bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mice Spermatogonial Stem Cells Transplantation Induces Macrophage Migration into the Seminiferous Epithelium and Lipid Body Formation: High-Resolution Light Microscopy and Ultrastructural Studies
Authors: Dias Felipe F. , Chiarini-Garcia Hélio , Parreira Gleydes G. , Melo Rossana C.N. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractTransplantation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), the male germline stem cells, in experimental animal models has been successfully used to study mechanisms involved in SSC self-renewal and to restore fertility. However, there are still many challenges associated with understanding the recipient immune response for SSCs use in clinical therapies. Here, we have undertaken a detailed structural study of macrophages elicited by SSCs transplantation in mice using both high-resolution light microscopy (HRLM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We demonstrate that SSCs transplantation elicits a rapid and potent recruitment of macrophages into the seminiferous epithelium (SE). Infiltrating macrophages were derived from differentiation of peritubular monocyte-like cells into typical activated macrophages, which actively migrate through the SE, accumulate in the tubule lumen, and direct phagocytosis of differentiating germ cells and spermatozoa. Quantitative TEM analyses revealed increased formation of lipid bodies (LBs), organelles recognized as intracellular platforms for synthesis of inflammatory mediators and key markers of macrophage activation, within both infiltrating macrophages and Sertoli cells. LBs significantly increased in number and size in parallel to the augmented macrophage migration during different times post-transplantation. Our findings suggest that LBs may be involved with immunomodulatory mechanisms regulating the seminiferous tubule niche after SSC transplantation.
Coupling perception and action using probabilistic control
Authors: Rothkopf Constantin , Schrater Paul 
Published: November 2011

AbstractAlthough there is a long tradition of separating perception, decision making and action, the theoretical conditions for such a separation are very restrictive and not applicable even to the most basic every day tasks in humans. Instead, all uncertainties relating states of the world to observations, actions to future states and rewards, and actions to observations need to be considered in order to act optimally. In the most general formulation this can be formalized as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP).We consider the task of intercepting a moving ball for which a multitude of previous studies has shown that humans use a constant bearing angle strategy. Here we manipulated the observation function in a virtual reality setup so as to change the uncertainty of the ballʼs position in parametric ways. Specifically, the contrast of the ball changes as a function of the heading angle towards the ball along the subjectʼs momentary trajectory. Subjects adjusted their interception strategy within an average of 26 trials and are consistently able to catch these balls.For the classic interception task it has been shown that the optimal strategy for constant velocities and certain noise distributions is indeed the constant bearing angle strategy. The complex observation functions used in the human experiments above require modeling the task as a POMDP. We use an approximate solution technique based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo to solve the control task and compare this to the solution in which the system first finds the most likely position of the target and then acts upon this percept. This computational strategy corresponds to certainty equivalent control and is shown to be suboptimal in this task. We conclude that humans are able to carry out complex control tasks that require computing with uncertainties relating sensory input, control variables, and actions.
La mesure de la vitesse de la lumière à Nice par Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin
Authors: Bogaert Gilles , Blanc Wilfried 
Published: November 2011

Entre 1898 et 1904, Perrotin, directeur du nouvel Observatoire de Nice [1], entreprend de mesurer la vitesse de la lumière avec une précision record, qui entrera dans l’histoire. Cette entreprise, quasiment oubliée aujourd’hui, a pourtant donné un résultat cité comme référence pendant des décennies.
Les archives de l’Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur [2] (encadré p. 23) permettent de revivre au jour le jour ce projet, assez audacieux, et de redécouvrir cet homme déterminé qui avait accepté de présider à la destinée de ce « palais astronomique et physique » pour la gloire de la « Science française » [3].
Anatole Abragam (15 décembre 1914 − 8 juin 2011)
Authors: Goldman Maurice 
Published: November 2011

Anatole Abragam, physicien français, russe de naissance, membre de l’Académie des sciences, a laissé une profonde empreinte dans le domaine de la résonance magnétique, aussi bien électronique (RPE) que nucléaire (RMN), par ses travaux et contributions et son rôle éminent de pédagogue, surtout en RMN, où il a apporté clarté et rigueur théorique. Un grand nombre des plus éminents scientiﬁques de ce domaine se considèrent comme ses élèves. Il a été Président de la Société Française de Physique en 1967.
Cet article est une esquisse de sa vie et de sa carrière.
Anti‐α actinin antibodies as new predictors of response to treatment in autoimmune hepatitis type 1
Authors: Zachou K. , Oikonomou K. , Renaudineau Y. , Chauveau A. , Gatselis N. , Youinou P. , Dalekos G. N. 
Published: November 2011

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35: 116–125SummaryBackground  We reported that combined presence of autoantibodies (Abs) against filamentous‐actin (AFA) and α‐actinin are specific for autoimmune hepatitis type 1 (AIH‐1) diagnosis.Aim  To explore our data and assess whether anti‐α‐actinin and AFA Abs could be used as indicators of response to treatment and predictors of AIH‐1 flares in a large cohort of AIH‐1 patients.Methods  Seven hundred and sixty‐four serial serum samples of 86 consecutive AIH‐1 patients, 509 pathological and 110 normal controls were tested for the presence of anti‐α‐actinin and AFA Abs by an in‐house IgG‐specific ELISA and a standardised commercially available ELISA respectively. Patients sera were divided into baseline group (active disease before treatment initiation, n = 86) and then according to treatment response into group A‐responders (n = 40 patients), group B‐relapsers/incomplete responders (n = 37 patients) and group C‐not‐treated (n = 9 patients).Results  Anti‐α‐actinin and AFA levels were significantly higher at baseline. Double reactivity against α‐actinin and AFA was associated with disease activity (OR 4.9; 95% CI: 2.7–9). Anti‐α‐actinin optical densities (ODs) before treatment decreased significantly at first remission (P < 0.05). Treatment response was associated with anti‐α‐actinin Abs negativity before treatment (OR 3.4; 95% CI: 1.3–8.9) and absence of double positivity for anti‐α‐actinin and AFA Abs before treatment (OR 3.8; 95% CI: 1.4–10.4). Responders had lower baseline levels of anti‐α‐actinin than relapsers and/or incomplete responders (P = 0.002). Binary logistic regression revealed lower levels of anti‐α‐actinin as the only independent predictors of response (P = 0.05).Conclusions  Anti‐α‐actinin Abs at baseline appear to predict treatment response and therefore they might be used for monitoring treatment outcome in AIH‐1.
Seasonal dynamics of biomass production and herbage quality of three grasslands with contrasting functional compositions
Authors: Michaud A. , Andueza D. , Picard F. , Plantureux S. , Baumont R. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractClassifying grasses into plant functional types (PFT) according to their strategy of nutrient capture (PFT A, B and b) or nutrient conservation (PFT C) is claimed to predict variability in biomass production and herbage quality in grasslands. PFT A, B and b are characterized by higher production than PFT C, with higher nutritive value, which decreases rapidly. PFT C is characterized by lower nutritive value, which remains more stable in time. The aim of this study was to quantify the consequences of PFT composition at the community level on the seasonal dynamics of biomass and herbage quality for livestock feed. We studied three grasslands located in the same area with contrasting PFT composition and classified PFT A, PFT Bb and PFT C. The dynamics of vegetation stages, dry‐matter yield and nutritive value were followed over three vegetation cycles in 2007–2008. In the first cycle, biomass accumulation was high for the PFT A and PFT Bb grasslands and the high quality of herbage declined rapidly with the reproductive development. By contrast, biomass accumulation was slow in the PFT C grassland, with a lower quality that declined slowly, consistent with the later reproductive development. For regrowth cycles, the same ranking of grasslands was observed for biomass accumulation, and differences in digestibility were similar to those observed at the beginning of the first vegetation cycle. Combining type of grassland with sum of temperature for the first cycle and regrowth days for the second and third vegetation cycles provided quantitative models of herbage biomass and quality.
Two structurally similar fungal prions efficiently cross‐seed in vivo but form distinct polymers when coexpressed
Authors: Benkemoun Laura , Ness Frédérique , Sabaté Raimon , Ceschin Johanna , Breton Annick , Clavé Corinne , Saupe Sven J. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryHET‐s is a prion protein of the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina. An orthologue of this protein, called FgHET‐s has been identified in Fusarium graminearum. The region of the FgHET‐s protein corresponding to the prion forming domain of HET‐s, forms amyloid fibrils in vitro. These fibrils seed HET‐s(218–289) fibril formation in vitro and vice versa. The amyloid fold of HET‐s(218–289) and FgHET‐s(218–289) are remarkably similar although they share only 38% identity. The present work corresponds to the functional characterization of the FgHET‐s(218–289) region as a prion forming domain in vivo. We show that FgHET‐s(218–289) is capable of prion propagation in P. anserina and is able to substitute for the HET‐s PFD in the full‐length HET‐s protein. In accordance with the in vitro cross‐seeding experiments, we detect no species barrier between P. anserina and F. graminearum PFDs. We use the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a host to compare the prion performances of the two orthologous PFDs. We find that FgHET‐s(218–289) leads to higher spontaneous prion formation rates and mitotic prion stability than HET‐s(218–289). Then we analysed the outcome of HET‐s(218–289)/FgHET‐s(218–289) coexpression. In spite of the cross‐seeding ability of HET‐s(218–289) and FgHET‐s(218–289), in vivo, homotypic polymerization is favoured over mixed fibril formation.
Expression of cadherin, aminopeptidase N and alkaline phosphatase genes in Cry1Ac‐susceptible and Cry1Ac‐resistant strains of Plutella xylostella (L.)
Authors: Yang Z.‐X. , Wu Q.‐J. , Wang S.‐L. , Chang X.‐L. , Wang J.‐H. , Guo Z.‐J. , Lei Y.‐Y. , Xu B.‐Y. , Zhang Y.‐J. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractCadherin proteins, aminopeptidase N (APN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) bind to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in the lepidopteran midgut, but the inherent function of these receptors remains unclear. To clarify whether these three potential receptors contribute to the resistance of lepidopteran insects to the Bt toxin, the transcription patterns of these genes in Cry1Ac‐susceptible Plutella xylostella strains and strains highly resistant to Cry1Ac were examined using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Both gene expressions of cadherin and APNs were most abundant in the midgut of fourth larval instars but were also found in pupae. The transcription levels of cadherin, APN2 and ALP genes in the midgut were more abundant in the susceptible strain than in the resistant strain and also clearly differed between the two strains. Moreover, the transcription levels of cadherin increased as the insect developed from the second to the fourth larval instars and then decreased in pupae. mRNA of the APN2 gene was more abundant than that of the APN1, APN3 and APN4 genes in the susceptible strain. The results suggested that these differences were attributable to the adaptation of the resistant strain to the Bt toxin and demonstrated a possible link between the gene expression of cadherin, ALP and APN2 and the resistance of P. xylostella to Bt. The information provided in the current study can be useful for the development of resistance management strategies.
Inherited neuromuscular disorders: Pathway to diagnosis
Authors: Menezes Manoj P , North Kathryn N 
Published: November 2011

AbstractMuscle weakness in childhood can be caused by a lesion at any point extending from the motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord to the anterior horn cell, peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction and muscle. A comprehensive history and physical examination is essential to aid classification of the neuromuscular disorder and direct gene testing. The more common disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy may be diagnosed on direct gene testing based on the history and clinical examination. The congenital myopathies are classified based on structural abnormalities on muscle biopsy, while protein abnormalities on immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting aid classification of the muscular dystrophies. In this review, we provide an approach to diagnosis of a child with weakness, with a focus on the inherited neuromuscular disorders, and the features on history, examination and investigation that help to distinguish between them.
Scientific consensus forum to review the evidence underpinning the recommendations of the Australian SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping Health Promotion Programme – October 2010
Authors: Mitchell Edwin A , Freemantle Jane , Young Jeanine , Byard Roger W 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThis paper summarises a 1‐day scientific consensus forum that reviewed the evidence underpinning the Australian SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping Health Promotion Programme. The focus was on each of the potentially modifiable risk factors for sudden unexpected deaths in infancy, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleeping accidents. In particular infant sleeping position, covering of the face, exposure to cigarette smoke, room sharing, unsafe sleeping environments, bed sharing, immunisation, breastfeeding, pacifier use and Indigenous issues were discussed in depth. The participants recommended that future ‘Reducing the Risk’ campaign messages should focus on back to sleep, face uncovered, avoidance of cigarette smoke before and after birth, safe sleeping environment, room sharing and sleeping baby in own cot.
Management of daytime urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms in children
Authors: Deshpande Aniruddh V , Craig Jonathan C , Smith Grahame HH , Caldwell Patrina HY 
Published: November 2011

AbstractLower urinary tract symptoms, particularly urgency, frequency and incontinence are common in school‐aged children but are often overlooked. They may cause considerable physical, social and psychological difficulties to children and their families, and usually are manifestations of underlying non‐neurogenic voiding disorders. The differential diagnoses include overactive bladder syndrome, dysfunctional voiding and vaginal reflux as well as less common conditions like giggle incontinence, voiding postponement, pollakiuria and diabetes insipidus. In this paper, we discuss an evidence‐based approach to the management of conditions causing daytime urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms in children from a general paediatrician's perspective.
Rheumatic fever in New Zealand
Authors: Webb Rachel , Wilson Nigel 
Published: November 2011

AbstractAcute rheumatic fever and its sequel rheumatic heart disease remain major unsolved problems in New Zealand, causing significant morbidity and premature death. The disease burden affects predominantly indigenous Māori and Pacific Island children and young adults. In the past decade these ethnic disparities are even widening. Secondary prophylaxis using 28‐day intramuscular penicillin has been the mainstay of disease control. In the greater Auckland region, audit shows community nurse‐led penicillin delivery rates of 95% and recurrence rates of less than 5%. The true penicillin failure rate of 0.07 per 100 patient years supports 4 weekly penicillin rather than more frequent dose regimens. Landmark primary prevention research has been undertaken supporting sore throat primary prevention programmes in regions with very high rheumatic fever rates. Echocardiographic screening found 2.4% previously undiagnosed rheumatic heart disease in socially disadvantaged children. Combined with secondary prevention, echocardiography screening has the potential to reduce the prevalence of severe rheumatic heart disease.
Trust and trustworthiness in nursing: an argument‐based literature review
Authors: Dinç Leyla , Gastmans Chris 
Published: November 2011

DINÇ L and GASTMANS C. Nursing Inquiry 2012; 19: 223–237  Trust and trustworthiness in nursing: an argument‐based literature reviewCaring requires nurses to establish trusting relationships with patients and to be trustworthy professionals. This article provides insight into the conceptual understanding of trust and trustworthiness in nursing through an argument‐based literature review of 17 articles published between 1980 and 2010. Trust is characterized as an attitude relying with confidence on someone. The importance of trust relationships is considered by addressing the imbalances of power in nurse–patient relationships as they increase the vulnerability and dependency of the truster. Trust is considered as a process, and time, reliance on others, risk and fragility are identified as basic attributes of trust. However, trustworthiness is inadequately explored in the nursing ethics literature. Nurse educators have a responsibility to ensure that nurses are equipped with the attitudes and knowledge that are needed to establish trusting nurse–patient relationships.
Yearly diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in patients age 80 years or older, with a special interest in colorectal cancer
Authors: Loffeld Ruud JLF , Liberov Boris , Dekkers Pascale EP 
Published: November 2011

Aim:  A high diagnostic yield of colonoscopy has been reported in elderly patients, but there is no data on the yearly yield. Our aim was to detect the yearly yield of colonoscopy in elderly patients.Methods:  All consecutive endoscopies in the years 1992–2009 were included. Important endoscopic diagnoses were defined as colorectal cancer (CRC), polyps, diverticuli and inflammation.Results:  In total, 19 569 endoscopies were performed, of which 1706 (8.7%) were in patients age 80 years or older. The number of women was significantly higher (P < 0.001). The percentage of patients who were 80 years or older was higher than in the general population and remained stable during the study period, though there has been a proportional increase of elderly people in the general population. Inconclusive procedures were present in 106 (6.2%) elderly patients compared with 277 (1.6%) patients under 80 years of age (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the consecutive years. A procedure revealing no endoscopic diagnosis was observed less often in patients who were 80 years or older (P < 0.001). CRC was diagnosed in 221 (19.6%) older patients. This figure remained more or less constant each year. Polyps were seen in 448 (8.8%) patients 80 years of age or older. The percentage of patients with diverticuli and inflammation was constant. The number of patients 80 years or older with CRC and polyps rose at a lower rate than the number of older people in the general population.Conclusion:  The yield of colonoscopy in patients 80 years or older was high and constant over the years. The number of tumors rose less than expected compared to the increase of elderly in the general population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 298–303.
Metagenomic analysis of a complex marine planktonic thaumarchaeal community from the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Tully Benjamin J. , Nelson William C. , Heidelberg John F. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryThaumarchaea, which represent as much as 20% of prokaryotic biomass in the open ocean, have been linked to environmentally relevant biogeochemical processes, such as ammonia oxidation (nitrification) and inorganic carbon fixation. We have used culture‐independent methods to study this group because current cultivation limitations have proved a hindrance in studying these organisms. From a metagenomic data set obtained from surface waters from the Gulf of Maine, we have identified 36 111 sequence reads (containing 30 Mbp) likely derived from environmental planktonic Thaumarchaea. Metabolic analysis of the raw sequences and assemblies identified copies of the catalytic subunit required in aerobic ammonia oxidation. In addition, genes that comprise a nearly complete carbon assimilation pathway in the form of the 3‐hyroxypropionate/4‐hydroxybutyrate cycle were identified. Comparative genomics contrasting the putative environmental thaumarchaeal sequences and ‘Candidatus Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1’ revealed a number of genomic islands absent in the Gulf of Maine population. Analysis of these genomic islands revealed an integrase‐associated island also found in distantly related microbial species, variations in the abundance of genes predicted to be important in thaumarchaeal respiratory chain, and the absence of a high‐affinity phosphate uptake operon. Analysis of the underlying sequence diversity suggests the presence of at least two dominant environmental populations. Attempts to assemble complete environmental genomes were unsuccessful, but analysis of scaffolds revealed two diverging populations, including a thaumarchaeal‐related scaffold with the full urease operon. Ultimately, the analysis revealed a number of insights into the metabolic potential of a predominantly uncultivated lineage of organisms. The predicted functions in the thaumarchaeal metagenomic sequences are directly supported by historic measurements of nutrient concentrations and provide new avenues of research in regards to understanding the role Thaumarchaea play in the environment.
Detection and functional characterization of a large genomic deletion resulting in decreased pathogenicity in Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 strains
Authors: González Adriana , Plener Laure , Restrepo Silvia , Boucher Christian , Genin Stéphane 
Published: November 2011

SummaryBacterial wilt (brown rot) disease of potato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most important bacterial diseases and a major constraint on potato production worldwide. Through a comparative genomic analysis between R. solanacearum‘race 3 biovar 2’ (R3bv2) strains, we identified a 77 kb region in strain UW551 which is specifically absent in the hypoaggressive strain IPO1609. We proved that IPO1609 indeed carries a 77 kb genomic deletion and provide genetic evidence that occurrence of this deletion is responsible for almost complete loss of pathogenicity of this strain. We carried out a functional analysis of this 77 kb region in strain UW551 using a combination of gene deletion and functional complementation approaches which identified the methionine biosynthesis genes metER as having a major contribution to IPO1609 pathogenesis. Deletion of the metER genes significantly impacts pathogenicity of R3bv2 strains but does not lead to methionine auxotrophy nor reduced ability to multiply in planta. In addition, this study indicated that three type III secretion system effectors or a type VI secretion system present within the 77 kb region have no or very minor contribution to pathogenicity.