bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
African 1, an Epidemiologically Important Clonal Complex of
Mycobacterium bovis
Dominant in Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad
Authors: Müller Borna , Hilty Markus , Berg Stefan , Garcia-Pelayo M. Carmen , Dale James , Boschiroli M. Laura , Cadmus Simeon , Ngandolo Bongo Naré Richard , Godreuil Sylvain , Diguimbaye-Djaibé Colette , Kazwala Rudovick , Bonfoh Bassirou , Njanpop-Lafourcade Betty M. , Sahraoui Naima , Guetarni Djamel , Aseffa Abraham , Mekonnen Meseret H. , Razanamparany Voahangy Rasolofo , Ramarokoto Herimanana , Djønne Berit , Oloya James , Machado Adelina , Mucavele Custodia , Skjerve Eystein , Portaels Francoise , Rigouts Leen , Michel Anita , Müller Annélle , Källenius Gunilla , van Helden Paul D. , Hewinson R. Glyn , Zinsstag Jakob , Gordon Stephen V. , Smith Noel H. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

We have identified a clonal complex of
Mycobacterium bovis
present at high frequency in cattle in population samples from several sub-Saharan west-central African countries. This closely related group of bacteria is defined by a specific chromosomal deletion (RDAf1) and can be identified by the absence of spacer 30 in the standard spoligotype typing scheme. We have named this group of strains the African 1 (Af1) clonal complex and have defined the spoligotype signature of this clonal complex as being the same as the
M. bovis
BCG vaccine strain but with the deletion of spacer 30. Strains of the Af1 clonal complex were found at high frequency in population samples of
M. bovis
from cattle in Mali, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad, and using a combination of variable-number tandem repeat typing and spoligotyping, we show that the population of
M. bovis
in each of these countries is distinct, suggesting that the recent mixing of strains between countries is not common in this area of Africa. Strains with the Af1-specific deletion (RDAf1) were not identified in
M. bovis
isolates from Algeria, Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. Furthermore, the spoligotype signature of the Af1 clonal complex has not been identified in population samples of bovine tuberculosis from Europe, Iran, and South America. These observations suggest that the Af1 clonal complex is geographically localized, albeit to several African countries, and we suggest that the dominance of the clonal complex in this region is the result of an original introduction into cows naïve to bovine tuberculosis.
ClpX Inhibits FtsZ Assembly in a Manner That Does Not Require Its ATP Hydrolysis-Dependent Chaperone Activity
Authors: Haeusser Daniel P. , Lee Amy H. , Weart Richard B. , Levin Petra Anne 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT
ClpX is a well-characterized bacterial chaperone that plays a role in many processes, including protein turnover and the remodeling of macromolecular complexes. All of these activities require ATP hydrolysis-dependent, ClpX-mediated protein unfolding. Here we used site-directed mutagenesis in combination with genetics and biochemistry to establish that ClpX inhibits assembly of the conserved division protein FtsZ through a noncanonical mechanism independent of its role as an ATP-dependent chaperone.
Complete and Draft Genome Sequences of Six Members of theAquificales
Authors: Reysenbach Anna-Louise , Hamamura N. , Podar M. , Griffiths E. , Ferreira S. , Hochstein R. , Heidelberg J. , Johnson J. , Mead D. , Pohorille A. , Sarmiento M. , Schweighofer K. , Seshadri R. , Voytek M. A. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTTheAquificalesare widespread in marine and terrestrial hydrothermal environments. Here, we report the complete and draft genome sequences of six new members of theAquificales: two marine species,Persephonella marinastrain EX-H1 andHydrogenivirgastrain 128-5-R1 (from the East Pacific Rise, 9°50.3′N, 104°17.5′W, and the Eastern Lau Spreading Center, 176°11.5′W, 20°45.8′S, respectively), and four terrestrial isolates,Sulfurihydrogenibium azorensestrain Az-Fu1,Sulfurihydrogenibium yellowstonensestrain SS-5, andSulfurihydrogenibiumstrain Y03AOP1 (from Furnas, Azores, Portugal, and Calcite Springs and Obsidian Pool in Yellowstone National Park, United States, respectively), and the only thermoacidophilic isolate,Hydrogenobaculumstrain Y04AAS1 (from a stream adjacent to Obsidian Pool). Significant differences among the different species exist that include nitrogen metabolism, hydrogen utilization, chemotaxis, and signal transduction, providing insights into their ecological niche adaptations.
Impact of mode of transportation on dyslipidaemia in working people in Beijing
Authors: Guo X , Jia Z , Zhang P , Yang S , Wu W , Sang L , Luo Y , Lu X , Dai H , Zeng Z , Wang W 
Published: January 2009

Objective:This study aims to investigate the association between mode of transportation to work and dyslipidaemia.Methods:During the period between January and February 2006, telephone interviews were conducted with 2506 randomly selected urban residents aged 18 years or older in the 8 districts of Beijing, using a multiple stratified random sampling technique. Of the selected individuals, 1024 (40.86%) members of the workforce were subsequently tested for biomarkers (ie, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)). Multiple logistic regression modelling was used, adjusted for potential confounders.Results:The probability of dyslipidaemia in workers who travel to work by bus, car or taxi is higher than that of workers who walk to work, with prevalence odds ratios (PORs) of 1.99 (95% CI 1.33 to 2.97) and 2.21 (95% CI 1.28 to 3.84), respectively. There is no significant difference in the risk of experiencing dyslipidaemia when workers who ride bicycles are compared with those who walk to work (POR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.78).Conclusions:These findings indicate that modes of transportation to work are significantly associated with the prevalence of dyslipidaemia. Prevention education should be emphasised among higher-risk people who usually go to work by car, bus or taxi.
Need for perceptual display hierarchies in visualization
Authors: Sawant Amit Prakash , Healey Christopher G. 
Published: January 2009

The advent of computers with high processing power has led to the generation of large, multidimensional collections of data. Visualization lends itself well to the challenge of exploring and analyzing these information spaces by harnessing the strengths of the human visual system. Most visualization techniques are based on the assumption that the display device has sufficient resolution, and that our visual acuity is adequate for completing the analysis tasks. However, this may not be true, particularly for specialized display devices (e.g., PDAs or large-format projection walls).
In this article, we propose to: (1) determine the amount of information a particular display environment can encode; (2) design visualizations that maximize the information they represent relative to this upper-limit; and (3) dynamically update a visualization when the display environment changes to continue to maintain high levels of information content. To our knowledge, there are no visualization systems that do this type of information addition/removal based on perceptual guidelines. However, there are systems that attempt to increase or decrease the amount of information based on some level-of-detail or zooming rules. For example, semantic zooming tags objects with "details" and adds or removes them as the user zooms in and out. Furnas's original fisheye lens system [9] used semantic details to determine how much zoom was necessary to include certain details. Thus, while zooming for detail, you see not only a more detailed graphic representation, but also more text details (e.g., more street names on the zoomed-in portion of a map). Level-of-detail hierarchies have also been used in computer graphics to reduce geometric complexity where full resolution models are unnecessary and can be replaced with low-detail models where the resulting error cannot be easily recognized. Our approach is motivated by all these ideas, but our key contribution is that we use human perception constraints to define when to add or remove information.
T-cell responses associated with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: isolation of HPA-1a–specific, HLA-DRB3*0101–restricted CD4+ T cells
Authors: Ahlen Maria Therese , Husebekk Anne , Killie Mette Kjær , Skogen Bjørn , Stuge Tor B. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractT-cell responses have been implicated in the development of HPA-1a–induced neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT). However, HPA-1a–specific T cells have neither been isolated nor characterized. Here, we aimed to determine whether HPA-1a–specific T cells could be isolated from HPA-1a–immunized women. In the present study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from an HPA-1a–alloimmunized woman were cultured for weeks in the presence of HPA-1a peptide, labeled with CFSE, and assayed for antigen-specific proliferation. Individual proliferating cells were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and expanded in culture. Antigen specificity and HLA restriction were determined by cytokine secretion (enzyme-linked immunospot [ELISPOT]) and proliferation assays. Several CD3+CD4+ T-cell clones were isolated that proliferated and secreted cytokines in response to HPA-1a peptide. Two of these clones have been established in long-term culture in our laboratory. Both of these recognize synthetic as well as naturally processed HPA-1a antigen, and the recognition is restricted by the MHC molecule HLA-DRB3*0101 that is strongly associated with NAIT. These HPA-1a–specific T-cell clones represent unambiguous evidence for the association of T-cell responses with NAIT, and they will serve as unique tools to elucidate the cellular immune response that may result in NAIT.
Role for MKL1 in megakaryocytic maturation
Authors: Cheng Ee-chun , Luo Qing , Bruscia Emanuela M. , Renda Matthew J. , Troy James A. , Massaro Stephanie A. , Tuck David , Schulz Vincent , Mane Shrikant M. , Berliner Nancy , Sun Yi , Morris Stephan W. , Qiu Caihong , Krause Diane S. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractMegakaryoblastic leukemia 1 (MKL1), identified as part of the t(1;22) translocation specific to acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, is highly expressed in differentiated muscle cells and promotes muscle differentiation by activating serum response factor (SRF). Here we show that Mkl1 expression is up-regulated during murine megakaryocytic differentiation and that enforced overexpression of MKL1 enhances megakaryocytic differentiation. When the human erythroleukemia (HEL) cell line is induced to differentiate with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, overexpression of MKL1 results in an increased number of megakaryocytes with a concurrent increase in ploidy. MKL1 overexpression also promotes megakaryocytic differentiation of primary human CD34+ cells cultured in the presence of thrombopoietin. The effect of MKL1 is abrogated when SRF is knocked down, suggesting that MKL1 acts through SRF. Consistent with these findings in human cells, knockout of Mkl1 in mice leads to reduced platelet counts in peripheral blood, and reduced ploidy in bone marrow megakaryocytes. In conclusion, MKL1 promotes physiologic maturation of human and murine megakaryocytes.
SHIP limits immunoregulatory capacity in the T-cell compartment
Authors: Collazo Michelle M. , Wood Daniela , Paraiso Kim H. T. , Lund Erin , Engelman Robert W. , Le Cam-Tien , Stauch Diana , Kotsch Katja , Kerr William G. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractRegulatory T cells (Tregs) play a pivotal role in preventing autoimmunity, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and organ graft rejection. We previously showed that either germline or induced SH2 domain–containing inositol 5-phosphatase (SHIP) deficiency in the host abrogates GVHD. Here we show that SHIP deficiency promotes an increase of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs and CD4+CD25−FoxP3+“naive” T cells in the periphery that display increased CD103, glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor–related protein (GITR), OX40, and FcγRII/III expression. SHIP deficiency does not compromise Treg function because SHIP-deficient CD3+CD4+CD25+ Tregs are as suppressive as wild-type (WT) CD3+CD4+CD25+ Treg. Interestingly, like conventional Tregs, SHIP−/− CD4+CD25− T cells are unresponsive to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–mismatched stimulators and suppress allogeneic responses by T cells in vitro. In addition, SHIP−/− CD4+CD25− T cells mediate reduced lethal GVHD on adoptive transfer to MHC-mismatched hosts. Furthermore, hosts with induced SHIP deficiency exhibit delayed rejection of MHC-mismatched cardiac grafts. Thus, SHIP is required for robust graft-versus-host and host-versus-graft responses by CD4+ T cell and limits their immunoregulatory capacity. These findings further define the immunosuppressive mechanisms that result from SHIP deficiency and provide additional justification for targeting SHIP in clinical transplantation.
Typing Clostridium difficile strains based on tandem repeat sequences
Authors: Zaiß N Henning , Rupnik Maja , Kuijper Ed J , Harmanus Celine , Michielsen Dolf , Janssens Koen , Nübel Ulrich 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackgroundGenotyping of epidemicClostridium difficilestrains is necessary to track their emergence and spread. Portability of genotyping data is desirable to facilitate inter-laboratory comparisons and epidemiological studies.ResultsThis report presents results from a systematic screen for variation in repetitive DNA in the genome ofC. difficile. We describe two tandem repeat loci, designated 'TR6' and 'TR10', which display extensive sequence variation that may be useful for sequence-based strain typing. Based on an investigation of 154C. difficileisolates comprising 75 ribotypes, tandem repeat sequencing demonstrated excellent concordance with widely used PCR ribotyping and equal discriminatory power. Moreover, tandem repeat sequences enabled the reconstruction of the isolates' largely clonal population structure and evolutionary history.ConclusionWe conclude that sequence analysis of the two repetitive loci introduced here may be highly useful for routine typing ofC. difficile. Tandem repeat sequence typing resolves phylogenetic diversity to a level equivalent to PCR ribotypes. DNA sequences may be stored in databases accessible over the internet, obviating the need for the exchange of reference strains.
RNA interference-mediated c-MYC inhibition prevents cell growth and decreases sensitivity to radio- and chemotherapy in childhood medulloblastoma cells
Authors: von Bueren André O , Shalaby Tarek , Oehler-Jänne Christoph , Arnold Lucia , Stearns Duncan , Eberhart Charles G , Arcaro Alexandre , Pruschy Martin , Grotzer Michael A 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackgroundWith current treatment strategies, nearly half of all medulloblastoma (MB) patients die from progressive tumors. Accordingly, the identification of novel therapeutic strategies remains a major goal. Deregulation of c-MYC is evident in numerous human cancers. In MB, over-expression of c-MYC has been shown to cause anaplasia and correlate with unfavorable prognosis.MethodsTo study the role of c-MYC in MB biology, we down-regulated c-MYC expression by using small interfering RNA (siRNA) and investigated changes in cellular proliferation, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis, telomere maintenance, and response to ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapeutics in a representative panel of human MB cell lines expressing different levels of c-MYC (DAOY wild-type, DAOY transfected with the empty vector, DAOY transfected with c-MYC, D341, and D425).ResultssiRNA-mediated c-MYC down-regulation resulted in an inhibition of cellular proliferation and clonogenic growth, inhibition of G1-S phase cell cycle progression, and a decrease in human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression and telomerase activity. On the other hand, down-regulation of c-MYC reduced apoptosis and decreased the sensitivity of human MB cells to IR, cisplatin, and etoposide. This effect was more pronounced in DAOY cells expressing high levels of c-MYC when compared with DAOY wild-type or DAOY cells transfected with the empty vector.ConclusionIn human MB cells, in addition to its roles in growth and proliferation, c-MYC is also a potent inducer of apoptosis. Therefore, targeting c-MYC might be of therapeutic benefit when used sequentially with chemo- and radiotherapy rather than concomitantly.
Christ Siemens Touraine syndrome: a case report
Authors: Coelho Luiz Gutenberg TM , Caldas Arnaldo F , Soriano Evelyne P , Rodrigues Veronica MS , Costa Roseane S 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Background
The ectodermal dysplasias are a large and complex group of diseases.

Case presentation
This article presents a case in a 37 years old female patient, referred to the dental clinic for impairment patients maintained by the University of Pernambuco. She presented typical characteristics of Christ Siemens Touraine syndrome such as alterations of the inferior members, a great number of diffuse pigmentations, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, oligodontia, enamel hypoplasia, including alteration in the form and size of the teeth.

Conclusion
The optimal treatment for these patients should require the multidisciplinary collaborative efforts of health professionals.
Hydraulic air pumps for low-head hydropower
Authors: Howey D A , Pullen K R 
Published: January 2009

Hydropower is a proven renewable energy resource and future expansion potential exists in smaller-scale, low-head sites. A novel approach to low-head hydropower at run-of-river and tidal estuary sites is to include an intermediate air transmission stage. Water is made to flow through a siphon, rather than a conventional water turbine, and at the top of the siphon the pressure is sub-atmospheric and air is entrained into the water. The siphon forms a novel, hydraulically powered vacuum pump or ‘hydraulic air pump’ (HAP). Air is pumped by the HAP through a separate air turbine and generator. This arrangement offers dramatic increases in turbine-generator speed and allows better control and matching of components and lifecycle cost reductions due to reduced maintenance costs and the use of smaller rotating machines. This study builds on previous work on such systems by showing why the pumping process can be treated as isothermal. Also, initial test results with a small siphon are presented and compared to existing models. These show a discrepancy between predicted and measured pressure ratios and therefore an overprediction of efficiency and power output using simple mathematical models.
Flexible Motorprozessregelung für neue BrennverfahrenModular Prototyping Engine Controller for Innovative Combustion Processes
Authors: Rempel Alexander , Stölting Eckhard , Predelli Oliver , Gratzke Ralf 
Published: January 2009

Zusammenfassung
Die gesellschaftlichen und politischen Anforderungen an ein heutiges Automobil bezüglich Emissionen, Systemkosten usw. sind allgemein bekannt. In diesem Beitrag wird ein Werkzeug im Bereich der Motorensteuerung präsentiert, das dem Entwickler die Freiheiten und Kapazitäten bietet sich diesen Herausforderungen zu stellen. Die Flexibilität und die hohe Adaptionsgeschwindigkeit ermöglichen eine schnelle Umsetzung der Ideen an einem Forschungsmotor am Prüfstand bis hin zu einem Fahrzeug. In diesem Beitrag wird auf die technischen Highlights, wie z.B. das IAV_AC3, sowie auf die erzielten Ergebnisse bei der Entwicklung neuer Brennverfahren und Regelungsstrategien eingegangen.
Survey of the Human Pancreatic β-Cell G1/S Proteome Reveals a Potential Therapeutic Role for Cdk-6 and Cyclin D1 in Enhancing Human β-Cell Replication and Function In Vivo
Authors: Fiaschi-Taesch Nathalie , Bigatel Todd A. , Sicari Brian , Takane Karen K. , Salim Fatima , Velazquez-Garcia Silvia , Harb George , Selk Karen , Cozar-Castellano Irene , Stewart Andrew F. 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVES
To comprehensively inventory the proteins that control the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint in the human islet and compare them with those in the murine islet, to determine whether these might therapeutically enhance human β-cell replication, to determine whether human β-cell replication can be demonstrated in an in vivo model, and to enhance human β-cell function in vivo.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Thirty-four G1/S regulatory proteins were examined in human islets. Effects of adenoviruses expressing cdk-6, cdk-4, and cyclin D1 on proliferation in human β-cells were studied in both invitro and in vivo models.

RESULTS
Multiple differences between murine and human islets occur, most strikingly the presence of cdk-6 in human β-cells versus its low abundance in the murine islet. Cdk-6 and cyclin D1 in vitro led to marked activation of retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation and cell cycle progression with no induction of cell death. Human islets transduced with cdk-6 and cyclin D1 were transplanted into diabetic NOD-SCID mice and markedly outperformed native human islets in vivo, maintaining glucose control for the entire 6 weeks of the study.

CONCLUSIONS
The human G1/S proteome is described for the first time. Human islets are unlike their rodent counterparts in that they contain easily measurable cdk-6. Cdk-6 overexpression, alone or in combination with cyclin D1, strikingly stimulates human β-cell replication, both in vitro as well as in vivo, without inducing cell death or loss of function. Using this model, human β-cell replication can be induced and studied in vivo.
Intranasal Insulin Ameliorates Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy
Authors: Francis George , Martinez Jose , Liu Wei , Nguyen Thuhien , Ayer Amit , Fine Jared , Zochodne Douglas , Hanson Leah R. , Frey William H. , Toth Cory 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVEWe hypothesized that intranasal insulin (I-I) delivery targets the nervous system while avoiding potential adverse systemic effects when compared with subcutaneous insulin (S-I) for experimental streptozotocin-induced diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSI-I or S-I at 0.87 IU daily or placebo were delivered in separate cohorts of diabetic and nondiabetic CD1 mice during 8 months of diabetes. Radiolabeled insulin detection was used to compare delivery and biodistribution for I-I and S-I. Biweekly behavioral testing and monthly electrophysiological and quantitative studies assessed progression of DPN. At and before end point, morphometric analysis of DRG, peripheral nerve, distal epidermal innervation, and specific molecular markers were evaluated.RESULTSRadiolabeled I-I resulted in more rapid and concentrated delivery to the spinal cord and DRG with less systemic insulin exposure. When compared with S-I or intranasal placebo, I-I reduced overall mouse mortality and sensory loss while improving neuropathic pain and electrophysiological/morphological abnormalities in diabetic mice. I-I restored mRNA and protein levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, cyclic AMP response element–binding protein, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β to near normal levels within diabetic DRGs.CONCLUSIONSI-I slows the progression of experimental DPN in streptozotocin mice, avoids adverse effects associated with S-I treatment, and prolongs lifespan when compared with S-I. I-I may be a promising approach for the treatment of DPN.