bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmental and genetic interactions reveal FLOWERING LOCUSC as a modulator of the natural variation for the plasticity of flowering in Arabidopsis
Authors: Méndez‐Vigo Belén , Savic Marija , Ausín Israel , Ramiro Mercedes , Martín Beatriz , Picó F. Xavier , Alonso‐Blanco Carlos 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe timing of flowering initiation depends strongly on the environment, a property termed as the plasticity of flowering. Such plasticity determines the adaptive potential of plants because it provides phenotypic buffer against environmental changes, and its natural variation contributes to evolutionary adaptation. We addressed the genetic mechanisms of the natural variation for this plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana by analysing a population of recombinant inbred lines derived from Don‐0 and Ler accessions collected from distinct climates. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in four environmental conditions differing in photoperiod, vernalization treatment and ambient temperature detected the folllowing: (i) FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) as a large effect QTL affecting flowering time differentially in all environments; (ii) numerous QTL displaying smaller effects specifically in some conditions; and (iii) significant genetic interactions between FLC and other loci. Hence, the variation for the plasticity of flowering is determined by a combination of environmentally sensitive and specific QTL, and epistasis. Analysis of FLC from Don identified a new and more active allele likely caused by a cis‐regulatory deletion covering the non‐coding RNA COLDAIR. Further characterization of four FLC natural alleles showed different environmental and genetic interactions. Thus, FLC appears as a major modulator of the natural variation for the plasticity of flowering to multiple environmental factors.
Neonatal Staphylococcus lugdunensis urinary tract infection
Authors: Hayakawa Itaru , Hataya Hiroshi , Yamanouchi Hanako , Sakakibara Hiroshi , Terakawa Toshiro 
Published: July 2015

AbstractStaphylococcus lugdunensis is a known pathogen of infective endocarditis, but not of urinary tract infection. We report a previously healthy neonate without congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract who developed urinary tract infection due to Staphylococcus lugdunensis, illustrating that Staphylococcus lugdunensis can cause urinary tract infection even in those with no urinary tract complications.
Extramedullary hematopoiesis of the liver in a child with sickle cell disease: A rare complication
Authors: Barrier Angela , Willy Simo , Slone Jeremy S. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe present the case of a 7‐year‐old Cameroonian girl with sickle cell disease (SCD) who presented with progressive abdominal distension, fever, severe anemia, respiratory distress, and fatigue. Abdominal ultrasound showed a 15.3 cm × 11.5 cm × 15.5 cm solid echogenic mass within the left lobe of the liver. Fine‐needle aspiration showed features of extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). Despite transfusions, antibiotics, and initiation of hydroxyurea the patient died of respiratory failure during the hospital stay. There is a paucity of information on EMH in the pediatric sickle cell population, especially from resource‐limited settings such as western Africa. EMH, however, is a known complication of SCD and should be considered in patients presenting with mass lesions in the setting of chronic anemia. With limited therapeutic interventions for EMH, including radiation and hydroxyurea, the emphasis should be on improving overall treatment of patients with chronic and untreated hemolytic anemia, especially in low‐income countries.
Elevated pretransplant pulmonary vascular resistance index does not predict mortality after isolated orthotopic heart transplantation in children: A retrospective analysis of the UNOS database
Authors: Chiu Peter , Schaffer Justin M. , Sheikh Ahmad Y. , Ha Richard , Reinhartz Olaf , Mainwaring Richard , Reitz Bruce A. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractOHT is the definitive therapy in end‐stage heart failure. Elevated PVRI is considered a relative contraindication to isolated OHT; this assumption is re‐evaluated using data from the UNOS database. A retrospective review of de‐identified data from the UNOS dataset was performed. There were 1943 pediatric OHT recipients between 10/87 and 12/11 with sufficient data for analysis. Cox regression was performed to examine the effect of baseline characteristics on post‐transplant survival. Patients were propensity matched, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed comparing cohorts of patients using thresholds of 6 and 9 WU × m2. PVRI was not a significant predictor of post‐transplant outcomes in either univariate or multivariate Cox regression. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no difference in survival between both unmatched and propensity‐matched OHT recipients. In conclusion, elevated PVRI was not associated with post‐transplant mortality in pediatric OHT recipients. A prospective study assessing the current use of PVRI ≥6 as a threshold to contraindicate isolated OHT should be undertaken. Removing this potentially unnecessary restriction on transplant candidacy may make this life‐saving therapy available to a greater number of patients.
Leishmania donovani infection drives the priming of human monocyte‐derived dendritic cells during Plasmodium falciparum co‐infections
Authors: van den Bogaart E. , de Bes H. M. , Balraadjsing P. P. S. , Mens P. F. , Adams E. R. , Grobusch M. P. , van Die I. , Schallig H. D. F. H. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryFunctional impairment of dendritic cells (DCs) is part of a survival strategy evolved by Leishmania and Plasmodium parasites to evade host immune responses. Here, the effects of co‐exposing human monocyte‐derived DCs to Leishmania donovani promastigotes and Plasmodium falciparum‐infected erythrocytes were investigated. Co‐stimulation resulted in a dual, dose‐dependent effect on DC differentiation which ranged from semi‐mature cells, secreting low interleukin(‐12p70 levels to a complete lack of phenotypic maturation in the presence of high parasite amounts. The effect was mainly triggered by the Leishmania parasites, as illustrated by their ability to induce semi‐mature, interleukin‐10‐producing DCs, that poorly responded to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Conversely, P. falciparum blood‐stage forms failed to activate DCs and only slightly interfered with lipopolysaccharide effects. Stimulation with high L. donovani concentrations triggered phosphatidylserine translocation, whose onset presented after initiating the maturation impairment process. When added in combination, the two parasites could co‐localize in the same DCs, confirming that the leading effects of Leishmania over Plasmodium may not be due to mutual exclusion. Altogether, these results suggest that in the presence of visceral leishmaniasis–malaria co‐infections, Leishmania‐driven effects may overrule the more silent response elicited by P. falciparum, shaping host immunity towards a regulatory pattern and possibly delaying disease resolution.
Direct penetration of Rhizopus stolonifer into stone fruits causing rhizopus rot
Authors: Baggio J. S. , Gonçalves F. P. , Lourenço S. A. , Tanaka F. A. O. , Pascholati S. F. , Amorim L. 
Published: July 2015

Rhizopus rot, caused by Rhizopus stolonifer, is a major postharvest disease of stone fruits. The disease is related to the occurrence of mechanical and physical damage; however, observations at a Brazilian wholesale market suggest that direct penetration can occur. Therefore, the penetration mechanisms of R. stolonifer in stone fruits were evaluated. To identify the production of enzymes that help with direct penetration by the pathogen, esterase activity, both in mycelial discs and in spore suspensions of the fungus in water and in modified Van Etten nutrient solution, was measured. Assays were also conducted to evaluate the growth of R. stolonifer on glucose or cutin as a sole carbon source. The pathogen grew on both media, and higher esterase activity was observed in the cutin medium. Wounded and unwounded peaches and nectarines were inoculated with R. stolonifer spore suspensions in water or in modified Van Etten nutrient solution. Wounded fruit inoculated with either of the R. stolonifer spore suspensions developed rhizopus rot, whereas unwounded fruit developed the rot only in the presence of spores in the modified Van Etten nutrient solution. Scanning electron and light microscopic examination showed the fungus can directly penetrate the nectarine cuticle. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate, a serine hydrolase inhibitor, prevented rot development in peaches. The results provide valuable evidence for the ability of R. stolonifer to directly penetrate unwounded stone fruits, probably due to the production of esterase enzymes.
The pupillary response discriminates between subjective and objective familiarity and novelty
Authors: Kafkas Alexandros , Montaldi Daniela 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe pupil response discriminates between old and new stimuli, with old stimuli characterized by larger pupil dilation patterns than new stimuli. We sought to explore the cause of the pupil old/new effect and discount the effect of targetness, effort, recollection retrieval, and complexity of the recognition decision. Two experiments are reported in which the pupil response and the eye fixation patterns were measured, while participants identified novel and familiar object stimuli, in two separate tasks, emphasizing either novelty or familiarity detection. In Experiment 1, familiarity and novelty decisions were taken using a rating scale, while in Experiment 2 a simpler yes/no decision was used. In both experiments, we found that detection of target familiar stimuli resulted in greater pupil dilation than the detection of target novel stimuli, while the duration of the first fixation discriminated between familiar and novel stimuli as early as within 320 ms after stimulus onset. Importantly, the pupil response distinguished between the objective (during an earlier temporal component) and the subjective (during a later temporal component) status of the stimulus for misses and false alarms. In the light of previous findings, we suggest that the pupil and fixation old/new effects reflect the distinct neural and cognitive mechanisms involved in the familiarity and novelty decisions. The findings also have important implications for the use of pupil dilation and eye movement patterns to explore explicit and implicit memory processes.
Interactive effects of social adversity and respiratory sinus arrhythmia activity on reactive and proactive aggression
Authors: Zhang Wei , Gao Yu 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAbnormal parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)‐related cardiac activity has been linked to aggression. However, little is known about how it interacts with psychosocial adversity in predisposing to reactive‐proactive aggression. In the current study, 84 male and female college students self‐reported reactive and proactive aggression, and were assessed for respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a measure of PNS‐related cardiac activity, during rest and when they contemplated an emotion‐evoking decision‐making task. Regression analyses showed that (a) resting RSA was positively linked to reactive aggression in conditions of high social adversity, and (b) RSA reactivity was positively associated with reactive but negatively associated with proactive aggression, in conditions of low social adversity. Main effects were not found for psychophysiological functioning or psychosocial adversity, suggesting the importance of their interaction. Findings support a biosocial basis for aggression and add additional support for the distinctions between reactive and proactive aggression.
TGFB1 Functional Gene Polymorphisms (C‐509T and T869C) in the Maternal Susceptibility to Pre‐eclampsia in South Indian Women
Authors: Deepthi Goske , Chaithri Ponnaluri Kamakshi , Latha Prasanna , Usha Rani Vital , Rahman Police Fazul , Jahan Parveen 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPre‐eclampsia (PE), a pregnancy‐specific vascular disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, is hypothesized to be the result of inadequate placental angiogenesis with attendant systemic inflammation. The pleiotropic cytokine, Transforming Growth Factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), is considered to be a key candidate gene in the molecular pathogenesis of PE by virtue of its ability to not only regulate angiogenesis and apoptosis of target cells, but also by acting as a master controller of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and production of the anti‐inflammatory peripheral regulatory T cells (FOXP3+ Tregs). Based on this presumption, we screened a total of 469 pregnant women from South India that include 239 patients with PE and 230 healthy controls for the two functional polymorphisms of TGFB1 gene (C‐509T and T869C). The genotype frequencies of these two polymorphisms differed significantly between the PE and control groups (P = 0.01 and P = 0.002, for the TGFB1 C‐509T and T869C polymorphisms, respectively). Under the over‐dominant model, the CT genotype of the TGFB1 C509T polymorphism showed a high protective effect (P = 3e‐04), while the TT genotype of the same variant appeared to be the predisposing genotype (P = 0.003). The T‐T and C‐C haplotypes were found to be the risk haplotypes blocks towards PE (OR = 4.72; P = 0.031, OR = 5.39; P = 0.03), respectively. Strong linkage disequilibrium was seen between the two polymorphisms. Our investigations revealed a significant influence of TGFB1 C‐509T and T869C polymorphisms on the PE risk in South Indian women. The study represents one of the first of its kind from the Indian subcontinent.
State‐led talent return migration programme and the doubly neglected ‘Malaysian diaspora’: Whose diaspora, what citizenship, whose development?
Authors: Koh Sin Yee 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis paper questions the assumptions of ‘diaspora’, ‘citizenship’ and ‘development’ underlying diaspora strategies targeting a specific pool of overseasMalaysian ‘talent’ migrants.Iexamine theMalaysian state's discursive attempts to construct a carefully contained economic ‘diaspora'—the ‘Malaysian diaspora'—through its talent return migration programme. In this process, there is a portion of the ‘Malaysian diaspora’, especially non‐bumiputeras(sons of soil), who are doubly neglected and excluded: first, from access to full and equal citizenship (which arguably contributed to their emigration in the first place); and second, from eligibility and recognition to participate in Malaysia's talent return migration programme. However, recent political activism calling for electoral reform and overseas voting rights challenges state‐constructed visions of the ‘diaspora’ and their expected roles in advancing ‘development’. This paper concludes by highlighting questions raised by theMalaysian case, linking these explicitly to how diaspora strategies—as they have been conceived, practised and contested—challenge the broader Migration and Development paradigm.
Phosphorus availability and farm structural factors: examining scarcity and oversupply in north‐east Germany
Authors: Theobald T. F. H. , Daedlow K. , Kern J. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAssessing factors influencing phosphorus (P) availability in soils is important in preventing its overexploitation and excessive application in agricultural systems. Despite high historical P applications in the federal state of Brandenburg (Germany), county data on soil test P (STP) reveal considerable disparities in soil available P. In addition, negative soil balances as a result of small mineral P and manure inputs have been observed, raising questions about the factors leading to this situation. Our work focused on identifying possible causes operating at the farm management level by conducting a letter survey in two administrative districts of Brandenburg, the counties Barnim and Uckermark, linking farm management factors (ownership type, farm size, land tenure, animal husbandry with or without grassland and its intensity, presence of a biogas plant and organic production) to farmers’ self‐indicated levels of STP. Small‐ to medium‐sized individual farms tended to have (very) high STP, while large partnership farms and companies/cooperatives were sensitive to factors resulting in low STP. Farms with low shares of land ownership, the presence of grassland, extensive cattle farming and stockless organic farming had lower STP. On the other hand, biogas plants, partly in combination with intensive livestock (cattle) farming, were associated with larger STP. It was concluded that more care should be devoted to the design of agricultural policies and that further (inter‐ and transdisciplinary) research on this topic is needed.
Evaluation of a potassium removal filter on irradiated red cells stored in SAGM
Authors: Morrison A. , McMillan L. , Campbell J. D. M. , Petrik J. 
Published: July 2015

SUMMARYBackground and objectivesIrradiation of red cell concentrates RCCs) can lead to well‐documented elevated extracellular potassium concentrations. Transfusion of these products has the potential, if given as a massive/rapid transfusion, to lead to transient hyperkalemia. A potassium absorption filter (PAF) has recently been developed and has been proven to effectively remove excess K+. However, data are lacking on the red cell quality parameters over storage after irradiation.MethodsThirty RCCs were pooled and split into 3 groups of 10. All RCCs were irradiated on day 14 and filtered on day 28 (group 1 control), day 15 (group 2) or day 17 (group 3). Pre‐irradiation, pre‐ and post‐filtration and day 28 samples were taken for each study. Standard red cell quality parameters were measured over storage at the above time points.ResultsLosses for haemoglobin, haematocrit and volume were minimal after filtration with all units containing >40 g Hgb unit−1. Statistically, significant differences were observed for K+ and Na+ levels in groups filtered at either 24 or 72 h post‐irradiation, and this was observed directly after filtration and remained by day 28. Filtration had no significant impact on any other parameters measured.ConclusionsPAF effectively removed supernatant potassium (93%) from all RCC units. Early removal of K+ at either day 15 or 17 on RCCs subsequently stored to day 28 had no measurable effect on red cell quality, suggesting this may be a useful device to ensure further safety for at‐risk immunocompromised patient groups requiring irradiated RCCs.
Transfused older stored red blood cells improve the clinical course and outcome in a canine lethal hemorrhage and reperfusion model
Authors: Solomon Steven B. , Cortés‐Puch Irene , Sun Junfeng , Remy Kenneth E. , Wang Dong , Feng Jing , Khan Sameena S. , Sinchar Derek , Kim‐Shapiro Daniel B. , Klein Harvey G. , Natanson Charles 
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUNDIn canine models, transfused older stored red blood cells (RBCs) hemolyze in vivo resulting in significantly increased intravascular cell‐free hemoglobin (CFH) and non–transferrin‐bound iron (NTBI). During canine bacterial pneumonia with septic shock, but not in controls, older stored RBCs were associated with significantly increased lung injury and mortality. It is unknown if in shock without infection transfusion of older RBCs will result in similar adverse effects.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSTwo‐year‐old purpose‐bred beagles (n = 12) were transfused similar quantities of either older (42‐day) or fresher (7‐day) stored universal donor canine RBCs 2.5 hours after undergoing controlled hemorrhage (55 mL/kg).RESULTSWith older transfused RBCs, CFH (p < 0.0001) and NTBI (p = 0.004) levels increased, but lung injury (p = 0.01) and C‐reactive protein levels (p = 0.002) declined and there was a trend toward lower mortality (18% vs. 50%). All three deaths after transfused fresher RBCs resulted from hepatic fractures. Lowered exogenous norepinephrine requirements (p < 0.05) and cardiac outputs (p < 0.05) after older transfused RBCs were associated with increased CFH levels that have known vasoconstrictive nitric oxide scavenging capability.CONCLUSIONSIn hemorrhagic shock, older RBCs altered resuscitation physiology but did not worsen clinical outcomes. Elevated CFH may lower norepinephrine requirements and cardiac outputs ameliorating reperfusion injuries. With hemorrhagic shock, NTBI levels persist in contrast to the increased clearance, lung injury, and mortality in the previously reported infection model. These preclinical data suggest that whereas iron derived from older RBCs promotes bacterial growth, worsening septic shock mortality during infection, release of CFH and NTBI during hemorrhagic shock is not necessarily harmful.
Intermittent bacteremia detected in an asymptomatic apheresis platelet donor with repeat positive culture for Escherichia coli: a case report
Authors: Ramirez‐Arcos Sandra , Alport Ted , Goldman Mindy 
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUNDBacterial culture of platelet concentrates (PCs) has been implemented to reduce the risk of infectious transfusion events. Most positive cultures are for skin flora or environmental organisms with no underlying pathology associated in the donor. Less frequently, enteric organisms have been isolated from PCs indicating asymptomatic donor bacteremia. We report a case of a donor with repeat positive culture for Escherichia coli.CASE REPORTA 62‐year‐old single apheresis platelet (PLT) donor who passed all routine screening procedures had two intermittent positive BacT/ALERT cultures with E. coli. On both occasions, transfusion was prevented with the contaminated units. The donor denied any symptoms suggestive of infection and was referred to his family physician for evaluation. A barium enema revealed multiple colonic diverticula, although the donor has remained asymptomatic. Based on his history of repeat‐positive cultures with the same enteric organism, the donor has been permanently deferred.DISCUSSIONPLT screening for bacterial contamination has been an effective measure to reduce the incidence of septic transfusion reactions. Important is the capture of Gram‐negative bacteria, which can be involved in septic shock due to the production of endotoxins. In addition to the safety benefit to PLT recipients, PLT culture is valuable for blood donors. The recurrence of positive cultures with the same organism allows the identification of subclinical illnesses and, if appropriate, deferral from blood donation.CONCLUSIONThis asymptomatic donor has intermittent bacteremia likely related to diverticular disease. Isolation of E. coli twice prompted further investigation and donor deferral.