bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Carbonic anhydrase‐related protein VIII is expressed in rod bipolar cells and alters signaling at the rod bipolar to AII‐amacrine cell synapse in the mammalian retina
Authors: Puthussery T. , Gayet‐Primo J. , Taylor W. R. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractMutation of the gene encoding carbonic anhydrase‐related protein VIII (CAVIII) results in motor coordination deficits in mice and humans, due to loss of this protein in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Recent studies have indicated that the CAVIII gene, Car8, is also expressed in rod bipolar cells (RBCs), a critical glutamatergic neuron for scotopic vision. We investigated the localization of CAVIII in the mouse and macaque retina, and utilized the wdl mouse, which has a null mutation in the Car8 gene, to determine how the loss of CAVIII affects retinal signaling. CAVIII immunoreactivity was observed in RBCs, with particularly high staining intensity in the axon terminals. In addition, weaker staining was observed in a subset of cone bipolar cells and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic amacrine cells. Light‐evoked current and voltage responses of RBCs were not altered in the wdl mutant. However, light‐evoked current responses from the AII‐amacrine cell, a postsynaptic partner at the RBC ribbon synapse, were significantly larger, and more prolonged than in control mice. These changes could not be attributed to alterations in calcium current activation or inactivation, or to changes in the density of RBCs. Furthermore, no gross synaptic alterations were evident in the wdl mutant at the light or ultrastructural level. These data provide evidence that the CAVIII protein, which is highly conserved in vertebrates, is selectively expressed within neural circuits, and may be important for modulating retinal neurotransmission.
Postnatal development of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA‐expressing neurons in mouse neostriatum
Authors: Masuda Masao , Miura Masami , Inoue Ritsuko , Imanishi Michiko , Saino‐Saito Sachiko , Takada Masahiko , Kobayashi Kazuto , Aosaki Toshihiko 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe striatum harbors a small number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA‐containing GABAergic neurons that express TH immunoreactivity after dopamine depletion, some of which reportedly resembled striatal medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs). To clarify whether the TH mRNA‐expressing neurons were a subset of MSNs, we characterized their postnatal development of electrophysiological and morphological properties using a transgenic mouse strain expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the rat TH gene promoter. At postnatal day (P)1, EGFP‐TH+ neurons were present as clusters in the striatum and, thereafter, gradually scattered ventromedially by P18 without regard to the striatal compartments. They were immunonegative for calbindin, but immunopositive for enkephalin (54.5%) and dynorphin (80.0%). Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings revealed at least two distinct neuronal types, termed EGFP‐TH+ Type A and B. Whereas Type B neurons were aspiny and negative for the MSN marker dopamine‐ and cyclic AMP‐regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP‐32), Type A neurons constituted 75% of the EGFP+ cells, had dendritic spines (24.6%), contained DARPP‐32 (73.6%) and a proportion acquired TH immunoreactivity after injections of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine and 3‐nitropropionic acid. The membrane properties and N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate : non‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate excitatory postsynaptic current ratio of Type A neurons were very similar to MSNs at P18. However, their resting membrane potentials and spike widths were statistically different from those of MSNs. In addition, the calbindin‐like, DARPP‐32‐like and dynorphin B‐like immunoreactivity of Type A neurons developed differently from that of MSNs in the matrix. Thus, Type A neurons closely resemble MSNs, but constitute a cell type distinct from classical MSNs.
Phylogenetic density dependence and environmental filtering predict seedling mortality in a tropical forest
Authors: Paine C. E. Timothy , Norden Natalia , Chave Jérôme , Forget Pierre‐Michel , Fortunel Claire , Dexter Kyle G. , Baraloto Christopher 
Published: October 2011

Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 34–41AbstractNegative density dependence (NDD) and environmental filtering (EF) shape community assembly, but their relative importance is poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that seedling’s mortality risk is positively related to the phylogenetic relatedness of neighbours. However, natural enemies, whose depredations often cause NDD, respond to functional traits of hosts rather than phylogenetic relatedness per se. To understand the roles of NDD and EF in community assembly, we assessed the effects on seedling mortality of functional similarity, phylogenetic relatedness and stem density of neighbouring seedlings and adults in a species‐rich tropical forest. Mortality risks increased for common species when their functional traits departed substantially from the neighbourhood mean, and for all species when surrounded by close relatives. This indicates that NDD affects community assembly more broadly than does EF, and leads to the tentative conclusion that natural enemies respond to phylogenetically correlated traits. Our results affirm the prominence of NDD in structuring species‐rich communities.
Beyond the Venn diagram: the hunt for a core microbiome
Authors: Shade Ashley , Handelsman Jo 
Published: October 2011

SummaryDiscovering a core microbiome is important for understanding the stable, consistent components across complex microbial assemblages. A core is typically defined as the suite of members shared among microbial consortia from similar habitats, and is represented by the overlapping areas of circles in Venn diagrams, in which each circle contains the membership of the sample or habitats being compared. Ecological insight into core microbiomes can be enriched by 'omics approaches that assess gene expression, thereby extending the concept of the core beyond taxonomically defined membership to community function and behaviour. Parameters defined by traditional ecology theory, such as composition, phylogeny, persistence and connectivity, will also create a more complex portrait of the core microbiome and advance understanding of the role of key microorganisms and functions within and across ecosystems.
Global network of specific virus–host interactions in hypersaline environments
Authors: Atanasova Nina S. , Roine Elina , Oren Aharon , Bamford Dennis H. , Oksanen Hanna M. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryHypersaline environments are dominated by archaea and bacteria and are almost entirely devoid of eukaryotic organisms. In addition, hypersaline environments contain considerable numbers of viruses. Currently, there is only a limited amount of information about these haloviruses. The ones described in detail mostly resemble head‐tail bacteriophages, whereas observations based on direct microscopy of the hypersaline environmental samples highlight the abundance of non‐tailed virus‐like particles. Here we studied nine spatially distant hypersaline environments for the isolation of new halophilic archaea (61 isolates), halophilic bacteria (24 isolates) and their viruses (49 isolates) using a culture‐dependent approach. The obtained virus isolates approximately double the number of currently described archaeal viruses. The new isolates could be divided into three tailed and two non‐tailed virus morphotypes, suggesting that both types of viruses are widely distributed and characteristic for haloarchaeal viruses. We determined the sensitivity of the hosts against all isolated viruses. It appeared that the host ranges of numerous viruses extend to hosts in distant locations, supporting the idea that there is a global exchange of microbes and their viruses. It suggests that hypersaline environments worldwide function like a single habitat.
Metagenomic comparison of microbial communities inhabiting confined and unconfined aquifer ecosystems
Authors: Smith Renee J. , Jeffries Thomas C. , Roudnew Ben , Fitch Alison J. , Seymour Justin R. , Delpin Marina W. , Newton Kelly , Brown Melissa H. , Mitchell James G. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryA metagenomic analysis of two aquifer systems located under a dairy farming region was performed to examine to what extent the composition and function of microbial communities varies between confined and surface‐influenced unconfined groundwater ecosystems. A fundamental shift in taxa was seen with an overrepresentation of Rhodospirillales, Rhodocyclales, Chlorobia and Circovirus in the unconfined aquifer, while Deltaproteobacteria and Clostridiales were overrepresented in the confined aquifer. A relative overrepresentation of metabolic processes including antibiotic resistance (β‐lactamase genes), lactose and glucose utilization and DNA replication were observed in the unconfined aquifer, while flagella production, phosphate metabolism and starch uptake pathways were all overrepresented in the confined aquifer. These differences were likely driven by differences in the nutrient status and extent of exposure to contaminants of the two groundwater systems. However, when compared with freshwater, ocean, sediment and animal gut metagenomes, the unconfined and confined aquifers were taxonomically and metabolically more similar to each other than to any other environment. This suggests that intrinsic features of groundwater ecosystems, including low oxygen levels and a lack of sunlight, have provided specific niches for evolution to create unique microbial communities. Obtaining a broader understanding of the structure and function of microbial communities inhabiting different groundwater systems is particularly important given the increased need for managing groundwater reserves of potable water.
Gender-Specific Differences and the Impact of Family Integration on Time Trends in Age-Stratified Swiss Suicide Rates
Authors: Riebler Andrea , Held Leonhard , Rue Håvard , Bopp Matthias 
Published: October 2011

SummarySuicide has become one of the leading causes of death of Swiss males aged between 15 and 44 years, whose age-standardized rates are about three times higher than those for females. We compared age-stratified suicide rates of Swiss men and women aged 15–79 years and analysed gender-specific differences from 1950 to 2007. Furthermore, we explored whether changes in measures of family integration can explain changes in suicide trends. The use of multivariate age–period–cohort models avoids age aggregation and allows the exploration of heterogeneous time trends across age, period and birth cohort. In addition, explanatory variables can be included. We found strong gender-specific differences in suicide mortality. Although the same risk factors may act on age and overdispersion, there was no significant correlation between gender-specific cohort effects. Family integration had an effect on Swiss suicide risk but only partially explained the underlying trends over time.
Stochastic Population Forecasts Based on Conditional Expert Opinions
Authors: Billari F. C. , Graziani R. , Melilli E. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryThe paper develops and applies an expert-based stochastic population forecasting method, which can also be used to obtain a probabilistic version of scenario-based official forecasts. The full probability distribution of population forecasts is specified by starting from expert opinions on the future development of demographic components. Expert opinions are elicited as conditional on the realization of scenarios, in a two-step (or multiple-step) fashion. The method is applied to develop a stochastic forecast for the Italian population, starting from official scenarios from the Italian National Statistical Office.
IgE‐mediated allergy: a rare cause of chronic spontaneous urticarial with allergen‐specific immunotherapy as treatment option – a systematic review with meta‐analysis from China
Authors: Shi C.‐R. , Li Y.‐P. , Luo Y.‐J. , Shi C.‐B. , Yan X. , Yang K.‐H. , Yi K. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackground  Allergen‐specific immunotherapy (SIT) has long been a controversial treatment for chronic urticaria (CU), although SIT has been used in patients with allergic diseases for more than 90 years.Objectives  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SIT vs. conventional treatment (CT) in the treatment of CU.Methods  Systematic searches were conducted without language restrictions in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Scientific Journals Full Text Database. The primary outcomes were efficacy and quality of life (QOL) and the secondary outcomes were relapse rate and adverse events (AEs).Results  Fourteen studies (1838 patients) were included. None of them was double‐blind placebo controlled. Our study demonstrated that SIT seemed to show more clinical efficacy rate (OR 2.39; 95% CI, 1.73–3.30; I2 = 55%, P = 0.008), more complete recovery rate (OR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.55–2.91; I2 = 61%, P=0.008) and less relapse rate 2 weeks after treatment (OR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.24–0.61; I2 = 36%, P=0.20) than CT. Only one study reported improved QOL and no study reported serious AEs after SIT.Conclusions  Current evidence indicates that IgE‐mediated allergy may be causative in a small number of CU patients and specific immunotherapy with these allergens may be beneficial in those patients. However, the number of included studies was small and those qualities were low. So, available evidence is not adequate to draw an affirmative conclusion and larger studies of high quality are needed to provide increasingly convincing data and cases.
Off‐label use of fumarate therapy for granulomatous and inflammatory skin diseases other than psoriasis vulgaris: a retrospective study
Authors: Klein A. , Coras B. , Landthaler M. , Babilas P. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackground  Fumarates are approved for the systemic treatment of moderate and severe psoriasis vulgaris in Germany. However, a number of studies and case reports indicate their efficacy in the treatment of further inflammatory skin disorders or granulomatous skin diseases.Objectives  To examine the efficacy and safety of fumarates for the treatment of granulomatous and inflammatory skin diseases other than psoriasis vulgaris.Patients and methods  The therapeutic efficacy and side‐effects of fumarate therapy were analysed retrospectively in patients with granuloma annulare (GA, n = 4), cutaneous sarcoidosis (SA, n = 1), lichen planus (LP, n = 3), pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP, n = 1) or chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (CDLE, n = 1).Results  Six patients (GA: 3/4; LP: 2/3; PRP: 1/1) showed complete clearance and two patients (GA: 1/3; SA: 1/1) had a partial response, and the CDLE patient showed stable disease under a combination therapy with hydroxychloroquine. Side‐effects associated with fumarate therapy were seen in seven of ten patients and resolved spontaneously upon dose reduction or discontinuation of the therapy.Conclusion  According to this data, fumarates may represent a new approach in the treatment of granulomatous and inflammatory skin diseases other than psoriasis vulgaris. For the first time, the successful treatment of LP and CDLE with fumarates is reported. Side‐effects are not limiting in most cases, but can hamper a dose escalation.
Thinking on Your Feet: Understanding the Immediate Responses of Staff to Adults Who Challenge Intellectual Disability Services
Authors: Ravoux Peggy , Baker Peter , Brown Hilary 
Published: October 2011

Background  A gap prevails between the conceptualization of good practice in challenging behaviour management and its implementation in intellectual disability services. This study aimed to investigate staff members’ perspectives of managing clients with challenging behaviours in residential services.Materials and Methods  Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eleven staff in two services. Additionally, service documents on challenging behaviour management were examined in these services. A qualitative methodology was used to investigate staff members’ immediate responses to clients’ difficult behaviours and their decision‐making processes.Results  The immediate responses of staff were conceptualized as the result of complex appraisals shaped by their service context involving the core processes of making the right choice and prioritizing the best interests of all involved.Conclusions  Staff members’ responses were understood as a dynamic and retroactive process, where their past and current challenging behaviour management experiences in the service influenced their responses to clients in the future.
A piece of the puzzle: a method for comparing pollination quality and quantity across multiple species and reproductive events
Authors: Alonso Conchita , Herrera Carlos M. , Ashman Tia‐Lynn 
Published: October 2011

Summary
Understanding how pollination affects plant reproductive success and how changes in pollination service affect plant populations, communities and ecosystems is of increasing concern. Yet supplemental hand‐pollination traditionally used to assess pollen limitation is prohibitive for large‐scale comparative work. Moreover, it does not differentiate between quality and quantity aspects of pollen limitation, and it may suffer from confounds of post‐pollination processes such as resource availability to fill seeds.
Here, we highlight pollen tubes as the functional link between pollen arrival and seed production and suggest that consideration of pollen tubes leads to a better depiction of limitation at the pre‐zygotic (pollination) phase of sexual reproduction.
We assessed the rigor of piecewise regression to analyze the relationship between the numbers of pollen grains and pollen tubes observed in nonmanipulated wilted flowers. We illustrate how parameters obtained from this analysis provide quantitative insight into the relative relevance of the quantity and quality of pollen receipt in limiting natural pollination success, and can facilitate comparisons among data sets.
This nonmanipulative method opens up new opportunities for rigorous assessment of the relative importance of the quantity and quality of pollination in limiting plant reproduction, especially from a community‐wide perspective.
Maternal waist to hip ratio is a risk factor for macrosomia
Authors: Salem W , Adler AI , Lee C , Smith GCS 
Published: October 2011

Please cite this paper as: Salem W, Adler A, Lee C, Smith G. Maternal waist to hip ratio is a risk factor for macrosomia. BJOG 2011; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471‐0528.2011.03167.x.Objective  Fetal growth during pregnancy may be affected by the metabolic activity and distribution of fat stores in women. This study investigates the association between waist to hip ratio (WHR) as a measure of the distribution of adiposity in primiparous mothers living in Avon, England, and macrosomia in their offspring.Design  Prospective historical cohort study.Setting  The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective cohort study in Avon, UK.Population  A cohort of 3083 primiparous women with a term singleton delivery with expected dates of delivery from 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1992.Methods  The distribution of WHR was categorised into quartiles. We compared the second, third and fourth quartiles against the first (reference) quartile with respect to whether the mother delivered a macrosomic newborn. We controlled for maternal age, gestational age, body mass index (BMI), marital status and racial group using multivariate logistic regression.Main outcome measures  Macrosomia defined in three ways: birthweight ≥ 4000 g; birthweight ≥ 4500 g; large for gestational age (LGA: ≥ 95th percentile of birth weight adjusted for sex and gestational age).Results  Waist to hip ratios in the third and fourth quartiles were associated with a higher odds of delivering a macrosomic infant, defined as a birthweight ≥ 4000 g (third quartile, OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.12–2.26; fourth quartile, OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.18–2.42) or as LGA (≥95th percentile of the cohort; third quartile, OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.10–2.85; fourth quartile, OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.09–2.91). When defined as a birthweight ≥ 4500 g, the fourth quartile was associated with increased odds of macrosomia (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.05–7.16). Odds ratios after adjustment for confounding factors followed a similar pattern.Conclusion  Independent of confounding factors, women with increased WHRs were significantly more likely to give birth to macrosomic newborns.
Atp8a1 deficiency is associated with phosphatidylserine externalization in hippocampus and delayed hippocampus‐dependent learning
Authors: Levano Kelly , Punia Vineet , Raghunath Michael , Debata Priya Ranjan , Curcio Gina Marie , Mogha Amit , Purkayastha Sudarshana , McCloskey Dan , Fata Jimmie , Banerjee Probal 
Published: October 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 302–313.AbstractThe molecule responsible for the enzyme activity plasma membrane (PM) aminophospholipid translocase (APLT), which catalyzes phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation from the outer to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, is unknown in mammals. A Caenorhabditis elegans study has shown that ablation of transbilayer amphipath transporter‐1 (TAT‐1), which is an ortholog of a mammalian P‐type ATPase, Atp8a1, causes PS externalization in the germ cells. We demonstrate here that the hippocampal cells of the dentate gyrus, and Cornu Ammonis (CA1, CA3) in mice lacking Atp8a1 exhibit a dramatic increase in PS externalization. Although their hippocampi showed no abnormal morphology or heightened apoptosis, these mice displayed increased activity and a marked deficiency in hippocampus‐dependent learning, but no hyper‐anxiety. Such observations indicate that Atp8a1 plays a crucial role in PM‐APLT activity in the neuronal cells. In corroboration, ectopic expression of Atp8a1 but not its close homolog, Atp8a2, caused an increase in the population (Vmax) of PM‐APLT without any change in its signature parameter Km in the neuronal N18 cells. Conversely, expression of a P‐type phosphorylation‐site mutant of Atp8a1 (Atp8a1*) caused a decrease in Vmax of PM‐APLT without significantly altering its Km. The Atp8a1*‐expressing N18 cells also exhibited PS externalization without apoptosis. Together, our data strongly indicate that Atp8a1 plays a central role in the PM‐APLT activity of some mammalian cells, such as the neuronal N18 and hippocampal cells.
Expanding the Safety Net of Specialty Care for the Uninsured: A Case Study
Authors: Spatz Erica S. , Phipps Michael S. , Wang Oliver J. , Lagarde Suzanne , Lucas Georgina I. , Curry Leslie A. , Rosenthal Marjorie S. 
Published: October 2011

ObjectiveTo describe core principles and processes in the implementation of a navigated care program to improve specialty care access for the uninsured.Study SettingAcademic researchers, safety‐net providers, and specialty physicians, partnered with hospitals and advocates for the underserved to establish Project Access‐New Haven (PA‐NH). PA‐NH expands access to specialty care for the uninsured and coordinates care through patient navigation.Study DesignCase study to describe elements of implementation that may be relevant for other communities seeking to improve access for vulnerable populations.Principal FindingsImplementation relied on the application of core principles from community‐based participatory research (CBPR). Effective partnerships were achieved by involving all stakeholders and by addressing barriers in each phase of development, including (1) assessment of the problem; (2) development of goals; (3) engagement of key stakeholders; (4) establishment of the research agenda; and (5) dissemination of research findings.ConclusionsIncluding safety‐net providers, specialty physicians, hospitals, and community stakeholders in all steps of development allowed us to respond to potential barriers and implement a navigated care model for the uninsured. This process, whereby we integrated principles from CBPR, may be relevant for future capacity‐building efforts to accommodate the specialty care needs of other vulnerable populations.