bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genomic and proteomic characterization of two novel siphovirus infecting the sedentary facultative epibiont cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina
Authors: Chan Yi‐Wah , Millard Andrew D. , Wheatley Peter J. , Holmes Antony B. , Mohr Remus , Whitworth Anna L. , Mann Nicholas H. , Larkum Anthony W. D. , Hess Wolfgang R. , Scanlan David J. , Clokie Martha R. J. 
Published: December 2014

SummaryAcaryochloris marina is a symbiotic species of cyanobacteria that is capable of utilizing far‐red light. We report the characterization of the phages A‐HIS1 and A‐HIS2, capable of infecting Acaryochloris. Morphological characterization of these phages places them in the family Siphoviridae. However, molecular characterization reveals that they do not show genetic similarity with any known siphoviruses. While the phages do show synteny between each other, the nucleotide identity between the phages is low at 45–67%, suggesting they diverged from each other some time ago. The greatest number of genes shared with another phage (a myovirus infecting marine Synechococcus) was four. Unlike most other cyanophages and in common with the Siphoviridae infecting Synechococcus, no photosynthesis‐related genes were found in the genome. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) spacers from the host Acaryochloris had partial matches to sequences found within the phages, which is the first time CRISPRs have been reported in a cyanobacterial/cyanophage system. The phages also encode a homologue of the proteobacterial RNase T. The potential function of RNase T in the mark‐up or digestion of crRNA hints at a novel mechanism for evading the host CRISPR system.
Modelling non‐Euclidean movement and landscape connectivity in highly structured ecological networks
Authors: Sutherland Chris , Fuller Angela K. , Royle J. Andrew 
Published: December 2014

Summary

Movement is influenced by landscape structure, configuration and geometry, but measuring distance as perceived by animals poses technical and logistical challenges. Instead, movement is typically measured using Euclidean distance, irrespective of location or landscape structure, or is based on arbitrary cost surfaces. A recently proposed extension of spatial capture‐recapture (SCR) models resolves this issue using spatial encounter histories of individuals to calculate least‐cost paths (ecological distance: Ecology, 94, 2013, 287) thereby relaxing the Euclidean assumption. We evaluate the consequences of not accounting for movement heterogeneity when estimating abundance in highly structured landscapes, and demonstrate the value of this approach for estimating biologically realistic space‐use patterns and landscape connectivity.

We simulated SCR data in a riparian habitat network, using the ecological distance model under a range of scenarios where space‐use in and around the landscape was increasingly associated with water (i.e. increasingly less Euclidean). To assess the influence of miscalculating distance on estimates of population size, we compared the results from the ecological and Euclidean distance based models. We then demonstrate that the ecological distance model can be used to estimate home range geometry when space use is not symmetrical. Finally, we provide a method for calculating landscape connectivity based on modelled species‐landscape interactions generated from capture‐recapture data.

Using ecological distance always produced unbiased estimates of abundance. Explicitly modelling the strength of the species‐landscape interaction provided a direct measure of landscape connectivity and better characterised true home range geometry. Abundance under the Euclidean distance model was increasingly (negatively) biased as space use was more strongly associated with water and, because home ranges are assumed to be symmetrical, produced poor characterisations of home range geometry and no information about landscape connectivity.

The ecological distance SCR model uses spatially indexed capture‐recapture data to estimate how activity patterns are influenced by landscape structure. As well as reducing bias in estimates of abundance, this approach provides biologically realistic representations of home range geometry, and direct information about species‐landscape interactions. The incorporation of both structural (landscape) and functional (movement) components of connectivity provides a direct measure of species‐specific landscape connectivity.
T cell participation in autoreactivity to NC16a epitopes in bullous pemphigoid
Authors: Pickford W J , Gudi V , Haggart A M , Lewis B J , Herriot R , Barker R N , Ormerod A D 
Published: December 2014

SummaryBullous pemphigoid is a blistering skin disease characterized by autoantibodies against the NC16a domain of bullous pemphigoid 180. This study was performed to characterize and map the fine specificity of T cell responses to NC16a. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a total of 28 bullous pemphigoid patients and 14 matched controls were tested for proliferative and cytokine responses to recombinant NC16a and a complete panel of 21 overlapping peptides spanning this region of BP180. Proliferative responses to NC16A and the peptide panel in the patients with active disease were similar in frequency and magnitude to those in healthy donors, and included late responses typical of naive cells in approximately 60% of each group. Interleukin (IL)-4 responses were slightly stronger for six peptides, and significantly stronger for Nc16a, in patients than in controls. Factor analysis identified factors that separate responses to the peptide panel discretely into IL-4, T helper type 2 (Th2) pattern, interferon (IFN)-γ, Th1 pattern and IL-10 or transforming growth factor [TGF-β, regulatory T cell (Treg)] pattern. Factors segregating IL-10 versus IFN-γ were predicted by active blistering or remission, and TGF-β or IL-10 versus IFN-γ by age. Finally, we confirmed a significant up-regulation of IgE responses to BP180 in the patients with pemphigoid. This shows the complexity of T cell phenotype and fine autoreactive specificity in responses to NC16A, in patients and in normal controls. Important disease-associated factors determine the balance of cytokine responses. Of these, specific IL-4 and IgE responses show the strongest associations with pemphigoid, pointing to an important contribution by Th2 cytokines to pathogenesis.
Interface of Linguistic and Visual Information During Audience Design
Authors: Fukumura Kumiko 
Published: December 2014

AbstractEvidence suggests that speakers can take account of the addressee's needs when referring. However, what representations drive the speaker's audience design has been less clear. This study aims to go beyond previous studies by investigating the interplay between the visual and linguistic context during audience design. Speakers repeated subordinate descriptions (e.g., firefighter) given in the prior linguistic context less and used basic‐level descriptions (e.g., man) more when the addressee did not hear the linguistic context than when s/he did. But crucially, this effect happened only when the referent lacked the visual attributes associated with the expressions (e.g., the referent was in plain clothes rather than in a firefighter uniform), so there was no other contextual cue available for the identification of the referent. This suggests that speakers flexibly use different contextual cues to help their addressee map the referring expression onto the intended referent. In addition, speakers used fewer pronouns when the addressee did not hear the linguistic antecedent than when s/he did. This suggests that although speakers may be egocentric during anaphoric reference (Fukumura & Van Gompel, 2012), they can cooperatively avoid pronouns when the linguistic antecedents were not shared with their addressee during initial reference.
Key autophagic targets and relevant small‐molecule compounds in cancer therapy
Authors: Tong X.‐P , Chen Y. , Zhang S.‐Y. , Xie T. , Tian M. , Guo M.‐R. , Kasimu R. , Ouyang L. , Wang J.‐H. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAutophagy is a highly conserved lysosomal degradation process which can recycle unnecessary or dysfunctional cell organelles and proteins, thereby playing a crucial regulatory role in cell survival and maintenance. It has been widely accepted that autophagy regulates various pathological processes, among which cancer attracts much attention. Autophagy may either promote cancer cell survival by providing energy during unfavourable metabolic circumstance or can induce individual cancer cell death by preventing necrosis and increasing genetic instability. Thus, dual roles of autophagy may determine the destiny of cancer cells and make it an attractive target for small‐molecule drug discovery. Collectively, key autophagy‐related elements as potential targets, oncogenes mTORC1, class I PI3K and AKT, as well as tumour suppressor class III PI3K, Beclin‐1 and p53, have been discussed. In addition, some small molecule drugs, such as rapamycin and its derivatives, rottlerin, PP242 and AZD8055 (targeting PI3K/AKT/mTORC1), spautin‐1, and tamoxifen, as well as oridonin and metformin (targeting p53), can modulate autophagic pathways in different types of cancer. All these data will shed new light on targeting the autophagic process for cancer therapy, using small‐molecule compounds, to fight cancer in the near future.
Rethinking peer support for diabetes in Vancouver's South‐Asian community: a feasibility study
Authors: Tang T. S. , Sohal P. S. , Garg A. K. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimTo examine the feasibility and potential health impact of a diabetes self‐management education and support intervention involving peer support on glycaemic control and diabetes distress.MethodsA total of 41 South‐Asian adults with Type 2 diabetes were recruited for a 24‐week diabetes self‐management education and support pilot intervention involving peer support. The intervention consisted of six weekly education sessions co‐facilitated by a certified diabetes educator and two peer leaders, followed by 18 weekly support sessions facilitated by two peer leaders. Education sessions were guided entirely by participants' self‐management questions and also emphasized goal setting and action planning. Support sessions were based on empowerment principles and participants discussed self‐management challenges, shared emotions, asked self‐management questions, problem‐solved in a group, set goals, and developed and evaluated action plans. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention. Primary health‐related outcomes included HbA1c levels and diabetes distress (measured at baseline, 6 and 24 weeks). Programme satisfaction was also assessed.ResultsPre‐established criteria for recruitment and retention were met. Paired t‐tests showed no changes in HbA1c and diabetes distress at 6 weeks. At 24 weeks, HbA1c levels deteriorated [54 mmol/mol (7.1%) vs 61 mmol/mol (7.7%)] while diabetes distress scores improved (2.0 vs 1.7).ConclusionsAlthough feasible, findings suggest this peer‐support model may have a positive impact on diabetes distress, but not on HbA1c levels. Culturally responsive modifications (e.g. intervention location) to the pilot model are needed and could lead to more favourable health outcomes for this community. Such a re‐designed peer‐support model will require further investigation.
Comparison of maternal morbidity and medical costs during pregnancy and delivery between patients with gestational diabetes and patients with pre‐existing diabetes
Authors: Son K. H. , Lim N.‐K. , Lee J.‐W. , Cho M.‐C. , Park H.‐Y. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the effects of gestational diabetes and pre‐existing diabetes on maternal morbidity and medical costs, using data from the Korea National Health Insurance Claims Database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.MethodsDelivery cases in 2010, 2011 and 2012 (459 842, 442 225 and 380 431 deliveries) were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. The complications and medical costs were compared among the following three pregnancy groups: normal, gestational diabetes and pre‐existing diabetes.ResultsAlthough, the rates of pre‐existing diabetes did not fluctuate (2.5, 2.4 and 2.7%) throughout the study, the rate of gestational diabetes steadily increased (4.6, 6.2 and 8.0%). Furthermore, the rates of pre‐existing diabetes and gestational diabetes increased in conjunction with maternal age, pre‐existing hypertension and cases of multiple pregnancy. The risk of pregnancy‐induced hypertension, urinary tract infections, premature delivery, liver disease and chronic renal disease were greater in the gestational diabetes and pre‐existing diabetes groups than in the normal group. The risk of venous thromboembolism, antepartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia and placenta disorder were greater in the pre‐existing diabetes group, but not the gestational diabetes group, compared with the normal group. The medical costs associated with delivery, the costs during pregnancy and the number of in‐hospital days for the subjects in the pre‐existing diabetes group were the highest among the three groups.ConclusionsThe study showed that the rates of pre‐existing diabetes and gestational diabetes increased with maternal age at pregnancy and were associated with increases in medical costs and pregnancy‐related complications.
Successful pregnancy outcomes in a patient with type A insulin resistance syndrome
Authors: Enkhtuvshin B. , Nagashima S. , Saito N. , Wakabayashi T. , Ando A. , Takahashi M. , Sakai K. , Yamamuro D. , Nagasaka S. , Tamemoto H. , Ishibashi S. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe management of severe insulin resistance during pregnancy is challenging because of the increased risk of perinatal complications for both mother and fetus. We describe two consecutive pregnancies in a patient with severe insulin resistance caused by a mutation in the β subunit of the insulin receptor.Case reportA non‐obese Japanese woman was diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus during her first pregnancy at age 31 years. She presented at 6 weeks' gestation with a fasting plasma glucose concentration of 15.1 mmol/l and an HbA1c level of 95 mmol/mol (10.8%). Fasting insulin concentration was high at 68.8 μU/ml, suggesting severe insulin resistance. Anti‐insulin and insulin‐receptor antibodies were both negative. Genetic analysis revealed an in‐frame heterozygous deletion mutation (∆Leu999) in the insulin receptor gene. Despite large daily doses (up to 480 units per day) of insulin aspart and isophane, the patient's postprandial plasma glucose level exceeded 11.1 mmol/l. In the patient's second pregnancy, the addition of metformin at a dose of 2250 mg per day achieved tighter glycaemic control, with lower doses of insulin lispro and isophane (up to 174 units/day). Both newborns, who were found to carry the same mutation, were small for gestational age and developed transient hypoglycaemia after birth.ConclusionAdding metformin to the conventional insulin regimen effectively achieved tight glycaemic control with a lower dose of insulin. The mutation of the insulin receptor gene might underlie the intrauterine growth retardation of the newborns. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful management of diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman with type A insulin resistance syndrome.
Pelagic larval traits of the amphidromous gobySicyopterus lagocephalusdisplay seasonal variations related to temperature in La Réunion Island
Authors: Teichert Nils , Valade Pierre , Grondin Henri , Trichet Emma , Sardenne Fany , Gaudin Philippe 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAmphidromous gobies represent a substantial part of freshwater fish diversity throughout islands of the Indo‐Pacific region. They display a marine pelagic phase during several months before recruiting in rivers. Understanding the relationship between larval traits and environmental conditions is a major challenge for the evaluation of a spatial scale of connectivity and populations’ dynamics, especially in a climate change context. In this study, the larval traits ofSicyopterus lagocephaluswere examined and related to the sea surface temperature (SST), over three consecutive years in La Réunion Island (Mascarene archipelago). The pelagic larval duration (PLD, range from 96 to 293 days), the size‐at‐recruitment (range from 26.5 to 37 mmTL) and the larval growth rate (range from 0.112 to 0.293 mm·day−1TL) varied seasonally depending on hatching date. The larval growth rate was inversely correlated to the fluctuations ofPLDand size. Larvae living in high sea water temperatures exhibited a faster growth, shorterPLDs and smaller sizes‐at‐recruitment than those living in cool water temperatures. The instantaneous daily growth was assessed by the study of otolith increment widths. The daily growth was not linear throughout larval life and was positively correlated to SST. We showed high amplitude ofPLDperiodic fluctuations (170.39 ± 43.75 days) related to temperature (12.8%PLDdrop per degree), which could affect dispersal and induce intermittent connectivity between distant populations. This high plasticity of larval traits is likely to be advantageous to respond to the wide range of environmental conditions encountered throughout the species distribution range.
Competitive effects between rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon in natural and artificial streams
Authors: S. Houde Aimee Lee , Smith Andrew D. , Wilson Chris C. , Peres‐Neto Pedro R. , Neff Bryan D. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractCompetition with non‐native species may impede the restoration of native species, but differences in competitive abilities among intraspecific native populations may make some populations more suitable for reintroduction than others. Here, juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from two allopatric populations (LaHave and Sebago) being used for reintroduction into Lake Ontario were placed into two natural stream sites differing in the presence of ecologically similar rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We assessed the effects of competition in the natural streams on fitness‐related traits and habitat use of the Atlantic salmon. We then compared these effects to those observed in artificial streams from a previous study. Atlantic salmon in natural streams had reduced fitness‐related traits that were associated with suboptimal microhabitats in the presence of rainbow trout, but utilised optimal microhabitats in their absence. In the presence of rainbow trout, the two Atlantic salmon populations exhibited comparable recapture proportions to each other, but the individuals from the Sebago population had better performance (body size and condition) than those from the LaHave population. Responses of both Atlantic salmon populations to competition with rainbow trout were generally similar in both direction and magnitude when compared to results from the artificial stream study. The combined results suggest that native species restoration efforts should be focused on candidate populations that are ecologically suitable to reintroduction environments, as well as on suitable habitats that do not contain exotic competitors. Moreover, this study highlights the value of controlled experiments in artificial environments for predicting fitness‐related performance in natural environments.
Neurosteroids differentially modulate fast and slow interictal discharges in the hippocampal CA3 area
Authors: Herrington Rochelle , Lévesque Maxime , Avoli Massimo 
Published: December 2014

AbstractTwo types of spontaneous interictal discharge, identified as fast and slow events, can be recorded from the hippocampal CA3 area in rat brain slices during application of 4‐aminopyridine (4AP) (50 μm). Here, we addressed how neurosteroids modulate the occurrence of these interictal events and of the associated high‐frequency oscillations (HFOs) (ripples, 80–200 Hz; fast ripples, 250–500 Hz). Under control conditions (i.e. during 4AP application), ripples and fast ripples were detected in 12.3 and 17.5% of fast events, respectively; in contrast, the majority of slow events (> 98%) did not co‐occur with HFOs. Application of 0.1, 1 or 5 μm allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) to 4AP‐treated slices caused a dose‐dependent decrease in the duration of the fast events and an increase in the occurrence of ripples, but not fast ripples; in contrast, the duration of slow events increased. THDOC potentiated the slow events that were recorded during pharmacological blockade of glutamatergic transmission, but had no effect on interictal discharges occurring during GABAA receptor antagonism. These results demonstrate that potentiation of GABAA receptor‐mediated signaling by THDOC differentially affects slow and fast interictal discharges; these differences may provide insights into how hyperexcitable activity is influenced by neurosteroids.
Removal of Numerous Vesical Magnetic Beads with a Self-Made Magnetic Sheath
Authors: Zeng Shu-Xiong , Li Hui-Zhen , Zhang Zhen-Sheng , Lu Xin , Yu Xiao-Wen , Yang Qing-Song , Ma Chong , Xu Chuan-Liang , Sun Ying-Hao 
Published: December 2014

Abstract

Introduction
Sexual curiosity and the quest for sexual excitement are the most frequent reasons for patients to introduce foreign bodies into the urethra or the bladder. Imagination and surgical skill are essential for urologists to retrieve such vesical foreign bodies.

Aim
The aim of this study was to describe a novel method for retrieving vesical magnetic beads, which were inserted for autoeroticism by a male adolescent, with a self-made “magnetic sheath.”

Methods
A 21-year-old young man inserted more than one hundred small magnetic beads into his urethra for sexual excitement, which lately caused symptoms of gross hematuria, frequent urination, and acute lower abdominal pain when walking or urinating. We invented a magnetic sheath by fixing a magnetic bead on the tip of an F9.5 ureteral access sheath to remove the foreign bodies in a minimally invasive way.

Main Outcome Measure
The feasibility of using magnetic sheath to remove vesical foreign bodies; and operation duration.

Results
Under direct visualization of an F8/9.8 ureteroscope, the magnetic sheath could firmly attach to the magnetic bead inside the bladder and could easily pull out 5 to 15 beads each time. It took about 5 minutes to remove all of the 125 magnetic beads by utilizing our magnetic sheath.

Conclusions
The self-made magnetic sheath can make the task of removal of magnetic foreign bodies easy to urologists, requiring less time and surgical skills. The new equipment provides a new method for urologists to deal with the challenging task of removing metal vesical foreign bodies which were self-inserted for masturbation.