bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential wedging of vertebral body and intervertebral disc in thoracic and lumbar spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis – A cross sectional study in 150 patients
Authors: Modi Hitesh N , Suh Seung Woo , Song Hae-Ryong , Yang Jae-Hyuk , Kim Hak-Jun , Modi Chetna H 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackgroundHueter-Volkmann's law regarding growth modulation suggests that increased pressure on the end plate of bone retards the growth (Hueter) and conversely, reduced pressure accelerates the growth (Volkmann). Literature described the same principle in Rat-tail model. Human spine and its deformity i.e. scoliosis has also same kind of pattern during the growth period which causes wedging in disc or vertebral body.MethodsThis cross sectional study in 150 patients of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was done to evaluate vertebral body and disc wedging in scoliosis and to compare the extent of differential wedging of body and disc, in thoracic and lumbar area. We measured wedging of vertebral bodies and discs, along with two adjacent vertebrae and disc, above and below the apex and evaluated them according to severity of curve (curve < 30° and curve > 30°) to find the relationship of vertebral body or disc wedging with scoliosis in thoracic and lumbar spine. We also compared the wedging and rotations of vertebrae.ResultsIn both thoracic and lumbar curves, we found that greater the degree of scoliosis, greater the wedging in both disc and body and the degree of wedging was more at apex supporting the theory of growth retardation in stress concentration area. However, the degree of wedging in vertebral body is more than the disc in thoracic spine while the wedging was more in disc than body in lumbar spine. On comparing the wedging with the rotation, we did not find any significant relationship suggesting that it has no relation with rotation.ConclusionFrom our study, we can conclude that wedging in disc and body are increasing with progression on scoliosis and maximum at apex; however there is differential wedging of body and disc, in thoracic and lumbar area, that is vertebral body wedging is more profound in thoracic area while disc wedging is more profound in lumbar area which possibly form 'vicious cycle' by asymmetric loading to spine for the progression of curve.
Power of grammatical evolution neural networks to detect gene-gene interactions in the presence of error
Authors: Motsinger-Reif Alison A , Fanelli Theresa J , Davis Anna C , Ritchie Marylyn D 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Background
With the advent of increasingly efficient means to obtain genetic information, a great insurgence of data has resulted, leading to the need for methods for analyzing this data beyond that of traditional parametric statistical approaches. Recently we introduced Grammatical Evolution Neural Network (GENN), a machine-learning approach to detect gene-gene or gene-environment interactions, also known as epistasis, in high dimensional genetic epidemiological data. GENN has been shown to be highly successful in a range of simulated data, but the impact of error common to real data is unknown. In the current study, we examine the power of GENN to detect interesting interactions in the presence of noise due to genotyping error, missing data, phenocopy, and genetic heterogeneity. Additionally, we compare the performance of GENN to that of another computational method – Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR).

Findings
GENN is extremely robust to missing data and genotyping error. Phenocopy in a dataset reduces the power of both GENN and MDR. GENN is reasonably robust to genetic heterogeneity and find that in some cases GENN has substantially higher power than MDR to detect functional loci in the presence of genetic heterogeneity.

Conclusion
GENN is a promising method to detect gene-gene interaction, even in the presence of common types of error found in real data.
Normative values for the Foot Posture Index
Authors: Redmond Anthony C , Crane Yvonne Z , Menz Hylton B 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackgroundThe Foot Posture Index (FPI) is a validated method for quantifying standing foot posture, and is being used in a variety of clinical settings. There have however, been no normative data available to date for comparison and reference. This study aimed to establish normative FPI reference values.MethodsStudies reporting FPI data were identified by searching online databases. Nine authors contributed anonymised versions of their original datasets comprising 1648 individual observations. The datasets included information relating to centre, age, gender, pathology (if relevant), FPI scores and body mass index (BMI) where available. FPI total scores were transformed to interval logit scores as per the Rasch model and normal ranges were defined. Comparisons between groups employed t‐tests or ANOVA models as appropriate and data were explored descriptively and graphically.ResultsThe main analysis based on a normal healthy population (n = 619) confirmed that a slightly pronated foot posture is the normal position at rest (mean back transformed FPI raw score = +4). A ‘U’ shaped relationship existed for age, with minors and older adults exhibiting significantly higher FPI scores than the general adult population (F = 51.07, p < 0.001). There was no difference between the FPI scores of males and females (2.3 versus 2.5; t = ‐1.44, p = 0.149). No relationship was found between the FPI and BMI. Systematic differences from the adult normals were confirmed in patients with neurogenic and idiopathic cavus (F = 216.981, p < 0.001), indicating some sensitivity of the instrument to detect a posturally pathological population.ConclusionA set of population norms for children, adults and older people have been derived from a large sample. Foot posture is related to age and the presence of pathology, but not influenced by gender or BMI. The normative values identified may assist in classifying foot type for the purpose of research and clinical decision making.
Emphysematous pyelonephritis, a rare cause of pneumoperitoneum: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Strofilas Alexandros , Manouras Andreas , Lagoudianakis Emmanuel E , Kotzadimitriou Aikaterini , Pappas Apostolos , Chrysikos Ioannis , Menenakos Evangelos 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Introduction
Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a gas-producing necrotizing bacterial infection that involves the renal parenchyma and perirenal tissue.

Case presentation
We report on a case of a 55 year old Caucasian male with no prior medical history presented with left flank pain and malaise. He was diagnosed with emphysematous pyelonephritis, and was successfully treated in our department. The case is presented along with a literature review.

Conclusion
Prompt diagnosis and early treatment is crucial because of the high rate of mortality. Therapeutic modalities and prognostic factors regarding emphysematous pyelonephritis remain controversial.
Microfluidics Digital PCR Reveals a Higher than Expected Fraction of Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma
Authors: Lun Fiona M F , Chiu Rossa W K , Allen Chan K C , Yeung Leung Tak , Kin Lau Tze , Dennis Lo Y M 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Background: The precise measurement of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma facilitates noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal chromosomal aneuploidies and other applications. We tested the hypothesis that microfluidics digital PCR, in which individual fetal-DNA molecules are counted, could enhance the precision of measuring circulating fetal DNA.
Methods: We first determined whether microfluidics digital PCR, real-time PCR, and mass spectrometry produced different estimates of male-DNA concentrations in artificial mixtures of male and female DNA. We then focused on comparing the imprecision of microfluidics digital PCR with that of a well-established nondigital PCR assay for measuring male fetal DNA in maternal plasma.
Results: Of the tested platforms, microfluidics digital PCR demonstrated the least quantitative bias for measuring the fractional concentration of male DNA. This assay had a lower imprecision and higher clinical sensitivity compared with nondigital real-time PCR. With the ZFY/ZFX assay on the microfluidics digital PCR platform, the median fractional concentration of fetal DNA in maternal plasma was ≥2 times higher for all 3 trimesters of pregnancy than previously reported.
Conclusions: Microfluidics digital PCR represents an improvement over previous methods for quantifying fetal DNA in maternal plasma, enabling diagnostic and research applications requiring precise quantification. This approach may also impact other diagnostic applications of plasma nucleic acids, e.g., in oncology and transplantation.
The Relationship Between Homozygosity and the Frequency of the Most Frequent Allele
Authors: Rosenberg Noah A , Jakobsson Mattias 
Published: August 2008

AbstractHomozygosity is a commonly used summary of allele-frequency distributions at polymorphic loci. Because high-frequency alleles contribute disproportionately to the homozygosity of a locus, it often occurs that most homozygotes are homozygous for the most frequent allele. To assess the relationship between homozygosity and the highest allele frequency at a locus, for a given homozygosity value, we determine the lower and upper bounds on the frequency of the most frequent allele. These bounds suggest tight constraints on the frequency of the most frequent allele as a function of homozygosity, differing by at most $\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\frac{1}{4}\) \end{document}$ and having an average difference of $\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\frac{2}{3}\) \end{document}$ − π2/18 ≈ 0.1184. The close connection between homozygosity and the frequency of the most frequent allele—which we illustrate using allele frequencies from human populations—has the consequence that when one of these two quantities is known, considerable information is available about the other quantity. This relationship also explains the similar performance of statistical tests of population-genetic models that rely on homozygosity and those that rely on the frequency of the most frequent allele, and it provides a basis for understanding the utility of extended homozygosity statistics in identifying haplotypes that have been elevated to high frequency as a result of positive selection.
Comparative Analysis of Testis Protein Evolution in Rodents
Authors: Turner Leslie M , Chuong Edward B , Hoekstra Hopi E 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Genes expressed in testes are critical to male reproductive success, affecting spermatogenesis, sperm competition, and sperm–egg interaction. Comparing the evolution of testis proteins at different taxonomic levels can reveal which genes and functional classes are targets of natural and sexual selection and whether the same genes are targets among taxa. Here we examine the evolution of testis-expressed proteins at different levels of divergence among three rodents, mouse (Mus musculus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), to identify rapidly evolving genes. Comparison of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from testes suggests that proteins with testis-specific expression evolve more rapidly on average than proteins with maximal expression in other tissues. Genes with the highest rates of evolution have a variety of functional roles including signal transduction, DNA binding, and egg–sperm interaction. Most of these rapidly evolving genes have not been identified previously as targets of selection in comparisons among more divergent mammals. To determine if these genes are evolving rapidly among closely related species, we sequenced 11 of these genes in six Peromyscus species and found evidence for positive selection in five of them. Together, these results demonstrate rapid evolution of functionally diverse testis-expressed proteins in rodents, including the identification of amino acids under lineage-specific selection in Peromyscus. Evidence for positive selection among closely related species suggests that changes in these proteins may have consequences for reproductive isolation.
Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Analysis For Rice Grain Width and Fine Mapping of an Identified QTL Allele gw-5 in a Recombination Hotspot Region on Chromosome 5
Authors: Wan Xiangyuan , Weng Jianfeng , Zhai Huqu , Wang Jiankang , Lei Cailin , Liu Xiaolu , Guo Tao , Jiang Ling , Su Ning , Wan Jianmin 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Rice grain width and shape play a crucial role in determining grain quality and yield. The genetic basis of rice grain width was dissected into six additive quantitative trait loci (QTL) and 11 pairs of epistatic QTL using an F7 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a single cross between Asominori (japonica) and IR24 (indica). QTL by environment interactions were evaluated in four environments. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) harboring the six additive effect QTL were used to evaluate gene action across eight environments. A major, stable QTL, qGW-5, consistently decreased rice grain width in both the Asominori/IR24 RIL and CSSL populations with the genetic background Asominori. By investigating the distorted segregation of phenotypic values of rice grain width and genotypes of molecular markers in BC4F2 and BC4F3 populations, qGW-5 was dissected into a single recessive gene, gw-5, which controlled both grain width and length–width ratio. gw-5 was narrowed down to a 49.7-kb genomic region with high recombination frequencies on chromosome 5 using 6781 BC4F2 individuals and 10 newly developed simple sequence repeat markers. Our results provide a basis for map-based cloning of the gw-5 gene and for marker-aided gene/QTL pyramiding in rice quality breeding.
Natural Variation in Gene Expression Between Wild and Weedy Populations of Helianthus annuus
Authors: Lai Zhao , Kane Nolan C , Zou Yi , Rieseberg Loren H 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
The molecular genetic changes underlying the transformation of wild plants into agricultural weeds are poorly understood. Here we use a sunflower cDNA microarray to detect variation in gene expression between two wild (non-weedy) Helianthus annuus populations from Utah and Kansas and four weedy H. annuus populations collected from agricultural fields in Utah, Kansas, Indiana, and California. When grown in a common growth chamber environment, populations differed substantially in their gene expression patterns, indicating extensive genetic differentiation. Overall, 165 uni-genes, representing ∼5% of total genes on the array, showed significant differential expression in one or more weedy populations when compared to both wild populations. This subset of genes is enriched for abiotic/biotic stimulus and stress response proteins, which may underlie niche transitions from the natural sites to agricultural fields for H. annuus. However, only a small proportion of the differentially expressed genes overlapped in multiple wild vs. weedy comparisons, indicating that most of the observed expression changes are due to local adaptation or neutral processes, as opposed to parallel genotypic adaptation to agricultural fields. These results are consistent with an earlier phylogeographic study suggesting that weedy sunflowers have evolved multiple times in different regions of the United States and further indicate that the evolution of weedy sunflowers has been accompanied by substantial gene expression divergence in different weedy populations.
Multiple Levels of Redundant Processes InhibitCaenorhabditis elegansVulval Cell Fates
Authors: Andersen Erik C , Saffer Adam M , Horvitz H Robert 
Published: August 2008

AbstractMany mutations cause obvious abnormalities only when combined with other mutations. Such synthetic interactions can be the result of redundant gene functions. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the synthetic multivulva (synMuv) genes have been grouped into multiple classes that redundantly inhibit vulval cell fates. Animals with one or more mutations of the same class undergo wild-type vulval development, whereas animals with mutations of any two classes have a multivulva phenotype. By varying temperature and genetic background, we determined that mutations in most synMuv genes within a single synMuv class enhance each other. However, in a few cases no enhancement was observed. For example, mutations that affect an Mi2 homolog and a histone methyltransferase are of the same class and do not show enhancement. We suggest that such sets of genes function together in vivo and in at least some cases encode proteins that interact physically. The approach of genetic enhancement can be applied more broadly to identify potential protein complexes as well as redundant processes or pathways. Many synMuv genes are evolutionarily conserved, and the genetic relationships we have identified might define the functions not only of synMuv genes in C. elegans but also of their homologs in other organisms.
Persistent organic pollutants in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Implications for resident killer whales of british columbia and adjacent waters
Authors: Cullon Donna L. , Yunker Mark B. , Alleyne Carl , Dangerfield Neil J. , O'Neill Sandra , Whiticar Michael J. , Ross Peter S. 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
We measured persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in order to characterize dietary exposure in the highly contaminated, salmon-eating northeastern Pacific resident killer whales. We estimate that 97 to 99% of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in returning adult chinook were acquired during their time at sea. Highest POP concentrations (including PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and DDT) and lowest lipids were observed in the more southerly chinook sampled. While feeding by salmon as they enter some more POP-contaminated near-shore environments inevitably contribute to their contamination, relationships observed between POP patterns and both lipid content and δ13C also suggest a migration-related metabolism and loss of the less-chlorinated PCB congeners. This has implications for killer whales, with the more PCB-contaminated salmon stocks in the south partly explaining the 4.0 to 6.6 times higher estimated daily intake for ΣPCBs in southern resident killer whales compared to northern residents. We hypothesize that the lower lipid content of southerly chinook stocks may cause southern resident killer whales to increase their salmon consumption by as much as 50%, which would further increase their exposure to POPs.
Estrogenic compounds in seawater and sediment from Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Robinson Brian J. , Hui Joseph P. M. , Soo Evelyn C. , Hellou Jocelyne 
Published: August 2008

AbstractSamples of seawater and surface sediment were collected from seven locations around Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, and analyzed for the presence of the organic estrogenic contaminants, bisphenol A (BPA), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Samples were extracted using solid phase extraction (seawater) or sonication (sediments), followed by fractionation on a two-layer alumina/silica gel column prior to analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with negative-ion electrospray ionization. Levels of the three compounds consistently ranked as BPA &gt; E2 &gt; EE2. The least potent compound and plasticizer BPA reached levels of up to 2.6 ng/L in seawater and 9.5 ng/g in sediments; the natural product E2 was detected at concentrations up to 0.57 ng/L and 0.86 ng/g; while the synthetic estrogen EE2 was in most cases below the method detection limit (0.14 ng/L and 0.28 ng/g). The highest levels were observed in the influent of a secondary treatment plant that discharges into the harbor, with concentrations of 32.4 ng/L for BPA and 5.3 ng/L for E2. Overall, the results indicate that these compounds readily associate with suspended particles rather than remaining in the soluble phase. Measurement of the octanol–water partition coefficient (log KOW) confirmed these results, with values of 3.41, 3.89, and 4.16 for BPA, E2, and EE2, respectively. Partitioning experiments using spiked field samples further confirmed these findings, with sorption directly related to sediment total organic content and following the order EE2 &gt; E2 &gt; BPA.
Physical Therapists’ Use of Therapeutic Exercise for Patients With Clinical Knee Osteoarthritis in the United Kingdom: In Line With Current Recommendations?
Authors: Holden Melanie A , Nicholls Elaine E , Hay Elaine M , Foster Nadine E 
Published: August 2008

Background and Purpose
Physical therapists have an important role in the management of clinical knee osteoarthritis (OA) through designing and supervising exercise programs. This study explored whether their current use of therapeutic exercise for patients with this condition is in line with recent recommendations.

Subjects and Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a random sample of chartered (licensed) physical therapists (N=2,000) practicing in the United Kingdom. This survey included a vignette describing a patient with clinical knee OA as well as clinical management questions relating to the respondents’ use of therapeutic exercise.

Results
The questionnaire response rate was 58% (n=1,152), with 538 respondents stating they had treated a patient with clinical knee OA in the preceding 6 months. In line with recent recommendations, 99% of the physical therapists stated they would use therapeutic exercise for this patient population, although strengthening exercises were favored over aerobic exercises. Although nearly all physical therapists would monitor exercise adherence, only 12% would use an exercise diary. Seventy-six percent of physical therapists would provide up to 5 treatment sessions, and only 34% would offer physical therapy follow-up after discharge.

Discussion and Conclusions
The measure of physical therapists’ current clinical practice was self-reported clinical behavior on the basis of a vignette. Although this is a valid measure of clinical behavior, in practice, physical therapists may use therapeutic exercise differently. There are disparities between physical therapists’ current use of therapeutic exercise for clinical knee OA and recent recommendations. Identifying potential ways to overcome these disparities is an important step toward optimizing the outcome from therapeutic exercise for patients with clinical knee OA.
Refolding of proteins from inclusion bodies is favored by a diminished hydrophobic effect at elevated pressures
Authors: Crisman Ryan L. , Randolph Theodore W. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe application of high hydrostatic pressure is an effective tool to promote dissolution and refolding of protein from aggregates and inclusion bodies while minimizing reaggregation. In this study we explored the mechanism of high‐pressure protein refolding by quantitatively assessing the magnitude of the protein–protein interactions both at atmospheric and elevated pressures for T4 lysozyme, in solutions containing various amounts of guanidinium hydrochloride. At atmospheric pressure, the protein– protein interactions are most attractive at moderate guanidinium hydrochloride concentrations (∼1–2 molar), as indicated by a minimum in B22 values. In contrast, at a pressure of 1,000 bar no minimum in B22 values is observed, indicating that high pressures colloidally stabilize protein against aggregation. Finally, experimental values of refractive index increments as a function of pressure indicate that at high pressures, wetting of the hydrophobic surfaces is favored, resulting in a reduction of the hydrophobic effect. This reduction in the hydrophobic effect reduces the driving force for aggregation of (partially) unfolded protein. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 483–492. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.