bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carboniferous Onychophora from Montceau‐les‐Mines, France, and onychophoran terrestrialization
Authors: Garwood Russell J. , Edgecombe Gregory D. , Charbonnier Sylvain , Chabard Dominique , Sotty Daniel , Giribet Gonzalo
Published: August 2016

The geological age of the onychophoran crown‐group, and when the group came onto land, have been sources of debate. Although stem‐group Onychophora have been identified from as early as the Cambrian, the sparse record of terrestrial taxa from before the Cretaceous is subject to contradictory interpretations. A Late Carboniferous species from the Mazon Creek biota of the USA, Helenodora inopinata, originally interpreted as a crown‐group onychophoran, has recently been allied to early Cambrian stem‐group taxa. Here we describe a fossil species from the Late Carboniferous Montceau‐les‐Mines Lagerstätte, France, informally referred to as an onychophoran for more than 30 years. The onychophoran affinities of Antennipatus montceauensis gen. nov., sp. nov. are indicated by the form of the trunk plicae and the shape and spacing of their papillae, details of antennal annuli, and the presence of putative slime papillae. The poor preservation of several key systematic characters for extant Onychophora, however, prohibits the precise placement of the Carboniferous fossil in the stem or crown of the two extant families, or the onychophoran stem‐group as a whole. Nevertheless, A. montceauensis is the most compelling candidate to date for a terrestrial Paleozoic onychophoran.
Morphological and Genetic Diversity of Opisthosporidia: New Aphelid Paraphelidium tribonemae gen. et sp. nov.
Authors: Karpov Sergey A. , Tcvetkova Victoria S. , Mamkaeva Maria A. , Torruella Guifré , Timpano Hélène , Moreira David , Mamanazarova Karomat S. , López‐García Purificación
Published: August 2016

Aphelids are a poorly known group of parasitoids of algae that have raised considerable interest due to their pivotal phylogenetic position. Together with Cryptomycota and the highly derived Microsporidia, they have been recently re‐classified as the Opisthosporidia, which constitute the sister group to the fungi within the Holomycota. Despite their huge diversity, as revealed by molecular environmental studies, and their phylogenetic interest, only three genera have been described (Aphelidium, Amoeboaphelidium, and Pseudaphelidium), from which 18S rRNA gene sequences exist only for Amoeboaphelidium and Aphelidium species. Here, we describe the life cycle and ultrastructure of a new representative of Aphelida, Paraphelidium tribonemae gen. et sp. nov., and provide the first 18S rRNA gene sequence obtained for this genus. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that Paraphelidium is distantly related to both Aphelidium and Amoebaphelidium, highlighting the wide genetic diversity of aphelids. Paraphelidium tribonemae has amoeboflagellate zoospores containing a lipid‐microbody complex, dictyosomes, and mitochondria with rhomboid cristae, which are also present in trophonts and plasmodia. The amoeboid trophont uses pseudopodia to feed from the host cytoplasm. Although genetically distinct, the genus Paraphelidium is morphologically indistinguishable from other aphelid genera and has zoospores able to produce lamellipodia with subfilopodia like those of Amoeboaphelidium.
Mortality in people with intellectual disabilities in England
Authors: Glover G. , Williams R. , Heslop P. , Oyinlola J. , Grey J.
Published: August 2016

Background

People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) die at younger ages than the general population, but nationally representative and internationally comparable mortality data about people with ID, quantifying the extent and pattern of the excess, have not previously been reported for England.

Method

We used data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink database for April 2010 to March 2014 (CPRD GOLD September 2015). This source covered several hundred participating general practices comprising roughly 5% of the population of England in the period studied. General practitioner (GP) records identified people diagnosed by their GP as having ID. Linked national death certification data allowed us to derive corresponding mortality data for people with and without ID, overall and by cause.

Results

Mortality rates for people with ID were significantly higher than for those without. Their all‐cause standardised mortality ratio was 3.18. Their life expectancy at birth was 19.7 years lower than for people without ID. Circulatory and respiratory diseases and neoplasms were the three most common causes of death for them. Cerebrovascular disease, thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolism all had standardised mortality ratios greater than 3 in people with ID. This has not been described before. Other potentially avoidable causes included epilepsy (3.9% of deaths), aspiration pneumonitis (3.6%) and colorectal cancer (2.4%). Avoidable mortality analysis showed a higher proportion of deaths from causes classified as amenable to good medical care but a lower proportion from preventable causes compared with people without ID. International comparison to areas for which data have been published in sufficient detail for calculation of directly standardised rates suggest England may have higher death rates for people with ID than areas in Canada and Finland, and lower death rates than Ireland or the State of Massachusetts in the USA.

Conclusions

National data about mortality in people with ID provides a basis for public health interventions. Linked data using GP records to identify people with ID could provide comprehensive population‐based monitoring in England, unbiased by the circumstances of illnesses or death; to date information governance constraints have prevented this. However, GPs in England currently identify only around 0.5% of the population as having ID, suggesting that individuals with mild, non‐syndromic ID are largely missed. Notably common causes of death suggest control of cardiovascular risk factors, epilepsy and dysphagia, management of thrombotic risks and colorectal screening are important areas for health promotion initiatives.
Sleep problems and temperament in young children with Down syndrome and typically developing controls
Authors: Lukowski A. F. , Milojevich H. M.
Published: August 2016

Background

Although group differences have been found between children with Down syndrome (DS) and typically developing (TD) children when considering sleep problems and temperament independently, none of the research conducted to date has examined sleep‐temperament associations in children with DS. The present research was conducted to determine (1) whether the sleep problems experienced by children with DS are associated with temperament or (2) if the demonstrated relations between sleep and temperament differ from those that are observed in TD children.

Method

The present study included examination of relations between parent‐reported sleep problems and temperament in 19 children with DS and 20 TD controls matched on developmental age.

Results

The results revealed group differences in temperament and sleep problems. Mediation models indicated that temperament (effortful control and inhibitory control) mediated the association between group and sleep problems; sleep problems also mediated the association between group and temperament (effortful and inhibitory control).

Conclusion

Findings indicated that sleep problems may serve as both cause and consequence of variability in effortful and inhibitory control and provide insight as to future experimental studies that should be conducted to better elucidate these relations.
User‐independent EBSD parameters to study the progress of recovery and recrystallization in Cu–Zn alloy during in situ heating
Authors: SHARMA N.K. , SHEKHAR S.
Published: August 2016

Microstructural evolution of cold‐rolled Cu–5%Zn alloy during in situ heating inside field‐emission scanning electron microscope was utilized to obtain user‐independent parameters in order to trace the progress of static recovery and recrystallization. Electron back‐scattered diffraction (EBSD)‐based orientation imaging microscopy was used to obtain micrographs at various stages of in situ heating. It is shown that unlike the pre‐existing methods, additional EBSD‐based parameter can be used to trace the progress of recovery and recrystallization, which is not dependent on user input and hence less prone to error. True strain of 0.3 was imposed during cold rolling of alloy sample. Rolled sample was subjected to in situ heating from room temperature to 500°C (∼0.58 Tm) with soaking time of 10 min, at each of the intermediate temperatures viz. 100, 200, 300, 400 and 450°C. After reaching 500°C, the sample was kept at this temperature for a maximum duration of around 15 h. The sample showed clear signs of recovery for temperature up to 450°C, and at 500°C, recrystallization started to take place. Recrystallization kinetics was moderate, and full recrystallization was achieved in approximately 120 min.

We found that EBSD parameter, namely, band contrast intensity can be used as an extra handle to map out the progress of recrystallization occurring in the sample. By contrast, mean angular deviation can be used to understand the evolution of recovery in samples. The parameters mentioned in the current study, unlike other pre‐existing methods, can also be used for mapping local microstructural transformations due to recovery and recrystallization. We discuss the benefits and limitations in using these additional handles in understanding the changes taking place in the material during in situ heating.
Seeing for themselves – healthcare professionals’ views about the presence of family members during brainstem death testing
Authors: Doran Majella , Black Pauline
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To provide an insight into the views of healthcare professionals on the presence of family members during brainstem death testing.

Background

Brainstem death presents families with a paradoxical death that can be difficult to define. International research suggests families should be given the choice to be present at brainstem death testing, yet it appears few units offer families the choice to be present and little attention has been paid to developing practice to enable effective facilitation of choice.

Design

A qualitative, exploratory design was adopted to understand the perceptions of healthcare professionals. Individual semi‐structured interviews were audio‐taped and carried out over two months.

Methods

A purposive sample of 10 nurses and 10 doctors from two tertiary intensive care units in the United Kingdom was interviewed, and transcripts were analysed using content analysis to identify emergent categories and themes.

Results

Healthcare professionals indicated different perceptions of death in the context of catastrophic brainstem injury. The majority of participants favoured offering families the choice to be present while acknowledging the influence of organisational culture. Identified benefits included acceptance, closure and better understanding. Suggested challenges involved the assumption of trauma or disruption and sense of obligation for families to accept if choice was offered. Key issues involved improving knowledge and communication skills to individually tailor support for families involved.

Conclusions

If families are to be offered the choice of witnessing brainstem death testing, considering that needs and conventions will differ according to global cultural backgrounds, then key needs must be met to ensure that effective care and support is provided to families and clinicians.

Relevance to clinical practice

A proactive approach to facilitating family choice to be present at testing requires the development of guidelines that accommodate cultural and professional variations to provide excellence in end‐of‐life care.
Childhood Family Structure and Early Family Formation in East and West Germany
Authors: Raab Marcel
Published: August 2016

This study investigated the association between childhood living arrangements and early family formation in Germany. Drawing on persisting sociocultural differences between East and West Germany, the author examined whether the association of childhood family structure and the transition to adulthood varies in different societal contexts. Data from the German Family Panel showed that children from nontraditional family structures experience important demographic transitions faster than children who were raised by both biological parents. The study revealed considerable context‐specific differences that point to the long‐term consequences of the postwar separation of East and West Germany. Family structure was less predictive for early family formation in the postcommunist East. In addition, this study adds to a growing body of literature indicating that even seemingly similar family‐structure effects might bear very different implications—for example, for status attainment and the reproduction of inequality—depending on the sociocultural context.
The Hysteresis Effect: Theorizing Mismatch in Action
Authors: Strand Michael , Lizardo Omar
Published: August 2016

Widespread reliance on representationalist understandings commit social scientists to either partially or totally decouple belief from reality, limiting the domain of phenomena that can be treated by belief as an analytic concept. Developing the contrastive notion of practical belief, we introduce the hysteresis effect as a situational phenomenon involving the systematic production of agent‐environment mismatches and argue for its placement as a central problem for the theory of action. Revealing the dynamic, embodied conservation of belief in the temporality of practice, hysteresis appears when environmental contexts change in a way that leaves actors without an ontologically complicit relationship to institutions as scaffolds of action. Under these circumstances, a past‐inflected reflexiveness replaces a forward‐inflecting practical belief in the actor's temporal relation to the world. Drawing from a variety of historical case studies, we locate hysteresis in routine disjunctures between the temporality of practice and the temporality of environments. Our analysis reveals four distinct types of reflexiveness produced the hysteresis effect, each with a unique dispositional impact on actors and extensions to group‐level phenomena. We conclude the article by emphasizing the non‐eliminativist relationship between belief as disposition and belief as representation.
The contentious politics of nationalism and the anti‐naturalization campaign in Tunisia, 1932–1933
Authors: Barrie Christopher
Published: August 2016

This article asks how, when, and why people came to mobilize en masse in the name of the Tunisian nation against French Protectorate rule. Rather than taking anti‐colonial nationalism as an inevitable response to the imposition of colonial rule, the account offered here insists that it is an outcome to be explained. Building on more recent theoretical directions that stress the processual, relational, and eventful dynamics of nationalism, the article shows that nationalism and nationalist mobilization cannot be attributed simply to the workings of nationalist intellectuals, to long‐standing grievances, or to larger macro‐level transformations. Rather, seeing nationalism as part of struggle and as a domain in which various forms of contentious politics are played out, I show how attention to a particular contentious event in the anti‐naturalization campaign can help us to understand how a certain version of the nation becomes salient as a mobilizing rubric for mass‐level mobilization and how various forms of contention coalesce to produce nationalist outcomes.
A meta‐analysis of reflux genome‐wide association studies in 6750 Northern Europeans from the general population
Authors: Bonfiglio F. , Hysi P. G. , Ek W. , Karhunen V. , Rivera N. V. , Männikkö M. , Nordenstedt H. , Zucchelli M. , Bresso F. , Williams F. , Tornblom H. , Magnusson P. K. , Pedersen N. L. , Ronkainen J. , Schmidt P. T. , D'Amato M.
Published: August 2016

Background

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the regurgitation of gastric acids often accompanied by heartburn, affects up to 20% of the general population. Genetic predisposition is suspected from twin and family studies but gene‐hunting efforts have so far been scarce and no conclusive genome‐wide study has been reported. We exploited data available from general population samples, and studied self‐reported reflux symptoms in relation to genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes.

Methods

We performed a GWAS meta‐analysis of three independent population‐based cohorts from Sweden, Finland, and UK. GERD cases (n=2247) and asymptomatic controls (n=4503) were identified using questionnaire‐derived symptom data. Upon stringent quality controls, genotype data for more than 2.5M markers were used for association testing. Bioinformatic characterization of genomic regions associated with GERD included gene‐set enrichment analysis (GSEA), in silico prediction of genetic risk effects on gene expression, and computational analysis of drug‐induced gene expression signatures using Connectivity Map (cMap).

Key results

We identified 30 GERD suggestive risk loci (P≤5×10−5), with concordant risk effects in all cohorts, and predicted functional effects on gene expression in relevant tissues. GSEA revealed involvement of GERD risk genes in biological processes associated with the regulation of ion channel and cell adhesion. From cMap analysis, omeprazole had significant effects on GERD risk gene expression, while antituberculosis and anti‐inflammatory drugs scored highest among the repurposed compounds.

Conclusions

We report a large‐scale genetic study of GERD, and highlight genes and pathways that contribute to further our understanding of its pathogenesis and therapeutic opportunities.
A Typical Vascular and Pigmentary Dermoscopic Pattern of Capillary Malformations in Capillary Malformation–Arteriovenous Malformation Syndrome: Report of Four Cases
Authors: Gandon Claudine , Bonniaud Bertille , Collet Evelyne , Dalac Sophie , Jeudy Géraldine , Vabres Pierre
Published: August 2016

We report dermoscopic characteristics of cutaneous capillary malformations in four patients with capillary malformation–arteriovenous malformation (CM‐AVM) syndrome. We observed a mixed vascular and pigmentary pattern with branched linear vessels and an underlying homogeneous brown background. Disappearance of the vascular pattern on pressure revealed an underlying faint pigmentary reticular pattern. Our results suggest that this typical biphasic pattern on dermoscopy may be useful for the diagnosis of CM‐AVM syndrome.
Response of endemic and exotic earthworm communities to ecological restoration
Authors: Boyer Stéphane , Kim Young‐Nam , Bowie Mike H. , Lefort Marie‐Caroline , Dickinson Nicholas M.
Published: August 2016

Land conversion and environmental changes associated with agronomic practices are believed to have led to the disappearance of New Zealand endemic earthworms from agricultural land. Introduced European earthworms have since largely replaced endemic species in farming systems. We investigated the impact of vegetation restoration on earthworm communities. Recolonization by endemic earthworms increased with time after restoration at two studied sites in the South Island of New Zealand. However, exotic species did not disappear with restoration of native vegetation, even after 30 years. The persistence of exotic species leads to the cohabitation of the two communities and potential for interspecific competition.
Special Needs Under Siege: From Classrooms to Incarceration
Authors: Bell Charles
Published: August 2016

Several research articles have documented the disproportionate representation of minorities in school discipline and incarceration settings. In the 2009–2010 school year, research shows nationally 17 percent of African‐American, 8 percent of Native American, and 7 percent Latino American students were suspended at least one time (Losen and Gillespie ). In addition, studies show African‐American and Latino males represent the largest percentage of inmates in correctional facilities (i.e. jails and prisons) throughout the United States (Sakala ). While research has documented the relationship between race and the school‐to‐prison pipeline, the relationship between race, intellectual and emotional disabilities, and the school‐to‐prison pipeline has been relatively unexplored. According to Losen and Gillespie (), 25 percent of Black students who were labeled with an intellectual or emotional disability were suspended from school in the 2009–2010 school year compared to 9 percent for White students diagnosed with an intellectual or emotional disability. Furthermore, data show 70 percent of juvenile inmates were diagnosed with learning disabilities and 33 percent were reading below a 4th grade level (Hubner and Wolfson ). The current review seeks to explore the complex relationship between disability, race, and the school‐to‐prison pipeline to highlight how minority students with special needs are placed on a trajectory towards settings of incarceration.
Parenting and Digital Media: From the Early Web to Contemporary Digital Society
Authors: Lupton Deborah , Pedersen Sarah , Thomas Gareth M.
Published: August 2016

Parents have accessed websites, online discussion forums and blogs for advice, information and support since the early days of the World Wide Web. In this article, we review the literature in sociology and related social research addressing the ways in which digital media have been used for parenting‐related purposes. We begin with the longer‐established media of parenting websites, online discussion forums, blogs, email, mobile phones and message and video services and then move on to the newer technologies of social media and apps. This is followed by a section on data privacy and security issues. The concluding section summarises some major issues arising from the review and points to directions for further research.
Spousal Influence on CPAP Adherence: Applications of Health‐related Social Control
Authors: Mead Michael P. , Irish Leah A.
Published: August 2016

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders in the United Sates and is a risk factor for poor health outcomes. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is an effective treatment for OSA, but adherence rates are poor. Although the spouses of patients with OSA have high potential to influence adherence, there has been minimal research to date. The purpose of this review is to summarize key findings regarding spousal influence on health‐related behavior change and treatment adherence from other medical fields (e.g., type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease) in which this line of inquiry has been more thoroughly developed. Recommendations are presented to guide future research investigating spousal influence on CPAP adherence based on findings from other patient populations. In particular, we emphasize the use of spousal health‐related social control as it applies to adherence and provide guidance regarding conceptual and methodological moderators.
The impact of mechanical compression on cortical microtubules in Arabidopsis: a quantitative pipeline
Authors: Louveaux Marion , Rochette Sébastien , Beauzamy Léna , Boudaoud Arezki , Hamant Olivier
Published: August 2016

Exogenous mechanical perturbations on living tissues are commonly used to investigate whether cell effectors can respond to mechanical cues. However, in most of these experiments, the applied mechanical stress and/or the biological response are described only qualitatively. We developed a quantitative pipeline based on microindentation and image analysis to investigate the impact of a controlled and prolonged compression on microtubule behaviour in the Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem, using microtubule fluorescent marker lines. We found that a compressive stress, in the order of magnitude of turgor pressure, induced apparent microtubule bundling. Importantly, that response could be reversed several hours after the release of compression. Next, we tested the contribution of microtubule severing to compression‐induced bundling: microtubule bundling seemed less pronounced in thekataninmutant, in which microtubule severing is dramatically reduced. Conversely, some microtubule bundles could still be observed 16 h after the release of compression in thespiral2mutant, in which severing rate is instead increased. To quantify the impact of mechanical stress on anisotropy and orientation of microtubule arrays, we used the nematic tensor based FibrilTool ImageJ/Fiji plugin. To assess the degree of apparent bundling of the network, we developed several methods, some of which were borrowed from geostatistics. The final microtubule bundling response could notably be related to tissue growth velocity that was recorded by the indenter during compression. Because both input and output are quantified, this pipeline is an initial step towards correlating more precisely the cytoskeleton response to mechanical stress in living tissues.
Comparing the ratio of mean red blood cell transfusion episode rate of 1 unit versus 2 units in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients
Authors: Avdić Aldijana , Tucker Sharon , Evans Rhonda , Smith Anne , Zimmerman M. Bridget
Published: August 2016

BACKGROUND

Two units of red blood cells (RBCs) were typically transfused with each transfusion among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients. Concerns regarding this practice are increased morbidity, mortality, hospital‐acquired infections, length of stay (LOS), and transfusion‐related complications. This study compared outcomes of transfusing 1 unit of RBCs per transfusion episode to 2 units of RBCs per episode among HSCT patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective record review was used to evaluate a practice change of transfusing 1 RBC unit per episode among autologous and allogeneic HSCT patients. Primary endpoints included: 1) mean number of RBC transfusion episodes during the hospital stay, 2) mean number of RBC units transfused adjusted by LOS, and 3) mean LOS.

RESULTS

Among autologous patients, the ratio of mean rate of transfusion episodes for transfusing 1 unit versus 2 units per transfusion was 1.24, with a one‐tailed 95% upper limit of 1.42. With a noninferiority upper bound of 1.50, using 1 unit per transfusion episode was noninferior to 2 units per transfusion episode (p = 0.011). Among allogeneic HSCT patients, the ratio of mean transfusion episode rate was 1.26 with a one‐tailed 95% upper limit of 1.52, which was slightly above the 1.50 noninferiority bound (p = 0.061).

CONCLUSION

A single‐unit transfusion policy was not inferior to the 2‐unit policy for autologous HSCT patients and trended toward noninferiority for allogeneic transplant patients. The mean volume of blood per LOS was lower for the 1‐unit practice for both groups. The gains from the practice change may outweigh the risks of not changing.
Comparison between indocyanine green angiography and fluorescein angiography in normal cats
Authors: Hayashi Miri , Maehara Seiya , Ito Yosuke , Yamashita Kazuto , Kubo Akira , Nakade Tetsuya
Published: August 2016

Objective

To study a new approach to indocyanine green (ICG) angiography for contrasting the ocular fundus in cats.

Animals studied

Six healthy laboratory cats.

Procedures

Fluorescein (FLUO) and ICG angiography were performed using an infrared‐sensitive charged coupled device‐equipped fundus camera on sedated cats.

Results

At 12.3 ± 3.4 s after ICG administration, the choroidal arteries could be seen extending radially from the optic disk. The choroidal veins became apparent at 16.2 ± 4.1 s alongside the choroidal arteries. Gradual fading of the choroidal vessels began 5.8 ± 1.5 min postdye administration and diffuse fluorescence of the fundus appeared. Diffuse fluorescence of the optic disk faded at about 18.8 ± 2.9 min. Mean arterial blood pressure at 1 and 3 min after ICG administration showed no significant change when compared to pre‐administration (P > 0.05). However, 5 min (P = 0.054) and 10 min (P < 0.05) postadministration, a significant drop in blood pressure occurred. The time lapse between FLUO administration and its appearance in the ocular fundus was 15.7 ± 3.8 s. Retinal veins became apparent at 22.0 ± 3.6 s alongside retinal arteries. At 31.2 ± 4.1 s, full venous fluorescence was visualized throughout the entire fundus.

Conclusions

While FLUO angiography shows only the retinal vessels, ICG angiography enabled visualization of the choroidal vasculature. ICG angiography provides clear resolution while remaining reliable and simple; thus, a combination of ICG and FLUO angiography shows promise as a diagnostic aid for clinical evaluation of various chorioretinal diseases in cats.
Extended‐Spectrum β‐lactam Resistance in the Enteric Flora of Patients at a Tertiary Care Medical Centre
Authors: Landers T. F. , Mollenkopf D. F. , Faubel R. L. , Dent A. , Pancholi P. , Daniels J. B. , Wittum T. E.
Published: August 2016

The dissemination of Enterobacteriaceae expressing resistance to extended‐spectrum cephalosporins, which are therapeutically used in both human and veterinary medicine, is of critical concern. The normal commensal flora of food animals may serve as an important reservoir for the zoonotic food‐borne transmission of Enterobacteriaceae harbouring β‐lactam resistance. We hypothesized that the predominant AmpC and ESBL genes reported in US livestock and fresh retail meat products, blaCMY‐2 and blaCTX‐M, would also be predominant in human enteric flora. We recovered enteric flora from a convenience sample of patients included in a large tertiary medical centre's Clostridium difficile surveillance programme to screen for and estimate the frequency of carriage of AmpC and ESBL resistance genes. In‐ and outpatient diarrhoeic submissions (n = 692) received for C. difficile testing at the medical centre's clinical diagnostic laboratory from July to December, 2013, were included. Aliquoted to a transport swab, each submission was inoculated to MacConkey broth with cefotaxime, incubated at 37°C and then inoculated to MacConkey agars supplemented with cefoxitin and cefepime to select for the AmpC and ESBL phenotypes, with blaCMY and blaCTX‐M genotypes confirmed by PCR and sequencing. From the 692 diarrhoeic submissions, our selective culture yielded 184 isolates (26.6%) with reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime. Of these, 46 (6.7%) samples harboured commensal isolates carrying the AmpC blaCMY. Another 21 (3.0%) samples produced isolates harbouring the ESBL blaCTX‐M: 19 carrying CTX‐M‐15 and 2 with CTX‐M‐27. Our results indicate that β‐lactam resistance genes likely acquired through zoonotic food‐borne transmission are present in the enteric flora of this hospital‐associated population at lower levels than reported in livestock and fresh food products.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Clostridium difficile Isolates from Family Dairy Farms
Authors: Bandelj P. , Golob M. , Ocepek M. , Zdovc I. , Vengust M.
Published: August 2016

A significant risk factor for developing Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in humans and animals is associated with the antimicrobial use. It has often been hypothesized that farm animals could be the source for human infection with Clostridium difficile (CD). In the European Union, family‐run dairy farms are the predominant farming model, which are more interlinked within the community compared to large‐scale intensive dairy or beef farms. Therefore, it is important to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of CD in such environment. A total of 159 CD isolates from 20 family dairy farms were tested with a customized broth microdilution plate for their antimicrobial resistance. Seventeen antimicrobials were selected (amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, daptomycin, erythromycin, fusidic acid, imipenem, levofloxacin, linezolid, metronidazole, moxifloxacin, oxacillin, rifampicin, tetracycline, tigecycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin), which are commonly used for treatment of CDI in veterinary and human medicine, or were previously applied in CD epidemiological studies. Antimicrobials, which are used for treatment of CDI in humans (metronidazole, vancomycin, fusidic acid, tigecycline, linezolid) inhibited CD growth in vitro. Most CD isolates were resistant to erythromycin (93.1%), daptomycin (69.2%) and clindamycin (46.5%). High multiple‐resistance was found in CD ribotype 012 (n = 5, 100%), some CD SLO 060 (n = 4, 25%) and one CD 033 (n = 1, 1.1%). High multiple‐resistance in this study was linked with CD ribotypes and not with the origin of CD. The low prevalence of these ribotypes (6.3%; 10/159) indicates that family‐run dairy farms are an unlikely source of CD with multiple‐resistance to antimicrobials.
Comment on “Cancer chemoprevention: Evidence of a nonlinear dose response for the protective effects of resveratrol in humans and mice”
Authors: Guerra Emanuela , Piantelli Mauro , Alberti Saverio
Published: August 2016

A report that low doses of resveratrol can suppress intestinal adenoma in a mouse model appears confounded because in a slightly different protocol, resveratrol has the opposite effect.
Relationship between vaginal microbial dysbiosis, inflammation, and pregnancy outcomes in cervical cerclage
Authors: Kindinger Lindsay M. , MacIntyre David A. , Lee Yun S. , Marchesi Julian R. , Smith Ann , McDonald Julie A. K. , Terzidou Vasso , Cook Joanna R. , Lees Christoph , Israfil-Bayli Fidan , Faiza Yazmin , Toozs-Hobson Philip , Slack Mark , Cacciatore Stefano , Holmes Elaine , Nicholson Jeremy K. , Teoh T. G. , Bennett Phillip R.
Published: August 2016

Cervical cerclage using braided suture material disrupts vaginal microbial stability and increases inflammation.
The trash piles up in vascular disease
Authors: Rayner Katey J.
Published: August 2016

Dying cells in the vessel wall block their own removal and drive atherosclerosis progression in mice.
DamX Controls Reversible Cell Morphology Switching in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Khandige Surabhi , Asferg Cecilie Antoinette , Rasmussen Karina Juhl , Larsen Martin Jakob , Overgaard Martin , Andersen Thomas Emil , Møller-Jensen Jakob
Published: August 2016

The ability to change cell morphology is an advantageous characteristic adopted by multiple pathogenic bacteria in order to evade host immune detection and assault during infection. Uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(UPEC) exhibits such cellular dynamics and has been shown to transition through a series of distinct morphological phenotypes during a urinary tract infection. Here, we report the first systematic spatio-temporal gene expression analysis of the UPEC transition through these phenotypes by using a flow chamber-based
in vitro
infection model that simulates conditions in the bladder. This analysis revealed a novel association between the cell division gene
damX
and reversible UPEC filamentation. We demonstrate a lack of reversible bacterial filamentation in a
damX
deletion mutant
in vitro
and absence of a filamentous response by this mutant in a murine model of cystitis. While deletion of
damX
abrogated UPEC filamentation and secondary surface colonization in tissue culture and in mouse infections, transient overexpression of
damX
resulted in reversible UPEC filamentation. In this study, we identify a hitherto-unknown
damX-
mediated mechanism underlying UPEC morphotypical switching. Murine infection studies showed that DamX is essential for establishment of a robust urinary tract infection, thus emphasizing its role as a mediator of virulence. Our study demonstrates the value of an
in vitro
methodology, in which uroepithelium infection is closely simulated, when undertaking targeted investigations that are challenging to perform in animal infection models.

IMPORTANCE
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are most often caused by uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(UPEC) and account for a considerable health care burden. UPEC exhibits a dynamic lifestyle in the course of infection, in which the bacterium transiently adopts alternative morphologies ranging from rod shaped to coccoid and filamentous, rendering it better at immune evasion and host epithelium adhesion. This penchant for morphotype switching might in large measure account for UPEC’s success as a pathogen. In aiming to uncover genes underlying the phenomenon of UPEC morphotype switching, this study identifies
damX
, a cell division gene, as a mediator of reversible filamentation during UTI. DamX-mediated filamentation represents an additional pathway for bacterial cell shape control, an alternative to SulA-mediated FtsZ sequestration during
E. coli
uropathogenesis, and hence represents a potential target for combating UTI.
Effect of Shear Stress on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from the Cystic Fibrosis Lung
Authors: Dingemans Jozef , Monsieurs Pieter , Yu Sung-Huan , Crabbé Aurélie , Förstner Konrad U. , Malfroot Anne , Cornelis Pierre , Van Houdt Rob
Published: August 2016

Chronic colonization of the lungs by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. To gain insights into the characteristic biofilm phenotype of
P. aeruginosa
in the CF lungs, mimicking the CF lung environment is critical. We previously showed that growth of the non-CF-adapted
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 strain in a rotating wall vessel, a device that simulates the low fluid shear (LS) conditions present in the CF lung, leads to the formation of in-suspension, self-aggregating biofilms. In the present study, we determined the phenotypic and transcriptomic changes associated with the growth of a highly adapted, transmissible
P. aeruginosa
CF strain in artificial sputum medium under LS conditions. Robust self-aggregating biofilms were observed only under LS conditions. Growth under LS conditions resulted in the upregulation of genes involved in stress response, alginate biosynthesis, denitrification, glycine betaine biosynthesis, glycerol metabolism, and cell shape maintenance, while genes involved in phenazine biosynthesis, type VI secretion, and multidrug efflux were downregulated. In addition, a number of small RNAs appeared to be involved in the response to shear stress. Finally, quorum sensing was found to be slightly but significantly affected by shear stress, resulting in higher production of autoinducer molecules during growth under high fluid shear (HS) conditions. In summary, our study revealed a way to modulate the behavior of a highly adapted
P. aeruginosa
CF strain by means of introducing shear stress, driving it from a biofilm lifestyle to a more planktonic lifestyle.

IMPORTANCE
Biofilm formation by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is one of the hallmarks of chronic cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. The biofilm matrix protects this bacterium from antibiotics as well as from the immune system. Hence, the prevention or reversion of biofilm formation is believed to have a great impact on treatment of chronic
P. aeruginosa
CF lung infections. In the present study, we showed that it is possible to modulate the behavior of a highly adapted transmissible
P. aeruginosa
CF isolate at both the transcriptomic and phenotypic levels by introducing shear stress in a CF-like environment, driving it from a biofilm to a planktonic lifestyle. Consequently, the results obtained in this study are of great importance with regard to therapeutic applications that introduce shear stress in the lungs of CF patients.
Identification of Multiple Cryptococcal Fungicidal Drug Targets by Combined Gene Dosing and Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability Screening
Authors: Park Yoon-Dong , Sun Wei , Salas Antonio , Antia Avan , Carvajal Cindy , Wang Amy , Xu Xin , Meng Zhaojin , Zhou Ming , Tawa Gregory J. , Dehdashti Jean , Zheng Wei , Henderson Christina M. , Zelazny Adrian M. , Williamson Peter R.
Published: August 2016

Cryptococcus neoformans
is a pathogenic fungus that is responsible for up to half a million cases of meningitis globally, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Common fungistatic drugs, such as fluconazole, are less toxic for patients but have low efficacy for initial therapy of the disease. Effective therapy against the disease is provided by the fungicidal drug amphotericin B; however, due to its high toxicity and the difficulty in administering its intravenous formulation, it is imperative to find new therapies targeting the fungus. The antiparasitic drug bithionol has been recently identified as having potent fungicidal activity. In this study, we used a combined gene dosing and drug affinity responsive target stability (GD-DARTS) screen as well as protein modeling to identify a common drug binding site of bithionol within multiple NAD-dependent dehydrogenase drug targets. This combination genetic and proteomic method thus provides a powerful method for identifying novel fungicidal drug targets for further development.

IMPORTANCE
Cryptococcosis is a neglected fungal meningitis that causes approximately half a million deaths annually. The most effective antifungal agent, amphotericin B, was developed in the 1950s, and no effective medicine has been developed for this disease since that time. A key aspect of amphotericin B’s effectiveness is thought to be because of its ability to kill the fungus (fungicidal activity), rather than just stop or slow its growth. The present study utilized a recently identified fungicidal agent, bithionol, to identify potential fungicidal drug targets that can be used in developing modern fungicidal agents. A combined protein and genetic analysis approach was used to identify a class of enzymes, dehydrogenases, that the fungus uses to maintain homeostasis with regard to sugar nutrients. Similarities in the drug target site were found that resulted in simultaneous inhibition and killing of the fungus by bithionol. These studies thus identify a common, multitarget site for antifungal development.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) as a complication of Guillain-Barre’ syndrome (GBS)
Authors: Nabi Sumaira , Rajput Haris Majid , Badshah Mazhar , Ahmed Shahzad
Published: August 2016

A 17-year-old Pakistani female patient presented with acute onset flaccid quadriparesis with nerve conduction studies showing demyelinating polyneuropathy consistent with Guillain-Barre’ syndrome. She was treated with 4 plasmapheresis sessions. She developed raised blood pressure, headache, visual loss and generalised seizures on the 13th day of admission. MRI of the brain on contrast showed findings of altered signals low on T1-weighted image, high on T2-weighted image and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery in the white matter of bilateral occipital, parietal and right frontal lobe consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. The patient was administered antiepileptic and antihypertensive drugs to control seizures and blood pressure. She was discharged in a stable state. On follow-up her visual loss had recovered completely and she had regained full motor strength in all four extremities after 6 weeks. Fresh MRI of the brain revealed complete resolution of lesions. Antihypertensive and antiepileptic medication was discontinued. She is independent in all her daily activities.
Added sugars drive nutrient and energy deficit in obesity: a new paradigm
Authors: DiNicolantonio James J , Berger Amy
Published: August 2016

Obesity has traditionally been thought of as a state of caloric imbalance, where the intake of calories exceeds the expenditure or ‘burning’ of calories. However, a more nuanced appreciation for the complex biochemistry and physiology of cellular energy generation suggests that obesity is a state of hormonal imbalance causing increased shunting of food energy into adipose tissue for storage, resulting in decreased satiety and ultimately leading to increased caloric intake. Adding to this hypothesis, we propose that obesity is also a state of nutrient and energy deficit, leading to decreased fatty acid mobilisation and oxidation, the result of which may be a natural disinclination towards physical activity. Added sugars (sucrose, a.k.a. table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup) may provide energy (4 kcal/g) but at current intakes they do not facilitate—and may even hinder—the production of energy. Not only do added sugars displace nutritionally superior foods in the diet, but they may also deplete nutrients from other foods that have been consumed, as well as from body stores, in order to enable their proper oxidation and liberate their calories as energy. Additionally, the consumption of added sugars damages the mitochondria and hence impairs energy generation. Moreover, overconsuming added sugars may result in a kind of ‘internal starvation’ (via leptin and insulin resistance) leading to further hunger signals in the body. Added sugars promote nutrient and energy deficit and through this novel pathway promote obesity.
Nonlinearly interacting ghost dark energy in Brans–Dicke cosmology
Authors: Ebrahimi E. , Golchin H.
Published: August 2016

In this paper we extend the form of interaction term into the nonlinear regime in the ghost dark energy model. A general form of the nonlinear interaction term is presented and cosmic dynamic equations are obtained. Next, the model is detailed for two special choices of the nonlinear interaction term. According to this the universe transits at suitable time (z ∼ 0.8) from deceleration to acceleration phase, which alleviate the coincidence problem. Squared sound speed analysis revealed that for one class of nonlinear interaction term [Formula: see text] can become positive. This point is an impact of the nonlinear interaction term and we never find such behavior in non-interacting and linearly interacting ghost dark energy models. Also, statefinder parameters are introduced for this model and we found that for one class the model meets the ΛCDM while in the second choice although the model approaches the ΛCDM, but never matches it.
RELATIONS BETWEEN SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND OTHER SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL INDICES UNDER DIFFERENT LAND USE PATTERNS
Authors: GUO YUEFENG , QI WEI , YAO YUNFENG , QIN FUCANG , GAO YUHAN , ZHAO WENHAO
Published: August 2016

This paper investigates the relations between soil organic carbon (SOC) and other physicochemical indices in low hills of Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, and thus to help with soil modification in low hills there. Grey relational analysis and stepwise regression analysis were used to uncover the relations of SOC with total N (TN), pH, available P (AP), available K (AK), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) under eight land use patterns in a typical small watershed in Chifeng. The eight land uses were Prunus sibirica land, Caragana microphylla land, Populus simonii land, Ulmus pumila land, natural grassland, Pinus Tableulaeformis [Formula: see text] P. sibirica mixed land, secondary forest of natural bush land, and agricultural land. The average SOC contents in the 0–100[Formula: see text]cm layer in the above eight land use patterns are 7.72, 5.32, 7.40, 6.11, 3.14, 10.26, 17.51 and 5.34[Formula: see text]g/kg, respectively, indicating significant differences. The relation coefficients of SOC with TN, pH, MBC, AK, and AP are 0.70, 0.66, 0.63, 0.57 and 0.55, respectively, under all land use patterns. SOC contents are significantly different among these land use patterns, and the relation coefficients of SOC with other physicochemical indices rank in the order as: [Formula: see text]. The optimum regression equation of SOC ([Formula: see text] with TN ([Formula: see text] and pH ([Formula: see text] was built: [Formula: see text], ([Formula: see text]).