bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transfusion safety on the African continent: an international quality control of virus testing in blood banks
Authors: Laperche Syria , Boukatou Geneviève , Kouegnigan Léonard , Nébié Yacouba , Boulahi Mohamed Ould , Tagny Claude Tayou , Yahaya Rakia , Tapko Jean‐Baptiste , Murphy Edward , Lefrère Jean Jacques 
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND: Following World Health Organization recommendations that a quality control (QC) system be implemented in African blood centers, a pilot study of the performance of human immunodeficiency virus antibody (anti‐HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) testing by several Sub‐Saharan African blood centers was initiated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A reference laboratory sent a panel of 25 samples to six African blood center laboratories. The panel included eight negative samples; four anti‐HIV‐1–, one anti‐HIV‐2–, four anti‐HCV–, and five HBsAg‐positive samples; and three samples consisting of mixtures of two sera to mimic coinfections. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall quality (correct positive or negative status) scores were calculated.RESULTS: From the 21 sets of results obtained (seven for each virus), eight were from rapid tests (two for HIV, three for HBV, and three for HCV) and 13 were from enzyme immunoassays (EIAs; all HIV EIAs were antigen/antibody combination assays). Overall assay sensitivity was 98% for HIV, 75% for HBV, and 88% for HCV; agreement between blood centers using the same assay was good. Sensitivity of rapid tests was notably poorer than EIAs, with overall sensitivity quality scores of 64.5% for rapid tests (20% for HBsAg rapid tests) compared to 100% for EIAs. The overall specificity quality scores were 98.3 and 94.5% for EIAs and rapid tests, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: This pilot QC study organized for blood centers of Sub‐Saharan Africa showed the feasibility of the approach despite some logistic constraints. Although interlaboratory variability was small, the poor performance of rapid tests, especially for HBsAg, raises policy questions about their use as the only screening assay.
Optimizing the mix of basic dental services for Southern Thai schoolchildren based on resource consumption, service needs and parental preference
Authors: Tianviwat Sukanya , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi , Birch Stephen 
Published: June 2009

Abstract – Objectives:  To identify the optimal levels and mix of basic dental services (sealants and fillings for permanent teeth and extraction of primary teeth) under two different dental settings: hospital‐based and mobile dental clinics under specified resource constraints.Methods:  A linear programming model is used based on explicit identification of system objectives and resource constraints. The objective was to maximize benefits as measured by parental willingness to pay (WTP) for basic dental services provided to schoolchildren subject to constraints on total resources, service need and parental preferences among different dental care settings.Results:  Optimization was identified to require 270, 180, 552, 828, 228 and 532 cases of hospital sealant, mobile sealant, hospital filling, mobile filling, hospital extraction and mobile extraction, respectively. The corresponding current service levels were 48, 281, 191, 170, 479, and 677 respectively. The optimal service configuration produced a total WTP of 485 860 baht which exceeded the WTP for the current service configuration by more than 75.4%.Conclusions:  Mobile clinic fillings were the highest priority among basic dental services. The current service configurations fail to reflect the setting preferences and provide greater emphasis to extractions than the optimal configuration with less emphasis given to preventive and restorative services.
Do different ethnic groups need different sun protection?
Authors: Antoniou Christina , Lademann Juergen , Schanzer Sabine , Richter Heike , Sterry Wolfram , Zastrow Leonhard , Koch Stefan 
Published: June 2009

Background: In the present study, the transmission of sunlight trough the human skin barrier into the living tissue was investigated in the spectral region between 280 and 700 nm.Methods: The experiments were performed with a fiber‐based spectrometer on sliced skin obtained from volunteers with different skin types. One fiber was positioned directly on the skin surface and the second one underneath the skin samples. The distribution of the sunlight under the epidermis was determined.Results: Significant differences were found in the absorption properties of the different skin types, which were mainly determined by the variations in melanin concentration and distribution. It was found that sunscreens for specific ethnic groups need different combinations of UV filters, if a balanced relation between ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) protection is to be obtained. On the other hand, it could be demonstrated that the human skin is also well protected against visible and near‐infrared light by melanin.Conclusions: The higher the skin type category, the better the protection in the visible part of the spectrum of the sun. This stimulates the hot discussion at the present time, as to whether sunscreens should also contain protection compounds in the visible and near‐infrared parts of the spectrum.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Role of IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α and its Receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 in the Local Regulatory System of Normal and Impaired Human Spermatogenesis
Authors: Białas Małgorzata , Fiszer Dorota , Rozwadowska Natalia , Kosicki Włodzimierz , Jedrzejczak Piotr , Kurpisz Maciej 
Published: June 2009

Problem  To investigate the expression of genes coding for selected cytokines with antagonistic functions (IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α) as well as TNF‐α receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) in correct spermatogenesis (normal proliferation), maturation arrest (proliferation inhibited) and testicular tumors (overgrowth).Method of study  Transcription levels of genes coding for IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α, TNFR1 and TNFR2 were quantitatively examined using a real‐time RT‐PCR.Results  Significantly higher amounts of IL‐6 mRNA were observed in testicular tumor samples than in normal spermatogenesis or in some syndromes with maturation arrest (MA at spermatid level or SCOS), while IL‐10 gene levels were fairly stable. In homogenates with maturation arrest, the expression of TNFR1 gene was markedly higher than in testicular tumors, while the opposite phenomenon was found in respect to TNFR2 gene.Conclusion  The results obtained indicate that changes in activities of intra‐testicular cytokines may promote different distinct pathologies such as testicular cancer or infertility.
On the common mass scale of the Milky Way satellites
Authors: Li Yang-Shyang , Helmi Amina , De Lucia Gabriella , Stoehr Felix 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
We use a hybrid approach that combines high-resolution simulations of the formation of a Milky Way-like halo with a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation to study the mass content of dwarf galaxies in the concordance Λ cold dark matter cosmology. We find that the mass within 600 pc of dark matter haloes hosting luminous satellites has a median value of ∼3.2 × 107 M⊙ with very little object-to-object scatter. In contrast, the present-day total luminosities of the model satellites span nearly five orders of magnitude. These findings are in very good agreement with the results recently reported in the literature for the dwarf spheroidal galaxies of the Milky Way. In our model, dwarf irregular galaxies like the Small Magellanic Cloud, are predicted to have similar or slightly larger dark matter mass within 600 pc.
Molecular Changes in White Matter Adjacent to an Active Demyelinating Lesion in Early Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Zeis Thomas , Probst Alfonse , Steck Andreas Johann , Stadelmann Christine , Brück Wolfgang , Schaeren‐Wiemers Nicole 
Published: June 2009

AbstractA stereotactic biopsy of a 17‐year‐old woman revealed an active inflammatory demyelinating lesion compatible with pattern III multiple sclerosis (MS) according to Lucchinetti et al. The biopsy included a white matter region distant from the active inflammatory demyelinating lesion with abnormal MRI signal, lacking histopathological signs of demyelination and/or oligodendrocyte apoptosis. Expression analysis of this area revealed a strong up‐regulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Furthermore, detection of nitrotyrosine provided evidence for reactive nitrogen species (RNS)‐mediated damage to oligodendrocytes. Concomitantly, genes involved in neuroprotection against oxidative stress such as heme oxygenase 1 were up‐regulated. Even though a single case report, this study shows earliest molecular changes in white matter surrounding an actively demyelinating lesion during the first manifestation of MS, pointing toward a more widespread pathological process. Therapeutic targeting of the identified mechanisms of tissue injury might be crucial to prevent further lesion formation or secondary tissue damage.
Fluid Evolution and Metallogenic Dynamics during Tectonic Regime Transition: Example from the Jiapigou Gold Belt in Northeast China
Authors: Deng Jun , Yang Liqiang , Gao Bangfei , Sun Zhongshi , Guo Chunying , Wang Qingfei , Wang Jianping 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe Jiapigou gold belt, one of the most important gold‐producing districts in China, is located in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). The tectonic evolution of the gold belt is closely related to the Siberian Plate (SP) in the north, Yangtze Craton (YC) in the south and Pacific Plate in the east. In order to investigate the nature of the tectono‐fluid‐metallogenic system, the authors investigated the relationships among the tectonic regimes, fluid evolution and metallogenesis. This paper examined the corresponding spatial–temporal relationship between the ore‐controlling tectonic regime and hydrothermal fluid evolution in the Jiapigou gold belt. There are two types of gold mineralization: disseminated ores that are distributed within the NW‐trending main ductile shear zone and gold‐bearing quartz veins and minor disseminated ores that are distant to the ductile shear zone. The fluid inclusions in quartz contain a large amount of CO2. Metamorphic fluids of middle to high temperatures and pressures and meteoric waters of low temperatures and pressures mixed together during mineralization. A proposed ore‐forming model is as follows: in the pre‐ore phase, the collision of SP and NCC resulted in the NS‐trending compression of the ore belt. This formed the NE‐trending and NW‐trending shear faults and EW‐trending folds. During the ore‐forming phase, the collision of YC and NCC resulted in dextral shearing of the NW‐trending Jiapigou fault and the NE‐trending Green faults. High‐pressure fluids caused by the compression flowed into the dilatant zone. This may have caused both phase separation of CO2‐bearing fluids and the mixing of meteoric waters, metamorphic waters and magmatic source fluids and finally resulted in the disequilibrium of the ore fluids and precipitation of ore minerals.
Geology and Lead‐Isotope Study of the Baiyinnuoer Zn‐Pb‐Ag Deposit, South Segment of the Da Hinggan Mountains, Northeastern China
Authors: Zeng Qingdong , Liu Jianming , Zhang Zuolun , Jia Changshun , Yu Changming , Ye Jie , Liu Hongtao 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe Baiyinnuoer deposit (32.74 Mt ore with grades of 5.44% Zn, 2.02% Pb and 31.36 g t−1 Ag), the largest Zn‐Pb‐Ag deposit in northern China, is hosted by crystalline limestone and slate of the Early Permian Huanggangliang Formation. Detailed cross‐section mapping indicates stratigraphic and fold structural controls on the mineralization. The Zn‐Pb‐Ag mineralization is hosted predominantly by skarn, which occurs as bedding‐parallel lens that pinch out at the margins of the main economic zone. Three skarn stages are identified at the deposit: (i) garnet‐clinopyroxene; (ii) sulfides; and (iii) carbonate‐epidote. Lead isotopic compositions were determined for galena and sphalerite of the ores, whole rock samples of the Yanshanian granite and granodiorite, Permian marble and tuff, and Jurassic volcanic and subvolcanic rocks in and around the Baiyinnuoer area in order to discuss the sources of ore‐forming materials and the relationship between the ore formation and these whole rocks. Galena and sphalerite of the Baiyinnuoer ore have uniform isotopic ratios (206Pb/204Pb, 18.267–18.369; 207Pb/204Pb, 15.506–15.624; 208Pb/204Pb, 38.078–38.394) consistent with the granite and granodiorite (206Pb/204Pb, 18.252–18.346; 207Pb/204Pb, 15.504–15.560; 208Pb/204Pb, 38.141–38.320), whereas the ratios for Jurassic volcanic and subvolcanic rocks are variable and radiogenic (206Pb/204Pb, 18.468–18.614; 207Pb/204Pb, 15.521–15.557; 208Pb/204Pb, 38.304–38.375). These results indicate that the mineralization was not related to the Jurassic volcanism, but to the Yanshanian magmatism. The Permian strata may have a slight contribution to the mineralization. All features show that the Baiyinnuoer deposit is related to the Yanshanian granitic magmatism, and can be classified as a zinc‐lead‐silver skarn deposit.
Ore‐Forming Fluid Characteristics of the Dayingezhuang Gold Deposit, Jiaodong Gold Province, China
Authors: Yang Liqiang , Deng Jun , Guo Chunying , Zhang Jing , Jiang Shaoqing , Gao Bangfei , Gong Qingjie , Wang Qingfei 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe Dayingezhuang gold deposit is located in the central part of the Zhaoping Fault Zone, which is one of the most important gold‐hosting faults in the Jiaodong gold province of China. Dayingezhuang is a typical large‐scale shear zone‐hosted disseminated gold deposit with superimposed silver mineralization. Fluid inclusion (FI) petrography and microthermometry, and analysis of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes for fluid inclusions were conducted to determine the characteristics of the ore‐forming fluids and the processes of silver mineralization. Microthermometry data of FI indicated that ore‐forming fluids are characterized by low salinity and low density. Homogenization pressures of FI are estimated at 20 × 105–220 × 105 Pa. The change in ore‐forming fluids from K2SO4type to NaCl type indicates the superposition of two hydrothermal mineralizing events. Ore‐forming fluids were dominated by magmatic components in the early mineralization period, and affected by meteoric waters in the late period. Gold may have been transported as Au‐S or Au‐Cl complexes, whereas silver was transported as Ag‐Cl complexes. Early fluid boiling and later fluid mixing are thought to be two of the main factors causing the deposition and superimposing of gold and silver to form the large deposit.
Metabolic engineering of cobalamin (vitamin B12) production in Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Biedendieck Rebekka , Malten Marco , Barg Heiko , Bunk Boyke , Martens Jan‐Henning , Deery Evelyne , Leech Helen , Warren Martin J. , Jahn Dieter 
Published: June 2009

SummaryCobalamin (vitamin B12) production in Bacillus megaterium has served as a model system for the systematic evaluation of single and multiple directed molecular and genetic optimization strategies. Plasmid and genome‐based overexpression of genes involved in vitamin B12 biosynthesis, including cbiX, sirA, modified hemA, the operons hemAXCDBL and cbiXJCDETLFGAcysGAcbiYbtuR, and the regulatory gene fnr, significantly increased cobalamin production. To reduce flux along the heme branch of the tetrapyrrole pathway, an antisense RNA strategy involving silencing of the hemZ gene encoding coproporphyrinogen III oxidase was successfully employed. Feedback inhibition of the initial enzyme of the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, HemA, by heme was overcome by stabilized enzyme overproduction. Similarly, the removal of the B12 riboswitch upstream of the cbiXJCDETLFGAcysGAcbiYbtuR operon and the recombinant production of three different vitamin B12 binding proteins (glutamate mutase GlmS, ribonucleotide triphosphate reductase RtpR and methionine synthase MetH) partly abolished B12‐dependent feedback inhibition. All these strategies increased cobalamin production in B. megaterium. Finally, combinations of these strategies enhanced the overall intracellular vitamin B12 concentrations but also reduced the volumetric cellular amounts by placing the organism under metabolic stress.
Interaction of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli with salad leaves
Authors: Berger Cedric N. , Shaw Robert K. , Ruiz‐Perez Fernando , Nataro James P. , Henderson Ian R. , Pallen Mark J. , Frankel Gad 
Published: June 2009

SummaryEnteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) are important human pathogens. However, their environmental reservoir is unknown. As fresh salad leaves are increasingly recognized as an important environmental vector for human pathogens, we investigated leaf attachment capability of EAEC strains. We found that binding of clinical EAEC isolates to leaves from Eruca vesicaria (commonly known as rocket or arugula) can be divided into high, moderate and low adherent phenotypes. Using the prototype EAEC strain 042 to investigate the underlining mechanisms involved in leaf attachment, we found small attached bacterial aggregates over the entire leaf surface and dense bacterial attachment to the guard cell of the stomata. An aaf 042 mutant lost the ability to bind the epidermis while retaining stomatal adherence. In contrast, a fliC 042 mutant retained the ability to bind the epidermis but lost stomatal tropism. These results show that multiple adherence factors are involved in the interaction of EAEC with leaves, that EAEC uses similar colonization factors to bind mucosal and leaf surfaces and that fresh produce might be an important reservoir of EAEC strains.
Quantitative Assessment of the Complex Dynamics of G1, S, and G2-M Checkpoint Activities
Authors: Ubezio Paolo , Lupi Monica , Branduardi Davide , Cappella Paolo , Cavallini Edoardo , Colombo Valentina , Matera Giada , Natoli Claudia , Tomasoni Daniela , D'Incalci Maurizio 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
Although studies of cell cycle perturbation and growth inhibition are common practice, they are unable to properly measure the activity of cell cycle checkpoints and frequently convey misinterpretation or incomplete pictures of the response to anticancer treatment. A measure of the strength of the treatment response of all checkpoints, with their time and dose dependence, provides a new way to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the drugs, fully accounting for variation of the cell fates within a cancer cell line. This is achieved with an interdisciplinary approach, joining information from independent experimental platforms and interpreting all data univocally with a simple mathematical model of cell cycle proliferation. The model connects the dynamics of checkpoint activities at the molecular level with population-based flow cytometric and growth inhibition time course measures. With this method, the response to five drugs, characterized by different molecular mechanisms of action, was studied in a synoptic way, producing a publicly available database of time course measures with different techniques in a range of drug concentrations, from sublethal to frankly cytotoxic. Using the computer simulation program, we were able to closely reproduce all the measures in the experimental database by building for each drug a scenario of the time and dose dependence of G1, S, and G2-M checkpoint activities. We showed that the response to each drug could be described as a combination of a few types of activities, each with its own strength and concentration threshold. The results gained from this method provide a means for exploring new concepts regarding the drug–cell cycle interaction. [Cancer Res 2009;69(12):5234–40]
Antitumor Activity with CYP17 Blockade Indicates That Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Frequently Remains Hormone Driven
Authors: Attard Gerhardt , Reid Alison H.M. , Olmos David , de Bono Johann S. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
Abiraterone acetate is a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of CYP17, an enzyme that catalyzes two key serial reactions (17 alpha hydroxylase and 17,20 lyase) in androgen and estrogen biosynthesis. Clinical trials have confirmed that specific inhibition of CYP17 is safe and results in clinically important antitumor activity in up to 70% of castrate patients with advanced prostate cancer resistant to currently available endocrine therapies. These clinical data indicate that castration-resistant prostate cancer frequently remains hormone dependent and has confirmed that this disease should no longer be described as “hormone resistant or refractory”. Biomarker studies, including the analysis of ETS gene fusion status, on patients treated with abiraterone acetate may allow enrichment of patients with a sensitive phenotype in future studies of therapeutics targeting CYP17. [Cancer Res 2009;69(12):4937–40]
Dual Activity Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor Pan-Antagonist/Autotaxin Inhibitor Reduces Breast Cancer Cell MigrationIn vitroand Causes Tumor RegressionIn vivo
Authors: Zhang Honglu , Xu Xiaoyu , Gajewiak Joanna , Tsukahara Ryoko , Fujiwara Yuko , Liu Jianxiong , Fells James I. , Perygin Donna , Parrill Abby L. , Tigyi Gabor , Prestwich Glenn D. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractSignal transduction modifiers that modulate the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) pathway have potential as anticancer agents. Herein, we describe metabolically stabilized LPA analogues that reduce cell migration and invasion and cause regression of orthotopic breast tumors in vivo. Two diastereoisomeric α-bromophosphonates (BrP-LPA) were synthesized, and the pharmacology was determined for five LPA G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). The syn and anti diastereomers of BrP-LPA are pan-LPA GPCR antagonists and are also nanomolar inhibitors of the lysophospholipase D activity of autotaxin, the dominant biosynthetic source of LPA. Computational models correctly predicted the diastereoselectivity of antagonism for three GPCR isoforms. The anti isomer of BrP-LPA was more effective than syn isomer in reducing migration of MDA-MB-231 cells, and the anti isomer was superior in reducing invasion of these cells. Finally, orthotopic breast cancer xenografts were established in nude mice by injection of MB-231 cells in an in situ cross-linkable extracellular matrix. After 2 weeks, mice were treated with the BrP-LPA alone (10 mg/kg), Taxol alone (10 mg/kg), or Taxol followed by BrP-LPA. All treatments significantly reduced tumor burden, and BrP-LPA was superior to Taxol in reducing blood vessel density in tumors. Moreover, both the anti- and syn-BrP-LPA significantly reduced tumors at 3 mg/kg. [Cancer Res 2009;69(13):5441–9]