bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A dominant negative mutant of protein kinase CK2 exhibits altered auxin responses in Arabidopsis
Authors: Marquès‐Bueno Maria Mar , Moreno‐Romero Jordi , Abas Lindy , De Michele Roberto , Martínez M. Carmen 
Published: March 2011

SummaryProtein kinase CK2 is a pleiotropic Ser/Thr kinase, evolutionary conserved in eukaryotes. Studies performed in different organisms, from yeast to humans, have highlighted the importance of CK2 in cell growth and cell‐cycle control. However, the signalling pathways in which CK2 is involved have not been fully identified. In plants, the phytohormone auxin is a major regulator of cell growth. Recent discoveries have demonstrated that differential distribution of within auxin plant tissues is essential for developmental processes, and that this distribution is dependent on polar auxin transport. We report here that a dominant‐negative mutant of CK2 (CK2mut) in Arabidopsis thaliana shows phenotypic traits that are typically linked to alterations in auxin‐dependent processes. However, CK2mut plants exhibit normal responses to exogenous indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) indicating that they are not affected in the perception of the hormone but upstream in the pathway. We demonstrate that mutant plants are not deficient in IAA but are impaired in its transport. Using genetic and pharmacological tools we show that CK2 activity depletion hinders correct formation of auxin gradients and leads to widespread changes in the expression of auxin‐related genes. In particular, members of the auxin efflux carrier family (PINs), and the protein kinase PINOID, both key regulators of auxin fluxes, were misexpressed. PIN4 and PIN7 were also found mislocalized, with accumulation in endosomal bodies. We propose that CK2 functions in the regulation of auxin‐signalling pathways, particularly in auxin transport.
Successful application of a simple specimen transport method for the conduct of respiratory virus surveillance in remote Indigenous communities in Australia
Authors: O’Grady Kerry‐Ann F. , Torzillo Paul J. , Rockett Rebecca J. , Whiley David M. , Nissen Michael D. , Sloots Theo P. , Lambert Stephen B. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryObjective  Surveillance programs and research for acute respiratory infections in remote Aboriginal communities are complicated by difficulties in the storage and transport of frozen samples to urban laboratories for testing. This study assessed the sensitivity of a simple method for transporting respiratory samples from a remote setting for viral PCR compared with frozen specimens.Methods  We sampled every individual who presented to a remote Aboriginal community clinic in a non‐epidemic respiratory season. Two anterior nasal swabs were collected from each participant. The left nare specimen was mailed to the laboratory via routine postal services. The right nare specimen was transported frozen. Testing for 16 viruses was undertaken using real‐time multiplex PCR.Results  A total of 140 participants were enrolled who contributed 150 study visits. Respiratory illnesses accounted for 10% of the reasons for presentation. Sixty‐one viruses were identified in 50 (33.3%) presentations for 40 (28.6%) individuals; bocavirus and rhinovirus were the most common viruses identified (14.0% and 12.6% of episodes respectively). The sensitivity for any virus detected in mailed specimens was 67.2% (95%CI 55.4, 78.9) compared to 65.6% (95%CI 53.7, 77.5) for frozen specimens.Conclusion  The mailing of unfrozen nasal specimens from remote communities does not compromise the viability of the specimen for viral studies.
Pilot randomized trial of nutritional supplementation in patients with tuberculosis and HIV–tuberculosis coinfection receiving directly observed short‐course chemotherapy for tuberculosis
Authors: Sudarsanam T. D. , John J. , Kang G. , Mahendri V. , Gerrior J. , Franciosa M. , Gopal S. , John K. R. , Wanke C. A. , Muliyil J. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryObjective  To investigate the effects of nutritional supplementation on the outcome and nutritional status of south Indian patients with tuberculosis (TB) with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection on anti‐tuberculous therapy.Method  Randomized controlled trial on the effect of a locally prepared cereal–lentil mixture providing 930 kcal and a multivitamin micronutrient supplement during anti‐tuberculous therapy in 81 newly diagnosed TB alone and 22 TB–HIV‐coinfected patients, among whom 51 received and 52 did not receive the supplement. The primary outcome evaluated at completion of TB therapy was outcome of TB treatment, as classified by the national programme. Secondary outcomes were body composition, compliance and condition on follow‐up 1 year after cessation of TB therapy and supplementation.Results  There was no significant difference in TB outcomes at the end of treatment, but HIV–TB coinfected individuals had four times greater odds of poor outcome than those with TB alone. Among patients with TB, 1/35 (2.9%) supplemented and 5/42(12%) of those not supplemented had poor outcomes, while among TB–HIV‐coinfected individuals, 4/13 (31%) supplemented and 3/7 (42.8%) non‐supplemented patients had poor outcomes at the end of treatment, and the differences were more marked after 1 year of follow‐up. Although there was some trend of benefit for both TB alone and TB–HIV coinfection, the results were not statistically significant at the end of TB treatment, possibly because of limited sample size.Conclusion  Nutritional supplements in patients are a potentially feasible, low‐cost intervention, which could impact patients with TB and TB–HIV. The public health importance of these diseases in resource‐limited settings suggests the need for large, multi‐centre randomized control trials on nutritional supplementation.
Responding to cultural diversity at two Sydney‐based children's hospitals
Authors: White Les , Chalmers Sharon 
Published: March 2011

Aim:  To study and document the challenges of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families in tertiary paediatric settings.Methods:  Mixed methods, both qualitative and quantitative, were used at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick and the Children's Hospital at Westmead, during 2006–2007. A telephone survey of 46 questions was implemented on 269 occasions in one of nine languages. In depth qualitative studies of seven families of various migration, settlement and health experiences were undertaken over a four month period, involving a total of 25 interviews in one of four languages. Members of the respective clinical teams were also engaged in 25 formal interviews and four focus groups. A further 25 combined meetings between the clinical teams and respective families were observed and documented. In addition, 16 senior managers were also interviewed.Results:  Accessing hospital records for the study revealed that relevant demographic data were often incomplete. Quantitative analyses of the telephone survey demonstrated statistically significant differences between the CALD and Anglo‐Australian cohorts in: access to appropriate information (language specific, accessible, non‐technical and appropriately documented); as well as effective communication (with doctors, nurses, admission or clerical staff and other health staff). Comparisons contradicted assumptions of overuse of hospital resources by CALD clients. Interpreter services were moderately utilised but widely supplemented by informal and suboptimal channels. Qualitative exploration supported and further explained the findings.Conclusions:  The findings of this research have demonstrated important differences, as well as gaps and shortcomings, in service provision for CALD families that lend themselves to both further study and to interventions aimed at continuing improvement.
Recurrent intussusception in infants
Authors: Justice Frances A , Nguyen Liem T , Tran Son N , Kirkwood Carl D , Thi Ngo Thi , Carlin John B , Bines Julie E 
Published: March 2011

Aim:  Clinical features to identify infants at increased risk of recurrence after a primary episode of intussusception (IS) are poorly defined.Methods:  Prospective study of the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome in infants <2 years presenting with acute IS to the National Hospital of Pediatrics, Hanoi, over a 14‐month period (1 November 2002 to 31 December 2003). A retrospective review of medical records was performed to verify complete patient ascertainment.Results:  Five hundred ninety‐eight children were recruited, including 513 (86%) with a primary episode only and 53 (9%) with ≥1 recurrent episodes. Another 32 (5%) infants presented with recurrent IS, but the primary episode of IS occurred outside the study period. Estimated recurrence risk at 6 months following a primary episode was 14%. A pathological lead point was rare in primary (n= 1) and recurrent IS (n= 1). Most infants were successfully treated with enema reduction.Conclusions:  This study describes the natural history of recurrent IS in infants and may assist in interpreting data from post‐marketing surveillance following introduction of rotavirus vaccines.
Addressing the well‐being of Aboriginal children in out‐of‐home care: Are we there yet?
Authors: Raman Shanti , Reynolds Sandra , Khan Rabia 
Published: March 2011

Aim:  Children in out‐of‐home care (OOHC) have well‐documented health and developmental needs. In Australia, Aboriginal children have significantly worse health outcomes than non‐Aboriginal children. We wanted to identify the health and well‐being of Aboriginal children entering OOHC, placed with an Aboriginal organisation, who accessed a specialised multidisciplinary clinic in south‐western Sydney. We wanted to identify children entering care who were doing well and who improved in care. We also wanted to identify enablers and barriers to care.Methods:  We analysed records of the first 100 children attending the OOHC clinic in south‐western Sydney. Measures included clinical outcomes and recommendations at first and subsequent visits. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS 16.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Key stakeholders from the relevant agencies were interviewed about enablers and barriers to care by independent evaluators.Results:  A significant proportion of children had health needs identified including speech delay (54%), under‐immunisation (50%), behaviour problems (45%), hearing problems (44%), visual problems (35%) and dental problems (36%). Sixteen per cent of the children were doing well at first visit; a third improved in care, and a third remained stable. Significant differences were identified in health and educational needs between the under‐5 year olds and the 5–13 year olds. Key barriers identified were systemic issues and lack of resources for intervention.Conclusions:  Children attending this clinic had similar rates of problems identified as other studies. School‐age children appear to have significant additional health needs. Targeted developmentally and culturally appropriate interventions need to be provided to address the identified barriers to care.
On the mixed Mode II/III fatigue threshold behaviour for aluminium alloys 2014‐T6 and 7075‐T6
Authors: MERATI A. A. , HELLIER A. K. , ZARRABI K. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper describes an investigation into the fatigue threshold behaviour of two structural aluminium aerospace alloys, Al 2014‐T6 and Al 7075‐T6, when subjected to Mode II, Mode III and mixed Mode II/III loading. A unique four‐point shear loading test rig was employed to cyclically load sharply edge‐notched square bar specimens using an increasing load technique. The main aim of the work has been to generate Mode II–Mode III interaction diagrams for the fatigue threshold in each case, in order to facilitate improved design procedures for components fabricated from these alloys, which are susceptible to fatigue cracking under predominantly shear type loading. Aircraft are subjected to structural loads consisting of: pressurization, tension/compression, bending, shear and torsion, both on the ground and in flight. Representative fatigue fracture surfaces have been examined using scanning electron microscopy.
Mechanical and thermal behaviour of polyamide 6/silicon carbide nanocomposites toughened with maleated styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene elastomer
Authors: LIAO C. Z. , TJONG S. C. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTPolyamide 6 (PA6) based nanocomposites reinforced with 1–7 wt% silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiCp) and toughened with 20 wt% maleated styrene–ethylene–butylene– stryrene (SEBS‐g‐MA) were fabricated by melt blending followed by injection moulding. The effects of SiCp addition on thermal and mechanical properties of such nanocomposites were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry tests showed that SiCp act as effective nucleators for the crystallization of PA6 and enhance the degree of crystallinity. Mechanical measurements revealed that SiCp addition improves the Young's modulus and yield strength of PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA 80/20 blend at the expenses of tensile ductility and impact strength. The essential work of fracture (EWF) approach under tensile mode was employed to characterize the fracture toughness of PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA/SiCp nanocomposites. EWF results indicated that SiCp addition reduces both the specific EWF and specific non‐essential plastic work of fracture. Thus SiCp additions were detrimental to the fracture toughness of PA6/SEBS‐g‐MA 80/20 blends.
The interaction between corrosion management and structural integrity of aging aircraft
Authors: JAYA A. , TIONG U. H. , CLARK G. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTAircraft joints feature prominently in aircraft structural degradation; fatigue cracking and corrosion damage are major issues, which can reduce joint strength and degrade service life. Protecting the structure against corrosion usually involves use of highly developed protective coatings – paints and sealants – and, increasingly, the application of corrosion inhibiting compounds (CICs) which retard corrosion principally by penetrating into crevices and cracks, and displacing water. A combination of coatings and CIC use can provide effective corrosion protection, but both interact – in different ways – with joint structural performance and overall system durability. This paper discusses the interaction between these two corrosion protection measures and fatigue performance of joints. The first issue relates to the extent to which application of CICs (or other lubricants) can cause a reduction in the fatigue life of mechanically fastened joints. The CICs are lubricants which will reduce the friction at the faying surface of the joint, and change the load transfer characteristics of the joint. This paper discusses results from a test program assessing the fatigue life and failure mode of simple riveted lap joints; the results show a distinct reduction in fatigue life for joints containing CICs, and the paper discusses the changes thought to be responsible for the reduction. The second issue discussed is the degradation of protective coatings in service. Joints are key locations for coating cracking and failure, because areas such as sheet ends and fastener heads, where displacements are concentrated, may produce concentrated strain in coatings. So far, however, the potential influence of aircraft loading on coating degradation prognostics has received little attention. This paper discusses the role of joint displacement in service as a factor contributing to degradation in aircraft coatings at joints, and argues that this local strain effect, and indeed structural loading history, needs to be considered in predicting and assessing rates of coating degradation. It describes analyses of displacements in aircraft joints, to identify the levels of strain and to identify the roles and relative contributions of the various deflections in the joints. The results indicate the potential for very large strains in coatings.
Contribution of Crenarchaeota and Bacteria to autotrophy in the North Atlantic interior
Authors: Varela Marta M. , van Aken Hendrik M. , Sintes Eva , Reinthaler Thomas , Herndl Gerhard J. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryMarine Crenarchaeota are among the most abundant groups of prokaryotes in the ocean and recent reports suggest that they oxidize ammonia as an energy source and inorganic carbon as carbon source, while other studies indicate that Crenarchaeota use organic carbon and hence, live heterotrophically. We used catalysed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD‐FISH) to determine the crenarchaeal and bacterial contribution to total prokaryotic abundance in the (sub)tropical Atlantic. Bacteria contributed ∼50% to total prokaryotes throughout the water column. Marine Crenarchaeota Group I (MCGI) accounted for ∼5% of the prokaryotes in subsurface waters (100 m depth) and between 10 and 20% in the oxygen minimum layer (250–500 m depth) and deep waters (North East Atlantic Deep Water). The fraction of both MCGI and Bacteria fixing inorganic carbon, determined by combining microautoradiography with CARD‐FISH (MICRO‐CARD‐FISH), decreased with depth, ranging from ∼30% in the oxygen minimum zone to < 10% in the intermediate waters (Mediterranean Sea Outflow Water, Antarctic Intermediate Water). In the deeper water masses, however, MCGI were not taking up inorganic carbon. Using quantitative MICRO‐CARD‐FISH to determine autotrophy activity on a single cell level revealed that MCGI are incorporating inorganic carbon (0.002–0.1 fmol C cell−1 day−1) at a significantly lower rate than Bacteria (0.01–0.6 fmol C cell−1 day−1). Hence, it appears that MCGI contribute substantially less to autotrophy than Bacteria. Taking the stoichiometry of nitrification together with our findings suggests that MCGI might not dominate the ammonia oxidation step in the mesopelagic waters of the ocean to that extent as the reported dominance of archaeal over bacterial amoA would suggest.
Genomic variations define divergence of water/wildlife‐associated Campylobacter jejuni niche specialists from common clonal complexes
Authors: Hepworth Philip J. , Ashelford Kevin E. , Hinds Jason , Gould Katherine A. , Witney Adam A. , Williams Nicola J. , Leatherbarrow Howard , French Nigel P. , Birtles Richard J. , Mendonca Chriselle , Dorrell Nick , Wren Brendan W. , Wigley Paul , Hall Neil , Winstanley Craig 
Published: March 2011

SummaryAlthough the major food‐borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni has been isolated from diverse animal, human and environmental sources, our knowledge of genomic diversity in C. jejuni is based exclusively on human or human food‐chain‐associated isolates. Studies employing multilocus sequence typing have indicated that some clonal complexes are more commonly associated with particular sources. Using comparative genomic hybridization on a collection of 80 isolates representing diverse sources and clonal complexes, we identified a separate clade comprising a group of water/wildlife isolates of C. jejuni with multilocus sequence types uncharacteristic of human food‐chain‐associated isolates. By genome sequencing one representative of this diverse group (C. jejuni 1336), and a representative of the bank‐vole niche specialist ST‐3704 (C. jejuni 414), we identified deletions of genomic regions normally carried by human food‐chain‐associated C. jejuni. Several of the deleted regions included genes implicated in chicken colonization or in virulence. Novel genomic insertions contributing to the accessory genomes of strains 1336 and 414 were identified. Comparative analysis using PCR assays indicated that novel regions were common but not ubiquitous among the water/wildlife group of isolates, indicating further genomic diversity among this group, whereas all ST‐3704 isolates carried the same novel accessory regions. While strain 1336 was able to colonize chicks, strain 414 was not, suggesting that regions specifically absent from the genome of strain 414 may play an important role in this common route of Campylobacter infection of humans. We suggest that the genomic divergence observed constitutes evidence of adaptation leading to niche specialization.
Microbial community structure of hydrothermal deposits from geochemically different vent fields along the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge
Authors: Flores Gilberto E. , Campbell James H. , Kirshtein Julie D. , Meneghin Jennifer , Podar Mircea , Steinberg Joshua I. , Seewald Jeffrey S. , Tivey Margaret Kingston , Voytek Mary A. , Yang Zamin K. , Reysenbach Anna‐Louise 
Published: March 2011

SummaryTo evaluate the effects of local fluid geochemistry on microbial communities associated with active hydrothermal vent deposits, we examined the archaeal and bacterial communities of 12 samples collected from two very different vent fields: the basalt‐hosted Lucky Strike (37°17′N, 32°16.3′W, depth 1600–1750 m) and the ultramafic‐hosted Rainbow (36°13′N, 33°54.1′W, depth 2270–2330 m) vent fields along the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (MAR). Using multiplexed barcoded pyrosequencing of the variable region 4 (V4) of the 16S rRNA genes, we show statistically significant differences between the archaeal and bacterial communities associated with the different vent fields. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays of the functional gene diagnostic for methanogenesis (mcrA), as well as geochemical modelling to predict pore fluid chemistries within the deposits, support the pyrosequencing observations. Collectively, these results show that the less reduced, hydrogen‐poor fluids at Lucky Strike limit colonization by strict anaerobes such as methanogens, and allow for hyperthermophilic microaerophiles, like Aeropyrum. In contrast, the hydrogen‐rich reducing vent fluids at the ultramafic‐influenced Rainbow vent field support the prevalence of methanogens and other hydrogen‐oxidizing thermophiles at this site. These results demonstrate that biogeographical patterns of hydrothermal vent microorganisms are shaped in part by large scale geological and geochemical processes.