bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Household Food Security and Regional Geography: Livelihood Prospects in Nembudziya, Northwestern Zimbabwe
Authors: James Nick 
Published: July 2008

AbstractHousehold food [in]security can be defined as the concept that underpins the various notions of relative food deprivation ranging from hunger, famine and malnutrition to seasonal shortages. The concept is also used to analyse and explain very different and complex livelihood realities at particular and local levels. Since the term emerged in the 1980s, it has gone through many changes and redefinition, but in this article the aim is to make general links to the geographies of food and other livelihood deprivations. The recent debates on livelihoods and participation link closely to the practical concerns around household food security. This article aims to present analysis that brings together regional understanding with insights into heterogeneity and the diversification of livelihoods and household food security in a particular region in Zimbabwe. Its argument is that such a multi‐scale analysis can give a fuller and more useful understanding of the differences and dynamics in household food security and therefore livelihood prospects in general. The regional political economy approach provides insight into the major external impacts in the region. The two most important of these have been the introduction of cotton and in‐migration, both occurring since the 1960s. A second level of analysis focuses on social relations and, hence, institutional developments within the region. These were relatively incomplete until the 1990s and since then the external forces, including the state and market forces, have determined the direction and emphasis of development in the region. Finally, the regional geography approach enables analysis of the local situation from cultural and identity perspectives. The livelihood possibilities are therefore related to social realities within and among the households. In conclusion, such regional empirical focus helps to give a fuller assessment of the unfolding household food security situation in northwestern Zimbabwe.
Quantitation and Mapping of Cerebral Detergent‐Insoluble Proteins in the Elderly
Authors: Woltjer Randall L. , Sonnen Joshua A. , Sokal Izabela , Rung Lisa G. , Yang Wan , Kjerulf John D. , Klingert Danielle , Johnson Charles , Rhew Isaac , Tsuang Debbie , Crane Paul K. , Larson Eric B. , Montine Thomas J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAccumulation of abnormal protein aggregates, detergent‐insoluble (DI) proteins and amyloid in the brain are shared features of many neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies correlating DI proteins and cognitive performance are limited. We addressed these limitations using two sets of autopsy brains, one selected from our Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the other an unselected series from Adult Changes in Thought (ACT), a population‐based study of brain aging. We observed concentrations of 11 proteins and 6 protein variants that can be grouped into three highly correlated clusters: amyloid (A)β, tau and alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn). While abnormal proteins from each cluster independently correlated with cognitive performance in ACT participants, only increased soluble Aβ oligomers in temporal cortex and increased DI Aβ 42 and DI α‐syn in prefrontal cortex were negatively correlated with cognitive performance. These data underscore the therapeutic imperative to suppress processes leading to accumulation of soluble Aβ oligomers, DI Aβ 42 and DI α‐syn, highlight an at least partially independent contribution to cognitive impairment and raise the possibility that the priority for therapeutic targets may vary by brain region in a typical elderly US population.
Chordoid Glioma: A Case Report and Molecular Characterization of Five Cases
Authors: Horbinski Craig , Dacic Sanja , McLendon Roger E. , Cieply Kathy , Datto Michael , Brat Daniel J. , Chu Charleen T. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractChordoid gliomas are rare, slow‐growing neoplasms of the anterior third ventricle. We reported a case of chordoid glioma in a 41‐year‐old man with obstructive hydrocephalus. Histologically, the tumor consisted of polygonal epithelioid cells admixed with elongated cells in a myxoid stroma. A prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate was present. The tumor cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin, CD31, CD34, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and S100 but were negative for pankeratin and E‐cadherin. The percentage of Ki67 positive cells was approximately 3%. Weak p53 immunoreactivity was seen in less than 10% of the cells. Array comparative genomic hybridization performed on this case, as well as on four other archived cases, showed losses at several loci. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed consistent genetic alterations at 9p21 and 11q13. These are the fifth through ninth reported cases of chordoid gliomas with molecular characterization suggesting a distinct genetic origin from other gliomas.
Cross‐sectional study of canine leptospirosis in animal shelter populations in mainland Australia
Authors: Zwijnenberg RJG , Smythe LD , Symonds ML , Dohnt MF , Toribio J‐ALML 
Published: July 2008

Objective  To measure the prevalence of canine leptospirosis in Queensland and to detect infection, if present, in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory by measuring the serological titres of dogs held in animal shelters.Procedure  Samples were collected through stratified sampling from multiple dog shelters in Queensland and New South Wales, and from one dog shelter located in close proximity to a major urban area in Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. All samples were analysed using the microscopic agglutination test at the WHO/FAO/OIE Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Leptospirosis, Queensland Health Scientific Services in Brisbane, Queensland.Results  Of a total of 956 samples submitted, 18 (1.9%) had positive leptospirosis titres. True prevalence measured in Queensland was estimated to be 2.5%, and the true prevalence in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory was estimated to be 2.3%, 2.8%, 0%, 1% and 1.1% respectively. An association was found between seropositive status and female dogs (odds ratio (OR) 1.92) and seropositive status and the age group 1 to < 3 years (OR 1.41). Although 11 different serovars were detected, Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni was the most prevalent and was found in 4 of the 18 positive dogs as a single infection.Conclusion  Serological evidence of canine leptospirosis in five states in mainland Australia indicates that the disease is more broadly distributed than previously thought.
Antimicrobial Photodynamic Efficacy of Side‐chain Functionalized Benzo[a]phenothiazinium Dyes
Authors: Verma Sarika , Sallum Ulysses W. , Athar Humra , Rosenblum Lauren , Foley James W. , Hasan Tayyaba 
Published: July 2008

Abstract5‐(Ethylamino)‐9‐diethylaminobenzo[a]phenothiazinium chloride (EtNBS) is a photosensitizer (PS) with broad antimicrobial photodynamic activity. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial photodynamic effect of side chain/end group modifications of EtNBS on two representative bacterial Gram‐type‐specific strains. Two EtNBS derivatives were synthesized, each functionalized with a different side‐chain end‐group, alcohol or carboxylic acid. In solution, both exhibited photochemical properties consistent with those of the EtNBS parent molecule. In vitro photodynamic therapy experiments revealed an initial Gram‐type‐specificity with two representative strains; both derivatives were phototoxic to Staphylococcus aureus 29213 but the carboxylic acid derivative was nontoxic to Escherichia coli 25922. This difference in photodynamic efficacy was not due to a difference in the binding of the two molecules to the bacteria as the amount of both derivatives bound by bacteria was identical. Interestingly, the carboxylic acid derivative produced no fluorescence emission when observed in cultures of E. coli via fluorescence microscopy. These early findings suggest that the addition of small functional groups could achieve Gram‐type‐specific phototoxicity through altering the photodynamic activity of PSs and deserve further exploration in a larger number of representative strains of each Gram type.
Cultural Differences in the Self: From Philosophy to Psychology and Neuroscience
Authors: Zhu Ying , Han Shihui 
Published: July 2008

AbstractDifferent thinking styles in Westerners and Chinese (analytic vs. holistic) lead to disparities between the two cultures not only in perception and attention but also in high‐level social cognition such as self‐representation. Most Western philosophers discussed the self by focusing on personal self‐identity, whereas Chinese philosophers emphasized the relation between the self and others. Dissimilar philosophical thinking of the self is associated with distinct cognitive styles of self‐representation (i.e., the independent self in Westerners and the interdependent self in Chinese). Recent brain imaging studies found that Westerners employed the medial prefrontal cortex to represent only the individual self, whereas Chinese utilized the same brain area to represent both the self and close others, providing neural basis of cultural differences in self‐representation. We suggest that the cultural differences in thinking styles between Westerners and Chinese influence both psychological and neural structure of self‐representation.
Patients' Perceptions of Physician‐Patient Discussions and Adverse Events with Cancer Therapy
Authors: Hershman Dawn , Calhoun Elizabeth , Zapert Kinga , Wade Shawn , Malin Jennifer , Barron Rich 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTObjectives.  Patients with cancer who are treated with chemotherapy report adverse events during their treatment, which can affect their quality of life and increase the likelihood that their treatment will not be completed. In this study, patients’ perceptions of the physician‐patient relationship and communication about cancer‐related issues, particularly adverse events were examined.Methods.  We surveyed 508 patients with cancer concerning the occurrence of adverse events and their relationship and communication with their physicians regarding cancer, treatment, and adverse events.Results.  Most individuals surveyed (>90%) discussed diagnosis, treatment plan, goals, and schedule, and potential adverse events with their physicians before initiating chemotherapy; approximately 75% of these individuals understood these topics completely or very well. Physician‐patient discussions of adverse events were common, with tiredness, nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite discussed prior to chemotherapy in over 80% of communications. These events were also the most often experienced (ranging in 95% to 64% of the respondents) along with low white blood cell counts (WBCs), which were experienced in 67% of respondents. Approximately 75% of the individuals reported that their overall quality of life was affected by adverse events.Conclusions.  These findings suggest that discussions alone do not provide patients with sufficient understanding of the events, nor do they appear to adequately equip patients to cope with them. Therefore, efforts to improve cancer care should focus on developing tools to improve patients’ understanding of the toxicities of chemotherapy, as well as providing resources to reduce the effects of adverse events.
Analysis of Interacting Cracks Using the Generalized Finite Element Method With Global-Local Enrichment Functions
Authors: Kim Dae-Jin , Duarte Carlos Armando , Pereira Jeronymo Peixoto 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis paper presents an analysis of interacting cracks using a generalized finite element method (GFEM) enriched with so-called global-local functions. In this approach, solutions of local boundary value problems computed in a global-local analysis are used to enrich the global approximation space through the partition of unity framework used in the GFEM. This approach is related to the global-local procedure in the FEM, which is broadly used in industry to analyze fracture mechanics problems in complex three-dimensional geometries. In this paper, we compare the effectiveness of the global-local FEM with the GFEM with global-local enrichment functions. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the latter is much more robust than the former. In particular, the GFEM is less sensitive to the quality of boundary conditions applied to local problems than the global-local FEM. Stress intensity factors computed with the conventional global-local approach showed errors of up to one order of magnitude larger than in the case of the GFEM. The numerical experiments also demonstrate that the GFEM can account for interactions among cracks with different scale sizes, even when not all cracks are modeled in the global domain.
Identification and Characterization of Two Strains of Human Parechovirus 4 Isolated from Two Clinical Cases in Fukuoka City, Japan
Authors: Wakatsuki Kiyoko , Kawamoto Daisuke , Hiwaki Hiroshi , Watanabe Kanako , Yoshida Hiromu 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
Reverse transcription-PCR targeting the VP0 gene of human parechoviruses (HPeVs) was used to identify two isolates from two Japanese children's stool specimens. Molecular analysis revealed that these isolates belonged to HPeV type 4, and their nucleotide identity in the P1 region was 85.0%.
Misidentification of
Pandoraea sputorum
Isolated from Sputum of a Patient with Cystic Fibrosis and Review of
Pandoraea
Species Infections in Transplant Patients
Authors: Pimentel Jason D. , MacLeod Colin 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

Pandoraea
species are considered emerging pathogens in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, but few data exist regarding outcomes of patients colonized with these organisms. We report a case of
Pandoraea sputorum
colonization in a CF patient under consideration for lung transplantation and review five cases of lung transplantation involving
Pandoraea
species.
Subtype-Specific Suppression of Shiga Toxin 2 Released from
Escherichia coli
upon Exposure to Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
Authors: Pedersen Malene Gantzhorn , Hansen Claus , Riise Erik , Persson Søren , Olsen Katharina E. P. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

Shiga toxins (Stx) are important virulence factors in the pathogenesis of severe disease including hemolytic-uremic syndrome, caused by Stx-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC). STEC strains increase the release of Stx in vitro following the addition of fluoroquinolones, whereas protein synthesis inhibitors previously have been reported to suppress the release of Stx. The amount of Stx released from wild-type STEC strains incubated with protein synthesis inhibitors was examined by a Vero cell cytotoxicity assay. The amounts released were compared to the Stx type (Stx1 or Stx2) and additionally to the individual subtypes and toxin variants of Stx2. In general, Stx2 release was suppressed significantly upon exposure to protein synthesis inhibitors at MICs, which was not observed in the case of Stx1. Also, the average amount of different Stx2 toxin variants released was suppressed to various levels ranging from 14.0% (Stx2-O157-EDL933) to 94.7% (Stx2d-O8-C466-01B). Clinical studies exploring protein synthesis inhibitors as future candidates for treatment of intestinal infections caused by Stx2-producing STEC should therefore include knowledge of the toxin variant in addition to the subtype.
Pan-Dengue Virus Detection by PCR for Travelers Returning from the Tropics
Authors: Dumoulin Alexis , Marti Hanspeter , Panning Marcus , Hatz Christoph , Hirsch Hans H. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
We performed dengue virus (DENV) serology and quantitative real-time pan-DENV reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) on 186 sera of 171 patients returning from the tropics. DENV loads significantly decreased with increasing times of disease and were higher in immunoglobulin M-negative samples. In the first week of disease, pan-DENV RT-PCR is the test of choice.
Functional Characterization of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nef Acidic Domain
Authors: Baugh Laura L. , Garcia J. Victor , Foster John L. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory protein Nef downregulates major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) from the cell surface. It has been proposed that the direct interaction of the acidic cluster (AC) of Nef,
62
EEEE
65
, with the furin binding region (fbr) of PACS-1 is crucial for this Nef function. Contrary to this proposal, evidence is presented here that the four glutamates in Nef do not functionally engage the PACS-1 fbr. (i) The binding of Nef to the PACS-1 fbr in vitro is much weaker than the binding of the canonical furin AC to the PACS-1 fbr. (ii) The mutation of two of the four glutamates in Nef's AC to alanines does not alter Nef's ability to downregulate MHC-I, and triply mutated Nefs exhibit 50% activity. (iii) The introduction of lysine into the AC has little effect on Nef function. (iv) The mutation of all four glutamates to alanine does debilitate Nef MHC-I downregulation, but this quadruple mutation also impairs the ability of Nef to regulate p21-activated protein kinase and enhance viral particle infectivity. (v) The replacement of the Nef AC with the bona fide AC from furin results in the loss of the expected regulatory properties of the furin AC. (vi) The insertion of the conformation-disrupting amino acid proline into the Nef AC does not disrupt MHC-I downregulation. Our results are consistent with an alternative model in which
62
EEEE
65
plays a stabilizing role in the formation of a ternary complex between Nef, the MHC-I cytoplasmic domain, and AP-1.
Transcriptional Control of Spliced and Unspliced Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 bZIP Factor (
HBZ
) Gene
Authors: Yoshida Mika , Satou Yorifumi , Yasunaga Jun-ichirou , Fujisawa Jun-ichi , Matsuoka Masao 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) basic leucine zipper factor (
HBZ
) gene is encoded by the minus strand of the HTLV-1 provirus and transcribed from the 3′ long terminal repeat (LTR).
HBZ
gene expression not only inhibits the Tax-mediated activation of viral gene transcription through the 5′ LTR but also promotes the proliferation of infected cells. However, the
HBZ
promoter region and the transcriptional regulation of the gene have not been studied. In this study, we characterize the promoters of the spliced version of the
HBZ
gene (s
HBZ
) and the unspliced version of the
HBZ
gene (us
HBZ
) by luciferase assay. Both promoters were TATA-less and contained initiators and downstream promoter elements. Detailed studies of the promoter for the s
HBZ
gene showed that Sp1 sites were critical for its activity. The activities of the s
HBZ
and us
HBZ
gene promoters were upregulated by Tax through Tax-responsible elements in the 3′ LTR. We compared the functions of the proteins derived from the s
HBZ
and us
HBZ
transcripts. sHBZ showed a stronger suppression of Tax-mediated transcriptional activation through the 5′ LTR than did usHBZ; the level of suppression correlated with the level of protein produced. The expression of s
HBZ
had a growth-promoting function in a T-cell line, while us
HBZ
expression did not. This study demonstrates that Sp1 is critical for s
HBZ
transcription, which accounts for the constitutive expression of the s
HBZ
gene. Functional differences between s
HBZ
and us
HBZ
suggest that the s
HBZ
gene plays a significant role in the proliferation of infected cells.
Polymerase Read-Through at the First Transcription Termination Site Contributes to Regulation of Borna Disease Virus Gene Expression
Authors: Poenisch Marion , Wille Sandra , Staeheli Peter , Schneider Urs 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
An unusually long noncoding sequence is located between the N gene of Borna disease virus (BDV) and the genes for regulatory factor X and polymerase cofactor P. Most of these nucleotides are transcribed and seem to control translation of the bicistronic X/P mRNA. We report here that Vero cells persistently infected with mutant viruses containing minor alterations in this control region showed almost normal levels of N, X, and P proteins but exhibited greatly reduced levels of mRNAs coding for these viral gene products. Surprisingly, cells infected with these BDV mutants accumulated a viral transcript 1.9 kb in length that represents a capped and polyadenylated mRNA containing the coding regions of the N, X, and P genes. Cells infected with wild-type BDV also contained substantial amounts of this read-through mRNA, which yielded both N and P protein when translated in vitro. Viruses carrying mutations that promoted read-through transcription at the first gene junction failed to replicate in the brain of adult rats. In the brains of newborn rats, these mutant viruses were able to replicate after acquiring second-site mutations in or near the termination signal located downstream of the N gene. Thus, sequence elements adjacent to the core termination signal seem to regulate the frequency by which the polymerase terminates transcription after the N gene. We conclude from these observations that BDV uses read-through transcription for fine-tuning the expression of the N, X, and P genes which, in turn, influence viral polymerase activity.
The F-Like Protein Ac23 Enhances the Infectivity of the Budded Virus of
gp64
-Null
Autographa californica
Multinucleocapsid Nucleopolyhedrovirus Pseudotyped with Baculovirus Envelope Fusion Protein F
Authors: Wang Manli , Tan Ying , Yin Feifei , Deng Fei , Vlak Just M. , Hu Zhihong , Wang Hualin 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

The GP64 and F proteins were previously identified as the sole functional envelope fusion proteins in
Baculoviridae
. F-like proteins, present only in group I nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs), are remnant, nonfunctional F proteins. In this report, we describe the effect of the presence or absence of the F-like protein Ac23 in a
gp64
-null
Autographa californica
multinucleocapsid NPV pseudotyped with the F protein from
Spodoptera exigua
multicapsid NPV (SeF). We found that the presence of Ac23 elevates the infectivity of the pseudotyped virus. This is in contrast to the results of Lung et al. (J. Virol. 76:5729-5736, 2002), who found no such effect. The possible reasons for the differing results are discussed.