bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Culture‐Based and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Analysis of the Bacterial Community from Chungkookjang, a Traditional Korean Fermented Soybean Food
Authors: Hong Sung Wook , Choi Jae Young , Chung Kun Sub 
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  The bacterial community of Chungkookjang and raw rice‐straw collected from various areas in South Korea was investigated using both culture‐dependent and culture‐independent methods. Pure cultures were isolated from Chungkookjang and raw rice‐straw on tryptic soy agar plates with 72 to 121 colonies and identified by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, respectively. The traditional culture‐based method and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of PCR‐amplified 16S rDNA confirmed that Pantoea agglomerans and B. subtilis were identified as predominant in the raw rice‐straw and Chungkookjang, respectively, from Iljuk district of Gyeonggi province, P. ananatis and B. licheniformis were identified as predominant in the raw rice‐straw and Chungkookjang from Wonju district of Gangwon province, and Microbacterium sp. and B. licheniformis were identified as predominant in the raw rice‐straw and Chungkookjang from Sunchang district of Jeolla province. Other strains, such as Bacillus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, and uncultured bacteria were also present in raw rice‐straw and Chungkookjang.Practical Application:  A comprehensive analysis of these microorganisms would provide a more detailed understanding of the biologically active components of Chungkookjang and help improve its quality. Polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis can be successfully applied to a fermented food to detect unculturable or more species than the culture‐dependent method. This technique is an effective and convenient culture‐independent method for studying the bacterial community in Chungkookjang. In this study, the bacterial community of Chungkookjang collected from various areas in South Korea was investigated using both culture‐dependent and culture‐independent methods.
A Road Map for an Emerging Psychology of Social Class
Authors: Kraus Michael W. , Stephens Nicole M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThough the scientific study of social class is over a century old, theories regarding how social class shapes psychological experience are in their infancy. In this review, we provide a road map for the empirical study of an emerging psychology of social class. Specifically, we outline key measurement issues in the study of social class – including the importance of both objective indicators and subjective perceptions of social class – as well as theoretical insights into the role of the social class context in influencing behavior. We then summarize why a psychology of social class is likely to be a fruitful area of research and propose that social class environments guide psychological experience because they shape fundamental aspects of the self and patterns of relating to others. Finally, we differentiate social class from other rank‐relevant states (e.g., power) and social categories (e.g., race/ethnicity), while also outlining potential avenues of future research.
Mindfulness: Towards A Critical Relational Perspective
Authors: Stanley Steven 
Published: September 2012

AbstractSignificant attention has been given to mindfulness and mindfulness meditation in Western culture – often allied with a concern to enhance ‘subjective wellbeing’ through interventions aiming to ameliorate stress, depression and anxiety. While much professional and scientific research has been conducted which studies the nature and effectiveness of mindfulness‐based interventions, few critical accounts exist. I seek to produce a social critique of current understandings of mindfulness in relation to contemporary psychology. I illustrate how mindfulness has become individualised as an object of contemporary psychological investigation. I then propose a relational approach which instead sees mindfulness as socially contingent and as a potential resource for individuals and communities to cultivate a critically distant stance towards society. This involves revisioning our basic understanding of mindfulness as not only an inner state of mind, but also as a public social practice.
Directive 2010/63/EU on animal welfare: a review on the existing scientific knowledge and implications in cephalopod aquaculture research
Authors: Sykes António V. , Baptista Filipa D. , Gonçalves Rui A. , Andrade José P. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis review intends to provide a reflection regarding Directive 2010/63/EU, on animal welfare, and its application concerning cephalopod breeding and experimentation in aquaculture research. To do so, we gathered different perspectives of our group members, involving two cephalopod aquaculture researchers, an aquaculture fish production technician and a veterinary professional, the latter with no background on cephalopod research. The inclusion of this class in the animal welfare legislation; the definition of live cephalopods, stress, pain and suffering are revised according to the latest scientific knowledge. Considering the 15 year background that the Centre of Marine Sciences holds on the cultivation of the European cuttlefish, an evaluation of existing production protocols, aquaculture technology related research, ethics and cephalopod welfare are discussed. The application of anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia is discussed, bearing in mind the different procedures applied on a daily basis in aquaculture breeding and experimentation and the requirements of the new Directive. Finally, an overview of the above and progress on 3Rs (replacement of animals, reduction in number of animals and refinement of procedures) application to cephalopod welfare is presented.
How Multi‐stakeholder is Global Policy?
Authors: Khanna Parag 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe global financial crisis revealed not only the need for greater oversight of the private sector, but also the co‐dependence of governments and those firms. From national economic governance to transnational regulations such as the Basel III regulations, the continued strong influence of the private sector in negotiating, setting standards and implementing them through private bodies such as the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) remains undeniable. The global financial crisis thus illustrates how even amidst valid claims that ‘the state is back’, global policy making is increasingly multi‐stakeholder in character. This article provides a snapshot of the increasing extensiveness of multi‐stakeholder processes through a conceptual overview and an empirical survey, highlighting instances in which various actor pillars (governments, intergovernmental organisations, civil society organisations, corporations, etc.) have begun to expand their membership and participation to include other stakeholders. It demonstrates that even as the main actor groups that serve as the foundation of global policy processes remain mostly unchanged, the extent to which each pursues multi‐stakeholder approaches has increased.
Impact of Cry1Ab toxin expression on the non‐target insects dwelling on maize plants
Authors: Habuštová O. , Doležal P. , Spitzer L. , Svobodová Z. , Hussein H. , Sehnal F. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe effect of transgenic maize MON810 (Bt maize) on the diversity and abundance of plant‐dwelling insects was tested under field conditions in southern Bohemia (coordinates 48°N, 14ºE, 384 m a.s.l.) for three successive years. The experiment was carried out on 10 0.5‐ha plots of which five were seeded with the Bt maize and five with the non–Bt parental cultivar. The content of Bt toxin (Cry1Ab) was measured in plant tissues with a commercial ELISA kit. Randomly chosen plants (10 per plot) were taken from the field during the vegetation period in about 2‐week intervals and thoroughly examined in the laboratory. Collected insects were identified and their counts were statistically analysed with CANOCO with respect to the Bt toxin, developmental stage of maize and the year of cultivation. No significant effect of Bt maize on the plant‐dwelling non‐target insects was detected. Correlation between the number of plants and detected insect diversity revealed that inspection of 20 plants (four per each of five plots) provided data reliable at 95% probability level; six plants per plot were sufficient for the analysis of aphids, thrips and Orius bugs.
Sigma factor‐mediated plastid retrograde signals control nuclear gene expression
Authors: Woodson Jesse D. , Perez‐Ruiz Juan M. , Schmitz Robert J. , Ecker Joseph R. , Chory Joanne 
Published: September 2012

SummaryRetrograde signalling from plastids to the nucleus is necessary to regulate the organelle's proteome during the establishment of photoautotrophy and fluctuating environmental conditions. Studies that used inhibitors of chloroplast biogenesis have revealed that hundreds of nuclear genes are regulated by retrograde signals emitted from plastids. Plastid gene expression is the source of at least one of these signals, but the number of signals and their mechanisms used to regulate nuclear gene expression are unknown. To further examine the effects of plastid gene expression on nuclear gene expression, we analyzed Arabidopsis mutants that were defective in each of the six sigma factor (SIG) genes that encode proteins utilized by plastid‐encoded RNA polymerase to transcribe specific sets of plastid genes. We showed that SIG2 and SIG6 have partially redundant roles in plastid transcription and retrograde signalling to control nuclear gene expression. The loss of GUN1 (a plastid‐localized pentatricopeptide repeat protein) is able to restore nuclear (but not plastid) gene expression in both sig2 and sig6, whereas an increase in heme synthesis is able to restore nuclear gene expression in sig2 mutants only. These results demonstrate that sigma factor function is the source of at least two retrograde signals to the nucleus; one likely to involve the transcription of tRNAGlu. A microarray analysis showed that these two signals accounted for at least one subset of the nuclear genes that are regulated by the plastid biogenesis inhibitors norflurazon and lincomycin. Together these data suggest that such inhibitors can induce retrograde signalling by affecting transcription in the plastid.
Immunocytochemistry for Vancomycin Using a Monoclonal Antibody That Reveals Accumulation of the Drug in Rat Kidney and Liver
Authors: Fujiwara Kunio , Yoshizaki Yohei , Shin Masashi , Miyazaki Tsubasa , Saita Tetsuya , Nagata Shuichi 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

We prepared monoclonal antibodies against
N
-(γ-maleimidobutyryloxy)succinimide-conjugated vancomycin (VM). The monoclonal antibody was specific for conjugated or free VM. The monoclonal antibody enabled us to develop an immunocytochemical method for detecting the uptake of VM in the rat kidney and liver. Three hours after a single intravenous (i.v.) injection of VM at the therapeutic dose, the immunocytochemistry revealed that VM accumulated in large amounts in both the S1 and S2 segments and in much smaller amounts in the S3 segment of the proximal tubules as well as in the distal tubules and collecting ducts. The drug was detected in the cytoplasm, cytoplasmic irregular granules, nuclei, and microvilli of the proximal tubule cells. The distal tubules and collecting ducts contained scattered swollen cells in which both the nuclei and cytoplasm were heavily immunostained. Twenty-four hours after injection, most of the swollen cells returned back to normal size and had somewhat decreased immunostaining. Also, significant amounts of VM remained accumulated for as long as 8 days postadministration. In the liver, similar drug accumulation was observed in the Kupffer cells and the endothelial cells of the hepatic sinusoids but not in the hepatocytes, suggesting that vancomycin cannot be eliminated via the liver. Immunoelectron microscopic studies demonstrated that in the collecting ducts, uptake of VM occurred exclusively in the lysosomes and cytoplasm of the principal cells and scarcely in the intercalated cells. Furthermore, double fluorescence staining using rats simultaneously administered with VM and gentamicin strongly suggests that both drugs colocalized in lysosomes in the proximal tubule cells of kidneys.
Genotypic and Phenotypic Evaluation of the Evolution of High-Level Daptomycin Nonsusceptibility in Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Humphries Romney M. , Kelesidis Theodoros , Tewhey Ryan , Rose Warren E. , Schork Nicholas , Nizet Victor , Sakoulas George 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Whole-genome sequencing and cell membrane studies of three clonal
Enterococcus faecium
strains with daptomycin MICs of 4, 32, and 192 μg/ml were performed, revealing nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants in eight open reading frames, including those predicted to encode a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent, mannose-specific phosphotransferase system, cardiolipin synthetase, and EzrA. Membrane studies revealed a higher net surface charge among the daptomycin-nonsusceptible isolates and increased septum formation in the isolate with a daptomycin MIC of 192 μg/ml.
Prevention of Invasive Cervical Cancer in the United States: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Pierce Campbell Christine M. , Menezes Lynette J. , Paskett Electra D. , Giuliano Anna R. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractOver the past several decades, invasive cervical cancer (ICC) incidence in the United States has declined dramatically. Much of this decline has been attributed to widespread use of cytology screening followed by treatment of precancerous lesions. Despite available technologies to prevent ICC and screening programs targeting high-risk women, certain populations in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of ICC (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities and rural women). Limited access to and use of screening/follow-up services underlie this disparity. The licensure of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2006 introduced an additional method of ICC prevention. Unfortunately, dissemination of the vaccine to age-eligible females has been lower than expected (32% have received all 3 recommended doses). Decreasing the burden of HPV infection and HPV-related diseases in the United States will require greater dissemination of the HPV vaccine to adolescents and young adults, along with successful implementation of revised ICC screening guidelines that incorporate HPV and cytology cotesting. While a future without ICC is possible, we will need a comprehensive national health care program and innovative approaches to reduce ICC burden and disparities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(9); 1402–8. ©2012 AACR.
Cervical Cancer Burden and Prevention Activities in Europe
Authors: Kesic Vesna , Poljak Mario , Rogovskaya Svetlana 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Cervical cancer is an important public health care problem in Europe. The overall incidence rate of cervical cancer in Europe is 10.6 per 100,000. However, within Europe, the incidence rates significantly differ, being lower in Western Europe where prevention programs are better developed. Significantly higher are the incidence and mortality rates in Central and Eastern Europe, being in close correlation to the intensity of organized screening. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are being delivered to the low-incidence populations that already have extensive screening programs, whereas the high-incidence countries have not implemented the vaccination programs yet. The resolution of the problem of cervical cancer control in Europe will be a matter of the implementation of public health care programs across the whole continent. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(9); 1423–33. ©2012 AACR.
Circulating miRNAs as Surrogate Markers for Circulating Tumor Cells and Prognostic Markers in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Madhavan Dharanija , Zucknick Manuela , Wallwiener Markus , Cuk Katarina , Modugno Caroline , Scharpff Martina , Schott Sarah , Heil Jörg , Turchinovich Andrey , Yang Rongxi , Benner Axel , Riethdorf Sabine , Trumpp Andreas , Sohn Christof , Pantel Klaus , Schneeweiss Andreas , Burwinkel Barbara 
Published: September 2012

AbstractPurpose: The use of circulating tumor cells (CTC) as a prognostic marker in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has been well established. However, their efficacy and accuracy are still under scrutiny mainly because of methods of their enrichment and identification. We hypothesized that circulating miRNAs can predict the CTC status of patients with MBC, and tested for the same. Furthermore, we aimed at establishing a panel of circulating miRNAs capable of differentiating MBC cases from healthy controls.Experimental Design: Circulating miRNAs from plasma of CTC-positive and CTC-negative patients with MBC, and healthy controls, were profiled by TaqMan Human MicroRNA arrays. Candidates from the initial screen were validated in an extended cohort of 269 individuals (61 CTC-positive, 72 CTC-negative, 60 CTC-low MBC cases, and 76 controls).Results: CTC-positive had significantly higher levels of miR-141, miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-203, miR-210, miR-375, and miR-801 than CTC-negative MBC and controls (P &lt; 0.00001), whereas miR-768-3p was present in lower amounts in MBC cases (P &lt; 0.05). miR-200b was singled out as the best marker for distinguishing CTC-positive from CTC-negative patients (AUC 0.88). We identified combinations of miRNAs for differentiating MBC cases from controls (AUC 0.95 for CTC-positive; AUC 0.78 for CTC-negative). Combinations of miRNAs and miR-200b alone were found to be promising prognostic marker for progression-free and overall survival.Conclusion: This is the first study to document the capacity of circulating miRNAs to indicate CTC status and their potential as prognostic markers in patients with MBC. Clin Cancer Res; 18(21); 5972–82. ©2012 AACR.
Fe-loaded zeolites as catalysts in the formation of humic substance-like darkcoloured polymers in polycondensation reactions of humic precursors
Authors: Fukuchi S. , Fukushima M. , Nishimoto R. , Qi G. , Sato T. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractTo enhance the catalytic activities of zeolites for the polycondensation reactions of humic precursors, Fe was loaded into a zeolite via an ion-exchange reaction and the resulting product was subjected to calcination at 773 K. Two types iron-loaded zeolites were prepared using one equivalent (Fe-Z-1) and 10-equivalents (Fe-Z-10) of Fe2+ to the cation-exchange capacity of a natural zeolite from Niki town (Hokkaido, Japan). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra showed that the Fe(II) that was originally loaded into the cation-exchange sites in the zeolite became oxidized to a Fe(III) ionic species during the preparation. The catalytic activities of each zeolite were evaluated, based on the degree of darkening for reaction mixtures containing catechol, glycine and glucose as model humic precursors. The catalytic activities of Fe-Z-1 and Fe-Z-10 were higher than that for an untreated zeolite, and increased with the amount of Fe in the zeolite.
A mechanistic basis for amplification differences between samples and between genome regions
Authors: Veal Colin D , Freeman Peter J , Jacobs Kevin , Lancaster Owen , Jamain Stéphane , Leboyer Marion , Albanes Demetrius , Vaghela Reshma R , Gut Ivo , Chanock Stephen J , Brookes Anthony J 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
For many analytical methods the efficiency of DNA amplification varies across the genome and between samples. The most affected genome regions tend to correlate with high C + G content, however this relationship is complex and does not explain why the direction and magnitude of effects varies considerably between samples.

Results
Here, we provide evidence that sequence elements that are particularly high in C + G content can remain annealed even when aggressive melting conditions are applied. In turn, this behavior creates broader ‘Thermodynamically Ultra-Fastened’ (TUF) regions characterized by incomplete denaturation of the two DNA strands, so reducing amplification efficiency throughout these domains.

Conclusions
This model provides a mechanistic explanation for why some genome regions are particularly difficult to amplify and assay in many procedures, and importantly it also explains inter-sample variability of this behavior. That is, DNA samples of varying quality will carry more or fewer nicks and breaks, and hence their intact TUF regions will have different lengths and so be differentially affected by this amplification suppression mechanism – with ‘higher’ quality DNAs being the most vulnerable. A major practical consequence of this is that inter-region and inter-sample variability can be largely overcome by employing routine fragmentation methods (e.g. sonication or restriction enzyme digestion) prior to sample amplification.
A new stoichiometric miniaturization strategy for screening of industrial microbial strains: application to cellulase hyper-producing Trichoderma reesei strains
Authors: Jourdier Etienne , Poughon Laurent , Larroche Christian , Monot Frédéric , Chaabane Fadhel Ben 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
During bioprocess development, secondary screening is a key step at the boundary between laboratory and industrial conditions. To ensure an effective high-throughput screening, miniaturized laboratory conditions must mimic industrial conditions, especially for oxygen transfer, feeding capacity and pH stabilization.

Results
A feeding strategy has been applied to develop a simple screening procedure, in which a stoichiometric study is combined with a standard miniaturization procedure. Actually, the knowledge of all nutriments and base or acid requirements leads to a great simplification of pH stabilization issue of miniaturized fed-batch cultures. Applied to cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei, this strategy resulted in a stoichiometric mixed feed of carbon and nitrogen sources. While keeping the pH between shake flask and stirred bioreactor comparable, the developed shake flask protocol reproduced the strain behaviour under stirred bioreactor conditions. Compared to a an already existing miniaturized shake flasks protocol, the cellulase concentration was increased 5-fold, reaching about 10 g L-1. Applied to the secondary screening of several clones, the newly developed protocol succeeded in selecting a clone with a high industrial potential.

Conclusions
The understanding of a bioprocess stoichiometry contributed to define a simpler and more effective miniaturization. The suggested strategy can potentially be applied to other fed-batch processes, for the screening of either strain collections or experimental conditions.