bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heat shock protein 27 expression in areca quid chewing‐associated oral squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Lee S‐S , Tsai C‐H , Ho Y‐C , Yu C‐C , Chang Y‐C 
Published: March 2012

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 713–719Objectives:  Heat shock protein (HSP) 27 is a low‐molecular‐weight protein that functions as a molecular chaperone and plays a cytoprotective role through its antioxidant activity during cell stress. Areca quid chewing is associated with the high incidence of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to compare heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) expression in OSCCs and the normal oral tissues.Methods:  Forty‐eight OSCCs from areca quid chewers and ten normal oral tissue biopsy samples without areca quid chewing were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for HSP27. The normal human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) were challenged with arecoline, the major alkaloid of areca nut, by Western blot for HSP27. Furthermore, epigallocatechin‐3 gallate (EGCG), glutathione precursor N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine (NAC), cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitor NS‐398, HSP inhibitor quercetin, extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (ERK) inhibitor PD98059, and p38 inhibitor SB203580 were added to find the possible regulatory mechanisms.Results:  Heat shock protein 27 exhibited higher expression in OSCCs than normal specimens (P <   0.05). Arecoline was found to elevate HSP27 expression in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner (P <   0.05). The additions of pharmacological agents were found to inhibit arecoline‐induced HSP27 expression (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  Heat shock protein 27 expression is significantly elevated in areca quid chewing‐associated OSCCs. Arecoline‐induced HSP27 expression was downregulated by EGCG, NS398, NAC, quercetin, PD98059, and SB203580.
Viral phenotype in mother‐to‐child HIV‐1 transmission and disease progression of vertically acquired HIV‐1 infection
Authors: De Rossi A. , Ometto L. , Masiero S. , Zanchetta M. , Chieco‐Bianchi L. 
Published: March 2012

Human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) primary isolates differ in replicative capacity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, tropism for primary monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDM) and T‐cell lines and syncytium‐inducing (SI) capability on MT‐2 cells in vitro. To assess the role of viral phenotype in mother‐to‐child HIV‐1 transmission and the progression of vertically acquired HIV‐1 infection, we studied 57 HIV‐1‐infected women at the time of delivery and 24 HIV‐1‐infected infants. Eight mothers transmitted the infection to their children. Primary isolates, obtained from 7 and 33 transmitting and non‐transmitting mothers, respectively, differed in replicative capacity and SI activity, and no significant differences between the two groups were found regarding these viral properties. However, all primary isolates from transmitting mothers, but about half of those from non‐transmitting mothers, were able to infect and replicate in MDM, regardless of their replicative capacity and/or SI activity; moreover, the monocyto‐macrophage tropism of the maternal isolate correlated with an increased risk of transmission.Viral isolates from HIV‐1‐infected children were typed before 2 months of age; all but four showed a tropism for MDM, further supporting the notion that monocyto‐macrophage tropic variants are selectively transmitted from mother to child and/or selectively replicated upon transmission. Clinical follow‐up disclosed that 7/11 infants with a rapid/high replicating virus but none of the 17 with a slow replicating virus developed severe symptoms of disease and/or severe immunodepression by 1 year of age. By means of competitive RNA‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a relationship was found between viral phenotype and dynamics of HIV‐1 replication early in life in children who experienced different patterns of disease progression.
Assessing species and community functional responses to environmental gradients: which multivariate methods?
Authors: Kleyer Michael , Dray Stéphane , Bello Francescode , Lepš Jan , Pakeman Robin J. , Strauss Barbara , Thuiller Wilfried , Lavorel Sandra 
Published: March 2012

AbstractQuestionHow do multivariate methods perform in relating species‐ and community‐level trait responses to the environment?Location(1) Field data from grazed semi‐natural grasslands, NE Germany; (2) artificial data.MethodsResearch questions associated with trait–environment relationships were briefly reviewed and seven available methods evaluated. The main distinction between research questions is whether trait–environment relationships should be addressed at community or species level. A redundancy analysis (RDA) of mean trait values of species in a plot weighted by their abundances (CWM‐RDA) is exclusively suitable for the community level. The other six methods address the species level. A double inertia analysis of two arrays (RLQ) and double canonical correspondence analysis (doubleCCA) use combinations of ordinations to simultaneously analyse species and trait responses to the environment. A combination of the outlying mean index with generalized additive models (OMI‐GAM) predicts the response of species to environmental variables on trait gradients.RDA‐RegTree first analyses species responses to the environment withRDAand then uses a regression tree to classify trait expressions according to scores of species responses on the ordination axes. Cluster regression uses cluster analyses and logistic regression to search for trait combinations with the best response to the environmental variables. This method models the distribution of functional groups on environmental gradients. All methods and data are available as R scripts.ResultsAll methods consistently revealed the main trait responses to environment in the field data set, namely that life history was associated with available phosphorus while grazing intensity was related to leafC:Nratio and canopy height. At community level,CWM‐RDAgave a good overview of trait–environment relationships, as also provided by the species‐based methodsRLQand doubleCCA.OMI‐GAMrevealed non‐linear relationships in the field data set. Field and artificial data gave that the number and stability of functional groups produced byCluster regression andRDA‐RegTree varied more strongly thanRLQ, doubleCCAandOMI‐GAM.ConclusionsEach method addresses particular ecological concepts and research questions. If a user asks for the response of average trait expressions of communities to environmental gradients,CWM‐RDAmay be the first choice. However, species‐based methods should be applied to address questions regarding co‐existence of different life histories or to assess how groups of species respond to environmental changes. The artificial data set revealed that the methods differed in sensitivity to gradient lengths and random data.
Is foliar flammability of woody species related to time since fire and herbivory in northwest Patagonia, Argentina?
Authors: Blackhall Melisa , Raffaele Estela , Veblen Thomas T. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractQuestionIn northwest Patagonia burning of fire‐resistant forests creates a community‐level positive feedback towards increased fire occurrence because of successional replacement by fire‐prone shrublands. We hypothesize that variability in plant traits related to time since last fire and to herbivory by cattle may affect foliar flammability, thus providing a flammability‐promoting mechanism operating at the level of individual plants. We examine how plant foliar traits affecting flammability vary across species and at sites recovering from recent fires (<15 yr) vs sites not affected by fire for > 50 yr, both in the presence and absence of cattle.LocationNahuel Huapi National Park, northwest Patagonia, Argentina.MethodsWe measured four foliar traits expected to affect flammability: leaf moisture, leaf size, specific leaf area and leaf strength, and conducted tests of ignitability (time to ignition and duration of combustion) on leaves of six common tall shrub and small tree species: non‐palatable Lomatia hirsuta and Diostea juncea, moderately palatable Nothofagus antarctica and Schinus patagonicus and highly palatable Maytenus boaria and Ribes magellanicum. We used ANOVA and PCA to examine potential relationships among species flammability traits, time since fire and presence or absence of cattle.ResultsAt plant level, variability in flammability‐related foliar properties is strongly and consistently related to time since last fire, whereas effects of cattle are more variable across species and treatments. In comparison with unburned forests, the dominant woody species at shrubland sites showed reduced leaf moisture, leaf size and specific leaf area. Under pressure from cattle, N. antarctica, one of the most important woody species in these shrublands, showed changes in some foliar traits expected to enhance flammability (e.g. shorter time to ignition) but overall the influence of cattle on flammability was not consistent.ConclusionsThe current study demonstrates that plant foliar traits vary between recently burned and unburned sites, and that these variations may enhance foliar flammability in shrubland communities.
The plastidial glucan, water dikinase (GWD) catalyses multiple phosphotransfer reactions
Authors: Hejazi Mahdi , Steup Martin , Fettke Joerg 
Published: March 2012

The plant genome encodes at least two distinct and evolutionary conserved plastidial starch‐related dikinases that phosphorylate a low percentage of glucosyl residues at the starch granule surface. Esterification of starch favours the transition of highly ordered α‐glucans to a less ordered state and thereby facilitates the cleavage of interglucose bonds by hydrolases. Metabolically most important is the phosphorylation at position C6, which is catalysed by the glucan, water dikinase (GWD). The reactions mediated by recombinant wild‐type GWD from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtGWD) and from Solanum tuberosum (StGWD) were studied. Two mutated proteins lacking the conserved histidine residue that is indispensible for glucan phosphorylation were also included. The wild‐type GWDs consume approximately 20% more ATP than is required for glucan phosphorylation. Similarly, although incapable of phosphorylating α‐glucans, the two mutated dikinase proteins are capable of degrading ATP. Thus, consumption of ATP and phosphorylation of α‐glucans are not strictly coupled processes but, to some extent, occur as independent phosphotransfer reactions. As revealed by incubation of the GWDs with [γ‐33P]ATP, the consumption of ATP includes the transfer of the γ‐phosphate group to the GWD protein but this autophosphorylation does not require the conserved histidine residue. Thus, the GWD proteins possess two vicinal phosphorylation sites, both of which are transiently phosphorylated. Following autophosphorylation at both sites, native dikinases flexibly use various terminal phosphate acceptors, such as water, α‐glucans, AMP and ADP. A model is presented describing the complex phosphotransfer reactions of GWDs as affected by the availability of the various acceptors.Structured digital abstract
StGWD autophosphorylates by protein kinase assay (View interaction)
AtGWD autophosphorylates by protein kinase assay (View interaction)
Psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Kogan's Attitudes Toward Older People Scale
Authors: REJEH Nahid , HERAVI‐KARIMOOI Majideh , MONTAZERI Ali , FOROUGHAN Mahshid , VAISMORADI Mojtaba 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAim:  The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties “validity” and “reliability” of the Iranian version of Kogan's Attitudes Toward Older People Scale (KAOPS).Methods:  The participants consisted of 350 nurses working in five teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The scale was translated using the forward–backward translation technique. A two‐phase data collection design was used in 2 weeks following the first completion. Exploratory factor analysis, content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and stability–reliability was employed to check the scale's psychometric properties.Results:  The scale total scores were between 42 and 188. All of the 34 items were found to have significant item‐to‐total correlations (P < 0.05). Two factors were extracted –“prejudice' and “appreciation”– which contributed to the scale variance of 32.83% and 25.93%, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.83 for the total scale as 0.83 for “prejudice” and 0.86 for “appreciation”. In addition, the scale stability was reported to be 0.90 and 0.83 for “prejudice” and “appreciation”, respectively. The average content validity was 0.95, and construct validity was in an acceptable range.Conclusion:  The Iranian version of the KAOPS was shown to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring nurses' knowledge about elders. This scale can be used in future studies to gather high‐quality data for improving elder care.
“Blurred Boundaries”? Rethinking the Concept of Craft and its Relation to Art and Design
Authors: Shiner Larry 
Published: March 2012

AbstractArt world talk of “blurred boundaries” and “hybrids” between art and craft, suggests that the philosophy of art needs to rethink the concept of craft. This can best be done by adopting four strategies: first, distinguish between craft as a set of disciplines, and craft as a process and practice; second, keep in mind the differences among craft practices such as studio, trade, ethnic, amateur, and DIY; third, recognize that craft’s relationship with design is as important as its relationship to art; fourth, attend to the role digital design and fabrication are playing in craft and art today. At the core of the craft process are three contested characteristics found in most craft practices: hand, material, and skill, although these are better understood as body, medium, and mastery. After discussing a fourth contested characteristic of many craft and design practices, function, I show that none of the four characteristics is a requisite condition for artistic practice today, yet none are excluded from contemporary (fine) art, despite its current “post‐studio” or “post‐disciplinary” tendencies. I conclude that the boundary between art and craft conceived as a set of disciplines defined by materials and techniques has not become blurred, it has all but disappeared. On the other hand, I show through an analysis of some references to “mere craft” by Stephen Davies and Arthur Danto, that craft conceived as a process and practice can be understood as distinct from art, but in a non‐invidious sense.
The Political Dimension of Confucius’s Idea of Ren
Authors: Luo Shirong 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis essay argues that there is a political dimension to Confucius’s idea of ren. This thesis is based on a careful analysis of what may be called the definitional passages in the Analects. The author contends that contrary to what may be called the unqualified egalitarian claim, ren is not applicable to every human being because its political aspect requires some degree of constraint in its application.
From norms to programs: The United Nations Global Compact and global governance
Authors: Berliner Daniel , Prakash Aseem 
Published: March 2012

AbstractNorms shape policy when they get translated into concrete programs. What if a widely shared norm gets translated into a weak program? How might this influence the program's legitimacy? We examine these issues in the context of the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary program that embodies the widely shared norm of corporate responsibility. While both international intergovernmental organization (IGO) and international non‐governmental organization (INGO) networks support this norm, they differ on the adequacy of the Compact's program design. We explore how this tension affects the diffusion of the Compact across countries, which vary in their levels of embeddedness in IGO and INGO networks. Our findings suggest that embeddedness in IGO networks encourages adoption, while embeddedness in INGO networks discourages it. Our analysis provides important lessons for sponsors of voluntary governance mechanisms. Widespread support for a norm does not automatically ensure support for a program that claims to embody it.
Decreased Oligodendrocyte Nuclear Diameter in Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia
Authors: Gagyi Eva , Kormos Bernadett , Castellanos Karla J. , Valyi‐Nagy Klara , Korneff Dennis , LoPresti Patrizia , Woltjer Randy , Valyi‐Nagy Tibor 
Published: March 2012

AbstractTo better understand the pathogenesis of dementia, it is important to understand histopathologic changes in neurodegenerative diseases because they might highlight key aspects of the degenerative process. In this study, the nuclear diameter of neurons and oligodendrocytes in selected temporal lobe areas were determined in autopsy tissue sections from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD) and controls. Our morphometric studies targeted neurons in the CA4 region of the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus, neurons in the granular layer of the dentate gyrus and oligodendrocytes in parahippocampal white matter. Mean neuronal nuclear diameters were not different among the studied groups. However, our studies revealed a statistically significant reduction of mean oligodendrocyte nuclear diameter in AD and LBD relative to controls. The reduction of the mean nucleus diameter of oligodendrocytes in LBD was independent of the presence of associated AD pathology in LBD. These findings for the first time identify decreased oligodendrocyte nucleus diameter as a morphologic feature of AD and LBD and may lead to a better understanding of the role of oligodendrocytes in AD and LBD pathogenesis.
Extraction and Separation of Volatile and Fixed Oils from Seeds of Myristica fragrans by Supercritical CO2: Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity on Caco‐2 Cancer Cells
Authors: Piras Alessandra , Rosa Antonella , Marongiu Bruno , Atzeri Angela , Dessì M. Assunta , Falconieri Danilo , Porcedda Silvia 
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  Isolation of volatile and fixed oils from nutmeg have been obtained by supercritical fractioned extraction with carbon dioxide. Extraction experiments were carried out at pressures of 90 and 250 bar and temperature of 40 °C. The extraction step performed at 90 bar produced a volatile fraction mainly formed by myristicin (32.8%), sabinene (16.1%), α‐pinene (9.8%), β‐pinene (9.4%), β‐phellandrene (4.9%), safrole (4.1%) and terpinen‐4‐ol (3.6%). The oil yield relative to this step of the process was 1.4% by weight of the charge. The last extraction step at 250 bar produced a butter‐like material (nutmeg butter). The yield of this step was 14.4% by weight. The most represented fatty acids of fixed oil from nutmeg were 14:0 (79.2%), 18:1 n‐9 (7.4%) and 16:0 (6.1%), and in particular the unsaturated fatty acids 18:1 n‐9 averaged 32.96 μg/mg of oil. The level of myristicin in the nutmeg essential and fixed oils was also directly quantified by reversed HPLC‐DAD. Moreover, the essential oil obtained from nutmeg, as well as myristicin, showed a significant in vitro inhibitory effect on the growth of a colon cancer cell line (undifferentiated Caco‐2 cells).Practical Application:  In this study, the chemical characterization and the anticancer activity of nutmeg oils obtained by supercritical extraction with carbon dioxide were investigated. This is important for their potential application in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Fatty Acid Profile and Sensory Characteristics of Table Eggs from Laying Hens Fed Hempseed and Hempseed Oil
Authors: Goldberg Erin M. , Gakhar Naveen , Ryland Donna , Aliani Michel , Gibson Robert A. , House James D. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  Hempseed (HS) is rich in omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, with approximately 17% of total fatty acids as alpha‐linolenic acid. As such, HS and its oil may be used in hen diet formulations to produce eggs enriched in essential fatty acids. Because omega‐3 eggs have the potential for unpleasant aromas and flavors, the current study was designed to assess the fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of eggs procured from hens consuming diets containing hempseed oil (HO) or HS. A total of 48 individually caged White Bovan hens received 1 of 6 diets containing 4%, 8%, 12% HO, 10%, 20% HS or 0% hemp (w/w) for 12 wk. Total omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content was highest in the 12% HO group (15.3 mg/g of yolk) compared to the control (2.4 mg/g of yolk). Trained panellists (n= 8) found no significant differences (P≥ 0.05) in aroma or flavor between cooked eggs from different dietary treatments, with the exception of sweet flavor. The 4% HO group yielded the least sweet eggs compared to the 20% HS group, which was highest. For yolk color, L*, a*, and b* values (Mean ± SEM) for control eggs were 61.2 ± 0.10, 1.1 ± 0.05, and 43.0 ± 0.22, respectively. Addition of hemp led to significant (P < 0.001) reductions in L*, and significant increases in a* and b*, with the largest changes observed in the 20% HS treatment (L*= 58.7 ± 0.10; a*= 5.8 ± 0.05; b*= 60.5 ± 0.22). The results show that hemp use in hen diets leads to increased omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content and color intensity of egg yolks, but does not have adverse effects on the sensory profiles of the cooked eggs.Practical Application:  This study provides evidence that HS and hempseed oil (HO) can safely be utilized as feed ingredients for laying hens to produce table eggs that are enriched in essential fatty acids. Additionally, the eggs procured from these hens had similar aroma and flavor compared to eggs from hens not fed any hemp. The greater the dietary hemp inclusion, the more pigmented the resulting yolks became in terms of darkness, redness, and yellowness.
Detection of Ricin Contamination in Liquid Egg by Electrochemiluminescence Immunosorbent Assay
Authors: Brandon David L. , Korn Anna M. , Yang Lily L. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  A monoclonal antibody‐based electrochemical luminescence method was developed for detecting and quantifying ricin in liquid egg, with a limit of detection of 0.2 ng/mL. Because this highly toxic protein, present in the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor), has been used for intentional poisoning in the past, it is important to have sensitive and reliable analytical methodology to detect ricin in food matrices such as liquid egg. The detection of this quantity of pure or crude ricin spiked into commercial samples of liquid egg provides approximately 50000‐fold greater sensitivity than required to detect a toxic dose of ricin (>1 mg) in a 100 g sample.Practical Application:  Because ricin has been used for intentional poisoning, there is a need for analytical methodology to detect ricin in food matrices to assure a safe food supply. Using monoclonal antibodies to ricin developed in our laboratory, we explored an assay readout system known as electrochemiluminescence. This technique afforded sensitive and specific analysis of ricin intentionally added to liquid egg and could potentially be used to monitor egg‐based vaccine production.