bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of interdisciplinary rounding practices
Authors: Beaird Genevieve , Baernholdt Marianne , White Kenneth R.
Published: December 2019

Aims and objectives

To explore practitioner perspectives on the facilitators, barriers and outcomes associated with interdisciplinary rounding practices (IDR).

Background

Interdisciplinary rounding practices is frequently used intervention to promote collaboration and patient‐centred care in hospital units. Previous research supports that having IDR in place can lead to greater perceptions of collaboration and practitioner satisfaction; however, the practice does not always lead to better outcomes for patients. For IDR to be successful, unit leadership needs a greater understanding of facilitators and barriers as perceived by team members. At both the individual and organisational levels, there is limited understanding on what influences the success of IDR. This study seeks to explore factors influencing interdisciplinary rounding and perceived outcomes by team members.

Design

A quasi‐qualitative design was used to address the aim of this study. Four open‐ended questions were emailed to practitioners across fifteen units in two academic health centres. All units identified as having IDR in place.

Methods

A directed content analysis of practitioner responses was used to identify key themes. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was consulted for reporting of the results.

Results

A total of 141 practitioners responded to the open‐ended questions. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) setting the stage; (b) the work of the team; and 3) benefits to patient care.

Conclusions

The study provides a nuanced perspective of facilitators, barriers and potential outcomes associated with IDR. Future research is needed to gain additional perspective on the role the organisation plays in promoting a healthy workplace environment as well as providing patient‐centred care.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study provides insight into facilitators and barriers to conducting interdisciplinary rounding practices in the inpatient setting. Results can be useful to unit leaders and staff that advocate for more collaborative and patient‐centred rounding practices.
Team efficacy and leadership in managing aggressive situations in the general hospital setting: A qualitative descriptive analysis of focus groups with ward managers
Authors: Heckemann Birgit , Siegrist‐Dreier Sandra , Thilo Friederike J.S. , Hahn Sabine
Published: December 2019

Aims and objectives

To explore the perception and issues regarding the ability of nursing teams to manage patient and visitor aggression in clinical practice, from ward managers’ perspectives.

Background

Patient and visitor aggression causes substantial human suffering and financial damage in healthcare organisations. Nurse managers are key persons for developing their teams’ efficacy in dealing with patient and visitor aggression. However, their perception of patient and visitor aggression in clinical practice has rarely been explored, and issues relating to team management in this context are underinvestigated.

Design

A secondary, qualitative thematic analysis of focus group interviews.

Methods

Five focus groups consisting of a total of 30 ward and deputy ward managers from five Swiss hospitals were interviewed with audio recording between December 2015–January 2016. Since the recordings were rich in additional content exceeding the primary research question, a secondary analysis was conducted to answer the questions: (1) Which factors influence team efficacy in regard to patient and visitor aggression? (2) What are the implications for nurse leadership? The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research was followed in the conduct and reporting of this study.

Results

Three themes emerged from our analysis: (a) contextual factors (organisational safety culture and collaboration), (b) influences from within the team (team culture, nursing aggression and general management principles) and (c) implications for nurse leadership.

Conclusions

Managing patient and visitor aggression is a challenge for nurse managers. A team's ability to prevent, de‐escalate and debrief after PVA incidents is an important leadership task in which ward managers are neither supported in nor trained for within their organisations.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurse managers in general hospitals require more support to enable their teams to cope effectively with patient and visitor aggression. Policy and guideline implementation need to be prioritised.
Assessing the impacts of an interdisciplinary programme supporting father involvement on professionals’ practices with fathers: A qualitative study
Authors: de Montigny Francine , Gervais Christine , Larivière‐Bastien Danaë , Dubeau Diane
Published: December 2019

Aims and objectives

The study aimed to assess the impacts of the Father‐Friendly Initiative within Families (FFIF) programme, an interdisciplinary programme supporting father involvement, on health professionals’ practices with fathers.

Background

It is increasingly recognised that father involvement benefits children's cognitive and social development and contributes to both parents’ well‐being. Recent research has shown health professionals’ support to be a protective factor in father involvement. Research results were translated into practice through the implementation of a programme, the FFIF, aimed at empowering health professionals to support father involvement.

Design

The study employed a qualitative impact assessment approach based on semi‐structured interviews with 36 health professionals to assess the impacts of the FFIF on professionals’ practices with fathers.

Methods

A total of 36 health professionals were interviewed (13 nurses, 10 social workers, six community workers, three educators, two psychoeducators, one health manager, and one special education teacher). Interviews were transcribed, and a qualitative thematic analysis was carried out. This study is presented in line with COREQ’s checklist.

Results

Impacts of the FFIF on health professionals were seen in changes on three fronts: (a1) their beliefs; (b) their conception of their role; and (c) their interventions. These changes related to three themes: (a) difficulties experienced by fathers; (b) importance of father involvement; and (c) differences between fathers and mothers. The professionals, having realised the importance of their own role in improving the services offered to fathers, made concrete changes in their interventions, such as reaching out to fathers more effectively, encouraging their participation and treating them fairly and equitably.

Conclusions

After attending this interdisciplinary programme supporting father involvement, participating professionals adopted father‐friendly beliefs, redefined their conception of their role and modified their interventions.

Relevance to clinical practice

To provide family‐centred care, nurses and other health professionals need to adopt father‐inclusive practices.
Evaluation of a telehealth solution developed to improve follow‐up after kidney Transplantation
Authors: Nielsen Charlotte , Agerskov Hanne , Bistrup Claus , Clemensen Jane
Published: December 2019

Aim

To explore patients’ and healthcare professionals’ experiences of using a telehealth solution developed to improve follow‐up after kidney transplantation.

Background

Transplantation is the treatment of choice whenever feasible for patients with end‐stage kidney disease. However, it implies lifelong adherence of self‐monitoring, medicine and other restrictions to ensure successful outcomes. Based on user involvement, a telehealth solution was developed to support patients and healthcare professionals post‐transplantation.

Design

An explorative qualitative study with a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach.

Methods

The developed app and workflow for follow‐up were tested by patients and healthcare professionals and evaluated with interviews. In total, 16 patients and 20 healthcare professionals participated. Individual interviews were conducted with the patients, four nurses participated in two sets of interviews, and 16 doctors participated in a focus group. Data were analysed with inspiration from Ricoeur's theory of interpretation, on three levels: Naïve reading, structural analysis and critical interpretation and discussion. The COREQ checklist was applied in reporting the study.

Results

Three themes emerged: Challenging conditions for training sessions, telehealth improves patient reflection and collaboration, and telehealth gives patients a voice in consultations. In a challenging time, post‐transplantation patients found the app easy to use; it facilitated support and reflection on how to manage. It also supported both patients and healthcare professionals at follow‐up consultations in terms of enhanced preparation, improved dialogue and enabling consultations by phone.

Conclusion

The study showed that patients and healthcare professionals found the app and workflow valuable and easy to use. The Patient Data feature in the app has potential as a communication tool. However, adjustments and further investigations are needed to develop the solution.

Relevance to clinical practice

The potential of telehealth brings new opportunities to provide treatment and care to newly transplanted patients. Telehealth can support both patients and health professionals by improving dialogue and collaboration.
Left ventricular inhibition during cardiac resynchronization caused by sensed left‐sided ventricular premature complexes
Authors: Barold S. Serge , Kucher Andreas
Published: December 2019

A recently published case documented left ventricular (LV) inhibition of a Boston Scientific device by a premature complex (VPC) that was undetected by the right ventricular channel. We have observed a similar response in two patients with a BIOTRONIK cardiac resynchronization device also designed with LV sensing. A spurious response simulating that of the two true cases was also observed in a third patient with a defective LV lead which created isolated false signals. The responses of the BIOTRONIK devices were identical to that of the previously reported findings with the Boston Scientific device. The observations provide insight into the timing function of cardiac resynchronization devices designed with LV sensing.
Genome‐wide association study reveals new genes involved in leaf trichome formation in polyploid oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Xuan Lijie , Yan Tao , Lu Lingzhi , Zhao Xinze , Wu Dezhi , Hua Shuijin , Jiang Lixi
Published: December 2019

Leaf trichomes protect against various biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. However, there is little knowledge about this trait in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Here, we demonstrated that hairy leaves were less attractive to Plutella xylostella larvae than glabrous leaves. We established a core germplasm collection with 290 accessions for a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of the leaf trichome trait in oilseed rape. We compared the transcriptomes of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) between hairy‐ and glabrous‐leaf genotypes to narrow down the candidate genes identified by GWAS. The single nucleotide polymorphisms and the different transcript levels of BnaA.GL1.a, BnaC.SWEET4.a, BnaC.WAT1.a and BnaC.WAT1.b corresponded to the divergence of the hairy‐ and glabrous‐leaf phenotypes, indicating the role of sugar and/or auxin signalling in leaf trichome initiation. The hairy‐leaf SAMs had lower glucose and sucrose contents but higher expression of putative auxin responsive factors than the glabrous‐leaf SAMs. Spraying of exogenous auxin (8 μm) increased leaf trichome number in certain genotypes, whereas spraying of sucrose (1%) plus glucose (6%) slightly repressed leaf trichome initiation. These data contribute to the existing knowledge about the genetic control of leaf trichomes and would assist breeding towards the desired leaf surface type in oilseed rape.
Administrative Easing: Rule Reduction and Medicaid Enrollment
Authors: Fox Ashley M. , Stazyk Edmund C. , Feng Wenhui
Published: December 2019

Administrative burden is widely recognized as a barrier to program enrollment, denying legal entitlements to many potentially eligible individuals. Building on recent research in behavioral public administration, this article examines the effect of voluntary state reductions in administrative burden (administrative easing) on Medicaid enrollment rates using differential implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Using a novel data set that includes state‐level data on simplified enrollment and renewal procedures for Medicaid from 2008 to 2017, the authors examine how change in Medicaid enrollment is conditioned by the adoption of rule‐reduction procedures. Findings show that reductions in the administrative burden required to sign up for Medicaid were associated with increased enrollments. Real‐time eligibility and reductions in enrollment burden were particularly impactful at increasing enrollment for both children and adults separate from increases in Medicaid income eligibility thresholds. The results suggest that efforts to ease the cognitive burden of enrolling in entitlement programs can improve take‐up.
Pursuing Consilience: Using Behavioral Public Administration to Connect Research on Bureaucratic Red Tape, Administrative Burden, and Regulation
Authors: Carrigan Christopher , Pandey Sanjay K. , Van Ryzin Gregg G.
Published: December 2019

Behavioral public administration (BPA) research aspires not only to draw on developments in behavioral science but also, importantly, to address central themes in public administration. By focusing a symposium on bureaucratic red tape, administrative burden, and regulation, we encouraged BPA scholarship to engage with fundamental public administration topics that are also relevant for the broader literature on organizations and management. Indeed, the symposium contributions demonstrate how BPA can better meld the behavioral science and public administration literatures. They expand on existing conceptions of BPA, with respect to both methodology and topical focus, and provide a basis for demarcating what might and might not be usefully described as BPA. The symposium contributions provide a blueprint for how BPA research might usefully evolve and the introduction offers a philosophical reflection on the future development of BPA and behavioral science.
Expression profile of HLA‐B*38:55Q allele
Authors: Fusco Caterina , Cervelli Carla , Dal Mas Antonella , Canossi Angelica , Azzarone Raffaella , Valdez Olaida , Auriemma Laura , Madalese Donato , Maisto Giovanna , Toriello Mario , Penta de Vera d'Aragona Roberta , Scimitarra Maria , Scarnecchia Maria A. , Battistoni Carla , Fracassi Daniela , Papola Franco
Published: December 2019

The identification of null or questionably expressed HLA allelic variants is a major issue in HLA diagnostics, because the mistyping of the aberrant expression of such alleles can have a major impact on the outcome of both hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and solid organ transplants. It is debated how questionable (Q) alleles, because of their unknown expression profile, should be considered in an allogenic HSCT setting. The HLA‐B*38:55Q allele was detected as an HLA‐B blank specificity; DNA sequencing identified a single polymorphism at position 373 in exon 3 (TGC > CGC), which results in the replacement of cysteine 101 with an arginine in the HLA‐B heavy chain, thus, impairing disulfide bridge formation in the alpha‐2 domain, essential for the normal expression of the HLA molecules. In order to determine the RNA and protein expression profile of this allelic variant, we analyzed antigenic expression at different levels, transcriptional and transductional, using a combination of cellular methods, such as serological testing and flow cytometric analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequence‐specific primer (SSP) cDNA group‐specific amplification and immunocytochemical assay, demonstrating the prevalent cytoplasmatic distribution of the HLA‐B*38:55Q protein. Our findings suggest that in matching process the HLA‐B*38:55Q allele needs to be considered as a low expressed allele, able to elicit an allogenic T‐cell response in vivo and impair the transplant outcome.
Investigating the Effect of Prior Distributions on Posterior Estimates of Common Cause Failure Parameters Using Bayesian Method
Authors: Shitsi Edward , Boafo Emmanuel K. , Ameyaw Felix , Odoi H. C.
Published: December 2019

Quantification of common cause failure (CCF) parameters and their application in multi-unit PSA are important to the safety and operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs) on the same site. CCF quantification mainly involves the estimation of potential failure of redundant components of systems in a NPP. The components considered in quantification of CCF parameters include motor operated valves, pumps, safety relief valves, air-operated valves, solenoid-operated valves, check valves, diesel generators, batteries, inverters, battery chargers, and circuit breakers. This work presents the results of the CCF parameter quantification using check valves and pumps. The systems considered as case studies for the demonstration of the proposed methodology are auxiliary feedwater system (AFWS) and high-pressure safety injection (HPSI) systems of a pressurized water reactor (PWR). The posterior estimates of alpha factors assuming two different prior distributions (Uniform Dirichlet prior and Jeffreys prior) using the Bayesian method were investigated. This analysis is important due to the fact that prior distributions assumed for alpha factors may affect the shape of posterior distribution and the uncertainty of the mean posterior estimates. For the two different priors investigated in this study, the shape of the posterior distribution is not influenced by the type of prior selected for the analysis. The mean of the posterior distributions was also analyzed at 90% confidence level. These results show that the type of prior selected for Bayesian analysis could have effects on the uncertainty interval (or the confidence interval) of the mean of the posterior estimates. The longer the confidence interval, the better the type of prior selected at a particular confidence level for Bayesian analysis. These results also show that Jeffreys prior is preferred over Uniform Dirichlet prior for Bayesian analysis because it yields longer confidence intervals (or shorter uncertainty interval) at 90% confidence level discussed in this work.
Tracking Joint Angles During Whole-Arm Movements Using Electromagnetic Sensors
Authors: Clark Ryan , Dickinson Taylor , Loaiza Johnfredy , Geiger Daniel W. , Charles Steven K.
Published: December 2019

Electromagnetic (EM) motion tracking systems are suitable for many research and clinical applications, including in vivo measurements of whole-arm movements. Unfortunately, the methodology for in vivo measurements of whole-arm movements using EM sensors is not well described in the literature, making it difficult to perform new measurements and all but impossible to make meaningful comparisons between studies. The recommendations of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) have provided a great service, but by necessity they do not provide clear guidance or standardization on all required steps. The goal of this paper was to provide a comprehensive methodology for using EM sensors to measure whole-arm movements in vivo. We selected methodological details from past studies that were compatible with the ISB recommendations and suitable for measuring whole-arm movements using EM sensors, filling in gaps with recommendations from our own past experiments. The presented methodology includes recommendations for defining coordinate systems (CSs) and joint angles, placing sensors, performing sensor-to-body calibration, calculating rotation matrices from sensor data, and extracting unique joint angles from rotation matrices. We present this process, including all equations, for both the right and left upper limbs, models with nine or seven degrees-of-freedom (DOF), and two different calibration methods. Providing a detailed methodology for the entire process in one location promotes replicability of studies by allowing researchers to clearly define their experimental methods. It is hoped that this paper will simplify new investigations of whole-arm movement using EM sensors and facilitate comparison between studies.
Differential Evolution for the Optimization of DMSO-Free Cryoprotectants: Influence of Control Parameters
Authors: Pi Chia-Hsing , Dosa Peter I. , Hubel Allison
Published: December 2019

This study presents the influence of control parameters including population (NP) size, mutation factor (F), crossover (Cr), and four types of differential evolution (DE) algorithms including random, best, local-to-best, and local-to-best with self-adaptive (SA) modification for the purpose of optimizing the compositions of dimethylsufloxide (DMSO)-free cryoprotectants. Post-thaw recovery of Jurkat cells cryopreserved with two DMSO-free cryoprotectants at a cooling rate of 1 °C/min displayed a nonlinear, four-dimensional structure with multiple saddle nodes, which was a suitable training model to tune the control parameters and select the most appropriate type of differential evolution algorithm. Self-adaptive modification presented better performance in terms of optimization accuracy and sensitivity of mutation factor and crossover among the four different types of algorithms tested. Specifically, the classical type of differential evolution algorithm exhibited a wide acceptance to mutation factor and crossover. The optimization performance is more sensitive to mutation than crossover and the optimization accuracy is proportional to the population size. Increasing population size also reduces the sensitivity of the algorithm to the value of the mutation factor and crossover. The analysis of optimization accuracy and convergence speed suggests larger population size with F > 0.7 and Cr > 0.3 are well suited for use with cryopreservation optimization purposes. The tuned differential evolution algorithm is validated through finding global maximums of other two DMSO-free cryoprotectant formulation datasets. The results of these studies can be used to help more efficiently determine the optimal composition of multicomponent DMSO-free cryoprotectants in the future.
Stagnation Flow and Heat Transfer From a Finite Disk Situated Perpendicular to a Uniform Stream
Authors: aus der Wiesche Stefan , Helcig Christian
Published: December 2019

The stagnation flow and heat transfer from the blunt surface of a finite circular disk subjected to a uniform stream of an incompressible fluid is revisited in this paper. A laminar boundary layer analyses were carried out employing the method developed by Frössling. The involved auxiliary functions were calculated for several Prandtl numbers. It was found that the exact knowledge of the velocity at the outer edge of the boundary layer was essential to achieve an accurate velocity solution. In addition to the analytical work, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and a detailed experimental study were conducted including heat transfer measurements in a wind tunnel and a large water towing tank. The analytical treatment enabled a clear discussion of the effect of the Prandtl number on convective heat transfer from a blunt disk. A primary effect and a secondary effect were distinguished based on the analytical treatment. The boundary layer theory offered a rather efficient calculation method, and its results were in an excellent agreement with experimental data.
Acoustic localization of crows in pre-roost aggregations
Authors: Abadi Shima H. , Wacker Douglas W. , Newton Jeremy G. , Flett Derek
Published: December 2019

Crows are highly intelligent and social creatures. Each night during the non-breeding period, they gather on large pre-roost aggregations as they move towards their communal roost where they sleep. Crows make numerous and varied vocalizations on these pre-roost aggregations, but the purpose of these calls, and vocal communication in general, in these pre-roost aggregations is not fully understood. In this paper, an array of four microphones is used as a non-intrusive means to observe crow vocal behavior in pre-roost aggregations in the absence of human observers. By passively localizing animal vocalizations, the location of individuals can be monitored while simultaneously recording the acoustic structure and organization of their calls. Simulations and experiment are undertaken to study the performance of two time difference of arrival-based methods (hyperbolic location estimator and maximum likelihood estimator) for call localization. The effect of signal-to-noise ratio and uncertainty in measurement on the localization error is presented. By describing, modeling, and testing these techniques in this innovative context, the authors hope that researchers will employ the authors' approaches in future empirical studies to more fully understand crow vocal behavior.
Deep water acoustic range estimation based on an ocean general circulation model: Application to PhilSea10 data
Authors: Wu Mengyu , Barmin Mikhail P. , Andrew Rex K. , Weichman Peter B. , White Andrew W. , Lavely Eugene M. , Dzieciuch Matthew A. , Mercer James A. , Worcester Peter F. , Ritzwoller Michael H.
Published: December 2019

This study identifies general characteristics of methods to estimate the absolute range between an acoustic transmitter and a receiver in the deep ocean. The data are from three days of the PhilSea10 experiment with a single fixed transmitter depth (∼998 m) and 150 receiver depths (∼210–5388 m) of known location, and a great-circle transmitter-receiver distance of ∼510 km. The proposed ranging methods compare observed acoustic records with synthetic records computed through the HYCOM (hybrid coordinate ocean model) model. More than 8900 transmissions over 3 days characterize the statistical variation of range errors. Reliable ranging methods de-emphasize the parts of the data records least likely to be reproduced by the synthetics, which include arrival amplitudes, the later parts of the acoustic records composed of nearly horizontally launched rays (i.e., the finale), and waves that sample a narrow span of ocean depths. The ranging methods proposed normalize amplitudes, measure travel times, or reject parts of the waveforms beyond a critical time. All deliver reliable range estimates based on the time and path-averaged HYCOM model, although the final method performs best. The principles behind these methods are transportable and expected to provide reliable range estimates in different deep water settings.
Heat Shock Protein 70 of the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis Binds toBorrelia burgdorferiAntibodies
Authors: Ijdo Jacob W. , Zhang Yan , Anderson Matthew L. , Goldberg David , Fikrig Erol
Published: December 2019

We describe a patient with human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), a diagnosis confirmed by PCR and immunoblot analysis. Unexpectedly, immunoglobulin G (IgG) directed towards an 80-kDa ehrlichial antigen (without detectable IgM) was present in the patient’s serum in the first week of illness. Lyme disease immunoblots were reactive for IgG (but not IgM), a result indicative of prior exposure to the Lyme disease spirochete. Amino-terminal sequencing revealed that the 80-kDa ehrlichial antigen was an HSP-70 homolog similar toBorrelia burgdorferiHSP-70. We conclude that antibodies againstB. burgdorferiHSP-70 may cross-react with the ehrlichial heat shock protein and that this possibility must be considered when serologic test results for HGE and Lyme disease are interpreted.
Depressed Phagocytosis and Oxidative Burst in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes from Individuals with Pulmonary Tuberculosis with or without Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection
Authors: Shalekoff Sharon , Tiemessen Caroline T. , Gray Clive M. , Martin Desmond J.
Published: December 2019

Phagocytosis and oxidative burst in whole-blood granulocytes were assessed by flow cytometry with Phagotest and Bursttest kits, respectively. Seventy individuals were included in this study: 15 healthy, normal donors, 18 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive patients, 19 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), and 18 patients co-infected with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
and HIV-1 (TB-HIV). Granulocyte phagocytosis was assessed by incubating whole blood with fluorescence-labelled
Escherichia coli
and measuring the proportion of granulocytes with ingested bacteria and the capacity (fluorescence intensity) of each cell to phagocytose
E. coli
. The percentage of granulocytes converting nonfluorescent dihydrorhodamine to fluorescent rhodamine 123 on production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) and the mean channel shift were assessed as a measure of oxidative burst. No differences in the proportion of granulocytes that were capable of phagocytosing or producing ROIs in response to
E. coli
were observed between any of the study groups. Phagocytosis was significantly enhanced in granulocytes from HIV-1-infected individuals. On the other hand, granulocytes from individuals infected with
M. tuberculosis
alone or in combination with HIV-1 had a significantly reduced capacity to phagocytose
E. coli
and to produce ROIs in response to
E. coli
as an agonist. These results provide evidence that granulocytes from individuals with pulmonary TB with or without concomitant infection with HIV-1 have an impaired ability to phagocytose and to undergo oxidative burst, possibly contributing to the enhanced susceptibility to opportunistic infections in these patients.
Expression, Structure, and Location of Epitopes of the Major Surface Glycoprotein ofPneumocystis cariniif. sp.carinii
Authors: Linke Michael J. , Sunkin Susan M. , Andrews Ryan P. , Stringer James R. , Walzer Peter D.
Published: December 2019

The major surface glycoprotein (MSG) ofPneumocystis cariniif. sp.cariniiconsists of a heterogeneous family of proteins that are encoded by approximately 100 unique genes. A genomic expression library was screened with a panel of MSG-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to identify conserved and rare epitopes. All of the antibodies reacted with epitopes that are encoded within the 5′ end of MSG. The results from the expression screening identified antibodies that recognize highly conserved, moderately conserved, and rare epitopes. Four MAbs (MAbs RA-F1, RA-E7, RA-G10, and RB-E3) reacted with a maltose binding protein–MSG-B fusion protein (MBPMSG-B41–1065) by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Three of the MAbs (MAbs RA-F1, RA-G10, and RA-E7) reacted with the same continuous epitope that was localized to amino acids 278 to 290 of MSG-B. Comparison of the sequence of the RA-F1-, RA-G10-, and RA-E7-reactive epitope to the deduced amino acid sequences of multiple MSGs demonstrated that it is highly conserved. The reactivity of RB-E3 with MSG-B was shown to be dependent on amino acids 184 to 192, which may comprise a portion of a discontinuous epitope.
HEp-2 Cell-Adherent
Escherichia coli
and Intestinal Secretory Immune Response to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Outpatients with HIV-Associated Diarrhea
Authors: Mathewson John J. , Salameh Bassam M. , DuPont Herbert L. , Jiang Zhi D. , Nelson Andrew C. , Arduino Roberto , Smith Melinda A. , Masozera Nicholas
Published: December 2019

HEp-2 cell-adherent
Escherichia coli
and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) itself have recently been incriminated as causes of chronic HIV-associated diarrhea. This study sought to determine the prevalence of these two agents among HIV-infected patients with diarrhea in an outpatient setting in the United States and to compare their prevalence to that of other commonly recognized enteropathogens known to be present in this population. HEp-2 cell-adherent
E. coli
was found in 20 of 83 (24.1%) patients with diarrhea. A diffuse pattern of adherence was the most common, found in 14 of 20 (70%) patients, followed by a localized adherence pattern (6 of 20; 30%). An intestinal secretory immune response against the p24 antigen of HIV was found in 9 of 34 (27.5%) patients with HIV-associated diarrhea. The following pathogens or products were also detected in lower frequencies:
Cryptosporidium
spp. (10.8%),
Clostridium difficile
toxin (8.8%), microsporidia (6%),
Isospora belli
(3.6%),
Blastocystis hominis
(2.4%),
Giardia
spp. (1.2%),
Salmonella
spp. (1.2%), and
Mycobacterium
spp. (1.2%). The role of HEp-2 cell-adherent
E. coli
and HIV enteric infections in patients with HIV-associated diarrhea deserves further study.
Immunoreactivity of Five Monoclonal Antibodies against the 37-Kilodalton Common Cell Wall Protein (PsaA) ofStreptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Crook Jennifer , Tharpe Jean A. , Johnson Scott E. , Williams Derrick B. , Stinson Annie R. , Facklam Richard R. , Ades Edwin W. , Carlone George M. , Sampson Jacquelyn S.
Published: December 2019

Five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against theStreptococcus pneumoniaepneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) 37-kDa common cell wall protein. These antibodies were used in a dot immunoblot and Western blot study of clinical isolates ofS. pneumoniaeto detect the presence of the protein. By both assays, the MAbs reacted with clinical isolates representing the 23 type-specific serotypes present in the licensed pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of a protein migrating in the gel with a molecular mass of 37 kDa. An extension of the study by using dot immunoblot analysis that included an analysis of the 90 serotypes ofS. pneumoniaeshowed that all five MAbs reacted with 89 of the 90 serotypes tested. MAb 1B6, the exception, did not react withS. pneumoniaeserotype 16F. Dot immunoblot analysis of the MAbs withEnterococcus faecalisand viridans streptococci showed varied reactivity patterns, depending on the species. The MAbs against the 37-kDa antigen did not react withEscherichia coli, respiratory pathogens, or nonpathogens representing 22 genera and 29 species of bacteria. All five MAbs also reacted with five multidrug-resistant strains ofS. pneumoniae. In summary, these MAbs may be useful for detection of pneumococcal antigen and may lead to the development of diagnostic assays for pneumococcal disease.
Lipopolysaccharide from Nonvirulent Ara
+
Burkholderia pseudomallei
Isolates Is Immunologically Indistinguishable from Lipopolysaccharide from Virulent Ara
−
Clinical Isolates
Authors: Anuntagool Narisara , Intachote Pakamas , Wuthiekanun Vanaporn , White Nicholas J. , Sirisinha Stitaya
Published: December 2019

Different lines of evidence suggest that a discrepancy between the distribution of
Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) pseudomallei
in the environment and the distribution of the disease melioidosis is attributable, at least in part, to phenotypic differences between clinical and some environmental isolates. Two antigenically and biochemically distinct biotypes have been described, only one of which is virulent. In this study, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) were extracted by the proteinase K digestion method from a total of 214
B. pseudomallei
isolates, and their immunoreactivities with sera from patients with different clinical spectra and with other infections were evaluated. With the exception of 4 isolates from a total of 214 tested, the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis silver-staining profiles of the LPSs from the two biotypes showed identical ladder patterns that were typical for smooth LPSs from other gram-negative bacteria. The 210 isolates with typical LPS patterns (119 Ara
−
clinical, 13 Ara
−
soil, 70 Ara
+
soil, and 8 reference National Type Culture Collection strains) also exhibited similar immunoblot profiles against pooled sera from patients with melioidosis and hyperimmune mouse sera. Concordant findings were noted in the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with Ara
−
and Ara
+
LPSs to coat the microtiter plates. The LPSs of the different
B. pseudomallei
biotypes appear antigenically indistinguishable. It is, therefore, unlikely that this component is related to the virulence and pathogenicity of
B. pseudomallei.
Development of a Blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Serum Antibodies to O157 Antigen ofEscherichia coli
Authors: Laegreid William , Hoffman Mark , Keen James , Elder Robert , Kwang Jimmy
Published: December 2019

The O157 antigen ofEscherichia colishares structural elements with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens of other bacterial species, notablyBrucella abortusandYersinia enterocoliticaO9, a fact that confounds the interpretation of assays for anti-O157 antibodies. To address this problem, a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) was designed withE. coliO157:H7 LPS as the antigen and a monoclonal antibody specific forE. coliO157, designated 13B3, as the competing antibody. The bELISA had equivalent sensitivity to, and significantly higher specificity than, the indirect ELISA (iELISA), detecting anti-O157 antibodies in sera from cattle experimentally inoculated with O157:H7. Only 13% of sera from naive heifers vaccinated for or experimentally infected withB. abortushad increased anti-O157 bELISA titers, while 61% of anti-O157 iELISA titers were increased. The bELISA is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of serum antibodies resulting from exposure toE. coliO157.
Kinetics of Local and Systemic Immune Responses to an Oral Cholera Vaccine Given Alone or Together with Acetylcysteine
Authors: Kilhamn J. , Jertborn M. , Svennerholm A.-M.
Published: December 2019

The possibility that a mucolytic drug, i.e., acetylcysteine, given orally may enhance the gut mucosal or systemic immune response to an oral B-subunit–whole-cell (B-WC) cholera vaccine was evaluated for 40 adult Swedish volunteers, and the kinetics of the immune responses were monitored for responding volunteers. Two doses of vaccine induced similar frequencies of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG antitoxin responses (80 to 90%) and vibriocidal titer increases (60 to 65%) in serum irrespective of whether the vaccine was given alone or together with 2 g of acetylcysteine. In feces the frequencies of IgA antitoxin (67%) and antibacterial (33 to 40%) antibody responses were also comparable in the two immunization groups. Six months after vaccination, IgA and IgG antitoxin as well as vibriocidal antibody titer increases in serum could still be detected in approximately 80% of initially responding vaccinees. Significantly elevated fecal antitoxin and antibacterial IgA antibody levels were found in, respectively, 50 and 43% of those volunteers who initially had responded to the vaccine. Determination of IgA antibodies in feces does not seem to offer any advantages compared to determination in serum for assessment of immune responses after immunization with inactivated cholera vaccine.
Use of
trans
-Sialidase Inhibition Assay in a Population Serologically Negative for
Trypanosoma cruzi
but at a High Risk of Infection
Authors: Leguizamón María S. , Russomando Graciela , Rojas de Arias Antonieta , Samudio Margarita , Cabral Margarita , González-Cappa Stella Maris , Frasch Alberto Carlos C. , Campetella Oscar
Published: December 2019

trans
-Sialidase inhibition assay (TIA) was employed in a population at high risk of
Trypanosoma cruzi
infection. From 20 serum samples that were negative by conventional serologic and parasitologic assays, 18 (90%) were reactive in TIA, providing further evidence of the higher sensitivity of TIA and suggesting that the actual prevalence of
T. cruzi
infection might be underestimated.
Serological, Hematologic, and PCR Studies of Cattle in an Area of Switzerland in Which Tick-Borne Fever (Caused by
Ehrlichia phagocytophila
) Is Endemic
Authors: Pusterla Nicola , Pusterla Jeannine Berger , Braun Ueli , Lutz Hans
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the seasonal variations in seroprevalence to
Ehrlichia phagocytophila
in cattle pastured during the summer months in an area where tick-borne fever is endemic. The study was performed during a 1-year period from April 1996 to March 1997 and involved 34 cows, 22 pregnant heifers, and 14 calves. Blood samples, collected from all 70 cattle once a month, were used to determine serum immunoglobulin G titers by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, blood smears were examined for
Ehrlichia
organisms, and PCR amplification was performed for the molecular detection of
E. phagocytophila
. Prior to the pasture period, the seroprevalence was 16%. Two weeks after the start of pasturing, it was 43%, after which it progressively increased and reached a maximum of 63% in September. The seroprevalence progressively decreased after the end of pasturing to a low of 23%. The variation in antibody titers was similar to that of seroprevalence.
E. phagocytophila
organisms were detected in blood smears of 7 animals and by nested PCR in 12. Only four cows, which were on the pastures of endemicity for the first time, had clinical signs of ehrlichiosis. This study demonstrated marked seasonal variations in seroprevalence and in serum titers of antibody to
E. phagocytophila
in cattle. The incidence of clinical signs of ehrlichiosis was increased in cattle grazing on the pastures of endemicity for the first time.
Cytokine Gene Expression in Normal Human Lymphocytes in Response to Stimulation
Authors: Fan Jiang , Nishanian Parunag , Breen Elizabeth C. , McDonald Matthew , Fahey John L.
Published: December 2019

Sequential gene expression of two type 1 cytokines (interleukin 2 [IL-2] and gamma interferon), one type 2 cytokine (IL-10), two monokines (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha), and one cytokine receptor (IL-2 receptor [IL-2R]) in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) following in vitro stimulation was investigated by reverse transcription-PCR methods. Two stimuli were utilized: phytohemagglutinin (PHA), which acts on the CD2 molecule and T-cell receptors, and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, which acts on the CD3 molecule and on T-cell receptors. Increased expression of all studied genes occurred between 1 and 4 hours after stimulation, except for that of the gene encoding IL-10, which was delayed. Expression of all but one of the genes was transient, with a maximal mRNA accumulation at about 8 h on average. IL-2R mRNA expression was an exception, showing a prolonged increase (72 h). The general profiles of expression of the five cytokine genes were similar but not identical, suggesting some shared regulatory mechanisms. When responses to four additional stimuli (pokeweed mitogen,Candida albicans, and IL-2 at high and low doses) were compared, similar profiles of cytokine gene expression were found. Thus, the various stimuli caused induction of all cytokines with quantitative, not qualitative, differences. Altogether, the present data are useful for defining the kinetics of gene expression for key cytokines in response to standard immune-cell stimuli.
Correlation between Serological and Sequencing Analyses of the PorB Outer Membrane Protein in the
Neisseria meningitidis
Serotyping System
Authors: Sacchi Claudio T. , Lemos Ana P. S. , Whitney Anne M. , Solari Claude A. , Brandt Mary E. , Melles Carmo E. A. , Frasch Carl E. , Mayer Leonard W.
Published: December 2019

The current serological typing scheme for
Neisseria meningitidis
is not comprehensive; a proportion of isolates are not serotypeable. DNA sequence analysis and predicted amino acid sequences were used to characterize the structures of variable-region (VR) epitopes on
N. meningitidis
PorB proteins (PorB VR typing). Twenty-six
porB
gene sequences were obtained from GenBank and aligned with 41 new sequences. Primary amino acid structures predicted from those genes were grouped into 30 VR families of related variants that displayed at least 60% similarity. We correlated VR families with monoclonal antibody (MAb) reactivities, establishing a relationship between VR families and epitope locations for 15 serotype-defining MAbs. The current panel of serotype-defining MAbs underestimates by at least 50% the PorB VR variability because reagents for several major VR families are lacking or because a number of VR variants within some families are not recognized by serotype-defining MAbs. These difficulties, also reported for serosubtyping based on the PorA protein, are shown as inconsistent results between serological and sequence analyses, leading to inaccurate strain identification and incomplete epidemiological data. The information from this study enabled the expansion of the panel of MAbs currently available for serotyping, by including MAbs of previously undetermined specificities. Use of the expanded serotype panel enabled us to improve the sensitivity of serotyping by resolving a number of formerly nonserotypeable strains. In most cases, this information can be used to predict the VR family placement of unknown PorB proteins without sequencing the entire
porB
gene. PorB VR typing complements serotyping, and a combination of both techniques may be used for full characterization of meningococcal strains. The present work represents the most complete and integrated data set of PorB VR sequences and MAb reactivities of serogroup B and C meningococci produced to date.
Multicolor Cytoenzymatic Evaluation of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (CD26) Function in Normal and Neoplastic Human T-Lymphocyte Populations
Authors: Ruiz Phillip , Zacharievich Natalia , Shenkin Mark
Published: December 2019

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), also identified as the glycoprotein CD26, is a transmembrane 110- to 120-kDa serine aminopeptidase involved in immune responses by influencing T-cell costimulation and by cleaving cytokines. Additionally, CD26 is a nonintegrin receptor that contains a binding site for extracellular matrix and other molecules. In order to further define the expression and functional activity of this membrane exopeptidase in human T cells, we developed a nondisruptive, four-color cytofluorogenic assay that utilizes three separate antibodies to cell-surface molecules (e.g., CD4/CD8/CD26 and CD19/CD56/CD26) along with a rhodamine 110-conjugated dipeptide substrate that allows the measurement of DPP IV activity in phenotypically defined cells. We found normal human thymi to have notable differences in time-dependent DPP IV activity among the thymocyte subsets defined by their CD4/CD8 phenotype, with CD4−/CD8−thymocytes containing less DPP IV activity than cells expressing CD4 and/or CD8 (i.e., maturing). CD26 positivity was moderately intense in thymocytes and tended to identify cells with higher DPP IV activity. The four-color technique was also used to examine mature peripheral blood lymphocytes, along with an assortment of leukemias and transformed T-cell lines. These experiments revealed that while DPP IV was consistently evident in normal T cells, neoplastic T cells could vary in their expression patterns. Furthermore, the presence (or intensity) of surface CD26 in some abnormal T cells and certain normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells was separable from the level of DPP IV measured intracellularly. Our results established that multicolor cytofluorographic analysis can be a practical means to measure DPP IV activity in various human cell populations. Furthermore, we found that DPP IV activity could vary in T cells according to their differentiation status and that under certain circumstances surface CD26 expression can be disassociated from the level of measured enzyme (i.e., DPP IV) activity.