bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Utility of peripheral blood B cell subsets analysis in common variable immunodeficiency
Authors: Al Kindi M , Mundy J , Sullivan T , Smith W , Kette F , Smith A , Heddle R , Hissaria P 
Published: October 2011

Summary
Abnormalities in peripheral blood B cell subsets have been identified in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients and classification systems based upon their numbers have been proposed to predict the clinical features. We analysed B lymphocyte subsets by multi-colour flow cytometry (MFC) in a cohort of well-characterized CVID patients to look at their clinical relevance and validate the published association of different classification criteria (Freiburg, Paris and Euroclass) with clinical manifestations. CVID patients had a reduced proportion of total and switched memory B cells (MBC, swMBC) compared to normal controls (P &lt; 0·0006). Patients classified in Freiburg Ia had a higher prevalence of granulomatous diseases (P = 0·0034). The previously published associations with autoimmune diseases could not be confirmed. The Euroclass classification was not predictive of clinical phenotypes. The absolute numbers of all B cell subsets were reduced in CVID patients compared to controls. There was a significant linear correlation between low absolute total B cells and MBC with granulomatous disease (P &lt; 0·05) and a trend towards lower B cells in patients with autoimmune diseases (P = 0·07). Absolute number of different B cell subsets may be more meaningful than their relative percentages in assessing the risk of granulomatous diseases and possibly autoimmunity.
Serum total adiponectin level and risk of cardiovascular disease in Han Chinese populations: a meta‐analysis of 17 case–control studies
Authors: Zhang Bu‐Chun , Liu Wei‐Jing , Che Wen‐Liang , Xu Ya‐Wei 
Published: October 2011

SummaryObjective  To systematically evaluate low serum adiponectin level as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A meta‐analysis was performed to quantitatively analyse the association of serum total adiponectin level with CVD using previous case–control studies in Han Chinese populations.Methods  Several electronic databases were searched for relevant articles up to July 2011. A total of nine (n = 933), eight (n = 939) articles were included in each meta‐analysis regarding the association of serum adiponectin level with coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischaemic stroke, respectively. Publication bias was examined by the Egger’s linear regression test. Sensitivity analysis was performed by omitting one study at a time, and the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was estimated using fixed‐effects model and random‐effects model, respectively.Results  Serum total adiponectin concentrations were lower in patients with CHD and ischaemic stroke, with pooled SMD of −1·41 (95% CI −1·69, −1·12, P < 0·00001) and −1·69 (95% CI −2·04, −1·33, P < 0·00001), respectively. By performing a meta‐regression analysis, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, study size, adiponectin measurement assays, gender and mean body mass index of cases failed to account for heterogeneity for comparisons between lower adiponectin level and ischaemic stroke. However, study size had significant effect on the association of lower adiponectin level with CHD and accounted for 96·72% of the between‐study variance. No publication bias was detected. No single study was found to affect the overall result of each analysis by sensitivity testing.Conclusions  The accumulated evidence suggested that low serum adiponectin level increased the risk of a first cardiovascular event in the Han Chinese population. Further study is recommended with larger sample size to explore the role of hypoadiponectinemia in the causation of CVD.
The consequences of growth hormone‐releasing hormone receptor haploinsufficiency for bone quality and insulin resistance
Authors: Gois Miburge B. , Salvatori Roberto , Aguiar‐Oliveira Manuel H. , Pereira Francisco A. , Oliveira Carla R. P. , Oliveira‐Neto Luiz A. , C. Pereira Rossana M. , Souza Anita H. O. , Melo Enaldo V. , de Paula Francisco J. A. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryObjective Growth hormone (GH)/insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) axis and insulin are key determinants of bone remodelling. Homozygous mutations in the GH‐releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) gene (GHRHR) are a frequent cause of genetic isolated GH deficiency (IGHD). Heterozygosity forGHRHRmutation causes changes in body composition and possibly an increase in insulin sensitivity, but its effects on bone quality are still unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the bone quality and metabolism and its correlation with insulin sensitivity in subjects heterozygous for anullmutation in theGHRHR.Patients and methods A cross‐sectional study was performed on 76 normal subjects (68·4% females) (N/N) and 64 individuals (64·1% females) heterozygous for a mutation in theGHRHR(MUT/N). Anthropometric features, quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of the heel, bone markers [osteocalcin (OC) and CrossLaps], IGF‐I, glucose and insulin were measured, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMAIR) was calculated.Results There were no differences in age or height between the two groups, but weight (P = 0·007) and BMI (P = 0·001) were lower in MUT/N. There were no differences in serum levels of IGF‐I, glucose,T‐score or absolute values of stiffness and OC, but insulin (P = 0·01), HOMAIR(P = 0·01) and CrossLaps (P = 0·01) were lower in MUT/N. There was no correlation between OC and glucose, OC and HOMAIRin the 140 individuals as a whole or in the separate MUT/N or N/N groups.Conclusions This study suggests that one allele mutation in theGHRHRgene has a greater impact on energy metabolism than on bone quality.
Addressing non‐adherence to antipsychotic medication: a harm‐reduction approach
Authors: ALDRIDGE M. A. 
Published: October 2011

Accessible summaryMany people decide not to take prescribed antipsychotics once they are discharged from the hospital.Stopping antipsychotics suddenly without support may result in harmful reactions and possible re‐admission to the hospital.The ‘Non‐Adherence Harm Reduction’ approach aims to reduce the harm of stopping antipsychotics, by informing and supporting those who make this personal decision.This approach values personal autonomy and may reduce the likelihood of harm and re‐admission in those who choose not to adhere to prescribed antipsychotics.AbstractThis paper discusses the evidence base for interventions addressing non‐adherence to prescribed antipsychotics. A case study approach is used, and the extent to which adherence improvement interventions might be used in collaboration with a specific patient is considered. The principles and application of harm‐reduction philosophy in mental health are presented in a planned non‐adherence harm‐reduction intervention. This intervention aims to acknowledge the patient's ability to choose and learn from experience and to reduce the potential harm of antipsychotic withdrawal. The intervention evaluation method is outlined.
Survival of the fittest: a role for phage‐encoded eukaryotic‐like kinases
Authors: Robertson Erle S. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryPhages are often thought of as mortal enemies of bacteria. This dynamic relationship has led to the evolution of a number of processes in bacteria designed to defeat these attacks. Examples of these include blocking phage attachment, CRISPR, and restriction modification systems. Temperate phages provide another source of protection by excluding infection of heterologous phage, thwarting phage production and further infection. This strategy protects the rest of the bacterial population from attack. The lambdoid phage 933W, a source of the genes encoding Shiga toxin in the highly pathogenic O157:H7 enterohemorrhagic E. coli strain, also carries a gene encoding a eukaryotic‐like tyrosine kinase, Stk. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Friedman et al. (2011) show that Stk, through its kinase activity, excludes infection by another lambdoid phage HK97. This exclusion is very specific as it does not affect a number of other lambdoid phages. HK97 contributes to its own demise by expressing the product of an open reading frame, orf41, which is required for Stk activation. The authors further show that autophosphorylation increases the stability of Stk and suggest that autophosphorylation contributes to Stk activity. Whether or not this exclusion activity provides a selective advantage through maintenance of Stk activity is yet to be explored.
Effects of orexin and glucose microinjected into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus on gastric acid secretion in conscious rats
Authors: Chaleek N. , Kermani M. , Eliassi A. , Haghparast A. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackground  Orexin‐A is a novel peptide that appears to play a role in regulation of gastric acid secretion. However, little is known about sites of its action. In addition, evidences suggest that some of orexin‐A neurons respond to glucose. In this study, we address the hypothesis which demonstrates that orexin‐A and glucose act in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to increase gastric acid secretion and juice volume in pyloric‐ligated conscious rats.Methods  Male Wistar rats were implanted with guide canula directed to the PVN. Orexin‐A (3–10 μg), glucose (350–750 ng) SB334867 (6–20 μg) were microinjected. The effect of pretreatment with an orexin‐1 receptor antagonist, SB334867, on orexin‐A and D‐glucose induced acid secretion was assessed. Gastric acid secretion was measured using the pylorus‐ligation method, and the amount of gastric acid was determined by titration with 0.01 N NaOH to a pH of 7.0.Key Results  Intraparaventricular injection of orexin‐A or D‐glucose stimulated gastric acid secretion in a dose‐dependent manner. The PVN injections of orexin‐A receptor antagonist, SB334867, were associated with gastric acid secretion decrease and inhibited effects of PVN‐injected orexin‐A. Orexin‐stimulated gastric acid secretion was decreased (∼40%) after PVN lesions. Glucose‐stimulated gastric acid secretion was also suppressed by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of SB334867. In addition, it was observed that co‐injection of orexin‐A and glucose at ineffective doses increased gastric secretion significantly.Conclusions & Inferences  We suggest that orexin‐A and glucose effects on the PVN stimulate gastric acid secretion. This stimulatory effect is probably mediated by orexin‐1 receptors.
Mephedrone (4‐methylmethcathinone, ‘meow’): acute behavioural effects and distribution of Fos expression in adolescent rats
Authors: Motbey Craig P. , Hunt Glenn E. , Bowen Michael T. , Artiss Suzanne , McGregor Iain S. 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTMephedrone (4‐methylmethcathinone) is a novel recreational drug that has rapidly increased in popularity in recent years. Users report mephedrone as having the stimulant‐like qualities of methamphetamine and cocaine, combined with the prosocial, entactogenic effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Anecdotal and case study reports indicate that mephedrone may have the potential to engender compulsive patterns of use as well as toxicity in overdose. However, there have been almost no neuropharmacological investigations of the drug up to this point. Here we examined the effects of two different mephedrone doses [15 and 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (IP)] relative to the well‐known stimulant methamphetamine (2 mg/kg IP) in adolescent rats. Rats were injected, assessed for locomotor activity for 60 minutes and then tested in a 10‐minute social preference test (measuring time spent in close proximity to a real rat versus a dummy rat). Their brains were then processed using Fos immunohistochemistry to determine patterns of brain activation. Results showed that mephedrone caused profound locomotor hyperactivity at both dose levels while tending to reduce social preference. Patterns of Fos expression with mephedrone resembled a combination of those observed with methamphetamine and MDMA, with particularly strong Fos expression in the cortex, dorsal and ventral striatum, ventral tegmental area (typical of both MDMA and methamphetamine) and supraoptic nucleus (typical of MDMA). These results demonstrate for the first time the powerful stimulant effects of mephedrone in animal models and its capacity to activate mesolimbic regions. These results also provide some empirical basis to user reports that mephedrone subjectively resembles a MDMA/methamphetamine hybrid.
Environmental cues and seasonal reproduction in a temperate estuary: a case study of Owenia collaris (Annelida: Polychaeta, Oweniidae)
Authors: Smart Tracey I. , Young Craig M. , Emlet Richard B. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractCoordination of gametogenesis and spawning during restricted breeding seasons increases availability of mates, fertilization rates, and often success of offspring. Orton’s Rule predicts water temperature as the dominant environmental cue for gametogenesis or spawning in temperate invertebrates. Crisp’s Rule predicts that species producing planktotrophic larvae will time their reproduction to ensure optimal nutrition for the larvae. Owenia collaris (Annelida: Oweniidae) is a temperate polychaete that produces planktotrophic larvae that remain in the water column for several weeks. Reproductive phenology and its relationship to the environment were investigated in an estuarine population of O. collaris using field and laboratory studies. Owenia collaris produced mature gametes between March and September each year during the productive season between the spring and fall transitions when day lengths were 12 h or more, alkalinity was 8.1 or higher, and temperature was 11 °C or higher. Gamete production was not related to seasonal changes in salinity or benthic phytoplankton concentrations and gametes were present prior to the spring phytoplankton bloom. In laboratory experiments, production of gametes was influenced somewhat by manipulating day lengths but not adult food. The association with predictable and stable environmental cycles (day length) and a broad spawning season suggest that this species is unlikely to mis‐match with larval food availability which would lead to reduced availability of recruits in any given year, supporting Crisp’s Rule. Our data do not support the hypothesis that reproductive timing in this species is driven by access to excess energy required by adults to initiate the production of gametes. Our data also do not support Orton’s premise that temperature is the primary controlling factor of reproduction in this temperate marine invertebrate.
Comparing peak and submaximal cardiorespiratory responses during field walking tests with incremental cycle ergometry in COPD
Authors: HILL KYLIE , DOLMAGE THOMAS E. , WOON LYNDA , COUTTS DEBBIE , GOLDSTEIN ROGER , BROOKS DINA 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Field and laboratory‐based tests are used to measure exercise capacity in people with COPD. A comparison of the cardiorespiratory responses to field tests, referenced to a laboratory test, is needed to appreciate the relative physiological demands. We sought to compare peak and submaximal cardiorespiratory responses to the 6‐min walk test, incremental shuttle walk test and endurance shuttle walk test with a ramp cycle ergometer test (CET) in patients with COPD.Methods:  Twenty‐four participants (FEV1 50 ± 14%; 66.5 ± 7.7 years; 15 men) completed four sessions, separated by ≥24 h. During an individual session, participants completed either two 6‐min walk tests, incremental shuttle walk tests, endurance shuttle walk tests using standardized protocols, or a single CET, wearing a portable gas analysis unit (Cosmed K4b2) which included measures of heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2).Results:  Between tests, no difference was observed in the peak rate of oxygen uptake (F3,69 = 1.2; P = 0.31), end‐test heart rate (F2,50 = 0.6; P = 0.58) or tidal volume (F3,69 = 1.5; P = 0.21). Compared with all walking tests, the CET elicited a higher peak rate of carbon dioxide output (1173 ± 350 mL/min; F3,62 = 4.8; P = 0.006), minute ventilation (48 ± 17 L/min; F3,69 = 10.2; P < 0.001) and a higher end‐test SpO2 (95 ± 4%; F3,63 = 24.9; P < 0.001).Conclusions:  In patients with moderate COPD, field walking tests elicited a similar peak rate of oxygen uptake and heart rate as a CET, demonstrating that both self‐ and externally paced walking tests progress to high intensities.
Flavour exposures after conditioned aversion or preference trigger different brain processes in anaesthetised pigs
Authors: Gaultier A. , Meunier‐Salaün M. C. , Malbert C. H. , Val‐Laillet D. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe describe the behavioural consequences of conditioned flavour aversion and preference in pigs and have investigated the brain circuits involved in the representation of flavours with different hedonic values. The study was performed on eight 30‐kg pigs. (i) Animals were negatively conditioned to an F− flavour added to a meal followed by LiCl intraduodenal (i.d.) injection, and positively conditioned to an F+ flavour added to a meal followed by NaCl i.d. injection. F+ and F− were thyme or cinnamon flavours. After each conditioning, the behavioural activities were recorded; (ii) One and 5 weeks later, animals were subjected to three two‐choice food tests to investigate their preferences between F+, F− and a novel flavour (O); and (iii) Anaesthetised animals were subjected to three SPECT brain imaging sessions: control situation (no flavour) and exposure to F+ and to F−. The negative reinforcement induced a physical malaise and visceral illness. After a positive reinforcement, animals showed playing or feeding motivation and quietness. F+ was significantly preferred over O and F−, and O was significantly preferred over F−. Both F− and F+ induced some metabolic differences in neural circuits involved in sensory associative processes, learning and memory, emotions, reward and feeding motivation. Exposure to F+ induced a higher activity in corticolimbic and reward‐related areas, while F− induced a deactivation of the basal nuclei and limbic thalamic nuclei. This study reveals the unconscious cognitive dimension evoked by food flavours according to the individual experience, and highlights the importance of the food sensory image on hedonism and anticipatory eating behaviour.
Phage–bacteria relationships and CRISPR elements revealed by a metagenomic survey of the rumen microbiome
Authors: Berg Miller Margret E. , Yeoman Carl J. , Chia Nicholas , Tringe Susannah G. , Angly Florent E. , Edwards Robert A. , Flint Harry J. , Lamed Raphael , Bayer Edward A. , White Bryan A. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryViruses are the most abundant biological entities on the planet and play an important role in balancing microbes within an ecosystem and facilitating horizontal gene transfer. Although bacteriophages are abundant in rumen environments, little is known about the types of viruses present or their interaction with the rumen microbiome. We undertook random pyrosequencing of virus‐enriched metagenomes (viromes) isolated from bovine rumen fluid and analysed the resulting data using comparative metagenomics. A high level of diversity was observed with up to 28 000 different viral genotypes obtained from each environment. The majority (∼78%) of sequences did not match any previously described virus. Prophages outnumbered lytic phages approximately 2:1 with the most abundant bacteriophage and prophage types being associated with members of the dominant rumen phyla (Firmicutes and Proteobacteria). Metabolic profiling based on SEED subsystems revealed an enrichment of sequences with putative functional roles in DNA and protein metabolism, but a surprisingly low proportion of sequences assigned to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. We expanded our analysis to include previously described metagenomic data and 14 reference genomes. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) were detected in most of the microbial genomes, suggesting previous interactions between viral and microbial communities.
A Flexible Approach for Output‐Sensitive Rendering of Animated Characters
Authors: Beacco A. , Spanlang B. , Andujar C. , Pelechano N. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractRendering detailed animated characters is a major limiting factor in crowd simulation. In this paper we present a new representation for 3D animated characters which supports output‐sensitive rendering. Our approach is flexible in the sense that it does not require us to pre‐define the animation sequences beforehand, nor to pre‐compute a dense set of pre‐rendered views for each animation frame. Each character is encoded through a small collection of textured boxes storing colour and depth values. At runtime, each box is animated according to the rigid transformation of its associated bone and a fragment shader is used to recover the original geometry using a dual‐depth version of relief mapping. Unlike competing output‐sensitive approaches, our compact representation is able to recover high‐frequency surface details and reproduces view‐motion parallax effectively. Our approach drastically reduces both the number of primitives being drawn and the number of bones influencing each primitive, at the expense of a very slight per‐fragment overhead. We show that, beyond a certain distance threshold, our compact representation is much faster to render than traditional level‐of‐detail triangle meshes. Our user study demonstrates that replacing polygonal geometry by our impostors produces negligible visual artefacts.
Visualisation Techniques for Using Spatial Augmented Reality in the Design Process of a Car
Authors: Menk Christoffer , Jundt Eduard , Koch Reinhard 
Published: October 2011

AbstractIf spatial augmented reality is used in the design process of a car, then one of the most important issues is that the virtual content is projected with a very high visual quality onto the real object, because based on this projection design decisions are made. Especially, the visualised colours on the real object should not be distinguishable from corresponding real reference colours. In this paper, we introduce a new approach for the augmentation of real objects which is able to match the requirements of a design process. We present a new rendering method with ray tracing which increases the visual quality of the projection images in comparison to existing methods. The desired values of these images have further to be adjusted according to the material, the ambient light and the local orientation of the projector. For this purpose, we develop a physically based computation which exactly determines the corresponding projection intensities for these values by using three‐dimensional lookup tables at every projector pixel. Since not all of the desired values can be represented with an intensity of the projector, an adjustment has to be computed for these values. Therefore, we conduct a user study with design experts who work in the automotive industry and use the results to propose a new adjustment method for such values. Finally, we compare our methods to existing procedures and conclude which ones are suitable for the design process of a car.