bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Related to ABA‐Insensitive3(ABI3)/Viviparous1 and AtABI5 transcription factor coexpression in cotton enhances drought stress adaptation
Authors: Mittal Amandeep , Gampala Srinivas S. L. , Ritchie Glen L. , Payton Paxton , Burke John J. , Rock Christopher D. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryDrought tolerance is an important trait being pursued by the agbiotech industry. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a stress hormone that mediates a multitude of processes in growth and development, water use efficiency (WUE) and gene expression during seed development and in response to environmental stresses. Arabidopsis B3‐domain transcription factor Related to ABA‐Insensitive3 (ABI3)/Viviparous1 (namely AtRAV2) and basic leucine zipper (bZIPs) AtABI5 or AtABF3 transactivated ABA‐inducible promoter:GUS reporter expression in a maize mesophyll protoplast transient assay and showed synergies in reporter transactivation when coexpressed. Transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) expressing AtRAV1/2 and/or AtABI5 showed resistance to imposed drought stress under field and greenhouse conditions and exhibited improved photosynthesis and WUEs associated with absorption through larger root system and greater leaf area. We observed synergy for root biomass accumulation in the greenhouse, intrinsic WUE in the field and drought tolerance in stacked AtRAV and AtABI5 double‐transgenic cotton. We assessed AtABI5 and AtRAV1/2 involvement in drought stress adaptations through reactive oxygen species scavenging and osmotic adjustment by marker gene expression in cotton. Deficit irrigation‐grown AtRAV1/2 and AtABI5 transgenics had ‘less‐stressed’ molecular and physiological phenotypes under drought, likely due to improved photoassimilation and root and shoot sink strengths and enhanced expression of endogenous GhRAV and genes for antioxidant and osmolyte biosynthesis. Overexpression of bZIP and RAV TFs could impact sustainable cotton agriculture and potentially other crops under limited irrigation conditions.
Immunogenicity of a prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus L1 virus‐like particle vaccine in male and female adolescent transplant recipients
Authors: Gomez‐Lobo V. , Whyte T. , Kaufman S. , Torres C. , Moudgil A. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractOrgan TX recipients are at an increased risk of developing cancers of the lower genital tract related to HPV. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine has high efficacy in preventing these diseases, but response to many vaccines is suboptimal after organ transplantation. Liver and kidney TX recipients received quadrivalent HPV vaccine. Serum samples were tested for anti‐HPV levels. Of 20 renal transplant recipients screened, 14 received vaccine. Of these, seven completed the vaccine series and seven had incomplete vaccination. Of five liver TX children, three received vaccines (two complete and one incomplete). All eight kidney and liver TX children with complete vaccination and available results were seronegative at baseline and had seroconversion at month 7 for all four HPV types. Six of 14 (42.8%) kidney TX recipients developed AR. During the same time period, eight of 28 (28.5%) non‐vaccine renal transplant recipients developed AR (p = ns). Transplant adolescents developed 100% seroconversion to all four HPV serotypes with HPV vaccine with serologic titers similar to historic controls. A non‐significant increased incidence of AR was noted among kidney transplant vaccine recipients. A much larger study would be needed to evaluate whether HPV vaccination increases AR in transplant adolescents.
Successful ABO incompatible renal transplantation following rituximab and DFPP after failed immunoadsorption
Authors: Thalgahagoda Shenal , Webb Nicholas J. A. , Roberts Denise , Birch Allison , Milford David V. , Tavakoli Afshin , Shenoy Mohan 
Published: February 2014

AbstractEffective antibody removal using PE, DFPP and IA has led to increased access to live donor organs through ABOi RT for patients with chronic kidney disease. However, there have been no head‐to‐head comparator studies between these modalities, and the choice of technique is usually influenced by cost and institutional preference. We describe the clinical course of a child undergoing ABOi RT, in whom IA without preconditioning with rituximab did not achieve a satisfactory reduction in the antibody titers, who went on to have a successful living donor RT following rituximab and DFPP.
Relationship between problems related to child late effects and parent burnout after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Lindahl Norberg Annika , Mellgren Karin , Winiarski Jacek , Forinder Ulla 
Published: February 2014

AbstractA few studies have indicated that parents' reactions to a child's serious disease may entail long‐term stress for the parents. However, further knowledge of its consequences is valuable. The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of burnout in a Swedish national sample of parents of children who had undergone HSCT and survived. Burnout (Shirom–Melamed Burnout Questionnaire) and estimations of the child's health status (Lansky/Karnofsky estimations and study‐specific questions) were self‐reported by 159 mothers and 123 fathers. In addition, physicians made estimations of the child's health status (Lansky/Karnofsky estimations). Nonparametric tests revealed that burnout symptoms occurred more often among fathers of children who had undergone transplantation within the last five yr compared to fathers of children with no history of serious disease (34.4% vs. 19.9%). Burnout among mothers and fathers was associated with the child's number and severity of health impairments up to five yr after the child underwent HSCT (Spearman's rho for mothers 0.26–0.36 and for fathers 0.36–0.61). In conclusion, chronic stress in parents after a child's HSCT seems to abate eventually. However, parents should be monitored and offered adequate support when needed. Moreover, the situation of fathers in the often mother‐dominated pediatric setting should receive more attention in research as well as in the clinic.
Successful outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in Seckel syndrome
Authors: Darrigo Luiz Guilherme , Rodrigues Maria Carolina , Pieroni Fabiano , Stracieri Ana Beatriz Pereira Lima , Moraes Daniela Aparecida , Grecco Carlos Eduardo Setanni , Dias Juliana Bernardes Elias , Sobral Ana Carolina , Simões Belinda Pinto 
Published: February 2014

AbstractSeckel syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease, genetically heterogeneous, characterized by short stature, prenatal microcephaly, intellectual disability, dysmorphic features, chromosomal instability, and hematological disorders. We report the case of a six‐yr‐old boy with Seckel syndrome and aplastic anemia who underwent successful allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from ten of ten HLA matched unrelated donor. Currently the patient is on D+771, in good health conditions and with no further complications. In conclusion, this case indicates that bone marrow transplantation is an acceptable therapeutic option for Seckel syndrome complicated by hematological alterations.
Stable pediatric kidney transplant recipients run higher urine indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase (IDO) levels than healthy children
Authors: Khasawneh Eihab Al , Gupta Sushil , Tuli Sanjeev Y. , Shahlaee Amir H. , Garrett Timothy J. , Schechtman Kenneth B. , Dharnidharka Vikas R 
Published: February 2014

AbstractImmune cells utilize the IDO enzymatic conversion of trp to kyn to determine T‐cell activation vs. anergy/apoptosis. In prior studies, urine IDO levels were higher in rejecting renal allografts than in stable state. However, urine IDO levels in healthy subjects or children are unknown. As a corollary to a larger longitudinal and prospective study of serum and urine IDO levels for transplant immune monitoring, here, we analyzed the difference between urine IDO levels in stable post‐transplant vs. healthy children. IDO levels were measured by tandem mass spectrometry and expressed as kyn/trp ratios. We compared one‐time urine samples, from 34 well children at general pediatric clinics, to the first‐month post‐transplant urine samples from 18 children, while in stable state (no acute rejection or major infection event in next 30 days). Urine kyn/trp ratios were significantly higher in stable children in first‐month post‐kidney transplant (median 16.6, range 3.9–44.0) vs. healthy children (median 9.2, range 3.51–17.0; p = 0.0057 by nonparametric Mann–Whitney test). Higher urine IDO levels even with stable transplant suggest a continuous ongoing low‐grade allorecognition/inflammatory process. Our data also provide baseline urine IDO levels in healthy subjects for use in future studies.
Multiple‐Aetiology Enteric Infections Involving Non‐O157 Shiga Toxin‐Producing Escherichia coli – FoodNet, 2001–2010
Authors: Luna‐Gierke R. E. , Wymore K. , Sadlowski J. , Clogher P. , Gierke R. W. , Tobin‐D'Angelo M. , Palmer A. , Medus C. , Nicholson C. , McGuire S. , Martin H. , Garman K. , Griffin P. M. , Mody R. K. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryWe describe multiple‐aetiology infections involving non‐O157 Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) identified through laboratory‐based surveillance in nine FoodNet sites from 2001 to 2010. A multiple‐aetiology infection (MEI) was defined as isolation of non‐O157 STEC and laboratory evidence of any of the other nine pathogens under surveillance or isolation of >1 non‐O157 STEC serogroup from the same person within a 7‐day period. We compared exposures of patients with MEI during 2001–2010 with those of patients with single‐aetiology non‐O157 STEC infections (SEI) during 2008–2009 and with those of the FoodNet population from a survey conducted during 2006–2007. In total, 1870 non‐O157 STEC infections were reported; 68 (3.6%) were MEI; 60 included pathogens other than non‐O157 STEC; and eight involved >1 serogroup of non‐O157 STEC. Of the 68 MEI, 21 (31%) were part of six outbreaks. STEC O111 was isolated in 44% of all MEI. Of patients with MEI, 50% had contact with farm animals compared with 29% (P < 0.01) of persons with SEI; this difference was driven by infections involving STEC O111. More patients with non‐outbreak‐associated MEI reported drinking well water (62%) than respondents in a population survey (19%) (P < 0.01). Drinking well water and having contact with animals may be important exposures for MEI, especially those involving STEC O111.
Characterization of the anisotropic mechanical behaviour of colonic tissues: experimental activity and constitutive formulation
Authors: Carniel E. L. , Gramigna V. , Fontanella C. G. , Frigo A. , Stefanini C. , Rubini A. , Natali A. N. 
Published: February 2014

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
The wall of the colon shows an anisotropic and non‐linear mechanical response, because of the distribution and mechanical properties of sub‐components. This study aimed to provide, by a coupled experimental and computational approach, a constitutive framework to interpret the mechanics of colonic tissues.
What is the main finding and its importance?
Tensile tests on tissue samples from pig colon were developed. The experimental data were processed to define proper constitutive formulations. Constitutive parameters were identified by the inverse analysis of experimental tests. The reliability of parameters was assessed by agreement between the experimental and model results and the satisfaction of material thermomechanics principles. The developed constitutive framework is capable of interpreting the general anisotropic and non‐linear mechanical behaviour of colonic tissues.
The aim was to investigate the biomechanical behaviour of colonic tissues by a coupled experimental and numerical approach. The wall of the colon is composed of different tissue layers. Within each layer, different fibre families are distributed according to specific spatial orientations, which lead to a strongly anisotropic configuration. Accounting for the complex histology of the tissues, mechanical tests must be planned and designed to evaluate the behaviour of the colonic wall in different directions. Uni‐axial tensile tests were performed on tissue specimens from 15 fresh pig colons, accounting for six different loading directions (five specimens for each loading direction). The next step of the investigation was to define an appropriate constitutive framework and develop a procedure for identification of the constitutive parameters. A specific hyperelastic formulation was developed that accounted for the multilayered conformation of the colonic wall and the fibre‐reinforced configuration of the tissues. The parameters were identified by inverse analyses of the mechanical tests. The comparison of model results with experimental data, together with the evaluation of satisfaction of material thermomechanics principles, confirmed the reliability of the analysis developed. This work forms the basis for more comprehensive activities that aim to provide computational tools for the interpretation of surgical procedures that involve the gastrointestinal tract, considering the specific biomedical devices adopted.
An efficient polyenergetic SART (pSART) reconstruction algorithm for quantitative myocardial CT perfusion
Authors: Lin Yuan , Samei Ehsan 
Published: February 2014

Purpose:In quantitative myocardial CT perfusion imaging, beam hardening effect due to dense bone and high concentration iodinated contrast agent can result in visible artifacts and inaccurate CT numbers. In this paper, an efficient polyenergetic Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (pSART) was presented to eliminate the beam hardening artifacts and to improve the CT quantitative imaging ability.Methods:Our algorithm made threea priori assumptions: (1) the human body is composed of several base materials (e.g., fat, breast, soft tissue, bone, and iodine); (2) images can be coarsely segmented to two types of regions, i.e., nonbone regions and noniodine regions; and (3) each voxel can be decomposed into a mixture of two most suitable base materials according to its attenuation value and its corresponding region type information. Based on the above assumptions, energy‐independent accumulated effective lengths of all base materials can be fast computed in the forward ray‐tracing process and be used repeatedly to obtain accurate polyenergetic projections, with which a SART‐based equation can correctly update each voxel in the backward projecting process to iteratively reconstruct artifact‐free images. This approach effectively reduces the influence of polyenergetic x‐ray sources and it further enables monoenergetic images to be reconstructed at any arbitrarily preselected target energies. A series of simulation tests were performed on a size‐variable cylindrical phantom and a realistic anthropomorphic thorax phantom. In addition, a phantom experiment was also performed on a clinical CT scanner to further quantitatively validate the proposed algorithm.Results:The simulations with the cylindrical phantom and the anthropomorphic thorax phantom showed that the proposed algorithm completely eliminated beam hardening artifacts and enabled quantitative imaging across different materials, phantom sizes, and spectra, as the absolute relative errors were reduced from [−7.5%, 12.1%] for SART to [−0.1%, 0.1%] for pSART. When using low kVp spectra and high reference energies, pSART also showed improved reconstruction efficiency in terms of convergence speed compared to the conventional SART algorithm. The phantom experiment on a clinical CT scanner indicated that the quantitative advantage of pSART is realizable in experimental CT acquisition, as the absolute relative errors across material inserts were less than 0.4%.Conclusions:By incorporatinga priori information (material attenuation coefficients, x‐ray source spectrum, and region type information) into the reconstruction process, the proposed pSART algorithm could effectively eliminate beam hardening artifacts, reconstruct the accurate attenuation coefficients for precise quantitative imaging, and accelerate the reconstruction process.
Identification of Bacteriophages for Biocontrol of the Kiwifruit Canker Phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae
Authors: Frampton Rebekah A. , Taylor Corinda , Holguín Moreno Angela V. , Visnovsky Sandra B. , Petty Nicola K. , Pitman Andrew R. , Fineran Peter C. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas syringae
pv. actinidiae is a reemerging pathogen which causes bacterial canker of kiwifruit (
Actinidia
sp.). Since 2008, a global outbreak of
P. syringae
pv. actinidiae has occurred, and in 2010 this pathogen was detected in New Zealand. The economic impact and the development of resistance in
P. syringae
pv. actinidiae and other pathovars against antibiotics and copper sprays have led to a search for alternative management strategies. We isolated 275 phages, 258 of which were active against
P. syringae
pv. actinidiae. Extensive host range testing on
P. syringae
pv. actinidiae, other pseudomonads, and bacteria isolated from kiwifruit orchards showed that most phages have a narrow host range. Twenty-four were analyzed by electron microscopy, pulse-field gel electrophoresis, and restriction digestion. Their suitability for biocontrol was tested by assessing stability and the absence of lysogeny and transduction. A detailed host range was performed, phage-resistant bacteria were isolated, and resistance to other phages was examined. The phages belonged to the
Caudovirales
and were analyzed based on morphology and genome size, which showed them to be representatives of
Myoviridae
,
Podoviridae
, and
Siphoviridae
. Twenty-one
Myoviridae
members have similar morphologies and genome sizes yet differ in restriction patterns, host range, and resistance, indicating a closely related group. Nine of these
Myoviridae
members were sequenced, and each was unique. The most closely related sequenced phages were a group infecting
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and characterized by phages JG004 and PAK_P1. In summary, this study reports the isolation and characterization of
P. syringae
pv. actinidiae phages and provides a framework for the intelligent formulation of phage biocontrol agents against kiwifruit bacterial canker.
Genetic Manipulations of the Hyperthermophilic Piezophilic Archaeon Thermococcus barophilus
Authors: Thiel Axel , Michoud Grégoire , Moalic Yann , Flament Didier , Jebbar Mohamed 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT

In this study, we developed a gene disruption system for
Thermococcus barophilus
using simvastatin for positive selection and 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA) for negative selection or counterselection to obtain markerless deletion mutants using single- and double-crossover events. Disruption plasmids carrying flanking regions of each targeted gene were constructed and introduced by transformation into wild-type
T. barophilus
MP cells. Initially, a
pyrF
deletion mutant was obtained as a starting point for the construction of further markerless mutants. A deletion of the
hisB
gene was also constructed in the UBOCC-3256 (Δ
pyrF
) background, generating a strain (UBOCC-3260) that was auxotrophic for histidine. A functional
pyrF
or
hisB
allele from
T. barophilus
was inserted into the chromosome of UBOCC-3256 (Δ
pyrF
) or UBOCC-3260 (Δ
pyrF
Δ
hisB
), allowing homologous complementation of these mutants. The piezophilic genetic tools developed in this study provide a way to construct strains with multiple genetic backgrounds that will allow further genetic studies for hyperthermophilic piezophilic archaea.
Detection and Prevalence of Verotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 and Non-O157 Serotypes in a Canadian Watershed
Authors: Johnson R. P. , Holtslander B. , Mazzocco A. , Roche S. , Thomas J. L. , Pollari F. , Pintar K. D. M. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT

Verotoxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(VTEC) strains are the cause of food-borne and waterborne illnesses around the world. Traditionally, surveillance of the human population as well as the environment has focused on the detection of
E. coli
O157:H7. Recently, increasing recognition of non-O157 VTEC strains as human pathogens and the German O104:H4 food-borne outbreak have illustrated the importance of considering the broader group of VTEC organisms from a public health perspective. This study presents the results of a comparison of three methods for the detection of VTEC in surface water, highlighting the efficacy of a direct VT immunoblotting method without broth enrichment for detection and isolation of O157 and non-O157 VTEC strains. The direct immunoblot method eliminates the need for an enrichment step or the use of immunomagnetic separation. This method was developed after 4 years of detecting low frequencies (1%) of
E. coli
O157:H7 in surface water in a Canadian watershed, situated within one of the FoodNet Canada integrated surveillance sites. By the direct immunoblot method, VTEC prevalence estimates ranged from 11 to 35% for this watershed, and
E. coli
O157:H7 prevalence increased to 4% (due to improved method sensitivity). This direct testing method provides an efficient means to enhance our understanding of the prevalence and types of VTEC in the environment. This study employed a rapid evidence assessment (REA) approach to frame the watershed findings with watershed
E. coli
O157:H7 prevalences reported in the literature since 1990 and the knowledge gap with respect to VTEC detection in surface waters.
Antiviral Properties of Silver Nanoparticles on a Magnetic Hybrid Colloid
Authors: Park SungJun , Park Hye Hun , Kim Sung Yeon , Kim Su Jung , Woo Kyoungja , Ko GwangPyo 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are considered to be a potentially useful tool for controlling various pathogens. However, there are concerns about the release of AgNPs into environmental media, as they may generate adverse human health and ecological effects. In this study, we developed and evaluated a novel micrometer-sized magnetic hybrid colloid (MHC) decorated with variously sized AgNPs (AgNP-MHCs). After being applied for disinfection, these particles can be easily recovered from environmental media using their magnetic properties and remain effective for inactivating viral pathogens. We evaluated the efficacy of AgNP-MHCs for inactivating bacteriophage ϕX174, murine norovirus (MNV), and adenovirus serotype 2 (AdV2). These target viruses were exposed to AgNP-MHCs for 1, 3, and 6 h at 25°C and then analyzed by plaque assay and real-time TaqMan PCR. The AgNP-MHCs were exposed to a wide range of pH levels and to tap and surface water to assess their antiviral effects under different environmental conditions. Among the three types of AgNP-MHCs tested, Ag30-MHCs displayed the highest efficacy for inactivating the viruses. The ϕX174 and MNV were reduced by more than 2 log10after exposure to 4.6 × 109Ag30-MHCs/ml for 1 h. These results indicated that the AgNP-MHCs could be used to inactivate viral pathogens with minimum chance of potential release into environment.