bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Personal characteristics related to the risk of adolescent internet addiction: a survey in Shanghai, China
Authors: Xu Jian , Shen Li-xiao , Yan Chong-huai , Hu Howard , Yang Fang , Wang Lu , Kotha Sudha Rani , Zhang Li-na , Liao Xiang-peng , Zhang Jun , Ouyang Feng-xiu , Zhang Jin-song , Shen Xiao-ming 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundParalleling the rapid growth in computers and internet connections, adolescent internet addiction (AIA) is becoming an increasingly serious problem, especially in developing countries. This study aims to explore the prevalence of AIA and associated symptoms in a large population-based sample in Shanghai and identify potential predictors related to personal characteristics.MethodsIn 2007, 5,122 adolescents were randomly chosen from 16 high schools of different school types (junior, senior key, senior ordinary and senior vocational) in Shanghai with stratified-random sampling. Each student completed a self-administered and anonymous questionnaire that included DRM 52 Scale of Internet-use. The DRM 52 Scale was adapted for use in Shanghai from Young’s Internet Addiction Scale and contained 7 subscales related to psychological symptoms of AIA. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were both used to analyze the data.ResultsOf the 5,122 students, 449 (8.8%) were identified as internet addicts. Although adolescents who had bad (vs. good) academic achievement had lower levels of internet-use (p< 0.0001), they were more likely to develop AIA (odds ratio 4.79, 95% CI: 2.51-9.73,p< 0.0001) and have psychological symptoms in 6 of the 7 subscales (not in Time-consuming subscale). The likelihood of AIA was higher among those adolescents who were male, senior high school students, or had monthly spending >100 RMB (allp-values <0.05). Adolescents tended to develop AIA and show symptoms in all subscales when they spent more hours online weekly (however, more internet addicts overused internet on weekends than on weekdays,p< 0.0001) or when they used the internet mainly for playing games or real-time chatting.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that adolescent personal factors play key roles in inducing AIA. Adolescents having aforementioned personal characteristics and online behaviors are at high-risk of developing AIA that may compound different psychological symptoms associated with AIA. Spending excessive time online is not in itself a defining symptom of AIA. More attention is needed on adolescent excessive weekend internet-use in prevention of potential internet addicts.
Angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptor expression in circulating monocytes of diabetic and hypercholesterolemic patients over 3-month rosuvastatin treatment
Authors: Marino Franca , Maresca Andrea Maria , Cosentino Marco , Castiglioni Luana , Rasini Emanuela , Mongiardi Christian , Maio Ramona C , Legnaro Massimiliano , Schembri Laura , Dentali Francesco , Grandi Anna Maria , Guasti Luigina 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background
In diabetes, a variety of pro-inflammatory cellular changes has been found in various cell types, including monocytes which are known to be involved in all the phases of atherogenesis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AT1R) mediates the pro-atherogenic effects of Ang II whereas the type 2 receptor (AT2R) seems associated with atheroprotection. We sought to investigate the potential changes of AT1R-AT2R expression in human monocytes of type 2 diabetic- hypercholesterolemic patients and in hypercholesterolemic subjects, upon clinical treatment with rosuvastatin.

Methods
The AT1R membrane protein and mRNA AT1R and AT2R expression in monocytes were investigated in 10 type 2 diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients and in 10 hypercholesterolemic subjects, before and after 3-month rosuvastatin treatment. Moreover, the serum cytokine levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected.

Results
As expected, rosuvastatin was associated with a change in the lipid profile in the two groups. Both the membrane protein (P = 0.008) and the AT1R mRNA expression (P = 0.038) were significantly reduced during treatment in the absence of AT2R expression change in diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients whereas no significant difference was observed in hypercholesterolemic subjects. The serum IL-4 levels were increased during treatment whereas no change was observed in IFN-γ in diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients. No cytokine change was observed in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Conclusions
Our study on monocytes of diabetic-hypercholesterolemic patients, showing a reduced AT1R but not AT2R expression during rosuvastatin treatment, suggests that statin therapy may modulate favorably the AT1-AT2 receptor balance in subjects with coexistent type 2 diabetes.
Bioinformatic identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins likely to target host cell mitochondria: virulence factors?
Authors: Moreno-Altamirano María Maximina Bertha , Paredes-González Iris Selene , Espitia Clara , Santiago-Maldonado Mauricio , Hernández-Pando Rogelio , Sánchez-García Francisco Javier 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Background

M. tuberculosis infection either induces or inhibits host cell death, depending on the bacterial strain and the cell microenvironment. There is evidence suggesting a role for mitochondria in these processes.
On the other hand, it has been shown that several bacterial proteins are able to target mitochondria, playing a critical role in bacterial pathogenesis and modulation of cell death. However, mycobacteria–derived proteins able to target host cell mitochondria are less studied.

Results
A bioinformaic analysis based on available genomic sequences of the common laboratory virulent reference strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, the avirulent strain H37Ra, the clinical isolate CDC1551, and M. bovis BCG Pasteur strain 1173P2, as well as of suitable bioinformatic tools (MitoProt II, PSORT II, and SignalP) for the in silico search for proteins likely to be secreted by mycobacteria that could target host cell mitochondria, showed that at least 19 M. tuberculosis proteins could possibly target host cell mitochondria. We experimentally tested this bioinformatic prediction on four M. tuberculosis recombinant proteins chosen from this list of 19 proteins (p27, PE_PGRS1, PE_PGRS33, and MT_1866). Confocal microscopy analyses showed that p27, and PE_PGRS33 proteins colocalize with mitochondria.

Conclusions
Based on the bioinformatic analysis of whole M. tuberculosis genome sequences, we propose that at least 19 out of 4,246 M. tuberculosis predicted proteins would be able to target host cell mitochondria and, in turn, control mitochondrial physiology. Interestingly, such a list of 19 proteins includes five members of a mycobacteria specific family of proteins (PE/PE_PGRS) thought to be virulence factors, and p27, a well known virulence factor. P27, and PE_PGRS33 proteins experimentally showed to target mitochondria in J774 cells. Our results suggest a link between mitochondrial targeting of M. tuberculosis proteins and virulence.
Screening of recombinant proteins as antigens in indirect ELISA for diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis
Authors: Souza Ingrid IF , Melo Elaine SP , Ramos Carlos AN , Farias Thaís A , Osório Ana Luiza AR , Jorge Klaudia SG , Vidal Carlos ES , Silva Altino S , Silva Márcio R , Pellegrin Aiesca O , Araújo Flábio R 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis is an important infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, which is responsible for considerable economic losses. This disease constitutes a serious public health problem. Control programs in most countries, including Brazil, are based on the identification and slaughter of infected animals, as defined by the skin tuberculin test, which has its constraints. In the present study, the recombinant proteins CFP-10, ESAT-6, Mb0143, MPB83, PE5, PE13, TB10.4, TB15.3 and a chimera of ESAT-6/MPB70/MPB83 (fusion protein) were tested as ELISA antigens for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. The proteins were produced in Escherichia coli, purified and tested in ELISAs with sera from 126 cattle having tested negative in the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CITT) and 107 sera from cattle having tested positive in the CITT. Also, 236 sera from two BTB-free beef cattle herds were tested. Among the proteins tested, only the ESAT-6/MPB70/MPB83 chimera demonstrated satisfactory agreement with the CITT (kappa index: 0.688), reflecting in 83.2% sensitivity and 86.5% specificity. The ELISA absorbances of the cattle sera from BTB-free herds showed similar levels to those of CITT positive cattle, probably as the result of successive skin tuberculinizations to define the BTB-free status of the herds. However, the ELISA with the ESAT-6/MPB70/MPB83 chimera was useful to discriminate BTB positive and negative cattle in herds prior to the tuberculin skin test.
Semi-analytic algorithms for the electrohydrodynamic flow equation
Authors: Pandey Ram K , Baranwal Vipul K , Singh Chandra S , Singh Om P 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
In this paper, we consider the nonlinear boundary value problem for the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow of a fluid in an ion-drag configuration in a circular cylindrical conduit. This phenomenon is governed by a nonlinear second-order differential equation. The degree of nonlinearity is determined by a nondimensional parameter α. We present two semi-analytic algorithms to solve the EHD flow equation for various values of relevant parameters based on optimal homotopy asymptotic method (OHAM) and optimal homotopy analysis method. In 1999, Paullet has shown that for large α, the solutions are qualitatively different from those calculated by Mckee in 1997. Both of our solutions obtained by OHAM and optimal homotopy analysis method are qualitatively similar with Paullet’s solutions.
Genomic vulnerability to LINE-1 hypomethylation is a potential determinant of the clinicogenetic features of multiple myeloma
Authors: Aoki Yuka , Nojima Masanori , Suzuki Hiromu , Yasui Hiroshi , Maruyama Reo , Yamamoto Eiichiro , Ashida Masami , Itagaki Mitsuhiro , Asaoku Hideki , Ikeda Hiroshi , Hayashi Toshiaki , Imai Kohzoh , Mori Mitsuru , Tokino Takashi , Ishida Tadao , Toyota Minoru , Shinomura Yasuhisa 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to clarify the role of global hypomethylation of repetitive elements in determining the genetic and clinical features of multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods
We assessed global methylation levels using four repetitive elements (long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1), Alu Ya5, Alu Yb8, and Satellite-α) in clinical samples comprising 74 MM samples and 11 benign control samples (7 cases of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 4 samples of normal plasma cells (NPC)). We also evaluated copy-number alterations using array-based comparative genomic hybridization, and performed methyl-CpG binding domain sequencing (MBD-seq).

Results
Global levels of the repetitive-element methylation declined with the degree of malignancy of plasma cells (NPC>MGUS>MM), and there was a significant inverse correlation between the degree of genomic loss and the LINE-1 methylation levels. We identified 80 genomic loci as common breakpoints (CBPs) around commonly lost regions, which were significantly associated with increased LINE-1 densities. MBD-seq analysis revealed that average DNA-methylation levels at the CBP loci and relative methylation levels in regions with higher LINE-1 densities also declined during the development of MM. We confirmed that levels of methylation of the 5' untranslated region of respective LINE-1 loci correlated strongly with global LINE-1 methylation levels. Finally, there was a significant association between LINE-1 hypomethylation and poorer overall survival (hazard ratio 2.8, P = 0.015).

Conclusion
Global hypomethylation of LINE-1 is associated with the progression of and poorer prognosis for MM, possibly due to frequent copy-number loss.
Beclin 1 Enhances Proteasome Inhibition-Mediated Cytotoxicity of Thyroid Cancer Cells in Macroautophagy-Independent Manner
Authors: Zhang Hai-Yan , Du Zhen-Xian , Meng Xin , Zong Zhi-Hong , Wang Hua-Qin 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Context:
The ubiquitin–proteasome system and macroautophagy are two major pathways for intracellular protein degradation. Emerging lines of evidence have shown that blockade of ubiquitin–proteasome system by proteasome inhibitors activates macroautophagy.

Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine the involvement of autophagy essential gene Beclin 1 in cytotoxicity of thyroid cancer cells mediated by proteasome inhibitors.

Design:
Autophagy was measured by acidic-trophic dye staining and EGF-LC3 distribution using fluorescence microscopy, as well as LC3-II transition using Western blot. To ascertain the effect of Beclin 1, cells were transfected with Beclin 1 plasmid or shRNA against Beclin 1. Cell viability and apoptotic cells were measured using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results:
Proteasome inhibitors decreased Beclin 1 expression. In addition, treatment with PI3K inhibitors 3-MA or wortmannin, as well as knockdown of Beclin 1 expression, was unable to affect autophagic responses mediated by proteasome inhibitors. Overexpression of Beclin 1 enhanced proteasome inhibitor–mediated cytotoxicity of thyroid cancer cells via suppression of survivin.

Conclusions:
Proteasome inhibitors cause Beclin 1–independent macroautophagic responses of thyroid cancer cells in a Beclin 1–independent manner. Beclin 1 possesses autophagy-independent antitumoral effects upon exposure of thyroid cancer cells to proteasome inhibitors.
Exomic Sequencing of Medullary Thyroid Cancer Reveals Dominant and Mutually Exclusive Oncogenic Mutations in RET and RAS
Authors: Agrawal Nishant , Jiao Yuchen , Sausen Mark , Leary Rebecca , Bettegowda Chetan , Roberts Nicholas J. , Bhan Sheetal , Ho Allen S. , Khan Zubair , Bishop Justin , Westra William H. , Wood Laura D. , Hruban Ralph H. , Tufano Ralph P. , Robinson Bruce , Dralle Henning , Toledo Sergio P. A. , Toledo Rodrigo A. , Morris Luc G. T. , Ghossein Ronald A. , Fagin James A. , Chan Timothy A. , Velculescu Victor E. , Vogelstein Bert , Kinzler Kenneth W. , Papadopoulos Nickolas , Nelkin Barry D. , Ball Douglas W. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Context:
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare thyroid cancer that can occur sporadically or as part of a hereditary syndrome.

Objective:
To explore the genetic origin of MTC, we sequenced the protein coding exons of approximately 21,000 genes in 17 sporadic MTCs.

Patients and Design:
We sequenced the exomes of 17 sporadic MTCs and validated the frequency of all recurrently mutated genes and other genes of interest in an independent cohort of 40 MTCs comprised of both sporadic and hereditary MTC.

Results:
We discovered 305 high-confidence mutations in the 17 sporadic MTCs in the discovery phase, or approximately 17.9 somatic mutations per tumor. Mutations in RET, HRAS, and KRAS genes were identified as the principal driver mutations in MTC. All of the other additional somatic mutations, including mutations in spliceosome and DNA repair pathways, were not recurrent in additional tumors. Tumors without RET, HRAS, or KRAS mutations appeared to have significantly fewer mutations overall in protein coding exons.

Conclusions:
Approximately 90% of MTCs had mutually exclusive mutations in RET, HRAS, and KRAS, suggesting that RET and RAS are the predominant driver pathways in MTC. Relatively few mutations overall and no commonly recurrent driver mutations other than RET, HRAS, and KRAS were seen in the MTC exome.
Sulfur Dioxide Gas Sensor Based on Tetravalent Zr4+-conducting Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Uneme Yasuhisa , Tamura Shinji , Imanaka Nobuhito 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
A solid electrolyte-type SO2 gas sensor was fabricated by the combination of the tetravalent Zr4+-conducting Zr39/40TaP2.9W0.1O12 and the O2−-conducting (ZrO2)0.92(Y2O3)0.08 solid electrolytes with the 0.6La2O2SO4–0.4Li2SO4 auxiliary sensing electrode. Since the present sensor showed a continuous, quantitative, and reproducible response, which obeys the theoretical Nernst relationship, over a month, it is expected to be a suitable candidate as a practical SO2 gas-monitoring tool.
Graphene–Gold Nanoparticle Composite Counter Electrode for Cobalt-electrolyte-based Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Al-Mamun Mohammad , Lim Jung-Hyurk , Sung Yung-Eun , Kim Sung-Ryong 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Composites of a few layers of graphene (G) with different loadings of Au nanoparticles (NPs) were used as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Simple solution coating followed by a post thermal treatment was employed for the preparation of the counter electrodes. The graphene composite electrode with 30 nM Au NPs showed a 6.55% higher conversion efficiency (η = 1.79%) and 200 mV higher open-circuit voltage (0.60 V) than cells fabricated with sputtered Pt electrodes. The better electrocatalytic activity of the composite electrode was also reflected in the sharp reduction peaks observed in the cyclic voltammogram.
Oriented Pyrazine Dye Films on Aligned Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Layers
Authors: Tanaka Toshihiko , Ishitobi Masamitsu , Matsumoto Shinya 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Molecular thin films have been prepared by depositing 6 pyrazine dyes separately through evaporation on aligned poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) layers. An asymmetric dye having an indolinylidene group provides oriented films in which the transition moments are parallel to the PTFE chains. A symmetric dye with four end alkyl chains in turn provides oriented films in which the moment is perpendicular to the chains. The directions of dye molecules in those films are discussed according to their calculated molecular orbitals. Three other symmetric dyes provide slightly oriented films.
Synthesis of Chiral Bis-MOP-type Diphosphines. Chelating Effect in Nickel-catalyzed Phosphination
Authors: Abreu Artur R , Peixoto Andreia F , Almeida Ana R , Lourenço Mirtha A O , Neves Ângela C B , Bayón J Carles , Pereira Mariette M 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Chiral bis-MOP-type diphosphines with alkyl and pyridyl bridges connecting the two binaphthyl units have been synthesized via [NiCl2(dppe)]-assisted phosphination of the corresponding aryl triflates. The effect of the amount of the nickel complex on the reaction yield was investigated. Catalytic and even stoichiometric amounts of the complex proved to be insufficient to promote an efficient phosphination, but the use of an excess of the metal complex provides good yields.
β-Amination of Saturated Nitriles through Palladium-catalyzed Dehydrogenation, 1,4-Addition, and Re-dehydrogenation
Authors: Ueno Satoshi , Maeda Ryohei , Yasuoka Shohei , Kuwano Ryoichi 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Amination at the β-position of 2-arylpropionitriles through catalytic dehydrogenation occurred by using [PdCl2(PMe3)2] catalyst and bromobenzene. This is the first catalytic reaction involving the direct dehydrogenation of saturated nitriles.
Innovation Management: Part 1 A Breakthrough Approach to Organizational Excellence
Authors: Harrington James , Voehl Frank 
Published: December 2012

There is an ongoing need to explore opportunities and build a healthy and prosperous future, create new revenue streams and wealth, discover new solutions, and transform our organizations, industries, and societies. This need leads us to focus on innovation management. Through innovation management, order can be found in chaos, while nations, industries and economies can be pulled out of crisis. This will lead to a new foundation for growth and prosperity, which may be realized sooner rather than later.Despite the growing awareness that innovation is the only sustainable source of growth, competitive advantage, and new wealth, the Council on Competitive Report [1] and a recent Arthur D. Little survey of 700 global companies and their executives found fewer than 25 percent of the companies believe innovation performance is where it needs to be if they are to be successful in the competitive global marketplace. Having tried endless alternatives, company leaders are now ready to accept innovation management as a key operational discipline, just as in the past they adopted the disciplines of quality, strategic planning, and performance management systems [2]. Innovation management is not a new concept in most organizations. However, the old tried and true ways, even those that may have worked in the past, are no longer adequate for the organizations of tomorrow. Across the board, organizations are engaged in new and exciting experiments to reinvent the way they conceptualise and create the future, because the old business-as-usual approaches have not produced the desired results [3].
Low prevalence of hypopituitarism after subarachnoid haemorrhage using confirmatory testing and with BMI-specific GH cut-off levels
Authors: Gardner Chris J , Javadpour Mohsen , Stoneley Catherine , Purthuran Mani , Biswas Shubhabrata , Daousi Christina , MacFarlane Ian A , Cuthbertson Daniel J 
Published: December 2012

ObjectiveHypopituitarism following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) has been reported to be a frequent occurrence. However, there is considerable heterogeneity between studies with differing patient populations and treatment modalities and most importantly employing differing endocrine protocols and (normal) reference ranges of GH. We aimed to examine prospectively a cohort of SAH survivors for development of hypopituitarism post-SAH using rigorous endocrine testing and compare GH response to glucagon stimulation with a cohort of healthy controls of a similar BMI.Design and methodsSixty-four patients were investigated for evidence of hypopituitarism 3 months post-SAH with 50 patients tested again at 12 months. Glucagon stimulation testing (GST), with confirmation of deficiencies by GHRH/arginine testing for GH deficiency (GHD) and short synacthen testing for ACTH deficiency, was used. Basal testing of other hormonal axes was undertaken.ResultsMean age of patients was 53±11.7 years and mean BMI was 27.5±5.7 kg/m2. After confirmatory testing, the prevalence of hypopituitarism was 12% (GHD 10%, asymptomatic hypocortisolaemia 2%). There was no association between hypopituitarism and post-SAH vasospasm, presence of cerebral infarction, Fisher grade, or clinical grading at presentation. There was a significant correlation between BMI and peak GH to glucagon stimulation in both patients and controls.ConclusionsIdentification of ‘true’ GHD after SAH requires confirmatory testing with an alternative stimulation test and application of BMI-specific cut-offs. Using such stringent criteria, we found a prevalence of hypopituitarism of 12% in our population.