bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The FRIENDS Emotional Health Program for Minority Groups at Risk
Authors: Iizuka Cristina A. , Barrett Paula M. , Gillies Robyn , Cook Clayton R. , Miller Debbie 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDDespite the existence of evidence‐based interventions for promoting mental health in children, the number of children at risk remains high. One of the reasons is that such interventions are not reaching specific groups at risk such as low socioeconomic status and ethnic minority groups. This study evaluated an adaptation of a school‐based psychosocial program for nonreferred students aged 11 to 12 years attending a multicultural school from a low socioeconomic status area.METHODSThe FRIENDS Program was adapted for a multicultural population. A quasi‐experimental design was used, involving a pre/post‐test, to evaluate the impact of the intervention on participants' outcomes on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Participants were divided into 2 categories (“at risk”/“not at risk”) based on their scores in the SDQ at pre‐test. Post‐test data were collected to evaluate the overall effectiveness and acceptability of the program.RESULTSAnalyses showed significant improvement for the group initially identified as “at risk,” with 30% of the students being no longer at risk after the intervention. Most students rated the intervention as being highly acceptable and useful.CONCLUSIONSAdaptations to existing evidence‐based programs for implementation with specific minority groups at risk represents a promising approach to promote emotional health in children.
The Role of Social Support for Promoting Quality of Life Among Persistently Obese Adolescents: Importance of Support in Schools
Authors: Wu Yelena P. , Reiter‐Purtill Jennifer , Zeller Meg H. 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDDespite school‐based and other interventions for pediatric obesity, many obese youth of the present generation will persist in their obesity into adolescence and adulthood. Thus, understanding not only how better to tailor weight interventions but how to promote overall adjustment for persistently obese youth is of utmost importance. This study examined the role of perceived social support in predicting later psychosocial status (ie, weight‐related quality of life) for persistently obese adolescents.METHODSThis study used a longitudinal design whereby persistently obese and nonoverweight comparison youth completed measures at 2 time points approximately 4 years apart.RESULTSObese youth reported lower levels of social support than comparison youth. Among obese youth, classmate and teacher support predicted future weight‐related quality of life.CONCLUSIONSSocial support, particularly from classmates, is an important predictor for the longitudinal psychosocial functioning of persistently obese youth. High levels of perceived teacher support may signal the presence of other psychosocial difficulties. Implications for school‐based interventions are discussed.
Using Bayesian growth models to reconstruct small‐mammal populations during low‐trapping periods
Authors: Unnsteinsdottir E. R. , Hersteinsson P. , Jonasson J. P. , McAdam B. J. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractSmall‐mammal populations that fluctuate in size often undergo periods of low trappability, which could be an important factor contributing to low‐density estimates based on trapping efforts. Age cohort analysis is commonly used to estimate population parameters of animals that are harvested. The method is based on known age at death that can be used for Bayesian hierarchical growth models. It is interesting to see if similar methods, hitherto conducted on long‐living species, can be used on live‐trapping data on short‐lived and fast‐growing small mammals. Using data from live‐trapping surveys of Apodemus sylvaticus in Iceland, we adjusted growth curves to individual body weights to predict their birth dates. The estimated birth dates were used to estimate population density and recruitment. These were then compared with other data sources. We found out that density estimates, based on numerical methods [modified nodal analysis (MNA)], underestimated population density during the period of low trappability and that recruitment occurred up to 100 days earlier than was observed by capture‐mark‐recapture (CMR) analysis and MNA. This study suggests that cohort analysis can be conducted on short‐lived small mammals during periods when estimates based on CMR or numerical analysis fail because of low sample sizes. Furthermore, it is possible to use body weight of live‐trapped individuals to estimate age. This is important in terms of ethics and conservation as such methods can be conducted without harming or killing the animals. We believe that live‐trapping data obtained during a peak period in population density can be a useful aid when describing population parameters of previous months when low trappability prevents direct measurements.
Living with xeroderma pigmentosum: comprehensive photoprotection for highly photosensitive patients
Authors: Tamura Deborah , DiGiovanna John J. , Khan Sikandar G. , Kraemer Kenneth H. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryXeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disease of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair with ultraviolet (UV) radiation sensitivity and a 10 000‐fold increased risk of skin cancer. Symptoms include: freckle‐like pigmentation in sun‐exposed skin before age 2 years, severe burns after minimal sun exposure (50% of patients) and damage to exposed surfaces of the eyes with loss of vision and ocular cancer. About 25% of patients develop a progressive neurodegeneration. The combination of an inherited inability to repair UV‐induced DNA damage and environmental exposure to UV must occur for cutaneous and ocular symptoms to develop. There is no cure for XP, but many of its manifestations may be reduced or prevented through consistent UV protection; thus XP serves as a model for sun protection of patients with marked photosenstivity. Sun protective clothing including hats, sunglasses and face shields, sun screen lotions and avoidance of environmental sources of UV are cornerstones of prevention of skin and eye damage and cancer. Although XP is a serious disease with the potential for limitation of life expectancy, XP patients can live active lives while at the same time avoiding UV.
Productivity Gains and Spillovers from Offshoring
Authors: Michel Bernhard , Rycx François 
Published: January 2014

AbstractOffshoring is generally believed to be productivity enhancing and this belief is underpinned by economic theory. This paper estimates the impact of materials and business services offshoring on productivity in Belgium over the period 1995–2004. It contributes to the literature: (i) by examining this issue separately for manufacturing and market services industries and (ii) by investigating the possibility of forward and backward spillovers from offshoring, i.e. that productivity gains from offshoring feed through to upstream and downstream industries. Results show that materials offshoring has no effect on productivity, while business services offshoring leads to productivity gains in manufacturing. Furthermore, there is no evidence of either forward or backward spillovers from offshoring.
Glycinergic feedback enhances synaptic gain in the distal retina
Authors: Jiang Zheng , Yang Jinnan , Purpura Lauren A. , Liu Yufei , Ripps Harris , Shen Wen 
Published: January 2014

Key points
This study provides experimental evidence that glycinergic interplexiform cells create a centrifugal feedback loop in the vertebrate retina that regulates the transmission of glutamatergic signals between photoreceptors and second‐order neurons.
This mechanism serves to reduce glutamate uptake and enhance glutamate release.
Glycine receptors containing the GlyRα3 subunit are expressed on bipolar cell dendrites, and their activation leads to a depolarizing response in a group of rod‐dominated ON bipolar cells, and hyperpolarizing responses in OFF bipolar cells.
Using strychnine to block endogenous glycine feedback reduces the amplitudes of light‐evoked responses in both ON and OFF bipolar cells, indicating that glycine feedback regulates signal propagation in the distal retina.
Glycinergic feedback provides a neural mechanism that enhances synaptic gain and improves visual sensitivity.
AbstractGlycine input originates with interplexiform cells, a group of neurons situated within the inner retina that transmit signals centrifugally to the distal retina. The effect on visual function of this novel mechanism is largely unknown. Using gramicidin‐perforated patch whole cell recordings, intracellular recordings and specific antibody labelling techniques, we examined the effects of the synaptic connections between glycinergic interplexiform cells, photoreceptors and bipolar cells. To confirm that interplexiform cells make centrifugal feedback on bipolar cell dendrites, we recorded the postsynaptic glycine currents from axon‐detached bipolar cells while stimulating presynaptic interplexiform cells. The results show that glycinergic interplexiform cells activate bipolar cell dendrites that express the α3 subunit of the glycine receptor, as well as a subclass of unidentified receptors on photoreceptors. By virtue of their synaptic contacts, glycine centrifugal feedback increases glutamate release from photoreceptors and suppresses the uptake of glutamate by the type 2A excitatory amino acid transporter on photoreceptors. The net effect is a significant increase in synaptic gain between photoreceptors and their second‐order neurons.
The selectivity of rostroventral medulla descending control of spinal sensory inputs shifts postnatally from A fibre to C fibre evoked activity
Authors: Koch Stephanie C. , Fitzgerald Maria 
Published: January 2014

Key points
Brainstem descending pathways control the balance of excitation and inhibition in spinal sensory networks. In adult rodents, descending inhibition is targeted to spinal neurons with a strong afferent C fibre input.
Descending inhibitory control matures slowly; the first postnatal weeks are characterized by greater descending facilitation than inhibition.
We report that, in contrast to adults, brainstem descending facilitation of spinal sensory neurons in young rats (postnatal day 21) is targeted to A fibre inputs. The selective inhibition of C fibre inputs observed in adults is absent at postnatal day 21.
In both young and adult rats, descending inhibition or facilitation is correlated with the excitability of individual neurons, as measured by ‘wind‐up’ to repeated C fibre stimulation.
The facilitation of A fibre input in early life is likely to enhance innocuous, tactile sensory inputs to the dorsal horn in the critical early postnatal weeks and thus promote activity‐dependent development of sensory networks.
AbstractBrainstem descending control is crucial in maintaining the balance of excitation and inhibition in spinal sensory networks. In the adult, descending inhibition of spinal dorsal horn circuits arising from the brainstem rostroventral medial medulla (RVM) is targeted to neurons with a strong nociceptive C fibre input. Before the fourth postnatal week, the RVM exerts a net facilitation of spinal networks but it is not known if this is targeted to specific dorsal horn neuronal inputs. As the maturation from descending facilitation to inhibition occurs only after C fibre central synaptic maturation is complete, we hypothesized that RVM facilitation in young animals is targeted to A fibre afferent inputs. To test this, the RVM was stimulated while recording dorsal horn neuronal activity in vivo under isoflurane anaesthesia at postnatal day (P) 21 and P40 (adult). Electrical thresholds for A and C fibre evoked activity, spike counts and wind‐up characteristics at baseline and during RVM stimulation (10–100 µA, 10 Hz) were compared. In adults, RVM stimulation selectively increased the threshold for C fibre evoked activity while at P21, it selectively decreased the threshold for A fibre evoked activity and these effects were correlated to the wind‐up characteristics of the neuron. Thus, the postnatal shift in RVM control of dorsal horn circuits is not only directional but also modality specific, from facilitation of A fibre input in the young animal to inhibition of nociceptive C input in the adult, with additional contextual factors. The descending control of spinal sensory networks serves very different functions in young and adult animals.
RGS4 regulates partial agonism of the M2 muscarinic receptor‐activated K+ currents
Authors: Chen I‐Shan , Furutani Kazuharu , Inanobe Atsushi , Kurachi Yoshihisa 
Published: January 2014

Key points
Partial agonists produce a smaller response than full agonists even at 100% receptor occupancy.
In G‐protein‐coupled receptor signalling, the submaximal efficacy of partial agonists is determined by the conformational change of the agonist–receptor complex, which reduces effector activation. However, it remains unclear whether the regulator of G‐protein signalling (RGS) proteins contribute to the partial agonism.
By analysing the M2 muscarinic receptor (M2R)‐activated G‐protein‐gated K+ inwardly rectifying (KG) currents in a Xenopus oocyte expression system, pilocarpine acted as a partial agonist in the presence of RGS4, as it did in rat atrial myocytes, while it acted like the full agonist ACh in the absence of RGS4.
Functional couplings within the agonist–M2R complex/G‐protein/RGS4 system controlled the relative efficacy of the agonists.
Our findings help us to understand the molecular components and mechanism underlying the partial agonism of M2R‐mediated physiological responses.
AbstractPartial agonists are used clinically to avoid overstimulation of receptor‐mediated signalling, as they produce a submaximal response even at 100% receptor occupancy. The submaximal efficacy of partial agonists is due to conformational change of the agonist–receptor complex, which reduces effector activation. In addition to signalling activators, several regulators help control intracellular signal transductions. However, it remains unclear whether these signalling regulators contribute to partial agonism. Here we show that regulator of G‐protein signalling (RGS) 4 is a determinant for partial agonism of the M2 muscarinic receptor (M2R). In rat atrial myocytes, pilocarpine evoked smaller G‐protein‐gated K+ inwardly rectifying (KG) currents than those evoked by ACh. In a Xenopus oocyte expression system, pilocarpine acted as a partial agonist in the presence of RGS4 as it did in atrial myocytes, while it acted like a full agonist in the absence of RGS4. Functional couplings within the agonist–receptor complex/G‐protein/RGS4 system controlled the efficacy of pilocarpine relative to ACh. The pilocarpine–M2R complex suppressed G‐protein‐mediated activation of KG currents via RGS4. Our results demonstrate that partial agonism of M2R is regulated by the RGS4‐mediated inhibition of G‐protein signalling. This finding helps us to understand the molecular components and mechanism underlying the partial agonism of M2R‐mediated physiological responses.
Molecular Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates from China
Authors: Zhao Li-Li , Chen Yan , Liu Hai-Can , Xia Qiang , Wu Xiao-Cui , Sun Qing , Zhao Xiu-Qin , Li Gui-Lian , Liu Zhi-Guang , Wan Kang-Lin 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTTo investigate the molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) isolates from China and the association of specific mutations conferring drug resistance with strains of different genotypes, we performed spoligotyping and sequenced nine loci (katG,inhA, theoxyR-ahpCintergenic region,rpoB,tlyA,eis,rrs,gyrA, andgyrB) for 128 MDR-TB isolates. Our results showed that 108 isolates (84.4%) were Beijing family strains, 64 (59.3%) of which were identified as modern Beijing strains. Compared with the phenotypic data, the sensitivity and specificity of DNA sequencing were 89.1% and 100.0%, respectively, for isoniazid (INH) resistance, 93.8% and 100.0% for rifampin (RIF) resistance, 60.0% and 99.4% for capreomycin (CAP) resistance, 84.6% and 99.4% for kanamycin (KAN) resistance, and 90.0% and 100.0% for ofloxacin (OFX) resistance. The most prevalent mutations among the MDR-TB isolates werekatG315,inhA15,rpoB531, -526, and -516,rrs1401,eis-10, andgyrA94, -90, and -91. Furthermore, there was no association between specific resistance-conferring mutations and the strain genotype. These findings will be helpful for the establishment of rapid molecular diagnostic methods to be implemented in China.
Repression of Flagella Is a Common Trait in Field Isolates of Salmonella enterica Serovar Dublin and Is Associated with Invasive Human Infections
Authors: Yim Lucía , Sasías Sebastián , Martínez Arací , Betancor Laura , Estevez Verónica , Scavone Paola , Bielli Alejandro , Sirok Alfredo , Chabalgoity José Alejandro 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACT

The nontyphoidal
Salmonella enterica
serovar Dublin is adapted to cattle but infrequently infects humans, very often resulting in invasive infections with high levels of morbidity and mortality. A
Salmonella
-induced intestinal acute inflammatory response is postulated as a mechanism to prevent bacterial dissemination to systemic sites. In
S. enterica
serovar Typhimurium, flagella contribute to this response by providing motility and FliC-mediated activation of pattern recognition receptors. In this study, we found 4
Salmonella enterica
isolates, with the antigenic formula 9,12:−:−, that, based on
fliC
sequence and multilocus sequence type (MLST) analyses, are aflagellate
S
. Dublin isolates. Interestingly, all were obtained from human bloodstream infections. Thus, we investigated the potential role of flagella in the unusual invasiveness exhibited by
S
. Dublin in humans by analyzing flagellation and proinflammatory properties of a collection of 10
S
. Dublin human clinical isolates. We found that 4 of 7 blood isolates were aflagellate due to significantly reduced levels of
fliC
expression, whereas all 3 isolates from other sources were flagellated. Lack of flagella correlated with a reduced ability of triggering interleukin-8 (IL-8) and CCL20 chemokine expression in human intestinal Caco-2 cells and with reduced early inflammation in the ceca of streptomycin-pretreated C57/BL6 mice. These results indicate that flagella contribute to the host intestinal inflammatory response to
Salmonella
serovar Dublin and suggest that their absence may contribute to its systemic dissemination through dampening of the gut immune response. Analysis of FliC production in a collection of cattle isolates indicated that the aflagellate phenotype is widely distributed in field isolates of
S
. Dublin.
Potent Malaria Transmission-Blocking Antibody Responses Elicited by Plasmodium falciparum Pfs25 Expressed in Escherichia coli after Successful Protein Refolding
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Angov Evelina , Kumar Nirbhay 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTProduction of Pfs25, aPlasmodium falciparumtransmission-blocking vaccine target antigen, in functional conformation with the potential to elicit effective immunogenicity still remains a major challenge. In the current study, codon-harmonized recombinant Pfs25 (CHrPfs25) was expressed inEscherichia coli, and purified protein after simple oxidative refolding steps retained reduction-sensitive conformational epitopes of transmission-blocking monoclonal antibodies. CHrPfs25 formulated in several adjuvants elicited strong immunogenicity in preclinical studies in mice. Antibodies elicited after immunization recognized native Pfs25 on the surface of live gametes ofP. falciparumand demonstrated complete malaria transmission-blocking activity. The transmission-blocking efficacy was 100% even after a 1:128 dilution of sera from immunized mice in the complete Freund's adjuvant and Montanide ISA51 groups and after a 1:16 dilution of sera from mice in the alum group. The blocking was mediated by antibodies; purified IgG at concentrations as low as 31.25 μg/ml exhibited 100% transmission blocking in membrane feeding assays employing two different species of mosquitoes,Anopheles gambiaeandAnopheles stephensi. This study provides the first evidence for successful expression of biologically functional rPfs25 inE. coli. The extremely potent malaria transmission-blocking activity of antibodies elicited by immunization with purified protein provides strong support for further evaluation ofE. coli-derived CHrPfs25 as a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine in human clinical trials.
CD8+T Cells Eliminate Liver-Stage Plasmodium berghei Parasites without Detectable Bystander Effect
Authors: Cockburn Ian A. , Tse Sze-Wah , Zavala Fidel 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTImmunization with attenuatedPlasmodiumsporozoites or viral vectored vaccines can induce protective CD8+T cells that can find and eliminate liver-stage malaria parasites. A key question is whether CD8+T cells must recognize and eliminate each parasite in the liver or whether bystander killing can occur. To test this, we transferred antigen-specific effector CD8+T cells to mice that were then coinfected with twoPlasmodium bergheistrains, only one of which could be recognized directly by the transferred T cells. We found that the noncognate parasites developed normally in these mice, demonstrating that bystander killing of parasites does not occur during the CD8+T cell response to malaria parasites. Rather, elimination of infected parasites is likely mediated by direct recognition of infected hepatocytes by antigen-specific CD8+T cells.
Hardware support for accurate per-task energy metering in multicore systems
Authors: Liu Qixiao , Moreto Miquel , Jimenez Victor , Abella Jaume , Cazorla Francisco J. , Valero Mateo 
Published: January 2014

Accurately determining the energy consumed by each task in a system will become of prominent importance in future multicore-based systems because it offers several benefits, including (i) better application energy/performance optimizations, (ii) improved energy-aware task scheduling, and (iii) energy-aware billing in data centers. Unfortunately, existing methods for energy metering in multicores fail to provide accurate energy estimates for each task when several tasks run simultaneously.
This article makes a case for accurate Per-Task Energy Metering (PTEM) based on tracking the resource utilization and occupancy of each task. Different hardware implementations with different trade-offs between energy prediction accuracy and hardware-implementation complexity are proposed. Our evaluation shows that the energy consumed in a multicore by each task can be accurately measured. For a 32-core, 2-way, simultaneous multithreaded core setup, PTEM reduces the average accuracy error from more than 12% when our hardware support is not used to less than 4% when it is used. The maximum observed error for any task in the workload we used reduces from 58% down to 9% when our hardware support is used.