bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Specificity of Antimicrobial Peptide LL‐37 to Neutralize Periodontopathogenic Lipopolysaccharide Activity in Human Oral Fibroblasts
Authors: Suphasiriroj Wiroj , Mikami Masato , Shimomura Hiromi , Sato Soh 
Published: March 2012

Background: The antimicrobial peptide LL‐37 is known to have a potent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐neutralizing activity in various cell types. Because of observed heterogeneity within periodontopathogenic LPS, the authors hypothesized that LL‐37 had specificity to neutralize such LPS activity. The present study, therefore, aims to investigate the LPS‐neutralizing activity of LL‐37 to various periodontopathogenic LPS in interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) production after challenging them in human oral fibroblasts.Methods: Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) and gingival fibroblasts (GF) were cultured from biopsies of periodontal ligament and gingival tissues. After cell confluence in 24‐well plates, LPS (10 μg/mL) from Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were added with or without LL‐37 (10 μg/mL). After 18 hours, the supernatant was collected and analyzed in IL‐8 production by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.Results: All periodontopathogenic LPS statistically significantly induced IL‐8 production in both PDLF and GF (P <0.01). After neutralization with LL‐37, both PDLF and GF showed a statistically significant reduction in IL‐8 production compared with LPS‐treated groups without LL‐37 (P <0.01), and the percentage of reduction in IL‐8 production in PDLF appeared to be higher than in GF. In addition, the percentage of reduction in IL‐8 production varied considerably according to each periodontopathogenic LPS.Conclusions: The antimicrobial peptide LL‐37 had an ability to suppress periodontopathogenic LPS‐induced IL‐8 production in both PDLF and GF. Its LPS‐neutralizing activity revealed specificity to periodontopathogenic LPS and seemed to be dependent on the heterogeneity within LPS between different genera.
Potential role of noncommercial swine populations in the epidemiology and control of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
Authors: Wayne Spencer R. , Morrison Robert B. , Odland Carissa A. , Davies Peter R. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Objective—To assess the role of noncommercial pigs in the epidemiology of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus.
Design—Seroepidemiologic study and survey study.
Animals—661 pigs from which blood samples were collected at slaughter and 32 pigs from which blood samples were collected longitudinally.
Procedures—Spatial databases of commercial farms and 4-H participation were evaluated by use of commercial geographic information systems software. Information on disease knowledge and management methods of 4-H participants was obtained by mail survey and personal interview. Serum samples for antibody testing by PRRS ELISA were obtained from pigs at slaughter or at county fairs and on farms.
Results—Participation in 4-H swine programs was geographically associated with commercial swine production in Minnesota, and 39% of 4-H participants reared pigs at locations with commercial pigs. High seroprevalence at fairs (49%; range, 29% to 76%) and seroconversion after fairs indicated that PRRS virus exposure was common in pigs shown by 4-H participants and that transmission could occur at fairs.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The small swine population shown by 4-H members (estimated 12,000 pigs) relative to the population of commercial swine in Minnesota (estimated 6.5 million pigs) suggested the former overall was likely of minor importance to PRRS virus epidemiology at present. However, the relative frailty of knowledge of biosecurity practices, evidence that PRRS virus exposure was frequent, common intentions to show pigs at multiple events, and often close interactions with commercial herds suggested that the 4-H community should be involved in regional efforts to control PRRS.
The Bethesda System thyroid diagnostic categories in the African-American population in conjunction with surgical pathology follow-up
Authors: Archuletta Pamela Anne , Gidwani Raja , Husain Mujtaba , Johnson Teresa , Shidham Vinod , Alzohaili Opada , Bandyopadhyay Sudeshna , Feng Jining , Shi Dongping , Geng Lili , Tranchida Paul , Giorgadze Tamar 
Published: March 2012

Background:
It has been reported that African-Americans (AA) have a higher prevalence of overall malignancy compared to Caucasians, in the United States, yet the incidence of thyroid malignancy is half. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of malignant versus benign thyroid disease in AA from an urban-based hospital with an academic setting. Our study analyzed the AA population with respect to fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid lesions, in correlation with final surgical pathology. This is the first study of its kind to our knowledge.

Design:
We retrospectively reviewed thyroid FNA cytology between January 2005 and February 2011. Consecutive FNA specimens with corresponding follow-up surgical pathology were included. The patients were categorized as African- American (AA) and Non-African-American (NAA), which included Caucasians (C), Hispanics (H), and Others (O). The FNA results were classified using the latest edition of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBS-Thy) and the follow-up surgical pathology was used for the final categorization.

Results:
We studied 258 cases: 144 AA (56%) and 114 NAA [43 C (17%), 3 H (1%), and 68 O (28%)]. The average age for AA was 51 years (range 20 – 88) and for NAA was 53 years (range 25 – 86). There were more females than males in the AA versus the NAA group (85 vs. 75%). The incidence of thyroid lesions in the FNA specimens was similar between these two populations. The distribution of benign versus malignant diagnosis on follow-up surgical pathology was examined across TBS-Thy class.

Conclusion:
Our data suggest that distribution of benign versus malignant lesions in the thyroid FNA of AA versus NAA, with follow-up surgical pathology, is comparable for TBS-Thy classes, non-diagnostic (I), benign (II), suspicious for malignancy (V), and malignant (VI) in AA versus NAA.
A general and efficient cantilever functionalization technique for AFM molecular recognition studies
Authors: Bowers Carleen M. , Carlson David A. , Shestopalov Alexander A. , Clark Robert L. , Toone Eric J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAtomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile technique for the investigation of noncovalent molecular associations between ligand–substrate pairs. Surface modification of silicon nitride AFM cantilevers is most commonly achieved using organic trialkoxysilanes. However, susceptibility of the SiO bond to hydrolysis and formation of polymeric aggregates diminishes attractiveness of this method for AFM studies. Attachment techniques that facilitate immobilization of a wide variety of organic and biological molecules via the stable SiC bond on silicon nitride cantilevers would be of great value to the field of molecular recognition force spectroscopy. Here, we report (1) the formation of stable, highly oriented monolayers on the tip of silicon nitride cantilevers and (2) demonstrate their utility in the investigation of noncovalent protein–ligand interactions using molecular recognition force spectroscopy. The monolayers are formed through hydrosilylation of hydrogen‐terminated silicon nitride AFM probes using a protected α‐amino‐ω‐alkene. This approach facilitates the subsequent conjugation of biomolecules. The resulting biomolecules are bound to the tip by a strong SiC bond, completely uniform with regard to both epitope density and substrate orientation, and highly suitable for force microscopy studies. We show that this attachment technique can be used to measure the unbinding profiles of tip‐immobilized lactose and surface‐immobilized galectin‐3. Overall, the proposed technique is general, operationally simple, and can be expanded to anchor a wide variety of epitopes to a silicon nitride cantilever using a stable SiC bond. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 97: 761–765, 2012.
Microwave‐assisted alkylation of diethyl ethoxycarbonylmethylphosphonate under solventless conditions
Authors: Grün Alajos , Blastik Zsófia , Drahos László , Keglevich György 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe reaction of diethyl ethoxycarbonylmethylphosphonate with a series of alkyl halides, under microwave (MW) and solventless conditions at 120°C, in the presence of Cs2CO3 and in the absence of a phase transfer catalyst afforded the corresponding monoalkylated products in yields of >70%. The thermal variant carried out in boiling acetonitrile was slow and led to incomplete conversions. In the MW method, the phase transfer catalyst is substituted by MW irradiation and there is no need for a solvent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:241–246, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.21009
Comparative risk assessment of carcinogens in alcoholic beverages using the margin of exposure approach
Authors: Lachenmeier Dirk W. , Przybylski Maria C. , Rehm Jürgen 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAlcoholic beverages have been classified as carcinogenic to humans. As alcoholic beverages are multicomponent mixtures containing several carcinogenic compounds, a quantitative approach is necessary to compare the risks. Fifteen known and suspected human carcinogens (acetaldehyde, acrylamide, aflatoxins, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethanol, ethyl carbamate, formaldehyde, furan, lead, 4‐methylimidazole, N‐nitrosodimethylamine, ochratoxin A and safrole) occurring in alcoholic beverages were identified based on monograph reviews by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The margin of exposure (MOE) approach was used for comparative risk assessment. MOE compares a toxicological threshold with the exposure. MOEs above 10,000 are judged as low priority for risk management action. MOEs were calculated for different drinking scenarios (low risk and heavy drinking) and different levels of contamination for four beverage groups (beer, wine, spirits and unrecorded alcohol). The lowest MOEs were found for ethanol (3.1 for low risk and 0.8 for heavy drinking). Inorganic lead and arsenic have average MOEs between 10 and 300, followed by acetaldehyde, cadmium and ethyl carbamate between 1,000 and 10,000. All other compounds had average MOEs above 10,000 independent of beverage type. Ethanol was identified as the most important carcinogen in alcoholic beverages, with clear dose response. Some other compounds (lead, arsenic, ethyl carbamate, acetaldehyde) may pose risks below thresholds normally tolerated for food contaminants, but from a cost‐effectiveness point of view, the focus should be on reducing alcohol consumption in general rather than on mitigative measures for some contaminants that contribute only to a limited extent (if at all) to the total health risk.
Subchronic microcystin‐lr exposure increased hepatic apoptosis and induced compensatory mechanisms in mice
Authors: Lezcano Noelia , Sedán Daniela , Lucotti Ignacio , Giannuzzi Leda , Vittone Leticia , Andrinolo Darío , Mundiña‐Weilenmann Cecilia 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAcute lethal cytotoxicity of microcystin‐LR (MC‐LR), a toxin produced by fresh‐water cyanobacteria, has been attributed to protein phosphatases type 1 and type 2A (PP1/PP2A) inhibition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, the effects and molecular mechanisms of prolonged, sublethal MC‐LR exposure are less known. We studied mice intraperitonealy injected with saline or 25 μg MC‐LR/kg for 28 days (every 2 days). MC‐LR induced apoptosis in liver and not in kidneys or heart of treated animals. Liver also showed decreased α‐tubulin levels (45.56% ± 7.65% of controls) and activation of p38‐MAPK and CaMKII pathways (137.93% ± 11.64% and 419.35% ± 67.83% of the control group, respectively). PP1/PP2A activity decreased from 1.82 ± 0.23 (controls) to 0.91 ± 0.98 mU/mg (MC‐LR–treated mice); however, no difference in total Ser/Thr phosphatase activity was found between both the groups. The results demonstrated that apoptosis and cytoskeleton disruption contributed to the hepatic cytotoxic effects of subchronic MC‐LR administration. These effects occurred in association with sustained activation of signaling cascades and development of compensatory mechanisms to maintain total Ser/Thr phosphatase activity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 26:131–138, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/jbt.20419
Tetramethylguanidinium‐polyallylamine (Tmg‐PA): A new class of nonviral vector for efficient gene transfection
Authors: Mahato Manohar , Rana Gaurav , Kumar Pradeep , Sharma Ashwani Kumar 
Published: March 2012

AbstractHighly toxic polyallylamine (PA) was reacted with a varying amount of a novel linker, 6‐(N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylguanidinium chloride) hexanoic acid (Tmg‐HA), to prepare a series of tetramethylguanidinium‐PA (Tmg‐PA) polymers, which were used as vectors for gene transfection. The extent of attachment of the linker, Tmg‐HA, to the PA backbone was determined by 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid assay. The modified polymers (Tmg‐PAs), when complexed with pDNA, exhibited good condensation ability. The nanoparticles, so formed, were characterized by their size and zeta potential and were subsequently evaluated for their toxicity and transfection ability on various mammalian cells, viz., HeLa, CHO, and HEK 293 cells. Mobility shift assay revealed that on increasing the percent substitution of Tmg‐HA onto PA (from Tmg‐PA1 to Tmg‐PA6), relatively higher amounts of modified polymers were required to retard the mobility of a fixed amount of DNA. Besides, Tmg‐PA polymers provided sufficient protection (ca. 84–88%) to bound DNA against nucleases and one of the formulations, Tmg‐PA2 (ca. 15% substitution) displayed the highest transfection efficiency outcompeting the commercial transfection reagent, Lipofectamine™ with minimal cytotoxicity. More impressively, the transfection efficiency increased despite recording a decrease in the buffering capacity of the grafted polymers suggesting that buffering capacity is not the sole parameter in determining the gene delivery efficiency of a vector system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Vacancy spatial distribution causes different magnetism in graphene
Authors: Antonov Vladislav , Borisova Dobrina , Proykova Ana 
Published: March 2012

AbstractRecent reliable experiments have reported magnetism in defective graphene while the perfect one is nonmagnetic. In this work, we study the role of the vacancy concentration and spatial distribution on the orientation and magnitude of the magnetic moments induced by the defects with the help of the Quantum Espresso code, which is a plane‐wave implementation of the density functional theory. In the case of more than one vacancy per supercell, interaction between the total magnetic moments at each defective site occurs. The interaction is ferromagnetic for vacancies in the same sublattices and it is antiferromagnetic for the case of different sublattices. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dietary intakes and anthropometric indices of 337 adults from Cyprus
Authors: Andreou Eleni , Philippou Christiana , Papandreou Dimitrios 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThere is increasing evidence that diets high in energy, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol and low in fiber and antioxidants may lead to cardiovascular disease, hypertension and cancer. The purpose of this paper is to investigate, for the first time, the anthropometric measurements and dietary intakes of a randomly selected and representative sample of men and women from Cyprus and compare them with the recent recommended dietary guidelines for adults.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 337 individuals was selected using the method of stratified random sampling, with proportional percentage of women (51.5 per cent) and men (48.5 per cent). Anthropometric and dietary characteristics were recorded for all subjects.FindingsMales were found to have significantly (p<0.001) higher levels of weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, basal metabolic rate, as well as lean body mass and lower body fat levels, compared to females. Both genders were found to have significantly lower intakes of vitamin A, B6, calcium and magnesium and significantly higher amounts of vitamin C, B1, B2, and iron (p<0.001) compared to DRIs, respectively. In linear regression analysis, after adjustment for age and gender, BMI was found to be positively related to age, waist circumference, energy and saturated fatty acids (p<0.001) but inversely related to fiber (p<0.001).Originality/valueThe paper gives information to nutritionists and clinical dieticians, including new data about dietary intakes and anthropometric measurements of Cypriot adults.
Design and optimization of microstructure of auxetic materials
Authors: Javadi Akbar A. , Faramarzi Asaad , Farmani Raziyeh 
Published: March 2012

PurposeAuxetic materials differ from conventional materials by the manner in which they respond to stretching; they tend to get fatter when stretched, resulting in a negative Poisson's ratio. The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical methodology for design of microstructure of 2D and 3D auxetic materials with a wide range of different negative Poisson's ratios.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed methodology is based on a combination of finite element method and a genetic algorithm. The problem is formulated as an optimization problem of finding microstructures with prescribed behavioral requirements. Different microstructures are generated and evolved using the genetic algorithm and the behavior of each microstructure is analyzed using the finite element method to evaluate its fitness in competition with other generated structures.FindingsNumerical examples show that it is possible to design a large number of new auxetic materials, each with a different value of negative Poisson's ratio.Originality/valueThe proposed methodology can be used as an effective method to tailor new materials with prescribed values of negative (or positive) Poisson's ratio. The methodology can also be used to optimize other material properties.
On the design and implementation of parallel finite element approximate inverses using POSIX threads on multicore systems
Authors: Gravvanis G.A. , Matskanidis P.I. , Giannoutakis K.M. , Lipitakis E.A. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose novel parallel computational techniques for the parallelization of explicit finite element generalized approximate inverse methods, based on Portable Operating System Interface for UniX (POSIX) threads, for multicore systems.Design/methodology/approachThe authors' main motive for the derivation of the new Parallel Generalized Approximate Inverse Finite Element Matrix algorithmic techniques is that they can be efficiently used in conjunction with explicit preconditioned conjugate gradient‐type schemes on multicore systems. The proposed parallelization technique of the Optimized Banded Generalized Approximate Inverse Finite Element Matrix (OBGAIFEM) algorithm is achieved based on the concept of the “fish bone” approach with the use of a thread pool pattern. Theoretical estimates on the computational complexity of the parallel generalized approximate inverse finite element matrix algorithmic techniques are also derived.FindingsApplication of the proposed method on a two‐dimensional boundary value problem is discussed and numerical results are given on a multicore system using POSIX threads. These results tend to become optimum and are favorably compared to corresponding results from multiprocessor systems, as presented in recent work by Gravvanis et al.Originality/valueThe proposed parallel explicit finite element generalized approximate inverse preconditioning, using approximate factorization and approximate inverse algorithms, is an efficient computational method that is valuable for computer scientists and for scientists and engineers in engineering computations.
European Social Fund in Portugal: a complex question for human resource development
Authors: Tomé Eduardo 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis article aims to review the application of the funds awarded by the European Social Fund (ESF) to Portugal, since 1986, from a human resource development (HRD) perspective.Design/methodology/approachSeveral variables are analyzed: investment, absorption, people, impact of investment, evolution of skills, main programs, supply and demand for training and the role of the state.FindingsThe main conclusion of the paper is that, even if the ESF was extremely important in quantitative terms in Portugal, its qualitative implications were modest.Research limitations/implicationsThe Portuguese ESF case should be compared with other national cases in the European Union and elsewhere. The ESF patterns should be compared with other cases of international support made by multinationals, non‐governmental organizations or bodies like the World Bank or the United Nations.Practical implicationsEuropean monetary stability and integration has to be based on social stability and integration. The ESF consequences in the “national” HRD markets may be far‐reaching, effectively defining the main elements of the HRD market. Great attention should be paid to positive impacts while defining the priorities of the ESF intervention.Social implicationsThe ESF was responsible for the funding of a very considerable part of the Portuguese training market. Precisely because of that huge importance, quality is a very important issue.Originality/valueThe article is an attempt to analyze and evaluate 20 years of intervention in the HRD field with an international dimension in a relatively poor and struggling country in European terms.
A eulogy for a “bright future”
Authors: L'Huillier Barbara 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis poem aims to present a reflection on the bigger picture of how powerless people are in reality to safeguard their own futures.Design/methodology/approachIt is a fictional poem.FindingsThe poet considers how outside forces devalue the traditional approaches people have taken towards trying to insulate themselves from life's storms.Originality/valueThis is a unique attempt to look at how people are given a false sense of security regarding the methods people should adopt to safeguard themselves and their families against financial ruin.
Museoparks and re‐enchantment of the museum visits: an approach centred on visual ethnology
Authors: Mencarelli Rémi , Pulh Mathilde 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the structural dimensions of a new museal offer, museoparks, which use edutainment and more generally re‐enchantment strategies.Design/methodology/approachTo bring out the symbolic dimensions specific to these cultural sites, the methodology used is based on the analysis of photographic media.FindingsThe analysis reveals four main symbolic dimensions structuring these hybrid cultural offers: spectacularization, immersive character, ritualized character, and very intense merchandizing of the experience.Research limitations/implicationsThis analysis allows us to update a hybrid, complex and re‐sized form of cultural experience that goes beyond the classic combination identified in the analysis of edutainment strategies (educational and fun dimensions).Practical implicationsFrom a managerial action perspective, this research provides keys to understanding the strategies proposed by the hybrid offers of museoparks; strategies that might inspire many museum managers eager to imitate them.Originality/valueThis research provides keys for understanding the logic underlying the structuring of the experience offered by cultural institutions.