bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Metalloprotease NGO1686 Is Required for Full Piliation, and Piliation Is Required for Resistance to H
2
O
2
- and Neutrophil-Mediated Killing
Authors: Stohl Elizabeth A. , Dale Erin M. , Criss Alison K. , Seifert H. Steven 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

The sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea is caused exclusively by the human-specific pathogen
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
. Type IV pili are an essential virulence factor uniformly expressed on clinical gonococcal isolates and are required for several aspects of gonococcal pathogenesis, including adherence to host tissues, autoagglutination, twitching motility, and the uptake of DNA during transformation. Symptomatic gonococcal infection is characterized by the influx of neutrophils or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to the site of infection. PMNs are a key component of gonococcal pathogenesis, mediating the innate immune response through the use of oxidative and nonoxidative killing mechanisms. The M23B family zinc metallopeptidase NGO1686 is required for gonococci to survive oxidative killing by H
2
O
2
- and PMN-mediated killing through unknown mechanisms, but the only known target of NGO1686 is peptidoglycan. We report that the effect of NGO1686 on survival after exposure to H
2
O
2
and PMNs is mediated through its role in elaborating pili and that nonpiliated mutants of
N. gonorrhoeae
are less resistant to killing by H
2
O
2
, LL-37, and PMNs than the corresponding piliated strains. These findings add to the various virulence-associated functions attributable to gonococcal pili and may explain the selection basis for piliation in clinical isolates of
N. gonorrhoeae
.

IMPORTANCE
Successful infectious agents need to overcome host defense systems to establish infection. We show that the
Neisseria
pilus, a major virulence factor of this organism, which causes gonorrhea, helps protect the bacterium from two major killing mechanisms used by the host to combat infections. We also show that to express the pilus, an enzyme needs to partially degrade the cell wall of the bacterium.
Optimising seat design for all-terrain vehicle injury prevention: wide variability illustrates need for evidence-based standardisation
Authors: Jennissen Charles A , Miller Nathan S , Tang Kaiyang , Denning Gerene M 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundAll-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related deaths and injuries are a growing public health concern, particularly in rural and suburban communities. More engineering approaches that address vehicle safety and promote injury prevention are critically needed.ObjectivesOur study was designed to determine the variability in seat characteristics among 2012 model-year, adult-size ATVs.MethodsMeasurements of 67 models were performed using an image-based method. Seat characteristics were compared by manufacturer and by ATV type (sport vs utility).ResultsThere were significant differences in seat length and seat placement among manufacturers and between sport and utility ATVs. Seat lengths ranged from 19.8 to 37.0 inches, with sport models significantly longer than utility models. Longer seats resulted from the back of the seat extending further beyond the rear axle and/or the seat front extending closer to the handle grips. Seat front to handle grip distances ranged from 3.25 to 16.5 inches. Combined data showed a strong inverse correlation between seat length and the distance from the seat front to the handle grips, but no significant correlation with wheelbase or engine size.ConclusionsWe found wide variability in seat length and placement for adult-size ATVs. However, existing seat specifications were identified that may be a good starting point for improved seat design. Optimal design would allow for safe operation while reducing the likelihood of multiple riders and use by underaged operators, both major risk factors for ATV-related deaths and injuries. Ultimately, regulations may be needed to ensure standardised seat design is incorporated throughout the ATV industry.
Prevalence of linear keratopathy in a herd of Lipizzaners over an 18‐month period
Authors: Rushton J. O. , Tichy A. , Kolodziejek J. , Nowotny N. , Nell B. 
Published: July 2013

The prevalence of linear keratopathy with progressing age in a closed population of a single horse breed is reported. All Lipizzaners in three federal states in Austria underwent complete ophthalmic examination four times over a period of 18 months, with six‐month intervals. Findings consistent with linear keratopathy were recorded, and associated with factors such as sex, location, boarding system and level of performance throughout the study period. Logistic regression was applied to determine the influence of age on ophthalmic findings. On the first, second, third and fourth examinations, 0.8 per cent, 3.1 per cent, 4.4 per cent and 4.8 per cent (of 266, 261, 249 and 230 horses, respectively) of the study population, were diagnosed with linear keratopathy. This finding was consistently identified in the same horses, and once identified, no further progression was noted. Horses with this finding had no history of previous ocular problems or concurrent ocular abnormalities. Statistical analysis did not reveal any influence of sex, location, boarding, or level of performance; however the prevalence of linear keratopathy was found to increase with progressive age (P<0.5). The results of this study indicate that linear keratopathy was not congenital and was non‐progressive in the Lipizzaner over a period of 18 months.
Geochemistry and mineral phases of REE in Jammi carbonatite veins and fenites, southern end of the Sokli complex, NE Finland
Authors: Al Ani Thair , Sarapää Olli 
Published: July 2013

The Jammi area consists of Archaean mafic volcanic rock and tonalitic gneiss, which were intruded by the Devonian Sokli carbonatite, causing large-scale and intense fenitization of the country rocks. The rocks are albite-fenites, crosscutting late carbonatite veins, with the mineral assemblages of calcite-dolomite-aegirine-albite-apatite-phlogopite.
Geochemical analyses indicate that the total content of rare earth elements (REE) in the carbonatite veins is 0.11–1.83%, including 0.11–1.81% LREE and 0.002–0.041% HREE. Seven rare earth minerals have been analysed in detail from the area, including Sr-apatite, monazite, ancylite (Ce), bastnäsite (Ce), strontianite, baryte and brabanite.
The Jammi carbonatite and fenite samples display similar REE patterns, with highest enrichment of LREE, and steep slopes towards the HREEs. The REE distribution in the whole-rock data is controlled by carbonates and apatite. REE-rich accessory phases such as monazite and ancylite (Ce) influence the REE pattern only when present in large amounts.
Mineralogical and chemical evidence demonstrates that hydrothermal processes were responsible for the REE mineralization. During late-stage processes, apatite and carbonate minerals were replaced by various assemblages of REE–Sr–Ba minerals. Apatite could be a potential source for REE as a by-product of phosphate production in the Sokli area.
Application of till geochemical and indicator mineral data to the interpretation of the thick till sequence at Muhos, northern Finland
Authors: Lunkka J. P. , Peuraniemi V. , Nikarmaa T. 
Published: July 2013

Recent drilling at Muhos, northern Finland has revealed an exceptionally thick Quaternary sediment cover, overlying the unmetamorphosed Neoproterozoic Muhos Siltstone Formation in the Oulujoki River Valley. Here we report preliminary petrographical, geochemical and heavy mineral results from four till units from the Muhos drill-core.

The drilling site is located at 27 m asl,
c.
1 km south of Oulujoki River and 30 km SE from the city of Oulu and the present shore of the Bothnian Bay of the Baltic Sea. The drilling at this site was performed with a GM 200 GTT drilling platform using 1 -m long sample tubes (HDPV, diameter 5 cm) inside the stainless steel cover tubes. The coring penetrated down to the siltstone bedrock 54 m below the ground surface and the sediment core recovery was over 75%. The sedimentary sequence from the ground surface down to the local siltstone bedrock consists of four till units interbedded with sand/silt/clay beds. The upper two till beds, Mu-1 and Mu-2, are interpreted as being deposited during the Weichselian Glaciation between 115 000–10 000 years ago, the third till bed Mu-3 during the Saalian and the lowest till bed, Mu-4, during the Saalian or pre-Saalian glaciations, i.e. till beds Mu-3 and Mu-4 prior to
c.
130 000 years ago.

Petrography of the coarse fraction, geochemistry of the fine fraction and heavy minerals of the sand fraction were studied from all four till units and the Muhos siltstone samples. Coarse and fine fractions were separated by dry-sieving. The fine fraction was analysed by XRF and AAS. The mineralogical composition of the heavy fraction was studied by FESEM+EDS and SEM+EDS.
The lowest till bed Mu-4 can be divided into three subunits. On the basis of clast content, geochemistry of till fines the ice movement direction was from the NW or NNW during the deposition of the lowermost brown and red till units. The composition of the upper grey unit of till bed Mu-4 shows that the ice flow direction was from the WNW. Petrographical composition of till beds Mu-3 and Mu-2 indicates that the ice flow again was from the NW whereas the petrographical composition of the uppermost till bed Mu-1 suggests that the ice flow during this deposition phase was from the WNW. Younger till beds studied have in part also some reworked and re-deposited material from the older till beds.

Supplementary material:

The percentages of the rock types in pebble and gravel fraction, XRF and AAS analysis of the samples and identified mineral species of the heavy sand fraction are available at:
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18659
Geology, conservation and dissolution of corpses by Paolo Gorini (1813–1881)
Authors: Lorusso Lorenzo , Falconi Bruno , Franchini Francesca Antonia , Porro Alessandro 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Paolo Gorini (1813–1881), an Italian mathematician, is considered one of the fathers of experimental geology, and his work contributed to the evolution of medicine and hygiene. In 1844, he studied food conservation and worked out a method for conserving corpses and anatomical specimens, approved by the Medical School of Pavia. His geological studies mainly concerned mineralisation. At that time several researchers, including Jean Nicolas Gannal (1791–1852), Girolamo Segato (1792–1836), Ludovico Brunetti (1813–1899) and Efisio Marini (1835–1900), experimented on the scientific conservation of corpses. Later (1851), Gorini studied the formation of mountains and suggested experiments and demonstrations to produce volcanoes artificially. These studies were fundamental to realizing the early methods of corpse cremation in order to solve the problem of hygiene in cities and cemeteries. Gorini also supervised the construction of the first crematorium (Woking, UK). Gorini conserved the corpse of the Italian politician Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–1872). Gorini’s theories were not scientifically confirmed, but his attempt to understand the Universe and the origin of life and evolution by means of a single law is interesting as an early model for the emerging positivism of that time.
The Mechanism of DAB2IP in Chemoresistance of Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Wu Kaijie , Xie Daxing , Zou Yonglong , Zhang Tingting , Pong Rey-Chen , Xiao Guanghua , Fazli Ladan , Gleave Martin , He Dalin , Boothman David A. , Hsieh Jer-Tsong 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Purpose: The docetaxel-based chemotherapy is the standard of care for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), inevitably, patients develop resistance and decease. Until now, the mechanism and predictive marker for chemoresistance are poorly understood.
Experimental Design: Immortalized normal prostate and cancer cell lines stably manipulated with different DAB2IP expression levels were used and treated with chemotherapeutic drugs commonly used in prostate cancer therapy. Cell proliferation was measured using MTT assay; Western blot, quantitative PCR, and luciferase reporter assays were used to analyze Clusterin gene regulation by DAB2IP. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted for evaluating DAB2IP, Clusterin and Egr-1 expression in human prostate cancer tissue.
Results: DAB2IP Knockdown (KD) cells exhibited resistance to several chemotherapeutic drugs, whereas increased DAB2IP in C4-2 cells restored the drug sensitivity. Parallel, DAB2IP KD cells exhibited higher expression of Clusterin, an antiapoptotic factor, whereas elevated DAB2IP in C4-2 cells decreased Clusterin expression. Functionally, knocking down Clusterin by short-hairpin RNA or antisense oligonucleotide OGX-011 decreased drug resistance, whereas overexpressing Clusterin in C4-2 D2 enhanced drug resistance. Mechanistically, DAB2IP blocked the cross-talk between Wnt/β-catenin and IGF-I signaling, leading to the suppression of Egr-1 that is responsible for Clusterin expression. A similar result was observed in the prostate of DAB2IP knockout animals. In addition, we observed a significantly inverse correlation between DAB2IP and Egr-1 or Clusterin expression from clinical tissue microarray.
Conclusions: This study unveils a new regulation of the Egr-1/Clusterin signaling network by DAB2IP. Loss of DAB2IP expression in CRPC cells signifies their chemoresistance. Clusterin is a key target for developing more effective CRPC therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 19(17); 4740–9. ©2013 AACR.
Cognitive Change in Heart Failure
Authors: Hajduk Alexandra M. , Kiefe Catarina I. , Person Sharina D. , Gore Joel G. , Saczynski Jane S. 
Published: July 2013

Background—
Cognitive impairment, highly prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF), increases risk for hospitalization and mortality. However, the course of cognitive change in HF is not well characterized. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the available evidence longitudinal changes in cognitive function in patients with HF.

Methods and Results—
A literature search of several electronic databases was performed. Studies published from January 1, 1980, to September 30, 2012, that used validated measures to diagnose HF and assess cognitive function ≥2× in adults with HF were eligible for inclusion. Change in cognitive function was examined in the context of HF treatments applied (eg, medication initiation, left ventricular assist device implantation), length of follow-up, and comparison group. Fifteen studies met eligibility criteria. Significant decline in cognitive function was noted among patients with HF followed up for >1 year. Improvements in cognition were observed among patients with HF undergoing interventions to improve cardiac function (eg, heart transplantation) and among patients examined over short time periods (<1 year). Studies comparing patients' cognition over time with their own baseline tended to report improvements, whereas studies using a comparison group without HF tended to report declines or stability in cognition over time among patients with HF.

Conclusions—
Patients with HF are at increased risk for cognitive decline, but this risk seems to be modifiable with cardiac treatment. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms that cause cognitive changes in HF.
Frequency, Predictors, and Consequences of Crossing Over to Revascularization Within 12 Months of Randomization to Optimal Medical Therapy in the Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation (COURAGE) Trial
Authors: Spertus John A. , Maron David J. , Cohen David J. , Kolm Paul , Hartigan Pam , Weintraub William S. , Berman Daniel S. , Teo Koon K. , Shaw Leslee J. , Sedlis Steven P. , Knudtson Merril , Aslan Mihaela , Dada Marcin , Boden William E. , Mancini G. B. John 
Published: July 2013

Background—
In the Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation (COURAGE) trial, some patients with stable ischemic heart disease randomized to optimal medical therapy (OMT) crossed over to early revascularization. The predictors and outcomes of patients who crossed over from OMT to revascularization are unknown.

Methods and Results—
We compared characteristics of OMT patients who did and did not undergo revascularization within 12 months and created a Cox regression model to identify predictors of early revascularization. Patients’ health status was measured with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire. To quantify the potential consequences of initiating OMT without percutaneous coronary intervention, we compared the outcomes of crossover patients with a matched cohort randomized to immediate percutaneous coronary intervention. Among 1148 patients randomized to OMT, 185 (16.1%) underwent early revascularization. Patient characteristics independently associated with early revascularization were worse baseline Seattle Angina Questionnaire scores and healthcare system. Among 156 OMT patients undergoing early revascularization matched to 156 patients randomized to percutaneous coronary intervention, rates of mortality (hazard ratio=0.51 [0.13–2.1]) and nonfatal myocardial infarction (hazard ratio=1.9 [0.75–4.6]) were similar, as were 1-year Seattle Angina Questionnaire scores. OMT patients, however, experienced worse health status over the initial year of treatment and more unstable angina admissions (hazard ratio=2.8 [1.1–7.5]).

Conclusion—
Among COURAGE patients assigned to OMT alone, patients’ angina, dissatisfaction with their current treatment, and, to a lesser extent, their health system were associated with early revascularization. Because early crossover was not associated with an increase in irreversible ischemic events or impaired 12-month health status, these findings support an initial trial of OMT in stable ischemic heart disease with close follow-up of the most symptomatic patients.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00007657.
Toward Multiscale Simulation of Moist Flows with Soundproof Equations
Authors: Kurowski Marcin J. , Grabowski Wojciech W. , Smolarkiewicz Piotr K. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis paper discusses the incorporation of phase changes of the water substance that accompany moist atmospheric flows into the all-scale atmospheric model based on soundproof equations. A specific issue involves developing a theoretical basis and practical implementation to include pressure perturbations associated with atmospheric circulations, from small scale to global, into representations of moist thermodynamics. In small-scale modeling using soundproof equations, pressure perturbations are obtained from the elliptic pressure solver and are typically excluded from the moist thermodynamics. This paper argues that in larger-scale flows, at least the hydrostatic component of the pressure perturbation needs to be included because pressure variation in synoptic weather systems may affect moist thermodynamics in a way comparable to the temperature variations. As an illustration, two idealized test problems are considered: the small-scale moist thermal rising in a stratified environment and the moist mesoscale flow over idealized topography. The paper compares numerical solutions obtained with a fully compressible acoustic mode–resolving model and with two versions of the anelastic model, either including or excluding anelastic pressure perturbations in moist thermodynamics. The two versions of the anelastic model are referred to as the generalized and standard anelastic. In agreement with the scaling arguments, only negligible differences between anelastic and compressible solutions are simulated. Incorporation of the anelastic pressure perturbations into moist thermodynamics paves the way for future studies where larger-scale moist dynamics will be considered.
Stochastic Behavior of Tropical Convection in Observations and a Multicloud Model
Authors: Peters Karsten , Jakob Christian , Davies Laura , Khouider Boualem , Majda Andrew J. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThe aim for a more accurate representation of tropical convection in global circulation models is a long-standing issue. Here, the relationships between large and convective scales in observations and a stochastic multicloud model (SMCM) to ultimately support the design of a novel convection parameterization with stochastic elements are investigated. Observations of tropical convection obtained at Darwin and Kwajalein are used here. It is found that the variability of observed tropical convection generally decreases with increasing large-scale forcing, implying a transition from stochastic to more deterministic behavior with increasing forcing. Convection shows a more systematic relationship with measures related to large-scale convergence compared to measures related to energetics (e.g., CAPE). Using the observations, the parameters in the SMCM are adjusted. Then, the SMCM is forced with the time series of the observed large-scale state and the simulated convective behavior is compared to that observed. It is found that the SMCM cloud fields compare better with observations when using predictors related to convergence rather than energetics. Furthermore, the underlying framework of the SMCM is able to reproduce the observed functional dependencies of convective variability on the imposed large-scale state—an encouraging result on the road toward a novel convection parameterization approach. However, establishing sound cause-and-effect relationships between tropical convection and the large-scale environment remains problematic and warrants further research.
The Effect of Atmospheric Water Vapor on Neutron Count in the Cosmic-Ray Soil Moisture Observing System
Authors: Rosolem R. , Shuttleworth W. J. , Zreda M. , Franz T. E. , Zeng X. , Kurc S. A. 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
The cosmic-ray method for measuring soil moisture, used in the Cosmic-Ray Soil Moisture Observing System (COSMOS), relies on the exceptional ability of hydrogen to moderate fast neutrons. Sources of hydrogen near the ground, other than soil moisture, affect the neutron measurement and therefore must be quantified. This study investigates the effect of atmospheric water vapor on the cosmic-ray probe signal and evaluates the fast neutron response in realistic atmospheric conditions using the neutron transport code Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNPX). The vertical height of influence of the sensor in the atmosphere varies between 412 and 265 m in dry and wet atmospheres, respectively. Model results show that atmospheric water vapor near the surface affects the neutron intensity signal by up to 12%, corresponding to soil moisture differences on the order of 0.10 m3 m−3. A simple correction is defined to identify the true signal associated with integrated soil moisture that rescales the measured neutron intensity to that which would have been observed in the atmospheric conditions prevailing on the day of sensor calibration. Use of this approach is investigated with in situ observations at two sites characterized by strong seasonality in water vapor where standard meteorological measurements are readily available.