bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of the quality of life of vulnerable young males with severe emotional and behaviour difficulties in a residential setting and young males in mainstream schooling
Authors: Carroll D. , Duffy T. , Martin C. R. 
Published: March 2013

Accessible summary
The findings from this study reveal that the notion of anticipated and deleterious differences in quality of life (QoL) between children with severe emotional and behavioural problems and those without such difficulties is not supported. Indeed, results reveal counter‐intuitive findings with children with emotional and behavioural problems reporting better QoL than those without such presenting problems on a number of QoL subscales.
The type of QoL measure and related subscales appears to be sensitive to differing aspects of self‐report QoL, with in some instances, some QoL subscales being more discriminatory between groups compared with other QoL subscales. Consequently, the choice of QoL measure is critically important in accurately and reliably determining QoL in children with significant emotional and behavioural problems.
AbstractOne hundred and seventy‐four males completed a quality of life (QoL) assessment utilizing, a generic paediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQL) and the short form (36) health survey (SF36). The adolescents aged 13–16 years were in a Scottish Centre for young males with social, emotional, behavioural and educational problems. To identify similarities and differences, a comparison group (n = 110) of males in the third and fourth year in a mainstream secondary school were also administered the PedsQL and the SF36 self‐rating scales. The effectiveness of the PedsQL and the SF36 for assessing QoL for adolescent males was investigated. There were significant differences between the groups in the Centre and between the Centre groups and the comparison group in terms of their QoL. The results between the groups were found in the PedsQL subscales ‘physical functioning’ where secure > comparison (P = 0.04); secure > residential (P = 0.008); and PedsQL subscale ‘social functioning’ day > comparison (P = 0.026); secure > comparison (P = 0.037). SF36 subscales ‘role physical functioning’ secure > residential (P < 0.001); day > residential (P < 0.001). SF36 ‘role mental functioning’ day > residential (P = 0.001). This study provides a unique insight into the complex dimensions influencing the QoL of this specific group of young people.
IL‐27 Inhibits Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Proliferation by STAT1‐Regulated Gene Expression
Authors: Nielsen Sebastian Rune , Hammer Troels , Gibson Josefine , Pepper Michael S. , Nisato Riccardo E. , Dissing Steen , Tritsaris Katerina 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectiveIL‐27 belongs to the IL‐12 family of cytokines and is recognized for its role in Th cell differentiation and as an inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of IL‐27 on proliferation of lymphatic endothelial cells to gain insight into the interplay between the immune system and development of the lymphatic system.MethodsIL‐27‐stimulated signal transduction in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells was measured by western blotting and synthesis of CXCL10 and CXCL11 by use of RT‐PCR and ELISA. Proliferation was measured using MTT and BrdU kits and the role of STAT1 and chemokines was determined by use of siRNA and recombinant proteins.ResultsStimulation of lymphatic endothelial cell cultures with IL‐27 induced JAK dependent phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3 and inhibited lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Expression of CXCL10 and CXCL11, both STAT1 target genes, was profoundly up‐regulated upon IL‐27 stimulation, and recombinant CXCL10 and CXCL11 inhibited FGF‐2‐induced proliferation in vitro. siRNA targeting of STAT1 almost completely abrogated CXCL10 and CXCL11 expression as well as the proliferative effect of IL‐27.ConclusionsIL‐27 function as an anti‐lymphangiogenic regulator in vitro by up‐regulating chemokines and interfering with the mitogenic effect of growth factors through STAT1 activation.
Protocol, politics and popular culture: the independence jubilee in Gabon
Authors: Fricke Christine 
Published: March 2013

AbstractNational days are powerful moments of commemoration that aim at renewing the citizens' bonds to the nation and the state. In order to be successful, public rituals need to draw large audiences, and their ceremonial design therefore has to be adapted to suit the masses, employing elements of popular culture and everyday forms of nationhood. Despite drawing its significance from the declaration of independence in 1960, however, Gabon's independence jubilee was less concerned with history and commemoration than with celebrating the state and the nation in the present. The ceremonial design of Gabon's jubilee featured intensive preparations, official ceremonies, popular festivities and symbolic politics. In this article, I look at why history and commemoration played such an unimportant role during the celebrations and how Gabon's jubilee organisers included official as well as popular forms of nationhood to assure the population's participation.
Prevalence of renal dysfunction in tacrolimus‐treated pediatric transplant recipients: A systematic review
Authors: Gijsen Violette M. G. J. , Hesselink Dennis A. , Croes Kenneth , Koren Gideon , de Wildt Saskia N. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractRenal dysfunction after non‐renal transplantation in adult tacrolimus‐treated transplant patients is well documented. Little is known about its prevalence in children. Age‐related changes in both disposition and effect of tacrolimus as well as renal function may preclude extrapolation of adult data to children. To systematically review the literature on renal dysfunction in non‐renal pediatric transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus. PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google were searched from their inception until April 19, 2012, with the search terms “tacrolimus,” “renal function,” “transplantation,” and “children.” Eighteen of 385 retrieved papers were considered relevant. Twelve dealt with liver, four with heart transplant, one with heart and lung transplant, and one with intestinal recipients. Reported prevalences of mild and severe chronic kidney disease ranged from 0% to 39% and 0% to 71.4%, respectively, for liver, and from 22.7% to 40% and 6.8% to 46%, respectively, for heart and/or lung transplant recipients. Ranges remained wide after adjusting for follow‐up time and disease severity. Possible explanations are inclusion bias and definitions used for renal dysfunction. A considerable proportion of pediatric non‐renal transplant patients who receive tacrolimus‐based immunosuppression, appear to suffer from chronic kidney disease. This conclusion warrants further research into the real risk, its risk factors, and individualization of immunosuppressant therapy.
Size does matter: Women mentally rotate large objects faster than men
Authors: Olsen Bernt Ivar , Laeng Bruno , Kristiansen Kari‐Ann , Hartvigsen Gunnar 
Published: February 2013

Performance in a computerized “mental rotation” task was measured in groups of males and females while they rotated Shepard‐Metzler‐like cube assemblies on either a standard laptop screen (size = 36 cm) or on a large display wall (584 cm) where the stimuli appeared at considerably larger sizes and within a much wider field of view than that typically used in most spatial tasks. Males and females did not differ significantly in performance in the standard size condition with regards to response time but females performed faster than males in the large display condition. Males were also found to be significantly more accurate than females, regardless of display. We found no sign of trading accuracy for speed for either of the sexes or screen size conditions. We surmise that such an effect may be due to differences in task‐solving strategies between the sexes, where a holistic strategy – which may be preferred by males is negatively affected by large object sizes, whereas a piecemeal approach, that may be preferred by females, is virtually unaffected by display size.
Entitlement in Gutting's Epistemology of Philosophy: Comments on What Philosophers Know
Authors: Henderson David 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn What Philosophers Know, Gary Gutting provides an epistemology of philosophical reflection. This paper focuses on the roles that various intuitive inputs are said to play in philosophical thought. Gutting argues that philosophers are defeasibly entitled to believe some of these, prior to the outcome of the philosophical reflection, and that they then rightly serve as significant (again defeasible) anchors on reflection. This paper develops a view of epistemic entitlement and applies it to argue that many prephilosophical convictions of the kind Gutting discusses would be just the sort of belief for which entitlement would plausibly be defeated from the start. They then could not properly play the role in philosophical reflection that Gutting envisions for them.
Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli on Bavarian Dairy and Beef Cattle Farms
Authors: Schmid A. , Hörmansdorfer S. , Messelhäusser U. , Käsbohrer A. , Sauter-Louis C. , Mansfeld R. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing
Escherichia coli
strains are believed to be widely distributed among humans and animals; however, to date, there are only few studies that support this assumption on a regional or countrywide scale. Therefore, a study was designed to assess the prevalence of ESBL-producing
E. coli
in dairy cows and beef cattle in the southern part of Bavaria, Germany. The study population included 30 mixed dairy and beef cattle farms and 15 beef cattle farms. Fecal samples, boot swabs, and dust samples were analyzed for ESBL-producing
E. coli
using selective media. PCR was performed to screen for CTX-M and
ampC
resistance genes. A total of 598 samples yielded 196 (32.8%) that contained ESBL-producing
E. coli
, originating from 39 (86.7%) of 45 farms. Samples obtained from mixed farms were significantly more likely to be ESBL-producing
E. coli
positive than samples from beef cattle farms (fecal samples,
P
< 0.001; boot swabs,
P
= 0.014; and dust samples,
P
= 0.041). A total of 183 isolates (93.4%) of 196 ESBL-producing
E. coli
-positive strains harbored CTX-M genes, CTX-M group 1 being the most frequently found group. Forty-six additional isolates contained
ampC
genes, and 5 of the 46 isolates expressed a
bla
CMY-2
gene. The study shows that ESBL-producing
E. coli
strains are commonly found on Bavarian dairy and beef cattle farms. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of
bla
CMY-2
in cattle in Germany.
Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius Endospores Function as Nuclei for the Formation of Single Calcite Crystals
Authors: Murai Rie , Yoshida Naoto 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius
colonies were placed on an agar hydrogel containing acetate, calcium ions, and magnesium ions, resulting in the formation of single calcite crystals (calcites) within and peripheral to the plating area or parent colony. Microscopic observation of purified calcites placed on the surface of soybean casein digest (SCD) nutrient medium revealed interior crevices from which bacterial colonies originated. Calcites formed on the gel contained [1-
13
C]- and [2-
13
C]acetate, demonstrating that
G. thermoglucosidasius
utilizes carbon derived from acetate for calcite formation. During calcite formation, vegetative cells swam away from the parent colony in the hydrogel. Hard-agar hydrogel inhibited the formation of calcites peripheral to the parent colony. The calcite dissolved completely in 1 M HCl, with production of bubbles, and the remaining endospore-like particles were easily stained with Brilliant green dye. The presence of DNA and protein in calcites was demonstrated by electrophoresis. We propose that endospores initiate the nucleation of calcites. Endospores of
G. thermoglucosidasius
remain alive and encapsulated in calcites.
Lsr2 of Mycobacterium leprae and Its Synthetic Peptides Elicit Restitution of T Cell Responses in Erythema Nodosum Leprosum and Reversal Reactions in Patients with Lepromatous Leprosy
Authors: Saini Chaman , Prasad H. K. , Rani Rajni , Murtaza A. , Misra Namita , Shanker Narayan N. P. , Nath Indira 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTThe Lsr2 protein ofMycobacterium lepraeand its synthetic peptides have been shown to elicit lymphoproliferation and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with lepromatous leprosy (M. Chaduvula, A. Murtaza, N. Misra, N. P. Narayan, V. Ramesh, H. K. Prasad, R. Rani, R. K. Chinnadurai, I. Nath, Infect. Immun. 80:742–752, 2012). PBMCs from 16 patients with lepromatous leprosy who were undergoing erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) (type 2) and 5 patients with reversal reactions (RR) (type 1) were stimulated withM. leprae, recombinant Lsr2, and six end-to-end synthetic peptides (A through F) spanning the Lsr2 sequence. During the reaction all patients with ENL showed lymphoproliferation (stimulation index, >2) in response to peptides A and F, with other peptides eliciting responses in 75 to 88% of the subjects. In PBMC cultures, both lymphoproliferation and IFN-γ release for peptide E were significantly higher than for peptides B and C and recombinant Lsr2 (P< 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Five patients with RR also showed enhanced lymphoproliferative responses and IFN-γ release in response to Lsr2,M. leprae, and peptide E. Six months postreaction, 14 patients with ENL continued to exhibit responses to Lsr2 and its peptides, with the highest responses being elicited by peptide E. However, 5 subjects showed no lymphoproliferation and had reduced IFN-γ release in response to Lsr2 peptides (P< 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis test) but responded to recombinant Lsr2. Six patients with ENL had HLA-A*68.01, which the STFPEITHI program showed to have high peptide-binding scores of 20 to 21 for peptides E, B, and C. Eleven patients had HLA-DRB1*1501 and HLA-DRB1*1502, which had high binding scores for peptides C and E. Thus, Lsr2 and its peptides are recognized in leprosy reactions during and well after the subsidence of clinical signs.
Detection of Fungal DNA in Human Body Fluids and Tissues during a Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and Other Infections
Authors: Gade Lalitha , Scheel Christina M. , Pham Cau D. , Lindsley Mark D. , Iqbal Naureen , Cleveland Angela Ahlquist , Whitney Anne M. , Lockhart Shawn R. , Brandt Mary E. , Litvintseva Anastasia P. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

Exserohilum rostratum
was the major cause of an outbreak of fungal infections linked to injections of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate. Because almost 14,000 persons were exposed to product that was possibly contaminated with multiple fungal pathogens, there was unprecedented need for a rapid throughput diagnostic test that could detect both
E. rostratum
and other unusual agents of fungal infection. Here we report development of a novel PCR test that allowed for rapid and specific detection of fungal DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), other body fluids and tissues of infected individuals. The test relied on direct purification of free-circulating fungal DNA from fluids and subsequent PCR amplification and sequencing. Using this method, we detected
Exserohilum rostratum
DNA in 123 samples from 114 case-patients (28% of 413 case-patients for whom 627 samples were available), and
Cladosporium
DNA in one sample from one case-patient. PCR with novel
Exserohilum
-specific ITS-2 region primers detected 25 case-patients with samples that were negative using broad-range ITS primers. Compared to fungal culture, this molecular test was more sensitive: of 139 case-patients with an identical specimen tested by culture and PCR,
E. rostratum
was recovered in culture from 19 (14%), but detected by PCR in 41 (29%), showing a diagnostic sensitivity of 29% for PCR compared to 14% for culture in this patient group. The ability to rapidly confirm the etiologic role of
E. rostratum
in these infections provided an important contribution in the public health response to this outbreak.
Secretion of Quinolinic Acid, an Intermediate in the Kynurenine Pathway, for Utilization in NAD
+
Biosynthesis in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ohashi Kazuto , Kawai Shigeyuki , Murata Kousaku 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

NAD
+
is synthesized from tryptophan either via the kynurenine (
de novo
) pathway or via the salvage pathway by reutilizing intermediates such as nicotinic acid or nicotinamide ribose. Quinolinic acid is an intermediate in the kynurenine pathway. We have discovered that the budding yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
secretes quinolinic acid into the medium and also utilizes extracellular quinolinic acid as a novel NAD
+
precursor. We provide evidence that extracellular quinolinic acid enters the cell via Tna1, a high-affinity nicotinic acid permease, and thereby helps to increase the intracellular concentration of NAD
+
. Transcription of genes involved in the kynurenine pathway and Tna1 was increased, responding to a low intracellular NAD
+
concentration, in cells bearing mutations of these genes; this transcriptional induction was suppressed by supplementation with quinolinic acid or nicotinic acid. Our data thus shed new light on the significance of quinolinic acid, which had previously been recognized only as an intermediate in the kynurenine pathway.
The Response of Nannochloropsis gaditana to Nitrogen Starvation Includes
De Novo
Biosynthesis of Triacylglycerols, a Decrease of Chloroplast Galactolipids, and Reorganization of the Photosynthetic Apparatus
Authors: Simionato Diana , Block Maryse A. , La Rocca Nicoletta , Jouhet Juliette , Maréchal Eric , Finazzi Giovanni , Morosinotto Tomas 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

Microalgae of the genus
Nannochloropsis
are capable of accumulating triacylglycerols (TAGs) when exposed to nutrient limitation (in particular, nitrogen [N]) and are therefore considered promising organisms for biodiesel production. Here, after nitrogen removal from the medium,
Nannochloropsis gaditana
cells showed extensive triacylglycerol accumulation (38% TAG on a dry weight basis). Triacylglycerols accumulated during N deprivation harbored signatures, indicating that they mainly stemmed from freshly synthesized fatty acids, with a small proportion originating from a recycling of membrane glycerolipids. The amount of chloroplast galactoglycerolipids, which are essential for the integrity of thylakoids, decreased, while their fatty acid composition appeared to be unaltered. In starved cells, galactolipids were kept at a level sufficient to maintain chloroplast integrity, as confirmed by electron microscopy. Consistently, N-starved
Nannochloropsis
cells contained less photosynthetic membranes but were still efficiently performing photosynthesis. N starvation led to a modification of the photosynthetic apparatus with a change in pigment composition and a decrease in the content of all the major electron flow complexes, including photosystem II, photosystem I, and the cytochrome
b
6
f
complex. The photosystem II content was particularly affected, leading to the inhibition of linear electron flow from water to CO
2
. Such a reduction, however, was partially compensated for by activation of alternative electron pathways, such as cyclic electron transport. Overall, these changes allowed cells to modify their energetic metabolism in order to maintain photosynthetic growth.
Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile Infection and Risk Factors for Unfavorable Clinical Outcomes: Results of a Hospital-Based Study in Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Rodríguez-Pardo Dolors , Almirante Benito , Bartolomé Rosa M. , Pomar Virginia , Mirelis Beatriz , Navarro Ferran , Soriano Alex , Sorlí Luisa , Martínez-Montauti Joaquín , Molins Maria Teresa , Lung Maily , Vila Jordi , Pahissa Albert 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Prospective hospital-based surveillance for
Clostridium difficile
-associated disease (CDAD) was conducted in Barcelona (Spain) to describe the epidemiology of this condition and investigate the risk factors for an unfavorable outcome. All patients diagnosed with CDAD during 2009 were included. Using logistic regression modeling, we analyzed the potential risk factors associated with recurrent and complicated CDAD, defined as a need for colectomy or death within 30 days. There were 365 episodes of CDAD, yielding an incidence of 22.5 cases/10
5
person-years, 1.22 cases/10
3
hospital discharges, and 1.93 cases/10
4
patient-days. The main PCR ribotypes identified were 241 (26%), 126 (18%), 078 (7%), and 020 (5%). PCR ribotype 027 was not detected. Among the 348 cases analyzed, 232 (67%) patients were cured, 63 (18%) had a recurrence of CDAD, and 53 (15%) developed complicated CDAD. Predictors of complicated CDAD were continued use of antibiotics following CDAD diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 2.009; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.012 to 3.988;
P
= 0.046), Charlson comorbidity index score (OR, 1.265; 95% CI, 1.105 to 1.449;
P
= 0.001), and age (OR, 1.028; 95% CI, 1.005 to 1.053;
P
= 0.019). A leukocyte count of >15 × 10
3
cells/ml (OR, 2.277; 95% CI, 1.189 to 4.362;
P
= 0.013), continuation of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use after CDAD diagnosis (OR, 2.168; 95% CI, 1.081 to 4.347;
P
= 0.029), and age (OR, 1.021; 95% CI, 1.001 to 1.041;
P
= 0.036) were independently associated with higher odds of recurrence. The incidence of CDAD in Barcelona during 2009 was on the lower end of the previously described range for all of Europe. Our analysis suggests that the continuation of non-
C. difficile
antibiotics and use of PPIs in patients diagnosed with CDAD are associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes.
Sympathetic skin response and heart rate variability as diagnostic tools for the differential diagnosis of Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer's disease: a diagnostic test study
Authors: Negami Masako , Maruta Takahiro , Takeda Chie , Adachi Yumi , Yoshikawa Hiroaki 
Published: March 2013

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of sympathetic skin response (SSR) and heart rate variability (HRV) for the differential diagnosis of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).DesignA diagnostic test study.SettingSingle centre in Japan.ParticipantsWe examined 20 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosed with NINCDS-ADRDA criteria and 20 with probable DLB diagnosed with the criteria of the third international DLB workshop.MethodsFor the SSR measurement, surface electrodes were used: the active recording electrode was placed on the palm of the hand and the reference electrode was placed on the dorsum of the same hand. SSR was induced by a median nerve electrical stimulation at an amplitude of 20 mA. For the HRV measurement, the A–A intervals were measured twice for 2 min with an interval of 5 min in a sitting position after a rest of 5 min. From the low-frequency power (LF; 0.02–0.15 Hz) and high-frequency power (HF; 0.15–0.50 Hz), the ratio of LF to HF power (LF/HF) was calculated using the maximal entropy method.ResultsSSR and HRV could detect the abnormality of autonomic function in patients with DLB at sensitivities of 85% and 90%, respectively. On the other hand, SSR and HRV detected an abnormality of autonomic function in patients with AD at sensitivities of 15% and 25% (p<0.05). The combination of the SSR and the HRV (double-positive) indicated abnormal autonomic function was recorded in only 1 of 20 patients (5%) with AD. In contrast, this combination indicated autonomic abnormality in 15 of 20 patients with DLB by our criteria (75%).ConclusionsSSR and HRV can be applied to differentiate DLB from AD.