bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modulatory effect of α-linolenic acid-rich garden cress (Lepidium sativumL.) seed oil on inflammatory mediators in adult albino rats
Authors: Diwakar Bastihalli Tukaramrao , Ramaswamy Lokesh Belur , Naidu Kamatham Akhilender 
Published: April 2011

Vegetable oils containing α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18 : 3n-3) have been shown to modulate the functions of immunocompetent cells. The aim of the present study was to understand the modulatory effect of ALA-rich garden cress (Lepidium sativumL.) seed oil (GCO) on lipid composition, spleen lymphocyte (SL) proliferation and inflammatory mediator production by peritoneal macrophages (PMΦ) in rats. Female Wistar rats were fed diets containing either GCO (2·5, 5·0 and 10 %, w/w) or sunflower oil (SFO, 10 % w/w) for 8 weeks.Ex vivoproliferation of SL was measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. IL-2 and TNF-α in SL and PMΦ were analysed by ELISA. Inflammatory mediators such as NO, leukotriene B4(LTB4) and H2O2were measured in mitogen-activated PMΦ. GCO significantly increased the levels of ALA, EPA and DHA, but reduced linoleic acid and arachidonic acid in SL and PMΦ lipids. GCO (10 %) significantly decreased the concanavalin A (Con-A)- and phytohaemagglutinin-mediated proliferation of SL by 54 and 38 %, respectively, in comparison with SFO. A marginal decrease in IL-2 and TNF-α was observed in Con-A-stimulated SL and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PMΦ. LTB4levels in Ca ionophore-stimulated PMΦ were reduced by 40 % in GCO-fed rats. NO release in response to various stimuli was significantly decreased in PMΦ of GCO-fed rats. The present study is the first report on the modulatory efficacy of GCO on immunomediators in rats. GCO modulated inflammatory mediators such as NO and LTB4, and thus may play a role in alleviating inflammatory conditions favourably.
Protein deficiency, but not zinc deficiency, reduces recovery of type 1 and type 2 muscle fibre diameters in the gastrocnemius muscle of growing rats
Authors: Prescod Alexia L. V. , Halliday William C. , Taylor Carla G. 
Published: April 2011

The present study examines the effects of protein- and energy-type malnutrition in combination with Zn deficiency on the growth, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), gastrocnemius muscle mass and fibre diameter of growing rats during a deficiency phase followed by nutritional rehabilitation. Rats (3-weeks old) were randomly assigned to baseline, or Zn-deficient (Z, < 1 mg Zn/kg), protein-deficient (P, 20 g protein/kg), combined Zn- and protein-deficient (ZP), energy-deficient (E, feed intake pair-fed to Z) or control (C, 30 mg Zn/kg and 170 g protein/kg) groups for a 3-week deficiency phase, followed by a 3-week repletion phase with the control diet. ATPase histochemical staining at pH 9·4 was used to differentiate type 1 and type 2 muscle fibres. After the deficiency phase, the ZP and P groups had lower body weight and smaller gastrocnemius muscle mass than the Z and E groups. Type 1 and 2 muscle fibre diameters (T1- and T2-MFD, respectively) were reduced in the ZP, P and Z groups compared with the E and C groups. Serum Zn was reduced in the ZP, P and Z groups, but serum IGF-1 was lowest in the Z and E groups. After the repletion phase, T1-MFD did not recover in the P and E groups nor T2-MFD in the P group, despite the P and E groups having a better recovery of body weight. In summary, previous protein deficiency, but not Zn deficiency, limited the recovery of both T1- and T2-MFD during nutritional repletion. The quality of skeletal muscle recovery in the malnourished groups was not associated with body weight, muscle mass, serum Zn or IGF-1 concentrations.
Consumption of a DHA-containing functional food during pregnancy is associated with lower infant ponderal index and cord plasma insulin concentration
Authors: Courville Amber B. , Harel Ofer , Lammi-Keefe Carol J. 
Published: April 2011

DHA (22 : 6n-3) in pregnancy has previously been shown to benefit infant brain and retinal development. Fatty acid consumption during pregnancy may also have an impact on infant adipose tissue development. The objective of the present study was to assess the prenatal impact of a DHA-containing functional food (DHA-FF) on infant intra-uterine growth. This was a longitudinal, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Pregnant women were assigned to consume a DHA-FF or placebo bar from 24 weeks' gestation until delivery. Blood samples were collected from mothers at baseline and delivery and from the umbilical cord at delivery. Plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids were analysed by GLC and plasma insulin concentrations were analysed using a commercially available ELISA kit. Infant birth weight and length were obtained at delivery and ponderal index (weight (g)/length (cm)3 × 100) was calculated. A total of forty-seven mothers completed the study. Infants of mothers consuming the DHA-FF during the last half of pregnancy had lower ponderal indices (β = 0·198,P < 0·05) and umbilical cord blood insulin concentrations (β = 0·743,P < 0·05) than infants of mothers consuming the placebo. Thus, DHA consumption during pregnancy may be advantageous with respect to infant body composition at birth and insulin sensitivity.
Autophagy up-regulation by early weaning in the liver, spleen and skeletal muscle of piglets
Authors: Zhang Shaojin , Li Xiao , Li Lei , Yan Xianghua 
Published: April 2011

Autophagy, a catabolic process responsible for the degradation of cytosolic components and the preservation of cellular homeostasis in virtually all eukaryotic organisms, is up-regulated when nutrient supplies are limited. However, whether early weaning induces autophagy in infants is not completely clear. In the present study, we used piglets as the early-weaning model to examine the autophagic activity in different tissues in response to nutrient status. Western blot analysis demonstrated that microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II, a promising marker protein for macroautophagy, was expressed at a notably higher level at 12 and 24 h weaning treatments than without weaning treatment (P < 0·01), and that the p62 (sequestome 1; SQSTM1) expression level was significantly attenuated after weaning treatments (P < 0·01) in the liver, spleen and skeletal muscle tissues. In addition, autophagic vacuoles detected by transmission electron microscopy were dramatically accumulated in these tissues (P < 0·01). Together, these results indicate that autophagy induced by early weaning may be helpful for the physiological system, which controls the balance of energy and nutrients for basic cell functions in the piglet model.
Completions of Boolean algebras of projections and weak-star closures of C*-algebras on dual Banach spaces
Authors: Spain Philip G. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractPalmer has shown that those hermitians in the weak-star operator closure of a commutative C*-algebra represented on a dual Banach space X that are known to commute with the initial C*-algebra form the real part of a weakly closed C*-algebra on X. Relying on a result of Murphy, it is shown in this paper that this last proviso may be dropped, and that the weak-star closure is even a W*-algebra.When the dual Banach space X is separable, one can prove a similar result for C*-equivalent algebras, via a ‘separable patch’ completion theorem for Boolean algebras of projections on such spaces.
The use of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions as a hearing screen following grommet insertion
Authors: Dale O T , McCann L J , Thio D , Wells S C , Drysdale A J 
Published: April 2011

AbstractObjective:This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of transient evoked otoacoustic emission testing as a screening tool for hearing loss in children, after grommet insertion.Method:A prospective study was conducted of 48 children (91 ears) aged three to 16 years who had undergone grommet insertion for glue ear. At post-operative review, pure tone audiometry was performed followed by transient evoked otoacoustic emission testing. Outcomes for both tests, in each ear, were compared.Results:The pure tone audiometry threshold was ≤20 dB in 85 ears (93.4 per cent), 25 dB in two ears (2.2 per cent) and ≥30 dB in four ears (4.4 per cent). Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions were detected in 69 ears (75.8 per cent). The sensitivity of transient evoked otoacoustic emission testing for detecting hearing loss was 100 per cent for ≥30 dB loss but only 66.7 per cent for ≥25 dB loss.Conclusion:Transient evoked otoacoustic emission testing offers a sensitive means of detecting hearing loss of ≥30 dB following grommet insertion in children. However, the use of such testing as a screening tool may miss some cases of mild hearing loss.
The point-touch technique for botulinum toxin injection in adductor spasmodic dysphonia: quality of life assessment
Authors: Morzaria S , Damrose E J 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground:Botulinum toxin injection under electromyographic guidance is the ‘gold standard’ for adductor spasmodic dysphonia treatment. The point-touch technique, an alternative injection method which relies on anatomical landmarks, is cheaper, quicker and more accessible, but has not yet gained widespread acceptance due to concerns about patient satisfaction.Objective:To assess swallowing and voice-related quality of life following point-touch botulinum toxin injection in adductor spasmodic dysphonia patients.Setting:Stanford University Voice and Swallowing Center.Design:Prospective case series (evidence level four).Methods:Consecutive adductor spasmodic dysphonia patients with a stable botulinum toxin dose–response relationship were recruited prospectively. The Eating Assessment Tool and Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaires were completed pre-treatment and at 10 and 30 per cent completion of the injection cycle, respectively.Results:Thirty-seven patients completed follow up. The mean total botulinum toxin dose was 0.88 units. Pre-treatment Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire results reflected the burden of disease. Post-treatment Eating Assessment Tool and Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire results were collected at 2.53 and 7.84 weeks, respectively; the former showed an increase in dysphagia, albeit statistically insignificant, while the latter showed significantly improved scores (both domain and total).Conclusion:The point-touch technique is a viable alternative for botulinum toxin injection in the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia.
The potential impact of native Australian trypanosome infections on the health of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: McINNES L. M. , GILLETT A. , HANGER J. , REID S. A. , RYAN U. M. 
Published: April 2011

SUMMARYWhole blood collected from koalas admitted to the Australian Zoo Wildlife Hospital (AZWH), Beerwah, QLd, Australia, during late 2006–2009 was tested using trypanosome species-specific 18S rDNA PCRs designed to amplify DNA fromTrypanosoma irwini, T. gillettiandT. copemani. Clinical records for each koala sampled were reviewed and age, sex, blood packed cell volume (PCV), body condition, signs of illness, blood loss, trauma, chlamydiosis, bone marrow disease, koala AIDS and hospital admission outcome (‘survival’ / ‘non-survival’) were correlated with PCR results. Overall 73·8% (439/595) of the koalas were infected with at least 1 species of trypanosome.Trypanosoma irwiniwas detected in 423/595 (71·1%),T. gillettiin 128/595 (21·5%) andT. copemaniin 26/595 (4·4%) of koalas. Mixed infections were detected in 125/595 (21%) with co-infections ofT. irwiniandT. gilletti(101/595, 17%) being most common. There was a statistical association between infection withT. gillettiwith lower PCV values and body condition scores in koalas with signs of chlamydiosis, bone marrow disease or koala AIDS. No association betweenT. gillettiinfection and any indicator of health was observed in koalas without signs of concurrent disease. This raises the possibility thatT. gillettimay be potentiating other disease syndromes affecting koalas.
Environmental constraints influencing survival of an African parasite in a north temperate habitat: effects of temperature on egg development
Authors: TINSLEY R. C. , YORK J. E. , EVERARD A. L. E. , STOTT L. C. , CHAPPLE S. J. , TINSLEY M. C. 
Published: April 2011

SUMMARYFactors affecting survival of parasites introduced to new geographical regions include changes in environmental temperature. Protopolystoma xenopodis is a monogenean introduced with the amphibian Xenopus laevis from South Africa to Wales (probably in the 1960s) where low water temperatures impose major constraints on life-cycle processes. Effects were quantified by maintenance of eggs from infections in Wales under controlled conditions at 10, 12, 15, 18, 20 and 25°C. The threshold for egg viability/ development was 15°C. Mean times to hatching were 22 days at 25°C, 32 days at 20°C, extending to 66 days at 15°C. Field temperature records provided calibration of transmission schedules. Although egg production continues year-round, all eggs produced during >8 months/ year die without hatching. Output contributing significantly to transmission is restricted to 10 weeks (May–mid-July). Host infection, beginning after a time lag of 8 weeks for egg development, is also restricted to 10 weeks (July–September). Habitat temperatures (mean 15·5°C in summer 2008) allow only a narrow margin for life-cycle progress: even small temperature increases, predicted with ‘global warming’, enhance infection. This system provides empirical data on the metrics of transmission permitting long-term persistence of isolated parasite populations in limiting environments.
MixedTheileriainfections in free-ranging buffalo herds: implications for diagnosingTheileria parvainfections in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
Authors: PIENAAR RONEL , POTGIETER FRED T. , LATIF ABDALLA A. , THEKISOE ORIEL M. M. , MANS BEN J. 
Published: April 2011

SUMMARYBuffalo-adaptedTheileria parvacauses Corridor disease in cattle. Strict control measures therefore apply to the movement of buffalo in South Africa and include mandatory testing of buffalo for the presence ofT. parva. The official test is a real-time hybridization PCR assay that amplifies the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene ofT. parva, T.sp. (buffalo) andT.sp. (bougasvlei). The effect that mixedT. parvaandT.sp. (buffalo)-like infections have on accurateT. parvadiagnosis was investigated in this study.In vitromixed infection simulations indicated PCR signal suppression at 100 to 1000-foldT.sp. (buffalo) excess at lowT. parvaparasitaemia. Suppression of PCR signal was found in field buffalo with mixed infections. TheT. parva-positive status of these cases was confirmed by selective suppression ofT.sp. (buffalo) amplification using a locked nucleic acid clamp and independent assays based on the p67, p104 andTprgenes. The incidence of mixed infections in the Corridor disease endemic region of South Africa is significant, while the prevalence in buffalo outside the endemic area is currently low. A predicted increase ofT.sp. (buffalo)-like infections can affect future diagnoses where mixed infections occur, prompting the need for improvements in current diagnostics.
Accius, Porcius Licinus, and the Beginning of Latin Literature
Authors: Welsh Jarrett T. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis paper re-examines the scholarly views about the beginning of Latin poetry that were current in the late second centuryb.c., and proposes that the earliest scholars, specifically Accius and Porcius Licinus, marked Livius Andronicus’ hymn to Juno Regina of 207b.c., rather than a play in 197b.c., as the fountainhead of Latin literature. Those histories would suggest that the dominant interpretation put poetry at the heart of the affairs of the state at war; when in the early 40sb.c. Varro and his contemporaries disproved Accius, they were both bringing out new facts about Livius’ earlier career, and rewriting the history of Latin poetry, so that it had its origins in peace, rather than in war.
On weak KAM theory for N-body problems
Authors: MADERNA EZEQUIEL 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe consider N-body problems with potential 1/r2κ, where κ∈(0,1), including the Newtonian case (κ=1/2). Given R>0 and T>0, we find a uniform upper bound for the minimal action of paths binding, in time T, any two configurations which are contained in some ball of radius R. Using cluster partitions, we obtain from these estimates the Hölder regularity of the critical action potential (i.e. of the minimal action of paths binding two configurations in free time). As an application, we establish the weak KAM theorem for these N-body problems, i.e. we prove the existence of fixed points of the Lax–Oleinik semigroup, and we show that they are global viscosity solutions of the corresponding Hamilton–Jacobi equation. We also prove that there are invariant solutions for the action of isometries on the configuration space.
The social lives of rural Australian nursing home residents
Authors: PARMENTER GLENDA , CRUICKSHANK MARY , HUSSAIN RAFAT 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTContact with family and friends, in the form of visiting, is very important to the quality of the lives of rural nursing home residents. However, there has been little recent research that examines the frequency and determinants of visits to rural nursing homes and none in the rural Australian context. This study aimed to address this gap in the literature. A telephone survey with a close family member (N=257) of each participating resident in the rural New England area of New South Wales, Australia gathered data about 3,738 people who formed the potential social networks of these residents. This study found that the wider, potential, social networks of rural nursing home residents comprised approximately 17 people and involved a wide range of family and friends. However, their actual social networks consisted of approximately two females, daughters and friends, who had high-quality relationships with the resident and who visited at least once per month. In contrast to previous assertions that nursing home residents have robust support from their family and friends, the actual social networks of these residents have dwindled considerably over recent years, which may place them at risk of social isolation. This study has implications for nursing home policy and practice and recommendations for addressing the risk of social isolation that rural nursing home residents face are made.
Spectral theory of large Wiener–Hopf operators with complex-symmetric kernels and rational symbols
Authors: BÖTTCHER ALBRECHT , GRUDSKY SERGEI , ISERLES ARIEH 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis paper is devoted to the asymptotic behaviour of individual eigenvalues of truncated Wiener–Hopf integral operators over increasing intervals. The kernel of the operators is complex-symmetric and has a rational Fourier transform. Under additional hypotheses, the main result describes the location of the eigenvalues and provides their asymptotic expansions in terms of the reciprocal of the length of the truncation interval. Also determined is the structure of the eigenfunctions.
Analysis of Elemental Composition of the Eggshell before and after Incubation in the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in Oman
Authors: Al-Bahry S.N. , Mahmoud I.Y. , Melghit K. , Al-Amri I. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractTo date, there are limited studies on loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) eggshell ultrastructure and its elemental composition. Eggs were collected from turtle nests immediately after oviposition and post hatching. Three eggshell layers were recognized. The outer calcareous layer consists of loose nodular units of different shapes and sizes with loose attachment between the units, resulting in numerous spaces and openings. Each unit consists of CaCO3crystals in aragonite (99%) and calcite (1%). The middle layer has several strata with numerous openings connecting the calcareous and the inner shell membrane. Crystallites of the middle layer are a mix of amorphous material with aragonite (62%) and calcite (38%). The inner shell membrane has numerous reticular fibers mixed predominantly with halite (NaCl) and small amounts of sylvite. Thermogravimetry analysis of the calcareous showed a low exothermic peak at 425°C, which corresponds to a transitional phase from aragonite to calcite. A high endothermic peak at 814°C corresponds to decomposition of calcite CaCO3to CaO and CO2. Electron diffraction confirmed the presence of NaCl halite crystal. A significant difference was found in the percentage of elements and crystal configurations in the three layers. This study has value in assessing the emergence success in this endangered species.
An unexpected outcome of radiotherapy planning in implant-based breast reconstruction: a case series
Authors: Sepehripour S , Ridha H , Malata CM 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe describe two cases of cellulitis occurring around ink sites, following tattooing for adjuvant radiotherapy in two patients who had undergone latissimus dorsi-with-implant breast reconstructions. One patient was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics. The second patient developed a peri-implant infection requiring implant removal. Patients with implant-based breast reconstructions should be warned of the potential infection risk of radiotherapy tattooing.
Historical perspective on astrophysical MHD simulations
Authors: Norman Michael L. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis contribution contains the introductory remarks that I presented at IAU Symposium 270 on “Computational Star Formation” held in Barcelona, Spain, May 31–June 4, 2010. I discuss the historical development of numerical MHD methods in astrophysics from a personal perspective. The recent advent of robust, higher-order accurate MHD algorithms and adaptive mesh refinement numerical simulations promises to greatly improve our understanding of the role of magnetic fields in star formation.
Pre-main sequence multiple systems
Authors: Bouy Hervé 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIt is now well established that the majority of young stars are found in multiple systems, so that any theory of stellar formation must account for their existence and properties. Studying the properties of multiple star systems therefore represents a very powerful approach to place observational constraints on star formation theories. Additionally, multiple systems offer other advantages. They provide the most accurate and unambiguous way to measure masses, using orbital fitting and Kepler's laws, and even the stellar radius in the special case of eclipsing binaries. They also allow to compare the properties of 2 coeval objects with different masses, providing important tests for the evolutionary models.
Morphological Complexity of Protostellar Envelopes
Authors: Tobin John J. , Hartmann Lee , Bergin Edwin , Looney Leslie W. , Chiang Hsin-Fang , Heitsch Fabian 
Published: April 2011

AbstractExtinction maps at 8μm from the Spitzer Space Telescope show that many Class 0 protostars exhibit complex, irregular, and non-axisymmetric structure within the densest regions of their dusty envelopes. Many of the systems have highly irregular and non-axisymmetric morphologies on scales ~1000 AU, with a quarter of the sample exhibiting filamentary or flattened dense structures. Complex envelope structure is observed in regions spatially distinct from outflow cavities, and the densest structures often show no systematic alignment perpendicular to the cavities. We suggest that the observed envelope complexity is the result of collapse from protostellar cores with initially non-equilibrium structures. The striking non-axisymmetry in many envelopes could provide favorable conditions for the formation of binary systems. We then show that the kinematics around L1165 as probed with N2H+ are indicative of asymmetric infall; the velocity gradient is not perpendicular to the outflow.