bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of a bacterial pathogen associated with Porites white patch syndrome in the Western Indian Ocean
Authors: Séré Mathieu G. , Tortosa Pablo , Chabanet Pascale , Quod Jean‐Pascal , Sweet Michael J. , Schleyer Michael H. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPorites white patch syndrome (PWPS) is a coral disease recently described in the Western Indian Ocean. This study aimed to isolate and identify potential pathogens associated with PWPS utilizing both culture and nonculture screening techniques and inoculation trials. A total of 14 bacterial strains (those dominant in disease lesions, absent or rare in healthy tissues and considered potential pathogens in a previous study) were cultured and used to experimentally inoculate otherwise healthy individuals in an attempt to fulfil Henle–Koch's postulates. However, only one (P180R), identified as closely related (99–100% sequence identity based on 1.4 kb 16S RNA sequence) to Vibrio tubiashii, elicited signs of disease in tank experiments. Following experimental infection (which resulted in a 90% infection rate), the pathogen was also successfully re‐isolated from the diseased tissues and re‐inoculated in healthy corals colonies, therefore fulfilling the final stages of Henle–Koch's postulates. Finally, we report that PWPS appears to be a temperature‐dependent disease, with significantly higher tissue loss (anova: d.f. = 2, F = 39.77, P < 0.01) occurring at 30 °C [1.45 ± 0.85 cm2 per day (mean ± SE)] compared to ambient temperatures of 28 and 26 °C (0.73 ± 0.80 cm2 per day (mean ± SE) and 0.51 ± 0.50 cm2 per day (mean ± SE), respectively).
Non‐equivalent roles of two periplasmic subunits in the function and assembly of triclosan pump TriABC from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Weeks Jon W. , Nickels Logan M. , Ntreh Abigail T. , Zgurskaya Helen I. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryIn Gram‐negative bacteria, multidrug efflux transporters function in complexes with periplasmic membrane fusion proteins (MFPs) that enable antibiotic efflux across the outer membrane. In this study, we analyzed the function, composition and assembly of the triclosan efflux transporter TriABC–OpmH from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We report that this transporter possesses a surprising substrate specificity that encompasses not only triclosan but the detergent SDS, which are often used together in antibacterial soaps. These two compounds interact antagonistically in a TriABC‐dependent manner and negate antibacterial properties of each other. Unlike other efflux pumps that rely on a single MFP for their activities, two different MFPs, TriA and TriB, are required for triclosan/SDS resistance mediated by TriABC–OpmH. We found that analogous mutations in the α‐helical hairpin and membrane proximal domains of TriA and TriB differentially affect triclosan efflux and assembly of the complex. Furthermore, our results show that TriA and TriB function as a dimer, in which TriA is primarily responsible for stabilizing interactions with the outer membrane channel, whereas TriB is important for the stimulation of the transporter. We conclude that MFPs are engaged into complexes as asymmetric dimers, in which each protomer plays a specific role.
The Possibility of a Fair Play Account of Legitimacy
Authors: Tosi Justin 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe philosophical literature on state legitimacy has recently seen a significant conceptual revision. Several philosophers have argued that the state's right to rule is better characterized not as a claim right to obedience, but as a power right. There have been few attempts to show that traditional justifications for the claim right might also be used to justify a power right, and there have been no such attempts involving the principle of fair play, which is widely regarded as the most promising basis for a claim right to obedience. William Edmundson argues that the principle of fair play cannot generate power rights, and so any attempt at a fair play account of legitimacy must fail. I explain how fair play could generate a power right, owing to its stipulation that the rules of a cooperative scheme specify the form of participants' repayment.
Palliative Care Research – A Systematic Review of foci, designs and methods of research conducted in Sweden between 2007 and 2012
Authors: Henoch Ingela , Carlander Ida , Holm Maja , James Inger , Kenne Sarenmalm Elisabeth , Lundh Hagelin Carina , Lind Susanne , Sandgren Anna , Öhlén Joakim 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundIn 2007, a literature review was undertaken of palliative care research from Sweden during the 1970s–2006, paving the way for a follow‐up study to explore the recent developments. The aim was to systematically examine palliative care research from Sweden between 2007 and 2012, with special attention to methods, designs and research foci.MethodsA literature review was undertaken. The databases Academic search elite, Age line, Ahmed, Cinahl, PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, Soc abstracts, Web of science and Libris were reviewed for Swedish palliative care research studies published from 2007 to 2012, applying the search criteria ‘palliative care OR palliative medicine OR end‐of‐life care OR terminal care OR hospice care OR dying OR death’.ResultsA total of 263 papers met the inclusion criteria, indicating an increased volume of research compared to the 133 articles identified in the previous review. Common study foci were symptom assessment and management, experiences of illness and care planning. Targeting non‐cancer‐specific populations and utilisation of population‐based register studies were identified as new features. There was continued domination of cross‐sectional, qualitative and mono‐disciplinary studies, not including ethnic minority groups, nonverbally communicable people or children <18 years of age.ConclusionsThe trend is that Swedish palliative care research has expanded in volume from 2007 to 2012 compared to during the 1970s to 2006, with increasing participation of non‐cancer‐specific populations. A domination of qualitative approaches and small, cross‐sectional studies with few interventions is still characteristic. Still more strategies are needed to expand the knowledge development of palliative care to respond to demographical, epidemiological, therapeutic and healthcare structure changes.
Decreased secretion of Paneth cell α‐defensins in graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Eriguchi Y. , Nakamura K. , Hashimoto D. , Shimoda S. , Shimono N. , Akashi K. , Ayabe T. , Teshima T. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBackgroundIntestinal microbial ecology is actively regulated by Paneth cell‐derived antimicrobial peptides, α‐defensins. Graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). We previously demonstrated that Paneth cells are targeted by GVHD, and their expression of antimicrobial peptide α‐defensins is impaired, leading to a loss of physiological diversity among the microflora and development of bloodstream infection. Herein, we evaluated whether fecal levels of α‐defensins could be surrogate marker of intestinal dysbiosis.MethodsWe directly measured α‐defensin cryptdin‐1 (Crp1) in fecal pellets of mice with GVHD by using a novel enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsFecal levels of Crp1 were significantly decreased in mice with GVHD but unchanged in mice without GVHD after SCT. These were correlated with intestinal flora diversity.ConclusionWe demonstrate a link between reduced secretion of Paneth cell α‐defensins and dysbiosis of intestinal flora in GVHD. Fecal levels of α‐defensins could be surrogate markers for intestinal microbial homeostasis.
Integration of Social Information by Human Groups
Authors: Granovskiy Boris , Gold Jason M. , Sumpter David J.T. , Goldstone Robert L. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe consider a situation in which individuals search for accurate decisions without direct feedback on their accuracy, but with information about the decisions made by peers in their group. The “wisdom of crowds” hypothesis states that the average judgment of many individuals can give a good estimate of, for example, the outcomes of sporting events and the answers to trivia questions. Two conditions for the application of wisdom of crowds are that estimates should be independent and unbiased. Here, we study how individuals integrate social information when answering trivia questions with answers that range between 0% and 100% (e.g., “What percentage of Americans are left‐handed?”). We find that, consistent with the wisdom of crowds hypothesis, average performance improves with group size. However, individuals show a consistent bias to produce estimates that are insufficiently extreme. We find that social information provides significant, albeit small, improvement to group performance. Outliers with answers far from the correct answer move toward the position of the group mean. Given that these outliers also tend to be nearer to 50% than do the answers of other group members, this move creates group polarization away from 50%. By looking at individual performance over different questions we find that some people are more likely to be affected by social influence than others. There is also evidence that people differ in their competence in answering questions, but lack of competence is not significantly correlated with willingness to change guesses. We develop a mathematical model based on these results that postulates a cognitive process in which people first decide whether to take into account peer guesses, and if so, to move in the direction of these guesses. The size of the move is proportional to the distance between their own guess and the average guess of the group. This model closely approximates the distribution of guess movements and shows how outlying incorrect opinions can be systematically removed from a group resulting, in some situations, in improved group performance. However, improvement is only predicted for cases in which the initial guesses of individuals in the group are biased.
Retrospective evaluation of methionine intoxication associated with urinary acidifying products in dogs: 1,525 cases (2001–2012)
Authors: Hickey Mara C. , Son Tolina T. , Wismer Tina 
Published: July 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the signalment, clinical findings, timing of signs, outcome, and prognosis in a population of dogs exposed to methionine through the ingestion of urine acidifying products.DesignRetrospective observational study from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2012.SettingAnimal Poison Control Center.AnimalsA total of 1,197 case calls yielding 1,525 dogs identified with presumed methionine ingestion.InterventionsNone.Measurements and Main ResultsRecords of dogs with presumptive methionine ingestion were reviewed from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Poison Control Center database. Ingested methionine doses ranged from 3.9 mg/kg to 23,462 mg/kg. Clinical signs developed in 47% of dogs. The most common clinical signs were gastrointestinal (GI) and neurologic. The mean onset of GI signs was 2.8 hours following ingestion. The mean onset of neurologic signs was 6.8 hours following ingestion. GI signs were identified with ingested doses ≥22.5 mg/kg. Vomiting was the most common GI sign. Neurologic signs were identified with ingested doses ≥94.6 mg/kg. Ataxia was the most common neurologic sign. Resolution of clinical signs occurred within 48 hours of ingestion, and no fatalities were reported.ConclusionsPrognosis for dogs with methionine intoxication is excellent. Vomiting and ataxia were the most common clinical signs associated with methionine toxicosis.
Acute pulmonary embolism caused by highly aggregated intravenous immunoglobulin
Authors: Yu C. F. , Hou J. F. , Shen L. Z. , Gao K. , Rao C. M. , Yang P. Y. , Fu Z. H. , Wang Q. Z. , Li Y. H. , Wang L. , Liu F. , Zhang L. , Qu Z. , Shen Q. , Li B. , Li X. G. , Wang J. Z. 
Published: July 2015

Background and ObjectivesSix patients died and one patient survived following infusion of a specific lot of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) within half an hour in May 2008. This study elucidated the underlying pathogenesis.Materials and MethodsA variety of protein fractionation and identification approaches were employed to determine the abnormal components in IVIG products obtained from the hospital where the patients were treated. Animal studies using mice and monkeys were conducted to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms. In animal experiments, the effect and distribution of immunoglobulin was investigated using HE staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) separately, while platelets and fibrinogen depletion were utilized to determine a possible link between thromboembolism formation in animals and the lethal effect of the IVIG. The size and distribution of the protein aggregates were determined with Coulter Counter Multisizer‐3 after the dilution of the IVIG with plasma, and the lethal effect of the protein aggregates was simulated with artificial microparticles.ResultsThe IVIG retrieved from the hospital was found to have striking similarities to the heat‐treated IVIG in terms of protein aggregation profiles and lethal effects. Post‐mortem examination indicated that immunoglobulin aggregates were mainly found in the lung of the animals, while depletion of platelets and fibrinogen from the IVIG preparations failed to prevent the death of the animals. Similar amount of artificial microparticles caused animal death in similar fashion.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the retrieved IVIG exerted its lethal effects by blocking the pulmonary circulation without markedly altering the coagulation cascade or immunological events.
Radiographic and Computed Tomographic Configuration of Incomplete Proximal Fractures of the Proximal Phalanx in Horses Not Used for Racing
Authors: Brünisholz Hervé P. , Hagen Regine , Fürst Anton E. , Kuemmerle Jan M. 
Published: July 2015

ObjectiveTo characterize the configuration of incomplete proximal fractures of the proximal phalanx (P1) in horses not used for racing and compare radiographic with computed tomography (CT) findings.Study DesignHistorical cohort.AnimalsTwenty‐four horses with incomplete fractures of P1.MethodsMedical records of horses not used for racing diagnosed with an incomplete proximal fracture of P1 based on clinical and radiographic examination and confirmed by CT between 2008 and 2013 were retrieved. Radiographs and CT studies of these horses were analyzed using a subjective grading system and by measuring variables that characterized fracture configuration.ResultsTwenty‐four horses were included (20 Warmbloods) with a mean age of 9.5 years and mean body weight of 574 kg. Fourteen forelimbs and 10 hind limbs were affected. Mean duration of lameness was 8.7 weeks. Computed tomography was superior to radiography in both identifying the fracture and determining fracture size and location. On CT, 92% of fractures were located in the mid‐sagittal plane. Mean proximodistal length of the fracture was 13 mm. Fractures were frequently not bicortical. Fractures in forelimbs were located significantly more dorsally than fractures in hind limbs. A distinct fracture pattern with 2 subchondral lines running parallel in close proximity to each other was identified in 54% of cases.ConclusionIncomplete proximal fractures of P1 have significant variation in their configurations, especially their dorsopalmar/‐plantar location. Computed tomography examination allowed clear identification of the fracture configurations and was superior to radiography.
Impact of shear rate pattern on upper and lower limb conduit artery endothelial function in both spinal cord‐injured and able‐bodied men
Authors: Totosy de Zepetnek J. O. , Ditor D. S. , Au J. S. , MacDonald M. J. 
Published: July 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
This study addresses the following two central questions. (i) What is the impact of vascular deconditioning after spinal cord injury (SCI) on shear rate patterns and endothelial function? (ii) What is the impact of acutely altered shear rate on endothelial function in both SCI and able‐bodied control subjects?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Two main findings in the present study were as follows: (i) reduced superficial femoral artery endothelial function in the SCI group; and (ii) acutely altered shear rate decreased endothelial function in both SCI and able‐bodied control subjects. These findings may shed some light on future interventions taking into account these regulatory mechanisms.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces vascular deconditioning below the level of the lesion and disrupts sympathetic innervation of blood vessels. It is unclear how these changes affect shear rate (SR) profiles and endothelial function when compared with able‐bodied (AB) persons. Recent evidence suggests that periods of increased retrograde SR are associated with acute decreases in endothelial function, but is unknown how modified SR patterns influence sublesional vasculature in SCI. The present study examined the acute and chronic effects of altered SR patterns and oscillatory shear index on endothelial function via relative flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD%) in both the brachial and superficial femoral arteries (BA and SFA, respectively) of eight individuals with SCI and eight matched AB control subjects. Baseline BA SR patterns and FMD% were similar between groups, while SFA anterograde SR was higher (P < 0.01) and FMD% lower (P = 0.04) in SCI versus AB subjects. Shear rate patterns were then acutely altered through the BA and SFA using a subsystolic cuff‐inflation model. Bilateral FMD assessments were conducted before and after 30 min of unilateral inflation of a forearm or thigh blood pressure cuff to 75 mmHg. Cuff inflation resulted in concomitant increases in both anterograde (P < 0.05) and retrograde SR (P < 0.05), as well as acute decreases in FMD% (P < 0.05) in the BA and SFA in both groups. These results highlight that brief manipulation of SR patterns can acutely impair FMD% in conditions of both normal and altered sympathetic innervation and arterial remodelling. This information is crucial when designing strategies to combat impaired vascular function in both healthy and clinical populations.
Age at exposure and attained age variations of cancer risk in the Japanese A‐bomb and radiotherapy cohorts
Authors: Schneider Uwe , Walsh Linda 
Published: July 2015

Purpose:Phenomenological risk models for radiation‐induced cancer are frequently applied to estimate the risk of radiation‐induced cancers at radiotherapy doses. Such models often include the effect modification, of the main risk to radiation dose response, by age at exposure and attained age. The aim of this paper is to compare the patterns in risk effect modification by age, between models obtained from the Japanese atomic‐bomb (A‐bomb) survivor data and models for cancer risks previously reported for radiotherapy patients. Patterns in risk effect modification by age from the epidemiological studies of radiotherapy patients were also used to refine and extend the risk effect modification by age obtained from the A‐bomb survivor data, so that more universal models can be presented here.Methods:Simple log‐linear and power functions of age for the risk effect modification applied in models of the A‐bomb survivor data are compared to risks from epidemiological studies of second cancers after radiotherapy. These functions of age were also refined and fitted to radiotherapy risks. The resulting age models provide a refined and extended functional dependence of risk with age at exposure and attained age especially beyond 40 and 65 yr, respectively, and provide a better representation than the currently available simple age functions.Results:It was found that the A‐bomb models predict risk similarly to the outcomes of testicular cancer survivors. The survivors of Hodgkin's disease show steeper variations of risk with both age at exposure and attained age. The extended models predict solid cancer risk increase as a function of age at exposure beyond 40 yr and the risk decrease as a function of attained age beyond 65 yr better than the simple models.Conclusions:The standard functions for risk effect modification by age, based on the A‐bomb survivor data, predict second cancer risk in radiotherapy patients for ages at exposure prior to 40 yr and attained ages before 55 yr reasonably well. However, for larger ages, the refined and extended models can be applied to predict the risk as a function of age.
Robust Algorithm for Systematic Classification of Malaria Late Treatment Failures as Recrudescence or Reinfection Using Microsatellite Genotyping
Authors: Plucinski Mateusz M. , Morton Lindsay , Bushman Mary , Dimbu Pedro Rafael , Udhayakumar Venkatachalam 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACT
Routine therapeutic efficacy monitoring to measure the response to antimalarial treatment is a cornerstone of malaria control. To correctly measure drug efficacy, therapeutic efficacy studies require genotyping parasites from late treatment failures to differentiate between recrudescent infections and reinfections. However, there is a lack of statistical methods to systematically classify late treatment failures from genotyping data. A Bayesian algorithm was developed to estimate the posterior probability of late treatment failure being the result of a recrudescent infection from microsatellite genotyping data. The algorithm was implemented using a Monte Carlo Markov chain approach and was used to classify late treatment failures using published microsatellite data from therapeutic efficacy studies in Ethiopia and Angola. The algorithm classified 85% of the Ethiopian and 95% of the Angolan late treatment failures as either likely reinfection or likely recrudescence, defined as a posterior probability of recrudescence of <0.1 or >0.9, respectively. The adjusted efficacies calculated using the new algorithm differed from efficacies estimated using commonly used methods for differentiating recrudescence from reinfection. In a high-transmission setting such as Angola, as few as 15 samples needed to be genotyped in order to have enough power to correctly classify treatment failures. Analysis of microsatellite genotyping data for differentiating between recrudescence and reinfection benefits from an approach that both systematically classifies late treatment failures and estimates the uncertainty of these classifications. Researchers analyzing genotyping data from antimalarial therapeutic efficacy monitoring are urged to publish their raw genetic data and to estimate the uncertainty around their classification.
A Plasmid Bearing the
bla
CTX-M-15
Gene and Phage P1-Like Sequences from a Sequence Type 11 Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolate
Authors: Shin Juyoun , Ko Kwan Soo 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACT

Plasmid pKP12226 was extracted and analyzed from a CTX-M-15-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
sequence type 11 (ST11) isolate collected in South Korea. The plasmid represents chimeric characteristics consisting of a pIP1206-like backbone and lysogenized phage P1-like sequences. It bears a resistance region that includes resistance genes to several antibiotics and is different from previously characterized plasmids from South Korea bearing
bla
CTX-M-15
. It may have resulted from recombination between an
Escherichia coli
plasmid backbone, a
bla
CTX-M-15
-bearing resistance region, and lysogenized phage P1-like sequences.