bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of postdive recovery using sound recordings and its relationship to dive duration, exertion, and foraging effort of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)
Authors: Génin Alexandre , Richard Gaëtan , Jouma'a Joffrey , Picard Baptiste , El Ksabi Nory , Vacquié Garcia Jade , Guinet Christophe 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIt is notoriously difficult to measure physiological parameters in cryptic free‐ranging marine mammals. However, it is critical to understand how marine mammals manage their energy expenditure and their diving behavior in environments where the predation risks are low and where survival is mainly linked to capacities to maintain physiological homeostasis and energy budget balance. Elephant seals are top marine predators that dive deeply and continuously when at sea. Using acoustic recorders deployed on two postbreeding southern elephant seals (SES) females, we developed methods to automatically estimate breathing frequency at the surface. Using this method, we found that seals took successive identical breaths at high frequency (0.29 Hz) when recovering at the surface and that breath count was strongly related to postdive surfacing time. In addition, dive depth was the main factor explaining surfacing time through the effects of dive duration and total underwater swimming effort exerted. Finally, we found that recovery does not only occur over one dive timescale, but over a multidive time scale for one individual. The way these predators manage their recovery will determine how they respond to the change in oceanic water column structure in the future.
Modeling development and quantitative trait mapping reveal independent genetic modules for leaf size and shape
Authors: Baker Robert L. , Leong Wen Fung , Brock Marcus T. , Markelz R. J. Cody , Covington Michael F. , Devisetty Upendra K. , Edwards Christine E. , Maloof Julin , Welch Stephen , Weinig Cynthia 
Published: June 2015

Summary

Improved predictions of fitness and yield may be obtained by characterizing the genetic controls and environmental dependencies of organismal ontogeny. Elucidating the shape of growth curves may reveal novel genetic controls that single‐time‐point (STP) analyses do not because, in theory, infinite numbers of growth curves can result in the same final measurement.

We measured leaf lengths and widths in Brassica rapa recombinant inbred lines (RILs) throughout ontogeny. We modeled leaf growth and allometry as function valued traits (FVT), and examined genetic correlations between these traits and aspects of phenology, physiology, circadian rhythms and fitness. We used RNA‐seq to construct a SNP linkage map and mapped trait quantitative trait loci (QTL).

We found genetic trade‐offs between leaf size and growth rate FVT and uncovered differences in genotypic and QTL correlations involving FVT vs STPs. We identified leaf shape (allometry) as a genetic module independent of length and width and identified selection on FVT parameters of development.

Leaf shape is associated with venation features that affect desiccation resistance. The genetic independence of leaf shape from other leaf traits may therefore enable crop optimization in leaf shape without negative effects on traits such as size, growth rate, duration or gas exchange.
Changes of masseter muscle activity following injection of botulinum toxin type A in adult rats
Authors: Tsai C. Y. , Lei Y. Y. , Yang L. Y. , Chiu W. C. 
Published: June 2015

Structured AbstractObjectivesTo investigate changes in masseter muscle function following intramuscular injection of different dose‐dependent botulinum toxin type A (BTXA).Setting and Sample PopulationDepartment of Orthodontics at Taipei Medical University. Fifty‐two, 70‐day‐old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group I received 7.5 U of BTXA (0.3 ml), Group II received 5.0 U, and Group III received 2.5 U in the right masseter muscle, respectively. Group IV is the control and received no BTXA injection.Materials and MethodsA wire electrode device was implanted to record muscle activity. One week after implantation, the rats were fed every 2 h and EMG signals were recorded during the first hour. All signals were recorded for 12 weeks. Thereafter, EMG data were analyzed for statistical calculation and weights of masseter muscles were measured.ResultsMasseter muscle activity decreased 99% during the first week after BTXA injection and gradually recovered from the 3rd week on in Groups I‐III. By the 12th week, muscle activity recovered to 41% in Groups I and II and 56.26% in Group III. No significant changes of muscle activity were observed in Group IV.ConclusionBTXA induced a reduction in masseter muscle activity and an increased toxin dose resulted in greater depression of muscle activity.
Silencing of vacuolar invertase and asparagine synthetase genes and its impact on acrylamide formation of fried potato products
Authors: Zhu Xiaobiao , Gong Huiling , He Qunyan , Zeng Zixian , Busse James S. , Jin Weiwei , Bethke Paul C. , Jiang Jiming 
Published: June 2015

SummaryAcrylamide is produced in a wide variety of carbohydrate‐rich foods during high‐temperature cooking. Dietary acrylamide is a suspected human carcinogen, and health concerns related to dietary acrylamide have been raised worldwide. French fries and potato chips contribute a significant proportion to the average daily intake of acrylamide, especially in developed countries. One way to mitigate health concerns related to acrylamide is to develop potato cultivars that have reduced contents of the acrylamide precursors asparagine, glucose and fructose in tubers. We generated a large number of silencing lines of potato cultivar Russet Burbank by targeting the vacuolar invertase gene VInv and the asparagine synthetase genes StAS1 and StAS2 with a single RNA interference construct. The transcription levels of these three genes were correlated with reducing sugar (glucose and fructose) and asparagine content in tubers. Fried potato products from the best VInv/StAS1/StAS2‐triple silencing lines contained only one‐fifteenth of the acrylamide content of the controls. Interestingly, the extent of acrylamide reduction of the best triple silencing lines was similar to that of the best VInv‐single silencing lines developed previously from the same potato cultivar Russet Burbank. These results show that an acrylamide mitigation strategy focused on developing potato cultivars with low reducing sugars is likely to be an effective and sufficient approach for minimizing the acrylamide‐forming potential of French fry processing potatoes.
Impact of Ceftiofur Injection on Gut Microbiota and Escherichia coli Resistance in Pigs
Authors: Fleury M. A. , Mourand G. , Jouy E. , Touzain F. , Le Devendec L. , de Boisseson C. , Eono F. , Cariolet R. , Guérin A. , Le Goff O. , Blanquet-Diot S. , Alric M. , Kempf I. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) is an important health concern. Here, we studied the impact of the administration of a long-acting form of ceftiofur on the pig gut microbiota and ESC resistance in
Escherichia coli
. Pigs were orally inoculated with an ESC-resistant
E. coli
M63 strain harboring a conjugative plasmid carrying a gene conferring resistance,
bla
CTX-M-1
. On the same day, they were given or not a unique injection of ceftiofur. Fecal microbiota were studied using quantitative PCR analysis of the main bacterial groups and quantification of short-chain fatty acids.
E. coli
and ESC-resistant
E. coli
were determined by culture methods, and the ESC-resistant
E. coli
isolates were characterized. The copies of the
bla
CTX-M-1
gene were quantified. After ceftiofur injection, the main change in gut microbiota was the significant but transitory decrease in the
E. coli
population. Acetate and butyrate levels were significantly lower in the treated group. In all inoculated groups,
E. coli
M63 persisted in most pigs, and the
bla
CTX-M-1
gene was transferred to other
E. coli
. Culture and PCR results showed that the ceftiofur-treated group shed significantly more resistant strains 1 and 3 days after ESC injection. Thereafter, on most dates, there were no differences between the groups, but notably, one pig in the nontreated group regularly excreted very high numbers of ESC-resistant
E. coli
, probably leading to a higher contamination level in its pen. In conclusion, the use of ESCs, and also the presence of high-shedding animals, are important features in the spread of ESC resistance.
Mobile Genetic Elements Related to the Diffusion of Plasmid-Mediated AmpC β-Lactamases or Carbapenemases from Enterobacteriaceae: Findings from a Multicenter Study in Spain
Authors: Zamorano L. , Miró E. , Juan C. , Gómez L. , Bou G. , González-López J. J. , Martínez-Martínez L. , Aracil B. , Conejo M. C. , Oliver A. , Navarro F. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

We examined the genetic context of 74 acquired
ampC
genes and 17 carbapenemase genes from 85 of 640
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates collected in 2009. Using S1 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern hybridization, 37 of 74
bla
AmpC
genes were located on large plasmids of different sizes belonging to six incompatibility groups. We used sequencing and PCR mapping to investigate the regions flanking the acquired
ampC
genes. The
bla
CMY-2
-like genes were associated with IS
Ecp1
; the surrounding
bla
DHA
genes were similar to
Klebsiella pneumoniae
plasmid pTN60013 associated with IS
26
and the
psp
and
sap
operons; and the
bla
ACC-1
genes were associated with IS
26
elements inserted into IS
Ecp1
. All of the carbapenemase genes (
bla
VIM-1
,
bla
IMP-22
, and
bla
IMP-28
) were located in class 1 integrons. Therefore, although plasmids are the main cause of the rapid dissemination of
ampC
genes among
Enterobacteriaceae
, we need to be aware that other mobile genetic elements, such as insertion sequences, transposons, or integrons, can be involved in the mobilization of these genes of chromosomal origin. Additionally, three new integrons (In846 to In848) are described in this study.
Insights into the Mechanism of Inhibition of Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors from Characterization of Resistant Mutants of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Lahiri Sushmita D. , Kutschke Amy , McCormack Kathy , Alm Richard A. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

The type II topoisomerases DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are clinically validated bacterial targets that catalyze the modulation of DNA topology that is vital to DNA replication, repair, and decatenation. Increasing resistance to fluoroquinolones, which trap the topoisomerase-DNA complex, has led to significant efforts in the discovery of novel inhibitors of these targets. AZ6142 is a member of the class of novel bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors (NBTIs) that utilizes a distinct mechanism to trap the protein-DNA complex. AZ6142 has very potent activity against Gram-positive organisms, including
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, and
Streptococcus pyogenes
. In this study, we determined the frequencies of resistance to AZ6142 and other representative NBTI compounds in
S. aureus
and
S. pneumoniae
. The frequencies of selection of resistant mutants at 4× the MIC were 1.7 × 10
−8
for
S. aureus
and <5.5 × 10
−10
for
S. pneumoniae
. To improve our understanding of the NBTI mechanism of inhibition, the resistant
S. aureus
mutants were characterized and 20 unique substitutions in the topoisomerase subunits were identified. Many of these substitutions were located outside the NBTI binding pocket and impact the susceptibility of AZ6142, resulting in a 4- to 32-fold elevation in the MIC over the wild-type parent strain. Data on cross-resistance with other NBTIs and fluoroquinolones enabled the differentiation of scaffold-specific changes from compound-specific variations. Our results suggest that AZ6142 inhibits both type II topoisomerases in
S. aureus
but that DNA gyrase is the primary target. Further, the genotype of the resistant mutants suggests that domain conformations and DNA interactions may uniquely impact NBTIs compared to fluoroquinolones.
Staphlyococcus aureus Phenol-Soluble Modulins Stimulate the Release of Proinflammatory Cytokines from Keratinocytes and Are Required for Induction of Skin Inflammation
Authors: Syed Adnan K. , Reed Tamra J. , Clark Kaitlyn L. , Boles Blaise R. , Kahlenberg J. Michelle 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a human commensal that colonizes the skin. While it is normally innocuous, it has strong associations with atopic dermatitis pathogenesis and has become the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections in the United States. The factors that dictate the role ofS. aureusin disease are still being determined. In this work, we utilized primary keratinocyte culture and an epidermal murine colonization model to investigate the role ofS. aureusphenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) in proinflammatory cytokine release and inflammation induction. We demonstrated that many species ofStaphylococcusare capable of causing release of interleukin 18 (IL-18) from keratinocytes and thatS. aureusPSMs are necessary and sufficient to stimulate IL-18 release from keratinocytes independently of caspase 1. Further, after 7 days of epicutaneous exposure to wild-typeS. aureus, but notS. aureusΔpsm, we saw dramatic changes in gross pathology, as well as systemic release of proinflammatory cytokines. This work demonstrates the importance of PSM peptides inS. aureus-mediated inflammatory cytokine release from keratinocytesin vitroandin vivoand further implicates PSMs as important contributors to pathogenesis.
Streptococcus salivarius K12 Limits Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Authors: Patras Kathryn A. , Wescombe Philip A. , Rösler Berenice , Hale John D. , Tagg John R. , Doran Kelly S. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus agalactiae
(group B streptococcus [GBS]) colonizes the rectovaginal tract in 20% to 30% of women and during pregnancy can be transmitted to the newborn, causing severe invasive disease. Current routine screening and antibiotic prophylaxis have fallen short of complete prevention of GBS transmission, and GBS remains a leading cause of neonatal infection. We have investigated the ability of
Streptococcus salivarius
, a predominant member of the native human oral microbiota, to control GBS colonization. Comparison of the antibacterial activities of multiple
S. salivarius
strains by use of a deferred-antagonism test showed that
S. salivarius
strain K12 exhibited the broadest spectrum of activity against GBS. K12 effectively inhibited all GBS strains tested, including disease-implicated isolates from newborns and colonizing isolates from the vaginal tract of pregnant women. Inhibition was dependent on the presence of megaplasmid pSsal-K12, which encodes the bacteriocins salivaricin A and salivaricin B; however, in coculture experiments, GBS growth was impeded by K12 independently of the megaplasmid. We also demonstrated that K12 adheres to and invades human vaginal epithelial cells at levels comparable to GBS. Inhibitory activity of K12 was examined
in vivo
using a mouse model of GBS vaginal colonization. Mice colonized with GBS were treated vaginally with K12. K12 administration significantly reduced GBS vaginal colonization in comparison to nontreated controls, and this effect was partially dependent on the K12 megaplasmid. Our results suggest that K12 may have potential as a preventative therapy to control GBS vaginal colonization and thereby prevent its transmission to the neonate during pregnancy.
Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Found in the
migA
and
wbpX
Glycosyltransferase Genes Account for the Intrinsic Lipopolysaccharide Defects Exhibited by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14
Authors: Hao Youai , Murphy Kathleen , Lo Reggie Y. , Khursigara Cezar M. , Lam Joseph S. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PA14 is widely used by researchers in many laboratories because of its enhanced virulence over strain PAO1 in a wide range of hosts. Although lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an important virulence factor of all
P. aeruginosa
strains, the LPS of PA14 has not been characterized fully. A recent study showed that the structure of its O-specific antigen (OSA) belongs to serotype O19. We found that the OSA gene cluster of PA14 shares ∼99% identity with those of the O10/O19 group. These two serotypes share the same O-unit structure, except for an
O
-acetyl substitution in one of the sugars in O10. Here we showed that both PA14 and O19 LPS cross-reacted with the O10-specific monoclonal antibody MF76-2 in Western blots. Analysis by SDS-PAGE and silver staining showed that PA14 LPS exhibited modal chain lengths that were different from those of O19 LPS, in that only “very long” and “short” chain lengths were observed, while “medium” and “long” chain lengths were not detected. Two other novel observations included the lack of the uncapped core oligosaccharide epitope and of common polysaccharide antigen (CPA) LPS. The lack of the uncapped core oligosaccharide was caused by point mutations in the glycosyltransferase gene
migA
, while the CPA-negative phenotype was correlated with a single amino acid substitution, G20R, in the glycosyltransferase WbpX. Additionally, we showed that restoring CPA biosynthesis in PA14 significantly stimulated mature biofilm formation after 72 h, while outer membrane vesicle production was not affected.

IMPORTANCE
P. aeruginosa
PA14 is a clinical isolate that has become an important reference strain used by many researchers worldwide. LPS of PA14 has not been characterized fully, and hence, confusion about its phenotype exists in the literature. In the present study, we set out to characterize the O-specific antigen (OSA), the common polysaccharide antigen (CPA), and the core oligosaccharide produced by PA14. We present evidence that PA14 produces an LPS consisting of “very-long-chain” and some “short-chain” OSA belonging to the O19 serotype but is devoid of CPA and the uncapped core oligosaccharide epitope. These intrinsic defects in PA14 LPS were due to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes that encode glycosyltransferases in the corresponding biosynthesis pathways. Since sugars in CPA and the uncapped core are receptors for different bacteriocins and pyocins, the lack of CPA and an intact core may contribute to the increased virulence of PA14. Restoring CPA production in PA14 was found to stimulate mature biofilm formation.
Penile Microbiota and Female Partner Bacterial Vaginosis in Rakai, Uganda
Authors: Liu Cindy M. , Hungate Bruce A. , Tobian Aaron A. R. , Ravel Jacques , Prodger Jessica L. , Serwadda David , Kigozi Godfrey , Galiwango Ronald M. , Nalugoda Fred , Keim Paul , Wawer Maria J. , Price Lance B. , Gray Ronald H. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal bacterial imbalance associated with risk for HIV and poor gynecologic and obstetric outcomes. Male circumcision reduces BV-associated bacteria on the penis and decreases BV in female partners, but the link between penile microbiota and female partner BV is not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that having a female partner with BV increases BV-associated bacteria in uncircumcised men. We characterized penile microbiota composition and density (i.e., the quantity of bacteria per swab) by broad-coverage 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) in 165 uncircumcised men from Rakai, Uganda. Associations between penile community state types (CSTs) and female partner's Nugent score were assessed. We found seven distinct penile CSTs of increasing density (CST1 to 7). CST1 to 3 and CST4 to 7 were the two major CST groups. CST4 to 7 had higher prevalence and abundance of BV-associated bacteria, such as
Mobiluncus
and
Dialister
, than CST1 to 3. Men with CST4 to 7 were significantly more likely to have a female partner with a high Nugent score (
P
= 0.03). Men with two or more extramarital partners were significantly more likely to have CST4 to 7 than men with only marital partners (CST4 to 7 prevalence ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 2.92). Female partner Nugent BV is significantly associated with penile microbiota. Our data support the exchange of BV-associated bacteria through intercourse, which may explain BV recurrence and persistence.

IMPORTANCE
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is sexually associated but not considered a sexually transmitted disease. Our findings suggest that the uncircumcised penis is an important niche for BV-associated genital anaerobes. In addition, we found a link between extramarital sexual relationships and BV-associated bacteria in men, which parallels earlier findings of the association between sexual activity and BV in women. This suggests the sexual transmissibility of BV-associated bacteria. Reducing bacterial exchange by barrier methods and managing carriage of BV-associated bacteria in men may decrease BV persistence and recurrence in women.
Impact of an individualized type 2 diabetes education program on clinical outcomes during Ramadan
Authors: McEwen Laura N , Ibrahim Mahmoud , Ali Nahed M , Assaad-Khalil Samir H , Tantawi Hyam Refaat , Nasr Gamela , Mohammadmoradi Shayan , Misha'l Aly A , Annabi Firas A , Ba-Essa Ebtesam M , Bahijri Suhad M , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Jaber Linda A , Herman William H 
Published: June 2015

ObjectiveTo determine if individualized education before Ramadan results in a safer fast for people with type 2 diabetes.MethodsPatients with type 2 diabetes who received care from participating clinics in Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia and intended to fast during Ramadan 2014 were prospectively studied. Twelve clinics participated. Individualized education addressed meal planning, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring and acute metabolic complications and when deemed necessary, provided an individualized diabetes treatment plan.Results774 people met study criteria, 515 received individualized education and 259 received usual care. Those who received individualized education were more likely to modify their diabetes treatment plan during Ramadan (97% vs 88%, p<0.0001), to perform self-monitoring of blood glucose at least twice daily during Ramadan (70% vs 51%, p<0.0001), and to have improved knowledge about hypoglycemic signs and symptoms (p=0.0007). Those who received individualized education also reduced their body mass index (−1.1±2.4 kg/m2vs −0.2±1.7 kg/m2, p<0.0001) and glycated haemoglobin (−0.7±1.1% vs −0.1±1.3%, p<0.0001) during Ramadan compared those who received usual care. There were more mild (77% vs 67%, p=0.0031) and moderate (38% vs 19%, p<0.0001) hypoglycemic events reported by participants who received individualized education than those who received usual care, but fewer reported severe hypoglycemic events during Ramadan (23% vs 34%, p=0.0017).ConclusionsThis individualized education and diabetes treatment program helped patients with type 2 diabetes lose weight, improve glycemic control and achieve a safer fast during Ramadan.