bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase change and ferroelectric nature of microwave‐heated lead cobalt titanate nanoparticles prepared by sol‐gel method
Authors: Suresh Kumar Nagasamudram , Padma Suvarna Reniguntla , Chandra Babu Naidu Kadiyala
Published: July 2018

The lead cobalt titanate (PCT) nanoparticles with varying cobalt concentration from 0.2 to 0.8 were synthesized via sol‐gel technique. Furthermore, these samples were undergone microwave heat treatment at 1023 K for ¾ hours. The powder diffraction study established the structural transformation of PCT nanoparticles from tetragonal (T) to rhombohedral (R) phases at higher cobalt contents. The surface morphology was examined by transmission electron microscope. Moreover, the ferroelectric property was elucidated by means of polarization versus electric field loop with varying temperature. The results revealed that 0.2, 0.6, and 0.8 compositions established the real ferroelectric behavior, whereas 0.4 composition attributed the banana shape hysteresis loop revealing high lossy dielectric material.
Metastatic sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma and tumour‐related sarcoid reaction
Authors: De Gregorio Michael , Brett Andrew J.
Published: July 2018

The association between malignancy and tumour‐related sarcoid reaction is well documented, characterised by non‐caseating granulomatous disease in haematological and solid malignancies. Its occurrence in colon cancer is rare and of unclear clinical significance. Herein, we present a case report of a 32‐year‐old woman diagnosed with concurrent metastatic sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma and pulmonary granulomatous disease suggestive of a tumour‐related sarcoid reaction.
Performance of resin composite restorations in the primary dentition: a retrospective university‐based study
Authors: Ribeiro Jéssica Fogliato , Forgerini Tamires Vercelino , Pedrotti Djessica , Rocha Rachel de Oliveira , Ardenghi Thiago Machado , Soares Fabio Zovico Maxnuck , Lenzi Tathiane Larissa
Published: July 2018

Background

Limited data is available on variables influencing the survival of composite restorations in primary teeth.

Aim

This retrospective university‐based study assessed the survival and risk factors associated with failures of resin composite restorations performed in primary teeth.

Design

The sample was composed of 961 restorations from records of 337 patients (178 girls and 159 boys) attended in a university dental clinic. The restorations’ longevity up to 48 months of follow‐up was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier survival test. Multivariate Cox regression analysis with shared frailty was used to evaluate the factors associated with failures (P < 0.05).

Results

Mean survival time was 41.5 months (95% CI: 39.7–43.3), with 70.6% of the restorations surviving after 48 months of evaluation. The overall annual failure rate up to 48 months follow‐up was 8.3%. Restorations placed in lower arch had lower survival rate than those in upper arch (HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.02–3.28). Restorations involving two or more surfaces had more risk of failure than restorations placed in cavities involving only one surface (HR: 2.55 95% CI: 1.34‐ 4.83). Girls had less risk of failure in their restorations (HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19–0.96).

Conclusion

Individual and dental variables such as gender, arch type and number of restored surfaces were associated with failure of composite restorations performed in children under daily life clinical environment.
Cognitive behaviour therapy for anxious paediatric dental patients: a systematic review
Authors: Gomes Heloisa Sousa , Viana Karolline Alves , Batista Aline Carvalho , Costa Luciane Rezende , Hosey Marie Therese , Newton Tim
Published: July 2018

Background

There is a paucity of evidence about cognitive behaviour therapy in the management of dentally anxious children.

Aim

To systematically review evidence of the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy for children with dental anxiety or dental phobia.

Design

Clinical trial registries, grey literature, and electronic databases, including The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS/BBO, and PsycINFO, were searched (April 2018). The reference lists of relevant studies were hand‐searched. Randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effects of cognitive behaviour therapy on dental anxiety or on acceptance of dental treatment in dental patients up to 18 years were included. Two trained and calibrated reviewers performed the study selection and risk of bias assessment. The quality of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

Results

Six studies with a total of 269 patients, aged 41 months to 18 years, were included. Cognitive behaviour therapy decreased level of anxiety compared to control groups and improved cooperation/behaviour, although the quality of the evidence was low.

Conclusions

Cognitive behaviour therapy produces better anxiety reduction than diverse behavioural management techniques but the evidence was of low quality and further studies in children are needed.
Prevalence of white coat and masked hypertension in Africa: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Noubiap Jean Jacques , Nansseu Jobert Richie , Nkeck Jan René , Nyaga Ulrich Flore , Bigna Jean Joel
Published: July 2018

Data on masked hypertension (MH) and white‐coat hypertension (WCH) in African populations are needed to estimate the true prevalence of hypertension in these populations because they have the highest burden of the disease. We conducted the first systematic review and meta‐analysis that summarized available data on the prevalence of WCH and MH in Africa. We searched PubMed and Scopus to identify all the articles published on MH and WCH in populations living in Africa from inception to November 30, 2017. We reviewed each study for methodological quality. A random‐effects model was used to estimate the prevalence of WCH and MH across studies. Eleven studies were included, all having a low‐risk of bias. The prevalence of masked hypertension was 11% (95% CI: 4.7‐19.3; 10 studies) in a pooled sample of 7789 individuals. The prevalence of WCH was 14.8% (95% CI: 9.4‐21.1; 8 studies) in a pooled sample of 4451 individuals. There was no difference on the prevalence of WCH and MH between studies in which participants were recruited from the community and the hospital. The prevalence of MH was higher in urban areas compared to rural ones; there was no difference for WCH. WHC and MH seem to be frequent in African populations, suggesting the importance of out‐of‐clinic BP measurement in the diagnosis and management of patients with hypertension in Africa, especially in urban areas for MH.
Noninvasive techniques for detection of foreign bodies in food: A review
Authors: Mohd Khairi Mohd Taufiq , Ibrahim Sallehuddin , Md Yunus Mohd Amri , Faramarzi Mahdi
Published: July 2018

Foreign body in food is a matter of concern in food industry as it determines the safety and quality of the product. This issue leads to anxiety as it is hazardous if it is accidentally being consumed. Therefore, foreign body detection is urgently needed. Noninvasive techniques are attractive as they can be used to evaluate without altering the originality of the food products in terms of ingredient and structure. With the growing interest in this subject, this article reviews the development of noninvasive techniques including X‐ray, thermal imaging, near‐infrared spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, ultrasonic, and terahertz. The principle and application of each technique are elaborated. The performances and limitations from previous studies in several types of food applications are analyzed. In addition, future trends and challenges encountered with these techniques are highlighted. It is envisaged that the information gathered in this article will be a valuable source of information for researchers working in this topic.

Practical applications

The existence of foreign bodies in food causes degradation of their quality and safety. The implementation of the noninvasive technique as a monitoring tool have received an encouraging response from the manufacturers which endeavors to maintain their credibility and reputation. This review serves to provide an up‐to‐date development on the noninvasive technique for detecting foreign bodies which is useful for academicians and researchers especially from the food processing industries.
Methodology to quantify clogging coefficients for grated inlets. Application to SANT MARTI catchment (Barcelona)
Authors: Gómez M. , Parés J. , Russo B. , Martínez‐Gomariz E.
Published: July 2018

Within the drainage system of a city, the set of inlets is in charge of taking the runoff produced by local storms to the stormwater/sewer. In the drainage system design the selection of appropriate inlet models and their location is one of the fundamental aspects. The hydraulics of these inlets has received great attention within the last years; however, few inlet makers provide the hydraulic capacity of their products. In addition, these data usually consider clean water, while in reality, numerous inlets can be either totally or partially clogged. This aspect should be kept in mind within the design process. In this paper, a methodology to consider the hydraulic effects of clogging phenomena is presented. The work started from a visual inspection of the grated inlets throughout the urban catchment of Sant Martí, Barcelona, as a means of identifying clogging patterns, their repetitive forms and their associated frequency. After that, clogged patterns were reproduced in laboratory testing of typical inlets types, thereby obtaining the real quantity of water that could be captured by each of them. It was shown that the same expression employed to describe the efficiency of clean inlets can be used to assess the efficiency of those clogged. A reduction factor in terms of hydraulic capacity and related to each clogging pattern has been defined for use in hydraulic studies of runoff along streets. Finally, the paper compares the obtained results in terms of clogging coefficient with another experimental campaign carried out in other catchment of the city.
Cone‐beam computed tomographic and histological investigation of regenerative endodontic procedure in an immature mandibular second premolar with chronic apical abscess
Authors: Shetty Heeresh , Shetty Shishir , Kakade Adesh , Desai Rajiv , Zhang Cheng F. , Neelakantan Prasanna
Published: July 2018

Aim

The aim of the present study was to investigate the tissue generated after regenerative endodontic procedure (REP) in the root canal space of an immature mandibular second premolar with pulp necrosis and chronic apical abscess using cone‐beam computed tomographic (CBCT) and histological methods.

Methods

REP was performed in an immature mandibular second premolar. At the 3‐year follow up, CBCT scans were taken to evaluate the outcome of treatment. As the tooth was not restorable to function, it was extracted and processed for histological examination.

Results

CBCT showed a reduction in size of the periradicular radiolucency, with a marginal increase in root length. Apical closure and thickening of the root canal walls were apparent. Histologically, the root canal space was filled with minimally‐inflamed fibrous connective tissue. Some cementum‐like mineralized connective tissue was evident on the internal canal walls. The apical third showed cementum‐like deposits at the apex and the outer canal walls, without dentin formation.

Conclusions

The present study of a structurally‐failed tooth with prior REP demonstrates that the tissue formed within the root canal space was fibrous connective tissue with cementum‐like deposition in the canal space. No evidence of dentin‐ or pulp‐like tissue was found.
Musculotendon excursion potential, tendon slack and muscle fibre length: the interaction of the canine gastrocnemius muscle and tendon
Authors: Dries B. , Vanwanseele B. , Jonkers I. , Dingemanse W. , Vander Sloten J. , Villamonte‐Chevalier A. , Van der Vekens E. , Polis I. , Vanderperren K. , Van Bree H. , Gielen I.
Published: July 2018

Although the form‐function relation of muscles and tendons has been studied extensively, little in vivo data exist on the musculotendon properties of the gastrocnemius complex in dogs. Using a combination of ultrasound and 3D motion tracking, musculotendon parameters were obtained in vivo from the lateral gastrocnemius muscle and the gastrocnemius tendon in nine healthy Labrador Retrievers. These parameters include musculotendon length and excursion potential, tendon slack length, muscle belly length, muscle fibre length, pennation angle and architectural index. This study also examined the variation of muscle and tendon length contributions to musculotendon length, as well as the relation between musculotendon excursion potential and muscle fibre length or tendon length. To facilitate comparison between dog breeds, the femur length as a potential scaling parameter was examined. In the Labrador gastrocnemius musculotendon complex, the tendon contributes 41% (± 9%) of musculotendon length. In longer musculotendon complexes, the contribution of the muscle belly increases while the tendon contribution decreases. Longer muscle belly and musculotendon complexes were, however, associated with shorter muscle fibres. No significant relations were found between musculotendon excursion potential and muscle fibre length or tendon slack length, and femur length did not prove to be a reliable scale factor for the length‐related musculotendon parameters examined in this study. Longer musculotendon complexes exhibit relatively longer muscle bellies, which are in turn associated with shorter muscle fibre lengths. This trade‐off between gastrocnemius muscle belly length and muscle fibre length might have the advantage that muscle volume stays constant regardless of the length of the limbs.
Differences in Internalizing Symptoms Anticipate Adolescent Friendship Dissolution
Authors: Guimond Fanny‐Alexandra , Laursen Brett , Hartl Amy C. , Cillessen Antonius H. N.
Published: July 2018

This study examined the degree to which internalizing symptoms predict adolescent friendship instability. A total of 397 adolescents identified 499 same‐sex reciprocated friendships that originated in the seventh grade (M = 13.18 years). Discrete‐time survival analyses were conducted with Grade 7 peer, teacher, and self‐reports of internalizing symptoms as predictors of friendship dissolution across Grades 8–12. Differences between friends in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and (for boys only) submissiveness predicted subsequent friendship dissolution. Individual levels of these variables did not predict friendship dissolution, even at extreme or clinical levels. The findings suggest that friendship instability arising from internalizing problems stems from dissimilarity between friends rather than the presence of psychopathological symptoms on the part of one friend.
Nursing activities for patients with chronic disease in family medicine groups: A multiple‐case study
Authors: Poitras Marie‐Eve , Chouinard Maud‐Christine , Fortin Martin , Girard Ariane , Crossman Sue , Gallagher Frances
Published: July 2018

Family Medicine Groups (FMGs) are the most recently developed primary care organizations in Quebec (Canada). Nurses within FMGs play a central role for patients with chronic diseases (CD). However, this complex role and the nursing activities related to this role vary across FMGs. Inadequate knowledge of nursing activities limits the implementation of exemplary nursing practices. This study aimed to describe FMG nursing activities with patients with CD and to describe the facilitators and barriers to these activities. A multiple‐case study was performed with ten nurses practicing among patients with CD in FMGs. Five data sources were used to provide an in‐depth description of nursing activities and the facilitators and barriers to the development of these activities. After qualitative data analysis, findings show that nursing activities are clustered into five domains: Global assessment of the patient, Care management, Health promotion, Nurse–physician collaboration, and Planning services for patients with CD. Activities vary depending on contextual factors identified in each case. This multiple‐case study provides a clear description of nursing activities with patients with CD. There is a need for improved nursing activities and expertise in domains of activities that are less present in FMGs, such as case management and interprofessional collaboration.
Infantile hemangioma with minimal or arrested growth as the skin manifestation of PHACE syndrome
Authors: Valdivielso‐Ramos Marta , Torrelo Antonio , Martin‐Santiago Ana , Campos Minia , Conde Elena , de la Cueva Pablo , Lopez‐Gutierrez Juan Carlos
Published: July 2018

Background

Infantile hemangiomas with minimal or arrested growth are vascular tumors with a proliferative component involving < 25% of their total surface area. They are commonly described as localized lesions and are mainly located on the lower body. Little has been described about segmental forms on the face and their associations with PHACE syndrome.

Methods

We carried out a multicenter, retrospective, case‐series study involving 5 hospitals in Spain. Information was collected on cases of PHACE syndrome featuring infantile hemangiomas with minimal or arrested growth.

Results

The frontotemporal and maxillary areas were the most frequently involved sites in our series. The upper eyelid and upper lip were the 2 locations most frequently associated with proliferation and ulceration. Four patients experienced spontaneous resolution, and the rest had a very good cosmetic outcome with oral treatment. Cerebral and cervical arterial anomalies were the most frequent extracutaneous findings associated with PHACE, followed by cerebral and ocular anomalies. Some unique associated disorders were fructose intolerance and retinoblastoma.

Conclusion

We present the largest case series of segmental facial infantile hemangiomas with minimal or arrested growth in PHACE syndrome and emphasize the importance of recognizing these lesions in early infancy, because they can indicate PHACE syndrome. The data presented suggest that infantile hemangiomas with minimal or arrested growth–associated PHACE syndrome does not seem to differ significantly from PHACE syndrome with classic infantile hemangiomas, and thus the same recommendations for diagnosis, management, and therapy should be followed. Future studies with more patients could contribute to enlighten this specific subset.
Time‐course analysis of salicylic acid effects on ROS regulation and antioxidant defense in roots of hulled and hulless barley under combined stress of drought, heat and salinity
Authors: Torun Hülya
Published: July 2018

Greater crop losses can result from simultaneous exposure to a combination of drought, heat and salinity in the field. Salicylic acid (SA), a phenolic phytohormone, can affect a range of physiological and biochemical processes in plants and significantly impacts their resistance to these abiotic stresses. Despite numerous reports involving the positive effects of SA by applying each abiotic stress separately, the mechanism of SA‐mediated adaptation to combined stresses remains elusive. This study, via a time‐course analysis, investigated the role of SA on the roots of hulled and hulless (naked) barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Tarm’ and ‘Özen’, respectively), which differed in salt tolerance, under the combined stress of drought, heat and salt. The combined stress caused marked reductions in root length and increases in proline content in both genotypes; however, Tarm exhibited better adaptation to the triple stress. Under the first 24 h of stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC.1.15.1.1) and peroxidase (POX; EC.1.11.1.7) activity in the Tarm roots increased remarkably, while decreasing in the Özen roots. Furthermore, the Tarm roots showed higher catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2) activity than the Özen during the combined stresses. The sensitivity of hulless barley roots may be related to decreasing SOD, POX, CAT and GR activity under stress. Over 72 h of stress, the SA pretreatment improved the APX and GR activity in Tarm and that of POX and CAT in Özen, demonstrating that exogenously applied SA regulates antioxidant defense enzymes in order to detoxify reactive oxygen species. The results of this study suggest that SA treatment may improve the triple‐stress combination tolerance in hulled and hulless barley cultivars by increasing the level of antioxidant enzyme activity and promoting the accumulation of proline. Thus, SA alleviated the damaging effects of the triple stress by improving the antioxidant system, although these effects differed depending on characteristic of the hull of the grain.
Pedagogical challenges in teaching ESOL/Multilingual writers in theological education
Authors: Yaghjian Lucretia B.
Published: July 2018

A theological school's international students contribute to and are constitutive of its diversity. Yet while research on diversity in theological education is flourishing, the pedagogical challenges of international ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) theological students and of their teachers have received scant attention. This article probes the pedagogical challenges of international student writers in theological schools, and of their teachers and tutors, by (1) reflecting on those challenges, their context, and responses to them; (2) connecting contemporary theories of ESOL language learning with the practice of teaching and tutoring non‐native English writers in a theological context; and (3) proposing a discipline‐driven, writing‐centered ESOL pedagogy that I call “Writing Theology as a Common Language.” See as well “Responses to Lucretia B. Yaghjian's ‘Pedagogical challenges in teaching ESOL/multilingual writers in theological education,’ by Steed Vernyl Davidson, Sheryl A. Kujawa‐Holbrook (with Ahsah Kyuelna and Angela Wendy Tankersley), Hyo‐Dong Lee, and Carmen M. Nanko‐Fernández, published in this issue of the journal.
Responses to Lucretia B. Yaghjian's “Pedagogical challenges in teaching ESOL/multilingual writers in theological education”
Authors: Davidson Steed Vernyl , Kujawa‐Holbrook Sheryl A. , Kyuelna Ahsah , Tankersley Angela Wendy , Lee Hyo‐Dong , Nanko‐Fernández Carmen M.
Published: July 2018

This article consists of four brief responses to Lucretia B. Yaghjian's “Pedagogical challenges in teaching ESOL/Multilingual writers in theological education,” published in this issue of the journal.
The Baltimore Mural Project: An approach to threshold concepts in religious studies
Authors: Morales Harold , Barnes Mark
Published: July 2018

The Baltimore Mural Project (BMP) seeks to connect religious studies education to the growing literature on threshold concepts in order to address bottleneck areas in student learning. The project is designed for undergraduate service courses comprised of mostly non‐majors: for example, world religions. Students in these courses often struggle to understand and apply the discipline's unique approaches to the study of religion (i.e. its threshold concepts). Rather than merely memorize certain facts about a religious tradition's myths [or world forming stories], rituals [or embodied disclosures], materials, and so on... students are asked to apply threshold concepts related to religion, art, and the social good to the study of murals in Baltimore. Through a series of project elements (including: field work, photography, digital geomapping, and quantitative, qualitative, and archival research) the BMP helps students who struggle with threshold concepts in religious studies by creatively connecting the more conventional aspects of world religions courses to social justice issues related to mural art in Baltimore. By experientially helping students to make these connections, they are able to find creative routes through otherwise hindering barriers to their learning in religious studies.
Moral injury and the ethics of teaching tainted legacies
Authors: Guth Karen V.
Published: July 2018

Cases like that of John Howard Yoder – a pacifist theorist who perpetrated sexual violence – raise difficult questions about teaching material implicated in traumatic pasts. This paper argues that “moral injury” provides a useful framework for understanding the dynamics of teaching prominent cases of tainted legacies like Yoder's and for developing best pedagogical practices across the field of religious ethics. The moral injury framework empowers students to think critically and self‐reflectively about authority, conceptions of the good, the various stakes for different persons and communities in social issues, and the need for moral repair. It establishes the importance of professor and student preparation; propels students into the moral questioning and analysis that constitutes “ethics”; draws attention to the connections between and intersectionality of various moral problems while also attending to important moral distinctions; and affords opportunities to study individual and institutional efforts at moral repair.
Using virtual reality and 360‐degree video in the religious studies classroom: An experiment
Authors: Johnson Christopher D. L.
Published: July 2018

The advent of relatively inexpensive 360‐degree cameras and virtual reality (VR) headsets brings new possibilities to the study of religion by allowing students to become virtually immersed in distant religious environments at very little cost. These tools can serve as the basis for assignments that help to engage students and meet core learning outcomes such as empathetic understanding and ethnographic analysis of religious place, ritual, and behavior in light of theories of religion. This article describes and reflects on the experimental incorporation of these technologies in two sections of an introductory religious studies course at a small two‐year campus in the University of Wisconsin System.
Glutathione‐S‐transferase‐theta genotypes and the risk of cyclophosphamide toxicity in dogs
Authors: Ekena J. , Wood E. , Manchester A. , Chun R. , Trepanier L. A.
Published: July 2018

The antineoplastic agent cyclophosphamide (CP) has dose‐limiting side effects including sterile haemorrhagic cystitis (SHC), bone marrow (BM) suppression and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in dogs. The metabolites acrolein and phosphoramide that mediate these toxicities are glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) substrates, and low functioning GST alleles are associated with CP toxicity in humans. The aim of this study was to determine whether variants in 2 canine GST genes,GSTT1andGSTT5, were over‐represented in dogs that developed CP toxicity. Dogs undergoing pulse or metronomic CP chemotherapy were recruited (n = 101) and genotyped for 6GSTT1polymorphisms and 1GSTT56‐bp deletion that leads to non‐functional enzyme. Median cumulative CP dosages for dogs with SHC (1350 mg/m2) were significantly higher than for dogs with GI/BM toxicity (871 mg/m2) or no toxicity (991 mg/m2;P = .0012). Dogs with SHC were more likely to have had metronomic (84.2%, 16 of 19 SHC cases) vs pulse (15.8%, 3 of 19 SHC cases) CP dosing (P < .0001). All dogs with BM or GI toxicity (n = 30) had pulse chemotherapy.GSTT1andGSTT5variant allele frequencies were not significantly different in CP‐treated dogs with SHC or GI/BM toxicity compared to dogs without documented adverse effects. Work is underway to identify which canine GSTs detoxify acrolein and phosphoramide, so that better tools are available to predict the risk of CP toxicity in dogs.
Wild and domestic bird faeces likely source of psittacosis transmission—A case–control study in Sweden, 2014–2016
Authors: Chereau Fanny , Rehn Moa , Pini Alessandro , Kühlmann‐Berenzon Sharon , Ydring Elsie , Ringberg Håkan , Runehagen Arne , Ockborn Gunilla , Dotevall Leif , Wallensten Anders
Published: July 2018

Psittacosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by birds. In Sweden, where psittacosis is notifiable, an average of eight cases per year were reported between 2002 and 2012. In 2013, an unusual increase in cases in southern Sweden was associated with exposure to wild birds. To further explore specific risk factors connected to wild birds and identify other risk factors for sporadic psittacosis, we conducted a case–control study including all domestically acquired psittacosis cases reported between December 2014 and April 2016 in Sweden. Cases were age‐, sex‐ and geo‐matched to controls randomly selected from a population register. Cases and controls completed a questionnaire investigating detailed exposures to wild and domestic birds. We compared cases to controls, calculating adjusted matched odds ratios (amOR) using conditional logistic regression. Thirty‐one cases were notified: all cases lived in southern Sweden and 26 were ill during winter season. Two risk factors were independently associated with psittacosis infection: cleaning a wild bird feeder (amOR = 18.95; 95% CI: 2.11–170.03) and owning domestic birds (amOR = 5.55, 95% CI: 1.16–26.61). Our results suggest that exposure to bird faeces, for example when cleaning a wild bird feeder, was the main route of transmission. Following this study, the Public Health Agency of Sweden published recommendations on good practices when cleaning surfaces contaminated with bird faeces and recommended use of bird feeders with a design limiting faeces accumulation.
CRISPR-Cpf1-Assisted Multiplex Genome Editing and Transcriptional Repression in Streptomyces
Authors: Li Lei , Wei Keke , Zheng Guosong , Liu Xiaocao , Chen Shaoxin , Jiang Weihong , Lu Yinhua
Published: July 2018

Rapid, efficient genetic engineering of
Streptomyces
strains is critical for genome mining of novel natural products (NPs) as well as strain improvement. Here, a novel and high-efficiency
Streptomyces
genome editing tool is established based on the
Fn
CRISPR-Cpf1 system, which is an attractive and powerful alternative to the
S. pyogenes
CRISPR-Cas9 system due to its unique features. When combined with HDR or NHEJ,
Fn
Cpf1 enables the creation of gene(s) deletion with high efficiency. Furthermore, a ddCpf1-based integrative CRISPRi platform is established for simple, multiplex transcriptional repression. Of importance,
Fn
Cpf1-based genome editing proves to be a highly efficient tool for genetic modification of some important industrial
Streptomyces
strains (e.g.,
S. hygroscopicus
SIPI-KF) that cannot utilize the
Sp
CRISPR-Cas9 system. We expect the CRISPR-Cpf1-assisted genome editing tool to accelerate discovery and development of pharmaceutically active NPs in
Streptomyces
as well as other actinomycetes.
RIG-I Detects Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Transcripts in a RNA Polymerase III-Independent Manner
Authors: Zhang Yugen , Dittmer Dirk P. , Mieczkowski Piotr A. , Host Kurtis M. , Fusco William G. , Duncan Joseph A. , Damania Blossom
Published: July 2018

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a cytosolic pathogen recognition receptor that initiates the innate immune response against many RNA viruses. We previously showed that RIG-I restricts Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) reactivation (J. A. West et al., J Virol 88:5778–5787, 2014,
https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.03226-13
). In this study, we report that KSHV stimulates the RIG-I signaling pathway in a RNA polymerase (Pol) III-independent manner and subsequently induces type I interferon (IFN) responses. Knockdown or inhibition of RNA Pol III had no effect on beta interferon (IFN-β) induction by KSHV. By using high-throughput sequencing of RNA isolated by cross-linking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) approach, we identified multiple KSHV regions that give rise to RNA fragments binding to RIG-I, such as ORF8
10420-10496
, Repeat region (LIR1)
119059-119204
, and ORF25
43561-43650
. The sequence dissimilarity between these fragments suggests that RIG-I detects a particular structure rather than a specific sequence motif. Synthesized ORF8
10420-10496
RNA stimulated RIG-I-dependent but RNA Pol III-independent IFN-β signaling. In summary, several KSHV RNAs are sensed by RIG-I in a RNA Pol III-independent manner.

IMPORTANCE
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman’s disease. Innate immune responses against viral infections, especially the induction of type I interferon, are critical for limiting the replication of viruses. Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), a cytosolic RNA helicase sensor, plays a significant role in the induction of type I interferon responses following viral infection. Here, we identified multiple RNA regions in KSHV as potential virus ligands that bind to RIG-I and stimulate RIG-I-dependent but RNA Pol III-independent IFN-β signaling. Our results expand the role of RIG-I by providing an example of a DNA virus activating a canonical RNA-sensing pathway.
Type 2 NADH Dehydrogenase Is the Only Point of Entry for Electrons into the Streptococcus agalactiae Respiratory Chain and Is a Potential Drug Target
Authors: Lencina Andrea M. , Franza Thierry , Sullivan Matthew J. , Ulett Glen C. , Ipe Deepak S. , Gaudu Philippe , Gennis Robert B. , Schurig-Briccio Lici A.
Published: July 2018

The opportunistic pathogen
Streptococcus agalactiae
is the major cause of meningitis and sepsis in a newborn’s first week, as well as a considerable cause of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis in immunocompromised adults. This pathogen respires aerobically if heme and quinone are available in the environment, and a functional respiratory chain is required for full virulence. Remarkably, it is shown here that the entire respiratory chain of
S. agalactiae
consists of only two enzymes, a type 2 NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2) and a cytochrome
bd
oxygen reductase. There are no respiratory dehydrogenases other than NDH-2 to feed electrons into the respiratory chain, and there is only one respiratory oxygen reductase to reduce oxygen to water. Although
S. agalactiae
grows well in
vitro
by fermentative metabolism, it is shown here that the absence of NDH-2 results in attenuated virulence, as observed by reduced colonization in heart and kidney in a mouse model of systemic infection. The lack of NDH-2 in mammalian mitochondria and its important role for virulence suggest this enzyme may be a potential drug target. For this reason, in this study,
S. agalactiae
NDH-2 was purified and biochemically characterized, and the isolated enzyme was used to screen for inhibitors from libraries of FDA-approved drugs. Zafirlukast was identified to successfully inhibit both NDH-2 activity and aerobic respiration in intact cells. This compound may be useful as a laboratory tool to inhibit respiration in
S. agalactiae
and, since it has few side effects, it might be considered a lead compound for therapeutics development.

IMPORTANCE
S. agalactiae
is part of the human intestinal microbiota and is present in the vagina of ~30% of healthy women. Although a commensal, it is also the leading cause of septicemia and meningitis in neonates and immunocompromised adults. This organism can aerobically respire, but only using external sources of heme and quinone, required to have a functional electron transport chain. Although bacteria usually have a branched respiratory chain with multiple dehydrogenases and terminal oxygen reductases, here we establish that
S. agalactiae
utilizes only one type 2 NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2) and one cytochrome
bd
oxygen reductase to perform respiration. NADH-dependent respiration plays a critical role in the pathogen in maintaining NADH/NAD
+
redox balance in the cell, optimizing ATP production, and tolerating oxygen. In summary, we demonstrate the essential role of NDH-2 in respiration and its contribution to
S. agalactiae
virulence and propose it as a potential drug target.
The Escherichia coli Type III Secretion System 2 Has a Global Effect on Cell Surface
Authors: Shulman Alexander , Yair Yael , Biran Dvora , Sura Thomas , Otto Andreas , Gophna Uri , Becher Dörte , Hecker Michael , Ron Eliora Z.
Published: July 2018

Many strains of
Escherichia coli
carry a 29,250-bp ETT2 pathogenicity island (PAI), which includes genes predicted to encode type III secretion system (T3SS) components. Because it is similar to the
Salmonella
pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) system, encoding a T3SS in
Salmonella enterica
, it was assumed that ETT2 also encodes a secretion system injecting effectors into host cells. This assumption was checked in
E. coli
serotype O2—associated with urinary tract infections and septicemia—which has an intact ETT2 gene cluster, in contrast to most strains in which this cluster carries deletions and mutations. A proteomic search did not reveal any putative secreted effector. Instead, the majority of the secreted proteins were identified as flagellar proteins. A deletion of the ETT2 gene cluster significantly reduced the secretion of flagellar proteins, resulting in reduced motility. There was also a significant reduction in the transcriptional level of flagellar genes, indicating that ETT2 affects the synthesis, rather than secretion, of flagellar proteins. The ETT2 deletion also resulted in additional major changes in secretion of fimbrial proteins and cell surface proteins, resulting in relative resistance to detergents and hydrophobic antibiotics (novobiocin), secretion of large amounts of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), and altered multicellular behavior. Most important, the ETT2 deletion mutants were sensitive to serum. These major changes indicate that the ETT2 gene cluster has a global effect on cell surface and physiology, which is especially important for pathogenicity, as it contributes to the ability of the bacteria to survive serum and cause sepsis.

IMPORTANCE
Drug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC) strains are major pathogens, especially in hospital- and community-acquired infections. They are the major cause of urinary tract infections and are often involved in septicemia with high mortality. ExPEC strains are characterized by broad-spectrum antibiotic resistance, and development of a vaccine is not trivial because the ExPEC strains include a large number of serotypes. It is therefore important to understand the virulence factors that are involved in pathogenicity of ExPEC and identify new targets for development of antibacterial drugs or vaccines. Such a target could be ETT2, a unique type III secretion system present (complete or in parts) in many ExPEC strains. Here, we show that this system has a major effect on the bacterial surface—it affects sensitivity to drugs, motility, and secretion of extracellular proteins and outer membrane vesicles. Most importantly, this system is important for serum resistance, a prerequisite for septicemia.
HtrA of Borrelia burgdorferi Leads to Decreased Swarm Motility and Decreased Production of Pyruvate
Authors: Coleman James L. , Toledo Alvaro , Benach Jorge L.
Published: July 2018

Borrelia burgdorferi
HtrA (HtrABb) is a serine protease that targets damaged or improperly folded proteins. In our previous studies, HtrABb specifically degraded basic membrane protein BmpD, chemotaxis phosphatase CheX, and outer membrane protein P66. In addition, HtrABb degrades virulence factor BB0323 and components of the extracellular matrix fibronectin and aggrecan. A proteomics-based analysis (two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis [2-D DIGE], liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry [LC-MS]) of an HtrABb-overexpressing strain of
B. burgdorferi
(A3HtrAOE) revealed that protein levels of P66 were reduced in comparison to wild-type
B. burgdorferi
, confirming its status as an HtrABb substrate. Hbb, a P66-DNA-binding transcription factor, was specifically degraded by HtrABb, providing supportive evidence for a role for both in the regulation of P66. A3HtrAOE exhibited reduced motility in swarm assays, a possible link between overabundance of HtrABb and its enzymatic specificity for P66. However, the ΔP66 strain did not have reduced motility in the swarm assays, negating a role for this protein. The proteomics analyses also identified three enzymes of the glycolytic pathway, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), and glycerol kinase (GK), and one enzyme involved in carbohydrate metabolism, diphosphate-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, which were reduced in A3HtrAOE. Consistent with its reduced protein levels of these glycolytic enzymes, A3HtrAOE was also deficient in production of pyruvate. We propose a model for a role for HtrABb in contributing to a decrease in metabolic activity of
B. burgdorferi
.

IMPORTANCE
Being a vector-borne bacterium,
B. burgdorferi
must remodel its protein content as it transfers from tick to mammal. Proteolysis is a mechanism whereby remodeling can be accomplished. HtrABb degrades a number of proteins whose disappearance may help in preparing this organism for a stage of low metabolic activity.
Energy Conservation via Hydrogen Cycling in the Methanogenic Archaeon Methanosarcina barkeri
Authors: Kulkarni Gargi , Mand Thomas D. , Metcalf William W.
Published: July 2018

Energy conservation via hydrogen cycling, which generates proton motive force by intracellular H
2
production coupled to extracellular consumption, has been controversial since it was first proposed in 1981. It was hypothesized that the methanogenic archaeon
Methanosarcina barkeri
is capable of energy conservation via H
2
cycling, based on genetic data that suggest that H
2
is a preferred, but nonessential, intermediate in the electron transport chain of this organism. Here, we characterize a series of hydrogenase mutants to provide direct evidence of H
2
cycling.
M. barkeri
produces H
2
during growth on methanol, a phenotype that is lost upon mutation of the cytoplasmic hydrogenase encoded by
frhADGB
, although low levels of H
2
, attributable to the Ech hydrogenase, accumulate during stationary phase. In contrast, mutations that conditionally inactivate the extracellular Vht hydrogenase are lethal when expression of the
vhtGACD
operon is repressed. Under these conditions, H
2
accumulates, with concomitant cessation of methane production and subsequent cell lysis, suggesting that the inability to recapture extracellular H
2
is responsible for the lethal phenotype. Consistent with this interpretation, double mutants that lack both Vht and Frh are viable. Thus, when intracellular hydrogen production is abrogated, loss of extracellular H
2
consumption is no longer lethal. The common occurrence of both intracellular and extracellular hydrogenases in anaerobic microorganisms suggests that this unusual mechanism of energy conservation may be widespread in nature.

IMPORTANCE
ATP is required by all living organisms to facilitate essential endergonic reactions required for growth and maintenance. Although synthesis of ATP by substrate-level phosphorylation is widespread and significant, most ATP is made via the enzyme ATP synthase, which is energized by transmembrane chemiosmotic gradients. Therefore, establishing this gradient across the membrane is of central importance to sustaining life. Experimental validation of H
2
cycling adds to a short list of mechanisms for generating a transmembrane electrochemical gradient that is likely to be widespread, especially among anaerobic microorganisms.
The Plasmodesmal Localization Signal of TMV MP Is Recognized by Plant Synaptotagmin SYTA
Authors: Yuan Cheng , Lazarowitz Sondra G. , Citovsky Vitaly
Published: July 2018

Plant viruses cross the barrier of the plant cell wall by moving through intercellular channels, termed plasmodesmata, to invade their hosts. They accomplish this by encoding movement proteins (MPs), which act to alter plasmodesmal gating. How MPs target to plasmodesmata is not well understood. Our recent characterization of the first plasmodesmal localization signal (PLS) identified in a viral MP, namely, the MP encoded by the
Tobamovirus Tobacco mosaic virus
(TMV), now provides the opportunity to identify host proteins that recognize this PLS and may be important for its plasmodesmal targeting. One such candidate protein is
Arabidopsis
synaptotagmin A (SYTA), which is required to form endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane contact sites and regulates the MP-mediated trafficking of begomoviruses, tobamoviruses, and potyviruses. In particular, SYTA interacts with, and regulates the cell-to-cell transport of, both TMV MP and the MP encoded by the
Tobamovirus Turnip vein clearing virus
(TVCV). Using
in planta
bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and yeast two-hybrid assays, we show here that the TMV PLS interacted with SYTA. This PLS sequence was both necessary and sufficient for interaction with SYTA, and the plasmodesmal targeting activity of the TMV PLS was substantially reduced in an
Arabidopsis syta
knockdown line. Our findings show that SYTA is one host factor that can recognize the TMV PLS and suggest that this interaction may stabilize the association of TMV MP with plasmodesmata.

IMPORTANCE
Plant viruses use their movement proteins (MPs) to move through host intercellular connections, plasmodesmata. Perhaps one of the most intriguing, yet least studied, aspects of this transport is the MP signal sequences and their host recognition factors. Recently, we have described the plasmodesmal localization signal (PLS) of the
Tobacco mosaic virus
(TMV) MP. Here, we identified the
Arabidopsis
synaptotagmin A (SYTA) as a host factor that recognizes TMV MP PLS and promotes its association with the plasmodesmal membrane. The significance of these findings is two-fold: (i) we identified the TMV MP association with the cell membrane at plasmodesmata as an important PLS-dependent step in plasmodesmal targeting, and (ii) we identified the plant SYTA protein that specifically recognizes PLS as a host factor involved in this step.
The Current and Future State of Department of Defense (DoD) Microbiome Research: a Summary of the Inaugural DoD Tri-Service Microbiome Consortium Informational Meeting
Authors: Glaven Sarah , Racicot Kenneth , Leary Dagmar H. , Karl J. Philip , Arcidiacono Steven , Dancy Blair C. R. , Chrisey Linda A. , Soares Jason W.
Published: July 2018

The Tri-Service Microbiome Consortium (TSMC) was recently established to enhance collaboration, coordination, and communication of microbiome research among Department of Defense (DoD) organizations. The TSMC aims to serve as a forum for sharing information related to DoD microbiome research, policy, and applications, to monitor global advances relevant to human health and performance, to identify priority objectives, and to facilitate Tri-Service (Army, Navy, and Air Force) collaborative research.