bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social capital and self-rated health among older adults: a comparative analysis of Finland, Poland and Spain
Authors: KOUTSOGEORGOU ELENI , NYQVIST FREDRICA , NYGÅRD MIKAEL , CERNIAUSKAITE MILDA , QUINTAS RUI , RAGGI ALBERTO , LEONARDI MATILDE 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTThe aim of this paper is to investigate the association between structural and cognitive aspects of social capital and self-rated health among adults aged 50 or more, living in three countries: Finland, Poland and Spain. The study, which was based on data from the European Social Survey (2008/09), was a part of the EU research project COURAGE in Europe. More specifically the paper assesses the association between social capital indicators – informal social network and general trust – and good self-rated health through single-level and joint effects analyses. The results showed that Finland was a country of high social capital, in terms of both social networks and general trust, while Spain showed low levels of general trust and Poland low levels of informal social networks. As to the association between social capital and self-rated health, high levels of general trust and high networks were found to be associated with good health among all countries' respondents. Older persons living in partnerships, with higher education, higher levels of engagement in informal networks and general trust, were found to be more likely to show good self-rated health. Our comparative analyses revealed different associations between social capital and health according to country.
Heart transplant after the Fontan operation
Authors: Rossano Joseph W. , Shaddy Robert E. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAlthough the Fontan operation may provide a durable circulation for some patients with functionally univentricular hearts for several decades, circulatory failure becomes more common over time. Medical and/or surgical interventions can improve the circulation for some period of time; however, many patients will experience end-stage circulatory failure. Heart transplantation may be considered in these patients. This review will cover the indications and evaluation for heart transplantation, management of patients while waiting for heart transplantation and the current outcomes of transplantation in this population.
Longitudinal study of murine microbiota activity and interactions with the host during acute inflammation and recovery
Authors: Schwab Clarissa , Berry David , Rauch Isabella , Rennisch Ina , Ramesmayer Julia , Hainzl Eva , Heider Susanne , Decker Thomas , Kenner Lukas , Müller Mathias , Strobl Birgit , Wagner Michael , Schleper Christa , Loy Alexander , Urich Tim 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Although alterations in gut microbiota composition during acute colitis have been repeatedly observed, associated functional changes and the recovery from dysbiosis received little attention. In this study, we investigated structure and function of the gut microbiota during acute inflammation and recovery in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-colitis mouse model using metatranscriptomics, bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and monitoring of selected host markers. Parallel to an increase of host markers of inflammation during acute colitis, we observed relative abundance shifts and alterations in phylotype composition of the dominant bacterial orders Clostridiales and Bacteroidales, and an increase of the low abundant Enterobacteriales, Deferribacterales, Verrucomicrobiales and Erysipelotrichales. During recovery, the microbiota began to resume, but did not reach its original composition until the end of the experiment. Microbial gene expression was more resilient to disturbance, with pre-perturbation-type transcript profiles appearing quickly after acute colitis. The decrease of Clostridiales during inflammation correlated with a reduction of transcripts related to butyrate formation, suggesting a disturbance in host-microbe signalling and mucosal nutrient provision. The impact of acute inflammation on the Clostridiales was also characterized by a significant downregulation of their flagellin-encoding genes. In contrast, the abundance of members of the Bacteroidales increased along with an increase in transcripts related to mucin degradation. We propose that acute inflammation triggered a selective reaction of the immune system against flagella of commensals and temporarily altered murine microbiota composition and functions relevant for the host. Despite changes in specific interactions, the host–microbiota homeostasis revealed a remarkable ability for recovery.
Integrative analysis of histone ChIP-seq and transcription data using Bayesian mixture models
Authors: Klein Hans-Ulrich , Schäfer Martin , Porse Bo T. , Hasemann Marie S. , Ickstadt Katja , Dugas Martin 
Published: January 2014

AbstractMotivation: Histone modifications are a key epigenetic mechanism to activate or repress the transcription of genes. Datasets of matched transcription data and histone modification data obtained by ChIP-seq exist, but methods for integrative analysis of both data types are still rare. Here, we present a novel bioinformatics approach to detect genes that show different transcript abundances between two conditions putatively caused by alterations in histone modification.Results: We introduce a correlation measure for integrative analysis of ChIP-seq and gene transcription data measured by RNA sequencing or microarrays and demonstrate that a proper normalization of ChIP-seq data is crucial. We suggest applying Bayesian mixture models of different types of distributions to further study the distribution of the correlation measure. The implicit classification of the mixture models is used to detect genes with differences between two conditions in both gene transcription and histone modification. The method is applied to different datasets, and its superiority to a naive separate analysis of both data types is demonstrated.Availability and implementation: R/Bioconductor package epigenomix.Contact: h.klein@uni-muenster.deSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The diversity of receptor recognition in cholesterol‐dependent cytolysins
Authors: Tabata Atsushi , Ohkura Kazuto , Ohkubo Yukimasa , Tomoyasu Toshifumi , Ohkuni Hisashi , Whiley Robert A. , Nagamune Hideaki 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTCholesterol‐dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are bacterial pore‐forming toxins secreted mainly by pathogenic Gram‐positive bacteria. CDCs generally recognize and bind to membrane cholesterol to create pores and lyse target cells. However, in contrast to typical CDCs such as streptolysin O, several atypical CDCs have been reported. The first of these was intermedilysin, which is secreted by Streptococcus intermedius and has human cell‐specificity, human CD59 (huCD59) being its receptor. In the study reported here, the diversity of receptor recognition among CDCs was investigated and multi‐receptor recognition characteristics were identified within this toxin family. Streptococcus mitis‐derived human platelet aggregation factor (Sm‐hPAF) secreted by S. mitis strain Nm‐65 isolated from a patient with Kawasaki disease was previously shown to hemolyze erythrocytes in a species‐dependent manner, its maximum activity being in human cells. In the present study, it was found that Sm‐hPAF recognizes both membrane cholesterol and huCD59 as receptors for triggering pore‐formation. Moreover, vaginolysin (VLY) of Gardnerella vaginalis showed similar characteristics to Sm‐hPAF regarding receptor recognition. On the basis of the results presented here, the mode of receptor recognition of CDCs can be categorized into the following three groups: (i) Group I, comprising typical CDCs with high affinity to cholesterol and no or very little affinity to huCD59; (ii) Group II, including atypical CDCs such as ILY, with no or very little affinity to cholesterol and high affinity to huCD59; and (iii) Group III, which contains atypical CDCs such as Sm‐hPAF and VLY with affinity to both cholesterol and huCD59.
Sustainably managing natural resources and the need for construction materials in Pacific island countries: The example of South Tarawa, Kiribati
Authors: Babinard Julie , Bennett Christopher R. , Hatziolos Marea E. , Faiz Asif , Somani Anil 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe growing demand for construction materials in South Tarawa, a remote atoll in the South Pacific, provides an example of the environmental and social challenges associated with the use of non‐renewable resources in the context of small island countries threatened by coastal erosion and climate change. In many small Pacific island countries, the availability of construction materials is limited, with the majority mined from beaches and coastal reefs in an unsustainable manner. Growing demand for construction aggregates is resulting in more widespread sand mining by communities along vulnerable sections of exposed beach and reefs. This has serious consequences for coastal erosion and impacts on reef ecosystem processes, consequences that cannot be easily managed. Construction materials are also in high demand for infrastructure projects which are financed in part with support from international development agencies and donors. This paper reviews the various challenges and risks that aggregate mining poses to reefs, fish, and the coastal health of South Tarawa and argues that the long term consequences from ad hoc beach/reef mining over large areas are likely to be far greater than the impacts associated with environmentally sustainable, organized extraction. The paper concludes with policy recommendations that are also relevant for neighbouring island countries facing similar challenges.
Ultra‐deep Illumina sequencing accurately identifies MHC class IIb alleles and provides evidence for copy number variation in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Authors: Lighten Jackie , van Oosterhout Cock , Paterson Ian G. , McMullan Mark , Bentzen Paul 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWe address the bioinformatic issue of accurately separating amplified genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) from artefacts generated during high‐throughput sequencing workflows. We fit observed ultra‐deep sequencing depths (hundreds to thousands of sequences per amplicon) of allelic variants to expectations from genetic models of copy number variation (CNV). We provide a simple, accurate and repeatable method for genotyping multigene families, evaluating our method via analyses of 209 b of MHC class IIb exon 2 in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Genotype repeatability for resequenced individuals (N = 49) was high (100%) within the same sequencing run. However, repeatability dropped to 83.7% between independent runs, either because of lower mean amplicon sequencing depth in the initial run or random PCR effects. This highlights the importance of fully independent replicates. Significant improvements in genotyping accuracy were made by greatly reducing type I genotyping error (i.e. accepting an artefact as a true allele), which may occur when using low‐depth allele validation thresholds used by previous methods. Only a small amount (4.9%) of type II error (i.e. rejecting a genuine allele as an artefact) was detected through fully independent sequencing runs. We observed 1–6 alleles per individual, and evidence of sharing of alleles across loci. Variation in the total number of MHC class II loci among individuals, both among and within populations was also observed, and some genotypes appeared to be partially hemizygous; total allelic dosage added up to an odd number of allelic copies. Collectively, observations provide evidence of MHC CNV and its complex basis in natural populations.
Excess body mass is associated with T cell differentiation indicative of immune ageing in children
Authors: Spielmann G , Johnston C A , O'Connor D P , Foreyt J P , Simpson R J 
Published: January 2014

SummaryObesity has been associated with accelerated biological ageing and immunosenescence. As the prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing, we wanted to determine if associations between obesity and immunosenescence would manifest in children. We studied 123 Mexican American adolescents aged 10–14 (mean 12·3 ± 0·7) years, with body weights ranging from 30·1 to 115·2 kg (mean 52·5 ± 14·5 kg). Blood samples were obtained to determine proportions of naive, central memory (CM), effector memory (EM), senescent and early, intermediate and highly differentiated subsets of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Overweight and obese children had significantly lowered proportions of early CD8+ T cells (B = −11·55 and –5·51%, respectively) compared to healthy weight. Overweight children also had more EM (B = +7·53%), late (B = +8·90%) and senescent (B = +4·86%) CD8+ T cells than healthy weight children, while obese children had more intermediate CD8+ (B = +4·59%), EM CD8+ (B = +5·49%), late CD4+ (B = +2·01%) and senescent CD4+ (B = +0·98%) T cells compared to healthy weight children. These findings withstood adjustment for potentially confounding variables, including age, gender and latent cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus infections. We conclude that excess body mass, even in adolescence, may accelerate immunosenescence and predispose children to increased risks of incurring immune-related health problems in adulthood.
Microbial ‘old friends’, immunoregulation and socioeconomic status
Authors: Rook G A W , Raison C L , Lowry C A 
Published: January 2014

SummaryThe immune system evolved to require input from at least three sources that we collectively term the ‘old friends’: (i) the commensal microbiotas transmitted by mothers and other family members; (ii) organisms from the natural environment that modulate and diversify the commensal microbiotas; and (iii) the ‘old’ infections that could persist in small isolated hunter-gatherer groups as relatively harmless subclinical infections or carrier states. These categories of organism had to be tolerated and co-evolved roles in the development and regulation of the immune system. By contrast, the ‘crowd infections’ (such as childhood virus infections) evolved later, when urbanization led to large communities. They did not evolve immunoregulatory roles because they either killed the host or induced solid immunity, and could not persist in hunter-gatherer groups. Because the western lifestyle and medical practice deplete the ‘old’ infections (for example helminths), immunoregulatory disorders have increased, and the immune system has become more dependent upon microbiotas and the natural environment. However, urbanization maintains exposure to the crowd infections that lack immunoregulatory roles, while accelerating loss of exposure to the natural environment. This effect is most pronounced in individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES) who lack rural second homes and rural holidays. Interestingly, large epidemiological studies indicate that the health benefits of living close to green spaces are most pronounced for individuals of low SES. Here we discuss the immunoregulatory role of the natural environment, and how this may interact with, and modulate, the proinflammatory effects of psychosocial stressors in low SES individuals.
Examining the Structure of Opportunity and Social Mobility in India: Who Becomes an Engineer?
Authors: Krishna Anirudh 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTRising inequality alongside rapid economic growth reinforces the need to examine patterns of social mobility in India. Are children from less well‐off sections also able to rise to higher‐paying positions, newly created by the growing economy, or are these positions mainly accessible to established elites? Powered in particular by the software industry, no sector has grown as fast as engineering in India. Examining the social origins of students at a range of engineering colleges, including higher‐ and lower‐ranked ones, provides a useful lens for understanding how the new opportunities have availed different social segments. These results provide some grounds for optimism: women, scheduled castes, and sons and daughters of agriculturists have improved upon historical trends. However, the rural–urban divide remains deep: the more rural one is, the lower are one's chances of getting into any engineering college. Multiple simultaneous handicaps — being poorandrural or scheduled casteandrural — reduce these chances to virtually zero. Improving education quality together with better information provision and more accessible career advice are critical for making opportunity more equitable.
ControlledEpstein–Barr virus reactivation after allogeneic transplantation is associated with improved survival
Authors: Auger Sophie , Orsini Mattea , Céballos Patrice , Fegueux Nathalie , Kanouni Tarik , Caumes Bastien , Klein Bernard , Villalba Martin , Rossi Jean‐François 
Published: January 2014

AbstractEpstein–Barr virus reactivation (EBV‐R) frequently occurs in patients having allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We evaluated the impact of controlledEBV‐Ron survival of 190 patients (114M/76F, median age: 51 yr, range 18–69), havingHSCTfor hematological malignancies (105 acute leukemias and myelodysplasias, 71 lymphoproliferative disorders, 14 others). Overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were compared between patients with and withoutEBV‐R. Of 138, patients had reduced‐intensity conditioning regimen. Various stem cell sources (141PB, 33 umbilical cord blood and 16 bone marrow) were used. Patients withEBV‐Rhad longerPFSandOSthan those withoutEBV‐R:PFSat 2 yr 69% vs. 51% and at 5 yr 47% vs. 38% (P < 0.04);OSat 2 yr 76% vs. 64% and at 5 yr 63% vs. 47%) (P < 0.001). The use of rituximab had no impact onOSandPFS, but it reduced the intensity ofGVHD, despite the fact thatTRMwas not significantly different between the two groups of patients. So, rituximab may have an additional effect to other factors onPFSandOS. In multivariate analysis, antithymocyte globulin administration was not a significant factor forPFS(P = 0.68) and forOS(P = 0.81). CirculatingNKcells were significantly increased by 22% (P = 0.03) inEBV‐Rpatients with no differences for other parameters. ControlledEBV‐Rin the setting ofHSCTis associated with betterOSandPFS, with a significant increase in circulatingNKcells.
Effects of co‐creation claim on consumer brand perceptions and behavioural intentions
Authors: van Dijk Joyce , Antonides Gerrit , Schillewaert Niels 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIncreasingly often, companies ‘co‐create’ with consumers in open innovation practices to develop new products more effectively. Little is known about how co‐creation affects consumer brand perceptions in the mass market. We hypothesize that co‐creative brands – as opposed to non–co‐creative brands – are perceived as more authentic and sincere, and are associated with relatively positive behavioural intentions. A between‐subjects experiment was conducted to test these hypotheses in an online panel of consumers who did not take part in co‐creation. The experiment had a 3 (control vs. co‐creation vs. co‐creation supported with some visual proof) × 2 (well‐known existing brand vs. fictitious brand) design. Quantitative data analyses (n = 530) confirmed that for both brands, co‐creation affects brand personality perceptions directly and behavioural intentions indirectly. This study shows that co‐creating with consumers can be a strategic method to positively influence product perceptions and behavioural intentions.
Prevalence and potential determinants of musculoskeletal disease symptoms among care workers in long‐term care facilities in South Korea
Authors: Park Myung‐Sook , Yu Mi , Yu Su‐Jeong , Kang Kyung‐Ja , Seo Hyun‐Mi 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAimThe purpose of this study was to investigate the degree and influencing factors of musculoskeletal disease symptoms among care workers in long‐term care facilities in South Korea.MethodsParticipants in this cross‐sectional study were 265 care workers in 15 long‐term care facilities. Data were collected between 1 and 27 August 2011, using the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) code H‐30–2003 and analyzed using logistic regression with SPSS ver. 18.0.ResultsOf the care workers, 88.7% had pain in at least one of the six body parts. The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disease symptoms was in the lower back and legs. Among the organizational factors, there were significant differences in neck pain by work shift and patient grade. Neck pain was more severe in the 8 h shift group than 12–24 h shift group. Care workers caring for patients who were classified in the first patient grade of long‐term care insurance had 4.73 times more complaints of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck, 9.54 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.37–27.02) in the hand and wrist, 4.37 times (95% CI = 1.59–12.03) in the lower back, and 2.96 times (95% CI: 1.17–7.51) in the leg and foot.ConclusionTo prevent and manage musculoskeletal disease symptoms, activities and the intensity of work should be arranged systematically and planned, and the improvement of organizational factors such as appropriate assignment by patients' severity is considered.
HpaP modulates type III effector secretion in Ralstonia solanacearum and harbours a substrate specificity switch domain essential for virulence
Authors: Lohou David , Turner Marie , Lonjon Fabien , Cazalé Anne‐Claire , Peeters Nemo , Genin Stéphane , Vailleau Fabienne 
Published: January 2014

SummaryMany pathogenic bacteria have evolved a type III secretion system (T3SS) to successfully invade their host. This extracellular apparatus allows the translocation of proteins, called type III effectors (T3Es), directly into the host cells. T3Es are virulence factors that have been shown to interfere with the host's immunity or to provide nutrients from the host to the bacteria. The Gram‐negative bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum is a worldwide major crop pest whose virulence strongly relies on the T3SS. In R. solanacearum, transcriptional regulation has been extensively studied. However, very few data are available concerning the role played by type III‐associated regulators, such as type III chaperones and T3SS control proteins. Here, we characterized HpaP, a putative type III secretion substrate specificity switch (T3S4) protein of R. solanacearum which is not secreted by the bacterium or translocated in the plant cells. HpaP self‐interacts and interacts with the PopP1 T3E. HpaP modulates the secretion of early (HrpY pilin) and late (AvrA and PopP1 T3Es) type III substrates. HpaP is dispensable for the translocation of T3Es into the host cells. Finally, we identified two regions of five amino acids in the T3S4 domain that are essential for efficient PopP1 secretion and for HpaP's role in virulence on tomato and Arabidopsis thaliana, but not required for HpaP–HpaP and HpaP–PopP1 interactions. Taken together, our results indicate that HpaP is a putative R. solanacearum T3S4 protein important for full pathogenicity on several hosts, acting as a helper for PopP1 secretion, and repressing AvrA and HrpY secretion.