bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of silibinin in human colorectal cancer cells: Targeting the activation of NF‐κB signaling
Authors: Raina Komal , Agarwal Chapla , Agarwal Rajesh 
Published: November 2011

AbstractChronic inflammation is one of the primary causes of colorectal cancer (CRC), and major inflammatory pathways implicated in CRC are cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and iNOS; both regulated by nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) suggesting that inhibitors of these pathways could be ideal against CRC. Silibinin has shown promising efficacy against various malignancies including CRC, and therefore here we assessed whether silibinin targets NF‐κB activation and associated signaling as a mechanism of its anti‐inflammatory and anti‐cancer effects in CRC. Our results indicated that silibinin treatment (50–200 µM) of human CRC SW480, LoVo, and HT29 cells strongly inhibits tumor necrosis factor α‐induced NF‐κB activation together with decreased nuclear levels of both p65 and p50 sub‐units. Silibinin also significantly increased IκBα level with a concomitant decrease in phospho‐IκBα, without any effect on TNFR1, TRADD, and RIP2, indicating its inhibitory effect on IκB kinase α activity. Next we assessed the effect of oral silibinin feeding on NF‐κB pathway in SW480 (COX‐2 negative) and LoVo (COX‐2 positive) tumor xenografts in nude mice. Together with its inhibitory efficacy on tumor growth and progression, silibinin inhibited NF‐κB activation in both xenografts. The protein levels of various NF‐κB‐regulated molecules such as Bcl‐2, COX‐2, iNOS, VEGF, and MMPs were also decreased by silibinin in both cell culture studies and xenograft analyses, suggesting its potential to alter NF‐κB transcriptional activity. Together, these findings are highly significant in establishing for the first time that silibinin suppresses CRC growth and progression possibly through its anti‐inflammatory activity by interfering with NF‐κB activation and thus has potential against human CRC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Validation of diagnoses of distress disorders in the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS‐A)
Authors: Green Jennifer Greif , Avenevoli Shelli , Gruber Michael J. , Kessler Ronald C. , Lakoma Matthew D. , Merikangas Kathleen Ries , Sampson Nancy A. , Zaslavsky Alan M. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractResearch diagnostic interviews need to discriminate between closely related disorders in order to allow comorbidity among mental disorders to be studied reliably. Yet conventional studies of diagnostic validity generally focus on single disorders and do not examine discriminant validity. The current study examines the validity of fully‐structured diagnoses of closely‐related distress disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, post‐traumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode, and dysthymic disorder) in the lay‐administered Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 3.0 (CIDI) with independent clinical diagnoses based on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School‐Age Children (K‐SADS) in the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS‐A). The NCS‐A is a national survey of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM‐IV) among 10,148 adolescents. A probability sub‐sample of 347 of these adolescents and their parents were administered blinded follow‐up K‐SADS interviews. Good concordance [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)] was found between diagnoses based on the CIDI and the K‐SADS for generalized anxiety disorder (AUC = 0.78), post‐traumatic stress disorder (AUC = 0.79), and major depressive episode/dysthymic disorder (AUC = 0.86). Further, the CIDI was able to effectively discriminate among different types of distress disorders in the sub‐sample of respondents with any distress disorder. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reading Pictures: Developing Visual Literacy for Greater Comprehension
Authors: O'Neil Kathleen Ellen 
Published: November 2011

AbstractPicturebooks tell stories in both words and pictures. Interacting with the printed word, the technical elements of illustration – color, line, shape and composition – work to establish and enhance the story. Sometimes simply by adding description of characters and setting, and, at times, by challenging the veracity of the text with ironic or additional information, the illustrations in picturebooks provide essential clues for comprehension. However, like any semiotic system, the elements of illustration have culturally associated meanings. For this reason, novice readers can benefit from explicit instruction in reading pictorial elements. Rather than leave the acquisition of knowledge of the culturally associated meanings to chance and time, offering young readers explicit instruction in this sign system can support their comprehension and thus perhaps accelerate their gain in reading skills. This article offers a number of activities for developing visual literacy with picturebooks, each easily accomplished in the elementary classroom.
General Perception of Word-Of-Mouth Communication as a Source of Information: The Case of Singapore
Authors: Wee Chow Hou , Lim Seck Luan , Lwin May 
Published: November 2011

Word-of-mouth (WOM) is a powerful communications tool which is often beyond the control of the marketer. This study used a survey to examine WOM as a source of information by consumers. The survey involved 896 respondents of 3 different age groupings and examined three distinct areas: the importance of WOM as an information source, perception of WOM versus other sources of information, and the importance of WOM in the selection of three product types. Results obtained from the survey showed that WOM sources were generally considered to be reliable and influential. Differences in perceptions of WOM were observed among the subsamples when one-way ANOVA was applied; for example, in different situations, the various age groups placed different emphasis on WOM.
VIII.—The Castle of Ludlow
Authors: Hope W. H. St. John 
Published: November 2011

Of all the numerous castles on the Marches of “Wales none can compare with the Castle of Ludlow in importance of position, the extent of its remains, or the part which it has played in history.For a long series of years it was one of the chief strongholds of the Earl of the March, and at a later period became the place where the courts of the Lords Marchers were held, and the Lords President had their seat.
XIV.—The Ancient Topography of the town of Ludlow, in the county of Salop
Authors: Hope W. H. St. John 
Published: November 2011

In April of last year I had the honour of laying before the Society a paper on Ludlow Castle.While writing that paper my attention was drawn to certain points about the topography of the town of Ludlow, which do not seem to have been noticed before; and as these form part of an interesting chapter in the development of our town plans, I venture to submit them for the Society's consideration.
H2 generation from two-step thermochemical water-splitting reaction using sol-gel derived SnxFeyOz
Authors: Bhosale Rahul , Khadka Rajesh , Puszynski Jan , Shende Rajesh 
Published: November 2011

H2 has a great potential to replace fossil fuels and contribute to clean energy by reducing the environmental carbon foot-print. This study reports H2 generation from a thermochemical water-splitting reaction using sol-gel derived SnxFeyOz powders. The sol-gel synthesis involved the addition of SnCl2 · 2H2O and FeCl2 · 4H2O in ethanol followed by gelation using propylene oxide. As-synthesized gels were aged, dried, and heated rapidly upto different temperatures and quenched in air or N2 environment. The calcined powders were characterized using powder x-ray diffraction, BET surface area analyzer, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Calcination temperature and environment were found to have a significant effect on phase composition and specific surface area (SSA). The calcined SnxFeyOz powders were placed in a tubular Inconel reactor and four consecutive thermochemical cycles were performed. Water-splitting and regeneration steps were carried out at 900 °C and 1100 °C, respectively. The powder calcined in N2 environment showed a mixed phase composition containing Sn0.4Fe2.6O4 and SnO2 and it generated an average of 1.88 ml of H2 g−1 cycle−1.
Quantitative shadowgraphy on a laminar argon plasma jet at atmospheric pressure
Authors: de Izarra Grégoire , Cerqueira Nuno , de Izarra Charles 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
This paper deals with the diagnostics of a dc laminar argon plasma jet operating at atmospheric pressure in ambient air using three techniques. Through the pumping effect of ambient air by the laminar jet, it is possible to observe the UV OH spectrum at 306.357 nm (transition A 2Σ, ν = 0 → X 2Π, ν′ = 0) and to perform emission spectroscopy in order to find the OH rotational temperature close to the thermodynamic temperature of the gas. In addition, measurements of the refractive index are made by considering two different methods: optical interferometry and quantitative shadowgraphy. It is shown that the temperatures obtained by the three diagnostics techniques are very close.
Tribology of ethylene–air diffusion flame soot under dry and lubricated contact conditions
Authors: Bhowmick Hiralal , Biswas S K 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Soot particles are generated in a flame caused by burning ethylene gas. The particles are collected thermophoretically at different locations of the flame. The particles are used to lubricate a steel/steel ball on flat reciprocating sliding contact, as a dry solid lubricant and also as suspended in hexadecane. Reciprocating contact is shown to establish a protective and low friction tribo-film. The friction correlates with the level of graphitic order of the soot, which is highest in the soot extracted from the mid-flame region and is low in the soot extracted from the flame root and flame tip regions. Micro-Raman spectroscopy of the tribo-film shows that the a priori graphitic order, the molecular carbon content of the soot and the graphitization of the film as brought about by tribology distinguish between the frictions of soot extracted from different regions of the flame, and differentiate the friction associated with dry tribology from that recorded under lubricated tribology.
Generation of dyspeptic symptoms by direct acid and water infusion into the stomachs of functional dyspepsia patients and healthy subjects
Authors: Oshima T. , Okugawa T. , Tomita T. , Sakurai J. , Toyoshima F. , Watari J. , Yamaguchi K. , Fujimoto K. , Adachi K. , Kinoshita Y. , Kusunoki H. , Haruma K. , Miwa H. 
Published: November 2011

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35: 175–182SummaryBackground  The mechanisms of the development of symptoms in functional dyspepsia (FD) patients have not been fully elucidated. We previously reported that acid directly infused into the stomach causes dyspeptic symptoms in asymptomatic healthy controls (HCs); however, the response to acid infusion of FD patients was not determined.Aim  To investigate the severity of dyspeptic symptoms induced by direct acid infusion in FD subjects and HCs.Methods  This was a multi‐centre, cross‐over, randomised, double‐blind study in 23 FD subjects and 32 HCs. FD was defined using the Rome III criteria. All subjects were Helicobacter pylori negative. Each subject received two tests; 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid and water infused into the stomach. The presence and severity of 12 dyspeptic symptoms were assessed using a visual analogue scale.Results  The proportion of subjects developing symptoms by acid or water infusion was significantly greater in FD subjects than HCs. All of the FD subjects experienced at least one symptom by water or acid infusion. In the FD subjects, the severity of symptoms was significantly greater with acid infusion than water infusion. The severity of symptoms in total and the scores for eight of the 12 symptoms induced by acid infusion was significantly greater in FD subjects than in HCs.Conclusions  The severity of dyspeptic symptom generation induced by direct acid infusion into the stomach was significantly greater in functional dyspepsia subjects than in healthy controls, suggesting that hypersensitivity to acid is one of the important mechanisms of the development of symptoms in functional dyspepsia patients.
Attribution of climate change: a methodology to estimate the potential contribution to increases in potato yield in Scotland since 1960
Authors: Gregory Peter J. , Marshall Bruce 
Published: November 2011

AbstractMaincrop potato yields in Scotland have increased by 30–35 t ha−1 since 1960 as a result of many changes, but has changing climate contributed anything to this? The purpose of this work was to answer this question. Daily weather data for the period 1960–2006 were analysed for five locations covering the zones of potato growing on the east coast of Scotland (between 55.213 and 57.646 N) to determine trends in temperature, rainfall and solar radiation. A physiologically based potato yield model was validated using data obtained from a long‐term field trial in eastern Scotland and then employed to simulate crop development and potential yield at each of the five sites. Over the 47 years, there were significant increases in annual air and 30 cm soil temperatures (0.27 and 0.30 K decade−1, respectively), but no significant changes in annual precipitation or in the timing of the last frost in spring and the first frost of autumn. There was no evidence of any north to south gradient of warming. Simulated emergence and canopy closure became earlier at all five sites over the period with the advance being greater in the north (3.7 and 3.6 days decade−1, respectively) than the south (0.5 and 0.8 days decade−1, respectively). Potential yield increased with time, generally reflecting the increased duration of the green canopy, at average rates of 2.8 t ha−1 decade−1 for chitted seed (sprouted prior to planting) and 2.5 t ha−1 decade−1 for unchitted seed. The measured warming could contribute potential yield increases of up to 13.2 t ha−1 for chitted potato (range 7.1–19.3 t ha−1) and 11.5 t ha−1 for unchitted potato (range 7.1–15.5 t ha−1) equivalent to 34–39% of the increased potential yield over the period or 23–26% of the increase in actual measured yields.
Do symptoms of bipolar disorder exhibit seasonal variation? A multisite prospective investigation
Authors: Murray Greg , Lam Raymond W , Beaulieu Serge , Sharma Verinder , Cervantes Pablo , Parikh Sagar V , Yatham Lakshmi N 
Published: November 2011

Murray G, Lam RW, Beaulieu S, Sharma V, Cervantes P, Parikh SV, Yatham LN. Do symptoms of bipolar disorder exhibit seasonal variation? A multisite prospective investigation. Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 687–695. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Objectives:  Evidence that symptoms of bipolar disorder (BD) vary seasonally is inconclusive. Here, a multisite prospective investigation of patients with BD was used to test the hypothesis that, on average, depressive symptoms peak in autumn/winter and hypo/manic symptoms peak in spring/summer. Secondary analyses explored gender and diagnosis [bipolar I disorder (BD‐I) versus bipolar II disorder (BD‐II)] effects on seasonality.Methods:  A sample of 429 patients with BD (61.6% female; 56.2% BD‐I) were recruited from 12 sites across Canada. Clinician‐rated measures of manic [Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), n = 4,753 total observations] and depression symptoms [Montgomery‐Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), n = 4,691 observations] were taken at scheduled three‐month visits as well as any unscheduled visits. At scheduled visits only, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham‐D) assessments (n = 3,153 observations) were also made. Multi‐level modeling (MLM) analyses were conducted separately for the three dependent variables and three definitions of Time: calendar month, nominal season, and harmonic analysis.Results:  Primary analyses of the whole sample found that for manic symptoms (YMRS), neither calendar month nor nominal season were significant, and harmonic analyses found an unpredicted frequency two sinusoid, with peaks at 4th December and 4th June (p < 0.018). Secondary analyses found that this sinusoid approximately fit the YMRS data for females and those diagnosed with BD‐II. For depression symptoms measured on the MADRS and Ham‐D, no significant seasonal patterns were found in primary analyses of the whole sample. Secondary analyses found a significant increase in MADRS scores in November/December among females, but this pattern was not corroborated in nominal season or harmonic analyses.Conclusions:  No evidence of systematic seasonal variation in symptoms was found in the sample as a whole. Primary analyses found no evidence that hypo/manic symptoms peaked in the lighter months and depressive symptoms peaked in the darker months. The present findings align with broadly negative conclusions from three earlier prospective investigations, and provide the strongest evidence to date that seasonal changes do not in fact cause coordinated variation in BD symptoms.
Evidence for the involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in bipolar disorder in an isolated northern Swedish population
Authors: Ceulemans Shana , De Zutter Sonia , Heyrman Lien , Norrback Karl‐Fredrik , Nordin Annelie , Nilsson Lars‐Göran , Adolfsson Rolf , Del‐Favero Jurgen , Claes Stephan 
Published: November 2011

Ceulemans S, De Zutter S, Heyrman L, Norrback K‐F, Nordin A, Nilsson L‐G, Adolfsson R, Del‐Favero J, Claes S. Evidence for the involvement of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in bipolar disorder in an isolated northern Swedish population. Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 614–623. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Objectives:  Dysfunction of the hypothalamus‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the most consistent findings in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. The potential role of genes related to HPA axis function has been investigated extensively in major depression. However, in bipolar disorder (BPD) such studies are scarce. We performed a systematic HapMap‐based association study of six genes crucial for HPA axis function in relation to BPD.Methods:  Haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (htSNPs) were selected in order to identify all haplotypes with a frequency of more than 1% in the genes encoding the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), corticotrophin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRH‐R1) and 2 (CRH‐R2), CRH binding protein (CRH‐BP), and FK binding protein 5 (FKBP5). This resulted in a total selection of 225 SNPs that were genotyped and analyzed in 309 BPD patients and 364 matched control individuals all originating from an isolated northern Swedish population.Results:  Consistent evidence for an association with BPD was found for NR3C1, the gene encoding GR. Almost all SNPs in two adjacent haplotype blocks contributed to the positive signal, comprised of significant single marker, sliding window, and haplotype‐specific p‐values. All these results point to a moderately frequent (10–15%) susceptibility haplotype covering the entire coding region and 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of NR3C1.Conclusions:  This study contributes to the growing evidence for a role of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) in vulnerability to mood disorders, and BPD in particular, and warrants further in vitro investigation of the at‐risk haplotypes with respect to disease etiology. However, this association might be restricted to this specific population, as it is observed in a rather small sample from an isolated population without replication, and data from large meta‐analyses for genome‐wide association studies in BPD do not show the GR as a very strong candidate.
Neonatal antibodies to infectious agents and risk of bipolar disorder: a population‐based case–control study
Authors: Mortensen Preben Bo , Pedersen Carsten Bøcker , McGrath John Joseph , Hougaard David Michael , Nørgaard‐Petersen Bent , Mors Ole , Børglum Anders D , Yolken Robert H 
Published: November 2011

Mortensen PB, Pedersen CB, McGrath JJ, Hougaard DM, Nørgaard‐Petersen B, Mors O, Børglum AD, Yolken RH. Neonatal antibodies to infectious agents and risk of bipolar disorder: a population‐based case–control study. Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 624–629. © 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Objective:  There is a substantial evidence base linking prenatal exposure to infectious agents and an increased risk of schizophrenia. However, there has been less research examining the potential for these exposures to also contribute to risk for bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the association between neonatal markers of selected prenatal infections and risk for bipolar disorder.Methods:  Using population‐based Danish registers, we examined 127 individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and 127 sex and day‐of‐birth individually matched controls. Based on neonatal dried blood spots, we measured antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) and 2 (HSV‐2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Toxoplasma gondii. Relative risks were calculated for the matched pairs when examined for optical density units for antibodies to each of the infectious agents.Results:  There was no association between any of the neonatal markers of prenatal infection and risk of bipolar disorder.Conclusions:  In contrast with studies of schizophrenia, our analysis does not support maternal infection with HSV‐1, HSV‐2, CMV, or Toxoplasma gondii as risk factors for bipolar disorder. However, larger study samples are needed, and data on, for example, specific serotypes of Toxoplasma and indicators of the timing of maternal infection are still warranted.
The Effect of Director Interlocks on Firms' Adoption of Proactive Environmental Strategies
Authors: Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana Natalia , Aragón‐Correa J. Alberto , Delgado‐Ceballos Javier , Ferrón‐Vílchez Vera 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTManuscript Type: EmpiricalResearch Question/Issue: We examine whether director interlocks enable or inhibit a firm's adoption of a proactive environmental strategy. Specifically, using resource dependence theory, we argue that director interlocks with suppliers are linked to varying likelihoods that a firm adopts a proactive environmental strategy, depending on the relation between the provided resources and the environmental approach.Research Findings/Insight: Based on a sample of US electric firms, our results show that director interlocks with firms providing knowledge‐intensive business services are positively linked to the adoption of proactive environmental strategies. However, director interlocks with firms providing financial resources and fossil fuel are negatively related to the adoption of these strategies for our sample.Theoretical/Academic Implications: Board linkages may enable and inhibit proactive environmental strategies. We contribute to resource dependence theory by offering empirical evidence that the reduction of uncertainty about critical resources by director interlocks may either make business change easier or constrict a firm's autonomy, making change more difficult.Practitioner/Policy Implications: The influence of interlocking directors varies depending on the type of resources that director interlocks transfer to their organizations. As a result, the selection of specific director interlocks can become very important to the strategic goals of the firm. Regulators should continue to pay attention to potential risks for other stakeholders from director interlocks.