bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multitrophic diversity effects depend on consumer specialization and species‐specific growth and grazing rates
Authors: Filip Joanna , Bauer Barbara , Hillebrand Helmut , Beniermann Anna , Gaedke Ursula , Moorthi Stefanie D. 
Published: March 2014

Ecosystem functioning is affected by horizontal (within trophic groups) and vertical (across trophic levels) biodiversity. Theory predicts that the effects of vertical biodiversity depend on consumer specialization. In a microcosm experiment, we investigated ciliate consumer diversity and specialization effects on algal prey biovolume, evenness and composition, and on ciliate biovolume production. The experimental data was complemented by a process‐based model further analyzing the ecological mechanisms behind the observed diversity effects. Overall, increasing consumer diversity had no significant effect on prey biovolume or evenness. However, consumer specialization affected the prey community. Specialist consumers showed a stronger negative impact on prey biovolume and evenness than generalists. The model confirmed that this pattern was mainly driven by a single specialist with a high per capita grazing rate, consuming the two most productive prey species. When these were suppressed, the prey assemblage became dominated by a less productive species, consequently decreasing prey biovolume and evenness. Consumer diversity increased consumer biovolume, which was stronger for generalists than for specialists and highest in mixed combinations, indicating that consumer functional diversity, i.e. more diverse feeding strategies, increased resource use efficiency. Overall, our results indicate that consumer diversity effects on prey and consumers strongly depend on species‐specific growth and grazing rates, which may be at least equally important as consumer specialization in driving consumer diversity effects across trophic levels.SynthesisIn a microcosm experiment, we investigated multitrophic consumer diversity and specialization effects using ciliate consumers and microalgal prey. Consumer diversity increased consumer biovolume, which was highest in combinations containing both generalists and specialists. Specialist consumers showed a stronger negative effect on prey biovolume and evenness than generalists. These experimental data were supported by a process‐based model, indicating that the large effect of the specialists was based on high per capita grazing rate on the two most productive prey species. Species‐specific traits such as growth and grazing rates were equally important for multitrophic diversity effects than consumer specialization.
A Pediatric Case of Multiple Palisaded Encapsulated Neuromas of the Palms and Soles
Authors: Omori Yasutaka , Tanito Katsumi , Ito Keigo , Itoh Munenari , Saeki Hidehisa , Nakagawa Hidemi 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPalisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN) usually presents as a solitary, skin‐colored papule on the face in middle‐aged adults. We present a rare pediatric case of multiple PEN of the palms and soles. DNA analysis of the RET proto‐oncogene in our patient showed no mutations in exons 13, 15, and 16.
EEG delta oscillations index inhibitory control of contextual novelty to both irrelevant distracters and relevant task‐switch cues
Authors: Prada Laura , Barceló Francisco , Herrmann Christoph S. , Escera Carles 
Published: March 2014

AbstractDelta oscillations contribute to the human P300 event‐related potential evoked by oddball targets, although it is unclear whether they index contextual novelty (event oddballness, novelty P3, nP3), or target‐related processes (event targetness, target P3b). To examine this question, the electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded during a cued task‐switching version of the Wisconsin card‐sorting test. Each target card was announced by a tone cueing either to switch or repeat the task. Novel sound distracters were interspersed among trials. Time‐frequency EEG analyses revealed bursts of delta (2–4 Hz) power associated with enhanced nP3 amplitudes to both task‐switch cues and novel distracters—but no association with target P3b. These findings indicate that the P300‐delta response indexes contextual novelty regardless of whether novelty emanates from endogenous (new task rules) or exogenous (novel distracters) sources of information.
A Case Series of Real‐Time Hemodynamic Assessment of High Output Heart Failure as a Complication of Arteriovenous Access in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Singh Sarguni , Elramah Mohsen , Allana Salman S. , Babcock Michael , Keevil Jon G. , Johnson Maryl R. , Yevzlin Alexander S. , Chan Micah R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractCongestive heart failure (CHF) is an important source of morbidity and mortality in end‐stage renal disease patients. Although CHF is commonly associated with low cardiac output (CO), it may also occur in high CO states. Multiple conditions are associated with increased CO including congenital or acquired arteriovenous fistulae or arteriovenous grafts. Increased CO resulting from permanent AV access in dialysis patients has been shown to induce structural and functional cardiac changes, including the development of eccentric left ventricle hypertrophy. Often, the diagnosis of high output heart failure requires invasive right heart monitoring in the acute care setting such as a medical or cardiac intensive care unit. The diagnosis of an arteriovenous access causing high output heart failure is usually confirmed after the access is ligated surgically. We present for the first time, a case for real‐time hemodynamic assessment of high output heart failure due to AV access by interventional nephrology in the cardiac catheterization suite.
Cytotoxic reaction mediators: granzymes A and B in women with ovarian cancer
Authors: Mielczarek‐Palacz A. , Sikora J. , Kondera‐Anasz Z. , Bednarek I. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe purpose of this work was the assessment of cytotoxic reaction mediators – granzymes A and B in the serum of women with ovarian tumors. The study included 120 women with proven ovarian tumors. The control group consisted of 60 healthy women in whom no pathological changes within the reproductive system were detected. Concentrations of granzymes A and B were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. The highest concentrations of the studied parameters were observed in serum of women with ovarian cancer. Moreover, the concentrations of granzymes A and B in patients with ovarian cancer were substantially increased in comparison to concentrations in patients with ovarian cystadenomas (P < 0.0001) or ovarian teratomas (P < 0.0001).
Drivers of Export Demand: A Focus on the GIIPS Countries
Authors: Algieri Bernardina 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis study investigates the drivers of export demand in the peripheral economies of the Euro Area, namely Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain (GIIPS), for the period between 1980 and 2012. Recently, several authors have pointed out that changes in trade export shares are not associated with major terms of trade disturbances; rather, they are the result of other underlying factors commonly defined as ‘non‐price competitiveness’. Starting from this premise, the study extends the traditional imperfect substitute trade model to include a measure of non‐price competitiveness: real capital stock. The latter is a measure of a country's total resource base and captures the presence of product differentiation and product innovation. The results show a significant link between export demand and cumulative investments. In the short‐term, GIIPS exports are dominated by the movements of worldwide real income, while changes in price and non‐competitiveness take longer to affect export performance. In the long‐run, all three variables play a significant role in pushing exports.
Heat Transfer and Pressure Loss Measurements in a Turbulated High Aspect Ratio Channel With Large Reynolds Number Flows
Authors: Mhetras Shantanu , Han Je-Chin , Huth Michael 
Published: March 2014

AbstractExperiments to investigate heat transfer and pressure loss are performed in a rectangular channel with an aspect ratio of 6 at very high Reynolds numbers under compressible flow conditions. Reynolds numbers up to 1.3 × 106 are tested. The presence of a turbulated wall and the resultant heat transfer enhancement against a smooth surface is investigated. Three dimpled configurations including spherical and cylindrical dimples are studied on one wide wall of the channel. The presence of discrete ribs on the same wide wall is also investigated. A steady state heat transfer measurement method is used to obtain the heat transfer coefficients while pressure taps located at several streamwise locations in the channel walls are used to record the static pressures on the surface. Experiments are performed for a wide range of Reynolds numbers from the incompressible (Re = 100,000–500,000; Mach = 0.04–0.19) to compressible flow regimes (Re = 900,000–1,300,000, Mach = 0.35–0.5). Results for low Reynolds numbers are compared to existing heat transfer data available in open literature for similar configurations. Heat transfer enhancement is found to decrease at high Re with the discrete rib configurations providing the best enhancement but highest pressure losses. However, the small spherical dimples show the best thermal performance. Results can be used for the combustor liner back side cooling at high Reynolds number flow conditions. Local measurements using the steady state, hue-detection based liquid crystal technique are also performed in the fully developed region for case 1 with large spherical dimples. Good comparison is obtained between averaged local heat transfer coefficient measurements and from thermocouple measurements.
Sample size requirements for estimating effective dose from computed tomography using solid‐state metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor dosimetry
Authors: Trattner Sigal , Cheng Bin , Pieniazek Radoslaw L. , Hoffmann Udo , Douglas Pamela S. , Einstein Andrew J. 
Published: March 2014

Purpose:Effective dose (ED) is a widely used metric for comparing ionizing radiation burden between different imaging modalities, scanners, and scan protocols. In computed tomography (CT), ED can be estimated by performing scans on an anthropomorphic phantom in which metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor (MOSFET) solid‐state dosimeters have been placed to enable organ dose measurements. Here a statistical framework is established to determine the sample size (number of scans) needed for estimating ED to a desired precision and confidence, for a particular scanner and scan protocol, subject to practical limitations.Methods:The statistical scheme involves solving equations which minimize the sample size required for estimating ED to desired precision and confidence. It is subject to a constrained variation of the estimated ED and solved using the Lagrange multiplier method. The scheme incorporates measurement variation introduced both by MOSFET calibration, and by variation in MOSFET readings between repeated CT scans. Sample size requirements are illustrated on cardiac, chest, and abdomen–pelvis CT scans performed on a 320‐row scanner and chest CT performed on a 16‐row scanner.Results:Sample sizes for estimating ED vary considerably between scanners and protocols. Sample size increases as the required precision or confidence is higher and also as the anticipated ED is lower. For example, for a helical chest protocol, for 95% confidence and 5% precision for the ED, 30 measurements are required on the 320‐row scanner and 11 on the 16‐row scanner when the anticipated ED is 4 mSv; these sample sizes are 5 and 2, respectively, when the anticipated ED is 10 mSv.Conclusions:Applying the suggested scheme, it was found that even at modest sample sizes, it is feasible to estimate ED with high precision and a high degree of confidence. As CT technology develops enabling ED to be lowered, more MOSFET measurements are needed to estimate ED with the same precision and confidence.
Seroprevalence of Canine Norovirus in 14 European Countries
Authors: Mesquita João R. , Delgado Inês , Costantini Veronica , Heenemann Kristin , Vahlenkamp Thomas W. , Vinjé Jan , Nascimento Maria S. J. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
To investigate the prevalence of the recently described genogroup VI canine noroviruses (CNVs) in dogs in Europe, we tested 510 serum samples from dogs in 14 European countries for anti-IgG CNV antibodies. Seropositive dogs were found throughout Europe. Dogs with antibodies against human noroviruses were also found.
Performance of a Cytomegalovirus IgG Enzyme Immunoassay Kit Modified To Measure Avidity
Authors: Prince Harry E. , Lapé-Nixon Mary , Novak-Weekley Susan M. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

The measurement of cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG avidity accurately discriminates recent and past CMV infections. We sought to determine if the Wampole Laboratories CMV IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA) could be modified to measure avidity. The evaluation panel consisted of 156 serum samples we used in 2002 to validate a laboratory-developed EIA, in which 78 serum samples exhibited low avidity, 7 exhibited intermediate avidity, and 71 exhibited high avidity. The qualitative agreement between the two avidity assays was 94% (147/156); all 9 sera with discordant results exhibited intermediate avidity in one of the assays. The avidity index (AI) values in the two assays showed excellent correlation (
r
= 0.96,
P
< 0.0001). The definition of high avidity was verified for the Wampole assay by demonstrating high avidity in 91/93 (98%) recently collected CMV IgG-positive/IgM-negative serum samples. The performance of the Wampole avidity assay in a reference laboratory setting was assessed using 470 consecutive serum samples submitted for CMV IgG avidity testing. Surprisingly, 101 serum samples were negative when screened for CMV IgG using the Wampole kit per the package insert; 98 of these 101 serum samples were tested using a CMV IgG chemiluminescent immunoassay, and only 5 were positive. Of the 369 CMV IgG-positive samples, 6% exhibited low IgG avidity, 6% exhibited intermediate avidity, and 88% exhibited high avidity; CMV IgM detection rates were inversely related to AI levels. These findings show that (i) the Wampole CMV IgG EIA can be modified to measure CMV IgG avidity, (ii) many samples are apparently submitted for avidity testing without knowledge of their CMV IgG status, and (iii) most CMV IgG-positive sera submitted for avidity testing exhibit high avidity.
Novel DNA Chip Based on a Modified DigiTag2 Assay for High-Throughput Species Identification and Genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Isolates
Authors: Srilohasin Prapaporn , Chaiprasert Angkana , Tokunaga Katsushi , Nao Nishida , Prammananan Therdsak 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose high-throughput genotyping tool for the assessment of recent epidemiological data and evolutional pattern in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (MTBC) clinical isolates was developed in this study. To facilitate processing, 51 highly informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected for discriminating the clinically most relevant MTBC species and genotyping
M. tuberculosis
into its principle genetic groups (PGGs) and SNP cluster groups (SCGs). Because of the high flexibility of the DigiTag2 assay, the identical protocol and DNA array containing the identical set of probes were applied to the highly GC-rich mycobacterial genome. The specific primers with multiplex amplification and hybridization conditions based on the DigiTag2 principle were optimized and evaluated with 14 MTBC reference strains, 4 nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) isolates, and 322 characterized
M. tuberculosis
clinical isolates. The DNA chip that was developed revealed a 99.85% call rate, a 100% conversion rate, and 99.75% reproducibility. For the accuracy rate, 98.94% of positive calls were consistent with previous molecular characterizations. Our cost-effective technology was capable of simultaneously identifying the MTBC species and the genotypes of 96
M. tuberculosis
clinical isolates within 6 h using only simple instruments, such as a thermal cycler, a hybridization oven, and a DNA chip scanner, and less technician skill was required than for other techniques. We demonstrate this approach's potential as a simple, flexible, and rapid tool for providing clearer information regarding circulating MTBC isolates.
Ability of Two Commercially Available Assays (Abbott RealTi
m
e HIV-1 and Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Version 2.0) To Quantify Low HIV-1 RNA Levels (<1,000 Copies/Milliliter): Comparison with Clinical Samples and NIBSC Working Reagent for Nucleic Acid Testing Assays
Authors: Amendola Alessandra , Marsella Patrizia , Bloisi Maria , Forbici Federica , Angeletti Claudio , Capobianchi Maria R. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Concordance between molecular assays may be suboptimal at low HIV-1 viremia levels (<1,000 copies/ml); therefore, it may be difficult to define and compare virologic endpoints for successful and failed therapy. We compared two commercial assays (the Abbott RealTi
m
e HIV-1 and the Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/TaqMan HIV-1 version 2.0) for their ability to detect and quantify low viral loads. A comparison was performed using 167 residual clinical samples (with values ranging from “not detected” to 1,000 copies/ml, as measured by the Abbott assay) and the National Institute and Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) HIV-1 RNA working reagent 1 for nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAT) assays (serially diluted to a range from 1 to 1,000 copies/ml). Quantitative results were compared using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and a Bland-Altman plot. Concordance with the qualitative results was measured by Cohen's kappa statistic. With clinical samples, the degree of interassay concordance of the qualitative results at a 40-copies/ml HIV-1 RNA threshold was substantial (κ = 0.762); the correlation among the quantified samples was suboptimal (concordance correlation coefficient, 0.728;
P
< 0.0001); the mean difference of the values between the Roche and Abbott assays was 0.193 log
10
copies/ml. Using the HIV-1 RNA working reagent 1 for NAT assays, the results provided by the Roche assay were, on average, 3 times higher than expected, while the Abbott assay showed high accuracy. The Roche assay was highly sensitive, being able to detect a level as low as 3.5 copies/ml HIV-1 RNA with 95% probability. The performance characteristics of each molecular assay should be taken into account when HIV-1 RNA threshold values for “virologic suppression,” “virologic failure,” “persistent low viral loads,” etc., are defined and indicated in the support of clinical decisions.
Molecular Epidemiology of
sil
Locus in Clinical Streptococcus pyogenes Strains
Authors: Plainvert Céline , Dinis Márcia , Ravins Miriam , Hanski Emanuel , Touak Gérald , Dmytruk Nicolas , Fouet Agnès , Poyart Claire 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pyogenes
(group A
Streptococcus
[GAS]) causes a wide variety of diseases, ranging from mild noninvasive to severe invasive infections. Mutations in regulatory components have been implicated in the switch from colonization to invasive phenotypes. The inactivation of the
sil
locus, composed of six genes encoding a quorum-sensing complex, gives rise to a highly invasive strain. However, studies conducted on limited collections of GAS strains suggested that
sil
prevalence is around 15%; furthermore, whereas a correlation between the presence of
sil
and the genetic background was suggested, no link between the presence of a functional
sil
locus and the invasive status was assessed. We established a collection of 637 nonredundant strains covering all
emm
genotypes present in France and of known clinical history; 68%, 22%, and 10% were from invasive infections, noninvasive infections, and asymptomatic carriage, respectively. Among the 637 strains, 206 were
sil
positive. The prevalence of the
sil
locus varied according to the
emm
genotype, being present in >85% of the
emm4
,
emm18
,
emm32
,
emm60
,
emm87
, and
emm90
strains and absent from all
emm1
,
emm28
, and
emm89
strains. A random selection based on 2009 French epidemiological data indicated that 16% of GAS strains are
sil
positive. Moreover, due to mutations leading to truncated proteins, only 9% of GAS strains harbor a predicted functional
sil
system. No correlation was observed between the presence or absence of a functional
sil
locus and the strain invasiveness status.
Multiplex Nucleic Acid Amplification Test for Diagnosis of Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Leptospirosis
Authors: Waggoner Jesse J. , Abeynayake Janaki , Balassiano Ilana , Lefterova Martina , Sahoo Malaya K. , Liu Yuanyuan , Vital-Brazil Juliana Magalhães , Gresh Lionel , Balmaseda Angel , Harris Eva , Banaei Niaz , Pinsky Benjamin A. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Dengue, leptospirosis, and malaria are among the most common etiologies of systemic undifferentiated febrile illness (UFI) among travelers to the developing world, and these pathogens all have the potential to cause life-threatening illness in returned travelers. The current study describes the development of an internally controlled multiplex nucleic acid amplification test for the detection of dengue virus (DENV) and
Leptospira
and
Plasmodium
species, with a specific callout for
Plasmodium falciparum
(referred to as the UFI assay). During analytical evaluation, the UFI assay displayed a wide dynamic range and a sensitive limit of detection for each target, including all four DENV serotypes. In a clinical evaluation including 210 previously tested samples, the sensitivities of the UFI assay were 98% for DENV (58/59 samples detected) and 100% for
Leptospira
and malaria (65/65 and 20/20 samples, respectively). Malaria samples included all five
Plasmodium
species known to cause human disease. The specificity of the UFI assay was 100% when evaluated with a panel of 66 negative clinical samples. Furthermore, no amplification was observed when extracted nucleic acids from related pathogens were tested. Compared with whole-blood samples, the UFI assay remained positive for
Plasmodium
in 11 plasma samples from patients with malaria (parasitemia levels of 0.0037 to 3.4%). The syndrome-based design of the UFI assay, combined with the sensitivities of the component tests, represents a significant improvement over the individual diagnostic tests available for these pathogens.