bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbiome Of The Women’S Genital System
Authors: Pytka Monika , Kordowska-Wiater Monika , Jarocki Piotr 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
The genital system of women has been colonized by various species of microorganisms since the beginning of life. In the postnatal period, the method of birth is important; when a child is born naturally, passing the female genital tract, it acquires bacteria present in the mother’s vagina, and when through the cesarean section, the child’s organism is first colonized by the mother’s skin microbiota and hospital strains. In female newborns during the first days after the natural birth, the presence of Lactobacillus rods, which acidify the vagina, is readily observed. Later, however, they disappear and during the childhood period, the pH of the vagina becomes alkaline. Only in the period of puberty and full puberty, as a result of the increase in the level of estrogen in the female body, the amount of Lactobacillus strains increases and this continues up to the menopause period, when pathogenic strains begin to dominate. The female vagina is home to not only numerous bacteria, but also fungi, including mainly Candida yeast and filamentous fungi at a lower extent. Dysbiosis of the vagina may be caused by the predominance of pathogenic bacteria over Lactobacillus, resulting in bacterial vaginosis or excess of Candida yeast, resulting in candidiasis. An effective method leading to the homeostasis of the female sexual system is the use of vaginal probiotics, which should consist of strains characteristic to a given female population.
1. Introduction. 2. Microbiome of the baby in the prenatal and postnatal period. 3. Lactobacillus genus as the dominant microbiota of the female genital system. 4. Mycobiome of the female vagina. 5. Vaginal probiotics. 6. Summary
Avoidance Of Mechanisms Of Innate Immune Response By Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
Authors: Płaczkiewicz Jagoda 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) is a Gram-negative bacteria and an etiological agent of the sexually transmitted disease – gonorrhea. N. gonorrhoeae possesses many mechanism to evade the innate immune response of the human host. Most are related to serum resistance and avoidance of complement killing. However the clinical symptoms of gonorrhea are correlated with a significant presence of neutrophils, whose response is also insufficient and modulated by gonococci.
1. Introduction. 2. Adherence ability. 3. Serum resistance and complement system. 4. Neutrophils. 4.1. Phagocytosis. 4.1.1. Oxygen-dependent intracellular killing. 4.1.2. Oxygen-independent intracellular killing. 4.2. Neutrophil extracellular traps. 4.3. Degranulation. 4.4. Apoptosis. 5. Summary
Application of electrochemical treatment for the removal of triazine dye using aluminium electrodes
Authors: Palanisamy Sakthisharmila , Nachimuthu Palanisamy , Awasthi Mukesh Kumar , Ravindran Balasubramani , Chang Soon Woong , Palanichamy Manikandan , Nguyen Dinh Duc 
Published: February 2020

AbstractTextile effluents contain triazine-substituted reactive dyes that cause health problems such as cancer, birth defects, and hormone damage. An electrochemical process was employed effectively to degrade azo reactive dye with the aim of reducing the production of carcinogenic chemicals during biodegradation. Textile dye C.I. Reactive Red 2 (RR2), a model pollutant that contains dichloro triazine ring, was subjected to the electrocoagulation process using aluminium (Al) electrodes. A maximum of 97% of colour and 72% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were achieved and 9.5 kWh/kg dye electrical energy and 0.8 kg Al/kg dye electrode consumption were observed. The dye removal mechanism was studied by analysing the results of UV-Vis spectra of RR2 and treated samples at various time intervals during electrocoagulation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectral studies were used for analysing the electrocoagulated flocs. The results indicate that in this process the dye gets removed by adsorption and there is no significant carcinogenic by-product formation during the degradation of dye.
Investigating the occurrence of algae in the drinking water supply system of Harare, Zimbabwe
Authors: Dandadzi Pardon , Hoko Zvikomborero , Nhiwatiwa Tamuka 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
This study assessed the quality of drinking water in the water supply system for the City of Harare (Zimbabwe) by investigating the occurrence of algae and other water quality parameters that affect its growth. At Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works (MJWTWs), samples were collected from the raw water inlet and treated water outlet points. In the distribution system, samples were collected from selected sites and grouped into four zones (1, 2, 3 and 4). The algal taxonomic groups that were found in both raw and treated water comprised of Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Dinophyceae. It was found out that Microcystis aeruginosa followed by Anabaena were the most abundant species in both raw water and in the distribution system. All measured water quality parameters were within the Standards Association of Zimbabwe and WHO guideline values except for chlorine which had an average residual chlorine concentration that was lower than the WHO recommended lower value of 0.2 mg/L in parts of Zone 2. Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works does not completely remove algae, and there is a carry-over of algae into the distribution system. Boosting of chlorine is recommended for Zone 2 that had residual chlorine less than the WHO minimum threshold of 0.2 mg/L.
Sources of microbiological contamination in sachet water from Ghana
Authors: Aslan Asli , Rochani Haresh , Oyibo Oghenekpaobor , Dotherow J. Edward , Anderson Kendall W. , Beslin Christina , Chapman Asheley , Thomas Brittny , Brown Alicia , Ampofo-Yeboah Akwasi , Afriyie-Gyawu Evans 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Sachet water is one of the primary sources of drinking water in rapidly growing countries. A study to assess the microbiological quality of sachet water in 21 different brands was conducted in Ghana. Culturable total coliform was positive in 87% of the samples collected, where Escherichia coli colonies were absent. The analysis of quantitative polymerase chain reaction results indicated the presence of E. coli genes in 44.6% of the samples, with the highest concentration up to 3,166 CCE/100 ml. Microbial source tracking analyses showed that the source of E. coli genes did not originate from sewage contamination because the human-associated HF183 marker was not detected. Of the 175 samples tested, 71% did not mention any water treatment before filling the packages. These results suggest non-human sources of contamination, such as biofilm formation in the pipelines used to fill these packages due to poor disinfection. Our study shows an urgent need for increased regulation and standardized manufacturing of sachet water to ensure safe drinking water.
Shining the spotlight on household investments for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): let us talk about HI and the three ‘T's
Authors: Danert Kerstin , Hutton Guy 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
This editorial argues that the use of the three ‘T's financing source framework (taxes, tariffs and transfers) leads us to ignore key costs to the customer, especially the poor customer, of accessing an adequate level of the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) service. These costs include household investment (HI) for self-supply (commonly excluded from tariffs). We propose an adaptation to the framework, which we call ‘HI and the three T's’.
Hydrogeology of the Picos de Europa National Park (northern of Spain)
Authors: Meléndez Mónica , Ballesteros Daniel , Jiménez-Sánchez Montserrat 
Published: February 2020

The Picos de Europa National Park, with a total area of 675 km 2 , is located in the North of Spain, in the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and León. Carbonated materials predominate in the North and central areas of the Park, whilst to the South rocks are mainly siliceous. The complex geological structure caused by the superposition of two orogenies has conditioned the presence of a very karstified limestone series more than 2 km thick. The karst development is really important and it is well known that the Picos de Europa high mountains contain 14 % of the deepest discovered caves in the world. As far as hydrological planning is concerned, the park is integrated into the 016.214 Picos de Europa-Panes and 016.218 Alto Deva-Alto Cares groundwater bodies. The geological formations present in the Picos de Europa National Park, considering the permeability characteristics of the materials, can be classified as either aquifers or aquitards. The main aquifer is karst in nature and includes a powerful series of carboniferous limestones with an O-E orientation. The presence of siliciclastic formations, which behave like aquitards, determine the compartmentalization of the aquifer into “smaller underground water bodies” (hereinafter SGWB, the acronym for the English terminology, “smaller groundwater bodies”) with dimensions of between 2 and 108 km 3 in volume. The piezometric level in the different SGWBs varies between 120 and 1,200 m a.s.l., descending in a staggered way to the North. It shouldbe noted that in the Central and Eastern Massifs the piezometry is more uniform and is located between 300 and 500 m a.s.l. To the northern of the limit of the park, the main points of discharge of the carbonated aquifer are located between 120 and 150 m a.s.l. The aquifer recharge, preferably by direct infiltration, has a clear snow influence. The karst springs jointly discharge the water from the surface runoff infiltrated into the aquifer and the groundwater that comes from the different SGWBs. The presence of siliciclastic units, with general W-E directions that function as permeability barriers has caused the circulation of the underground flow to be directed predominantly northwards, and therefore, has led to the main springs being located in the northern part of the park.
Hydrogeological research in the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Huesca, Spain)
Authors: Lambán Luis Javier , Jódar Jorge , Custodio Emilio 
Published: February 2020

The National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido (PNOMP) is the largest mountainous limestone massif of Western Europe. It has the highest altitude karst of the whole Europe. Groundwater is essential for the genesis, development and evolution of the park. The spatial distribution of recharge infiltration capacity is obtained by using the APLIS method. Additionally, a preliminary estimation of recharge is obtained by using the HBV and Visual Balan codes. The values of average surface runoff, evapotranspiration and recharge for the whole Paleocene-Eocene aquifer in the park are respectively about 160, 360 and 1227 mm/yr, or 10, 20 and 70% of yearly precipitation. Average recharge ranges between 72 and 77% of yearly average precipitation. This highlights the high vulnerability of water resources of PNOMP to possible climate and global change, according to surface and deep karstification and the snow cover during several months a year. Water is mainly of the calcium bicarbonate and calcium-magnesium bicarbonate types. There is a dominant process of calcite dissolution, which is consistent with the carbonate nature of the most abundant materials in the park (Upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleocene Eocene). Other observed hydrogeochemical processes are anhydrite and/or gypsum dissolution, as well as a possible incongruent dissolution of dolomite in the Ordesa Valley. Water stable isotopes show that the fronts that produce the greatest precipitations come from the Atlantic Ocean. In autumn, winter and spring there is a deuterium excess in the recharge water which is assumed to be related with diurnal snow sublimation and night water vapour condensation over the snow pack. The recharge elevation zone is located between 1950 and 2600 m asl, and most of the sampled springs show short transit times, between 1 and 4 years, although one of the springs (Fuen dero Baño) shows the influence of a slowly changing regional groundwater flow system.
Hydrogeological research in the Tuyajto Lake at the Flamingo National Reserve (Atacama, Chile)
Authors: Herrera Lameli Christian , Urrutia Meza Javier , Jódar Bermúdez Jorge , Lambán Jiménez Luis Javier , Custodio Gimena Emilio , Gamboa Palacios Carolina 
Published: February 2020

The Tuyajto Lake is a saline lake located in the Andean Altiplano of northern Chile, at the foot of the volcano of the same name. It is fed by springs located on its eastern and northern boundaries. These springs discharge groundwater from a volcanic aquifer. Arid conditions dominate in the area, with average precipitation less than 200 mm/year. The tritium content in some groundwater samples shows the contribution of modern recharge to the total groundwater flow. Recharge occurs by infiltration of snowmelt in the austral winter months and to a lesser extent by short but intense precipitation events during the summer. The vertical gradients of rainfall isotopic content (δ18O, δ2H) and precipitation points to the recharge zone of the springs being located at the northern area of the lake, above 4,900 m a.s.l. along the slopes of the Tuyajto volcano, whereas recharge to the springs discharging on the eastern area of the lake originates in the adjacent basins of Pampa Colorada and Pampa Las Tecas at altitudes between 4,400 and 4,700 m a.s.l. The water of these springs may contain measurable tritium. The chemical composition of groundwater is the result of meteoric water evaporation processes, high temperature water-rock interaction and dissolution of buried old salt flat deposits. The groundwater flow is shallow, due to the presence of a regional low permeability ignimbrite formation that precludes the formation of deep convective groundwater flow cells due to the high density of brines. At a local scale, the Tuyajto lake behaves as a flow-through system with respect to the regional groundwater flow. The persistence of the springs is essential for the existence of the brine sheet and maintaining the ecological conditions for the waterfowl.
Docking Related Survey on Heterocyclic Compounds Based on Glucosamine-6- Phosphate Synthase Inhibitors and their Antimicrobial Potential
Authors: Lather Amit , Sharma Sunil , Khatkar Sarita , Khatkar Anurag 
Published: February 2020

:The synthetic heterocyclic compounds have their importance due to their wide applications in various fields of science. The heterocyclic compounds have been reported for their anticancer, antitubercular, insecticides, analeptics, analgesic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and weedicidal activity. Researchers have tried various newer targets in search of better antimicrobials acting via novel mechanisms. Glucosamine-6-Phosphate synthase is an enzyme present in microbial cells. The inactivation of G-6-P synthase may serve as a novel approach to find better antimicrobials. The increasing demands development of newer and effective antimicrobial drugs has reported in search of newer techniques for the generation of new drugs. Hence, the molecular docking technique shall be explored to find or investigate the newer target finding the novel compounds which can be an active antimicrobial compound. The present review has focused on the reported heterocyclic compounds which have been evaluated for their antimicrobial potential using G-6-P synthase as a target. The results of in silico methods and in vitro methods have been compared and critically discussed.
Comparative Analysis of In-Vitro Biological Activities of Methyl Eugenol Rich Cymbopogon khasianus Hack., Leaf Essential Oil with Pure Methyl Eugenol Compound
Authors: Gogoi Roktim , Loying Rikraj , Sarma Neelav , Begum Twahira , Pandey Sudin K. , Lal Mohan 
Published: February 2020

Background:The essential oil of methyl eugenol rich Cymbopogon khasianus Hack. was evaluated and its bioactivities were compared with pure methyl eugenol. So far, methyl eugenol rich essential oil of lemongrass was not studied for any biological activities; hence, the present study was conducted.Objective:This study examined the chemical composition of essential oil of methyl eugenol rich Cymbopogon khasianus Hack., and evaluated its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and herbicidal properties and genotoxicity, which were compared with pure compound, methyl eugenol.Material and Methods:Methyl eugenol rich variety of Cymbopogon khasianus Hack., with registration no. INGR18037 (c.v. Jor Lab L-9) was collected from experimental farm CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat, Assam (26.7378°N, 94.1570°E). The essential oil wasobtained by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oil was evaluated using GC/MS analysis and its antioxidant (DPPH assay, reducing power assay), anti-inflammatory (Egg albumin denaturation assay), and antimicrobial (Disc diffusion assay, MIC) properties, seed germination effect and genotoxicity (Allium cepa assay) were studied and compared with pure Methyl Eugenol compound (ME).Results:Major components detected in the Essential Oil (EO) through Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analysis were methyl eugenol (73.17%) and β-myrcene (8.58%). A total of 35components were detected with a total identified area percentage of 98.34%. DPPH assay revealed considerable antioxidant activity of methyl eugenol rich lemongrass essential oil (IC50= 2.263 μg/mL), which is lower than standard ascorbic acid (IC50 2.58 μg/mL), and higher than standard Methyl Eugenol (ME) (IC50 2.253 μg/mL). Methyl eugenol rich lemongrass EO showed IC50 38.00 μg/mL, ME 36.44 μg/mL, and sodium diclofenac 22.76 μg/mL, in in-vitro anti-inflammatory test. Moderate antimicrobial activity towards the 8 tested microbes was shown by methyl eugenol rich lemongrass essential oil whose effectiveness against the microbes was less as compared to pure ME standard. Seed germination assay further revealed the herbicidal properties of methyl eugenol rich essential oil. Moreover, Allium cepa assay revealed moderate genotoxicity of the essential oil.Conclusion:This paper compared the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, genotoxicity and herbicidal activities of methyl eugenol rich lemongrass with pure methyl eugenol. This methyl eugenol rich lemongrass variety can be used as an alternative of methyl eugenol pure compound. Hence, the essential oil of this variety has the potential of developing cost-effective, easily available antioxidative/ antimicrobial drugs but its use should be under the safety range of methyl eugenol and needs further clinical trials.
Metaxalone Suppresses Production of Inflammatory Cytokines Associated with Painful Conditions in Mouse Macrophages RAW264.7 Cells in Vitro: Synergistic Effect with β-caryophyllene
Authors: Yamaguchi Masayoshi , Levy Robert M. 
Published: February 2020

Backgrounds and Objective:
Inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis
of many diseases. Inflammatory cytokines with painful conditions are well known as
biomarkers in human muscle pain, and they are produced by macrophages. Metaxalone
is used as a skeletal muscle relaxant, but the mechanism by which metaxalone acts is
unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate whether or not metaxalone exhibits
an inhibitory effect on the activity of inflammatory macrophages in vitro.

Methods:
Mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modification
of Eagle’s Medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum in the presence of metaxalone.
Cell growth was assayed by counting the number of cells attached to culture dishes.
Inflammatory cytokines released into the culture medium were analyzed with the ELISA
kit.

Results:
Metaxalone (1-100 μM) was found to decrease the number of macrophages by
inhibiting the proliferation and stimulating the death of RAW264.7 cells in vitro. The
combination of metaxalone (0.1 or 1 μM) and β-caryophyllene (10 or 50 μM), which
alone did not have a significant effect on the cell number, caused potential effects on the
growth and death of RAW264.7 cells. Mechanistically, molecular levels of mitogenactivated
protein kinase were decreased by treatment with metaxalone or β-
caryophyllene, and each effect was enhanced by their combination. Furthermore, levels
of caspase-3 were increased by metaxalone or β-caryophyllene and enhanced by their
combination. Notably, productions of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis
factor-α, interleukin-6 or prostaglandin E2, which were enhanced by lipopolysaccharide
(LPS), were repressed by culturing with metaxalone. Levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1,
COX-2 and nuclear factor kappa B, which were increased by LPS treatment, were
reduced by metaxalone.

Conclusion:
Metaxalone was found to suppress the activity of inflammatory
macrophages in vitro.
Elevated Testosterone Level and Urine Scent Marking in Male 5xFAD Alzheimer Model Mice
Authors: Gadomsky Lisa , dos Santos Guilherme Malena , Winkler Jakob , van der Kooij Michael A. , Hartmann Tobias , Grimm Marcus , Endres Kristina 
Published: February 2020

Background:Function of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (AβPP) and its various cleavage products still is not unraveled down to the last detail. While its role as a source of the neurotoxic Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is undisputed and its property as a cell attachment protein is intriguing, while functions outside the neuronal context are scarcely investigated. This is particularly noteworthy because AβPP has a ubiquitous expression profile and its longer isoforms, AβPP750 and 770, are found in various tissues outside the brain and in non-neuronal cells.Objective:Here, we aimed at analyzing the 5xFAD Alzheimer’s disease mouse model in regard to male sexual function. The transgenes of this mouse model are regulated by Thy1 promoter activity and Thy1 is expressed in testes, e.g. by Sertoli cells. This allows speculation about an influence on sexual behavior.Methods:We analyzed morphological as well as biochemical properties of testicular tissue from 5xFAD mice and wild type littermates and testosterone levels in serum, testes and the brain. Sexual behavior was assessed by a urine scent marking test at different ages for both groups.Results:While sperm number, testes weight and morphological phenotypes of sperms were nearly indistinguishable from those of wild type littermates, testicular testosterone levels were significantly increased in the AD model mice. This was accompanied by elevated and prolonged sexual interest as displayed within the urine scent marking test.Conclusion:We suggest that overexpression of AβPP, which mostly is used to mimic AD in model mice, also affects male sexual behavior as assessed additional by the Urine Scent Marking (USM) test. The elevated testosterone levels might have an additional impact on central nervous system androgen receptors and also have to be considered when assessing learning and memory capabilities.