bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
QUANTIFICATION OF CAROTENOID AND FLAVONOID COMPONENTS IN BRANS OF SOME THAI BLACK RICE CULTIVARS USING SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION AND HIGH‐PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY‐MASS SPECTROMETRY
Authors: NAKORNRIAB MUNTANA , SRISEADKA TINAKORN , WONGPORNCHAI SUGUNYA 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT A method employing supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐MS) was developed and used for quantification of the antioxidants in groups of carotenoids and flavonoids in the bran of four Thai black rice cultivars: Kao Hom Nin BD, Kao Hom Nin BT, Kao Hom Nin BT no. 3 and 1000–11–2–26. Trans‐β‐carotene, quercetin and isorhamnetin were identified in the crude yellow extracts obtained from SFE using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Their contents in the black rice bran samples were determined using LC‐ESI‐MS operated in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The response of the mass spectrometric detection in the SIM mode was linear, within the range of 1.00–40.00 µg/mL (r2 = 0.9997), 0.25–2.00 µg/mL (r2 = 0.9987) and 0.25–2.00 µg/mL (r2 = 0.9982); the limit of detection was at 0.10, 0.15 and 0.15 µg/mL, and the limit of quantitation was 0.80 g of rice bran for trans‐β‐carotene and 0.60 g of rice bran for both quercetin and isorhamnetin. Method precisions in terms of intraday and inter‐day coefficients of variation were under 3.67% (relative standard deviation). The accuracy of the method estimated by determination of known concentrations of trans‐β‐carotene in the certified reference material, Standard Reference Material 3276, was found to range from 92 to 101%. Trans‐β‐carotene, quercetin and isorhamnetin were present in the bran of all black rice cultivars within the range of 33.60–41, 1.08–2.85 and 0.05–0.83 µg/g, respectively.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSProduction and accumulation of trans‐β‐carotene, quercetin and isorhamnetin in the bran of black rice revealed in this study imply that more attention should be paid to the analysis for screening black rice that has high contents of these bioactive phytochemicals, especially those obtained in rice‐breeding programs. The developed supercritical fluid extraction and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry method for quantification of β‐carotene, quercetin and isorhamnetin in black rice bran samples proved to be selective, precise, linear and sensitive, and can efficiently be employed for such analytical purposes. Additionally, extraction of carotene components by supercritical CO2 prior to LC‐MS analysis not only makes the total analysis time much shorter than that of the conventional extraction methods but also eliminates a sample clean‐up step, thus offering a clean analytical procedure.
Mortgage origination fraud and the global economic crisis
Authors: Nguyen Tomson H. , Pontell Henry N. 
Published: July 2010

Research Summary The study outlined in this article analyzed the responses of 23 subjects previously and currently employed in the subprime lending industry to understand the implications and role of white‐collar crime in the contemporary subprime mortgage crisis and to document the rationalizations that offenders use to explain their involvement in mortgage‐related crimes. The subjects represented five sectors of the primary mortgage market, including brokerage, lender, escrow, title, and appraisal offices. Secondary sources of data for the study included media accounts, government reports, and industry studies. The research findings detail accounts of mortgage frauds in the subprime lending industry that resulted from inadequate regulation, the indiscriminate use of alternative loan products, and the lack of accountability in the industry. Policy Implications The study results suggest that the problem of mortgage origination fraud would be prevented best by major reform of financial policies and lending practices that characterize the subprime mortgage industry. Several broad recommendations are proposed in this article that highlight the need to recognize the potential for insider fraud, to enhance government regulation and oversight, to tighten loan qualification requirements, and to increase standards of underwriting. Observations are offered concerning the need to highlight white‐collar crime in understanding the global financial crisis and to preventing future debacles.
Prognostic value of serum acute‐phase proteins in dogs with parvoviral enteritis
Authors: Kocaturk M. , Martinez S. , Eralp O. , Tvarijonaviciute A. , Ceron J. , Yilmaz Z. 
Published: July 2010

Objective: To evaluate the acute‐phase protein response in dogs with parvoviral enteritis as predictor of the clinical outcome.Methods: Canine parvovirus infection was diagnosed based on the compatible clinical findings and confirmed by the canine parvovirus antigen test in 43 dogs of less than six months of age. Blood samples for complete blood cell count and acute‐phase proteins (C‐reactive protein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and albumin) were collected before treatment. Twenty‐three dogs died during or after treatment (non‐survival) and the rest recovered (survival). Five healthy dogs were enrolled as control.Results: Serum C‐reactive protein, ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin levels in dogs with parvoviral enteritis were higher (P<0·001, P<0·01 and P<0·001, respectively), but serum albumin was lower (P<0·001) than those in controls. Mean C‐reactive protein and ceruloplasmin values in non‐survival were higher (P<0·01) than those for survival dogs. C‐reactive protein was found to be superior to ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and albumin for distinguishing survival from non‐survival dogs. Values higher than 92·4 mg/l for C‐reactive protein had a sensitivity of 91% to predict mortality.ClinicalSignificance: The magnitude of the increase in serum acute‐phase proteins in dogs with parvoviral enteritis could be a useful indicator of the prognosis of the disease. In acute‐phase proteins, C‐reactive protein is a potent predictor of mortality in dogs with parvoviral enteritis.
Continuous Metabolic Syndrome Risk Score, Body Mass Index Percentile, and Leisure Time Physical Activity in American Children
Authors: Okosun Ike S. , Boltri John M. , Lyn Rodney , Davis‐Smith Monique 
Published: July 2010

J Clin Hypertens(Greenwich). 2010;12:636–644. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The objective of this study was to determine independent and joint association of body mass index (BMI) percentile and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with continuous metabolic syndrome (cMetS) risk score in 12‐ to 17‐year‐old American children. The 2003 to 2004 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were used for this investigation. LTPA was determined by self‐report. cMetS risk score was calculated using standardized residuals of arterial blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose, waist circumference, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate association of BMI percentile and LTPA with cMetS risk score, adjusting for confounders. Increased BMI percentile and LTPA were each associated with increased and decreased cMetS risk score, respectively ((P<.01). There was a gradient of increasing cMetS risk score by BMI percentile cutpoints, from healthy weight (−0.77) to overweight (3.43) and obesity (6.40) ((P<.05). A gradient of decreasing cMetS risk score from sedentary (0.88) to moderate (0.17) and vigorous (−0.42) LTPA levels was also observed (P<.01). The result of this study suggests that promoting LTPA at all levels of weight status may help to reverse the increasing trends of metabolic syndrome in US children.
Targeting metabolic syndrome: Candidate natural agents
Authors: XIA Xuan , WENG Jianping 
Published: July 2010

AbstractFollowing on from impressive economic development and urbanization, China is currently experiencing a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Patients with metabolic syndrome suffer from the “The Deadly Quartet” of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and central (or upper body) obesity. Current treatment strategies directed towards metabolic syndrome tend to be limited to just one of these four conditions, so developing novel drugs to target multiple metabolic abnormalities could be preferable to current approaches. New insights suggest benefits of natural agents as treatments for metabolic syndrome. Herein, we review the evidence for using nine such agents developed on the basis of traditional medicine or herbal preparations.
Effects of Nigella sativa and thymoquinone on biochemical and subcellular changes in pancreatic β‐cells of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats
Authors: ABDELMEGUID Nabila E. , FAKHOURY Rajaa , KAMAL Salwa M. , AL WAFAI Rana J. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackground:  The present study investigated the effects of Nigella sativa aqueous extract and oil, as well as thymoquinone, on serum insulin and glucose concentrations in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats.Methods:  Rats were divided into five experimental groups (control, untreated STZ‐diabetic, and aqueous extract‐, oil‐, or thymoquinone‐treated diabetic rats). Treated rats received 2 mL/kg, i.p., 5%N. sativa extract, 0.2 mL/kg, i.p., N. sativa oil, or 3 mg/mL, i.p., thymoquinone 6 days/week for 30 days. Serum insulin and glucose concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and pancreatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Electron microscopy was used to identify any subcellular changes.Results:  Diabetes increased tissue MDA and serum glucose levels and decreased insulin and SOD levels. Treatment of rats with N. sativa extract and oil, as well as thymoquinone, significantly decreased the diabetes‐induced increases in tissue MDA and serum glucose and significantly increased serum insulin and tissue SOD. Ultrastructurally, thymoquinone ameliorated most of the toxic effects of STZ, including segregated nucleoli, heterochromatin aggregates (indicating DNA damage), and mitochondrial vacuolization and fragmentation. The aqueous extract of N. sativa also reversed these effects of STZ, but to a lesser extent. The N. sativa oil restored normal insulin levels, but failed to decrease serum glucose concentrations to normal.Conclusions:  The biochemical and ultrastructural findings suggest that N. sativa extract and thymoquinone have therapeutic and protect against STZ‐diabetes by decreasing oxidative stress, thus preserving pancreatic β‐cell integrity. The hypoglycemic effect observed could be due to amelioration of β‐cell ultrastructure, thus leading to increased insulin levels. Consequently, N. sativa and thymoquinone may prove clinically useful in the treatment of diabetics and in the protection of β‐cells against oxidative stress.
RESEARCH: Zopiclone (Cyclopyrrolone): A Novel Hypnosedative; Hypnosedation Caused by Zopiclone Does Not Impair Memory‐Learning in Albino Mice
Authors: Kadam Uma , Bhosale Anand 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYObjectives:To evaluate hypnosedative action of Zopiclone by using animal models for hypnosis and sedation (anxiolysis); and to further evaluate whether this hypnosedation impairs memory‐learning in albino mice like conventional hypnosedatives.Methods:For evaluation of hypnosedation, following experiments were performed in albino mice: (1) righting reflex test, (2) pentobarbitone sleeping time potentiation, (3) open field apparatus behavior, and (4) elevated plus maze performance. For evaluation of effects on impairment of memory‐learning, elevated plus maze retention test was performed in albino mice.Results:Zopiclone (7.5 mg/kg p.o.) did not inhibit the righting reflex. Significant (P< 0.001) potentiation of pentobarbitone sleeping time and increase in exploration in open field apparatus was observed. Elevated plus maze performance also showed significant (P< 0.01) increase in number of entries to open arm at the same time significant (P< 0.02) increase in time spent in open arm was observed. Elevated plus maze retention test showed significant (P< 0.01) increase in transfer latency on second day of experiment.Conclusions:Zopiclone (7.5 mg/kg p.o.) has selective hypnosedative activity but not CNS‐depressant activity similar to BZDs. Hypnosedative action of Zopiclone does not impair memory‐learning in albino mice like conventional hypnosedatives.
Characterization of Two
Paenibacillus amylolyticus
Strain 27C64 Pectate Lyases with Activity on Highly Methylated Pectin
Authors: Boland Whitney E. , Henriksen Emily DeCrescenzo , Doran-Peterson Joy 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

Two pectate lyases were identified from
Paenibacillus amylolyticus
27C64; both enzymes demonstrated activity on methylated pectin in addition to polygalacturonic acid. PelA is in a subclass of the pectate lyase family III. PelB shows some features of pectate lyase family I but is highly divergent.
Identification and Characterization of a NovelTerrabacter ginsenosidimutanssp. nov. β-Glucosidase That Transforms Ginsenoside Rb1 into the Rare Gypenosides XVII and LXXV
Authors: An Dong-Shan , Cui Chang-Hao , Lee Hyung-Gwan , Wang Liang , Kim Sun Chang , Lee Sung-Taik , Jin Fengxie , Yu Hongshan , Chin Young-Won , Lee Hyeong-Kyu , Im Wan-Taek , Kim Song-Gun 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTA new β-glucosidase from a novel strain ofTerrabacter ginsenosidimutans(Gsoil 3082T) obtained from the soil of a ginseng farm was characterized, and the gene,bgpA(1,947 bp), was cloned inEscherichia coli. The enzyme catalyzed the conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 {3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-20(S)-protopanaxadiol} to the more pharmacologically active rare ginsenosides gypenoside XVII {3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-20-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-20(S)-protopanaxadiol}, gypenoside LXXV {20-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-20(S)-protopanaxadiol}, and C-K [20-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol]. A BLAST search of thebgpAsequence revealed significant homology to family 3 glycoside hydrolases. Expressed inE. coli, β-glucosidase had apparentKmvalues of 4.2 ± 0.8 and 0.14 ± 0.05 mM andVmaxvalues of 100.6 ± 17.1 and 329 ± 31 μmol·min−1·mg of protein−1againstp-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside and Rb1, respectively. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of the two glucose moieties attached to the C-3 position of ginsenoside Rb1, and the outer glucose attached to the C-20 position at pH 7.0 and 37°C. These cleavages occurred in a defined order, with the outer glucose of C-3 cleaved first, followed by the inner glucose of C-3, and finally the outer glucose of C-20. These results indicated that BgpA selectively and sequentially converts ginsenoside Rb1 to the rare ginsenosides gypenoside XVII, gypenoside LXXV, and then C-K. Herein is the first report of the cloning and characterization of a novel ginsenoside-transforming β-glucosidase of the glycoside hydrolase family 3.
Extraction of mRNA from Soil
Authors: Mettel Carsten , Kim Yongkyu , Shrestha Pravin Malla , Liesack Werner 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT
Here, we report an efficient method for extracting high-quality mRNA from soil. Key steps in the isolation of total RNA were low-pH extraction (pH 5.0) and Q-Sepharose chromatography. The removal efficiency of humic acids was 94 to 98% for all soils tested. To enrich mRNA, subtractive hybridization of rRNA was most efficient. Subtractive hybridization may be followed by exonuclease treatment if the focus is on the analysis of unprocessed mRNA. The total extraction method can be completed within 8 h, resulting in enriched mRNA ranging from 200 bp to 4 kb in size.
Stable Isotope Probing Analysis of the Diversity and Activity of Methanotrophic Bacteria in Soils from the Canadian High Arctic
Authors: Martineau Christine , Whyte Lyle G. , Greer Charles W. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

The melting of permafrost and its potential impact on CH
4
emissions are major concerns in the context of global warming. Methanotrophic bacteria have the capacity to mitigate CH
4
emissions from melting permafrost. Here, we used quantitative PCR (qPCR), stable isotope probing (SIP) of DNA, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting, and sequencing of the 16S rRNA and
pmoA
genes to study the activity and diversity of methanotrophic bacteria in active-layer soils from Ellesmere Island in the Canadian high Arctic. Results showed that most of the soils had the capacity to oxidize CH
4
at 4°C and at room temperature (RT), but the oxidation rates were greater at RT than at 4°C and were significantly enhanced by nutrient amendment. The DGGE banding patterns associated with active methanotrophic bacterial populations were also different depending on the temperature of incubation and the addition of nutrients. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA and
pmoA
genes indicated a low diversity of the active methanotrophic bacteria, with all methanotroph 16S rRNA and
pmoA
gene sequences being related to type I methanotrophs from
Methylobacter
and
Methylosarcina
. The dominance of type I methanotrophs over type II methanotrophs in the native soil samples was confirmed by qPCR of the 16S rRNA gene with primers specific for these two groups of bacteria. The 16S rRNA and
pmoA
gene sequences related to those of
Methylobacter tundripaludum
were found in all soils, regardless of the incubation conditions, and they might therefore play a role in CH
4
degradation
in situ
. This work is providing new information supporting the potential importance of
Methylobacter
spp. in Arctic soils found in previous studies and contributes to the limited body of knowledge on methanotrophic activity and diversity in this extreme environment.
Systems-Level Metabolic Flux Profiling Elucidates a Complete, Bifurcated Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in
Clostridium acetobutylicum
Authors: Amador-Noguez Daniel , Feng Xiao-Jiang , Fan Jing , Roquet Nathaniel , Rabitz Herschel , Rabinowitz Joshua D. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

Obligatory anaerobic bacteria are major contributors to the overall metabolism of soil and the human gut. The metabolic pathways of these bacteria remain, however, poorly understood. Using isotope tracers, mass spectrometry, and quantitative flux modeling, here we directly map the metabolic pathways of
Clostridium acetobutylicum
, a soil bacterium whose major fermentation products include the biofuels butanol and hydrogen. While genome annotation suggests the absence of most tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, our results demonstrate that this bacterium has a complete, albeit bifurcated, TCA cycle; oxaloacetate flows to succinate both through citrate/α-ketoglutarate and via malate/fumarate. Our investigations also yielded insights into the pathways utilized for glucose catabolism and amino acid biosynthesis and revealed that the organism's one-carbon metabolism is distinct from that of model microbes, involving reversible pyruvate decarboxylation and the use of pyruvate as the one-carbon donor for biosynthetic reactions. This study represents the first
in vivo
characterization of the TCA cycle and central metabolism of
C. acetobutylicum
. Our results establish a role for the full TCA cycle in an obligatory anaerobic organism and demonstrate the importance of complementing genome annotation with isotope tracer studies for determining the metabolic pathways of diverse microbes.
Overlapping Repressor Binding Sites Result in Additive Regulation ofEscherichia coliFadH by FadR and ArcA
Authors: Feng Youjun , Cronan John E. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTEscherichia coli fadHencodes a 2,4-dienoyl reductase that plays an auxiliary role in β-oxidation of certain unsaturated fatty acids. In the 2 decades since its discovery, FadH biochemistry has been studied extensively. However, the genetic regulation of FadH has been explored only partially. Here we report mapping of thefadHpromoter and document its complex regulation by three independent regulators, the fatty acid degradation FadR repressor, the oxygen-responsive ArcA-ArcB two-component system, and the cyclic AMP receptor protein-cyclic AMP (CRP-cAMP) complex. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that FadR binds to thefadHpromoter region and that this binding can be specifically reversed by long-chain acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters.In vivodata combining transcriptionallacZfusion and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses indicated thatfadHis strongly repressed by FadR, in agreement with induction offadHby long-chain fatty acids. Inactivation ofarcAincreasedfadHtranscription by >3-fold under anaerobic conditions. Moreover,fadHexpression was increased 8- to 10-fold under anaerobic conditions upon deletion of both thefadRand thearcAgene, indicating that anaerobic expression is additively repressed by FadR and ArcA-ArcB. UnlikefadM, a newly reported member of theE. coli fadregulon that encodes another auxiliary β-oxidation enzyme,fadHwas activated by the CRP-cAMP complex in a manner similar to those of the prototypicalfadgenes. In the absence of the CRP-cAMP complex, repression offadHexpression by both FadR and ArcA-ArcB was very weak, suggesting a possible interplay with other DNA binding proteins.
Legitimation of massacres in Israeli school history books
Authors: Peled-Elhanan Nurit 
Published: July 2010

This article examines reports about massacres in eight Israeli secondary school history books, published between 1998 and 2009.1 It aims to show that massacres, or rather their outcome, are legitimated in these books through a complex rhetoric that involves both verbal and visual means. The article uses theories and analytical tools of Critical Discourse Analysis, Social Semiotics and Multimodal Analysis to examine the linguistic, discursive, generic and multimodal strategies of legitimation employed in these school books. The analysis is based primarily on the works of Van Dijk (1997), Martin Rojo and Van Dijk (1997),Van Leeuwen (2000, 2007, 2008), Van Leeuwen and Wodak (1999), Hodge and Kress (1993) and Coffin (1997, 2006). The article argues that Israeli mainstream school books implicitly legitimate the killing of Palestinians as an effective tool to preserve a secure Jewish state with a Jewish majority, and suggests that this legitimation prepares Israeli youth to be good soldiers and to carry on the practices of occupation in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
A single sequence context cannot satisfy all non-AUG initiator codons in yeast†
Authors: Chang Chia-Pei , Chen Shun-Jia , Lin Chen-Huan , Wang Tzu-Ling , Wang Chien-Chia 
Published: July 2010

Abstract

Background
Previous studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that ALA1 (encoding alanyl-tRNA synthetase) and GRS1 (encoding glycyl-tRNA synthetase) respectively use ACG and TTG as their alternative translation initiator codons. To explore if any other non-ATG triplets can act as initiator codons in yeast, ALA1 was used as a reporter for screening.

Results
We show herein that except for AAG and AGG, all triplets that differ from ATG by a single nucleotide were able to serve as initiator codons in ALA1. Among these initiator codons, TTG, CTG, ACG, and ATT had ~50% initiating activities relative to that of ATG, while GTG, ATA, and ATC had ~20% initiating activities relative to that of ATG. Unexpectedly, these non-AUG initiator codons exhibited different preferences toward various sequence contexts. In particular, GTG was one of the most efficient non-ATG initiator codons, while ATA was essentially inactive in the context of GRS1.

Conclusion
This finding indicates that a sequence context that is favorable for a given non-ATG initiator codon might not be as favorable for another.