bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biofuels agriculture: landscape‐scale trade‐offs between fuel, economics, carbon, energy, food, and fiber
Authors: BRYAN BRETT A. , KING DARRAN , WANG ENLI 
Published: July 2010

AbstractFirst‐generation biofuels are an existing, scalable form of renewable energy of the type urgently required to mitigate climate change. In this study, we assessed the potential benefits, costs, and trade‐offs associated with biofuels agriculture to inform bioenergy policy. We assessed different climate change and carbon subsidy scenarios in an 11.9 million ha (5.48 million ha arable) region in southern Australia. We modeled the spatial distribution of agricultural production, full life‐cycle net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and net energy, and economic profitability for both food agriculture (wheat, legumes, sheep rotation) and biofuels agriculture (wheat, canola rotation for ethanol/biodiesel production). The costs, benefits, and trade‐offs associated with biofuels agriculture varied geographically, with climate change, and with the level of carbon subsidy. Below we describe the results in general and provide (in parentheses) illustrative results under historical mean climate and a carbon subsidy of A$20 t−1 CO2−e. Biofuels agriculture was more profitable over an extensive area (2.85 million ha) of the most productive arable land and produced large quantities of biofuels (1.7 GL yr−1). Biofuels agriculture substantially increased economic profit (145.8 million $A yr−1 or 30%), but had only a modest net GHG abatement (−2.57 million t CO2−e yr−1), and a negligible effect on net energy production (−0.11 PJ yr−1). However, food production was considerably reduced in terms of grain (−3.04 million t yr−1) and sheep meat (−1.89 million head yr−1). Wool fiber production was also substantially reduced (−23.19 kt yr−1). While biofuels agriculture can produce short‐term benefits, it also has costs, and the vulnerability of biofuels to climatic warming and drying renders it a myopic strategy. Nonetheless, in some areas the profitability of biofuels agriculture is robust to variation in climate and level of carbon subsidy and these areas may form part of a long‐term diversified mix of land‐use solutions to climate change if trade‐offs can be managed.
The Proximal Radio-ulnar Joint (PRUJ)-plasty for the Lost Elbow: The PRUJ Utilized to Replace the Ulno-humeral Joint
Authors: Younge Derek A. , Ilyas Imran , Singh Herjeet P. , Pant Rajeev , Paramasivan Odathurai 
Published: July 2010

Background The proximal radio-ulnar joint (PRUJ)-plasty is a new biologic procedure devised to restore an elbow joint after the humero-ulnar joint is destroyed by trauma or infection, or after the distal humerus is resected for tumour. Methods After osteotomies on either side of the PRUJ, the joint is rotated 90° and fixed to the distal humerus and the proximal ulna, and functions as a vascularized, innervated synovial elbow joint. Results Four young patients had the procedure: one after tumour resection of the distal humerus, another for non-union of the distal humerus and an ankylosed elbow, and two for an old arthrodesis of the elbow after an infection years before. Conclusion Postoperatively, three patients had an active elbow joint range of movement from 70° to 120°, and one failed and ankylosed again.
Distal Biceps Tendon Repair: Results of a Modified Technique
Authors: Chadwick Carolyn M. , John Joby , Shahane Shantanu A. 
Published: July 2010

Background Surgery is the gold standard of treatment in selected cases of distal biceps tendon rupture. In 2000 Bain et al. described surgical repair using the endobutton through a single anterior incision and showed excellent results allowing patients early active motion. Methods Fourteen patients who presented to our hospital with distal biceps tendon rupture were treated using the technique described by Bain et al., utilising a cannulated system to further minimize risk. We present the results following surgery and discuss the supporting literature. Results The mean follow up was 24.7 months. The mean flexion strength achieved on the operated side was 102% of the uninjured side and supination strength achieved was 112%. All patients achieved full flexion. Three patients had lack of terminal extension. The mean loss of pronation was 3° and supination 3°. The mean Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score was 6.64. One patient had a good, and 13 patients an excellent outcome according to the Mayo Elbow Performance Index. Conclusion We believe this technique is safe and reproducible, allows early active mobilization and, in this series, produced high patient satisfaction and return to near normal function and strength.
Bilateral thoracotomy for removal of uncommon postmediastinal multi‐schwannomas
Authors: Lv Xia‐Yi , Luo Wen Zong , Wang Yong‐Qing , Chen Xin , Tu Zheng‐Liang 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPostmediastinal schwannoma is a kind of neurogenic tumor originating from the neuron sheath in the posterior mediastinum. In the majority of cases these tumors are located in the paravertebral sulcus and the incidence is similar in both sides of the thorax as single or multiple; however, multi‐schwannomas involved in the bilateral postmediastinum are rare. We report a case of postmediastinal multi‐schwannomas and discuss the clinical and surgical treatment. We are aware of no previously published reports on this rare condition.
A capture–recapture model for exploring multi‐species synchrony in survival
Authors: Lahoz‐Monfort José J. , Morgan Byron J. T. , Harris Michael P. , Wanless Sarah , Freeman Stephen N. 
Published: July 2010

Summary1. Although recent decades have seen much development of statistical methods to estimate demographical parameters such as reproduction, and survival and migration probabilities, the focus is usually the estimation of parameters for individual species. This is despite the fact that several species may live in close proximity, sometimes competing for the same resources. There is therefore a great need for new methods that enable a better integration of demographical data, e.g. the study of synchrony between sympatric species, which are subject to common environmental stochasticity and potentially similar biotic interactions.2. We propose a mark–recapture statistical model that uses random effect terms for studying synchrony in a demographical parameter at a multi‐species level, adapting a framework initially developed to study multi‐site synchrony to this novel situation. The model allows us to divide between‐year variance in a demographical parameter into a ‘synchronous’ component, common to all species considered, and species‐specific ‘asynchronous’ components, as well as to estimate the proportion of each component accounted for by environmental covariates.3. We demonstrate the method with data from three colonially breeding auk species that share resources during the breeding season at the Isle of May, Scotland. Mark‐resight information has been collected since 1984 for Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica, common guillemots Uria aalge and razorbills Alca torda marked as breeding adults. We explore the relationship between synchrony in the species’ survival and two environmental covariates.4. Most of the between‐year variation was synchronous to the three species, and the same environmental covariates acted simultaneously as synchronising and desynchronising agents of adult survival, possibly through different indirect causation paths.5. Synthesis and applications. The model proposed allows the investigation of multi‐species synchrony and asynchrony in adult survival, as well as the role of environmental covariates in generating them. It provides insight into whether sympatric species respond similarly or differently to changes in their environment, and helps to disentangle the sources of these differences. The estimated indices of synchrony/asynchrony can facilitate the generation of further hypotheses about similarities/differences in these species’ ecology, such as the potential overlap of wintering areas. The method is readily applicable to other species, ecosystems and demographical parameters.
Affine Deligne–Lusztig varieties in affine flag varieties
Authors: Görtz Ulrich , Haines Thomas J. , Kottwitz Robert E. , Reuman Daniel C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis paper studies affine Deligne–Lusztig varieties in the affine flag manifold of a split group. Among other things, it proves emptiness for certain of these varieties, relates some of them to those for Levi subgroups, and extends previous conjectures concerning their dimensions. We generalize the superset method, an algorithmic approach to the questions of non-emptiness and dimension. Our non-emptiness results apply equally well to thep-adic context and therefore relate to moduli ofp-divisible groups and Shimura varieties with Iwahori level structure.
New Antiseptic Peptides To Protect against Endotoxin-Mediated Shock
Authors: Gutsmann Thomas , Razquin-Olazarán Iosu , Kowalski Ina , Kaconis Yani , Howe Jörg , Bartels Rainer , Hornef Mathias , Schürholz Tobias , Rössle Manfred , Sanchez-Gómez Susana , Moriyon Ignacio , Martinez de Tejada Guillermo , Brandenburg Klaus 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

Systemic bacterial infections are associated with high mortality. The access of bacteria or constituents thereof to systemic circulation induces the massive release of immunomodulatory mediators, ultimately causing tissue hypoperfusion and multiple-organ failure despite adequate antibiotic treatment. Lipid A, the “endotoxic principle” of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is one of the major bacterial immunostimuli. Here we demonstrate the biological efficacy of rationally designed new synthetic antilipopolysaccharide peptides (SALPs) based on the
Limulus
anti-LPS factor for systemic application. We show efficient inhibition of LPS-induced cytokine release and protection from lethal septic shock
in vivo
, whereas cytotoxicity was not observed under physiologically relevant conditions and concentrations. The molecular mechanism of LPS neutralization was elucidated by biophysical techniques. The lipid A part of LPS is converted from its “endotoxic conformation,” the cubic aggregate structure, into an inactive multilamellar structure, and the binding affinity of the peptide to LPS exceeds those of known LPS-binding proteins, such as LPS-binding protein (LBP). Our results thus delineate a novel therapeutic strategy for the clinical management of patients with septic shock.
Optimized Nile Red Efflux Assay of AcrAB-TolC Multidrug Efflux System Shows Competition between Substrates
Authors: Bohnert Jürgen A. , Karamian Brian , Nikaido Hiroshi 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

AcrAB-TolC is the major constitutively expressed efflux pump system that provides resistance to a variety of antimicrobial agents and dyes in
Escherichia coli
. However, no systematically optimized real-time dye efflux assay has been published for the measurement of its activity and for detection of possible competition between substrates. Here, we report on the development of such an assay using a lipophilic dye, Nile Red. Energy-depleted cells were loaded with the dye in the presence of low (10 μM or less) concentrations of the proton conductor carbonyl cyanide
m
-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). The CCCP was then removed, and efflux was triggered by energization with glucose. Various known efflux pump inhibitors and antimicrobials were checked for the ability to slow down Nile Red efflux, presumably through competition. Besides the known inhibitors Phe-Arg-β-naphthylamide and 1-naphthyl-methylpiperazine, several tetracyclic compounds (doxorubicin, minocycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, and tetracycline) and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride were found to interfere with dye efflux. This inhibition could not be explained by the depletion of proton motive force. None of the other tested antimicrobials, including macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and β-lactams, had any impact on Nile Red efflux, even at concentrations of up to 1 mM.
In Vitro
Potentiation of Carbapenems with ME1071, a Novel Metallo-β-Lactamase Inhibitor, against Metallo-β-Lactamase- Producing
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Clinical Isolates
Authors: Ishii Yoshikazu , Eto Maki , Mano Yoko , Tateda Kazuhiro , Yamaguchi Keizo 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

ME1071, a maleic acid derivative, is a novel specific inhibitor for metallo-β-lactamases (MBL). In this study, the potentiation of ME1071 in combination with several β-lactams was evaluated using MBL-producing
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates. The rates of susceptibility of MBL producers to carbapenems (imipenem, biapenem, and doripenem) and ceftazidime were increased by 8 to 27% in the presence of 32 μg/ml of ME1071. The corresponding resistance rates were decreased by 13 to 46%, respectively. On the other hand, ME1071 showed weaker or no potentiation with non-MBL producers. The

K
i

value of ME1071 for IMP-1 was 0.4 μM, significantly lower than the

K
m

values of carbapenems for the IMP-1 enzyme. On the other hand, the

K
i

value of ME1071 for VIM-2 was 120 μM, higher than the

K
m

values of carbapenems for the VIM-2 enzyme. Results of this study indicate that ME1071 can potentiate the activity of ceftazidime and carbapenems against MBL-producing strains of
P. aeruginosa
.
Epidemiology, Treatment, and Prevention of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Associated Diseases
Authors: Gonçalves Denise Utsch , Proietti Fernando Augusto , Ribas João Gabriel Ramos , Araújo Marcelo Grossi , Pinheiro Sônia Regina , Guedes Antônio Carlos , Carneiro-Proietti Anna Bárbara F. 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYHuman T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first human retrovirus to be discovered, is present in diverse regions of the world, where its infection is usually neglected in health care settings and by public health authorities. Since it is usually asymptomatic in the beginning of the infection and disease typically manifests later in life, silent transmission occurs, which is associated with sexual relations, breastfeeding, and blood transfusions. There are no prospects of vaccines, and screening of blood banks and in prenatal care settings is not universal. Therefore, its transmission is active in many areas such as parts of Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean region, Asia, and Melanesia. It causes serious diseases in humans, including adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and an incapacitating neurological disease (HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis [HAM/TSP]) besides other afflictions such as uveitis, rheumatic syndromes, and predisposition to helminthic and bacterial infections, among others. These diseases are not curable as yet, and current treatments as well as new perspectives are discussed in the present review.
Community-Associated Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus: Epidemiology and Clinical Consequences of an Emerging Epidemic
Authors: David Michael Z. , Daum Robert S. 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYStaphylococcus aureusis an important cause of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs), endovascular infections, pneumonia, septic arthritis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, foreign-body infections, and sepsis. Methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) isolates were once confined largely to hospitals, other health care environments, and patients frequenting these facilities. Since the mid-1990s, however, there has been an explosion in the number of MRSA infections reported in populations lacking risk factors for exposure to the health care system. This increase in the incidence of MRSA infection has been associated with the recognition of new MRSA clones known as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). CA-MRSA strains differ from the older, health care-associated MRSA strains; they infect a different group of patients, they cause different clinical syndromes, they differ in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, they spread rapidly among healthy people in the community, and they frequently cause infections in health care environments as well. This review details what is known about the epidemiology of CA-MRSA strains and the clinical spectrum of infectious syndromes associated with them that ranges from a commensal state to severe, overwhelming infection. It also addresses the therapy of these infections and strategies for their prevention.
The Antifungal Activity of the Penicillium chrysogenum Protein PAF Disrupts Calcium Homeostasis in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Binder Ulrike , Chu Meiling , Read Nick D. , Marx Florentine 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

The antifungal protein PAF from
Penicillium chrysogenum
exhibits growth-inhibitory activity against a broad range of filamentous fungi. Evidence from this study suggests that disruption of Ca
2+
signaling/homeostasis plays an important role in the mechanistic basis of PAF as a growth inhibitor. Supplementation of the growth medium with high Ca
2+
concentrations counteracted PAF toxicity toward PAF-sensitive molds. By using a transgenic
Neurospora crassa
strain expressing codon-optimized aequorin, PAF was found to cause a significant increase in the resting level of cytosolic free Ca
2+
([Ca
2+
]
c
). The Ca
2+
signatures in response to stimulation by mechanical perturbation or hypo-osmotic shock were significantly changed in the presence of PAF. BAPTA [bis-(aminophenoxy)-ethane-
N
,
N
,
N
′,
N
′-tetraacetic acid], a Ca
2+
selective chelator, ameliorated the PAF toxicity in growth inhibition assays and counteracted PAF induced perturbation of Ca
2+
homeostasis. These results indicate that extracellular Ca
2+
was the major source of these PAF-induced effects. The L-type Ca
2+
channel blocker diltiazem disrupted Ca
2+
homeostasis in a similar manner to PAF. Diltiazem in combination with PAF acted additively in enhancing growth inhibition and accentuating the change in Ca
2+
signatures in response to external stimuli. Notably, both PAF and diltiazem increased the [Ca
2+
]
c
resting level. However, experiments with an aequorin-expressing Δ
cch-1
deletion strain of
N. crassa
indicated that the L-type Ca
2+
channel CCH-1 was not responsible for the observed PAF-induced elevation of the [Ca
2+
]
c
resting level. This study is the first demonstration of the perturbation of fungal Ca
2+
homeostasis by an antifungal protein from a filamentous ascomycete and provides important new insights into the mode of action of PAF.
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Enolase Is a Surface Protein That Binds Plasminogen and Mediates Interaction of Yeast Forms with Host Cells
Authors: Nogueira Sarah Veloso , Fonseca Fernanda L. , Rodrigues Marcio L. , Mundodi Vasanth , Abi-Chacra Erika A. , Winters Michael S. , Alderete John F. , Soares Célia Maria de Almeida 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by the dimorphic fungus
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
, is a disseminated, systemic disorder that involves the lungs and other organs. The ability of the pathogen to interact with host components, including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, is essential to further colonization, invasion, and growth. Previously, enolase (EC 4.2.1.11) was characterized as a fibronectin binding protein in
P. brasiliensis
. Interaction of surface-bound enolase with plasminogen has been incriminated in tissue invasion for pathogenesis in several pathogens. In this paper, enolase was expressed in
Escherichia coli
as a recombinant glutathione
S
-transferase (GST) fusion protein (recombinant
P. brasiliensis
enolase [r
Pb
Eno]). The
P. brasiliensis
native enolase (
Pb
Eno) was detected at the fungus surface and cytoplasm by immunofluorescence with an anti-r
Pb
Eno antibody. Immobilized purified r
Pb
Eno bound plasminogen in a specific, concentration-dependent fashion. Both native enolase and r
Pb
Eno activated conversion of plasminogen to plasmin through tissue plasminogen activator. The association between
Pb
Eno and plasminogen was lysine dependent. In competition experiments, purified r
Pb
Eno, in its soluble form, inhibited plasminogen binding to fixed
P. brasiliensis
, suggesting that this interaction required surface-localized
Pb
Eno. Plasminogen-coated
P. brasiliensis
yeast cells were capable of degrading purified fibronectin, providing
in vitro
evidence for the generation of active plasmin on the fungus surface. Exposure of epithelial cells and phagocytes to enolase was associated with an increased expression of surface sites of adhesion. In fact, the association of
P. brasiliensis
with epithelial cells and phagocytes was increased in the presence of r
Pb
Eno. The expression of
Pb
Eno was upregulated in yeast cells derived from mouse-infected tissues. These data indicate that surface-associated
Pb
Eno may contribute to the pathogenesis of
P. brasiliensis
.
Naturally Produced Outer Membrane Vesicles fromPseudomonas aeruginosaElicit a Potent Innate Immune Response via Combined Sensing of Both Lipopolysaccharide and Protein Components
Authors: Ellis Terri N. , Leiman Sara A. , Kuehn Meta J. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTPseudomonas aeruginosais a prevalent opportunistic human pathogen that, like other Gram-negative pathogens, secretes outer membrane vesicles. Vesicles are complex entities composed of a subset of envelope lipid and protein components that have been observed to interact with and be internalized by host cells. This study characterized the inflammatory responses to naturally producedP. aeruginosavesicles and determined the contribution of vesicle Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and vesicle proteins to that response. Analysis of macrophage responses to purified vesicles by real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay identified proinflammatory cytokines upregulated by vesicles. Intact vesicles were shown to elicit a profoundly greater inflammatory response than the response to purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Both TLR ligands LPS and flagellin contributed to specific vesicle cytokine responses, whereas the CpG DNA content of vesicles did not. Neutralization of LPS sensing demonstrated that macrophage responses to the protein composition of vesicles required the adjuvantlike activity of LPS to elicit strain specific responses. Protease treatment to remove proteins from the vesicle surface resulted in decreased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha production, indicating that the production of these specific cytokines may be linked to macrophage recognition of vesicle proteins. Confocal microscopy of vesicle uptake by macrophages revealed that vesicle LPS allows for binding to macrophage surfaces, whereas vesicle protein content is required for internalization. These data demonstrate that macrophage sensing of both LPS and protein components of outer membrane vesicles combine to produce a bacterial strain-specific response that is distinct from those triggered by individual, purified vesicle components.