bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improved FK506 production by the precursors and product-tolerant mutant of Streptomyces tsukubaensis based on genome shuffling and dynamic fed-batch strategies
Authors: Du Wenjie , Huang Di , Xia Menglei , Wen Jianping , Huang Ming 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
FK506, a secondary metabolite produced by Streptomyces tsukubaensis, is well known for its immunosuppressant properties to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and treat autoimmune diseases. However, the low titer of FK506 in the original producer strain limits the further industrialization efforts and restricts its clinical applications. To address this issue, a highly efficient method combined genome shuffling and dynamic fed-batch strategies was systematically performed in this work. Firstly, after five rounds of genome shuffling based on precursors and product resistances, a higher yielding strain TJ-P325 was successfully acquired, whose production reached 365.6 mg/L, 11-fold increase compared with the original strain. Then, the possible mechanism of different production capabilities between TJ-P325 and the wild type was explored through comparative gene expression analysis of key genes. Results showed that the transcription level of key genes was altered significantly in the mutant. Moreover, precursors addition enhanced the FK506 production by 28 %, as well as reduced the by-products biosynthesis. Finally, the disodium malonate and disodium methylmalonate dynamic fed-batch strategies dramatically led to the production of 514.5 mg/L in a 7.5-L bioreactor. These results demonstrated that genome shuffling and dynamic fed-batch strategies could be successfully applied to generate high-yield strains with value-added natural products during industrial microbial fermentation.
Who is at Risk for Compassion Fatigue? An Investigation of Genetic Counselor Demographics, Anxiety, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout
Authors: Lee Whiwon , Veach Patricia McCarthy , MacFarlane Ian M. , LeRoy Bonnie S. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractCompassion fatigue is a state of detachment and isolation experienced when healthcare providers repeatedly engage with patients in distress. Compassion fatigue can hinder empathy and cause extreme tension. Prior research suggests 73.8 % of genetic counselors are at moderate to high risk for compassion fatigue and approximately 1 in 4 have considered leaving the field as a result Injeyan et al. (Journal of Genetic Counseling, 20, 526–540, 2011). Empirical data to establish a reliable profile of genetic counselors at risk for compassion fatigue are limited. Thus the purpose of this study was to establish a profile by assessing relationships between state and trait anxiety, burnout, compassion satisfaction, selected demographics and compassion fatigue risk in practicing genetic counselors. Practicing genetic counselors (n = 402) completed an anonymous, online survey containing demographic questions, the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Professional Quality of Life scale. Multiple regression analysis yielded four significant predictors which increase compassion fatigue risk (accounting for 48 % of the variance): higher levels of trait anxiety, burnout, and compassion satisfaction, and ethnicity other than Caucasian. Additional findings, study limitations, practice implications, and research recommendations are provided.
Functional trait scaling relationships across 13 temperate mosses growing in wintertime
Authors: Wang Zhe , Bao Weikai , Feng Defeng , Lin Honghui 
Published: May 2014

AbstractMosses growing in wintertime exert important ecosystem function, but we know little about their fundamental functional trait levels and scaling relationships across species. Thus the present study chose 13 common mosses growing under a temperate deciduous forest in wintertime to measure their light‐saturated assimilation rate (Amass), dark respiration rate (Rdmass), major element concentrations and stoichiometric ratios (Cmass, Nmass, Pmass, C:P, C:P and N:P) and the shoot mass per area (SMA). Their bivariate log–log scaling relationships were determined by standardized major axes approach. We confirmed that except Cmass, the nutrient concentrations and metabolic rates of our mosses were higher than that of mosses growing at warmer sites but the SMA was lower than for Sphagnum species. Furthermore, the functional trait levels were totally lower than those of vascular plant leaves except Pmass. Besides, we found the Nmass and Pmass were significantly positively related to Amass and Rdmass but negatively associated with SMA. The C:P and N:P were also closely linked with Amass, Rdmass and SMA. The SMA was significantly related to Rdmass but not to Amass. Functional trait relationships across the current species deviated from previous studies of mosses but were generally analogous to those of vascular plant leaves only with different scaling. The findings suggest that mosses allocated a greater proportion of nutrients to metabolic components rather than to the non‐photosynthetic tissues. In addition, phosphorus was associated more closely with other functional traits than was nitrogen and might play a greater role to withstand the cold temperatures in wintertime for mosses.
Leaf‐trait responses to environmental gradients in moorland communities: contribution of intraspecific variation, species replacement and functional group replacement
Authors: Kamiyama Chiho , Katabuchi Masatoshi , Sasaki Takehiro , Shimazaki Masaya , Nakashizuka Tohru , Hikosaka Kouki 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe values of many important traits of plants in a community change along environmental gradients. Such changes may involve intraspecific variation and replacement by species that have different trait values. We hypothesized that they also involve the variation within and among functional groups (FGs) to the environmental dependence of trait values at the community level. We studied environmental dependence of trait values in 27 moorlands at various scales and analyzed to what extent intraspecific variation, species replacement within FGs and FG replacement contribute to the gradient of community trait values. The community structure in moorlands was influenced mainly by two environmental factors: temperature and water condition. Plants inhabiting sites with low temperature and low‐pH generally tended to have lower maximum leaf height, greater leaf mass per area, and smaller leaf size. At the community level, site‐mean of maximum leaf height and leaf size generally increased with increasing temperature and water pH. Our analysis demonstrated that the relative contributions of intraspecific variation, species replacement within FGs and FG replacement differed depending on combinations of the traits and environments. The contribution of FG replacement varied considerably among cases (0.6–34.5 %). Species replacement within FGs, which has received little attention in previous studies, was most responsible for the community‐level changes (31.6–65.3 %) and intraspecific variation also made a large contribution (22.9–57.9 %). Understanding such various mechanisms involving intraspecific variation and species replacement should help us better predict how the structure and functioning of moorland plant communities will respond to climate change.
Bullying, Mentoring, and Patient Care
Authors: Frederick Dorothea 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe literature suggests that acts of bullying are a root cause of new nurses leaving their units or the profession entirely and have the potential to worsen the nursing shortage. As an effective way to address bullying in the perioperative setting, mentoring benefits the nursing profession. Mentoring can have a direct influence on nurses’ longevity in a health care organization, thereby strengthening the nursing workforce. Magnet‐designated hospitals support the importance of mentor‐mentee relationships for positive employee retention and positive recruitment outcomes. One of the most important tasks that a mentor should undertake is that of a role model. Establishing a culture of mentoring requires authentic leadership, genuine caring and respect for employees, and open communication. The entire nursing profession benefits from a culture of mentoring, as do the patients and families who receive care.
MicroRNA‐9 regulates neural apoptosis in methylmalonic acidemia via targeting BCL2L11
Authors: Li Yanfei , Peng Tao , Li Lin , Wang Xiaohan , Duan Ranran , Gao Huili , Guan Wenjuan , Lu Jingjing , Teng Junfang , Jia Yanjie 
Published: May 2014

AbstractMethylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an autosomal‐recessive inborn metabolic disorder that results from a deficiency in methylmalonyl‐coenzyme A mutase or its cofactor, adenosylcobalamin. Currently, neurological manifestations in MMA are thought to be associated with neural apoptosis. BCL2L11, which is a proapoptotic Bcl‐2 family member, is resident in the outer mitochondrial membrane, where this protein acts as a central regulator of the intrinsic apoptotic cascade and mediates excitotoxic apoptosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non‐coding RNAs that function as endogenous triggers of the RNA interference pathway. Currently, little is known regarding the role of miRNA in MMA. In our previous study, we preliminarily found that the expression of miR‐9 was significantly down‐regulated in MMA patient plasma and sensitively changed after VitB12 treatment, which may act as a potential “competitor” of gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry for the diagnosis of MMA. In the present study, we first confirmed that miR‐9 inhibited BCL2L11 expression by directly targeting its 3′‐untranslated region, and the up‐regulation of miR‐9 reduced neural apoptosis induced by methylmalonate via targeting BCL2L11. Taken together, our results suggested that miR‐9 might act as a monitor of changes in MMA and might provide new insights into a therapeutic entry point for treating MMA.
Measles in pregnancy in Lyon France, 2011
Authors: Casalegno Jean‐Sebastien , Huissoud Cyril , Rudigoz Rene , Massardier Jerome , Gaucherand Pascal , Mekki Yahia 
Published: May 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo identify women who had measles while being pregnant during the 2011 epidemic peak in Lyon, France, and to document maternal characteristics and fetal outcomes.MethodsIn a retrospective survey, women who had measles while being pregnant between January and December 2011 were identified from the records of the Laboratory of Virology, Hospices Civils de Lyon. Epidemiologic data, clinical characteristics, and measles outcomes were assessed.ResultsIn total, 11 pregnant women and 2 women who had just delivered were hospitalized with measles infection in Lyon. The most severe maternal complication was pneumonia, which occurred in 4 women (30.8%). Other maternal complications included fever (11 women; 84.6%) and elevated liver enzymes (2/6 women; 33.3%). All women delivered healthy newborns. Post‐exposure prophylaxis using human polyvalent immunoglobulin was initiated for three newborns whose mothers acquired measles in the immediate postpartum period. None of these newborns subsequently acquired measles, although breastfeeding was maintained.ConclusionAlthough measles infections during pregnancy can have a deleterious effect on both mother and child, in many cases hospitalization is not required. Unnecessary admission should be avoided given the high risk of transmission of measles in an obstetrics ward.
Use of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Management of Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy
Authors: Michaud Linda J. , Louden Emily J. , Lippert William C. , Allgier Allison J. , Foad Susan L. , Mehlman Charles T. 
Published: May 2014

ObjectiveTo evaluate functional outcomes and the impact on surgical interventions after the use of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT‐A) for muscle imbalance, cocontractions, or contractures with neonatal brachial plexus palsy.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingA brachial plexus center in a tertiary children's hospital.ParticipantsFifty‐nine patients with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (75 injection procedures, 91 muscles and/or muscle groups) received BoNT‐A injections (mean age at injection, 36.2 months; range, 6‐123 months; 31 boys; 30 right‐sided injuries, 28 left‐sided injuries, 1 bilateral injury).MethodsData collected retrospectively from medical records, from procedure notes and clinic visits before BoNT‐A use, at ≤6 months follow‐up (BoNT‐A active [BA]) and at ≥7 months follow‐up (BoNT‐A not active [BNA]) included demographics, injection indication, side, and site(s), previous surgical history, occupational therapy and/or physical therapy plan, and outcome measurements.Main Outcome MeasurementsOutcomes assessed before and after injections included active and passive range of motion, Mallet and Toronto scores, parent comments about arm function, preinjection surgical considerations, and postinjection surgical history.ResultsInjection procedures included 51 to shoulder internal rotators, 15 triceps, 15 pronator teres, 9 biceps, and 1 flexor carpi ulnaris. Active and passive shoulder external rotation (SER) range of motion improved after shoulder internal rotator injections (P = .0003 and P = .002, respectively), as did Mallet scores with BA; the latter were sustained with BNA. Surgical intervention was averted, modified, or deferred after BoNT‐A in 45% (n = 20) under surgical consideration before BoNT‐A. Active elbow flexion improved in 67% (P = .005), sustained BNA (P = .004) after triceps injections; 2 of 7 patients averted surgery. Active supination improved with BA (P = .002), with gains sustained BNA (P = .016). Passive elbow extension improved after biceps injections by an average 17° (P = .004) BA, although not sustained BNA.ConclusionsBoNT‐A is an effective adjunct to therapy and surgery in managing muscle imbalance, cocontractions, and contractures in neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Use of BoNT‐A can result in averting, modifying, or deferring surgical interventions in a number of affected children.
Paleolithic vs. Epipaleolithic fisheries in northern Iberia
Authors: Turrero Pablo , Ardura Alba , García-Vázquez Eva 
Published: April 2014

AbstractA comparison of Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic fisheries in NW Iberia shows an overall high trophic level of catch. Freshwater fisheries (and thus their impacts) are ca. 8000 yr older than marine fisheries and have suffered virtually no changes in the region except for the increase in numbers, being focused on two families (Salmonidae, and Anguillidae to a very minor extent). Marine fisheries in the Paleolithic likely had a low impact but rapidly increased in importance, raising the average trophic level of the catch, the number of affected taxa and the proportion of marine to freshwater fisheries with time.
Splicing technology of Ti:sapphire crystals for a high-energy chirped pulse amplifier laser system
Authors: Liu Yanqi , Leng Yuxin , Lu Xiaoming , Xu Yi , Wang Cheng 
Published: May 2014

AbstractWe develop a splicing technology of Ti:sapphire crystals for a high-energy chirped pulse amplifier laser system that can suppress the parasitic lasing to improve the amplification efficiency compared to a large-size single Ti:sapphire crystal amplifier. Theoretical investigations on the characteristics of the amplifier with four splicing Ti:sapphire crystals, such as parasitic-lasing suppression and amplification efficiencies, are carried out. Some possible issues resulting from this splicing technology, including spectral modulation, stretching or splitting of the temporal profile, and the sidelobe generation in the spatial domain (near field and far field), are also investigated. Moreover, the feasibility of the splicing technology is preliminarily demonstrated in an experiment with a small splicing Ti:sapphire crystals amplifier. The temporal profile and spatial distribution of the output pulse from the splicing Ti:sapphire crystal amplifier are discussed in relation to the output pulse from a single Ti:sapphire crystal amplifier.
Protocol to evaluate the impact of yoga supplementation on cognitive function in schizophrenia: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Bhatia Triptish , Mazumdar Sati , Mishra Nagendra Narayan , Gur Raquel E. , Gur Ruben C. , Nimgaonkar Vishwajit Laxmikant , Deshpande Smita Neelkanth 
Published: April 2014

BackgroundSchizophrenia (SZ) is a chronic illness that is treated symptomatically. Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of SZ that is relatively intractable to pharmacotherapy. Yoga can improve cognitive function among healthy individuals. A recent open trial indicated significant benefits of yoga training (YT) in conjunction with conventional pharmacotherapy among patients with SZ.AimsTo describe the protocol for an ongoing randomised controlled trial designed to test whether the reported beneficial effects of YT on cognitive function among SZ patients can be replicated. Secondarily, the effects of YT on daily functioning living skills are evaluated.MethodsConsenting patients with SZ receive routine clinical treatment and are randomised to adjunctive YT, adjunctive physical exercise (PE) or treatment as usual (proposed N = 234 total, N = 78 in each group). The trial involves YT or PE 5 days a week and lasts 3 weeks. Participants are evaluated thrice over 6 months. Cognitive functions measured by Trail Making Test, University of Pennsylvania Neurocognitive Computerised Battery were primary outcome measures while clinical severity and daily functioning measured by Independent Living Skills Survey were secondary outcome measures.ResultsA total of 309 participants have been randomised as of 31 August 2013, which exceeded beyond 294 proposed after attrition. Once participants begin YT or PE they generally complete the protocol. No injuries have been reported.ConclusionsShort term YT is feasible and acceptable to Indian SZ patients. If beneficial effects of YT are detected, it will provide a novel adjunctive cognitive remediation strategy for SZ patients.
Effect of dietary α-lipoic acid on the mRNA expression of genes involved in drug metabolism and antioxidation system in rat liver
Authors: Ide Takashi 
Published: April 2014

In the present study, the mRNA levels of hepatic proteins involved in the drug metabolism of rats fed α-lipoic acid were evaluated by DNA microarray and real-time PCR analyses. Experimental diets containing 0, 0·1, 0·25 and 0·5 % (w/w) α-lipoic acid were fed to four groups of rats consisting of seven animals each for 21 d. DNA microarray analysis revealed that the diet containing 0·5 % α-lipoic acid significantly (P< 0·05) increased the mRNA levels of various phase I drug-metabolising enzymes up to 15-fold and phase II enzymes up to 52-fold in an isoenzyme-specific manner. α-Lipoic acid also up-regulated the mRNA levels of some members of the ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily, presumed to be involved in the exportation of xenobiotics, up to 6·6-fold. In addition, we observed that α-lipoic acid increased the mRNA levels of many proteins involved in antioxidation, such as members of the thiol redox system (up to 5·5-fold), metallothioneins (up to 12-fold) and haeme oxygenase 1 (1·5-fold). These results were confirmed using real-time PCR analysis, and α-lipoic acid dose dependently increased the mRNA levels of various proteins involved in drug metabolism and antioxidation. Consistent with these observations, α-lipoic acid dose dependently increased the hepatic concentration of glutathione and the activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione transferase measured using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene as substrates, but decreased the hepatic and serum concentrations of malondialdehyde. In conclusion, the present study unequivocally demonstrated that α-lipoic acid increases the mRNA expression of proteins involved in drug metabolism and antioxidation in the liver.
Effect of oat intake on glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Bao Lei , Cai Xiaxia , Xu Meihong , Li Yong 
Published: April 2014

The present meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) aimed to investigate the effect of oat intake on glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity. A literature search was carried out in PubMed, ScienceDirect Online and The Cochrane Library (up to October 2013) for RCT that assessed the effect of oat intake on glucose control and insulin sensitivity. A total of fifteen articles with 673 subjects met the inclusion criteria. A random-effects model was used when the overall pooled studies exhibited significant heterogeneity. Otherwise, a fixed-effects model was used. Compared with controls, oat intake significantly reduced the concentrations of fasting insulin by − 6·29 (95 % CI − 12·32, − 0·27) pmol/l (P= 0·04) and the values of glucose AUC (GAUC; 0–120 min) by − 30·23 (95 % CI − 43·65, − 16·81) min × mmol/l (P< 0·0001). There was a slight decrease in fasting glucose concentrations, glycated Hb concentrations and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance values in subjects who consumed oats, but the difference was not significant. In conclusion, oat intake significantly lowers fasting insulin concentrations and GAUC values. To further investigate the effect of oat intake on fasting glucose concentrations, additional long-term and high-quality RCT with a parallel design are required.
Larval intraspecific competition for food in the European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana
Authors: Thiéry D. , Monceau K. , Moreau J. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractEffective pest management with lower amounts of pesticides relies on accurate prediction of insect pest growth rates. Knowledge of the factors governing this trait and the resulting fitness of individuals is thus necessary to refine predictions and make suitable decisions in crop protection. The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, the major pest of grapes in Europe, is responsible for huge economic losses. Larvae very rarely leave the grape bunch on which they were oviposited and thus cannot avoid intraspecific competition. In this study, we determined the impact of intraspecific competition during the larval stage on development and adult fitness in this species. This was tested by rearing different numbers of larvae on an artificial diet and measuring developmental and reproductive life history traits. We found that intraspecific competition during larval development has a slight impact on the fitness of L. botrana. The principal finding of this work is that larval density has little effect on the life history traits of survivors. Thus, the timing of eclosion, duration of subsequent oviposition, fecundity appears to be more uniform in L. botrana than in other species. The main effect of larval crowding was a strong increase of larval mortality at high densities whereas the probability of emergence, sex ratio, pupal mass, fecundity and longevity of mated females were not affected by larval crowding. Owing to increased larval mortality at high larval densities, we hypothesized that mortality of larvae at high densities provided better access to food for the survivors with the result that more food was available per capita and there were no effect on fitness of survivors. From our results, larval crowding alters the reproductive capacity of this pest less than expected but this single factor should now be tested in interaction with limited resources in the wild.