bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cleavage of IgG1 in gingival crevicular fluid is associated with the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Guentsch A. , Hirsch C. , Pfister W. , Vincents B. , Abrahamson M. , Sroka A. , Potempa J. , Eick S. 
Published: November 2012

Background and ObjectivesImmunoglobulin (Ig) G1 plays an important role in the adaptive immune response. Kgp, a lysine‐specific cysteine protease from Porphyromonas gingivalis, specifically hydrolyses IgG1 heavy chains. The purpose of this study was to examine whether cleavage of IgG1 occurs in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in vivo, and whether there is any association with the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis and other periodontopathogens.Material and MethodsGCF was obtained from nine patients with aggressive periodontitis, nine with chronic periodontitis and five periodontally healthy individuals. The bacterial loads of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia and Tannerella forsythia were analysed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and the presence and cleavage of IgG1 and IgG2 were determined using Western blotting. Kgp levels were measured by ELISA.ResultsCleaved IgG1 was identified in the GCF from 67% of patients with aggressive periodontitis and in 44% of patients with chronic periodontitis. By contrast, no cleaved IgG1 was detectable in healthy controls. No degradation of IgG2 was detected in any of the samples, regardless of health status. Porphyromonas gingivalis was found in high numbers in all samples in which cleavage of IgG1 was detected (P < 0.001 compared with samples with no IgG cleavage). Furthermore, high numbers of Tannerella forsythia and Prevotella intermedia were also present in these samples. The level of Kgp in the GCF correlated with the load of Porphyromonas gingivalis (r = 0.425, P < 0.01). The presence of Kgp (range 0.07–10.98 ng/mL) was associated with proteolytic fragments of IgG1 (P < 0.001). However, cleaved IgG1 was also detected in samples with no detectable Kgp.ConclusionIn patients with periodontitis, cleavage of IgG1 occurs in vivo and may suppress antibody‐dependent antibacterial activity in subgingival biofilms especially those colonized by Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Cross‐fostering eggs reveals that female collared flycatchers adjust clutch sex ratios according to parental ability to invest in offspring
Authors: Bowers E. Keith , Munclinger Pavel , Bureš Stanislav , Kučerová Lenka , Nádvorník Petr , Krist Miloš 
Published: November 2012

AbstractAcross animal taxa, reproductive success is generally more variable and more strongly dependent upon body condition for males than for females; in such cases, parents able to produce offspring in above‐average condition are predicted to produce sons, whereas parents unable to produce offspring in good condition should produce daughters. We tested this hypothesis in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) by cross‐fostering eggs among nests and using the condition of foster young that parents raised to fledging as a functional measure of their ability to produce fit offspring. As predicted, females raising heavier‐than‐average foster fledglings with their social mate initially produced male‐biased primary sex ratios, whereas those raising lighter‐than‐average foster fledglings produced female‐biased primary sex ratios. Females also produced male‐biased clutches when mated to males with large secondary sexual characters (wing patches), and tended to produce male‐biased clutches earlier within breeding seasons relative to females breeding later. However, females did not adjust the sex of individuals within their clutches; sex was distributed randomly with respect to egg size, laying order and paternity. Future research investigating the proximate mechanisms linking ecological contexts and the quality of offspring parents are able to produce with primary sex‐ratio variation could provide fundamental insight into the evolution of context‐dependent sex‐ratio adjustment.
Prevalence of biofilm formation in clinical isolates of Candida species causing bloodstream infection
Authors: Pannanusorn Srisuda , Fernandez Victor , Römling Ute 
Published: November 2012

SummaryCandida species are the fourth most common cause of nosocomial invasive infections. Biofilm formation is recognised as one virulence factor of Candida species. A total of 243 Candida albicans, 81 C. glabrata, 33 C. parapsilosis, 14 C. dubliniensis, 8 C. tropicalis, 8 C. lusitaniae, 5 C. krusei and 1 C. pelliculosa isolates causing bloodstream infections were evaluated for biofilm formation. The biofilm formed on silicone elastomer preincubated with human serum was quantified by estimation of the metabolic activity through XTT assay and visualised by light and scanning electron microscopy. Forty per cent of the C. albicans isolates formed biofilm compared to 88.7% of the non‐albicans Candida isolates (P < 0.0001). Among non‐albicans Candida spp., biofilm formation was most commonly observed in C. tropicalis and C. lusitaniae (100%), followed by C. glabrata (95%), C. dubliniensis (85.7%) and C. parapsilosis (66.7%). A quantitative correlation was observed between the amount of biofilm observed microscopically, and that determined by metabolic activity measurements. The biofilms of all Candida species were composed of basal yeast cells with the exception of C. parapsilosis which produced biofilms consisting of pseudohyphae and aggregated yeast cells. These results suggest that biofilm formation as a virulence factor might have a higher significance for non‐albicans Candida species than for C. albicans.
The addition of pyloroplasty as a new surgical approach to enhance effectiveness of gastric electrical stimulation therapy in patients with gastroparesis
Authors: Sarosiek I. , Forster J. , Lin Z. , Cherry S. , Sarosiek J. , McCallum R. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground  Improvement of gastroparesis (GP) symptoms has been documented in patients treated with gastric electrical stimulation (GES), but acceleration of gastric emptying (GET) is unpredictable. The aim of our study was to evaluate the advantage of adding surgical pyloroplasty (PP) to GES for improvement of GET and control of symptoms in diabetes mellitus (DM), idiopathic (ID), and postvagotomy (P‐V) GP.Methods  A total of 49 (17 – DM, 9 – ID, 23 – P‐V) consecutive GP patients: 38 female; mean age 42 (21–73 years); mean weight 158 lbs (102–245), underwent GES implantation, and 26 (53%) additionally received PP. Total Symptoms Score, 4‐h GET, adverse events (AEs), and days of hospitalizations were captured at baseline and at the last visit.Key Results  The mean follow‐up was 7 months. Total Symptoms Score in patients who received Enterra and PP or GES alone significantly improved compared to their baseline scores (P < 0.001). GET improved by 64% at 4 h (P < 0.001) in patients with Enterra and PP, compared to 7% observed after GES therapy alone (ns). The most impressive acceleration of GET was seen in the P‐V group, who received both therapies (P = 0.004) and 8 (60%) of them normalized GET. No AEs accompanied the addition of PP to the Enterra surgery.Conclusions & Inferences  (i) In drug‐refractory GP the addition of PP to GES substantially accelerated GET; (ii) The GET response in P‐V group was the most impressive; (iii) Significant symptom reductions were achieved by both procedures; and (iv) PP added to GES may sustain better long‐term symptoms control particularly in the P‐V setting.
Automated impedance‐manometry analysis detects esophageal motor dysfunction in patients who have non‐obstructive dysphagia with normal manometry
Authors: Nguyen N. Q. , Holloway R. H. , Smout A. J. , Omari T. I. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground  Automated integrated analysis of impedance and pressure signals has been reported to identify patients at risk of developing dysphagia post fundoplication. This study aimed to investigate this analysis in the evaluation of patients with non‐obstructive dysphagia (NOD) and normal manometry (NOD/NM).Methods  Combined impedance‐manometry was performed in 42 patients (27F : 15M; 56.2 ± 5.1 years) and compared with that of 24 healthy subjects (8F : 16M; 48.2 ± 2.9 years). Both liquid and viscous boluses were tested. MATLAB‐based algorithms defined the median intrabolus pressure (IBP), IBP slope, peak pressure (PP), and timing of bolus flow relative to peak pressure (TNadImp‐PP). An index of pressure and flow (PFI) in the distal esophagus was derived from these variables.Key Results  Diagnoses based on conventional manometric assessment: diffuse spasm (n = 5), non‐specific motor disorders (n = 19), and normal (n = 11). Patients with achalasia (n = 7) were excluded from automated impedance‐manometry (AIM) analysis. Only 2/11 (18%) patients with NOD/NM had evidence of flow abnormality on conventional impedance analysis. Several variables derived by integrated impedance‐pressure analysis were significantly different in patients as compared with healthy: higher PNadImp (P < 0.01), IBP (P < 0.01) and IBP slope (P < 0.05), and shorter TNadImp_PP (P = 0.01). The PFI of NOD/NM patients was significantly higher than that in healthy (liquid: 6.7 vs 1.2, P = 0.02; viscous: 27.1 vs 5.7, P < 0.001) and 9/11 NOD/NM patients had abnormal PFI. Overall, the addition of AIM analysis provided diagnoses and/or a plausible explanation in 95% (40/42) of patients who presented with NOD.Conclusions & Inferences  Compared with conventional pressure‐impedance assessment, integrated analysis is more sensitive in detecting subtle abnormalities in esophageal function in patients with NOD and normal manometry.
Down‐regulation of PvTRE1 enhances nodule biomass and bacteroid number in the common bean
Authors: Barraza Aarón , Estrada‐Navarrete Georgina , Rodriguez‐Alegria Maria Elena , Lopez‐Munguia Agustin , Merino Enrique , Quinto Carmen , Sanchez Federico 
Published: November 2012

Summary

Legume–rhizobium interactions have been widely studied and characterized, and the disaccharide trehalose has been commonly detected during this symbiotic interaction. It has been proposed that trehalose content in nodules during this symbiotic interaction might be regulated by trehalase. In the present study, we assessed the role of trehalose accumulation by down‐regulating trehalase in the nodules of common bean plants.

We performed gene expression analysis for trehalase (PvTRE1) during nodule development. PvTRE1 was knocked down by RNA interference (RNAi) in transgenic nodules of the common bean.

PvTRE1 expression in nodulated roots is mainly restricted to nodules. Down‐regulation of PvTRE1 led to increased trehalose content (78%) and bacteroid number (almost one order of magnitude). In addition, nodule biomass, nitrogenase activity, and GOGAT transcript accumulation were significantly enhanced too.

The trehalose accumulation, triggered by PvTRE1 down‐regulation, led to a positive impact on the legume–rhizobium symbiotic interaction. This could contribute to the agronomical enhancement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
The Long‐term Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Cervical Nucleoplasty in Patients with a Contained Herniated Disk
Authors: Halim Willy , Wullems Jorgen A. , Lim Toine , Aukes Hans A. , van der Weegen Walter , Vissers Kris C. , Gültuna Ismail , Chua Nicholas H. L. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundPercutaneous cervical nucleoplasty (PCN) is a safe and effective treatment in symptomatic patients with contained cervical herniated disks. It provides simple and efficient disk decompression, using a controlled and highly localized ablation, but evidence regarding long‐term efficacy is limited. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the long‐term efficacy and safety of PCN, and the influence of ideal selection settings.MethodsA total of 27 patients treated with PCN fulfilling ideal selection criteria (Group A) were studied and compared to 42 patients not meeting these criteria (Group B). Outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a four‐level Likert item for perceived pain and satisfaction, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Short Form 36 (SF‐36). Additional relevant outcomes were retrieved from medical records.ResultsThe postoperative mean VAS pain for Group A was 29.9 (SD ± 32.6) at a mean follow‐up of 24 months (range: 2–45). Only 10% of these patients reported mild transient adverse events. There was a trend, but no difference between both groups in pain scores; however, treatment satisfaction was higher for Group A (74.1 ± 27.2–55.5 ± 31.4, P = 0.02). Group A also reported better physical functioning based on the Physical Component Summary (43.6 ± 10.6–37.3 ± 12.0, P = 0.03) and showed a larger proportion of patients no longer using any medication postoperatively (63–26%, P = 0.01).ConclusionThese results show long‐term effectiveness and safety of PCN in patients with a one‐level contained cervical herniated disk, and the reliance of selecting patients meeting ideal criteria for successful PCN.
Oral immunogenicity of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus antigen expressed in transgenic banana
Authors: Chan Hui‐Ting , Chia Min‐Yuan , Pang Victor Fei , Jeng Chian‐Ren , Do Yi‐Yin , Huang Pung‐Ling 
Published: November 2012

SummaryPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a persistent threat of economically significant influence to the swine industry worldwide. Recombinant DNA technology coupled with tissue culture technology is a viable alternative for the inexpensive production of heterologous proteins in planta. Embryogenic cells of banana cv. ‘Pei chiao’ (AAA) have been transformed with the ORF5 gene of PRRSV envelope glycoprotein (GP5) using Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation and have been confirmed. Recombinant GP5 protein levels in the transgenic banana leaves were detected and ranged from 0.021%–0.037% of total soluble protein. Pigs were immunized with recombinant GP5 protein by orally feeding transgenic banana leaves for three consecutive doses at a 2‐week interval and challenged with PRRSV at 7 weeks postinitial immunization. A vaccination‐dependent gradational increase in the elicitation of serum and saliva anti‐PRRSV IgG and IgA was observed. Furthermore, significantly lower viraemia and tissue viral load were recorded when compared with the pigs fed with untransformed banana leaves. The results suggest that transgenic banana leaves expressing recombinant GP5 protein can be an effective strategy for oral delivery of recombinant subunit vaccines in pigs and can open new avenues for the production of vaccines against PRRSV.
Age Differences in Perceptions of Rich and Poor People: Is It Skill or Luck?
Authors: Sigelman Carol K. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractTo gain new perspective on the development of understandings and perceptions of income inequality, this study compared the reactions of six, eight, and 10‐year‐olds to a rich man and a poor man and the winners and losers of a contest of skill and a game of chance. Age differences in attributions for outcomes reflected a strengthening with age of the skill–luck distinction and of equity thinking about wealth. Although men with good outcomes were generally perceived more positively than men with bad outcomes, and likeability was affected only by outcome, 10‐year‐olds differentiated most sharply among different types of ‘winners’ or ‘losers’, viewing the rich and poor men as more like the winner and loser of a contest of skill than like the winner and loser of a game of chance. Overall, the findings suggest that differential evaluation of rich and poor people may begin as affective tagging based on good or bad life outcomes and later be associated with justifications grounded in an equity perspective on income inequality that emphasizes the role of personal qualities such as ability in wealth accumulation.
Stability and Change in Kindergartners' Friendships: Examination of Links with Social Functioning
Authors: Proulx Marie‐France , Poulin François 
Published: November 2012

AbstractStability and change in kindergartners' friendships were examined based on a typology of profiles (stable, fluid, loss, gain, friendless). Our purpose was to determine whether children belonging to the five profiles differed in their social functioning. The sample was composed of 2353 kindergartners. Reciprocal friendships and social functioning indices were measured using peer nominations collected in October and May of the same year. A series of repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that children in the friendless profile were less accepted by their peers, more shy, more withdrawn, and more aggressive than other children. Moreover, children in the stable profile were significantly more accepted by their peers, more prosocial, and less shy than children in the fluid profile. Lastly, children in the loss profile became less accepted by their peers and less prosocial over the course of the year whereas children in the gain profile became more accepted and prosocial.
Integration of Behavioral Frequency and Intention Information in Young Children's Trait Attributions
Authors: Boseovski Janet J. , Chiu Korinne , Marcovitch Stuart 
Published: November 2012

AbstractTwo experiments examined three‐ to six‐year‐olds' use of frequency and intention information to make trait attributions and behavioral predictions. In experiment 1, participants were told a story about an actor who behaved positively once or four times on purpose or incidentally. Children were most likely to make trait‐consistent behavioral predictions after hearing about several positive, intentional behaviors. Trait attributions were largely positive. Experiment 2 examined children's use of the same cues concerning negative behavioral outcomes. Participants tended to predict that actors who engaged in negative behavior would do so again, irrespective of intention, although younger children required more exemplars than older children. Participants were most likely to make negative trait attributions after hearing about multiple intentional behaviors; however, there was reluctance with age to describe actors as mean. Implications for children's ‘theory of personality’ are discussed.
Contingencies of Self‐worth in Early Adolescence: The Antecedent Role of Perceived Parenting
Authors: Wouters Sofie , Doumen Sarah , Germeijs Veerle , Colpin Hilde , Verschueren Karine 
Published: November 2012

AbstractContingent self‐esteem (i.e., the degree to which one's self‐esteem is dependent on meeting particular conditions) has been shown to predict a wide range of psychosocial and academic problems. This study extends previous research on contingent self‐esteem by examining the predictive role of perceived parenting dimensions in a sample of early adolescents (N = 240; age range 11–15 years). Additionally, the effect of perceived parenting on contingent self‐esteem is compared with its effect on global self‐esteem. Our main findings showed that both responsiveness and psychological control were unique predictors of global self‐esteem whereas only psychological control uniquely predicted contingent self‐esteem. Although the effect of responsiveness on global self‐esteem was increased when combined with high levels of behavioral control, this effect did not depend on the level of psychological control. The effect of psychological control on contingent self‐esteem, however, generally increased when combined with high levels of responsiveness.
Consequences of forest conversion to pasture and fallow on soil microbial biomass and activity in the eastern Amazon
Authors: Melo V. S. , Desjardins T. , Silva Jr M. L. , Santos E. R. , Sarrazin M. , Santos M. M. L. S. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe main change in soil use in Amazonia is, after slash and burn deforestation followed by annual crops, the establishment of pastures. This conversion of forest to pasture induces changes in the carbon cycle, modifies soil organic matter content and quality and affects biological activity responsible for numerous biochemical and biological processes essential to ecosystem functioning. The aim of this study was to assess changes in microbial biomass and activity in fallow and pasture soils after forest clearing. The study was performed in smallholder settlements of eastern Brazilian Amazonia. Soil samples from depths of 0–2, 2–5 and 5–10 cm were gathered in native forest, fallow land 8–10 yr old and pastures with ages of 1–2, 5–7 and 10–12 yr. Once fallow began, soil microbial biomass and its activity showed little change. In contrast, conversion to pasture modified soil microbial functioning significantly. Microbial biomass and its basal respiration decreased markedly after pasture establishment and continued to decrease with pasture age. The increase in metabolic quotient in the first years of pasture indicated a disturbance in soil functioning. Our study confirms that microbial biomass is a sensitive indicator of soil disturbance caused by land‐use change.
Temporal course of net N mineralization and immobilization in topsoil following incorporation of crop residues of winter oilseed rape, peas and oats in a northern climate
Authors: Engström L. , Lindén B. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe impact of incorporated residues of winter oilseed rape, peas and oats on soil N availability and the risk of N leaching during autumn and winter in a northern climate is not clear. Therefore, the aim was to determine the influence of incorporated residues on net N mineralization–immobilization in topsoil during autumn and winter. A field experiment carried out at three sites in South Sweden provided soil samples and crop residues for an interpretive, in situ incubation study. Topsoil corresponding to a 7‐cm soil layer from each site used for the field experiment was incubated with and without aboveground residues under natural temperature conditions at a single field location. On the basis of the incubation study, we concluded that in the field experiment, soil N dynamics during autumn and winter trials were the combined outcome of net N mineralization in the topsoil fraction not affected by aboveground residues and net N immobilization in the fraction in contact with aboveground crop residues. In the absence of aboveground residues, the net rate of N mineralization during early autumn was similar after both oilseed rape and peas, but values were larger than that after oats. After incorporation, aboveground residues of winter oilseed rape and peas made no contribution to soil mineral N in late autumn and thus did not increase the risk of N losses during winter. In fact, the residues of oilseed rape, peas and oats reduced the amount of soil mineral N by 7–14 kg N/ha during the main drainage period (October–March). Therefore, incorporating chopped aboveground residues should be encouraged before sowing winter wheat after peas and winter oilseed rape.
p-adic modular forms of non-integral weight over Shimura curves
Authors: Brasca Riccardo 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIn this work, we set up a theory ofp-adic modular forms over Shimura curves over totally real fields which allows us to consider also non-integral weights. In particular, we define an analogue of the sheaves ofkth invariant differentials over the Shimura curves we are interested in, for anyp-adic character. In this way, we are able to introduce the notion of overconvergent modular form of anyp-adic weight. Moreover, our sheaves can be put inp-adic families over a suitable rigid analytic space, that parametrizes the weights. Finally, we define Hecke operators, including the U operator, that acts compactly on the space of overconvergent modular forms. We also construct the eigencurve.