bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
From "Dragonology" to Meteorology: Aristotelian Natural Philosophy and the Beginning of the Decline of the Dragon in China
Authors: Zhang Qiong 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe cult of the dragon in China, which expressed itself not only in the ritual sacrifices to the dragon kings during drought and floods but also in the rationalization of the dragon's power to make rain by many serious thinkers from diverse intellectual persuasions, was first subjected to sustained criticism during the early modern era as part of an "enlightenment" drive against popular cults and "superstitions" led by some of the Jesuit-inspired Chinese scholars. This paper examines how these critics drew on Aristotelian conceptions of nature and meteorological theories introduced by the Jesuit missionaries to attack the core ideas of the traditional dragon lore and their underlying cosmology. It argues that the de-animated and rigidly stratified view of nature articulated by this small but clearly discernable group of Chinese critics can be seen as marking the beginning of the decline of the dragon, the allegedly semi-divine aquatic animal which swims, walks, flies, and makes rain.
Baroque Fire (A Note on Early-Modern Angelology)
Authors: Davenport Anne 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBetween Galileo's discovery of the moons of Jupiter (1610) and the publication of Newton's Principia (1687), uncertainty regarding the structure of the heavens combined with a lyrical fascination for extraterrestrial life inspired a distinctly Baroque outpouring of speculation in which angels played a key part. English Catholic "recusants," haunted by a feeling of lost unity, vividly illustrate the imaginative character of Baroque speculation.
Words, Lines, Diagrams, Images: Towards a History of Scientific Imagery
Authors: Smets Alexis , Lüthy Christoph 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis essay examines the problems encountered in contemporary attempts to establish a typology of medieval and early modern scientific images, and to associate apparent types with certain standard meanings. Five particular issues are addressed here: (i) the unclear boundary between words and images; (ii) the problem of morphologically similar images possessing incompatible meanings; (iii) the converse problem of comparable objects or processes being expressed by extremely dissimilar visual means; (iv) the impossibility of matching modern with historical iconographical terminologies; and (v) the fact that the meaning of a given image can only be grasped in the context of the epistemological, metaphysical and social assumptions within which it is embedded. The essay ends by concluding that no scientific image can ever be understood apart from its philosophical preconditions, and that these preconditions are often explained during disputes between the protagonists of different iconographical types.
Low-Cloud Fraction, Lower-Tropospheric Stability, and Large-Scale Divergence
Authors: Zhang Yunyan , Stevens Bjorn , Medeiros Brian , Ghil Michael 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
This paper explores the capability of the mixed-layer model (MLM) to represent the observed relationship between low-cloud fraction and lower-tropospheric stability; it also investigates the influence of large-scale meteorological fields and their variability on this relationship. The MLM’s local equilibrium solutions are examined subject to realistic boundary forcings that are derived from data of the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA-40). The MLM is successful in reproducing the positive correlation between low-cloud fraction and lower-tropospheric stability. The most accurate relationship emerges when the forcings capture synoptic variability, in particular, the daily varying large-scale divergence is a leading factor in improving the regression slope.
The feature of the results is mainly attributed to the model cloud fraction’s intrinsic nonlinear response to the divergence field. Given this nonlinearity, the full range of divergence must be accounted for since a broad distribution of divergences will give a better cloud fraction overall, although model biases might still affect individual MLM results. The model cloud fraction responds rather linearly to lower-tropospheric stability, and the distribution of the latter is less sensitive to sampling at different time scales than divergence. The strongest relationship between cloud fraction and stability emerges in the range of intermediate stability values. This conditional dependence is evident in both model results and observations. The observed correlation between cloud fraction and stability may thus depend on the underlying distribution of weather noise, and hence may not be appropriate in situations where such statistics can be expected to change.
Vitamin D status and effect of low-dose cholecalciferol and high-dose ergocalciferol supplementation in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hiremath GS , Cettomai D , Baynes M , Ratchford JN , Newsome S , Harrison D , Kerr D , Greenberg BM , Calabresi PA 
Published: April 2009

Background Vitamin D is important for bone health and immune regulation, and has been shown to be low in multiple sclerosis (MS). We sought to determine the effect of over the counter low dose cholecalciferol (LDC) and high dose ergocalciferol (HDE) on the vitamin D levels in MS patients. Methods We retrospectively evaluated serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels of 199 patients (CIS, n = 32; RRMS, n = 115; PPMS, n = 10; SPMS, n = 16; Transverse Myelitis (TM), n = 9; other neurological diseases, n = 16) attending our clinic between 2004 and 2008. We examined the change in 25(OH)D levels in 40 MS patients who took either LDC (≤800 IU/day) or HDE (50,000 IU/day for 7-10 days, followed by 50,000 IU weekly or biweekly). Results The average 25(OH)D level was 71 ± 39 nmol/L (Mean ± SD), and 167(84%) patients had insufficient levels (≤100 nmol/L) of 25(OH)D. The patients supplemented with LDC did not have a significant increase in their 25(OH)D levels. However, 25(OH)D levels increased by 42 nmol/L ( P = 0.01) in the patients originally taking LDC and then prescribed HDE. Optimal levels (≥100 nmol/L) were only achieved in less than 40% of patients. Conclusions We conclude that large numbers of patients with MS and TM in our cohort are deficient in vitamin D. HDE significantly elevated 25(OH)D levels in MS patients and was more effective at increasing 25(OH)D levels than LDC. Prospective studies are required to determine appropriate dosing regimen to achieve optimal levels in the majority of MS patients and to ascertain the safety, immunological response, and ultimately the clinical efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy.
How well do family caregivers know their relatives' care values and preferences?
Authors: Whitlatch Carol J. , Piiparinen Rich , Friss Feinberg Lynn 
Published: April 2009

Purpose: This study examines the psychometric properties of the Values and Preferences Scale (VPS) and compares the responses of 267 persons with cognitive impairment with the responses of their family caregivers to determine the accuracy of the caregivers' perceptions of their relatives' care values and preferences. Design and Methods: Exploratory factor analyses examined whether a consistent factor structure could be found for the VPS for both persons with cognitive impairment (PWCIs) and family caregivers. Analyses also determined whether family caregivers were accurate in their perceptions of their relative's care preferences. Results: Results indicated that the VPS was best divided into four factors or subscales (i.e., Burden, Safety/Quality of Care, Autonomy, and Social Interactions) all of which were found to have adequate internal consistency for persons with cognitive impairment and family caregivers. Caregivers generally had a good sense of what preferences were most important to their relatives (i.e., issues of safety and quality of care), but often underestimated the importance of certain values and preferences. Implications: These findings support previous work suggesting that practitioners consider incorporating an assessment of values and preferences for everyday care when working with persons with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers. Further application and testing of the Values and Preferences Scale should prove useful to practitioners who assist cognitively impaired persons and their caregivers with health care decision making and planning.
Malignancy after gastrointestinal augmentation in childhood
Authors: Husmann Douglas A. 
Published: April 2009

Introduction: To review the incidence and risks of bladder cancer following gastrointestinal augmentations done for congenial anomalies in childhood. Materials and Methods: A literature search using PubMed and Ovid Medline search engines was performed. MeSH terms evaluated were; bladder augmentations, enterocystoplasty, gastrocystoplasty, spina bifida, spinal dysraphism, myelodysplasia, neural tube defects, posterior urethral valves and bladder exstrophy were cross referenced with the terms, bladder cancer and urinary bladder neoplasm. All patients who developed a bladder cancer following a bladder augmentation for a congenital anomaly were reviewed Results: A total of 20 cases of bladder cancer following augmentations for congential anomalies, were identified, 9 arose following ileal cystoplasty, 3 following colocystolasty and 8 following gastrocystoplasty. The incidence of cancer developing per decade following surgery was 1.5% for ileal/colonic and 2.8% for gastric bladder augmentations. The majority of cancers developing within the augmented bladder are at advanced stages at the time of diagnosis (60%; 12/20 cases were ≥T3 at diagnosis). Several of the cases that developed occurred in patients exposed to known carcinogenic stimuli and/or arose in bladders with a known predisposition to carcinoma. Conclusion: Patients augmented with ileal or colonic segment for a congenital bladder anomaly have a 7—8 fold and gastric augments a 14—15 fold increased risk for the development of bladder cancer over standard norms. Published data is however unable to determine if gastrointestinal bladder augmentation is an independent risk factor for cancer over the inherent risk of cancer arising from a congenitally abnormal bladder.
Mechanical compression attenuates normal human bronchial epithelial wound healing
Authors: Arold Stephen P , Malavia Nikita , George Steven C 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
Airway narrowing associated with chronic asthma results in the transmission of injurious compressive forces to the bronchial epithelium and promotes the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and the denudation of the bronchial epithelium. While the individual effects of compression or denudation are well characterized, there is no data to elucidate how these cells respond to the application of mechanical compression in the presence of a compromised epithelial layer.

Methods
Accordingly, differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to one of four conditions: 1) unperturbed control cells, 2) single scrape wound only, 3) static compression (6 hours of 30 cmH2O), and 4) 6 hours of static compression after a scrape wound. Following treatment, wound closure rate was recorded, media was assayed for mediator content and the cytoskeletal network was fluorescently labeled.

Results
We found that mechanical compression and scrape injury increase TGF-β2 and endothelin-1 secretion, while EGF content in the media is attenuated with both injury modes. The application of compression after a pre-existing scrape wound augmented these observations, and also decreased PGE2 media content. Compression stimulated depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton and significantly attenuated wound healing. Closure rate was partially restored with the addition of exogenous PGE2, but not EGF.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that mechanical compression reduces the capacity of the bronchial epithelium to close wounds, and is, in part, mediated by PGE2 and a compromised cytoskeleton.
Amphioxus encodes the largest known family of green fluorescent proteins, which have diversified into distinct functional classes
Authors: Bomati Erin K , Manning Gerard , Deheyn Dimitri D 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been found in a wide range of Cnidaria, a basal group of metazoans in which it is associated with pigmentation, fluorescence, and light absorbance. A GFP has been recently discovered in the pigmentless chordate Branchiostoma floridae (amphioxus) that shows intense fluorescence mainly in the head region.

Results
The amphioxus genome encodes 16 closely-related GFP-like proteins, all of which appear to be under purifying selection. We divide them into 6 clades based on protein sequence identity and show that representatives of each clade have significant differences in fluorescence intensity, extinction coefficients, and absorption profiles. Furthermore, GFPs from two clades exhibit antioxidant capacity. We therefore propose that amphioxus GFPs have diversified their functions into fluorescence, redox, and perhaps just light absorption in relation to pigmentation and/or photoprotection.

Conclusion
The rapid radiation of amphioxus GFP into clades with distinct functions and spectral properties reveals functional plasticity of the GFP core. The high sequence similarities between different clades provide a model system to map sequence variation to functional changes, to better understand and engineer GFP.
Uncovering new signaling proteins and potential drug targets through the interactome analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Cui Tao , Zhang Lei , Wang Xizhou , He Zheng-Guo 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
Analysis of the pathogen interactome is a powerful approach for dissecting potential signal transduction and virulence pathways. It also offers opportunities for exploring new drug targets.

Results
In this study, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was constructed using a homogenous protein mapping method, which has shown molecular chaperones, ribosomal proteins and ABC transporters to be highly interconnected proteins. A further analysis of this network unraveled the function of hypothetical proteins as well as a potential signaling pathway. A hypothetical protein, Rv2752c, which was linked to a metal cation-transporting ATPase, was characterized as a metal-beta-lactamase, through domain analysis in combination with an in vitro activity experiment. A second hypothetical protein, Rv1354c, and an unknown protein kinase, PknK, interacted with a similar group of inner membrane-associated ABC transporters in the PPI network. The interactions of Rv1354 with these proteins were also confirmed by a further bacterial two-hybrid analysis. According to protein domain structures, the unique M. tuberculosis Rv1354c gene was proposed, for the first time, to be responsible for the turnover of cyclic-di-GMP, a second messenger molecule in this bacterium. A further structure-based inhibitors screening for Rv1354c was also performed in silicon.

Conclusion
We constructed a comprehensive protein-protein interaction network for M. tuberculosis consisting of 738 proteins and 5639 interaction pairs. Our analysis unraveled the function of hypothetical proteins as well as a potential signaling pathway. The group of ABC transporters, PknK, and Rv1354c were proposed to constitute a potential membrane-associated signaling pathway that cooperatively responds to environmental stresses in M. tuberculosis. The study therefore provides valuable clues in exploring new signaling proteins, virulence pathways, and drug targets.
Analysis of the Rickettsia africae genome reveals that virulence acquisition in Rickettsia species may be explained by genome reduction
Authors: Fournier Pierre-Edouard , El Karkouri Khalid , Leroy Quentin , Robert Catherine , Giumelli Bernadette , Renesto Patricia , Socolovschi Cristina , Parola Philippe , Audic Stéphane , Raoult Didier 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
The Rickettsia genus includes 25 validated species, 17 of which are proven human pathogens. Among these, the pathogenicity varies greatly, from the highly virulent R. prowazekii, which causes epidemic typhus and kills its arthropod host, to the mild pathogen R. africae, the agent of African tick-bite fever, which does not affect the fitness of its tick vector.

Results
We evaluated the clonality of R. africae in 70 patients and 155 ticks, and determined its genome sequence, which comprises a circular chromosome of 1,278,540 bp including a tra operon and an unstable 12,377-bp plasmid. To study the genetic characteristics associated with virulence, we compared this species to R. prowazekii, R. rickettsii and R. conorii. R. africae and R. prowazekii have, respectively, the less and most decayed genomes. Eighteen genes are present only in R. africae including one with a putative protease domain upregulated at 37°C.

Conclusion
Based on these data, we speculate that a loss of regulatory genes causes an increase of virulence of rickettsial species in ticks and mammals. We also speculate that in Rickettsia species virulence is mostly associated with gene loss.
The genome sequence was deposited in GenBank under accession number [GenBank: NZ_AAUY01000001].
CO2assimilation, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, carbohydrates and photosynthetic electron transport probed by the JIP-test, of tea leaves in response to phosphorus supply
Authors: Lin Zheng-He , Chen Li-Song , Chen Rong-Bing , Zhang Fang-Zhou , Jiang Huan-Xin , Tang Ning 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
Although the effects of P deficiency on tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) growth, P uptake and utilization as well as leaf gas exchange and Chl a fluorescence have been investigated, very little is known about the effects of P deficiency on photosynthetic electron transport, photosynthetic enzymes and carbohydrates of tea leaves. In this study, own-rooted 10-month-old tea trees were supplied three times weekly for 17 weeks with 500 mL of nutrient solution at a P concentration of 0, 40, 80, 160, 400 or 1000 μM. This objective of this study was to determine how P deficiency affects CO2 assimilation, Rubisco, carbohydrates and photosynthetic electron transport in tea leaves to understand the mechanism by which P deficiency leads to a decrease in CO2 assimilation.

Results
Both root and shoot dry weight increased as P supply increased from 0 to 160 μM, then remained unchanged. P-deficient leaves from 0 to 80 μM P-treated trees showed decreased CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance, but increased intercellular CO2 concentration. Both initial and total Rubisco activity, contents of Chl and total soluble protein in P-deficient leaves decreased to a lesser extent than CO2 assimilation. Contents of sucrose and starch were decreased in P-deficient leaves, whereas contents of glucose and fructose did not change significantly except for a significant increase in the lowest P leaves. OJIP transients from P-deficient leaves displayed a rise at the O-step and a depression at the P-step, accompanied by two new steps at about 150 μs (L-step) and at about 300 μs (K-step). RC/CSo, TRo/ABS (or Fv/Fm), ETo/ABS, REo/ABS, maximum amplitude of IP phase, PIabs and PItot, abs were decreased in P-deficient leaves, while VJ, VI and dissipated energy were increased.

Conclusion
P deficiency decreased photosynthetic electron transport capacity by impairing the whole electron transport chain from the PSII donor side up to the PSI, thus decreasing ATP content which limits RuBP regeneration, and hence, the rate of CO2 assimilation. Energy dissipation is enhanced to protect P-deficient leaves from photo-oxidative damage in high light.
Bone sialoprotein does not interact with pro-gelatinase A (MMP-2) or mediate MMP-2 activation
Authors: Hwang Queena , Cheifetz Sela , Overall Christopher M , McCulloch Christopher A , Sodek Jaro 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
A recent model for activation of the zymogen form of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2, also known as gelatinase A) has suggested that interactions between the SIBLING protein bone sialoprotein (BSP) and MMP-2 leads to conformational change in MMP-2 that initiates the conversion of the pro-enzyme into a catalytically active form. This model is particularly relevant to cancer cell metastasis to bone since BSP, bound to the αvβ3 integrin through its arginine-glycine-aspartic acid motif, could recruit MMP-2 to the cell surface.

Methods
We critically assessed the relationship between BSP and proMMP-2 and its activation using various forms of recombinant and purified BSP and MMP-2. Gelatinase and collagenase assays, fluorescence binding assays, real-time PCR, cell culture and pull-down assays were employed to test the model.

Results
Studies with a fluorogenic substrate for MMP-2 showed no activation of proMMP-2 by BSP. Binding and pull-down assays demonstrated no interaction between MMP-2 and BSP. While BSP-mediated invasiveness has been shown to depend on its integrin-binding RGD sequence, analysis of proMMP-2 activation and the level of membrane type 1 (MT1)-MMP in cells grown on a BSP substratum showed that the BSP-αvβ3 integrin interaction does not induce the expression of MT1-MMP.

Conclusion
These studies do not support a role for BSP in promoting metastasis through interactions with pro-MMP-2.
Homolactic fermentation from glucose and cellobiose using Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Romero-Garcia Susana , Hernández-Bustos Claudia , Merino Enrique , Gosset Guillermo , Martinez Alfredo 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Backgroung
Biodegradable plastics can be made from polylactate, which is a polymer made from lactic acid. This compound can be produced from renewable resources as substrates using microorganisms. Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium recognized as a GRAS microorganism (g enerally r egarded a s s afe) by the FDA. B. subtilis produces and secretes different kind of enzymes, such as proteases, cellulases, xylanases and amylases to utilize carbon sources more complex than the monosaccharides present in the environment. Thus, B. subtilis could be potentially used to hydrolyze carbohydrate polymers contained in lignocellulosic biomass to produce chemical commodities. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulosic fraction of agroindustrial wastes produces cellobiose and a lower amount of glucose. Under aerobic conditions, B. subtilis grows using cellobiose as substrate.

Results
In this study, we proved that under non-aerated conditions, B. subtilis ferments cellobiose to produce L-lactate with 82% of the theoretical yield, and with a specific rate of L-lactate production similar to that one obtained fermenting glucose. Under fermentative conditions in a complex media supplemented with glucose, B. subtilis produces L-lactate and a low amount of 2,3-butanediol. To increase the L-lactate production of this organism, we generated the B subtilis CH1 alsS
- strain that lacks the ability to synthesize 2,3-butanediol. Inactivation of this pathway, that competed for pyruvate availability, let a 15% increase in L-lactate yield from glucose compared with the parental strain. CH1 alsS
- fermented 5 and 10% of glucose to completion in mineral medium supplemented with yeast extract in four and nine days, respectively. CH1 alsS
- produced 105 g/L of L-lactate in this last medium supplemented with 10% of glucose. The L-lactate yield was up to 95% using mineral media, and the optical purity of L-lactate was of 99.5% since B. subtilis has only one gene (lctE) that exclusively encodes a L-lactate deshydrogenase.

Conclusion
This study shows that by taking advantage of the cellobiose utilization capability and osmotic stress high resistance of B. subtilis, a robust process for L-lactate production can be developed.