bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
I smell where you walked – how chemical cues influence movement decisions in ants
Authors: Wüst Miriam , Menzel Florian 
Published: June 2016

Interactions between animals are not restricted to direct encounters. Frequently, individuals detect the proximity of others through cues unintentionally left by others, such as prey species assessing predation risk based on indirect predator cues. However, while the importance of indirect cues in predator–prey interactions has been intensely studied, their role in interactions among competitors, and their consequences for community structure, are little known to date. Ant communities are usually structured by aggressive interactions between competing species. Responding to cues of others should be useful to avoid competitors or discover food sources. In ants and other insects, such cues include chemical footprints, which they leave while walking.Here, we investigated how different ant species respond to footprints of others. Ant colonies were confronted with footprints of other colonies or species, and the workers chose between cue‐bearing and cue‐free areas. Moreover, we determined the chemical composition of footprints, and compared the absolute quantities of footprint and cuticular hydrocarbons.Ants of the species Lasius niger avoided footprints of non‐nestmate conspecifics, and tended to avoid footprints of two other species. We suggest that they avoided encounters with competitors to reduce costly fights. In contrast, three other ant species approached allospecific footprints, which may represent eavesdropping to find resources discovered by others. Three of the four ant species responded differently to nestmates and non‐nestmate footprints either through footprint‐following or antennation behavior. The chemical composition of footprints was species‐specific and largely congruent to cuticular hydrocarbons. Footprint quantities left by single workers represented 1/170 to 1/64 of the quantity of their cuticular hydrocarbons.We showed that chemical footprints represent an important cue for behavioral decisions in ants. The ability to identify and respond to chemical footprints may represent an important strategy for insects to cope with competing species or colonies in their habitat.
Caring for HIV‐positive orphans in the context of HIV and AIDS: perspectives of Botswana grandmothers
Authors: Shaibu Sheila 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundBotswana has a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence of 18.6% and an estimated 137 805 orphans in a population of approximately two million people. Many of these orphans are cared for by their grandmothers, who struggle with caring for orphans suffering from a disease they know very little about.MethodsThe purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to explore experiences of grandmothers caring for HIV‐positive orphan grandchildren.ResultsThe ages of the grandmothers interviewed ranged from 60 to 80 years, while the number of orphans under their care ranged from one to nine. The themes that emerged included the following: challenges of HIV treatment, HIV‐related stigma, disclosure of HIV status, communication of sexuality issues and the adolescent pregnancies. Cultural beliefs prevented them from talking about sexuality and in some cases, accepting HIV as the cause of death.ConclusionsGrandmothers were challenged by HIV treatment of orphans and their supportive role as caregivers. The lack of knowledge of the disease must be addressed to improve adherence and communication about HIV. HIV programs need to address older persons’ dynamic and diverse needs as individuals. Community home‐based care nurses need to support grandmothers caring for HIV‐positive grandchildren and refer them to relevant professionals who can assist with the care responsibilities.Implications for practiceNurses working with older people caring for HIV positive orphans need to develop culturally sensitive HIV education programs that address needs specific to.
Identification and marker‐assisted introgression of QTL conferring resistance to bacterial leaf blight in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)
Authors: Dinesh Hebse Bhojappa , Lohithaswa Hirenallur Chandappa , Viswanatha Kannalli Paramashivaiah , Singh Poonam , Rao Annabathula Mohan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBacterial leaf blight (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola (Xav), is widespread in major cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] growing regions of the world. Considering the resource poor nature of cowpea farmers, development and introduction of cultivars resistant to the disease is the best option. Identification of DNA markers and marker‐assisted selection will increase precision of breeding for resistance to diseases like bacterial leaf blight. Hence, an attempt was made to detect QTL for resistance to BLB using 194 F2 : 3 progeny derived from the cross ‘C‐152’ (susceptible parent) × ‘V‐16’ (resistant parent). These progeny were screened for resistance to bacterial blight by the leaf inoculation method. Platykurtic distribution of per cent disease index scores indicated quantitative inheritance of resistance to bacterial leaf blight. A genetic map with 96 markers (79 SSR and 17 CISP) constructed from the 194 F2 individuals was used to perform QTL analysis. Out of three major QTL identified, one was on LG 8 (qtlblb‐1) and two on LG 11 (qtlblb‐2 and qtlblb‐3). The PCR product generated by the primer VuMt337 encoded for RIN2‐like mRNA that positively regulate RPM1‐ and RPS2‐dependent hypersensitive response. The QTL qtlblb‐1 explained 30.58% phenotypic variation followed by qtlblb‐2 and qtlblb‐3 with 10.77% and 10.63%, respectively. The major QTL region on LG 8 was introgressed from cultivar V‐16 into the bacterial leaf blight susceptible variety C‐152 through marker‐assisted backcrossing (MABC).
Simple chronic colitis model using hypopigmented mice with a Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome 5 gene mutation
Authors: Itoh Yumi , Nagaoka Yasuo , Katakura Yoshio , Kawahara Hidehisa , Takemori Hiroshi 
Published: June 2016

SummaryPigmentation in mammals is important for protection of skin and eyes from ultraviolet radiation. Dysregulation of pigmentation is often associated with other conditions that are not directly linked to pigmentation. Here, we isolated spontaneously occurring hypopigmented mice that occasionally experienced severe diarrhea during lactation. Treatment of these mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt, a conventional method to induce acute colitis, caused chronic diarrhea with granulomatous colitis. Gene mapping and sequencing revealed that the mice had a nonsense mutation in the Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (Hps)5 gene. As some HPS patients can develop granulomatous colitis, the simple induction of chronic colitis in spontaneously mutated Hps5‐deficient mice may become an invaluable model for exploring treatment options in patients with HPS as well as other patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
When anger dominates the mind: Increased motor corticospinal excitability in the face of threat
Authors: Hortensius Ruud , de Gelder Beatrice , Schutter Dennis J. L. G. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThreat demands fast and adaptive reactions that are manifested at the physiological, behavioral, and phenomenological level and are responsive to the direction of threat and its severity for the individual. Here, we investigated the effects of threat directed toward or away from the observer on motor corticospinal excitability and explicit recognition. Sixteen healthy right‐handed volunteers completed a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) task and a separate three‐alternative forced‐choice emotion recognition task. Single‐pulse TMS to the left primary motor cortex was applied to measure motor evoked potentials from the right abductor pollicis brevis in response to dynamic angry, fearful, and neutral bodily expressions with blurred faces directed toward or away from the observer. Results showed that motor corticospinal excitability increased independent of direction of anger compared with fear and neutral. In contrast, anger was better recognized when directed toward the observer compared with when directed away from the observer, while the opposite pattern was found for fear. The present results provide evidence for the differential effects of threat direction on explicit recognition and motor corticospinal excitability. In the face of threat, motor corticospinal excitability increases independently of the direction of anger, indicative of the importance of more automatic reactions to threat.
The Compliance and Implementation Mechanism of the Paris Agreement
Authors: Voigt Christina 
Published: June 2016

Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change decided to include an in‐house compliance arrangement in the Paris Agreement. Article 15 of the Agreement establishes a mechanism to facilitate implementation of, and promote compliance with, the provisions of the Agreement. The mechanism consists of a committee whose exact competence and function have yet to be decided. However, the establishment of the mechanism clearly shows convergence among parties on the necessity and desirability of promoting compliance. This article tracks the negotiation history of the compliance arrangement and analyses the relevant provisions in the Paris Agreement. While the mechanism is in place, significant negotiation time will still be needed to sort out the details for the effective operation of the compliance arrangement. For that reason, the Paris Agreement has set up a work programme for the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement to develop modalities and procedures to be adopted by the first meeting of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement. The article also discusses the work programme and suggests possible design choices.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance patterns and clinical outcomes in hospitalized exacerbations of COPD
Authors: Rodrigo‐Troyano Ana , Suarez‐Cuartin Guillermo , Peiró Meritxell , Barril Silvia , Castillo Diego , Sanchez‐Reus Ferran , Plaza Vicente , Restrepo Marcos I. , Chalmers James D. , Sibila Oriol 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackground and objectiveAcute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) are associated with worse outcomes. PA antibiotic resistance is important to determine treatment and may influence clinical outcomes. The aim was to study clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with AECOPD associated with PA based on their antibiotic resistance.MethodsThis was a prospective observational study including all patients with AECOPD and positive PA sputum culture admitted in a respiratory ward in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona during 2013–2014. PA was defined as resistant (PA‐R) when the antibiogram showed ≥1 resistance.ResultsFour hundred one patients with AECOPD were evaluated. Of them, 54 (13%) had a positive PA sputum culture. Eighty‐two per cent were men, median age was 77 (SD 7) years old and FEV1 was less than 36% (SD 17) of predicted value. PA‐R was isolated in 35 patients (66%), and PA‐sensitive (PA‐S) was isolated in 18 (34%) patients. No differences were found in demographics, lung function and comorbidities among groups. PA‐R patients were more likely exposed to prior oral corticosteroids (77% vs 44%, P = 0.03) and antibiotics (77% vs 31%, P = 0.01), respectively. AECOPD patients associated with PA‐S were more likely to die at 30 days (odds ratio 13.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.14–69.56, P = 0.03) and 90 days (odds ratio 7.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.33–37.89, P = 0.02), respectively.ConclusionPseudomonas aeruginosa‐resistant affects patients with severe AECOPD and previous use of corticosteroids and antibiotics. The presence of PA‐S is associated with higher mortality. These results may suggest increased virulence in PA‐S strains causing acute infections.
Mediastinal lymph node detection and station mapping on chest CT using spatial priors and random forest
Authors: Liu Jiamin , Hoffman Joanne , Zhao Jocelyn , Yao Jianhua , Lu Le , Kim Lauren , Turkbey Evrim B. , Summers Ronald M. 
Published: June 2016

Purpose:To develop an automated system for mediastinal lymph node detection and station mapping for chest CT.Methods:The contextual organs, trachea, lungs, and spine are first automatically identified to locate the region of interest (ROI) (mediastinum). The authors employ shape features derived from Hessian analysis, local object scale, and circular transformation that are computed per voxel in the ROI. Eight more anatomical structures are simultaneously segmented by multiatlas label fusion. Spatial priors are defined as the relative multidimensional distance vectors corresponding to each structure. Intensity, shape, and spatial prior features are integrated and parsed by a random forest classifier for lymph node detection. The detected candidates are then segmented by the following curve evolution process. Texture features are computed on the segmented lymph nodes and a support vector machine committee is used for final classification. For lymph node station labeling, based on the segmentation results of the above anatomical structures, the textual definitions of mediastinal lymph node map according to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer are converted into patient‐specific color‐coded CT image, where the lymph node station can be automatically assigned for each detected node.Results:The chest CT volumes from 70 patients with 316 enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes are used for validation. For lymph node detection, their system achieves 88% sensitivity at eight false positives per patient. For lymph node station labeling, 84.5% of lymph nodes are correctly assigned to their stations.Conclusions:Multiple‐channel shape, intensity, and spatial prior features aggregated by a random forest classifier improve mediastinal lymph node detection on chest CT. Using the location information of segmented anatomic structures from the multiatlas formulation enables accurate identification of lymph node stations.
Efficacy of Lychnopholide Polymeric Nanocapsules after Oral and Intravenous Administration in Murine Experimental Chagas Disease
Authors: de Mello Carlos Geraldo Campos , Branquinho Renata Tupinambá , Oliveira Maykon Tavares , Milagre Matheus Marques , Saúde-Guimarães Dênia Antunes , Mosqueira Vanessa Carla Furtado , Lana Marta de 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT

The etiological treatment of Chagas disease remains neglected. The compounds available show several limitations, mainly during the chronic phase. Lychnopholide encapsulated in polymeric nanocapsules (LYC-NC) was efficacious in mice infected with
Trypanosoma cruzi
and treated by intravenous administration during the acute phase (AP). As the oral route is preferred for treatment of chronic infections, such as Chagas disease, this study evaluated the use of oral LYC-NC in the AP and also compared it with LYC-NC administered to mice by the oral and intravenous routes during the chronic phase (CP). The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by fresh blood examination, hemoculture, PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cure rates in the AP and CP were 62.5% and 55.6%, respectively, upon oral administration of LYC–poly(
d
,
l
-lactide)–polyethylene glycol nanocapsules (LYC-PLA-PEG-NC) and 57.0% and 30.0%, respectively, with LYC–poly-ε-caprolactone nanocapsules (LYC-PCL-NC). These cure rates were significantly higher than that of free LYC, which did not cure any animals. LYC-NC formulations administered orally during the AP showed cure rates similar to that of benznidazole, but only LYC-NC cured mice in the CP. Similar results were achieved with intravenous treatment during the CP. The higher cure rates obtained with LYC loaded in PLA-PEG-NC may be due to the smaller particle size of these NC and the presence of PEG, which influence tissue diffusion and the controlled release of LYC. Furthermore, PLA-PEG-NC may improve the stability of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract. This work is the first report of cure of experimental Chagas disease via oral administration during the CP. These findings represent a new and important perspective for oral treatment of Chagas disease.
In VitroActivity of Polymyxin B in Combination with Various Antibiotics against Extensively Drug-Resistant Enterobacter cloacae with Decreased Susceptibility to Polymyxin B
Authors: Cai Yiying , Lim Tze-Peng , Teo Jocelyn , Sasikala Suranthran , Lee Winnie , Hong Yanjun , Chan Eric Chun Yong , Tan Thean Yen , Tan Thuan-Tong , Koh Tse Hsien , Hsu Li Yang , Kwa Andrea L. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTAgainst extensively drug-resistant (XDR)Enterobacter cloacae, combination antibiotic therapy may be the only option. We investigated the activity of various antibiotics in combination with polymyxin B using time-kill studies (TKS). TKS were conducted with four nonclonal XDRE. cloacaeisolates with 5 log10CFU/ml bacteria against maximum, clinically achievable concentrations of polymyxin B alone and in two-drug combinations with 10 different antibiotics. A hollow-fiber infection model (HFIM) simulating clinically relevant polymyxin B and tigecycline dosing regimens was conducted for two isolates over 240 h. Emergence of resistance was quantified using antibiotic-containing (3× MIC) media. Biofitness and stability of resistant phenotypes were determined. All XDRE. cloacaeisolates were resistant to all antibiotics except for polymyxin B (polymyxin B MIC, 1 to 4 mg/liter). All isolates harbored metallo-β-lactamases (two with NDM-1, two with IMP-1). In single TKS, all antibiotics alone demonstrated regrowth at 24 h, except amikacin against two strains and polymyxin B and meropenem against one strain each. In combination TKS, only polymyxin B plus tigecycline was bactericidal against all four XDRE. cloacaeisolates at 24 h. In HFIM, tigecycline and polymyxin B alone did not exhibit any killing activity. Bactericidal kill was observed at 24 h for both isolates for polymyxin B plus tigecycline; killing was sustained for one isolate but regrowth was observed for the second. Phenotypically stable resistant mutants with reducedin vitrogrowth rates were observed. Polymyxin B plus tigecycline is a promising combination against XDRE. cloacae. However, prolonged and indiscriminate use can result in resistance emergence.
A Telomeric Cluster of Antimony Resistance Genes on Chromosome 34 of Leishmania infantum
Authors: Tejera Nevado Paloma , Bifeld Eugenia , Höhn Katharina , Clos Joachim 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT

The mechanisms underlying the drug resistance of
Leishmania
spp. are manifold and not completely identified. Apart from the highly conserved multidrug resistance gene family known from higher eukaryotes,
Leishmania
spp. also possess genus-specific resistance marker genes. One of them, ARM58, was first identified in
Leishmania braziliensis
using a functional cloning approach, and its domain structure was characterized in
L. infantum
. Here we report that
L. infantum
ARM58 is part of a gene cluster at the telomeric end of chromosome 34 also comprising the neighboring genes ARM56 and HSP23. We show that overexpression of all three genes can confer antimony resistance to intracellular amastigotes. Upon overexpression in
L. donovani
, ARM58 and ARM56 are secreted via exosomes, suggesting a scavenger/secretion mechanism of action. Using a combination of functional cloning and next-generation sequencing, we found that the gene cluster was selected only under antimonyl tartrate challenge and weakly under Cu
2+
challenge but not under sodium arsenite, Cd
2+
, or miltefosine challenge. The selective advantage is less pronounced in intracellular amastigotes treated with the sodium stibogluconate, possibly due to the known macrophage-stimulatory activity of this drug, against which these resistance markers may not be active. Our data point to the specificity of these three genes for antimony resistance.
Vancomycin MIC Does Not Predict 90-Day Mortality, Readmission, or Recurrence in a Prospective Cohort of Adults with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Authors: Baxi Sanjiv M. , Clemenzi-Allen Angelo , Gahbauer Alice , Deck Daniel , Imp Brandon , Vittinghoff Eric , Chambers Henry F. , Doernberg Sarah 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
bacteremia (SAB) is a tremendous health burden. Previous studies examining the association of vancomycin MIC and outcomes in patients with SAB have been inconclusive. This study evaluated the association between vancomycin MICs and 30- or 90-day mortality in individuals with SAB. This was a prospective cohort study of adults presenting from 2008 to 2013 with a first episode of SAB. Subjects were identified by an infection surveillance system. The main predictor was vancomycin MIC by MicroScan. The primary outcomes were death at 30 and 90 days, and secondary outcomes included recurrence, readmission, or a composite of death, recurrence, and readmission at 30 and 90 days. Covariates included methicillin susceptibility, demographics, illness severity, comorbidities, infectious source, and antibiotic use. Cox proportional-hazards models with propensity score adjustment were used to estimate 30- and 90-day outcomes. Of 429 unique first episodes of SAB, 11 were excluded, leaving 418 individuals for analysis. Eighty-three (19.9%) participants had a vancomycin MIC of 2 μg/ml. In the propensity-adjusted Cox model, a vancomycin MIC of 2 μg/ml compared to <2 μg/ml was not associated with a greater hazard of mortality or composite outcome of mortality, readmission, and recurrence at either 30 days (hazard ratios [HRs] of 0.86 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.41, 1.80] [
P
= 0.70] and 0.94 [95% CI, 0.55, 1.58] [
P
= 0.80], respectively) or 90 days (HRs of 0.91 [95% CI, 0.49, 1.69] [
P
= 0.77] and 0.69 [95% CI, 0.46, 1.04] [
P
= 0.08], respectively) after SAB diagnosis. In a prospective cohort of patients with SAB, vancomycin MIC was not associated with 30- or 90-day mortality or a composite of mortality, disease recurrence, or hospital readmission.
Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Supply Chain and Its Implications for FDA Policy Initiatives
Authors: Zawack Kelson , Li Min , Booth James G. , Love Will , Lanzas Cristina , Gröhn Yrjö T. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT

In response to concerning increases in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to increase veterinary oversight requirements for antimicrobials and restrict their use in growth promotion. Given the high stakes of this policy for the food supply, economy, and human and veterinary health, it is important to rigorously assess the effects of this policy. We have undertaken a detailed analysis of data provided by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). We examined the trends in both AMR proportion and MIC between 2004 and 2012 at slaughter and retail stages. We investigated the makeup of variation in these data and estimated the sample and effect size requirements necessary to distinguish an effect of the policy change. Finally, we applied our approach to take a detailed look at the 2005 withdrawal of approval for the fluoroquinolone enrofloxacin in poultry water. Slaughter and retail showed similar trends. Both AMR proportion and MIC were valuable in assessing AMR, capturing different information. Most variation was within years, not between years, and accounting for geographic location explained little additional variation. At current rates of data collection, a 1-fold change in MIC should be detectable in 5 years and a 6% decrease in percent resistance could be detected in 6 years following establishment of a new resistance rate. Analysis of the enrofloxacin policy change showed the complexities of the AMR policy with no statistically significant change in resistance of both
Campylobacter jejuni
and
Campylobacter coli
to ciprofloxacin, another second-generation fluoroquinolone.