bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transformation of tetramethyldisiloxane in used oil alkali treatment conditions: mechanism and kinetic modeling
Authors: Kupareva Antonina , Wärnå Johan , Grénman Henrik , Murzin Dmitry Yu 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe behavior of silicon species in the recycling processes of waste lube oils is of great interest because of the negative effect of silicon compounds on the performance of hydrotreating catalysts and the formation of undesired solid deposits at various locations in the re‐refining units. To operate alkali treatment of silicon‐containing used oils efficiently in the recycling industry prediction of silicon species behavior is required. To this end kinetic modeling of the base catalyzed transformation of a model siloxane compound was done.RESULTSA kinetic model was developed for tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) transformation reactions under industrially relevant alkali treatment conditions in dodecane with sodium hydroxide as alkali agent. A reaction scheme describing the main pathways of TMDS transformation was proposed considering experimental and literature data. The studied model compound underwent hydrolysis, condensation and disproportionation reactions with formation of different molecular weight linear siloxanes. The latter were transformed to cyclic siloxanes through sodium silanolates generation. The data obtained experimentally were validated with the advanced kinetic model.CONCLUSIONSThe proposed model fitted experimental data adequately, indicating that it can be used in the design and control of the caustic treatment of used oil containing silicon species. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
iTRAQ proteomic analysis of N‐acetylmuramic acid mediated anti‐inflammatory capacity in LPS‐induced RAW 264.7 cells
Authors: Wu Zhen , Pan Daodong , Guo Yuxing , Zeng Xiaoqun , Sun Yangying 
Published: February 2015

Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic bacteria have lasting beneficial health effects in the gastrointestinal tract, including protecting against pathogens, improving immunomodulation, and producing beneficial bacteria‐derived molecules. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 cells treated with peptidoglycan or N‐acetylmuramic acid (NAM) from L. acidophilus, 390 differentially expressed proteins (8.76%) were identified by iTRAQ analysis, 257 (5.77%) of which were upregulated and 133 (2.99%) were downregulated under LPS‐induced conditions. Most of these proteins were grouped into the following inflammation‐related cellular signaling: lysosome pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and Toll‐like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. Among them, clathrin, SERCA, and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist were differentially expressed to a significant degree in peptidoglycan or NAM pretreated RAW 264.7 cells. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that NAM may mediate an anti‐inflammatory process via a Ca2+‐dependent NF‐κB pathway. These observations reveal new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the suppression of LPS‐induced macrophage inflammation by L. acidophilus.
Salivary proline‐rich proteins and gluten: Do structural similarities suggest a role in celiac disease?
Authors: Tian Na , Messana Irene , Leffler Daniel A. , Kelly Ciaran P. , Hansen Joshua , Cabras Tiziana , D'Alessandro Alfredo , Schuppan Detlef , Castagnola Massimo , Helmerhorst Eva J. 
Published: February 2015

PurposeGluten proteins, the culprits in celiac disease (CD), show striking similarities in primary structure with human salivary proline‐rich proteins (PRPs). Both are enriched in proline and glutamine residues that often occur consecutively in their sequences. We investigated potential differences in the spectrum of salivary PRPs in health and CD.Experimental designStimulated salivary secretions were collected from CD patients, patients with refractory CD, patients with gastrointestinal complaints but no CD, and healthy controls. PRP isoforms/peptides were characterized by anionic and SDS‐PAGE, PCR, and LC‐ESI‐MS.ResultsThe gene frequencies of the acidic PRP isoforms PIF, Db, Pa, PRP1, and PRP2 did not differ between groups. At the protein level, PRPs peptides showed minor group differences, but these could not differentiate the CD and/or refractory CDs groups from the controls.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThis extensive study established that salivary PRPs, despite similarity to gluten proteins, show no apparent correlation with CD and thus will not serve as diagnostic markers for the disease. The structural basis for the tolerance to the gluten‐like PRP proteins in CD is worthy of further exploration and may lead to the development of gluten‐like analogs lacking immunogenicity that could be used therapeutically.
Characterization of Erythritol Tetranitrate Physical Properties
Authors: Matyáš Robert , Künzel Martin , Růžička Aleš , Knotek Petr , Vodochodský Ondřej 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe article describes the molecular structure and fundamental physical properties of erythritol tetranitrate (ETN). Although ETN is simple nitrate ester this explosive is described in the literature relatively briefly. The molecular structure of ETN was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structure of the ETN molecule is composed of the central carbohydrate chain and two pairs of facing coplanar ONO2 groups. The crystal density of ETN is 1.827 g cm−3. It is a non‐hygroscopic compound. Solubility in water was determined in a temperature range from 5 °C to 80 °C. ETN is slightly soluble in water; solubility at 20 °C is on the same level as that of PETN.
Pre‐operative Functional Parameters of Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Tambascia Rafael Andrade , Vasconcelos Rodrigo Antunes , Mello Wilson , Teixeira Paulo Portes , Grossi Debora Bevilaqua 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackground and purposeTotal knee arthroplasty (TKA) has become the gold standard to manage pain and disability associated with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). There are no clear criteria on to determine when or who should undergo TKA. The creation of a pre‐operative profile that includes physical functional data may aid in the clinical decision‐making for the timing of TKA. Aim 1: to observe the pre‐operative functional profile of subjects with advanced KOA and to depict it according to gender. Aim 2: to assess the association between pain, self‐reported and performance‐based physical function outcomes.Materials and methodsStudy design: retrospective study. Physical functional data from 122 persons (89 women and 33 men) with end‐stage KOA were obtained through a database. Data consisted of height, weight, 6‐minute walk test (6MWT) and the deficit when compared with normative values, self‐visual analogue scale (VAS) after 6MWT and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index (WOMAC). Descriptive statistics were used to report the observed data; student t‐test and Mann–Whitney were used to compare gender groups. Spearman correlation was used to asses the association with the 6MWT, WOMAC and VAS.ResultsThe mean (standard deviation) values of our sample for the WOMAC, 6MWT deficit and VAS were calculated. There was a significant difference between gender in the WOMAC score and pain intensity (VAS) after the 6MWT (p = 0.002; p = 0.01). Moderate to weak correlations between WOMAC score, VAS and 6MWT were found. Correlation values ranged from r = 0.23 to 0.48.ConclusionThe current study suggests a functional profile for subjects who are scheduled to undergo TKA. Our results show that the correlations of self‐report and performance‐based measures of function and reported pain are poor. This enhances the idea of using all of these types of measures to establish the functional profile a sample of subjects with advanced KOA. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strict Infection Control Leads to Low Incidence of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusBloodstream Infection over 20 Years
Authors: Widmer Andreas F. , Lakatos Botond , Frei Reno 
Published: February 2015

OBJECTIVEMethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a worldwide issue associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Multiple infection control (IC) approaches have been tested to control its spread; however, the success of the majority of trials has been short-lived and many efforts have failed. We report the long-term success of MRSA control from a prospective observational study over 20 years.SETTINGUniversity Hospital Basel is a large tertiary care center with a median bed capacity of 855 and 5 intensive care units (ICUs); currently, the facility has >32,000 admissions per year.METHODSThe IC program at the University Hospital Basel was created in 1993, after 2 MRSA outbreaks. The program has included strict contact precautions with single rooms for MRSA-colonized or -infected patients, targeted admission screening of high-risk patients and healthcare workers at risk for carriage, molecular typing of all MRSA strains and routine decolonization of MRSA carriers including healthcare workers. We used the incidence of MRSA bloodstream infections (BSIs) to assess the effectiveness of this program. All MRSA cases were prospectively classified using a standardized case report form in nosocomial and nonnosocomial cases, based on CDC definitions.RESULTSBetween 1993 and 2012, 540,669 blood samples were cultured. The number of blood cultures increased from 865 per 10,000 patient days in 1993 to 1,568 per 10,000 patient days in 2012 (P<.001). We identified 1,268 episodes ofS. aureusBSI from 1,204 patients. MRSA accounted for 34 episodes (2.7%) and 24 of these (1.9%) were nosocomial. MRSA BSI incidence varied between 0 and 0.27 per 10,000 patient days and remained stable with no significant variation throughout the study period (P=.882).CONCLUSIONSLong-term control of MRSA is feasible when a bundle of IC precautions is strictly enforced over time.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2015;00(0): 1–8
Differential effects of habitual chow-based and semi-purified diets on lipid metabolism in lactating rats and their offspring
Authors: del Bas Josep Maria , Caimari Antoni , Ceresi Enzo , Arola-Arnal Anna , Palou Andreu , Arola Lluís , Crescenti Anna 
Published: February 2015

Diet during pregnancy and lactation is a critical factor in relation to the health of dams and their offspring. Currently, control diets used in metabolic imprinting studies differ in composition and type, i.e. semi-purified diets (SD) or chow-based diets (ND). The aim of the present study was to determine whether two widely used control diets, a SD and a ND, that mainly differ in fat content (5·08 and 3·26 %, respectively) and its sources (soyabean oil for the SD and cereals and fish for the ND), fibre (6 and 15 %, respectively), and cholesterol (26 and 69 mg/kg diet, respectively) can influence the lipid metabolism of dams and their offspring. Wistar rats were fed either the SD or the ND during pregnancy and lactation. At weaning, SD-fed dams presented severe hepatic steatosis and increased levels of circulating TAG, NEFA and insulin. Importantly, the offspring presented an altered plasma lipid profile. In contrast, the ND allowed for a normal gestation and lactation process, and did not affect the metabolism of offspring. In parallel, virgin rats fed the SD showed no metabolic alterations. A higher intake of SFA and MUFA and a lower consumption of PUFA observed in SD-fed dams during the lactation period could contribute to explaining the observed effects. In conclusion, two different control diets produced very different outcomes in the lipid metabolism of lactating rats and their offspring. The present results highlight the importance of the assessment of the metabolic state of dams when interpreting the results of metabolic programming studies.
The Patriot's Scientific Diet: Nutrition science and dietary reform campaigns in China, 1910s–1950s
Authors: LEE SEUNG-JOON 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThis article explores how nutrition science became a significant part of the nation-building project in both Republican China and the early People's Republic of China within the context of burgeoning popular concerns over bodily health and an increasing sense of urgency. Insofar as nutrition science offered a new type of expertise about what to eat and what not to eat in daily life, it entailed harnessing the state's potential persuasive power to garner willing compliance, if not tacit obedience, from the population. Unlike previous scholarship, which takes the viewpoint of government authorities and the medical elite, this article argues that popular concerns about bodily health and culinary curiosity that were prevalent in major Chinese cities helped to popularize state-led dietary reform campaigns that culminated during the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and continued even after the revolutionary regime change in the 1950s.
On Becoming a Norms Maker: Chinese Foreign Policy, Norms Evolution and the Challenges of Security in Africa
Authors: Alden Chris , Large Daniel 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThis article explores China's engagement with the development of norms on security in Africa, with particular attention to its changing post-conflict engagement. Applying the gradualism characteristic of its approach to policy formulation and implementation, the Chinese policymaking community is playing a key role in seeking to redefine the contemporary international approach to managing African security dilemmas. By reinterpreting concepts such as liberal peacebuilding, Chinese policymakers have begun a process of reframing established norms on security and development that are more in line with its principles and core interests. This agenda in the making has enabled the Chinese government to move beyond the constraints of a rhetoric rooted in non-interference in domestic affairs that prohibited involvement in African security issues to a set of practices that allows China to play a more substantive role in security on the continent.
Norovirus genotype diversity associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks in aged-care facilities
Authors: BRUGGINK L. D. , DUNBAR N. L. , MARSHALL J. A. 
Published: February 2015

SUMMARYNoroviruses are a major cause of gastroenteritis. Vaccine strategies against norovirus are currently under consideration but depend on a detailed knowledge of the capsid genotypes. This study examined the incidence of norovirus outbreaks in residential aged-care facilities in Victoria, Australia over one year (2013) and documented the (capsid) norovirus genotypes associated with these outbreaks. It was found that 65·0% of 206 outbreaks tested were associated with norovirus infection, thereby showing norovirus to be the major cause of viral gastroenteritis in residential aged-care facilities. Fifteen capsid (open reading frame 2) genotypes were identified as follows: GI.2 (0·9%), GI.3 (1·8%), GI.4 (3·7%), GI.6 (0·9%), GI.7 (0·9%), GI.8 (0·9%), GII.1 (0·9%), GII.2 (0·9%), GII.3 (1·8%), GII.4 (2009-like) (0·9%), GII.4 (2012) (48·6%), GII.4 (2012-like) (16·5%), GII.4 (unknown) (9·2%), GII.5 (2·8%), GII.6 (0·9%), GII.7 (0·9%), GII.13 (6·4%) and an as yet unclassified GII genotype (0·9%). Although GII.4 was the most common norovirus capsid genotype detected, the great diversity of norovirus genotypes in the elderly indicates vaccination strategies for this demographic are not straightforward.
Effect of a hospital policy of not accepting free infant formula on in-hospital formula supplementation rates and breast-feeding duration
Authors: Tarrant Marie , Lok Kris YW , Fong Daniel YT , Lee Irene LY , Sham Alice , Lam Christine , Wu Kendra M , Bai Dorothy L , Wong Ka Lun , Wong Emmy MY , Chan Noel PT , Dodgson Joan E 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the effect of public hospitals in Hong Kong not accepting free infant formula from manufacturers on in-hospital formula supplementation rates and breast-feeding duration.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingIn-patient postnatal units of four public hospitals in Hong Kong.SubjectsTwo cohorts of breast-feeding mother–infant pairs (n2560). Cohort 1 (n1320) was recruited before implementation of the policy to stop accepting free infant formula and cohort 2 (n1240) was recruited after policy implementation. Participants were followed prospectively for 12 months or until they stopped breast-feeding.ResultsThe mean number of formula supplements given to infants in the first 24 h was 2·70 (sd3·11) in cohort 1 and 1·17 (sd1·94) in cohort 2 (P<0·001). The proportion of infants who were exclusively breast-fed during the hospital stay increased from 17·7 % in cohort 1 to 41·3 % in cohort 2 (P<0·001) and the risk of breast-feeding cessation was significantly lower in cohort 2 (hazard ratio=0·81; 95 % CI 0·73, 0·90). Participants who non-exclusively breast-fed during the hospital stay had a significantly higher risk of stopping any or exclusive breast-feeding. Higher levels of formula supplementation also increased the risk of breast-feeding cessation in a dose–response pattern.ConclusionsAfter implementation of a hospital policy to pay market price for infant formula, rates of in-hospital formula supplementation were reduced and the rates of in-hospital exclusive breast-feeding and breast-feeding duration increased.
The origins of private property rights: states or customary organizations?
Authors: MURTAZASHVILI ILIA , MURTAZASHVILI JENNIFER 
Published: February 2015

AbstractPolitical theories of property rights are less optimistic than self-governance perspectives regarding the ability of non-state organizations to supply private property institutions. Despite offering different answers to the question of where property rights come from, these diverse perspectives share a concern with organizational capacity, constraints, and legitimacy as explanations why organizations are able to supply private property rights. We use these shared concerns as a point of departure to investigate formal and informal private property rights in rural Afghanistan. We find that informal private property rights are more effective than formal private property rights because customary organizations fare better than the state on the dimensions of capacity, constraints, and legitimacy. More generally, these ‘political’ features of formal and informal organizations explain why self-governance works, as well as provide insight into the challenges confronting efforts in fragile states to establish formal private property institutions.
Measuring Psychology Students’ Information-Seeking Skills in a	Situational Judgment Test Format
Authors: Rosman Tom , Mayer Anne-Kathrin , Krampen Günter 
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Three studies were conducted to develop a test for academic information-seeking skills in psychology students that measures both procedural and declarative aspects of the concept. A skill decomposition breaking down information-seeking into 10 sub skills was used to create a situational judgment test with 22 items. A scoring key was developed based on expert ratings (N = 14). Subsequently, the test was administered to two samples of N = 78 and N = 81 psychology students. Within the first sample, the scale reached an internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha) of α = .75. Scale validity was investigated with data from the second sample. High correlations between the scale and two different information search tasks (r = .42 to .64; p < .001) as well as a declarative information literacy test (r = .51; p < .001) were found. The findings are discussed with regard to their implications for research and practice.
Compatible interface design of CoO-based Li-O2 battery cathodes with long-cycling stability
Authors: Shang Chaoqun , Dong Shanmu , Hu Pu , Guan Jing , Xiao Dongdong , Chen Xiao , Zhang Lixue , Gu Lin , Cui Guanglei , Chen Liquan 
Published: February 2015

AbstractLithium-oxygen batteries with high theoretical energy densities have great potential. Recent studies have focused on different cathode architecture design to address poor cycling performance, while the impact of interface stability on cathode side has been barely reported. In this study, we introduce CoO mesoporous spheres into cathode, where the growth of crystalline discharge products (Li2O2) is directly observed on the CoO surface from aberration-corrected STEM. This CoO based cathode demonstrates more than 300 discharge/charge cycles with excessive lithium anode. Under deep discharge/charge, CoO cathode exhibited superior cycle performance than that of Co3O4 with similar nanostructure. This improved cycle performance can be ascribed to a more favorable adsorption configuration of Li2O2 intermediates (LiO2) on CoO surface, which is demonstrated through DFT calculation. The favorable adsorption of LiO2 plays an important role in the enhanced cycle performance, which reduced the contact of LiO2 to carbon materials and further alleviated the side reactions during charge process. This compatible interface design may provide an effective approach in protecting carbon-based cathodes in metal-oxygen batteries.
Comparative genome analysis reveals the molecular basis of nicotine degradation and survival capacities of Arthrobacter
Authors: Yao Yuxiang , Tang Hongzhi , Su Fei , Xu Ping 
Published: February 2015

AbstractArthrobacter is one of the most prevalent genera of nicotine-degrading bacteria; however, studies of nicotine degradation in Arthrobacter species remain at the plasmid level (plasmid pAO1). Here, we report the bioinformatic analysis of a nicotine-degrading Arthrobacter aurescens M2012083 and show that the moeB and mogA genes that are essential for nicotine degradation in Arthrobacter are absent from plasmid pAO1. Homologues of all the nicotine degradation-related genes of plasmid pAO1 were found to be located on a 68,622-bp DNA segment (nic segment-1) in the M2012083 genome, showing 98.1% nucleotide acid sequence identity to the 69,252-bp nic segment of plasmid pAO1. However, the rest sequence of plasmid pAO1 other than the nic segment shows no significant similarity to the genome sequence of strain M2012083. Taken together, our data suggest that the nicotine degradation-related genes of strain M2012083 are located on the chromosome or a plasmid other than pAO1. Based on the genomic sequence comparison of strain M2012083 and six other Arthrobacter strains, we have identified 17 σ70 transcription factors reported to be involved in stress responses and 109 genes involved in environmental adaptability of strain M2012083. These results reveal the molecular basis of nicotine degradation and survival capacities of Arthrobacter species.
Notch ligand delta-like1: X-ray crystal structure and binding affinity
Authors: Kershaw Nadia J. , Church Nicole L. , Griffin Michael D.W. , Luo Cindy S. , Adams Timothy E. , Burgess Antony W. 
Published: February 2015

The Notch pathway is a fundamental signalling system in most multicellular animals. We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of the extracellular domain of the Notch ligand delta-like ligand-1 (Dll-1). The structure incorporates the N-terminal C2 domain, receptor-binding DSL domain and the first six (of eight) EGF (epidermal growth factor)-like repeats, which form a highly extended conformation, confirmed by analytical ultracentrifugation. Comparison of our structure with a fragment of Jagged1 ligand allows us to dissect the similarities and differences between the ligand families. Differences in the C2 domains of Dll-1 and Jagged1 suggest their lipid-binding properties are likely to differ. A conserved hydrophobic patch on the surface of both Dll-1 and Jagged1 provides a likely receptor-interaction site that is common to both ligands. We also explore the binding affinity of Dll-1 for a fragment of Notch1 using different techniques. Apparent binding affinities vary when different techniques are used, explaining discrepancies in the literature. Using analytical ultracentrifugation, we perform for the first time binding analyses where both receptor and ligand are in solution, which confirms a Kd of 10 μM for this interaction.