bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis infection on the composition of chicken cecal microbiota
Authors: Videnska Petra , Sisak Frantisek , Havlickova Hana , Faldynova Marcela , Rychlik Ivan 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Infection of newly hatched chicks with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) results in an inflammatory response in the intestinal tract which may influence the composition of gut microbiota. In this study we were therefore interested whether S. Enteritidis induced inflammation results in changes in the cecal microbiota. To reach this aim, we compared the cecal microbiota of non-infected chickens and those infected by S. Enteritidis by pyrosequencing the V3/V4 variable regions of genes coding for 16S rRNA.

Results
Cecal microbiota of chickens up to 19 days of life was dominated by representatives of Enterobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, followed by Lactobacillaceae. The presence of Lachnospiraceae did not change after S. Enteritidis infection. Enterobacteriaceae increased and Ruminococcaceae decreased after S. Enteritidis infection in two independent experiments although these results were not significant. A significant increase in both experiments was observed only for the representatives of Lactobacillaceae which may correlate with their microaerophilic growth characteristic compared to the obligate anaerobes from the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae.

Conclusions
We conclude that S. Enteritidis infection influences the composition of the cecal microbiota in chickens but these changes are minor in nature and should be understood more as an indirect consequence of infection and inflammation rather than a positively selected evolutionary trait.
Assessing the effects of different pectins addition on color quality and antioxidant properties of blackberry jam
Authors: Poiana Mariana-Atena , Munteanu Melania-Florina , Bordean Despina-Maria , Gligor Ramona , Alexa Ersilia 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
In the last years pectin and other hydrocolloids were tested for improving the color stability and the retention of bioactive compounds in gelled fruit-based products. In line with these concerns, our study has been directed to quantify the changes in antioxidant status and color indices of blackberry jam obtained with different types of pectin (degree of esterification: DE, degree of amidation: DA) and doses in response to processing and storage for 1, 3 and 6 months at 20°C.

Results
Blackberry jam was obtained by a traditional procedure used in households or small-scale systems with different commercial pectins (HMP: high-methoxyl pectin, LMP: low-methoxyl pectin and LMAP: low-methoxyl amidated pectin) added to three concentrations (0.3, 0.7 and 1.0%) and investigated in terms of total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA), antioxidant capacity expressed as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolics (TP), color density (CD) and percent of polymeric color, PC (%). Thermal processing resulted in significant depreciation of analyzed parameters reported to the corresponding values of fresh fruit as follows: TMA (69-82%), TP (33-55%) and FRAP (18-52%). Biologically active compounds and color were best retained one day post-processing in jams with LMAP followed by samples with LMP and HMP. Storage for 6 months brings along additional dramatic losses reported to the values recorded one day post-processing as follows: TMA (31-56%), TP (29-51%) and FRAP (20-41%). Also, both processing and storage resulted in significant increases in PC (%). The pectin type and dosage are very influential factors for limiting the alterations occurring in response to processing and storage. The best color retention and the highest TMA, TP and FRAP were achieved by LMAP, followed by LMP and HMP. Additionally, a high level of bioactive compounds in jam could be related to a high dose of pectin. LMAP to a level of 1% is the most indicated to provide the highest antioxidant properties in jam.

Conclusions
The retention of bioactive compounds and jam color stability were strongly dependent on the pectin type and dosage. By a proper selection of pectin type and dose could be limited the losses recorded in response to processing and storage.
Identification of the likely translational start of Mycobacterium tuberculosis GyrB
Authors: Karkare Shantanu , Brown Amanda C , Parish Tanya , Maxwell Anthony 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundBacterial DNA gyrase is a validated target for antibacterial chemotherapy. It consists of two subunits, GyrA and GyrB, which form an A2B2complex in the active enzyme. Sequence alignment ofMycobacterium tuberculosisGyrB with other bacterial GyrBs predicts the presence of 40 potential additional amino acids at the GyrB N-terminus. There are discrepancies between theM. tuberculosisGyrB sequences retrieved from different databases, including sequences annotated with or without the additional 40 amino acids. This has resulted in differences in the GyrB sequence numbering that has led to the reporting of previously known fluoroquinolone-resistance mutations as novel mutations.FindingsWe have expressedM. tuberculosisGyrB with and without the extra 40 amino acids inEscherichia coliand shown that both can be produced as soluble, active proteins. Supercoiling and other assays of the two proteins show no differences, suggesting that the additional 40 amino acids have no effect on the enzymein vitro. RT-PCR analysis ofM. tuberculosismRNA shows that transcripts that could yield both the longer and shorter protein are present. However, promoter analysis showed that only the promoter elements leading to the shorter GyrB (lacking the additional 40 amino acids) had significant activity.ConclusionWe conclude that the most probable translational start codon forM. tuberculosisGyrB is GTG (Val) which results in translation of a protein of 674 amino acids (74 kDa).
Clinical features and outcomes of foot keloids treated using complete surgical excision and full thickness skin grafting followed by corticosteroid injections
Authors: Park Tae Hwan , Park Ji Hae , Chang Choong Hyun 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundKeloids are often resistant to treatment and have high recurrence rates. To the best of the authors' knowledge, however, there have been very few case reports related to foot keloids. The purpose of this retrospective case‐series was to summarize the baseline characteristics of a cohort of patients, introduce our treatment regimen for the successful treatment of foot keloids.MethodsPatients were treated with surgical excision followed by full thickness skin grafting combined with postoperative steroid injections combined with silicone gel sheeting over a period of eight years from December 2004 to November 2012 at our institution. Subjective outcome was evaluated using Patient Scar Assessment Scales. The final objective outcome was judged by two independent physicians at the time of 12 months after treatment as recurrence or non‐recurrence.ResultsOf 79 patients, 75 (94.9%) were women and 4 (5.1%) were men. The average age was 18 (range 7‐43) years. The average pretreatment total size of the lesions was 50 (range 18‐150) cm. The number of patients treated for a primary foot keloid was 29 (36.7%), and 70 patients (63.3%) were treated for a recurrent keloid that failed to respond to prior treatments. Prior treatments included single therapies such as surgical excision alone (4 patients, 5.1%), prior steroid injection alone (33 patients, 41.8%), and laser therapy (2 patients, 2.5%). Other therapies included combination treatments (11 patients, 13.9%). Most patients reported improved Patient Scar Assessment Scale by lapse of time. All patients completed the treatment regimen and follow‐up of 12 months. Of these patients, 62 patients (78.5%) achieved successful treatment, while the remaining 17 (21.5%) experienced recurrence.ConclusionsWe successfully treated foot keloids using complete surgical excision and full thickness skin grafting followed by four corticosteroid injections (at one month intervals).
The bioluminescent Listeria monocytogenes strain Xen32 is defective in flagella expression and highly attenuated in orally infected BALB/cJ mice
Authors: Bergmann Silke , Rohde Manfred , Schughart Klaus , Lengeling Andreas 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background

In vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a powerful method for the analysis of host-pathogen interactions in small animal models. The commercially available bioluminescent Listeria monocytogenes strain Xen32 is commonly used to analyse immune functions in knockout mice and pathomechanisms of listeriosis.

Findings
To analyse and image listerial dissemination after oral infection we have generated a murinised Xen32 strain (Xen32-mur) which expresses a previously described mouse-adapted internalin A. This strain was used alongside the Xen32 wild type strain and the bioluminescent L. monocytogenes strains EGDe-lux and murinised EGDe-mur-lux to characterise bacterial dissemination in orally inoculated BALB/cJ mice. After four days of infection, Xen32 and Xen32-mur infected mice displayed consistently higher rates of bioluminescence compared to EGDe-lux and EGDe-mur-lux infected animals. However, surprisingly both Xen32 strains showed attenuated virulence in orally infected BALB/c mice that correlated with lower bacterial burden in internal organs at day 5 post infection, smaller losses in body weights and increased survival compared to EGDe-lux or EGDe-mur-lux inoculated animals. The Xen32 strain was made bioluminescent by integration of a lux-kan transposon cassette into the listerial flaA locus. We show here that this integration results in Xen32 in a flaA frameshift mutation which makes this strain flagella deficient.

Conclusions
The bioluminescent L. monocytogenes strain Xen32 is deficient in flagella expression and highly attenuated in orally infected BALB/c mice. As this listerial strain has been used in many BLI studies of murine listeriosis, it is important that the scientific community is aware of its reduced virulence in vivo.
Decoration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different ferrite nanoparticles and its use as an adsorbent
Authors: Farghali Ahmed A , Bahgat Mohamed , ElRouby Waleed M A , Khedr Mohamed H 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
A simple and inexpensive synthesis route to produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with CoFe2O4 and Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles using a simplified hydrothermal precipitation is reported. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction confirm the formation of 14.9 nm CoFe2O4 and 26 nm Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles on MWCNTs surface. The prepared composite was used for methyl green adsorption. The effects of various parameters, such as temperature, initial dye concentration, and composite dosage, were investigated. Experimental results have shown that the amount of adsorbed dye increased with increasing initial dye concentration, composite dosage, and temperature. The adsorption kinetic data were analyzed using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models. It was found that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was the most appropriate model in describing the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption isotherms of methyl green onto MWCNTs decorated with CoFe2O4 and Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles were determined at 298, 313, and 323 K. Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models, then the isotherm constants were determined. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters such as changes in the free energy of adsorption, enthalpy, entropy, and activation energy were calculated.
Sagittal abdominal diameter shows better correlation with cardiovascular risk factors than waist circumference and BMI
Authors: de Souza Natalia Cavalheri , de Oliveira Erick Prado 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Background
Obesity (abdominal adiposity) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the most used methods to measure the adiposity are body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD).

Objective
To correlate BMI, WC, and SAD with biochemical parameters and blood pressure in adults.

Methods
A non-experimental exploratory/descriptive and cross sectional study was developed and it was assessed 133 subjects (59 men and 74 women) aging between 18 and 87 years. It was registered the patients’ weight (kg), height (m), BMI (kg/m2), WC (cm) and SAD (cm), and these parameters were correlated with glycemia, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and blood pressure.

Results
After adjustment for gender and age, it was observed a positive correlation between SAD and systolic arterial blood pressure (r = 0.20), glycemia (r = 0.20), triglycerides (r = 0.32), LDL (r = 0.26), total cholesterol (TC) (r = 0.33), and a negative correlation with HDL-c (r = −0.21) (p < 0.05). It was observed a positive correlation between WC and systolic arterial blood pressure (r = 0.14), triglycerides (r = 0.31), total cholesterol (r = 0.21), and a negative correlation with HDL-c (r = −0.24) (p < 0.05). BMI showed a positive correlation with systolic arterial blood pressure (r = 0.22), total cholesterol (r = 0.20), and triglycerides (r = 0.23) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
SAD correlated with almost all the cardiovascular risk factors analyzed and it might be considered the best predictor of abdominal fat and cardiovascular risk.
Sympathetic chords: Reverberating connection through the lived leisure experiences of music listening
Authors: Pate Joseph A. , Johnson Corey W. 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Informed by a larger post-intentional phenomenology on those who self-disclose deep and significant experiences of connection with and through music listening, this work highlights glimpses and manifestations of the listening act. Interviews with one participant from a larger study afford insights into experiences of a music listener. Philip described moments of resonating and reverberating connection expressed through the manifestations of embodied resonation, sympathetic chords and the found mirror. For Philip, listening to music created spaces and opportunities for leisure that yielded feelings of deeply meaningful and personal affirmation, validation and connection. Through music’s ability to speak to, and thus speak for Philip, he experienced leisured moments of receptivity, vital engagement and a re-sensitivity to his sense of self and place within a larger community.
Classification of symmetric pairs with discretely decomposable restrictions of (𝔤,K)-modules
Authors: Kobayashi Toshiyuki , Oshima Yoshiki 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

We give a complete classification
of reductive symmetric pairs

(
𝔤
,
𝔥
)

$(\mathfrak {g}, \mathfrak {h})$

with the following property:
there exists at least one infinite-dimensional irreducible (𝔤,K)-module X
that is discretely decomposable
as an

(
𝔥
,
H
∩
K
)

$(\mathfrak {h},H\cap K)$

-module.
We investigate further if such X can be taken to be a minimal representation,
a Zuckerman derived functor module

A
𝔮

(
λ
)

$A_{\mathfrak {q}}(\lambda )$

,
or some other unitarizable (𝔤,K)-module.
The tensor product

π
1

⊗

π
2

$\pi _1 \otimes \pi _2$

of two infinite-dimensional irreducible (𝔤,K)-modules
arises as a very special case
of our setting.
In this case, we prove that

π
1

⊗

π
2

$\pi _1 \otimes \pi _2$

is discretely decomposable if and only if π1 and π2 are simultaneously highest weight modules.
Modelling and Simulation of Double Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell: Cell Voltage, Power Density and Temperature Variation with Process Parameters
Authors: Shankar Ravi , Mondal Prasenjit , Chand Shri 
Published: July 2013

AbstractIn the present paper steady state models of a double chamber glucose glutamic acid microbial fuel cell (GGA-MFC) under continuous operation have been developed and solved using Matlab 2007 software. The experimental data reported in a recent literature has been used for the validation of the models. The present models give prediction on the cell voltage and cell power density with 19–44% errors, which is less (up to 20%) than the errors on the prediction of cell voltage made in some recent literature for the same MFC where the effects of the difference in pH and ionic conductivity between anodic and cathodic solutions on cell voltage were not incorporated in model equations. It also describes the changes in anodic and cathodic chamber temperature due to the increase in substrate concentration and cell current density. Temperature profile across the membrane thickness has also been studied.
The German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Community – Successes and Failures
Authors: Canzler Weert , Galich Ante , Marz Lutz 
Published: July 2013

AbstractRecently, the German Federal Government made the consequential decision to change its energy program. This not only as a result of the decision to shut down the existing nuclear power plants within the next few years, but also due to vital challenges like climate change and security of energy supply. The shift in the energy-technology paradigm from fossil fuel technologies to regenerative energies constitutes a major technical process but also new economic and social constellations.This paper focuses on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Germany. The institutional set up in this field is analysed and the new organizational actors are identified who have actively lobbied towards a political consensus. However, the experts in this field could not attain the required leadership in the public discourse on these technologies. It seems that an attractive guiding vision of a post-fossil energy future and a broad acceptance in daily use would have been major prerequisites for such leadership.
Synthesis and biological activity of novel series of heterocyclic compounds containing succinimide moiety
Authors: Kuran Bożena , Kossakowski Jerzy , Cieślak Marcin , Kazmierczak-Barańska Julia , Królewska Karolina , Cyrański Michał K. , Stępień Dorota K. , Krawiecka Mariola 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
In the search for biological agents, a series of new N-substituted ethyl 11-ethyl-7-methyl-3,5,10-trioxo-4-azatricyclo[5.2.2.02,6]undecane-8-carboxylates 3, 9-methyl-3,5,8-trioxo-4-azatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-1-yl acetates 6 and 1,3-dioxo-4,5,6,7-tetraphenyl-2,3,3a,4,5,7a-hexahydro-1H-isoindole-4-carboxylic acids 9 were prepared. All compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, ESI-MS, and elemental analyses. Moreover, for intermediate products 2, 5, and 8, X-ray structural analyses were conducted. Compounds 3a–e, 6a, 6b, 9a–e were tested for their cytotoxic properties in K562 and HeLa cells.
Synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of a new putative radioiodinated AMPA receptor ligand for molecular imaging
Authors: Ross T. L. , Sihver W. , Ermert J. , Coenen H. H. 
Published: July 2013

Summary
A new (radio)iodinated AMPA receptor ligand has been developed and pharmacologically evaluated in vitro and ex vivo using rodents. The new radioligand was directly labeled by electrophilic radioiodo-destannylation with iodine- 131 in high radiochemical yields of 97% within 2 min. The new radioligand showed an excellent initial brain uptake of 2.1%ID/g at 10 min post injection, but a fast wash-out reduced the uptake by about 10-fold at 60 min post injection. Due to high nonspecific binding accompanied with a uniform distribution in brain tissue, however, the new radiotracer appears not suitable for AMPA receptor imaging in vivo.
Measurement of bremsstrahlung-induced reaction cross-section for 93Nb using electron Linac
Authors: Crasta R. , Naik H. , Suryanarayana S. V. , Ganesh S. , Prajapati P. M. , Kumar M. , Nathaniel T. N. , Nimje V. T. , Mittal K. C. , Goswami A. 
Published: July 2013

Summary
Cross sections for (γ, n) reaction at bremsstrahlung end point energies of 10 and 12.5MeV on niobium have been measured by the activation technique. Induced activities were measured by a high-resolution γ-ray spectrometer with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Theoretically the (γ, n) cross-section of 93Nb as a function of photon energies were also calculated using TALYS 1.4 computer code. We compared the measured data with the flux weighted average values from the available literature data based on experiments with mono-energetic photons and the theoretical calculation by the model code TALYS 1.4. The experimental values are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical value from TALYS 1.4 but are slightly higher than the flux-weighted values from mono-energetic photons
Radioanalytical techniques for the determination of 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb in the environment
Authors: Smodiš B. , Štrok M. , Černe M. , Planinšek P. , Benedik L. 
Published: July 2013

Summary
Different radiometric techniques for the determination of 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb are presented and compared in terms of detection limits with mass spectrometric techniques. It can be concluded that when samples with low activity concentrations have to be measured, the method of choice in the case of 238U should be either RNAA/INAA or alpha particle spectrometry. In the case of 226Ra and 210Pb the best performance can be expected by the alpha spectrometry, whereas drawback of waiting for establishing secular radioactive equilibrium of 210Pb with 210Po makes techniques like beta counting and LSC more attractive for the determination of 210Pb. In addition, a case study on monitoring the former uranium mine Žirovski vrh is presented along with the used methodology and the summarised measurement results.
Synthesis of Urethane Base Composite Materials with Metallic Nanoparticles
Authors: Monje Anayansi Estrada , Reséndiz J. Roberto Herrera 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe antimicrobial properties of polymer materials are used in a verity of applications. Silver nanoparticles are commonly applied to polyurethane foams to obtain antifungal properties. For this study a series of nanocomposites (PU–Ag) from a urethane-type polymer (PU) were reinforced with various amounts of silver nanoparticles having an average size of 20 nm. The surface morphology and antifungal capacity of the nanocomposites were evaluated. As a result, a different surface morphology from PU was found in PU–Ag nanocomposites. The latter nanocomposite showed enhanced thermal and mechanical properties, when compared with the PU without silver nanoaprticles. The nanocomposite also exhibited good antifungal properties that can be used in a variety of applications.