bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ag‐Loaded WO3 Ceramic Nanomaterials: Characterization and Moisture Sensing Studies
Authors: Pandey Narendra Kumar , Tiwari Karunesh , Roy Akash , Mishra Aradhana , Govindan Anil 
Published: March 2012

Pellet samples of 0–4% weight Ag‐loaded WO3 prepared through soft chemical route were sintered at 700°C and exposed to humidity. Resistance of the pellets decreased with increase in relative humidity. Sensitivity increased with increase in the % loading of Ag. Four percent Ag‐loaded WO3 showed maximum sensitivity of 2.38 MΩ/% RH in 20–90% relative humidity range. This sensing element manifests highest crystallinity as well as maximum void concentration. Hysteresis and repeatability for this sensing element after 6 months are within ±2%. A polynomial fit of the humidification data revealed a strong correlation between resistance and relative humidity.
Effect of Polyacrylic Acid Addition on Rheology of SiC‐Al2O3‐ZrO2(3Y) Mixed Suspensions
Authors: Zhang Ning , Liang Bin , Zhao Xiaojun , Cui Xingyu , Kan Hongmin , Liu Hao 
Published: March 2012

A suspension with good rheology and high stability is crucial for slip casting and gelcasting technology. However, a mixed suspension from two or more different powders usually has bad rheology because of the easy agglomeration of mixed powders caused by the attractive force between the powders with heterocharges. We studied the surface modification of the each single‐component powders (SiC, Al2O3, ZrO2(3Y) powders) and the SiC‐Al2O3‐ZrO2(3Y) mixed powders to increase the repulsive force by adjusting the pH value and adding polyacrylic acid (PAA) as dispersant. The PAA addition effects on the SiC‐Al2O3‐ZrO2(3Y) mixture were investigated in terms of zeta potential, pH range for heterocharge region, dispersion of the mixed powders and rheology of the mixed slurry based on the study of each unary suspensions. The results show that before surface modification the SiC‐Al2O3‐ZrO2(3Y) mixed powders were agglomerated severely because they were in the heterocharge region with a broad pH range from 3.5 to 8.25, while after surface modification (pH = 10.5, PAA = 0.8wt%) the heterocharge region was narrowed with a relatively narrower pH range from 2.6 to 3.7. The mixed powders with homocharges were dispersed well because of the great electrostatic repulsive force and steric hindrance offered by PAA and the mixed suspensions had favorable rheology.
Influence of Phenolic Resin Impregnation on the Properties of Reaction‐Bonded Silicon Carbide
Authors: Luo Zhaohua , Jiang Dongliang , Zhang Jingxian , Lin Qingling , Chen Zhongming , Huang Zhengren 
Published: March 2012

Reaction‐bonded silicon carbide ceramics fabricated from tape casting and Si infiltration have been reported in previous studies. To reduce the residual Si content in the sintered bodies, impregnation of phenol–formaldehyde resin (PF) into the porous green preforms before Si infiltration was proposed and studied in this work. The impregnation of PF solution not only helped to reduce the porosity and increase the carbon content of the green preforms, but also improved their strength. As a result, the flexural strength of the RBSC increased a lot and reached 856 ± 161MPa, whereas the residual Si content was reduced to 10 vol%.
Narrative Ethics
Authors: Roberts Robert 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis paper explores the relationships between philosophical ethics and literary narratives. The focus on virtues and vices in recent ethics has made narratives more integrally relevant to ethics. Some of the best literature displays moral (and immoral) character in richer ways than philosophy alone has resources to do, but philosophy brings to its description a schematic precision that narrative alone cannot supply. As traits of character, virtues differ from events like the actions, thoughts, emotions, and episodic desires that express the traits; traits are not episodes, but dispositions, and so require cumulative diachronic representation of such episodes. The paper illustrates this point particularly with respect to emotions. It ends with reflections on the constitutive narratives by which the grammar of the virtues of some moral traditions, such as Judaism and Christianity, is shaped.
Stable performance of non‐aerated two‐stage partial nitritation/anammox (PANAM) with minimal process control
Authors: Bagchi Samik , Biswas Rima , Vlaeminck Siegfried E. , Roychoudhury Kunal , Nandy Tapas 
Published: March 2012

SummaryPartial nitritation/anammox (PANAM) technologies have rapidly developed over the last decade, but still considerable amounts of energy are required for active aeration. In this study, a non‐aerated two‐stage PANAM process was investigated. In the first‐stage upflow fixed‐film bioreactor, nitratation could not be prevented at ammonium loading rates up to 186 mg N l−1 d−1 and low influent dissolved oxygen (0.1 mg O2 l−1). Yet, increasing the loading rate to 416 and 747 mg N l−1 d−1 by decreasing the hydraulic retention time to 8 and 5 h, respectively, resulted in partial nitritation with the desired nitrite to ammonium nitrogen ratio for the subsequent anammox stage (0.71–1.05). The second‐stage anammox reactor was established with a synthetic feeding based on ammonium and nitrite. After establishing anammox at low biomass content (0.5 g VSS l−1), the anammox influent was switched to partial nitritation effluent at a loading rate of 71 mg N l−1 d−1, of which 78% was removed at the stoichiometrically expected nitrite to ammonium consumption ratios (1.19) and nitrate production to ammonium consumption ratio (0.24). The combined PANAM reactors were operated for 3 months at a stable performance. Overall, PANAM appeals economically, saving about 50% of the energy costs, as well as technically, given straightforward operational principles.
Interkingdom adenosine signal reduces Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenicity
Authors: Sheng Lili , Pu Mingming , Hegde Manjunath , Zhang Yuanxing , Jayaraman Arul , Wood Thomas K. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryPseudomonas aeruginosa is becoming recognized as an important pathogen in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Here we demonstrate that adenosine, derived from hydrolysis of ATP from the eucaryotic host, is a potent interkingdom signal in the GI tract for this pathogen. The addition of adenosine nearly abolished P. aeruginosa biofilm formation and abolished swarming by preventing production of rhamnolipids. Since the adenosine metabolite inosine did not affect biofilm formation and since a mutant unable to metabolize adenosine behaved like the wild‐type strain, adenosine metabolism is not required to reduce pathogenicity. Adenosine also reduces production of the virulence factors pyocyanin, elastase, extracellular polysaccharide, siderophores and the Pseudomonas quinolone signal which led to reduced virulence with Caenorhabditis elegans. To provide insights into how adenosine reduces the virulence of P. aeruginosa, a whole‐transcriptome analysis was conducted which revealed that adenosine addition represses genes similar to an iron‐replete condition; however, adenosine did not directly bind Fur. Therefore, adenosine decreases P. aeruginosa pathogenicity as an interkingdom signal by causing genes related to iron acquisition to be repressed.
Effect of weight loss after gastric bypass surgery on thyroid function in euthyroid people with morbid obesity
Authors: MacCuish A. , Razvi S. , Syed A. A. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryObesity is positively associated with serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations at the high end of the normal range. The relationship between weight loss and thyroid function is less clear and studies to date have yielded inconsistent results. Our aim was to describe changes in thyroid function in obese people in relation to durable and significant weight loss after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. We recorded percentage of excess weight loss (% EWL), serum TSH and free thyroxine (fT4) before and median 4.5, 15 and 24 months after RYGB in 55 euthyroid patients with morbid obesity ranging in age from 18 to 64 years in a retrospective cohort analysis in a university hospital in Greater Manchester. Mean ± standard error preoperative weight was 135.13 ± 4.23 kg and BMI 48.08 ± 1.58 kg m−2. Patients attained nadir %EWL of 68% by median 15 months after RYGB. TSH was 2.00 ± 0.14 mU L−1 at baseline and 2.02 ± 0.22 mU L−1 at 24 months after RYGB (non‐significant). Baseline fT4 was 13.46 ± 0.28 pmol L−1, and increased significantly to 15.14 ± 0.55 pmol L−1 at 24 months (P < 0.004). In conclusion, we report that weight loss after RYGB was accompanied by significant increase in serum fT4 but no change in TSH concentrations. Further study to elucidate the effect of significant weight loss on the thyroid axis is required.
A systematic review of simulated-patient methods used in community pharmacy to assess the provision of non-prescription medicines
Authors: Xu Tina , de Almeida Neto Abilio C , Moles Rebekah J 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Objective
To explore the use of simulated-patient methods in community pharmacy for non-prescription medicines.

Methods
The databases IPA (International Pharmaceutical Abstracts), EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched for articles published between 1990 and 2010 outlining studies using simulated-patient methods.

Key findings
Thirty studies from 31 articles were reviewed. The majority used simulated-patient methods to purely assess counselling behaviour of pharmacy staff, rather than as an opportunity to provide educational feedback to improve counselling behaviour.

Conclusions
Few simulated-patient studies have incorporated performance feedback to encourage behavioural change and improve counselling skills. Studies that incorporated feedback did not provide sufficient detail, and few studies have explored participant perceptions. Additionally, very few studies have employed scenarios involving children's medicines. Future studies should test the feasibility of using the simulated-patient method, with appropriate performance feedback and describe participant perceptions of the value and acceptability of this training method.
Impact of Prior Inappropriate Fluconazole Dosing on Isolation of Fluconazole-Nonsusceptible Candida Species in Hospitalized Patients with Candidemia
Authors: Shah Dhara N. , Yau Raymond , Lasco Todd M. , Weston Jaye , Salazar Miguel , Palmer Hannah R. , Garey Kevin W. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Prior use of fluconazole is a modifiable risk factor for the isolation of fluconazole-nonsusceptible
Candida
species. Optimization of the use of fluconazole by appropriate dose or duration may be able to minimize the risk of resistance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of prior fluconazole therapy, including the dose and duration, on fluconazole susceptibility among
Candida
species isolated from hospitalized patients with candidemia. A retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with a first occurrence of nosocomial candidemia, from 2006 to 2009, was carried out. The relationships between the initial dose and duration of prior fluconazole therapy and the isolation of fluconazole-nonsusceptible
Candida
species were assessed. An initial fluconazole dose greater than 2 mg/kg and less than 6 mg/kg of body weight was considered suboptimal. A total of 177 patients were identified, of whom 133 patients aged 61 ± 16 years (56% male, 51% Caucasian, 51% with an APACHE II score of ≥15) had candidemia more than 2 days after the hospital admission day. Nine of 107 (8%) patients with fluconazole-susceptible
Candida
species and 9 of 26 (35%) patients with fluconazole-nonsusceptible
Candida
species had prior fluconazole exposure (risk ratio [RR], 3.03; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.57 to 5.86;
P
, 0.0022). Preexposure with an initial dose of fluconazole greater than 2 mg/kg and less than 6 mg/kg occurred in 3 of 9 (33%) and 8 of 9 (89%) patients with fluconazole-susceptible and fluconazole-nonsusceptible
Candida
species, respectively (
P
, 0.0498). We conclude that patients with candidemia due to fluconazole-nonsusceptible
Candida
species were more likely to have received prior fluconazole therapy. Suboptimal initial dosing of prior fluconazole therapy was associated with candidemia with fluconazole-nonsusceptible
Candida
species.
Efficacy of Combined Therapy with Liposome-Encapsulated Meglumine Antimoniate and Allopurinol in Treatment of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis
Authors: da Silva Sydnei M. , Amorim Izabela F. G. , Ribeiro Raul R. , Azevedo Erly G. , Demicheli Cynthia , Melo Maria N. , Tafuri Wagner L. , Gontijo Nelder F. , Michalick Marilene S. M. , Frézard Frédéric 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

An innovative liposomal formulation of meglumine antimoniate (LMA) was recently reported to promote both long-term parasite suppression and reduction of infectivity to sand flies in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis. However, 5 months after treatment, parasites were still found in the bone marrow of all treated dogs. In order to improve treatment with LMA, the present study aimed to evaluate its efficacy in combination with allopurinol. Mongrel dogs naturally infected with
Leishmania infantum
were treated with six doses of LMA (6.5 mg Sb/kg of body weight/dose) given at 4-day intervals, plus allopurinol (20 mg/kg/24 h
per os
) for 140 days. Comparison was made with groups treated with LMA, allopurinol, empty liposomes plus allopurinol, empty liposomes, and saline. Dogs remained without treatment from day 140 to 200 after the start of treatment. The drug combination promoted both clinical improvement of dogs and significant reduction in the parasitic load in bone marrow and spleen on days 140 and 200 compared to these parameters in the pretreatment period. This is in contrast with the other protocols, which did not result in significant reduction of the bone marrow parasite load on day 200. Strikingly, the combined treatment, in contrast to the other regimens, induced negative quantitative PCR (qPCR) results in the liver of 100% of the dogs. Both xenodiagnosis and skin parasite determination by qPCR indicated that the drug combination was effective in blocking the transmission of skin parasites to sand flies. Based on all of the parasitological tests performed on day 200, 50% of the animals that received the combined treatment were considered cured.
The Maltose ABC Transporter in Lactococcus lactis Facilitates High-Level Sensitivity to the Circular Bacteriocin Garvicin ML
Authors: Gabrielsen Christina , Brede Dag A. , Hernández Pablo E. , Nes Ingolf F. , Diep Dzung B. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

We generated and characterized a series of spontaneous mutants of
Lactococcus lactis
IL1403 with average 6- to 11-fold-lowered sensitivities to the circular bacteriocin garvicin ML (GarML). Carbohydrate fermentation assays highlighted changes in carbohydrate metabolism, specifically loss of the ability to metabolize starch and maltose, in these mutants. PCR and sequencing showed that a 13.5-kb chromosomal deletion encompassing 12 open reading frames, mainly involved in starch and maltose utilization, had spontaneously occurred in the GarML-resistant mutants. Growth experiments revealed a correlation between sensitivity to GarML and carbon catabolite repression (CCR); i.e., sensitivity to GarML increased significantly when wild-type cells were grown on maltose and galactose as sole carbohydrates, an effect which was alleviated by the presence of glucose. Among the genes deleted in the mutants were
malEFG
, which encode a CCR-regulated membrane-bound maltose ABC transporter. The complementation of mutants with these three genes recovered normal sensitivity to the bacteriocin, suggesting an essential role of the maltose ABC transporter in the antimicrobial activity of GarML. This notion was supported by the fact that the level of sensitivity to GarML was dose dependent, increasing with higher expression levels of
malEFG
over a 50-fold range. To our knowledge, this is the first time a specific protein complex has been demonstrated to be involved in sensitivity to a circular bacteriocin.
Further Insights into the Mode of Action of the Lipoglycopeptide Telavancin through Global Gene Expression Studies
Authors: Song Yang , Lunde Christopher S. , Benton Bret M. , Wilkinson Brian J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Telavancin is a novel semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide derivative of vancomycin with a decylaminoethyl side chain that is active against Gram-positive bacteria, including
Staphylococcus aureus
strains resistant to methicillin or vancomycin. A dual mechanism of action has been proposed for telavancin involving inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis and membrane depolarization. Here we report the results of genome-wide transcriptional profiling of the response of
S. aureus
to telavancin using microarrays. Short (15-min) challenge of
S. aureus
with telavancin revealed strong expression of the cell wall stress stimulon, a characteristic response to inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis. In the transcriptome obtained after 60-min telavancin challenge, in addition to induction of the cell wall stress stimulon, there was induction of various genes, including
lrgA
and
lrgB
, lysine biosynthesis operon (
dap
) genes,
vraD
and
vraE
, and
hlgC
, that have been reported to be induced by known membrane-depolarizing and active agents, including carbonyl cyanide
m
-chlorophenylhydrazone, daptomycin, bacitracin, and other antimicrobial peptides These genes were either not induced or only weakly induced by the parent molecule vancomycin. We suggest that expression of these genes is a response of the cell to mitigate and detoxify such molecules and is diagnostic of a membrane-depolarizing or membrane-active molecule. The results indicate that telavancin causes early and significant induction of the cell wall stress stimulon due to strong inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis, with evidence in support of membrane depolarization and membrane activity that is expressed after a longer duration of drug treatment.
Dysfunction of Natural Killer T Cells in Patients with Active Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
Authors: Kee Seung-Jung , Kwon Yong-Soo , Park Yong-Wook , Cho Young-Nan , Lee Sung-Ji , Kim Tae-Jong , Lee Shin-Seok , Jang Hee-Chang , Shin Myung-Geun , Shin Jong-Hee , Suh Soon-Pal , Ryang Dong-Wook 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are known to play a protective role in the immune responses of mice against a variety of infectious pathogens. However, little is known about the detailed information of NKT cells in patients with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection. The aims of this study were to examine NKT cell levels and functions in patients with active
M. tuberculosis
infection, to investigate relationships between NKT cell levels and clinical parameters, and to determine the mechanism responsible for the poor response to α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). NKT cell levels were significantly lower in the peripheral blood of pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients, and the proliferative responses of NKT cells to α-GalCer were also lower in patients, whereas NKT cell levels and responses were comparable in latent tuberculosis infection subjects and healthy controls. Furthermore, this NKT cell deficiency was found to be correlated with serum C-reactive protein levels. In addition, the poor response to α-GalCer in
M. tuberculosis
-infected patients was found to be due to increased NKT cell apoptosis, reduced CD1d expression, and a defect in NKT cells. Notably,
M. tuberculosis
infection was associated with an elevated expression of the inhibitory programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor on NKT cells, and blockade of PD-1 signaling enhanced the response to α-GalCer. This study shows that NKT cell levels and functions are reduced in
M. tuberculosis
-infected patients and these deficiencies were found to reflect the presence of active tuberculosis.
A retrospective cross-sectional study of risk factors and clinical spectrum of children admitted to hospital with pandemic H1N1 influenza as compared to influenza A
Authors: Morris Shaun K , Parkin Patricia , Science Michelle , Subbarao Padmaja , Yau Yvonne , O'Riordan Sean , Barton Michelle , Allen Upton D , Tran Dat 
Published: March 2012

ObjectiveTo compare risk factors for severe disease as measured by admission to hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) and other clinical outcomes in children with pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) versus those with seasonal influenza.DesignRetrospective analysis of children admitted to hospital with pH1N1 versus seasonal influenza A.SettingCanadian tertiary referral children's hospital.ParticipantsAll laboratory-identified cases of pH1N1 in children younger than 18 years admitted to hospital in 2009 (n=176) and all seasonal influenza A cases admitted to hospital from influenza seasons 2004–2005 to 2008–2009 (n=200). Children with onset of symptoms more than 3 days after admission were excluded.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcomes include admission to hospital and ICU and need for mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes include length of stay in hospital and duration of supplemental oxygen requirement.ResultsChildren admitted with pH1N1 were older than seasonal influenza A admissions (hospital admission: 6.5 vs 3.3 years, p<0.01; ICU admission: 7.3 vs 3.6 years, p=0.02). Children hospitalised with pH1N1 were more likely to have a pre-existing diagnosis of asthma (15% vs 5%, p<0.01); however, there was no difference in the severity of pre-existing asthma between the two groups. After controlling for obesity, asthma (OR 4.59, 95% CI 1.42 to 14.81) and age ≥5 years (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.60 to 5.16) were more common risk factors in admitted children with pH1N1. Asthma was a significant predictor of the need for intensive care in patients with pH1N1 (OR 4.56, 95% CI 1.16 to 17.89) but not in patients with seasonal influenza A.ConclusionWhile most pH1N1 cases presented with classic influenza-like symptoms, risk factors for severe pH1N1 disease differed from seasonal influenza A. Older age and asthma were associated with increased admission to hospital and ICU for children with pH1N1.
Do emergency physicians and radiologists reliably interpret pelvic radiographs obtained as part of a trauma series?
Authors: Bent Clare , Chicklore Sugama , Newton Alastair , Habig Karel , Harris Tim 
Published: March 2012

IntroductionInterpretation of pelvic radiography is an important component of the primary survey and is commonly performed by emergency physicians. Radiologists bring unique skills to trauma care, including choice of imaging modality and image interpretation. It is not clear if this limited resource is most efficiently used in the resuscitation room. No studies have compared radiologists and trauma clinicians in their ability to interpret pelvic radiographs following trauma.ObjectiveTo determine the sensitivity and specificity of trauma experienced and trauma inexperienced emergency physicians in detecting pelvic fractures compared with radiologists, the latter subgroup combined report being used as the gold standard.Setting and methodsProspective cohort study conducted in two large teaching hospitals in central London. All participants reviewed 144 consecutive pelvic radiographs performed each as part of a ‘trauma series’ and known to have undergone concomitant pelvic CT imaging.ResultsNo statistically significant difference was found between radiologists and emergency physicians from a trauma centre in pelvic radiograph interpretation. Radiologist reporting was associated with an improved specificity compared with emergency physicians working in a non-trauma hospital (p=0.049). The study population missed 30% of fractures on plain radiography against the gold standard of CT.DiscussionThe ability to interpret trauma series pelvic radiographs is comparable between emergency physicians and radiologists. If this were also true of trauma chest radiographs, then the most valuable use of the radiologist may not be the resuscitation room but in rapid reporting of more complex imaging techniques. However, plain radiography is insensitive for pelvic fracture detection compared with CT, even in expert hands.