bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantum fact and fiction. IV
Authors: Landé Alfred 
Published: March 2005

Niels Bohr has often pointed out that already the simplest quantum rule, ΔE = hν, is irrational insofar as ΔE stands for a timeless energy jump, whereas a frequency ν is defined only over a long time span. However, when this irrational relation is accepted as a mainstay of the quantum theory, one cannot reject a corresponding irrationality for momentum jumps Δp connected with periodicities in space, the less so as it yields a unitary mechanical explanation of all wavelike-looking phenomena of matter, in particular those of the diffraction of electrons, without resorting to any wave interference in space. (This has nothing to do with the complex–imaginary wave function ψ, which has a purely statistical significance.) We therefore propose to regard matter particles as real physical entities as always, in contrast to the matter waves with λ = h/p as a suggestive yet expendable fiction, permitting a return from dualism to unity, a simplification of the customary interpretation of standard quantum effects, also suggesting a long overdue reform in the teaching of the elements of quantum mechanics.
Editor’s note: This is the fourth and last in a series of articles begun ten years ago in this Journal. Earlier parts in the series may be found in American Journal of Physics 33, 123 (1965); 34, 1160 (1966); and 37, 541 (1969).
Use of Diagnostic Microarrays for Determination of Virulence Gene Patterns of
Escherichia coli
K1, a Major Cause of Neonatal Meningitis
Authors: Korczak Bożena , Frey Joachim , Schrenzel Jacques , Pluschke Gerd , Pfister Riccardo , Ehricht Ralf , Kuhnert Peter 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Forty
Escherichia coli
strains isolated primarily from neonatal meningitis, urinary tract infections and feces were screened for the presence of virulence genes with a newly developed microarray on the array tube format. A total of 32 gene probes specific for extraintestinal as well as intestinal
E. coli
pathotypes were included. Eighty-eight percent of the analyzed strains were positive for the K1-specific probe on the microarray and could be confirmed with a specific antiserum against the K1 capsular polysaccharide. The gene for the hemin receptor ChuA was predominantly found in 95% of strains. Other virulence genes associated with K1 and related strains were P, S, and F1C fimbriae specific for extraintestinal
E. coli
, the genes for aerobactin, the α-hemolysin and the cytotoxic necrotizing factor. In two strains, the O157-specific catalase gene and the gene for the low-molecular-weight heat-stable toxin AstA were detected, respectively. A total of 19 different virulence gene patterns were observed. No correlation was observed between specific virulence gene patterns and a clinical outcome. The data indicate that virulence genes typical of extraintestinal
E. coli
are predominantly present in K1 strains. Nevertheless, some of them can carry virulence genes known to be characteristic of intestinal
E. coli
. The distribution and combination of virulence genes show that K1 isolates constitute a heterogeneous group of
E. coli.
First Description ofCurtobacteriumspp. Isolated from Human Clinical Specimens
Authors: Funke Guido , Aravena-Roman Max , Frodl Reinhard 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTDuring a 4-year period, five strains (three of which were doubtless clinically significant) of yellow- or orange-pigmented, oxidative, slowly acid-producing coryneform bacteria were recovered from human clinical specimens in two reference laboratories or referred to them. The strains were motile, catalase positive, nitrate reductase negative, and urease negative, but strongly hydrolyzed esculin. In all reference and clinical strains described in the present study, anteisopentadecanoic (C15:0ai) and anteisoheptadecanoic (C17:0ai) acids represented more than 75% of all cellular fatty acids except in one clinical strain and inCurtobacterium pusillum, in which both the unusual ω-cyclohexyl fatty acid (identified as C18:1ω7cis/ω9cis/ω12transby the Sherlock system) represented more than 50% of all cellular fatty acids. In all clinical strains, ornithine was the diamino acid of the cell wall, the interpeptide bridge consisted of ornithine, and acetyl was the acyl type of the peptidoglycan. Therefore, the five clinical strains were unambiguously identified asCurtobacteriumspp. Analyses of the complete 16S rRNA genes of the five clinical strains with homologies to the establishedCurtobacteriumspecies ranging from 99.2 to 100% confirmed the identifications asCurtobacteriumspp. Data on the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of curtobacteria are reported, with macrolides and rifampin showing very low MICs for all strains tested. This report is the first on the isolation ofCurtobacteriumstrains from human clinical specimens.
Multiplex PCR Assay for Rapid Identification of Oculopathogenic Adenoviruses by Amplification of the Fiber and Hexon Genes
Authors: Banik Urmila , Adhikary Arun Kumar , Suzuki Eiko , Inada Toshiki , Okabe Nobuhiko 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT
Eye infections caused by adenovirus (Ad) often result in nosocomial infections and community epidemics with significant rates of morbidity. No antiviral agent effective against Ad is yet available for clinical use. Therefore, early diagnosis is still the mainstay for patient management and the prevention of epidemics. A multiplex PCR assay based on amplification of a combination of the fiber and hexon genes which can identify the six important oculopathogenic serotypes of Ads (Ad serotype 3[Ad3], Ad4, Ad7, Ad8, Ad19, and Ad37) in a single-tube amplification reaction was developed. Ad serotypes could be distinguished by the different amplicon sizes. The assay correctly identified prototype strains as well as isolates in clinical specimens. In comparison with a previously described PCR-restriction fragment polymorphism method, our assay gave unequivocal results for clinical specimens. Our multiplex PCR has the potential to serve as a rapid and cost-effective tool for the typing of important ocular Ads.
Sensitive and Specific Detection of Staphylococcal Epidermolysins A and B in Broth Cultures by Flow Cytometry-Assisted Multiplex Immunoassay
Authors: Joubert Olivier , Keller Daniel , Pinck Anne , Monteil Henri , Prévost Gilles 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Two of the most common bacterial skin infections of young infants and children are bullous impetigo due to
Staphylococcus aureus
and its more acute form, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Epidermolysin A (ETA), ETB and, possibly, ETD are responsible for these diseases, which may appear as epidemics in pediatric patients. We tested the reliability of a flow cytometry-assisted multiplex immunoassay (Bio-Plex system) for the detection of ETA and ETB. The Bio-Plex system was found to be highly specific and highly sensitive for toxin concentrations of between 2 and 80,000 pg/ml. The results of this assay were 100% identical to the results of a PCR-based method. We demonstrated that this test did not generate any cross-reactions with ETD-producing isolates. The level of detection of ETB by this test differed according to culture conditions and from isolate to isolate; these results must be taken into account for diagnostic purposes.
Evaluation of Four Commercially Available Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Phenotypic Confirmation Tests
Authors: Linscott Andrea J. , Brown William J. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production in members of the
Enterobacteriaceae
can confer resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, aztreonam, and penicillin. As such, the accurate detection of ESBL producers is essential for the appropriate selection of antibiotic therapy. Twenty previously characterized isolates and 49 clinical isolates suspected of ESBL production were tested by four ESBL phenotypic confirmatory methods for accuracy and ease of use. The four ESBL phenotypic confirmation tests included Dried MicroScan ESBL
plus
ESBL Confirmation panels (Dade Behring, Inc., West Sacramento, Calif.), Etest ESBL (AB BIODISK, Piscataway, N.J.), Vitek GNS-120 (bioMérieux, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.), and BD BBL Sensi-Disk ESBL Confirmatory Test disks (BD Biosciences, Sparks, Md.). Results were compared to frozen microdilution panels prepared according to NCCLS specifications, and discrepant isolates were sent for molecular testing. The test sensitivities for the ESBL phenotypic confirmatory test methods used in this study were as follows: MicroScan ESBL
plus
ESBL confirmation panel, 100%; VITEK 1 GNS-120, 99%; Etest ESBL, 97%; and BD BBL Sensi-Disk ESBL Confirmatory Test disks, 96%. The test specificities were as follows: BD BBL Sensi-Disk ESBL Confirmatory Test disks, 100%; MicroScan ESBL
plus
ESBL confirmation panel and VITEK 1 GNS-120, 98%; and Etest ESBL, 94%. All methods were easy to perform; however, the Etest method required more expertise to interpret the results. All tests offer a feasible solution for confirming ESBL production in the clinical laboratory.
Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay Using Scorpion Probes and DNA Capture for Genotype-Specific Detection of
Giardia lamblia
on Fecal Samples
Authors: Ng Cherie T. , Gilchrist Carol A. , Lane Ariel , Roy Shantanu , Haque Rashidul , Houpt Eric R. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Two major genotypic assemblages of
Giardia lamblia
infect humans; the epidemiologic significance of this phenomenon is poorly understood. We developed a single-vessel multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) assay that genotypes
Giardia
infections into assemblages A and/or B directly from fecal samples. The assay utilized Scorpion probes that combined genotype-specific primers and probes for the 18S rRNA gene into the same molecule. The protocol was capable of detecting as few as 20 trophozoites per PCR on fecal DNA isolated using a commercial method or 1.25 trophozoites per PCR on fecal DNA isolated using a
G. lamblia
-specific oligonucleotide capture technique. The assay was specific for fecal specimens, with no amplification of the discordant genotype with the opposite Scorpion probe. When 97 clinical specimens from Bangladesh were used, the multiplex PCR assay detected 95% (21 of 22) of
Giardia
microscopy-positive specimens and 18% (13 of 74) of microscopy-negative specimens. Microscopy-negative and qPCR-positive specimens had higher average cycle threshold values than microscopy-positive and qPCR-positive specimens, suggesting that they represented true low-burden infections. Most (32 of 35) infections were assemblage B infections. This single-reaction multiplex qPCR assay distinguishes assemblage A
Giardia
infections from assemblage B infections directly on fecal samples and may aid epidemiologic investigation.
LeishmaniaPromastigote Membrane Antigen-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Immunoblotting for Differential Diagnosis of Indian Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis
Authors: Saha Samiran , Mazumdar Tuhina , Anam Khairul , Ravindran Rajesh , Bairagi Bibhas , Saha Bibhuti , Goswami Ramapada , Pramanik Netai , Guha Subhashis K. , Kar Sourjya , Banerjee Dwijadas , Ali Nahid 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTDiagnosis of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), caused byLeishmania donovani, is difficult, as the dermal lesions are of several types and resemble those caused by other skin diseases, especially leprosy. Since the disease generally appears very late after the clinical cure of kala-azar in India, it is also difficult to correlate PKDL with a previous exposure toL. donovani. Very few attempts have been made so far to diagnose PKDL serologically, and the diagnostic methods vary in their sensitivities and specificities. Diagnosis of PKDL through sophisticated PCR methods, although highly sensitive, has limited practical use. We have developed a serodiagnostic method using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect specific immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and IgG subclass antibodies in the sera of Indian PKDL patients. Our assay, which usesL. donovanipromastigote membrane antigens, was 100% sensitive for the detection of IgG and 96.7% specific for the detection of IgG and IgG1. Optical density values for individual patients, however, demonstrated wide variations. Western blot analysis based on IgG reactivity could differentiate patients with PKDL from control subjects, which included patients with leprosy, patients from areas where kala-azar is endemic, and healthy subjects, by the detection of polypeptides of 67, 72, and 120 kDa. The recognition patterns of the majority of serum samples from patients with PKDL were also distinct from those of the serum samples from patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL), at least for a 31-kDa polypeptide. To further differentiate patients with PKDL from those with active and cured VL, we analyzed the specific titers of the Ig isotypes and IgG subclasses. High levels of IgG, IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 antibodies significantly differentiated patients with PKDL from patients cured of VL. The absence of antileishmanial IgE and IgG4 in patients with PKDL differentiated these patients from those with active VL. These results imply intrinsic differences in the antibodies generated in the sera from patients with PKDL and VL.
Cytotoxin and Pyrogenic Toxin Superantigen Gene Profiles of
Staphylococcus aureus
Associated with Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows and Relationships with Macrorestriction Genomic Profiles
Authors: Fueyo J. M. , Mendoza M. C. , Rodicio M. R. , Muñiz J. , Alvarez M. A. , Martín M. C. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

A set of 84
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates collected from the milk of cows with subclinical mastitis in Asturias (a cattle region of Spain) and six control strains were tested for sequences of genes encoding hemolysins (
hla
,
hlb
,
hld
,
hlg
, and
hlg-2
), leukotoxins (
lukPV
,
lukM
, and
lukED
), toxic shock syndrome toxin (
tst
), and enterotoxins (
sea
to
see
,
seg
to
ser
, and
seu
) by conventional and multiplex PCR. It was found that 84, 83, 11, and 39 isolates carried some type of
hl
,
luk
,
tst
, or
se
gene, respectively, which were arranged in 14 exotoxin genotypes. All of the isolates were negative for
lukPV
,
hlg
,
sea
,
sed
,
see
,
sej
,
sek
,
sep
,
seq
, and
ser
. Two gene groupings could be related with pathogenicity islands—[
lukED
,
seg
,
sei
,
sem
,
sen
,
seo ± seu
] with Saβ-1 and [
tst
,
sec
,
sel
] with SaPIbov, present in 45 and 13.1% of the isolates, respectively—while 11.9% of them carried both islands. Only one contained
seb
(together with υSaβ-1), and another contained
seh
(together with
lukED)
. The isolates were also analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis performed with SmaI. Thirty-nine SmaI profiles (similarity coefficient [
S
] = 0.94 to 0.21) were differentiated; 12, 1, and 10 of these, respectively, were generated by isolates presumptively carrying Saβ-1, SaPIbov, or both. Five SmaI profiles (
S
≥ 0.8) formed a cluster, which contained 20 and 10 isolates carrying one (υSaβ-1) or both islands. These data show the high frequency of genes encoding cytotoxins and pyrogenic toxin superantigens, their relationship with pathogenicity islands, and their distribution among a diversity of genetic types of
S. aureus
related to subclinical mastitis.
External Quality Assessment for Detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: Chalker V. J. , Vaughan H. , Patel P. , Rossouw A. , Seyedzadeh H. , Gerrard K. , James V. L. A. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

The use of molecular methods for detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
is increasing in clinical laboratories. External quality assessment enables unbiased monitoring of the performance of laboratories in the detection of specific pathogens. This study details the results of molecular and enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) testing for
C. trachomatis
detection in simulated endocervical swab specimens recently distributed internationally by United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Microbiology (UK NEQAS for Microbiology) external quality assessment panels. The frequency of accurate detection of
C. trachomatis
in the panels ranged from 32 to 100%. Participants using molecular methods were significantly more likely to detect
C. trachomatis
in specimens than those using an EIA. Two strains were distributed with the panels: an L2 laboratory-adapted strain and an uncharacterized primary isolate. Further analysis indicated a difference in detection of
C. trachomatis
between specific methods only with the L2 strain at lower concentrations. In addition, eight negative specimens were distributed, and false positives were found to be rare by all methods included in the study.
Molecular Epidemiology ofShigella flexneriin a Long-Stay Psychiatric Nursing Center during 2001 to 2003
Authors: Lee Yeong-Sheng , Liu Ming-Ching , Ko Ching-Fen , Lu Cheng-Hsiung , Tseng Yi-Hsiung 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTWith six separate wards accommodating more than 1,600 patients, V Nursing Center (VNC) is a long-stay psychiatric nursing center in eastern Taiwan. During 2001 to 2003, 39 shigellosis cases occurred in VNC. Different from the notion that most cases of shigellosis are caused byShigella sonnei, all except one of these cases were caused byS. flexneri, with the remaining one caused by anS. sonneiisolate. O-antigen serotyping showed that the 38S. flexneristrains were of either type 1a (n= 20) or 4a (n= 18), two less prevalent serotypes in Taiwan. NotI-based pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses performed with 8 type 1a non-VNC strains and 9 type 4a non-VNC strains isolated from 1996 to 2003 for comparison divided the 28 type 1a strains and the 27 type 4a strains into 7 and 10 subtypes, designated subtypes P1A to P1G and subtypes P4A to P4J, respectively. Subtypes P1A and P4A, which appeared in three consecutive years in VNC as well as outside of VNC, are the most prevalent subtypes. Analyses of the relatedness of the VNC strains on the basis of the banding patterns grouped the type 1a and 4a strains into four and five clusters, respectively. All except one of the type 1a strains had 95% similarity, indicating that they had a common parent, whereas the type 4a strains had similarities that ranged from 77 to 93%, suggesting that they were of diverse origins. In two of the outbreaks, less related subtypes of the type 4a strains were found in the same VNC wards in consecutive years, suggesting the possible existence of different subtypes in VNC all the time. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that all except one of theS. flexneristrains were sensitive to at least seven antibiotics; the remaining isolate was sensitive to three antibiotics. The data from the latter tests should be helpful for selection of proper treatments forS. flexneriinfections in Taiwan.
Loss of themecAGene during Storage of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusStrains
Authors: van Griethuysen Arjanne , van Loo Inge , van Belkum Alex , Vandenbroucke-Grauls Christina , Wannet Wim , van Keulen Peter , Kluytmans Jan 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThemecAgene was lost in 36 (14.4%) of 250 methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusisolates after 2 years of storage at −80°C with the Microbank system (Pro-lab Diagnostics, Austin, Tex.). Further analysis of 35 of these isolates confirmed loss of themecAgene in 32 isolates. This finding has important implications for the management of strain collections.
BK and JC Polyomaviruses Are Not Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Procop G. W. , Kohn D. J. , Johnson J. E. , Li H. J. , Loyd J. E. , Yen-Lieberman B. , Tang Y. W. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT
We sought to determine if the BK and JC polyomaviruses were associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We did not detect the BK or JC polyomaviruses in lung tissue extracts from 33 patients with IPF by using real-time PCR, which suggests that an etiologic association is unlikely.
Presence of DNA of Human Papillomavirus 16 but No Other Types in Tumor-Free Tonsillar Tissue
Authors: Chen Renwei , Sehr Peter , Waterboer Tim , Leivo Ilmo , Pawlita Michael , Vaheri Antti , Aaltonen Leena-Maija 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT
According to PCR, the prevalences of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA were 6.3% (13 of 206) in tonsillitis or hypertrophic tonsillar tissues and 0.6% (1 of 174) in exfoliated cells from normal tonsils. HPV-16 was the only type detected in tonsillar tissues, but it did not appear to lead to L1 antibody production.
The
pls
Gene Found in Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Strains Is Common in Clinical Isolates of
Staphylococcus sciuri
Authors: Juuti Katri , Ibrahem Salha , Virolainen-Julkunen Anni , Vuopio-Varkila Jaana , Kuusela Pentti 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

pls
, a gene found in type I staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
) regions of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
strains, was present in 12 of the 15 human clinical
Staphylococcus sciuri
isolates studied. Pls was expressed in the
S. sciuri
isolates, although at a lower level than in
S. aureus
. Other parts of SCC
mec
could also be found in the
S. sciuri
genome.
Genetic Variability among Serotype G4 Italian Human Rotaviruses
Authors: Arista S. , Giammanco G. M. , De Grazia S. , Colomba C. , Martella V. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT
A total of 254 serotype GH rotavirus strains were detected in Palermo, Italy, from 1985 to 2003. Out of 38 serotype G4 strains selected for genetic analysis, 14 were recognized by genotyping as type G9. Strains confirmed to belong to the G4 type showed temporal patterns of genetic evolution in their VP7 and VP4 gene sequences, and the latest Italian G4 strains were distantly related to the reference vaccinal ST3 strain.
Sugars Inhibit Expression of the Rugose Phenotype of
Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Ali Afsar , Morris J. Glenn , Johnson Judith A. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Vibrio cholerae
can shift to a rugose colony phenotype, reflecting expression of an exopolysaccharide that provides protection against a variety of environmental stresses. Our data indicate that expression of the rugose phenotype is inhibited by a variety of sugars, including sucrose, dextrose, arabinose, fructose, and maltose. Inhibition by sucrose may be one factor in explaining the failure of rugose strains to grow on thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose agar, the primary selective medium for
V. cholerae
.
Differentiation between Atypical Isolates of
Candida lusitaniae
and
Candida pulcherrima
by Determination of Mating Type
Authors: Noël Thierry , Favel Anne , Michel-Nguyen Annie , Goumar Abdelhak , Fallague Karim , Chastin Christiane , Leclerc Florence , Villard Jean 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

We report on five clinical isolates routinely identified as
Candida lusitaniae
that the ID 32C system was unable to discriminate from the closely related species
Candida pulcherrima
. When additional tests did not allow accurate identification, the less usual mating type test identified all of them as
Clavispora lusitaniae
. Mating type testing appears to be a valuable tool for assessing the true incidence of this emerging non-
albicans Candida
species.
Dihydropteroate Synthase and Novel Dihydrofolate Reductase Gene Mutations in Strains of
Pneumocystis jirovecii
from South Africa
Authors: Robberts F. J. L. , Chalkley L. J. , Weyer K. , Goussard P. , Liebowitz L. D. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACT

Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutations have raised concerns about emerging sulfonamide resistance in
Pneumocystis jirovecii
. DHPS and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene products were amplified in clinical specimens from South African patients. One of 53 DHPS genes sequenced contained the double mutation Thr55Ala Pro57Ser. DHFR gene mutations detected were Ala67Val and the new mutations Arg59Gly and C278T.