bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insight of scent: experimental evidence of olfactory capabilities in the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans)
Authors: Mardon J. , Nesterova A. P. , Traugott J. , Saunders S. M. , Bonadonna F. 
Published: January 2010

SUMMARY
Wandering albatrosses routinely forage over thousands of kilometres of open ocean, but the sensory mechanisms used in the food search itself have not been completely elucidated. Recent telemetry studies show that some spatial behaviours of the species are consistent with the ‘multimodal foraging strategy’ hypothesis which proposes that birds use a combination of olfactory and visual cues while foraging at sea. The ‘multimodal foraging strategy’ hypothesis, however, still suffers from a lack of experimental evidence, particularly regarding the olfactory capabilities of wandering albatrosses. As an initial step to test the hypothesis, we carried out behavioural experiments exploring the sensory capabilities of adult wandering albatrosses at a breeding colony. Three two-choice tests were designed to investigate the birds' response to olfactory and visual stimuli, individually or in combination. Perception of the different stimuli was assessed by comparing the amount of exploration directed towards an ‘experimental’ display or a ‘control’ display. Our results indicate that birds were able to perceive the three types of stimulus presented: olfactory, visual and combined. Moreover, olfactory and visual cues were found to have additional effects on the exploratory behaviours of males. This simple experimental demonstration of reasonable olfactory capabilities in the wandering albatross supports the ‘multimodal foraging strategy’ and is consistent with recent hypotheses of the evolutionary history of procellariiforms.
Room Temperature Ferromagnetism in Spin-coated Anatase- and Rutile- Ti1-x Mx O2 ( M= Fe, Mn, Co) Films
Authors: Barrionuevo Danilo , Singh Surinder P , Tomar Maharaj S. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractDiluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) have been explored extensively, because of their potential application in spintronic devices. We studied the structural optical and magnetic properties of Ti1-xMxO2 (M= Fe, Mn, Co; x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.08, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30), thin films by sol-gel process and deposited using spin coating on Pt (Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si) and quartz substrates. X-ray diffraction studies and Raman spectroscopy reveal anatase and rutile phases of the synthesized films when annealed at 500 and 10000 C, respectively. Optical transmission measurements show high degree of transparency that decreases with increase in transition metal ion concentration. The films show room temperature ferromagnetism, suggesting their potential in spin based heterojunction devices.
Nanotube Crossbar Array via Microcontact Printing for Biomolecule Detection
Authors: Prasad Shalini 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe paper describes the fabrication and characterization of an ionic junction nanodevice as a biosensor using surfactant coated single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT's) via microcontact printing and its application in detecting standard protein biomolecules ( biotin-avidin). Intrinsic semiconducting SWCNT's are doped with anionic and cationic surfactant molecules respectively. Using double patterning process, these ionically doped anionic and cationic semiconducting SWCNT's are alternatively symmetrically patterned in a parallel array to form crossbar junctions onto base microelectrode arrays using flexible polymeric poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps. Parallel alignment of SWCNT's is achieved, due to transfer of the inked SWCNT's from the PDMS relief structure onto the microelectrode array. Base microcontacts on the microelectrode array serve as a platform for measuring electrical characteristics that get modulated due to the biomolecule binding. Functionality of the nanodevice is demonstrated by measuring impedance changes due to biomolecule binding. The modulation of the electrical behavior indicates the existence of potential for using ionically doped nanomaterial systems in fabricating functional building blocks for biosensors.
Photoluminescence from Silver Nanoparticles Enhanced by Surface Plasmon Resonance
Authors: Yeshchenko Oleg A , Dmitruk Igor M. , Alexeenko Alexandr A , Mykhaylo Losytskyy Yu. , Kotko Andriy V. , Pinchuk Anatoliy 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe size dependence of the photoluminescence spectra from silver nanoparticles embedded in a silica host medium was observed. The quantum yield of the photoluminescence increased when the size of the nanoparticles was decreased. The quantum yield for 8 nm silver nanoparticle was estimated to be on the order of 10-2 which is 108 times higher than the one observed for bulk silver. The two photoluminescence bands observed from silver nanoparticles were rationalized as the radiative electron interband transitions and radiative decay of the surface plasmons in silver nanoparticles. The strong local electric field induced by the surface plasmon resonance in silver nanoparticles enhances the exciting and emitted photons and increases the quantum yield of the photoluminescence.
Good Practice for the Assessment and Safe Handling of Nanomaterials
Authors: Hankin Steve M. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractNanotechnology has the potential to greatly improve our lives through medical, environmental and consumer products. Properties at the nanoscale are being exploited in new products, but they could also influence how the particles interact with humans and the environment. There is increasing consensus that for nanotechnology to reach its maximum potential, we must work to understand the hazards and exposure routes in order to minimise the risks. Good practice, founded on the principles of risk assessment and industrial hygiene, are applicable to a wide range of nanomaterials and nanostructured materials including nanoparticles, nanofibres, nanopowders, nanotubes, as well as aggregates and agglomerates of these materials. There is still considerable uncertainty about many aspects of effective risk assessment of nanomaterials, including the hazardous potential of many types of nanoparticles and the levels below which individuals might be exposed, with minimal likelihood of adverse health effects. It is prudent therefore to understand how to develop an appropriate strategy for the risk assessment, handling and disposing of nanomaterials, in the light of known and unknown hazards and exposures. This paper presents a perspective of the key components of risk assessment applicable to nanotechnology and novel materials.
Control and Operation Schemes for Micro-Thermal Conductivity Detectors in Gas Chromatography
Authors: Kaanta Bradley C , Chen Hua , Zhang Xin 
Published: January 2010

AbstractAs the use of sensor networks has expanded, the demand for robust detectors able to operate in a variety of environments has grown. We present the sensitivity testing of a micro thermal conductivity detector (μTCD) operating in two different modes. The microfabricated device we have designed and tested is composed of a resistive heating element suspended in a micro-channel, which creates excellent thermal isolation and a high heat transfer coefficient between the element and the fluid. The sensitivity of a μTCD integrated into a micro-gas chromatography (GC) system, can be increased by a factor of 10 simply by switching between operation in constant temperature and constant voltage modes. This result agrees with the analytical models and testing data previously reported for macro systems and devices.
Multi-Institution Team Teaching (MITT): A Novel Approach to Highly Specialized Graduate Education
Authors: Heffner William R. , Jain Himanshu , Martin Steve W. , Richardson Kathleen , Skaar Eric 
Published: January 2010

AbstractAs engineering becomes more and more specialized, both the faculty resources and number of interested students become limited. Consequently, very frequently highly specialized graduate courses are not offered, especially in disciplines like Materials with small faculty and enrollment. NSF's International Materials Institute for New Functionality in Glass (IMI-NFG) has successfully addressed this problem by successfully introducing the concept of multi-institution team teaching (MITT). It brings together via internet both the expert professors and students from many universities. By pooling the talent of various instructors, the courses become technically stronger and students learn advanced topics that would be available otherwise. As an example, a recent MITT course included instructors from 10 US institutions, and students from many more US and international universities.Software such as ‘Adobe Connect’ is used for the live delivery of lectures, wherein students can see the instructor and Power Point slides as in a normal classroom. The students may ask questions any time during the lecture, and the instructor would respond immediately. They register and pay tuition at their home institution, so that no exchange of funds is involved between universities. Survey results support that a majority of the enrolled students liked the format and delivery of the course, and more than 75% students felt that multiple instructors, who “taught information of their expertise”, made the course stronger. In conclusion, the concept of MITT has been successfully demonstrated for teaching highly specialized graduate courses.
Self-spreading Lipid Bilayer as Nanofluidic Medium for Micro- and Nanostructured Biosurface Fabrication
Authors: Furukawa Kazuaki , Kashimura Yoshiaki 
Published: January 2010

AbstractWe report on the phenomenology and kinetics of a self-spreading supported lipid bilayer (SLB) on a patterned surface. Analyses of our experiments provided two findings. One is that the self-spreading velocity increased when the SLB reached the inlet of the line patterns. This capillary effect-like behavior indicates an additional attractive interaction for SLB spreading in the line patterns. The other is that the front edge is always normal to the spreading direction even for curving lines. This can be attributed to the line tension at the spreading front edge.
Combined Analyses of 20 Common Obesity Susceptibility Variants
Authors: Sandholt Camilla Helene , Sparsø Thomas , Grarup Niels , Albrechtsen Anders , Almind Katrine , Hansen Lars , Toft Ulla , Jørgensen Torben , Hansen Torben , Pedersen Oluf 
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVE
Genome-wide association studies and linkage studies have identified 20 validated genetic variants associated with obesity and/or related phenotypes. The variants are common, and they individually exhibit small-to-modest effect sizes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
In this study we investigate the combined effect of these variants and their ability to discriminate between normal weight and overweight/obese individuals. We applied receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, and estimated the area under the ROC curve (AUC) as a measure of the discriminatory ability. The analyses were performed cross-sectionally in the population-based Inter99 cohort where 1,725 normal weight, 1,519 overweight, and 681 obese individuals were successfully genotyped for all 20 variants.

RESULTS
When combining all variants, the 10% of the study participants who carried more than 22 risk-alleles showed a significant increase in probability of being both overweight with an odds ratio of 2.00 (1.47–2.72), P = 4.0 × 10−5, and obese with an OR of 2.62 (1.76–3.92), P = 6.4 × 10−7, compared with the 10% of the study participants who carried less than 14 risk-alleles. Discrimination ability for overweight and obesity, using the 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), was determined to AUCs of 0.53 and 0.58, respectively. When combining SNP data with conventional nongenetic risk factors of obesity, the discrimination ability increased to 0.64 for overweight and 0.69 for obesity. The latter is significantly higher (P &lt; 0.001) than for the nongenetic factors alone (AUC = 0.67).

CONCLUSIONS
The discriminative value of the 20 validated common obesity variants is at present time sparse and too weak for clinical utility, however, they add to increase the discrimination ability of conventional nongenetic risk factors.
Peptide Designed to Elicit Apoptosis in Adipose Tissue Endothelium Reduces Food Intake and Body Weight
Authors: Kim Dong-Hoon , Woods Stephen C. , Seeley Randy J. 
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVE
Because adipose tissue is highly vascularized, modifying adipose tissue vasculature may provide a novel method for reducing body fat. A peptide sequence that elicits apoptosis of endothelium in white fat potently reduced body weight. We sought to determine how inhibiting adipose tissue vasculature changes key aspects of energy balance regulation and the neuroendocrine system that maintains energy balance.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Lean and obese mice or rats were treated with proapoptotic peptide for 4 or 27 days. Daily energy intake and expenditure were measured in mice on a low- (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD) and in rats on a HFD. A conditioned taste aversion test was performed to assess whether proapoptotic peptide produces visceral illness. Hypothalamic neuropeptide Y, agouti-related peptide, and proopiomelanocoritin (POMC) mRNA expression and plasma leptin levels were evaluated.

RESULTS
Proapoptotic peptide completely reversed HFD-induced obesity in mice and reduced body weight in mice and rats on a HFD but not in those on a LFD. Fat loss occurred with no change of energy expenditure but reduced food intake that occurred without signs of illness and despite reduced circulating leptin and reduced hypothalamic POMC gene expression, indicating that the decrease in food intake is independent of the action of leptin.

CONCLUSIONS
These experiments provide compelling evidence for a previously unknown relationship between the status of adipose tissue vasculature and the regulation of food intake.
Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Dysfunction in Dorsal Root Ganglia of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats and Its Correction by Insulin Treatment
Authors: Chowdhury Subir K. Roy , Zherebitskaya Elena , Smith Darrell R. , Akude Eli , Chattopadhyay Sharmila , Jolivalt Corinne G. , Calcutt Nigel A. , Fernyhough Paul 
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVE
Impairments in mitochondrial physiology may play a role in diabetic sensory neuropathy. We tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction in sensory neurons is due to abnormal mitochondrial respiratory function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Rates of oxygen consumption were measured in mitochondria from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of 12- to- 22-week streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, diabetic rats treated with insulin, and age-matched controls. Activities and expression of components of mitochondrial complexes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed.

RESULTS
Rates of coupled respiration with pyruvate + malate (P + M) and with ascorbate + TMPD (Asc + TMPD) in DRG were unchanged after 12 weeks of diabetes. By 22 weeks of diabetes, respiration with P + M was significantly decreased by 31–44% and with Asc + TMPD by 29–39% compared with control. Attenuated mitochondrial respiratory activity of STZ-diabetic rats was significantly improved by insulin that did not correct other indices of diabetes. Activities of mitochondrial complexes I and IV and the Krebs cycle enzyme, citrate synthase, were decreased in mitochondria from DRG of 22-week STZ-diabetic rats compared with control. ROS levels in perikarya of DRG neurons were not altered by diabetes, but ROS generation from mitochondria treated with antimycin A was diminished compared with control. Reduced mitochondrial respiratory function was associated with downregulation of expression of mitochondrial proteins.

CONCLUSIONS
Mitochondrial dysfunction in sensory neurons from type 1 diabetic rats is associated with impaired rates of respiratory activity and occurs without a significant rise in perikaryal ROS.
Serum Soluble Glycoprotein 130 Concentration Is Inversely Related to Insulin Sensitivity in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Nikolajuk Agnieszka , Kowalska Irina , Karczewska-Kupczewska Monika , Adamska Agnieszka , Otziomek Elzbieta , Wolczynski Slawomir , Kinalska Ida , Gorska Maria , Straczkowski Marek 
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVE
Insulin resistance might play a role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The family of glycoprotein 130 (gp130) cytokines could influence insulin action. One of these cytokines is interleukin (IL)-6, which exerts a short-term insulin-sensitizing effect, whereas in a long-term period, it might induce insulin resistance. Some other gp130 activators are supposed to have beneficial metabolic effects. Gp130 is present in the circulation in the soluble form (sgp130), which inhibits intracellular gp130 signaling. The aim of the present study was to estimate the relation between sgp130 and insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We studied 78 women with PCOS (35 lean and 43 obese) and 34 healthy women (18 lean and 16 obese). The euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp and the measurements of serum sgp130, IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and sex hormones were performed.

RESULTS
Both obesity and PCOS were characterized by an increased sgp130 (P &lt; 0.0001 and P = 0.0002, respectively). sIL-6R concentration was lower (P = 0.0036) in women with PCOS independently of obesity. Serum sgp130 was negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity when control and PCOS women were analyzed together (r = −0.36, P &lt; 0.0001) and in the PCOS subjects separately (r = −0.34, P = 0.002). In multiple regression analysis, this correlation was significant after adjustment for BMI, waist, percent of body fat, postload glucose and insulin, triglycerides, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein.

CONCLUSIONS
Serum sgp130 is inversely and independently associated with insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS. An increased serum sgp130 in obesity and PCOS suggests an inhibition of intracellular gp130 signaling in insulin-resistant conditions.
C-C Chemokine Receptor 2 (CCR2) Regulates the Hepatic Recruitment of Myeloid Cells That Promote Obesity-Induced Hepatic Steatosis
Authors: Obstfeld Amrom E. , Sugaru Eiji , Thearle Marie , Francisco Anne-Marie , Gayet Constance , Ginsberg Henry N. , Ables Eleanore V. , Ferrante Anthony W. 
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVE
Obesity induces a program of systemic inflammation that is implicated in the development of many of its clinical sequelae. Hepatic inflammation is a feature of obesity-induced liver disease, and our previous studies demonstrated reduced hepatic steatosis in obese mice deficient in the C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) that regulates myeloid cell recruitment. This suggests that a myeloid cell population is recruited to the liver in obesity and contributes to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We used fluorescence-activated cell sorting to measure hepatic leukocyte populations in genetic and diet forms of murine obesity. We characterized in vivo models that increase and decrease an obesity-regulated CCR2-expressing population of hepatic leukocytes. Finally, using an in vitro co-culture system, we measured the ability of these cells to modulate a hepatocyte program of lipid metabolism.

RESULTS
We demonstrate that obesity activates hepatocyte expression of C-C chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2/MCP-1) leading to hepatic recruitment of CCR2+ myeloid cells that promote hepatosteatosis. The quantity of these cells correlates with body mass and in obese mice represents the second largest immune cell population in the liver. Hepatic expression of CCL2 increases their recruitment and in the presence of dietary fat induces hepatosteatosis. These cells activate hepatic transcription of genes responsible for fatty acid esterification and steatosis.

CONCLUSIONS
Obesity induces hepatic recruitment of a myeloid cell population that promotes hepatocyte lipid storage. These findings demonstrate that recruitment of myeloid cells to metabolic tissues is a common feature of obesity, not limited to adipose tissue.
Cell de-energization prevents plasmid transformation of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: evidence for the requirement of ATP
Authors: Chaustova Larisa , Miliukienė Valė , Zimkus Aurelijus 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe dependence of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformation on energy requirement was studied. The inhibitory effect of sodium arsenate, used for the depletion of the intracellular ATP pool, was determined. Incubation of the yeast cells in 5 mM sodium arsenate diminished ATP accumulation by 50% and the transformation efficiency decreased by 65%. To discriminate between ATP produced by substrate level phosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation, the inhibitory analysis of a mutant with defective mitochondria was performed. Sodium fluoride (10–50 mM), as inhibitor of glycolysis, elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in intracellular ATP levels in both parental and mutant cells. The equal transformation efficiency of the mitochondrial mutant and parental strain, in addition to experiments with oligomycin, demonstrated the independence of plasmid transformation on mitochondrial ATP synthesis. This is consistent with our hypothesis that yeast transformation efficiency is associated with ATP produced by substrate level phosphorylation.
Distribution and bioavailability of Cr in central Euboea, Greece
Authors: Megremi Ifigeneia 
Published: January 2010

Abstract
Plants and soils from central Euboea, were analyzed for Cr(totai), Cr(VI), Ni, Mn, Fe and Zn. The range of metal concentrations in soils is typical to those developed on Fe-Ni laterites and ultramafic rocks. Their bioavailability was expressed in terms of concentrations extractable with EDTA and 1 M HNO3, with EDTA having a limited effect on metal recovery. Cr(VI) concentrations in soils evaluated by alkaline digestion solution were lower than phytotoxic levels.
Chromium and Ni — and occasionally Zn — in the majority of plants were near or above toxicity levels. Cr(VI) concentrations in plants were extremely low compared to total chromium concentrations. Cr(total) in ground waters ranged from <1 μg.L−1 to 130 μg.L−1, with almost all chromium present as Cr(VI). With the exception of Cr(total) and in some cases Zn, all elements were below regulatory limits for drinking water. On the basis of Ca, Mg, Cr(total) and Si ground waters were classified into three groups: Group(I) with Cr concentrations less than 1 μg.L−1 from a karstic aquifer; Group(II) with average concentrations of 24 μg.L−1 of Cr and relatively high Si associated with ophiolites; and Group(III) with Cr concentrations of up to 130 μg.L−1, likely due to anthropogenic activity. Group(III) is comparable to ground waters from Assopos basin, characterized by high Cr(VI) concentrations, probably due to industrial actrivities.