bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The origin and significance of pedogenic dolomite from the Upper Permian of the South Urals of Russia
Authors: KEARSEY TIMOTHY , TWITCHETT RICHARD J. , NEWELL ANDREW J. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractPedogenic carbonate nodules from six sections spanning the continental Permian–Triassic boundary in the South Urals, Russia, were analysed. Morphological, petrographic, SEM and XRD analyses have demonstrated that many of the latest Permian palaeosols are dolomitic. This dolomite forms the microcrystalline (5–16 μm) groundmass of the nodules. Later diagenetic phases, represented by coarser crystalline textures, were identified as calcite. Isotopic analysis of the microcrystalline dolomite has revealed it to be similar in isotopic composition to authigenic dolomite forming today in saline soils in Alberta, Canada. These data indicate that the dolomite found in these nodules is pedogenic, and formed in equilibrium with the atmosphere. Upper Permian pedogenic dolocretes in the studied sections are most frequent in (a) palaeosols that formed on palaeo-highs and (b) in the latest Permian period (Changhsingian), which may indicate that there was an increase in seasonality and evaporation in the South Urals region at this time. The presence of only calcitic palaeosols in the earliest Triassic may reflect a subsequent dramatic change in the basin conditions, possibly relating to the Permian–Triassic mass extinction, which stopped the conditions that are necessary for dolomite formation.
Temporomandibular joint herniation and the foramen of Huschke: an unusual external auditory canal mass
Authors: Prowse S J , Kelly G , Agada F 
Published: September 2011

AbstractObjectives:We describe a rare case of spontaneous temporomandibular joint herniation into the external auditory canal, and we also review the presentation, aetiology and management of such cases.Case report:An 87-year-old woman presented with a four-month history of left-sided otorrhoea and otalgia. Examination revealed a soft, polypoid mass in the left ear canal. When the patient opened her mouth the lesion disappeared. Subsequent computed tomographic imaging of the patient's temporal bones confirmed an 8.6 mm defect in the antero-inferior portion of the left ear canal, with herniation of retrodiscal soft tissues.Conclusion:The external auditory canal is intimately related to the temporomandibular joint, separated only by its bony anterior wall. Neoplasm, trauma or inflammation in this area can result in displacement of the temporomandibular joint into the ear canal; however, spontaneous herniation is rare. Persistence of the primitive foramen of Huschke can result in dehiscence of the anterior canal wall, allowing articular tissue to prolapse into the ear canal. Surgical closure of these defects is known to be effective in ameliorating symptomatic cases.
2α-Methyl-19-nor-(20S)-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 protects the insulin 2 knockout non-obese diabetic mouse from developing type 1 diabetes without hypercalcaemia
Authors: Kiekhaefer C M , Weber B , Huggins M , Gorichanaz C , Nehring J A , DeLuca H F 
Published: September 2011

Summary
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that destroys the insulin-producing beta-islet cells of the pancreas. Currently, there are no treatment modalities for prevention of T1D, and the mechanisms influencing disease inception and early progression are not well understood. We have used the insulin 2−/− non-obese diabetic (Ins2−/− NOD) model to study stages of T1D and to examine the protective effects of a potent analogue of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 2α-methyl-19-nor-(20S)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (2AMD). Pancreatic tissues from control and 2AMD-treated Ins2−/− NOD mice were obtained weekly from 5 to 16 weeks of age. Using immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, samples were analysed for changes in beta cell survival, islet structure and T cell invasion. Weekly intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTT) were performed to assess comparative beta cell function in control and treated animals. IHC demonstrated progressive beta cell destruction in control mice. In contrast, 2AMD treatment preserved islet cell architecture, arrested intra-islet T cell invasion and prevented the transition from insulitis to diabetes. IPGTT results revealed progressive impairment of beta cell function with increasing age in control mice, while 2AMD treatment resulted in normal beta function throughout the study. These results demonstrate that the Ins2−/− NOD model provides a rapid and effective method for studying T1D and for assessing efficacy of anti-diabetic agents.
Vacuoles release sucrose via tonoplast‐localised SUC4‐type transporters
Authors: Schneider S. , Hulpke S. , Schulz A. , Yaron I. , Höll J. , Imlau A. , Schmitt B. , Batz S. , Wolf S. , Hedrich R. , Sauer N. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractArabidopsis thaliana has seven genes for functionally active sucrose transporters. Together with sucrose transporters from other dicot and monocot plants, these proteins form four separate phylogenetic groups. Group‐IV includes the Arabidopsis protein SUC4 (synonym SUT4) and related proteins from monocots and dicots. These Group‐IV sucrose transporters were reported to be either tonoplast‐ or plasma membrane‐localised, and in heterologous expression systems were shown to act as sucrose/H+ symporters. Here, we present comparative analyses of the subcellular localisation of the Arabidopsis SUC4 protein and of several other Group‐IV sucrose transporters, studies on tissue specificity of the Arabidopsis SUC4 promoter, phenotypic characterisations of Atsuc4.1 mutants and AtSUC4 overexpressing (AtSUC4‐OX) plants, and functional comparisons of Atsuc4.1 and AtSUC4‐OX vacuoles. Our data show that SUC4‐type sucrose transporters from different plant families (Brassicaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae) localise exclusively to the tonoplast, demonstrating that vacuolar sucrose transport is a common theme of all SUC4‐type proteins. AtSUC4 expression is confined to the stele of Arabidopsis roots, developing anthers and meristematic tissues in all aerial parts. Analyses of the carbohydrate content of WT and mutant seedlings revealed reduced sucrose content in AtSUC4‐OX seedlings. This is in line with patch‐clamp analyses of AtSUC4‐OX vacuoles that characterise AtSUC4 as a sucrose/H+ symporter directly in the tonoplast membrane.
Effects of organic and conventional fertilizer treatments on host selection by the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae
Authors: Pope T. W. , Girling R. D. , Staley J. T. , Trigodet B. , Wright D. J. , Leather S. R. , van Emden H. F. , Poppy G. M. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe type and quantity of fertilizer supplied to a crop will differ between organic and conventional farming practices. Altering the type of fertilizer a plant is provided with can influence a plant’s foliar nitrogen levels, as well as the composition and concentration of defence compounds, such as glucosinolates. Many natural enemies of insect herbivores can respond to headspace volatiles emitted by the herbivores’ host plant in response to herbivory. We propose that manipulating fertilizer type may also influence the headspace volatile profiles of plants, and as a result, the tritrophic interactions that occur between plants, their insect pests and those pests’ natural enemies. Here, we investigate a tritrophic system consisting of cabbage plants, Brassica oleracea, a parasitoid, Diaeretiella rapae, and one of its hosts, the specialist cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae. Brassica oleracea plants were provided with either no additional fertilization or one of three types of fertilizer: Nitram (ammonium nitrate), John Innes base or organic chicken manure. We investigated whether these changes would alter the rate of parasitism of aphids on those plants and whether any differences in parasitism could be explained by differences in attractivity of the plants to D. rapae or attack rate of aphids by D. rapae. In free‐choice experiments, there were significant differences in the percentage of B. brassicae parasitized by D. rapae between B. oleracea plants grown in different fertilizer treatments. In a series of dual‐choice Y‐tube olfactometry experiments, D. rapae females discriminated between B. brassicae‐infested and undamaged plants, but parasitoids did not discriminate between similarly infested plants grown in different fertilizer treatments. Correspondingly, in attack rate experiments, there were no differences in the rate that D. rapae attacked B. brassicae on B. oleracea plants grown in different fertilizer treatments. These findings are of direct relevance to sustainable and conventional farming practices.
Analysis of 32 common susceptibility genetic variants and their combined effect in predicting risk of Type 2 diabetes and related traits in Indians
Authors: Janipalli C. S. , Kumar M. V. K. , Vinay D. G. , Sandeep M. N. , Bhaskar S. , Kulkarni S. R. , Aruna M. , Joglekar C. V. , Priyadharshini S. , Maheshwari N. , Yajnik C. S. , Chandak G. R. 
Published: September 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 121–127 (2012)AbstractAims  Recent genome‐wide association studies have identified several Type 2 diabetes‐related loci. We investigated the effect of susceptibility genetic variants, individually, together and in combination with conventional risk factors, on Type 2 diabetes and diabetes‐related traits in Indians.Methods  We genotyped 33 variants in 1808 Indian patients and 1549 control subjects and performed association analyses with Type 2 diabetes and related traits using an additive model for individual variant and for genetic risk score based on 32 polymorphisms. The discriminatory value of genetic risk over conventional risk factors was analysed using receiver‐operating characteristics curve analysis.Results  The allelic odds ratio ranged from 1.01 (95% CI 0.85–1.19) to 1.66 (95% CI 1.32–2.01) for single‐variant analyses. Although, only 16 variants had significant odds ratios, the direction of association for others was similar to earlier reports. The odds ratio for Type 2 diabetes at each genetic risk score point was 1.11 (95% CI 1.09–1.14; P = 5.6 × 10−17) and individuals with extremes of genetic risk score (≥ 29.0 and ≤ 17.0) had a 7.5‐fold difference in risk of Type 2 diabetes. The discrimination rate between control subjects and patients improved marginally on addition of genetic risk score to conventional risk factors (area under curve = 0.959 and 0.963, respectively; P = 0.001). Of all the quantitative traits analysed, MC4R variants showed strong association with BMI (P = 4.1 × 10−4), fat mass per cent (P = 2.4 × 10−4) and other obesity‐related traits, including waist circumference and hip circumference (P = 2.0 × 10−3 for both), as well as insulin resistance (P = 0.02).Conclusions  We replicated the association of well‐established common variants with Type 2 diabetes in Indians and observed a similar association as reported in Western populations. Combined analysis of 32 variants aids identification of subgroups at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, but adds only a minor advantage over conventional risk factors.
Twenty‐One‐Year Trends and Correlates of Pressure to Change Drinking
Authors: Polcin Douglas L. , Korcha Rachael , Greenfield Thomas K. , Bond Jason , Kerr William 
Published: September 2011

Background:  The vast majority of individuals with alcohol problems in the United States and elsewhere do not seek help. One policy response has been to encourage institutions such as criminal justice and social welfare systems to mandate treatment for individuals with alcohol problems (Addiction, 1997;92:1133). However, informal pressures to drink less from family and friends are far more common than institutional pressures mandating treatment (Addiction, 1996;91:643). The prevalence and correlates of these informal pressures have been minimally studied.Methods:  This analysis used data from 5 Alcohol Research Group National Alcohol Surveys (NAS) collected at approximately 5‐year intervals over a 21‐year period (1984 to 2005, pooled N = 16,241) to describe the patterns of pressure that drinkers received during the past year from spouse, family, friends, physicians, police, and the workplace.Results:  The overall trend of pressure combining all 6 sources across all 5 NAS data sets indicated a decline. Frequent heavy drinking and alcohol‐related harms also declined, and both were strong predictors of receiving pressure. Trends among different sources varied. In multivariate regression models, pressure from friends showed an increase. Pressure from spouse and family showed a relatively flat trajectory, with the exception of a spike in pressure from family in 1990.Conclusions:  The trajectory of decreasing of pressure over time is most likely the result of decreases in heavy drinking and alcohol‐related harm. Pressure was generally targeted toward higher risk drinkers, such as heavy drinkers and those reporting alcohol‐related harm. However, demographic findings suggest that the social context of drinking might also be a determinant of receiving pressure. Additional studies should identify when pressure is associated with decreased drinking and increased help seeking.
Effects of Ivabradine on the Pulmonary Vein Electrical Activity and Modulation of Pacemaker Currents and Calcium Homeostasis
Authors: SUENARI KAZUYOSHI , CHENG CHEN‐CHUAN , CHEN YAO‐CHANG , LIN YUNG‐KUO , NAKANO YUKIKO , KIHARA YASUKI , CHEN SHIH‐ANN , CHEN YI‐JEN 
Published: September 2011

Effects of Ivabradine on Pulmonary Veins. Introduction: Ivabradine is a novel heart rate decreasing agent with selective and specific antagonist effects on the pacemaker current (If). The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effects of ivabradine on the pulmonary vein (PV) cardiomyocytes.Methods and Results: Whole‐cell patch‐clamp techniques and the indo‐1 fluorimetric ratio technique were used to investigate the characteristics of the If and intracellular calcium (Ca 2+i) in single isolated rabbit PV cardiomyocytes with pacemaker activity before and after an ivabradine administration (0.3, 3, 10, and 30 μM). Ivabradine (0.3, 3, 10, and 30 μM) concentration dependently decreased the spontaneous activity by 6  ± 3%, 32  ± 6%, 49  ±  5%, and 85  ±  4%, and decreased the If by 35  ±  8%, 47  ± 9%, 62  ± 5%, and 65  ±  7%, respectively, in PV cardiomyocytes. The decreased extent of the PV beating rate or If by the different concentrations of ivabradine correlated well with the baseline PV beating rates. The IC50 of the spontaneous activity and If induced by ivabradine were 9.5 and 3.5 μM, respectively. Moreover, ivabradine (30 μM, but not 3 μM) decreased the Ca 2+i transient in the PV cardiomyocytes and ivabradine (30 μM) decreased the L‐type calcium current in the PV cardiomyocytes.Conclusion: Ivabradine decreased the Ifs and Ca 2+i transient in the PV cardiomyocytes, which may contribute to its inhibitory effects on the PV spontaneous activity. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 200‐206, February 2012)
Antagonistic Intestinal Microflora Produces Antimicrobial Substance Inhibitory to Pseudomonas Species and Other Spoilage Organisms
Authors: Hatew Bayissa , Delessa Tenagne , Zakin Vered , Gollop Natan 
Published: September 2011

Abstract:  Chicken intestine harbors a vast number of bacterial strains. In the present study, antimicrobial substance produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of healthy chicken was detected, characterized, and purified. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing, the bacteria were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum vN. The antimicrobial substance produced by this bacterium was designated vN‐1 and exhibited a broad‐spectrum of activity against many important pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Erwinia amylovova. vN‐1 was determined to be thermostable, insensitive to pH values ranging from 2.0 to 8.0, resistant to various organic solvents and to enzymatic inactivation. The inhibition kinetics displayed a bactericidal mode of action. This study revealed an antimicrobial substance with low molecular mass of less than 1 kDa as determined by ultrafiltration and having features not previously reported for LAB isolated from chicken intestines. The detection of this antimicrobial substance addresses an important aspect of biotechnological control agents of spoilage caused by Pseudomonas spp. and promises the possibility for preservation of refrigerated poultry meat.Practical Application:  The newly characterized antimicrobial substance and designated as vN‐1 may have the potential to be used in food preservation.
Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen 4 gene +49A/G polymorphism significantly associated with susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis: A meta‐analysis
Authors: CHEN Rui Rui , HAN Zhe Yi , LI Jin Ge , SHI Yong Quan , ZHOU Xin Min , WANG Jing Bo , CAI Xi Qiang , WANG Xue Chang , HAN Ying , FAN Dai Ming 
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE:  To evaluate comprehensively the association of cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA‐4) +49A/G polymorphism with susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).METHODS:  PubMed was used to search for the relevant published articles. The risk of PBC association with the CTLA‐4+49A/G polymorphism was estimated for each study in a random‐effects model. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated for each study. Risks to PBC were estimated by stratified analysis in patients with different ethnicity and antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) status, as well as histological stages.RESULTS:  A total of 12 articles were included in the study. An association between PBC and CTLA‐4 G allele was found, overall OR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.41 (P = 0.02). However, stratification by ethnicity indicated a significant association between the G allele and PBC in Asians (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.12–1.65, P = 0.002), but not in Caucasians (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 0.95–1.39, P = 0.15). Moreover, AMA positive patients carrying G allele were more susceptible to PBC compared with AMA negative patients (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.06–1.43, P = 0.007; OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.71–1.34, P = 0.88, respectively).CONCLUSIONS:  Polymorphism in exon 1 of CTLA‐4 gene at position 49 may act as a candidate of susceptibility locus to PBC. However, larger studies with participants of varying ethnicity and stratified by clinical and laboratory characteristics are needed to validate our findings.
Combining refractive and topographic data in corneal refractive surgery for astigmatism
Authors: Næser Kristian 
Published: September 2011

Abstract.Purpose:  To provide a theoretical approach for combining refractive and topographic data in the planning of corneal laser refractive surgery for astigmatism.Methods:  Refractive and topographic data for astigmatism were transformed to the corneal plane. Net astigmatisms were converted to polar values. An optimization process was performed with the use of differential calculus.Results:  With this method, the magnitude of the corneal astigmatism is reduced or unaltered, while its orientation is maintained. The method identifies the reduction in corneal astigmatism, which will yield the largest reduction in refractive astigmatic magnitude.Conclusions:  The advantage of the optimization method described in this article is a consistent reduction in corneal astigmatism towards sphericity. No new corneal astigmatism is carved on the cornea, and probably less tissue is ablated. The optimization method may also be used to combine refractive and topographic data for higher order aberrations with sinusoidal components. However, compared to the traditional purely refractive driven treatment, more refractive astigmatism will remain in the eye in most cases. A controlled clinical trial is necessary for comparing these two treatment modalities.
Fusobacterium nucleatum and Human Beta-Defensins Modulate the Release of Antimicrobial Chemokine CCL20/Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 3α
Authors: Ghosh Santosh K. , Gupta Sanhita , Jiang Bin , Weinberg Aaron 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTCells of the innate immune system regulate immune responses through the production of antimicrobial peptides, chemokines, and cytokines, including human beta-defensins (hBDs) and CCL20. In this study, we examined the kinetics of primary human oral epithelial cell (HOEC) production of CCL20 and hBDs in response toFusobacterium nucleatum, a commensal bacterium of the oral cavity, which we previously showed promotes HOEC induction of hBDs. HOECs secrete maximal levels of CCL20 at 6 h, following stimulation byF. nucleatumcell wall (FnCW). The kinetics of CCL20 release is distinct from that of hBD-2 and -3, which peaks after 24 h and 48 h of FnCW stimulation, respectively. FnCW-induced release of CCL20 by HOECs requires both transcriptional and translational activation. Release of CCL20 by HOECs is inhibited by brefeldin A, suggesting that it is secreted through a vesicle transport pathway. Other epithelium-derived agents that FnCW induces, such as hBD-2, hBD-3, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), are also able to release CCL20. By focusing on mitogen-activated protein kinases, we show that both extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38, but not JNK, are required for hBD-, TNF-α-, and IL-1β-induced secretion of CCL20 by HOECs. The ability of FnCW and its induced hBDs to produce proinflammatory cytokines and CCL20 suggests the broad role ofF. nucleatumand human antimicrobial peptides in primary immune responses elicited by oral epithelium.
Cathepsin G and Neutrophil Elastase Play Critical and Nonredundant Roles in Lung-Protective Immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae in Mice
Authors: Hahn Ines , Klaus Anna , Janze Ann-Kathrin , Steinwede Kathrin , Ding Nadine , Bohling Jennifer , Brumshagen Christina , Serrano Hélène , Gauthier Francis , Paton James C. , Welte Tobias , Maus Ulrich A. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Neutrophil serine proteases cathepsin G (CG), neutrophil elastase (NE), and proteinase 3 (PR3) have recently been shown to contribute to killing of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
in vitro
. However, their relevance in lung-protective immunity against different serotypes of
S. pneumoniae
in vivo
has not been determined so far. Here, we examined the effect of CG and CG/NE deficiency on the lung host defense against
S. pneumoniae
in mice. Despite similar neutrophil recruitment, both CG knockout (KO) mice and CG/NE double-KO mice infected with focal pneumonia-inducing serotype 19
S. pneumoniae
demonstrated a severely impaired bacterial clearance, which was accompanied by lack of CG and NE but not PR3 proteolytic activity in recruited neutrophils, as determined using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) substrates. Moreover, both CG and CG/NE KO mice but not wild-type mice responded with increased lung permeability to infection with
S. pneumoniae
, resulting in severe respiratory distress and progressive mortality. Both neutrophil depletion and ablation of hematopoietic CG/NE in bone marrow chimeras abolished intra-alveolar CG and NE immunoreactivity and led to bacterial outgrowth in the lungs of mice, thereby identifying recruited neutrophils as the primary cellular source of intra-alveolar CG and NE. This is the first study showing a contribution of neutrophil-derived neutral serine proteases CG and NE to lung-protective immunity against focal pneumonia-inducing serotype 19
S. pneumoniae
in mice. These data may be important for the development of novel intervention strategies to improve lung-protective immune mechanisms in critically ill patients suffering from severe pneumococcal pneumonia.