bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contamination of livestock due to the operation of a small waste incinerator: a case incident in Skutulsfjörður, Iceland, in 2010
Authors: Halldorsson Thorhallur I , Auðunsson Guðjón Atli , Guicharnaud Rannveig , Dýrmundsson Ólafur R , Hansson Sigurður Örn , Hreinsson Kjartan 
Published: June 2013

Summary

Background
In 2010 contamination by dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs was detected in milk and meat in the valley Engidalur situated at the bottom of a fjord (Skutulsfjörður) in North West Iceland. The valley is narrow and surrounded by high mountains resulting in prevailing calm weather. The contamination was traced to a small municipal waste incinerator operating in the valley. Annual agricultural production in Engidalur was modest (≈6 tons of meat and 45 tons of milk). The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority conducted a series of measurements examining the contamination and the results are reported in this paper.

Results
Earlier inspection of the waste incinerator had shown dioxin levels in fly ash of 2.1 ng I-TEQ/m3, which exceeded the EU maximum limit of 0.1 ng I-TEQ/m3. Late in 2010 routine inspection found 4.0 pg WHO-TEQ/g for PCDD/Fs and 7.4 pg total WHO-TEQ/g fat in one milk sample from a farm in Engidalur; levels exceeding the EU maximum limits of 3.0 and 6.0 pg WHO-TEQ/fat for dairy fat, respectively. These results were confirmed in an additional milk sample. Elevated levels exceeding the maximum limits were also observed in one out of two beef samples collected from the farm (4.7 pg WHO-TEQ/g for dioxins and 12.3 pg total WHO-TEQ/g fat). Elevated levels in lamb and ewe meat were also observed but concentration varied greatly, reflecting different migration routes of animals during summer grazing and different sources of hay used during winter. A composite sample of hay from Engidalur had levels of PCDD/Fs of 0.85 pg WHO-TEQ/g and 1.36 pg total WHO-TEQ/g; levels that were marginally, but not significantly, above the EU maximum limit of 0.75 pg WHO-TEQ/g and 1.25 pg WHO-TEQ/g, respectively.

Conclusions
Operation of a small municipal waste incinerator, not fulfilling modern standards, may lead to elevated levels of dioxins in local livestock.
Computational gene network analysis reveals TNF-induced angiogenesis
Authors: Ogami Kentaro , Yamaguchi Rui , Imoto Seiya , Tamada Yoshinori , Araki Hiromitsu , Print Cristin , Miyano Satoru 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α) induces HUVEC (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells) to proliferate and form new blood vessels. This TNF-induced angiogenesis plays a key role in cancer and rheumatic disease. However, the molecular system that underlies TNF-induced angiogenesis is largely unknown.

Methods
We analyzed the gene expression changes stimulated by TNF in HUVEC over a time course using microarrays to reveal the molecular system underlying TNF-induced angiogenesis. Traditional k-means clustering analysis was performed to identify informative temporal gene expression patterns buried in the time course data. Functional enrichment analysis using DAVID was then performed for each cluster. The genes that belonged to informative clusters were then used as the input for gene network analysis using a Bayesian network and nonparametric regression method. Based on this TNF-induced gene network, we searched for sub-networks related to angiogenesis by integrating existing biological knowledge.

Results

k-means clustering of the TNF stimulated time course microarray gene expression data, followed by functional enrichment analysis identified three biologically informative clusters related to apoptosis, cellular proliferation and angiogenesis. These three clusters included 648 genes in total, which were used to estimate dynamic Bayesian networks. Based on the estimated TNF-induced gene networks, we hypothesized that a sub-network including IL6 and IL8 inhibits apoptosis and promotes TNF-induced angiogenesis. More particularly, IL6 promotes TNF-induced angiogenesis by inducing NF-κB and IL8, which are strong cell growth factors.

Conclusions
Computational gene network analysis revealed a novel molecular system that may play an important role in the TNF-induced angiogenesis seen in cancer and rheumatic disease. This analysis suggests that Bayesian network analysis linked to functional annotation may be a powerful tool to provide insight into disease.
Using potential master regulator sites and paralogous expansion to construct tissue-specific transcriptional networks
Authors: Haubrock Martin , Li Jie , Wingender Edgar 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Transcriptional networks of higher eukaryotes are difficult to obtain. Available experimental data from conventional approaches are sporadic, while those generated with modern high-throughput technologies are biased. Computational predictions are generally perceived as being flooded with high rates of false positives. New concepts about the structure of regulatory regions and the function of master regulator sites may provide a way out of this dilemma.

Methods
We combined promoter scanning with positional weight matrices with a 4-genome conservativity analysis to predict high-affinity, highly conserved transcription factor (TF) binding sites and to infer TF-target gene relations. They were expanded to paralogous TFs and filtered for tissue-specific expression patterns to obtain a reference transcriptional network (RTN) as well as tissue-specific transcriptional networks (TTNs).

Results
When validated with experimental data sets, the predictions done showed the expected trends of true positive and true negative predictions, resulting in satisfying sensitivity and specificity characteristics. This also proved that confining the network reconstruction to the 1% top-ranking TF-target predictions gives rise to networks with expected degree distributions. Their expansion to paralogous TFs enriches them by tissue-specific regulators, providing a reasonable basis to reconstruct tissue-specific transcriptional networks.

Conclusions
The concept of master regulator or seed sites provides a reasonable starting point to select predicted TF-target relations, which, together with a paralogous expansion, allow for reconstruction of tissue-specific transcriptional networks.
Gene, pathway and network frameworks to identify epistatic interactions of single nucleotide polymorphisms derived from GWAS data
Authors: Liu Yu , Maxwell Sean , Feng Tao , Zhu Xiaofeng , Elston Robert C , Koyutürk Mehmet , Chance Mark R 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Interactions among genomic loci (also known as epistasis) have been suggested as one of the potential sources of missing heritability in single locus analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The computational burden of searching for interactions is compounded by the extremely low threshold for identifying significant p-values due to multiple hypothesis testing corrections. Utilizing prior biological knowledge to restrict the set of candidate SNP pairs to be tested can alleviate this problem, but systematic studies that investigate the relative merits of integrating different biological frameworks and GWAS data have not been conducted.

Results
We developed four biologically based frameworks to identify pairwise interactions among candidate SNP pairs as follows: (1) for each human protein-coding gene, a set of SNPs associated with that gene was constructed providing a gene-based interaction model, (2) for each known biological pathway, a set of SNPs associated with the genes in the pathway was constructed providing a pathway-based interaction model, (3) a set of SNPs associated with genes in a disease-related subnetwork provides a network-based interaction model, and (4) a framework is based on the function of SNPs. The last approach uses expression SNPs (eSNPs or eQTLs), which are SNPs or loci that have defined effects on the abundance of transcripts of other genes. We constructed pairs of eSNPs and SNPs located in the target genes whose expression is regulated by eSNPs. For all four frameworks the SNP sets were exhaustively tested for pairwise interactions within the sets using a traditional logistic regression model after excluding genes that were previously identified to associate with the trait. Using previously published GWAS data for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the biologically based pair-wise interaction modeling, we identify twelve genes not seen in the previous single locus analysis.

Conclusion
We present four approaches to detect interactions associated with complex diseases. The results show our approaches outperform the traditional single locus approaches in detecting genes that previously did not reach significance; the results also provide novel drug targets and biomarkers relevant to the underlying mechanisms of disease.
High serum HTATIP2/TIP30 level in serous ovarian cancer as prognostic or diagnostic marker
Authors: Kumtepe Yakup , Halici Zekai , Sengul Ozlem , Kunak Celalettin Semih , Bayir Yasin , Kilic Nergiz , Cadirci Elif , Pulur Alparslan , Bayraktutan Zafer 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Human HIV-1 TAT interactive protein 2 (HTATIP2/TIP30) is an evolutionarily conserved gene that is expressed ubiquitously in human tissues and some tumor tissues. This protein has been found to be associated with some gynecological cancers; as such, this study aimed to investigate blood HTATIP2/TIP30 levels in patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods
Twenty-three women with ovarian cancer and 18 patients with various non-cancerous gynecological complaints (for example, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, fibroids, and urinary incontinence) were included in the study. The pathological diagnosis of ovarian cancer was adenocarcinoma. HTATIP2/TIP30 concentration in the patients’ blood samples was determined using ELISA kits.

Results
The HTATIP2/TIP30 level was significantly higher in the cancer group than in the control group (1.84 ± 0.82 versus 0.57 ± 0.13 ng/ml, mean ± SD).

Conclusions
We demonstrated the potential role of HTATIP2/TIP30 in ovarian cancer for the first time, thereby enlightening future studies targeting HTATIP2/TIP30 in ovarian cancer treatment, diagnosis, and prevention.
Efficient direct ethanol production from cellulose by cellulase- and cellodextrin transporter-co-expressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Yamada Ryosuke , Nakatani Yuki , Ogino Chiaki , Kondo Akihiko 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Efficient degradation of cellulosic biomass requires the synergistic action of the cellulolytic enzymes endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and β-glucosidase. Although there are many reports describing consolidation of hydrolysis and fermentation steps using recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae that express cellulolytic enzymes, the efficiency of cellulose degradation has not been sufficiently improved. Although the yeast S. cerevisiae cannot take up cellooligosaccharide, some fungi can take up and assimilate cellooligosaccharide through a cellodextrin transporter. In this study, a S. cerevisiae strain co-expressing genes for several cell surface display cellulases and the cellodextrin transporter was constructed for the purpose of improving the efficiency of direct ethanol fermentation from phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC). The cellulase/cellodextrin transporter-coexpressing strain produced 1.7-fold more ethanol (4.3 g/L) from PASC during a 72-h fermentation than did a strain expressing cellulase only (2.5 g/L). Direct ethanol production from PASC by the recombinant S. cerevisiae strain was improved by co-expression of cellulase display and cellodextrin transporter genes. These results suggest that cellulase- and cellodextrin transporter-co-expressing S. cerevisiae could be a promising technology for efficient direct ethanol production from cellulose.
High serum sCD163/sTWEAK ratio is associated with lower risk of digital ulcers but more severe skin disease in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Kowal-Bielecka Otylia , Bielecki Marek , Guiducci Serena , Trzcinska-Butkiewicz Beata , Michalska-Jakubus Małgorzata , Matucci-Cerinic Marco , Brzosko Marek , Krasowska Dorota , Chyczewski Lech , Kowal Krzysztof 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, vascular injury and excessive fibrosis. CD163 is a scavenger receptor which affects inflammatory response and may contribute to connective tissue remodelling. It has recently been demonstrated that CD163 can bind and neutralize the TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a multifunctional cytokine which regulates inflammation, angiogenesis and tissue remodelling. We aimed to investigate the relationships between serum levels of soluble CD163 (sCD163) and soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK) in relation to disease manifestations in SSc patients.

Methods
This study included 89 patients with SSc who had not received immunosuppressive drugs or steroids for at least 6 months and 48 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) from four European centres. Serum concentrations of sTWEAK and sCD163 were measured using commercially available ELISA kits.

Results
The mean serum concentrations of sTWEAK were comparable between SSc patients (mean +/- SD: 270 +/- 171 pg/mL) and HC (294 +/- 147pg/mL, P >0.05). Concentration of sCD163 and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were significantly greater in SSc patients (984 +/- 420 ng/mL and 4837 +/- 3103, respectively) as compared to HC (823 +/- 331 ng/mL and 3115 +/- 1346 respectively, P <0.05 for both). High sCD163 levels and a high sCD163/sTWEAK ratio (defined as > mean +2SD of HC) were both associated with a lower risk of digital ulcers in SSc patients (OR, 95%CI: 0.09; 0.01, 0.71, and 0.17; 0.06, 0.51, respectively). Accordingly, patients without digital ulcers had a significantly higher sCD163 concentration and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio as compared to SSc patients with digital ulcers (P <0.01 for both) and HC (P <0.05 for both). A high sCD163/sTWEAK ratio, but not high sCD163 levels, was associated with greater skin involvement.

Conclusions
The results of our study indicate that CD163-TWEAK interactions might play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc and that CD163 may protect against the development of digital ulcers in SSc. Further studies are required to reveal whether targeting of the CD163-TWEAK pathway might be a potential strategy for treating vascular disease and/or skin fibrosis in SSc.
Doyle–Kirmse Reaction Using Triazoles Leading to One-pot Multifunctionalization of Terminal Alkynes
Authors: Miura Tomoya , Tanaka Takamasa , Yada Akira , Murakami Masahiro 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
1-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles undergo a Doyle–Kirmse reaction upon treatment with allylic sulfides in the presence of a rhodium(II) catalyst to afford α-allyl-α-sulfanylimines. Terminal alkynes are regioselectively multifunctionalized by the introduction of C–N, C–S, and C–C bonds through a one-pot sequence consisting of a [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction with azide and subsequent Doyle–Kirmse reaction.
Metal oxides as functional semiconductors. An inkjet approach
Authors: Vilà Anna , Gomez Alberto , Portilla Luis , Cirici Marti , Morante Juan Ramon 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTInkjet printing provides an interesting technology for electronic devices, as it is a versatile minimum-waste cost-effective technique for direct writing on almost every surface without need of masks or sacrificial layers. Among the fields in which it has been tested, transparent and flexible electronics offer a variety of applications ranging from large-area roll-toroll (such as OLEDs for lighting or solar cells) to small low-consumption biocompatible devices such as biosensors.This work aims to present some advances in the field of semiconductors synthesized by sol-gel and patterned by inkjet printing. Chemical routes are used to obtain suitable inks, based on salts of Ga, In, Zn, Cu and Sn and solvents as methoxyethanol. Inkjet printing provides thin layers 20-300nm thick, with morphology strongly depending on the materials. Different thermal treatments are tested, and some chemical and optical characterization of the obtained layers allows optimizing the technology for each material.The effectiveness of the inks and the technique is demonstrated by the electronic behavior of thin-film transistors fabricated by the proposed technology. The different devices are compared, suggesting the properties of the different materials analyzed, as a step ahead in the development of a complete logic for such promising applications of the flexible electronics.
Regeneration of Ammonia-Borane Complex for Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Mohajeri Nahid , T-Raissi Ali 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAt the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research program is underway for developing a high-density hydrogen storage system based on amine-borane (AB) complexes. Due to their high hydrogen capacity, these hydrides have been employed, in the past, as disposable hydrogen sources for fuel cell applications. However, to meet the requirements for hydrogen storage onboard vehicles, it is essential that cost effective and energy efficient methods for the regeneration (i.e. hydrogenation) of the spent (dehydrogenated) AB complexes can be found that utilize only hydrogen and/or electricity (i.e. the only plausible hydrogen economy energy carriers).We are studying two ammoniaborane (NH3BH3)-based systems with high hydrogen storage capacity. The first system employs a borazine-cyclotriborazane cycle. Borazine is a product of NH3BH3 thermolysis. Cyclotriborazane is the inorganic analog of cyclohexane. The second system employs polymeric AB complexes such as poly-(aminoborane) and polyborazylene. Poly-(aminoborane), an inorganic analog of polyethylene, is also a product of amoniaborane thermolysis whilepolyborazylene is the product of borazine thermolysis.For the two systems above, we are developing regeneration (i.e. reduction of borazine, poly-(aminoborane) and polyborazylene) schemes based on: 1) catalytic hydrogenation and 2) indirect (multi-step) synthesis techniques.
Maternal Health and Care in India: Why a Major Public Health Strategy Is Essential
Authors: Beckingham Andy 
Published: June 2013

India has large inequalities in maternal health and high maternal mortality and morbidity rates. A social model of maternal health was used as a framework for a broad review of online published literature to appraise the approaches used by India to address these issues and to examine the potential for reducing the country’s maternal health inequalities.The review found the following:• An apparent lack of coordinated economic, social, and health strategy and policies focused on improving maternal health• No acknowledgment in national health policy of the limitations of the medical model of maternal health and little apparent mention of the social model• No evident national frameworks for quality assurance in maternity care• Lack of recognition of the importance of woman-centered care• No evident comprehensive maternal health needs assessment to underpin coordinated multisector working• An apparent lack of reliable national data collection for setting inequality targets and monitoring progress• No apparent performance-focused management system for improving maternity care nationally.Although India has made large increases in maternal health care provision over recent decades, a pragmatic review of government policies, the reports of international agencies, and the findings of published research studies indicate that major barriers exist to reducing maternal health inequalities and to achieving good quality care for disadvantaged women. The main barrier appears to be the widespread use at all levels, including government, of the medical model of maternal health, which focuses mostly on obstetric interventions and fails to address the wider economic and social determinants of maternal health or to use a woman-centered approach to maternity care.We recommend that Indian governments adopt instead a “social model” approach to maternal health improvement and urgently employ a public health strategy led by a national multisector task force to reduce inequalities in maternal health.
Complication After Cryosurgery Treatment for Gingival Melanin Pigmentation: A Case Report
Authors: Özcan Mustafa , İşler Sıla Cagrı , Bozkaya Suleyman , Özcan Gönen 
Published: June 2013

Introduction: Gingival melanin pigmentation (GMP) is considered a physiologic or racial situation. Complaints of “black gums” are common, and demands for depigmentation are usually made for esthetic reasons. In this case report, a cryosurgical depigmentation procedure is described and the effectiveness and complications of cryosurgery are examined.Case Presentation: A 40‐year‐old, systemically healthy female presented with esthetic problems associated with GMP. Cryosurgery was performed from the midline by cross‐segments from canine to canine for the treatment of maxillary and mandibular gingival tissues. One month after the cryosurgery procedure, a bone sequestrum became apparent between the mandibular right central incisor and canine, and it was removed from the area. A 2‐mm gingival recession was observed 1 month after the surgery to remove the sequestrum.Conclusions: Methods such as cryosurgery seem to be effective in the treatment of GMP. Various complications can be observed in the application of cryosurgical procedures, such as infection, hemorrhage, recession, and pain. Anatomic structures of the pigmented sites, the width of the gingiva, the length of the keratinized gingiva, the dose, and application distance of cryosurgenic gas must be carefully considered.
Polymorphic Varieties of CaCO3 as a Product of Cement Grout Carbonization
Authors: Uliasz-Bocheńczyk Alicja , Gawlicki Marek , Mokrzycki Eugeniusz , Pyzalski Michał 
Published: June 2013

Streszczenie
Zaczyny cementowe stosowane w technologiach wiertniczych wykorzystywanych w geologicznym składowa­niu CO2 będą ulegać intensywnej karbonatyzacji. Ditlenek węgla powodujący korozję węglanową lub kwasowo- -węglanową zaczynu cementowego reaguje przede wszystkim z portlandytem Ca(OH)2, stanowiącym obok uwodnionych krzemianów wapnia C-S-H główny produkt reakcji z wodą podstawowych składników cementu, alitu i belitu. Węglan wapnia powstający w wyniku reakcji CO2 z Ca(OH)2 może występować we wszystkich trzech odmianach polimorficznych CaCO3, jako kalcyt, aragonit i vateryt. Potwierdziły to badania próbek pobranych z otworów wykonanych w celu intensyfikacji wydobycia ropy naftowej przy użyciu CO2 (Carem i in. 2006, 2007; Scherer, Huet 2009). Prawdopodobnie jako pierwszy powstaje vateryt, który następnie przechodzi w kalcyt. Aragonit pojawia się zazwyczaj jako faza przejściowa (Kurdowski 2010). W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań składów fazowych zaczynów cementowych, które mogą być użyte w pracach wiertniczych wyko­nywanych w celu geologicznego składowania CO2. W zaczynach stwierdzono równoczesne występowanie obok siebie różnych odmian polimorficznych węglanu wapnia. Zaczyny pozostające w kontakcie z solanką i ditlenkiem węgla wykazywały oprócz kalcytu, aragonitu i vaterytu, również obecność faz będących produktami korozji chlorkowej zaczynu cementowego.