bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Persistent Infection Contributes to Heterologous Protective Immunity against Fatal Ehrlichiosis
Authors: Thirumalapura Nagaraja R. , Crossley Emily C. , Walker David H. , Ismail Nahed 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT

Human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (HME), an emerging and often life-threatening tick-transmitted disease, is caused by the obligately intracellular bacterium
Ehrlichia chaffeensis
. HME is modeled in C57BL/6 mice using
Ehrlichia muris
, which causes persistent infection, and
Ixodes ovatus Ehrlichia
(IOE), which is either acutely lethal or sublethal depending on the dose and route of inoculation. A persistent primary
E. muris
infection, but not a sublethal IOE infection, protects mice against an ordinarily lethal secondary IOE challenge. In the present study, we determined the role of persistent infection in maintenance of protective memory immune responses.
E. muris-
infected mice were treated with doxycycline or left untreated and then challenged with an ordinarily lethal dose of IOE. Compared to
E. muris
-primed mice treated with doxycycline, untreated mice persistently infected with
E. muris
had significantly greater numbers of antigen-specific gamma interferon-producing splenic memory T cells, significant expansion of CD4
+
CD25
+
T regulatory cells, and production of transforming growth factor β1 in the spleen. Importantly,
E. muris
-primed mice treated with doxycycline showed significantly greater susceptibility to challenge infection with IOE compared to untreated mice persistently infected with
E. muris
. The study indicated that persistent ehrlichial infection contributes to heterologous protection by stimulating the maintenance of memory T-cell responses.
C3H Male Mice with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Cannot Clear a Urethral Infection with a Human Serovar of
Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: Pal Sukumar , Sarcon Annahita K. , de la Maza Luis M. 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT

The pathogenesis of an infection of the male genitourinary tract of mice with a human serovar of
Chlamydia trachomatis
has not been characterized. To establish a new model, we inoculated C3H/HeN (
H-2

k

) mice in the meatus urethra with
C. trachomatis
serovar D. To determine the 50% infectious dose (ID
50
), male mice were inoculated with doses ranging from 10
2
to 10
6
inclusion-forming units (IFU). The mice were euthanized 10 days post infection (p.i.), and the urethra, bladder, epididimydes, and testes were cultured for
Chlamydia
. Positive cultures were obtained from the urethra, urinary bladder, and epididimydes, and the ID
50
was determined to be 5 × 10
4
IFU/mouse. Subsequently, to characterize the course of the infection, wild-type (WT) and C3H animals with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID animals) were inoculated with 10
6
IFU/mouse (20 times the ID
50
). In the WT mice, the infection peaked in the second week, and by 42 days p.i., it was cleared. In contrast, most of the SCID mice continued to have positive cultures at 60 days p.i.
C. trachomatis
-specific antibodies were first detected in WT animals' sera at 21 days p.i. and increased until 42 days p.i. The immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) titers were 32-fold higher than those of IgG1, indicative of a Th1-biased immune response. A lymphoproliferative assay using splenocytes showed a significant cell-mediated immune response in the WT mice. As expected, no humoral or cell-mediated immune responses were observed in the SCID animals. In conclusion, inoculation of WT male mice in the meatus urethra with a human serovar of
C. trachomatis
resulted in a limited infection mainly localized to the lower genitourinary tract. On the other hand, SCID animals could not clear the infection, suggesting that in male mice, the adaptive immune response is necessary to control an infection with a
C. trachomatis
human serovar.
Spa15 ofShigella flexneriIs Secreted through the Type III Secretion System and Prevents Staurosporine-Induced Apoptosis
Authors: Faherty Christina S. , Maurelli Anthony T. 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTShigella flexneriis a gram-negative, facultative intracellular pathogen that invades the colonic epithelium and causes bacillary dysentery. We previously demonstrated thatS. flexneriinhibits staurosporine-induced apoptosis in infected epithelial cells and that a ΔmxiEmutant is unable to inhibit apoptosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that an MxiE-regulated gene was responsible for protection of epithelial cells from apoptosis. Analysis of all MxiE-regulated genes yielded no mutants that lacked the ability to prevent apoptosis. Spa15, which is defined as a type III secretion system chaperone, was analyzed since it associates with MxiE. A Δspa15mutant was unable to prevent staurosporine-induced apoptosis. C-terminal hemagglutinin-taggedspa15was secreted byS. flexneriwithin 2 h in the Congo red secretion assay, and secretion was dependent on the type III secretion system. Spa15 was also secreted byShigellain infected epithelial cells, as verified by immunofluorescence analysis. Spa15 secretion was decreased in the ΔmxiEmutant, which demonstrates why this mutant is unable to prevent staurosporine-induced apoptosis. Our data are the first to show that Spa15 is secreted in a type III secretion system-dependent fashion, and the absence of Spa15 in the Δspa15mutant results in the loss of protection from staurosporine-induced apoptosis in epithelial cells. Thus, Spa15 contributes to the intracellular survival ofShigellaby blocking apoptosis in the infected host cell.
CD23 Mediates Antimycobacterial Activity of Human Macrophages
Authors: Mossalayi M. Djavad , Vouldoukis Ioannis , Mamani-Matsuda Maria , Kauss Tina , Guillon Jean , Maugein Jeanne , Moynet Daniel , Rambert Jérôme , Desplat Vanessa , Mazier Dominique , Vincendeau Philippe , Malvy Denis 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTEngagement of surface receptors contributes to the antimicrobial activity of human immune cells. We show here that infection of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) with liveMycobacterium aviuminduced the expression of CD23 on their membrane. Subsequent cross-linking of surface CD23 by appropriate ligands induced a dose-dependent antibacterial activity of MDM and the elimination of most infected cells. The stimulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase-dependent generation of NO from MDM after CD23 activation played a major role during their anti-M. aviumactivity. CD23 activation also induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production from MDM. Mycobacteria reduction was partially inhibited by the addition of neutralizing anti-TNF-α antibody to cell cultures without affecting NO levels, which suggested the role of this cytokine for optimal antimicrobial activity. Finally, interleukin-10, a Th2 cytokine known to downregulate CD23 pathway, is shown to decrease NO generation and mycobacteria elimination by macrophages. Therefore, (i) infection withM. aviumpromotes functional surface CD23 expression on human macrophages and (ii) subsequent signaling of this molecule contributes to the antimicrobial activity of these cells through an NO- and TNF-α-dependent pathway. This study reveals a new human immune response mechanism to counter mycobacterial infection involving CD23 and its related ligands.
Thirty day results of 227 consecutive carotid stent procedures performed in carotid stenting clinical trials
Authors: Heck D 
Published: October 2009

Background and purposeAs evidence accumulates that carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a durable and effective procedure for stroke prevention, the utility of the procedure hinges on the perioperative risk. The perioperative risk of CAS procedures has historically been higher than carotid endarterectomy in most clinical trials. The perioperative risk of the series presented here is lower than any previously reported in the context of a clinical trial.MethodsData were collected prospectively from 227 consecutive elective CAS procedures by a single neurointerventionalist performed as part of carotid stenting clinical trials as per the trial protocols, which included randomized trials of “average risk” patients and non-randomized trials of “high risk” patients. The primary outcome measures were 30 day stroke and death, and in most cases 30 day myocardial infarction (MI) also.ResultsFollow-up was 100%. There were no deaths. There was one technical failure. The overall 30 day stroke/death/MI rate was 5/226 (2.2%). There was one MI. The 30 day stroke and death rate for symptomatic patients was 2.5% and for asymptomatic patients 1.4%. Two of the four strokes occurred in vascular territories separate from the target carotid artery.ConclusionsThe perioperative CAS complications in this series were well below the 6% for symptomatic patients and 3% for asymptomatic patients currently recommended based on historic carotid endarterectomy data. Carotid stenting can be performed safely in the community, provided there are experienced interventionalists and proper patient selection.
CONCURRENT π-VECTOR FIELDS AND ENERGY β-CHANGE
Authors: YOUSSEF NABIL L. , ABED S. H. , SOLEIMAN A. 
Published: October 2009

The present paper deals with an intrinsic investigation of the notion of a concurrent π-vector field on the pullback bundle of a Finsler manifold (M, L). The effect of the existence of a concurrent π-vector field on some important special Finsler spaces is studied. An intrinsic investigation of a particular β-change, namely the energy β-change ([Formula: see text]with[Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text] being a concurrent π-vector field), is established. The relation between the two Barthel connections Γ and [Formula: see text], corresponding to this change, is found. This relation, together with the fact that the Cartan and the Barthel connections have the same horizontal and vertical projectors, enable us to study the energy β-change of the fundamental linear connection in Finsler geometry: the Cartan connection, the Berwald connection, the Chern connection, and the Hashiguchi connection. Moreover, the change of their curvature tensors is concluded. It should be pointed out that the present work is formulated in a prospective modern coordinate-free form.
New design of the miniature microstrip antennas for mobile communications
Authors: Latif A. , Hilal R. , Ouahman A. Ait 
Published: October 2009

The aim of this paper is to study the miniature patch antenna (patch antenna λ/8) fed by a coaxial line, and the design comparison of this antenna by two methods: The Transmission Line Model (TLM) and the G-L-C Parallel Circuit Model. An adaptation of the microstrip antenna λ/8, by the setting up of a capacitor in the middle of the probe-feed is achieved.
The modeling and the design of the miniature patch antenna will be made by the TLM; a particular attention will be carried on the results got on the level of the bandwidth. The second part is based on the idea of microstrip patch antenna starting from the G-L-C Parallel Circuit Model, (by order of 14 %), which gives the bandwidth more interest than in the first method (TLM).
The results obtained by the two methods (Input Impedance, reflection coefficient, SWR and bandwidth) will be given by the programs in MATLAB software.
Technology transfer and modernization
Authors: Irrgang Bernhard 
Published: October 2009

Technique- or technology-transfer is based in many ways on technological and economic paths that were often created by European colonization and have been intensified by Industrialization and Globalization. On the one hand, the modern age is a constantly developing planetary truth, a truth that impacts every society in the world. On the other hand, societies in third world countries have not produced this condition themselves because modernity is an external imposition. This means the modern age turns to be an unavoidable destiny for them. Traditional modernization and technology transfer abstract from almost all contextual factors. That is why technological development and modernization are being compared across continents and assessed with more or less value, not considering the cultural and social contextual circumstances. This supposes on one hand that the western way into the modern age has a model character, is normative and there are no alternatives to it. Also, it is supposed that the modern age is a desirable objective and that compensation leads to equal final situations.
A requirement for technological standards and for technology transfer are innovations which constantly promise new development paths and stable institutional settings that can be monitored over a long period. These setting have to be ensured by the cultural system, especially by their social-economical dimensions. Also, the religious dimension is a part of this setting, and in Africa and South-east Asia is closely connected to the form and style of life and to culture. Secularization comparable to the western world only takes place in major cities, as they are islands of modernization. For thousands of years, technological process innovations such as technology transfer have been digested by cultural embedding and not through modernization. This might vary from place to place but in general it shows the same development. Heteronomous transfers meet culturally motivated resistance or are ignored, whereas the circumstances of technology transfer are a bit different. It is not being identified with culture transfer and does not automatically lead to a broad modernization but to a form of development with a speed of cultural adjustment - for sure slower than required by modernization. But this development can mostly be digested with the help of the embedding-paradigm. It is our task to generate forms of modernization with consideration for cultural embedding and traditions.
21st Century Information Technology Revolution
Authors: Pal Sanjay Kumar 
Published: October 2009

The computing power in the few micro processors that are now in a Ford Motor Car is much more than all the computing power that was put in the space vehicle that landed the first men on the moon and brought them back. In today's do-more-with-less business environment, with increasing demands from customers, shareholders, and regulators, the IT organization is not only asked to work harder and smarter, but is being asked to take on the role of assuring the business.
Humanity has progressed from agricultural revolution to the industrial revolution and is now moving to an information revolution. It is this awesome computing power at continuously falling prices and the computers being networked over global telecom highways that is leading to the use of Information Technology in every sector of human activity be it communication, banking, trading, learning and teaching, entertainment, socializing, government, management and librarying. Just as machines have extended man's mechanical power and his convenience and comfort, Information Technology as commonly picturized by computers, is extending man's mind or brain or intellectual power. The term information technology has ballooned to encompass many aspects of computing and technology, and the term is more recognizable than ever before.
De-escalating IT projects
Authors: Flynn Donal , Pan Gary , Keil Mark , Mähring Magnus 
Published: October 2009

Introduction

Taming runaway Information Technology (IT) projects is a challenge that most organizations have faced and that managers continue to wrestle with. These are projects that grossly exceed their planned budgets and schedules, often by a factor of 2--3 fold or greater. Many end in failure; failure not only in the sense of budget or schedule, but in terms of delivered functionality as well.
Runaway projects are frequently the result of escalating commitment to a failing course of action, a phenomenon that occurs when investments fail to work out as envisioned and decision-makers compound the problem by persisting irrationally. Keil, Mann, and Rai reported that 30--40% of IT projects exhibit some degree of escalation. To break the escalation cycle, de-escalation of commitment to the failing course of action must occur so that valuable resources can be channeled into more productive use. But, making de-escalation happen is neither easy nor intuitive.
This article briefly examines three approaches that have been suggested for managing de-escalation. By combining elements from the three approaches, we introduce a de-escalation management maturity (DMM) model that provides a useful framework for improving practice.
How effective is Google's translation service in search?
Authors: Savoy Jacques , Dolamic Ljiljana 
Published: October 2009

Introduction

In multilingual countries (Canada, Hong Kong, India, among others) and large international organizations or companies (such as, WTO, European Parliament), and among Web users in general, accessing information written in other languages has become a real need (news, hotel or airline reservations, or government information, statistics). While some users are bilingual, others can read documents written in another language but cannot formulate a query to search it, or at least cannot provide reliable search terms in a form comparable to those found in the documents being searched. There are also many monolingual users who may want to retrieve documents in another language and then have them translated into their own language, either manually or automatically.
Translation services may however be too expensive, not readily accessible or not available within a short timeframe. On the other hand, many documents contain non-textual information such as images, videos and statistics that do not need translation and can be understood regardless of the language involved. In response to these needs and in order to make the Web universally available regardless of any language barriers, in May 2007 Google launched a translation service that now provides two-way online translation services mainly between English and 41 other languages, for example, Arabic, simplified and traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish (http://translate.google.com/). Over the last few years other free Internet translation services have been made available as for example by BabelFish (http://babel.altavista.com/) or Yahoo! (http://babelfish.yahoo.com/). These two systems are similar to that used by Google, given they are based on technology developed by Systran, one of the earliest companies to develop machine translation. Also worth mentioning here is the Promt system (also known as Reverso, http://translation2.paralink.com/), which was developed in Russia to provide mainly translation between Russian and other languages.

The question we would like to address here is to what extent a translation service such as Google can produce adequate results in the language other than that being used to write the query. Although we will not evaluate translations
per se
we will test and analyze various systems in terms of their ability to retrieve items automatically based on a translated query. To be adequate, these tests must be done on a collection of documents written in one given language plus a series of topics (expressing user information needs) written in other languages, plus a series of relevance assessments (relevant documents for each topic).
Kimbanguism Going Astray
Authors: Balz Heinrich 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe doctrinal controversy within the Kimbanguist Church, Église de Jésus-Christ sur la Terre par son Envoyé Spécial Simon Kimbangu, reached a new climax in July 2008: Moderate teaching on the person of Simon Kimbangu on the one hand and on the divine Trinity on the other, which had been the church's official doctrine since 2005, was solemnly revoked by an assembly in Nkamba, D.R. Congo and by the church's leader, the Chef spirituel, to be replaced more or less directly by the common popular Kimbanguist belief: Simon Kimbangu is God, the Holy Spirit incarnate. But the theologians who had formulated the former moderate teaching do not accept this new turn in the Kimbanguist Church's doctrine. The article gives the arguments and strategies of both sides and reflects on the possible future development of the Kimbanguist Church.
White Brothers–Black Strangers: Dutch Calvinist Churches and Apartheid in South-Africa
Authors: Meijers Erica 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAfter apartheid was abolished in 1994, fierce discussions within the Dutch churches on the theme of apartheid were quickly forgotten. However, we could still learn from this important chapter of church history. Erica Meijers argues that the debates during the 1970s and 1980s have their roots in the changes which the churches underwent in the 1950s and 1960s. Apartheid confronted protestant churches with their own images of black and white, their role in the colonial area and their view of the role of the church in society. All this led to a decreasing solidarity with the Afrikaners and a growing focus on black reality in South Africa. White brothers became strangers and black strangers became allies. This is in essence the transformation of attitude which both the Netherlands Reformed Church and the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands underwent between 1948 and 1972.
Miracle and Machine: The Two Sources of Religion and Science in Derrida's "Faith and Knowledge"
Authors: Naas Michael 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThis essay attempts to lay out the three principal theses of Jacques Derrida's 1994–1995 "Faith and Knowledge," Derrida's most sustained but also most challenging work on the nature of religion and the relationship between religion and science. After demonstrating through these three theses that religion and science not only share a common source—or have a common genesis—but are in what Derrida calls an autoimmune relationship to one another, the essay puts these theses to the test by reading a brief passage near the middle of the essay where Derrida recounts the genesis of "Faith and Knowledge" itself. Derrida's seemingly anecdotal recounting of this genesis is thus shown to reflect the three theses of "Faith and Knowledge," the way in which, in a word, the breath of creation, or the miracle of religion, is always doubled, supplemented, and thus contaminated by the machine of science and tele-technology.
What Comes after Christianity? Jean-Luc Nancy's Deconstruction of Christianity
Authors: Schrijvers Joeri 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThis article aims to be a confrontation with Nancy's 'deconstruction of Christianity.' Its arguments are instructed by Derrida's thesis in his On Touching—Jean-Luc Nancy, in which he speaks of the 'destructive effects' of Nancy's own thinking. One such effect is, according to Derrida, Nancy's complicity with some form of metaphysical thinking. The conclusion of this article therefore aims to expound on just what sort of metaphysics returns in Nancy's work and proposes a more viable—and phenomenological—option with regard to the question of what is to be done with the relics of the Christian tradition through forging an opening towards Levinas' and Merleau-Ponty's philosophies.
Alberico Gentili on Diplomacy
Authors: Langhorne Richard 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAlberico Gentili was a significant academic lawyer of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. He was an Italian religious refugee who fled to England and became professor of law at Oxford. Among his works are three books on diplomacy dating from 1585. These have never attracted the same degree of interest as his other works and this article discusses both why this has been so and indicates ways in which they are worthy of more attention — particularly that they are peculiarly accurate representatives of the contemporary discussion of diplomacy and that there are two real and original contributions that Gentili made. One concerns the rights and privileges of resident ambassadors and the other rests on his clearly expressed conviction that diplomacy could know no bounds set by religion or culture. In both these opinions he was ahead of his time.