bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-10 from T Cells, but Not Macrophages and Granulocytes, Is Required for Chronic Disease in Leishmania mexicana Infection
Authors: Buxbaum Laurence U. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTChronic cutaneous disease of mice caused by the protozoan parasiteLeishmania mexicanarequires interleukin-10 (IL-10) and FcγRIII (an activating IgG receptor). Macrophages readily secrete IL-10 in response to IgG-coated amastigotes, making macrophages a prime candidate as the critical source of IL-10. However, indirect evidence suggested that macrophage IL-10 is not essential for chronic disease. I now show directly that mice lacking IL-10 from macrophages and granulocytes still have chronic disease, like wild-type C57BL/6 mice. However, T cell-derived IL-10 is required for chronic disease. CD4-cre IL-10flox/floxmice lack IL-10 from T cells (both CD4+and CD8+) and heal theirL. mexicanalesions, with parasite control. I had previously shown that depletion of CD25+T cells had no effect on chronic disease, and thus, T cells other than CD25+regulatory T (Treg) cells should be the important source of IL-10. Given that conventional T cells do not express FcγRs, there is likely to be an indirect pathway by which FcγRIII on some other cell engaged by IgG1-amastigote immune complexes induces IL-10 from T cells. Further work is needed to delineate these pathways.
Role of the Carboxy Terminus of SecA in Iron Acquisition, Protein Translocation, and Virulence of the Bacterial Pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Fiester Steven E. , Nwugo Chika C. , Penwell William F. , Neary John M. , Beckett Amber C. , Arivett Brock A. , Schmidt Robert E. , Geiger Sarah C. , Connerly Pamela L. , Menke Sharon M. , Tomaras Andrew P. , Actis Luis A. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACT

Acinetobacter baumannii
is a Gram-negative opportunistic nosocomial pathogen that causes pneumonia and soft tissue and systemic infections. Screening of a transposon insertion library of
A. baumannii
ATCC 19606
T
resulted in the identification of the 2010 derivative, which, although capable of growing well in iron-rich media, failed to prosper under iron chelation. Genetic, molecular, and functional assays showed that 2010's iron utilization-deficient phenotype is due to an insertion within the 3′ end of
secA
, which results in the production of a C-terminally truncated derivative of SecA. SecA plays a critical role in protein translocation through the SecYEG membrane channel. Accordingly, the
secA
mutation resulted in undetectable amounts of the ferric acinetobactin outer membrane receptor protein BauA while not affecting the production of other acinetobactin membrane protein transport components, such as BauB and BauE, or the secretion of acinetobactin by 2010 cells cultured in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of the synthetic iron chelator 2,2′-dipyridyl. Outer membrane proteins involved in nutrient transport, adherence, and biofilm formation were also reduced in 2010. The SecA truncation also increased production of 30 different proteins, including proteins involved in adaptation/tolerance responses. Although some of these protein changes could negatively affect the pathobiology of the 2010 derivative, its virulence defect is mainly due to its inability to acquire iron via the acinetobactin-mediated system. These results together indicate that although the C terminus of the
A. baumannii
ATCC 19606
T
SecA is not essential for viability, it plays a critical role in the production and translocation of different proteins and virulence.
Cryptococcal Phospholipase B1 Is Required for Intracellular Proliferation and Control of Titan Cell Morphology during Macrophage Infection
Authors: Evans Robert J. , Li Zhongming , Hughes William S. , Djordjevic Julianne T. , Nielsen Kirsten , May Robin C. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACT

Cryptococcus neoformans
is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and a leading cause of fungal-infection-related fatalities, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Several virulence factors are known to play a major role in the pathogenesis of cryptococcal infections, including the enzyme phospholipase B1 (Plb1). Compared to other well-studied
Cryptococcus neoformans
virulence factors such as the polysaccharide capsule and melanin production, very little is known about the contribution of Plb1 to cryptococcal virulence. Phospholipase B1 is a phospholipid-modifying enzyme that has been implicated in multiple stages of cryptococcal pathogenesis, including initiation and persistence of pulmonary infection and dissemination to the central nervous system, but the underlying reason for these phenotypes remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that a Δ
plb1
knockout strain of
C. neoformans
has a profound defect in intracellular growth within host macrophages. This defect is due to a combination of a 50% decrease in proliferation and a 2-fold increase in cryptococcal killing within the phagosome. In addition, we show for the first time that the Δ
plb1
strain undergoes a morphological change during
in vitro
and
in vivo
intracellular infection, resulting in a subpopulation of very large titan cells, which may arise as a result of the attenuated mutant's inability to cope within the macrophage.
Structural Insights into the Multispecific Recognition of Dipeptides of Deep-Sea Gram-Negative Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. Strain SM9913
Authors: Li Chun-Yang , Chen Xiu-Lan , Qin Qi-Long , Wang Peng , Zhang Wei-Xin , Xie Bin-Bin , Su Hai-Nan , Zhang Xi-Ying , Zhou Bai-Cheng , Zhang Yu-Zhong 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACT

Peptide uptake is important for nutrition supply for marine bacteria. It is also an important step in marine nitrogen cycling. However, how marine bacteria absorb peptides is still not fully understood. DppA is the periplasmic dipeptide binding protein of dipeptide permease (Dpp; an important peptide transporter in bacteria) and exclusively controls the substrate specificity of Dpp. Here, the substrate binding specificity of deep-sea
Pseudoalteromonas
sp. strain SM9913 DppA (
Ps
DppA) was analyzed for 25 different dipeptides with various properties by using isothermal titration calorimetry measurements.
Ps
DppA showed binding affinities for 8 dipeptides. To explain the multispecific substrate recognition mechanism of
Ps
DppA, we solved the crystal structures of unliganded
Ps
DppA and of
Ps
DppA in complex with 4 different types of dipeptides (Ala-Phe, Met-Leu, Gly-Glu, and Val-Thr).
Ps
DppA alternates between an “open” and a “closed” form during substrate binding. Structural analyses of the 4
Ps
DppA-substrate complexes combined with mutational assays indicate that
Ps
DppA binds to different substrates through a precise mechanism: dipeptides are bound mainly by the interactions between their backbones and
Ps
DppA, in particular by anchoring their N and C termini through ion-pair interactions; hydrophobic interactions are important in binding hydrophobic dipeptides; and Lys457 is necessary for the binding of dipeptides with a C-terminal glutamic acid or glutamine. Additionally, sequence alignment suggests that the substrate recognition mechanism of
Ps
DppA may be common in Gram-negative bacteria. All together, our results provide structural insights into the multispecific substrate recognition mechanism of marine Gram-negative bacterial DppA, which provides a better understanding of the mechanisms of marine bacterial peptide uptake.

IMPORTANCE
Peptide uptake plays a significant role in nutrition supply for marine bacteria. It is also an important step in marine nitrogen cycling. However, how marine bacteria recognize and absorb peptides is still unclear. This study analyzed the substrate binding specificity of deep-sea
Pseudoalteromonas
sp. strain SM9913 DppA (
Ps
DppA; the dipeptide-binding protein of dipeptide permease) and solved the crystal structures of unliganded
Ps
DppA and
Ps
DppA in complex with 4 different types of dipeptides. The multispecific recognition mechanism of
Ps
DppA for dipeptides is explained based on structural and mutational analyses. We also find that the substrate-binding mechanism of
Ps
DppA may be common in Gram-negative bacteria. This study sheds light on marine Gram-negative bacterial peptide uptake and marine nitrogen cycling.
Body composition and bone health in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood and adolescence: the protocol for a cross-sectional cohort study
Authors: Barr Ronald , Nayiager Trishana , Gordon Christopher , Marriott Christopher , Athale Uma 
Published: January 2015

IntroductionSuccess in the treatment of young people with cancer, as measured conventionally by survival rates, is mitigated by late effects of therapy that impose a burden of morbidity and limit life expectancy. Among these adverse sequelae are altered body composition, especially obesity, and compromised bone health in the form of osteoporosis and increased fragility. These outcomes are potentially reversible and even preventable. This study will examine measures of body composition and bone health in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in childhood and adolescence. These measures will be complemented by measures of physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQL).Methods and analysisSurvivors of ALL who are at least 10 years from diagnosis, following treatment on uniform protocols, will undergo measurements of body mass index; triceps skin fold thickness and mid-upper arm circumference; fat mass, lean body mass, skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral density by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; trabecular and cortical bone indices and muscle density by peripheral quantitative CT; physical activity by the Habitual Activity Estimation Scale; and HRQL by Health Utilities Index instruments. Descriptive measures will be used for continuous variables and number (percent) for categorical variables. Associations between variables will be assessed using Fisher's exact t test and the χ2test; correlations will be tested by the Pearson correlation coefficient.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by the institutional research ethics board and is supported by a competitive funding award. Dissemination of the results will occur by presentations to scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals, and by posting summaries of the results on websites accessed by adolescent and young adult survivors of cancer.
Comparing risk behaviours of human papillomavirus-vaccinated and non-vaccinated women
Authors: Sadler Laura , Roberts Stephen A , Hampal Gail , McManus Dona , Mandal Debashis , Brabin Loretta 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundSince September 2008, a national vaccine programme in the UK has offered routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to young women aged 12–13 years. A catch-up programme also offered HPV vaccination to women born after 1 September 1990.AimTo compare indicators of risk and preventive behaviours among young women attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics who had, and had not, received at least one dose of HPV vaccine.MethodsClinical histories and HPV vaccination status were obtained from 363 participants eligible for HPV vaccination (Cervarix®) in the UK vaccination programme (born after 1 September 1990) attending GUM clinics in the North West of England. Using logistic regression, markers of sexual and non-sexual risk behaviours were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated women.ResultsAt least one dose of HPV vaccine had been received by 63.6% (n=231) of participants. Unvaccinated women demonstrated higher levels of risky behaviour than those who had undergone HPV vaccination. Unvaccinated women were significantly more likely to have had three or more partners in the last 6 months, attended the clinic with symptoms, not used a condom at first sexual intercourse, had anal intercourse with their last sexual contact, to have tested positive forChlamydia trachomatisdiagnosis at the clinic visit and to be a current smoker.ConclusionsIn the UK, where vaccine coverage is high, failure to initiate HPV vaccination amongst GUM attendees is a marker of high-risk behaviours. As a result, HPV vaccination status should be ascertained as part of an individual's clinical history by sexual health services to ensure advice and counselling is provided to those at greatest risk of HPV-associated disease.
Flow diverter device for the treatment of small middle cerebral artery aneurysms
Authors: Briganti Francesco , Delehaye Luigi , Leone Giuseppe , Sicignano Carmine , Buono Giuseppe , Marseglia Mariano , Caranci Ferdinando , Tortora Fabio , Maiuri Francesco 
Published: January 2015

PurposeExperience with the endovascular treatment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms by flow diverter devices (FDD) is still limited. This study examines the results and complications of FDD for small aneurysms at this location.MethodsFrom February 2010 to December 2013, 14 patients (10 women; mean age 59 years) with 15 small MCA aneurysms were treated with FDD. All procedures were performed with the Pipeline embolization device (PED).ResultsComplete occlusion was obtained in 12/15 aneurysms (80%) and partial occlusion in 3 (20%). Among 13 aneurysms with a side branch, this was patent at the angiographic control in 4 cases, showed decreased filling in 6, and was occluded in 3 (with neurological deficits in 2). All PEDs were patent at follow-up. Post-procedural ischemic complications occurred in 4 (27%) procedures with permanent neurological deficit (modified Rankin score 2) in 3 (21%). No early or delayed aneurysm rupture, no subarachnoid or intraparenchymal hemorrhage and no deaths occurred.ConclusionsEndovascular treatment with FDD is a relatively safe treatment for small MCA aneurysms resulting in a high occlusion rate. The findings of this study suggest that complete occlusion after endovascular treatment with FDD can be delayed (>6 months). Ischemic complications may occur as early or delayed, particularly at clopidogrel interruption.
Computational fluid dynamics with stents: quantitative comparison with particle image velocimetry for three commercial off the shelf intracranial stents
Authors: Bouillot Pierre , Brina Olivier , Ouared Rafik , Yilmaz Hasan , Lovblad Karl-Olof , Farhat Mohamed , Mendes Pereira Vitor 
Published: January 2015

Background and purposeValidation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in stented intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is still lacking, to reliably predict prone to occlusion hemodynamics, probing, in particular, velocity reduction, and flow pattern changes. This study compares CFD outcome with particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) for three commercial off the shelf (COTS) stents of different material densities.Material and methodsThe recently developed uniform and high precision multi-time lag PIV method was applied to a sidewall aneurysm before and after implantation of three COTS stents with high, intermediate, and low material densities. The measured laser sheet flow patterns and velocity reductions were compared with CFD results and correlated with stent material density.ResultsVelocity reduction was in good agreement for unstented high and low porosity stented IA, while flow pattern change was fully matched for unstented and high porosity stented IA. Poor CFD–PIV matching in IA was found for intermediate porosity stents.ConclusionsCFD reproduced fully PIV measurements in unstented and high porosity stented IAs. With low porosity stents, CFD reproduced velocity reduction and high velocities close to the neck, while a marked mismatch on sluggish flow was found at the dome. CFD was unable to match PIV with intermediate porosity stents for which hemodynamic transition occurred.
To Treat or Not to Treat?
Authors: Balucani Clotilde , Bianchi Riccardo , Feldmann Edward , Weedon Jeremy , Kolychev Dmitri , Levine Steven R. 
Published: January 2015

Background and Purpose—
Minor strokes and rapidly improving stroke symptoms are frequent exclusions for intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. We explored factors influencing tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment decision for minor strokes/rapidly improving stroke symptoms.

Methods—
A pilot survey, including 110 case scenarios, was completed by 17 clinicians from 2 academic medical centers. Respondents were asked whether they would treat each case with tissue-type plasminogen activator at 60 minutes after emergency department admission. Cases varied by (1) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at treatment decision time, (2) symptom pattern over time (improvement or worsening and then improving), (3) type of neurological deficit (3 main domains: motor, visual/sensory/ataxia, and language/neglect), and (4) age/occupation (4 profiles). Logistic regression was used to predict probability of omission (pO). A binomial regression model was used to predict probability of treatment decision.

Results—

Predicted probability of treatment decision was affected by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (
P
<0.001) and age/occupation profiles (
P
<0.001) but not by symptom patterns (
P
=0.334). There were significant, albeit modest, main effects on probability of treatment decision for neurological domains. Responses were most likely omitted (
P
=0.027) for cases improvement pattern and language/neglect domain (pO=0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.52–0.89) and with visual/sensory/ataxia domain (pO=0.74; confidence interval, 0.37–0.93) when compared with improvement pattern and motor domain (pO=0.17; confidence interval, 0.06–0.42) and to any worsening and then improving patterns (0.37<pO<0.56).

Conclusions—
This pilot survey provides the first quantitative evidence that National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score is not the only determinant of treatment decision. A National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 2 is the potential equipoise point, with the least consensus on treatment decision. These preliminary findings require validation in larger population surveys.
Regional Variations in Potential Plant Habitat Changes in Response to Multiple Global Warming Scenarios*
Authors: Park Chang-Eui , Jeong Su-Jong , Ho Chang-Hoi , Kim Jinwon 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
This study examines the impacts of global warming on the timing of plant habitat changes in the twenty-first century using climate scenarios from multiple global climate models (GCMs). The plant habitat changes are predicted by driving the bioclimate rule in a dynamic global vegetation model using the climate projections from 16 coupled GCMs. The timing of plant habitat changes is estimated by the first occurrence of specified fractional changes (10%, 20%, and 30%). All future projections are categorized into three groups by the magnitude of the projected global-mean land surface temperature changes: low (&lt;2.5 K), medium (2.5–3.5 K), and high (&gt;3.5 K) warming. During the course of the twenty-first century, dominant plant habitat changes are projected in ecologically transitional (i.e., from tropical to temperate and temperate to boreal) regions. The timing of plant habitat changes varies substantially according to regions. In the low-warming group, habitat changes of 10% in southern Africa occur in 2028, earlier than in the Americas by more than 70 yr. Differences in the timing between regions increase with the increase in warming and fractional threshold. In the subtropics, fast plant habitat changes are projected for the Asia and Africa regions, where countries of relatively small gross domestic product (GDP) per capita are concentrated. Ecosystems in these regions will be more vulnerable to global warming, because countries of low economic power lack the capability to deal with the warming-induced habitat changes. Thus, it is important to establish international collaboration via which developed countries provide assistance to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
Different Rates of Soil Drying after Rainfall Are Observed by the SMOS Satellite and the South Fork in situ Soil Moisture Network
Authors: Rondinelli Wesley J. , Hornbuckle Brian K. , Patton Jason C. , Cosh Michael H. , Walker Victoria A. , Carr Benjamin D. , Logsdon Sally D. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Soil moisture affects the spatial variation of land–atmosphere interactions through its influence on the balance of latent and sensible heat fluxes. Wetter soils are more prone to flooding because a smaller fraction of rainfall can infiltrate into the soil. The Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite carries a remote sensing instrument able to make estimates of near-surface soil moisture on a global scale. One way to validate satellite observations is by comparing them with observations made with sparse networks of in situ soil moisture sensors that match the extent of satellite footprints. The rate of soil drying after significant rainfall observed by SMOS is found to be higher than the rate observed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil moisture network in the watershed of the South Fork Iowa River. This leads to the conclusion that SMOS and the network observe different layers of the soil: SMOS observes a layer of soil at the soil surface that is a few centimeters thick, while the network observes a deeper soil layer centered at the depth at which the in situ soil moisture sensors are buried. It is also found that SMOS near-surface soil moisture is drier than the South Fork network soil moisture, on average. The conclusion that SMOS and the network observe different layers of the soil, and therefore different soil moisture dynamics, cannot explain the dry bias. However, it can account for some of the root-mean-square error in the relationship. In addition, SMOS observations are noisier than the network observations.
Observations of the 9 June 2009 Dissipating Supercell from VORTEX2
Authors: Davenport Casey E. , Parker Matthew D. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
On 9 June 2009, the second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) captured a unique dataset of dense observations throughout the lifetime of an isolated supercell, including its demise. This event provides a rare opportunity to explore the conditions and processes associated with supercell demise, as well as add to our understanding of supercell maintenance within the context of storm–environment interactions. The target storm on 9 June formed just to the cool side of a quasi-stationary boundary and initially exhibited strong low-level rotation. Over time, however, the storm moved deeper into the cool air and completely dissipated. Three near-inflow soundings launched over the lifetime of the supercell illustrated an increase in low-level convective inhibition (CIN) over time. However, an elevated layer containing sufficient instability and modest inhibition was also present, suggesting an unrealized potential for elevated convection. The near-storm environment also demonstrated a notable decrease in bulk vertical wind shear and storm-relative helicity over the lifetime of the storm. Although the likely impact of an increasingly stable near-storm environment is seemingly straightforward, the extent to which the evolving wind profile influenced storm dissipation is less certain. Dual-Doppler wind syntheses suggest decreases in the production of updraft vertical vorticity via tilting and stretching, indicating that the storm demise may have resulted from a complicated interplay between stabilization and changing environmental shear.