bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Curcuma DMSO extracts and curcumin exhibit an anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effect on human intervertebral disc cells, possibly by influencing TLR2 expression and JNK activity
Authors: Klawitter Marina , Quero Lilian , Klasen Juergen , Gloess Alexia N , Klopprogge Babette , Hausmann Oliver , Boos Norbert , Wuertz Karin 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundAs proinflammatory cytokines seem to play a role in discogenic back pain, substances exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects on intervertebral disc cells may be used as minimal-invasive therapeutics for intradiscal/epidural injection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic potential of curcuma, which has been used in the Indian Ayurvedic medicine to treat multiple ailments for a long time.MethodsHuman disc cells were treated with IL-1β to induce an inflammatory/catabolic cascade. Different extracts of curcuma as well as curcumin (= a component selected based on results with curcuma extracts and HPLC/MS analysis) were tested for their ability to reduce mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix degrading enzymes after 6 hours (real-time RT-PCR), followed by analysis of typical inflammatory signaling mechanisms such as NF-κB (Western Blot, Transcription Factor Assay), MAP kinases (Western Blot) and Toll-like receptors (real-time RT-PCR). Quantitative data was statistically analyzed using a Mann WhitneyUtest with a significance level of p < 0.05 (two-tailed).ResultsResults indicate that the curcuma DMSO extract significantly reduced levels of IL-6, MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13. The DMSO-soluble component curcumin, whose occurrence within the DMSO extract was verified by HPLC/MS, reduced levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13 and both caused an up-regulation of TNF-α. Pathway analysis indicated that curcumin did not show involvement of NF-κB, but down-regulated TLR2 expression and inhibited the MAP kinase JNK while activating p38 and ERK.ConclusionsBased on its anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects, intradiscal injection of curcumin may be an attractive treatment alternative. However, whether the anti-inflammatory propertiesin vitrolead to analgesiain vivowill need to be confirmed in an appropriate animal model.
Single dose oral dexamethasone versus multi-dose prednisolone in the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma in children who attend the emergency department: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cronin John , Kennedy Una , McCoy Siobhan , an Fhailí Sinéad Nic , Crispino-O’Connell Gloria , Hayden John , Wakai Abel , Walsh Sean , O’Sullivan Ronan 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
Asthma is a major cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. In acute exacerbations of asthma, corticosteroids reduce relapses, subsequent hospital admission and the need for ß2-agonist therapy. Prednisolone is relatively short-acting with a half-life of 12 to 36 hours, thereby requiring daily dosing. Prolonged treatment course, vomiting and a bitter taste may reduce patient compliance with prednisolone. Dexamethasone is a long-acting corticosteroid with a half-life of 36 to 72 hours. It is used frequently in children with croup and bacterial meningitis, and is well absorbed orally. The purpose of this trial is to examine whether a single dose of oral dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg) is clinically non-inferior to prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day for three days) in the treatment of exacerbations of asthma in children who attend the Emergency Department.

Methods/design
This is a randomized, non-inferiority, open-label clinical trial. After informed consent with or without assent, patients will be randomized to either oral dexamethasone 0.3 mg/kg stat or prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day for three days. The primary outcome measure is the comparison between the Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) across both groups on Day 4. The PRAM score, a validated, responsive and reliable tool to determine asthma severity in children aged 2 to 16 years, will be performed by a clinician blinded to treatment allocation. Secondary outcomes include relapse, hospital admission and requirement for further steroid therapy. Data will be analyzed on an intention-to-treat and a per protocol basis. With a sample size of 232 subjects (105 in each group with an estimated 10% loss to follow-up), we will be able to reject the null hypothesis - that the population means of the experimental and control groups are equal with a probability (power) of 0.9. The Type I error probability associated with this test (of the null hypothesis) is 0.05.

Discussion
This clinical trial may provide evidence that a shorter steroid course using dexamethasone can be used in the treatment of acute pediatric asthma, thus eliminating the issue of compliance to treatment.

Registration
ISRCTN26944158 and EudraCT Number 2010-022001-18
Guiametabolica.org: empowerment through internet tools in inherited metabolic diseases
Authors: Armayones Manuel , Vilaseca M Antònia , Cutillas Júlia , Fàbrega Jordi , Fernández Jorge Juan , García Mei , Egea Natàlia , Pousada Modesta , Gómez-Zuñiga Beni , Pérez-Payarols Jaume , Artuch Rafael , Palau Francesc , Serrano Mercedes 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Web-based interventions are effective on the patient empowerment. Guiametabolica.org constitutes an interface for people involved in inherited metabolic diseases, trying to facilitate access to information and contact with professionals and other patients, offering a platform to develop support groups. Guiametabolica.org is widely considered for Spanish-speaking patients and caregivers with inherited metabolic diseases. Preliminary evaluations show changes in their habits, decrease in their senses of isolation and improvement regarding self-efficacy. Specific inherited metabolic diseases websites, especially participative websites, should be considered as a complement to more traditional clinical approaches. Their contribution lies in patient’s general well-being, without interfering with traditional care.
Flux variability scanning based on enforced objective flux for identifying gene amplification targets
Authors: Park Jong Myoung , Park Hye Min , Kim Won Jun , Kim Hyun Uk , Kim Tae Yong , Lee Sang Yup 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundIn order to reduce time and efforts to develop microbial strains with better capability of producing desired bioproducts, genome-scale metabolic simulations have proven useful in identifying gene knockout and amplification targets. Constraints-based flux analysis has successfully been employed for such simulation, but is limited in its ability to properly describe the complex nature of biological systems. Gene knockout simulations are relatively straightforward to implement, simply by constraining the flux values of the target reaction to zero, but the identification of reliable gene amplification targets is rather difficult. Here, we report a new algorithm which incorporates physiological data into a model to improve the model’s prediction capabilities and to capitalize on the relationships between genes and metabolic fluxes.ResultsWe developed an algorithm, flux variability scanning based on enforced objective flux (FVSEOF) with grouping reaction (GR) constraints, in an effort to identify gene amplification targets by considering reactions that co-carry flux values based on physiological omics datavia“GR constraints”. This method scans changes in the variabilities of metabolic fluxes in response to an artificially enforced objective flux of product formation. The gene amplification targets predicted using this method were validated by comparing the predicted effects with the previous experimental results obtained for the production of shikimic acid and putrescine inEscherichia coli. Moreover, new gene amplification targets for further enhancing putrescine production were validated through experiments involving the overexpression of each identified targeted gene under condition-controlled batch cultivation.ConclusionsFVSEOF with GR constraints allows identification of gene amplification targets for metabolic engineering of microbial strains in order to enhance the production of desired bioproducts. The algorithm was validated through the experiments on the enhanced production of putrescine inE. coli, in addition to the comparison with the previously reported experimental data. The FVSEOF strategy with GR constraints will be generally useful for developing industrially important microbial strains having enhanced capabilities of producing chemicals of interest.
Direct integration of intensity-level data from Affymetrix and Illumina microarrays improves statistical power for robust reanalysis
Authors: Turnbull Arran K , Kitchen Robert R , Larionov Alexey A , Renshaw Lorna , Dixon J Michael , Sims Andrew H 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Background
Affymetrix GeneChips and Illumina BeadArrays are the most widely used commercial single channel gene expression microarrays. Public data repositories are an extremely valuable resource, providing array-derived gene expression measurements from many thousands of experiments. Unfortunately many of these studies are underpowered and it is desirable to improve power by combining data from more than one study; we sought to determine whether platform-specific bias precludes direct integration of probe intensity signals for combined reanalysis.

Results
Using Affymetrix and Illumina data from the microarray quality control project, from our own clinical samples, and from additional publicly available datasets we evaluated several approaches to directly integrate intensity level expression data from the two platforms. After mapping probe sequences to Ensembl genes we demonstrate that, ComBat and cross platform normalisation (XPN), significantly outperform mean-centering and distance-weighted discrimination (DWD) in terms of minimising inter-platform variance. In particular we observed that DWD, a popular method used in a number of previous studies, removed systematic bias at the expense of genuine biological variability, potentially reducing legitimate biological differences from integrated datasets.

Conclusion
Normalised and batch-corrected intensity-level data from Affymetrix and Illumina microarrays can be directly combined to generate biologically meaningful results with improved statistical power for robust, integrated reanalysis.
A gene expression profile of stem cell pluripotentiality and differentiation is conserved across diverse solid and hematopoietic cancers
Authors: Palmer Nathan P , Schmid Patrick R , Berger Bonnie , Kohane Isaac S 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Background
Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of tumorigenesis remains one of the most pressing problems in modern biology. To this end, stem-like cells with tumor-initiating potential have become a central focus in cancer research. While the cancer stem cell hypothesis presents a compelling model of self-renewal and partial differentiation, the relationship between tumor cells and normal stem cells remains unclear.

Results
We identify, in an unbiased fashion, mRNA transcription patterns associated with pluripotent stem cells. Using this profile, we derive a quantitative measure of stem cell-like gene expression activity. We show how this 189 gene signature stratifies a variety of stem cell, malignant and normal tissue samples by their relative plasticity and state of differentiation within Concordia, a diverse gene expression database consisting of 3,209 Affymetrix HGU133+ 2.0 microarray assays. Further, the orthologous murine signature correctly orders a time course of differentiating embryonic mouse stem cells. Finally, we demonstrate how this stem-like signature serves as a proxy for tumor grade in a variety of solid tumors, including brain, breast, lung and colon.

Conclusions
This core stemness gene expression signature represents a quantitative measure of stem cell-associated transcriptional activity. Broadly, the intensity of this signature correlates to the relative level of plasticity and differentiation across all of the human tissues analyzed. The fact that the intensity of this signature is also capable of differentiating histological grade for a variety of human malignancies suggests potential therapeutic and diagnostic implications.
Price Discovery in the U.S. Treasury Market: Automation vs. Intermediation
Authors: Man Kasing , Wang Junbo , Wu Chunchi 
Published: August 2012

This paper examines the contribution to price discovery by electronic and voice-based trading systems in the U.S. Treasury market. Evidence shows that the electronic trading system has more price discovery and that trading automation increases the speed of incorporating information into prices. However, human trading generates significant price discovery, though its volume is low. The relative contribution of a trading system to price discovery depends on liquidity, volatility, volume, trade size, and order imbalance. The voice-based trading system contributes more to price discovery when trade size is large and liquidity is low. These findings provide important implications for the design of electronic markets for securities with different characteristics and trading environments.This paper was accepted by Wei Xiong, finance.
The Microalga Spirulina platensis Presents Anti-inflammatory Action as well as Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Properties in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Joventino Ivan P. , Alves Henrique G.R. , Neves Lia C. , Pinheiro-Joventino Francisca , Leal Luzia Kalyne A.M. , Neves Samya A. , Ferreira Francisco Valdeci , Brito Gerly Anne C. , Viana Glauce B. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Spirulina platensis (Spi) is a microalga presenting high contents of proteins, γ-linolenic acid, vitamins and minerals, and showing many biological activities. It is a promising drug for the treatment of diseases including diabetes. The objectives of this work were to study Spi effects on alloxan-induced diabetic rats, and associate this to its anti-inflammatory activity. The treatment with Spi (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) started 48 h after the alloxan injection, continuing for 5 or 10 days. Biochemical parameters were measured in sera of treated and untreated animals. The anti-inflammatory activity of Spi was assessed by the formalin test and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. Immunostainings for TNF-alpha were carried out in the carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats, before and after the Spi treatment, and its effect on the release of myeloperoxidase from human neutrophils was also determined. Spi decreased glycemia as well as triglyceride and total cholesterol levels of diabetic rats. Levels of urea and creatinine were also reduced, while liver transaminases were unaltered. Spi also decreased dose-dependently the 1st (neurogenic) and mainly the 2nd phase (inflammatory) of the formalin test, as well as the carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of Spi was further confirmed by decreases in TNF-alpha immunostaining in the inflamed paw and in the myeloperoxidase release from human neutrophils. The results showed that the anti-diabetic effect of S. platensis is already manifested after a 5-day treatment. Additionally, considering the relationship between diabetes and inflammation, the microalga anti-inflammatory action may also be involved.
Neural Network Approaches for Prediction of Pistachio Drying Kinetics
Authors: Tavakolipour Hamid , Mokhtarian Mohsen 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Thin-layer drying characteristics of whole pistachio were investigated by using a hot air convective dryer at a constant airflow velocity of 2 m.s-1 and air temperature in the range of 40-70°C. The experimental drying data were fitted to the eight well-known drying models i.e. the Newton, Page, Modified Page, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic, Diffusion, Thomson and New models. A predictive model using artificial neural network was proposed in order to obtain on-line predictions of moisture kinetics during drying of pistachio nut. For monitoring the drying process of pistachio, different activation function of neural networks such as tangent hyperbolic (tanh) and logarithmic sigmoid (logsig) were utilized. Drying time and air drying temperature were considered as network input and moisture ratio was as network output. The result indicated that tanh activation function gave better results than logsig activation function for monitoring the moisture ratio. Generally, perceptron neural network with logsig activation function as a goodness activation function was able to predict moisture ratio with 7 neuron in first and second hidden layer with R2 value equal 0.994. Investigation of validation data demonstrated that the predicted and experimental dying data were in good agreement. Comparing the R2 (coefficient of determination) and MAE using the developed ANN model it was concluded that the neural network could be used for on-line state estimation of drying characteristics and control of drying processes.
Duties and Difficulties of Investigating and Prosecuting Biocrimes
Authors: Danley Lisa 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Biological warfare has been used longer than most conventional weapons, yet international and domestic response protocol and regulations designed to effectively manage, investigate, and prosecute biocrimes have only recently been implemented. Even with such protocol and regulations, significant difficulties arise in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators. This article will identify and describe many of these challenges, beginning with the scope of biocrimes, which can generally be defined as a malevolent use of pathogens or toxins to harm others. Other challenges surrounding the investigation of biocrimes which will be addressed within this article include: identifying what biological agent caused an illness or disease outbreak; characterizing the event as a deliberate attack or a naturally occurring outbreak; and balancing an infected person’s civil liberties with conducting a thorough and accurate investigation. The final significant challenge of investigation and prosecuting biocrimes is the extremely high cost of mistakes. Ultimately, this article recommends ways to remove some the challenges to investigating and prosecuting biocrimes through greater information sharing and standardized investigative and prosecutorial training.
The Role of Regulations in Minimizing the Bioterrorism Threat to Food Imports
Authors: Tate Bryan 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The majority of the bioterrorism articles and reports written since the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States have focused on the threat of biological weapons or biological agents directed towards human targets. Although this threat should not be diminished, it is only one aspect of the human environment that is susceptible to attack. Effective attacks could be mounted against the food chain outside the United States on imported food bound for the United States. These potential attacks bear the risk of going undetected until individuals or animals consume tainted products. This article focuses on the role that regulations play in protecting the food chain from these international attacks, and addresses some of the complications that arise from the current legal framework.
Introduction: Volume 3 of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety & Biodefense Law
Authors: Sutton Victoria 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The purpose of this document is to provide an introduction and overview regarding the substantive materials included in Volume 3 of the Journal for Biosecurity, Biosafety and Biodefense Law. This volume raises new and important legal issues within the field of biosecurity, biosafety and biodefense law, both from a practical as well as a theoretical perspective.
Aristotle’s Critique of Platonist Mathematical Objects: Two Test Cases from Metaphysics M 2
Authors: Katz Emily 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Books M and N of Aristotle’s Metaphysics receive relatively little careful attention. Even the scholars who do give detailed analyses of the arguments in M-N dismiss many of them as hopelessly flawed and biased, and find Aristotle’s critique to be riddled with mistakes and question-begging. This assessment of the quality of Aristotle’s critique of his predecessors (and of the Platonists in particular), is quite widespread. The series of arguments in M 2 (1077a14-b11) that targets separate mathematical objects is the subject of particularly strong criticism by Annas and Ross. Two related arguments in this series (1077a14-20 and 1077a24-31) will serve as cases in point. The principal charges made against these arguments (that Aristotle misunderstands or misrepresents his opponents’ views, and that he engages in question-begging because he presupposes his own metaphysical views) are frequently made against Aristotle’s critique of Platonist positions more generally. Thus if, as I argue, these charges are false for our two test case arguments, then there is good reason to think that they might also be false when they are leveled against the other arguments in this M 2 series. And, although presenting an argument for this is beyond the scope of this paper, I would suggest that these two charges are more often than not false when applied to Aristotle’s critique of Platonist mathematical views in M-N and beyond.
Characterization of the protein phosphatase 2c gene from Porphyra yezoensis and functional analysis under dessicating conditionsa
Authors: Zhang Bao Yu , Jia Zhao Jun , He Lin Wen , Wang Guang Ce , Peng Guang 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
To characterize the structure and function of the protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) gene in Porphyra yezoensis, full-length cDNA of the locus (denoted pypp2c) was obtained by electronic cloning, rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and reverse-transcription PCR. The nucleotide sequence of PyPP2C was 1988 bp, including a 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of 301 bp, a 3′-UTR of 256 bp, and an open reading frame of 1431 bp that can be translated into 476 amino acids with a molecular mass of 50.96 kDa and a putative isoelectric point of 8.34. The amino acids had 30–36% identity with those encoded by PP2C genes in protozoa and higher plants. A PP2C-like catalytic domain was found in the 57–397 region, and several residues involved in the metal ion binding sites were conserved. mRNA expression levels in the three life stages of leafy thalli, filaments, and conchospores were examined by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Highest expression of pypp2c occurred in conchospores. Gene expression levels were similar among the three life stages. pypp2c expression at different thallus relative water contents (RWCs) varied, with the highest expression occurring at 60% RWC.
A checklist of marine fungi of Taiwan with a description of Kitesporella keelungensis gen. et sp. nov
Authors: Pang Ka-Lai , Jheng Jen-Sheng 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Taiwan is an island of 35,980 km2 with a long coastline and thus is an ideal place for the study of marine fungi. A literature search and continuous surveys of lignicolous marine fungi over the past few years have documented 107 taxa: 2 Basidiomycota, 94 Ascomycota and 11 asexual fungi (10 hyphomycetes, 1 coelomycete). Most of these taxa were discovered on wood with a few arenicolous species. One new marine lignicolous fungus belonging to the Halosphaeriaceae was encountered during our study. Kitesporella keelungensis gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by hyaline, coriaceous ascomata with short necks, absence of periphyses and catenophyses, persistent/semi-persistent, clavate asci and rhomboid-shaped, thin-walled ascospores without appendages. It resembles Remispora pilleata in the rhomboid shape of the ascospores, but in R. pilleata, periphyses are present, asci are deliquescent and ascospores thick-walled with pleomorphic polar appendages at both ends. We compare the morphology of Kitesporella with those of other taxa in the Halosphaeriaceae without appendaged ascospores.