bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Motivation enhances visual working memory capacity through the modulation of central cognitive processes
Authors: Sanada Motoyuki , Ikeda Koki , Kimura Kenta , Hasegawa Toshikazu 
Published: July 2013

AbstractMotivation is well known to enhance working memory (WM) capacity, but the mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. The WM process can be divided into encoding, maintenance, and retrieval, and in a change detection visual WM paradigm, the encoding and retrieval processes can be subdivided into perceptual and central processing. To clarify which of these segments are most influenced by motivation, we measured ERPs in a change detection task with differential monetary rewards. The results showed that the enhancement of WM capacity under high motivation was accompanied by modulations of late central components but not those reflecting attentional control on perceptual inputs across all stages of WM. We conclude that the “state‐dependent” shift of motivation impacted the central, rather than the perceptual functions in order to achieve better behavioral performances.
Feline Endometrial Adenocarcinoma in Females <1 Year Old: A Description of Four Cases
Authors: Payan‐Carreira R , Saraiva AL , Santos T , Vilhena H , Sousa A , Santos C , Pires MA 
Published: July 2013

ContentsUterine neoplasms of epithelial origin are rare in cats and most often are described in older females. Yet, in less than 2 years, four ovariohysterectomy specimens were submitted from different practices to the Laboratory of Histology and Anatomical Pathology, at UTAD (Vila Real, Portugal), that emitted a diagnosis of feline endometrial adenocarcinoma. Untypically, all the females were aged <1 year old at the surgery. Access to the clinical files was requested to document the clinical features of the four cases, including any complementary data available, to construct the present case reports. The clinical situation developed with discrete signs, but vulvar discharge was present in three cases, ranging from bloody to brownish or colourless, and from purulent to mucous. The females were in dioestrus, although the oestrus remained unperceived in most cases. In this study, the four clinical situations are described and discussed on the basis of available literature, highlighting the aspects that may impair an early diagnosis and that may favour the progression of the disease and also that age should not be an excluding criteria when analysing the differential diagnosis list.
Segments from red blood cell units should not be used for quality testing
Authors: Kurach Jayme D.R. , Hansen Adele L. , Turner Tracey R. , Jenkins Craig , Acker Jason P. 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundNondestructive testing of blood components could permit in‐process quality control and reduce discards. Tubing segments, generated during red blood cell (RBC) component production, were tested to determine their suitability as a sample source for quality testing.Study Design and MethodsLeukoreduced RBC components were produced from whole blood (WB) by two different methods: WB filtration and buffy coat (BC). Components and their corresponding segments were tested on Days 5 and 42 of hypothermic storage (HS) for spun hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb) content, percentage hemolysis, hematologic indices, and adenosine triphosphate concentration to determine whether segment quality represents unit quality.ResultsSegment samples overestimated hemolysis on Days 5 and 42 of HS in both BC‐ and WB filtration–produced RBCs (p < 0.001 for all). Hct and Hb levels in the segments were also significantly different from the units at both time points for both production methods (p < 0.001 for all). Indeed, for all variables tested different results were obtained from segment and unit samples, and these differences were not consistent across production methods.ConclusionThe quality of samples from tubing segments is not representative of the quality of the corresponding RBC unit. Segments are not suitable surrogates with which to assess RBC quality.
Evaluation of Nifurtimox Treatment of Chronic Chagas Disease by Means of Several Parasitological Methods
Authors: Muñoz Catalina , Zulantay Inés , Apt Werner , Ortiz Sylvia , Schijman Alejandro G. , Bisio Margarita , Ferrada Valentina , Herrera Cinthya , Martínez Gabriela , Solari Aldo 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Currently, evaluation of drug efficacy for Chagas disease remains a controversial issue with no consensus. In this work, we evaluated the parasitological efficacy of Nifurtimox treatment in 21 women with chronic Chagas disease from an area of endemicity in Chile who were treated according to current protocols. Under pre- and posttherapy conditions, blood (B) samples and xenodiagnosis (XD) samples from these patients were subjected to analysis by real-time PCR targeting the nuclear satellite DNA of
Trypanosoma cruzi
(Sat DNA PCR-B, Sat DNA PCR-XD) and by PCR targeting the minicircle of kinetoplast DNA of
T. cruzi
(kDNA PCR-B, kDNA PCR-XD) and by
T. cruzi
genotyping using hybridization minicircle tests in blood and fecal samples of
Triatoma infestans
feed by XD. In pretherapy, kDNA PCR-B and kDNA PCR-XD detected
T. cruzi
in 12 (57%) and 18 (86%) cases, respectively, whereas Sat DNA quantitative PCR-B (qPCR-B) and Sat DNA qPCR-XD were positive in 18 cases (86%) each. Regarding
T. cruzi
genotype analysis, it was possible to observe in pretherapy the combination of TcI, TcII, and TcV lineages, including mixtures of
T. cruzi
strains in most of the cases. At 13 months posttherapy,
T. cruzi
DNA was detectable in 6 cases (29.6%) and 4 cases (19.1%) by means of Sat DNA PCR-XD and kDNA PCR-XD, respectively, indicating treatment failure with recovery of live parasites refractory to chemotherapy. In 3 cases, it was possible to identify persistence of the baseline genotypes. The remaining 15 baseline PCR-positive cases gave negative results by all molecular and parasitological methods at 13 months posttreatment, suggesting parasite response. Within this follow-up period, kDNA PCR-XD and Sat DNA qPCR-XD proved to be more sensitive tools for the parasitological evaluation of the efficacy of Nifurtimox treatment than the corresponding PCR methods performed directly from blood samples.
Restoration of the Activated Rig-I Pathway in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Replicon Cells by HCV Protease, Polymerase, and NS5A Inhibitors
In Vitro
at Clinically Relevant Concentrations
Authors: Kalkeri Gururaj , Lin Chao , Gopilan Jenna , Sloan Kevin , Rijnbrand Rene , Kwong Ann D. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Development of persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be mediated by HCV NS3 · 4A protease-dependent inhibition of host innate immunity. When double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is detected in virus-infected cells, host innate immunity mounts an antiviral response by upregulating production of type I interferons (α/β interferon [IFN-α/β]); HCV counters by cleaving the IFN-β stimulator 1 (IPS-1) adaptor protein, decreasing synthesis of IFN-α/β. We evaluated HCV protease (telaprevir, boceprevir, and TMC435350), polymerase (HCV-796 and VX-222), and NS5A (BMS-790052) inhibitors for the ability to restore IPS-1-mediated Rig-I signaling by measuring Sendai virus-induced IFN-β promoter activation in HCV replicon cells after various exposure durations. All direct-acting HCV antivirals tested restored mitochondrial localization of IPS-1 and rescued Sendai virus-induced IRF3 signaling after 7 days by inhibiting HCV replication, thereby reducing the abundance of HCV NS3 · 4A protease. With 4-day treatment, HCV protease inhibitors, but not polymerase inhibitors, restored mitochondrial localization of IPS-1 and rescued IFN-β promoter activation in the presence of equivalent levels of NS3 protein in protease or polymerase inhibitor-treated cells. The concentrations of HCV protease and polymerase inhibitors needed to rescue IRF3-mediated signaling
in vitro
were in the range of those observed
in vivo
in the plasma of treated HCV patients. These findings suggest that (i) HCV protease, polymerase, and NS5A inhibitors can restore virus-induced IRF3 signaling by inhibiting viral replication, thereby reducing NS3 protease levels, and (ii) HCV protease inhibitors can restore innate immunity by directly inhibiting NS3 protease-mediated cleavage of IPS-1 at clinically achievable concentrations.
ipso
-Hydroxylation and Subsequent Fragmentation: a Novel Microbial Strategy To Eliminate Sulfonamide Antibiotics
Authors: Ricken Benjamin , Corvini Philippe F. X. , Cichocka Danuta , Parisi Martina , Lenz Markus , Wyss Dominik , Martínez-Lavanchy Paula M. , Müller Jochen A. , Shahgaldian Patrick , Tulli Ludovico G. , Kohler Hans-Peter E. , Kolvenbach Boris A. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Sulfonamide antibiotics have a wide application range in human and veterinary medicine. Because they tend to persist in the environment, they pose potential problems with regard to the propagation of antibiotic resistance. Here, we identified metabolites formed during the degradation of sulfamethoxazole and other sulfonamides in
Microbacterium
sp. strain BR1. Our experiments showed that the degradation proceeded along an unusual pathway initiated by
ipso
-hydroxylation with subsequent fragmentation of the parent compound. The NADH-dependent hydroxylation of the carbon atom attached to the sulfonyl group resulted in the release of sulfite, 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole, and benzoquinone-imine. The latter was concomitantly transformed to 4-aminophenol. Sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole, sulfamethazine, sulfadimethoxine, 4-amino-
N
-phenylbenzenesulfonamide, and
N
-(4-aminophenyl)sulfonylcarbamic acid methyl ester (asulam) were transformed accordingly. Therefore,
ipso
-hydroxylation with subsequent fragmentation must be considered the underlying mechanism; this could also occur in the same or in a similar way in other studies, where biotransformation of sulfonamides bearing an amino group in the
para
-position to the sulfonyl substituent was observed to yield products corresponding to the stable metabolites observed by us.
A Spodoptera exigua Cadherin Serves as a Putative Receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ca Toxin and Shows Differential Enhancement of Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac Toxicity
Authors: Ren Xiang-Liang , Chen Rui-Rui , Zhang Ying , Ma Yan , Cui Jin-Jie , Han Zhao-Jun , Mu Li-Li , Li Guo-Qing 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTCrystal toxin Cry1Ca fromBacillus thuringiensishas an insecticidal spectrum encompassing lepidopteran insects that are tolerant to current commercially usedB. thuringiensiscrops (Bt crops) expressing Cry1A toxins and may be useful as a potential bioinsecticide. The mode of action of Cry1A is fairly well understood. However, whether Cry1Ca interacts with the same receptor proteins as Cry1A remains unproven. In the present paper, we first cloned a cadherin-like gene,SeCad1b, fromSpodoptera exigua(relatively susceptible to Cry1Ca).SeCad1bwas highly expressed in the larval gut but scarcely detected in fat body, Malpighian tubules, and remaining carcass. Second, we bacterially expressed truncated cadherin rSeCad1bp and its interspecific homologue rHaBtRp fromHelicoverpa armigera(more sensitive to Cry1Ac) containing the putative toxin-binding regions. Competitive binding assays showed that both Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac could bind to rSeCad1bp and rHaBtRp, and they did not compete with each other. Third, Cry1Ca ingestion killed larvae and decreased the weight of surviving larvae. Dietary introduction ofSeCad1bdouble-stranded RNA (dsRNA) reduced approximately 80% of the target mRNA and partially alleviated the negative effect of Cry1Ca on larval survival and growth. Lastly, rSeCad1bp and rHaBtRp differentially enhanced the negative effects of Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac on the larval mortalities and growth ofS. exiguaandH. armigera. Thus, we provide the first lines of evidence to suggest that SeCad1b fromS. exiguais a functional receptor of Cry1Ca.
Widespread Occurrence of Bacterial Human Virulence Determinants in Soil and Freshwater Environments
Authors: Søborg Ditte A. , Hendriksen Niels Bohse , Kilian Mogens , Kroer Niels 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT
The occurrence of 22 bacterial human virulence genes (encoding toxins, adhesins, secretion systems, regulators of virulence, inflammatory mediators, and bacterial resistance) in beech wood soil, roadside soil, organic agricultural soil, and freshwater biofilm was investigated by nested PCR. The presence of clinically relevant bacterial groups known to possess virulence genes was tested by PCR of 16S and 23S rRNA genes. For each of the virulence genes detected in the environments, sequencing and NCBI BLAST analysis confirmed the identity of the PCR products. The virulence genes showed widespread environmental occurrence, as 17 different genes were observed. Sixteen genes were detected in beech wood soil, and 14 were detected in roadside and organic agricultural soils, while 11 were detected in the freshwater biofilm. All types of virulence traits were represented in all environments; however, the frequency at which they were detected was variable. A principal-component analysis suggested that several factors influenced the presence of the virulence genes; however, their distribution was most likely related to the level of contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pH. The occurrence of the virulence genes in the environments generally did not appear to be the result of the presence of clinically relevant bacteria, indicating an environmental origin of the virulence genes. The widespread occurrence of the virulence traits and the high degree of sequence conservation between the environmental and clinical sequences suggest that soil and freshwater environments may constitute reservoirs of virulence determinants normally associated with human disease.
Characterization of Maltocin P28, a Novel Phage Tail-Like Bacteriocin from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: Liu Jian , Chen Peng , Zheng Congyi , Huang Yu-Ping 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
is an important global opportunistic pathogen for which limited therapeutics are available because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. A novel bacteriocin, maltocin P28, which is produced by
S. maltophilia
strain P28, may be the first identified phage tail-like bacteriocin from
S. maltophilia
. Maltocin P28 resembles a contractile but nonflexible phage tail structure based on electron microscopy, and it is sensitive to trypsin, proteinase K, and heat. SDS-PAGE analysis of maltocin P28 revealed two major protein bands of approximately 43 and 20 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid residues of these two major subunits were sequenced, and the maltocin P28 gene cluster was located on the
S. maltophilia
P28 chromosome. Our sequence analysis results indicate that this maltocin gene cluster consists of 23 open reading frames (ORFs), and that its gene organization is similar to that of the P2 phage genome and R2 pyocin gene cluster. ORF17 and ORF18 encode the two major structural proteins, which correspond to gpFI (tail sheath) and gpFII (tail tube) of P2 phage, respectively. We found that maltocin P28 had bactericidal activity against 38 of 81 tested
S. maltophilia
strains. Therefore, maltocin P28 is a promising therapeutic substitute for antibiotics for
S. maltophilia
infections.
Dectin Immunoadhesins and Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Authors: Ricks David M. , Chen Kong , Zheng Mingquan , Steele Chad , Kolls Jay K. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

The opportunistic pathogen
Pneumocystis jirovecii
is a significant cause of disease in HIV-infected patients and others with immunosuppressive conditions.
Pneumocystis
can also cause complications in treatment following antiretroviral therapy or reversal of immunosuppressive therapy, as the newly reconstituted immune system can develop a pathological inflammatory response to remaining antigens or a previously undetected infection. To target β-(1,3)-glucan, a structural component of the
Pneumocystis
cell wall with immune-stimulating properties, we have developed immunoadhesins consisting of the carbohydrate binding domain of Dectin-1 fused to the Fc regions of the 4 subtypes of murine IgG (mIgG). These immunoadhesins bind β-glucan with high affinity, and precoating the surface of zymosan with Dectin-1:Fc can reduce cytokine production by macrophages in an
in vitro
stimulation assay. All Dectin-1:Fc variants showed specificity of binding to the asci of
Pneumocystis murina
, but effector activity of the fusion molecules varied depending on Fc subtype. Dectin-1:mIgG2a Fc was able to reduce the viability of
P. murina
in culture through a complement-dependent mechanism, whereas previous studies have shown the mIgG1 Fc fusion to increase macrophage-dependent killing. In an
in vivo
challenge model, systemic expression of Dectin-1:mIgG1 Fc significantly reduced ascus burden in the lung. When administered postinfection in a model of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), both Dectin-1:mIgG1 and Dectin-1:mIgG2a Fc reduced hypoxemia despite minimal effects on fungal burden in the lung. Taken together, these data indicate that molecules targeting β-glucan may provide a mechanism for treatment of fungal infection and for modulation of the inflammatory response to
Pneumocystis
and other pathogens.
Increased Susceptibility of IgA-Deficient Mice to Pulmonary Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain Infection
Authors: Furuya Yoichi , Kirimanjeswara Girish S. , Roberts Sean , Metzger Dennis W. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTFrancisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is most deadly in the pneumonic form; therefore, mucosal immunity is an important first line of defense against this pathogen. We have now evaluated the lethality of primaryF. tularensislive vaccine strain (LVS) pulmonary infection in mice that are defective in IgA (IgA−/−mice), the predominant mucosal Ig isotype. The results showed that IgA−/−mice were more susceptible than IgA+/+mice to intranasalF. tularensisLVS infection, despite developing higher levels of LVS-specific total, IgG, and IgM antibodies in the bronchoalveolar lavage specimens following infection. In addition, the absence of IgA resulted in a significant increase in bacterial loads and reduced survival. Interestingly, IgA−/−mice had lower pulmonary gamma interferon (IFN-γ) levels and decreased numbers of IFN-γ-secreting CD4+and CD8+T cells in the lung on day 9 postinfection compared to IgA+/+mice. Furthermore, IgA−/−mice displayed reduced interleukin 12 (IL-12) levels at early time points, and supplementing IgA−/−mice with IL-12 prior to LVS challenge induced IFN-γ production by NK cells and rescued them from mortality. Thus, IgA−/−mice are highly susceptible to primary pulmonary LVS infections not only because of IgA deficiency but also because of reduced IFN-γ responses.
Role of Energy Sensor TlpD of Helicobacter pylori in Gerbil Colonization and Genome Analyses after Adaptation in the Gerbil
Authors: Behrens Wiebke , Schweinitzer Tobias , Bal Joena , Dorsch Martina , Bleich André , Kops Friederike , Brenneke Birgit , Didelot Xavier , Suerbaum Sebastian , Josenhans Christine 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter pylori
maintains colonization in its human host using a limited set of taxis sensors. TlpD is a proposed energy taxis sensor of
H. pylori
and dominant under environmental conditions of low bacterial energy yield. We studied the impact of
H. pylori
TlpD on colonization
in vivo
using a gerbil infection model which closely mimics the gastric physiology of humans. A gerbil-adapted
H. pylori
strain, HP87 P7, showed energy-dependent behavior, while its isogenic
tlpD
mutant lost it. A TlpD-complemented strain regained the wild-type phenotype. Infection of gerbils with the complemented strain demonstrated that TlpD is important for persistent infection in the antrum and corpus and suggested a role of TlpD in horizontal navigation and persistent corpus colonization. As a part of the full characterization of the model and to gain insight into the genetic basis of
H. pylori
adaptation to the gerbil, we determined the complete genome sequences of the gerbil-adapted strain HP87 P7, two HP87 P7
tlpD
mutants before and after gerbil passage, and the original human isolate, HP87. The integrity of the genome, including that of a functional
cag
pathogenicity island, was maintained after gerbil adaptation. Genetic and phenotypic differences between the strains were observed. Major differences between the gerbil-adapted strain and the human isolate emerged, including evidence of recent recombination. Passage of the
tlpD
mutant through the gerbil selected for gain-of-function variation in a fucosyltransferase gene,
futC
(HP0093). In conclusion, a gerbil-adapted
H. pylori
strain with a stable genome has helped to establish that TlpD has important functions for persistent colonization in the stomach.
Using ground-penetrating radar to determine the quantity of sediment stored behind the Merrimack Village Dam, Souhegan River, New Hampshire
Authors: Santaniello David J. , Snyder Noah P. , Gontz Allen M. 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
We investigated the viability of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) as a method to estimate the quantity of sediment stored behind the Merrimack Village Dam on the Souhegan River in southern New Hampshire. If the predam riverbed can be imaged, the thickness and volume of the reservoir deposit can be calculated without sampling. Such estimates are necessary to plan sediment management after dam deconstruction. In May 2008, we surveyed six cross sections with a Mala Geosciences ProEx 100 MHz GPR. In a related study, topographic surveys were conducted in 2008–2009 to monitor the sediment flux associated with the removal of the Merrimack Village Dam in August 2008. Within a month of the removal, these surveys mapped the predam riverbed in the uppermost cross sections in the former impoundment. We compared these surveys to our interpreted GPR images for one cross section to determine a calibrated velocity for the impounded sand of 0.043 ± 0.020 m/ns. We also estimated the radar velocity of the deposit by analyzing hyperbolic reflections in the GPR images, and found a similar result (0.039 m/ns). Using the calibrated velocity, we estimated a total volume of sediment stored behind the Merrimack Village Dam of 66,900 ± 9900 m3, which compares well to a previous estimate (62,000 m3) based on a depth-to-refusal survey. Our findings indicate that GPR is a useful technique for quantifying impounded sediment prior to dam removal in reservoirs containing 1–10 m of sand overlying a coarser predam riverbed, but it may be less effective in settings with finer and/or thicker impounded sediment.
Sediment impacts from the Savage Rapids Dam removal, Rogue River, Oregon
Authors: Bountry Jennifer A. , Lai Yong G. , Randle Timothy J. 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Before a dam removal project is implemented, engineers are often asked to estimate the potential for impacts from the release of reservoir sediment. Field measurements, numerical models, and physical models are typically used to develop sediment impact estimates. This information helps decision makers to make informed decisions about when and how to remove the dam, whether to allow the river to erode the reservoir sediment, or to remove or stabilize the reservoir sediment prior to dam removal, or whether mitigation of the effects is needed. Although numerous dams have been removed, mostly small in size, few case studies on sediment impacts have been documented. Because there are limited case studies, dam removal regulators and stake-holders often err on the side of caution when selecting the level of pre removal analysis or determining whether the reservoir sediment needs to be removed prior to dam removal.
The purpose of this paper is to increase our knowledge base for application to future dam removals. The chapter discusses sediment impacts associated with the removal of the 11.9-m-high Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue River near Grants Pass, Oregon. A unique factor to the Savage Rapids project was the construction and operation of a new diversion facility and water intake located immediately downstream of the dam, which introduced additional consequences associated with the release of reservoir sediment.