bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of cigarette smoking with a past history and incidence of herpes zoster in the general Japanese population: the SHEZ Study
Authors: BAN J. , TAKAO Y. , OKUNO Y. , MORI Y. , ASADA H. , YAMANISHI K. , ISO H.
Published: January 2017

Few studies have examined the impact of cigarette smoking on the risk for herpes zoster. The Shozu Herpes Zoster (SHEZ) Study is a community-based prospective cohort study over 3 years in Japan aiming to clarify the incidence and predictive and immunological factors for herpes zoster. We investigated the associations of smoking status with past history and incidence of herpes zoster. A total of 12 351 participants provided valid information on smoking status and past history of herpes zoster at baseline survey. Smoking status was classified into three categories (current, former, never smoker), and if currently smoking, the number of cigarettes consumed per day was recorded. The participants were under the active surveillance for first-ever incident herpes zoster for 3 years. We used a logistic regression model for the cross-sectional study on the association between smoking status and past history of herpes zoster, and a Cox proportional hazards regression model for the cohort study on the association with risk of incidence. The multivariable adjusted odd ratios (95% CI) of past history of herpes zoster for current vs. never smokers were 0·67 (0·54–0·80) for total subjects, 0·72 (0·56–0·93) for men and 0·65 (0·44–0·96) for women. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of incident herpes zoster for current vs. never smokers were 0·52 (0·33–0·81) for total subjects, 0·49 (0·29–0·83) for men and 0·52 (0·19–1·39) for women. Smoking status was inversely associated with the prevalence and incidence of herpes zoster in the general population of men and women aged ⩾50 years.
Molecular epidemiological analysis to assess the influence of pet-ownership in the biodiversity ofStaphylococcus aureusand MRSA in dog- and non-dog-owning healthy households
Authors: VAN BALEN J. C. , LANDERS T. , NUTT E. , DENT A. , HOET A. E.
Published: January 2017

It has been suggested that zoonotic transmission ofStaphylococcus aureus(SA) and methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) can occur between owners and their pets within the same household. However, the influence that pet-ownership could have in the biodiversity of SA/MRSA strains circulating among owners is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to perform a molecular epidemiological analysis to evaluate and compare the biodiversity of SA/MRSA strains in dog-owning and non-dog-owning healthy households within the same community. Antimicrobial resistance, SCCmectype, USA type and clonality were assessed. Overall, 33·1% (165/499) of human subjects carried SA and 2·8% (14/499) carried MRSA. Among dogs, 7·1% (8/113) carried SA but none were MRSA positive. No difference was detected in the diversity index of SA/MRSA pulsotypes between dog-owning and non-dog-owning households; but, a marked variation was still observed in the pulsotypes circulating in each type of household. Additionally, simultaneous carriage of the same SA pulsotype in owner(s) and dog was observed in 57% of households with positive humans and pets. These results demonstrate that dogs can indeed participate in the circulation of SA/MRSA pulsotypes within a home and that the presence of a pet does not seem to favour certain strains within their household.
High prevalence of HPV infection in the remote villages of French Guiana: an epidemiological study
Authors: ADENIS A. , DUFIT V. , DOUINE M. , CORLIN F. , AYHAN G. , NAJIOULLAH F. , MOLINIE V. , BROUSSE P. , CARLES G. , LACOSTE V. , CESAIRE R. , NACHER M.
Published: January 2017

Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer in women in French Guiana. Studies have shown that populations living in the remote areas of the interior have early sexual debut and that multiple sexual partnerships are common. The objective of the present study was thus to determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in these areas. A study was conducted in women aged 20–65 years with previous sexual activity. Women were included on a voluntary basis after using local media and leaders to inform them of the visit of the team. HPV infection was defined by the detection of HPV DNA using the Greiner Bio-One kit. In addition to HPV testing cytology was performed. The overall age-standardized prevalence rate was 35%. There was a U-shaped evolution of HPV prevalence by age with women aged >50 years at highest risk for HPV, followed by the 20–29 years group. Twenty-seven percent of women with a positive HPV test had normal cytology. Given the high incidence of cervical cancer in French Guiana and the high prevalence of HPV infections the present results re-emphasize the need for screening for cervical cancer in these remote areas. Vaccination against HPV, preferably with a nonavalent vaccine, also seems an important prevention measure. However, in this region where a large portion of the population has no health insurance, this still represents a challenge.
Morphologic analysis of sperm from two neotropical primate species: comparisons between the squirrel monkeysSaimiri collinsiandSaimiri vanzolinii
Authors: Sampaio Wlaisa V. , Oliveira Karol G. , Leão Danuza L. , Caldas-Bussiere Maria C. , Queiroz Helder L. , Paim Fernanda P. , Santos Regiane R. , Domingues Sheyla F.S.
Published: January 2017

Sperm morphometry can be applied to identify different animal groups and species and to evaluate sperm quality. Furthermore, knowledge on species-specific differences will help to enhance biological information, as well as to develop efficient reproductive technologies. The aims in the present study were to describe sperm morphometry from the recently characterized speciesS. collinsiandS. vanzolinii, to verify if the morphometric sperm patterns are similar or different between both species, and to determine if the sperm morphometry is affected by the levels of sperm defects using theS. collinsias a model. Semen was collected fromS. collinsi(n= 10) andS. vanzolinii(n= 2) monkeys, and sperm was submitted to morphological analysis. From the 10 samples fromS. collinsi, five presented sperm of poor quality and two subgroups were formed for this species, i.e. high and poor quality sperm. Data on sperm motility and vigour were analysed, as well morphometric parameters on sperm head and tail. It was observed the normal morphometry was correlated with high quality sperm. Poor quality sperm presented smaller and 7% more ellipticity in their head, when compared with high quality sperm. Sperm fromS. vanzoliniipresented larger head than those fromS. collinsi, but tail lengths were similar. Sperm morphometry can be used as a complementary tool to predict sperm motility and vigour for theS. collinsispecies, andS. collinsiappear as a suitable model forS. vanzolinii.
A systematic review evaluating the impact of paid home carer training, supervision, and other interventions on the health and well-being of older home care clients
Authors: Cooper Claudia , Cenko Blerta , Dow Briony , Rapaport Penny
Published: January 2017

Background:

Interventions to support and skill paid home carers and managers could potentially improve health and well-being of older home care clients. This is the first systematic review of interventions to improve how home carers and home care agencies deliver care to older people, with regard to clients’ health and well-being and paid carers’ well-being, job satisfaction, and retention.

Methods:

We reviewed 10/731 papers found in the electronic search (to January 2016) fitting predetermined criteria, assessed quality using a checklist, and synthesized data using quantitative and qualitative techniques.

Results:

Ten papers described eight interventions. The six quantitative evaluations used diverse outcomes that precluded meta-analysis. In the only quantitative study (a cluster Randomized Controlled Trial), rated higher quality, setting meaningful goals, carer training, and supervision improved client health-related quality of life. The interventions that improved client outcomes comprised training with additional implementation, such as regular supervision and promoted care focused around clients’ needs and goals. In our qualitative synthesis of four studies, intervention elements carers valued were greater flexibility to work to a needs-based rather than a task-based model, learning more about clients, and improved communication with management and other workers.

Conclusions:

There is a dearth of evidence regarding effective strategies to improve how home care is delivered to older clients, particularly those with dementia. More research in this sector including feasibility testing of the first home care intervention trials to include health and life quality outcomes for clients with more severe dementia is now needed.
Giant congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm
Authors: Hui Chengyi , Luo Shuhua , An Qi
Published: January 2017

We present a rare case of an asymptomatic giant congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm in a 19-year-old girl. We believe this is the largest congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm reported without any symptom.
Molecular mapping of linked leaf rust resistance and non-glaucousness gene introgressed fromAegilops tauschiiCoss. in hexaploid wheatTriticum aestivumL.
Authors: Saluja Manny , Kaur Satinder , Bansal Urmil , Bhardwaj Subhash Chander , Chhuneja Parveen
Published: January 2017

Aegilops tauschii, the D genome donor of wheat, is an invaluable source of genetic variability, which can be utilized for broadening the wheat gene pool. Linked leaf rust resistance and non-glaucousness genes transferred fromAe. tauschiito cultivated wheat variety WH542 were mapped in the present study. Genetic analysis in an F2population from a BC3plant derived from the crossTriticum durumcv. PBW114/Ae. tauschiiacc. pau14195//4*T. aestivumcv. WH542 revealed monogenic dominant inheritance for both the traits. The leaf rust resistance and the non-glaucousness gene were tentatively namedLrTandIwT, respectively. Leaf rust resistance gene exhibited all stage resistance. SSR markersXbarc124, Xgdm5, Xgdm35, Xcfd51and EST-derived markersXcau96andXte6on chromosome 2DS were linked with both genes. Chromosomal assignments of the genes were confirmed by testing linked SSR markers on Chinese Spring nulli-tetrasomics lines. SSR markersXcau96(1.6 cM) andXbarc124(0.6 cM) flankedLrTandXgdm35(4.1 cM) andXte6(2.5 cM) flanked non-glaucousness gene.LrTandIwTshowed a recombination distance of 3.4 cM. Hence,IwTcan be used as an easy to score morphological marker ofLrTduring its transfer to other glaucous backgrounds.
A WARTIME STAMPEDE: RENEWING A SOCIAL CONTRACT AFTER THE GREAT TUNNEL DISASTER OF CHONGQING
Authors: Chan Ying-kit
Published: January 2017

Although the Second Sino-Japanese War (the “War”) ended many decades ago, hostilities between China and Japan are still raw in the memory of many Chinese people, even though most of them did not directly experience the War. In particular, the Great Bombing of Chongqing—the indiscriminate, sustained bombing of the Nationalist provisional capital by Japanese warplanes from 1938 to 1943—has been retrieved from the archives as a significant event. Subsumed under the narrative of the Great Bombing, Chongqing's Great Tunnel Disaster (the “Disaster”), following a prolonged Japanese air raid on June 5, 1941, resulted in some of Nationalist China's heaviest civilian casualties. This article discusses the Disaster in detail, suggesting that at the time, it was viewed more as a human-induced “stampede” than as a Japanese “war atrocity” when the Chinese public took to the press and condemned the Nationalist government for its inability to prevent, manage, and mitigate the Disaster's effects. Chinese civilians were attempting to renew and revise a traditional social contract of disaster, according to which the state was responsible for providing adequate relief to victims, by accusing the Nationalist government of callousness, incompetence, and negligence.
Mickey Mouse Muzak: Shaping Experience Musically at Walt Disney World
Authors: CAMP GREGORY
Published: January 2017

The academic assessment of the products of the Walt Disney Company is usually highly negative, drawing out their sexist, racist, and mercenary factors. Although such views are not easily denied, their strong ideology often hides how Disney texts actually operate and how their audiences interact with them. This article explores how recorded music is used in the Disney theme parks to condition audience response, finding a middle ground between an ideological view, exploring the part music plays in social control, and a hermeneutic view, seeing how music functions in articulating and enhancing the experiences in which Disney's guests participate. Disney's Imagineers draw on the language of film music to create a wide variety of narrative musical spaces that give guests the impression that they navigate through these carefully staged narratives as protagonists. Film-musicological models show that guests are encouraged to feel that they control the respective spaces, although filtering the model through critical theory will demonstrate that the spaces can actually be seen as controlling them. While critical theory and structuralist hermeneutics might seem at first like strange bedfellows, analyses of both the narratives themselves and of their social effects can usefully reflect each other, together providing a more nuanced view of Walt Disney World's experiential texts than has been presented either in the academy or by Disney itself.
Evolution of body size in anteaters and sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa): phylogeny, metabolism, diet and substrate preferences
Authors: Toledo N. , Bargo M.S. , Vizcaíno S.F. , De Iuliis G. , Pujos F.
Published: January 2017

Pilosa include anteaters (Vermilingua) and sloths (Folivora). Modern tree sloths are represented by two genera,BradypusandCholoepus(both around 4–6 kg), whereas the fossil record is very diverse, with approximately 90 genera ranging in age from the Oligocene to the early Holocene. Fossil sloths include four main clades, Megalonychidae, Megatheriidae, Nothrotheriidae, and Mylodontidae, ranging in size from tens of kilograms to several tons. Modern Vermilingua are represented by three genera,Cyclopes,TamanduaandMyrmecophaga, with a size range from 0.25 kg to about 30 kg, and their fossil record is scarce and fragmentary. The dependence of the body size on phylogenetic pattern of Pilosa is analysed here, according to current cladistic hypotheses. Orthonormal decomposition analysis and Abouheif C-mean were performed. Statistics were significantly different from the null-hypothesis, supporting the hypothesis that body size variation correlates with the phylogenetic pattern. Most of the correlation is concentrated within Vermilingua, and less within Mylodontidae, Megatheriidae, Nothrotheriidae and Megalonychidae. Influence of basal metabolic rate (BMR), dietary habits and substrate preference is discussed. In anteaters, specialised insectivory is proposed as the primary constraint on body size evolution. In the case of sloths, mylodontids, megatheriids and nothrotheriids show increasing body size through time; whereas megalonychids retain a wider diversity of sizes. Interplay between BMR and dietary habits appears to be the main factor in shaping evolution of sloth body size.
Mandible morphology and diet of the South American extinct metatherian predators (Mammalia, Metatheria, Sparassodonta)
Authors: Echarri Sebastian , Ercoli Marcos D. , Amelia Chemisquy M. , Turazzini Guillermo , Prevosti Francisco J.
Published: January 2017

Sparassodonta is a diverse group of extinct metatherian predators that include forms with diets ranging from omnivores to hypercarnivores, including potential bone-crushers and sabre-tooth specialised species. Most of the previous dietary studies on the group were based on qualitative approaches or dental morphometric indexes and/or bite force estimations. In this study, we explore the evolution of mandible shape and diet of Sparassodonta in a comparative phylogenetic framework, using geometric morphometric tools and allometric and discriminant analyses. We analysed the mandible shape of 142 extant species of marsupials and placental carnivores, and 15 fossil sparassodont species. We found that the relationship between shape and size of the mandible is strongly structured by phylogeny, where the more derived borhyaenoids tend to possess stronger and larger mandibles. Derived borhyaenoid sparassodonts and basal borhyaenoids were classified as hypercarnivores (with short and robust mandibular body). Hathliacynid were classified as mesocarnivores or as hypercarnivores, but with lower probabilities and less specialised morphologies (with a long and slender mandible). Although dental morphology suggests that most of the species of Sparassodonta would have been hypercarnivores, the robustness of the mandible seems to be informative regarding the prey size and degree of specialisation. The relationship between mandibular size and shape, and talonid/trigonid relative size, is strongly influenced by the phylogenetic legacy, suggesting that ecological factors could have influenced the evolution of the sparassodonts.
Hind limb morphometry of terror birds (Aves, Cariamiformes, Phorusrhacidae): functional implications for substrate preferences and locomotor lifestyle
Authors: Degrange Federico J.
Published: January 2017

The hind limbs of birds have long been considered a key feature in the conquest of different environments. However, the high level of morphological diversity encountered complicates the foundation of a good theoretical correlation between morphology, locomotor habits and substrate preference and this, in turn, complicates palaeobiological interpretations. Phorusrhacids (Aves, Cariamiformes) are a good example, since they have been unequivocally categorised as terrestrial birds due to their reduced forelimbs; and as apex predators with the ability to pursue prey based only on their hind limb morphology. Multivariate techniques (PCA and discriminant analysis), based on traditional metrics and geomorphometrics of the hind limb and pelvis, were applied in order to explore terrestriality and cursoriality in phorusrhacids. Although several groups of birds could be identified, when looking solely at hind limb metrics, some phorusrhacids appear to be associated with walking birds, while others are associated with cursorial birds. However, the pelvis separates cursorial birds and phorusrhacids from walking and wading birds. This scenario is complicated further by a lack of clear definition of the different locomotor modes and substrate preferences in extant birds, and this makes it difficult to confirm phorusrhacid cursoriality based solely on morphometrics. However, some qualitative features of the pelvis and foot make the picture a little clearer. To study limb adaptations in fossil birds, a more holistic study, with an emphasis on qualitative features of the whole posterior locomotor module, is necessary, since morphometrics leaves some issues unresolved. A comparison with the wings is also needed, in order to make a more complete analysis of locomotor behaviour.
Miniaturized bandpass filter using dual-mode hexagonal loop resonator
Authors: Song Kaijun , Zhu Yu , Zhao Minghua , Fan Maoyu , Fan Yong
Published: January 2017

A novel miniaturized dual-mode bandpass filter (BPF) using hexagonal loop resonator is presented. In order to reduce the circuit size, capacitive loading structure is applied to enhance the self-capacitance and electrical length of the hexagonal loop resonator. The frequency selectivity and out-of-band rejection of the proposed BPF can be improved by the two inherent transmission zeros in each side of the passband. Compared with the conventional hexagonal loop resonator without capacitive loading structure, the size of the proposed resonator is reduced by 46.6%. The simulated and measured results are presented and show good agreement.
Discussion Group Composition and Deliberation Experience
Authors: Sumaktoyo Nathanael Gratias , Nickerson David W. , Keane Michael J.
Published: January 2017

In order to encouragee broad participation in deliberative forums, it is important to understand how people from politically less powerful groups perceive the deliberative experience and how discussion group composition affects their experiences. Using data from 27 deliberative polls from 2004, we examine how four individual characteristics (sex, age, race, and education) and randomly assigned small group composition predict participants’ attitudes about the deliberative experience. We find evidence that women, young people, non-whites, and those without college degree generally evaluate the experience positively, but find no evidence for the argument that including more people from these groups would lead to more positive deliberation experience for participants from the groups. That is, there is no interaction between minority status and group composition in predicting participants’ evaluation of the deliberation process.
“Information Spillovers: Another Look at Experimental Estimates of Legislator Responsiveness”—CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Coppock Alexander
Published: January 2017

In Coppock (2014), I presented a reanalysis of Butler and Nickerson (2011), a field experiment that tested the effects of providing state legislators district-level public opinion data on their roll call votes for a bill. The reanalysis employed a method introduced by Bowers et al. (2013) to conclude that the Butler and Nickerson estimate of the total effect of treatment was biased downward; when spillovers were accounted for, the total effect of treatment was estimated to be nearly twice as large.
Die individuell präferierte Bezugsnormorientierung und das Selbstkonzept von Grundschulkindern im Fach Mathematik
Authors: Lohbeck Annette
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Zur Beurteilung von Leistungen können drei Bezugsnormen (BNO) angewendet werden: die individuelle (IBNO), soziale (SBNO) und kriteriale BNO (KBNO). Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, (1) bei 410 Viertklässlerinnen und Viertklässlern die drei BNO faktorenanalytisch zu konzeptualisieren, (2) die Vorhersagbarkeit des mathematischen Selbstkonzepts (MSK) und der Mathematiknoten (MN) durch die drei BNO zu erfassen und (3) Mediatoreffekte des MSKs sowie Interaktionseffekte für die SBNO auf Schüler- und Klassenebene (SBNO_K) mit der Klassendurchschnittsleistung (KL) zu überprüfen. Faktorenanalysen zeigten, dass sich ein Drei-Faktoren-Modell am besten an die Daten anpasst. Positive Korrelationen lagen zwischen allen Konstrukten und den MN vor. Mehrebenen-Pfadanalysen zeigten positive Pfade von der IBNO und KBNO auf das MSK und vom MSK auf die MN sowie von der SBNO auf die MN, jedoch negative Pfade von der KL und der SBNO_K auf die MN. Das MSK erwies sich als Mediator zwischen der IBNO und den MN sowie zwischen der KBNO und den MN.
Direct visualization of hydrogen absorption dynamics in individual palladium nanoparticles
Authors: Narayan Tarun C. , Hayee Fariah , Baldi Andrea , Leen Koh Ai , Sinclair Robert , Dionne Jennifer A.
Published: January 2017

Many energy storage materials undergo large volume changes during charging and discharging. The resulting stresses often lead to defect formation in the bulk, but less so in nanosized systems. Here, we capture in real time the mechanism of one such transformation—the hydrogenation of single-crystalline palladium nanocubes from 15 to 80 nm—to better understand the reason for this durability. First, using environmental scanning transmission electron microscopy, we monitor the hydrogen absorption process in real time with 3 nm resolution. Then, using dark-field imaging, we structurally examine the reaction intermediates with 1 nm resolution. The reaction proceeds through nucleation and growth of the new phase in corners of the nanocubes. As the hydrogenated phase propagates across the particles, portions of the lattice misorient by 1.5%, diminishing crystal quality. Once transformed, all the particles explored return to a pristine state. The nanoparticles’ ability to remove crystallographic imperfections renders them more durable than their bulk counterparts.
Context-dependent role for chromatin remodeling component PBRM1/BAF180 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Murakami A , Wang L , Kalhorn S , Schraml P , Rathmell W K , Tan A C , Nemenoff R , Stenmark K , Jiang B-H , Reyland M E , Heasley L , Hu C-J
Published: January 2017

A subset of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumors exhibit a HIF1A gene mutation, yielding two ccRCC tumor types, H1H2 type expressing both HIF1α and HIF2α, and H2 type expressing HIF2α, but not functional HIF1α protein. However, it is unclear how the H1H2 type ccRCC tumors escape HIF1’s tumor-suppressive activity. The polybromo-1 (PBRM1) gene coding for the BAF180 protein, a component of the SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex, is inactivated in 40% ccRCCs, the function and mechanism of BAF180 mutation is unknown. Our previous study indicates that BAF180-containing SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex is a co-activator for transcription factor HIF to induce HIF target genes. Thus, our questions are if BAF180 is involved in HIF-mediated hypoxia response and if PBRM1/BAF180 mutation has any association with the HIF1A retention in H1H2 type ccRCC. We report here that BAF180 is mutated in H1H2 ccRCC cell lines and tumors, and BAF180 re-expression in H1H2 ccRCC cell lines reduced cell proliferation/survival, indicating that BAF180 has tumor-suppressive role in these cells. However, BAF180 is expressed in HIF1-deficient H2 ccRCC cell lines and tumors, and BAF180 knockdown in H2 type ccRCC cell lines reduced cell proliferation/survival, indicating that BAF180 has tumor-promoting activity in these cells. In addition, our data show that BAF180 functions as co-activator for HIF1- and HIF2-mediated transcriptional response, and BAF180’s tumor-suppressive and -promoting activity in ccRCC cell lines depends on co-expression of HIF1 and HIF2, respectively. Thus, our studies reveal that BAF180 function in ccRCC is context dependent, and that mutation of PBRM1/BAF180 serves as an alternative strategy for ccRCC tumors to reduce HIF1 tumor-suppressive activity in H1H2 ccRCC tumors. Our studies define distinct functional subgroups of ccRCCs based on expression of BAF180, and suggest that BAF180 inhibition may be a novel therapeutic target for patients with H2, but not H1H2, ccRCC tumors.
Stable isotopes in the atmospheric marine boundary layer water vapour over the Atlantic Ocean, 2012–2015
Authors: Benetti Marion , Steen-Larsen Hans Christian , Reverdin Gilles , Sveinbjörnsdóttir Árný Erla , Aloisi Giovanni , Berkelhammer Max B. , Bourlès Bernard , Bourras Denis , de Coetlogon Gaëlle , Cosgrove Ann , Faber Anne-Katrine , Grelet Jacques , Hansen Steffen Bo , Johnson Rod , Legoff Hervé , Martin Nicolas , Peters Andrew J. , Popp Trevor James , Reynaud Thierry , Winther Malte
Published: January 2017

The water vapour isotopic composition (1H216O, H218O and 1H2H16O) of the Atlantic marine boundary layer has been measured from 5 research vessels between 2012 and 2015. Using laser spectroscopy analysers, measurements have been carried out continuously on samples collected 10–20 meter above sea level. All the datasets have been carefully calibrated against the international VSMOW-SLAP scale following the same protocol to build a homogeneous dataset covering the Atlantic Ocean between 4°S to 63°N. In addition, standard meteorological variables have been measured continuously, including sea surface temperatures using calibrated Thermo-Salinograph for most cruises. All calibrated observations are provided with 15-minute resolution. We also provide 6-hourly data to allow easier comparisons with simulations from the isotope-enabled Global Circulation Models. In addition, backwards trajectories from the HYSPLIT model are supplied every 6-hours for the position of our measurements.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence surveys of ebolavirus infection
Authors: Bower Hilary , Glynn Judith R.
Published: January 2017

Asymptomatic ebolavirus infection could greatly influence transmission dynamics, but there is little consensus on how frequently it occurs or even if it exists. This paper summarises the available evidence on seroprevalence of Ebola, Sudan and Bundibugyo virus IgG in people without known ebolavirus disease. Through systematic review, we identified 51 studies with seroprevalence results in sera collected from 1961 to 2016. We tabulated findings by study population, contact, assay, antigen and positivity threshold used, and present seroprevalence point estimates and 95% confidence intervals. We classified sampled populations in three groups: those with household or known case-contact; those living in outbreak or epidemic areas but without reported case-contact; and those living in areas with no recorded cases of ebolavirus disease. We performed meta-analysis only in the known case-contact group since this is the only group with comparable exposures between studies. Eight contact studies fitted our inclusion criteria, giving an overall estimate of seroprevalence in contacts with no reported symptoms of 3.3% (95% CI 2.4–4.4, P<0.001), but with substantial heterogeneity.
Protein crystal nucleation in pores
Authors: Nanev Christo N. , Saridakis Emmanuel , Chayen Naomi E.
Published: January 2017

The most powerful method for protein structure determination is X-ray crystallography which relies on the availability of high quality crystals. Obtaining protein crystals is a major bottleneck, and inducing their nucleation is of crucial importance in this field. An effective method to form crystals is to introduce nucleation-inducing heterologous materials into the crystallization solution. Porous materials are exceptionally effective at inducing nucleation. It is shown here that a combined diffusion-adsorption effect can increase protein concentration inside pores, which enables crystal nucleation even under conditions where heterogeneous nucleation on flat surfaces is absent. Provided the pore is sufficiently narrow, protein molecules approach its walls and adsorb more frequently than they can escape. The decrease in the nucleation energy barrier is calculated, exhibiting its quantitative dependence on the confinement space and the energy of interaction with the pore walls. These results provide a detailed explanation of the effectiveness of porous materials for nucleation of protein crystals, and will be useful for optimal design of such materials.
Novel strain properties distinguishing sporadic prion diseases sharing prion protein genotype and prion type
Authors: Cracco Laura , Notari Silvio , Cali Ignazio , Sy Man-Sun , Chen Shu G. , Cohen Mark L. , Ghetti Bernardino , Appleby Brian S. , Zou Wen-Quan , Caughey Byron , Safar Jiri G. , Gambetti Pierluigi
Published: January 2017

In most human sporadic prion diseases the phenotype is consistently associated with specific pairings of the genotype at codon 129 of the prion protein gene and conformational properties of the scrapie PrP (PrPSc) grossly identified types 1 and 2. This association suggests that the 129 genotype favours the selection of a distinct strain that in turn determines the phenotype. However, this mechanism cannot play a role in the phenotype determination of sporadic fatal insomnia (sFI) and a subtype of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) identified as sCJDMM2, which share 129 MM genotype and PrPSc type 2 but are associated with quite distinct phenotypes. Our detailed comparative study of the PrPSc conformers has revealed major differences between the two diseases, which preferentially involve the PrPSc component that is sensitive to digestion with proteases (senPrPSc) and to a lesser extent the resistant component (resPrPSc). We conclude that these variations are consistent with two distinct strains in sFI and sCJDMM2, and that the rarer sFI is the result of a variant strain selection pathway that might be favoured by a different brain site of initial PrPSc formation in the two diseases.
The autofluorescence characteristics of bacterial intracellular and extracellular substances during the operation of anammox reactor
Authors: Hou Xiaolin , Liu Sitong , Feng Ying
Published: January 2017

Anammox is a cost-effective process to treat nitrogenous wastewater. In this work, excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize the intracellular and extracellular substances of anammox sludge during reactor operation of 276 days. Four main fluorophores were identified from the intracellular substances. Two main protein-like fluorophores were identified from the extracellular substances. Correlation analysis revealed that intracellular 420 peak and humic-like peak had strong correlation with nitrogen removal rate. The two intracellular protein-like peaks had high correlation with MLVSS and MLVSS growth rate. Correlation analysis between different fluorophores discovered that the two peaks in each of these three groups—two intracellular protein-like peaks, two humic acid-like peaks and the two extracellular protein-like peaks had strong intercorrelation, which gave evidence of their homology. A specific method for fluorescence monitoring of anammox reactor were put forward, which included typical fluorescence indexes and their possible values for different operation phases.
Formate simultaneously reduces oxidase activity and enhances respiration in Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Kassem Issmat I. , Candelero-Rueda Rosario A. , Esseili Kawthar A. , Rajashekara Gireesh
Published: January 2017

The foodborne microaerophilic pathogen, Campylobacter jejuni, possesses a periplasmic formate dehydrogenase and two terminal oxidases, which serve to metabolize formate and facilitate the use of oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor, respectively. Formate, a primary energy source for C. jejuni, inhibits oxidase activity in other bacteria. Here, we hypothesized that formate might affect both energy metabolism and microaerobic survival in C. jejuni. Subsequently, we showed that C. jejuni 81–176 (wildtype) exhibited enhanced chemoattraction to and respiration of formate in comparison to other organic acids. Formate also significantly increased C. jejuni’s growth, motility, and biofilm formation under microaerobic (5% O2) conditions. However, formate reduced oxidase activity under microaerobic conditions as well as aerotolerance and biofilm formation under ambient oxygen conditions. The expression of genes encoding the ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) and proteins that facilitate the use of alternative electron acceptors generally increased in the presence of formate. Taken together, formate might play a role in optimizing C. jejuni’s adaptation to the oxygen-limited gastrointestinal tract of the host. By affecting oxidase activity, formate possibly facilitates shuttling electrons to alternative acceptors, while likely conserving limited oxygen concentrations for other essential functions such as DNA synthesis via RNR which is required for C. jejuni’s growth.
Cr incorporated phase transformation in Y2O3 under ion irradiation
Authors: Li N. , Yadav S. K. , Xu Y. , Aguiar J. A. , Baldwin J. K. , Wang Y. Q. , Luo H. M. , Misra A. , Uberuaga B. P.
Published: January 2017

Under irradiation, chemical species can redistribute in ways not expected from equilibrium behavior. In oxide-dispersed ferritic alloys, the phenomenon of irradiation-induced Cr redistribution at the metal/oxide interfaces has drawn recent attention. Here, the thermal and irradiation stability of the FeCr/Y2O3 interface has been systematically studied. Trilayer thin films of 90 nm Fe - 20 at.% Cr (1st layer)/100 nm Y2O3 (2nd layer)/135 nm Fe - 20 at.% Cr (3rd layer) were deposited on MgO substrates at 500 °C. After irradiation, Cr diffuses towards and enriches the FeCr/Y2O3 interface. Further, correlated with Cr redistributed into the oxide, an amorphous layer is generated at the interface. In the Y2O3 layer, the original cubic phase is observed to transform to the monoclinic phase after irradiation. Meanwhile, nanosized voids, with relatively larger size at interfaces, are also observed in the oxide layer. First-principles calculations reveal that Cr substitution of Y interstitials in Y2O3 containing excess Y interstitials is favored and the irradiation-induced monoclinic phase enhances this process. Our findings provide new insights that may aid in the development of irradiation resistant oxide-dispersed ferritic alloys.
Mechanisms of intrinsic resistance and acquired susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cystic fibrosis patients to temocillin, a revived antibiotic
Authors: Chalhoub Hussein , Pletzer Daniel , Weingart Helge , Braun Yvonne , Tunney Michael M. , Elborn J. Stuart , Rodriguez-Villalobos Hector , Plésiat Patrick , Kahl Barbara C. , Denis Olivier , Winterhalter Mathias , Tulkens Paul M. , Van Bambeke Françoise
Published: January 2017

The β-lactam antibiotic temocillin (6-α-methoxy-ticarcillin) shows stability to most extended spectrum β-lactamases, but is considered inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mutations in the MexAB-OprM efflux system, naturally occurring in cystic fibrosis (CF) isolates, have been previously shown to reverse this intrinsic resistance. In the present study, we measured temocillin activity in a large collection (n = 333) of P. aeruginosa CF isolates. 29% of the isolates had MICs ≤ 16 mg/L (proposed clinical breakpoint for temocillin). Mutations were observed in mexA or mexB in isolates for which temocillin MIC was ≤512 mg/L (nucleotide insertions or deletions, premature termination, tandem repeat, nonstop, and missense mutations). A correlation was observed between temocillin MICs and efflux rate of N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (MexAB-OprM fluorescent substrate) and extracellular exopolysaccharide abundance (contributing to a mucoid phenotype). OpdK or OpdF anion-specific porins expression decreased temocillin MIC by ~1 two-fold dilution only. Contrarily to the common assumption that temocillin is inactive on P. aeruginosa, we show here clinically-exploitable MICs on a non-negligible proportion of CF isolates, explained by a wide diversity of mutations in mexA and/or mexB. In a broader context, this work contributes to increase our understanding of MexAB-OprM functionality and help delineating how antibiotics interact with MexA and MexB.
A disrupted transsulphuration pathway results in accumulation of redox metabolites and induction of gametocytogenesis in malaria
Authors: Beri Divya , Balan Balu , Chaubey Shweta , Subramaniam Suraj , Surendra Bachu , Tatu Utpal
Published: January 2017

Intra-erythrocytic growth of malaria parasite is known to induce redox stress. In addition to haem degradation which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), the parasite is also thought to efflux redox active homocysteine. To understand the basis underlying accumulation of homocysteine, we have examined the transsulphuration (TS) pathway in the parasite, which is known to convert homocysteine to cysteine in higher eukaryotes. Our bioinformatic analysis revealed absence of key enzymes in the biosynthesis of cysteine namely cystathionine-β-synthase and cystathionine-γ-lyase in the parasite. Using mass spectrometry, we confirmed the absence of cystathionine, which is formed by enzymatic conversion of homocysteine thereby confirming truncation of TS pathway. We also quantitated levels of glutathione and homocysteine in infected erythrocytes and its spent medium. Our results showed increase in levels of these metabolites intracellularly and in culture supernatants. Our results provide a mechanistic basis for the long-known occurrence of hyperhomocysteinemia in malaria. Most importantly we find that homocysteine induces the transcription factor implicated in gametocytogenesis namely AP2-G and consequently triggers sexual stage conversion. We confirmed this observation both in vitro using Plasmodium falciparum cultures, and in vivo in the mouse model of malaria. Our study implicates homocysteine as a potential physiological trigger of gametocytogenesis.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter ABCA7 Regulates NKT Cell Development and Function by Controlling CD1d Expression and Lipid Raft Content
Authors: Nowyhed Heba N. , Chandra Shilpi , Kiosses William , Marcovecchio Paola , Andary Farah , Zhao Meng , Fitzgerald Michael L. , Kronenberg Mitchell , Hedrick Catherine C.
Published: January 2017

ABCA7 is an ABC transporter expressed on the plasma membrane, and actively exports phospholipid complexes from the cytoplasmic to the exocytoplasmic leaflet of membranes. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are a subpopulation of T lymphocytes that recognize glycolipid antigens in the context of CD1d-mediated antigen presentation. In this study, we demonstrate that ABCA7 regulates the development of NKT cells in a cell-extrinsic manner. We found that inAbca7−/−mice there is reduced expression of CD1d accompanied by an alteration in lipid raft content on the plasma membrane of thymocytes and antigen presenting cells. Together, these alterations caused by absence of ABCA7 negatively affect NKT cell development and function.
Platelet, monocyte and neutrophil activation and glucose tolerance in South African Mixed Ancestry individuals
Authors: Davison Glenda M. , Nkambule Bongani B. , Mkandla Zibusiso , Hon Gloudina M. , Kengne Andre P. , Erasmus Rajiv T. , Matsha Tandi E.
Published: January 2017

Platelet activation has been described in patients with chronic inflammation, however in type 2 diabetes mellitus it remains controversial. We compared levels of platelet leucocyte aggregates, monocyte and granulocyte activation across glucose tolerance statuses in mixed ancestry South Africans. Individuals (206) were recruited from Bellville-South, Cape Town, and included 66% with normal glucose tolerance, 18.7% pre-diabetes, 8.7% screen-detected diabetes and 6.3% known diabetes. Monocyte and neutrophil activation were measured by calculating the percentage of cells expressing CD142 and CD69 while platelet monocyte aggregates were defined as CD14++ CD42b+ events and platelet neutrophil aggregates as CD16++ CD42b+ events. The percentage of monocytes and neutrophils expressing CD69 and CD142 was significantly higher in known diabetes and prediabetes, but, lowest in screen-detected diabetes (both p ≤ 0.016). The pattern was similar for platelet monocyte and neutrophil aggregates (both p ≤ 0.003). In robust linear regressions adjusted for age and gender, known diabetes was significantly and positively associated with the percentage of monocytes expressing CD69 [beta 11.06 (p = 0.016)] and CD42b (PMAs) [19.51 (0.003)] as well as the percentage of neutrophils expressing CD69 [14.19 (<0.0001)] and CD42b [17.7 (0.001)]. We conclude that monitoring platelet activation in diagnosed diabetic patients may have a role in the management and risk stratification.
Shifts in the fluorescence lifetime of EGFP during bacterial phagocytosis measured by phase-sensitive flow cytometry
Authors: Li Wenyan , Houston Kevin D. , Houston Jessica P.
Published: January 2017

Phase-sensitive flow cytometry (PSFC) is a technique in which fluorescence excited state decay times are measured as fluorescently labeled cells rapidly transit a finely focused, frequency-modulated laser beam. With PSFC the fluorescence lifetime is taken as a cytometric parameter to differentiate intracellular events that are challenging to distinguish with standard flow cytometry. For example PSFC can report changes in protein conformation, expression, interactions, and movement, as well as differences in intracellular microenvironments. This contribution focuses on the latter case by taking PSFC measurements of macrophage cells when inoculated with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressingE. coli. During progressive internalization of EGFP-E. coli, fluorescence lifetimes were acquired and compared to control groups. It was hypothesized that fluorescence lifetimes would correlate well with phagocytosis because phagosomes become acidified and the average fluorescence lifetime of EGFP is known to be affected by pH. We confirmed that average EGFP lifetimes consistently decreased (3 to 2 ns) with inoculation time. The broad significance of this work is the demonstration of how high-throughput fluorescence lifetime measurements correlate well to changes that are not easily tracked by intensity-only cytometry, which is affected by heterogeneous protein expression, cell-to-cell differences in phagosome formation, and number of bacterium engulfed.
Characterization of two polyvalent phages infecting Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Hamdi Sana , Rousseau Geneviève M. , Labrie Simon J. , Tremblay Denise M. , Kourda Rim Saïed , Ben Slama Karim , Moineau Sylvain
Published: January 2017

Bacteriophages display remarkable genetic diversity and host specificity. In this study, we explore phages infecting bacterial strains of the Enterobacteriaceae family because of their ability to infect related but distinct hosts. We isolated and characterized two novel virulent phages, SH6 and SH7, using a strain of Shigella flexneri as host bacterium. Morphological and genomic analyses revealed that phage SH6 belongs to the T1virus genus of the Siphoviridae family. Conversely, phage SH7 was classified in the T4virus genus of the Myoviridae family. Phage SH6 had a short latent period of 16 min and a burst size of 103 ± 16 PFU/infected cell while the phage SH7 latent period was 23 min with a much lower burst size of 26 ± 5 PFU/infected cell. Moreover, phage SH6 was sensitive to acidic conditions (pH < 5) while phage SH7 was stable from pH 3 to 11 for 1 hour. Of the 35 bacterial strains tested, SH6 infected its S. flexneri host strain and 8 strains of E. coli. Phage SH7 lysed additionally strains of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella Paratyphi, and Shigella dysenteriae. The broader host ranges of these two phages as well as their microbiological properties suggest that they may be useful for controlling bacterial populations.
Multi-response optimization of Artemia hatching process using split-split-plot design based response surface methodology
Authors: Arun V. V. , Saharan Neelam , Ramasubramanian V. , Babitha Rani A. M. , Salin K. R. , Sontakke Ravindra , Haridas Harsha , Pazhayamadom Deepak George
Published: January 2017

A novel method, BBD-SSPD is proposed by the combination of Box-Behnken Design (BBD) and Split-Split Plot Design (SSPD) which would ensure minimum number of experimental runs, leading to economical utilization in multi- factorial experiments. The brine shrimp Artemia was tested to study the combined effects of photoperiod, temperature and salinity, each with three levels, on the hatching percentage and hatching time of their cysts. The BBD was employed to select 13 treatment combinations out of the 27 possible combinations that were grouped in an SSPD arrangement. Multiple responses were optimized simultaneously using Derringer’s desirability function. Photoperiod and temperature as well as temperature-salinity interaction were found to significantly affect the hatching percentage of Artemia, while the hatching time was significantly influenced by photoperiod and temperature, and their interaction. The optimum conditions were 23 h photoperiod, 29 °C temperature and 28 ppt salinity resulting in 96.8% hatching in 18.94 h. In order to verify the results obtained from BBD-SSPD experiment, the experiment was repeated preserving the same set up. Results of verification experiment were found to be similar to experiment originally conducted. It is expected that this method would be suitable to optimize the hatching process of animal eggs.