bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of temperature and moisture on the mechanical properties of extruded cornstarch
Authors: Ditudompo Srivikorn , Takhar Pawan S. , Ganjyal Girish M. , Hanna Milford A. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe viscoelastic properties of extruded cornstarch were measured as a function of process conditions. The extruded cornstarch samples were conditioned in the moisture range of 12.9–31.2% (dry basis). Dynamic and creep behavior of the extrudate were evaluated using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The storage (G′) and loss moduli (G″) were determined in the temperature range of 30–100C and oscillation frequency range of 0.1–51 Hz. The G′ and G″ values showed an increasing trend with a decrease in temperature and moisture content and an increase in frequency. This implied an increase in solid‐like behavior when the temperature and moisture content were reduced or the frequency was increased. Rheological parameters based on creep behavior were assessed at 30, 60 and 85C. Creep data, fitted using Burger's model, were highly dependent on both moisture content and temperature.Practical ApplicationsThe viscoelastic properties obtained in this experimental research can be used for solving the non‐Fickian fluid transport model for studying the expansion of starch during extrusion. The viscoelastic properties also provide an indication about the textural characteristics of starch as a function of extrusion conditions.
Semi‐empirical Relationship between Rupture Properties of Surimi Pastes and Failure Shear Stress of Surimi Gels at Different Moisture Contents
Authors: Park Joo Dong , Park Jae W. , Yoon Won B. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractRupture properties, such as yield stress (YS) and the limit of linear viscoelastic region (LLVER), of Alaska pollock surimi pastes and failure shear stress (FSS) of Alaska pollock surimi gels were measured at various moisture contents. The stress‐stain behavior of surimi paste was measured by the small amplitude oscillatory shear test using a dynamic rheometer. The YS values and the applied stress at LLVER (ASLLVER) of surimi paste were analyzed based on the stress‐strain behavior during stress sweep test at 0.1 Hz. The FSS of surimi gels measured by the Hamann Torsion Gelometer showed a strong correlation with the moisture content (r2 = 0.95). YS and ASLLVER showed strong correlations with the moisture contents (r2 = 0.94 and 0.94, respectively). Such good correlations found at varied moisture contents suggest that the rupture properties of surimi paste may help estimate the texture properties of gel products.Practical ApplicationTexture properties play a major role in evaluating the quality of final products of surimi seafood, such as kamaboko and crabsticks. Failure shear stress from the torsion test is known as the most reliable value to reflect the hardness of surimi gels. Although the torsion test generates good correlations with sensory results, there are a few inevitable disadvantages: it possesses the complexity of measurements and the laborious sample preparation. Generally, the torsion test requires 1 day for gels and about 2 h for the testing specimen. Our study discovered a strong correlation of FSS of surimi gels with the rupture properties of surimi pastes, such as YS and the LLVER. Since the rupture properties of surimi pastes do not require gelation, it saves the testing time dramatically. Our new finding can be used to partially estimate the gel properties based on the paste properties, when enzymatic reactions in fish proteins are not considered.
Calcineurin inhibitors in liver transplantation – still champions or threatened by serious competitors?
Authors: Beckebaum Susanne , Cicinnati Vito R. , Radtke Arnold , Kabar Iyad 
Published: February 2013

AbstractCurrent strategies for immunosuppression in liver transplant (LT) recipients include the design of protocols targeting a more individualized approach to reduce risk factors such as renal failure, cardiovascular complications and malignancies. Renal injury in LT recipients may be often multifactorial and is associated with increased risk of post‐transplant morbidity and mortality. The quest for low toxicity immunosuppressive regimens has been challenging and resulted in CNI minimization protocols or CNI withdrawal and conversion to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and/or mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor‐based immunosuppressive regimens. Use of antibody induction to delay CNI administration may be an option in particular in immunocompromized, critically ill patients with high MELD scores. Protocols including MMF introduction and concomitant CNI minimization have the potential to recover renal function even in the medium and long term after LT. We review on hot topics in the prevention and management of acute and chronic renal injury in LT patients. For this purpose, we present and critically discuss results from immunosuppressive studies published in the current literature or presented at recent LT meetings.
Liver tissue engineering and cell sources: issues and challenges
Authors: Palakkan Anwar A. , Hay David C. , PR Anil K. , TV Kumary , Ross James A. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractLiver diseases are of major concern as they now account for millions of deaths annually. As a result of the increased incidence of liver disease, many patients die on the transplant waiting list, before a donor organ becomes available. To meet the huge demand for donor liver, alternative approaches using liver tissue engineering principles are being actively pursued. Even though adult hepatocytes, the primary cells of the liver are most preferred for tissue engineering of liver, their limited availability, isolation from diseased organs, lack of in vitro propagation and deterioration of function acts as a major drawback to their use. Various approaches have been taken to prevent the functional deterioration of hepatocytes including the provision of an adequate extracellular matrix and co‐culture with non‐parenchymal cells of liver. Great progress has also been made to differentiate human stem cells to hepatocytes and to use them for liver tissue engineering applications. This review provides an overview of recent challenges, issues and cell sources with regard to liver tissue engineering.
Are there biases in biopsy sampling? Potential drivers of sex ratio in projectile biopsy samples from two small delphinids
Authors: Kellar Nicholas M. , Trego Marisa L. , Chivers Susan J. , Archer Fredrick I. , Minich Jeremiah J. , Perryman Wayne L. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractMolecular assays were used to determine the sex of 1,294 biopsied common dolphins (658 long‐beaked common dolphins,Delphinus capensis, and 636 short‐beaked common dolphins,D. delphis) in the Southern California Bight. Sex ratio differed substantially between the two species; females comprised 241 (36.6%) ofD. capensissamples and 410 (64.5%) ofD. delphissamples. All biopsies were taken either from a large research ship or from a small, rigid‐hull inflatable boat (RHIB) launched from the larger ship. When conducting replicate biopsy effort on the same schools from each vessel/platform (“Tandem Biopsy Sampling”), we found evidence that disproportionately more femaleD. capensiswere biopsied from theRHIBthan from the ship but the same was not true forD. delphis. We suspect that these results are driven by bowriding‐behavior differences between the two species. Biopsy duration, geographic location, school size, and Julian date were considered as potential covariates with sex ratio; geographic location was the only one to show strong evidence of correlation. This study also presents an alternative to the erroneous practice of comparing sex ratios to a theoretical assumption of parity (i.e., 50:50 sex ratio) when researchers avoid sampling animals paired with calves.
Secular trends and latitude gradients in sex ratio at birth in Asia during the past 60 years
Authors: Grech Victor 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundLatitude gradients and secular trends in Europe and North America have been found in the male–female ratio at birth (M/F: male births divided by total births), which is anticipated to approximate 0.515.MethodsAnnual national data for Asian countries for male and female live births were obtained from the World Health Organization and analyzed with contingency tables.ResultsA total of 245 938 211 live births were analyzed. An overall increasing trend in M/F was found (P < 0.0001). A latitude gradient was also noted, with more boys being born in southern, warmer latitudes (P < 0.0001). There was an overall deficit of 1 351 757 male births based on an anticipated M/F of approximately 0.515.ConclusionM/F is increasing overall in Asia, unlike the decline previously noted in Europe and North America. Moreover, it had been shown that there is a higher incidence of male births in southern Europe than in the north, with the opposite gradient in North America. This paper shows that M/F latitude gradients in Asia are in keeping with those of Europe. The overall M/F in Asia may be rising due to improving socioeconomic conditions, and the interplay of several poorly understood factors is likely.
Thoughts of Self‐Harm and Help‐Seeking Behavior among Youth in the Community
Authors: Goodwin Renee D. , Mocarski Michelle , Marusic Andrej , Beautrais Annette 
Published: February 2013

The association between thoughts of self‐harm and help‐seeking among youth with symptoms of depression was examined. Data were drawn from the Health Behavior of School‐aged Children Study (n = 15, 686), a nationally representative sample of youth in the United States. Analyses focused on comparing help‐seeking behaviors among youth with and without thoughts of deliberate self‐harm (DSH) when depressed. Depressed youth with thoughts of DSH exhibited different patterns of help‐seeking than those without. Both groups most frequently sought help from friends and parents. However, adolescents with thoughts of DSH were statistically more likely than youth without to seek help from friends (DSH: 69.9%; no DSH: 57.8%; AOR = 1.46), but less likely to seek help from parents (DSH: 53.7%; no DSH: 73.1%; AOR = 0.47). Youth with DSH were more likely to seek help from school officials (AOR = 1.05), health professionals (AOR: 1.83), or a counselor (AOR = 1.93) compared with those without thoughts of DSH who were more likely to seek help from a sibling (AOR: 0.77) or other relatives (AOR: 0.78). Results may help inform programs to improve identification of youth at risk of self‐harm in community and school settings.
In Vitro
Antifungal Susceptibility of Cladophialophora carrionii, an Agent of Human Chromoblastomycosis
Authors: Deng S. , de Hoog G. S. , Badali H. , Yang L. , Najafzadeh M. J. , Pan B. , Curfs-Breuker I. , Meis J. F. , Liao W. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

A global collection of
Cladophialophora carrionii
strains (
n
= 81) was tested against nine antifungal drugs. MIC
90
s of all strains were as follows in increasing order: itraconazole and posaconazole, 0.063 μg/ml; terbinafine, 0.125 μg/ml; isavuconazole and voriconazole, 0.25 μg/ml; caspofungin, 2 μg/ml; micafungin, 4 μg/ml; amphotericin B, 8 μg/ml; and fluconazole, 64 μg/ml.
Rattusin, an Intestinal α-Defensin-Related Peptide in Rats with a Unique Cysteine Spacing Pattern and Salt-Insensitive Antibacterial Activities
Authors: Patil Amar A. , Ouellette Andre J. , Lu Wuyuan , Zhang Guolong 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are essential components of the innate immune system. As a major family of mammalian antimicrobial peptides, defensins are expressed mainly by mucosal epithelial cells and promyelocytes. Despite the capacity to kill a broad spectrum of bacteria through physical disruption of membranes, most defensins show substantially reduced antibacterial activities in the presence of monovalent and divalent cations, thereby limiting their therapeutic potential, particularly for the treatment of systemic infections. Genome-wide computational screening of the rat genome led to the identification of the gene for a novel α-defensin-related peptide that we termed rattusin. Rattusin shares a highly conserved signal and prosequence with mammalian α-defensins, but instead of the canonical α-defensin six-cysteine motif, rattusin consists of five cysteines with a distinctive spacing pattern. Furthermore, rattusin is preferentially expressed in Paneth cells of the distal small intestine with potent antibacterial activity against a broad range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. The MICs were mostly in the range of 2 to 4 μM, with no appreciable toxicity to mammalian cells at up to 100 μM. In contrast to classical α- and β-defensins, rattusin retained its activity in the presence of physiological concentrations of NaCl and Mg
2+
, making it an attractive antimicrobial candidate for both topical and systemic applications.
Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry and Site-Directed Disulfide Cross-Linking Suggest an Important Dynamic Interface between the Two Lysostaphin Domains
Authors: Lu Hai-Rong , Gu Mei-Gang , Huang Qiang , Huang Jin-Jiang , Lu Wan-Ying , Lu Hong , Huang Qing-Shan 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Lysostaphin is a peptidoglycan hydrolase secreted by
Staphylococcus simulans
. It can specifically lyse
Staphylococcus aureus
and is being tested as a novel antibacterial agent. The protein contains an N-terminal catalytic domain and a C-terminal cell wall targeting domain. Although the two domains from homologous enzymes were structurally determined, the structural organization of lysostaphin domains remains unknown. We used hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (H/DX-MS) and site-directed disulfide cross-linking to probe the interface between the lysostaphin catalytic and targeting domains. H/DX-MS-mediated comparison of peptides from full-length lysostaphin and the separated domains identified four peptides of lower solvent accessibility in the full-length protein. Cross-linking analysis using cysteine pair substitutions within those peptides showed that two pairs of cysteines can form disulfide bonds, supporting the domain association role of the targeted peptides. The cross-linked mutant exhibited a binding capacity to
S. aureus
that was similar to that of the wild-type protein but reduced bacteriolytic activity probably because of restraint in conformation. The diminished activity was further reduced with increasing NaCl concentrations that can cause contractions of bacterial peptidoglycan. The lytic activity, however, could be fully recovered by reducing the disulfide bonds. These results suggest that lysostaphin may require dynamic association of the two domains for coordinating substrate binding and target cleavage on the elastic peptidoglycan. Our study will help develop site-specific PEGylated lysostaphin to treat systemic
S. aureus
infections.
Potent
In Vitro
Antibacterial Activity of DS-8587, a Novel Broad-Spectrum Quinolone, against Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Higuchi Saito , Onodera Yoshikuni , Chiba Megumi , Hoshino Kazuki , Gotoh Naomasa 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

We investigated the
in vitro
activity of DS-8587, a novel fluoroquinolone, against
Acinetobacter baumannii
. The MICs of DS-8587 against clinical isolates and its inhibitory activity against target enzymes were superior to those of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of DS-8587 was less affected by
adeA
/
adeB
/
adeC
or
abeM
efflux pumps than was that of ciprofloxacin and the frequency of single-step mutations with DS-8587 was lower than that with ciprofloxacin. DS-8587 might be an effective agent against
A. baumannii
infection.
Tenofovir Plasma Concentrations According to Companion Drugs: a Cross-Sectional Study of HIV-Positive Patients with Normal Renal Function
Authors: Calcagno A. , Gonzalez de Requena D. , Simiele M. , D'Avolio A. , Tettoni M. C. , Salassa B. , Orofino G. , Bramato C. , Libanore V. , Motta I. , Bigliano P. , Orsucci E. , Di Perri G. , Bonora S. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT
As the risk of tenofovir-associated renal toxicity has been found to be proportional to the drug plasma concentration, our aim was to measure the determinants of tenofovir plasma exposure in HIV-positive patients with normal renal function. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in HIV-positive patients chronically receiving tenofovir-containing highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAARTs). Patients on tenofovir-containing antiretroviral regimens, presenting 22 to 26 h after drug intake, having estimated glomerular filtration rates above 60 ml/min, reporting high adherence to antiretroviral medications (above 95% of the doses), and signing a written informed consent were included. Plasma tenofovir concentrations were measured through a validated high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC/LC-MS) method. The tenofovir trough concentrations in 195 patients (median, 50 ng/ml, and interquartile range, 35 to 77 ng/ml) were significantly associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate, body mass index, and third-drug class (protease-containing versus protease-sparing regimens) (with the highest exposure in unboosted-atazanavir recipients). The results of multivariate analysis showed that the third-drug class and the weight/creatinine ratio were independent predictors of tenofovir trough concentrations. This cross-sectional study shows that tenofovir trough concentrations are predicted by the weight/creatinine ratio and by the coadministered antiretrovirals, with protease inhibitors (whether boosted or unboosted) being associated with the highest plasma exposure. These data, previously available in healthy subjects or for some drugs only, could be useful for designing strategies to manage tenofovir-associated toxicity, since this toxicity has been reported to be dose dependent.
Macrolides Inhibit Fusobacterium nucleatum-Induced MUC5AC Production in Human Airway Epithelial Cells
Authors: Nagaoka Kentaro , Yanagihara Katsunori , Harada Yosuke , Yamada Koichi , Migiyama Yohei , Morinaga Yoshitomo , Hasegawa Hiroo , Izumikawa Koichi , Kakeya Hiroshi , Nishimura Masaharu , Kohno Shigeru 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Fusobacterium nucleatum
is one of the most common anaerobic bacteria in periodontitis and is responsible for several extraoral infections, including respiratory tract diseases. In this study, we examined whether
F. nucleatum
induces mucin secretion in airway epithelial cells. We also examined the effects of macrolides on
F. nucleatum
-induced mucus production compared with the effects of other antibiotics that exert anti-anaerobic activities. The production of MUC5AC, the major core protein of mucin secreted from the airway surface epithelium, in bronchial epithelial cells after stimulation with culture supernatants (Sup) of
F. nucleatum
was analyzed by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative RT-PCR. The cell-signaling pathway of
F. nucleatum
Sup stimulation was also analyzed by Western blotting. For inhibition studies, cells were treated with azithromycin, clarithromycin, clindamycin (CLDM), and metronidazole (MTZ). The
F. nucleatum
Sup induced NCI-H292 cells to express MUC5AC at both the protein level and the mRNA level in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. Macrolides inhibited
F. nucleatum
Sup-induced MUC5AC production, while CLDM and MTZ were less effective.
F. nucleatum
Sup induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and this induction was suppressed by macrolides.
F. nucleatum
Sup-induced MUC5AC production was blocked by the ERK pathway inhibitor U0126.
F. nucleatum
is likely to contribute to excessive mucin production, which suggests that periodontitis may correlate with the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory tract infection. Macrolides seem to reduce this mucin production and might represent an additional means of therapeutic intervention for
F. nucleatum
respiratory tract infections other than CLDM and MTZ.
Ferric Uptake Regulator and Its Role in the Pathogenesis of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Harrison Alistair , Santana Estevan A. , Szelestey Blake R. , Newsom David E. , White Peter , Mason Kevin M. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTNontypeableHaemophilus influenzae(NTHi) is a commensal microorganism of the human nasopharynx, and yet is also an opportunistic pathogen of the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Host microenvironments influence gene expression patterns, likely critical for NTHi persistence. The host sequesters iron as a mechanism to control microbial growth, and yet iron limitation influences gene expression and subsequent production of proteins involved in iron homeostasis. Careful regulation of iron uptake, via theferricuptakeregulator Fur, is essential in multiple bacteria, including NTHi. We hypothesized therefore that Fur contributes to iron homeostasis in NTHi, is critical for bacterial persistence, and likely regulates expression of virulence factors. Toward this end,furwas deleted in the prototypic NTHi clinical isolate, 86-028NP, and we assessed gene expression regulated by Fur. As expected, expression of the majority of genes that encode proteins with predicted roles in iron utilization was repressed by Fur. However, 14 Fur-regulated genes encode proteins with no known function, and yet may contribute to iron utilization or other biological functions. In a mammalian model of human otitis media, we determined that Fur was critical for bacterial persistence, indicating an important role for Fur-mediated iron homeostasis in disease progression. These data provide a profile of genes regulated by Fur in NTHi and likely identify additional regulatory pathways involved in iron utilization. Identification of such pathways will increase our understanding of how this pathogen can persist within host microenvironments, as a common commensal and, importantly, as a pathogen with significant clinical impact.
Epicutaneous Model of Community-Acquired Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infections
Authors: Prabhakara Ranjani , Foreman Oded , De Pascalis Roberto , Lee Gloria M. , Plaut Roger D. , Kim Stanley Y. , Stibitz Scott , Elkins Karen L. , Merkel Tod J. 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
is one of the most common etiological agents of community-acquired skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). Although the majority of
S. aureus
community-acquired SSTIs are uncomplicated and self-clearing in nature, some percentage of these cases progress into life-threatening invasive infections. Current animal models of
S. aureus
SSTI suffer from two drawbacks: these models are a better representation of hospital-acquired SSTI than community-acquired SSTI, and they involve methods that are difficult to replicate. For these reasons, we sought to develop a murine model of community-acquired methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
SSTI (CA-MRSA SSTI) that can be consistently reproduced with a high degree of precision. We utilized this model to begin to characterize the host immune response to this type of infection. We infected mice via epicutaneous challenge of the skin on the outer ear pinna using Morrow-Brown allergy test needles coated in
S. aureus
USA300. When mice were challenged in this model, they developed small, purulent, self-clearing lesions with predictable areas of inflammation that mimicked a human infection. CFU in the ear pinna peaked at day 7 before dropping by day 14. The T
h
1 and T
h
17 cytokines gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12) p70, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-17A, IL-6, and IL-21 were all significantly increased in the draining lymph node of infected mice, and there was neutrophil recruitment to the infection site.
In vivo
neutrophil depletion demonstrated that neutrophils play a protective role in preventing bacterial dissemination and fatal invasive infection.