bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Joint Duties and Global Moral Obligations
Authors: Schwenkenbecher Anne 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIn recent decades, concepts of group agency and the morality of groups have increasingly been discussed by philosophers. Notions of collective or joint duties have been invoked especially in the debates on global justice, world poverty and climate change. This paper enquires into the possibility and potential nature of moral duties individuals in unstructured groups may hold together. It distinguishes between group agents and groups of people which – while not constituting a collective agent – are nonetheless capable of performing a joint action. It attempts to defend a notion of joint duties which are neither duties of a group agent nor duties of individual agents, but duties held jointly by individuals in unstructured groups. Furthermore, it seeks to illuminate the relation between such joint duties on the one hand and individual duties on the other hand. Rebutting an argument brought forward by Wringe, the paper concludes that it is not plausible to assume that all humans on earth can together hold a duty to mitigate climate change or to combat global poverty given that the members of that group are not capable of joint action.
Characterization of the oculocardiac reflex during compression of the globe in Beagle dogs and rabbits
Authors: Turner Giannico Amália , de Sampaio Manuella O. B. , Lima Leandro , Corona Ponczek Clara , De Lara Fátima , Montiani‐Ferreira Fabiano 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjectiveThis investigation characterizes the occurrence of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) in conscious rabbits and dogs by observing the effect of an ocular compression stimulus on heart rate (HR).Animals studiedThirty‐four clinically healthy adult rabbits and 15 clinically healthy adult Beagle dogs were studied.ProceduresAn electrocardiogram was used to record the heart rhythm and HR continuously. Digital pressure was exerted over the eyelid on right eye, left eye and both eyes together for 1 min, with one‐minute intervals between each compression. Variations in HR were observed in each minute by counting complexes on the electrocardiographs.ResultsThere were no differences in HR between stages without ocular compressions both in dogs and in rabbits. HR reduction caused by ocular compression was statistically significant in rabbits only when both eyes were compressed in contrast with all stages without compression. In dogs, a statistically significant reduction in HR was seen during compression of just the right eye or the left eye compared with the baseline HR, and when both the right and left eyes were compressed together compared with baseline or after compression of the right eye. In dogs, compression of individual eyes produced a change similar to that seen during compression of both eyes.ConclusionsThis study shows that OCR can occur during experimental ocular compression in conscious rabbits and Beagle dogs and characterizes the reduction in HR. Knowledge of this physiological response is important for veterinary anesthetists and ophthalmologists during ophthalmic surgery or eye manipulations.
An Evaluation of Microbial Health Risks to Livestock Fed with Wastewater‐Irrigated Forage Crops
Authors: Bevilacqua P. D. , Bastos R. K. X. , Mara D. D. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryThis paper presents the results of five experiments in which animal health risks associated with the consumption of crops irrigated with domestic wastewater were evaluated. Forage maize and Tanner grass were irrigated with treated wastewater and used in goats and calves feeding trials. The irrigated crops presented high levels of surface contamination with E. coli (104–107 25 g−1) and salmonellae (up to 1.6 × 104 25 g−1), but none of the animals showed signs of infection or of disease. Further, the microbiological quality of animal products always complied with the Brazilian and European Union standards for food safety. It is suggested that the WHO guideline values for restricted irrigation (≤104 E. coli 100 ml−1 and ≤1 helminth egg l−1), which were developed to protect the health of agricultural field workers, would be equally protective of the health of both animals fed with wastewater‐irrigated crops and humans consuming products from such animals.
Identification of Mycobacteria from Solid and Liquid Media by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in the Clinical Laboratory
Authors: Balada-Llasat J. M. , Kamboj Kamal , Pancholi Preeti 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

Mycobacteria cause significant morbidity in humans. Rapid and accurate mycobacterial identification is important for improvement of patient outcomes. However, identification may be challenging due to the slow and fastidious growth of mycobacteria. Several diagnostic methods, such as biochemical, sequencing, and probe methods, are used for mycobacterial identification. We compared the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Biotyper system (Bruker Daltonics) to 16S rRNA/
hsp65
sequencing and/or DNA probes (Gen-Probe) for mycobacterial identification. One hundred seventy-eight mycobacterial isolates grown on solid and/or broth medium were included in the study. MALDI-TOF MS identified 93.8% of the mycobacteria isolates accurately to the species level and 98.3% to the genus level, independent of the type of medium used for isolation. The identification of mycobacteria directly from cultures using MALDI-TOF MS allows for precise identification in an hour compared to traditional biochemical and phenotypic methods that can take weeks or probes and sequencing that may take a few hours. Identification by MALDI-TOF MS potentially reduces the turnaround time and cost, thereby saving resources within the health care system.
Evaluation of the BinaxNOW Staphylococcus aureus Test for Rapid Identification of Gram-Positive Cocci from VersaTREK Blood Culture Bottles
Authors: Dhiman Neelam , Trienski Tamara L. , DiPersio Linda P. , DiPersio Joseph R. 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

The ability of the rapid BinaxNOW
Staphylococcus aureus
(BNSA) immunochromatographic test (Alere Scarborough, Inc., ME) to accurately differentiate
S. aureus
from coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and other Gram-positive cocci (GPC) directly from VersaTREK blood culture bottles was evaluated. A total of 319 positive patient blood culture bottles with GPC seen in clusters with Gram staining were tested using the BNSA test and a direct tube coagulase test (DTCT). The BNSA test was accurate for the detection and differentiation of
S. aureus
from CoNS and other GPC within 30 min from the time of blood culture positivity and demonstrated a test sensitivity and specificity of 95.8% and 99.6%, respectively. BNSA test results were faxed to the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist by noon each day in order to evaluate empirical antimicrobial therapy and facilitate more rapid changes or modifications if necessary. Same-day reporting of BNSA test results in conjunction with an antimicrobial stewardship program was more impactful in improving treatment for inpatients with documented
S. aureus
bacteremia than in reducing empirical vancomycin use in inpatients with CoNS during the first 24 h following reporting.
Palmitoylation on Conserved and Nonconserved Cysteines of Murine IFITM1 Regulates Its Stability and Anti-Influenza A Virus Activity
Authors: Hach Jocelyn C. , McMichael Temet , Chesarino Nicholas M. , Yount Jacob S. 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT
The interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) restrict infection by numerous viruses, yet the importance and regulation of individual isoforms remains unclear. Here, we report that murine IFITM1 (mIFITM1) is palmitoylated on one nonconserved cysteine and three conserved cysteines that are required for anti-influenza A virus activity. Additionally, palmitoylation of mIFITM1 regulates protein stability by preventing proteasomal degradation, and modification of the nonconserved cysteine at the mIFITM1 C terminus supports an intramembrane topology with mechanistic implications.
Comparative Analysis of gO Isoforms Reveals that Strains of Human Cytomegalovirus Differ in the Ratio of gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/UL128-131 in the Virion Envelope
Authors: Zhou Momei , Yu Qin , Wechsler Anya , Ryckman Brent J. 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT
Herpesvirus glycoprotein complex gH/gL provides a core entry function through interactions with the fusion protein gB and can also influence tropism through receptor interactions. The Epstein-Barr virus gH/gL and gH/gL/gp42 serve both functions for entry into epithelial and B cells, respectively. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gH/gL can be bound by the UL128-131 proteins or gO. The phenotypes of gO and UL128-131 mutants suggest that gO-gH/gL interactions are necessary for the core entry function on all cell types, whereas the binding of UL128-131 to gH/gL likely relates to a distinct receptor-binding function for entry into some specific cell types (e.g., epithelial) but not others (e.g., fibroblasts and neurons). There are at least eight isoforms of gO that differ by 10 to 30% of amino acids, and previous analysis of two HCMV strains suggested that some isoforms of gO function like chaperones, disassociating during assembly to leave unbound gH/gL in the virion envelope, while others remain bound to gH/gL. For the current report, we analyzed the gH/gL complexes present in the virion envelope of several HCMV strains, each of which encodes a distinct gO isoform. Results indicate that all strains of HCMV contain stable gH/gL/gO trimers and gH/gL/UL128-131 pentamers and little, if any, unbound gH/gL. TR, TB40/e, AD169, and PH virions contained vastly more gH/gL/gO than gH/gL/UL128-131, whereas Merlin virions contained mostly gH/gL/UL128-131, despite abundant unbound gO remaining in the infected cells. Suppression of UL128-131 expression during Merlin replication dramatically shifted the ratio toward gH/gL/gO. These data suggest that Merlin gO is less efficient than other gO isoforms at competing with UL128-131 for binding to gH/gL. Thus, gO diversity may influence the pathogenesis of HCMV through effects on the assembly of the core versus tropism gH/gL complexes.
Expression Strategy of Aedes albopictus Densovirus
Authors: Pham Hanh T. , Jousset Françoise-Xavière , Perreault Jonathan , Shike Hiroko , Szelei Jozsef , Bergoin Max , Tijssen Peter 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

The transcription map of the
Aedes albopictus
densovirus (AalDNV) brevidensovirus was identified by Northern blotting, rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) analysis, and RNase protection assays. AalDNV produced mRNAs of 3,359 (NS1), 3,345 (NS2), and 1,246 (VP) nucleotides. The two overlapping P7/7.4 NS promoters employed closely located alternate transcription initiation sites, positioned at either side of the NS1 initiation codon. All NS mRNAs coterminated with VP mRNA. All promoters, explored using luciferase assays, were functional in insect and human cell lines.
Efficacy of Parainfluenza Virus 5 Mutants Expressing Hemagglutinin from H5N1 Influenza A Virus in Mice
Authors: Li Zhuo , Gabbard Jon D. , Mooney Alaina , Chen Zhenhai , Tompkins S. Mark , He Biao 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT
Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) is a promising viral vector for vaccine development. PIV5 is safe, stable, efficacious, cost-effective to produce and, most interestingly, it overcomes preexisting antivector immunity. We have recently reported that PIV5 expressing the hemagglutinin (HA) from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus H5N1 (PIV5-H5) provides sterilizing immunity against lethal doses of HPAI H5N1 infection in mice. It is thought that induction of apoptosis can lead to enhanced antigen presentation. Previously, we have shown that deleting the SH gene and the conserved C terminus of the V gene in PIV5 results in mutant viruses (PIV5ΔSH and PIV5VΔC) that enhance induction of apoptosis. In this study, we inserted the HA gene of H5N1 into PIV5ΔSH (PIV5ΔSH-H5) or PIV5VΔC (PIV5VΔC-H5) and compared their efficacies as vaccine candidates to PIV5-H5. We have found that PIV5ΔSH-H5 induced the highest levels of anti-HA antibodies, the strongest T cell responses, and the best protection against an H5N1 lethal challenge in mice. These results suggest that PIV5ΔSH is a better vaccine vector than wild-type PIV5.
Immunological and Virological Analyses of Rhesus Macaques Immunized with Chimpanzee Adenoviruses Expressing the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Gag/Tat Fusion Protein and Challenged Intrarectally with Repeated Low Doses of SIVmac
Authors: Cervasi Barbara , Carnathan Diane G. , Sheehan Katherine M. , Micci Luca , Paiardini Mirko , Kurupati Raj , Tuyishime Steven , Zhou Xiang Yang , Else James G. , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Ertl Hildegund C. J. , Silvestri Guido 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT

Human adenovirus (AdHu)-based candidate AIDS vaccine can provide protection from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) transmission and disease progression. However, their potential use may be limited by widespread preexisting immunity to the vector. In contrast, preexisting immunity to chimpanzee adenoviruses (AdC) is relatively rare. In this study, we utilized two regimens of prime-boost immunizations with AdC serotype SAd-V23 (also called AdC6) and SAd-V24 (also called AdC7) expressing SIV Gag/Tat to test their immunogenicity and ability to protect rhesus macaques (RMs) from a repeated low-dose SIV
mac239
challenge. Both AdC6 followed by AdC7 (AdC6/7) and AdC7 followed by AdC6 (AdC7/6) induced robust SIV Gag/Tat-specific T cell responses as measured by tetramer staining and functional assays. However, no significant protection from SIV transmission was observed in either AdC7/6- or AdC7/6-vaccinated RMs. Interestingly, in the RMs showing breakthrough infections, AdC7/6-SIV immunization was associated with a transient but significant (
P
= 0.035 at day 90 and
P
= 0.033 at day 120 postinfection) reduction in the setpoint viral load compared to unvaccinated controls. None of the measured immunological markers (i.e., number or functionality of SIV-specific CD8
+
and CD4
+
T cell responses and level of activated and/or CCR5
+
CD4
+
target cells) at the time of challenge correlated with protection from SIV transmission in the AdC-SIV-vaccinated RMs. The robust immunogenicity observed in all AdC-immunized RMs and the transient signal of protection from SIV replication exhibited by AdC7/6-vaccinated RMs even in the absence of any envelope immunogen suggest that AdC-based vectors may represent a promising platform for candidate AIDS vaccines.
Aberrant Virion Assembly and Limited Glycoprotein C Production in Varicella-Zoster Virus-Infected Neurons
Authors: Grose Charles , Yu Xiaoli , Cohrs Randall J. , Carpenter John E. , Bowlin Jacqueline L. , Gilden Don 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT
Highly pure (>95%) terminally differentiated neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells appear healthy at 2 weeks after infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and the cell culture medium contains no infectious virus. Analysis of the healthy-appearing neurons revealed VZV DNA, transcripts, and proteins corresponding to the VZV immediate early, early, and late kinetic phases of replication. Herein, we further characterized virus in these neuronal cells, focusing on (i) transcription and expression of late VZV glycoprotein C (gC) open reading frame 14 (ORF14) and (ii) ultrastructural features of virus particles in neurons. The analysis showed that gC was not expressed in most infected neurons and gC expression was markedly reduced in a minority of VZV-infected neurons. In contrast, expression of the early-late VZV gE glycoprotein (ORF68) was abundant. Transcript analysis also showed decreased gC transcription compared with gE. Examination of viral structure by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed fewer viral particles than typically observed in cells productively infected with VZV. Furthermore, viral particles were more aberrant, in that most capsids in the nuclei lacked a dense core and most enveloped particles in the cytoplasm were light particles (envelopes without capsids). Together, these results suggest a considerable deficiency in late-phase replication and viral assembly during VZV infection of neurons in culture.
DACT2 Is a Candidate Tumor Suppressor and Prognostic Marker in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Hou Jian , Liao Lian-Di , Xie Yang-Min , Zeng Fa-Min , Ji Xia , Chen Bo , Li Li-Yan , Zhu Meng-Xiao , Yang Cui-Xia , Qing-Zhao  , Chen Tao , Xu Xiu-E , Shen Jian , Guo Ming-Zhou , Li En-Min , Xu Li-Yan 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
In animals ranging from fish to mice, the function of DACT2 as a negative regulator of the TGF-β/Nodal signal pathway is conserved in evolution, indicating that it might play an important role in human cancer. In this study, we showed that tumors with higher DACT2 protein level were correlated with better differentiation and better survival rate in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Restored expression of DACT2 significantly inhibited growth, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro, and reduced tumorigenicity in vivo. Furthermore, when DACT2 expression was restored, the activity of TGF-β/SMAD2/3 was suppressed via both proteasome and lysosomal degradation pathways, leading to F-actin rearrangement that might depend on the involvement of cofilin and ezrin–redixin–moesin (ERM) proteins. Taken together, we propose here that DACT2 serves as a prognostic marker that reduces tumor cell malignancy by suppressing TGF-β signaling and promotes actin rearrangement in ESCC. Cancer Prev Res; 6(8); 791–800. ©2013 AACR.
Garcinol, a Polyisoprenylated Benzophenone Modulates Multiple Proinflammatory Signaling Cascades Leading to the Suppression of Growth and Survival of Head and Neck Carcinoma
Authors: Li Feng , Shanmugam Muthu K. , Chen Luxi , Chatterjee Snehajyoti , Basha Jeelan , Kumar Alan Prem , Kundu Tapas K. , Sethi Gautam 
Published: June 2013

AbstractConstitutive activation of proinflammatory transcription factors such as STAT3 and NF-κB plays a pivotal role in the proliferation and survival of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Thus, the agents that can modulate deregulated STAT3 and NF-κB activation have a great potential both for the prevention and treatment of HNSCC. In the present report, we investigated the potential effects of garcinol, an active component of Garcinia indica on various inflammatory mediators involved in HNSCC progression using cell lines and xenograft mouse model. We found that garcinol inhibited constitutively activated STAT3 in HNSCC cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which correlated with the suppression of the upstream kinases (c-Src, JAK1, and JAK2) in HNSCC cells. Also, we noticed that the generation of reactive oxygen species is involved in STAT3 inhibitory effect of garcinol. Furthermore, garcinol exhibited an inhibitory effect on the constitutive NF-κB activation, mediated through the suppression of TGF-β–activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and inhibitor of IκB kinase (IKK) activation in HNSCC cells. Garcinol also downregulated the expression of various gene products involved in proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis that led to the reduction of cell viability and induction of apoptosis in HNSCC cells. When administered intraperitoneally, garcinol inhibited the growth of human HNSCC xenograft tumors in male athymic nu/nu mice. Overall, our results suggest for the first time that garcinol mediates its antitumor effects in HNSCC cells and mouse model through the suppression of multiple proinflammatory cascades. Cancer Prev Res; 6(8); 843–54. ©2013 AACR.
The vulnerable coronary plaque: update on imaging technologies
Authors: Rosa Gian Marco , Bauckneht Matteo , Masoero Giovanni , Mach François , Quercioli Alessandra , Seitun Sara , Balbi Manrico , Brunelli Claudio , Parodi Antonello , Nencioni Alessio , Vuilleumier Nicolas , Montecucco Fabrizio 
Published: June 2013

SummarySeveral studies have been carried out on vulnerable plaque as the main culprit for ischaemic cardiac events. Historically, the most important diagnostic technique for studying coronary atherosclerotic disease was to determine the residual luminal diameter by angiographic measurement of the stenosis. However, it has become clear that vulnerable plaque rupture as well as thrombosis, rather than stenosis, triggers most acute ischaemic events and that the quantification of risk based merely on severity of the arterial stenosis is not sufficient. In the last decades, substantial progresses have been made on optimisation of techniques detecting the arterial wall morphology, plaque composition and inflammation. To date, the use of a single technique is not recommended to precisely identify the progression of the atherosclerotic process in human beings. In contrast, the integration of data that can be derived from multiple methods might improve our knowledge about plaque destabilisation. The aim of this narrative review is to update evidence on the accuracy of the currently available non-invasive and invasive imaging techniques in identifying components and morphologic characteristics associated with coronary plaque vulnerability.
Scale-Selective Ridge Regression for Multimodel Forecasting
Authors: DelSole Timothy , Jia Liwei , Tippett Michael K. 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
This paper proposes a new approach to linearly combining multimodel forecasts, called scale-selective ridge regression, which ensures that the weighting coefficients satisfy certain smoothness constraints. The smoothness constraint reflects the “prior assumption” that seasonally predictable patterns tend to be large scale. In the absence of a smoothness constraint, regression methods typically produce noisy weights and hence noisy predictions. Constraining the weights to be smooth ensures that the multimodel combination is no less smooth than the individual model forecasts. The proposed method is equivalent to minimizing a cost function comprising the familiar mean square error plus a “penalty function” that penalizes weights with large spatial gradients. The method reduces to pointwise ridge regression for a suitable choice of constraint. The method is tested using the Ensemble-Based Predictions of Climate Changes and Their Impacts (ENSEMBLES) hindcast dataset during 1960–2005. The cross-validated skill of the proposed forecast method is shown to be larger than the skill of either ordinary least squares or pointwise ridge regression, although the significance of this difference is difficult to test owing to the small sample size. The model weights derived from the method are much smoother than those obtained from ordinary least squares or pointwise ridge regression. Interestingly, regressions in which the weights are completely independent of space give comparable overall skill. The scale-selective ridge is numerically more intensive than pointwise methods since the solution requires solving equations that couple all grid points together.