bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pilot Evaluation of a Group Therapy Program for Children Bereaved by Suicide
Authors: Daigle Marc S. , Labelle Réal J.
Published: July 2012

Background: Thousands of children are bereaved each year by suicide, yet there exists very little literature specifically on the psychological care, programs, and interventions available to help them. Aims: (1) To build and validate theoretical models for the Group Therapy Program for Children Bereaved by Suicide (PCBS); (2) to test these models in a preliminary evaluation. Methods: In the first part, we built theoretical models, which were then validated by scientists and clinicians. In the second part, the sessions of the PCBS were observed and rated. The participating children were tested pre- and postprogram. Results: Positive changes were observed in the participating children in terms of basic safety, realistic understanding and useful knowledge, inappropriate behaviors, physical and psychological symptoms, child-parent and child-child communication, capacity for social and affective reinvestment, actualization of new models of self and the world, self-esteem, awareness and use of tools, cognitive, verbal, written and drawing abilities, cognitive dissonance, ambivalence, antagonism, and isolation. Conclusions: The changes reported in the bereaved children show that the PCBS has some efficacy.
Alcohol and Repeated Deliberate Self-Harm
Authors: Riedi G. , Mathur A. , Séguin M. , Bousquet B. , Czapla P. , Charpentier S. , Genestal M. , Cailhol L. , Birmes P.
Published: July 2012

Background: Repeated episode(s) of deliberate self-harm (RDSH) is a major risk factor for suicide. Aims: To identify specific risk factors for RDSH among patients admitted following an episode of deliberate self-harm (DSH) through acute intoxication. Methods: A prospective 6-month study was conducted with 184 patients (71% female) admitted to the emergency room (ER) as a result of self-poisoning (SP). Results: Rate of RDSH stood at 18% after 6 months. The sociodemographic variables associated with repeated deliberate self-harm were to have no principal activity, consultation with a medical professional during the 6 months preceding the self-poisoning, and referral to psychiatric services upon release from the ER. The clinical variable associated with RDSH was alcohol addiction (OR = 2.7; IC 95% = 1.2–6.1, p < .05) as assessed at the time of the initial ER admission. Conclusions: When patients are initially admitted to the ER as a result of self-poisoning, it is important to evaluate specific factors, particularly alcohol use, that could subsequently lead to repeated deliberate self-harm. The goal is to improve the targeting and referral of patients toward structures that can best respond to their needs.
Differences Between Suicide Victims Who Leave Notes and Those Who Do Not
Authors: Paraschakis Antonios , Michopoulos Ioannis , Douzenis Athanassios , Christodoulou Christos , Koutsaftis Filippos , Lykouras Lefteris
Published: July 2012

Background: Whether differences exist between those who do leave a suicide note and those who do not has not yet been comprehensively answered. Leaving a suicide note is not a random phenomenon: A minority, varying between 3–42%, of all suicide victims leave a note. Aims: To compare the group of suicide victims who leave notes with the ones who do not, using data from the Athens Department of Forensic Medicine, the largest in Greece. Methods: We examined sex, age, nationality, religious beliefs, marital and residential status, history of prior psychiatric disorder and psychiatric attempt(s), suicide method, physical disease, recent hospitalization, and existence of suicide notes. We completed psychological autopsy questionnaires after phone interviews with relatives of the suicide victims of a 2-year period (November 2007–October 2009). Results: Note writers, 26.1% of our sample, differed in the following: they died by hanging or shooting (p = .007), had no history of psychiatric illness (p < .001) or recent (i.e., within 12 months of the suicide) psychiatric hospitalization (p = .005). Conclusions: Our study showed that there are indeed differences between suicide victims who leave a note and those who do not. We also suggest some explanations for these differences, which could represent a valuable starting point for future research on this topic.
Influence of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation on phytoplankton phenology and community structure in the western North Pacific
Authors: Chiba Sanae , Batten Sonia , Sasaoka Kosei , Sasai Yoshikazu , Sugisaki Hiroya
Published: July 2012

Phytoplankton phenology and community structure in the western North Pacific were investigated for 2001–2009, based on satellite ocean colour data and the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey. We estimated the timing of the spring bloom based on the cumulative sum satellite chlorophyll adata, and found that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)‐related interannual SST anomaly in spring significantly affected phytoplankton phenology. The bloom occurred either later or earlier in years of positive or negative PDO (indicating cold and warm conditions, respectively). Phytoplankton composition in the early summer varied depending on the magnitude of seasonal SST increases, rather than the SST value itself. Interannual variations in diatom abundance and the relative abundance of non‐diatoms were positively correlated with SST increases for March–April and May–July, respectively, suggesting that mixed layer environmental factors, such as light availability and nutrient stoichiometry, determine shifts in phytoplankton community structure. Our study emphasised the importance of the interannual variation in climate‐induced warm–cool cycles as one of the key mechanisms linking climatic forcing and lower trophic level ecosystems.
Sensitivity of surface flux simulations to hydrologic parameters based on an uncertainty quantification framework applied to the Community Land Model
Authors: Hou Zhangshuan , Huang Maoyi , Leung L. Ruby , Lin Guang , Ricciuto Daniel M.
Published: July 2012

Uncertainties in hydrologic parameters could have significant impacts on the simulated water and energy fluxes and land surface states, which will in turn affect atmospheric processes and the carbon cycle. Quantifying such uncertainties is an important step toward better understanding and quantification of uncertainty of integrated earth system models. In this paper, we introduce an uncertainty quantification (UQ) framework to analyze sensitivity of simulated surface fluxes to selected hydrologic parameters in the Community Land Model (CLM4) through forward modeling. Thirteen flux tower footprints spanning a wide range of climate and site conditions were selected to perform sensitivity analyses by perturbing the parameters identified. In the UQ framework, prior information about the parameters was used to quantify the input uncertainty using the Minimum‐Relative‐Entropy approach. The quasi‐Monte Carlo approach was applied to generate samples of parameters on the basis of the prior pdfs. Simulations corresponding to sampled parameter sets were used to generate response curves and response surfaces and statistical tests were used to rank the significance of the parameters for output responses including latent (LH) and sensible heat (SH) fluxes. Overall, the CLM4 simulated LH and SH show the largest sensitivity to subsurface runoff generation parameters. However, study sites with deep root vegetation are also affected by surface runoff parameters, while sites with shallow root zones are also sensitive to the vadose zone soil water parameters. Generally, sites with finer soil texture and shallower rooting systems tend to have larger sensitivity of outputs to the parameters. Our results suggest the necessity of and possible ways for parameter inversion/calibration using available measurements of latent/sensible heat fluxes to obtain the optimal parameter set for CLM4. This study also provided guidance on reduction of parameter set dimensionality and parameter calibration framework design for CLM4 and other land surface models under different hydrologic and climatic regimes.
Confocal Raman microspectroscopy for skin characterization: a comparative study between human skin and pig skin
Authors: Tfaili Sana , Gobinet Cyril , Josse Gwendal , Angiboust Jean-François , Manfait Michel , Piot Olivier
Published: July 2012

Input of confocal Raman microspectroscopy in dermocosmetics: a spectral comparison of human skin (Transkin) and pig ear skin epidermises.
Measurement of excited states of Sb impurity in Si by traveling–wave method
Authors: Sun Yong , Takase Tsuyoshi , Sakaino Masamichi , Miyasato Tatsuro
Published: July 2012

The ground and excited states of Sb atom in Si, 1s (A1), 1s (T2), 1s (E), and 2p0, were measured by using a traveling-wave method. The Sb-doped Si crystal with donor concentration of 2 × 1015 cm−3 was placed the distance of 5 μm above a piezoelectric crystal in the fringe field of a surface acoustic wave. The free electrons excited from the bound states of the Sb atom are drifted by the traveling-wave, and thus lose their energy as the Joule heat through lattice and ion scattering processes. A strong temperature-dependent energy loss of the traveling-wave can be observed at temperatures below 200 K. The values of the bound states of the Sb atom can be characterized by using the Arrhenius plot for thermal activation process of the electrons in the bound states. The measurements were carried out at two frequencies of the traveling-wave, 50 MHz and 200 MHz. At the frequency of 50 MHz, the dielectric properties of the Si crystal are governed by dopant polarization but by electronic polarization at 200 MHz. We found that measurement accuracy of the bound states depends mainly on the electron mobility and the dielectric constant of the Si crystal, which are sensitive to the frequency and strength of the traveling-wave as well as electronic polarization properties of the Si crystal.
Recovery of saturated hydraulic conductivity along a forest successional series from abandoned land to mature, evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China
Authors: Peng Shun Lei , Wu Jian , You Wen Hui
Published: July 2012

Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) can be used to indicate changes in soil hydrology resulting from vegetation succession. A constant-head permeameter was used to investigate differences in Ks at five soil depths (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 cm) along a successional sequence of 155 years in evergreen broad-leaved forest at Tiantong National Forest Park, eastern China. The following six forest successional classes were studied: climax evergreen broad-leaved forest (CE), sub-climax evergreen broad-leaved forest (SE), evergreen broad-leaved mixed coniferous forest (MF), coniferous forest (CF), secondary shrub (SS), and abandoned land (AL). Surface Ks (the geometric mean of Ks at 10 and 20 cm soil depths) significantly increased from AL to CE but declined in CF. The surface Ks value under CE was higher than under other successional stages (CE 271 mm h–1, AL 58 mm h–1, SS 124 mm h–1, CF 90 mm h–1, MF 170 mm h–1, SE 231 mm h–1), and was 4.7 times greater than under AL, 2.2 times greater than under SS, and 3.0 times greater than under CF, but showed no significant difference from SE (P > 0.05). Vertical difference of Ks was detected up to a soil depth of 40 cm along forest successional series. Macroporosity was the main determining factor and played an important role in the process of Ks recovery. The likelihood of overland flow generation was inferred by comparing Ks at soil depths of 10, 20, 40, and 60 cm under the various successional stages at prevailing storm intensities. Overland flow was most likely to occur in the early successional stages. This study suggests that Ks could be restored to climax forest levels along forest successional series, but the recovery time could be as long as 95 years.
Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray - Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Hughes Andrew O. , Prosser Ian P.
Published: July 2012

Gully erosion is a significant process for delivering sediment to streams, and can be the dominant erosion process in some regions. As with other forms of erosion, we need methods to predict the extent and patterns of gully erosion across large areas. Such methods also improve our understanding of the environmental controls on gully erosion. Here, patterns of gully density are predicted across the 1 × 106 km2 Murray–Darling Basin in Australia, using aerial photograph mapping of gullies across part of the Basin and a multivariate statistical model of a range of environmental factors. Across the Basin, at a 10-km grid resolution, gully density is predicted to vary from 0 to 1.2 km km–2, with 22% of the Basin having a gully density >0.1 km km–2 and 3% a density >0.5 km km–2. The model is reasonably successful at predicting the variations in mapped gully density compared with similar attempts to predict erosion processes at this scale. Hillslope gradient and mean annual rainfall are the most important single factors across the region. The predicted mean gully density across the Basin is 0.08 km km–2 and gullies contribute up to 27 × 106 t year–1 of sediment to the river network. This is more than the amount that has been estimated from the combined contribution of hillslope (14 × 106 t year–1) and riverbank (8.6 × 106 t year–1) erosion by other studies within the Basin.
Global analysis of mRNA decay intermediates in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Harigaya Yuriko , Parker Roy
Published: July 2012

The general pathways of eukaryotic mRNA decay occur via deadenylation followed by 3′ to 5′ degradation or decapping, although some endonuclease sites have been identified in metazoan mRNAs. To determine the role of endonucleases in mRNA degradation in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, we mapped 5′ monophosphate ends on mRNAs in wild-type and
dcp2
∆ xrn1∆
yeast cells, wherein mRNA endonuclease cleavage products are stabilized. This led to three important observations. First, only few mRNAs that undergo low-level endonucleolytic cleavage were observed, suggesting that endonucleases are not a major contributor to yeast mRNA decay. Second, independent of known decapping enzymes, we observed low levels of 5′ monophosphates on some mRNAs, suggesting that an unknown mechanism can generate 5′ exposed ends, although for all substrates tested, Dcp2 was the primary decapping enzyme. Finally, we identified debranched lariat intermediates from intron-containing genes, demonstrating a significant discard pathway for mRNAs during the second step of pre-mRNA splicing, which is a potential step to regulate gene expression.
Rab27 and Rab3 sequentially regulate human sperm dense-core granule exocytosis
Authors: Bustos Matías A. , Lucchesi Ornella , Ruete María C. , Mayorga Luis S. , Tomes Claudia N.
Published: July 2012

Two so-called “secretory Rabs,” Rab3 and Rab27, regulate late steps during dense-core vesicle exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells. Sperm contain a single large dense-core granule that is released by regulated exocytosis (termed the acrosome reaction) during fertilization or on exposure to inducers in vitro. Sperm exocytosis uses the same fusion machinery as neurons and neuroendocrine cells, with an additional requirement for active Rab3. Here we show that Rab27 is also required for the acrosome reaction, as demonstrated by the inability of inducers to elicit exocytosis when streptolysin O-permeabilized human sperm were loaded with inhibitory anti-Rab27 antibodies or the Rab27–GTP binding domain of the effector Slac2-b. The levels of GTP-bound Rab27 increased on initiation of exocytosis, as did the proportion of GTP-bound Rab3A. We have developed a fluorescence microscopy-based method for detecting endogenous Rab3A-GTP and Rab27-GTP in the acrosomal region of human sperm. Challenge with an inducer increased the population of cells exhibiting GTP-bound Rabs in this subcellular domain. Interestingly, introducing recombinant Rab27A loaded with GTP-γ-S into sperm elicited a remarkable increase in the number of cells evincing GTP-bound Rab3A. In the converse condition, recombinant Rab3A did not modify the percentage of Rab27-GTP–containing cells. Furthermore, Rab27A-GTP recruited a Rab3 GDP/GTP exchange factor (GEF) activity. Our findings suggest that Rab27/Rab3A constitutes a Rab-GEF cascade in dense-core vesicle exocytosis.
Confinement induces actin flow in a meiotic cytoplasm
Authors: Pinot Mathieu , Steiner Villier , Dehapiot Benoit , Yoo Byung-Kuk , Chesnel Franck , Blanchoin Laurent , Kervrann Charles , Gueroui Zoher
Published: July 2012

In vivo, F-actin flows are observed at different cell life stages and participate in various developmental processes during asymmetric divisions in vertebrate oocytes, cell migration, or wound healing. Here, we show that confinement has a dramatic effect on F-actin spatiotemporal organization. We reconstitute in vitro the spontaneous generation of F-actin flow using
Xenopus
meiotic extracts artificially confined within a geometry mimicking the cell boundary. Perturbations of actin polymerization kinetics or F-actin nucleation sites strongly modify the network flow dynamics. A combination of quantitative image analysis and biochemical perturbations shows that both spatial localization of F-actin nucleators and actin turnover play a decisive role in generating flow. Interestingly, our in vitro assay recapitulates several symmetry-breaking processes observed in oocytes and early embryonic cells.
Competing mechanisms and scaling laws for carbon nanotube scission by ultrasonication
Authors: Pagani Guido , Green Micah J. , Poulin Philippe , Pasquali Matteo
Published: July 2012

Dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into liquids typically requires ultrasonication to exfoliate individuals CNTs from bundles. Experiments show that CNT length drops with sonication time (or energy) as a power law
t

-
m

. Yet the breakage mechanism is not well understood, and the experimentally reported power law exponent
m
ranges from approximately 0.2 to 0.5. Here we simulate the motion of CNTs around cavitating bubbles by coupling Brownian dynamics with the Rayleigh–Plesset equation. We observe that, during bubble growth, CNTs align tangentially to the bubble surface. Surprisingly, we find two dynamical regimes during the collapse: shorter CNTs align radially, longer ones buckle. We compute the phase diagram for CNT collapse dynamics as a function of CNT length, stiffness, and initial distance from the bubble nuclei and determine the transition from aligning to buckling. We conclude that, depending on their length, CNTs can break due to either buckling or stretching. These two mechanisms yield different power laws for the length decay (0.25 and 0.5, respectively), reconciling the apparent discrepancy in the experimental data.
Comparing the mechanism of water condensation and evaporation in glassy aerosol
Authors: Bones David L. , Reid Jonathan P. , Lienhard Daniel M. , Krieger Ulrich K.
Published: July 2012

Atmospheric models generally assume that aerosol particles are in equilibrium with the surrounding gas phase. However, recent observations that secondary organic aerosols can exist in a glassy state have highlighted the need to more fully understand the kinetic limitations that may control water partitioning in ambient particles. Here, we explore the influence of slow water diffusion in the condensed aerosol phase on the rates of both condensation and evaporation, demonstrating that significant inhibition in mass transfer occurs for ultraviscous aerosol, not just for glassy aerosol. Using coarse mode (3–4 um radius) ternary sucrose/sodium chloride/aqueous droplets as a proxy for multicomponent ambient aerosol, we demonstrate that the timescale for particle equilibration correlates with bulk viscosity and can be ≫10
3
 s. Extrapolation of these timescales to particle sizes in the accumulation mode (e.g., approximately 100 nm) by applying the Stokes-Einstein equation suggests that the kinetic limitations imposed on mass transfer of water by slow bulk phase diffusion must be more fully investigated for atmospheric aerosol. Measurements have been made on particles covering a range in dynamic viscosity from < 0.1 to > 10
13
 Pa s. We also retrieve the radial inhomogeneities apparent in particle composition during condensation and evaporation and contrast the dynamics of slow dissolution of a viscous core into a labile shell during condensation with the slow percolation of water during evaporation through a more homogeneous viscous particle bulk.
Energy landscape and multiroute folding of topologically complex proteins adenylate kinase and 2ouf-knot
Authors: Li Wenfei , Terakawa Tsuyoshi , Wang Wei , Takada Shoji
Published: July 2012

While fast folding of small proteins has been relatively well characterized by experiments and theories, much less is known for slow folding of larger proteins, for which recent experiments suggested quite complex and rich folding behaviors. Here, we address how the energy landscape theory can be applied to these slow folding reactions. Combining the perfect-funnel approximation with a multiscale method, we first extended our previous atomic-interaction based coarse grained (AICG) model to take into account local flexibility of protein molecules. Using this model, we then investigated the energy landscapes and folding routes of two proteins with complex topologies: a multidomain protein adenylate kinase (AKE) and a knotted protein 2ouf-knot. In the AKE folding, consistent with experimental results, the kinetic free energy surface showed several substates between the fully unfolded and native states. We characterized the structural features of these substates and transitions among them, finding temperature-dependent multiroute folding. For protein 2ouf-knot, we found that the improved atomic-interaction based coarse-grained model can spontaneously tie a knot and fold the protein with a probability up to 96%. The computed folding rate of the knotted protein was much slower than that of its unknotted counterpart, in agreement with experimental findings. Similar to the AKE case, the 2ouf-knot folding exhibited several substates and transitions among them. Interestingly, we found a dead-end substate that lacks the knot, thus suggesting backtracking mechanisms.
LeishmaniaTDR1 structure, a unique trimeric glutathione transferase capable of deglutathionylation and antimonial prodrug activation
Authors: Fyfe Paul K. , Westrop Gareth D. , Silva Ana Marta , Coombs Graham H. , Hunter William N.
Published: July 2012

Thiol-dependent reductase I (TDR1), an enzyme found in parasiticLeishmaniaspecies andTrypanosoma cruzi, is implicated in deglutathionylation and activation of antimonial prodrugs used to treat leishmaniasis. The 2.3 Å resolution structure of TDR1 reveals a unique trimer of subunits each containing two glutathione-S-transferase (GST) domains. The similarities of individual domains and comparisons with GST classes suggest that TDR1 evolved by gene duplication, diversification, and gene fusion; a combination of events previously unknown in the GST protein superfamily and potentially explaining the distinctive enzyme properties of TDR1. The deglutathionylation activity of TDR1 implies that glutathione itself has regulatory intracellular roles in addition to being a precursor for trypanothione, the major low mass thiol present in trypanosomatids. We propose that activation of antiparasite Sb(V)-drugs is a legacy of the deglutathionylation activity of TDR1 and involves processing glutathione adducts with concomitant reduction of the metalloid to active Sb(III) species.
Exceptionally preserved juvenile megalosauroid theropod dinosaur with filamentous integument from the Late Jurassic of Germany
Authors: Rauhut Oliver W. M. , Foth Christian , Tischlinger Helmut , Norell Mark A.
Published: July 2012

Recent discoveries in Asia have greatly increased our understanding of the evolution of dinosaurs’ integumentary structures, revealing a previously unexpected diversity of “protofeathers” and feathers. However, all theropod dinosaurs with preserved feathers reported so far are coelurosaurs. Evidence for filaments or feathers in noncoelurosaurian theropods is circumstantial and debated. Here we report an exceptionally preserved skeleton of a juvenile megalosauroid,
Sciurumimus albersdoerferi
n. gen., n. sp., from the Late Jurassic of Germany, which preserves a filamentous plumage at the tail base and on parts of the body. These structures are identical to the type 1 feathers that have been reported in some ornithischians, the basal tyrannosaur
Dilong
, the basal therizinosauroid
Beipiaosaurus
, and, probably, in the basal coelurosaur
Sinosauropteryx
.
Sciurumimus albersdoerferi
represents the phylogenetically most basal theropod that preserves direct evidence for feathers and helps close the gap between feathers reported in coelurosaurian theropods and filaments in ornithischian dinosaurs, further supporting the homology of these structures. The specimen of
Sciurumimus
is the most complete megalosauroid yet discovered and helps clarify significant anatomical details of this important basal theropod clade, such as the complete absence of the fourth digit of the manus. The dentition of this probably early-posthatchling individual is markedly similar to that of basal coelurosaurian theropods, indicating that coelurosaur occurrences based on isolated teeth should be used with caution.
Dysregulation of fatty acid synthesis and glycolysis in non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Bhatt Aadra P. , Jacobs Sarah R. , Freemerman Alex J. , Makowski Liza , Rathmell Jeffrey C. , Dittmer Dirk P. , Damania Blossom
Published: July 2012

The metabolic differences between B-NHL and primary human B cells are poorly understood. Among human B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHL), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a unique subset that is linked to infection with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). We report that the metabolic profiles of primary B cells are significantly different from that of PEL. Compared with primary B cells, both aerobic glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis (FAS) are up-regulated in PEL and other types of nonviral B-NHL. We found that aerobic glycolysis and FAS occur in a PI3K-dependent manner and appear to be interdependent. PEL overexpress the fatty acid synthesizing enzyme, FASN, and both PEL and other B-NHL were much more sensitive to the FAS inhibitor, C75, than primary B cells. Our findings suggest that FASN may be a unique candidate for molecular targeted therapy against PEL and other B-NHL.
Role of transcriptional coregulator GRIP1 in the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids
Authors: Chinenov Yurii , Gupte Rebecca , Dobrovolna Jana , Flammer Jamie R. , Liu Bill , Michelassi Francesco E. , Rogatsky Inez
Published: July 2012

Inhibition of cytokine gene expression by the hormone-activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is the key component of the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Here we report that glucocorticoid repression of cytokine genes in primary macrophages is mediated by GR-interacting protein (GRIP)1, a transcriptional coregulator of the p160 family, which is recruited to the p65-occupied genomic NFκB-binding sites in conjunction with liganded GR. We created a mouse strain enabling a conditional hematopoietic cell-restricted deletion of GRIP1 in adult animals. In this model, GRIP1 depletion in macrophages attenuated in a dose-dependent manner repression of NFκB target genes by GR irrespective of the upstream Toll-like receptor pathway responsible for their activation. Furthermore, genome-wide transcriptome analysis revealed a broad derepression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced glucocorticoid-sensitive targets in GRIP1-depleted macrophages without affecting their activation by LPS. Consistently, conditional GRIP1-deficient mice were sensitized, relative to the wild type, to a systemic inflammatory challenge developing characteristic signs of LPS-induced shock. Thus, by serving as a GR corepressor, GRIP1 facilitates the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids in vivo.
Recombinant immunotoxin engineered for low immunogenicity and antigenicity by identifying and silencing human B-cell epitopes
Authors: Liu Wenhai , Onda Masanori , Lee Byungkook , Kreitman Robert J. , Hassan Raffit , Xiang Laiman , Pastan Ira
Published: July 2012

Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are hybrid proteins used to treat cancer. These proteins are composed of an Fv that reacts with cancer cells joined to a portion of
Pseudomonas
exotoxin A, which kills the cell. Because the toxin is a foreign protein, it can induce neutralizing antibodies and thereby limit the number of doses a patient can receive. We previously identified seven major mouse B-cell epitopes in the toxin, and subsequently silenced them using point mutations that converted large hydrophilic amino acids to alanine, yet retained full antitumor activity. Here we present results in which we identify and silence human B-cell epitopes in the RIT HA22. We obtained B cells from patients with antibodies to RITs, isolated the corresponding variable fragments (Fvs), and constructed a phage-display library containing Fvs that bind to the RITs. We then used alanine scanning mutagenesis to locate the epitopes. We found that human and mouse epitopes frequently overlap but are not identical. Most mutations that remove mouse epitopes did not remove human epitopes. Using the epitope information, we constructed a variant immunotoxin, HA22-LR-LO10, which has low reactivity with human antisera, yet has high cytotoxic and antitumor activity and can be given to mice at high doses without excess toxicity. The toxin portion of this RIT (LR-LO10) can be used with Fvs targeting other cancer antigens and is suitable for clinical development.
Schwann cells aid regeneration project
Authors: Short Ben
Published: July 2012

Study reveals how the expression of c-Jun in Schwann cells helps restore damaged nerves.
Overlap of cargo binding sites on myosin V coordinates the inheritance of diverse cargoes
Authors: Eves P. Taylor , Jin Yui , Brunner Matthew , Weisman Lois S.
Published: July 2012

During cell division, organelles are distributed to distinct locations at specific times. For the yeast vacuole, the myosin V motor, Myo2, and its vacuole-specific cargo adaptor, Vac17, regulate where the vacuole is deposited and the timing of vacuole movement. In this paper, we show that Mmr1 functions as a mitochondria-specific cargo adaptor early in the cell cycle and that Mmr1 binds Myo2 at the site that binds Vac17. We demonstrate that Vac17 and Mmr1 compete for binding at this site. Unexpectedly, this competition regulates the volume of vacuoles and mitochondria inherited by the daughter cell. Furthermore, eight of the nine known Myo2 cargo adaptors overlap at one of two sites. Vac17 and Mmr1 overlap at one site, whereas Ypt11 and Kar9 bind subsets of residues that also bind Ypt31/Ypt32, Sec4, and Inp2. These observations predict that competition for access to Myo2 may be a common mechanism to coordinate the inheritance of diverse cargoes.
Electronic Surveillance for Infectious Disease Trend Analysis following a Quality Improvement Intervention
Authors: Peterson Kari E. , Hacek Donna M. , Robicsek Ari , Thomson Richard B. , Peterson Lance R.
Published: July 2012

Objective.

Interventions for reducing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) healthcare-associated disease require outcome assessment; this is typically done by manual chart review to determine infection, which can be labor intensive. The purpose of this study was to validate electronic tools for MRSA healthcare-associated infection (HAI) trending that can replace manual medical record review.

Design and Setting.

This was an observational study comparing manual medical record review with 3 electronic methods: raw culture data from the laboratory information system (LIS) in use by our healthcare organization, LIS data combined with admission-discharge-transfer (ADT) data to determine which cultures were healthcare associated (LIS + ADT), and the CareFusion MedMined Nosocomial Infection Marker (NIM). Each method was used for the same 7-year period from August 2003 through July 2010.

Patients.

The data set was from a 3-hospital organization covering 342,492 admissions.

Results.

Correlation coefficients for raw LIS, LIS + ADT, and NIM were 0.976, 0.957, and 0.953, respectively, when assessed on an annual basis. Quarterly performance for disease trending was also good, with R2 values exceeding 0.7 for all methods.

Conclusions.

The electronic tools accurately identified trends in MRSA HAI incidence density when all infections were combined as quarterly or annual data; the performance is excellent when annual assessment is done. These electronic surveillance systems can significantly reduce (93% [in-house-developed program] to more than 99.9999% [commercially available systems]) the personnel resources needed to monitor the impact of a disease control program.
Enhanced Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Following Hysterectomy, Vascular, and Colorectal Surgery
Authors: Yokoe Deborah S. , Khan Yosef , Olsen Margaret A. , Hooper David C. , Greenbaum Maurice , Vostok Johanna , Lankiewicz Julie , Fraser Victoria J. , Stevenson Kurt B. ,   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: July 2012

Objective.

To evaluate the use of inpatient pharmacy and administrative data to detect surgical site infections (SSIs) following hysterectomy and colorectal and vascular surgery.

Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting.

Five hospitals affiliated with academic medical centers.

Patients.

Adults who underwent abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy, colorectal surgery, or vascular surgery procedures between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2005.

Methods.

We reviewed the medical records of weighted, random samples drawn from 3,079 abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy, 4,748 colorectal surgery, and 3,332 vascular surgery procedures. We compared routine surveillance with screening of inpatient pharmacy data and diagnosis codes and then performed medical record review to confirm SSI status.

Results.

Medical records from 823 hysterectomy, 736 colorectal surgery, and 680 vascular surgery procedures were reviewed. SSI rates determined by antimicrobial- and/or diagnosis code-based screening followed by medical record review (enhanced surveillance) were substantially higher than rates determined by routine surveillance (4.3% [95% confidence interval, 3.6%—5.1%] vs 2.7% for hysterectomies, 7.1% [95% confidence interval, 6.7%–8.2%] vs 2.0% for colorectal procedures, and 2.3% [95% confidence interval, 1.9%–2.9%] vs 1.4% for vascular procedures). Enhanced surveillance had substantially higher sensitivity than did routine surveillance to detect SSI (92% vs 59% for hysterectomies, 88% vs 22% for colorectal procedures, and 72% vs 43% for vascular procedures). A review of medical records confirmed SSI for 31% of hysterectomies, 20% of colorectal procedures, and 31% of vascular procedures that met the enhanced screening criteria.

Conclusion.

Antimicrobial- and diagnosis code-based screening may be a useful method for enhancing and streamlining SSI surveillance for a variety of surgical procedures, including those procedures targeted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Incidence Rates of Healthcare-Associated Infection in a Pediatric Home Healthcare Service
Authors: Silva André Ricardo Araujo da , Souza Cristina Vieira de , Guimarães Mario Eduardo Viana , Sargentelli Guilherme , Gomes Marisa Zenaide Ribeiro
Published: July 2012

We describe the incidence rates of home healthcare-associated infections (HHAIs) in a pediatric home healthcare service (PHHCS). The overall incidence density of HHAIs was 11.1 infections per 1,000 patient-days. Average incidence density of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was 6.8 per 1,000 ventilator-days. Strategies for control of VAP should be prioritized in PHHCSs.
Chlorhexidine Gluconate Reduces Transmission of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusUSA300 among Marine Recruits
Authors: Whitman Timothy J. , Schlett Carey D. , Grandits Greg A. , Millar Eugene V. , Mende Katrin , Hospenthal Duane R. , Murray Patrick R. , Tribble David R.
Published: July 2012

Background.

Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) pulsed-field type (PFT) USA300 causes skin and soft tissue infections in military recruits and invasive disease in hospitals. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is used to reduce MRSA colonization and infection. The impact of CHG on the molecular epidemiology of MRSA is not known.

Objective.

To evaluate the impact of 2% CHG—impregnated cloths on the molecular epidemiology of MRSA colonization.

Design.

Cluster-randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Setting.

Marine Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia, in 2007.

Participants.

Military recruits.

Intervention.

Thrice-weekly application of CHG-impregnated or control (Comfort Bath; Sage) cloths over the entire body.

Measurements.

Baseline and serial (every 2 weeks) nasal and/or axillary swab samples were assessed for MRSA colonization. Molecular analysis was performed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Results.

During training, 77 subjects (4.9%) acquired MRSA, 26 (3.3%) in the CHG group and 51 (6.5%) in the control group (P= .004). When analyzed for PFT, 24 subjects (3.1%) in the control group but only 6 subjects (0.8%) in the CHG group (P= .001) had USA300. Of the 167 colonizing isolates recovered from 77 subjects, 99 were recovered from the control group, including USA300 (40.4%), USA800 (38.4%), USA1000 (12.1%), and USA100 (6.1%), and 68 were recovered from the CHG group, including USA800 (51.5%), USA100 (23.5%), and USA300 (13.2%).

Conclusions.

CHG decreased the transmission of MRSA—more specifically, USA300—among military recruits. In addition, USA300 and USA800 outcompeted other MRSA PFTs at incident colonization. Future studies should evaluate the broad-based use of CHG to decrease transmission of USA300 in hospital settings.
The Mayo Prosthetic Joint Infection Risk Score: Implication for Surgical Site Infection Reporting and Risk Stratification
Authors: Berbari Elie F. , Osmon Douglas R. , Lahr Brian , Eckel-Passow Jeanette E. , Tsaras Geoffrey , Hanssen Arlen D. , Mabry Tad , Steckelberg James , Thompson Rodney
Published: July 2012

Objective.

The goal of this study was to develop a prognostic scoring system for the development of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) that could risk-stratify patients undergoing total hip (THA) or total knee (TKA) arthroplasties.

Design.

Previously reported case-control study.

Setting.

Tertiary referral care setting from 2001 through 2006.

Methods.

A derivation data set of 339 cases and 339 controls was used to develop 2 scores. A baseline score and a 1-month-postsurgery risk score were computed as a function of the relative contributions of risk factors for each model. Points were assigned for the presence of each factor and then summed to get a subject's risk score.

Results.

The following risk factors were detected from multivariable modeling and incorporated into the baseline Mayo PJI risk score: body mass index, prior other operation on the index joint, prior arthroplasty, immunosuppression, ASA score, and procedure duration (c index, 0.722). The 1-month-postsurgery risk score contained the same variables in addition to postoperative wound drainage (cindex, 0.716).

Conclusion.

The baseline score might help with risk stratification in relation to public reporting and reimbursement as well as targeted prevention strategies in patients undergoing THA or TKA. The application of the 1-month-postsurgery PJI risk score to patients undergoing THA or TKA might benefit those undergoing workup for PJI.
Recent Exposure to Antimicrobials and Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: The Role of Antimicrobial Stewardship
Authors: Marchaim Dror , Chopra Teena , Bhargava Ashish , Bogan Christopher , Dhar Sorabh , Hayakawa Kayoko , Pogue Jason M. , Bheemreddy Suchitha , Blunden Christopher , Shango Maryann , Swan Jessie , Lephart Paul R. , Perez Federico , Bonomo Robert A. , Kaye Keith S.
Published: July 2012

Background.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are rapidly emerging worldwide. Control group selection is critically important when analyzing predictors of antimicrobial resistance. Focusing on modifiable risk factors can optimize prevention and resource expenditures. To identify specific predictors of CRE, patients with CRE were compared with 3 control groups: (1) patients with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, (2) patients with non-ESBL-containing Enterobacteriaceae, and (3) uninfected controls.

Design.

Matched multivariable analyses.

Patients and Setting.

Patients possessing CRE that were isolated at Detroit Medical Center from September 1, 2008, to August 31, 2009.

Methods.

Patients were matched (1:1 ratio) to the 3 sets of controls. Matching parameters included (1) bacteria type, (2) hospital/ facility, (3) unit/clinic, (4) calendar year, and (5) time at risk (ie, from admission to culture). Matched multivariable analyses were conducted between uninfected controls and patients with CRE, ESBL, and non-ESBL Enterobacteriaceae. Models were also designed comparing patients with CRE to patients with ESBL, patients with non-ESBL Enterobacteriaceae, and all 3 non-CRE groups combined.

Results.

Ninety-one unique patients with CRE were identified, and 6 matched models were constructed. Recent (less than 3 months) exposure to antibiotics was the only parameter that was consistently associated with CRE, regardless of the group to which CRE was compared, and was not independently associated with isolation of ESBL or non-ESBL Enterobacteriaceae.

Conclusions.

Exposure to antibiotics within 3 months was an independent predictor that characterized patients with CRE isolation. As a result, antimicrobial stewardship efforts need to become a major focus of preventive Interventions. Regulatory focus regarding appropriate antimicrobial use might decrease the detrimental effects of antibiotic misuse and spread of CRE.
Controlling for Observed and Unobserved Site Characteristics in RUM Models of Recreation Demand
Authors: Abidoye Babatunde O. , Herriges Joseph A. , Tobias Justin L.
Published: July 2012

Recreation demand models are typically plagued by limited information on site attributes. If these unobserved site attributes are correlated with the observed characteristics and/or the travel cost variable, the resulting parameter estimates are likely to be biased. We develop a Bayesian approach to estimating a model that incorporates a full set of alternative‐specific constants, insulating the key travel cost parameter from the influence of unobservables. The proposed posterior simulator can be used in the mixed logit framework in which some parameters of the conditional utility function are random. We apply the estimation procedures to data from the Iowa Lakes Project.
First Report of Potato Stem Canker Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-5 in China
Authors: Yang Y. , Wu X.
Published: July 2012

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is grown worldwide as a major food crop. Potato stem canker is an important disease mainly caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 (4). In 2011, samples of potato stem canker were collected from 26 sites in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China. Stem fragments taken from the margins of the healthy and diseased tissues were surface disinfected with 0.5% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed with sterile water, then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C in the dark. Twenty-two fungal isolates taken from single hyphal tips were identified as R. solani based on morphological traits. Colonies were light brown with abundant growth of mycelia and produced brown, irregular sclerotia after 20 days on PDA. Mycelium was branched at right angles with a septum near the branch and a slight constriction at the branch base. Hyphal cells were determined to be multinucleate (five to 13 nuclei per cell) when stained with 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing with reference strains (kindly provided by N. Kondo, Hokkaido University, Japan) (1), and six out of 22 isolates anastomosed with R. solani AG-5. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified from genomic DNA of the AG-5 isolates with primers ITS1 and ITS4. The ITS sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. JQ946291 to JQ946296) were 99% identical to R. solani isolate AG-5 ND1 (GenBank Accession No. HQ629863). Therefore, based on molecular characteristics and the anastomosis assay, these six isolates were confirmed to be R. solani AG-5. To determine the pathogenicity of R. solani AG-5 isolates, potato seed tubers (cv. Favorita) with 3- to 5-mm sprouts were inoculated with wheat seeds (sterilized by autoclaving twice at 121°C for 1 h with a 24-h interval) colonized with each isolate (2). Wheat seeds were placed 10 mm above the uppermost sprout tip (one seed per sprout). Plants were incubated in glasshouse conditions maintained at 25 to 27°C. After 3 weeks, all inoculated plants showed symptoms of potato stem canker disease, whereas control plants inoculated with sterilized wheat seeds remained healthy. R. solani AG-5 was consistently reisolated from symptomatic stems, and the identity was confirmed by morphological and molecular characteristics as previously described, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Potato stem canker caused by R. solani AG-5 was previously detected in Australia, South Africa, Finland, and Japan (3). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani AG-5 on potato in China. Besides previously reported AGs 1, 3, and 4 implicated in Rhizoctonia disease in China, AG 5 should also be taken into account when designing programs for disease management in potato.

References: (1) W. C. Kronland and M. E. Stanghellini. Phytopathology 78:820, 1988. (2) M. J. Lehtonen et al. Plant Pathol. 57:141, 2008. (3) M. J. Lehtonen et al. J. Agric. Food Sci. 18:223, 2009. (4) L. Tsror. J. Phytopathol. 158:649, 2010.
Phaeocystidibacter luteus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family

Cryomorphaceae

isolated from the marine alga Phaeocystis globosa, and emended description of

Owenweeksia hongkongensis
Authors: Zhou Yanyan , Su Jianqiang , Lai Qiliang , Li Xinyi , Yang Xiaoru , Dong Peiyan , Zheng Tianling
Published: July 2012

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain PG2S01T, isolated from a culture of Phaeocystis globosa, a haemolytic, toxin-producing, harmful marine alga. Cells of strain PG2S01T were Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-fermentative, orange-pigmented, moderately halophilic rods. Growth was observed in the presence of 0.25–7.5 % NaCl and at 10–40 °C. The dominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and several unidentified aminolipids, phospholipids and other lipids. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 44.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that strain PG2S01T was most closely related to

Owenweeksia hongkongensis

UST20020801T (88.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity); levels of similarity between strain PG2S01T and the type strains of recognized representatives of genera in the family

Cryomorphaceae

were <88 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PG2S01T formed a distinct evolutionary lineage within the family

Cryomorphaceae

. Strain PG2S01T was distinguishable from members of phylogenetically related genera by differences in several phenotypic properties. On the basis of phenotypic data and phylogenetic inference, strain PG2S01T represents a novel species in a new genus in the family

Cryomorphaceae

,
for which the name Phaeocystidibacter luteus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is PG2S01T ( = CCTCC AB 209288T  = LMG 25704T  = MCCC 1F01079T). An emended description of

O. hongkongensis

Lau et al. 2005 is also proposed.