bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Genetic Risk Information on Parental Role Identity in Adolescent Girls and Young Women from Families with Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: McConkie‐Rosell Allyn , Heise Elizabeth Melvin , Spiridigliozzi Gail A. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractUsing a multi‐group cross‐sectional design, we explored self‐concept related to parental role salience and enactment in 53 young women (14 to 24 years) with knowledge they were either carriers, non‐carriers, or could be a carrier of fragile X syndrome (FXS). Parental role salience included the participants’ desire “to be a mother” and the importance they placed on this role. Enactment focused on the participants’ views regarding ways to become a mother (reproductive options), parenting a child affected by FXS, and the development of partner relationships (marriage). Participants completed the FXS Adolescent Interview and the FX‐Visual Analog Scale. Participants’ knowledge of their genetic risk status appears to have influenced both salience and enactment of the parental role, and the effect varied based on carrier status. For many, knowledge of genetic risk appears to have led to reappraisal, redefinition, and re‐engagement with the goal of becoming a parent. This process was prominent in those who were carriers and less so in those who were at‐risk, and it did not typically occur in those who were non‐carriers. Findings offer valuable insight into the impact of genetic risk information on developing perceptions of the parental role and offer new directions for genetic counseling with adolescents and young women with a family history of FXS.
ApoB siRNA‐induced Liver Steatosis is Resistant to Clearance by the Loss of Fatty Acid Transport Protein 5 (Fatp5)
Authors: Ason Brandon , Castro‐Perez Jose , Tep Samnang , Stefanni Alice , Tadin‐Strapps Marija , Roddy Thomas , Hankemeier Thomas , Hubbard Brian , Sachs Alan B. , Michael Flanagan W. , Kuklin Nelly A. , Mitnaul Lyndon J. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe association between hypercholesterolemia and elevated serum apolipoprotein B (APOB) has generated interest in APOB as a therapeutic target for patients at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In the clinic, mipomersen, an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) APOB inhibitor, was associated with a trend toward increased hepatic triglycerides, and liver steatosis remains a concern. We found that siRNA‐mediated knockdown of ApoB led to elevated hepatic triglycerides and liver steatosis in mice engineered to exhibit a human‐like lipid profile. Many genes required for fatty acid synthesis were reduced, suggesting that the observed elevation in hepatic triglycerides is maintained by the cell through fatty acid uptake as opposed to fatty acid synthesis. Fatty acid transport protein 5 (Fatp5/Slc27a5) is required for long chain fatty acid (LCFA) uptake and bile acid reconjugation by the liver. Fatp5 knockout mice exhibited lower levels of hepatic triglycerides due to decreased fatty acid uptake, and shRNA‐mediated knockdown of Fatp5 protected mice from diet‐induced liver steatosis. Here, we evaluated if siRNA‐mediated knockdown of Fatp5 was sufficient to alleviate ApoB knockdown‐induced steatosis. We determined that, although Fatp5 siRNA treatment was sufficient to increase the proportion of unconjugated bile acids 100‐fold, consistent with FATP5's role in bile acid reconjugation, Fatp5 knockdown failed to influence the degree, zonal distribution, or composition of the hepatic triglycerides that accumulated following ApoB siRNA treatment.
Enhanced pain and autonomic responses to ambiguous visual stimuli in chronic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type I
Authors: Cohen H.E. , Hall J. , Harris N. , McCabe C.S. , Blake D.R. , Jänig W. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractCortical reorganisation of sensory, motor and autonomic systems can lead to dysfunctional central integrative control. This may contribute to signs and symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), including pain. It has been hypothesised that central neuroplastic changes may cause afferent sensory feedback conflicts and produce pain. We investigated autonomic responses produced by ambiguous visual stimuli (AVS) in CRPS, and their relationship to pain. Thirty CRPS patients with upper limb involvement and 30 age and sex matched healthy controls had sympathetic autonomic function assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry of the finger pulp at baseline and while viewing a control figure or AVS. Compared to controls, there were diminished vasoconstrictor responses and a significant difference in the ratio of response between affected and unaffected limbs (symmetry ratio) to a deep breath and viewing AVS. While viewing visual stimuli, 33.5% of patients had asymmetric vasomotor responses and all healthy controls had a homologous symmetric pattern of response. Nineteen (61%) CRPS patients had enhanced pain within seconds of viewing the AVS. All the asymmetric vasomotor responses were in this group, and were not predictable from baseline autonomic function. Ten patients had accompanying dystonic reactions in their affected limb: 50% were in the asymmetric sub‐group. In conclusion, there is a group of CRPS patients that demonstrate abnormal pain networks interacting with central somatomotor and autonomic integrational pathways.
Sir2-Related Protein 1 fromLeishmania amazonensisis a glycosylated NAD+-dependent deacetylase
Authors: FESSEL M. R. , LIRA C. B. , GIORGIO S. , RAMOS C. H. I. , CANO M. I. N. 
Published: August 2011

SUMMARYSirtuin proteins form a family of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases that are considered potential drug targets against parasites. Here, we present the first characterization of a sirtuin orthologue fromLeishmania amazonensis, an aetiological agent of American tegumentary leishmaniasis that has been the subject of many studies focused in the development of therapeutic approaches. The protein has high sequence identity with other Kinetoplastid Silent information regulator 2 Related Protein 1 (Sir2RP1) and was named LaSir2RP1. The gene exists as a single copy, encoding a monomeric protein (LaSir2RP1) of approximately 41 kDa that has NAD+-dependent deacetylase activity. LaSir2RP1 was immunodetected in total protein extracts, in cytoplasmic granules, and in the secreted material of both promastigotes and lesion-derived amastigotes. Analysis of both lectin‑affinity purified promastigote and amastigote extracts revealed the presence of a major enriched protein of approximately 66 kDa that was recognized by an anti-LaSir2RP1 serum, suggesting that a parasite sirtuin could be glycosylatedin vivo.
Increased metacyclogenesis of antimony-resistant Leishmania donovani clinical lines
Authors: OUAKAD M. , VANAERSCHOT M. , RIJAL S. , SUNDAR S. , SPEYBROECK N. , KESTENS L. , BOEL L. , DE DONCKER S. , MAES I. , DECUYPERE S. , DUJARDIN J.-C. 
Published: August 2011

SUMMARYMathematical models predict that the future of epidemics of drug-resistant pathogens depends in part on the competitive fitness of drug-resistant strains. Considering metacyclogenesis (differentiation process essential for infectivity) as a major contributor to the fitness of Leishmania donovani, we tested its relationship with pentavalent antimony (SbV) resistance in clinical lines. Different methods for the assessment of metacyclogenesis were cross-validated: gene expression profiling (META1 and SHERP), morphometry (microscopy and FACS), in vitro infectivity to macrophages and resistance to complement lysis. This was done on a model constituted by 2 pairs of reference strains cloned from a SbV-resistant and -sensitive isolate. We selected the most adequate parameter and extended the analysis of metacyclogenesis diversity to a sample of 20 clinical lines with different in vitro susceptibility to the drug. The capacity of metacyclogenesis, as measured by the complement lysis test, was shown to be significantly higher in SbV-resistant clinical lines of L. donovani than in SbV-sensitive lines. Together with other lines of evidence, it is concluded that L. donovani constitutes a unique example and model of drug-resistant pathogens with traits of increased fitness. These findings raise a fundamental question about the potential risks of selecting more virulent pathogens through massive chemotherapeutic interventions.
Native and nonnative processing of Japanese pitch accent
Authors: WU XIANGHUA , TU JUNG-YUEH , WANG YUE 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTThe theoretical framework of this study is based on the prevalent debate of whether prosodic processing is influenced by higher level linguistic-specific circuits or reflects lower level encoding of physical properties. Using the dichotic listening technique, the study investigates the hemispheric processing of Japanese pitch accent by native Japanese listeners and two groups of nonnative listeners with no prior pitch accent experience but differing in their native language experience with linguistic pitch: native listeners of Mandarin (a tone language with higher linguistic functional use of pitch) and native listeners of English (a stress language with lower functional use of pitch). The overall results reveal that, for both native and nonnative listeners, the processing of Japanese pitch accent is less lateralized (compared to lexical tone processing, which has been found to be a left hemisphere property). However, detailed analysis with individual pitch accents across groups shows a right hemisphere preference for processing the high–accent–low (H*L) pattern, a left hemisphere preference for LH*, and no hemisphere dominance for LH, indicating a significant reliance on the acoustic cues. These patterns are particularly prominent with the English listeners who are least experienced with linguistic pitch. Together, the findings suggest an interplay of linguistic and acoustic aspects in the processing of Japanese pitch accent by native and nonnative listeners.
Robotic wheelchair controlled through a vision-based interface
Authors: Perez Elisa , Soria Carlos , Nasisi Oscar , Bastos Teodiano Freire , Mut Vicente 
Published: August 2011

SUMMARYIn this work, a vision-based control interface for commanding a robotic wheelchair is presented. The interface estimates the orientation angles of the user's head and it translates these parameters in command of maneuvers for different devices. The performance of the proposed interface is evaluated both in static experiments as well as when it is applied in commanding the robotic wheelchair. The interface calculates the orientation angles and it translates the parameters as the reference inputs to the robotic wheelchair. Control architecture based on the dynamic model of the wheelchair is implemented in order to achieve safety navigation. Experimental results of the interface performance and the wheelchair navigation are presented.
Using satellite microwave sensors to develop climate data records
Authors: Ferraro Ralph , Meng Huan , Luo Zhengzhao 
Published: August 2011

NOAA Workshop on Climate Data Records From Satellite Passive Microwave Sounders: AMSU/MHS/SSMT2; College Park, Maryland, 2–3 March 2011; The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Data Record (CDR) program (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdr/index.html) is an effort to create long‐term homogeneous records of satellite measurements and derived products. As part of this effort, scientists at two related projects that focus on passive microwave sensors with the goal of hydrological applications—one led by a National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service/Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) team and one led by the City College of New York (CCNY)—held a joint workshop with the following objectives:

To allow the CDR teams to interact with satellite data and product users and other CDR developers on relevant aspects of sensor characteristics and intercalibration that will lead to mature CDRs;
To provide a formal mechanism for input by subject matter experts, in particular, sensor scientists and engineers; and>
To move toward a community consensus approach for NOAA microwave sounder CDRs.
Discriminatory power of MicroResp^TM^ analyses across variable spatial scales in semiarid ecological zones
Authors: Tahtamouni Mohammad , Unc Adrian , Lucero Mary , Khresat Sa’eb 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIndirect assessment of enzymatic activity potential via substrate induced respiration is a common tool used to evaluate variability in soil microbial activity induced by environmental or management variables. The MicroResp™ method for total soil sample catabolic profiling has been employed to estimate divergence in microbial activities under contrasting conditions. Here we evaluate the potential for the method to discriminate across samples exposed to similar ecological conditions at distinct geographical locations, and across samples exposed to distinct soil management conditions. Samples used in this report came from four spatially distinct arid or semi arid locations in New Mexico, USA and Jordan. For all scales of comparison, similar conditions such as rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, disturbance levels, soil depth and distance from plants were considered as factors.Catabolic profiles vary within and between sampling locations as a function of soil characteristics as induced by proximity to plants, plant species, sampling depth and land disturbance. Substrate utilization potential was expectedly larger in the rhizosphere soils versus non-rhizosphere soil. Rhizosphere activity varied across sampling locations. Surprisingly, variation among plant species within a location was minimal.In summary, fast degradable substrates can distinguish between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils across small scales. Slightly more stable compounds such as aminoacids or fatty acid esters are better descriptors of catabolic potential differences on non-rhizosphere soils across small to large scales. Cellulose degradation only induced significantly differential respiration in samples collected across large spatial scales.
Sedimentary record of tectonic and climatic erosional perturbations in an experimental coupled catchment‐fan system
Authors: Rohais Sébastien , Bonnet Stéphane , Eschard Rémi 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThis article deals with the stratigraphic record of a climatic or tectonic perturbation of an experimental coupled catchment‐fan system. Following Bonnet & Crave's results (2003), which suggest that it is possible to differentiate between climatic or tectonic causes of surface uplift of an erosional topography from the record of sediment flux output, we design a new experimental device to test this proposition in the sedimentary signal. This device allows the study of a coupled erosion–sedimentation system at the laboratory scale for given and changing uplift and rainfall rates. On the basis of experimental results, we propose a methodology to study alluvial fan architecture from large‐scale geometries to stacking pattern and sequence analysis. In these experiments, the erosional perturbation resulting from climate or tectonic forcing induces a typical dynamic in terms of both sediment supply and the ratio between the sediment and water supply, which controls the transport capacity. The four possible forcings (rainfall rate and uplift rate increase or decrease, respectively) then result in unique dynamics of the combined parameters such as the fan slope, apex aggradation, mean sedimentation rate, grain size distribution, bed thickness and frequency and facies stacking. We first analyse large‐scale geometries (onlap, toplap, downlap or truncation) and then fine‐scale sedimentological features (fining, thinning, coarsening, thickening) in order to discriminate the nature of the forcing. This conceptual model could be adapted to real world alluvial fans in order to recognize and separate the driving mechanisms from each other.
Caspase‐3/caspase‐8, bax and bcl2 in pulps of human primary teeth with physiological root resorption
Authors: RODRIGUES LUCIANA V. , DEL PUERTO HELEN L. , BRANT JULIANA M. C. , LEITE RÔMULO C. , VASCONCELOS ANILTON C. 
Published: August 2011

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2011; 22: 52–59Objective.  Physiological root resorption is a programmed event that takes place in primary teeth leading to elimination of all root structures. The mechanism behind pulp elimination indicates apoptosis, but its pathway has not been well characterised yet. To better understand this event, we evaluated the gene expression of bax, bcl‐2, caspase‐3 and caspase‐8 through real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry expression of Caspase‐8 and Bax in pulps.Methods.  Samples were split into two groups: pulps from primary teeth with physiological root resorption (n = 40) and control (n = 40), pulps from permanent teeth. Samples of each group were split into PCR (n = 20) and immunohistochemistry (n = 20).Results.  Pulps from primary teeth showed a higher caspase‐3 mRNA level than pulps from permanent teeth. The expression of bax gene was more intense than caspase‐8 but both did not show difference between groups. The bcl‐2 mRNA level was incipient and similar between groups. Histopath slides did not show any evidence of inflammatory infiltration, which implies that extrinsic via is not likely to be involved. Immunohistochemistry reaction to Bax and Caspase‐8 supported PCR results.Conclusions.  Pulp apoptosis is likely to occur via caspase‐3 activation through the mitochondrial pathway.
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag85A is a novel diacylglycerol acyltransferase involved in lipid body formation
Authors: Elamin Ayssar A. , Stehr Matthias , Spallek Ralf , Rohde Manfred , Singh Mahavir 
Published: August 2011

SummaryMycobacterium tuberculosis accumulates large amounts of triacylglycerol (TAG) which acts as storage compounds for energy and carbon. The mycobacterial triacylglycerols stored in the form of intracellular lipid droplets are essential for long‐term survival of M. tuberculosis during a dormant state. We report here that when the M. tuberculosis mycolytransferase Ag85A is overexpressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155, cell morphology was changed and the cells became grossly enlarged. A massive formation of lipid bodies and a change in lipid pattern was observed simultaneously. We suspected a possible role of Ag85A in the acyl lipid metabolism and discovered that the enzyme possesses acyl‐CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) activity in addition to its well‐known function as mycolyltransferase. Ag85A mediates the transesterification of diacylglycerol using long‐chain acyl‐CoA as acyl donors. The Km and Kcat values for palmitoleoyl‐coenzyme A were 390 µM and 55.54 min−1 respectively. A docking model suggests that palmitoleoyl‐coenzyme A and 1,2‐dipalmitin occupy the same active site as trehalose 6,6′‐dimycolate and trehalose 6′‐monomycolate. The site‐directed Ser126Ala mutation of the active site proved that this residue is involved in the catalytic activity of this enzyme. Although not proven conclusively for dormant stage of M. tuberculosis, our novel finding about the synthesis of TAGs by Ag85A strongly suggests that Ag85A may play a significant role in the formation of lipid storage bodies and thus also in the establishment and maintenance of a persistent tuberculosis infection.
Lactobacillus brevis responds to flavonoids through KaeR, a LysR‐type of transcriptional regulator
Authors: Pande Santosh G. , Pagliai Fernando A. , Gardner Christopher L. , Wrench Algevis , Narvel Raed , Gonzalez Claudio F. , Lorca Graciela L. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryThe ability of transcription factors to respond to flavonoids as signal molecules was investigated in Lactobacillus brevis. Through in vitro screening of a small library of flavonoids, LVIS1989 (KaeR), a LysR‐type transcriptional regulator (LTTR), was identified as responsive to kaempferol. The modulation of KaeR activity by flavonoids was characterized in vivo and in vitro. DNase I footprint assays identified the binding of KaeR at two distinctive sites, one in the intergenic region between LVIS1988 and kaeR (−39 to +2) and another within LVIS1988 (−314 to −353, from kaeR translational start point). EMSA assays revealed that both binding sites are required for KaeR binding in vitro. Furthermore, KaeR–DNA interactions were stabilized by the addition of kaempferol (20 µM). In vivo qRT‐PCR experiments performed in L. brevis confirmed that the divergently transcribed genes LVIS1988, LVIS1987 and LVIS1986 and kaeR are upregulated in the presence of kaempferol, indicating the role of KaeR as a transcriptional activator. Transcriptional lacZ fusions using Bacillus subtilis as a surrogate host showed that expression of kaeR and LVIS1988 were induced by the presence of the flavonoid. These results indicate that KaeR belongs to a small and poorly understood group of LTTRs that are positively autoregulated in the presence of a ligand.
FraC/FraD‐dependent intercellular molecular exchange in the filaments of a heterocyst‐forming cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp.
Authors: Merino‐Puerto Victoria , Schwarz Heinz , Maldener Iris , Mariscal Vicente , Mullineaux Conrad W. , Herrero Antonia , Flores Enrique 
Published: August 2011

SummaryThe filamentous, heterocyst‐forming cyanobacteria are multicellular organisms in which two different cell types, the CO2‐fixing vegetative cells and the N2‐fixing heterocysts, exchange nutrients and regulators. In Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, inactivation of sepJ or genes in the fraC operon (fraC, fraD and fraE) produce filament fragmentation. SepJ, FraC and FraD are cytoplasmic membrane proteins located in the filament's intercellular septa that are needed for intercellular exchange of the fluorescent tracer calcein (622 Da). Transmission electron microscopy showed an alteration in the heterocyst cytoplasmic membrane at the vegetative cell‐heterocyst septa in ΔfraC and ΔfraD mutants. Immunogold labelling of FraD confirmed its localization in the intercellular septa and clearly showed the presence of part of the protein between the cytoplasmic membranes of the adjacent cells. This localization seemed to be affected in the ΔfraC mutant but was not impaired in a ΔsepJ mutant. Intercellular transfer of a smaller fluorescent tracer, 5‐carboxyfluorescein (374 Da), was largely impaired in ΔfraC, ΔfraD and double ΔfraC‐ΔfraD mutants, but much less in the ΔsepJ mutant. These results show the existence in the Anabaena filaments of a FraC/FraD‐dependent intercellular molecular exchange that does not require SepJ.