bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in the renal vascular response to angiotensin II involves the Mas receptor
Authors: Safari T. , Nematbakhsh M. , Hilliard L. M. , Evans R. G. , Denton K. M. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimThe renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) depressor arm, particularly renal angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) and Mas receptor (masR) expression, is enhanced in females, which may contribute to renal and cardiovascular protection. We examined the hypotheses that masR activation increases renal blood flow (RBF) at rest and attenuates the reduction in RBF in response to angiotensin II (AngII) infusion in female rats. Furthermore, we postulated that combined activation of the AT2R and masR would produce a greater response than masR activation alone.MethodsIn anaesthetized male and female Wistar rats, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and RBF responses during graded AngII infusion (30–1000 ng kg−1 min−1 i.v.) were assessed following pre‐treatment with vehicle, the masR antagonist A779, or A779 plus the AT2R antagonist PD123319.ResultsBasal MAP was not altered by any pre‐treatment. Basal RBF decreased approx. 20% in female (P < 0.05), but not male rats in response to A779. However, basal RBF was not altered by A779 + PD123319. AngII infusion reduced RBF in a dose‐related fashion (Pdose < 0.0001) and masR blockade did not alter the RBF response to AngII infusion in male or female rats. However, A779 + PD123319 attenuated the reduction in RBF response to AngII in females (Pgroup < 0.005), but not males.ConclusionThe impact of the masR on renal haemodynamics appears to be sexually dimorphic, with greater effects in female than male rats. However, the paradoxical effects of dual AT2R and masR blockade suggest that a greater understanding of the complex interactions between RAS components is required before the therapeutic opportunities of AT2R and/or masR stimulation can be advanced.
A NOVEL APPROACH FOR SAFETY CULTURE ASSESSMENT
Authors: RUAN DA , HARDEMAN FRANK , MKRTCHYAN LUSINE 
Published: July 2012

Safety Culture describes how safety issues are managed within an enterprise. How to make safety culture strong and sustainable? How to be sure that safety is a prime responsibility or main focus for all types of activity? How to improve safety culture and how to identify the most vulnerable issues of safety culture? These are important questions for safety culture. Huge amount of studies focus on identifying and building the hierarchy of the main indicators of safety culture. However, there are only few methods to assess an organization's safety culture and those methods are often straightforward. In this paper we describe a novel approach for safety culture assessment by using Belief Degree-Distributed Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (BDD-FCMs). Cognitive maps were initially presented for graphical representation of uncertain causal reasoning. Later Kosko suggested Fuzzy Cognitive Maps FCMs in which users freely express their opinions in linguistic terms instead of crisp numbers. However, it is not always easy to assign some linguistic term to a causal link. By using BDD-FCMs, causal links are expressed by belief structures which enable getting the links evaluations with distributions over the linguistic terms. In addition, we propose a general framework to construct BDD-FCMs by directly using belief structures or other types of structures such as intervals, linguistic terms, or crisp numbers. The proposed framework provides a more flexible tool for causal reasoning as it handles different structures to evaluate causal links.
Testing for the Possible Influence of Unknown Climate Forcings upon Global Temperature Increases from 1950 to 2000
Authors: Anderson Bruce T. , Knight Jeff R. , Ringer Mark A. , Yoon Jin-Ho , Cherchi Annalisa 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Global-scale variations in the climate system over the last half of the twentieth century, including long-term increases in global-mean near-surface temperatures, are consistent with concurrent human-induced emissions of radiatively active gases and aerosols. However, such consistency does not preclude the possible influence of other forcing agents, including internal modes of climate variability or unaccounted for aerosol effects. To test whether other unknown forcing agents may have contributed to multidecadal increases in global-mean near-surface temperatures from 1950 to 2000, data pertaining to observed changes in global-scale sea surface temperatures and observed changes in radiatively active atmospheric constituents are incorporated into numerical global climate models. Results indicate that the radiative forcing needed to produce the observed long-term trends in sea surface temperatures—and global-mean near-surface temperatures—is provided predominantly by known changes in greenhouse gases and aerosols. Further, results indicate that less than 10% of the long-term historical increase in global-mean near-surface temperatures over the last half of the twentieth century could have been the result of internal climate variability. In addition, they indicate that less than 25% of the total radiative forcing needed to produce the observed long-term trend in global-mean near-surface temperatures could have been provided by changes in net radiative forcing from unknown sources (either positive or negative). These results, which are derived from simple energy balance requirements, emphasize the important role humans have played in modifying the global climate over the last half of the twentieth century.
Histone modification pattern evolution after yeast gene duplication
Authors: Zou Yangyun , Su Zhixi , Huang Wei , Gu Xun 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Gene duplication and subsequent functional divergence especially expression divergence have been widely considered as main sources for evolutionary innovations. Many studies evidenced that genetic regulatory network evolved rapidly shortly after gene duplication, thus leading to accelerated expression divergence and diversification. However, little is known whether epigenetic factors have mediated the evolution of expression regulation since gene duplication. In this study, we conducted detailed analyses on yeast histone modification (HM), the major epigenetics type in this organism, as well as other available functional genomics data to address this issue.

Results
Duplicate genes, on average, share more common HM-code patterns than random singleton pairs in their promoters and open reading frames (ORF). Though HM-code divergence between duplicates in both promoter and ORF regions increase with their sequence divergence, the HM-code in ORF region evolves slower than that in promoter region, probably owing to the functional constraints imposed on protein sequences. After excluding the confounding effect of sequence divergence (or evolutionary time), we found the evidence supporting the notion that in yeast, the HM-code may co-evolve with cis- and trans-regulatory factors. Moreover, we observed that deletion of some yeast HM-related enzymes increases the expression divergence between duplicate genes, yet the effect is lower than the case of transcription factor (TF) deletion or environmental stresses.

Conclusions
Our analyses demonstrate that after gene duplication, yeast histone modification profile between duplicates diverged with evolutionary time, similar to genetic regulatory elements. Moreover, we found the evidence of the co-evolution between genetic and epigenetic elements since gene duplication, together contributing to the expression divergence between duplicate genes.
New fossil species of ommatids (Coleoptera: Archostemata) from the Middle Mesozoic of China illuminating the phylogeny of Ommatidae
Authors: Tan Jingjing , Wang Yongjie , Ren Dong , Yang Xingke 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Ommatidae is arguably the “most ancestral” extant beetle family. Recent species of this group are only found in South America and Australia, but the fossil record reveals a much broader geographical distribution in the Mesozoic. Up to now, thirteen fossil genera with more than 100 species of ommatids have been described. However, the systematic relationships of the extant and extinct Ommatidae have remained obscure. Three constraint topologies were designed based on Kirejtshuk’s hypothesis, enforced the monophyly of Tetraphalerus + Odontomma, Pareuryomma + Notocupes and both respectively.

Results
In this study, four new species, Pareuryomma ancistrodonta sp. nov., Pareuryomma cardiobasis sp. nov., Omma delicata sp. nov., and Tetraphalerus decorosus sp. nov., are described. Based on well-preserved fossil specimens and previously published data the phylogenetic relationships of extant and extinct lineages of Ommatidae were analyzed for the first time cladistically. Based on the results we propose a new classification with six tribes of Ommatidae: Pronotocupedini, Notocupedini, Lithocupedini, Brochocoleini, Ommatini and Tetraphalerini. These taxa replace the traditional four subfamilies.

Conclusion
There is good support for the monophyly of the ingroup. Notocupedini, as defined by Ponomarenko, are paraphyletic. Notocupoides + Eurydictyon are the sister group of the remaining fossil and extant ommatids. Together they form the clade Pronotocupedini. Notocupedini and Lithocupedini are the next two branches. The tribe Brochocoleini is the sister group of a clade comprising Tetraphalerini and Ommatini.
Transportability of tertiary qualifications and CPD: A continuing challenge for the global health workforce
Authors: Saltman Deborah C , Kidd Michael R , Jackson Debra , Cleary Michelle 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
In workforces that are traditionally mobile and have long lead times for new supply, such as health, effective global indicators of tertiary education are increasingly essential. Difficulties with transportability of qualifications and cross-accreditation are now recognised as key barriers to meeting the rapidly shifting international demands for health care providers. The plethora of mixed education and service arrangements poses challenges for employers and regulators, let alone patients; in determining equivalence of training and competency between individuals, institutions and geographical locations.

Discussion
This paper outlines the shortfall of the current indicators in assisting the process of global certification and competency recognition in the health care workforce. Using Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) data we highlight how International standardisation in the tertiary education sector is problematic for the global health workforce. Through a series of case studies, we then describe a model which enables institutions to compare themselves internally and with others internationally using bespoke or prioritised parameters rather than standards.

Summary
The mobility of the global health workforce means that transportability of qualifications is an increasing area of concern. Valid qualifications based on workplace learning and assessment requires at least some variables to be benchmarked in order to judge performance.
Metabolomic profiling in blood from umbilical cords of low birth weight newborns
Authors: Ivorra Carmen , García-Vicent Consuelo , Chaves Felipe Javier , Monleón Daniel , Morales José Manuel , Lurbe Empar 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackgroundLow birth weight has been linked to an increased risk to develop obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension in adult life, although the mechanisms underlying the association are not well understood. The objective was to determine whether the metabolomic profile of plasma from umbilical cord differs between low and normal birth weight newborns.MethodsFifty healthy pregnant women and their infants were selected. The eligibility criteria were being born at term and having a normal pregnancy. Pairs were grouped according to their birth weight: low birth weight (LBW, birth weight < 10thpercentile, n = 20) and control (control, birth weight between the 75th-90thpercentiles, n = 30). Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was used to generate metabolic fingerprints of umbilical cord plasma samples. Simultaneously, the metabolomic profiles of the mothers were analysed. The resulting data were subjected to chemometric, principal component and partial least squares discriminant analyses.ResultsUmbilical cord plasma from LBW and control newborns displayed a clearly differentiated metabolic profile. Seven metabolites were identified that discriminate the LBW from the control group. LBW newborns had lower levels of choline, proline, glutamine, alanine and glucose than did the control newborns, while plasma levels of phenylalanine and citrulline were higher in LBW newborns (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups of mothers.ConclusionsLow birth weight newborns display a differential metabolomic profile than those of normal birth weight, a finding not present in the mothers. The meaning and the potential utility of the findings as biomarkers of risk need to be addressed in future studies.
Time-dependent effects of hypothermia on microglial activation and migration
Authors: Seo Jung-Wan , Kim Jong-Heon , Kim Jae-Hong , Seo Minchul , Han Hyung Soo , Park Jaechan , Suk Kyoungho 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Therapeutic hypothermia is one of the neuroprotective strategies that improve neurological outcomes after brain damage in ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury. Microglial cells become activated following brain injury and play an important role in neuroinflammation and subsequent brain damage. The aim of this study was to determine the time-dependent effects of hypothermia on microglial cell activation and migration, which are accompanied by neuroinflammation.

Methods
Microglial cells in culture were subjected to mild (33 °C) or moderate (29 °C) hypothermic conditions before, during, or after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or hypoxic stimulation, and the production of nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and neurotoxicity was evaluated. Effects of hypothermia on microglial migration were also determined in in vitro as well as in vivo settings.

Results
Early-, co-, and delayed-hypothermic treatments inhibited microglial production of inflammatory mediators to varying degrees: early treatment was the most efficient, and delayed treatment showed time-dependent effects. Delayed hypothermia also suppressed the mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines and iNOS, and attenuated microglial neurotoxicity in microglia-neuron co-cultures. Furthermore, delayed hypothermia reduced microglial migration in the Boyden chamber assay and wound healing assay. In a stab injury model, delayed local hypothermia reduced migration of microglia toward the injury site in the rat brain.

Conclusion
Taken together, our results indicate that delayed hypothermia is sufficient to attenuate microglial activation and migration, and provide the basis of determining the optimal time window for therapeutic hypothermia. Delayed hypothermia may be neuroprotective by inhibiting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, indicating the therapeutic potential of post-injury hypothermia for patients with brain damages exhibiting some of the inflammatory components.
Occupational lead exposure among automotive garage workers – a case study for Jimma town, Ethiopia
Authors: Adela Yalemsew , Ambelu Argaw , Tessema Dejene A 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
In Ethiopia, although there are numerous small-scale and medium industries which use lead-based raw materials that may pose health risks to workers, there are no workplace regulations for lead exposure. Moreover, there are no studies carried out on the blood lead levels (BLLs) of workers or on the contribution of common workplace practices to lead poisoning.

Method
A cross-sectional study on the BLLs of 45 automotive garage workers and 40 non-garage workers was carried out in the town of Jimma, Ethiopia. In addition to BLL analysis, data on some risk factors such as smoking, and chewing ‘khat’ (the leaves of Catha adulis) were gathered through structured questionnaires and interviews and data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 16). The t-test was used to compare mean BLLs of study groups. The analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson chi-square and odds ratio tests were used to investigate the associations between specific job type, smoking and/or ‘khat’ chewing, service years and occurrence of non-specific symptoms with BLLs.

Results
The mean BLL of the automotive-garage workers was found to be significantly greater than that of the controls. The BLLs of all the lead-exposed individuals were found to be over 10 μg/dL, and 53% of them had BLLs ranging 12 – 20 μg/dL, with the remaining 47% having over 20 μg/dL. The BLL of the workers increased with the duration of working in an automotive garage.
Individuals involved in manual car painting comprise a larger percentage (58%) of those with the highest BLLs (≥ 20 μg/dL). Lead accumulation in individuals who chew ‘khat’ in the work place was found to be faster than in those who are not used to chewing ‘khat’. ‘Khat’ is an evergreen shrub native to tropical East Africa, with dark green opposite leaves which are chewed when fresh for their stimulating effects.

Conclusion
The findings of the study have clearly demonstrated that the BLLs of automotive-garage workers in Jimma town are considerably high with a range of 11.73 – 36.52 μg/dL and the workers are in danger of impending lead toxicity. The BLLs of the workers are influenced by their occupational practices, chewing Catha adulis leaves at the workplace, and the time spent working in an automotive garage.
Forage preservation (grazing vs. hay) fed to ewes affects the fatty acid profile of milk and CPT1B gene expression in the sheep mammary gland
Authors: Dervishi Elda , Joy Margalida , Sanz Albina , Alvarez-Rodriguez Javier , Molino Francisco , Calvo Jorge H 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Alterations in lipid metabolism occur when animals are exposed to different feeding systems. In the last few decades, the characterisation of genes involved in fat metabolism and technological advances have enabled the study of the effect of diet on the milk fatty acid (FA) profile in the mammary gland and aided in the elucidation of the mechanisms of the response to diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different forage diets (grazing vs. hay) near the time of ewe parturition on the relationship between the fatty acid profile and gene expression in the mammary gland of the Churra Tensina sheep breed.

Results
In this study, the forage type affected the C18:2 cis-9 trans-11 (CLA) and long-chain saturated fatty acid (LCFA) content, with higher percentages during grazing than during hay feeding. This may suggest that these FAs act as regulatory factors for the transcriptional control of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) gene, which was more highly expressed in the grazing group (GRE). The most highly expressed gene in the mammary gland at the fifth week of lactation is CAAT/ enhancer- binding protein beta (CEBPB), possibly due to its role in milk fat synthesis in the mammary gland. More stable housekeeping genes in the ovine mammary gland that would be appropriate for use in gene expression studies were ribosomal protein L19 (RPL19) and glyceraldehyde- 3- phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH).

Conclusions
Small changes in diet, such as the forage preservation (grazing vs. hay), can affect the milk fatty acid profile and the expression of the CPT1B gene, which is associated with the oxidation of fatty acids. When compared to hay fed indoors, grazing fresh low mountain pastures stimulates the milk content of CLA and LCFA via mammary uptake. In this sense, LCFA in milk may be acting as a regulatory factor for transcriptional control of the CPT1B gene, which was more highly expressed in the grazing group.
Transcriptome analysis of head kidney in grass carp and discovery of immune-related genes
Authors: Chen Jin , Li Cai , Huang Rong , Du Fukuan , Liao Lanjie , Zhu Zuoyan , Wang Yaping 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is one of the most economically important freshwater fish, but its production is often affected by diseases that cause serious economic losses. To date, no good breeding varieties have been obtained using the oriented cultivation technique. The ability to identify disease resistance genes in grass carp is important to cultivate disease-resistant varieties of grass carp.

Results
In this study, we constructed a non-normalized cDNA library of head kidney in grass carp, and, after clustering and assembly, we obtained 3,027 high-quality unigenes. Solexa sequencing was used to generate sequence tags from the transcriptomes of the head kidney in grass carp before and after grass carp reovirus (GCRV) infection. After processing, we obtained 22,144 tags that were differentially expressed by more than 2-fold between the uninfected and infected groups. 679 of the differentially expressed tags (3.1%) mapped to 483 of the unigenes (16.0%). The up-regulated and down-regulated unigenes were annotated using gene ontology terms; 16 were annotated as immune-related and 42 were of unknown function having no matches to any of the sequences in the databases that were used in the similarity searches. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed four unknown unigenes that showed significant responses to the viral infection. Based on domain structure predictions, one of these sequences was found to encode a protein that contained two transmembrane domains and, therefore, may be a transmembrane protein. Here, we proposed that this novel unigene may encode a virus receptor or a protein that mediates the immune signalling pathway at the cell surface.

Conclusion
This study enriches the molecular basis data of grass carp and further confirms that, based on fish tissue-specific EST databases, transcriptome analysis is an effective route to discover novel functional genes.
Purification and characterization of trypsin from the digestive system of carp Catla catla (Hamilton)
Authors: Khangembam Bronson Kumar , YVR Kameshwar Sharma , Chakrabarti Rina 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Trypsin was purified from the digestive system of carp Catla catla (Hamilton) by ammonium sulfate fractionation, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column chromatography, and Benzamidine Sepharose 4 fast flow column affinity chromatography. Trypsin was purified 26.2-fold with an 11.1% yield. The purified enzyme was active between pH 7.0 and 9.8, and maximal activity of the enzyme was observed at pH 7.0. Highest activity was found at 40°C. The activity was reduced to 52.84% at 60°C and was completely lost at 70°C. An addition of 2 mM CaCl2 enhanced trypsin activity during the 8-h incubation. The K
m, K
cat, and catalytic efficiency values of purified enzyme were 0.062 mM and 19.23/s, and 310.16/s/mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonylflouride, and N-α-p-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 20.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Mass spectrometry study of purified enzyme gave the peptide sequences LGEHNIAVNEGTEQFIDSVK (MW = 2,027.9568) and HPSYNSRNLDNDIM (MW = 1,692.6952) showing identical sequence with trypsin from various fishes.