bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protocols for the analysis of transformer oil and its degradation in soil by hydrogen peroxideA paper submitted to the Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science.
Authors: Chang Yanjun , Achari Gopal , Langford Cooper H. 
Published: November 2009

Conventional gas chromatography (GC) analysis of hydrocarbons displaying one broad peak provides limited information. Two GC analytical protocols using two-peak and three-peak approaches were developed to investigate transformer oil components and their degradation in soil by hydrogen peroxide. The two-peak method revealed transformer oil to be composed of 27 wt.% F2 fraction and 73 wt.% F3 fraction hydrocarbons. The three-peak method segregated the transformer oil into 40 wt.% light, 40 wt.% medium, and 20 wt.% heavy hydrocarbon fractions. In contrast to reports of success with several classes of lighter hydrocarbons, only limited degradations of transformer oil in soils by 15% and 30% hydrogen peroxide treatment was indicated by conventional one-peak analysis; two-peak analysis showed varying F2 and F3 fraction degradations with F2 fraction degradation being higher; three-peak analysis offered a richer understanding of the relative degradations of light, medium, and heavy fractions. The effect of a low pH environment on the degradation of transformer oil by hydrogen peroxide was evaluated using the three-peak method. It emerged that the degradation of the medium and heavier fractions of transformer oil was higher at pH 2.0.
Reference evapotranspiration forecasting using different artificial neural networks algorithms
Authors: Chauhan Seema , Shrivastava R. K. 
Published: November 2009

The present study aims to apply artificial neural networks (ANNs) for reference evapotranspiration (ETo) prediction. Three different feed-forward artifical neural network (ANN) models, each using varied input combinations of previous months ETo, have been trained and tested. The output of the network was the one-month-ahead ETo. The networks learned to forecast one-month-ahead ETo for Mahanadi reservoir project area using the three learning methods namely quasi-Newton algorithm, Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm and backpropagation with adaptive learning rate algorithm. The training results were compared with each other, and performance evaluations were done for untrained data. The performance evaluations measured were standard error of estimates (SEE), raw standard error of estimates (RSEE), and model efficiency. The best ANN architecture for prediction of ETo was obtained for Mahanadi reservoir project area. The monthly reference evapotranspiration data were estimated by the Penman–Monteith method and used for training and testing of the ANN models. Further ANNs predicted results were compared with those obtained using the statistical multiple regression technique. Based on results obtained, the ANN model with architecture of 3–9-1 (three, nine, and one neuron(s) in the input, hidden, and output layers, respectively) trained using quasi-Newton algorithm was found to be the best amongst all the models with minimum SEE and RSEE of 0.45 and 0.45 mm/d respectively and maximum model efficiency of 93%. It is concluded that ANN can be used to predict ETo.
New design equations for channel shear connectors in composite beams
Authors: Pashan Amit , Hosain M. U. 
Published: November 2009

This paper briefly summarizes the results of an experimental research project involving the testing of push-out specimens with channel shear connectors. The test program consisted of three series, each with 12 push-out specimens. In each series, six specimens had solid concrete slabs and the other six specimens had concrete slabs incorporating wide-ribbed metal deck with ribs parallel to the beam. The test parameters included the compressive strength of concrete and the length and web thickness of the channel shear connector. The test results showed that, for a given length of channel, the concrete strength dictates the failure mode. In specimens with higher strength concrete, failure was caused by the fracture of the channel web. Concrete crushing–splitting was the observed mode of failure in specimens with solid slabs when lower strength concrete was used. A concrete shear plane type of failure was observed in most of the specimens with metal deck slabs. The strengths of concrete used ranged from 21 MPa to a maximum of 35 MPa.
Mix-design method of self-compacting concretes for pre-cast industry
Authors: Shen J. , Yurtdas I. , Diagana C. , Li A. 
Published: November 2009

Some mix-design methods for self-compacting concrete (SCC) have been proposed since the 1990s, but these methods do not address all practical needs. This paper proposes a method that enables the composition of SCC to be designed for a given strength (in this study, from 10 to 50 MPa at age 1 day or from 30 to 70 MPa at age 28 days). In this method, the compressive strength of SCC at an early age is considered an important parameter to answer the needs of the precast industry. The proposed mix-design method is based on optimizing the packing density of aggregates and ensuring the necessary quantity of paste to fill the voids between aggregates and to provide good fluidity of the SCC. The compressive strength of SCC can be estimated according to the Bolomey formula, and the quantity of superplasticizer can be determined by the proposed method.
Cells in shearable and nonshearable regions ofSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis biofilms are morphologically and physiologically distinct
Authors: Mangalappalli-Illathu Anil K. , Lawrence John R. , Korber Darren R. 
Published: November 2009

Cellular morphology, exopolymer chemistry, and protein expression of shearable and nonshearable fractions of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis biofilms were examined. Biofilms were grown at a laminar flow velocity of 0.07 cm·s–1for ~120 h, resulting in biofilms with a thickness (mean ± SD) of 43 ± 24 µm. An empirically determined shear-inducing flow (1.33 cm·s–1) was then applied for 5 min, effectively reducing biofilm thickness by ~70% and leaving 13 ± 6 µm of nonshearable material and allowing fractionation of biofilm material into shearable and nonshearable regions. In situ lectin binding analyses revealed that there was no significant difference in the exopolymer glycoconjugate composition of the shearable and nonshearable biofilm zones. Length to width indices of cells from nonshearable and shearable biofilm regions as well as planktonic cells from biofilm effluent and continuous culture were determined to be 3.2, 2.3, 2.2, and 1.7, respectively, indicating that the cells in the shearable fraction were morphologically more similar to planktonic cells than the cells in the nonshearable biofilm fraction. Enhanced expression of proteins involved in cold shock response, adaptation, and broad regulatory functions (CspA, GrcA, and Hns, respectively) in cells from the shearable region as well as protein translation and modification and enhanced expression of protein involved in heat shock response and chaperonin function (DnaK) in cells from the nonshearable region revealed that the physiological status of cells in the two biofilm regions was distinct. This was also reflected in the different morphologies of cells from the two biofilm zones. Stratified patterns of cell metabolism and morphology in biofilms, obtained using shear-induced biofilm fractionation, may yield important information of how cells of deeply embedded biofilm bacteria survive imposed conditions of stress such as treatment with antimicrobial agents or antibiotics.
Cloning, sequence analysis, and expression of gene alyPI encoding an alginate lyase from marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. CY24
Authors: Duan Gaofei , Han Feng , Yu Wengong 
Published: November 2009

The alginate lyase encoding gene (alyPI) of marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. CY24 was cloned using a battery of PCR techniques. Gene alyPI was composed of a 1575 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 57.4 kDa containing 524 amino acid residues with a signal peptide of 23 amino acids. The AlyPI protein was expressed in Escherichia coli with a His-tag sequence fused at the C-terminal end and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity using Ni-sepharose affinity chromatography. AlyPI was most active at 40 °C and pH 7.0 in the presencce of 0.1 mol/L NaCl and stable over a broad range of pH, 6.0–10.6. The presence of Na+, K+, Mn2+, Ca2+, and Fe3+ can enhance the enzyme activity. The alginate lyase consensus region YFKAGXYXQ, regarded as a striking feature at the C termini of several alginate lyase of ~30 kDa, was found in AlyPI, which belongs to the ~60 kDa group. Another nine amino acid consensus region, YXRSELREM, only found in G-specific alginate lyases previously existed in AlyPI, which could degrade sodium alginate, M blocks, and G blocks and appeared to be a broad substrate-specific alginate lyase.
TheBCG1619cgene is not essential for invasion and intracellular persistence ofMycobacterium bovisBCG in human THP-1 and A549 cell lines
Authors: Florio Walter , Brancatisano Franca Lisa , Bottai Daria , Esin Semih , Di Luca Mariagrazia , Counoupas Claudio , Maisetta Giuseppantonio , Lupetti Antonella , Batoni Giovanna , Campa Mario 
Published: November 2009

The BCG1619c gene of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) encodes for a 24 kDa invasin-like protein and is identical to the Rv1566c gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis . To assess whether this protein was necessary for entry and (or) intracellular persistence in professional phagocytes and (or) in lung epithelial cells, a BCG1619c knockout mutant of M. bovis BCG was generated and compared with the parental BCG strain for its ability to infect and multiply in human monocyte derived THP-1 cells and in the lung epithelial cell line A549. No significant difference between the mutated and the parental BCG strain was observed in either of these in vitro infection systems, indicating that the BCG1619c gene is not essential for cell invasion and intracellular growth of BCG.
Fibrinolytic enzymes from a newly isolated marine bacteriumBacillus subtilisA26: characterization and statistical media optimization
Authors: Agrebi Rym , Haddar Anissa , Hajji Mohamed , Frikha Fakher , Manni Laila , Jellouli Kemel , Nasri Moncef 
Published: November 2009

A fibrinolytic enzyme producing bacterium was isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis A26 on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The fibrin zymography analysis reveals the presence of at least three fibrinolytic enzymes. The crude enzyme exhibited maximal activity at 60 °C and pH 8.0. Medium composition and culture conditions for the enzyme production by B. subtilis A26 were optimized using two statistical methods. The Plackett–Burman statistical design was applied to find the key ingredients and conditions for the best yield of enzyme production. Five significant variables (hulled grain of wheat, casein peptone, NaCl, CaCl2, and initial pH) were selected for the optimization studies. The response surface methodological approach was used to determine the optimal concentrations and conditions. The optimized medium contained 40.0 g·L–1hulled grain of wheat, 3.53 g·L–1casein peptone, 4.0 g·L–1CaCl2, 3.99 g·L–1NaCl, 0.01 g·L–1MgSO4, and 0.01 g·L–1KH2PO4, pH 7.78. The medium optimization resulted in a 4.2-fold increased level of fibrinolytic production (269.36 U·mL–1) compared with that obtained with the initial medium (63.45 U·mL–1). A successful and significant improvement in the production of protease by the A26 strain was accomplished using inexpensive carbon substrate (hulled grain of wheat), allowing a significant reduction in the cost of medium constituents.
The effects of tea polyphenols onCandida albicans: inhibition of biofilm formation and proteasome inactivation
Authors: Evensen Nikki A. , Braun Phyllis C. 
Published: November 2009

The adherence of Candida albicans to one another and to various host and biomaterial surfaces is an important prerequisite for the colonization and pathogenesis of this organism. Cells in established biofilms exhibit different phenotypic traits and are inordinately resistant to antimicrobial agents. Recent studies have shown that black and green tea polyphenols exhibit both antimicrobial and strong cancer-preventive properties. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of these polyphenols on C. albicans. Standard growth curves demonstrated a 40% reduction in the growth rate constant (K) with a 2 mg/mL concentration of Polyphenon 60, a green tea extract containing a mixture of polyphenolic compounds. Cultures treated with 1.0 µmol/L –(–)epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol, displayed a 75% reduction of viable cells during biofilm formation. Established biofilms treated with EGCG were also reduced, by 80%, as determined through XTT (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide) colorimetric assays. Identical concentrations of epigallocatechin and epicatechin-3-gallate demonstrated similar biofilm inhibition. Further investigations regarding the possible mechanism of polyphenol action indicate that in vivo proteasome activity was significantly decreased when catechin-treated yeast cells were incubated with a fluorogenic peptide substrate that measured proteasomal chymotrypsin-like and peptidyl-glutamyl peptide-hydrolyzing activities. Impairment of proteasomal activity by tea polyphenols contributes to cellular metabolic and structural disruptions that expedite the inhibition of biofilm formation and maintenance by C. albicans.
Molecular and morphological markers for rapid distinction between 2 Colletotrichum species
Authors: Pileggi Sônia Alvim Veiga , Vieira de Oliveira Sarah Franco , Andrade Caroline Waculicz , Vicente Vânia Aparecida , Dalzoto Patrícia do Rocio , Kniphoff da Cruz Gerson , Gabardo Juarez , Massola Nelson Sidnei , Tozze Hugo José , Pileggi Marcos , Kava-Cordeiro Vanessa , Galli-Terasawa Lygia Vitória , Pimentel Ida Chapaval , Stringari Danyelle , Glienke Chirlei 
Published: November 2009

Endophytic microorganisms reside asymptomatically within plants and are a source of new bioactive products for use in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Colletotrichum (teleomorph Glomerella ) is a fungus widely cited in the literature as a producer of antimicrobial substances. Identification at the species level, however, has been a problem in this type of study. Several authors have reported the presence of endophytic fungi from the medicinal plant Maytenus ilicifolia (“espinheira-santa”) in Brazil that has antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. Therefore, Colletotrichum strains were isolated from M. ilicifolia and identified based on morphology, RAPD markers, sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS-1 and ITS-2), the 5.8S gene, and species-specific PCR. The analyses suggested the presence of 2 species, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum boninense . Two morphological markers were characterized to allow C. gloeosporioides and C. boninense to be distinguished quickly and accurately. The molecular diagnosis of C. boninense was confirmed by using Col1 and ITS4 primers. This species of Colletotrichum is reported for the first time in M. ilicifolia.
A refrigeration temperature of 4 °C does not prevent static growth of Yersinia pestis in heart infusion broth
Authors: Torosian Stephen D. , Regan Patrick M. , Doran Tara , Taylor Michael A. , Margolin Aaron 
Published: November 2009

Multiple barriers such as inspections, testing, and proper storage conditions are used to minimize the risk of contaminated food. Knowledge of which barriers, such as refrigeration, are effective in preventing pathogen growth and persistence, can help direct the focus of efforts during food sampling. In this study, the doubling times were evaluated for 10 strains of Yersinia pestis of different genetic background cultured in heart infusion broth (HIB) kept at 4 °C ± 1 °C under static conditions. Nine out of the 10 strains were able to grow at 4 °C ± 1 °C. Apparent doubling times for 7 of the strains ranged from 41 to 50 h. Strain Harbin and strain D1 had apparent doubling times of 65 and 35 h, respectively, and strain O19 Ca–6 did not grow at all. Analysis of variance showed that the averaged growth data (colony forming units per mL) between strains that grew were not significantly different. The data presented here demonstrate that refrigeration alone is not an effective barrier to prevent static growth of Y. pestis in HIB. These findings provide the preliminary impetus to investigate Y. pestis growth in a variety of food matrices that may provide a similar environment as HIB.
Detection of Yersinia pestis over time in seeded bottled water samples by cultivation on heart infusion agar
Authors: Torosian Stephen D. , Regan Patrick M. , Taylor Michael A. , Margolin Aaron 
Published: November 2009

The viable persistence of Yersinia pestis seeded in bottled spring water was evaluated by performing 2 studies that involved inoculating a total of 21 different test strains into individual 500 mL reservoirs. Approximately 2 × 104 CFU/mL of Y. pestis was inoculated into each reservoir and held for sampling at 26 °C ± 1 °C. In study No. 2, 9 strains (Harbin, Nepal, UNH 1A, UNH 1B, ZE94, CO92, PB6, PB6 DP, and Pexu) could no longer be recovered using a plate count assay between 79 and 138 days post-seeding; other strains (K25 lcr, O19 Ca–6, and K25 pst) could no longer be recovered between 112 and 160 days post seeding. The data generated in this study demonstrate that certain strains of Y. pestis can remain viable in bottled water for extended periods of time.
The isocitrate dehydrogenase gene of oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi is linked to lipid accumulation
Authors: Tang Wei , Zhang Sufang , Wang Qian , Tan Haidong , Zhao Zongbao Kent 
Published: November 2009

The oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi can accumulate intracellular lipids to over 60% of its cell dry mass under a nitrogen-limited condition. We showed that extracellular and intracellular citrate concentrations of L. starkeyi AS 2.1560 increased and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide – isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+–IDH) activity decreased at the beginning of the lipid accumulation, suggesting that the attenuation of the NAD+–IDH activity might initiate lipid storage. We next cloned the IDH gene by the methods of degenerate PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Phylogenetic analyses of the evolutionary relationships among LsIDH1, LsIDH2, and other yeast NAD+–IDHs revealed that the L. starkeyi IDH had a closer relationship with the IDHs of Yarrowia lipolytica . Further real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of both LsIDH1 and LsIDH2 decreased concurrently with the evolution of cellular lipids. Our data should be valuable for understanding the biology of oleaginous yeasts and for further strain engineering of L. starkeyi.
Strain construction for enhanced production of spinosad via intergeneric protoplast fusion
Authors: Wang Chao , Zhang XiaoLin , Chen Zhi , Wen Ying , Song Yuan 
Published: November 2009

Spinosad is a new class of insecticides produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa . The aim of this study was to construct a starch-utilizing strain that overproduced spinosad by intergeneric fusion between S. spinosa and Streptomyces avermitilis . Protoplast fusion is an important technique for engineering microbial strains, especially for microorganisms with few available molecular genetic tools. Protoplast fusion was conducted with UV-irradiated protoplasts of S. spinosa and S. avermitilis. Among 76 recombinants screened by ESI-MS and HPLC, a starch-utilizing strain F17, identified as S. spinosa, was obtained. The yield of spinosad in F17 was increased by 447.22%, compared with the yield of the wild-type strain. This is the first report of intergeneric protoplast fusion between S. spinosa and S. avermilitis, which shows great potential for industrial applications.
Compensatory periplasmic nitrate reductase activity supports anaerobic growth ofPseudomonas aeruginosaPAO1 in the absence of membrane nitrate reductase
Authors: Van Alst Nadine E. , Sherrill Lani A. , Iglewski Barbara H. , Haidaris Constantine G. 
Published: November 2009

Nitrate serves as a terminal electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Reduction of nitrate to nitrite generates a transmembrane proton motive force allowing ATP synthesis and anaerobic growth. The inner membrane-bound nitrate reductase NarGHI is encoded within the narK1K2GHJI operon, and the periplasmic nitrate reductase NapAB is encoded within the napEFDABC operon. The roles of the 2 dissimilatory nitrate reductases in anaerobic growth, and the regulation of their expressions, were examined by use of a set of deletion mutants in P. aeruginosa PAO1. NarGHI mutants were unable to grow anaerobically, but plate cultures remained viable up to 120 h. In contrast, the nitrate sensor-response regulator mutant ΔnarXL displayed growth arrest initially, but resumed growth after 72 h and reached the early stationary phase in liquid culture after 120 h. Genetic, transcriptional, and biochemical studies demonstrated that anaerobic growth recovery by the NarXL mutant was the result of NapAB periplasmic nitrate reductase expression. A novel transcriptional start site for napEFDABC expression was identified in the NarXL mutant grown anaerobically. Furthermore, mutagenesis of a consensus NarL-binding site monomer upstream of the novel transcriptional start site restored anaerobic growth recovery in the NarXL mutant. The data suggest that during anaerobic growth of wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1, the nitrate response regulator NarL directly represses expression of periplasmic nitrate reductase, while inducing maximal expression of membrane nitrate reductase.
Optimization of medium and cultivation conditions forl-amino acid oxidase production byAspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Singh Susmita , Gogoi B. K. , Bezbaruah R. L. 
Published: November 2009

A fungal strain was selected from the microbial repository of the North-East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, India, which could produce a high yield of l-amino acid oxidase. 18SrRNA, ITS1, 5.8SrRNA ITS2, and partial 28 S rRNA sequencing and phenotypic characteristics indicate that it belong to the species Aspergillus fumigatus (designated as P13). Maximum production of enzyme (59.55 × 10−3 U/mg dry cell mass) was obtained in a medium containing 10 g/L glucose, 4 g/L yeast extract, and 4 g/L ammonium sulfate, with 20 mmol/L of l-threonine as the inducer. The optimum temperature for enzyme production was 30 °C at pH 7.0, with a shaking speed of 200 r/min. At 96 h, the enzyme activity was maximum. The A. fumigatus P13 l-amino acid oxidase accepts a broad substrate range, and the maximum enzyme activity (20.41 × 10−3 U/mg dry cell mass) was obtained with 50 mmol/L of dl-tyrosine. In the literature, no reports have been found regarding the production of l-amino acid oxidase by A. fumigatus. The enzyme showed enantiomerically pure amino acid formation, which has tremendous demand in industrial applications.