bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic manipulation of schistosomes – progress with integration competent vectors
Authors: SUTTIPRAPA SUTAS , RINALDI GABRIEL , BRINDLEY PAUL J. 
Published: August 2011

SUMMARYDraft genome sequences forSchistosoma japonicumandS. mansoniare now available. The schistosome genome encodes ∼13 000 protein-encoding genes for which the functions of few are well understood. Nonetheless, the new genes represent potential intervention targets, and molecular tools are being developed to determine their importance. Over the past 15 years, noteworthy progress has been achieved towards development of tools for gene manipulation and transgenesis of schistosomes. A brief history of genetic manipulation is presented, along with a review of the field with emphasis on reports of integration of transgenes into schistosome chromosomes.
Selenium-induced apoptosis-like cell death inPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: SURADJI EKA W. , HATABU TOSHIMITSU , KOBAYASHI KENJI , YAMAZAKI CHIHO , ABDULAH RIZKY , NAKAZAWA MINATO , NAKAJIMA-SHIMADA JUNKO , KOYAMA HIROSHI 
Published: August 2011

SUMMARYPlasmodium falciparumhas for some time been developing resistance against known anti-malarial drugs, and therefore a new drug is urgently needed. Selenium (Se), an essential trace element, in the form of inorganic Se, selenite (SeO32−), has been reported to have an anti-plasmodial effect, but its mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-plasmodial effect of several Se compounds againstP. falciparum in vitro. The anti-plasmodial effect of several Se compounds was analysed and their apoptosis-inducing activity was evaluated by morphological observation, DNA fragmentation assay and mitochondrial function analysis. SeO32−, methylseleninic acid, selenomethionine and selenocystine have anti-plasmodial effects with 50% inhibition concentration at 9, 10, 45, and 65μm, respectively, while selenate and methylselenocysteine up to 100μmhave no effect on parasite growth. The effective Se compounds caused the parasites to become shrunken and pyknotic and significantly increased mitochondrial damage againstP. falciparumcompared to the untreated control. In conclusion, SeO32−, methylseleninic acid, selenomethionine and selenocystine have anti-plasmodial activities that induce apoptosis-like cell death inP. falciparum, and the anti-plasmodial effects of Se seem to be based on its chemical forms. The apoptosis-like cell-death mechanism inP. falciparumcan be beneficial to respond to the growing problem of drug resistance.
Road to full recovery: longitudinal relationship between symptomatic remission and psychosocial recovery in first-episode psychosis over 7.5 years
Authors: Álvarez-Jiménez M. , Gleeson J. F. , Henry L. P. , Harrigan S. M. , Harris M. G. , Killackey E. , Bendall S. , Amminger G. P. , Yung A. R. , Herrman H. , Jackson H. J. , McGorry P. D. 
Published: August 2011

BackgroundIn recent years there has been increasing interest in functional recovery in the early phase of schizophrenia. Concurrently, new remission criteria have been proposed and several studies have examined their clinical relevance for prediction of functional outcome in first-episode psychosis (FEP). However, the longitudinal interrelationship between full functional recovery (FFR) and symptom remission has not yet been investigated. This study sought to: (1) examine the relationships between FFR and symptom remission in FEP over 7.5 years; (2) test two different models of the interaction between both variables.MethodAltogether, 209 FEP patients treated at a specialized early psychosis service were assessed at baseline, 8 months, 14 months and 7.5 years to determine their remission of positive and negative symptoms and functional recovery. Multivariate logistic regression and path analysis were employed to test the hypothesized relationships between symptom remission and FFR.ResultsRemission of both positive and negative symptoms at 8-month follow-up predicted functional recovery at 14-month follow-up, but had limited value for the prediction of FFR at 7.5 years. Functional recovery at 14-month follow-up significantly predicted both FFR and remission of negative symptoms at 7.5 years, irrespective of whether remission criteria were simultaneously met. The association remained significant after controlling for baseline prognostic indicators.ConclusionsThese findings provided support for the hypothesis that early functional and vocational recovery plays a pivotal role in preventing the development of chronic negative symptoms and disability. This underlines the need for interventions that specifically address early psychosocial recovery.
Hypothesis-driven candidate genes for schizophrenia compared to genome-wide association results
Authors: Collins A. L. , Kim Y. , Sklar P. ,   International Schizophrenia Consortium, O'Donovan M. C. , Sullivan P. F. 
Published: August 2011

BackgroundCandidate gene studies have been a key approach to the genetics of schizophrenia (SCZ). However, the results of these studies are confusing and no genes have been unequivocally implicated. The hypothesis-driven candidate gene literature can be appraised by comparison with the results of genome-wide association studies (GWAS).MethodWe describe the characteristics of hypothesis-driven candidate gene studies from the SZGene database, and use pathway analysis to compare hypothesis-driven candidate genes with GWAS results from the International Schizophrenia Consortium (ISC).ResultsSZGene contained 732 autosomal genes evaluated in 1374 studies. These genes had poor statistical power to detect genetic effects typical for human diseases, assessed only 3.7% of genes in the genome, and had low marker densities per gene. Most genes were assessed once or twice (76.9%), providing minimal ability to evaluate consensus across studies. The ISC studies had 89% power to detect a genetic effect typical for common human diseases and assessed 79% of known autosomal common genetic variation. Pathway analyses did not reveal enrichment of smaller ISCpvalues in hypothesis-driven candidate genes, nor did a comprehensive evaluation of meta-hypotheses driving candidate gene selection (SCZ as a disease of the synapse or neurodevelopment). The most studied hypothesis-driven candidate genes (COMT,DRD3,DRD2,HTR2A,NRG1,BDNF,DTNBP1andSLC6A4) had no notable ISC results.ConclusionsWe did not find support for the idea that the hypothesis-driven candidate genes studied in the literature are enriched for the common genetic variation involved in the etiology of SCZ. Larger samples are required to evaluate this conclusion definitively.
Multifractal structure of Bernoulli convolutions
Authors: JORDAN THOMAS , SHMERKIN PABLO , SOLOMYAK BORIS 
Published: August 2011

AbstractLet νpλbe the distribution of the random series$\sum_{n=1}^\infty i_n \lam^n$, whereinis a sequence of i.i.d. random variables taking the values 0, 1 with probabilitiesp, 1 −p. These measures are the well-known (biased) Bernoulli convolutions.In this paper we study the multifractal spectrum of νpλfor typical λ. Namely, we investigate the size of the setsOur main results highlight the fact that for almost all, and in some cases all, λ in an appropriate range, Δλ,p(α) is nonempty and, moreover, has positive Hausdorff dimension, for many values of α. This happens even in parameter regions for which νpλis typically absolutely continuous.
Beyond the ‘Iron Lungs of Gerontology’: Using Evidence to Shape the Future of Nursing Homes in Canada
Authors: Hirdes John P. , Mitchell Lori , Maxwell Colleen J. , White Nancy 
Published: August 2011

RÉSUMÉInstitutionalization of the Elderly in Canadaa proposé que les efforts de s’attaquer aux causes sous-jacentes de baisses liées à l’âge de santé pourraient éradiquer la necessité pour les maisons de soins infirmiers. Cependant, la prévalence des maladies chroniques a augmenté, et les conditions comme la démence signifie que les maisons de soins infirmiers sont susceptibles de rester des éléments importants du système de soins de santé canadien. Le manque d’information clinique à l’échelle individuelle a été un problème fondamental qui limite la capacité de comprendre comment les maisons de soins infirmiers peuvent changer pour mieux répondre aux besoins d’une population vieillissante L’introduction d’instruments d’évaluation interRAI pour la plupart des provinces et territoires canadiens et la création du Système d’information sur les soins représentent des étapes importantes dans notre capacité à comprendre les soins dispensés par les maisons de soins infirmiers au Canada. Le témoignage de huit provinces et territoires montre que les besoins des personnes dans les soins de longue durée sont très complexes, que les allocations de ressources ne correspondent pas toujours aux besoins, et que la qualité varie considérablement entre et au sein des provinces.
The effectiveness of outreach testing for hepatitis C in an immigrant Pakistani population
Authors: JAFFERBHOY H. , MILLER M. H. , McINTYRE P. , DILLON J. F. 
Published: August 2011

SUMMARYIn Scotland, an estimated 1% of the population is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). There is ethnic diversity in Scotland, with a large Pakistani sub-population. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of HCV in an immigrant Pakistani population and effectiveness of an outreach testing intervention. We arranged a series of HCV awareness meetings at the mosques and Pakistani Women's centre in the city of Dundee. Thereafter short-term outreach HCV testing clinics were set up in the same venues. Venous blood samples were obtained and tested for HCV IgG and HbsAg. A short questionnaire was also completed. In total, 177 individuals volunteered for testing, out of an estimated 250 who attended meetings and a total Pakistani population in Dundee of 1723. Of those tested 170 were Scottish Pakistanis (159 first generation, 11 second generation). There were 145 (85·2%) men. The mean age was 45·11 (±s.d. 16·7) years. Seven (4·1%) individuals in the cohort were anti-HCV positive. Five (2·9%) were found to have HCV RNA by PCR. Only one patient had chronic hepatitis B infection. All patients with positive results were seen in the liver clinic for consideration of treatment. We have demonstrated that immigrant Pakistanis retain a higher prevalence of HCV compared to the population of their adopted country. Outreach targeted testing in this group can be achieved using religious and cultural gatherings, with only modest investment in staff time.
Clinical application of a micro multiplane transoesophageal probe in congenital cardiac disease
Authors: Pushparajah Kuberan , Miller Owen I. , Rawlins Debbie , Barlow Anna , Nugent Kelly , Simpson John M. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAimTo assess the quality of imaging modalities of a new micro multiplane transoesophageal echocardiogram probe.MethodThis is a prospective study of micro transoesophageal echocardiogram S8-3t probe used at a single institution between 15 December, 2009 and 15 March, 2010. The images were compared with standard paediatric or adult probes where possible. Assessors prospectively rated imaging quality – two dimensional, colour flow imaging, pulse wave, and continuous wave Doppler – with a subjective 4-point scale (1 = poor to 4 = excellent).ResultsA total of 24 studies were performed on 23 patients, with a median weight = 11.7 kilograms (2.6–72 kilograms) and a median age of 3 years (0.16–60 years). Of the 23 patients, one neonate (2.8 kilograms) had transient bradycardia on probe insertion. Imaging in patients less than 10 kilograms was of full diagnostic value and new information was obtained in eight out of ten patients. Pulse wave and continuous wave Doppler was consistently good across all weight groups. There were high frame rates and good imaging quality to a depth of 4–6 centimetres in all studies. A comparison with a larger alternative probe was available for 12 studies (weight 11.9–72 kilograms). The median micro transoesophageal two-dimensional image quality score was 3 (2–4) and 4 (3–4) with the comparative probe. For the 10- to 30-kilogram group, image quality with the micro transoesophageal echocardiogram probe was judged as inferior to larger standard probes. Adult sized patients had good imaging of near the field, allowing guidance for percutaneous device closure of the atrial septum.ConclusionThe micro multiplane transoesophageal echocardiogram probe provides imaging of diagnostic quality in neonates. In larger patients, it offers good imaging of near field structures. In the intermediate-sized child (10–30 kilograms), standard paediatric probes provide better imaging.
Donald Charles Fyler: 1924–2011
Authors: Newburger Jane W. , Fyler Jennifer , Colan Steven D. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractWe are honoured to provide a tribute to Dr Donald Fyler inCardiology in the Youngon the occasion of his induction into the Paediatric Cardiology Hall of Fame. Among his extraordinary contributions to paediatric cardiovascular disease, he described the epidemiology of congenital heart disease; created the framework for regionalised data collection, collaboration, and care in New England; and designed a standardised system of codes for congenital heart disease in wide use today.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging predicts cardiac catheter findings for great artery stenosis in children with congenital cardiac disease
Authors: Oswal Nilesh , Sullivan Ian , Khambadkone Sachin , Taylor Andrew M. , Hughes Marina L. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the cardiac catheterisation findings of all children in whom cardiac magnetic resonance imaging found great artery stenosis.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of all 45 consecutive children with congenital cardiac disease who were undergoing cardiac catheterisation for intervention on cardiac magnetic resonance-defined great vessel stenosis, between January, 2006 and August, 2008.ResultsFollowing cardiac magnetic resonance, 60 significant great vessel stenoses were identified and referred to cardiac catheterisation for intervention. All patients were catheterised within a median and interquartile range of 84 and 4–149 days, respectively, of cardiac magnetic resonance. At cardiac catheterisation, the children were aged 11.5 years – with an interquartile range of 3.8–16.9 years – and weighed 34 kilograms – with an interquartile range of 15–56 kilograms. Comparing cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac catheterisation findings, 53 (88%) findings were concordant and seven were discordant. In six of seven (86%) discordant observations, cardiac magnetic resonance defined moderate–severe great vessel stenosis – involving three branch pulmonary arteries and three aortas. This was not confirmed by cardiac catheterisation, which revealed mild stenoses and haemodynamic gradients insufficient for intervention. In one patient, a mild, proximal right pulmonary artery narrowing was found at cardiac catheterisation, which was not mentioned in the cardiac magnetic resonance report. There was no difference between discordant and concordant groups on the basis of patient age, weight, interval between cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac catheterisation, or type of lesion.ConclusionInvasive assessment confirmed cardiac magnetic resonance-diagnosed great vessel stenosis in the majority of this cohort. The predominant discordant finding was lower catherisation gradient than predicted by morphologic and functional cardiac magnetic resonance assessment. Flow volume diversion – for example, unilateral pulmonary artery stenosis – and anaesthetic effects may account for some differences. Prospective refinement of cardiac magnetic resonance and interventional data may further improve the validity of non-invasive imaging thresholds for intervention.
Can ‘boost’ be avoided in pre-invasive and early breast cancer with free surgical margins after breast conservation surgery and irradiation?
Authors: Ampil Federico L. , Chu Quyen , Caldito Gloria , Li Benjamin D.L. , Burton Gary V. , Kim Roger H. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractGuidelines concerning early stage breast cancer do not clearly recommend tumour bed boost dose after breast conserving surgery and irradiation when the resection margins are negative. Because the number of these patients is expected to increase, we evaluated the results of our treatment scheme in which the additional tumour bed dose was omitted. One hundred consecutive individuals with ductal carcinoma in-situ or stage I or II cancer of the breast were identified for this retrospective analysis. The observed ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 4% and 91% respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that triple receptor negative tumour is the most independent prognostic risk factor. In conclusion, the observed low rate of local recurrence and many long-term survivors in this study seem to legitimize the omission of the tumour bed boost dose after whole breast irradiation in women with early carcinoma of the breast and free breast conserving surgical margins.
Using reference values to assess environmental sustainability of dairy farms
Authors: Acosta-Alba I. , Corson M.S. , van der Werf H.M.G. , Leterme P. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractOne challenge for the environmental assessment of agricultural systems is to progress from estimating whether one farming system has fewer impacts than another to estimating whether or not it can be considered environmentally sustainable. To this end, we developed reference values (RVs) of farm emissions or energy use per hectare that defined hypothetical sustainability thresholds in each of three impact categories: climate change, water-quality degradation and non-renewable energy use. We applied one RV per category to the potential impacts (estimated by life-cycle assessment) of 45 French dairy farms to identify farms below RVs in each impact category and then evaluated their management and production characteristics. Seventeen of the 45 farms lie below at least one of the three RVs. Groups of farms below RVs had a higher percentage of organic farms, larger mean usable agricultural area, longer mean pasture residence time and lower mean inputs of concentrate feed and nitrogen than those above the same RVs. In consequence, the groups below RVs also tended to have lower mean milk production per cow and per hectare. All milk production systems can move toward environmental sustainability even though, according to production mode and intensity, some potential impacts are easier to reduce than others. Most farms were unable to attain the lowest RVs, suggesting that policy-makers may need to consider less ambitious RVs for existing agricultural systems. Otherwise, the distance between normative RVs and indicator values of dairy farms suggest that production and consumption of agricultural products will need to change if sustainability goals do not.
Maternal and paternal psychopathology increases risk of offspring ADHD equally
Authors: Lindblad F. , Weitoft G. Ringbäck , Hjern A. 
Published: August 2011

Background.Parental psychopathology may increase the risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the offspring. The aim of this study was to analyze if/how gender influences the association between parental psychiatric/addictive disorders and ADHD medication in the offspring.Methods.Register study in national birth cohorts of 1.1 million 6–19-year-olds. In this population, 7960 individuals with ADHD medication were identified in the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register during 2006. Data on parental psychiatric/addictive disorders and suicide death were obtained through linkages to national registers. Logistic regression was used for analyses with multiple adjustments for socio-economic, regional and demographic confounders.Results.Parental diagnosis related to illicit drugs was associated with the highest odds ratios (ORs) of ADHD medication (OR: ~3.5–4), followed by suicide attempt/death (OR: ~ 3–3.5), alcohol (OR:~2.5–3), affective disorder (OR: ~ 2.5) and psychosis (OR: ~ 2–2.5). The ORs were of similar magnitudes for maternal and paternal psychopathology and did not vary by the gender of the offspring. Adjusting for social characteristics decreased the ORs substantially and in the same way regarding fathers' and mothers' possible influence on the risk of ADHD in children.Conclusions.Neither parental nor offspring gender seems to influence the link between parental addictive/psychiatric disorder and offspring ADHD.
Control over stress induces plasticity of individual prefrontal cortical neurons: A conductance-based neural simulation
Authors: Varela Juan , Wang Jungang , Varnell Andrew , Cooper Donald 
Published: August 2011

AbstractBehavioral control over stressful stimuli induces resilience to future conditions when control is lacking. The medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC) is a critically important brain region required for plasticity of stress resilience. We found that control over stress induces plasticity of the intrinsic voltage-gated conductances of pyramidal neurons in the PFC. To gain insight into the underlying biophysical mechanisms of this plasticity we used the conductance- based neural simulation software tool, NEURON, to model the increase in membrane excitability associated with resilience to stress. A ball and stick multicompartment conductance-based model was used to realistically fit passive and active data traces from prototypical pyramidal neurons in neurons in rats with control over tail shock stress and those lacking control. The results indicate that the plasticity of membrane excitability associated with control over stress can be attributed to an increase in Na+ and Ca2+ T-type conductances and an increase in the leak conductance. Using simulated dendritic synaptic inputs we observed an increase in excitatory postsynaptic summation and amplification resulting in elevated action potential output. This realistic simulation suggests that control over stress enhances the output of the PFC and offers specific testable hypotheses to guide future electrophysiological mechanistic studies in animal models of resilience and vulnerability to stress.
Exploring The Hidden Realms Of Global Biodiversity: Interesting Endophytic Yeast Flora From Floral Ovaries
Authors: Kamat Nandkumar , Saudagar Shweta 
Published: August 2011

AbstractSoil is considered the ultimate reservoir of all the microbiota and specifically the yeasts. However their association with different plant organs and at different developmental stages is not fully explored. Although about 1000 yeast species have been identified, exploration of various microhabitats such as plant storage organs, flowers, nectar, and tree sap is expected to yield a large number of novel species, including interesting endophytic yeasts(Carlos & Gabor, 2006). Angiosperms are considered the most diverse group of the plant kingdom comprising of about 250,000 species (Kenrick, 1999). As part of an exhaustive exploration of yeasts associated with angiosperm flowers, specific attention was paid to floral ovaries to detect the presence of endophytic yeast flora. A total of 52 flower species belonging to 25 families were sampled and screened for endophytic yeasts. Altogether ten viable yeast strains were obtained from seven flower species.