bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Occupational exposure to potential endocrine disruptors: further development of a job exposure matrix
Authors: Brouwers M M , van Tongeren M , Hirst A A , Bretveld R W , Roeleveld N 
Published: March 2009

Objectives:The aim was to develop a new up-to-date and comprehensive job exposure matrix (JEM) for estimating exposure to potential endocrine disruptors in epidemiological research.Methods:Chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties were identified from the literature and classified into 10 chemical groups: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated organic compounds, pesticides, phthalates, organic solvents, bisphenol A, alkylphenolic compounds, brominated flame retardants, metals and a miscellaneous group. Most chemical groups were divided into three to six subgroups. Focusing on the years 1996–2006, three experts scored the probability of exposure to each chemical group and subgroup for 353 job titles as “unlikely” (0), “possible” (1) or “probable” (2). Job titles with positive exposure probability scores were provided with exposure scenarios that described the reasoning behind the scores.Results:Exposure to any chemical group was unlikely for 238 job titles (67%), whereas 102 (29%) job titles were classified as possibly (17%) or probably (12%) exposed to one or several endocrine disruptors. The remaining 13 job titles provided too little information to classify exposure. PAHs, pesticides, phthalates, organic solvents, alkylphenolic compounds and metals were often linked to a job title in the JEM. The remaining chemical groups were found to involve very few occupations.Conclusions:Despite some important limitations, this JEM could be a valuable tool for exposure assessment in studies on the health risks of endocrine disruptors, especially when task specific information is incorporated. The documented exposure scenarios are meant to facilitate further adjustments to the JEM to allow more widespread use.
An Iterative Algorithm Combining Viscosity Method with Parallel Method for a Generalized Equilibrium Problem and Strict Pseudocontractions
Authors: Peng Jian-Wen , Liou Yeong-Cheng , Yao Jen-Chih 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe introduce a new approximation scheme combining the viscosity method with parallel method for finding a common element of the set of solutions of a generalized equilibrium problem and the set of fixed points of a family of finitely strict pseudocontractions. We obtain a strong convergence theorem for the sequences generated by these processes in Hilbert spaces. Based on this result, we also get some new and interesting results. The results in this paper extend and improve some well-known results in the literature.
microRNA 184 regulates expression of NFAT1 in umbilical cord blood CD4+ T cells
Authors: Weitzel R. Patrick , Lesniewski Mathew L. , Haviernik Peter , Kadereit Suzanne , Leahy Patrick , Greco Nicholas J. , Laughlin Mary J. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
The reduced expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells-1 (NFAT1) protein in umbilical cord blood (UCB)–derived CD4+ T cells and the corresponding reduction in inflammatory cytokine secretion after stimulation in part underlies their phenotypic differences from adult blood (AB) CD4+ T cells. This muted response may contribute to the lower incidence and severity of high-grade acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) exhibited by UCB grafts. Here we provide evidence that a specific microRNA, miR-184, inhibits NFAT1 protein expression elicited by UCB CD4+ T cells. Endogenous expression of miR-184 in UCB is 58.4-fold higher compared with AB CD4+ T cells, and miR-184 blocks production of NFAT1 protein through its complementary target sequence on the NFATc2 mRNA without transcript degradation. Furthermore, its negative effects on NFAT1 protein and downstream interleukin-2 (IL-2) transcription are reversed through antisense blocking in UCB and can be replicated via exogenous transfection of precursor miR-184 into AB CD4+ T cells. Our findings reveal a previously uncharacterized role for miR-184 in UCB CD4+ T cells and a novel function for microRNA in the early adaptive immune response.
Efficient construction of producer cell lines for a SIN lentiviral vector for SCID-X1 gene therapy by concatemeric array transfection
Authors: Throm Robert E. , Ouma Annastasia A. , Zhou Sheng , Chandrasekaran Anantharaman , Lockey Timothy , Greene Michael , De Ravin Suk See , Moayeri Morvarid , Malech Harry L. , Sorrentino Brian P. , Gray John T. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractRetroviral vectors containing internal promoters, chromatin insulators, and self-inactivating (SIN) long terminal repeats (LTRs) may have significantly reduced genotoxicity relative to the conventional retroviral vectors used in recent, otherwise successful clinical trials. Large-scale production of such vectors is problematic, however, as the introduction of SIN vectors into packaging cells cannot be accomplished with the traditional method of viral transduction. We have derived a set of packaging cell lines for HIV-based lentiviral vectors and developed a novel concatemeric array transfection technique for the introduction of SIN vector genomes devoid of enhancer and promoter sequences in the LTR. We used this method to derive a producer cell clone for a SIN lentiviral vector expressing green fluorescent protein, which when grown in a bioreactor generated more than 20 L of supernatant with titers above 107 transducing units (TU) per milliliter. Further refinement of our technique enabled the rapid generation of whole populations of stably transformed cells that produced similar titers. Finally, we describe the construction of an insulated, SIN lentiviral vector encoding the human interleukin 2 receptor common γ chain (IL2RG) gene and the efficient derivation of cloned producer cells that generate supernatants with titers greater than 5 × 107 TU/mL and that are suitable for use in a clinical trial for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1).
Efficient yeast ChIP-Seq using multiplex short-read DNA sequencing
Authors: Lefrançois Philippe , Euskirchen Ghia M , Auerbach Raymond K , Rozowsky Joel , Gibson Theodore , Yellman Christopher M , Gerstein Mark , Snyder Michael 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Short-read high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies provide new tools to answer biological questions. However, high cost and low throughput limit their widespread use, particularly in organisms with smaller genomes such as S. cerevisiae. Although ChIP-Seq in mammalian cell lines is replacing array-based ChIP-chip as the standard for transcription factor binding studies, ChIP-Seq in yeast is still underutilized compared to ChIP-chip. We developed a multiplex barcoding system that allows simultaneous sequencing and analysis of multiple samples using Illumina's platform. We applied this method to analyze the chromosomal distributions of three yeast DNA binding proteins (Ste12, Cse4 and RNA PolII) and a reference sample (input DNA) in a single experiment and demonstrate its utility for rapid and accurate results at reduced costs.

Results
We developed a barcoding ChIP-Seq method for the concurrent analysis of transcription factor binding sites in yeast. Our multiplex strategy generated high quality data that was indistinguishable from data obtained with non-barcoded libraries. None of the barcoded adapters induced differences relative to a non-barcoded adapter when applied to the same DNA sample. We used this method to map the binding sites for Cse4, Ste12 and Pol II throughout the yeast genome and we found 148 binding targets for Cse4, 823 targets for Ste12 and 2508 targets for PolII. Cse4 was strongly bound to all yeast centromeres as expected and the remaining non-centromeric targets correspond to highly expressed genes in rich media. The presence of Cse4 non-centromeric binding sites was not reported previously.

Conclusion
We designed a multiplex short-read DNA sequencing method to perform efficient ChIP-Seq in yeast and other small genome model organisms. This method produces accurate results with higher throughput and reduced cost. Given constant improvements in high-throughput sequencing technologies, increasing multiplexing will be possible to further decrease costs per sample and to accelerate the completion of large consortium projects such as modENCODE.
Preferential uptake of the non steroid anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac into inflamed tissues after a single oral dose in rats
Authors: Schweitzer A , Hasler-Nguyen N , Zijlstra J 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug which is available as prescription (RX) and over-the-counter (OTC) medication for the systemic and topical treatment of painful and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and back pain. This study was undertaken to investigate the distribution and retention of diclofenac and/or its metabolites in inflamed tissues, using the carrageenan-induced inflammation model and quantitative whole body autoradiography in rats.

Methods
[14C]diclofenac sodium was administrated as a single 2 mg/kg oral dose 1 h after injection of carrageenan into one front and one hind footpads and subcutaneously into the dorsum of the neck of rats. A control animal received saline injections. Three carrageenan-treated rats and one control rat were sacrificed at 1, 4, 8, and 24 h after [14C]diclofenac sodium administration (total of 4 rats/time point). The carcasses were immediately snap-frozen and prepared for cryosectioning. Lengthwise whole-body sections (40 μm thick), including all major tissues, were obtained from different levels across the body. The tissue concentrations of total radiolabeled components were determined using quantitative autoradioluminography.

Results
The radioactivity patterns demonstrated that diclofenac and/or its metabolites preferentially distributed into the inflamed tissues. In unharmed tissues the distribution was similar in control and treated animals. The exposure, based on the areas under the tissue concentration versus time (AUC0-tlast), was 26 and 53 fold higher in the inflamed neck and inflamed footpads of treated animals than in control rats; the exposures in unharmed tissues were similar in the treated and control rats, and the AUC0-tlast was 17 fold higher in the inflamed paws than in the non inflamed footpads of the carrageenan-treated rats. The higher exposure in the inflamed tissues may be explained partly to the fact that the elimination of total radiolabeled components from inflamed tissues (t1/2 = 6 h) appeared lower than from the corresponding unharmed tissues (t1/2 = 2 h).

Conclusion
This animal study demonstrated that diclofenac and/or its metabolites were rapidly and preferentially taken up and retained in inflamed tissues. Although there were theoretical considerations that mildly acidic NSAID may show some preferential distribution in inflamed tissues there was no clear experimental proof for diclofenac until the present study.
De novo complex intra chromosomal rearrangement after ICSI: characterisation by BACs micro array-CGH
Authors: Kasakyan Serdar , Lohmann Laurence , Aboura Azeddine , Quimsiyeh Mazin , Menezo Yves , Tachdjian Gerard , Benkhalifa Moncef 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
In routine Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) men with severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia should be informed about the risk of de novo congenital or chromosomal abnormalities in ICSI program. Also the benefits of preimplantation or prenatal genetic diagnosis practice need to be explained to the couple.

Methods
From a routine ICSI attempt, using ejaculated sperm from male with severe oligozoospermia and having normal karyotype, a 30 years old pregnant woman was referred to prenatal diagnosis in the 17th week for bichorionic biamniotic twin gestation. Amniocentesis was performed because of the detection of an increased foetal nuchal translucency for one of the fetus by the sonographic examination during the 12th week of gestation (WG). Chromosome and DNA studies of the fetus were realized on cultured amniocytes

Results
Conventional, molecular cytogenetic and microarray CGH experiments allowed us to conclude that the fetus had a de novo pericentromeric inversion associated with a duplication of the 9p22.1-p24 chromosomal region, 46,XY,invdup(9)(p22.1p24) [arrCGH 9p22.1p24 (RP11-130C19 → RP11-87O1)x3]. As containing the critical 9p22 region, our case is in coincidence with the general phenotype features of the partial trisomy 9p syndrome with major growth retardation, microcephaly and microretrognathia.

Conclusion
This de novo complex chromosome rearrangement illustrates the possible risk of chromosome or gene defects in ICSI program and the contribution of array-CGH for mapping rapidly de novo chromosomal imbalance.
Effects of HIV-1 infection in vitro on transendothelial migration by monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages
Authors: Westhorpe Clare L V , Zhou Jingling , Webster Nicole L , Kalionis Bill , Lewin Sharon R , Jaworowski Anthony , Muller William A , Crowe Suzanne M 
Published: March 2009

AbstractMonocytes constitutively migrate from the bloodstream across the vascular endothelium for systemic immune surveillance and maintenance of macrophage populations. They also perform reverse transendothelial migration (TEM) across the endothelium, which is required for entry of tissue monocytes/macrophages into the lymphatics or back into the bloodstream. We have modeled these processes previously using HUVEC monolayers grown on three-dimensional collagen matrices. The aim of the present study was to determine whether HIV-1 infection of monocytes/macrophages in vitro affects TEM. Purified primary human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) expressed important TEM proteins such as CD62L, CD18, PECAM-1, CCR2, and CCR8. Purified monocytes underwent efficient forward and reverse TEM across HUVEC, and this function was maintained by MDM after up to 15 days of culture. Monocytes exposed to HIV-1 for 2 days had unaltered forward or reverse TEM. However, HIV-1 infection of MDM for 7 days decreased reverse TEM by an average of 66.5% compared with mock-infected MDM (n=9 independent donors; P=0.004), without affecting forward TEM. Decreased reverse TEM by HIV-infected MDM required viral RT and was not a result of alterations in surface expression of CCR8 or p-glycoprotein or a general impairment in mobility, as assessed by migration toward fMLP. This study indicates that HIV-1 infection of macrophages reduces their capacity to emigrate from the subendothelial extracellular matrix in vitro, which could result in defective cell-mediated immune responses to infections and promote establishment of viral reservoirs of HIV in tissue macrophages in vivo.
Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Taste and Smell Changes in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer or Gynecologic Malignancies
Authors: Steinbach Silke , Hummel Thomas , Böhner Christina , Berktold Sabina , Hundt Walter , Kriner Monika , Heinrich Petra , Sommer Harald , Hanusch Claus , Prechtl Anita , Schmidt Burghart , Bauerfeind Ingo , Seck Katharina , Jacobs Volker R. , Schmalfeldt Barbara , Harbeck Nadia 
Published: March 2009

Purpose Smell and taste changes during chemotherapy are significant complaints of cancer patients. Loss of olfactory/gustatory function can lead to malnutrition, weight loss, and possibly a prolonged morbidity of chemotherapy-induced adverse effects, decreased quality of life, poor compliance, and even decreased therapy response. This prospective study comprehensively investigated, to our knowledge for the first time, smell and taste changes in a cohort of 87 patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer or gynecologic malignancies. Patients and Methods Olfactory function was tested using Sniffin' Sticks (Burghart; Wedel, Germany) and gustatory function was tested using taste strips before, during, and immediately and 3 months after chemotherapy. Results Olfactory and gustatory function significantly decreased during chemotherapy and recovered almost completely 3 months after chemotherapy. Scores of odor thresholds were affected more than those of discrimination or identification. The olfactory function of older patients was affected more than that of younger patients. There was no difference in the olfactory function during chemotherapy with respect to the chemotherapeutic agent or initial diagnosis (breast or ovarian cancer). Regarding taste, scores of salty taste were affected more than scores of sweet, sour, or bitter taste. The gustatory function did not differ significantly during chemotherapy with respect to age or diagnosis but did differ with respect to the chemotherapeutic agent. Taxane-based chemotherapy caused the most severe disorders. Conclusion Chemotherapy has a significant but transient effect on olfactory and gustatory function, possibly causing reduced appetite, a low energy intake, and weight loss. Additional spices and flavoring may compensate for this diminished chemosensory function, enhancing patient compliance and quality of life.
Relation of Through-Thickness Ductility to Inclusion Prevalence, Matrix Toughness, and Matrix Strength
Authors: Ludwigson DC 
Published: March 2009

Through-thickness ductility is used as a measure of the resistance of steel plate to lamellar tearing during and after welding. Lamellar tearing is initiated by delamination at inclusion/matrix interfaces in response to weld thermal-contraction strain, and this behavior is simulated in the through-thickness tension test. Although initiated at inclusions, lamellar tearing proceeds by microvoid growth and coalescense into terraces and, finally, by shear between terraces. These latter stages of lamellar tearing are thought to be sensitive to matrix strength and toughness. Accordingly, an attempt was made to investigate the influence of changes in strength and toughness on through-thickness reduction of area (TTRA).
Six high-strength low-alloy steel plates with a range of inclusion fractions were selected and heat-treated to develop ranges of strength and toughness. Measurements of inclusion fraction, longitudinal tensile properties, longitudinal Charpy impact properties, and TTRA were made. Analyses of these results indicated the following associations: 1. Doubling the inclusion concentration (for example, from 0.1 to 0.2 percent) resulted in a decrease in TTRA of about 12 percentage points. 2. Increasing the transition temperature (decreasing the toughness) by 56°C (100°F) resulted in a decrease in TTRA of about 4 to 12 percentage points and an average of about 7 percentage points. 3. Increasing the yield strength by 68.9 MPa (10 ksi) resulted in a decrease in TTRA of 1 to 8 percentage points and an average of about 4 percentage points.
These findings indicate that inclusions are the principal factors in restricting through-thickness ductility, but that high strength or low toughness may also be appreciably associated with reduced TTRA.
Role of Electrofishing in Assessing Environmental Quality of the Wabash River
Authors: Gammon JR , Spacie A , Hamelink JL , Kaesler RL 
Published: March 2009

The fish community of the middle Wabash River has been studied since 1973 from the standpoint of its capacity for measuring the biological impact of various kinds of point influences, such as thermal, municipal, and industrial effluents. Of particular interest has been the potential value of various community parameters as indicators of environmental quality, since individual species populations tend to vary markedly from year to year.
The primary sampling method consisted of repeated direct-current electrofishing through a series of 0.5-km-long zones located strategically throughout 274 km (170 miles) of river, divided into twelve reaches. The use of cluster analysis and community indexes, including a composite index, has been of value in isolating problem areas prior to the development of lethal environmental conditions and in gaging the degree of environmental benefit resulting from improved waste treatment.
Perimeter Lighting for Security
Authors: Morgan JH 
Published: March 2009

It is generally accepted by security managers in both government and the private sector, that the contributions of perimeter lighting to a physical security system are based on a triad consisting of: (a) psychological deterrence, (b) detection and identification, and (c) incapacitation. In theory it is difficult to question the validity of this concept. In practice, however, this triad is supported by a rather weak analytical and experimental base. The deterrent effects of lighting are inferred from limited, and often uncontrolled, studies of urban crime patterns together with a plethora of subjective opinion. A variety of innovative experimental approaches have been applied to the problem of detection and identification but verification in the field is lacking. The incapacitating effects of lighting rests on a relatively firm experimental foundation but the various techniques are on the one hand subject to countermeasures, and on the other nondiscriminating, affecting both intruder and security force equally.
This investigation identifies what are, in the author's view, experimental shortfalls in the area of security lighting effectiveness and summarizes U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command's plan to fill these experimental voids by a systematic series of testing.
Benefits of Overload for Fatigue Cracking at a Notch
Authors: Underwood JH , Kapp JA 
Published: March 2009

Tests are described which measure the effect of compression overload on fatigue crack initiation and growth from a 0.1-mm-radius notch in alloy steel KIc specimens.
Other tests are described which measure the effect of tension overload on fatigue crack initiation and growth from a 3.4-mm-root-radius notch in similar specimens.
The effect of overload on the number of cycles required for crack growth is described for both types of tests in relation to a residual stress model.
A Model for Representing and Predicting the Influence of Hold Time on Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior at Elevated Temperature
Authors: Saxena A , Williams RS , Shih TT 
Published: March 2009

An analytical model is developed to represent and predict the influence of hold time on fatigue crack growth behavior at elevated temperature where creep deformation is significant. This model was formulated by considering the relaxation of stress in the crack-tip region due to creep deformation and its influence on the crack-growth behavior during the hold time.
Fatigue crack growth rate data at various hold times were obtained for ASTM A470 Class 8 (chromium-molybdenum-vanadium) steel at 538°C (1000°F) to evaluate the model. Based on these results and the data taken from the literature on Inconel alloy 718, it was concluded that the proposed model is capable of accurately representing and predicting the effect of hold time on the fatigue crack growth behavior at elevated temperature. This model represents a significant improvement over the linear damage summation model used previously. Some limitations of the model are also discussed.