bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leishmania mexicana can utilize amino acids as major carbon sources in macrophages but not in animal models
Authors: Saunders Eleanor C. , Naderer Thomas , Chambers Jenny , Landfear Scott M. , McConville Malcolm J. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryLeishmania parasites target macrophages in their mammalian hosts and proliferate within the mature phagolysosome compartment of these cells. Intracellular amastigote stages are dependent on sugars as a major carbon source in vivo, but retain the capacity to utilize other carbon sources. To investigate whether amastigotes can switch to using other carbon sources, we have screened for suppressor strains of the L. mexicana Δlmxgt1‐3 mutant which lacks the major glucose transporters LmxGT1‐3. We identified a novel suppressor line (Δlmxgt1‐3s2) that has restored growth in rich culture medium and virulence in ex vivo infected macrophages, but failed to induce lesions in mice. Δlmxgt1‐3s2 amastigotes had lower rates of glucose utilization than the parental line and primarily catabolized non‐essential amino acids. The increased mitochondrial metabolism of this line was associated with elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, as well as increased sensitivity to inhibitors of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, including nitric oxide. These results suggest that hardwired sugar addiction of Leishmania amastigotes contributes to the intrinsic resistance of this stage to macrophage microbicidal processes in vivo, and that these stages have limited capacity to switch to using other carbon sources.
Host response genes associated with nodular gastritis in Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Ikuse Tamaki , Ohtsuka Yoshikazu , Obayashi Naho , Jimbo Keisuke , Aoyagi Yo , Kudo Takahiro , Asaoka Daisuke , Hojo Mariko , Nagahara Akihito , Watanabe Sumio , Blanchard Thomas G , Czinn Steven J , Shimizu Toshiaki 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundChronic Helicobacter pylori infection in children induces lymphoid hyperplasia called nodular gastritis (NG) at the antral gastric mucosa. The aim of this study was to evaluate genes in gastric biopsy on microarray analysis, to identify molecules associated with NG on comparison with NG‐negative pediatric corpus tissue and with H. pylori‐infected adult tissue with atrophic gastritis (AG).MethodsEight pediatric and six adult H. pylori‐infected patients, as well as six pediatric and six adult uninfected patients were evaluated. All infected adults had AG. NG was observed in the antrum of all eight pediatric patients and in the corpus of three patients. Adult and uninfected patients were free of NG; that is, only pediatric H. pylori‐infected patients had NG. Total RNA was purified from gastric biopsy, and microarray analysis was performed to compare gene expression between groups. The three infected children with NG in both the antrum and corpus were excluded from analysis of corpus samples.ResultsThe number of genes significantly up‐ or downregulated (fold change >3, P < 0.01) compared with uninfected controls varied widely: 72 in pediatric antrum, 45 in pediatric corpus, 103 in adult antrum and 71 in adult corpus. Nineteen genes had significantly altered expression in the antrum of NG tissue compared with NG‐negative pediatric corpus tissue and adult AG tissue. The CD20 B‐cell specific differentiation antigen had the most pronounced increase. Previously described regulators of NG development were not predominantly upregulated in the NG mucosa.ConclusionsCD20 overexpression may play an important role in lymphoid follicle enlargement and NG.
Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes related with neurological events after liver transplantation in adult and pediatric recipients
Authors: Piñero Federico , Cheang Yu , Mendizabal Manuel , Cagliani Joaquín , Gonzalez Campaña Ariel , Pages Josefina , Colaci Carla , Barreiro Mariano , Alonso Cristina , Malla Ivone , Fauda Martín , Bueri Jose , Podesta Luis G , Silva Marcelo 
Published: February 2018

AbstractControversy exists whether NE after LT are more frequently observed in children or adults. We aimed to compare the incidence and outcomes for NE after LT in pediatric and adult recipients. A single‐center cohort study, including all LT between 2001 and 2013, was performed. Definition of NE included impaired consciousness, delirium, seizures, focal neurologic deficit, visual impairment, or slurred speech. A cohort of 443 consecutive LT recipients was included: 307 adults and 136 children. Cumulative incidence of NE was similar between adults 15% (n = 41) and children 16% (n = 20; P = .73) with a complete neurological recovery in 62% and 95% of the patients, respectively (P < .0001). Adults with NE had significantly lower survival (70% vs 76%; P = .015) with a HR of 2.36; this was similarly observed in children (45% vs 66%; HR 2.05, CI 0.66; 6.34). Independent risk factors for NE in adults were pre‐LT ascites, delta sodium, and post‐LT hypomagnesemia, whereas in children pre‐LT encephalopathy ≥II and serum albumin were associated with NE. Although a similar incidence of NE after LT was observed, children were more likely to achieve neurological recovery. Risk factors for the development of NE are difficult to assess in both populations.
Agriculture in Shifting Climates: The Configuration and Ripeness of Problem Understandings in Uganda and Senegal
Authors: Raile Eric D. , Young Linda M. , Bonabana‐Wabbi Jackline , Kirinya Julian , Mbaye Samba , Wooldridge Lena , Raile Amber N. W. , Post Lori Ann 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTThe international community has advocated the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) as lower‐income countries deal with the negative consequences of climate change. Scaling up such policies, practices, and programs successfully will require support from a variety of local stakeholders. Such support requires alignment between CSA solutions and the problem understandings of stakeholders. However, problem understandings can differ across individuals, stakeholder groups, and geographic areas. Consequently, we examine understandings of climate problems and socioeconomic and infrastructure problems related to agriculture among different stakeholder groups in Uganda and Senegal. We operationalized and measured these problem understandings following the detailed guidance of the political will and public will approach for analyzing social change. Semistructured interviews elicited stakeholder‐generated lists of problems for each group. Limited quantification of problem understandings and their relative importance or “ripeness” demonstrates how contexts might shape opportunities for CSA.
Glycan distribution and density in native skin's stratum corneum
Authors: Danzberger J. , Donovan M. , Rankl C. , Zhu R. , Vicic S. , Baltenneck C. , Enea R. , Hinterdorfer P. , Luengo G. S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe glycosylation of proteins on the surface of corneocytes is believed to play an important role in cellular adhesion in the stratum corneum (SC) of human skin. Mapping with accuracy the localization of glycans on the surface of corneocytes through traditional methods of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy remains a challenging task as both approaches lack enough resolution or need to be performed in high vacuum conditions.Materials and methodsWe used an advanced mode of atomic force microscope (AFM), with simultaneous topography and recognition imaging to investigate the distribution of glycans on native (no chemical preparation) stripped samples of human SC. The AFM cantilever tips were functionalized with anti‐heparan sulfate antibody and the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) which binds specifically to N‐acetyl glucosamine and sialic acid.ResultsFrom the recognition imaging, we observed the presence of the sulfated glycosaminoglycan, heparan sulfate, and the glycans recognized by WGA on the surface of SC corneocytes in their native state. These glycans were found associated with bead‐like domains which represent corneodesmosomes in the SC layers. Glycan density was calculated to be ~1200 molecules/μm2 in lower layers of SC compared to an important decrease, (~106 molecules/μm2) closer to the surface due probably to corneodesmosome degradation.ConclusionGlycan spatial distribution and degradation is first observed on the surface of SC in native conditions and at high resolution. The method used can be extended to precisely localize the presence of other macromolecules on the surface of skin or other tissues where the maintenance of its native state is required.
Headwinds, Tailwinds, and Preferences for Income Redistribution
Authors: Chavanne David 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveThis study examines how preferences for income redistribution respond to information that points to the degree to which bad luck causes poverty and good luck causes wealth.MethodsSurvey respondents saw a vignette that described why someone is poor or a vignette that described why someone is wealthy; poverty and wealth were products of effort, various mixtures of effort and luck, one dimension of luck, or two dimensions of luck.ResultsOverall trends in the data show that redistribution is viewed more favorably as luck becomes marginally more important in causing both poverty and wealth. Pairwise comparisons of specific treatments show that responses to how degrees of bad luck cause poverty are more uniform and predictable than responses to how degrees of good luck cause wealth.ConclusionRedistributive preferences may be more malleable with respect to information that points to how bad luck contributes to poverty.
Stabilization and translation of synthetic operon‐derived mRNAs in chloroplasts by sequences representing PPR protein‐binding sites
Authors: Legen Julia , Ruf Stephanie , Kroop Xenia , Wang Gongwei , Barkan Alice , Bock Ralph , Schmitz‐Linneweber Christian 
Published: February 2018

SummaryThe chloroplast is a prime target for genetic engineering in plants, offering various advantages over nuclear transformation. For example, chloroplasts allow the expression of polycistronic transcripts and thus to engineer complex metabolic pathways. Each cistron within such a longer transcript needs its own expression elements. Within the 5′‐UTR, such expression elements are needed for stabilizing mRNAs and for translation of the downstream reading frame. One of the few effective expression elements used so far in transplastomic approaches is the intercistronic expression element (IEE). The IEE is derived from the psbT‐psbH intergenic region and includes a target sequence of the RNA binding protein HCF107. We here show that excessive expression of the IEE can lead to specific defects of endogenous chloroplast mRNA stabilization, likely via depletion of HCF107. Key players in chloroplast transcript stabilization and translation are pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, which are structurally related to HCF107. PPR proteins that stabilize mRNAs leave behind short RNA footprints that are indicators of their activity. We identified such sRNAs in tobacco, and demonstrate that they are sufficient to stabilize and stimulate translation of mRNAs from synthetic dicistronic transgenes in chloroplasts. Thus, minimal sequence elements are generally adequate to support key steps in chloroplast gene expression, i.e. RNA stability and translation. Furthermore, our analysis expands the repertoire of available expression elements to facilitate the assembly and expression of multi‐gene ensembles in the chloroplast.
Graphene oxide nanosheets modified with trithiocyanuric acid for extraction and enrichment of Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions in seawater
Authors: Mosavi Seyedeh Sara , Ghanemi Kamal , Nickpour Yadollah 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTrithiocyanuric acid (TTC) is a robust chelating ligand for extracting divalent and univalent heavy metals from water samples. In this method, graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) was modified with TTC, to produce a new nano‐adsorbent (GO‐TTC), for extraction and preconcentration of Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions from seawater samples. The concentrated analytes were measured by a flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection limits of the method for Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions were 0.32 ng/mL and 0.13 ng/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations of analytes for six successive extractions were below 1.64%. The maximum adsorption capacity of GO‐TTC for Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions was 750 µg/g and 460 µg/g, respectively. The recoveries of the spiked analytes in artificial and natural seawater samples were above 90%, pointing out that the method is not affected by the major coexisting ions in seawater matrices.
Reliability, validity and relevance of needs assessment instruments for informal dementia caregivers: a psychometric systematic review protocol
Authors: Kipfer Stephanie , Eicher Manuela , Oulevey Bachmann Annie , Pihet Sandrine 
Published: February 2018

Review question/objective:
The objective of this psychometric review is to identify needs assessment instruments for informal dementia caregivers which are:i. Reliable and valid in measuring the needs of informal dementia caregiversii. Relevant for clinical practice, research and informal caregivers

More specifically, the aim is to present an overview and an evaluation of the available needs assessment instruments, including: i) their psychometrics (reliability and validity) when available, and ii) their relevance according to the instrument characteristics, namely, their purpose, application method, administration burden, number of items and domain structure.
Second trimester ultrasound detection of fetal anomalies in the obese obstetrical population: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Preen Christina , Munn Zachary , Raju Smita , Flack Nicholas 
Published: February 2018

Review question/objective:
The objective of this review is to identify, appraise and synthesize the best available evidence on the impact of maternal obesity on mid second trimester ultrasound detection of fetal anomalies in pregnancy.
Brain Dynamics and Motor Behavior: A Case for Efficiency and Refinement for Superior Performance
Authors: Hatfield Bradley D. 
Published: February 2018

The paper presents a theoretical perspective on brain activity that characterizes expert cognitive-motor performance grounded in neural and psychomotor efficiency. Evidence for the position is derived from several different measurement tools (EEG, ERPs, fMRI, EEG coherence) based on empirical studies of (1) expert-novice contrasts, (2) changes in the brain after practice, and (3) motor performance under conditions of mental stress. The impact of mental stress on brain processes during motor performance is then discussed followed by a model of the hypothesized central neural responses to emotion-eliciting events to explain resilience to stress and the ability to “perform under pressure” as observed in high-performing athletes. An overall explanation is offered of the cascade of events that link the perception of the environment in which the performance occurs to the peripheral process of motor unit recruitment and the resultant quality of movement. This integrative perspective on human performance considers multiple levels of explanation including the psychology of sport performance, cognitive-motor neuroscience, and basic biomechanics to understand the kinematic qualities of movement and the effort cost involved.
Anidulafungin Pharmacokinetics in Ascites Fluid and Pleural Effusion of Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Welte R. , Eller P. , Lorenz I. , Joannidis M. , Bellmann R. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

Anidulafungin concentrations were quantified with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV detection of the ascites fluid and pleural effusion of 10 adult critically ill patients. Samples were collected from ascites fluid and from pleural drains or during paracentesis and thoracentesis, respectively. Anidulafungin levels in ascites fluid (0.12 to 0.99 μg/ml) and in pleural effusion (0.32 to 2.02 μg/ml) were below the simultaneous levels in plasma (1.04 to 7.70 and 2.48 to 13.36 μg/ml, respectively) and below the MIC values for several pathogenic
Candida
strains.
Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Protocol for Malaria Drug Resistance Marker Surveillance
Authors: Talundzic Eldin , Ravishankar Shashidhar , Kelley Julia , Patel Dhruviben , Plucinski Mateusz , Schmedes Sarah , Ljolje Dragan , Clemons Brooke , Madison-Antenucci Susan , Arguin Paul M. , Lucchi Naomi W. , Vannberg Fredrik , Udhayakumar Venkatachalam 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

The recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies provide a new and effective way of tracking malaria drug-resistant parasites. To take advantage of this technology, an end-to-end Illumina targeted amplicon deep sequencing (TADS) and bioinformatics pipeline for molecular surveillance of drug resistance in
P. falciparum
, called
ma
laria
r
esistance
s
urveillance (MaRS), was developed. TADS relies on PCR enriching genomic regions, specifically target genes of interest, prior to deep sequencing. MaRS enables researchers to simultaneously collect data on allele frequencies of multiple full-length
P. falciparum
drug resistance genes (
crt
,
mdr1
,
k13
,
dhfr
,
dhps
, and the cytochrome
b
gene), as well as the mitochondrial genome. Information is captured at the individual patient level for both known and potential new single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with drug resistance. The MaRS pipeline was validated using 245 imported malaria cases that were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The chloroquine resistance
crt
CV
IET
genotype (mutations underlined) was observed in 42% of samples, the highly pyrimethamine-resistant
dhps
IRN
triple mutant in 92% of samples, and the sulfadoxine resistance
dhps
mutation S
GE
AA in 26% of samples. The
mdr1
N
F
SND genotype was found in 40% of samples. With the exception of two cases imported from Cambodia, no artemisinin resistance
k13
alleles were identified, and 99% of patients carried parasites susceptible to atovaquone-proguanil. Our goal is to implement MaRS at the CDC for routine surveillance of imported malaria cases in the United States and to aid in the adoption of this system at participating state public health laboratories, as well as by global partners.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Endozoicomonas acroporae
Strain Acr-14
T
, Isolated from
Acropora
Coral
Authors: Tandon Kshitij , Chiang Pei-Wen , Chen Wen-Ming , Tang Sen-Lin 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

A lacuna exists in our understanding of the genetic makeup of
Endozoicomonas
bacteria, due to scarcity of genome sequences. We report here the first draft genome sequence of
Endozoicomonas acroporae
Acr-14, a type strain isolated from the coral
Acropora
. This sequence will foster an understanding of the genetic makeup and role of hosts in shaping gene repertoires.
Complete Genome Sequence of Industrial Dairy Strain
Streptococcus thermophilus
DGCC 7710
Authors: Hatmaker E. Anne , Riley Lauren A. , O’Dell Kaela B. , Papanek Beth , Graveley Brenton R. , Garrett Sandra C. , Wei Yunzhou , Terns Michael P. , Guss Adam M. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

We report here the complete genome sequence of
Streptococcus thermophilus
DGCC 7710.
S. thermophilus
is widely used in industrial dairy production.
Autoregulation and Virulence Control by the Toxin-Antitoxin System SavRS in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Wen Wen , Liu Banghui , Xue Lu , Zhu Zhongliang , Niu Liwen , Sun Baolin 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems play diverse physiological roles, such as plasmid maintenance, growth control, and persister cell formation, but their involvement in bacterial pathogenicity remains largely unknown. Here, we have identified a novel type II toxin-antitoxin system, SavRS, and revealed the molecular mechanisms of its autoregulation and virulence control in
Staphylococcus aureus
. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and isothermal titration calorimetry data indicated that the antitoxin SavR acted as the primary repressor bound to its own promoter, while the toxin SavS formed a complex with SavR to enhance the ability to bind to the operator site. DNase I footprinting assay identified the SavRS-binding site containing a short and long palindrome in the promoter region. Further, mutation and DNase I footprinting assay demonstrated that the two palindromes were crucial for DNA binding and transcriptional repression. More interestingly, genetic deletion of the
savRS
system led to the increased hemolytic activity and pathogenicity in a mouse subcutaneous abscess model. We further identified two virulence genes,
hla
and
efb
, by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and demonstrated that SavR and SavRS could directly bind to their promoter regions to repress virulence gene expression.
Evaluation of a Commercial Multiplex Molecular Panel for Diagnosis of Infectious Meningitis and Encephalitis
Authors: Liesman Rachael M. , Strasburg Angela P. , Heitman Angela K. , Theel Elitza S. , Patel Robin , Binnicker Matthew J. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

Rapid and accurate laboratory tests are important for the timely diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system infections. The FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis (ME) panel (BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, UT) is an FDA-cleared, multiplex molecular panel that allows the detection of 14 pathogens (bacterial [
n
= 6], viral [
n
= 7], and fungal [
n
= 1] pathogens) from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this study, we evaluated the performance characteristics of the FilmArray ME panel using clinical, residual CSF samples (
n
= 291) that tested positive by a routine method(s) (e.g., bacterial culture, individual real-time PCR assay) for a pathogen represented on the ME panel. Of note, a subset (
n
= 76) of the CSF specimens was collected during the prevaccine era and had been characterized as positive for a bacterial pathogen. The FilmArray ME panel demonstrated an overall percent positive agreement (PPA) of 97.5% (78/80) for bacterial pathogens, 90.1% (145/161) for viruses, and 52% (26/50) for
Cryptococcus
neoformans/C. gattii
. Despite the low overall agreement (52%) between the ME panel and antigen testing for detection of
C. neoformans/C. gattii
, the percent positive agreement of the FilmArray assay for
C. neoformans/C. gattii
was 92.3% (12/13) when the results were compared directly to the results of routine fungal smear or culture. The FilmArray ME panel offers a rapid (∼60-min), syndrome-based approach for the detection of select meningitis and encephalitis pathogens.