bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of commercial assays for measurements of trefoil factor family peptides in serum
Authors: Samson Mie H. , Nexo Ebba 
Published: September 2011

AbstractTrefoil peptides (TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3) are 7–12 kDa molecules, secreted by mucin-producing epithelial cells. Increased serum concentrations have been reported in a number of pathological conditions, which warrants the need for validated commercially available assays.We validated commercial assays for TFF1-3 and compared results obtained with our in-house assays, using serum from blood donors.Level of detection was: ≤0.008 nmol/L. Measuring ranges were: 0.032–0.51 (TFF1), 0.038–0.76 (TFF2) and 0.019–0.15 (TFF3) nmol/L. Imprecision (CV), judged from the measurement of serum pools in two levels, was below 9% (TFF2 and TFF3) but up to 18% (mean 0.41 nmol/L) for TFF1. No cross reactivity between the TFFs (concentrations >100 nmol/L) was observed. The 95% non-parametric reference intervals were: <0.0032–0.53 (TFF1), 0.099–1.4 (TFF2) and 0.086–0.87 (TFF3) nmol/L. Comparing commercial to in-house assays (n=132), showed biases explained by differences in the calibrators (TFF1 and TFF2). A number of samples showed markedly different results.The commercial assays for TFF2 and TFF3 are acceptable for use on serum samples, while the TFF1 assay revealed a poor imprecision and a too narrow measuring range. Results obtained with the commercial and the in-house assays differed, partly because of differences in the calibrators employed.
Characterization of MWLs from Tamarix ramosissima isolated before and after hydrothermal treatment by spectroscopical and wet chemical methods
Authors: Xiao Ling-Ping , Shi Zheng-Jun , Xu Feng , Sun Run-Cang 
Published: September 2011

AbstractTo improve enzymatic hydrolysis, hydrothermal treatment was carried out on the shrubTamarix ramosissima. Milled wood lignin (MWL) was isolated fromT. ramosissimastems before and after hydrothermal treatment, and its chemical structure was characterized by carbohydrate analysis, elemental analysis, methoxy group determination, FT-IR spectroscopy, quantitative13C NMR spectroscopy, 2D heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The analyses confirmed thatT. ramosissimaMWL is very rich in syringyl units. It was found that the main reaction responsible for the lignin degradation is the homolytic cleavage of aryl-ether bonds resulting in a reduced amount of β-O-4′ interlinkages and, as a consequence, in elevated amounts of β-β′ and β-5′ linkages. The MWL isolated from the pretreated solid residue was more condensed and had a lower molecular weight than the MWL isolated from untreated material.
A General Definition of the Heritable Variation That Determines the Potential of a Population to Respond to Selection
Authors: Bijma Piter 
Published: September 2011

AbstractGenetic selection is a major force shaping life on earth. In classical genetic theory, response to selection is the product of the strength of selection and the additive genetic variance in a trait. The additive genetic variance reflects a population’s intrinsic potential to respond to selection. The ordinary additive genetic variance, however, ignores the social organization of life. With social interactions among individuals, individual trait values may depend on genes in others, a phenomenon known as indirect genetic effects. Models accounting for indirect genetic effects, however, lack a general definition of heritable variation. Here I propose a general definition of the heritable variation that determines the potential of a population to respond to selection. This generalizes the concept of heritable variance to any inheritance model and level of organization. The result shows that heritable variance determining potential response to selection is the variance among individuals in the heritable quantity that determines the population mean trait value, rather than the usual additive genetic component of phenotypic variance. It follows, therefore, that heritable variance may exceed phenotypic variance among individuals, which is impossible in classical theory. This work also provides a measure of the utilization of heritable variation for response to selection and integrates two well-known models of maternal genetic effects. The result shows that relatedness between the focal individual and the individuals affecting its fitness is a key determinant of the utilization of heritable variance for response to selection.
Bayesian Detection of Expression Quantitative Trait Loci Hot Spots
Authors: Bottolo Leonardo , Petretto Enrico , Blankenberg Stefan , Cambien François , Cook Stuart A , Tiret Laurence , Richardson Sylvia 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
High-throughput genomics allows genome-wide quantification of gene expression levels in tissues and cell types and, when combined with sequence variation data, permits the identification of genetic control points of expression (expression QTL or eQTL). Clusters of eQTL influenced by single genetic polymorphisms can inform on hotspots of regulation of pathways and networks, although very few hotspots have been robustly detected, replicated, or experimentally verified. Here we present a novel modeling strategy to estimate the propensity of a genetic marker to influence several expression traits at the same time, based on a hierarchical formulation of related regressions. We implement this hierarchical regression model in a Bayesian framework using a stochastic search algorithm, HESS, that efficiently probes sparse subsets of genetic markers in a high-dimensional data matrix to identify hotspots and to pinpoint the individual genetic effects (eQTL). Simulating complex regulatory scenarios, we demonstrate that our method outperforms current state-of-the-art approaches, in particular when the number of transcripts is large. We also illustrate the applicability of HESS to diverse real-case data sets, in mouse and human genetic settings, and show that it provides new insights into regulatory hotspots that were not detected by conventional methods. The results suggest that the combination of our modeling strategy and algorithmic implementation provides significant advantages for the identification of functional eQTL hotspots, revealing key regulators underlying pathways.
Opening Pathways for Underrepresented High School Students to Biomedical Research Careers: The Emory University RISE Program
Authors: Rohrbaugh Margaret C , Corces Victor G 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Increasing the college graduation rates of underrepresented minority students in science disciplines is essential to attain a diverse workforce for the 21st century. The Research Internship and Science Education (RISE) program attempts to motivate and prepare students from the Atlanta Public School system, where underrepresented minority (URM) students comprise a majority of the population, for biomedical science careers by offering the opportunity to participate in an original research project. Students work in a research laboratory from the summer of their sophomore year until graduation, mentored by undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows (postdocs). In addition, they receive instruction in college-level biology, scholastic assessment test (SAT) preparation classes, and help with the college application process. During the last 4 yr, RISE students have succeeded in the identification and characterization of a series of proteins involved in the regulation of nuclear organization and transcription. All but 1 of 39 RISE students have continued on to 4-year college undergraduate studies and 61% of those students are currently enrolled in science-related majors. These results suggest that the use of research-based experiences at the high school level may contribute to the increased recruitment of underrepresented students into science-related careers.
Interactions Among Flower-Size QTL ofMimulus guttatusAre Abundant but Highly Variable in Nature
Authors: Kelly John K , Mojica Julius P 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe frequency and character of interactions among genes influencing complex traits remain unknown. Our ignorance is most acute for segregating variation within natural populations, the epistasis most relevant for quantitative trait evolution. Here, we report a comprehensive survey of interactions among a defined set of flower-size QTL: loci polymorphic within a single natural population of yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus). We find that epistasis is typical. Observed phenotypes routinely differ from those predicted on the basis of direct allelic affects in the isogenic background, although the direction of deviations is highly variable. Across QTL pairs, there are significantly positive and negative interactions for every trait. Across traits, specific locus pairs routinely exhibit both positive and negative interactions. There was a tendency for negative epistasis to accompany positive direct effects and vice versa for the trait of corolla width, which may be due, at least in part, to the fact that QTL were identified from their direct effects on this trait.
Identification and Characterization of Genes Required for Compensatory Growth in Drosophila
Authors: Gerhold Abigail R , Richter Daniel J , Yu Albert S , Hariharan Iswar K 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
To maintain tissue homeostasis, some organs are able to replace dying cells with additional proliferation of surviving cells. Such proliferation can be localized (e.g., a regeneration blastema) or diffuse (compensatory growth). The relationship between such growth and the growth that occurs during development has not been characterized in detail. Drosophila melanogaster larval imaginal discs can recover from extensive damage, producing normally sized adult organs. Here we describe a system using genetic mosaics to screen for recessive mutations that impair compensatory growth. By generating clones of cells that carry a temperature-sensitive cell-lethal mutation, we conditionally ablate patches of tissue in the imaginal disc and assess the ability of the surviving sister clones to replace the lost tissue. We have used this system together with a modified whole-genome resequencing (WGS) strategy to identify several mutations that selectively compromise compensatory growth. We find specific alleles of bunched (bun) and Ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase large subunit (RnrL) reduce compensatory growth in the imaginal disc. Other genes identified in the screen, including two alleles of Topoisomerase 3-alpha (Top3α), while also required for developmental growth, appear to have an enhanced requirement during compensatory growth. Compensatory growth occurs at a higher rate than normal growth and may therefore have features in common with some types of overgrowth. Indeed, the RnrL allele identified compromises both these types of altered growth and mammalian ribonucleotide reductase and topoisomerases are targets of anticancer drugs. Finally, the approach we describe is applicable to the study of compensatory growth in diverse tissues in Drosophila.
Regulation of Manganese Antioxidants by Nutrient Sensing Pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Reddi Amit R , Culotta Valeria C 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
In aerobic organisms, protection from oxidative damage involves the combined action of enzymatic and nonproteinaceous cellular factors that collectively remove harmful reactive oxygen species. One class of nonproteinaceous antioxidants includes small molecule complexes of manganese (Mn) that can scavenge superoxide anion radicals and provide a backup for superoxide dismutase enzymes. Such Mn antioxidants have been identified in diverse organisms; however, nothing regarding their physiology in the context of cellular adaptation to stress was known. Using a molecular genetic approach in Bakers’ yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we report that the Mn antioxidants can fall under control of the same pathways used for nutrient sensing and stress responses. Specifically, a serine/threonine PAS-kinase, Rim15p, that is known to integrate phosphate, nitrogen, and carbon sensing, can also control Mn antioxidant activity in yeast. Rim15p is negatively regulated by the phosphate-sensing kinase complex Pho80p/Pho85p and by the nitrogen-sensing Akt/S6 kinase homolog, Sch9p. We observed that loss of either of these upstream kinase sensors dramatically inhibited the potency of Mn as an antioxidant. Downstream of Rim15p are transcription factors Gis1p and the redundant Msn2/Msn4p pair that typically respond to nutrient and stress signals. Both transcription factors were found to modulate the potency of the Mn antioxidant but in opposing fashions: loss of Gis1p was seen to enhance Mn antioxidant activity whereas loss of Msn2/4p greatly suppressed it. Our observed roles for nutrient and stress response kinases and transcription factors in regulating the Mn antioxidant underscore its physiological importance in aerobic fitness.
Balancing Vaccine Science and National Policy Objectives: Lessons From the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Omnibus Autism Proceedings
Authors: Keelan Jennifer , Wilson Kumanan 
Published: September 2011

The US Court of Federal Claims, which adjudicates cases for the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, has been confronted with more than 5000 cases submitted on behalf of children with autism spectrum disorders, seeking to link the condition to vaccination. Through a test case process, the Omnibus Autism Proceedings have in every instance found no association between autism spectrum disorders and vaccines. However, vaccine advocates have criticized the courts for having an overly permissive evidentiary test for causation and for granting credence to insupportable accusations of vaccine harm. In fact, the courts have functioned as intended and have allowed for a fair hearing of vaccine concerns while maintaining confidence in vaccines and providing protection to vaccine manufacturers.
Approaching 4 Decades of Legislation in the National Family Planning Program: An Analysis of Title X's History From 1970 to 2008
Authors: Vamos Cheryl A. , Daley Ellen M. , Perrin Kay M. , Mahan Charles S. , Buhi Eric R. 
Published: September 2011

Family planning is an important public health activity. Title X (Pub L No. 91-572), enacted in 1970, remains the only national family planning program in the United States dedicated to providing voluntary and confidential services to all individuals. We conducted a thematic analysis of Title X's legislative history. Of 293 federal bills included in the legislative history, only 20 (6.8%) were enacted into law. Regardless of the proposed challenges, limited changes have been adopted. Except for technical amendments, bills involving restrictions accounted for the highest percentage of enacted bills, demonstrating efforts to undermine reproductive health rights. Title X requires political will and bipartisan support if it is to continue to protect individuals' reproductive rights.
Impact of Introducing the Pneumococcal and Rotavirus Vaccines Into the Routine Immunization Program in Niger
Authors: Lee Bruce Y. , Assi Tina-Marie , Rajgopal Jayant , Norman Bryan A. , Chen Sheng-I , Brown Shawn T. , Slayton Rachel B. , Kone Souleymane , Kenea Hailu , Welling Joel S. , Connor Diana L. , Wateska Angela R. , Jana Anirban , Wiringa Ann E. , Van Panhuis Willem G. , Burke Donald S. 
Published: September 2011

Objectives. We investigated whether introducing the rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines, which are greatly needed in West Africa, would overwhelm existing supply chains (i.e., the series of steps required to get a vaccine from the manufacturers to the target population) in Niger. Methods. As part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation–funded Vaccine Modeling Initiative, we developed a computational model to determine the impact of introducing these new vaccines to Niger's Expanded Program on Immunization vaccine supply chain. Results. Introducing either the rotavirus vaccine or the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine could overwhelm available storage and transport refrigerator space, creating bottlenecks that would prevent the flow of vaccines down to the clinics. As a result, the availability of all World Health Organization Expanded Program on Immunization vaccines to patients might decrease from an average of 69% to 28.2% (range = 10%–51%). Addition of refrigerator and transport capacity could alleviate this bottleneck. Conclusions. Our results suggest that the effects on the vaccine supply chain should be considered when introducing a new vaccine and that computational models can help assess evolving needs and prevent problems with vaccine delivery.
Physical Education, Obesity, and Academic Achievement: A 2-Year Longitudinal Investigation of Australian Elementary School Children
Authors: Telford Richard D. , Cunningham Ross B. , Fitzgerald Robert , Olive Lisa S. , Prosser Laurence , Jiang Xiaoli , Telford Rohan M. 
Published: September 2011

Objectives. We determined whether physical education (PE) taught by specialists contributed to academic development and prevention of obesity in elementary school children. Methods. Our 2-year longitudinal study involved 620 boys and girls initially in grade 3 in Australia, all receiving 150 minutes per week of PE. One group (specialist-taught PE; n = 312) included 90 minutes per week of PE from visiting specialists; the other (common-practice PE; n = 308) received all PE from generalist classroom teachers. Measurements included percentage of body fat (measured by dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry) and writing, numeracy, and reading proficiency (by government tests). Results. Compared with common-practice PE, specialist-taught PE was associated with a smaller increase in age-related percentage of body fat (P = .02). Specialist-taught PE was also associated with greater improvements in numeracy (P < .03) and writing (P = .13) scores. There was no evidence of a reading effect. Conclusions. The attenuated age-related increases in percentage of body fat and enhanced numeracy development among elementary school children receiving PE from specialists provides support for the role of PE in both preventive medicine and academic development.
Backsliding on a Key Health Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Case of Breastfeeding Promotion
Authors: Lutter Chessa K. , Chaparro Camila M. , Grummer-Strawn Laurence , Victora Cesar G. 
Published: September 2011

Objectives. We examined trends in breastfeeding promotion investments, breastfeeding promotion activities, and breastfeeding duration in Latin America and the Caribbean from the 1980s to the 2000s. Methods. We obtained financial data from the United States Agency for International Development and the International Code Documentation Center, and we obtained breastfeeding promotion data from surveys of breastfeeding coordinators with ministries of health and with the International Baby Food Action Network. We obtained breastfeeding data from nationally representative surveys conducted between 1986 and 2008. Results. Investment in breastfeeding promotion declined in the 2000s relative to earlier years. For all countries, breastfeeding duration increased between the first and last survey. Of the 12 countries represented in the interval when investment in breastfeeding promotion was high, breastfeeding duration decreased in 1 country. Of the 12 countries represented in the interval when investment was low, breastfeeding duration decreased in 3 countries. Nonetheless, the average annual change in breastfeeding duration for the 2 intervals was positive and similar (0.16 months and 0.21 months). Conclusions. Breastfeeding promotion likely resulted in large improvements in breastfeeding. Investments in breastfeeding promotion have declined, but this does not appear to have adversely affected breastfeeding duration.
Active Depression is Associated with Regional Adiposity in the Upper Abdomen and the Neck
Authors: Ludescher Burkhard , MacHann Juergen , Eschweiler Gerhard W. , Thamer Claus , Maenz Constantin , Hipp Arno , Claussen Claus D. , Schick Fritz 
Published: September 2011

Objective: In major depression, the incidence of overweight, the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular disease is increased. Aim was to determine body fat distribution in depressive and healthy females using whole body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Measurements of total adipose tissue (TAT), visceral (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) at the trunk and the whole body fat distribution along the body axis were performed and compared. Differences in body fat distribution between depressive and healthy females and their location were evaluated. Methods: In total, 11 women with a depressive syndrome (major depression, MD) and 45 healthy female volunteers (HC) matched for age and body mass index were compared. Total tissue (TT), TAT, VAT, and SCAT were quantified using T1-weighted whole body MRI. Adipose tissue distribution was compared along the body axis. Results: MD patients showed higher adipose tissue volumes than the HC group. Especially in the upper abdomen, at the upper extremities and the neck, MD patients are characterized by a significantly higher adipose tissue mass compared to the HC group. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the hypothesis of a high stress level with a disturbed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis leading to a Cushing-like habitus and high visceral fat levels. The increased fat levels at the arms, as well as the whole body fat may be well-founded by a lack of activity in depression. These effects should be evaluated in further longitudinal studies investigating patients with a depressive syndrome and after remission.
President Obama's “Pivot” to Jobs: Lessons from Comparative Law and America's Rivals
Authors: Travis Hannibal B. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBy adopting sensible economic policies over the past several decades, Germany and Japan have reduced their unemployment rates without sacrificing the health or financial well‐being of their populations. Japan's unemployment rate is less than 5%, and Germany's is less than 7.5%, while the U.S. rate is over 9%. Their legal tools for achieving these levels include: (1) consideration of the interests of workers when executives plan mass layoffs, and direct action to create jobs; (2) creation of a healthy and well‐educated workforce; (3) preservation of an industrial base that includes a vibrant manufacturing sector, by shifting many of the costs of supporting workers and their families from employers onto the government; and (4) taxation of goods and services imported from abroad, rather than mainly taxing domestic but not foreign producers' incomes.