bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BnaC.Tic40, a plastid inner membrane translocon originating from Brassica oleracea, is essential for tapetal function and microspore development in Brassica napus
Authors: Dun Xiaoling , Zhou Zhengfu , Xia Shengqian , Wen Jing , Yi Bin , Shen Jinxiong , Ma Chaozhi , Tu Jinxing , Fu Tingdong 
Published: July 2011

SummaryHere, we describe the characteristics of a Brassica napus male sterile mutant 7365A with loss of the BnMs3 gene, which exhibits abnormal enlargement of the tapetal cells during meiosis. Later in development, the absence of the BnMs3 gene in the mutant results in a loss of the secretory function of the tapetum, as suggested by abortive callose dissolution and retarded tapetal degradation. The BnaC.Tic40 gene (equivalent to BnMs3) was isolated by a map‐based cloning approach and was confirmed by genetic complementation. Sequence analyses suggested that BnaC.Tic40 originated from BolC.Tic40 on the Brassica oleracea linkage group C9, whereas its allele Bnms3 was derived from BraA.Tic40 on the Brassica rapa linkage group A10. The BnaC.Tic40 gene is highly expressed in the tapetum and encodes a putative plastid inner envelope membrane translocon, Tic40, which is localized into the chloroplast. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and lipid staining analyses suggested that BnaC.Tic40 is a key factor in controlling lipid accumulation in the tapetal plastids. These data indicate that BnaC.Tic40 participates in specific protein translocation across the inner envelope membrane in the tapetal plastid, which is required for tapetal development and function.
Can lay community health workers be trained to use diagnostics to distinguish and treat malaria and pneumonia in children? Lessons from rural Uganda
Authors: Mukanga D. , Babirye R. , Peterson S. , Pariyo G. W. , Ojiambo G. , Tibenderana J. K. , Nsubuga P. , Kallander K. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryObjective  To determine the competence of community health workers (CHWs) to correctly assess, classify and treat malaria and pneumonia among under‐five children after training.Methods  Consultations of 182 under‐fives by 14 CHWs in Iganga district, Uganda, were observed using standardised checklists. Each CHW saw 13 febrile children. Two paediatricians observed CHWs’ assessment, classification and prescription of treatment, while a laboratory scientist assessed CHW use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The validity of CHWs’ use of RDTs to detect malaria and respiratory timers to diagnose pneumonia was estimated using a laboratory scientist’s RDT repeat reading and a paediatrician’s repeat count of the respiratory rate, respectively.Results  From the 182 consultations, overall CHWs’ performance was adequate in taking history (97%), use (following procedures prior to reading result) of timers (96%) and use of RDTs (96%), but inadequate in classification (87%). Breath readings (classified as fast or normal) were 85% in agreement with the paediatrician (κ = 0.665, P < 0.001). All RDT readings were in agreement with those obtained by the laboratory scientist. Ninety‐six per cent (85/89) of children with a positive RDT were prescribed an antimalarial drug, 40% (4/10) with fast breathing (gold standard) were prescribed an antibiotic and 91% (48/53) with both were prescribed both medicines.Conclusion  Community health workers can be trained to use RDTs and timers to assess and manage malaria and pneumonia in children. We recommend integration of these diagnostics into community case management of fever. CHWs require enhanced practice in counting respiratory rates and simple job aides to enable them make a classification without thinking deeply about several assessment results.
Examining catastrophic health expenditures at variable thresholds using household consumption expenditure diaries
Authors: Onoka Chima A. , Onwujekwe Obinna E. , Hanson Kara , Uzochukwu Benjamin S. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryObjective  Using uniform thresholds and a set of variable threshold levels, this study examined the incidence of catastrophe amongst households of different socio‐economic status (SES) quintiles.Methods  A household diary was used to collect illness and household consumption expenditure data from 1128 households over 1 month. Catastrophic health expenditure was examined based on uniform threshold levels of non‐food expenditure and a novel set of variable thresholds in which the levels for various SES groups were weighted by the ratio of household expenditure on food.Results  A total of 167 households (14.8%) experienced catastrophe at a non‐food expenditure threshold of 40%, with 22.6% and 7.6% of the poorest and richest household quintiles experiencing catastrophe. For the first set of variable scenarios, the thresholds for the poorest and richest household quintiles were 5% and 29.6% and levels of catastrophe were 44.7% and 12.0%, respectively, while the overall level was 36.5%. In the second scenario, the thresholds were 6.8% and 40%, and the levels of catastrophe were 42.5% and 7.6%, respectively, while the overall level was 32.0%.Conclusions  High levels of catastrophic expenditure exist in Nigeria. Use of variable thresholds to measure catastrophe led to higher overall and disaggregated levels of catastrophe. Such a measure is argued to be more appropriate for the examination of catastrophe.
Weed discrimination using ultrasonic sensors
Authors: ANDÚJAR D , ESCOLÀ A , DORADO J , FERNÁNDEZ‐QUINTANILLA C 
Published: July 2011

Andújar D, Escolà A, Dorado J & Fernández‐Quintanilla C (2011). Weed discrimination using ultrasonic sensors. Weed Research51, 543–547.SummaryA new approach is described for automatic discrimination between grasses and broad‐leaved weeds, based on their heights. An ultrasonic sensor was mounted on the front of a tractor, pointing vertically down in the inter‐row area, with a control system georeferencing and registering the echoes reflected by the ground or by the various leaf layers. Static measurements were taken at locations with different densities of grasses (Sorghum halepense) and broad‐leaved weeds (Xanthium strumarium and Datura spp.). The sensor readings permitted the discrimination of pure stands of grasses (up to 81% success) and pure stands of broad‐leaved weeds (up to 99% success). Moreover, canonical discriminant analysis revealed that the ultrasonic data could separate three groups of assemblages: pure stands of broad‐leaved weeds (lower height), pure stands of grasses (higher height) and mixed stands of broad‐leaved and grass weeds (medium height). Dynamic measurements confirmed the potential of this system to detect weed infestations. This technique offers significant promise for the development of real‐time spatially selective weed control techniques, either as the sole weed detection system or in combination with other detection tools.
Fresh frozen plasma quality: relation to age and gender of blood donors
Authors: Madla W. , Alt T. , Jungk H. , Bux J. 
Published: July 2011

Background  In view of demographic changes, it is becoming increasingly necessary to make allowance for the fact that older individuals in good health are generally more willing to donate blood and hence they should be allowed to do so irrespective of an upper age limit. In this respect, evidence has to be produced that there is neither an age‐related increase in risks to the donor nor any influence on the safety and efficacy of the blood components. It was therefore of interest to examine the quality of therapeutic plasma in relation to a donor’s age and also a donor’s gender in view of the preferred use of male donor plasma for reducing the risk of transfusion related acute lung injury.Study Design and Methods  Citrate‐phosphate‐dextrose (CPD) units of whole blood taken in each case from 50 blood donors (30 men and 20 women) of three age groups (cohort 1 = 69–71 years, cohort 2 = 66–68 years and cohort 3 = 50–52 years) were filtered, centrifuged and then separated into the relevant blood components. The plasma samples were assessed for international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, factor V (FV), factor VIII (FVIII), antithrombin (AT), protein S and plasminogen.Results  While aPTT showed only slight age‐related differences of no significance, the INR levels of cohort 1 were significantly higher than those of cohorts 2 and 3. However, in terms of gender, this applied to male donors only. The differences in INR are demonstrated by lower FV levels of male cohort 1 donors, although this is not statistically significant in comparison with the other two age groups and with female donors. Female donors of all cohorts, however, exhibited noticeably lower aPTT levels than male donors. Lower INR and aPTT values in women could be a sign of a lower dilution affected by CPD anticoagulant as compared to male plasma. An increase in FVIII levels was also apparent with increasing age (P < 0·05), particularly in male donor plasma. The fibrinogen levels suggest a slight, though insignificant, age‐related increase and no significant gender‐dependent effect. The plasma levels of AT and plasminogen were unremarkable. The plasma of female cohort 3 donors exhibited a protein S concentration that was slightly lower by comparison. Compared with the other two cohorts, cohort 1 plasma levels were similarly above or below the normal range derived from cohort 3 (central 95% range) for all parameters tested.Conclusion  International Normalized Ratio, aPTT, FVIII, FV, fibrinogen and protein S, as quality indicators for the efficacy of therapeutic plasma, revealed a moderate correlation with age and gender. Compared with the usual reference ranges, the differences were not significant enough to identify any relevant imbalance between procoagulating, anticoagulating and fibrinolytic factors that might influence product quality where the increasing age of the donors or the preference of male donor plasma was concerned.
Estimation of genetic parameters and response to selection for a continuous trait subject to culling before testing
Authors: Árnason T. , Albertsdóttir E. , Fikse W.F. , Eriksson S. , Sigurdsson Á. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryThe consequences of assuming a zero environmental covariance between a binary trait ‘test‐status’ and a continuous trait on the estimates of genetic parameters by restricted maximum likelihood and Gibbs sampling and on response from genetic selection when the true environmental covariance deviates from zero were studied. Data were simulated for two traits (one that culling was based on and a continuous trait) using the following true parameters, on the underlying scale: h2 = 0.4; rA = 0.5; rE = 0.5, 0.0 or −0.5. The selection on the continuous trait was applied to five subsequent generations where 25 sires and 500 dams produced 1500 offspring per generation. Mass selection was applied in the analysis of the effect on estimation of genetic parameters. Estimated breeding values were used in the study of the effect of genetic selection on response and accuracy. The culling frequency was either 0.5 or 0.8 within each generation. Each of 10 replicates included 7500 records on ‘test‐status’ and 9600 animals in the pedigree file. Results from bivariate analysis showed unbiased estimates of variance components and genetic parameters when true rE = 0.0. For rE = 0.5, variance components (13–19% bias) and especially (50–80%) were underestimated for the continuous trait, while heritability estimates were unbiased. For rE = −0.5, heritability estimates of test‐status were unbiased, while genetic variance and heritability of the continuous trait together with were overestimated (25–50%). The bias was larger for the higher culling frequency. Culling always reduced genetic progress from selection, but the genetic progress was found to be robust to the use of wrong parameter values of the true environmental correlation between test‐status and the continuous trait. Use of a bivariate linear‐linear model reduced bias in genetic evaluations, when data were subject to culling.
The relationship between heterosis and genetic distances based on RAPD and AFLP markers in carrot
Authors: Jagosz Barbara 
Published: July 2011

With 6 tablesAbstractThe aim of this study was to estimate the correlation between heterosis in carrot hybrids and the genetic distances of their parents. The experimental material consisted of 15 inbred lines and 34 hybrids. The yield traits (total and marketable yield), as well as quality characters (carotenes, dry matter, total sugar, monosaccharides and nitrates), were evaluated. Heterosis was computed using two measurements of mid‐ and high‐parent heterosis. Genetic distances among lines were calculated using the RAPD and AFLP techniques. Significant heterosis was found for both total and marketable yield. The content of quality compounds for hybrids usually had mid‐parent values. Significant correlations were found between molecular distances among lines, measured using RAPD markers, and heterosis of crosses for total yield, and among divergences of parents measured using AFLP markers and heterosis for marketable yield. This appears to contribute towards the carrot hybrid yield prediction by estimation of the genetic distances between parents. This research was undertaken because the possibility of heterosis prediction would allow for the reduction of costs and quicker identification of superior carrot hybrids.
Investigation into Association and Expression of PLCz and COX‐2 as Candidate Genes for Boar Sperm Quality and Fertility
Authors: Kaewmala K , Uddin MJ , Cinar MU , Große‐Brinkhaus C , Jonas E , Tesfaye D , Phatsara C , Tholen E , Looft C , Schellander K 
Published: July 2011

ContentsPhospholipase C zeta (PLCz) and cyclooxygenase isoenzyme type 2 (COX‐2) are important in spermatogenesis, but their effect has not yet confirmed in pigs. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyse their association with sperm quality and fertility and to identify the mRNA and protein expression in boars reproductive tissues. DNA samples from 231 Pietrain (PI) and 109 Pietrain × Hampshire (PIHA) pigs with records of sperm quality [sperm concentration (SCON), motility, semen volume, plasma droplet and abnormal spermatozoa rate] and fertility (non‐return rate and number of piglet born alive) traits were available. A SNP in non‐coding region of PLCz g.158 A > C was associated with SCON (p < 0.05) in PIHA population while the polymorphism of COX‐2 g.68 G > A in 3′ UTR was not associated with any traits. For mRNA and protein expression study, a total of six boars were divided into two groups with G‐I and G‐II, where G‐I was characterized for relatively better sperm quality. Both genes expressed higher in reproductive tissues compared with non‐reproductive tissues. Phospholipase C zeta mRNA expressed higher in testis (p < 0.01), all parts of epididymis and spermatozoa from G‐I, while COX‐2 expressed higher in testis (p < 0.05), head and body of epididymis (p < 0.01), and spermatozoa from G‐II boar. Both proteins were localized in Leydig cells and spermatozoa. These results might shed light on roles of these genes in spermatogenesis as candidate for boar sperm quality and fertility, but still the lack of association across populations should be considered.
Factors involved in recovery from schizophrenia: A qualitative study of Thai mental health nurses
Authors: Kaewprom Chettha , Curtis Janette , Deane Frank P. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractRecovery‐oriented services increasingly are being called for around the world. These services do not just consider recovery from mental illness as symptom remission, but as individuals' ability to redefine their self and to “live well”, even with enduring symptoms. However, little is known about the views of Thai nurses regarding the conceptualization of recovery. This article presents the findings of a qualitative study that explored the perspectives of 24 Thai nurses regarding schizophrenia and recovery. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nurses who were providing care for persons who were living with schizophrenia in both hospital and community settings. A thematic analysis identified the personal and environmental factors that were related to recovery. Illness acceptance, hope, and adherence to treatment were viewed as the facilitators of recovery, while a low level of self‐responsibility and illness‐related factors were barriers. Environmental factors, such as the presence of a supportive environment and accessibility to mental health services, were described as facilitators, while stigma towards mental health illness and fragmented health services were barriers. The implications of these results in promoting recovery‐oriented mental health services in Thailand are discussed.
PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY COMPARING CELL BLOCK METHOD AND CONVENTIONAL SMEAR METHOD FOR PANCREATIC JUICE CYTOLOGY
Authors: NODA YUTAKA , FUJITA NAOTAKA , KOBAYASHI GO , ITO KEI , HORAGUCHI JUN , OBANA TAKASHI , KOSHITA SHINSUKE , KANNO YOSHIHIDE , YAMASHITA YASUNOBU , KATO YUHEI , OGAWA TAKAHISA , TSUCHIYA TAKASHI , OIKAWA MASAYA , SAWAI TAKASHI , KANNO HIROYUKI , KUROSE AKIRA 
Published: July 2011

Aim:  To elucidate the diagnostic efficacy of the cell block (CB) method by comparing it with that of conventional smear cytology for pancreatic juice obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a randomized controlled trial fashion.Methods:  A total of 170 patients with pancreatic lesions suspicious of being malignant who underwent pancreatic juice collection without giving secretin under ERCP were enrolled in this study. After sampling, the pancreatic juice was randomized to the CB method (n = 85) or to smear cytology (n = 85). CB sections were subjected to hematoxylin‐eosin, periodic acid Schiff–Alcian blue, and immunohistochemical stains. Both Papanicolaou stain and Giemsa stain were used for smear cytology.Results:  The final diagnosis was malignancy in 54 patients: pancreatic cancer, 45; intraductal papillary‐mucinous carcinoma, six; and endocrine tumor, three. The number of patients with a cytological borderline malignancy in the CB group (3.5%) was significantly smaller than that in the smear group (27.1%) (P < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of the CB method and that of smear cytology were 76.5% (65/85) and 74.1% (63/85), respectively (P = 0.72), and their respective sensitivities were 50% (14/28) and 38.5% (10/26) (P = 0.39). The sensitivity of the CB method (88.9%) was better than that of smear cytology (42.9%) for invasive ductal carcinoma in the pancreas head (P = 0.048).Conclusions:  The CB method using immunostaining for pancreatic juice cytology showed a much lower rate of equivocal borderline malignancy and a tendency for a higher diagnostic yield compared with smear cytology. Its diagnostic sensitivity, however, was not satisfactory except for pancreatic‐head cancer.
Colour Doppler and microbubble contrast agent ultrasonography do not improve cancer detection rate in transrectal systematic prostate biopsy sampling
Authors: Taverna Gianluigi , Morandi Giovanni , Seveso Mauro , Giusti Guido , Benetti Alessio , Colombo Piergiuseppe , Minuti Francesco , Grizzi Fabio , Graziotti Pierpaolo 
Published: July 2011

Study Type – Diagnosis (RCT)Level of Evidence 1bWhat’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Transrectal gray‐scale ultrasonography guided prostate biopsy sampling is the method for diagnosing prostate cancer (PC) in patients with an increased prostate specific antigen level and/or abnormal digital rectal examination. Several imaging strategies have been proposed to optimize the diagnostic value of biopsy sampling, although at the first biopsy nearly 10–30% of PC still remains undiagnosed.This study compares the PC detection rate when employing Colour Doppler ultransongraphy with or without the injection of SonoVueTM microbubble contrast agent, versus the transrectal ultrasongraphy‐guided systematic biopsy sampling. The limited accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and the additional cost of using the contrast agent do not justify its routine application in PC detection.OBJECTIVE• To compare prostate cancer (PC) detection rate employing colour Doppler ultrasonography with or without SonoVueTM contrast agent with transrectal ultrasonography‐guided systematic biopsy sampling.PATIENTS AND METHODS• A total of 300 patients with negative digital rectal examination and transrectal grey‐scale ultrasonography, with PSA values ranging between 2.5 and 9.9 ng/mL, were randomized into three groups: 100 patients (group A) underwent transrectal ultrasonography‐guided systematic bioptic sampling; 100 patients (group B) underwent colour Doppler ultrasonography, and 100 patients (group C) underwent colour Doppler ultrasonography before and during the injection of SonoVueTM.• Contrast‐enhanced targeted biopsies were sampled into hypervascularized areas of peripheral, transitional, apical or anterior prostate zones.• All the patients included in Groups B and C underwent a further 13 systematic prostate biopsies. The cancer detection rate was calculated for each group.RESULTS• In 88 (29.3%) patients a histological diagnosis of PC was made, whereas 22 (7.4%) patients were diagnosed with high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia or atypical small acinar proliferation.• No significant differences were found among the three groups for cancer detection rate (P= 0.329).• Additionally, low sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of colour Doppler with or without SonoVueTM contrast agent were found.CONCLUSIONS• Prostate cancer detection rate does not significantly improve with the use of colour Doppler ultrasonography with or without SonoVueTM.• Although no collateral effects have been highlighted, the combined use of colour Doppler ultrasonography and SonoVueTM determines adjunctive costs and increases the mean time for taking a single prostate biopsy.
Antarctic silverfish: life strategies of a key species in the high‐Antarctic ecosystem
Authors: La Mesa Mario , Eastman Joseph T 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAmong the endemic notothenioid fish of Antarctica, the Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum) is the only species in which all developmental stages live throughout the water column. It is widely distributed in the shelf waters around the continent, inhabiting both open waters and areas of pack ice at depths from 0 to 900 m. In successfully occupying this habitat, it evolved a suite of specific biological, ecological and physiological adaptations to the environmental conditions in the cold and highly seasonal Antarctic waters. Specialization for the pelagic environment evolved over millions of years enabled life under unusual environmental constraints and colonization of the pelagic realm of the Antarctic continental shelf. A sudden change of environmental conditions driven by the current rapid climate change could negatively affect this weak equilibrium, with a catastrophic cascade effecting higher trophic levels. Indeed, as both adults and early life stages of the Antarctic silverfish appear to be strongly dependent on sea‐ice, this species would be especially sensitive to climatic or oceanic changes that reduce the extent of sea‐ice cover or the timing of formation of coastal polynyas.