bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding My Culture Means Understanding Myself: The Function of Cultural Identity Clarity for Personal Identity Clarity and Personal Psychological Well‐Being
Authors: Usborne Esther , de la Sablonnière Roxane 
Published: March 2014

AbstractCulture is acknowledged to be a critical element in the construction of an individual's identity; however, in today's increasingly multicultural environments, the influence of culture is no longer straightforward. It is now important to explore cultural identity clarity—the extent to which beliefs about identity that arise from one's cultural group membership(s) are clearly and confidently understood. We describe a novel theoretical model to explain why having a clear and confident understanding of one's cultural identity is important for psychological well‐being, as it clarifies one's understanding of personal identity. We propose that a clear cultural identity clarifies one's personal existence, by providing a clear normative template, reducing personal uncertainty, providing an individual with a sense of continuity, and buffering an individual against the fear of death. We discuss the implications of this model within our complex cultural worlds.
Development and evaluation of a baseline‐event‐anticipation score for hepatitis delta
Authors: Calle Serrano B. , Großhennig A. , Homs M. , Heidrich B. , Erhardt A. , Deterding K. , Jaroszewicz J. , Bremer B. , Koch A. , Cornberg M. , Manns M. P. , Buti M. , Wedemeyer H. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryHepatitis delta is considered the most severe form of viral hepatitis, but variables associated with disease progression are poorly defined. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with worse clinical outcome in patients with hepatitis delta and to develop a clinical score to determine their risk of experiencing liver‐related morbidity or mortality. We followed 75 HBsAg–anti‐HDV‐positive patients with hepatitis delta for up to 16 years (median 5 years). The baseline‐event‐anticipation score (BEA score) was developed based on variables associated with the development of liver‐related clinical complications. Age, region of origin, presence of cirrhosis, albumin, INR, hyperbilirubinemia and thrombocytopenia were all associated with the development of an event in the training cohort. The BEA score included age, sex, region of origin, bilirubin, platelets and INR. Points were allocated according to hazard ratios, and three risk groups were defined: BEA‐A mild risk, BEA‐B moderate risk and BEA‐C high risk. Hazard ratios of BEA‐B and BEA‐C patients for liver‐related clinical endpoints were 9.01 and 25.27 vs BEA‐A with an area under curve of the receiving operating characteristic curve of 0.88. The accuracy of the BEA score was confirmed in two independent validation cohorts followed in Barcelona (n = 77) and Düsseldorf (n = 62). Delta hepatitis is associated with a very severe long‐term outcome. The BEA score is easy to apply and predicts with a very high accuracy the development of liver‐related complications in patients with hepatitis delta.
Generation Of True Ortho‐Images Based On Virtual Worlds: Learning Aspects
Authors: Piatti Eduardo J. , Lerma José L. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMany of the theoretical concepts in photogrammetry are difficult to under‐stand by means of equations and figures. Furthermore, commercial software is not usually adapted to the requirements of teaching and learning. However, photogrammetric simulation software based on virtual worlds can be used to improve both learning and understanding of complex geometrical issues such as the generation of true ortho‐images in urban areas, and assists in training and skills development. This paper tackles image orthorectification by means of a photogrammetric simulation and its generation based on digital elevation/building/surface models, and the interior and exterior orientation parameters of the image sensor, namely, a digital camera. Internal processes such as masking and visibility analysis which are necessary to yield successful true ortho‐images are reported, with examples from both simple and complex urban environments.
Response of primary vectors and related diseases to impoundment by the Three Gorges Dam
Authors: Zhang Xu , Peng Liangbin , Liu Wendong , Fan Lirui , Zhang Qi , Chen Guangjie , He Pan , Wu Ruixiao , Liu Anping , Yang Yexun , Yu Xiaogai , Yun Luojia 
Published: March 2014

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the impact of the Three Gorges Dam on the local ecological environment. We conducted a 3‐year cross‐sectional survey of natural focus infectious diseases in the area before and after the water level rose to 156 m to evaluate the dam's health impacts.MethodsDirect and indirect immunofluorescence methods were applied to detect rat antigen and antibody of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Fresh rat kidneys were inoculated in Korth's culture medium to detect Leptospira. A group of captured crabs were ground to observe the metacercariae of Paragonimus. Serum samples were collected from healthy local individuals. ELISA kits were used to detect human antibody against HFRS and paragonimiasis. Human Leptospira infections were detected by a microscopic agglutination test.ResultsUpstream rodent density increased significantly with Rattus flavipectus and Apodemus agrarius as the major pathophoric genera. The infection rate of human HFRS and Leptospira in the upstream human population samples was significantly higher than in the downstream samples and correlated with the increase in rodent density. Paragonimus infection rates remained at a low level during the study. Culex pipiens fatigan and Armigeres obturbans were the dominant species of mosquito.ConclusionsThe creation of the Three Gorges Dam changed the proliferation of intermediary agents of diseases, but not notably. However, the ecological effects on the environment may require a prolonged period of time to manifest themselves; thus, long‐term and effective surveillance of vectors and related diseases needs to be established.
Substantial increase in mutations in the genes pfdhfr and pfdhps puts sulphadoxine–pyrimethamine‐based intermittent preventive treatment for malaria at risk in Burkina Faso
Authors: Geiger Carolin , Compaore Guillaume , Coulibaly Boubacar , Sie Ali , Dittmer Martin , Sanchez Cecilia , Lanzer Michael , Jänisch Thomas 
Published: March 2014

AbstractObjectiveSulphadoxine–pyrimethamine (SP) is widely used as intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for malaria in pregnant women in Sub‐Saharan Africa. There are reports of wide‐spread SP resistance in countries where SP had once been used as a first‐line treatment. It is unclear whether the development of SP resistance also affects countries where SP is mainly used in the context of IPT, as is the case in Burkina Faso. To assess the efficacy of SP‐based IPT, we monitored the prevalence of SP conferring genetic mutations in the genes dhfr and dhps in Plasmodium falciparum populations in a rural area of Burkina Faso over a period of 13 years.MethodsMolecular epidemiological study consisted of six consecutive cross‐sectional surveys of rainy and dry seasons (2009–2012). Data from the rainy season in 2000 served as a baseline. Mutations in dhfr and dhps associated with SP resistance were analysed by pyrosequencing in 861 parasite‐positive samples.ResultsThe prevalence of the SP resistance conferring triple dhfr mutation 51I, 59R, 108N increased from 1.3% in the rainy season of 2000 to 35.3% in 2009, and 54.3% in 2011 (P ≤ 0.001). Comparing rainy and dry seasons, we observed an increasing step‐like pattern with higher prevalence of the dhfr triple mutant in the respective dry season compared with the preceding rainy season. The proportion of the dhps 437Gly mutation in the rainy season of 2000 was 53.2% and subsequently increased to 77.6% in 2009 (P ≤ 0.001).ConclusionThe increase in molecular markers linked with SP resistance jeopardises the efficacy of IPTp and the planned IPTi interventions in Burkina Faso, calling for careful monitoring of genotypic resistance markers and in vivo validation of IPT efficacy.
Corneal sensitivity in healthy bovine calves
Authors: Tofflemire Kyle L. , Whitley Elizabeth M. , Dewell Renee D. , Gould Stacie A. , Allbaugh Rachel A. , Ben‐Shlomo Gil , O'Connor Annette M. , Whitley Robert D. 
Published: March 2014

ObjectiveTo evaluate corneal sensitivity as measured by the corneal touch threshold in healthy bovine calves.Animals StudiedTwelve clinically normal male calves with predominantly Holstein genetics and a median age of 76.5 days (range, 67–92 days).ProceduresCorneal touch threshold (CTT) of the central cornea was measured in both eyes of each calf using a Cochet‐Bonnet aesthesiometer.ResultsThe mean ± standard deviation corneal touch threshold of all eyes was 1.33 ± 1.1 g/mm2 (range, 0.62–66.15 g/mm2), corresponding to a filament length of 34.56 ± 8.02 mm (range, 14–47.5 mm). There was no significant difference between fellow eyes.ConclusionsCochet‐Bonnet aesthesiometry was well tolerated in all 12 calves using a modified head restraint. Calves in this study may have a relatively sensitive central cornea compared to adult cattle and some other species; however, wide variation among individuals and eyes may be possible. Studies utilizing larger calf populations are necessary to establish reference ranges.
Evaluation of a universal point‐of‐issue assay for bacterial detection in buffy coat platelet components
Authors: Ramirez‐Arcos S. , Kou Y. , Perkins H. 
Published: March 2014

Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates poses a major post‐transfusion infectious risk. This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the BacTx® assay (Immunetics Inc.) for bacterial detection in leucocyte‐reduced buffy coat platelet pools and for its sensitivity in detecting clinical isolates, including bacteria that form surface‐attached aggregates (biofilm positives). Platelet pools were inoculated at bacterial concentrations of 0·8–13 CFU/ml. The BacTx® assay detected all species at concentrations ≥103 CFU/ml within 20–69 h of platelet incubation. Detection of slow‐growing and biofilm‐forming strains was delayed in comparison with the other strains. This assay could be used as a point‐of‐issue method to increase the safety of the platelet supply.
Parallel Computing in Multibody System Dynamics: Why, When, and
How
Authors: Negrut Dan , Serban Radu , Mazhar Hammad , Heyn Toby 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
This paper addresses three questions related to the use of parallel computing in multibody dynamics (MBD) simulation. The “why parallel computing?” question is answered based on the argument that in the upcoming decade parallel computing represents the main source of speed improvement in MBD simulation. The answer to “when is it relevant?” is built around the observation that MBD software users are increasingly interested in multi-physics problems that cross disciplinary boundaries and lead to large sets of equations. The “how?” question is addressed by providing an overview of the state of the art in parallel computing. Emphasis is placed on parallelization approaches and support tools specific to MBD simulation. Three MBD applications are presented where parallel computing has been used to increase problem size and/or reduce time to solution. The paper concludes with a summary of best practices relevant when mapping MBD solutions onto parallel computing hardware.
Quantifying Global International Migration Flows
Authors: Abel Guy J. , Sander Nikola 
Published: March 2014

Monitoring MigrationMigrant “stock” data—the number of people living in a country other than the one in which they were born—are frequently used to understand contemporary trends in international migration, but the data are severely limited.Abel and Sander(p.1520) present a set of global bilateral migration flows estimated from sequential stock data in 5-year intervals. The percentage of the world population moving over 5-year periods has not shown dramatic changes between 1995 and 2010. People from individual African countries tended to move within the continent, whereas people from Europe tended to move to very diverse locations.
Potential Impact of Different Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM Assays on an Algorithm Requiring IgM Reactivity as a Criterion for Measuring CMV IgG Avidity
Authors: Prince Harry E. , Lapé-Nixon Mary , Brenner Andrew , Pitstick Nancy , Couturier Marc Roger 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
The measurement of cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG avidity is a powerful tool for identifying individuals with recent CMV infection. Because such patients are expected to be positive for CMV IgM, several investigators have suggested that CMV IgG-positive sera first be screened for CMV IgM and then only the IgM-reactive sera be tested for avidity. We investigated the impact of different CMV IgM assays on such a reflexing algorithm using a panel of 369 consecutive IgG-positive serum samples submitted for avidity testing. A bead-based immunofluorescent assay (BIFA) identified 105 IgM-positive serum samples, whereas an IgM-capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) identified 48 IgM-positive serum samples; this marked difference led us to evaluate additional CMV IgM assays. An enzyme-linked immunofluorescent assay (ELFA) and a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) were used to test all sera with discordant BIFA/EIA results, all sera with concordant positive results, and selected sera with concordant negative results. The findings indicated that the ELFA would identify 74 CMV IgM-positive samples and the CIA would identify 64. Of the 23 low-avidity serum samples, 2 were IgM negative by BIFA, 3 by ELFA and CIA, and 4 by EIA; of the 23 intermediate-avidity serum samples, 6 were IgM negative by BIFA, 10 by ELFA, and 15 by EIA and CIA. In both these avidity groups, BIFA IgM-negative sera were also negative by the other 3 assays. These findings demonstrate that an algorithm requiring CMV IgM reactivity as a criterion for CMV IgG avidity testing does not identify all low-avidity sera and thus misses some cases of acute CMV infection.
A Burkholderia pseudomallei Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine Provides Protection against Lethal Sepsis
Authors: Nieves Wildaliz , Petersen Hailey , Judy Barbara M. , Blumentritt Carla A. , Russell-Lodrigue Kasi , Roy Chad J. , Torres Alfredo G. , Morici Lisa A. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTThe environmental Gram-negative encapsulated bacillusBurkholderia pseudomalleiis the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in areas of Southeast Asia and northern Australia in which the disease is endemic.B. pseudomalleiis also classified as a tier I select agent due to the high level of lethality of the bacterium and its innate resistance to antibiotics, as well as the lack of an effective vaccine. Gram-negative bacteria, includingB. pseudomallei, secrete outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) which are enriched with multiple protein, lipid, and polysaccharide antigens. Previously, we demonstrated that immunization with multivalentB. pseudomallei-derived OMVs protects highly susceptible BALB/c mice against an otherwise lethal aerosol challenge. In this work, we evaluated the protective efficacy of OMV immunization against intraperitoneal challenge with a heterologous strain because systemic infection with phenotypically diverse environmentalB. pseudomalleistrains poses another hazard and a challenge to vaccine development. We demonstrated thatB. pseudomalleiOMVs derived from strain 1026b afforded significant protection against septicemic infection withB. pseudomalleistrain K96243. OMV immunization induced robust OMV-, lipopolysaccharide-, and capsular polysaccharide-specific serum IgG (IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3) and IgM antibody responses. OMV-immune serum promoted bacterial killingin vitro, and passive transfer ofB. pseudomalleiOMV immune sera protected naive mice against a subsequent challenge. These results indicate that OMV immunization provides antibody-mediated protection against acute, rapidly lethal sepsis in mice.B. pseudomallei-derived OMVs may represent an efficacious multivalent vaccine strategy against melioidosis.
Serological Identification and Prevalence of a Novel O-Antigen Epitope Linked to 3- and 4-
O
-Acetylated Rhamnose III of Lipopolysaccharide in Shigella flexneri
Authors: Wang Jianping , Lan Ruiting , Knirel Yuriy A. , Luo Xia , Senchenkova Sof'ya N. , Shashkov Alexander S. , Xu Jianguo , Sun Qiangzheng 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Shigella flexneri
is the major cause of shigellosis in developing countries. All serotypes except for serotype 6 share an O-antigen backbone composed of a →2)-α-
l
-Rha
p
III
-(1→2)-α-
l
-Rha
p
II
-(1→3)-α-
l
-Rha
p
I
-(1→3)-β-
d
-Glc
p
NAc-(1→ tetrasaccharide repeat. It can be modified by the addition of a glucosyl group to one or more sugar residues and/or an
O
-acetyl group to Rha
I
and/or a phosphoethanolamine to Rha
II
and/or Rha
III
. These modifications give rise to type I-, IC-, II-, IV-, and V- and to group 6-, 7,8-, and MASF IV-1-specific antigenic determinants, which comprise the current serotyping scheme of
S. flexneri
. Recently, another O-antigen modification created by adding an
O
-acetyl group to Rha
III
at position 3 or 4 (3/4-
O
-acetylation) has been found in
S. flexneri
serotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 5a, Y, and 6. A new
O
-acyltransferase gene named
oacB
has been shown to mediate the 3/4-
O
-acetylation in serotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 5a, and Y but not in 6. In this work, we studied the distribution of the 3/4-
O
-acetylation in
S. flexneri
and the antigenicity that resulted from this modification. PCR screening of the
oacB
gene in clinical isolates of
S. flexneri
demonstrated that the
oacB
-mediated 3/4-
O
-acetylation is widespread in serotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 5a, and Y. Serological analysis indicated that this modification confers the host with a novel antigenic determinant that is provisionally named group O factor 9. These findings enhance our understanding of the varieties of O-antigenic determinants related to O-antigen modification in
S. flexneri
and will assist epidemiological studies and vaccine development.
First Report of Emerging Zoonotic Pathogen Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica in the United States
Authors: Thaiwong Tuddow , Kettler Niesa M. , Lim Ailam , Dirkse Heidi , Kiupel Matti 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica
is an emerging human pathogen that has been identified as the cause of septicemia in humans in Europe and South America. Here we report the first case of a unique disease manifestation of
Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica
-induced bacterial septicemia secondary to wound myiasis in a deer in Michigan in the United States.
Performance of Galactomannan, Beta-
d
-Glucan, Aspergillus Lateral-Flow Device, Conventional Culture, and PCR Tests with Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid for Diagnosis of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Authors: Hoenigl M. , Prattes J. , Spiess B. , Wagner J. , Prueller F. , Raggam R. B. , Posch V. , Duettmann W. , Hoenigl K. , Wölfler A. , Koidl C. , Buzina W. , Reinwald M. , Thornton C. R. , Krause R. , Buchheidt D. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Galactomannan detection in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (GM test) is currently considered the gold standard test for diagnosing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). The limitations, however, are the various turnaround times and availability of testing. We compared the performance of GM testing with that of conventional culture, an
Aspergillus
lateral-flow-device (LFD) test, a beta-
d
-glucan (BDG) test, and an
Aspergillus
PCR assay by using BAL fluid samples from immunocompromised patients. A total of 78 BAL fluid samples from 78 patients at risk for IPA (74 samples from Graz and 4 from Mannheim) collected between December 2012 and May 2013 at two university hospitals in Austria and Germany were included. Three patients had proven IPA, 14 probable IPA, and 17 possible IPA, and 44 patients had no IPA. The diagnostic accuracies of the different methods for probable/proven IPA were evaluated. The diagnostic odds ratios were the highest for the GM, PCR, and LFD tests. The sensitivities for the four methods (except culture) were between 70 and 88%. The combination of the GM (cutoff optical density index [ODI], >1.0) and LFD tests increased the sensitivity to 94%, while the combination of the GM test (>1.0) and PCR resulted in 100% sensitivity (specificity for probable/proven IPA, 95 to 98%). The performance of conventional culture was limited by low sensitivity, while that of the BDG test was limited by low specificity. We evaluated established and novel diagnostic methods for IPA and found that the
Aspergillus
PCR, LFD, and GM tests were the most useful methods for diagnosing the disease by using BAL fluid samples. In particular, the combination of the GM test and PCR or, if PCR is not available, the LFD test, allows for sensitive and specific diagnosis of IPA.
Cytomegalovirus in Bone Marrow Cells Correlates with Cytomegalovirus in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes
Authors: Capobianchi Angela , Iori Anna Paola , Micozzi Alessandra , Torelli Giovanni Fernando , Testi Anna Maria , Girmenia Corrado , Santilli Stefania , Barberi Walter , Antonelli Guido , Foà Robin , Gentile Giuseppe 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
In allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with bone marrow (BM) suppression, cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigenemia and DNA were detectable in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and BM cells. A relationship between CMV infection of PBL and BM cells has been found.
Significantly Higher Cytokine and Chemokine Levels in Patients with Japanese Spotted Fever than in Those with Tsutsugamushi Disease
Authors: Tai Katsunori , Iwasaki Hiromichi , Ikegaya Satoshi , Takada Nobuhiro , Tamaki Yukiko , Tabara Kenji , Ueda Takanori 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
Tetracyclines are administered to cure Japanese spotted fever (JSF) and tsutsugamushi disease (TD). It is generally said that the clinical course of JSF is worse than that of TD despite antibiotic treatment. The precise mechanism underlying the more severe clinical course of JSF is not fully understood. We therefore examined whether the differential cytokine profile between these two infectious diseases contributes to the difference in clinical severity. The serum concentrations of various cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) and chemokines (IL-8, interferon-inducible protein 10 [IP-10], monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 [MCP-1], macrophage inflammatory protein 1α [MIP-1α], MIP-1β, and eotaxin) were measured in 32 TD and 21 JSF patients. The results showed that serum levels of TNF-α in the acute phases of TD and JSF were significantly increased, with a higher concentration of TNF-α in patients with JSF (mean, 39.9 pg/ml) than in those with TD (mean, 13.8 pg/ml). Comparatively higher levels of other cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β) were also observed in the acute phase of JSF. The clinical severity score (3.67 ± 1.71) of JSF patients was higher than that of TD patients (1.47 ± 0.77). Our findings revealed that the cytokine and chemokine levels in the acute phase of JSF were significantly higher than those in the acute phase of TD. The differential cytokine levels may be related to the difference in clinical severity between JSF and TD.