bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of hospital admissions for chickenpox in children: an Italian multicentre study in the pre‐vaccine era
Authors: Marchetto S , De Benedictis F M , De Martino M , Versace A , Chiappini E , Bertaine C , Osimani P , Cordiali R , Gabiano C , Galli L 
Published: September 2007

AbstractAim: To describe the chickenpox complications in children in Italy.Methods: Hospital discharge data from 1 January 2002 to 15 June 2006 were queried for patients less than 18 years of age in three Italian paediatric university hospitals.Results: During the study period, 349 children (189 males, 160 females) were admitted. Thirteen out of 349 (3.7%) of them had serious underlying diseases. Two hundred and sixty‐one (74.8%) children (median age: 41 months, range: 6 days –to 200 months) had complicated chickenpox. Among complications, neurological disorders were the most common (100/261 = 38.3%), followed by skin and soft tissue infections (63/261 = 24.1%), lower respiratory tract infections (57/261 = 21.8%) and haematological disorders (24/261 = 9.2%). Children with neurological complications were significantly older and had a longer hospital stay than those with other complications. Three children with encephalitis and cerebellitis had developed long‐term sequelae by the 6‐month follow‐up. The mortality rate was 0.4% (1/261 children with complicated chickenpox).Conclusion: Chickenpox is a disease that can provoke serious complications and long hospital stays, even in healthy children. Our findings may be useful as background to evaluate the impact of a tetravalent measles‐mumps‐rubella‐varicella vaccine (MMRV) which is going to be introduced in Italy.
Action of Celecoxib on Hepatic Metabolic Changes Induced by the Walker‐256 Tumour in Rats
Authors: Acco Alexandra , Da Rocha Alves da Silva Mário Henrique , Batista Márcia Regina , Yamamoto Nair Seiko , Bracht Adelar 
Published: September 2007

Abstract:  The purpose of the present work was to investigate the influence of celecoxib on some hepatic metabolic parameters affected by the Walker‐256 tumour in rats. Celecoxib was administered daily (5–50 mg/kg body weight) beginning at the day in which the tumour cells were inocculated. At day 14, the liver was isolated and perfused in order to measure alanine transformation, glycolysis and arginine transformation. Maximal reduction of tumour growth (75%), accompanied by an almost normal weight gain, was attained with a celecoxib dose of 12.5 mg/kg. Diminution of glucose utilization (glycolysis) and inhibition of gluconeogenesis and ureogenesis from alanine caused by the tumor were totally reversed by celecoxib. Oxygen uptake by the liver was also normalized by the drug. Hepatic arginine transformation, which is normally enhanced in rats bearing the Walker‐256 tumour, remained elevated in celecoxib‐treated animals. It was concluded that preservation of gluconeogenesis and normalization of hepatic glucose utilization can explain, partly at least, the clinical improvement of cancer patients treated with the drug. The lack of action of celecoxib on arginine hydrolysis might indicate that reduction in polyamine synthesis is not a factor contributing to the diminished tumour growth.
THERMAL DEATH KINETICS OF B. STEAROTHERMOPHILUS SPORES IN SUGARCANE MUST
Authors: JUNIOR J. NOLASCO , DE MASSAGUER P.R. 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACT Thermal death kinetic parameters for Bacillus stearothermophilusspores were evaluated in sugarcane must (21.5°Brix, pH = 6.14) at temperatures ranging from 98 to 130C, using the thermal‐death‐time tube method and survivors count. Resulting survival curves showed strong nonlinearity and different shapes according to heating temperature. The 98 and 110C curves showed an initial shoulder or thermal lag and were adjusted to the logistic model. At the temperature range of 120–125C, the two‐term exponential model for population with heterogeneous heat resistance was fitted, and at 130C, the classic linear model was suitable. It was shown that rate constants are influenced by temperature according to two irreconcilable methods: the Arrhenius and the Bigelow methods. Activation energy (Ea) obtained was 249.52 kJ/mol while thermal resistance parameter (z‐value) calculated from Ea and the Bigelow method were 11.48 and 9.19C, respectively. Thermal death kinetic constant, k values, varied from 0.019 to 13.63/min.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe thermal degradation kinetics from this work, in conjunction with the appropriate sugar degradation kinetic data (Nolasco Junior 2005, Nolasco Junior and De Massaguer 2006), can be used to properly design an optimal thermal process to inactivate sugarcane must contaminants with optimal sugar content retention. Contaminant control in ethanolic fermentation processes could namely be based on temperature, a physical agent, instead of the current control practice based on antibiotics. Besides, the data from this research meet the more frequently found nonlinear microbial thermal death kinetic model application.
PROTEOLYTIC DEGRADATION AND AMINO ACID LIBERATION DURING EXTENSIVE HYDROLYSIS OF PORCINE BLOOD HEMOGLOBIN BY PROTEASE ADMIXTURE
Authors: GUO SHAN‐GUANG , ZHAO MOU‐MING , WANG JIN‐SHUI , CUI CHUN 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACT The hydrolysis process of porcine blood hemoglobin by enzyme admixture was characterized for protein degradation, amino acid release and hydrophobicity of recovered hydrolysates with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH) to investigate their relationships with protein recovery (PR) and bitterness. DH increased during the process; however, PR increased with increasing reaction time in the initial phase up to 92.9%, then decreased with increasing time. It means PR was not directly proportional to DH except in the initial phase. Molecular mass of recovered hydrolysates ranged from >15 kDa to free amino acid (FAA) (<1 kDa). The resulting extracted peptides, especially for high molecular weight (>15 kDa) and for containing more hydrophobic amino acids, aggregated and became insoluble during hydrolysis stationary and thus sharply decreased PR. Some FAAs, including methionine, tyrosine, serine and arginine, were likely to contribute to a minor decrease of PR in the test. High average hydrophobic FAA liberation rate in the hydrolysis reduced the hydrophobicity of recovered hydrolysates and possibly decreased the bitterness of the recovery. The hydrophobicity based on Q values and determined by amino acid composition supported Ney's Q rule as a predictor of bitterness for porcine hemoglobin peptides.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSPorcine blood generated in industrial abattoirs is an abundant by‐product that can be used in the food industry at a low cost. Hemoglobin (Hb), the major fraction of blood, is still rarely used in food. This article deals with hydrolysis of Hb by enzyme admixture, which obtained no bitterness of hydrolysate. A complete study of the extensive hydrolysis process, protein degradation and amino acid liberation of Hb is shown. Knowledge about the process may lead to development of new technologies for making nonbitter functional peptides and thus may increase applications of blood protein hydrolysates.
MODELING OF PHASE EQUILIBRIA FOR AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF SUGARS USING A CUBIC EQUATION OF STATE
Authors: PEROZIN DENISE , OLIVEIRA ALESSANDRA L. , CABRAL FERNANDO A. 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACTPRSV, which is the Peng‐Robinson equation of state improved by Stryjek and Vera in 1986, was used to model and predict the thermodynamic properties of water‐sucrose, water‐glucose, water‐fructose, water‐maltose and water‐xylose solutions. Binary interaction parameters were obtained by fitting the model to binary vapor‐liquid equilibrium data expressed as water activity. The water activity of synthetic honey and the boiling point temperature of pure sucrose solutions were calculated and compared with the experimental data. The fugacities of glucose and xylose were also estimated in aqueous saturated solutions at equilibrium with the solid phase, and these values were compared with data from the extrapolated sublimation pressure. The results showed that this method was able to estimate the water activity of sugar mixtures and the order of magnitude of the vapor pressure of sugars.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSNowadays there is a tendency to employ high‐pressure processes, but activity coefficient models of the type UNIQUAC and UNIFAC are not appropriate for modeling phase equilibria. In these cases, the model employing the equation of state has been recommended to predict the thermodynamic properties. However, a simple cubic equation of state such as the original Peng‐Robinson equation of state (PR‐EOS) does not accurately predict the vapor pressure of pure water, which is critical for the calculation of equilibrium when the water molar fraction xw→1, so the temperature dependence of the attractive term of PR‐EOS was calculated from the PRSV‐EOS, the analytical form of the 1986 Stryjek and Vera equation, which can predict the vapor pressure of water. The main purpose of the present study was to model sugar‐water systems at low pressure, which should be useful for high‐pressure processes.
PREVENTION IS A SOUND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT*
Authors: CATALANO RICHARD F. 
Published: September 2007

Research Summary:My colleagues and I are working to develop a science of prevention through reducing risk and enhancing social development and though rigorous testing of preventive interventions. We have shown that adolescent health and behavior problems can be prevented through a social development approach in a variety of settings.Policy Implications:In the United States, we now have the tools and prevention programs that could make a significant impact on youth development. The research base for prevention policy and practice has grown over the last three decades to the point that exponential growth in professionalism and effective practice are now a wise and cost‐effective public and private investment.
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND THE LEGAL THREAT TO PRESUMPTIVE SENTENCING GUIDELINES
Authors: BUSHWAY SHAWN D. , PIEHL ANNE MORRISON 
Published: September 2007

Research Summary:The general tone of articles by policy makers is satisfaction that presumptive sentencing, as practiced in the United States, although threatened, has not been greatly damaged by Blakely v. Washington and related cases. Sentencing research, because it usually does not consider how discretion operates before and after the sentencing stage, does not actually provide an empirical basis for such satisfaction. Illustrations from several jurisdictions show that the presumptive sentence guidelines may not have been as effective at reducing discretion and disparity as policy makers seem to believe. In addition, the policy choices embedded in the sentencing grid itself can contribute to disparity, and the grid can and should be analyzed to assess its role.Policy Implications:Although not definitive, these analyses suggest that policy makers need to be more cautious with any conclusion about the relative benefits of presumptive versus voluntary guidelines. Analyses of sentencing variation must vary with the institutional setting. In a presumptive sentencing state, more of the total sentencing variation is likely to be contained in the grid or exercised in the charge bargaining stage (or earlier) compared with a less‐structured sentencing system, where appreciable variation may remain at the sentencing stage.
Oesophagogastric ulceration in pigs: a visual morphological scoring guide
Authors: Kopinski JS , McKenzie RA 
Published: September 2007

Objective  To provide a visual guide for oesophagogastric ulcer scoring and recognition of different morphological changes in the pars oesophagea.Design   Pig stomachs were collected at slaughter and visually evaluated and scored for parakeratosis, erosion and ulceration in the pars oesophagea.Results  A visual and descriptive guide is presented that will aid in the objective assessment and scoring of oesophagogastric ulceration in pigs within the pig health monitoring system (PHMS), namely to the four categories of 0 = normal stomach, 1 = parakeratosis and thickened epithelium, 2 = erosions and 3 = developed ulcers with and without stenosis.Conclusion  A visual guide has been developed that illustrates the full range of morphological changes that can occur in the pars oesophagea of the stomach within the few currently recognised stages of the disease.
Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Qolqoleh Deposit, Northwestern Iran
Authors: Aliyari Farhang , Rastad Ebrahim , Zengqian Hou 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThe Qolqoleh gold deposit is located in the northwestern part of the Sanandai‐Sirjan Zone, northwest of Iran. Gold mineralization in the Qolqoleh deposit is almost entirely confined to a series of steeply dipping ductile–brittle shear zones generated during Late Cretaceous–Tertiary continental collision between the Afro‐Arabian and the Iranian microcontinent. The host rocks are Mesozoic volcano‐sedimentary sequences consisting of felsic to mafic metavolcanics, which are metamorphosed to greenschist facies, sericite and chlorite schists. The gold orebodies were found within strong ductile deformation to late brittle deformation. Ore‐controlling structure is NE–SW‐trending oblique thrust with vergence toward south ductile–brittle shear zone. The highly strained host rocks show a combination of mylonitic and cataclastic microstructures, including crystal–plastic deformation and grain size reduction by recrystalization of quartz and mica. The gold orebodies are composed of Au‐bearing highly deformed and altered mylonitic host rocks and cross‐cutting Au‐ and sulfide‐bearing quartz veins. Approximately half of the mineralization is in the form of dissemination in the mylonite and the remainder was clearly emplaced as a result of brittle deformation in quartz–sulfide microfractures, microveins and veins. Only low volumes of gold concentration was introduced during ductile deformation, whereas, during the evident brittle deformation phase, competence contrasts allowed fracturing to focus on the quartz–sericite domain boundaries of the mylonitic foliation, thus permitting the introduction of auriferous fluid to create disseminated and cross‐cutting Au‐quartz veins. According to mineral assemblages and alteration intensity, hydrothermal alteration could be divided into three zones: silicification and sulfidation zone (major ore body); sericite and carbonate alteration zone; and sericite–chlorite alteration zone that may be taken to imply wall‐rock interaction with near neutral fluids (pH 5–6). Silicified and sulfide alteration zone is observed in the inner parts of alteration zones. High gold grades belong to silicified highly deformed mylonitic and ultramylonitic domains and silicified sulfide‐bearing microveins. Based on paragenetic relationships, three main stages of mineralization are recognized in the Qolqoleh gold deposit. Stage I encompasses deposition of large volumes of milky quartz and pyrite. Stage II includes gray and buck quartz, pyrite and minor calcite, sphalerite, subordinate chalcopyrite and gold ores. Stage III consists of comb quartz and calcite, magnetite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and gold ores. Studies on regional geology, ore geology and ore‐forming stages have proved that the Qolqoleh deposit was formed in the compression–extension stage during the Late Cretaceous–Tertiary continental collision in a ductile–brittle shear zone, and is characterized by orogenic gold deposits.
Petroleum Resources of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Kawagle Simon A. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractPapua New Guinea’s petroleum sector has substantially grown in the last 2 years. There is an increase in exploration expenditure, which also sees a corresponding increase in the number of exploration licences. Two new petroleum projects have been commissioned and these have added to production of the existing projects. The oilfields are small by world standards. The sector is the second major contributor to the export income and taxation revenue of the country, after minerals.
Novel Plasmid-Mediated 16S rRNA m
1
A1408 Methyltransferase, NpmA, Found in a Clinically Isolated
Escherichia coli
Strain Resistant to Structurally Diverse Aminoglycosides
Authors: Wachino Jun-ichi , Shibayama Keigo , Kurokawa Hiroshi , Kimura Kouji , Yamane Kunikazu , Suzuki Satowa , Shibata Naohiro , Ike Yasuyoshi , Arakawa Yoshichika 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACT

We have isolated a multiple-aminoglycoside-resistant
Escherichia coli
strain, strain ARS3, and have been the first to identify a novel plasmid-mediated 16S rRNA methyltransferase, NpmA. This new enzyme shared a relatively low level of identity (30%) to the chromosomally encoded 16S rRNA methyltransferase (KamA) of
Streptomyces tenjimariensis
, an actinomycete aminoglycoside producer. The introduction of a recombinant plasmid carrying
npmA
could confer on
E. coli
consistent resistance to both 4,6-disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamines, such as amikacin and gentamicin, and 4,5-disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamines, including neomycin and ribostamycin. The histidine-tagged NpmA elucidated methyltransferase activity against 30S ribosomal subunits but not against 50S subunits and the naked 16S rRNA molecule in vitro. We further confirmed that NpmA is an adenine N-1 methyltransferase specific for the A1408 position at the A site of 16S rRNA. Drug footprinting data indicated that binding of aminoglycosides to the target site was apparently interrupted by methylation at the A1408 position. These observations demonstrate that NpmA is a novel plasmid-mediated 16S rRNA methyltransferase that provides a panaminoglycoside-resistant nature through interference with the binding of aminoglycosides toward the A site of 16S rRNA through N-1 methylation at position A1408.
Physiological Adaptation of a Nitrate-Storing
Beggiatoa
sp. to Diel Cycling in a Phototrophic Hypersaline Mat
Authors: Hinck Susanne , Neu Thomas R. , Lavik Gaute , Mussmann Marc , de Beer Dirk , Jonkers Henk M. 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the supposed vertical diel migration and the accompanying physiology of
Beggiatoa
bacteria from hypersaline microbial mats. We combined microsensor, stable-isotope, and molecular techniques to clarify the phylogeny and physiology of the most dominant species inhabiting mats of the natural hypersaline Lake Chiprana, Spain. The most dominant morphotype had a filament diameter of 6 to 8 μm and a length varying from 1 to >10 mm. Phylogenetic analysis by 16S rRNA gene comparison revealed that this type appeared to be most closely related (91% sequence identity) to the narrow (4-μm diameter) nonvacuolated marine strain MS-81-6. Stable-isotope analysis showed that the Lake Chiprana species could store nitrate intracellularly to 40 mM. The presence of large intracellular vacuoles was confirmed by fluorescein isothiocyanate staining and subsequent confocal microscopy. In illuminated mats, their highest abundance was found at a depth of 8 mm, where oxygen and sulfide co-occurred. However, in the dark, the highest
Beggiatoa
densities occurred at 7 mm, and the whole population was present in the anoxic zone of the mat. Our findings suggest that hypersaline
Beggiatoa
bacteria oxidize sulfide with oxygen under light conditions and with internally stored nitrate under dark conditions. It was concluded that nitrate storage by
Beggiatoa
is an optimal strategy to both occupy the suboxic zones in sulfidic sediments and survive the dark periods in phototrophic mats.
Propagation of Arthropod-Borne
Rickettsia
spp. in Two Mosquito Cell Lines
Authors: Sakamoto Joyce M. , Azad Abdu F. 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACT

Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular alphaproteobacteria that include pathogenic species in the spotted fever, typhus, and transitional groups. The development of a standardized cell line in which diverse rickettsiae can be grown and compared would be highly advantageous to investigate the differences among and between pathogenic and nonpathogenic species of rickettsiae. Although several rickettsial species have been grown in tick cells, tick cells are more difficult to maintain and they grow more slowly than insect cells.
Rickettsia
-permissive arthropod cell lines that can be passaged rapidly are highly desirable for studies on arthropod-
Rickettsia
interactions. We used two cell lines (
Aedes albopictus
cell line Aa23 and
Anopheles gambiae
cell line Sua5B) that have not been used previously for the purpose of rickettsial propagation. We optimized the culture conditions to propagate one transitional-group rickettsial species (
Rickettsia felis
) and two spotted-fever-group rickettsial species (
R. montanensis
and
R. peacockii
) in each cell line. Both cell lines allowed the stable propagation of rickettsiae by weekly passaging regimens. Stable infections were confirmed by PCR, restriction digestion of
rompA
, sequencing, and the direct observation of bacteria by fluorescence in situ hybridization. These cell lines not only supported rickettsial growth but were also permissive toward the most fastidious species of the three,
R. peacockii
. The permissive nature of these cell lines suggests that they may potentially be used to isolate novel rickettsiae or other intracellular bacteria. Our results have important implications for the in vitro maintenance of uncultured rickettsiae, as well as providing insights into
Rickettsia
-arthropod interactions.
Fate of the Two-Component Lantibiotic Lacticin 3147 in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Gardiner Gillian E. , Rea Mary C. , O'Riordan Brid , O'Connor Paula , Morgan Sheila M. , Lawlor Peadar G. , Lynch P. Brendan , Cronin Michael , Ross R. Paul , Hill Colin 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACT
The component peptides of lacticin 3147 were degraded by α-chymotrypsin in vitro with a resultant loss of antimicrobial activity. Activity was also lost in ileum digesta. Following oral ingestion, neither of the lacticin 3147 peptides was detected in the gastric, jejunum, or ileum digesta of pigs, and no lacticin 3147 activity was found in the feces. These observations suggest that lacticin 3147 ingestion is unlikely to have adverse effects, since it is probably inactivated during intestinal transit.