bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peninsula effect and species richness gradient in terrestrial mammals on the Korean Peninsula and other peninsulas
Authors: Jo Yeong‐Seok , Stevens Richard D. , Baccus John T. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Although the original concept of the peninsula effect was that fewer mammal species inhabited peninsulas than were found on the adjacent mainland, biogeographers have focused their attention on species richness gradients that bisect the long axes of peninsulas, instead of on the original concept. We evaluated the evidence for the peninsula effect, by comparing the richness of terrestrial mammal species on the Korean Peninsula with richness on mainland areas, and by investigating species richness gradients on 14 other peninsulas distributed globally.

Our objectives were to: (1) demonstrate the existence of the peninsula effect, by comparing species richness on the Korean Peninsula with that on continental mainland areas of the same size and shape; and (2) test whether a declining gradient in species richness towards the tip represents a universal tendency associated with peninsulas, by investigating the species richness of 14 global peninsulas.

We used the International Union for Conservation of Nature's spatial datasets of terrestrial mammals and the WorldClim climate dataset to create 1000 Korean Peninsula‐shaped polygons, and randomly placed them in continental areas. We recorded the number of mammalian species and mean annual temperature and precipitation for each polygon, and used these as variables in a linear regression model. We counted the number of mammal species along the central line of 14 peninsulas over 50000 km2 in size.

Although the entire Korean Peninsula did not exhibit a significant peninsula effect (P = 0.1), South Korea did (P < 0.05) after controlling for temperature and precipitation. Fewer mammal species were found in South Korea than on similar continental areas.

We modelled the general pattern of decline in species richness of mammals along 14 peninsulas (β = ‐3.63, P < 0.001). In 10 peninsulas, a negative relationship existed between species richness and the distance from the mainland boundary; in four peninsulas, this relationship was positive. Isolated peninsulas without ‘stepping stone’ islands exhibited the strongest declines in mammalian species richness.

Our results on the Korean Peninsula and declining patterns of species richness in 14 global peninsulas illustrate that the peninsula effect can be revealed with careful analyses, and may indicate effects on biogeography and biodiversity.
Form and Repetition: Deleuze, Guillaume and Sonata Theory
Authors: WALTHAM‐SMITH NAOMI 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTThis article proposes an alternative way to think about the process of expositional closure. The recent resurgence ofFormenlehrehas given rise to a dispute about the correlation between expositional closure and the sequence of local perfect authentic cadences in the second group. Noting that the two sides of the debate produce opposing representations of the temporality of listening, I draw upon philosophical and linguistic models of actualisation to theorise the way in which expositional closure is realised across the second group. To this end, I focus on the refrain cadences in the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto in C minor, K. 491, which, as a means of deferring expositional closure, sit uneasily alongside other strategies of thematic loosening and cadential liquidation. The idea of the refrain leads me to Gilles Deleuze's theory of repetition and from there, via the notion oftemps impliqué, to Gustave Guillaume's system of verb formation – both of which problematise the passage from potentiality to actuality, isolating a dimension of contingency as that which may or may not come to pass.
Vase‐shaped microfossils from the Tonian Callison Lake Formation of Yukon, Canada: taxonomy, taphonomy and stratigraphic palaeobiology
Authors: Cohen Phoebe A. , Irvine Spencer W. , Strauss Justin V. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractVase‐shaped microfossils (VSMs), interpreted as the remains of testate amoebae, are found in late Tonian sedimentary rocks around the world. Here we explore the taxonomy, taphonomy and stratigraphical occurrence of VSMs from the Callison Lake Formation of the Coal Creek inlier, Yukon, Canada. Found in silicified black shale horizons and stromatolitic dolostone, sedimentological data suggest these VSMs inhabited a series of marine embayments characterized by lagoonal and/or shelf interior depositional environments. The fossiliferous strata have recently been dated with Re–Os geochronology at c. 753–740 Ma, which indicates they are not only coeval with diverse VSM assemblages described in the Chuar Group of Grand Canyon, Arizona, but also provides supportive evidence for the early diversification of eukaryotic clades prior to the Sturtian age Snowball Earth event (c. 717–660 Ma). Petrographic examination of well‐preserved specimens reveal taxa comparable to those from the Chuar Group, as well as two previously undescribed species. Species overlapping with Chuar Group VSMs are Bonniea dacruchares, Bonniea pytinaia, Cycliocyrillium simplex, Cycliocyrillium torquata, Melanocyrillium hexodiadema and Palaeoarcella athanata. New taxa described here are Bonniea makrokurtos and Cycliocyrillium rootsi. Energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopic data reveal that the Callison Lake microfossils are preserved through a variety of taphonomic pathways, including silicification, infilling, authigenic mineralization and dolomitization. We explore the utility of M. hexodiadema as a latest Tonian biostratigraphical marker and examine the role of Callison Lake sequence stratigraphy as a control on the distribution and abundance of VSMs in the Coal Creek inlier and other global sedimentary successions.
Integration of SSC TerraSAR‐X Images into Multisource Rapid Mapping
Authors: Vassilaki Dimitra I. , Stamos Athanassios A. , Ioannidis Charalabos 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis paper presents a global automatic process for the integration of satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images with rapid mapping for crisis management. The process consists of methods for the rapid geometric correction of slant‐range TerraSAR‐X images, and the geometric co‐registration and radiometric merging of SAR data with satellite optical images using global digital elevation models (DEMs) and geoid models. The process is invariant to both radiometry and geometry, and is applied to high‐resolution Single‐look Slant‐range Complex (SSC) TerraSAR‐X images over suburban and rural areas.
Environmental risk modelling and potential sand fly vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Chitral district: a leishmanial focal point of mount Tirich Mir, Pakistan
Authors: Zaidi Farrah , Fatima Syeda Hira , Jan Tehmina , Fatima Mehreen , Ali Asad , Khisroon Muhammad , Adnan Muhammad , Rasheed Syed Basit 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo provide baseline information about suspected vectors and the incidence, distribution and an active zone of transmission for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Chitral, Pakistan, using GIS tools; and to investigate the role of environmental factors in the disease dynamics.MethodTwo surveys in 2014 and 2016 as a basis for choropleth and environmental risk mapping.ResultsA total of 769 captured specimens yielded 14 Phlebotomus and six Sergentomyia species including two potential vectors of CL, i.e. Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus sergenti. P. papatasi (71%) was dominant, followed by P. sergenti (18%). A choropleth map generated in Arcmap 10.1 based on 1560 CL case reports displayed maximum prevalence (0.92–2.5%) in Ayun, Broz, Charun, Chitral 1 and 2 and Darosh 1 and 2 union councils. An environmental risk map constructed by MaxEnt 3.3.3 defined an active zone of transmission based on leishmaniasis occurrence records (n = 315). The analysis of variable contribution in MaxEnt indicates significance of elevation (54.4%), population density (23.3%) and land use/land cover (6.6%) in CL disease dynamics.ConclusionThe probability of CL increases (0.6–1 on logistic scale) in severely deforested areas, in lowland valleys and in regions with high‐population density.
Comparison of biosimilar filgrastim, originator filgrastim, and lenograstim for autologous stem cell mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Lisenko Katharina , Baertsch Marc‐Andrea , Meiser Renate , Pavel Petra , Bruckner Thomas , Kriegsmann Mark , Schmitt Anita , Witzens‐Harig Mathias , Ho Anthony D. , Hillengass Jens , Wuchter Patrick 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDGranulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) originators such as filgrastim (Neupogen) and lenograstim (Granocyte) are widely used for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization. In recent years, biosimilar agents have been approved for the same indications. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the mobilization efficiency of the three G‐CSF variants originator filgrastim, lenograstim, and the biosimilar Filgrastim Hexal in a homogeneous group of multiple myeloma (MM) patients in first‐line therapy.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSOverall mobilization data of 250 patients with MM were included. Of these patients, 74 (30%), 131 (52%), and 45 (18%) were mobilized with originator filgrastim, biosimilar Filgrastim Hexal, or lenograstim, respectively, at a dose of 5 to 10 µg/kg body weight subcutaneously starting from Day 5 after chemomobilization with CAD (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dexamethasone) until completion of PBSC collection.RESULTSAll but one patient reached the collection goal of a minimum of at least 2 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg body weight during a median of one (range, one to three) leukapheresis session. No significant differences in CD34+ mobilization and collection yields between the filgrastim‐mobilized (median, 10.5; range, 2.7‐40.4), Filgrastim Hexal–mobilized (median, 9.9; range, 0.2‐26.0), and lenograstim‐mobilized (median, 10.7; range, 3.1‐27.9 CD34+ cells × 106/kg body weight) patients were observed.CONCLUSIONConcerning the clinically relevant efficiencies of PBSC mobilization and in terms of reaching the individual collection target, this retrospective study did not detect any significant differences between the three G‐CSF variants in the analyzed patient cohort.
Targeting the Homoserine Dehydrogenase of Paracoccidioides Species for Treatment of Systemic Fungal Infections
Authors: Bagatin Mariane C. , Pimentel Arethusa L. , Biavatti Débora C. , Basso Ernani A. , Kioshima Erika S. , Seixas Flavio A. V. , Gauze Gisele de F. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

This work evaluated new potential inhibitors of the enzyme homoserine dehydrogenase (HSD) of
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
, one of the etiological agents of paracoccidioidomycosis. The tertiary structure of the protein bonded to the analogue NAD, and
l
-homoserine was modeled by homology. The model with the best output was subjected to gradient minimization, redocking, and molecular dynamics simulation. Virtual screening simulations with 187,841 molecules purchasable from the Zinc database were performed. After the screenings, 14 molecules were selected and analyzed by the use of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity criteria, resulting in four compounds for
in vitro
assays. The molecules HS1 and HS2 were promising, exhibiting MICs of 64 and 32 μg · ml
−1
, respectively, for the Pb18 isolate of
P. brasilensis
, 64 μg · ml
−1
for two isolates of
P. lutzii
, and also synergy with itraconazole. The application of these molecules to human-pathogenic fungi confirmed that the HSD enzyme may be used as a target for the development of drugs with specific action against paracoccidioidomycosis; moreover, these compounds may serve as leads in the design of new antifungals.
Characterization of a Francisella tularensis-Caenorhabditis elegans Pathosystem for the Evaluation of Therapeutic Compounds
Authors: Jayamani Elamparithi , Tharmalingam Nagendran , Rajamuthiah Rajmohan , Coleman Jeffrey J. , Kim Wooseong , Okoli Ikechukwu , Hernandez Ana M. , Lee Kiho , Nau Gerard J. , Ausubel Frederick M. , Mylonakis Eleftherios 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTFrancisella tularensisis a highly infectious Gram-negative intracellular pathogen that causes tularemia. Because of its potential as a bioterrorism agent, there is a need for new therapeutic agents. We therefore developed a whole-animalCaenorhabditis elegans-F. tularensispathosystem for high-throughput screening to identify and characterize potential therapeutic compounds. We found that theC. elegansp38 mitogen-activate protein (MAP) kinase cascade is involved in the immune response toF. tularensis, and we developed a robustF. tularensis-mediatedC. eleganskilling assay with a Z′ factor consistently of >0.5, which was then utilized to screen a library of FDA-approved compounds that included 1,760 small molecules. In addition to clinically used antibiotics, five FDA-approved drugs were also identified as potential hits, including the anti-inflammatory drug diflunisal that showed anti-F. tularensisactivityin vitro. Moreover, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diflunisal, at 4× MIC, blocked the replication of anF. tularensislive vaccine strain (LVS) in primary human macrophages and nonphagocytic cells. Diflunisal was nontoxic to human erythrocytes and HepG2 human liver cells at concentrations of ≥32 μg/ml. Finally, diflunisal exhibited synergetic activity with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in both a checkerboard assay and a macrophage infection assay. In conclusion, the liquidC. elegans-F. tularensisLVS assay described here allows screening for anti-F. tularensiscompounds and suggests that diflunisal could potentially be repurposed for the management of tularemia.
The Candidate Antimalarial Drug MMV665909 Causes Oxygen-Dependent mRNA Mistranslation and Synergizes with Quinoline-Derived Antimalarials
Authors: Vallières Cindy , Avery Simon V. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

To cope with growing resistance to current antimalarials, new drugs with novel modes of action are urgently needed. Molecules targeting protein synthesis appear to be promising candidates. We identified a compound (MMV665909) from the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Malaria Box of candidate antimalarials that could produce synergistic growth inhibition with the aminoglycoside antibiotic paromomycin, suggesting a possible action of the compound in mRNA mistranslation. This mechanism of action was substantiated with a
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
model using available reporters of mistranslation and other genetic tools. Mistranslation induced by MMV665909 was oxygen dependent, suggesting a role for reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overexpression of Rli1 (a ROS-sensitive, conserved FeS protein essential in mRNA translation) rescued inhibition by MMV665909, consistent with the drug's action on translation fidelity being mediated through Rli1. The MMV drug also synergized with major quinoline-derived antimalarials which can perturb amino acid availability or promote ROS stress: chloroquine, amodiaquine, and primaquine. The data collectively suggest translation fidelity as a novel target of antimalarial action and support MMV665909 as a promising drug candidate.
Meropenem-Vaborbactam Tested against Contemporary Gram-Negative Isolates Collected Worldwide during 2014, Including Carbapenem-Resistant, KPC-Producing, Multidrug-Resistant, and Extensively Drug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Castanheira Mariana , Huband Michael D. , Mendes Rodrigo E. , Flamm Robert K. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the activity of meropenem-vaborbactam against contemporary nonfastidious Gram-negative clinical isolates, including
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates with resistance phenotypes and carbapenemase genotypes. Meropenem-vaborbactam (inhibitor at 8 μg/ml) and comparators were susceptibility tested by reference broth microdilution methods against 14,304 Gram-negative clinical isolates collected worldwide during 2014. Carbapenemase-encoding genes were screened by PCR and sequencing. Meropenem-vaborbactam (MIC
50/90
, ≤0.015/0.06 μg/ml) inhibited 99.1 and 99.3% of the 10,426
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates tested at ≤1 and ≤2 μg/ml, respectively. Meropenem inhibited 97.3 and 97.7% of these isolates at the same concentrations. Against
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates displaying carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
(CRE) (
n
= 265), multidrug-resistant (MDR) (
n
= 1,210), and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) (
n
= 161) phenotypes, meropenem-vaborbactam displayed MIC
50/90
values of 0.5/32, 0.03/1, and 0.5/32 μg/ml, respectively, whereas meropenem activities were 16/>32, 0.06/32, and 0.5/32 μg/ml, respectively. Among all geographic regions, the highest meropenem-vaborbactam activities were observed for CRE and MDR isolates from the United States (MIC
50/90
, 0.03/1 and 0.03/0.12 μg/ml, respectively). Meropenem-vaborbactam was very active against 135 KPC producers, and all isolates were inhibited by concentrations of ≤8 μg/ml (133 isolates by concentrations of ≤2 μg/ml). This combination had limited activity against isolates producing metallo-β-lactamases (including 25 NDM-1 and 16 VIM producers) and/or oxacillinases (27 OXA-48/OXA-163 producers) that were detected mainly in Asia-Pacific and some European countries. The activity of meropenem-vaborbactam was similar to that of meropenem alone against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Acinetobacter
spp., and
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
. Meropenem-vaborbactam was active against contemporary
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates collected worldwide, and this combination demonstrated enhanced activity compared to those of meropenem and most comparator agents against CRE isolates and KPC producers, the latter of which are often MDR.
Characterization of the Activities of Dinuclear Thiolato-Bridged Arene Ruthenium Complexes against Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Basto Afonso P. , Müller Joachim , Rubbiani Riccardo , Stibal David , Giannini Federico , Süss-Fink Georg , Balmer Vreni , Hemphill Andrew , Gasser Gilles , Furrer Julien 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

The
in vitro
effects of 18 dinuclear thiolato-bridged arene ruthenium complexes (1 monohiolato compound, 4 dithiolato compounds, and 13 trithiolato compounds), originally designed as anticancer agents, on the apicomplexan parasite
Toxoplasma gondii
grown in human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) host cells were studied. Some trithiolato compounds exhibited antiparasitic efficacy at concentrations of 250 nM and below. Among those, complex 1 and complex 2 inhibited
T. gondii
proliferation with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
s) of 34 and 62 nM, respectively, and they did not affect HFFs at dosages of 200 μM or above, resulting in selectivity indices of >23,000. The IC
50
s of complex 9 were 1.2 nM for
T. gondii
and above 5 μM for HFFs. Transmission electron microscopy detected ultrastructural alterations in the matrix of the parasite mitochondria at the early stages of treatment, followed by a more pronounced destruction of tachyzoites. However, none of the three compounds applied at 250 nM for 15 days was parasiticidal. By affinity chromatography using complex 9 coupled to epoxy-activated Sepharose followed by mass spectrometry,
T. gondii
translation elongation factor 1α and two ribosomal proteins, RPS18 and RPL27, were identified to be potential binding proteins. In conclusion, organometallic ruthenium complexes exhibit promising activities against
Toxoplasma
, and the potential mechanisms of action of these compounds as well as their prospective applications for the treatment of toxoplasmosis are discussed.
Identification and Characterization of Two Klebsiella pneumoniae
lpxL
Lipid A Late Acyltransferases and Their Role in Virulence
Authors: Mills Grant , Dumigan Amy , Kidd Timothy , Hobley Laura , Bengoechea José A. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Klebsiella pneumoniae
causes a wide range of infections, from urinary tract infections to pneumonia. The lipopolysaccharide is a virulence factor of this pathogen, although there are gaps in our understanding of its biosynthesis. Here we report on the characterization of
K. pneumoniae
lpxL
, which encodes one of the enzymes responsible for the late secondary acylation of immature lipid A molecules. Analysis of the available
K. pneumoniae
genomes revealed that this pathogen's genome encodes two orthologues of
Escherichia coli
LpxL. Using genetic methods and mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that LpxL1 catalyzes the addition of laureate and LpxL2 catalyzes the addition of myristate. Both enzymes acylated
E. coli
lipid A, whereas only LpxL2 mediated
K. pneumoniae
lipid A acylation. We show that LpxL1 is negatively regulated by the two-component system PhoPQ. The lipid A produced by the
lpxL2
mutant lacked the 2-hydroxymyristate, palmitate, and 4-aminoarabinose decorations found in the lipid A synthesized by the wild type. The lack of 2-hydroxymyristate was expected since LpxO modifies the myristate transferred by LpxL2 to the lipid A. The absence of the other two decorations is most likely caused by the downregulation of
phoPQ
and
pmrAB
expression. LpxL2-dependent lipid A acylation protects
Klebsiella
from polymyxins, mediates resistance to phagocytosis, limits the activation of inflammatory responses by macrophages, and is required for pathogen survival in the wax moth (
Galleria mellonella
). Our findings indicate that the LpxL2 contribution to virulence is dependent on LpxO-mediated hydroxylation of the LpxL2-transferred myristate. Our studies suggest that LpxL2 might be a candidate target in the development of anti-
K. pneumoniae
drugs.
NanR Regulates
nanI
Sialidase Expression by Clostridium perfringens F4969, a Human Enteropathogenic Strain
Authors: Li Jihong , Evans Daniel R. , Freedman John C. , McClane Bruce A. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Clostridium perfringens
can produce up to three different sialidases, including NanI, its major exosialidase. The current study first showed that human intestinal strains of
C. perfringens
can grow by utilizing either glucose or sialic acids, such as
N
-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), which are the end products of sialidase activity. For the human enteropathogenic strain F4969, it was then determined that culture supernatant sialidase activity and expression of exosialidase genes, particularly
nanI
, are influenced by the presence of Neu5Ac or glucose. Low Neu5Ac concentrations increased culture supernatant sialidase activity, largely by stimulating
nanI
transcription. In contrast, low glucose concentrations did not affect exosialidase activity or
nanI
transcription. However, either high Neu5Ac or high glucose concentrations repressed F4969 culture supernatant sialidase activity and
nanI
transcription levels. Furthermore, high glucose levels repressed F4969 culture sialidase activity and
nanI
expression even in the presence of low Neu5AC concentrations. To begin to evaluate the mechanistic basis for
nanI
expression, a
nanR
null mutant was used to demonstrate that NanR, a member of the RpiR family of regulatory proteins, decreases exosialidase activity and
nanI
transcription in the absence of sialic acid. The ability of
C. perfringens
to regulate its exosialidase activity, largely by controlling
nanI
expression, may affect intestinal pathogenesis by affecting the production of NanI, which may affect
C. perfringens
growth, adhesion, and toxin binding
in vivo
.