bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial effects of coprisin on wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in rats
Authors: Lee Jingoo , Han Seon‐Young , Ji Ae‐Ri , Park Jin‐Kyu , Hong Il‐Hwa , Ki Mi‐Ran , Lee Eun‐Mi , Kim Ah‐Young , Lee Eun‐Joo , Hwang Jae‐Sam , Lee Juneyoung , Lee Dong Gun , Jeong Kyu‐Shik 
Published: October 2013

AbstractAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are naturally produced antibiotics that play important roles in host defense mechanisms. These proteins are found in variety of animal and plant species. The antibiotic effects of AMPs are gaining attention for use in human medicine. In this study, the antimicrobial effects of coprisin, a novel AMP isolated from the dung beetle (Copris tripartitus), were evaluated. The peptide was used to treat rats with wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Coprisin accelerated wound closure both grossly and microscopically compared with the untreated group. Additionally, treatment with this peptide decreased phosphorylated‐Smad2/3 (p‐Smad2/3) levels, a downstream factor of the transforming growth factor‐β signaling pathway which is believed to inhibit reepithelization, in the nucleus and cytoplasm of regenerating cells. Moreover, increased cell populations and angiogenesis were observed in lesions treated with coprisin, suggesting that this peptide promotes wound healing via its antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. Our results demonstrated that coprisin is a potential therapeutic agent that can possibly replace traditional antibiotics and overcome microbial resistance.
Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment for Hydrocarbon Service Petroleum Pipelines
Authors: Teevens Patrick J. , Khera Ashish , Zhu Zhenjin 
Published: October 2013

Contaminants such as CO2, H2S and O2 in water-wet liquid and gas pipelines create an aggressive environment conducive to facilitating internal corrosion. During pipeline operations, solids deposition, water accumulation, bacterial activities and improper chemical inhibition aggravate the internal corrosion attack. For assessing the threat of internal corrosion, the petroleum industry currently has only three integrity validation tools at its disposal. These are Pressure Testing, In-line Inspection (ILI) and Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment (ICDA). To enhance pipeline integrity for piggable and non-piggable pipelines, NACE International has developed and published a variety of industry consensus Standard Practices for the ICDA protocols to predict time-dependent internal corrosion threats for various petroleum products in both offshore and onshore under sweet or sour environments. These NACE International ICDA Standards include:
• SP0206-2006 “ICDA Methodology for Pipelines Carrying Normally Dry Natural Gas (DG-ICDA)”[1]
• SP0208-2008 “ICDA Methodology for Liquid Petroleum Pipelines (LP-ICDA)”[2]
• SP0110-2010 “Wet Gas ICDA Methodology for Pipelines (WG-ICDA)”[3]
• Multiphase flow (MP-ICDA) is under development with TG-426 and will be released in 2013.
• Process Piping (PP-ECDA, Above Ground) is in its early stages of development with the release not likely before 2015.
• Process Piping (PP-ECDA, Buried) is in its early stages of development with the release not likely before 2015.
• Process Piping (PP-ICDA) for various service environments is in its early stages of development with the release not likely before 2015.
All ICDA protocols are a structured, iterative integrity assessment process, consisting of the following four steps: Preassessment, Indirect Inspection, Detailed Examination and Postassessment. Most importantly, unlike ILI and pressure testing, all the ICDA standards require a mandatory root cause analysis and a go forward mitigation plan to arrest the corrosion processes being encountered. This paper reviews the following case studies: LP-ICDA for a crude oil pipeline and WG-ICDA for a high pressure gas pipeline with free water and condensate. ICDA is applicable for dry gas systems too but due to limiting length of this paper, the dry gas case study is not detailed. This paper will be useful for the pipeline operators to provide guidance in identifying locations at which corrosion activity has occurred, is occurring, or may likely occur in the future under a series of pre-defined operating conditions.
Smart Pigging in High Pressure Gas Pipeline Practical Problems and Solutions: A Case Study
Authors: Nagaraj Jegadeesh 
Published: October 2013

Smart pigs, also known as inline inspection (ILI) tools or intelligent pigs, are electronic devices designed to flow on the inside of a gas transmission pipeline, usually while the line is in service, to inspect a pipeline for various types of anomalies that can increase the risks of pipeline failure. This paper describes various problems faced on in service pigging in gas pipelines even after getting data by typical pipeline questionnaire as per NACE RP0102. Problems and solution starting from Launching, crossing SV stations, tap off Point flow tees and Receiving at Pig Receiver including data retrieval from smart pig.
First of all, different segment thickness and anomalies of entire length of pipeline will be studied before launch of the tool, because this is important input in ILI tool design in terms of OD and percentage flexibility of pig while run. API 1163 will considered as a master standard for smart pig applications in pipelines.
Smart pigging is done once in 10 years interval as per Indian regulation and data recorded in this inspection is important risk assessment input in Pipeline Integrity Management and for deciding life of pipeline. This paper describes various problem faced in pigging i.e. Pig struck before Launching in Launcher, Pig struck at Sectionalization Valve station, Pig stopped in Pipeline without any reason, Pig struck at Flow Tee before Receiver, Pig barrel opening a Hazardous activity, Failure of Data retrieval from smart pig after receiving, Re-run of smart pig and how fluctuating flow rates in different region of pipelines will affect running a pig. This paper deals pig retrieval methods used in different struck ups and various aspects to be considered while planning to run a smart pig.
This paper also deals problem faced i.e. magnetized pipe and difficulty in welding after retrieving struck up pigs by hot tapping and stoppling methods and how it was solved. Smart pigging, when properly applied, can serve as a superior inspection tool for many risks of concern over other integrity inspection methods. A proper smart pigging program can play a vital role in integrity management (“IM”) and smooth operation of pipeline without any flow interruption to downstream customers. The downstream customers of different industry which serves to run day to day life of society like Power Plants, City Gas Distribution (CGD) Companies, Refineries, Fertilizers, Ceramics, Dairy units etc will not be interrupted while run a smart pig to avoid consequences and give better service as a Pipeline operator.
Smart pig, performance specification shall be qualified by the service provider by any one of the methodologies i.e. verified historical data, Large scale tests from real or artificial anomalies, small scale tests, modeling, and/or analyses. Pipeline operator may ensure final documents and other requirements as per API1163 standards.
Advanced NDT in Relation to Structural Integrity of Pipelines
Authors: Michiels Stijn , Verhagen Ben 
Published: October 2013

Knowing the real condition of your asset is a must for every owner. Standard NDT methods as RT, UT, MT, PT, and ET are well known to screen the integrity of pipelines. An aspect that is known as well is that each NDT technique has his proper working area. All NDT techniques have their inherent limitations; therefore more and more advanced NDT (ANDT) techniques are created to replace conventional techniques and supplementary fill in the voids where the conventional techniques are limited.
Vinçotte is a global player in developing advanced NDT systems for both Pre-service and In-service pipeline examination. Our goal is always creating inspection solutions providing a greater flexibility while keeping a high quality level. In this paper several ANDT techniques (corrosion mapping, mechanized UT weld inspection, 3D laser,..) in relation to the structural integrity will be described.
Slurry Pipelines: An Economic Solution to Transportation of Minerals and Materials
Authors: Gupta Amit 
Published: October 2013

Slurry pipelines find a special place in industrial applications which require transportation of solid particles through a pipeline. Flow-ability of these solid particles is achieved by mixing and suspending them in water or other carrier fluids. Slurry pipelines are characterized with cost effectiveness for long distances, reliability, low maintenance, low air & noise pollution. Importantly it is eco-friendly and does not affect the environment.
Over the past 5 decades, slurry pipelines have proven its effectiveness in cost saving for long distance transportation, safe handling and high reliability. Since the inception of long slurry pipelines in 1957 in Ohio to transport coal, gradually over the period, new technologies in slurry transportation has made it possible to transport minerals and materials over long distances safely and effectively. Many materials such as coal, iron concentrate, phosphate concentrate, copper concentrate, zinc concentrate, lead concentrate, nickel concentrate and limestone have been transported successfully over long distances.
The long distance slurry pipelines have certain disadvantages in terms of high initial capital investment, the carrier fluid availability, and importantly it is feasible in areas wherein rail and road transport is not well developed. Most of the mineral concentrates require a beneficiation step that involves grinding of the ore to a very fine size in order to achieve good recovery. This is a wet process and the size of the product is generally suitable for long-distance pipeline transportation. In particular for coal transportation, the drying cost is add-on cost. These all requirements contribute to the transportation cost and make it uneconomical for short distances. Therefore for slurry pipelines to be economic, the distance of transportation will have to be long.
In recent times, polyethylene pipes have proven to be very cost effective to transport copper, iron ore, phosphates and gold concentrates. They have high resistance to slurry abrasion, prolonged wear life, high ductility and toughness properties. Pumps are developed to handle high pressures of up to 250 bars and facilitated pumping of solid concentration of 60 to 65% weight. Some alternate carrier fluids result in higher concentrate carrying capacity.
Slurry pipelines have proven its high economy and feasibility to operate over long distances. With many developments underway, slurry pipelines will pave way to decrease the load and dependency on rail and roads.
Daily dose monitoring with atlas‐based auto‐segmentation on diagnostic quality CT for prostate cancer
Authors: Li Wen , Vassil Andrew , Zhong Yahua , Xia Ping 
Published: October 2013

Purpose:To evaluate the feasibility of daily dose monitoring using a patient specific atlas‐based autosegmentation method on diagnostic quality verification images.Methods:Seven patients, who were treated for prostate cancer with intensity modulated radiotherapy under daily imaging guidance of a CT‐on‐rails system, were selected for this study. The prostate, rectum, and bladder were manually contoured on the first six and last seven sets of daily verification images. For each patient, three patient specific atlases were constructed using manual contours from planning CT alone (1‐image atlas), planning CT plus first three verification CTs (4‐image atlas), and planning CT plus first six verification CTs (7‐image atlas). These atlases were subsequently applied to the last seven verification image sets of the same patient to generate the auto‐contours. Daily dose was calculated by applying the original treatment plans to the daily beam isocenters. The autocontours and manual contours were compared geometrically using the dice similarity coefficient (DSC), and dosimetrically using the dose to 99% of the prostate CTV (D99) and the D5 of rectum and bladder.Results:The DSC of the autocontours obtained with the 4‐image atlases were 87.0% ± 3.3%, 84.7% ± 8.6%, and 93.6% ± 4.3% for the prostate, rectum, and bladder, respectively. These indices were higher than those from the 1‐image atlases (p < 0.01) and comparable to those from the 7‐image atlases (p > 0.05). Daily prostate D99 of the autocontours was comparable to those of the manual contours (p = 0.55). For the bladder and rectum, the daily D5 were 95.5% ± 5.9% and 99.1% ± 2.6% of the planned D5 for the autocontours compared to 95.3% ± 6.7% (p = 0.58) and 99.8% ± 2.3% (p < 0.01) for the manual contours.Conclusions:With patient specific 4‐image atlases, atlas‐based autosegmentation can adequately facilitate daily dose monitoring for prostate cancer.
Antigenicity of Recombinant Maltose Binding Protein-Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Fusion Proteins with and without Factor Xa Cleaving
Authors: Gurung Ratna B. , Begg Douglas J. , Purdie Auriol C. , Bannantine John P. , Whittington Richard J. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
causes Johne's disease (JD) in ruminants. Proteomic studies have shown that
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
expresses certain proteins when exposed to
in vitro
physiological stress conditions similar to the conditions experienced within a host during natural infection. Such proteins are hypothesized to be expressed
in vivo
, are recognized by the host immune system, and may be of potential use in the diagnosis of JD. In this study, 50 recombinant maltose binding protein (MBP)-
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
fusion proteins were evaluated using serum samples from sheep infected with
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
, and 29 (58%) were found to be antigenic. Among 50 fusion proteins, 10 were evaluated in MBP fusion and factor Xa-cleaved forms. A total of 31 proteins (62%) were found to be antigenic in either MBP fusion or factor Xa-cleaved forms. Antigenicity after cleavage and removal of the MBP tag was marginally enhanced.
Higher Specificity of Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification Isothermal Technology than of Real-Time PCR for Quantification of HIV-1 RNA on Dried Blood Spots
Authors: Mercier-Delarue Severine , Vray Muriel , Plantier Jean Christophe , Maillard Theodora , Adjout Zidan , de Olivera Fabienne , Schnepf Nathalie , Maylin Sarah , Simon Francois , Delaugerre Constance 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

Dried blood spots (DBS) are widely proposed as a plasma surrogate for monitoring antiretroviral treatment efficacy based on the HIV-1 RNA level (viral load [VL]) in resource-limited settings. Interfering coamplification of cell-associated HIV-1 DNA during reverse transcription (RT)-PCR can be avoided by using nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) technology, which is based on an RNA template and isothermic conditions. We analyzed VL values obtained with DBS and plasma samples by comparing isothermic NASBA (NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 V2.0; bioMérieux) with real-time RT-PCR (Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 V2.0; Roche). Samples from 197 HIV-1-infected patients were tested (non-B subtypes in 51% of the cases). Nucleic acid extractions were performed by use of NucliSENS EasyMAG (bioMérieux) and Cobas AmpliPrep (Roche) before the NASBA and RT-PCR quantifications, respectively. Both quantification assays have lower limits of detection of 20 (1.3) and 800 (2.9) log
10
copies/ml (log) in plasma and DBS, respectively. The mean (DBS minus plasma) differences were −0.39 and −0.46 log, respectively, for RT-PCR and NASBA. RT-PCR on DBS identified virological failure in 122 of 126 patients (sensitivity, 97%) and viral suppression in 58 of 70 patients (specificity, 83%), yielding 12 false-positive results (median, 3.2 log). NASBA on DBS identified virological failure in 85 of 96 patients (sensitivity, 89%) and viral suppression in 95 of 97 patients (specificity, 98%) and yielded 2 false-positive results (3.0 log for both). Both technologies detected HIV-1 RNA in DBS at a threshold of 800 copies/ml. This higher specificity of NASBA technology could avoid overestimation of poor compliance or the emergence of resistance when monitoring antiretroviral efficacy with the DBS method.
Role of
pncA
and
rpsA
Gene Sequencing in Detection of Pyrazinamide Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates from Southern China
Authors: Tan Yaoju , Hu Zuqiong , Zhang Tianyu , Cai Xingshan , Kuang Haobin , Liu Yanwen , Chen Junyu , Yang Feng , Zhang Ke , Tan Shouyong , Zhao Yanlin 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

We sequenced
pncA
and
rpsA
genes plus flanking regions of 161
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates and found 10 new
pncA
and 3 novel
rpsA
mutations in pyrazinamide-resistant strains determined by the Bactec MGIT 960 system. The 3′ end of
rpsA
might be added as the target of molecular detection of pyrazinamide susceptibility.
Characteristics of Antibody Responses in West Nile Virus-Seropositive Blood Donors
Authors: Carson Paul J. , Prince Harry E. , Biggerstaff Brad J. , Lanciotti Robert , Tobler Leslie H. , Busch Michael 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
West Nile virus (WNV) is now endemic in the United States. Protection against infection is thought to be conferred in part by humoral immunity. An understanding of the durability and specificity of the humoral response is not well established. We studied the magnitude and specificity of antibody responses in 370 WNV-seropositive blood donors. We also recalled 18 donors who were infected in 2005 to compare their antibody responses at 6 months following infection versus at 5 years postinfection. There were no significant differences in IgG antibody levels based on age, sex, or recent infection (as evidenced by IgM positivity). Specific antibody responses by viral plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) were seen in 51/54 subjects evaluated. All donors who were seropositive in 2005 remained seropositive at 5 years and maintained neutralizing antibodies. IgG levels at 5 years postinfection showed fairly minimal decreases compared with the paired levels at 6 months postinfection (mean of paired differences,−0.54 signal-to-cutoff ratio (S/CO) units [95% confidence interval {CI}, −0.86 to −0.21 S/CO units]) and only minimal decreases in PRNT titers. WNV induces a significant antibody response that remains present even 5 years after infection.
Evaluation of Agar-Based Medium with Sheep Sera for Testing of Drug Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, and Streptomycin
Authors: Coban Ahmet Yilmaz , Uzun Meltem , Bozdogan Bulent 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

The performance of sheep sera instead of sheep blood in agar-based media was investigated for susceptibility testing of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
against primary drugs. The levels of agreement between agar-based medium supplemented with sheep sera and the proportion method on Middlebrook 7H11 agar as the reference method for determining susceptibility to isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), ethambutol (EMB), and streptomycin (STR) were 98.4, 98.4, 95.3, and 100%, respectively.
Development of a Capillary Electrophoresis-Based Heteroduplex Tracking Assay To Measure In-Host Genetic Diversity of Initial and Recurrent Plasmodium vivax Infections in Cambodia
Authors: Givens Matthew B. , Lin Jessica T. , Lon Chanthap , Gosi Panita , Char Meng Chuor , Lanteri Charlotte A. , Saunders David L. , Juliano Jonathan J. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

A heteroduplex tracking assay used to genotype
Plasmodium vivax
merozoite surface protein 1 was adapted to a capillary electrophoresis format, obviating the need for radiolabeled probes and allowing its use in settings where malaria is endemic. This new assay achieved good allelic discrimination and detected high multiplicities of infection in 63
P. vivax
infections in Cambodia. More than half of the recurrent parasitemias sampled displayed identical or highly related genotypes compared to the initial genotype, suggesting that they represented relapses.
Characterization of a Novel Betacoronavirus Related to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in European Hedgehogs
Authors: Corman Victor Max , Kallies René , Philipps Heike , Göpner Gertraude , Müller Marcel Alexander , Eckerle Isabella , Brünink Sebastian , Drosten Christian , Drexler Jan Felix 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

Bats are known to host viruses closely related to important human coronaviruses (HCoVs), such as HCoV-229E, severe-acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV). As RNA viruses may coevolve with their hosts, we sought to investigate the closest sister taxon to bats, the
Eulipotyphla
, and screened European hedgehogs (
Erinaceus europaeus
) from Germany for CoV by nested reverse transcriptase PCR. A novel betacoronavirus species in a phylogenetic sister relationship to MERS-CoV and clade c bat CoVs was detected and characterized on the whole-genome level. A total of 58.9% of hedgehog fecal specimens were positive for the novel CoV (EriCoV) at 7.9 log
10
mean RNA copies per ml. EriCoV RNA concentrations were higher in the intestine than in other solid organs, blood, or urine. Detailed analyses of the full hedgehog intestine showed the highest EriCoV concentrations in lower gastrointestinal tract specimens, compatible with viral replication in the lower intestine and fecal-oral transmission. Thirteen of 27 (48.2%) hedgehog sera contained non-neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV. The animal origins of this betacoronavirus clade that includes MERS-CoV may thus include both bat and nonbat hosts.
Chimeric Virus-Like Particle Vaccines Displaying Conserved Enterovirus 71 Epitopes Elicit Protective Neutralizing Antibodies in Mice through Divergent Mechanisms
Authors: Ye Xiaohua , Ku Zhiqiang , Liu Qingwei , Wang Xiaoli , Shi Jinping , Zhang Yunfang , Kong Liangliang , Cong Yao , Huang Zhong 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major causative agent of hand, food, and mouth disease, which frequently occurs in young children. Since there are 11 subgenotypes (A, B1 to B5, and C1 to C5) within EV71, an EV71 vaccine capable of protecting against all of these subgenotypes is desirable. We report here the vaccine potential and protective mechanism of two chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) presenting conserved neutralizing epitopes of EV71. We show that fusions of hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) with the SP55 or SP70 epitope of EV71, designated HBcSP55 and HBcSP70, respectively, can be rapidly generated and self-assembled into VLPs with the epitopes displayed on the surface. Immunization with the chimeric VLPs induced carrier- and epitope-specific antibody responses in mice. Anti-HBcSP55 and anti-HBcSP70 sera, but not anti-HBc sera, were able to neutralize
in vitro
multiple genotypes and strains of EV71. Importantly, passive immunization with anti-HBcSP55 or anti-HBcSP70 sera protected neonatal mice against lethal EV71 infections. Interestingly, anti-HBcSP70 sera could inhibit EV71 attachment to susceptible cells, whereas anti-HBcSP55 sera could not. However, both antisera were able to neutralize EV71 infection
in vitro
at the postattachment stage. The divergent mechanism of neutralization and protection conferred by anti-SP70 and anti-SP55 sera is in part attributed to their respective ability to bind authentic viral particles. Collectively, our study not only demonstrates that chimeric VLPs displaying the SP55 and SP70 epitopes are promising candidates for a broad-spectrum EV71 vaccine but also reveals distinct mechanisms of neutralization by the SP55- and SP70-targeted antibodies.