bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Relationship between Activity and Neighbourhoods (URBAN) Study: research design and methodology
Authors: Badland Hannah M , Schofield Grant M , Witten Karen , Schluter Philip J , Mavoa Suzanne , Kearns Robin A , Hinckson Erica A , Oliver Melody , Kaiwai Hector , Jensen Victoria G , Ergler Christina , McGrath Leslie , McPhee Julia 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Background
Built environment attributes are recognized as being important contributors to physical activity (PA) engagement and body size in adults and children. However, much of the existing research in this emergent public health field is hindered by methodological limitations, including: population and site homogeneity, reliance on self-report measures, aggregated measures of PA, and inadequate statistical modeling. As an integral component of multi-country collaborative research, the Understanding the Relationship between Activity and Neighbourhoods (URBAN) Study seeks to overcome these limitations by determining the strengths of association between detailed measures of the neighborhood built environment with PA levels across multiple domains and body size measures in adults and children. This article outlines the research protocol developed for the URBAN Study.

Methods and design
The URBAN Study is a multi-centered, stratified, cross-sectional research design, collecting data across four New Zealand cities. Within each city, 12 neighborhoods were identified and selected for investigation based on higher or lower walkability and Māori demographic attributes. Neighborhoods were selected to ensure equal representation of these characteristics. Within each selected neighborhood, 42 households are being randomly selected and an adult and child (where possible) recruited into the study. Data collection includes: objective and self-reported PA engagement, neighborhood perceptions, demographics, and body size measures. The study was designed to recruit approximately 2,000 adults and 250 children into the project. Other aspects of the study include photovoice, which is a qualitative assessment of built environment features associated with PA engagement, an audit of the neighborhood streetscape environment, and an individualized neighborhood walkability profile centered on each participant's residential address. Multilevel modeling will be used to examine the individual-level and neighborhood-level relationships with PA engagement and body size.

Discussion
The URBAN Study is applying a novel scientifically robust research design to provide urgently needed epidemiological information regarding the associations between the built environment and health outcomes. The findings will contribute to a larger, international initiative in which similar neighborhood selection and PA measurement procedures are utilized across eight countries. Accordingly, this study directly addresses the international priority issues of increasing PA engagement and decreasing obesity levels.
Amyloidogenic determinants are usually not buried
Authors: Frousios Kimon K , Iconomidou Vassiliki A , Karletidi Carolina-Maria , Hamodrakas Stavros J 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Background
Amyloidoses are a group of usually fatal diseases, probably caused by protein misfolding and subsequent aggregation into amyloid fibrillar deposits. The mechanisms involved in amyloid fibril formation are largely unknown and are the subject of current, intensive research. In an attempt to identify possible amyloidogenic regions in proteins for further experimental investigation, we have developed and present here a publicly available online tool that utilizes five different and independently published methods, to form a consensus prediction of amyloidogenic regions in proteins, using only protein primary structure data.

Results
It appears that the consensus prediction tool is slightly more objective than individual prediction methods alone and suggests several previously not identified amino acid stretches as potential amyloidogenic determinants, which (although several of them may be overpredictions) require further experimental studies. The tool is available at: http://biophysics.biol.uoa.gr/AMYLPRED. Utilizing molecular graphics programs, like O and PyMOL, as well as the algorithm DSSP, it was found that nearly all experimentally verified amyloidogenic determinants (short peptide stretches favouring aggregation and subsequent amyloid formation), and several predicted, with the aid of the tool AMYLPRED, but not experimentally verified amyloidogenic determinants, are located on the surface of the relevant amyloidogenic proteins. This finding may be important in efforts directed towards inhibiting amyloid fibril formation.

Conclusion
The most significant result of this work is the observation that virtually all, to date, experimentally determined amyloidogenic determinants and the majority of predicted, but not yet experimentally verified short amyloidogenic stretches, lie 'exposed' on the surface of the relevant amyloidogenic proteins, and also several of them have the ability to act as conformational 'switches'. Experiments, focused on these fragments, should be performed to test this idea.
Hsa-miR-222 Is Involved in Differentiation of Endometrial Stromal Cells in Vitro
Authors: Qian Kun , Hu Linli , Chen Hong , Li Haixia , Liu Na , Li Yufeng , Ai Jihui , Zhu Guijin , Tang Zhouping , Zhang Hanwang 
Published: July 2009

AbstractDecidualization is a critical step during embryo implantation and characterized by the differentiation of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) into decidual cells. Because miRNAs are important determinants of cellular fate specification, in this study, the miRNA expression in ESCs during in vitro decidualization was profiled by using a microarray. Significance analysis of microarrays revealed that 49 miRNA genes were differently (&gt;2-fold) expressed between the noninduced ESCs and induced ESCs with a false discovery rate of 0. The expression variance of hsa-miR-222, 221, 143, 101, 30d, 30c, 181b, 27b, 29b, 507, and 23a was validated by using quantitative PCR (P &lt; 0.05). Based on microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression variance and predicted target genes of miRNAs, a bioinformatic model of miRNAs controlling ESCs differentiation was formulated. Finally, we proved that down-regulation of has-miR-222 could decrease the number of cells in S phase during ESCs differentiation (P &lt; 0.05). Antisense oligonucleotides of has-miR-222 could increase reporter gene expression by targeting the 3′ untranslated regions of CDKN1C/p57kip2 mRNAs as well as increase CDKN1C/p57kip2 protein levels (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that a subset of miRNAs play a key role in gene reprogramming during ESCs decidualization and that hsa-miR-222 participates in ESC differentiation by regulating ESCs terminally withdrawing from the cell cycle.
Increased Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase/Extracellularly Regulated Kinase Activity in Human Endometrial Stromal Fibroblasts of Women with Endometriosis Reduces 3′,5′-Cyclic Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate Inhibition of Cyclin D1
Authors: Velarde Michael C. , Aghajanova Lusine , Nezhat Camran R. , Giudice Linda C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractEndometriosis is characterized by endometrial tissue growth outside the uterus, due primarily to survival, proliferation, and neoangiogenesis of eutopic endometrial cells and fragments refluxed into the peritoneal cavity during menses. Although various signaling molecules, including cAMP, regulate endometrial proliferation, survival, and embryonic receptivity in endometrium of women without endometriosis, the exact molecular signaling pathways in endometrium of women with disease remain unclear. Given the persistence of a proliferative profile and differential expression of genes associated with the MAPK signaling cascade in early secretory endometrium of women with endometriosis, we hypothesized that ERK1/2 activity influences cAMP regulation of the cell cycle. Here, we demonstrate that 8-Br-cAMP inhibits bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and cyclin D1 (CCND1) expression in cultured human endometrial stromal fibroblasts (hESF) from women without but not with endometriosis. Incubation with serum-containing or serum-free medium resulted in higher phospho-ERK1/2 levels in hESF of women with vs. without disease, independent of 8-Br-cAMP treatment. The MAPK kinase-1/2 inhibitor, U0126, fully restored cAMP down-regulation of CCND1, but not cAMP up-regulation of IGFBP1, in hESF of women with vs. without endometriosis. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the highest phospho-ERK1/2 in the late-secretory epithelial and stromal cells in women without disease, in contrast to intense immunostaining in early-secretory epithelial and stromal cells in those with disease. These findings suggest that increased activation of ERK1/2 in endometrial cells from women with endometriosis may be responsible for persistent proliferative changes in secretory-phase endometrium.
Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Is Activated in Association with Myometrial Proliferation during Pregnancy
Authors: Jaffer Shabana , Shynlova Oksana , Lye Stephen 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
The adaptive growth of the uterus during gestation involves gradual changes in cellular phenotypes from the early proliferative to the intermediate synthetic phase of cellular hypertrophy, ending in the final contractile/labour phenotype. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway regulates cell growth and proliferation in many tissues. We hypothesized that mTOR was a mediator of hormone-initiated myometrial hyperplasia during gestation. The protein expression and phosphorylation levels of mTOR, its upstream regulators [insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), Akt], and downstream effectors [S6-kinase-1 (S6K1) and eI4FE-binding protein 1 (4EBP1)] were analyzed throughout normal pregnancy in rats. In addition, we used an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model to analyze the modulation of the mTOR pathway and proliferative activity of the uterine myocytes by estradiol alone and in combination with the mTOR-specific inhibitor rapamycin. Our results demonstrate that insulin receptor substrate-1 protein levels and the phosphorylated (activated) forms of PI3K, mTOR, and S6K1 were significantly up-regulated in the rat myometrium during the proliferative phase of pregnancy. Treatment of the OVX rats with estradiol caused a transient increase in IGF-I followed by an up-regulation of the PI3K/mTOR pathway, which became apparent by a cascade of phosphorylation reactions (P-P85, P-Akt, P-mTOR, P-S6K1, and P-4EBP1). Rapamycin blocked activation of P-mTOR, P-S6K1, and P-4EBP1 proteins and significantly reduced the number of proliferating cells in the myometrium of OVX rats. Our in vivo data demonstrate that estradiol was able to activate the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway in uterine myocytes and suggest that this activation is responsible for the induction of myometrial hyperplasia during early gestation.
Dissociation between Rat Hippocampal CA1 and Dentate Gyrus Cells in Their Response to Corticosterone: Effects on Calcium Channel Protein and Current
Authors: van Gemert Neeltje G. , Carvalho Diana M. M. , Karst Henk , van der Laan Siem , Zhang Mingxu , Meijer Onno C. , Hell Johannes W. , Joëls Marian 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Stress and corticosterone affect, via glucocorticoid receptors, cellular physiology in the rodent brain. A well-documented example concerns corticosteroid effects on high-voltage activated (L type) calcium currents in the hippocampal CA1 area. We tested whether corticosterone also affects calcium currents in another hippocampal area that highly expresses glucocorticoid receptors, i.e. the dentate gyrus (DG). Remarkably, corticosterone (100 nm, given for 20 min, 1–4.5 hr before recording) did not change high-voltage activated calcium currents in the DG, whereas currents in the CA1 area of the same rats were increased. Follow-up studies revealed that no apparent dissociation between the two areas was observed with respect to transcriptional regulation of calcium channel subunits; thus, in both areas corticosterone increased mRNA levels of the calcium channel-β4 but not the (α) Cav1.2 subunit. At the protein level, however, β4 and Cav1.2 levels were significantly up-regulated by corticosterone in the CA1 but not the DG area. These data suggest that stress-induced elevations in the level of corticosterone result in a regionally differentiated physiological response that is not simply determined by the glucocorticoid receptor distribution and that the observed regional differentiation may be caused by a gene involved in the translational machinery or in mechanisms regulating mRNA or protein stability.
Experimental investigation of the effect of the intake air temperature and mixture quality on the combustion of a methanol- and gasoline-fuelled homogeneous charge compression ignition engine
Authors: Maurya R K , Agarwal A K 
Published: July 2009

Environmental concerns have increased significantly all over the world in the past decade. To fulfil the simultaneous emission requirements for near-zero pollutant and low carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, which are the challenges for the future powertrains, many studies are currently being carried out on new engine combustion processes, such as controlled autoignition for gasoline engines and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) for diesel engines. These combustion processes have the potential for ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NO x) and particulate matter emissions in comparison with conventional gasoline or diesel engines. In this paper, the combustion characteristics of a HCCI engine fuelled with methanol and gasoline were investigated on a modified two-cylinder four-stroke engine. The port fuel injection technique is used to prepare a homogeneous charge of fuel and air. The experiment is conducted with various intake air temperatures ranging from 120°C to 160°C at different air-to-fuel ratios, for which stable HCCI combustion is achieved. The experimental results indicate that the inlet air temperature and air-to-fuel ratio have a significant effect on the maximum in-cylinder pressure and its position relative to top dead centre, the shape of the pressure rise curve, and the heat release rates. The results confirm that the inlet air temperature is a very sensitive parameter in controlling combustion timing and thus the effectiveness of the HCCI combustion process.
An in-vivo model of functional head impact testing in non-helmeted athletes
Authors: Higgins M J , Tierney R T , Caswell S , Driban J B , Mansell J , Clegg S 
Published: July 2009

Development of a functional in-vivo head impact testing model would enhance the ability to elucidate mechanisms underlying individual responses to head impact in sports where a helmet is not worn. The objective of this paper is to describe a novel in-vivo method of assessing human head linear impact acceleration during the functional activity of soccer heading, using a repeated-measures design in a university research laboratory. 17 college-aged soccer players (age, 20.93 years (standard deviation (SD), 1.17 years); height, 170.39cm (SD, 10.15cm); mass, 71.50kg (SD, 9.89kg); head—neck mass, 5.90kg (SD, 0.83kg)) participated in this study. All participants read and signed a university Institutional-Review-Board-approved informed consent before participating. The resultant linear head acceleration (in units of g) was measured for each participant during soccer heading. The head impact model consisted of controlled soccer headers and a triaxial accelerometer affixed to a custom-fitted mouthpiece. A force-sensitive resistor on the forehead assessed impact quality. Standard soccer balls were projected from a JUGS soccer machine travelling at 11.10m/s (25mile/h) and covering a distance of 11m (35ft). The subjects performed standing or simulated headers while aiming at a target positioned 5m in front of them. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) was 0.845 for resultant accelerations. In this paper, the development and testing of a novel in-vivo functional human head impact testing model are described. Results suggest that this methodology has potential for assessing resultant peak linear head impact accelerations during the functional activity of soccer heading and in other non-helmet-wearing sports.
Looking at Molecular Orbitals in Three-Dimensional Form: From Dream to Reality
Authors: Takahashi Masahiko 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Over the last four decades an experimental method has been developed for looking at electron orbitals in momentum space. The method, called electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS), is based on the electron-impact ionizing reaction near the Bethe ridge at incident electron energies of the order of 1 keV or higher. This account reviews frontiers of the field, involving the first approach to molecular frame EMS that enables one to look at molecular orbitals in three-dimensional form.
A Convenient Access to (All-rac)-α-Tocopherol Acetate from Linalool and Dihydromyrcene
Authors: Gembus Vincent , Sala-Jung Nathalie , Uguen Daniel 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Refluxing trimethylhydroquinone 2 in 10:1 dodecane/CH2Cl2 with linalool 3b (two-fold excess) and camphorsulfonic acid, then treating the crude condensation product (consisting of a mixture of the chromanols 1b and 1c, alongside the tricyclic compounds 9 and 10) sequentially with Ac2O and m-CPBA afforded, after removal by column chromatography of the 9/10 acetates, a mixture of the regioisomeric epoxides 1jOAc and 1kOAc (ratio 9:1, total 60%). Treatment of this mixture with Al(O-i-Pr)3 followed by CuI-catalysed Wurtz coupling of the acetates of the resulting allylic alcohols with citronellylmagnesium chloride 12a, and finally hydrogenation then provided the title acetate (overall 46% from 2).
Efficient Access to (All-rac)-α-Tocopherol Acetate by a Crombie Chromene Synthesis
Authors: Gembus Vincent , Sala-Jung Nathalie , Uguen Daniel 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
In contrast to reports in the literature, the pyridine-catalysed condensation of phenolic compounds and conjugated aldehydes to chromenes was found to be applicable to trimethylhydroquinone 2a with the result of complementary convergent approaches to the title acetate using citral 3a and dihydromyrcene 9 as precursors of the phytyl residue.
Optical Properties and Chemical Compositions of Iodine-Containing Aerosols Produced from the Atmospheric Photolysis of Methylene Iodide in the Presence of Ozone
Authors: Sakamoto Yosuke , Yabushita Akihiro , Kawasaki Masahiro , Nakayama Tomoki , Matsumi Yutaka 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Optical properties of iodine-containing aerosols that were produced by ultraviolet photoirradiation of a mixture gas of CH2I2 and O3 with dry air diluent have been measured using a nephelometer, a particle soot absorption photometer and a cavity ring-down spectrometer. Single scattering albedo of iodine aerosols was determined to be 0.96 ± 0.01 at around 530 nm. Chemical compositions of the aerosols associated with particle size in the range of 0.2–1 µm was measured using a laser-ionization single-particle aerosol mass spectrometer. Positive and negative ion signals of iodine and iodine oxides, IOn (n = 0–4), I2On (n = 0–6), and I3On (n = 0–1), carbon-containing compounds and HOI were detected.
Remarkably Stabilized Charge Separations in Inorganic Nanospace
Authors: Yui Tatsuto , Tsuchino Takako , Mino Hiroyuki , Kajino Tsutomu , Itoh Shigeru , Fukushima Yoshiaki , Takagi Katsuhiko 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
A remarkably stable and continuous photoinduced charge separation with a half lifetime longer than 2.5 h in ambient atmosphere was observed at the interface of mesoporous silica and titania nanosheets involving porphyrins and viologen in their nanospaces, respectively.
Decision‐making about the use of hormone therapy among perimenopausal women
Authors: Huston Sally A. , Bagozzi Richard P. , Kirking Duane M. 
Published: July 2009

Objectives. Women reaching menopause must make a controversial decision about whether to use hormone therapy (HT). The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was the organizing framework. The objectives were to determine if (1) influence of different TPB constructs varied with stage of menopause and HT use, (2) women with diabetes were influenced in significantly different ways from women without, (3) the overall perceived behavioural control (PBC) and self‐efficacy (SE) have independent effects on intention, and (4) physician influence was mediated by subjective norm (SN).Design. Cross‐sectional survey of women from a managed care organization.Methods. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse 765 responses (230 from women with diabetes) and separately four main subgroups: (1) early menopause stage and never used HT, (2) late menopause stage and never used HT, (3) late menopause stage and previously used HT, and (4) late menopause stage currently using HT.Results. For the entire sample, the model explains 68% of variance in intention, where SE, physicians' influence, self‐identification with menopause as a natural part of ageing, self‐identification as someone who wants to delay menopause, HT status, menopause status, and diabetes were added to the TPB. For the entire sample, SE added 2% to the explained variance and the physician determinant added 7%.Conclusions. An augmented TPB is useful for understanding women's HT use decisions. The theory explains more variance in intention before a behaviour is enacted than after, and decision structure changes over time. PBC and SE have independent effects on intention.
An Analysis of the WTO Panel Ruling on GMOs Disputes: Focusing on the Interpretation and Application of Articles 2.2, 5.1 and 5.7 of the SPS Agreement
Authors: Chen Hui-Chih , Ni Kuei-Jung 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
The transboundary movement of Genetic Modified Organisms (GMOs) has become a focal point of the international community. The control of GMOs involves huge economic interests and the protection of the environment and public health. In 2003, the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the request of GMOs-producing countries established a Panel in adjudicating the consistency of European nations' restriction on trade of GMO products under WTO rules. Given the high controversy and sensitivity of the dispute, the Panel had conducted a very lengthy deliberation and finally reached a conclusion in September of 2006. This article aims to analyze the legal reasoning of the decision, focusing on how the tribunal interpreted and applied certain critical provisions governing the issue. It is found that this ruling took a rigid stand on the justification of applying trade restrictions on GMOs, although the right of WTO members to protect national health has been fairly reaffirmed.
Risk assessment for preeclampsia in women with gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Phaloprakarn Chadakarn , Tangjitgamol Siriwan 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Aim: To develop a clinical model to assess the risk of preeclampsia in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: We studied clinical characteristics of 813 consecutive women who had GDM between January 2003 and February 2008 at our institution. The clinical features which were significantly associated with preeclampsia by multiple logistic regression analysis were integrated into a risk model. The diagnostic performance of this model was then evaluated from a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: A total of 78 women with GDM (9.6%) developed preeclampsia. In a multivariable analysis, first-trimester BMI ≥27 kg/m2 (P<0.001), GDM diagnosed within 20 weeks of gestation (P<0.001), and poor glycemic control (P<0.001) were associated with preeclampsia. These three factors were incorporated into a risk-scoring model which ranged from 0 to 3 points. At the optimal cut-off score of ≥2, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) for preeclampsia were high at 76.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 69.0–85.2], 92.8% (95% CI 85.9–98.1), and 0.849 (95% CI 0.792–0.905), respectively.

Conclusion: A model based on clinical data yielded predicted the development of preeclampsia in women with GDM.