bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Range expansion and enemy recruitment by eight alien gall wasp species in Britain
Authors: SCHÖNROGGE KARSTEN , BEGG TRACEY , WILLIAMS ROBIN , MELIKA GEORGE , RANDLE ZOË , STONE GRAHAM N. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract.  1. Biological invasions involving continuous range expansion differ from discontinuous introductions in that invaded and native ranges remain connected, potentially allowing pursuit of range expanding species by their natural enemies. The establishment in Britain of eight alien herbivorous gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipinae) provides a rare opportunity to study continuous range expansion and natural enemy recruitment in a guild of related and ecologically similar species.2. Four aliens (Andricus kollari, A. quercuscalicis, A. lignicolus, and A. corruptrix) reached the UK before 1990, while four more recent invaders (A. aries, A. grossulariae, A. lucidus, and Aphelonyx cerricola) reached Britain by 2000. We provide the first parasitoid records for the recent invaders, update community development for the earlier set, and use dates of first record to estimate rates of spread for all eight species.3. While the recent invaders are restricted to southern and eastern England, three of the early invaders have reached northern Scotland. From their origins in southern England, invading gall wasps have expanded their distributions across the UK at mean rates ranging from 1.4 km/year to >20 km/year. Variation in range expansion rate was not related to life history differences, including voltinism or host oak association.4. All species have recruited native parasitoid enemies since their arrival, and we found no evidence of pursuit by non‐native natural enemies from continental Europe. Our results suggest that over timescales predicted for rapid climate change, herbivore/parasitoid communities are unlikely to expand their range as sets of interacting species. Rather, we expect host range expansions to trigger local reassembly of communities.
Trends in incidence of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma in Florida: 1981‐2008
Authors: McGorray Susan P. , Guo Yi , Logan Henrietta 
Published: September 2011

AbstractObjective: While the overall incidence rates of oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have decreased in the United States, there is evidence of increasing incidence at selected anatomic sites, particularly among younger adults. The objective of this study was to examine trends in incidence rates of oral and pharyngeal cancers in Florida.Methods: Using data from the Florida Cancer Data System, we examined the incidence of oral and pharyngeal carcinomas in Florida from 1981 through 2008. Factors of interest included sex, race, and trends over time. Percent change (PC) and annual percent change (APC) were computed to characterize trends over time.Results: A total of 53,648 cases of oral or pharyngeal cancer were identified from 1981 through 2008. Significant increasing trends were observed only for pharyngeal cancers in males, with significant decreasing trends for pharyngeal cancer in females and oral cancer for both sexes. For tonsil and base of tongue cancers, increasing trends were detected for white males only. Further investigation among white males showed that, except for base of tongue cancer in the 20‐44 age group, the incidence of both cancers increased across all age groups, with the largest increase for both sites found in the 45‐64 age group.Conclusions: This study supports the finding of increasing incidence of SCC of the tonsil and base of tongue in males, in contrast to decreasing trends for most oral and pharyngeal carcinomas. However, we observed that this increase occurred in white males only and the most dramatic increase occurred in the 45‐64 age group.
Predictors of
agr
Dysfunction in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolates among Patients with MRSA Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Butterfield Jill M. , Tsuji Brian T. , Brown Jack , Ashley Elizabeth Dodds , Hardy Dwight , Brown Kristen , Forrest Alan , Lodise Thomas P. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Despite emerging evidence that dysfunction in the accessory gene regulator (
agr
) locus is associated with deleterious outcomes among patients treated with vancomycin for methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) infections, factors predictive of
agr
dysfunction have not been evaluated. This study describes the epidemiology of
agr
dysfunction, identifies predictors of
agr
dysfunction in MRSA isolates among those with MRSA bloodstream infections, and describes the relationship between
agr
dysfunction and other microbiologic phenotypes. A cross-sectional study of patients with MRSA bloodstream infections at two institutions in upstate New York was performed. Clinical data on demographics, comorbidities, disease severity, hospitalization history, and antibiotic history were collected. Microbiologic phenotypes, including
agr
dysfunction, MIC values by broth microdilution (BMD) and Etest, and vancomycin heteroresistance (hVISA) were tested. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of
agr
dysfunction. Among 200 patients with an MRSA bloodstream infection, the proportion of strains with
agr
dysfunction was 31.5%. The distribution of MICs determined by both BMD and Etest were equivalent across
agr
groups, and there was no association between
agr
dysfunction and the presence of hVISA. Severity of illness, comorbidities, and hospitalization history were comparable between
agr
groups. In the multivariate analysis, prior antibiotic exposure was the only factor of variables studied found to be predictive of
agr
dysfunction. This relationship was predominantly driven by prior beta-lactam and fluoroquinolone administration in the bivariate analysis. Identifying these institution-specific risk factors can be used to develop a process to assess the risk of
agr
dysfunction and guide empirical antibiotic therapy decisions.
Oseltamivir and Oseltamivir Carboxylate Pharmacokinetics in Obese Adults: Dose Modification for Weight Is Not Necessary
Authors: Pai Manjunath P. , Lodise Thomas P. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Obesity is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients infected with pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1). Given the poor outcomes observed among adult obese patients with H1N1, the dosing of antiviral agents in this population has been questioned, and use of twice the standard oseltamivir dose has been suggested. However, studies evaluating the disposition of oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate (the active metabolite) in the obese population are scant. We evaluated the single-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir (75 mg by mouth twice daily) in a cohort of 21 healthy adult volunteers with class III obesity (body mass index [BMI], ≥40 kg/m
2
). The median (minimum, maximum) age, weight, and BMI were 36 (19, 50) years, 122 (106, 159) kg, and 43.7 (40.0, 54.4) kg/m
2
, respectively. The population pharmacokinetic exposure profiles of oseltamivir carboxylate (the active metabolite) were comparable between class III obese subjects and nonobese adults (healthy and infected). Similar to previous pharmacokinetic analyses in nonobese subjects, the mean (percent covariance [CV]) area under the concentration-time curve for the dosing interval (AUC
0–τ
) was 2,621 ng·h/ml (17) for oseltamivir carboxylate. Body size was significantly (
P
< 0.05) associated with oseltamivir and oseltamivir carboxylate apparent clearance, but the correlation coefficient was poor (
R
2
≤ 0.3). Creatinine clearance estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault method and lean body weight were also significantly (
P
< 0.05) but poorly (
R
2
= 0.17) correlated with oseltamivir carboxylate apparent clearance. Since the systemic exposure of oseltamivir carboxylate is not reduced in class III obese adults with standard doses, a dose increment of oseltamivir is likely to be unnecessary.
Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors That Block Replication of Influenza A and Other Viruses
Authors: Kumar Naveen , Sharma Nishi R. , Ly Hinh , Parslow Tristram G. , Liang Yuying 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

We have previously reported that two receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (RTKIs), called AG879 and tyrphostin A9 (A9), can each block the replication of influenza A virus in cultured cells. In this study, we further characterized the
in vitro
antiviral efficacies and specificities of these agents. The 50% effective concentration (EC
50
) of each against influenza A was found to be in the high nanomolar range, and the selectivity index (SI = 50% cytotoxic concentration [CC
50
]/EC
50
) was determined to be >324 for AG879 and 50 for A9, indicating that therapeutically useful concentrations of each drug produce only low levels of cytotoxicity. Each compound showed efficacy against representative laboratory strains of both human influenza A (H1N1 or H3N2) and influenza B viruses. Importantly, no drug-resistant influenza virus strains emerged even after 25 viral passages in the presence of AG879, whereas viruses resistant to amantadine appeared after only 3 passages. AG879 and A9 each also exhibited potent inhibitory activity against a variety of other RNA and DNA viruses, including Sendai virus (
Paramyxoviridae
), herpes simplex virus (
Herpesviridae
), mouse hepatitis virus (
Coronaviridae
), and rhesus rotavirus (
Reoviridae
), but not against Pichinde virus (
Arenaviridae
). These results together suggest that RTKIs may be useful as therapeutics against viral pathogens, including but not limited to influenza, due to their high selectivity indices, low frequency of drug resistance, and broad-spectrum antiviral activities.
Comparative Performances of Flubendazole and Albendazole in Cystic Echinococcosis:
Ex Vivo
Activity, Plasma/Cyst Disposition, and Efficacy in Infected Mice
Authors: Ceballos Laura , Elissondo Celina , Sánchez Bruni Sergio , Denegri Guillermo , Lanusse Carlos , Alvarez Luis 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The need to identify improved therapy against cystic echinococcosis (CE) has motivated pharmacology-based research. The comparative pharmacological performances of the benzimidazole compounds flubendazole (FLBZ) and albendazole (ABZ) were addressed here. The goals of the work were as follows: (i) to evaluate the
ex vivo
activities of FLBZ, ABZ, and their respective metabolites against
Echinococcus granulosus
protoscoleces, (ii) to compare the plasma and cyst disposition kinetics for the two drugs in infected mice, and (iii) to compare the clinical efficacies of FLBZ and ABZ against CE in mice. For the
ex vivo
study,
E. granulosus
protoscoleces were incubated with FLBZ, reduced FLBZ (R-FLBZ), ABZ, and ABZ-sulfoxide (ABZSO) (10 nmol/ml). Protoscolex viability was monitored by the methylene blue exclusion test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the pharmacokinetic study, BALB/c mice with CE were allocated to two different groups and orally treated with either FLBZ or ABZ (5 mg/kg of body weight), both formulated as a cyclodextrin-based solution. Blood and cyst samples were taken up to 12 h posttreatment and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For the efficacy study, CE-infected BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: the unmedicated control group and the FLBZ- and ABZ-treated groups. Oral treatments were performed twice a day during 25 days. After treatment, all animals were killed and the weight of the cysts was recorded. Loss of protoscolex viability was observed after drug incubation. FLBZ was detected in plasma (area under the concentration-versus-time curve [AUC] = 1.8 μg·h/ml) and cysts (AUC = 0.3 μg·h/g) collected from treated infected animals. Conversely, ABZSO was the only active molecule measured in plasma (AUC = 4.4 μg·h/ml) and cysts (AUC = 1.5 μg·h/g) after ABZ treatment. FLBZ induced a 90% reduction in cyst weight in comparison to those collected from untreated control mice (
P
< 0.05). However, no differences in cyst weight were observed between the ABZ-treated (8.2 g) and unmedicated control (10.5 g) groups. Due to these results, we consider flubendazole to have great potential to become a drug of choice in the treatment of cystic echinococcosis.
Sterilizing Activity of Novel TMC207- and PA-824-Containing Regimens in a Murine Model of Tuberculosis
Authors: Tasneen Rokeya , Li Si-Yang , Peloquin Charles A. , Taylor Dinesh , Williams Kathy N. , Andries Koen , Mdluli Khisimuzi E. , Nuermberger Eric L. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT
To truly transform the landscape of tuberculosis treatment, novel regimens containing at least 2 new drugs are needed to simplify the treatment of both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis. As part of an ongoing effort to evaluate novel drug combinations for treatment-shortening potential in a murine model, we performed two long-term, relapse-based experiments. In the first experiment, TMC207 plus pyrazinamide, alone or in combination with any third drug, proved superior to the first-line regimen including rifampin, pyrazinamide, and isoniazid. On the basis of CFU counts at 1 month, clofazimine proved to be the best third drug combined with TMC207 and pyrazinamide, whereas the addition of PA-824 was modestly antagonistic. Relapse results were inconclusive due to the low rate of relapse in all test groups. In the second experiment evaluating 3-drug combinations composed of TMC207, pyrazinamide, PA-824, moxifloxacin, and rifapentine, TMC207 plus pyrazinamide plus either rifapentine or moxifloxacin was the most effective, curing 100% and 67% of the mice treated, respectively, in 2 months of treatment. Four months of the first-line regimen did not cure any mice, whereas the combination of TMC207, PA-824, and moxifloxacin cured 50% of the mice treated. The results reveal new building blocks for novel regimens with the potential to shorten the duration of treatment for both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis, including the combination of TMC207, pyrazinamide, PA-824, and a potent fluoroquinolone.
Contribution of Siderophore Systems to Growth and Urinary Tract Colonization of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Escherichia coli
Authors: Watts Rebecca E. , Totsika Makrina , Challinor Victoria L. , Mabbett Amanda N. , Ulett Glen C. , De Voss James J. , Schembri Mark A. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The molecular mechanisms that define asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU)
Escherichia coli
colonization of the human urinary tract remain to be properly elucidated. Here, we utilize ABU
E. coli
strain 83972 as a model to dissect the contribution of siderophores to iron acquisition, growth, fitness, and colonization of the urinary tract. We show that
E. coli
83972 produces enterobactin, salmochelin, aerobactin, and yersiniabactin and examine the role of these systems using mutants defective in siderophore biosynthesis and uptake. Enterobactin and aerobactin contributed most to total siderophore activity and growth in defined iron-deficient medium. No siderophores were detected in an 83972 quadruple mutant deficient in all four siderophore biosynthesis pathways; this mutant did not grow in defined iron-deficient medium but grew in iron-limited pooled human urine due to iron uptake via the FecA ferric citrate receptor. In a mixed 1:1 growth assay with strain 83972, there was no fitness disadvantage of the 83972 quadruple biosynthetic mutant, demonstrating its capacity to act as a “cheater” and utilize siderophores produced by the wild-type strain for iron uptake. An 83972 enterobactin/salmochelin double receptor mutant was outcompeted by 83972 in human urine and the mouse urinary tract, indicating a role for catecholate receptors in urinary tract colonization.
In VitroProperties of a Listeria monocytogenes Bacteriophage-Resistant Mutant Predict Its Efficacy as a Live Oral Vaccine Strain
Authors: Spears Patricia A. , Suyemoto M. Mitsu , Hamrick Terri S. , Wolf Rebecca L. , Havell Edward A. , Orndorff Paul E. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAListeria monocytogenesglcVmutation precludes the binding of certain listerial phages and produces a profound attenuation characterized by the absence of detectable mutants in the livers and spleens of orally inoculated mice.Invitro, we found that the mutant formed plaques on mouse enterocyte monolayers as efficiently as the parent but the plaques formed were smaller. Intracellular growth rate determinations and examination of infected enterocytes by light and fluorescence microscopy established that the mutant was impaired not in intracellular growth rate but in cell-to-cell spreading. Because this property is shared by other immunogenic mutants (e.g.,actAmutants), ourglcVmutant was tested for vaccine efficacy. Oral immunization with the mutant and subsequent oral challenge (22 days postvaccination) with the parent revealed a ca. 10,000-fold increase in protection afforded by the mutant compared to sham-vaccinated controls. TheglcVmutant did not stimulate innate immunity under the dose and route employed for vaccination, and an infectivity index time course experiment revealed pronounced mutant persistence in Peyer's patches. The immunogenicity of theglcVmutant compared to an isogenicactAmutant reference strain was next tested in an experiment with a challenge given 52 days postvaccination. Both mutant strains showed scant vital organ infectivity and high levels of protection similar to those seen using theglcVmutant in the 22-day postvaccination challenge. Our results indicate that oral administration of a profoundly attenuated listerial mutant can safely elicit solid protective immunity.
Adipose Tissue ATP Binding Cassette Transporter A1 Contributes to High-Density Lipoprotein Biogenesis In Vivo
Authors: Chung Soonkyu , Sawyer Janet K. , Gebre Abraham K. , Maeda Nobuyo , Parks John S. 
Published: September 2011

Background—
Adipose tissue (AT) is the body's largest free cholesterol reservoir and abundantly expresses ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a key cholesterol transporter for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) biogenesis. However, the extent to which AT ABCA1 expression contributes to HDL biogenesis in vivo is unknown.

Methods and Results—

Adipocyte-specific ABCA1 knockout mice (ABCA1
−A/−A
) were generated by crossing ABCA1
floxed
mice with
aP2Cre
transgenic mice. AT from ABCA1
−A/−A
mice had <10% of wild-type ABCA1 protein expression but normal hepatic and intestinal expression. Deletion of adipocyte ABCA1 resulted in a significant decrease in plasma HDL cholesterol (≈15%) and apolipoprotein A-I (≈13%) concentrations. AT from ABCA1
−A/−A
mice had a 2-fold increase in free cholesterol content compared with wild-type mice and failed to efflux cholesterol to apolipoprotein A-I. However, cholesterol efflux from AT to plasma HDL was similar for both genotypes of mice. Incubation of wild-type AT explants with apolipoprotein A-I resulted in the formation of multiple discrete-sized nascent HDL particles ranging in diameter from 7.1 to 12 nm; similar incubations with ABCA1
−A/−A
AT explants resulted in nascent HDL <8 nm. Plasma decay and tissue uptake of wild-type
125
I-HDL tracer were similar in both genotypes of recipient mice, suggesting that adipocyte ABCA1 deficiency reduces plasma HDL concentrations solely by reducing nascent HDL particle formation.

Conclusions—
We provide in vivo evidence that AT ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux and nascent HDL particle formation contribute to systemic HDL biogenesis and that AT ABCA1 expression plays an important role in adipocyte cholesterol homeostasis.
Evaluation of High-Resolution Satellite Rainfall Products through Streamflow Simulation in a Hydrological Modeling of a Small Mountainous Watershed in Ethiopia
Authors: Bitew Menberu M. , Gebremichael Mekonnen , Ghebremichael Lula T. , Bayissa Yared A. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
This study focuses on evaluating four widely used global high-resolution satellite rainfall products [the Climate Prediction Center’s morphing technique (CMORPH) product, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) near-real-time product (3B42RT), the TMPA method post-real-time research version product (3B42), and the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) product] with a spatial resolution of 0.25° and temporal resolution of 3 h through their streamflow simulations in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrologic model of a 299-km2 mountainous watershed in Ethiopia. Results show significant biases in the satellite rainfall estimates. The 3B42RT and CMORPH products perform better than the 3B42 and PERSIANN. The predictive ability of each of the satellite rainfall was examined using a SWAT model calibrated in two different approaches: with rain gauge rainfall as input, and with each of the satellite rainfall products as input. Significant improvements in model streamflow simulations are obtained when the model is calibrated with input-specific rainfall data than with rain gauge data. Calibrating SWAT with satellite rainfall estimates results in curve number values that are by far higher than the standard tabulated values, and therefore caution must be exercised when using standard tabulated parameter values with satellite rainfall inputs. The study also reveals that bias correction of satellite rainfall estimates significantly improves the model simulations. The best-performing model simulations based on satellite rainfall inputs are obtained after bias correction and model recalibration.
A Global View of Equatorial Waves and Tropical Cyclogenesis
Authors: Schreck Carl J. , Molinari John , Aiyyer Anantha 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
This study investigates the number of tropical cyclone formations that can be attributed to the enhanced convection from equatorial waves within each basin. Tropical depression (TD)-type disturbances (i.e., easterly waves) were the primary tropical cyclone precursors over the Northern Hemisphere basins, particularly the eastern North Pacific and the Atlantic. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, the number of storms attributed to TD-type disturbances and equatorial Rossby waves were roughly equivalent. Equatorward of 20°N, tropical cyclones formed without any equatorial wave precursor most often over the eastern North Pacific and least often over the western North Pacific.
The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) was an important tropical cyclone precursor over the north Indian, south Indian, and western North Pacific basins. The MJO also affected tropical cyclogenesis by modulating the amplitudes of higher-frequency waves. Each wave type reached the attribution threshold 1.5 times more often, and tropical cyclogenesis was 3 times more likely, within positive MJO-filtered rainfall anomalies than within negative anomalies. The greatest MJO modulation was observed for storms attributed to Kelvin waves over the north Indian Ocean.
The large rainfall rates associated with tropical cyclones can alter equatorial wave–filtered anomalies. This study quantifies the contamination over each basin. Tropical cyclones contributed more than 20% of the filtered variance for each wave type over large potions of every basin except the South Pacific. The largest contamination, exceeding 60%, occurred for the TD band near the Philippines. To mitigate the contamination, the tropical cyclone–related anomalies were removed before filtering in this study.