bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The archaeoastronomy of the megalithic monuments of Arles–Fontvieille: the equinox, the Pleiades and Orion
Authors: Saletta Morgan 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe megalithic monuments of Arles–Fontvieille appear to have been deliberately constructed such that a ray of the setting sun on and around the equinox penetrates the subterranean chamber producing a spectacular light-and-shadow hierophany. Moreover, at one of the sites there is evidence in the form of rock art that observations were also being made of heliacal rising and settings, possibly of both the Pleiades and Orion. The equinox hierophany has been documented at three of the four intact monuments of the group. This phenomenon was probably exploited for sacred ritualistic purposes related to seasonal change and timekeeping by the agricultural people who built the monuments. This evidence has significant importance for understanding these monuments in the context of European megalithism and the wider European Neolithic as well as for understanding their cosmological role within the society that built them.
The ‘Ancient Skies’ project—human cultures and their skies
Authors: Schultz Rüdiger , Vickers Doris 
Published: July 2011

AbstractHuman beings have recognized and interpreted celestial objects and events since time immemorial. The sky, our common and universal heritage, forms an integral part of all human cultures around the world. The Ancient Skies Project aims to collect, verify and publish available information about various human cultures and their astronomical knowledge in one single web-accessible knowledgebase.The overall vision for the project is
In this paper we describe the basic tenets of the project, discuss the design of the knowledgebase, and compare the project to other similar projects.
Ovocalyxin-36 and other LBP/BPI/PLUNC-like proteins as molecular actors of the mechanisms of the avian egg natural defences
Authors: Gautron Joël , Réhault-Godbert Sophie , Pascal Géraldine , Nys Yves , Hincke Maxwell T. 
Published: July 2011

The chicken egg possesses physical and chemical barriers to protect the embryo from pathogens. OCX-36 (ovocalyxin-36) was suggested to be a 36 kDa eggshell-specific protein that is secreted by the regions of the oviduct responsible for eggshell formation. Its expression is strongly up-regulated during shell calcification. This protein was also detected in vitelline membrane and expressed in gut tissues. Analysis of the OCX-36 protein sequence revealed that OCX-36 is related to the BPI (bactericidal permeability-increasing proteins)/LBP [LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-binding proteins]/PLUNC (palate, lung and nasal epithelium clone) superfamily, and that there are strong similarities between the exon/intron organization of the mammalian LBP/BPI and the avian OCX-36 genes. A recent study revealed that OCX-36 originates from a tandem duplication of an ancestral BPI/LBP/PLUNC gene, after the divergence of birds and mammals. Its antimicrobial activity was recently investigated and it was shown that OCX-36 binds to LPS from Escherichia coli. High-throughput methodologies have led to the identification of approximately 1000 new egg proteins. Among these are LBP/BPI proteins that might play a role in the natural defences of the egg to protect the embryo during its development in the external milieu, and may function to keep the table egg free of pathogens. The function of these BPI-like molecules is the subject of intense research to characterize their putative LPS-binding properties and antimicrobial activity.
Deficient expression of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein in immunocompromised hosts: translational potential of replacement therapy
Authors: Palmer Christine D. , Guinan Eva C. , Levy Ofer 
Published: July 2011

BPI (bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein) is a 55 kDa anti-infective molecule expressed in neutrophil and eosinophil granules and on some epithelial cells. BPI's high affinity for the lipid A region of endotoxin targets its opsonizing, microbicidal and endotoxin-neutralizing activities towards Gram-negative bacteria. Several immunocompromised patient populations demonstrate BPI deficiency, including newborns, those with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (as in cystic fibrosis and HIV infection) and those exposed to radiochemotherapy. BPI may be replenished by administering agents that induce its expression or by administration of recombinant BPI congeners, potentially shielding BPI-deficient individuals against Gram-negative bacterial infection, endotoxemia and its toxic sequelae.
Latherin and other biocompatible surfactant proteins
Authors: Kennedy Malcolm W. 
Published: July 2011

Horses and other equids are unusual in producing protein-rich sweat for thermoregulation, a major component of which is latherin, a highly surface-active, non-glycosylated protein that is a member of the PLUNC (palate, lung and nasal epithelium clone) family. Latherin produces a significant reduction in water surface tension at low concentrations (≤1 mg/ml), and probably acts as a wetting agent to facilitate evaporative cooling through a thick, waterproofed pelt. Latherin binds temporarily to hydrophobic surfaces, and so may also have a disruptive effect on microbial biofilms. It may consequently have a dual role in horse sweat in both evaporative cooling and controlling microbial growth in the pelt that would otherwise be resourced by nutrients in sweat. Latherin is also present at high levels in horse saliva, where its role could be to improve mastication of the fibrous diet of equids, and also to reduce microbial adherence to teeth and oral surfaces. Neutron reflection experiments indicate that latherin adsorbs to the air/water interface, and that the protein undergoes significant conformational change and/or partial unfolding during incorporation into the interfacial layer.
Full-dimensional analytical ab initio potential energy surface of the ground state of HOI
Authors: de Oliveira-Filho Antonio G. S. , Aoto Yuri A. , Ornellas Fernando R. 
Published: July 2011

Extensive ab initio calculations using a complete active space second-order perturbation theory wavefunction, including scalar and spin-orbit relativistic effects with a quadruple-zeta quality basis set were used to construct an analytical potential energy surface (PES) of the ground state of the [H, O, I] system. A total of 5344 points were fit to a three-dimensional function of the internuclear distances, with a global root-mean-square error of 1.26 kcal mol−1. The resulting PES describes accurately the main features of this system: the HOI and HIO isomers, the transition state between them, and all dissociation asymptotes. After a small adjustment, using a scaling factor on the internal coordinates of HOI, the frequencies calculated in this work agree with the experimental data available within 10 cm−1.
Transparent lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Yang Yuan , Jeong Sangmoo , Hu Liangbing , Wu Hui , Lee Seok Woo , Cui Yi 
Published: July 2011

Transparent devices have recently attracted substantial attention. Various applications have been demonstrated, including displays, touch screens, and solar cells; however, transparent batteries, a key component in fully integrated transparent devices, have not yet been reported. As battery electrode materials are not transparent and have to be thick enough to store energy, the traditional approach of using thin films for transparent devices is not suitable. Here we demonstrate a grid-structured electrode to solve this dilemma, which is fabricated by a microfluidics-assisted method. The feature dimension in the electrode is below the resolution limit of human eyes, and, thus, the electrode appears transparent. Moreover, by aligning multiple electrodes together, the amount of energy stored increases readily without sacrificing the transparency. This results in a battery with energy density of 10 Wh/L at a transparency of 60%. The device is also flexible, further broadening their potential applications. The transparent device configuration also allows in situ Raman study of fundamental electrochemical reactions in batteries.
The Heart failure and Optimal Outcomes from Pharmacy Study (HOOPS): rationale, design, and baseline characteristics
Authors: Lowrie Richard , Mair Frances S. , Greenlaw Nicola , Forsyth Paul , McConnachie Alex , Richardson Janice , Khan Nina , Morrison Deborah , Messow Claudia‐Martina , Rae Brian , McMurray John J.V. 
Published: July 2011

AimsThe effect on mortality and morbidity of pharmacist‐led intervention to optimize pharmacological therapy in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) has not been tested in a large‐scale, long‐term, clinical trial.MethodsWe describe the rationale and design of a UK, primary care‐based, prospective cluster‐randomized controlled trial of a pharmacist‐led intervention in HF and report baseline characteristics of the patients randomized. Eighty‐seven practices (1092 patients) were assigned to the intervention arm and 87 practices (1077 patients) to usual care. The average age of patients at baseline was 71 years, 70% were male, 86% were treated with an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker and 62% with a beta‐blocker. Data for the primary outcome of death from any cause or hospitalization for HF will be available up to 31 December 2010, giving a mean follow‐up of 5 years. More than 750 patients would have experienced the primary outcome during this period. The first secondary outcome is death from any cause or hospitalization for a cardiovascular reason. Deaths and hospitalizations are being identified using the Scottish National Health Service electronic patient record‐linkage system (hence the delay between the end of follow‐up and database lock).ConclusionThis trial is powered to provide a robust evaluation of the effect of pharmacist‐led treatment optimization in patients with systolic HF in primary care.
Prognostic utility of plasma neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin in patients with acute heart failure: The NGAL EvaLuation Along with B‐type NaTriuretic Peptide in acutely decompensated heart failure (GALLANT) trial
Authors: Maisel Alan S. , Mueller Christian , Fitzgerald Robert , Brikhan Robert , Hiestand Brian C. , Iqbal Navaid , Clopton Paul , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. 
Published: July 2011

AimsNeutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a measure of acute kidney injury. Renal dysfunction portends significant risk after discharge from acute heart failure (AHF). Thus, a sensitive marker of renal injury might also help to risk stratify HF patients.Methods and resultsGALLANT [NGAL EvaLuation Along with B‐type NaTriuretic Peptide (BNP) in acutely Decompensated Heart Failure] was a multicentre, prospective study to assess the utility of plasma NGAL, alone and in combination with BNP, as an early risk marker of adverse outcomes. We studied 186 patients (61% male). There were 29 events (AHF readmissions and all‐cause mortality) at 30 days (16%). Patients with events had higher levels of NGAL than those without (134 vs. 84 ng/mL, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was higher for NGAL (0.72) than BNP (0.65), serum creatinine (0.57), or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 0.55). In multivariable analyses, NGAL predicted events (P= 0.001), BNP approached significance (P= 0.052 and 0.070 without creatinine and GFR, respectively) while neither serum creatinine nor eGFR were significant. The addition of discharge NGAL over BNP alone improved classification by a net 10.3% in those with events and 19.5% in those without events, for a net reclassification improvement of 29.8% (P= 0.010). Subjects with both BNP and NGAL elevated were at significant risk [hazard ratio (HR) = 16.85, P= 0.006], as were subjects with low BNP and high NGAL (HR = 9.95, P= 0.036).ConclusionsPlasma NGAL is a measure of kidney injury that at the time of discharge is a strong prognostic indicator of 30 days outcomes in patients admitted for AHF.Clinical trial registration number: NCT 00693745
Interpreting the large fish indicator for the Celtic Sea
Authors: Shephard Samuel , Reid David G. , Greenstreet Simon P. R. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractShephard, S., Reid, D. G., and Greenstreet, S. P. R. 2011. Interpreting the large fish indicator for the Celtic Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1963–1972. The large fish indicator (LFI) was developed in the North Sea as a size-based indicator of fish community state. It is now established as OSPAR's fish community Ecological Quality Objective (EcoQO) metric and will be applied across all OSPAR regions. To produce a protocol for use when developing regional LFIs, the North Sea experience is interpreted using data from the Celtic Sea. Differences in fish community species composition and size distribution were reflected in a different species complex and large fish threshold (50 cm) for the Celtic Sea LFI. However, a lag of 12–14 years in the relationship between assemblage-averaged fishing mortality Fcom,y and the LFI suggested similar underlying ecological mechanisms to the North Sea. The indicator responded to changes in small fish biomass that follow fishing-induced changes in the level of predation by large demersal piscivores. The Celtic Sea LFI showed maximum observed values >0.40 before 1990, and 0.40 is here proposed as an EcoQO. Development of regional LFIs demands a flexible process rather than a strictly prescriptive protocol.
Effects of Glycemic Regulation on Chronic Postischemia Pain
Authors: Ross-Huot Marie-Christine , Laferrière André , Gi Cho Min , Khorashadi Mina , Schricker Thomas , Coderre Terence J. 
Published: July 2011

Background
Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries consist of enhanced oxidative and inflammatory responses along with microvascular dysfunction after prolonged ischemia and reperfusion. Because I/R injuries induce chronic postischemia pain (CPIP) in laboratory animals, it is possible that surgical procedures using prolonged ischemia may result in chronic postoperative pain. Glycemic modulation during ischemia and reperfusion could affect pain after I/R injury because glucose triggers oxidative, inflammatory, and thrombotic reactions, whereas insulin has antioxidative, antiinflammatory, and vasodilatory properties.

Methods
One hundred ten rats underwent a 3-h period of ischemia followed by reperfusion to produce CPIP. Rats with CPIP had previously been divided into six groups with differing glycemic modulation paradigms: normal feeding; fasting; fasting with normal saline administration; fasting with dextrose administration; normal feeding with insulin administration; and normal feeding with insulin and dextrose administration. Blood glucose concentration was assessed during I/R in these separate groups of rats, and these rats were tested for mechanical and cold allodynia over the 21 days afterward (on days 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 21 after I/R injury).

Results
I/R injury in rats with normoglycemia or relative hyperglycemia (normal feeding and fasting with dextrose administration groups) led to significant mechanical and cold allodynia; conversely, relative hypoglycemia associated with insulin treatment or fasting (fasting, fasting with normal saline administration, and normal feeding with insulin administration groups) reduced allodynia induced by I/R injury. Importantly, insulin treatment did not reduce allodynia when administered to fed rats given dextrose (normal feeding with dextrose and insulin administration group).

Conclusion
Study results suggest that glucose levels at the time of I/R injury significantly modulate postinjury pain thresholds in rats with CPIP. Strict glycemic control during I/R injury significantly reduces CPIP and, conversely, hyperglycemia significantly enhances it, which could have potential clinical applications especially in the surgical field.
Characterization of the Phosphate Starvation-Induced Glycerol-3-phosphate permease Gene Family in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ramaiah Madhuvanthi , Jain Ajay , Baldwin James C. , Karthikeyan Athikkattuvalasu S. , Raghothama Kashchandra G. 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
Phosphate (Pi) deficiency is one of the leading causes of loss in crop productivity. Plants respond to Pi deficiency by increasing Pi acquisition and remobilization involving organic and inorganic Pi transporters. Here, we report the functional characterization of a putative organic Pi transporter, Glycerol-3-phosphate permease (G3Pp) family, comprising five members (AtG3Pp1 to -5) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). AtG3Pp1 and AtG3Pp2 showed 24-and 3-fold induction, respectively, in the roots of Pi-deprived seedlings, whereas Pi deficiency-mediated induction of AtG3Pp3 and -4 was evident in both roots and shoots. Furthermore, promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion transgenics were generated for AtG3Pp2 to -5 for elucidation of their in planta role in Pi homeostasis. During Pi starvation, there was a strong expression of the reporter gene driven by AtG3Pp4 promoter in the roots, shoots, anthers, and siliques, whereas GUS expression was specific either to the roots (AtG3Pp3) or to stamens and siliques (AtG3Pp5) in other promoter-GUS fusion transgenics. Quantification of reporter gene activities further substantiated differential responses of AtG3Pp family members to Pi deprivation. A distinct pattern of reporter gene expression exhibited by AtG3Pp3 and AtG3Pp5 during early stages of germination also substantiated their potential roles during seedling ontogeny. Furthermore, an AtG3Pp4 knockdown mutant exhibited accentuated total lateral root lengths under +phosphorus and −phosphorus conditions compared with the wild type. Several Pi starvation-induced genes involved in root development and/or Pi homeostasis were up-regulated in the mutant. A 9-fold induction of AtG3Pp3 in the mutant provided some evidence for a lack of functional redundancy in the gene family. These results thus reflect differential roles of members of the G3Pp family in the maintenance of Pi homeostasis.
Acute epidural haematoma following epidural steroid injection in a patient with spinal stenosis*
Authors: Shanthanna H. , Park J. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryExtradural haematoma is a rare but known complication of neuraxial procedures. Although the literature quotes an incidence of 1:150 000 and 1:220 000 after epidural and spinal procedures, respectively, there is only a limited number of case reports described in pain practice. This case report describes an unusual occurrence of thoracic extradural haematoma following a lumbar epidural steroid injection. An entirely unique feature was its occurrence at a level distant to the site of injection, which has not been reported previously unless associated with catheterisation. We would like to highlight this report as it raises several pertinent and challenging questions; both for regional anaesthesia and pain practice.
Study of Blastocystis hominis isolates in urticaria: a case–control study
Authors: Zuel-Fakkar N. M. , Abdel Hameed D. M. , Hassanin O. M. 
Published: July 2011

Summary
Blastocystis hominis is a common intestinal parasite, with a prevalence in developing countries of up to 50%. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of this parasite with urticaria by determining the genotypic isotypes in the Egyptian population. In total, 54 patients with urticaria and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. Stool samples were examined and assessed by PCR. The parasite was detected in a significantly higher number (P &lt; 0.001) of the patient group than the control group. There was no significant difference between the patients with acute and those with chronic urticaria (P = 0.2). The amoeboid form was found in 60.6% of Blastocystis-positive patients with urticaria, but in none of the healthy controls. Subtype 3 was the only isolate found in both the patient and control groups. We recommend treatment for Blastocystis-positive patients with urticaria in developing countries. The prevalence is much lower (around 10%) in developed countries, where treatment should only be considered in the absence of other possible causes of urticaria.
Diagnostic yield of conventional radiographic and cone‐beam computed tomographic images in patients with atypical odontalgia
Authors: Pigg M. , List T. , Petersson K. , Lindh C. , Petersson A. 
Published: July 2011

Pigg M, List T, Petersson K, Lindh C, Petersson A. Diagnostic yield of conventional radiographic and cone‐beam computed tomographic images in patients with atypical odontalgia. International Endodontic Journal, 44, 1092–1101, 2011.AbstractAim  To investigate whether the additional diagnostic yield of a cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) examination over conventional radiographs in patients primarily suspected of having atypical odontalgia (AO) improves differentiation between AO and symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP) in patients with severe chronic intraoral pain.Methodology  In this clinical study, 25 patients (mean age 54 ± 11 years, range 34–72) participated; 20 were diagnosed with AO and 5 with SAP. All patients were recruited from the clinics of the Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University. AO inclusion criteria were chronic pain (>6 months) in a region where a tooth had been endodontically or surgically treated, with no pathological cause detectable in clinical or radiologic examinations. SAP inclusion criteria were recurrent pain from a tooth diagnosed with apical periodontitis in clinical and radiographic examinations. Assessments comprised a self‐report questionnaire on pain characteristics, a comprehensive clinical examination and a radiographic examination including panoramic and intraoral radiographs and CBCT images. The main outcome measure was periapical bone destruction.Results  Sixty per cent of patients with AO had no periapical bone destructions detectable with any radiographic method. Overall, CBCT rendered 17% more periapical bone destructions than conventional radiography. Average pain intensity in patients with AO was 5.6 (±1.8) on a 0–10 numerical rating scale, and average pain duration was 4.3 (±5.2) years.Conclusion  Cone‐beam computed tomography improves identification of patients without periapical bone destruction, which may facilitate differentiation between AO and SAP.
The cell wall binding domain of Listeria bacteriophage endolysin PlyP35 recognizes terminal GlcNAc residues in cell wall teichoic acid
Authors: Eugster Marcel R. , Haug Martina C. , Huwiler Simona G. , Loessner Martin J. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryThe cell wall binding domains (CBD) of bacteriophage endolysins target the enzymes to their substrate in the bacterial peptidoglycan with extraordinary specificity. Despite strong interest in these enzymes as novel antimicrobials, little is known regarding their interaction with the bacterial wall and their binding ligands. We investigated the interaction of Listeria phage endolysin PlyP35 with carbohydrate residues present in the teichoic acid polymers on the peptidoglycan. Biochemical and genetic analyses revealed that CBD of PlyP35 specifically recognizes the N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residue at position C4 of the polyribitol‐phosphate subunits. Binding of CBDP35 could be prevented by removal of wall teichoic acid (WTA) polymers from cell walls, and inhibited by addition of purified WTAs or acetylated saccharides. We show that Listeria monocytogenes genes lmo2549 and lmo2550 are required for decoration of WTAs with GlcNAc. Inactivation of either gene resulted in a lack of GlcNAc glycosylation, and the mutants failed to bind CBDP35. We also report that the GlcNAc‐deficient phenotype of L. monocytogenes strain WSLC 1442 is due to a small deletion in lmo2550, resulting in synthesis of a truncated gene product responsible for the glycosylation defect. Complementation with lmo2550 completely restored display of characteristic serovar 1/2 specific WTA and the wild‐type phenotype.