bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management of neonatal cow’s milk allergy in high‐risk neonates
Authors: Miyazawa Tokuo , Itahashi Kazuo , Imai Takanori 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground:  We conducted a multicenter clinical survey to clarify the current attitudes to diagnosis or treatment of neonatal milk allergy (NMA) in institutions providing medical care for high‐risk neonates in Japan.Methods:  Questionnaires were distributed to 263 institutions that provide medical care for high‐risk infants. Information was requested on the number of hospitalized neonates between January 2004 and December 2005, the number of neonates diagnosed with milk allergy, frequent clinical symptoms, and clinical tests performed routinely when NMA was suspected.Results:  Responses were received from 145 institutions (55.1%). Of 69 796 hospitalized neonates, a diagnosis of cow's milk allergy was made in 0.21%. The incidence in infants with birthweight <1000 g was 0.35%. Gastrointestinal symptoms were identified as the most frequent symptoms that suggested NMA by 80% of institutions. A challenge test in each suspected case was performed in only 15% of institutions, even though it was considered to be the most significant test for diagnosis. Most institutions considered a specific immunoglobulin E test in cases of suspected NMA, but only one‐third agreed on its diagnostic significance. A lymphocyte stimulation test was performed in only 5.5% of institutions.Conclusions:  This study is the first to show the incidence of NMA in institutions providing medical care for high‐risk neonates in Japan. Current clinical tests may be insufficient for diagnosis of NMA in which non‐immunoglobulin‐E‐mediated delayed allergic reactions are involved. Therefore, awareness of the clinical features of this disorder is required among neonatologists and allergists.
Protein SUMOylation modulates calcium influx and glutamate release from presynaptic terminals
Authors: Feligioni Marco , Nishimune Atsushi , Henley Jeremy M. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPosttranslational modification by small ubiquitin‐like modifier (SUMO) proteins is emerging as an important regulatory mechanism for neuronal function and dysfunction. Although multiple potential presynaptic SUMOylation substrate proteins have been proposed from sequence analysis the functional consequences of presynaptic SUMOylation have not been determined. Here we show that SUMOylation of presynaptic proteins modulates neurotransmitter release. Increasing protein SUMOylation by entrapping recombinant SUMO‐1 in synaptosomes decreased glutamate release evoked by KCl whereas decreasing SUMOylation with the SUMO‐specific protease SENP‐1 enhanced KCl‐evoked release. In contrast, SUMO increased and SENP‐1 decreased synaptosomal glutamate release evoked by kainate stimulation. Consistent with these results, SENP‐1 increased Ca2+ influx into synaptosomes evoked by KCl whereas it decreased kainate‐induced Ca2+ influx. These results demonstrate that, in addition to postsynaptic effects, protein SUMOylation acts to modulate neurotransmitter release and thereby regulate synaptic function.
The Escherichia coli O157:H7 EhaB autotransporter protein binds to laminin and collagen I and induces a serum IgA response in O157:H7 challenged cattle
Authors: Wells Timothy J. , McNeilly Tom N. , Totsika Makrina , Mahajan Arvind , Gally David L. , Schembri Mark A. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryEnterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are a subgroup of Shiga toxin‐producing E. coli that cause gastrointestinal disease with the potential for life‐threatening sequelae. Cattle serve as the natural reservoir for EHEC and outbreaks occur sporadically as a result of contaminated beef and other farming products. While certain EHEC virulence mechanisms have been extensively studied, the factors that mediate host colonization are poorly defined. Previously, we identified four proteins (EhaA,B,C,D) from the prototypic EHEC strain EDL933 that belong to the autotransporter (AT) family. Here we characterize the EhaB AT protein. EhaB was shown to be located at the cell surface and overexpression in E. coli K‐12 resulted in significant biofilm formation under continuous flow conditions. Overexpression of EhaB in E. coli K12 and EDL933 backgrounds also promoted adhesion to the extracellular matrix proteins collagen I and laminin. An EhaB‐specific antibody revealed that EhaB is expressed in E. coli EDL933 following in vitro growth. EhaB also cross‐reacted with serum IgA from cattle challenged with E. coli O157:H7, indicating that EhaB is expressed in vivo and elicits a host IgA immune response.
Acute urinary retention and subsequent catheterization cause lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage in the bladder: preventive effect of edaravone, a free‐radical scavenger
Authors: Shimizu Shogo , Saito Motoaki , Kinoshita Yukako , Kazuyama Emi , Tamamura Mayuko , Satoh Itaru , Satoh Keisuke 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of a free‐radical scavenger, edaravone, on the changes occurring with acute urinary retention (AUR) and subsequent catheterization in the rat bladder.MATERIALS AND METHODSEight‐week‐old male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated to one of four groups; an AUR group that had urinary retention induced, with subsequent catheterization; two edaravone groups, given edaravone at 1 or 10 mg/kg body weight for 60 min and then the same urinary retention and subsequent catheterization; and a sham‐operated control group given edaravone 10 mg/kg. Urinary retention was induced by the clamping the rat penile urethra with a small clip, making a cystostomy, and then infusing 3 mL (0.6 mL/min) of saline with an infusion pump. The obstruction was sustained for 30 min and then the bladder was allowed to drain with a catheter in place for 60 min as the studies continued. After killing the rats the function of the bladder was assessed, with carbachol and 100 mmKCl, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation), 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG; a marker of oxidative DNA damage), heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP 70) and its mRNA were measured.RESULTSAUR increased the intravesical pressure and decreased blood flow, and subsequent catheterization decreased the intravesical pressure and increased blood flow. Edaravone induced a decrease in blood flow in the bladder during the urinary retention and subsequent catheterization compared to the blood flow in the AUR group. Edaravone resulted in protection of the contractile responses to both carbachol and KCl in a dose‐dependent manner. The MDA concentration, 8‐OHdG content and expressions of HSP‐70 and its mRNA in the AUR group were significantly larger than those of the control group. Edaravone markedly suppressed the accumulations of MDA and 8‐OHdG in the bladder, and reduced the expressions of HSP 70 and its mRNA.CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that edaravone reduces the oxidative stress and prevents the bladder dysfunction caused by AUR and subsequent catheterization.
Heterogeneity in Professional Service Firms
Authors: Malhotra Namrata , Morris Timothy 
Published: March 2009

abstractResearch on professional service firms emphasizes similarities in their organization and management and distinctiveness from other types of organization. In this paper we take a different tack and focus on the differences between professional service firms, that is, on heterogeneity across different professional sectors. We argue that differences between professions on a number of dimensions affect the nature of professionals' work and, in turn, the organization and management of firms across different professional sectors. Drawing on the sociology of professions literature we focus on three key dimensions of knowledge, jurisdictional control and client relationships to compare legal, auditing and engineering consulting firms. We consider how differences in these dimensions across the three professional services sectors impact upon the way firms are organized. We offer a number of propositions explicating how differences in the nature of knowledge, jurisdictional control and client relationships have implications for organizational form, team‐working and pricing systems.
Interpersonal Processes of Care and Patient Satisfaction: Do Associations Differ by Race, Ethnicity, and Language?
Authors: Nápoles Anna María , Gregorich Steven E. , Santoyo‐Olsson Jasmine , O'Brien Helen , Stewart Anita L. 
Published: March 2009

Objective. Describe association of patient satisfaction with interpersonal processes of care (IPC) by race/ethnicity.Data Sources/Study Setting. Interview with 1,664 patients (African Americans, English‐ and Spanish‐speaking Latinos, and non‐Latino Whites).Study Design/Methods. Cross‐sectional study of seven IPC measures (communication, patient‐centered decision making, and interpersonal style) and three satisfaction measures (satisfaction with physicians, satisfaction with health care, and willingness to recommend physicians). Regression models explored associations, controlling for patient characteristics.Principal Findings. In all groups: patient‐centered decision making was positively associated with satisfaction with physicians (B=0.10, p<.0001) and health care (B=0.07, p<.001), and “recommend physicians” (OR=1.23, 95 percent CI 1.06, 1.43); discrimination was negatively associated with satisfaction with physicians (B=0.09, p<.05) and health care (B=0.17, p<.001). Unclear communication was associated with less satisfaction with physicians among Spanish‐speaking Latinos. Explaining results was positively associated with all satisfaction outcomes for all groups with one exception (no association with satisfaction with physicians for Latino Spanish‐speakers). Compassion/respect was positively associated with all outcomes for all groups with two exceptions (no association with satisfaction with health care among English‐speaking Latinos and Whites).Conclusions. All IPC measures were associated with at least one satisfaction outcome for all groups except for unclear communication.
A prospective, double‐blind, randomized clinical feasibility trial of controlling the storage age of red blood cells for transfusion in cardiac surgical patients
Authors: Bennett‐Guerrero Elliott , Stafford‐Smith Mark , Waweru Peter M. , Bredehoeft Steven J. , Campbell Mary Lee , Haley N. Rebecca , Phillips‐Bute Barbara , Newman Mark F. , Bandarenko Nicholas 
Published: March 2009

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence demonstrates an association between duration of storage of red blood cells (RBC) and morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. We studied the feasibility of two different schemes for categorizing and randomizing age of RBC units transfused in cardiac surgical patients.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In Phase 1, 20 subjects were randomly assigned to standard of care (SOC) versus no RBCs with more than 21 days' storage duration. In Phase 2, 23 subjects were randomized to RBCs of 7 ± 4 versus 21 ± 4 days' storage duration. The age of study RBC units was masked.RESULTS: In Phase 1, no patients received RBCs 31 days or older in SOC, and there was overlap in storage age shared in both arms so the predefined feasibility criteria were not met. In Phase 2, it was feasible to deliver specified age RBCs to the 7‐day arm (achieved in 100% of subjects), but feasibility was not demonstrated for the 21‐day arm (only 50% of subjects transfused with target age RBCs). Significant differences, however, were observed between the 7 ± 4‐ and 21 ± 4‐day arms with respect to age of all RBC units (6 ± 2 vs. 18 ± 7, p = 0.0002) and maximum age (7 ± 2 vs. 20 ± 7, p < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: Given the current storage age distribution of available RBC inventory, use of a SOC arm in future studies is unlikely to result in a large exposure to “old” blood. It is feasible to randomize patients to “younger” RBCs (3‐11 days) but design strategies are needed to provide “intermediate‐aged” or “old” blood as a comparator.
Ecological consequences of a massive flowering event of bamboo (Chusquea culeou) in a temperate forest of Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: Marchesini Victoria A. , Sala Osvaldo E. , Austin Amy T. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestion: What changes occur as a consequence of the massive flowering and senescence of the dominant understory species of bamboo, Chusquea culeou (E. Desvaux)? In this study, we documented some of the ecological consequences of this rare event that occurred in 2001, the previous flowering having occurred more than 60 years ago.Location: Nothofagus temperate forest, Patagonia, Argentina.Methods: We assessed changes in environmental variables and bamboo biomass post‐flowering in an old‐growth southern beech forest. In addition, we monitored the demography of emergent Ch. culeou seedling and Nothofagus nervosa saplings, comparing non‐flowered (live understory) and flowered (senescent understory) patches within the forest matrix.Results: Bamboo flowering dramatically increased light availability in the forest understory but, surprisingly, other environmental changes were not observed. Bamboo seedlings emerged in both patch types, and experienced gradual but modest mortality through time. Bamboo dieback promoted higher survivorship and an increment in biomass, height, number of leaves and buds in the saplings of Nothofagus nervosa.Conclusion: The high density of bamboo seedlings 5 years after the flowering event and the independence of emergence from environmental variables suggest that understory regeneration is a gradual process that is not strongly regulated by initial seedling density or resource limitation. In contrast, microenvironmental conditions created after the flowering event significantly increased Nothofagus sapling growth and survival. These results suggest that overstory forest regeneration could be enhanced in this temperate forest in the first years after this infrequent bamboo flowering event.
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Arabidopsis Mature Pollen and Germinated Pollen
Authors: Zou Junjie , Song Lianfen , Zhang Wenzheng , Wang Yi , Ruan Songlin , Wu Wei‐Hua 
Published: March 2009

Abstract Proteomic analysis was applied to generating the map of Arabidopsis mature pollen proteins and analyzing the differentially expressed proteins that are potentially involved in the regulation of Arabidopsis pollen germination. By applying 2‐D electrophoresis and silver staining, we resolved 499 and 494 protein spots from protein samples extracted from pollen grains and pollen tubes, respectively. Using the matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method, we identified 189 distinct proteins from 213 protein spots expressed in mature pollen or pollen tubes, and 75 new identified proteins that had not been reported before in research into the Arabidopsis pollen proteome. Comparative analysis revealed that 40 protein spots exhibit reproducible significant changes between mature pollen and pollen tubes. And 21 proteins from 17 downregulated and six upregulated protein spots were identified. Functional category analysis indicated that these differentially expressed proteins mainly involved in signaling, cellular structure, transport, defense/stress responses, transcription, metabolism, and energy production. The patterns of changes at protein level suggested the important roles for energy metabolism‐related proteins in pollen tube growth, accompanied by the activation of the stress response pathway and modifications to the cell wall.
Recent Work on Propositions
Authors: Hanks Peter 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPropositions, the abstract, truth‐bearing contents of sentences and beliefs, continue to be the focus of healthy debates in philosophy of language and metaphysics. This article is a critical survey of work on propositions since the mid‐90s, with an emphasis on newer work from the past decade. Topics to be covered include a substitution puzzle about propositional designators, two recent arguments against propositions, and two new theories about the nature of propositions.
Retail Food Availability, Obesity, and Cigarette Smoking in Rural Communities
Authors: Hosler Akiko S. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT:
Context: Disparities in the availability of nutritionally important foods and their influence on health have been studied in US urban communities. Purpose: To assess the availability of selected retail foods and cigarettes, and explore ecologic relationships of the availability with obesity and smoking in rural communities. Methods: Inventories of all food stores (n = 182) in 2 rural New York counties were surveyed. The study area was divided into 4 regions through cluster analysis of 2000 Census and geographic information system data. Weight‐adjusted per 10,000‐population density of stores carrying selected foods was used as a standardized measure of availability. Prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2) and smoking among adults was obtained from secondary data. Bivariate correlations among availability of foods and cigarettes, overweight/obesity, and smoking were analyzed at the regional level. Findings: Nutritionally important foods, including fresh fruit, vegetables (dark green or orange colored), low‐fat (≤1%) milk, high‐fiber (≥2g per slice) bread, and fish were most available in the semiurbanized region, followed by the rural heartland, the remote mountains region, and the most urbanized inner‐town. No significant difference was found in the availability of general food items and cigarettes. Overweight/obesity was inversely associated with the availability of fresh fruit, vegetables, and low‐fat milk. Smoking was positively associated with the availability of cigarettes, white bread, whole milk, and eggs. Conclusions: The observed disparities in food availability and their ecologic association with health risks in rural adults expanded the knowledge base of built environment and its association with health beyond the urban setting.
Plasma cell granuloma in the oral cavity
Authors: Namboodiripad P.C. Anila , Jaganath Malathi , Sunitha B. , Sumathi A. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPlasma cells are terminally differentiated B lymphocytes which are typically found in the red pulp of the spleen, medulla of the lymph nodes, tonsils, lamina propria of the entire gastrointestinal tract, mucosa of the nose and upper airway, and sites of inflammation. They are characterised by basophilic cytoplasm with an eccentrically placed nucleus. They range in size from 14 to 20 µm. A plasma cell's main function is to produce immunoglobulins or antibodies. Plasma cell granuloma is a plasma cell lesion which merits discussion because it is typically found in the oral cavity. This lesion is not a neoplastic process, nor is it associated with a monoclonal expansion of a single plasma cell; instead, this is a reactive, inflammatory lesion which usually involves the gingival tissue.
Development of 10 microsatellite loci in the ling (Molva molva)
Authors: RING ANNA‐KARIN , KNUTSEN HALVOR , FIANI DAVID , HOELZEL A. R. , ANDRÉ CARL 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe developed primers for two dinucleotide and eight tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in a marine fish, the ling (Molva molva). All markers were obtained from partial genomic DNA libraries and characterized in 55 unrelated individuals from one putative population. The number of alleles ranged from five to 24 (average 10.5) per locus, and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.218 to 0.981 (average 0.643). No loci amplified in two other gadoid species tested, the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and the tusk (Brosme brosme).
ON THE (MIS)MEASUREMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT COSTS
Authors: Chasomeris Mihalis 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSeveral world institutions and researchers use import cif/fob ratios to measure a country's international transport costs. In this paper, the relationship between annual cif/fob ratios and compositions of imports are examined via correlation analysis. The findings show that where the quality of the data is reliable, a country's composition of imports has a significant effect on that country's cif/fob ratios; hence researchers cannot use the ratio as a reliable measure of direct shipping costs. Researchers should be wary of substituting country cif/fob ratios for direct measures of transport costs.
Establishment growth and bud-bank formation in Epilobium angustifolium: the effects of nutrient availability, plant injury, and environmental heterogeneity
Authors: Klimešová Jitka , Pokorná Adéla , Klimeš Leoš 
Published: March 2009

Plant establishment is a risky phase of the plant life cycle because juvenile individuals cannot produce seeds and their vegetative regeneration is constrained by a lack of reserve meristems and carbon storage. On the other hand, conditions in the period following establishment, during establishment growth, affect the vegetative regeneration and clonal growth of the plant in the future. Bud-bank formation was studied in a root-sprouting clonal herb Epilobium angustifolium L. (= Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.), a plant with root buds differing in size and number of leaf primordia, during establishment growth. We tested two hypotheses: (i) large and small buds differ in their response to stress and disturbance, and (ii) a heterogeneous soil environment does not affect bud-bank formation. We rejected both hypotheses because (i) the proportion of small buds was about 80% and was not affected by nutrient availability and substrate heterogeneity, and (ii) plants produced more buds per root biomass under conditions of nutrient shortage in both homogeneous and heterogeneous substrates, but the effect was masked by lower root biomass. Thus, bud production for the whole plant was not affected by either nutrient availability or soil heterogeneity and reached 20 to 100 buds per plant.
Developmental comparison of leaf shape variation in threeChamaedoreaspecies
Authors: Nowak Julia , Nowak Adam , Posluszny Usher 
Published: March 2009

Compound palm leaf development is unique and consists of two processes. First, the primordial tissue folds through differential growth, forming plications. Second, these plications separate through an abscission-like process, forming leaflets. The second process of leaflet separation allows for the development of compound leaves. The question that this study addresses concerns the development of bifid leaves, as they do not form leaflets but only develop a cleft through an apical incision. The ideal genus to use for this study is Chamaedorea as it includes species with both pinnate and bifid leaves. Chamaedorea fragrans (Ruiz & Pav.) Mart. and Chamaedorea stolonifera H. Wendl. ex Hook. f. were chosen as the species with adult bifid leaves. Although Chamaedorea seifrizii Burret is a pinnate-leaved palm, its juvenile leaves are bifid. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy were used to study the development of bifid leaves. Our results indicate that neither of these bifid palms develop separation sites within the lamina, but rather the apical cleft develops through “late leaflet separation” or by an abscission-like process. In contrast, C. seifrizii juvenile leaves exhibit “early leaflet separation” when developing the apical cleft.