bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors predicting parents' adaptation when supporting their young adult during a first‐episode psychosis
Authors: Morin Marie‐Helene , St‐Onge Myreille 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimThe objective is to identify the factors that predict how well parents will adapt when supporting their adult child experiencing a FEP.MethodsThe study was conducted in Quebec city with 58 parents and stepparents who received services from a specialized clinic for treating psychotic illnesses in the early stages. Participants filled in four measuring instruments during a standardized telephone interview. Based on the model being proposed, bivariate analyses and linear regression models were carried out to identify factors that predict how parents will adapt.ResultsThe analyses allowed us to determine that the factors revealing the severity of the illness and the vulnerability of the young person predict the negative aspects of the parents' experience (R2 = 0.39, P ≤ 0.000), whereas the personal factors related to the parents themselves essentially predict the positive aspects (R2 = 0.51, P ≤ 0.001). The empowerment can be predicted by the combined effect of the positive aspects of the parents' experience and their coping strategies, more specifically those related to family intervention (R2 = 0.60, P ≤ 0.001), whereas the parents' social functioning is linked to their active participation in a family association (R2= 0.14, P ≤ 0.006).ConclusionThis study contributes to how we think of parents' adaptation as it suggests a model that takes the positive aspects into account, associated with the role of support, along with family intervention strategies offered by social workers. Adaptation that is conceptualized using two dependent variables, empowerment and social functioning, allows to identify intervention targets that will be beacons of hope for both the parents and the young people with psychosis, while encouraging early intervention and partnership practices between services and family members.
Chelation efficacy and erythroid response during deferasirox treatment in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms in fibrotic phase
Authors: Latagliata Roberto , Montagna Chiara , Porrini Raffaele , Di Veroli Ambra , Leonetti Sabrina Crescenzi , Niscola Pasquale , Ciccone Fabrizio , Spadea Antonio , Breccia Massimo , Maurillo Luca , Rago Angela , Spirito Francesca , Cedrone Michele , De Muro Marianna , Montanaro Marco , Andriani Alessandro , Bagnato Antonino , Montefusco Enrico , Alimena Giuliana 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAt present, very few data are available on deferasirox (DFX) in the treatment of patients with Philadelphia‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasms in fibrotic phase (FP‐MPN) and transfusion dependence. To address this issue, a retrospective analysis of 28 patients (22 male and 6 female) with FP‐MPN and iron overload secondary to transfusion dependence was performed, based on patients enrolled in the database of our regional cooperative group who received treatment with DFX. DFX was started after a median interval from diagnosis of 12.8 months (IR 7.1–43.1) with median ferritin values of 1415 ng/mL (IR 1168–1768). Extra‐hematological toxicity was reported in 16 of 28 patients (57.1%), but only two patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity. Among 26 patients evaluable for response (≥6 months of treatment), after a median treatment period of 15.4 months (IR 8.1–22.3), 11 patients (42.3%) achieved a stable and consistent reduction in ferritin levels <1000 ng/mL. As for hematological improvement, 6 of 26 patients (23%) showed a persistent (>3 months) rise of Hb levels >1.5 g/dL, with disappearance of transfusion dependence in four cases. Treatment with DFX is feasible and effective in FP‐MPN with iron overload. Moreover, in this setting, an erythroid response can occur in a significant proportion of patients.
A high BMI is a risk factor in younger patients with de novo acute myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Crysandt Martina , Kramer Michael , Ehninger Gerhard , Bornhäuser Martin , Berdel Wolfgang E. , Serve Hubert , Röllig Christoph , Kaifie Andrea , Jost Edgar , Brummendorf Tim H. , Wilop Stefan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractOverweight and obese patients have an increased risk to develop several malignancies and, additionally, body mass index (BMI) impacts on outcome in several solid tumors. However, little is known for AML. We analyzed a cohort of 3526 patients with AML treated in three prospective multicenter trials within the German Study Alliance Leukemia. In multivariate analyses, we identified BMI as an independent risk factor for both DFS (HR 1.014, P = 0.0217) and OS (HR 1.015, P < 0.0036). Interestingly, overweight and obesity seemed to be a risk factor predominantly in patients with de novo AML younger than 65 yr with intermediate risk and adverse cytogenetics. Overweight with a BMI ≥25 kg/m² best discriminated the worse outcome and led to an absolute reduction in long‐term survival of 5–7% in the group of all younger patients (3‐yr OS 39.9% vs. 47.3%; 10‐yr OS 28.7% vs. 33.8%, P = 0.0002). Additionally, response to induction therapy was significantly reduced in these patients (76.9% vs. 82.8%, P < 0.0001). Thus, in younger patients with de novo AML, overweight and obesity are risk factors for impaired response to induction therapy, DFS and OS. This effect is, in part but not fully, explained by dose reduction such as dose‐capping at a body surface area of 2 m².
A novel dopamine transporter transgenic mouse line for identification and purification of midbrain dopaminergic neurons reveals midbrain heterogeneity
Authors: Apuschkin Mia , Stilling Sara , Rahbek‐Clemmensen Troels , Sørensen Gunnar , Fortin Guillaume , Herborg Hansen Freja , Eriksen Jacob , Trudeau Louis‐Eric , Egerod Kristoffer , Gether Ulrik , Rickhag Mattias 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMidbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons are a heterogeneous cell group, composed of functionally distinct cell populations projecting to the basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex and limbic system. Despite their functional significance, the midbrain population of DAergic neurons is sparse, constituting only 20 000–30 000 neurons in mice, and development of novel tools to identify these cells is warranted. Here, a bacterial artificial chromosome mouse line [Dat1‐enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)] from the Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas (GENSAT) that expresses eGFP under control of the dopamine transporter (DAT) promoter was characterized. Confocal microscopy analysis of brain sections showed strong eGFP signal reporter in midbrain regions and striatal terminals that co‐localized with the DAergic markers DAT and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Thorough quantification of co‐localization of the eGFP reporter signal with DAT and TH in the ventral midbrain showed that a vast majority of eGFP‐expressing neurons are DAergic. Importantly, expression profiles also revealed DAergic heterogeneity when comparing substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Dat1‐eGFP mice showed neither change in synaptosomal DA uptake nor altered levels of DAT and TH in both striatum and midbrain. No behavioural difference between Dat1‐eGFP and wild‐type was found, suggesting that the strain is not aberrant. Finally, cell populations highly enriched in DAergic neurons can be obtained from postnatal mice by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting and the sorted neurons can be cultured in vitro. The current investigation demonstrates that eGFP expression in this mouse line is selective for DAergic neurons, suggesting that the Dat1‐eGFP mouse strain constitutes a promising tool for delineating new aspects of DA biology.
Simultaneous depletion of Atm and Mdl rebalances cytosolic Fe‐S cluster assembly but not heme import into the mitochondrion of Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Horáková Eva , Changmai Piya , Paris Zdeněk , Salmon Didier , Lukeš Julius 
Published: August 2015

ABC transporter mitochondrial 1 (Atm1) and multidrug resistance‐like 1 (Mdl) are mitochondrial ABC transporters. Although Atm1 was recently suggested to transport different forms of glutathione from the mitochondrion, which are used for iron‐sulfur (Fe‐S) cluster maturation in the cytosol, the function of Mdl remains elusive. In Trypanosoma brucei, we identified one homolog of each of these genes, TbAtm and TbMdl, which were downregulated either separately or simultaneously using RNA interference. Individual depletion of TbAtm and TbMdl led to limited growth defects. In cells downregulated for TbAtm, the enzymatic activities of the Fe‐S cluster proteins aconitase and fumarase significantly decreased in the cytosol but not in the mitochondrion. Downregulation of TbMdl did not cause any change in activities of the Fe‐S proteins. Unexpectedly, the simultaneous downregulation of TbAtm and TbMdl did not result in any growth defect, nor were the Fe‐S cluster protein activities altered in either the cytosolic or mitochondrial compartments. Additionally, TbAtm and TbMdl were able to partially restore the growth of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Δatm1 and Δmdl2 null mutants, respectively. Because T. brucei completely lost the heme b biosynthesis pathway, this cofactor has to be obtained from the host. Based on our results, TbMdl is a candidate for mitochondrial import of heme b, which was markedly decreased in both TbMdl and TbAtm + TbMdl knockdowns. Moreover, the levels of heme a were strongly decreased in the same knockdowns, suggesting that TbMdl plays a key role in heme a biosynthesis, thus affecting the overall heme homeostasis in T. brucei.
A kinetic model for the prevalence of mono‐ over poly‐pupylation
Authors: Regev Ofir , Roth Ziv , Korman Maayan , Khalaila Isam , Gur Eyal 
Published: August 2015

Bacteria belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria and Nitrospira possess proteasome cores homologous to the eukaryotic 20S proteasome particle. In these bacteria, the cytoplasmic signal for proteasomal degradation is a small protein termed Pup (prokaryotic ubiquitin‐like protein). PafA, the only known Pup ligase, conjugates Pup to lysine side chains of target proteins. In contrast to the eukaryotic ubiquitin‐proteasome system, where poly‐ubiquitin chains are the principal tags for proteasomal degradation, mono‐Pup moieties are almost exclusively observed in vivo and are sufficient as degradation tags. Although Pup presents lysines, raising the possibility of poly‐Pup chain assembly, these do not predominate. At present, the factors promoting the distinct predominance of mono‐ over poly‐pupylation remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we conducted a detailed biochemical analysis characterizing the pupylation of model proteins in vitro. We found that Pup can indeed serve as a pupylation target for PafA either in its free form or when already conjugated to proteins, thus allowing for the formation of poly‐Pup chains. However, our results indicate that pupylation of an already pupylated protein is unlikely to occur due to low affinity of PafA for such species. This alone prevents predominance of poly‐ over mono‐pupylation in vitro. This effect is likely to be magnified in vivo by the combination of PafA kinetics with the high abundance of non‐pupylated proteins. Overall, this work provides a kinetic explanation for the prevalence of mono‐ rather than poly‐pupylation in vivo, and sheds light on PafA substrate specificity.
Supporting Student Learning Outcomes Through Service Learning
Authors: Bettencourt Michelle 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBecause of the current emphasis on accountability at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels across all content areas, accreditation agencies, administrators, program designers, course developers, faculty, and students have increasingly focused on stating and measuring student learning outcomes and documenting the relationship between learning activities and achievement of those outcomes. In the three‐way service‐learning partnership made up of the student, the faculty member, and the community partner, student learning is sometimes vaguely defined, often simply assumed to occur, and usually only indirectly assessed. In addition, the extent to which course‐specific learning outcomes are supported during service learning is also unclear. Using action research and the DEAL model for critical reflection, this study measured university‐level, Intermediate Spanish learners’ attainment of course‐specific and non‐course‐specific learning outcomes. Analysis of oral reflective journals, surveys, focus group responses, and interviews indicated that students’ service learning experiences supported most course‐specific learning outcomes and also offered learning opportunities in other unexpected areas.
An Analysis of Spanish L2 Learners' Orientation Through Activity Theory
Authors: Tocaimaza‐Hatch C. Cecilia 
Published: August 2015

AbstractOrientation is defined as the way in which individuals view a task and the means they devise to fulfill it (Appel & Lantolf, 1994; Roebuck, 2000). This study investigated the orientation of twelve learners enrolled in a fourth‐semester Spanish L2 university course through the analysis of their interactions during a collaborative text‐reconstruction task and in their post‐activity reflections on their participation. Viewed through the lens of activity theory (Appel & Lantolf, 1994; Wertsch, 1998), learners' behavior and reflections presented an account of their orientation that was rooted in their motives, needs, and goals and materialized in concrete action during the task. Findings demonstrated that (a) learners' orientation changed at various times during the activity depending on how their individual goals were met by the social setting (e.g., how helpful their partner was in completing the task) and (b) learners' reflections exposed information that was not apparent in activity (e.g., dissatisfaction with the task) but essential for language practitioners who seek to understand learners' goals, needs, and overall orientation toward language learning. Pedagogical implications address the implementation of orientation assessment forms in the L2 classroom.
The Utility of Needs Analysis for Nondomain Expert Instructors in Designing Task‐Based Spanish for the Professions Curricula
Authors: Serafini Ellen J. , Torres Julio 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe demand for Spanish for specific purposes (SSP) university courses in the United States has prompted widespread curricular change in language departments over the last two decades (Klee, 2015; Sánchez‐López, 2013). However, many instructors lack the tools and training needed to design SSP curricula that meet learners’ communicative needs in such contexts. Moreover, little SSP research to date has taken a task‐based approach to identifying learners’ specialized needs (Long, 2015), which can provide much‐needed support to instructors who are nonexperts in the particular domain of interest. The current study reports on a small‐scale, multiphase needs analysis carried out to design a university business Spanish course. In Phase 1, a small sample of business graduates and professionals generated a list of 40 target tasks in the domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking that were relevant to their particular work. In Phase 2, 54 university business majors rated the frequency and difficulty of each task on a 40‐item Likert‐type questionnaire. During Phase 3, the researchers analyzed and grouped target tasks identified in the needs assessment to create five major target task types that informed course objectives and classroom tasks.
Using ecophysiological traits to predict climatic and activity niches: lethal temperature and water loss inMediterranean ants
Authors: Arnan Xavier , Blüthgen Nico 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimUnravelling the constraints acting on the distribution and abundance of species is a major goal in ecology. Climatic niche models have become an important but controversial tool for predicting the consequences of global warming for species distributions. However, to date, classical ecophysiological traits such as thermal tolerance and water loss have rarely been accounted for in species distribution models. Here we meet the challenge of linking ecophysiological measures with climatic niche descriptions at two different spatial scales across ant species in a comparative modelling framework.LocationWestern Europe.MethodsTwo ecophysiological traits (lethal temperature and water loss) were characterized for 17 sympatric Mediterranean ant species under controlled laboratory conditions. These data, along with two eco‐behavioural traits (timing of activity and habitat specialization) were then used in models examining the species climatic and activity niches, i.e. at the biogeographical and local scales. Climatic niches were built using species distribution maps, while activity niches were built using activity data gathered in the field.ResultsPhysiological traits characterized in the laboratory (particularly lethal temperatures) explained 50% of the interspecific variation in climatic envelopes, especially the maximum temperatures experienced by species in their geographical ranges. Habitat specialization also made an important contribution; other traits such as water loss did not appear to be important. Physiological lethal temperatures also helped define activity niches at the local scale, especially in the case of behaviourally dominant species.Main conclusionsRelatively simple physiological traits alone, especially thermal tolerance, combined with some behavioural and natural history traits, can be important predictors of species biogeographical climatic niches. Thermal constraints and behaviour may thus be promising directions for studies seeking to predict species distributions in the face of climatic change.
Traditional serrated adenoma with BRAF mutation is associated with synchronous/metachronous BRAF‐mutated serrated lesions
Authors: Tsai Jia‐Huei , Cheng Chien‐Hsuan , Chen Chien‐Chuan , Lin Yu‐Lin , Lin Liang‐In , Chen Mei‐Ling , Liau Jau‐Yu 
Published: August 2015

AimsTo determine whether traditional serrated adenoma (TSA) results in an increased risk of developing subsequent serrated polyps or colorectal cancer (CRC).Methods and resultsWe recruited 111 patients with an index TSA, and analysed the pathological and molecular features of their synchronous/metachronous serrated lesions. Fifty hyperplastic polyps, 14 sessile serrated adenomas, an additional 27 TSAs and 17 CRCs were identified from 46 patients. Twenty‐seven percent of TSAs showed a precursor serrated polyp in the periphery and were strongly correlated with BRAF mutation (P < 0.001). Serrated polyps occurred more commonly in patients with BRAF‐mutated index TSAs than in patients with KRAS‐mutated index TSAs. BRAF‐mutated index TSAs were strongly associated with a right‐sided location and BRAF mutation of synchronous/metachronous serrated polyps (P = 0.013 and P = 0.005, respectively). The 17 CRCs occurred more frequently in women, and were characterized by a high BRAF mutation rate (59%), a positive CpG island methylator phenotype (59%), and stable or low levels of microsatellite instability (77%).ConclusionsBRAF‐mutated TSA is distinct from KRAS‐mutated TSA in predisposing to the acquisition of subsequent serrated neoplasia. This indicates the presence of an intestinal field defect in the tumour microenvironment that results in tumour initiation and malignant progression.
Novel insight for midline cyst formation in prostate: The involvement of decreased prenatal testosterone suggested by second‐to‐fourth digit ratio study
Authors: Furuya Seiji , Hisasue Shin‐ichi , Kato Haruaki , Shimamura Shogo 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo clarify the relationship between midline cyst formation and second to fourth finger length ratio.MethodsThe present study included 95 benign prostatic hyperplasia patients and 61 healthy male college students. All midline cysts were identified by transrectal ultrasonography. In the benign prostatic hyperplasia group, 45 midline cyst (+) men (Mage = 67.2 years) and age‐matched 50 midline cyst (−) men (Mage = 67.1 years) were included. In the university student group, 12 midline cyst (+) men (Mage = 21.7 years) and age‐matched 49 midline cyst (−) men (Mage = 21.1 years) were included. We took photocopies of the participants' bilateral hands, and measured the second and fourth finger length was measured by one examiner in a blind manner.ResultsSecond to fourth finger length ratios in the benign prostatic hyperplasia group (right/left mean ± SD) were higher bilaterally in midline cyst (+) (0.95 ± 0.03/0.95 ± 0.03) than those in midline cyst (−) (0.92 ± 0.03/0.92 ± 0.03; P < 0.0001/P = 0.0010). Second to fourth finger length ratios in students were higher only in the right hand in midline cyst (+) (0.96 ± 0.03/0.94 ± 0.03) than those in midline cyst (−) (0.93 ± 0.03/0.94 ± 0.03; P = 0.0018/P = 0.9968). The second to fourth finger length ratio of midline cyst (+) men was significantly higher than that in midline cyst (−) men.ConclusionsThe second to fourth finger length ratio is higher in subjects with midline cyst of the prostate. It can be speculated that the prostatic utricle dilates in cases less exposed to male hormones during fetal development.
Interferon‐γ enhances both the anti‐bacterial and the pro‐inflammatory response of human mast cells to Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Swindle Emily J. , Brown Jared M. , Rådinger Madeleine , DeLeo Frank R. , Metcalfe Dean D. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryHuman mast cells (huMCs) are involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses where they release mediators including amines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), eicosanoids and cytokines. We have reported that interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) enhances FcγR‐dependent ROS production. The aim of this study was to extend these observations by investigating the effect of IFN‐γ on the biological responses of huMCs to Staphylococcus aureus. We found that exposure of huMCs to S. aureus generated intracellular and extracellular ROS, which were enhanced in the presence of IFN‐γ. IFN‐γ also promoted bacteria killing, β‐hexosaminidase release and eicosanoid production. Interferon‐γ similarly increased expression of mRNAs encoding CCL1 to CCL4, granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), tumour necrosis factor‐α and CXCL8 in S. aureus‐stimulated huMCs. The ability of IFN‐γ to increase CXCL8 and GM‐CSF protein levels was confirmed by ELISA. Fibronectin or a β1 integrin blocking antibody completely abrogated IFN‐γ‐dependent S. aureus binding and reduced S. aureus‐dependent CXCL8 secretion. These data demonstrate that IFN‐γ primes huMCs for enhanced anti‐bacterial and pro‐inflammatory responses to S. aureus, partially mediated by β1 integrin.
Post‐pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in pregnant women in Ceará, Brazil
Authors: Perdigão Anne C. B. , Araújo Fernanda M. C. , Melo Maria E. L. , Lemos Daniele R. Q. , Cavalcanti Luciano P. , Ramalho Izabel L. C. , Araújo Lia C. , Sousa Deborah M. , Siqueira Marilda M. , Guedes Maria I. F. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to present results of the post‐pandemic phase of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection in pregnant women in Ceará, Brazil, during the January–June 2012 influenza season.ResultsOne hundred and fifty‐four nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from pregnant women admitted to hospitals with suspected severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). Fifty‐three (34·4%) had laboratory‐confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection with 15 (28·3%) outpatients and 38 (71·7%) hospitalized. Five (9·4%) women were in the first trimester of pregnancy, 20 (37·7%) in the second trimester of pregnancy, and 24 (45·2%) in the third trimester of pregnancy. Three had no information about the time of pregnancy. Six samples from newborns were also analyzed, of which three were nasopharyngeal swab positive for A(H1N1)pdm09. These swabs were collected immediately after birth, with the exception of one that was collected on the day after birth.ConclusionOur findings suggest that transplacental transfer of influenza viruses could occur as a result of severe illness in pregnancy. It is therefore important to encourage women to be vaccinated against influenza in order to avoid pregnancy complications.