bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and distribution of human Plasmodium infection in Pakistan
Authors: Khattak Aamer A , Venkatesan Meera , Nadeem Muhammad F , Satti Humayoon S , Yaqoob Adnan , Strauss Kathy , Khatoon Lubna , Malik Salman A , Plowe Christopher V 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are prevalent in Pakistan, yet up-to-date data on the epidemiology of malaria in Pakistan are not available. This study was undertaken to determine the current prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium species across the country.

Methods
A malariometric population survey was conducted in 2011 using blood samples collected from 801 febrile patients of all ages in four provinces and the capital city of Islamabad. Microscopically confirmed Plasmodium-positive blood samples were reconfirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Confirmed parasite-positive samples were subjected to species-specific PCR capable of detecting four species of human malaria.

Results
Of the 707 PCR-positive samples, 128 (18%) were P. falciparum, 536 (76%) were P. vivax, and 43 (6%) were mixed P. falciparum and P. vivax. Ninety-four microscopy-positive samples were PCR-negative, and Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale were not detected. Prevalence of P. vivax ranged from 2.4% in Punjab Province to 10.8% in Sindh Province and prevalence of P. falciparum ranged from 0.1% in Islamabad to 3.8% in Balochistan.

Conclusions

Plasmodium infections in Pakistan are largely attributed to P. vivax but P. falciparum and mixed species infections are also prevalent. In addition, regional variation in the prevalence and species composition of malaria is high.
Azadirachta indica ethanolic extract protects neurons from apoptosis and mitigates brain swelling in experimental cerebral malaria
Authors: Bedri Selma , Khalil Eltahir A , Khalid Sami A , Alzohairy Mohammad A , Mohieldein Abdlmarouf , Aldebasi Yousef H , Seke Etet Paul Faustin , Farahna Mohammed 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundCerebral malaria is a rapidly developing encephalopathy caused by the apicomplexan parasitePlasmodium falciparum. Drugs currently in use are associated with poor outcome in an increasing number of cases and new drugs are urgently needed. The potential of the medicinal plantAzadirachta indica(Neem) for the treatment of experimental cerebral malaria was evaluated in mice.MethodsExperimental cerebral malaria was induced in mice by infection withPlasmodium bergheiANKA. Infected mice were administered withAzadirachta indicaethanolic extract at doses of 300, 500, or 1000 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) in experimental groups, or with the anti-malarial drugs chloroquine (12 mg/kg, i.p.) or artemether (1.6 mg/kg, i.p.), in the positive control groups. Treatment was initiated at the onset of signs of brain involvement and pursued for five days on a daily basis. Mice brains were dissected out and processed for the study of the effects of the extract on pyramidal cells’ fate and on markers of neuroinflammation and apoptosis, in the medial temporal lobe.ResultsAzadirachta indicaethanolic extract mitigated neuroinflammation, decreased the severity of brain oedema, and protected pyramidal neurons from apoptosis, particularly at the highest dose used, comparable to chloroquine and artemether.ConclusionsThe present findings suggest thatAzadirachta indicaethanolic extract has protective effects on neuronal populations in the inflamed central nervous system, and justify at least in part its use in African and Asian folk medicine and practices.
Balance and knee extensibility evaluation of hemiplegic gait using an inertial body sensor network
Authors: Guo Yanwei , Zhao Guoru , Liu Qianqian , Mei Zhanyong , Ivanov Kamen , Wang Lei 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Most hemiplegic patients have difficulties in their balance and posture control while walking because of the asymmetrical posture and the abnormal body balance. The assessment of rehabilitation of hemiplegic gait is usually made by doctors using clinical scale, but it is difficult and could not be used frequently. It is therefore needed to quantitatively analyze the characteristics of hemiplegic gait. Thus the assessment would be simple, and real-time evaluation of rehabilitation could be carried out.

Methods
Twenty subjects (ten hemiplegic patients, ten normal subjects) were recruited. The subjects walked straight for five meters at their self-selected comfortable speed towards a target line on the floor.
Xsens MTx motion trackers were used for acquiring gestures of body segments to estimate knee joint angles and identify gait cycles. A practical method for data acquisition that does not need to obtain accurate distances between a knee joint and its corresponding sensors is presented.

Results
The results showed that there were significant differences between the two groups in the three nominated angle amplitudes. The mean values of balance level of each parameter in hemiplegic gait and normal gait were: 0.21 versus 0.01, 0.18 versus 0.03, and 0.92 versus 0.03, respectively. The mean values of added angles of each parameter in hemiplegic gait and normal gait were: 74.64 versus 91.31, -76.48 versus −132.4, and 6.77 versus 35.74.

Conclusions
It was concluded that the wearable bio-motion acquisition platform provided a practical approach that was effective in discriminating gait symptoms between hemiplegic and asymptomatic subjects. The extensibility of hemiplegic patients’ lower limbs was significantly lower than that of normal subjects, and the hemiplegic gait had worse balance level compared with normal gait. The effect of rehabilitation training of hemiplegic gait could be quantitatively analyzed.
Rapid warming in Tibet, China: public perception, response and coping resources in urban Lhasa
Authors: Bai Li , Cirendunzhu  , Pengcuociren  , Dawa  , Woodward Alistair , Liu Xiaobo , Baimaciwang  , Dazhen  , Sang Shaowei , Wan Fangjun , Zhou Lin , Xu Junfang , Li Xiaolu , Wu Haixia , Yu Baorong , Xiraoruodeng  , Liu Qiyong 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Tibet, average altitude more than 4,000 meters, is warming faster than anywhere else in China. The increase in temperatures may aggravate existing health problems and lead to the emergence of new risks. However, there are no actions being taken at present to protect population health due to limited understanding about the range and magnitude of health effects of climate change.

Methods
The study was a cross-sectional survey of 619 respondents from urban Lhasa, Tibet in August 2012 with the aim to investigate public perceptions of risk, heat experiences, and coping resources.

Results
Respondents are aware of the warming that has occurred in Lhasa in recent years. Over 78% reported that rising temperature is either a “very” or “somewhat” serious threat to their own health, and nearly 40% reported they had experienced heat-related symptoms. Sex, age, education and income influenced perceived risks, health status, and heat experience. The vast majority of respondents reported that they had altered their behaviour on hot summer days. Bakuo, a sub-district at the city center, is considered especially vulnerable to heat because of sparse vegetation, high population density, poor dwelling conditions and a high proportion of low-income population. However, neighborhood social ties were stronger in Bakuo than other study locations.

Conclusions
The study suggests that actions are needed now to minimize downside effects of rapid warming in Tibet, because of increasing human exposure to high temperatures and uneven distribution of the resources needed to cope.
Nonlinear ergodic theorems and weak convergence theorems for reversible semigroup of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces
Authors: Zhu Lanping , Huang Qianglian , Li Gang 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
In this paper, we provide the nonlinear ergodic theorems and weak convergence theorems for almost orbits of a reversible semigroup of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings in a uniformly convex Banach space without assuming that X has a Fréchet differentiable norm. Since almost orbits in this paper are not almost asymptotically isometric, new methods have to be introduced and used for the proofs. Our main results include many well-known results as special cases and are new even for reversible semigroup of nonexpansive mappings.

MSC:47H20.
The anti-HBV effect mediated by a novel recombinant eukaryotic expression vector for IFN-α
Authors: Yu Haotian , Hou Zhaohua , Han Qiuju , Zhang Cai , Zhang Jian 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Chronic hepatitis B is a primary cause of liver-related death. Interferon alpha (IFN-α) is able to inhibit the replication of hepadnavirus, and the sustained and stable expression of IFN-α at appropriate level may be beneficial to HBV clearance. With the development of molecular cloning technology, gene therapy plays a more and more important role in clinical practice. In light of the findings, an attempt to investigate the anti-HBV effects mediated by a eukaryotic expression plasmid (pSecTagB-IFN-α) in vitro was carried out.

Methods
HBV positive cell line HepG2.2.15 and its parental cell HepG2 were transfected with pSecTagB-IFN-α or empty plasmid by using Lipofectamine™ 2000 reagent. The expression levels of IFN-α were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA methods. The effects of pSecTagB-IFN-α on HBV mRNA, DNA and antigens were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and ELISA assays. RT-PCR, qRT-PCR and western blot were employed to investigate the influence of pSecTagB-IFN-α on IFN-α-induced signal pathway. Furthermore, through qRT-PCR and ELISA assays, the suppressive effects of endogenously expressed IFN-α and the combination with lamivudine on HBV were also examined.

Results
pSecTagB-IFN-α could express efficiently in hepatoma cells, and then inhibited HBV replication, characterized by the decrease of HBV S gene (HBs) and HBV C gene (HBc) mRNA, the reduction of HBV DNA load, and the low contents of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). Mechanism research showed that the activation of Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signal pathway, the up-regulation of IFN-α-induced antiviral effectors and double-stranded (ds) RNA sensing receptors by delivering pSecTagB-IFN-α, could be responsible for these phenomena. Furthermore, pSecTagB-IFN-α vector revealed effectively anti-HBV effect than exogenously added IFN-α. Moreover, lamivudine combined with endogenously expressed IFN-α exhibited stronger anti-HBV effect than with exogenous IFN-α.

Conclusion
Our results showed that endogenously expressed IFN-α can effectively and persistently inhibit HBV replication in HBV infected cells. These observations opened a promising way to design new antiviral genetic engineering drugs based on IFN-α.
Prevalence of adenovirus in children with acute respiratory tract infection in Lanzhou, China
Authors: Jin Yu , Zhang Rong-fang , Xie Zhi-ping , Yan Kun-long , Gao Han-chun , Song Jing-rong , Yuan Xin-hui , Hou Yun-de , Duan Zhao-jun 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an important agent causing respiratory tract infection in children. Information on the epidemiological and clinical features of HAdV is limited in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in China, especially those of a novel genotype, Ad55.

Methods
In total, 1169 nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children younger than 14 years with ARTIs between November 2006 and November 2009. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to screen HAdVs. All PCR-positive products were sequenced.

Results
74 of 1169 (6.33%) specimens were positive for HAdVs. Among positive cases, AdV3 (58/74) was detected most frequently, followed by AdV11 (10/74), AdV2 (2/74), AdV7 (2/69), AdV6 (1/74), and AdV1 (1/74). AdV55 was found in one case. The incidence of HAdV infection peaked in children aged 3–7 years. The most common clinical diagnosis was upper respiratory infection, and the most common syndrome was fever and cough.The comparison of HAdV and RSV group revealed that Children infected with group AdV were significant older than children infected with group RSV, had more fever but less frequently wheezing, and cough, crackles, and cyanosis, The duration of hospitalization between the AdV group and RSV group was not significant, but a greater frequency of LRTIs was observed in RSV group.

Conclusions
HAdV is an important viral agent in children with ARTIs in Lanzhou City, China. Multiple HAdV serotypes co-circulated with Ad3, which was predominant in this 3-year study. The novel AdV55 genotype was found in one case. No fixed seasonal rhythm could be identified.
Genotyping and pathobiologic characterization of canine parvovirus circulating in Nanjing, China
Authors: Zhao Yanbing , Lin Yan , Zeng Xujian , Lu Chengping , Hou Jiafa 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an important pathogen that causes acute enteric disease in dogs. It has mutated and spread throughout the world in dog populations. We provide an update on the molecular characterization of CPV that circulated in Nanjing, a provincial capital in China between 2009 and 2012.

Results
Seventy rectal swab samples were collected from the dogs diagnosed with CPV infection in 8 animal hospitals of Nanjing. Sequence analysis of VP2 genes of 31 samples revealed that 29 viral strains belonged to CPV-2a subtype, while other two strains were classified into CPV-2b. To investigate the pathogenicity of the prevalent virus, we isolated CPV-2a and performed the animal experiment. Nine beagles were inoculated with 105.86 of 50% tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50) of the virus. All the experimentally infected beagles exhibited mild to moderate mucoid or watery diarrhea on day 4 post-infection (p.i.). On day 9 p.i., characteristic histopathological lesions were clearly observed in multiple organs of infected dogs, including liver, spleen, kidney, brain and all segments of the small and large intestines, while viral DNA and antigen staining could be detected in the sampled tissues. It is notable that canine parvovirus was isolated in one from two brain samples processed.

Conclusion
Our results indicated that CPV-2a is the predominant subtype in Nanjing of China. And this virus caused extensive lesions in a variety of tissues, including the brain.
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease phenotype related to C9ORF72 repeat expansions: contribution of the neuropsychological assessment
Authors: Annan Mariam , Beaufils Émilie , Viola Ursule-Catherine , Vourc’h Patrick , Hommet Caroline , Mondon Karl 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Expanded GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeats in the non-coding region of the C9ORF72 gene was recently identified as being responsible for over 40% of the cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, in various extrapyramidal syndromes including supranuclear gaze palsy and corticobasal degeneration, and in addition, has been found to be a rare genetic cause of isolated Parkinsonism. To our knowledge, there is no published data concerning the neuropsychological evaluation of patients diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease related with C9ORF72 repeat expansions.

Case presentation
We report the results of the comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation in a newly described case in the literature (the sixth) of a patient presenting isolated idiopathic Parkinson’s disease associated with C9ORF72 repeat expansions.
The decrease in the patient’s prefrontal functions resulted in a slight decrease in global efficiency. These abnormalities did not appear to be different, with respect to the deficit observed and the intensity of the cognitive impairment, from those classically observed in cases of sporadic idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Our patient also exhibited a significant impairment in visual gnosis.

Conclusions
If confirmed in other patients, visuoperceptive deficits in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease could represent a red flag that should prompt the clinician to perform addition diagnostic procedures. A thorough neuropsychological assessment may prove to be useful for detecting idiopathic Parkinson’s disease in patients who are suspected of having repeat abnormalities of C9ORF72 expansions.
Passive carriage of rabies virus by dendritic cells
Authors: Senba Kazuyo , Matsumoto Takashi , Yamada Kentaro , Shiota Seiji , Iha Hidekatsu , Date Yukari , Ohtsubo Motoaki , Nishizono Akira 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe rabies virus (RABV) is highly neurotropic and it uses evasive strategies to successfully evade the host immune system. Because rabies is often fatal, understanding the basic processes of the virus-host interactions, particularly in the initial events of infection, is critical for the design of new therapeutic approaches to target RABV. Here, we examined the possible role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the transmission of RABV to neural cells at peripheral site of exposure. Viral replication only occurred at a low level in the DC cell line, JAWS II, after its infection with either pathogenic RABV (CVS strain) or low-pathogenic RABV (ERA strain), and no progeny viruses were produced in the culture supernatants. However, both viral genomic RNAs were retained in the long term after infection and maintained their infectivity. The biggest difference between CVS and ERA was in their ability to induce type I interferons. Although the ERA-infected JAWS II cells exhibited cytopathic effect and were apparently killed by normal spleen cellsin vitro, the CVS-infected JAWS II cells showed milder cytopathic effect and less lysis when cocultured with spleen cells. Strongly increased expression of major histocompatibility complex classes I, costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), type I interferons and Toll- like receptor 3, and was observed only in the ERA-inoculated JAWS II cells and not in those inoculated with CVS. During the silencing of the cellular immune response in the DCs, the pathogenic CVS strain cryptically maintained an infectious viral genome and was capable of transmitting infectious RABV to permissive neural cells. These findings demonstrate that DCs may play a role in the passive carriage of RABV during natural rabies infections.
An essential role for Rab27a GTPase in eosinophil exocytosis
Authors: Kim John Dongil , Willetts Lian , Ochkur Sergei , Srivastava Nutan , Hamburg Rudolf , Shayeganpour Anooshirvan , Seabra Miguel C , Lee James J , Moqbel Redwan , Lacy Paige 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTEosinophil degranulation has been implicated in inflammatory processes associated with allergic asthma. Rab27a, a Rab-related GTPase, is a regulatory intracellular signaling molecule expressed in human eosinophils. We postulated that Rab27a regulates eosinophil degranulation. We investigated the role of Rab27a in eosinophil degranulation within the context of airway inflammation. Rab27a expression and localization in eosinophils were investigated by using subcellular fractionation combined with Western blot analysis, and the results were confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis of Rab27a and the granule membrane marker CD63. To determine the function of eosinophil Rab27a, we used Ashen mice, a strain of Rab27a-deficient animals. Ashen eosinophils were tested for degranulation in response to PAF and calcium ionophore by measuring released EPX activity. Airway EPX release was also determined by intratracheal injection of eosinophils into mice lacking EPX. Rab27a immunoreactivity colocalized with eosinophil crystalloid granules, as determined by subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence analysis. PAF induced eosinophil degranulation in correlation with redistribution of Rab27a+ structures, some of which colocalized with CD63+ crystalloid granules at the cell membrane. Eosinophils from mice had significantly reduced EPX release compared with normal WT eosinophils, both in vitro and in vivo. In mouse models, Ashen mice demonstrated reduced EPX release in BAL fluid. These findings suggest that Rab27a has a key role in eosinophil degranulation. Furthermore, these findings have implications for Rab27a-dependent eosinophil degranulation in airway inflammation.
Enzyme-free Amperometric H2O2 Biosensor Based on Cu–Ag Bimetallic Nanoparticles with Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites
Authors: Wu Kong-Lin , Li Xiang-Zi , Dong Chao , Liu Li , Liu Pin-De , Ding Ting-Hui , Lu Jing , Wei Xian-Wen 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Cu–Ag bimetallic nanoparticles loaded on reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (Cu–Ag/rGO NCs) were obtained through a facile chemical reduction method. The resulting Cu–Ag/rGO NCs exhibited good catalytic activity in reducing H2O2, with a fast amperometric response, i.e., less than 2 s. The linear detection range was estimated to be from 50 µM to 3.5 mM (R = 0.9983), and the detection limit was estimated to be 12 µM at S/N = 3.
India’s queer expressions on-screen: The aftermath of the reading down of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code
Authors: Bakshi Kaustav , Sen Parjanya 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
This article explores how a reading down of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and the emergence of identitarian discourses have variously effectuated the representation of queer characters in Bombay cinema. It offers close analysis of film texts, both prior to as well as after the reading down of Article 377, in order to map a larger network of change towards a neo-liberal inclusion of the ‘gay’ citizen subject. A study of representation of queer characters in these films points towards how the ‘queer’ becomes a discursive category, open to appropriation, and also shows how earlier traditions/tropes of representation are either reworked or subverted to fit into a globalized discourse of identity.
Trouble ahead: Pleasure, possibility and the future of queer porn
Authors: Lipton Shawna 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
This article provides a genealogy of a recent wave of cinematic pornography and situates ‘queer porn’ at the nexus of subversive art practice, hardcore pornography and sexual and body politics. The analysis is rooted in a close reading of Courtney Trouble’s film Nostalgia (2009), contextualized within the discourses of porn studies (an area of academic focus in film studies and visual cultural studies), feminism and queer theory. The four ultimate claims are that queer porn is characterized by (1) citationality (i.e., playful references to previous porn films); (2) multiplicity and variety of bodies and genders (trans, genderqueer, modified, fat bodies); (3) perverse and alternative pleasures (e.g., female ejaculation); and (4) queer audience address and community formation.