bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Centrifugation on Percoll density gradient enhances motility, membrane integrity andin vitrofertilizing ability of frozen–thawed boar sperm
Authors: Noguchi Michiko , Yoshioka Koji , Hikono Hirokazu , Iwagami Gentaro , Suzuki Chie , Kikuchi Kazuhiro 
Published: May 2013

SummaryThe effects of Percoll density gradient centrifugation on sperm quality,in vitrofertilizability and developmental capacity of frozen–thawed boar sperm were evaluated. Two-step density gradient centrifugation by Percoll enhanced significantly the motility parameters of sperm compared with a simple centrifugation procedure. Percentages of motile sperm and sperm with intact plasma and acrosome membranes after Percoll separation were significantly greater than those after simple centrifugation. The rates of penetration, cleavage and blastocyst formation afterin vitrofertilization were significantly improved by Percoll separation compared with simple centrifugation and were influenced positively by the intactness of sperm head membranes, but not any sperm motility parameters. However, insemination with increased concentrations of sperm prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation did not improve the success of fertilization and embryo developmentin vitro. Our results indicate that the integrity of sperm head membranes after Percoll separation is important for successful embryo developmentin vitro, more so than sperm motility.
Injuries and Fatalities among Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics in the United States
Authors: Maguire Brian J. , Smith Sean 
Published: May 2013

AbstractIntroductionEmergency medical services personnel treat 22 million patients a year, yet little is known of their risk of injury and fatality.ProblemWork-related injury and fatality rates among US paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are higher than the national average for all occupations.MethodsData collected by the Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics were reviewed to identify injuries and fatalities among EMTs and paramedics from 2003 through 2007. The characteristics of fatal injuries are described and the rates and relative risks of the non-fatal injuries were calculated and compared to the national average.ResultsOf the 21,749 reported cases, 21,690 involved non-fatal injuries or illnesses that resulted in lost work days among EMTs and paramedics within the private sector. Of the injuries, 3,710 (17%) resulted in ≥31 days of lost work time. A total of 14,470 cases (67%) involved sprains or strains; back injury was reported in 9,290 of the cases (43%); and the patient was listed as the source of injury in 7,960 (37%) cases. The most common events were overexertion (12,146, 56%), falls (2,169, 10%), and transportation-related (1,940, 9%). A total of 530 assaults were reported during the study period. Forty-five percent of the cases occurred among females (females accounted for 27% of employment in this occupation during 2007). In 2007, EMTs and paramedics suffered 349.9 injuries with days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers, compared to an average of 122.2 for all private industry occupations (Relative risk = 2.9; 95% CI: 2.7–3.0). During the study period, 59 fatalities occurred among EMTs and paramedics in both the private industry and in the public sector. Of those fatalities, 51 (86%) were transportation-related and five (8%) were assaults; 33 (56%) were classified as “multiple traumatic injuries.”ConclusionsData from the DOL show that EMTs and paramedics have a rate of injury that is about three times the national average for all occupations. The vast majority of fatalities are secondary to transportation related-incidents. Assaults are also identified as a significant cause of fatality. The findings also indicate that females in this occupational group may have a disproportionately larger number of injuries. Support is recommended for further research related to causal factors and for the development, evaluation and promulgation of evidence-based interventions to mitigate this problem.MaguireBJ,SmithS.Injuries and fatalities among emergency medical technicians and paramedics in the United States.Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(4):1-7.
Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and symptoms of respiratory tract infection in a Norwegian population: the Tromsø Study
Authors: Robertsen Steinar , Grimnes Guri , Melbye Hasse 
Published: May 2013

AbstractObjectivePrevious studies have suggested anti-infection effects of vitamin D, although the associations reported between vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration) and respiratory tract infection (RTI) are conflicting. The main aim of the present study was to explore this association in a Norwegian population.DesignWe examined the association between serum 25(OH)D and recent RTI symptoms in 6350 middle-aged and elderly participants in the Tromsø Study 6. The main outcome measurement was self-reported RTI symptoms in the previous week.SettingTromsø, Norway, 69°N.SubjectsSix thousand three hundred and fifty middle-aged and elderly residents of Tromsø.ResultsOf the 6350 included, 791 (12·5 %) reported RTI symptoms in the previous week. We classified serum 25(OH)D concentrations into quartiles and adjusted the data for current smoking habit and month of attendance. The prevalence of RTI symptoms did not increase with decreasing serum 25(OH)D level, was highest in quartile 3 (15·0 %) followed by quartile 4 (12·4 %), and was lowest in quartiles 1 and 2 (11·1 % and 11·4 %). There was no trend for increasing duration of illness with decreasing serum 25(OH)D. The prevalence of RTI symptoms was not significantly associated with the intake of fish, n-3 capsules or vitamin and/or mineral supplements, or sun exposure. Only use of cod-liver oil or fish oil capsules daily or sometimes was significantly associated with fewer RTI symptoms during the preceding 7 d (P = 0·04).ConclusionsLow serum 25(OH)D was not associated with increased prevalence of recent RTI symptoms. Our findings do not support the idea that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the incidence of RTI in Norway.
Sociodemographic determinants of diet quality of the EU elderly: a comparative analysis in four countries
Authors: Irz Xavier , Fratiglioni Laura , Kuosmanen Nataliya , Mazzocchi Mario , Modugno Lucia , Nocella Giuseppe , Shakersain Behnaz , Traill W Bruce , Xu Weili , Zanello Giacomo 
Published: May 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the sociodemographic determinants of diet quality of the elderly in four EU countries.DesignCross-sectional study. For each country, a regression was performed of a multidimensional index of dietary qualityv. sociodemographic variables.SettingIn Finland, Finnish Household Budget Survey (1998 and 2006); in Sweden, SNAC-K (2001–2004); in the UK, Expenditure & Food Survey (2006–07); in Italy, Multi-purpose Survey of Daily Life (2009).SubjectsOne- and two-person households of over-50s (Finland,n2994; UK,n4749); over-50 s living alone or in two-person households (Italy,n7564); over-60 s (Sweden,n2023).ResultsDiet quality among the EU elderly is both low on average and heterogeneous across individuals. The regression models explained a small but significant part of the observed heterogeneity in diet quality. Resource availability was associated with diet quality either negatively (Finland and UK) or in a non-linear or non-statistically significant manner (Italy and Sweden), as was the preference for food parameter. Education, not living alone and female gender were characteristics positively associated with diet quality with consistency across the four countries, unlike socio-professional status, age and seasonality. Regional differences within countries persisted even after controlling for the other sociodemographic variables.ConclusionsPoor dietary choices among the EU elderly were not caused by insufficient resources and informational measures could be successful in promoting healthy eating for healthy ageing. On the other hand, food habits appeared largely set in the latter part of life, with age and retirement having little influence on the healthiness of dietary choices.
The use of MuGard™, Caphosol®and Episil®in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Pettit L. , Sanghera P. , Glaholm J. , Hartley A. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractIntroductionOral mucositis is common for patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Despite the significant detrimental sequelae associated, there is no consensus on the optimum mouth care regimen. This prospective audit aims to record mucositis and dysphagia toxicity and the level of analgesia prescribed when recent products: MuGard™, Caphosol®and Episil®are compared with our standard departmental mouth care regimen.MethodsPatients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced SCCHN at University Hospital Birmingham, UK were prospectively audited weekly for 8 consecutive weeks starting from week 1 of chemoradiotherapy from June 2009 until January 2011. Patients received either standard oral care regimen of aspirin, glycerin and sucralfate, or, MuGard™, Caphosol®or Episil®. Grade of mucositis, dysphagia and analgesia score were prospectively recorded using the common toxicity criteria v3·0.ResultsOne hundred and four patients were included. There was no difference in the grade and duration of mucositis (p= 0·82), dysphagia (p= 0·99) or analgesia score (p= 0·61) for either MuGard™, Caphosol®or Episil®compared with standard oral care.ConclusionThere is no evidence from this audit that Mugard™, Caphosol®or Episil®improves mucositis and dysphagia toxicity or the level of analgesia prescribed compared with our standard departmental mouth care regimen. Randomised trials comparing these approaches are required to detect any meaningful clinical benefit.
Genetic diversity in cultured and wild marine cyanomyoviruses reveals phosphorus stress as a strong selective agent
Authors: Kelly Libusha , Ding Huiming , Huang Katherine H , Osburne Marcia S , Chisholm Sallie W 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Viruses that infect marine cyanobacteria–cyanophages–often carry genes with orthologs in their cyanobacterial hosts, and the frequency of these genes can vary with habitat. To explore habitat-influenced genomic diversity more deeply, we used the genomes of 28 cultured cyanomyoviruses as references to identify phage genes in three ocean habitats. Only about 6–11% of genes were consistently observed in the wild, revealing high gene-content variability in these populations. Numerous shared phage/host genes differed in relative frequency between environments, including genes related to phosphorous acquisition, photorespiration, photosynthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway, possibly reflecting environmental selection for these genes in cyanomyovirus genomes. The strongest emergent signal was related to phosphorous availability; a higher fraction of genomes from relatively low-phosphorus environments–the Sargasso and Mediterranean Sea–contained host-like phosphorus assimilation genes compared with those from the N. Pacific Gyre. These genes are known to be upregulated when the host is phosphorous starved, a response mediated by pho box motifs in phage genomes that bind a host regulatory protein. Eleven cyanomyoviruses have predicted pho boxes upstream of the phosphate-acquisition genes pstS and phoA; eight of these have a conserved cyanophage-specific gene (PhCOG173) between the pho box and pstS. PhCOG173 is also found upstream of other shared phage/host genes, suggesting a unique regulatory role. Pho boxes are found upstream of high light-inducible (hli) genes in cyanomyoviruses, suggesting that this motif may have a broader role than regulating phosphorous-stress responses in infected hosts or that these hlis are involved in the phosphorous-stress response.
Development of an ecophysiological model for Diplosphaera colotermitum TAV2, a termite hindgut Verrucomicrobium
Authors: Isanapong Jantiya , Hambright W Sealy , Willis Austin G , Boonmee Atcha , Callister Stephen J , Burnum Kristin E , Paša-Tolić Ljiljana , Nicora Carrie D , Wertz John T , Schmidt Thomas M , Rodrigues Jorge L M 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Termite hindguts are populated by a dense and diverse community of microbial symbionts working in concert to transform lignocellulosic plant material and derived residues into acetate, to recycle and fix nitrogen, and to remove oxygen. Although much has been learned about the breadth of microbial diversity in the hindgut, the ecophysiological roles of its members is less understood. In this study, we present new information about the ecophysiology of microorganism Diplosphaera colotermitum strain TAV2, an autochthonous member of the Reticulitermes flavipes gut community. An integrated high-throughput approach was used to determine the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of cells grown under hypoxia (2% O2) or atmospheric (20% O2) concentrations of oxygen. Our results revealed that genes and proteins associated with energy production and utilization, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, nitrogen fixation, and replication and recombination were upregulated under 2% O2. The metabolic map developed for TAV2 indicates that this microorganism may be involved in biological nitrogen fixation, amino-acid production, hemicellulose degradation and consumption of O2 in the termite hindgut. Variation of O2 concentration explained 55.9% of the variance in proteomic profiles, suggesting an adaptive evolution of TAV2 to the hypoxic periphery of the hindgut. Our findings advance the current understanding of microaerophilic microorganisms in the termite gut and expand our understanding of the ecological roles for members of the phylum Verrucomicrobia.
The Thickness of Parietal Bones in a New Zealand Sample of Cadaveric Skulls in Relation to Calvarial Bone Graft
Authors: Choi Han J. , De Silva Rohana K. , Tong Darryl C. , De Silva Harsha L. , Love Robert M. , Athens Josie 
Published: May 2013

Objectives To evaluate the average thickness of the parietal bones in their different regions to identify the ideal site(s) for calvarial bone graft harvest. Methods and Materials Thickness of the parietal bones of 25 wet cranial vaults of New Zealand European origin was measured in 135 different locations using an electronic caliper. Analyses to identify the ideal harvest sites were conducted so that the sites fit the features of an ideal harvest site described in the literature as: (1) 6 mm of minimum thickness and (2) 2 cm away from the midline. Results and Conclusion The overall average thickness was 6.69 ± 0.22 mm. The average thickness at different sites within the same bone ranged from 2.85 to 6.93 mm. In keeping with previous studies, the report observed a progressive thickening of the parietal bone in medial and posterior directions. Of the 135 different locations measured, only 20% exceeded an average thickness of 6 mm as well as being 2 cm away from the sagittal midline. These locations were mainly located between 6 to 11 cm posterior to the coronal suture and 2 to 5 cm away from the sagittal suture. Conclusion Harvesting the calvarial bone graft in the area 6 to 11 cm posterior to the coronal suture and 2 cm away from the midline is recommended based on our study using cadaveric cranial vaults of New Zealand Europeans.
A poor man’s BLASTX—high-throughput metagenomic protein database search using PAUDA
Authors: Huson Daniel H. , Xie Chao 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Summary: In the context of metagenomics, we introduce a new approach to protein database search called PAUDA, which runs ∼10 000 times faster than BLASTX, while achieving about one-third of the assignment rate of reads to KEGG orthology groups, and producing gene and taxon abundance profiles that are highly correlated to those obtained with BLASTX. PAUDA requires &lt;80 CPU hours to analyze a dataset of 246 million Illumina DNA reads from permafrost soil for which a previous BLASTX analysis (on a subset of 176 million reads) reportedly required 800 000 CPU hours, leading to the same clustering of samples by functional profiles.
Availability: PAUDA is freely available from: http://ab.inf.uni-tuebingen.de/software/pauda. Also supplementary method details are available from this website.
Contact: daniel.huson@uni-tuebingen.de or xiechao@bic.nus.edu.sg
FYPO: the fission yeast phenotype ontology
Authors: Harris Midori A. , Lock Antonia , Bähler Jürg , Oliver Stephen G. , Wood Valerie 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Motivation: To provide consistent computable descriptions of phenotype data, PomBase is developing a formal ontology of phenotypes observed in fission yeast.
Results: The fission yeast phenotype ontology (FYPO) is a modular ontology that uses several existing ontologies from the open biological and biomedical ontologies (OBO) collection as building blocks, including the phenotypic quality ontology PATO, the Gene Ontology and Chemical Entities of Biological Interest. Modular ontology development facilitates partially automated effective organization of detailed phenotype descriptions with complex relationships to each other and to underlying biological phenomena. As a result, FYPO supports sophisticated querying, computational analysis and comparison between different experiments and even between species.
Availability: FYPO releases are available from the Subversion repository at the PomBase SourceForge project page (https://sourceforge.net/p/pombase/code/HEAD/tree/phenotype_ontology/). The current version of FYPO is also available on the OBO Foundry Web site (http://obofoundry.org/).
Contact: mah79@cam.ac.uk or vw253@cam.ac.uk
Killer Treg cells ameliorate inflammatory insulitis in non-obese diabetic mice through local and systemic immunomodulation
Authors: Kaminitz Ayelet , Yolcu Esma S. , Mizrahi Keren , Shirwan Haval , Askenasy Nadir 
Published: May 2013

AbstractTreg cells endowed with enhanced killing activity through decoration with Fas-ligand (FasL) protein (killer Treg) have been effective in delay of hyperglycemia in prediabetic non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. In this study, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of these cells, harvested from age-matched euglycemic NOD donors, on the course of disease in new-onset diabetics. One dose of 4 × 106 killer Treg cells stabilized blood glucose associated with increased insulin levels in 5 of 9 mice and partially reversed the severity of islet inflammation, whereas naive Treg cells did not modulate the course of disease significantly. Killer Treg cells were shown to operate through induction of cell apoptosis within the pancreatic lymph nodes, resulting in reduced efficiency of adoptive disease transfer to NOD/SCID recipients. A second mechanism of action consisted of increased fractions of CD4+CD25−FoxP3+ T cells in the pancreas and all lymphoid organs. Immunomodulation with FasL rather than Treg cells enhanced the expression of CD25 and FoxP3 in the thymus, suggesting a possible contribution of thymic output to prolonged stabilization of the glucose levels. Autologous Treg cells evolve as excellent vehicles for targeted delivery of FasL as an immunomodulatory protein, which delete pathogenic cells at the site of inflammation and induce systemic dominance of suppressor subsets.
Linking the microbiota and metabolic disease with lymphotoxin
Authors: Upadhyay Vaibhav , Fu Yang-Xin 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
The field of lymphotoxin biology has seen many advances in the past decade. Notably, a role for lymphotoxin as a key effector cytokine has emerged to add to its foundational contribution to lymphoid organogenesis. It is now clear that lymphotoxin contributes to host defense for a wide variety of pathogens, and the lymphotoxin receptor is a defining feature of and regulatory mechanism in both innate and adaptive immunities. Specifically, lymphotoxin contributes to Th education, licensing of IL-22 production from type 3 innate lymphoid cells, and even maintains innate myeloid populations within the fully developed lymph node. Most recently, lymphotoxin has been implicated in regulation of the microbiota and metabolic disease. Early studies revealed that lymphotoxin might influence composition of the commensal microbiota through its regulation of immunological compartmentalization in the gut. Additionally, several epidemiological studies have linked polymorphisms in lymphotoxin to metabolic disease. Studies exploring the role of lymphotoxin in metabolic disease have demonstrated that lymphotoxin may influence metabolism both directly in the liver and indirectly through regulation of gut immune responses. It now appears that lymphotoxin may bridge the gap between altered composition of the commensal microbiota and metabolism.
CYCLIN H;1 Regulates Drought Stress Responses and Blue Light-Induced Stomatal Opening by Inhibiting Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhou Xiao Feng , Jin Yin Hua , Yoo Chan Yul , Lin Xiao-Li , Kim Woe-Yeon , Yun Dae-Jin , Bressan Ray A. , Hasegawa Paul M. , Jin Jing Bo 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE Ds (CDKDs) phosphorylate the C-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. Arabidopsis CYCLIN H;1 (CYCH;1) interacts with and activates CDKDs; however, the physiological function of CYCH;1 has not been determined. Here, we report that CYCH;1, which is localized to the nucleus, positively regulates blue light-induced stomatal opening. Reduced-function cych;1 RNA interference (cych;1 RNAi) plants exhibited a drought tolerance phenotype. CYCH;1 is predominantly expressed in guard cells, and its expression was substantially down-regulated by dehydration. Transpiration of intact leaves was reduced in cych;1 RNAi plants compared with the wild-type control in light but not in darkness. CYCH;1 down-regulation impaired blue light-induced stomatal opening but did not affect guard cell development or abscisic acid-mediated stomatal closure. Microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that CYCH;1 did not regulate the expression of abscisic acid-responsive genes or light-induced stomatal opening signaling determinants, such as MYB60, MYB61, Hypersensitive to red and blue1, and Protein phosphatase7. CYCH;1 down-regulation induced the expression of redox homeostasis genes, such as LIPOXYGENASE3 (LOX3), LOX4, ARABIDOPSIS GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE 7 (ATGPX7), EARLY LIGHT-INDUCIBLE PROTEIN1 (ELIP1), and ELIP2, and increased hydrogen peroxide production in guard cells. Furthermore, loss-of-function mutations in CDKD;2 or CDKD;3 did not affect responsiveness to drought stress, suggesting that CYCH;1 regulates the drought stress response in a CDKD-independent manner. We propose that CYCH;1 regulates blue light-mediated stomatal opening by controlling reactive oxygen species homeostasis.