bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uncommon and parallel developmental patterns of thymidylate synthase expression and localization in Trichinella spiralis and Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Dąbrowska Magdalena , Gołos Barbara , Wałajtys-Rode Elżbieta , Zieliński Zbigniew , Wińska Patrycja , Cieśla Joanna , Moczoń Tadeusz , Rode Wojciech 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Trichinella spiralis is a parasitic nematode causing trichinellosis, a serious disease, and Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living nematode, which is used as a model in parasitological studies. High levels of thymidylate synthase (EC 2.1.1.45; ThyA) and certain other enzymes involved in thymidylate biosynthesis were found throughout T. spiralis and C. elegans developmental cycles, including developmentally arrested forms, that is, T. spiralis muscle larva and C. elegans dauer larva. As ThyA activity is characteristic for cells that left the G0 phase of the cell cycle, an exceptional regulation of the cell cycle in nematodes is suggested, manifested by a global cell cycle arrest in developmentally arrested larvae of the two species. ThyA immunolocalization during development of T. spiralis and C. elegans revealed the presence of high enzyme levels not only in the developing embryos, where it was expected, but also in gonad primordia, egg and sperm cells, nerve ring and secretory cells, opening to T. spiralis esophagus and C. elegans pharynx, where it may point to those cell populations remaining cell cycle arrested.
Spot analyses of serum neopterin, tryptophan and kynurenine levels in a random group of blood donor population
Authors: Ünüvar Songül , Girgin Gözde , Palabıyık Ş. Sezin , Karaağaç Tülay , Özcebe Osman Ilhami , Şahin Gönül , Baydar Terken 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
In transfusions, safety measures are used for the health of both receivers and donors. In this regard, early and sensitive markers are strongly needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate neopterin profile and tryptophan degradation in a group of Turkish blood donors. The effect of age, gender, blood type and Rh factor were also assessed. Neopterin was measured by ELISA kits. Serum tryptophan and kynurenine were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Kynurenine/tryptophan (kyn/trp) was calculated to estimate tryptophan degradation. Tryptophan, kynurenine and kyn/trp levels were found to be higher in males compared with females (all p<0.05). Neopterin and kynurenine levels tended to increase with age in age subgroups (all p<0.05). On the contrary, smoking, Rh factor and blood types were all observed to have no effect on measured parameters (all p>0.05). In routine analysis, early and reliable biomarkers are needed. In parallel with current markers, neopterin can be used to select safe donors and to maintain the safety of transfusion. In the face of our results, we recommend that donations with neopterin levels above 19 nmol/L should be excluded from the program because increased neopterin levels indicate activation of the cellular immune system.
The Production of Institutional Facts in Economic Discourse
Authors: Eskelinen Teppo , Sorsa Ville-Pekka 
Published: May 2013

AbstractEconomic discourses are dominated by stylized facts and other statements of fact concerning the institutional economic order. Yet, there is still very little knowledge on how exactly facts are formed in economic discourse, how they serve as a means for rendering issues “economic”, and how they legitimize, renew and change institutions. This article introduces a theoretical model for studying the relationships between the presentation of institutional facts, institutional change and processes of economization. The model is based on John R. Searle’s theory of speech acts, on the so-called discursive institutionalism in political science and the study of institutional entrepreneurship as a political activity. The model is then applied on a limited scope to study the construction of institutional facts concerning public sector economies in three Finnish government and consultant reports. The key empirical findings conclude that the most common institutional facts are produced either by generalizing individual facts for various institutionalized activities or by combining one fact into various meanings. These facts are used to legitimize various policies, including cuts in public spending, strengthening the power of experts, increasing budgetary stability, lengthening working careers and the increase in public sector productivity.
Graphisches Crossing
Authors: Spitzmüller Jürgen 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
This paper proposes to adapt the sociolinguistic concept of language crossing (Rampton 1995) to the analysis of graphic phenomena (on the level of graphematics, typography and the writing system), where multiple graphic systems are put in juxtaposition. It argues that, like in language crossing, distinctive indexical orders can be merged with the aim of constructing specific contexts that derive from the attitudes that are linked with the phenomena in question. The paper discusses the transferability of the concept of crossing and demonstrates its potential, using examples from all of the three aforementioned basic scriptural levels
Modeling Copper Diffusion in Silicon Oxide, Nitride, and Carbide
Authors: Zubkov Vladimir , Han Joseph , Sun Grace , Musgrave Charles , Aronowitz Sheldon 
Published: May 2013

AbstractDensity functional theory was applied to simulate copper diffusion in silicon oxide, nitride, and carbide (SiOx, SiNx, SiCx). Because copper drift into oxide is significantly enhanced by negative bias, copper ions are the active diffusing species. Clusters and, in some cases supercells, modeling various ring configurations of the amorphous networks of silicon oxide, nitride, and carbide were employed. Interactions of both neutral copper and its cation, Cu+, with the network were explored. Calculations revealed a strong binding of Cu+ to SiOx, SiCx, and SiNx in contrast with neutral Cu. The Cu+ attraction to carbide clusters is significantly lower than to SiOx and SiNx, explaining the effective barrier properties of SiCx. The estimated lower bounds for activation energies for Cu+ hops between stable ring clusters of SiOx and SiNx are similar. This implies that the difference in Cu diffusion properties between oxides and nitrides is likely due to a higher percentage of large rings in amorphous oxides compared with nitrides. An approach to increasing the resistance of oxides to Cu+ diffusion is suggested.
Preparation, characterization and in vitro bioactivity of polyvinyl alcohol-hydroxyapatite biphasique membranes
Authors: Balgová Zuzana , Palou Martin , Wasserbauer Jaromír , Lutišanová Gabriela , Kozánkováb Jana 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Six membranes of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with various weight percent - 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 % of hydroxyapatite (HA) were prepared. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify the different functional groups in membrane composites. The surface morphology was examined through scanning electron microscope. The in vitro bioactivity tests in Simulated Blood Fluid (SBF) have been performed up to 28 days, especially for membrane containing 50 wt. % HA. SEM was used to characterize surface microstructure of biocomposite membranes before and after immersion in SBF. It was observed the formation of clusters within membranes with increasing amount of HA particles due to hydrogen bond and also the agglomeration and crystal growth of HA particles during drying of membranes. The bioactivity was found increasing with time immersion of biocomposite materials in SBF solution.
Quantum-chemical study of C— H bond dissociation enthalpies of various small non-aromatic organic molecules
Authors: Poliak Peter , Vagánek Adam 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
In this work, C-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) and vertical ionization potentials (IP) for various hydrocarbons and ketones were calculated using four density functional approaches. Calculated BDEs and IPs were correlated with experimental data. The linearity of the corresponding dependences can be considered very good. Comparing two used functionals, B3LYP C-H BDE values are closer to experimental results than PBE0 values for both used basis sets. The 6-31G* basis set employed with both functionals, gives the C-H BDEs closer to the experimental values than the 6-311++G** basis set. Using the obtained linear dependences BDEexp = f (BDEcalc), the experimental values of C-H BDEs for some structurally related compounds can be estimated solely from calculations. As a descriptor of the C-H BDE, the IPs and 13C NMR chemical shifts have been investigated using data obtained from the B3LYP/6-31G* calculations. There is a slight indication of linear correlation between IPs and C-H BDEs in the sets of simple alkanes and alkenes/ cycloalkenes. However, for cycloalkanes and aliphatic carbonyl compounds, no linear correlation was found. In the case of the 13C NMR chemical shifts, the correlation with C-H BDEs can be found for the sets of alkanes and cycloalkanes, but for the other studied molecules, no trends were detected.
Corruption and Information Sharing as Determinants of Non-Performing Loans
Authors: Ahmad Fawad 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background: There are several factors that lead to the growth or decline of the nonperforming loans, such as macroeconomic variables and bank specific variables, banks ownership structure, corruption and information sharing. Among them one of the main factors that affect the non-performing loans are the corruption. In developing countries corruption plays very important role in the growth of non-performing loans. Objectives: This study investigates the impact of corruption at economy level and institution level on the nonperforming loans. This study also examines the association of information sharing between depositors, lenders and financial institutions. Methods/Approach: The current study used time series data over the period of 2001 to 2010 and employed OLS method. Results: The results provide no significant association of corruption and information sharing with non-performing loans. Conclusions: The results suggest no significant impact of corruption on non-performing loans because of the nature of the data used, but as literature provides significant impact of corruption on non-performing loans, therefore State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks can reduce the level of non-performing loans by reducing the chance of corrupt practices by following the rules and regulation of credit allocation, supervision and loan monitoring.
Diagnosis of Metallurgical Ladle Refractory Lining Based on Non-Stationary On-Line Data Processing
Authors: Petkov Venko , Hadjiski Mincho , Boshnakov Kosta 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
A new method for diagnosis of the remaining thickness of metallurgical ladle refractory lining working in a batch mode is proposed, where directly measured by a thermovision camera data about the amplitude and phase delay of the maximum surface temperature is used. Regression equations are obtained to determine the remaining thickness of the ladle refractory lining depending on the parameters of steady auto oscillations of the maximum surface temperature. It is shown that the data from nonstationary auto oscillations could be used for adaptation of the regression equations, predicting the remaining thickness of the ladle refractory lining in case of a local damage.
Evaluation of Equivalent Circuit Diagrams and Transfer Functions for Modeling of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Rahmoun Ahmad , Biechl Helmuth , Rosin Argo 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe rapid developments in the field of electrochemistry, enabled lithium-ion batteries to achieve a very good position among all the other types of energy storage devices. Therefore they became an essential component in most of the modern portable and stationary energy storage applications, where the specific energy and the life time play an important role. In order to analyze and optimize lithium-ion batteries an accurate battery model for the dynamic behavior is required. At the beginning of this paper four different categories of electrical models for li-ion cells are presented. In the next step a comparison between equivalent circuit diagrams and fractional rational functions with the complex variable s is shown for lithium-ion battery modeling. It is described how to identify the parameters of the models in the time domain and also in frequency domain. The validation of the different models is made for high and low dynamic current profiles. In the first step the dependency of all model parameters on the temperature and on the battery age is neglected. These effects will be taken into account in the continuation of this work
A Journalistic Cosmology
Authors: Hovden Jan Fredrik 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Can Norwegian journalism be meaningfully understood as constituting a social field in Pierre Bourdieu´s sense? And if so, how did this field emerge historically, and what is its fundamental structure? Following a structural history of the rise of journalism in Norway, a model of this field in 2005 is sketched through correspondence analysis using survey data on Norwegian journalists and editors. The analysis suggest a bipolar structure: a first dimension of capital volume that is closely linked to age, gender and medium type, and a second dimension that opposes agents with different degrees of internal recognition (symbolic capital), which in particular separates specialized news journalists in national and larger regional journalistic publications from journalists in the local press and magazines. Special attention is given to the link between this social cosmos and a specific cosmology of journalistic beliefs and position-takings, the relation between journalistic power and social class, and the intertwinedness of symbolic and economic dominance in this field.
In vivo induction of autophagy in splenocytes of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infected with ectromelia orthopoxvirus
Authors: Martyniszyn L. , Szulc-Dąbrowska L. , Boratyńska-Jasińska A. , Badowska-Kozakiewicz A.M. , Niemiałtowski M.G. 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Autophagy is a self-degradation process of cellular components. It plays both antiviral and pro-viral roles in the life cycle of different viruses and the pathogenesis of different viral diseases. In this study, we evaluated autophagy induction in splenocytes of ectromelia virus (ECTV)-resistant C57BL/6 and ECTV-susceptible BALB/c mice during infection with the Moscow strain of the ectromelia virus (ECTV-MOS). Autophagy was analyzed using the Western blot method by assessing type II microtubule-associated protein 1 (MAP1) light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin 1 expression levels relative to β-actin. Results indicated an increased ratio of LC3-II to β-actin in splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice only at 7 day post infection (d.p.i.) compared to uninfected animals. LC3-II/β-actin and Beclin 1/β-actin ratios in splenocytes of BALB/c mice increased at 5 d.p.i. and remained high until day 14 and 7 p.i., respectively. We confirmed the formation of autophagosome structures in the spleen of BALB/c mice by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, autophagy accompanied necrosis in the splenocytes of infected animals. Results suggest that ECTV-MOS induced autophagy, especially in the spleen of the susceptible mouse strain, may support viral replication and promote cell necrosis.
The effect of experimental low zearalenone intoxication on ovarian follicles in pre-pubertal bitches
Authors: Gajęcka M. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractCompanion animals, including bitches, may be exposed to zearalenone (ZEN) toxins that are often present in feed, and ZEN intoxication may lead to ovarian dysfunction. This study involved evaluation of the degree of ZEN-induced hypo stimulation of ovary by determination of proliferative and apoptotic indices and description of the ultra-structural organization of ovarian follicles in pre-pubertal bitches subjected to experimental, long-term exposure to low-dose ZEN mycotoxicosis. The experiment involved 30 clinically healthy, immature Beagle bitches aged approximately 70 days with initial average body weight of 8 kg, randomly divided into three groups of 10 animals each: two experimental groups (EI and EII) and a control group (C). Over a period of 42 days, ZEN was administered per os to EI animals at a dose of 50 μg/kg BW, and to EII bitches at a dose of 75 μg/kg BW. Control group animals were fed placebo containing no ZEN for 42 days. Analytical samples of the mycotoxin were administered daily in gelatin capsules before morning feeding. All the bitches were subjected to ovario-hysterectomy at the end of the experiment. Proliferation index (PCNA method) and apoptotic index (TUNEL test) values were determined by immune-histological analyses. The median for apoptotic index was determined at 13.45 for group EI, 17.84 for group EII, and 8.59 for group C. The median for proliferation index was determined at 35.25 for group EII, 42.44 for group EI, and 70.60 for group C. The results of ultra-structural examinations of the ovaries revealed that experimental, ZEN-induced hyperestrogenism enhanced apoptosis and lowered the proliferative ability of follicular cells what contributed to organelle destruction in pre-pubertal bitches. The changes observed were particularly advanced in EII animals, which were administered a higher dose of ZEN.
Host and bacterial adhesion
Authors: Słotwińska S.M. 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Bacterial adhesion is an important step in tissue colonization and depends extensively on the surface properties of a bacterial cell. For many microorganisms the prerequisite for host body occupancy is a break in tissue continuity. The next step is ongoing tissue destruction by products of bacterial metabolism: microbial enzymes and toxins. This happens, for example, in the initial phase of periodontitis. The mechanisms of adhesion are related to the specific structures present on the bacterial cell surface. This article summarizes recent data about bacterial attachment to host cells.
The toxicity and adverse effects of selected drugs in animals – overview
Authors: Siroka Z. , Svobodova Z. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractTherapeutic products quite often are causes of poisoning in both small and large animals. Drug poisonings in animals occur commonly due to off-label use of medicines, wrong dosage, negligence, accidental ingestion and deliberate poisonings. Toxicity of veterinary drugs may become evident also in therapeutic doses when adverse effects may occur. The aim of this review is to inform veterinary specialists about both veterinary and human drugs, specifically antiparasitics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other medicinal substances, which are most often reported to cause acute poisonings or adverse reactions in animals and to contribute to their broader knowledge and more accurate use of medicines, improving instructions to the animal owners and, hopefully, decrease the incidence of drug poisonings in animals.
Advanced ultrasonography technologies to assess the effects of radiofrequency ablation on hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Toshikuni Nobuyuki , Shiroeda Hisakazu , Ozaki Kazuaki , Matsue Yasuhiro , Minato Takahiro , Nomura Tomoe , Hayashi Nobuhiko , Arisawa Tomiyasu , Tsutsumi Mikihiro 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackground.Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In RFA, ultrasonography (US) is most commonly used to guide tumor puncture, while its effects are assessed using dynamic computed tomography or magnetic resonance. The differences in modalities used for RFA and assessment of its effects complicate RFA. We developed a method for assessing the effects of RFA on HCC by combining contrast-enhanced (CE) US and real-time virtual sonography with three-dimensional US data.Patients and methods.Before RFA, we performed a sweep scan of the target HCC nodule and the surrounding hepatic parenchyma to generate three-dimensional US data. After RFA, we synchronized multi-planar reconstruction images derived from stored three-dimensional US data with real-time US images on the same US monitor and performed CEUS and real-time virtual sonography. Using a marking function, we drew a sphere marker along the target HCC nodule contour on pre-treatment US- multi-planar reconstruction images so that the automatically synchronized sphere marker represented the original HCC nodule contour on post-treatment real-time CEUS images. Ablation was considered sufficient when an avascular area with a margin of several millimeters in all directions surrounded the sphere marker on CEUS.Results.This method was feasible and useful for assessing therapeutic effects in 13 consecutive patients with HCC who underwent RFA. In 2 patients who underwent multiple sessions of RFA, HCC-nodule portions requiring additional RFA were easily identified on US images.Conclusions.This method using advanced US technologies will facilitate assessment of the effects of RFA on HCC.
Synanthropic Flora of Strawberry Plantations and Their Surroundings
Authors: Lisek Jerzy 
Published: May 2013

Summary
Research on synanthropic flora was conducted on the strawberry plantations in Central Poland (surroundings of Skierniewice). In 2007-2010, 104 phytosociological releves were taken on plantations - in herbicide fallow, tillage places, and mulched places. The same number of releves was taken in surroundings of plantations - trodden and rutty places and roadsides. In the plantations examined, the occurrence of 127 species belonging to 30 botanical families was noted, out of which Asteraceae (17%), Poaceae (15%), Brassicacea (11%), Fabaceae (9%) and Polygonaceae (8%) were represented most numerously. 61% of species found in the plantations occurred occasionally or rarely. 21%, among others Equisetum arvense, Polygonum aviculare, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Stellaria media, Capsella bursapastoris, Geranium pusillum, Convolvulus arvensis, Viola arvensis, Galinsoga parviflora, Cirsium arvense, Taraxacum officinale, Poa annua, Echinochloa crus-galli, occurred frequently or very frequently in the herbicide fallow and tillage places. They were recognised as the most significant strawberry weeds. The most numerous group in the plantations constituted of therophytes (64%), which predominated over hemicryptophytes (20%) and geophytes (11%). Apophytes - native species (48%) predominated over archeophytes (39%) and kenophytes (9%). Within the vascular flora of the plantations examined, segetal species (43%), ruderal species (20%) and meadow species (14%) were predominant. Among the 48 species noted in the plantation surroundings therophytes (48%) predominated over hemicryptophytes (35%) and geophytes (13%). In trodden and rutty places and roadsides, apophytes (60%) predominated over archeophytes (25%) and kenophytes (15%). Ruderal species (50%) were more numerous than meadow species (15%) and segetal species (8%).