bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Etruscan Art
Authors: Carpino Alexandra 
Published: June 2011

Although Etruscan art has never been accorded the same value or respect given to the material remains of the Greeks or Romans, especially in the English-speaking world, it represents the most important evidence we have for understanding the civilization of the Etruscans and its place in the ancient Mediterranean world. From the eighth century bce on, a wide variety of local and immigrant artists and craftsmen created homes, temples, tombs, paintings, sculptures, vases, jewelry, mirrors, and more for individuals eager to communicate statements about their wealth, their families, their beliefs, and their cultural traditions. Today, the view that denigrated Etruscan art as either culturally inferior to Greek art or a poor imitation of it has been set aside, as has the idea of one-way (i.e., Greece to Etruria) trade. Foreign influences—whether from the Near East and the Aegean during the late eighth and seventh centuries or from Attica during the sixth through fourth centuries—remain undeniable, but their appropriation is no longer considered indicative of a lack of local creativity. In addition, the active contributions of the Etruscans to and interactions with a multitude of Mediterranean communities, along with regional artistic diversity within Etruria itself, are not only better understood but also more openly acknowledged, with the Etruscans celebrated as technological and artistic pioneers in a variety of media. Nevertheless, because so much Etruscan art comes from tombs or sanctuaries, many of which were not carefully excavated, assessments of both context and meaning remain challenging. The study of Etruscan art is further compounded by the absence of surviving literature and historiography as well as by the strong anti-Etruscan bias in the few Greek and Roman texts whose writers comment on their culture. These lacunae make iconographical and iconological studies especially difficult and sometimes lead to fanciful speculations with respect to the ancient meaning or significance of individual works.
G. W. M. Reynolds
Authors: Humpherys Anne 
Published: June 2011

George William Macarthur Reynolds (b. 1814–d. 1879) was at his death labeled “the most popular writer of our time” by the Bookseller in its short obituary. This popularity rested on two achievements: first, the mammoth twelve-volume series of “mysteries” novels, The Mysteries of London (1846–1848) and The Mysteries of the Court of London (1848–1855), and, second, his involvement with Chartist politics, which led in 1850 to his founding and editing the radical Sunday newspaper Reynolds’s Newspaper, which lasted in some form until 1962. The Mysteries novels were also constantly in print in a variety of cheap formats for most of the 19th century. Reynolds was a controversial figure both among working-class radicals, who doubted his commitment, and among the middle-class literary establishment, which abhorred his popular sensationalist novels. Dickens was probably referring to him as the “draggled fringe on the Red Cap, Pander to the basest passions of the lowest natures—whose existence is a national reproach” in the opening number of Household Words in 1850. Sometime shortly after 1860, Reynolds essentially stopped writing and editing. But the influence of his mysteries series continued, especially in the United States, India, and other countries. His novels fell out of print in the early 20th century; he himself became relatively unknown among historians and literary critics. This neglect lasted until the second half of the 20th century, at which point a number of scholars began to analyze Reynolds’s importance in 19th-century popular literature, politics, and the periodical press, a development that gathered force in the first decade of the 21st century. There is now a G.W.M. Reynolds Society, available online.
Erythropoietin enhances immunostimulatory properties of immature dendritic cells
Authors: Rocchetta F , Solini S , Mister M , Mele C , Cassis P , Noris M , Remuzzi G , Aiello S 
Published: June 2011

Summary
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells and play a crucial role by modulating the T cell immune response against infective agents, tumour antigens and alloantigens. The current study shows that differentiating bone marrow (BM)-derived DCs but not fully differentiated DCs are targets of erythropoietin (EPO). Indeed, DCs emerging from rat bone marrow, but not splenic DCs, express the EPO receptor (Epo-R) and respond to EPO stimulation displaying a more activated phenotype with increased CD86, CD40 and interleukin (IL)-12 expression levels and a higher allostimulatory capacity on T cells than untreated DCs. Moreover, results here presented show that EPO up-regulates Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 in differentiating DCs rendering these cells more sensitive to stimulation by the TLR-4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Indeed, DCs treated with EPO and then stimulated by LPS were strongly allostimulatory and expressed CCR7, CD86, CD40, IL-12 and IL-23 at higher levels than those observed in DCs stimulated with LPS alone. It is tempting to speculate that EPO could act as an additional danger signal in concert with TLR-4 engagement. Thus, EPO, beyond its erythropoietic and cytoprotective effects, turns out to be an immune modulator.
Variation in repeat length and heteroplasmy of the mitochondrial DNA control region along a core–edge gradient in the eastern spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus)
Authors: MUNWES INBAR , GEFFEN ELI , FRIEDMANN ADAM , TIKOCHINSKI YARON , GAFNY SARIG 
Published: June 2011

AbstractPeripheral populations are those situated at the distribution margins of a species and are often subjected to more extreme abiotic and biotic conditions than those at the core. Here, we hypothesized that shorter repeat length and fewer heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies, which are associated with more efficient mitochondrial function, may be related to improved survival under extreme environmental conditions. We sampled eastern spadefoot toads (mostly as tadpoles) from 43 rain pools distributed along a 300‐km gradient from core to edge of the species’ distribution. We show that mean pool tandem repeat length and heteroplasmy increase from edge to core, even after controlling for body size. We evaluate several alternative hypotheses and propose the Fisher hypothesis as the most likely explanation. However, additional sequential sampling and experimental studies are required to determine whether selection under extreme conditions, or alternative mechanisms, could account for the gradient in heteroplasmy and repeat length in the mtDNA control region.
Reconstructing demographic events from population genetic data: the introduction of bumblebees to New Zealand
Authors: LYE G. C. , LEPAIS O. , GOULSON D. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractFour British bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris, Bombus hortorum, Bombus ruderatus and Bombus subterraneus) became established in New Zealand following their introduction at the turn of the last century. Of these, two remain common in the United Kingdom (B. terrestris and B. hortorum), whilst two (B. ruderatus and B. subterraneus) have undergone marked declines, the latter being declared extinct in 2000. The presence of these bumblebees in New Zealand provides an unique system in which four related species have been isolated from their source population for over 100 years, providing a rare opportunity to examine the impacts of an initial bottleneck and introduction to a novel environment on their population genetics. We used microsatellite markers to compare modern populations of B. terrestris, B. hortorum and B. ruderatus in the United Kingdom and New Zealand and to compare museum specimens of British B. subterraneus with the current New Zealand population. We used approximate Bayesian computation to estimate demographic parameters of the introduction history, notably to estimate the number of founders involved in the initial introduction. Species‐specific patterns derived from genetic analysis were consistent with the predictions based on the presumed history of these populations; demographic events have left a marked genetic signature on all four species. Approximate Bayesian analyses suggest that the New Zealand population of B. subterraneus may have been founded by as few as two individuals, giving rise to low genetic diversity and marked genetic divergence from the (now extinct) UK population.
CsgE is a curli secretion specificity factor that prevents amyloid fibre aggregation
Authors: Nenninger Ashley A. , Robinson Lloyd S. , Hammer Neal D. , Epstein Elisabeth Ashman , Badtke Matthew P. , Hultgren Scott J. , Chapman Matthew R. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryCurli are extracellular amyloid fibres produced by Escherichia coli that are critical for biofilm formation and adhesion to biotic and abiotic surfaces. CsgA and CsgB are the major and minor curli subunits, respectively, while CsgE, CsgF and CsgG direct the extracellular localization and assembly of curli subunits into fibres. The secretion and stability of CsgA and CsgB are dependent on the outer membrane lipoprotein CsgG. Here, we identified functional interactions between CsgG and CsgE during curli secretion. We discovered that CsgG overexpression restored curli production to a csgE strain under curli‐inducing conditions. In antibiotic sensitivity and protein secretion assays, CsgG expression alone allowed translocation of erythromycin and small periplasmic proteins across the outer membrane. Coexpression of CsgE with CsgG blocked non‐specific protein and antibiotic passage across the outer membrane. However, CsgE did not block secretion of proteins containing a 22‐amino‐acid putative outer membrane secretion signal of CsgA (A22). Finally, using purified proteins, we found that CsgE prohibited the self‐assembly of CsgA into amyloid fibres. Collectively, these data indicate that CsgE provides substrate specificity to the curli secretion pore CsgG, and acts directly on the secretion substrate CsgA to prevent premature subunit assembly.
Mental health advocacy and African and Caribbean men: good practice principles and organizational models for delivery
Authors: Newbigging Karen , McKeown Mick , French Beverley 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground  Advocacy has a critical role to play in addressing concerns about access to appropriate mental health care and treatment for African and Caribbean men.Aim  To investigate good practice principles and organizational models for mental health advocacy provision for African and Caribbean men.Study design  The study consisted of: (i) A systematic literature review. Bibliographic and internet searching was undertaken from 1994 to 2006. The inclusion criteria related to mental health, advocacy provision for African and Caribbean men. (ii) Four focus groups with African and Caribbean men to explore needs for and experiences of mental health advocacy. (iii) An investigation into current advocacy provision through a survey of advocacy provision in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (iv) Twenty‐two qualitative stakeholder interviews to investigate the operation of mental health advocacy for this client group. The study was undertaken in partnership with two service user‐led organizations and an African Caribbean mental health service.Results  Primary research in this area is scant. Mainstream mental health advocacy services are often poor at providing appropriate services. Services developed by the Black Community and voluntary sector are grounded in different conceptualizations of advocacy and sharper understanding of the needs of African and Caribbean men. The lack of sustainable funding for these organizations is a major barrier to the development of high‐quality advocacy for this group, reflecting a lack of understanding about their distinctive role.Conclusions  The commissioning and provision of mental health advocacy needs to recognize the distinct experiences of African and Caribbean men and develop capacity in the range of organizations to ensure equitable access.
Stages of change and health‐related quality of life among employees of an institution
Authors: Liau Siow Yen , Shafie Asrul A , Ibrahim Mohamed Izham Mohamed , Hassali Mohamed Azmi , Othman Ahmad Tajuddin , Mohamed Mohamad Haniki Nik , Hamdi Menal A 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground  Transtheoretical Model of change has been used successfully in promoting behaviour change.Objective  To examine the relationships between health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) scores with the stages of change of adequate physical activity and fruit and vegetables intake.Design  This was a cross‐sectional study conducted among employees of the main campus and Engineering campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) during October 2009 and March 2010. Main variables studied: Data on physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake was collected using the WHO STEPS instrument for chronic disease risk factors surveillance. The Short Form‐12 health survey (SF‐12) was used to gather information on participants’ HRQoL. The current stages of change are measured using the measures developed by the Pro‐Change Behaviour Systems Incorporation. Statistical analysis: One way ANOVA and its non‐parametric equivalent Kruskal‐Wallis were used to compare the differences between SF‐12 scores with the stages of change.Results  A total of 144 employees were included in this analysis. A large proportion of the participants reported inadequate fruits and vegetable intake (92.3%) and physical activity (84.6%). Mean physical and mental component scores of SF‐12 were 50.39 (SD = 7.69) and 49.73 (SD = 8.64) respectively. Overall, there was no statistical significant difference in the SF‐12 domains scores with regards to the stages of change for both the risk factors.Conclusions  There were some evidence of positive relationship between stages of change of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake with SF‐12 scores. Further studies need to be conducted to confirm this association.
Patients’ decision making to accept or decline an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death
Authors: Carroll Sandra L. , Strachan Patricia H. , de Laat Sonya , Schwartz Lisa , Arthur Heather M. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground  Patients are offered implantable defibrillators (ICDs) for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, patients’ decision‐making process (DMP) of whether or not to accept an ICD has not been explored. We asked patients about their decision making when offered an ICD.Design/Setting  A grounded theory methodology was employed. Patients were recruited from three ICD centres. Those who received an ICD underwent interviews the first month after implant. Declining patients had interviews at their convenience. In‐depth analysis of transcripts was completed. Identified themes were placed along process pathways in a DMP model and tested.Findings  Forty‐four patients consented to participate (25% women). Thirty‐four accepted an ICD and 10 (23%) declined. Ages ranged from 26 to 87 (mean = 65; SD = 12.5). Participants were retired (65%), had ischaemic heart disease (64%) and some post‐secondary education (52%). The DMP was triggered when patient’s risk for SCD was communicated. The physician’s recommendation and a new awareness SCD risk were motivators to accept the ICD. Patient’s decision‐making approaches fell along a continuum, from active and engaged to passive and indifferent. Patient’s approaches were influenced most by the following: (i) trust; (ii) social influences and (iii) health state.Conclusions  Health‐care providers need to recognize the DMP pathways in which ICD candidacy and SCD risk are understood. The factors that influence a patient’s decision warrant discussion pre‐implant. It is imperative that patients comprehend the meaning of ICD candidacy to make an informed decision. Participants did not recall alternatives to receiving ICD therapy.
Efficacy of adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells for fulminant hepatitis in mice induced by concanavalin A
Authors: Kubo Norihito , Narumi Shunji , Kijima Hiroshi , Mizukami Hiroki , Yagihashi Soroku , Hakamada Kenichi , Nakane Akio 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Fulminant hepatitis is mainly caused by excessive immune response‐mediated liver injury and its definitive therapy is liver transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells, one of the adult stem cells, have an immunomodulatory effect on immune cells and reside in various tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate a therapeutic effect of adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on fulminant hepatitis induced by concanavalin A (ConA).Methods:  The ASCs were isolated from adipose tissues of BALB/c mice and confirmed by detection of cell surface markers and induction of multi‐lineage differentiation. BALB/c mice were injected with ConA and treated with ASCs, phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or splenocytes (SPLCs). Survival rates, levels of serum liver enzymes, titers of serum cytokines, histopathology and localization of ASCs were investigated.Result:  The survival rate of ASC‐injected mice significantly increased compared to PBS or SPLC‐injected mice. This effect was dependent on doses and timing of ASCs injected. Improvement of liver enzyme levels, histopathological changes and suppression of inflammatory cytokine production were observed in ASC‐injected mice. Fluorescent stained ASCs were detected in inflammatory liver, but not in normal liver.Conclusion:  These results suggest that ASC treatment has a high potential to be an innovative therapy for fulminant hepatitis.
Endosonography‐guided fine needle aspiration cytology of intra‐abdominal lymph nodes with unknown primary in a tuberculosis endemic region
Authors: Dhir Vinay , Mathew Praveen , Bhandari Suryaprakash , Bapat Mukta , Kwek Andrew , Doctor Vatsala , Maydeo Amit 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Intra‐abdominal lymphadenopathy poses a diagnostic and management challenge in highly endemic regions for tuberculosis. Opting for empirical anti‐tuberculosis treatment raises the risk of wrong or delayed treatment. Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) is the procedure of choice for tissue acquisition from peri‐luminal lymph nodes. We studied the utility of EUS‐FNA in evaluating intra‐abdominal lymph nodes of unknown etiology, in the setting of high endemicity of tuberculosis.Methods:  Consecutive patients with intra‐abdominal lymph nodes of unknown etiology underwent EUS‐FNA using a 22‐gauge needle. Final diagnosis was made on surgical histology or on 6‐months follow‐up. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic yield were calculated.Results:  Sixty‐six patients were included. Final diagnoses were tuberculosis, 35 (53%); metastatic adenocarcinoma, 11 (16.7%); lymphoma, three (4.5%); carcinoid, one (1.5%) and reactive nodes, 16 (24.2%). EUS‐FNA provided a diagnosis in 61 patients (92.4%). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for diagnosing tuberculosis via EUS‐FNA were 97.1%, 100%, 100% and 96.9%, respectively. In 10 (15.2%) patients receiving empirical anti‐tuberculosis treatment, the final diagnoses were metastatic adenocarcinoma (5), lymphoma (2), carcinoid (1) and reactive adenopathy (2).Conclusion:  Despite being in a highly endemic area, almost half of the patients studied have a non‐tuberculosis etiology. EUS‐FNA is a safe and accurate procedure for establishing the diagnosis of unexplained intra‐abdominal lymphadenopathy.
Optimal follow‐up time to determine the sustained virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving pegylated‐interferon and ribavirin
Authors: Namikawa Masashi , Kakizaki Satoru , Yata Yutaka , Yamazaki Yuichi , Horiguchi Norio , Sato Ken , Takagi Hitoshi , Mori Masatomo 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  This study evaluated whether the assessment of hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐RNA at 12 weeks (FW+12) post‐treatment follow‐up was as applicable as FW+24 to evaluate sustained virological response (SVR) using the highly sensitive real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) HCV assay.Methods and Results:  Two hundred and twenty‐two patients with chronic hepatitis C were included in this study. Pegylated interferon (Peg‐IFN) and ribavirin were administered for 24–72 weeks based on the genotype and viral load. Serum HCV‐RNA was measured using real‐time PCR at pretreatment, the end of treatment, FW+4, FW+8, FW+12, FW+16, FW+20 and FW+24. Two hundred patients had a virological response at the end of treatment. One hundred and forty‐eight of 200 (74.0%) patients with a virological response at the end of treatment had an SVR at the FW+24. The positive predictive value (PPV) to identify patients with SVR at FW+4, FW+8, FW+12 was 87.1, 96.1, 98.0%, respectively. The viral load showed a reversion to the basal level as early as 8 weeks in relapse patients. There were only three patients who relapsed after FW+12 and all three of these patients were females with genotype Ib and a high viral load.Conclusion:  The assessment of serum HCV‐RNA FW+12, using the highly sensitive real‐time PCR assay, is almost as effective as FW+24 to predict SVR. However, there are false negatives in female patients with a high viral load of genotype Ib when the SVR is predicted by FW+12. The current standard with FW+24 is reasonable, but the assessment of serum HCV‐RNA FW+12 may be effective in most patients.
Susceptibility of rat non‐alcoholic fatty liver to the acute toxic effect of acetaminophen
Authors: Kučera Otto , Roušar Tomáš , Staňková Pavla , Haňáčková Lenka , Lotková Halka , Podhola Miroslav , Červinková Zuzana 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Acetaminophen overdose is the most frequent cause of acute liver failure. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common chronic condition of the liver. The aim was to assess whether non‐alcoholic steatosis sensitizes rat liver to acute toxic effect of acetaminophen.Methods:  Male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a standard diet (ST‐1, 10% kcal fat) and high‐fat gelled diet (HFGD, 71% kcal fat) for 6 weeks and then acetaminophen was applied in a single dose (1 g/kg body weight). Animals were killed 24, 48 and 72 h after acetaminophen administration. Serum biochemistry, activities of mitochondrial complexes, hepatic malondialdehyde, reduced and oxidized glutathione, triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents, and concentrations of serum and liver cytokines (TNF‐α, TGF‐β1) were measured and histopathological samples were prepared.Results:  The degree of liver inflammation and hepatocellular necrosis were significantly higher in HFGD fed animals after acetaminophen administration. Serum markers of liver injury were elevated only in acetaminophen treated HFGD fed animals. Concentration of hepatic reduced glutathione and ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione were decreased in both ST‐1 and HFGD groups at 24 h after acetaminophen application. Mild oxidative stress induced by acetaminophen was confirmed by measurement of malondialdehyde. Liver content of TNF‐α was not significantly altered, but hepatic TGF‐β1 was elevated in acetaminophen treated HFGD rats. We did not observe acetaminophen‐induced changes in activities of respiratory complexes I, II, and IV and activity of caspase‐3.Conclusion:  Liver from rats fed HFGD is more susceptible to acute toxic effect of acetaminophen, compared to non‐steatotic liver.