bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Children with Bacterial Meningitis Presenting to the Emergency Department during the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Era
Authors: Nigrovic Lise E. , Kuppermann Nathan , Malley Richard ,   for the Bacterial Meningitis Study Group of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Published: May 2008

Background:  The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in children in the era of widespread heptavalent conjugate pneumococcal vaccination (PCV7) is unknown.

Objectives:  The objective was to describe the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in children presenting to the emergency department (ED) during the era of widespread PCV7 vaccination.

Methods:  The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all children aged 1 month to 19 years with bacterial meningitis who presented to the EDs of 20 U.S. pediatric centers (2001–2004). Bacterial meningitis was defined by a positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture for a bacterial pathogen or CSF pleocytosis (CSF white blood cell [WBC] count ≥10 cells/mm3) in association with either a positive blood culture or a CSF latex agglutination study.

Results:  A total of 231 children with bacterial meningitis were identified. The median age was 0.6 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 0.2–4.2). Eight patients (3% of all patients) died. The following bacterial pathogens were identified: Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 77; 33.3%), Neisseria meningitidis (67; 29.0%), Group B Streptococcus (42; 18.2%), Escherichia coli (17; 7.4%), nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (10; 4.3%), other Gram‐negative bacilli (7; 3.0%), Listeria monocytogenes (5; 2.2%), Group A Streptococcus (5; 2.2%), and Moraxella catarrhalis (1; 0.4%). S. pneumoniae serotypes were determined in 37 of 77 patients; of these, 62% were due to nonvaccine serotypes (including 19A).

Conclusions:  Although now a rare infectious disease in United States, bacterial meningitis still causes substantial morbidity in affected children. Despite the introduction of PCV7, S. pneumoniae remains the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. children, with approximately half of cases due to nonvaccine serotypes.
Chronic actinic dermatitis in a patient with adult T‐cell leukemia
Authors: Adachi Yuka , Horio Takeshi
Published: May 2008

A patient with chronic actinic dermatitis showed a leukocytosis with peripheral atypical lymphocytes. Histology of cutaneous eruptions disclosed a dense infiltrate of lymphocytes mixed with large hyperchromatic cells in the dermis and Pautrier‐like microabscesses in the epidermis. However, clonal rearrangements of the T‐cell receptors were not detected. On the other hand, monoclonal integration of human T‐cell lymphotrophic virus type I provirus was found in the peripheral lymphocytes. In the present case, pseudolymphomatous changes occurred in association with adult T‐cell leukemia. Southern blot analyses were useful for the correct diagnosis.
Erythema multiforme on exposed and non‐exposed skin following polymorphic light eruption: a case report
Authors: Borges da Costa João , Duarte Reis Miguel , Soares de Almeida Luís , Mayer‐da‐Silva Augusto , Marques Gomes Manuel
Published: May 2008

We report a 35‐year‐old caucasian female with a history of polymorphic light eruption (PLE) who, after the outbreak of pruritic papules following the first sun exposure of the year, developed target lesions in two different bouts, the first on sun‐exposed skin and the second on sun‐protected sites. A diagnosis of erythema multiforme (EM) developing as a result of PLE was made. As far as we were able to search in the literature, EM occurring in two bouts has not been described previously. We discuss the differential diagnosis.
Thioredoxin upregulation by 5‐aminolaevulinic acid‐based photodynamic therapy in human skin squamous cell carcinoma cell line
Authors: Kuhara Tomoe , Watanabe Daisuke , Akita Yoichi , Takeo Tomohiro , Ishida Natsuko , Nakano Aki , Yamashita Noriko , Ohshima Yuichiro , Kawada Morihiro , Yanagishita Takeshi , Tamada Yasuhiko , Matsumoto Yoshinari
Published: May 2008

Background/purpose: 5‐aminolaevulinic acid‐based photodynamic therapy (ALA‐PDT) is widely performed in the clinical setting for superficial skin cancers, giving favorable results, but residual tumor and recurrence occur occasionally. Thioredoxin is a common antioxidant that suppresses apoptosis and facilitates cell growth. We investigated the expression of thioredoxin following ALA‐PDT in human skin squamous cell carcinoma cell line, HSC‐5.

Methods: ALA‐PDT was performed in HSC‐5 cells using low‐dose (5 J/cm2, 100 mW/cm2) or high‐dose (30 J/cm2, 100 mW/cm2) irradiation, and the expression of thioredoxin was measured by Western blotting. An MTT assay was used to assess cell growth following a low dose of multiple irradiations. Cell death was examined by Western blotting for caspase‐3 and PARP. Immunofluorescence double staining using annexin V and propidium iodine was also performed.

Results: Expression of thioredoxin was only observed following low‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT. Multiple low‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT significantly proliferated cell growth. With high‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT, caspase‐3 and PARP expression were seen, and cell death due to apoptosis and/or necrosis was observed, but thioredoxin was barely detected.

Conclusion: Low‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT increased the expression of thioredoxin and facilitated the growth of HSC‐5 cells.
Fabrication and Characterization of Three‐Dimensional ZrO2‐Toughened Al2O3 Ceramic Microdevices
Authors: Chen Weiwu , Kirihara Soshu , Miyamoto Yoshinari
Published: May 2008

Dense three‐dimensional (3D) microdevices of ZrO2‐toughened Al2O3 (ZTA) were fabricated using microstereolithography and a subsequent sintering process. Using microstereolithography, 3D green bodies could be formed from a 40 vol% ZTA ceramic–resin paste. After sintering, the fabricated 3D devices are converted into dense ceramic devices without deformation. In this study, a gear (with a tooth edge of 25 μm) and a photonic crystal (with a lattice constant of 500 μm) were designed and fabricated. The dimensional accuracy of the fabrication process is within 20 μm and the sintering shrinkage is around 26% for these microdevices. The relative density of the sintered ZTA ceramics reached 96.5% of theoretical value. The measured hardness and toughness were about 14 GPa and 11 MPa m1/2, respectively, in both the top and side surfaces. A band gap between 320 and 420 GHz was observed in the ZTA photonic crystal. The microstereolithography process can be easily applied to other ceramic materials and devices.
VV124 (UGC4879): a new transitional dwarf galaxy in the periphery of the Local Group
Authors: Kopylov A. I. , Tikhonov N. A. , Fabrika S. , Drozdovsky I. , Valeev A. F.
Published: May 2008

We present the first photometry of individual stars within VV124 (UGC4879) and find that this is the most isolated dwarf galaxy in the periphery of the Local Group. This work is based on imaging and spectroscopic follow-up observations with the 6-m BTA telescope; we resolve VV124 into 1560 stars down to the limiting magnitude levels of V≃ 25.6 and I≃ 23.9. Young blue stellar populations and ionized gas are found near the core, but notably displaced from the centre of the galaxy as traced by dominant evolved red stars. The mean heliocentric radial velocity derived from the spectra of two blue supergiant stars and unresolved continuum sources is −70 ± 15 km s−1. The evolved ‘red tangle’ stellar populations, which contain the red giant branch (RGB), are identified at large galactocentric radii. We use the I-band luminosity function to determine the distance based on the Tip of RGB method, 1.1 ± 0.1 Mpc. This is ∼10 times closer than the values usually assumed in the literature, and we provide revised distance-dependent parameters. From the mean (V—I) colour of the RGB, we estimate the mean metallicity as [Fe/H]≃−1.37 dex. Despite its isolated location, the properties of VV124 are clearly not those of a galaxy in formation, but rather similar to a transitional dIrr/dSph type.
Co-spatial evolution of photospheric Doppler enhancements and Hα flare ribbons observed during the solar flare of 2003 October 28
Authors: Venkatakrishnan P. , Kumar Brajesh , Uddin Wahab
Published: May 2008

The active region NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) AR 10486 which appeared on the solar disc in 2003 October produced a lot of space weather related activity. Here, we report on the co-spatial evolution of the photospheric Doppler enhancements and the chromospheric Hα flare ribbons observed during the 4B/X17.2 class solar flare of 2003 October 28 in this active region. These velocity enhancements exactly match the Hα brightness enhancements in space, and are delayed by approximately 1min in time. Hα brightness attains a maximum nearly at the same time as the peak seen in light curves in high-energy emission observed by KORONAS (Kuznetsov et al. 2006).
Economic Geographies of the Global South: Missed Opportunities and Promising Intersections with Development Studies
Authors: Murphy James T.
Published: May 2008

This article examines economic geography's bias toward research in advanced industrial and emerging economies (e.g. China, Eastern Europe) and proposes ideas about how scholars in the field might more significantly engage with the Global South (i.e. developing regions). ‘Southern’ research matters for theory development and policy relevance and there are interesting and important opportunities for economic geographers to learn from, and contribute to, ongoing work in development studies and development geography. Three avenues of research are proposed that can improve the links between these academic communities: research on industrial location, infrastructure development, and communication flows; cultural or relational studies of development's meanings, processes, and practices; and network perspectives on South–North and South–South relationships. Given the dramatic and rapid pace of global market integration today, it is crucial for more economic geographers to find new, interesting, and substantive ways to engage with the developing regions in order to more fully understand and conceptualize the complex practices and processes constituting the world economy and its uneven consequences.
Thermal Behavior of Resistant Starches RS 2, RS 3, and RS 4
Authors: Ratnayake W.S. , Jackson D.S.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT:  The thermal behaviors of 3 resistant starch types—RS 2, RS 3, and RS 4—were investigated. Samples were heated in excess water to specific temperatures, from 35 to 85 °C at 5 °C intervals, and freeze‐dried. The treated samples were analyzed using SEM, DSC, XRD, and HPSEC to determine the structural changes at granular and molecular levels. Light microscopy was used to determine real‐time thermal behavior of the starches. Although the resistant starches did not show significant morphological changes, as revealed by microscopy, they underwent internal structural changes at low temperatures before complete phase transitions occurred. The structural changes were less in RS 2 compared to the other 2 starches studied. The nongranular material of RS 3's crystallinity decreased gradually from 35 to 85 °C and showed microscopically visible changes at >80 °C. Cross‐linking might have prevented RS 4 from becoming completely amorphous within the temperature range (35 to 85 °C) tested. The study indicated that the extent of structural changes depended on the treatment temperature and RS type.
Altering Pasting Characteristics of Sweet Potato Starches through Amino Acid Additives
Authors: Lockwood S. , King J.M. , Labonte D.R.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT:  This study assessed the effects of amino acid additives, aspartic acid, leucine, lysine, and methionine, on the pasting and thermal characteristics of white‐ and orange‐fleshed Beauregard sweet potato starches. A rapid visco analyzer 3D was used to determine pasting properties. In comparing pasting characteristics, starch from orange‐fleshed sweet potato was found to be easier to cook, had a lower potential for retrogradation, and was less stable during heating than the white‐fleshed sweet potato starch. The RVA analysis showed that the charged amino acids, aspartic acid and lysine, altered pasting characteristics of the 2 starches more than the neutral amino acids, leucine and methionine. Aspartic acid had similar effects on both starches, making them less stable during cooking and lowering the potential for retrogradation. Lysine, when added to the orange‐fleshed sweet potato starch, decreased the breakdown, allowing for more stability during cooking. This study showed that pasting properties of sweet potato starches can be altered by the addition of amino acids.
Use of Microbial Transglutaminase and Nonmeat Proteins to Improve Functional Properties of Low NaCl, Phosphate‐Free Patties Made from Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Belly Flap Meat
Authors: Min B. , Green B.W.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT:  This study was aimed at developing value‐added low sodium chloride (NaCl), phosphate‐free restructured patties using minced channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) belly flap meat. The effect of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) and nonmeat proteins (isolated soy protein, ISP, and whey protein concentrate, WPC; 1.7%, respectively) alone and in combination were evaluated to improve cooking yield and textural properties in patties with reduced NaCl and no phosphate. The concentration effect of MTGase (0.05% to 0.7%) was also studied. The addition of MTGase increased textural properties such as binding strength, hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and springiness, but decreased cooking yield of the patties (P < 0.05). Isolated soy protein increased cooking yield (P < 0.05), but did not affect textural properties. Inclusion of WPC did not increase cooking yield or impact textural properties of patties. The combination of MTGase and ISP significantly increased both the cooking yield and textural properties of patties. As the concentration of MTGase increased at constant ISP, the textural properties of cooked patties significantly increased, but cooking yield decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we suggest that the combination of 0.05% to 0.1% of MTGase with 1.7% ISP is optimal for development of a low NaCl, phosphate‐free patty using minced catfish belly flap meat.
Optimization of the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Chicken Meat Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Kurozawa L.E. , Park K.J. , Hubinger M.D.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT:  The hydrolysis of chicken breast meat by the commercial protease Alcalase® 2.4L was studied to evaluate the influence of temperature (43 to 77 °C), enzyme:substrate ratio (0.8% to 4.2%), and pH (7.16 to 8.84) on the responses of degree of hydrolysis and protein recovery. The enzymatic hydrolysis was optimized for maximum degree of hydrolysis and protein recovery using response surface methodology. The optimum conditions determined were the following: 52.5 °C, 4.2% (w/w) enzyme:substrate ratio, and a pH value of 8.00. Under these conditions, a degree of hydrolysis of 31% and protein recovery of 91% were obtained. A characterization of the protein hydrolysate obtained using the optimized process conditions was carried out, evaluating the chemical composition, electrophoretic profile and amino acid composition.
Addition of Phenolic Acids on the Reduction of Methanol Content in Wine
Authors: Hou C.‐Y. , Lin Y.‐S. , Wang Y.T. , Jiang C.‐M. , Lin K.T. , Wu M.‐C.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT:  Utilization of phenolic acids, including gallic acid, coumaric acid, caffic acid, cinnamic acid, and ferulic acid, for methanol reduction in wine was investigated. Enzyme activities of pectinesterase and pectin lyase decreased significantly when 0.1 mg/L of gallic acid, coumaric acid, caffic acid, cinnamic acid, or ferulic acid was added. However, no inhibition on polygalacturonase activity was observed when 0.5 mg/L of phenolic acid was added. Methanol content in commercial pectic enzyme (CPE) group increased from 11.53 ± 1.34 to 56.67 ± 3.75 ppm in the final products. Adding gallic acid or coumaric acid with CPE inhibited the increase of methanol production. In addition, when 0.2 mg/L of phenolic acid (gallic acid or coumaric acid) was added, the amount of total phenolic acid released from CPE + gallic acid or CPE + coumaric acid groups became higher than CPE group by approximately 466 and 539 mg/L, respectively. In conclusion, the values of lightness, red content, yellow content, total pigment, and total phenolic acid increased in the presence of gallic acid or coumaric acid with CPE, suggesting that adding gallic acid or coumaric acid into winemaking process is a potential method for reducing methanol content, improving wine quality, as well as increasing healthy compounds in wine production.
Blocked D phenomenon, a rare condition with Rh D haemolytic disease of newborn – a case report
Authors: SULOCHANA P. V. , RAJESH A. , MATHAI J. , SATHYABHAMA S.
Published: May 2008

Accurate Rh testing can be difficult if the red cells are heavily coated with IgG anti D antibodies – a phenomenon called blocked D. Repeatedly, Rh D negative blood group report was obtained in a newborn male baby with severe haemolytic disease and features of kernicterus born to a 2nd gravida B Rh D negative mother. On investigation, the baby was grouped as B Rh D negative by direct grouping, but after elution, D antigen was detected and phenotyped as CcDe. Antibody was identified as anti D. All D antigens of the baby were fully saturated with anti D leaving any antigen to bind with antisera. Direct Coombs test was strongly positive even after three exchange transfusions. The baby also had free antibody apart from the red cell bound and the red cell eluate, gave a titre of 512. The mother was grouped as B Rh D negative and phenotyped as ce. She had IgM and IgG class of anti D with titres 32 and 1024 respectively. She also had IgM anti C (only in neat) and IgG anti‐A with a titre of 512.
Idiopathic intrahepatic arterioportal fistula treated by hepatectomy assisted by balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration: Report of an elderly case
Authors: Kuroda Hirohiko , Hosho Keiko , Koda Masahiko , Murawaki Yoshikazu , Ouchi Yasufumi , Kaminou Toshio , Iwamoto Akemi , Hirooka Yasuaki
Published: May 2008

An 80‐year‐old woman with hepatic encephalopathy and esophagogastric varices was admitted. Doppler sonography and arteriography demonstrated an arterioportal fistula in the right anterior superior segment of the liver. Two attempts at transcatheter arterial embolization failed to manage the fistula and portacaval collaterals. We carried out hepatectomy and balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration, by which the portal flow changed from hepatofugal to hepatopetal. The resected specimen demonstrated multiple small holes in the right portal vein, which are arterioportal fistula. The underlying liver was normal. After treatment, esophagogastric varices and hepatic encephalopathy were markedly improved. Hepatectomy is useful as a reliable therapy for arterioportal fistula in case of failure of transarterial embolization.
Beneficial effects of Kampo medicine Inchin‐ko‐to on liver function and regeneration after hepatectomy in rats
Authors: Ogasawara Takashi , Morine Yuji , Ikemoto Tetsuya , Imura Satoru , Shimada Mitsuo
Published: May 2008

Aim:  Inchin‐ko‐to (ICKT), Kampo medicine, is known to inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis as well as promote the secretion and excretion of bile. The aim of this study is to clarify the effects of ICKT on liver function and hepatic regeneration after massive hepatectomy in rats.

Methods:  Male Wistar rats received 2 g/kg ICKT from 3 days preoperatively and underwent 90% hepatectomy. Liver sections were stained using immunohistochemistry (hemeoxygenase‐1 [HO‐1], α‐smooth muscle actin [SMA], and proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]).

Results:  The survival period was significantly prolonged, and the remnant liver/body weight ratio was significantly increased postoperatively in the ICKT group. The values of transaminase, total bile acid, and total bilirubin were significantly improved in the ICKT group. In the ICKT group, PCNA and HO‐1 were strongly expressed early postoperatively, but the expression of α‐SMA was weak.

Conclusion:  The preoperative administration of ICKT has been suggested to provide beneficial effects in promoting hepatic regeneration and preventing postoperative hepatic failure. The reduced activation of stellate cells may be involved in their mechanisms.
Reduction in the Number of Gain-Scheduling Parameters Using Dimensional Transformation
Authors: Hailu Haftay , Brennan Sean
Published: May 2008

A method is presented that can often reduce the number of scheduling parameters for gain-scheduled controller implementation by transformation of the system representation using parameter-dependent dimensional transformations. In some cases, the reduction in parameter dependence is so significant that a linear parameter-varying system can be transformed to an equivalent linear time invariant (LTI) system, and a simple example of this is given. A general analysis of the parameter-dependent dimensional transformation using a matrix-based approach is then presented. It is shown that, while some transformations simplify gain scheduling, others may increase the number of scheduling parameters. This work explores the mathematical conditions causing an increase or decrease in varying parameters resulting from a given transformation, thereby allowing one to seek transformations that most reduce the number of gain-scheduled parameters in the controller synthesis step.
Nonclinical Safety Profile of Telbivudine, a Novel Potent Antiviral Agent for Treatment of Hepatitis B
Authors: Bridges Edward G. , Selden Jules R. , Luo Shouqi
Published: May 2008

Telbivudine is a novel nucleoside drug recently approved for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Its nonclinical safety was evaluated in a comprehensive program of studies, including safety pharmacology, acute and chronic toxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. There were no test article-related effects observed in an in vitro hERG assay or in a core battery of safety pharmacology studies (central nervous system, respiratory, and cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies). Telbivudine was well tolerated in rats and in monkeys following single oral doses up to 2,000 mg/kg/day. Except for equivocal axonopathic findings in monkeys and occasional incidences of emesis, soft feces, and minor changes in body weight and food consumption, there was no target organ toxicity observed in mice, rats, or monkeys following oral administration for up to 3, 6, or 9 months, respectively, at doses up to 3,000 mg/kg/day. Axonopathy in the sciatic nerves and in the spinal cords of monkeys dosed at 1,000 mg/kg/day observed in a 9-month study was considered equivocal, as the role of telbivudine in the injury could not be determined. Slightly higher incidences of abortion and premature delivery observed in rabbits dosed at 1,000 mg/kg/day were considered secondary to maternal toxicity. There was no evidence of genotoxicity or carcinogenicity. These results suggest that telbivudine has a favorable safety profile and support its use in patients with chronic compensated hepatitis B viral infection.
Resistance Trends of the
Bacteroides fragilis
Group over a 10-Year Period, 1997 to 2006, in Madrid, Spain
Authors: Betriu Carmen , Culebras Esther , Gómez María , López Fátima , Rodríguez-Avial Iciar , Picazo Juan J.
Published: May 2008

The changes in susceptibilities of
Bacteroides fragilis
group strains isolated in our hospital from 1997 to 2006 were studied. A total of 1,343 clinical strains were included. The study showed differences in the resistance rates in the different species of the group. Increasing resistance to clindamycin and moxifloxacin was observed. Susceptibility to imipenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and metronidazole remained unchanged.
Mutans Streptococcal Infection Induces Salivary Antibody to Virulence Proteins and Associated Functional Domains
Authors: Nogueira R. D. , King W. F. , Gunda G. , Culshaw S. , Taubman M. A. , Mattos-Graner R. O. , Smith D. J.
Published: May 2008

The interplay between mucosal immune responses to natural exposure to mutans streptococci and the incorporation and accumulation of these cariogenic microorganisms in oral biofilms is unclear. An initial approach to explore this question would be to assess the native secretory immunity emerging as a consequence of
Streptococcus mutans
infection. To this end, we analyzed salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody to mutans streptococcal glucosyltransferase (Gtf) and glucan binding protein B (GbpB) and to domains associated with enzyme function and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II binding in two experiments. Salivas were collected from approximately 45-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats, which were then infected with
S. mutans
SJ32. Infection was verified and allowed to continue for 2 to 2.5 months. Salivas were again collected following the infection period. Pre- and postinfection salivas were then analyzed for IgA antibody activity using peptide- or protein-coated microsphere Luminex technology.
S. mutans
infection induced significant levels of salivary IgA antibody to Gtf (
P
< 0.002) and GbpB (
P
< 0.001) in both experiments, although the levels were usually far lower than the levels achieved when mucosal immunization is used. Significantly (
P
< 0.035 to
P
< 0.001) elevated levels of postinfection salivary IgA antibody to 6/10 Gtf peptides associated with either enzyme function or MHC binding were detected. The postinfection levels of antibody to two GbpB peptides in the N-terminal region of the six GbpB peptides assayed were also elevated (
P
< 0.031 and
P
< 0.001). Interestingly, the patterns of the rodent response to GbpB peptides were similar to the patterns seen in salivas from young children during their initial exposure to
S. mutans.
Thus, the presence of a detectable postinfection salivary IgA response to mutans streptococcal virulence-associated components, coupled with the correspondence between rat and human mucosal immune responsiveness to naturally presented Gtf and GbpB epitopes, suggests that the rat may be a useful model for defining mucosal responses that could be expected in humans. Under controlled infection conditions, such a model could prove to be helpful for unraveling relationships between the host response and oral biofilm development.
Selected
prfA
* Mutations in Recombinant Attenuated
Listeria monocytogenes
Strains Augment Expression of Foreign Immunogens and Enhance Vaccine-Elicited Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses
Authors: Yan Lin , Qiu Jin , Chen Jianbo , Ryan-Payseur Bridgett , Huang Dan , Wang Yunqi , Rong Lijun , Melton-Witt Jody A. , Freitag Nancy E. , Chen Zheng W.
Published: May 2008

While recombinant
Listeria monocytogenes
strains can be explored as vaccine candidates, it is important to develop attenuated but highly immunogenic
L. monocytogenes
vaccine vectors. Here,
prfA
* mutations selected on the basis of upregulated expression of
L. monocytogenes
PrfA-dependent genes and proteins were assessed to determine their abilities to augment expression of foreign immunogens in recombinant
L. monocytogenes
vectors and therefore enhance vaccine-elicited immune responses (a
prfA
* mutation is a mutation that results in constitutive overexpression of PrfA and PrfA-dependent virulence genes; the asterisk distinguishes the mutation from inactivation or stop mutations). A total of 63 recombinant
L. monocytogenes
vaccine vectors expressing seven individual viral or bacterial immunogens each in nine different
L. monocytogenes
strains carrying wild-type
prfA
or having
prfA
* mutations were constructed and investigated. Mutations selected on the basis of increased PrfA activation in recombinant
L. monocytogenes prfA
* vaccine vectors augmented expression of seven individual protein immunogens remarkably. Consistently, prime and boost vaccination studies with mice indicated that the
prfA
(
G155S
) mutation in recombinant
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA prfA*
strains enhanced vaccine-elicited cellular immune responses. Surprisingly, the
prfA
(
G155S
) mutation was found to enhance vaccine-elicited humoral immune responses as well. The highly immunogenic recombinant
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA prfA*
vaccine strains were as attenuated as the recombinant parent
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA
vaccine vector. Thus, recombinant attenuated
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA prfA*
vaccine vectors potentially are better antimicrobial and anticancer vaccines.
Molecular Variations in
Klebsiella pneumoniae
and
Escherichia coli
FimH Affect Function and Pathogenesis in the Urinary Tract
Authors: Rosen David A. , Pinkner Jerome S. , Walker Jennifer N. , Elam Jennifer Stine , Jones Jennifer M. , Hultgren Scott J.
Published: May 2008

Type 1 pili mediate binding, invasion, and biofilm formation of uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(UPEC) in the host urothelium during urinary tract infection (UTI) via the adhesin FimH. In this study, we characterized the molecular basis of functional differences between FimH of the UPEC isolate UTI89 and the
Klebsiella pneumoniae
cystitis isolate TOP52. Type 1 pili characteristically mediate mannose-sensitive hemagglutination of guinea pig erythrocytes. Although the adhesin domain of
K. pneumoniae
TOP52 FimH (FimH
52
) is highly homologous to that of
E. coli
, with an identical mannose binding pocket and surrounding hydrophobic ridge, it lacks the ability to agglutinate guinea pig erythrocytes. In addition, FimH-dependent biofilm formation in
K. pneumoniae
is inhibited by heptyl mannose, but not methyl mannose, suggesting the need for contacts outside of the mannose binding pocket. The binding specificity differences observed for FimH
52
resulted in significant functional differences seen in the pathogenesis of
K. pneumoniae
UTI compared to
E. coli
UTI. Infections in a murine model of UTI demonstrated that although the
K. pneumoniae
strain TOP52 required FimH
52
for invasion and IBC formation in the bladder, FimH
52
was not essential for early colonization. This work reveals that a limited amount of sequence variation between the FimH of
E. coli
and
K. pneumoniae
results in significant differences in function and ability to colonize the urinary tract.
The Oligomerization Domain of C4-Binding Protein (C4bp) Acts as an Adjuvant, and the Fusion Protein Comprised of the 19-Kilodalton Merozoite Surface Protein 1 Fused with the Murine C4bp Domain Protects Mice against Malaria
Authors: Ogun Solabomi A. , Dumon-Seignovert Laurence , Marchand Jean-Baptiste , Holder Anthony A. , Hill Fergal
Published: May 2008

Highly purified protein antigens are usually poor immunogens; in practice, adjuvants are needed to obtain satisfactory immune responses.Plasmodium yoelii19-kDa merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP119) is a weak antigen, but mice vaccinated with this antigen in strong adjuvants can survive an otherwise lethal parasite challenge. Fusion proteins comprising this antigen fused to the oligomerization domain of the murine complement inhibitor C4-binding protein (C4bp) and a series of homologues have been produced. These C4bp domains acted as adjuvants for the fused antigen; the MSP119-murine C4bp fusion protein induced protective immunity in BALB/c mice. Because this fusion protein also induced antibodies against circulating murine C4bp, distantly related C4bp oligomerization domains fused to the same antigen were tested. These homologous domains did not induce antibodies against murine C4bp and, surprisingly, induced higher antibody titers against the antigen than the murine C4bp domain induced. These results demonstrate a new adjuvantlike effect of C4bp oligomerization domains.
The Chlamydial Plasmid-Encoded Protein pgp3 Is Secreted into the Cytosol ofChlamydia-Infected Cells
Authors: Li Zhongyu , Chen Ding , Zhong Youmin , Wang Shiping , Zhong Guangming
Published: May 2008

The chlamydial cryptic plasmid encodes eight putative open reading frames (ORFs), designated pORF1 to -8. Antibodies raised against these ORF proteins were used to localize the endogenous proteins during chlamydial infection. We found that the pORF5 protein (also known as pgp3) was detected mainly in the cytosol ofChlamydia-infected cells, while the remaining seven proteins were found inside the chlamydial inclusions only. The pgp3 distribution pattern in the host cell cytosol is similar to but not overlapping with that of chlamydial protease/proteasome-like activity factor (CPAF), a chlamydial genome-encoded protein known to be secreted from chlamydial inclusions into the host cell cytosol. The anti-pgp3 labeling was removed by preabsorption with pgp3 but not CPAF fusion proteins and vice versa, demonstrating that pgp3 is a unique secretion protein. This conclusion is further supported by the observation that pgp3 was highly enriched in cytosolic fractions and had a minimal presence in the inclusion-containing nuclear fractions prepared fromChlamydia-infected cells. The pgp3 protein was detected as early as 12 h after infection and was secreted by all chlamydial species that carry the cryptic plasmid, suggesting that there is a selection pressure for maintaining pgp3 secretion during chlamydial infection. Although expression of pgp3 in the host cell cytosol via a transgene did not alter the susceptibility of the transfected cells to the subsequent chlamydial infection, purified pgp3 protein stimulated macrophages to release inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that pgp3 may contribute to chlamydial pathogenesis.
Plasmodium falciparumSTEVOR Proteins Are Highly Expressed in Patient Isolates and Located in the Surface Membranes of Infected Red Blood Cells and the Apical Tips of Merozoites
Authors: Blythe Jane E. , Yam Xue Yan , Kuss Claudia , Bozdech Zbynek , Holder Anthony A. , Marsh Kevin , Langhorne Jean , Preiser Peter R.
Published: May 2008

The human parasitePlasmodium falciparumhas the potential to express a vast repertoire of variant proteins on the surface of the infected red blood cell (iRBC). Variation in the expression pattern of these proteins is linked to antigenic variation and thereby evasion of host antibody-mediated immunity. The genes in thestevormultigene family code for small variant antigens that are expressed in blood-stage parasites where they can be detected in membranous structures called Maurer's clefts (MC). Some studies have indicated that STEVOR protein may also be trafficked to the iRBC membrane. To address the location of STEVOR protein in more detail, we have analyzed expression in several cultured parasite lines and in parasites obtained directly from patients. We detected STEVOR expression in a higher proportion of parasites recently isolated from patients than in cultured parasite lines and show that STEVOR is trafficked in schizont-stage parasites from the MC to the RBC cytosol and the iRBC membrane. Furthermore, STEVOR protein is also detected at the apical end of merozoites. Importantly, we show that culture-adapted parasites do not require STEVOR for survival. These findings provide new insights into the role of thestevormultigene family during both the schizont and merozoite stages of the parasite and highlight the importance of studying freshly isolated parasites, rather than parasite lines maintained in culture, when investigating potential mediators of host-parasite interactions.
Immunization with a Toll-Like Receptor 7 and/or 8 Agonist Vaccine Adjuvant Increases Protective Immunity againstLeishmania majorin BALB/c Mice
Authors: Zhang Wen-Wei , Matlashewski Greg
Published: May 2008

Activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on antigen-presenting cells of the innate immune system initiates, amplifies, and directs the antigen-specific acquired immune response. Ligands that stimulate TLRs therefore represent potential vaccine adjuvants. In the present study, we determined whether imiquimod and its related compound R848, which are TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonists, represent potential vaccine adjuvants when delivered topically, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly. Using theLeishmania majorinfection model in BALB/c mice, vaccination with crudeLeishmaniaantigen was not protective against subsequent challenge infection unless it was administered with R848 or a topical application of imiquimod containing cream on the skin. Subcutaneous vaccination with these adjuvants mediated a TH1 response againstL. majorantigen, which appeared to suppress the TH2 response following a challenge infection. Protective immunity was generated following subcutaneous vaccination but not intramuscular vaccination. These observations suggest that topically administered imiquimod or subcutaneously injected R848 represent potential vaccine adjuvants to enhance the TH1 response, which can be used with existing or new vaccine formulations.
Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) is a stronger discriminator of increased proliferation in mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancer than Ki-67
Authors: Hanna-Morris A , Badvie S , Cohen P , McCullough T , Andreyev H J N , Allen-Mersh T G
Published: May 2008

Background:

Loss of control of mucosal crypt cell proliferation resulting in a hyperproliferative field change occurs early in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Ki-67, the current gold-standard marker of cellular proliferation, is a cell cycle protein that may lack sensitivity in demonstrating altered mucosal crypt cell dynamics. Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) has a specific role in DNA replication and has been proposed as a new marker for screening for colorectal cancer.

Aim:

To compare the expression of Ki-67 with that of MCM2 in colorectal mucosa associated with colorectal cancer.

Methods:

Ki-67 and MCM2 immunostaining was performed on serial sections taken from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. Labelling indices were calculated by counting the proportion of positively stained nuclei in representative areas of adenocarcinoma, and in equivalent superficial, middle and basal crypt compartments of mucosa sampled 1 cm from tumour (Ca1) and 10 cm from tumour (Ca10).

Results:

Specimens were obtained from 43 patients (27 adenocarcinoma, 16 no-cancer controls). Most nuclei in specimens of adenocarcinoma stained positively for MCM2 and Ki-67. In Ca1 and Ca10 samples, significantly greater staining of MCM2 than Ki-67 was seen in all crypt compartments. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis suggested that proliferation changes (assessed by either MCM2 or Ki-67 staining) in Ca10, but not in Ca1, mucosa significantly predicted origin from a carcinoma-associated colon.

Conclusions:

MCM2 was more sensitive than Ki-67 in identifying colorectal mucosal proliferation. Increased proliferation (assessed by either MCM2 or Ki-67 staining) in mucosa at 10 cm, but not at 1 cm, from carcinoma significantly predicted origin from a carcinoma-associated colon.
ISOMETRIC DILATIONS OF REPRESENTATIONS OF PRODUCT SYSTEMS VIA COMMUTANTS
Authors: SKEIDE MICHAEL
Published: May 2008

We construct a weak dilation of a not necessarily unital CP-semigroup to an E-semigroup acting on the adjointable operators of a Hilbert module with a unit vector. We construct the dilation in such a way that the dilating E-semigroup has a pre-assigned product system. Then, making use of the commutant of von Neumann correspondences, we apply the dilation theorem to prove that covariant representations of product systems admit isometric dilations.
AN AGENT-BASED LABOR MARKET SIMULATION WITH ENDOGENOUS SKILL-DEMAND
Authors: GEMKOW S.
Published: May 2008

This paper considers an agent-based labor market simulation to examine the influence of skills on wages and unemployment rates. Therefore less and highly skilled workers as well as less and highly productive vacancies are implemented. The skill distribution is exogenous whereas the distribution of the less and highly productive vacancies is endogenous. The different opportunities of the skill groups on the labor market are established by skill requirements. This means that a highly productive vacancy can only be filled by a highly skilled unemployed. Different skill distributions, which can also be interpreted as skill-biased technological change, are simulated by incrementing the skill level of highly skilled persons exogenously. This simulation also provides a microeconomic foundation of the matching function often used in theoretical approaches.
ANDRZEJ PȨKALSKI NETWORKS OF SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS WITH INTERNAL DEGREES OF FREEDOM THROUGH SELF-CITATION ANALYSIS
Authors: AUSLOOS M. , LAMBIOTTE R. , SCHARNHORST A. , HELLSTEN I.
Published: May 2008

Old and recent theoretical works by Andrzej Pȩkalski (APE) are recalled as possible sources of interest for describing network formation and clustering in complex (scientific) communities, through self-organization and percolation processes. Emphasis is placed on APE self-citation network over four decades. The method is that used for detecting scientists' field mobility by focusing on author's self-citation, co-authorships and article topics networks as in Refs. 1 and 2. It is shown that APE's self-citation patterns reveal important information on APE interest for research topics over time as well as APE engagement on different scientific topics and in different networks of collaboration. Its interesting complexity results from "degrees of freedom" and external fields leading to so called internal shock resistance. It is found that APE network of scientific interests belongs to independent clusters and occurs through rare or drastic events as in irreversible "preferential attachment processes", similar to those found in usual mechanics and thermodynamics phase transitions.
BIO-LINGUISTIC TRANSITION AND BALDWIN EFFECT IN AN EVOLUTIONARY NAMING-GAME MODEL
Authors: LIPOWSKI ADAM , LIPOWSKA DOROTA
Published: May 2008

We examine an evolutionary naming-game model where communicating agents are equipped with an evolutionary selected learning ability. Such a coupling of biological and linguistic ingredients results in an abrupt transition: upon a small change of a model control parameter a poorly communicating group of linguistically unskilled agents transforms into almost perfectly communicating group with large learning abilities. When learning ability is kept fixed, the transition appears to be continuous. Genetic imprinting of the learning abilities proceeds via Baldwin effect: initially unskilled communicating agents learn a language and that creates a niche in which there is an evolutionary pressure for the increase of learning ability. Our model suggests that when linguistic (or cultural) processes became intensive enough, a transition took place where both linguistic performance and biological endowment of our species experienced an abrupt change that perhaps triggered the rapid expansion of human civilization.
SOCIOPHYSICS: A REVIEW OF GALAM MODELS
Authors: GALAM SERGE
Published: May 2008

We review a series of models of sociophysics introduced by Galam and Galam et al. in the last 25 years. The models are divided into five different classes, which deal respectively with democratic voting in bottom-up hierarchical systems, decision making, fragmentation versus coalitions, terrorism and opinion dynamics. For each class the connexion to the original physical model and techniques are outlined underlining both the similarities and the differences. Emphasis is put on the numerous novel and counterintuitive results obtained with respect to the associated social and political framework. Using these models several major real political events were successfully predicted including the victory of the French extreme right party in the 2000 first round of French presidential elections, the voting at fifty–fifty in several democratic countries (Germany, Italy, Mexico), and the victory of the "no" to the 2005 French referendum on the European constitution. The perspectives and the challenges to make sociophysics a predictive solid field of science are discussed.
EFFICIENT NUMERICAL DIAGONALIZATION OF HERMITIAN 3 × 3 MATRICES
Authors: KOPP JOACHIM
Published: May 2008

A very common problem in science is the numerical diagonalization of symmetric or hermitian 3 × 3 matrices. Since standard "black box" packages may be too inefficient if the number of matrices is large, we study several alternatives. We consider optimized implementations of the Jacobi, QL, and Cuppen algorithms and compare them with an alytical method relying on Cardano's formula for the eigenvalues and on vector cross products for the eigenvectors. Jacobi is the most accurate, but also the slowest method, while QL and Cuppen are good general purpose algorithms. The analytical algorithm outperforms the others by more than a factor of 2, but becomes inaccurate or may even fail completely if the matrix entries differ greatly in magnitude. This can mostly be circumvented by using a hybrid method, which falls back to QL if conditions are such that the analytical calculation might become too inaccurate. For all algorithms, we give an overview of the underlying mathematical ideas, and present detailed benchmark results. C and Fortran implementations of our code are available for download from .
ASYMMETRIC EMBEDDING IN BRANE COSMOLOGY
Authors: SHTANOV YURI , VIZNYUK ALEXANDER , GRANDA LUIS NORBERTO
Published: May 2008

We derive a system of cosmological equations for a braneworld with induced curvature which is a junction between several bulk spaces. The permutation symmetry of the bulk spaces is not imposed, and the values of the fundamental constants, and even the signatures of the extra dimension, may be different on different sides of the brane. We then consider the usual partial case of two asymmetric bulk spaces and derive an exact closed system of scalar equations on the brane. We apply this result to the cosmological evolution on such a brane and describe its various partial cases.
ANALYTIC SCATTERING AMPLITUDES FOR QCD
Authors: VAMAN DIANA , YAO YORK-PENG
Published: May 2008

By analytically continuing QCD scattering amplitudes through specific complexified momenta, one can study and learn about the nature and the consequences of factorization and unitarity. In some cases, when coupled with the largest time equation and gauge invariance requirement, this approach leads to recursion relations, which greatly simplify the construction of multi-gluon scattering amplitudes. The setting for this discussion is in the space-cone gauge.
CLASSIFIER COMBINATION AND ITS APPLICATION IN IRIS RECOGNITION
Authors: FENG XINHUA , DING XIAOQING , WU YOUSHOU , WANG PATRICK S. P.
Published: May 2008

Classifier combination is an effective method to improve the recognition accuracy of a biometric system. It has been applied to many practical biometric systems and achieved excellent performance. However, there is little literature involving theoretical analysis on the effectiveness of classifier combination. In this paper, we investigate classifiers combined with the max and min rules. In particular, we compute the recognition performance of each combined classifier, and illustrate the condition in which the combined classifier outperforms the original unimodal classifier. We focus our study on personal verification, where the input pattern is classified into one of two categories, the genuine or the impostor. For simplicity, we further assume that the matching score produced by the original classifier follows a normal distribution and the outputs of different classifiers are independent and identically distributed. Randomly-generated data are employed to test our conclusion. The influence of finite samples is explored at the same time. Moreover, an iris recognition system, which adopts multiple snapshots to identify a subject, is introduced as a practical application of the above discussions.