bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus patients being referred for liver transplant evaluation: a descriptive cohort study
Authors: Martel‐Laferrière V. , Michel A. , Schaefer S. , Bindal S. , Bichoupan K. , Branch A.D. , Huprikar S. , Schiano T.D. , Perumalswami P.V. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundLiver transplantation (LT) is a treatment option for select human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients with advanced liver disease. The aim of this study was to describe LT evaluation outcomes in HIV‐infected patients.MethodsAll HIV‐infected patients referred for their first LT evaluation at the Mount Sinai Medical Center were included in this retrospective, descriptive cohort study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with listing.ResultsBetween February 2000 and April 2012, 366 patients were evaluated for LT, with 66 (18.0%) listed for LT and 300 (82.0%) not listed. Fifty‐one patients (13.9%) died before completing evaluation and 85 (23.2%) were too early for listing. Reasons patients were declined for listing were psychosocial (15.8%), HIV‐related (10.4%), loss to follow‐up (9.6%), surgical/medical (6.0%), liver‐related (4.4%), patient choice (3.4%), and financial (1.6%). Listed patients were more likely to have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (43.1% vs. 17.1%; P < 0.0001) and less likely to have hepatitis B (6.2% vs. 15.7%; P = 0.04) or a psychiatric history (19.7% vs. 35.2%; P = 0.02) than those not listed. In multivariable analysis, HCC (odds ratio [OR] 5.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.97–11.28), model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score at referral (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01–1.11), and hepatitis B (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.08–0.79) were associated with listing.ConclusionMELD score and HCC were positive predictors of listing in HIV‐infected patients referred for LT evaluation and, therefore, timely referrals are vital in these patients. As MELD is a predictor for death while undergoing evaluation, rapid evaluation should be performed in HIV‐infected patients with a higher MELD score.
Pyogranulomatous panophthalmitis with systemic coronavirus disease in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
Authors: Lindemann Dana M. , Eshar David , Schumacher Loni L. , Almes Kelli M. , Rankin Amy J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractA 15‐month‐old spayed female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) presented for lethargy and weight loss of 2 weeks duration. Upon physical examination, a 2‐mm‐diameter focal area of opacity was noted in the left cornea. In addition, the ferret was quiet, in poor body condition, and dehydrated. A complete blood count and plasma biochemistry revealed a severe nonregenerative anemia, azotemia, hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and mild hyperphosphatemia and hyperchloremia. Urinalysis revealed hyposthenuria. Whole body radiographs showed multifocal thoracic nodular disease, splenomegaly, and renomegaly. Abdominal ultrasonography confirmed bilaterally enlarged kidneys, hypoechoic liver and spleen, and a caudal abdominal hypoechoic mobile nodule. The ferret was humanely euthanized, and a postmortem examination with subsequent histopathology showed multifocal necrotizing pyogranulomas in the lung, spleen, kidneys, mesenteric lymph nodes, and serosa of the duodenum. Pyogranulomatous panophthalmitis was diagnosed in the left eye. The multisystemic granulomatous lesions were suggestive of ferret systemic coronavirus (FRSCV). The presence of coronavirus in the left eye was confirmed by positive immunohistochemistry. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) on formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue from the lung, spleen, and kidney was negative for FRSCV and positive for ferret enteric coronavirus (FRECV). Systemic coronavirus disease in ferrets closely resembles feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in domestic cats, which can manifest with anterior uveitis, chorioretinitis, optic neuritis, and retinal detachment. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of ocular lesions in a ferret with systemic coronavirus disease, suggesting that ferrets presented with similar ocular lesions should also be evaluated for evidence of coronavirus infection.
Evaluation of Moxifloxacin-Containing Regimens in Pathologically Distinct Murine Tuberculosis Models
Authors: Li Si-Yang , Irwin Scott M. , Converse Paul J. , Mdluli Khisi E. , Lenaerts Anne J. , Nuermberger Eric L. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
In the recently concluded REMox-TB trial, two 4-month moxifloxacin-containing regimens did not meet the criteria for noninferiority compared to the current 6-month first-line regimen to treat tuberculosis (TB). Despite the disappointing result, this phase 3 clinical trial provides a rare opportunity to gauge the predictive accuracy of the nonclinical models used to support regimen development. In parallel with the REMox-TB trial, we compared the efficacy of the same three regimens against chronic TB infection in the commonly used BALB/c mouse strain and in C3HeB/FeJ mice, which have attracted recent interest as a nonclinical efficacy model because they develop caseous lung lesions which may better resemble human TB. In long-term treatment experiments at two institutions, using low-dose aerosol infection models with 6- to 8-week incubation periods in both mouse strains, control mice received rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (RHZE), and test mice received the same regimen with moxifloxacin replacing isoniazid (RMZE) or ethambutol (RHZM). Outcome measures were lung CFU counts during treatment and relapse after various durations of treatment. At both institutions and in both mouse strains, RMZE and RHZM reduced by approximately 1 month and 0 to 1 month, respectively, the treatment duration needed to produce the same relapse rate as RHZE. These results demonstrating generally similar treatment-shortening effects of the moxifloxacin-containing regimens in each mouse strain, with effect sizes consistent with the REMox-TB trial results, reinforce the predictive value of murine models for TB regimen development.
Two Novel Salmonella Genomic Island 1 Variants in Proteus mirabilis Isolates from Swine Farms in China
Authors: Lei Chang-Wei , Zhang An-Yun , Liu Bi-Hui , Wang Hong-Ning , Yang Li-Qin , Guan Zhong-Bin , Xu Chang-Wen , Zhang Dong-Dong , Yang Yong-Qiang 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Four different
Salmonella
genomic island 1 (SGI1) variants, including two novel variants, were characterized in one
Salmonella enterica
serovar Rissen sequence type ST1917 isolate and three
Proteus mirabilis
isolates from swine farms in China. One novel variant was derived from SGI1-B with the backbone gene S021 disrupted by a 12.72-kb IS
26
composite transposon containing the
dfrA17-aadA5
cassettes and macrolide inactivation gene cluster
mphA-mrx-mphR
. The other one was an integron-free SGI1 and contained a 183-bp truncated S025 next to IS
6100
and S044.
Silver Oxynitrate, an Unexplored Silver Compound with Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity
Authors: Lemire Joe A. , Kalan Lindsay , Bradu Alexandru , Turner Raymond J. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Historically it has been accepted, and recent research has established, that silver (Ag) is an efficacious antimicrobial agent. A dwindling pipeline of new antibiotics, combined with an increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant infections, is bringing Ag to the fore as a therapeutic compound to treat infectious diseases. Currently, many formulations of Ag are being deployed for commercial and medical purposes, with various degrees of effectiveness at killing microbial cells. Here, we evaluated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm capacity of our lead compound, silver oxynitrate [Ag(Ag
3
O
4
)
2
NO
3
or Ag
7
NO
11
], against other metal compounds with documented antimicrobial activity, including Ag
2
SO
4
, AgNO
3
, silver sulfadiazine (AgSD), AgO, Ag
2
O, and CuSO
4
. Our findings reveal that Ag
7
NO
11
eradicates biofilm and planktonic populations of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Escherichia coli
,
Staphylococcus aureus
, uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(UPEC), fluoroquinolone-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(FQRP), and methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) at lower concentrations than those of the other tested metal salts. Altogether, our results demonstrate that Ag
7
NO
11
has an enhanced efficacy for the treatment of biofilm-forming pathogens.
Distinct Contributions of CD4+and CD8+T Cells to Pathogenesis of Trypanosoma brucei Infection in the Context of Gamma Interferon and Interleukin-10
Authors: Liu Gongguan , Sun Donglei , Wu Hui , Zhang Mingshun , Huan Haixia , Xu Jinjun , Zhang Xiquan , Zhou Hong , Shi Meiqing 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTAlthough gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) have been shown to be critically involved in the pathogenesis of African trypanosomiasis, the contributions to this disease of CD4+and CD8+T cells, the major potential producers of the two cytokines, are incompletely understood. Here we show that, in contrast to previous findings, IFN-γ was produced by CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells in mice infected withTrypanosoma brucei. Without any impairment in the secretion of IFN-γ, infected CD8−/−mice survived significantly longer than infected wild-type mice, suggesting that CD8+T cells mediated mortality in an IFN-γ-independent manner. The increased survival of infected CD8−/−mice was significantly reduced in the absence of IL-10 signaling. Interestingly, IL-10 was also secreted mainly by CD4+T cells. Strikingly, depletion of CD4+T cells abrogated the prolonged survival of infected CD8−/−mice, demonstrating that CD4+T cells mediated protection. Infected wild-type mice and CD8−/−mice depleted of CD4+T cells had equal survival times, suggesting that the protection mediated by CD4+T cells was counteracted by the detrimental effects of CD8+T cells in infected wild-type mice. Interestingly, CD4+T cells also mediated the mortality of infected mice in the absence of IL-10 signaling, probably via excessive secretion of IFN-γ. Finally, CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells were critically involved in the synthesis of IgG antibodies duringT. bruceiinfections. Collectively, these results highlight distinct roles of CD4+and CD8+T cells in the context of IFN-γ and IL-10 duringT. bruceiinfections.
Spore Cortex Hydrolysis Precedes Dipicolinic Acid Release during Clostridium difficile Spore Germination
Authors: Francis Michael B. , Allen Charlotte A. , Sorg Joseph A. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Bacterial spore germination is a process whereby a dormant spore returns to active, vegetative growth, and this process has largely been studied in the model organism
Bacillus subtilis
. In
B. subtilis
, the initiation of germinant receptor-mediated spore germination is divided into two genetically separable stages. Stage I is characterized by the release of dipicolinic acid (DPA) from the spore core. Stage II is characterized by cortex degradation, and stage II is activated by the DPA released during stage I. Thus, DPA release precedes cortex hydrolysis during
B. subtilis
spore germination. Here, we investigated the timing of DPA release and cortex hydrolysis during
Clostridium difficile
spore germination and found that cortex hydrolysis precedes DPA release. Inactivation of either the bile acid germinant receptor,
cspC
, or the cortex hydrolase,
sleC
, prevented both cortex hydrolysis and DPA release. Because both cortex hydrolysis and DPA release during
C. difficile
spore germination are dependent on the presence of the germinant receptor and the cortex hydrolase, the release of DPA from the core may rely on the osmotic swelling of the core upon cortex hydrolysis. These results have implications for the hypothesized glycine receptor and suggest that the initiation of germinant receptor-mediated
C. difficile
spore germination proceeds through a novel germination pathway.

IMPORTANCE
Clostridium difficile
infects antibiotic-treated hosts and spreads between hosts as a dormant spore. In a host, spores germinate to the vegetative form that produces the toxins necessary for disease.
C. difficile
spore germination is stimulated by certain bile acids and glycine. We recently identified the bile acid germinant receptor as the germination-specific, protease-like CspC. CspC is likely cortex localized, where it can transmit the bile acid signal to the cortex hydrolase, SleC. Due to the differences in location of CspC compared to the
Bacillus subtilis
germinant receptors, we hypothesized that there are fundamental differences in the germination processes between the model organism and
C. difficile
. We found that
C. difficile
spore germination proceeds through a novel pathway.
Two Rapidly Growing Mycobacterial Species Isolated from a Brain Abscess: First Whole-Genome Sequences of Mycobacterium immunogenum and Mycobacterium llatzerense
Authors: Greninger Alexander L. , Langelier Charles , Cunningham Gail , Keh Chris , Melgar Michael , Chiu Charles Y. , Miller Steve 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Rapidly growing mycobacteria are rarely found in central nervous system infections. We describe a case of polymicrobial infection in a brain abscess including two rapidly growing
Mycobacterium
species,
M. immunogenum
and
M. llatzerense
. The
Mycobacterium
isolates were distinguishable by molecular methods, and whole-genome sequencing showed <60% pairwise nucleotide identity.
Maternal critical care: what can we learn from patient experience? A qualitative study
Authors: Hinton Lisa , Locock Louise , Knight Marian 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveFor every maternal death, nine women develop severe maternal morbidity. Many of those women will need care in an intensive care unit (ICU) or high dependency unit (HDU). Critical care in the context of pregnancy poses distinct issues for staff and patients, for example, with breastfeeding support and separation from the newborn. This study aimed to understand the experiences of women who experience a maternal near miss and require critical care after childbirth.SettingWomen and some partners from across the UK were interviewed as part of a study of experiences of near-miss maternal morbidity.DesignA qualitative study, using semistructured interviews.ParticipantsA maximum variation sample was recruited of 35 women and 11 partners of women who had experienced a severe maternal illness, which without urgent medical attention would have led to her death. 18 of the women were admitted to ICU or HDU.ResultsThe findings are presented in three themes: being in critical care; being a new mother in critical care; transfer and follow-up after critical care. The study highlights the shock of requiring critical care for new mothers and the gulf between their expectations of birth and what actually happened; the devastation of being separated from their baby, how valuable access to their newborn was, if possible, and the importance of breast feeding; the difficulties of transfer and the need for more support; the value of follow-up and outreach to this population of critical care patients.ConclusionsWhile uncommon, critical illness in pregnancy can be devastating for new mothers and presents a challenge for critical care and maternity staff. This study provides insights into these challenges and recommendations for overcoming them drawn from patient experiences.
Health effects of home energy efficiency interventions in England: a modelling study
Authors: Hamilton Ian , Milner James , Chalabi Zaid , Das Payel , Jones Benjamin , Shrubsole Clive , Davies Mike , Wilkinson Paul 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveTo assess potential public health impacts of changes to indoor air quality and temperature due to energy efficiency retrofits in English dwellings to meet 2030 carbon reduction targets.DesignHealth impact modelling study.SettingEngland.ParticipantsEnglish household population.InterventionThree retrofit scenarios were modelled: (1) fabric and ventilation retrofits installed assuming building regulations are met; (2) as with scenario (1) but with additional ventilation for homes at risk of poor ventilation; (3) as with scenario (1) but with no additional ventilation to illustrate the potential risk of weak regulations and non-compliance.Main outcomePrimary outcomes were changes in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) over 50 years from cardiorespiratory diseases, lung cancer, asthma and common mental disorders due to changes in indoor air pollutants, including secondhand tobacco smoke, PM2.5from indoor and outdoor sources, radon, mould, and indoor winter temperatures.ResultsThe modelling study estimates showed that scenario (1) resulted in positive effects on net mortality and morbidity of 2241 (95% credible intervals (CI) 2085 to 2397) QALYs per 10 000 persons over 50 years follow-up due to improved temperatures and reduced exposure to indoor pollutants, despite an increase in exposure to outdoor-generated particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5). Scenario (2) resulted in a negative impact of −728 (95% CI −864 to −592) QALYs per 10 000 persons over 50 years due to an overall increase in indoor pollutant exposures. Scenario (3) resulted in −539 (95% CI −678 to -399) QALYs per 10 000 persons over 50 years follow-up due to an increase in indoor exposures despite the targeting of pollutants.ConclusionsIf properly implemented alongside ventilation, energy efficiency retrofits in housing can improve health by reducing exposure to cold and air pollutants. Maximising the health benefits requires careful understanding of the balance of changes in pollutant exposures, highlighting the importance of ventilation to mitigate the risk of poor indoor air quality.
Distributed Low-Latency Data Aggregation Scheduling in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Bagaa Miloud , Younis Mohamed , Djenouri Djamel , Derhab Abdelouahid , Badache Nadjib 
Published: April 2015

This article considers the data aggregation scheduling problem, where a collision-free schedule is determined in a distributed way to route the aggregated data from all the sensor nodes to the base station within the least time duration. The algorithm proposed in this article (Distributed algorithm for Integrated tree Construction and data Aggregation (DICA)) intertwines the tree formation and node scheduling to reduce the time latency. Furthermore, while forming the aggregation tree, DICA maximizes the available choices for parent selection at every node, where a parent may have the same, lower, or higher hop count to the base station.
The correctness of the DICA is formally proven, and upper bounds for time and communication overhead are derived. Its performance is evaluated through simulation and compared with six delay-aware aggregation algorithms. The results show that DICA outperforms competing schemes. The article also presents a general hardware-in-the-loop framework (DAF) for validating data aggregation schemes on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). The framework factors in practical issues such as clock synchronization and the sensor node hardware. DICA is implemented and validated using this framework on a test bed of sensor motes that runs TinyOS 2.x, and it is compared with a distributed protocol (DAS) that is also implemented using the proposed framework.
Recommendations for translation and cross-cultural adaptation of instruments for occupational therapy research and practice
Authors: Coster Wendy Jane , Mancini Marisa Cotta 
Published: April 2015

<p>Grande parte do desenvolvimento e validação de novos instrumentos para o uso na pesquisa e na prática da reabilitação ocorreu em países de língua inglesa. Assim, pesquisadores e profissionais da reabilitação em outros países precisam, inicialmente, assumir a tarefa de traduzir tais instrumentos para outros idiomas e validar seu uso em um contexto cultural diferente. É necessário que esse processo siga diretrizes sólidas para que o instrumento traduzido possa ser validado para uso. No entanto, há poucas discussões na literatura em Terapia Ocupacional sobre como melhor conduzir a tradução ou como avaliar a validade<br />de um instrumento traduzido. O objetivo deste artigo é oferecer orientações aos leitores que estejam considerando traduzir um instrumento para a pesquisa ou a prática em Terapia Ocupacional e auxiliar os profi ssionais a avaliarem o uso de instrumentos traduzidos em sua prática clínica.</p>
Using High-Resolution Numerical Weather Forecasts to Improve Remotely Sensed Rainfall Estimates: The Case of the 2013 Colorado Flash Flood
Authors: Nikolopoulos E. I. , Bartsotas N. S. , Anagnostou E. N. , Kallos G. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe September 2013 flash flood–triggering rainfall event in Colorado highlighted the strong underestimation of remote sensing techniques over mountainous terrain. In this work, the use of high-resolution rainfall forecasts for adjusting weather radar– [Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) quantitative precipitation estimation (Q3)] and satellite-based [CPC morphing technique (CMORPH) and TRMM 3B42RT] rainfall estimates is examined. Evaluation of the adjustment procedures is based on the NCEP Stage IV product. Results show that 1-km-grid-resolution rainfall forecasts provided by a numerical weather prediction model [Regional Atmospheric Modeling System and Integrated Community Limited Area Modeling System (RAMS-ICLAMS)] adequately captured total rainfall amounts during the event and could therefore be used to adjust biases in radar and satellite rainfall estimates. Two commonly used adjustment procedures according to 1) mean field bias and 2) probability density function matching are examined. Findings indicate that both procedures are successful in improving the original radar and satellite rainfall estimates, with the first method consistently providing the highest bias reduction while the second exhibits higher improvement in RMSE and correlation.
The Role of Trust as a Mediator Between System Characteristics and Response Behaviors
Authors: Chancey Eric T. , Bliss James P. , Proaps Alexandra B. , Madhavan Poornima 
Published: April 2015

Objective: The purpose of the current work was to clarify how subjective trust determines response behavior when interacting with a signaling system. Background: In multiple theoretical frameworks, trust is acknowledged as a prime mediator between system error characteristics and automation dependence. Some researchers have operationally defined trust as the behavior exhibited. Other researchers have suggested that although trust may guide operator responses, trust does not completely determine the behavior. Method: Forty-four participants interacted with a primary flight simulation task and a secondary signaling system task. The signaling system varied in reliability (90%, 60%) and error bias (false alarm, miss prone). Trust was measured halfway through the experimental session to address the criterion of temporal precedence in determining the effect of trust on behavior. Results: Analyses indicated that trust partially mediated the relationship between reliability and agreement rate. Trust did not mediate the relationship between reliability and reaction time. Trust also did not mediate the relationships between error bias and reaction time or agreement rate. Analyses of variance generally supported specific behavioral and trust hypotheses, indicating that the paradigm employed produced similar effects on response behaviors and subjective estimates of trust observed in other studies. Conclusion: These results indicate that strong assumptions of trust acting as the prime mediator between system error characteristics and response behaviors should be viewed with caution. Application: Practitioners should consider assessing factors other than trust to determine potential operator response behaviors, which may be more predictive.