bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blood lead levels and associated sociodemographic factors among preschool children in the South Eastern region of China
Authors: Liu Jianghong , Ai Yuexian , McCauley Linda , Pinto‐Martin Jennifer , Yan Chonghuai , Shen Xiaoming , Needleman Herbert 
Published: September 2011

SummaryLiu J, Ai Y, McCauley L, Pinto‐Martin J, Yan C, Shen X, Needleman H. Blood lead levels and associated sociodemographic factors among preschool children in the South Eastern region of China. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; 26: 61–69.Children are especially vulnerable to lead toxicity, and exposure to lead has been linked to poor school performance and delinquency in children and adolescents. Even low‐level lead exposure [blood lead level (BLL) <10 µg/dL] can cause intellectual deficit. In China, BLLs in children decreased slightly after the phasing out of lead in gasoline, but few studies have examined the sociodemographic factors associated with BLL above 10 µg/dL. In this study, we sought to examine the hypothesis that sociodemographic factors predict BLLs. We measured BLLs of 1344 preschool children (3–5 years old) from the China Jintan Child Cohort Study. Children's sociodemographic and health statuses, as well as parental sociodemographic data, were collected using questionnaires. Regression models were used to explore the association between sociodemographic factors and log‐transformed BLLs as well as the relationship between sociodemographic factors and the risk of BLL ≥10 µg/dL. We found the median BLL to be 6.2 µg/dL (range: 1.8–32.0 µg/dL); 8% of children had BLLs ≥10 µg/dL. Boys had a higher median BLL (6.4 µg/dL) than girls and were more likely to have BLL ≥10 µg/dL [odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval 1.14, 2.74]. BLLs increased as children aged, with a median BLL of 6.6 µg/dL among 5‐year‐old children. Children with siblings had a higher average BLL and greater prevalence of a BLL ≥10 µg/dL than those without siblings. Living in a crowded neighbourhood was also associated with increased BLLs. Mother's lower education, father's occupation (as professional worker) and parental smoking at home were associated with increased BLLs. This study shows that children in this area still have relatively high BLLs even after the phasing out of leaded gasoline. Both children's and parental factors and community condition are associated with increased BLLs. Future efforts are needed to identify other sources of exposure and develop targeted prevention strategies.
Asthma, allergy and respiratory infections: the vitamin D hypothesis
Authors: Bozzetto S. , Carraro S. , Giordano G. , Boner A. , Baraldi E. 
Published: September 2011

To cite this article: Bozzetto S, Carraro S, Giordano G, Boner A, Baraldi E. Asthma, allergy, and respiratory infections: the vitamin D hypothesis. Allergy 2012; 67: 10–17.AbstractThe recent discovery that every tissue in the human body has vitamin D receptors and that vitamin D has pleiotropic effects has prompted an increased interest in this hormone. Vitamin D deficiency is widespread and on the increase. There is no consensus on the serum vitamin D levels to consider appropriate for global health, the cutoffs for its deficiency, or the doses to use for its supplementation. Vitamin D seems to correlate closely with host reactions against various respiratory infections. Epidemiological studies have shown that low serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with a higher risk of upper and lower respiratory infections in children and a shortage of vitamin D may contribute to asthmatic patients’ symptoms and morbidity rates. There are studies highlighting associations between childhood asthma, fetal lung and/or immune development, and maternal vitamin D intake. An insufficiency of this vitamin also seems to be implicated in the onset of childhood atopy and food allergies. The hypothesis is that vitamin D could have a central role in these pathological situations and that it may represent a novel preventive and/or therapeutic strategy. This article reviews and discusses published data on the relationship between vitamin D and asthma and allergy, emphasizing the need for controlled, prospective studies on vitamin D supplementation to clarify whether it has a role in the prevention of and treatment for asthma and allergic conditions.
Parent of origin effects
Authors: Guilmatre A , Sharp AJ 
Published: September 2011

Guilmatre A, Sharp AJ. Parent of origin effects.A major weakness of most genome‐wide association studies has been their inability to fully explain the heritable component of complex disease. Nearly all such studies consider the two parental alleles to be functionally equivalent. However, the existence of imprinted genes demonstrates that this assumption can be wrong. In this review, we describe a wide variety of different mechanisms that underlie many other parent of origin and trans‐generational effects that are known to operate in both humans and model organisms, suggesting that these phenomena are perhaps not uncommon in the genome. We propose that the consideration of alternative models of inheritance will improve our understanding of the heritability and causes of human traits and could have significant impacts on the study of complex disorders.
Inheritance of and Molecular Markers for Susceptibility of Malus domestica to Fruit Ring Rot (Botryosphaeria dothidea)
Authors: Zhuang Yan , Liu Hai Tao , Li Chun Min , Wang Yi , Zhao Yong Bo , Chen Dong Mei , Han Zhen Hai , Zhang Xin Zhong 
Published: September 2011

AbstractTo analyse the inheritance of fruit ring rot (FRR) resistance and to screen for microsatellite markers linked to resistance/susceptibility, 875 apple hybrid seedlings (Malus domestica, Jonathan × Golden Delicious) were inoculated with five isolates of Botryosphaeria dothidea in 2 years (2008 and 2009). The results indicated that incidence and non‐incidence were qualitatively segregated, and incidence was dominant to non‐incidence. The variation in susceptibility within this population was attributed to the segregation of three major genes. For the phenotype of incidence, the severity of lesion development was a quantitative trait. From 230 published microsatellite primer pairs, six markers were identified that were linked to the susceptibility to FRR. CH04d02‐120 and Hi08g12‐190, located in LG12 and LG2, respectively, were linked to susceptibility to the pathogen isolate Mx1, and their map distances to the susceptibility loci were 8.2 and 5.1 centimorgan (cM), respectively. CH01e01‐120 and CH02c02b‐100, which were linked to susceptibility to Ls1, were located in LG14 and LG4, and the map distances to the susceptibility loci were 16.9 and 8.4 cM, respectively. CH05d11‐150 and CH03a03‐230, linked to susceptibility to Lw048, were located in LG12 and LG14; for both of them, the map distance was 13.4 cM.
Oviposition and feeding behaviour by the vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus on red raspberry: effects of cultivars and plant nutritional status
Authors: Clark Katherine E. , Hartley Susan E. , Brennan Rex M. , MacKenzie Katrin , Johnson Scott N. 
Published: September 2011

The vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus is a major pest of horticultural crops worldwide, with root‐feeding larvae causing most damage. Adult oviposition aboveground may therefore influence levels of damage as the larvae are relatively immobile after oviposition.
The present study investigated feeding and oviposition behaviour on red raspberry Rubus idaeus using intact plants, ensuring that choices reflected the realistic differences in cultivar appearance and chemical composition. Previous studies investigating vine weevil feeding and oviposition on other crops have used excised plant material, which may inadvertently influence behaviour.
Adult weevils significantly preferred to feed on particular cultivars in the choice experiment (e.g. Tulameen), although they consumed significantly more foliage (0.22–1.03 cm2/day) on different raspberry cultivars (e.g. Glen Moy, Glen Rosa and a wild accession) in no‐choice situations.
In choice experiments, weevils tended to avoid laying eggs on some cultivars (e.g. Glen Moy and the wild accession). The number of eggs laid (1.91–4.32 eggs per day) did not, however, differ significantly between the cultivars in a no‐choice situation. Foliar nitrogen and magnesium concentrations were positively, although weakly, correlated with the total number of eggs laid.
The present study highlights the importance of considering both choice and no‐choice tests when assessing crop susceptibility to attack because weevils may avoid feeding on certain cultivars (e.g. Glen Moy) when given a choice, although this would cause significant damage to such cultivars if they were grown in monoculture (i.e. when there is no alternative).
Repeatability of ocular aberration measurements in patients with keratoconus
Authors: Jinabhai Amit , Radhakrishnan Hema , O’Donnell Clare 
Published: September 2011

Citation information: Jinabhai A, Radhakrishnan H & O’Donnell C. Repeatability of ocular aberration measurements in patients with keratoconus. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2011, 31, 588–594. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2011.00868.xAbstractPurpose:  To explore the repeatability of lower‐order and higher‐order ocular aberrations measured in patients with keratoconus.Methods:  The IRX‐3 (Imagine Eyes, Paris, France) aberrometer was used to record lower‐order and higher‐order aberrations in 31 eyes of 31 patients with keratoconus. Four monocular measurements were taken consecutively for each patient. The aberrometry data were analysed up to the 5th Zernike order for a 4‐mm pupil diameter. The data were evaluated using repeated‐measures anova and Friedman analyses. Repeatability was analysed using within‐subject standard deviation (SW) and the repeatability limit (r) calculated as 1.96 ×√2 × Sw.Results:  Of the 11 aberration terms evaluated, the repeatability of Z (2,0) (mean = 1.36 μm; SW = 0.09 μm; r = 0.26 μm); Z (2,±2) RMS (mean = 1.05 μm; SW = 0.09 μm; r = 0.24 μm) and Z (4,0) aberrations (mean = 0.34 μm; SW = 0.09 μm; r = 0.24 μm) showed the highest variability. In contrast, Z (3,±1) RMS aberrations (mean = 0.85 μm; SW = 0.06 μm; r = 0.16 μm) and Z (4,±2) RMS aberrations (mean = 0.40 μm; SW = 0.07 μm; r = 0.18 μm) showed comparatively better repeatability.Conclusions:  The lower‐order and higher‐order aberrations measured in this group of keratoconic patients showed higher levels of variability compared to previous investigations of visually‐normal subjects. These results may be of interest to eyecare practitioners involved in the design and fitting of aberration‐controlling contact lenses for patients with keratoconus.
Endothelial cell Bcl‐2 and lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Tarquinio Sandra B. C. , Zhang Zhaocheng , Neiva Kathleen G. , Polverini Peter J. , Nör Jacques E. 
Published: September 2011

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41: 124–130Background:  Loco‐regional spread of disease causes high morbidity and is associated with the poor prognosis of malignant oral tumors. Better understanding of mechanisms underlying the establishment of lymph node metastasis is necessary for the development of more effective therapies for patients with oral cancer. The aims of this work were to evaluate a possible correlation between endothelial cell Bcl‐2 and lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to study signaling pathways that regulate Bcl‐2 expression in lymphatic endothelial cells.Methods:  Endothelial cells were selectively retrieved from paraffin‐embedded tissue sections of primary human OSCC from patients with or without lymph node metastasis by laser capture microdissection. RT‐PCR was used to evaluate Bcl‐2 expression in tumor‐associated endothelial cells and in tumor cells. In vitro, mechanistic studies were performed to examine the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C on the expression of Bcl‐2 in primary human lymphatic endothelial cells.Results: We observed that Bcl‐2 expression is upregulated in the endothelial cells of human oral tumors with lymph node metastasis as compared to endothelial cells from stage‐matched tumors without metastasis. VEGF‐C induced Bcl‐2 expression in lymphatic endothelial cells via VEGFR‐3 and PI3k/Akt signaling. Notably, OSCC cells express VEGF‐C and induce Bcl‐2 in lymphatic endothelial cells.Conclusions:  Collectively, this work unveiled a mechanism for the induction of Bcl‐2 in lymphatic endothelial cells and suggested that endothelial cell Bcl‐2 contributes to lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Radiology, histology and short‐term outcome of asymptomatic congenital thoracic malformations
Authors: Kongstad Thomas , Buchvald Frederik , Brenøe Jørn , Petersen Bodil Laub , Tabor Ann , Nielsen Kim G 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAim:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and short‐term outcome of our management of asymptomatic children with antenatally diagnosed congenital thoracic malformations (CTM), compared with recommendations from a recent review and meta‐analysis.Methods:  Twenty‐two asymptomatic children with CTM, born in January 1, 2002 to January 8, 2009 were reviewed. Data on complications and respiratory symptoms were collected.Results:  No severe respiratory symptoms were recorded. Seventeen children were referred to surgery. Complications were seen in one child. The final diagnoses were congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) in 13 children, two had sequestrations, and two had other significant malformations. Five children had minor malformations and did not undergo surgery. No malignancies were reported.Conclusion:  Elective surgery at 1 year of age is safe and carries no apparent risk to asymptomatic children with CTM. The rate of complications was equal to that reported in a recent review and meta‐analysis.
Regional context affects native and alien plant species richness across habitat types
Authors: Gassó Núria , Pino Joan , Font Xavier , Vilà Montserrat 
Published: September 2011

AbstractQuestionHow does large‐scale context affect native and alien species richness across different habitat types?LocationCatalonia, NE Spain.MethodsWe analysed a set of 5309 vegetation plots from the BDBC (Biodiversity Data Bank of Catalonia) database, organized following the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) 10 km × 10 km grid. Plots were assigned to the first or second hierarchy of EUNIS (European Nature Information System) habitat classification. For each plot, the number of native plants (including archaeophytes, i.e. alien plants introduced before 1500 ad) and neophytes (alien plants introduced after 1500 ad) was recorded. Neophytes were classified according their Raunkiaer's life form. For each UTM we selected eight predictors related to land cover composition, anthropogenic context and climate. The association of neophyte and native species richness with these predictor variables was explored by generalized linear mixed models for each terrestrial habitat type after controlling for plot area.ResultsA total of 77 different neophyte species were found distributed among the eight habitat types with fitted models. Minimum adequate models on both neophyte and native species richness were highly variable. In general, native species richness responded more to climatic variables, while neophyte species richness was associated more with human landscape factors such as distance to main roads and, secondarily, cropland cover.ConclusionsContext factors defined on a large scale (10 km) have a significant effect on local native and neophyte species richness for many habitat types in Catalonia. Our results highlight the major influence of climatic context on native species richness and the influence of human landscape context on neophyte species richness in the study region. The inconsistency of results between habitat types suggests that this large‐scale effect might be highly idiosyncratic and dependent on species ecology and life form.
Using primary productivity as an index of coastal eutrophication: a case study in Daya Bay
Authors: Liu Huaxue , Huang Liangmin , Song Xingyu , Zhong Yu 
Published: September 2011

AbstractSeasonal measurements of phytoplankton biomass [chlorophyll a (chl a)], primary production (PP) and nutrient were conducted to understand the trophic status of Daya Bay in 2008–2009. Both nitrate and phosphate concentrations in winter were higher than those in summer. Maximum chl a and PP records appeared in the summer, when a harmful algae bloom (HAB) occurred in the north‐western part of the bay. Microplankton dominated the phytoplankton community in nearshore waters, while pico‐ or nanophytoplankton was predominant in other area of the bay. High chl a and PP could often be found in the inner bay, such as the Dapeng'ao Cove and Aotou Cove. High PP values (> 20 mgC/m3/h) often appeared in waters with frequent outburst of HABs. The results suggested that PP was a suitable index of coastal eutrophication in Daya Bay.
Influenza transmission during a one‐year period (2009–2010) in a Sahelian city: low temperature plays a major role
Authors: Jusot Jean‐François , Adamou Lagaré , Collard Jean‐Marc 
Published: September 2011

Please cite this paper as: Jusot J‐François et al. (2011) Influenza transmission during a one‐year period (2009–2010) in a Sahelian city: low temperature plays a major role. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/j.1750‐2659.2011.00286.x.This work aimed at studying the link between some climatic factors and the occurrence of influenza in Niamey, Niger. Patients with influenza like illness or severe acute respiratory illness were recruited through a sentinel network. A nasopharyngeal swab was sampled and tested for influenza viruses A and B by RT‐PCR. Time series of daily counts of influenza cases and climatic factors were linked using a generalized additive model. Among the 320 patients recruited, 76 were confirmed positive for influenza. Influenza cases increased significantly with minimal temperatures and high visibility. This work brings some valuable explanation to the impact of low temperatures on influenza transmission.
Growth of Chlorella vulgaris and associated bacteria in photobioreactors
Authors: Lakaniemi Aino‐Maija , Intihar Veera M. , Tuovinen Olli H. , Puhakka Jaakko A. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThe aim of this study was to test three flat plate photobioreactor configurations for growth of Chlorella vulgaris under non‐axenic conditions and to characterize and quantify associated bacterial communities. The photobioreactor cultivations were conducted using tap water‐based media to introduce background bacterial population. Growth of algae was monitored over time with three independent methods. Additionally, the quantity and quality of eukaryotes and bacteria were analysed using culture‐independent molecular tools based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR). Static mixers used in the flat plate photobioreactors did not generally enhance the growth at the low light intensities used. The maximum biomass concentration and maximum specific growth rate were 1.0 g l−1 and 2.0 day−1 respectively. Bacterial growth as determined by QPCR was associated with the growth of C. vulgaris. Based on PCR‐DGGE, bacteria in the cultures mainly originated from the tap water. Bacterial community profiles were diverse but reproducible in all flat plate cultures. Most prominent bacteria in the C. vulgaris cultures belonged to the class Alphaproteobacteria and especially to the genus Sphingomonas. Analysis of the diversity of non‐photosynthetic microorganisms in algal mass cultures can provide useful information on the public health aspects and unravel community interactions.
Exposure-based cycling crash, near miss and injury rates: The Safer Cycling Prospective Cohort Study protocol: Figure 1
Authors: Poulos Roslyn G , Hatfield Julie , Rissel Chris , Grzebieta Raphael , McIntosh Andrew S 
Published: September 2011

IntroductionThere are clear personal, social and environmental benefits of cycling. However, safety concerns are among the frequently cited barriers to cycling. In Australia, there are no exposure-based measures of the rates of crash or ‘near miss’ experienced by cyclists.Design and settingA prospective cohort study over 12 months, with all data collected via web-based online data entry.ParticipantsTwo thousand adults aged 18 years and older, living in New South Wales (Australia), who usually bicycle at least once a month, will be recruited from March to November 2011.MethodsIn the 12 months following enrolment, cyclists will be surveyed on six occasions (weeks 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 from the week of the enrolment survey). In these survey weeks, cyclists will be asked to provide daily reports of distance travelled; time, location and duration of trips; infrastructure used; crashes, near misses and crash-related injuries. Information on crashes and injuries will also be sought for the intervening period between the last and current survey. A subsample of participants will receive bicycle trip computers to provide objective measurement of distance travelled.DiscussionThis study protocol describes the prospective cohort study developed to assess near misses, crashes and injuries among cyclists by time and distance travelled and by type of infrastructure used, with recruited participants entering data remotely using the internet. We expect to be able to calculate event rates according to exposure overall and for different infrastructure types and to report in-depth information about event causation.
Androgen-Independent Molecular Imaging Vectors to Detect Castration-Resistant and Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Jiang Ziyue Karen , Sato Makoto , Wei Liu H. , Kao Chinghai , Wu Lily 
Published: September 2011

AbstractProstate-specific promoters are frequently employed in gene-mediated molecular imaging and therapeutic vectors to diagnose and treat castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that emerges from hormone ablation therapy. Many of the conventional prostate-specific promoters rely on the androgen axis to drive gene expression. However, considering the cancer heterogeneity and varying androgen receptor status, we herein evaluated the utility of prostate-specific enhancing sequence (PSES), an androgen-independent promoter in CRPC. The PSES is a fused enhancer derived from the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen gene regulatory region. We augmented the activity of PSES by the two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system to drive the expression of imaging reporter genes for either bioluminescent or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The engineered PSES–TSTA system exhibits greatly elevated transcriptional activity, androgen independency, and strong prostate specificity, verified in cell culture and preclinical animal experimentations. These advantageous features of PSES–TSTA elicit superior gene expression capability for CRPC in comparison with the androgen-dependent PSA promoter–driven system. In preclinical settings, we showed robust PET imaging capacity of PSES–TSTA in a castrated prostate xenograft model. Moreover, intravenous administrated PSES–TSTA bioluminescent vector correctly identified tibial bone marrow metastases in 9 of 9 animals, whereas NaF- and FDG-PET was unable to detect the lesions. Taken together, this study showed the promising utility of a potent, androgen-independent, and prostate cancer–specific expression system in directing gene-based molecular imaging in CRPC, even in the context of androgen deprivation therapy. Cancer Res; 71(19); 6250–60. ©2011 AACR.