bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical Study for the Flow and Heat Transfer in a Thin Liquid Film Over an Unsteady Stretching Sheet with Variable Fluid Properties in the Presence of Thermal Radiation
Authors: Liu I-C. , Megahed A. M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn this paper, the effect of thermal radiation, variable viscosity and variable thermal conductivity on the flow and heat transfer of a thin liquid film over an unsteady stretching sheet is analyzed. The continuity, momentum and energy equations, which are coupled nonlinear partial differential equations, are reduced to a set of two non-linear ordinary differential equations, before being solved numerically. Results for the skin-friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, velocity profiles as well as temperature profiles are presented for different values of the governing parameters. It is found that increasing the viscosity parameter leads to a rise in the velocity near the surface of the sheet and a fall in the temperature. Furthermore, it is shown that the temperature increases due to an increase in the values of the thermal conductivity parameter and the thermal radiation parameter, while it decreases with an increase of the Prandtl number.
Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Italian version of the depression attitude questionnaire (DAQ)
Authors: Sighinolfi C. , Norcini Pala A. , Casini F. , Haddad M. , Berardi D. , Menchetti M. 
Published: May 2012

Aims.To validate the Italian version of the ‘depression attitude questionnaire’ (DAQ), to assess its psychometric properties and to evaluate the primary care physicians' (PCPs) opinion and attitude towards depression.Methods.An Italian version of the DAQ was created and then administered to a representative sample of PCPs working in the Emilia-Romagna region.Results.The findings derived from the Italian version of the DAQ indicated a three-factor solution (professional confidence, negative viewpoint and biological stance), broadly similar to previous studies and with acceptable fit indices. Our results showed that the PCPs consider depression as an increasingly important issue for their daily clinical practice. A large majority of them believed in the effectiveness of antidepressants and considered psychopharmacological treatment as appropriate for the PCPs to undertake. However, most PCP respondents thought that psychotherapy should be left to the specialists. Our findings suggest a prevalent orientation to the biochemical aspects of depression and the use of antidepressant treatment.Conclusions.The PCPs' attitude and opinion towards depression is an important aspect of their understanding and response to this common and disabling condition. The Italian version of the DAQ appears to be an appropriate and useful instrument to assist the understanding of the PCPs' views and potential need for further professional development.
The island‐scale internal wave climate of Moorea, French Polynesia
Authors: Leichter James J. , Stokes M. Dale , Hench James L. , Witting Jan , Washburn Libe 
Published: May 2012

Analysis of five‐year records of temperatures and currents collected at Moorea reveal strong internal wave activity at predominantly semi‐diurnal frequencies impacting reef slopes at depths ≥30 m around the entire island. Temperature changes of 1.5°C to 3°C are accompanied by surges of upward and onshore flow and vertical shear in onshore currents. Superimposed on annual temperature changes of approximately 3°C, internal wave activity is high from Oct–May and markedly lower from Jun–Sep. The offshore pycnocline is broadly distributed with continuous stratification to at least 500 m depth, and a subsurface fluorescence maximum above the strong nutricline at approximately 200 m. Minimum buoyancy periods range from 4.8 to 6 min, with the maximum density gradient occurring at 50 to 60 m depth in summer and deepening to approximately 150 to 200 m in winter. The bottom slope angle around all of Moorea is super‐critical relative to the vertical stratification angle suggesting that energy propagating into shallow water is only a portion of total incident internal wave energy. Vertical gradient Richardson numbers indicate dominance by density stability relative to current shear with relatively limited diapycnal mixing. Coherence and lagged cross‐correlation of semi‐diurnal temperature variation indicate complex patterns of inter‐site arrival of internal waves and no clear coherence or lagged correlation relationships among island sides. Semi‐diurnal and high frequency internal wave packets likely arrive on Moorea from a combination of local and distant sources and may have important impacts for nutrient and particle fluxes in deep reef environments.
Shifting hydrogen bonds may produce flexible transmembrane helices
Authors: Cao Zheng , Bowie James U. 
Published: May 2012

The intricate functions of membrane proteins would not be possible without bends or breaks that are remarkably common in transmembrane helices. The frequent helix distortions are nevertheless surprising because backbone hydrogen bonds should be strong in an apolar membrane, potentially rigidifying helices. It is therefore mysterious how distortions can be generated by the evolutionary currency of random point mutations. Here we show that we can engineer a transition between distinct distorted helix conformations in bacteriorhodopsin with a single-point mutation. Moreover, we estimate the energetic cost of the conformational transitions to be smaller than 1 kcal/mol. We propose that the low energy of distortion is explained in part by the shifting of backbone hydrogen bonding partners. Consistent with this view, extensive backbone hydrogen bond shifts occur during helix conformational changes that accompany functional cycles. Our results explain how evolution has been able to liberally exploit transmembrane helix bending for the optimization of membrane protein structure, function, and dynamics.
Oil and Protein Accumulation in Developing Seeds Is Influenced by the Expression of a Cytosolic Pyrophosphatase in Arabidopsis
Authors: Meyer Knut , Stecca Kevin L. , Ewell-Hicks Kim , Allen Stephen M. , Everard John D. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis study describes a dominant low-seed-oil mutant (lo15571) of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) generated by enhancer tagging. Compositional analysis of developing siliques and mature seeds indicated reduced conversion of photoassimilates to oil. Immunoblot analysis revealed increased levels of At1g01050 protein in developing siliques of lo15571. At1g01050 encodes a soluble, cytosolic pyrophosphatase and is one of five closely related genes that share predicted cytosolic localization and at least 70% amino acid sequence identity. Expression of At1g01050 using a seed-preferred promoter recreated most features of the lo15571 seed phenotype, including low seed oil content and increased levels of transient starch and soluble sugars in developing siliques. Seed-preferred RNA interference-mediated silencing of At1g01050 and At3g53620, a second cytosolic pyrophosphatase gene that shows expression during seed filling, led to a heritable oil increase of 1% to 4%, mostly at the expense of seed storage protein. These results are consistent with a scenario in which the rate of mobilization of sucrose, for precursor supply of seed storage lipid biosynthesis by cytosolic glycolysis, is strongly influenced by the expression of endogenous pyrophosphatase enzymes. This emphasizes the central role of pyrophosphate-dependent reactions supporting cytosolic glycolysis during seed maturation when ATP supply is low, presumably due to hypoxic conditions. This route is the major route providing precursors for seed oil biosynthesis. ATP-dependent reactions at the entry point of glycolysis in the cytosol or plastid cannot fully compensate for the loss of oil content observed in transgenic events with increased expression of cytosolic pyrophosphatase enzyme in the cytosol. These findings shed new light on the dynamic properties of cytosolic pyrophosphate pools in developing seed and their influence on carbon partitioning during seed filling. Finally, our work uniquely demonstrates that genes encoding cytosolic pyrophosphatase enzymes provide novel targets to improve seed composition for plant biotechnology applications.
Can needle and syringe programmes and opiate substitution therapy achieve substantial reductions in hepatitis C virus prevalence? Model projections for different epidemic settings
Authors: Vickerman Peter , Martin Natasha , Turner Katy , Hickman Matthew 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAimsTo investigate the impact of scaling‐up opiate substitution therapy (OST) and high coverage needle and syringe programmes (100%NSP—obtaining more sterile syringes than you inject) on HCV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs).DesignHepatitis C virus HCV transmission modelling using UK estimates for effect of OST and 100%NSP on individual risk of HCV infection.SettingRange of chronic HCV prevalent (20/40/60%) settings with no OST/100%NSP, and UK setting with 50% coverage of both OST and 100%NSP.ParticipantsInjecting drug users.MeasurementsDecrease in HCV prevalence after 5–20 years due to scale‐up of OST and 100%NSP to 20/40/60% coverage in no OST/100%NSP settings, or from 50% to 60/70/80% coverage in the UK setting.FindingsFor 40% chronic HCV prevalence, scaling‐up OST and 100%NSP from 0% to 20% coverage reduces HCV prevalence by 13% after 10 years. This increases to a 24/33% relative reduction at 40/60% coverage. Marginally less impact occurs in higher prevalence settings over 10 years, but this becomes more pronounced over time. In the United Kingdom, without current coverage levels of OST and 100%NSP the chronic HCV prevalence could be 65% instead of 40%. However, increasing OST and 100%NSP coverage further is unlikely to reduce chronic prevalence to less than 30% over 10 years unless coverage becomes ≥80%.ConclusionsScaling‐up opiate substitution therapy and high coverage needle and syringe programmes can reduce hepatitis C prevalence among injecting drug users, but reductions can be modest and require long‐term sustained intervention coverage. In high coverage settings, other interventions are needed to further decrease hepatitis C prevalence. In low coverage settings, sustained scale‐up of both interventions is needed.
Evaluating the impact of community‐based treatment options on methamphetamine use: findings from the Methamphetamine Treatment Evaluation Study (MATES)
Authors: McKetin Rebecca , Najman Jake M. , Baker Amanda L. , Lubman Dan I. , Dawe Sharon , Ali Robert , Lee Nicole K. , Mattick Richard P. , Mamun Abdullah 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the impact of community‐based drug treatment on methamphetamine use using inverse probability of treatment‐weighted (IPTW) estimators to derive treatment effects.DesignA longitudinal prospective cohort study with follow‐ups at 3 months, 1 year and 3 years. Treatment effects were derived by comparing groups at follow‐up. IPTW estimators were used to adjust for pre‐treatment differences between groups.SettingSydney and Brisbane, Australia.ParticipantsParticipants were methamphetamine users entering community‐based detoxification (n = 112) or residential rehabilitation (n = 248) services and a quasi‐control group of methamphetamine users (n = 101) recruited from the community.MeasurementsFrequency of methamphetamine use between interviews (no use, less than weekly, 1–2 days per week, 3+ days per week), continuous abstinence from methamphetamine use, past month methamphetamine use and methamphetamine dependence.FindingsDetoxification did not reduce methamphetamine use at any follow‐up relative to the quasi‐control group. Relative to quasi‐control and detoxification groups combined, residential rehabilitation produced large reductions in the frequency of methamphetamine use at 3 months [odds ratio (OR) = 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–0.36, P < 0.001), with a marked attenuation of this effect at 1 year (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.40–0.97, P = 0.038) and 3 years (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.42–1.19, P = 0.189). The greatest impact was for abstinence: for every 100 residential rehabilitation clients there was a gain of 33 being continuously abstinent at 3 months, with this falling to 14 at 1 year and 6 at 3 years.ConclusionsCommunity‐based residential rehabilitation may produce a time‐limited decrease in methamphetamine use, while detoxification alone does not appear to do so.
Checking Anaesthetic Equipment 2012
Authors:   Membership of the Working Party: A. Hartle (Chair), Anderson E. , Bythell V. , Gemmell L. , Jones H. , McIvor D. , Pattinson A. , Sim P. , Walker I. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryA pre‐use check to ensure the correct functioning of anaesthetic equipment is essential to patient safety. The anaesthetist has a primary responsibility to understand the function of the anaesthetic equipment and to check it before use. Anaesthetists must not use equipment unless they have been trained to use it and are competent to do so. A self‐inflating bag must be immediately available in any location where anaesthesia may be given. A two‐bag test should be performed after the breathing system, vaporisers and ventilator have been checked individually. A record should be kept with the anaesthetic machine that these checks have been done. The ‘first user’ check after servicing is especially important and must be recorded.
Plasma brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in prepubertal obese children: results from a 2‐year lifestyle intervention programme
Authors: Corripio Raquel , Gónzalez‐Clemente José‐Miguel , Jacobo Pérez‐Sánchez , Silvia Näf , Lluis Gallart , Joan Vendrell , Assumpta Caixàs 
Published: May 2012

SummaryContextBrain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin potentially involved in the pathophysiology of obesity and metabolic syndrome in adults. In children, it has scarcely been studied.ObjectiveTo analyse plasma BDNF and its relationship with metabolic syndrome components before and after 2 years of a lifestyle intervention programme in a prepubertal obese cohort.Design and settingCase–control study with a 2‐year prospective follow‐up in a referral paediatric endocrine outpatient centre.Patients and methodsSeventy‐three prepubertal obese children, 8·03 ± 1·08 years old, and 47 age‐ and gender‐matched lean controls were studied. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, platelet count (PLT), oral glucose tolerance test, homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), lipid profile, BDNF, diet and physical activity were evaluated. Weight loss was considered if z‐score body mass index (BMI) decreased at least 0·5 SD.ResultsAt baseline, BDNF tended to be lower in prepubertal obese children compared with lean controls (P = 0·076). BDNF did not correlate with any metabolic syndrome component. After 2 years, obese patients showed an increase in BDNF. Regression model analysis adjusted by age, sex, puberty, BMI, PLT and HOMA‐IR showed that BDNF increased in subjects who lost weight (P = 0·036), practiced sports (P = 0·008) and had an adequate carbohydrate intake (P = 0·032).ConclusionsPlasma BDNF tends to be lower in obese prepubertal children than in lean controls, is not related to any other metabolic syndrome component and increases after a lifestyle intervention programme.
Serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol concentrations in older men self‐reporting very good health: the healthy man study
Authors: Sartorius Gideon , Spasevska Sasa , Idan Amanda , Turner Leo , Forbes Elise , Zamojska Anna , Allan Carolyn A. , Ly Lam P. , Conway Ann J. , McLachlan Robert I. , Handelsman David J. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryObjectiveTo determine serum concentrations, intra‐individual variability and impact of age‐related co‐morbidities on serum testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) in older men.DesignObservational, repeated measures study.ParticipantsMen (n = 325) with 40 years and older self‐reporting very good or excellent health.MeasurementsStandardized history, physical examination and collection of nine blood samples at fixed time intervals were measured over 3 months (three at 20 min intervals on days 1 (fasting) and 2 (non‐fasting), one at days 7, 30 and 90). Serum T, DHT, E2 and E1 (n = 2900, > 99% of scheduled samples) measured by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) were analysed by linear mixed model analysis with fasting, age and obesity as covariables.ResultsMean serum T did not vary with age (P = 0·76) but obesity (−0·35 nm per body mass index (BMI) unit, P < 0·0001) and ex‐smoker status (−1·6 nm, P < 0·001) had significant effects. Serum DHT was increased with age (+0·011 nm per year, P = 0·001) but decreased with obesity (−0·05 nm per BMI unit, P < 0·0001). Serum E2 did not vary with age (P = 0·31) or obesity (P = 0·12). Overnight fasting increased (by 9–16%, all P < 0·001) and reduced variability in morning serum T, DHT, E2 and E1. Non‐fasting serum T and DHT were stable over time (day, week, month or 3 months; P > 0·28).ConclusionsSerum T, DHT and E2 displayed no decrease associated with age among men over 40 years of age who self‐report very good or excellent health although obesity and ex‐smoking status were associated with decreased serum androgens (T and DHT) but not E2. These findings support the interpretation that the age‐related decline in blood T accompanying non‐specific symptoms in older men may be due to accumulating age‐related co‐morbidities rather than a symptomatic androgen deficiency state.
Relationships between sarcopenic obesity and insulin resistance, inflammation, and vitamin D status: the Korean Sarcopenic Obesity Study
Authors: Kim Tae Nyun , Park Man Sik , Lim Kang Il , Choi Hae Yoon , Yang Sae Jeong , Yoo Hye Jin , Kang Hyun Joo , Song Wook , Choi Hyuk , Baik Sei Hyun , Choi Dong Seop , Choi Kyung Mook 
Published: May 2012

SummaryObjectiveIt has been suggested that insulin resistance, low‐grade inflammation and vitamin D deficiency are associated with obesity and sarcopenia. However, their relationships with sarcopenic obesity (SO) are unclear. We evaluated the impact of homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels on SO in Korean adults.Study subject/measurementsThis study included 493 apparently healthy adults (180 men and 313 women) enrolled in the Korean Sarcopenic Obesity Study. Sarcopenia was defined as a skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) of 1 SD below the sex‐specific mean value for a young reference group. Obesity was defined as a visceral fat area (VFA) ≥100 cm2. We classified the participants into four sarcopenia/obesity groups based on both SMI and VFA.ResultsThe prevalence of SO was 17·8% in men and 24·9% in women. In women, the SO group had higher HOMA‐IR and hsCRP levels compared with the non‐SO group. In men, the 25[OH]D levels were significantly lower in the SO group than the non‐SO group. Both hsCRP and HOMA‐IR levels were negatively correlated with SMI and positively correlated with VFA in both men and women, whereas 25[OH]D levels were positively correlated with SMI in both men and women. Multiple binary logistic regression analysis showed that HOMA‐IR and 25[OH]D levels were independently associated with SO in men, while HOMA‐IR and hsCRP were significant factors predicting SO in women.ConclusionInsulin resistance, inflammation and vitamin D deficiency were associated with SO in a Korean adult population.
The utility of diagnostic biopsy specimens for predictive molecular testing in colorectal cancer
Authors: Fadhil Wakkas , Ibrahem Salih , Seth Rashmi , AbuAli Ghada , Ragunath Krishna , Kaye Philip , Ilyas Mohammad 
Published: May 2012

Fadhil W, Ibrahem S, Seth R, AbuAli G, Ragunath K, Kaye P & Ilyas M  (2012) Histopathology The utility of diagnostic biopsy specimens for predictive molecular testing in colorectal cancerAims:  If stratified medicine is to be applied in the neoadjuvant setting, predictive testing will have to be undertaken on preoperative diagnostic biopsy specimens. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a diagnostic biopsy was adequately representative of the main tumour in colorectal cancer.Methods and results:  Thirty cases of paired biopsy and subsequent resection specimens were randomly selected. Samples were screened for mutation in KRAS (codons 12/13, 61, and 146), BRAF (codon 600 and exon 11), PIK3CA (exons 1, 9, and 20), TP53 (exons 5–8), and microsatellite instability, using the quick multiplex consensus or standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols followed by high‐resolution melting analysis. A total of 570 paired PCR tests were performed for mutation detection, and identical results were obtained in both biopsy and resection specimens in 569 tests (>99% concordance). Four cases (13%) showed microsatellite instability, and, in all four cases, instability was seen at identical mononucleotide markers in both biopsy and matched resection specimens.Conclusions:  This is the first study to show that diagnostic biopsy specimens, even though they are a tiny sample of the tumour, are sufficiently representative for use in predictive testing for early driver mutations in colorectal cancer.
Chemical composition, antioxidative capacity and interactive antimicrobial potency of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad essential oil and antimicrobial agents against selected food‐related microorganisms
Authors: Siavash Saei‐Dehkordi S. , Fallah Aziz A. , Heidari‐Nasirabadi Mahbubeh , Moradi Mehran 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThis study aimed to determine the chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidative activity of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad essential oil. The oil was analysed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty‐eight constituents were identified. The oxygenated monoterpenes (78.22%) were the principal compound group. Among them, carvacrol (53.86%) and thymol (19.84%) were the most abundant constituents. The oil exhibited an acceptable antimicrobial activity against most of the tested microorganisms. The checkerboard method was applied to determine fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) to interpret the synergetic, additive, indifference or antagonistic interactions between essential oil and each of antimicrobials (lysozyme, ciprofloxacin, fluconazole and amphotericin B) against food‐related microorganisms. The synergetic phenomenon (FICI ≤ 0.5) was observed in majority of combinations with the exception of the essential oil and lysozyme. The oil exhibited good 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 28.71 μg mL−1). Also, the oil had strong antioxidative activity in β‐carotene‐linoleic acid assay relative antioxidant activity (RAA% = 95.45). This study demonstrated that the essential oil has beneficial biological properties and its simultaneous application with standard antimicrobials against food‐related microorganisms result in reduction in inhibitory doses of the antimicrobials in vitro.
Shelf life of ready‐to‐cook cauliflower mixtures as affected by packaging film mass transport properties
Authors: Lucera Annalisa , Conte Amalia , Del Nobile Matteo Alessandro 
Published: May 2012

SummaryIn this work, the influence of packaging mass transport properties on quality loss of fresh‐cut cauliflower mixtures was addressed. The study was organised in two subsequent experimental steps; first, the selection of micro‐perforated packaging films was carried out by monitoring the package headspace gas concentrations of fresh‐cut white, green cauliflower and roman cabbage. Then, the effects of the barrier properties of the selected micro‐perforated film on shelf life of two different fresh‐cut cauliflower mixtures, stored at 4 ± 1 °C, were addressed. Results suggested that, among the investigated films, the micro‐perforated polymeric matrix with the lowest oxygen transmission rate value showed the best performance as it created the optimum headspace gas composition for each cauliflower variety, as well as, for the product mixtures. The appearance of visible moulds was the factor limiting product shelf life that accounted for about 18 days for both the investigated cauliflower mixtures.