bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Native and microwaved bean and pea starch preparations: physiological effects on the intestinal ecosystem, caecal tissue and serum lipids in rats
Authors: Krupa-Kozak Urszula , Juśkiewicz Jerzy , Wronkowska Małgorzata , Soral-Śmietana Maria , Zduńczyk Zenon 
Published: December 2009

Dietary beans and peas provide fibre, resistant starch and other nutrients that are often lacking in the human diet. The influence of native starches of beans and peas (and microwaved preparations) on N utilisation, biochemical indices in blood serum and caecal ecosystem state (SCFA, bacterial enzymes, micro-organisms) was studiedin vivo. The native pea starch contained more resistant starch compared with its bean counterpart (31v.17 %); however, processing decreased these amounts to 25v.10 %. N digestibility was found to decrease considerably in all experimental groups. A considerable reduction was observed in glucose and total cholesterol concentration in rat blood serum as a result of feeding both dietary legume starch preparations under microwave treatment. This indicates that starch of bean origin activated glycolytic bacterial enzymes; however, all the analysed starches were found to reduce the activity of β-glucuronidase. In addition, both dietary bean starches significantly induced the formation of SCFA in the caecal digesta. As compared with the control group, a significant decrease in the pH of caecal and colonic digesta was demonstrated for both bean starch preparations. In comparison with the diet with native pea starch, its microwaved preparation reduced the concentrations of acetic, butyric and propionic acids among caecal SCFA and increased the pH of caecal and colonic digesta. The atherogenic index was significantly lower in rats fed microwaved pea starch. All investigated starch preparations increased the population ofBifidobacteriumspp. in caecal digesta, but were also good substrates for opportunisticEnterococcusorEscherichia coli.
Acetate and succinate production in amoebae, helminths, diplomonads, trichomonads and trypanosomatids: common and diverse metabolic strategies used by parasitic lower eukaryotes
Authors: BRINGAUD F. , EBIKEME C. , BOSHART M. 
Published: December 2009

SUMMARYParasites that often grow anaerobically in their hosts have adopted a fermentative strategy relying on the production of partially oxidized end products, including lactate, glycerol, ethanol, succinate and acetate. This review focuses on recent progress in understanding acetate production in protist parasites, such as amoebae, diplomonads, trichomonads, trypanosomatids and in the metazoan parasites helminths, as well as the succinate production pathway(s) present in some of them. We also describe the unconventional organisation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle associated with the fermentative strategy adopted by the procyclic trypanosomes, which may resemble the probable structure of the primordial TCA cycle in prokaryotes.
Collective stopping power in laser driven fusion plasmas for block ignition
Authors: Malekynia B. , Hora H. , Azizi N. , Kouhi M. , Ghoranneviss M. , Miley G.H. , He X.T. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractIn contrast to the usual laser fusion scheme with spherical irradiation and very high compression and ignition of fuel, the alternative scheme with side-on ignition of uncompressed solid density of fuel (Chu) may lead to a solution by using the now available picosecond laser pulses with higher than petawatt power. A necessary condition is to use clean laser pulses with better than 108contrast ratio for suppression of relativistic self-focusing. When updating the analysis of Chu for fusion of deuterium-tritium and proton-11B, one problem is that the correct use of the stopping power of the alpha particles had to be solved. Discrepancies are evaluated in view of the stopping power at the low temperature range of the plasmas where the change of the emitted bremsstrahlung is involved.
Propagation of laser generated plasmas through inert gases
Authors: Neri F. , Ossi P.M. , Trusso S. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractA fast photo imaging technique has been used to characterize the expansion dynamics of a laser generated silver plasma propagating through background inert gases (He and Ar) at different pressures. The time evolution of the expanding plasma was investigated in the framework of currently available phenomenological models. Mixed-propagation model gives an accurate description of the initial and late plasma expansion stages in Ar when proper input parameters are taken into account. In He, only the initial quasi-linear expansion and shock wave formation were observed along the space available to plasma motion.
Practical tools and methods for health technology assessment in Europe: Structures, methodologies, and tools developed by the European network for Health Technology Assessment, EUnetHTA
Authors: Kristensen Finn Børlum , Lampe Kristian , Chase Deborah L. , Lee-Robin Sun Hae , Wild Claudia , Moharra Montse , Garrido Marcial Velasco , Nielsen Camilla Palmhøj , Røttingen John-Arne , Neikter Susanna Allgurin , Bistrup Marie Louise 
Published: December 2009

Objectives: This article presents an overview of the practical methods and tools to support transnational Health Technology Assessment (HTA) that were developed and pilot tested by the European network for HTA (EUnetHTA), which involved a total of sixty-four Partner organizations.Methods: The methods differ according to scope and purpose of each of the tools developed. They included, for example, literature reviews, surveys, Delphi and consensus methods, workshops, pilot tests, and internal/public consultation.Results: Practical results include an HTA Core Model and a Handbook on the use of the model, two pilot examples of HTA core information, an HTA Adaptation Toolkit for taking existing reports into new settings, a book about HTA and health policy making in Europe, a newsletter providing structured information about emerging/new technologies, an interactive Web-based tool to share information about monitoring activities for emerging/new technologies, and a Handbook on HTA capacity building for Member States with limited institutionalization of HTA.Conclusions: The tools provide high-quality information and methodological frameworks for HTA that facilitate preparation of HTA documentation, and sharing of information in and across national or regional systems. The tools will be used and further tested by partners in the EUnetHTA Collaboration aiming to (i) help reduce unnecessary duplication of HTA activities, (ii) develop and promote good practice in HTA methods and processes, (iii) share what can be shared, (iv) facilitate local adaptation of HTA information, (v) improve the links between health policy and HTA.
The HTA Core Model: A novel method for producing and reporting health technology assessments
Authors: Lampe Kristian , Mäkelä Marjukka , Garrido Marcial Velasco , Anttila Heidi , Autti-Rämö Ilona , Hicks Nicholas J. , Hofmann Björn , Koivisto Juha , Kunz Regina , Kärki Pia , Malmivaara Antti , Meiesaar Kersti , Reiman-Möttönen Päivi , Norderhaug Inger , Pasternack Iris , Ruano-Ravina Alberto , Räsänen Pirjo , Saalasti-Koskinen Ulla , Saarni Samuli I. , Walin Laura , Kristensen Finn Børlum 
Published: December 2009

Objectives:The aim of this study was to develop and test a generic framework to enable international collaboration for producing and sharing results of health technology assessments (HTAs).Methods:Ten international teams constructed theHTA Core Model, dividing information contained in a comprehensive HTA into standardized pieces, theassessment elements. Each element contains a generic issue that is translated into practical research questions while performing an assessment. Elements were described in detail inelement cards. Two pilot assessments, designated asCore HTAswere also produced. The Model and Core HTAs were both validated. Guidance on the use of the HTA Core Model was compiled into aHandbook.Results: The HTA Core Model considers health technologies through nine domains. Two applications of the Model were developed, one for medical and surgical interventions and another for diagnostic technologies. Two Core HTAs were produced in parallel with developing the model, providing the first real-life testing of the Model and input for further development. The results of formal validation and public feedback were primarily positive. Development needs were also identified and considered. An online Handbook is available.Conclusions:The HTA Core Model is a novel approach to HTA. It enables effective international production and sharing of HTA results in a structured format. The face validity of the Model was confirmed during the project, but further testing and refining are needed to ensure optimal usefulness and user-friendliness. Core HTAs are intended to serve as a basis for local HTA reports. Core HTAs do not contain recommendations on technology use.
A mathematical model of the indirect effects of rotavirus vaccination
Authors: VAN EFFELTERRE T. , SORIANO-GABARRÓ M. , DEBRUS S. , CLAIRE NEWBERN E. , GRAY J. 
Published: December 2009

SUMMARYRotavirus (RV) infections progressively confer natural immunity against subsequent infection. Similarly to natural infection, vaccination with a live attenuated vaccine potentially reduces RV transmission and induces herd protection. A mathematical transmission model was developed to project the impact of a vaccination programme on the incidence of RV infection and disease for five countries in the European Union. With vaccination coverage rates of 70%, 90% and 95% the model predicted that, in addition to the direct effect of vaccination, herd protection induced a reduction in RV-related gastroenteritis (GE) incidence of 25%, 22% and 20%, respectively, for RV-GE of any severity, and of 19%, 15%, and 13%, respectively, for moderate-to-severe RV-GE, 5 years after implementation of a vaccination programme.
N-terminal chimaeras with signal sequences enhance the functional expression and alter the subcellular localization of heterologous membrane-bound inorganic pyrophosphatases in yeast
Authors: Drake Rocío , Serrano Aurelio , Pérez-Castiñeira José R. 
Published: December 2009

Expression of heterologous multispanning membrane proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a difficult task. Quite often, the use of multicopy plasmids where the foreign gene is under the control of a strong promoter does not guarantee efficient production of the corresponding protein. In the present study, we show that the expression level and/or subcellular localization in S. cerevisiae of a heterologous type of multispanning membrane protein, the proton-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase (H+-PPase), can be changed by fusing it with various suitable N-terminal signal sequences. Chimaeric proteins were constructed by adding the putative N-terminal extra domain of Trypanosoma cruzi H+-PPase or the bona fide signal sequence of S. cerevisiae invertase Suc2p to H+-PPase polypeptides of different organisms (from bacteria to plants) and expressed in a yeast conditional mutant deficient in its cytosolic PPi hydrolysis activity when grown on glucose. Chimaeric constructs not only substantially enhanced H+-PPase expression levels in transformed mutant cells, but also allowed functional complementation in those cases in which native H+-PPase failed to accomplish it. Activity assays and Western blot analyses demonstrated further the occurrence of most H+-PPase in internal membrane fractions of these cells. The addition of N-terminal signal sequences to the vacuolar H+-PPase AVP1 from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, a protein efficiently expressed in yeast in its natural form, alters the subcellular distribution of the chimaeras, suggesting further progression along the secretory sorting pathways, as shown by density gradient ultracentrifugation and in vivo fluorescence microscopy of the corresponding GFP (green fluorescent protein)–H+-PPase fusion proteins.
Bivariate Genetic Analyses of Stuttering and Nonfluency in a Large Sample of 5-Year-Old Twins
Authors: van Beijsterveldt Catharina Eugenie Maria , Felsenfeld Susan , Boomsma Dorret Irene 
Published: December 2009

Purpose
Behavioral genetic studies of speech fluency have focused on participants who present with clinical stuttering. Knowledge about genetic influences on the development and regulation of normal speech fluency is limited. The primary aims of this study were to identify the heritability of stuttering and high nonfluency and to assess the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the correlation between these 2 fluency phenotypes.

Method
Information on 6 specific speech fluency behaviors was obtained by maternal report for over 10,500 5-year-old Dutch twin pairs.

Results
Genetic analyses revealed that both fluency phenotypes were moderately heritable, with heritability estimates of 42% and 45% for probable stuttering and high nonfluency, respectively. Shared environmental factors were also significant, explaining 44% of the individual differences in probable stuttering and 32% in nonfluency. For both phenotypes, the magnitude of the genetic and environmental influences did not differ between boys and girls. The overlap between the 2 traits was substantial (tetrachoric correlation was .72). A bivariate genetic analysis showed that this overlap was due to both overlapping genetic and environmental influences.

Conclusions
These findings provide a foundation to justify further studies in normal fluency control, a scientific area that has received little cross-disciplinary attention.
GonadSAGE: a comprehensive SAGE database for transcript discovery on male embryonic gonad development
Authors: Lee Tin-Lap , Li Yunmin , Cheung Hoi-Hung , Claus Janek , Singh Sumeeta , Sastry Chandan , Rennert Owen M. , Lau Yun-Fai Chris , Chan Wai-Yee 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Summary: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) provides an alternative, with additional advantages, to microarray gene expression studies. GonadSAGE is the first publicly available web-based SAGE database on male gonad development that covers six male mouse embryonic gonad stages, including E10.5, E11.5, E12.5, E13.5, E15.5 and E17.5. The sequence coverage of each SAGE library is beyond 150K, ‘which is the most extensive sequence-based male gonadal transcriptome to date’. An interactive web interface with customizable parameters is provided for analyzing male gonad transcriptome information. Furthermore, the data can be visualized and analyzed with the other genomic features in the UCSC genome browser. It represents an integrated platform that leads to a better understanding of male gonad development, and allows discovery of related novel targets and regulatory pathways.
Availability: GonadSAGE is at http://gonadsage.nichd.nih.gov.
Contact: leetl@mail.nih.gov
Method of predicting reference condition biota affects the performance and interpretation of ecological indices
Authors: HAWKINS CHARLES P. , CAO YONG , ROPER BRETT 
Published: December 2009

Summary1. The statistical rigour and interpretability of ecological assessments is strongly affected by how well we predict the biological assemblages expected to occur in the absence of human‐caused stress, i.e. the reference condition. In this study, we examined how the specific method used to predict the reference condition affected the performance of two commonly used types of ecological index: RIVPACS‐based O/E indices and multimetric indices (MMIs).2. These two types of index have generally relied on different approaches to predicting the reference condition. For MMIs, some type of regionalisation is typically used to describe the range of metric values among reference sites and hence the expected range at assessed sites. For O/E indices, continuous modelling is used to predict how the biota varies among sites both among and within regions. Because the prediction method differs for these two types of index, it has been impossible to judge if differences in index performance (accuracy, precision, responsiveness and sensitivity) are caused by differences in the way reference condition biota are predicted or by differences in what the indices measure.3. We used a common data set of 94 reference sites and 255 managed sites and the same potential set of predictor variables to compare the performance of five different MMIs and three O/E indices that were derived from different prediction methods: null models, multiple linear regression (MLR), classification and regression trees, Random Forests (RF) and linear discriminant functions models (LDM). We then calculated values of these indices for samples collected from the managed catchments as well as samples collected from 13 reference sites that were progressively altered in known ways by a simulation programme.4. Both the type of predictor used and the type of index affected overall index performance. Modelled indices generally had the greatest sensitivity in assessing managed sites as biologically different from reference. Index sensitivity was determined by both an aspect of index precision (10th percentile of reference condition values) and responsiveness. The O/E indices showed the best scope of response to known biological alteration. All three O/E indices decreased linearly in response to simulated alteration in both overall assemblage structure (Bray‐Curtis dissimilarity) and taxa loss. The MMIs declined linearly from low to intermediate levels of assemblage alteration but were less responsive between intermediate and high levels of biological alteration.5. Insights gained from simulations can aid in testing assumptions regarding index response to stress and help ensure that we select indices that are ecologically interpretable and most useful to resource managers.
Vascular endocan (ESM‐1) is markedly overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Leroy Xavier , Aubert Sebastien , Zini Laurent , Franquet Helene , Kervoaze Gwenola , Villers Arnauld , Delehedde Maryse , Copin Marie‐Christine , Lassalle Philippe 
Published: December 2009

Leroy X, Aubert S, Zini L, Franquet H, Kervoaze G, Villers A, Delehedde M, Copin M‐C & Lassalle P  (2010) Histopathology56, 180–187 Vascular endocan (ESM‐1) is markedly overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma Aims:  In kidney cancer, new anti‐angiogenic therapies have emerged requiring parameters of effectiveness. The aim was to analyse the expression of endocan or endothelial cell‐specific molecule‐1, which is a proteoglycan up‐regulated in presence of pro‐angiogenic factors.Method and results:  We investigated 44 renal clear cell carcinomas (RCC) and 25 papillary carcinomas (PC). Circulating endocan was detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in 14 patients with RCC, in eight with PC and in 15 healthy volunteers. Endocan was detected by immunohistochemistry in endothelial cells in almost all the cases of RCC without immunoreactivity in tumour cells. In PC, only 5/25 tumours exhibited weak immunoreactivity. Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction study confirmed that endocan levels were strongly increased in RCC. Endocan was also detected by ELISA at levels from 3‐ to 10‐fold higher in the sera of patients with RCC. In vitro, addition of sunitinib prevented the release of endocan in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells when induced by vascular endothelial growth factor.Conclusions:  Our results showed that endocan is overexpressed in patients with RCC. Endocan could therefore appear as a marker of interest in the follow‐up and may be a potential parameter to monitor the tumour response to anti‐angiogenic therapeutics.
Gene expression in colorectal neoplasia: modifications induced by tissue ischaemic time and tissue handling protocol
Authors: Bray Susan E , Paulin Fiona E M , Fong Siew Chinn , Baker Lee , Carey Frank A , Levison David A , Steele Robert J C , Kernohan Neil M 
Published: December 2009

Bray S E, Paulin F E M, Fong S C, Baker L, Carey F A, Levison D A, Steele R J C & Kernohan N M (2010) Histopathology56, 240–250 Gene expression in colorectal neoplasia: modifications induced by tissue ischaemic time and tissue handling protocol Aims:  The heterogeneity within individual distinct cancer types in terms of behaviour, response to therapy and prognosis is well recognized. A major goal of translational research projects has therefore been to define clinically significant subgroups of individual tumour types by analysis of mRNA as well as protein expression. An essential premise of such investigations is that expression of these key molecules is a true reflection of conditions present within the neoplastic cells in vivo. The aim was to investigate the effect of methods of tissue handling and storage on expression of mRNA.Methods and results:  mRNA expression in 60 biopsy samples obtained from 10 patients with colorectal tumours was examined. The mRNA expression profile and the level of expression of specific mRNA species were significantly affected by the procedures used for collection and storage of tissue samples. Significant variation in the level of expression (both increased and decreased) of transcripts was detectable after 15 min, and by 120 min there was a fourfold increase in the number of genes with a more than twofold change in the level of expression.Conclusions:  Reliable interpretation of results of gene expression at the mRNA level requires standardized protocols for tissue procurement.
A network approach for evaluating and communicating forest change models
Authors: Drescher Michael , Perera Ajith H. 
Published: December 2009

Summary 1. Knowledge of forest change is often formalized in state‐and‐transition models (STMs). These models generate forecasts of forest condition that are widely used for forest management planning. Common techniques for evaluating such models are complex, requiring specialized skills not available to non‐modellers. Consequently, model transparency can be limited, hampering collaborative resource modelling that otherwise may increase the chances of management success. 2. We demonstrate evaluation of STMs through network visualization that produces intuitively accessible results, comparable to results of more commonly applied, complex techniques. To evaluate this approach, we statistically test model similarities with empirical data. As examples, we use STMs of forest change, alternately parameterized with information from experts and literature, and compare them to our empirical reference information. 3. Graph theoretical analyses revealed differences in structure and dynamics between alternate STMs. For example, compared to empirical STMs, expert STMs were less complex while literature STMs were more complex. Overall, expert STMs were less similar to empirical STMs than were literature STMs, suggesting information in the expert STMs may deviate more strongly from empirical reference data. 4. We used several techniques that provided complementary information, which produced a comprehensive view of network similarity. We speculate that differences between expert and empirical STMs result from lower complexity of mental models compared to empirical data. While we illustrated our approach using a simple matrix model, it could be adapted for more complex STMs. Improvements of the proposed approach could involve representation of forest change rates with waiting times depicted by multigraphs. 5.
Synthesis and applications. Common evaluations of forest change STMs involve complex techniques not easily accessible to non‐modellers. Approaching such models as networks makes their evaluation and statistical testing intuitively accessible to many audiences. Benefits of this approach to modellers include improved communication about models with non‐modellers, while benefits to stakeholders and decision makers include enhanced understanding of models. This may aid a collaborative resource modelling process and should improve the chances of successful resource management plan implementation. While we used an example from boreal forests, our approach could be applied to many other vegetation types globally.