bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Three Days of Judo Training Sessions on the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress Markers
Authors: Laskowski Radosław , Ziemann Ewa , Olek Robert , Zembron-Lacny Agnieszka 
Published: December 2011

The Effect of Three Days of Judo Training Sessions on the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress Markers
The main purpose of this study was to investigate how extreme physical strain influences cytokine response and oxidative stress markers by examining professional judo athletes during a typical 3-day judo training session (randori combat training).
Creatine kinase (CK) activity, a marker of muscle damage, was considerably elevated immediately after randori training. Pro- (IL-1β and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-10) cytokines were also increased. The strongest effect was seen in IL-1β concentration, which correlated with CK activity (r = 0.49, P < 0.05). All the observed cytokines returned to baseline (IL-1β) or even dropped below initial levels (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10) 12 h after completing the training. Lipid peroxides (LPO), a marker of reactive oxygen species, also decreased below their initial values. LPO levels correlated directly with IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10.
This study is the first to evaluate the effect of a 3-day judo training session on muscle damage by evaluating the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and markers of oxidative stress. It is also the first to demonstrate significant changes in the blood cytokine profile that correlate with lipid peroxide levels and muscle damage.
Influence of environmental factors on the life cycle and morphology of Artemia salina (Crustacea: Anostraca) in Sabkhet El Adhibet (SE Tunisia)
Authors: Naceur Hachem , Jenhani Amel , Romdhane Mohamed 
Published: December 2011

Influence of environmental factors on the life cycle and morphology of Artemia salina (Crustacea: Anostraca) in Sabkhet El Adhibet (SE Tunisia)
This study was aimed to examine in greater detail the influence of selected environmental factors on the life cycle and morphological characteristics of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758). During this follow-up, from November 2005 to April 2006 and from November 2006 to April 2007, Sabkhet El Adhibet (southeast Tunisia: 33°07'7.58"N, 11°24'8.69"E) was surveyed monthly to determine the impact of water salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and phytoplankton density and community structure on Artemia density, population structure, reproductive mode, and total offspring. Strong correlations were found between physicochemical parameters of water and Artemia reproduction characteristics. In contrast, no significant relationship was detected between physicochemical variables and Artemia population structure and density. Further, there were no correlations between phytoplankton density and the Artemia life cycle. Moreover, we observed relationships between physicochemical parameters and all morphological characteristics, especially between the width of 3rd abdominal segment and salinity (rxy = 0.96), temperature (rxy = 0.73), pH (rxy = -0.77) and oxygen (rxy = -0.92) for male specimens, and between the length of the furca and both salinity (rxy = -0.76) and dissolved oxygen (rxy = 0.74), and between the maximal diameter of compound eyes and temperature (rxy = -0.56) for female specimens. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that male and female specimens collected at different environmental conditions converge, which explains the morphological similarity between them according to salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen concentration as well as total phytoplankton, diatom, cryptophyte, and dinophyte density.
An Efficient Hardware Implementation of Smith-Waterman Algorithm Based on the Incremental Approach
Authors: Pułka Andrzej , Milik Adam 
Published: December 2011

An Efficient Hardware Implementation of Smith-Waterman Algorithm Based on the Incremental ApproachThe paper presents optimized hardware structure applied to genome alignment search. The proposed methodology is based on dynamic programming. The authors show how starting from the original Smith-Waterman approach, the algorithm can be optimized and the evaluation process simplified and speeded-up. The main idea is based on the observations of growth trends in the adjacent cells of the systolic array, which leads to the incremental approach. Moreover various coding styles are discussed and the best technique allowing further reduction of resources is selected. The entire processing unit utilizes fully pipelined structure that is well balanced trade-off between performance and resource requirements. The proposed technique is implemented in modern FPGA structures and obtained results proved efficiency of the methodology comparing to other approaches in the field.
Study on waste heat recovery from exhaust smoke in cogeneration system using woody biomass fuels
Authors: Hoshi Akira , Akazawa Takuya , Wakashima Shin‐ichiro , Fujimoto Isao , Kikuoka Yasuhira 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn recent years, fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas have become limited resources. In addition, bad effects caused by excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have now begun destroying our global environment seriously. Since current living and economical standards depend strongly on the fossil fuels, it is necessary to realize a new society that utilizes biomass as one of major sources of energy. In this background, we manufactured a practical Stirling engine using woody biomass fuels for the first time in Japan in 2005. Further we proposed a unique cogeneration system with the Stirling engine that uses woody biomass fuels such as sawdust, firewood, and wood pellets. In this cogeneration system, 43% of the input energy is wasted as heat loss from the exhaust smoke into the atmosphere. Therefore we tried to recover the waste heat by using a thermoelectric conversion module in this study. In this report, the results of basic performance test and demonstration experiment as a cogeneration system combined the waste heat recovery with a power generating system are reported. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.20390
Evaluating the effect of land use changes on soil erosion and sediment yield using a grid‐based distributed modelling approach
Authors: Wang Guoqiang , Jiang Hong , Xu Zongxue , Wang Lijing , Yue Weifeng 
Published: December 2011

AbstractProcesses of soil erosion and sediment transport are strongly influenced by land use changes so the modelling of land use changes is important with respect to the simulation of soil degradation and its on‐site and off‐site consequences. The reliability of simulation results from erosion models is circumscribed by considerable spatial variation in many parameters. However, most of the currently widely used erosion models at the mesoscale are semidistributed, which leads to difficulties in incorporating a high degree of spatial information, especially land use information, so that the effects of land use changes on soil erosion have hitherto not been investigated in detail using these models. In this article, a grid‐based distributed erosion and sediment transport model is introduced, which simulates the spatial pattern of erosion and deposition rates and sediment transport processes in river channels. In this model, land use affects soil erosion through altering soil loss and influencing sediment delivery. Simulated soil erosion for events recorded in 1989 and 1996 in the Lushi basin in China was analyzed by comparing it with historical land use maps. The results indicated that even relatively minor land use changes had a significant effect on regional soil erosion rates and sediment transport to rivers. The average erosion rate increased from 1989 to 1996, after the transformation of forest to farmland. The results of the study suggest that the proposed soil erosion model can be applied in similar river basins. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Practical Quantification of Blood Glucose Production due to High‐level Chronic Stress
Authors: Mathews Edward Henry , Liebenberg Leon 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBlood glucose (BG) is the primary metabolic fuel for, among others, cancer cell progression, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Stress is an important contributor to the amount of BG produced especially by the liver. In this paper, we attempt to quantify the BG production due to chronic (in the order of weeks) high‐level psychological stress in a manner that a lay person will understand. Three independent approaches were used. The first approach was based on a literature survey of stress hormone data from healthy individuals and its subsequent mathematical manipulation. The next approach was a deductive process where BG levels could be deduced from published stress data of large cardiovascular clinical trials. The third approach used empirical BG data and a BG simulation model. The three different methods produced an average BG increase of 2.2‐fold above basal for high levels of stress over a period of more than a day. The standard deviation normalized to the average value was 4.5%. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thoracoscopic Removal of Mediastinal Parathyroid Lesions: Selection of Surgical Approach and Pitfalls of Preoperative and Intraoperative Localization
Authors: Iihara Masatoshi , Suzuki Rumi , Kawamata Akiko , Horiuchi Kiyomi , Okamoto Takahiro 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackgroundThoracoscopic surgery has replaced conventional sternotomy or thoracotomy for resection of mediastinal parathyroid lesions. We review our experience with this type of surgery with reference to selection of the appropriate approach and the pitfalls of lesion localization before and during surgery.MethodsDuring a 14‐year period, we treated 14 patients with hyperparathyroidism, in whom a mediastinal lesion had been localized preoperatively by sestamibi scan. Primary hyperparathyroidism was present in 12 patients (single adenoma in 11, associated with MEN 1 in one) and secondary hyperparathyroidism in 2. Thoracoscopic procedures were performed by the three‐port method.ResultsThe thoracoscopic procedure was successful in eight patients who were shown preoperatively to have a deep‐seated (5 anterior, 3 middle) mediastinal lesions. Intraoperative visual confirmation of parathyroid adenoma was difficult only in a 19‐year‐old patient with a tumor embedded in the thymus, necessitating partial thymectomy. One of the eight mediastinal lesions resected thoracoscopically was a sestamibi‐positive thymoma. Secondary hyperparathyroidism recurred 4 years after thoracoscopic mediastinal parathyroidectomy in one patient, necessitating additional thoracoscopic removal of this supernumerary lesion. However, seven patients with mediastinal parathyroid lesions localized at the aortic arch or upper region were treated successfully via a cervical approach. None of the patients suffered any surgical complications.ConclusionsThoracoscopic surgery is safe and feasible for resection of deep mediastinal parathyroid lesions. Such lesions localized preoperatively at the aortic arch or upper region can be treated via a cervical approach. Preoperative sestamibi scan can sometimes give a false‐positive result in cases of concurrent thymoma.
First Report of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum acutatum on Tamarillo in the United States
Authors: Jones R. W. , Perez F. G. 
Published: December 2011

An aggressive anthracnose disease was identified on greenhouse and home garden cultivated tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) in 2010 and 2011 in Prince George's and Montgomery counties of Maryland. Angular lesions, dark brown at the edges and tan at the interior, eventually engulfed leaves of mature, fruit bearing trees. Additional lesions were seen on petioles and stems, resulting in stem girdling. Flower clusters were also attacked, but fruit lesions were not observed. Sporulation was evident only on stem tissue. In greenhouse-cultivated 3- to 8-month-old immature plants were found to be infected in the foliar and apical regions, resulting in death. Cultures obtained from surface-sterilized leaf and stem tissue of multiple disease samples cultivated on potato dextrose agar consistently resulted in a single fungal isolate. Molecular identification was carried out by sequence analysis of the region amplified using ITS1 forward and ITS4 reverse primers (ITS1 and 2, 5.8S ribosomal RNA). Full matches were found to Glomerella acutata (anamorph Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds). A representative sequence was submitted to GenBank as JN863589. Cultures were reddish gray with masses of macroscopically mucilaginous orange-brown spores. Conidia were fusiform, measuring 14.0 ± 2.3 × 5.7 ± 0.7 μm. No setae were present, but structures resembling immature perithecia were present, embedded in the agar, a characteristic of C. acutatum Group D isolates (2). Six immature plants (5 months old) and three mature plants (2 years old) were spray inoculated with 1 × 104 conidia per ml of water into apical regions and on the upper foliage. Plants were enclosed in clear plastic bags and incubated for 3 days. Two noninoculated plants of each age were maintained as controls. Bags were removed and plants were maintained in the greenhouse at 25°C. Within 2 weeks, all inoculated plants expressed disease symptoms. Lesions on the foliage were evident as well as the apical regions. Lesions progressed, killing the upper regions of the plant within 1 month. Isolations consistently resulted in cultures of C. acutatum. A culture obtained from infected tissue derived from the first inoculation study was used to repeat Koch's postulate. Anthracnose of tamarillo has been reported in South America and New Zealand where commercial production is concentrated, however, it is primarily a fruit disease (1). Our isolate is principally a foliar and stem pathogen. Host range for C. acutatum is wide enough that our isolate likely originated from another host since there is no widespread tamarillo production in the United States. Interestingly, solanaceous crop plants are generally subject to infection by C. coccodes, not C. acutatum, however, this may be changing (3). References: (1) L. Afanador-Kafuri et al. Phytopathology 93:579, 2003. (2) R. Lardner et al. Mycol. Res. 103:275, 1999. (3) H. Xia et al. Plant Dis. 95:219, 2011.
Follow up of aerobic capacity in children affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome
Authors: YU CLARE C.W. , LI ALBERT M. , AU CHUN T. , MCMANUS ALISON M. , SO RAYMOND C.H. , LAM HUGH S. , CHU WINNIE C.W. , SO HUNG K. , CHIU WA K. , LEUNG CHI W. , YAU YAT S. , FOK TAI F. , SUNG RITA Y.T. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the aerobic capacity of children 3 years after they were diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).Methods:  Twenty‐seven patients who completed both pulmonary function and maximal aerobic capacity tests at 6 and 15 months after the acute illness were invited to return for reassessment.Results:  Twenty‐one patients (median age 18.2 years, interquartile range (IQR) 16.5–19.7) completed all investigations at 36 months. Pulmonary function was normal in all patients. Maximal aerobic capacity, peak oxygen pulse (peak VO2) and ventilatory anaerobic threshold showed significant improvements compared with values measured at 6 months in both boys and girls. In girls, ventilatory efficiency (ventilatory equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide) and perfusion of the lungs (end‐tidal partial carbon dioxide pressure) had not increased further compared with the values measured at 15 months. Although peak VO2 improved further at 36 months in patients with or without persistent radiological abnormalities, the values were 68% (IQR 50–84) and 74% (IQR 60–99), respectively, of those for normal control subjects.Conclusions:  There were improvements in aerobic capacity at 36 months in children affected by SARS; however, the measured values remained suboptimal.
An atypical melanocytic lesion without genomic abnormalities shows locoregional metastasis
Authors: Abraham Ronnie M. , Ming Michael E. , Elder David E. , Xu Xiaowei 
Published: December 2011

A subset of difficult melanocytic lesions exists with histopathologic features that evade diagnostic consensus from even expert dermatopathologists. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has emerged as a useful diagnostic tool to categorize these lesions, by identifying known chromosomal aberrations in malignant melanoma or the lack thereof in melanocytic nevi. However, determining a lesion's biological behavior primarily on CGH is limited by a relatively small series of corroborative cases without long term follow up. We present a case of a pigmented lesion on the right cheek of a 4 year old boy. The lesion had features of a deep penetrating nevus, but the presence of frequent mitoses, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and microscopic foci of tumor necrosis were concerning for an unusual melanoma. We termed this lesion a melanocytic tumor of uncertain potential (MELTUMP) for these reasons. High‐resolution array‐CGH performed elsewhere on the lesion demonstrated no melanoma‐associated genomic abnormalities. A sentinel lymph node biopsy of this patient later revealed multiple small tumor deposits. Although the presence of nodal involvement in similar lesions often do not lead to progressive and fatal disease, this case illustrates that atypical melanocytic lesions with nodal involvement may not demonstrate genomic abnormalities by CGH, and that histopathologic assessment remains paramount in defining these difficult melanocytic lesions. Further comprehensive study of these lesions is needed.Abraham RM, Ming ME, Elder DE, Xu X. An atypical melanocytic lesion without genomic abnormalities shows locoregional metastasis.
Biofuel Policies in the EU, US and Brazil  Les politiques en matière de biocarburants dans l’Union européenne, aux États‐Unis et au Brésil  Politikmaßnahmen zu Biokraftstoffen in der EU, den USA und Brasilien
Authors: Miranda Silvia , Swinbank Alan , Yano Yuki 
Published: December 2011

summaryBiofuel Policies in the EU, US and BrazilThe development of biofuels has been one of the most visible and controversial manifestations of the use of biomass for energy. Biofuels policies in the EU, US and Brazil have been particularly important for the development of the industry in these three important markets. All three have used a variety of measures, including consumption or use mandates, tax incentives and import protection to promote the production and use of biofuels. Despite this, it is uncertain whether the EU will achieve its objective of a 10 per cent share for renewables in transport fuels by 2020. The US is also running into difficulties in meeting consumption mandates for biofuels. Questions are being raised about the continuation of tax credits and import protection. Brazil has liberalised its domestic ethanol market and adopted a more market‐oriented approach to biofuels policy, but the management of domestic petroleum prices and the inter‐relationship between the sugar market and ethanol production are important factors affecting domestic consumption and exports. In both the EU and the US an ongoing debate about the benefits of reliance on biofuels derived from food crops and concern about the efficacy of current biofuels policies may put their future in doubt.
Background Stratospheric Aerosol Variations Deduced from Satellite Observations
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhao Xuepeng , Li Weiliang , Zhou Xiuji 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) aerosol products from 1998 to 2004 have been analyzed for the tendency of changes in background stratospheric aerosol properties. The aerosol extinction coefficient E has apparently increased in the midlatitude lower stratosphere (LS) in both hemispheres, at an annual rate that is as great as 2%–5%. Positive changes in the aerosol surface area density S in the midlatitude LS are most distinct, with a rate of increase that is as high as 5%–6% annually. At the same time, there has been a secular decrease in aerosol effective radius R, especially in the tropical LS, at a rate of up to −2.5% yr−1. Corresponding to these trends, the aerosol number concentration is inferred to have increased by roughly 5%–10% yr−1 in the tropical LS and by 4%–8% yr−1 in the midlatitude LS. Changes in aerosol mass are also deduced, with rates of increase in the midlatitude LS that are in the range of 1%–5% yr−1. The large uncertainty in operational S product is the major factor influencing the trend in S, aerosol number concentrations, and mass. The authors’ global assessment supports the speculation of Hofmann et al. on the basis of local observations that the cause of an increase in lidar backscatter over a similar period was a consequence of aerosol particle growth due to enhanced anthropogenic sulfur dioxide emissions. Moreover, it is found that an increase in the injection rate of condensation nuclei from the troposphere to the stratosphere at tropical latitudes is required to sustain the increase in stratospheric aerosol concentrations identified in this analysis.
Atmospheric Dynamics Triggered by an Oceanic SST Front in a Moist Quasigeostrophic Model
Authors: Deremble Bruno , Lapeyre Guillaume , Ghil Michael 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
To understand the atmospheric response to a midlatitude oceanic front, this paper uses a quasigeostrophic (QG) model with moist processes. A well-known, three-level QG model on the sphere has been modified to include such processes in an aquaplanet setting. Its response is analyzed in terms of the upper-level atmospheric jet for sea surface temperature (SST) fronts of different profiles and located at different latitudes.
When the SST front is sufficiently strong, it tends to anchor the mean atmospheric jet, suggesting that the jet’s spatial location and pattern are mainly affected by the latitude of the SST front. Changes in the jet’s pattern are studied, focusing on surface sensible heat flux and on moisture effects through latent heat release. It is found that latent heat release due to moist processes is modified when the SST front is changed, and this is responsible for the meridional displacement of the jet. Moreover, both latent heat release and surface sensible heat flux contribute to the jet’s strengthening. These results highlight the role of SST fronts and moist processes in affecting the characteristics of the midlatitude jet stream and of its associated storm track, particularly their positions.
Sustained release microspheres of ropinirole hydrochloride: Effect of process parameters
Authors: Avachat Amelia , Bornare Pralhad , Dash Rakesh 
Published: December 2011

Sustained release microspheres of ropinirole hydrochloride: Effect of process parameters
An emulsion solvent evaporation method was employed to prepare microspheres of ropinirole hydrochloride, a highly water soluble drug, by using ethylcellulose and PEG with the help of 32 full factorial design. The microspheres were made by incorporating the drug in a polar organic solvent, which was emulsified using liquid paraffin as an external oil phase. Effects of various process parameters such as viscosity of the external phase, selection of the internal phase, surfactant selection and selection of stirring speed were studied. Microspheres were evaluated for product yield, encapsulation efficiency and particle size. Various drug/ethylcellulose ratios and PEG concentrations were assayed. In vitro dissolution profiles showed that ethylcellulose microspheres were able to control release of the drug for a period of 12 h.