bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors for Lawsonia intracellularis, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. in finishing pigs in Polish farrow-to-finish swine herds
Authors: Dors A. , Pomorska-Mól M. , Czyżewska E. , Wasyl D. , Pejsak Z. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe aim of the study was to estimate the herd-level, within-herd prevalence, the frequency of mixed infections and risk factors forL. intracellularis,B. hyodysenteriaeandSalmonellaspp. in selected farrow-to-finish Polish pig herds. A total of 254 pooled fecal samples were collected from 9 to 24 week-old pigs in 70 herds. Real time PCR for detection ofL. intracellularisandB. hyodysenteriaewas performed. ForSalmonellaspp. bacteriological examination was performed. The herd-level prevalences ofL. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriaeandSalmonellaspp. among examined herds were 65.7%, 1.4% and 8.6%, respectively. The within-herd prevalences (in positive herds) forL. intracellularis,B. hyodysenteriaeandSalmonellaspp. were 51.5%, 75.0% and 30.4%, respectively. All herds with diarrhea observed during sampling were infected withL. intracellularisand 60% of herds with no diarrhea at the moment of sampling were infected withL. intracellularis(p=0.035). In herds with more than 200 sows the prevalence ofSalmonellaspp. was significantly higher compared to herds with less than 200 sows (p=0.027). In herds where all-in/all-out (AIAO) was respected, prevalence ofL. intracellulariswas significantly lower than in herds where this rule was not kept (p=0.024). Obtained results confirm thatL. intracellularisis the major cause of bacterial diarrhea in finishing pigs. The present study identified AIAO and herd size as a risk factor, at the herd level, forL. intracellularisandSalmonellaspp., respectively.
Spleen content of selected polyphenols, splenocytes morphology and function in mice fed Rhodiola kirilowii extracts during pregnancy and lactation
Authors: Lewicki S. , Stankiewicz W. , Skopińska-Różewska E. , Wilczak J. , Leśniak M. , Suska M. , Siwicki A.K. , Skopiński P. , Zdanowski R. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe genusRhodiola (Crassulaceae) consists of many species, growing mainly in Asia and traditionally used as adaptogens and anti-inflammatory drugs. In order to elaborate herbal immunostimulator which could be safely given to pregnant women, we performed a study on immunotropic effects of feeding pregnant and lactating miceRhodiola kirilowiiextracts. This paper presents the results of the first part of our study – spleen content of selected polyphenols, spleen cellularity, splenocytes phenotype and their response to mitogens. Experiments were performed on adult inbred females of Balb/c strain, mated with adult males. Females, since copulatory plug was noted, up to the 28-th day after delivery were fed daily with 20 mg/kg b.m. water (RKW) or hydro-alcoholic (RKW-A) extracts ofRhodiola kirilowii. Results: 1. Significantly lower proportion of pregnant mice in experimental groups than in the control. 2. Cellularity of spleen and flavonol quercetin spleen concentration were significantly lower in experimental groups in comparison to the controls. 3. Flavanols ((+)-catechin and epicatechin) levels were significantly higher in the spleens of experimental mice than in the controls. 4. Positive correlation between spleen cellularity and quercetin, and negative correlation between spleen cellularity and epicatechin content were observed. 5. Spleen mass and spleen lymphocytes phenotype and proliferation in RKW and RKW-A fed mice did not differ from the control. These results, together with suspicion of some embryo-toxicity, are worrying and eliminate the possibility of useRhodiola kirilowiiextracts for long-term treatment in pregnant females.
Suitability of using serum hialuronic acid concentrations in the diagnosis of canine liver fibrosis
Authors: Glińska-Suchocka K. , Orłowska A. , Spużak J. , Jankowski M. , Kubiak K. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThere are multiple dynamic changes associated with the metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) which occur in the course of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the evaluation of parameters reflecting the deposition of ECM, the activity of myofibroblasts and the synthesis and degradation of collagen may aid in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Hyaluronic acid is considered to be a marker of ECM deposition. It is a glycosaminoglycan synthesized by hepatic stellate cells and degraded by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of hyaluronic acid in dogs with different degrees of liver fibrosis. The study was carried out on 29 dogs with liver disease. A core needle biopsy of the liver was performed in order to assess the degree of hepatic inflammation. Then, hyaluronic acid serum concentrations were measured. The dogs were divided into five groups based on the histopathological examination and the evaluation of the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The study showed that serum hyaluronic acid concentrations were low in patients with first stage liver fibrosis and in controls, while they were twice as high as control values in the group of dogs with second stage liver fibrosis. These concentrations were three-fold greater than control values in patients with third stage liver fibrosis, and seven-fold greater in patients with liver cirrhosis. Based on the results, it was concluded that serum hyaluronic acid is a useful marker of liver fibrosis and may aid in determining the degree of its advancement.
Expression of goose parvovirus whole VP3 protein and its epitopes in Escherichia coli cells
Authors: Tarasiuk K. , Woźniakowski G. , Holec-Gąsior L. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
The aim of this study was the expression of goose parvovirus capsid protein (VP3) and its epitopes in Escherichia coli cells. Expression of the whole VP3 protein provided an insufficient amount of protein. In contrast, the expression of two VP3 epitopes (VP3ep4, VP3ep6) in E. coli, resulted in very high expression levels. This may suggest that smaller parts of the GPV antigenic determinants are more efficiently expressed than the complete VP3 gene.
Winter blood values of selected parameters in a group of non-hibernating captive brown bears (Ursus arctos)
Authors: Sergiel A. , Bednarski M. , Maślak R. , Piasecki T. , Huber D. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Bears undergo some significant changes reflected in blood values during winter season. The most significant are reduced urea and increased creatinine, by some authors considered to be physiological indicators of hibernation. Studied group of six captive brown bears (Ursus arctos) showed decreased activity in winter but were accepting food and walked outdoors. Blood parameters assessed in February 2011 revealed mean values of leucocytes and neutrophils as significantly lower, and creatinine significantly increased compared to captive and free living bears sampled during other seasons when bears are active.
Fungi Causing Storage Rot of Apple Fruit in Integrated Pest Management System and their Sensitivity to Fungicides
Authors: Grantina-Ievina Lelde 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Apple fruit rot can be caused by several fungi. In Northern Europe, the most common storage rot, Bull’s eye rot, is caused by Neofabraea spp., bitter rot by Colletotrichum spp., brown rot by Monilinia fructigena, grey mould is caused by Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium rot by several Fusarium species. Blue mold decay caused by Penicillium expansum is an important disease in several European countries. Incidence of different causal agents may vary depending on cultivar, climate during growing season and agricultural practices. The main objective of the study was to obtain baseline information about apple rot-causing fungi, their incidence during fruit storage and to evaluate the fungicide sensitivity of most of isolated fungal species. The study was performed during the storage period of apples after the growth season of 2013. Rotten apples were sorted in the storage and part of them was brought to the laboratory in order to obtain fungal isolates. Fungi were identified according to the morphological characteristics and sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. During storage in February and March the total percentage of rotten apples in various cultivars varied from 3.6 to 58.9%. All post-harvest diseases described in Northern Europe were detected. In part of the storehouses apple rot caused by Cadophora luteo-olivacea was observed. Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp. were detected on few apples as secondary infection agents. Using the most often isolated fungal species, sensitivity tests were performed against five commonly used fungicides. In general, the sensitivity of tested fungi to the fungicides was high with exception of several Neofabraea and Alternaria isolates.
The Composition and Use Value of Tree Biomass Ash
Authors: Okmanis Modris , Lazdiņa Dagnija , Lazdiņš Andis 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Wood-based ash landfilling is increasing issue not only in Latvia but in the whole world as more biomass is used for energy production. Utilization of wood burning waste as fertilizer is already used worldwide, but there is lack of information about chemical composition of wood ash obtained from Latvia plants, so the aim of this study was to determine chemical composition and analyse possible utilization options of wood-based ash from Latvia plants. Therefore wood ash samples from 53 companies were collected, sieved and chemical composition of samples was determined. It was concluded that within higher capacity of furnace more coarse fraction of wood ash was observed which is less valuable as fertilizer. Wood ash is good liming material consisting alkali compounds and other biogenic elements but also heavy metals, which are pollutants and could cause environmental problems.
Global challenges for e-waste management: the societal implications
Authors: Magalini Federico 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Over the last decades the electronics industry and ICT Industry in particular has revolutionized the world: electrical and electronic products have become ubiquitous in today’s life around the planet. After use, those products are discarded, sometimes after re-use cycles in countries different from those where they were initially sold; becoming what is commonly called e-waste. Compared to other traditional waste streams, e-waste handling poses unique and complex challenges. e-Waste is usually regarded as a waste problem, which can cause environmental damage and severe human health consequences if not safely managed. e-Waste contains significant amounts of toxic and environmentally sensitive materials and is, thus, extremely hazardous to humans and the environment if not properly disposed of or recycled. On the other hand, e-waste is often seen as a potential source of income for individuals and entrepreneurs who aim to recover the valuable materials (metals in particular) contained in discarded equipment. Recently, for a growing number of people, in developing countries in particular, recycling and separation of e-waste has become their main source of income. In most cases, this is done informally, with no or hardly any health and safety standards, exposing workers and the surrounding neighborhoods to extensive health dangers as well as leading to substantial environmental pollution. Treatment processes of e-waste aim to remove the hazardous components and recover as much reusable material (e.g. metals, glass and plastics) as possible; achieving both objectives is most desired. The paper discuss societal implications of proper e-waste management and key elements to be considered in the policy design at country level.
Bayesian networks in infectious disease eco-epidemiology
Authors: Lau Colleen L. , Smith Carl S. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Globally, infectious diseases are responsible for a significant burden on human health. Drivers of disease transmission depend on interactions between humans, the environment, vectors, carriers, and pathogens; transmission dynamics are therefore potentially highly complex. Research in infectious disease eco-epidemiology has been rapidly gaining momentum because of the rising global importance of disease emergence and outbreaks, and growing understanding of the intimate links between human health and the environment. The scientific community is increasingly recognising the need for multidisciplinary translational research, integrated approaches, and innovative methods and tools to optimise risk prediction and control measures. Environmental health experts have also identified the need for more advanced analytical and biostatistical approaches to better determine causality, and deal with unknowns and uncertainties inherent in complex systems. In this paper, we discuss the use of Bayesian networks in infectious disease eco-epidemiology, and the potential for developing dynamic tools for public health decision-making and improving intervention strategies.
Solar-driven membrane distillation demonstration in Leupp, Arizona
Authors: Ravisankar Vishnu Arvind , Seaman Robert , Mirchandani Sera , Arnold Robert G. , Ela Wendell P. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
The Navajo Nation is the largest and one of the driest Native American reservations in the US. The population in the Navajo Nation is sporadically distributed over a very large area making it extremely ineffective to connect homes to a centralized water supply system. Owing to this population distribution and the multi decadal drought prevailing in the region, over 40% of the 300,000 people living on Navajo Tribal Lands lack access to running potable water. For many people the only alternative is hauling water from filling stations, resulting in economic hardship and limited supply. A solution to this problem is a de-centralized off-grid water source. The University of Arizona and US Bureau of Reclamation’s Solar Membrane Distillation (SMD), stand-alone, pilot desalination system on the Navajo Reservation will provide an off-grid source of potable water; the pilot will serve as a proximal water source, ease the financial hardships caused by the drought, and provide a model for low-cost water treatment systems in arid tribal lands. Bench-scale experiments and an earlier field prototype plant showed viable operation of a solar heated, membrane distillation (MD) system, but further optimization is required. The objectives of the Navajo pilot study are to i) demonstrate integration of solar collectors and membrane distillation, ii) optimize operational parameters, iii) demonstrate and monitor technology performance during extended duration operation, and iv) facilitate independent system operation by the Navajo Water Resources Department, including hand-over of a comprehensive operations manual for implementation of subsequent SMD systems. The Navajo SMD system is designed as a perennial installation that includes remote communication of research data and full automation for remote, unmanned operation.
Putative duality of presynaptic events
Authors: Borisova Tatiana , Borysov Arsenii 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe main structure in the brain responsible not only for nerve signal transmission but also for its simultaneous regulation is chemical synapse, where presynaptic nerve terminals are of considerable importance providing release of neurotransmitters. Analyzing transport of glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS, the authors suggest that there are two main relatively independent mechanisms at the presynaptic level that can influence the extracellular glutamate concentration, and so signaling, and its regulation. The first one is well-known precisely regulated compound exocytosis of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters stimulated by membrane depolarization, which increases significantly glutamate concentration in the synaptic cleft and initiates glutamate signaling through postsynaptic glutamate receptors. The second one is permanent glutamate turnover across the plasma membrane that occurs without stimulation and is determined by simultaneous non-pathological transporter-mediated release of glutamate thermodynamically synchronized with uptake. Permanent glutamate turnover is responsible for maintenance of dynamic glutamatein/glutamateoutgradient resulting in the establishment of a flexible extracellular level of glutamate, which can be unique for each synapse because of dependence on individual presynaptic parameters. These two mechanisms, i.e. exocytosis and transporter-mediated glutamate turnover, are both precisely regulated but do not directly interfere with each other, because they have different intracellular sources of glutamate in nerve terminals for release purposes, i.e. glutamate pool of synaptic vesicles and the cytoplasm, respectively. This duality can set up a presynaptic base for memory consolidation and storage, maintenance of neural circuits, long-term potentiation, and plasticity. Arguments against this suggestion are also considered.
Effects Of Compressed Air Foam Application On Heat Conditions In Fire Within A Closed Space
Authors: Thomitzek Adam , Ondruch Jan , Chudová Dana , Kučera Petr 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
This article evaluates the knowledge obtained in firefighting tests using compressed air foam system (CAFS) within a confined space. Six experiments were conducted for verification during the cooling of rooms and the self-extinguishing effect. The simulation was for a fully developed fire within a room. The fuel was chosen to simulate ordinary combustible materials utilized in residential areas. Mantel thermocouples were placed in the rooms to record the temperature changes. Compressed air foam was first applied with a standard fire hose nozzle to the ceiling and then to the epicenter of fire. Fire extinguishing was initiated after reaching the desired temperature in the room. The temperature for the start of fire extinguishing matched the third phase of development of a fire. Fire extinguishing was terminated after no obvious signs of fire were shown in epicenter of fire. The outputs of the experiments were evaluated on the basis of the amount of time passed for the temperature to drop below the suggested limit. Individual experiments were also conducted with various different admixing foaming agents over different locations. In the experiments, it has been verified that the application of compressed air foam has a positive effect on room cooling. Use of a compressed air foaming agent does not allow for the development of steam that can scald firefighters and reduce visibility. Furthermore, the extinguishing agent used is more efficient utilizing less water flow out of the fire area.
Studies of the Local Distortions and the EPR Parameters for Cu2+inxLi2O-(30–x)Na2O-69·5B2O Glasses
Authors: Ding Chang-Chun , Wu Shao-Yi , Kuang Min-Quan , Hu Xian-Fen , Li Guo-Liang 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe local distortions and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters for Cu2+in lithium sodium borate (LNB) glassesxLi2O·(30–x)·Na2O·69.5B2O3(5≤x≤25 mol%) are theoretically studied at various concentrationsxin a consistent way. Owing to the Jahn–Teller effect, the [CuO6]10−clusters are found to experience the significant tetragonal elongations of 16% along C4axis. Despite the nearly unchanging observedgfactors, measured d–d transition band (or cubic field parameterDq) shows remarkable linear increases with concentrationx, whose influences ong‖andg⊥are actually cancelled by the linearly increasing covalency factorNand relative elongation ratioηwithx. The almost unvarying hyperfine structure constants are attributed to the fact that the influences of the linearly increasingNand the linearly decreasing core polarisation constantκlargely cancel one another. The microscopic mechanisms of the above concentration dependences for these quantities are illustrated from mixed alkali effect (modification of B2O3network by transforming some BO3units into BO4ones with variations in modifier Li2O concentration).
The Strange (Hi)story of Particles and Waves
Authors: Zeh H. Dieter 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis is an attempt of a non-technical but conceptually consistent presentation of quantum theory in a historical context. While the first part is written for a general readership, Section 5 may appear a bit provocative to some quantum physicists. I argue that the single-particle wave functions of quantum mechanics have to be correctly interpreted asfield modesthat are “occupied once” (i.e. first excited states of the corresponding quantum oscillators in the case of boson fields). Multiple excitations lead to apparent many-particle wave functions, while the quantum states proper are defined by wave function(al)s on the “configuration” space of fundamental fields, or on another, as yet elusive, fundamental local basis.
Excitation by Axon Terminal GABA Spillover in a Sound Localization Circuit
Authors: Weisz Catherine J.C. , Rubio Maria E. , Givens Richard S. , Kandler Karl 
Published: January 2016

Synapses from neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) onto neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) in the auditory brainstem are glycinergic in maturity, but also GABAergic and glutamatergic in development. The role for this neurotransmitter cotransmission is poorly understood. Here we use electrophysiological recordings in brainstem slices from P3-P21 mice to demonstrate that GABA release evoked from MNTB axons can spill over to neighboring MNTB axons and cause excitation by activating GABAAR. This spillover excitation generates patterns of staggered neurotransmitter release from different MNTB axons resulting in characteristic “doublet” postsynaptic currents in LSO neurons. Postembedding immunogold labeling and electron microscopy provide evidence that GABAARs are localized at MNTB axon terminals. Photolytic uncaging ofp-hydroxyphenacyl (pHP) GABA demonstrates backpropagation of GABAAR-mediated depolarizations from MNTB axon terminals to the soma, some hundreds of microns away. These somatic depolarizations enhanced somatic excitability by increasing the probability of action potential generation. GABA spillover excitation between MNTB axon terminals may entrain neighboring MNTB neurons, which may play a role in the developmental refinement of the MNTB-LSO pathway. Axonal spillover excitation persisted beyond the second postnatal week, suggesting that this mechanism may play a role in sound localization, by providing new avenues of communication between MNTB neurons via their distal axonal projections.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIn this study, a new mechanism of neuronal communication between auditory synapses in the mammalian sound localization pathway is described. Evidence is provided that the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA can spill over between axon terminals to cause excitation of nearby synapses to further stimulate neurotransmitter release. Excitatory GABA spillover between inhibitory axon terminals may have important implications for the development and refinement of this auditory circuit and may play a role in the ability to precisely localize sound sources.