bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stabilising economic growth through risk sharing macro instruments
Authors: Rizvi Syed Aun R. , Arshad Shaista 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe risk sharing principles of Islamic Finance have ironically been studied and used extensively outside the Muslim World. The development of early European city states was founded on the risk sharing principle. The risk sharing financing helped these city states to develop their infrastructure and rule the scientific and economic landscape of the west. The Western financial system of today still carries traces of risk sharing in the form of venture capital financing, albeit the primary focus has diverted to risk shifting‐based debt financing. Over the past decades, much effort and research has gone into establishing a viable set of Islamic financial institutions. Most Muslim nations are heavily indebted with high reliance on multilateral financing primarily based on high interest rates. This vicious cycle of interest rates and debt has stunted the growth of these nations and worsened the conditions of the masses. This research brings to the forefront the concept of an equity in nature GDP‐linked paper, which allows for enhanced risk sharing‐based sovereign financing. It aims to present empirical proof of the stability this instrument offers in economic growth, for a large sample of developing economies, comprising bulk of Islamic countries. While analysing the empirical work, a strong favourable argument for this instrument is derived for its benefits in stability. Through this study, we endeavour to initiate a thought‐provoking and practical discussion for further development of these instruments for the betterment of developing countries.
A retrospective study of anti‐inflammatory use in dogs with pulmonary blastomycosis: 139 cases (2002–2012)
Authors: Walton Rebecca A. L. , Wey Andrew , Hall Kelly E. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the effect of anti‐inflammatory medications on 30‐day survival of dogs treated for pulmonary blastomycosis.DesignRetrospective study.SettingUniversity teaching hospital.AnimalsOne hundred thirty nine client‐owned dogs with confirmed pulmonary blastomycosis.Measurements and Main ResultsThe medical records of dogs diagnosed with pulmonary blastomycosis between May 2002 and October 2012 were identified. Of 139 dogs, 85 (61%) survived to 30 days, 38 (27%) were euthanized due to progressive clinical disease, 13 (10%) died secondary to respiratory or cardiac arrest, and 3 (2%) did not survive to 30 days but had an unknown cause of death. Cases were classified based on the anti‐inflammatory therapy that was used: nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAID), corticosteroids, both, or none. Controlling for the effects of itraconazole dose, sex, age, and pretreatment with anti‐inflammatory medication, the odds for survival to 30 days was not statistically different between dogs who received no anti‐inflammatory medication and the dogs who received NSAIDs (P = 0.86), corticosteroids (P = 0.65), or both (P = 0.27). The need for supplemental oxygen was associated with decreased survival (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsIn this population of dogs with pulmonary blastomycosis, the use of anti‐inflammatory medications during therapy did not impact 30‐day survival; however, the need for oxygen supplementation was associated with significantly lower survival.
Threshold position control of anticipation in humans: a possible role of corticospinal influences
Authors: Zhang Lei , Turpin Nicolas A. , Feldman Anatol G. 
Published: May 2017

Key points
Sudden unloading of preloaded wrist muscles elicits motion to a new wrist position. Such motion is prevented if subjects unload muscles using the contralateral arm (self‐unloading).
Corticospinal influences originated from the primary motor cortex maintain tonic influences on motoneurons of wrist muscles before sudden unloading but modify these influences prior to the onset and until the end of self‐unloading.
Results are interpreted based on the previous finding that intentional actions are caused by central, particularly corticospinal, shifts in the spatial thresholds at which wrist motoneurons are activated, thus predetermining the attractor point at which the neuromuscular periphery achieves mechanical balance with environment forces.
By maintaining or shifting the thresholds, descending systems let body segments go to the equilibrium position in the respective unloading tasks without the pre‐programming of kinematics or muscle activation patterns.
The study advances the understanding of how motor actions in general, and anticipation in particular, are controlled.
AbstractThe role of corticospinal (CS) pathways in anticipatory motor actions was evaluated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex projecting to motoneurons (MNs) of wrist muscles. Preloaded wrist flexors were suddenly unloaded by the experimenter or by the subject using the other hand (self‐unloading). After sudden unloading, the wrist joint involuntarily flexed to a new position. In contrast, during self‐unloading the wrist remained almost motionless, implying that an anticipatory postural adjustment occurred. In the self‐unloading task, anticipation was manifested by a decrease in descending facilitation of pre‐activated flexor MNs starting ∼72 ms before changes in the background EMG activity. Descending facilitation of extensor MNs began to increase ∼61 ms later. Conversely, these influences remained unchanged before sudden unloading, implying the absence of anticipation. We also tested TMS responses during EMG silent periods produced by brief muscle shortening, transiently resulting in similar EMG levels before the onset and after the end of self‐unloading. We found reduced descending facilitation of flexor MNs after self‐unloading. To explain why the wrist excursion was minimized in self‐unloading due to these changes in descending influences, we relied on previous demonstrations that descending systems pre‐set the threshold positions of body segments at which muscles begin to be activated, thus predetermining the equilibrium point to which the system is attracted. Based on this notion, a more consistent explanation of the kinematic, EMG and descending patterns in the two types of unloading is proposed compared to the alternative notion of direct pre‐programming of kinematic and/or EMG patterns.
Training alters the distribution of perilipin proteins in muscle following acute free fatty acid exposure
Authors: Shepherd S. O. , Strauss J. A. , Wang Q. , Dube J. J. , Goodpaster B. , Mashek D. G. , Chow L. S. 
Published: May 2017

Key points
The lipid droplet (LD)‐associated perilipin (PLIN) proteins promote intramuscular triglyceride (IMTG) storage, although whether the abundance and association of the PLIN proteins with LDs is related to the diverse lipid storage in muscle between trained and sedentary individuals is unknown.
We show that lipid infusion augments IMTG content in type I fibres of both trained and sedentary individuals. Most importantly, despite there being no change in PLIN protein content, lipid infusion did increase the number of LDs connected with PLIN proteins in trained individuals only.
We conclude that trained individuals are able to redistribute the pre‐existing pool of PLIN proteins to an expanded LD pool during lipid infusion and, via this adaptation, may support the storage of fatty acids in IMTG.
AbstractBecause the lipid droplet (LD)‐associated perilipin (PLIN) proteins promote intramuscular triglyceride (IMTG) storage, we investigated the hypothesis that differential protein content of PLINs and their distribution with LDs may be linked to the diverse lipid storage in muscle between trained and sedentary individuals. Trained (n = 11) and sedentary (n = 10) subjects, matched for age, sex and body mass index, received either a 6 h lipid or glycerol infusion in the setting of a concurrent hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp. Sequential muscle biopsies (0, 2 and 6 h) were analysed using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy for fibre type‐specific IMTG content and PLIN associations with LDs. In both groups, lipid infusion increased IMTG content in type I fibres (trained: +62%, sedentary: +79%; P < 0.05) but did not affect PLIN protein content. At baseline, PLIN2 (+65%), PLIN3 (+105%) and PLIN5 (+53%; all P < 0.05) protein content was higher in trained compared to sedentary individuals. In trained individuals, lipid infusion increased the number of LDs associated with PLIN2 (+27%), PLIN3 (+73%) and PLIN5 (+40%; all P < 0.05) in type I fibres. By contrast, in sedentary individuals, lipid infusion only increased the number of LDs not associated with PLIN proteins. Acute free fatty acid elevation therefore induces a redistribution of PLIN proteins to an expanded LD pool in trained individuals only and this may be part of the mechanism that enables fatty acids to be stored in IMTG.
Ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (CD73) regulates peripheral chemoreceptor activity and cardiorespiratory responses to hypoxia
Authors: Holmes Andrew P. , Ray Clare J. , Pearson Selina A. , Coney Andrew M. , Kumar Prem 
Published: May 2017

Key pointsCarotid body dysfunction is recognized as a cause of hypertension in a number of cardiorespiratory diseases states and has therefore been identified as a potential therapeutic target.Purinergic transmission is an important element of the carotid body chemotransduction pathway.We show that inhibition of ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (CD73)in vitroreduces carotid body basal discharge and responses to hypoxia and mitochondrial inhibition.Additionally, inhibition of CD73in vivodecreased the hypoxic ventilatory response, reduced the hypoxia‐induced heart rate elevation and exaggerated the blood pressure decrease in response to hypoxia.Our data show CD73 to be a novel regulator of carotid body sensory function and therefore suggest that this enzyme may offer a new target for reducing carotid body activity in selected cardiovascular diseases.AbstractAugmented sensory neuronal activity from the carotid body (CB) has emerged as a principal cause of hypertension in a number of cardiovascular related pathologies, including obstructive sleep apnoea, heart failure and diabetes. Development of new targets and pharmacological treatment strategies aiming to reduce CB sensory activity may thus improve outcomes in these key patient cohorts. The present study investigated whether ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (CD73), an enzyme that generates adenosine, is functionally important in modifying CB sensory activity and cardiovascular respiratory responses to hypoxia. Inhibition of CD73 by α,β‐methylene ADP (AOPCP) in the whole CB preparationin vitroreduced basal discharge frequency by 76 ± 5% and reduced sensory activity throughout graded hypoxia. AOPCP also significantly attenuated elevations in sensory activity evoked by mitochondrial inhibition. These effects were mimicked by antagonism of adenosine receptors with 8‐(p‐sulfophenyl) theophylline. Infusion of AOPCPin vivosignificantly decreased the hypoxic ventilatory response (ΔEcontrol 74 ± 6%, ΔEAOPCP 64 ± 5%,P < 0.05). AOPCP also modified cardiovascular responses to hypoxia, as indicated by reduced elevations in heart rate and exaggerated changes in femoral vascular conductance and mean arterial blood pressure. Thus we identify CD73 as a novel regulator of CB sensory activity. Future investigations are warranted to clarify whether inhibition of CD73 can effectively reduce CB activity in CB‐mediated cardiovascular pathology.
Occurrence of Plasmid- and Chromosome-Carried
mcr-1
in Waterborne Enterobacteriaceae in China
Authors: Zhou Hong-Wei , Zhang Ting , Ma Ji-Hua , Fang Ying , Wang Han-Yu , Huang Zi-Xian , Wang Yang , Wu Congming , Chen Gong-Xiang 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the polymyxin resistance gene
mcr-1
in
Enterobacteriaceae
from environmental water sources in Hangzhou, China. Colistin-resistant bacteria were isolated from environmental water samples using an enrichment broth culture method, were screened for
mcr-1
, and then were analyzed for the location and transferability of
mcr-1
. Isolates positive for
mcr-1
were further examined to determine their susceptibility profiles and were screened for the presence of additional resistance genes. Twenty-three
mcr-1
-positive isolates (16
Escherichia coli
, two
Citrobacter freundii
, two
Klebsiella oxytoca
, two
Citrobacter braakii
, and one
Enterobacter cloacae
) were isolated from 7/9 sampling locations; of those, eight
mcr-1
-positive isolates also contained β-lactamase-resistance genes, eight contained
qnrS
, and 10 contained
oqx
. No
mcr-2
-positive isolates were identified. The majority of isolates demonstrated a low to moderate level of colistin resistance. Transconjugation was successfully conducted from 14 of the 23
mcr-1
-positive isolates, and
mcr-1
was identified on plasmids ranging from 60 to 220 kb in these isolates. Conjugation and hybridization experiments revealed that
mcr-1
was chromosome-borne in only three isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that the majority of
E. coli
isolates belonged to different clonal lineages. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed that sequence type 10 (ST10) was the most prevalent, followed by ST181 and ST206. This study demonstrates the utility of enrichment broth culture for identifying environmental
mcr-1
-positive isolates. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of responsible agriculture and clinical use of polymyxins to prevent further widespread dissemination of polymyxin-resistant pathogens.
Human Bile Reduces Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Antibiotics against Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli
In Vitro
Authors: Wulkersdorfer Beatrix , Jaros David , Eberl Sabine , Poschner Stefan , Jäger Walter , Cosentini Enrico , Zeitlinger Markus , Schwameis Richard 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

It has been known from previous studies that body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, lung surfactant, and urine, have a strong impact on the bacterial killing of many anti-infective agents. However, the influence of human bile on the antimicrobial activity of antibiotics is widely unknown. Human bile was obtained and pooled from 11 patients undergoing cholecystectomy. After sterilization of the bile fluid by gamma irradiation, its effect on bacterial killing was investigated for linezolid (LZD) and tigecycline (TGC) against
Enterococcus faecalis
ATCC 29212. Further, ciprofloxacin (CIP), meropenem (MEM), and TGC were tested against
Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922. Time-kill curves were performed in pooled human bile and Mueller-Hinton broth (MHB) over 24 h. Bacterial counts (in CFU per milliliter after 24 h) of bile growth controls were approximately equal to MHB growth controls for
E. coli
and approximately 2-fold greater for
E. faecalis
, indicating a promotion of bacterial growth by bile for the latter strain. Bile reduced the antimicrobial activity of CIP, MEM, and TGC against
E. coli
as well as the activity of LZD and TGC against
E. faecalis
. This effect was strongest for TGC against the two strains. Degradation of TGC in bile was identified as the most likely explanation. These findings may have important implications for the treatment of bacterial infections of the gallbladder and biliary tract and should be explored in more detail.
Ceftazidime-Avibactam Is Superior to Other Treatment Regimens against Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia
Authors: Shields Ryan K. , Nguyen M. Hong , Chen Liang , Press Ellen G. , Potoski Brian A. , Marini Rachel V. , Doi Yohei , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Clancy Cornelius J. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

There are no data comparing outcomes of patients treated with ceftazidime-avibactam versus comparators for carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
infections. At our center, ceftazidime-avibactam treatment of carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
bacteremia was associated with higher rates of clinical success (
P
= 0.006) and survival (
P
= 0.01) than other regimens. Across treatment groups, there were no differences in underlying diseases, severity of illness, source of bacteremia, or strain characteristics (97% produced
K. pneumoniae
carbapenemase). Aminoglycoside- and colistin-containing regimens were associated with increased rates of nephrotoxicity (
P
= 0.002).
Synergistic Activity between Statins and Bisphosphonates against Acute Experimental Toxoplasmosis
Authors: Li Zhu-Hong , Li Catherine , Szajnman Sergio H. , Rodriguez Juan B. , Moreno Silvia N. J. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

Bisphosphonates are widely used for the treatment of bone disorders. These drugs also inhibit the growth of a variety of protozoan parasites, such as
Toxoplasma gondii
, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis. The target of the most potent bisphosphonates is the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway enzyme farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS). Based on our previous work on the inhibitory effect of sulfur-containing linear bisphosphonates against
T. gondii
, we investigated the potential synergistic interaction between one of these derivatives, 1-[(
n
-heptylthio)ethyl]-1,1-bisphosphonate (C7S), and statins, which are potent inhibitors of the host 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (3-HMG-CoA reductase). C7S showed high activity against the
T. gondii
bifunctional farnesyl diphosphate (FPP)/geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) synthase (TgFPPS), which catalyzes the formation of FPP and GGPP (50% inhibitory concentration [IC
50
] = 31 ± 0.01 nM [mean ± standard deviation]), and modest effect against the human FPPS (IC
50
= 1.3 ± 0.5 μM). We tested combinations of C7S with statins against the
in vitro
replication of
T. gondii
. We also treated mice infected with a lethal dose of
T. gondii
with similar combinations. We found strong synergistic activities when using low doses of C7S, which were stronger
in vivo
than when tested
in vitro
. We also investigated the synergism of several commercially available bisphosphonates with statins both
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Our results provide evidence that it is possible to develop drug combinations that act synergistically by inhibiting host and parasite enzymes
in vitro
and in
vivo
.
The Bordetella Bps Polysaccharide Is Required for Biofilm Formation and Enhances Survival in the Lower Respiratory Tract of Swine
Authors: Nicholson Tracy L. , Brockmeier Susan L. , Sukumar Neelima , Paharik Alexandra E. , Lister Jessica L. , Horswill Alexander R. , Kehrli Marcus E. , Loving Crystal L. , Shore Sarah M. , Deora Rajendar 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

Bordetella bronchiseptica
is pervasive in swine populations and plays multiple roles in respiratory disease. Additionally,
B. bronchiseptica
is capable of establishing long-term or chronic infections in swine. Bacterial biofilms are increasingly recognized as important contributors to chronic bacterial infections. Recently the polysaccharide locus
bpsABCD
has been demonstrated to serve a critical role in the development of mature biofilms formed by the sequenced laboratory strain of
B. bronchiseptica
. We hypothesized that swine isolates would also have the ability to form mature biofilms and the
bpsABCD
locus would serve a key role in this process. A mutant containing an in-frame deletion of the
bpsABCD
structural genes was constructed in a wild-type swine isolate and found to be negative for poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG)-like material by immunoblot assay. Further, the
bpsABCD
locus was found to be required for the development and maintenance of the three-dimensional structures under continuous-flow conditions. To investigate the contribution of the
bpsABCD
locus to the pathogenesis of
B. bronchiseptica
in swine, the KM22Δ
bps
mutant was compared to the wild-type swine isolate for the ability to colonize and cause disease in pigs. The
bpsABCD
locus was found to not be required for persistence in the upper respiratory tract of swine. Additionally, the
bpsABCD
locus did not affect the development of anti-
Bordetella
humoral immunity, did not contribute to disease severity, and did not mediate protection from complement-mediated killing. However, the
bpsABCD
locus was found to enhance survival in the lower respiratory tract of swine.
Phylogenetic and Structural Comparisons of the Three Types of Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase from Methanococcales and Methanobacteriales
Authors: Wagner Tristan , Wegner Carl-Eric , Kahnt Jörg , Ermler Ulrich , Shima Seigo 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACT

The phylogenetically diverse family of methanogenic archaea universally use methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) for catalyzing the final methane-forming reaction step of the methanogenic energy metabolism. Some methanogens of the orders
Methanobacteriales
and
Methanococcales
contain two isoenzymes. Comprehensive phylogenetic analyses on the basis of all three subunits grouped MCRs from
Methanobacteriales
and
Methanococcales
into three distinct types: (i) MCRs from
Methanobacteriales
, (ii) MCRs from
Methanobacteriales
and
Methanococcales
, and (iii) MCRs from
Methanococcales
. The first and second types contain MCR isoenzymes I and II from
Methanothermobacter marburgensis
, respectively; therefore, they were designated MCR type I and type II and accordingly; the third one was designated MCR type III. For comparison with the known MCR type I and type II structures, we determined the structure of MCR type III from
Methanotorris formicicus
and
Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus
. As predicted, the three MCR types revealed highly similar overall structures and virtually identical active site architectures reflecting the chemically challenging mechanism of methane formation. Pronounced differences were found at the protein surface with respect to loop geometries and electrostatic properties, which also involve the entrance of the active-site funnel. In addition, the C-terminal end of the γ-subunit is prolonged by an extra helix after helix γ8 in MCR type II and type III, which is, however, differently arranged in the two MCR types. MCR types I, II, and III share most of the posttranslational modifications which appear to fine-tune the enzymatic catalysis. Interestingly, MCR type III lacks the methyl-cysteine but possesses in subunit α of
M. formicicus
a 6-hydroxy-tryptophan, which thus far has been found only in the α-amanitin toxin peptide but not in proteins.

IMPORTANCE
Methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) represents a prime target for the mitigation of methane releases. Phylogenetic analyses of MCRs suggested several distinct sequence clusters; those from
Methanobacteriales
and
Methanococcales
were subdivided into three types: MCR type I from
Methanobacteriales
, MCR type II from
Methanobacteriales
and
Methanococcales
, and the newly designated MCR type III exclusively from
Methanococcales
. We determined the first X-ray structures for an MCR type III. Detailed analyses revealed substantial differences between the three types only in the peripheral region. The subtle modifications identified and electrostatic profiles suggested enhanced substrate binding for MCR type III. In addition, MCR type III from
Methanotorris formicicus
contains 6-hydroxy-tryptophan, a new posttranslational modification that thus far has been found only in the α-amanitin toxin.