bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vitro inhibition of phosphodiesterase-5 and arginase activities from rat penile tissue by two Nigerian herbs (Hunteria umbellata and Anogeissus leiocarpus)
Authors: Oboh Ganiyu , Adebayo Adeniyi Abiodun , Ademosun Ayokunle Olubode , Boligon Aline August 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Background:

Anogeissus leiocarpus and Hunteria umbellata have been reportedly used in traditional medicine for the management of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the scientific basis for their use has not been well established. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of water extractable phytochemicals of H. umbellata and A. leiocarpus on phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) and arginase as well as pro-oxidants induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile tissue.

Methods:
The effects of the extracts on important enzymes (PDE-5 and arginase) linked with ED and pro-oxidants (Fe2+ and sodium nitroprusside) induced lipid peroxidation were investigated. Also, radicals scavenging and metal chelating abilities were determined. In addition, phenolic contents were determined and characterized using HPLC.

Results:
The results showed that both extracts inhibited PDE-5 and arginase activities in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibitory property of A. leiocarpus (IC50 – 174.19 μg/mL) was significantly better (p<0.05) than that of H. umbellata (IC50 – 537.72 μg/mL) in PDE-5 assay. The extracts were potent inhibitors of arginase than PDE-5, and these extracts were equally potent in inhibiting arginase. Furthermore, Fe2+ and sodium nitroprusside caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde content; however, both extracts reduced malondialdehyde level in concentration-dependent manner. It is noteworthy that both extracts scavenged radicals (OH* and ABTS*) and chelated Fe2+. HPLC analysis revealed abundance of rutin, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin, among others.

Conclusions:
The ability of the extracts to inhibit PDE-5, arginase and pro-oxidant induced lipid peroxidation, and chelate metal might suggest their folkloric use for the management of ED.
Ascorbic acid does not modulate potassium currents in cultured human lymphocytes
Authors: Snekalatha Saravanakumar , Kanthakumar Praghalathan 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Background:
Ascorbic acid (AA) is known to modulate lymphocyte function, but the mechanism of action is not clearly understood. As voltage-gated potassium currents play an important role in lymphocyte function, the effect of AA on voltage-gated potassium currents was studied.

Methods:
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of increasing concentrations of AA (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mM). Potassium currents in resting lymphocytes were studied by whole cell patch clamp technique using a depolarizing protocol. Lymphocyte function was assessed by measuring interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion after mitogenic stimulation by ELISA.

Results:
The mean current density of potassium currents recorded from cells cultured for 48 h in the presence of 0.125 mM AA was not significantly different from that of cells cultured in the absence of AA. There was about 50% inhibition of IL-2 secretion in cell cultures with 0.125 mM AA when compared to controls without AA. At higher concentrations of AA, the IL-2 secretion decreased further.

Conclusions:
The results of the study indicate that the inhibition of lymphocyte function by AA in vitro may not be due to inhibition of potassium currents in the concentration tested.
Evaluation of the sub-chronic toxicity profile of the corm of Xanthosoma sagittifolium on hematology and biochemistry of alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats
Authors: Oridupa Olayinka A. , Folasire Oluyemisi F. , Owolabi Adedotun J. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Background
Hematological and biochemical changes associated with diabetes mellitus and probable reversal were assessed in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats fed with varied percentages of Xanthosoma sagittifolium corm feed (Xs). The changes were compared to normoglycemic rats and diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide.

Methods
The study had eight groups in all with group 8 (control) consisting of five normoglycemic rats fed with normal rat pellets (Nrp). Diabetes was experimentally induced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan to normoglycemic rats. Diabetic rats (serum glucose >200 mg/dL) at 48 h postinjection were randomly divided into the seven groups, each diabetic group consisting of five rats. One group was untreated and fed with Nrp, four groups were fed with 25 %, 50 %, 75 % or 100 % Xs, one group was fed with 100 % Xs and administered with glibenclamide, while a 7th group was fed with Nrp and administered with glibenclamide.

Results
This study shows that treatment of diabetes with corm of X. sagittifolium increases cellular response to inflammation which is required for body defense against assaulting agents. Decreased serum protein levels observed in untreated diabetic rats were restored in diabetic rats fed with X. sagittifolium corm with particular increase in serum albumin levels but depression of globulin fraction, except in rats fed with X. sagittifolium feed and administered with glibenclamide. X. sagittifolium showed a potent antihyperglycemic effect and corrected the dyslipidemia in a manner comparable to that observed for glibenclamide. Although HDL levels were still low, significant (p<0.05) decrease of LDL levels was a positive indicator of reduced risk for development of cardiovascular and/or coronary heart disease.

Conclusions

X. sagittifolium corm can be recommended for inclusion in diets of diabetics without causing further deterioration of health of the diabetic patients.
Plurilingual resources as an asset in ELF business interactions
Authors: Franceschi Valeria 
Published: March 2017

AbstractInternational business communication is sometimes perceived as being culture-neutral; however, the speakers’ linguacultural repertoires may be exploited as communicative resources in English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF) interactions. Indeed, plurilingual phenomena can be inscribed in a view of ELF communication that sees such practices as a potential asset in intercultural communication. Multicultural competence – which may include the exploitation and integration of other linguacultures – alongside BELF competence and business-specific knowledge is identifiable as an essential skill for successful interactions on the workplace. This paper aims at exploring the domain of internationally oriented business communication in English by analyzing naturally occurring data of workplace interactions involving non-native speakers of English. Specifically, the analysis will look at how non-English linguistic and cultural elements are incorporated in ELF talk in business contexts. The Professional Business section of the VOICE corpus will be analyzed to this purpose through a qualitative approach in order to shed light on the functions of L1 and LN (other languages) cultural and linguistic elements in BELF interactions and their role in conducting successful business transactions.
Using stimulated recall to explore the use of communication strategies in English lingua franca interactions
Authors: Kennedy Sara 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
In this study, the communication strategy use of two pairs of English as a lingua franca (ELF) users was explored in relation to two contextual factors, the communicative goal and the ELF users’ thoughts and feelings about the interactions. The ELF users were video-recorded engaging in researcher-designed tasks which required sharing information to achieve a joint goal. Subsequent stimulated recall with individual speakers targeted instances of potential or actual difficulties in understanding. Recordings and transcripts of the paired tasks and stimulated recall were used to identify communication strategies used to address difficulties in understanding. Results showed that overall, 11 different strategy types were seen across both pairs of speakers. However, the pair which achieved the shared goal showed a different pattern of strategy use and of interaction than the pair which did not achieve the shared goal. The two pairs also differed in how they attributed responsibility for successful communication. These findings, discussed in the context of previous ELF communication strategy research, highlight benefits of investigating interlocutors’ contemporaneous thoughts and feelings and the ways in which communication strategies are used during interactions.
(B)ELF in multicultural student teamwork
Authors: Komori-Glatz Miya 
Published: March 2017

AbstractMany researchers agree that multicultural teams are a “double-edged sword” with the potential for high levels of creativity and production, but also conflict. This paper argues that effective communication is vital for developing “virtuous,” rather than vicious, circles and that research into (B)ELF offers an insight into what effective communication in multicultural and multilingual teams can look like. The conceptual frame develops research into ELF and BELF by also drawing on organisational and management research to examine team processes and the role of language within them. The second part of the paper presents illustrative examples from data collected in an ethnographic study from an English-medium marketing master’s programme at WU Vienna. The students’ teamwork project comprises an international market entry simulation and can be seen as a training ground for managing both business content and team processes. The findings indicate that both the ELF context and the ELF talk furthered the development of rapport, and that the students’ “casual talk” supported their “work talk.” The paper finishes with a call for more empirical research into language use among recent business graduates and how to prepare students better for a globalised workplace.
The communicative needs of Bangladeshi economic migrants: the functional values of host country languages versus English as a lingua franca
Authors: Seargeant Philip , Erling Elizabeth J. , Solly Mike , Chowdhury Qumrul Hasan 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis article investigates the language skills and the nature of language provision required by economic migrants from Bangladesh working in the Middle East. It focuses in particular on the perceived values of the host country language (Arabic) versus English as a language franca (ELF). While there have been a number of explorations of the value of learning the host country language for migrants in terms of both labour market outcomes and wellbeing, there is a paucity of, and pressing need for, studies investigating the value of ELF for economic migrants, particularly those from developing country contexts. This article presents the findings from an ethnographic study which explores the experiences, perceptions and specific language-related issues of a diverse cohort of returnee migrants from rural Bangladesh where, despite significant migration from the area, little is known about this population’s language use and communicative needs. Our findings suggest that both the host country language (Arabic) and ELF have important functional values, but that these vary depending on interlocutors, domains of work and contexts of situation, as well as on the relative statuses (within an ecology of global linguistic value) of the two languages in different contexts. The analysis thus provides fresh and significant evidence regarding the role of language in economic migration and development for low-skilled migrants, both to and from contexts in which English has no official status. The article concludes by considering the implications for the types of language education which might be most suitable for these and other economic migrants in comparable contexts.
Increase of body mass index (BMI) from 1.5 to 3 years of age augments the degree of insulin resistance corresponding to BMI at 12 years of age
Authors: Arisaka Osamu , Sairenchi Toshimi , Ichikawa Go , Koyama Satomi 
Published: March 2017

Abstract:To elucidate the effect of early growth patterns on the metabolic sensitivity to adiposity, we examined the relationship between the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body mass index (BMI) levels at 12 years of age in 101 boys and 91 girls in a birth cohort. Children with an increase in BMI from the ages of 1.5 to 3 years exhibited a greater increase of HOMA-IR per BMI increase at 12 years of age compared to those with a decrease in BMI or stable BMI from 1.5 to 3 years. This suggests that children who show an increase in BMI from 1.5 to 3 years, a period normally characterized by a decreased or stable BMI, are more prone to developing insulin resistance at 12 years of age.
Molecular defects identified by whole exome sequencing in a child with atypical mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB
Authors: Zeng Qingwen , Fan Yanjie , Wang Lili , Huang Zhuo , Gu Xuefan , Yu Yongguo 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackground:Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (MPS IIIB) is a genetic disease characterized by mutations in theCase presentation:Whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted and the putative pathogenic variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. The activity of MPS IIIB related enzyme in the patient’s blood serum was assayed. A heterozygous, non-synonymous mutation (c.1562C>T, p.P521L) as well as a novel mutation (c.1705C>A, p.Q569K) were found in theConclusions:Our results describe an atypical form of MPS IIIB and illustrate the diagnostic potential of targeted WES in Mendelian disease with unknown etiology. WES could become a powerful tool for molecular diagnosis of MPS IIIB in clinical setting.
Risk factors for overweight and obesity in children aged 2–6 years
Authors: Kondolot Meda , Poyrazoğlu Serpil , Horoz Duygu , Borlu Arda , Altunay Canan , Balcı Elcin , Öztürk Ahmet , Mazıcıoğlu Mümtaz M. , Kurtoğlu Selim 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackground:Understanding risk factors that may vary culturally can help improve preventive strategies for obesity. This is the first cross-sectional study aimed to determine the risk factors for overweight/obesity in children aged 2–6 years in a central Anatolian city in Turkey.Methods:A total of 1582 children (1351 healthy, 231 overweight/obese) aged 2–6 years were included from the Anthropometry of Turkish Children aged 0–6 years database. Age, gender, birth weight, birth order, mother’s age, mother’s body mass index (BMI), weight gain of mothers during pregnancy, presence of gestational diabetes, breastfeeding duration, history of formula feeding, mother’s and father’s education, mother’s job, monthly income, smoking at home and physical activity, sleep duration and duration of television (TV) watching of the children were evaluated as independent risk factors. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate risk factors for overweight/obesity.Results:Having a high family income compared to bad [odds ratio (OR)=1.96; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.237–3.106], increased the time of watching TV during the weekend (OR=1.094; 95% CI: 1.032–1.159), and similar physical activity level according to their peers compared to less (OR=2.957; 95% CI: 1.056–8.282) were found to be significantly associated with a higher risk of overweight/obesity in children aged 2–6 years old.Conclusions:The early childhood period seems to be important in the establishment of healthy behavioral patterns, especially limitation of TV watching and encouragement of physical activity. Obesogenic environment in families with high incomes need to be revealed.
Clinicopathology of EpCAM and EGFR in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Zheng Jingying , Zhao Lijing , Wang Yi , Zhao Shuhua , Cui Manhua 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the expression of EpCAM and EGFR in human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and their correlation with clinicopathological parameters.
The protein expression levels of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from 30 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma and 15 normal ovary tissues. Clinicopathological characteristics were gathered by retrospective review of the patients’ files. The correlation between EpCAM and EGFR expression, as well as their association with clinical pathological parameters were investigated. The SPSS 17.0 package was used to perform statistical analyses.
The positive expression rates of EpCAM and EGFR were significantly elevated in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues than in normal ovary tissues. The positive expressions of EpCAM and EGFR in EOC were associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between EpCAM and EGFR expression in EOC.
The co-expression of EpCAM and EGFR may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of EOC and might provide a promising molecular therapeutic target.
Translation activities in bilingual early childhood education: Children’s perspectives and teachers’ scaffolding
Authors: Kultti Anne , Pramling Niklas 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn the present study we investigate empirically how six to seven-year-old children with their teachers take on the challenge of translating the lyrics of a children’s song from Finnish to English, analyzing how translation is collaboratively constituted by the participants. The study is informed by translanguaging theory and a sociocultural perspective on learning. The results show that the children respond to the challenge to translate through talking about
America’s Global Moment: Italy Witnesses the Spanish-American War
Authors: Gürsel Bahar 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe second half of the nineteenth century was a significant era for both the United States and the Kingdom of Italy during which both countries commenced to seek new ways of expansion. The United States, which was economically much stronger and technologically more developed, declared its rising hegemony by the end of the nineteenth century. Italy, which lacked the economic and social resources that the United States possessed, strived to become a colonial power until the first decades of the twentieth century. This review of some of the Italian primary sources about the Spanish-American War clarifies noteworthy aspects of imperialism–both American and Italian–within that global context.
Viscous Dissipation and Thermal Radiation effects in MHD flow of Jeffrey Nanofluid through Impermeable Surface with Heat Generation/Absorption
Authors: Sharma Kalpna , Gupta Sumit 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThis paper investigates steady two dimensional flow of an incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) boundary layer flow and heat transfer of nanofluid over an impermeable surface in presence of thermal radiation and viscous dissipation. By using similarity transformation, the arising governing equations of momentum, energy and nanoparticle concentration are transformed into coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations, which are than solved by homotopy analysis method (HAM). The effect of different physical parameters, namely, Prandtl number Pr, Eckert number
1,3-Di(2-dipyridyl)propan-1,3-dione – a new fluorogenic labeling reagent for milk oligosaccharides
Authors: Cai Zhi Peng , Wang Wen Li , Conway Louis , Huang Kun , Awad Faisal Nureldin , Liu Li , Voglmeir Josef 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
We herein demonstrate the use of 1,3-di(2-dipyridyl)propan-1,3-dione (DPPD) as a fluorogenic label for oligosaccharides. A number of milk-derived oligosaccharide standards were successfully labeled with this reagent, with the advantage of greatly simplified sample preparation compared to other commonly used fluorescent tags. DPPD shows a selectivity for oligosaccharides which do not possess a 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-hexose moiety at the reducing terminus, potentially aiding in the identification of complex mixtures of carbohydrates. The use of DPPD for the structural determination of oligosaccharides through exoglycosidase treatment, quantitative analysis of reactions, and in the synthesis of labeled oligosaccharides was also explored. This reagent has, in addition to the analysis of individual and mixed oligosaccharides, potential applications in the study of glycosidases and glycosyltransferases and as such represents a valuable addition to the tools available to the glycoscientist.
Light guided chemoselective olefin metathesis reactions
Authors: Reany Ofer , Gabriel Lemcoff N. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
An appealing concept in synthetic chemistry is photo-induced catalysis; where dormant complexes become catalytically active upon activation with light. The ruthenium-based olefin metathesis complexes founded on the original Grubbs catalyst have probably been one of the most widely studied families of catalysts for the past 25 years. Greater stability and versatility of these olefin-metathesis catalysts has been achieved by careful design of the ligand sphere, including latent catalysts which are activated by external stimuli. This article describes our recent developments towards light-induced olefin metathesis reactions based on photoactive sulfur-chelated ruthenium benzylidene catalysts. Alternative chemical reactions, be it photo-induced olefin metathesis or other direct photochemical processes, by using light of different frequencies were studied in chemoselective chromatic orthogonal pathways. The lessons learned during the development of these reactions have given birth to selective photo-deprotection sequences and novel pathways for stereolithographic applications.
Methods for the chemical synthesis of carbon nanotubes: an approach based on hemispherical polyarene templates
Authors: Scott Lawrence T. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Hemispherical polyarenes represent attractive templates from which carbon nanotubes of the same diameter and rim structure (chirality) might be grown by repetitive annulation reactions. The resulting single-index (n,m) nanotubes would have one end open and the other end capped by the original template. Efforts in the author’s laboratory to synthesize (5,5) and (6,6) nanotube end-caps are described. Nitroethylene is shown to serve well as a “masked acetylene” for the conversion of polyarene bay regions into new unsubstituted benzene rings by a Diels-Alder cycloaddition/aromatization process. Benzyne reacts similarly, both in solution and in the gas phase. These annulation reactions are proposed as methods for elongating large-diameter templates that have bay regions on their rims into structurally uniform, single-walled carbon nanotubes. Unfortunately, the bay regions on the strongly curved rim of the small-diameter (5,5) nanotube end-cap 3 resist Diels-Alder cycloadditions with both nitroethylene and benzyne. Pentabenzocorannulene (14) is proposed as a promising candidate for surface-catalyzed cyclodehydrogenation to a surface-bound hemispherical polyarene that could serve as a template for synthesis of pure (5,5) carbon nanotubes.
Hydroxylated phosphines as ligands for chalcogenide clusters: self assembly, transformations and stabilization
Authors: Sokolov Maxim N. , Anyushin Alexander V. , Hernandez-Molina Rita , Llusar Rosa , Basallote Manuel G. 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
This contribution is a documentation of recent advances in the chemistry of chalcogenide polynuclear transition metal complexes coordinated with mono- and di-phosphines functionalized with hydroxo groups. A survey of complexes containing tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) is presented. The influence of the alkyl chain in bidentate phosphines, bearing the P–(CH2)x–OH arms, is also analyzed. Finally, isolation and structure elucidation of the complexes with HP(OH)2, P(OH)3, As(OH)3, PhP(OH)2, stabilized by coordination to Ni(0) and Pd(0) centers embedded into chalcogenide clusters, is discussed.