bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of seasonality, density and climate on the population dynamics of Montana deer mice, important reservoir hosts for Sin Nombre hantavirus
Authors: Luis Angela D. , Douglass Richard J. , Mills James N. , Bjørnstad Ottar N. 
Published: December 2009

Summary 1. Since Sin Nombre virus was discovered in the U.S. in 1993, longitudinal studies of the rodent reservoir host, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) have demonstrated a qualitative correlation among mouse population dynamics and risk of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in humans, indicating the importance of understanding deer mouse population dynamics for evaluating risk of HPS. 2. Using capture–mark–recapture statistical methods on a 15‐year data set from Montana, we estimated deer mouse survival, maturation and recruitment rates and tested the relative importance of seasonality, population density and local climate in explaining temporal variation in deer mouse demography. 3. From these estimates, we designed a population model to simulate deer mouse population dynamics given climatic variables and compared the model to observed patterns. 4. Month, precipitation 5 months previously, temperature 5 months previously and to a lesser extent precipitation and temperature in the current month, were important in determining deer mouse survival. Month, the sum of precipitation over the last 4 months, and the sum of the temperature over the last 4 months were important in determining recruitment rates. Survival was more important in determining the growth rate of the population than recruitment. 5. While climatic drivers appear to have a complex influence on dynamics, our forecasts were good. Our quantitative model may allow public health officials to better predict increased human risk from basic climatic data.
Evolution of monogamous marriage by maximization of inclusive fitness
Authors: FORTUNATO L. , ARCHETTI M. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe majority of human societies allow polygynous marriage, and the prevalence of this practice is readily understood in evolutionary terms. Why some societies prescribe monogamous marriage is however not clear: current evolutionary explanations—that social monogamy increases within‐group co‐operation, giving societies an advantage in competition with other groups—conflict with the historical and ethnographic evidence. We show that, within the framework of inclusive fitness theory, monogamous marriage can be viewed as the outcome of the strategic behaviour of males and females in the allocation of resources to the next generation. Where resources are transferred across generations, social monogamy can be advantageous if partitioning of resources among the offspring of multiple wives causes a depletion of their fitness value, and/or if females grant husbands higher fidelity in exchange for exclusive investment of resources in their offspring. This may explain why monogamous marriage prevailed among the historical societies of Eurasia: here, intensive agriculture led to scarcity of land, with depletion in the value of estates through partitioning among multiple heirs. Norms promoting high paternity were common among ancient societies in the region, and may have further facilitated the establishment of social monogamy. In line with the historical and ethnographic evidence, this suggests that monogamous marriage emerged in Eurasia following the adoption of intensive agriculture, as ownership of land became critical to productive and reproductive success.
Detection of Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus in Cucurbit Leaves Using Sap Extracts and Real‐time TaqMan® Reverse Transcription (RT) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Authors: Papayiannis Lambros C. , Hunter Sarah C. , Iacovides Tefkros , Brown Judith K. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) (genus, Crinivirus: family, Closteroviridae) is an emerging plant pathogen, transmitted by the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), which infects cucurbit crops causing significant economic losses. A TaqMan® real‐time fluorescent, one‐step reverse transcription (RT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of the virus has been developed and optimized. The assay is over 100‐fold more sensitive than conventional RT‐PCR and involves template preparation that does not require RNA purification. The assay can be accomplished either by first spotting the sap extract on a positively charged nylon membrane and elution, or by the direct addition of crude plant extract into the real‐time reaction cocktail. Several factors affecting the efficiency of the tests were studied, such as the type and amount of reverse transcription (RT) enzymes and the use of different additives on the elution extract. The addition of 5 units of RT enzymes in the real‐time PCR cocktail and the use of Tween 20, Triton X and Betaine in the virus release buffer resulted in improved detection efficiency. The applicability of the real‐time RT‐PCR assay was validated with CYSDV isolates from the USA, Mexico, the Mediterranean Basin, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates and provides a simple, efficient and accurate detection technique, whereas the membrane preparation techniques can be used for long‐term storage of samples allowing the shipment of samples from the field to remote laboratories for testing without compromising the reliability of the test.
Hepatitis C virus core protein induces malignant transformation of biliary epithelial cells by activating nuclear factor‐κB pathway
Authors: Li Zhi‐Hua , Tang Qi‐Bin , Wang Jie , Zhou Ling , Huang Wen‐lin , Liu Ran‐Yi , Chen Ru‐Fu 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  In an earlier study, we found that hepatitis C virus core protein, HCV‐C, participated in the malignant transformation of HCV‐C transfected normal human biliary epithelial (hBE) cells by activating telomerase. Here we further investigated the signaling of the malignant transformation.Methods:  Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), western blotting and immunoprecipitation were used to analyze the expression of HCV‐C, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and NF‐κB inhibitor alpha (IκBα) genes and the phosphorylation level of IκBα protein. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and NF‐κB‐linked luciferase reporter assays were carried out to measure NF‐κB activity.Results:  The expression of HCV‐C and hTERT was detected only in HCV‐C‐transfected hBE (hBE‐HCV‐C) cells but not in vector‐transfected or parental hBE cells. More NF‐κB protein accumulated in nuclear extracts of hBE‐HCV‐C cells rather than in those of control cells, though total NF‐κB protein level showed no difference among these cells. DNA binding activity of NF‐κB and the NF‐κB‐linked luciferase activity were much higher in HCV‐C‐transfected hBE cells than those in vector‐ or non‐transfected hBE cells. In addition, the IκBα phosphorylation level, but not the IκBα mRNA or protein levels, was increased after HCV‐C transfection.Conclusions:  Hepatitis C virus core protein activates NF‐κB pathway in hBE cells by increasing the phosphorylation of IκBα. The pathway may be responsible for HCV‐C‐induced malignant transformation of hBE cells.
Evaluation of serum clusterin as a surveillance tool for human hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B virus related cirrhosis
Authors: Wang Yi , Liu Yan‐Hui , Mai Shi‐Juan , He Long‐Jun , Liao Yi‐Ji , Deng Hai‐Xia , Guan Xin‐Yuan , Zeng Yi‐Xin , Kung Hsiang‐Fu , Xie Dan 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common human cancer worldwide. The levels of serum clusterin in HCC patients and its potential diagnostic significance is not clear. We aimed to evaluate the clinical use of serum clusterin levels as a surveillance tool for HCC with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related cirrhosis.Methods:  Twenty‐two cases of healthy subjects, 31 cases of HBV carriers, 26 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 29 patients with cirrhosis, and 76 patients with HCC were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of clusterin were measured by a sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.Results:  The serum clusterin levels in HCC patients were significantly lower than that in healthy, HBV carriers and chronic hepatitis B, but statistically higher than in cirrhosis patients. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that a serum clusterin value of 50 µg/mL yielded the best sensitivity (91%) and specificity (83%) for differentiating HCC patients with HBV‐related cirrhosis from those with HBV‐related cirrhosis. The optimal alpha fetoprotein (AFP) cutoff value was 15 ng/mL and was inferior to the clusterin value of 50 µg/mL, the area under the ROC curves being 0.937 versus 0.781, respectively (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  Serum clusterin was more sensitive and specific than serum AFP for differentiating HCC patients with HBV‐related cirrhosis from those with HBV‐related liver cirrhosis, and may be a useful surveillance tool of HCC based on HBV‐related cirrhosis.
Characterization of a green alga isolated from infected human external tissue
Authors: Yu Jingie , Li Zhongkui , Brand Jerry J. 
Published: December 2009

SUMMARYA green alga was isolated from infected external human tissue. The alga consisted of spherical non‐flagellate unicells, 3–13 µm in diameter, surrounded by a thick outer wall of variable thickness and containing a single bowl‐shaped chloroplast without a pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction occurred through multiple autospores produced within the parental cell wall. 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA gene‐sequence analyses indicated that the alga was closely related to ‘Chlorella’saccharophila. d‐glucose considerably enhanced both phototrophic and heterotrophic growth. Compared with two other strains of ‘C.’saccharophila, the organism in the present study grew more rapidly at temperatures greater than 30°C in darkness, but it could not grow at 37°C in light or darkness. The results suggest that this strain may not normally invade tissues, but becomes established and grows on previously infected tissues of external body extremities where the temperature is somewhat lower than normal body temperature.
Attitude to extended use and long‐term storage of newborn screening blood spots in Japan
Authors: Fujii Chieko , Sato Yuki , Harada Shohei , Kakee Naoko , Gu Yan‐Hong , Kato Tadaaki , Shintaku Haruo , Owada Misao , Hirahara Fumiki , Umehashi Hozo , Yoshino Makoto 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground:  Residual dried blood spots (DBS) remaining after routine newborn screening (NBS) tests are candidate specimens for extended uses such as quality assurance and the development of new technology. A trial of NBS using tandem mass‐spectrometry was launched in 2004 in Japan. The aim of the present study was to analyze the attitudes of the public, patient families, and medical professionals toward the extended use and long‐term storage of residual DBS, and to construct a standardized informational brochure.Methods:  A questionnaire was sent to randomly selected members of the public, members of the Japanese Phenylketonuria (PKU) Association, medical staff of a general hospital, staff of a children's hospital, obstetricians and gynecologists, pediatricians and NBS personnel. Associated responses, which were given in a free comment format, were analyzed by text mining.Results:  The awareness ratio of NBS was low in the public (26.6%), but despite this, when a brief explanatory note on NBS was provided, 71.7% of them recognized the necessity of NBS. They were less positive than medical professionals and PKU patient families regarding the extended use of DBS for forensic investigation, for the study of health problems, or long‐term storage of residual DBS, regardless of whether these factors affected them personally or not. Among the medical professionals, obstetricians and pediatricians exhibited a higher ratio of negative responses toward the extended use and long‐term storage of DBS than others.Conclusion:  The general public is more conservative than PKU patients and their families or medical professionals about the extended use or long‐term storage of residual DBS. Presentation to the public, particularly to couples of childbearing age, of appropriate explanatory information on NBS itself, or the extended use or long‐term storage of residual DBS, is recommended.
HIERARCHY OF PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR CORNEAL ALLOGRAFT SURVIVAL
Authors: VÖLKER‐DIEBEN H. J. , D'AMARO J. , ALPHEN C. C. KOK‐VAN 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe results of analyses of 7278 consecutive corneal translants performed in a single centre reveal that the most important prognostic factors for corneal allograft survival are recipient corneal vascularisation, graft diameter, HLA‐A and 8 matching especially for high risk patients, organ culture storage of donor corneas prior to transplantation and donor age.
Serum sex hormones and the 20‐year risk of lower urinary tract symptoms in community‐dwelling older men
Authors: Trifiro Michael D. , Parsons J. Kellogg , Palazzi‐Churas Kerrin , Bergstrom Jaclyn , Lakin Charles , Barrett‐Connor Elizabeth 
Published: December 2009

Study Type – Prognosis (inception cohort) Level of Evidence 2bOBJECTIVETo evaluate serum sex steroid hormone concentrations and long‐term risk of subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a cohort of community‐dwelling older men.SUBJECTS AND METHODSBetween 1984 and 1987, serum sex hormone concentrations were measured in participants in the Rancho Bernardo Study, a prospective, community‐based study. In 2006, the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA‐SI) was mailed to surviving male participants. Logistic regression was used to examine associations of baseline hormone concentrations with AUA‐SI.RESULTSAmong 158 surviving men with complete data and no history of prostate cancer, the mean (sd) age at serum sex steroid assessment was 58 (6.6) years with a mean (sd) follow‐up of 20.3 (0.6) years. In age‐adjusted logistic regression, there was a significant inverse association of testosterone : dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with LUTS (P = 0.05). Also, men with higher concentrations of bioavailable testosterone had a 56% decreased risk of LUTS compared with those with hypogonadal concentrations, although the association was not statistically significant (odds ratios 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.14–1.40) or distributed evenly among quartiles. There were no significant associations of total testosterone, oestradiol (E2), testosterone : E2, DHT, or dehydroepiandrosterone with LUTS or with any measured hormones and urinary bother.CONCLUSIONSIn this cohort, men with higher mid‐life levels of testosterone : DHT and bioavailable testosterone had a decreased 20‐year risk of LUTS. These data support other studies reporting inverse associations of serum testosterone with LUTS. Clinical trials of testosterone therapy should include LUTS and clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia as outcomes.
Early development of spatial‐numeric associations: evidence from spatial and quantitative performance of preschoolers
Authors: Opfer John E. , Thompson Clarissa A. , Furlong Ellen E. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractNumeric magnitudes often bias adults’ spatial performance. Partly because the direction of this bias (left‐to‐right versus right‐to‐left) is culture‐specific, it has been assumed that the orientation of spatial‐numeric associations is a late development, tied to reading practice or schooling. Challenging this assumption, we found that preschoolers expected numbers to be ordered from left‐to‐right when they searched for objects in numbered containers, when they counted, and (to a lesser extent) when they added and subtracted. Further, preschoolers who lacked these biases demonstrated more immature, logarithmic representations of numeric value than preschoolers who exhibited the directional bias, suggesting that spatial‐numeric associations aid magnitude representations for symbols denoting increasingly large numbers.
Medial temporal lobe memory in childhood: developmental transitions
Authors: Townsend Elise L. , Richmond Jenny L. , Vogel‐Farley Vanessa K. , Thomas Kathleen 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe medial temporal lobes (MTL) support declarative memory and mature structurally and functionally during the postnatal years in humans. Although recent work has addressed the development of declarative memory in early childhood, less is known about continued development beyond this period of time. The purpose of this investigation was to explore MTL‐dependent memory across middle childhood. Children (6 –10 years old) and adults completed two computerized tasks, place learning (PL) and transitive inference (TI), that each examined relational memory, as well as the flexible use of relational learning. Findings suggest that the development of relational memory precedes the development of the ability to use relational knowledge flexibly in novel situations. Implications for the development of underlying brain areas and ideas for future neuroimaging investigations are discussed.
The CAPM is Alive and Well: A Review and Synthesis
Authors: Levy Haim 
Published: December 2009

Abstract Mean‐Variance (M‐V) analysis and the CAPM are derived in the expected utility framework. Behavioural Economists and Psychologists (BE&P) advocate that expected utility is invalid, suggesting Prospect Theory as a substitute paradigm. Moreover, they show that the M‐V rule, which is the foundation of the CAPM, is not always consistent with peoples’ choices. Thus, BE&P cast doubt on the validity of expected utility paradigm and of the M‐V rule, hence the CAPM is theoretically questionable. In addition, there is very little empirical support to the CAPM. We show in this study that the CAPM is theoretically valid even when one accepts the BE&P framework and even when expected utility is invalid. Moreover, within the BE&P framework there is a strong experimental support for the CAPM.
Hospitalization risk following initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Berry SA , Manabe YC , Moore RD , Gebo KA 
Published: December 2009

ObjectivesWhile highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) decreases long‐term morbidity and mortality, its short‐term effect on hospitalization rates is unknown. The primary objective of this study was to determine hospitalization rates over time in the year after HAART initiation for virological responders and nonresponders.MethodsHospitalizations among 1327 HAART‐naïve subjects in an urban HIV clinic in 1997–2007 were examined before and after HAART initiation. Hospitalization rates were stratified by virological responders (≥1 log10 decrease in HIV‐1 RNA within 6 months after HAART initiation) and nonresponders. Causes were determined through International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD‐9) codes and chart review. Multivariate negative binomial regression was used to assess factors associated with hospitalization.ResultsDuring the first 45 days after HAART initiation, the hospitalization rate of responders was similar to their pre‐HAART baseline rate [75.1 vs. 78.8/100 person‐years (PY)] and to the hospitalization rate of nonresponders during the first 45 days (79.4/100 PY). The hospitalization rate of responders fell significantly between 45 and 90 days after HAART initiation and reached a plateau at approximately 45/100 PY from 91 to 365 days after HAART initiation. Significant decreases were seen in hospitalizations for opportunistic and nonopportunistic infections.ConclusionsThe first substantial clinical benefit from HAART may be realized by 90 days after HAART initiation; providers should keep close vigilance at least until this time.
Who uses sunbeds? A systematic literature review of risk groups in developed countries
Authors: Schneider S , Krämer H 
Published: December 2009

AbstractSkin cancer is caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Indoor tanning is a totally avoidable risk behaviour. This review addresses the specific characteristics of sunbed users and the differences in motivation and risk perception compared with non‐users. This review is based solely on empirical original articles. Based on literature searches with widely used reference databases (‘PubMed’, ‘OVID’, ‘Social Citation Index’, ‘ERIC – Educational Resources Information Center’, ‘Web of Science’ and the ‘International Bibliography of the Social Sciences’), we included studies from developed nations with a publication date between 1 January 2000 and 12 August 2008. All studies were selected, classified and coded simultaneously by both authors on a blinded basis. All searches were performed on 13 and 14 August 2008. In accordance with the QUOROM and the MOOSE Statements, we identified 16 original studies. The typical sunbed user is female, between 17 and 30 years old, and tends to live a comparatively unhealthy lifestyle: Users smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol more frequently and eat less healthy food than non‐users. Users are characterized by a lack of knowledge about health risks of UVR, and prompted by the frequent use of sunbeds by friends or family members and the experience of positive emotions and relaxation by indoor tanning. This review is the first systematic review on risk groups among sunbed users that has been published in a scientific journal. There is still a lack of information among users, particularly among young people regarding the safety of solariums.
Impact of transposable elements on the organization and function of allopolyploid genomes
Authors: Parisod Christian , Alix Karine , Just Jérémy , Petit Maud , Sarilar Véronique , Mhiri Corinne , Ainouche Malika , Chalhoub Boulos , Grandbastien Marie‐Angèle 
Published: December 2009

SummaryTransposable elements (TEs) represent an important fraction of plant genomes and are likely to play a pivotal role in fuelling genome reorganization and functional changes following allopolyploidization. Various processes associated with allopolyploidy (i.e. genetic redundancy, bottlenecks during the formation of allopolyploids or genome shock following genome merging) may allow accumulation of TE insertions. Our objective in carrying out a survey of the literature and a comparative analysis across different allopolyploid systems is to shed light on the structural, epigenetic and functional modifications driven by TEs during allopolyploidization and subsequent diploidization. The available evidence indicates that TE proliferation in the short or the long term after allopolyploidization may be restricted to a few TEs, in specific polyploid systems. By contrast, data indicate major structural changes in the TE genome fraction immediately after allopolyploidization, mainly through losses of TE sequences as a result of recombination. Emerging evidence also suggests that TEs are targeted by substantial epigenetic changes, which may impact gene expression and genome stability. Furthermore, TEs may directly or indirectly support the evolution of new functionalities in allopolyploids during diploidization. All data stress allopolyploidization as a shock associated with drastic genome reorganization. Mechanisms controlling TEs during allopolyploidization as well as their impact on diploidization are discussed.