bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stressor Scale for Clinical Research Coordinators: development and psychometric testing
Authors: Matsumoto Kazufumi , Sumino Kumiko , Fukahori Hiroki , Kitaoka Kazuyo , Kamibeppu Kiyoko , Nagamura Fumitaka 
Published: March 2012

matsumoto k., sumino k., fukahori h., kitaoka k., kamibeppu k. & nagamura f. (2012) Stressor Scale for Clinical Research Coordinators: development and psychometric testing. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(7), 1636–1645.AbstractAim.  This article is a report of the development and psychometric testing of the Stressor Scale for Clinical Research Coordinators.Background.  Job stress is viewed as a situation where working conditions interact with individual worker characteristics and result in disruption of psychological or physiological homeostasis. Clinical research coordinators, also known as research nurses, are professionals who play a central role in clinical trials. They face various problems associated with their responsibilities; however, few studies have reported on their stress. To manage their stress, it is necessary to identify the sources of stress (i.e. stressors).Method.  The 56‐item preliminary instrument was developed based on literature review and expert discussions. A total of 589 clinical research coordinators in 186 hospitals in Japan were surveyed in 2011. Statistical analyses on construct and concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability were performed.Results.  A six‐factor solution with 23 items was selected using exploratory factor analysis: ‘quantitative workload’, ‘conflict with investigators’, ‘ambiguity of work’, ‘conflict with other clinical research coordinators and with supervisors’, ‘demands from an affiliate other than the hospital’, and ‘difficulty in caring for trial participants’. Confirmatory factor analysis affirmed construct validity, with a demonstrated acceptable fit between the factor structure and the observed data. All factors had significant correlations with burnout and psychological distress, which indicated acceptable concurrent validity. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0·73–0·82. Intra‐class correlation coefficients indicated almost satisfactory test–retest reliability.Conclusion.  Our new instrument has acceptable validity and reliability for evaluating job stressors for clinical research coordinators.
Seasonal differentiation in density‐dependent seedling survival in a tropical rain forest
Authors: Lin Luxiang , Comita Liza S. , Zheng Zheng , Cao Min 
Published: March 2012

Summary1. Density‐dependent survival is prevalent in tropical forests and is recognized as a potentially important mechanism for maintaining tree species diversity. However, there is little knowledge of how density dependence changes in fluctuating environments.2. Across the 20‐ha Xishuangbanna tropical seasonal rain forest dynamics plot in southwest China, which has distinct dry and wet seasons, we monitored seedling survival in 453 1‐m2 quadrats over 2 years. Density dependence was assessed using generalized linear mixed models with crossed random effects.3. When pooling all species at the community level, there were strong negative effects of conspecific tree neighbours on seedling survival over the dry‐season, wet‐season and 2‐year intervals. The proportion of conspecific seedling neighbours had a significant negative effect in the dry season, but not in the wet season.4. At the species level, the effects of conspecific tree and seedling neighbours varied widely among species in the community and were significantly positively related to population basal area in the community over the dry‐season interval. In contrast, over the wet‐season interval, the effects of conspecific tree and seedling neighbours did not significantly vary among species in the community. Overall community‐ and species‐level results suggest that local‐scale negative density dependence (NDD) tends to be stronger in the dry than wet season in the Xishuangbanna tropical forest.5. At the scale of the 20‐ha plot, we found a community compensatory trend (CCT), in which rare species had relatively higher seedling survival than common species in both the wet and dry seasons. A positive association between potential NDD and population basal area suggests that the CCT results from local‐scale NDD, specifically because of negative effects of conspecific tree neighbours.6. Synthesis. Our results demonstrate that the strength of density‐dependent seedling survival can vary between seasons and among species in tropical forests. Future research is needed to assess the underlying mechanisms of this temporal and interspecific variation in NDD and its consequences for species coexistence and community composition.
Induction of apoptosis in sea bream fibroblasts by Vibrio harveyi haemolysin and evidence for an anti‐apoptotic role of heat shock protein 70
Authors: Deane E E , Jia A , Qu Z , Chen J‐X , Zhang X‐H , Woo N Y S 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn this study, we exposed black sea bream, Mylio macrocephalus (Basilewsky), fibroblast (BSF) and silver sea bream, Sparus sarba Forsskål, fibroblast (SSF) cell lines to a recombinant Vibrio harveyi haemolysin (VHH) and investigated mechanisms involved in apoptosis. A decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, followed by an increase in caspase 3 activity, occurred within 2–8 h of VHH exposure, in both cell lines; however, VHH did not alter cellular levels of reactive oxygen species. As heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is known to prevent the onset of apoptosis in certain mammalian cells, we aimed to test whether such a protective effect is operative in VHH‐exposed fibroblasts. The amounts of HSP70 were elevated in SSF and BSF via an acute heat shock or an acute heat shock followed by a 6 h recovery. It was found that the VHH‐mediated reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential was suppressed in cells that had a 6 h post‐heat shock recovery, and the protective effect of heat shock‐induced HSP70 was attenuated following treatment of cells with the HSP70 inhibitor, quercetin. This study demonstrates how haemolysin causes cell death via induction of apoptosis and provides evidence as to the role of HSP70 as an anti‐apoptotic factor.
The susceptibility of diverse species of cultured oligochaetes to the fish parasite Myxobolus pseudodispar Gorbunova (Myxozoa)
Authors: Marton S , Eszterbauer E 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis study provides detailed information on the invertebrate hosts of Myxobolus pseudodispar (Myxozoa) and explores the susceptibility range of several species and analyses the relevance of the species composition of an oligochaete population. Our findings demonstrate that the oligochaete host range of M. pseudodispar is similarly wide as the number of vertebrate host species. Besides Tubifex tubifex and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Psammoryctides barbatus and Psammoryctides moravicus were also found to be susceptible invertebrate hosts. The genetic characterization of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA of T. tubifex sensu lato revealed that lineages I, II and III are susceptible to M. pseudodispar, whereas T. tubifex lineage VI seems to be non‐susceptible. T. tubifex lineage V and L. hoffmeisteri specimens were positive in a M. pseudodispar‐specific PCR, but in most cases, the release of mature actinospores could not be detected. Hence, these non‐susceptible oligochaetes likely serve as `biological filters` as they remove myxospores from the sediment without producing actinospores. Together with the phylogenetic analysis of the susceptible and non‐susceptible oligochaete hosts on the basis of mt 16S rDNA sequences, the route of the development of M. pseudodispar in the oligochaete hosts was tracked by in situ hybridization. According to our findings, the gut epithelia seem to be a portal of entry of the sporoplasms, where the development of the parasite also takes place. The basal lamina seems to be involved in the migration of the parasite, and the worm’s cellular immune response is activated by the infection.
Synteny‐based mapping‐by‐sequencing enabled by targeted enrichment
Authors: Galvão Vinicius C. , Nordström Karl J.V. , Lanz Christa , Sulz Patric , Mathieu Johannes , Posé David , Schmid Markus , Weigel Detlef , Schneeberger Korbinian 
Published: March 2012

SummaryMapping‐by‐sequencing, as implemented in SHOREmap (‘SHOREmapping’), is greatly accelerating the identification of causal mutations. The original SHOREmap approach based on resequencing of bulked segregants required a highly accurate and complete reference sequence. However, current whole‐genome or transcriptome assemblies from next‐generation sequencing data of non‐model organisms do not produce chromosome‐length scaffolds. We have therefore developed a method that exploits synteny with a related genome for genetic mapping. We first demonstrate how mapping‐by‐sequencing can be performed using a reduced number of markers, and how the associated decrease in the number of markers can be compensated for by enrichment of marker sequences. As proof of concept, we apply this method to Arabidopsis thaliana gene models ordered by synteny with the genome sequence of the distant relative Brassica rapa, whose genome has several large‐scale rearrangements relative to A. thaliana. Our approach provides an alternative method for high‐resolution genetic mapping in species that lack finished genome reference sequences or for which only RNA‐seq assemblies are available. Finally, for improved identification of causal mutations by fine‐mapping, we introduce a new likelihood ratio test statistic, transforming local allele frequency estimations into a confidence interval similar to conventional mapping intervals.
In vitro antimicrobial activity of miconazole and polymyxin B against canine meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates
Authors: Boyen Filip , Verstappen Koen M. H. W. , De Bock Manuelle , Duim Birgitta , Weese Jeffrey Scott , Schwarz Stefan , Haesebrouck Freddy , Wagenaar Jaap A. 
Published: March 2012

Background –  Meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) infections are increasingly reported in dogs, and these bacteria may be isolated from ear infections.Hypothesis/Objectives –  The main aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of miconazole, polymyxin B and a combination of both against 24 canine MRSA and 50 canine MRSP isolates. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 12 other antimicrobial agents were also determined.Methods –  All MIC values were determined according to a broth microdilution assay.Results –  Acquired resistance was found to all tested agents, except for linezolid, miconazole and polymyxin B. The MIC values for miconazole and polymyxin B against MRSA were in the range of 4–8 and 8–64 μg/mL, respectively, while the MIC values for miconazole and polymyxin B against MRSP were in the range of 1–2 and 0.25–4 μg/mL, respectively. Using a combination of miconazole and polymyxin B, there was no evidence for enhanced in vitro activity of the combination (i.e. synergy) of both products. Nevertheless, MIC90 values of the combination of these antimicrobial agents and of a commercial product containing both agents were at least 1000 times lower than the concentration present in the commercial product.Conclusions and clinical importance –  These results indicate that the topical use of a combination of miconazole and polymyxin B in a 43.5:1 ratio may have potential for the treatment of MRSA‐mediated and MRSP‐associated otitis externa in dogs.
Frequency of urinary tract infection in dogs with inflammatory skin disorders treated with ciclosporin alone or in combination with glucocorticoid therapy: a retrospective study
Authors: Peterson Andrea L. , Torres Sheila M. F. , Rendahl Aaron , Koch Sandra N. 
Published: March 2012

Background –  Few studies have investigated the frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) in dogs receiving long‐term ciclosporin therapy.Hypothesis/Objectives –  The goal of the study was to investigate the frequency of UTI in dogs receiving ciclosporin with or without glucocorticoids. A secondary goal was to determine whether bacteriuria, pyuria and urine specific gravity were good predictors of UTI, and if ciclosporin dose, concurrent ketoconazole therapy, sex or duration of therapy affected the frequency of UTI.Animals –  Eighty‐seven dogs with various inflammatory skin disorders and 59 control dogs with inflammatory skin conditions that had not received glucocorticoids or ciclosporin for 6 months were enrolled.Methods –  This study was retrospective. The first urine culture from dogs receiving ciclosporin was compared with control dogs using Fisher’s exact test. A logistic mixed model was used to test for association between a positive bacterial culture and duration of treatment, dose of ciclosporin, concurrent ketoconazole therapy and sex. The sensitivities and specificities for bacteriuria, pyuria and urine specific gravity were determined.Results –  Twenty‐six of 87 (30%) ciclosporin‐treated dogs had at least one positive culture. Compared with 3% positive control samples, 15% were positive in treated dogs (P = 0.027). The sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 64.1 and 98.1% for bacteriuria, 74.4 and 70.9% for pyuria, and 56.4 and 65.3% for urine specific gravity. All other analysed parameters were not significantly different.Conclusions and clinical importance –  The results suggest that routine urine cultures and assessment of bacteriuria by cystocentesis should be part of the monitoring for dogs on long‐term ciclosporin with and without glucocorticoids.
Dexamethasone does not reduce pain or analgesic consumption after thyroid surgery; a prospective, randomized trial
Authors: DOKSRØD S. , SAGEN Ø. , NØSTDAHL T. , RÆDER J. 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundPost‐operative analgesic effect of a perioperative fixed dose glucocorticoid has been demonstrated in studies on different surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to look for analgesic and opioid sparing effect after thyroid surgery with a weight‐adjusted medium dose of dexamethasone compared with placebo or a higher dose. Further, to register other effects and side effects of dexamethasone in the 0–30 days post‐operative period.MethodsOne hundred and twenty patients scheduled for thyroid surgery were randomly assigned to three groups receiving either dexamethasone 0.30 mg/kg, 0.15 mg/kg or placebo. Pain scores at rest and on coughing, post‐operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), consumption of opioids and anti‐emetics, appetite, sleep pattern, fatigue, mood, blood sugar, wound infection and dyspepsia were recorded.ResultsThere was no effect of either dexamethasone doses on post‐operative pain or rescue opioid consumption. PONV was lower in the dexamethasone groups 2–4 h post‐operatively (P < 0.01). Blood sugar increased moderately from baseline in all groups, but significantly more in the dexamethasone groups (P < 0.01 at 2 h and P < 0.001 at 4 h). Minor improvement in appetite was shown with dexamethasone, along with a tendency towards less sleep and more fatigue in the 3–30 days period for the higher dose. No effect was demonstrated on other parameters.ConclusionDexamethasone had no analgesic or opioid sparing effect in our set‐up after thyroid surgery. Dexamethasone reduced the incidence of PONV and led to a modest increase in blood sugar. A medium dose seems as effective as a higher dose.
Parecoxib mitigates spatial memory impairment induced by sevoflurane anesthesia in aged rats
Authors: GONG M. , CHEN G. , ZHANG X. M. , XU L. H. , WANG H. M. , YAN M. 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundInflammation in brain plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment. Anti‐inflammatory therapy may thus constitute a novel approach for associated cognitive dysfunction. The present study investigated the effects of parecoxib in the prevention of cognitive impairments induced by sevoflurane in aged rats.MethodsSixty‐six aged rats were divided randomly into three groups: control group (n = 22, sham anesthesia), sevoflurane group (n = 22, received 2% sevoflurane for 5 h) and parecoxib group (n = 22, received intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg parecoxib and then exposed to 2% sevoflurane for 5 h). Spatial learning performance was tested by Morris water maze. The expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 protein and ultrastructure of synapse in hippocampus were measured.ResultsSevoflurane anesthesia impaired the spatial learning and memory in aged rats. Compared with sevoflurane group, parecoxib group showed shorter escape latency and more number of crossings over the previous platform area. Furthermore, parecoxib treatment also significantly prevented the synaptic changes induced by sevoflurane.ConclusionParecoxib mitigates spatial memory impairment induced by sevoflurane anesthesia in aged rats. The synaptic morphometry change may be one of the mechanisms involved in learning and memory deficit.
Mechanisms and fitness effects of antibacterial defences in a carrion beetle
Authors: ARCE A. N. , JOHNSTON P. R. , SMISETH P. T. , ROZEN D. E. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractParents of many species care for their offspring by protecting them from a wide range of environmental hazards, including desiccation, food shortages, predators, competitors, and parasites and pathogens. Currently, little is known about the mechanisms and fitness consequences of parental defences against bacterial pathogens and competitors. Here, we combine approaches from microbiology and behavioural ecology to investigate the role and mechanistic basis of antibacterial secretions applied to carcasses by parents of the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. This species rears its larvae on vertebrate carcasses, where larvae suffer significant fitness costs due to competition with bacterial decomposers. We first confirm that anal secretions produced by parents are potently bactericidal and that their effects are specific to gram‐positive bacteria. Next, we identify the source of bacterial killing as a secreted lysozyme and show that its concentration changes throughout the breeding cycle. Finally, we show that secreted lysozyme is crucial for larval development, increasing survival by nearly two‐fold compared to offspring reared in its absence. These results demonstrate for the first time that anal secretions applied to carrion is a form of parental care and expand the mechanistic repertoire of defences used by parent insects to protect dependent offspring from microbial threats.
Expression of the Full‐length Coat Protein Gene of Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus is Not Necessary for Recovery Phenotype in Transgenic Tomato
Authors: Sengoda Venkatesan G. , Tsai Wen‐Shi , De La Peña Robert C. , Green Sylvia K. , Kenyon Lawrence , Hughes Jackie 
Published: March 2012

AbstractTransgenic tomato plants expressing full‐length (CPV1) and truncated coat protein (CP) gene (CPV2) of Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus (ToLCTWV) were generated by Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. Transgene integration and expression was confirmed by PCR and Southern blotting and Northern analysis, respectively. Resistance was evaluated both in plants of T0 and T1 progenies using viruliferous whiteflies under two different inoculum pressures (10–15 and 40–50 whiteflies/plant). Upon inoculation with ToLCTWV using viruliferous whiteflies, various levels of phenotypic reaction were observed. No complete resistance was observed in any of the plants tested. The reaction of the transgenic tomato lines carrying full‐length and truncated CP gene to ToLCTWV phenotype was (i) susceptible as non‐transgenic control, (ii) delayed symptom expression, (iii) complete susceptible (from delayed symptom expression phenotype) and (iv) recovered phenotype (either plants from symptom expression as non‐transgenic plants or delayed symptom expression phenotype). Dot blot quantification of the ToLCTWV using the replicase gene as a probe revealed that the recovered phenotypes accumulated a low level of ToLCTWV, and virus concentration was gradually reduced from 10 to 14 weeks postinoculation. The possible mechanisms of CP‐mediated resistance are discussed.
Identification of Stable Reference Genes for Gene Expression Studies Using Quantitative Real Time PCR in Buffalo Oocytes and Embryos
Authors: Kumar Parveen , Yadav Poonam , Verma Arpana , Singh Dheer , De Sachinandan , Datta Tirtha Kumar 
Published: March 2012

ContentsThe present study was aimed to validate expression stability of 6 housekeeping genes (viz. YWHAZ, SDHA, GAPDH, RPS15, RPS18 and RN18S1) in the oocytes and embryos of different stages in buffalo. A modified Trizol protocol was optimized for RNA isolation from as few as five oocytes. The expression level of selected genes was studied by an optimized real time PCR using DCT method and their stability of expression was evaluated by Microsoft Excel based visual application, geNORM. The analysis revealed that the RPS15 and GAPDH were the most stable genes across different samples. Also, the geometric mean of three genes (i.e. RPS15, RPS18 and GAPDH) were found suitable for normalization of real time PCR data from buffalo oocytes/embryos. The information would help in more accurate interpretation of gene expression data from oocytes/embryos towards understanding the molecular events in these cells during development.
Effect of Supplemental Feeding with Glycerol or Propylene Glycol in Early Lactation on the Fertility of Swedish Dairy Cows
Authors: Lomander H , Gustafsson H , Frössling J , Ingvartsen KL , Larsen T , Svensson C 
Published: March 2012

ContentsThe aim of this field study was to evaluate the effect of supplemental feeding with glycerol (GLY) or propylene glycol (PG) during early lactation on the fertility of Swedish dairy cows. Within 17 commercial dairy herds, 798 cows were randomized to three groups that were daily fed supplements with 450 g GLY, 300 g PG or nothing (control, C). The supplements were given twice daily during 0–21 days in milk as a top dress on concentrates. Data on calving date, insemination dates, gynaecological examinations, as well as breed, parity and monthly milk yield were collected. From a subset of 308 cows in seven herds, milk samples for progesterone analysis were taken twice weekly and used to determine the time for onset of luteal activity. The effects of supplements on the intervals from calving to first luteal activity (FLA), first AI (FAI) and conception (CON), respectively, were analysed using semi‐parametric survival models (Cox proportional hazards models) controlling for the effect of parity, breed, calving season, milk yield and the clustering effect of herd. There was no difference in time to FLA between the cows in group C and in group GLY or PG. No differences in time to FAI or in time to CON were found between cows in group PG and group C. However, cows in the GLY group tended to get their FAI later compared with cows in the control group but without at subsequent delaying of time to CON.