bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic variation and bidirectional gene flow in the riparian plant Miscanthus lutarioriparius, across its endemic range: implications for adaptive potential
Authors: Yan Juan , Zhu Mingdong , Liu Wei , Xu Qin , Zhu Caiyun , Li Jianqiang , Sang Tao 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMiscanthus lutarioriparius is an endemic species that grows along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and is a valuable source of germplasm for the development of second‐generation energy crops. The plant that propagates via seeds, stem nodes, and rhizomes shows high phenotypic variation and strong local adaptation. Here, we examined the magnitude and spatial distribution of genetic variation in M. lutarioriparius across its entire distributional range and tested underlying factors that shaped its genetic variation. Population genetic analyses were conducted on 644 individuals from 25 populations using 16 microsatellite markers. M. lutarioriparius exhibited a high level of genetic variation (HE = 0.682–0.786; Ar = 4.74–8.06) and a low differentiation (FST = 0.063; Dest = 0.153). Of the total genetic variation, 10% was attributed to the differences among populations (df = 24, P < 0.0001), whereas 90% was attributed to the differences among individuals (df = 619, P ≤ 0.0001). Genetic diversity did not differ significantly across longitudes and did not increase in the populations growing downstream of the Yangtze River. However, significant associations were found between genetic differentiation and spatial distance. Six genetic discontinuities were identified, which mostly distributed among downstream populations. We conclude that anthropogenic factors and landscape features both contributed to shaping the pattern of gene flow in M. lutarioriparius, including long‐distance bidirectional dispersal. Our results explain the genetic basis of the high degree of adaptability in M. lutarioriparius and identify potential sources of new germplasm for the domestication of this potential second‐generation energy crop.
Who prefers to age in place? Cross‐sectional survey of middle‐aged people in Japan
Authors: Matsumoto Hiroshige , Naruse Takashi , Sakai Mahiro , Nagata Satoko 
Published: May 2015

AimPreference for aging in place among middle‐aged people is an important element in estimating the future needs for community services of disabled older adults. Drawing on Litwak and Longino's typologies of relocation, the present study investigated the characteristics of middle‐aged adults who prefer to age in place and those who prefer to move, at two levels of disability: being unable to walk alone and being bedridden.MethodsIn the present cross‐sectional study, an anonymous, self‐administered questionnaire was sent to 2500 community‐dwelling adults aged 40–64 years.ResultsIf unable to walk outside alone, 43.0% of respondents would prefer to move from their own homes. If bedridden, 29.5% preferred to move. After age and sex had been adjusted for, house size, length of time living at that house, the number of people living together, and attachment to home and neighborhood were independently related to moving preferences if unable to walk outside alone. Accessibility of hospitals and supermarkets, community participation, and use of the Internet were related to moving preferences if bedridden.ConclusionsSex, current living arrangement and geographic properties are correlated with changes in community‐dwelling adults' preferences for residential relocation as physical function declines. It is necessary for municipal policymakers to understand these correlations in order to plan and develop effective community care systems. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 631–637.
Comorbidity as a predictor of mortality and mobility after hip fracture
Authors: González‐Zabaleta Jorge , Pita‐Fernandez Salvador , Seoane‐Pillado Teresa , López‐Calviño Beatriz , Gonzalez‐Zabaleta Jose Luis 
Published: May 2015

AimTo determine mortality and mobility rates after hip fracture.MethodsA prospective study (n = 199 patients) was carried out in the Health Care Center of A Coruña (Spain) during the period between January 2009 and December 2011. A descriptive study, and Cox and logistic regression analysis were carried out. Informed consent and ethical review board approval were obtained (code 2010/120 CEIC Galicia).ResultsThe patients' mean age was 82.5 ± 8.4 years and 76% were female. The average Charlson Comorbidity Index score was 6.1 ± 2.1. Creatinine clearance <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 44%. The probability of survival 6 months after hip fracture was 89.2% and the survival rate at 12 months was 81.4%. Cox regression analysis showed that the indicator that most influenced mortality rate was comorbidity (HR = 1.133; P = 0.020) and age approaching borderline statistical significance (HR = 1.034; P = 0.064). The Parker Mobility Score decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after hip fracture. Before fracture, 19% of the patients were able to get about the house, 26% were able to get out of the house and 55% were able to go shopping. After hip fracture (90 days), the percentages changed to 56.2%, 19.1% and 24.7%, respectively (P < 0.001). After taking into account age, sex, type of fracture, surgical delay, previous fracture and comorbidity, the only indicator capable of predicting incapacity to walk was comorbidity.ConclusionsComorbidity is the best predictor of mortality and mobility after hip fracture. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 561–569.
Utility of a Paediatric Bleeding Questionnaire as a screening tool for von Willebrand disease in apparently healthy children
Authors: Mittal N. , Naridze R. , James P. , Shott S. , Valentino L. A. 
Published: May 2015

Summaryvon Willebrand disease (VWD), an inherited bleeding disorder caused by deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is diagnosed when a personal and often a family history of excessive mucocutaneous bleeding is present along with abnormal laboratory studies. An accurate assessment of haemorrhagic symptoms is key in suspecting VWD but presents a challenge especially in children due to overlap between normal and abnormal bleeding. Bleeding questionnaire (BQ) scores have been validated in adults and have recently been validated in children with VWD for assessing bleeding severity. However, there are limited data supporting their use prospectively in healthy children with bleeding complaints.AimThe objectives of this study were to obtain normative data from children and validate a paediatric BQ (PBQ) to determine the discriminative ability of its total score and its individual components for identifying children likely to have VWD.MethodsThe PBQ was administered to 1281 multiethnic, healthy children between 30 days and 18 years of age presenting to a general paediatric office and to 35 children with VWD based on VWF antigen, activity and multimer pattern.ResultsWhen children with total BQ scores of 3 or more were predicted to have VWD, the sensitivity was 97.2%, the specificity was 97.1%, the positive predictive value was 48.6% and the negative predictive value was 99.9%.ConclusionsThe PBQ may help discriminate a significant bleeding history from trivial bleeding, may be integrated into the primary care algorithm for evaluating children suspected with VWD.
Estimating the hospitalization burden associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in New York City, 2003–2011
Authors: Goldstein Edward , Greene Sharon K. , Olson Donald R. , Hanage William P. , Lipsitch Marc 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundHospitalization burden associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is uncertain due to ambiguity in the inference methodologies employed for its estimation.ObjectivesUtilization of a new method to quantitate the above burden.MethodsWeekly hospitalization rates for several principal diagnoses from 2003 to 2011 in New York City by age group were regressed linearly against incidence proxies for the major influenza subtypes and RSV adjusting for temporal trends and seasonal baselines.ResultsAverage annual rates of influenza‐associated respiratory hospitalizations per 100 000 were estimated to be 129 [95% CI (79, 179)] for age <1, 36·3 (21·6, 51·4) for ages 1–4, 10·6 (7·5, 13·7) for ages 5–17, 25·6 (21·3, 29·8) for ages 18–49, 65·5 (54·0, 76·9) for ages 50–64, 125 (105, 147) for ages 65–74, and 288 (244, 331) for ages ≥75. Additionally, influenza had a significant contribution to hospitalization rates with a principal diagnosis of septicemia for ages 5–17 [0·76 (0·1, 1·4)], 18–49 [1·02 (0·3, 1·7)], 50–64 [4·0 (1·7, 6·3)], 65–74 [8·8 (2·2, 15·6)], and ≥75 [38·7 (25·7, 52·9)]. RSV had a significant contribution to the rates of respiratory hospitalizations for age <1 [1900 (1740, 2060)], ages 1–4 [117 (70, 167)], and ≥75 [175 (44, 312)] [including chronic lower respiratory disease, 90 (43, 140)] as well as pneumonia & influenza hospitalizations for ages 18–49 [6·2 (1·1, 11·3)] and circulatory hospitalizations for ages ≥75 [199 (13, 375)].ConclusionsThe high burden of RSV hospitalizations among young children and seniors age ≥75 suggests the need for additional control measures such as vaccination to mitigate the impact of annual RSV epidemics. Our estimates for influenza‐associated hospitalizations provide further evidence of the burden of morbidity associated with influenza, supporting current guidelines regarding influenza vaccination and antiviral treatment.
Changes in Family Relationships among Substance Abusing Runaway Adolescents: A Comparison between Family and Individual Therapies
Authors: Guo Xiamei , Slesnick Natasha , Feng Xin 
Published: May 2015

Eligible adolescents (12–17 years old) were recruited from a short‐term crisis shelter for runaway adolescents in a large Midwestern city. Adolescents (N = 179) were randomly assigned to Ecologically‐Based Family Therapy (EBFT,n = 61), the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA,n = 57), or brief Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET,n = 61) with the primary focus on substance abuse. A significant increase in perceived family cohesion and a significant reduction in perceived family conflict were found among all treatment conditions from baseline to the 24‐month follow‐up. Adolescents who receivedEBFTdemonstrated more improvement in family cohesion after treatment than those who receivedCRAorMET, and more reduction in family conflict during treatment than those who receivedMET.
Hippocampal chromatin‐modifying enzymes are pivotal for scopolamine‐induced synaptic plasticity gene expression changes and memory impairment
Authors: Singh Padmanabh , Konar Arpita , Kumar Ashish , Srivas Sweta , Thakur Mahendra K. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe amnesic potential of scopolamine is well manifested through synaptic plasticity gene expression changes and behavioral paradigms of memory impairment. However, the underlying mechanism remains obscure and consequently ideal therapeutic target is lacking. In this context, chromatin‐modifying enzymes, which regulate memory gene expression changes, deserve major attention. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of chromatin‐modifying enzymes and recovery potential of enzyme modulators in scopolamine‐induced amnesia. Scopolamine administration drastically up‐regulated DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1) and HDAC2 expression while CREB‐binding protein (CBP), DNMT3a and DNMT3b remained unaffected. HDAC inhibitor sodium butyrate and DNMT inhibitor Aza‐2′deoxycytidine recovered scopolamine‐impaired hippocampal‐dependent memory consolidation with concomitant increase in the expression of synaptic plasticity genes Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Arc and level of histone H3K9 and H3K14 acetylation and decrease in DNA methylation level. Sodium butyrate showed more pronounced effect than Aza‐2′deoxycytidine and their co‐administration did not exhibit synergistic effect on gene expression. Taken together, we showed for the first time that scopolamine‐induced up‐regulation of chromatin‐modifying enzymes, HDAC2 and DNMT1, leads to gene expression changes and consequent decline in memory consolidation. Our findings on the action of scopolamine as an epigenetic modulator can pave a path for ideal therapeutic targets.
image
We propose the following putative pathway for scopolamine‐mediated memory impairment; scopolamine up‐regulates hippocampal DNMT1 and HDAC2 expression, induces methylation and deacetylation of BDNF and Arc promoter, represses gene expression and eventually impairs memory consolidation. On the other hand, Aza‐2 and NaB inhibit DNMT1 and HDAC2 respectively, up‐regulate BDNF and Arc expression and recover memory consolidation. We elucidate the action of scopolamine as an epigenetic modulator and hope that DNMT1 and HDAC2 would be ideal therapeutic targets for memory disorders.
Semantic Search in the Remote Associates Test
Authors: Davelaar Eddy J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractSearching through semantic memory may involve the use of several retrieval cues. In a verbal fluency task, the set of available cues is limited and every candidate word is a target. Individuals exhibit clustering behavior as predicted by optimal foraging theory. In another semantic search task, the remote associates task (RAT), three cues are presented and a single target word has to be found. Whereas the task has been widely studied as a task of creativity or insight problem solving, in this article, the RAT is treated as a semantic retrieval task and assessed from the perspective of information foraging theory. Experiments are presented that address the superadditive combination of cues and the anti‐clustering behavior in the recall sequence. A new type of search behavior in the RAT is put forward that involves maximizing the difference in activation between target and distractors. This type of search is advantageous when the target is weak and cue patches are contaminated with strong competitors.
Influence of Land Use, Nutrients, and Geography on Microbial Communities and Fecal Indicator Abundance at Lake Michigan Beaches
Authors: Cloutier Danielle D. , Alm Elizabeth W. , McLellan Sandra L. 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Microbial communities within beach sand play a key role in nutrient cycling and are important to the nearshore ecosystem function.
Escherichia coli
and enterococci, two common indicators of fecal pollution, have been shown to persist in the beach sand, but little is known about how microbial community assemblages are related to these fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) reservoirs. We examined eight beaches across a geographic gradient and range of land use types and characterized the indigenous community structure in the water and the backshore, berm, and submerged sands. FIB were found at similar levels in sand at beaches adjacent to urban, forested, and agricultural land and in both the berm and backshore. However, there were striking differences in the berm and backshore microbial communities, even within the same beach, reflecting the very different environmental conditions in these beach zones in which FIB can survive. In contrast, the microbial communities in a particular beach zone were similar among beaches, including at beaches on opposite shores of Lake Michigan. The differences in the microbial communities that did exist within a beach zone correlated to nutrient levels, which varied among geographic locations. Total organic carbon and total phosphorus were higher in Wisconsin beach sand than in beach sand from Michigan. Within predominate genera, fine-scale sequence differences could be found that distinguished the populations from the two states, suggesting a biogeographic effect. This work demonstrates that microbial communities are reflective of environmental conditions at freshwater beaches and are able to provide useful information regarding long-term anthropogenic stress.
Destruction of the Capsid and Genome of GII.4 Human Norovirus Occurs during Exposure to Metal Alloys Containing Copper
Authors: Manuel C. S. , Moore M. D. , Jaykus L. A. 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Human norovirus (HuNoV) represents a significant public health burden worldwide and can be environmentally transmitted. Copper surfaces have been shown to inactivate the cultivable surrogate murine norovirus, but no such data exist for HuNoV. The purpose of this study was to characterize the destruction of GII.4 HuNoV and virus-like particles (VLPs) during exposure to copper alloy surfaces. Fecal suspensions positive for a GII.4 HuNoV outbreak strain or GII.4 VLPs were exposed to copper alloys or stainless steel for 0 to 240 min and recovered by elution. HuNoV genome integrity was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) (without RNase treatment), and capsid integrity was assessed by RT-qPCR (with RNase treatment), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SDS-PAGE/Western blot analysis, and a histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) binding assay. Exposure of fecal suspensions to pure copper for 60 min reduced the GII.4 HuNoV RNA copy number by ∼3 log
10
units when analyzed by RT-qPCR without RNase treatment and by 4 log
10
units when a prior RNase treatment was used. The rate of reduction of the HuNoV RNA copy number was approximately proportional to the percentage of copper in each alloy. Exposure of GII.4 HuNoV VLPs to pure-copper surfaces resulted in noticeable aggregation and destruction within 240 min, an 80% reduction in the VP1 major capsid protein band intensity in 15 min, and a near-complete loss of HBGA receptor binding within 8 min. In all experiments, HuNoV remained stable on stainless steel. These results suggest that copper surfaces destroy HuNoV and may be useful in preventing environmental transmission of the virus in at-risk settings.
Prey-Specific Growth Responses of Freshwater Flagellate Communities Induced by Morphologically Distinct Bacteria from the Genus Limnohabitans
Authors: Grujčić Vesna , Kasalický Vojtěch , Šimek Karel 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Because their large growth potential is counterbalanced with grazing by heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF), bacteria of the genus
Limnohabitans
, which are common in many freshwater habitats, represent a valuable model for examining bacterial carbon flow to the grazer food chain. We conducted experiments with natural HNF communities taken from two distinct habitats, the meso-eutrophic Římov Reservoir and the oligo-mesotrophic Lake Cep (South Bohemia). HNF communities from each habitat at distinct seasonal phases, a late April algal bloom and a late May clear water phase, were each fed 3
Limnohabitans
strains of differing cell sizes. Water samples were prefiltered (5 μm) to release natural HNF communities from zooplankton control and then amended with the
Limnohabitans
strains
L. planktonicus
II-D5 (medium sized, rod shaped),
Limnohabitans
sp. strain T6-5 (thin, long, curved rod), and
Limnohabitans
sp. strain 2KL-3 (large solenoid). Using temporal sampling and prey treatment, we determined HNF growth parameters such as doubling time, growth efficiency, and length of lag phase prior starting to exponential growth. All three
Limnohabitans
strains supported HNF growth but in significant prey-, site-, and season-dependent fashions. For instance, addition of the moderately large T6-5 strain yielded very rapid HNF growth with a short lag phase. In contrast, the curved morphology and larger cell size of strain 2KL-3 made this prey somewhat protected against grazing by smaller HNF, resulting in slower HNF growth and longer lag phases. These trends were particularly pronounced during the late May clear-water phase, which was dominated by smaller HNF cells. This may indicate a longer “adaptation time” for the flagellate communities toward the large prey size offered.
Fungal Bioweathering of Mimetite and a General Geomycological Model for Lead Apatite Mineral Biotransformations
Authors: Ceci Andrea , Kierans Martin , Hillier Stephen , Persiani Anna Maria , Gadd Geoffrey Michael 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Fungi play important roles in biogeochemical processes such as organic matter decomposition, bioweathering of minerals and rocks, and metal transformations and therefore influence elemental cycles for essential and potentially toxic elements, e.g., P, S, Pb, and As. Arsenic is a potentially toxic metalloid for most organisms and naturally occurs in trace quantities in soil, rocks, water, air, and living organisms. Among more than 300 arsenic minerals occurring in nature, mimetite [Pb
5
(AsO
4
)
3
Cl] is the most stable lead arsenate and holds considerable promise in metal stabilization for
in situ
and
ex situ
sequestration and remediation through precipitation, as do other insoluble lead apatites, such as pyromorphite [Pb
5
(PO
4
)
3
Cl] and vanadinite [Pb
5
(VO
4
)
3
Cl]. Despite the insolubility of mimetite, the organic acid-producing soil fungus
Aspergillus niger
was able to solubilize mimetite with simultaneous precipitation of lead oxalate as a new mycogenic biomineral. Since fungal biotransformation of both pyromorphite and vanadinite has been previously documented, a new biogeochemical model for the biogenic transformation of lead apatites (mimetite, pyromorphite, and vanadinite) by fungi is hypothesized in this study by application of geochemical modeling together with experimental data. The models closely agreed with experimental data and provided accurate simulation of As and Pb complexation and biomineral formation dependent on, e.g., pH, cation-anion composition, and concentration. A general pattern for fungal biotransformation of lead apatite minerals is proposed, proving new understanding of ecological implications of the biogeochemical cycling of component elements as well as industrial applications in metal stabilization, bioremediation, and biorecovery.
In Vivo
Programmed Gene Expression Based on Artificial Quorum Networks
Authors: Chu Teng , Huang Yajun , Hou Mingyu , Wang Qiyao , Xiao Jingfan , Liu Qin , Zhang Yuanxing 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

The quorum sensing (QS) system, as a well-functioning population-dependent gene switch, has been widely applied in many gene circuits in synthetic biology. In our work, an efficient cell density-controlled expression system (QS) was established via engineering of the
Vibrio fischeri luxI-luxR
quorum sensing system. In order to achieve
in vivo
programmed gene expression, a synthetic binary regulation circuit (araQS) was constructed by assembling multiple genetic components, including the quorum quenching protein AiiA and the arabinose promoter P

araBAD

, into the QS system.
In vitro
expression assays verified that the araQS system was initiated only in the absence of arabinose in the medium at a high cell density.
In vivo
expression assays confirmed that the araQS system presented an
in vivo
-triggered and cell density-dependent expression pattern. Furthermore, the araQS system was demonstrated to function well in different bacteria, indicating a wide range of bacterial hosts for use. To explore its potential applications
in vivo
, the araQS system was used to control the production of a heterologous protective antigen in an attenuated
Edwardsiella tarda
strain, which successfully evoked efficient immune protection in a fish model. This work suggested that the araQS system could program bacterial expression
in vivo
and might have potential uses, including, but not limited to, bacterial vector vaccines.