bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rat astrocytic tumour cells are associated with an anti‐inflammatory microglial phenotype in an organotypic model
Authors: Billingham C. , Powell M. R. , Jenner K. A. , Johnston D. A. , Gatherer M. , Nicoll J. A. R. , Boche D. 
Published: May 2012

C. Billingham, M. R. Powell, K. A. Jenner, D. A. Johnston, M. Gatherer, J. A. R. Nicoll and D. Boche (2013) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology39, 243–255Rat astrocytic tumour cells are associated with an anti‐inflammatory microglial phenotype in an organotypic modelAim: Microglia form a high proportion of cells in glial tumours but their role in supporting or inhibiting tumour growth is unclear. Here we describe the establishment of an in vitro model to investigate their role in astrocytomas. Methods: Rat hippocampal slices were prepared and, after 7 days to allow microglia to become quiescent, rat C6 astrocytic tumour cells were added. Over the following 7 days, infiltration and cell death were studied using fluorescent C6 tumour cells and confocal microscopy; immunophenotyping of microglia was performed using CD68 (phagocytosis), MHCII (antigen‐presentation) and Iba1 (microglial marker regardless of functional state). Cell proliferation was assessed using Ki67 and qPCR to detect cytokine expression. Sham and control groups were included. Results: Microscopy showed proliferation of C6 tumour cells with both infiltration of tumour cells into the hippocampal tissue and of microglia among the tumour cells. Confocal experiments confirmed increasing tumour cell infiltration into the hippocampal slice with time (P < 0.001), associated with cell death (σ = 0.313, P = 0.022). Ki67 showed increased proliferation (P < 0.001), of both tumour cells and Iba1+ microglia and increased microglial phagocytosis (CD68: P < 0.001). Expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL1, IL6 and TNFα were downregulated with expression of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine TGFβ1 maintained. Conclusion: This model allows study of the proliferation and infiltration of astrocytic tumour cells in central nervous system tissue and their interaction with microglia. Our data suggest that microglial function is altered in the presence of tumour cells, putatively facilitating tumour progression. Manipulation of the microglial functional state may have therapeutic value for astrocytic tumours.
The Quality of Vital Statistics for Studying Perinatal Health: the Spanish Case
Authors: Juárez Sol , Alonso Ortíz Tomás , Ramiro‐Fariñas Diego , Bolúmar Francisco 
Published: May 2012

AbstractJuárez S, Alonso Ortíz T, Ramiro‐Fariñas D, Bolúmar F. The quality of Vital Statistics for studying perinatal health: the Spanish case. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; ••: ••–••.Background:  Birthweight and gestational age are key indicators for perinatal health obtained through the birth certificate. Knowing the validity of birth certificate data is crucial when identifying needs and evaluating birth outcomes. In Spain, vital information is reported by parents and is not checked for consistency with any hospital document. Therefore, to perform a validation study and describe the variables associated with misreporting is essential to improve the quality of birth certificates.Methods:  A database was created using birth information from hospital medical records that were individually linked with the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) birth certificate files. Measures of reliability and validity were used to compare the data from the two sources. Logistic regression models were adjusted to model the odds of being misreported in birthweight and gestational age, controlling for relevant variables.Results:  INE overestimated the prevalence of birthweight and gestational age. The degree of agreement between the two sources was good for most gestational age groups (Kappa = 0.74), very good for the very preterm (Kappa = 0.85) and very good also for all categories of birthweight (Kappa = 0.88). Misreporting was significantly higher among immigrants, unmarried mothers and girls. Being a preterm birth increased the odds of being declared with errors in gestational age; having low birthweight and missing information on gestational age were associated with misreporting birthweight.Conclusions:  The reliability of INE information could be greatly improved if hospitals included birthweight and gestational age on the document provided to parents for registering the birth.
Using Maternally Reported Data to Investigate the Association between Early Childhood Infection and Autism Spectrum Disorder: the Importance of Data Source
Authors: Atladóttir Hjördís Ó. , Henriksen Tine B. , Schendel Diana E. , Parner Erik T. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground:Childhood infections have been found to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in previous studies using hospital data or medical records to identify infections. We aimed to replicate these findings using maternal reports of childhood infection.Methods:We used the Danish National Birth Cohort consisting of 92 583 live singletons born from 1997 to 2003 in Denmark. ASD diagnoses were retrieved from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register, and a total of 945 children from the cohort were diagnosed with ASD. Data were analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression. We studied the association between ASD and maternal reports of infectious disease in the child from birth to 19 months. Furthermore, we performed secondary analyses using hospital registers to investigate the association between ASD and hospital contact in general as well as hospital contact for various infections.Results:We did not find a general association between maternal reports of infectious illness and ASD. However, hospital contact for all causes was associated with an increased risk for an ASD diagnosis. Danish children with ASD do not appear to have a general pattern of illness from infection in early life, but do have more contact with medical specialists for infections and other indications compared with the general population.Conculsion:Hospital data should be used cautiously when studying the co‐morbidity of ASD; if the increased rate of hospital contact overall for children with ASD is not considered, then misleading interpretations might be made of observed associations between specific diseases and ASD.
Risk Models for Benchmarking Severe Perineal Tears during Vaginal Childbirth: a Cross‐sectional Study of Public Hospitals in South Australia, 2002–08
Authors: Baghurst Peter A. , Antoniou Georgia 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground:The incidence of third‐ and fourth‐degree perineal tears during vaginal childbirth is being increasingly used as an indicator of the safety and quality of maternity health care services. In order to make fair comparisons across hospitals it may be necessary to estimate a probability of severe perineal tears for every woman, taking into account her risk profile.Methods:Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the probabilities of third‐ and fourth‐degree tears (n = 1582; 2.4%) in 65 598 vaginal births in publicly funded hospitals in South Australia, 2002–08.Results:Maternal age ≥25 years, primiparity, instrument assistance, Asian or African ethnicity, shoulder dystocia and increasing birthweight were all identified as factors that are associated with an increased risk of perineal tears. In parous women, episiotomy, with or without instrument assistance, was associated with more tears; but among nulliparous women, episiotomy was associated with significantly fewer tears when forceps assistance was required, and showed little or no association with tearing in vacuum‐assisted or unassisted (spontaneous) births.Conclusion:The probabilities of severe perineal tears in first‐time mothers giving birth to a term singleton with cephalic presentation, may range from under 1% to over 40%, according to a minimalist model containing only predictors unrelated to clinical management. If instrument assistance and episiotomy are also incorporated into the modelling, the estimated probability of tearing may exceed 50% in high risk individuals. Such variation highlights the need for risk adjustment when comparing hospitals with respect to their incidence of third or fourth degree perineal tears.
Natural variation in the temperature range permissive for vernalization in accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: WOLLENBERG AMANDA C. , AMASINO RICHARD M. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTVernalization is an acceleration of flowering in response to chilling, and is normally studied in the laboratory at near‐freezing (2–4 °C) temperatures. Many vernalization‐requiring species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, are found in a range of habitats with varying winter temperatures. Natural variation in the temperature range that elicits a vernalization response in Arabidopsis has not been fully explored. We characterized the effect of intermediate temperatures (7–19 °C) on 15 accessions and the well‐studied reference line Col‐FRI. Although progressively warmer temperatures are gradually less effective at activating expression of the vernalization‐specific gene VERNALIZATION‐INSENSITIVE 3 (VIN3) and in accelerating flowering, there is substantial natural variation in the upper threshold (Tmax) of the flowering‐time response. VIN3 is required for the Tmax (13 °C) response of Col‐FRI. Surprisingly, even 16 °C treatment caused induction of VIN3 in six tested lines, despite the ineffectiveness of this temperature in accelerating flowering for two of them. Finally, we present evidence that mild acceleration of flowering by 19 °C exposure may counterbalance the flowering time delay caused by non‐inductive photoperiods in at least one accession, creating an appearance of photoperiod insensitivity.
A comparative study of the Barley yellow dwarf virus species PAV and PAS: distribution, accumulation and host resistance
Authors: Jarošová J. , Chrpová J. , Šíp V. , Kundu J. K. 
Published: May 2012

This study investigated the distribution and characteristics of the Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) species BYDV‐PAS, which was recently separated from BYDV‐PAV, the most commonly studied BYDV species. Throughout 3 years of experimental monitoring of BYDV incidence, PAS was the most frequently occurring species infecting cereals and grasses in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, Rhopalosiphum maidis and Metopolophium dirhodum were recorded as BYDV‐PAS vectors, even though M. dirhodum does not usually transmit BYDV‐PAV. In field experiments with barley and wheat, where virus accumulation, symptoms and effect on the yield were tested, BYDV‐PAV was more severe than PAS. Infection with the BYDV‐PAV isolate resulted in greater expression of symptoms and also in a greater reduction in plant height and grain weight per spike than BYDV‐PAS. In a sensitive cultivar of barley (Graciosa), the amount of viral RNA of BYDV‐PAV was also significantly higher than that of BYDV‐PAS. In a tolerant line (Wbon‐123), however, no such differences were found. In conclusion, although BYDV‐PAS seems to be dominant in the Czech Republic, BYDV‐PAV has the potential to cause more significant crop losses in barley and wheat.
Collision and rotation of the South China block and their role in the formation and exhumation of ultrahigh pressure rocks in the Dabie Shan orogen
Authors: Guo Xiaoyu , Encarnacion John , Xu Xiao , Deino Alan , Li Zhiwu , Tian Xiaobo 
Published: May 2012

Terra Nova, 24, 339–350, 2012AbstractStudies of regional plate‐scale processes that may influence the exhumation of ultra‐high pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks are few despite their potential importance. Here, we review and summarize available age constraints along with the Qinling‐Dabie Shan orogen, which separates the North China Block (NCB) from the South China Block (SCB). We find that collision‐related events in the west and extension‐related events in the east, where the large Dabie Shan UHP terrane is located, were contemporaneous. Available palaeomagnetic data indicate clockwise rotation of the SCB relative to the NCB during this time. Previous work indicated that the collision propagated from east to west where indentation of the SCB into the Qinling‐Dabie Shan orogen was active in the Hannan Dome area at 165 ± 3 Ma as constrained by new 40Ar/39Ar dates on synkinematic sericite in an indentation‐related mylonitic shear zone. While this contraction was occurring in the west, exhumation of the UHP terrane was occurring in the Dabie Shan in the east. We propose that the collision of the SCB with the NCB occurred not only in a scissor‐like fashion, as previously suggested, but also involved a later rotation about a pole west of the Dabie Shan during the closure of the Mianlue Ocean. As a consequence of this rotation, extension occurred between the South China Block and North China Block east of the pole of rotation leading to extensional exhumation of the Dabie Shan orogen. This microcontinent‐scale rotation of the SCB may have provided an important component in the exhumation of the largest UHP terrane in the world.
CCS52 and DEL1 genes are key components of the endocycle in nematode‐induced feeding sites
Authors: de Almeida Engler Janice , Kyndt Tina , Vieira Paulo , Van Cappelle Elke , Boudolf Veronique , Sanchez Vanesa , Escobar Carolina , De Veylder Lieven , Engler Gilbert , Abad Pierre , Gheysen Godelieve 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThe establishment of galls and syncytia as feeding sites induced by root‐knot and cyst nematodes, respectively, involves a progressive increase in nuclear and cellular size. Here we describe the functional characterization of endocycle activators CCS52A, CCS52B and a repressor of the endocycle, DEL1, during two types of nematode feeding site development in Arabidopsis thaliana. In situ hybridization analysis showed that expression of CCS52A1 and CCS52B was strongly induced in galls and syncytia and DEL1 was stably but weakly expressed throughout feeding site development. Down‐regulation and over‐expression of CCS52 and DEL1 in Arabidopsis drastically affected giant cell and syncytium growth, resulting in restrained nematode development, illustrating the need for mitotic activity and endo‐reduplication for feeding site maturation. Exploiting the mechanism of endo‐reduplication may be envisaged as a strategy to control plant‐parasitic nematodes.
The role of cytokinin during Arabidopsis gynoecia and fruit morphogenesis and patterning
Authors: Marsch‐Martínez Nayelli , Ramos‐Cruz Daniela , Irepan Reyes‐Olalde J. , Lozano‐Sotomayor Paulina , Zúñiga‐Mayo Victor M. , de Folter Stefan 
Published: May 2012

SummaryCytokinins have many essential roles in embryonic and post‐embryonic growth and development, but their role in fruit morphogenesis is currently not really known. Moreover, information about the spatio‐temporal localization pattern of cytokinin signaling in gynoecia and fruits is lacking. Therefore, the synthetic reporter line TCS::GFP was used to visualize cytokinin signaling during gynoecium and fruit development. Fluorescence was detected at medial regions of developing gynoecia, and, unexpectedly, at the valve margin in developing fruits, and was severely altered in mutants that lack or ectopically acquire valve margin identity. Comparison to developing gynoecia and fruits in a DR5rev::GFP line showed that the transcriptional responses to cytokinin and auxin are frequently present in complementary patterns. Moreover, cytokinin treatments in early gynoecia produced conspicuous changes, and treatment of valve margin mutant fruits restored this tissue. The results suggest that the phytohormone cytokinin is important in gynoecium and fruit patterning and morphogenesis, playing at least two roles: an early proliferation‐inducing role at the medial tissues of the developing gynoecia, and a late role in fruit patterning and morphogenesis at the valve margin of developing fruits.
The pepper RNA‐binding protein CaRBP1 functions in hypersensitive cell death and defense signaling in the cytoplasm
Authors: Lee Dong Hyuk , Kim Dae Sung , Hwang Byung Kook 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThe regulation of gene expression via post‐transcriptional modification by RNA‐binding proteins is crucial for plant disease and innate immunity. Here, we report the identification of the pepper (Capsicum annuum) RNA‐binding protein1 gene (CaRBP1) as essential for hypersensitive cell death and defense signaling in the cytoplasm. CaRBP1 contains an RNA recognition motif and is rapidly and strongly induced in pepper by avirulent Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) infection. CaRBP1 displays in vitro RNA‐ and DNA‐binding activity and in planta nucleocytoplasmic localization. Transient expression of CaRBP1 in pepper leaves triggers cell‐death and defense responses. Notably, cytoplasmic localization of CaRBP1, mediated by the N‐terminal region of CaRBP1, is essential for the hypersensitive cell‐death response. Silencing of CaRBP1 in pepper plants significantly enhances susceptibility to avirulent Xcv infection. This is accompanied by compromised hypersensitive cell death, production of reactive oxygen species in oxidative bursts, expression of defense marker genes and accumulation of endogenous salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Over‐expression of CaRBP1 in Arabidopsis confers reduced susceptibility to infection by the biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. Together, these results suggest that cytoplasmic localization of CaRBP1 is required for plant signaling of hypersensitive cell‐death and defense responses.
Identification of cis‐elements conferring high levels of gene expression in non‐green plastids
Authors: Zhang Jiang , Ruf Stephanie , Hasse Claudia , Childs Liam , Scharff Lars B. , Bock Ralph 
Published: May 2012

SummaryAlthough our knowledge about the mechanisms of gene expression in chloroplasts has increased substantially over the past decades, next to nothing is known about the signals and factors that govern expression of the plastid genome in non‐green tissues. Here we report the development of a quantitative method suitable for determining the activity of cis‐acting elements for gene expression in non‐green plastids. The in vivo assay is based on stable transformation of the plastid genome and the discovery that root length upon seedling growth in the presence of the plastid translational inhibitor kanamycin is directly proportional to the expression strength of the resistance gene nptII in transgenic tobacco plastids. By testing various combinations of promoters and translation initiation signals, we have used this experimental system to identify cis‐elements that are highly active in non‐green plastids. Surprisingly, heterologous expression elements from maize plastids were significantly more efficient in conferring high expression levels in root plastids than homologous expression elements from tobacco. Our work has established a quantitative method for characterization of gene expression in non‐green plastid types, and has led to identification of cis‐elements for efficient plastid transgene expression in non‐green tissues, which are valuable tools for future transplastomic studies in basic and applied research.
The Arabidopsis DCP2 gene is required for proper mRNA turnover and prevents transgene silencing in Arabidopsis
Authors: Thran Moritz , Link Katrin , Sonnewald Uwe 
Published: May 2012

SummaryPost‐transcriptional gene silencing often limits the over‐expression of transgenes in transgenic plants. It involves RNA‐DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE 6 (RDR6), which recognizes aberrant transcripts, such as inaccurately processed or uncapped mRNA, and triggers silencing of target transcripts. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of an Arabidopsis mutant displaying increased transgene silencing (its1). Reduced accumulation of transgene mRNA in the its1 mutant background was accompanied by accumulation of transgene‐specific siRNAs and was overcome by potyvirus infection. We therefore speculated that ITS1 is a suppressor of post‐transcriptional gene silencing. Map‐based cloning and subsequent complementation revealed that ITS1 encodes DECAPPING 2 (DCP2), which is crucial for decapping, a prerequisite for mRNA degradation. In agreement with the proposed function of DCP2, we found a reduced accumulation of uncapped mRNA in the its1 mutant. Furthermore, silencing in the its1 mutant was dependent on RDR6 function, suggesting that reduced decapping leads to accumulation of aberrant capped mRNA. Hence, we provide evidence for a class of aberrant mRNA that accumulates upon impaired mRNA decapping and triggers post‐transcriptional gene silencing in Arabidopsis. As DCP2 knockouts cause post‐embryo lethality, we isolated a hypomorphic dcp2 allele, providing insights into mRNA degradation and its interplay with post‐transcriptional gene silencing.
Blood donor haemovigilance in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: Nchinda E. C. , Tagny C. T. , Mbanya D. 
Published: May 2012

Background: Blood availability is an issue of concern in countries of sub‐Saharan Africa where both the demand and discard rates of blood are high. Although some degree of attention is paid when transfusion reactions occur in recipients, no information is available on donor reactions in this setting.Objectives: This study was carried out in order to obtain some data on adverse reactions (ARs) to blood donations. It would make it possible to monitor and improve the safety of the donation procedure, which constitutes a strategy towards increasing donor supply by encouraging first‐time donors to return in the absence of any negative outcomes of donation.Methods: A hospital blood bank‐based descriptive and prospective study was carried out to document ARs among 1034 blood donors from September 2010 to January 2011. A pre‐structured data collection tool was used to record the signs and symptoms observed.Results: The ARs occurred at a rate of 2·8%. The most frequent reaction was hypotension which constituted 26·62% of all ARs. Haematomas represented 18·42% while weakness and dizziness were each noted in 13·16% of donors. There was no severe vasovagal reaction. Associated factors to vasovagal reactions were first‐time donor status (P = 0·004), female sex (P = 0·01) and low body weight (P = 0·02).Conclusion: Our results suggest that blood donation is a relatively safe procedure in our context. The frequency is higher than studies from developed countries. The association of AR with first‐time blood donation needs to be verified in a larger study. However, it could suggest another benefit of regular blood donation.
‘Y’Scenedesmus (Chlorophyta, Chlorophyceae): the internal transcribed spacer 2 rRNA secondary structure re‐revisited
Authors: Markert S. M. , Müller T. , Koetschan C. , Friedl T. , Wolf M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIncluding RNA secondary structures improves accuracy and robustness in reconstruction of phylogenetic trees. It is possible to simultaneously infer alignments and phylogenies on the primary sequence and the secondary structure information. For the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), a phylogenetic RNA transcript marker, two different structure conformations (I or Y shape for helix I) were published for Scenedesmaceae, and a third appeared in the ITS2 database. We contrast the effects on phylogenetic tree reconstruction of different structure sets for a small scenedesmacean subset, using neighbour‐joining, maximum parsimony and, for the first time, maximum likelihood, on sequence‐structure alignments. Generally our study supports inclusion of secondary structure information. However, we found that any of the three structure conformations is equally fit for phylogenetic studies, but prefer the I shape for helix I. Moreover, our results enable us to give general recommendations on how to build a phylogenetic tree using ITS2 sequence–structure alignments, including different methods to obtain the secondary structures. Thus, we hope to provide a valuable contribution not only for scenedesmacean ITS2 phylogeny, but also for other approaches using RNA transcript markers.