bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electrophysiological characterization of ATPases in native synaptic vesicles and synaptic plasma membranes
Authors: Obrdlik Petr , Diekert Kerstin , Watzke Natalie , Keipert Christine , Pehl Ulrich , Brosch Catrin , Boehm Nicole , Bick Inga , Ruitenberg Maarten , Volknandt Walter , Kelety Bela 
Published: January 2010

Vesicular V-ATPase (V-type H+-ATPase) and the plasma membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase are essential for the cycling of neurotransmitters at the synapse, but direct functional studies on their action in native surroundings are limited due to the poor accessibility via standard electrophysiological equipment. We performed SSM (solid supported membrane)-based electrophysiological analyses of synaptic vesicles and plasma membranes prepared from rat brains by sucrose-gradient fractionation. Acidification experiments revealed V-ATPase activity in fractions containing the vesicles but not in the plasma membrane fractions. For the SSM-based electrical measurements, the ATPases were activated by ATP concentration jumps. In vesicles, ATP-induced currents were inhibited by the V-ATPase-specific inhibitor BafA1 (bafilomycin A1) and by DIDS (4,4′-di-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate). In plasma membranes, the currents were inhibited by the Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor digitoxigenin. The distribution of the V-ATPase- and Na+/K+-ATPase-specific currents correlated with the distribution of vesicles and plasma membranes in the sucrose gradient. V-ATPase-specific currents depended on ATP with a K0.5 of 51±7 μM and were inhibited by ADP in a negatively co-operative manner with an IC50 of 1.2±0.6 μM. Activation of V-ATPase had stimulating effects on the chloride conductance in the vesicles. Low micromolar concentrations of DIDS fully inhibited the V-ATPase activity, whereas the chloride conductance was only partially affected. In contrast, NPPB [5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid] inhibited the chloride conductance but not the V-ATPase. The results presented describe electrical characteristics of synaptic V-ATPase and Na+/K+-ATPase in their native surroundings, and demonstrate the feasibility of the method for electrophysiological studies of transport proteins in native intracellular compartments and plasma membranes.
Multicenter Study of Surveillance for Hospital-Onset Clostridium difficile Infection by the Use of ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Codes
Authors: Dubberke Erik R. , Butler Anne M. , Yokoe Deborah S. , Mayer Jeanmarie , Hota Bala , Mangino Julie E. , Khan Yosef M. , Popovich Kyle J. , Stevenson Kurt B. , McDonald L. Clifford , Olsen Margaret A. , Fraser Victoria J. ,   Prevention Epicenters Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Published: January 2010

Objective.To compare incidence of hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) measured by the use of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) discharge diagnosis codes with rates measured by the use of electronically available C. difficile toxin assay results.Methods.Cases of hospital-onset CDI were identified at 5 US hospitals during the period from July 2000 through June 2006 with the use of 2 surveillance definitions: positive toxin assay results (gold standard) and secondary ICD-9-CM discharge diagnosis codes for CDI. The x2 test was used to compare incidence, linear regression models were used to analyze trends, and the test of equality was used to compare slopes.Results.Of 8,670 cases of hospital-onset CDI, 38% were identified by the use of both toxin assay results and the ICD-9-CM code, 16% by the use of toxin assay results alone, and 45% by the use of the ICD-9-CM code alone. Nearly half (47%) of cases of CDI identified by the use of a secondary diagnosis code alone were community-onset CDI according to the results of the toxin assay. The rate of hospital-onset CDI found by use of ICD-9-CM codes was significantly higher than the rate found by use of toxin assay results overall (P<.001), as well as individually at 3 of the 5 hospitals (P<.001 for all). The agreement between toxin assay results and the presence of a secondary ICD-9-CM diagnosis code for CDI was moderate, with an overall k value of 0.509 and hospital-specific k values of 0.489–0.570. Overall, the annual increase in CDI incidence was significantly greater for rates determined by the use of ICD-9-CM codes than for rates determined by the use of toxin assay results (P = .006).Conclusions.Although the ICD-9-CM code for CDI seems to be adequate for measuring the overall CDI burden, use of the ICD-9-CM discharge diagnosis code for CDI, without present-on-admission code assignment, is not an acceptable surrogate for surveillance for hospital-onset CDI.
Distribution of Airborne Influenza Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in an Urgent Care Medical Clinic
Authors: Lindsley William G. , Blachere Francoise M. , Davis Kristina A. , Pearce Terri A. , Fisher Melanie A. , Khakoo Rashida , Davis Stephen M. , Rogers Mark E. , Thewlis Robert E. , Posada Jose A. , Redrow John B. , Celik Ismail B. , Chen Bean T. , Beezhold Donald H. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract
Background . Considerable controversy exists with regard to whether influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are spread by the inhalation of infectious airborne particles and about the importance of this route, compared with droplet or contact transmission.
Methods . Airborne particles were collected in an urgent care clinic with use of stationary and personal aerosol samplers. The amounts of airborne influenza A, influenza B, and RSV RNA were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Health care workers and patients participating in the study were tested for influenza.
Results . Seventeen percent of the stationary samplers contained influenza A RNA, 1% contained influenza B RNA, and 32% contained RSV RNA. Nineteen percent of the personal samplers contained influenza A RNA, none contained influenza B RNA, and 38% contained RSV RNA. The number of samplers containing influenza RNA correlated well with the number and location of patients with influenza (r=0.77). Forty-two percent of the influenza A RNA was in particles ⩽4.1 µm in aerodynamic diameter, and 9% of the RSV RNA was in particles ⩽4.1 µm.
Conclusions . Airborne particles containing influenza and RSV RNA were detected throughout a health care facility. The particles were small enough to remain airborne for an extended time and to be inhaled deeply into the respiratory tract. These results support the possibility that influenza and RSV can be transmitted by the airborne route and suggest that further investigation of the potential of these particles to transmit infection is warranted.
PopW of Ralstonia solanacearum, a new two‐domain harpin targeting the plant cell wall
Authors: LI JIAN‐GANG , LIU HONG‐XIA , CAO JING , CHEN LI‐FENG , GU CHUN , ALLEN CAITILYN , GUO JIAN‐HUA 
Published: January 2010

SUMMARYHarpins are extracellular glycine‐rich proteins eliciting a hypersensitive response (HR). In this study, we identified a new harpin, PopW, from Ralstonia solanacearum strain ZJ3721. This 380‐amino‐acid protein is acidic, rich in glycine and serine, and lacks cysteine. When infiltrated into the leaves of tobacco (non‐host), PopW induced a rapid tissue collapse via a heat‐stable but protease‐sensitive HR‐eliciting activity. PopW has an N‐terminal harpin domain (residues 1–159) and a C‐terminal pectate lyase (PL) domain (residues 160–366); its HR‐eliciting activity depends on its N‐terminal domain. Analyses of subcellular localization and plasmolysis demonstrated that PopW targeted the onion cell wall. This was further confirmed by its ability to specifically bind to calcium pectate, a major component of the plant cell wall. However, PopW had no detectable PL activity. Western blotting revealed that PopW was secreted by the type III secretion system in an hrpB‐dependent manner. Gene sequencing indicated that popW is conserved among 20 diverse strains of R. solanacearum. A popW‐deficient mutant retained the ability of wild‐type strain ZJ3721 to elicit HR in tobacco and to cause wilt disease in tomato (a host). We conclude that PopW is a new cell wall‐associated, hrpB‐dependent, two‐domain harpin that is conserved across the R. solanacearum species complex.
Effects of plant structure on butterfly diversity in Mt. Marsabit Forest – northern Kenya
Authors: Humpden Nyamweya N. , Nathan Gichuki N. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractButterflies, like most forest dependent animals are good ecological indicators of the health of the forests they dwell. For example, butterfly species richness decreases after a forest disturbance and fragmentation but a few species may subsequently invade the forest fragment and boost the species richness. Studies were conducted to determine the effects of human activity and seasonal changes on butterfly species in the affected new habitats. Results showed that both seasonal and habitat changes significantly affect the butterfly abundance (P = 0.0001). Similarly, there was significant correlation between plant diversity and butterfly diversity in wet season (r = 0.854) and dry season (r = 0.855). The significance of these studies as a useful tool for sustainable forest use and conservation is discussed.
Regionally extensive emplacement of sandstone intrusions: a brief review
Authors: Cartwright J. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTLarge sandstone intrusion provinces (LSIPs) are described from three basins with contrasting tectonic settings, the North Sea Basin, the Faeroe‐Shetland Basin and the San Joaquin Basin. Hundreds of reservoir‐scale sandstone intrusions have been identified in each of these basins over areal extents of >500 km2, and with vertical extents of >1 km from their underlying source units. It is likely that these large intrusion networks were emplaced over geologically short time periods i.e. as a single hydrodynamic event, because of their highly interconnected geometry. Large sills are extensively intruded into the host claystones in each basin, and the presence and distribution of these intrusions demonstrates that pore fluid pressures in the source units may have been in excess of lithostatic at the time of remobilization and intrusion. Mechanisms that could bring source sand bodies of large volume and areal extent to a condition of supralithostatic pore fluid pressure are not well understood in the context of sandstone intrusion. Of the possible candidate mechanisms, shear‐induced liquefaction resulting from a large earthquake or bolide impact and geologically rapid pressure transfer from higher pressure cells are the most likely. The relative rarity of LSIPs worldwide is either a result of undersampling at outcrop or perhaps signifies that a rare combination of factors is required to form them. Once formed, they disrupt the sealing properties of the sequences they intrude, and this has major implications for fluid migration in these areas.
Women's safety service within the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme: perceptions of service users
Authors: Madoc‐Jones Iolo , Roscoe Karen 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper draws on the findings of a qualitative evaluation that examines women's perceptions of the services provided to them whilst their abusers attended an Integrated Domestic Violence Programme (IDAP) in one probation area in the UK. Research focusing on domestic violence programmes has mostly concentrated on the experiences of male perpetrators. As a result, less is known about how women feel about such programmes and the parallel safety services they are supposed to receive. This research seeks to address that weakness by exploring the perceptions of 13 women whose abusers are attending one perpetrator programme. The findings of our study suggest that women are generally negative about perpetrator programmes and require more comprehensive and coordinated services than are routinely made available to them. The paper suggests that women value and need direct and assertive support as well as safety services, and this need is especially pronounced in rural contexts where women can be isolated from mainstream services. The implications of the research to practice with victims of domestic violence are discussed to inform further development of IDAP and similar programmes in the UK and beyond.
Host‐associated pre‐mating reproductive isolation between host races of Acrocercops transecta: mating site preferences and effect of host presence on mating
Authors: OHSHIMA ISSEI 
Published: January 2010

1. A correlation between habitat and mating site preference is crucial for reproductive isolation between populations with different ecological requirements in the absence of any other barriers to gene flow. In phytophagous insects, host‐plant preference of ovipositing females has been postulated to directly influence the extent of assortative mating.
2. Although this pleiotropic effect of host preference is commonly postulated in both theoretical and empirical studies in phytophagous insects, few studies have assessed the mating site preferences of both sexes. In herbivorous insects, it is crucial whether males have the same host preference as ovipositing females.
3. This study examines whether males and females have preferences for mating sites and assesses the effects of host presence on mating activity in a leaf‐mining moth, Acrocercops transecta Meyrick (Gracillariidae). This species consists of two host races, which are associated with Juglans ailanthifolia Carr. (Juglandaceae) and Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude (Ericaceae). The two host races clearly differ in host preferences of ovipositing females.
4. In an experiment of mating site selection, Lyonia‐associated host race females significantly preferred Lyonia, while males of the Lyonia‐associated host race and both sexes of the Juglans‐associated host race did not show a preference for either plant. The mating activity of the Lyonia‐associated host race was not reduced in the absence of host plants. In the Juglans‐associated host race, however, the proportion of successful matings was significantly reduced when the host was absent.
5. These laboratory experiments provide empirical evidence that the different host associations in A. transecta do not directly lead to host‐induced assortative mating between the two host races as a pleiotropic effect. However, the present results suggest that the combined effects of the mating‐site preference of Lyonia‐associated females and the mating propensity of Juglans‐associated females could contribute to reproductive isolation between the two host races.
Challenges of metamorphosis in invertebrate hosts: maintaining parasite resistance across life‐history stages
Authors: THOMAS ANN M. , RUDOLF VOLKER H. W. 
Published: January 2010

1. Insects lack the acquired immune system of vertebrates, but there is some evidence that insect immunity can be primed against an encountered pathogen to mitigate the intensity of future infections within a life stage.2. Many invertebrates have multiple life‐history stages separated by complete metamorphosis, but different life stages can often be infected by the same pathogens, and the potential loss of immune priming during metamorphosis could therefore have detrimental effects on the host. Evidence that invertebrate immune priming can persist through metamorphosis is still missing, and consequently it is unclear how host–parasite interactions change across different life‐history stages in the context of infection history.3. By experimentally manipulating the infection history of the flour beetle Tribolium confusum, we show that intestinal gregarine parasite infections during the larval stage reduced parasite load in adults, demonstrating that a host‐controlled mechanism for parasite resistance can persist through complete metamorphosis in insects.4. Infections reduced larval developmental rates and increased host mortality but only during the crucial metamorphic stage, indicating that parasites impact multiple life stages. In general, our results demonstrate that invertebrates can show surprisingly robust immune priming despite dramatic physiological changes and protect hosts across completely different life‐history stages.
Effect of bariatric surgery on circulating chemerin levels
Authors: Ress C. , Tschoner A. , Engl J. , Klaus A. , Tilg H. , Ebenbichler C. F. , Patsch J. R. , Kaser S. 
Published: January 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (3): 277–280AbstractBackground  Subclinical inflammation in obesity is critical for development of several obesity‐associated disorders. We set out to investigate the effect of pronounced weight loss on circulating chemerin levels, a chemoattractant protein that also influences adipose cell function by paracrine and autocrine mechanisms.Material and methods  Thirty‐two obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery were tested before and on an average of 18 months after gastric banding or gastric bypass surgery.Results  Pronounced weight loss after bariatric surgery was accompanied by improvements in parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism and increased adiponectin levels. Chemoattractant chemerin significantly decreased from 175·91 ± 24·50 to 145·53 ± 26·44 ng mL−1 after bariatric surgery (P ≤ 0·01). Concomitantly, hs‐CRP as a marker of subclinical inflammation was significantly reduced after weight reduction (P ≤ 0·01).Conclusions  We hypothesize that weight‐loss induced reduction in circulating chemerin might in conjunction with other factors be associated with diminished recruitment of macrophages in adipose tissue and reduction of subclinical inflammation, which again could partly explain beneficial long‐term effects of weight reduction in obese subjects.
Comparative fitness assessment of Anopheles stephensi transgenic lines receptive to site‐specific integration
Authors: Amenya D. A. , Bonizzoni M. , Isaacs A. T. , Jasinskiene N. , Chen H. , Marinotti O. , Yan G. , James A. A. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractGenetically modified mosquitoes that are unable to transmit pathogens offer opportunities for controlling vector‐borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Site‐specific gene recombination technologies are advantageous in the development of these insects because antipathogen effector genes can be inserted at integration sites in the genome that cause the least alteration in mosquito fitness. Here we describe Anopheles stephensi transgenic lines containing ϕC31 attP‘docking’ sites linked to a fluorescent marker gene. Chromosomal insertion sites were determined and life‐table parameters were assessed for transgenic mosquitoes of each line. No significant differences in fitness between the transgenic and nontransgenic mosquitoes were detected in this study. These transgenic lines are suitable for future site‐specific integrations of antiparasite transgenes into the attP sites.
Nutritional quality of model low‐fat pork patties manufactured with the use of soy protein isolate
Authors: Danowska‐Oziewicz Marzena 
Published: January 2010

SummaryProximate composition and amino acid and fatty acid profiles of low‐fat pork patties manufactured with the addition of soy protein isolate (SPI) were determined and their energy values were calculated. Patties with SPI were characterised by a higher content of protein than the control. Although the 10% SPI added sample showed the highest energy value of all samples, it contained the lowest amount of fat and therefore the share of energy from the fat of this sample was lower than those of the other samples. The essential amino acid indices of SPI added patties were lower than those of the control, but they were still favourable compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU reference pattern of protein. The fatty acid composition of fat was positively influenced by the addition of SPI, as an increase in C18:2, C18:3, total PUFA and PUFA/SFA ratio along with an increased amount of SPI added to patties was observed.
Composition and food properties ofPachyrhizus ahiparoots and starch
Authors: López Olivia V. , Viña Sonia Z. , Pachas Aníbal N. A. , Sisterna Marina N. , Rohatsch Pablo H. , Mugridge Alicia , Fassola Hugo E. , García María A. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryThe aims of this work were to evaluate productivity and postharvest handling conditions for ahipa roots; to establish a starch extraction procedure and to characterise the morphological, physicochemical and pasting properties of ahipa starch. Plants were grown in Misiones (Argentina), evaluating three planting densities and the application of a flower pruning (FP) practice. FP increased roots yield without modifying the functional properties of the starch. Storage assays allowed to rule out refrigeration and select 25 °C as an appropriate temperature. Starch extraction yield was 56.54 g 100 g−1roots (dry basis). Amylose content was 10.75%. The starch diffractograms were assigned to a type C pattern. Ahipa starch pastes gelatinised at relatively low temperature and showed low retrogradation tendency under refrigeration conditions. Rheological properties indicated that ahipa starch might be adequate as a food thickener. Thus, native ahipa starch seems to be an alternative to other traditional starch sources.
Qualitative evaluation of tortellini meat filling by histology and image analysis
Authors: Ghisleni Gabriele , Stella Simone , Radaelli Enrico , Mattiello Silvana , Scanziani Eugenio 
Published: January 2010

SummaryThe aim of this study was to identify the presence of different animal tissues in tortellini meat‐filling with special emphasis on the percentage of skeletal muscle. Industrially packed and refrigerated tortellini filling from four different Italian commercial brands were examined and compared. From each brand, five different batches were sampled at intervals of 1 month. From each batch, four fillings were randomly sampled and coded to allow a blind examination. Histological sections were examined to identify the presence of various animal tissues. The presence of large fragments of skeletal muscle in specimens were assessed and semiquantitatively ranked. To evaluate the percentage area of skeletal muscle in the samples, a computerised image analysis system was used. Animal tissues were well preserved in all examined samples. The filling quality was quantified by histology and image analysis evaluating: skeletal muscle density, size of skeletal muscle fragments, and uniformity of batches. In addition to the effective enforcement of food labelling law and the protection of consumers, histology and image analysis are reliable tools to identify small amounts of various animal tissues in a processed meat product.
Modelling of air drying of fresh and blanched sweet potato slices
Authors: Falade Kolawole O. , Solademi Oluwakemi J. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryEffects of blanching, drying temperatures (50–80 °C) and thickness (5, 10 and 15 mm) on drying characteristics of sweet potato slices were investigated. Lewis, Henderson and Pabis, Modified Page and Page models were tested with the drying patterns. Page and Modified Page models best described the drying curves. Moisture ratio vs. drying time profiles of the models showed high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9864–0.9967), and low root mean squared error (RMSE = 0.0018–0.0130) and chi‐squared (χ2 = 3.446 × 10–6–1.03 × 10–2). Drying of sweet potato was predominantly in the falling rate period. The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient (Deff) was described by Arrhenius relationship. Deff increased with increasing thickness and air temperature. Deff of fresh and blanched sweet potato slices varied between 6.36 × 10–11–1.78 × 10–9 and 1.25 × 10–10–9.75 × 10–9 m2 s–1, respectively. Activation energy for moisture diffusion of the slices ranged between 11.1 and 30.4 kJ mol–1.