bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The quick motor function test: a new tool to rate clinical severity and motor function in Pompe patients
Authors: van Capelle Carine I. , van der Beek Nadine A. M. E. , de Vries Juna M. , van Doorn Pieter A. , Duivenvoorden Hugo J. , Leshner Robert T. , Hagemans Marloes L. C. , van der Ploeg Ans T. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractPompe disease is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness. With the emergence of new treatment options, psychometrically robust outcome measures are needed to monitor patients’ clinical status. We constructed a motor function test that is easy and quick to use. The Quick Motor Function Test (QMFT) was constructed on the basis of the clinical expertise of several physicians involved in the care of Pompe patients; the Gross Motor Function Measure and the IPA/Erasmus MC Pompe survey. The test comprises 16 items. Validity and test reliability were determined in a cohort of 91 Pompe patients (5 to 76 years of age). In addition, responsiveness of the scale to changes in clinical condition over time was examined in a subgroup of 18 patients receiving treatment and 23 untreated patients. Interrater and intrarater reliabilities were good (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.78 to 0.98 and 0.76 to 0.98). The test correlated strongly with proximal muscle strength assessed by hand held dynamometry and manual muscle testing (rs= 0.81, rs=0.89), and showed significant differences between patient groups with different disease severities. A clinical‐empirical exploration to assess responsiveness showed promising results, albeit it should be repeated in a larger group of patients. In conclusion, the Quick Motor Function Test can reliably rate clinical severity and motor function in children and adults with Pompe disease.
Impact of perinatal prebiotic consumption on gestating mice and their offspring: a preliminary report
Authors: Desbuards Nicolas , Gourbeyre Pascal , Haure-Mirande Vianney , Darmaun Dominique , Champ Martine , Bodinier Marie 
Published: September 2011

To assess the impact of prebiotic supplementation during gestation and fetal and early neonatal life, gestating BALB/cj dam mice were fed either a control or a prebiotic (galacto-oligosaccharides–inulin, 9:1 ratio)-enriched diet throughout pregnancy and lactation, and allowed to nurse their pups until weaning. At the time of weaning, male offspring mice were separated from their mothers, weaned to the same solid diet as their dam and their growth was monitored until killed 48 d after weaning. Prebiotic treatment affected neither the body-weight gain nor the food intake of pregnant mice. In contrast, at the time of weaning, pups that had been nursed by prebiotic-fed dams had a higher body weight (11·0 (se 1·2) g) than pups born from control dams (9·8 (se 0·9) g). At 48 d after weaning, significantly higher values were observed for colon length and muscle mass in the offspring of prebiotic-fed dams (1·2 (se 0·1) cm/cm and 5·7 (se 1·8) mg/g, respectively), compared with control offspring (1·1 (se 0·1) cm/cm and 2·9 (se 0·9) mg/g, respectively), without any difference in spleen and stomach weight, or serum leptin concentration. The present preliminary study suggests that altering the fibre content of the maternal diet during both pregnancy and lactation enhances offspring growth, through an effect on intestinal and muscle mass rather than fat mass accretion.
Novel Integrity Concept for CAT III Precision Approaches and Taxiing: Extended GBAS (E-GBAS)
Authors: Schuster Wolfgang , Ochieng Washington 
Published: September 2011

Future air navigation envisages increased use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) together with advanced communications and surveillance technologies to facilitate the required increase in capacity, efficiency and safety without adversely impacting the environment. The full benefit of GNSS is expected from its ability to support en-route to en-route or gate-to-gate air navigation. This presents challenges particularly for the phases of flight with stringent required navigation performance. Significant work has so far been devoted to the phases of flight up to CAT I. However, more work is required for CAT III precision landing (with an accuracy requirement at the metre level) and taxiing (with an accuracy requirement at sub-metre level) and both with very high integrity and continuity requirements. The main limitation in using GBAS for CAT III landings is the potential decorrelation of the measurement errors between the GBAS ground station (GGS) and the user. The threats in this respect are the atmospheric anomalies. Periods of strong solar activity can cause large local spatial and temporal gradients in the delays induced on the GNSS signals by the ionosphere. The local nature of the effects results in significant decorrelation between GGS measurements and the user. Therefore, a reliable ground based ionospheric anomaly monitoring scheme is required to guarantee integrity.This paper critically reviews state-of-the-art monitors, identifies their limitations and addresses them by proposing a high-performance monitoring scheme for the ionosphere. Preliminary analyses suggest that the proposed scheme has the potential to enable GNSS to meet the navigation requirements for CAT III and taxiing.
The incidence of varicella and herpes zoster in Taiwan during a period of increasing varicella vaccine coverage, 2000–2008
Authors: CHAO D. Y. , CHIEN Y. Z. , YEH Y. P. , HSU P. S. , LIAN I. B. 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYThe introduction and the widespread use of the varicella vaccine in Taiwan has led to a 75–80% decrease in the incidence of varicella in children. However the vaccine's long-term impact on the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) has attracted attention. By controlling gender, underlying diseases, and age effects, a Poisson regression was applied on the 2000–2008 chart records of 240 000 randomly selected residents who enrolled in the Universal National Health Insurance. The results show that, as the vaccine coverage in children increases, the incidence of varicella decreases. However, the incidence of HZ increased even before the implementation of the free varicella vaccination programme in 2004, particularly in females. The increase in the incidence of HZ cannot be entirely and directly attributed to the widespread vaccination of children. Continuous monitoring is needed to understand the secular trends in HZ before and after varicella vaccination in Taiwan and in other countries.
M-protein gene-type distribution and hyaluronic acid capsule in group AStreptococcusclinical isolates in Chile: association ofemmgene markers withcsrRalleles
Authors: WOZNIAK A. , ROJAS P. , RODRÍGUEZ C. , UNDABARRENA A. , GARATE C. , RIEDEL I. , ROMÁN J. C. , KALERGIS A. M. , GARCÍA P. 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYStreptococcus pyogenescauses a variety of infections because of virulence factors such as capsular hyaluronic acid and M protein. The aim of this study was to determineemmtypes and capsule phenotype in 110 isolates ofS. pyogenesfrom patients with invasive (sterile sites) and non-invasive (mainly pharyngitis) infections in Chile, and the relationship between both virulence factors. The most abundant types found wereemm12,emm1,emm4andemm28and their distribution was similar to that seen in Latin America and developed countries, but very different from that in Asia and Pacific Island countries. Ten of 16emmtypes identified in pharyngeal isolates were found in sterile-site isolates, and three of nineemmtypes of sterile-site isolates occurred in pharyngeal isolates; threeemmsubtypes were novel. The amount of hyaluronic acid was significantly higher in sterile-site isolates but did not differ substantially amongemmtypes. Only three isolates were markedly capsulate and two of them had mutations in thecsrRgene that codes for a repressor of capsule synthesis genes. We found a non-random association betweenemmtypes andcsrRgene alleles suggesting that horizontal gene transfer is not freely occurring in the population.
Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) from Hordeum vulgare- an in-silico study
Authors: Kumar Bhati Kaushal , Kumar Singh Vijay 
Published: September 2011

AbstractGlycine Betaine is a quaternary amino compound that accumulates in stress conditions, mainly abiotic stresses like drought and salinity & synthesized by the two-step oxidation of choline via the intermediate betaine aldehyde, catalyzed by Choline monooxygenase and Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH).The sequence analysis of key enzymes of Glycine betaine biosynthesis i.e. BADH was carried out using various online proteomic tools available on Expasy and EBL, and then homologous modeling of this enzyme was performed using automated mode SWISS-MODEL & GENO 3D and models were analyzed on QMEAN. This was an attempt to find the possible model of BADH, because no physical model of BADH is yet available on PDB.
Exploiting evolution to treat drug resistance: Combination therapy and the double bind
Authors: Basanta David , Gatenby Robert , Anderson Alexander 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAlthough many anti cancer therapies are successful in killing a large percentage of tumour cells when initially administered, the evolutionary dynamics underpinning tumour progression mean that often resistance is an inevitable outcome, allowing for new tumour phenotypes to emerge that are unhindered by the therapy. Research in the field of ecology suggests that an evolutionary double bind could be an effective way to treat tumours. In an evolutionary double bind two therapies are used in combination such that evolving resistance to one leaves individuals more susceptible to the other. In this paper we present a general evolutionary game theory model of a double bind to study the effect that such approach would have in cancer. Furthermore we use this mathematical framework to understand recent experimental results that suggest a synergistic effect between a p53 cancer vaccine and chemotherapy. Our model recapitulates the experimental data and provides an explanation for its effectiveness based on the commensalistic relationship between the tumour phenotypes.
Prospect and importance of green mulching on the soil status of tropical tasar plantation fields in India
Authors: Manohar Reddy Rangareddygari , - Ramkumar 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe soils of tropical tasar plantation fields in general are sloppy and are primarily deficient of nutrition due to top soil erosion and constant leaf productivity exploitation to rear tasar silk insect, Antheraea mylitta Drury. The rainfed field of Terminalia tomentosa (W&A) plantation has been evaluated for soil fortification with green mulching through legumes, Sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea), Daincha (Sesbania aculeata), Green gram (Vigna radiatus) and Black gram (Vigna mungo) during rainy season. The mulching has enhanced the water holding, moisture retention, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) and reduced the bulk density and pore space of soil. Among the legumes, Sun hemp has shown higher improvement of water holding (56.9%), moisture content (68.5 & 37.9%) at 30 and 45 cm depth, electrical conductivity (0.30 mhos/cm), bulk density (1.12g/ cm³), pore space (50.4%), organic carbon (0.61%), nitrogen (109 kg/ha) and potassium (254 kg/ha) of the soil, and could augment the leaf yield of tasar food plant with 24.8 MT/ha. The study infers the prospect and importance of green mulching in tasar food plantation in improving the physico chemical nature and fertility status of soil to attain optimal leaf yield in the T. tomentosa food plant.
Endosteal bone storage in young adults born small for gestational age – a study using peripheral quantitative computed tomography
Authors: Putzker Stephanie , Pozza Robert Dalla , Schwarz Hans Peter , Schmidt Heinrich , Bechtold Susanne 
Published: September 2011

SummaryObjective  Poor growth early in life is associated with numerous adverse conditions including decreased bone mass. The aim is to investigate bone and body composition in young adults born small for gestational age (SGA).Design  Observational study.Participants  A total of 76 young adults born SGA (34f) at a mean age of 19·68 ± 0·5 years were enrolled.Method  Bone mineral density (BMD), bone geometry and body composition were analysed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography.Results  Adults born SGA had significantly lower z‐score for height (−0.86 ± 0·87), weight (−0·61 ± 0·78) and BMI (−0·38 ± 1·04) as well as fat cross‐sectional area (CSA) (−0·62 ± 0·80) compared with a healthy reference population (P < 0·05). Z‐scores for trabecular and cortical BMD were normal. After correction for reduced height, z‐scores for total CSA (−0·14 ± 1·11) and muscle CSA (−0·21 ± 0·99) were normal and medullary cavity (−0·71 ± 0·80) was reduced. Those with a birthweight of ≤1500 g had even lower height‐corrected z‐scores for medullary cavity (−1·12 ± 0·69) and total bone CSA (−0·58 ± 0·93) (P < 0·05). After adjustment for sex and weight, significant partial correlations were detectable between BMI at the age of 48 months and height‐corrected z‐scores for medullary cavity (r = 0·33, P = 0·020) and total CSA (r = 0·29, P = 0·04).Conclusion  Environmental factors early in life seem to influence bone geometry in adulthood. Young adults born SGA have normal total bone CSA but smaller medullary cavity. Those with very low birthweight, however, show compromised bone size development that may alter bone stability later in life.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is highly associated with nontraumatic fractures in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kim Ji‐Hyun , Jung Mi‐Hyang , Lee Jung‐Min , Son Hyun‐Shik , Cha Bong‐Yun , Chang Sang‐Ah 
Published: September 2011

SummaryObjective  Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at greater risk of bone fractures than nondiabetics. However, the risk factors for fractures in patients with diabetes have not been fully evaluated. This study was designed to evaluate the relative frequency of fractures at different sites and the diabetes‐associated factors that affect nontraumatic bone fracture in patients with type 2 diabetes.Patients and design  This retrospective case–control study recruited 144 patients with type 2 diabetes, who presented with nontraumatic fractures between March 2004 and March 2009 and 150 age‐, gender‐, body mass index (BMI)‐ and duration of diabetes‐matched control subjects. Nontraumatic fractures were confirmed using patients’ medical records and radiological findings. All subjects were examined for their diabetes status and associated factors for fracture, including bone mineral density (BMD).Results  Of 150 reported bone fractures, the hip was the most frequent fracture site (32·7%), followed by the upper extremity (19·3%). Nontraumatic fractures were associated with diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, stroke history, previous fracture and insulin treatment (P < 0·05). In multivariate analyses, independently associated factors for bone fracture were diabetic peripheral neuropathy [odds ratio (OR) = 37·3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1·46–652·57] and previous fracture (OR = 9·54, 95% CI = 1·18–77·37; P < 0·05).Conclusions  The hip was the most frequent site of nontraumatic fracture, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy was significantly associated with an increased risk of nontraumatic fractures in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Language supports for journal abstract writing across disciplines
Authors: Liou H.‐C. , Yang P.‐C. , Chang J.S. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractVarious writing assistance tools have been developed through efforts in the areas of natural language processing with different degrees of success of curriculum integration depending on their functional rigor and pedagogical designs. In this paper, we developed a system, WriteAhead, that provides six types of suggestions when non‐native graduate students of English from different disciplines are composing journal abstracts, and assessed its effectiveness. The method involved automatically building domain‐specific corpora of abstracts from the Web via domain names and related keywords as query expansions, and automatically extracting vocabulary and n‐grams from the corpora in order to offer writing suggestions. At runtime, learners' input in the writing area of the system actively triggered a set of corresponding writing suggestions. This abstract writing assistant system facilitates interactions between learners and the system for writing abstracts in an effective and contextualized way, by providing suggestions such as collocations or transitional words. For assessment of WriteAhead, we compared the writing performance of two groups of students with or without using the system, and adopted student perception data. Findings show that the experiment group wrote better, and most students were satisfied with the system concerning most suggestion types, as they can effectively compose quality abstracts through provided language supports from WriteAhead.
Effect of tick saliva on immune interactions between Borrelia afzelii and murine dendritic cells
Authors: SLÁMOVÁ M. , SKALLOVÁ A. , PÁLENÍKOVÁ J. , KOPECKÝ J. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryInteraction between mouse dendritic cells (DCs) and Borrelia afzelii spirochetes was monitored on three different levels: phagocytosis of spirochetes by DCs, production of cytokines by Borrelia‐stimulated DCs and the ability of Borrelia‐exposed DCs to activate specific CD4+ T lymphocytes. The effect of Ixodes ricinus tick saliva on each of these interactions was examined. Tick saliva was shown to decrease the number of phagocytosing DCs. The ability of Borrelia‐exposed DCs to induce both proliferation and IL‐2 production by specific CD4+ T cells was significantly reduced by tick saliva. And surprisingly, we have shown an inhibitory effect of tick saliva on the production of both Th1 (TNF‐α and IL‐6) and Th2 (IL‐10) cytokines by DCs. Our data reveal a complex inhibitory effect of tick saliva on Borrelia–DCs interaction.
Anal cleansing practices and faecal contamination: a preliminary investigation of behaviours and conditions in schools in rural Nyanza Province, Kenya
Authors: McMahon Shannon , Caruso Bethany A. , Obure Alfredo , Okumu Fred , Rheingans Richard D. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryObjective  To learn how children in rural schools in Nyando District, Kenya clean themselves after defecation.Methods  Six focus group discussions were held with boys and girls ages 12–15 in three rural schools in mid‐2009. Parents were interviewed in one setting. In early 2010, a survey of head teachers was conducted in 114 schools in Nyanza Province, Kenya, to assess the provision of anal cleansing materials and handwashing water and soap in schools.Results  Anal cleansing behaviour is linked with access to materials, age, social pressure, perceived personal risk of illness and emotional factors. Materials used for anal cleansing include schoolbook paper, leaves, grasses, stones, corncobs and one’s own hands. Students have knowledge gaps in terms of personal hygiene. They were forthcoming with information on their anal cleansing practices. Almost no schools budgeted for or provided anal cleansing materials regularly.Conclusion  Anal cleansing is a necessary human activity. However, because of social taboos, there are few articles on the topic. School health plans overlook it as well. Researchers need to determine if and how current practices could harm child health to inform policy.
Tobacco smoking in China: Prevalence, disease burden, challenges and future strategies
Authors: ZHANG JING , OU JIA‐XIAN , BAI CHUN‐XUE 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAbout one‐third of the world's tobacco is produced and consumed in China. Despite existing tobacco control policies and activities, the prevalence of smoking in China remains high with 350 million smokers and 740 million passive smokers. Furthermore, smoking rates in the young population and in females are increasing. The number of deaths attributed to tobacco use has reached 1.2 million per year, whereas the death toll is expected to rise to 2 million annually by 2025. Sociocultural factors favouring smoking initiation, lack of awareness among the public about the hazards of smoking, weak support from the government and strong resistance from the tobacco industry are major reasons for the lack of effectiveness of current tobacco control measures. Effective intervention efforts are urgently required. Commitments from the government are crucial in tobacco control. Firm action should be taken on tobacco control issues at multiple levels including a reduction in tobacco supply, increased tobacco taxation, increased education, tobacco advertising limitations, decreased second‐hand smoke exposure and smoking cessation support. The health‐care community should also play a leading role in anti‐tobacco campaigns and take a more active role in smoking cessation programmes.
Risk factors for colorectal anastomotic stenoses and their impact on quality of life: what are the lessons to learn?
Authors: Polese L. , Vecchiato M. , Frigo A. C. , Sarzo G. , Cadrobbi R. , Rizzato R. , Bressan A. , Merigliano S. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAim  The aim of the study was to analyse the incidence of benign colorectal anastomotic stenoses in consecutive patients operated on in a single institution and to assess risk factors for their development. Their impact on quality of life was also evaluated.Method  Patient characteristics, indications for surgery, surgical technique and postoperative complications were prospectively recorded. Stenosis was evaluated by rectoscopy at regular intervals, and patients were treated only if symptomatic. After at least 6 months following surgery, patients were asked to respond to the Short Form 36‐item quality‐of‐life questionnaire during a telephone interview.Results  Of the original 211 patients considered, 195 underwent a follow‐up rectoscopy and were included in the study. Benign stenosis were found in 26 (13%), and 19 (73%) symptomatic patients were treated successfully (15 with endoscopic dilatation and four with radial diathermic surgical incisions). Risk factors for anastomotic stenosis according to univariate analysis were female sex, diverticulitis, mechanical anastomosis, and anastomosis located between 8 and 12 cm from the anal verge. The significant risk factors identified by multivariate analysis were diverticulitis (OR 5, P = 0.002) and mechanical anastomosis (OR 9, P = 0.04). The self‐perceived quality of life of patients with stenosis was significantly worse compared with controls.Conclusion  Since diverticulitis and mechanical anastomosis are risk factors for anastomotic stenosis, surgeons should take this into account when they are considering what type of anastomotic technique to utilize.