bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Density dependence in forests is stronger in tropical and subtropical climates among closely related species
Authors: Shuai Fangmin , Wang Yongfan , Yu Shixiao 
Published: December 2013

Density dependence has long been considered an important mechanism for species coexistence in forests. Density‐dependent processes can be important mechanisms driving differences in species diversity across latitudes. Here we examined the decline in strength of density dependence with increasing latitude, and particularly how density dependence affected both conspecifics and heterospecifics.Conspecific individuals within a species were predominantly aggregated at the three different latitudes of the three study sites in China. The percentage of aggregated species declined with increasing spatial scale and growth stages, which confirmed the overall importance of density dependence. Compared with a latitudinal gradient, the intensity of aggregation in the most northerly temperate (Changbaishan) plot was significantly higher than that in the tropical (Bawangling) or subtropical (Heishiding) plots. This showed that the strength of density dependence among conspecific individuals at low latitudes was stronger than that for high latitudes. We found that the more closely related species were more spatially adjacent in the temperate plot, while the opposite was true in the tropical and subtropical plots at most scales. After calculating the recruitment probability of all species of mature trees, we found that 19 of the 32 species in the tropical plot and 7 of the 12 species in the subtropical plot were less likely to recruit near closely related species. In the northern temperate plot, only one species demonstrated this phenomenon. These results therefore suggest that latitudinal variation in the intensity of negative density‐dependent recruitment resulting from specialist natural enemies (the Janzen–Connell hypothesis) may contribute to the latitudinal gradient of diversity in trees.The strength of density dependence at low latitudes was stronger than at high latitudes, regardless of whether this dependence was measured between only conspecific individuals or between individuals of closely related species.
Immediate Placement and Restoration of Dental Implants in the Esthetic Region: Clinical Case Series
Authors: Khzam Nabil , Mattheos Nikos , Roberts David , Bruce William L , Ivanovski Saso 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimThe objective of this study was to assess the hard and soft tissue changes following immediate placement and provisional restoration of single‐tooth implants in the aesthetic zone.MethodsThirteen patients with immediately placed and restored implants were included in this study. All participating patients underwent the same treatment strategy that involved removal of the failed tooth, flapless surgery, immediate implant placement, and connection of a screw‐retained provisional restoration. Three months following implant placement, the temporary crowns were replaced by the definitive restorations. Implant survival rates, and hard and soft tissue changes were measured using periapical X‐rays and photographs. The range of the observation period was between 12 and 37 months with a mean period of 23.2 ± 7.6 months.ResultsAt the time of follow‐up, all implants were present with no complications. Radiographic evaluation revealed a mean mesial bone gain of 1.20 ± 1.01 mm and a mean distal bone gain of 0.80 ± 1.14 mm, which reached statistical significance. The mean mid‐buccal recession was 0.20 ± 0.78 mm, whereas the mesial and distal papillae height loss was 0.50 ± 1.26 mm and 0.30 ± 0.82 mm, respectively. The changes in the soft tissues did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionNotwithstanding the limitation of a small sample size, this study shows that immediate implant placement and provisional restoration in the maxillary aesthetic zone can result in favorable treatment outcomes with regards to soft and hard tissues changes over a follow‐up period of 23.2 ± 7.6 months.Clinical SignificanceMost clinical trials investigating immediate implant placement and immediate restoration in the maxillary anterior zone have focused on implant survival and implant success, with particular emphasis on radiographically assessed hard tissues changes. However, this study assesses the soft tissue changes associated with this procedure, which is an important area of study given the esthetic demands of implant therapy in the maxillary anterior region.
A new approach for the automatic evaluation of the solidification structure in steel using orientational entropy filtering
Authors: GRIESSER S. , O'LEARY P. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryWe present a new method for the automatic evaluation of the dendritic solidification structure in metallurgical micrographs of solidified steel. The evaluation of the microstructural parameters such as the primary dendrite arm spacing and the primary grain size are of high importance due to their direct relationship with the internal quality and mechanical properties of the cast product. Given the repeated geometric features in the micrographs and the regular pattern in colour intensity, we applied a filter mask to determine the local entropies within the masks in order to detect the centre coordinates of each individual dendrite. The orientation of the dendrites was determined by rotating the filter mask over each pixel to find the orientation which corresponds to the lowest entropy value. The segmentation of the microstructure was then performed via Delaunay tessellation and subsequent transformation of the triangular mesh into a rectangular grid, enabling the determination of the desired microstructural parameters.
Basic Nursing Care: Retrospective Evaluation of Communication and Psychosocial Interventions Documented by Nurses in the Acute Care Setting
Authors: Juvé‐Udina Maria‐Eulàlia , Pérez Esperanza Zuriguel , Padrés Núria Fabrellas , Samartino Maribel Gonzalez , García Marta Romero , Creus Mònica Castellà , Batllori Núria Vila , Calvo Cristina Matud 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the frequency of psychosocial aspects of basic nursing care, as e‐charted by nurses, when using an interface terminology.MethodsAn observational, multicentre study was conducted in acute wards. The main outcome measure was the frequency of use of the psychosocial interventions in the electronic nursing care plans, analysed over a 12 month retrospective review.FindingsOverall, 150,494 electronic care plans were studied. Most of the intervention concepts from the interface terminology were used by registered nurses to illustrate the psychosocial aspects of fundamentals of care in the electronic care plans.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe results presented help to demonstrate that the interventions of this interface terminology may be useful to inform psychosocial aspects of basic and advanced nursing care.Clinical relevanceThe identification of psychosocial elements of basic nursing care in the nursing documentation may lead to obtain a deeper understanding of those caring interventions nurses consider essential to represent nurse‐patient interactions. The frequency of psychosocial interventions may contribute to delineate basic and advanced nursing care.
Comparison of utility weighted DMFT with patient‐reported oral well‐being
Authors: Kay E. J. , Mills I. , Tredwin C. , Lambe P. , Nassani M. Z. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThis study investigated a method of measuring oral health, as opposed to measuring disease. The objective was to compare DMF score and whole mouth utility scores to a patient‐reported outcome measure (PROM). Disutility values for lost and restored teeth were used to weight the decayed, missing and filled teeths(DMFTs) of 10 adult patients. This gave two whole mouth utility scores (WMU). These scores were then compared with a patient‐reported oral health outcome measure recorded by the use of a visual analogue scale (VAS). The anchors for the VAS were ‘my mouth could not be worse’ and ‘my mouth could not be better’. There was a positive correlation (r = 0·6457) between WMU1 and the patient‐reported outcome measure (P < 0·05) and a negative correlation (r = −0·8383) between WMU1 and DMFT which was significant at the P < 0·01 level. There was a statistically significant positive correlation of r = 0·7926 between WMU2 and the patient‐reported outcome measure (P < 0·01) and a negative correlation (r = −0·9393) between WMU2 and DMFT (P < 0·01). The Pearson's correlation between DMFT and the patient‐reported outcome measure was −0·8757, which was significant at the 0·01 level. Patient reports of their perceived level of health correlate well with DMFT scores. Weighting DMFT scores according to the differential values assigned to missing, or missing and filled, teeth does not increase the degree of correlation between the measure and the patients’ personal quantification of their oral health. Decayed, missing and filled teeth therefore seems to adequately capture the patient's sense of well‐being.
Effect of cerebral circulatory arrest on cerebral near‐infrared spectroscopy in pediatric patients
Authors: Blohm Martin E. , Obrecht Denise , Hartwich Jana , Singer Dominique 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackground/AimsThe aim was to investigate whether cerebral transcutaneous near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) or two‐site NIRS is a suitable monitoring tool to detect or confirm a cerebral circulatory arrest in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients.MethodsProspective single‐center pediatric observational study. Simultaneous NIRS measurements over forehead (cNIRS, crS02) and kidney (rNIRS, rrSO2), at the same time, the cardiac output were determined by transthoracic echocardiography. Area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver‐operating curve (ROC) was analyzed for NIRS regarding cerebral circulatory arrest.ResultsThere were two groups of patients (weight 2.1–73 kg): Group A: patients with intact cerebral perfusion (n = 36). Group B: patients with cerebral circulatory arrest (n = 8) proven by Doppler ultrasound scan or perfusion scintigraphy. There was no difference in cardiac output between the groups. PICU mortality for Group A was 3/36 (8.3%), for Group B 8/8, (100%). Mean cNIRS values were significantly higher with 68.92 (sem = 2.54, sd = 15.25) in Group A compared with 34.63 (sem = 5.36, sd = 15.15) in Group B (P < 0.001). ROC analysis for cNIRS detecting cerebral circulatory arrest was significant (AUC 0.948, 95% confidence interval 0.876–1.000, se = 0.037, P < 0.001). Discrimination was optimal at 46 for cNIRS, at 36.5 for the difference rNIRS‐cNIRS and at 0.5646 for the quotient cNIRS/rNIRS. The probability of a cerebral circulatory arrest was 77.8% (cNIRS) and 87.5% (combinations of cNIRS and rNIRS) at these cutoffs.ConclusionscNIRS did detect cerebral circulatory arrest with high sensitivity. Specificity was, however, not high enough to confirm a cerebral circulatory arrest.
Multiepitope Fusion Antigen Induces Broadly Protective Antibodies That Prevent Adherence of Escherichia coli Strains Expressing Colonization Factor Antigen I (CFA/I), CFA/II, and CFA/IV
Authors: Ruan Xiaosai , Knudsen David E. , Wollenberg Katie M. , Sack David A. , Zhang Weiping 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTDiarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years and continues to be a major threat to global health. EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC) strains are the most common bacteria causing diarrhea in developing countries. ETEC strains are able to attach to host small intestinal epithelial cells by using bacterial colonization factor antigen (CFA) adhesins. This attachment helps to initiate the diarrheal disease. Vaccines that induce antiadhesin immunity to block adherence of ETEC strains that express immunologically heterogeneous CFA adhesins are expected to protect against ETEC diarrhea. In this study, we created a CFA multiepitope fusion antigen (MEFA) carrying representative epitopes of CFA/I, CFA/II (CS1, CS2, and CS3), and CFA/IV (CS4, CS5, and CS6), examined its immunogenicity in mice, and assessed the potential of this MEFA as an antiadhesin vaccine against ETEC. Mice intraperitoneally immunized with this CFA MEFA exhibited no adverse effects and developed immune responses to CFA/I, CFA/II, and CFA/IV adhesins. Moreover, after incubation with serum of the immunized mice, ETEC orE. colistrains expressing CFA/I, CFA/II, or CFA/IV adhesins were significantly inhibited in adherence to Caco-2 cells. Our results indicated this CFA MEFA elicited antibodies that not only cross-reacted to CFA/I, CFA/II and CFA/IV adhesins but also broadly inhibited adherence ofE. colistrains expressing these seven adhesins and suggested that this CFA MEFA could be a candidate to induce broad-spectrum antiadhesin protection against ETEC diarrhea. Additionally, this antigen construction approach (creating an MEFA) may be generally used in vaccine development against heterogenic pathogens.
Characterization of a Novel Melt Curve by Use of the Roche LightCycler HSV 1/2 Analyte-Specific Reagent Real-Time PCR Assay: Frequencies of This Novel (Low) Melt Curve and Commonly Encountered (Intermediate) Melt Curves
Authors: Boyanton Bobby L. , Almradi Amro , Espy Mark J. , Prada Anne E. , Gibson John P. , Pritt Bobbi S. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT
We characterize a novel probe binding-site polymorphism detectable solely by melt curve analysis using the Roche LightCycler HSV 1/2 analyte-specific reagent real-time PCR assay. The frequencies of this novel (47°C) and previously described intermediate (60 to 62°C) melt curves were 0.016% and 4.9%, respectively.
Impact of Proficiency Testing Program for Laboratories Conducting Early Diagnosis of HIV-1 Infection in Infants in Low- to Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Garcia Albert , Subbarao Shambavi , Zhang Guoqing , Parsons Linda , Nkengasong John , Ou Chin-Yih , Ellenberger Dennis 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

A voluntary, cost-free external quality assessment (EQA) program established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was implemented to primarily monitor the performance of laboratories conducting HIV Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) from dried blood spots (DBS) in low- to middle-income countries since 2006. Ten blind DBS proficiency test (PT) specimens and 100 known HIV-positive and -negative DBS specimens (to be used as internal controls) were shipped triannually to participating laboratories with reports for the PT specimens due within 30 days. The participant's results and a summary of the performance of all participating laboratories and each diagnostic method were provided after each test cycle. Enrollment in the CDC PT program expanded progressively from 17 laboratories from 11 countries in 2006 to include 136 laboratories from 41 countries at the end of 2012. Despite external pressures to test and treat more children while expanding EID programs, mean PT test scores significantly improved over time as demonstrated by the upward trend from mid-2006 to the end of 2012 (
P
= 0.001) and the increase in the percentage of laboratories scoring 100% (
P
= 0.003). The mean test scores plateaued over the past 10 testing cycles, ranging between 98.2% and 99.7%, and discordant test results still occur but at a rate of no higher than 2.6%. Analysis of these test results suggests a positive impact of proficiency testing on the testing performance of the participating laboratories, and a continuous training program and proficiency testing participation may translate into laboratories improving their testing accuracy.
Role of the Goat K
222
-PrP
C
Polymorphic Variant in Prion Infection Resistance
Authors: Aguilar-Calvo Patricia , Espinosa Juan Carlos , Pintado Belén , Gutiérrez-Adán Alfonso , Alamillo Elia , Miranda Alberto , Prieto Irene , Bossers Alex , Andreoletti Olivier , Torres Juan María 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

The prion protein-encoding gene (
prnp
) strongly influences the susceptibility of small ruminants to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Hence, selective breeding programs have been implemented to increase sheep resistance to scrapie. For goats, epidemiological and experimental studies have provided some association between certain polymorphisms of the cellular prion protein (PrP
C
) and resistance to TSEs. Among them, the Q/K polymorphism at PrP
C
codon 222 (Q/K
222
) yielded the most promising results. In this work, we investigated the individual effects of the K
222
-PrP
C
variant on the resistance/susceptibility of goats to TSEs. For that purpose, we generated two transgenic mouse lines, expressing either the Q
222
(wild type) or K
222
variant of goat PrP
C
. Both mouse lines were challenged intracerebrally with a panel of TSE isolates. Transgenic mice expressing the wild-type (Q
222
) allele were fully susceptible to infection with all tested isolates, whereas transgenic mice expressing similar levels of the K
222
allele were resistant to all goat scrapie and cattle BSE isolates but not to goat BSE isolates. Finally, heterozygous K/Q
222
mice displayed a reduced susceptibility to the tested panel of scrapie isolates. These results demonstrate a highly protective effect of the K
222
variant against a broad panel of different prion isolates and further reinforce the argument supporting the use of this variant in breeding programs to control TSEs in goat herds.

IMPORTANCE
The objective of this study was to determine the role of the K
222
variant of the prion protein (PrP) in the susceptibility/resistance of goats to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Results showed that transgenic mice expressing the goat K
222
-PrP polymorphic variant are resistant to scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agents. This protective effect was also observed in heterozygous Q/K
222
animals. Therefore, the single amino acid exchange from Q to K at codon 222 of the cellular prion protein provides resistance against TSEs. All the results presented here support the view that the K
222
polymorphic variant is a good candidate for selective breeding programs to control and eradicate scrapie in goat herds.
A Novel Recombinant Retrovirus in the Genomes of Modern Birds Combines Features of Avian and Mammalian Retroviruses
Authors: Henzy Jamie E. , Gifford Robert J. , Johnson Welkin E. , Coffin John M. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) represent ancestral sequences of modern retroviruses or their extinct relatives. The majority of ERVs cluster alongside exogenous retroviruses into two main groups based on phylogenetic analyses of the reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme. Class I includes gammaretroviruses, and class II includes lentiviruses and alpha-, beta-, and deltaretroviruses. However, analyses of the transmembrane subunit (TM) of the envelope glycoprotein (
env
) gene result in a different topology for some retroviruses, suggesting recombination events in which heterologous
env
sequences have been acquired. We previously demonstrated that the TM sequences of five of the six genera of orthoretroviruses can be divided into three types, each of which infects a distinct set of vertebrate classes. Moreover, these classes do not always overlap the host range of the associated RT classes. Thus, recombination resulting in acquisition of a heterologous
env
gene could in theory facilitate cross-species transmissions across vertebrate classes, for example, from mammals to reptiles. Here we characterized a family of class II avian ERVs, “TgERV-F,” that acquired a mammalian gammaretroviral
env
sequence. Although TgERV-F clusters near a sister clade to alpharetroviruses, its genome also has some features of betaretroviruses. We offer evidence that this unusual recombinant has circulated among several avian orders and may still have infectious members. In addition to documenting the infection of a nongalliform avian species by a mammalian retrovirus, TgERV-F also underscores the importance of
env
sequences in reconstructing phylogenies and supports a possible role for
env
swapping in allowing cross-species transmissions across wide taxonomic distances.

IMPORTANCE
Retroviruses can sometimes acquire an envelope gene (
env
) from a distantly related retrovirus. Since
env
is a key determinant of host range, such an event affects the host range of the recombinant virus and can lead to the creation of novel retroviral lineages. Retroviruses insert viral DNA into the host DNA during infection, and therefore vertebrate genomes contain a “fossil record” of endogenous retroviral sequences thought to represent past infections of germ cells. We examined endogenous retroviral sequences in avian genomes for evidence of recombination events involving
env
. Although cross-species transmissions of retroviruses between vertebrate classes (from mammals to birds, for example) are thought to be rare, we here characterized a group of avian retroviruses that acquired an
env
sequence from a mammalian retrovirus. We offer evidence that this unusual recombinant circulated among songbirds 2 to 4 million years ago and has remained active into the recent past.
An Increase in Acid Resistance of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Capsid Is Mediated by a Tyrosine Replacement of the VP2 Histidine Previously Associated with VP0 Cleavage
Authors: Vázquez-Calvo Angela , Caridi Flavia , Sobrino Francisco , Martín-Acebes Miguel A. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT
The foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) capsid is highly acid labile, but introduction of amino acid replacements, including an N17D change in VP1, can increase its acid resistance. Using mutant VP1 N17D as a starting point, we isolated a virus with higher acid resistance carrying an additional replacement, VP2 H145Y, in a residue highly conserved among picornaviruses, which has been proposed to be responsible for VP0 cleavage. This mutant provides an example of the multifunctionality of picornavirus capsid residues.