bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecophysiology matters: linking inorganic carbon acquisition to ecological preference in four species of microalgae (Chlorophyceae)
Authors: Lachmann Sabrina C. , Maberly Stephen C. , Spijkerman Elly 
Published: September 2016

The effect ofCO2supply is likely to play an important role in algal ecology. Since inorganic carbon (Ci) acquisition strategies are very diverse among microalgae and Ciavailability varies greatly within and among habitats, we hypothesized that Ciacquisition depends on the pH of their preferred natural environment (adaptation) and that the efficiency of Ciuptake is affected byCO2availability (acclimation). To test this, four species of green algae originating from different habitats were studied. The pH‐drift and Ciuptake kinetic experiments were used to characterize Ciacquisition strategies and their ability to acclimate tohighandlowCO2conditions andhighand lowpHwas evaluated. Results from pH drift experiments revealed that the acidophile and acidotolerantChlamydomonasspecies were mainly restricted toCO2, whereas the two neutrophiles were efficient bicarbonate users.CO2compensation points inlowCO2‐acclimated cultures ranged between 0.6 and 1.4 μMCO2and acclimation to different culture pH andCO2conditions suggested thatCO2concentrating mechanisms were present in most species. HighCO2acclimated cultures adapted rapidly to lowCO2condition during pH‐drifts. Ciuptake kinetics at different pH values showed that the affinity for Ciwas largely influenced by external pH, being highest under conditions whereCO2dominated the Cipool. In conclusion, Ciacquisition was highly variable among four species of green algae and linked to growth pH preference, suggesting that there is a connection between Ciacquisition and ecological distribution.
In vivo electrical application on titanium implants stimulating bone formation
Authors: Bins‐Ely L. M. , Cordero E. B. , Souza J. C. M. , Teughels W. , Benfatti C. A. M. , Magini R. S. 
Published: September 2016

Background and ObjectiveThe aim of the present in vivo study was to measure the bone implant contact area after electrical stimulation of dental implants.Material and MethodsNinety titanium dental implants (6 mm × 11.5 mm) with a smooth surface were placed in six male Beagle dogs and then the implant‐bone interfaces was assessed by histological analyses after 7 and 15 d. The 12‐mo‐old dogs, with a weight of 15 kg, were randomly divided into two groups based on the duration of bone healing: 7 and 15 d. Also, implants were divided into three groups based on electrical stimulation: group A, 10 μA; group B, 20 μA; and group C, control group. The electrical current was applied by an electrical device coupled to the implant connection.ResultsAfter 7 d of electrical stimulation, no statistical differences in bone–implant interface contact area were observed. However, a significantly higher bone–implant interface contact area was recorded for group B than for groups A and C (p < 0.01) after 15 d. No statistical difference was observed between groups A and C (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe electrical stimulation of dental implants can generate a larger area of bone–implant interface contact as a result of bone formation. Factors such as different electrical current intensity and duration should be studied in further work to clarify the potential of this method.
Combined effects of starvation and butyrate on autophagy‐dependent gingival epithelial cell death
Authors: Evans M. , Murofushi T. , Tsuda H. , Mikami Y. , Zhao N. , Ochiai K. , Kurita‐Ochiai T. , Yamamoto M. , Otsuka K. , Suzuki N. 
Published: September 2016

Background and ObjectiveBacteria in the dental biofilm surrounding marginal gingival grooves cause periodontal diseases. Numerous bacteria within the biofilm consume nutrients from the gingival crevicular fluid. Furthermore, some gram‐negative bacteria in mature dental biofilms produce butyrate. Thus, gingival epithelial cells in close proximity to mature dental biofilms are at risk of both starvation and exposure to butyrate. In the present study, we determined the combined effects of starvation and butyrate exposure on gingival epithelial cell death and the underlying mechanisms.Material and MethodsThe Ca9‐22 cell line was used as an in vitro counterpart of gingival epithelial cells. Cell death was measured as the amount of total DNA in the dead cells using SYTOX Green dye, which penetrates through membranes of dead cells and emits fluorescence when it intercalates into double‐stranded DNA. AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, the amount of autophagy, and acetylation of histone H3 were determined using western blot. Gene expression levels of microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3b (lc3b) were determined using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction.ResultsButyrate‐induced cell death occurred in a dose‐dependent manner whether cells were starved or fed. However, the induction of cell death was two to four times higher when cells were placed under starvation conditions compared to when they were fed. Moreover, both starvation and butyrate exposure induced AMPK activity and autophagy. While AMPK inactivation resulted in decreased autophagy and butyrate‐induced cell death under conditions of starvation, AMPK activation resulted in butyrate‐induced cell death when cells were fed. Combined with the results of our previous report, which demonstrated butyrate‐induced autophagy‐dependent cell death, the results of this study suggest that the combination of starvation and butyrate exposure activates AMPK inducing autophagy and subsequent cell death. Notably, this combination markedly induced LC3B production and the induction was attenuated by AMPK inhibition. LC3B knockdown, in turn, significantly decreased butyrate‐induced cell death. Therefore, AMPK‐dependent LC3B induction apparently plays an important role in butyrate‐induced cell death. There was a lack of correspondence between the levels of AMPK activation and LC3B induction; this may reflect the histone deacetylase‐inhibitory capacity of butyrate on histone proteins.ConclusionTaken together, starvation and butyrate exposure promote autophagy via AMPK signaling, while the histone deacetylase‐inhibitory effects of butyrate alter chromatin to transcriptionally active state, resulting in strong LC3B induction and subsequent cell death. These findings may help improve the understanding of the cellular processes underlying periodontal disease initiation.
Single‐molecule dynamics of the molecular chaperone trigger factor in living cells
Authors: Yang Feng , Chen Tai‐Yen , Krzemiński Łukasz , Santiago Ace George , Jung Won , Chen Peng 
Published: September 2016

SummaryIn bacteria, trigger factor (TF) is the molecular chaperone that interacts with the ribosome to assist the folding of nascent polypeptides. Studies in vitro have provided insights into the function and mechanism of TF. Much is to be elucidated, however, about how TF functions in vivo. Here, we use single‐molecule tracking, in combination with genetic manipulations, to study the dynamics and function of TF in living E. coli cells. We find that TF, besides interacting with the 70S ribosome, may also bind to ribosomal subunits and form TF‐polypeptide complexes that may include DnaK/DnaJ proteins. The TF‐70S ribosome interactions are highly dynamic inside cells, with an average residence time of ∼0.2 s. Our results confirm that the signal recognition particle weakens TF's interaction with the 70S ribosome, and further identify that this weakening mainly results from a change in TF's binding to the 70S ribosome, rather than its unbinding. Moreover, using photoconvertible bimolecular fluorescence complementation, we selectively probe TF2 dimers in the cell and show that TF2 does not bind to the 70S ribosome but is involved in the post‐translational interactions with polypeptides. These findings contribute to the fundamental understanding of molecular chaperones in assisting protein folding in living cells.
Antifungal susceptibility testing of Malassezia yeast: comparison of two different methodologies
Authors: Rojas Florencia D. , Córdoba Susana B. , de los Ángeles Sosa María , Zalazar Laura C. , Fernández Mariana S. , Cattana María E. , Alegre Liliana R. , Carrillo‐Muñoz Alfonso J. , Giusiano Gustavo E. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryAll Malassezia species are lipophilic; thus, modifications are required in susceptibility testing methods to ensure their growth. Antifungal susceptibility of Malassezia species using agar and broth dilution methods has been studied. Currently, few tests using disc diffusion methods are being performed. The aim was to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of Malassezia yeast against antifungal agents using broth microdilution and disc diffusion methods, then to compare both methodologies. Fifty Malassezia isolates were studied. Microdilution method was performed as described in reference document and agar diffusion test was performed using antifungal tablets and discs. To support growth, culture media were supplemented. To correlate methods, linear regression analysis and categorical agreement was determined. The strongest linear association was observed for fluconazole and miconazole. The highest agreement between both methods was observed for itraconazole and voriconazole and the lowest for amphotericin B and fluconazole. Although modifications made to disc diffusion method allowed to obtain susceptibility data for Malassezia yeast, variables cannot be associated through a linear correlation model, indicating that inhibition zone values cannot predict MIC value. According to the results, disc diffusion assay may not represent an alternative to determine antifungal susceptibility of Malassezia yeast.
Feeling lonely in an unfamiliar place: older people’s experiences of life close to death in a nursing home
Authors: Österlind Jane , Ternestedt Britt‐Marie , Hansebo Görel , Hellström Ingrid 
Published: September 2016

AimThe aim of the study was to deepen the understanding of how older persons living in a nursing home experience life close to death.BackgroundA move to and a life in a nursing home while being close to death is a reality for many older people in Sweden. Being able to express thoughts and feelings about death has been described as both crucial for sustaining personhood as well as for establishing a meaningful existence at the end of life. Important are the experiences of older people living in nursing homes who are approaching death.MethodSix older people were interviewed on one to four occasions. A total of 16 interviews were conducted with the participants. An interpretative approach was chosen.FindingsThe main interpretation, Feeling lonely in an unfamiliar place, is based on three themes (i) Waiting for death, with the subthemes death as a release and thinking of oneself as dead; (ii) Subordinate oneself to values and norms of the staff, with the subthemes feeling offended and feeling trapped; and (iii) Keep the courage up. The older people's lives were characterised by feelings of aloneness in an unfamiliar place which contributed to a sense of existential loneliness. They experienced few opportunities to discuss their thoughts of life and death, including preparations for passing away.Conclusion and implication for practiceIt is of importance for professionals to be able to meet older people as they are and respect them as human beings in their transitions, before, during and after the move to a nursing home. It is important to find ways to support older people's wellbeing and identity near death.
Clinical Evaluation and Gait Characteristics before and after Total Knee Arthroplasty Based on a Portable Gait Analyzer
Authors: Zhang Hao‐hua , Yan Song‐hua , Fang Chen , Guo Xin‐yuan , Zhang Kuan 
Published: September 2016

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of surgery and rehabilitation on patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsTwelve patients and 12 healthy controls were enrolled and their clinical scores evaluated by a doctor. Gait data, including walking velocity, stride length, single support time, foot fall and swing power, were collected using a portable gait analyzer from 12 patients before and 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery and from 12 healthy controls. The gait data and clinical scores at selected time points were compared and correlations between gait characteristics and clinical scores assessed.ResultsClinical knee and knee function scores increased significantly from before surgery to 6 weeks to 6 months after surgery (P < 0.001). The only significant differences identified were for single support time on the diseased side between before surgery and 6 months after surgery (P = 0.031) and for foot fall with the diseased side between 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery (P = 0.016). Foot fall and speed of the healthy or diseased sides were significantly different in patients at all time points from those of the healthy subjects (P < 0.05). Single support time on the diseased side was significantly different 6 months after surgery (P = 0.035) in patients than in healthy controls. Single support time on the healthy side before surgery was significantly different from that of healthy controls (P = 0.048) and 6 weeks after surgery (P = 0.042). Stride lengths differed significantly between patients and healthy subjects before surgery (healthy side: P = 0.007; diseased side: P = 0.008) and 6 weeks after surgery (healthy side: P = 0.001; diseased side: P = 0.001), but were not different at 6 months after surgery (healthy side: P = 0.088; diseased side: P = 0.077). The only significant correlations identified were between single support time with the diseased side of patients and their knee (r = 0.43, P = 0.032) and knee function scores (r = 0.493, P = 0.012).ConclusionsA portable gait analyzer appears to be suitable for evaluating the effects of TKA. Single support time on the diseased side may be a sensitive quantitative index for determining the effect of TKA and rehabilitation.
Comorbid disorders associated with asthma in children in Germany – National analysis of pediatric primary care data
Authors: Jacob Louis , Keil Thomas , Kostev Karel 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBackgroundUsing routine healthcare data, the goal of this study was to examine the association between asthma and comorbid disorders in children in Germany.MethodsPatients with a diagnosis of asthma documented by a German pediatrician in 2015 were identified. Demographic data included age and gender. Patients younger than 6 and older than 17 and individuals followed for less than a year before index date were excluded. Each patient was matched for age, sex, and physician with an asthma‐free control. A total of 34,305 cases and 34,305 controls were available for analysis. There were three different age groups: 6–9 years, 10–13 years, and 14–17 years. Several disorders known to be associated with asthma or found in more than 1% of children and adolescents were also determined on the basis of primary care diagnoses. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between asthma and comorbid disorders.ResultsThe mean age was 10.9 years, and 61.6% of the subjects were boys. The most common diseases found in the three age groups were vasomotor and allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic rhinitis, pneumonia, and atopic dermatitis. These five comorbid disorders were associated with asthma to a significant extent.ConclusionsOverall, this study, based on primary healthcare data, found a considerably high prevalence of several comorbid diseases in German children with asthma.
Production of avocado trees infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi under different management regimes
Authors: Ramírez‐Gil J. G. , Castañeda‐Sánchez D. A. , Morales‐Osorio J. G. 
Published: September 2016

Avocado root rot is the most important disease of this fruit crop worldwide. This pathology may be caused by several biotic and abiotic agents, with the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi being the pathogen more frequently associated with poor phytosanitary conditions. There are disease control methods available that can reduce disease severity and allow plants to recover; however, they are not consistently and promptly applied. In addition, only chemical products are used by farmers as the preferred management method. This research aimed to evaluate different root rot management strategies in a commercial orchard. Data suggest that individual control methods are not as effective as when they are applied in combination, as in the T8 treatment (metalaxyl + mancozeb applied in drench; injection of potassium phosphite to each plant stem; potassium silicate applied in drench; addition of a layer of organic mulch and incorporation of 10 kg of composted substrate, both applied to the ground around the base of each tree). Using this strategy, the area under the disease progress curve for the avocado root rot was reduced by up to 68.6%, and the extra‐quality avocado fruit class increased by as much as 44% compared to the diseased control plants (T0) (P < 0.01). With the combined treatment T8, farm income showed a 9.5‐fold increase, probably due to an increase in the percentage of viable roots by up to 9.4‐fold, which would have improved nutrient and water uptake.
The Role of Rituals in Warfare during the Neo‐Assyrian Period
Authors: Melville Sarah C. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIn imperial Assyria during the first millennium BCE, ritual pervaded every aspect of life. As the link between the divine realm and the earthly one, the king's primary duty was to discover the gods' will and enact it. To this end, an array of ritual experts in the art of reading and reacting to divine signs aided the king. Due to the risk involved, warfare required particular attention from the experts during every phase of operations. Based on evidence from cuneiform sources (ritual texts, royal inscriptions, and letters) and monumental art (narrative sculptured reliefs), this article focuses on how ritual activity at each campaign stage affected different audiences, including the enemy, the king's officials, and the Assyrian army.
Multiplication of Legionella pneumophila Sequence Types 1, 47, and 62 in Buffered Yeast Extract Broth and Biofilms Exposed to Flowing Tap Water at Temperatures of 38°C to 42°C
Authors: van der Kooij Dick , Brouwer-Hanzens Anke J. , Veenendaal Harm R. , Wullings Bart A. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

Legionella pneumophila
proliferates in freshwater environments at temperatures ranging from 25 to 45°C. To investigate the preference of different sequence types (ST) for a specific temperature range, growth of
L. pneumophila
serogroup 1 (SG1) ST1 (environmental strains), ST47, and ST62 (disease-associated strains) was measured in buffered yeast extract broth (BYEB) and biofilms grown on plasticized polyvinyl chloride in flowing heated drinking water originating from a groundwater supply. The optimum growth temperatures in BYEB were approximately 37°C (ST1), 39°C (ST47), and 41°C (ST62), with maximum growth temperatures of 42°C (ST1) and 43°C (ST47 and ST62). In the biofilm at 38°C, the ST47 and ST62 strains multiplied equally well compared to growth of the environmental ST1 strain and an indigenous
L. pneumophila
non-SG1 strain, all attaining a concentration of approximately 10
7
CFU/cm
−2
. Raising the temperature to 41°C did not impact these levels within 4 weeks, but the colony counts of all strains tested declined (at a specific decline rate of 0.14 to 0.41 day
−1
) when the temperature was raised to 42°C. At this temperature, the concentration of
Vermamoeba
vermiformis
in the biofilm, determined with quantitative PCR (qPCR), was about 2 log units lower than the concentration at 38°C. In columns operated at a constant temperature, ranging from 38 to 41°C, none of the tested strains multiplied in the biofilm at 41°C, in which also
V. vermiformis
was not detected. These observations suggest that strains of ST47 and ST62 did not multiply in the biofilm at a temperature of ≥41°C because of the absence of a thermotolerant host.

IMPORTANCE
Growth of
Legionella pneumophila
in tap water installations is a serious public health concern. The organism includes more than 2,100 varieties (sequence types). More than 50% of the reported cases of Legionnaires' disease are caused by a few sequence types which are very rarely detected in the environment. Strains of selected virulent sequence types proliferated in biofilms on surfaces exposed to warm (38°C) tap water to the same level as environmental varieties and multiplied well as pure culture in a nutrient-rich medium at temperatures of 42 and 43°C. However, these organisms did not grow in the biofilms at temperatures of ≥41°C. Typical host amoebae also did not multiply at these temperatures. Apparently, proliferation of thermotolerant host amoebae is needed to enable multiplication of the virulent
L. pneumophila
strains in the environment at elevated temperatures. The detection of these amoebae in water installations therefore is a scientific challenge with practical implications.
Genomic Analysis of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium from Wild Passerines in England and Wales
Authors: Mather Alison E. , Lawson Becki , de Pinna Elizabeth , Wigley Paul , Parkhill Julian , Thomson Nicholas R. , Page Andrew J. , Holmes Mark A. , Paterson Gavin K. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

Passerine salmonellosis is a well-recognized disease of birds in the order Passeriformes, which includes common songbirds such as finches and sparrows, caused by infection with
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium. Previous research has suggested that some subtypes of
S
. Typhimurium—definitive phage types (DTs) 40, 56 variant, and 160—are host adapted to passerines and that these birds may represent a reservoir of infection for humans and other animals. Here, we have used the whole-genome sequences of 11 isolates from British passerines, five isolates of similar DTs from humans and a domestic cat, and previously published
S
. Typhimurium genomes that include similar DTs from other hosts to investigate the phylogenetic relatedness of passerine salmonellae to other
S
. Typhimurium isolates and investigate possible genetic features of the distinct disease pathogenesis of
S
. Typhimurium in passerines. Our results demonstrate that the 11 passerine isolates and 13 other isolates, including those from nonpasserine hosts, were genetically closely related, with a median pairwise single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference of 130 SNPs. These 24 isolates did not carry antimicrobial resistance genetic determinants or the
S
. Typhimurium virulence plasmid. Although our study does not provide evidence of
Salmonella
transmission from passerines to other hosts, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that wild birds represent a potential reservoir of these
Salmonella
subtypes, and thus, sensible personal hygiene precautions should be taken when feeding or handling garden birds.

IMPORTANCE
Passerine salmonellosis, caused by certain definitive phage types (DTs) of
Salmonella
Typhimurium, has been documented as a cause of wild passerine mortality since the 1950s in many countries, often in the vicinity of garden bird feeding stations. To gain better insight into its epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions, we sequenced the genomes of a collection of 11 isolates from wild passerine salmonellosis in England and Wales. Phylogenetic analysis showed these passerine isolates to be closely related to each other and to form a clade that is distinct from other strains of
S
. Typhimurium, which included a multidrug-resistant isolate from invasive nontyphoidal
Salmonella
disease that shares the same phage type as several of the passerine isolates. Closely related to wild passerine isolates and within the same clade were four
S
. Typhimurium isolates from humans as well as isolates from horses, poultry, cattle, an unspecified wild bird, and a domestic cat and dog with similar DTs and/or multilocus sequence types. This suggests the potential for cross-species transmission, and the genome sequences provide a valuable resource to investigate passerine salmonellosis further.