bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breed Distribution of SOD1 Alleles Previously Associated with Canine Degenerative Myelopathy
Authors: Zeng R. , Coates J.R. , Johnson G.C. , Hansen L. , Awano T. , Kolicheski A. , Ivansson E. , Perloski M. , Lindblad‐Toh K. , O'Brien D.P. , Guo J. , Katz M.L. , Johnson G.S. 
Published: February 2014

BackgroundPrevious reports associated 2 mutant SOD1 alleles (SOD1:c.118A and SOD1:c.52T) with degenerative myelopathy in 6 canine breeds. The distribution of these alleles in other breeds has not been reported.ObjectiveTo describe the distribution of SOD1:c.118A and SOD1:c.52T in 222 breeds.AnimalsDNA from 33,747 dogs was genotyped at SOD1:c.118, SOD1:c.52, or both. Spinal cord sections from 249 of these dogs were examined.MethodsRetrospective analysis of 35,359 previously determined genotypes at SOD1:c.118G>A or SOD1:c.52A>T and prospective survey to update the clinical status of a subset of dogs from which samples were obtained with a relatively low ascertainment bias.ResultsThe SOD1:c.118A allele was found in cross‐bred dogs and in 124 different canine breeds whereas the SOD1:c.52T allele was only found in Bernese Mountain Dogs. Most of the dogs with histopathologically confirmed degenerative myelopathy were SOD1:c.118A homozygotes, but 8 dogs with histopathologically confirmed degenerative myelopathy were SOD1:c.118A/G heterozygotes and had no other sequence variants in their SOD1 amino acid coding regions. The updated clinical conditions of dogs from which samples were obtained with a relatively low ascertainment bias suggest that SOD1:c.118A homozygotes are at a much higher risk of developing degenerative myelopathy than are SOD1:c.118A/G heterozygotes.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceWe conclude that the SOD1:c.118A allele is widespread and common among privately owned dogs whereas the SOD1:c.52T allele is rare and appears to be limited to Bernese Mountain Dogs. We also conclude that breeding to avoid the production of SOD1:c.118A homozygotes is a rational strategy.
A New Look at the Public Wage Premium in Italy: The Role of Schooling Endogeneity
Authors: Ghinetti Paolo 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis paper uses a sample of male workers to estimate public and private wage structures and the public wage premium for Italy. Results from a model with endogenous sector and schooling suggest that public employees have on average lower unobserved wage potentials in both sectors than private employees, but work in the sector where they benefit from a comparative wage advantage. Schooling is positively correlated with wages in both sectors, and controlling for that is crucial to get more reliable estimates and predictions. The associated average unconditional public wage premium is 12 per cent. The net premium is 9 per cent, but not statistically significant.
A comparison of three infant skinfold reference standards: Tanner–Whitehouse, Cambridge Infant Growth Study, and WHO Child Growth Standards
Authors: Miller Elizabeth M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractAs researchers increasingly focus on early infancy as a critical period of development, there is a greater need for methodological tools that can address all aspects of infant growth. Infant skinfold measures, in particular, are measurements in need of reliable reference standards that encompass all ages of infants and provide an accurate assessment of the relative fatness of a population. This report evaluates three published reference standards for infant skinfold measurements: Tanner–Whitehouse, Cambridge Infant Growth Study, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards. To assess these standards, triceps skinfolds from a population of rural Kenyan infants (n = 250) and triceps skinfolds and subscapular skinfolds from infants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002 (NHANES; n = 1197) were calculated as z‐scores from the lambda‐mu‐sigma curves provided by each reference population. The Tanner–Whitehouse standards represented both the Kenyan and US populations as lean, while the Cambridge standards represented both populations as overfat. The distribution of z‐scores based on the WHO standards fell in the middle, but excluded infants from both populations who were below the age of 3 months. Based on these results, the WHO reference standard is the best skinfold reference standard for infants over the age of 3 months. For populations with infants of all ages, the Tanner–Whitehouse standards are recommended, despite representing both study populations as underfat. Ideally, the WHO will extend their reference standard to include infants between the ages of 0 and 3 months.
Effectiveness of milk whey protein‐based ready‐to‐use therapeutic food in treatment of severe acute malnutrition in Malawian under‐5 children: a randomised, double‐blind, controlled non‐inferiority clinical trial
Authors: Bahwere Paluku , Banda Theresa , Sadler Kate , Nyirenda Gertrude , Owino Victor , Shaba Bina , Dibari Filippo , Collins Steve 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe cost of ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (RUTF) used in community‐based management of acute malnutrition has been a major obstacle to the scale up of this important child survival strategy. The current standard recipe for RUTF [peanut‐based RUTF (P‐RUTF)] is made from peanut paste, milk powder, oil, sugar, and minerals and vitamins. Milk powder forms about 30% of the ingredients and may represent over half the cost of the final product. The quality of whey protein concentrates 34% (WPC34) is similar to that of dried skimmed milk (DSM) used in the standard recipe and can be 25–33% cheaper. This blinded, parallel group, randomised, controlled non‐inferiority clinical trial tested the effectiveness in treating severe acute malnutrition (SAM) of a new RUTF formulation WPC‐RUTF in which WPC34 was used to replace DSM. Average weight gain (non‐inferiority margin Δ = −1.2 g kg−1 day−1) and recovery rate (Δ = −10%) were the primary outcomes, and length of stay (LOS) was the secondary outcome (Δ = +14 days). Both per‐protocol (PP) and intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analyses showed that WPC‐RUTF was not inferior to P‐RUTF for recovery rate [difference and its 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.5% (95% CI –2.7, 3.7) in PP analysis and 0.6% (95% CI –5.2, 6.3) in ITT analysis] for average weight gain [0.2 (−0.5; 0.9) for both analyses] and LOS [−1.6 days (95% CI, −4.6, 1.4 days) in PP analysis and −1.9 days (95% CI, −4.6, 0.8 days) for ITT analysis]. In conclusion, whey protein‐based RUTF is an effective cheaper alternative to the standard milk‐based RUTF for the treatment of SAM.
A genetic approach to study H2O2 scavenging in fission yeast – distinct roles of peroxiredoxin and catalase
Authors: Paulo Esther , García‐Santamarina Sarela , Calvo Isabel A. , Carmona Mercè , Boronat Susanna , Domènech Alba , Ayté José , Hidalgo Elena 
Published: February 2014

SummaryThe main peroxiredoxin in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Tpx1, is important to sustain aerobic growth, and cells lacking this protein are only able to grow on solid plates under anaerobic conditions. We have found that deletion of the gene coding for thioredoxin reductase, trr1, is a suppressor of the sensitivity to aerobic growth of Δtpx1 cells, so that cells lacking both proteins are able to grow on solid plates in the presence of oxygen. We have investigated this suppression effect, and determined that it depends on the presence of catalase, which is constitutively expressed in Δtrr1 cells in a transcription factor Pap1‐dependent manner. A complete characterization of the repertoire of hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities in fission yeast suggests that Tpx1 is the only enzyme with sufficient sensitivity for peroxides and cellular abundance as to control the low levels produced during aerobic growth, catalase being the next barrier of detoxification when the steady‐state levels of peroxides are increased in Δtpx1 cells. Gpx1, the only glutathione peroxidase encoded by the S. pombe genome, only has a minor secondary role when extracellular peroxides are added. Our study proposes non‐overlapping roles for the different hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities of this eukaryotic organism.
Sequence diversity in the large subunit of RNA polymerase I contributes to Mefenoxam insensitivity in Phytophthora infestans
Authors: Randall Eva , Young Vanessa , Sierotzki Helge , Scalliet Gabriel , Birch Paul R. J. , Cooke David E. L. , Csukai Michael , Whisson Stephen C. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryPhenylamide fungicides have been widely used for the control of oomycete‐incited plant diseases for over 30 years. Insensitivity to this chemical class of fungicide was recorded early in its usage history, but the precise protein(s) conditioning insensitivity has proven difficult to determine. To determine the genetic basis of insensitivity and to inform strategies for the cloning of the gene(s) responsible, genetic crosses were established between Mefenoxam sensitive and intermediate insensitive isolates of Phytophthora infestans, the potato late blight pathogen. F1 progeny showed the expected semi‐dominant phenotypes for Mefenoxam insensitivity and suggested the involvement of multiple loci, complicating the positional cloning of the gene(s) conditioning insensitivity to Mefenoxam. Instead, a candidate gene strategy was used, based on previous observations that the primary effect of phenylamide compounds is to inhibit ribosomal RNA synthesis. The subunits of RNA polymerase I (RNApolI) were sequenced from sensitive and insensitive isolates and F1 progeny. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) specific to insensitive field isolates were identified in the gene encoding the large subunit of RNApolI. In a survey of field isolates, SNP T1145A (Y382F) showed an 86% association with Mefenoxam insensitivity. Isolates not showing this association belonged predominantly to one P. infestans genotype. The transfer of the ‘insensitive’ allele of RPA190 to a sensitive isolate yielded transgenic lines that were insensitive to Mefenoxam. These results demonstrate that sequence variation in RPA190 contributes to insensitivity to Mefenoxam in P. infestans.
Motility response to colonic distention is increased in postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI‐IBS)
Authors: Kanazawa M. , Palsson O. S. , van Tilburg M. A. L. , Gangarosa L. M. , Fukudo S. , Whitehead W. E. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundAcute intestinal infection leads to persistent intestinal smooth muscle hypercontractility and pain hypersensitivity after resolution of the infection in animal models. We investigated whether postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI‐IBS) is associated with abnormalities in phasic contractions of the colon, smooth muscle tone, and pain sensitivity compared to non‐PI‐IBS (NI‐IBS) or healthy controls (HC).MethodsTwo hundred and eighteen Rome III‐positive IBS patients and 43 HC participated. IBS patients were designated PI‐IBS, if their IBS symptoms began following an episode of gastroenteritis characterized by two or more of: fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Pain threshold to phasic distentions of the descending colon was assessed using a barostat. Colonic motility was assessed with the barostat bag minimally inflated to the individual operating pressure (IOP), at 20 mmHg above the IOP, and following a test meal. IBS symptom severity and psychological symptoms were assessed by the IBS Severity Scale (IBS‐SS) and the Brief Symptom Inventory‐18 (BSI‐18).Key ResultsTwenty two (10.1%) met criteria for PI‐IBS. Both IBS and HC groups showed a significant increase in motility index during intraluminal distention and following meals. The magnitude of the response to distention above (orad to) the balloon was significantly greater in PI‐IBS compared with NI‐IBS (p < 0.05) or HC (p < 0.01). Differences between PI‐IBS and NI‐IBS were not significant for IBS symptom severity, pain threshold, barostat bag volumes, or any psychological score on the BSI‐18.Conclusions & InferencesPatients with PI‐IBS have greater colonic hypercontractility than NI‐IBS. We speculate that sustained mild mucosal inflammation may cause this colonic irritability.
Impairment on theory of mind and empathy in patients with stroke
Authors: Yeh Zai‐Ting , Tsai Chung‐Fen 
Published: February 2014

AimsImpaired social function has been described in patients following stroke. The present study was designed to explore the degree of impairment in the ability to infer mental states in others, or cognitive and affective theory of mind, and empathy, in patients with stroke.MethodA total of 34 patients with stroke were compared to 40 control subjects on tasks testing verbal and non‐verbal theory of mind and empathy.ResultsResults indicated that patients with stroke were significantly impaired in both cognitive and affective theory of mind, even controlling for basic cognitive function and emotional processing. The patients with right stroke had poorer performance than those with left stroke on the cognitive component of non‐verbal theory of mind. On the subscale of cognitive empathy, the right stroke group had poorer performance on perspective‐taking than the control group.ConclusionThe right hemisphere may play an important role in decoding non‐verbal cues to infer others' minds as well as the processing of empathy, especially the ability of perspective‐taking.
Reducing the stigma of depression through neurobiology‐based psychoeducation: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Han Der‐Yan , Chen Sue‐Huei 
Published: February 2014

AimsAttribution theory claims that people who are stigmatized experience more negative emotional and behavioral reactions from others when they are thought to be responsible for their problems. Accordingly, this study proposed a neurobiology‐based psychoeducational intervention, which attempted to reduce people's blameworthy attitudes toward and social distance from depressed individuals.MethodsOne hundred and thirty‐two college students were randomly assigned to an experimental and control group. Participants in the experimental group received a 30‐min lecture on neurobiology‐based psychoeducation for depressive disorders, and were asked to fill out questionnaires before and 2 weeks after the intervention. The control group, with no intervention, also filled out the same questionnaires before and 2 weeks after the experiment. The main contents of the neurobiology‐based psychoeducation concerned the neurotransmission processes and biological mechanisms of depression, in order to emphasize the biological attribution of depression.ResultsAn ancova indicated that the neurobiology‐based psychoeducational intervention significantly elevated the biological attribution of depression and reduced the social distance from depressed individuals. Psychological blameworthy attitudes toward depression, however, did not significantly change.ConclusionsThrough a brief psychoeducation program about depression, knowledge of neuroscience could lead to positive benefits. Public awareness that depression can be effectively prevented and treated may be a way in which people can accept depressed individuals. Further studies are needed to certify the mechanisms of the effect of neurobiology‐based psychoeducation.
REER Imbalances and Macroeconomic Adjustments in the Proposed West African Monetary Union
Authors: Asongu Simplice 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWith the spectre of the euro crisis hunting embryonic monetary unions, we use a dynamic model of a small open economy to analyse real effective exchange rate (REER) imbalances and examine whether the movements in the aggregate real exchange rates are consistent with the underlying macroeconomic fundamentals in the proposed West African Monetary Union (WAMU). Using both country‐oriented and WAMU panel‐based specifications, we show that the long‐run behaviour of the REERs can be explained by fluctuations in the terms of trade, productivity, investment, debt and openness. While there is still significant evidence of cross‐country differences in the relationship between underlying macroeconomic fundamentals and corresponding REERs, the embryonic WAMU has a stable error correction mechanism, with four of the five cointegration relations having signs that are consistent with the predictions from economic theory. Policy implications are discussed, and the conclusions of the analysis are a valuable contribution to the scholarly and policy debate over whether the creation of a sustainable monetary union should precede convergence in macroeconomic fundamentals that determine REER adjustments.
Trained Immunity or Tolerance: Opposing Functional Programs Induced in Human Monocytes after Engagement of Various Pattern Recognition Receptors
Authors: Ifrim Daniela C. , Quintin Jessica , Joosten Leo A. B. , Jacobs Cor , Jansen Trees , Jacobs Liesbeth , Gow Neil A. R. , Williams David L. , van der Meer Jos W. M. , Netea Mihai G. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTUpon priming withCandida albicansor with the fungal cell wall component β-glucan, monocytes respond with an increased cytokine production upon restimulation, a phenomenon termed “trained immunity.” In contrast, the prestimulation of monocytes with lipopolysaccharide has long been known to induce tolerance. Because the vast majority of commensal microorganisms belong to bacterial or viral phyla, we sought to systematically investigate the functional reprogramming of monocytes induced by the stimulation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) with various bacterial or viral ligands. Monocytes were functionally programmed for either enhanced (training) or decreased (tolerance) cytokine production, depending on the type and concentration of ligand they encountered. The functional reprogramming of monocytes was also associated with cell shape, granulocity, and cell surface marker modifications. The training effect required p38- and Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK)-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, with specific signaling patterns directing the functional fate of the cell. The long-term effects on the function of monocytes were mediated by epigenetic events, with both histone methylation and acetylation inhibitors blocking the training effects. In conclusion, our experiments identify the ability of monocytes to acquire adaptive characteristics after prior activation with a wide variety of ligands. Trained immunity and tolerance are two distinct and opposing functional programs induced by the specific microbial ligands engaging the monocytes.
Evaluation of Gamma Interferon Immune Response Elicited by the Newly Constructed PstS-1(285-374):CFP10 Fusion Protein To Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
Authors: Araujo Leonardo Silva de , Mello Fernanda Carvalho de Queiroz , da Silva Nidai de Bárbara Moreira , Leung Janaina Aparecida Medeiros , Machado Silvia Maria Almeida , Sardella Isabela Gama , Maciel Renata de Moraes , Saad Maria Helena Féres 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT

The PstS1 antigen is highly immunogenic, principally when combined with CFP10 during both latent and active TB infection. In the present study, a selected
pstS1
gene fragment was cloned, fused with CFP10, and expressed in
Escherichia coli
. The product [PstS-1(285-374):CFP10] was compared to the recombinant fused RD1 (region of deletion 1) protein (ESAT-6:CFP10) in detecting
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection in 108 recent contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases, considering a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) to be the baseline. The release of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in 22-h whole-blood and 5-day lymphocyte stimulation assays primed with each antigen was determined. All contacts were clinically followed for up to 1 year, and 87% of the tuberculin skin test-positive (TST
positive
) patients accepted preventative treatment. Concerning the IFN-γ response to PstS-1(285-374):CFP10 in the 22-h and 5-day assays, a slight increase in contact-TST
positive
detection was observed (23/54 and 26/54) compared to the level seen with the RD1 protein (18/54 and 24/54) whereas in the TST
negative
group, similarly lower numbers (≤5/48) of responders were achieved for both antigens, except for RD1 in the 5-day assay (8/48). By combining the IFN-γ responders to both antigens in the 5-day assays, slightly higher increases in positivity were found in the TST
positive
(32/54) and TST
negative
(10/48) groups. Two of 12 untreated TST
positive
contacts progressed to active TB and were concordantly positive in all assays, except for one contact who lacked positivity in the RD1 5-day assay. We demonstrated for the first time that PstS-1(285-374):CFP10 slightly increased contact positivity and detection of active disease progression, suggesting its potential application as a TB infection marker.
Molecular Epidemiology of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus: Evidence for Geographically Related Variant Genotypes
Authors: Martel-Jantin Claire , Filippone Claudia , Tortevoye Patricia , Afonso Philippe V. , Betsem Edouard , Descorps-Declere Stéphane , Nicol Jérôme T. J. , Touzé Antoine , Coursaget Pierre , Crouzat Maryse , Berthet Nicolas , Cassar Olivier , Gessain Antoine 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is linked to a cutaneous cancer mainly occurring in Caucasians. DNA from skin swabs of 255 adults, originating from the 5 continents, were subjected to MCPyV PCRs. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate the existence of 5 major geographically related MCPyV genotypes (Europe/North America, Africa [sub-Saharan], Oceania, South America, and Asia/Japan).
Multilocus Microsatellite Genotyping Array for Investigation of Genetic Epidemiology of Pneumocystis jirovecii
Authors: Parobek Christian M. , Jiang Linda Y. , Patel Jaymin C. , Alvarez-Martínez Miriam J. , Miro Jose M. , Worodria William , Andama Alfred , Fong Serena , Huang Laurence , Meshnick Steven R. , Taylor Steve M. , Juliano Jonathan J. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT

Pneumocystis jirovecii
is a symbiotic respiratory fungus that causes pneumonia (PcP) in immunosuppressed patients. Because
P. jirovecii
cannot be reliably cultured
in vitro
, it has proven difficult to study and gaps in our understanding of the organism persist. The release of a draft genome for the organism opens the door for the development of new genotyping approaches for studying its molecular epidemiology and global population structure. We identified and validated 8 putatively neutral microsatellite markers and 1 microsatellite marker linked to the dihydropteroate synthase gene (
dhps
), the enzymatic target of sulfa drugs used for PcP prevention and treatment. Using these tools, we analyzed
P. jirovecii
isolates from HIV-infected patients from three geographically distant populations: Uganda, the United States, and Spain. Among the 8 neutral markers, we observed high levels of allelic heterozygosity (average H
e
, 0.586 to 0.842). Consistent with past reports, we observed limited global population structuring, with only the Ugandan isolates showing minor differentiation from the other two populations. In Ugandan isolates that harbored mutations in
dhps
, the microsatellite locus linked to
dhps
demonstrated a depressed H
e
, consistent with positive directional selection for sulfa resistance mutations. Using a subset of these microsatellites, analyses of individual and paired samples from infections in San Francisco, CA, showed reliable typeability within a single infection and high discriminatory power between infections. These features suggest that this novel microsatellite typing approach will be an effective tool for molecular-epidemiological investigations into
P. jirovecii
population structure, transmission, and drug resistance.