bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacterial responses to antibiotics and their combinations
Authors: Mitosch Karin , Bollenbach Tobias 
Published: June 2014

SummaryAntibiotics affect bacterial cell physiology at many levels. Rather than just compensating for the direct cellular defects caused by the drug, bacteria respond to antibiotics by changing their morphology, macromolecular composition, metabolism, gene expression and possibly even their mutation rate. Inevitably, these processes affect each other, resulting in a complex response with changes in the expression of numerous genes. Genome‐wide approaches can thus help in gaining a comprehensive understanding of bacterial responses to antibiotics. In addition, a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches is needed for identifying general principles that underlie these responses. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of bacterial responses to antibiotics and their combinations, focusing on effects at the levels of growth rate and gene expression. We concentrate on studies performed in controlled laboratory conditions, which combine promising experimental techniques with quantitative data analysis and mathematical modeling. While these basic research approaches are not immediately applicable in the clinic, uncovering the principles and mechanisms underlying bacterial responses to antibiotics may, in the long term, contribute to the development of new treatment strategies to cope with and prevent the rise of resistant pathogenic bacteria.
Detection of mecC‐Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in river water: a potential role for water in the environmental dissemination
Authors: Porrero M. Concepción , Harrison Ewan , Fernández‐Garayzábal José Francisco , Paterson Gavin K. , Díez‐Guerrier Alberto , Holmes Mark A. , Domínguez Lucas 
Published: June 2014

SummaryMethicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a public health concern due to limited treatment options. The recent description of a mecA homologue, mecC in human and cattle, led to studies to detect this new variant in human and other animal species. Detection of mecC in wild boar and fallow deer in a Spanish game estate led us to further investigate the presence of mecC‐MRSA at this location. Samples from cattle, wild animals, workers and river water were tested. A further three mecC‐MRSA isolates were obtained from river water. Molecular characterization (multilocus sequence typing and spa typing) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (broth microdilution) showed that isolates were similar to those detected in wild animals. Whole genome sequencing confirmed that the isolates from the river water and wild animals in the same geographic area were all closely related isolates of ST425 mecC‐MRSA. The presence of mecC‐MRSA in the river water highlights the potential role of water in the dissemination of mecC‐MRSA.
Substance use in adulthood following adolescent self‐harm: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Moran P. , Coffey C. , Romaniuk H. , Degenhardt L. , Borschmann R. , Patton G. C. 
Published: June 2014

ObjectiveTo determine whether adolescents who self‐harm are at increased risk of heavy and dependent substance use in adulthood.MethodFifteen‐year prospective cohort study of a random sample of 1943 adolescents recruited from secondary schools across the state of Victoria, Australia. Data pertaining to self‐harm and substance use was obtained at seven waves of follow‐up, from mean age 15.9 years to mean age 29.1 years.ResultsSubstance use and self‐harm were strongly associated during the adolescent years (odds ratio (OR): 3.3, 95% CI 2.1–5.0). Moreover, adolescent self‐harmers were at increased risk of substance use and dependence syndromes in young adulthood. Self‐harm predicted a four‐fold increase in the odds of multiple dependence syndromes (sex‐ and wave‐adjusted OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.7–6.6). Adjustment for adolescent anxiety/depression attenuated but did not eliminate most associations. Adolescent substance use confounded all associations, with the exception of multiple dependence syndromes, which remained robustly associated with adolescent self‐harm (fully adjusted odds ratio: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2–3.2).ConclusionAdolescent self‐harm is an independent risk factor for multiple dependence syndromes in adulthood. This level of substance misuse is likely to contribute substantially to the premature mortality and disease burden experienced by individuals who self‐harm.
Socio‐economic characteristics of patients with generalized retinal dystrophy in Denmark
Authors: Bertelsen Mette , Linneberg Allan , Rosenberg Thomas 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPurposeTo examine socio‐economic characteristics of patients with generalized retinal dystrophy in Denmark.MethodsCross‐sectional population‐based study with analysis of socio‐economic characteristics including income, education, employment status and civil status in 2285 patients from the Danish Retinitis Pigmentosa Registry and 228 500 control subjects matched by age and gender. Demographic and socio‐economic data were retrieved from Statistics Denmark. Differences between cases and controls were estimated using conditional logistic regression.ResultsOn 1 January 2012, 2285 patients with a Danish civil registration number were registered as having a generalized retinal dystrophy. At the age of 40 years, less patients than controls had a high education (odds ratio (OR), 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI95), 0.41–0.62), a high income (OR, 0.21; CI95, 0.17–0.26) and were married (OR, 0.39; CI95, 0.33–0.45). More patients than controls were pensioners (OR, 6.04; CI95, 5.23–6.97).ConclusionsWe found that patients with generalized retinal dystrophy differed significantly from a matched control group on several socio‐economic characteristics. The differences were more pronounced in patients with systemic involvement and patients with an early age at disease presentation. The socio‐economic inequalities of this group of blinding diseases emphasize the importance of rehabilitation and need for a substantial and multidisciplinary support from the healthcare, educational and social systems.
Detection of brucellosis and leptospirosis in feral pigs in New South Wales
Authors: Ridoutt C , Lee A , Moloney B , Massey PD , Charman N , Jordan D 
Published: June 2014

ObjectiveTo determine the presence and estimate the prevalence of Brucella suis, Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona (hereafter L. pomona) and Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo (hereafter L. hardjo) in feral pigs culled in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.MethodsDuring 2012 and 2013, 239 serum samples were collected from feral pigs killed as pests or game in NSW. All sera were subjected to the rose‐bengal test for B. suis, with positives subjected to the complement fixation test (CFT). Attempts were made to detect B. suis by culture and PCR on CFT‐positive samples. All sera were tested separately for the presence of L. pomona and L. hardjo antibodies using the microscopic agglutination test.ResultsOf 238 samples tested, 7 were positive (4 with CFT titres ≥ 32) for B. suis antibodies (3% seroprevalence). However, B. suis was not cultured or detected by PCR. Of 239 sera tested for L. pomona antibodies, 126 samples were positive (53%) and 9 (4%) were positive for L. hardjo.ConclusionsThe findings are the first tangible evidence that feral pigs in northern NSW harbour B. suis, providing a plausible explanation for recent human and canine cases of brucellosis related to pig hunting. The increased seroprevalence of L. pomona occurred in years preceded by flooding and rodent plagues, suggesting a potential for zoonotic infection much greater than previously realised. Advice to the community should focus on encouraging the adoption of improved hygiene practices during pig hunting and consideration of vaccinating livestock against leptospirosis.
Leucocyte adhesion deficiency III in a mixed‐breed dog
Authors: Hugo TB , Heading KL 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundLeucocyte adhesion deficiencies are inherited disorders characterised by immunodeficiency leading to recurrent infections and a marked leucocytosis. We describe the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and management of an Australian mixed‐ breed dog with leucocyte adhesion deficiency III.Case reportA 16‐month‐old male, neutered, German Shepherd × Rottweiler dog was investigated for pyrexia, persistent leucocytosis, marked periodontal disease, lameness, increased mucosal haemorrhages and poor wound healing. Numerous diagnostics were performed including a leucocyte adhesion deficiency III PCR test, which was positive. The patient was managed with topical pressure at bleeding sites, antibiotics, analgesics and dental prophylaxis when required.DiscussionLeucocyte adhesion deficiency III is a rare disorder that manifests because of impaired activation of beta integrins. This results in an absence of neutrophil chemotaxis and adhesion, and platelet dysfunction. Mutations within the KINDLIN3 gene resulting in the absence of the kindlin‐3 protein have been identified as the cause of this disease. Leucocyte adhesion deficiency III has previously been reported in humans and a German Shepherd dog. This report describes the first reported case of leucocyte adhesion deficiency III in Australia and the first reported case in a mixed‐breed dog worldwide.
Vegetation diversity of mesic grasslands (Arrhenatheretalia) in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Rodríguez‐Rojo Maria Pilar , Fernández‐González Federico , Tichý Lubomír , Chytrý Milan 
Published: June 2014

AbstractQuestionsWhat is the diversity and main vegetation types in mesic grasslands on the Iberian Peninsula? What are the main diagnostic species of each type? What are the main environmental gradients that drive patterns of species composition? To what extent does biogeography influence community diversity?LocationIberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain, including the French Pyrenees).MethodsFormal definitions based on the Cocktail method were used to establish a typology of mesic grasslands of the Arrhenatheretalia order. This method was applied to a stratified data set of 3485 relevés, also including other types of perennial grassland. Semi‐supervised classification based on the K‐means algorithm was used to assign almost 757 relevés into the vegetation types defined by Cocktail and to identify new ones. The types were compared by means of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) using climate data, altitude and Ellenberg indicator values as explanatory variables.ResultsFourteen ecologically well‐defined associations were distinguished in the Arrhenatheretalia order: five in the Arrhenatherion alliance, two in Triseto‐Polygonion and seven in Cynosurion. Soil reaction, summer aridity and altitude were identified as the most important determinants of species composition. These lithological and bioclimatic gradients are related to the biogeographic diversity of the study area, which is the main driver of community diversity in Arrhenatheretalia grasslands; it is more important than the management practices expressed in the concept of alliances. The classification and ordination analyses also showed a clear differentiation in community diversity according to biogeographic sectors (eastern Cantabrian‐Atlantic, Galician‐Portuguese, Carpetan‐Leonese, Pyrenean, Orocantabrian/western Pyrenean and Oroiberian/Catalan‐Valencian). In addition, moisture and nutrient content were more important than altitude in differentiating Arrhenatherion and Triseto‐Polygonion communities in the Pyrenees.ConclusionsWe suggest a simplification of the traditional classification of the Iberian Arrhenatheretalia grasslands. For this revised classification, we propose an electronic expert system with consistent rules for assigning vegetation observations to the associations defined, and a list of the diagnostic species of each vegetation type. These results can be applied to identify and monitor the hay meadows included in Annex I of the European Habitats Directive, taking into account the biogeographic context of the indicator species.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him learn: Smartphone use in higher education
Authors: Tossell Chad C. , Kortum Philip , Shepard Clayton , Rahmati Ahmad , Zhong Lin 
Published: June 2014

AbstractSmartphone technology is penetrating world markets and becoming ubiquitous in most college settings. This study takes a naturalistic approach to explore the use of these devices to support student learning. Students that had never used a smartphone were recruited to participate and reported on their expectations of the value of smartphones to achieve their educational goals. Instrumented iPhones that logged device usage were then distributed to these students to use freely over the course of 1 year. After the study, students again reported on the actual value of their smartphones to support their educational goals. We found that students' reports changed substantially before and after the study; specifically, the utility of the smartphone to help with education was perceived as favorable prior to use, and then, by the end of the study, they viewed their phones as detrimental to their educational goals. Although students used their mobile device for informal learning and access to school resources according to the logged data, they perceived their iPhones as a distraction and a competitor to requisite learning for classroom performance.
Collective Bargaining in theCanadian Public Sector, 1978–2008: The Consequences of Restraint and Structural Change
Authors: Campolieti Michele , Hebdon Robert , Dachis Benjamin 
Published: June 2014

AbstractWe study public‐sector bargaining and contract outcomes usingCanadian data from 1978 to 2008. We have a number of interesting results, but our principal findings are from our analysis of wage settlements. We find that the essential services designation, which only allows non‐essential members of a bargain unit to strike, is associated with decreases in wages. Our estimates also suggest that there is an arbitration wage premium and that making adjustments to the ability to pay criterion used by arbitrators to determine awards does not affect this premium. We also discuss the implications of our estimates.
The Evaluation of Statins as Potential Inhibitors of the LEDGF/p75–HIV‐1 Integrase interaction
Authors: Harrison Angela T. , Kriel Frederik H. , Papathanasopoulos Maria A. , Mosebi Salerwe , Abrahams Shaakira , Hewer Raymond 
Published: June 2014

Lovastatin was identified through virtual screening as a potential inhibitor of the LEDGF/p75–HIV‐1 integrase interaction. In an AlphaScreen assay, lovastatin inhibited the purified recombinant protein–protein interaction (IC50 = 1.97 ± 0.45 μm) more effectively than seven other tested statins. None of the eight statins, however, yielded antiviral activity in vitro, while only pravastatin lactone yielded detectable inhibition of HIV‐1 integrase strand transfer activity (31.65% at 100 μm). A correlation between lipophilicity and increased cellular toxicity of the statins was observed.
Homeostatic equilibria between free thyroid hormones and pituitary thyrotropin are modulated by various influences including age, body mass index and treatment
Authors: Hoermann Rudolf , Midgley John E.M. , Giacobino Adrienne , Eckl Walter A. , Wahl Hans Günther , Dietrich Johannes W. , Larisch Rolf 
Published: June 2014

SummaryObjectiveWe examined the interrelationships of pituitary thyrotropin (TSH) with circulating thyroid hormones to determine whether they were expressed either invariably or conditionally and distinctively related to influences such as levothyroxine (L‐T4) treatment.Design and methodsThis prospective study employing 1912 consecutive patients analyses the interacting equilibria of TSH and free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) in the circulation.ResultsThe complex interrelations between FT3, FT4 and TSH were modulated by age, body mass, thyroid volume, antibody status and L‐T4 treatment. By group comparison and confirmation by more individual TSH‐related regression, FT3 levels were significantly lower in L‐T4‐treated vs untreated nonhypothyroid autoimmune thyroiditis (median 4·6 vs 4·9 pm, P < 0·001), despite lower TSH (1·49 vs 2·93 mU/l, P < 0·001) and higher FT4 levels (16·8 vs 13·8 pm, P < 0·001) in the treated group. Compared with disease‐free controls, the FT3‐TSH relationship was significantly displaced in treated patients with carcinoma, with median TSH of 0·21 vs 1·63 (P < 0·001) at a comparable FT3 of 5·0 pm in the groups. Disparities were reflected by calculated deiodinase activity and remained significant even after accounting for confounding influences in a multivariable model.ConclusionsTSH, FT4 and FT3 each have their individual, but also interlocking roles to play in defining the overall patterns of thyroidal expression, regulation and metabolic activity. Equilibria typical of the healthy state are not invariant, but profoundly altered, for example, by L‐T4 treatment. Consequently, this suggests the revisitation of strategies for treatment optimization.
A review of national health policies and professional guidelines on maternal obesity and weight gain in pregnancy
Authors: Schumann N. L. , Brinsden H. , Lobstein T. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryMaternal obesity creates an additional demand for health‐care services, as the routine obstetric care pathway requires alterations to ensure the most optimal care for obese women of childbearing age. This review examines the extent to which relevant national health documents reflect and respond to the health implications of maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain. A targeted search of peer‐reviewed publications and grey literature was conducted for each country to identify national health documents, which were subsequently content analyzed according to an adapted framework. A total of 37 documents were identified, including one policy, 10 strategies and 26 guidelines, published within the last 10 years. Out of the 31 countries investigated, only 13 countries address maternal obesity while none address excessive gestational weight gain. We found inconsistencies and gaps in the recommendations to health‐care service providers for the management of maternal obesity and weight gain in pregnancy. The findings show that only limited guidance on maternal obesity and gestational weight gain exists. The authors recommend that international, evidence‐based guidelines on the management of maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain should be developed to reduce the associated health‐care and economic costs.
An analysis of pancreas transplantation outcomes based on age groupings – an update of the UNOS database
Authors: Siskind Eric , Maloney Caroline , Akerman Meredith , Alex Asha , Ashburn Sarah , Barlow Meade , Siskind Tamar , Bhaskaran Madhu , Ali Nicole , Basu Amit , Molmenti Ernesto , Ortiz Jorge 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIntroductionPreviously, increasing age has been a part of the exclusion criteria used when determining eligibility for a pancreas transplant. However, the analysis of pancreas transplantation outcomes based on age groupings has largely been based on single‐center reports.MethodsA UNOS database review of all adult pancreas and kidney‐pancreas transplants between 1996 and 2012 was performed. Patients were divided into groups based on age categories: 18–29 (n = 1823), 30–39 (n = 7624), 40–49 (n = 7967), 50–59 (n = 3160), and ≥60 (n = 280). We compared survival outcomes and demographic variables between each age grouping.ResultsOf the 20 854 pancreas transplants, 3440 of the recipients were 50 yr of age or above. Graft survival was consistently the greatest in adults 40–49 yr of age. Graft survival was least in adults age 18–29 at one‐, three‐, and five‐yr intervals. At 10‐ and 15‐yr intervals, graft survival was the poorest in adults >60 yr old. Patient survival and age were found to be inversely proportional; as the patient population's age increased, survival decreased.ConclusionPancreas transplants performed in patients of increasing age demonstrate decreased patient and graft survival when compared to pancreas transplants in patients <50 yr of age.
Ethics and Rationing Access to Dialysis in Resource‐Limited Settings: The Consequences of Refusing a Renal Transplant in the South African State Sector
Authors: Etheredge Harriet , Paget Graham 
Published: June 2014

AbstractResource constraints in developing countries compel policy makers to ration the provision of healthcare services. This article examines one such set of Guidelines: A patient dialysing in the state sector in South Africa may not refuse renal transplantation when a kidney becomes available. Refusal of transplantation can lead to exclusion from the state‐funded dialysis programme. This Guideline is legally acceptable as related to Constitutional stipulations which allow for rationing healthcare resources in South Africa. Evaluating the ethical merit of the Guideline, and exploring the ethical dilemma it poses, proves a more complex task. We examine the actions of healthcare professionals as constrained by the Guideline. From a best interests framework, we argue that in these circumstances directing patient decision making (pressurising a patient to undergo renal transplantation) is not necessarily unethical or unacceptably paternalistic. We then scrutinise the guideline itself through several different ethical ‘lenses’. Here, we argue that bioethics does not provide a definitive answer as to the moral merit of rationing dialysis under these circumstances, however it can be considered just in this context. We conclude by examining a potential pitfall of the Guideline: Unwilling transplant recipients may not comply with immunosuppressive medication, which raises questions for policies based on resource management and rationing.
A cross‐sectional study examining computer task completion by adolescents with cerebral palsy across the Manual Ability Classification System levels
Authors: Davies T Claire , AlManji Amur , Stott N Susan 
Published: June 2014

AimThe aim of this study was to analyze the cursor trajectories of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) when using a mouse for point‐and‐click computer tasks. By identifying some of the factors limiting cursor movement and gaining a better understanding of human movement, it will be possible to design more accessible computer interfaces.MethodThis study evaluated cursor trajectories of 29 individuals with bilateral CP who had different levels of upper limb function as measured by the Manual Ability Classification System, and compared the results with those of 12 adolescents with typical development.ResultsAmong adolescents with typical development, movement time increases linearly as the index of difficulty increases (Fitts' law); however, this linearity was not apparent in adolescents with bilateral CP.InterpretationInterfaces for members of the population are designed around Fitts' law, with low precision requirements at indices of difficulty lower than 4. We found that interactive displays for adolescents with CP should be limited to an index of difficulty of 2.