bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interferometry of infragravity waves off New Zealand
Authors: Godin Oleg A. , Zabotin Nikolay A. , Sheehan Anne F. , Collins John A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWave interferometry is a remote sensing technique, which is increasingly employed in helioseismology, seismology, and acoustics to retrieve parameters of the propagation medium from two‐point cross‐correlation functions of random wavefields. Here we apply interferometry to yearlong records of seafloor pressure at 28 locations off New Zealand's South Island to investigate propagation and directivity properties of infragravity waves away from shore. A compressed cross‐correlation function technique is proposed to make the interferometry of dispersive waves more robust, decrease the necessary noise averaging time, and simplify retrieval of quantitative information from noise cross correlations. The emergence of deterministic wave arrivals from cross correlations of random wavefields is observed up to the maximum range of 692 km between the pressure sensors in the array. Free, linear waves with a strongly anisotropic distribution of power flux density are found to be dominant in the infragravity wavefield. Lowest‐frequency components of the infragravity wavefield are largely isotropic. The anisotropy has its maximum in the middle of the spectral band and decreases at the high‐frequency end of the spectrum. Highest anisotropy peaks correspond to waves coming from portions of the New Zealand's shoreline. Significant contributions are also observed from waves propagating along the coastline and probably coming from powerful sources in the northeast Pacific. Infragravity wave directivity is markedly different to the east and to the west of the South Island. The northwest coast of the South Island is found to be a net source of the infragravity wave energy.
Protozoa
Authors: Warren Alan 
Published: January 2014

AbstractProtozoa may be considered as (mostly) microscopic, essentially single‐celled, eukaryotic organisms whose food is obtained by eating other organisms or their products. Some contain algal endosymbionts, or enslave plastids from their prey, and thus gain additional nutritional benefit from photosynthesis. Protozoa are no longer recognised as a taxonomic group and representatives can be found in all but one of the eukaryote supergroups. Protozoa play important roles in the ecology of aquatic habitats and soils, for example, by controlling bacterial populations and releasing nutrients for use by other organisms. As parasites, protozoa have very profound effects on humans, both directly and through their effects on domesticated animals. Some protozoa have shells or skeletal structures that can fossilise and certain types, particularly the foraminifera, are used in biostratigraphy and in locating oil deposits.Key Concepts:Protozoa are single‐celled eukaryotes that obtain their food by eating other organisms or their products.Protozoa are not a taxonomic group but rather a diverse assemblage of distantly related lineages, with representatives in all but one of the eukaryote supergroups.The identification of protozoa is based mainly on morphology as revealed by light microscopy.The main functional groups of protozoa are the amoebae, flagellates, ciliates (all of which are characterised by their organelles of locomotion and food capture) and sporozoa (obligate parasites).Protozoa are found in almost every habitat where there is sufficient water for them to move and feed, and may survive adverse environmental conditions by the production of cysts or spores.Protozoa play key roles in nutrient cycling and soil fertility, and are the main predators of bacteria in many environments.A wide range of human and animal diseases are caused by protozoa.Fossil protozoa are used to help locate oil deposits and to reconstruct past climate change.
Adventitious Roots
Authors: Bellini Catherine 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

The root system of a plant is composed of the primary, lateral and adventitious roots (ARs). Lateral roots always develop from roots, whereas ARs form from stem or leaf‐derived cells. AR formation is part of the normal development of the plant and occurs naturally, like in most monocotyledonous for which they constitute the main root system or in many dicotyledonous species that propagate vegetatively. Adventitious rooting is an essential step for vegetative propagation of economically important horticultural and woody species as it allows clonal propagation and rapid fixation of superior genotypes prior to their introduction into production or breeding programmes. Development of ARs is a complex process that is affected by multiple endogenous and environmental factors, including phytohormones; light; nutritional status; associated stress responses, such as wounding; and genetic characteristics.

Key Concepts:

ARs are the main root system for monocots.

ARs are an adaptative response to environmental changes.

ARs are required for vegetative propagation of plants.

ARs arise from any organ of the plant but the root.

ARs originate from different cell types depending on the organ or the species.

ARs can be induced by ECMs or
Agrobacterium rhizogenes
.

ARdevelopment is controlled by environmental factors.

Adventitious rooting is an age‐dependant process.

Auxin cross talks with other hormones to control adventitious rooting.

Adventitious rooting is a complex quantitative genetic trait.
Biological Warfare: From History to Current Affairs
Authors: Frischknecht Friedrich 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Biological warfare or terrorism is the deliberate distribution of biological agents in order to inflict harm on humans or animals or to damage plants. The biological agent used often causes an infectious disease. Throughout history there are examples of armies spreading diseases or using the natural presence of diseases to their own advantage. The most hideous example of biological warfare was the attacks of the Imperial Japanese army on Chinese civilians during the Second World War. Today, with little interstate conflict, organised or individual terrorism is feared to use disease‐causing agents to cause havoc. Defending ourselves against this threat will call on new types of technological ingenuity combining rapid detection of the causing agents with rapid public health response. In this article, examples of biological warfare and terrorism are discussed and current debates on dual‐use research are highlighted.

Key Concepts:

Infectious disease research can lead to a dual‐use dilemma.

Stronger public health systems might be required for rapid responses against natural as well as deliberate spread of infections.

State‐sponsored biological weapon or biodefence research can lead to individual biological terrorism.

Terrorists will not sign international treaties banning biological weapons.

International scientific collaborations will help in diminishing threats.

There will not ever be a 100% guarantee against getting sick from deliberate spread of infectious disease agents.

International treaties can help in diminishing threats from weapons of mass destructions; however, they take time, patience and money to implement.
Analysis of Gene–Gene Interactions Underlying Human Disease
Authors: Wen Yalu , Lu Qing 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Following the identification of disease‐susceptibility variants in genome‐wide association studies by using the standard single‐locus analyses, the discovery process is shifting towards gene–gene interactions of functional importance in the pathophysiology and aetiology of complex diseases. The results from these gene–gene interaction analyses could lead to new genetic findings that account for the heritability of human diseases as well as novel insights about underlying genetic aetiology through later bench science research and clinical applications. To facilitate gene–gene interaction analyses, various statistical methods have been proposed, each of which is applicable for certain study designs and has its own advantages under certain conditions. In this article, the authors provide a survey of the statistical methods and software packages that are currently available for population‐based and family‐based gene–gene interaction studies. The strength of each method is discussed and the difficulties in determining the relationship between biological and statistical interactions are laid out.

Key Concepts:

A biological interaction describes a scenario in which two or more genes jointly affect a disease.

A statistical interaction describes the nonadditive effect in generalised linear models.

The heritability of a phenotype is defined as the proportion of phenotypic variations between individuals due to their genetic differences.

Population based case‐control study recruits individuals with a disease of interest along with the unrelated healthy individuals, and compares the allele/genotype distributions between cases and controls to determine whether a statistical interaction exists.

Family based study design avoids the potential confounding effect due to population stratification and admixture by recruiting the parents and/or siblings of the cases.
Genetics of Adult Antisocial Behaviour
Authors: Beaver Kevin M 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

A large body of empirical research has estimated the extent to which genetic factors account for variance in antisocial behaviours, such as adulthood criminal involvement. The results of these studies have consistently revealed that approximately 50% of the variance is the result of genetic influences, with most of the remaining variance being attributable to nonshared environmental influences. Moreover, there is emerging evidence that has identified specific genetic polymorphisms as contributing to criminal involvement across the life course. More recently, researchers have examined the various ways that genetic and environmental influences interact to predict variation in crime and delinquency. Using these bodies of research as a springboard, this article will review the current state of knowledge on the genetic underpinnings to adult criminal behaviour.

Key Concepts:

Genetic influences account for approximately 50% of the variance in adulthood criminal behaviour.

Gene–environment interactions appear to be integral to the aetiology of criminal behaviour across the life course.

Specific genetic polymorphisms have been identified as the predisposing factors for criminal behaviour.

The effectiveness of treatment and prevention programmes can likely be enhanced through research examining gene–environment interactions.

Nonshared environmental influences account for about 50–60% of the variance in adulthood criminal behaviour, while shared environmental influences typically account for about 0–10% of the variance.
Molecular Genetics of Analbuminaemia
Authors: Minchiotti Lorenzo , Caridi Gianluca , Campagnoli Monica , Galliano Monica , Kragh‐Hansen Ulrich , Peters Theodore 
Published: January 2014

AbstractCongenital analbuminaemia (CAA) is a very rare condition manifested by the near complete absence of albumin, the major blood protein, because of defects in the albumin (ALB) gene. It is generally regarded as relatively benign in adults, but analbuminaemic individuals may be at risk during the perinatal and childhood period. Twenty‐one different molecular lesions in theALBare now known as cause of the trait. These include one mutation in the start codon, one frameshift/insertion, five frameshift/deletions, seven nonsense mutations and seven mutations affecting splicing. Thus, nonsense mutations, mutations affecting splicing and frameshift/deletions seem to be the most common causes of CAA. These results indicate that the trait is an allelic heterogeneous disorder caused by homozygous or, in a single case, compound heterozygous inheritance of defects. Most mutations are unique, but one, named Kayseri, is responsible for about half of the known cases.Key Concepts:CAA is an autosomal recessive disorder.Apart from the possibility of premature atherosclerotic complications, the phenotype seems to be benign in adults.Analbuminaemic individuals may be at risk during the perinatal and the childhood period.CAA is caused by homozygous or, in a single case, compound heterozygous inheritance of abnormal albumin alleles from both parents.Twenty‐one different molecular defects in theALBare known as cause of the trait.Nonsense mutations, mutations affecting splicing and frameshift/deletions are the most common causes of CAA.No evidence has so far been found for the presence in serum of the putative protein products produced as a consequence of the above 21 mutations.The molecular defects are located in nine different exons and in four different introns.This distribution seems to suggest that CAA is the result of widely scattered random sequence variations.The increasing knowledge of the causative defects seems to reveal the presence of regions in theALBthat are prone to mutations.
Cross‐Coupling of Heteroarenes by CH Functionalization: Recent Progress towards Direct Arylation and Heteroarylation Reactions Involving Heteroarenes Containing One Heteroatom
Authors: Rossi Renzo , Bellina Fabio , Lessi Marco , Manzini Chiara 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn recent years, transition metal‐catalyzed direct (hetero)arylation reactions of heteroarenes with (hetero)aryl halides and pseudohalides have received significant attention as eco‐friendly and economic alternatives to classical methods for the construction of heteroaryl‐(hetero)aryl CC bonds by transition metal‐catalyzed cross‐couplings involving the use of stoichiometric amounts of organometallic reagents. This critical review with 430 references covers the results obtained in the period January 2009 to February 2013 in the area of the transition metal‐catalyzed direct inter‐ and intramolecular (hetero)arylation reactions of heteroarenes containing one heteroatom. Particular attention has been given to illustrate chemo‐ and site selectivity aspects of these reactions as well applications of these CC bond forming reactions in the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant compounds, natural products and their analogues and precursors. The most recent advancements into the mechanism(s) of these reactions have also been briefly reported.magnified image
Colloidal silver: a novel treatment for Staphylococcus aureus biofilms?
Authors: Goggin Rachel , Jardeleza Camille , Wormald Peter‐John , Vreugde Sarah 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundColloidal silver is an alternative medicine consisting of silver particles suspended in water. After using this solution as a nasal spray, the symptoms of a previously recalcitrant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)‐infected chronic rhinosinusitis patient were observed to have improved markedly. The aim of this study was to determine whether colloidal silver has any direct bactericidal effects on these biofilms in vitro.MethodsS. aureus biofilms were grown from the ATCC 25923 reference strain on Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) device pegs, and treated with colloidal silver. Concentrations tested ranged from 10 to 150 μL colloidal silver diluted to 200 μL with sterile water in 50 μL cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) broth. Control pegs were exposed to equivalent volumes of CSF broth and sterile water. The sample size was 4 biomass values per treatment or control group. Confocal scanning laser microscopy and COMSTAT software were used to quantify biofilms 24 hours after treatment.ResultsSignificant differences from control were found for all concentrations tested bar the lowest of 10 μL colloidal silver in 200 μL. At 20 μL colloidal silver, the reduction in biomass was 98.9% (mean difference between control and treatment = −4.0317 μm3/μm2, p < 0.0001). A maximum biomass reduction of 99.8% was reached at both 100 and 150 μL colloidal silver (mean differences = −4.0681 and −4.0675μm3/μm2, respectively, p < 0.0001).ConclusionColloidal silver directly attenuates in vitro S. aureus biofilms.
A pooling‐based genomewide association study identifies genetic variants associated with Staphylococcus aureus colonization in chronic rhinosinusitis patients
Authors: Cormier Chantale , Mfuna Endam Léandra , Filali‐Mouhim Abdelali , Boisvert Pierre , Boulet Louis‐Philippe , Boulay Marie‐Eve , Vallée‐Smedja Sophie , Bossé Yohan , Desrosiers Martin 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, host factors contributing to susceptibility to S. aureus colonization in CRS remain unknown. We wish to investigate, using a pooled genomewide association study (pGWAS), single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with S. aureus carriage in CRS patients.MethodsAn existing population of 408 CRS patients and 190 controls was prospectively recruited for genetic association studies. All CRS patients had an endoscopic swab culture as part of phenotyping. A pGWAS compared DNA pools from patients with and without S. aureus colonization using the Illumina HumanHap 1M BeadChip, which interrogates 1 million SNPs. Top‐ranked SNPs associated with S. aureus colonization were selected according to biallelic differences and silhouette rank, and confirmed by individual genotyping using the Sequenom platform. PLINK software was used for genetic association tests. Ingenuity pathway analysis was used to identify canonical and signaling pathways enriched for genes neighboring associated SNPs, as well as identification of the underlying biological mechanisms.ResultsThirty‐nine top priority SNPs were selected for individual genotyping. Out of 39 SNPs, 23 were associated (p < 0.05) with S. aureus colonization in CRS patients. These SNPs are located within or near 21 genes reported to be implicated in several diseases, endocytic internalization, and bacterial recognition.ConclusionThese results suggest novel host genetic factors influencing susceptibility to S. aureus colonization in CRS. Identifying implicated mechanisms may offer new insights into pathogenesis of CRS.
Outpatient endoscopic sinus surgery in cystic fibrosis patients: predictive factors for admission
Authors: Soudry Ethan , Mohabir Paul K. , Miglani Amar , Chen Justin , Nayak Jayakar V. , Hwang Peter H. 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundAn increasing number of adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are becoming candidates for elective endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). We sought to identify perioperative factors in this patient population that were predictive of postoperative admission.MethodsRetrospective chart review of CF patients who underwent ESS during the years 2005 through 2012. Multiple preoperative, intraoperative, and immediate postoperative variables were analyzed.ResultsThirty‐three patients who underwent 37 outpatient ESSs were identified. Successful same‐day discharge was observed in 54%. In 46% of cases, postoperative admission was necessary, with a mean postoperative stay of 1.4 days. Pulmonary function, CF‐related comorbidities, and history of lung transplant were not predictors of postoperative admission. Univariate analysis demonstrated that patients were more likely to be admitted if they had 1 of the following conditions: history of ≥4 prior ESS; procedure duration >2.5 hours; intraoperative blood loss greater than 150 mL; increased immediate postoperative pain scores; or larger narcotic requirements for pain control. On logistic regression analysis, a maximum pain score ≥ 7 out of 10 in the postanesthesia recovery unit was the only significant predisposing factor for postoperative admission.ConclusionAlthough over 50% of adult CF patients can successfully undergo ESS on a same‐day discharge basis, it is prudent to have contingent plans for potential inpatient observation postoperatively. Multivariate analysis suggests that preoperative demographics and pulmonary status cannot predict the need for postoperative admission, whereas higher pain scores in the postanesthesia care unit are predictive of the necessity for inpatient observation.
Quantification of β‐aminopropionitrile, an inhibitor of lysyl oxidase activity, in plasma and tumor of mice by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Machon Christelle , Le Calve Benjamin , Coste Sylvie , Riviere Mirella , Payen Léa , Bernard David , Guitton Jérôme 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTLysyl oxidase enzymes are reported to be involved in patho‐physiological process such as tumorigenesis. β‐Aminopropionitrile (BAPN) is an irreversible inhibitor of lysyl oxidase activity, suggesting a potentially useful therapeutic of interest in oncology. This paper describes the first assay concerning the quantification of BAPN by mass spectrometry. A high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) assay was developed for the quantification of BAPN in plasma and tumor of mice. This method combines dansyl chloride (Dns) derivatization and extraction using a solid‐phase extraction Oasis© Max column. Deuterated BAPN was used as internal standard (IS). Separation was achieved using an C18 column HypersylGold, (ThermoElectron), 3.0 µm (100 × 2.1 mm i.d.). Gradient elution with water containing 0.1% acetic acid (A) and acetonitrile containing 0.1% acetic acid (B) was applied. Detection was performed with an electrospray ionization interface operating in negative ion mode. Selected reaction monitoring was used with ion transitions m/z 302 → 249 for BAPN–Dns and m/z 306 → 250 for the IS. The method was fully validated in plasma and was linear and sensitive in the range of 10–500 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantification in plasma was 2.5 ng/mL. This validated assay was successfully applied to a kinetic study of BAPN in mouse plasma and demonstrates that BAPN reaches the tumoral tissue. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative determination of enzalutamide, an anti‐prostate cancer drug, in rat plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, and its application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Song Ji‐Hye , Kim Tae‐Heon , Jung Jong‐Woo , Kim Nakjeong , Ahn Sung Hoon , Hwang Sung‐Ook , Kang Nam Sook , Yoo Sung‐Eun , Koo Tae‐Sung 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTThis report details a method using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) that allows one to determine the concentration of an atypical anticancer drug, enzalutamide, in rat plasma. Specifically, this method involves the addition of an acetonitrile and bicalutamide (internal standard) solution to plasma samples. Following centrifugation of this mixture, an aliquot of the supernatant was directly injected into the LC‐MS/MS system. Separation was achieved using a column packed with octadecylsilica (5 µm, 2.1 × 50 mm) with 10 mM ammonium acetate in acetonitrile as the mobile phase; detection was accomplished using MS/MS by multiple‐reaction monitoring via an electrospray ionization source. This method demonstrated a linear standard curve (r = 0.997) over a concentration range of 0.001–1 µg/mL, as well as an intra‐ and inter‐assay precision of 2.7 and 5.1%, respectively, and an accuracy range from 100.8 to 105.6%. The lower limit of quantification was 1.0 ng/mL in 50 μL of rat plasma sample. We also demonstrated that this analytical method could be successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of enzalutamide in rats. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.