bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct determination and differentiation of carbapenemases of A. baumannii from uncultured tracheal samples
Authors: Swathi CH. , Sukanya S. , Lakshmi V. , Ratnakar K.S. , Sritharan V. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe emergence of multiple carbapenemases and the consequent multi drug resistance in bacteria constitute a grave concern in the management of critical care patients and also in community acquired infections. Detection of carbapenamase activity helps to understand the possible mechanism(s) of carbapenem resistance in the microorganism. Identification of carbapenemases is currently being done by various phenotypic methods and molecular methods. However, innovative biochemical and spectrophotometric methods are desirable as they will be easy to perform, affordable and rapid. Recently a novel chromogenic method called CarbaNP test was introduced to screen for carbapenemases in clinical isolates of gram negative pathogens. We adopted this assay: (i) to detect the total carbapenemase activity (ii) to measure the relative rates of hydrolysis of imipenem by class A, B and D carbapenemases with inhibitors (iii) to confirm the genotype by PCR and (iv)for direct differential detection of various carbapenemases in uncultured clinical sample like tracheal aspirate. The study included 75 culture isolates and 153 purulent tracheal aspirates. All isolates were screened by our optimized protocol and also genotyped by PCR. This adopted assay showed good sensitivity and correlation with conventional phenotyping and genotyping. Our protocol offers the fastest way to identify the pathogen by PCR but also its carbapenemase profile directly from uncultured clinical samples in less than 4h. Our protocol is currently being validated on other types of clinical specimens in our laboratory.
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 M and HA segments sequences from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Authors: Matias F. , Kretzmann N.A. , Bisognin C.Z. , Teixeira K.P. , Corrêa L.T. , Vieira P.I. , Ikuta N. , Gregianini T.S. , da Veiga A.B.G , d’Azevedo P.A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe influenza virus is one of the most critical viruses in epidemiology. The 2009 pandemic was caused by a reassortment of the human–avian–swine virus with eight RNA segments responsible for all virus proteins. Segment 7 codifies for matrix proteins M1 and M2. These proteins exhibited low mutation rate because the matrix is fundamental for virion encapsidation and ion channel formation. However, hemagglutinin (HA) segment 4 is one of the most important segments for virulence and hence, is more studied. Brazil had many influenza virus infection cases just before 2009 and from 2011 to 2015, particularly in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State. Two hundred samples obtained during the pandemic were used for amplification and sequencing of the viral genome; a total of 19 M and 17 HA amplified segments were sequenced. Sequencing of the M fragment showed that RS has a virus origin different from that in Eastern Asia, Western Europe, USA, and Central America (Mexico and Nicaragua). All the sequences showed amantadine resistance (S31N) and one was out of the phylogenetic tree (Brazil/RS-3335/2009) due to high mutation rate. RS-3335 was the only sample obtained from a patient who died. Many migratory birds that flock to RS are from Europe, Asia, and USA, which could explain this rate of mutation. Insertions and deletions were found in the M1 protein in these samples. The HA sequences showed worldwide spread and less diversity than the M sequences in this study. The most divergent sample was Brazil/RS-3093/2009 that showed mutations in the sialic acid ligation site.
TheC. difficile clnRABoperon initiates adaptations to the host environment in response to LL-37
Authors: Woods Emily C. , Edwards Adrianne N. , McBride Shonna M. 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTTo cause disease,Clostridioides(Clostridium)difficilemust resist killing by innate immune effectors in the intestine, including the host antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin (LL-37). The mechanisms that enableC. difficileto adapt to the intestine in the presence of antimicrobial peptides are unknown. Expression analyses revealed an operon,CD630_16170-CD630_16190(clnRAB), which is highly induced by LL-37 and is not expressed in response to other cell-surface active antimicrobials. This operon encodes a predicted transcriptional regulator (clnR) and an ABC transporter system (clnAB), all of which are required for function. Analyses of aclnRmutant indicate that ClnR is a pleiotropic regulator that directly binds to LL-37 and controls expression of numerous genes, including many involved in metabolism, cellular transport, signaling, gene regulation, and pathogenesis. The data suggest that ClnRAB is a novel regulatory mechanism that senses LL-37 as a host signal and regulates gene expression to adapt to the host intestinal environment during infection.Author SummaryC. difficileis a major nosocomial pathogen that causes severe diarrheal disease. ThoughC. difficileis known to inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract, the mechanisms that allow this pathogen to adapt to the intestine and survive host defenses are not known. In this work, we investigated the response ofC. difficileto the host defense peptide, LL-37, to determine the mechanisms underlying host adaptation and survival. Expression analyses revealed a previously unknown locus, which we namedclnRAB, that is highly induced by LL-37 and acts as a global regulator of gene expression inC. difficile. Mutant analyses indicate that ClnRAB is a novel regulatory system that senses LL-37 as a host signal to regulate adaptation to the intestinal environment.
Histone Acetyltransferase KAT2A Stabilises Pluripotency with Control of Transcriptional Heterogeneity
Authors: Moris Naomi , Edri Shlomit , Seyres Denis , Kulkarni Rashmi , Domingues Ana Filipa , Balayo Tina , Frontini Mattia , Pina Cristina 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTCell fate transitions in mammalian stem cell systems have often been associated with transcriptional heterogeneity, however existing data have failed to establish a functional or mechanistic link between the two phenomena. Experiments in unicellular organisms support the notion that transcriptional heterogeneity can be used to facilitate adaptability to environmental changes and have identified conserved chromatin-associated factors that modulate levels of transcriptional noise. Herein, we show destabilisation of pluripotency-associated gene regulatory networks through increased transcriptional heterogeneity of mouse embryonic stem cells in which paradigmatic histone acetyl-transferase, and candidate noise modulator, Kat2a (yeast orthologue Gcn5) has been inhibited. Functionally, network destabilisation associates with reduced pluripotency and accelerated mesendodermal differentiation, with increased probability of transitions into lineage commitment. Thus, we functionally link transcriptional heterogeneity to cell fate transitions through manipulation of the histone acetylation landscape of mouse embryonic stem cells and establish a general paradigm that could be exploited in other normal and malignant stem cell fate transitions.
Distinct roles and requirements forRaspathway signaling in visceral versus somatic muscle founder specification
Authors: Zhou Yiyun , Popadowski Sarah E. , Deustchman Emily , Halfon Marc S. 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTPleiotropic signaling pathways must somehow engender specific cellular responses. In theDrosophilamesoderm,Raspathway signaling specifies muscle founder cells from among the broader population of myoblasts. For somatic muscles, this is an inductive process mediated by the ETS-domain downstream Ras effectors Pointed and Aop (Yan). We demonstrate here that for the circular visceral muscles, despite superficial similarities, a significantly different specification mechanism is at work. Not only is visceral founder cell specification not dependent on Pointed or Aop, butRaspathway signaling in its entirety can be bypassed. Our results show that de-repression, not activation, is the predominant role ofRassignaling in the visceral mesoderm and that accordingly,Rassignaling is not required in the absence of repression. The key repressor acts downstream of the transcription factor Lameduck and is likely a member of the ETS transcription factor family. Our findings fit with a growing body of data that point to a complex interplay between theRaspathway, ETS transcription factors, and enhancer binding as a critical mechanism for determining unique responses toRassignaling.SUMMARYA fundamentally different mechanism is shown for howRassignaling governs cell fate specification in theDrosophilasomatic versus visceral mesoderms, providing insight into how signaling specificity is achieved.
Mediating the role of work engagement between personal resources (self-efficacy, the big five model) and nurses’ job performance
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Awais , Alshagawi Mohammed , Syah Juhari Ariff 
Published: June 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of work engagement (vigor and dedication) between personal resources (self-efficacy and Big Five model) and job performance (task and contextual) rated by supervisor.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 364 nurses and their supervisors was used. Structural equation modeling with Amos-17 was used to obtain model fit with path significance of work engagement as mediator between personal resources and job performance.FindingsThe results found support for the proposed conceptual claim and confirm that work engagement with the two-factor model (vigor and dedication) mediates the relationship between personal resources (self-efficacy and Big five model) and with multidimensional construct of job performance (task and contextual performance) rated by the supervisor.Originality/valuePast researches have never tested the two-factor model of work engagement (vigor and dedication) as mediating variable between personal resources (self-efficacy and big five model) and job performance rated by the supervisor.
Gender, academic abilities and postsecondary educational choices
Authors: Vaarmets Tarvo 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
Gender inequalities in higher education have attracted interest in the academic literature. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach
The author uses standardized high school final exam results and probit regression analysis to contribute to this highly important discussion.

Findings
Based on secondary, non-survey data, female students tend to outperform males in subjects requiring creativity. Consistent with this comparative advantage, female students also tend to be more affected by their abilities in choosing and preferring the related field of humanities as a higher education. In line with female students’ choices, the results presented in the paper confirm that men are more inclined toward exact and natural sciences, even though they do not prove to have stronger abilities in related subjects. In addition, men are also more influenced by their abilities in obtaining a professional higher education. The choice of social sciences is quite similarly affected by the academic abilities of men and women. The paper also provides evidence that, on average, individuals choose their field of study according to their academic abilities.

Originality/value
For evidence, a data set that makes it possible to relate quantitative measures of very different academic abilities to all major academic disciplines is used in the paper. This unique approach has so far been lacking in the literature due to data limitations. In other words, instead of concentrating on a specific area, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the author takes a broader view.
Municipal solid waste management in Kitwe City
Authors: Mwanza Bupe Getrude , Mbohwa Charles , Telukdarie Arnesh 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the present municipal solid wastes (MSWs) management system, from an engineering management (EM) perspective, for the City of Kitwe while proposing a levers-driven sustainable municipal solid waste management (MSWM) model focussing on improving waste management (WM).

Design/methodology/approach
The research work involves four stages. First, a comprehensive review of literature is conducted on MSWM. Second, structured interviews are conducted with key experts in solid waste management in the City of Kitwe in order to enhance the knowledge inputs. Third, direct observations and an interview with a WM driver are conducted in order to understand; the collection, disposal and treatment options for MSWs. Lastly, a sustainable model for managing MSWs is proposed

Findings
The research findings indicate that the existing MSW system for the city is highly unsustainable and lacks EM methodologies. There are still a number of challenges in the management of MSWs which include: lack of proper collection and storage of MSWs; lack of an engineered landfill; lack of waste recovery and treatment systems; and lack of public education aimed at reducing and separating MSWs.

Practical implications
A correct and detailed database for waste generation, collection, treatment and disposal is needed for the City of Kitwe. The system is necessary for WM resources allocation as well as for planning sustainable WM projects. The proposed model has been developed based on the actual observations, data collection and analysis.

Originality/value
The research identifies a gap in the management of MSWs for the City of Kitwe. This work is original as no similar MSW model has been proposed globally and specific for a developing economy such as Africa.
Terminal values for firms with growth opportunities: explaining valuation and IPO price behavior
Authors: Miller Tom W. 
Published: June 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to use fundamental models incorporating structural relationships within the firm in a terminal value model for the second stage of a two-stage valuation model utilized to estimate the value of a company.Design/methodology/approachThe innovation is that growth options are identified within the structural relationships and a model capturing the value of the optionality is incorporated in the second stage of the two-stage valuation model.FindingsSignificant outcomes are that terminal value is shown to be a large portion of a company’s total value and the price behavior for initial public offerings produced by the model is consistent with the result of empirical studies.Originality/valueThis paper explicitly incorporates growth options in the second stage of a two-stage valuation model for the firm.
Structural insight into molecular mechanism of cytokinin activating protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
Authors: Seo Hogyun , Kim Kyung‐Jin 
Published: June 2018

SummaryCytokinin (CK)‐activating enzyme, called LOG, is a phosphoribohydrolase that hydrolyzes nucleotides into nucleobases and phosphoriboses. This reaction is a fascinating target for regulation of cellular active CK. However, misannotation of LOG as a lysine decarboxylase and the lack of detailed catalytic and substrate‐binding mechanisms have prevented studies of LOG at a protein‐level. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of PA4923 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The overall structure of PA4923 resembles those of type‐I LOGs, and it exhibited phosphoribohydrolase activity against AMP. These observations indicated that PA4923 functions as an LOG. We also determined the PaLOG structure in complex with AMP and elucidated the detailed binding mode of LOG against the AMP substrate. Interestingly, PaLOG undergoes an open/closed conformational change upon binding AMP, during which the Glu74 residue located on the β3‐β4 connecting loop flips 180° and moves 13 Å towards the AMP molecule. Structural and amino acid sequence comparisons of LOGs suggest that this conformational change upon substrate binding might be a common phenomenon in LOGs. In addition, based on our structural studies and the reported catalytic mechanism of nucleoside hydrolases, we proposed a catalytic mechanism for LOG in which an oxocarbenium ion‐like transition state is formed.
Novel bacterial lineages associated with boreal moss species
Authors: Holland‐Moritz Hannah , Stuart Julia , Lewis Lily R. , Miller Samantha , Mack Michelle C. , McDaniel Stuart F. , Fierer Noah 
Published: June 2018

SummaryMosses are critical components of boreal ecosystems where they typically account for a large proportion of net primary productivity and harbour diverse bacterial communities that can be the major source of biologically‐fixed nitrogen in these ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, we have limited understanding of how microbial communities vary across boreal moss species and the extent to which local site conditions may influence the composition of these bacterial communities. We used marker gene sequencing to analyze bacterial communities associated with seven boreal moss species collected near Fairbanks, AK, USA. We found that host identity was more important than site in determining bacterial community composition and that mosses harbour diverse lineages of potential N2‐fixers as well as an abundance of novel taxa assigned to understudied bacterial phyla (including candidate phylum WPS‐2). We performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing to assemble genomes from the WPS‐2 candidate phylum and found that these moss‐associated bacteria are likely anoxygenic phototrophs capable of carbon fixation via RuBisCo with an ability to utilize byproducts of photorespiration from hosts via a glyoxylate shunt. These results give new insights into the metabolic capabilities of understudied bacterial lineages that associate with mosses and the importance of plant hosts in shaping their microbiomes.
Notes on income heterogeneity and number of contributors: Public goods model
Authors: Miyakoshi Tatsuyoshi , Suzuki Kenichi 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis paper proves that a large degree of income heterogeneity increases the number of free riders under the noncooperative Nash equilibrium of voluntary contributions to public goods with a Cobb–Douglas utility function. We prove this by investigating an algorithm structure that identifies free riders. We also support this proof by showing the numerical simulation results based on this algorithm.
KaiC family proteins integratively control temperature‐dependent UV resistance in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1
Authors: Iguchi Hiroyuki , Yoshida Yusuke , Fujisawa Kento , Taga Hiroki , Yurimoto Hiroya , Oyama Tokitaka , Sakai Yasuyoshi 
Published: June 2018

SummaryKaiC protein is the pivotal component of the circadian clock in cyanobacteria. While KaiC family proteins are well‐conserved throughout divergent phylogenetic lineages, studies of the physiological roles of KaiC proteins from other microorganisms have been limited. We examined the role of the KaiC proteins, KaiC1 and KaiC2, in the methanol‐utilizing bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. Wild‐type M. extorquens AM1 cells exhibited temperature‐dependent UV resistance (TDR) under permissive growth temperatures (24 °C –32 °C). Both the phosphorylation of KaiC2 and the intracellular levels of KaiC1 were temperature‐dependent, and the TDR phenotype was positively regulated by KaiC1 and negatively regulated by KaiC2. Taken together with biochemical and functional analogies to the KaiC protein of cyanobacteria, our present results suggest that KaiC family proteins function to integrate environmental cues, that is, temperature and UV light, and output appropriate cellular responses to allow cells to adapt to changing environmental conditions.© 2018 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
U.S. food aid and American exports to recipient countries during the Cold War
Authors: Fałkowski Jan 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this article, we test to what extent the food aid granted by the U.S. during the Cold War was strategically motivated and used to promote U.S. interests. Using the data for the period 1971–1990, we investigate whether U.S. wheat aid had an effect on recipient countries’ total import of American products. The evidence we provide suggests a positive and robust relationship and thus it is consistent with the argument that U.S. food aid helped to create larger markets for U.S. producers.
Experiences of older people following the introduction of consumer‐directed care to home care packages: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Day Jenny , Thorington Taylor Ann C , Hunter Sharyn , Summons Peter , van der Riet Pamela , Harris Margaret , Maguire Jane , Dilworth Sophie , Jeong Sarah , Bellchambers Helen , Haydon Gunilla , Higgins Isabel 
Published: June 2018

ObjectiveTo explore the experiences of older people receiving home care package (HCP) support following the introduction of consumer‐directed care (CDC) by the Australian government on 1 July 2015.MethodsThirty‐one older people with existing HCP support from two service providers in regional New South Wales, Australia, participated in a face‐to‐face interview and/or a qualitative survey.ResultsAnalysis revealed the theme of Choices: Preferences, constraints, balancing and choosing. Participants described choosing to live at home with HCP support; however, they were constrained by poor communication and information about service changes and options, personal budgets and access to future care. HCP services remained largely unchanged during transition to CDC.ConclusionMany aspects of the initial implementation of CDC were challenging for older people. Clear, relevant and timely communication and information about CDC and its consequences for consumers appear to be needed to enhance CDC.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: online psychological interventions for mental and physical health outcomes in gastrointestinal disorders including irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Hanlon I. , Hewitt C. , Bell K. , Phillips A. , Mikocka‐Walus A. 
Published: June 2018

SummaryBackgroundOnline psychotherapy has been successfully used as supportive treatment in many chronic illnesses. However, there is a lack of evidence on its role in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.AimsTo examine whether online psychological interventions improve mental and physical outcomes in gastrointestinal diseases.MethodsWe searched CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Health Management Information Consortium, PsycINFO, British Nursing Index, Cochrane Library, a specialised register of the IBD/FBD Cochrane Group, MEDLINE (PubMed) WHO International Clinical Trial Registry, ClinicalTrials.gov, and reference lists of all papers included in the review. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess internal validity. Where possible, data were pooled using random‐effects meta‐analysis.ResultsWe identified 11 publications (encompassing nine studies) meeting inclusion criteria. One study had a high risk of selection bias (allocation concealment), all studies had a high risk of performance and detection bias. Eight studies were included in the meta‐analyses (6 on irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] and two on inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]). Online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was shown to significantly improve gastrointestinal symptom‐specific anxiety (MD: −8.51, 95% CI −12.99 to −4.04, P = 0.0002) and lessen symptom‐induced disability (MD: −2.78, 95% CI −5.43 to −0.12, P = 0.04) in IBS post intervention. There was no significant effect of online CBT on any other outcomes in IBS. No significant effect of online psychotherapy was demonstrated in IBD.ConclusionThere is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of online CBT to manage mental and physical outcomes in gastrointestinal diseases.