bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of temperature on the diversity and community structure of known methanogenic groups and other archaea in high Arctic peat
Authors: Høj Lone , Olsen Rolf A , Torsvik Vigdis L 
Published: November 2007

Abstract
Archaeal populations are abundant in cold and temperate environments, but little is known about their potential response to climate change-induced temperature changes. The effects of temperature on archaeal communities in unamended slurries of weakly acidic peat from Spitsbergen were studied using a combination of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A high relative abundance of active archaeal cells (11–12% of total count) was seen at low temperatures (1 and 5 °C), and this community was dominated by Group 1.3b Crenarchaeota and the euryarchaeal clusters rice cluster V (RC-V), and Lake Dagow sediment (LDS). Increasing temperature reduced the diversity and relative abundance of these clusters. The methanogenic community in the slurries was diverse and included representatives of Methanomicrobiales, Methanobacterium, Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta. The overall relative abundance and diversity of the methanogenic archaea increased with increasing temperature, in accordance with a strong stimulation of methane production rates. However, DGGE profiling showed that the structure of this community changed with temperature and time. While the relative abundance of some populations was affected directly by temperature, the relative abundance of other populations was controlled by indirect effects or did not respond to temperature.
Rebuilding viable spawner patches of the overfished Spisula solida (Mollusca: Bivalvia): a preliminary contribution to fishery sustainability
Authors: Joaquim Sandra , Gaspar Miguel B. , Matias Domitília , Ben-Hamadou Radhouan , Arnold William S. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractJoaquim, S., Gaspar, M. B., Matias, D., Ben-Hamadou, R., and Arnold, W. S. 2008. Rebuilding viable spawner patches of the overfished Spisula solida (Mollusca: Bivalvia): a preliminary contribution to fishery sustainability. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 60–64. Populations of commercially important bivalves along the coast of Portugal are depleted as a consequence of natural and anthropogenic causes. A pilot experiment was designed to determine the feasibility of transplanting individuals from natural clam beds to a closed fishing area in an effort to rebuild relatively high-density patches of Spisula solida. For this purpose, clams were equally partitioned into two groups (undersize and legal clams) and transplanted at a density of 40 clams m−2 into two areas 50 m2. Transplanted and control clams were sampled to estimate survival, condition index, biochemical composition, and reproductive condition. Generally, the physiological condition of clams was not affected by the method of transplanting. One year after transplanting, survival was 45%. The increase in local abundance of mature clams should facilitate successful fertilization and increase the residual reproductive value of each clam relative to its pre-transplant value. Transplanting undersize clams may be more advantageous because they are more likely to spawn at least once before harvest. The experiments demonstrate that spawner transplants may strengthen S. solida populations and can be used in stock-enhancement programmes which, in conjunction with effective management measures, can contribute to the sustainability of the S. solida fishery.
Intercountry adoption and nursing care
Authors: Rykkje Linda 
Published: November 2007

Aims and objectives:  This paper is based on a Norwegian study that addressed the importance of nurses understanding adoptive families’ particular needs. The study aimed to provide a diverse picture of adoptive families’ challenges and resources. It addressed adoptive families’ experiences with welfare professions, particularly public health nurse services, and explored their need for support before and after adoption. This paper focuses particularly on challenges confronting ‘transracial’ families.Participants and method:  The qualitative research interview was used as the methodological approach. Nine couples of adoptive parents, four adoptive mothers, three public health nurses and four adult adoptees were interviewed. The analysis process was an ad hoc generation of meaning, and the data were systematically reviewed and categorized through an intuitive analysis style.Results:  The study indicates that adoptive families manage their ‘most common’ challenges on their own, but the informants also spoke about a need for professional support and assistance in many cases. Recurring themes in the study were challenges linked to ‘attachment difficulties’, ‘external categorization’, ‘grief’ and ‘the meaning of biological heritage and roots’. Findings indicate that there is a substantial demand for increased knowledge of adoptive families’ special needs, not least in the public health nurse services; there is also limited knowledge within other welfare professions. Nurses particularly need to strengthen their understanding on how external categorization affects transracial adoptive families.Conclusions:  The study recommendations call for improved follow‐up after adoptions. This can be met by establishing a special programme for adoptive families at maternity and child health centres. In addition, public health nurses can support adoptees in their teenage years through individual consultations.
Encountering the older confused patient: professional carers’ experiences
Authors: Stenwall Ewa , Sandberg Jonas , Jönhagen Maria Eriksdotter , Fagerberg Ingegerd 
Published: November 2007

The study’s rationale:  Confusion is a common condition among older patients and often a fearful experience. Opinions vary as to how to communicate with and care for confused patients and professional carers often find the patients’ situation almost as distressing as the patients’ themselves do.Aims and objectives:  The aim of this study was to describe professional carers’ experiences of their encounters with older confused patients.Methodological design and justification:  Data was collected from interviews with 10 professional carers working on a ward specializing in the care of older confused patients. A descriptive phenomenological research approach was used to gather knowledge of professional carers’ experiences of encounters with older confused patients.Ethical issues and approval:  A Regional Board of Research Ethics granted ethical permission for the study. The appropriate ethical principles were followed. The participants were contacted personally and received a letter providing information on the study. Written consent was requested before the interview. If needed, the participants were able to get in contact with the staff health service for a follow‐up after the interview. Names or places have been changed in order to ensure confidentiality.Results:  The encounter with the confused patient is experienced as an encounter with an unfamiliar person, where the patients’ actions and words are unforeseeable and with a lack of immediate trust. The essential meaning is further illuminated by the meaning constituents: the unforeseeable encounter, always being on guard and using oneself as a tool.Relevance to clinical practice:  This paper focuses on the importance of encouraging professional carers to pay attention to the complexity of the encounter with the confused patient, reflecting upon their own behaviour within these encounters and the importance of knowledge of the patient’s preferred senses and life stories. Caring for confused patients involves a great responsibility where both the professional carers and the patients are vulnerable and exposed.
Evaluation of Two Types of Sponges Used To Collect Cervical Secretions and Assessment of Antibody Extraction Protocols for Recovery of Neutralizing Anti-Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Antibodies
Authors: Kemp Troy J. , Hildesheim Allan , Falk Roni T. , Schiller John T. , Lowy Douglas R. , Rodriguez Ana Cecilia , Pinto Ligia A. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT
Immunogenicity evaluations in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine trials have relied on serological samples, yet cervical antibodies are likely to be most relevant for protection against infection. In order to assess functional antibody levels at the cervix, the secreted-alkaline-phosphatase neutralization assay (SEAPNA) was used to measure HPV-neutralizing activity. We assessed the variability of the SEAPNA with serum samples after vaccination with an HPV type 16 (HPV16) L1 virus-like particle vaccine and whether the SEAPNA can be used to monitor neutralizing activity at the cervix. The SEAPNA has an overall coefficient of variation of 29.3%. Recovery from ophthalmic sponges was assessed by spiking V5 (mouse anti-HPV16) antibody onto and extracting it from sterile Merocel and Ultracell sponges and sponges used to collect specimens from participants. V5 recovery from sterile Merocel sponges was complete, yet that from Ultracell sponges was null. The mean V5 recoveries from participant Ultracell and Merocel sponges were 61.2% and 93.5%, respectively, suggesting that Merocel sponges are more appropriate for specimen collection. The SEAPNA can be applied to determine the surrogates of protection and to examine the durability of protection at the cervix.
Cloning, Expression, and Immunological Characterization of the P30 Protein of
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Authors: Varshney Avanish Kumar , Chaudhry Rama , Kabra Sushil Kumar , Malhotra Pawan 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
, a self-replicating cell wall-deficient prokaryote, has a differentiated terminal organelle that is essential for cytadherence and gliding motility. P30, an important protein associated with the terminal organelle, is required for the cytadherence and virulence of
M. pneumoniae
. P30 is a transmembrane protein with an intracytoplasmic N terminus and an exposed C terminus. In the present study, we amplified and sequenced the full-length
p30
gene of
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
directly from 18 Indian asthmatic patients. Sequence diversity was observed in the
p30
genes from 16 clinical samples when the sequences were compared with the sequence of strain M-129. We also successfully expressed a fragment of the
p30
gene (P30B) that includes the complete C-terminal proline-rich amino acid sequences in different
Escherichia coli
expression systems. The maltose binding protein (MBP)-P30B fusion protein was recognized by
M. pneumoniae
-infected patient sera in immunoblots, and the protein was immunogenic in mice. We further analyzed the reactivity of the MBP-P30B fusion protein with patient sera in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared it with the reactivity obtained with a commercial kit (the Serion ELISA Classic kit). The sensitivity and the specificity of the in-house ELISA were 78.57% and 89.47%, respectively. This study suggests that the P30 protein can be used as an antigen along with other adhesin proteins for the immunodiagnosis of
M. pneumoniae
infection.
Serotype-Specific and Age-Dependent Generation of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide-Specific Memory B-Cell and Antibody Responses to Immunization with a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
Authors: Clutterbuck Elizabeth A. , Oh Sarah , Hamaluba Mainga , Westcar Sharon , Beverley Peter C. L. , Pollard Andrew J. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTGlycoconjugate vaccines have dramatically reduced the incidence of encapsulated bacterial diseases in toddlers under 2 years of age, but vaccine-induced antibody levels in this age group wane rapidly. We immunized adults and 12-month-old toddlers with heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to determine differences in B-cell and antibody responses. The adults and 12-month-old toddlers received a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The toddlers received a second dose at 14 months of age. The frequencies of diphtheria toxoid and serotype 4, 14, and 23F polysaccharide-specific plasma cells and memory B cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The toddlers had no preexisting polysaccharide-specific memory B cells or serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody but had good diphtheria toxoid-specific memory responses. The frequencies of plasma cells and memory B cells increased by day 7 (P< 0.0001) in the adults and the toddlers following a single dose of conjugate, but the polysaccharide responses were significantly lower in the toddlers than in the adults (P= 0.009 to <0.001). IgM dominated the toddler antibody responses, and class switching to the IgG was serotype dependent. A second dose of vaccine enhanced the antibody and memory B-cell responses in the toddlers but not the ex vivo plasma cell responses. Two doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine are required in toddlers to generate memory B-cell frequencies and antibody class switching for each pneumococcal polysaccharide equivalent to that seen in adults.
Effects of Lipopolysaccharide andMannheimia haemolyticaLeukotoxin on Bovine Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells and Alveolar Epithelial Cells
Authors: McClenahan David , Hellenbrand Katrina , Atapattu Dhammika , Aulik Nicole , Carlton David , Kapur Arvinder , Czuprynski Charles 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTBovine respiratory disease resulting from infection withMannheimia haemolyticacommonly results in extensive vascular leakage into the alveoli.M. haemolyticaproduces two substances, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and leukotoxin (LKT), that are known to be important in inducing some of the pathological changes. In the present study, we examined bovine pulmonary epithelial (BPE) cell and bovine lung microvascular endothelial cell monolayer permeability, as measured by trans-well endothelial and epithelial cell electrical resistance (TEER), after incubation with LPS, LKT, or LPS-activated neutrophils. Endothelial cell monolayers exposed to LPS exhibited significant decreases in TEER that corresponded with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, and morphological changes. In contrast, BPE cells exposed to LPS increased the levels of production of inflammatory cytokines but displayed no changes in TEER, apoptosis, or visible morphological changes. Both cell types appeared to express relatively equal levels of the LPS ligand Toll-like receptor 4. However, TEER in BPE cell monolayers was decreased when the cells were incubated with LPS-activated neutrophils. Although the incubation of BPE cells with LKT decreased TEER, this was not reduced by the incubation of LKT with a neutralizing antibody and was reversed when LKT was preincubated with the LPS-neutralizing compound polymyxin B. Because BPE cells did not express the LKT receptor CD11a/CD18, we infer that contaminating LPS was responsible for the decreased TEER. In conclusion, LPS triggered changes in endothelial cells that would be consistent with vascular leakage, but neither LPS nor LKT caused similar changes in epithelial cells, unless neutrophils were also present.
Development of a Fluorescent-Microsphere Immunoassay for Detection of Antibodies Specific to Equine Arteritis Virus and Comparison with the Virus Neutralization Test
Authors: Go Yun Young , Wong Susan J. , Branscum Adam J. , Demarest Valerie L. , Shuck Kathleen M. , Vickers Mary L. , Zhang Jianqiang , McCollum William H. , Timoney Peter J. , Balasuriya Udeni B. R. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT

The development and validation of a microsphere immunoassay (MIA) to detect equine antibodies to the major structural proteins of equine arteritis virus (EAV) are described. The assay development process was based on the cloning and expression of genes for full-length individual major structural proteins (GP5 amino acids 1 to 255 [GP5
1-255
], M
1-162
, and N
1-110
), as well as partial sequences of these structural proteins (GP5
1-116
, GP5
75-112
, GP5
55-98
, M
88-162
, and N
1-69
) that constituted putative antigenic regions. Purified recombinant viral proteins expressed in
Escherichia coli
were covalently bound to fluorescent polystyrene microspheres and analyzed with the Luminex xMap 100 instrument. Of the eight recombinant proteins, the highest concordance with the virus neutralization test (VNT) results was obtained with the partial GP5
55-98
protein. The MIA was validated by testing a total of 2,500 equine serum samples previously characterized by the VNT. With the use of an optimal median fluorescence intensity cutoff value of 992, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 92.6% and 92.9%, respectively. The GP5
55-98
MIA and VNT outcomes correlated significantly (
r
= 0.84;
P
< 0.0001). Although the GP5
55-98
MIA is less sensitive than the standard VNT, it has the potential to provide a rapid, convenient, and more economical test for screening equine sera for the presence of antibodies to EAV, with the VNT then being used as a confirmatory assay.
Sensitive and Specific Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Chemiluminescence for Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Viral Infection
Authors: Fujimoto Kotaro , Chan Kwok-Hung , Takeda Kazuhiko , Lo Kam-Fai , Leung Raymond H. K. , Okamoto Takashi 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT
Here we report the development of a more-sensitive immunoassay for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) based on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using chemiluminescence (CLEIA) to detect the viral nucleocapsid (N) antigen in nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) from patients infected with SARS coronavirus (CoV). The CLEIA was established with an optical combination of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against SARS CoV N protein prepared from mice immunized with recombinant N protein without cultivating the virus. The capture and detecting MAbs of the CLEIA reacted to the carboxyl-terminal and amino-terminal peptides of the N protein, respectively. The CLEIA was capable of detecting recombinant N protein at 1.56 pg/ml and viral N protein in SARS CoV cell culture lysates at 0.087 of 50% tissue culture infective doses/ml. The CLEIA showed no cross-reactivities to recombinant N proteins of common human CoV (229E, OC43, and NL63) or lysates of cells infected with 229E and OC43. In addition, an evaluation with 18 SARS-positive NPA samples, all confirmed SARS positive by quantitative PCR and antibodies to SARS CoV, revealed that all (18/18) were found positive by the CLEIA; thus, the sensitivity of detection was 100%. When we tested 20 SARS-negative NPA samples, the CLEIA was shown to have high specificity (100%). The sensitivity of our novel SARS CLEIA was significantly higher than the previous EIA and comparable to the other methods using reverse transcription-PCR.
Testing Strategy To Identify Cases of Acute Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and To Project HCV Incidence Rates
Authors: Page-Shafer Kimberly , Pappalardo Brandee L. , Tobler Leslie H. , Phelps Bruce H. , Edlin Brian R. , Moss Andrew R. , Wright Teresa L. , Wright David J. , O'Brien Thomas R. , Caglioti Sally , Busch Michael P. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT
Surveillance for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is limited by the challenge of differentiating between acute and chronic infections. In this study, we evaluate a cross-sectional testing strategy that identifies individuals with acute HCV infection and we estimate HCV incidence. Anti-HCV-negative persons from four populations with various risks, i.e., blood donors, Veterans Administration (VA) patients, young injection drug users (IDU), and older IDU, were screened for HCV RNA by minipool or individual sample nucleic acid testing (NAT). The number of detected viremic seronegative infections was combined with the duration of the preseroconversion NAT-positive window period (derived from analysis of frequent serial samples from plasma donors followed from NAT detection to seroconversion) to estimate annual HCV incidence rates. Projected incidence rates were compared to observed incidence rates. Projected HCV incidence rates per 100 person-years were 0.0042 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.0025 to 0.007) for blood donors, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.71) for VA patients, 39.8 (95% CI, 25.9 to 53.7) for young IDU, and 53.7 (95% CI, 23.4 to 108.8) for older IDU. Projected rates were most similar to observed incidence rates for young IDU (33.4; 95% CI, 28.0 to 39.9). This study demonstrates the value of applying a cross-sectional screening strategy to detect acute HCV infections and to estimate HCV incidence.
Real-Time PCR Assays of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Defining the Major
Brucella
Clades
Authors: Foster Jeffrey T. , Okinaka Richard T. , Svensson Rita , Shaw Kathryn , De Barun K. , Robison Richard A. , Probert William S. , Kenefic Leo J. , Brown William D. , Keim Paul 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT

Members of the genus
Brucella
are known worldwide as pathogens of wildlife and livestock and are the most common organisms of zoonotic infection in humans. In general, brucellae exhibit a range of host specificity in animals that has led to the identification of at least seven
Brucella
species. The genomes of the various
Brucella
species are highly conserved, which makes the differentiation of species highly challenging. However, we found single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in housekeeping and other genes that differentiated the seven main
Brucella
species or clades and thus enabled us to develop real-time PCR assays based around these SNPs. Screening of a diverse panel of 338 diverse isolates with these assays correctly identified each isolate with its previously determined
Brucella
clade. Six of the seven clade-specific assays detected DNA concentrations of less than 10 fg, indicating a high level of sensitivity. This SNP-based approach places samples into a phylogenetic framework, allowing reliable comparisons to be made among the lineages of clonal bacteria and providing a solid basis for genotyping. These PCR assays provide a rapid and highly sensitive method of differentiating the major
Brucella
groups that will be valuable for clinical and forensic applications.
Rapid and Reliable Diagnostic Algorithm for Detection of
Clostridium difficile
Authors: Fenner Lukas , Widmer Andreas F. , Goy Gisela , Rudin Sonja , Frei Reno 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT

We evaluated a two-step algorithm for detection of
Clostridium difficile
in 1,468 stool specimens. First, specimens were screened by an immunoassay for
C. difficile
glutamate dehydrogenase antigen (C.DIFF CHEK-60). Second, screen-positive specimens underwent toxin testing by a rapid toxin A/B assay (TOX A/B QUIK CHEK); toxin-negative specimens were subjected to stool culture. This algorithm allowed final results for 92% of specimens with a turnaround time of 4 h.
Multiplex PCR for Rapid Detection of
Staphylococcus aureus
Isolates Suspected to Represent Community-Acquired Strains
Authors: Strommenger B. , Braulke C. , Pasemann B. , Schmidt C. , Witte W. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACT

The continuous spread of community-acquired methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(caMRSA) and the introduction of these highly virulent isolates into hospitals represent increasing threats. The timely recognition of caMRSA strains is crucial for infection control purposes. Thus, we developed a PCR-based assay for the easy and rapid determination of those caMRSA clones that currently are the most prevalent in Germany and Central Europe. This assay was able to correctly identify the majority of the isolates as caMRSA of sequence type 80 (ST80), clonal complex 1 (USA400), and ST8 (USA300). In combination with
spa
typing-BURP (based upon repeat pattern) analysis and resistance typing, it provides a means for the extensive characterization of suspicious isolates. Thus, this assay represents a reliable tool for monitoring the emergence and spread of different caMRSA clones. The resulting information, in combination with careful interpretation of the epidemiological records, might help to prevent the further spread of those highly virulent caMRSA clones.