bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct starch conversion into L‐(+)‐lactic acid by a novel amylolytic strain of Lactobacillus paracasei B41
Authors: Petrova Penka , Petrov Kaloyan 
Published: September 2011

AbstractA new amylolytic strain of Lactobacillus paracasei able to convert starch directly into L‐(+)‐lactic acid (LA) was isolated. The identification of the by 16S rDNA sequencing proved that this strain, B41, is the first amylolytic representative of Lactobacillus casei group. The amylase activity assay revealed that L. paracasei B41 produced extracellular amylolytic enzyme, reaching 62 U/mL in the cell‐free supernatants. The optimal conditions for its action were pH 5.0 and temperature 45°C. The gene amy1 (1779 bp) encoding the putative B41 amylopullulanase was cloned, sequenced, and analyzed. The deduced protein contained a leader peptide of 28 amino acids and a mature peptide of 564 amino acids. Compared to the amylases of closely related species, B41 enzyme had several amino acid substitutions. An inducible control at amy1 expression was demonstrated. The starch fermentation abilities of L. paracasei B41 were studied in batch processes performed with and without pH control. The highest amount of LA from starch was obtained during 48 h fermentation from 40 g/L substrate at pH maintained at 5.0–37.3 g/L. In addition, 93.3% starch conversion into LA and the highest reported productivity for 24 h were achieved – 1.30 g/L/h.
Influence of Surfactant Concentration on the Surface Morphology of Hollow Silica Microspheres and Its Explanation
Authors: Liu Shiquan , Wei Meiying , Cool Pegie , Van Oers Cynthia , Rao Jiancun 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe surface morphology of hollow silica microspheres has influence on their applications. After a thorough investigation of the deposition of silica nanoparticles on polystyrene (PS) beads and the surface morphology and texture of the resultant hollow silica shells with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and N2-sorption measurements, the influence of surfactant [cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)] concentration on the surface morphology of hollow silica microspheres templated by PS beads is explained. Previously, CTAB was believed to turn the surface charge of PS beads from negative into positive so that negatively charged silica could be deposited on the PS template. Here, we show CTA+ cations preferentially assemble with silica species to form silica-CTA+ composite nanoparticles. Since the zeta potential of silica-CTA+ composite nanoparticles is smaller than that of pure silica nanoparticles, these composite nanoparticles encounter less repulsion when they are deposited on the surface of PS beads and close to each other. As more CTAB is added, the silica-CTA+ nanoparticles are less negatively charged, and more compact and smooth hollow silica microspheres are obtained.
Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation versus endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment for choledocholithiasis: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Yangyang , Su Peizhu , Lin Siheng , Xiao Kun , Chen Pingyan , An Shengli , Zhi Fachao , Bai Yang 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) are two common nonsurgical treatments endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for choledocholithiasis. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of EPBD and EST in the treatment for choledocholithiasis, confining the analysis to work reported in the last decade.Methods:  The rate of overall postoperative complications was chosen as the primary outcome, and 10 other outcomes were secondary outcomes. Relative risk (RR) or Peto odds ratio (OR) were computed as the measures of pooled effects. We planned sensitivity analyses a priori for examining the change in robustness of the sensitivity to excluding studies with some inappropriate objects, technique defects or without full‐text acquisition.Results:  For complete stone removal, EPBD was similar to EST (95% vs. 96%, P = 0.36) and overall postoperative complications (14.0% vs. 11.7%, P = 0.53). The incidence of post‐ERCP cholangitis (2.5% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.40), basket impaction (0.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.16) and perforation (0.0% vs. 0.4%, P = 0.17) were equivalent between EPBD and EST. On the other hand, EPBD caused more post‐ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) (9.4% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.00001), but less hemorrhage (0.1% vs. 4.2%, P < 0.00001). People undergoing EPBD required more use of endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy (35.0% vs. 26.2%, P = 0.0004). The results of sensitivity analyses showed no substantial change.Conclusion:  EPBD is comparable to EST for stone extraction, though it requires more endoscopic mechanical lithotripsy (EML). EPBD may outweigh EST for patients with coagulopathy; however, it may cause more PEP.
TM‐25659 enhances osteogenic differentiation and suppresses adipogenic differentiation by modulating the transcriptional co‐activator TAZ
Authors: Jang EJ , Jeong H , Kang JO , Kim NJ , Kim MS , Choi SH , Yoo SE , Hong JH , Bae MA , Hwang ES 
Published: September 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The transcriptional co‐activator with PDZ‐binding motif (TAZ) is characterized as a transcriptional modulator of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Moreover, increased TAZ activity in the nucleus enhances osteoblast differentiation and suppresses adipocyte development by interacting with runt‐related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and PPARγ, respectively. Therefore, it would be of interest to identify low MW compounds that modulate nuclear TAZ activity.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH High‐throughput screening was performed using a library of low MW compounds in order to identify TAZ modulators that enhance nuclear TAZ localization. The effects and molecular mechanisms of a TAZ modulator have been characterized in osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation.KEY RESULTS We identified 2‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐6‐(pyridine‐3‐yl)‐3‐[2′‐(1H‐tetrazole‐5‐yl)‐biphenyl‐4‐ylmethyl]‐3H‐imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine] (TM‐25659) as a TAZ modulator. TM‐25659 enhanced nuclear TAZ localization in a dose‐dependent manner and attenuated PPARγ‐mediated adipocyte differentiation by facilitating PPARγ suppression activity of TAZ. In addition, TAZ‐induced RUNX2 activity activation was further increased in osteoblasts, causing increased osteoblast differentiation. Accordingly, TM‐25659 suppressed bone loss in vivo and decreased weight gain in an obesity model. After oral administration, TM‐25659 had a favourable pharmacokinetic profile.CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS TM‐25659 stimulated nuclear TAZ localization and thus caused TAZ to suppress PPARγ‐dependent adipogenesis and enhance RUNX2‐induced osteoblast differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that TM‐25659 could be beneficial in the control of obesity and bone loss.
Chronic Physical Conditions in Older Adults with Mental Illness and/ or Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Lin Wen‐Chieh , Zhang Jianying , Leung Gary Y. , Clark Robin E. 
Published: September 2011

ObjectivesTo examine the association between mental illness and chronic physical conditions in older adults and investigate whether co‐occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with greater risk of chronic physical conditions beyond mental illness alone.DesignA retrospective cross‐sectional study.SettingMedicare and Medicaid programs in Massachusetts.ParticipantsMassachusetts Medicare and Medicaid members aged 65 and older as of January 1, 2005 (N = 679,182).MeasurementsDiagnoses recorded on Medicare and Medicaid claims were used to identify mental illness, SUDs, and 15 selected chronic physical conditions.ResultsCommunity‐dwelling older adults with mental illness or SUDs had higher adjusted risk for 14 of the 15 selected chronic physical conditions than those without these disorders; the only exception was eye diseases. Moreover, those with co‐occurring SUDs and mental illness had the highest adjusted risk for 11 of these chronic conditions. For residents of long‐term care facilities, mental illness and SUDs were only moderately associated with the risk of chronic physical conditions.ConclusionCommunity‐dwelling older adults with mental illness or SUDs, particularly when they co‐occurred, had substantially greater medical comorbidity than those without these disorders. For residents of long‐term care facilities, the generally uniformly high medical comorbidity may have moderated this relationship, although their high prevalence of mental illness and SUDs signified greater healthcare needs. These findings strongly suggest the imminent need for integrating general medical care, mental health services, and addiction health services for older adults with mental illness or SUDs.
Increased intramuscular fat improves both ‘chewiness’ and ‘hardness’ as defined in ISO5492:1992 of beef Longissimus muscle of Holstein × Japanese Black F1 steers
Authors: SASAKI Keisuke , MOTOYAMA Michiyo , NARITA Takumi 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTIt is considered that high‐fat beef is more ‘tender’ than low‐fat beef in Japanese consumers. However, ‘tenderness’ which has been an important beef characteristic, has not been commonly defined. ISO5492:1992 provides internationally established items for sensory texture analysis with simple definitions, and the items classified under ‘chewiness’ and ‘hardness’ as defined in the international standard are characterized as useful texture descriptors for beef. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intramuscular fat on beef texture using the ISO5492 texture vocabulary. Longissimus muscles were harvested from Holstein × Japanese black F1 beef steers with different intramuscular fat levels and were subjected to sensory tests by a trained panel using ISO5492:1992 texture terms. Correspondence analysis indicated that the intramuscular fat level was related to both ‘chewiness’ and ‘hardness’ and the intensities of these characteristics decreased as intramuscular fat increased. These findings suggest that intramuscular fat improves both ‘chewiness’ and ‘hardness’ as defined in ISO5492:1992.
Plant‐frugivore interactions in an intact tropical forest in north‐east Thailand
Authors: SANKAMETHAWEE Wangworn , PIERCE Andrew J. , GALE George A. , HARDESTY Britta Denise 
Published: September 2011

AbstractFleshy‐fruited plants in tropical forests largely rely on vertebrate frugivores to disperse their seeds. Although this plant–animal interaction is typically considered a diffuse mutualism, it is fundamental as it provides the template on which tropical forest communities are structured. We applied a mutualistic network approach to investigate the relationship between small‐fruited fleshy plant species and the fruit‐eating bird community in an intact evergreen forest in northeast Thailand. A minimum of 53 bird species consumed fruits of 136 plant species. Plant‐avian frugivore networks were highly asymmetrical, with observed networks filling 30% of all potential links. Whereas some of the missing links in the present study might be due to undersampling, forbidden links can be attributed to size constraints, accessibility and phenological uncoupling, and although the majority of missing links were unknown (58.2%), many were probably due to a given bird species being either rare or only a very occasional fruit eater. The most common frugivores were bulbuls, barbets and fairy‐bluebirds, which were responsible for the majority of fruit removal from small fleshy fruited species in our system. Migratory birds seemed to be a minor component of the plant‐frugivore networks, accounting for only 3% of feeding visits to fruiting trees; they filled 2% of the overall potential networks. The majority of interactions were generalized unspecific; however, Saurauia roxburghii Wall. appeared to be dependent on flowerpeckers for dispersal, while Thick‐billed Pigeons were only seen to eat figs.
The Streptococcus iniae Transcriptional Regulator CpsY Is Required for Protection from Neutrophil-Mediated Killing and Proper Growth
In
Vitro
Authors: Allen Jonathan P. , Neely Melody N. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The ability of a pathogen to metabolically adapt to the local environment for optimal expression of virulence determinants is a continued area of research. Orthologs of the
Streptococcus iniae
LysR family regulator CpsY have been shown to regulate methionine biosynthesis and uptake pathways but appear to influence expression of several virulence genes as well. An
S. iniae
mutant with an in-frame deletion of
cpsY
(Δ
cpsY
mutant) is highly attenuated in a zebrafish infection model. The Δ
cpsY
mutant displays a methionine-independent growth defect in serum, which differs from the methionine-dependent defect observed for orthologous mutants of
Streptococcus mutans
and
Streptococcus agalactiae
. On the contrary, the Δ
cpsY
mutant can grow in excess of the wild type (WT) when supplemented with proteose peptone, suggesting an inability to properly regulate growth. CpsY is critical for protection of
S. iniae
from clearance by neutrophils in whole blood but is dispensable for intracellular survival in macrophages. Susceptibility of the Δ
cpsY
mutant to killing in whole blood is not due to a growth defect, because inhibition of neutrophil phagocytosis rescues the mutant to WT levels. Thus, CpsY appears to have a pleiotropic regulatory role for
S. iniae
, integrating metabolism and virulence. Furthermore,
S. iniae
provides a unique model to investigate the paradigm of CpsY-dependent regulation during systemic streptococcal infection.
Progression of Human Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma to Invasive Adenocarcinoma Is Modeled in a Transgenic Mouse Model of K-ras–Induced Lung Cancer by Loss of the TGF-β Type II Receptor
Authors: Borczuk Alain C. , Sole Marieta , Lu Ping , Chen Jinli , Wilgus May-Lin , Friedman Richard A. , Albelda Steven M. , Powell Charles A. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Clinical investigations have suggested that repression of the TGF-β type II receptor (TβRII) may be an important step in progression of lung adenocarcinoma from an indolent in situ state to a frank invasive carcinoma. To test this hypothesis, we compared the effects of deleting the murine homolog of this receptor (Tgfbr2) in a mouse model of mutant K-ras–induced lung carcinoma, which normally induces the formation of multifocal tumors of low invasive potential. In this model, loss of Tgfbr2 induced a highly invasive phenotype associated with lymph node metastasis and reduced survival. Tumor-associated stromal cells displayed an immunosuppressive profile marked by increased numbers of B and T cells. Moreover, tumor stromal cell profiling revealed a developmental TGF-β response profile that associated with a collagenized extracellular matrix and increased invasion of TGF-β nonresponsive tumor cells. Together, these results suggest that our KrasTgfbr2−/− mouse model of invasive lung carcinoma mirrors the genomic response and clinical progression of human lung adenocarcinoma, recapitulating changes in lung stromal pathways that occur in the tumor microenvironment during malignant progression in this disease. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6665–75. ©2011 AACR.
SNP diversity of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium in a South East Queensland waterway, Australia, and associated antibiotic resistance gene profiles
Authors: Rathnayake Irani , Hargreaves Megan , Huygens Flavia 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackgroundEnterococcus faecalisandEnterococcus faeciumare associated with faecal pollution of water, linked to swimmer-associated gastroenteritis and demonstrate a wide range of antibiotic resistance. The Coomera River is a main water source for the Pimpama-Coomera watershed and is located in South East Queensland, Australia, which is used intensively for agriculture and recreational purposes. This study investigated the diversity ofE. faecalisandE. faeciumusing Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and associated antibiotic resistance profiles.ResultsTotal enterococcal counts (cfu/ml) for three/six sampling sites were above the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended level during rainfall periods and fall into categories B and C of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines (with a 1-10% gastrointestinal illness risk).E. faecalisandE. faeciumisolates were grouped into 29 and 23 SNP profiles (validated by MLST analysis) respectively. This study showed the high diversity ofE. faecalisandE. faeciumover a period of two years and both human-related and human-specific SNP profiles were identified. 81.8% ofE. faecalisand 70.21% ofE. faeciumSNP profiles were associated with genotypic and phenotypic antibiotic resistance. Gentamicin resistance was higher inE. faecalis(47% resistant) and harboured theaac(6')-aph(2') gene. Ciprofloxacin resistance was more common inE. faecium(12.7% resistant) andgyrAgene mutations were detected in these isolates. Tetracycline resistance was less common in both species whiletet(L) andtet(M) genes were more prevalent. Ampicillin resistance was only found inE. faeciumisolates with mutations in thepbp5gene. Vancomycin resistance was not detected in any of the isolates. We found that antibiotic resistance profiles further sub-divided the SNP profiles of bothE. faecalisandE. faecium.ConclusionsThe distribution ofE. faecalisandE. faeciumgenotypes is highly diverse in the Coomera River. The SNP genotyping method is rapid and robust and can be applied to study the diversity ofE. faecalisandE. faeciumin waterways. It can also be used to test for human-related and human-specific enterococci in water. The resolving power can be increased by including antibiotic-resistant profiles which can be used as a possible source tracking tool. This warrants further investigation.
Incidence of pancreatitis, secondary causes, and treatment of patients referred to a specialty lipid clinic with severe hypertriglyceridemia: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sandhu Supna , Al-Sarraf Ahmad , Taraboanta Catalin , Frohlich Jiri , Francis Gordon A 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Background
Severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is one cause of acute pancreatitis, yet the level of plasma triglycerides likely to be responsible for inducing pancreatitis has not been clearly defined.

Methods and Results
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients presenting non-acutely to the Healthy Heart Program Lipid Clinic at St. Paul's Hospital with a TG level > 20 mM (1772 mg/dl) between 1986 and 2007. Ninety-five patients with TG > 20 mM at the time of referral were identified, in who follow up data was available for 84. Fifteen patients (15.8%), with a mean outpatient TG level of 38.1 mM, had a history of acute pancreatitis. Among 91 additional patients with less severe HTG, none had a history of pancreatitis when TG were between 10 and 20 mM. Among patients with TG > 20 mM on presentation, 8 (8.5%), with a mean TG level of 67.8 mM, exhibited eruptive xanthomata. A diet high in carbohydrates and fats (79%) and obesity (47.6%) were the two most frequent secondary causes of HTG at initial visit. By 2009, among patients with follow up data 53% exhibited either pre-diabetes or overt Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Upon referral only 23 patients (24%) were receiving a fibrate as either monotherapy or part of combination lipid-lowering therapy. Following initial assessment by a lipid specialist this rose to 84%, and remained at 67% at the last follow up visit.

Conclusions
These results suggest hypertriglyceridemia is unlikely to be the primary cause of acute pancreatitis unless TG levels are > 20 mM, that dysglycemia, a diet high in carbohydrates and fats, and obesity are the main secondary causes of HTG, and that fibrates are frequently overlooked as the drug of first choice for severe HTG.
Lattice vibrations in KCuF3
Authors: Deisenhofer J. , Schmidt M. , Wang Zhe , Kant Ch. , Mayr F. , Schrettle F. , Krug von Nidda H.‐A. , Ghigna P. , Tsurkan V. , Loidl A. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractWe report on polarization dependent reflectivity measurements in KCuF3 in the far‐infrared frequency regime. The observed IR active phonons at room temperature are in agreement with the expected modes for tetragonal symmetry. We observe a splitting of one mode already at 150 K and the appearance of a new mode in the vicinity of the Néel temperature.
Anomalous criticality near semimetal‐to‐superfluid quantum phase transition in a two‐dimensional Dirac cone model
Authors: Obert B. , Takei S. , Metzner W. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractWe analyze the scaling behavior at and near a quantum critical point separating a semimetallic from a superfluid phase. To this end we compute the renormalization group flow for a model of attractively interacting electrons with a linear dispersion around a single Dirac point. We study both ground state and finite temperature properties. In two dimensions, the electrons and the order parameter fluctuations exhibit power‐law scaling with anomalous scaling dimensions. The quasi‐particle weight and the Fermi velocity vanish at the quantum critical point. The order parameter correlation length turns out to be infinite everywhere in the semimetallic ground state.
Adiabatic continuity and broken symmetry in many‐electron systems: A variational perspective
Authors: Baeriswyl D. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractVariational wave functions are very useful for describing the panoply of ground states found in interacting many‐electron systems. Some particular trial states are “adiabatically” linked to a reference state, from which they borrow the essential properties. A prominent example is the Gutzwiller ansatz, where one starts with the filled Fermi sea. A simple soluble example, the anisotropic XY chain, illustrates the adiabatic continuity of this class of wave functions. To describe symmetry breaking, one has to modify the reference state accordingly. Alternatively, a quantum phase transition can be described by a pair of variational wave functions, starting at weak and strong coupling, respectively.
Enhancing the Thermal Robustness of an Enzyme by Directed Evolution: Least Favorable Starting Points and Inferior Mutants Can Map Superior Evolutionary Pathways
Authors: Gumulya Yosephine , Reetz Manfred T. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractIn a previous directed evolution study, the B‐FIT approach to increasing the thermal robustness of proteins was introduced and applied to the lipase from Bacillus subtilis. It is based on the general concept of iterative saturation mutagenesis (ISM), according to which sites in an enzyme are subjected to saturation mutagenesis, the best hit of a given library is then used as a template for randomization at other sites, and the process is continued until the desired catalyst improvement has been achieved. The appropriate choice of the ISM sites is crucial; in the B‐FIT method the criterion is residues characterized by highest B factors available from X‐ray crystallography data. In the present study, B‐FIT was employed in order to increase the thermal robustness of the epoxide hydrolase from Aspergillus niger. Several rounds of ISM resulted in the best variant showing a 21 °C increase in the ${T{{\,60\hfill \atop 50\hfill}}}$ value, an 80‐fold improvement in half‐life at 60 °C, and a 44 kcal mol−1 improvement in inactivation energy. Seven other variants were also evolved with moderate yet significant improvements; these were characterized by 10–14 °C increases in ${T{{\,60\hfill \atop 50\hfill}}}$, 20–30‐fold improvement in half‐lives at 60 °C and 15–20 kcal mol−1 elevations in activation energy. Unexpectedly, in the ISM process the best variants were obtained from essentially neutral or even inferior mutant parents, that is, when a given library contains no improved mutants. This constitutes a practical way to escape from what appear to be local minima (“dead ends”) in the fitness landscape—a finding of notable significance in directed evolution.