bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proteus sp. – an opportunistic bacterial pathogen – classification, swarming growth, clinical significance and virulence factors
Authors: Różalski Antoni , Torzewska Agnieszka , Moryl Magdalena , Kwil Iwona , Maszewska Agnieszka , Ostrowska Kinga , Drzewiecka Dominika , Zabłotni Agnieszka , Palusiak Agata , Siwińska Małgorzata , Stączek Paweł 
Published: April 2013

The genus Proteus belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family, where it is placed in the tribe Proteeae, together with the genera Morganella and Providencia. Currently, the genus Proteus consists of five species: P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, P. penneri, P. hauseri and P. myxofaciens, as well as three unnamed Proteus genomospecies. The most defining characteristic of Proteus bacteria is a swarming phenomenon, a multicellular differentiation process of short rods to elongated swarmer cells. It allows population of bacteria to migrate on solid surface. Proteus bacteria inhabit the environment and are also present in the intestines of humans and animals. These microorganisms under favorable conditions cause a number of infections including urinary tract infections (UTIs), wound infections, meningitis in neonates or infants and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, Proteus is known as a bacterial opportunistic pathogen. It causes complicated UTIs with a higher frequency, compared to other uropathogens. Proteus infections are accompanied by a formation of urinary stones, containing struvite and carbonate apatite. The virulence of Proteus rods has been related to several factors including fimbriae, flagella, enzymes (urease - hydrolyzing urea to CO2 and NH3, proteases degrading antibodies, tissue matrix proteins and proteins of the complement system), iron acqusition systems and toxins: hemolysins, Proteus toxin agglutinin (Pta), as well as an endotoxin - lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Proteus rods form biofilm, particularly on the surface of urinary catheters, which can lead to serious consequences for patients. In this review we present factors involved in the regulation of swarming phenomenon, discuss the role of particular pathogenic features of Proteus spp., and characterize biofilm formation by these bacteria.
Beetles (Coleoptera) occurring in decaying birch (Betula spp.) wood in the Kampinos National Park
Authors: Sawoniewicz Michał 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
The composition and structure of beetle clusters living in rotting birch wood in Kampinos National Park was investigated. Photoeclectors were used to remove beetles from collected wood samples. Ten different research plots, each corresponding to a different forest type, were sampled every month over a 1-year period. A collection of 3256 beetles from 37 families comprising 206 species was amassed during the study. The collected beetles were divided into trophic families, species rareness, and constancy and site fidelity classes. At the more fertile sites, species only able to live on highly-decayed wood were collected (F3), also species facultatively able to live on either dying trees or decaying wood (F1), species that do not live on decayed wood (F0) and other rare species. Trophic group of carnivores (Z) provided most species on more fertile sites. At coniferous forest sites, as well as mixed deciduous forest sites, most individuals collected belonged to mycophagous and myxomycophagous trophic groups. At the other sites, the largest group of collected individuals was zoophagous. The number of rare species was positively related to site fertility. The average number of species increased in accordance with increasing site fertility, however this trend was only statistically significant when applied to moist coniferous forest (Bw) and moist mixed broadleaved forest (LMw) sites. The study revealed differences in the composition and structure of beetle clusters from different forest types. These differences were probably not directly related to site type, but more likely to the form of nature conservation imposed on a particular area and the potential number of decayed deciduous tree trunks. Two different clusters of saproxylic Coleoptera related to birch rot were distinguished: the first includes strictly protected deciduous forest types, the second contains the remaining forest types.
Expression of Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B in Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Yin Xiaojuan , Wang Yan , Xie Lu , Kong Xiangyong , Wang Chunzhi , Qu Wenwen , Fan Hanxiao , Feng Zhichun 
Published: April 2013

Summary
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pulmonary surfactant-associated protein B (SP-B) expression in the pathogenesis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) via detecting the protein and mRNA expression of SP-B.
Methods: A total of 60 unrelated neonates who died of RDS were chosen as the RDS group and then subgrouped into ≤32 weeks group, 32∼37 weeks group and ≥37 weeks group (n=20). Sixty neonates who died of other diseases were enrolled as controls and subdivided into 3 matched groups based on the gestational age. Western blot assay and RT-PCR were employed.
Results: In the RDS group, SP-B protein expression was reduced or deficient in 8 neonates of which 6 had no SP-B protein expression. In the control group, only 1 had reduced SP-B protein expression. The reduced or deficient SP-B protein expression in 9 neonates of both groups was noted in the ≥37 weeks group. In the RDS group, the SP-B mRNA expression was significantly lower than that in the control group. In the ≤37 weeks group, SP-B mRNA expression was comparable between the RDS group and control group. In the 32∼37 weeks group, the SP-B mRNA expression in the RDS group was significantly reduced when compared with the control group. In the ≥37 weeks group, the SP-B mRNA expression in the RDS group was dramatically lower than that in the control group.
Conclusions: Alteration of SP-B expression is present at transcriptional and translational levels. Reduction of SP-B mRNA and protein expression is involved in the pathogenesis of RDS.
The Relationship between Haptoglobin Polymorphism and Oxidative Stress in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Hamad Mawieh , Awadallah Samir , Nasr Hamzah 
Published: April 2013

Summary
Background: The relationship between haptoglobin polymorphism and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients is not fully understood. In this study, total antioxidant capacity and ce ru - loplasmin ferroxidase activity were evaluated in relation to haptoglobin phenotype distribution in hemodialysis patients.
Methods: Serum samples collected from 161 patients and 84 healthy controls were haptoglobin-typed by electrophoresis. Ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity were assayed using colorimetric methods.
Results: Irrespective of the haptoglobin phenotype, patients exhibited significantly lower total antioxidant capacity (1.42± 0.29 vs. 1.55±0.28 mmol/L, P=0.002) and higher ferroxidase activity than controls. Frequency of Hp1-1 and Hp2-1 in patients was 15.5% and 36% as compared with 9.5% and 41.7% in controls. While ferroxidase activity was lower in Hp2-2 patients than in controls (142±61 vs. 179±47 U/L, P=0.002), it was higher in Hp2-1 (173±56 U/L) and Hp1-1 (170±54 U/L) patients than in controls (141±43 and 99±30 U/L respectively) (P=0.002 and 0.009). Ferroxidase activity in Hp2-2 patients was significantly lower than that of Hp2-1 or Hp1-1 patients (P=0.004 and 0.034). Total antioxidant capacity was significantly lower only in Hp2-2 patients (1.44±0.25) compared to that in Hp2-2 controls (1.65±0.22) (P=0.000).
Conclusions:These findings suggest that haptoglobin polymorphism can differentially impact oxidative stress levels in hemodialysis patients.
Pathological and Molecular Variation in Colletotrichum Falcatum Went Isolates Causing Red Rot of Sugarcane in the Northwest Zone of India
Authors: Saksena Pratigya , Vishwakarma Sunil Kumar , Tiwari Ajay Kumar , Singh Atul , Kumar Arun 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Red rot is one of the most wide spread sugarcane diseases in the country and has been a constraint on sugarcane productivity. Pathological as well as molecular studies were used to characterize the 11 isolates of Colletotrichum falcatum Went collected from sugarcane cultivars of different sugarcane-growing regions in northwestern states of India, to assess pathogen diversity. Seven reference pathotypes of C. falcatum from the northwestern zone of India were compared with four newly collected isolates of the same pathogen. All the newly collected isolates and existing pathotypes were inoculated on a set of 14 differentials in August 2011 by the plug method. After 60 days of inoculation, the observations were recorded and the pathotypes/isolates were categorized as resistant, intermediate, and susceptible according to the virulency behavior. On the basis of pathological categorization and comparison with reference pathotypes, it was concluded that the three isolates R1001 (CoJ 64), R1002 (CoS 88230), and R1004 (CoSe 92423) are similar to the existing isolate Cf 08, except for isolate R0401 from CoS 8436 (Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh). This isolate differs from all the reference pathotypes of the northwestern zone of India indicating the existence of a new pathotype. Pathological results revealed that variety CoJ 64 is the ancestor/source of prevailing new races in nature because these three new isolates showed similarity with Cf 08, of CoJ 64. In this area, Cf 08 was widespread. The isolates were further tested for their variability with random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. Twenty RAPD primers were screened, out of which seven gave amplification. Out of seven amplified primers, only two primers showed the polymorphism among 11 isolates (seven reference pathotypes and four new isolates) of C. falcatum. Analysis of the genetic coefficient matrix derived from the scores of RAPD profiles showed that minimum and maximum per cent similarities among the tested C. falcatum isolates existed in the range of 11.11 to 87.5, respectively. The dendogram analysis by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), separated two main clusters. The first cluster comprises only two isolates (Cf 07 & Cf 08), however the second cluster comprises all the other isolates (Cf 01, Cf 02, Cf 03, Cf 09, Cf 11, R1001, R1002, R1004 and R0401), confirming high genetic diversity among the isolates. The study also indicates the possibilities of a new isolate (R0401) in Shahjahanpur, which needs further investigation at the sequence level. The investigation is in progress.
Biology of Pieris Brassicae (Linn.) on Different Brassica Species in the Plains of Punjab
Authors: Chahil Gurminder Singh , Kular Jagdev Singh 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Biology of Pieris brassicae reared on Brassica napus, B. juncea, B. rapa, and B. carinata was studied. Adult butterflies, collected in November from the plains of Punjab, India, were sexed, paired, and released onto the four Brassica spp. in a greenhouse. In a multigeneration study (Parental, F1, and F2), the effect of the four Brassica spp. on the egg laying, incubation period and hatching percentage was assessed in a greenhouse study. Hatched larvae were collected, reared on fresh leaves of respective Brassica spp, in laboratory conditions. Data collected on larval stadia, pre-pupal and pupal durations, adult longevity, and sex ratio were assessed to understand the effects of these four species. Of the four species, B. carinata, with a shorter incubation period, higher hatching percentage, and shorter developmental periods was most susceptible. In this study, B. rapa was the most resistant species and may be recommended for further breeding programs in order to reduce the economic damage caused by P. brassicae.
Effect of Chlorocholine Chloride and Triazoles – Tebuconazole and Flusilazole on Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica Napus Var. Oleifera L.) in Response to the Application Term and Sowing Density
Authors: Matysiak Kinga , Kaczmarek Sylwia 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Winter oilseed rape is strongly responsive to changes in the plant density. Any change in plant density significantly affects the morphological characteristics and yield of the crop. In addition, plant growth habit can be modified by the use of plant growth regulators. Apart from plant growth regulators like eg. chlorocholine chloride some triazoles have dual properties (fungicide and plant growth regulator) eg. tebuconazole. The trials were carried out in the years 2006-2008 at the Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute in Poznan (Poland). The treatments consisted of chlorocholine chloride, tebuconazole and flusilazole applied in spring at the growth stage BBCH 30 and BBCH 50 of winter oilseed rape. The field trials were conducted with two sowing densities of winter oilseed rape: 60 seeds/ m2 and 120 seeds/m2. The vegetation seasons varied according to the weather conditions, and the second testing year was characterised by drought in May and June. In the experiments plant height, SPAD units, number of siliques per plant, seed number per silique, weight of thousand seeds, yield, protein and fat content in the seeds were estimated. The increase of silique numbers per plant appeared only at the lower sowing density as a result of the application of tebuconazole or a mixture of tebuconazole with CCC. Flusilazole had a positive impact on seed number per silique. At both sowing densities, changes in the weight of a thousand seeds under the influence of the test preparations, were observed only in that year which had wet weather conditions. A more favourable effect of the test substances on the weight of a thousand seeds was obtained at the lower sowing density. All the tested substances positively affected SPAD unit values at the lower sowing density. At the higher sowing density, SPAD unit values increased after the application of flusilazole, and after a mixture of CCC + tebuconazole. The tested substances had a positive impact on plant yield but they did not affect the protein and fat content in oilseed rape seeds.
Differential Efficacies of Nomuraea Rileyi and Isaria Fumosorosea on Some Serious Pests and the Pests’ Efficient Predator Prevailing in Tomato Fields in Egypt
Authors: Maher Matter Mamdouh , Mahmoud Sabbour Magda 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
The efficiency of the two microbial control agents Nomuraea rileyi and Isaria fumosorosea, were evaluated against Bemisia tabaci and Myzus persicae pests in tomato cultivations The safety levels of the agents, to the predator Coccinella undecimpunctata, were also studied under laboratory and field conditions. Results showed that under laboratory conditions, LC50 values for N. rileyi and I. fumosorosea were 103.7x104 and 139.4x104 spores/ml against B. tabaci, respectively, while the corresponding values for M. persicae were 89.1x104 and 149.8x104 spores/ml, respectively. Under the field conditions, the percentages of infested plants with B. tabaci and M. persicae were significantly decreased after treatments with both fungi as compared with the corresponding controls. At the El-Esraa farm (Nobaria region), the weights of the tomato yield were 2,417 and 2,911 kg/feddan when I. fumosorosea and N. rileyi were applied respectively, as compared with 2,010 kg/feddan in the corresponding controls. The corresponding yields in El-Kassaseen were 2,699 and 2,999 kg/feddan, respectively, as compared to 1,990 kg/feddan in the control. The present study showed that C. undecimpunctata exhibit relatively high and reasonable resistance to N. rileyi and I. fumosorosea at the highest lethal concentration (1x108 spores/ml) for both tested preys.
Dynamics of Predatory Syrphidae in the Apple Orchard and Neighbouring Shrubberies
Authors: Trzciński Paweł , Piekarska-Boniecka Hanna 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Shrubberies which neighbour on an orchard are among the significant structures enhancing agrocenoses. Such shrubberies maintain species diversity and stimulate self-control mechanisms in biocenoses. For these reasons, from 1999 to 2001, studies were conducted concerning predatory Syrphidae (Diptera) occurring in the orchard and shrubberies in the immediate vicinity. A quantity and quality analysis of predatory hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) was performed. A total of 801 specimens were caught in both habitats. There were 20 species recorded there (12% of the national fauna of this predatory family). The studies proved that the orchard and the neighbouring shrubberies can be alternative habitats for Syrphidae (Diptera). There is also a possibility of the predators migrating from the shrubberies to the orchard, enhancing the potential to control the abundant Hemiptera species in the orchard. The shrubberies then become an important element of the agrocenosis structure, due to their biocenotic functions.
Error Analysis and Error Estimates for Co-Simulation in FMI for Model Exchange and Co-Simulation V2.0
Authors: Arnold Martin , Clauss Christoph , Schierz Tom 
Published: April 2013

Complex multi-disciplinary models in system dynamics are typically composed of subsystems. This modular structure of the model reflects the modular structure of complex engineering systems. In industrial applications, the individual subsystems are often modelled separately in different mono-disciplinary simulation tools. The Functional Mock-Up Interface (FMI) provides an interface standard for coupling physical models from different domains and addresses problems like export and import of model components in industrial simulation tools (FMI for Model Exchange) and the standardization of co-simulation interfaces in nonlinear system dynamics (FMI for Co-Simulation), see [10].
The renewed interest in algorithmic and numerical aspects of co-simulation inspired some new investigations on error estimation and stabilization techniques in FMI for Model Exchange and Co-Simulation v2.0 compatible co-simulation environments. In the present paper, we focus on reliable error estimation for communication step size control in this framework.
Genetic Exponentially Fitted Method for Solving
Multi-dimensional Drift-diffusion Equations
Authors: Swager M. R. , Zhou Y. C. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
A general approach was proposed in this article to develop high-order exponentially fitted basis functions for finite element approximations of multi-dimensional drift-diffusion equations for modeling biomolecular electrodiffusion processes. Such methods are highly desirable for achieving numerical stability and efficiency. We found that by utilizing the one-to-one correspondence between the continuous piecewise polynomial space of degree k + 1 and the divergencefree vector space of degree k, one can construct high-order two-dimensional exponentially fitted basis functions that are strictly interpolative at a selected node set but are discontinuous on edges in general, spanning nonconforming finite element spaces. First order convergence was proved for the methods constructed from divergence-free Raviart-Thomas space RT
0
0 at two different node sets.
A New Form of Gabor Wigner Transform by Adaptive Thresholding in Gabor Transform and Wigner Distribution and the Power of Signal Synthesis Techniques to Enhance the Strengths of GWT
Authors: Ajab Muhammad , Taj Imtiaz Ahmad , Shafi Imran , Stankovic Srdjan 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
In this paper, a modified form of the Gabor Wigner Transform (GWT) has been proposed. It is based on adaptive thresholding in the Gabor Transform (GT) and Wigner Distribution (WD). The modified GWT combines the advantages of both GT and WD and proves itself as a powerful tool for analyzing multi-component signals. Performance analyses of the proposed distribution are tested on the examples, show high resolution and crossterms suppression. To exploit the strengths of GWT, the signal synthesis technique is used to extract amplitude varying auto-components of a multi-component signal. The proposed technique improves the readability of GWT and proves advantages of combined effects of these signal processing techniques.
Modification of Robust Filtering of Stratified Surface Topography
Authors: Dobrzański Paweł , Pawlus Paweł 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Various components of surface texture are identified, namely form, waviness and roughness. Separation of these components is done by digital filtering. Several problems exist during analysis of two-process surfaces. Therefore the Gaussian robust profile filtering technique was established and has been studied here. The computer generated 2D profiles and 3D surface topographies having triangular scratches as well as measured stratified surfaces were subjected to filtration. However even robust filter applications cause distortion of profiles having valleys wider than 100 μm. In order to minimize the distortion associated with wide and deep valleys, the robust filter should be modified. A special procedure was elaborated for minimizing distortion of roughness profiles caused by filtration. Application of this method to analyses of several profiles was presented. The difference between 1-D and 2-D filtering of surface topography using the same kind of filter was discussed. As a result we found that modification of a 2-D surface topography filter was not necessary.
Service and maintenance of marine steam turbogenerators with the assistance of vibration diagnostics
Authors: Adamkiewicz Andrzej , Drzewieniecki Jan 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
The paper discusses the problem of maintenance of the marine steam turbogenerator sets used in power systems on VLCC type oil tankers. The analysis of operation, monitoring and applied diagnostic methods of a selected turbogenerator working in the AT series waste energy system produced by Mitsubishi is presented. The analysis focuses on the applied maintenance method and its credibility and effectiveness in terms of technical assessment. The results of the performed maintenance actions and applied operational procedures making use of technical diagnostics and supported by a wider range of measurement capabilities of external service are presented and evaluated. The range of the study includes the readiness, reliability and safety of the use of turbogenerators being the result of the maintenance performed in accordance with the applied strategy of operation.
Multi-stage magnetic-fluid seals for operating in water – life test procedure, test stand and research results
Authors: Matuszewski Leszek 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe edge criteria for magnetic-fluid seals durability research were described in previous article [24] and now the tests results are presented. The tests were made with three magnetic fluids using various magnets quantity in magnetic assemblies. If values obtained in the repeated test deviated by more than 10 % from results of the first test an additional control test was made for final characteristics. The characteristics are: critical pressure, critical motion velocity and working life of the seal. The test stands were prepared for particular seals dimensions and results of tests are presented in the form of tables, cross section draws and diagrams. In conclusion one can see that multi-stage magnetic-fluid seals could be efficiently used in water for rotating shaft seals in a limited range of motion velocity and cycles quantity. Nevertheless a particular applications can be provided by magnetic-fluid seals only.
High-Precision Sentence Alignment by Bootstrapping from Wood Standard Annotations
Authors: Mújdricza-Maydt Éva , Körkel-Qu Huiqin , Riezler Stefan , Padó Sebastian 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
We present a semi-supervised, language- and domain-independent approach to high precision sentence alignment. The key idea is to bootstrap a supervised discriminative learner from wood-standard alignments, i.e. alignments that have been automatically generated by state-of-the-art sentence alignment tools. We deploy 3 different unsupervised sentence aligners (Opus, Hunalign, Gargantua) and 2 different datasets (movie subtitles and novels) and show experimentally that bootstrapping consistently improves precision significantly such that, with one exception, we obtain an overall gain in F-score.