bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serological markers of Bornavirus infection found in horses in Iceland
Authors: Björnsdóttir Sigríður , Agustsdóttir Elfa , Blomström Anne-Lie , Öström Inga-Lena Örde , Berndtsson Louise Treiberg , Svansson Vilhjálmur , Wensman Jonas Johansson 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
In a stable of eight horses in Northern Iceland, six horses presented with clinical signs, such as ataxia and reduced appetite, leading to euthanasia of one severely affected horse. Serological investigations revealed no evidence of active equine herpes virus type 1 infection, a common source of central nervous system disease in horses, nor equine arteritis virus and West Nile virus. Another neurotropic virus, Borna disease virus, was therefore included in the differential diagnosis list.

Findings
Serological investigations revealed antibodies against Borna disease virus in four of five horses with neurological signs in the affected stable. One horse without clinical signs was seronegative. Four clinically healthy horses in the stable that arrived and were sampled one year after the outbreak were found seronegative, whereas one of four investigated healthy horses in an unaffected stable was seropositive.

Conclusions
This report contains the first evidence of antibodies to Borna disease virus in Iceland. Whether Borna disease virus was the cause of the neurological signs could however not be confirmed by pathology or molecular detection of the virus. As Iceland has very restricted legislation regarding animal imports, the questions of how this virus has entered the country and to what extent markers of Bornavirus infection can be found in humans and animals in Iceland remain to be answered.
Efficient bioconversion of 2,3-butanediol into acetoin using Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 2003
Authors: Wang Xiuqing , Lv Min , Zhang Lijie , Li Kun , Gao Chao , Ma Cuiqing , Xu Ping 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
2,3-Butanediol is a platform and fuel biochemical that can be efficiently produced from biomass. However, a value-added process for this chemical has not yet been developed. To expand the utilization of 2,3-butanediol produced from biomass, an improved derivative process of 2,3-butanediol is desirable.

Results
In this study, a Gluconobacter oxydans strain DSM 2003 was found to have the ability to transform 2,3-butanediol into acetoin, a high value feedstock that can be widely used in dairy and cosmetic products, and chemical synthesis. All three stereoisomers, meso-2,3-butanediol, (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol, and (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol, could be transformed into acetoin by the strain. After optimization of the bioconversion conditions, the optimum growth temperature for acetoin production by strain DSM 2003 was found to be 30°C and the medium pH was 6.0. With an initial 2,3-butanediol concentration of 40 g/L, acetoin at a high concentration of 89.2 g/L was obtained from 2,3-butanediol by fed-batch bioconversion with a high productivity (1.24 g/L · h) and high yield (0.912 mol/mol).

Conclusions

G. oxydans DSM 2003 is the first strain that can be used in the direct production of acetoin from 2,3-butanediol. The product concentration and yield of the novel process are both new records for acetoin production. The results demonstrate that the method developed in this study could provide a promising process for efficient acetoin production and industrially produced 2,3-butanediol utilization.
DNA methylation status of NKX2-5, GATA4 and HAND1in patients with tetralogy of fallot
Authors: Sheng Wei , Qian Yanyan , Wang Huijun , Ma Xiaojing , Zhang Ping , Diao Lianwei , An Quan , Chen Long , Ma Duan , Huang Guoying 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background

NKX2-5, GATA4 and HAND1 are essential for heart development, however, little is known regarding their epigenetic regulation in the pathogenesis of tetralogy of fallot (TOF).

Methods
Methylation levels were measured in three regions of NKX2-5 (M1: -1596 bp ~ -1374 bp, M2: -159 bp ~ 217 bp and M3: 1058 bp ~ 1524 bp), one region of GATA4 (M: -392 bp ~ 107 bp) and three regions of HAND1 (M1: -887 bp ~ -414 bp, M2: -436 bp ~ 2 bp and M3: 37 bp ~ 398 bp) using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. QRT-PCR was used to analyze NKX2-5 and HAND1 mRNA levels in the right ventricular myocardium of TOF patients.

Results
TOF patients had a significantly higher NKX2-5_M3 median methylation level than controls (41.65% vs. 22.18%; p = 0.0074; interquartile range [IQR]: 30.46%–53.35%, N = 30 and 20.07%–24.31%, N = 5; respectively). The HAND1_M1 median methylation level was also significantly higher in TOF patients than controls (30.05% vs. 17.54%; p = 0.0054; IQR: 20.77%–40.89%, N = 30 and IQR: 14.69%–20.64%; N = 6; respectively). The methylation statuses of NKX2-5_M1, NKX2-5_M2, GATA4_M, HAND1_M2 or HAND1_M3 were not significantly different in TOF patients compared to controls. The methylation values for NKX2-5_M3 were negatively correlated with mRNA levels (r = - 0.463, p = 0.010, N = 30) and there was a significant association between HAND1_M1 methylation status and mRNA levels (r = - 0.524, p = 0.003, N = 30) in TOF patients.

Conclusions
Aberrant methylation statuses of the NKX2-5 gene body and HAND1 promoter regions are associated with the regulation of gene transcription in TOF patients and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TOF.
A comparative evaluation of PCR- based methods for species- specific determination of African animal trypanosomes in Ugandan cattle
Authors: Ahmed Heba A , Picozzi Kim , Welburn Susan C , MacLeod Ewan T 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
In recent years, PCR has been become widely applied for the detection of trypanosomes overcoming many of the constraints of parasitological and serological techniques, being highly sensitive and specific for trypanosome detection. Individual species-specific multi-copy trypanosome DNA sequences can be targeted to identify parasites. Highly conserved ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes are also useful for comparisons between closely related species. The internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) in particular are relatively small, show variability among related species and are flanked by highly conserved segments to which PCR primers can be designed. Individual variations in inter-species length makes the ITS region a useful marker for identification of multiple trypanosome species within a sample.

Methods
Six hundred blood samples from cattle collected in Uganda on FTA cards were screened using individual species-specific primers for Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma vivax and compared to a modified (using eluate extracted using chelex) ITS-PCR reaction.

Results
The comparative analysis showed that the species-specific primer sets showed poor agreement with the ITS primer set. Using species-specific PCR for Trypanozoon, a prevalence of 10.5% was observed as compared to 0.2% using ITS PCR (Kappa = 0.03). For Trypanosoma congolense, the species-specific PCR reaction indicated a prevalence of 0% compared to 2.2% using ITS PCR (Kappa = 0). For T. vivax, species-specific PCR detected prevalence of 5.7% compared to 2.8% for ITS PCR (Kappa = 0.29).

Conclusions
When selecting PCR based tools to apply to epidemiological surveys for generation of prevalence data for animal trypanosomiasis, it is recommended that species-specific primers are used, being the most sensitive diagnostic tool for screening samples to identify members of Trypanozoon (T. b. brucei s.l). While ITS primers are useful for studying the prevalence of trypanosomes causing nagana (in this study the species-specific primers did not detect the presence of T. congolense) there were discrepancies between both the species-specific primers and ITS for the detection of T. vivax.
Phosphorylated fragile X mental retardation protein at serine 499, is reduced in cerebellar vermis and superior frontal cortex of subjects with autism: implications for fragile X mental retardation protein-metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 signaling
Authors: Rustan Øyvind G , Folsom Timothy D , Yousefi Mahtab K , Fatemi S Hossein 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Lohith et al. (Mol Autism 4:15, 2013) recently identified increased metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) expression in the frontal cortex (FC) of subjects with fragile X syndrome. These results are consistent with postmortem findings in cerebellar vermis and FC of subjects with autism (Fatemi and Folsom, Mol Autism 2:6, 2011; Fatemi et al. Anat Rec 294:1635–1645, 2011), suggesting that increased mGluR5 signaling is common to multiple autism spectrum disorders. Increased mGluR5 signaling may be associated with reduced phosphorylation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which could result in the inactivation of this protein. In the current study, we report on reduced expression of phosphorylated FMRP in cerebellar vermis of adults and children with autism and in FC of adults with autism.
Genome-wide binding of the basic helix-loop-helix myogenic inhibitor musculin has substantial overlap with MyoD: implications for buffering activity
Authors: MacQuarrie Kyle L , Yao Zizhen , Fong Abraham P , Tapscott Stephen J 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Musculin (MSC) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that inhibits myogenesis during normal development and contributes to the differentiation defect in rhabdomyosarcoma. As one of many transcription factors that impede myogenesis, its binding on a genome-wide scale relative to the widespread binding of the myogenic factor MyoD is unknown.

Methods
Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to high-throughput sequencing was performed for endogenous MSC in rhabdomyosarcoma cells and its binding was compared to that of MyoD in the same type of cells.

Results
MSC binds throughout the genome, in a pattern very similar to MyoD. Its binding overlaps strongly with regions enriched for acetylated histone H4, as well as regions that score high for DNase hypersensitivity in human myoblasts. In contrast to MyoD, MSC has a more relaxed binding sequence preference in the nucleotides that flank the core E-box motif.

Conclusions
The myogenic inhibitor MSC binds throughout the genome of rhabdomyosarcoma cells, in a pattern highly similar to that of MyoD, suggesting a broad role in buffering the activity of MyoD in development and rhabdomyosarcomas.
Genome-wide incorporation dynamics reveal distinct categories of turnover for the histone variant H3.3
Authors: Kraushaar Daniel C , Jin Wenfei , Maunakea Alika , Abraham Brian , Ha Misook , Zhao Keji 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Background
Nucleosomes are present throughout the genome and must be dynamically regulated to accommodate binding of transcription factors and RNA polymerase machineries by various mechanisms. Despite the development of protocols and techniques that have enabled us to map nucleosome occupancy genome-wide, the dynamic properties of nucleosomes remain poorly understood, particularly in mammalian cells. The histone variant H3.3 is incorporated into chromatin independently of DNA replication and requires displacement of existing nucleosomes for its deposition. Here, we measure H3.3 turnover at high resolution in the mammalian genome in order to present a genome-wide characterization of replication-independent H3.3-nucleosome dynamics.

Results
We developed a system to study the DNA replication-independent turnover of nucleosomes containing the histone variant H3.3 in mammalian cells. By measuring the genome-wide incorporation of H3.3 at different time points following epitope-tagged H3.3 expression, we find three categories of H3.3-nucleosome turnover in vivo: rapid turnover, intermediate turnover and, specifically at telomeres, slow turnover. Our data indicate that H3.3-containing nucleosomes at enhancers and promoters undergo rapid turnover that is associated with active histone modification marks including H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K9ac, H3K27ac and the histone variant H2A.Z. The rate of turnover is negatively correlated with H3K27me3 at regulatory regions and with H3K36me3 at gene bodies.

Conclusions
We have established a reliable approach to measure turnover rates of H3.3-containing nucleosomes on a genome-wide level in mammalian cells. Our results suggest that distinct mechanisms control the dynamics of H3.3 incorporation at functionally different genomic regions.
Analysis of expressed SNPs identifies variable extents of expression from the human inactive X chromosome
Authors: Cotton Allison M , Ge Bing , Light Nicholas , Adoue Veronique , Pastinen Tomi , Brown Carolyn J 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Background
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) results in the silencing of most genes on one X chromosome, yielding mono-allelic expression in individual cells. However, random XCI results in expression of both alleles in most females. Allelic imbalances have been used genome-wide to detect mono-allelically expressed genes. Analysis of X-linked allelic imbalance in females with skewed XCI offers the opportunity to identify genes that escape XCI with bi-allelic expression in contrast to those with mono-allelic expression and which are therefore subject to XCI.

Results
We determine XCI status for 409 genes, all of which have at least five informative females in our dataset. The majority of genes are subject to XCI and genes that escape from XCI show a continuum of expression from the inactive X. Inactive X expression corresponds to differences in the level of histone modification detected by allelic imbalance after chromatin immunoprecipitation. Differences in XCI between populations and between cell lines derived from different tissues are observed.

Conclusions
We demonstrate that allelic imbalance can be used to determine an inactivation status for X-linked genes, even without completely non-random XCI. There is a range of expression from the inactive X. Genes escaping XCI, including those that do so in only a subset of females, cluster together, demonstrating that XCI and location on the X chromosome are related. In addition to revealing mechanisms involved in cis-gene regulation, determining which genes escape XCI can expand our understanding of the contributions of X-linked genes to sexual dimorphism.
Excessive reassurance-seeking
Authors: Osborne David W. S. , Williams Christopher J. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryDifferent forms of excessive reassurance-seeking safety behaviours are explored, along with reasons why these unhelpful responses occur across a range of mental health disorders. This short update covers the rationale for reducing and stopping these behaviours and offers interventions to help people understand and overcome the unhelpful impact that excessive reassurance-seeking can have on them and others.
Management of the renal adverse effects of lithium
Authors: Gupta Sumeet , Kripalani Mukesh , Khastgir Udayan , Reilly Joe 
Published: November 2013

SummaryLithium is one of the most effective psychotropic drugs we have, but it is underused because of its low therapeutic index, the need for regular blood tests and perceptions about its adverse effects, including renal problems. The last include urinary concentration deficits and diabetes insipidus, chronic kidney disease (including renal failure), nephrotic syndrome, hypercalcaemia, hyperparathyroidism and distal tubular acidosis. This article reviews these adverse effects with special emphasis on their management.
Drug information update: agomelatine
Authors: Whiting Daniel , Cowen Philip J. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryAgomelatine is a new antidepressant, licensed for the treatment of unipolar major depression, with a mode of action that combines activation of melatonin receptors with blockade of 5-HT2C receptors. Agomelatine is notable for its short duration of action in the body and modest side-effect burden; however, a number of theoretical and practical challenges have limited its adoption into mainstream treatment in the UK. Current meta-analyses show marginal clinical benefits of agomelatine relative to placebo and an association with occasional increases in liver transaminases. Theoretically it is not clear whether agomelatine does block brain 5-HT2C receptors in humans at therapeutic doses and the optimum daily timing of administration in depression has not been clearly established. However, agomelatine's novel mode of action justifies further study, perhaps with the eventual aim of matching its use in depression to patients with specific disturbances in circadian rhythm.
Effectiveness of a summer school in influencing medical students' attitudes towards psychiatry
Authors: Beattie Sharon , Lister Clare , Khan Julie May , Cornwall Peter L. 
Published: November 2013

Aims and methodSummer schools are advocated as part of the national recruitment initiative despite little evidence of their impact. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 3-day non-clinical initiative. Change in attitudes and career intention were measured by administering a questionnaire, which included the 30-item Attitudes Toward Psychiatry (ATP-30) survey, at the start and end of the event.ResultsMean ATP-30 scores increased from 119 to 128, which represented a highly statistically significant change (t = 5.40, d.f. = 18, P < 0.001). A positive shift in intention to pursue psychiatry as a career was demonstrated.Clinical implicationsThese results suggest well-planned summer schools can have a significant impact on students' attitudes. Despite high initial ATP-30 scores a positive shift in attitudes and career intentions was still seen. Further evaluation of the longitudinal impact is needed. Events such as this are important and likely produce a cumulative effect alongside other recruitment strategies.
Specialisation and marginalisation: how the assertive community treatment debate affects individuals with complex mental health needs
Authors: Rosen Alan , Killaspy Helen , Harvey Carol 
Published: November 2013

SummaryThe growth of specialism in a field can be considered a healthy response to emerging evidence, technology and skills, yet it risks creating unhelpful barriers to collaborative working and fragmented patient pathways. Mental health services in England have experienced this tension in recent years through the national implementation of local specialist community teams that aim to reduce the need for in-patient admission through a focus on crisis resolution, early intervention and assertive community treatment (ACT). In response to the results of studies assessing its effectiveness, there has been disinvestment in ACT. This risks marginalising people with severe and complex mental health problems by depriving them and their families of the intensive support they need for successful community living, as well as discouraging researchers from undertaking further high-quality studies that can inform the intelligent evolution of the ACT model within different contexts.
Of Narratives and States
Authors: Watson Janell 
Published: November 2013

In this interview, Jacqueline Stevens discusses her career and her writings in the field of political theory. Her theories about birth, death, and the state guide her as she boldly challenges patriarchal appeals to genetics and heredity in the politics of immigration, wealth distribution, and family law. She challenges the democratic state to acknowledge and overcome its oligarchical and kleptocratic practices. Stevens proposes a number of concrete measures with the aim of achieving a more egalitarian and just society. Rather than concern itself with regulating marriage, the state should recognize parental contracts in order to assure that all children are well cared for. Inheritance should be abolished, with wealth reverting to the state, which would redistribute to ensure social services for everyone. Borders should be opened, and citizenship should be based not on birthplace or lineage but on residency.
In explaining her views, Stevens also discusses narrative, Michel Foucault’s political activism, and her work with the Deportation Research Clinic that she directs at Northwestern. She is currently working on a book about how conquistador narratives and chivalry romance novels informed the settlement of America in order to emphasize the role of fantasy and fiction in materializing these illogical things that have to do with our borders and our deportations. Her previous monographs include Reproducing the State (1999) and States without Nations: Citizenship for Mortals (2009).
Prepunishment and Explanatory Dependence: A New Argument for Incompatibilism About Foreknowledge and Freedom
Authors: Todd Patrick 
Published: November 2013

The most promising way of responding to arguments for the incompatibility of divine foreknowledge and human freedom (in one way or another) invokes a claim about the order of explanation: God knew (or believed) that you would perform a given action because you would, in fact, perform it, and not the other way around. Once we see this result, many suppose, we'll see that divine foreknowledge ultimately poses no threat to human freedom. This essay argues that matters are not so simple, for such reasoning threatens also to reconcile divine prepunishment with human freedom. The question here is this: if you have already been ( justly) punished by God for doing something, how then could you avoid doing that thing? As we'll see, there is a strong argument that seems to show that you couldn't. However, this essay argues that if divine prepunishment rules out human freedom, then so does divine foreknowledge. The arguments are exactly parallel in certain crucial respects. At any rate, investigating the issues surrounding prepunishment can help to throw into relief the various different strategies of response to the foreknowledge argument and can bring out what their costs and commitments really are. In particular, investigating prepunishment can help to bring out the inadequacy of the “Ockhamist” reply to the argument, as well as the sense in which God's past beliefs need to depend on what we do, if we are plausibly to have a choice about those beliefs.
Structural Variation in Ag–Co Nanostructures Embedded in TiO2 Thin Films Fabricated by Pulsed Laser Deposition
Authors: Watanabe Anri , Ikemiya Katsura , Chikamatsu Akira , Hirose Yasushi , Hasegawa Tetsuya 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
We investigated the structural variation of Ag–Co nanostructures in AgxCo5(TiO2)95 nanocomposite films with varying pulsed laser deposition conditions. The shape, size, and distribution of the nanostructures were significantly affected by the Ag content (x) and the substrate temperature. Ag–Co nanomatch-like structures appeared only at a specific condition and changed from rod-like to spherical with increasing x. A broad peak owing to Ag local-surface plasmon resonance was observed in the absorption spectra, which systematically shifted to longer wavelengths with increasing x.