bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A modified tibial compression test for the detection of meniscal injury in dogs
Authors: Valen S. , McCabe C. , Maddock E. , Bright S. , Keeley B. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveTo assess diagnostic efficacy of a modified tibial compression test in predicting medial meniscal injury in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament failure.MethodsDogs admitted for surgical stabilisation of stifles with cranial cruciate ligament failure were examined by five preoperative physical tests to assess medial meniscal injury. Results of each physical test were compared with findings at arthrotomy and used to calculate sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values.ResultsNone of the physical tests were accurate in reflecting meniscal integrity for dogs with cranial cruciate failure. Out of the five tests, the modified tibial compression test exhibited the highest concordance and sensitivity for the detection of medial meniscal tears. A palpable click during the modified tibial compression test had a sensitivity and specificity up to 63 and 77%, respectively, for the detection of medial meniscal lesions. Concordance values were up to 40% for the modified tibial compression test, followed by the range of motion test (up to 25%), while all other physical tests had concordance values below 10%.Clinical SignificancePhysical tests are highly available, affordable and can be easily performed, but their efficacy in diagnosing medical meniscal injury is low. Meniscal clicks associated with meniscal tears were more frequently elicited during the modified tibial compression test when compared with other traditional tests.
Dietary management of presumptive protein‐losing enteropathy in Yorkshire terriers
Authors: Rudinsky A. J. , Howard J. P. , Bishop M. A. , Sherding R. G. , Parker V. J. , Gilor C. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectivesTo describe the clinical outcome of dietary management of Yorkshire terriers with protein‐losing enteropathy without immunosuppressive/anti‐inflammatory medications.MethodsRecords were searched for Yorkshire terriers with hypoalbuminaemia and a clinical diagnosis of protein‐losing enteropathy that were managed with diet and without immunosuppressive/anti‐inflammatory medications. Serum albumin changes were compared using a one‐way repeated measures ANOVA. Canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index scores were compared using a Wilcoxon signed‐rank test.ResultsEleven cases were identified. Clinical signs were variable including: diarrhoea, respiratory signs, vomiting, lethargy and weight loss. Diets fed included home cooked (n=5); Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat (n=4); Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat (n=1); or Purina HA Hypoallergenic (n=1). Clinical signs resolved completely in eight dogs, partially resolved in two dogs and failed to respond in one dog. In dogs that responded, albumin significantly improved from baseline (mean 14·9 g/L, sd ±3·7), at 2 to 4 weeks (mean 24·2 g/L, sd ±5·5, P=0·01), and at 3 to 4 months (mean 27·0 g/dL, sd ±5·9, P=0·01).Clinical SignificanceThese results indicate that dietary management of protein‐losing enteropathy is a potential management strategy in Yorkshire terriers. Randomised clinical trials in Yorkshire terriers with protein‐losing enteropathy are necessary to compare success rate, survival and quality of life with dietary management versus combined dietary and immunosuppressive/anti‐inflammatory therapy.
The Minority Report at Trent and the Vatican Councils: Dissenting Episcopal Voices as Positive Sources for Theological Reflection
Authors: Blanchard Shaun 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis paper argues that the record of theological dissent at Trent and Vatican I are positive and fruitful sources of theological reflection on the sensus fidelium. Not only do these “minority” voices (minority in the literal sense of opposing a majority group or opinion) help us to accurately interpret the drafts and final documents of these councils, but these minority figures can sometimes preserve the sensus fidelium through their calls for various concessions from the majority.First, I revisit Trent's decree on Scripture (1546). Due to the interventions of two Italians (Nacchianti, the Bishop of Chioggia, and Bonuccio, the General of the Servites), the question of the relationship between scripture and tradition was left open – that is, the “two‐source” partim‐partim theory was not dogmatically enshrined. This was an important episode wherein a tiny minority gained a critical concession. I argue that this minority intervention bore fruit not only in a final Tridentine document that better echoed the faith of the ages, but also bore fruit centuries later at Vatican II in Dei verbum.Second, I argue that the minority at Vatican I protected the Church from extreme ultramontanism. This relatively large and intellectually powerful minority, many of them rooted in Gallicanism, played a key role in tempering a dogmatic proclamation that was further balanced and interpreted a century later in Lumen gentium and Christus Dominus.I conclude by suggesting theologians should look for ways in which the minority at Vatican II could serve future generations of Catholics in unforeseen ways.
Devotion, Theology and the Sensus Fidelium
Authors: Llywelyn Dorian 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe potential unwieldiness of popular religiosity and devotional spirituality and their ambiguous relationship with the liturgy have made them objects of perennial ecclesiastical concern. More recently, magisterial discussion of popular religiosity has come to value more positively its cultural and anthropological value and its spiritual content. The reforms of Vatican II were followed by a significant demise in devotionalism amongst Northern European and North American Catholics, yet demographic change and other factors have resulted in the resurgence of popular religious devotions. Manifestations of grassroots faith may express valuable convictions and important insights, including the value of the collective and the non‐verbal. However, these values may be easily dismissed by social elites for aesthetic reasons, or by academic theologians for reasons of the cultural milieu and preferences of academia. Given the preference of the theological tradition for lexical intelligibility, and the symbolic and the physical nature of many kinds of popular religiosity, how the sub‐disciplines of theology may now responsibly and respectfully treat these perduring phenomena is not clear. A healthy relationship between the fides qua and the fides quae demands taking seriously the sensus fidelium, understood as a broad experience that embraces the daily lives and local circumstances of Christians as well as their worship. The contemporary construal of the discipline of Christian Spirituality, understood as the study of Christian experience, promises to provide a multidisciplinary approach that can address the topic of popular religiosity and devotional practice.
Deification: The Mariology of the Ordinary Faithful
Authors: Boss Sarah Jane 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPopular devotion to the Virgin Mary can often be understood as implying a doctrine of deification, that is, of becoming perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. The Mother of God herself is the primary example of the deified person, and she in turn assists her devotees in their own process of becoming deified. The doctrine of deification articulated by Maximus the Confessor and John Scotus Eriugena provides an account that explains particularly well the theology implicit in much Marian devotion, and this is illustrated by two sets of examples, namely, devotional texts concerning the in partu virginity, and devotional practices at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Sensus Fidelium and the Old Testament: Learning from the Faith of Israel
Authors: Suchhart Verena 
Published: February 2017

AbstractRecent scholarship has reflected upon the relationship between sensus fidelium and scripture, but the Old Testament appears marginalized in this undertaking. This essay argues that the church can learn from Israel's faith for the concept of sensus fidelium. It presents the ‘canonical approach’ as an exegetical tool to bring the church as a reading community into conversation with many generations of believers in Israel and its own tradition. Furthermore, it provides one example of how a contemporary interpretation of an Old Testament text might deepen the understanding of the infallibility of the whole church in relation to its failures and sins.
Exploring the Facets of Empathy and Pain in Clinical Practice: A Review
Authors: Roche Jenny , Harmon Dominic 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundEmpathy is an essential element in providing quality patient care. The significance of empathy is even more striking in pain medicine, as chronic pain is notorious for the way it can compromise an individual, leaving him or her isolated and feeling misconceived. This review examines the role of empathy in pain medicine practice.MethodsCurrent and past literature focusing on empathy and pain was searched for in PubMed, Science Direct, MEDLINE (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ebsco), Research Gate, and Google Scholar in July 2015. Search dates were not limited and languages included English only. Search terms were “empathy and pain,” “empathy and chronic pain,” “physician empathy and pain,” “neural mechanisms and empathy,” “empathy in clinical practice,” “empathy and stigma,” and “empathy and medical students”. To select relevant publications, the title and abstract of every publication were examined, and when in doubt, the rest of the publication was read.ResultsFour major themes were identified: (1) the neural basis for empathy and pain; (2) the value and challenges of practicing empathy pain medicine; (3) stigma and empathy for pain; and (4) empathy and physician education and training.ConclusionThe review reveals that empathy deserves an unchallenged place in medical care, especially in pain medicine and medical education. It highlights the need to nurture empathy at all levels of professional expertise from medical student to senior doctors.
Cross-Comparison of Human Wastewater-Associated Molecular Markers in Relation to Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Enteric Viruses in Recreational Beach Waters
Authors: Hughes B. , Beale D. J. , Dennis P. G. , Cook S. , Ahmed W. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Detection of human wastewater contamination in recreational waters is of critical importance to regulators due to the risks posed to public health. To identify such risks, human wastewater-associated microbial source tracking (MST) markers have been developed. At present, however, a greater understanding of the suitability of these markers for the detection of diluted human wastewater in environmental waters is necessary to predict risk. Here, we compared the process limit of detection (PLOD) and process limit of quantification (PLOQ) of six human wastewater-associated MST markers (
Bacteroides
HF183 [HF183],
Escherichia coli
H8 [EC H8],
Methanobrevibacter smithii
nifH
, human adenovirus [HAdV], human polyomavirus [HPyV], and pepper mild mottle virus [PMMoV]) in relation to a fecal indicator bacterium (FIB),
Enterococcus
sp. 23S rRNA (ENT 23S), and three enteric viruses (human adenovirus serotypes 40/41 [HAdV 40/41], human norovirus [HNoV], and human enterovirus [EV]) in beach water samples seeded with raw and secondary-treated wastewater. Among the six MST markers tested, HF183 was the most sensitive measure of human fecal pollution and was quantifiable up to dilutions of 10
−6
and 10
−4
for beach water samples seeded with raw and secondary-treated wastewater, respectively. Other markers and enteric viruses were detected at various dilutions (10
−1
to 10
−5
). These MST markers, FIB, and enteric viruses were then quantified in beach water (
n
= 12) and sand samples (
n
= 12) from South East Queensland (SEQ), Australia, to estimate the levels of human fecal pollution. Of the 12 sites examined, beach water and sand samples from several sites had quantifiable concentrations of HF183 and PMMoV markers. Overall, our results indicate that while HF183 is the most sensitive measure of human fecal pollution, it should be used in conjunction with a conferring viral marker to avoid overestimating the risk of gastrointestinal illness.

IMPORTANCE
MST is an effective tool to help utilities and regulators improve recreational water quality around the globe. Human fecal pollution poses significant public health risks compared to animal fecal pollution. Several human wastewater-associated markers have been developed and used for MST field studies. However, a head-to-head comparison in terms of their performance to detect diluted human fecal pollution in recreational water is lacking. In this study, we cross-compared the performance of six human wastewater-associated markers in relation to FIB and enteric viruses in beach water samples seeded with raw and secondary-treated wastewater. The results of this study will provide guidance to regulators and utilities on the appropriate application of MST markers for tracking the sources of human fecal pollution in environmental waters and confer human health risks.
Biofilm Formation on Stainless Steel by Streptococcus thermophilus UC8547 in Milk Environments Is Mediated by the Proteinase PrtS
Authors: Bassi D. , Cappa F. , Gazzola S. , Orrù L. , Cocconcelli P. S. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

In
Streptococcus thermophilus
, gene transfer events and loss of ancestral traits over the years contribute to its high level of adaptation to milk environments. Biofilm formation capacity, a phenotype that is lost in the majority of strains, plays a role in persistence in dairy environments, such as milk pasteurization and cheese manufacturing plants. To investigate this property, we have studied
S. thermophilus
UC8547, a fast-acidifying dairy starter culture selected for its high capacity to form biofilm on stainless steel under environmental conditions resembling the dairy environment. Using a dynamic flow cell apparatus, it was shown that
S. thermophilus
UC8547 biofilm formation on stainless steel depends on the presence of milk proteins. From this strain, which harbors the
prtS
gene for the cell wall protease and shows an aggregative phenotype, spontaneous mutants with impaired biofilm capacity can be isolated at high frequency. These mutants lack the PrtS expendable island, as confirmed by comparison of the genome sequence of UC8547Δ3 with that of the parent strain. The
prtS
island excision occurs between two 26-bp direct repeats located in the two copies of the IS
Sth1
flanking this genomic island. The central role of PrtS was confirmed by analyzing the derivative strain UC8547Δ16, whose
prtS
gene was interrupted by an insertional mutation, thereby making it incapable of biofilm formation. PrtS, acting as a binding substance between the milk proteins adhered to stainless steel and
S. thermophilus
cell envelopes, mediates biofilm formation in dairy environments. This feature provides
S. thermophilus
with an ecological benefit for its survival and persistence in this environment.

IMPORTANCE
The increased persistence of
S. thermophilus
biofilm has consequences in the dairy environment: if, on the one hand, the release of this microorganism from biofilm can promote the fermentation of artisanal cheeses, under industrial conditions it may lead to undesirable contamination of dairy products. The study of the molecular mechanism driving
S. thermophilus
biofilm formation provides increased knowledge on how an ancestral trait affects relevant phenotypes, such as persistence in the environment and efficiency of growth in milk. This study provides insight into the genetic factors affecting biofilm formation at dairy plants.
Two Novel Fungal Phenolic UDP Glycosyltransferases from Absidia coerulea and Rhizopus japonicus
Authors: Xie Kebo , Dou Xiaoxiang , Chen Ridao , Chen Dawei , Fang Cheng , Xiao Zhiyan , Dai Jungui 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

In the present study, two novel phenolic UDP glycosyltransferases (P-UGTs), UGT58A1 and UGT59A1, which can transfer sugar moieties from active donors to phenolic acceptors to generate corresponding glycosides, were identified in the fungal kingdom. UGT58A1 (from
Absidia coerulea
) and UGT59A1 (from
Rhizopus japonicas
) share a low degree of homology with known UGTs from animals, plants, bacteria, and viruses. These two P-UGTs are membrane-bound proteins with an N-terminal signal peptide and a transmembrane domain at the C terminus. Recombinant UGT58A1 and UGT59A1 are able to regioselectively and stereoselectively glycosylate a variety of phenolic aglycones to generate the corresponding glycosides. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the novelty of UGT58A1 and UGT59A1 in primary sequences in that they are distantly related to other UGTs and form a totally new evolutionary branch. Moreover, UGT58A1 and UGT59A1 represent the first members of the UGT58 and UGT59 families, respectively. Homology modeling and mutational analysis implied the sugar donor binding sites and key catalytic sites, which provided insights into the catalytic mechanism of UGT58A1. These results not only provide an efficient enzymatic tool for the synthesis of bioactive glycosides but also create a starting point for the identification of P-UGTs from fungi at the molecular level.

IMPORTANCE
Thus far, there have been many reports on the glycosylation of phenolics by fungal cells. However, no P-UGTs have ever been identified in fungi. Our study identified fungal P-UGTs at the molecular level and confirmed the existence of the UGT58 and UGT59 families. The novel sequence information on UGT58A1 and UGT59A1 shed light on the exciting and new P-UGTs hiding in the fungal kingdom, which would lead to the characterization of novel P-UGTs from fungi. Molecular identification of fungal P-UGTs not only is theoretically significant for a better understanding of the evolution of UGT families but also can be applied as a powerful tool in the glycodiversification of bioactive natural products for drug discovery.
A Model for Designing Adaptive Laboratory Evolution Experiments
Authors: LaCroix Ryan A. , Palsson Bernhard O. , Feist Adam M. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of mutations is a cornerstone of the evolutionary theory of adaptation, capitalizing on the rare chance that a mutation confers a fitness benefit. Natural selection is increasingly being leveraged in laboratory settings for industrial and basic science applications. Despite increasing deployment, there are no standardized procedures available for designing and performing adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) experiments. Thus, there is a need to optimize the experimental design, specifically for determining when to consider an experiment complete and for balancing outcomes with available resources (i.e., laboratory supplies, personnel, and time). To design and to better understand ALE experiments, a simulator, ALEsim, was developed, validated, and applied to the optimization of ALE experiments. The effects of various passage sizes were experimentally determined and subsequently evaluated with ALEsim, to explain differences in experimental outcomes. Furthermore, a beneficial mutation rate of 10
−6.9
to 10
−8.4
mutations per cell division was derived. A retrospective analysis of ALE experiments revealed that passage sizes typically employed in serial passage batch culture ALE experiments led to inefficient production and fixation of beneficial mutations. ALEsim and the results described here will aid in the design of ALE experiments to fit the exact needs of a project while taking into account the resources required and will lower the barriers to entry for this experimental technique.

IMPORTANCE
ALE is a widely used scientific technique to increase scientific understanding, as well as to create industrially relevant organisms. The manner in which ALE experiments are conducted is highly manual and uniform, with little optimization for efficiency. Such inefficiencies result in suboptimal experiments that can take multiple months to complete. With the availability of automation and computer simulations, we can now perform these experiments in an optimized fashion and can design experiments to generate greater fitness in an accelerated time frame, thereby pushing the limits of what adaptive laboratory evolution can achieve.
RifZ (AMED_0655) Is a Pathway-Specific Regulator for Rifamycin Biosynthesis in Amycolatopsis mediterranei
Authors: Li Chen , Liu Xinqiang , Lei Chao , Yan Han , Shao Zhihui , Wang Ying , Zhao Guoping , Wang Jin , Ding Xiaoming 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Rifamycin and its derivatives are particularly effective against the pathogenic mycobacteria
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
and
Mycobacterium leprae
. Although the biosynthetic pathway of rifamycin has been extensively studied in
Amycolatopsis mediterranei
, little is known about the regulation in rifamycin biosynthesis. Here, an
in vivo
transposon system was employed to identify genes involved in the regulation of rifamycin production in
A. mediterranei
U32. In total, nine rifamycin-deficient mutants were isolated, among which three mutants had the transposon inserted in
AMED_0655
(
rifZ
, encoding a LuxR family regulator). The
rifZ
gene was further knocked out via homologous recombination, and the transcription of genes in the rifamycin biosynthetic gene cluster (
rif
cluster) was remarkably reduced in the
rifZ
null mutant. Based on the cotranscription assay results, genes within the
rif
cluster were grouped into 10 operons, sharing six promoter regions. By use of electrophoretic mobility shift assay and DNase I footprinting assay, RifZ was proved to specially bind to all six promoter regions, which was consistent with the fact that RifZ regulated the transcription of the whole
rif
cluster. The binding consensus sequence was further characterized through alignment using the RifZ-protected DNA sequences. By use of bionformatic analysis, another five promoters containing the RifZ box (CTACC-N8-GGATG) were identified, among which the binding of RifZ to the promoter regions of both
rifK
and
orf18
(
AMED_0645
) was further verified. As RifZ directly regulates the transcription of all operons within the
rif
cluster, we propose that RifZ is a pathway-specific regulator for the
rif
cluster.

IMPORTANCE
To this day, rifamycin and its derivatives are still the first-line antituberculosis drugs. The biosynthesis of rifamycin has been extensively studied, and most biosynthetic processes have been characterized. However, little is known about the regulation of the transcription of the rifamycin biosynthetic gene cluster (
rif
cluster), and no regulator has been characterized. Through the employment of transposon screening, we here characterized a LuxR family regulator, RifZ, as a direct transcriptional activator for the
rif
cluster. As RifZ directly regulates the transcription of the entire
rif
cluster, it is considered a pathway-specific regulator for rifamycin biosynthesis. Therefore, as the first regulator characterized for direct regulation of
rif
cluster transcription, RifZ may provide a new clue for further engineering of high-yield industrial strains.