bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae – clinical and molecular perspectives
Authors: Choby J. E. , Howard‐Anderson J. , Weiss D. S. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) has emerged as a concerning global pathogen. hvKp is more virulent than classical K. pneumoniae (cKp) and capable of causing community‐acquired infections, often in healthy individuals. hvKp is carried in the gastrointestinal tract, which contributes to its spread in the community and healthcare settings. First recognized in Asia, hvKp arose as a leading cause of pyogenic liver abscesses. In the decades since, hvKp has spread globally and causes a variety of infections. In addition to liver abscesses, hvKp is distinct from cKp in its ability to metastasize to distant sites, including most commonly the eye, lung and central nervous system (CNS). hvKp has also been implicated in primary extrahepatic infections including bacteremia, pneumonia and soft tissue infections. The genetic determinants of hypervirulence are often found on large virulence plasmids as well as chromosomal mobile genetic elements which can be used as biomarkers to distinguish hvKp from cKp clinical isolates. These distinct virulence determinants of hvKp include up to four siderophore systems for iron acquisition, increased capsule production, K1 and K2 capsule types, and the colibactin toxin. Additionally, hvKp strains demonstrate hypermucoviscosity, a phenotypic description of hvKp in laboratory conditions that has become a distinguishing feature of many hypervirulent isolates. Alarmingly, multidrug‐resistant hypervirulent strains have emerged, creating a new challenge in combating this already dangerous pathogen.
Pyrosequencing of the subgingival microbiome in peri‐implantitis after non‐surgical mechanical debridement therapy
Authors: Nie Jie , Zhang Qian , Zheng Hui , Xu Li‐Xin , Wang Xiao‐Yan , Chen Feng 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesPeri‐implantitis remains a challenge for dental implant therapy, and the prognosis of non‐surgical therapy for peri‐implantitis is unsatisfactory. In order to reveal the impact of non‐surgical mechanical debridement therapy on microbial communities, we investigated the subgingival microbial communities of healthy implants and implants with peri‐implantitis, both before and after the therapy.Material and MethodsSubgingival plaques were collected from patients with healthy dental implants (HC; n = 10) and from patients with peri‐implantitis (n = 13) before and after non‐surgical mechanical debridement therapy. The treatment was conducted using curettes for submucosal debridement followed by irrigation with 0.2% (w/v) chlorhexidine, with re‐examination 1 month later. 16S rRNA pyrosequencing was used to analyze the subgingival microbiome, and co‐occurrence networks were adopted to explore the interactions between pathogens in the microbial communities.ResultsA total of 506 955 high‐quality reads were generated, and 2222 operational taxonomic units were finally detected using a 97% similarity cutoff, with a mean of 249 ± 69 per sample. The peri‐implantitis sites harbored similar microbial communities before and after the treatment, as demonstrated by the microbial diversity, relative abundance, and prevalence of bacteria. Most importantly, the microbial community structures were stable before and after non‐surgical therapy based on the microbial diversity and bacterial composition, as well as the interactions between key pathogens, including Enterobacteriaceae, Selenomonas sputigena, Parvimonas, Eubacterium infirmum, Campylobacter gracilis, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium, which were measured using a co‐occurrence network analysis. Periodontal pathogens were also detected in subgingival plaque after the treatment. Distinct microbial communities were found between the healthy and peri‐implantitis sites.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that non‐surgical mechanical debridement therapy did not significantly affect the subgingival microbial communities in peri‐implantitis, and the stable microbial networks created via interactions among pathogens may be responsible for the poor prognosis of peri‐implantitis treatment.
Geographical and temporal variation of multiple paternity in invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki, Gambusia affinis)
Authors: Gao Jiancao , Santi Francesco , Zhou Linjun , Wang Xiaoqin , Riesch Rüdiger , Plath Martin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMultiple paternity (MP) increases offspring's genetic variability, which could be linked to invasive species' evolvability in novel distribution ranges. Shifts in MP can be adaptive, with greater MP in harsher/colder environments or towards the end of the reproductive season, but climate could also affect MP indirectly via its effect on reproductive life histories. We tested these hypotheses by genotyping N = 2,903 offspring from N = 306 broods of two closely related livebearing fishes, Gambusia holbrooki and Gambusia affinis. We sampled pregnant females across latitudinal gradients in their invasive ranges in Europe and China, and found more sires per brood and a greater reproductive skew towards northern sampling sites. Moreover, examining monthly sampling from two G. affinis populations, we found MP rates to vary across the reproductive season in a northern Chinese, but not in a southern Chinese population. While our results confirm an increase of MP in harsher/more unpredictable environments, path analysis indicated that, in both cases, the effects of climate are likely to be indirect, mediated by altered life histories. In both species, which rank amongst the 100 most invasive species worldwide, higher MP at the northern edge of their distribution probably increases their invasive potential and favours range expansions, especially in light of the predicted temperature increases due to global climate changes.
The complex evolutionary history of apricots: Species divergence, gene flow and multiple domestication events
Authors: Liu Shuo , Cornille Amandine , Decroocq Stéphane , Tricon David , Chague Aurélie , Eyquard Jean‐Philippe , Liu Wei‐Sheng , Giraud Tatiana , Decroocq Véronique 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDomestication is an excellent model to study diversification and this evolutionary process can be different in perennial plants, such as fruit trees, compared to annual crops. Here, we inferred the history of wild apricot species divergence and of apricot domestication history across Eurasia, with a special focus on Central and Eastern Asia, based on microsatellite markers and approximate Bayesian computation. We significantly extended our previous sampling of apricots in Europe and Central Asia towards Eastern Asia, resulting in a total sample of 271 cultivated samples and 306 wild apricots across Eurasia, mainly Prunus armeniaca and Prunus sibirica, with some Prunus mume and Prunus mandshurica. We recovered wild Chinese species as genetically differentiated clusters, with P. sibirica being divided into two clusters, one possibly resulting from hybridization with P. armeniaca. Central Asia also appeared as a diversification centre of wild apricots. We further revealed at least three domestication events, without bottlenecks, that gave rise to European, Southern Central Asian and Chinese cultivated apricots, with ancient gene flow among them. The domestication event in China possibly resulted from ancient hybridization between wild populations from Central and Eastern Asia. We also detected extensive footprints of recent admixture in all groups of cultivated apricots. Our results thus show that apricot is an excellent model for studying speciation and domestication in long‐lived perennial fruit trees.
Die hard: timberline conifers survive annual winter embolism
Authors: Mayr Stefan , Schmid Peter , Beikircher Barbara , Feng Feng , Badel Eric 
Published: November 2019

SummaryDuring winter, timberline trees are exposed to drought and frost, factors known to induce embolism. Studies indicated that conifers cope with winter embolism by xylem refilling. We analysed the loss of hydraulic conductivity (LC) in Picea abies branch xylem over 10 years, and correlated winter embolism to climate parameters. LC was investigated by direct X‐ray micro‐computer tomography (micro‐CT) observations and potential cavitation fatigue by Cavitron measurements. Trees showed up to 100% winter embolism, whereby LC was highest, when climate variables indicated frost drought and likely freeze–thaw stress further increased LC. During summer, LC never exceeded 16%, due to hydraulic recovery. Micro‐CT revealed homogenous embolism during winter and that recovery was based on xylem refilling. Summer samples exhibited lower LC in outermost compared to older tree rings, although no cavitation fatigue was detected. Long‐term data and micro‐CT observations demonstrate that timberline trees can survive annual cycles of pronounced winter‐embolism followed by xylem refilling. Only a small portion of the xylem conductivity cannot be restored during the first year, while remaining conduits are refilled without fatigue during consecutive years. We identify important research topics to better understand the complex induction and repair of embolism at the timberline and its relevance to general plant hydraulics.
Diversity, dynamics and effects of long terminal repeat retrotransposons in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon
Authors: Stritt Christoph , Wyler Michele , Gimmi Elena L. , Pippel Martin , Roulin Anne C. 
Published: November 2019

Summary

Transposable elements (TEs) are the main reason for the high plasticity of plant genomes, where they occur as communities of diverse evolutionary lineages. Because research has typically focused on single abundant families or summarized TEs at a coarse taxonomic level, our knowledge about how these lineages differ in their effects on genome evolution is still rudimentary.

Here we investigate the community composition and dynamics of 32 long terminal repeat retrotransposon (LTR‐RT) families in the 272‐Mb genome of the Mediterranean grass Brachypodium distachyon.

We find that much of the recent transpositional activity in the B. distachyon genome is due to centromeric Gypsy families and Copia elements belonging to the Angela lineage. With a half‐life as low as 66 kyr, the latter are the most dynamic part of the genome and an important source of within‐species polymorphisms. Second, GC‐rich Gypsy elements of the Retand lineage are the most abundant TEs in the genome. Their presence explains > 20% of the genome‐wide variation in GC content and is associated with higher methylation levels.

Our study shows how individual TE lineages change the genetic and epigenetic constitution of the host beyond simple changes in genome size.
1‐Palmitoyl‐2‐linoleoyl‐3‐acetyl‐rac‐glycerol ameliorates chemoradiation‐induced oral mucositis
Authors: Choi Solji , Shin Su‐Hyun , Lee Ha‐Reum , Sohn Ki‐Young , Yoon Sun Young , Kim Jae Wha 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveThis study was designed to investigate whether necroptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of chemoradiation‐induced oral mucositis in a murine model and whether 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐linoleoyl‐3‐acetyl‐rac‐glycerol (PLAG) ameliorates this disorder.Materials and MethodsA chemoradiation‐induced oral mucositis model was established by treating mice with concurrent 5‐fluorouracil (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and head and neck X‐irradiation (20 Gy). Phosphate‐buffered saline or PLAG (100 mg/kg or 250 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered daily. Body weights were recorded daily, and mice were sacrificed on Day 9 for tongue tissue analysis.ResultsOn Day 9, chemoradiotherapy‐treated (ChemoRT) mice had tongue ulcerations and experienced significant weight loss (Day 0:26.18 ± 1.41 g; Day 9:19.44 ± 3.26 g). They also had elevated serum macrophage inhibitory protein 2 (MIP‐2) (control: 5.57 ± 3.49 pg/ml; ChemoRT: 130.14 ± 114.54 pg/ml) and interleukin (IL)‐6 (control: 198.25 ± 16.91 pg/ml; ChemoRT: 467.25 ± 108.12 pg/ml) levels. ChemoRT‐treated mice who received PLAG exhibited no weight loss (Day 0:25.78 ± 1.04 g; Day 9:26.46 ± 1.68 g) and had lower serum MIP‐2 (4.42 ± 4.04 pg/ml) and IL‐6 (205.75 ± 30.41 pg/ml) levels than ChemoRT‐treated mice who did not receive PLAG. Tongue tissues of mice who received PLAG also displayed lower phosphorylation levels of necroptotic signalling proteins.Conclusion1‐Palmitoyl‐2‐linoleoyl‐3‐acetyl‐rac‐glycerol mitigated chemoradiation‐induced oral mucositis by modulating necroptosis.
Incidence and causes of pacemaker implantation during postoperative period of aortic valve replacement with rapid deployment prosthesis
Authors: Arribas José María , Soriano Laura , Rivera‐Caravaca José Miguel , Lorenzo Maydelin , Muñoz Carmen , Taboada Rubén , Jiménez Antonio , Martínez Juan , García‐Puente Julio , Gutiérrez Francisco , Manzano Sergio , Cánovas Sergio 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundAortic stenosis is currently the most frequently occurring valve pathology. Developments, such as transcatheter prostheses and rapid deployment prostheses, allow for the offer of a valve replacement to higher risk patients, but these techniques are linked with a higher need for a permanent pacemaker during the immediate postoperative period.MethodsWe studied the incidence and the factors associated with permanent pacemaker implantation after aortic valve replacement with Edwards Intuity rapid deployment prosthesis.ResultsBetween October 2012 and December 2016, the Edwards Intuity prosthesis was implanted in 71 patients (68% male, 75.3 ± 5 years old). Six patients (8%) required a permanent pacemaker during immediate postoperative period. Univariate analysis showed that a history of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (P = .046, B = 7.5, 95% CI [1.039‐54.1]) and preoperative amiodarone (P = .009, B = 31.5; 95% CI [2.32‐426]) were associated with a higher need for a pacemaker during the postoperative period.ConclusionsThe incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation during the immediate postoperative period of aortic valve replacement with Edwards Intuity prosthesis was 8%, a value which is within the limits reported for conventional aortic prostheses. Preoperative amiodarone treatment and previous AMI may increase the need for a pacemaker during the postoperative period of these aortic prostheses.
Money matters: The role of public sector wages in corruption prevention
Authors: Cornell Agnes , Sundell Anders 
Published: November 2019

AbstractEconomic theory as well as conventional wisdom from corruption‐ridden countries suggest that low wages among public employees lead to corruption, but cross‐sectional empirical research has largely failed to confirm this relationship. In this article, we investigate the relationship between experiences of corruption and wage levels for public sector employees, utilizing both objective and expert survey data, with global coverage. The statistical analysis shows that higher wages, as compared to the average wage in the country, is associated with less corruption. There is also some support, but weaker, for the hypothesis that corruption increases when wages fall below subsistence levels.
IgE antibody repertoire in nasal secretions of children and adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis: A molecular analysis
Authors: Castelli Sveva , Arasi Stefania , Tripodi Salvatore , Villalta Danilo , Martelli Paola , Conte Mariaelisabetta , Panetta Valentina , Simonelli Ilaria , Rohrbach Alexander , Di Fraia Marco , Sfika Ifigenia , Villella Valeria , Di Rienzo Businco Andrea , Perna Serena , Dramburg Stephanie , Potapova Ekaterina , Matricardi Paolo Maria 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundThere is growing interest both in testing IgE in nasal secretions (NS) and in molecular diagnosis of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Yet, the reliability of nasal IgE detection with the newest molecular assays has never been assessed in a large cohort of pollen allergic patients.ObjectiveTo investigate with microarray technology and compare the repertoires of specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies in NS and sera of a large population of children and adults with SAR.MethodsNasal secretions were collected with an absorbent device (Merocel 2000®, Medtronic) and a minimal dilution procedure from 90 children and 71 adults with SAR. Total IgE (tIgE) (ImmunoCAP, Thermo Fisher Scientific (TFS)) and sIgE antibodies against 112 allergen molecules (ISAC‐112, TFS) were measured in NS and serum.ResultsNasal sIgE was detectable in 68.3% of the patients. The detected nasal sIgE antibodies recognized airborne (88%), vegetable (10%), and animal food or other (<1%) allergen molecules. The prevalence and average levels of sIgE in NS and serum were highly interrelated at population level. A positive nasal sIgE antibody to a given molecule predicted the detection of the same antibody in the patient's serum with a specificity of 99.7% and a sensitivity of 40%.ConclusionsThe concentration of sIgE is much lower in nasal secretions than in the serum. sIgE assays with very high analytical sensitivity and sampling methods with minimal dilution will be therefore needed to validate nasal secretions as alternative to serum in testing the sIgE repertoire.
Priming of inducible defenses protects Norway spruce against tree‐killing bark beetles
Authors: Mageroy Melissa H. , Christiansen Erik , Långström Bo , Borg‐Karlson Anna‐Karin , Solheim Halvor , Björklund Niklas , Zhao Tao , Schmidt Axel , Fossdal Carl Gunnar , Krokene Paal 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPlants can form an immunological memory known as defense priming, whereby exposure to a priming stimulus enables quicker or stronger response to subsequent attack by pests and pathogens. Such priming of inducible defenses provides increased protection and reduces allocation costs of defense. Defense priming has been widely studied for short‐lived model plants such asArabidopsis, but little is known about this phenomenon in long‐lived plants like spruce. We compared the effects of pretreatment with sublethal fungal inoculations or application of the phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the resistance of 48‐year‐old Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees to mass attack by a tree‐killing bark beetle beginning 35 days later. Bark beetles heavily infested and killed untreated trees but largely avoided fungus‐inoculated trees and MeJA‐treated trees. Quantification of defensive terpenes at the time of bark beetle attack showed fungal inoculation induced 91‐fold higher terpene concentrations compared with untreated trees, whereas application of MeJA did not significantly increase terpenes. These results indicate that resistance in fungus‐inoculated trees is a result of direct induction of defenses, whereas resistance in MeJA‐treated trees is due to defense priming. This work extends our knowledge of defense priming from model plants to an ecologically important tree species.
Impact of family income on the lifestyle and physique of schoolchildren in Higashi‐Osaka City, Japan
Authors: Takaya Junji , Okawa Toshikazu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundThere is limited evidence about the ways in which poverty affects the health and educational environment of schoolchildren. We investigated the impact of family income on the lifestyle and physique of children in Japan.MethodsWe mailed a questionnaire to 1,000 fifth‐grade elementary school and 1,000 second‐grade junior high school students and their parents in Higashi‐Osaka City from August to September, 2017. Physique was evaluated based on standard body weight for height.ResultsThe questionnaire survey recovery rate was 31.3%. Overweight / obesity was confirmed in 8.1% of males and 3.7% of females. The prevalence of overweight / obesity was higher in children of families with incomes under the median than in families with incomes over the median only in females. The number of children with less than 1 h of studying time after school was significantly higher in children of families with incomes under the median, as well as in overweight / obese children. In children of families with incomes under the median, the rates of possessing books, exercise equipment, and their own room were lower than in children of families with incomes over the median, but there was no difference in the rates of possessing smartphones, or video games, based on income.ConclusionsChildren of low‐income families have an educational handicap, which is one of the risk factors for the “chain of poverty.”
Overview and future perspectives of nitrifying bacteria on biofilters for recirculating aquaculture systems
Authors: Ruiz Pamela , Vidal José Miguel , Sepúlveda Daniela , Torres Claudia , Villouta Gabriela , Carrasco Carlos , Aguilera Felipe , Ruiz‐Tagle Nathaly , Urrutia Homero 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIntensive fish culture is a practice in aquaculture systems; however, it can produce negative environmental impacts due to the accumulation of organic nitrogen from feeding procedures, but also from fish wasting products. Recirculating aquaculture systems have emerged as one strategy to reduce these impacts, maintaining a healthy environment for fish. These reduce toxicity level through nitrifying biofilters, which use a microbial consortium to convert ammonia into nitrate. The main component of bacterial consortium is comprised by aerobic ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria and aerobic nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria, which are part of the whole nitrification process. These nitrifying bacteria grow in suspension or in fixed form, the latter characterized by a biofilm formation where bacteria adhere to a physical substrate in a self‐produced polymer matrix. The biofilm formation requires tight communication among bacteria to regulate the transcriptional circuits underlying the production of chemical signal molecules (e.g. N‐acetyl‐homoserine lactones) that control biofilm formation. This coordination is known as quorum sensing and can be considered as a mechanism that contributes to the coupling and maintenance of nitrification rate among bacteria by regulating expression levels of relevant genes associated with nitrification process. Therefore, the control of this process is crucial in recirculating aquaculture systems and its incorrect manipulation can produce a detriment of water quality. We here present an overview of the nitrification process in recirculating aquaculture systems. Subsequently, we describe nitrifying biofilters and nitrifying bacteria. Finally, we discuss how quorum sensing controls the efficiency of nitrifying bacteria and potential applications of nitrifying biofilters in intensive aquaculture systems.