bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Along a TNF-paved road from dead parasites in red cells to cerebral malaria, and beyond
Authors: CLARK I. A. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYThis is a personal account of how tumour necrosis factor (TNF) the prototype of a group of host-origin mediators, often known as pro-inflammatory cytokines, came into parasitology, and was subsequently realised to be central to the pathogenesis of most disease pathology. This contribution summarizes an example of how a curiosity-driven outsider, with initially no intention of heading this way, and no relevant experience, and with no more than the simplest of plans but an ambition to read as widely as it takes, and (most importantly) allowed to follow his head, can be what is required to give fresh insight into understanding a disease. It also gives the author's views on aspects of how the field of malaria disease pathogenesis seems to be developing. The hope is to inspire another generation to follow a similarly original course.
Isospora hypoleucaesp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), a new coccidian parasite found in the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Authors: DOLNIK O. V. , von RÖNN J. A. C. , BENSCH S. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYA new Coccidia species is reported from the natural population of Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) in northern Germany. Sporulated oocysts were found in faeces from 6 of 8 sampled adults. The spherical oocysts of the newIsosporaspecies have a brownish, smooth, bi-layered wall. Average size of sporulated oocysts was 19·4×19·3 μm (17·5–22·8 μm×17·5–22·8 μm) with a shape index (length/width) of 1·0. The sporulated oocysts have no micropyle or residuum, but enclose several small polar granules that often cluster into 2–3 dumbbell-shaped formations. Sporocysts are slightly elongated, rounded at the end opposite the Stieda body, 15·3 μm×9·2 μm in size (13·8–16·1 μm× 8·5–10·3 μm), and have a shape index of 1·7 (1·6–1·8). The Stieda body has a prominent knob-like cap, whereas the substieda body is absent. Sporocysts contain a small compact sporocyst residuum and 4 sporozoites. COI haplotypes identical to those isolated from faecal oocysts were PCR amplified from the blood of 13-day-old nestlings, suggesting that the newly described species has extra-intestinal stages in blood. This represents the first description of a new avianIsosporaspecies supported by molecular sequence data from the same oocysts that are described morphologically.
Acanthocephalan size and sex affect the modification of intermediate host colouration
Authors: BENESH D. P. , SEPPÄLÄ O. , VALTONEN E. T. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYFor trophically transmitted parasites, transitional larval size is often related to fitness. Larger parasites may have higher establishment success and/or adult fecundity, but prolonged growth in the intermediate host increases the risk of failed transmission via natural host mortality. We investigated the relationship between the larval size of an acanthocephalan (Acanthocephalus lucii) and a trait presumably related to transmission, i.e. altered colouration in the isopod intermediate host. In natural collections, big isopods harboured larger worms and had more modified (darker) abdominal colouration than small hosts. Small isopods infected with a male parasite tended to have darker abdominal pigmentation than those infected with a female, but this difference was absent in larger hosts. Female size increases rapidly with host size, so females may have more to gain than males by remaining in and growing mutually with small hosts. In experimental infections, a large total parasite volume was associated with darker host respiratory operculae, especially when it was distributed among fewer worms. Our results suggest that host pigment alteration increases with parasite size, albeit differently for male and female worms. This may be an adaptive strategy if, as parasites grow, the potential for additional growth decreases and the likelihood of host mortality increases.
Paolo Conte: Italian ‘Arthouse Exotic’
Authors: ony Mitchell T 
Published: May 2009

AbstractPaolo Conte is the most internationally successful of the Italian singer-songwriters who emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. He is also among the most idiosyncratic, eclectic and unusual exponents of what Franco Fabbri has defined as the canzone d’autore (author’s song). Nonetheless he remains a rather arcane, cult figure in the Anglophone world – an example of what Simon Frith has called ‘the unpopular popular’. A combination of apparent opposites – the provincial and the cosmopolitan – his music appropriates a global sweep of influences without being definable as ‘world music’. Characteristics of both his rough, untrained singing style and wry, ironic and opaque compositions have strong affinities with US singer-songwriters like Tom Waits and Randy Newman, and he draws heavily on early American jazz influences, although he remains quintessentially Italian. This makes him difficult to categorise in the world music market.
Pathogen burden and cortisol profiles over the day
Authors: STEPTOE A. , GYLFE Å. , SHAMAEI-TOUSI A. , BERGSTROM S. , HENDERSON B. 
Published: May 2009

SUMMARYHypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) regulation in adults is influenced by early psychosocial adversity, but the role of infectious disease history is poorly understood. We studied the association between cumulative pathogen burden and cortisol profile over the day in a sample of 317 healthy men and women aged 51–72 years. Cumulative pathogen burden was defined as positive serostatus for Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Salivary cortisol was sampled repeatedly over the day. The cortisol slope was defined as the decrease across the day and evening. Age, gender, grade of employment, body mass index, smoking status, self-rated health, cardiovascular medication, depressed mood and time of waking were included as covariates. The pathogen burden averaged 1·76 (s.d.=0·92). The cortisol slope was inversely associated with pathogen burden after controlling for covariates. When individual pathogens were studied, only CMV was associated with flatter cortisol rhythms in isolation. We conclude that pathogen burden is independently associated with flatter cortisol slopes over the day, and may contribute to disturbed neuroendocrine regulation.
Differential modules onp-adic polyannuli
Authors: Kedlaya Kiran S. , Xiao Liang 
Published: May 2009

AbstractWe consider variational properties of some numerical invariants, measuring convergence of local horizontal sections, associated to differential modules on polyannuli over a nonarchimedean field of characteristic 0. This extends prior work in the one-dimensional case of Christol, Dwork, Robba, Young,et al. Our results do not require positive residue characteristic; thus besides their relevance to the study of Swan conductors for isocrystals, they are germane to the formal classification of flat meromorphic connections on complex manifolds.
Deletion of the mouse Slc30a8 gene encoding zinc transporter-8 results in impaired insulin secretion
Authors: Pound Lynley D. , Sarkar Suparna A. , Benninger Richard K. P. , Wang Yingda , Suwanichkul Adisak , Shadoan Melanie K. , Printz Richard L. , Oeser James K. , Lee Catherine E. , Piston David W. , McGuinness Owen P. , Hutton John C. , Powell David R. , O'Brien Richard M. 
Published: May 2009

The Slc30a8 gene encodes the islet-specific zinc transporter ZnT-8, which provides zinc for insulin-hexamer formation. Polymorphic variants in amino acid residue 325 of human ZnT-8 are associated with altered susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes and ZnT-8 autoantibody epitope specificity changes in Type 1 diabetes. To assess the physiological importance of ZnT-8, mice carrying a Slc30a8 exon 3 deletion were analysed histologically and phenotyped for energy metabolism and pancreatic hormone secretion. No gross anatomical or behavioural changes or differences in body weight were observed between wild-type and ZnT-8−/− mice, and ZnT-8−/− mouse islets were indistinguishable from wild-type in terms of their numbers, size and cellular composition. However, total zinc content was markedly reduced in ZnT-8−/− mouse islets, as evaluated both by Timm's histochemical staining of pancreatic sections and direct measurements in isolated islets. Blood glucose levels were unchanged in 16-week-old, 6 h fasted animals of either gender; however, plasma insulin concentrations were reduced in both female (∼31%) and male (∼47%) ZnT-8−/− mice. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests demonstrated no impairment in glucose clearance in male ZnT-8−/− mice, but glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets was reduced ∼33% relative to wild-type littermates. In summary, Slc30a8 gene deletion is accompanied by a modest impairment in insulin secretion without major alterations in glucose metabolism.
The influence of BMI, smoking, and age on vaginal erosions after synthetic mesh repair of pelvic organ prolapses. A multicenter study
Authors: ARACO FRANCESCO , GRAVANTE GIANPIERO , SORGE ROBERTO , OVERTON JOHN , DE VITA DAVIDE , PRIMICERIO MARIO , DATI STEFANO , ARACO PLACIDO , PICCIONE EMILIO 
Published: May 2009

AbstractObjective. To study the influence of body mass index (BMI), smoking, and age on the risk of vaginal erosions after mesh repair of pelvic prolapses. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. Three university and community hospitals. Population and sample. Patients that underwent mesh correction of prolapses between 2002 and 2007. Excluded were those with stress urinary incontinence, ongoing clinical infections, with a complete antibiotic course in the last six months and with systemic diseases affecting tissue oxygenation. Methods. Revision of medical notes. Main outcome measures. Risk contributions for age, smoking, and BMI on the occurrence of vaginal erosions. Results. Data were collected from 460 patients. Postoperative erosions were present in 7%. BMI greater than 30 conferred a 10.1‐fold increase in the risk of developing erosions, smoking a 3.7‐fold increase, and age greater than 60 years a 2.2‐fold increase. A cut‐off value of seven pack years was determined for smoking where the risk associated with light smokers was similar to that of non‐smokers. Conclusions. BMI, smoking, and age are important risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Our data could be used to stratify patients according to their risk so that preventative measures can be taken in high‐risk patients.
Computed tomography appearance of ovarian fibrothecomas with and without torsion
Authors: Mak Chee-Wai , Tzeng Wen-Sheng , Chen Chin-Yu 
Published: May 2009

Background: Fibrothecomas are the most common solid ovarian tumors and may undergo torsion. Early diagnosis of these tumors is important in order to allow prompt surgical treatment. Purpose: To describe the features of ovarian fibrothecoma on computed tomography (CT) and to determine the possibility of detecting tumor torsion in this kind of tumor. Material and Methods: The CT images of 11 patients with ovarian fibrothecomas in the past 8 years at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The CT attenuation values of each tumor were measured in both non-enhanced and enhanced scans. The size and degree of enhancement were evaluated and correlated with tumor torsion. All cases were pathologically proven. Results: Three kinds of tumor pattern were found: 1) homogeneous tumor with significant enhancement containing scattered, low-attenuated regions after contrast injection; 2) heterogeneous tumor with mild enhancement after contrast injection; and 3) low-attenuated soft-tissue mass with no obvious enhancement after contrast injection. Conclusion: Fibrothecomas usually appear as a homogeneous solid tumor with varying degrees of enhancement. Calcification may be present and, as these tumors enlarge, myxoid or cystic degeneration may occur, resulting in a heterogeneous pattern. The larger the tumor, the greater is the chance of torsion. Lack of tumor enhancement is the most reliable sign for detection of ovarian torsion and should facilitate prompt surgical intervention to remove damaged tissue.
The protective role of telmisartan against nephrotoxicity induced by X-ray contrast media in rat model
Authors: Duan Shao Bin , Wang Yu Hui , Liu Fu You , Xu Xiang Qing , Wang Pian , Zou Qin , Peng You Ming 
Published: May 2009

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy is a serious complication of diagnostic and interventional procedures. Purpose: To evaluate the nephrotoxicity of high- and low-osmolar contrast media (HOCM, LOCM) on kidneys in Sprague-Dawley rats. Telmisartan was administered to confirm its protective role against nephrotoxicity induced by contrast media. Material and Methods: Sixty male rats were randomly divided into six groups ( n=10/group). Glycerin was given to all rats except controls to induce renal injury. HOCM (diatrizoate) or LOCM (iohexol) (10 ml/kg b.w., 300 mg I/ml) was given through a caudal vein. Serum creatinine level was measured by an automatical biochemical analyzer. Caspase-3 activity and Angiotensin II (Ang II) level of renal tissue were detected by fluorometric method and radioimmunoassay, respectively. The renal injury was also assessed by hematoxylin and eosin and TdT-mediated deoxyuridine nick end-labeling staining. Results: In diatrizoate-injected rats, serum creatinine level was increased ( P<0.001). There was no significant difference between iohexol animals and glycerol controls in the level of serum creatinine. The renal caspase-3 activity and Ang II levels in HOCM and LOCM groups were higher than those in glycerol control group ( P<0.001). The percentage of apoptotic tubular cells and pathological scores were lower in the iohexol animals than that in the diatrizoate animals ( P<0.001). In the groups pretreated with telmisartan, no increase in the levels of serum creatinine, renal Ang II, and caspase-3 activity was observed ( P>0.05). The renal injuries induced by contrast media were alleviated. Conclusion: Both HOCM (diatrizoate) and LOCM (iohexol) could cause renal tubular cell apoptosis in the kidneys damaged by glycerin. LOCM was less toxic to rat kidneys than HOCM. Caspase-3 and Ang II might play a role in renal tubular cell apoptosis induced by contrast media. Telmisartan protected the renal tissue from nephrotoxicity induced by contrast media.
An over‐represented minority! Non‐mainland French athletes in L’Équipe (1946–1968)
Authors: Bretin‐Maffiuletti Karen , Erard Carine 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAfter the Second World War, the French athletics team included many sportsmen from outside mainland France, mainly from Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), Black Africa, and Overseas, who distinguished themselves by their performances at the highest national and indeed international levels. How did the French sports press, in particular the mainland press, report these performances, which overturned colonial hierarchies and challenged “white superiority”?This article will describe the coverage, from a quantitative perspective, of these non‐mainland athletes in the columns of L’Équipe, France's main multi‐sports daily newspaper (after first determining the origin of the members of the French athletics team and pinpointing the arrival and gradual integration of athletes born outside mainland France). [Observations are limited here to male athletes. Women born outside mainland France joined the French athletic elite later than men, making it difficult to include both male and female athletes in the context of a single study. After 1945, the first French woman born outside mainland France to join the athletic elite was Martinique's Emma Sulter in 1970. In the United States, no African‐born American woman picked up a gold medal until the 1948 Olympic Games.] Our objective is to test the hypothesis that these coloured athletes from the French colonies were discriminated against in the media. Indeed, American studies with comparable subject matter have shown different media coverage for “white” and “black” sportsmen.Our results show that the French athletic elite opened its doors to the colonies during the second half of the twentieth century, as the first wave of non‐mainland athletes was integrated into the French team between 1946 and 1968. In fact, athletes from Maghreb were present in relatively high numbers; those from Overseas were starting to be integrated, and the numbers of people coming from Black Africa were reaching their highest levels. During this period, L’Équipe gave non‐mainland athletes proportionately higher coverage than was warranted by their presence in the elite. This over‐representation was even more marked in the case of athletes from Overseas and Black Africa (while it seems that North Africans had slightly less coverage compared with their presence in the French team). It would appear, therefore, that in terms of quantity France's main sports daily did not discriminate against athletes who were not born on the mainland, but quite the reverse, with the relative exception of athletes from Maghreb. Several interpretations of this over‐representation will be considered, including: a disparity in terms of practice level between the groups of athletes; the particular features of French colonial history with regard to racial stereotypes; and the effect of mental categorization.
Influence of resistance exercise volume on recovery energy expenditure in women
Authors: Benton Melissa J. , Swan Pamela D. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe acute effects of resistance exercise on energy expenditure in the post‐exercise period have not been well studied in women, even though they are at high risk for weight gain and so would benefit greatly from exercise‐related increases in energy expenditure. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence recovery energy expenditure in women after an acute bout of resistance exercise. Seventeen healthy women aged 40–55 years completed an acute bout of resistance exercise followed by measurement of energy expenditure for 120 min of recovery. Body composition was measured via air displacement plethysmography. The resistance exercise bout consisted of three sets of 8–12 repetitions of eight exercises at 50% of one‐repetition maximum (1‐RM) for the first set and 80% 1‐RM for the second and third sets. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured before and for 120 min after resistance exercise. Post‐exercise energy expenditure data were analysed as 4‐min means at 0, 20, 40, 60, 90, and 120 min of recovery. Mean (± s x) training volume was 7604.1±450.64 kg and overall mean recovery energy expenditure was 133±6 kcal. Pearson's correlation analysis found no significant relationship between post‐exercise energy expenditure and age, body mass index, exercise time or delay between cessation of exercise and commencement of metabolic measurement. Absolute (kg) lean mass was also not significantly related to energy expenditure at any time post‐exercise, although relative (%) lean mass was during the late recovery period only (40 min of recovery: r = 0.49, P = 0.05; 60 min: r = 0.51, P = 0.04; 90 min: r = 0.63, P < 0.01). The factor most consistently related to post‐exercise energy expenditure was total exercise volume, which had a moderately strong relationship through 90 min of the recovery period (0 min of recovery: r=0.49. P = 0.05; 20 min: r = 0.52, P = 0.03; 40 min: r = 0.53, P = 0.03; 60 min: r = 0.50, P = 0.04; 90 min: r=0.48, P = 0.05). In the present sample of women, acute post‐exercise energy expenditure was influenced primarily by total training volume, although lean mass had a limited effect. Based on these findings, it is recommended that women be encouraged to lift at higher intensities (70–80% 1‐RM) to maximize post‐exercise energy expenditure and potentially promote fat loss.
A multi‐component assessment model for monitoring training distress among athletes
Authors: Main Luana , Grove J. Robert 
Published: May 2009

AbstractWe report the initial validation of a multi‐component assessment model for monitoring training distress among athletes. The model combines measures of mood disturbance with measures of perceived stress and symptom intensity. Altogether, 492 athletes completed the 10‐item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10; Cohen et al., 1983), the 24‐item Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS; Terry et al., 2003), and a checklist of 19 symptoms associated with acute overtraining (Fry et al., 1994). Six training distress factors were identified by an exploratory factor analysis: “depressed mood”, “perceived vigour”, “physical symptoms”, “sleep disturbance”, “perceived stress”, and “general fatigue”. Comparisons of group means of these factors with a previously validated inventory were consistent with theoretical predictions and provided evidence of construct validity. Internal consistency of the subscales was also confirmed, with Cronbach alphas ranging from 0.72 to 0.86. Together, these findings suggest that this multi‐component model provides a sound conceptual basis for the assessment of training distress among athletes.
Sport, women, and leadership: Results of a project on executives in German sports organizations
Authors: Pfister Gertrud , Radtke Sabine 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThroughout the world, women are a small minority within the governing bodies of organized sport. This paper presents the results of three empirical studies that have been undertaken within a German research project. The representative survey of all male and female executives in German sports federations (N=697) included questions concerning their socio‐demography, their careers as executive members of sports organizations, as well as their careers in sport and their chosen occupation. The survey reveals significant gender differences in terms of, for example, age, family situation, responsibilities in the executive committees, duration of office, and career barriers. Furthermore, we conducted 23 in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews with women in leadership positions to explore the women's individual perspectives. The aim of a second interview study (“drop‐out” study) was to identify barriers in the voluntary careers of seven male and nine female leaders who left office prematurely (i.e. earlier than they had originally planned). These informants can be seen as experts who have an excellent insight into their organizations and who have also experienced barriers that caused them to “drop out”. The respondents’ statements showed similarities with regard to socio‐economic background but considerable differences in terms of gender‐specific experiences, attitudes, and evaluations. The demands placed on the sports leaders were much more in line with the biographies of the men interviewed than with the personal circumstances of the women.