bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in Resistance Traits, Phylogenetic Backgrounds, and Virulence Genotypes among Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates from Adjacent Hospital Campuses Serving Distinct Patient Populations
Authors: Drawz Sarah M. , Porter Stephen , Kuskowski Michael A. , Johnston Brian , Clabots Connie , Kline Susan , Ferrieri Patricia , Johnson James R.
Published: June 2015

Escherichia coli
sequence type 13 (ST131), an emergent cause of multidrug-resistant extraintestinal infections, has important phylogenetic subsets, notably the
H
30 and
H
30Rx subclones, with distinctive resistance profiles and, possibly, clinical associations. To clarify the local prevalence of these ST131 subclones and their associations with antimicrobial resistance, ecological source, and virulence traits, we extensively characterized 233 consecutive
E. coli
clinical isolates (July and August 2013) from the University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview Infectious Diseases and Diagnostic Laboratory, Minneapolis, MN, which serves three adjacent facilities (a children's hospital and low- and high-acuity adult facilities). ST131 accounted for 26% of the study isolates (more than any other clonal group), was distributed similarly by facility, and was closely associated with ciprofloxacin resistance and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production. The
H
30 and
H
30Rx subclones accounted for most ST131 isolates and for the association of ST131 with fluoroquinolone resistance and ESBL production. Unlike ST131
per se
, these subclones were distributed differentially by hospital, being most prevalent at the high-acuity adult facility and were absent from the children's hospital. The virulence gene profiles of ST131 and its subclones were distinctive and more extensive than those of other fluoroquinolone-resistant or ESBL-producing isolates. Within ST131,
bla
CTX-M-15
was confined to
H
30Rx isolates and other
bla
CTX-M
variants to non-Rx
H
30 isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis documented a predominance of globally distributed pulsotypes and no local outbreak pattern. These findings help clarify the epidemiology, ecology, and bacterial correlates of the
H
30 and
H
30Rx ST131 subclones by documenting a high overall prevalence but significant segregation by facility, strong associations with fluoroquinolone resistance and specific ESBL variants, and distinctive virulence gene associations that may confer fitness advantages over other resistant
E. coli
.
Mutations in Genes for the F
420
Biosynthetic Pathway and a Nitroreductase Enzyme Are the Primary Resistance Determinants in Spontaneous
In Vitro
-Selected PA-824-Resistant Mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Haver Hana L. , Chua Adeline , Ghode Pramila , Lakshminarayana Suresh B. , Singhal Amit , Mathema Barun , Wintjens René , Bifani Pablo
Published: June 2015

Alleviating the burden of tuberculosis (TB) requires an understanding of the genetic basis that determines the emergence of drug-resistant mutants. PA-824 (pretomanid) is a bicyclic nitroimidazole class compound presently undergoing the phase III STAND clinical trial, despite lacking identifiable genetic markers for drug-specific resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the genetic polymorphisms of spontaneously generated PA-824-resistant mutant strains by surveying drug metabolism genes for potential mutations. Of the 183 independently selected PA-824-resistant
M. tuberculosis
mutants, 83% harbored a single mutation in one of five nonessential genes associated with either PA-824 prodrug activation (
ddn
, 29%;
fgd1
, 7%) or the tangential F
420
biosynthetic pathway (
fbiA
, 19%;
fbiB
, 2%;
fbiC
, 26%). Crystal structure analysis indicated that identified mutations were specifically located within the protein catalytic domain that would hinder the activity of the enzymes required for prodrug activation. This systematic analysis conducted of genotypes resistant to PA-824 may contribute to future efforts in monitoring clinical strain susceptibility with this new drug therapy.
Innate Inflammatory Response and Immunopharmacologic Activity of Micafungin, Caspofungin, and Voriconazole against Wild-Type and
FKS
Mutant Candida glabrata Isolates
Authors: Beyda Nicholas D. , Liao Guangling , Endres Bradley T. , Lewis Russell E. , Garey Kevin W.
Published: June 2015

The direct or indirect interactions that antifungals have with the host immune response may play a significant role in defining their activity
in vivo
. However, the impact that acquired antifungal resistance has on the immunopharmacologic activity of antifungals is not well described. We assessed the immunopharmacologic activity of caspofungin, micafungin, and voriconazole among isolates of
Candida glabrata
with or without FKS-mediated echinocandin resistance. Clinical bloodstream isolates of
C. glabrata
from patients who did (
n
= 5) or did not (
n
= 3) develop persistent candidemia and who did (
n
= 2) or did not (
n
= 11) harbor FKS gene mutations were included. A cell-based assay was used to compare differences in macrophage activation among isolates when grown in the presence or absence of subinhibitory concentrations of caspofungin, micafungin, or voriconazole. In the absence of antifungals, macrophage activation was significantly lower for index
C. glabrata
isolates obtained from persistent candidemia patients than for those from nonpersistent patients (33% versus 79% increase over negative controls, respectively;
P
< 0.01). Growth of isolates possessing wild-type
FKS
genes in subinhibitory concentrations of micafungin or caspofungin, but not voriconazole, significantly increased macrophage inflammatory responses compared to untreated controls (1.25- to 2.75-fold increase,
P
< 0.01). For isolates harboring the
FKS2
hot spot 1 (HS1) S663P mutation, however, a significant increase was observed only with micafungin treatment (1.75-fold increase versus negative control,
P
< 0.01). Macrophage activation correlated with the level of unmasking of β-glucan in the cell wall. The diminished macrophage inflammatory response to isolates that caused persistent candidemia and differential immunopharmacologic activity of echinocandins among
FKS
mutants suggest that certain strains of
C. glabrata
may have a higher propensity for immunoevasion and development of antifungal resistance during treatment.
An
In Vitro
Combined Antibiotic-Antibody Treatment Eliminates Toxicity from Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli
Authors: Skinner Craig , Zhang Guodong , Patfield Stephanie , He Xiaohua
Published: June 2015

Treating Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) gastrointestinal infections is difficult. The utility of antibiotics for STEC treatment is controversial, since antibiotic resistance among STEC isolates is widespread and certain antibiotics dramatically increase the expression of Shiga toxins (Stxs), which are some of the most important virulence factors in STEC. Stxs contribute to life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which develops in considerable proportions of patients with STEC infections. Understanding the antibiotic resistance profiles of STEC isolates and the Stx induction potential of promising antibiotics is essential for evaluating any antibiotic treatment of STEC. In this study, 42 O157:H7 or non-O157 STEC isolates (including the “big six” serotypes) were evaluated for their resistance against 22 antibiotics by using an antibiotic array. Tigecycline inhibited the growth of all of the tested STEC isolates and also inhibited the production of Stxs (Stx2 in particular). In combination with neutralizing antibodies to Stx1 and Stx2, the tigecycline-antibody treatment fully protected Vero cells from Stx toxicity, even when the STEC bacteria and the Vero cells were cultured together. The combination of an antibiotic such as tigecycline with neutralizing antibodies presents a promising strategy for future STEC treatments.
The Times They Are a-Changin': Carbapenems for Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Bacteria
Authors: Rodríguez-Baño Jesús
Published: June 2015

Several antimicrobial agents are being investigated as alternatives to carbapenems in the treatment of infections caused by ESBL-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
, which may be useful in avoiding overuse of carbapenems in the context of recent global spread of carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
. The most promising candidates for invasive infections so far are β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and cephamycins.
Case-Control Study of the Risk Factors for Acquisition of Pseudomonas and Proteus Species during Tigecycline Therapy
Authors: Park Ga Eun , Kang Cheol-In , Wi Yu Mi , Ko Jae-Hoon , Lee Woo Joo , Lee Ji Yong , Cho Sun Young , Ha Young Eun , Chung Doo Ryeon , Peck Kyong Ran , Song Jae-Hoon
Published: June 2015

Tigecycline is an important agent in clinical practice because of its broad-spectrum activity. However, it has no activity against
Pseudomonas
or
Proteus
species. We conducted a case-control study to analyze risk factors for the acquisition of
Pseudomonas
or
Proteus
spp. during tigecycline therapy. Placement of suction drainage at infected wound sites, ICU stay, and neurologic disease were identified as independent risk factors for the acquisition of
Pseudomonas
and
Proteus
spp.
Characterization of Epidemic IncI1-Iγ Plasmids Harboring Ambler Class A and C Genes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica from Animals and Humans
Authors: Smith Hilde , Bossers Alex , Harders Frank , Wu Guanghui , Woodford Neil , Schwarz Stefan , Guerra Beatriz , Rodríguez Irene , van Essen-Zandbergen Alieda , Brouwer Michael , Mevius Dik
Published: June 2015

The aim of the study was to identify the plasmid-encoded factors contributing to the emergence and spread of epidemic IncI1-Iγ plasmids obtained from
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella enterica
isolates from animal and human reservoirs. For this, 251 IncI1-Iγ plasmids carrying various extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) or AmpC β-lactamase genes were compared using plasmid multilocus sequence typing (pMLST). Thirty-two of these plasmids belonging to different pMLST types were sequenced using Roche 454 and Illumina platforms. Epidemic IncI1-Iγ plasmids could be assigned to various dominant clades, whereas rarely detected plasmids clustered together as a distinct clade. Similar phylogenetic trees were obtained using only the plasmid backbone sequences, showing that the differences observed between the plasmids belonging to distinct clades resulted mainly from differences between their backbone sequences. Plasmids belonging to the various clades differed particularly in the presence/absence of genes encoding partitioning and addiction systems, which contribute to stable inheritance during cell division and plasmid maintenance. Despite this, plasmids belonging to the various phylogenetic clades also showed marked resistance gene associations, indicating the circulation of successful plasmid-gene combinations. The variation in
traY
and
excA
genes found in IncI1-Iγ plasmids is conserved within pMLST sequence types and plays a role in incompatibility, although functional study is needed to elucidate the role of these genes in plasmid epidemiology.
The Periplasmic Nitrate Reductase NapABC Supports Luminal Growth of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium during Colitis
Authors: Lopez Christopher A. , Rivera-Chávez Fabian , Byndloss Mariana X. , Bäumler Andreas J.
Published: June 2015

The food-borne pathogen
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium benefits from acute inflammation in part by using host-derived nitrate to respire anaerobically and compete successfully with the commensal microbes during growth in the intestinal lumen. The
S
. Typhimurium genome contains three nitrate reductases, encoded by the
narGHI
,
narZYV
, and
napABC
genes. Work on homologous genes present in
Escherichia coli
suggests that nitrate reductase A, encoded by the
narGHI
genes, is the main enzyme promoting growth on nitrate as an electron acceptor in anaerobic environments. Using a mouse colitis model, we found, surprisingly, that
S
. Typhimurium strains with defects in either nitrate reductase A (
narG
mutant) or the regulator inducing its transcription in the presence of high concentrations of nitrate (
narL
mutant) exhibited growth comparable to that of wild-type
S
. Typhimurium. In contrast, a strain lacking a functional periplasmic nitrate reductase (
napA
mutant) exhibited a marked growth defect in the lumen of the colon. In
E. coli
, the
napABC
genes are transcribed maximally under anaerobic growth conditions in the presence of low nitrate concentrations. Inactivation of
narP
, encoding a response regulator that activates
napABC
transcription in response to low nitrate concentrations, significantly reduced the growth of
S
. Typhimurium in the gut lumen. Cecal nitrate measurements suggested that the murine cecum is a nitrate-limited environment. Collectively, our results suggest that
S
. Typhimurium uses the periplasmic nitrate reductase to support its growth on the low nitrate concentrations encountered in the gut, a strategy that may be shared with other enteric pathogens.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Tubule Protein Reticulon 4 Associates with the Legionella pneumophila Vacuole and with Translocated Substrate Ceg9
Authors: Haenssler Eva , Ramabhadran Vinay , Murphy Connor S. , Heidtman Matthew I. , Isberg Ralph R.
Published: June 2015

Intracellular growth of
Legionella pneumophila
occurs in a replication vacuole constructed by host proteins that regulate vesicular traffic from the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This process is promoted by a combination of approximately 300 Icm/Dot translocated substrates (IDTS). One of these proteins, Ceg9, was previously identified in a screen for
L. pneumophila
IDTS that manipulate secretory traffic when overexpressed in yeast. Using ectopic expression of Ceg9 in mammalian cells, we demonstrate that Ceg9 interacts with isoforms of host reticulon 4 (Rtn4), a protein that regulates ER tubule formation. Binding occurs under conditions that prevent association with other known reticulon binding proteins, arguing that Ceg9 binding is stable. A tripartite complex was demonstrated among Rtn4, Ceg9, and atlastin 1, a previously characterized reticulon interacting partner. The binding of Ceg9 to Rtn4 was not due to bridging by atlastin 1 but resulted from the two interacting partners binding independently to reticulon. When Ceg9 is ectopically expressed in mammalian cells, it shows a localization pattern that is indistinguishable from that of Rtn4, perhaps due to interactions between and similar structural features of the two proteins. Consistent with Rtn4 playing a role in the formation of the
Legionella
-containing vacuole, it was recruited to almost 50% of the vacuoles within 20 min postinfection. Our studies suggest that
L. pneumophila
proteins interact with ER tubules at an early stage of replication vacuole formation.
In VivoandEx VivoImaging Reveals a Long-Lasting Chlamydial Infection in the Mouse Gastrointestinal Tract following Genital Tract Inoculation
Authors: Zhang Qi , Huang Yumeng , Gong Siqi , Yang Zhangsheng , Sun Xin , Schenken Robert , Zhong Guangming
Published: June 2015

Intravaginal infection withChlamydia muridarumin mice can ascend to the upper genital tract, resulting in hydrosalpinx, a pathological hallmark for tubal infertility in women infected withC. trachomatis. Here, we utilizedin vivoimaging ofC. muridaruminfection in mice following an intravaginal inoculation and confirmed the rapid ascent of the chlamydial organisms from the lower to upper genital tracts. Unexpectedly, theC. muridarum-derived signal was still detectable in the abdominal area 100 days after inoculation.Ex vivoimaging of the mouse organs revealed that the long-lasting presence of the chlamydial signal was restricted to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which was validated by directly measuring the chlamydial live organisms and genomes in the same organs. TheC. muridarumorganisms spreading from the genital to the GI tracts were detected in different mouse strains and appeared to be independent of oral or rectal routes. Mice prevented from orally taking up excretions also developed the long-lasting GI tract infection. Inoculation ofC. muridarumdirectly into the upper genital tract, which resulted in a delayed vaginal shedding of live organisms, accelerated the chlamydial spreading to the GI tract. Thus, we have demonstrated that the genital tract chlamydial organisms may use a systemic route to spread to and establish a long-lasting infection in the GI tract. The significance of the chlamydial spreading from the genital to GI tracts is discussed.
Correlation of maternal abuse during pregnancy with infant temperament and development
Authors: Zou Shaohong , Zhang Yong , Cao Yuping , Zhang Yalin
Published: June 2015

Objective

To investigate the effects of domestic violence (DV) against pregnant women on their infant's development in China.

Design

247 mothers were interviewed using the Chinese version of the Abuse Assessment Screen, and all participants underwent postnatal assessment with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EDPS). Plasma glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and cortisol levels of the neonates were measured. After a 10-month follow-up, the infants were assessed using the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (RITQ) and Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID).

Results

86 infants of abused mothers (DV group) and 137 infants of non-abused mothers (non-DV group) completed the 10-month follow-up. Neonate levels of plasma Glu, GABA and cortisol were significantly higher in the DV group than in the non-DV group. Scores for the temperament factors, rhythmicity, approach/withdrawal, mood, distractibility and persistence, of the RITQ were rated significantly higher, and results for the Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) of the BSID were significantly lower in the DV group than in the non-DV group at 10 months. After adjustment for the EPDS as a covariate, only distractibility of the RITQ showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups. In correlation analysis, infant mood correlated significantly with levels of plasma Glu (β=0.2345) and GABA (β=0.2554), whether or not the EPDS scores were adjusted. Infant persistence and threshold of stimuli scores did not correlate significantly with DV during pregnancy after adjustment for the EPDS.

Conclusions

DV against pregnant women may be associated with impaired temperament and development in their infants.
Takayasu's or tuberculous arteritis?
Authors: Moura Carlos , Aquino Mauricio Antonio , Rocha Filho Jose , Santiago Mittermayer
Published: June 2015

Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) is a large vessel vasculitis of unknown aetiology characterised by involvement of the aorta and its major branches. Tuberculous arteritis of the aorta is an uncommon condition usually secondary to the dissemination ofMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection from the mediastinum and/or lung to the adjacent aorta; this may mimic TA. We report a case of a 23-year-old woman with cutaneous granulomatous vasculitis and saccular aneurysmal dilation of the aorta and large vessels, and highlight the findings shared by TA and tuberculous arteritis.
An 11-year-old boy with silico-tuberculosis attributable to secondary exposure to sandstone mining in central India
Authors: Murlidhar V
Published: June 2015

Silicosis from secondary exposure is not often reported. This is the first such report of a child with possible silicosis attributable to secondary exposure to sandstone mining in India. Silicosis from secondary exposure has been reported in the gem polishing and slate pencil manufacturing industries in India; however, the stone-mining industry is severely under-researched. No preventive measures have been instituted in the stone-mining industry and children are exposed to respirable silica dust when their mothers take them to their work places. Poverty and lack of accessibility to modern medical facilities promote malnutrition and tuberculosis, two known co-morbid conditions. Stone mining, an export-oriented industry, produces billions of dollars of foreign currency every year. Although there is legislation to protect workers from exploitation, employers disregard the law and the state turns a blind eye by not implementing proper enforcement mechanisms. Silicosis from environmental exposure affects the entire community that lives in stone-mining areas.
Incomplete peripheral facial nerve palsy and ulnar neuropathy due to leprosy mistaken as faciobrachial stroke
Authors: Lalla Rakesh , Mulherkar Rupal Vijay , Misar Parag Vijay
Published: June 2015

A middle-aged woman was referred to our hospital emergency ward in view of acute onset left faciobrachial weakness. An urgent MRI of the brain was performed, which did not reveal any abnormality and hence a neurology consultation was arranged in order to rule out acute stroke. However, examination and retrospective history taking proved to be a valuable aid in this patient's diagnosis. The incomplete lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy and hand weakness due to leprosy in reaction was confused by the general practitioner as a faciobrachial stroke.
Should we be looking for and treating isolated calf vein thrombosis?
Authors: Horner Daniel , Hogg Kerstin , Body Richard
Published: June 2015

Management of isolated calf deep vein thrombosis is an area of significant international debate and variable clinical practice. Both therapeutic anticoagulation and conservative management carry risk. As clinical care of suspected and confirmed venous thromboembolic disease increasingly becomes the remit of emergency medicine, complex decisions are left to practising clinicians at the front door. We aim to provide a contemporary overview of recent evidence on this topic and associated challenges facing clinicians. Given the lack of high-level evidence, we present this work as a narrative review, based on structured literature review and expert opinion. A decision to manage calf thrombosis is principally dependent on the risk of complications without treatment balanced against the risks of therapeutic anticoagulation. Estimates of the former risks taken from systematic review, meta-analysis, observational cohort and recent pilot trial evidence include proximal propagation 7%–10%, pulmonary embolism 2%–3% and death <1%. Fatal bleeding with therapeutic anticoagulation stands at <0.5%, and major bleeding at approximately 2%. Estimates of haemorrhagic risk are based on robust data from large prospective management studies of venous thromboembolic disease; the risks of untreated calf deep vein thrombosis are based on small cohorts and therefore less exact. Pending further trial evidence, these risks should be discussed with patients openly, in the context of personal preference and shared decision-making. Anticoagulation may maximally benefit those patients with extensive and/or symptomatic disease or those with higher risk for complication (unprovoked, cancer-associated or pregnancy).
Medical abortion: the hidden revolution
Authors: Harvey Phil
Published: June 2015

While the medical abortion (MA) drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, have radically altered reproductive health practices around the world, there has been little field research on the sales and use of these drugs, especially in developing countries. This leaves the family planning community with many unanswered questions. While good profiles of contraceptive use are available for many countries and we have good technical data on the MA drugs’ efficacy, dosages and regimens such as home dosage of misoprostol versus clinic dosage, we have very little information about the quantities of MA drugs sold, how they are used, where they are used, and, in the case of misoprostol, for what purposes. Sales data are available from one excellent commercial survey and from social marketing sales of mifepristone and misoprostol and these are presented. Acknowledging the sensitivity of the issue, especially in countries where abortion is severely restricted, the author makes a plea for careful additional research to shed light on an important and growing part of the international reproductive health picture.
Diagnostic accuracy of porcine acute phase proteins in meat juice for detecting disease at abattoir
Authors: Gutiérrez A. M. , Martínez‐Subiela S. , Cerón J. J.
Published: June 2015

The aim of this work was to evaluate whether acute phase protein (APP) determinations could assist Official Veterinarians carrying out work in slaughterhouses. To test this hypothesis, the diagnostic accuracy of APP determinations in meat juice of pigs was analysed to differentiate between healthy and diseased pigs. One hundred and one pigs of two different origins were classified into two groups according to their health status (healthy and diseased pigs), which was determined by a veterinary clinical examination on the farm. To assess the pigs’ immune status, against the main porcine diseases, serological analyses were monitored. A general idea of the degree of disease coverage was analysed by examining organ lesions postmortem. Haptoglobin (Hp) and C reactive protein (CRP) were measured in meat juice samples. 72.13 per cent of pigs appeared to be seropositive for the porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus, and almost 86.2 per cent of them had concomitant infections with other pathogens, such as Porcine circovirus type 2 or Swine influenza virus. Median Hp and CRP concentrations were significantly higher in diseased animals at different stages of the production chain, when compared with levels found in healthy finishing pigs (P<0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed the highest sensitivity–specificity pairs, nearly 80–90 per cent, at cut‐off levels of 83 and 10 µg/ml for Hp and CRP determinations, respectively, with high AUCs 0.9. This cut‐off could be useful for veterinary inspections at the time of slaughter, to differentiate between the carcase of a healthy animal and the carcase of an animal suffering from a systemic disease, which should be completely condemned.
The black rock coatings in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec: fingerprints of historical smelter emissions and the local ore
Authors: Caplette Jaime N. , Schindler Michael , Kyser T. Kurtis
Published: June 2015

Smelting of base metal sulfide rich ore in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, has led to the formation of black rock coatings on exposed rocks to a maximum distance of 6 km from the smelter centre. This study has shown that these coatings are excellent mineralogical and chemical fingerprints of smelter emissions, ore types, and elemental partitioning into mineral phases. The black coatings are composed of a silica-rich matrix that formed due to the intense chemical weathering of exposed silicate rocks interacting with acidic meteoric waters. They contain metal sulfate rich layers along the atmosphere-coating interface (ACI) and rock-coating interface (RCI) formed by the in situ dissolution and precipitation of metal(loid)-bearing phases. Entombed within the silica matrix are spherical particulates and particles composed of Cu- and Zn-bearing Fe oxides (e.g., spinels), Fe oxides (e.g., hematite), Pb silicates (e.g., alamosite), sulfates (anglesite (PbSO4) and minerals of the jarosite group), amphiboles, pyroxenes, micas, Na feldspar, and clinochlore. Concentrations of elements are low in proximity to the smelter but drastically increase ∼2 km from the stack, most likely the result of a shadow effect of the smelter. This shadow effect is more pronounced if an element is highly compatible with minerals of the jarosite and spinel groups; it is called the smelter-compatibility effect. Elements displaying a high smelter-compatibility effect are Ag, Cu, Se, and As, whereas elements such as Hg, which is incompatible with the jarosite and spinel groups, show a low smelter-compatibility effect. High δ34S (5.5‰) values in proximity to the smelter and their decrease with distance is the result of mixing processes between primary and secondary sulfates in the atmosphere. The relative enrichments of metal(loid)s in coatings at Rouyn-Noranda and Sudbury, Ontario, when normalised to the MUd standard from Queensland, Australia, (MUQ) reflect the composition of the smelter emissions, ore, and lithologies. Black rock coatings of the Rouyn-Noranda and Sudbury study areas are enriched, for example, in Pb and Fe, respectively, reflecting higher abundances of galena and Fe-bearing minerals in the respective ore, emissions, and rocks in the region.
Protective effect of naringin on 3-nitropropionic acid-induced neurodegeneration through the modulation of matrix metalloproteinases and glial fibrillary acidic protein
Authors: Gopinath Kulasekaran , Sudhandiran Ganapasam
Published: June 2015

Naringin (4′,5,7-trihydroxy-flavonone-7-rhamnoglucoside), a flavonone present in grapefruit, has recently been reported to protect against neurodegeration, induced with 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. This study used a rat model of 3-NP-induced neurodegeneration to investigate the neuroprotective effects of naringin exerted by modulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Neurodegeneration was induced with 3-NP (10 mg/kg body mass, by intraperitoneal injection) once a day for 2 weeks, and induced rats were treated with naringin (80 mg/kg body mass, by oral gavage, once a day for 2 weeks). Naringin ameliorated the motor abnormalities caused by 3-NP, and reduced blood–brain barrier dysfunction by decreasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, along with increasing the expression of the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 in 3-NP-induced rats. Further, naringin reduced 3-NP-induced neuroinflammation by decreasing the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Thus, naringin exerts protective effects against 3-NP-induced neurodegeneration by ameliorating the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases and glial fibrillary acidic protein.
A recursive approach for geometric quantifiers of quantum correlations in multiqubit Schrödinger cat states
Authors: Daoud M. , Ahl Laamara R. , Seddik S.
Published: June 2015

A recursive approach to determine the Hilbert–Schmidt measure of pairwise quantum discord in a special class of symmetric states of k qubits is presented. We especially focus on the reduced states of k qubits obtained from a balanced superposition of symmetric n-qubit states (multiqubit Schrödinger cat states) by tracing out n-k particles (k = 2, 3, …, n-1). Two pairing schemes are considered. In the first one, the geometric discord measuring the correlation between one qubit and the parity grouping (k-1) qubits is explicitly derived. This uses recursive relations between the Fano–Bloch correlation matrices associated with subsystems comprising k, k-1, … and two particles. A detailed analysis is given for two-, three- and four-qubit systems. In the second scheme, the subsystem comprising the (k-1) qubits is mapped into a system of two logical qubits. We show that these two bipartition schemes are equivalents in evaluating the pairwise correlation in multiqubits systems. The explicit expressions of classical states presenting zero discord are derived.
Governance Considerations Relating to Social Impact Assessments for Mining Development in African Communities
Authors: Nwapi Chilenye
Published: June 2015

This paper explores how social impact assessments (SIAs) can be applied productively in mining development in African societies characterised by weak regulatory structures and ethnic diversity. It evaluates the nature of the social risks associated with mining development in Africa and examines the concept of SIA as a tool for mitigating those risks. Most importantly, it considers the factors that should be taken into account in the design and implementation of SIA programs in ethnically diverse African regions. One of the paper's central theses is that within-group perceptions of procedural justice are instrumental to the success of participatory processes for SIAs in mining development in Africa.
Tax and Subsidy Policies to Encourage the Use of Recyclable Material
Authors: Auld Douglas
Published: June 2015

In the case where recycled production inputs are perfect technical substitutes for virgin inputs and the carbon emissions on a LCA basis associated with recycled inputs are lower, a revenue-neutral combination of a tax and subsidy can reduce GHG associated with the production process.
Genome-wide association studies and contribution to cardiovascular physiology
Authors: Munroe Patricia B. , Tinker Andrew
Published: June 2015

The study of family pedigrees with rare monogenic cardiovascular disorders has revealed new molecular players in physiological processes. Genome-wide association studies of complex traits with a heritable component may afford a similar and potentially intellectually richer opportunity. In this review we focus on the interpretation of genetic associations and the issue of causality in relation to known and potentially new physiology. We mainly discuss cardiometabolic traits as it reflects our personal interests, but the issues pertain broadly in many other disciplines. We also describe some of the resources that are now available that may expedite follow up of genetic association signals into observations on causal mechanisms and pathophysiology.
A Technique for Removing Implant-Retained Denture: Direct Relining Complication
Authors: Duran İbrahim , Yilmaz Betül , Ural Çağrı
Published: June 2015

The aim of this case report is to present a technique for removing the denture which locked to ball-attachment because of excessive hard relining resin material flows around the ball-attachment. An alternative method was used in the present case. A cylindrical resin was removed with a diamond bur at the level of matrix and by this way the matrix was removed safely. The advantage of the presented method is that it may be extended to other clinical situations when facing a similar complication for implant supported dentures and also that the technique is simple and does not require special equipment.
A Reconstruction Procedure Associated with Switching Lyapunov Function for Relaxing Stability Assurance of T-S Fuzzy Mode
Authors: Juang Yau-Tarng , Huang Chih-Peng , Yan Chung-Lin
Published: June 2015

This paper proposes a novel reconstruction procedure to lessen the conservatism of stability assurance of T-S Fuzzy Mode. By dividing the state variables into some bounded regions, the considered T-S fuzzy model can be first transferred to an alternative form via a reconstructing procedure. Thus, we can attain some relaxing stability criteria based on the switching quadratic Lyapunov function (SQLF) method. Notably, these proposed conditions are explicitly formulated by linear matrix inequality (LMI) form and can handily be evaluated by current software tools. Finally some illustrative examples are given to experimentally demonstrate the validity and merit of the proposed method.
A Case Report of Prilocaine-Induced Methemoglobinemia after Liposuction Procedure
Authors: Yildirim Birdal , Karagoz Ulku , Acar Ethem , Beydilli Halil , Nese Yeniceri Emine , Tanriverdi Ozgur , Alatas Omer Dogan , Kasap Şükrü
Published: June 2015

Prilocaine-induced methemoglobinemia is a rarely seen condition. In this paper, a case is presented with methemoglobinemia developed secondary to prilocaine use in a liposuction procedure, and the importance of this rarely seen condition is emphasized. A 20-year-old female patient presented with complaints of prostration, lassitude, shivering, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. It was learned that the patient underwent nearly 1000 mg prilocaine infiltration 8 hours priorly during a liposuction procedure. At admission, her blood pressure (130/80 mmHg), pulse rate (140 bpm), body temperature (36°C), and respiratory rate (40/min) were recorded. The patient had marked acrocyanosis. The arterial blood gas methemoglobin level was measured as 40%. The patient received oxygen therapy with a mask and was administered vitamin C in normal saline (500 mg tid), N-acetylcysteine (300 mg tid), and 50 mg 10% methylene blue in the intensive care unit of the internal medicine department. Methemoglobin level dropped down to 2% after her treatment with methylene blue and she was clinically cured and discharged 2 days later. Emergency service physicians should remember to consider methemoglobinemia when making a differential diagnosis between dyspnea and cyanosis developing after prilocaine infiltration performed for liposuctions in the adult age group.
Stability of Switched Server Systems with Constraints on Service-Time and Capacity of Buffers
Authors: Wang Li , He Zhonghe , Zhang Chi
Published: June 2015

The execution of emptying policy ensures the convergence of any solution to the system to a unique periodic orbit, which does not impose constraints on service-time and capacity of buffers. Motivated by these problems, in this paper, the service-time-limited policy is first proposed based on the information resulted from the periodic orbit under emptying policy, which imposes lower and upper bounds on emptying time for the queue in each buffer, by introducing lower-limit and upper-limit service-time factors. Furthermore, the execution of service-time-limited policy in the case of finite buffer capacity is considered. Moreover, the notion of feasibility of states under service-time-limited policy is introduced and then the checking condition for feasibility of states is given; that is, the solution does not exceed the buffer capacity within the first cycle of the server. At last, a sufficient condition for determining upper-limit service-time factors ensuring that the given state is feasible is given.
TheGlycine maxcv. Enrei Genome for Improvement of Japanese Soybean Cultivars
Authors: Shimomura Michihiko , Kanamori Hiroyuki , Komatsu Setsuko , Namiki Nobukazu , Mukai Yoshiyuki , Kurita Kanako , Kamatsuki Kaori , Ikawa Hiroshi , Yano Ryoichi , Ishimoto Masao , Kaga Akito , Katayose Yuichi
Published: June 2015

We elucidated the genome sequence ofGlycine maxcv. Enrei to provide a reference for characterization of Japanese domestic soybean cultivars. The whole genome sequence obtained using a next-generation sequencer was used for reference mapping into the current genome assembly ofG. maxcv. Williams 82 obtained by the Soybean Genome Sequencing Consortium in the USA. After sequencing and assembling the whole genome shotgun reads, we obtained a data set with about 928 Mbs total bases and 60,838 gene models. Phylogenetic analysis provided glimpses into the ancestral relationships of both cultivars and their divergence from the complex that include the wild relatives of soybean. The gene models were analyzed in relation to traits associated with anthocyanin and flavonoid biosynthesis and an overall profile of the proteome. The sequence data are made available in DAIZUbase in order to provide a comprehensive informatics resource for comparative genomics of a wide range of soybean cultivars in Japan and a reference tool for improvement of soybean cultivars worldwide.
Modeling and Analysis in Marine Big Data: Advances and Challenges
Authors: Huang Dongmei , Zhao Danfeng , Wei Lifei , Wang Zhenhua , Du Yanling
Published: June 2015

It is aware that big data has gathered tremendous attentions from academic research institutes, governments, and enterprises in all aspects of information sciences. With the development of diversity of marine data acquisition techniques, marine data grow exponentially in last decade, which formsmarine big data. As an innovation, marine big data is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there are many potential and highly useful values hidden in the huge volume of marine data, which is widely used in marine-related fields, such as tsunami and red-tide warning, prevention, and forecasting, disaster inversion, and visualization modeling after disasters. There is no doubt that the future competitions in marine sciences and technologies will surely converge into the marine data explorations. On the other hand, marine big data also brings about many new challenges in data management, such as the difficulties in data capture, storage, analysis, and applications, as well as data quality control and data security. To highlight theoretical methodologies and practical applications of marine big data, this paper illustrates a broad view about marine big data and its management, makes a survey on key methods and models, introduces an engineering instance that demonstrates the management architecture, and discusses the existing challenges.
Evaluation of the Selenotranscriptome Expression in Two Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Guariniello Stefano , Di Bernardo Giovanni , Colonna Giovanni , Cammarota Marcella , Castello Giuseppe , Costantini Susan
Published: June 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and is still one of the most fatal cancers. Hence, it needs to identify always new putative markers to improve its diagnosis and prognosis. Since the selenium is able to fight the oxidative damage which is one of the major origins of cell damage as well as cancer, we have recently focused our attention on selenoprotein family and their involvement in HCC. In the present paper we have carried out a global analysis of the selenotranscriptome expression in HepG2 and Huh7 cells compared to the normal human hepatocytes by reverse transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR). Our data showed that in both cells there are three downregulated (DIO1, DIO2, and SELO) and ten upregulated (GPX4, GPX7, SELK, SELM, SELN, SELT, SELV, SEP15, SEPW1, and TrxR1) genes. Additionally, interactomic studies were carried out to evaluate the ability of these down- and upregulated genes to interact between them as well as to identify putative HUB nodes representing the centers of correlation able to exercise a direct control over the coordinated genes.
Generalized Projections on Closed Nonconvex Sets in Uniformly Convex and Uniformly Smooth Banach Spaces
Authors: Bounkhel Messaoud
Published: June 2015

The present paper is devoted to the study of the generalized projectionπK:X∗→K, whereXis a uniformly convex and uniformly smooth Banach space andKis a nonempty closed (not necessarily convex) set inX. Our main result is the density of the pointsx∗∈X∗having unique generalized projection over nonempty close sets inX. Some minimisation principles are also established. An application to variational problems with nonconvex sets is presented.
The Comparative PDT Experiment of the Inactivation of HL60 on Modified TiO2 Nanoparticles
Authors: Lu Kaiqi , He Qiyun , Chen Li , Ai Baoquan , Xiong Jianwen
Published: June 2015

Four samples of modified titanium dioxide (TiO2), Fe/TiO2 (2 wt%), Fe/TiO2 (5 wt%), and 5‐ALA/TiO2, were experimented in photodynamic therapy (PDT) on leukemia cells HL60, performing promising photocatalytic inactivation effect. Fe/TiO2 and 5‐ALA/TiO2 were synthesized in methods of precipitation and ultrasonic methods, respectively. X‐ray diffraction spectra and UV‐Vis spectra were studied for the samples’ crystalline phase and redshift of absorption peak. Further, FTIR spectra and Raman spectra were obtained to examine the combination of 5‐aminolevulinic (5‐ALA) and TiO2 nanoparticles. The toxicity of these four kinds of nanoparticles was studied through darkroom experiments. And based on the concentration which caused the same toxic effect (90%) on HL60, PDT experiments of TiO2, Fe/TiO2 (2%), Fe/TiO2 (5%), and ALA/TiO2 were done, resulting in the fact that the photokilling efficiency was 69.7%, 71.6%, 72%, and 80.6%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the samples were also taken to study the morphology of HL60 cells before and after PDT, resulting in the fact the activation of the modified TiO2 from PDT was the main cause of cell apoptosis.
Role of the IL-6 Gene in the Etiopathogenesis of Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Nikolova Svetla , Dikova Milka , Dikov Dobrin , Djerov Assen , Dzhebir Gyulnas , Atanasov Ventseslav , Savov Alexey , Kremensky Ivo
Published: June 2015

Scoliotic human nuclei pulposi can respond to exogenous proinflammatory stimuli by secreting increased amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6). The G/C polymorphism of the promoter region ofIL-6gene influences levels and functional activity of the IL-6 protein. We conducted a case-control study of eighty patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and one hundred sixty healthy unrelated gender-matched controls trying to investigate the association between IS and theIL-6promoter polymorphism at -174 position (rs1800795 G/C) in Bulgarian population. Molecular detection of theIL-6genotypes was performed by amplification followed by restriction technology. The statistical analysis was performed by Pearson’s chi-squared test. Our case-control study revealed a statistically significant association between theIL-6(-174 G/C) functional polymorphism and susceptibility to IS. In addition, a significant association between theIL-6(-174 G/C) polymorphism and curve severity was detected.IL-6gene could be considered as susceptibility and modifying factor of idiopathic scoliosis. The identification of molecular markers with diagnostic and prognostic value could be useful for early detection of children at risk for the development of scoliosis and for prognosis of the risk for a rapid deformity progression. That would facilitate the therapy decisions and early stage treatment of the patient with the least invasive procedures.
Tissue Transglutaminase‐Regulated Transformed Growth Factor‐β1 in the Parasite Links Schistosoma japonicum Infection with Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Tang Juanjuan , Zhu Xunmin , Zhao Jingjing , Fung Mingchiu , Li Yinyan , Gao Zhiyan , Yan Suikai , Li Xiaomin , Ji Xiaofang , Su Fang , Li Zi
Published: June 2015

Transforming growth factor (TGF‐β1) is among the strongest factors of liver fibrogenesis, but its association with Schistosoma‐caused liver fibrosis is controversial. Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is the principal enzyme controlling TGF‐β1 maturation and contributes to Sj‐infected liver fibrosis. Here we aim to explore the consistency between tTG and TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β1 source and its correlation with liver fibrosis after Sj‐infection. TGF‐β1 was upregulated at weeks 6 and 8 upon liver fibrosis induction. During tTG inhibition, TGF‐β1 level decreased in sera and liver of infected mice. TGF‐β1 showed positive staining in liver containing Sj adult worms and eggs. TGF‐β1 was also detected in Sj adult worm sections, soluble egg antigen and Sj adult worm antigen, and adult worms’ culture medium. The TGF‐β1 mature peptide cDNA sequence and its extended sequence were amplified through RT‐PCR and RACE‐PCR using adult worms as template, and sequence is analyzed and loaded to NCBI GenBank (number GQ338152.1). TGF‐β1 transcript in Sj eggs was higher than in adult worms. In Sj‐infected liver, transcriptional level of TGF‐β1 from Sj, but not mouse liver, correlated with liver fibrosis extent. This study provides evidence that tTG regulates TGF‐β1 and illustrates the importance of targeting tTG in treating Sj infection‐induced fibrosis.
Controlling Force in Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Fused Biconical Tapering
Authors: Zhang Wei , Rong Weibin , Wang Lefeng , Zheng Qing , Sun Lining
Published: June 2015

Fused biconical tapering (FBT) is an important method of manufacturing polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) couplers. However, the tension on the ends of the fibers can affect the performance of the coupler. In this paper, a computer-based method of controlling the drawing force was presented. The system includes a drawing mechanism, rotary position encoders, and a control circuit. A three-dimensional model of a permanent magnet and a coil is constructed, and the relationship among the coil current, rotation angle of the clamp, and electromagnetic force is determined using finite element simulations. Electromagnetic force control based on these simulations can be realized. The method is verified experimentally, and it is shown that a drawing force of 0–1.8 gf can be achieved with an error of within 3.04%. This result can be used in the FBT-based manufacture of fiber components such as fiber couplers and gratings.