bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of Technologies for High Phosphorus Oolitic Hematite Utilization
Authors: Jie Wu , Zhijun Wen , Mingjin Cen 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWith increasing consumption of iron ore over the world, new technology of beneficiation and smelting is more urgently needed than ever before to explore ores which, are difficult to utilise by beneficiation and smelting processes. Oolitic Hematite mines, iron ore with poor beneficiation efficiency are widely distributed in China with the most abundant deposits. In this paper, comprehensive technology integrating beneficiation and smelting processes was proposed. This paper reports the experimental results on ore beneficiation, pretreatment of hot metal with high phosphorus and dephosphorization during direct reduction. It would provide technology support for the efficient utilization of high phosphorus Oolitic Hematite, and also provide technology for industrial demonstrating projects.
Rapid small‐scale starch isolation using a combination of ultrasonic sonication and sucrose density separation
Authors: Benmoussa Mustapha , Hamaker Bruce R. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe proposed rapid small‐scale starch isolation technique in the laboratory was a combination of dry grinding of grain, suspension of the resulting flour in extraction buffer, application of ultrasonic sonication, then separation by sucrose density centrifugation. Light microscopy of separated fractions showed intact starch granules in the pellet and proteins and damaged starch in the top layer. The extraction method yielded 61% starch from sorghum and 63% from maize. The isolated starch showed lower starch damage and proteins content than by the conventional method. The gelatinization enthalpy of isolated starch was slightly higher than by wet grinding conventional method. In addition to low amount of starting flour (100 mg) the new starch isolation method was performed in less than 2 h from dry grinded seed to dried starch. Thus, it could be a useful method for cereal chemists and plant genetists.
Prognostic Significance of Young Age (<35 Years) by Subtype Based on ER, PR, and HER2 Status in Breast Cancer: A Nationwide Registry‐Based Study
Authors: Kim Eun‐Kyu , Noh Woo Chul , Han Wonshik , Noh Dong‐Young 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundYoung age is regarded as an adverse prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer, especially in those with a hormone receptor (HR)‐positive tumor. We investigated the prognostic significance of an age of <35 years stratified by molecular subtype based on HR and HER2.MethodsTwo large databases of Korean breast cancer patients, which included nationwide registry data, were analyzed.ResultsIn an analysis of 2,474 patients from the single institution, an age of <35 years was found to be an independent predictor of recurrence in patients with HR+/HER2− (hazard ratio 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–3.14; P = 0.018), HR+/HER2+ (hazard ratio 3.09; 95% CI: 1.19–8.03; P = 0.020), and HR−/HER2+ (hazard ratio 2.01; 95% CI: 1.03–3.92; P = 0.040) subtypes, but not in those with the HR−/HER2− (triple‐negative, TN) subtype (hazard ratio 1.08; 95% CI: 0.60–1.95; P = 0.802). The results of an analysis of nationwide database data on 31,672 patients also showed that an age of <35 years significantly predicted poor cancer‐specific survival in patients with HR+/HER2− (hazard ratio 3.40; 95% CI: 2.41–4.82; P < 0.001), HR+/HER2+ (hazard ratio 1.96; 95% CI: 1.23–3.12; P = 0.005), and HR−/HER2+ (hazard ratio 1.65; 95% CI: 1.07–2.52; P = 0.022) subtypes, but again not in those with the TN subtype (hazard ratio 1.21; 95% CI: 0.88–1.67; P = 0.240).ConclusionThe prognostic significance of young age was found to depend on molecular subtype. An age of <35 years was a poor prognosticator in patients with the HR+/HER2−, HR+/HER2+, and HR−/HER2+ subtypes, but not in those with the TN subtype.
Shahnon Ahmad's No Harvest but a Thorn
Authors: Thumboo Edwin 
Published: April 2011

No Harvest but a Thorn opens with a sentence whose emphatic brevity outlines the macrocosm governing the interlocking spiritual, emotional, and physical environment inhabited by Lahuma and his family. ThatLife and death, dearth and plenty, are in the hands of God. In the hands of Allah the Almighty. (p. 1)is simultaneously religious doctrine and empirical attitude, declaration of faith and supplication. Moreover, the quartet of primeval forces, announced with stark simplicity of tone, creates a powerful, complementing sense of time as a cycle felt through significant events. Thus marshalled, the four key words emphasize further both their antithetical and complementing relationships (life-plenty, death-dearth) and the degree to which events, and the processes they embody, control the rhythms of life in Banggul Derdap. Allah presides over cause and effect. As the pair of sentences occurs four times in the first eight, relatively short paragraphs of Chapter 1, the realities of these basic equations are installed as constants in the readers' awareness. A vital point regarding what constitutes an essential part of Lahuma's existence is being urged vigorously for their benefit. Their world view, limited though it proves, derives from and remains utterly dependent on these dominant elements in the macrocosm. Village life, which takes hard, unremitting labour for granted, is prone to sudden, tragic turns — a fact that alters the scale we are inclined to adopt when assessing the tenor and the general quality of life.
Comparison of macrobenthic assemblages of three fish estuarine nurseries and their importance as foraging grounds
Authors: Selleslagh Jonathan , Lesourd Sandric , Amara Rachid 
Published: April 2011

Macrobenthic assemblages were examined in three fish estuarine nurseries and related to environmental variables, as well as fish and macrocrustaceans, in order to assess and compare the potential foraging ground value of these systems. Macrobenthos was sampled in spring 2007 in the Canche, Authie and Somme estuaries (eastern English Channel, France). A total of 17, 28 and 23 macrobenthic taxa, with a clear dominance of amphipods (mainly Bathyporeia sarsi), polychaetes and bivalves, were recorded in the three estuaries respectively. Although predators (fish and macrocrustaceans) were abundant, relatively high densities of macrobenthos were observed: 876.2 ± 389.1, 595.4 ± 197.2 and 854.3 ± 281.2 ind. m-2 in the Canche, Authie and Somme, respectively. No significant difference in species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity and density (total and dominant groups) of macrobenthos was observed between the three estuaries. Although the analysis of similarity and similarity percentages analyses indicated that macrobenthic assemblage was variable between Authie and Somme, results showed that macrobenthos resource was relatively high and similar in the three estuaries. Taking into account these considerations, the present study indicated a similar relative importance of the Canche, Authie and Somme estuaries as foraging grounds for fish and macrocrustaceans during spring. Multivariate analysis showed that macrobenthic assemblages were mainly driven by salinity and sediment characteristics in the Canche and Authie estuaries while in the Somme estuary sediment characteristics were the most influencing parameters.
Bilingual parents' modeling of pragmatic language use in multiparty interactions
Authors: TARE MEDHA , GELMAN SUSAN A. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTParental input represents an important source of language socialization. Particularly in bilingual contexts, parents may model pragmatic language use and metalinguistic strategies to highlight language differences. The present study examines multiparty interactions involving 28 bilingual English- and Marathi-speaking parent–child pairs in the presence of monolingual bystanders (children's mean ages = 3 years, 2 months and 4 years, 6 months). Their language use was analyzed during three sessions: parent and child alone, parent and child with the English speaker, and parent and child with the Marathi speaker. Parents demonstrated pragmatic differentiation by using relatively more of the bystander's language; however, children did not show this sensitivity. Further, parents used a variety of strategies to discuss language differences, such as providing and requesting translations; children translated most often in response to explicit requests. The results indicate that parents model pragmatic language differentiation as well as metalinguistic talk that may contribute to children's metalinguistic awareness.
Genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance inShigella dysenteriaeandShigella boydiistrains isolated from children aged <5 years in Egypt
Authors: EL-GENDY A. M. , MANSOUR A. , WEINER M. A. , PIMENTEL G. , ARMSTRONG A. W. , YOUNG S. Y. N. , ELSAYED N. , KLENA J. D. 
Published: April 2011

SUMMARYDiversity withinShigella dysenteriae(n=40) andShigella boydii(n=30) isolates from children living in Egypt aged <5 years was investigated.Shigella-associated diarrhoea occurred mainly in summer months and in children aged <3 years, it commonly presented with vomiting and fever. Serotypes 7 (30%), 2 (28%), and 3 (23%) accounted for most ofS. dysenteriaeisolates; 50% ofS. boydiiisolates were serotype 2.S. dysenteriaeandS. boydiiisolates were often resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline (42%, 17%, respectively), although resistance varied among serotypes. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis separated the isolates into distinct clusters correlating with species and serotype. Genetic differences in trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and β-lactam-encoding resistance genes were also evident.S. dysenteriaeandS. boydiiare genetically diverse pathogens in Egypt; the high level of multidrug resistance associated with both pathogens and resistance to the most available inexpensive antibiotics underlines the importance of continuing surveillance.
Autologous embryo–cumulus cells co-culture and blastocyst transfer in repeated implantation failures: a collaborative prospective randomized study
Authors: Benkhalifa M. , Demirol A. , Sari T. , Balashova E. , Tsouroupaki M. , Giakoumakis Y. , Gurgan T. 
Published: April 2011

SummaryIn repeated implantation failure, the co-culture of human embryos with somatic cells has been reported to promote the improvement of embryos quality, implantation and pregnancy rate. It was reported that feeder cells can be more beneficial to the oocyte and embryo by detoxifying the culture medium and supporting embryo development via different pathways. In this study, 432 patients, each with a minimum of three repeated implantation failures, were accepted for a prospective randomized study with or without autologous cumulus cell embryo co-culture and transfer at day 3 or day 5–6. We also investigated the expression of leukaemia inhibitor factor (LIF) and platelet activating factor receptor (PAF-R) on day 3 confluent cumulus cells. The statistic analysis of the data showed significant difference of implantation and clinical pregnancy rates between classical culture and day 3 compared with co-culture and day 5–6 transfer. The molecular analysis showed that cumulus cells express the LIF and the PAF-R genes and confirmed the possible positive role of growth factors and cytokines in early embryo development. Embryo co-culture systems with autologous cells can be beneficial in routine in vitro fertilization for embryo selection and implantation improvement. More molecular investigations need to be done to improve elucidation of the complex dialogue between the embryo and feeder cells prior to implantation and to understand the involved biological function and molecular process during embryo development.
Consumer preferences and the National Treatment Principle: emerging environmental regulations prompt a new look at an old problem
Authors: LYDGATE EMILY BARRETT 
Published: April 2011

AbstractShould consumers' preference for ‘green’ products help justify, from a WTO perspective, emerging regulations such as restrictions on trade in non-sustainable biofuels? Despite the role consumer preferences have played in WTO disputes, in association with the ‘like’ products concept, there has not been enough focused examination of their specific influence, particularly in disputes on ethical public policy issues, such as environmental or health regulations. To this end, this paper examines key GATT Article III disputes, pointing out that they included attempts both to measure, and also to interpret, consumer preferences. The latter approach becomes more tempting when consumer preferences are difficult to measure; import bans or restrictions associated with ethical public policy regulations can bring about such a situation. A hypothetical dispute about EC biofuels sustainability criteria demonstrates this problem. Options to make the concept of consumer preferences more coherent include limitations on how they can be invoked, and an increased commitment to capturing them through measurement.
Regulation of Extra- and Intracellular pH in the Brain in Severe Hypoglycemia
Authors: Pelligrino Dale , Siesjö Bo K. 
Published: April 2011

Severe hypoglycemia is associated with a marked curtailment of cerebral glucose supply and with consumption of endogenous carbohydrate metabolites and amino acids, many of which exist as anions of acids. Since metabolic control of intracellular pH in acute hypo- and hypercapnia seems to be dependent on the production and consumption of metabolic acids, it must be suspected that intracellular pH in the brain is poorly regulated in hypoglycemic animals. We induced hypocapnia (Paco2 about 15 mm Hg) and hypercapnia (Paco2 about 90 mm Hg) in insulin-injected animals in “precoma” (EEG pattern of slow waves, polyspikes) and “coma” (cessation of EEG activity) and measured CSF and intracellular acid-base changes using the CO2 method. The induced hypoglycemia did not measurably alter CSF acid-base changes from the normal during hypercapnia, but it did impair CSF pH regulation in hypocapnia. Animals in precoma showed an unchanged cerebral energy state during both hypo- and hypercapnia. Regulation of intracellular pH was not measurably affected in hypercapnia but was reduced in hypocapnia. These results could be accounted for by a reduced ability of the hypoglycemic animals to produce metabolic acids in response to the decrease in Pco2, while the capacity to “consume” acids was largely retained. In comatose animals, cerebral energy state was held at normocapnic levels during hypercapnia but deteriorated during hypocapnia. In the latter condition, the reduction in adenylate energy charge correlated to a decrease in blood pressure. The capacity to alter metabolic acid levels was abolished. In spite of this, hypocapnia was associated with a marked rise in intracellular pH, in some animals to values of about 7.7 (control, 7.0), and hypercapnia caused only very moderate reduction in intracellular pH. It is proposed that the excessive increase in intracellular pH during hypocapnia was due to hypotension-induced energy failure with subsequent depolarization of cells and passive equilibration of HCO3− (or H+) across the cell membranes. In hypercapnia, the influx of HCO3− into cells was unrelated to further deterioration of cerebral energy state but could possibly have been caused by CO2-induced depolarization and/or increased cell membrane permeability to HCO3−/H+ ions. It is concluded that severe hypoglycemia disrupts intracellular pH regulation in the brain and that hypocapnia combined with moderate hypotension leads to an excessive intracellular alkalosis of potential importance for the development of cell damage.
A Simplified in vivo Autoradiographic Strategy for the Determination of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow by Positron Emission Tomography: Theoretical Considerations and Validation Studies in the Rat
Authors: Ginsberg Myron D. , Lockwood Alan H. , Busto Raul , Finn Ronald D. , Butler Cathy M. , Cendan Ignacio E. , Goddard John 
Published: April 2011

A simplified mathematical model is described for the measurement of regional cerebral blood flow by positron emission tomography in man, based on a modification of the autoradiographic strategy originally developed for experimental animal studies. A modified ramp intravenous infusion of radiolabeled tracer is used; this results in a monotonically increasing curvilinear arterial activity curve that may be accurately described by a polynomial of low degree (= z). Integrated cranial activity C̄ B is measured in regions of interest during the latter portion of the tracer infusion period (times T1 to T2). It is shown that [Formula: see text] where each of the terms A x is a readily evaluated function of the blood flow rate constant k, the brain:blood partition coefficient for the tracer, the cranial activity integration limits T1 and T2, the coefficients of the polynomial describing the arterial curve, and an iteration factor n that is chosen to yield the desired degree of precision. This relationship permits generation of a table of C̄ B vs. k, thus facilitating on-line computer solution for blood flow. This in vivo autoradiographic paradigm was validated in a series of rats by comparing it to the classical autoradiographic strategy developed by Kety and associates. Excellent agreement was demonstrated between blood flow values obtained by the two methods: CBF in vivo = CBFclassical X 0.99 − 0.02 (units in ml g−1 min−1; correlation coefficient r = 0.966).
Targeting the regulation of CFTR channels
Authors: Eckford Paul D.W. , Bear Christine E. 
Published: April 2011

In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, Zhang et al. reveal a new strategy for modifying the regulated function of CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) on the apical surface of epithelial cells. Simply stated, these authors tested the idea that the cAMP-dependent channel activity of CFTR could be effectively enhanced by disruption of a protein–protein interaction which is normally inhibitory for the production of cAMP. This particular protein–protein interaction [between the PDZ motif of LPA2 (type 2 lysophosphatidic acid receptor) and the scaffold protein Nherf2 (Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 2)] is localized in the CFTR interactome on the apical membrane of epithelial cells. Hence disruption of the LPA2–Nherf2 interaction should lead to a localized elevation in cAMP and, consequently, increased cAMP-dependent CFTR activity on the surface of epithelial cells. Zhang et al. confirmed these expectations for a small-molecule compound targeting the LPA2–Nherf2 interaction using relevant cultures and tissues thought to model the human respiratory epithelium. The success of this strategy depended on previous knowledge regarding the role for multiple PDZ-motif-mediated interactions in signalling (directly or indirectly) to CFTR. Given the number and diversity of such PDZ-mediated interactions, future structural and computational studies will be essential for guiding the design of specific pharmacological interventions.
Dynamics of molecules in extreme rotational states
Authors: Yuan Liwei , Teitelbaum Samuel W. , Robinson Allison , Mullin Amy S. 
Published: April 2011

We have constructed an optical centrifuge with a pulse energy that is more than 2 orders of magnitude larger than previously reported instruments. This high pulse energy enables us to create large enough number densities of molecules in extreme rotational states to perform high-resolution state-resolved transient IR absorption measurements. Here we report the first studies of energy transfer dynamics involving molecules in extreme rotational states. In these studies, the optical centrifuge drives CO
2
molecules into states with J ∼ 220 and we use transient IR probing to monitor the subsequent rotational, translational, and vibrational energy flow dynamics. The results reported here provide the first molecular insights into the relaxation of molecules with rotational energy that is comparable to that of a chemical bond.
Comprehensive and relaxed search for oligonucleotide signatures in hierarchically clustered sequence datasets
Authors: Bader Kai Christian , Grothoff Christian , Meier Harald 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Motivation: PCR, hybridization, DNA sequencing and other important methods in molecular diagnostics rely on both sequence-specific and sequence group-specific oligonucleotide primers and probes. Their design depends on the identification of oligonucleotide signatures in whole genome or marker gene sequences. Although genome and gene databases are generally available and regularly updated, collections of valuable signatures are rare. Even for single requests, the search for signatures becomes computationally expensive when working with large collections of target (and non-target) sequences. Moreover, with growing dataset sizes, the chance of finding exact group-matching signatures decreases, necessitating the application of relaxed search methods. The resultant substantial increase in complexity is exacerbated by the dearth of algorithms able to solve these problems efficiently.
Results: We have developed CaSSiS, a fast and scalable method for computing comprehensive collections of sequence- and sequence group-specific oligonucleotide signatures from large sets of hierarchically clustered nucleic acid sequence data. Based on the ARB Positional Tree (PT-)Server and a newly developed BGRT data structure, CaSSiS not only determines sequence-specific signatures and perfect group-covering signatures for every node within the cluster (i.e. target groups), but also signatures with maximal group coverage (sensitivity) within a user-defined range of non-target hits (specificity) for groups lacking a perfect common signature. An upper limit of tolerated mismatches within the target group, as well as the minimum number of mismatches with non-target sequences, can be predefined. Test runs with one of the largest phylogenetic gene sequence datasets available indicate good runtime and memory performance, and in silico spot tests have shown the usefulness of the resulting signature sequences as blueprints for group-specific oligonucleotide probes.
Availability: Software and Supplementary Material are available at http://cassis.in.tum.de/.
Contact: meierh@in.tum.de
Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ProDy: Protein Dynamics Inferred from Theory and Experiments
Authors: Bakan Ahmet , Meireles Lidio M. , Bahar Ivet 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Summary: We developed a Python package, ProDy, for structure-based analysis of protein dynamics. ProDy allows for quantitative characterization of structural variations in heterogeneous datasets of structures experimentally resolved for a given biomolecular system, and for comparison of these variations with the theoretically predicted equilibrium dynamics. Datasets include structural ensembles for a given family or subfamily of proteins, their mutants and sequence homologues, in the presence/absence of their substrates, ligands or inhibitors. Numerous helper functions enable comparative analysis of experimental and theoretical data, and visualization of the principal changes in conformations that are accessible in different functional states. ProDy application programming interface (API) has been designed so that users can easily extend the software and implement new methods.
Availability: ProDy is open source and freely available under GNU General Public License from http://www.csb.pitt.edu/ProDy/.
Contact: ahb12@pitt.edu; bahar@pitt.edu