bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sodium Nitrite Prevents both Reductions in Circulating Nitric Oxide and Hypertension in 7‐Day Lead‐Treated Rats
Authors: Gonçalves‐Rizzi Victor Hugo , Nascimento Regina Aparecida , Possomato‐Vieira Jose Sergio , Dias‐Junior Carlos A. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractHypotensive effects of oral sodium nitrite have been reported as alternative sources of nitric oxide (NO) formation in animals and human beings. Reductions in NO bioavailability were observed in lead‐induced hypertension. However, no previous study has examined whether a single daily dose of sodium nitrite prevents the reductions in the NO bioavailability in lead‐induced hypertension. Then, we expanded previous reports and evaluated the effects of sodium nitrite in 7‐day lead‐treated rats. Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: Pb+sodium nitrite group received intraperitoneally (i.p.) 1st dose 8 µg/100 g of lead acetate and a subsequent dose of 0.1 µg/100 g, and daily treatment with sodium nitrite (45 mg/kg/day) or water (Pb group) by gavage for 7 days; Sodium nitrite group received i.p. 1st dose 8 µg/100 g of sodium acetate and a subsequent dose of 0.1 µg/100 g, and daily treatment with sodium nitrite (45 mg/kg/day) or water (saline group) by gavage for 7 days. Similar and higher whole‐blood lead levels (11.5 ± 1.2 and 13.2 ± 0.7 µg/dL) were found in lead‐exposed rats treated with either water or sodium nitrite (Pb or Pb+sodium nitrite, respectively; both p  <  0.05 versus control groups). We found lower NO markers such as plasma nitrite and nitrite + nitrate (NOx) levels (both p < 0.05 versus controls) in lead‐exposed rats compared with normotensive (sodium acetate)‐treated controls (Pb group versus saline group; p  <  0.05). Lead induced increases in systolic blood pressure (from 130 ± 2 to 164 ± 6 mmHg in Pb group; p  <  0.05); however, both lead‐induced decreases in NO markers and hypertension (Pb+sodium nitrite group versus Pb group; both p  <  0.05) were prevented by a single daily dose of sodium nitrite. In conclusion, these findings are consistent with the idea that impaired NO bioavailability contributes to the maintenance of elevated blood pressure in lead‐induced hypertension. Additionally, our results show that sodium nitrite exerts antihypertensive effects in lead‐induced hypertension and provide evidence that sodium nitrite prevents the impairment of NO, thus, reaffirming the relevance of nitrite as alternative source of recycling back to NO.
The first to arrive and the last to leave: colonisation and extinction dynamics of common and rare fishes in intermittent prairie streams
Authors: Whitney James E. , Gido Keith B. , Martin Erika C. , Hase Kristen J. 
Published: September 2015

Summary

The objectives of our research were to examine commonness–rarity patterns in fish communities in networks of intermittent streams. We quantified species abundance distributions and the importance of nestedness and turnover to community dissimilarity and then related commonness to colonisation, extinction and physiological tolerance. Patterns and relationships were evaluated spatially among sites and temporally within sites during non‐drought and drought periods in tallgrass prairie streams of eastern Kansas, U.S.A.

Supra‐seasonal drought during 2011–2013 resulted in complete or partial drying of some sites and provided an opportunity to evaluate whether commonness was predictive of rather than predicted by colonisation and extinction. Abundance was used to predict re‐colonisation in desiccated reaches and persistence in drying pools.

Few species were common, while most were rare regardless of drought, and nestedness drove community dissimilarity across sites. Common species had higher colonisation and lower extinction than rarer species, but physiological tolerance was unrelated to commonness.

Abundant species were generally the first to re‐colonise desiccated reaches, but pre‐drought abundance did not predict persistence in partially desiccated reaches.

Although common species were the first to colonise and the last to go extinct, we were unable to determine whether commonness was predictive of rather than predicted by colonisation and extinction. Regardless, our study demonstrates linkages among commonness, colonisation and extinction.
Genomewide identification of target genes of histone methyltransferase dG9a during Drosophila embryogenesis
Authors: Shimaji Kouhei , Konishi Takahiro , Tanaka Shintaro , Yoshida Hideki , Kato Yasuko , Ohkawa Yasuyuki , Sato Tetsuya , Suyama Mikita , Kimura Hiroshi , Yamaguchi Masamitsu 
Published: September 2015

Post‐translational modification of the histone plays important roles in epigenetic regulation of various biological processes. Among the identified histone methyltransferases (HMTases), G9a is a histone H3 Lys 9 (H3K9)‐specific example active in euchromatic regions. Drosophila G9a (dG9a) has been reported to feature H3K9 dimethylation activity in vivo. Here, we show that the time required for hatching of a homozygous dG9a null mutant and heteroallelic combination of dG9a null mutants is delayed, suggesting that dG9a is at least partially responsible for progression of embryogenesis. Immunocytochemical analyses of the wild‐type and the dG9a null mutant flies indicated that dG9a localizes in cytoplasm up to nuclear division cycle 7 where it is likely responsible for di‐methylation of nucleosome‐free H3K9. From cycles 8–11, dG9a moves into the nucleus and is responsible for di‐methylating H3K9 in nucleosomes. RNA‐sequence analysis utilizing early wild‐type and dG9a mutant embryos showed that dG9a down‐regulates expression of genes responsible for embryogenesis. RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis further showed temporal and spatial expression patterns of these mRNAs did not significantly change in the dG9a mutant. These results indicate that dG9a controls transcription levels of some zygotic genes without changing temporal and spatial expression patterns of the transcripts of these genes.
Novel genetic factors involved in resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in Plutella xylostella
Authors: Ayra‐Pardo C. , Raymond B. , Gulzar A. , Rodríguez‐Cabrera L. , Morán‐Bertot I. , Crickmore N. , Wright D. J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe widespread and sustainable exploitation of the entomopathogen Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in pest control is threatened by the evolution of resistance. Although resistance is often associated with loss of binding of the Bt toxins to the insect midgut cells, other factors have been implicated. Here we used suppressive subtractive hybridization and gene expression suppression to identify additional molecular components involved in Bt‐resistance in Plutella xylostella. We isolated transcripts from genes that were differentially expressed in the midgut of larvae from a resistant population, following ingestion of a Bt kurstaki HD1 strain‐based commercial formulation (DiPel), and compared with a genetically similar susceptible population. Quantitative real‐time polymerase‐chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis confirmed the differential basal expression of a subset of these genes. Gene expression suppression of three of these genes (P. xylostella cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit associated protein 1‐like 1, stromal cell‐derived factor 2‐like 1 and hatching enzyme‐like 1) significantly increased the pathogenicity of HD1 to the resistant population. In an attempt to link the multitude of factors reportedly influencing resistance to Bt with the well‐characterized loss of toxin binding, we also considered Bt‐resistance models in P. xylostella and other insects.
The Nanocrystalline SnO2–TiO2 System—Part I: Structural Features
Authors: Miagava Joice , Rubbens Annick , Roussel Pascal , Navrotsky Alexandra , Castro Ricardo H. R. , Gouvêa Douglas 
Published: September 2015

The phases present and their crystal structure and microstructure in the nanocrystalline SnO2–TiO2 system were studied in the compositional range Sn1−xTixO2 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9). There is an apparent increase in the solubility limits in the solid solution compared to bulk crystalline SnO2–TiO2. No two phase region was observed with increasing TiO2 content. Electron energy loss spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) of the nanopowders showed that the apparent increase in solubility is related to the systematic Ti4+ segregation on the particle surface (surface excess) at the SnO2‐rich side, avoiding the nucleation of a second phase even at high Ti4+ contents. Is this finding in accord with Raman spectra, which suggest localized Ti‐rich sites in the absence of a second crystalline phase. Ti4+ surface excess is also lead to a modification of the surface hydroxyls and a decrease in the crystallite size of the nanoparticles (with a concomitant increase in surface area), with expected implications to catalytic and sensorial properties of these nanoparticles.
Monitoring of Wine Process and Prediction of Its Parameters with Mid‐Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Canal Canan , Ozen Banu 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIt was aimed to predict the chemical (ethanol, glycerol, organic acids, titratable acidity, °Brix, sugars, total phenolic and anthocyanin content) and microbiological parameters of red, rose and white wines during their processing from must to bottling using mid‐infrared (IR) spectroscopy in combination with one of the multivariate statistical analysis techniques, partial least square (PLS) regression. Various spectral filtering techniques were employed before PLS regression analysis of mid‐IR data. The best results were obtained from the second‐order derivation for the chemical parameters except for alcohols. PLS models developed for the prediction of some of the chemical parameters have R2 values greater than 0.9, with low root mean square error values; however, prediction of microbial population from mid‐IR spectroscopy did not provide accurate results. IR spectroscopic and chemical–chromatographic data were also used to investigate the differences between processing steps, and principal component analysis allowed clear separation of the beginning of the process from the rest.Practical ApplicationsMonitoring of the wine process from must to final product is necessary for better control of the process and the quality. As a rapid and a minimum waste‐producing technique, mid‐IR spectroscopy in combination with chemometric methods could allow prediction of several chemical parameters simultaneously. Therefore, any problems that could be encountered during wine processing could be determined and interfered in a short time.
Effects of a Starter Culture on Histamine Reduction, Nitrite Depletion and Oxidative Stability of Fermented Sausages
Authors: Wang Xinhui , Ren Hongyang , Wang Wei , Xie Zhen Jian 
Published: September 2015

AbstractA starter culture composed of Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus sakei and Staphylococcus xylosus isolated from Chinese‐fermented sausages was used to manufacture fermented sausages. The effects of the starter culture on histamine accumulation, nitrite depletion, lipid oxidation and quality parameters including pH, water activity and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N), as well as the color and texture properties, were evaluated. The histamine accumulations were 0.32 and 8.85 mg/kg in fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture and by a spontaneous fermentation, respectively. The levels of residual nitrite were 4.32 and 26.72 mg/kg in fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture and by a spontaneous fermentation, respectively. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test values reached up to 2.64 and 13.92 mg MDA/kg in fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture and by a spontaneous fermentation, respectively. Additionally, the fermented sausages inoculated with the starter culture showed a stronger acidification and lower (P < 0.05) level of the TVB‐N than that of spontaneous fermentation. The starter culture made a great contribution to histamine reduction, nitrite depletion and oxidative stability in fermented sausages and was beneficial to improving hygienic quality and food safety of fermented sausages.Practical ApplicationsHigh levels of histamine, residual nitrite and lipid oxidation have been described in fermented sausages, which are major problems for public health and food safety. Thus, it is worthwhile to select favorable conditions to strict control histamine accumulation, residual nitrite content and lipid oxidation in fermented sausages. In this study, to meet the requirements of high‐quality safe products, a starter culture composed of Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus sakei and Staphylococcus xylosus isolated from Chinese‐fermented sausages was used to manufacture fermented sausages. The effects of the starter culture on histamine accumulation, nitrite depletion, lipid oxidation and quality parameters including pH, water activity and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N), as well as the color and texture properties, were evaluated. These results indicate that addition of the starter culture was beneficial for histamine reduction, nitrite depletion and oxidative stability. Additionally, the batch inoculated with the starter culture showed a stronger acidification and lower level of TVB‐N than that of the control. In conclusion, the starter culture contributes to histamine reduction, nitrite depletion and oxidative stability of traditional fermented sausages.
Dynamics of anterior pituitary immunoreactive gonadotrophs in moulted hens supplemented with protein, symbiotic and probiotics
Authors: Anwar H. , Rahman Z. U. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThe present work delineates redistribution patterns of the hormone‐producing cells of the anterior pituitary, after the phase of moulting. Two hundred single comb White Leghorn hens at the end of their first production cycle (Age = 70 week) were purchased from the commercial poultry farm and were induced to moult by high‐dietary zinc (3 g/kg feed/day) after 1 week of acclimatization, at the experimental research station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The moulted birds were equally (n = 50) and randomly allocated to their respective groups as G1 (control; CP (Crude protein) 16%, no supplement), G2 (CP18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP16%, symbiotic at does rate of 85 mg/l in drinking water daily) and G4 (CP16%, probiotic at dose rate of 85 mg/l in drinking water daily). Ten birds were slaughtered in each group at 5% and at peak of post‐moult production stage to collect their pituitary glands. An earlier post‐moult production recovery, sustained and lengthier production span was seen in the G2 as compared to all other groups. The lowest production and an earlier production decline were seen in G1. The cell diameter and area of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) gonadotroph increased (p ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The FSH gonadotroph nucleus diameter and area did increase (p ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3, while LH gonadotroph nucleus diameter and area decreased (p ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The increased FSH and LH gonadotroph diameter in protein and symbiotic supplemented birds is accountable for the increased egg production in these groups.
Social network structure in wintering golden‐crowned sparrows is not correlated with kinship
Authors: Arnberg Nina N. , Shizuka Daizaburo , Chaine Alexis S. , Lyon Bruce E. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractStable social organization in a wide variety of organisms has been linked to kinship, which can minimize conflict due to the indirect fitness benefits from cooperating with relatives. In birds, kin selection has been mostly studied in the context of reproduction or in species that are social year round. Many birds however are migratory, and the role of kinship in the winter societies of these species is virtually unexplored. In a previous study, we discovered striking social complexity and stability in a wintering population of migratory golden‐crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) – individuals repeatedly form close associations with the same social partners, including across multiple winters. Here, we test the possibility that kinship might be involved in these close and stable social affiliations. We examine the relationship between kinship and social structure for two of the consecutive wintering seasons from the previous study. We found no evidence that social structure was influenced by kinship. Relatedness between most pairs of individuals was at most that of first cousins (and mostly far lower). Genetic networks based on relatedness do not correspond to the social networks, and Mantel tests revealed no relationship between kinship and pairwise interaction frequency. Kinship also failed to predict social structure in more fine‐grained analyses, including analyses of each sex separately (in the event that sex‐biased migration might limit kin selection to one sex), and separate analyses for each social community. The complex winter societies of golden‐crowned sparrows appear to be based on cooperative benefits unrelated to kin selection.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT COLLABORATION IN TURKEY: ASSESSING PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES OF HYBRID NETWORK GOVERNANCE
Authors: HERMANSSON HELENA M.L. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractManaging disasters generally demands multiorganizational collaboration and collaborative skills. In Turkey, observed shortcomings in disaster management collaboration prompted a reorganization of the disaster management system that led to the emergence of a centralized hybrid network. The network governance literature generally heralds decentralized organization and shared network governance, which facilitate collaboration by maximizing trust and legitimacy and minimizing power imbalances. Through the use of 24 semi‐structured interviews, this article's objective is to assess the applicability of prior theoretical assumptions regarding interorganizational collaboration in a political‐administrative context different from that in which they were originally developed. The study contributes to the theoretical discussion about how political‐administrative system attributes might influence interorganizational disaster management collaboration. The results suggest that ‘tailor‐fitting’ interorganizational network designs to the political‐administrative culture can be beneficial for collaborative disaster management. Furthermore, results suggest that more effort should be devoted to examining cases where actors manage to overcome barriers to collaboration despite challenging institutional and political‐administrative landscapes.
VoIP Based Tele-medicine Call Center–Issues, Challenges and Proposed Solution
Authors: Mamoon Ishtiak Al , Islam A. K. M Muzahidul , Baharun Sabariah 
Published: September 2015

In recent years, medical call centers have started using IP telephony services to minimize the overhead telecom expenses. However, the advent of Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) technology has also created a major discontinuity in telecommunication sector due to illegal VoIP or gray calls, causing a great impact on the voice market. This brought few challenges to the countries’ regulatory bodies. In this paper, we spell out one of the key challenges: in order to mitigate illegal VoIP calls, whether the regulatory body should allow IP telephony to be practiced for both domestic and international voice driven tele-medical consultation center operation combined or separately. We propose architecture and schemes for a medical call center. We also propose some guidelines and/or policies for both call center operator and the telecom regulatory authority. The proposed architecture and schemes are implemented in a pilot project basis in two phases and the test bed result is presented in this article.
Critical Success Factors for Low Cost Housing Building Maintenance Organization
Authors: Ganisen Shubashini , Mohammed A. Hakim , Jawahr Nesan L. , Kanniyapan Gunavathy 
Published: September 2015

Building services are the elements within a building which supports the fundamental operation of a building. Efficient performance of building services able to facilitate and avoid an unnecessary aggravations to the end users. Thus, the role of building services maintenance (BSM) organization is vital during the building operation phase in order to be responsible for overall performance of the building and its services. However, in recent years the maintenance performance provided by BSM organization is lack on many aspects. In Malaysia, the performance provided by BSM organization especially in low cost flats are considered to be poor. Hence, this paper focuses on identifing the BSM problems, the cause and consequently identify critical success factors (CSFs) to be applied by the BSM organization to overcome those problems. Reviews on literatures, questionnaire survey and interview were conducted to collect the valuable data for the study. The data obtained was analyzed using frequency, mean, standard deviation and content analysis. The findings indicatethat the common BSM problems occur in low cost flats are refuse disposal, rain water disposal and fire fighting system. While, lack of expertise, long duration taken and limited numbers of staffs are among the factors identified as the causes of those problems. 10 CSF namely clear goals and objectives, workforce development and training, effetive monitoring and feedback, project team competence, dedicated resources, management planning, taking account past experience, good interdepartmental communication, education on new technologies and clients expectations are identified to solve the challanges facing by the maintenace organization which causes various BSM problems. The 10CSF identified based on the opinion given by 24 interviewees from various Local Authorities. A low cost flat managed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall located at Cheras was used as case study. This study expected to help respective parties to overcome the BSM problems in the low cost flats.
Force Variability as an Objective Measure of Surgical Skill
Authors: Ahmmad Siti Nor Zawani , Zhen San Chew , Su Lee Ming Eileen , Che Fai Yeong 
Published: September 2015

This study investigated the force variability of subjects with different level of surgical skills for different force levels. Twelve participants were recruited from three different levels of surgical experiences: A group of surgeon (N = 4), medical student (N = 3) and engineering student (N = 5) underwent a simple finger force control task using a custom developed ‘Force Matching’ module. Three different levels of target force were used: 2 N, 4 N, and 6 N. The task was performed simultaneously using right and left hands. The mean error of force was measured to compare the performance between the three group using Kruskal-Wallis test. A statistically significant difference was detected among the three groups at 2 N when using right hand. We also found that the surgeon group made less error compared to the two other groups at force level 4 N and 6 N for both hands. This finding has important implication for developing a parametric assessment model to evaluate basic skill level in surgical procedures. However, for most accurate result, a big sample size of subject is required.
THE EFFECT OF GREEN LASER ON HYDROGEN PRODUCTION OF TIO2/CDS ELECTRODE
Authors: Mohsin Ali Kamel , Abdullah M. , Ganesan K. 
Published: September 2015

Enhancing the response of TiO2 semiconductor nanocomposites to visible light is topically important for hydrogen production. TiO2/CdSnanocomposite films (NCFs) are grown on p-type [100] silicon substrate using electron beam deposition (EBD). The UV–Vis reflectance spectra and PEC measurement reveal the enhanced absorption and induced photo-currents due to CdS coating on TiO2 nanofilm. The improved visible light absorption is attributed to the increase in optical path length and subsequent decrease in back-scattered radiation near TiO2 – Si interface. The excellent features of our results suggest that NCF electrodes may be nominated for potential applications in water splitting, renewable energy and environmental fields.