bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increasing heterosexual transmission of HIV‐1 subtype C in Inland Central Western Brazil
Authors: Alcântara Keila Correia , Reis Monica Nogueira Guarda , Cardoso Ludimila Paula Vaz , Bello Gonzalo , Stefani Mariane Martins Araújo 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe molecular epidemiology of HIV‐1 in Brazil is complex and heterogeneous because several subtypes co‐circulate with some important regional differences. This study evaluated HIV‐1 subtypes amongst pregnant women living in the metropolitan area and in the interior cities from central western Brazil. From June 2008 to June 2010, 86.9% of confirmed cases of HIV‐1 infection amongst pregnant women (172 out of 198 cases) were recruited in Goiania/Goias state. The HIV‐1 pol gene was sequenced after nested‐PCR. HIV‐1 subtypes were assigned by REGA, phylogenetic, and bootscan analyses. The median age of participants was 26 years (15–41 years range); 58.7% of participants were diagnosed during prenatal care and 51.7% of participants came from >50 interior cities within Goias state. Amongst the 131 HIV‐1 pol sequences, 64.9% were subtype B, 13.0% were BF1 recombinant, 11.4% were subtype C, 7.6% were subtype F1, and 2.3% were BC recombinant. According to the HIV‐1 diagnosis date (1994–2010), a significant increase in subtype C and a decrease of BF1 mosaics were observed over time. All subtype C patients lived in interior cities where the highest prevalence of subtype C outside southern Brazil was observed (18.4%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple independent introductions of the Brazilian subtype C clade from the southern/southeastern regions of Brazil. The HIV‐1 epidemic in women from central western Brazil infected by the heterosexual route is characterized by an unexpectedly high prevalence of subtype C viruses highly related to those circulating in southern/southeastern Brazil. These findings highlight the importance of molecular surveillance programs outside large metropolitan regions in Brazil. J. Med. Virol. 85:396–404, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
SOX2 expression is upregulated in adult spinal cord after contusion injury in both oligodendrocyte lineage and ependymal cells
Authors: Lee Hyun Joon , Wu Junfang , Chung Jumi , Wrathall Jean R. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe upregulation of genes normally associated with development may occur in the adult after spinal cord injury (SCI). To test this, we performed real‐time RT‐PCR array analysis of mouse spinal cord mRNAs comparing embryonic day (E)14.5 spinal cord with intact adult and adult cord 1 week after a clinically relevant standardized contusion SCI. We found significantly increased expression of a large number of neural development‐ and stem cell‐associated genes after SCI. These included Sox2 (sex determining region Y‐box 2), a transcription factor that regulates self‐renewal and potency of embryonic neural stem cells and is one of only a few key factors needed to induce pluripotency. In adult spinal cord of Sox2‐EGFP mice, Sox2‐EGFP was found mainly in the ependymal cells of the central canal. After SCI, both mRNA and protein levels of Sox2 were significantly increased at and near the injury site. By 1 day, Sox2 was upregulated in NG2+ oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) in the spared white matter. By 3 days, Sox2‐EGFP ependymal cells had increased proliferation and begun to form multiple layers and clusters of cells in the central lesion zone of the cord. Expression of Sox2 by NG2+ cells had declined by 1 week, but increased numbers of other Sox2‐expressing cells persisted for at least 4 weeks after SCI in both mouse and rat models. Thus, SCI upregulates many genes associated with development and neural stem cells, including the key transcription factor Sox2, which is expressed in a pool of cells that persists for weeks after SCI. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward underlying reasons for rice starches having low viscosity and high amylose: physiochemical and structural characteristics
Authors: Zhang Changquan , Zhu Lijia , Shao Ke , Gu Minghong , Liu Qiaoquan 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBACKGROUNDTo understand the reasons for low starch viscosity in rice variety Q11 (Qing‐lu‐zhan 11), the physiochemical and structural characteristics of flours and starches were investigated and compared with another rice cultivar with similar high amylose but normal viscosity.RESULTSOur results showed that residual α‐amylase activity and proteins were not the major causes of low starch viscosity in Q11 rice. Homogeneous small granule size and lower swelling power of high‐amylose Q11 rice starches was one reason for the low swelling volume and thus the low pasting property. Q11 starch paste contained some partially swollen granules, which could increase the fluidity and thus cause the low paste viscosity. The small gelatinization enthalpy might be due to the lower crystallinity in Q11 starches. Moreover, Q11 starches consisted of more amylose with short chains, but also amylopectin with fewer short chains (DP 11–21) and more long chains (DP 22–54), which might be other important factors contributing to the low viscosity of Q11 starches.ConclusionThese data can add to our understanding of the relationships between low viscosity and physiochemical properties, and will be helpful in elucidating the underlying mechanism of formation of low starch viscosity, as well as applications for low‐viscosity rice starches. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Xylanase supplementation improves the nutritive value of diets containing high levels of sorghum distillers' dried grains with solubles for broiler chickens
Authors: Barekatain Mohammad Reza , Choct Mingan , Iji Paul A 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBACKGROUNDAn experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sorghum distillers' dried grains with solubles (sDDGS) and xylanase supplementation in broiler chicken diets. A total of 432 Cobb‐500 day‐old male broiler chicks were used in a 4 × 2 factorial design (0, 100, 200 or 300 g kg−1 sDDGS with or without xylanase supplementation). Each treatment was replicated six times with nine birds per replicate in a 35 day study.RESULTSFeed intake was increased (P < 0.001) throughout the study with the inclusion of dietary sDDGS. Body weight gain (BWG) was unaffected except for the last 2 weeks of study, when birds that received 200 and 300 g kg−1 sDDGS had higher (P < 0.001) BWG. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased (P < 0.05) as sDDGS in the diet rose to 100 g kg−1 during the starter phase and the whole period of study. Over the starter period, xylanase supplementation improved (P < 0.05) FCR, particularly for the highest inclusion of sDDGS. Protein digestibility deteriorated (P < 0.001) as sDDGS in the diet rose to 300 g kg−1. Xylanase reduced (P < 0.001) the concentration of xylose in the ileum of birds. The activities of sucrase and maltase in the jejunal mucosa were reduced when birds were offered 200 and 300 g kg−1 sDDGS. Incorporation of sDDGS increased (P < 0.01) the total short‐chain fatty acid concentration in the caeca.CONCLUSIONThe results showed that diets containing large amounts of sDDGS will benefit from xylanase supplementation, particularly in terms of FCR. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Glycogen as a Biodegradable Construction Nanomaterial for in vivo Use
Authors: Filippov Sergey K. , Sedlacek Ondrej , Bogomolova Anna , Vetrik Miroslav , Jirak Daniel , Kovar Jan , Kucka Jan , Bals Sara , Turner Stuart , Stepanek Petr , Hruby Martin 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIt is demonstrated that glycogen as a biodegradable and inexpensive material coming from renewable resources can be used as a carrier for the construction of in vivo imaging nanoagents. The model system considered is composed of glycogen modified with gadolinium and fluorescent labels. Systematic studies of properties of these nanocarriers by a variety of physical methods and results of in vivo tests of biodegradability are reported. This represents, to the authors' best knowledge, the first such use of glycogen. magnified image
Resilin‐Based Hybrid Hydrogels for Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering
Authors: McGann Christopher L. , Levenson Eric A. , Kiick Kristi L. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe outstanding elastomeric properties of natural resilin, an insect protein, have motivated the engineering of resilin‐like polypeptides (RLPs) as a potential material for cardiovascular tissue engineering. The RLPs, which incorporate biofunctional domains for cell‐matrix interactions, are cross‐linked into RLP–PEG hybrid hydrogels via a Michael‐type addition of cysteine residues on the RLP with vinyl sulfones of an end‐functionalized multi‐arm star PEG. Oscillatory rheology indicated the useful mechanical properties of these materials. Assessments of cell viability via confocal microscopy clearly show the successful encapsulation of human aortic adventitial fibroblasts in the three‐dimensional matrices and the adoption of a spread morphology following 7 days of culture.
Spiropyran Main‐Chain Conjugated Polymers
Authors: Sommer Michael , Komber Hartmut 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe first main‐chain conjugated copolymers based on alternating spiropyran (SP) and 9,9‐dioctylfluorene (F8) units synthesized via Suzuki polycondensation (SPC) are presented. The reaction conditions of SPC are optimized to obtain materials of type P(para‐SP‐F8) with appreciably high molecular weights up to Mw ≈ 100 kg mol−1. 13C NMR is used to identify the random orientation of the non‐symmetric SP unit in P(p‐SP‐F8). Ultrasound‐induced isomerization of P(p‐SP‐F8) to the corresponding merocyanine form P(p‐MC‐F8) yields a deep‐red solution. This isomerization reaction is followed by 1H NMR in solution using sonication, whereby the color increasingly changes to deep red. The possibility to incorporate multiple SP units into main‐chain polymers significantly broadens existing SP‐based polymeric architectures.
Diversity of symbioses between chemosynthetic bacteria and metazoans at theGuiness cold seep site (Gulf ofGuinea,WestAfrica)
Authors: Duperron Sébastien , Rodrigues Clara F. , Léger Nelly , Szafranski Kamil , Decker Carole , Olu Karine , Gaudron Sylvie M. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractFauna from deep‐sea cold seeps worldwide is dominated by chemosymbiotic metazoans. Recently, investigation of new sites in theGulf ofGuinea yielded numerous new species for which symbiosis was strongly suspected. In this study, symbioses are characterized in five seep‐specialist metazoans recently collected from theGuiness site located at ∼600 m depth. Four bivalve and one annelid species belonging to families previously documented to harbor chemosynthetic bacteria were investigated using bacterial marker gene sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and stable isotope analyses. Results support that all five species display chemosynthetic, sulfur‐oxidizing γ‐proteobacteria. Bacteria are abundant in the gills of bivalves, and in the trophosome of the siboglinid annelid. As observed for their relatives occurring at deeper sites, chemoautotrophy is a major source of carbon for animal nutrition. Although symbionts found in each host species are related to symbionts found in other metazoans from the same families, several incongruencies are observed among phylogenetic trees obtained from the different bacterial genes, suggesting a certain level of heterogeneity in symbiont strains present. Results provide new insights into the diversity, biogeography, and role of symbiotic bacteria in metazoans from theGulf ofGuinea, at a site located at an intermediate depth between the continental shelf and the deep sea.
Tongue muscle plasticity following hypoglossal nerve stimulation in aged rats
Authors: Connor Nadine P. , Russell John A. , Jackson Michelle A. , Kletzien Heidi , Wang Hao , Schaser Allison J. , Leverson Glen E. , Zealear David L. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIntroduction: Age‐related decreases in tongue muscle mass and strength have been reported. It may be possible to prevent age‐related tongue muscle changes using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Our hypothesis was that alterations in muscle contractile properties and myosin heavy chain composition would be found after NMES. Methods: Fifty‐four young, middle‐aged, and old 344/Brown Norway rats were included in this study. Twenty‐four rats underwent bilateral electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerves for 8 weeks and were compared with control or sham rats. Muscle contractile properties and myosin heavy chain (MHC) in the genioglossus (GG), styloglossus (SG), and hyoglossus (HG) muscles were examined. Results: Compared with unstimulated control rats, we found reduced muscle fatigue, increased contraction and half‐decay times, and increased twitch and tetanic tension. Increased type I MHC was found, except for in GG in old and middle‐aged rats. Conclusion: Transitions in tongue muscle contractile properties and phenotype were found after NMES. Muscle Nerve, 2013
Effect of gestational age on first trimester maternal serum prenatal screening correction factors for ethnicity and IVF conception
Authors: Cowans Nicholas J. , Spencer Kevin 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate gestational age effects of maternal ethnicity and in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy correction factors of first trimester trisomy 21 screening markers pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A) and free‐β human chorionic gonadotropin (free hCGβ) in a large dataset.MethodsData from 205 341 normal singleton pregnancies were retrieved, and PAPP‐A and free hCGβ concentrations were converted to multiples of the medians (MoMs) uncorrected for either maternal ethnicity or IVF pregnancy. Log10 transformed MoMs were plotted against gestational age in each group to examine gestational age effectsResultsSignificant gestational age effects were found for correction factors for PAPP‐A in Afro‐Caribbean, South Asian and East Asian, and for free hCGβ in Afro‐Caribbean and IVF pregnancy.ConclusionsCurrent single correction factors for PAPP‐A and free hCGβ based on maternal ethnicity and IVF pregnancy are inappropriate, and future screening algorithms need to take into account the change in effect of these factors with gestational age. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disease risk score as a confounder summary method: systematic review and recommendations
Authors: Tadrous Mina , Gagne Joshua J. , Stürmer Til , Cadarette Suzanne M. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTPurposeTo systematically examine trends and applications of the disease risk score (DRS) as a confounder summary method.MethodsWe completed a systematic search of MEDLINE and Web of Science® to identify all English language articles that applied DRS methods. We tabulated the number of publications by year and type (empirical application, methodological contribution, or review paper) and summarized methods used in empirical applications overall and by publication year (<2000, ≥2000).ResultsOf 714 unique articles identified, 97 examined DRS methods and 86 were empirical applications. We observed a bimodal distribution in the number of publications over time, with a peak 1979–1980, and resurgence since 2000. The majority of applications with methodological detail derived DRS using logistic regression (47%), used DRS as a categorical variable in regression (93%), and applied DRS in a non‐experimental cohort (47%) or case–control (42%) study. Few studies examined effect modification by outcome risk (23%).ConclusionUse of DRS methods has increased yet remains low. Comparative effectiveness research may benefit from more DRS applications, particularly to examine effect modification by outcome risk. Standardized terminology may facilitate identification, application, and comprehension of DRS methods. More research is needed to support the application of DRS methods, particularly in case–control studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors associated with spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions in Japan
Authors: Yamada Toru , Watanabe Yuka , Kusama Makiko , Sugiyama Yuichi , Ono Shunsuke 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTPurposeSpontaneous reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are currently the main source of pharmacovigilance activities in each country. The number of ADRs reported to the authority warns of safety risks to patients, but it also reflects the efficiency and limitations of the reporting system itself. This article explored how the accumulation of safety information, status in foreign countries (e.g., US approval), drug company attributes, and regulatory actions (e.g., early post‐marketing phase vigilance; EPPV) were associated with the numbers of spontaneously reported ADRs in Japan.MethodsAll serious ADRs for drugs for which the active ingredients or route of administration were approved in Japan from 2000 through 2005 were collected from the national database. The numbers of serious ADRs within the first 2 and 3 years after launch were analyzed using the negative binominal distribution model.ResultsThe launch lag and the presence of drugs with a similar mode of action were negatively associated with the ADR numbers, but the number of study subjects for the new drug application (NDA) showed no clear association. The number of sales representatives and the implementation of EPPV were positively associated with the ADR numbers.ConclusionThe accumulation of foreign post‐market evidence seemed to be more important for drug safety in Japan than was the amount of pre‐approval safety data. The positive impacts of sales representatives and EPPV suggested a critical role for drug companies in drug safety and also the importance of considering how best to collect information in local situations with unique regulatory requirements. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morphology and properties of polymer/organoclay nanocomposites based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) and sulfopolyester blends
Authors: Ghanbari Abbas , Heuzey Marie‐Claude , Carreau Pierre J , Ton‐That Minh‐Tan 
Published: November 2012

AbstractPoly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanocomposite films containing two different organoclays, Cloisite 30B® (C30B) and Nanomer I.28E® (N28E), were prepared by melt blending. In order to increase the gallery spacing of the clay particles, a sulfopolyester (PET ionomer or PETi) was added to the nanocomposites via a master‐batch approach. The morphological, thermal and gas barrier characteristics of the nanocomposite films were studied using several characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, rheometry and oxygen permeability. PET and PETi were found to form immiscible polymer blends and the nanoparticles were preferentially located in the PETi dispersed phase. A better dispersion of clay was obtained for nanocomposites containing N28E with PETi. On the contrary, for nanocomposites containing C30B and PETi, the number of tactoids increased and the clay distribution and dispersion became worse than for C30B alone. Overall, the best properties were obtained for the PET/C30B nanocomposite without PETi. Higher crystallinity was found for all nanocomposite films in comparison to that of neat PET. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Structure and interfacial properties of semipolar s‐plane (1‐101) InN grown on r‐plane sapphire
Authors: Dimitrakopulos G. P. , Lotsari A. , Kehagias Th. , Ajagunna A. , Georgakilas A. , Karakostas Th. , Komninou Ph. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBased on bicrystal symmetry and transmission electron microscopy observations, we elaborate on the coexistence of the two orientation variants of semipolar s‐plane ($1{\bar {1}}01$) InN epilayers grown on r‐plane sapphire by plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE). It is shown that variant coexistence is favored by a high order of coincident symmetry ensuring significant lattice continuity. The (0002) || ($01{\bar {1}}0$) low‐energy grain boundary was identified to principally delimit the two InN variants. Aside of the variant coexistence, the InN/sapphire interface was observed to comprise protrusions attributed to the InN buffer layer growth. Rapid thermal annealing was employed in order to improve the epilayer quality and it was found to induce defect reduction attributed to dislocation glide. However, the InN/sapphire interface was adversely affected by this process.
Combinatorial On‐Chip Study of Miniaturized 3D Porous Scaffolds Using a Patterned Superhydrophobic Platform
Authors: Oliveira Mariana B. , Salgado Christiane L. , Song Wenlong , Mano João F. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractOne of the main challenges in tissue engineering (TE) is to obtain optimized products, combining biomaterials, cells and soluble factors able to stimulate tissue regeneration. Multiple combinations may be considered by changing the conditions among these three factors. The unpredictable response of each combination requires time‐consuming tests. High‐throughput methodologies have been proposed to master such complex analyses in TE. Usually, these tests are performed using cells cultured into 2D biomaterials or by dispensing arrays of cell‐loaded hydrogels. For the first time an on‐chip combinatorial study of 3D miniaturized porous scaffolds is proposed, using a patterned bioinspired superhydrophobic platform. Arrays of biomaterials are dispensed and processed in situ as porous scaffolds with distinct composition, surface characteristics, porosity/pore size, and mechanical properties. On‐chip porosity, pore size, and mechanical properties of scaffolds based on chitosan and alginate are assessed by adapting microcomputed tomography equipment and a dynamic mechanical analyzer, as well as cell response after 24 hours. The interactions between cell types of two distinct origins—osteoblast‐like and fibroblasts—and the scaffolds modified with fibronectin are studied and validated by comparison with conventional destructive methods (dsDNA quantification and MTS tests). Physical and biological on‐chip analyses are coherent with the conventional measures, and conclusions about the most favorable conditions for each cell type are taken.
Co-Motif Discovery Identifies an Esrrb-Sox2-DNA Ternary Complex as a Mediator of Transcriptional Differences Between Mouse Embryonic and Epiblast Stem Cells
Authors: Hutchins Andrew Paul , Choo Siew Hua , Mistri Tapan Kumar , Rahmani Mehran , Woon Chow Thai , Keow Leng Ng Calista , Jauch Ralf , Robson Paul 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Transcription factors (TF) often bind in heterodimeric complexes with each TF recognizing a specific neighboring cis element in the regulatory region of the genome. Comprehension of this DNA motif grammar is opaque, yet recent developments have allowed the interrogation of genome-wide TF binding sites. We reasoned that within this data novel motif grammars could be identified that controlled distinct biological programs. For this purpose, we developed a novel motif-discovery tool termed fexcom that systematically interrogates ChIP-seq data to discover spatially constrained TF–TF composite motifs occurring over short DNA distances. We applied this to the extensive ChIP-seq data available from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In addition to the well-known and most prevalent sox-oct motif, we also discovered a novel constrained spacer motif for Esrrb and Sox2 with a gap of between 2 and 8 bps that Essrb and Sox2 cobind in a selective fashion. Through the use of knockdown experiments, we argue that the Esrrb-Sox2 complex is an arbiter of gene expression differences between ESCs and epiblast stem cells (EpiSC). A number of genes downregulated upon dual Esrrb/Sox2 knockdown (e.g., Klf4, Klf5, Jam2, Pecam1) are similarly downregulated in the ESC to EpiSC transition and contain the esrrb-sox motif. The prototypical Esrrb-Sox2 target gene, containing an esrrb-sox element conserved throughout eutherian and metatherian mammals, is Nr0b1. Through positive regulation of this transcriptional repressor, we argue the Esrrb-Sox2 complex promotes the ESC state through inhibition of the EpiSC transcriptional program and the same trio may also function to maintain trophoblast stem cells.