bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a Transferable Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation System for the Investigation of Interactions between Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Granule-Associated Proteins in Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Pfeiffer Daniel , Jendrossek Dieter 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTPoly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) granules are organelle-like multienzyme-polymer complexes (carbonosomes) and are widespread storage compounds in prokaryotes. The interaction of three PHB granule-bound proteins (PHB synthase PhaC1, phasin PhaP5, and PHB/DNA binding protein PhaM) was studiedin vivoby bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) microscopy inRalstonia eutropha. To this end, a mobilizable 2-plasmid system for arabinose-controlled expression of protein fusions with the N-terminal (YN) and C-terminal (YC) parts of the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYfp) in Gram-negative bacteria was developed. Both plasmids were stably expressed inEscherichia coliand in transconjugants ofR. eutropha. Homo-oligomerization of PhaC1, PhaP5, and PhaM and interactions between PhaC1 and PhaM and between PhaM and PhaP5 were detected inR. eutrophaand colocalized with PHB granules under PHB-permissive conditions. PhaM-PhaC1 complexes were detected near the midcell/nucleoid region in the absence of PHB. Expression of BiFC complexes inR. eutrophawith PhaM (PhaM homo-oligomers or PhaM-PhaC1 or PhaM-PhaP5 complexes) resulted in substantial cell elongation compared to wild-type cells and in BiFC signals that were generally located near the midcell/nucleoid region. Western blot analysis of wild-type cell extracts and proteome analysis of PHB granule-bound proteins revealed that PhaM and PhaP5 are expressed inR. eutrophaand that PhaM is constitutively expressed independently of the presence or absence of PHB. Size exclusion chromatography analysis in combination with cross-linking experiments of purified PhaP5-His6and PhaM-His6showed that PhaP5 forms dimers and that PhaM is present in oligomeric (dodecamer) form. Implications of this finding for subcellular PHB localization and initiation of PHB granule formation inR. eutrophawill be discussed.
Roles of Predicted Glycosyltransferases in the Biosynthesis of the Rhizobium etli CE3 O Antigen
Authors: Ojeda Kristylea J. , Simonds Laurie , Noel K. Dale 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

The
Rhizobium etli
CE3 O antigen is a fixed-length heteropolymer. The genetic regions required for its synthesis have been identified, and the nucleotide sequences are known. The structure of the O antigen has been determined, but the roles of specific genes in synthesizing this structure are relatively unclear. Within the known O-antigen genetic clusters of this strain, nine open reading frames (ORFs) were found to contain a conserved glycosyltransferase domain. Each ORF was mutated, and the resulting mutant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was analyzed. Tricine SDS-PAGE revealed stepwise truncations of the O antigen that were consistent with differences in mutant LPS sugar compositions and reactivity with O-antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies. Based on these results and current theories of O-antigen synthesis, specific roles were deduced for each of the nine glycosyltransferases, and a model for biosynthesis of the
R. etli
CE3 O antigen was proposed. In this model, O-antigen biosynthesis is initiated with the addition of
N
-acetyl-quinovosamine-phosphate (QuiNAc-P) to bactoprenol-phosphate by glycosyltransferase WreU. Glycosyltransferases WreG, WreE, WreS, and WreT would each act once to attach mannose, fucose, a second fucose, and 3-
O
-methyl-6-deoxytalose (3OMe6dTal), respectively. WreH would then catalyze the addition of methyl glucuronate (MeGlcA) to complete the first instance of the O-antigen repeat unit. Four subsequent repeats of this unit composed of fucose, 3OMe6dTal, and MeGlcA would be assembled by a cycle of reactions catalyzed by two additional glycosyltransferases, WreM and WreL, along with WreH. Finally, the O antigen would be capped by attachment of di- or tri-
O
-methylated fucose as catalyzed by glycosyltransferase WreB.
Requirement of the Lipopolysaccharide O-Chain Biosynthesis Gene
wxocB
for Type III Secretion and Virulence of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzicola
Authors: Wang Li , Vinogradov Evgeny V. , Bogdanove Adam J. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Xanthomonas oryzae
pv. oryzicola causes bacterial leaf streak of rice. A mutant disrupted in
wxocB
, predicted to encode an enzyme for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis, was previously shown to suffer reduced virulence. Here, we confirm a role for
wxocB
in virulence and demonstrate its requirement for LPS O-chain assembly. Structure analysis indicated that wild-type LPS contains a polyrhamnose O chain with irregular, variant residues and a core oligosaccharide identical to that of other
Xanthomonas
spp. and that the
wxocB
mutant lacks the O chain. The mutant also showed moderate impairment in exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, but comparison with an EPS-deficient mutant demonstrated that this impairment could not account entirely for the reduced virulence. The
wxocB
mutant was not detectably different from the wild type in its induction of pathogenesis-related rice genes, type II secretion competence, flagellar motility, or resistance to two phytoalexins or resveratrol, and it was more, not less, resistant to oxidative stress and a third phytoalexin, indicating that none of these properties is involved. The mutant was more sensitive to SDS and to novobiocin, so increased sensitivity to some host-derived antimicrobials cannot be ruled out. However, the mutant showed a marked decrease in type III secretion into plant cells. This was not associated with any change in expression of genes for type III secretion or the ability to attach to plant cells in suspension. Thus, virulence of the
wxocB
mutant is likely reduced due primarily to a direct, possibly structural, effect of the loss of the O chain on type III delivery of effector proteins.
The Political Economy of Foreign Investment in Latin America
Authors: Higginbottom Andy 
Published: February 2013

Examination of foreign investment inflows, stock, and outgoing profit flows from Latin America in the neoliberal period shows that the basic tenet of the dependency thesis still holds: there is a huge and underreported transfer of surplus value out of the continent. European capital has overtaken U.S. capital as a source of investment, and within the Andean region there are two distinct groups of countries with regard to investment regime: the Andean nations of the Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América (Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela), which have succeeded in increasing the proportion of surplus profits retained in their national economies against that part captured by international capital, and their non-ALBA neighbors. A new dialectic of domination and dependency is at work, with the focus on contesting bilateral free-trade agreements and investment treaties. Un análisis de la inversión extranjera, las acciones y el flujo de beneficios externos producidos en América Latina durante el período neoliberal muestra que aún se mantiene el principio básico de la tesis de la dependencia: hay una enorme transferencia de plusvalía fuera del continente, una buena parte de la cual no se reporta. El capital europeo ha superado al capital estadounidense como fuente de inversión y, dentro de la región andina, hay dos grupos de países con distintas estrategias en relación al régimen de inversiones: en el primero están los miembros de la Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América (Bolivia, Ecuador y Venezuela), que han logrado aumentar la proporción de excedentes retenidos en sus economías nacionales en relación a la parte capturada por el capital internacional; en el segundo, sus vecinos que no pertenecen a ALBA. Aquí se está desarrollando una nueva dialéctica de dominación y dependencia centrada en la disputa alrededor de acuerdos bilaterales de libre comercio y tratados de inversión.
Diabetes Education Kiosks in a Latino Community
Authors: Bolin Jane N. , Ory Marcia G. , Wilson Ashley D. , Salge Lesley 
Published: February 2013

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation, use, and sustainability of a computerized touch-screen diabetes education kiosk ( Diosk) designed to provide “on-demand” education in a predominantly Latino community in South Texas. Methods A pilot study was conducted to examine the implementation, use, and sustainability of the Diosk in 5 settings (eg, clinics, community centers, and pharmacies) serving low-income, low-literacy populations. Both quantitative and qualitative data from embedded computerized usage tracking, user surveys, and key stakeholder interviews were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results There were more than 5300 uses of the Diosk in the different sites during the 11-month study. The majority of users were female, between the ages of 36 and 64 years, and Latino, and they identified themselves as having or being at risk for type 2 diabetes. Several challenges were faced in maintaining the Diosk during the study, such as organizational capacity to host wireless Internet and establishing “office champions” responsible for overseeing the Diosk. At the end of the study, 3 of the 5 sites committed to sustaining the Diosk on their own. Conclusions This pilot study testing the feasibility and acceptability of the Diosk demonstrated that a Diosk can be implemented, used, and sustained in a population with high rates of diabetes and limited prior use of disease management programs. Computerized technology offers one solution to expanding the reach of diabetes education through easily accessible community and clinical settings.
Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of Paraffin Section Storage on Biomarker Stability
Authors: Ramos-Vara J. A. , Webster J. D. , DuSold D. , Miller M. A. 
Published: February 2013

Environmental stresses can alter immunoreactivity of biomarkers in stored tissue sections. The effect of temperature and lighting on 49 cellular or microbial antigens was evaluated in 4 serial paraffin sections, cut 12 months, 10 months, 8 months, 5 months, 3 months, 1 month, 3 days, and 1 day before immunohistochemistry. Slides were stored at room temperature (RT) in the dark, at 4°C in the dark, at RT under fluorescent light, or at RT with windowpane exposure to sunlight. Immunohistochemistry was performed simultaneously in an automated immunostainer. Immunoreactivity was compared with that in the corresponding 1-day-old section and scored as 4 (<10% reduction), 3 (10%–25% reduction), 2 (26%–60% reduction), 1(>60% reduction), or 0 (no reactivity). Any loss of immunoreactivity was proportional to the tissue section age and was least in sections stored in the dark. Immunoreactivity was only completely lost in light-exposed sections and as early as 1 month for CD45. Other markers with complete loss of immunoreactivity were bovine viral diarrhea virus, CD18 (only with fluorescent light), CD31, CD68, canine parvovirus, chromogranins, and thyroid transcription factor-1. Markers with complete loss after light exposure also had reduced immunoreactivity when stored in the dark, as early as day 3. Eight markers ( Bartonella spp, CD11d, high molecular weight cytokeratins, feline coronavirus, GATA-4, insulin, p63, progesterone receptor) had minimal decrease in immunoreactivity, regardless of treatment. In conclusion, light-induced antigen decay (tissue section aging) is antigen dependent and could explain unexpectedly weak or negative immunohistochemical reactions in stored paraffin sections.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus: pooled analysis of the literature reviews and report of six new cases
Authors: Shaharir SS , Remli R , Marwan AA , Said MSM , Kong NCT 
Published: February 2013

Introduction Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare neurological disorder which is increasingly recognized to occur in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of SLE patients with PRES and the associated factors of the poor outcome among them. Methods We investigated SLE patients who developed PRES between 2005–2011 at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. A comprehensive literature search was done to find all published cases of PRES in SLE. Pooled analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with poor outcome. Results There were 103 cases of PRES in SLE published in the literature but only 87 cases were included in the analysis in view of incomplete individual data in the remaining cases. The majority of the cases were Asians (74.2%), female (95.4%) with mean age of 26.3 ± 8.8 years. PRES was highly associated with active disease (97.5%), hypertension (91.7%) and renal involvement (85.1%). We found that 79 patients had a full recovery (90.8%) with a mean onset of full clinical recovery in 5.6 ± 4.1 days. On univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis the predictors of poor outcome, defined as incomplete clinical recovery or death, were intracranial hemorrhage, odds ratio (OR) 14 (1.1–187.2), p = 0.04 and brainstem involvement in PRES, OR 10.9 (1.3–90.6), p = 0.003. Conclusion Intracranial hemorrhage and brainstem involvement were the two important predictors of poor outcome of PRES. Larger prospective studies are needed to further delineate the risk of poor outcome among them.
SYNTAX Score Predicts the Left Ventricle Thrombus Development in Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for First Anterior Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Gökdeniz Tayyar , Boyacı Faruk , Hatem Engin , Aslan Ahmet Oguz , Aykan Ahmet Çağrı , Gül İlker , Turan Turhan , Kalaycıoğlu Ezgi , Çelik Şükrü 
Published: February 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between left ventricular thrombus (LVT) developments and the SYNTAX score (SS) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for first anterior wall ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: We enrolled 160 patients. All participants were evaluated by serial transthoracic echocardiography. Baseline clinical, echocardiographic, and procedural features of PPCI were analyzed to find predictors of LVT development. Results: The LVT was detected in 32 (20%) patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and SS-I were found to be independent predictors of LVT development. Receiver–operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cutoff value >19.5 for SS-I (area under the curve: 0.697, 95% confidence interval 0.620-0.767, P < .001) with a specificity of 45.3% and a sensitivity of 84.3%. Conclusion: High SS which was obtained through diagnostic angiogram of PPCI may be associated with LVT development in patients with first anterior wall STEMI.
An exploratory study on the effectiveness and experience of a parent enhancement group adopting a narrative approach
Authors: To Siu-ming , So Yuk-yan , Chan Ting-sam 
Published: February 2013

Summary Parent education has been gathering momentum in Hong Kong since its inception in the 1970s; however, much emphasis has been put on imparting childrearing knowledge and skills to parents rather than facilitating the reorganization of parents’ lived experiences and their identity development. Based on the results of an exploratory study conducted in Hong Kong, this article discusses the possible outcomes and experiences of a parent enhancement group adopting a narrative approach. The group comprised three, 5-hour sessions held weekly. The participants included 20 Hong Kong parents with at least one child in preschool. Through the adoption of a pretest–posttest design coupled with a 6-month follow-up survey and three post-intervention focus groups, the study attempted to examine the effects of the program and the subjective experiences of the participants. Findings The quantitative results showed that the group might have positive impacts on the enhancement of parental satisfaction, parental efficacy, and parent–child relationships. The qualitative findings indicated that the group might help develop the parent identity through strengthening the parent–child relational connection and integration of parents’ life stories. The participants also had a deeper understanding of the impact of parents’ personal growth on their parenting practice and children’s development. Applications The findings offer a knowledge base for evaluating this approach to parent enhancement programs. Of particular importance are its transformative effect, retention effect, ripple effect, and empowerment effect. The findings also provide reference materials for practitioners to rethink the direction of parent education.
Comparative genomics using teleost fish helps to systematically identify target gene bodies of functionally defined human enhancers
Authors: Parveen Nazia , Masood Ayesha , Iftikhar Nouman , Minhas Bushra F , Minhas Rashid , Nawaz Uzma , Abbasi Amir Ali 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
Human genome is enriched with thousands of conserved non-coding elements (CNEs). Recently, a medium throughput strategy was employed to analyze the ability of human CNEs to drive tissue specific expression during mouse embryogenesis. These data led to the establishment of publicly available genome wide catalog of functionally defined human enhancers. Scattering of enhancers over larger regions in vertebrate genomes seriously impede attempts to pinpoint their precise target genes. Such associations are prerequisite to explore the significance of this in vivo characterized catalog of human enhancers in development, disease and evolution.

Results
This study is an attempt to systematically identify the target gene-bodies for functionally defined human CNE-enhancers. For the purpose we adopted the orthology/paralogy mapping approach and compared the CNE induced reporter expression with reported endogenous expression pattern of neighboring genes. This procedure pinpointed specific target gene-bodies for the total of 192 human CNE-enhancers. This enables us to gauge the maximum genomic search space for enhancer hunting: 4 Mb of genomic sequence around the gene of interest (2 Mb on either side). Furthermore, we used human-rodent comparison for a set of 159 orthologous enhancer pairs to infer that the central nervous system (CNS) specific gene expression is closely associated with the cooperative interaction among at least eight distinct transcription factors: SOX5, HFH, SOX17, HNF3β, c-FOS, Tal1beta-E47S, MEF and FREAC.

Conclusions
In conclusion, the systematic wiring of cis-acting sites and their target gene bodies is an important step to unravel the role of in vivo characterized catalog of human enhancers in development, physiology and medicine.
Health care workers causing large nosocomial outbreaks: a systematic review
Authors: Danzmann Lisa , Gastmeier Petra , Schwab Frank , Vonberg Ralf-Peter 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Backgrounds
Staff in the hospital itself may be the source of a nosocomial outbreak (NO). But the role of undetected carriers as an outbreak source is yet unknown.

Methods
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate outbreaks caused by health care workers (HCW). The Worldwide Outbreak Database and PubMed served as primary sources of data. Articles in English, German or French were included. Other reviews were excluded. There were no restrictions with respect to the date of publication.
Data on setting, pathogens, route of transmission, and characteristics of the HCW was retrieved. Data from large outbreaks were compared to smaller outbreaks.

Results
152 outbreaks were included, mainly from surgery, neonatology, and gynecology departments. Most frequent corresponding infections were surgical site infections, infection by hepatitis B virus, and septicemia. Hepatitis B virus (27 NO), S. aureus (49 NO) and S. pyogenes (19 NO) were the predominant pathogens involved. 59 outbreaks (41.5%) derived from physicians and 56 outbreaks (39.4%) derived from nurses. Transmission mainly occurred via direct contact. Surgical and pediatric departments were significantly associated with smaller outbreaks, and gynecology with larger outbreaks. Awareness of carrier status significantly decreased the risk of causing large outbreaks.

Conclusions
As NO caused by HCW represent a rare event, screening of personnel should not be performed regularly. However, if certain species of microorganisms are involved, the possibility of a carrier should be taken into account.
Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Malaysian honeys produced by Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis mellifera
Authors: Moniruzzaman Mohammed , Khalil Md Ibrahim , Sulaiman Siti Amrah , Gan Siew Hua 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Malaysian monofloral honey samples—acacia, pineapple and borneo honey—and compare them with tualang honey. Acacia and pineapple honey are produced by Apis mellifera bees while borneo and tualang honey are produced by Apis cerana and Apis dorsata bees, respectively.

Methods
The physical parameters of honey, such as pH, moisture content, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), color intensity, total sugar and apparent sucrose content, were measured. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was measured using high performance liquid chromatography, and a number of biochemical and antioxidant tests were performed to determine the antioxidant properties of the honey samples.

Results
Acacia honey was the most acidic (pH 3.53), whereas pineapple honey had the lowest moisture content (14.86%), indicating that both types of honey can resist microbial spoilage more effectively when compared to tualang honey (pH 3.80 and 17.53% moisture content). Acacia honey contained the highest EC (0.76 mS/cm), whereas borneo honey had the highest (377 ppm) TDS. The mean HMF content in Malaysian honey was 35.98 mg/kg. Tualang honey, which is amber color, had the highest color intensity (544.33 mAU). Acacia honey is the sweetest, and contained the highest concentration of total sugar, reducing sugar and apparent sucrose. Tualang honey had the highest concentration of phenolic compounds (352.73 ± 0.81 mg galic acid/kg), flavonoids (65.65 ± 0.74 mg catechin/kg), DPPH (59.89%), FRAP values (576.91 ± 0.64 μM Fe (II)/100 g) and protein content (4.83 ± 0.02 g/kg) as well as the lowest AEAC values (244.10 ± 5.24 mg/kg), indicating its strong antioxidant properties. Proline, an important amino acid that is present in honey was also measured in the present study and it was found at the highest concentration in pineapple honey. Several strong correlations were found among the biochemical and antioxidant parameters of all the Malaysian honeys.

Conclusion
Although Malaysian honeys are of good quality, tualang honey contains the strongest antioxidant properties by far.