bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A root chicory MADS box sequence and the Arabidopsis flowering repressor FLC share common features that suggest conserved function in vernalization and de‐vernalization responses
Authors: Périlleux Claire , Pieltain Alexandra , Jacquemin Guillaume , Bouché Frédéric , Detry Nathalie , D'Aloia Maria , Thiry Laura , Aljochim Pierre , Delansnay Martin , Mathieu Anne‐Sophie , Lutts Stanley , Tocquin Pierre 
Published: April 2013

SummaryRoot chicory (Cichorium intybus var. sativum) is a biennial crop, but is harvested to obtain root inulin at the end of the first growing season before flowering. However, cold temperatures may vernalize seeds or plantlets, leading to incidental early flowering, and hence understanding the molecular basis of vernalization is important. A MADS box sequence was isolated by RT‐PCR and named FLC‐LIKE1 (CiFL1) because of its phylogenetic positioning within the same clade as the floral repressor Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS C (AtFLC). Moreover, over‐expression of CiFL1 in Arabidopsis caused late flowering and prevented up‐regulation of the AtFLC target FLOWERING LOCUS T by photoperiod, suggesting functional conservation between root chicory and Arabidopsis. Like AtFLC in Arabidopsis, CiFL1 was repressed during vernalization of seeds or plantlets of chicory, but repression of CiFL1 was unstable when the post‐vernalization temperature was favorable to flowering and when it de‐vernalized the plants. This instability of CiFL1 repression may be linked to the bienniality of root chicory compared with the annual lifecycle of Arabidopsis. However, re‐activation of AtFLC was also observed in Arabidopsis when a high temperature treatment was used straight after seed vernalization, eliminating the promotive effect of cold on flowering. Cold‐induced down‐regulation of a MADS box floral repressor and its re‐activation by high temperature thus appear to be conserved features of the vernalization and de‐vernalization responses in distant species.
A multicenter evaluation of a new therapeutic plasma exchange procedure
Authors: Winters Jeffrey L. , Burgstaler Edwin A. , Gottschall Jerome L. , Balogun Rasheed A. , Houghton Jaime R. , Lee Wanda J. , Snyder Edward L. 
Published: April 2013

BackgroundThe AMICUS (Fenwal, Inc.) was cleared in the United States for platelet (PLT) and plasma collection in 1996 with subsequent clearances for the collection of other blood products. Although not previously used for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), new disposables, software, and hardware were developed to enable TPE on the AMICUS.Study Design and MethodsA multicenter, randomized, nonblinded, crossover paired treatment protocol was performed. Thirty patients with orders for at least two TPE procedures were randomly assigned to the AMICUS or the COBE Spectra (TerumoBCT) for the first treatment. Each patient was crossed over to the other device using the same procedure settings from the first procedure. The primary objective compared efficiency of plasma removal (EPR) with secondary objectives of comparing PLT and hemoglobin (Hb) waste plasma content, coagulation factor and complement activation, fluid balance tracking accuracy, procedure length, and adverse events.ResultsThe EPR for the AMICUS (81.9 ± 7.62%) was superior to that of the COBE Spectra (75.2 ± 6.29%; p = 0.00001). The AMICUS also demonstrated statistically higher fluid balance accuracy (99.84%) compared to that of the COBE Spectra (98.83%; p < 0.0001) and a statistically shorter procedure time (103.9 ± 30.8 vs. 110.5 ± 27.1 min, p < 0.001). No significant differences with regard to PLT and Hb content in the waste plasma, change in patient PLT count, or changes in markers of coagulation and complement cascade activation were seen. Frequency and severity of adverse reactions were similar.ConclusionThe AMICUS separator can effectively perform TPE. The AMICUS demonstrated superior plasma removal efficiency compared to the COBE Spectra with no evidence of significant differences in PLT removal, hemolysis, and coagulation or complement activation.
Quality of freeze‐dried (lyophilized) quarantined single‐donor plasma
Authors: Bux Jürgen , Dickhörner Dieter , Scheel Edgar 
Published: April 2013

BackgroundTransfusion of plasma is a basic treatment for complex coagulopathies as well as in major blood loss. Early transfusion of plasma after trauma with major hemorrhage has been recommended by retrospective studies. However, the use of plasma is often hampered by the need to maintain a cold chain and the time needed for thawing fresh‐frozen plasma (FFP). With freeze‐dried (lyophilized) plasma (FDP) both difficulties can be avoided. Here, we describe the production, quality characteristics, and our experiences with FDP.Study Design and MethodsQuarantine plasma samples were freeze‐dried. The clotting factors fibrinogen, Factor (F)V, FVIII, FXI, von Willebrand factor (vWF), protein S, antithrombin, plasminogen, and plasmin inhibitor were determined after manufacturing and after storage at room temperature and refrigeration. Reported adverse transfusion events were evaluated and compared to that of FFP. Clinical effectiveness was estimated by inquiry among experienced users.ResultsLyophilization resulted in a loss of coagulation factor activity between 0% and up to 20% to 25% (FVIII, vWF). When stored refrigerated, coagulation factors did not lose more than 10% of their activities. Storage at room temperature for 24 months mainly affected vWF/ristocetin cofactor activity and fibrinogen activity. From 2007 to 2011 more than 230,000 units of FDP were delivered. There were no reports about clinical ineffectiveness. The frequency of transfusion reactions was not different from that of FFP.ConclusionLyophilized plasma showed characteristics similar to FFP. Since FDP requires neither complex logistics nor time‐consuming thawing, it allows rapid treatment of coagulopathies.
Transfusion‐associated hyperkalemic cardiac arrest in pediatric patients receiving massive transfusion
Authors: Lee Angela C. , Reduque Leila L. , Luban Naomi L.C. , Ness Paul M. , Anton Blair , Heitmiller Eugenie S. 
Published: April 2013

BackgroundHyperkalemic cardiac arrest is a potential complication of massive transfusion in children. Our objective was to identify risk factors and potential preventive measures by reviewing the literature on transfusion‐associated hyperkalemic cardiac arrest (TAHCA) in the pediatric population.Study Design and MethodsLiterature searches were performed in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.ResultsWe identified nine case reports of pediatric patients who had experienced cardiac arrest during massive transfusion. Serum potassium concentration was reported in eight of those reports; the mean was 9.2 ± 1.8 mmol/L. Risk factors for TAHCA noted in the case reports included infancy (n = 6); age of red blood cells (RBCs; n = 5); site of transfusion (n = 5); and the presence of comorbidities such as hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, acidemia, and hypotension (n = 9). We also identified 13 clinical studies that examined potassium levels associated with transfusion. Of those 13, five studied routine transfusion, two were registries, and six examined massive transfusion.ConclusionsKey points identified from this literature search are as follows: 1) Case reports are skewed toward infants and neonates in particular and 2) the rate of blood transfusion, more so than total volume, cardiac output, and the site of infusion, are key factors in the development of TAHCA. Measures to reduce the risk of TAHCA in young children include anticipating and replacing blood loss before significant hemodynamic compromise occurs, using larger‐bore (>23‐gauge) peripheral intravenous catheters rather than central venous access, checking and correcting electrolyte abnormalities frequently, and using fresher RBCs for massive transfusion.
Methods for Estimating Climate Anomaly Forcing Patterns
Authors: Zidikheri Meelis J. , Frederiksen Jorgen S. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Inverse methods for determining the anomalous mean forcing functions responsible for climate change are investigated. First, an iterative method is considered, and it is shown to successfully reproduce forcing functions for various idealized and observed climate states using quasigeostrophic simulations. Second, a new inverse method that is more computationally efficient is presented. This method closes the mean-field equations by representing the second-order statistical moments, the transient eddy heat and momentum (or potential vorticity) fluxes, as linear functions of the mean field. The coefficients of the linear parameterization are determined by least squares regression. It is shown that the new method also successfully reproduces the anomalous forcing functions responsible for climatic changes in quasigeostrophic simulations.
An Objective Bayesian Improved Approach for Applying Optimal Fingerprint Techniques to Estimate Climate Sensitivity*
Authors: Lewis Nicholas 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
A detailed reanalysis is presented of a “Bayesian” climate parameter study (as exemplified by Forest et al.) that estimates climate sensitivity (ECS) jointly with effective ocean diffusivity and aerosol forcing, using optimal fingerprints to compare multidecadal observations with simulations by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2D climate model at varying settings of the three climate parameters. Use of improved methodology primarily accounts for the 90% confidence bounds for ECS reducing from 2.1–8.9 K to 2.0–3.6 K. The revised methodology uses Bayes's theorem to derive a probability density function (PDF) for the whitened (made independent using an optimal fingerprint transformation) observations, for which a uniform prior is known to be noninformative. A dimensionally reducing change of variables onto the parameter surface is then made, deriving an objective joint PDF for the climate parameters. The PDF conversion factor from the whitened variables space to the parameter surface represents a noninformative joint parameter prior, which is far from uniform. The noninformative prior prevents more probability than data uncertainty distributions warrant being assigned to regions where data respond little to parameter changes, producing better-constrained PDFs. Incorporating 6 years of unused model simulation data and revising the experimental design to improve diagnostic power reduces the best-fit climate sensitivity. Employing the improved methodology, preferred 90% bounds of 1.2–2.2 K for ECS are then derived (mode and median 1.6 K). The mode is identical to those from Aldrin et al. and [using the same Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Research Unit temperature, version 4 (HadCRUT4), observational dataset] from Ring et al. Incorporating nonaerosol forcing and observational surface temperature uncertainties, unlike in the original study, widens the 90% range to 1.0–3.0 K.
Hepatocellular carcinoma continues to be diagnosed in the advanced stage: profile of hepatocellular carcinoma in a tertiary care hospital in South India
Authors: Pal Sandip , Ramachandran Jeyamani , Kurien Reuben Thomas , Eapen Anu , Ramakrishna Banumathi , Keshava Shyamkumar N , Goel Ashish , Sajith KG , Eapen CE 
Published: April 2013

Summary This report is an analysis of 231 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from a tertiary care hospital in India. Most of the HCCs were diagnosed in cirrhotics and at an advanced stage which limited the therapeutic options. Physician awareness of this complication of cirrhosis and regular ultrasound screening of cirrhotic patients will help in detection of early stage cancers and, thus, enhance the survival rates.
Pyopericardium complicated with cardiac tamponade: an unusual presenting manifestation of primary pyomyositis
Authors: Kumar Susheel , Sharma Navneet , Singh Rajveer , Bhalla Ashish , Varma Subhash 
Published: April 2013

Summary Primary pyomyositis is an infective condition mainly involving the skeletal muscles. Various cardiac complications reported are acute bacterial endocarditis, pyogenic pericarditis, pancarditis and, very rarely, pyopericardium presenting as cardiac tamponade. We report a case of 15-year-old boy presenting with complaints of fever, progressive shortness of breath and retrosternal pleuritic chest pain. He also complained of painful swellings of left arm, left side of neck and left thigh extending up to the knee joint. Ultrasonography showed collections in the: bilateral sternocleidomastoid; subclavius; left thigh muscles; and left knee joint. Echocardiography showed evidence of cardiac tamponade. He underwent emergent pericardiocentesis and frank pus was drained. Pus culture grew Methicillin resistant Staphylococcous aureus. With drainage and the appropriate antibiotics, he improved.
Scleral buckling versus vitrectomy for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment as accessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: a retrospective observational case series
Authors: Huang Chunmei , Fu Te , Zhang Tonghe , Wu Xinyi , Ji Qiang , Tan Ruili 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Scleral buckling surgery and pars plana vitrectomy are competing methods in the treatment of retinal detachment. The recent development of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) has dramatically improved the visualization of the photoreceptor layer relative to conventional OCT, and offers new opportunities to investigate the discordances between anatomic and functional outcomes after retinal detachment surgery. Hence, the study aim was to use SD-OCT to compare the postoperative macular recovery between scleral buckling and vitrectomy for macular-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Methods
In this retrospective observational case series, we observed 32 patients who underwent scleral buckling surgery (group 1) and 26 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (group 2) as the primary surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. OCT was used to examine microstructural changes in the macular area.

Results
The mean visual acuity improvement was 0.4 ± 0.8 logMAR in group 1 and 0.7 ± 0.9 logMAR in group 2. As detected by SD-OCT, subretinal fluid was present in 26 of the group 1 eyes (81.3%) and 5 of the group 2 eyes (19.2%) at 8 weeks postoperatively.
This difference was statistically significant (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05). Moreover, detection by SD-OCT revealed epiretinal membranes in 5 of the group 1 eyes (15.6%) and 11 of the group 2 eyes (42.3%), a difference that was statistically significant (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05).

Conclusions
Macular recovery and the mean visual acuity differed between the 2 groups of patients. With the help of SD-OCT, we observed that subretinal fluids could persist for a relatively longer period after scleral buckling. Based on our results, we conclude that primary vitrectomy surgery is a better choice for macular recovery of the macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
A member of the CPW-WPC protein family is expressed in and localized to the surface of developing ookinetes
Authors: Kangwanrangsan Niwat , Tachibana Mayumi , Jenwithisuk Rachaneeporn , Tsuboi Takafumi , Riengrojpitak Suda , Torii Motomi , Ishino Tomoko 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Despite the development of malaria control programs, billions of people are still at risk for this infectious disease. Recently, the idea of the transmission-blocking vaccine, which works by interrupting the infection of mosquitoes by parasites, has gained attention as a promising strategy for malaria control and eradication. To date, a limited number of surface proteins have been identified in mosquito-stage parasites and investigated as potential targets for transmission-blocking vaccines. Therefore, for the development of effective transmission-blocking strategies in epidemic areas, it is necessary to identify novel zygote/ookinete surface proteins as candidate antigens.

Methods
Since the expression of many zygote/ookinete proteins is regulated post-transcriptionally, proteins that are regulated by well-known translational mediators were focused. Through in silico screening, CPW-WPC family proteins were selected as potential zygote/ookinete surface proteins. All experiments were performed in the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium yoelii XNL. mRNA and protein expression profiles were examined by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively, over the course of the life cycle of the malaria parasite. Protein function was also investigated by the generation of gene-disrupted transgenic parasites.

Results
The CPW-WPC protein family, named after the unique WxC repeat domains, is highly conserved among Plasmodium species. It is revealed that CPW-WPC mRNA transcripts are transcribed in gametocytes, while CPW-WPC proteins are expressed in zygote/ookinete-stage parasites. Localization analysis reveals that one of the CPW-WPC family members, designated as PyCPW-WPC-1, is a novel zygote/ookinete stage-specific surface protein. Targeted disruption of the pycpw-wpc-1 gene caused no obvious defects during ookinete and oocyst formation, suggesting that PyCPW-WPC-1 is not essential for mosquito-stage parasite development.

Conclusions
It is demonstrated that PyCPW-WPC-1 can be classified as a novel, post-transcriptionally regulated zygote/ookinete surface protein. Additional studies are required to determine whether all CPW-WPC family members are also present on the ookinete surface and share similar biological roles during mosquito-stage parasite development. Further investigations of CPW-WPC family proteins may facilitate understanding of parasite biology in the mosquito stage and development of transmission-blocking vaccines.
Socioeconomic deprivation as a determinant of cancer mortality and the Hispanic paradox in Texas, USA
Authors: Philips Jr Billy U , Belasco Eric , Markides Kyriakos S , Gong Gordon 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Introduction
We have recently reported that delayed cancer detection is associated with the Wellbeing Index (WI) for socioeconomic deprivation, lack of health insurance, physician shortage, and Hispanic ethnicity. The current study investigates whether these factors are determinants of cancer mortality in Texas, the United States of America (USA).

Methods
Data for breast, colorectal, female genital system, lung, prostate, and all-type cancers are obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry. A weighted regression model for non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and African Americans is used with age-adjusted mortality (2004–2008 data combined) for each county as the dependent variable while independent variables include WI, percentage of the uninsured, and physician supply.

Results
Higher mortality for breast, female genital system, lung, and all-type cancers is associated with higher WI among non-Hispanic whites and/or African Americans but with lower WI in Hispanics after adjusting for physician supply and percentage of the uninsured. Mortality for all the cancers studied is in the following order from high to low: African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics. Lung cancer mortality is particularly low in Hispanics, which is only 35% of African Americans’ mortality and 40% of non-Hispanic whites’ mortality.

Conclusions
Higher degree of socioeconomic deprivation is associated with higher mortality of several cancers among non-Hispanic whites and African Americans, but with lower mortality among Hispanics in Texas. Also, mortality rates of all these cancers studied are the lowest in Hispanics. Further investigations are needed to better understand the mechanisms of the Hispanic Paradox.
Interaction of occupational manganese exposure and alcohol drinking aggravates the increase of liver enzyme concentrations from a cross-sectional study in China
Authors: Deng Qi , Liu Jing , Li Qing , Chen Kangcheng , Liu Zhenfang , Shen Yuefei , Niu Piye , Yang Yiping , Zou Yunfeng , Yang Xiaobo 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Over exposure to manganese (Mn) can damage the human central nervous system and potentially cause liver toxicity. Alcohol drinking is also one of the well-known harmful factors to hepatic organism. The interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption to liver function was investigated in this study.

Methods
A total of 1112 on-the-spot workers were included in the cross-sectional survey from a large scale of manganese exposed workers healthy cohort (MEWHC) in a ferro-manganese refinery company. A questionnaire was used to collect the demographic information, occupational history, and alcohol drinking habits. Occupational health examination was carried out for each worker. The five key serum indices, including total bilirubin (TBILI), direct bilirubin (DBILI), indirect bilirubin (IBILI), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), were determined to evaluate the liver function of each subject.

Results
Workers exposed to high levels of Mn had significantly elevated serum concentrations of liver enzymes (DBILI: 3.84±1.20 μmol/L, ALT: 27.04±19.12 IU/L, and AST: 29.96±16.68 IU/L), when compared to those in the low-exposure group (DBIL: 3.54±0.85 μmol/L, ALT: 20.38±10.97 IU/L, and AST: 26.39±8.07 IU/L), all P<0.01. These serum indices had a significantly increasing trend with the elevation of Mn exposure level (P
trend <0.01). In addition, the workers with alcohol drinking also showed higher concentrations of liver enzymes than those non-drinkers, especially, and there was significant interaction between Mn exposure and alcohol consumption in terms of these three indices (P<0.001).

Conclusions
Occupational exposure to Mn can lead to a dose-dependent increase of liver enzyme concentrations, and interact with alcohol drinking to potentially aggravate the liver damage. It will be important for Mn exposed workers to control drinking and also assess liver function in the occupational health examination.
Biomimetic one-pot synthesis of gold nanoclusters/nanoparticles for targeted tumor cellular dual-modality imaging
Authors: Lin Jing , Zhou Zhijun , Li Zhiming , Zhang Chunlei , Wang Xiansong , Wang Kan , Gao Guo , Huang Peng , Cui Daxiang 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Biomimetic synthesis has become a promising green pathway to prepare nanomaterials. In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated gold nanoclusters/nanoparticles were successfully synthesized in water at room temperature by a protein-directed, solution-phase, green synthetic method. The synthesized BSA-Au nanocomplexes have fluorescence emission (588 nm) of gold nanoclusters and surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles. The BSA-Au nanocomplexes display non-cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility on MGC803 gastric cancer cells. After conjugation of folic acid molecules, the obtained BSA-Au nanocomplexes showed highly selective targeting for MGC803 cells and dual-modality dark-field and fluorescence imaging.