bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Moderate” Arab States: From the Cold War to the Syrian Conflict
Authors: Voller Yaniv
Published: June 2021

Moderation has been a recurring theme in international politics, particularly in the international politics of the Middle East, where foreign and regional actors have often categorized others and themselves as either “moderates” or “radicals.” However, very few works have sought to deconstruct the meaning of moderation in this context. Those that have addressed the issue have mostly treated moderation as a Western attempt to simplify regional geopolitics and dichotomize the actors to justify their choices of allies and foreign policy toward the region. This article argues that “moderate” has evolved from a category of analysis to one of practice. The so‐called moderates, after negotiating the word's meaning, have embraced it as a description of themselves. Through an examination of the evolution of the “moderate” Arabs label from the Cold War to the Syrian civil war, the article demonstrates that the word has evolved through negotiations among the foreign powers that introduced it and the so‐called moderates themselves. Furthermore, it demonstrates the role that the label as a category of practice has come to play in regional geopolitics.
Manganese impairs the QoxABCD terminal oxidase leading to respiration‐associated toxicity
Authors: Sachla Ankita J. , Luo Yuanchan , Helmann John D.
Published: June 2021

Cell physiology relies on metalloenzymes and can be easily disrupted by imbalances in metal ion pools.Bacillus subtilisrequires manganese for growth and has highly regulated mechanisms for import and efflux that help maintain homeostasis. Cells defective for manganese (Mn) efflux are highly sensitive to intoxication, but the processes impaired by Mn excess are often unknown. Here, we employed a forward genetics approach to identify pathways affected by manganese intoxication. Our results highlight a central role for the membrane‐localized electron transport chain in metal intoxication during aerobic growth. In the presence of elevated manganese, there is an increased generation of reactive radical species associated with dysfunction of the major terminal oxidase, the cytochromeaa3heme‐copper menaquinol oxidase (QoxABCD). Intoxication is suppressed by diversion of menaquinol to alternative oxidases or by a mutation affecting heme A synthesis that is known to convert QoxABCD from anaa3to abo3‐type oxidase. Manganese sensitivity is also reduced by derepression of the MhqR regulon, which protects cells against reactive quinones. These results suggest that dysfunction of the cytochromeaa3‐type quinol oxidase contributes to metal‐induced intoxication.
Bringing Raunkiær with plant architecture: unveiling the climatic drivers of architectural evolution in Euphorbia
Authors: Chomicki Guillaume
Published: June 2021

This article is a Commentary on Anest et al. (2021), 231: 1278–1295.
Primary immunodeficiencies: HSCT experiences of a single center in Turkey
Authors: Erol Cipe Funda , Adakli Aksoy Basak , Aydogdu Selime , Dikme Gurcan , Kiykim Ayca , Aydogmus Cigdem , Yucel Esra , Bozkurt Ceyhun , Fisgin Tunc
Published: June 2021

Background

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) are characterized by the occurrence of frequent infections and are caused by many genetic defects. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment option for the majority of PID. As a Pediatric Hematology‐Oncology‐Immunology Transplantation Unit, we wanted to present our HSCT experience regarding treatment of primary immunodeficiency diseases.

Methods

58 patients were included in the study between January 2014 and June 2019. We searched 9/10 or 10/10 matched‐related donor (MRD) firstly, in the absence of fully matched‐related donor. We screened matched unrelated donor (MUD) from donor banks. MRD was used in 24 (41.3%) patients, MUD in 20 (34.4%) patients, and haploidentical donors in 14 (24.1%) patients. Demographic data, HSCT characteristics, and outcome were evaluated. While 16 patients had severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), the remaining was non‐SCID.

Results

Of the 58 patients, 38 were male and 20 were female. Median age at transplantation was 12 months (range: 2.5–172 months). Combined immunodeficiencies consisted 67.2% of patients. Mean follow‐up time was 27 months (6 months–5 years). Median neutrophil, lymphocyte, and thrombocyte engraftment days were similar in comparison of both donor type and stem cell source. The most common complication was acute GvHD in 15 (25.8%) patients. In total, five patients (31%) belonging to the SCID group and 10 patients (23.8%) belonging to the non‐SCID group died. Our total mortality rate was 15 (25.8%) in all patients.

Conclusions

We would like to present our HSCT experiences as a pediatric immunology transplantation center. Existing severe infections before transplantation period, BCGitis, and CMV are important issues of transplantation in Turkey. However, the follow‐up time is shorter than some studies, our results regarding complications and survival are similar to previous reports.
Absent laws and missing women: Can domestic violence legislation reduce female mortality?
Authors: Amin Mohammad , Islam Asif M. , Lopez‐Claros Augusto
Published: June 2021

This study explores the relationship between the presence of domestic violence legislation and the adult mortality of women relative to men. Using a panel of 159 economies between 1990 and 2014, domestic violence legislation is found to be associated with a lower women‐to‐men adult mortality ratio. The most conservative estimate suggests a 2.3% decline relative to the mean sample value. These findings are extended to show that domestic violence legislation is also negatively correlated with physical violence by intimate partners for a cross‐section of economies. Sensitivity analyses reveal that the findings are robust to different estimation methods and empirical specifications.
Kidney transplantation from a SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive donor for the recipients with immunity after COVID‐19
Authors: Puodziukaite Lina , Serpytis Mindaugas , Kundrotaite Aurelija , Sipylaite Jurate , Miglinas Marius , Janusaite Marta Monika , Asakiene Egle , Milisauskaite Erika , Zelvys Arunas , Aliancevic Oleg , Jancoriene Ligita
Published: June 2021

The coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic is evolving very quickly and has affected healthcare systems worldwide. Many uncertainties remain about transplantation from a SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive donor as only a few cases have been reported. Here, we present the successful transplantation of 2 kidneys from a 52‐year‐old male donor with active (2 weeks of COVID‐19‐like symptoms and positive nasopharyngeal swab SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction on the day of organ recovery) SARS‐CoV‐2 disease. The immediate postoperative course of both recipients was uneventful. This case emphasizes that patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 may be safe organ donors.
RESPONSE TO BOYLE LECTURE 2021 PANEL AND PARTICIPANT DISCUSSION
Authors: McLeish Tom
Published: June 2021

The online panel discussion following the 2021 Boyle Lecture, “The Re‐discovery of Contemplation through Science” was very rich, both in terms of the topics raised by the panel members, and the extensive list of questions and suggestions posed by the online participants. Here, I record some initial thoughts in response, grouped under the following headings: Overall Rationale and Purpose, Contemplative Methodologies in Scientific Insight and Broader Practice, Science Culture and Politics, Psychological and Meditative Consequences, Natural Theology of Old and New Kinds, New Atheism, Education, Christian Practice, and Lessons from the History of Science and Technology.
Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Magnesium Nanocomposites Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Kartheesan S. , Khan B. Shahul Hamid , Kamaraj M. , Tekumalla Sravya , Gupta Manoj
Published: June 2021

In this study, a pure magnesium material reinforced with 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 w% of CaO was prepared through disintegrated melt deposition technique (DMD process). Nanocomposites were investigated for their sliding wear behavior in dry condition at room temperature. The amount of CaO, load, sliding distance, and sliding velocity were selected as input design parameters at their five level in central composite design using minitab 18.1 statistical software. The influence of design parameters on wear loss is reported through the response surface methodology (RSM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to confirm the soundness of the developed regression equation. The results indicate the contribution of linear, quadratic, and interaction terms of design parameters on response. Three-dimensional response surface and two-dimensional contour plots indicate the interaction effect. The result shows that an increase in the sliding velocity contributes to a decrease in the wear loss of the composites because of the emergence of protective oxidative layer at the surfaces of the pins, which is confirmed through field emission scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray analysis analyses of the pin surfaces. Wear loss of the material decreased as the amount of CaO increased. The ANOVA analysis concluded that the sliding distance and load contribute significantly to wear loss of the composites, and their percentage of contribution is 64.02% and 3.69%.
Modeling individual noise-induced hearing loss risk with proxy measurements of external-ear amplification
Authors: Grinn Sarah K. , Le Prell Colleen G.
Published: June 2021

Significant variability in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) susceptibility suggests there are factors beyond sound level and duration of exposure that contribute to individual susceptibility. External-ear amplification (EEA) from external-ear structures varies significantly due to ear size and shape, potentially influencing NIHL susceptibility. This study tested the hypothesis that EEA can be predicted using non-technical proxy measurements including pinna height (cm), body height (m), and earcanal volume (cm3). 158 participants (4–78 years) completed otoscopy, tympanometry, pinna measurements, body height measurements, and two EEA measurements: (1) total real-ear unaided gain (REUG) of the open ear and (2) real-ear to coupler difference (RECD), representing unaided gain from the earcanal. Participants' individual noise doses were compared in hypothetical exposures. REUG ranged from 5 to 19 dBA and was correlated with pinna height. High-REUG participants were estimated to accrue noise doses at least 5 times higher than low-REUG participants. RECD ranged from 7 to 24 dBA and was correlated with earcanal volume and body height. The results support the hypothesis that EEA measurement could significantly improve estimation of an individual's position along the NIHL risk spectrum. Non-technical proxy measurements of EEA (pinna height, body height, earcanal volume) were statistically significant but yielded high variability in individual EEA prediction.
Phylogenetic probes for analyzing abundance and spatial organization of nitrifying bacteria
Authors: Mobarry B K , Wagner M , Urbain V , Rittmann B E , Stahl D A
Published: June 2021

Volume 62, no. 6, p. 2157, Table 1: the sequence for probe Nso1225, 5(prm1)-CGCGATTGTATTACGTGTGA-3(prm1), should read 5(prm1)-CGCCATTGTATTACGTGTGA-3(prm1). [This corrects the article on p. 2156 in vol. 62.].
Detection of a Single Viable Cryptosporidium parvum Oocyst in Environmental Water Concentrates by Reverse Transcription-PCR
Authors: Stinear T , Matusan A , Hines K , Sandery M
Published: June 2021

Volume 62, no. 9, p. 3386, column 1, last line: "(specific gravity, 2.10) and centrifuging the mixture at 2,000 x g for 10 min" should read "(specific gravity, 1.10) and centrifuging the mixture at 1,050 x g for 10 min." Page 3387, column 1, line 16: "25 cycles at 90(deg)C for 5 min" should read "25 cycles at 90(deg)C for 5 s." [This corrects the article on p. 3385 in vol. 62.].
Coregulation of beta-galactoside uptake and hydrolysis by the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga neapolitana
Authors: Galperin MY , Noll KM , Romano AH
Published: June 2021

Regulation of the beta-galactoside transport system in response to growth substrates in the extremely thermophilic anaerobic bacterium Thermotoga neapolitana was studied with the nonmetabolizable analog methyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (TMG) as the transport substrate. T. neapolitana cells grown on galactose or lactose accumulated TMG against a concentration gradient in an intracellular free sugar pool that was exchangeable with external galactose or lactose and showed induced levels of beta-galactosidase. Cells grown on glucose, maltose, or galactose plus glucose showed no capacity to accumulate TMG, though these cells carried out active transport of the nonmetabolizable glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Glucose neither inhibited TMG uptake nor caused efflux of preaccumulated TMG; rather, glucose promoted TMG uptake by supplying metabolic energy. These data show that beta-D-galactosides are taken up by T. neapolitana via an active transport system that can be induced by galactose or lactose and repressed by glucose but which is not inhibited by glucose. Thus, the phenomenon of catabolite repression is present in T. neapolitana with respect to systems catalyzing both the transport and hydrolysis of beta-D-galactosides, but inducer exclusion and inducer expulsion, mechanisms that regulate permease activity, are not present. Regulation is manifest at the level of synthesis of the beta-galactoside transport system but not in the activity of the system.
Effects of immunization and anticoagulation on the development of experimental Escherichia coli endocarditis
Authors: Thörig L , Thompson J , van Furth R
Published: June 2021

The effects of immunization and anticoagulation in experimental Escherichia coli endocarditis were studied. Immunization of rabbits with E. coli resulted in the development of specific agglutinating and opsonic activity of the serum, but not in bactericidal activity. These antibody activities also developed in nonimmunized rabbits during the course of bactericidal endocarditis. Immune serum promoted phagocytosis in vitro but did not enhance intracellular killing of E. coli by elicited rabbit peritoneal macrophages. The presence of specific antibodies in rabbits after immunization had no effect on the induction or course of E. coli infection of endocardial vegetations. Anticoagulation was found to affect the induction of the infection. In anticoagulated rabbits, larger bacterial inocula were needed to induce an infection, but in animals with bacterial endocarditis the number of bacteria in the vegetations did not differ significantly from that of the control animals.
Polyclonal activation of human lymphocytes by bacteria
Authors: Räsänen L , Karhumäki E , Majuri R , Arvilommi H
Published: June 2021

The proliferative response of human unseparated lymphocytes, T cells, and B cells to various bacterial strains was investigated. All the bacteria tested induced a proliferative response in unseparated lymphocytes and B cells. T cells were stimulated only after reconstitution with monocytes. Stimulation of umbilical cord blood lymphocytes suggests that the response is polyclonal. We interpret these and previous data as an indication of a common mechanism of resistance against infectious diseases.
Analysis of outer membrane components of Escherichia coli ML308 225 and of a serum-resistant mutant
Authors: Tee G L , Scott G K
Published: June 2021

Escherichia coli ML308 225 in the early exponential phase of batch cultures was killed by human serum in a complement-dependent reaction. Under the same conditions, a mutant derived from this strain by multiple subcultures in human serum was resistant to killing by serum. The components of the outer membrane of both the parent and mutant strains were analyzed. The protein and phospholipid analyses were identical, but the mutant strain produced twice as much lipopolysaccharide as the parent strain. These results suggest that the extent of bacterial surface coverage by lipopolysaccharide determines the degree of sensitivity to serum.
Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin: rapid method of purification and some characteristics of the toxin
Authors: Lallier R , Lariviere S , St-Pierre S
Published: June 2021

In this study we used Escherichia coli strain F11(P155) of porcine origin. The heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) was produced with a batch fermentor under agitation (500 rpm) and forced aeration (5 liters/min) in Casamino Acids yeast extract medium containing 0.2% glucose. The pH varied from 7.2 to 7.8. The maximum amount of ST was obtained after 7 h of growth. ST was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ultrafiltration on Amicon membranes, and chromatography in Bio-Gel P-4. The enterotoxin, which was purified approximately 1,000 times, was active at nanogram levels. On 20% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, ST exhibited an Rf of 0.6 ST was recovered from the gel slices by eluting in buffer and testing the activity in suckling mice, since no band appeared on the gel after staining with Coomasie brilliant blue R, Schiff reagent, or red oil. ST was resistant at pH 2 to 10 and at 100 degrees C for 15 min, but it was inactivated at 121 degrees C; it did not lose biological activity after treatment with pronase, lipase, or amylase. In suckling mice antiserum obtained from rabbits or goats immunized with ST neutralized the enterotoxin activity of a cell-free supernatant of purified ST.
Simplified Purification and Biophysicochemical Characteristics of Kanagawa Phenomenon-Associated Hemolysin of
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Authors: Miyamoto Yasushi , Obara Yasushi , Nikkawa Takayasu , Yamai Shiro , Kato Teiji , Yamada Yujiro , Ohashi Makoto
Published: June 2021

Kanagawa phenomenon-associated hemolysin (K-hemolysin) was purified by Sephadex gel and ion-exchange column chromatography, after the culture supernatant had been adsorbed on and eluted from diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose CL-6B, and acid precipitated. K-hemolysin was a heat-stable and trypsin-susceptible protein with an apparent molecular weight of 44,000, the subunit of which was 22,000. The isoelectric point was 4.9. The minimum hemolytic dose was 0.1 μg/ml. The fifty percent lethal dose by intravenous injection was 1.4 μg. Electron microscopy of the small intestine of suckling mice orally challenged with the highest dose (50 μg) not only showed disappearance of epithelial cell microvilli, but also structural disturbances of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial swelling. One blueing dose representing permeability factor activity was 0.3 μg, and positive reaction in the rabbit ileal loop appeared at above 125 μg. Besides these data in experimental models, we discovered the appearance of an antibody in patients which neutralizes K-hemolysin during the course of the disease. This finding reinforces our view that K-hemolysin plays a most significant role in the pathogenesis of this enteric human disease.
Muramyl dipeptide-induced adjuvant arthritis
Authors: Nagao S , Tanaka A
Published: June 2021

Muramyl dipeptide, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, induced adjuvant arthritis in WKA rats when injected in a water-in-oil emulsion prepared with Freund incomplete adjuvant (Difco), but not when emulsified with Drackeol and Arlacel A.
Nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococci in children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Overturf G D , Field R , Lam C , Lee S , Powars D R
Published: June 2021

Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae was studied in children with sickle cell disease. The incidence of nasopharyngeal isolation was 17.8%. Groups 23 and 6 and type 14 predominated.
Influence of Route of
Mycobacterium lepraemurium
Injection on Susceptibility to Mouse Leprosy and on Lymphoblastic Transformation
Authors: Turcotte Raymond
Published: June 2021

Groups of female C57BL/6 and C3H/St mice were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 10
9
, 10
7
, and 10
5
bacilli and into the right hind footpad with 10
7
and 10
5
bacilli of
Mycobacterium lepraemurium
. The incidence of death from leprosy and the mean survival time of leprous mice were recorded. In addition, the blastogenic responses to the T-cell mitogens phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A and to the B-cell mitogens lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulfate were evaluated at various times during the course of infection in the spleen and peripheral lymph nodes of mice infected with 10
7
bacilli. When
M. lepraemurium
was administered i.p., the two strains of mice succumbed to the disease at about the same time, except for the C57BL/6 mice infected with 10
9
bacilli, which died earlier than the C3H/St mice. Moreover, in both strains of mice, a progressive depression of blastogenesis, first to the T-cell mitogens and then to the B-cell mitogens in the spleen, and to the T-cell mitogens in the peripheral lymph nodes, occurred during the course of the infection, whereas the response to the B-cell mitogens in the nodes increased slowly during the advanced stage of the disease. When 10
7
and 10
5
bacilli were injected into the footpad, the C3H/St mice succumbed to the disease at 298 and 344 days, respectively, and the modifications of blastogenesis were similar to those observed in i.p.-infected C3H/St mice. In contrast, the C57BL/6 mice appeared resistant to footpad inoculation of
M. lepraemurium
, since they lived until the end of the observation period (466 days postinfection) and the depression of blastogenesis was not detectable until 1 year after the infection. Thus, it is concluded that for the C57BL/6 mice (but not for the C3H/St mice), the route of administration of
M. lepraemurium
can markedly influence the susceptibility or resistance to leprosy.
Genetic Transformation of
Streptococcus sanguis
(Challis) with Cryptic Plasmids from
Streptococcus ferus
Authors: Macrina Francis L. , Wood Patricia H. , Jones Kevin R.
Published: June 2021

By using the basic methodology initially published by Kretschmer et al. (J. Bacteriol.
124
:225-231, 1975), we have been able to introduce phenotypically cryptic plasmids from
Streptococcus ferus
(formerly
Streptococcus mutans
subsp.
ferus
) into
Streptococcus sanguis
by genetic transformation. In this system, the entry of the cryptic plasmids is selected indirectly. This is effected with transforming deoxyribonucleic acid mixtures in which the cryptic plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid is present in an approximate 10-fold molar excess with respect to a plasmid (pVA1) known to confer erythromycin resistance. Under such conditions, 5 to 10% of the pVA1-containing erythromycin-resistant transformants were cotransformed with cryptic plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid. pVA1 may be selectively eliminated by growth of its
S. sanguis
host strain at 42°C, enabling the construction of isogenic strains with and without
S. ferus
cryptic plasmids. Comparative physiological studies of such strains have failed to reveal any plasmid-conferred phenotypes in
S. sanguis.
With this procedure, we have been able to physically separate two small cryptic plasmids (2.4 × 10
6
and 2.8 × 10
6
daltons) of
S. ferus.
Although these plasmids were found naturally to exist in a single
S. ferus
host, they were able to replicate independently of one another in
S. sanguis.
Restriction enzyme fingerprinting indicated that these plasmids did not share a common ancestry.
Response of cloned progeny of clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus to human leukocyte interferon
Authors: Lazar R , Breinig M K , Armstrong J A , Ho M
Published: June 2021

First- and third-generation cloned progeny viruses were derived from clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus and examined for their sensitivities to human interferon by inhibition of plaque formation in Vero cells. The dose-response curves obtained with the first- and third-generation clones were similar to those obtained with the parental isolates, and both the parent and the clones showed similar sensitivities to interferon. These results suggest that clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus consist of a homogeneous population of virus particles with respect to interferon sensitivity. The dose-response curves obtained with herpes simplex virus demonstrated a shallower slope than those obtained with vesicular stomatitis virus. Vesicular stomatitis virus plaque formation as completely inhibited at high concentrations of interferon, whereas complete inhibition of plaque formation by herpes simplex virus did not occur at the highest concentration of interferon used. Cloned progeny were derived from plaques appearing in the presence of high concentrations of interferon. The dose-response curves and interferon sensitivities of these clones were similar to those of the parent and third-generation clone from which they were derived. There was no evidence for genetic heterogeneity with respect to interferon sensitivity.
Antigenicity and protective effects of type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide in rats
Authors: Hodges G R , Worley S E , Degener C E , Clark G M
Published: June 2021

The response to type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination, the protective effect of type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination, and the ability of hemagglutinating antibody to type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide to cross the blood-brain barrier were studied in rats. Hemagglutinating antibody response to vaccination with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide was found to be dependent on the dose and route of inoculation. Intraperitoneal vaccination with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide protected the rats from subsequent intraperitoneal challenge with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae but had no effect after intracisternal challenge with type 3 S. pneumoniae. In the presence or absence of sterile meningeal inflammation, hemagglutinating antibody could not be found in cerebrospinal fluid of animals vaccinated intraperitoneally with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide. These results suggest that type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide is antigenic in rats and intraperitoneal vaccination with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide does not protect against experimental meningitis because antibodies do not cross the blood-brain barrier.
LSH hamster model of syphilitic infection
Authors: Schell R F , LeFrock J L , Chan J K , Bagasra O
Published: June 2021

The inbred LSH/Se LAK strain of hamster can be infected with Treponema pallidum Bosnia A, the causative agent of endemic syphilis. When infected, this strain consistently produced extensive chronic skin lesions that persisted for 6 to 9 months, even in the presence of peak antitreponemal antibody titers. The lymph nodes increased in weight and contained measurable numbers of treponemes. This infection also gave the hamster cross-immunity to T. pallidum Nichols and Treponema pertenue, the causative agents of venereal syphilis and frambesia, respectively. LSH hamsters are thus an excellent model to study the immune response mechanisms to syphilitic infection.
Modification of bacterial serum susceptibility by rifampin
Authors: Alexander W J , Cobbs C G , Curtiss R
Published: June 2021

A subinhibitory concentration of rifampin converted a strain of Escherichia coli from serum resistant to serum susceptible. When continually cultured in nutrient broth containing 1.5 microgram of rifampin per ml, this strain of E. coli became susceptible to killing by both normal human serum and normal rabbit serum. Copared to the original strain, the rifampin-treated E. coli displayed no detectable change in adherence capability, but appeared less virulent in the rabbit model of endocarditis. A rifampin-resistant mutant of the E. coli strain was not found to undergo conversion to serum susceptibility upon culture in rifampin.
Specific immunoglobulin M response to hepatitis A virus determined by solid-phase radioimmunoassay
Authors: Lemon S M , Brown C D , Brooks D S , Simms T E , Bancroft W H
Published: June 2021

Immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis A virus (IgM anti-HAV) is found in most patients with acute type A hepatitis. To determine the duration of this IgM response as well as to confirm that IgM anti-HAV is a specific marker for acute infection, we developed a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for IgM anti-HAV. This new assay is 25-fold more sensitive than a conventional blocking radioimmunoassay for anti-HAV, and interference due to rheumatoid factor was eliminated by simultaneously testing sera against virus-free control antigen. Maximum IgM anti-HAV titers (1:6,400 to greater than or equal to 1:51,200) were detected during the first 30 days after the onset of illness. Although the IgM anti-HAV titer subsequently declined 64-fold over the ensuing 90 days, low-titer IgM anti-HAV (1:100 to 1:400) persisted in many sera for 90 to 150 days. Acute sera having an IgM anti-HAV titer of greater than or equal to 1:25,600 possessed a significantly higher mean IgM concentration (492 mg/dl) than acute sera with an IgM anti-HAV titer of less than or equal to 1:12,800 (344 mg/dl; P < 0.05). IgM anti-HAV titers did not correlate with other clinical or laboratory measures of disease severity. Detection of IgM anti-HAV proved to be both a highly specific (>99%) and a sensitive (>99%) method for the diagnosis of type A hepatitis.
Gonococci-human polymorphonuclear leukocyte interactions: metabolic studies associated with attachment and ingestion
Authors: Krieger A G , Schiller N L , Roberts R B
Published: June 2021

Utilizing monolayers of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, optimal conditions for attachment and ingestion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were determined. Both attachment and ingestion were optimal at 36 degrees C when a bacteria-leukocyte ratio of 100:1 was employed. After 30 min of incubation, log-phase viable type 2 gonococci were attached to 90% of leukocytes, whereas log-phase viable type 4 gonococci were ingested by 80 to 90% of cells. Respiratory inhibitors had no effect on attachment or ingestion, whereas glycolytic inhibitors blocked ingestion but did not affect attachment of gonocci to the leukocyte surface. Inhibition was dose dependent and partially reversible. The oxidative metabolism of leukocytes with gonococci attached or ingested was also examined. Attachment of log-phase type 2 gonococci stimulated a minimal increase in glucose oxidation and oxygen consumption by leukocytes in contrast to marked increases by leukocytes that had ingested viable type 4 or heat-killed typed 2 organisms. These results demonstrate that attachment of log-phase type 2 gonococci to the surface membrane does not stimulate significant leukocyte oxidative metabolism nor initiate the phagocytic process.
Impact of HCV infection and ethnicity on incident type 2 diabetes: findings from a large population-based cohort in British Columbia
Authors: Jeong Dahn , Karim Mohammad Ehsanul , Wong Stanley , Wilton James , Butt Zahid Ahmad , Binka Mawuena , Adu Prince Asumadu , Bartlett Sofia , Pearce Margo , Clementi Emilia , Yu Amanda , Alvarez Maria , Samji Hasina , Velásquez García Héctor Alexander , Abdia Younathan , Krajden Mel , Janjua Naveed Zafar
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Increasing evidence indicates that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with higher risk of diabetes. Previous studies showed ethnic disparities in the disease burden of diabetes, with increased risk in Asian population. We described the incidence of type 2 diabetes related to HCV infection and assessed the concurrent impact of HCV infection and ethnicity on the risk of diabetes.

Research design and methods

In British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort, individuals were followed from HCV diagnosis to the earliest of (1) incident type 2 diabetes, (2) death or (3) end of the study (December 31, 2015). Study population included 847 021 people. Diabetes incidence rates in people with and without HCV were computed. Propensity scores (PS) analysis was used to assess the impact of HCV infection on newly acquired diabetes. PS-matched dataset included 117 184 people. We used Fine and Gray multivariable subdistributional hazards models to assess the effect of HCV and ethnicity on diabetes while adjusting for confounders and competing risks.

Results

Diabetes incidence rates were higher among people with HCV infection than those without. The highest diabetes incidence rate was in South Asians with HCV (14.7/1000 person-years, 95% CI 12.87 to 16.78). Compared with Others, South Asians with and without HCV and East Asians with HCV had a greater risk of diabetes. In the multivariable stratified analysis, HCV infection was associated with increased diabetes risk in all subgroups: East Asians, adjusted HR (aHR) 3.07 (95% CI 2.43 to 3.88); South Asians, aHR 2.62 (95% CI 2.10 to 3.26); and Others, aHR 2.28 (95% CI 2.15 to 2.42).

Conclusions

In a large population-based linked administrative health data, HCV infection was associated with higher diabetes risk, with a greater relative impact in East Asians. South Asians had the highest risk of diabetes. These findings highlight the need for care and screening for HCV-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes among people affected by HCV.
Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of diabetes mellitus by depressive symptom severity: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2011–2016
Authors: Lee Jaewon , Kim Kyae Hyung , Ahn Joseph C , Kim Jihoon Andrew , Lee Gyeongsil , Son Joung Sik , Choi Soo Jung , Oh Yun Hwan , Park Sang Min
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Despite extensive studies on the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and depression, the associations of depressive symptom severity with prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of diabetes remain unclear. We aimed to investigate changes in these outcomes of diabetes as depressive symptoms aggravate.

Research design and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 14 328 participants in the 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were classified into depressive symptom groups of none, mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depending on their Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted in three models adjusted for expanding confounders to evaluate the associations between severity of depressive symptoms and prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of DM.

Results

As depressive symptom severity worsened, both prevalence and awareness of DM increased regardless of models (p value for trend <0.01 in all models for prevalence and awareness; adjusted OR (aOR) 2.14, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.56 for prevalence in the severe group, model 1; aOR 2.43, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.64 for awareness in the moderately severe group, model 1). Notwithstanding higher awareness of diabetes in the moderately severe and severe groups (84.5% and 86.2%, respectively, vs 71.3% in the none group), these groups were treated less (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.55 in the severe group, model 3) or inadequately controlled (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.98 in the moderately severe group, model 3).

Conclusions

The gap between patients’ higher awareness and lower treatment rate or control of diabetes among individuals with severe depressive symptoms highlights the unmet needs for postdiagnostic multidisciplinary care for patients with comorbid depression and DM.
Optimising geographical accessibility to primary health care: a geospatial analysis of community health posts and community health workers in Niger
Authors: Oliphant Nicholas Paul , Ray Nicolas , Bensaid Khaled , Ouedraogo Adama , Gali Asma Yaroh , Habi Oumarou , Maazou Ibrahim , Panciera Rocco , Muñiz Maria , Sy Zeynabou , Manda Samuel , Jackson Debra , Doherty Tanya
Published: June 2021

Background

Little is known about the contribution of community health posts and community health workers (CHWs) to geographical accessibility of primary healthcare (PHC) services at community level and strategies for optimising geographical accessibility to these services.

Methods

Using a complete georeferenced census of community health posts and CHWs in Niger and other high-resolution spatial datasets, we modelled travel times to community health posts and CHWs between 2000 and 2013, accounting for training, commodities and maximum population capacity. We estimated additional CHWs needed to optimise geographical accessibility of the population beyond the reach of the existing community health post network. We assessed the efficiency of geographical targeting of the existing community health post network compared with networks designed to optimise geographical targeting of the estimated population, under-5 deaths andPlasmodium falciparummalaria cases.

Results

The per cent of the population within 60-minute walking to the nearest community health post with a CHW increased from 0.0% to 17.5% between 2000 and 2013. An estimated 10.4 million people (58.5%) remained beyond a 60-minute catchment of community health posts. Optimal deployment of 7741 additional CHWs could increase geographical coverage from 41.5% to 82.9%. Geographical targeting of the existing community health post network was inefficient but optimised networks could improve efficiency by 32.3%–47.1%, depending on targeting metric.

Interpretations

We provide the first estimates of geographical accessibility to community health posts and CHWs at national scale in Niger, highlighting improvements between 2000 and 2013, geographies where gaps remained and approaches for optimising geographical accessibility to PHC services at community level.
Assessment of stunned and viable myocardium using manganese-enhanced MRI
Authors: Spath Nick B , Singh Trisha , Papanastasiou Giorgos , Baker Andrew , Janiczek Rob J , McCann Gerry P , Dweck Marc R , Kershaw Lucy , Newby David E , Semple Scott
Published: June 2021

Objective

In a proof-of-concept study, to quantify myocardial viability in patients with acute myocardial infarction using manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI), a measure of intracellular calcium handling.

Methods

Healthy volunteers (n=20) and patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (n=20) underwent late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) using gadobutrol and MEMRI using manganese dipyridoxyl diphosphate. Patients were scanned ≤7 days after reperfusion and rescanned after 3 months. Differential manganese uptake was described using a two-compartment model.

Results

After manganese administration, healthy control and remote non-infarcted myocardium showed a sustained 25% reduction in T1 values (mean reductions, 288±34 and 281±12 ms). Infarcted myocardium demonstrated less T1 shortening than healthy control or remote myocardium (1157±74 vs 859±36 and 835±28 ms; both p<0.0001) with intermediate T1 values (1007±31 ms) in peri-infarct regions. Compared with LGE, MEMRI was more sensitive in detecting dysfunctional myocardium (dysfunctional fraction 40.5±11.9 vs 34.9%±13.9%; p=0.02) and tracked more closely with abnormal wall motion (r2=0.72 vs 0.55; p<0.0001). Kinetic modelling showed reduced myocardial manganese influx between remote, peri-infarct and infarct regions, enabling absolute discrimination of infarcted myocardium. After 3 months, manganese uptake increased in peri-infarct regions (16.5±3.5 vs 22.8±3.5 mL/100 g/min, p<0.0001), but not the remote (23.3±2.8 vs 23.0±3.2 mL/100 g/min, p=0.8) or infarcted (11.5±3.7 vs 14.0±1.2 mL/100 g/min, p>0.1) myocardium.

Conclusions

Through visualisation of intracellular calcium handling, MEMRI accurately differentiates infarcted, stunned and viable myocardium, and correlates with myocardial dysfunction better than LGE. MEMRI holds major promise in directly assessing myocardial viability, function and calcium handling across a range of cardiac diseases.

Trial registration numbers

NCT03607669; EudraCT number 2016-003782-25.
Treatment journey in rheumatoid arthritis with biosimilars: from better access to good disease control through cost savings and prevention of nocebo effects
Authors: Smolen Josef S , Caporali Roberto , Doerner Thomas , Fautrel Bruno , Benedetti Fabrizio , Pieper Burkhard , Jang Minjun
Published: June 2021

Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are of critical importance to halt the progression of the disease. Optimal use of advanced imaging techniques or biomarkers may facilitate early diagnosis of RA. Even though many disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are available for RA treatment, biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) offer expanding therapeutic options and good outcomes in patients with RA who do not have a sufficient response to conventional synthetic DMARDs. However, high costs of bDMARDs have limited patient access to optimised disease management and increased the cost burden for healthcare systems. The advent of biosimilars led to significant cost savings driven by price competition among the reference products, which could be beneficial for healthcare systems. Healthcare provider (HCP)–patient communication and informed shared decision-making are crucial to prevent the occurrence of a nocebo effect, which results from negative perceptions that patients may have and could lead to less effective outcomes. Research has demonstrated that effective communication between HCPs and patients utilising positive framing can improve acceptance by patients to be initiated on or switched to a biosimilar and can help to integrate biosimilars into routine clinical practice to maximise benefits for patients with RA.
Scavenging of “dry” electrons prior to hydration by azide ions: effect on the formation of H2 in the radiolysis of water by 60Co γ-rays and tritium β-electrons
Authors: Sanguanmith Sunuchakan , Meesungnoen Jintana , Muroya Yusa , Jay-Gerin Jean-Paul
Published: June 2021

In this study, we use Monte Carlo track chemistry simulations to show that “dry” secondary electrons, precursors of the “hydrated” electron (e−aq), can be scavenged on the sub-picosecond time scale prior to hydration, by a high concentration (>0.1–1 M) of azide ions (N3−) in water irradiated with 60Co γ-rays and tritium β-electrons at 25 °C. This is a striking result, as N3− is known to react very slowly with e−aq. These processes tend to significantly reduce the yields of H2 as observed experimentally. For both energetic Compton electrons (“linear energy transfer”, LET ∼ 0.3 keV/µm), which are generated by the cobalt-60 γ-rays, and 3H β-electrons (LET ∼ 6 keV/µm), our H2 yield results confirm previous Monte Carlo simulations, which indicated the necessity of including the capture of the precursors to e−aq. Interestingly, our calculations show no significant changes in the scavenging of “dry” electrons at high azide concentrations in passing from γ-radiolysis to tritium β-radiolysis (i.e., with LET). This led us to the conclusion that the higher H2 yield observed experimentally for 3H β-electrons compared with 60Co γ-rays is mainly explained by the difference in the radiation track structures during the chemical stage (>1 ps). The higher LET of tritium β-electrons leads to more molecular products (H2 in this case) in tritium radiolysis than in γ-radiolysis. Finally, a value of ∼0.5 nm was derived for the reaction distance between N3− and the “dry” electron from the H2 yields observed in 60Co γ-radiolysis at high N3− concentrations.
Growth and foliar nutrition of a hybrid poplar clone following the application of a mixture of papermill biosolids and lime mud
Authors: Bilodeau-Gauthier Simon , Palma Ponce Gustavo , Miquel Jean-Charles , Lafleur Benoit , Brais Suzanne , Bélanger Nicolas
Published: June 2021

Fertilization of hybrid poplar (HP) plantations with papermill by-products is a promising solution to improve soil fertility and nutrient availability, increase plantation productivity, and provide added value to these materials that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to the landfill. We assessed the growth and foliar nutrition of a HP clone (Populus ×canadensis × Populus maximowiczii) at six plantation sites aged 3–5 years in southern Quebec, Canada. Sites received a fertilization treatment consisting of a mixture of papermill biosolids (120 to 140 t·ha−1, depending on site) and lime mud (10 to 15 t·ha−1) before being planted, or no fertilization (control). Tree growth was significantly improved by fertilization, with fertilized trees showing a mean annual height increment of 1.3 m (all-site mean; SD = 0.2), compared with 0.5 m (SD = 0.4) for unfertilized trees. Foliar calcium and magnesium increased following fertilization and levels met optimal thresholds at all sites, whereas nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium concentrations also increased, but nutritional deficiencies remained for these elements at several sites. Our results confirm the benefits of fertilizing hybrid poplars with papermill by-products, but they also indicate that adjustments in application rates or type of by-products could be made to fully satisfy nutritional requirements and thus optimize tree growth.
The hadronic $$\tau $$ decay $$\tau ^-\rightarrow K_1^-\nu _\tau \rightarrow (K^-\omega ) \nu _\tau \rightarrow (K^- \pi ^+\pi ^-\pi ^0)\nu _\tau $$ and the axial vector mixing angle
Authors: Hayasaka K. , Huang Z. , Kou E.
Published: June 2021

We propose to measure the $$\tau ^-\rightarrow K_1^-\nu _\tau \rightarrow (K^-\omega ) \nu _\tau \rightarrow (K^- \pi ^+\pi ^-\pi ^0)\nu _\tau \ $$

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decay in order to determine the $$K_1$$

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axial vector mixing angle $$\theta _{K_1}$$

θ

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. We derive, for the first time, the differential decay rate formula for this decay mode. Using the obtained result, we perform a sensitivity study for the Belle (II) experiment. We will show that the $$K^-\pi ^+\pi ^-\pi ^0$$

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-

π
+

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-

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spectrum of the $$\tau ^-\rightarrow K_1^-\nu _\tau \rightarrow (K^-\omega ) \nu _\tau \rightarrow (K^- \pi ^+\pi ^-\pi ^0)\nu _\tau \ $$

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decay can discriminate the two solutions $$\theta _{K_1}=\sim 30^{\circ }$$

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∼

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or $$\sim 60^{\circ }$$

∼

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observed in the other measurements.
Bottom-Up Synthesis of Artificial Cells: Recent Highlights and Future Challenges
Authors: Ivanov Ivan , Castellanos Sebastián López , Balasbas Severo , Otrin Lado , Marušič Nika , Vidaković-Koch Tanja , Sundmacher Kai
Published: June 2021

The bottom-up approach in synthetic biology aims to create molecular ensembles that reproduce the organization and functions of living organisms and strives to integrate them in a modular and hierarchical fashion toward the basic unit of life—the cell—and beyond. This young field stands on the shoulders of fundamental research in molecular biology and biochemistry, next to synthetic chemistry, and, augmented by an engineering framework, has seen tremendous progress in recent years thanks to multiple technological and scientific advancements. In this timely review of the research over the past decade, we focus on three essential features of living cells: the ability to self-reproduce via recursive cycles of growth and division, the harnessing of energy to drive cellular processes, and the assembly of metabolic pathways. In addition, we cover the increasing efforts to establish multicellular systems via different communication strategies and critically evaluate the potential applications.
Cooling Arrangements for Hybrid Thermal‐CPV Receivers with High Output Coolant Temperature for Combined Electricity Generation and Water Desalination
Authors: Omri Mohamed , Al-turki Yusuf , Léveillé Étienne , Arès Richard , Fréchette Luc
Published: June 2021

Human civilization uses vast quantities of water and electricity. Natural fresh water is in short supply in many regions, and the shortfall is increasingly filled through energy‐intensive desalination. Electricity still largely comes from burning fossil fuels, resulting in CO2 emissions. Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) can provide not only electricity but also heat from cooling of the CPV cells, providing additional energy for thermally driven processes such as desalination. This paper evaluates a CPV receiver cooling arrangement for linear CPV systems which maximizes electricity production for a given CPV cell area while supplying heat byproduct boosted to a temperature higher than the temperature of the fluid that cools the CPV cells, increasing the range of processes to which the heat can be applied.