bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced Polymorphism in the Kelch Propeller Domain in Plasmodium vivax Isolates from Cambodia
Authors: Popovici Jean , Kao Sokheng , Eal Leanghor , Bin Sophalai , Kim Saorin , Ménard Didier 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

Polymorphism in the ortholog gene of the
Plasmodium falciparum
K13 gene was investigated in
Plasmodium vivax
isolates collected in Cambodia. All of them were Sal-1 wild-type alleles except two (2/284, 0.7%), and
P. vivax
K12 polymorphism was reduced compared to that of the
P. falciparum
K13 gene. Both mutant allele isolates had the same nonsynonymous mutation at codon 552 (V552I) and were from Ratanak Kiri province. These preliminary data should encourage additional studies for associating artemisinin or chloroquine resistance and K12 polymorphism.
Effect of Steady-State Faldaprevir on the Pharmacokinetics of Steady-State Methadone and Buprenorphine-Naloxone in Subjects Receiving Stable Addiction Management Therapy
Authors: Joseph David , Schobelock Michael J. , Riesenberg Robert R. , Vince Bradley D. , Webster Lynn R. , Adeniji Abidemi , Elgadi Mabrouk , Huang Fenglei 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

The effects of steady-state faldaprevir on the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of steady-state methadone and buprenorphine-naloxone were assessed in 34 healthy male and female subjects receiving stable addiction management therapy. Subjects continued receiving a stable oral dose of either methadone (up to a maximum dose of 180 mg per day) or buprenorphine-naloxone (up to a maximum dose of 24 mg-6 mg per day) and also received oral faldaprevir (240 mg) once daily (QD) for 8 days following a 480-mg loading dose. Serial blood samples were taken for pharmacokinetic analysis. The pharmacodynamics of the opioid maintenance regimens were evaluated by the objective and subjective opioid withdrawal scales. Coadministration of faldaprevir with methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone resulted in geometric mean ratios for the steady-state area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC
0–24,ss
), the steady-state maximum concentration of the drug in plasma (
C
max,ss
), and the steady-state concentration of the drug in plasma at 24 h (
C
24,ss
) of 0.92 to 1.18 for (
R
)-methadone, (
S
)-methadone, buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, and naloxone, with 90% confidence intervals including, or very close to including, 1.00 (no effect), suggesting a limited overall effect of faldaprevir. Although individual data showed moderate variability in the exposures between subjects and treatments, there was no evidence of symptoms of opiate overdose or withdrawal either during the coadministration of faldaprevir with methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone or after faldaprevir dosing was stopped. Similar faldaprevir exposures were observed in the methadone- and buprenorphine-naloxone-treated subjects. In conclusion, faldaprevir at 240 mg QD can be coadministered with methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone without dose adjustment, although given the relatively narrow therapeutic windows of these agents, monitoring for opiate overdose and withdrawal may still be appropriate. (This study has been registered at
ClinicalTrials.gov
under registration no. NCT01637922.)
Gastrointestinal Dissemination and Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus following Bacteremia
Authors: Kernbauer Elisabeth , Maurer Katie , Torres Victor J. , Shopsin Bo , Cadwell Ken 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

Mutations that alter virulence and antibiotic susceptibility arise and persist during
Staphylococcus aureus
bacteremia. However, an experimental system demonstrating transmission following bacteremia has been lacking, and thus implications of within-host adaptation for between-host transmission are unknown. We report that
S. aureus
disseminates to the gastrointestinal tract of mice following intravenous injection and readily transmits to cohoused naive mice. Both intestinal dissemination and transmission were linked to the production of virulence factors based on gene deletion studies of the
sae
and
agr
two-component systems. Furthermore, antimicrobial selection for antibiotic-resistant
S. aureus
displaced susceptible
S. aureus
from the intestine of infected hosts, which led to the preferential transmission and dominance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria among cohoused untreated mice. These findings establish an animal model to investigate gastrointestinal dissemination and transmission of
S. aureus
and suggest that adaptation during the course of systemic infection has implications beyond the level of a single host.
Toxin-Mediated Paracellular Transport of Antitoxin Antibodies Facilitates Protection against Clostridium difficile Infection
Authors: Zhang Z. , Chen X. , Hernandez L. D. , Lipari P. , Flattery A. , Chen S.-C. , Kramer S. , Polishook J. D. , Racine F. , Cape H. , Kelly C. P. , Therien A. G. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

The exotoxins TcdA and TcdB are the major virulence factors of
Clostridium difficile
. Circulating neutralizing antitoxin antibodies are protective in
C. difficile
infection (CDI), as demonstrated, in part, by the protective effects of actoxumab and bezlotoxumab, which bind to and neutralize TcdA and TcdB, respectively. The question of how systemic IgG antibodies neutralize toxins in the gut lumen remains unresolved, although it has been suggested that the Fc receptor FcRn may be involved in active antibody transport across the gut epithelium. In this study, we demonstrated that genetic ablation of FcRn and excess irrelevant human IgG have no impact on actoxumab-bezlotoxumab-mediated protection in murine and hamster models of CDI, suggesting that Fc-dependent transport of antibodies across the gut wall is not required for efficacy. Tissue distribution studies in hamsters suggest, rather, that the transport of antibodies depends on toxin-induced damage to the gut lining. In an
in vitro
two-dimensional culture system that mimics the architecture of the intestinal mucosal epithelium, toxins on the apical side of epithelial cell monolayers are neutralized by basolateral antibodies, and antibody transport across the cell layer is dramatically increased upon addition of toxin to the apical side. Similar data were obtained with F(ab′)
2
fragments, which lack an Fc domain, consistent with FcRn-independent paracellular, rather than transcellular, transport of antibodies. Kinetic studies show that initial damage caused by apical toxin is required for efficient neutralization by basolateral antibodies. These data may represent a general mechanism of humoral response-mediated protection against enteric pathogens.
Late Establishment of the Attaching and Effacing Lesion Caused by Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Depends on Protein Expression Regulated by Per
Authors: Bueris Vanessa , Huerta-Cantillo Jazmín , Navarro-Garcia Fernando , Ruiz Renato M. , Cianciarullo Aurora M. , Elias Waldir P. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

Enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(EPEC) is classified as typical (tEPEC) or atypical (aEPEC) based on the presence or absence of the
E. coli
adherence factor plasmid (pEAF), respectively. The hallmark of EPEC infection is the formation of the attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on the gut mucosa. We compared the kinetics of A/E lesion formation induced by aEPEC and tEPEC. The examination of infected HEp-2 cells clearly demonstrated delayed A/E lesion formation by aEPEC in comparison to tEPEC. This delay was associated with the expression of locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE)-encoded virulence factors (i.e., intimin and EspD). Indeed, the insertion of a plasmid containing
perABC
, a transcriptional regulator of virulence factors involved in A/E formation, into aEPEC strains increased and accelerated the formation of A/E lesions. Interestingly, the enhanced expression and translocation of LEE-encoded proteins, such as those expressed in LEE5 (intimin) and LEE4 (EspD), in aEPEC (
perABC
) was independent of bacterial adhesion. The secretion kinetics of these two proteins representing LEE5 and LEE4 expression correlated with A/E lesion formation. We conclude that the lack of Per in the regulation network of virulence genes is one of the main factors that delay the establishment of A/E lesions induced by aEPEC strains.
Incidence, mechanism and risk factors for injury in youth rock climbers
Authors: Woollings Kaikanani Y , McKay Carly D , Kang Jian , Meeuwisse Willem H , Emery Carolyn A 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundRock-climbing participation has grown globally in recent years, and the sport was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 2010. The epidemiology of climbing injuries in adults has been examined, but few studies have investigated injury in youth climbers.ObjectiveTo examine the incidence, mechanisms and risk factors for injury in recreational and elite sport climbers and boulderers aged 11–19 years.Study designCross-sectional.MethodsYouth (n=116) were recruited from climbing facilities across Alberta, Canada. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire from October 2012 to March 2013. Climbing injury incidence proportions and incidence rates (IR) were calculated. ORs with corresponding 95% CIs were estimated for possible risk factors.ResultsThe injury IR was 4.44 injuries/1000 climbing hours (95% CI 3.74 to 5.23). Sprains (27%) and strains (26%) were the predominant injury types, and repetitive overuse was the primary mechanism of injury (42%). Hands and fingers were the most commonly injured locations (21%). Exploratory analyses showed three risk factors for injury: older age (15–19 vs 11–14 years; OR=11.30, 95% CI 2.33 to 54.85), injury in a sport other than climbing (OR=6.46, 95% CI 1.62 to 25.68) and preventive taping (OR=5.09, 95% CI 1.44 to 18.02).ConclusionsInjury risk is high in youth climbers. Findings are consistent with the reported rates, types and mechanisms in adults. Modifiable risk factors warrant further investigation to inform the development of injury prevention strategies, targeting high-risk climbers including adolescents and those with previous injury.
Reconsideration of the Nearctic species Haliplus mimeticus Matheson and its relatives with description of a new species (Coleoptera: Haliplidae)
Authors: van Vondel Bernhard J. 
Published: November 2014

The three species of Nearctic Haliplidae related toHaliplus mimeticusMatheson, 1912 are re-examined. Two species,H. rugosusRoberts, 1913 andH. eremicusWells, 1989 are considered junior synonyms ofH. mimeticusas characters used to distinguish the species proved to be variable and unreliable. A new speciesH. kenneriis described from Baja California, Mexico. The new species differs fromH. mimeticusin the shape of the penis and the strongly serrate elytral apical margin.
Parametric Modeling of Transitioning Cyclone Wind Fields for Risk Assessment Studies in the Western North Pacific
Authors: Loridan T. , Khare S. , Scherer E. , Dixon M. , Bellone E. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractProbabilistic risk assessment systems for tropical cyclone hazards rely on large ensembles of model simulations to characterize cyclones tracks, intensities, and the extent of the associated damaging winds. Given the computational costs, the wind field is often modeled using parametric formulations that make assumptions that are based on observations of tropical systems (e.g., satellite, or aircraft reconnaissance). In particular, for the Northern Hemisphere, most of the damaging contribution is assumed to be from the right of the moving cyclone, with the left-hand-side winds being much weaker because of the direction of storm motion. Recent studies have highlighted that this asymmetry assumption does not hold for cyclones undergoing extratropical transitions around Japan. Transitioning systems can exhibit damaging winds on both sides of the moving cyclone, with wind fields often characterized as resembling a horseshoe. This study develops a new parametric formulation of the extratropical transition phase for application in risk assessment systems. A compromise is sought between the need to characterize the horseshoe shape while keeping the formulation simple to allow for implementation within a risk assessment framework. For that purpose the tropical wind model developed by Willoughby et al. is selected as a starting point and parametric bias correction fields are applied to build the target shape. Model calibration is performed against a set of 37 extratropical transition cases simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. This newly developed parametric model of the extratropical transition phase shows an ability to reproduce wind field features observed in the western North Pacific Ocean while using only a restricted number of input parameters.
Temporal and Spatial Variability of Wind Resources in the United States as Derived from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis
Authors: Yu Lejiang , Zhong Shiyuan , Bian Xindi , Heilman Warren E. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis study examines the spatial and temporal variability of wind speed at 80 m above ground (the average hub height of most modern wind turbines) in the contiguous United States using Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) data from 1979 to 2011. The mean 80-m wind exhibits strong seasonality and large spatial variability, with higher (lower) wind speeds in the winter (summer), and higher (lower) speeds over much of the Midwest and U.S. Northeast (U.S. West and Southeast). Trends are also variable spatially, with more upward trends in areas of the Great Plains and Intermountain West of the United States and more downward trends elsewhere. The leading EOF mode, which accounts for 20% (summer) to 33% (winter) of the total variance and represents in-phase variations across the United States, responds mainly to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in summer and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the other seasons. The dominant variation pattern can be explained by a southerly/southwesterly (westerly) anomaly over the U.S. East (U.S. West) as a result of the anomalous mean sea level pressure (MSLP) pattern. The second EOF mode, which explains about 15% of the total variance and shows a seesaw pattern, is mainly related to the springtime Arctic Oscillation (AO), the summertime recurrent circumglobal teleconnection (CGT), the autumn Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), and the winter El Niño Modoki. The anomalous jet stream and MSLP patterns associated with these indices are responsible for the wind variation.
Predictors of Contralateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Andernord Daniel , Desai Neel , Björnsson Haukur , Gillén Sofia , Karlsson Jón , Samuelsson Kristian 
Published: November 2014

Background: Identifying predictors of contralateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is important to focus preventive strategies and related research on high-risk groups. Purpose: To investigate predictors of contralateral ACL reconstruction in patients who have already undergone a primary ipsilateral reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: This study was based on data from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Register from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2013. Patients aged 13 to 59 years who underwent primary ipsilateral (index) ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon or bone–patellar tendon–bone autografts were included. Follow-up started on date of index ACL reconstruction and ended either with primary contralateral ACL reconstruction, after 5 years of follow-up, or on December 31, 2013, whichever occurred first. The investigated variables were patient sex, age at index reconstruction, activity at the time of index injury, timing of surgery, graft selection, graft harvest site, and meniscal and chondral injury. The study end point was primary contralateral ACL reconstruction. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs were calculated and adjusted for confounding factors using multivariate statistics. Results: A total of 9061 participants were included (n = 5196 males [57.3%] and 3865 females [42.7%]), of which 270 participants (3.0%) underwent primary contralateral ACL reconstruction during the 5-year follow-up. There was no difference in contralateral reconstruction rates between males and females (3.0% vs 2.9%, P = .695). Age <20 years significantly increased the risk of contralateral reconstruction (males: RR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.7-3.4] and females: RR = 2.9 [95% CI, 1.9-4.5]; P < .001). Among female patients undergoing reconstruction using autograft hamstring, harvest of a contralateral hamstring tendon significantly increased this risk (RR = 3.4 [95% CI, 1.4-7.9]; P = .006). Conclusion: In both male and female participants, age <20 years predicted an almost 3 times higher 5-year risk of contralateral ACL reconstruction. Among female participants undergoing reconstruction with autograft hamstring, a contralateral harvest predicted a more than 3 times higher 5-year risk of contralateral ACL reconstruction. Patient sex, activity at the time of index injury, graft selection, meniscal injury, and chondral injury were not predictors of contralateral ACL reconstruction.
Malignant melanoma of the penis and urethra: one case report
Authors: Li Yunxiang , Yuan Haichao , Wang Anguo , Zhang Zongping , Wu Ji , Wei Qiang 
Published: November 2014

AbstractWe present a case of a patient with malignant melanoma of the glans penis and urethra, which was found in a 53-year-old man with nonhealing ulcerative penile lesion and bilateral, clinically palpable inguinal lymphadenopathies at diagnosis. A diagnostic biopsy showed the characteristics of a melanoma. We treated the patient with total penectomy and bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection. After surgery, chemotherapy with bleomycin, vincristine and cisplatin and immunotherapy with thymosin injection were started. No recurrence or metastasis occurred during the 3 years after the operation. Melanoma of the penis is very rare, and early diagnosis is important because the patient prognosis is very poor.
Solving the 3D acoustic wave equation on generalized structured meshes: A finite-difference time-domain approach
Authors: Shragge Jeffrey 
Published: November 2014

The key computational kernel of most advanced 3D seismic imaging and inversion algorithms used in exploration seismology involves calculating solutions of the 3D acoustic wave equation, most commonly with a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methodology. Although well suited for regularly sampled rectilinear computational domains, FDTD methods seemingly have limited applicability in scenarios involving irregular 3D domain boundary surfaces and mesh interiors best described by non-Cartesian geometry (e.g., surface topography). Using coordinate mapping relationships and differential geometry, an FDTD approach can be developed for generating solutions to the 3D acoustic wave equation that is applicable to generalized 3D coordinate systems and (quadrilateral-faced hexahedral) structured meshes. The developed numerical implementation is similar to the established Cartesian approaches, save for a necessary introduction of weighted first- and mixed second-order partial-derivative operators that account for spatially varying geometry. The approach was validated on three different types of computational meshes: (1) an “internal boundary” mesh conforming to a dipping water bottom layer, (2) analytic “semiorthogonal cylindrical” coordinates, and (3) analytic semiorthogonal and numerically specified “topographic” coordinate meshes. Impulse response tests and numerical analysis demonstrated the viability of the approach for kernel computations for 3D seismic imaging and inversion experiments for non-Cartesian geometry scenarios.
Transforming the Premier Perspective® hospital database to the OMOP Common Data
Model
Authors: Makadia Rupa , Ryan Patrick B. 
Published: November 2014

Background: The Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data
Model (CDM) has been implemented on various claims and electronic health record (EHR)
databases, but has not been applied to a hospital transactional database. This study
addresses the implementation of the OMOP CDM on the U.S. Premier Hospital
database.Methods: We designed and implemented an extract, transform, load (ETL) process
to convert the Premier hospital database into the OMOP CDM. Standard charge codes in
Premier were mapped between the OMOP version 4.0 Vocabulary and standard charge
descriptions. Visit logic was added to impute the visit dates. We tested the conversion
by replicating a published study using the raw and transformed databases. The Premier
hospital database was compared to a claims database, in regard to prevalence of
disease.Findings: The data transformed into the CDM resulted in 1% of the data being
discarded due to data errors in the raw data. A total of 91.4% of Premier standard
charge codes were mapped successfully to a standard vocabulary. The results of the
replication study resulted in a similar distribution of patient characteristics. The
comparison to the claims data yields notable similarities and differences amongst
conditions represented in both databases.Discussion: The transformation of the Premier
database into the OMOP CDM version 4.0 adds value in conducting analyses due to
successful mapping of the drugs and procedures. The addition of visit logic gives
ordinality to drugs and procedures that wasn’t present prior to the transformation.
Comparing conditions in Premier against a claims database can provide an understanding
about Premier’s potential use in pharmacoepidemiology studies that are traditionally
conducted via claims databases.Conclusion/Next steps: The conversion of the Premier
database into the OMOP CDM 4.0 was completed successfully. The next steps include
refinement of vocabularies and mappings and continual maintenance of the transformed
CDM.
A Spirit of Reform
Authors: Goss Wayne 
Published: November 2014

After 32 years of conservative rule, it was more than the Queensland government that changed on 7 December 1989 — it was the whole state of Queensland. Driving the reform process across a wide cross-section of government policy (and seeing Queenslanders respond) left a legacy of which we who formed part of that government are proud.In our first week in office, we purchased additional tertiary places for Queensland. This underlined our commitment to education and sent the signal that our government believed the future was ‘up the food chain’, and that we would therefore invest in education. We abolished the Special Branch of Queensland Police — a symbol of the misuse of the police service by the previous government. We also abolished imperial honours because we believed that Australia should have its own system of recognising our citizens.