bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Individual Difference and Study-Specific Characteristics Influencing Attitudes about the Use of Animals in Medical Research
Authors: Pulcino Roarke , Henry Bill 
Published: August 2009

AbstractResearch has shown that both individual difference characteristics (e.g., sex, attachment to pets) and study-specific characteristics (e.g., type of animal used) influence the extent to which people support or oppose the use of animals in research. The current study examined how three study-specific characteristics (type of animal used, level of harm to the animal, and severity of the disease being investigated) influenced attitudes toward the use of animals in biomedical research. Participants read one of 27 scenarios describing the use of an animal in research. Scenarios systematically varied each of the study-specific characteristics described above. Participants then completed a survey to assess their support for, or opposition to, the research described. Data on attachment to pets and attitudes toward the treatment of animals were also collected. Analysis of variance revealed significant main effects for each of the study-specific characteristics. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the individual difference and study-specific characteristics accounted for 49% of the variability in opposition to the use of animals in biomedical research among men, and 37% among women. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, and Animals: A Review of the Treatment of Nonhuman Animals and Other Sentient Beings in Christian-Based Fantasy Fiction
Authors: Morris Michael 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe way that nonhuman animals and other nonhuman sentient beings are portrayed in the Christian-based Harry Potter series, C. S. Lewis's Narnia series, and Tolkien's Middle Earth stories is discussed from a Christian animal liberationist perspective.Middle Earth comes closest to a liberationist ideal, in that vegetarianism is connected with themes of power, healing, and spirituality. Narnia could be described as a more enlightened welfarist society where extremes of animal cruelty are frowned upon, but use of animals for food is acceptable. In contrast, the more recent Harry Potter series portrays a less enlightened attitude toward human and nonhuman animals. Animals are treated merely as ends, vegetarianism is unheard of, and the view that even iconic species have intrinsic worth is ridiculed.
Journeys toward an Authentic Self
Authors: Porter Pete 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis review explores the central themes and species ideology of Bolt, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. All suggest incremental changes in human attitudes toward animals but all strongly confirm the mainstream view of animals as domestic companions and as models of human society. Whatever the limitations of their imagining of nonhuman existence, however, these films promise to raise awareness of some challenges faced by nonhuman animals in a human world.
Memento Mori: Gary Lease and the Study of Religion
Authors: Levene Nancy 
Published: August 2009

AbstractGary Lease wrote vividly about the entanglement of religion and power, pursuing critical histories of religious claims and their social support structures. He sought to replace a standard story of religion's ubiquity (often coupled with an attitude of approval) with a much darker version of the human desires and conflicts embedded in, and masking as, religious discourse. But Lease seems to have been fundamentally ambivalent about the object in question. Is it "religion," namely the ideological dynamics deployed by human beings to dominate one another (and themselves), or is it religion, a void or death wish at the heart of human existence, a now-refashioned ubiquity but without the happy ending? I claim that there are profound, and ultimately productive, ambivalences in Lease's attempt cleanly to circumscribe the object of study—ambivalences which makes him a vital interlocutor in the effort to move beyond conventional histories of religion and consciousness.
Religion's Death Drive and the Future of Religious Studies
Authors: Waggoner Matt 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis paper seeks to recalibrate Lease's place within what Samuel Preus called the "explanatory tradition" of Religious Studies. While others sought to humanize religion by stressing its latent rationality, Lease humanized religion by stressing that it is constantly interrupted by its own internal movement towards failure. "Failure" is for me the central theme of "The History of 'Religious' Consciousness and the Diffusion of Culture."
On the Sensitivity of Annular Mode Dynamics to Stratospheric Radiative Time Scales
Authors: Charlton-Perez Andrew J. , O’Neill Alan 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Long decorrelation time scales of the annular mode are observed in the lower stratosphere. This study uses a simple dynamical model, which has been used extensively to study stratosphere–troposphere coupling to investigate the origin of the long dynamical time scales. Several long runs of the model are completed, with different imposed thermal damping time scales in the stratosphere. The dynamical time scales of the annular mode are found to be largely insensitive to the input thermal damping time scales, producing similar dynamical time scales in all cases below 50 hPa. This result suggests that the hypothesis that long time scales in the lower stratosphere are due to long radiative time scales in this region is false.
Roles of Anomalous Tibetan Plateau Warming on the Severe 2008 Winter Storm in Central-Southern China
Authors: Bao Qing , Yang Jing , Liu Yimin , Wu Guoxiong , Wang Bin 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Anomalous warming occurred over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) before and during the disastrous freezing rain and heavy snow hitting central and southern China in January 2008. The relationship between the TP warming and this extreme event is investigated with an atmospheric general circulation model. Two perpetual runs were performed. One is forced by the climatological mean sea surface temperatures in January as a control run; and the other has the same model setting as the control run except with an anomalous warming over the TP that mimics the observed temperature anomaly. The numerical results demonstrate that the TP warming induces favorable circulation conditions for the occurrence of this extreme event, which include the deepened lower-level South Asian trough, the enhanced lower-level southwesterly moisture transport in central-southern China, the lower-level cyclonic shear in the southerly flow over southeastern China, and the intensified Middle East jet stream in the middle and upper troposphere. Moreover, the anomalous TP warming results in a remarkable cold anomaly near the surface and a warm anomaly aloft over central China, forming a stable stratified inversion layer that favors the formation of the persistent freezing rain. The possible physical linkages between the TP warming and the relevant resultant circulation anomalies are proposed. The potential reason of the anomalous TP warming during the 2007–08 winter is also discussed.
Cascade screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia and its effectiveness in the prevention of vascular disease
Authors: Herman Katherine , Van Heyningen Charles , Wile David 
Published: August 2009

We describe cascade screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and review the evidence for its effectiveness. We consider how it will be implemented into primary and secondary care, its potential advantages and disadvantages, and how it will help to prevent myocardial infarctions in patients with FH. Evidence from European countries and the recent pilot study in the UK show cascade screening for FH to be highly effective by facilitating early identification of many new patients. Treatment to lower cholesterol, if started early, is likely to lead to reductions in cardiovascular events. There are shortcomings in the current care of patients with FH and these should be addressed with the implementation of the new guidelines. To reduce the premature cardiovascular events seen in FH new healthcare infrastructures need to be in place and more education provided for both patients and professionals. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2009;9:171—174
Partial correlation analysis indicates causal relationships between GC-content, exon density and recombination rate in the human genome
Authors: Freudenberg Jan , Wang Mingyi , Yang Yaning , Li Wentian 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
Several features are known to correlate with the GC-content in the human genome, including recombination rate, gene density and distance to telomere. However, by testing for pairwise correlation only, it is impossible to distinguish direct associations from indirect ones and to distinguish between causes and effects.

Results
We use partial correlations to construct partially directed graphs for the following four variables: GC-content, recombination rate, exon density and distance-to-telomere. Recombination rate and exon density are unconditionally uncorrelated, but become inversely correlated by conditioning on GC-content. This pattern indicates a model where recombination rate and exon density are two independent causes of GC-content variation.

Conclusion
Causal inference and graphical models are useful methods to understand genome evolution and the mechanisms of isochore evolution in the human genome.
Molecular mechanisms of tungstate-induced pancreatic plasticity: a transcriptomics approach
Authors: Altirriba Jordi , Barbera Albert , Del Zotto Héctor , Nadal Belen , Piquer Sandra , Sánchez-Pla Alex , Gagliardino Juan J , Gomis Ramon 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
Sodium tungstate is known to be an effective anti-diabetic agent, able to increase beta cell mass in animal models of diabetes, although the molecular mechanisms of this treatment and the genes that control pancreas plasticity are yet to be identified. Using a transcriptomics approach, the aim of the study is to unravel the molecular mechanisms which participate in the recovery of exocrine and endocrine function of streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats treated with tungstate, determining the hyperglycemia contribution and the direct effect of tungstate.

Results
Streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats were treated orally with tungstate for five weeks. Treated (STZ)-diabetic rats showed a partial recovery of exocrine and endocrine function, with lower glycemia, increased insulinemia and amylasemia, and increased beta cell mass achieved by reducing beta cell apoptosis and raising beta cell proliferation. The microarray analysis of the pancreases led to the identification of three groups of differentially expressed genes: genes altered due to diabetes, genes restored by the treatment, and genes specifically induced by tungstate in the diabetic animals. The results were corroborated by quantitative PCR. A detailed description of the pathways involved in the pancreatic effects of tungstate is provided in this paper. Hyperglycemia contribution was studied in STZ-diabetic rats treated with phloridzin, and the direct effect of tungstate was determined in INS-1E cells treated with tungstate or serum from untreated or treated STZ-rats, observing that tungstate action in the pancreas takes places via hyperglycemia-independent pathways and via a combination of tungstate direct and indirect (through the serum profile modification) effects. Finally, the MAPK pathway was evaluated, observing that it has a key role in the tungstate-induced increase of beta cell proliferation as tungstate activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway directly by increasing p42/p44 phosphorylation and indirectly by decreasing the expression of raf kinase inhibitor protein (Rkip), a negative modulator of the pathway.

Conclusion
In conclusion, tungstate improves pancreatic function through a combination of hyperglycemia-independent pathways and through its own direct and indirect effects, whereas the MAPK pathway has a key role in the tungstate-induced increase of beta cell proliferation.
Molecular analysis of Ku redox regulation
Authors: Bennett Sara M , Neher Tracy M , Shatilla Andrea , Turchi John J 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can occur in response to ionizing radiation (IR), radiomimetic agents and from endogenous DNA-damaging reactive oxygen metabolites. Unrepaired or improperly repaired DSBs are potentially the most lethal form of DNA damage and can result in chromosomal translocations and contribute to the development of cancer. The principal mechanism for the repair of DSBs in humans is non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). Ku is a key member of the NHEJ pathway and plays an important role in the recognition step when it binds to free DNA termini. Ku then stimulates the assembly and activation of other NHEJ components. DNA binding of Ku is regulated by redox conditions and evidence from our laboratory has demonstrated that Ku undergoes structural changes when oxidized that results in a reduction in DNA binding activity. The C-terminal domain and cysteine 493 of Ku80 were investigated for their contribution to redox regulation of Ku.

Results
We effectively removed the C-terminal domain of Ku80 generating a truncation mutant and co-expressed this variant with wild type Ku70 in an insect cell system to create a Ku70/80ΔC heterodimer. We also generated two single amino acid variants of Cys493, replacing this amino acid with either an alanine (C493A) or a serine (C493S), and over-expressed the variant proteins in SF9 insect cells in complex with wild type Ku70. Neither the truncation nor the amino acid substitutions alters protein expression or stability as determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. We show that the C493 mutations do not alter the ability of Ku to bind duplex DNA in vitro under reduced conditions while truncation of the Ku80 C-terminus slightly reduced DNA binding affinity. Diamide oxidation of cysteines was shown to inhibit DNA binding similarly for both the wild-type and all variant proteins. Interestingly, differential DNA binding activity following re-reduction was observed for the Ku70/80ΔC truncation mutant.

Conclusion
Together, these results suggest that the C-terminal domain and C493 of Ku80 play at most a minor role in the redox regulation of Ku, and that other cysteines are likely involved, either alone or in conjunction with these regions of Ku80.
Using an oblique incident laser beam to measure the optical properties of stomach mucosa/submucosa tissue
Authors: Wei Hua Jiang , Xing Da , He Bo Hua , Gu Huai Min , Wu Guo Yong , Chen Xue Mei 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
The purpose of the study is to determine the optical properties and their differences for normal human stomach mucosa/submucosa tissue in the cardiac orifice in vitro at 635, 730, 808, 890 and 980 nm wavelengths of laser.

Methods
The measurements were performed using a CCD detector, and the optical properties were assessed from the measurements using the spatially resolved reflectance, and nonlinear fitting of diffusion equation.

Results
The results of measurement showed that the absorption coefficients, the reduced scattering coefficients, the optical penetration depths, the diffusion coefficients, the diffuse reflectance and the shifts of diffuse reflectance of tissue samples at five different wavelengths vary with a change of wavelength. The maximum absorption coefficient for tissue samples is 0.265 mm-1 at 980 nm, and the minimum absorption coefficient is 0.0332 mm-1 at 730 nm, and the maximum difference in the absorption coefficients is 698% between 730 and 980 nm, and the minimum difference is 1.61% between 635 and 808 nm. The maximum reduced scattering coefficient for tissue samples is 1.19 mm-1 at 635 nm, and the minimum reduced scattering coefficient is 0.521 mm-1 at 980 nm, and the maximum difference in the reduced scattering coefficients is 128% between 635 and 980 nm, and the minimum difference is 1.15% between 890 and 980 nm. The maximum optical penetration depth for tissue samples is 3.57 mm at 808 nm, and the minimum optical penetration depth is 1.43 mm at 980 nm. The maximum diffusion constant for tissue samples is 0.608 mm at 890 nm, and the minimum diffusion constant is 0.278 mm at 635 nm. The maximum diffuse reflectance is 3.57 mm-1 at 808 nm, and the minimum diffuse reflectance is 1.43 mm-1 at 980 nm. The maximum shift Δx of diffuse reflectance is 1.11 mm-1 at 890 nm, and the minimum shift Δx of diffuse reflectance is 0.507 mm-1 at 635 nm.

Conclusion
The absorption coefficients, the reduced scattering coefficients, the optical penetration depths, the diffusion coefficients, the diffuse reflectance and the shifts of diffuse reflectance of tissue samples at 635, 730, 808, 890 and 980 nm wavelengths vary with a change of wavelength. There were significant differences in the optical properties for tissue samples at five different wavelengths (P < 0.01).
Heparanase activity in alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: implications for tumor invasion
Authors: Masola Valentina , Maran Claudio , Tassone Evelyne , Zin Angelica , Rosolen Angelo , Onisto Maurizio 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma of childhood including two major histological subtypes, alveolar (ARMS) and embryonal (ERMS) RMS. Like other human malignancies RMS possesses high metastatic potential, more pronounced in ARMS than in ERMS. This feature is influenced by several biological molecules, including soluble factors secreted by tumor cells, such as heparanase (HPSE). HPSE is an endo-β-D-glucuronidase that cleaves heparan sulphate proteoglycans.

Methods
We determined HPSE expression by Western blot analysis in ARMS and ERMS cells lines and activity in supernatants by an ELISA assay. Stable HPSE silencing has been performed by shRNA technique in RH30 and RD cell lines and their invasiveness has been evaluated by Matrigel-invasion assay. HPSE activity and mRNA expression have also been quantified in plasma and biopsies from RMS patients.

Results
HPSE expression and activity have been detected in all RMS cell lines. Stable HPSE silencing by shRNA technique determined a significant knockdown of gene expression equal to 76% and 58% in RH30 and RD cell lines respectively and induced a less invasive behaviour compared to untreated cells. Finally, we observed that HPSE mRNA expression in biopsies was higher than in foetal skeletal muscle and that plasma from RMS patients displayed significantly more elevated HPSE levels than healthy subjects with a trend to higher levels in ARMS.

Conclusion
In conclusion, our data demonstrate for the first time HPSE expression and activity in RMS and highlight its involvement in tumor cell invasion as revealed by shRNA silencing. Moreover, HPSE expression in RMS patients is significantly higher with respect to healthy subjects. Further studies are warranted to assess possible relationships between HPSE and clinical behaviour in RMS.
siRNA and shRNA screens advance key understanding of host factors required for HIV-1 replication
Authors: Kok Kin-Hang , Lei Ting , Jin Dong-Yan 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
A recent RNAi screen used a genome-wide shRNA library to search for cellular factors required for HIV-1 replication. This work complements three other siRNA-based screening studies and potentially opens the door to the discovery of factors that are important for HIV-1 replication in physiological host cells such as T lymphocytes. shRNA screens can be further improved, and they could promise to unravel new pathways and new facets of virus-cell interactions.
Downregulation of heat shock protein 70 protects rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes from nitric oxide-induced apoptosis
Authors: Kang Eun Ha , Kim Dong Jo , Lee Eun Young , Lee Yun Jong , Lee Eun Bong , Song Yeong Wook 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Introduction
Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a well-known anti-apoptotic protein that blocks multiple steps in the stress-induced apoptotic pathway. Enhanced Hsp70 expression has previously been demonstrated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). The authors investigated the role of Hsp70 in the survival of RA FLSs in a sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-treated environment.

Methods
Targeted knock-down of Hsp70 was performed by RNA interference in RA FLSs at passage 3-7. After SNP treatment, the morphological features of apoptosis were observed by phase-contrast microscopy. Cell survival was measured by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays and by flow cytometric analysis after propidium iodide (PI) staining. Bcl-2 expression and signaling pathways (Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase) were examined with or without Hsp70 downregulation.

Results
Hsp70 downregulation in RA FLSs, induced by small interfering RNA (siRNA), was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. When treated with SNP, Hsp70 downregulated cells showed markedly less cell blebbing, cytoplasmic condensation, and nuclear shrinkage than non-downregulated control cells. Furthermore, Hsp70 downregulated cells were found to survive better than control cells in MTT assays (mean of absorbance ratio, 4.39 in target cells versus 1.00 in control siRNA-treated cells versus 1.09 in lipofectamine-treated cells, P = 0.001) and according to PI staining results (mean M1 ratio, 0.21 in target cells versus 1.00 in control siRNA-treated cells versus 1.03 in lipofectamine-treated cells, P = 0.001). Bcl-2 expression and Akt phosphorylation were higher in Hsp70 downregulated RA FLSs than in control cells. When cells were treated with LY294002, a potent phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor, Akt phosphorylation and Bcl-2 levels were reduced and Hsp70 downregulation no longer had a cytoprotective effect.

Conclusions
Knock-down of Hsp70 protects RA FLSs from nitric oxide-induced apoptosis by activating the Akt signaling pathway. These results suggest that Hsp70 has a pro-apoptotic role in RA FLSs.
Rituximab therapy reduces activated B cells in both the peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: depletion of memory B cells correlates with clinical response
Authors: Nakou Magda , Katsikas Georgios , Sidiropoulos Prodromos , Bertsias George , Papadimitraki Eva , Raptopoulou Amalia , Koutala Helen , Papadaki Helen A , Kritikos Herakles , Boumpas Dimitrios T 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Introduction
Bone marrow (BM) is an immunologically privileged site where activated autoantibody-producing B cells may survive for prolonged periods. We investigated the effect of rituximab (anti-CD20 mAb) in peripheral blood (PB) and BM B-cell and T-cell populations in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods
Active RA patients received rituximab (1,000 mg) on days 1 and 15. PB (n = 11) and BM (n = 8) aspirates were collected at baseline and at 3 months. We assessed B-cell and T-cell populations using triple-color flow cytometry.

Results
Rituximab therapy decreased PB (from a mean 2% to 0.9%, P = 0.022) but not BM (from 4.6% to 3.8%, P = 0.273) CD19+ B cells, associated with a significant reduction in the activated CD19+HLA-DR+ subset both in PB (from 55% to 19%, P = 0.007) and in BM (from 68% to 19%, P = 0.007). Response to rituximab was preceded by a significant decrease in PB and BM CD19+CD27+ memory B cells (P = 0.022). These effects were specific to rituximab since anti-TNF therapy did not reduce total or activated B cells. Rituximab therapy did not alter the number of activated CD4+HLA-DR+ and CD4+CD25+ T cells.

Conclusions
Rituximab therapy preferentially depletes activated CD19+HLA-DR+ B cells in the PB and BM of active RA patients. Clinical response to rituximab is associated with depletion of CD19+CD27+ memory B cells in PB and BM of RA patients.