bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Study of Ethylene Growth Response Kinetics in Eudicots and Monocots Reveals a Role for Gibberellin in Growth Inhibition and Recovery
Authors: Kim Joonyup , Wilson Rebecca L. , Case J. Brett , Binder Brad M. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Time-lapse imaging of dark-grown Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) hypocotyls has revealed new aspects about ethylene signaling. This study expands upon these results by examining ethylene growth response kinetics of seedlings of several plant species. Although the response kinetics varied between the eudicots studied, all had prolonged growth inhibition for as long as ethylene was present. In contrast, with continued application of ethylene, white millet (Panicum miliaceum) seedlings had a rapid and transient growth inhibition response, rice (Oryza sativa ‘Nipponbare’) seedlings had a slow onset of growth stimulation, and barley (Hordeum vulgare) had a transient growth inhibition response followed, after a delay, by a prolonged inhibition response. Growth stimulation in rice correlated with a decrease in the levels of rice ETHYLENE INSENSTIVE3-LIKE2 (OsEIL2) and an increase in rice F-BOX DOMAIN AND LRR CONTAINING PROTEIN7 transcripts. The gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol caused millet seedlings to have a prolonged growth inhibition response when ethylene was applied. A transient ethylene growth inhibition response has previously been reported for Arabidopsis ethylene insensitive3-1 (ein3-1) eil1-1 double mutants. Paclobutrazol caused these mutants to have a prolonged response to ethylene, whereas constitutive GA signaling in this background eliminated ethylene responses. Sensitivity to paclobutrazol inversely correlated with the levels of EIN3 in Arabidopsis. Wild-type Arabidopsis seedlings treated with paclobutrazol and mutants deficient in GA levels or signaling had a delayed growth recovery after ethylene removal. It is interesting to note that ethylene caused alterations in gene expression that are predicted to increase GA levels in the ein3-1 eil1-1 seedlings. These results indicate that ethylene affects GA levels leading to modulation of ethylene growth inhibition kinetics.
SPInDel: a multifunctional workbench for species identification using insertion/deletion variants
Authors: Carneiro João , Pereira Filipe , Amorim António 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe majority of the available methods for the molecular identification of species use pairwise sequence divergences between the query and reference sequences (DNA barcoding). The presence of multiple insertions and deletions (indels) in the target genomic regions is generally regarded as a problem, as it introduces ambiguities in sequence alignments. However, we have recently shown that a high level of species discrimination is attainable in all taxa of life simply by considering the length of hypervariable regions defined by indel variants. Each species is tagged with a numeric profile of fragment lengths—a true numeric barcode. In this study, we describe a multifunctional computational workbench (named SPInDel for SPecies Identification by Insertions/Deletions) to assist researchers using variable‐length DNA sequences, and we demonstrate its applicability in molecular ecology. The SPInDel workbench provides a step‐by‐step environment for the alignment of target sequences, selection of informative hypervariable regions, design of PCR primers and the statistical validation of the species‐identification process. In our test data sets, we were able to discriminate all species from two genera of frogs (Ansonia and Leptobrachium) inhabiting lowland rainforests and mountain regions of South‐East Asia and species from the most common genus of coral reef fishes (Apogon). Our method can complement conventional DNA barcoding systems when indels are common (e.g. in rRNA genes) without the required step of DNA sequencing. The executable files, source code, documentation and test data sets are freely available at http://www.portugene.com/SPInDel/SPInDel_webworkbench.html.
Apoptotic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Depletion via BCL2 Family of Proteins in Human Ascending Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection
Authors: Durdu Serkan , Deniz Gunseli C. , Balci Deniz , Zaim Cagin , Dogan Arin , Can Alp , Akcali Kamil C. , Akar Ahmet Ruchan 
Published: September 2012

SummaryAims: This study investigates the expression patterns of BCL2 (B‐cell CLL/lymphoma2) family of proteins and the extent of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis in thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA), type‐A aortic dissections (TAD), and nondilated ascending aortic samples. Methods: Aortic wall specimens were obtained from patients undergoing surgical repair for TAA (n = 24), TAD (n = 20), and normal aortic tissues from organ donors (n = 6). The expression pattern of BCL2, BCL2L1 (BCL2‐like1), BAK1 (BCL2‐antagonist/killer1), and BAX (BCL2‐associated X protein) proteins was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, colocalization of alpha smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) and caspase3 (CASP3) in aortic VSMCs was analyzed by double‐immunofluorescence staining. Onset of DNA fragmentation was measured by TUNEL assay. Results: Apoptotic index was significantly increased in both TAD group (31.3 ± 17.2, P < 0.001) and TAA group (21.1 ± 12.7, P = 0.001) relative to control aortas (2.0 ± 1.2). Anti‐CASP3 and ACTA2 double‐immunostaining confirmed apoptosis in VSMCs in TAA and TAD groups but not in controls. Proapoptotic BAX expression was significantly elevated in VSMCs of TAA patients, compared with that of controls (OR = 20; P = 0.02; 95% CI, 16–250). In contrast, antiapoptotic BCL2L1 expression was higher in controls compared with that of TAA group (OR = 11.2; P = 0.049; 95% CI, 1.0–123.9). Furthermore, BAX/BCL2 ratio was significantly increased in both TAA (1.2 ± 0.7, P < 0.001) and TAD (0.6 ± 0.4, P = 0.05) groups relative to controls (0.2 ± 0.1, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Apoptotic VSMC depletion in human TAA/TAD is associated with disturbance of the balance between proapoptotic and antiapoptotic members of the BCL2 family proteins, which may have a role in the pathogenesis of vascular remodelling in aortic disease. In light of the future studies, targeting apoptotic pathways in TAA and TAD pathogenesis may provide therapeutic benefits to patients by slowing down the progression and even possibly preventing the TAD.
RhinAsthma Patient Perspective: a short daily asthma and rhinitisQoLassessment
Authors: Braido F. , Baiardini I. , Stagi E. , Scichilone N. , Rossi O. , Lombardi C. , Ridolo E. , Gani F. , Balestracci S. , Girbino G. , Senna G. E. , Bordo A. , Church M. K. , Canonica G. W. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe present study aimed to develop a short validated patient‐completed questionnaire, theRhinAsthma Patient Perspective (RAPP), to assess the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with asthma and comorbid allergic rhinitis in clinical practice.MethodsA provisionalRAPPquestionnaire was formed from candidate items identified through retrospective analysis of 333RHINASTHMAquestionnaires. This was then tested on 150 asthma patients with allergic rhinitis.ResultsPsychometric analyses identified eight items fitting a unidimensional model to formRAPP. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 0.8) and agreement withRHINASTHMA(r = −0.31,P = 0.0001) were excellent. Criterion, discriminant, and convergent validity were good. Reliability in 47 stable patients was very good (intra‐class and concordance correlation coefficients were 0.90 and 0.89, respectively). Responsiveness in 103 patients with health improvement or deterioration was significantly associated with changes inGlobalRatingScale (r = −0.4965,P < 0.01),RhinitisVisualAnalogueScale (r = 0.5722,P < 0.01) and asthma control test (r = −0.6483,P < 0.01). Minimal clinical difference in the analyzed population was 2.ConclusionRhinAsthma Patient Perspective is a simple eight‐question questionnaire with good measurement properties and sensitivity to health changes, which will provide a valid, reliable and standardizedHRQoLmeasurement in patients with asthma and comorbid allergic rhinitis in clinical practice.
IgE detection to α/β/γ‐gliadin and its clinical relevance in wheat‐dependent exercise‐induced anaphylaxis
Authors: Hofmann S. C. , Fischer J. , Eriksson C. , Bengtsson Gref O. , Biedermann T. , Jakob T. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractWheat‐dependent exercise‐induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) is characterized by anaphylactic reactions after wheat ingestion and physical exercise. IgE antibodies to recombinant ω5‐gliadin are detectable in a majority of WDEIA patients, but other wheat allergens may also play a role in elicitation of WDEIA. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of IgE reactivity to different wheat proteins in 17 patients with confirmed WDEIA by ImmunoCAP research prototypes and a semi‐quantitative microarray immunoassay with α/β/γ‐gliadin, high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) glutenin, alpha‐amylase inhibitor (AAI) dimer, and wheat lipid transfer protein (LTP). By ImmunoCAP, IgE to recombinant ω5‐gliadin was detectable in 14/17 patients (82%), to α/β/γ‐gliadin in 82% including the three patients lacking IgE to ω5‐gliadin, and to HMW glutenin in 59%. The microarray revealed specifically γ‐gliadin as the second most important allergen. These results demonstrate the additional diagnostic value of α/β‐ and γ‐gliadin in particular in ω5‐gliadin‐negative patients in the diagnosis of WDEIA.
The impact of vitamin D on pregnancy: a systematic review
Authors: CHRISTESEN HENRIK T. , FALKENBERG TINE , LAMONT RONALD F. , JØRGENSEN JAN S. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractHypovitaminosis D is common in pregnancy. To systematically review the evidence on vitamin D‐dependent pregnancy outcomes, PubMed and Embase were searched for randomized control trials, cohort and case–control studies. In randomized control trials (n = 7), larger doses of vitamin D resulted in higher 25‐hydroxylated vitamin D (25OHD) levels (n = 6), increased maternal weight gain (n = 1), and fewer classical vitamin D deficiency symptoms (n = 1). In observational studies (n = 32), lower vitamin D intake, or low 25OHD‐levels, were associated with adverse fertility parameters (n = 2), preeclampsia (n = 5), gestational diabetes or higher blood glucose (n = 6), bacterial vaginosis (n = 4), primary cesarean section (n = 1), none (n = 3) or a few days’ (n = 2) shorter gestation, and postpartum depression (n = 1). Studies with few participants having low 25OHD did not identify an association to preeclampsia (n = 5) or gestational diabetes (n = 2). Increased odds of pregnancy‐associated breast cancer with 25OHD >25.8 nmol/L were observed (n = 1). In conclusion, an effect of vitamin D on several pregnancy outcomes is suggested.
Assessment of circulatory adjustments during underwater apnoea in elite divers by means of a portable device
Authors: Tocco F. , Marongiu E. , Pinna M. , Roberto S. , Pusceddu M. , Angius L. , Migliaccio G. , Milia R. , Concu A. , Crisafulli A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAimConsidering that sympathetic activation is induced by exercise, it is reasonable to assume that hemodynamic adjustments to exercise act in opposition to those elicited by the diving response. However, cardiovascular measurements have never been performed during underwater dynamic apnoea (DA), and this hypothesis remains speculative.MethodsData concerning heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) during static apnoea (SA) and DA were collected from 12 elite divers by means of an impedance cardiograph adapted to the underwater environment. Mean arterial pressure (MBP), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) were also assessed. Five trials were performed by the divers: head‐out immersion during normal breathing (test A); 3 min of SA immersed at the surface (B) and at 3 m depth (C); DA till exhaustion immersed at the surface (D) and at 3 m depth (E).ResultsBoth B and C conditions led to bradycardia (−17%) compared to A and also induced a decrement in SV (−8%) and in CO (−25%), while MBP was maintained because of an increase in SVR. A significant MBP increment (+11%) was detected only during tests D and E, when a SaO2 drop was also present, whereas HR, SV and CO remained unchanged.ConclusionWe concluded that typical diving response was present only during SA, while sympathetic activation was induced by exercise during DA, which partially obscured the effects of the diving response.
ESCRT‐II's involvement in HIV‐1 genomic RNA trafficking and assembly
Authors: Ghoujal Bashar , Milev Miroslav P. , Ajamian Lara , Abel Karen , Mouland Andrew J. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackground informationSeveral host proteins play crucial roles in the HIV‐1 replication cycle. The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) exemplifies a large, multi‐component host machinery that is required by HIV‐1 for viral budding. ESCRT promotes the inward budding of vesicles from the membranes of late endosomes to generate multi‐vesicular bodies. However, HIV‐1 co‐opts the ESCRT to enable outwards budding of virus particles from the plasma membrane, a phenomenon that is topologically similar to multi‐vesicular body biogenesis. A role for ESCRTII in mRNA trafficking has been established in Drosophila in which the ESCRT‐II components, Vps22 and Vps36, promote the localisation of the bicoid mRNA in the fertilised egg. This is achieved via specific interactions with the Staufen protein. In this work, we investigated a possible implication of ESCRT‐II in the HIV‐1 replication cycle.ResultsCo‐immunoprecipitation analyses and live cell tri‐molecular fluorescence complementation assays revealed that interactions between EAP30 and Gag and another between EAP30 and Staufen1 occur in mammalian cells. We then depleted EAP30 (the orthologue for Vps22) by siRNA to target ESCRT‐II in HIV‐1 expressing cells. This treatment disrupted ESCRT‐II function and leads to the degradation of the two other ESCRT‐II complex proteins, EAP45 and EAP20, as well as the associated Rab7‐interacting lysosomal protein. The depletion of EAP30 led to dramatically reduced viral structural protein Gag and virus production levels, without any effect on viral RNA levels. On the contrary, the overexpression of EAP30 led to a several‐fold increase in virus production. Unexpec‐tedly, siRNA‐mediated depletion of EAP30 led to a block to HIV‐1 genomic RNA trafficking and resulted in the accumulation of genomic RNA in the nucleus and juxtanuclear domains.ConclusionsOur data provide the first evidence that the Staufen1–ESCRT‐II interaction is evolutionarily conserved from lower to higher eukaryotes and reveal a novel role for EAP30 in the control of HIV‐1 RNA trafficking and gene expression.
Disparities in aspects of oral‐health‐related quality of life among Chilean adults
Authors: Espinoza Iris , Thomson W. Murray , Gamonal Jorge , Arteaga Oscar 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjectiveSocioeconomic disparities in oral health among adults have been observed in many countries, but it is not clear whether they exist in aspects of Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life in Chile.MethodsData were analyzed from the 1st National Health Survey (NHIS) of Chilean adults, conducted in 2003. It included questions on aspects of oral‐health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL), including problems (‘always’ or ‘almost always’) with speaking, eating, pain, or daily activities. These were the dependent variables. Covariates included age, sex, education level, rurality, smoking, general quality of life, the number of remaining teeth, the number of untreated decayed teeth, and the reason for the last dental visit. Multivariate modelling was used to describe disparities in aspects of OHRQoL, using education level as the marker for socioeconomic status.ResultsThe sample comprised 3050 participants (54.7% female), of whom 49.0%, 40.5% and 10.5% had been educated to primary, secondary or tertiary level respectively. In the bivariate analysis, there were significant gradients in all four aspects of OHRQoL across those three categories. Covariates significantly associated with poorer OHRQoL were female gender, rurality, and poor self‐reported general quality of life, and these were subsequently controlled for in the multivariate analysis. Adults with primary education (or less) were more likely than their tertiary‐educated counterparts to report problems speaking (relative risk = 2.38; CI: 1.41, 4.05), trouble or pain (relative risk = 2.77; CI: 1.56, 4.91), discomfort in eating with others (relative risk = 2.35; CI: 1.34, 4.10), and interference with activities of daily living (relative risk = 2.29; CI: 1.15, 4.55). Those educated only to secondary level had relative risks which were lower than these but still significantly different from the reference category. The number of teeth with untreated caries was positively associated with impaired OHRQoL, and the number of remaining teeth was negatively associated with it.ConclusionsSocio‐economic disparities in oral‐health‐related quality of life are apparent
among Chilean adults, and remain after adjusting for dental status.
CEO Personal Wealth, Equity Incentives and Firm Performance
Authors: Elsilä Anna , Kallunki Juha‐Pekka , Nilsson Henrik , Sahlström Petri 
Published: September 2012

AbstractManuscript TypeEmpiricalResearch Question/IssueIn this paper, we explore the determinants and performance effects of a novel measure of executive incentives, that is, the elasticity of a CEO's total wealth to firm performance, computed as a CEO's ownership value relative to her total wealth.Research Findings/InsightsUsing unique data on the total personal wealth of the CEOs of listed Swedish firms, we find that while CEOs typically own only a very small fraction of the shares of their firms, this ownership often constitutes a significant part of their total wealth. We also find that a CEO's total wealth elasticity is negatively associated with firm size and a CEO's age is positively associated with a firm risk environment. As for the effect on firm performance, we find that higher CEO's equity incentives enhance future accounting firm performance, when we estimate panel data regressions by taking into account the dynamic nature of endogeneity between a CEO's incentives and firm performance. However, we do not find any evidence that a CEO's equity incentives to be related to future stock returns.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsOur analysis suggests that executives' incentives when measured as price‐performance elasticity are economically more significant than has been often argued in the literature. Moreover, due to several advantages of price‐performance elasticity over traditionally used fractional ownership and dollar‐at‐stake measures, the inferences drawn from this study with respect to determinants and performance implications of a CEO's incentives may be superior to those from prior studies. The result on the relation between firm size and a CEO's incentives is especially interesting, because, unlike fractional ownership, the elasticity of a CEO's total wealth to firm performance is not spuriously related to firm size. With respect to the relation between incentives and subsequent firm performance, our results are consistent with the view that higher CEO's incentives, measured as price‐performance elasticity, enhance firm accounting performance. Overall, future studies should consider price‐performance elasticity as an alternative measure of executive incentives in addressing various research questions.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsThe evidence in this paper suggests that executive incentives calculated relative to their non‐firm wealth are economically more meaningful if compared to the traditionally used measures. As such, compensation consultants and boards of directors can consider this alternative measure when designing executive compensation plans and determining an appropriate level of ownership, when the information on executive non‐firm wealth is available.
Phosphorylated p38 and JNK MAPK proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Shen‐Nien , Lee King‐Teh , Tsai Chia‐Jung , Chen Yu‐Jie , Yeh Yao‐Tsung 
Published: September 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (12): 1295–1301AbstractBackground  The p38 and JNK MAPK proteins function as key mediators in cellular responses to extracellular stimuli. Deregulated p38 and JNK expressions have been associated with cancer development. This study aimed to investigate the association of p‐p38 and p‐JNK levels of the cancerous tissues with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.Materials and methods  One hundred and four liver cancer tissues of patients with HCC who underwent curative resection were prospectively collected. The levels of activated/p‐p38 and p‐JNK were determined by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The associations of results with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival were further statically analysed using chi‐squared test, two‐tailed Student’s t‐test and Kaplan–Meier survival curve.Results  The p‐p38 levels were significantly higher in the HCC patients with a larger tumour (≥ 3 cm) and satellite tumour, and significantly correlated with the p‐JNK levels. High p‐p38 and low p‐JNK expressions were associated with a poor survival in the patients with HCC (odds ratio, 4·24 and 0·20; P = 0·03 and 0·03, respectively). The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that the HCC patients with high p‐p38 expressions had a poor overall survival than those with low p‐p38 expressions (P = 0·04), and a coexistent and high p‐JNK expression remarkably improved this trend.Conclusions  Increasing p‐p38 levels in HCC tissues were associated with tumour size and the formation of satellite tumours. High p‐p38 expression could serve as a predictor for a poor survival for the patients with HCC. Simultaneous expression of p‐JNK in HCC tissues might antagonize the promoting effect of p‐p38 in human liver cancer.
Contributors to individual quality of life after liver transplantation
Authors: Thiel Christian , Landgrebe Kerstin , Knubben Evelyn , Nadalin Silvio , Ladurner Ruth , Grasshoff Christian , Königsrainer Alfred , Schenk Martin , Thiel Karolin 
Published: September 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012AbstractBackground  With increasing improvements of patient survival after liver transplantation, the focus on outcome measures shifts from survival rate to quality of life. Individual quality of life is crucial to rehabilitate patients after transplantation. Therefore, it is important to identify specific issues that contribute to high individual quality of life. In contrast to the Short form 36 Health Survey (SF‐36), the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual aspects of Quality of Life‐direct weighting (SEIQoL‐DW) allows patients to name the areas of life, which are important to them.Design  In a semi‐structured interview style, 71 patients following liver transplant were asked to complete the SEIQoL‐DW and the SF‐36 in a cross‐sectional design.Results  We found five quality of life areas that were chosen by more than half of the patients: family, friends, sports, partnership and profession/occupation. Health was only mentioned by 45% of all patients. Individual quality of life did not differ from healthy population. In the SF‐36, patients showed normal mental health parameters but reduced physical components. A strong correlation between SEIQoL‐DW‐Index and the mental component summary of the SF‐36 was observed.Conclusion  In addition to the widely used standardized SF‐36, the individual measure SEIQoL‐DW shows new aspects concerning the areas of quality of life, which are personally important to the participants. Less than half of our patients mentioned health and the five most nominated areas are not related to health. By focusing on health, the importance of health‐related factors is overrated, and the impact of non‐medical effects is underrepresented.