bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meningococcal Omp85 in Detergent‐Extracted Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccines Induces High Levels of Non‐Functional Antibodies in Mice
Authors: Wedege E. , Lie K. , Bolstad K. , Weynants V. E. , Halstensen A. , Herstad T. K. , Kreutzberger J. , Nome L. , Næss L. M. , Aase A. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe vaccine potential of meningococcal Omp85 was studied by comparing the immune responses of genetically modified deoxycholate‐extracted outer membrane vesicles, expressing five‐fold higher levels of Omp85, with wild‐type vesicles. Groups (n = 6–12) of inbred and outbred mouse strains (Balb/c, C57BL/6, OFI and NMRI) were immunized with the two vaccines, and the induced antibody levels and bactericidal and opsonic activities measured. Except for Balb/c mice, which were low responders, the genetically modified vaccine raised high Omp85 antibody levels in all mouse strains. In comparison, the wild‐type vaccine gave lower antibody levels, but NMRI mice responded to this vaccine with the same high levels as the modified vaccine in the other strains. Although the vaccines induced strain‐dependent Omp85 antibody responses, the mouse strains showed high and similar serum bactericidal titres. Titres were negligible with heterologous or PorA‐negative meningococcal target strains, demonstrating the presence of the dominant bactericidal PorA antibodies. The two vaccines induced the same opsonic titres. Thus, the genetically modified vaccine with high Omp85 antibody levels and the wild‐type vaccine induced the same levels of functional activities related to protection against meningococcal disease, suggesting that meningococcal Omp85 is a less attractive vaccine antigen.
Psoriasis plaque test with confocal microscopy: evaluation of different microscopic response pathways in NSAID and steroid treated lesions
Authors: Ardigò Marco , Agozzino Marina , Longo Caterina , Conti Andrea , Di Lernia Vito , Berardesca Enzo , Pellacani Giovanni 
Published: March 2013

BackgroundPathophysiology of psoriasis is complex and characterized by microscopic, specific changes. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) provides tissue and cell morphology information in non‐invasive way, generating quasi‐histologic resolution. Concerning plaque psoriasis, confocal criteria have been described disclosing high agreement between RCM and conventional histology.ObjectiveWe sought to evaluate the in vivo microscopic changes in plaque psoriasis occurring during treatment with two distinct actives (aceclofenac and betamethason).MethodsA total of 32 patients with psoriasis were recruited. Two lesions from the same body area or symmetrical were evaluated at baseline and after 3–6 weeks by RCM.ResultsAceclofenac induced clinical improvement in 32% of patients after 3 weeks and in 76% after 6 weeks. With betamethason, at the end of the 3rd week, the 45% of patients showed improvement that increased to 81% at the end of the study. Single confocal criteria was evaluated and results underwent to statistical analysis considering the modification of the microscopical changes during the two treatments.ConclusionRCM followed the microscopic changes during treatment and enabled to differentiate effects of different actives. Although data are preliminary and based on a limited sample, aceclofenac seems to be effective in the treatment for psoriasis.
EPR spectroscopic investigation of psoriatic finger nails
Authors: Nakagawa Kouichi , Minakawa Satoko , Sawamura Daisuke 
Published: March 2013

BackgroundNail lesions are common features of psoriasis and found in almost half of the patients. However, there is no feasible spectroscopic method evaluating changes and severity of nail psoriasis. EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) might be feasible for evaluating nail conditions in the patients of psoriasis.MethodsFinger nails of five cases with nail psoriasis, (three females and two males) were examined. Nail samples were subjected to the EPR assay. The small piece of the finger nail (1.5 × 5 mm2) was incubated in ~50 μM 5‐DSA (5‐doxylstearic acid) aqueous solutions for about 60 min at 37°C. After rinsing and wiping off the excess 5‐DSA solution, the nail samples were measured by EPR.ResultsEPR spectra were analyzed using the intensity ratio (Fast/Slow) of the two motions at the peaks of the lower magnetic field. We observed two distinguishable sites on the basis of the EPR results. In addition, the modern EPR calculation was performed to analyze the spectra obtained. The nail psoriasis‐related region is 2~3 times higher than that of the control.ConclusionThe present EPR results show that there are two distinguishable sites in the nail. In the case of nail psoriasis, the fragile components are 2~3 times more than those of the control. Thus, the EPR method is thought to be a novel and reliable method of evaluating the nail psoriasis.
Insights into variation across children based on longitudinal Dutch data on phonological acquisition
Authors: Fikkert Paula , Altvater‐Mackensen Nicole 
Published: March 2013

AbstractSpontaneous child language data are often extremely variable: the same child may utter words in many different ways even during the same session (within child variation) and children often differ in the way they produce particular structures (across child variation), leading to different learning paths for different children. This paper focuses on across child variation and discusses three phenomena, previously studied in isolation: the acquisition of complex word‐initial clusters, the acquisition of word‐final consonant clusters and the acquisition of manner of articulation features. After briefly summarizing the main findings reported in previous research based on the Dutch CLPF (Clara Levelt – Paula Fikkert) corpus of longitudinal language production data of twelve monolingual Dutch children, we report on our investigation of the various developmental patterns regarding the three phenomena, arguing that the different learning paths are at least in part dependent on each other and reveal the use of different learning strategies.
All input isn't equal: how the nature of the learner shapes language acquisition
Authors: Gagliardi Annie 
Published: March 2013

AbstractTo acquire a language, a child must keep track of input from the linguistic environment and infer what grammar generated it. However, not all of the information in the input is available to the child. What the child can encode from the input changes across development, as a function of what information the child can process, and what he knows and expects about the system being acquired. In this paper I present a novel word learning experiment where children generalize differently depending on whether they are learning word meanings or word classes. While the linguistic input could lead to multiple generalizations, children use it in systematically different ways depending on the problem they are trying to solve. This result reflects both content of the input and constraints on learning stemming from hypotheses the learner brings to the task.
Generic reference in adult German bilinguals: how bilinguals deal with variation
Authors: Kupisch Tanja , Barton Dagmar 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis study investigates subject nominals in German in adult simultaneous bilinguals (2L1s) with French or Italian as the other language, focusing on plural and mass nouns with a definite article. These have a specific interpretation in written Standard German, while they are ambiguous between a specific and a generic interpretation in the Romance languages and in some varieties of German. The aims are to (i) characterize the end‐state grammar regarding a phenomenon that does not only show partially overlapping syntactic properties in the two target languages but also intra‐linguistic variation, (ii) compare 2L1 and L1 end‐state grammars, (iii) investigate the role of frequency of exposure and (iv) study the role of overlap with the contact languages. Results from an acceptability judgment task and a truth value judgment task suggest that 2L1s with frequent exposure to German are more conservative than monolinguals, tending towards overcorrection rather than cross‐linguistic influence.
Bilinguals vs. monolinguals: Where is the difference?
Authors: Mykhaylyk Roksolana 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIt has been suggested earlier that the reinforced syntactic variation in bilingual input might lead to cross‐linguistic influence and vulnerability in some areas of the child grammar. This study verifies this suggestion against new experimental data. Since direct object scrambling is optional in Ukrainian and prohibited in English, it could be a more vulnerable domain in Ukrainian‐English bilingual acquisition than in monolingual Ukrainian acquisition. It appears, however, that 2;2–6;3‐year‐old bilingual children mostly follow similar patterns in scrambling production as their monolingual peers. Several aspects of possible distinctions are discussed (i.e., direct object type and pragmatic sensitivity), but the available data do not allow us to claim that there are significant group differences between bilinguals and monolinguals in regard to the considered phenomenon at the syntax‐semantics interface.
Leopard spot variation: What dialects have to say about variation, change and acquisition
Authors: Poletto Cecilia 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn this work I intend to discuss some general properties of dialectal variation which have import on the theory of language acquisition. I will first briefly discuss whether dialectal variation is qualitatively different from typological variation, a prediction made by a theory which assumes that there exist macro‐ and microparameters, as dialectal variation should only display microparameters. As this is not the case, I argue against the idea of a hierarchical order of parameters that the child has to set progressively in language acquisition, and in favor of an idea of a constellation of abstract properties connected by the fact that they share some primitive components that cluster to form what we call “formal features” in a way similar to how articulatory features cluster to combine phonemes. The second part of the article deals with what is indeed peculiar to dialectal variation, namely the type of distribution called “leopard spots” by traditional dialectologists and puts forth the idea that it can be used to formulate more precise hypotheses on the structure of functional items inside a framework like the cartographic/nano‐syntax one.
Referring expressions in the narratives of Italian‐English bilingual children
Authors: Wolleb Anna 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn this paper, I present the results of a study investigating the referring expressions and the selection of word order in the narrative productions of Italian‐English bilingual children and of a control group of Italian monolingual children. The aim of the study is to establish whether bilingual children overproduce overt subjects in Italian in contexts of [–topic‐shift], where a null pronoun is the most appropriate option. In addition, the potential difference between the two groups is analysed in terms of the selection of the word order in contexts of presentational focus, where VS is the favoured option for Italian monolinguals. The results show that bilingual children do not overproduce overt pronouns in their narratives, instead they show a weaker preference for the VS word order.
Cross‐linguistic influence outside the syntax‐pragmatics interface: a case study of the acquisition of definiteness
Authors: Anderssen Merete , Bentzen Kristine 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDuring the last decade it has been argued that the syntax‐pragmatics interface is particularly vulnerable in bilingual contexts. Several studies have identified this interface as the typical locus for cross‐linguistic influence. Another factor used to explain deviant development in bilinguals is structural overlap between the two languages involved. In this paper we investigate the acquisition of Norwegian definiteness marking in a Norwegian‐English bilingual girl. Her development is different from that of her monolingual peers, and we claim that this difference is qualitative, rather than quantitative. We argue that the observed deviance is not due to a vulnerable syntax‐pragmatics interface. Rather, we claim that the pattern results from structural transfer from English, facilitated by superficial similarities between the two languages with respect to the use of a prenominal determiner.
Experience with a massive transfusion protocol in the management of massive haemorrhage
Authors: Sinha R. , Roxby D. , Bersten A. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryBackground and objectivesA massive transfusion response (MTR) was introduced in 2007 to provide blood and blood products in a timelier manner. Aim of this study was to determine whether implementation of the MTR was associated with a change in clinical practice or mortality.Materials and methodsAll MTR activations from 2008 to 2011 were included in the study. Patients who had received a massive transfusion (MT ≥ 10 units RBC in 24 h) as part of the MTR (MT‐MTR) were compared with a historical group of MT patients (MT‐Pre‐MTR) from 2004 to 2006. Blood product usage including fresh frozen plasma (FFP) : RBC and platelet : RBC ratios and mortality were compared between the two groups.ResultsOut of 169 MTR activations, 13 patients (8%) did not use any blood products, 73 (43%) used <10 units of RBC in a 24‐h period and 83 received a MT. The median number of units of FFP and platelets transfused in the MT‐MTR group were 10 [interquartile range (IQR) 7–17] vs 6 (5–10) [P < 0·001] and 3 (IQR 2–4) vs 2 (IQR 1–3) [P < 0·001] in the MT‐Pre‐MTR group of patients, respectively. The MT‐MTR group received a higher 24‐h FFP : RBC ratio (1 : 1·4 vs 1 : 2·4, P < 0·001). Overall mortality between the MT‐MTR and MT‐Pre‐MTR groups (29% vs 23%, P = 0·43) and 90‐day mortality was 25% vs 29% (P = 0·40), respectively.ConclusionAlthough there has been a significant change in transfusion practice in MT patients using a MTR, no change in mortality could be documented using such a protocol.
Knowledge of Philadelphia University students regarding blood donation
Authors: Batiha A.‐M. , AlBashtawy M. 
Published: March 2013

SUMMARYObjectiveTo assess the knowledge of Philadelphia University students regarding blood donation.BackgroundSaving lives could be the ultimate humanitarian gift. Blood transfusion is an essential part of any national health service for optimal management of emergency situations.Methods/MaterialsA non‐experimental, cross‐sectional survey was used. A well‐structured, validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of 770 Jordanian university students about voluntary blood donation, and t‐test was used to compare the difference between two means.ResultsThe total number of participants was 696, from 770 students invited to participate in this survey, a response rate of 90·4%. The female students had a higher knowledge score (57·28%) than the male students (54·12%), but this was not found to be statistically significant.ConclusionThe findings of this study revealed that the university students' awareness about blood donation was poor and needed to be improved. Furthermore, the need for education programs and motivational campaigns should be enhanced.
Auxin promotes susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae via a mechanism independent of suppression of salicylic acid‐mediated defenses
Authors: Mutka Andrew M. , Fawley Stephen , Tsao Tiffany , Kunkel Barbara N. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryAuxin is a key plant growth regulator that also impacts plant–pathogen interactions. Several lines of evidence suggest that the bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae manipulates auxin physiology in Arabidopsis thaliana to promote pathogenesis. Pseudomonas syringae strategies to alter host auxin biology include synthesis of the auxin indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) and production of virulence factors that alter auxin responses in host cells. The application of exogenous auxin enhances disease caused by P. syringae strain DC3000. This is hypothesized to result from antagonism between auxin and salicylic acid (SA), a major regulator of plant defenses, but this hypothesis has not been tested in the context of infected plants. We further investigated the role of auxin during pathogenesis by examining the interaction of auxin and SA in the context of infection in plants with elevated endogenous levels of auxin. We demonstrated that elevated IAA biosynthesis in transgenic plants overexpressing the YUCCA 1 (YUC1) auxin biosynthesis gene led to enhanced susceptibility to DC3000. Elevated IAA levels did not interfere significantly with host defenses, as effector‐triggered immunity was active in YUC1‐overexpressing plants, and we observed only minor effects on SA levels and SA‐mediated responses. Furthermore, a plant line carrying both the YUC1‐overexpression transgene and the salicylic acid induction deficient 2 (sid2) mutation, which impairs SA synthesis, exhibited additive effects of enhanced susceptibility from both elevated auxin levels and impaired SA‐mediated defenses. Thus, in IAA overproducing plants, the promotion of pathogen growth occurs independently of suppression of SA‐mediated defenses.
Expanding the spectral palette of fluorescent proteins for the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Rasala Beth A. , Barrera Daniel J. , Ng Jenny , Plucinak Thomas M. , Rosenberg Julian N. , Weeks Donald P. , Oyler George A. , Peterson Todd C. , Haerizadeh Farzad , Mayfield Stephen P. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryFluorescent proteins (FPs) have become essential tools for a growing number of fields in biology. However, such tools have not been widely adopted for use in microalgal research. The aim of this study was to express and compare six FPs (blue mTagBFP, cyan mCerulean, green CrGFP, yellow Venus, orange tdTomato and red mCherry) in the popular model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. To circumvent the transgene silencing that often occurs in C. reinhardtii, the FPs were expressed from the nuclear genome as transcriptional fusions with the sh‐ble antibiotic resistance gene, with the foot and mouth disease virus 2A self‐cleaving sequence placed between the coding sequences. All ble–2A–FPs tested are well‐expressed and efficiently processed to yield mature, unfused FPs that localize throughout the cytoplasm. The fluorescence signals of each FP were detectable in whole cells by fluorescence microplate reader analysis, live‐cell fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry. Furthermore, we report a comparative analysis of fluorescence levels relative to auto‐fluorescence for the chosen FPs. Finally, we demonstrate that the ble–2A expression vector may be used to fluorescently label an endogenous protein (α‐tubulin). We show that the mCerulean–α‐tubulin fusion protein localizes to the cytoskeleton and flagella, as expected, and that cells containing this fusion protein had normal cellular function. Overall, our results indicate that, by use of the ble–2A nuclear expression construct, a wide array of FP tools and technologies may be applied to microalgal research, opening up many possibilities for microalgal biology and biotechnology.
Microtubule nucleation and establishment of the mitotic spindle in vascular plant cells
Authors: Masoud Kinda , Herzog Etienne , Chabouté Marie‐Edith , Schmit Anne‐Catherine 
Published: March 2013

SummaryThe microtubular cytoskeleton plays a major role in cellular organization and proliferation. The first step in construction of a microtubule is microtubule nucleation. Individual microtubules then participate in organization of more complex microtubule arrays. A strong body of evidence suggests that the underlying molecular mechanisms involve protein complexes that are conserved among eukaryotes. However, plant cell specificities, mainly characterized by the presence of a cell wall and the absence of centrosomes, must be taken into account to understand their mitotic processes. The goal of this review is to summarize and discuss current knowledge regarding the mechanisms involved in plant spindle assembly during early mitotic events. The functions of the proteins currently characterized at microtubule nucleation sites and involved in spindle assembly are considered during cell‐cycle progression from G2 phase to metaphase.
The E domains of pentatricopeptide repeat proteins from different organelles are not functionally equivalent for RNA editing
Authors: Chateigner‐Boutin Anne‐Laure , Colas des Francs‐Small Catherine , Fujii Sota , Okuda Kenji , Tanz Sandra K. , Small Ian 
Published: March 2013

SummaryRNA editing in plants is an essential post‐transcriptional process that modifies the genetic information encoded in organelle genomes. Forward and reverse genetics approaches have revealed the prevalent role of pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins in editing in both plastids and mitochondria, confirming the shared origin of this process in both organelles. The E domain at or near the C terminus of these proteins has been shown to be essential for editing, and is presumed to recruit the enzyme that deaminates the target cytidine residue. Here, we describe two mutants, otp71 and otp72, disrupted in genes encoding mitochondrial E–type PPR proteins with single editing defects in ccmFN2 and rpl16 transcripts, respectively. Comparisons between the E domains of these proteins and previously reported editing factors from chloroplasts suggested that there are characteristic differences in the proteins between the two organelles. To test this, we swapped E domains between two mitochondrial and two chloroplast editing factors. In all cases investigated, E domains from the same organelle (chloroplast or mitochondria) were found to be exchangeable; however, swapping the E domain between organelles led to non‐functional editing factors. We conclude that the E domains of mitochondrial and plastid PPR proteins are not functionally equivalent, and therefore that an important component of the putative editing complexes in the two organelles may be different.
Effects of XRCC2 and RAD51B mutations on somatic and meiotic recombination in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Da Ines Olivier , Degroote Fabienne , Amiard Simon , Goubely Chantal , Gallego Maria E. , White Charles I. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryHomologous recombination is key to the maintenance of genome integrity and the creation of genetic diversity. At the mechanistic level, recombination involves the invasion of a homologous DNA template by broken DNA ends, repair of the break and exchange of genetic information between the two DNA molecules. Invasion of the template in eukaryotic cells is catalysed by the RAD51 and DMC1 recombinases, assisted by a number of accessory proteins, including the RAD51 paralogues. Eukaryotic genomes encode a variable number of RAD51 paralogues, ranging from two in yeast to five in animals and plants. The RAD51 paralogues form at least two distinct protein complexes, believed to play roles in the assembly and stabilization of the RAD51‐DNA nucleofilament. Somatic recombination assays and immunocytology confirm that the three ‘non‐meiotic’ paralogues of Arabidopsis, RAD51B, RAD51D and XRCC2, are involved in somatic homologous recombination, and that they are not required for the formation of radioinduced RAD51 foci. Given the presence of all five proteins in meiotic cells, the apparent absence of a meiotic role for RAD51B, RAD51D and XRCC2 is surprising, and perhaps simply the result of a more subtle meiotic phenotype in the mutants. Analysis of meiotic recombination confirms this, showing that the absence of XRCC2, and to a lesser extent RAD51B, but not RAD51D, increases rates of meiotic crossing over. The roles of RAD51B and XRCC2 in recombination are thus not limited to mitotic cells.