bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparing the NIS vs. MRC and INCAT sensory scale through Rasch analyses
Authors: Draak Thomas H. P. , Vanhoutte Els K. , van Nes Sonja I. , Gorson Kenneth C. , Van der Pol W.‐Ludo , Notermans Nicolette C. , Nobile‐Orazio Eduardo , Lewis Richard A. , Léger Jean‐Marc , Van den Bergh Peter Y. K. , Lauria Giuseppe , Bril Vera , Katzberg Hans , Lunn Michael P. T. , Pouget Jean , van der Kooi Anneke J. , Hahn Angelika F. , van den Berg Leonard H. , van Doorn Pieter A. , Cornblath David R. , Faber Catharina G. , Merkies Ingemar S. J. ,   on behalf of the PeriNomS Study Group
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe performed
a comparison between Neuropathy Impairment Scale‐sensory (NISs) vs. the modified Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment sensory scale (mISS), and NIS‐motor vs. the Medical Research Council sum score in patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), and IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance‐related polyneuropathy (MGUSP). The ordinal data were subjected to Rasch analyses, creating Rasch‐transformed (RT)‐intervals for all measures. Comparison between measures was based on validity/reliability with an emphasis on responsiveness (using the patient's level of change related to the individually obtained varying SE for minimum clinically important difference). Eighty stable patients (GBS: 30, CIDP: 30, and MGUSP: 20) were assessed twice (entry: two observers; 2–4 weeks later: one observer), and 137 newly diagnosed or relapsing patients (GBS: 55, CIDP: 59, and IgM‐MGUSP: 23) were serially examined with 12 months follow‐up. Data modifications were needed to improve model fit for all measures. The sensory and motor scales demonstrated approximately equal and acceptable validity and reliability scores. Responsiveness scores were poor but slightly higher in RT‐mISS compared to RT‐NISs. Responsiveness was equal for the RT‐motor scales, but higher in GBS compared to CIDP; responsiveness was poor in patients with MGUSP, suggesting a longer duration of follow‐up in the latter group of patients.
Characterization and Pathogenicity of Phomopsis theicola Anamorph of Diaporthe foeniculina Causing Stem and Shoot Cankers on Sweet Chestnut in Italy
Authors: Annesi Tiziana , Luongo Laura , Vitale Salvatore , Galli Massimo , Belisario Alessandra 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIn March 2014, an outbreak of shoot cankers was observed on grafted Castanea sativa plants in a glasshouse in central Italy. Morphological characteristics led to the identification of isolates of Phomopsis recovered from cankered stems and shoots. Based on the morphological characteristics of colony appearance, shape of conidia and conidiomata as well as sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), actin (ACT) and translation elongation factor (TEF‐1α), the fungus was identified as Phomopsis theicola/Diaporthe foeniculina. Pathogenicity test showed that P. theicola isolates were pathogenic to C. sativa when artificially inoculated, reproducing the symptoms originally observed. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re‐isolating the pathogen. This is the first report of P. theicola/D. foeniculina causing stem and shoot cankers and dieback on C. sativa in Italy or elsewhere.
Mucopolysaccharidosis VII in a Cat Caused by 2 Adjacent Missense Mutations in the GUSB Gene
Authors: Wang P. , Sorenson J. , Strickland S. , Mingus C. , Haskins M.E. , Giger U. 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundMucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are common lysosomal storage disorders causing typically progressive skeletal and ocular abnormalities.ObjectivesTo describe the clinic features, metabolic profile and a unique mutation in a domestic shorthair (DSH) kitten with MPS VII.AnimalsAffected kitten and 80 healthy cats.MethodsSerum lysosomal enzyme activities and urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation were assessed. Exons of the β‐glucuronidase gene (GUSB) were sequenced from genomic DNA and genotyping was conducted.ResultsA 3‐month‐old DSH cat was presented for stunted growth, paresis, facial dysmorphia, multiple skeletal deformities, and corneal opacities. Evaluation of blood smears disclosed metachromatic granules in leukocytes and a urinary mucopolysaccharide spot test was positive. The proband had no GUSB activity but normal or increased activities for other lysosomal enzymes. Sequencing of the GUSB gene from the proband and comparison to the sequence of 2 healthy cats and the published feline genome sequence demonstrated 2 unique single base transitions (c.1421T>G and c.1424C>T) in exon 9, altering 2 adjacent codons (p.Ser475Ala and p.Arg476Trp). These amino acid changes are in a highly conserved domain of the GUSB protein and nontolerable to maintain function. Moreover, the p.Arg476Trp mutation previously has been identified in human patients. None of the other clinically healthy cats had these mutations.Conclusions and Clinic ImportanceThe diagnostic approach to MPS disorders is delineated. This is only the second mutation known to cause MPS VII in cats. Similarly, 2 different mutations have been described in MPS VII dogs, thereby showing the molecular heterogeneity of MPS VII in companion animals.
The Fiqh of Revolution and the Arab Spring: Secondary Segmentation as a Trend in Islamic Legal Doctrine
Authors: Nakissa Aria 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis article examines how the events of the Arab Spring have helped give birth to a new juristic subfield known as the “Fiqh of Revolution”. The Fiqh of Revolution supplies legal guidance on peaceful rebellion under contemporary conditions, addressing itself to a 21st century world order shaped by new internet media and post‐Cold War international human rights conventions. I argue that besides being an important source of influence for Islamist movements, the Fiqh of Revolution also illustrates broader trends in contemporary Islamic legal thought. In particular, I draw attention to the process of “secondary segmentation”, whereby new legal subfields are created for the purpose of justifying and regimenting the use of utilitarian modes of juristic reasoning. Although “secondary segmentation” is an emergent trend, I suggest that it has important implications for the future evolution of Islamic legal doctrine.
Testing for Granger Causality in Moments
Authors: Chen Yi‐Ting 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIn this paper, we consider a generalized approach which is flexibly applicable to testing Granger causality in various moments and in both the full‐sample and out‐of‐sample contexts. We further use this approach to establish a class of cross‐correlation tests for financial time series analysis, and show the advantages of this class of tests in unifying and generalizing Box–Pierce‐type Granger causality tests. We also conduct a Monte Carlo simulation to show the validity of our tests, and provide an empirical example to demonstrate the flexibility of our tests in exploring various types of Granger causality.
Melanopsins: Localization and Phototransduction in Xenopus laevis Melanophores
Authors: Moraes Maria Nathália , Ramos Bruno C. , Poletini Maristela O. , Castrucci Ana Maria L. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractXenopus laevis melanophores express two melanopsins, Opn4x and Opn4m. We identified Opn4x immunoreactivity throughout the melanophore cytoplasm and in the cell membrane. The strongest immunopositivity for Opn4m was observed in the nuclear region, and no labeling was seen in the cell membrane. This immunodistribution suggests Opn4x as the functional photopigment. In X. laevis melanophores, light triggers pigment dispersion and clock gene induction at blue wavelength, which maximally activates melanopsins. Although light stimulation activates phospholipase C and increases intracellular calcium and cGMP, this nucleotide does not participate in photo‐induced melanin dispersion. Nevertheless, the guanylyl cyclase activator YC‐1 stimulates Per1 expression, similar to blue light pulse, and the use of pharmacological inhibitors indicates the participation of the phosphoinositide cascade. Since cAMP levels does not change after blue light stimulation, the cAMP/PKA pathway most probably is not involved in blue light induction of Per in X. laevis melanophores. Given the localization of melanopsins and our pharmacological data, the light‐induced clock gene expression seems to be mediated by Opn4x through phosphoinositide cascade and rise in cGMP, thus leading to the reset of the biological clock in our model.
Temperature modulation and the presence of C20 fatty acids in mono‐ and digalactosyldiacylglycerol of Euglena gracilis and Lepocinclis acus: A modern interpretation of euglenid galactolipids using positive‐ion electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry
Authors: Craig Evan M. , Dahmen Jeremy L. , Leblond Jeffrey D. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryMono‐ and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG and DGDG, respectively) are important galactolipids that comprise photosynthetic membranes in almost all photosynthetic organisms. Intact forms of MGDG and DGDG of Euglena gracilis and Lepocinclis acus, two example euglenids with secondary plastids of green algal origin, were elucidated with fatty acid regiochemistry via positive‐ion electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry at two growth temperatures. At 20°C, E. gracilis and L. acus produced predominantly 18:3/16:4 (sn‐1/sn‐2) MGDG, whereas at 30°C this was supplanted by 18:2/16:2 MGDG. At both temperatures were also observed a variety of other MGDG and DGDG forms, including C20 fatty acid‐containing forms not expected in a green algal‐derived plastid. In addition to providing structural details of MGDG and DGDG not available in past studies, these results suggest a previously unknown relationship between these two organisms and the red algae. This study also illustrates that temperature modulation of galactolipids occurs via modification of unsaturation of both the sn‐1 and sn‐2 fatty acids; this is fundamentally different from previously published studies from our laboratory on other algal classes.
Re‐growth, morphogenesis, and differentiation during starfish arm regeneration
Authors: Ben Khadra Yousra , Ferrario Cinzia , Benedetto Cristiano Di , Said Khaled , Bonasoro Francesco , Candia Carnevali M. Daniela , Sugni Michela 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTThe red starfish Echinaster sepositus is an excellent model for studying arm regeneration processes following traumatic amputation. The initial repair phase was described in a previous paper in terms of the early cicatrisation phenomena, and tissue and cell involvement. In this work, we attempt to provide a further comprehensive description of the later regenerative stages in this species. Here, we present the results of a detailed microscopic and submicroscopic investigation of the long regenerative phase, which can be subdivided into two subphases: early and advanced regenerative phases. The early regenerative phase (1–6 weeks p.a.) is characterized by tissue rearrangement, morphogenetic processes and initial differentiation events (mainly neurogenesis and skeletogenesis). The advanced regenerative phase (after 6 weeks p.a.) is characterized by further differentiation processes (early myogenesis), and obvious morphogenesis and re‐growth of the regenerate. As in other starfish, the regenerative process in E. sepositus is relatively slow in comparison with that of crinoids and many ophiuroids, which is usually interpreted as resulting mainly from size‐related aspects and of the more conspicuous involvement of morphallactic processes. Light and electron microscopy analyses suggest that some of the amputated structures, such as muscles, are not able to replace their missing parts by directly re‐growing them from the remaining tissues, whereas others tissues, such as the skeleton and the radial nerve cord, appear to undergo direct re‐growth. The overall process is in agreement with the distalization‐intercalation model proposed by Agata and co‐workers. Further experiments are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Evaluation of a Novel Plasma (1,3)-β-
d
-Glucan Detection Assay for Diagnosis of Candidemia in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Liu Ying , Chen Feng , Zhu Xiaodong , Shen Lisong , Zhang Sean X. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

We evaluated a novel plasma (1,3)-β-
d
-glucan (BDG) detection assay for the diagnosis of candidemia in children. The median BDG levels were 73.4 pg/ml in patients with candidemia and <10 pg/ml in patients without candidemia (
P
< 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a cutoff point of 14 pg/ml and an area under the curve of 0.802. At these values, the assay demonstrated 68% sensitivity, 91% specificity, 66% positive predictive value, and 91% negative predictive value. Plasma BDG levels were undetectable in 18 candidemia cases.
Commentary: Management of Microbiological Samples in a Confirmed Case of Ebola Virus Disease: Constraints and Limitations
Authors: Hogardt Michael , Wolf Timo , Kann Gerrit , Brodt Hans-Reinhard , Brandt Christian , Keppler Oliver T. , Wicker Sabine , Zacharowski Kai , Gottschalk René , Becker Stephan , Kempf Volkhard A. J. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT
In light of the recent Ebola virus outbreak, it has to be realized that besides medical treatment, precise algorithms for the management of complicating microbial infections are mandatory for Ebola virus disease (EVD) patients. While the necessity of such diagnostics is apparent, practical details are much less clear. Our approach, established during the treatment of an EVD patient at the University Hospital in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, provides a roadmap for reliable and safe on-site microbiological testing.
A Screen for Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase-Primed Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Substrates Identifies the p53 Inhibitor iASPP
Authors: Woodard Crystal , Liao Gangling , Goodwin C. Rory , Hu Jianfei , Xie Zhi , dos Reis Thaila F. , Newman Rob , Rho Heesool , Qian Jiang , Zhu Heng , Hayward S. Diane 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) LANA protein is essential for the replication and maintenance of virus genomes in latently KSHV-infected cells. LANA also drives dysregulated cell growth through a multiplicity of mechanisms that include altering the activity of the cellular kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). To investigate the potential impact of these changes in enzyme activity, we used protein microarrays to identify cell proteins that were phosphorylated by the combination of ERK and GSK-3. The assays identified 58 potential ERK-primed GSK-3 substrates, of which 23 had evidence for
in vivo
phosphorylation in mass spectrometry databases. Two of these, SMAD4 and iASPP, were selected for further analysis and were confirmed as ERK-primed GSK-3 substrates. Cotransfection experiments revealed that iASPP, but not SMAD4, was targeted for degradation in the presence of GSK-3. iASPP interferes with apoptosis induced by p53 family members. To determine the importance of iASPP to KSHV-infected-cell growth, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells were treated with an iASPP inhibitor in the presence or absence of the MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin-3. Drug inhibition of iASPP activity induced apoptosis in BC3 and BCBL1 PEL cells but did not induce poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in virus-negative BJAB cells. The effect of iASPP inhibition was additive with that of Nutlin-3. Interfering with iASPP function is therefore another mechanism that can sensitize KSHV-positive PEL cells to cell death.

IMPORTANCE
KSHV is associated with several malignancies, including primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). The KSHV-encoded LANA protein is multifunctional and promotes both cell growth and resistance to cell death. LANA is known to activate ERK and limit the activity of another kinase, GSK-3. To discover ways in which LANA manipulation of these two kinases might impact PEL cell survival, we screened a human protein microarray for ERK-primed GSK-3 substrates. One of the proteins identified, iASPP, showed reduced levels in the presence of GSK-3. Further, blocking iASPP activity increased cell death, particularly in p53 wild-type BC3 PEL cells.
Dualtropic CXCR6/CCR5 Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) Infection of Sooty Mangabey Primary Lymphocytes: Distinct Coreceptor Use in Natural versus Pathogenic Hosts of SIV
Authors: Elliott Sarah T. C. , Wetzel Katherine S. , Francella Nicholas , Bryan Steven , Romero Dino C. , Riddick Nadeene E. , Shaheen Farida , Vanderford Thomas , Derdeyn Cynthia A. , Silvestri Guido , Paiardini Mirko , Collman Ronald G. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Natural-host sooty mangabeys (SM) infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) exhibit high viral loads but do not develop disease, whereas infection of rhesus macaques (RM) causes CD4
+
T cell loss and AIDS. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain these divergent outcomes, including differences in cell targeting, which have been linked to low expression of the canonical SIV entry receptor CCR5 on CD4
+
T cells of SM and other natural hosts. We previously showed that infection and high-level viremia occur even in a subset of SM that genetically lack functional CCR5, which indicates that alternative entry coreceptors are used by SIV
in vivo
in these animals. We also showed that SM CXCR6 is a robust coreceptor for SIV
smm
in vitro
. Here we identify CXCR6 as a principal entry pathway for SIV in SM primary lymphocytes. We show that
ex vivo
SIV infection of lymphocytes from CCR5 wild-type SM is mediated by both CXCR6 and CCR5. In contrast, infection of RM lymphocytes is fully dependent on CCR5. These data raise the possibility that CXCR6-directed tropism in CCR5-low natural hosts may alter CD4
+
T cell subset targeting compared with that in nonnatural hosts, enabling SIV to maintain high-level replication without leading to widespread CD4
+
T cell loss.

IMPORTANCE
Natural hosts of SIV, such as sooty mangabeys, sustain high viral loads but do not develop disease, while nonnatural hosts, like rhesus macaques, develop AIDS. Understanding this difference may help elucidate mechanisms of pathogenesis. Natural hosts have very low levels of the SIV entry coreceptor CCR5, suggesting that restricted entry may limit infection of certain target cells, although it is unclear how the virus replicates so robustly. Here we show that in sooty mangabey lymphocytes, infection is mediated by the alternative entry coreceptor CXCR6, as well as CCR5. In rhesus macaque lymphocytes, however, infection occurs entirely through CCR5. The use of CXCR6 for entry, combined with very low CCR5 levels, may redirect the virus to different cell targets in natural hosts. It is possible that differential targeting may favor infection of nonessential cells and limit infection of critical cells in natural hosts, thus contributing to benign outcome of infection.
Functional and Structural Characterization of Human V3-Specific Monoclonal Antibody 2424 with Neutralizing Activity against HIV-1 JRFL
Authors: Kumar Rajnish , Pan Ruimin , Upadhyay Chitra , Mayr Luzia , Cohen Sandra , Wang Xiao-Hong , Balasubramanian Preetha , Nádas Arthur , Seaman Michael S. , Zolla-Pazner Susan , Gorny Miroslaw K. , Kong Xiang-Peng , Hioe Catarina E. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTThe V3 region of HIV-1 gp120 is important for virus-coreceptor interaction and highly immunogenic. Although most anti-V3 antibodies neutralize only the sensitive tier 1 viruses, anti-V3 antibodies effective against the more resistant viruses exist, and a better understanding of these antibodies and their epitopes would be beneficial for the development of novel vaccine immunogens against HIV. The HIV-1 isolate JRFL with its cryptic V3 is resistant to most V3-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). However, the V3 MAb 2424 achieves 100% neutralization against JRFL. 2424 is encoded by IGHV3-53 and IGLV2-28 genes, a pairing rarely used by the other V3 MAbs. 2424 also has distinct binding and neutralization profiles. Studies of 2424-mediated neutralization of JRFL produced with a mannosidase inhibitor further revealed that its neutralizing activity is unaffected by the glycan composition of the virus envelope. To understand the distinct activity of 2424, we determined the crystal structure of 2424 Fab in complex with a JRFL V3 peptide and showed that the 2424 epitope is located at the tip of the V3 crown (307IHIGPGRAFYT319), dominated by interactions with HisP308, ProP313, and ArgP315. The binding mode of 2424 is similar to that of the well-characterized MAb 447-52D, although 2424 is more side chain dependent. The 2424 epitope is focused on the very apex of V3, away from nearby glycans, facilitating antibody access. This feature distinguishes the 2424 epitope from the other V3 crown epitopes and indicates that the tip of V3 is a potential site to target and incorporate into HIV vaccine immunogens.IMPORTANCEHIV/AIDS vaccines are crucial for controlling the HIV epidemics that continue to afflict millions of people worldwide. However, HIV vaccine development has been hampered by significant scientific challenges, one of which is the inability of HIV vaccine candidates evaluated thus far to elicit production of potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies. The V3 loop is one of the few immunogenic targets on the virus envelope glycoprotein that can induce neutralizing antibodies, but in many viruses, parts of V3 are inaccessible for antibody recognition. This study examined a V3-specific monoclonal antibody that can completely neutralize HIV-1 JRFL, a virus isolate resistant to most V3 antibodies. Our data reveal that this antibody recognizes the most distal tip of V3, which is not as occluded as other parts of V3. Hence, the epitope of 2424 is in one of the vulnerable sites on the virus that may be exploited in designing HIV vaccine immunogens.
The Great (Nuclear) Escape: New Insights into the Role of the Nuclear Egress Complex of Herpesviruses
Authors: Bigalke Janna M. , Heldwein Ekaterina E. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT
Herpesviruses are unusual among enveloped viruses because they bud twice yet acquire a single envelope. They are also the only known viruses that bud into the nuclear envelope. We discovered that the herpesvirus nuclear egress complex could bud membranes without the help of other proteins by forming a coat-like hexagonal scaffold inside the budding membrane. This finding raises the possibility that a phenotypically similar nuclear export of large RNAs is cargo driven.
Antimicrobial Tolerance in Biofilms
Authors: Stewart Philip S. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT
The tolerance of microorganisms in biofilms to antimicrobial agents is examined through a meta-analysis of literature data. A numerical tolerance factor comparing the rates of killing in the planktonic and biofilm states is defined to provide a quantitative basis for the analysis. Tolerance factors for biocides and antibiotics range over three orders of magnitude. This variation is not explained by taking into account the molecular weight of the agent, the chemistry of the agent, the substratum material, or the speciation of the microorganisms. Tolerance factors do depend on the areal cell density of the biofilm at the time of treatment and on the age of the biofilm as grown in a particular experimental system. This suggests that there is something that happens during biofilm maturation, either physical or physiological, that is essential for full biofilm tolerance. Experimental measurements of antimicrobial penetration times in biofilms range over orders of magnitude, with slower penetration (>12 min) observed for reactive oxidants and cationic molecules. These agents are retarded through the interaction of reaction, sorption, and diffusion. The specific physiological status of microbial cells in a biofilm contributes to antimicrobial tolerance. A conceptual framework for categorizing physiological cell states is discussed in the context of antimicrobial susceptibility. It is likely that biofilms harbor cells in multiple states simultaneously (e.g., growing, stress-adapted, dormant, inactive) and that this physiological heterogeneity is an important factor in the tolerance of the biofilm state.