bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can Easing Concealed Carry Deter Crime?*
Authors: Fortunato David 
Published: June 2015

ObjectiveLaws reducing hurdles to legally carrying concealed firearms are argued to have a deterrent effect on crime by increasing its perceived costs. This argument rests on the assumption that these policies will either directly or indirectly increase the perceived distribution of firearm carriers, an assumption that is as yet untested. This article tests this assumption and, in so doing, suggests testing the necessary conditions of policy can be useful when assessing outcomes is difficult.MethodsI collect survey data on the perceived number of firearm carriers across the United States and then use a hierarchical regression model to assess the impact of concealed carry policies on these perceptions, controlling for several contextual and individual‐level factors.ResultsThe data suggest that there is no statistically discernible relationship between concealed carry policies and the public's perceptions of the number of firearm carriers. Indeed, the data suggest that the perceived density of firearm carriers is similarly uncorrelated to the number of active concealed carriers.ConclusionThe link between concealed carry policy and people's beliefs about the number of firearm carriers in their community is unidentifiable in the data. The rationale for concealed carry deterrence, however, depends on such a link existing: it assumes that potential assailants are aware of the distribution of firearm carriers in the potential victim population, but the empirical evidence presented here suggests that that assumption simply does not hold. Because beliefs over the distribution of firearm carriers are impervious to permitting policies and do not respond positively to the true distribution of carriers, the data suggest easing concealed carry cannot deter crime.
Frequency of human platelet antigens (HPA)‐1, ‐2, ‐5 and ‐15 in Brazilian blood donors and establishment of a panel of HPA‐typed donors
Authors: Mangerona C. M. B. , Garcia F. B. , Moraes‐Souza H. 
Published: June 2015

SUMMARYObjectivesThe aim of this study is to keep a record of regular human platelet antigens (HPA)‐typed blood donors and to compare their allele frequencies with those reported in other populations.BackgroundHPA are polymorphisms expressed on platelet membrane glycoproteins. They can generate an immune response leading to platelet alloimmunisation that may show clinical manifestations, such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, post‐transfusion purpura and platelet refractoriness. Platelet alloimmunisation is not uncommon, therefore, for an optimum management, it is advantageous to establish a panel of typed platelets to help matched platelets selection in HPA‐alloimmunised patients transfusion.MethodsThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐allele‐specific primers and PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism methods were used to determine the genotypes of HPA‐1, ‐2, ‐5 and ‐15 systems of 337 blood donors.ResultsThe three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were found in all HPA systems analysed, and the most frequent genotypes were AA for HPA‐1, ‐2 and ‐5 systems (mean: 0·732) and AB for HPA‐15 system (mean: 0·523). Allele frequencies were 0·148, 0·155, 0·140 and 0·430 for HPA‐1b, ‐2b, ‐5b and ‐15b, respectively, and they were similar to those found in Caucasian populations, especially for HPA‐1. However, the B allele was more frequent in all HPA systems when compared with Amazon Indians, and the frequency of the B allele in our study was higher in HPA‐1 and ‐15 systems and lower in HPA‐2 and ‐5 systems in comparison with sub‐Saharan African populations.ConclusionsA record of HPA‐typed donors would enable rapid identification and selection of donors when HPA‐compatible platelets are required for transfusion.
Activation of miR165b represses AtHB15 expression and induces pith secondary wall development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Du Qian , Avci Utku , Li Shengben , Gallego‐Giraldo Lina , Pattathil Sivakumar , Qi Liying , Hahn Michael G. , Wang Huanzhong 
Published: June 2015

SummarySecondary cell‐wall thickening takes place in sclerenchyma cells, but not in surrounding parenchyma cells. The molecular mechanism of switching on and off secondary wall synthesis in various cell types is still elusive. Here, we report the identification of a dominant mutant stp–2d showing secondary wall thickening in pith cells (STP). Immunohistochemistry assays confirmed accumulation of secondary cell walls in the pith cells of the stp–2d mutant. Activation of microRNA 165b (miR165b) expression is responsible for the STP phenotype, as demonstrated by transgenic over‐expression experiments. The expression of three class III HD–ZIP transcription factor genes, including AtHB15, was repressed in the stp–2d mutant. Transgenic over‐expression of a mutant form of AtHB15 that is resistant to miR165‐mediated cleavage reversed the stp–2d mutant phenotype to wild‐type, indicating that AtHB15 represses secondary wall development in pith. Characterization of two athb15 mutant alleles further confirmed that functional AtHB15 is necessary for retaining primary walls in parenchyma pith cells. Expression analyses of cell‐wall synthetic genes and wall‐related transcription factors indicated that a transcriptional pathway is involved in AtHB15 function. These results provide insight into the molecular mechanism of secondary cell‐wall development.
Canine small clear cell/T‐zone lymphoma: clinical presentation and outcome in a retrospective case series
Authors: Martini V. , Marconato L. , Poggi A. , Riondato F. , Aresu L. , Cozzi M. , Comazzi S. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractPublished studies, taken together, suggest the existence of a single canine lymphoma entity, with a small clear cell appearance by cytological evaluation, a histopathological T‐zone pattern and an aberrant CD45‐negative T‐cell phenotype, mostly characterized by long‐term survival. We describe clinical presentation and outcome in a retrospective case series of canine small clear cell/T‐zone lymphoma. Despite the reported predisposition of Golden retriever, this breed was not represented in our case series. Most dogs presented with stage V disease, whereas only few had clinical signs or peripheral cytopenias. Blood was almost always more infiltrated than bone marrow. Median survival confirmed the favourable prognosis described in literature, but a few dogs died within a short time. Also, a subgroup of dogs developed second malignancies, eventually leading to death. We did not investigate possible prognostic factors because of the wide variety in treatments, and further studies are needed to identify high‐risk animals.
Comparison of two high‐throughput platforms for red blood cell and platelet antigens genotyping
Authors: Bianchi J. V. S. , Dinardo C. L. , Niewiadonski V. , Mota M. , Mendrone‐Junior A. , Sabino E. C. 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundRed blood cells (RBC) and platelet (PLT) antigens genotyping is a useful tool applied to solve complex immunohaematologic cases, perform alloimmunization prophylaxis and search for rare blood donors. There are different high‐throughput platforms available for RBC and PLT genotyping, which differ in terms of comprised antigens, length of reaction, result interpretation and cost. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of two high‐throughput platforms designed for RBC and PLT genotyping: OpenArray (customized Real‐time platform) and BLOODchip (Luminex technology).Materials and MethodsBlood samples of 242 blood donors were simultaneously tested using OpenArray and BLOODchip (ID‐Core XT and ID‐HPA XT) platforms. The methodologies were compared in terms of accuracy, duration of reaction, percentage of no‐calls, number of samples processed per reaction and interpretation software. The designed OpenArray assay comprised 37 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encoding 31 RBC antigens and six PLT antigens, while the BLOODchip comprised 29 SNPs encoding erythrocyte antigens (ID ‐Core XT) and 12 SNPs encoding PLT antigens (ID‐HPA XT).ResultsThe OpenArray accuracy was 99·93%, and BLOODchip accuracy, 100%. The percentage of no‐calls did not differ between the methodologies. OpenArray was less time‐consuming when performing both RBC and PLT genotyping, whereas BLOODchip presented proper software for results interpretation and allowed the evaluation of individuals samples per reaction.ConclusionBoth OpenArray and BLOODchip methodologies are accurate and suitable for RBC and PLT genotyping. The choice between the platforms relies on the service genotyping goals.
Dynamics of the sensory response to urethral flow over multiple time scales in rat
Authors: Danziger Zachary C. , Grill Warren M. 
Published: June 2015

Key points
Sensory information from the urethra is essential to maintain continence and to achieve efficient micturition and when compromised by disease or injury can lead to substantial loss of function.
Despite the key role urethral sensory information plays in the lower urinary tract, the relationship between physiological urethral stimuli, such as fluid flow, and the neural sensory response is poorly understood.
This work systematically quantifies pudendal afferent responses to a range of fluid flows in the urethra in vivo and describes a previously unknown long‐term neural accommodation phenomenon in these afferents. We present a compact mechanistic mathematical model that reproduces the pudendal sensory activity in response to urethral flow.
These results have implications for understanding urinary tract dysfunction caused by neuropathy or nerve damage, such as urinary retention or incontinence, as well as for the development of strategies to mitigate the symptoms of these conditions.
AbstractThe pudendal nerve carries sensory information from the urethra that controls spinal reflexes necessary to maintain continence and achieve efficient micturition. Despite the key role urethral sensory feedback plays in regulation of the lower urinary tract, there is little information about the characteristics of urethral sensory responses to physiological stimuli, and the quantitative relationship between physiological stimuli and the evoked sensory activation is unknown. Such a relation is critical to understanding the neural control of the lower urinary tract and how dysfunction arises in disease states. We systematically quantified pudendal afferent responses to fluid flow in the urethra in vivo in the rat. We characterized the sensory response across a range of stimuli, and describe a previously unreported long‐term neural accommodation phenomenon. We developed and validated a compact mechanistic mathematical model capable of reproducing the pudendal sensory activity in response to arbitrary profiles of urethral flows. These results describe the properties and function of urethral afferents that are necessary to understand how sensory disruption manifests in lower urinary tract pathophysiology.
TH17-Mediated Protection against Pneumococcal Carriage by a Whole-Cell Vaccine Is Dependent on Toll-Like Receptor 2 and Surface Lipoproteins
Authors: Moffitt K. , Howard A. , Martin S. , Cheung E. , Herd M. , Basset A. , Malley R. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTA pneumococcal whole-cell vaccine (WCV) confers TH17-mediated immunogenicity and reduces nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage in mice. Activation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) has been shown to be important for generating TH17 responses, and several lipidated pneumococcal proteins have TLR2-activating properties. Here we investigated the roles of TLR2 and lipidation of proteins in WCV-induced interleukin-17A (IL-17A) responses and protection against NP carriage. Immunization ofTlr2−/−mice with WCV conferred significantly lower IL-17A levels and reduced protection against NP carriage, compared to wild-type (WT) mice, suggesting that host TLR2 engagement is required for effective immunity and protection elicited by WCV immunization. Using a WCV with deletion oflgt, the gene encoding the enzyme required for lipidation and membrane attachment of prolipoproteins, we show that lipidation and membrane localization of these proteins are critical for the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the WCV. To evaluate the roles of diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt)-mediated processes in the recall of WCV-induced protective responses, we colonized WCV-immunized animals with a strain in whichlgtwas deleted. WCV-immunized animals still had significantly reduced colonization burdens, compared to control animals, which suggests that lipidation and membrane localization of pneumococcal prolipoproteins are less critical for the recall of the immune responses elicited by WCV immunization than for the priming of such responses. Elucidation of underlying immune mechanisms and the optimal characteristics of WCV formulations can help guide vaccine development and enhance our understanding of host-pneumococcus interactions.
Bacillus anthracis Capsular Conjugates Elicit Chimpanzee Polyclonal Antibodies That Protect Mice from Pulmonary Anthrax
Authors: Chen Zhaochun , Schneerson Rachel , Lovchik Julie A. , Dai Zhongdong , Kubler-Kielb Joanna , Agulto Liane , Leppla Stephen H. , Purcell Robert H. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

The immunogenicity of
Bacillus anthracis
capsule (poly-γ-
d
-glutamic acid [PGA]) conjugated to recombinant
B. anthracis
protective antigen (rPA) or to tetanus toxoid (TT) was evaluated in two anthrax-naive juvenile chimpanzees. In a previous study of these conjugates, highly protective monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against PGA were generated. This study examines the polyclonal antibody response of the same animals. Preimmune antibodies to PGA with titers of >10
3
were detected in the chimpanzees. The maximal titer of anti-PGA was induced within 1 to 2 weeks following the 1st immunization, with no booster effects following the 2nd and 3rd immunizations. Thus, the anti-PGA response in the chimpanzees resembled a secondary immune response. Screening of sera from nine unimmunized chimpanzees and six humans revealed antibodies to PGA in all samples, with an average titer of 10
3
. An anti-PA response was also observed following immunization with PGA-rPA conjugate, similar to that seen following immunization with rPA alone. However, in contrast to anti-PGA, preimmune anti-PA antibody titers and those following the 1st immunization were ≤300, with the antibodies peaking above 10
4
following the 2nd immunization. The polyclonal anti-PGA shared the MAb 11D epitope and, similar to the MAbs, exerted opsonophagocytic killing of
B. anthracis
. Most important, the PGA-TT–induced antibodies protected mice from a lethal challenge with virulent
B. anthracis
spores. Our data support the use of PGA conjugates, especially PGA-rPA targeting both toxin and capsule, as expanded-spectrum anthrax vaccines.
Serological Correlates of Protection against a GII.4 Norovirus
Authors: Atmar Robert L. , Bernstein David I. , Lyon G. Marshall , Treanor John J. , Al-Ibrahim Mohamed S. , Graham David Y. , Vinjé Jan , Jiang Xi , Gregoricus Nicole , Frenck Robert W. , Moe Christine L. , Chen Wilbur H. , Ferreira Jennifer , Barrett Jill , Opekun Antone R. , Estes Mary K. , Borkowski Astrid , Baehner Frank , Goodwin Robert , Edmonds Anthony , Mendelman Paul M. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Noroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, and norovirus vaccine prevention strategies are under evaluation. The immunogenicity of two doses of bivalent genogroup 1 genotype 1 (GI.1)/GII.4 (50 μg of virus-like particles [VLPs] of each strain adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide and 3-
O
-desacyl-4′monophosphoryl lipid A [MPL]) norovirus vaccine administered to healthy adults in a phase 1/2 double-blind placebo-controlled trial was determined using virus-specific serum total antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), IgG, IgA, and histoblood group antigen (HBGA)-blocking assays. Trial participants subsequently received an oral live virus challenge with a GII.4 strain, and the vaccine efficacy results were reported previously (D. I. Bernstein et al., J Infect Dis 211:870–878, 2014, doi:
10.1093/infdis/jiu497
). This report assesses the impact of prechallenge serum antibody levels on infection and illness outcomes. Serum antibody responses were observed in vaccine recipients by all antibody assays, with first-dose seroresponse frequencies ranging from 88 to 100% for the GI.1 antigen and from 69 to 84% for the GII.4 antigen. There was little increase in antibody levels after the second vaccine dose. Among the subjects receiving the placebo, higher prechallenge serum anti-GII.4 HBGA-blocking and IgA antibody levels, but not IgG or total antibody levels, were associated with a lower frequency of virus infection and associated illness. Notably, some placebo subjects without measurable serum antibody levels prechallenge did not become infected after norovirus challenge. In vaccinees, anti-GII.4 HBGA-blocking antibody levels of >1:500 were associated with a lower frequency of moderate-to-severe vomiting or diarrheal illness. In this study, prechallenge serum HBGA antibody titers correlated with protection in subjects receiving the placebo; however, other factors may impact the likelihood of infection and illness after virus exposure. (This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration number NCT1609257.)
Creation of an In-House Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Corynebacterineae Database Overcomes Difficulties in Identification of Nocardia farcinica Clinical Isolates
Authors: Paściak Mariola , Dacko Władysław , Sikora Joanna , Gurlaga Danuta , Pawlik Krzysztof , Miękisiak Grzegorz , Gamian Andrzej 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Nocardiosis is a rare disease that is caused by Gram-positive actinobacteria of the
Nocardia
genus and affects predominantly immunocompromised patients. In its disseminated form, it has a predilection for the central nervous system and is associated with high mortality rates. Therefore, prompt identification of the pathogen is critical. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is a relatively novel technique used for identification of microorganisms. In this work, an upgraded MALDI-TOF Biotyper database containing
Corynebacterineae
representatives of strains deposited in the Polish Collection of Microorganisms was created and used for identification of the strain isolated from a nocardial brain abscess, mimicking a brain tumor, in an immunocompetent patient. Testing with the API Coryne system initially incorrectly identified
Rhodococcus
sp., while chemotaxonomic tests, especially mycolic acid analysis, enabled correct
Nocardia
identification only at the genus level. Subsequent sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and
secA1
genes confirmed the identification. To improve the accuracy of the results, an in-house database was constructed using optimized parameters; with the use of the database, the strain was eventually identified as
Nocardia farcinica
. Clinical laboratories processing various clinical strains can upgrade a commercial database to improve and to accelerate the results obtained. This is especially important in the case of
Nocardia
, for which valid microbial diagnosis remains challenging; reference laboratories are often required to identify and to survey these rare actinobacteria.
A Novel Quantitative Sampling Technique for Detection and Monitoring of Clostridium difficile Contamination in the Clinical Environment
Authors: Ali Shanom , Muzslay Monika , Wilson Peter 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

The horizontal transmission of
Clostridium difficile
in the hospital environment is difficult to establish. Current methods to detect
C. difficile
spores on surfaces are not quantitative, lack sensitivity, and are protracted. We propose a novel rapid method to detect and quantify
C. difficile
contamination on surfaces. Sponge swabbing was compared to contact plate sampling to assess the
in vitro
recovery of
C. difficile
ribotype 027 contamination (∼10
0
, 10
1
, or 10
2
CFU of spores) from test surfaces (a bed rail, a stainless steel sheet, or a polypropylene work surface). Sponge swab contents were concentrated by vacuum filtration, and the filter membrane was plated onto selective agar. The efficacy of each technique for the recovery of
C. difficile
from sites in the clinical environment that are touched at a high frequency was evaluated. Contact plates recovered 19 to 32% of the total contamination on test surfaces, whereas sponge swabs recovered 76 to 94% of the total contamination, and contact plates failed to detect
C. difficile
contamination below a detection limit of 10 CFU/25 cm
2
(0.4 CFU/cm
2
). In use, contact plates failed to detect
C. difficile
contamination (0/96 contact plates; 4 case wards), while sponge swabs recovered
C. difficile
from 29% (87/301) of the surfaces tested in the clinical environment. Approximately 74% (36/49) of the area in the vicinity of the patient was contaminated (∼1.34 ± 6.88 CFU/cm
2
C. difficile
spores). Reservoirs of
C. difficile
extended to beyond the areas near the patient: a dirty utility room sink (2.26 ± 5.90 CFU/cm
2
), toilet floor (1.87 ± 2.40 CFU/cm
2
), and chair arm (1.33 ± 4.69 CFU/cm
2
).
C. difficile
was present on floors in ∼90% of case wards. This study highlights that sampling with a contact plate may fail to detect
C. difficile
contamination and result in false-negative reporting. Our sponge sampling technique permitted the rapid and quantitative measurement of
C. difficile
contamination on surfaces with a sensitivity (limit, 0 CFU) greater than that which is otherwise possible. This technique could be implemented for routine surface hygiene monitoring for targeted cleaning interventions and as a tool to investigate routes of patient-patient transmission in the clinical environment.
Nocardia Septic Arthritis Complicating an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair
Authors: Yong Elaine X. L. , Cheong Elaine Y. L. , Boutlis Craig S. , Chen Darren B. , Liu Eunice Y.-T. , McKew Genevieve L. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Nocardia
infection following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) allograft reconstruction is a rare occurrence. We report a case of
Nocardia
infection of an allograft ACL reconstruction and septic arthritis of the knee joint due to an organism most similar to the novel
Nocardia
species
Nocardia aobensis
.