bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The 12th International Workshops on Opportunistic Protists (IWOP‐12)
Authors: Weiss Louis M. , Cushion Melanie T. , Didier Elizabeth , Xiao Lihua , Marciano‐Cabral Francine , Sinai Anthony P. , Matos Olga , Calderon Enrique J. , Kaneshiro Edna S. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe 12th International Workshops on Opportunistic Protists (IWOP‐12) was held in August 2012 in Tarrytown, New York. The objectives of the IWOP meetings are to: (1) serve as a forum for exchange of new information among active researchers concerning the basic biology, molecular genetics, immunology, biochemistry, pathogenesis, drug development, therapy, and epidemiology of these immunodeficiency‐associated pathogenic eukaryotic microorganisms that are seen in patients with AIDS and (2) foster the entry of new and young investigators into these underserved research areas. The IWOP meeting focuses on opportunistic protists, e.g. the free‐living amoebae, Pneumocystis, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, the Microsporidia, and kinetoplastid flagellates. This conference represents the major conference that brings together research groups working on these opportunistic pathogens. Slow but steady progress is being achieved on understanding the biology of these pathogenic organisms, their involvement in disease causation in both immune‐deficient and immune‐competent hosts, and is providing critical insights into these emerging and reemerging pathogens. This IWOP meeting demonstrated the importance of newly developed genomic level information for many of these pathogens and how analysis of such large data sets is providing key insights into the basic biology of these organisms. A great concern is the loss of scientific expertise and diversity in the research community due to the ongoing decline in research funding. This loss of researchers is due to the small size of many of these research communities and a lack of appreciation by the larger scientific community concerning the state of art and challenges faced by researchers working on these organisms.
Classical Ethylene Insensitive Mutants of the Arabidopsis EIN2 Orthologue Lack the Expected ‘hypernodulation’ Response in Lotus japonicusF
Authors: Chan Pick Kuen , Biswas Bandana , Gresshoff Peter M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThree independent ethylene insensitive mutants were selected from an EMS‐ mutagenized population of Lotus japonicus MG‐20 (Miyakojima). The mutants, called ‘Enigma’, were mutated in the LjEIN2a gene from Lotus chromosome 1, sharing significant homology with Arabidopsis EIN2 (ethylene‐insensitive2). All three alleles showed classical ethylene insensitivity phenotypes (e.g., Triple Response), but lacked the increased nodulation phenotype commonly associated with ethylene insensitivity. Indeed, all showed a marginal reduction in nodule number per plant, a phenotype that is enigmatic to sickle, an ethylene‐insensitive EIN2 mutant in Medicago truncatula. In contrast to wild type, but similar to an ETR1‐1 ethylene ethylene‐insensitive transgenic of L. japonicus, enigma mutants formed nodules in between the protoxylem poles, demonstrating the influence of ethylene on radial positioning. Suppression of nodule numbers by nitrate and colonisation by mycorrhizal fungi in the enigma‐1 mutant were indistinguishable from the wild‐type MG‐20. However, reflecting endogenous ethylene feedback, the enigma‐1 mutant released more than twice the wild‐type amount of ethylene. enigma‐1 had a moderate reduction in growth, greater root mass (and lateral root formation), delayed flowering and ripening, smaller pods and seeds. Expression analysis of ethylene‐regulated genes, such as ETR1, NRL1 (neverripe‐like 1), and EIL3 in shoots and roots of enigma‐1 and MG‐20 illustrated that the ethylene‐insensitive mutation strongly affected transcriptional responses in the root. These mutants open the possibility that EIN2 in L. japonicus, a determinate nodulating legume, acts in a more complex fashion possibly through the presence of a duplicated copy of LjEIN2.
Condom‐use intentions and the influence of partner‐related barriers among women at risk for HIV
Authors: Bonacquisti Alexa , Geller Pamela A 
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectivesTo examine intentions to engage in condom use and potential partner‐related barriers to condom use, including intimate partner violence (IPV), low levels of sexual relationship power and perceptions of monogamy, among women at risk for HIV.BackgroundIn the United States, women account for approximately one in four new HIV infections. Despite the effectiveness of consistent condom use, women often confront biological, cultural and psychosocial barriers that limit their ability to engage in condom‐use.DesignCross‐sectional, quantitative study.MethodsParticipants (N = 90) were recruited from a domestic violence shelter, a domestic violence support organisation and an obstetrics/gynaecology clinic in Philadelphia, PA. Data were collected by questionnaires to assess women's condom‐use intentions, actual condom‐use behaviour, sexual partner risk factors, experience of IPV, level of sexual relationship power and perceptions of monogamy.ResultsFifty‐eight per cent of participants (n = 52) indicated a difference between their preference and intentions to use condoms vs. their actual use, with 62% (n = 32) using condoms less frequently than they would like. Significant differences in condom use emerged for women with low vs. high sexual relationship power and women who reported being in a monogamous relationship vs. those who did not. Of particular concern, a majority of these relationships were with high‐risk partners, further increasing women's already elevated risk of acquiring HIV.ConclusionsCondom use is a multifaceted issue, particularly in sexual relationships involving power differentials and perceived monogamy. Condom use was complicated by women's own preferences, sexual relationship power differentials and by the perceived exclusivity of the relationship with their sexual partners.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThese findings have important implications for nurses as they are uniquely positioned to facilitate HIV risk reduction among their patients through the discussion of sexual health issues and barriers to negotiating condom use that women may confront.
Exploring creativity and critical thinking in traditional and innovative problem‐based learning groups
Authors: Chan Zenobia CY 
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectivesTo explore students' attitude towards problem‐based learning, creativity and critical thinking, and the relevance to nursing education and clinical practice.BackgroundCritical thinking and creativity are crucial in nursing education. The teaching approach of problem‐based learning can help to reduce the difficulties of nurturing problem‐solving skills. However, there is little in the literature on how to improve the effectiveness of a problem‐based learning lesson by designing appropriate and innovative activities such as composing songs, writing poems and using role plays.DesignExploratory qualitative study.MethodsA sample of 100 students participated in seven semi‐structured focus groups, of which two were innovative groups and five were standard groups, adopting three activities in problem‐based learning, namely composing songs, writing poems and performing role plays. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThere are three themes extracted from the conversations: ‘students’ perceptions of problem‐based learning', ‘students’ perceptions of creative thinking' and ‘students’ perceptions of critical thinking'. Participants generally agreed that critical thinking is more important than creativity in problem‐based learning and clinical practice. Participants in the innovative groups perceived a significantly closer relationship between critical thinking and nursing care, and between creativity and nursing care than the standard groups.ConclusionsBoth standard and innovative groups agreed that problem‐based learning could significantly increase their critical thinking and problem‐solving skills. Further, by composing songs, writing poems and using role plays, the innovative groups had significantly increased their awareness of the relationship among critical thinking, creativity and nursing care.Relevance to clinical practiceNursing educators should include more types of creative activities than it often does in conventional problem‐based learning classes. The results could help nurse educators design an appropriate curriculum for preparing professional and ethical nurses for future clinical practice.
Novel software for quantitative evaluation and graphical representation of masticatory efficiency
Authors: Halazonetis D. J. , Schimmel M. , Antonarakis G. S. , Christou P. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBlending of chewing gums of different colours is used in the clinical setting, as a simple and reliable means for the assessment of chewing efficiency. However, the available software is difficult to use in an everyday clinical setting, and there is no possibility of automated classification of the patient's chewing ability in a graph, to facilitate visualisation of the results and to evaluate potential chewing difficulties. The aims of this study were to test the validity of ViewGum – a novel image analysis software for the evaluation of boli derived from a two‐colour mixing ability test – and to establish a baseline graph for the representation of the masticatory efficiency in a healthy population. Image analysis demonstrated significant hue variation decrease as the number of chewing cycles increased, indicating a higher degree of colour mixture. Standard deviation of hue (SDHue) was significantly different between all chewing cycles. Regression of the log‐transformed values of the medians of SDHue on the number of chewing cycles showed a high statistically significant correlation (r2 = 0·94, P < 0·01). ViewGum eliminates drawbacks of previous two‐colour chewing gum test methods by the simplicity of its application. The newly developed ViewGum software provides speed, ease of use and immediate extraction of clinically useful conclusions to the already established method of chewing efficiency evaluation and is a valid adjunct for the evaluation of masticatory efficiency with two‐colour chewing gum.
Residual newborn screening samples for research: Parental information needs for decision‐making
Authors: Rothwell Erin , Clark Lauren , Anderson Rebecca , Botkin Jeffrey R. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPurpose.The purpose of this research was to identify what types of information expectant parents want to make a decision about the use of their babies' residual dried blood specimens for research.Design and Methods.Three focus groups were conducted with pregnant women and their partners and one focus group with prenatal healthcare providers and educators.Results.Eleven categories of information needs were identified within each focus group.Practice Implications.Providing sufficient information for parents to make informed choices will be essential to future research with residual dried blood specimens and to maintain public trust with the growing applications of this important public health program.
Evolution of glomerular filtration rate in HIV‐infected, HIV–HBV‐coinfected and HBV‐infected patients receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Authors: Pradat P. , Le Pogam M.‐A. , Okon J.‐B. , Trolliet P. , Miailhes P. , Brochier C. , Maynard M. , Bailly F. , Zoulim F. , Cotte L. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryWe aimed to compare the evolution of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in HIV‐, HIV–HBV‐ and HBV‐infected patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Three groups of patients receiving TDF > 12 months were recruited: 194 HIV‐infected patients, 85 HIV–HBV‐coinfected patients and 50 HBV‐infected patients. eGFR was estimated using the Modification of the Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. Multivariate regression models were constructed to estimate factors associated with eGFR decrease from baseline. A total of 329 patients were studied. Median follow‐up was 2.7 years. Median eGFR decrease was −4.9 (−16.6 to +7.2) mL/min/1.73 m2. After multivariate stepwise regression analysis, age (P = 0.0002), non‐African origin (P < 0.0001), baseline eGFR (P < 0.0001) and TDF duration (P = 0.02) were associated with eGFR decrease in the whole population, while hypertension, diabetes and type of infection were not. Age (P < 0.0001), non‐African origin (P = 0.0004), baseline eGFR (P < 0.0001) and TDF duration (P = 0.007) remained associated with eGFR decline in HIV and HIV–HBV‐infected patients, while other variables including HIV risk factor, CDC stage, CD4 and HIV‐RNA levels were not. Age (P = 0.03), non‐African origin (P = 0.004), baseline eGFR (P < 0.0001) and baseline HBV–DNA > 2000 IU/mL (P = 0.04) were associated with eGFR decline in HBV and HIV–HBV‐infected patients, while other variables including HBV risk factor and fibrosis stage were not. Estimated glomerular filtration rate decline under TDF therapy appears mainly associated with older age, non‐African origin, higher baseline eGFR and longer TDF administration but not with the type of viral infection. Regular follow‐up of renal function, especially tubular function is recommended during TDF therapy.
Linkages between primary seed dispersal, hydrochory and flood timing in a semi‐arid region river
Authors: Kehr Jacqueline M. , Merritt David M. , Stromberg Juliet C. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractQuestionsAre seed release and hydrochory of riparian plants coupled with seasonal flood pulses for a river with bimodal flows? What phenological hydrochore guilds are present? How representative of riparian vegetation are hydrochores? What is the role of hydrochory in riparian plant community composition in arid land streams?LocationVerde River, central Arizona, USA.MethodsWe recorded phenology of flowering and primary seed dispersal monthly for >100 riparian plant species, seined hydrochores 12 times during the growing season, sampled the extant plant community, and collected soil seed bank samples. Emergence of seedlings from hydrochore and soil samples was monitored for 1 yr in a greenhouse. Plant species were classified as to wetland indicator status and assessed for traits including life span, growth form and seed mass.ResultsFlowering and primary seed dispersal at the community level was bimodal for dryland species but more constant through time for wetland species. Numbers and richness of wetland hydrochores were high during the three floods that occurred in the atypical study year, while dryland species pulsed during a single flood. Three of 56 hydrochore taxa were vernal flood specialists, characterized by a spring hydrochore pulse during their period of seed release, and one was associated with summer floods. Another six were phenological generalists, with hydrochores constant or semi‐constant through time (including before and after primary dispersal) and persistent soil seed banks. Hydrochorous species spanned a wide range of traits, but overall had smaller seeds and higher wetland affinity than extant riparian vegetation.ConclusionsAs with other regions, hydrochory in dryland rivers is governed by the individual and combined influences of extrinsic factors, such as seasonal flow patterns and hydraulics, and intrinsic factors, such as timing of seed release and seed traits. Floods at different times during the season disperse distinct guilds, emphasizing the importance of flow variability for structuring riparian plant communities. Identifying temporal flood specialists and flood generalists is important, both for informing environmental flow regimes and for understanding patterns of plant distribution. The phenological dispersal plasticity of the generalist hydrochore species allows for adaptability to varying flow conditions and likely contributes to their broad geographic distributions.
The Circulation of Oscar Wilde’s Prose and Poems in Japan (1868–1926)
Authors: Chen Qi 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis essay investigates the circulation of Oscar Wilde’s prose and poems in Japan from the late Meiji period to the end of Taisho period,1 examining the diverse Japanese readings and adaptations of Wilde: a dangerous socialist, a modern poet, a sentimental humanist and essayist, a decadent aesthete, and a martyr to beauty.
“E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Romantic Tale ‘Der Sandmann’ or The Pathology of a Migraine”
Authors: Spreizer Christa 
Published: March 2013

AbstractMuch critical literature on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale “Der Sandmann” centers around whether the young physics student Nathanael is suffering from some neurotic, psychological malady due to a childhood trauma, or whether a series of supernatural events have targeted him to lead a tortuous and ultimately tortured existence at the hands of the monstrous Coppelius, aka The Sandman. Other scholars analyze this Romantic tale as a reaction to an historical present rather than within abstract or strictly psychoanalytic principles, more specifically, the influence of Bamberg, a center of medical and psychiatric research and practice, on Hoffmann’s works. I wish to continue this line of inquiry by looking at the tale from a more modern medical perspective: Nathanael’s bouts of madness may have a physical or neurological rather than purely psychological basis which would have gone unnoticed during the early 1800s. I believe Hoffmann’s intricate narrative on Romantic conceptions of the artist, society, sickness and healing, outlines the pathology of a patient suffering from a variety of symptoms associated with “migraine with aura.”“Der Sandmann” should be included among works exhibiting descriptive evidence of migraine experience. This would provide a new contextual orientation for the tale and also further illustrate the progress and limitations of Romantic era psychiatric practices in its confrontations with reason, unreason, and madness.
Fall, classification, and exposure history of the Mifflin L5 chondrite
Authors: Kita Noriko T. , Welten Kees C. , Valley John W. , Spicuzza Michael J. , Nakashima Daisuke , Tenner Travis J. , Ushikubo Takayuki , MacPherson Glenn J. , Welzenbach Linda , Heck Philipp R. , Davis Andrew M. , Meier Matthias M. M. , Wieler Rainer , Caffee Marc W. , Laubenstein Matthias , Nishiizumi Kunihiko 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe Mifflin meteorite fell on the night of April 14, 2010, in southwestern Wisconsin. A bright fireball was observed throughout a wide area of the midwestern United States. The petrography, mineral compositions, and oxygen isotope ratios indicate that the meteorite is a L5 chondrite fragmental breccia with light/dark structure. The meteorite shows a low shock stage of S2, although some shock‐melted veins are present. The U,Th‐He age is 0.7 Ga, and the K‐Ar age is 1.8 Ga, indicating that Mifflin might have been heated at the time of the 470 Ma L‐chondrite parent body breakup and that U, Th‐He, and K‐Ar ages were partially reset. The cosmogenic radionuclide data indicate that Mifflin was exposed to cosmic rays while its radius was 30–65 cm. Assuming this exposure geometry, a cosmic‐ray exposure age of 25 ± 3 Ma is calculated from cosmogenic noble gas concentrations. The low 22Ne/21Ne ratio may, however, indicate a two‐stage exposure with a longer first‐stage exposure at high shielding. Mifflin is unusual in having a low radiogenic gas content combined with a low shock stage and no evidence of late stage annealing; this inconsistency remains unexplained.
Extensive paternal mtDNA leakage in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Nunes Maria D. S. , Dolezal Marlies , Schlötterer Christian 
Published: March 2013

AbstractStrict maternal inheritance is considered a hallmark of animal mtDNA. Although recent reports suggest that paternal leakage occurs in a broad range of species, it is still considered an exceptionally rare event. To evaluate the impact of paternal leakage on the evolution of mtDNA, it is essential to reliably estimate the frequency of paternal leakage in natural populations. Using allele‐specific real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR), we show that heteroplasmy is common in natural populations with at least 14% of the individuals carrying multiple mitochondrial haplotypes. However, the average frequency of the minor mtDNA haplotype is low (0.8%), which suggests that this pervasive heteroplasmy has not been noticed before due to a lack of power in sequencing surveys. Based on the distribution of mtDNA haplotypes in the offspring of heteroplasmic mothers, we found no evidence for strong selection against one of the haplotypes. We estimated that the rate of paternal leakage is 6% and that at least 100 generations are required for complete sorting of mtDNA haplotypes. Despite the high proportion of heteroplasmic individuals in natural populations, we found no evidence for recombination between mtDNA molecules, suggesting that either recombination is rare or recombinant haplotypes are counter‐selected. Our results indicate that evolutionary studies using mtDNA as a marker might be biased by paternal leakage in this species.
Anterior segment changes following short‐term reading and its correlation with corneal biomechanical characteristics
Authors: Niyazmand Hamed , Ostadi Moghaddam Hadi , Sedaghat Mohammad Reza , Ahmadi Hosseini Seyed Mahdi , Abolbashari Fereshteh 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the changes in anterior segment following short‐term reading and evaluate the correlation of such changes with corneal biomechanical characteristics (CBC).MethodsThirty‐six right eyes of 36 healthy subjects were examined. Anterior segment parameters were measured using the Pentacam before and after 30 min of reading. Ocular Response Analyzer was used to record CBC after reading. The following were recorded: central corneal thickness (CCT), central corneal power (CCP), superior corneal power (SCP), inferior corneal power (ICP), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber angle (ACA), corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF). Statistical analysis was performed with the paired student t‐test and Pearson correlation test in SPSS 16.ResultsThere were statistically significant decreases in CCP, SCP, ACD and ACV values following reading (p < 0.05). Our results showed a statistically significant negative correlation between CH and changes in ICP (r = 0.36, p = 0.02). Significant negative correlations were also found between CRF and changes in ICP (r = 0.41, p = 0.01) and SCP (r = 0.34, p = 0.04). On the other hand, statistical analysis indicated no correlation between CBC and other studied parameters (p > 0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrated significant changes in some anterior segment parameters after reading. Being knowledgeable about these changes may have important implications in high accuracy examinations such as pre‐operative assessment of corneal refractive surgery candidates. This could also help researchers have a better understanding of the factors that may influence near work related development of refractive errors.
Photoimmunosuppression: a brief overview
Authors: Gibbs Neil K. , Norval Mary 
Published: March 2013

SummaryExposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to suppression of many adaptive immune responses, both to antigens encountered within a short period of the irradiation (primary) and to antigens previously encountered (memory). The pathways involved are complex and not completely elucidated. This brief review summarizes the information available currently regarding the multiple steps involved, with the aim of providing a general overview of the main aspects of photoimmunosuppression and its clinical consequences.