bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bowel incontinence is related to improvement in basic activities of daily living in residents of long‐term health care facilities for the elderly in Japan
Authors: Nomura Hideki , Hayashi Hatsuyo , Hayashi Toshio , Endo Hidetoshi , Miura Hisayuki , Satake Shosuke , Iguchi Akihisa 
Published: February 2005

Background:  The purpose of the present study is to clarify the target criteria for care in long‐term health care facilities for the elderly in Japan and to investigate the relationship between changes in basic activities of daily living (BADL) over 1 year and the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) scale.Methods:  An observational study was conducted in a facility in Nagoya, Japan. The participants consisted of 54 residents. The following four scales of comprehensive geriatric assessment were administered to the residents in both 2000 and 2001: Barthel index (BI), Lawton scale, mini‐mental state examination and geriatric depression scale 15.Results:  The Barthel index was significantly improved in 2001 compared with 2000 (P= 0.007). The Lawton scale was significantly lower in 2001 (P= 0.029). Neither the mini‐mental state examination nor geriatric depression scale 15 scores changed significantly. To determine the factors that influenced the change in BADL, logistic regression analyses were performed using the above four scales as independent variables and the BI change as a dependent variable. In multivariate analysis, a BI score of less than 75 approached significance for improvement in BADL (P = 0.094, odds ratio = 2.79). Other logistic regression analyses were also performed using each ADL task in BI as an independent variable and the change in BI as a dependent variable. In multivariate analysis, bowel incontinence was a significant independent variable (P = 0.006, odds ratio = 10.9).Conclusion:  As bridging facilities between acute‐care hospitals and home, long‐term health care facilities are a reasonable choice for the elderly with bowel incontinence.
Foraging behaviour at the fourth trophic level: a comparative study of host location in aphid hyperparasitoids
Authors: Buitenhuis R. , Vet L.E.M. , Boivin G. , Brodeur J. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractIn studies of foraging behaviour in a multitrophic context, the fourth trophic level has generally been ignored. We used four aphid hyperparasitoid species: Dendrocerus carpenteri (Curtis) (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae), Asaphes suspensus Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Alloxysta victrix (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Alloxystidae) and Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), to correlate their response to different cues with their ecological attributes such as host range and host stage. In addition, we compared our results with studies of primary parasitoids on the same plant–herbivore system. First, the olfactory response of females was tested in a Y‐tube olfactometer (single choice: plant, aphid, honeydew, parasitised aphid, aphid mummy, or virgin female parasitoid; dual choice: clean plant, plant with aphids, or plant–host complex). Second, their foraging behaviour was described on plants with different stimuli (honeydew, aphids, parasitised aphids, and aphid mummies). The results indicated that olfactory cues are probably not essential cues for hyperparasitoid females. In foraging behaviour on the plant, all species prolonged their total visit time and search time as compared to the control treatment (clean plant). Only A. victrix did not react to the honeydew. Oviposition in mummies prolonged the total visit time because of the long handling time, but the effect of this behaviour on search time could not be determined. No clear correlation between foraging behaviour and host stage or host range was found. In contrast to specialised primary aphid parasitoids that have strong fixed responses to specific kairomones and herbivore‐induced synomones, more generalist aphid hyperparasitoids seem to depend less on volatile olfactory stimuli, but show similarities with primary parasitoids in their use of contact cues while searching on a plant.
Intraguild predation of parasitoids by Solenopsis invicta: a non‐disruptive interaction
Authors: Harvey Chad T. , Eubanks Micky D. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe outcome of intraguild predation among natural enemies can have significant ramifications for herbivore suppression and biological control. Manipulating habitat complexity may alter the strength of intraguild predation, since changes in habitat complexity are often associated with concomitant changes in natural enemy abundance. Using a combination of greenhouse and field experiments, we determined if asymmetric intraguild predation by a pervasive generalist predator, the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), disrupts important parasitoids in a collard, Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicaceae), agroecosystem. The effect of habitat complexity on this interaction was assessed by conducting field experiments in a simple, collard monocrop and a more complex, collard‐white clover intercrop. Neither the density of adult parasitoids nor the percentage parasitism of caterpillars was affected when S. invicta abundance was manipulated. Solenopsis invicta reduced the survival of the diamondback moth larvae, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) by 26% and 42% in greenhouse and field experiments, respectively, but there was no preference of S. invicta for parasitized or unparasitized caterpillars. An increase in habitat complexity significantly affected the abundance of both S. invicta and parasitoids, but had no overall effect on their interaction. The results of this study suggest that although S. invicta is an intraguild predator of parasitoids because it preys upon parasitized caterpillars, the action of S. invicta may not compromise overall biological control. This study's findings are important, because they suggest that the presence and conservation of multiple natural enemies may result in sustained pest suppression in agroecosystems, even complex systems containing many species of natural enemies including strong intraguild predators such as S. invicta.
Superparasitism strategy in a semisolitary parasitoid with imperfect self/non‐self recognition, Echthrodelphax fairchildii
Authors: Yamada Yoshihiro Y. , Ikawa Kenji 
Published: February 2005

AbstractTo assess the adaptiveness of self‐ and conspecific superparasitism in the parasitoid Echthrodelphax fairchildii Perkins (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), we measured the rate of superparasitism avoidance and fitness returns from superparasitism for different intervals between the first and second ovipositions. We also tested for any preference in oviposition side and whether any such preference was adaptive. The rate of superparasitism avoidance in both self‐ and conspecific superparasitism was about 10% for oviposition intervals of 2–8 h, and higher for intervals of 1 and ≥24 h (but did not exceed 35%). When conspecifically superparasitizing (but not self‐superparasitizing), females exhibited a slight preference for the side without the first‐comer. Under conspecific superparasitism, the survival rate of second comers was independent of the oviposition side and interval, but slightly lower than that of immature parasitoids for single parasitism. The adult size of second‐comers on the side harboring the first‐comer was larger than that of second‐comers on the side without it, when the oviposition interval was <24 or 96 h. These results explained the overall low rate of avoidance of conspecific superparasitism, but not the variation in avoidance rate or the preference for side without the first‐comer when conspecifically superparasitizing. Assuming that fitness returns are influenced more by offspring quantity than by their quality, self‐superparasitism produced positive fitness returns only when the oviposition interval was <24 h and the side without the first‐comer was selected. This suggests that the observed behavior was not adaptive. Possible reasons for the discrepancies between observed and optimal behaviors, including an imperfect ability for self/non‐self recognition, are discussed.
Duration of untreated psychosis and outcome in first‐episode psychosis. Perspective from a developing country
Authors: Oosthuizen P. , Emsley R. A. , Keyter N. , Niehaus D. J. H. , Koen L. 
Published: February 2005

Objective:  To investigate the association between duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and treatment outcome in a sample of subjects from a developing country.Method:  Forty‐eight subjects with a first episode of psychosis were evaluated prior to treatment and at 3‐month intervals over a period of 24 months. We first examined correlations between DUP and symptom improvement as measured on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), and then performed multivariate analysis to determine the validity of DUP as a predictor of outcome.Results:  DUP was significantly correlated with improvement in PANSS total and negative subscale scores as well as the PANSS depression factor at 21 and 24 months. Multivariate analysis found DUP to be the only significant predictor of improvement in negative symptoms at 24 months.Conclusion:  DUP was a significant predictor of outcome in a cohort form a developing country. This study provides support for early detection and intervention strategies.
Craniofacial dysmorphology in Swedish schizophrenia patients
Authors: Kelly B. D. , Lane A. , Agartz I. , Henriksson K. M. , McNeil T. F. 
Published: February 2005

Objective:  To perform detailed assessments of craniofacial dysmorphology in individuals with schizophrenia and controls in Sweden, in order to further elucidate the neurodevelopmental origins of schizophrenia.Method:  We performed detailed, anthropometric assessments of craniofacial dysmorphology in male patients with schizophrenia (n = 24), healthy controls (n = 16), and patients’ siblings with schizophrenia (n = 2) in Sweden, while remaining as blind as possible to schizophrenia/control status.Results:  Individuals with schizophrenia evidenced significantly more craniofacial dysmorphology than controls, especially in the ears and mouth. At a group level, there was a dose–response type relationship between total dysmorphology score and patient/control status.Conclusion:  The consistency of results across multiple studies supports the hypothesis that individuals with schizophrenia have increased rates of prenatal developmental disturbances. The presence of a dose–response type relationship between total dysmorphology score and patient/control status supports the importance of neurodevelopmental disturbance as a contributory cause of schizophrenia.
Regulation and Signal Transduction of Toll‐Like Receptors in Human Chorioncarcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Klaffenbach Daniela , Rascher Wolfgang , Röllinghoff Martin , Dötsch Jörg , Meißner Udo , Schnare Markus 
Published: February 2005

Problem:  Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are expressed on placental cells. The aim of this study is to analyze signaling components activated in placenta cells after TLR ligand engagement.Methods of study:  In chorioncarcimoma cell lines the regulation of TLRs was determined by real time polymerase chain reaction as well as by fluorescence‐activated cell sorter analysis. Activation of NF‐κB was determined in a reporter assay system and the activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathways by immunoblot analysis.Results:  Both lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and DNA oligonucleotides containing unmethylated CpG motifs (CpG) induced the enhanced expression of TLR2 mRNA as well as a TLR2 surface protein expression. Functionally, incubation of JAR cells with microbial stimuli such as LPS activated NF‐κB, as well as the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinases and secretion of interleukin‐8.Conclusion:  The functional expression of TLRs on placental cells may play an important role in the initiation of an immune response in the developing fetus.
A Case–Control Study in IL6 and TGFB1 Gene Polymorphisms and Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion in Southern Brazilian Patients
Authors: von Linsingen Renate , Bompeixe Eni Picchioni , da Graca Bicalho Maria 
Published: February 2005

Problem:  A high proportion of recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) remains unexplained. Cytokine genotyping has been investigated. We studied the relationship between unexplained RSA, IL6 (−174 G→C) and TGFB1 (+869, T→C; +915, G→C) gene polymorphisms.Method of Study:  The case–control study composed of 57 south Brazilian women, with unexplained RSA and 74 controls carefully matched was performed. Cytokine genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction–sequence specific primer method, using the ‘Cytokine Genotyping Tray’.Results:  The results showed that the genotypic frequencies did not differ from samples for TGFB1 gene. In relation to IL6 gene polymorphism there was a statistical difference in genotypic distribution between samples (P ≤ 0.025). The frequency of the C/C genotype was increased in women with RSA in comparison with the frequency observed in controls: 18% versus 4% (P = 0.01).Conclusions:  This result strengthened the importance of IL6 genotypes in the pathogenesis of RSA of unknown cause in the south Brazilian population.
Endometriosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Comparative Evaluation of Clinical Manifestations and Serological Autoimmune Phenomena
Authors: Pasoto Sandra G. , Abrao Mauricio S. , Viana Vilma S.T. , Bueno Cleonice , Leon Elaine P. , Bonfa Eloisa 
Published: February 2005

Problem:  In view of evidences suggesting association between endometriosis (EM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we have performed a comparative evaluation of clinical and humoral immunologic abnormalities in both diseases.Method of study:  Forty‐five women (18–40 years) with histologically confirmed pelvic EM, 21 healthy‐women and 15 female SLE‐patients (18–40 years) without surgically confirmed EM were prospectively evaluated. Immunologic investigations were performed by blinded researchers.Results:  None of the EM‐patients fulfilled criteria for SLE. However, EM‐patients presented higher frequencies of arthralgia (62%) and generalized myalgia (18%) superior than normal‐controls (24%, P = 0.004/0%, P = 0.048) but comparable with SLE‐patients (33%, P = 0.052/27%, P = 0.5). Similarly to SLE (7%), 9% of EM‐patients presented fibromyalgia. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected in 18% of EM‐sera, as compared with healthy‐women (0%, P = 0.014) and SLE‐patients (93%, P = 0.0005). In contrast with SLE, antibodies to dsDNA, Sm and U1RNP were negative in EM‐sera. Anti‐Ro and anticardiolipin antibodies were more often in SLE (40%, 33%) than in EM‐patients (2%, P < 0.001/9%, P = 0.04). Elevated immune‐complexes and low total complement were more frequent in SLE (40%, 13%) compared with EM‐sera (7%, P = 0.005/0%, P = 0.01).Conclusions:  Our data indicate differences of ANA antigenic specificity and complement consumption between EM and SLE. The high prevalence of generalized musculoskeletal complaints in EM justifies a multidisciplinary approach.
The Institutionalization of Regulatory Review: Organizational Stability and Responsive Competence at OIRA
Authors: WEST WILLIAM F. 
Published: February 2005

Scholars have argued that presidents’ need for responsiveness induces them to adopt ad hoc, politicized management strategies. Most have been critical of this tendency, contending that presidents are better served by established organizations and civil servants within the executive office. Their premise is that the neutral competence brought to bear through these institutional resources will faithfully promote the interests of whoever occupies the White House. Yet others have argued that political responsiveness is essential to the accomplishment of presidential goals, and that this can only be obtained through personalized management techniques that bypass the bureaucracy.This study examines these assertions in the context of regulatory review. Centralized executive oversight of agency policy making has been implemented through a stable organization staffed almost exclusively by career bureaucrats, but it has also reflected the agendas of different presidents. An analysis of the structure and the implementation of regulatory review is thus inconsistent with popular descriptions of executive management. Although it supports the prescriptive argument that established institutions can serve presidents effectively, it does not suggest that such responsiveness is likely to occur through a cultural medium of neutral competence. Regulatory review has promoted executive interests across administrations precisely because the process has internalized incumbents’ political preferences.
Interaction among Btn1p, Btn2p, and Ist2p Reveals Potential Interplay among the Vacuole, Amino Acid Levels, and Ion Homeostasis in the Yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Kim Yoojin , Chattopadhyay Subrata , Locke Sarahjane , Pearce David A. 
Published: February 2005

ABSTRACT

Btn2p, a novel cytosolic coiled-coil protein in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, was previously shown to interact with and to be necessary for the correct localization of Rhb1p, a regulator of arginine uptake, and Yif1p, a Golgi protein. We now report the biochemical and physical interactions of Btn2p with Ist2p, a plasma membrane protein that is thought to have a function in salt tolerance. A deletion in Btn2p (
btn2Δ
strains) results in a failure to correctly localize Ist2p, and strains lacking Btn2p and Ist2p (
btn2Δ ist2Δ
strains) are unable to grow in the presence of 0.5 or 1.0 M NaCl. Btn2p was originally identified as being up-regulated in a
btn1Δ
strain, which lacks the vacuolar-lysosomal membrane protein, Btn1p, and serves as a model for Batten disease. This up-regulation of Btn2p was shown to contribute to the maintenance of a stable vacuolar pH in the
btn1Δ
strain. Btn1p was subsequently shown to be required for the optimal transport of arginine into the vacuole. Interestingly,
btn1Δ ist2Δ
strains are also unable to grow in the presence of 0.5 or 1.0 M NaCl, and
ist2Δ
suppresses the vacuolar arginine transport defect in
btn1Δ
strains. Although further investigation is required, we speculate that altered vacuolar arginine transport in
btn1Δ
strains represents a mechanism for maintaining or balancing cellular ion homeostasis. Btn2p interacts with at least three proteins that are seemingly involved in different biological functions in different subcellular locations. Due to these multiple interactions, we conclude that Btn2p may play a regulatory role across the cell in response to alterations in the intracellular environment that may be caused by changes in amino acid levels or pH, a disruption in protein trafficking, or imbalances in ion homeostasis resulting from either genetic or environmental manipulation.
Role for Hsp70 Chaperone in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Prion Seed Replication
Authors: Song Youtao , Wu Yue-xuan , Jung Giman , Tutar Yusuf , Eisenberg Evan , Greene Lois E. , Masison Daniel C. 
Published: February 2005

ABSTRACT

The
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
[
PSI

+

] prion is a misfolded form of Sup35p that propagates as self-replicating cytoplasmic aggregates. Replication is believed to occur through breakage of transmissible [
PSI

+

] prion particles, or seeds, into more numerous pieces. In [
PSI

+

] cells, large Sup35p aggregates are formed by coalescence of smaller sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble polymers. It is uncertain if polymers or higher-order aggregates or both act as prion seeds. A mutant Hsp70 chaperone, Ssa1-21p, reduces the number of transmissible [
PSI

+

] seeds per cell by 10-fold but the overall amount of aggregated Sup35p by only two- to threefold. This discrepancy could be explained if, in
SSA1-21
cells, [
PSI

+

] seeds are larger or more of the aggregated Sup35p does not function as a seed. To visualize differences in aggregate size, we constructed a Sup35-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion (NGMC) that has normal Sup35p function and can propagate like [
PSI

+

]. Unlike GFP fusions lacking Sup35p's essential C-terminal domain, NGMC did not form fluorescent foci in log-phase [
PSI

+

] cells. However, using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and size fractionation techniques, we find evidence that NGMC is aggregated in these cells. Furthermore, the aggregates were larger in
SSA1-21
cells, but the size of NGMC polymers was unchanged. Possibly, NGMC aggregates are bigger in
SSA1-21
cells because they contain more polymers. Our data suggest that Ssa1-21p interferes with disruption of large Sup35p aggregates, which lack or have limited capacity to function as seed, into polymers that function more efficiently as [
PSI

+

] seeds.
Strains and Strategies for Large-Scale Gene Deletion Studies of the Diploid Human Fungal Pathogen
Candida albicans
Authors: Noble Suzanne M. , Johnson Alexander D. 
Published: February 2005

ABSTRACT

Candida albicans
is the most common human fungal pathogen and causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Nevertheless, the basic principles of
C. albicans
pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Of central importance to the study of this organism is the ability to generate homozygous knockout mutants and to analyze them in a mammalian model of pathogenesis.
C. albicans
is diploid, and current strategies for gene deletion typically involve repeated use of the
URA3
selectable marker. These procedures are often time-consuming and inefficient. Moreover,
URA3
expression levels—which are susceptible to chromosome position effects—can themselves affect virulence, thereby complicating analysis of strains constructed with
URA3
as a selectable marker. Here, we describe a set of newly developed reference strains (
leu2Δ/leu2Δ
,
his1Δ/his1Δ
;
arg4Δ/arg4Δ
,
his1Δ/his1Δ
; and
arg4Δ/arg4Δ
,
leu2Δ/leu2Δ
,
his1Δ/his1Δ
) that exhibit wild-type or nearly wild-type virulence in a mouse model. We also describe new disruption marker cassettes and a fusion PCR protocol that permit rapid and highly efficient generation of homozygous knockout mutations in the new
C. albicans
strains. We demonstrate these procedures for two well-studied genes,
TUP1
and
EFG1
, as well as a novel gene,
RBD1
. These tools should permit large-scale genetic analysis of this important human pathogen.
Extrachromosomal Telomeric Circles Contribute to Rad52-, Rad50-, and Polymerase δ-Mediated Telomere-Telomere Recombination in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Lin Chi-Ying , Chang Hsih-Hsuan , Wu Kou-Juey , Tseng Shun-Fu , Lin Chuan-Chuan , Lin Chao-Po , Teng Shu-Chun 
Published: February 2005

ABSTRACT

Telomere maintenance is required for chromosome stability, and telomeres are typically replicated by the telomerase reverse transcriptase. In both tumor and yeast cells that lack telomerase, telomeres are maintained by an alternative recombination mechanism. By using an in vivo inducible Cre-
loxP
system to generate and trace the fate of marked telomeric DNA-containing rings, the efficiency of telomere-telomere recombination can be determined quantitatively. We show that the telomeric loci are the primary sites at which a marked telomeric ring-containing DNA is observed among wild-type and surviving cells lacking telomerase. Marked telomeric DNAs can be transferred to telomeres and form tandem arrays through Rad52-, Rad50-, and polymerase δ-mediated recombination. Moreover, increases of extrachromosomal telomeric and Y′ rings were observed in telomerase-deficient cells. These results imply that telomeres can use looped-out telomeric rings to promote telomere-telomere recombination in telomerase-deficient
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
.