bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and use of new sensitive molecular tools for diagnosis and detection of Melampsora rusts on cultivated poplar
Authors: Husson C. , Ioos R. , Andrieux A. , Frey P. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryPoplar rusts due to Melampsora larici‐populina (Mlp), M. allii‐populina (Map) and M. medusae f. sp. deltoidae (Mmd) are the most serious disease in Europe on cultivated poplars, that is, Populus × euramericana and P. × interamericana hybrids. These pathogenic species can be identified by the observation of morphological characteristics of urediniospores but this method is not appropriate for high‐throughput analysis and cannot be used on other spore stages, such as aeciospores or teliospores, that are morphologically similar. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive molecular method based on PCR amplification that was able to specifically detect these species on various hosts for routine analysis. Three primer pairs ITS‐MLP‐F/ITS‐MLP‐R, ITS‐MAP‐F/ITS‐MAP‐R and ITS‐MMD‐F/ITS‐MMD‐R were designed within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of ribosomal DNA to target Mlp, Map and Mmd, respectively, and their specificity were confirmed on a wide range of isolates and species. ITS‐MLP‐F/ITS‐MLP‐R and ITS‐MAP‐F/ITS‐MAP‐R primers proved to be highly specific to Mlp and Map, respectively, whereas ITS‐MMD‐F/ITS‐MMD‐R cross‐reacted with DNA from M. larici‐tremulae and M. pinitorqua. However, these species are not pathogenic on cultivated poplars that all belong to sections Aigeiros and Tacamahaca of the genus Populus. Specific Mmd primers proved to be very sensitive as a positive signal could be obtained with DNA extracts from 6 target urediniospores mixed with 800 000 urediniospores of Mlp. An internal amplification control (IAC) was included to discriminate false negative results due to the potential presence of inhibitory compounds in DNA extracts. ITS‐MMD‐F/ITS‐MMD‐R primers are therefore efficient for the detection of the quarantine pathogen Mmd on samples collected on poplar or larch and are fit for use in official tests. This new PCR assay has been used in routine for ten years, and Mmd has hitherto never been detected in commercial poplar nurseries in France.
Responses of lotic periphyton to pulses of phosphorus: P‐flux controlled growth rate
Authors: DAVIES JOHN‐MARK , BOTHWELL MAX L. 
Published: October 2012

Summary1. The response of stream periphyton to the addition of limiting nutrients has been the focus of many studies. However, the influence of pulsed nutrient additions has not previously been examined. This study investigates the biomass accrual and physiological responses of phosphorus‐limited lotic periphyton to hourly phosphate fluxes.2. Two pulsing experiments were conducted: (i) a variable flux trial that compared variable hourly P‐fluxes, delivered either continuously at different concentrations or at the same concentration but in pulses of differing duration per hour and (ii) a constant flux trial that compared periphyton responses at a set hourly P‐flux but delivered in pulses of varying concentration and duration.3. Growth response and alkaline phosphatase activity during the variable flux experiment showed that periphyton responds to the hourly integrated flux of phosphorus, regardless of whether the nutrient is supplied in short concentrated pulses or continuously at much lower concentrations.4. The constant flux experiment examined the pulse period required to attain maximum biomass for a given phosphorus flux. Periphyton response to 5‐min pulses of phosphate per hour approximated the maximum biomass as that attained when the same hourly flux was added continuously. Compared with the control, there was also a substantial increase in biomass with pulses of only 1 min each hour. These results demonstrate that the hourly average phosphate concentration to which periphyton communities are exposed is paramount in determining P‐limited growth dynamics.5. Species composition was not significantly different among treatments in each experiment; however, the design was to evaluate monotonic response with increasing phosphorus flux and species diversity may not respond monotonically. The data are therefore preliminary but suggest the need to determine if species diversity is generally lower when there are brief pulses of phosphate. Unlike pulse experiments that mimic lentic situations, nutrient additions were not used to completion and species success and composition was more dependent on their ability to acquire limiting nutrients rapidly rather than on their ability to take up nutrients at the lowest concentration.
Cloud shading and fog drip influence the metabolism of a coastal pine ecosystem
Authors: Carbone Mariah S. , Park Williams A. , Ambrose Anthony R. , Boot Claudia M. , Bradley Eliza S. , Dawson Todd E. , Schaeffer Sean M. , Schimel Joshua P. , Still Christopher J. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAssessing the ecological importance of clouds has substantial implications for our basic understanding of ecosystems and for predicting how they will respond to a changing climate. This study was conducted in a coastal Bishop pine forest ecosystem that experiences regular cycles of stratus cloud cover and inundation in summer. Our objective was to understand how these clouds impact ecosystem metabolism by contrasting two sites along a gradient of summer stratus cover. The site that was under cloud cover ~15% more of the summer daytime hours had lower air temperatures and evaporation rates, higher soil moisture content, and received more frequent fog drip inputs than the site with less cloud cover. These cloud‐driven differences in environmental conditions translated into large differences in plant and microbial activity. Pine trees at the site with greater cloud cover exhibited less water stress in summer, larger basal area growth, and greater rates of sap velocity. The difference in basal area growth between the two sites was largely due to summer growth. Microbial metabolism was highly responsive to fog drip, illustrated by an observed ~3‐fold increase in microbial biomass C with increasing summer fog drip. In addition, the site with more cloud cover had greater total soil respiration and a larger fractional contribution from heterotrophic sources. We conclude that clouds are important to the ecological functioning of these coastal forests, providing summer shading and cooling that relieve pine and microbial drought stress as well as regular moisture inputs that elevate plant and microbial metabolism. These findings are important for understanding how these and other seasonally dry coastal ecosystems will respond to predicted changes in stratus cover, rainfall, and temperature.
The challenge of pain evaluation in haemophilia: can pain evaluation and quantification be improved by using pain instruments from other clinical situations?
Authors: Humphries T. J. , Kessler C. M. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryPain is a critical aspect in the lives of individuals with congenital haemophilia A or B. Initially, pain serves as a warning sign for an active bleeding event; however, after multiple bleeding episodes, pain may become chronic, debilitating, and distracting. It is essential that pain instruments be developed and validated for use in persons with haemophilia, especially in paediatric cohorts, so that new therapies to treat acute bleeds can be assessed in a standardized manner. This review evaluates the existing pain instruments utilized in the English language haemophilia literature and compares their features and practicality with instruments published for other clinical pain scenarios associated with non‐coagulopathic disease states, such as cancer and surgical convalescence, in paediatric, adolescent, and adult populations. In clinical trials involving haemophilia cohorts, few pain instruments have been validated. Only one instrument has addressed pain specifically in individuals less than 16 years of age. In contrast, multiple instruments have been applied extensively to other pain situations, especially in the paediatric oncology area, where the age range extends to less than 3 years. We conclude that trials quantifying pain in haemophilia would benefit from the addition and validation of instruments in use in other pain situations. Suggestions for modifying the pain instruments currently used in haemophilia are presented, specifically to address paediatric haemophilia cohorts.
‘I don't want to hurt him.’ Parents’ experiences of learning to administer clotting factor to their child
Authors: Furmedge J. , Lima S. , Monagle P. , Barnes C. , Newall F. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryTo explore the experiences and educational needs of parents learning to use an Implanted Central Venous Access Device (IVAD) to administer clotting factor to their child with haemophilia. Parents of children with haemophilia who had learnt to administer clotting factor via IVAD attended focus groups to discuss their experiences of the learning process. Data were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Parents described distress and trauma in dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of their child's haemophilia. It was within this context that parents began the IVAD education process. Four major themes emerged from the data: dealing with fear and anxiety; a supportive learning environment; establishing a ritual and empowerment and liberation. Parents identified a supportive learning environment as their critical need rather than a specific learning process. In addition, the concept of ritual emerged both as a mechanism for increasing the child's comfort with the procedure and as a valuable learning tool for their parents. This study highlights the importance of consulting consumers to understand their experience of illness and their educational needs. Patient and family education programs should not be limited to the provision of information, but must establish and incorporate the needs of the learner.
Prevalence of MED12 mutations in uterine and extrauterine smooth muscle tumours
Authors: Matsubara Akiko , Sekine Shigeki , Yoshida Masayuki , Yoshida Akihiko , Taniguchi Hirokazu , Kushima Ryoji , Tsuda Hitoshi , Kanai Yae 
Published: October 2012

AimsTo determine the prevalence of MED12 mutations in smooth muscle tumours of different organs.Methods and resultsA total of 142 smooth muscle tumours of the uterus, gastrointestinal tract, retroperitoneum and soft tissue were analysed for MED12 mutations using Sanger sequencing. Among the uterine tumours that were examined, MED12 mutations were identified in 36 of 45 conventional leiomyomas (80%), two of six cellular leiomyomas (33%), one of four bizarre leiomyomas (25%), none of four lipoleiomyomas (0%), and two of 12 leiomyosarcomas (17%). The two MED12‐mutated leiomyosarcomas were associated with benign leiomyomatous components that also harboured MED12 mutations identical to those in the respective leiomyosarcomatous components. None of the extrauterine smooth muscle tumours, including the leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas, and angioleiomyomas, had MED12 mutations.ConclusionsAmong uterine smooth muscle tumours, MED12 mutations are frequently present in conventional leiomyomas, but are significantly less common in histological variants of leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. In contrast to uterine lesions, none of the extrauterine smooth muscle tumours had MED12 mutations.
Effect of tooth isolation on laser Doppler readings
Authors: Setzer F. C. , Challagulla P. , Kataoka S. H. H. , Trope M. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimTo measure differences between single (STI) and multiple teeth isolation (MTI), pulpal blood flow (PBF) was assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF).MethodologyPulpal blood flow of twenty maxillary incisors with no restorations or abnormal responses to sensitivity tests in healthy patients between 24 and 42 years of age was measured in perfusion units (PU). STI (isolation of only the tooth undergoing blood flow assessment) and MTI (isolation including the maxillary right to the maxillary left canine) recordings were taken with regular blood flow (RBF) and with local infiltration (LI) with vasoconstrictor. anova and Tukey HSD tests were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe mean PBF with regular blood flow conditions was significantly different between single tooth isolation [5.53 PU (SD ± 2.98)] and multiple tooth isolation [2.85 PU (SD ± 2.13)] (P < 0.01). When local anaesthesia was administered (LI), the PBF was significantly different between single tooth isolation [2.95 PU (SD ± 2.48)] and multiple tooth isolation [1.32 PU (SD ± 0.70)] (P < 0.05). Significant differences in PBF also existed between single tooth isolation under regular blood flow conditions and with local anaesthesia (P < 0.01), between single tooth isolation under regular blood flow conditions and multiple tooth isolation with local anaesthesia (P < 0.01), and between multiple tooth isolation under regular blood flow conditions and with local anaesthesia (P < 0.05).ConclusionsPulpal blood flow measurements could be obtained with multiple teeth isolation and single tooth isolation. Multiple teeth isolation blocked signal contamination better. Single tooth isolation provided significantly different readings for regular blood flow and LI conditions and may therefore provide an option for pulpal blood flow assessment with LDF.
Role of recombination activating genes in the generation of antigen receptor diversity and beyond
Authors: Nishana Mayilaadumveettil , Raghavan Sathees C. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryV(D)J recombination is the process by which antibody and T‐cell receptor diversity is attained. During this process, antigen receptor gene segments are cleaved and rejoined by non‐homologous DNA end joining for the generation of combinatorial diversity. The major players of the initial process of cleavage are the proteins known as RAG1 (recombination activating gene 1) and RAG2. In this review, we discuss the physiological function of RAGs as a sequence‐specific nuclease and its pathological role as a structure‐specific nuclease. The first part of the review discusses the basic mechanism of V(D)J recombination, and the last part focuses on how the RAG complex functions as a sequence‐specific and structure‐specific nuclease. It also deals with the off‐target cleavage of RAGs and its implications in genomic instability.
Differential regulation and impact of fucosyltransferase VII and core 2 β1,6‐N‐acetyl‐glycosaminyltransferase for generation of E‐selectin and P‐selectin ligands in murine CD4+T cells
Authors: Schroeter Micha F. , Ratsch Boris A. , Lehmann Jeanette , Baumgrass Ria , Hamann Alf , Syrbe Uta 
Published: October 2012

SummaryLigands for E‐selectin and P‐selectin (E‐lig and P‐lig) are induced on CD4+ T cells upon differentiation into effector T cells. Glycosyltransferases, especially α 1,3‐fucosyltransferase VII (FucT‐VII) and core 2 β1,6‐N‐acetyl‐glycosaminyltransferase I (C2GlcNAcT‐I), are critical for their synthesis. We here analysed the signals that control the expression of E‐lig, P‐lig and mRNA coding for FucT‐VII and C2GlcNAcT‐I. In line with previous reports, we found that P‐lig expression correlates with the regulation of C2GlcNAcT‐I, whereas E‐lig expression can occur at low levels of C2GlcNAcT‐I mRNA but requires high FucT‐VII mRNA expression. Interestingly, the two enzymes are regulated by different signals. Activation‐induced C2GlcNAcT‐I up‐regulation under permissive (T helper type 1) conditions was strongly reduced by cyclosporin A (CsA), suggesting the involvement of T‐cell receptor‐dependent, calcineurin/NFAT‐dependent signals in combination with interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) ‐mediated signals in the regulation of C2GlcNAcT‐I. In contrast, expression of FucT‐VII mRNA was not significantly inhibited by CsA. Interleukin‐4 inhibited the expression of FucT‐VII but IL‐2 and IL‐7 were found to support induction of FucT‐VII and E‐lig. E‐selectin, P‐selectin and their ligands initially appeared to have rather overlapping functions. These findings however, unravel striking differences in the regulation of E‐lig and P‐lig expression, dictated by the dominance of FucT‐VII and C2GlcNAcT‐I, respectively, and their dependency on signals from either promiscuous or homeostatic cytokines (FucT‐VII) or a strong T‐cell receptor signal in combination with inflammatory cytokines in case of C2GlcNAcT‐I.
Increased HLA‐E expression in white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Durrenberger Pascal F. , Webb Louise V. , Sim Malcolm J. W. , Nicholas Richard S. , Altmann Daniel M. , Boyton Rosemary J. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryThe molecular mechanisms underpinning central nervous system damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) are complex and it is widely accepted that there is an autoimmune component. Both adaptive and innate immune effector mechanisms are believed to contribute to tissue disease aetiology. HLA‐E is a non‐classical MHC class Ib molecule that acts as the ligand for the NKG2A inhibitory receptor present on natural killer (NK) and CD8+ cells. Peptide binding and stabilization of HLA‐E is often considered to signal infection or cell stress. Here we examine the up‐regulation of HLA‐E in MS brain tissue. Expression is significantly increased in white matter lesions in the brain of MS patients compared with white matter of neurologically healthy controls. Furthermore, using quantitative immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, we show increased HLA‐E protein expression in endothelial cells of active MS lesions. Non‐inflammatory chronic lesions express significantly less HLA‐E protein, comparable to levels found in white matter from controls. Increased HLA‐E protein levels were associated with higher scores of inflammation. These results suggest the potential for an effect in central nervous system pathogenesis from HLA‐E modulation in stressed tissue. Co‐localization with infiltrating CD8+ cells implicates a possible role for HLA‐E‐restricted regulatory CD8+ cells, as has been proposed in other autoimmune diseases.
Hand hygiene to reduce community transmission of influenza and acute respiratory tract infection: a systematic review
Authors: Warren‐Gash Charlotte , Fragaszy Ellen , Hayward Andrew C. 
Published: October 2012

Please cite this paper as: Warren‐Gash et al. (2012) Hand hygiene to reduce community transmission of influenza and acute respiratory tract infection: a systematic review. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/irv.12015.Hand hygiene may be associated with modest protection against some acute respiratory tract infections, but its specific role in influenza transmission in different settings is unclear. We aimed to review evidence that improving hand hygiene reduces primary and secondary transmission of (i) influenza and (ii) acute respiratory tract infections in community settings. We searched Medline, Embase, Global Health and Cochrane databases up to 13 February 2012 for reports in any language of original research investigating the effect of hand hygiene on influenza or acute respiratory tract infection where aetiology was unspecified in community settings including institutions such as schools, and domestic residences. Data were presented and quality rated across outcomes according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Sixteen articles met inclusion criteria. There was moderate to low‐quality evidence of a reduction in both influenza and respiratory tract infection with hand hygiene interventions in schools, greatest in a lower–middle‐income setting. There was high‐quality evidence of a small reduction in respiratory infection in childcare settings. There was high‐quality evidence for a large reduction in respiratory infection with a hand hygiene intervention in squatter settlements in a low‐income setting. There was moderate‐ to high‐quality evidence of no effect on secondary transmission of influenza in households that had already experienced an index case. While hand hygiene interventions have potential to reduce transmission of influenza and acute respiratory tract infections, their effectiveness varies depending on setting, context and compliance.
Fat or lean: adjustment of endogenous energy stores to predictable and unpredictable changes in allostatic load
Authors: Schultner Jannik , Kitaysky Alexander S. , Welcker Jorg , Hatch Scott 
Published: October 2012

Summary

The ability to store energy endogenously is an important ecological mechanism that allows animals to buffer predictable and unpredictable variation in allostatic load. The secretion of glucocorticoids, which reflects changes in allostatic load, is suggested to play a major role in the adjustment of endogenous stores to these varying conditions.

Although crucially important, the relationship between allostatic load and energy stores remains largely unexplored. Two contrasting hypotheses describe how stores may be adjusted: animals may use low allostatic loads to increase stores to a maximum possible (‘fat and fit’), or they can attain a lean physique due to fitness advantages of a low body mass (‘lean and fit’).

We compiled observational and experimental data available for a long‐lived seabird to examine the relationship between glucocorticoids and stored energy at two life history stages (incubation and chick‐rearing). Data were collected across multiple years and colonies in the North Pacific, thereby reflecting the wide range of environmental conditions birds' encounter in the marine environment. During experimental manipulations, allostatic load was minimized by supplementing food to free‐living birds.

We found that the relationship between allostatic load and energy stores was clearly curvilinear at both life history stages. Observational data suggested that energy stores remained relatively stable under low allostatic load and decreased under high loads. Experimental data showed that birds did not maximize energy stores under favourable conditions but maintained energy stores below a physiologically attainable level.

Energy stores remained consistently lower during chick‐rearing compared to incubation across the wide range of variations in allostatic load suggesting that stage‐specific trade‐offs limit the accumulation of energy during favourable environmental conditions. Secretion of glucocorticoids did not appear to mediate this shift in energy stores between the life history stages.

Overall, results of this study support the ‘lean and fit’ hypothesis. We conclude that increased energy stores may not necessarily reflect better environmental conditions experienced by individuals or predict their higher fitness. A major advantage of adopting a lean physique when environmental conditions allow may be the avoidance of additional energetic costs for moving a heavy body. In breeding seabirds, this advantage may be more important during chick‐rearing. In the focal species, the secretion of glucocorticoids might be involved in regulation of energy stores within a life history stage but does not appear to mediate an adaptive shift in energy stores between the incubating and chick‐rearing stages of reproduction.