bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Small proteins link coat and cortex assembly during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Ebmeier Sarah E. , Tan Irene S. , Clapham Katie Rose , Ramamurthi Kumaran S. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryMature spores of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis are encased by two concentric shells: an inner shell (the ‘cortex’), made of peptidoglycan; and an outer proteinaceous shell (the ‘coat’), whose basement layer is anchored to the surface of the developing spore via a 26‐amino‐acid‐long protein called SpoVM. During sporulation, initiation of cortex assembly depends on the successful initiation of coat assembly, but the mechanisms that co‐ordinate the morphogenesis of both structures are largely unknown. Here, we describe a sporulation pathway involving SpoVM and a 37‐amino‐acid‐long protein named ‘CmpA’ that is encoded by a previously un‐annotated gene and is expressed under control of two sporulation‐specific transcription factors (σE and SpoIIID). CmpA localized to the surface of the developing spore and deletion of cmpA resulted in cells progressing through the sporulation programme more quickly. Overproduction of CmpA did not affect normal growth or cell division, but delayed entry into sporulation and abrogated cortex assembly. In those cells that had successfully initiated coat assembly, CmpA was removed by a post‐translational mechanism, presumably in order to overcome the sporulation inhibition it imposed. We propose a model in which CmpA participates in a developmental checkpoint that ensures the proper orchestration of coat and cortex morphogenesis by repressing cortex assembly until coat assembly successfully initiates.
Physical map and dynamics of the chaperone network in Escherichia coli
Authors: Kumar Mohit , Sourjik Victor 
Published: April 2012

SummaryDiverse families of molecular chaperones cooperate to effect protein homeostasis, but the extent and dynamics of direct interactions among chaperone systems within cells remain little studied. Here we used fluorescence resonance energy transfer to systematically map the network of pairwise interactions among the major Escherichia coli chaperones. We demonstrate that in most cases functional cooperation between chaperones within and across families involves physical complex formation, which pre‐exists even in the absence of folding substrates. The observed connectivity of the overall chaperone network confirms its partitioning into sub‐networks that are responsible for de novo protein folding and maturation and for refolding/disaggregation of misfolded proteins, respectively, and are linked by the Hsp70 system. We further followed heat‐induced changes in the cellular chaperone network, revealing two distinct pathways that process heat‐denatured substrates. Our data suggest that protein folding within cells relies on highly ordered and direct channelling of substrates between chaperone systems and provide a comprehensive view of the underlying interactions and of their dynamics.
Anticipation of public speaking and sleep and the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis in women with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Heitkemper M. M. , Cain K. C. , Deechakawan W. , Poppe A. , Jun S‐E. , Burr R. L. , Jarrett M. E. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  Evidence suggests that subgroups of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are hyper‐responsive to a variety of laboratory stress conditions.Methods  This study compared sleep quality and night time plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum cortisol levels in response to anticipation of public speaking between 43 women with IBS and 24 healthy control women. In addition, comparisons were made between subgroups within the IBS sample based on predominant stool patterns, 22 IBS‐constipation and 21 IBS‐diarrhea. Subjects slept three nights in a sleep laboratory, and on the third night serial blood samples were drawn every 20 min from 08:00 PM until awakening. As the subjects had different sleep onsets, each subject’s results were synchronized to the first onset of stage 2 sleep.Key Results  Compared the healthy control group, women with IBS had significantly worse sleep efficiency, and higher cortisol but not ACTH levels over the night. However, there were no IBS bowel pattern subgroup differences. Among IBS subjects, cortisol levels early in the night were higher than found in our previous study with a similar protocol but without the threat of public speaking. These results suggest that a social stressor, such as public speaking prior to bedtime, increases cortisol but not ACTH levels suggesting HPA dysregulation in women with IBS.Conclusions & Inferences  This response to a social stressor contributes to our understanding of the relationship of stress to symptom expression in IBS.
CD4‐ and CD3‐T Lymphocyte Reference Values of Immunocompetent Urban and Rural Subjects in an African Nation
Authors: Adoga M. P. , Pennap G. R. , John P. A. , Shawulu P. T. , Kaba S. V. , Forbi J. C. , Agwale S. M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractStudies on the reference values of CD4 and CD3 T cells in healthy individuals have continued to gain significance because of the importance of these immunological markers in the initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of the present study was to determine and compare the reference values of CD4 and CD3 T cells in urban and rural Nigerians who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) negative. After ethical clearance and informed consent, 1123 subjects who met the inclusion criteria [mean age = 24.4 (± 11.2) years] were recruited in this study. Blood samples were analysed using the BD FACScount cytometer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Of the overall 1123 subjects, reference means of CD4, CD3 and CD4/CD3 ratio were 1030 ± 367, 1757 ± 609 cells/μl and 0.59 ± 0.08, respectively. Five hundred and fifty‐one (49.1%) were an urban population with the mean CD4, CD3 and CD4/CD3 T cell ratio of 1032 ± 369, 1761 ± 612 cells/μl and 0.59 (±0.08), respectively. The remaining 572 (50.9%) were of a rural population with the mean CD4, CD3 and CD4/CD3 T cell ratio of 1028 ± 459, 1753 ± 958 cells/μl and 0.59 ± 0.13, respectively. Subjects with higher CD4 and CD3 T cells were more likely to be female than male (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the T cell values of the two populations (P > 0.05). Our findings provide new insight in the CD4 and CD3 T cell reference values of Nigerians.
Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability on mother plant size, seed production and germination ability of Rumex crispus
Authors: HEJCMAN M , KŘIŠŤÁLOVÁ V , ČERVENÁ K , HRDLIČKOVÁ J , PAVLŮ V 
Published: April 2012

Hejcman M, Křišťálová V, Červená K, Hrdličková J & Pavlů V (2012). Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability on mother plant size, seed production and germination ability of Rumex crispus. Weed Research52, 260–268.SummaryRumex crispus is believed to be a highly nutrient‐demanding weedy species that spreads mainly by seeds. However, the effects of nutrient availability on its performance and seed production have never been fully investigated. In this study, we investigated how plant size, seed production and germination were affected by the supply of N, P and K. In May 2008, a pot N, P and K fertiliser experiment was established in Prague (Czech Republic). During 2009, plant growth data were collected, and fully ripe seeds were tested for germination and N, P and K concentrations. Rumex crispus showed high phenotypic plasticity in plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and number of stems per plant in relation to N, P and K supply. Seed production per plant ranged from <2000 in the control and low P treatment up to almost 25 000 in the high NPK treatment. More than 16 000 seeds were produced per plant in all treatments where N and P were applied together. To produce a high quantity of rapidly germinating seeds, R. crispus requires a balanced N, P and K supply, as a deficiency of P and K together with a high N supply can result in the production of P‐ and K‐deficient seeds (P and K <3 g kg−1) with lower germination ability. In central Europe, at least some populations of R. crispus do not flower in the seeding year and are strictly monocarpic. Given the short lifespan and monocarpic character of the species, control is probably most effective if applied at the rosette stage, prior to the production of viable seeds.
Exome sequencing in a family with an X‐linked lethal malformation syndrome: clinical consequences of hemizygous truncating OFD1 mutations in male patients
Authors: Tsurusaki Y , Kosho T , Hatasaki K , Narumi Y , Wakui K , Fukushima Y , Doi H , Saitsu H , Miyake N , Matsumoto N 
Published: April 2012

Tsurusaki Y, Kosho T, Hatasaki K, Narumi Y, Wakui K, Fukushima Y, Doi H, Saitsu H, Miyake N, Matsumoto N. Exome sequencing in a family with an X‐linked lethal malformation syndrome: clinical consequences of hemizygous truncating OFD1 mutations in male patients.Oral‐facial‐digital syndrome type 1 (OFD1; OMIM #311200) is an X‐linked dominant disorder, caused by heterozygous mutations in the OFD1 gene and characterized by facial anomalies, abnormalities in oral tissues, digits, brain, and kidney; and male lethality in the first or second trimester pregnancy. We encountered a family with three affected male neonates having an ‘unclassified’ X‐linked lethal congenital malformation syndrome. Exome sequencing of entire transcripts of the whole X chromosome has identified a novel splicing mutation (c.2388+1G > C) in intron 17 of OFD1, resulting in a premature stop codon at amino acid position 796. The affected males manifested severe multisystem complications in addition to the cardinal features of OFD1 and the carrier female showed only subtle features of OFD1. The present patients and the previously reported male patients from four families (clinical OFD1; Simpson‐Golabi‐Behmel syndrome, type 2 with an OFD1 mutation; Joubert syndrome‐10 with OFD1 mutations) would belong to a single syndrome spectrum caused by truncating OFD1 mutations, presenting with craniofacial features (macrocephaly, depressed or broad nasal bridge, and lip abnormalities), postaxial polydactyly, respiratory insufficiency with recurrent respiratory tract infections in survivors, severe mental or developmental retardation, and brain malformations (hypoplasia or agenesis of corpus callosum and/or cerebellar vermis and posterior fossa abnormalities).
Transplantation for complex congenital heart disease in adults: a subanalysis of the Spanish Heart Transplant Registry
Authors: Paniagua Martín María J. , Almenar Luis , Brossa Vicenç , Crespo‐Leiro Marisa G. , Segovia Javier , Palomo Jesús , Delgado Juan , González‐Vílchez Francisco , Manito Nicolás , Lage Ernesto , García‐Guereta Luis , Rodríguez‐Lambert José L. , Albert Dimpna C. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundCongenital heart diseases (CHDs) have high infant mortality in their severe forms. When adulthood is reached, a heart transplant (HTx) may be required. Spanish adult population transplanted for CHD was analyzed and compared with the most frequent causes of HTx and between different subgroups of CHD.Materials and MethodsA total of 6048 patients (HTx 1984–2009) were included. Pediatric transplants (<15 yr), combined transplants, reHTx, and HTx for heart diseases other than idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) were excluded. Total patients included: 3166 (IHD = 1888; IDCM = 1223; CHD = 55). Subgroups were studied as follows: (1) single ventricle with pulmonary stenosis (n = 18), (2) single ventricle with tricuspid atresia and Glenn/Fontan surgery (n = 10), (3) congenitally corrected transposition of the great vessels (TGV) or with switch atrial surgery (n = 10), and (4) CHD with right ventricle overload (n = 17).ResultsSurvival probability was different between groups (p = 0.0001). Post hoc analysis showed some differences between groups (CHD vs. IHD, p = 0.05; CHD vs. IDCM, p = 0.5; IHD vs. IDCM, p = 0.0001). Early mortality was different between CHD subgroups (group 1 = 19%, group 2 = 40%, group 3 = 0%, group 4 = 29%; p < 0.001); however, overall mortality did not show differences between subgroups (p = 0.5).ConclusionsThe percentage of Spanish adult HTx patients for CHD is low (1%). The survival curve is better than for other HTx causes (IHD). Nevertheless, early mortality was higher, particularly in some subgroups (Fontan).
Alternative donor HSCT in refractory acquired aplastic anemia – Prevention of graft rejection and graft versus host disease by immunoablative conditioning and graft manipulation
Authors: Urban Christian , Benesch Martin , Sovinz Petra , Sipurzynski Sabine , Lackner Herwig , Müller Ewa , Schwinger Wolfgang 
Published: April 2012

Urban C, Benesch M, Sovinz P, Sipurzynski S, Lackner H, Müller E, Schwinger W. Alternative donor HSCT in refractory acquired aplastic anemia – Prevention of graft rejection and graft versus host disease by immunoablative conditioning and graft manipulation.Abstract:  Early alternative donor HSCT is a potentially curative therapeutic option for patients with AAA not responding to IST. Seven patients (median age at diagnosis, 11 yr) with refractory AAA without a MSD underwent HSCT from matched unrelated (n = 6) or haploidentical (n = 1) donors. Conditioning regimens included CY (n = 7), muromonab‐CD3/ATG (n = 7), TT (n = 6), FLU (n = 5), and TLI (n = 2). Grafts were either CD34 purified and/or CD3/19 depleted and contained a median of 10.17 × 106/kg CD34 and 5.5 × 104/kg CD3 cells. All patients engrafted rapidly. Median time to leukocyte engraftment was 10 days. With a median follow‐up of 26 (range, 11–153) months, six patients are alive and well with complete donor hematopoiesis. One heavily pretreated patient developed GVHD grade III and died from progressive renal failure (resulting from microangiopathic hemolytic anemia) and disseminated aspergillosis. Early alternative donor HSCT can help to avoid complications from prolonged IST and presumably improve survival of patients with refractory AAA. Administration of high doses of CD34 purified and/or CD3/19 depleted stem cells following novel immunoablative conditioning may prevent graft rejection and GVHD. However, a long interval from diagnosis to HSCT seems to be associated with poor outcome.
L‐index as a novel index to evaluate both the intensity and duration of lymphopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Kimura S.‐I. , Wada H. , Sakamoto K. , Ashizawa M. , Sato M. , Terasako K. , Nakasone H. , Kikuchi M. , Okuda S. , Kako S. , Yamazaki R. , Oshima K. , Tanaka Y. , Tanihara A. , Nishida J. , Kanda Y. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe retrospectively investigated L‐index, which evaluates both the intensity and duration of lymphopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (n = 50). L‐index was defined as the area over the lymphocyte curve during lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count < 700/μL). We calculated the L‐index from the start of conditioning to day 30 – L‐index(30) – and to day 100 – L‐index(100) – after HSCT. Multivariate analysis revealed that human leukocyte antigen mismatched donor, female gender, and non‐lymphoid disease were significantly associated with high L‐index(30). Grade III–IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease, alemtuzumab‐containing regimen, and non‐lymphoid disease were identified as independent significant factors for high L‐index(100). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia was detected > 3 cells/2 slides by C10/11 method in 30 patients (CMV‐AG ≥ 3 group) and was not detected in 20 patients (CMV‐AG < 3 group). Although no significant difference was seen in absolute lymphocyte count on day 30 between the 2 groups, the L‐index(30) was significantly higher in the CMV‐AG ≥ 3 group than in the CMV‐AG < 3 group (P = 0.050). L‐index(30) was identified as an independent factor on CMV reactivation in multivariate analysis, when it was treated as a dichotomous variable with a cut‐off value of 22,318, determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In conclusion, both the intensity and duration of lymphopenia in early phase after HSCT evaluated on the basis of L‐index(30) showed significant association with CMV reactivation.
Plasticity and heritability of morphological variation within and between parapatric stickleback demes
Authors: McCAIRNS R. J. S. , BERNATCHEZ L. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) has emerged as an important model organism in evolutionary ecology, largely due to the repeated, parallel evolution of divergent morphotypes found in populations having colonized freshwater habitats. However, morphological divergence following colonization is not a universal phenomenon. We explore this in a large‐scale estuarine ecosystem inhabited by two parapatric stickleback demes, each physiologically adapted to divergent osmoregulatory environments (fresh vs. saline waters). Using geometric morphometric analyses of wild‐caught individuals, we detected significant differences between demes, in addition to sexual dimorphism, in body shape. However, rearing full‐sib families from each deme under controlled, reciprocal salinity conditions revealed no differences between genotypes and highly significant environmental effects. It is also noteworthy that fish from both demes were fully plated, whether found in the wild or reared under reciprocal salinity conditions. Although we found significant heritability for body shape, we also noted significant direct environmental effects for many latent shape variables. Moreover, we found little evidence for diversifying selection acting on body size and shape (QST). Nevertheless, uniform compressive variation did exceed neutral expectations, yet despite evidence of both allometry and genetic correlation with body length, we detected no correlated signatures of selection. Taken together, these results suggest that much of the morphological divergence observed in this system is the result of plastic responses to environmental variation rather than adaptive differentiation.
Molecular Identification of a Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris Associated with Cabbage Witches’‐Broom in China
Authors: Mou Hai‐Qing , Zhang Yong‐Jiang , Li Hong‐Xia , Zhu Shui‐Fang , Li Zhi‐Hong , Zhao Wen‐Jun 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn 2010, cabbages (Brassica oleracea L.) showing symptoms of proliferated axillary buds, crinkled leaves and plant stunting with shortened internodes typical to phytoplasma infection were found in a breeding facility in Beijing, China. Three symptomatic plants and one symptomless plant were collected, and total DNA was extracted from the midrib tissue and the flowers. With phytoplasma universal primers R16F2n/R16R2, a special fragment of 1247 bp (16S rDNA) was obtained from all three symptomatic cabbage plants, but not from the one symptomless cabbage plant. The 16S rDNA sequence showed 99% similarity with the homologous genes of the aster yellows group phytoplasma (16SrI group), and the phytoplasma was designed as CWBp‐BJ. Phylogenetic and computer‐simulated restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 16S rDNA gene revealed that CWBp‐BJ belongs to subgroup 16SrI‐B. This is the first report of a phytoplasma associated with cabbage witches’‐broom in China.
Arid vegetation in disequilibrium with livestock grazing: Evidence from long‐term exclosures
Authors: SILCOCK JENNY L. , FENSHAM ROD J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn recent decades, the conventional equilibrium paradigm for explaining rangeland vegetation dynamics has been challenged. Proponents of an alternative non‐equilibrium paradigm argue that in variable rangeland environments, external climatic events are critical to vegetation dynamics and there is little opportunity for plant–herbivore interactions to reach equilibrium. Understanding which paradigm more effectively describes an ecosystem has important consequences for management. In particular, some authors have argued that a focus on reducing stocking rates in non‐equilibrium systems may be futile, and management should be opportunistic in response to unpredictable rainfall events. We measured herbaceous biomass and plant species richness and abundance at five 14‐year exclosures on Innamincka Regional Reserve. Four were situated in the dunefields land system, and one on the Cooper Creek floodplain. We did not detect any significant differences between grazed and ungrazed treatments in total species richness or abundance, life form richness or abundance, or herbaceous biomass. Only one species, Portulaca oleracea, showed differences in abundance between treatments at more than one site, but the direction of these differences was not consistent. These results suggest that the non‐equilibrium paradigm more accurately describes vegetation dynamics in the dunefields and floodplains of north‐eastern South Australia. It is possible that some species had been lost from the study area prior to the establishment of the exclosures, thereby precluding recovery with protection from grazing; however, a regional analysis of the flora reveals little evidence of this. We argue that the dominance of ephemeral species confers resilience by limiting the development of strong feedbacks between grazing intensity and vegetation dynamics. Current grazing practices seem consistent with the conservation of plant species diversity across the dunefields and floodplains. Future studies should focus on the impacts of cattle grazing on areas of the landscape dominated by palatable perennials, as well as the small number of rare and potentially grazing‐sensitive species identified.
Place of residence before hospital admission and mortality at 12‐months in Spanish patients aged 70 years or older
Authors: Pérez Martín Alejandro , Satue Bartolomé José Angel , Gonzalo Pascua Sonia , Farfán Sedano Ana I , Franco Moreno Ana , Rodríguez Benavente Ana , Zapatero Gaviria Antonio 
Published: April 2012

Aim:  Hospitalization of elderly people is often followed by high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of prior residence on 1‐year mortality after hospital discharge in patients aged 70 years and over.Methods:  This was a prospective observational cohort study. Participants were 426 patients discharged from the Internal Medicine Department at a Spanish Hospital who were followed for a 12‐month period. Data collection was carried out during hospitalization and included sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidity (Charlson index), functional (Barthel index and Lawton scale) and cognitive conditions (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire), together with parameters related to the disease causing admission (diagnosis related group, laboratory tests, length of hospital stay). Mortality was carried out using telephone interviews.Results:  A total of 420 (98.6%) patients were located at the end of follow up. Of these, 95 patients had died, giving an overall 1‐year mortality of 22.6%. The mortality rate for patients living in their private homes was 15.6% versus 24.7% for those living with relatives and 60% for those living in institutions. After adjustment for potential confounders, prior residence was associated with mortality with a hazard ratio of 3.98 (95% CI 1.94–8.17) for those institutionalized and a hazard ration of 1.68 (95% CI 0.99–2.16) for those living with relatives, as compared with patients living in their private homes.Conclusions:  Prior residence is associated with 1‐year‐mortality following discharge after controlling for several multidimensional factors. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; ••: ••–••.