r.423, respectively, right and left), BDI (r.377; r.360, respectively, right and left) and HAM‐A (r.338; r.340, respectively, right and left). After controlling for age, disease duration and severity, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), no significant reduction in r‐values was observed (P < 0.05).ConclusionOur data support the existence of a relationship between depressive and anxious symptoms and the striatal 123I‐FP‐CIT uptake. The finding of an increased DAT density associated with mild affective symptoms could be due to the lack of compensatory mechanisms usually present in early PD, and/or it might have a pathogenic role in affective symptoms by reducing the dopaminergic tone in the synaptic cleft.
Sexual and mating system in a caridean shrimp symbiotic with the winged pearl oyster in the Coral Triangle
Authors: Baeza J. A. , Ritson‐Williams R. , Fuentes M. S. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractFor symbiotic crustaceans, theory predicts that monogamy is adaptive when species inhabit scarce, relatively small and morphologically simple hosts in tropical environments where predation risk away from hosts is high. We tested this prediction in the shrimp Paranchistus pycnodontae, which inhabits the mantle cavity of the winged pearl oyster Pteria penguin in the Coral Triangle. In various symbiotic crustaceans, males are smaller than females, and this sexual dimorphism has been used as evidence of sex change (protandry) in these organisms. Preliminary observations in Pa. pycnodontae suggested that males were smaller than females. Thus, we first investigated the sexual system of Pa. pycnodontae to determine if the species was protandric. Morphological identification and size frequency distributions indicated that the population comprised small males, small immature females and larger mature females, which was confirmed by dissections. No transitional individuals were found. Thus, Pa. pycnodontae is a gonochoric species with reverse sexual dimorphism. Pa. pycnodontae inhabit as heterosexual pairs in the mantle cavity of hosts more frequently than is expected by chance alone. Pairing was size assortative; both carapace length and propodus length of the major cheliped were positively correlated between males and females forming pairs. Males occur with females in the same host, independent of the female gravid condition or of the stage of development of the brooded eggs. Lastly, the major cheliped did not exhibit positive allometry in males. All the available information suggests that Pa. pycnodontae has adopted a socially monogamous mating system with males and females forming exclusive pairs from other adults. Symbiotic shrimps can be used as a model system to understand behavioural diversity within socially monogamous marine invertebrates.
Cross‐frequency dynamics of neuromagnetic oscillatory activity: Two mechanisms of emotion regulation
Authors: Popov Tzvetan , Steffen Astrid , Weisz Nathan , Miller Gregory A. , Rockstroh Brigitte 
Published: October 2012

AbstractHemodynamic and electromagnetic neuroimaging suggests a sequence of intraregional and interregional activity during emotion processing. Oscillatory activity within trials may offer insight into neural mechanisms involved in this process. MEG was measured in 24 subjects during passive viewing of neutral and unpleasant pictures and emotion regulation by cognitive reappraisal. Regulation prompted more gamma increase and alpha decrease to picture onset than did passive viewing. Source analysis confirmed differential modulation of these power changes in occipitoparietal regions during passive viewing and larger power changes in prefrontal regions during regulation. Local coupling of alpha phase to gamma amplitude within a medial prefrontal region and long‐range synchrony of medial prefrontal, occipital, and temporoparietal regions index mechanisms of prefrontal top‐down contribution to emotion processing.
Impact of Knowledge Type and Strategic Orientation on New Product Creativity and Advantage in High‐Technology Firms
Authors: Kim Namwoon , Im Subin , Slater Stanley F. 
Published: October 2012

As different types of knowledge may have different effects on new product positional advantage, knowledge portfolio management in concert with the firm's strategic orientation is indispensable for new product success. However, previous research has not dealt with the knowledge resources and strategic implementations that affect new product development (NPD). To fill in this gap, the current study focuses on two dimensions of knowledge type (knowledge complexity and knowledge tacitness) and two forms of strategic orientation (technological orientation and market orientation), which influence the positional advantages as determinants of NPD outcomes. Drawing on the resource‐based view, this study explains how these knowledge and strategic orientation variables influence new product creativity, which comprised the novel and meaningful characteristics of new products. Finally, it demonstrates how these two dimensions of new product creativity differentially provide product advantages in terms of customer satisfaction and product differentiation, which lead to superior new product performance. A conceptual framework is developed and the related hypotheses provided to incorporate the study variables and to test their relationships in a sample based on data collected from both marketing and project managers from 100 U.S. high‐technology firms.The model estimation results from path analysis demonstrate that reliance on knowledge of high tacitness harms meaningfulness, while reliance on knowledge of high complexity increases both novelty and meaningfulness of new product. As expected, market orientation and technological orientation improve the meaningfulness and novelty dimensions of the new product, respectively. New product novelty and meaningfulness are shown to enhance new product advantage in terms of product differentiation and customer satisfaction, both of which contribute to new product performance. It is also found that the combinative use of market orientation and knowledge complexity, and technological orientation and knowledge tacitness positively influence both the novelty and meaningfulness of new products. This study, using the product‐level analysis, contributes to the literature by clarifying how the firm's different knowledge properties and strategic orientations both play a role as a source of new product creativity, and how new product creativity, as a valuable and rare resource, enhances new product advantage. The study results suggest that project/product managers should increase the transferability and codifiability of unstructured knowledge by stimulating intraorganizational knowledge sharing among NPD team members, and that they should promote both technology and market‐orientated practices to fully develop creativity of new products.