bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative Evaluation of Vegetable Oils‐Impregnated Layers as Reversed‐Phases for Thin‐layer Chromatography
Authors: Briciu Rodica Domnica , Sârbu Costel 
Published: May 2010

AbstractSilica gel plates impregnated with a variety of oils including vegetable oils (olive, sunflower and corn oil) and synthetic oils (trioctylamine and paraffin oil) were evaluated and compared with the commercially available reversed‐phases TLC plates (RP‐18, RP‐18W, and CN). A series of selected lipophilic vitamins was employed to evaluate the suitability of oils as reversed‐phases for TLC and to provide different lipophilicity indices: RM0, scores corresponding to the first principal component of RF and/or RM, the arithmetic mean of RF and RM values obtained with solvent mixture containing various concentrations of methanol in water. The retention results were excellent (r > 0.98) and allowed accurate estimation of lipophilicity of selected vitamins and to ranking the lipophilicity of oils when comparing with chemically bonded phases. Concerning the lipophilicity scale of vegetable oils, it is worth noting that corn oil presents the highest lipophilicity, closely followed by the olive and sunflower oils.
Singular solution to Special Lagrangian Equations
Authors: Nadirashvili Nikolai , Vlăduţ Serge 
Published: May 2010

We prove the existence of non-smooth solutions to three-dimensional Special Lagrangian Equations in the non-convex case.

Résumé
Nous démontrons l'existence de solutions singulières d'équations speciales lagrangiennes en dimension trois, dans le cas non convexe.
Methicillin‐ResistantStaphylococcus aureus: An Update
Authors: Durai Rajaraman , Ng Philip C.H. , Hoque Happy 
Published: May 2010

AbstractMethicillin‐resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a serious threat to patients in health care facilities and the community. A MRSA infection can be much more severe than other bacterial infections and can be life‐threatening. Resistance to common antibiotics makes treating MRSA costly and difficult. Prolonged hospitalization requiring specialized IV antibiotics also has cost implications. Treatment of MRSA can include use of antibiotics; topical therapies such as honey, topical silver, and gentian violet; and bacteriophages. Research is being conducted on new antibiotics and a MRSA vaccine.
Clinical Issues—May 2010
Authors: Mitchell Sheila 
Published: May 2010

This MonthKeeping blood‐soaked sponges on the sterile fieldKey words: blood‐soaked sponges; bloodborne pathogens; counting sponges.Staff members wearing casts in restricted and semirestricted zonesKey words: casts in perioperative areas; splints in perioperative areas; infection prevention measures; bloodborne pathogens; reassignment to administrative duties.Washer decontaminator/disinfector cleaning validationKey words: mechanical disinfectors; washer/disinfectors; mechanical instrument washers; washer decontaminators; mechanical cleaning; instrument processing.
Environment and the serotonergic system
Authors: Oreland L. , Nordquist N. , Hallman J. , Harro J. , Nilsson K.W. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn summary, genetics, as well as foetal and early life environmental factors shape the size or capacity of our monoamine systems, of which the serotonergic one might play a leading role. Those constitutional properties then form the biological basis for personality traits, such as impulsiveness and “sensation seeking”, which interact with psychosocial settings and life events to form a pattern of reactivity to a current life event or psychosocial situation, shown as a high or low order of magnitude of gene-environment interaction. In the present paper emphasis is put on the role of genotypes of the serotonin transporter, of monoamine oxidases A and B, and of platelet monoamine oxidase B activity, which all have been shown to be of importance for behaviour and with obvious effects of interactions with environment. Under unfortunate circumstances constitutional properties might be strong enough to result in vulnerability for suicide, even with a modest influence of environment.
Comparative profiling of microRNA expression between neural stem cells and motor neurons in embryonic spinal cord in rat
Authors: Wei Hongen , Wang Chunfang , Zhang Chuansen , Li Pengfei , Wang Fei , Zhang Zhiying 
Published: May 2010

AbstractNeural stem cells’ transplantation has been proposed as a future therapy for spinal cord injury. The challenge is how to make proportionally more neural stem cells differentiate into spinal motor neurons. Recent reports reveal that microRNAs play an important role in regulating stem cell self‐renewal and differentiation. The aim of this study was to compare the profiling of microRNA expression between neural stem cells and motor neurons and to find candidate targets that direct differentiation of neural stem cells into motor neurons. We performed a parallel isolation and puriﬁcation of motor neurons and neural stem cells from the same rat embryonic spinal cord sample. With the high‐throughput TaqMan low‐density array platform, 44 differentially expressed microRNAs were identified (22 specially expressed microRNAs in motor neurons and neural stem cells, respectively). Using bioinformatic methods, clustering, transcriptional regulation and target genes of differential microRNAs were analyzed. Furthermore, miR‐126 specially expressed in cultured motor neurons identified by TaqMan low‐density array was significantly elevated in choline acetyltransferase‐positive neurons differentiated from the neural stem cells. These findings suggest that specially expressed microRNAs may contribute to the directed differentiation of neural stem cells into motor neurons and are potential targets for therapeutic interventions following spinal cord injury.
Whole-Cell Protein Identification Using the Concept of Unique Peptides
Authors: Zhao Yupeng , Lin Yen-Han 
Published: May 2010

Abstract
A concept of unique peptides (CUP) was proposed and implemented to identify whole-cell proteins from tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) ion spectra. A unique peptide is defined as a peptide, irrespective of its length, that exists only in one protein of a proteome of interest, despite the fact that this peptide may appear more than once in the same protein. Integrating CUP, a two-step whole-cell protein identification strategy was developed to further increase the confidence of identified proteins. A dataset containing 40,243 MS/MS ion spectra of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and protein identification tools including Mascot and SEQUEST were used to illustrate the proposed concept and strategy. Without implementing CUP, the proteins identified by SEQUEST are 2.26 fold of those identified by Mascot. When CUP was applied, the proteins bearing unique peptides identified by SEQUEST are 3.89 fold of those identified by Mascot. By cross-comparing two sets of identified proteins, only 89 common proteins derived from CUP were found. The key discrepancy between identified proteins was resulted from the filtering criteria employed by each protein identification tool. According to the origin of peptides classified by CUP and the commonality of proteins recognized by protein identification tools, all identified proteins were cross-compared, resulting in four groups of proteins possessing different levels of assigned confidence.
Parasite hybridization in AfricanMacrogyrodactylusspp. (Monogenea, Platyhelminthes) signals historical host distribution
Authors: BARSON MAXWELL , PŘIKRYLOVÁ IVA , VANHOVE MAARTEN P. M. , HUYSE TINE 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYMacrogyrodactylusspp. from the gills ofClarias gariepinusin Zimbabwe and Kenya, andC. anguillarisin Senegal were identified using haptoral sclerite morphology and by sequencing the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2, partial 18S and the complete 5·8S rRNA gene. A molecular phylogeny was constructed using all sequencedMacrogyrodactylusspecies to date. Based on morphology,Macrogyrodactylus congolensis, M. heterobranchii, M. clarii, andM. karibaewere identified, with one specimen from Zimbabwe displaying morphological features that were intermediate betweenM. heterobranchiiandM. clarii. In the intermediate form, the partial 18S and ITS1 sequence was identical to that ofM. clariiwhile the remaining ITS1 and complete ITS2 region was almost identical toM. heterobranchiias was the partialcox1 fragment, thus strongly suggesting a hybrid origin. At present, the catfish host ofM. heterobranchiiandM. clariido not co-occur in southern Zimbabwe; this hybridization event is therefore proof of historical sympatry of both fish species.
Graph methods for the investigation of metabolic networks in parasitology
Authors: COTTRET LUDOVIC , JOURDAN FABIEN 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYRecently, a way was opened with the development of many mathematical methods to model and analyze genome-scale metabolic networks. Among them, methods based on graph models enable to us quickly perform large-scale analyses on large metabolic networks. However, it could be difficult for parasitologists to select the graph model and methods adapted to their biological questions. In this review, after briefly addressing the problem of the metabolic network reconstruction, we propose an overview of the graph-based approaches used in whole metabolic network analyses. Applications highlight the usefulness of this kind of approach in the field of parasitology, especially by suggesting metabolic targets for new drugs. Their development still represents a major challenge to fight against the numerous diseases caused by parasites.
The silicon trypanosome
Authors: BAKKER BARBARA M. , KRAUTH-SIEGEL R. LUISE , CLAYTON CHRISTINE , MATTHEWS KEITH , GIROLAMI MARK , WESTERHOFF HANS V. , MICHELS PAUL A. M. , BREITLING RAINER , BARRETT MICHAEL P. 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYAfrican trypanosomes have emerged as promising unicellular model organisms for the next generation of systems biology. They offer unique advantages, due to their relative simplicity, the availability of all standard genomics techniques and a long history of quantitative research. Reproducible cultivation methods exist for morphologically and physiologically distinct life-cycle stages. The genome has been sequenced, and microarrays, RNA-interference and high-accuracy metabolomics are available. Furthermore, the availability of extensive kinetic data on all glycolytic enzymes has led to the early development of a complete, experiment-based dynamic model of an important biochemical pathway. Here we describe the achievements of trypanosome systems biology so far and outline the necessary steps towards the ambitious aim of creating a ‘Silicon Trypanosome’, a comprehensive, experiment-based, multi-scale mathematical model of trypanosome physiology. We expect that, in the long run, the quantitative modelling enabled by the Silicon Trypanosome will play a key role in selecting the most suitable targets for developing new anti-parasite drugs.
The relationship of social function to depressive and negative symptoms in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis
Authors: Corcoran C. M. , Kimhy D. , Parrilla-Escobar M. A. , Cressman V. L. , Stanford A. D. , Thompson J. , David S. Ben , Crumbley A. , Schobel S. , Moore H. , Malaspina D. 
Published: May 2010

BackgroundSocial dysfunction is a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia which commonly precedes the onset of psychosis. It is unclear if social symptoms in clinical high-risk patients reflect depressive symptoms or are a manifestation of negative symptoms.MethodWe compared social function scores on the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report between 56 young people (aged 13–27 years) at clinical high risk for psychosis and 22 healthy controls. The cases were also assessed for depressive and ‘prodromal’ symptoms (subthreshold positive, negative, disorganized and general symptoms).ResultsPoor social function was related to both depressive and negative symptoms, as well as to disorganized and general symptoms. The symptoms were highly intercorrelated but linear regression analysis demonstrated that poor social function was primarily explained by negative symptoms within this cohort, particularly in ethnic minority patients.ConclusionsAlthough this study demonstrated a relationship between social dysfunction and depressive symptoms in clinical high-risk cases, this association was primarily explained by the relationship of each of these to negative symptoms. In individuals at heightened risk for psychosis, affective changes may be related to a progressive decrease in social interaction and loss of reinforcement of social behaviors. These findings have relevance for potential treatment strategies for social dysfunction in schizophrenia and its risk states and predict that antidepressant drugs, cognitive behavioral therapy and/or social skills training may be effective.
Myostatin gene knockdown through lentiviral-mediated delivery of shRNA for in vitro production of transgenic bovine embryos
Authors: Milazzotto Marcella Pecora , Goissis Marcelo Demarchi , Feitosa Weber Beringui , Martins Leydson Ferreira , Strauss Bryan Eric , Bajgelman Marcio Chaim , Assumpção Mayra Elena Ortiz D'Ávila , Visintin Jose Antonio 
Published: May 2010

SummaryMyostatin is described as a negative regulator of the skeletal muscle growth. Genetic engineering, in order to produce animals with double the muscle mass and that can transmit the characteristic to future progeny, may be useful. In this context, the present study aimed to analyse the feasibility of lentiviral-mediated delivery of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting of myostatin into in vitro produced transgenic bovine embryos. Lentiviral vectors were used to deliver a transgene that expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) and an shRNA that targeted myostatin. Vector efficiency was verified through in vitro murine myoblast (C2C12) cell morphology after inductive differentiation and by means of real-time PCR. The lentiviral vector was microinjected into the perivitellinic space of in vitro matured oocytes. Non-microinjected oocytes were used as the control. After injection, oocytes were fertilized and cultured in vitro. Blastocysts were evaluated by epifluorescence microscopy. Results demonstrated that the vector was able to inhibit myostatin mRNA in C2C12 cells, as the transducted group had a less amount of myostatin mRNA after 72 h of differentiation (p < 0.05) and had less myotube formation than the non-transduced group (p < 0.05). There was no difference in cleavage and blastocyst rates between the microinjected and control groups. After hatching, 3.07% of the embryos exhibited GFP expression, indicating that they expressed shRNA targeting myostatin. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a lentiviral vector effectively performed shRNA myostatin gene knockdown and gene delivery into in vitro produced bovine embryos. Thus, this technique can be considered a novel option for the production of transgenic embryos and double muscle mass animals.
Social capital and human development: an empirical investigation across European countries
Authors: CHRISTOFOROU ASIMINA 
Published: May 2010

Abstract:In this paper, we offer an empirical investigation of the relationship between social capital and human development across European countries for the post-war period. We argue that social organizations contribute directly to broader welfare aspects of development as part of the third sector of the economy, which undertakes the provision of public goods, such as health and education, in synergy with state institutions. This is counter to views that associate social organizations with anti-growth rent-seeking and lobbying activities. We begin with a multivariate regression analysis, which reveals that membership in social organizations is positively associated with human development, along with state institutions of public expenditure and the quality of governance. We then conduct a case study analysis to explore further the historical and cultural contextual factors of European welfare systems that determine the capacity of third sector organizations to enhance generalized co-operation, synergistic relations and social welfare against particularist interests.
The Impact of Preferential Trade Arrangements on EU Imports from Developing Countries: The Case of Fresh Cut Flowers
Authors: Muhammad Andrew , Amponsah William A. , Dennis Jennifer H. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThis study examines the effects that the Generalized System of Preferences schemes for developing countries (GSP + ) have on European Union (EU) demand for imported cut flowers. Without GSP + , a tariff would be applied to flowers from Colombia and Ecuador. Results show that Colombian carnation prices have a negative effect on EU flower expenditures, resulting in preferential treatment for Colombia being mostly trade‐creating. When a tariff is applied to Colombia, imports of Colombian carnations and Kenyan roses fell by 7.3% and 1.9%, respectively, and other flowers from Ecuador and Israel fell by 1.9% and 1.8%, respectively. Total EU flower imports fell by 1.4%.
Learning combinatorial transcriptional dynamics from gene expression data
Authors: Opper Manfred , Sanguinetti Guido 
Published: May 2010

Abstract
Motivation: mRNA transcriptional dynamics is governed by a complex network of transcription factor (TF) proteins. Experimental and theoretical analysis of this process is hindered by the fact that measurements of TF activity in vivo is very challenging. Current models that jointly infer TF activities and model parameters rely on either of the two main simplifying assumptions: either the dynamics is simplified (e.g. assuming quasi-steady state) or the interactions between TFs are ignored, resulting in models accounting for a single TF.
Results: We present a novel approach to reverse engineer the dynamics of multiple TFs jointly regulating the expression of a set of genes. The model relies on a continuous time, differential equation description of transcriptional dynamics where TFs are treated as latent on/off variables and are modelled using a switching stochastic process (telegraph process). The model can not only incorporate both activation and repression, but allows any non-trivial interaction between TFs, including AND and OR gates. By using a factorization assumption within a variational Bayesian treatment we formulate a framework that can reconstruct both the activity profiles of the TFs and the type of regulation from time series gene expression data. We demonstrate the identifiability of the model on a simple but non-trivial synthetic example, and then use it to formulate non-trivial predictions about transcriptional control during yeast metabolism.
Availability: http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/gsanguin/
Contact: g.sanguinetti@ed.ac.uk
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ImmunoGrid: towards agent-based simulations of the human immune system at a natural scale
Authors: Halling-Brown Mark , Pappalardo Francesco , Rapin Nicolas , Zhang Ping , Alemani Davide , Emerson Andrew , Castiglione Filippo , Duroux Patrice , Pennisi Marzio , Miotto Olivo , Churchill Daniel , Rossi Elda , Moss David S. , Sansom Clare E. , Bernaschi Massimo , Lefranc Marie-Paule , Brunak Søren , Lund Ole , Motta Santo , Lollini Pier-Luigi , Murgo Annalisa , Palladini Arianna , Basford Kaye E. , Brusic Vladimir , Shepherd Adrian J. 
Published: May 2010

The ultimate aim of the EU-funded ImmunoGrid project is to develop a natural-scale model of the human immune system—that is, one that reflects both the diversity and the relative proportions of the molecules and cells that comprise it—together with the grid infrastructure necessary to apply this model to specific applications in the field of immunology. These objectives present the ImmunoGrid Consortium with formidable challenges in terms of complexity of the immune system, our partial understanding about how the immune system works, the lack of reliable data and the scale of computational resources required.
In this paper, we explain the key challenges and the approaches adopted to overcome them. We also consider wider implications for the present ambitious plans to develop natural-scale, integrated models of the human body that can make contributions to personalized health care, such as the European Virtual Physiological Human initiative.
Finally, we ask a key question: How long will it take us to resolve these challenges and when can we expect to have fully functional models that will deliver health-care benefits in the form of personalized care solutions and improved disease prevention?
Outcomes following early red blood cell transfusion in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Hearnshaw S. A. , Logan R. F. A. , Palmer K. R. , Card T. R. , Travis S. P. L. , Murphy M. F. 
Published: May 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 215–224SummaryBackground  Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) accounts for 14% of RBC units transfused in the UK. In exsanguinating AUGIB the value of RBC transfusion is self evident, but in less severe bleeding its value is less obvious.Aim  To examine the relationship between early RBC transfusion, re‐bleeding and mortality following AUGIB, which is one of the most common indications for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion.Method  Data were collected on 4441 AUGIB patients presenting to UK hospitals. The relationship between early RBC transfusion, re‐bleeding and death was examined using logistic regression.Results  44% were transfused RBCs within 12 hours of admission. In patients transfused with an initial haemoglobin of <8 g/dl, re‐bleeding occurred in 23% and mortality was 13% compared with a re‐bleeding rate of 15%, and mortality of 13% in those not transfused. In patients transfused with haemoglobin >8 g/dl, re‐bleeding occurred in 24% and mortality was 11% compared with a re‐bleeding rate of 6.7%, and mortality of 4.3% in those not transfused. After adjusting for Rockall score and initial haemoglobin, early transfusion was associated with a two‐fold increased risk of re‐bleeding (Odds ratio 2.26, 95% CI 1.76–2.90) and a 28% increase in mortality (Odds ratio 1.28, 95% CI 0.94–1.74).Conclusions  Early RBC transfusion in AUGIB was associated with a two‐fold increased risk of re‐bleeding and an increase in mortality, although the latter was not statistically significant. Although these findings could be due to residual confounding, they indicate that a randomized comparison of restrictive and liberal transfusion policies in AUGIB is urgently required.