bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diminished Hematopoietic Activity Associated with Alterations in Innate and Adaptive Immunity in a Mouse Model of Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis
Authors: MacNamara Katherine C. , Racine Rachael , Chatterjee Madhumouli , Borjesson Dori , Winslow Gary M. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is a tick-borne disease caused by
Ehrlichia chaffeensis
. Patients exhibit diagnostically important hematological changes, including anemia and thrombocytopenia, although the basis of the abnormalities is unknown. To begin to understand these changes, we used a mouse model of ehrlichiosis to determine whether the observed hematological changes induced by infection are associated with altered hematopoietic activity. Infection with
Ehrlichia muris
, a pathogen closely related to
E. chaffeensis
, resulted in anemia, thrombocytopenia, and a marked reduction in bone marrow cellularity. CFU assays, conducted on days 10 and 15 postinfection, revealed a striking decrease in multipotential myeloid and erythroid progenitors. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the frequency of immature granulocytes in the bone marrow and a decrease in the frequency of B lymphocytes. Equally striking changes were observed in spleen cellularity and architecture, and infected mice exhibited extensive extramedullary hematopoiesis. Splenomegaly, a characteristic feature of
E. muris
infection, was associated with an expanded and disorganized marginal zone and a nearly 66-fold increase in the level of Ter119
+
erythroid cells, indicative of splenic erythropoiesis. We hypothesize that inflammation associated with ehrlichia infection suppresses bone marrow function, induces the emigration of B cells, and establishes hematopoietic activity in the spleen. We propose that these changes, which may be essential for providing the innate and acquired immune cells to fight infection, are also responsible in part for blood cytopenias and other clinical features of HME.
A time-series study of the health effects of water-soluble and total-extractable metal content of airborne particulate matter: Table 1
Authors: Heal M R , Elton R A , Hibbs L R , Agius R M , Beverland I J 
Published: May 2009

Objectives:To assess whether adverse acute cardiopulmonary health outcomes are associated with concentration of trace metals in airborne particulate matter.Methods:Daily PM10and PM2.5were collected for 1 year in Edinburgh, UK, and the water-soluble and total-extractable content of 11 trace metals determined in each sample. Time series were analysed using generalised additive Poisson regression models, including adjustment for minimum temperature and loess smoothing of trends. Methods were explored of extending the time series of metal concentration in daily PM10for the previous 7 years using multiple regression of the variation in metal content for the 1 year of measurements and the associated variation in air mass source region and other concurrently-measured potential predictor variables.Results:The 1 year of direct measurements showed no evidence of significant associations of particle-bound metal concentration with health outcomes beyond that expected by chance. Analysis of the extended time series showed significant positive associations with cardiovascular admissions both for total PM10and for a number of the metals (eg, Cu, Fe, Ni, V, Zn) but the metal effects were no longer significant after adjusting for PM10.Conclusions:Within the limitations of the study power, the epidemiological results have not provided evidence for associations between particle-bound metal concentrations and adverse health outcomes that are substantially greater than for total PM. The generally strong correlations between metal and total PM suggest that quantifying independent effects of PM metal exposure on health will be difficult, even using more powerful time series of direct measurements.
Universally Composable RFID Identification and Authentication Protocols
Authors: Burmester Mike , Van Le Tri , De Medeiros Breno , Tsudik Gene 
Published: May 2009

As the number of RFID applications grows, concerns about their security and privacy become greatly amplified. At the same time, the acutely restricted and cost-sensitive nature of RFID tags rules out simple reuse of traditional security/privacy solutions and calls for a new generation of extremely lightweight identification and authentication protocols.
This article describes a universally composable security framework designed especially for RFID applications. We adopt RFID-specific setup, communication, and concurrency assumptions in a model that guarantees strong security, privacy, and availability properties. In particular, the framework supports modular deployment, which is most appropriate for ubiquitous applications. We also describe a set of simple, efficient, secure, and anonymous (untraceable) RFID identification and authentication protocols that instantiate the proposed framework. These protocols involve minimal interaction between tags and readers and place only a small computational load on the tag, and a light computational burden on the back-end server. We show that our protocols are provably secure within the proposed framework.
Developing authentic problem solving skills in introductory computing classes
Authors: Falkner Katrina , Palmer Edward 
Published: May 2009

The ability to solve problems is the key to developing software, and it is an ability that can be difficult to learn. Introductory Computer Science students are often taught syntax and semantics, along with simple problems designed to develop logical, structured thinking, but authentic problem-solving skills are rarely developed at these early stages.
In this paper we describe an approach to introductory computer science education that addresses student engagement through integrating cooperative learning techniques and authentic problem solving processes throughout each aspect of the curriculum.
Over a period of 4 years, the introductory computer science course at the University of Adelaide has been modified to support a cooperative learning style. A three-stage methodology has been implemented in place of traditional lectures to achieve this. The process focuses on observing the application of programming techniques, observing problem solving techniques and then applying cooperative problem solving exercises in the classroom. The results from this change in teaching methodology have been an increase in attendance rates at lectures and practical sessions as well as improved learning outcomes as measured by exam results. Student experience surveys show students have greater motivation for learning and believe they have a better understanding of concepts since the changes have occurred.
Seattle
Authors: Cappos Justin , Beschastnikh Ivan , Krishnamurthy Arvind , Anderson Tom 
Published: May 2009

Cloud computing is rapidly increasing in popularity. Companies such as RedHat, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and IBM are increasingly funding cloud computing infrastructure and research, making it important for students to gain the necessary skills to work with cloud-based resources. This paper presents a free, educational research platform called Seattle that is community-driven, a common denominator for diverse platform types, and is broadly deployed.
Seattle is community-driven -- universities donate available compute resources on multi-user machines to the platform. These donations can come from systems with a wide variety of operating systems and architectures, removing the need for a dedicated infrastructure.
Seattle is also surprisingly flexible and supports a variety of pedagogical uses because as a platform it represents a common denominator for cloud computing, grid computing, peer-to-peer networking, distributed systems, and networking. Seattle programs are portable. Students' code can run across different operating systems and architectures without change, while the Seattle programming language is expressive enough for experimentation at a fine-grained level. Our current deployment of Seattle consists of about one thousand computers that are distributed around the world. We invite the computer science education community to employ Seattle in their courses.
Thinking about computational thinking
Authors: Lu James J. , Fletcher George H.L. 
Published: May 2009

Jeannette Wing's call for teaching Computational Thinking (CT) as a formative skill on par with reading, writing, and arithmetic places computer science in the category of basic knowledge. Just as proficiency in basic language arts helps us to effectively communicate and in basic math helps us to successfully quantitate, proficiency in computational thinking helps us to systematically and efficiently process information and tasks. But while teaching everyone to think computationally is a noble goal, there are pedagogical challenges. Perhaps the most confounding issue is the role of programming, and whether we can separate it from teaching basic computer science. How much programming, if any, should be required for CT proficiency?
We believe that to successfully broaden participation in computer science, efforts must be made to lay the foundations of CT long before students experience their first programming language. We posit that programming is to Computer Science what proof construction is to mathematics, and what literary analysis is to English. Hence by analogy, programming should be the entrance into higher CS, and not the student's first encounter in CS. We argue that in the absence of programming, teaching CT should focus on establishing vocabularies and symbols that can be used to annotate and describe computation and abstraction, suggest information and execution, and provide notation around which mental models of processes can be built. Lastly, we conjecture that students with sustained exposure to CT in their formative education will be better prepared for programming and the CS curriculum, and, furthermore, that they might choose to major in CS not only for career opportunities, but also for its intellectual content.
Fabrication
Authors: Reiser Susan L. , Bruce Rebecca F. 
Published: May 2009

In this paper, we describe our CS0 course, 3D Modeling and Fabrication, that includes a service-learning CNC milling project as a high tech hook to interest students, both our own and middle school students, in computer science and engineering. Among the CS0 learning outcomes achieved through the design and fabrication projects are computer literacy, writing-across-the curriculum, and development of problem-solving skills such as quantitative reasoning and critical thinking.
This course is situated in the Integrated Liberal Studies program at University of North Carolina at Asheville. It can be offered as part of any general education program to fulfill a computer literacy or writing-across-the-curriculum requirement. Taking an idea and nurturing it from a concept to a model, to a series of working drawings, and then to a three-dimensional prototype is exciting and fun, and leaves a tangible reminder of the creativity inherent in computer science.
Make IT matter
Authors: Abowd Gregory D. 
Published: May 2009

Years ago I was trained as a software engineering researcher, well versed in the mathematical abstractions of programming. However, influenced by the writings and research of Mark Weiser and his Xerox PARC Ubiquitous Computing group, I started to think about a different way of doing research in computing. Computing technology, as Weiser predicted, has become so prevalent in our lives that we almost don't recognize everything that is computationally-based in our everyday world.
In this talk, I will focus on how information technologies woven into our everyday lives can address significant problems in the delivery of health care for vulnerable populations. My main experience, driven by personal necessity, is with developmental disabilities, but I hope that my story will show how the integration of the physical and digital worlds makes a real difference in our lives and the lives of others.
Aprotinin concentration varies significantly according to cardiopulmonary bypass conditions
Authors: Okamura T , Ishibashi N , Iwata Y , Zurakowski D , Jonas RA 
Published: May 2009

Although aprotinin is partially excreted unchanged in the urine, its primary site of metabolism is in the renal lysosomes following proximal tubule resorption. This study tested the hypothesis that plasma aprotinin concentration varies with cardiopulmonary bypass conditions. Thirty-two piglets (weight 13.2 ± 1.9 kg) received an aprotinin initial dose of 30,000 KIU/kg, a maintenance infusion of 10,000 KIU/kg/h, with a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) prime of 30,000 KIU/kg. Aprotinin infusion was terminated at the end of CPB and stopped during hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA). Piglets were randomized to four groups (n = 8 per group): HCA, 60-minute period at 15°C; low-flow (LF), 10 mL/kg/min low-flow CPB at 25°C; full flow (FF), full flow CPB at 37°C; control at 37°C without CPB. Blood samples were collected at 7 time points: after induction of anesthesia (baseline), after initial dose, 10, 50 and 115 min after start of CPB, just before end of CPB and 30 min after CPB. Plasma aprotinin levels were determined by modified functional assays. Aprotinin levels in the control group were significantly lower at each point after start of CPB than all groups with CPB ( p < .001). In particular, during the reperfusion period, aprotinin levels were higher in HCA and LF groups than FF group ( p < .05). Throughout CPB, aprotinin levels in the HCA group remained unchanged ( p > .40). Bypass conditions affect plasma aprotinin concentration. Recently reported renal and neurological complications with aprotinin use during CPB may reflect excessive dosing and point to the need for real-time monitoring.
Controlled Adipose-derived Stromal Cells Differentiation into Adipose and Endothelial Cells in a 3D Structure Established by Cell-assembly Technique
Authors: Xu Mingen , Van Yongnian , Liu Haixia , Yag Rui , Wang Xiaohong 
Published: May 2009

One of the major obstacles in engineering thick and complex tissues while vascularizing tissues in vitro is to maintain cell viability during tissue growth and structural organization. Adipose-derived stromal (ADS) cells were used to establish a multicellular system through a cell-assembly technique. Attempts were made to control ADS cells differentiation into different targeted cell types according to their positions within an orderly 3D structure. Oil red 0 staining confirmed that the ADS cells in the structure differentiated into adipocytes with a spherical shape while immunostaining tests confirmed that the endothelial growth factor induced ADS cells on the walls of channels differentiated into mature endothelial cells and then organized into tubular structures throughout the engineered 3D structure. The endothelin-1 and nitric oxide release rules of the endothelial cells were coincidental with those in vivo. This study provides a new approach to engineer orderly endothelial vessel networks in vitro and has potential applications in adipose-tissue engineering.
High-dose therapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation as salvage treatment for AIDS-related lymphoma: long-term results of the Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS and Tumors (GICAT) study with analysis of prognostic factors
Authors: Re Alessandro , Michieli Mariagrazia , Casari Salvatore , Allione Bernardino , Cattaneo Chiara , Rupolo Maurizio , Spina Michele , Manuele Rosa , Vaccher Emanuela , Mazzucato Mario , Abbruzzese Luciano , Ferremi Pierino , Carosi Giampiero , Tirelli Umberto , Rossi Giuseppe 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAfter the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), intensive treatment, including high-dose therapy (HDT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), has become feasible in HIV-positive patients with Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin (NHL) lymphoma. Herein, we report the long-term results, on an intention-to-treat basis, of a prospective study on HDT and PBSCT in 50 HIV-positive HAART-responding patients with refractory/relapsed lymphoma. After debulking therapy, 2 patients had early toxic deaths, 10 had chemoresistant disease, 6 failed stem cell mobilization, 1 refused collection, and 4 progressed soon after PBSC harvest. Twenty-seven actually received transplant. Twenty-one patients are alive and disease-free after a median follow-up of 44 months (OS, 74.6%; PFS, 75.9%). Only lymphoma response significantly affected OS after transplantation. In multivariate analyses both lymphoma stage and low CD4 count negatively influenced the possibility to receive transplant. Median OS of all 50 eligible patients was 33 months (OS, 49.8%; PFS, 48.9%). Low CD4 count, marrow involvement, and poor performance status independently affected survival. PBSCT is a highly effective salvage treatment for chemosensitive AIDS-related lymphoma. It seems rational to explore its use earlier during the course of lymphoma to increase the proportion of patients who can actually receive transplant.
Effect of a glucose impulse on the CcpA regulon in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Seidl Kati , Müller Susanne , François Patrice , Kriebitzsch Carsten , Schrenzel Jacques , Engelmann Susanne , Bischoff Markus , Berger-Bächi Brigitte 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundThe catabolite control protein A (CcpA) is a member of the LacI/GalR family of transcriptional regulators controlling carbon-metabolism pathways in low-GC Gram-positive bacteria. It functions as a catabolite repressor or activator, allowing the bacteria to utilize the preferred carbon source over secondary carbon sources. This study is the first CcpA-dependent transcriptome and proteome analysis inStaphylococcus aureus, focussing on short-time effects of glucose under stable pH conditions.ResultsThe addition of glucose to exponentially growingS. aureusincreased the expression of genes and enzymes of the glycolytic pathway, while genes and proteins of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, required for the complete oxidation of glucose, were repressed via CcpA. Phosphotransacetylase and acetate kinase, converting acetyl-CoA to acetate with a concomitant substrate-level phosphorylation, were neither regulated by glucose nor by CcpA. CcpA directly repressed genes involved in utilization of amino acids as secondary carbon sources. Interestingly, the expression of a larger number of genes was found to be affected byccpAinactivation in the absence of glucose than after glucose addition, suggesting that glucose-independent effects due to CcpA may have a particular impact inS. aureus. In the presence of glucose, CcpA was found to regulate the expression of genes involved in metabolism, but also that of genes coding for virulence determinants.ConclusionThis study describes the CcpA regulon of exponentially growingS. aureuscells. As in other bacteria, CcpA ofS. aureusseems to control a large regulon that comprises metabolic genes as well as virulence determinants that are affected in their expression by CcpA in a glucose-dependent as well as -independent manner.
Bacterial diversity analysis of larvae and adult midgut microflora using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods in lab-reared and field-collected Anopheles stephensi-an Asian malarial vector
Authors: Rani Asha , Sharma Anil , Rajagopal Raman , Adak Tridibesh , Bhatnagar Raj K 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
Mosquitoes are intermediate hosts for numerous disease causing organisms. Vector control is one of the most investigated strategy for the suppression of mosquito-borne diseases. Anopheles stephensi is one of the vectors of malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. The parasite undergoes major developmental and maturation steps within the mosquito midgut and little is known about Anopheles-associated midgut microbiota. Identification and characterization of the mosquito midgut flora is likely to contribute towards better understanding of mosquito biology including longevity, reproduction and mosquito-pathogen interactions that are important to evolve strategies for vector control mechanisms.

Results
Lab-reared and field-collected A. stephensi male, female and larvae were screened by "culture-dependent and culture-independent" methods. Five 16S rRNA gene library were constructed form lab and field-caught A. stephensi mosquitoes and a total of 115 culturable isolates from both samples were analyzed further. Altogether, 68 genera were identified from midgut of adult and larval A. stephensi, 53 from field-caught and 15 from lab-reared mosquitoes. A total of 171 and 44 distinct phylotypes having 85 to 99% similarity with the closest database matches were detected among field and lab-reared A. stephensi midgut, respectively. These OTUs had a Shannon diversity index value of 1.74–2.14 for lab-reared and in the range of 2.75–3.49 for field-caught A. stephensi mosquitoes. The high species evenness values of 0.93 to 0.99 in field-collected adult and larvae midgut flora indicated the vastness of microbial diversity retrieved by these approaches. The dominant bacteria in field-caught adult male A. stephensi were uncultured Paenibacillaceae while in female and in larvae it was Serratia marcescens, on the other hand in lab-reared mosquitoes, Serratia marcescens and Cryseobacterium meninqosepticum bacteria were found to be abundant.

Conclusion
More than fifty percent of the phylotypes were related to uncultured class of bacteria. Interestingly, several of the bacteria identified are related to the known symbionts in other insects. Few of the isolates identified in our study are found to be novel species within the gammaproteobacteria which could not be phylogenetically placed within known classes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to study the midgut microbiota of A. stephensi from lab-reared and field-collected adult and larvae using "culture-dependent and independent methods".
Molecular beacon-based real-time PCR detection of primary isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis in environmental and clinical samples
Authors: Hadjinicolaou Andreas V , Demetriou Victoria L , Emmanuel Maria A , Kakoyiannis Charalambos K , Kostrikis Leondios G 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
A fast and simple two-step multiplex real-time PCR assay has been developed to replace the traditional, laborious Salmonella serotyping procedure. Molecular beacons were incorporated into the assay as probes for target DNA. Target sequences were regions of the invA, prot6E and fliC genes specific for Salmonella spp. Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium, respectively, the two most clinically relevant serotypes. An internal amplification positive control was included in the experiment to ensure the optimal functioning of the PCR and detect possible PCR inhibition. Three sets of primers were used for the amplification of the target sequences. The results were compared to those of the Kauffmann-White antigenic classification scheme.

Results
The assay was 100% sensitive and specific, correctly identifying all 44 Salmonella strains, all 21 samples of S. Enteritidis and all 17 samples of S. Typhimurium tested in this work. Therefore, the entire experiment had specificity and sensitivity of 100%. The detection limit was down to 10 copies of DNA target per 25 μl reaction.

Conclusion
The assay can amplify and analyse a large number of samples in approximately 8 hours, compared to the 4 to 5 days conventional identification takes, and is thus considered a very promising method for detecting the two major serotypes of Salmonella quickly and accurately from clinical and environmental samples.