bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The choice of biomarkers determines the selenium status in young German vegans and vegetarians
Authors: Hoeflich Johanna , Hollenbach Birgit , Behrends Thomas , Hoeg Antonia , Stosnach Hagen , Schomburg Lutz 
Published: July 2010

Daily nutrition varies considerably among individuals. The number of vegetarians is increasing continuously due to ethical, environmental, religious or other reasons. There is growing concern over their nutritional status with respect to micronutrient deficiencies. Among the essential trace elements, Se is of prime importance as it is part of the active site in selenoproteins. European soil and plants are relatively poor sources of Se, while farm animals are generally supplemented with Se in order to improve their health and avoid deficiency syndromes. We therefore wondered whether German vegetarians display a measurable Se deficiency. To this end, we compared young vegetarians (n 54) and omnivores (n 53). We assessed their Se status by measuring extracellular glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) activity, and concentrations of total serum Se and circulating Se-transport protein selenoprotein P (SEPP). GPX3 activities were not different between the groups, whereas both total Se and SEPP concentrations were reduced to 79·5 and 71·2 % in vegetarians compared with omnivores. When splitting the group of vegetarians into vegans (n 26) and vegetarians consuming egg and milk products (n 28), analyses of the Se-dependent biomarkers did not reveal significant differences. We conclude that low serum Se is mirrored by circulating SEPP concentrations, but not by GPX3 activities in marginally supplied individuals. The specific dietary Se sources, divergent metabolic routes of selenomethionine v. selenocysteine and the different saturation kinetics of GPX3 and SEPP probably underlie our contradictory findings. Whether German vegetarians and vegans need to be considered as a Se-deficient group depends on the biomarker chosen.
DETERMINATION OF THRESHOLD REGIME OF SOIL MOISTURE TENSION FOR SCHEDULING IRRIGATION IN TROPICAL AEROBIC RICE FOR OPTIMUM CROP AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY
Authors: GHOSH A. , SINGH O. N. 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYAerobic rice is considered a viable agro-technology to cope with the looming crisis of water supply that threatens the sustainability of irrigated rice production systems. Rice adapted to aerobic conditions requires less water than that grown under conventional irrigation management. A field study was conducted at Cuttack, India, during the dry season (January–May) in 2005 and 2006 to determine the critical soil moisture regime at the root-zone depth (30 cm) for sustaining optimum growth and grain yield of aerobic rice variety ‘Apo’ (IR 55423-01). Irrigation at 0, 20 and 40 kPa soil moisture tension resulted in similar grain yields (4.90–5.25 t ha−1 in 2005 and 4.35–4.50 t ha−1 in 2006). The seasonal water requirement in treatments receiving irrigation at 20, 40 and 60 kPa soil moisture tensions was 28.4, 42.8 and 60.7% lower than that at 0 kPa soil moisture tension, but the yield declined significantly at 60 kPa, i.e. by 42.8% in 2005 and 36.7% in 2006. Irrigation at 40 kPa soil moisture tension ensured maximum water productivity of 0.90, 0.47 and 0.53 g grain kg−1 water with respect to evapotranspiration, irrigation plus rainfall and irrigation alone, respectively. Thus, irrigation at 40 kPa soil moisture tension may be considered critical for optimum grain yield and maximum water productivity of aerobic rice in Indian cultivation conditions.
Geochemical and scintillometric characterization and correlation of amethyst geode-bearing Paraná lavas from the Quaraí and Los Catalanes districts, Brazil and Uruguay
Authors: HARTMANN LÉO A. , WILDNER WILSON , DUARTE LAUREN C. , DUARTE SANDRO K. , PERTILLE JULIANA , ARENA KARINE R. , MARTINS LAURA C. , DIAS NORBERTO LESSA 
Published: July 2010

AbstractGeochemical studies of the six lowermost lava flows of the Cretaceous Serra Geral Formation (Paraná volcanic province) in Quaraí (Brazil) and Artigas (Uruguay) were combined with flow-by-flow field studies of structures and scintillometric profiles to establish a consistent regional stratigraphic framework over at least 100 km. This greatly improves exploration capability for amethyst and agate geodes. A basalt, colada Mata Olho (Alegrete facies, Serra Geral Formation), was the first lava to flow over the ancient Botucatu desert in the region, but an andesite, colada Catalán, overstepped this basalt in many places, perhaps palaeohighs. Four basaltic andesites complete the lava stratigraphy in this formation, adding up to 300 m of lavas. The stratigraphic sequence of contrasting lava compositions is 51.0 wt% SiO2 in the first lava, followed by 57.5, 52.5, 56.0, 53.0 and finally 54.5 wt% SiO2. Overall MgO variation is between 2 and 7 wt%. All lavas in the two districts are low-Ti (<2.0 wt% TiO2) of the Gramado type. The characteristic contents of most major and trace elements (124 rock samples analysed) allow the ready identification of each lava. Contrasting rock chemistry also results in strong variation in scintillometric values (270 points measured in the field and nineteen continuous borehole profiles); from bottom to top of the stratigraphy, the cps values are 49±3.2, 123±10.3, 62±4.7, 94±4.6, ~45 and ~85. Colada Catalán has the structure of aa lava, particularly the contorted igneous banding and autobreccias in the upper and lower crusts. In some places, a 2 m thick, silicified sandstone layer lies on top of some coladas, and silicified sandstone forms breccias with volcanic rocks. Geochemistry of the six lavas indicates complex evolution, involving melting of lithospheric mantle, injection into the crust and assimilation of crust followed by fractional crystallization. This study indicates the possibility of world-class deposits of amethyst geodes on the Brazilian side of the border with Uruguay.
Trade Competition and Domestic Pollution: A Panel Study, 1980–2003
Authors: Cao Xun , Prakash Aseem 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis research note examines whether trade competition abets regulatory races in the environmental area. To analyze trade competition, we develop a new measure, structural equivalence, which assesses competitive threats that a country faces from other countries whose firms export the same products to the same destination countries. Employing this new measure, we analyze air pollution intensity (sulfur dioxide or SO2) and water pollution intensity (biochemical oxygen demand or BOD) for a panel of 140 countries for the time period 1980–2003. We find that trade competition is a significant predictor of water pollution intensity among structurally equivalent countries. We then test separately whether trade competition abets upward and downward regulatory races. We find that in the case of water pollution, countries respond symmetrically to downward and upward races, that is, they follow their structurally equivalent competitor countries both when they ratchet down their regulations and when they ratchet up regulations. In the case of air pollution, however, countries are responsive to downward policy changes only in competitor countries.
The search for a scientific temper: nuclear technology and the ambivalence of India's postcolonial modernity
Authors: CHACKO PRIYA 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis article examines the relationship between India's nuclear programme and its postcolonial identity. In particular, I argue that making sense of the anomalies and contradictions of India's nuclear behaviour, such as the gap of two decades between its nuclear tests, its promotion of nuclear disarmament and its failure to sign non-proliferation and test-ban treaties requires an understanding of the racially gendered construction of India's postcolonial modernity and the central roles given to science and morality within it. I suggest that India's postcolonial identity is anchored in anticolonial discourses that are deeply ambivalent toward what was viewed as a Western modernity that could provide material betterment but was also potentially destructive. What was desired was a better modernity that took into account what was believed to be Indian civilisation's greater propensity toward ethical and moral conduct. India's nuclear policies, such as its pursuit of nuclear technology and its promotion of disarmament cannot be seen in isolation from the successes and failures of this broader project of fashioning an ethical modernity.
The German question in Central and Eastern Europe and the long peace in Europe after 1945: an integrated theoretical explanation
Authors: RYNHOLD JONATHAN 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWithin the field of International Relations, theoretically informed explanations of the long peace in Europe since 1945 tend to focus on Western Europe, especially the revolution in Franco-German relations. In contrast, German relations with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are ignored, despite the fact that this nexus was a major cause of instability prior to 1945. This article focuses on why the German question in CEE ceased to threaten the stability of Europe after 1945. The article empirically examines the development of the German question in CEE since 1945, which refers here mainly to the Oder-Neisse line and the plight of ethnic Germans expelled from CEE after World War II. It provides a theoretically integrated and chronologically sequenced explanation. First, it argues that Realism primarily explains the successful containment of the German question in CEE between 1945 and the late 1960s. Second, it argues that the Constructivist process of cultural change, which altered German intensions, was primarily responsible for subsequently increasing the depth of peace and stability between Germany and CEE, especially after the Cold War. Finally, it is argued that prior Realist factors and Liberal processes constituted a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for cultural change.
On modular signs
Authors: KOWALSKI E. , LAU Y.-K. , SOUNDARARAJAN K. , WU J. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWe consider some questions related to the signs of Hecke eigenvalues or Fourier coefficients of classical modular forms. One problem is to determine to what extent those signs, for suitable sets of primes, determine uniquely the modular form, and we give both individual and statistical results. The second problem, which has been considered by a number of authors, is to determine the size, in terms of the conductor and weight, of the first sign-change of Hecke eigenvalues. Here we improve the recent estimate of Iwaniec, Kohnen and Sengupta.
XXXIII. On the Hindú Quadrature of the Circle, and the infinite Series of the proportion of the circumference to the diameter exhibited in the four S'ástras, the Tantra Sangraham, Yucti Bháshá, Carana Padhati, and Sadratnamála
Authors: Whish Charles M. 
Published: July 2010

A'ryab'hatta, who flourished in the beginning of the thirty-seventh century of the Cáli Yuga, of which four thousand nine hundred and twenty years have passed, has in his work, the Aryab'hatiyam, in which he mentions the period of his birth, exhibited the proportion of the diameter to the circumference of the circle as 20000 to 62832, in the following verse:Chaturadhicam ṣatamashṭaguṇandwáshashṭistathá sahasráṇám Ayutadwaya vishcambhasyásannó vritta pariṇáhah.
Healthy Eating Index during pregnancy according to pre-gravid and gravid weight status
Authors: Tsigga Maria , Filis Vlasios , Hatzopoulou Konstantina , Kotzamanidis Charalambos , Grammatikopoulou Maria G 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo assess differences in the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) during pregnancy with the pre-gravid and gravid weight status of women.DesignCross-sectional.SettingAthens, Greece.SubjectsOne hundred pregnant women, inhabitants of Athens.ResultsThe mean raw HEI score of the sample was 66·9 (sd 7·6) and the mean HEI adjusted for energy intake was 66·9 (sd 0·6). No difference was recorded between the adjusted HEI and different gravidities, the embryo’s sex, different income categories or education. When HEI was categorised as low, average and adequate, living in an urban residence increased the odds for demonstrating low HEI score (OR = 10·231, 95 % CI 1·300, 80·487). HEI score during pregnancy was significantly higher in participants who were either pre-gravidly underweight or of normal body weight (BW). In relation to the gestational weight status, the highest HEI scores and protein intake were shown in the underweight and of normal BW participants compared with the obese. According to the simple correspondence analysis, adequate HEI was associated with rural residence and being underweight or having normal BW during pregnancy. Low HEI was associated with overweight and obesity during pregnancy, with obesity before pregnancy and living in an urban environment. HEI was negatively correlated to the pre-conceptional and gestational BMI (r = −0·298, P ≤ 0·003 and r = −0·345, P ≤ 0·001) and to the week of gestation (r = −0·285, P ≤ 0·004).ConclusionsOverall, the HEI of the sample was mediocre. Women who were underweight or of normal BW exhibited a better diet quality compared with obese women; thus the latter consist a population in greater need for supervised nutrition and dietary counselling during pregnancy.
Cereal consumption and indicators of cardiovascular risk in adolescent girls
Authors: Franko Debra L , Albertson Ann M , Thompson Douglas R , Barton Bruce A 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between cereal consumption and cardiovascular risk factors including waist, height, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in a sample of adolescent girls.DesignLongitudinal study.SettingThe study was conducted from 1987 to 1997 and data were collected at three study sites (University of California at Berkeley, University of Cincinnati and Westat Inc., Rockville, MD, USA). Mixed models were used to estimate the association between the number of days of eating cereal and these four outcome variables.SubjectsGirls (n2371) who participated in the 10-year National Heart, Lung, and Blood Growth and Health Study (NGHS) and completed a 3 d food diary in years 1–5 and 7, 8 and 10.ResultsAdolescent girls who ate cereal more often had lower waist-to-height ratio (P< 0·005), lower total cholesterol (P< 0·05) and lower LDL cholesterol (P< 0·05), taking into account sociodemographic variables, physical activity levels and total energy intake.ConclusionsFindings suggest that cereal consumption is associated with markers of cardiovascular risk and that childhood patterns of consumption may influence the development of risk factors later in adolescence.
Translating the tears: parents' use of behavioural cues to detect pain in normally developing young children with everyday minor illnesses or injuries
Authors: Franck L. , Noble G. , Liossi C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjectives The objectives of this paper were to (i) identify the behavioural cues used by parents to detect young children's transient pain from minor illnesses or injuries (‘everyday pain’); and (ii) perform an initial psychometric evaluation of the Parents' Post‐operative Pain Measure (PPPM) in the context of children's everyday pain.Method Cross‐sectional Internet survey.Results One thousand seven hundred sixteen parents of children (1–6 years) completed the survey. The parents reported more behaviours when children had pain from minor illnesses than from minor injuries (9.6 ± 3.9 vs. 2.5 ± 2.3,P< 0.001). Principal component analysis of the PPPM revealed a two‐factor solution for illness‐related pain and a three‐factor solution for injury‐related pain. Behavioural cues varied with characteristics of children (age, gender and prior hospital experience) and parents (gender, age and parenting experience).Conclusions The PPPM is a promising tool for parental assessment of children's pain in everyday situations. Further research is needed to determine its utility in facilitating communication between parents and healthcare professionals, and in improving the management of young children's pain.
Aspergillus fumigatus regulates mite allergen‐pulsed dendritic cells in the development of asthma
Authors: Fukahori S. , Matsuse H. , Tsuchida T. , Kawano T. , Tomari S. , Fukushima C. , Kohno S. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryBackground
The role in allergic asthma development of the immune response against fungi with concomitant exposure to other common aeroallergens has yet to be determined. In particular, there is little understanding of how inhaled fungi affect the host response to mite allergens.Objective
To characterize the in vitro and in vivo effects of concurrent exposure of Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Derf) on dendritic cells (DCs) in the development of allergic asthma.Methods
Murine bone marrow‐derived DCs were pulsed with Derf and/or live or heat‐inactivated Af. Cytokine production and the expression of pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) were determined in vitro. Subsequently, these DCs were inoculated into the airway of naïve mice to assess the development of allergic airway inflammation in vivo. The effect of antibodies against PRRs was also evaluated.Results
Live Af significantly enhanced IL‐10 production and the expression of Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2 and Dectin‐1 in Derf‐pulsed DCs. Live Af infection significantly attenuated Derf‐pulsed DC‐induced allergic airway inflammation in vivo. Antibodies against either TLR2 or Dectin‐1 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of live Af in the development of Derf‐pulsed DC‐induced allergic airway inflammation.Conclusion
Concurrent exposure of DCs to fungal antigens has profound influences on the subsequent mite allergen‐induced allergic airway inflammation. Live Af could regulate the functions of airway DCs in the development of mite allergen‐induced allergic airway inflammation via regulation of their PRRs.Our results suggest that concurrent exposure to pathogens such as fungi and mite allergens has profound influences on the subsequent allergen‐induced allergic airway inflammation. Furthermore, modulating PRR signalling could provide a therapeutic regimen for the development of asthma. Cite this as: S. Fukahori, H. Matsuse, T. Tsuchida, T. Kawano, S. Tomari, C. Fukushima and S. Kohno, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1507–1515.
Erythema gyratum repens associated with pityriasis rubra pilaris
Authors: Almaani N. , Robson A. , Sarkany R. , Griffiths W. A. D. 
Published: July 2010

Summary
Erythema gyratum repens (EGR) is a rare cutaneous eruption characterized by serpiginous morphology and a migrating scaly border. It is one of the most specific cutaneous paraneoplastic phenomena, and is associated with malignancy in most cases. We report a 46-year-old Afro-Caribbean man with the unequivocal clinical and histological features of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP). However, despite improvement on oral acitretin, the morphology of the eruption evolved into the striking serpiginous rash of EGR. The histology findings, although nonspecific, were in keeping with the diagnosis of EGR. No evidence of malignancy was found. Only four cases of PRP evolving into EGR have been reported in the literature, and none was associated with malignancy. All previously reported cases of EGR have been described in white patients, making our case the first reported exception, to our knowledge. The possible role of retinoids in altering the rash of PRP to that of EGR is discussed.
Honeybee venom secretory phospholipase A2 induces leukotriene production but not histamine release from human basophils
Authors: Mustafa F B , Ng F S P , Nguyen T H , Lim L H K 
Published: July 2010

SummaryThe role of basophils in an anaphylactic response is well recognized but is usually masked by mast cells, which contain similar mediators for the induction of generalized vasodilatation and laryngeal constriction. The rapid onset of systemic anaphylactic symptoms, particularly in insect stings and ingested food, suggest that basophils, a circulating pool of cells containing histamine and other potent mediators such as leukotrienes, may be more involved in systemic anaphylaxis than originally thought. We wished to examine if secretory phospholipase A2, a systemic allergen found in honey bee venom (HBV-sPLA2) may activate basophils directly leading to rapid systemic mediator release. Basophils were isolated from human blood and stimulated with increasing concentrations of HBV-sPLA2. We found that physiological concentrations of HBV-sPLA2 induce rapid leukotriene C4 production from purified human basophils within 5 min, while interleukin (IL)-4 expression and production was induced at later time-points. Histamine release was not induced, signifying that HBV-sPLA2 did not induce generalized degranulation. Surface expression of CD63, CD69 and CD11b were up-regulated following HBV-sPLA2 treatment. Stimulation of basophils with anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) following treatment with HBV-sPLA2 did not induce more leukotriene release. To investigate the mechanism of leukotriene production, 9–12 octadecadiynioc acid, a cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and 15-lipoxygenase inhibitor, was used and this abrogated leukotriene production. These results indicate that HBV-sPLA2 can directly activate human basophils in vitro to induce leukotriene production.
Original article: Incorporations of blueberry extracts into soybean‐protein‐isolate film preserve qualities of packaged lard
Authors: Zhang Chao , Guo Kuan , Ma Yue , Ma Dan , Li Xihong , Zhao Xiaoyan 
Published: July 2010

SummaryThe effect of blueberry‐extract incorporation into soybean‐protein‐isolate edible film on the quality of packaged lard was compared with vitamin E or butylated hydroxyl anisole (BHA) incorporations individually during the storage at 36 °C and relative humidity of 40% for 5 weeks. Blueberry‐extract incorporations into soybean‐protein‐isolate film showed a greater tensile strength, lower water vapour permeability and lower oxygen permeability than vitamin E or BHA incorporations individually. On the other hand, the antioxidant capacity of soybean‐protein‐isolate film incorporated with the blueberry extract was greater than that incorporated with vitamin E and similar to that incorporated with BHA. Moreover, soybean‐protein‐isolate film incorporated with the blueberry extract showed a greater capacity to delay the lard hydrolysis than that incorporated with BHA, and a similar capacity to that incorporated with vitamin E. Consequently, blueberry‐extract incorporations into soybean‐protein‐isolate film not only improved mechanical and barrier properties, but also delayed the oxidation and hydrolysis of packaged lard. Therefore, blueberry‐extract incorporations into soybean‐protein‐isolate films have potential as a packaging material which will preserve the qualities of stored lard.