bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consonant intelligibility of speech produced by dyadic rule synthesis
Authors: Olive Joseph P. , Pols Louis C. W. 
Published: October 2005

We measured the intelligibility of speech generated by a speech synthesis system which converts text to sound by rules. The synthesis process uses dyadic concatenation and is intended for automatic voice answerback in telephone directory assistance situations. The intelligibility of initial and final consonants in monosyllabic words was measured. For comparison two other conditions were tested: PCM-coded speech (12 bits, 10-kHz rate) and LPC-resynthesized speech 02 parameters).
The overall percentage correct score for initial and final consonants, averaged over the 33 listeners, was 93.0% and 92.8% for PCM-coded speech, 86.5% and 85.4% for LPC-resynthesized speech, and 58.2% and 73.5% for rule-synthesized speech. Each word list was preceded by two practice runs consisting of one example word for every initial or final consonant. After this very short training phase, the subjects showed no more learning during the actual word list. The voicing character of initial voiced fricatives was not well represented in the rule-synthesis system. For most other identification errors it was clear that a more optimal choice of the dyads would cause a great improvement.
Workshop on Using MEDLINE: Information Retrieval in Communicative Sciences and Disorders
Authors: Ludlow C. L. , Reiner B. J. 
Published: October 2005

Participants will be introduced to MEDLINE, the major data base of the medical literature analysis and retrieval system of the National Library of Medicine (NLM). This computerized data base contains citations of articles drawn from 3000 journals worldwide. It can be searched online at computer terminals either independently or with the assistance of technical information specialists located at over 800 online centers in the United States. MEDLINE citations include author, title, source, and abstract which can be retrieved on a topic.
The Communicative Disorders Program, NINCDS, in cooperation with NLM, improved MEDLINE coverage of communicative disorders by increasing the number of journals and the specificity of indexing terms in these fields. A users' manual and thesaurus have been written to guide communicative disorders specialists in conducting searches on over 2000 topics.
Participants will learn how to use MEDLINE to meet their own literature retrieval needs. The workshop will demonstrate the design of accurate search statements, use of indexing terms, and procedures to find concepts not included in MEDLINE vocabulary. Basic protocols and conventions of the system will be demonstrated.
Experience with MEDLINE is not necessary for successful participation. The users' manual and thesaurus will be distributed to participants.
Session M. Architectural Acoustics I: Symposium on Traceable Calibration of Acoustical Test Instruments
Authors: Guernsey Richard M. 
Published: October 2005

Recently Committee E-33 of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) proposed a new standard, Guidelines for the Preparation of the Accreditation Section of Acoustical Test Standards. The Guidelines recommend that a section on laboratory accreditation be included in every acoustical test standard to inform accrediting authorities what requirements should be satisfied by the facilities, instruments, procedures, and quality assurance program of an accredited laboratory. The accuracy required for test instrument should be specified, and accredited laboratorie should be required to demonstrate that test instruments satisfy the specifications. Both the accreditor and the accredited laboratory—in fact anyone who uses acoustical instruments—should understand what constitutes traceable calibration of test instruments. A panel will discuss the problems and requirements of traceable calibration. The panel will include representatives of:
• the National Bureau of Standards,
• the National Research Council of Canada,
• instrument manufacturers,
• laboratory managers,
• acoustical consultants.
The audience will be invited to participate in the discussion.
Real-Time PCR Detection of
Vibrio vulnificus
in Oysters: Comparison of Oligonucleotide Primers and Probes Targeting
vvhA
Authors: Panicker Gitika , Bej Asim K. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

We compared three sets of oligonucleotide primers and two probes designed for
Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin A
gene (
vvhA
) for TaqMan-based real-time PCR method enabling specific detection of
Vibrio vulnificus
in oysters. Two of three sets of primers with a probe were specific for the detection of all 81
V. vulnificus
isolates by TaqMan PCR. The 25 nonvibrio and 12 other vibrio isolates tested were negative. However, the third set of primers, F-vvh1059 and R-vvh1159, with the P-vvh1109 probe, although positive for all
V. vulnificus
isolates, also exhibited positive cycle threshold (

C
T

) values for other
Vibrio
spp. Optimization of the TaqMan PCR assay using F-vvh785/R-vvh990 or F-vvh731/R-vvh1113 primers and the P-vvh874 probe detected 1 pg of purified DNA and 10
3
V. vulnificus
CFU/ml in pure cultures. The enriched oyster tissue homogenate did not exhibit detectable inhibition to the TaqMan PCR amplification of
vvhA
. Detection of 3 × 10
3
CFU
V. vulnificus
, resulting from a 5-h enrichment of an initial inoculum of 1 CFU/g of oyster tissue homogenate, was achieved with F-vvh785/R-vvh990 or F-vvh731/R-vvh1113 primers and P-vvh875 probe. The application of the TaqMan PCR using these primers and probe, exhibited detection of
V. vulnificus
on 5-h-enriched natural oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico. Selection of appropriate primers and a probe on
vvhA
for TaqMan-PCR-based detection of
V. vulnificus
in post-harvest-treated oysters would help avoid false-positive results, thus ensuring a steady supply of safe oysters to consumers and reducing
V. vulnificus
-related illnesses and deaths.
Unexpectedly High Bacterial Diversity in Arctic Tundra Relative to Boreal Forest Soils, Revealed by Serial Analysis of Ribosomal Sequence Tags
Authors: Neufeld Josh D. , Mohn William W. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

Arctic tundra and boreal forest soils have globally relevant functions that affect atmospheric chemistry and climate, yet the bacterial composition and diversity of these soils have received little study. Serial analysis of ribosomal sequence tags (SARST) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to compare composite soil samples taken from boreal and arctic biomes. This study comprises an extensive comparison of geographically distant soil bacterial communities, involving the analysis of 12,850 ribosomal sequence tags from six composite soil samples. Bacterial diversity estimates were greater for undisturbed arctic tundra soil samples than for boreal forest soil samples, with the highest diversity associated with a sample from an extreme northern location (82
o
N). The lowest diversity estimate was obtained from an arctic soil sample that was disturbed by compaction and sampled from a greater depth. Since samples from the two biomes did not form distinct clusters on the basis of SARST data and DGGE fingerprints, factors other than latitude likely influenced the phylogenetic compositions of these communities. The high number of ribosomal sequences analyzed enabled the identification of possible cosmopolitan and endemic bacterial distributions in particular soils.
Increasing Prevalence of
Campylobacter jejuni
in Feedlot Cattle through the Feeding Period
Authors: Besser Thomas E. , LeJeune Jeffrey T. , Rice Daniel H. , Berg Janice , Stilborn R. P. , Kaya Katherine , Bae Wonki , Hancock Dale D. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of
Campylobacter jejuni
in commercial feedlot cattle was monitored throughout the feeding period by repeated bacteriologic culture of feces. Fecal pats (
n
= 10) in 20 feedlot pens were sampled at 2-weeks interval beginning at entry into the feedlot and continuing until slaughter. The least-squares mean
C. jejuni
prevalence increased from 1.6% at the first sampling to 61.3% at the final sampling just prior to slaughter. Diverse
C. jejuni
pulsed-field gel electrophoresis macrorestriction profiles (MRP) were identified among the cattle isolates, but five prevalent MRP and minor variants accounted for >80% of all typed isolates. Chlorination of the water supplied to the water troughs of half of the pens did not affect
C. jejuni
prevalence in the cattle. Overall, the least-squares mean
C. jejuni
prevalences were 45.6 and 43.6% in chlorinated and nonchlorinated feedlot pens, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate apparent transmission of
C. jejuni
among feedlot cattle during the feeding period, unaffected by water chlorination, resulting in a high prevalence of
C. jejuni
excretion by cattle approaching slaughter.
Quantification of
Campylobacter
spp. in Chicken Rinse Samples by Using Flotation prior to Real-Time PCR
Authors: Wolffs Petra , Norling Börje , Hoorfar Jeffrey , Griffiths Mansel , Rådström Peter 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

Real-time PCR is fast, sensitive, specific, and can deliver quantitative data; however, two disadvantages are that this technology is sensitive to inhibition by food and that it does not distinguish between DNA originating from viable, viable nonculturable (VNC), and dead cells. For this reason, real-time PCR has been combined with a novel discontinuous buoyant density gradient method, called flotation, in order to allow detection of only viable and VNC cells of thermotolerant campylobacters in chicken rinse samples. Studying the buoyant densities of different
Campylobacter
spp. showed that densities changed at different time points during growth; however, all varied between 1.065 and 1.109 g/ml. These data were then used to develop a flotation assay. Results showed that after flotation and real-time PCR, cell concentrations as low as 8.6 × 10
2
CFU/ml could be detected without culture enrichment and amounts as low as 2.6 × 10
3
CFU/ml could be quantified. Furthermore, subjecting viable cells and dead cells to flotation showed that viable cells were recovered after flotation treatment but that dead cells and/or their DNA was not detected. Also, when samples containing VNC cells mixed with dead cells were treated with flotation after storage at 4 or 20°C for 21 days, a similar percentage resembling the VNC cell fraction was detected using real-time PCR and 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride-4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining (20% ± 9% and 23% ± 4%, respectively, at 4°C; 11% ± 4% and 10% ± 2%, respectively, at 20°C). This indicated that viable and VNC
Campylobacter
cells could be positively selected and quantified using the flotation method.
Cloning, Sequencing, and Expression of a
Eubacterium cellulosolvens
5 Gene Encoding an Endoglucanase (Cel5A) with Novel Carbohydrate-Binding Modules, and Properties of Cel5A
Authors: Yoda Kazutoyo , Toyoda Atsushi , Mukoyama Yoshihiro , Nakamura Yutaka , Minato Hajime 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

A novel
Eubacterium cellulosolvens
5 gene encoding an endoglucanase (Cel5A) was cloned and expressed in
Escherichia coli
, and its enzymatic properties were characterized. The
cel5A
gene consists of a 3,444-bp open reading frame and encodes a 1,148-amino-acid protein with a molecular mass of 127,047 Da. Cel5A is a modular enzyme consisting of an N-terminal signal peptide, two glycosyl hydrolase family 5 catalytic modules, two novel carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), two linker sequences, and a C-terminal sequence with an unknown function. The amino acid sequences of the two catalytic modules and the two CBMs are 94% and 73% identical to each other, respectively. Two regions that consisted of one CBM and one catalytic module were tandemly connected via a linker sequence. The CBMs did not exhibit significant sequence similarity with any other CBMs. Analyses of the hydrolytic activity of the recombinant Cel5A (rCel5A) comprising the CBMs and the catalytic modules showed that the enzyme is an endoglucanase with activities with carboxymethyl cellulose, lichenan, acid-swollen cellulose, and oat spelt xylan. To investigate the functions of the CBMs and the catalytic modules, truncated derivatives of rCel5A were constructed and characterized. There were no differences in the hydrolytic activities with various polysaccharides or in the hydrolytic products obtained from cellooligosaccharides between the two catalytic modules. Both CBMs had the same substrate affinity with intact rCel5A. Removal of the CBMs from rCel5A reduced the catalytic activities with various polysaccharides remarkably. These observations show that CBMs play an important role in the catalytic function of the enzyme.
Microarray Analysis of a Two-Component Regulatory System Involved in Acid Resistance and Proteolytic Activity inLactobacillus acidophilus
Authors: Azcarate-Peril M. Andrea , McAuliffe Olivia , Altermann Eric , Lick Sonja , Russell W. Michael , Klaenhammer Todd R. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACTTwo-component regulatory systems are one primary mechanism for environmental sensing and signal transduction. Annotation of the complete genome sequence of the probiotic bacteriumLactobacillus acidophilusNCFM revealed nine two-component regulatory systems. In this study, the histidine protein kinase of a two-component regulatory system (LBA1524HPK-LBA1525RR), similar to the acid-related systemlisRK fromListeria monocytogenes(P. D. Cotter et al., J. Bacteriol. 181:6840-6843, 1999), was insertionally inactivated. A whole-genome microarray containing 97.4% of the annotated genes ofL. acidophiluswas used to compare genome-wide patterns of transcription at various pHs between the control and the histidine protein kinase mutant. The expression pattern of approximately 80 genes was affected by the LBA1524HPK mutation. Putative LBA1525RR target loci included two oligopeptide-transport systems present in theL. acidophilusgenome, other components of the proteolytic system, and a LuxS homolog, suspected of participating in synthesis of the AI-2 signaling compound. The mutant exhibited lower tolerance to acid and ethanol in logarithmic-phase cells and poor acidification rates in milk. Supplementation of milk with Casamino Acids essentially restored the acid-producing ability of the mutant, providing additional evidence for a role of this two component system in regulating proteolytic activity inL. acidophilus.
Legionella
Contamination in Hot Water of Italian Hotels
Authors: Borella Paola , Montagna Maria Teresa , Stampi Serena , Stancanelli Giovanna , Romano-Spica Vincenzo , Triassi Maria , Marchesi Isabella , Bargellini Annalisa , Tatò Daniela , Napoli Christian , Zanetti Franca , Leoni Erica , Moro Matteo , Scaltriti Stefania , Ribera D'Alcalà Gabriella , Santarpia Rosalba , Boccia Stefania 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional multicenter survey of Italian hotels was conducted to investigate
Legionella
spp. contamination of hot water. Chemical parameters (hardness, free chlorine concentration, and trace element concentrations), water systems, and building characteristics were evaluated to study risk factors for colonization. The hot water systems of Italian hotels were strongly colonized by
Legionella
; 75% of the buildings examined and 60% of the water samples were contaminated, mainly at levels of ≥10
3
CFU liter
−1
, and
Legionella pneumophila
was the most frequently isolated species (87%).
L. pneumophila
serogroup 1 was isolated from 45.8% of the contaminated sites and from 32.5% of the hotels examined. When a multivariate logistic model was used, only hotel age was associated with contamination, but the risk factors differed depending on the contaminating species and serogroup. Soft water with higher chlorine levels and higher temperatures were associated with
L. pneumophila
serogroup 1 colonization, whereas the opposite was observed for serogroups 2 to 14. In conclusion, Italian hotels, particularly those located in old buildings, represent a major source of risk for Legionnaires' disease due to the high frequency of
Legionella
contamination, high germ concentration, and major
L. pneumophila
serogroup 1 colonization. The possible role of chlorine in favoring the survival of
Legionella
species is discussed.
Use of 16S rRNA Gene Terminal Restriction Fragment Analysis To Assess the Impact of Solids Retention Time on the Bacterial Diversity of Activated Sludge
Authors: Saikaly Pascal E. , Stroot Peter G. , Oerther Daniel B. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes was used to investigate the reproducibility and stability in the bacterial community structure of laboratory-scale sequencing batch bioreactors (SBR) and to assess the impact of solids retention time (SRT) on bacterial diversity. Two experiments were performed. In each experiment two sets of replicate SBRs were operated for a periods of three times the SRT. One set was operated at an SRT of 2 days and another set was operated at an SRT of 8 days. Samples for T-RFLP analysis were collected from the two sets of replicate reactors. HhaI, MspI, and RsaI T-RFLP profiles were analyzed using cluster analysis and diversity statistics. Cluster analysis with Ward's method using Jaccard distance and Hellinger distance showed that the bacterial community structure in both sets of reactors from both experimental runs was dynamic and that replicate reactors were clustered together and evolved similarly from startup. Richness (
S
), evenness (
E
), the Shannon-Weaver index (
H
), and the reciprocal of Simpson's index (1/
D
) were calculated, and the values were compared between the two sets of reactors. Evenness values were higher for reactors operated at an SRT of 2 days. Statistically significant differences in diversity (
H
and
D
) between the two sets of reactors were tested using a randomization procedure, and the results showed that reactors from both experimental runs that were operated at an SRT of 2 days had higher diversity (
H
and
D
) at the 5% level. T-RFLP analysis with diversity indices proved to be a powerful tool to analyze changes in the bacterial community diversity in response to changes in the operational parameters of activated-sludge systems.
Photoheterotrophic Metabolism of Acrylamide by a Newly Isolated Strain of
Rhodopseudomonas palustris
Authors: Wampler David A. , Ensign Scott A. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

Acrylamide, a neurotoxin and suspected carcinogen, is produced by industrial processes and during the heating of foods. In this study, the microbial diversity of acrylamide metabolism has been expanded through the isolation and characterization of a new strain of
Rhodopseudomonas palustris
capable of growth with acrylamide under photoheterotrophic conditions. The newly isolated strain grew rapidly with acrylamide under photoheterotrophic conditions (doubling time of 10 to 12 h) but poorly under anaerobic dark or aerobic conditions. Acrylamide was rapidly deamidated to acrylate by strain Ac1, and the subsequent degradation of acrylate was the rate-limiting reaction in cell growth. Acrylamide metabolism by succinate-grown cultures occurred only after a lag period, and the induction of acrylamide-degrading activity was prevented by the presence of protein or RNA synthesis inhibitors.
13
C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of [1,2,3-
13
C]acrylamide metabolism by actively growing cultures confirmed the rapid conversion of acrylamide to acrylate but failed to detect any subsequent intermediates of acrylate degradation. Using concentrated cell suspensions containing natural abundance succinate as an additional carbon source, [
13
C]acrylate consumption occurred with the production and then degradation of [
13
C]propionate. Although
R. palustris
strain Ac1 grew well and with comparable doubling times for each of acrylamide, acrylate, and propionate,
R. palustris
strain CGA009 was incapable of significant acrylamide- or acrylate-dependent growth over the same time course, but grew comparably with propionate. These results provide the first demonstration of anaerobic photoheterotrophic bacterial acrylamide catabolism and provide evidence for a new pathway for acrylate catabolism involving propionate as an intermediate.
Effects of Orally Administered Tetracycline on the Intestinal Community Structure of Chickens and on
tet
Determinant Carriage by Commensal Bacteria and
Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Fairchild A. S. , Smith J. L. , Idris U. , Lu J. , Sanchez S. , Purvis L. B. , Hofacre C. , Lee M. D. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

There is a growing concern that antibiotic usage in animal production has selected for resistant food-borne bacteria. Since tetracyclines are common therapeutic antibiotics used in poultry production, we sought to evaluate the effects of oral administration on the resistance of poultry commensal bacteria and the intestinal bacterial community structure. The diversity indices calculated from terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA amplicons did not indicate significant changes in the cecal bacterial community in response to oxytetracycline. To evaluate its effects on cultivable commensals,
Enterococcus
spp.,
Escherichia coli
, and
Campylobacter
spp. were isolated from the cecal droppings of broiler chickens.
Enterococcus
spp. and
E. coli
expressed tetracycline MICs of >8 μg/ml and harbored a variety of
tet
resistance determinants regardless of the tetracycline exposure history of the birds. The enterococcal isolates possessed
tetM
(61%),
tetL
(25.4%), and
tetK
(1.3%), as well as
tetO
(52.5%), the determinant known to confer a tetracycline resistance phenotype in
Campylobacter jejuni. E. coli
isolates harbored
tetA
(32.2%) or
tetB
(30.5%). Tetracycline MICs remained at <2 μg/ml for
Campylobacter
isolates before and after tetracycline treatment of the chickens, even though isolates expressing MICs of >16 μg/ml were commonly cultured from flocks that did not receive oxytetracycline. The results imply that complex ecological and genetic factors contribute to the prevalence of antibiotic resistance arising from resistance gene transfer in the production environment.
Factors Influencing Germination of
Bacillus subtilis
Spores via Activation of Nutrient Receptors by High Pressure
Authors: Black Elaine P. , Koziol-Dube Kasia , Guan Dongsheng , Wei Jie , Setlow Barbara , Cortezzo Donnamaria E. , Hoover Dallas G. , Setlow Peter 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

Different nutrient receptors varied in triggering germination of
Bacillus subtilis
spores with a pressure of 150 MPa, the GerA receptor being more responsive than the GerB receptor and even more responsive than the GerK receptor. This hierarchy in receptor responsiveness to pressure was the same as receptor responsiveness to a mixture of nutrients. The levels of nutrient receptors influenced rates of pressure germination, since the GerA receptor is more abundant than the GerB receptor and elevated levels of individual receptors increased spore germination by 150 MPa of pressure. However, GerB receptor variants with relaxed specificity for nutrient germinants responded as well as the GerA receptor to this pressure. Spores lacking dipicolinic acid did not germinate with this pressure, and pressure activation of the GerA receptor required covalent addition of diacylglycerol. However, pressure activation of the GerB and GerK receptors displayed only a partial (GerB) or no (GerK) diacylglycerylation requirement. These effects of receptor diacylglycerylation on pressure germination are similar to those on nutrient germination. Wild-type spores prepared at higher temperatures germinated more rapidly with a pressure of 150 MPa than spores prepared at lower temperatures; this was also true for spores with only one receptor, but receptor levels did not increase in spores made at higher temperatures. Changes in inner membrane unsaturated fatty acid levels, lethal treatment with oxidizing agents, or exposure to chemicals that inhibit nutrient germination had no major effect on spore germination by 150 MPa of pressure, except for strong inhibition by HgCl
2
.