bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decontamination of Nasal Atomizer Tips
Authors: Kieff David , Fink Daniel 
Published: April 2011

ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of wiping the nasal atomizer tip with 70% isopropanol versus using single‐use plastic atomizer tip guards in preventing cross‐contamination.Study DesignSingle‐center, prospective, partially blinded, alternating double‐arm trial.SettingSpecialty‐specific otolaryngology emergency room.MethodsThirty‐four consecutive patients who presented to an emergency room received nasal anesthetic with a Venturi atomizer. The atomizers for one half of patients were cleaned with an isopropyl alcohol pad immediately after use (group A). The atomizers for the other half were used with a sterile tip cover in place (group B). The effectiveness of 2 different methods in preventing contamination of the atomizer tip was compared.ResultsOne of the 17 atomizers from group A was contaminated (5.9%); 15 of the 17 atomizers from group B were contaminated (88.2%). This represents a difference of 82.3%, or a risk ratio of 15:1 against the use of nasal tip guards (P =. 000002).ConclusionsVenturi atomizer tips frequently become contaminated despite the use of a sterile tip cover. This happens at a dramatically decreased rate with the use of isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. Clinical significance of this contamination is uncertain.
Multiple sclerosis in Hispanics: a study of clinical disease expression
Authors: Amezcua L , Lund BT , Weiner LP , Islam T 
Published: April 2011

Background: Hispanics living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States are not well defined. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of MS among Hispanic Whites (HW) in Southern California with those of non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). Methods: We performed a medical chart review to identify all cases of HW with MS ( n = 125) who were treated at our institution during a 1-year period. We also identified cases of NHW with MS (100 NHW) treated at those clinics. All HW patients were interviewed to ascertain ancestry including detailed migration history. Disease progression was assessed by ambulatory disability and defined as Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≥6. Results: Compared with NHW, HW were more likely to have a relapsing–remitting form of MS and a younger age of onset (28.4 ± 0.97 years) with presenting symptoms of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. However, overall ambulatory disability did not differ between HW and NHW. Migration to the US at age >15 years was associated with increased risk of disability in HW. Conclusions: HW living in the USA may be at risk of developing MS at an earlier age compared with NHW. Migration history can play an important role in the management of HW with MS.
Multiple sclerosis, from referral to confirmed diagnosis: an audit of clinical practice
Authors: Kelly SB , Chaila E , Kinsella K , Duggan M , McGuigan C , Tubridy N , Hutchinson M 
Published: April 2011

Background: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend a timeline of 6 weeks from referral to neurology consultation and then 6 weeks to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: We audited the clinical management of all new outpatient referrals diagnosed with MS between January 2007 and May 2010. Methods: We analysed the timelines from referral to first clinic visit, to MRI studies and lumbar puncture (LP) (if performed) and the overall interval from first visit to the time the diagnosis was given to the patient. Results: Of the 119 diagnoses of MS/Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS), 93 (78%) were seen within 6 weeks of referral. MRI was performed before first visit in 61% and within 6 weeks in a further 27%. A lumbar puncture (LP) was performed in 83% of all patients and was done within 6 weeks in 78%. In total, 63 (53%) patients received their final diagnosis within 6 weeks of their first clinic visit, with 57 (48%) patients having their diagnosis delayed. The main rate-limiting steps were the availability of imaging and LP, and administrative issues. Conclusions: We conclude that, even with careful scheduling, it is difficult for a specialist service to obtain MRI scans and LP results so as to fulfil NICE guidelines within the optimal six-week period. An improved service would require MRI scans to be arranged before the first clinic visit in all patients with suspected MS.
Using context to improve protein domain identification
Authors: Ochoa Alejandro , Llinás Manuel , Singh Mona 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
Identifying domains in protein sequences is an important step in protein structural and functional annotation. Existing domain recognition methods typically evaluate each domain prediction independently of the rest. However, the majority of proteins are multidomain, and pairwise domain co-occurrences are highly specific and non-transitive.

Results
Here, we demonstrate how to exploit domain co-occurrence to boost weak domain predictions that appear in previously observed combinations, while penalizing higher confidence domains if such combinations have never been observed. Our framework, Domain Prediction Using Context (dPUC), incorporates pairwise "context" scores between domains, along with traditional domain scores and thresholds, and improves domain prediction across a variety of organisms from bacteria to protozoa and metazoa. Among the genomes we tested, dPUC is most successful at improving predictions for the poorly-annotated malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, for which over 38% of the genome is currently unannotated. Our approach enables high-confidence annotations in this organism and the identification of orthologs to many core machinery proteins conserved in all eukaryotes, including those involved in ribosomal assembly and other RNA processing events, which surprisingly had not been previously known.

Conclusions
Overall, our results demonstrate that this new context-based approach will provide significant improvements in domain and function prediction, especially for poorly understood genomes for which the need for additional annotations is greatest. Source code for the algorithm is available under a GPL open source license at http://compbio.cs.princeton.edu/dpuc/. Pre-computed results for our test organisms and a web server are also available at that location.
Reliability analysis of the Ahringer Caenorhabditis elegans RNAi feeding library: a guide for genome-wide screens
Authors: Qu Wubin , Ren Changhong , Li Yuan , Shi Jinping , Zhang Jiye , Wang Xiaolei , Hang Xingyi , Lu Yiming , Zhao Dongsheng , Zhang Chenggang 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
The Ahringer C. elegans RNAi feeding library prepared by cloning genomic DNA fragments has been widely used in genome-wide analysis of gene function. However, the library has not been thoroughly validated by direct sequencing, and there are potential errors, including: 1) mis-annotation (the clone with the retired gene name should be remapped to the actual target gene); 2) nonspecific PCR amplification; 3) cross-RNAi; 4) mis-operation such as sample loading error, etc.

Results
Here we performed a reliability analysis on the Ahringer C. elegans RNAi feeding library, which contains 16,256 bacterial strains, using a bioinformatics approach. Results demonstrated that most (98.3%) of the bacterial strains in the library are reliable. However, we also found that 2,851 (17.54%) bacterial strains need to be re-annotated even they are reliable. Most of these bacterial strains are the clones having the retired gene names. Besides, 28 strains are grouped into unreliable category and 226 strains are marginal because of probably expressing unrelated double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). The accuracy of the prediction was further confirmed by direct sequencing analysis of 496 bacterial strains. Finally, a freely accessible database named CelRNAi (http://biocompute.bmi.ac.cn/CelRNAi/) was developed as a valuable complement resource for the feeding RNAi library by providing the predicted information on all bacterial strains. Moreover, submission of the direct sequencing result or any other annotations for the bacterial strains to the database are allowed and will be integrated into the CelRNAi database to improve the accuracy of the library. In addition, we provide five candidate primer sets for each of the unreliable and marginal bacterial strains for users to construct an alternative vector for their own RNAi studies.

Conclusions
Because of the potential unreliability of the Ahringer C. elegans RNAi feeding library, we strongly suggest the user examine the reliability information of the bacterial strains in the CelRNAi database before performing RNAi experiments, as well as the post-RNAi experiment analysis.
Identification and characterisation of seed storage protein transcripts from Lupinus angustifolius
Authors: Foley Rhonda C , Gao Ling-Ling , Spriggs Andrew , Soo Lena YC , Goggin Danica E , Smith Penelope MC , Atkins Craig A , Singh Karam B 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
In legumes, seed storage proteins are important for the developing seedling and are an important source of protein for humans and animals. Lupinus angustifolius (L.), also known as narrow-leaf lupin (NLL) is a grain legume crop that is gaining recognition as a potential human health food as the grain is high in protein and dietary fibre, gluten-free and low in fat and starch.

Results
Genes encoding the seed storage proteins of NLL were characterised by sequencing cDNA clones derived from developing seeds. Four families of seed storage proteins were identified and comprised three unique α, seven β, two γ and four δ conglutins. This study added eleven new expressed storage protein genes for the species. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of NLL conglutins with those available for the storage proteins of Lupinus albus (L.), Pisum sativum (L.), Medicago truncatula (L.), Arachis hypogaea (L.) and Glycine max (L.) permitted the analysis of a phylogenetic relationships between proteins and demonstrated, in general, that the strongest conservation occurred within species. In the case of 7S globulin (β conglutins) and 2S sulphur-rich albumin (δ conglutins), the analysis suggests that gene duplication occurred after legume speciation. This contrasted with 11S globulin (α conglutin) and basic 7S (γ conglutin) sequences where some of these sequences appear to have diverged prior to speciation. The most abundant NLL conglutin family was β (56%), followed by α (24%), δ (15%) and γ (6%) and the transcript levels of these genes increased 103 to 106 fold during seed development. We used the 16 NLL conglutin sequences identified here to determine that for individuals specifically allergic to lupin, all seven members of the β conglutin family were potential allergens.

Conclusion
This study has characterised 16 seed storage protein genes in NLL including 11 newly-identified members. It has helped lay the foundation for efforts to use molecular breeding approaches to improve lupins, for example by reducing allergens or increasing the expression of specific seed storage protein(s) with desirable nutritional properties.
Wet chemical synthesis and magnetic properties of single crystal Co nanochains with surface amorphous passivation Co layers
Authors: Zhou Shao-Min , Lou Shi-Yun , Wang Yong-Qiang , Chen Xi-Liang , Liu Li-Sheng , Yuan Hong-Lei 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIn this study, for the first time, high-yield chain-like one-dimensional (1D) Co nanostructures without any impurity have been produced by means of a solution dispersion approach under permanent-magnet. Size, morphology, component, and structure of the as-made samples have been confirmed by several techniques, and nanochains (NCs) with diameter of approximately 60 nm consisting of single-crystalline Co and amorphous Co-capped layer (about 3 nm) have been materialized. The as-synthesized Co samples do not include any other adulterants. The high-quality NC growth mechanism is proposed to be driven by magnetostatic interaction because NC can be reorganized under a weak magnetic field. Room-temperature-enhanced coercivity of NCs was observed, which is considered to have potential applications in spin filtering, high density magnetic recording, and nanosensors.PACS: 61.46.Df; 75.50; 81.07.Vb; 81.07.
Transmission electron microscopic observations of nanobubbles and their capture of impurities in wastewater
Authors: Uchida Tsutomu , Oshita Seiichi , Ohmori Masayuki , Tsuno Takuo , Soejima Koichi , Shinozaki Satoshi , Take Yasuhisa , Mitsuda Koichi 
Published: April 2011

AbstractUnique properties of micro- and nanobubbles (MNBs), such as a high adsorption of impurities on their surface, are difficult to verify because MNBs are too small to observe directly. We thus used a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with the freeze-fractured replica method to observe oxygen (O2) MNBs in solutions. MNBs in pure water and in 1% NaCl solutions were spherical or oval. Their size distribution estimated from TEM images close to that of the original solution is measured by light-scattered methods. When we applied this technique to the observation of O2 MNBs formed in the wastewater of a sewage plant, we found the characteristic features of spherical MNBs that adsorbed surrounding impurity particles on their surface.PACS: 68.03.-g, 81.07.-b, 92.40.qc
Effectiveness of injectable risperidone long-acting therapy for schizophrenia: data from the US, Spain, Australia, and Belgium
Authors: Lambert Tim , Olivares José M , Peuskens Joseph , DeSouza Cherilyn , Kozma Chris M , Otten Patrick , Crivera Concetta , Jacobs An , Macfadden Wayne , Mao Lian , Rodriguez Stephen C , Dirani Riad , Akhras Kasem S 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
Because wide variations in mental health care utilization exist throughout the world, determining long-term effectiveness of psychotropic medications in a real-world setting would be beneficial to physicians and patients. The purpose of this analysis was to describe the effectiveness of injectable risperidone long-acting therapy (RLAT) for schizophrenia across countries.

Methods
This was a pragmatic analysis of data from two prospective observational studies conducted in the US (Schizophrenia Outcomes Utilization Relapse and Clinical Evaluation [SOURCE]; ClinicalTrials.gov registration number for the SOURCE study: NCT00246194) and Spain, Australia, and Belgium (electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry [eSTAR]). Two separate analyses were performed to assess clinical improvement during the study and estimate psychiatric hospitalization rates before and after RLAT initiation. Clinical improvement was evaluated using the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scales, and change from baseline was evaluated using paired t tests. Psychiatric hospitalization rates were analyzed using incidence densities, and the bootstrap resampling method was used to examine differences between the pre-baseline and post-baseline periods.

Results
The initial sample comprised 3,069 patients (US, n = 532; Spain, n = 1,345; Australia, n = 784; and Belgium, n = 408). In all, 24 months of study participation, completed by 39.3% (n = 209), 62.7% (n = 843), 45.8% (n = 359), and 64.2% (n = 262) of patients from the US, Spain, Australia, and Belgium, respectively, were included in the clinical analysis. Improvements compared with baseline were observed on both clinical assessments across countries (P < 0.001 at all post-baseline visits). The mean improvement was approximately 1 point on the CGI-S and 15 points on the GAF. A total of 435 (81.8%), 1,339 (99.6%), 734 (93.6%), and 393 (96.3%) patients from the US, Spain, Australia, and Belgium, respectively, had ≥1 post-baseline visit and were included in the analysis of psychiatric hospitalization rates. Hospitalization rates decreased significantly in all countries regardless of hospitalization status at RLAT initiation (P < 0.0001) and decreased significantly in the US and Spain (P < 0.0001) when the analysis was limited to outpatients only.

Conclusions
RLAT in patients with schizophrenia was associated with improvements in clinical and functional outcomes and decreased hospitalization rates in the US, Spain, Australia, and Belgium, despite differences in health care delivery systems.
Sequential generation of olfactory bulb glutamatergic neurons by Neurog2-expressing precursor cells
Authors: Winpenny Eleanor , Lebel-Potter Mélanie , Fernandez Maria E , Brill Monika S , Götz Magdalena , Guillemot Francois , Raineteau Olivier 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
While the diversity and spatio-temporal origin of olfactory bulb (OB) GABAergic interneurons has been studied in detail, much less is known about the subtypes of glutamatergic OB interneurons.

Results
We studied the temporal generation and diversity of Neurog2-positive precursor progeny using an inducible genetic fate mapping approach. We show that all subtypes of glutamatergic neurons derive from Neurog2 positive progenitors during development of the OB. Projection neurons, that is, mitral and tufted cells, are produced at early embryonic stages, while a heterogeneous population of glutamatergic juxtaglomerular neurons are generated at later embryonic as well as at perinatal stages. While most juxtaglomerular neurons express the T-Box protein Tbr2, those generated later also express Tbr1. Based on morphological features, these juxtaglomerular cells can be identified as tufted interneurons and short axon cells, respectively. Finally, targeted electroporation experiments provide evidence that while the majority of OB glutamatergic neurons are generated from intrabulbar progenitors, a small portion of them originate from extrabulbar regions at perinatal ages.

Conclusions
We provide the first comprehensive analysis of the temporal and spatial generation of OB glutamatergic neurons and identify distinct populations of juxtaglomerular interneurons that differ in their antigenic properties and time of origin.
Targeted electroporation of defined lateral ventricular walls: a novel and rapid method to study fate specification during postnatal forebrain neurogenesis
Authors: Fernández María E , Croce Simona , Boutin Camille , Cremer Harold , Raineteau Olivier 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
Postnatal olfactory bulb (OB) neurogenesis involves the generation of granule and periglomerular cells by neural stem cells (NSCs) located in the walls of the lateral ventricle (LV). Recent studies show that NSCs located in different regions of the LV give rise to different types of OB neurons. However, the molecular mechanisms governing neuronal specification remain largely unknown and new methods to approach these questions are needed.

Results
In this study, we refine electroporation of the postnatal forebrain as a technique to perform precise and accurate delivery of transgenes to NSCs located in distinct walls of the LV in the mouse. Using this method, we confirm and expand previous studies showing that NSCs in distinct walls of the LV produce neurons that invade different layers of the OB. Fate mapping of the progeny of radial glial cells located in these distinct LV walls reveals their specification into defined subtypes of granule and periglomerular neurons.

Conclusions
Our results provide a baseline with which future studies aiming at investigating the role of factors in postnatal forebrain neuronal specification can be compared. Targeted electroporation of defined LV NSC populations will prove valuable to study the genetic factors involved in forebrain neuronal specification.
A mutated xylose reductase increases bioethanol production more than a glucose/xylose facilitator in simultaneous fermentation and co-fermentation of wheat straw
Authors: Olofsson Kim , Runquist David , Hahn-Hägerdal Bärbel , Lidén Gunnar 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains are able to ferment xylose present in lignocellulosic biomass. However, better xylose fermenting strains are required to reach complete xylose uptake in simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) of lignocellulosic hydrolyzates. In the current study, haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains expressing a heterologous xylose pathway including either the native xylose reductase (XR) from P. stipiti s, a mutated variant of XR (mXR) with altered co-factor preference, a glucose/xylose facilitator (Gxf1) from Candida intermedia or both mXR and Gxf1 were assessed in SSCF of acid-pretreated non-detoxified wheat straw. The xylose conversion in SSCF was doubled with the S. cerevisiae strain expressing mXR compared to the isogenic strain expressing the native XR, converting 76% and 38%, respectively. The xylitol yield was less than half using mXR in comparison with the native variant. As a result of this, the ethanol yield increased from 0.33 to 0.39 g g-1 when the native XR was replaced by mXR. In contrast, the expression of Gxf1 only slightly increased the xylose uptake, and did not increase the ethanol production. The results suggest that ethanolic xylose fermentation under SSCF conditions is controlled primarily by the XR activity and to a much lesser extent by xylose transport.
Gold Sodium Thiomalate for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Patient with Hepatitis B
Authors: Buckley Whitney A , Stump Amy L , Monger Robert M , Lookabill Sara K 
Published: April 2011

Objective: To describe a case of gold sodium thiomalate use for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a patient with hepatitis B. Case Summary: A 53*year-old Korean American woman with mild RA and chronic hepatitis B infection was treated for worsening RA symptoms with subcutaneous injections of gold sodium thiomalate for 21 months, with the dosage decreased from the initial 40 mg per week to 40 mg every 3 weeks after 51 weeks of successful treatment. She had undergone treatment for hepatitis B in the past with lamivudine; however, she had not received that medication for at least 1 year prior to initiating treatment with gold sodium thiomalate injections. During the treatment period she achieved remission of RA without a significant elevation of her liver enzyme levels or reactivation of hepatitis B. Discussion: TWO main factors influence drug product selection when considering the subset of RA patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: severity of liver function compromise and treatment status of chronic hepatitis B. Our patient did not demonstrate significant liver function compromise, but was not receiving viral suppressive treatment for hepatitis B; therefore, the use of many first-line nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) was contraindicated based on current guideline recommendations. Additionally, because the patient had refused viral suppressive therapy, there was great concern with the use of biological DMAFDs and potential reactivation of hepatitis B. In the past, gold salts were the standard of care in treating RA until the development of the newer agents and there was some evidence that gold sodium thiomalate could be used with minimal risk of hepatotoxicity. Conclusions: Gold sodium thiomalate proved to be a safe and effective treatment option in a patient with RA and hepatitis B.
Application of Gd and Pd nanoparticles in a ‘new generation’ switchable mirror
Authors: Aruna I. , Mehta Bodh Raj , Malhotra Lalit Kumar 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT‘Nanoparticle route’ has been utilized to fabricate a ‘new generation’ of switchable mirrors in which the switching properties can be tuned by controlling the nanoparticle size in the underlying Gd layer or Pd over layer. Better color neutrality, faster response time, improved optical contrast, and an enhanced stability has been observed in Gd nanoparticle layer as a direct consequence of the size-induced blue shift in the optical band gap and enhanced surface area. The improvements in optical and electrical switching characteristics are directly related to the large change in H concentration during loading-deloading cycles in Gd nanoparticle layers. It has also been observed that a uniformly deposited Pd nanoparticle over layer also plays a crucial role for improving hydrogen recovery time.