bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The differential expression of mgl mRNA by Porphyromonas gingivalis affects the production of methyl mercaptan
Authors: Ouhara K , Iwasaki Y , Kajiya M , Savitri IJ , Kitagawa M , Tokunaga N , Shintani T , Ogawa I , Hino T , Fujita T , Shiba H , Kurihara H 
Published: February 2015

ObjectiveA large number of individuals have halitosis. The total amount of volatile sulfur compounds, which are the main cause of halitosis, has been correlated with periodontitis following bacterial infection. In this study, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), a major periodontopathogenic bacterium, was isolated from patients with halitosis by the amplification of 16S rRNA, and the ability of isolated Pg to produce methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) was determined to clarify the relationship between halitosis and Pg infection.Materials and MethodsCH3SH concentrations were measured in patients using Oral Chroma. The production of CH3SH by Pg standard and clinical strains was also measured in vitro. Real‐time PCR was performed to compare the expression of mgl mRNA (which encoded l‐methionine‐a‐deamino‐g‐mercaptomethane‐lyase) among the Pg strains. The production of CH3SH and the expression of mgl mRNA were also determined to assess the effects of oriental medicine.ResultsThe production of CH3SH and the expression of mgl mRNA strongly correlated with each other in the presence of l‐methionine. The expression of mgl mRNA by Pg W83 was strongly inhibited by magnoliaceae.ConclusionThe production of CH3SH was correlated with the expression of mgl. Furthermore, the oriental medicine, magnoliaceae, may represent a potential treatment for halitosis.
Learning from clinical medicine to improve the use of surrogates in ecology
Authors: Barton Philip S. , Pierson Jennifer C. , Westgate Martin J. , Lane Peter W. , Lindenmayer David B. 
Published: February 2015

Surrogates are used widely in ecology to detect or monitor changes in the environment that are too difficult or costly to assess directly. Yet most work on surrogates to date has been correlative, with little work on their predictive capacity or the circumstances under which they work. Our suggestion is to revisit and learn from research in the clinical medical sciences, including the causal statistical frameworks available to validate relationships between treatments, surrogate variables, and the outcome of interest. We adapt this medical thinking to ecology by providing a new framework that involves specification of the surrogate model, statistical validation, and subsequent evaluation in a range of spatial and temporal contexts. An inter‐disciplinary surrogate concept will allow for a more rigorous approach to validating and evaluating proxy variables, thus advancing the selection and application of surrogates in ecology.SynthesisWe draw together ideas from the medical sciences to define an explicit surrogate concept that has not previously been used in ecology. We present a new framework for specifying surrogate models involving validation using a causal framework, and subsequent re‐evaluation in different spatial and temporal contexts – an approach closely aligned with that used by researchers in the clinical medical sciences. This rigorous method can advance the science underpinning the application of surrogates in ecology by shifting the focus away from correlative understanding to one that focuses instead on causation and prediction. An improved use of surrogates is imperative if we are to meet the challenge of properly measuring and understanding the multifarious and complex problems in contemporary ecology.
Differences in vulnerability to traumatic stress among patients with psychiatric disorders: One‐year follow‐up study after the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Inoue Kana , Inoue Koju , Suda Shiro , Shioda Katsutoshi , Kobayashi Toshiyuki , Kishi Koichiro , Kato Satoshi 
Published: February 2015

AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate differences in vulnerability to traumatic stress and the 1‐year course of post‐traumatic stress symptoms among patients with pre‐existing psychiatric disorders after the Great East Japan Earthquake.MethodsThe Impact of Event Scale‐Revised (IES‐R) was used to assess post‐traumatic stress symptoms in 612 patients with schizophrenic (ICD‐10 F2; n = 163), mood (F3; n = 299), or neurotic disorders (F4; n = 150) at 1–4 months and again at 13–16 months after the disaster (retention rate: 68%).ResultsThe mean IES‐R total score for all diagnostic groups was 18.6 at index and 13.4 at follow up. The mean IES‐R total score for patients with neurotic disorders (22.5) was significantly higher than that of patients with mood disorders (18.1) and schizophrenic disorders (15.9). At follow up, these scores decreased for all groups and inter‐group differences were not observed.ConclusionsVulnerability to traumatic stress after a disaster was most severe in patients with neurotic disorders, followed by mood disorders, and, lastly, schizophrenic disorders. This difference among the three diagnostic groups was not found 1 year after the disaster.
Mixture Model Analysis of Partially Rank‐Ordered Set Samples: Age Groups of Fish from Length‐Frequency Data
Authors: Hatefi Armin , Jozani Mohammad Jafari , Ozturk Omer 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWe present a novel methodology for estimating the parameters of a finite mixture model (FMM) based on partially rank‐ordered set (PROS) sampling and use it in a fishery application. A PROS sampling design first selects a simple random sample of fish and creates partially rank‐ordered judgement subsets by dividing units into subsets of prespecified sizes. The final measurements are then obtained from these partially ordered judgement subsets. The traditional expectation–maximization algorithm is not directly applicable for these observations. We propose a suitable expectation–maximization algorithm to estimate the parameters of the FMMs based on PROS samples. We also study the problem of classification of the PROS sample into the components of the FMM. We show that the maximum likelihood estimators based on PROS samples perform substantially better than their simple random sample counterparts even with small samples. The results are used to classify a fish population using the length‐frequency data.
Cross‐Border Intellectual Property Rights: Contract Enforcement and Absorptive Capacity
Authors: Naghavi Alireza , Tsai Yingyi 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThis article studies the cross‐border protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) as an outcome of a contract obtained through a Nash bargaining process between an innovative North and an imitative South. The level of disclosure required in such contract is higher, the more capable is the South in copying if bargaining breaks down. This raises questions about the suitability of universal IPR standards through a single contract. The threat of a penalty in case of non‐compliance can, however, reduce the outside option of more advanced countries and make a stricter IPR regime enforceable by harmonizing their interests with relatively less developed nations.
The health system burden of chronic disease care: an estimation of provider costs of selected chronic diseases in Uganda
Authors: Settumba Stella Nalukwago , Sweeney Sedona , Seeley Janet , Biraro Samuel , Mutungi Gerald , Munderi Paula , Grosskurth Heiner , Vassall Anna 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the chronic disease services in Uganda: their level of utilisation, the total service costs and unit costs per visit.MethodsFull financial and economic cost data were collected from 12 facilities in two districts, from the provider's perspective. A combination of ingredients‐based and step‐down allocation costing approaches was used. The diseases under study were diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), epilepsy and HIV infection. Data were collected through a review of facility records, direct observation and structured interviews with health workers.ResultsProvision of chronic care services was concentrated at higher‐level facilities. Excluding drugs, the total costs for NCD care fell below 2% of total facility costs. Unit costs per visit varied widely, both across different levels of the health system, and between facilities of the same level. This variability was driven by differences in clinical and drug prescribing practices.ConclusionMost patients reported directly to higher‐level facilities, bypassing nearby peripheral facilities. NCD services in Uganda are underfunded particularly at peripheral facilities. There is a need to estimate the budget impact of improving NCD care and to standardise treatment guidelines.
Good clinical outcomes from a 7‐year holistic programme of fistula repair in Guinea
Authors: Delamou Alexandre , Diallo Moustapha , Beavogui Abdoul Habib , Delvaux Thérèse , Millimono Sita , Kourouma Mamady , Beattie Karen , Barone Mark , Barry Thierno Hamidou , Khogali Mohamed , Edginton Mary , Hinderaker Sven Gudmund , Ruminjo Joseph , Zhang Wei‐Hong , De Brouwere Vincent 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectivesFemale genital fistula remains a public health concern in developing countries. From January 2007 to September 2013, the Fistula Care project, managed by EngenderHealth in partnership with the Ministry of Health and supported by USAID, integrated fistula repair services in the maternity wards of general hospitals in Guinea. The objective of this article was to present and discuss the clinical outcomes of 7 years of work involving 2116 women repaired in three hospitals across the country.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study using data abstracted from medical records for fistula repairs conducted from 2007 to 2013. The study data were reviewed during the period April to August 2014.ResultsThe majority of the 2116 women who underwent surgical repair had vesicovaginal fistula (n = 2045, 97%) and 3% had rectovaginal fistula or a combination of both. Overall 1748 (83%) had a closed fistula and were continent of urine immediately after surgery. At discharge, 1795 women (85%) had a closed fistula and 1680 (79%) were dry, meaning they no longer leaked urine and/or faeces. One hundred and fifteen (5%) remained with residual incontinence despite fistula closure. Follow‐up at 3 months was completed by 1663 (79%) women of whom 1405 (84.5%) had their fistula closed and 80% were continent. Twenty‐one per cent were lost to follow‐up.ConclusionRoutine programmatic repair for obstetric fistula in low resources settings can yield good outcomes. However, more efforts are needed to address loss to follow‐up, sustain the results and prevent the occurrence and/or recurrence of fistula.
TCP transcription factors are critical for the coordinated regulation of ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE 1 expression in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Gao Jiong , Zhu Zheng , Dong Xianxin , Wang Xiaolei , Ren Guodong , Zhou Xin , Kuai Benke 
Published: February 2015

SummarySalicylic acid (SA) plays an important role in various aspects of plant development and responses to stresses. To elucidate the sophisticated regulatory mechanism of SA synthesis and signaling, we used a yeast one‐hybrid system to screen for regulators of ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE 1 (ICS1), a gene encoding the key enzyme in SA biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. A TCP family transcription factor AtTCP8 was initially identified as a candidate regulator of ICS1. The regulation of ICS1 by TCP proteins is supported by the presence of a typical TCP binding site in the ICS1 promoter. The binding of TCP8 to this site was confirmed by in vitro and in vivo assays. Expression patterns of TCP8 and its corresponding gene TCP9 largely overlapped with ICS1 under pathogen attack. A significant reduction in the expression of ICS1 during immune responses was observed in the tcp8 tcp9 double mutant. We also detected strong interactions between TCP8 and SAR deficient 1 (SARD1), WRKY family transcription factor 28 (WRKY28), NAC (NAM/ATAF1,ATAF2/CUC2) family transcription factor 019 (NAC019), as well as among TCP8, TCP9 and TCP20, suggesting a complex coordinated regulatory mechanism underlying ICS1 expression. Our results collectively demonstrate that TCP proteins are involved in the orchestrated regulation of ICS1 expression, with TCP8 and TCP9 being verified as major representatives.
Involvement ofOsPht1;4in phosphate acquisition and mobilization facilitates embryo development in rice
Authors: Zhang Fang , Sun Yafei , Pei Wenxia , Jain Ajay , Sun Rui , Cao Yue , Wu Xueneng , Jiang Tingting , Zhang Liang , Fan Xiaorong , Chen Aiqun , Shen Qirong , Xu Guohua , Sun Shubin 
Published: February 2015

SummaryPhosphate (Pi) transporters mediate acquisition and transportation ofPi within plants. Here, we investigated the functions ofOsPht1;4(OsPT4), one of the 13 members of thePht1 family in rice. Quantitative real‐timeRT‐PCRanalysis revealed strong expression ofOsPT4in roots and embryos, andOsPT4promoter analysis using reporter genes confirmed these findings. Analysis using rice protoplasts showed thatOsPT4 localized to the plasma membrane.OsPT4complemented a yeast mutant defective inPi uptake, and also facilitated increased accumulation of Pi inXenopusoocytes. Further,OsPT4genetically modified (GM) rice lines were generated by knockout/knockdown or over‐expression ofOsPT4.Pi concentrations in roots and shoots were significantly lower and higher in knockout/knockdown and over‐expressing plants, respectively, compared to wild‐type under various Pi regimes.33Pi uptake translocation assays corroborated the altered acquisition and mobilization ofPi inOsPT4GMplants. We also observed effects of altered expression levels ofOsPT4inGMplants on the concentration ofPi, the size of the embryo, and several attributes related to seed development. Overall, our results suggest thatOsPT4encodes a plasma membrane‐localizedPi transporter that facilitates acquisition and mobilization ofPi, and also plays an important role in development of the embryo in rice.
Cytokines and clinical predictors in distinguishing pulmonary transfusion reactions
Authors: Roubinian Nareg H. , Looney Mark R. , Kor Daryl J. , Lowell Clifford A. , Gajic Ognjen , Hubmayr Rolf D. , Gropper Michael A. , Koenigsberg Monique , Wilson Gregory A. , Matthay Michael A. , Toy Pearl , Murphy Edward L. ,   the TRALI Study Group
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUNDPulmonary transfusion reactions are important complications of blood transfusion, yet differentiating these clinical syndromes is diagnostically challenging. We hypothesized that biologic markers of inflammation could be used in conjunction with clinical predictors to distinguish transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion‐associated circulatory overload (TACO), and possible TRALI.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSIn a nested case‐control study performed at the University of California at San Francisco and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, we evaluated clinical data and blood samples drawn before and after transfusion in patients with TRALI (n = 70), possible TRALI (n = 48), TACO (n = 29), and controls (n = 147). Cytokines measured included granulocyte‐macrophage–colony‐stimulating factor, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, and tumor necrosis factor‐α. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics curve analyses were used to determine the accuracy of clinical predictors and laboratory markers in differentiating TACO, TRALI, and possible TRALI.RESULTSBefore and after transfusion, IL‐6 and IL‐8 were elevated in patients with TRALI and possible TRALI relative to controls, and IL‐10 was elevated in patients with TACO and possible TRALI relative to that of TRALI and controls. For all pulmonary transfusion reactions, the combination of clinical variables and cytokine measurements displayed optimal diagnostic performance, and the model comparing TACO and TRALI correctly classified 92% of cases relative to expert panel diagnoses.CONCLUSIONSBefore transfusion, there is evidence of systemic inflammation in patients who develop TRALI and possible TRALI but not TACO. A predictive model incorporating readily available clinical and cytokine data effectively differentiated transfusion‐related respiratory complications such as TRALI and TACO.
Observational study of corrected count increments after transfusion of platelets treated with riboflavin pathogen reduction technology in additive solutions
Authors: Drawz Sarah M. , Marschner Susanne , Yañez Martha , García de Coca Alfonso , Feys Hendrik B. , Deeren Dries , Coene José 
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUNDMirasol pathogen reduction technology (PRT) treatment inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in plasma products and platelets (PLTs) suspended in plasma and PLT additive solutions (PAS). Few clinical studies exist documenting transfusions with PAS. This study objective was to evaluate the count increments of PRT‐treated PAS‐C and PAS‐E buffy coat (BC) PLTs in routine use observational settings.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSPLT pools of five or six BCs were collected, processed, and suspended in PAS‐C or PAS‐E, respectively. Products were exposed to ultraviolet light in the presence of riboflavin and then transfused into 19 patients with hematologic diseases. Patients were monitored for PLT corrected count increment (CCI) at 1 and 24 hours and for any adverse events in the 72 hours after transfusion. Sterility monitoring was performed with a microbial detection system (BacT/ALERT, bioMérieux).RESULTSThe PAS‐E products had significantly higher PLT concentrations and counts than the PAS‐C products. The mean CCIs of per‐protocol (PP) units at 1 and 24 hours were 11,900 (n = 27) and 5500 (n = 30), respectively. Seventy‐eight percent of PP transfusions classify as successful with CCIs at 1 hour of higher than 7500, and 63% higher than 4500 at 24 hours. One patient was excluded from all analyses as she was refractory to Mirasol‐treated PLT transfusions and follow‐up untreated transfusion products. No adverse events were observed and no contaminated products were detected by BacT/ALERT.CONCLUSIONPRT‐treated BC PLTs in PAS‐C or PAS‐E demonstrate PLT transfusion success rates in hematology patients with thrombocytopenia that are comparable to previous studies examining PLTs stored in plasma.
Xenotransplantation from the perspective of moral theology
Authors: Sautermeister Jochen 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundCurrent medical research in the area of xenotransplantation is driven by the aim to save human lives and to improve the quality of life of those suffering from organ insufficiencies.MethodsThis study reflects the therapeutic intent of xenotransplantation from a theological–ethical perspective. Regarding statements of Christian communities, the analysis focuses mainly on catholic documents. This study takes into account the document on Prospects for Xenotransplantation by the Pontifical Academy for Life as well as a position paper on xenotransplantation released as a collaboration between the German Bishops Conference (Catholic) and the Evangelical Church in Germany (Protestant). Documents of other Christian denominations will be discussed in a separate paper. Aspects concerning the areas of medicine, social ethics and animal ethics are considered as well as biographical, psychosocial, culture‐bound and ideological preconditions of acceptability. These aspects also include consequences for the construction of personal identity.Results and ConclusionWith regard to an anthropocentrism that is based theologically and relationally, xenotransplantation—in general—can be viewed as a permissible form of therapy, given that the principles of biomedical ethics will be observed and that animals are treated with respect.
Union Electric Company’s Combustion Turbine Inlet Air Cooling Study
Authors: Henderson Charles R. , Ebeling Jerry A. , Smith Richard C. 
Published: February 2015

Union Electric Company is a summer peaking utility, experiencing peak electrical load demands during the hot summer months. Combustion turbine generators are often used to meet the summer peak demands. However, the generating capability of a combustion turbine decreases as the ambient air temperature increases. When system peak demands are at their highest levels on the hottest days of the year, the generating capacity of the combustion turbines are at their lowest values. This lost generating capacity can be recovered by cooling the air entering the combustion turbines.
Various combustion turbine inlet air cooling technologies were investigated for a General Electric Model 7B combustion turbine. The cooling technologies evaluated in the study were evaporative cooling, thermal energy storage (ice), on-line mechanical chiller, direct absorption chiller, steam absorption chiller with heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and once-through cooling using well water. Conceptual designs, performance estimates, installation and operating costs were developed for each alternative.
Model‐based versus specific dosimetry in diagnostic context: Comparison of three dosimetric approaches
Authors: Marcatili S. , Villoing D. , Mauxion T. , McParland B. J. , Bardiès M. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:The dosimetric assessment of novel radiotracers represents a legal requirement in most countries. While the techniques for the computation of internal absorbed dose in a therapeutic context have made huge progresses in recent years, in a diagnostic scenario the absorbed dose is usually extracted from model‐based lookup tables, most often derived from International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) or Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) Committee models. The level of approximation introduced by these models may impact the resulting dosimetry. The aim of this work is to establish whether a more refined approach to dosimetry can be implemented in nuclear medicine diagnostics, by analyzing a specific case.Methods:The authors calculated absorbed doses to various organs in six healthy volunteers administered with flutemetamol (18F) injection. Each patient underwent from 8 to 10 whole body 3D PET/CT scans. This dataset was analyzed using a Monte Carlo (MC) application developed in‐house using the toolkit gate that is capable to take into account patient‐specific anatomy and radiotracer distribution at the voxel level. They compared the absorbed doses obtained with gate to those calculated with two commercially available software: olinda/exm and stratos implementing a dose voxel kernel convolution approach.Results:Absorbed doses calculated with gate were higher than those calculated with olinda. The average ratio between gate absorbed doses and olinda’s was 1.38 ± 0.34 σ (from 0.93 to 2.23). The discrepancy was particularly high for the thyroid, with an average gate/olinda ratio of 1.97 ± 0.83 σ for the six patients. Differences between stratos and gate were found to be higher. The average ratio between gate and stratos absorbed doses was 2.51 ± 1.21 σ (from 1.09 to 6.06).Conclusions:This study demonstrates how the choice of the absorbed dose calculation algorithm may introduce a bias when gamma radiations are of importance, as is the case in nuclear medicine diagnostics.