bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isolation of Yersinia ruckeri Strain H01 from Farm-Raised Amur Sturgeon Acipenser schrencki in China
Authors: Shaowu Li , Di Wang , Hongbai Liu , Tongyan Lu 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease or yersiniosis, which affects salmonids and several other species of fish. However, there are no reports on the characteristics and pathogenicity of Y. ruckeri isolated from farm-raised Amur Sturgeon Acipenser schrencki. Here, we isolated and characterized Y. ruckeri strain H01 from the diseased Amur Sturgeon in China. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Y. ruckeri were observed, and its virulence was tested by examining experimentally infected sturgeons. Examination of the flagellar morphology of Y. ruckeri by transmission electron microscopy showed five to eight peritrichous flagella located on the cell body. Actively dividing cells with an obvious cell membrane were approximately 0.64 μm in diameter and between 1.7 and 2.5 μm in length. The dose that was lethal to 50% of the test fish after intraperitoneal injection was determined to be 7.2×106 CFU, and Y. ruckeri could be reisolated from the liver and kidneys of infected sturgeon. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that H01 was susceptible to 10 antimicrobial agents. Part of the 16S rRNA sequences (563 base pair) was amplified and sequenced to study the genotypic characterization in Y. ruckeri (GenBank accession number JQ657818). The phylogenetic tree revealed H01 was clustered together with Y. ruckeri strains. Together, this study describes the isolation, characterization, and phenotypic–genotypic analysis of a Y. ruckeri strain isolated from farm-raised Amur Sturgeon. The results discovered may provide some theoretical basis for the prevention and control of yersiniosis in Amur Sturgeon.
Received July 23, 2012; accepted September 5, 2012
Participation, equality of opportunity and returns to tertiary education in contemporary Europe
Authors: Bernardi Fabrizio , Ballarino Gabriele 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT
The aim of the paper is to investigate the consequences of the expansion of higher education on two goals of the education system, namely promoting equity of educational opportunities and providing credentials that facilitate the matching of labour supply and demand. The first goal is typically studied by research on inequality of educational opportunity; the second by research on returns to education and credential inflation. The key idea of the paper is that educational expansion can have different and possibly opposite effects on the two goals. (a) If, with educational expansion, equality of educational opportunities increases, while the occupational value of the titles decreases, one has a trade-off scenario. For example, an increase in equality of educational opportunities is matched by a decline in the value of higher education in the labour market. (b) If equality of opportunities does not increase, despite the expansion of higher education, and the returns of higher education degrees decline, one has then a worst-off scenario. (c) Finally, if with educational expansion equality of opportunities increases and there is no credential inflation, one has a best-off scenario. In this paper, we systematically investigate these alternative scenarios. We perform the same empirical analysis on two distinct data sets in order to test the robustness of our findings. We use micro data from EU-SILC 2005 and from the five merged waves of the European Social Survey (2002–2010), covering 23 countries.
Discord among Performance Measures for Central Line—Associated Bloodstream Infection
Authors: Tehrani David M. , Russell Dana , Brown Jennifer , Boynton-Delahanty Kim , Quan Kathleen , Gibbs Laurel , Braddock Geri , Zaroda Teresa , Koopman Marsha , Thompson Deborah , Nichols Amy , Cui Eric , Liu Catherine , Cohen Stuart , Rubin Zachary , Pegues David , Torriani Francesca , Datta Rupak , Huang Susan S. ,   for the University of California Healthcare Epidemiology Collaborative
Published: December 2012

Background.Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a national target for mandatory reporting and a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services target for value-based purchasing. Differences in chart review versus claims-based metrics used by national agencies and groups raise concerns about the validity of these measures.Objective.Evaluate consistency and reasons for discordance among chart review and claims-based CLABSI events.Methods.We conducted 2 multicenter retrospective cohort studies within 6 academic institutions. A total of 150 consecutive patients were identified with CLABSI on the basis of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria (NHSN cohort), and an additional 150 consecutive patients were identified with CLABSI on the basis of claims codes (claims cohort). Ail events had full-text medical record reviews and were identified as concordant or discordant with the other metric.Results.In the NHSN cohort, there were 152 CLABSIs among 150 patients, and 73.0% of these cases were discordant with claims data. Common reasons for the lack of associated claims codes included coding omission and lack of physician documentation of bacteremia cause. In the claims cohort, there were 150 CLABSIs among 150 patients, and 65.3% of these cases were discordant with NHSN criteria. Common reasons for the lack of NHSN reporting were identification of non-CLABSI with bacteremia meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for an alternative infection source.Conclusion.Substantial discordance between NHSN and claims-based CLABSI indicators persists. Compared with standardized CDC chart review criteria, claims data often had both coding omissions and misclassification of non-CLABSI infections as CLABSI. Additionally, claims did not identify any additional CLABSIs for CDC reporting. NHSN criteria are a more consistent interhospital standard for CLABSI reporting.
Transplantation of engineered heart tissue as a biological cardiac assist device for treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Leontyev Sergey , Schlegel Franziska , Spath Cathleen , Schmiedel Ronny , Nichtitz Martin , Boldt Andreas , Rübsamen Rudolf , Salameh Aida , Kostelka Martin , Mohr Friedrich‐Wilhelm , Dhein Stefan 
Published: December 2012

AimThe aim of this study was to characterize an alternative treatment for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using a novel cardiac biological assist device created from engineered heart tissue (EHT).Methods and resultsThe EHTs were constructed in vitro from matrigel, collagen, and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes as small ring‐like spontaneously contracting devices. DCM was induced in 50 rats by 6 weeks doxorubicin treatment (2.5 mg/kg/week). After 38 drug‐free days, rats underwent either implantation of EHT (DCM‐EHT, n = 13), which was sutured around the ventricles, or sham operation (DCM‐Sham, n = 12). Eleven untreated healthy rats served as the control group. Rats were investigated using a Millar catheter for pressure–volume loop recording, and by echocardiography 30 days after operation. Thereafter, the hearts were excised and investigated functionally, histologically, and biochemically. Doxorubicin led to the development of DCM with reduced fractional shortening (FS), reduced dP/dtmax, increased systolic and diastolic LV diameters, and reduced response to dobutamine. In DCM‐Sham, these changes were further enhanced, while in DCM‐EHT we found improved FS, dP/dtmax, and dobutamine responsiveness. In isolated hearts, electrical multielectrode mapping revealed that EHT was electrically activated synchronously to the recipient heart. Histologically, we found increased vascularization in the EHT and the recipient heart, and EHT vessels connected to the coronary system.ConclusionsImplantation of EHT improves LV performance in rats with doxorubicin‐induced DCM.
How does seasonal variability in growth, recruitment, and mortality affect the performance of length-based mortality and asymptotic length estimates in aquatic resources?
Authors: Hufnagl Marc , Huebert Klaus B. , Temming Axel 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Hufnagl, M., Huebert, K. B., and Temming, A. 2013. How does seasonal variability in growth, recruitment, and mortality affect the performance of length-based mortality and asymptotic length estimates in aquatic resources? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 329–341. We tested the sensitivity of eight methods for estimating total mortality from size frequencies (modified Wetherall; Powell; Beverton and Holt; Jones and van Zalinge; Hoenig; Ssentongo and Larkin; seasonal and non-seasonal Length Converted Catch Curve) to violations of basic assumptions, such as seasonal growth, mortality, recruitment and variable asymptotic length L∞ or growth parameter K. For each method, bias was estimated by simulating length frequency distributions with different combinations of known L∞, Z and K values, calculating θ (Z/K) and L∞ estimates, and comparing the true input with the estimated output values. Input mortality was generally underestimated by all methods and in 27% of all simulations no method provided estimates within θ ± 1. Spring recruitment especially negatively influenced the mortality estimate. A decision tree was developed that provides general guidance in selecting appropriate methods despite violated assumptions, but species-specific case studies are recommended. An example of a species-specific study is provided for the brown shrimp, Crangon crangon. Despite inherent limitations for all methods, the results illustrate that estimates of θ and Z for brown shrimp can be improved substantially by selecting suitable methods and correcting for observed bias.
How to make progress in disciplining overfishing subsidies
Authors: Sumaila U. Rashid 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Sumaila, U. R. 2013. How to make progress in disciplining overfishing subsidies. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 251–258. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has been working for more than seven years now to discipline overfishing subsidies, as mandated by the global community, without success. I argue that this failure is partly because WTO negotiators aim for an all-inclusive deal, i.e. negotiations are conducted as a “single undertaking”, whereby results must be achieved in all areas. Negotiators are required to broker an all-inclusive deal for all maritime WTO member countries and for all fisheries, whether domestic or international; small or large scale; developing or developed country fisheries. It is argued here that this commitment to a “single undertaking” does not align the incentive to remove subsidies with national interests, and therefore needs to be changed by splitting the world's fisheries into domestic and international fisheries. In this way, the battle for eliminating overfishing subsidies for some stocks would shift to home countries, and for others this would still rest with the international community. This split, it is argued, would align the incentives and improve the chances of eliminating overfishing subsidies.
Adductor Canal Block versus Femoral Nerve Block and Quadriceps Strength
Authors: Jæger Pia , Nielsen Zbigniew J.K. , Henningsen Maria H. , Hilsted Karen Lisa , Mathiesen Ole , Dahl Jørgen B. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background:
The authors hypothesized that the adductor canal block (ACB), a predominant sensory blockade, reduces quadriceps strength compared with placebo (primary endpoint, area under the curve, 0.5–6 h), but less than the femoral nerve block (FNB; secondary endpoint). Other secondary endpoints were adductor strength and ability to ambulate.

Methods:
The authors enrolled healthy young men into this double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study. On two separate study days, subjects received either ACB or FNB with ropivacaine, and placebo in the opposite limb. Strength was assessed as maximum voluntary isometric contraction for quadriceps and adductor muscles. In addition, subjects performed three standardized ambulation tests. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01449097.

Results:
Twelve subjects were randomized, 11 analyzed. Quadriceps strength (area under the curve, 0.5–6 h) was significantly reduced when comparing ACB with placebo (5.0 ± 1.0 vs. 5.9 ± 0.6, P = 0.02, CI: −1.5 to −0.2), FNB with placebo (P = 0.0004), and when comparing FNB with ACB (P = 0.002). The mean reduction from baseline was 8% with ACB and 49% with FNB. The only statistically significant difference in adductor strength was between placebo and FNB (P = 0.007). Performance in all mobilization tests was reduced after an FNB compared with an ACB (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:
As compared with placebo ACB statistically significantly reduced quadriceps strength, but the reduction was only 8% from baseline. ACB preserved quadriceps strength and ability to ambulate better than FNB did. Future studies are needed to compare the analgesic effect of the ACB with the FNB in a clinical setting.
Temporal Changes in Allocation and Partitioning of New Carbon as 11C Elicited by Simulated Herbivory Suggest that Roots Shape Aboveground Responses in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ferrieri Abigail P. , Agtuca Beverly , Appel Heidi M. , Ferrieri Richard A. , Schultz Jack C. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractUsing the short-lived isotope 11C (t1/2 = 20.4 min) as 11CO2, we captured temporal changes in whole-plant carbon movement and partitioning of recently fixed carbon into primary and secondary metabolites in a time course (2, 6, and 24 h) following simulated herbivory with the well-known defense elicitor methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to young leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Both 11CO2 fixation and 11C-photosynthate export from the labeled source leaf increased rapidly (2 h) following MeJA treatment relative to controls, with preferential allocation of radiolabeled resources belowground. At the same time, 11C-photosynthate remaining in the aboveground sink tissues showed preferential allocation to MeJA-treated, young leaves, where it was incorporated into 11C-cinnamic acid. By 24 h, resource allocation toward roots returned to control levels, while allocation to the young leaves increased. This corresponded to an increase in invertase activity and the accumulation of phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins, in young leaves. Induction of phenolics was suppressed in sucrose transporter mutant plants (suc2-1), indicating that this phenomenon may be controlled, in part, by phloem loading at source leaves. However, when plant roots were chilled to 5°C to disrupt carbon flow between above- and belowground tissues, source leaves failed to allocate resources belowground or toward damaged leaves following wounding and MeJA treatment to young leaves, suggesting that roots may play an integral role in controlling how plants respond defensively aboveground.
The effect of various heat treatments on the antioxidant capacity of milk before and after simulated gastrointestinal digestion
Authors: Şanlidere Aloğlu Hatice 
Published: December 2012

Various reactions take place between compounds of milk during heat treatment including denaturation and aggregation of whey proteins, and formation of new complexes. In this study, the antioxidant capacities of raw, pasteurised and sterilised milk were determined both before and after an enzymatic in vitro digestion process, using a radical cation decolorisation assay. The mean values of raw, pasteurised and sterilised milk before simulated digestion were 4.02, 4.47 and 4.18 mM trolox/g, respectively, and these did not differ significantly. The antioxidant capacity of all milk types increased significantly at the end of the simulated gastrointestinal digestion, being 11.13, 12.33, 11.88 mM trolox/g for raw, pasteurised and sterilised milk, respectively.
Urinary incontinence in women in rural Pakistan: prevalence, severity, associated factors and impact on life
Authors: Jokhio AH , Rizvi RM , Rizvi J , MacArthur C 
Published: December 2012

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and its subtypes in women in rural Pakistan, associated factors, severity and impact on daily life.DesignPopulation‐based, cross‐sectional study.SettingA rural community in Sindh Province, Pakistan.PopulationRandomly selected women aged 15 years or older.MethodsA three‐level random sampling strategy was used to select women: a random sample of health centres; a random sample of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) from each health centre; and a random sample of women in the LHW catchment areas. The LHWs used an interview‐based structured questionnaire to collect data from women.Main outcome measureUrinary incontinence reported by women.ResultsAmong the 5064 participants (response rate 95.8%) the prevalence of any UI was 11.5% (581/5064; 95% CI 10.6–12.3). The most common subtype was stress incontinence, with a prevalence of 4.7% (95% CI 4.1–5.3), followed by urge incontinence, with a prevalence of 3.2% (95% CI 2.7–3.7), mixed incontinence, with a prevalence of 2.8% (95% CI 2.3–3.2), other incontinence, with a prevalence of 0.4% (95% CI 0.2–0.5) and continuous incontinence, with a prevalence of 0.5% (95% CI 0.3–0.6). Older age, higher parity and marriage at an early age were independently associated with UI. We found that 52% of women with UI reported leakage at least daily, and 45% reported a great or moderate impact on their daily life. Only 15.7% of women with UI had consulted a doctor.ConclusionsThe prevalence of UI reported in rural Pakistan was lower than is generally found in studies from the developed world, but among the women affected it commonly occurred on a daily basis and impacted on their everyday lives, yet few had obtained medical advice.
Techniques for minimizing the effects of PCR inhibitors in the chytridiomycosis assay
Authors: Kosch T. A. , Summers K. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractChytridiomycosis is an amphibian disease of global conservation concern that is caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Since the discovery of Bd in 1998, several methods have been used for detection of Bd; among these polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from skin swabs is accepted as the best method due to its noninvasiveness, high sensitivity and ease of use. However, PCR is not without problems – to be successful, this technique is dependent upon the presence of nondegraded DNA template and reaction contents that are free from inhibitors. Here, we report on an investigation of several techniques aimed at improving the reliability of the Bd PCR assay by minimizing the effects of humic acid (HA), a potent PCR inhibitor. We compared the effectiveness of four DNA extraction kits (DNeasy, QIAamp DNA Stool, PowerLyzer Power Soil and PrepMan Ultra) and four PCR methods (Amplitaq Gold, bovine serum albumin, PowerClean DNA Clean‐up and inhibitor resistant Taq Polymerase). The results of this and previous studies indicate that chytridiomycosis studies that use PCR methods for disease detection may be significantly underestimating the occurrence of Bd. Our results suggest that to minimize the inhibitory effects of HA, DNeasy should be used for sample DNA extraction and Amplitaq Gold with bovine serum albumin should be used for the Bd PCR assay. We also outline protocols tested, show the results of our methods comparisons and discuss the pros and cons of each method.
Effect of spider venom on inhibition proliferation of TE13 cells in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Gao Li , Zhang Jing , Liu Xinyan , Zhao Min , Li Lijun , Liu Xin , Zhao Baohua 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and antitumor activity of spider venom (SV).MethodsCell proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined by 3H‐methyl thymidine incorporation ([3H]‐TDR) assay. DNA fragmentation and cell cycle kinetics were analyzed by FACS. In vivo inhibition of tumor size of nude mice by SV (5.0, 10.0, 20.0 mg/kg mice) was constructed.ResultsSV exhibited significant anti‐cancer effects on human squamous esophageal carcinoma cells TE13, mainly as a result of cell apoptosis induced by SV. The anti‐cancer effects were likely achieved through decreasing [3H]‐TdR. TE13 cells treated with SV (25, 50, 100 μg/mL), which were arrested in the G0/G1 phase. SV treatment leads to anti‐proliferation effects, and significant apoptosis in TE13 cells with reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels can increase dramatically and decrease cellular mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In addition, Western blotting analysis showed that one of the pharmacological mechanisms of SV was to activate the expression of P21. In vivo testing revealed that tumor size was significantly decreased after 21 days of treatment with the venom (P < 0.01).ConclusionsOur data showed that SVs could inhibit TE13 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.
Endoscopy as a novel method for assessing endoparasite burdens in free‐ranging European shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
Authors: Burthe Sarah , Newell Mark A. , Goodman Gidona , Butler Adam , Bregnballe Thomas , Harris Eileen , Wanless Sarah , Cunningham Emma J.A. , Daunt Francis 
Published: December 2012

AbstractParasites are considered to be a key driver of evolutionary processes in wild animal populations. However, assessing host‐endoparasite burdens non‐destructively is problematic. Collection of faecal samples can be difficult, and faecal egg counts may not always be a reliable indicator of infection intensity.Here we report on endoscopy as a method for assessing natural burdens of nematode parasitesContracaecum rudolphiiHartwich, 1964, in a wild seabird, the European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis,L.). We aimed to measure natural individual parasite burdens and repeatability of burdens over time, and to verify that treatment with ivermectin removed parasites.Endoscopy was rapid, averaging 6 min (n = 157), with no obvious adverse effects on behaviour or breeding success compared to non‐endoscoped birds.Nematode burdens in the oesophagus and proventriculus of conscious shags were counted and classified as absent, low, medium or high using a flexible gastroscope with a camera attachment that recorded video footage.Re‐assessment of worm burdens was highly accurate, with 94% of randomly selected videos (n = 50) giving identical categorical scores, and 70% of worm counts (n = 40) giving the same total or differing by only one worm.All birds were parasitised byC.rudolphii. Natural burdens were significantly higher in males and in late breeders.Individuals had highly repeatable categorical parasite scores over time with 65% of control birds sampled more than once (n = 17; mean interval between assessments= 10·8 days) showing no change in scores. However, although the rank ordering of birds based on categorical scores remained constant, more finely resolved quantification indicated a slight seasonal decline in worm counts within individuals.Treatment with ivermectin (4 mg kg−1of bird weight) resulted in complete removal of parasites. There was some evidence of temporal declines in worm counts with lower doses of ivermectin, including a dose (0·7 mg kg−1) previously shown to impact chick survival and growth.Endoscopy has considerable potential for investigating individual variation and temporal changes in endoparasite burdens and drug efficacy. Applicability and limitations of this method for other host‐parasite systems are discussed.