bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Entomophthoromycosis: a challenging emerging disease
Authors: El‐Shabrawi Mortada H. F. , Arnaout Heba , Madkour Lamiaa , Kamal Naglaa Mohamed 
Published: October 2014

SummaryEntomophthoromycosis is a rare fungal infection that may affect immunocompetent hosts; predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions. Recently, the importance of this emerging mycosis has increased and the scope of its manifestations has been expanded. These manifestations; however, may masquerade as other clinical entities. Prompt diagnosis of this infection requires a high index of suspicion. Although histopathological examination and cultures are the gold standard diagnostic tools; molecular diagnosis is now available and started to play an important role. The cornerstone treatment is prolonged anti‐fungal therapy along with surgical debridement. More awareness of this mycosis is warranted for definitive diagnosis and implementation of early proper therapeutic strategies.
Quality of Life in Cardiac Resynchronization Recipients: Association with Response and Impact on Outcome
Authors: LENARCZYK RADOSŁAW , JĘDRZEJCZYK‐PATEJ EWA , MAZUREK MICHAŁ , SZULIK MARIOLA , KOWALSKI OSKAR , PRUSZKOWSKA PATRYCJA , SOKAL ADAM , ŚREDNIAWA BEATA , BOIDOL JOANNA , KOWALCZYK JACEK , PODOLECKI TOMASZ , MENCEL GRZEGORZ , KALARUS ZBIGNIEW 
Published: October 2014

BackgroundThe prognostic impact of improvement in health‐related quality of life (QoL) and its relation to response in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients remains unknown.AimTo assess the correspondence between response to CRT and improvements in QoL and to verify if a change in QoL after pacing influences outcome in CRT patients.MethodsNinety‐seven participants of the Triple‐Site Versus Standard Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Trial (TRUST CRT) randomized trial, in New York Heart Association class III‐IV, QRS width ≥ 120 ms, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, and significant mechanical dyssynchrony were included. Subjects filled out the Minnesota‐QoL questionnaire prior to and 6 months after CRT with defibrillator (CRT‐D) implantation. Data on major adverse cardiac events (MACEs: death, heart failure hospitalization, heart transplant) collected within the next 2.5 years and adjudicated blindly constituted the censoring variables.ResultsWithin the first 6 months of resynchronization QoL improved in 81%, while worsening in 19% of patients. Clinical response, but not the echocardiographic one, was associated with improved QoL. During subsequent 2.5 years MACEs occurred in 37% of patients (23% died). Subjects without QoL improvement were significantly (both P < 0.05) more prone to experience MACE (61% vs 32%) and die (44% vs 18%) within the follow‐up. Unimproved QoL increased the probability of future MACE by 2.7 times (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.26–5.83; P = 0.01) and death by 3.2 times (95% CI: 1.23–8.32; P = 0.02) independently from clinical and echocardiographic response.ConclusionsClinical response, but not the echocardiographic one, was associated with improved QoL in CRT recipients. These preliminary data suggest that lack of improvement in QoL after CRT was associated with a strongly unfavorable prognosis, regardless of functional or echocardiographic response. Our results merit further studies with a larger number of patients.
A novel BH3 mimetic efficiently induces apoptosis in melanoma cells through direct binding to anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 family proteins, including phosphorylated Mcl‐1
Authors: Liu Yubo , Xie Mingzhou , Song Ting , Sheng Hongkun , Yu Xiaoyan , Zhang Zhichao 
Published: October 2014

SummaryThe Bcl‐2 family modulates sensitivity to chemotherapy in many cancers, including melanoma, in which the RAS/BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway is constitutively activated. Mcl‐1, a major anti‐apoptotic protein in the Bcl‐2 family, is extensively expressed in melanoma and contributes to melanoma's well‐documented chemoresistance. Here, we provide the first evidence that Mcl‐1 phosphorylation at T163 by ERK1/2 and JNK is associated with the resistance of melanoma cell lines to the existing BH3 mimetics gossypol, S1 and ABT‐737, and a novel anti‐apoptotic mechanism of phosphorylated Mcl‐1 (pMcl‐1) is revealed. pMcl‐1 antagonized the known BH3 mimetics by sequestering pro‐apoptotic proteins that were released from Bcl‐2/Mcl‐1. Furthermore, an anthraquinone BH3 mimetic, compound 6, was identified to be the first small molecule to that induces endogenous apoptosis in melanoma cells by directly binding Bcl‐2, Mcl‐1, and pMcl‐1 and disrupting the heterodimers of these proteins. Although compound 6 induced upregulation of the pro‐apoptotic protein Noxa, its apoptotic induction was independent of Noxa. These data reveal the promising therapeutic potential of targeting pMcl‐1 to treat melanoma. Compound 6 is therefore a potent drug that targets pMcl‐1 in melanoma.
Co‐existence of Echinococcus granulosus infection and cancer metastasis in the liver correlates with reduced Th1 immune responses
Authors: Turhan N. , Esendagli G. , Ozkayar O. , Tunali G. , Sokmensuer C. , Abbasoglu O. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryA possible relationship between cancer and Echinococcus granulosus infection has been postulated. As T cells are critical players in immune responses against both infections and malignancies, in an experimental model of secondary echinococcosis and breast cancer, this study aims to observe the progression of cancer and to determine the characters of T‐cell responses. 4T1 breast tumour cells were subcutaneously injected into mammary region, whereas protoscoleces were intraperitoneally inoculated into the mice. Hydatid cysts, tumours and metastases were determined with macroscopic and histopathological evaluation. T cells found in spleen, liver and tumour were characterised by flow cytometric analysis of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CCR5, CCR3, IL‐4 and IFN‐γ. In the mice inoculated both with protoscoleces and with breast tumour cells, increased frequency of cancer metastasis was observed in the liver. The amount of CD4+ T cells was increased in the liver and in the spleen of mice infected with E. granulosus. However, co‐existence of echinococcosis and metastatic lesions in the liver was associated with significant reduction in the IFN‐γ+ and CCR5+ Th1 cells and increase in the CD25+ T cells. Our results may indicate an immunological link between cystic echinococcosis and cancer that allows tumour metastasis to flourish in the liver.
A yellows disease system with differing principal host plants for the obligatory pathogen and its vector
Authors: Sharon R. , Harari A. R. , Zahavi T. , Raz R. , Dafny‐Yelin M. , Tomer M. , Sofer‐Arad C. , Weintraub P. G. , Naor V. 
Published: October 2014

A stolbur‐type phytoplasma is the putative pathogen of grapevine yellows disease that causes economic damage to vineyards in most growing areas around the world. The pathogen is known to be transmitted to vines by two planthoppers, Hyalesthes obsoletus and Reptalus panzer; the latter is found in Europe but has not yet been observed in Israel. The establishment of a vector–pathogen–plant relationship requires that the pathogen and the vector meet on a shared host plant. This does not happen in the ecosystem examined here, where two different principal host plants for the obligate pathogen and its vector exist: the pathogen is established on vines, while its vector, H. obsoletus, develops on Vitex agnus‐castus. The present study verified that: (i) the vector cannot complete its life cycle on vines; (ii) V. agnus‐castus does not grow in the immediate vicinity of vines, and does not harbour the pathogen; and (iii) the pathogen is not vertically transmitted from mother to offspring. Moreover, in a thorough search of plants in vine growing areas, no other plants were found that host both the vector and the pathogen. However, it was found that the planthopper can acquire the phytoplasma from infected vines. Nonetheless, this does not prove the ability of the planthopper to further transmit the pathogen to vines and does not explain the presence of the vector on the non‐preferred vines. Thus, the enigma of the pathogen–vector–host triangle in this system remains unresolved.
White mould of sweet basil: conditions influencing its development in greenhouses and cultural measures for disease management
Authors: Elad Y. , Fogel M. , Silverman D. , Biton S. , Yitzhak S. , Harari D. , Adler U. 
Published: October 2014

During the winter season, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects the stem bases of greenhouse‐grown sweet basil plants and, in severe epidemics, it may also infect the shoots. Sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum, and the ascospores that are released from the apothecia that form on them, serve as the inoculum for white mould epidemics. This research aimed to identify cropping parameters associated with lower incidence of white mould in a survey of the main basil‐growing region in Israel, and study cultural methods that might suppress the disease. The survey revealed that this mould, in the main growing area in Israel, has one cycle of infection. Factors associated with increased moisture in the greenhouse were found to be associated with increased levels of the disease. The use of a lower planting density reduced the incidence of white mould in semi‐commercial experimental plots, as well as the severity of the disease on shoots infected by S. sclerotiorum after harvest, in comparison to the commonly used higher planting density, with no negative effect on yield. Mulching the beds with polyethylene effectively reduced disease, and a combination of polyethylene mulch and increased plant spacing reduced disease severity on cut shoots in a synergistic manner. In conclusion, cultural control methods reduced disease incidence under field conditions and severity of the disease on cut shoots.
Non‐parametric Bayesian Hazard Regression for Chronic Disease Risk Assessment
Authors: Saarela Olli , Arjas Elja 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTAssessing the absolute risk for a future disease event in presently healthy individuals has an important role in the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other chronic conditions. In this paper, we study the use of non‐parametric Bayesian hazard regression techniques and posterior predictive inferences in the risk assessment task. We generalize our previously published Bayesian multivariate monotonic regression procedure to a survival analysis setting, combined with a computationally efficient estimation procedure utilizing case–base sampling. To achieve parsimony in the model fit, we allow for multidimensional relationships within specified subsets of risk factors, determined either on a priori basis or as a part of the estimation procedure. We apply the proposed methods for 10‐year CVD risk assessment in a Finnish population. © 2014 Board of the Foundation of the Scandinavian Journal of Statistics
Mandibles with two joints evolved much earlier in the history of insects: dicondyly is a synapomorphy of bristletails, silverfish and winged insects
Authors: BLANKE ALEXANDER , MACHIDA RYUICHIRO , SZUCSICH NIKOLAUS URBAN , WILDE FABIAN , MISOF BERNHARD 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe evolution of two‐jointed mandibles is considered to be a major step during the evolution of early insects enabling the exploration of new types of food. Two‐jointed – or dicondylic – mandibles are believed to be a groundplan characteristic for winged insects and silverfish. Jumping bristletails are thought to possess mandibles with one joint and are the sistergroup of winged insects + silverfish. However, our knowledge of the cephalic morphology of bristletails is limited to data from a few species and thus fragmentary. We investigated the cephalic morphology of both families of bristletails, Meinertellidae and Machilidae. We focused on skeletal elements and the musculature and compared them with the corresponding structures found in silverfish and winged insects. Bristletails show a previously unknown coupling structure between the maxillary palps and the mandibles and an additional anterior articulation of the mandibles in the region of the anterior tentorial pits. The articulation can be homologised with the anterior articulation in silverfish and winged insects. Together with a description of the functional morphology of the mandible system of bristletails and a discussion of the homology of mandibular articulations and related characters, we provide conclusive evidence that bristletails are, in fact, dicondylic insects.
The 60S associated ribosome biogenesis factor LSG1‐2 is required for 40S maturation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Weis Benjamin L. , Missbach Sandra , Marzi Julian , Bohnsack Markus T. , Schleiff Enrico 
Published: October 2014

SummaryRibosome biogenesis involves a large ensemble of trans‐acting factors, which catalyse rRNA processing, ribosomal protein association and ribosomal subunit assembly. The circularly permuted GTPase Lsg1 is such a ribosome biogenesis factor, which is involved in maturation of the pre‐60S ribosomal subunit in yeast. We identified two orthologues of Lsg1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Both proteins differ in their C‐terminus, which is highly charged in atLSG1‐2 but missing in atLSG1‐1. This C‐terminus of atLSG1‐2 contains a functional nuclear localization signal in a part of the protein that also targets atLSG1‐2 to the nucleolus. Furthermore, only atLSG1‐2 is physically associated with ribosomes suggesting its function in ribosome biogenesis. Homozygous T‐DNA insertion lines are viable for both LSG1 orthologues. In plants lacking atLSG1‐2 18S rRNA precursors accumulate and a 20S pre‐rRNA is detected, while the amount of pre‐rRNAs that lead to the 25S and 5.8S rRNA is not changed. Thus, our results suggest that pre‐60S subunit maturation is important for the final steps of pre‐40S maturation in plants. In addition, the lsg1‐2 mutants show severe developmental defects, including triple cotyledons and upward curled leaves, which link ribosome biogenesis to early plant and leaf development.
Tear production, intraocular pressure, and conjunctival bacterial flora in a group of captive black‐tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)
Authors: Meekins Jessica M. , Eshar David , Rankin Amy J. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo report ocular diagnostic test parameters and normal conjunctival bacterial flora in captive black‐tailed prairie dogs.Animals studiedSeventeen black‐tailed prairie dogs, ranging in age from approximately 4–6 months to 4.5 years. Eleven males came from a zoo collection and 6 females from a wildlife rehabilitation center.ProceduresComplete ocular examination was performed under isoflurane anesthesia. Tear and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements were performed on both (n = 34) eyes of 17 prairie dogs. Phenol red thread test (PRTT) was performed first, and a modified Schirmer tear test I (mSTTI) was performed 10 min later. Indirect rebound tonometry was performed using the TonoVet®. Attempts to obtain intraocular pressure measurements using an applanation tonometry instrument were unsuccessful. Conjunctival swab samples (n = 17) were taken from both eyes of each prairie dog and pooled.ResultsThe most common ocular abnormality was acquired eyelid margin defects, present in seven eyes of six prairie dogs (35.3%). Mean ± SD tear production was 13.6 ± 7.8 mm/15 s (range, 3–30) for PRTT and 1.2 ± 0.9 mm/min (range, 0–4) for mSTTI. Mean ± SD IOP was 7.7 ± 2.2 mmHg (range, 3–11.4). A Staphylococcus xylosus (7/17; 41.2%) organism and a hemolytic Staphylococcus species (5/17; 29.4%) were most commonly isolated from the prairie dog conjunctival sac.ConclusionsThere was a moderate prevalence of acquired peri‐ocular lesions in this group of captive black‐tailed prairie dogs. While widely variable, results of tear test and intraocular pressure measurements are reported. Staphylococcus was the most commonly isolated bacterial genus.
Experimental Analysis of Electro-Hydraulic Hybrid Actuator System for Off-Highway Working Vehicles
Authors: Åman Rafael , Ponomarev Pavel , Luostarinen Lauri O. , Handroos Heikki , Pyrhönen Juha , Lasse Laurila 
Published: October 2014

Electro-hydraulic hybrid power transmission system can save energy and thus reduce the pollution while maintaining the same performance in comparison to the conventional fluid power system in off-highway working vehicles. This paper introduces experimental analysis of an electro-hydraulic hybrid actuator system specially developed for the recuperation of the potential and kinetic energy in off-highway working vehicles. In this compact assembly all the components are located near each other to save space. Proposed hybrid actuator system can be controlled directly by an electrical frequency converter which allows the replacement of long lossy fluid power transmission lines with electrical cables. Integrated electro-hydraulic energy converter (IEHEC) is the principal component of the proposed hybrid actuator system. The energy converter consists of a fixed-displacement hydraulic pump-motor and an integrated electrical permanent magnet synchronous motor-generator. IEHEC unit can be driven in four quadrants to produce the mechanical power required for the hydraulic actuator, or to recover the energy released by the actuator mechanism and supply it back to electrical circuit. Suitable places for this application are all actuators that carry out work cycle in which the kinetic and potential energy is available for recovery, e.g. lifting cylinders in cranes, fork lift trucks, etc.
The test rig allows the experimental analysis of behavior of real power transmission system in two modes while using simulated loads. The first mode is the work cycle mode using IEHEC as motor connected to the hydraulic pump. The other mode is the energy recovery mode while direction of operation is reversed. The real-time simulated loads, which are carried out by simulating typical work cycle of a mechanism, enable the loading in the work cycle and provide the recoverable energy in the recovery mode. The forces acting in actuator connection point are implemented in the test rig by a hydraulic cylinder which is controlled by bandwidth proportional cartridge valves and a dSpace Real-time Control system.
The electro-hydraulic hybrid actuator system was simulated in a certain loading case using virtual simulation and also hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation in the test rig. The responses were compared. Experimental analysis of the dynamic behaviour of a real electro-hydraulic hybrid actuator system has been carried out by using HIL simulation.
HIL Simulation of Elastomer Supported Machine Bed Dynamics
Authors: Saarikoski Tuomas , Pietola Matti 
Published: October 2014

This paper presents a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test setup used for studying the dynamics of an elastomer supported machine bed. The setup uses real elastomer dampers and modeled machine dynamics (process model) connected together via real-time interface. The HIL approach was chosen since the elastomers are a critical part of the system, however, determining their properties for engineering needs can be a challenging task. Accurate elastomer models include many parameters that can only be determined by experimentally, and even then their implementation for real-life applications is not always practical.
Using real elastomers supports in the simulation removes uncertainties associated with classic elastomer models, while simulated process makes it possible to test different scenarios fast and with good repeatability. The process model includes a description of the machine body, a rotating unbalanced drive mechanism creating cyclic loading and external excitation forces acting on the machine. The method enables testing of machine bed supports in a realistic operating environment.
A test rig was built for housing the elastomers incorporating a hydraulic actuator for producing the process movement. The hydraulic circuit was designed for good dynamic performance with predictive control to minimize delays in the real-time interface. It was found that the HIL-setup can provide fast and accurate information about the plant model behavior in different operating scenarios using the elastomer supports.
Multilocus Sequence Typing of Corynebacterium ulcerans Provides Evidence for Zoonotic Transmission and for Increased Prevalence of Certain Sequence Types among Toxigenic Strains
Authors: König Christina , Meinel Dominik M. , Margos Gabriele , Konrad Regina , Sing Andreas 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTHuman-to-human-transmittedCorynebacterium diphtheriaewas historically the main pathogen causing diphtheria and has therefore been studied extensively in the past. More recently, diphtheria caused by toxigenicCorynebacterium ulceransis an emerging disease in several industrial countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany. However, toxigenicC. ulceranshas so far been almost neglected in the development of epidemiologic tools. One of the most important tools in modern epidemiology to understand transmission pathways is sequence typing of pathogens. Here, we provide a protocol for multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to typeC. ulceransstrains rapidly and relatively cost-effectively. Applying MLST toC. ulceransfor the first time, we show that related sequence types (STs) might be associated with the presence of the diphtheria toxin gene, which encodes diphtheria toxin (DT), the most important diphtheria-causing virulence factor. Interestingly, we found only two very closely related STs in the isolates derived from six dogs. Additionally, our data show that all STs derived from animals which were at least twice present in our analysis were found in humans as well. This finding is congruent with zoonotic transmission ofC. ulcerans.
New Transport Medium for Cultural Recovery of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Cellini Luigina , Di Campli Emanuela , Di Bartolomeo Soraya , Bessa Lucinda Janete , Baffoni Marina , Di Giulio Mara 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT

We developed a new transport medium (GESA—
Helicobacter pylori
transport medium [publication no. WO/2014/019696, patent pending no. PCT/EP2013/002292; Liofilchem s.r.l., Roseto degli Abruzzi, Teramo, Italy]) for recovery of
Helicobacter pylori
from gastric biopsy samples. GESA transport medium, in a semisolid state, provides the optimal conditions for maintaining the viability of the microorganism over time. The efficacy of the transport medium was assessed through
in vitro
and
ex vivo
experiments. We were able to recover different suspensions of
H. pylori
ATCC 43629 and
H. pylori
13 A in GESA transport medium stored at 4°C for up to 10 days. In particular, with a starting inoculum of ∼10
5
CFU, after 7 days of storage, 150 ± 25 CFU and 40 ± 7 CFU of the reference and clinical strains were detected, respectively.
H. pylori
colonies were isolated from gastric specimens taken from both the antrum and the fundus in 68 (90.66%) of 75 urea breath test (UBT)-positive patients. Moreover, GESA transport medium allowed the recovery and isolation of
H. pylori
colonies from additional biopsy samples from 13 of the 75 detected subjects at up to 10 days of biopsy sample storage at 4°C. Finally, GESA transport medium preserved its characteristics when stored at 4°C for 1 year from its preparation, thus allowing good recovery of
H. pylori
. GESA transport medium can be considered a standardized transport medium with high performance that optimizes the recovery rate of
H. pylori
grown by culture.