bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Young women partition fatty acids towards ketone body production rather than VLDL-TAG synthesis, compared with young men
Authors: Marinou Kyriakoula , Adiels Martin , Hodson Leanne , Frayn Keith N. , Karpe Fredrik , Fielding Barbara A. 
Published: January 2011

Before the menopause, women are relatively protected against CVD compared with men. The reasons for this sex difference are not completely understood, but hepatic fatty acid metabolism may play a role. The present study aimed to investigate the utilisation of plasma NEFA by the liver and to determine whether they are partitioned differently into ketone bodies and VLDL-TAG in healthy, lean young men and women. Volunteers were studied during a prolonged overnight fast (12–19 h) using an intravenous infusion of [U-13C]palmitate. After 12 h fasting, the women had a more advantageous metabolic profile with lower plasma glucose (P < 0·05) and TAG (P < 0·05) but higher plasma NEFA (P < 0·05) concentrations. Plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) concentrations rose more in women than in men, and the transfer of13C from [U-13C]palmitate to plasma [13C]3-OHB reached a plateau 6–7 h after the start of the infusion in women but was still increasing at 6 h in men. This implies a slower 3-OHB production rate and/or dilution by other precursor pools in men. In women, the high isotopic enrichment of plasma 3-OHB suggested that systemic plasma fatty acids were the major source of 3-OHB production. However, in men, this was not observed during the course of the study (P < 0·01). There were no sex differences for the incorporation of13C into VLDL1- or VLDL2-TAG. The ability of young women to partition fatty acids towards ketone body production rather than VLDL-TAG may contribute to their more advantageous metabolic profile compared with young men.
Longevity of Zygocotyle lunata in Balb/c mice and long-term survival of digeneans in vertebrate hosts
Authors: Fried B. , LeSage K.E. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThis study used Balb/c mice to examine the longevity of Zygocotyle lunata in a murine host. Of 11 mice, each exposed to 20 Z. lunata cysts, six were infected with a total of 12 worms from 11 to 24 weeks postinfection (PI). Live worms recovered at 24 weeks PI had a mean body area of about 25 mm2. These worms produced viable eggs with well-developed miracidia following embryonation in artificial spring water for 2 weeks at 28°C. The Balb/c mouse is a useful model to study longevity of this paramphistomid trematode for at least 6 months PI. An additional aspect of this article is a review of the pertinent literature published from 1937 to 2007 on ageing and longevity of digeneans.
Endoparasite fauna of five Gadiformes fish species from the coast of Chile: host ecology versus phylogeny
Authors: Chávez R.A. , González M.T. , Oliva M.E. , Valdivia I.M. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThe aims of the present study were to compare, using multivariate analyses, the degree of similarity of the endoparasite fauna of five fish species belonging to the order Gadiformes:Merluccius gayi,Merluccius australis,Macruronus magellanicus(Gadoidei) andMicromesistius australisandNezumia pulchella(Macrouroidei), from the southern and central Chilean coast, and to evaluate whether the composition of the endoparasite fauna was determined by phylogenetic or ecological relationships. We employed our database ofMerluccius australis,M. magellanicusandMicromesistius australis, which was complemented with published information forM. magellanicus,Merluccius australis,Micromesistius australis,M. gayiandN. pulchella. A higher number of endoparasite species was recorded forMerluccius australis,Micromesistius australisandM. magellanicus, namelyAnisakissp. andHepatoxylon trichiuri, which is the most prevalent parasite among these hosts.Aporocotyle wilhelmiandHysterothylaciumsp. were detected only inM. gayi, whereasLepidapedonsp. was found exclusively inN. pulchella. These results suggest that fish ecology rather than host phylogeny was the most important factor for the determination of similarity in parasite composition. This result could be explained by the similar trophic patterns of hosts and by the predominance of generalist larval species among these fish parasite communities.
Amplification of neutrino oscillations by a density ripple in dense plasmas
Authors: SHUKLA P. K. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractIt is shown that a pre-existing electron density ripple in a dense plasma can excite electron neutrino oscillations. For our purposes, we use the dispersion relation for neutrino oscillations and derive the Mathieu equation for the propagation of neutrino oscillations in the presence of a spatially oscillating electron density ripple. The Mathieu equation predicts instability of neutrino oscillations. The criterion under which instability occurs is presented. Analytical expressions for the neutrino oscillation frequency and the growth rate are obtained. The possible relevance of our investigation to non-thermal neutrino oscillations in dense plasma environments (e.g. the supernovae, the core of white dwarf stars etc.) is briefly mentioned.
Come Buy Hot Corn! Music, Sentiment, and Morality in 1850s New York
Authors: GRIMES ROBERT R. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractIn the 1850s, the residents of, and visitors to, New York City experienced a world of rapid and sometimes chaotic change. Various reform movements—including Temperance, Abolition, and Women's Rights—became stronger and more widely known through various media. In 1853 a simple story published in the pages of theNew York Tribunetook the city by storm. “Hot Corn,” the story of Little Katy, a child peddler, is ostensibly a temperance tale, but something made the story resonate among the public. Soon minstrel songs, sheet music, lectures, novels, and melodramas followed, purporting to herald a new moral crusade against drunkenness, poverty, and child abuse, parallelingUncle Tom's Cabinand the Abolition movement. Within eighteen months, however, the “Hot Corn” phenomenon had faded almost as quickly as it had begun.
Length bias correction for RNA-seq data in gene set analyses
Authors: Gao Liyan , Fang Zhide , Zhang Kui , Zhi Degui , Cui Xiangqin 
Published: January 2011

AbstractMotivation: Next-generation sequencing technologies are being rapidly applied to quantifying transcripts (RNA-seq). However, due to the unique properties of the RNA-seq data, the differential expression of longer transcripts is more likely to be identified than that of shorter transcripts with the same effect size. This bias complicates the downstream gene set analysis (GSA) because the methods for GSA previously developed for microarray data are based on the assumption that genes with same effect size have equal probability (power) to be identified as significantly differentially expressed. Since transcript length is not related to gene expression, adjusting for such length dependency in GSA becomes necessary.Results: In this article, we proposed two approaches for transcript-length adjustment for analyses based on Poisson models: (i) At individual gene level, we adjusted each gene's test statistic using the square root of transcript length followed by testing for gene set using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. (ii) At gene set level, we adjusted the null distribution for the Fisher's exact test by weighting the identification probability of each gene using the square root of its transcript length. We evaluated these two approaches using simulations and a real dataset, and showed that these methods can effectively reduce the transcript-length biases. The top-ranked GO terms obtained from the proposed adjustments show more overlaps with the microarray results.Availability: R scripts are at http://www.soph.uab.edu/Statgenetics/People/XCui/r-codes/.Contact: xcui@uab.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Compression of DNA sequence reads in FASTQ format
Authors: Deorowicz Sebastian , Grabowski Szymon 
Published: January 2011

Abstract
Motivation: Modern sequencing instruments are able to generate at least hundreds of millions short reads of genomic data. Those huge volumes of data require effective means to store them, provide quick access to any record and enable fast decompression.
Results: We present a specialized compression algorithm for genomic data in FASTQ format which dominates its competitor, G-SQZ, as is shown on a number of datasets from the 1000 Genomes Project (www.1000genomes.org).
Availability: DSRC is freely available at http:/sun.aei.polsl.pl/dsrc.
Contact: sebastian.deorowicz@polsl.pl
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Biological assessment of robust noise models in microarray data analysis
Authors: Posekany A. , Felsenstein K. , Sykacek P. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractMotivation: Although several recently proposed analysis packages for microarray data can cope with heavy-tailed noise, many applications rely on Gaussian assumptions. Gaussian noise models foster computational efficiency. This comes, however, at the expense of increased sensitivity to outlying observations. Assessing potential insufficiencies of Gaussian noise in microarray data analysis is thus important and of general interest.Results: We propose to this end assessing different noise models on a large number of microarray experiments. The goodness of fit of noise models is quantified by a hierarchical Bayesian analysis of variance model, which predicts normalized expression values as a mixture of a Gaussian density and t-distributions with adjustable degrees of freedom. Inference of differentially expressed genes is taken into consideration at a second mixing level. For attaining far reaching validity, our investigations cover a wide range of analysis platforms and experimental settings. As the most striking result, we find irrespective of the chosen preprocessing and normalization method in all experiments that a heavy-tailed noise model is a better fit than a simple Gaussian. Further investigations revealed that an appropriate choice of noise model has a considerable influence on biological interpretations drawn at the level of inferred genes and gene ontology terms. We conclude from our investigation that neglecting the over dispersed noise in microarray data can mislead scientific discovery and suggest that the convenience of Gaussian-based modelling should be replaced by non-parametric approaches or other methods that account for heavy-tailed noise.Contact: peter.sykacek@boku.ac.atAvailability: http://bioinf.boku.ac.at/alexp/robmca.html.
Remifentanil Degradation in Umbilical Cord Blood of Preterm Infants
Authors: Welzing Lars , Ebenfeld Sabine , Dlugay Verena , Wiesen Martin H. J. , Roth Bernhard , Mueller Carsten 
Published: January 2011

Background
No pharmacokinetic data about remifentanil in preterm infants exist, although remifentanil is increasingly used in this especially vulnerable subgroup of pediatric patients. Unfortunately, ethical restrictions in the volume of blood that can be withdrawn for kinetic sampling nearly prohibit pharmacokinetic studies in preterm infants.

Methods
Because remifentanil is rapidly metabolized by nonspecific blood esterases, we collected umbilical cord serum of preterm and term infants to investigate whether the activity of nonspecific blood esterases depends on gestational age. Umbilical cord serum, buffer solution, ascorbic acid, and remifentanil were mixed in a glass vial placed in a shaking water bath at 37°C. Subsequently, serum samples were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based analysis of remifentanil and its metabolite GR90291 after 0, 30, 60, 100, and 150 min.

Results
We analyzed umbilical cord serum samples of 34 preterm infants (24-36 gestational weeks) and six term infants. The degradation rates of remifentanil to its major metabolite GR90291 were comparable in preterm and term infants. The overall median degradation half-life of remifentanil was 143 ± (interquartile range) 47 min (minimum, 76 min; maximum, 221 min) without significant differences between very preterm infants (less than 28 gestational weeks) and term infants. The remifentanil concentration remained stable in control runs without serum.

Conclusions
Our study demonstrates that very preterm infants exhibit a high nonspecific esterase activity in umbilical cord blood that is comparable with that of term infants. These results support clinical experiences that remifentanil is rapidly metabolized by preterm infants without prolonged side effects.
Latex Sensitization
Authors: Draisci Gaetano , Zanfini Bruno A. , Nucera Eleonora , Catarci Stefano , Sangregorio Raffaella , Schiavino Domenico , Mannocci Alice , Patriarca Giampiero 
Published: January 2011

Background
Previous studies have reported a greater frequency of sensitization to latex in the female population and a higher incidence of anaphylactic reactions to latex during cesarean section. In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence of latex sensitization in obstetric patients compared with nonpregnant subjects.

Methods
Two hundred ninety-four healthy pregnant women who were at term with a singleton fetus and scheduled for caesarean section (group A) were compared with 294 healthy nulliparous women with childbirth potential undergoing gynecologic surgery (group B). Before surgery, patients completed a questionnaire, and venous blood samples were collected to measure specific immunoglobulin E serum concentrations with a fluorescent enzyme immunoassay test. Skin-prick tests were performed if adverse reactions occurred during surgery. Latex allergy was diagnosed on the basis of immunoglobulin E results and/or positive skin-prick tests.

Results
The prevalence of latex sensitization was higher in group A than in group B (15/294, 5.1% vs. 5/294, 1.7%; P < 0.05). A significant difference in specific immunoglobulin E serum concentration was noted between pregnant and nonpregnant patients who had a positive fluorescent enzyme immunoassay test (median serum concentration: 1.93 kilounits/l; interquartile range = 2.28 vs. 0.78 kilounits/l; interquartile range = 1.07; P less than 0.05). Two patients in group A experienced an anaphylactic reaction to latex. Statistical analysis disclosed no association between latex sensitization and accepted risk factor for latex allergy.

Conclusions
The authors report a higher prevalence of latex sensitization in the obstetric population than in nonpregnant subjects undergoing gynecologic surgery.
Optimal management of β thalassaemia intermedia
Authors: Taher Ali T. , Musallam Khaled M. , Cappellini Maria Domenica , Weatherall David J. 
Published: January 2011

SummaryOur understanding of the molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease process in patients with β thalassaemia intermedia (TI) has substantially increased over the past decade. The hallmark of disease process in patients with TI includes ineffective erythropoiesis, chronic haemolytic anaemia, and iron overload. There are a number of options currently available for managing patients with TI including splenectomy, transfusion therapy, iron chelation therapy, modulation of fetal haemoglobin production, and several other agents targeting specific clinical complications. Limited studies assessed the efficacy and safety of these modalities; hence, there are currently no clear guidelines for managing patients with TI. Until solid evidence‐based guidelines are available, individualised treatment should be entertained.
Evapotranspiration and plant–atmospheric coupling in a Brachiaria brizantha pasture in the Brazilian savannah region
Authors: Meirelles M. L. , Franco A. C. , Farias S. E. M. , Bracho R. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThe savannah of central Brazil occupies 208 million ha, of which about 54 million ha have been converted to cultivated pasture. The aim of this study was to provide the dynamics of evapotranspiration (ET) in a Brachiaria brizantha cultivated pasture in the Brazilian Savannah region at the beginning of the rainy season and determine biological and environmental factors that influence ET by using the decoupling approach. A meteorological station and an eddy covariance system were placed at the studied site. The above‐ground biomass production of the B. brizantha pasture responded rapidly to the onset of the rainy season. Leaf area index (LAI) increased from 0·4 to 1·1 between 15 November and 3 December, with a corresponding increase in live biomass. Average ET during the study period was 2·6 ± 0·9 mm. Daily ET was significantly correlated with maximum vapour pressure deficit and precipitation. The average of daytime decoupling factor obtained over 2 d without rain was 0·50 ± 0·06. The B. brizantha pasture deployed in this region showed an intermediate coupling which takes ET to be influenced by both atmospheric conditions and by the available radiation at the canopy.
Broad‐scale latitudinal patterns of genetic diversity among native European and introduced house sparrow (Passer domesticus) populations
Authors: SCHREY A. W. , GRISPO M. , AWAD M. , COOK M. B. , McCOY E. D. , MUSHINSKY H. R. , ALBAYRAK T. , BENSCH S. , BURKE T. , BUTLER L. K. , DOR R. , FOKIDIS H. B. , JENSEN H. , IMBOMA T. , KESSLER‐RIOS M. M. , MARZAL A. , STEWART I. R. K. , WESTERDAHL H. , WESTNEAT D. F. , ZEHTINDJIEV P. , MARTIN L. B. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractIntroduced species offer unique opportunities to study evolution in new environments, and some provide opportunities for understanding the mechanisms underlying macroecological patterns. We sought to determine how introduction history impacted genetic diversity and differentiation of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), one of the most broadly distributed bird species. We screened eight microsatellite loci in 316 individuals from 16 locations in the native and introduced ranges. Significant population structure occurred between native than introduced house sparrows. Introduced house sparrows were distinguished into one North American group and a highly differentiated Kenyan group. Genetic differentiation estimates identified a high magnitude of differentiation between Kenya and all other populations, but demonstrated that European and North American samples were differentiated too. Our results support previous claims that introduced North American populations likely had few source populations, and indicate house sparrows established populations after introduction. Genetic diversity also differed among native, introduced North American, and Kenyan populations with Kenyan birds being least diverse. In some cases, house sparrow populations appeared to maintain or recover genetic diversity relatively rapidly after range expansion (<50 years; Mexico and Panama), but in others (Kenya) the effect of introduction persisted over the same period. In both native and introduced populations, genetic diversity exhibited large‐scale geographic patterns, increasing towards the equator. Such patterns of genetic diversity are concordant with two previously described models of genetic diversity, the latitudinal model and the species diversity model.
Clopidogrel dilemma for orthopaedic surgeons
Authors: Steele Mitchell J. , Fox John S. , Fletcher John P. , Grigg Leeanne E. , Bell Gordon 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackground:  Patients medicated with clopidogrel who require orthopaedic surgery present a particular challenge. Whether in an emergency or elective situation the orthopaedic surgeon must balance the risks of ceasing clopidogrel versus the risk of increased bleeding that dual antiplatelet therapy generates.Method:  This paper reviews the current published evidence regarding the risks of continuing clopidogrel, the risks of discontinuing clopidogrel and associated considerations such as venous thromboprophylaxis.Results:  Little good quality evidence exists in regard to perioperative clopidogrel for orthopaedic surgery. Available evidence across non‐cardiac and cardiac surgery were assessed and presented in regards to current practices, blood loss for orthopaedic operations, risks when continuing clopidogrel, risks of stopping clopidogrel and also the consideration of venous thromboembolism.Conclusions:  The patients at greatest risk, when discontinuing clopidogrel therapy, are those with drug eluting stents who may be at risk of stent thrombosis. Where possible, efforts should be made to continue clopidogrel therapy through the perioperative period, taking precautions to minimize bleeding. If the risk of bleeding is too high, antiplatelet therapy must be reinstated as soon as considered reasonable after surgery. In addition, patients on clopidogrel who sustain a fall or other general trauma need to be carefully assessed because of the possibility of occult bleeding, such as into the retroperitoneal space. Until more definitive evidence becomes available, this review aims to provide a guide for the orthopaedic surgeon in dealing with the difficult dilemma of the patient on clopidogrel therapy, recommending that orthopaedic surgeons take a team approach to assess the individual risks for all patients and consider continuation of clopidogrel therapy perioperatively where possible.
Optional inferior vena cava filter use in surgical patients: a Western Australian experience
Authors: Sebunya Jonathan , Baschera Dominik , Isenegger Patrick , Zellweger Rene 
Published: January 2011

AbstractBackground:  The optional filter is gaining ground, supplementing anticoagulation in the management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in high‐risk surgical patients, this despite knowledge gaps relating to its efficacy. We studied the literature and audited our experience with inferior vena cava filters to educate ourselves on this mode of VTE prophylaxis, particularly its practical implications, if any, for the surgeon.Methods:  A retrospective clinical study on inferior vena cava filter (IVCF)‐related events in a Western Australian tertiary centre in 2008 was performed. Literature on IVCFs was reviewed.Results:  The 118 IVCF‐related events at our centre in 2008, involved either Recovery‐G2 75(88%) or Cook‐Celect nine (11%). Of these, 78 were insertions and 36 were retrievals with four failed retrievals (10% of the attempts). Major indications for insertion included multi‐trauma 32 (38%), prothrombotic state 29 (34%), head injury/intracranial bleeding 16 (19%) and others eight (9%). The mean dwelling time was 100 days (12–349 days). The mean age was 43 and the retrieval rate was 58%.Conclusion:  Optional filters have presented both versatility and challenge to the management of VTE in high‐risk patients. An underlying concern about the quintessential efficacy of IVCFs lingers on, while the impact of lost follow‐ups in young patients is still at large.Class 1 studies on optional filters would add certainty to the use of this generation of filters, be a step forward in relevance from the seminal work of Decousus and garner the willingness needed to engage teamwork and institutional proactiveness against loopholes such as lost follow‐ups that can undermine the portrayed benefits of a potentially lifesaving device.