bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Late‐life homicide‐suicide: a national case series inNewZealand
Authors: Cheung Gary , Hatters Friedman Susan , Sundram Frederick 
Published: March 2015

AbstractHomicide‐suicide is a rare event, but it has a significant impact on the family and community of the perpetrator and victim(s). The phenomenon of late‐life homicide‐suicide has not been previously studied inNewZealand, and there is only limited data in the international literature. The aim of this study is to systematically review coroners' records of late‐life homicide‐suicides inNewZealand. After ethics approval was granted, the Coronial Services ofNewZealand was approached to provide records of all closed cases with a suicide verdict (age 65+) over a five‐year period (July 2007–December 2012). Of the 225 suicides, 4 cases of homicide‐suicide were identified (an estimated incidence of 0.12 per 100 000 per persons year). All four perpetrators were men; three had been farmers. Their ages ranged from 65 to 82. One case occurred in the context of an underlying psychiatric illness (psychotic depression in bipolar disorder). Firearms were used in three cases. Two cases were categorized as spousal/consortial subtype, one case as filicide‐suicide, and one case as siblicide‐suicide. The prospect of major social upheaval in the form of losing their homes was present in all four cases. The findings of this case series were consistent with the limited existing literature on homicide‐suicide. Age‐related biopsychosocial issues were highlighted in this case series of late‐life homicide‐suicide. Additionally, evaluating firearm licences in high‐risk groups may represent a prevention strategy.
Resampling (bootstrapping) the mean: A definite do
Authors: Rosenfeld J. Peter , Donchin Emanuel 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThere has been discussion lately about whether bootstrap versus permutations methods are the more appropriate in diagnostic psychophysiology, especially in the context of concealed information tests (CITs), also called guilty knowledge tests (GKTs). We review the use of bootstrapping in most published CIT/GKT studies (where means, or correlations, as opposed to peak amplitudes are estimated) and find them valid and reliable. When bootstrapping and permutations were applied to the same synthesized ERP datasets, they agreed 98.1% of the time, averaged over 24,000 iterations.
Review: The role of antibodies, autoantigens and food allergens in canine atopic dermatitis
Authors: Pucheu‐Haston Cherie M. , Bizikova Petra , Eisenschenk Melissa N. C. , Santoro Domenico , Nuttall Tim , Marsella Rosanna 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundCanine atopic dermatitis (AD) is considered to be an immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐mediated hypersensitivity response to environmental allergens. The role of other antibody isotypes and nonenvironmental allergens in disease pathogenesis remains unclear.ObjectivesThe objective of this review is to provide an update on advances in the understanding of the relevance of specific antibody isotypes, autoallergens and nonenvironmental allergens in the pathogenesis of canineAD.MethodsCitation databases, abstracts and proceedings from international meetings published between 2001 and 2013 were reviewed. Where necessary, older articles were included for background information.ResultsNeither total nor allergen‐specific IgE necessarily correlates with clinical disease in canineAD. Some dogs exhibit clinical signs that are indistinguishable fromADbut have no demonstrable allergen‐specific IgE (atopic‐like dermatitis). Allergen‐specific immunoglobulin G may be demonstrated in canineAD, but there is no evidence that this isotype plays a role in disease development. Although humans withADmay develop serum IgE against autoallergens, this finding has not been substantiated in the dog. In contrast, adverse food reactions are frequently co‐associated withADin the dog. Ingestion of food and environmental allergens may trigger exacerbations ofAD.Conclusions and clinical importanceDetermination of the role of IgE in the pathogenesis of canineADstill requires clarification. Clinical trials and research studies must distinguish atopic dogs with allergen‐specific IgE or skin test reactivity from those without. There is no convincing evidence demonstrating a pathogenic role for either allergen‐specific immunoglobulin G or autoallergens in canineAD, but food items may be triggers for disease flares in certain individuals.
Modulation of sweet taste sensitivities by endogenous leptin and endocannabinoids in mice
Authors: Niki Mayu , Jyotaki Masafumi , Yoshida Ryusuke , Yasumatsu Keiko , Shigemura Noriatsu , DiPatrizio Nicholas V. , Piomelli Daniele , Ninomiya Yuzo 
Published: February 2015

Key points
Potential roles of endogenous leptin and endocannabinoids in sweet taste were examined by using pharmacological antagonists and mouse models including leptin receptor deficient (db/db) and diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice.
Chorda tympani (CT) nerve responses of lean mice to sweet compounds were increased after administration of leptin antagonist (LA) but not affected by administration of cannabinoid receptor antagonist (AM251).
db/db mice showed clear suppression of CT responses to sweet compounds after AM251, increased endocannabinoid levels in the taste organ, and enhanced expression of a biosynthesizing enzyme of endocannabinoids in taste cells.
The effect of LA was gradually decreased and that of AM251 was increased during the course of obesity in DIO mice.
These findings suggest that circulating leptin, but not local endocannabinoids, is a dominant modulator for sweet taste in lean mice and endocannabinoids become more effective modulators of sweet taste under conditions of deficient leptin signalling.
AbstractLeptin is an anorexigenic mediator that reduces food intake by acting on hypothalamic receptor Ob‐Rb. In contrast, endocannabinoids are orexigenic mediators that act via cannabinoid CB1 receptors in hypothalamus, limbic forebrain, and brainstem. In the peripheral taste system, leptin administration selectively inhibits behavioural, taste nerve and taste cell responses to sweet compounds. Opposing the action of leptin, endocannabinoids enhance sweet taste responses. However, potential roles of endogenous leptin and endocannabinoids in sweet taste remain unclear. Here, we used pharmacological antagonists (Ob‐Rb: L39A/D40A/F41A (LA), CB1: AM251) and examined the effects of their blocking activation of endogenous leptin and endocannabinoid signalling on taste responses in lean control, leptin receptor deficient db/db, and diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice. Lean mice exhibited significant increases in chorda tympani (CT) nerve responses to sweet compounds after LA administration, while they showed no significant changes in CT responses after AM251. In contrast, db/db mice showed clear suppression of CT responses to sweet compounds after AM251, increased endocannabinoid (2‐arachidonoyl‐sn‐glycerol (2‐AG)) levels in the taste organ, and enhanced expression of a biosynthesizing enzyme (diacylglycerol lipase α (DAGLα)) of 2‐AG in taste cells. In DIO mice, the LA effect was gradually decreased and the AM251 effect was increased during the course of obesity. Taken together, our results suggest that circulating leptin, but not local endocannabinoids, may be a dominant modulator for sweet taste in lean mice; however, endocannabinoids may become more effective modulators of sweet taste under conditions of deficient leptin signalling, possibly due to increased production of endocannabinoids in taste tissue.
Development of a Gas Turbine Generator On-Board Electric Power Source for MAGLEV Trains
Authors: Washizu Teruo , Morishita Teru , Matsuda Shoji , Terauchi Nobuo 
Published: March 2015

We have been jointly developing an on-board electric power source for MAGLEV trains by applying a 30kW generator for gas turbine hybrid passenger cars.
Operating the generator on a test model apparatus simulating the generator installed in a MAGLEV train, we investigated its electrical and mechanical characteristics with the location close to superconducting coils. The effects of magnetic field on the generator’s characteristics are investigated and described in this paper.
MAGLEV trains require about a 50kW on-board power supply per car. At present, we are designing a 50kW gas turbine generator on the basis of the 30kW gas turbine generator.
Assessment of Minocycline and Polymyxin B Combination against Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Bowers Dana R. , Cao Henry , Zhou Jian , Ledesma Kimberly R. , Sun Dongxu , Lomovskaya Olga , Tam Vincent H. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance among
Acinetobacter baumannii
is increasing worldwide, often necessitating combination therapy. The clinical utility of using minocycline with polymyxin B is not well established. In this study, we investigated the activity of minocycline and polymyxin B against 1 laboratory isolate and 3 clinical isolates of
A. baumannii
. Minocycline susceptibility testing was performed with and without an efflux pump inhibitor, phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide (PAβN). The intracellular minocycline concentration was determined with and without polymyxin B (0.5 μg/ml). Time-kill studies were performed over 24 h using approximately 10
6
CFU/ml of each strain with clinically relevant minocycline concentrations (2 μg/ml and 8 μg/ml), with and without polymyxin B (0.5 μg/ml). The
in vivo
efficacy of the combination was assessed in a neutropenic murine pneumonia model. Infected animals were administered minocycline (50 mg/kg), polymyxin B (10 mg/kg), or both to achieve clinically equivalent exposures in humans. A reduction in the minocycline MIC (≥4×) was observed in the presence of PAβN. The intracellular concentration and
in vitro
bactericidal effect of minocycline were both enhanced by polymyxin B. With 2 minocycline-susceptible strains, the bacterial burden in lung tissue at 24 h was considerably reduced by the combination compared to monotherapy with minocycline or polymyxin B. In addition, the combination prolonged survival of animals infected with a minocycline-susceptible strain. Polymyxin B increased the intracellular concentration of minocycline in bacterial cells and enhanced the bactericidal activity of minocycline, presumably due to efflux pump disruption. The clinical utility of this combination should be further investigated.
Impacts of Global Transcriptional Regulators on Persister Metabolism
Authors: Mok Wendy W. K. , Orman Mehmet A. , Brynildsen Mark P. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT
Bacterial persisters are phenotypic variants with an extraordinary capacity to tolerate antibiotics, and they are hypothesized to be a main cause of chronic and relapsing infections. Recent evidence has suggested that the metabolism of persisters can be targeted to develop therapeutic countermeasures; however, knowledge of persister metabolism remains limited due to difficulties associated with isolating these rare and transient phenotypic variants. By using a technique to measure persister catabolic activity, which is based on the ability of metabolites to enable aminoglycoside (AG) killing of persisters, we investigated the role of seven global transcriptional regulators (ArcA, Cra, cyclic AMP [cAMP] receptor protein [CRP], DksA, FNR, Lrp, and RpoS) on persister metabolism. We found that removal of CRP resulted in a loss of AG potentiation in persisters for all metabolites tested. These results highlight a central role for cAMP/CRP in persister metabolism, as its perturbation can significantly diminish the metabolic capabilities of persisters and effectively eliminate the ability of AGs to eradicate these troublesome bacteria.
Kidney Injury Associated with Telavancin Dosing Regimen in an Animal Model
Authors: Tam Vincent H. , Ledesma Kimberly R. , Bowers Dana R. , Zhou Jian , Truong Luan D. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT
The elevation of serum creatinine levels is a concern with telavancin therapy. We examined the onset of kidney injury associated with telavancin in an animal model. Urine samples were collected at baseline and daily to determine the concentrations of kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), a marker for early kidney injury. When a clinically relevant exposure of telavancin was given daily to rats, some differences in kidney injury were attributed to the dosing regimen. Further investigations of alternative telavancin dosing regimens are warranted.
A New Fungal Isolate, Penidiella sp. Strain T9, Accumulates the Rare Earth Element Dysprosium
Authors: Horiike Takumi , Yamashita Mitsuo 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

With an aim to develop a highly efficient method for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) by using microorganisms, we attempted to isolate dysprosium (Dy)-accumulating microorganisms that grow under acidic conditions from environmental samples containing high concentrations of heavy metals. One acidophilic strain, T9, which was isolated from an abandoned mine, decreased the concentration of Dy in medium that contained 100 mg/liter Dy to 53 mg/liter Dy after 3 days of cultivation at pH 2.5. The Dy content in the cell pellet of the T9 strain was 910 μg/mg of dry cells. The T9 strain also accumulated other REEs. Based on the results of 28S-D1/D2 rRNA gene sequencing and morphological characterization, we designated this fungal strain
Penidiella
sp. T9. Bioaccumulation of Dy was observed on the cell surface of the T9 strain by elemental mapping using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our results indicate that
Penidiella
sp. T9 has the potential to recover REEs such as Dy from mine drainage and industrial liquid waste under acidic conditions.
Simple and Portable Magnetic Immunoassay for Rapid Detection and Sensitive Quantification of Plant Viruses
Authors: Rettcher Stefanie , Jungk Felicitas , Kühn Christoph , Krause Hans-Joachim , Nölke Greta , Commandeur Ulrich , Fischer Rainer , Schillberg Stefan , Schröper Florian 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Plant pathogens cause major economic losses in the agricultural industry because late detection delays the implementation of measures that can prevent their dissemination. Sensitive and robust procedures for the rapid detection of plant pathogens are therefore required to reduce yield losses and the use of expensive, environmentally damaging chemicals. Here we describe a simple and portable system for the rapid detection of viral pathogens in infected plants based on immunofiltration, subsequent magnetic detection, and the quantification of magnetically labeled virus particles.
Grapevine fanleaf virus
(GFLV) was chosen as a model pathogen. Monoclonal antibodies recognizing the GFLV capsid protein were immobilized onto immunofiltration columns, and the same antibodies were linked to magnetic nanoparticles. GFLV was quantified by immunofiltration with magnetic labeling in a double-antibody sandwich configuration. A magnetic frequency mixing technique, in which a two-frequency magnetic excitation field was used to induce a sum frequency signal in the resonant detection coil, corresponding to the virus concentration within the immunofiltration column, was used for high-sensitivity quantification. We were able to measure GFLV concentrations in the range of 6 ng/ml to 20 μg/ml in less than 30 min. The magnetic immunoassay could also be adapted to detect other plant viruses, including
Potato virus X
and
Tobacco mosaic virus
, with detection limits of 2 to 60 ng/ml.
Protective Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of Human/Mouse Chimeric Anti-Stx1 and Anti-Stx2 Antibodies in Mice
Authors: Melton-Celsa Angela R. , Carvalho H. M. , Thuning-Roberson Claire , O'Brien A. D. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTIn the United States, Shiga toxin (Stx)-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) is the most frequent infectious cause of hemorrhagic colitis. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious sequela that may develop after STEC infection that can lead to renal failure and death in up to 10% of cases. STEC can produce one or more types of Stx, Stx1 and/or Stx2, and Stx1 and Stx2 are responsible for HUS-mediated kidney damage. We previously generated two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that neutralize the toxicity of Stx1 or Stx2. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of human/mouse chimeric versions of those monoclonal antibodies, named cαStx1 and cαStx2. Mice given an otherwise lethal dose of Stx1 were protected from death when injected with cαStx1 either 1 h before or 1 h after toxin injection. Additionally, streptomycin-treated mice fed the mouse-lethal STEC strain B2F1 that produces the Stx2 variant Stx2d were protected when given a dose of 0.1 mg of cαStx2/kg of body weight administered up to 72 h post-oral bacterial challenge. Since many STEC strains produce both Stx1 and Stx2 and since either toxin may lead to the HUS, we also assessed the protective efficacy of the combined MAbs. We found that both antibodies were required to protect mice from the presence of both Stx1 and Stx2. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that cαStx1 and cαStx2 had serum half-lives (t1/2) of about 50 and 145 h, respectively. We propose that cαStx1 and cαStx2, both of which have been tested for safety in humans, could be used therapeutically for prevention or treatment early in the development of HUS.
TleA, a Tsh-Like Autotransporter Identified in a Human Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Strain
Authors: Gutiérrez Daniela , Pardo Mirka , Montero David , Oñate Angel , Farfán Mauricio J. , Ruiz-Pérez Fernando , Del Canto Felipe , Vidal Roberto 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC), a leading cause of acute diarrhea, colonizes the intestine by means of adhesins. However, 15 to 50% of clinical isolates are negative for known adhesins, making it difficult to identify antigens for broad-coverage vaccines. The ETEC strain 1766a, obtained from a child with watery diarrhea in Chile, harbors the colonization factor CS23 but is negative for other known adhesins. One clone, derived from an ETEC 1766a genomic library (clone G10), did not produce CS23 yet was capable of adhering to Caco-2 cells. The goal of this study was to identify the gene responsible for this capacity. Random transposon-based mutagenesis allowed the identification of a 4,110-bp gene that codes for a homologue of the temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (Tsh) autotransporter described in avian
E. coli
strains (97% identity, 90% coverage) and that is called TleA (Tsh-like ETEC autotransporter) herein. An isogenic ETEC 1766a strain with a
tleA
mutation showed an adhesion level similar to that of the wild-type strain, suggesting that the gene does not direct attachment to Caco-2 cells. However, expression of
tleA
conferred the capacity for adherence to nonadherent
E. coli
HB101. This effect coincided with the detection of TleA on the surface of nonpermeabilized bacteria, while, conversely, ETEC 1766a seems to secrete most of the produced autotransporter to the medium. On the other hand, TleA was capable of degrading bovine submaxillary mucin and leukocyte surface glycoproteins CD45 and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1). These results suggest that TleA promotes colonization of the intestinal epithelium and that it may modulate the host immune response.
The IbeA Invasin of Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli Mediates Interaction with Intestinal Epithelia and Macrophages
Authors: Cieza Roberto J. , Hu Jia , Ross Brittany N. , Sbrana Elena , Torres Alfredo G. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Adherent-invasive
Escherichia coli
(AIEC) pathogroup isolates are a group of isolates from the intestinal mucosa of Crohn's disease patients that can invade intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) or macrophages and survive and/or replicate within. We have identified the
ibeA
gene in the genome of AIEC strain NRG857c and report the contribution of IbeA to the interaction of AIEC with IECs and macrophages and colonization of the mouse intestine. An
ibeA
deletion mutant strain (NRG857cΔ
ibeA
) was constructed, and the
in vitro
effect on AIEC adhesion and invasion of nonpolarized and polarized Caco-2 cells, the adhesion and transcytosis of M-like cells, the intracellular survival in THP-1 macrophages, and the contribution to intestinal colonization of the CD-1 murine model of infection were evaluated. A significant reduction in invasion was observed with the
ibeA
mutant in Caco-2 and M-like cells, whereas adhesion was not affected. Complementation of the mutant reestablished Caco-2 invasive phenotype to wild-type levels. Reduction in invasion did not significantly affect transcytosis through M-like cells at early time points. The absence of
ibeA
significantly affected AIEC intramacrophage survival up to 24 h postinfection. No significant changes associated with IbeA were found in AIEC colonization across the murine gastrointestinal tract, but a slight reduction of gamma interferon was observed in the ceca of mice infected with the
ibeA
mutant. In addition, a decrease in the pathology scores was observed in the ilea and ceca of mice infected with the
ibeA
mutant. Our data support the function of IbeA in the AIEC invasion process, macrophage survival, and inflammatory response in the murine intestine.
Acrophialophora, a Poorly Known Fungus with Clinical Significance
Authors: Sandoval-Denis Marcelo , Gené Josepa , Sutton Deanna A. , Wiederhold Nathan P. , Guarro Josep 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACTAcrophialophora fusisporais an emerging opportunistic fungus capable of causing human infections. The taxonomy of the genus is not yet resolved and, in order to facilitate identification of clinical specimens, we have studied a set of clinical and environmentalAcrophialophoraisolates by morphological and molecular analyses. This set included the available type strains ofAcrophialophoraspecies and similar fungi, some of which were considered by various authors to be synonyms ofA. fusispora. Sequence analysis of the large subunit (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and a fragment of the β-tubulin (Tub) gene revealed thatAcrophialophorabelongs in the familyChaetomiaceaeand comprises three different species, i.e.,A. fusispora,Acrophialophora levis, andAcrophialophora seudatica; the latter was previously included in the genusAmpullifera. The most prevalent species among clinical isolates wasA. levis(72.7%), followed byA. fusispora(27.3%), both of which were isolated mostly from respiratory specimens (72.7%), as well as subcutaneous and corneal tissue samples. In general, of the eight antifungal drugs tested, voriconazole had the greatestin vitroactivity, while all other agents showed poorin vitroactivity against these fungi.