bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of neonatal enteral glutamine supplementation on cognitive, motor and behavioural outcomes in very preterm and/or very low birth weight children at school age
Authors: de Kieviet Jorrit F. , Oosterlaan Jaap , van Zwol Annelies , Boehm Guenther , Lafeber Harrie N. , van Elburg Ruurd M. 
Published: February 2012

In very preterm ( < 32 weeks of gestation) and/or very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 g birth weight) children, serious neonatal infections are among the main causes of poor developmental outcomes later in childhood. The amino acid glutamine has been shown to reduce the incidence of serious neonatal infections in very preterm and/or VLBW children, while developmental effects beyond 24 months are unknown. We determined the cognitive, motor and behavioural outcomes at school age of a cohort of sixty-four very preterm and/or VLBW children (aged 7·5 (sd 0·4) years) who participated in a randomised placebo-controlled trial using enteral glutamine between day 3 and day 30 of life. Cognitive and motor outcomes were studied using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), the Attention Network Test and a visual working memory task. Behavioural outcomes were evaluated using parent- and teacher-rated questionnaires. Intelligence quotient, processing speed, attentional functioning, working memory and parent- and teacher-rated behavioural outcomes were not different between children treated with glutamine or placebo; only visuomotor abilities as measured by the Ball Skills scale of the MABC (P = 0·002; d = 0·67) were poorer in the glutamine group. This effect persisted after taking into account the beneficial effects of lower serious neonatal infections rates in children treated with glutamine (P = 0·005). In conclusion, glutamine supplementation between day 3 and day 30 of life had neither beneficial nor detrimental effects on long-term cognitive, motor and behavioural outcomes of very preterm and/or VLBW children at school age, although visuomotor abilities were poorer in children that received glutamine.
No evidence for change in oviposition behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) after widespread adoption of transgenic insecticidal cotton
Authors: Zalucki M.P. , Cunningham J.P. , Downes S. , Ward P. , Lange C. , Meissle M. , Schellhorn N.A. , Zalucki J.M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractCotton growing landscapes in Australia have been dominated by dual-toxin transgenic Bt varieties since 2004. The cotton crop has thus effectively become a sink for the main target pest, Helicoverpa armigera. Theory predicts that there should be strong selection on female moths to avoid laying on such plants. We assessed oviposition, collected from two cotton-growing regions, by female moths when given a choice of tobacco, cotton and cabbage. Earlier work in the 1980s and 1990s on populations from the same geographic locations indicated these hosts were on average ranked as high, mid and low preference plants, respectively, and that host rankings had a heritable component. In the present study, we found no change in the relative ranking of hosts by females, with most eggs being laid on tobacco, then cotton and least on cabbage. As in earlier work, some females laid most eggs on cotton and aspects of oviposition behaviour had a heritable component. Certainly, cotton is not avoided as a host, and the implications of these finding for managing resistance to Bt cotton are discussed.
Stridor as a presentation of fourth branchial pouch sinus
Authors: Nathan K , Bajaj Y , Jephson C G 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground:Anomalies of the fourth arch are the rarest of all the branchial anomalies. They arise as a result of failure of involution of the cleft during embryogenesis, and manifest clinically as sinuses, cysts or abscesses in the neck, commonly presenting in childhood.Methods:This article describes a case of a neonate presenting with stridor which was secondary to a fourth branchial pouch sinus. The presentation, investigations, operative findings and treatment are discussed.Results:Microlaryngobronchoscopy was done to evaluate the stridor. A swelling in the posterolateral pharyngeal wall and a sinus opening in the pyriform fossa on the left side were identified. There were no external neck swellings. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a swelling in the expected region filled with air and fluid. After the diagnosis was confirmed, the swelling was aspirated and the fourth arch pouch treated. Microlaryngobronchoscopy was repeated six weeks later, showing complete resolution of the pharyngeal swelling. At this stage, the child had no airway symptoms and was feeding normally.Conclusion:This is an interesting case of a fourth branchial cleft pouch presenting with stridor. The child was treated without any complications and recovered well.
Bernoulli actions are weakly contained in any free action
Authors: ABÉRT MIKLÓS , WEISS BENJAMIN 
Published: February 2012

AbstractLet Γ be a countable group and let f be a free probability measure-preserving action of Γ. We show that all Bernoulli actions of Γ are weakly contained in f. It follows that for a finitely generated group Γ, the cost is maximal on Bernoulli actions for Γ and that all free factors of i.i.d. (independent and identically distributed) actions of Γ have the same cost. We also show that if f is ergodic, but not strongly ergodic, then f is weakly equivalent to f×I, where Idenotes the trivial action of Γ on the unit interval. This leads to a relative version of the Glasner–Weiss dichotomy.
The role of science in MPA establishment in California: a personal perspective
Authors: HILBORN RAY 
Published: February 2012

SummaryCalifornia has now largely completed a process for establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) that may be considered a model for other jurisdictions seeking to meet obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. In the Californian process, a team of scientists established guidelines on the size and spacing of MPAs, as well as requirements for habitat representation and replication. The final outcomes, in terms of proportion of the coast encompassed by MPAs and the distribution and sizes of MPAs, were largely a result of decisions taken by the advisory scientists, rather than by the designated decision makers. Future legislation must recognize the uncertainties associated with benefits of MPAs and specifically allow for adaptive management including explicit experimental tests of uncertainties. The science team should define at the outset the major uncertainties about impacts, and deliberate experimentation and adaptive management should be essential parts of each design. Future legislation should be much more specific about the objectives of the MPAs and specify the percentage of the area that should be set aside as MPAs. Finally, quantitative models rather than guidelines should be used to evaluate the consequences of alternative designs.
Opinions of the public, conservationists and magistrates on sentencing wildlife trade crimes in the UK
Authors: ST JOHN FREYA A. V. , EDWARDS-JONES GARETH , JONES JULIA P. G. 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYThe illegal trade in wild harvested plants and animals is a significant threat to populations and species worldwide. There is concern that in many countries sanctions for wildlife trade crimes are insufficient to act as a deterrent, and do not reflect the seriousness of offences. For these reasons it is important to understand professional and public opinions as to which aspects of such crimes make them more or less serious, and so deserving of a greater or lesser sentence. Conjoint analysis, a method used in marketing to understand which characteristics of a product are valued by consumers, was used to investigate which attributes of hypothetical wildlife trade offences (threat status and taxon of species involved, illegal profit, previous convictions and plea) UK-based conservation professionals, magistrates and the general public considered most important when sentencing wildlife criminals in the UK. Eighty-seven per cent of 682 respondents completed enough of the survey to be included in the analysis. Magistrates and the public considered illegal profit to be the single most important attribute, while conservationists considered the threat status of the species involved to be most important (considered second most important by magistrates and the public). Magistrates, when presented with adequate information, considered the threat status and corresponding legal protection afforded to wildlife when considering how serious a wildlife trade crime was, and doing so is in line with public opinion on sentencing such offences. This study highlights the importance of ensuring that judiciaries are presented with information concerning both the potential profit and conservation impact of wildlife trade crimes. Sentencing councils must develop appropriate guidelines to support judiciaries in their sentencing of wildlife crimes.
Investigating the effect of high spring incidence of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) on early autumn incidence
Authors: BURKOM H. , KNISS K. , MELTZER M. , BRAMMER L. , ELBERT Y. , FINELLI L. , SWERDLOW D. 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYA pandemic H1N1 infection wave in the USA occurred during spring 2009. Some hypothesized that for regions affected by the spring wave, an autumn outbreak would be less likely or delayed compared to unaffected regions because of herd immunity. We investigated this hypothesis using the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Network, a collaboration among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health departments, and care providers. We evaluated the likelihood of high early autumn incidence given high spring incidence in core-based statistical areas (CBSAs). Using a surrogate incidence measure based on influenza-related illness ratios, we calculated the odds of high early autumn incidence given high spring incidence. CBSAs with high spring ILI ratios proved more likely than unaffected CBSAs to have high early autumn ratios, suggesting that elevated spring illness did not protect against early autumn increases. These novel methods are applicable to planning and studies involving other infectious diseases.
How pluricentric is the French language? An investigation of attitudes towards Quebec French compared to European French
Authors: KIRCHER RUTH 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the results of a study that employed a questionnaire and a matched-guise experiment to investigate the attitudes that Quebec francophones, anglophones, French-English bilinguals and allophones hold towards Quebec French compared to European French. The findings indicate that attitudes towards Quebec French on the solidarity dimension have improved since the 1980s, while attitudes on the status dimension have remained the same. These findings are interpreted in the context of the burgeoning of Quebecers’ sense of belonging to their society on the one hand, and the tradition of viewing French as a monocentric rather than a pluricentric language on the other hand.
Using satellites to probe extrasolar planet formation
Authors: Withers Paul , Barnes Jason W. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPlanetary satellites are an integral part of the hierarchy of planetary systems. Here we make two predictions concerning their formation. First, primordial satellites, which have an array of distinguishing characteristics, form only around giant planets. If true, the size and duration of a planetary system's protostellar nebula, as well as the location of its snow line, can be constrained by knowing which of its planets possess primordial satellites and which do not. Second, all satellites around terrestrial planets form by impacts. If true, this greatly enhances the constraints that can be placed on the history of terrestrial planets by their satellites' compositions, sizes, and dynamics.
Molecular insight into the role of the leucine residue on the L2 loop in the catalytic activity of caspases 3 and 7
Authors: Kang Hyo Jin , Lee Young-mi , Jeong Myeong Seon , Kim Moonil , Bae Kwang-Hee , Kim Seung Jun , Chung Sang J. 
Published: February 2012

Various apoptotic signals can activate caspases 3 and 7 by triggering the L2 loop cleavage of their proenzymes. These two enzymes have highly similar structures and functions, and serve as apoptotic executioners. The structures of caspase 7 and procaspase 7 differ significantly in the conformation of the loops constituting the active site, indicating that the enzyme undergoes a large structural change during activation. To define the role of the leucine residue on the L2 loop, which shows the largest movement during enzyme activation but has not yet been studied, Leu168 of caspase 3 and Leu191 of caspase 7 were mutated. Kinetic analysis indicated that the mutation of the leucine residues sometimes improved the Km but also greatly decreased the kcat, resulting in an overall decrease in enzyme activity. The tryptophan fluorescence change at excitation/emission=280/350 nm upon L2–L2′ loop cleavage was found to be higher in catalytically active mutants, including the corresponding wild-type caspase, than in the inactive mutants. The crystal structures of the caspase 3 mutants were solved and compared with that of wild-type. Significant alterations in the conformations of the L1 and L4 loops were found. These results indicate that the leucine residue on the L2 loop has an important role in maintaining the catalytic activity of caspases 3 and 7.
A Crossover Trial of Antimicrobial Scrubs to Reduce Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Burden on Healthcare Worker Apparel
Authors: Bearman Gonzalo M. L. , Rosato Adriana , Elam Kara , Sanogo Kakotan , Stevens Michael P. , Sessler Curtis N. , Wenzel Richard P. 
Published: February 2012

Background.The impact of antimicrobial scrubs on healthcare worker (HCW) bacterial burden is unknown.Objective.To determine die effectiveness of antimicrobial scrubs on hand and apparel bacterial burden.Design.Prospective, crossover trial.Setting and Participants.Thirty HCWs randomized to study versus control scrubs in an intensive care unit.Methods.Weekly microbiology samples were obtained from scrub abdominal area, cargo pocket, and hands. Mean log colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were calculated. Compliance with hand hygiene practices was measured. Apparel and hand mean log CFU counts were compared.Results.Adherence measures were 78% (910/1,173) for hand hygiene and 82% (223/273) for scrubs. Culture compliance was 67% (306/460). No differences were observed in bacterial hand burden or in HCWs with unique positive scrub cultures. No difference in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and gram-negative rod (GNR) burden was observed. A difference in mean log mediicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) CFU count was found between study and control scrubs for leg cargo pocket (mean log CFUs, 11.84 control scrub vs 6.71 study scrub; P = .0002), abdominal area (mean log CFUs, 11.35 control scrub vs 7.54 study scrub; P = .0056), leg cargo pocket at die beginning of shift (mean log CFUs, 11.96 control scrub vs 4.87 study scrub; P = .0028), and abdominal area pocket at die end of shift (mean log CFUs, 12.14 control scrubs vs 8.22 study scrub; P = .0054).Conclusions.Study scrubs were associated witfi a 4–7 mean log reduction in MRSA burden but not VRE or GNRs. A prospective trial is needed to measure die impact of antimicrobial impregnated apparel on MRSA transmission rates.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(3):268-275
Implementing Automated Surveillance for Tracking Clostridium difficile Infection at Multiple Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Dubberke Erik R. , Nyazee Humaa A. , Yokoe Deborah S. , Mayer Jeanmarie , Stevenson Kurt B. , Mangino Julie E. , Khan Yosef M. , Fraser Victoria J. ,   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: February 2012

Automated surveillance using electronically available data has been found to be accurate and save time. An automated Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) surveillance algorithm was validated at 4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epicenter hospitals. Electronic surveillance was highly sensitive, specific, and showed good to excellent agreement for hospital-onset; community-onset, study facility-associated; indeterminate; and recurrent CDI.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(3):305-308
The Impact of Depth of Infection and Postdischarge Surveillance on Rate of Surgical-Site Infections in a Network of Community Hospitals
Authors: Ming David Y. , Chen Luke F. , Miller Becky A. , Sexton Daniel J. , Anderson Deverick J. 
Published: February 2012

Objective.To describe the epidemiology of surgical-site infections (SSIs) in community hospitals and to explore the impact of depth of SSI, healthcare location at the time of diagnosis, and variations in surveillance practices on the overall rate of SSI.Design.Retrospective cohort study.Setting.Thirty-seven community hospitals in the southeastern United States.Patients.Consecutive sample of patients undergoing surgical procedures between July 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008.Methods.ANOVA was used to compare rates of SSIs, and the F test was used to compare the distribution of rates of SSIs. Wilcoxon rank-sum was used to test for differences in performance rankings of hospitals.Results.Following 177,706 surgical procedures, 1,919 SSIs were identified (incidence, 1.08 per 100 procedures). Sixty-four percent (1,223 of 1,919) of these were identified as complex SSIs; 87% of the complex SSIs were diagnosed in inpatient settings. The median proportion of superficial-incisional SSIs was 37% (interquartile range, 29.6%–49.5%). Postdischarge SSI surveillance was variable, with 58% of responding hospitals using surgeon letters. As reporting focus was narrowed from all SSIs to complex SSIs (incidence, 0.69 per 100 procedures) and, finally, to complex SSIs diagnosed in the inpatient setting (incidence, 0.51 per 100 procedures), variance in rates changed significantly (P = .02). Performance ranking of individual hospitals, based on rates of SSIs, differed significandy, depending on the reporting method utilized (P = .0006).Conclusions.Inconsistent reporting mediods focused on variable depths of infection and healthcare location at time of diagnosis significandy impact rates of SSI, distribution of rates of SSI, and hospital comparative-performance rankings. We believe that public reporting of SSI rates should be limited to complex SSIs diagnosed in the inpatient setting.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(3):276-282
Acute respiratory infections due to enterovirus 68 in Yamagata, Japan between 2005 and 2010
Authors: Ikeda Tatsuya , Mizuta Katsumi , Abiko Chieko , Aoki Yoko , Itagaki Tsutomu , Katsushima Fumio , Katsushima Yuriko , Matsuzaki Yoko , Fuji Naoko , Imamura Tadatsugu , Oshitani Hitoshi , Noda Masahiro , Kimura Hirokazu , Ahiko Tadayuki 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTTo clarify the epidemiology of enterovirus 68 (EV68), which is one of the most rarely identified enteroviruses, virus isolation and molecular screening using RT‐PCR was performed on 6307 respiratory specimens collected at pediatric clinics in Yamagata, Japan between 2005 and 2010. In the years 2005–2009, 10, 1, 2, 0, and 2 (40) EV68‐positive cases, respectively, were identified by RT‐PCR. In 2010, 40 cases were identified altogether: 2 by isolation only, 26 by RT‐PCR only, and 12 by both isolation and RT‐PCR. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that plural genetically distinct clusters co‐circulated. These results suggest that that difficulty in EV68 isolation leads to an underestimation of the prevalence of EV68 infections.
Differential expression pattern of ISG15 in different tissue explants and cells induced by various interferons
Authors: Yang Ling , Zhang Le‐Ying , Wang Chengming , Wang Bin , Wang Xue‐Min , Zeng Shen‐Ming 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTInterferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), an ubiquitin cross‐reactive protein, can conjugate to target proteins. Unlike ubiquitination, protein modification by ISG15 does not target protein for degradation, but enhances the cellular response to interferon (IFN), which plays a key role in antiviral responses. In this study, Western blot and/or immunocytochemistry were performed to explore the ISG15 expression patterns in explants of bovine endometrium, mammary gland and kidney, as well as Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK), endometrial and mammary cells stimulated by IFN‐α, ‐β, and ‐τ. Western blot indicated that there are differential minimum antiviral units among recombinant bovine interferon‐α (rbIFN‐α, 102 IU/mL), rbIFN‐β (103 IU/mL) and rbIFN‐τ (104 IU/mL) in regard to stimulating saturation expression of free and ISG15‐conjugated proteins by MDBK cells and endometrial and mammary explants. These results were further confirmed through immunocytochemical analysis of MDBK, endometrial and mammary cells. For the first time it has been shown that the expression pattern of ISG15‐conjugated proteins occurs in a tissue‐specific manner. Furthermore, the present findings provide the first evidence of 10‐ to 100‐fold differences in minimum antiviral units of rbIFN‐α, rbIFN‐β, and rbIFN‐τ in regard to stimulating saturation expression of ISG15.
Melon RNA interference (RNAi) lines silenced for Cm‐eIF4E show broad virus resistance
Authors: RODRÍGUEZ‐HERNÁNDEZ ANA M. , GOSALVEZ BLANCA , SEMPERE RAQUEL N. , BURGOS LORENZO , ARANDA MIGUEL A. , TRUNIGER VERÓNICA 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYEfficient and sustainable control of plant viruses may be achieved using genetically resistant crop varieties, although resistance genes are not always available for each pathogen; in this regard, the identification of new genes that are able to confer broad‐spectrum and durable resistance is highly desirable. Recently, the cloning and characterization of recessive resistance genes from different plant species has pointed towards eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIF) of the 4E family as factors required for the multiplication of many different viruses. Thus, we hypothesized that eIF4E may control the susceptibility of melon (Cucumis melo L.) to a broad range of viruses. To test this hypothesis, Cm‐eIF4E knockdown melon plants were generated by the transformation of explants with a construct that was designed to induce the silencing of this gene, and the plants from T2 generations were genetically and phenotypically characterized. In transformed plants, Cm‐eIF4E was specifically silenced, as identified by the decreased accumulation of Cm‐eIF4E mRNA and the appearance of small interfering RNAs derived from the transgene, whereas the Cm‐eIF(iso)4E mRNA levels remained unaffected. We challenged these transgenic melon plants with eight agronomically important melon‐infecting viruses, and identified that they were resistant to Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV), Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV), Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV) and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), indicating that Cm‐eIF4E controls melon susceptibility to these four viruses. Therefore, Cm‐eIF4E is an efficient target for the identification of new resistance alleles able to confer broad‐spectrum virus resistance in melon.