bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic and Predictive Capability of Routine Laboratory Tests for the Diagnosis and Staging of Equine Inflammatory Disease
Authors: Hooijberg E.H. , van den Hoven R. , Tichy A. , Schwendenwein I. 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundA wide spectrum of laboratory tests is available to aid diagnosis and classification of equine inflammatory disease.ObjectivesTo compare diagnostic efficacy and combined predictive capability of the myeloperoxidase index (MPXI), and plasma fibrinogen, iron and serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations for the diagnosis of inflammation.AnimalsTwenty‐six hospitalized horses with systemic inflammation (SI), 114 with local inflammation (LI) and 61 healthy horses or those with noninflammatory disease (NI) were included.MethodsA retrospective study was performed; clinicopathologic data from horses were compared between groups. Receiver‐operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate diagnostic efficacy; classification and regression tree analysis (CART) and logistic regression analysis were used to generate diagnostic algorithms.ResultsHorses with SI had significantly higher SAA than horses with LI (P = .007) and NI (P < .001) and lower iron concentrations than horses with LI (P < .001) and NI (P < .001). Fibrinogen concentration was higher in horses with inflammation than in those without inflammation (P = .002). There was no difference between the SI and LI groups. White blood cell count, neutrophil count and MPXI were similar between groups. SAA had the highest accuracy for diagnosing inflammation (area under ROC curve [AUC], 0.83 ± 0.06) and iron and SAA concentration had the highest accuracy for differentiating SI from LI (AUC, 0.80 ± 0.09 and 0.73 ± 0.10 respectively). Predictive modeling failed to generate useful algorithms and classification of cases was moderate.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceVery high SAA and low iron concentrations may reflect SI, but diagnostic guidelines based on quantitative results of inflammatory markers could not be formulated.
N‐Terminal Pro‐C‐Natriuretic Peptide and Cytokine Kinetics in Dogs with Endotoxemia
Authors: Floras A.N.K. , Holowaychuk M.K. , Bienzle D. , Bersenas A.M.E. , Sharif S. , Harvey T. , Nordone S.K. , Wood G.A. 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundSerum N‐terminal pro‐C‐natriuretic peptide (NT‐proCNP) concentration at hospital admission has sufficient sensitivity and specificity to differentiate naturally occurring sepsis from nonseptic systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). However, little is known about serum NT‐proCNP concentrations in dogs during the course of sepsis.ObjectiveTo determine serum NT‐proCNP and cytokine kinetics in dogs with endotoxemia, a model of canine sepsis.SamplesEighty canine serum samples.MethodsEight healthy adult Beagles were randomized to receive Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 μg/kg) or placebo (0.9% NaCl) as a single IV dose in a randomized crossover study. Serum collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours was stored at −80°C for batch analysis. Serum NT‐proCNP was measured by ELISA and 13 cytokines and chemokines by multiplex magnetic bead‐based assay.ResultsSerum NT‐proCNP concentrations did not differ significantly between LPS‐ and placebo‐treated dogs at any time. When comparing serum cytokine concentrations, LPS‐treated dogs had higher interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐10, TNF‐α and KC‐like at 1, 2, and 4 hours; higher CCL2 at 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours; and higher IL‐8 and CXCL10 at 4 hours compared to placebo‐treated dogs. There were no differences in serum GM‐CSF, IFN‐γ, IL‐2, IL‐7, IL‐15 or IL‐18 between LPS‐ and placebo‐treated dogs.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceSerum NT‐proCNP concentration does not change significantly in response to LPS administration in healthy dogs. Certain serum cytokine and chemokine concentrations are significantly increased within 1–4 hours after LPS administration and warrant further investigation as tools for the detection and management of sepsis in dogs.
From facilitative to competitive interaction between Larrea tridentata and Cylindropuntia leptocaulis in the southern Chihuahuan Desert
Authors: Flores‐Torres A. , Montaña C. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractQuestionCan the co‐existence of the cactus and the shrub in the community be driven by a cyclic succession mechanism?LocationMapimí Biosphere Reserve (southern Chihuahuan Desert). The vegetation is scrub, dominated by Larrea tridentata.MethodsInterspecific spatial association between adult L. tridentata and differently sized Cylindropuntia leptocaulis plants was analysed using Ripley′s K function, exploring the hypothesis that facilitation causes differential recruitment of cactus below the shrub and a subsequent interspecific association, the intensity of which declines with the cactus size due to competitive elimination of the shrub. Competition for water among adult plants was investigated by irrigating solitary and associated plants of both species. The proportion of vigorous (measured by the percentage of dead branches) and dead L. tridentata plants associated with adult cacti was compared to that of solitary L. tridentata plants, testing the hypothesis that competition among associated adults reduces the vigour and increases the proportion of dead shrubs, relative to that of solitary plants.ResultsIn 14 out of 16 spatial analyses (four cactus sizes in four plots), C. leptocaulis was found to clump around the L. tridentata adults. Larrea tridentata suffered the effects of interspecific competition for water, but these diminished with increased water provision. In contrast, C. leptocaulis was unaffected by interspecific competition for water. The proportion of vigorous shrubs was higher in solitary than in associated individuals; however, the proportion of dead shrubs was lower in associated than in solitary individuals.ConclusionThe irrigation experiment and the proportion of dead branches suggest interspecific competition. However, spatial association of the shrubs with every cactus size and the proportion of dead shrubs associated with the cacti both suggest that replacement of the shrub by the cactus is an infrequent event. Cyclic succession therefore appears to be the exception rather than the rule, and does not account for the co‐existence of the species in the community. The possible scenarios in which cyclic succession may occur are discussed.
Reproductive and growth strategies of Idotea balthica basteri (Pallas, 1772) population in the Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia, Southern Mediterranean)
Authors: Zaabar Wahiba , Achouri Mohamed Sghaïer , Charfi‐Cheikhrouha Faouzia 
Published: July 2014

AbstractWe analysed several life history traits of the marine isopod Idotea balthica basteri (Pallas, 1772) from the Bizerte lagoon, Southern Mediterranean Sea. Growth was continuous throughout the life of the animal with a high growth rate in the first life phase, and the growth curve was described according to von Bertalanffy's model. The lowest growth rate (0.23 mm) was recorded in winter (December, January and February) and the maximum rate (2.31 mm) between April and June. The total number of hatched eggs or embryos was positively correlated with the body length of ovigerous females. This population of I. balthica basteri was iteroparous, showing distinct strategies of reproduction. Large ovigerous females with high fecundity were collected during the whole sampling period, while breeding in smaller females with low fecundity was restricted to the period from late spring to early autumn, Manca size increased significantly with increasing female body size and there was also a significant trade‐off between manca size and the number of eggs per brood. Reproductive allocation, ranging between 17.1 ± 1.2% in winter and 23.2 ± 1.8% in summer, was positively correlated with female weight. Accordingly, parental investment in producing a juvenile varied between 1.02% per manca in winter to 3.38% in spring. Evaluated traits show that late summer and autumn cohorts have a K‐strategy, whereas cohorts born in winter and spring, and which exhibit a shorter life time, exhibit faster development, earlier reproduction and a smaller parental investment tending towards an r‐selected strategy.
Assessing Symbiodinium diversity in scleractinian corals via next‐generation sequencing‐based genotyping of the ITS2 rDNA region
Authors: Arif Chatchanit , Daniels Camille , Bayer Till , Banguera‐Hinestroza Eulalia , Barbrook Adrian , Howe Christopher J. , LaJeunesse Todd C. , Voolstra Christian R. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe persistence of coral reef ecosystems relies on the symbiotic relationship between scleractinian corals and intracellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. Genetic evidence indicates that these symbionts are biologically diverse and exhibit discrete patterns of environmental and host distribution. This makes the assessment of Symbiodinium diversity critical to understanding the symbiosis ecology of corals. Here, we applied pyrosequencing to the elucidation of Symbiodinium diversity via analysis of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region, a multicopy genetic marker commonly used to analyse Symbiodinium diversity. Replicated data generated from isoclonal Symbiodinium cultures showed that all genomes contained numerous, yet mostly rare, ITS2 sequence variants. Pyrosequencing data were consistent with more traditional denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approaches to the screening of ITS2 PCR amplifications, where the most common sequences appeared as the most intense bands. Further, we developed an operational taxonomic unit (OTU)‐based pipeline for Symbiodinium ITS2 diversity typing to provisionally resolve ecologically discrete entities from intragenomic variation. A genetic distance cut‐off of 0.03 collapsed intragenomic ITS2 variants of isoclonal cultures into single OTUs. When applied to the analysis of field‐collected coral samples, our analyses confirm that much of the commonly observed Symbiodinium ITS2 diversity can be attributed to intragenomic variation. We conclude that by analysing Symbiodinium populations in an OTU‐based framework, we can improve objectivity, comparability and simplicity when assessing ITS2 diversity in field‐based studies.
Applying the Chicago Classification criteria of esophageal motility to a pediatric cohort: effects of patient age and size
Authors: Singendonk M. M. J. , Kritas S. , Cock C. , Ferris L. , McCall L. , Rommel N. , van Wijk M. P. , Benninga M. A. , Moore D. , Omari T. I. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackgroundApplying the 2012 Chicago Classification (CC) of esophageal motility disorders to pediatric patients is problematic as it relies upon adult‐derived criteria. As shorter esophageal length and smaller esophago‐gastric junction (EGJ) diameter may influence CC metrics, we explored the potential for age‐ and size‐adjustment of diagnostic criteria.MethodsWe evaluated 76 high‐resolution solid state impedance‐manometry recordings in children referred for manometry (32M; mean age 9 ± 1 years) and 25 recordings from healthy adult subjects (7M; mean age 36 ± 2 years). CC metrics; integrated relaxation pressure (IRP4s, mmHg), contractile front velocity (CFV, cm/s), distal contractile integral (DCI, mmHg cm/s), distal latency (DL, s), and peristaltic break size (BS, cm) were derived for 10 liquid swallows using CC analysis software. Effects of age and size were examined using regression analysis.Key ResultsYounger patient age and shorter size correlated significantly with greater IRP4s (p < 0.05), shorter DL (p < 0.001) and smaller BS (p < 0.05). Standard diagnostic CC criteria were adjusted using the slope of the linear regression equation to define the age/size‐related trend. Sixty‐six percent of the pediatric cohort showed abnormal motility when applying standard CC criteria. Adjustment for age and size reduced this to 50% and 53% respectively, with the largest reduction being in the IRP4s‐ and DL‐dependent disorders EGJ outflow obstruction and diffuse esophageal spasm (13% to 7% and 5% and 14% to 1 and 5%, respectively).Conclusions & InferencesCC metrics, particularly IRP4s and DL, are age and size dependent, and therefore, require adjustment to improve accuracy of diagnosis of esophageal motility disorders in children.
The Relative Performance of Poisson and Negative Binomial Regression Estimators
Authors: Blackburn Mckinley L. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractNegative binomial estimators are commonly used in estimating models with count‐data dependent variables. In this paper, sampling experiments are used to evaluate the performance of these estimators relative to the simpler Poisson estimator in finite‐sample situations. The results do not suggest a clear preference for negative binomial estimators in situations in which the underlying dependent variables are overdispersed, unless the researcher is comfortable in assumptions about the precise form of the overdispersion.
Metabolome variations in the Porphyromonas gingivalis vimA mutant during hydrogen peroxide‐induced oxidative stress
Authors: McKenzie R.M.E. , Aruni W. , Johnson N.A. , Robles A. , Dou Y. , Henry L. , Boskovic D.S. , Fletcher H.M. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryThe adaptability and survival of Porphyromonas gingivalis in the oxidative microenvironment of the periodontal pocket are indispensable for survival and virulence, and are modulated by multiple systems. Among the various genes involved in P. gingivalis oxidative stress resistance, vimA gene is a part of the 6.15‐kb locus. To elucidate the role of a P. gingivalis vimA‐defective mutant in oxidative stress resistance, we used a global approach to assess the transcriptional profile, to study the unique metabolome variations affecting survival and virulence in an environment typical of the periodontal pocket. A multilayered protection strategy against oxidative stress was noted in P. gingivalis FLL92 with upregulation of detoxifying genes. The duration of oxidative stress was shown to differentially modulate transcription with 94 (87%) genes upregulated twofold during 10 min and 55 (83.3%) in 15 min. Most of the upregulated genes (55%), fell in the hypothetical/unknown/unassigned functional class. Metabolome variation showed reduction in fumarate and formaldehyde, hence resorting to alternative energy generation and maintenance of a reduced metabolic state. There was upregulation of transposases, genes encoding for the metal ion binding protein transport and secretion system.
Atrial Fibrillation Increases Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Neurons in the Intrinsic Cardiac Nervous System
Authors: YU YANG , WEI CAO , LIU LI , LIAN AI LING , QU XIU FEN , YU GUANG 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundChronic atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to heterogeneous autonomic nerve innervation termed neural remodeling. The quantitative changes in neural density as a function of autonomic remodeling and its association with sustained AF has not been previously determined.Method and ResultsSeven dogs (paced group) were chronically paced with electrodes sutured to the epicardium of left atrial appendages. Seven dogs (control animals) were not paced. All paced dogs developed sustained AF by 5 weeks of pacing. The fat pads on the atrial epicardium containing ganglionated plexuses (GP) were separated along with underlying myocardial tissue. Immunocytochemical techniques were used to identify the neurons immunoreactive to anti‐tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and anti‐acetylcholine antibodies. After chronic AF, sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons in the atrial intrinsic cardiac ganglia increased significantly. In paced dogs, the density of sympathetic neurons was 3,022 ± 507 μm2/mm2 in the right atrial GP (vs control P < 0.01), 8,571 ± 476 μm2/mm2 in the ventral left atrial GP (vs control P < 0.0001)， 6,422 ± 464 μm2/mm2 in the dorsal atrial GP (vs control P < 0.0001) and 5,392 ± 595 μm2/mm2 in the inferior vena cava‐inferior atrial GP (vs control P <0.0001), respectively. The density of parasympathetic neurons was 4,396 ± 877 μm2/mm2 in the right atrial GP, 7,769 ± 465 μm2/mm2 in the ventral left atrial GP， 7,016.47 ± 687 μm2/mm2 in the dorsal atrial GP and 5,485 ± 554 μm2/mm2 in the inferior vena cava‐inferior atrial GP, respectively, which was higher than control cohorts in corresponding GP (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence for the remodeling in atrial intrinsic cardiac ganglia in the dogs with pacing induced AF. A significant increase of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons was present in atrial intrinsic cardiac ganglia.
AtMyb7, a subgroup 4 R2R3 Myb, negatively regulates ABA‐induced inhibition of seed germination by blocking the expression of the bZIP transcription factor ABI5
Authors: KIM JUN HYEOK , HYUN WOO YOUNG , NGUYEN HOAI NGUYEN , JEONG CHAN YOUNG , XIONG LIMING , HONG SUK‐WHAN , LEE HOJOUNG 
Published: July 2014

AbstractVarious Myb proteins have been shown to play crucial roles in plants, including primary and secondary metabolism, determination of cell fate and identity, regulation of development and involvement in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The 126 R2R3 Myb proteins (with two Myb repeats) have been found in Arabidopsis; however, the functions of most of these proteins remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we characterized the function of AtMyb7 using molecular biological and genetic analyses. We used qRT‐PCR to determine the levels of stress‐response gene transcripts in wild‐type and atmyb7 plants. We showed that Arabidopsis AtMyb7 plays a critical role in seed germination. Under abscisic acid (ABA) and high‐salt stress conditions, atmyb7 plants showed a lower germination rate than did wild‐type plants. Furthermore, AtMyb7 promoter:GUS seeds exhibited different expression patterns in response to variations in the seed imbibition period. AtMyb7 negatively controls the expression of the gene encoding bZIP transcription factor, ABI5, which is a key transcription factor in ABA signalling and serves as a crucial regulator of germination inhibition in Arabidopsis.
Historical Overview of Community Health Practitioners in Korea
Authors: Kwak Changyeong , Ko Young 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe Korean government introduced CHPs (Community Health Practitioners) as front‐line primary health care providers to address the health disparity between urban and rural areas. Through their dedicated contribution over last 30 years, the CHPs have improved Korea's public health through the successful control of high birth rates, a lowered maternal and infant mortality rate in the 1980s, eradication of parasitic infection, and containing many communicable diseases including hepatitis B. However, rapid changes in the health care environment and demands for health care among rural residents have required changes in the roles and functions of the CHPs. They are challenged by fundamental changes in the public health system addressing various health issues due to a rapidly aging society, pandemic of chronic disease, new infectious disease, and climate changes. CHPs should continuously transform their roles and functions to establish a lifelong health management system. This article presents a historical overview of the CHP system and their tasks and activities. Also, recent challenges that CHPs are facing and strategies to overcome those challenges will be discussed. This historical overview will be informative for other developing countries in resolving their own public health problems.
Enhanced Light‐Harvesting Capacity by Micellar Assembly of Free Accessory Chromophores and LH1‐like Antennas
Authors: Harris Michelle A. , Sahin Tuba , Jiang Jianbing , Vairaprakash Pothiappan , Parkes‐Loach Pamela S. , Niedzwiedzki Dariusz M. , Kirmaier Christine , Loach Paul A. , Bocian David F. , Holten Dewey , Lindsey Jonathan S. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBiohybrid light‐harvesting antennas are an emerging platform technology with versatile tailorability for solar‐energy conversion. These systems combine the proven peptide scaffold unit utilized for light harvesting by purple photosynthetic bacteria with attached synthetic chromophores to extend solar coverage beyond that of the natural systems. Herein, synthetic unattached chromophores are employed that partition into the organized milieu (e.g. detergent micelles) that house the LH1‐like biohybrid architectures. The synthetic chromophores include a hydrophobic boron‐dipyrrin dye (A1) and an amphiphilic bacteriochlorin (A2), which transfer energy with reasonable efficiency to the bacteriochlorophyll acceptor array (B875) of the LH1‐like cyclic oligomers. The energy‐transfer efficiencies are markedly increased upon covalent attachment of a bacteriochlorin (B1 or B2) to the peptide scaffold, where the latter likely acts as an energy‐transfer relay site for the (potentially diffusing) free chromophores. The efficiencies are consistent with a Förster (through‐space) mechanism for energy transfer. The overall energy‐transfer efficiency from the free chromophores via the relay to the target site can approach those obtained previously by relay‐assisted energy transfer from chromophores attached at distant sites on the peptides. Thus, the use of free accessory chromophores affords a simple design to enhance the overall light‐harvesting capacity of biohybrid LH1‐like architectures.
The Maize TFome – development of a transcription factor open reading frame collection for functional genomics
Authors: Burdo Brett , Gray John , Goetting‐Minesky Mary P. , Wittler Bettina , Hunt Matthew , Li Tai , Velliquette David , Thomas Julie , Gentzel Irene , Brito Michael dos Santos , Mejía‐Guerra Maria Katherine , Connolly Layne N. , Qaisi Dalya , Li Wei , Casas Maria I. , Doseff Andrea I. , Grotewold Erich 
Published: July 2014

SummaryEstablishing the architecture of the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) responsible for controlling the transcription of all genes in an organism is a natural development that follows elucidation of the genome sequence. Reconstruction of the GRN requires the availability of a series of molecular tools and resources that so far have been limited to a few model organisms. One such resource consists of collections of transcription factor (TF) open reading frames (ORFs) cloned into vectors that facilitate easy expression in plants or microorganisms. In this study, we describe the development of a publicly available maize TF ORF collection (TFome) of 2034 clones corresponding to 2017 unique gene models in recombination‐ready vectors that make possible the facile mobilization of the TF sequences into a number of different expression vectors. The collection also includes several hundred co‐regulators (CoREGs), which we classified into well‐defined families, and for which we propose here a standard nomenclature, as we have previously done for TFs. We describe the strategies employed to overcome the limitations associated with cloning ORFs from a genome that remains incompletely annotated, with a partial full‐length cDNA set available, and with many TF/CoREG genes lacking experimental support. In many instances this required the combination of genome‐wide expression data with gene synthesis approaches. The strategies developed will be valuable for developing similar resources for other agriculturally important plants. Information on all the clones generated is available through the GRASSIUS knowledgebase (http://grassius.org/).