bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protective efficacy of a broadly cross-reactive swine influenza DNA vaccine encoding M2e, cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope and consensus H3 hemagglutinin
Authors: Wang Bin , Yu Hai , Yang Fu-Ru , Huang Meng , Ma Ji-Hong , Tong Guang-Zhi 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Pigs have been implicated as mixing reservoir for the generation of new pandemic influenza strains, control of swine influenza has both veterinary and public health significance. Unlike human influenza vaccines, strains used for commercially available swine influenza vaccines are not regularly replaced, making the vaccines provide limited protection against antigenically diverse viruses. It is therefore necessary to develop broadly protective swine influenza vaccines that are efficacious to both homologous and heterologous virus infections. In this study, two forms of DNA vaccines were constructed, one was made by fusing M2e to consensus H3HA (MHa), which represents the majority of the HA sequences of H3N2 swine influenza viruses. Another was made by fusing M2e and a conserved CTL epitope (NP147-155) to consensus H3HA (MNHa). Their protective efficacies against homologous and heterologous challenges were tested.

Results
BALB/c mice were immunized twice by particle-mediated epidermal delivery (gene gun) with the two DNA vaccines. It was shown that the two vaccines elicited substantial antibody responses, and MNHa induced more significant T cell-mediated immune response than MHa did. Then two H3N2 strains representative of different evolutional and antigenic clusters were used to challenge the vaccine-immunized mice (homosubtypic challenge). Results indicated that both of the DNA vaccines prevented homosubtypic virus infections completely. The vaccines’ heterologous protective efficacies were further tested by challenging with a H1N1 swine influenza virus and a reassortant 2009 pandemic strain. It was found that MNHa reduced the lung viral titers significantly in both challenge groups, histopathological observation showed obvious reduction of lung pathogenesis as compared to MHa and control groups.

Conclusions
The combined utility of the consensus HA and the conserved M2e and CTL epitope can confer complete and partial protection against homologous and heterologous challenges, respectively, in mouse model. This may provide a basis for the development of universal swine influenza vaccines.
LDLR-related protein 10 (LRP10) regulates amyloid precursor protein (APP) trafficking and processing: evidence for a role in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Brodeur Julie , Thériault Caroline , Lessard-Beaudoin Mélissa , Marcil Alexandre , Dahan Sophie , Lavoie Christine 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe Aβ peptide that accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is derived from amyloid precursor protein (APP) following proteolysis by β- and γ-secretases. Substantial evidence indicates that alterations in APP trafficking within the secretory and endocytic pathways directly impact the interaction of APP with these secretases and subsequent Aβ production. Various members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family have been reported to play a role in APP trafficking and processing and are important risk factors in AD. We recently characterized a distinct member of the LDLR family called LDLR-related protein 10 (LRP10) that shuttles between the trans-Golgi Network (TGN), plasma membrane (PM), and endosomes. Here we investigated whether LRP10 participates in APP intracellular trafficking and Aβ production.ResultsIn this report, we provide evidence that LRP10 is a functional APP receptor involved in APP trafficking and processing. LRP10 interacts directly with the ectodomain of APP and colocalizes with APP at the TGN. Increased expression of LRP10 in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells induces the accumulation of mature APP in the Golgi and reduces its presence at the cell surface and its processing into Aβ, while knockdown of LRP10 expression increases Aβ production. Mutations of key motifs responsible for the recycling of LRP10 to the TGN results in the aberrant redistribution of APP with LRP10 to early endosomes and a concomitant increase in APP β-cleavage into Aβ. Furthermore, expression of LRP10 is significantly lower in the post-mortem brain tissues of AD patients, supporting a possible role for LRP10 in AD.ConclusionsThe present study identified LRP10 as a novel APP sorting receptor that protects APP from amyloidogenic processing, suggesting that a decrease in LRP10 function may contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Effects of the tropical ginger compound,1’-acetoxychavicol acetate, against tumor promotion in K5.Stat3C transgenic mice
Authors: Batra Vinita , Syed Zanobia , Gill Jennifer N , Coburn Malari A , Adegboyega Patrick , DiGiovanni John , Mathis J Michael , Shi Runhua , Clifford John L , Kleiner-Hancock Heather E 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to determine whether a tropical ginger derived compound 1’-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), suppresses skin tumor promotion in K5.Stat3C mice. In a two-week study in which wild-type (WT) and K5.Stat3C mice were co-treated with either vehicle, ACA, galanga extract, or fluocinolone acetonide (FA) and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), only the galanga extract and FA suppressed TPA-induced skin hyperproliferation and wet weight. None of these agents were effective at suppressing p-Tyr705Stat3 expression. However, ACA and FA showed promising inhibitory effects against skin tumorigenesis in K5.Stat3C mice. ACA also suppressed phospho-p65 NF-κB activation, suggesting a potential mechanism for its action.
High-functioning autism spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome: report of two affected sisters
Authors: Chaste Pauline , Betancur Catalina , Gérard-Blanluet Marion , Bargiacchi Anne , Kuzbari Suzanne , Drunat Séverine , Leboyer Marion , Bourgeron Thomas , Delorme Richard 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability (ID), as well as the most frequent monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Men with FXS exhibit ID, often associated with autistics features, whereas women heterozygous for the full mutation are typically less severely affected; about half have a normal or borderline intelligence quotient (IQ). Previous findings have shown a strong association between ID and ASD in both men and women with FXS. We describe here the case of two sisters with ASD and FXS but without ID. One of the sisters presented with high-functioning autism, the other one with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and low normal IQ.

Methods
The methylation status of the mutated FMR1 alleles was examined by Southern blot and methylation-sensitive polymerase chain reaction. The X-chromosome inactivation was determined by analyzing the methylation status of the androgen receptor at Xq12.

Results
Both sisters carried a full mutation in the FMR1 gene, with complete methylation and random X chromosome inactivation. We present the phenotype of the two sisters and other family members.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that autistic behaviors and cognitive impairment can manifest as independent traits in FXS. Mutations in FMR1, known to cause syndromic autism, may also contribute to the etiology of high-functioning, non-syndromic ASD, particularly in women. Thus, screening for FXS in patients with ASD should not be limited to those with comorbid ID.
Maximum metabolic rate, relative lift, wingbeat frequency, and stroke amplitude during tethered-flight in the adult locustLocusta migratoria
Authors: Snelling Edward P. , Seymour Roger S. , Matthews Philip G. D. , White Craig R. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryFlying insects achieve the highest mass-specific aerobic metabolic rates of all animals. However, few studies attempt to maximise the metabolic cost of flight and so many estimates could be sub-maximal, especially where insects have been tethered. To address this issue, oxygen consumption was measured during tethered-flight in adult locusts Locusta migratoria, some of which had a weight attached to each wing (totalling 30-45% of body mass). Mass-specific metabolic rates (μmol O2 g-1 h-1) increase from 28 ± 2 at rest, to 896 ± 101 during flight in weighted locusts, and 1032 ± 69 in unweighted locusts. Maximum metabolic rate of locusts during tethered-flight (MMR; μmol O2 h-1) increases with body mass (Mb; g) according to the allometric equation, MMR = 994Mb0.75 ± 0.19, whereas published metabolic rates of moths and orchid bees during hovering free-flight (HMR) is approximately 2.8-fold higher, HMR = 2767Mb0.72 ± 0.08. The modest flight metabolic rate of locusts is unlikely to be an artefact of individuals failing to exert themselves, because mean maximum lift was not significantly different from body mass (95 ± 8%), mean wingbeat frequency was 23.7 ± 0.6 Hz, and mean stroke amplitude was 105 ± 5 degrees in the forewing and 96 ± 5 in the hindwing – all of which are close to free-flight values. Instead, the low cost of flight could reflect the relatively small size and relatively modest anatomical power-density of the locust flight motor, which is a likely evolutionary trade-off between flight muscle maintenance costs and aerial performance.
Edge detection depends on achromatic channel inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Zhou Yanqiong , Ji Xiaoxiao , Gong Haiyun , Gong Zhefeng , Liu Li 
Published: June 2012

SummaryEdges represent important information in object recognition, and thus edge detection is crucial for animal survival. Various types of edges result from visual contrast, such as luminance contrast and color contrast. Thus far, the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying edge detection and the relationship between different edge information-processing pathways have largely been undemonstrated. In the present study, using a color-light-emitting diode (LED)-based Buridan's paradigm, we demonstrated that a blue/green demarcation is able to generate edge-orientation behavior in the adult fly. There is a blue/green intensity ratio, the so-called point of equal-luminance (POE), at which wild-type flies did not show obvious orientation behavior towards edges. This suggests that orientation behavior towards edges is dependent on luminance contrast in Drosophila. The results of mutants ninaE17 and sevLY3;rh52;rh61 demonstrated that achromatic R1-R6 photoreceptor cells, but not chromatic R7/R8 photoreceptor cells, were necessary for orientation behavior towards edges. Moreover, ectopic expression of Rh4, Rh5 or Rh6 could efficiently restore the edge-orientation defect in the ninaE17 mutant. Altogether, our results show that R1-R6 photoreceptor cells are both necessary and sufficient for orientation behavior towards edges in Drosophila.
Evidence for discrete landmark use by pigeons during homing
Authors: Mora Cordula V. , Ross Jeremy D. , Gorsevski Peter V. , Chowdhury Budhaditya , Bingman Verner P. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryConsiderable efforts have been made to investigate how homing pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) are able to return to their loft from distant, unfamiliar sites while the mechanisms underlying navigation in familiar territory have received less attention. With the recent advent of Global-Positioning-System (GPS) data-loggers small enough to be carried by pigeons, the role of visual environmental features in guiding navigation over familiar areas is beginning to be understood, yet surprisingly, we still know very little about whether homing pigeons can rely on discrete, visual landmarks to guide navigation. To assess a possible role of discrete, visual landmarks in navigation, homing pigeons were first trained to home from a site with four wind turbines as salient landmarks as well as from a control site without any distinctive, discrete landmark features. The GPS-recorded flight paths of the pigeons on the last training release were straighter and more similar among birds from the turbine site compared to the control site. The pigeons were then released from both sites following a clock-shift manipulation. Vanishing bearings from the turbine site continued to be homeward oriented as 13 of 14 pigeons returned home. By contrast, at the control site the vanishing bearings were deflected in the expected clock-shift direction and only 5 of 13 pigeons returned home. Taken together, our results offer the first strong evidence that discrete, visual landmarks are one source of spatial information homing pigeons can utilize to navigate when flying over a familiar area.
Allometric scaling of discontinuous gas exchange patterns in the locust Locusta migratoria throughout ontogeny
Authors: Snelling Edward P. , Matthews Philip G. D. , Seymour Roger S. 
Published: June 2012

Summary
The discontinuous gas exchange cycle (DGC) is a three-phase breathing pattern displayed by many insects at rest. The pattern consists of an extended breath-hold period (closed phase), followed by a sequence of rapid gas exchange pulses (flutter phase), and then by a period in which respiratory gases move freely between insect and environment (open phase). This study measured CO2 emission in resting locusts Locusta migratoria throughout ontogeny, in normoxia (21 kPa PO2), hypoxia (7 kPa PO2) and hyperoxia (40 kPa PO2), to determine whether body mass and ambient O2 affects DGC phase duration. In normoxia, mean CO2 production rate (MCO2; μmol h-1) scales with body mass (Mb; g) according to the allometric power equation, MCO2 = 9.9Mb0.95±0.09, closed phase duration (C; min) scales with body mass according to the equation, C = 18.0Mb0.38±0.29, closed+flutter period (C+F; min) scales with body mass according to the equation, C+F = 26.6Mb0.20±0.25, and open phase duration (O; min) scales with body mass according to the equation, O = 13.3Mb0.23±0.18. Hypoxia results in a shorter closed phase and longer open phase across all life stages, whereas hyperoxia elicits a shorter closed, closed+flutter, and open phase across all life stages. The tendency for larger locusts to exhibit both a longer closed, and closed+flutter period, might arise if the positive allometric scaling of locust tracheal volume prolongs the time taken to reach the minimum O2 and maximum CO2 set-points that determine the duration of these respective periods, whereas an increasingly protracted open phase could reflect the additional time required for larger locusts to expel CO2 through a relatively longer tracheal pathway. Observed changes in phase duration under hypoxia possibly serve to maximise O2 uptake from the environment, while the response of the DGC to hyperoxia is difficult to explain, but could be affected by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species.
Structure and Dynamics of a “T-Shaped” Knowledge: From Individuals to Cooperating Communities of Practice
Authors: Barile Sergio , Franco Giacomo , Nota Giancarlo , Saviano Marialuisa 
Published: June 2012

In a fast-changing environment, organizations face conditions of growing complexity that challenge decision-making and innovation activities, highlighting an increasing need to develop dynamic capabilities. In this scenario, our focus is on service science's recent call for “T-shaped professionals,” identified as people possessing both functional/disciplinary expertise and ability to apply knowledge across different contexts. Starting from this notion and by adopting a viable systems approach (vSa), we shift focus from individuals to organizations, providing an interpretation of the structure and dynamics of a “T-shaped knowledge” to be developed with respect to a distributed knowledge management network in which organizations pursue learning-by-interaction and knowledge cocreation.By integrating the vSa and the distributed knowledge management framework (DKMF), our proposal provides a multidimensional vSa-DKMF metamodel to assess the relational conditions among cooperating organizations as well as to provide guidelines for the construction of a knowledge network built on the idea of T-shaped knowledge. To illustrate the practical aspects of vSa-DKMF, we focus on the case of open communities of practice as an emblematic example of developing a T-shaped knowledge starting from a specialized (“I-shaped”) knowledge.
Contrast ureteropyelography in theatre: standardised flowchart reporting
Authors: Harris MA , Marsh T , Llewellyn A , West A , Naisby G , Gowda BDR 
Published: June 2012

INTRODUCTION Urologists perform retrograde contrast studies of the ureters and pelvicalyceal systems in the operating theatre, both for diagnostic purposes and to guide instrumentation. We describe the development of a set of guidelines that aim to standardise the diagnostic quality of these studies and to reduce radiation dose to the patient and theatre staff. The guidelines incorporate a reporting template that allows a urologist’s written report to be made available on the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for subsequent multidisciplinary review. METHODS Three cycles of audit were conducted to assess the implementation of the guidelines. An independent reviewer rated image quality and screening times. During the audit cycle, the presentation of the guidelines was honed. The end product is a flowchart and reporting template for use by urologists in the operating theatre. RESULTS Phase 1 of the audit included 63 studies, phase 2 included 42 studies and phase 3 included 46 studies. The results demonstrate significant improvements in the number of good quality studies and in the recording of control, contrast and post-procedure images. The mean screening time decreased from 5.0 minutes in phase 1 to 3.2 minutes in phase 3. In phase 3, when in-theatre reporting of the studies by the urologist was added, the handwritten report was scanned in and made available on PACS in 43 of 46 cases (93%). CONCLUSIONS Introduction of guidelines improved retrograde contrast study quality and reduced screening times. A system has been developed to store appropriate pictures and a urologist’s report of the study on PACS.
Safety trial of Floseal® haemostatic agent in head and neck surgery
Authors: Ujam A , Awad Z , Wong G , Tatla T , Farrell R 
Published: June 2012

INTRODUCTION Floseal® (Baxter, Hayward, CA, US) can be of value in reducing blood loss and haematoma rates. The manufacturer’s warnings include allergic reaction, poor wound healing and intravascular thrombosis. We aimed to determine whether Floseal® is safe to use in various head and neck surgery (HNS) procedures. METHODS A prospective trial was conducted using Floseal® in 42 various consecutive head and neck surgery procedures. Adverse incidents were used as the main outcome measure, including allergic reaction, wound breakdown, wound infection and thrombosis. Secondary outcome measures included haematoma formation, hospital stay, drain times and output. RESULTS No adverse incidents were recorded in the trial period. Two patients developed haematomas and required surgical exploration where a bleeding vessel was identified and dealt with. CONCLUSIONS Floseal® is safe to be used in head and neck surgery with no adverse effects. A larger number and a control group are required to ascertain its value in reducing blood loss, haematoma formation, drain usage and hospital stay.
Trial of ligation versus coagulation of lymphatics in dynamic inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy for staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis
Authors: La-Touche S , Ayres B , Lam W , Alnajjar H , Perry M , Watkin N 
Published: June 2012

INTRODUCTION Te principal advantage of dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy (DSNB) over modified inguinal node dissection is the lower complication rate. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with short-term complications of DSNB in order to lower morbidity of the procedure. METHODS Retrospective and prospective cohort studies were performed on patients undergoing DSNB between April 2005 and March 2010. Patients were categorised into three groups of 50 (from a total of 250 patients on the database). The patients of Group A, on whom ligaclips were the lymphovascular control technique, were compared with those of Group B, in whom diathermy was used. Incision length, operative time, number of nodes removed, antibiotics and co-morbidities were recorded. A prospective study on Group C, using ligaclips, was also performed. RESULTS Groups A (88 groins), B (75 groins) and C (68 groins) were explored with complication rates of 5.7%, 24.0% (p=0.0018) and 8.8% (p=0.0277). Co-morbidities, antibiotics (co-amoxiclav 1.2g intravenous as per protocol) and the mean number of nodes removed were similar in all groups. The mean incision length was 4.1cm (standard deviation [SD]: 1.0cm) for Group A, 5.6cm (SD: 1.0cm) for Group B (p=0.0001) and 5.6cm (SD: 0.8cm) for Group C (p=0.979). The mean operative times for Groups A, B and C were 15.8 (SD: 8.1), 19.3 (SD: 7.4) (p=0.0043) and 22.1 (SD: 7.7) (p=0.0301) minutes respectively. CONCLUSIONS Lymphovascular control with diathermy is associated with a statistically higher short-term complication rate compared with ligaclip usage (ie ‘permanent’ ligation). Lymphocoeles are the principal complication and can result in delayed wound infection and breakdown. A small but statistical increase in operative time and wound length is likely to be related to registrar training.
The future of dentistry
Authors: Wilson Nairn , Woolford Mark 
Published: June 2012

The challenge this paper seeks to address is to look beyond the immediate and medium-term issues facing dental education and training in the next 10 years1 and to scope anticipated trends and changes to be considered in longer term strategic planning for dental workforce development. Despite its limitations (and flaws), future scoping is important, especially when considering investment in infrastructure and succession-planning, which involves programmes of training and development extending over many years. Of course, the further into the future one goes, the greater the risk of unforeseen developments and events that can adversely affect the predictions; the vision articulated in this paper must therefore be interpreted with caution. Welcome to the world of tomorrow…
An iterative method for a two-dimensional inverse scattering problem for a dielectric
Authors: Altundag Ahmet , Kress Rainer 
Published: June 2012

Abstract.
The inverse problem under consideration is to reconstruct the
shape of a homogeneous dielectric infinite cylinder from the far field
pattern for scattering of a time-harmonic E-polarized electromagnetic
plane wave. We propose
an inverse algorithm that extends the approach suggested and investigated
by Kress and Rundell for the electrostatic case and by Ivanyshyn and Kress
for the time-harmonic case when the scattering object is a perfect conductor. It is based on a system of nonlinear boundary integral equations associated with a single-layer
potential approach to solve the forward scattering problem. We present the mathematical foundations of the method and exhibit its feasibility by numerical examples.