bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Importance of Monitoring Third-Party Actions in the Management of the Threat and Risk Posed by Climate and External Forces
Authors: Chamorro Ruíz Mayelis , Chaves Julián Fernando , Aristizábal Ceballos Jaime Hernán , Isabel Montoya María , Henao Padilla María José , Castro Villamarín Nestor 
Published: January 2016

The major events involving geotechnical instability that have affected the operation of the hydrocarbon-transfer systems maintained by VIT-Ecopetrol in recent years indicate the importance of managing — in conjunction with the local authorities, the communities, and other stakeholders — policies regarding appropriate land use on and near the rights-of-way (ROWs).
With a view toward ensuring ongoing operations that are in harmony with the environment, VIT-Ecopetrol has been implementing strategies for working with the Colombian government toward the development of scenarios involving shared responsibility for risk management. These scenarios include the harmonization of regional land-use planning with the presence of the hydrocarbon-transport infrastructure; the preparation of emergency plans; and the mitigation of slope-instability events associated with intense deforestation, uncontrolled urban expansion, and other significant changes in land use.
This paper describes the advances that have been made in monitoring the actions of third parties in connection with the management of the threat and risk posed by climate and external forces, based on an analysis of the development of the region and its interaction with areas of geotechnical interest.
ARPEL Guide for the Monitoring of Pipe, Rights of Way and Triggering Agents in the Management of the Integrity of Oil and Gas Pipelines Threatened by Geohazards
Authors: García Hugo , Contreras Maria F. 
Published: January 2016

Incidents associated with geohazards involving oil and gas pipelines can be avoided in most cases if there is an adequate program for monitoring pipelines, rights of way and triggering agents aimed at prevention.
Knowledge about how to manage geohazards is currently dispersed in the operators’ experiences, and it is necessary to compile a guide that will facilitate the selection of the appropriate technology for monitoring pipelines, rights of way and triggering agents.
This document explains the development of a project of the Regional Association of Oil, Gas and Biofuels Sector Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean – ARPEL, the deliverable of which will be a practical technical guide for companies operating in Latin America and the Caribbean for which geohazards represent one of the greatest risks to the integrity of oil and gas pipelines.
Effects of Sport-Specific Training Intensity on Sleep Patterns and Psychomotor Performance in Adolescent Athletes
Authors: Suppiah Haresh T. , Low Chee Yong , Chia Michael 
Published: January 2016

Purpose:Adolescent student-athletes face time constraints due to athletic and scholastic commitments, resulting in habitually shortened nocturnal sleep durations. However, there is a dearth of research on the effects of sleep debt on student-athlete performance. The study aimed to (i) examine the habitual sleep patterns (actigraphy) of high-level student-athletes during a week of training and academic activities, (ii) ascertain the effects of habitual sleep durations experienced by high-level student-athletes on psychomotor performance, and (iii) examine the impact of sport training intensities on the sleep patterns of high-level student-athletes that participate in low and high intensity sports.Methods:Sleep patterns of 29 high-level student-athletes (14.7 ± 1.3 yrs) were monitored over 7 days. A psychomotor vigilance task was administered on weekdays to ascertain the effects of habitual sleep durations.Results:Weekend total sleep time was longer than weekdays along with a delay in bedtime, and waketimes. Psychomotor vigilance reaction times on Monday were faster than on Thursday and Friday, with reaction times on Tuesday also faster than on Friday. False starts and lapses were greater on Friday compared with Monday.Conclusion:There was a negative impact of sleep debt on student-athletes’ psychomotor performance.
Novel Piperazine Arylideneimidazolones Inhibit the AcrAB-TolC Pump in Escherichia coli and Simultaneously Act as Fluorescent Membrane Probes in a Combined Real-Time Influx and Efflux Assay
Authors: Bohnert Jürgen A. , Schuster Sabine , Kern Winfried V. , Karcz Tadeusz , Olejarz Agnieszka , Kaczor Aneta , Handzlik Jadwiga , Kieć-Kononowicz Katarzyna 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

In this study, we tested five compounds belonging to a novel series of piperazine arylideneimidazolones for the ability to inhibit the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump. The biphenylmethylene derivative (BM-19) and the fluorenylmethylene derivative (BM-38) were found to possess the strongest efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) activities in the AcrAB-TolC-overproducing
Escherichia coli
strain 3-AG100, whereas BM-9, BM-27, and BM-36 had no activity at concentrations of up to 50 μM in a Nile red efflux assay. MIC microdilution assays demonstrated that BM-19 at 1/4 MIC (intrinsic MIC, 200 μM) was able to reduce the MICs of levofloxacin, oxacillin, linezolid, and clarithromycin 8-fold. BM-38 at 1/4 MIC (intrinsic MIC, 100 μM) was able to reduce only the MICs of oxacillin and linezolid (2-fold). Both compounds markedly reduced the MIC of rifampin (BM-19, 32-fold; and BM-38, 4-fold), which is suggestive of permeabilization of the outer membrane as an additional mechanism of action. Nitrocefin hydrolysis assays demonstrated that in addition to their EPI activity, both compounds were in fact weak permeabilizers of the outer membrane. Moreover, it was found that BM-19, BM-27, BM-36, and BM-38 acted as near-infrared-emitting fluorescent membrane probes, which allowed for their use in a combined influx and efflux assay and thus for tracking of the transport of an EPI across the outer membrane by an efflux pump in real time. The EPIs BM-38 and BM-19 displayed the most rapid influx of all compounds, whereas BM-27, which did not act as an EPI, showed the slowest influx.
Toward an Evidence-Based Nonclinical Road Map for Evaluating the Efficacy of New Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Regimens: Proceedings of a Critical Path to TB Drug Regimens-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
In Vivo
Pharmacology Workshop for TB Drug Development
Authors: Nuermberger Eric , Sizemore Christine , Romero Klaus , Hanna Debra 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT
Novel tuberculosis (TB) drug regimens are urgently needed, and their development will be enabled by improved preclinical approaches that more effectively inform and ensure safe selection of clinical candidates and drug combination/regimens. An evidence-based approach for the assessment of nonclinical models supporting TB drug development has been proposed by a joint partnership between the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Critical Path to TB Drug Regimens (CPTR) Consortium.
Contribution of Population Pharmacokinetics to Dose Optimization of Ganciclovir-Valganciclovir in Solid-Organ Transplant Patients
Authors: Padullés A. , Colom H. , Bestard O. , Melilli E. , Sabé N. , Rigo R. , Niubó J. , Torras J. , Lladó L. , Manito N. , Caldés A. , Cruzado J. M. , Grinyó J. M. , Lloberas N. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Treatment of solid-organ transplant (SOT) patients with ganciclovir (GCV)-valganciclovir (VGCV) according to the manufacturer's recommendations may result in over- or underexposure. Bayesian prediction based on a population pharmacokinetics model may optimize GCV-VGCV dosing, achieving the area under the curve (AUC) therapeutic target. We conducted a two-arm, randomized, open-label, 40% superiority trial in adult SOT patients receiving GCV-VGCV as prophylaxis or treatment of cytomegalovirus infection. Group A was treated according to the manufacturer's recommendations. For group B, the dosing was adjusted based on target exposures using a Bayesian prediction model (NONMEM). Fifty-three patients were recruited (27 in group A and 26 in group B). About 88.6% of patients in group B and 22.2% in group A reached target AUC, achieving the 40% superiority margin (
P
< 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] difference, 47 to 86%). The time to reach target AUC was significantly longer in group A than in group B (55.9 ± 8.2 versus 15.8 ± 2.3 days,
P
< 0.001). A shorter time to viral clearance was observed in group B than in group A (12.5 versus 17.6 days;
P
= 0.125). The incidences of relapse (group A, 66.67%, and group B, 9.01%) and late-onset infection (group A, 36.7%, and group B, 7.7%) were higher in group A. Neutropenia and anemia were related to GCV overexposure. GCV-VCGV dose adjustment based on a population pharmacokinetics Bayesian prediction model optimizes GCV-VGCV exposure. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01446445.)
Novel Aminoglycoside Resistance Transposons and Transposon-Derived Circular Forms Detected in Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates
Authors: Karah Nabil , Dwibedi Chinmay Kumar , Sjöström Karin , Edquist Petra , Johansson Anders , Wai Sun Nyunt , Uhlin Bernt Eric 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Acinetobacter baumannii
has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen equipped with a growing number of antibiotic resistance genes. Our study investigated the molecular epidemiology and antibiotic resistance features of 28 consecutive carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates of
A. baumannii
collected throughout Sweden in 2012 and 2013. The isolates mainly belonged to clonal complexes (CCs) with an extensive international distribution, such as CC2 (
n
= 16) and CC25 (
n
= 7). Resistance to carbapenems was related to
bla
OXA-23
(20 isolates),
bla
OXA-24/40-like
(6 isolates),
bla
OXA-467
(1 isolate), and IS
Aba1-bla
OXA-69
(1 isolate). Ceftazidime resistance was associated with
bla
PER-7
in the CC25 isolates. Two classical point mutations were responsible for resistance to quinolones in all the isolates. Isolates with high levels of resistance to aminoglycosides carried the 16S rRNA methylase
armA
gene. The isolates also carried a variety of genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. Several novel structures involved in aminoglycoside resistance were identified, including Tn
6279
, ΔTn
6279
, Ab-ST3-
aadB
, and different assemblies of Tn
6020
and Tn
aphA6
. Importantly, a number of circular forms related to the IS
26
or IS
Aba125
composite transposons were detected. The frequent occurrence of these circular forms in the populations of several isolates indicates a potential role of these circular forms in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes.
Destabilization of α-Helical Structure in Solution Improves Bactericidal Activity of Antimicrobial Peptides: Opposite Effects on Bacterial and Viral Targets
Authors: Ulaeto David O. , Morris Christopher J. , Fox Marc A. , Gumbleton Mark , Beck Konrad 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT
We have previously examined the mechanism of antimicrobial peptides on the outer membrane of vaccinia virus. We show here that the formulation of peptides LL37 and magainin-2B amide in polysorbate 20 (Tween 20) results in greater reductions in virus titer than formulation without detergent, and the effect is replicated by substitution of polysorbate 20 with high-ionic-strength buffer. In contrast, formulation with polysorbate 20 or high-ionic-strength buffer has the opposite effect on bactericidal activity of both peptides, resulting in lesser reductions in titer for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Circular dichroism spectroscopy shows that the differential action of polysorbate 20 and salt on the virucidal and bactericidal activities correlates with the α-helical content of peptide secondary structure in solution, suggesting that the virucidal and bactericidal activities are mediated through distinct mechanisms. The correlation of a defined structural feature with differential activity against a host-derived viral membrane and the membranes of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria suggests that the overall helical content in solution under physiological conditions is an important feature for consideration in the design and development of candidate peptide-based antimicrobial compounds.
Nitazoxanide Inhibits Pilus Biogenesis by Interfering with Folding of the Usher Protein in the Outer Membrane
Authors: Chahales Peter , Hoffman Paul S. , Thanassi David G. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Many bacterial pathogens assemble surface fibers termed pili or fimbriae that facilitate attachment to host cells and colonization of host tissues. The chaperone/usher (CU) pathway is a conserved secretion system that is responsible for the assembly of virulence-associated pili by many different Gram-negative bacteria. Pilus biogenesis by the CU pathway requires a dedicated periplasmic chaperone and an integral outer membrane (OM) assembly and secretion platform termed the usher. Nitazoxanide (NTZ), an antiparasitic drug, was previously shown to inhibit the function of aggregative adherence fimbriae and type 1 pili assembled by the CU pathway in enteroaggregative
Escherichia coli
, an important causative agent of diarrhea. We show here that NTZ also inhibits the function of type 1 and P pili from uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC). UPEC is the primary causative agent of urinary tract infections, and type 1 and P pili mediate colonization of the bladder and kidneys, respectively. By analysis of the different stages of the CU pilus biogenesis pathway, we show that treatment of bacteria with NTZ causes a reduction in the number of usher molecules in the OM, resulting in a loss of pilus assembly on the bacterial surface. In addition, we determine that NTZ specifically prevents proper folding of the usher β-barrel domain in the OM. Our findings demonstrate that NTZ is a pilicide with a novel mechanism of action and activity against diverse CU pathways. This suggests that further development of the NTZ scaffold may lead to new antivirulence agents that target the usher to prevent pilus assembly.
Is Aerosolized Pentamidine for Pneumocystis Pneumonia Prophylaxis in Renal Transplant Recipients Not as Safe as We Might Think?
Authors: Macesic N. , Urbancic K. , Ierino F. , Grayson M. L. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Outbreaks of
Pneumocystis
pneumonia have been described in renal transplant recipients. Aerosolized pentamidine is frequently used for prophylaxis in this setting. We report our experience with aerosolized pentamidine use in 56 renal transplant recipients. We found high rates of adverse reactions in patients with chronic respiratory disease.
Inhibition of Hippocampal Regeneration by Adjuvant Dexamethasone in Experimental Infant Rat Pneumococcal Meningitis
Authors: Bally Lia , Grandgirard Denis , Leib Stephen L. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACTPneumococcal meningitis (PM) causes neurological sequelae in up to half of surviving patients. Neuronal damage associated with poor outcome is largely mediated by the inflammatory host response. Dexamethasone (DXM) is used as an adjuvant therapy in adult PM, but its efficacy in the treatment of pneumococcal meningitis in children is controversially discussed. While DXM has previously been shown to enhance hippocampal apoptosis in experimental PM, its impact on hippocampal cell proliferation is not known. This study investigated the impact of DXM on hippocampal proliferation in infant rat PM. Eleven-day-old nursing Wistar rats (n= 90) were intracisternally infected withStreptococcus pneumoniaeto induce experimental meningitis. Treatment with DXM or vehicle was started 18 h after infection, concomitantly with antibiotics (ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg of body weight twice a day [b.i.d.]). Clinical parameters were monitored, and the amount of cells with proliferating activity was assessed usingin vivoincorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and anin vitroneurosphere culture system at 3 and 4 d postinfection. DXM significantly worsened weight loss and survival. Density of BrdU-positive cells, as an index of cells with proliferating activity, was significantly lower in DXM-treated animals compared to vehicle controls (P< 0.0001). In parallel, DXM reduced neurosphere formation as an index for stem/progenitor cell density compared to vehicle treatment (P= 0.01). Our findings provide clear evidence that DXM exerts an antiproliferative effect on the hippocampus in infant rat PM. We conclude that an impairment of regenerative hippocampal capacity should be taken into account when considering adjuvant DXM in the therapeutic regimen for PM in children.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Ocular Infection Caused by Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Authors: Jung Jiwon , Lee Junyeop , Yu Shi Nae , Kim Yong Kyun , Lee Ju Young , Sung Heungsup , Kim Mi-Na , Kim Sung-Han , Lee Sang-Oh , Choi Sang-Ho , Woo Jun Hee , Lee Joo Yong , Kim Yang Soo , Chong Yong Pil 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
bacteremia (SAB) often leads to ocular infections, including endophthalmitis and chorioretinitis. However, the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of ocular infections complicated by SAB are largely unknown. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence and risk factors of ocular involvement in a prospective cohort of patients with SAB at a tertiary-care hospital. Ophthalmologists reviewed the fundoscopic findings and classified the ocular infections as endophthalmitis or chorioretinitis. During the 5-year study period, 1,109 patients had SAB, and data for 612 (55%) who underwent ophthalmic examinations within 14 days after SAB onset were analyzed. Of those 612 patients, 56 (9% [95% confidence interval [CI], 7 to 12%]) had ocular involvement, including 15 (2.5%) with endophthalmitis and 41 (6.7%) with chorioretinitis. In a multivariate analysis, infective endocarditis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.74 [95% CI, 2.25 to 14.64]) and metastatic infection (aOR, 2.38 [95% CI, 1.29 to 4.39]) were independent risk factors for ocular involvement. Of the 47 patients with ocular involvement who could communicate, only 17 (36%) had visual disturbances. Two-thirds of the patients with endophthalmitis (10/15 patients) were treated with intravitreal antibiotics combined with parenteral antibiotics, whereas all of the patients with chorioretinitis were treated only with systemic antibiotics. No patients became blind. Among 42 patients for whom follow-up assessments were available, the ocular lesions improved in 29 (69%) but remained the same in the others. Ocular involvement was independently associated with death within 30 days after SAB onset. Ocular involvement is not uncommon among patients with SAB. Routine ophthalmic examinations should be considered for patients with infective endocarditis or metastatic infections caused by SAB.
Characterization of VCC-1, a Novel Ambler Class A Carbapenemase from Vibrio cholerae Isolated from Imported Retail Shrimp Sold in Canada
Authors: Mangat Chand S. , Boyd David , Janecko Nicol , Martz Sarah-Lynn , Desruisseau Andrea , Carpenter Michael , Reid-Smith Richard J. , Mulvey Michael R. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACTOne of the core goals of the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) is to monitor major meat commodities for antimicrobial resistance. Targeted studies with methodologies based on core surveillance protocols are used to examine other foods, e.g., seafood, for antimicrobial resistance to detect resistances of concern to public health. Here we report the discovery of a novel Ambler class A carbapenemase that was identified in a nontoxigenic strain ofVibrio cholerae(N14-02106) isolated from shrimp that was sold for human consumption in Canada.V. choleraeN14-02106 was resistant to penicillins, carbapenems, and monobactam antibiotics; however, PCR did not detect common β-lactamases. Bioinformatic analysis of the whole-genome sequence ofV. choleraeN14-02106 revealed on the large chromosome a novel carbapenemase (referred to here as VCC-1, forVibriocholeraecarbapenemase1) with sequence similarity to class A enzymes. Two copies ofblaVCC-1separated and flanked by ISVch9(i.e., 3 copies of ISVch9) were found in an acquired 8.5-kb region inserted into a VrgG family protein gene. ClonedblaVCC-1conferred a β-lactam resistance profile similar to that inV. choleraeN14-02106 when it was transformed into a susceptible laboratory strain ofEscherichia coli. Purified VCC-1 was found to hydrolyze penicillins, 1st-generation cephalosporins, aztreonam, and carbapenems, whereas 2nd- and 3rd-generation cephalosporins were poor substrates. Using nitrocefin as a reporter substrate, VCC-1 was moderately inhibited by clavulanic acid and tazobactam but not EDTA. In this report, we present the discovery of a novel class A carbapenemase from the food supply.
Characterization of SXT/R391 Integrative and Conjugative Elements in Proteus mirabilis Isolates from Food-Producing Animals in China
Authors: Lei Chang-Wei , Zhang An-Yun , Wang Hong-Ning , Liu Bi-Hui , Yang Li-Qin , Yang Yong-Qiang 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

SXT/R391 integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) were detected in 8 out of 125
Proteus mirabilis
isolates from food-producing animals in China. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that seven ICEs were identical to ICE
Pmi
Jpn1, carrying the cephalosporinase gene
bla
CMY-2
. Another one, designated ICE
Pmi
Chn1, carried five resistance genes. All eight ICEs could be transferred to
Escherichia coli
via conjugation. The results highlight the idea that animal farms are important reservoir of the SXT/R391 ICE-containing
P. mirabilis
.
Natural History of Francisella tularensis in Aerosol-Challenged BALB/c Mice
Authors: Heine Henry S. , Chuvala Lara , Riggins Renaldo , Cirz Ryan , Cass Robert , Louie Arnold , Drusano G. L. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the natural history and pathogenesis of
Francisella tularensis
in a murine model of inhalational tularemia with the SchuS4 strain. Before the efficacy of antimicrobials could be assessed in this model, further model development was required to determine the optimal time to start therapy. This study helped define the time course of infection after aerosol challenge by quantifying the presence of bacteria in lung, blood, and spleen at multiple harvest points. In this study, mice were infected via a targeted inhaled dose of 100 50% lethal doses (LD
50
s) (LD
50
= 300 CFU) of
F. tularensis
by whole-body aerosol. At 1, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, and 90 h postchallenge, groups of 15 animals were sacrificed and blood, lung, and splenic tissue samples were harvested, homogenized, plated, and incubated to evaluate the bacterial load in those tissues. It was determined that of the 3 sample types harvested, splenic tissue provided the most consistent bacterial counts, which steadily increased with the progressing infection. Further, it was determined that lung samples from all (15/15) animals were positive for infection at 75 h postaerosolization and that 14/15 animals had positive splenic tissue counts. Bacterial levels in blood were not predictive of treatment initiation. For future therapeutic evaluation studies in this model using
F. tularensis
(SchuS4), it was determined that therapy should be initiated at 75 h postchallenge and validated by spleen involvement.