bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What Is Political Development? A Constitutional Perspective
Authors: Thomas George 
Published: April 2011

AbstractDevelopment approaches to the study of politics, precisely because they focus on movement through time, seem uniquely positioned to illuminate the logic and experience of the polity in a manner that cannot be captured by more conventional political science methods. And yet, political development has come to be seen as whatever historical change happens to a regime, neglecting the normative nature of the polity. The result is an “a-constitutional” approach to political development. This paper argues that political science can and should examine development in normative terms and that attempts to fit political development more securely within value-free social science threaten to rob it of its promise.
Evidence for Nipah virus recrudescence and serological patterns of captive Pteropus vampyrus
Authors: SOHAYATI A. R. , HASSAN L. , SHARIFAH S. H. , LAZARUS K. , ZAINI C. M. , EPSTEIN J. H. , SHAMSYUL NAIM N. , FIELD H. E. , ARSHAD S. S. , ABDUL AZIZ J. , DASZAK P. ,   EcoHealth Alliance
Published: April 2011

SUMMARYThis study aimed to describe the transmission dynamics, the serological and virus excretion patterns of Nipah virus (NiV) in Pteropus vampyrus bats. Bats in captivity were sampled every 7–21 days over a 1-year period. The data revealed five NiV serological patterns categorized as high and low positives, waning, decreasing and increasing, and negative in these individuals. The findings strongly suggest that NiV circulates in wild bat populations and that antibody could be maintained for long periods. The study also found that pup and juvenile bats from seropositive dams tested seropositive, indicating that maternal antibodies against NiV are transmitted passively, and in this study population may last up to 14 months. NiV was isolated from the urine of one bat, and within a few weeks, two other seronegative bats seroconverted. Based on the temporal cluster of seroconversion, we strongly believe that the NiV isolated was recrudesced and then transmitted horizontally between bats during the study period.
Age factor and implication of human papillomavirus type-specific prevalence in women with normal cervical cytology
Authors: LAI C. H. , CHAO A. , CHANG C. J. , HUANG C. C. , WANG L. C. , HSUEH S. , LIN C. T. , WU T. I. , JAO M. S. , CHOU H. H. 
Published: April 2011

SUMMARYThe prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women with normal cervical cytology varies widely according to the population studied. Two non-overlapping population-based cohort studies of women aged ⩾30 years for the periods 2008–2009 (n=5026) and 2004–2005 (n=10 014) were analysed. The prevalence rate of HPV was 11·0% (95% CI 10·5–11·6). HPV infection was significantly associated with age, menopausal status, and inversely associated with hormone replacement therapy. There was an increasing trend of α3/α15, α5/α6, and multiple HPV infections with increasing age. The five most common types were HPV52, 18, 53, 58 and 70, while HPV16, 31, 33 ranked 21st, 25th, and 16th, respectively, in the merged cohort with normal cytology (n=14 724). HPV16, 31, and 33 were significantly associated with abnormal cytology, which could have resulted in their rarity in the total merged cohort (n=15 040).
Thinking about elections and about democratic representation
Authors: LH  , GvdS  , WTE  
Published: April 2011

[Political representation] is the basis of modern representative democracy. Older and less sophisticated forms, such as direct democracy, subsist marginally, even if they keep exerting a certain attraction. But representative democracy does not carry the self-evident authority it once had. Like every modern institution it is under challenge and consequently needs to be defended. In actual politics, the defence often takes the form of discussion of the merits of one system over the other and of proposals for change. The part of this defence appertaining to constitutional scholarship is not concerned primarily with proposals and changes. It is, before all, to brush up the fundamentals underlying representative democracy, on the basis of topical issues.There are three current issues upon which we would like to draw attention. They are: equality in structuring electoral systems, the processes of electoral reform and the rise of non-majoritarian institutions versus parliamentary democracy.
Measurement of the electric quadrupole moment of CO
Authors: Chetty Naven , Couling Vincent W. 
Published: April 2011

Measurements of the temperature dependence of the Buckingham effect (electric-field-gradient-induced birefringence, EFGIB) for gaseous carbon monoxide are presented. The measurements span the temperature range 301.2–473.9 K, which allows for separation of the temperature-independent hyperpolarizability contribution from the temperature-dependent quadrupole contribution. It is demonstrated that in the case of carbon monoxide, quantization of the rotational motion of the molecules needs to be considered, the analysis yielding a quadrupole moment of Θ = (−8.77 ± 0.31) × 10−40 C m2 and a hyperpolarizability term of b′ = (−0.1243 ± 0.0078)  × 10−60 C3 m4 J−2. For dipolar molecules, the quadrupole moment is origin dependent, and the value reported here is referred to an origin called the effective quadrupole center. Comparison of this value with the center-of-mass quadrupole moment obtained from other experiments yields information about the dynamic dipole-quadrupole and dipole-magnetic dipole polarizabilities. The temperature-independent term, which contributes (7.0 ± 0.6)% to the EFGIB at room temperature, is by no means insignificant, and must necessarily be accounted for if the quadrupole moment is to be definitively established. The measured Θ and b′ are compared with the best available ab initio calculated values.
Discovery of Rare Mutations in Populations: TILLING by Sequencing
Authors: Tsai Helen , Howell Tyson , Nitcher Rebecca , Missirian Victor , Watson Brian , Ngo Kathie J. , Lieberman Meric , Fass Joseph , Uauy Cristobal , Tran Robert K. , Khan Asif Ali , Filkov Vladimir , Tai Thomas H. , Dubcovsky Jorge , Comai Luca 
Published: April 2011

AbstractDiscovery of rare mutations in populations requires methods, such as TILLING (for Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes), for processing and analyzing many individuals in parallel. Previous TILLING protocols employed enzymatic or physical discrimination of heteroduplexed from homoduplexed target DNA. Using mutant populations of rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum durum), we developed a method based on Illumina sequencing of target genes amplified from multidimensionally pooled templates representing 768 individuals per experiment. Parallel processing of sequencing libraries was aided by unique tracer sequences and barcodes allowing flexibility in the number and pooling arrangement of targeted genes, species, and pooling scheme. Sequencing reads were processed and aligned to the reference to identify possible single-nucleotide changes, which were then evaluated for frequency, sequencing quality, intersection pattern in pools, and statistical relevance to produce a Bayesian score with an associated confidence threshold. Discovery was robust both in rice and wheat using either bidimensional or tridimensional pooling schemes. The method compared favorably with other molecular and computational approaches, providing high sensitivity and specificity.
Coupling Virus-Induced Gene Silencing to Exogenous Green Fluorescence Protein Expression Provides a Highly Efficient System for Functional Genomics in Arabidopsis and across All Stages of Tomato Fruit Development
Authors: Quadrana Leandro , Rodriguez Maria Cecilia , López Mariana , Bermúdez Luisa , Nunes-Nesi Adriano , Fernie Alisdair R. , Descalzo Adriana , Asis Ramón , Rossi Magdalena , Asurmendi Sebastian , Carrari Fernando 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Since the advent of the postgenomic era, efforts have focused on the development of rapid strategies for annotating plant genes of unknown function. Given its simplicity and rapidity, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has become one of the preeminent approaches for functional analyses. However, several problems remain intrinsic to the use of such a strategy in the study of both metabolic and developmental processes. The most prominent of these is the commonly observed phenomenon of “sectoring” the tissue regions that are not effectively targeted by VIGS. To better discriminate these sectors, an effective marker system displaying minimal secondary effects is a prerequisite. Utilizing a VIGS system based on the tobacco rattle virus vector, we here studied the effect of silencing the endogenous phytoene desaturase gene (pds) and the expression and subsequent silencing of the exogenous green fluorescence protein (gfp) on the metabolism of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. In leaves, we observed dramatic effects on primary carbon and pigment metabolism associated with the photobleached phenotype following the silencing of the endogenous pds gene. However, relatively few pleiotropic effects on carbon metabolism were observed in tomato fruits when pds expression was inhibited. VIGS coupled to gfp constitutive expression revealed no significant metabolic alterations after triggering of silencing in Arabidopsis leaves and a mild effect in mature green tomato fruits. By contrast, a wider impact on metabolism was observed in ripe fruits. Silencing experiments with an endogenous target gene of interest clearly demonstrated the feasibility of cosilencing in this system; however, carefully constructed control experiments are a prerequisite to prevent erroneous interpretation.
Cytokine mRNA Profile of Alveolar T Lymphocytes and Macrophages in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis Suggests a Local Tr1 Response
Authors: Andersen G. N. , Nilsson K. , Nagaeva O. , Rantapää‐Dahlqvist S. , Sandström T. , Mincheva‐Nilsson L. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe development of an autoimmune disease like systemic sclerosis (SSc) is suspected to be driven by an activated T lymphocyte subset, expressing a cytokine profile specific to the disease. To further characterize the type of immune reaction in SSc, we searched for a broad panel of cytokine messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages from paired samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood in 18 patients and 16 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. RNA from CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD14+ monocytes/macrophages was examined by means of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. SSc alveolar T lymphocytes expressed a cytokine profile suggestive of a mixed Th1/Th2 reaction, showing an increased frequency of mRNA for interleukin (IL)‐10, IL‐6 and interferon (IFN)γ, while IL‐1β, IFNγ and tumour necrosis factor β were expressed in blood T lymphocytes in a higher percentage of patients with SSc than controls. SSc alveolar T cells expressed IL‐10 mRNA more often than peripheral T cells, a phenomenon not found in controls and which may point at local IL‐10 activation/response in SSc lung. Transforming growth factor β mRNA was present in all alveolar as well as peripheral blood T cell samples in patients and controls. The cytokine mRNA profile in SSc with interstitial lung disease (ILD) was similar to the profile found in SSc without ILD. Our findings point at a mixed Th1/Th2 reaction in SSc and may indicate regulatory T 1 cell activation/response in the lungs of patients with SSc.
Different Perforin Expression in Peripheral Blood and Prostate Tissue in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer
Authors: Tokmadžić V. S. , Tomaš M. I. , Sotošek S. , Laškarin G. , Dominović M. , Tulić V. , Đorđević G. , Šustić A. , Mrakovčić‐Šutić I. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractPerforin (P) is a prototypical cytotoxic molecule involved in cell‐mediated immunity against various pathogens, alloantigens and particularly different tumours. The purpose of this study was to determine P expression in different lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from peripheral blood and prostate tissue of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) and compare it with the P expression found in the control group. Twenty subjects were recruited in each of the groups. Prostate mononuclear cells of the BPH and PCa tissues were isolated by enzymatic digestion and gradient density centrifugation, whereas peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by gradient density centrifugation alone. Cells and tissue samples were labelled using monoclonal antibodies against P and different surface antigens (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD56) and analysed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Total P expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes did not differ significantly between BPH/PCa patients and control group, although the BPH and PCa tissue showed lower P expression level. A negative correlation between prostate‐specific antigen levels and the overall percentage of P+, CD3+CD56−P+, and CD3−CD56+P+ cells in the prostate tissue was observed only in patients with PCa. Our findings indicate that the low frequency of P+ lymphocytes, including T, NKT and NK cells, in the prostate tissue of patients with BPH and, particularly, PCa could be the consequence of local tissue microenvironment and one of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of prostate hyperplasia following malignant alteration.
What Formyl Peptide Receptors, if Any, Are Triggered by Compound 43 and Lipoxin A4?
Authors: Forsman H. , Önnheim K. , Andreasson E. , Dahlgren C. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIn this study, we determined receptor preferences for compound 43, a nitrosylated pyrazolone derivative, and the eicosanoid lipoxin A4 (LXA4), potent anti‐inflammatory mediators in many experimental in vivo models. Their effects have been suggested to be mediated through binding to formyl peptide receptor (FPR)2 [earlier known as formyl peptide receptor‐like 1 or the lipoxin A4 receptor (ALXR)], one of the two members of the FPR family expressed in neutrophils. Compound 43 activates all neutrophil functions investigated, whereas LXA4 induces a unique inhibiting pathway suggested to involve β‐arrestin binding as an early signalling step, but not a transient rise in intracellular Ca2+. We show that compound 43 can activate not only FPR2 but also FPR1, the other neutrophil receptor in the FPR family, and FPR1 is actually the preferred receptor in human neutrophils and possibly also in the murine equivalent. LXA4 analogues from two commercial sources were used, and neither of these induced any translocation of β‐arrestin as measured in an enzyme fragment complementation assay. The conclusions drawn from these experiments are that neither compound 43 nor LXA4 works as FPR2 agonists in neutrophils, findings of importance for a proper interpretation of results obtained with these compounds as regulators of inflammation.
Supranutritional selenium level affects fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of chicken breast muscle tissue
Authors: Pappas A. C. , Zoidis E. , Papadomichelakis G. , Fegeros K. 
Published: April 2011

SummaryA total of 128 broilers were used to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) on fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative stability of lipids in the breast muscle tissue. There were 4 replicates of 4 dietary treatments: T1 (basal diet with no added Se), T2 (T1 with 0.15 mg Se added per kg diet), T3 (T1 with 0.3 mg Se added per kg diet) and T4 (T1 with 3.0 mg Se added per kg diet). A yeast source was used for added Se. Breast muscle tissue was collected from two chickens per replicate pen for the determination of Se concentration by ICP‐MS, FA profile by GC and lipid oxidation using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method. Addition of supranutritional Se levels to chicken diets leads to the production of Se‐enriched meat. Consumption of 100 g of breast meat from chickens fed diets supplemented with 0.15, 0.3 and 3 mg Se per kg of diet can provide 26, 41 and 220 μg of Se, respectively. Long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids namely C20:3n‐6, C20:4n‐6, C20:5n‐3, C22:5n‐3 and C22:6n‐3 increased linearly (p = 0.047, p < 0.001, p = 0.023, p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively) as the Se inclusion levels in the diets increased. At slaughter, a linear decrease in lipid oxidation (p = 0.019) was observed with Se addition, possibly attributed to the antioxidant properties of Se. Addition of supranutritional Se to chicken diets, at levels well below those causing toxicity, leads to production of Se‐enriched meat, protection of health‐promoting long‐chain FA like C20:5n‐3 and C22:6n‐3 and protection of meat quality from oxidation at day 1 after slaughter.
Assessment of yeast cell wall as replacements for antibiotic growth promoters in broiler diets: effects on performance, intestinal histo‐morphology and humoral immune responses
Authors: Ghosh T. K. , Haldar S. , Bedford M. R. , Muthusami N. , Samanta I. 
Published: April 2011

SummaryThe study compared the effects of an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and yeast cell wall (YCW) on performance, microbiology and histo‐morphology of the small intestine and humoral immune responses in Ross 308 broilers. The treatments (eight replicates/treatment, n = 12/replicate) were negative control (NC, without AGP), positive control (PC, supplemented with bacitracin methylene disalicylate, 400 mg/kg), Y and YCW (supplemented with yeast and YCW, respectively, 1000 mg/kg). Live weight at 42 days improved (p = 0.086) in the PC, Y and YCW groups. Feed conversion ratio was better (p = 0.039) in the YCW group compared with the other groups. Antibiotic growth promoter in the PC group shortened the villi in duodenum (p = 0.044). Mucosal Escherichia coli number was higher in the PC group (p < 0.001), whereas in the digesta E. coli number was lower (p = 0.001) in the PC, Y and YCW groups in relation to the NC. Mucosal Salmonella populations increased (p = 0.0001) in the PC group, whereas in the digesta, all treatments reduced the Salmonella (p = 0.0001). Following oral challenge with Salmonella pullorum, YCW increased E. coli numbers on the mucosa (p < 0.001) whereas in the digesta the Y group had lower (p < 0.0001) number of E. coli. In the digesta, Salmonella count was lower in the YCW group compared with the other treatments (p < 0.01). Yeast cell wall ‐treated birds exhibited better (p < 0.05) humoral immune response against Newcastle disease which was far more persistent over time than in any other treatments. It was concluded that the yeast and the yeast cell wall may have effects identical to BMD on performance of broilers and thus may constitute an effective replacement strategy in the dietary regimens for broiler chickens.
Effects of α‐lipoic acid, vitamins E and C upon the heat stress in Japanese quails
Authors: Halıcı M. , İmik H. , Koç M. , Gümüş R. 
Published: April 2011

SummaryAntioxidant vitamins are commonly used as colorant, preventive, sweetener, nutritive and antioxidant materials in food industry. Thus, many studies have been conducted in recent years. We have performed the present study to understand the effects of α‐lipoic acid (ALA), vitamin C and E, added into rations of Japanese quails, on chronic heat stress. This study was carried out in five groups as: control, stress, ALA, vitamin E and vitamin C groups. Heat stress is applied to all groups except the control group. Superficial pectoral muscles tissues were used for biochemical determinations. During the research, it is found that heat stress exerted undesired effects such as increasing lipid peroxidation (LPO) level indicating oxidative stress in Japanese quails. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities and glutathione (GSH) amounts were studied to understand the behaviour of defence mechanism. While stress increased LPO ratio, it was determined that all antioxidant added into the ration decreases LPO significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, it was determined that all of antioxidants added into ration effectively restored SOD activity and LPO ratio which heat stress affected negatively. Interestingly, vitamin C did not adjust GSH ratio in contrast to vitamin E and ALA, where vitamin E and C did not perform any positive effect on heat stress decreased CAT activity. Finally, it can be thought that antioxidant vitamins relatively ameliorated these undesired affects caused by stress factors given.
Extenders Containing Dimethylformamide Associated or Not with Glycerol are Ineffective for Ovine Sperm Cryopreservation
Authors: Moustacas VS , Cruz BC , Varago FC , Miranda DA , Lage PG , Henry M 
Published: April 2011

ContentsThe study aimed at testing the effectiveness of dimethylformamide, alone or combined with glycerol, as cryoprotectant for freezing ram semen. Ejaculates from nine rams were cryopreserved in Tris‐based extenders, containing 5% of glycerol, association of dimethylformamide with glycerol, in four proportions achieving 5% of cryoprotectors in the media and pure dimethylformamide (2, 3, 4 and 5%) in replacement to glycerol. The samples were diluted to 100 × 106 sptz/ml and stored in 0.25‐ml straws in liquid nitrogen. After thawing (37°C for 30 s), motility was preserved better by the extender containing 5% of glycerol (p < 0.05). The extenders containing pure dimethylformamide, or more than 2% in combination with glycerol, provided sperm motilities close to zero. Plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity were preserved better (p < 0.05) in the extender containing 5% glycerol. It can be concluded that dimethylformamide, alone or combined with glycerol, has no beneficial effects on ovine semen cryopreservation.
Labour Mobility and Returns to Experience in Foreign Firms*
Authors: Pesola Hanna 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis paper uses Finnish linked employer–employee panel data to study whether employees are able to appropriate returns to knowledge accumulated in foreign‐owned firms when moving to domestic firms. The estimates indicate that highly educated employees earn a return to prior experience in a foreign‐owned firm, which is over and above the return to other previous experience. These employees do not appear to pay for the knowledge they accumulate in the form of lower starting wages in foreign‐owned firms.
What Drives Corporate Tax Rates Down? A Reassessment of Globalization, Tax Competition, and Dynamic Adjustment to Shocks*
Authors: Overesch Michael , Rincke Johannes 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe reassess the driving forces behind the recent decline of corporate tax rates in Europe. Using data for up to 32 countries from 1983 to 2006, we analyze the roles of economic and financial openness as well as tax competition, while allowing for dynamic adjustment to shocks and period‐specific and country‐specific effects. While there is no evidence that countries that have become more open have reduced their tax rates more, our findings suggest that countries strongly compete over statutory tax rates. A simulation of tax rates in a scenario with no cross‐sectional dependence in tax setting suggests that, in the absence of tax competition, the mean statutory tax rate of Western European countries in 2006 would have been about 12.5 percentage points above its actual level. We conclude that the recent downward trend in corporate taxes is mainly a result of tax competition.