bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost and environmental efficiency of rice farms in South Korea
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Trung , Hoang Viet‐Ngu , Seo Bumsuk 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe examine cost and nutrient use efficiency of farms and determine the cost to move farms to nutrient‐efficient operation using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with a dataset of 96 rice farms in Gangwon province of South Korea from 2003 to 2007. Our findings show that improvements in technical efficiency would result in both lower production costs and better environmental performance. It is, however, not costless for farms to move from their current operation to the environmentally efficient operation. On average, this movement would increase production costs by 119% but benefit the water system through an approximately 69% reduction in eutrofying power (EP). The average estimated cost of each EP kg of aggregate nutrient reduction is approximately one thousand two hundred won. For technically efficient farms, there is a trade‐off between cost and environmental efficiency. We also find that the environmental performance of farms varies across farms and regions. We suggest that agri‐environmental policies should be (re)designed to improve both cost and environmental performance of rice farms.
Validation of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale for the assessment of smile reanimation surgery in facial paralysis
Authors: Romeo M. , O’Reilly B. , Robertson B.F. , Morley S. 
Published: April 2012

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2012, 37, 181–187Objectives:  To evaluate the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale as a tool to assess facial reanimation surgery in facial palsy. Software analysis of digital video data is used to measure facial movements, comparing the affected to the normal side. We present the first use of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale following facial re‐animation surgery.Design:  A comparison of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale against the Nottingham scoring system. Subjects undergoing unilateral surgical smile reanimation procedures were selected. Comparison was made with the Nottingham facial palsy scale and the House‐Brackmann Scale pre‐ and postoperatively.Setting:  Patients were recruited in the facial palsy clinic of Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow.Participants:  Seven consecutive patients were selected who were due to undergo unilateral facial reanimation.Main outcome measures:  The difference in pre‐ and post‐surgical facial movement as measured using the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale with this value being compared to that obtained using the Nottingham scoring system. Note was also taken of the correlation with House‐Brackmann system and clinical correlation.Results and Conclusions: Statistical analysis indicated a linear relationship between the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale and the Nottingham System. The Pearson correlation test was used to confirm the relationship between the two methods giving a result of −0.587, which indicates significant correlation between the two methods. We conclude that the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale is a standardised objective method of assessing the change in facial movement following smile reanimation surgery. We commend it as a useful tool to objectively assess surgical results in this challenging field.
Does nutritional education improve the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes? A randomized controlled trial based on an educational model (营养教育能够改善老年2型糖尿病患者心血管疾病的危险因素吗？一项基于教育模型的随机对照试验)*
Authors: Sharifirad Gholamreza , Najimi Arash , Hassanzadeh Akbar , Azadbakht Leila 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground:  To evaluate the effects of a nutritional education program on cardiovascular risk among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Methods:  Ninety‐seven elderly patients with T2D were enrolled in the present randomized controlled educational trial study. Patients were divided into intervention and control groups. The Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, Enabling Factors (BASNEF) educational model was used to design the educational intervention. Patients in the control group received their usual care during the study. Anthropometric data, lipid profiles and blood pressure measurements were collected at baseline and Week 12 in each group.Results:  Significant declines were observed in the intervention compared with control group in terms of body weight (−1.3 ± 1.1 vs 0.11 ± 0.58 kg, respectively), body mass index (−0.48 ± 0.37 vs 0.05 ±  0.22 kg/m2, respectively), serum triglyceride levels (−18.25 ± 32.15 vs −3.67 ± 22.61 mg/dL, respectively; P < 0.05 for all), and the waist‐to‐hip ratio (P = 0.03). There were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of high‐density lipoprotein–cholesterol (−1.02 ± 4.35 vs −1.10 ± 6.93 mg/dL, respectively; P = 0.9) or low‐density lipoprotein–cholesterol (−4.04 ± 11.64 vs −1.08 ± 4.35 mg/dL, respectively; P = 0.2).Conclusions:  Short‐term nutritional education based on the BASNEF educational model improves serum triglyceride levels and anthropometric indices in elderly patients with T2D.
New gene‐derived simple sequence repeat markers for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: BLAIR MATTHEW W. , HURTADO NATALIA , SHARMA PREM 
Published: April 2012

AbstractCommon bean is an important and diverse crop legume with several wild relatives that are all part of the Phaseoleae tribe of tropical crop legumes. Sequence databases have been a good source of sequences to mine for simple sequence repeats (SSRs). The objective of this research was to evaluate 14 sequence collections from common bean for SSRs and to evaluate the diversity of the polymorphic microsatellites derived from these collections. SSRs were found in 10 of the GenBank sequence collections with an average of 11.3% of sequences containing microsatellite motifs. The most common motifs were based on tri‐ and dinucleotides. In a marker development programme, primers were designed for 125 microsatellites which were tested on a panel of 18 common bean genotypes. The markers were named as part of the bean microsatellite‐database (BMd) series, and the average polymorphism information content was 0.404 for polymorphic markers and predicted well the genepool structure of common beans and the status of the wild and cultivated accessions that were included in the study. Therefore, the BMd series of microsatellites is useful for multiple studies of genetic relatedness and as anchor markers in future mapping of wide crosses in the species.
ON THE MAXIMUM VALUE OF THE MASS OF GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY OF A STAR
Authors: Sharma J. P. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe present communication is concerned with reviewing Anderson's expressions for an upper limit of the mass of gravitational potential energy of a polytropic gaseous star by taking into consideration the change of mass of material during condensation. It has been found that the maximum value of the final mass of the gaseous star is 1.314 times of that of Anderson's liquid star. Values of (Mr)max for the known white dwarf stars Sirius B, O2 Eridani B, and Van Maanen's star are given in tables 5 and 6 for both nonelectrostatic and electrostatic cases. Table 2 gives (Mr)max for the mentioned stars in both nonrelativistic and relativistic cases. The percentage decrease in (Mr)max due to electrostatic potential energy correction is shown in table 7.
IMPLICATIONS OF AN ALTERNATIVE WORLD EXCHANGE SYSTEM*
Authors: Shaw Arthur , Sposato Donald 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis study attempts to achieve a functional algorithm or autonomic “rule” for equitable world distribution. Where present system design fails to satisfy human need, the “decision” is made to correct faulty judgment by intuitive design; to replace current system, zero‐sum gaming practice with an accepted value system. Rather than relying on market constraints currently fixed by arbitrary exchange, it is sought to determine whether or not world trade is assimilable in free flow, to autonomic exchange as in the circulatory system or molecular interchange. From the results it appears that a set of order can match our present set of disorders. If the value system universally declared by the United Nations, national constitutions, and the Old and New Testament establishes life support capabilities of our planetary system, the simulation encourages the ultimate determination: whether or not man is destined on earth to enjoy abundant life.
THEORY OF CARCINOGENIC ACTIVITY OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS*
Authors: Herndon William C. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe carcinogenic activities of aromatic hydrocarbons correlate with electronic parameters of K and L regions calculated by graph‐theoretical techniques based upon the simplest variation of valence‐bond theory (resonance theory limited to Kekule structures). The correlation coefficient between calculated and experimental carcinogenicity (Iball index) for ten well‐studied compounds is 0.94. Iball index values for 42 other compounds are calculated with results in satisfactory agreement with experiment. The K, L‐region hypothesis is supported by the described results.
Decreased β‐cell insulin secretory function in aged rats due to impaired Ca2+ handling
Authors: Ribeiro Rosane Aparecida , Batista Thiago Martins , Coelho Fernanda Monteiro , Boschero Antonio Carlos , Lopes Guiomar Silva , Carneiro Everardo Magalhães 
Published: April 2012

Ageing is associated with an increased impairment in glucose homeostasis and an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we evaluated β‐cell function and its implications for glucose homeostasis in 24‐month‐old female Wistar rats. Aged rats showed lower plasma glucose levels in the fed and fasting states compared with control rats. In addition, insulinaemia in the fed state was reduced in the older rats. Insulin receptor β (IRβ) expression was lower in the livers of the aged animals, whereas IRβ and Akt1/2/3 protein expressions were higher in the muscles. These effects may contribute to the normal glucose tolerance observed in older rodents. Isolated islets from aged rats secreted less insulin in response to 8.3 and 16.7 mm glucose. Accordingly, this group presented a lower [Ca2+]i in the presence of glucose and a depolarizing stimulus (30 mm K+). In addition, islets from aged rats showed reduced insulin secretion in response to 100 μm carbachol (CCh), 10 nm phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate and 10 μm forskolin. The expressions of protein kinase C, protein kinase A and exocytotic proteins, such as syntaxin 1 and synaptosomal‐associated protein 25 kDa (SNAP‐25), were similar in islets from aged and control rats. In conclusion, our evidence suggests that the increased incidence of type 2 diabetes with age may be due to a progressive decline in β‐cell secretory capacity due to disruption of Ca2+ handling. Furthermore, the expression of proteins of the insulin transduction cascade showed an adaptive profile, with a compensatory increase in IRβ and Akt1/2/3 in gastrocnemius muscles, which may maintain normal glucose homeostasis in 24‐month‐old rats.
Tomotherapy dose distribution verification using MAGIC‐f polymer gel dosimetry
Authors: Pavoni J. F. , Pike T. L. , Snow J. , DeWerd L. , Baffa O. 
Published: May 2012

Purpose:This paper presents the application of MAGIC‐f gel in a three‐dimensional dose distribution measurement and its ability to accurately measure the dose distribution from a tomotherapy unit.Methods:A prostate intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) irradiation was simulated in the gel phantom and the treatment was delivered by a TomoTherapy equipment. Dose distribution was evaluated by the R2 distribution measured in magnetic resonance imaging.Results:A high similarity was found by overlapping of isodoses of the dose distribution measured with the gel and expected by the treatment planning system (TPS). Another analysis was done by comparing the relative absorbed dose profiles in the measured and in the expected dose distributions extracted along indicated lines of the volume and the results were also in agreement. The gamma index analysis was also applied to the data and a high pass rate was achieved (88.4% for analysis using 3%/3 mm and of 96.5% using 4%/4 mm). The real three‐dimensional analysis compared the dose‐volume histograms measured for the planning volumes and expected by the treatment planning, being the results also in good agreement by the overlapping of the curves.Conclusions:These results show that MAGIC‐f gel is a promise for tridimensional dose distribution measurements.
Mouse Model for Efficacy Testing of Antituberculosis Agents via Intrapulmonary Delivery
Authors: Gonzalez-Juarrero Mercedes , Woolhiser Lisa K. , Brooks Elizabeth , DeGroote Mary Ann , Lenaerts Anne J. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Here we describe an experimental murine model that allows for aerosolized antituberculosis drug efficacy testing. Intrapulmonary aerosol delivery of isoniazid, capreomycin, and amikacin to mice with pulmonary infection of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
demonstrated efficacy in reducing pulmonary bacterial loads similar to that seen by standard drug delivery methods, even when lower concentrations of drugs and fewer doses were used in the aerosolized drug regimens. Interestingly, intrapulmonary delivery of isoniazid also reduced the bacterial load in the spleen.
HIV-1 Tropism Evolution after Short-Term Maraviroc Monotherapy in HIV-1-Infected Patients
Authors: Gonzalez-Serna Alejandro , Romero-Sánchez María Concepción , Ferrando-Martinez Sara , Genebat Miguel , Vidal Francesc , Muñoz-Fernández Maria Ángeles , Abad María Antonia , Leal Manuel , Ruiz-Mateos Ezequiel 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

We analyzed the evolution of viral tropism after 8 days of maraviroc monotherapy, i.e., we used the maraviroc clinical test (MCT), in 21 patients with and 14 without virological response to the drug (MCT
+
and MCT
−
patients, respectively). No increases in CXCR4 inferred viral loads (X4IVLs) were observed in MCT
+
patients, while X4IVLs increased only in MCT
−
patients, with X4IVLs of >2 log
10
HIV RNA copies/ml. These results shed light on the evolution of viral tropism under a CCR5 antagonist
in vivo
.
Aspergillus niger DLFCC-90 Rhamnoside Hydrolase, a New Type of Flavonoid Glycoside Hydrolase
Authors: Liu Tingqiang , Yu Hongshan , Zhang Chunzhi , Lu Mingchun , Piao Yongzhe , Ohba Masashi , Tang Minqian , Yuan Xiaodong , Wei Shenghua , Wang Kan , Ma Anzhou , Feng Xue , Qin Siqing , Mukai Chisato , Tsuji Akira , Jin Fengxie 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

A novel rutin-α-
l
-rhamnosidase hydrolyzing α-
l
-rhamnoside of rutin, naringin, and hesperidin was purified and characterized from
Aspergillus niger
DLFCC-90, and the gene encoding this enzyme, which is highly homologous to the α-amylase gene, was cloned and expressed in
Pichia pastoris
GS115. The novel enzyme was classified in glycoside-hydrolase (GH) family 13.
Cloning of a Novel Arylamidase Gene from Paracoccus sp. Strain FLN-7 That Hydrolyzes Amide Pesticides
Authors: Zhang Jun , Yin Jin-Gang , Hang Bao-Jian , Cai Shu , He Jian , Zhou Shun-Gui , Li Shun-Peng 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

The bacterial isolate
Paracoccus
sp. strain FLN-7 hydrolyzes amide pesticides such as diflubenzuron, propanil, chlorpropham, and dimethoate through amide bond cleavage. A gene,
ampA
, encoding a novel arylamidase that catalyzes the amide bond cleavage in the amide pesticides was cloned from the strain.
ampA
contains a 1,395-bp open reading frame that encodes a 465-amino-acid protein. AmpA was expressed in
Escherichia coli
BL21 and homogenously purified using Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. AmpA is a homodimer with an isoelectric point of 5.4. AmpA displays maximum enzymatic activity at 40°C and a pH of between 7.5 and 8.0, and it is very stable at pHs ranging from 5.5 to 10.0 and at temperatures up to 50°C. AmpA efficiently hydrolyzes a variety of secondary amine compounds such as propanil, 4-acetaminophenol, propham, chlorpropham, dimethoate, and omethoate. The most suitable substrate is propanil, with

K
m

and
k
cat
values of 29.5 μM and 49.2 s
−1
, respectively. The benzoylurea insecticides (diflubenzuron and hexaflumuron) are also hydrolyzed but at low efficiencies. No cofactor is needed for the hydrolysis activity. AmpA shares low identities with reported arylamidases (less than 23%), forms a distinct lineage from closely related arylamidases in the phylogenetic tree, and has different biochemical characteristics and catalytic kinetics with related arylamidases. The results in the present study suggest that AmpA is a good candidate for the study of the mechanism for amide pesticide hydrolysis, genetic engineering of amide herbicide-resistant crops, and bioremediation of amide pesticide-contaminated environments.
Mining New Crystal Protein Genes from Bacillus thuringiensis on the Basis of Mixed Plasmid-Enriched Genome Sequencing and a Computational Pipeline
Authors: Ye Weixing , Zhu Lei , Liu Yingying , Crickmore Neil , Peng Donghai , Ruan Lifang , Sun Ming 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

We have designed a high-throughput system for the identification of novel crystal protein genes (
cry
) from
Bacillus thuringiensis
strains. The system was developed with two goals: (i) to acquire the mixed plasmid-enriched genomic sequence of
B. thuringiensis
using next-generation sequencing biotechnology, and (ii) to identify
cry
genes with a computational pipeline (using BtToxin_scanner). In our pipeline method, we employed three different kinds of well-developed prediction methods, BLAST, hidden Markov model (HMM), and support vector machine (SVM), to predict the presence of Cry toxin genes. The pipeline proved to be fast (average speed, 1.02 Mb/min for proteins and open reading frames [ORFs] and 1.80 Mb/min for nucleotide sequences), sensitive (it detected 40% more protein toxin genes than a keyword extraction method using genomic sequences downloaded from GenBank), and highly specific. Twenty-one strains from our laboratory's collection were selected based on their plasmid pattern and/or crystal morphology. The plasmid-enriched genomic DNA was extracted from these strains and mixed for Illumina sequencing. The sequencing data were
de novo
assembled, and a total of 113 candidate
cry
sequences were identified using the computational pipeline. Twenty-seven candidate sequences were selected on the basis of their low level of sequence identity to known
cry
genes, and eight full-length genes were obtained with PCR. Finally, three new
cry
-type genes (primary ranks) and five
cry
holotypes, which were designated
cry8Ac1
,
cry7Ha1
,
cry21Ca1
,
cry32Fa1
, and
cry21Da1
by the
B. thuringiensis
Toxin Nomenclature Committee, were identified. The system described here is both efficient and cost-effective and can greatly accelerate the discovery of novel
cry
genes.
Phylogenetically Related Argentinean and Australian Escherichia coli O157 Isolates Are Distinguished by Virulence Clades and Alternative Shiga Toxin 1 and 2 Prophages
Authors: Mellor Glen E. , Sim Eby M. , Barlow Robert S. , D'Astek Beatriz A. , Galli Lucia , Chinen Isabel , Rivas Marta , Gobius Kari S. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTShiga toxigenicEscherichia coliO157 is the leading cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) worldwide. The frequencies ofstxgenotypes and the incidences of O157-related illness and HUS vary significantly between Argentina and Australia. Locus-specific polymorphism analysis revealed that lineage I/II (LI/II)E. coliO157 isolates were most prevalent in Argentina (90%) and Australia (88%). Argentinean LI/II isolates were shown to belong to clades 4 (28%) and 8 (72%), while Australian LI/II isolates were identified as clades 6 (15%), 7 (83%), and 8 (2%). Clade 8 was significantly associated with Shiga toxin bacteriophage insertion (SBI) typestx2(locus of insertion,argW) in Argentinean isolates (P< 0.0001). In Argentinean LI/II strains,stx2is carried by a prophage inserted atargW, whereas in Australian LI/II strains theargWlocus is occupied by the novelstx1prophage. In both Argentinean and Australian LI/II strains,stx2cis almost exclusively carried by a prophage inserted atsbcB. However, alternativeq933- orq21-related alleles were identified in the Australianstx2cprophage. Argentinean LI/II isolates were also distinguished from Australian isolates by the presence of the putative virulence determinant ECSP_3286 and the predominance of motile O157:H7 strains. Characteristics common to both Argentinean and Australian LI/II O157 strains included the presence of putative virulence determinants (ECSP_3620, ECSP_0242, ECSP_2687, ECSP_2870, and ECSP_2872) and the predominance of thetir255T allele. These data support further understanding of O157 phylogeny and may foster greater insight into the differential virulence of O157 lineages.
Variable within- and between-Herd Diversity of CTX-M Cephalosporinase-Bearing Escherichia coli Isolates from Dairy Cattle
Authors: Mollenkopf Dixie F. , Weeman Matthew F. , Daniels Joshua B. , Abley Melanie J. , Mathews Jennifer L. , Gebreyes Wondwossen A. , Wittum Thomas E. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

bla
CTX-M
beta-lactamases confer resistance to critically important cephalosporin drugs. Recovered from both hospital- and community-acquired infections,
bla
CTX-M
was first reported in U.S. livestock in 2010. It has been hypothesized that veterinary use of cephalosporins in livestock populations may lead to the dissemination of beta-lactamase-encoding genes. Therefore, our objectives were to estimate the frequency and distribution of coliform bacteria harboring
bla
CTX-M
in the fecal flora of Ohio dairy cattle populations. In addition, we characterized the CTX-M alleles carried by the isolates, their plasmidic contexts, and the genetic diversity of the bacterial isolates themselves. We also evaluated the association between ceftiofur use and the likelihood of recovering cephalosporinase-producing bacteria. Thirty fresh fecal samples and owner-reported ceftiofur use data were collected from each of 25 Ohio dairy farms. Fecal samples (
n
= 747) yielded 70
bla
CTX-M
-positive
Escherichia coli
isolates from 5/25 herds, 715
bla
CMY-2
E. coli
isolates from 25/25 herds, and 274
Salmonella
spp. from 20/25 herds. The within-herd prevalence among
bla
CTX-M
-positive herds ranged from 3.3 to 100% of samples. Multiple pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, plasmid replicon types, and CTX-M genes were detected. Plasmids with CTX-M-1, -15, and -14 alleles were clonal by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) within herds, and specific plasmid incompatibility group markers were consistently associated with each
bla
CTX-M
allele. PFGE of total bacterial DNA showed similar within-herd clustering, with the exception of one herd, which revealed at least 6 different PFGE signatures. We were unable to detect an association between owner-reported ceftiofur use and the probability of recovering
E. coli
carrying
bla
CTX-M
or
bla
CMY-2
.