bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Role of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Poisonings and Intoxications
Authors: Schutt Robert Clark , Ronco Claudio , Rosner Mitchell H. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPoisonings, intoxications, and drug overdoses are common occurrences and rapid lowering of the toxin level is a cornerstone of all effective therapies. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has several unique characteristics that allow it to be a potentially effective therapy in rapidly achieving this goal. Specifically, TPE allows for the removal of large molecular weight, protein‐bound molecules that have a small volume of distribution. Due to the nature of poisonings, intoxications, and drug overdoses, no randomized controlled trials studying the efficacy of TPE in these situations exist. Thus, careful interpretation and analysis of case reports and series are required to assess the potential efficacy of this therapy. Recent data suggest that TPE may also be effective in the therapy of patients receiving biologic treatments who develop life‐threatening complications due to therapy.
Prosthetic Rehabilitation of an Orbital and Facial Defect: A Clinical Report
Authors: Padmanabhan T. V. , Mohamed Kasim , Parameswari Devi , Nitin Sumathi K. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractFor patients undergoing radical head and neck surgery, the deformity or physical defect adds to the agony. Rehabilitation of patients with such deformities is a challenge for the maxillofacial prosthodontist to enhance the esthetics and give psychological strength to the patient. This clinical report describes the rehabilitation, using a silicone prosthesis, of a large facial and orbital defect due to mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
Wild Birds as Sentinels for Multiple Zoonotic Pathogens Along an Urban to Rural Gradient in Greater Chicago, Illinois
Authors: Hamer S. A. , Lehrer E. , Magle S. B. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryWild birds are important in the maintenance and transmission of many zoonotic pathogens. With increasing urbanization and the resulting emergence of zoonotic diseases, it is critical to understand the relationships among birds, vectors, zoonotic pathogens, and the urban landscape. Here, we use wild birds as sentinels across a gradient of urbanization to understand the relative risk of diseases caused by three types of zoonotic pathogens: Salmonella pathogens, mosquito‐borne West Nile virus (WNV) and tick‐borne pathogens, including the agents of Lyme disease and human anaplasmosis. Wild birds were captured using mist nets at five sites throughout greater Chicago, Illinois, and blood, faecal and ectoparasite samples were collected for diagnostic testing. A total of 289 birds were captured across all sites. A total of 2.8% of birds harboured Ixodes scapularis– the blacklegged tick – of which 54.5% were infected with the agent of Lyme disease, and none were infected with the agent of human anaplasmosis. All infested birds were from a single site that was relatively less urban. A single bird, captured at the only field site in which supplemental bird feeding was practised within the mist netting zone, was infected with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica. While no birds harboured WNV in their blood, 3.5% of birds were seropositive, and birds from more urban sites had higher exposure to the virus than those from less urban sites. Our results demonstrate the presence of multiple bird‐borne zoonotic pathogens across a gradient of urbanization and provide an assessment of potential public health risks to the high‐density human populations within the area.
The Effect of Target Language and Code‐Switching on the Grammatical Performance and Perceptions of Elementary‐Level College French Students
Authors: Viakinnou‐Brinson Lucie , Herron Carol , Cole Steven P. , Haight Carrie 
Published: February 2012

AbstractGrammar instruction is at the center of the target language (TL) and code‐switching debate. Discussion revolves around whether grammar should be taught in the TL or using the TL and the native language (L1). This study investigated the effects of French‐only grammar instruction and French/English grammar instruction on elementary‐level students’ grammar performance. The study also examined students’ instructional preference and perceptions of the use of either approach to teach grammar and French in general. Grammar test score increases were significantly greater for the French‐only condition, and posttest grammar scores were significantly higher for the French‐only condition. Qualitative findings suggested that although a majority of students expressed a preference for learning French grammar with the support of English, they recognized the benefits of a TL approach.
Inhibition of Bacterial Biofilm Formation and Swarming Motility by a Small Synthetic Cationic Peptide
Authors: de la Fuente-Núñez César , Korolik Victoria , Bains Manjeet , Nguyen Uyen , Breidenstein Elena B. M. , Horsman Shawn , Lewenza Shawn , Burrows Lori , Hancock Robert E. W. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACT

Biofilms cause up to 80% of infections and are difficult to treat due to their substantial multidrug resistance compared to their planktonic counterparts. Based on the observation that human peptide LL-37 is able to block biofilm formation at concentrations below its MIC, we screened for small peptides with antibiofilm activity and identified novel synthetic cationic peptide 1037 of only 9 amino acids in length. Peptide 1037 had very weak antimicrobial activity, but at 1/30th the MIC the peptide was able to effectively prevent biofilm formation (>50% reduction in cell biomass) by the Gram-negative pathogens
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Burkholderia cenocepacia
and Gram-positive
Listeria monocytogenes
. Using a flow cell system and a widefield fluorescence microscope, 1037 was shown to significantly reduce biofilm formation and lead to cell death in biofilms. Microarray and follow-up studies showed that, in
P. aeruginosa
, 1037 directly inhibited biofilms by reducing swimming and swarming motilities, stimulating twitching motility, and suppressing the expression of a variety of genes involved in biofilm formation (e.g., PA2204). Comparison of microarray data from cells treated with peptides LL-37 and 1037 enabled the identification of 11 common
P. aeruginosa
genes that have a role in biofilm formation and are proposed to represent functional targets of these peptides. Peptide 1037 shows promise as a potential therapeutic agent against chronic, recurrent biofilm infections caused by a variety of bacteria.
Comparative
In Vivo
Efficacies of Epithelial Lining Fluid Exposures of Tedizolid, Linezolid, and Vancomycin for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Mouse Pneumonia Model
Authors: Tessier Pamela R. , Keel Rebecca A. , Hagihara Mao , Crandon Jared L. , Nicolau David P. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACT

The antibacterial efficacies of tedizolid phosphate (TZD), linezolid, and vancomycin regimens simulating human exposures at the infection site against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) were compared in an
in vivo
mouse pneumonia model. Immunocompetent BALB/c mice were orally inoculated with one of three strains of MRSA and subsequently administered 20 mg/kg TZD every 24 hours (q24h), 120 mg/kg linezolid q12h, or 25 mg/kg vancomycin q12h over 24 h. These regimens produced epithelial lining fluid exposures comparable to human exposures observed following intravenous regimens of 200 mg TZD q24h, 600 mg linezolid q12h, and 1 g vancomycin q12h. The differences in CFU after 24 h of treatment were compared between control and treatment groups. Vehicle-dosed control groups increased in bacterial density an average of 1.1 logs. All treatments reduced the bacterial density at 24 h with an average of 1.2, 1.6, and 0.1 logs for TZD, linezolid, and vancomycin, respectively. The efficacy of TZD versus linezolid regimens against the three MRSA isolates was not statistically different (
P
> 0.05), although both treatments were significantly different from controls. In contrast, the vancomycin regimen was significantly different from TZD against one MRSA isolate and from linezolid against all isolates. The vancomycin regimen was less protective than either the TZD or linezolid regimens, with overall survival of 61.1% versus 94.7% or 89.5%, respectively. At human simulated exposures to epithelial lining fluid, vancomycin resulted in minimal reductions in bacterial counts and higher mortality compared to those of either TZD or linezolid. TZD and linezolid showed similar efficacies in this MRSA pneumonia model.
Novel
N
-Benzoyl-2-Hydroxybenzamide Disrupts Unique Parasite Secretory Pathway
Authors: Fomovska Alina , Huang Qingqing , El Bissati Kamal , Mui Ernest J. , Witola William H. , Cheng Gang , Zhou Ying , Sommerville Caroline , Roberts Craig W. , Bettis Sam , Prigge Sean T. , Afanador Gustavo A. , Hickman Mark R. , Lee Patty J. , Leed Susan E. , Auschwitz Jennifer M. , Pieroni Marco , Stec Jozef , Muench Stephen P. , Rice David W. , Kozikowski Alan P. , McLeod Rima 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACT

Toxoplasma gondii
is a protozoan parasite that can damage the human brain and eyes. There are no curative medicines. Herein, we describe our discovery of
N
-benzoyl-2-hydroxybenzamides as a class of compounds effective in the low nanomolar range against
T. gondii in vitro
and
in vivo
. Our lead compound, QQ-437, displays robust activity against the parasite and could be useful as a new scaffold for development of novel and improved inhibitors of
T. gondii
. Our genome-wide investigations reveal a specific mechanism of resistance to
N
-benzoyl-2-hydroxybenzamides mediated by adaptin-3β, a large protein from the secretory protein complex.
N
-Benzoyl-2-hydroxybenzamide-resistant clones have alterations of their secretory pathway, which traffics proteins to micronemes, rhoptries, dense granules, and acidocalcisomes/plant-like vacuole (PLVs).
N
-Benzoyl-2-hydroxybenzamide treatment also alters micronemes, rhoptries, the contents of dense granules, and, most markedly, acidocalcisomes/PLVs. Furthermore, QQ-437 is active against chloroquine-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum
. Our studies reveal a novel class of compounds that disrupts a unique secretory pathway of
T. gondii
, with the potential to be used as scaffolds in the search for improved compounds to treat the devastating diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites.
Knowledgeable beginners
Authors: Meyer Bertrand 
Published: February 2012

The
Communications
Web site, http://cacm.acm.org, features more than a dozen bloggers in the BLOG@CACM community. In each issue of
Communications
, we'll publish selected posts or excerpts.

twitter

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/blogCACM
http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm

Bertrand Meyer presents data on the computer and programming knowledge of two groups of novice CS students.
Optimizing quality of service in real-time systems under energy constraints
Authors: Nassiffe Ríad , Camponogara Eduardo , Lima George 
Published: February 2012

Embedded real-time systems powered by batteries require suitable support for energy-savings at the operating system level. Mechanisms to do so must take into consideration not only energy constraints but also schedulability since, in this kind of system, tasks must execute within predefined time windows. On top of that, it is desired that application quality of service (QoS) is optimized.
In this paper we present a framework capable of maximizing application QoS subject to both schedulability and energy constraints. It is assumed that application tasks may have multiple operating modes, each of which exhibiting a specific QoS level when running at a specific processor operating frequency. Although the formulated problem is NP-Hard, experimental analysis has shown that the derived heuristic to solve it achieves very good approximation results and presents low running time.
Report on the third workshop on hot topics in software upgrades (HotSWUp'11)
Authors: Hayden Christopher M. , Neamtiu Iulian 
Published: February 2012

Report on the third workshop on hot topics in software upgrades (HotSWUp'11).
The workshop combined presentations of peer-reviewed research papers with a keynote speech on the practical issues related to performing large-scale upgrades. The audience included researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and government. In addition to the technical presentations, the program allowed ample time for discussions, which were driven by debate questions provided in advance by the presenters.
HotSWUp provides a premier forum for discussing problems that are often considered niche topics in the established research communities. For example, the technical discussions at HotSWUp'11 covered dynamic software updates, package management tools, database schema upgrades, upgrades of systems with real-time constraints, upgrading satellite software, and highlighted many synergies among these and other topics.
BRAF(V600) Inhibitor GSK2118436 Targeted Inhibition of Mutant BRAF in Cancer Patients Does Not Impair Overall Immune Competency
Authors: Hong David S. , Vence Luis , Falchook Gerald , Radvanyi Laszlo G. , Liu Chengwen , Goodman Vicki , Legos Jeffery J. , Blackman Sam , Scarmadio Antonio , Kurzrock Razelle , Lizee Gregory , Hwu Patrick 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Purpose: An intact immune system likely contributes to the outcome of treatment and may be important for clearance of drug-resistant tumor cells and for prevention of recurrence. Although pharmacologic inhibition of BRAF(V600E) in melanoma patients, which is linked to immune suppression, results in an initial response rate, these responses are typically of limited duration. Combining immunotherapeutic drugs with kinase-targeted agents is an attractive strategy to increase clinical efficacy. Evidence suggesting that mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation in tumor cells contributes to immune suppression suggests that the two approaches may be synergistic, provided that BRAF(V600E) inhibitors are nontoxic to immune cells.
Methods: To assess effects of mutant BRAF inhibition on systemic immunity, we studied 13 patients with tumors carrying a BRAF mutation who underwent treatment with GSK2118436, a V600 mutant BRAF-specific inhibitor. We carried out peripheral blood immunomonitoring before and following one or two 28-day cycles of treatment.
Results: GSK2118436 treatment had no detectable impact on most immune parameters tested, including serum cytokine levels, peripheral blood cell counts, leukocyte subset frequencies, and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell recall responses. A slight increase in serum TNF-α over the course of treatment was observed. In addition, three of the four human leukocyte antigen-A2–positive patients experienced a modest increase in circulating tumor antigen–specific CD8+ T cells following BRAF(V600) inhibitor therapy.
Conclusions: GSK2118436 treatment results in no detectable negative impact on existing systemic immunity or the de novo generation of tumor-specific T cells. These findings suggest that future trials combining specific BRAF(V600E) inhibition with immunotherapy should not impair immune response. Clin Cancer Res; 18(8); 2326–35. ©2012 AACR.
Mortality Rates in Trials of Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Barkoudah Ebrahim , Skali Hicham , Uno Hajime , Solomon Scott D. , Pfeffer Marc A. 
Published: February 2012

Background
In randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, mortality rates vary substantially. We sought to examine the inclusion and exclusion criteria of these RCTs to explore relationships with mortality.

Methods and Results
MEDLINE database was searched from August 1980 through March 2011. Selection criterion included published RCTs of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus of at least 1000 patients, reporting all‐cause mortality and having follow‐up duration of at least 1 year. Twenty‐two trials were eligible. Annualized mortality rates were derived. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were tabulated for each trial. Trials were categorized in 4 groups according to annual mortality rates: <1, ≥1 to <2, ≥2 to <4, and ≥4 per 100 patient‐years. The analysis cohort included 91842 patients and 6837 deaths. Mortality rates ranged from 0.28 to 8.24 per 100 patient‐years. Patients enrolled in the highest mortality category were more likely to be older and had longer diabetes duration and higher blood pressure. The selection for hypertension was common in the low‐ as well as high‐mortality trials. Although the mortality rates were higher in RCTs with prior cardiovascular morbidity, the selection for chronic kidney disease—defined by either higher serum creatinine or lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and/or the presence of proteinuria—was associated with the highest mortality rates.

Conclusions
In this analysis of RCTs of type 2 diabetes mellitus, a 29‐fold difference in annualized mortality was observed. In these RCTs, selection for renal disease, defined by either decline in renal function or presence of proteinuria, portends important mortality risk.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00303979
Remote Sensing Evaluation of CLM4 GPP for the Period 2000–09*
Authors: Mao Jiafu , Thornton Peter E. , Shi Xiaoying , Zhao Maosheng , Post Wilfred M. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Remote sensing can provide long-term and large-scale products helpful for ecosystem model evaluation. The authors compare monthly gross primary production (GPP) simulated by the Community Land Model, version 4 (CLM4) at a half-degree resolution with satellite estimates of GPP from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) GPP product (MOD17) for the 10-yr period January 2000–December 2009. The assessment is presented in terms of long-term mean carbon assimilation, seasonal mean distributions, amplitude and phase of the annual cycle, and intraannual and interannual GPP variability and their responses to climate variables. For the long-term annual and seasonal means, major GPP patterns are clearly demonstrated by both products. Compared to the MODIS product, CLM4 overestimates the magnitude of GPP for tropical evergreen forests. CLM4 has a longer carbon uptake period than MODIS for most plant functional types (PFTs) with an earlier onset of GPP in spring and a later decline of GPP in autumn. Empirical orthogonal function analysis of the monthly GPP changes indicates that, on the intraannual scale, both CLM4 and MODIS display similar spatial representations and temporal patterns for most terrestrial ecosystems except in northeast Russia and in the very dry region of central Australia. For 2000–09, CLM4 simulated increases in annual averaged GPP over both hemispheres; however, estimates from MODIS suggest a reduction in the Southern Hemisphere (−0.2173 PgC yr−1), balancing the significant increase over the Northern Hemisphere (0.2157 PgC yr−1). The evaluations highlight strengths and weaknesses of the CLM4 primary production and illuminate potential improvements and developments.
Impact of methylprednisolone in priming solution of cardiopulmonary bypass on anti-inflammatory CD163 receptor during cardiac surgery
Authors: Krejsek J , Mandak J , Kunes P , Lonsky V , Kolackova M , Jankovicova K , Andrys C 
Published: February 2012

We evaluated the influence of methylprednisolone in cardiopulmonary bypass fluid on scavenger receptor for hemoglobin CD163 molecule expression on monocytes of patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass with either exposure to methylprednisolone present in the cardiopulmonary bypass fluid (20 patients), or without methylprednisolone in the cardiopulmonary bypass fluid (22 patients) and operated on without cardiopulmonary bypass (42 patients). The dynamics of CD163 expression was also followed in patients operated on without cardiopulmonary bypass. This study was a retrospective analysis of a comparison of two studies. The expression of CD163 was determined quantitatively by standardized flow cytometry technique. The similarities in the dynamics of CD163 monocyte expression, comparing the patients operated on with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, were found. Compared to the preoperative level, CD163 monocyte expression was significantly elevated on the 1st postoperative day. Monocyte CD163 expression on the 1st postoperative day was evidently similar in both groups of patients operated without cardiopulmonary bypass (median value of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) 18,896; interquartile range from 27,538 to 57,711; median value of MFI 18,863; interquartile range from 16,514 to 26,559; n.s.), suggesting high reproducibility of our flow cytometric method; the monocyte CD163 expression was significantly higher (median value of MFI 37,902; interquartile range from 27,538 to 57,711) on the 1st postoperative day in patients exposed to methylprednisolone compared to patients without this exposure (median value of MFI 20,995; interquartile range from 16,321 to 29,623) (p<0.001). We concluded that the expression of hemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 on monocytes of cardiac surgical patients is induced by methylprednisolone present in cardiopulmonary bypass fluid.
N-Acetylcysteine amide protects against methamphetamine-induced tissue damage in CD-1 mice
Authors: Zhang X , Tobwala S , Ercal N 
Published: February 2012

Methamphetamine (METH), a highly addictive drug used worldwide, induces oxidative stress in various animal organs, especially the brain. This study evaluated oxidative damage caused by METH to tissues in CD-1 mice and identified a therapeutic drug that could protect against METH-induced toxicity. Male CD-1 mice were pretreated with a novel thiol antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA, 250 mg/kg body weight) or saline. Following this, METH (10 mg/kg body weight) or saline intraperitoneal injections were administered every 2 h over an 8-h period. Animals were killed 24 h after the last exposure. NACA-treated animals exposed to METH experienced significantly lower oxidative stress in their kidneys, livers, and brains than the untreated group, as indicated by their levels of glutathione, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl and their catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity. This suggests that METH induces oxidative stress in various organs and that a combination of NACA as a neuro- or tissue-protective agent, in conjunction with current treatment, might effectively treat METH abusers.