bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Interactions of Dietary Tomato Powder and Soy Germ on Prostate Carcinogenesis in the TRAMP Model
Authors: Zuniga Krystle E. , Clinton Steven K. , Erdman John W. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe interactions between bioactive-rich food components within a complex human diet for the inhibition of prostate carcinogenesis are largely unknown and difficult to quantify in humans. Tomato and soy products have each shown anti-prostate cancer (PCa) activity in laboratory studies. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of dietary tomato and soy germ, alone and in combination, for the inhibition of PCa in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. At 4 weeks of age, male C57BL/6 × FVB TRAMP mice (n = 119) were randomized to consume: AIN-93G control, 10% whole tomato powder (TP), 2% soy germ powder (SG), or 10% tomato powder with 2% soy germ powder (TP+SG) for 14 weeks. One hundred percent of mice fed the control diet had PCa, whereas PCa incidence was significantly lower in mice consuming TP (61%, P &lt; 0.001), SG (66%, P &lt; 0.001), and TP+SG (45%, P &lt; 0.001). Although the protection offered by the combination of TP and SG was not synergistic, it was the most effective intervention. TP, SG, and TP+SG increased apoptotic index (AI) and modestly reduced the proliferative index (PI) in the prostate epithelium of TRAMP mice exhibiting primarily prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. The dramatic reduction in the PI/AI ratio by the dietary interventions suggests that the control mice experience a stronger stimulus for malignant progression in the prostate microenvironment. Maximally effective and safe strategies for PCa prevention may result from optimizing combinations of nutrients and bioactives through an orchestration of dietary patterns. Cancer Prev Res; 6(6); 548–57. ©2013 AACR.
The ‘Reasonable Basis to Proceed’ Threshold in the Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire Proprio Motu Investigation Decisions: The International Criminal Court’s Lowest Evidentiary Standard?
Authors: Ventura Manuel J. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Prior to the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II’s decision authorizing a proprio motu investigation with respect to the situation in Kenya, the jurisprudence of the ICC indicated that there existed three broad evidentiary thresholds pursuant to the Rome Statute: ‘reasonable grounds to believe’ for the issuing of warrants of arrest or summonses to appear, ‘substantial grounds to believe’ for the confirmation of charges, and ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ for a finding of guilt. However, the aforementioned decision held that there existed another: ‘reasonable basis to proceed’ for the authorizing of a proprio motu investigation. It further held that this was the lowest evidentiary threshold provided for in the Rome Statute – lower than that for the issuing of a summons to appear or an arrest warrant. This remained unquestioned in Pre-Trial Chamber III’s subsequent Côte d’Ivoire investigation authorization decision. This result was based primarily on the fact that, at the preliminary examination phase, the Prosecutor cannot engage his/her full investigative powers. This article questions that conclusion on the basis that the standard offered by Pre-Trial Chamber II is, in substance, practically indistinguishable from that governing the issuing of an arrest warrant or a summons to appear and that the former Prosecutor was able to satisfy it without engaging his full preliminary examination powers. It argues that, instead, the standard should be the same for both. However, a distinction is maintained not because one standard is inherently lower than the other, but because of the different contexts in which they are applied. The critical element is evidence that ‘pins’ the crime(s) to an individual(s). Such evidence is not required when requesting authorization to commence a proprio motu investigation, but it is crucial when seeking an arrest warrant or a summons to appear. Thus, applying the same evidentiary standard in both circumstances results in different evidentiary material depending on the absence or inclusion of this element. It is submitted that the Prosecutor’s full investigative powers are reserved to obtain exactly the more specific and narrow evidence that can justify the deprivation of a person’s liberty or to summon him or her to The Hague.
Rhabdomyolysis presenting with severe hypokalemia in hypertensive patients: a case series
Authors: Wen Zhang , Chuanwei Li , Chunyu Zeng , Hui Huang , Weimin Li 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Rhabdomyolysis presenting with severe hypokalemia as the first manifestation of primary hyperaldosteronism is extremely rare.

Case presentation
Two middle-aged Chinese females were admitted to our emergency department for muscular weakness and limb pain, and both have the history of early onset hypertension. Laboratory test showed elevated creatinine phosphokinase (4, 907 and 8, 531 IU/L) and extremely low serum potassium (1.38 mmol/L and 1.98 mmol/L). Rhabdomyolysis and severe hypokalemia were established as first diagnosis. Hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis was confirmed after nervous system disorders, autoimmune diseases and trauma were excluded. Adrenal computerized tomography scan and postural stimulation test revealed aldosterone-producing adenomas. They both received laparoscopic adrenalectomy and were stable at the 2-year follow-up visit.

Conclusion
The two cases remind physicians to bear in mind the risk of hypokalemia-induced rhabdomyolysis among patients with primary hyperaldosteronism.
Biotechnological potential of rhizobial metabolites to enhance the performance of Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense inoculants with soybean and maize
Authors: Marks Bettina Berquó , Megías Manuel , Nogueira Marco Antonio , Hungria Mariangela 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAgricultural sustainability may represent the greatest encumbrance to increasing food production. On the other hand, as a component of sustainability, replacement of chemical fertilizers by bio-fertilizers has the potential to lower costs for farmers, to increase yields, and to mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions and pollution of water and soil. Rhizobia and plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been broadly used in agriculture, and advances in our understanding of plant-bacteria interactions have been achieved; however, the use of signaling molecules to enhance crop performance is still modest. In this study, we evaluated the effects of concentrated metabolites (CM) from two strains of rhizobia—Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiensUSDA 110T(BD1) andRhizobium tropiciCIAT 899T(RT1)—at two concentrations of active compounds (10–8and 10–9 M)—on the performances of two major plant-microbe interactions, ofBradyrhizobiumspp.-soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) andAzospirillum brasilense-maize (Zea maysL.). For soybean, one greenhouse and two field experiments were performed and effects of addition of CM from the homologous and heterologous strains, and of the flavonoid genistein were investigated. For maize, three field experiments were performed to examine the effects of CM from RT1. For soybean, compared to the treatment inoculated exclusively withBradyrhizobium, benefits were achieved with the addition of CM-BD1; at 10–9 M, grain yield was increased by an average of 4.8%. For maize, the best result was obtained with the addition of CM-RT1, also at 10–9 M, increasing grain yield by an average of 11.4%. These benefits might be related to a combination of effects attributed to secondary compounds produced by the rhizobial strains, including exopolysaccharides (EPSs), plant hormones and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs). The results emphasize the biotechnological potential of using secondary metabolites of rhizobia together with inoculants containing both rhizobia and PGPR to improve the growth and yield of grain crops.
Jacuzzihasználatot követően kialakult pneumoperitoneum, avagy a szabad hasi levegő keletkezésének ritka esete
Authors: Farics Ákos , Simon Éva , Parti Krisztina , Bátorfi József 
Published: April 2013

AbsztraktIntraperitonealis szabad levegő leggyakrabban valamely üreges szerv perforatiója kapcsán alakul ki, és azonnali sebészeti beavatkozást igényel. Az esetek kb. 10 százalékában a pneumoperitoneum intakt gastrointestinalis traktus mellett is kialakulhat, ilyenkor „nem sebészi” (nonsurgical, NS) pneumoperitoneumról beszélünk, és általában konzervatív módon kezelendő. A NS pneumoperitoneum a szabad hasi levegő eredete alapján az alábbi csoportokba sorolható: abdominalis, thoracalis, gynecologiai és idiopathiás. Közleményünkben a gynecologiai eredetű NS pneumoperitoneum kialakulásának ritka esetét mutatjuk be. Egy 61 éves, korábban hysterectomián átesett nőbeteg diffúz hasi fájdalom okán került felvételre, emellett egyéb panasza nem volt. Az elkészült rtg.-vizsgálat a rekeszek alatt szabad levegőt írt le. A klinikai kép alapján exploratiót végeztünk, de perforatióra vagy peritonitisre utaló elváltozást nem találtunk. A beteg végül többszöri rákérdezésre elmondta, hogy fájdalmai egy jacuzziban kezdődtek. Feltételezésünk szerint a levegő a magasnyomású pezsgőfürdő hatására a hüvelyen keresztül préselődhetett fel a hasüregbe. A posztoperatív szakban végzett nőgyógyászati vizsgálat során vaginoperitonealis fistula igazolódott, így bizonyossá vált a pneumoperitoneum kialakulásának mechanizmusa. Általánosságban elmondható, hogy a NS pneumoperitoneum eseteiben hiányoznak a peritonealis izgalmi jelek és a peritonitisre utaló egyéb tünetek. A részletes anamnaesisfelvétellel és fizikális vizsgálattal elkerülhetjük a szükségtelen sebészeti beavatkozásokat.
House dust mite allergen Der p 1 effects on sinonasal epithelial tight junctions
Authors: Henriquez Oswaldo A. , Beste Kyle Den , Hoddeson Elizabeth K. , Parkos Charles A. , Nusrat Asma , Wise Sarah K. 
Published: April 2013

BackgroundEpithelial permeability is highly dependent upon the integrity of tight junctions, which are cell‐cell adhesion complexes located at the apical aspect of the lateral membrane of polarized epithelial cells. We hypothesize that sinonasal epithelial exposure to Der p 1 house dust mite antigen decreases expression of tight junction proteins (TJPs), representing a potential mechanism for increased permeability and presentation of antigens across the sinonasal epithelial layer.MethodsConfluent cultured primary human sinonasal epithelial cells were exposed to recombinant Der p 1 antigen vs control, and transepithelial resistance measurements were performed over 24 hours. Antibody staining for a panel of TJPs was examined with immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy and Western blotting. Tissue for these experiments was obtained from 4 patients total.ResultsDer p 1 exposed sinonasal cells showed a marked decrease in transepithelial resistance when compared to control cells. In addition, results of Western immunoblot and immunofluorescent labeling demonstrated decreased expression of TJPs claudin‐1 and junction adhesion molecule‐A (JAM‐A) in Der p 1–exposed cultured sinonasal cells vs controls.ConclusionDer p 1 antigen exposure decreases sinonasal epithelium TJP expression, most notably seen in JAM‐A and claudin‐1 in these preliminary experiments. This decreased TJP expression likely contributes to increased epithelial permeability and represents a potential mechanism for transepithelial antigen exposure in allergic rhinitis.
Pretreatment of papermaking‐reconstituted tobacco slice wastewater by coagulation–flocculation
Authors: Wang Yufeng , Chen Kefu , Mo Lihuan , Li Jun 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTA study using coagulation–flocculation method for the treatment of papermaking‐reconstituted tobacco slice wastewater had been carried out. Polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and polyferric sulfate (PFS) as coagulants, and four kinds of polyacrylamides (PAMs) as flocculants, were employed during the coagulation–flocculation process. The effects of three factors, that is, the dosage of coagulants, the dosage of flocculants and pH on the treatment efficiency of the process were evaluated. The results showed that the efficiencies of PAC and PFS on the reduction of COD, ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N) and total suspended solids (TSS) in the treated effluents were equivalent; however, the efficiency of PAC on the color reduction was much higher than that of PFS. In the presence of PAC, a cationic polyacrylamide with very high molecular weight and low charge density (i.e., PAM4) was found to give the highest coagulation–flocculation efficiency. At the optimal conditions, that is, pH of 6.5, PAC dosage of 500 mg/L, and PAM4 dosage of 5 mg/L, the reductions of COD, NH3‐N, color, and TSS in the process were found to be 70.8, 84.8, 72.3, and 98.5%, respectively. The study also showed that the PAC‐PAM4 scheme can remove the most of aluminum from the raw water. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1092‐1097, 2013
Mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of nanocomposites based on poly(butylene succinate)/thermoplastic starch blends containing different types of clay
Authors: Boonprasith Piangruetai , Wootthikanokkhan Jatuphorn , Nimitsiriwat Nonsee 
Published: April 2013

AbstractNanocomposites based on blends of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS) were prepared using a two‐roll mill and compression molding, respectively. Two different types of clay, namely sodium montmorillonite (CloisiteNa) and the organo‐modified MMT (Cloisite30B) were used. The morphological and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite materials were determined by using XRD technique and a tensile test, respectively. Thermal properties of the composite were also examined by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and thermal gravimetric techniques. Barrier properties of the nanocomposites were determined using oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) tests. From the results, it was found that by adding 5 pph of the clay, the tensile modulus and the thermal properties of the blend containing high TPS (75 wt %) changed significantly. The effects were also dependent on the type of clay used. The use of Cloisite30B led to a nanocomposite with a higher tensile modulus value, whereas the use of CloisiteNa slightly enhanced the thermal stability of the material. OTR and WVTR values of the blend composites containing high PBS ratio (75 wt %) also decreased when compared to those of the neat PBS/TPS blend. XRD patterns of the nanocomposites suggested some intercalation and exfoliation of the clays in the polymer matrix. The above effects are discussed in the light of different interaction between clays and the polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1114‐1123, 2013
Modeling reaction kinetics of rigid polyurethane foaming process
Authors: Zhao Yusheng , Gordon Michael J. , Tekeei Ali , Hsieh Fu‐Hung , Suppes Galen J. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTA theoretical model was developed to simulate the polyurethane foaming process for a rigid foam. In the model, multiple ordinary differential equations were solved by MATLAB and the model was able to predict temperature profiles by inputting foam recipe information. This initial study on foam modeling focusses on reaction kinetic parameters that were fitted to experimental temperature data as a function of time. The modeling was able to accurately model temperature profiles of single‐polyol polyurethane formulations and was able to accurately predict temperature profiles of mixtures based on pure component kinetic parameters. A primary goal of this work is to expedite the ability to develop new foam formulations by simulation—especially for incorporation of new bio‐based polyols into formulations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1131‐1138, 2013
Separation of CO2 from CH4 by pure PSF and PSF/PVP blend membranes: Effects of type of nonsolvent, solvent, and PVP concentration
Authors: Moradihamedani Pourya , Ibrahim Nor Azowa , Yunus Wan Md Zin Wan , Yusof Nor Azah 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTComplete CO2/CH4 gas separation was aimed in this study. Accordingly, asymmetric neat polysulfone (PSF) and PSF/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blend membranes were prepared by wet/wet phase inversion technique. The effects of two different variables such as type of external nonsolvent and type of solvent on morphology and gas separation ability of neat PSF membranes were examined. Moreover, the influence of PVP concentration on structure, thermal properties, and gas separation properties of PSF/PVP blend membrane were tested. The SEM results presented the variation in membrane morphology in different membrane preparation conditions. Atomic forced microscopic images displayed that surface roughness parameters increased significantly in higher PVP loading and then gas separation properties of membrane improved. Thermal gravimetric analysis confirms higher thermal stability of membrane in higher PVP loading. Differential scanning calorimetric results prove miscibility and compatibility of PSF and PVP in the blend membrane. The permeation results indicate that, the CO2 permeance through prepared PSF membrane reached the maximum (275 ± 1 GPU) using 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as a solvent and butanol (BuOH) as an external nonsolvent. While, a higher CO2/CH4 selectivity (5.75 ± 0.1) was obtained using N‐N‐dimethyl‐acetamide (DMAc) as a solvent and propanol (PrOH) as an external nonsolvent. The obtained results show that PSF/PVP blend membrane containing 10 wt % of PVP was able to separate CO2 from CH4 completely up to three bar as feed pressure. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1139‐1147, 2013
Squaraine Dyes for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Recent Advances and Future Challenges
Authors: Qin Chuanjiang , Wong Wai‐Yeung , Han Liyuan 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIn the past few years, squaraine dyes have received increasing attention as a sensitizer for application in dye‐sensitized solar cells. This class of dyes not only leaves open a good opportunity to afford conventional high performance dyes but also holds great promise for applications in transparent solar cells due to its low absorption intensity in the eye‐sensitive region. This review provides a summary of the developments on squaraine dyes in the field of dye‐sensitized solar cells and the opportunities used to improve their overall energy conversion efficiency. In particular, the main factors responsible for the low values of open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit photocurrent and fill factor are discussed in detail. Future directions in research and development of near‐infrared (NIR) organic materials and their applications are proposed from a personal perspective.
Prevention of postsurgical adhesions using an ultrapure alginate-based gel
Authors: Chaturvedi A A , Lomme R M L M , Hendriks T , van Goor H 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative adhesion formation is a common consequence of abdominal surgery, and constitutes a major source of morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated an ultrapure alginate-based antiadhesive barrier gel.MethodsExperiments were performed in a rat model with caecal abrasion and peritoneal side wall excision. The primary endpoint was the incidence of adhesions at 14 days after surgery. In experiment 1 (24 rats), animals treated with alginate gel were compared with controls that had no antiadhesive barrier. In experiment 2 (42 rats), alginate gel was compared with sodium hyaluronate carboxymethyl cellulose (HA/CMC) membrane and with no antiadhesive barrier. To check for any remote action of the gel, in experiment 3 (45 rats) application of alginate gel to the ipsilateral versus contralateral side of injury was compared with no antiadhesive barrier.ResultsIn experiment 1, ultrapure alginate gel reduced the incidence of adhesions from eight of 12 in control animals to one in 12 (P = 0·009). Tissue healing assessed by histology was similar in both groups. In experiment 2, ultrapure alginate gel and HA/CMC membrane showed similar antiadhesive effectiveness, reducing the incidence of adhesions from ten of 14 rats in the control group to three of 14 (P = 0·021) and two of 14 (P = 0·006) respectively. In experiment 3, ultrapure alginate gel reduced the incidence of adhesions at the site of direct application (1 of 15) compared with controls (13 of 15; P = 0·001), but not if applied remotely (9 of 15; P = 0·214).ConclusionUltrapure alginate gel decreased the incidence of postoperative adhesion formation in this rat model.
Wallace H. Coulter: Decades of invention and discovery
Authors: Robinson J. Paul 
Published: April 2013

AbstractOnly a few inventors can be said to have made as great an impact on mankind as Wallace Coulter. His inquisitive mind and ability to see well beyond what existed served him well for 40 years of inventing. So many of the fundamental tools that exist today in the area of hematology were derived from or driven by Coulter's inventions that he could be called the most technological innovator in the field of modern hematology. In achieving these discoveries Wallace Coulter was clearly capable of visualizing future opportunities that few others recognized. His vision was combined with an uncanny ability to translate his ideas into products. He developed a large number of tools that shaped the fields of cytometry, image analysis, and industrial materials. His understanding of the future power of computation drove him to link these technologies in a unique way. In the end, Coulter shaped the technologies that ultimately drove hematology in a new direction, one that remains on a critical pathway linking technology innovation all the way to true translational impact. It was said of Henry Ford that “[h]e has no notion that wealth has made him great, and any one who is imprest merely by his wealth bores him. In his personal contacts he likes to dodge the subject. He would prefer to talk with a machinist about machinery, or with somebody who likes birds about birds. In these contacts, he asks no deference; and if he gets it, he suspects it is mere deference to wealth, and that ends his interest.”1 The same could be said of Wallace Coulter, who, like Ford, understood the concepts of mass production and customer service. Coulter had the ability to recognize the opportunity and fulfill the need for development of a blood‐cell counter that could be placed in every pathology laboratory, and in so doing transformed a field from a qualitative to a quantitative environment. Every person who has ever entered a medical lab, hospital, or doctor's office has felt the impact of Coulter's discovery. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry