bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization and Use of Mammalian-Expressed Vaccinia Virus Extracellular Membrane Proteins for Quantification of the Humoral Immune Response to Smallpox Vaccines
Authors: García Alonzo D. , Meseda Clement A. , Mayer Anne E. , Kumar Arunima , Merchlinsky Michael , Weir Jerry P. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe licensed smallpox vaccine Dryvax is used as the standard in comparative immunogenicity and protection studies of new smallpox vaccine candidates. Although the correlates of protection against smallpox are unknown, recent studies have shown that a humoral response against the intracellular mature virion and extracellular enveloped virion (EV) forms of vaccinia virus is crucial for protection. Using a recombinant Semliki Forest virus (rSFV) vector system, we expressed a set of full-length EV proteins for the development of EV antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and the production of monospecific antisera. The EV-specific ELISAs were used to evaluate the EV humoral response elicited by Dryvax and the nonreplicating modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) in mouse vaccination experiments comparing doses and routes of vaccination. Quantitatively similar titers of antibodies against EV antigens A33R, A56R, and B5R were measured in mice vaccinated with Dryvax and MVA when MVA was administered at a dose of 108plaque-forming units. Further, a substantial increase in the EV-specific antibody response was induced in mice inoculated with MVA by using a prime-boost schedule. Finally, we investigated the abilities of the EV-expressing rSFV vectors to elicit the production of polyclonal monospecific antisera against the corresponding EV proteins in mice. The monospecific serum antibody levels against A33R, A56R, and B5R were measurably higher than the antibody levels induced by Dryvax. The resulting polyclonal antisera were used in Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence assays, indicating that rSFV particles are useful vectors for generating monospecific antisera.
Epitope-Blocking Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay To Differentiate West Nile Virus from Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infections in Equine Sera
Authors: Kitai Yoko , Shoda Mizue , Kondo Takashi , Konishi Eiji 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTWest Nile virus (WNV) is now widely distributed worldwide, except in most areas of Asia where Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is distributed. Considering the movement and migration of reservoir birds, there is concern that WNV may be introduced in Asian countries. Although manuals and guidelines for serological tests have been created in Japan in preparedness for the introduction of WNV, differential diagnosis between WNV and JEV may be complicated by antigenic cross-reactivities between these flaviviruses. Here, we generated a monoclonal antibody specific for the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of WNV and established an epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that can differentiate WNV from JEV infections in horse sera. Under conditions well suited for our assay system, samples collected from 95 horses in Japan (regarded as negative for WNV antibodies), including those collected from horses naturally infected with JEV, showed a mean inhibition value of 8.2% and a standard deviation (SD) of 6.5%. However, inhibition values obtained with serum used as a positive control (obtained after 28 days from a horse experimentally infected with WNV) in nine separate experiments showed a mean of 54.4% and an SD of 7.1%. We tentatively determined 27.6% (mean + 3 × SD obtained with 95 negative samples) as the cutoff value to differentiate positive from negative samples. Under this criterion, two horses experimentally infected with WNV were diagnosed as positive at 12 and 14 days, respectively, after infection.
Seroprevalence of Neutralizing Antibodies to Adenovirus Type 5 among Children in India: Implications for Recombinant Adenovirus-Based Vaccines
Authors: Appaiahgari Mohan Babu , Pandey Ravindra Mohan , Vrati Sudhanshu 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT
We determined the levels of adenovirus 5 (Ad5) neutralizing antibodies in children in India less than 2 years of age. The results clearly show an age-dependent increase in Ad5-specific immunity, with 7- to 12-month-old children having the lowest levels of Ad5 immunity. This opens up the scope for the use of recombinant Ad5-based vaccines in this age group.
Quinolone Resistance of
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Virchow Isolates from Humans and Poultry in Israel: Evidence for Clonal Expansion
Authors: Solnik-Isaac Hadas , Weinberger Miriam , Tabak Mina , Ben-David Alon , Shachar Dina , Yaron Sima 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

Salmonella enterica
serovar Virchow is highly prevalent in humans and farm animals in Israel. In addition to high rates of resistance to multiple antibiotics, this serovar exhibits a high incidence of resistance to nalidixic acid. More than 90% of
Salmonella
serovar Virchow isolates of human and poultry origin obtained from 1997 to 2004 were resistant to nalidixic acid (MIC ≥ 128 μg/ml), with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC between 0.125 and 0.250 μg/ml). Most isolates belonged to two predominant, closely related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis image types. Investigation of the mechanisms of quinolone resistance revealed that this pathogen probably emerged from a parental clone that overproduced the AcrAB efflux pump and had a single point mutation in
gyrA
leading to the Asp87Tyr substitution. The close resemblance between human and poultry isolates points to poultry as a likely source of
Salmonella
serovar Virchow in the food chain.
Development and Evaluation of a Line Probe Assay for Rapid Identification of
pncA
Mutations in Pyrazinamide-Resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Strains
Authors: Sekiguchi Jun-Ichiro , Nakamura Tomohiko , Miyoshi-Akiyama Tohru , Kirikae Fumiko , Kobayashi Intetsu , Augustynowicz-Kopeć Ewa , Zwolska Zofia , Morita Koji , Suetake Toshinori , Yoshida Hiroshi , Kato Seiya , Mori Toru , Kirikae Teruo 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

Resistance of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
to pyrazinamide (PZA) derives mainly from mutations in the
pncA
gene. We developed a reverse hybridization-based line probe assay with oligonucleotide probes designed to detect mutations in
pncA
. The detection of PZA resistance was evaluated in 258 clinical isolates of
M. tuberculosis
. The sensitivity and specificity of PZA resistance obtained by this new assay were both 100%, consistent with the results of conventional PZA susceptibility testing. This assay can be used with sputa from tuberculosis patients. It appears to be reliable and widely applicable and, given its simplicity and rapid performance, will be a valuable tool for diagnostic use.
Field Evaluation of a Rota- and Adenovirus Immunochromatographic Assay Using Stool Samples from Children with Acute Diarrhea in Ghana
Authors: Weitzel Thomas , Reither Klaus , Mockenhaupt Frank P. , Stark Klaus , Ignatius Ralf , Saad Eiman , Seidu-Korkor Andrew , Bienzle Ulrich , Schreier Eckart 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT
We evaluated the Rida Quick rotavirus/adenovirus Combi rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) under field conditions with Ghanaian children with acute diarrhea. Compared to PCR results, sensitivities and specificities were 75% and 95% for rotavirus and 22% and 84% for adenovirus. In resource-poor settings, ICTs may help to overcome difficulties in the diagnosis of rotavirus infection.
Comparison of Phoenix and VITEK 2 Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase Detection Tests for Analysis of
Escherichia coli
and
Klebsiella
Isolates with Well-Characterized β-Lactamases
Authors: Thomson Kenneth S. , Cornish Nancy E. , Hong Seong G. , Hemrick Kim , Herdt Christian , Moland Ellen S. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

The VITEK 2 and Phoenix extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) detection systems, which comprise confirmatory tests and expert systems, were evaluated for their ability to discriminate between 102 well-characterized strains of ESBL-positive or -negative
Escherichia coli
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, and
Klebsiella oxytoca
. At least 38 distinct ESBLs were included. The strains were chosen to include some known to cause false-positive and false-negative CLSI ESBL confirmatory test results. Therefore, enzyme characterizations, rather than CLSI tests, were the reference methods for the Phoenix and VITEK 2 evaluations. A third arm of the study was conducted with the Phoenix test using two normally inactive expert rules intended to enhance ESBL detection, in addition to using the currently available software. The Phoenix ESBL confirmatory test and unmodified expert system exhibited 96% sensitivity and 81% specificity for ESBL detection. Activation of the two additional rules increased sensitivity to 99% but reduced the specificity to 58%. The VITEK 2 ESBL confirmatory test exhibited 91% sensitivity, which was reduced to 89% sensitivity by its expert system, while its specificity was 85%. Many of the expert system interpretations of both instruments were helpful, but some were suboptimal. The VITEK 2 expert system was potentially more frustrating because it provided more inconclusive interpretations of the results. Considering the high degree of diagnostic difficulty posed by the strains, both ESBL confirmatory tests were highly sensitive. The expert systems of both instruments require modification to update and enhance their utility.
Development of a Respiratory Virus Panel Test for Detection of Twenty Human Respiratory Viruses by Use of Multiplex PCR and a Fluid Microbead-Based Assay
Authors: Mahony J. , Chong S. , Merante F. , Yaghoubian S. , Sinha T. , Lisle C. , Janeczko R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT
Virology laboratories historically have used direct fluorescent-antibody assay (DFA) and culture to detect six or seven respiratory viruses. Following the discovery of five new human respiratory viruses since 2000, there is an increasing need for diagnostic tests to detect these emerging viruses. We have developed a new test that can detect 20 different respiratory virus types/subtypes in a single 5-h test. The assay employs multiplex PCR using 14 virus-specific primer pairs, followed by a multiplexed target-specific primer extension (TSPE) reaction using 21 primers for specific respiratory virus types and subtypes. TSPE products were sorted and identified by using a fluid microsphere-based array (Universal Array; TmBioscience Corporation, Toronto, Canada) and the Luminex x-MAP system. The assay detected influenza A and B viruses; influenza A virus subtypes H1, H3, and H5 (including subtype H5N1 of the Asian lineage); parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, 3, and 4; respiratory syncytial virus types A and B; adenovirus; metapneumovirus; rhinovirus; enterovirus; and coronaviruses OC43, 229E, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, NL63, and HKU1. In a prospective evaluation using 294 nasopharyngeal swab specimens, DFA/culture detected 119 positives and the respiratory virus panel (RVP) test detected 112 positives, for a sensitivity of 97%. The RVP test detected an additional 61 positive specimens that either were not detected by DFA/culture or were positive for viruses not tested for by DFA/culture. After resolution of discordant results by using a second unique PCR assay and by using a combined reference standard of positivity, the RVP test detected 180 of 183 true positives, for a sensitivity of 98.5%, whereas DFA and culture detected only 126 of 183 true positives, for a sensitivity of 68.8%. The RVP test should improve the capabilities of hospital and public health laboratories for diagnosing viral respiratory tract infections and should assist public health agencies in identifying etiologic agents in respiratory tract infection outbreaks.
A Q-Enhanced 3.6 GHz, Tunable, Sixth-Order Bandpass Filter Using 0.18 μm CMOS
Authors: Dinh Anh , Ge Jiandong 
Published: June 2007

An experimental filter was designed to operate at 3.6 GHz using mainstream
0.18 μm CMOS. In the design, the Q-enhancement technique was used to overcome the low-Q characteristics of the CMOS on-chip inductors. A sixth-order bandpass filter
with a wide passband and a high image rejection was built by cascading three stages
of second-order Q-enhanced filters. A combination of three biquads with offset in center
frequency provides wider tuning frequency and bandwidth. This high-performance filter
provides a 340 MHz tunable center frequency around 3.6 GHz, an image
rejection of 50 dB and a tunable Q from 25 to 50 for a bandwidth adjustment from 95 MHz to 35
MHz. The filter achieves an
18 dB voltage gain while consuming 130 mW of power at
1.8 V DC supply. The chip occupies an area of 900×900μm2 including all the required bonding pads. The design provides a simple
architecture to simplify tuning scheme for both frequency and bandwidth for practical use.
The tunable ability of the design could be exploited in further study to be used as
a channel-select filter in the gigahertz range.
New Challenges, New Elites? Changes in the Recruitment and Career Patterns of European Representative Elites
Authors: Best Heinrich 
Published: June 2007

AbstractLong term changes in the recruitment patterns of European representative elites can be described as the aggregate result of selectorates' responses to a sequence of fundamental problems challenging polities since the emergence of modern representative political institutions in the 19th century. Recent data show that some long-term trends of (Western) European parliamentary recruitment like the increase of MPs with a public sector background have reversed or plateaued since the late 1980s. At the same time a rise in turnover, a decrease of incumbency and a growing diversity of recruitment patterns can be seen in the same group of polities. This paper explores whether and to what extent these changes are linked to changes in the party systems of Western European polities and whether new trends of parliamentary recruitment are emerging. It introduces the proposition that after the 'consensus challenge' of the post Second World War era a 'legitimacy challenge' is now shaping European legislative recruitment, increasing the value of social and cultural assets of candidates that are related to their expert-status and favouring properties signalling their moral integrity.
The effect of tidal forcing on biogeochemical processes in intertidal salt marsh sediments
Authors: Taillefert Martial , Neuhuber Stephanie , Bristow Gwendolyn 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
Background
Early diagenetic processes involved in natural organic matter (NOM) oxidation in marine sediments have been for the most part characterized after collecting sediment cores and extracting porewaters. These techniques have proven useful for deep-sea sediments where biogeochemical processes are limited to aerobic respiration, denitrification, and manganese reduction and span over several centimeters. In coastal marine sediments, however, the concentration of NOM is so high that the spatial resolution needed to characterize these processes cannot be achieved with conventional sampling techniques. In addition, coastal sediments are influenced by tidal forcing that likely affects the processes involved in carbon oxidation.

Results
In this study, we used in situ voltammetry to determine the role of tidal forcing on early diagenetic processes in intertidal salt marsh sediments. We compare ex situ measurements collected seasonally, in situ profiling measurements, and in situ time series collected at several depths in the sediment during tidal cycles at two distinct stations, a small perennial creek and a mud flat. Our results indicate that the tides coupled to the salt marsh topography drastically influence the distribution of redox geochemical species and may be responsible for local differences noted year-round in the same sediments. Monitoring wells deployed to observe the effects of the tides on the vertical component of porewater transport reveal that creek sediments, because of their confinements, are exposed to much higher hydrostatic pressure gradients than mud flats.

Conclusion
Our study indicates that iron reduction can be sustained in intertidal creek sediments by a combination of physical forcing and chemical oxidation, while intertidal mud flat sediments are mainly subject to sulfate reduction. These processes likely allow microbial iron reduction to be an important terminal electron accepting process in intertidal coastal sediments.
Uncovering information on expression of natural antisense transcripts in Affymetrix MOE430 datasets
Authors: Oeder Sebastian , Mages Joerg , Flicek Paul , Lang Roland 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background
The function and significance of the widespread expression of natural antisense transcripts (NATs) is largely unknown. The ability to quantitatively assess changes in NAT expression for many different transcripts in multiple samples would facilitate our understanding of this relatively new class of RNA molecules.

Results
Here, we demonstrate that standard expression analysis Affymetrix MOE430 and HG-U133 GeneChips contain hundreds of probe sets that detect NATs. Probe sets carrying a "Negative Strand Matching Probes" annotation in NetAffx were validated using Ensembl by manual and automated approaches. More than 50 % of the 1,113 probe sets with "Negative Strand Matching Probes" on the MOE430 2.0 GeneChip were confirmed as detecting NATs. Expression of selected antisense transcripts as indicated by Affymetrix data was confirmed using strand-specific RT-PCR. Thus, Affymetrix datasets can be mined to reveal information about the regulated expression of a considerable number of NATs. In a correlation analysis of 179 sense-antisense (SAS) probe set pairs using publicly available data from 1637 MOE430 2.0 GeneChips a significant number of SAS transcript pairs were found to be positively correlated.

Conclusion
Standard expression analysis Affymetrix GeneChips can be used to measure many different NATs. The large amount of samples deposited in microarray databases represents a valuable resource for a quantitative analysis of NAT expression and regulation in different cells, tissues and biological conditions.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is involved in cell growth and survival of human rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma cells
Authors: Chen Chun-Liang , Loy Abbey , Cen Ling , Chan Christina , Hsieh Fu-Chuan , Cheng Gong , Wu Bryant , Qualman Stephen J , Kunisada Keita , Yamauchi-Takihara Keiko , Lin Jiayuh 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background

Stat3 has been classified as a proto-oncogene and constitutive Stat3 signaling appears to be involved in oncogenesis of human cancers. However, whether constitutive Stat3 signaling plays a role in the survival and growth of osteosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, and soft-tissue sarcomas is still unclear.

Methods
To examine whether Stat3 is activated in osteosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas and other soft-tissue sarcomas we analyzed sarcoma tissue microarray slides and sarcoma cell lines using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, respectively, with a phospho-specific Stat3 antibody. To examine whether the activated Stat3 pathway is important for sarcoma cell growth and survival, adenovirus-mediated expression of a dominant-negative Stat3 (Y705F) and a small molecule inhibitor (termed STA-21) were used to inhibit constitutive Stat3 signaling in human sarcoma cell lines expressing elevated levels of Stat3 phosphorylation. Cell viability was determined by MTT assays and induction of apoptosis was analyzed by western blotting using antibodies that specifically recognize cleaved caspases-3, 8, and 9.

Results
Stat3 phosphorylation is elevated in 19% (21/113) of osteosarcoma, 27% (17/64) of rhabdomyosarcoma, and 15% (22/151) of other soft-tissue sarcoma tissues as well as in sarcoma cell lines. Expression of the dominant-negative Stat3 and treatment of STA-21 inhibited cell viability and growth and induced apoptosis through caspases 3, 8 and 9 pathways in human sarcoma cell lines expressing elevated levels of phosphorylated Stat3.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates that Stat3 phosphorylation is elevated in human rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcomas and soft-tissue sarcomas. Furthermore, the activated Stat3 pathway is important for cell growth and survival of human sarcoma cells.
Stem Cell Therapy for Autism
Authors: Ichim Thomas E , Solano Fabio , Glenn Eduardo , Morales Frank , Smith Leonard , Zabrecky George , Riordan Neil H 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAutism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions whose incidence is reaching epidemic proportions, afflicting approximately 1 in 166 children. Autistic disorder, or autism is the most common form of ASD. Although several neurophysiological alterations have been associated with autism, immune abnormalities and neural hypoperfusion appear to be broadly consistent. These appear to be causative since correlation of altered inflammatory responses, and hypoperfusion with symptology is reported. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are in late phases of clinical development for treatment of graft versus host disease and Crohn's Disease, two conditions of immune dysregulation. Cord blood CD34+ cells are known to be potent angiogenic stimulators, having demonstrated positive effects in not only peripheral ischemia, but also in models of cerebral ischemia. Additionally, anecdotal clinical cases have reported responses in autistic children receiving cord blood CD34+ cells. We propose the combined use of MSC and cord blood CD34+cells may be useful in the treatment of autism.
Is breast cancer prognosis inherited?
Authors: Hartman Mikael , Lindström Linda , Dickman Paul W , Adami Hans-Olov , Hall Per , Czene Kamila 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
Introduction
A genetic component is well established in the etiology of breast cancer. It is not well known, however, whether genetic traits also influence prognostic features of the malignant phenotype.

Methods
We carried out a population-based cohort study in Sweden based on the nationwide Multi-Generation Register. Among all women with breast cancer diagnosed from 1961 to 2001, 2,787 mother-daughter pairs and 831 sister pairs with breast cancer were identified; we achieved complete follow-up and classified 5-year breast cancer-specific prognosis among proband (mother or oldest sister) into tertiles as poor, intermediary, or good. We used Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival proportions and Cox models to calculate relative risks of dying from breast cancer within 5 years depending on the proband's outcome.

Results
The 5-year survival proportion among daughters whose mothers died within 5 years was 87% compared to 91% if the mother was alive (p = 0.03). Among sisters, the corresponding proportions were 70% and 88%, respectively (p = 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, daughters and sisters of a proband with poor prognosis had a 60% higher 5-year breast cancer mortality compared to those of a proband with good prognosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 2.2; p for trend 0.002). This association was slightly stronger among sisters (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.4) than among daughters (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.3).

Conclusion
Breast cancer prognosis of a woman predicts the survival in her first-degree relatives with breast cancer. Our novel findings suggest that breast cancer prognosis might be inherited.