bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Central hypotensive effects of neuropeptide Y are modulated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase after activation by ribosomal protein S6 kinase
Authors: Cheng Pei‐Wen , Wu Alexander TH , Lu Pei‐Jung , Yang Ya‐Chun , Ho Wen‐Yu , Lin Hui‐Ching , Hsiao Michael , Tseng Ching‐Jiunn 
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36‐amino acid polypeptide found abundantly in the central and peripheral nervous systems. NPY exerts a potent depressor effect via the activation of both Y1 and Y2 receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of rats. However, the precise mechanisms involved in this NPY‐mediated action remained unclear.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effects of a selective antagonist of Y1 receptors, a PKC inhibitor, a PI3 kinase inhibitor, a NOS inhibitor, an endothelial NOS (eNOS)‐selective inhibitor, a neuronal NOS (nNOS)‐specific inhibitor or a MAPK inhibitor, on responses to microinjection of NPY into the NTS of Wistar‐Kyoto rats were studied to determine the underlying mechanisms. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured and, in NTS, protein phosphorylation assessed by immunohistochemical techniques.KEY RESULTS Unilateral microinjection of exogenous NPY (4.65 pmol/60 nL) into the NTS of urethane‐anesthetized Wistar‐Kyoto rats markedly decreased blood pressure and heart rate. Microinjection of the Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP3226 or the Gi/Go‐protein inhibitor, Pertussis toxin, into the NTS attenuated these NPY‐induced hypotensive effects. A selective Y1 receptor agonist increased expression of ERK1/2, ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RSK) and the phosphorylation of eNOS. RSK also bound directly to eNOS and induced its phosphorylation at Ser1177. Pretreatment of the NTS with an eNOS inhibitor, but not a nNOS inhibitor, attenuated the NPY‐induced hypotensive effects.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Together, these results suggested that NPY‐induced depressor effects were mediated by activating NPY Y1 receptor‐PKC‐ERK‐RSK‐eNOS and Ca2+‐eNOS signalling pathways, which are involved in regulation of blood pressure in the NTS.
Global market shocks and poverty in Vietnam: the case of rice
Authors: Coxhead Ian , Linh Vu Hoang , Tam Le Dong 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWorld food prices have experienced dramatic increases in recent years. These “shocks” affect food importers and exporters alike. Vietnam is a major exporter of rice, and rice is also a key item in domestic production, employment, and consumption. Accordingly, rice price shocks from the world market have general equilibrium impacts and as such, their implications for household welfare are not known ex ante. In this article, we present a framework for understanding the direct and indirect welfare effects of a global market shock of this kind. We quantify transmission of the shock from global indicator prices to domestic markets. Then we use an applied general equilibrium model to simulate the economic effects of the price changes. A recursive mapping to a nationally representative household living standards survey permits us to identify in detail the ceteris paribus effects of the shock on household incomes and welfare. In this analysis, interregional and intersectoral labor market adjustments emerge as key channels transmitting the effects of global price shocks across sectors and among households.
Accuracy of inter‐hospital paediatric appendicitis referrals
Authors: Loke Paxton , Tantoco Joselito , Ferguson Peter , Heloury Yves , Kimber Chris , Oakley Ed , Cheng Wei 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjectiveAppendicitis is the most common paediatric surgical emergency. In our institution, the majority of inter‐hospital transfers are for suspected appendicitis. We undertook an audit to assess the accuracy of the provisional diagnosis of the transferred cases.MethodsRetrospective electronic data of a tertiary referral centre and a single referring regional hospital were collected between January 2009 and December 2010. Primary outcome of surgery, inpatient observation or discharge was assessed. The final appendix pathology results were examined.ResultsThere were 187 paediatric surgical transfers (49% by ambulance) that were provisionally diagnosed as appendicitis. Of the 187 patients (M : F = 102 : 85, a median age of 11), 70% were admitted, 43% underwent appendicectomy, and only 40% had pathologically proven appendicitis.ConclusionsOf the surgical referrals for appendicectomy, 60% did not have appendicitis. An improved assessment protocol is required to reduce the margin of diagnostic error and transfer cost, while maintaining clinical safety.
Pediatric neuro‐oncology: Current status and future directions
Authors: HEATH John A , ZACHAROULIS Stergios , KIERAN Mark W 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are the most common solid malignancies in childhood and are the leading cause of cancer‐related death in this age group. While an ongoing improvement in overall prognosis has been achieved in the last few decades, current therapeutic approaches still confer significant morbidities, especially for the very young. The traditional strategies of surgery, radiotherapy and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy need to be further refined while newer approaches, including molecularly targeted agents, hold the promise of better responses, improved outcomes and reduced toxicities. This article discusses treatment standards, the focus of current clinical investigations and the future promise of novel, biologically based approaches for the most common pediatric CNS tumors: primitive neuroectodermal tumors including medulloblastomas, ependymomas and astrocytomas (both low‐grade and high‐grade glioma).
Monitoring mid‐grass prairie in southwestern South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska, USA
Authors: Uresk Daniel W. , Mergen Daryl E. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIt is expensive and difficult to make precise measurements of standing herbage and to monitor changes in rangeland pastures. This study used a modified Robel pole with 1.27‐cm alternating white and gray bands to estimate standing herbage on adjacent Buffalo Gap and Oglala National Grasslands in western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska. We determined the relationship between visual obstruction readings (Robel pole) with clipped standing herbage and developed resource guidelines for monitoring standing herbage. Clipped standing herbage ranged from 72 to 4953 kg dry matter (DM) ha−1 with a mean of 1784 kg DM ha−1. Visual obstruction bands (band = 1.27 cm) averaged 6.9 bands and ranged from 0.1 to 22.9. Visual obstruction reliably predicted standing herbage (R
2 = 0.80, P = 0.001, SE = 485 kg DM ha−1, n = 182 transects). Cluster analyses grouped visual obstruction readings (bands) and standing herbage into three resource categories; short, intermediate and tall. Band 6 corresponds to residual standing herbage of 1626 kg DM ha−1 and is recommended as a monitoring guideline for minimum residual herbage. Monitoring of residual standing herbage is accurate, precise and easy to apply. The monitoring protocol and guidelines developed based on bands and/or standing herbage provide information for managers to determine compliance with desired plans to maintain diversity for plants, wildlife and livestock use that sustain grassland communities.
AN IMMUNOASSAY FOR DETERMINING AFLATOXIN B1 USING A RECOMBINANT PHAGE AS A NONTOXIC COATING CONJUGATE
Authors: LIU RENRONG , XU LING , QIU XUEMEI , CHEN XINGLONG , DENG SHENGLIANG , LAI WEIHUA , XU YANG 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTImmunoassay for determining aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) involves using the toxic mycotoxin in a conjugated form. To replace the toxic conjugate in an immunoassay, four mimotope peptides of AFB1 were acquired by a panning‐elution selection from a phage library. Because the phage library was displayed on the N‐terminus of the minor coat protein gIIIp of the filamentous phage M13, the copy number of the expressed mimotope was too low to being used in an immunoassay. To solve such problem, one mimotope peptide (HPSDPRH) was fused with the major coat protein gVIIIp by the pC89 phagemid display system, which led to a high copy number expression in a recombinant phage. The recombinant phage bearing the AFB1 mimotope peptide was identified by an anti‐AFB1 monoclonal antibody, and confirmed by DNA sequencing. An immunoassay was set up with the recombinant phage. The new method was compared with a conventional immunoassay. The calibration curves and the results of accuracy and precision were almost identical in both methods, which demonstrated the possibility of using the recombinant phage replacing the AFB1‐protein conjugate to set up immunoassay.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe recombinant phages with mimotope peptide‐fused gVIIIp can be used in hazards detection concerning food safety in immunoassays, when haptens are unstable, difficult to conjugate, valuable, dangerous or toxic in practice.
THE MIDDLE CAMBRIAN SUCCESSION IN THE CENTRAL BALTIC BASIN: GEOCHEMISTRY OF OILS AND SANDSTONE RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: Zdanaviciute O. , Lazauskiene J. , Khoubldikov A.I. , Dakhnova M.V. , Zheglova T.P. 
Published: June 2012

Some 36 oilfields, all producing from Middle Cambrian (Deimena Group) sandstones, are located in the central Baltic Basin in an area covering onshore Lithuania and Kaliningrad (Russia) and the adjacent offshore. This paper presents new data on the composition of crude oils from fields in this area and reviews the reservoir properties of the Deimena Group sandstones.Twenty‐one crude oil samples from fields in Lithuania and Kaliningrad were analysed by standard techniques including GC and GC‐MS. The oils had densities of 790.5 to 870.0 kg/m3, and had low asphaltene (<2.2%) and sulphur (<0.44%) contents. The gasoline fraction (b.p. >200°C) ranged from 12–34%. The saturated hydrocarbon content was 35.3 to 77.8%, and the ratio of saturate to aromatic hydrocarbons was 2.1–5.2, indicating long‐distance migration or high thermal maturities. GC analyses of saturate fractions indicated a composition dominated by n‐alkanes with a maximum at C13–C15 and reduced abundance in the C20–C35 range. The analysed crude oil samples are characterized by relatively low concentrations of steranes and triterpanes.Biomarker data indicated an algal origin for the precursor organic matter and a clastic‐dominated source rock. Sterane isomerization ratios imply that the oils are in general relatively mature. Exceptions are samples from the Juzno Olempijskoye and Deiminskoye fields, Kaliningrad, which were early mature. Oil from well Gondinga‐l (Lithuania) was lightly fractionally evaporated and has a relatively higher density, higher viscosity, higher asphaltene content and lower content of saturated fractions.Stable carbon isotope ratios of crude oils and saturated and aromatic fractions were analysed. Whole oils showed little carbon isotope variation, but there were significant differences in δ13C ratios for saturated and aromatic fractions. The geochemical data show differences in oil sourcing and indicate the possible existence of different kitchen areas in the Kaliningrad region.Vertical and lateral variations in Deimena Group reservoir properties are controlled by variations in quartz cementation. In fields in western Lithuania, sandstone porosity ranges from 0.7 to 20% and permeability from 20 mD to 300 mD; in fields onshore Kaliningrad, porosity is up to 34% and gas permeability up to 4.8 D. Wide variations in porosity and permeability occur at a field scale.
THE TIGHT DANIAN EKOFISK CHALK RESERVOIR FORMATION IN THE SOUTH ARNE FIELD, NORTH SEA: MINERALOGY AND POROSITY PROPERTIES
Authors: Lindgreen H. , Fallick A.E. , Jakobsen F. , Springer N. 
Published: June 2012

In the Danish North Sea, the chalk of the Danian Ekofisk Formation is largely pelagic and includes horizons of clay‐sized quartz and/or clay minerals. The upper part of the Ekofisk Formation (“Ekofisk Porous”) has reservoir potential, whereas the lower part of the formation (“Ekofisk Tight”) is of low permeability. The Ekofisk Formation was studied in wells Rigs‐1, Rigs‐2 and SA‐1 in the South Arne field in the Danish North Sea. Clay‐poor and clay‐rich horizons were sampled in order to evaluate the effect of the mineralogical composition on the reservoir properties of the Ekofisk Formation. The Ekofisk chalk samples were investigated by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy, by thermal analysis and for isotopic composition. Helium porosity, gas permeability and nitrogen adsorption (for specific surface area and fine porosity) were measured to characterize the chalk structure. Calcite was removed by titration and the residues investigated by X‐ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The clay layers consisting of nano‐quartz, clay minerals and carbonates have He‐porosity similar to that of the tight chalk matrix and have a large amount of fine pores (<200 Å diameter) which favour diffusion. This diffusion has dissolved calcite in the layers and has resulted in the formation of low‐porosity chalk due to recrystallization of calcite adjacent to the layers.The chalk matrix of the Ekofisk Formation contains a considerable amount of non‐calcite residue, of which the major part (∼2/3) is nano‐quartz. The nano‐quartz is assumed to have formed by sedimentation. For the samples investigated, there is no clear correlation between mineralogy (% residue, % nano‐quartz, % clay minerals) and porosity/permeability. However, samples with <20% residue have high He‐porosity and relatively high permeability; whereas samples with >25% residue have permeability <0.4 mD. The effect on He‐porosity is due to the content of both nano‐quartz and clay minerals, whereas the effect on permeability is mainly due to the content of nano‐quartz, because the nano‐size quartz particles pack between the coccoliths and thereby reduce the effective pore throat size. Consequently, for reservoir evaluation purposes, it is important to distinguish between the clay minerals and the nano‐quartz in the clay fraction. However, the high proportion of nano‐quartz in the Ekofisk Formation in general, and the relative high content in the Ekofisk Tight in particular, suggest that nano‐quartz may have a major impact on the reservoir properties.
Extracting the amphibian chytrid fungus from formalin‐fixed specimens
Authors: Richards‐Hrdlicka Kathryn L. 
Published: June 2012

Summary1. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a chytrid fungal pathogen driving many amphibian species extinct. For some species, the only place they can be found is in natural history museum collections. Harnessing molecular tools to uncover this pathogen’s date of arrival and movement throughout a region and through time will prove useful to broader B. dendrobatidis research. However, it has remained difficult to access B. dendrobatidis DNA from within preserved host tissues, especially specimens that were originally fixed in formalin.2. Herein, I describe two methods to extract and detect, via qPCR, B. dendrobatidis DNA from herpetological natural history collections. Both extraction methods use a DNA‐binding matrix, either a magnetic bead resin or a silica membrane, that retains and separates the extracted DNA from potentially qPCR‐inhibiting contaminates. Nine positive control specimens enabled initial method optimizations and coincidently limited empirical comparisons between each extraction method. A museum study involving 164 formalin‐fixed amphibians from Connecticut, either having been originally fixed in the 1960s or 2000s, were swabbed and samples extracted by one of the two presented methods.3. Each method successfully extracted B. dendrobatidis DNA; of the 164 specimens tested, 37 were found B. dendrobatidis‐positive, including six specimens (representing three caudate species) from 1968. In addition, results show that an infected individual stored in a jar of multiple specimens does not always contaminate the other specimens with B. dendrobatidis.4. These results suggest that qPCR methods are well suited to assess B. dendrobatidis presence but to not assign zoospore loads in preserved specimens.
Providing cardiovascular risk management information to acute coronary syndrome patients: A randomized trial
Authors: Broadbent Elizabeth , Leggat Alexandra , McLachlan Andy , Kerr Andrew 
Published: June 2012

Objectives. Cardiac patients have been shown to have inaccurate understanding of their cardiovascular risk. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether a guideline‐based risk assessment and management intervention could facilitate understanding of cadiovascular risk and appropriate illness perceptions in cardiac patients.Design. Randomized trial.Methods. A total of 106 patients with MI or unstable angina were randomized to receive standard care with or without a 30‐min nurse‐led computerized Predict CVD‐Diabetes (where CVD is cardiovascular disease) session. Patients’ risk perceptions (using categorical and numerical measures), and perceptions of their heart condition were assessed at admission, discharge, and 3 months.Results. The intervention group rated the risk information as more easily understood than the control group. At discharge, they had increased perceptions of personal control, higher perceptions that a low‐fat diet and regular exercise could help their condition, and believed their current illness would be shorter compared to the control group. At 3 months, no group differences were significant. The intervention had no effect on risk perceptions, which were high in both groups. Patients’ perceptions of ‘high’ risk corresponded to numerical estimates of over 50%, which differs from clinical guidelines (over 20%).Conclusions. A computerized cardiovascular risk assessment and management session can help acute coronary syndrome patients understand CVD risk information and improve perceptions of control in the short term, but not change risk perceptions. In‐hospital risk factor assessment and management information may help patients understand the importance of key lifestyle changes.Statement of contributionWhat is already known on this subject?

Many members of the public, as well as patients with diagnosed coronary heart disease (CHD), have poor understanding of their cardiovascular disease risk.

Giving risk information can improve accuracy of risk perceptions, and may increase intentions to start preventive risk reduction treatments but more research is needed with patients with established CHD.

What does this study add?

Providing acute coronary syndrome patients with individualised risk assessment and risk management information may be beneficial over the short term by increasing patients' perceptions of control and the importance of key lifestyle changes.

A difficulty in communicating cardiovascular risk levels is the poor correspondence between patients' understanding of very high risk and the clinical definition of very high risk.
Prevalence and socioeconomic differences of risk factors of cardiovascular disease in Ecuadorian adolescents
Authors: Ochoa‐Avilés A. , Andrade S. , Huynh T. , Verstraeten R. , Lachat C. , Rojas R. , Donoso S. , Manuel‐y‐Keenoy B. , Kolsteren P. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryPurposeThe aim of this paper is to report the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and socioeconomic differences in school‐going Ecuadorian adolescents.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was performed from January 2008 until April 2009 in 770 adolescents aged 10 to 16 years old, who attend secondary schools in an urban (Cuenca), and rural area (Nabón) in Ecuador. Data collected for the overall sample included anthropometric variables (weight, height and waist circumference), blood pressure and socio‐demographic characteristics. Fasting blood glucose and lipid profile determinations were collected in a subsample of 334 adolescents.ResultsThe most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were dyslipidemia (34.2%), abdominal obesity (19.7%) and overweight (18.0%). The prevalence of the remaining cardiovascular risk factors were high levels of blood pressure (6.2%) and obesity (2.1%). Boys were 3.3 times (P < 0.001) more likely to have risk levels of blood pressure. Compared to their peers from lower socioeconomic groups, children from better off socioeconomic strata were 1.5 times (P = 0.048) more likely to be overweight/obese and 1.5 times (P = 0.046) more likely to have abdominal obesity. Overweight and obese children were 4.4 times more likely to have dyslipidemia (P < 0.001). Children living in the rural area were 2.8 times (P = 0.002) more likely to have dyslipidemia than those from the urban area.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate the advanced levels of the nutrition transition in this Ecuadorian adolescent population. Primary health care should monitor and take actions to address this public health problem in adolescents.
Co‐release of glutamate and GABA from single, identified mossy fibre giant boutons
Authors: Beltrán Jesús Q. , Gutiérrez Rafael 
Published: June 2012

Key points
The granule cells and their mossy fibres (MFs) can express, besides glutamate, all the markers of the GABAergic phenotype during development, suggesting that they can co‐release glutamate and GABA.
Several groups have presented substantial electrophysiological evidence, albeit indirect, supporting this hypothesis.
We investigated the co‐release of these amino acids by recording synaptic responses in mechanically dissociated pyramidal cells to stimulation of single, identified MF boutons attached to their apical dendrite.
In pyramidal cells from developing rats, MF bouton stimulation evoked responses that were mediated by either glutamate receptors (R) only or by both glutamate‐R and GABAA‐R; in adult rats stimulation of MF boutons produced exclusively glutamate‐R‐mediated responses. By contrast, responses to stimulation of interneuronal boutons on the same cells were exclusively GABAA‐R mediated.
We demonstrate that the pharmacologically isolated GABAergic responses evoked by MF stimulation in CA3 cells in slice preparations may indeed be of MF origin.
Abstract  Several laboratories have provided immunohistochemical, molecular biological and electrophysiological evidence that the glutamatergic granule cells of the dentate gyrus can transiently express a GABAergic phenotype during development. Electrophysiological recordings on hippocampal slices obtained during this period have shown that stimulation of the mossy fibres (MFs) provokes simultaneous monosynaptic GABAA and glutamate receptor‐mediated responses in their target cells, which have the pharmacological and physiological characteristics of MF neurotransmission. This evidence, although strongly supporting the hypothesis that MFs co‐release glutamate and GABA, is indirect, as the extracellular stimulation used in slice experiments could activate fibres other than MFs. In this study, we show that selective stimulation of single, identified MF boutons (MFBs) attached to the apical dendrites of dissociated pyramidal cells of developing rats produced synaptic currents mediated by either glutamate receptors only or by both glutamate and GABAA receptors. By contrast, stimulation of MFBs of adult rats produced exclusively glutamate receptor‐mediated responses. All responses evoked by stimulation of MFBs underwent strong frequency‐dependent potentiation and were depressed by the activation of presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors. On the other hand, synaptic responses evoked by stimulation of interneuronal boutons located on the soma or on the basal dendrites of the same pyramidal cells were exclusively mediated by GABAA receptors, underwent frequency‐dependent depression and were unaffected by mGluR agonists. We here demonstrate that the simultaneous glutamatergic and GABAergic responses evoked by MF stimulation in pyramidal cells of CA3 during development have a common origin in the giant MFBs.