bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Earliest Persians in Southwestern Iran: The Textual Evidence
Authors: Waters Matthew W. 
Published: August 2011

The Persians are Obscure in the Archaeological Record, and the routes and dates of their migration into Iran are uncertain. When the Persians appear in the textual record, it is in the context of their interaction with the regional powers of Elam and Assyria. Examination of the relevant sources highlights two areas of Persian settlement in the first half of the first millennium B.C.E.: the central Zagros Mountains region and modern Fars, the latter the core of the first Persian Empire (Old Persian Parsa and Greek Persis). Since there are no extant Persian inscriptions dating before the mid-sixth century, this analysis relies upon Assyrian and Elamite sources.The Persians may have begun their arrival in southwestern Iran as early as the mid-second millennium. During the Middle Elamite period (c. 1600-1000 B.C.E.), Fars and its primary city Anshan (modern Malyan) were part of the kingdom of Elam. Sometime around 1000 B.C.E., Anshan was abandoned. Large-scale settlement cannot be traced in Fars after that until the Achaemenid period, over four hundred years later.
INTEGRAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE γ-RAY BINARY 1FGL J1018.6-5856
Authors: Li Jian , Torres Diego F. , Chen Yupeng , Götz Diego , Rea Nanda , Zhang Shu , Caliandro G. Andrea , Wang Jianmin 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT
The Fermi Large Area telescope (Fermi-LAT) collaboration has recently reported that one of their detected sources, namely, 1FGL J1018.6-5856, is a new gamma-ray binary similar to LS 5039. This has prompted efforts to study its multi-frequency behavior. In this report, we present the results from 5.78 Ms International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) IBIS/ISGRI observations on the source 1FGL J1018.6-5856. By combining all the available INTEGRAL data, a detection is made at a significance level of 5.4σ in the 18–40 keV band, with an average intensity of 0.074 counts s−1. However, we find that there is non-statistical noise in the image that effectively reduces the significance to about 4σ and a significant part of the signal appears to be located in a 0.2-wide phase region, at phases 0.4–0.6 (where even the corrected significance amounts to 90% of the total signal found). Given the scarcity of counts, a variability is hinted at about 3σ at the hard X-rays, with an anticorrelation with the Fermi-LAT periodicity. If this behavior were true, it would be similar to that found in LS 5039 and prompt observations with TeV telescopes at phases anticorrelated with the GeV maximum.
The relationship between mitral regurgitation and ejection fraction as predictors for the prognosis of patients with heart failure
Authors: Pecini Redi , Thune Jens Jakob , Torp‐Pedersen Christian , Hassager Christian , Køber Lars 
Published: August 2011

AimsTo study whether there is interaction between mitral regurgitation (MR) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the mortality risk of heart failure (HF) patients.Methods and resultsWe studied a large group of patients hospitalized for symptoms and clinical signs of HF in the period 2001–02. Mitral regurgitation was diagnosed on echocardiography and qualitatively graded as no/trace, mild, moderate, and severe using the colour Doppler method. Median follow‐up time was 4.5 years. Three thousand and seventy‐eight patients with HF were included, of whom 1890 patients (61%) had no/trace MR, 628 (20%) had mild MR, 452 (15%) had moderate MR, and 108 (4%) had severe MR. During follow‐up, 1660 deaths (54%) were registered. In univariate analysis, increasing severity of MR carried an increasing mortality risk, hazard ratio (HR) 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.16, P = 0.0006 for each increasing degree of MR. In multivariable analysis, with adjustments made for age, sex, ejection fraction, serum creatinine, presence of ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and stroke, similar results were found, but only in patients with LVEF<25%, HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.26, P = 0.01 for each increasing degree of MR. This risk was driven by moderate and severe MR. For patients with LVEF≥25% the HR was 0.91, 95% CI 0.82–1.03, P = 0.2 for each increasing degree of MR.ConclusionMitral regurgitation has a negative effect on prognosis of patients with HF, but only in patients with severely reduced LVEF.
A Study of the Genetic Variability of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) in Cambodia Reveals the Existence of a New HRSV Group B Genotype
Authors: Arnott Alicia , Vong Sirenda , Mardy Sek , Chu Simon , Naughtin Monica , Sovann Ly , Buecher Carole , Beauté Julien , Rith Sareth , Borand Laurence , Asgari Nima , Frutos Roger , Guillard Bertrand , Touch Sok , Deubel Vincent , Buchy Philippe 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTHuman respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization of children aged <5 years due to respiratory illness in industrialized countries, and pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality among children aged <5 years worldwide. Although HRSV was first identified in 1956, a preventative vaccine has yet to be developed. Here we report the results of the first study to investigate the circulation and genetic diversity of HRSV in Cambodia among an all-ages population over 5 consecutive years. The incidences of HRSV infection among all-ages outpatient and hospitalized populations were equivalent, at 9.5% and 8.2%, respectively. Infection was most prevalent among children aged <5 years, with bronchiolitis being the most frequently observed clinical syndrome in the same age group. Circulation of HRSV was seasonal, typically coinciding with the rainy season between July and November annually. Strains belonging to HRSV groups A and B were detected with equivalent frequencies; however, we observed a potentially biennial shift in the predominant circulating HRSV genotype. The majority of HRSV group B strains belonged to the recently described BA genotype, with the exception of 10 strains classified as belonging to a novel HRSV group B genotype, SAB4, first reported here.
Gypsy and the Birth of the SCAN Domain
Authors: Emerson Ryan O. , Thomas James H. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT

SCAN is a protein domain frequently found at the N termini of proteins encoded by mammalian tandem zinc finger (ZF) genes, whose structure is known to be similar to that of retroviral gag capsid domains and whose multimerization has been proposed as a model for retroviral assembly. We report that the SCAN domain is derived from the C-terminal portion of the gag capsid (CA) protein from the Gmr1-like family of Gypsy/Ty3-like retrotransposons. On the basis of sequence alignments and phylogenetic distributions, we show that the ancestral host SCAN domain (ESCAN for extended SCAN) was exapted from a full-length CA gene from a Gmr1-like retrotransposon at or near the root of the tetrapod animal branch. A truncated variant of ESCAN that corresponds to the annotated SCAN domain arose shortly thereafter and appears to be the only form extant in mammals. The
Anolis
lizard has a large number of tandem ZF genes with N-terminal ESCAN or SCAN domains. We predict DNA binding sites for all
Anolis
ESCAN-ZF and SCAN-ZF proteins and demonstrate several highly significant matches to
Anolis
Gmr1-like sequences, suggesting that at least some of these proteins target retroelements. SCAN is known to mediate protein dimerization, and the CA protein multimerizes to form the core retroviral and retrotransposon capsid structure. We speculate that the SCAN domain originally functioned to target host ZF proteins to retroelement capsids.
Genomic and Proteomic Characterization of the Broad-Host-Range Salmonella Phage PVP-SE1: Creation of a New Phage Genus
Authors: Santos Sílvio B. , Kropinski Andrew M. , Ceyssens Pieter-Jan , Ackermann H.-W. , Villegas Andre , Lavigne Rob , Krylov Victor N. , Carvalho Carla M. , Ferreira Eugénio C. , Azeredo Joana 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT

(Bacterio)phage PVP-SE1, isolated from a German wastewater plant, presents a high potential value as a biocontrol agent and as a diagnostic tool, even compared to the well-studied typing phage Felix 01, due to its broad lytic spectrum against different
Salmonella
strains. Sequence analysis of its genome (145,964 bp) shows it to be terminally redundant and circularly permuted. Its G+C content, 45.6 mol%, is lower than that of its hosts (50 to 54 mol%). We found a total of 244 open reading frames (ORFs), representing 91.6% of the coding capacity of the genome. Approximately 46% of encoded proteins are unique to this phage, and 22.1% of the proteins could be functionally assigned. This myovirus encodes a large number of tRNAs (
n
=24), reflecting its lytic capacity and evolution through different hosts. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis using electron spray ionization revealed 25 structural proteins as part of the mature phage particle. The genome sequence was found to share homology with 140 proteins of the
Escherichia coli
bacteriophage rV5. Both phages are unrelated to any other known virus, which suggests that an “rV5-like virus” genus should be created within the
Myoviridae
to contain these two phages.
The HIV/AIDS Vaccine Candidate MVA-B Administered as a Single Immunogen in Humans Triggers Robust, Polyfunctional, and Selective Effector Memory T Cell Responses to HIV-1 Antigens
Authors: Gómez Carmen Elena , Nájera José Luis , Perdiguero Beatriz , García-Arriaza Juan , Sorzano Carlos Oscar S. , Jiménez Victoria , González-Sanz Rubén , Jiménez José Luis , Muñoz-Fernández María Angeles , López Bernaldo de Quirós Juan Carlos , Guardo Alberto C. , García Felipe , Gatell José M. , Plana Montserrat , Esteban Mariano 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTAttenuated poxvirus vectors expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antigens are considered promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidates. Here, we describe the nature of T cell immune responses induced in healthy volunteers participating in a phase I clinical trial in Spain after intramuscular administration of three doses of the recombinant MVA-B-expressing monomeric gp120 and the fused Gag-Pol-Nef (GPN) polyprotein of clade B. The majority (92.3%) of the volunteers immunized had a positive specific T cell response at any time postvaccination as detected by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay. The CD4+T cell responses were predominantly Env directed, whereas the CD8+T cell responses were similarly distributed against Env, Gag, and GPN. The proportion of responders after two doses of MVA-B was similar to that obtained after the third dose of MVA-B vaccination, and the responses were sustained (84.6% at week 48). Vaccine-induced CD8+T cells to HIV-1 antigens after 1 year were polyfunctional and distributed mainly within the effector memory (TEM) and terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) T cell populations. Antivector T cell responses were mostly induced by CD8+T cells, highly polyfunctional, and of TEMRA phenotype. These findings demonstrate that the poxvirus MVA-B vaccine candidate given alone is highly immunogenic, inducing broad, polyfunctional, and long-lasting CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to HIV-1 antigens, with preference for TEM. Thus, on the basis of the immune profile of MVA-B in humans, this immunogen can be considered a promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate.
Neutrophils and clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes and/or cardiac revascularisation
Authors: Guasti Luigina , Castiglioni Luana , Maroni Lorenzo , Marino Franca , Squizzato Alessandro , Ageno Walter , Gianni Monica , Gaudio Giovanni , Grandi Anna , Cosentino Marco , Venco Achille , Dentali Francesco 
Published: August 2011

SummarySome studies have suggested that high levels of total white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) may be considered as independent prognostic factors in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and/or after cardiac revascularisation by percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Evidence on the role of neutrophils in cardiovascular disease is less compelling. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the literature with the aim of identifying all the available evidence to clarify the role of neutrophils (absolute or relative count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) as a prognostic risk factor in patients with ACS and/or cardiac revascularisation. All published studies evaluating the role of neutrophils as a risk factor for clinical outcomes were assessed using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Study selection, data extraction and validity assessment was performed independently by two reviewers. Twenty-one studies (17 of which had positive results) for a total of more than 34,000 patients were included. Ten of 13 studies in ACS patients found that neutrophils measured on-admission are related to mortality rate and/or to major adverse clinical events. A predictive value of neutrophils after cardiac revascularisation procedures was reported in seven out of eight studies. Most of the studies showed that neutrophils were independent predictors of cardiovascular outcomes when analysed concomitantly with other markers of inflammation (WBC, CRP). The findings of our systematic review highlight the potential application of this inexpensive and readily available inflammatory marker for risk stratification in patients with ACS and/or cardiac revascularisation.
Hypercoagulability biomarkers in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients
Authors: Tassies Dolors , Muñoz Jose , Fisa Roser , Posada Elizabeth , Monteagudo Juan , Ayala Edgar , Gállego Montserrat , Reverter Joan-Carles , Gascon Joaquim , Pinazo María-Jesús 
Published: August 2011

SummaryThere is a current controversy over the hypothesis that a number of thromboembolic events could be related to hypercoagulable state in patients with chronic Chagas disease. This study was designed to determine whether a prothrombotic state existed in chronic Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients and, if so, to describe its evolution after treatment with Benznidazole. Twenty-five patients with chronic Chagas disease and 18 controls were evaluated. The markers used were prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin, plasminogen, protein C, total protein S, free protein S, factor VIII, D-dimer, activated factor VIIa, tissue-type plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), plasmin-antiplasmin complexes, soluble P-selectin and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP). Despite statistically significant differences between cases and controls in several markers, only ETP (which quantifies the ability of plasma to generate thrombin when activated through tissue factor addition) (p<0.0001) and F1+2 (a marker of thrombin generation in vivo) (p<0.0001) showed values outside the normal levels in patients compared with controls. Similar results were obtained in these markers six months after treatment in the cohort of cases (p<0.0008 and p<0.004, respectively). These results may be relevant in clinical practice. Though current treatment for Chagas disease is still controversial, if it were considered as a thromboembolic risk factor the antiparasitic treatment strategy could be reinforced. The results also support further research on haemostasis parameters as candidates for early surrogate bio -markers of cure or progression of Chagas disease.
Transient atrial fibrillation and risk of stroke after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Bishara Rema , Telman Gregory , Bahouth Fadel , Lessick Jonathan , Aronson Doron 
Published: August 2011

SummaryAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In the AMI setting, AF is frequently brief and attributed to acute haemodynamic changes, inflammation or ischaemia. However, it remains uncertain whether transient AF episodes are associated with a subsequent increased risk of ischaemic stroke. We studied the impact of transient new-onset AF on the one-year risk of ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in a retrospective cohort of 2,402 patients with AMI. Patients with previous AF or AF at hospital discharge were excluded. Transient AF occurred in 174 patients (7.2%) during the initial hospitalisation. During one year follow-up after hospital discharge, stroke or TIA occurred in 16 (9.2%) and 58 (2.6%) patients with and without transient AF, respectively (p< 0.0001). Compared with patients without transient AF, the adjusted hazard ratio for stroke or TIA in patients with transient AF was 3.03 (95% CI 1.73–5.32; p< 0.0001). Stroke or TIA occurred in 2.6% of patients without AF, 6.3% of patients with transient AF treated with oral anticoagulants, and 9.9% of patients with transient AF treated with antiplatelet agents. The incidence of recurrent AF after hospital discharge was markedly higher in patients with transient AF during the index hospitalisation (22.8% vs. 2.0%, p< 0.0001). In conclusion, transient AF complicating AMI is associated with an increased future risk of ischaemic stroke and TIA, particularly in patients treated with antiplatelet agents alone. High AF recurrence rates in these patients also suggest that oral anticoagulants should be strongly considered.
A systematic review on the role of fish oil for the treatment of cachexia in advanced cancer: An EPCRC cachexia guidelines project
Authors: Ries Anke , Trottenberg Peter , Elsner Frank , Stiel Stephanie , Haugen Dagny , Kaasa Stein , Radbruch Lukas 
Published: August 2011

Background: The European Palliative Care Research Collaboration is developing clinical guidelines on cachexia in patients with advanced cancer. A systematic review on the use of fish oil/omega-3-fatty acids (n-3-FA)/eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) in advanced cancer patients suffering from cancer cachexia was performed as part of the guideline development. Methods: The systematic literature search in Medline on the use of fish oil/n-3-FA/EPA identified 244 papers, with 38 publications included in the final evaluation. Some smaller trials, often unrandomized and without a control group, reported a good effect of n-3-FA in patients with advanced cancer and cachexia. However, the results of the larger randomized controlled trials could not support the positive results, as they mostly did not find a significant effect. Results: Adverse effects such as abdominal discomfort, fish belching, fish aftertaste, nausea and diarrhoea were reported with a low incidence. No serious adverse effects were documented, but adverse effects often had an impact on quality of life. This often limited dose escalations or even led to discontinuation of n-3-FA. Conclusion: There is not enough evidence to support a net benefit of n-3-FA in cachexia in advanced cancer. On the other hand, adverse effects were infrequent, with no severe adverse effects. The results from the review led to a weak negative GRADE recommendation.
An efficient approach to finding Siraitia grosvenorii triterpene biosynthetic genes by RNA-seq and digital gene expression analysis
Authors: Tang Qi , Ma Xiaojun , Mo Changming , Wilson Iain W , Song Cai , Zhao Huan , Yang Yanfang , Fu Wei , Qiu Deyou 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background

Siraitia grosvenorii (Luohanguo) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to southern China and most prevalent in Guilin city. Its fruit contains a sweet, fleshy, edible pulp that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. The major bioactive constituents in the fruit extract are the cucurbitane-type triterpene saponins known as mogrosides. Among them, mogroside V is nearly 300 times sweeter than sucrose. However, little is known about mogrosides biosynthesis in S. grosvenorii, especially the late steps of the pathway.

Results
In this study, a cDNA library generated from of equal amount of RNA taken from S. grosvenorii fruit at 50 days after flowering (DAF) and 70 DAF were sequenced using Illumina/Solexa platform. More than 48,755,516 high-quality reads from a cDNA library were generated that was assembled into 43,891 unigenes. De novo assembly and gap-filling generated 43,891 unigenes with an average sequence length of 668 base pairs. A total of 26,308 (59.9%) unique sequences were annotated and 11,476 of the unique sequences were assigned to specific metabolic pathways by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. cDNA sequences for all of the known enzymes involved in mogrosides backbone synthesis were identified from our library. Additionally, a total of eighty-five cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and ninety UDP-glucosyltransferase (UDPG) unigenes were identified, some of which appear to encode enzymes responsible for the conversion of the mogroside backbone into the various mogrosides. Digital gene expression profile (DGE) analysis using Solexa sequencing was performed on three important stages of fruit development, and based on their expression pattern, seven CYP450 s and five UDPG s were selected as the candidates most likely to be involved in mogrosides biosynthesis.

Conclusion
A combination of RNA-seq and DGE analysis based on the next generation sequencing technology was shown to be a powerful method for identifying candidate genes encoding enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites in a non-model plant. Seven CYP450 s and five UDPG s were selected as potential candidates involved in mogrosides biosynthesis. The transcriptome data from this study provides an important resource for understanding the formation of major bioactive constituents in the fruit extract from S. grosvenorii.
Differential transcriptomic profiles effected by oil palm phenolics indicate novel health outcomes
Authors: Leow Soon-Sen , Sekaran Shamala Devi , Sundram Kalyana , Tan YewAi , Sambanthamurthi Ravigadevi 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Plant phenolics are important nutritional antioxidants which could aid in overcoming chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, two leading causes of death in the world. The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a rich source of water-soluble phenolics which have high antioxidant activities. This study aimed to identify the in vivo effects and molecular mechanisms involved in the biological activities of oil palm phenolics (OPP) during healthy states via microarray gene expression profiling, using mice supplemented with a normal diet as biological models.

Results
Having confirmed via histology, haematology and clinical biochemistry analyses that OPP is not toxic to mice, we further explored the gene expression changes caused by OPP through statistical and functional analyses using Illumina microarrays. OPP showed numerous biological activities in three major organs of mice, the liver, spleen and heart. In livers of mice given OPP, four lipid catabolism genes were up-regulated while five cholesterol biosynthesis genes were down-regulated, suggesting that OPP may play a role in reducing cardiovascular disease. OPP also up-regulated eighteen blood coagulation genes in spleens of mice. OPP elicited gene expression changes similar to the effects of caloric restriction in the hearts of mice supplemented with OPP. Microarray gene expression fold changes for six target genes in the three major organs tested were validated with real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the correlation of fold changes obtained with these two techniques was high (R2 = 0.9653).

Conclusions
OPP showed non-toxicity and various pleiotropic effects in mice. This study implies the potential application of OPP as a valuable source of wellness nutraceuticals, and further suggests the molecular mechanisms as to how dietary phenolics work in vivo.