bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brain volume reductions in medication-naive patients with schizophrenia in relation to intelligence quotient
Authors: Rais M. , Cahn W. , Schnack H. G. , Hulshoff Pol H. E. , Kahn R. S. , van Haren N. E. M. 
Published: February 2012

BackgroundGlobal brain abnormalities such as brain volume loss and grey- and white-matter deficits are consistently reported in first-episode schizophrenia patients and may already be detectable in the very early stages of the illness. Whether these changes are dependent on medication use or related to intelligence quotient (IQ) is still debated.MethodMagnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained for 20 medication-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 26 matched healthy subjects. Volume measures of total brain grey and white matter, third and lateral ventricles and cortical thickness/surface were obtained. Differences between the groups were investigated, taking into account the effect of intelligence.ResultsMedication-naive patients showed statistically significant reductions in whole-brain volume and cerebral grey- and white-matter volume together with lateral ventricle enlargement compared to healthy subjects. IQ was significantly lower in patients compared to controls and was positively associated with brain and white-matter volume in the whole group. No significant differences in cortical thickness were found between the groups but medication-naive patients had a significantly smaller surface in the left superior temporal pole, Heschl's gyrus and insula compared to controls.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that brain volume loss is present at illness onset, and can be explained by the reduced surface of the temporal and insular cortex. These abnormalities are not related to medication, but IQ.
Synthetic biology in space: considering the broad societal and ethical implications
Authors: Race Margaret S. , Moses Jacob , McKay Christopher , Venkateswaran Kasthuri J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAlthough the field of synthetic biology is still in its infancy, there are expectations for great advances in the coming decades, both on Earth and potentially in space. Promising applications for long duration space missions include a variety of biologically engineered products and biologically aided processes and technologies, which will undoubtedly be scrutinized for risks and benefits in the broad context of ethical, legal and social realms. By comparing and contrasting features of Earth-based and space-applied synthetic biology, it is possible to identify the likely similarities and differences, and to identify possible challenges ahead for space applications that will require additional research, both in the short and long terms. Using an analytical framework associated with synthetic biology and new technologies on Earth, this paper analyses the kinds of issues and concerns ahead, and identifies those areas where space applications may require additional examination. In general, while Earth- and space-based synthetic biology share many commonalities, space applications have additional challenges such as those raised by space microbiology and environmental factors, legal complications, planetary protection, lack of decision-making infrastructure(s), long duration human missions, terraforming and the possible discovery of extraterrestrial (ET) life. For synthetic biology, the way forward offers many exciting opportunities, but is not without legitimate concerns – for life, environments and society, both on Earth and beyond.
Spatial migration of earthquakes within seismic clusters in Southern California: Evidence for fluid diffusion
Authors: Chen X. , Shearer P. M. , Abercrombie R. E. 
Published: February 2012

Seismicity within many earthquake swarms is observed to migrate slowly with time, which may reflect event triggering due to slow fault slip or fluid flow. We search for this behavior in Southern California by applying a weighted least squares method to quantify event migration within 69 previously observed seismicity bursts. We obtain best‐fitting migration directions and velocities, and compute a statistical migration significancesm for each burst using a bootstrap resampling method. We define 37 bursts with sm ≥ 0.8 as the migration group, and 32 bursts with sm < 0.8 as the non‐migration group. To explore differences between the two groups, for each burst we compute effective stress drop (Δσquasi, the ratio between total moment and radius), the skew of the moment release time series (μ), the timing of the largest event (tmax), and the distance separation between the first half and second half of the sequence (ds). As expected, the migration group features larger ds and lower Δσquasi, consistent with higher migration significance. It also features lower μ and higher tmax, similar to observations from swarms in the Salton Trough, while the non‐migration group is more similar to main shock‐aftershock sequences. To explore possible fluid involvement, we model the migration behavior with the fluid diffusion equation, and identify 18 bursts with diffusion coefficients ranging from 0.01 to 0.8 m2/s, with the majority below 0.16 m2/s. The obtained diffusion coefficients and migration behavior are similar to the Reservoir‐induced seismicity beneath the Açu reservoir in Brazil. The majority of normal faulting events are associated with these 18 bursts, while the non‐migration group has the most reverse faulting events, indicating a possible link between sequence type and focal mechanism.
Weakening of spring Wyrtki jets in the Indian Ocean during 2006–2011
Authors: Joseph Sudheer , Wallcraft Alan J. , Jensen Tommy G. , Ravichandran M. , Shenoi S. S. C. , Nayak Shailesh 
Published: February 2012

Beginning in 2006, the Indian Ocean experienced climatologically anomalous conditions due to large‐scale coupled air‐sea interactions that influenced the surface circulation of the equatorial Indian Ocean. Here we present evidence from observations as well as a general circulation model to demonstrate that spring Wyrtki jets (WJ) were weak during the past 6 years and were even reversed to westward flow during 2008. We note that this weakening coincided with uniformly high sea level as well as positive east to west gradient anomalies along the equatorial Indian Ocean during the month of May each year, starting in 2006. The weakened jets occur in conjunction with the latitude of zero zonal wind (LUZ) being close to the equator during these years, resulting in weaker than normal zonal winds along the equator from 2006 and onward. We find that starting in 2006, the normal tendency of westward propagation of the annual harmonic mode switches to eastward propagation, coherent with the wind forcing. In comparison to the annual harmonic component of the zonal current, the weak WJs are mainly associated with the semiannual harmonic WJs, as evident from an amplitude reduction of that mode by at least 0.3 m s−1 during the post‐2005 period. Our analysis demonstrates that the variance explained by the semiannual harmonic is reduced to half (30–40%) at the core of the WJ in 2006 and later years in comparison with earlier years when it was 70–80%.
Quantifying the value of laminated stalagmites for paleoclimate reconstructions
Authors: Mariethoz Gregoire , Kelly Bryce F. J. , Baker Andy 
Published: February 2012

From the Permian through to the modern day, stalagmites are an important archive of environmental change. Annually laminated stalagmites provide both a precise chronology and a paleoclimate proxy. The rate of annual vertical growth of stalagmites is recorded in changes of calcite fabric, annual fluxes of fluorescent organic matter or annual variations in trace element composition. The processes governing stalagmite growth are the flux of water, the CO2saturation of drip water relative to the cave atmosphere, and the temperature. Although these processes are well understood, they depend on the specific hydrogeological flow routing of individual stalagmites. Therefore, although past climates are recorded in the vertical growth lamina thickness, the climatic signal is perturbed by noise related to local hydrologic factors. To separate local from global factors, we used geostatistical tools to analyze annual growth rate data from eleven stalagmites located on four continents. Variogram analyses permit the quantification of the signal content contained within the growth rate records. The information content ranges from 23 to 87%. Analysis of the growth derivative shows a negative correlation at a 1 year lag, meaning that acceleration in growth rate tends to be systematically followed by deceleration in growth rate and vice versa. We call this behavior “flickering” growth, and argue that it is related to the size of the store feeding the stalagmite. Variogram analysis and flickering are used to screen which types of signals can potentially be recorded in a given speleothem.
Safety evaluation of Asparagus racemosus: a commonly used herb of Ayurvedic Medicine in Charles Foster rats
Authors: Yadav Narayan , Chanda Debabrata , Patider K , Pal Anirban , Luqman Suaib , Bawankule D , Mani D 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAsparagus racemosus Willd., one of the most important medicinal plants, is regarded as a ‘rasayana’ in the Ayurvedic system of medicine and has been recommended for use as a galactagogue, aphrodisiac, anodyne, diuretic and nerve tonic since time immemorial, necessitating its incorporation into a number of important Ayurvedic formulations like Shatavarikalpa, Phalaghrita and Vishnutaila. However, data regarding safety or toxicity of Asparagus racemosus in animal systems is lacking. Hence, the present experiment envisaged acute and sub-acute toxicity of Asparagus racemosus root aqueous extract in adult Charles Foster rats following the guidelines of OECD including parameters like observational, hematological, biochemical and pathological studies. Except serum creatinine level in acute study and SGPT activity and serum creatinine level in sub-acute study, all the observational, hematological and biochemical parameters studied showed non-significant changes. Histopathological examination of hepatic sections of sub-acute samples showed mild inflammatory and fatty changes at higher doses.
Chemopreventive potential of natural products isolated from a alchornea glandulosa, pterogyne nitens and its semisynthetic analogs
Authors: Silva Dulce , Bolzani Vanderlan , Soares Christiane , Pezzuto John , Morais Mauro , Marler Laura , Luqman Suaib , Kondratyuk Tamara , Petronio Maicon , Regasini Luis 
Published: February 2012

AbstractINTRODUCTION: Chemoprevention involves the use of natural or synthetic substances to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Gallic acid was found to possess several pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Guanidine alkaloids display a broad spectrum of biological activities and its cytotoxic effect were well investigated. OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the chemopreventive potential of natural products and its semi-synthetic analogs using quinone reductase (QR) induction, aromatase inhibition and the suppression of NFκB activity, which are well established strategies for screening compounds to cancer chemoprevention. METHODS: Gallic acid was isolated from Alchornea glandulosa, and alkyl gallates were prepared from the reaction of the corresponding alcohols with gallic acid or from the reaction with acetic anhydride. The guanidine alkaloids nitensidines A and B were isolated from Pterogyne nitens. All compounds were evaluated for QR induction using murine hepatoma cell line Hepa 1c1c7 and two mutant cell lines; for in vitro aromatase inhibition; and against TNFα-induced NFκB activation with stable transfected 293/NFκB-Luc human embryonic kidney cells. Compounds were tested at 20Bg/mL following 1:3 serial dilutions.
RESULTS:
No QR induction was observed at tested concentrations. Nitensidine A and B showed aromatase inhibition (IC50 18,3 ± 8,7 uM), but moderately cytotoxic to Hepa 1c1c7 cells (IC50 5,7 ± 0,6 uM). With IC50 values in a range of 10 to 50 μM, all the gallic acid esters mediated NFκB inhibitory activity. In addition, gallic acid mediated a modest cytotoxic effect, but none of the gallate esters affected cell viability at the tested concentrations. CONCLUSION: Based on these intracellular responses, we suggest that gallate esters are related to suppression of NFκB activation, which it could play a chemopreventive role in carcinogenesis.
Ferric reducing antioxidant power and free radical scavenging activity of Moringa oleifera: Relevance in oxidative stress
Authors: Luqman Suaib 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMoringa oleifera of family Moringaceae, commonly known as Horseradish-tree or the Ben-oil tree is an exceptionally nutritious vegetable tree with a variety of medicinal uses, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The tree's bark, roots, fruit (pod), flowers, leaves, seeds and gum are used as an antiseptic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and in treating rheumatism, venomous bites and other conditions. The immature green pods, called ‘drumsticks’ are probably the most valued and widely used part of the tree for water purification (e.g. desalination of ocean salt water). The leaves are highly nutritious, being a significant source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium used in soups and sauces. The present study focuses on concentration-dependent ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), free radical scavenging (DPPH), total phenolics (TP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power (RP) of moringa leaf and fruit (pod) extract compared with standard antioxidant. A strong positive co-relation was observed between FRAP, DPPH, TP and RP activity. Comparatively, the antioxidant potential of fruit extract was more pronounced than the leaf extract and ethanolic extract showed better activity than aqueous. On the basis of our observations, we hypothesize that moringa fruit (pod) and leaves can be a potential source of natural antioxidants due to their marked antioxidant activity.
Biotransformation of artemisinin mediated through fungal strains for obtaining derivatives with novel activities
Authors: Shanker Karuna , Chanotiya Chandan , Tandon Sudeep , Khanuja Suman , Srivastava Suchita , Luqman Suaib , Fatima Atiya , Darokar Mahendra , Negi Arvind , Kumar J 
Published: February 2012

AbstractArtemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, is the active antimalarial constituent of Artemisia annua. Several fungal strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Picchia pastoris were used to biotransform artemisinin. Among these strains, A. flavus was the only microorganism capable of transforming artemisinin to deoxyartemisinin in higher yields than the previous reports. The structure of deoxyartemisinin was elucidated by spectroscopy. Deoxyartemisinin showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and S. mutans at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 mg/mL compared to artemisinin whose MIC was >2 mg/mL.
Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells from aged mice have reduced wound healing, angiogenesis, proliferation and anti‐apoptosis capabilities
Authors: Choudhery Mahmood Saba , Khan Mohsin , Mahmood Ruhma , Mehmood Azra , Khan Shaheen N. , Riazuddin Sheikh 
Published: February 2012

AbstractDecline in the function of stem cells with age, such as other cells of the body, results in an imbalance between loss and renewal. Increasing age of the donor thus diminishes the effectiveness of MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) transplantation in age‐related diseases. The clinical use of stem cell therapies needs autologous stem cell transplantation; it is essential therefore to study the repair ability and survivability of cells before transplantation. Bone marrow derived MSCs possess multi‐lineage differentiation potential, but aging adversely affects their therapeutic efficacy. MSCs from young (2–3 months) and aged (23–24 months) GFP (green fluorescent protein)‐expressing C57BL/6 mice were isolated and their regenerative potential was assessed in vitro. Real‐time RT—PCR (reverse transcriptase—PCR) showed significantly higher expression of Sirt1 in MSCs isolated from young than older animals. Down‐regulation of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), SDF‐1 (stromal‐cell‐derived factor 1), AKT (also known as protein kinase B) and up‐regulation of p53, p21, Bax and p16 occurred in aged cells. Tube formation, wound healing and proliferative abilities of the young MSCs were better than the aged MSCs. The results suggest that age‐related increased expression of apoptotic and senescent genes, with concomitant decrease in Sirt1 gene expression, inhibits to some extent stem cell functioning.
Differenzierungs-/Provokationstests und Behandlung für das
SIG
Authors: Laslett M. 
Published: February 2012

Zusammenfassung
DAS KREUZ MIT DEM KREUZ: Es gibt viele SIG-Tests. Wenige sind aussagekräftig. Der
Autor dieses Artikels entmystifiziert das Thema und stellt ein Clinical-Reasoning-Modell
vor, das Sie zur Prognose von intraartikulären SIG-Schmerzen verwenden können. Außerdem
sorgt er in seinem Update zum Thema SIG-Tests, das er speziell für die Zeitschrift
manuelletherapie zusammenstellte, für Klarheit bei den Definitionen von SIG-Dysfunktion
und SIG-Schmerzen. Für die Untersuchung von Patienten mit SIG-Dysfunktionen sind
Palpationen und Mobilitätstests gängige Methoden. Sind diese Untersuchungsmethoden nicht
reliabel und valide, eignen sie sich auch nicht für die Behandlung der Patienten.
Benötigen wir nicht nur andere Untersuchungsmethoden, sondern auch andere
Behandlungsmethoden?
Der Test der Tests: Wie sieht die Evidenz aus?
Authors: Vielitz A. 
Published: February 2012

Zusammenfassung
TESTS AUF DEM PRÜFSTAND: Das SIG ist eine mögliche Schmerzquelle bei Patienten mit
unterem Rückenschmerz. Die Prävalenz liegt bei 10–53 %. Für sinnvolle
Therapieentscheidungen müssen Therapeuten herausfinden, ob das SIG die Schmerzquelle ist.
Am unteren Rücken ist das exakte Lokalisieren der Schmerzquelle jedoch schwierig, auch für
erfahrene Therapeuten. Wer sich auskennt, kann mit über 50 Tests „experimentieren“. Arne
Vielitz, der Autor dieses Artikels, wollte wissen, welche SIG-Tests für Therapeuten
wirklich nützlich sind. Welche Tests können das Gelenk zuverlässig als Schmerzquelle
identifizieren? Und welcher Weg führt zum Ziel?
Einmalige manuelle Traktion bei Patienten mit kraniomandibulären
Dysfunktionen
Authors: Schmitz A.-M. , von Piekartz H. 
Published: February 2012

ZusammenfassungPassive manuelle Mobilisationen – vor allem die manuelle longitudinale Bewegung nach
kaudal (Traktion) – sind in der kraniomandibulären Region eine häufig angewandte wirksame
manuelle Intervention. In dieser randomisierten kontrollierten Studie wurden eine einmalige kurzzeitige manuelle
Traktion nach kaudal appliziert und der Einfluss auf den Kiefergelenkspalt bei Patienten
mit kraniomandibulären Dysfunktionen (CMD) gemessen. Primär wurde die Distanzveränderung
zwischen dem Condylus mandibulae und der Fossa articularis mittels Ultraschall untersucht.
Die Messungen nahm eine verblindete Therapeutin direkt nach und 2-4 Tage nach der
Behandlung vor. Eine Verblindung aller Probanden war gegeben.Die Interventionsgruppe wies direkt nach der Behandlung keine statistisch signifikante
Veränderung des kraniomandibulären Gelenkspalts auf. Nach 2–4 Tagen zeigte sich eine
statistisch signifikante Vergrößerung der Distanz. Zusätzlich gemessene Schmerzen
präsentierten keine statistisch signifikanten Unterschiede. Innerhalb der Placebogruppe
sowie zwischen beiden Gruppen ergaben sich im Vorher-nachher-Vergleich keine statistisch
signifikanten Unterschiede in allen Parametern.Obwohl die subjektiven Beschwerden beider Gruppen unverändert waren, erzielte die
Applikation der einmaligen kurzzeitigen manuellen Traktion von 4 Minuten in der
Interventionsgruppe nach 2-4 Tagen eine minimale Veränderung der Distanz des Gelenkspalts.
Nach Anwendung der Placebobehandlung ließen sich hingegen keine signifikanten
Veränderungen nachweisen.Gelenkspaltseparation hängt nicht direkt mit der subjektiven Verbesserung der
Interventions- und Placebogruppe zusammen.
RR Lyrae Stars in the Globular Cluster NGC 6101
Authors: Fitzgerald M. T. , Criss J. , Lukaszewicz T. , Frew D. J. , Catelan M. , Woodward S. , Danaia L. , McKinnon D. H. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractV- and I-band observations were taken over 9 months to study the RR Lyrae population in the metal-poor diffuse globular cluster NGC 6101. We identify one new variable, which is either a potential long-period red giant variable or eclipsing binary, and recover all previously identified RR Lyraes. One previously studied RR Lyrae is reclassified as an RRc type, while two period estimations have been significantly refined. We confirm that NGC6101 is Oosterhoff type II with a high ratio of n(c)/n(ab + c) = 0.833 with a very long mean RRab period of 0.86 d. By using theoretical RRLyrae period-luminosity-metallicity relations, we use our V- and I-band RR Lyrae data to gain an independent estimate of the reddening towards this cluster of E(B − V) = 0.15 ± 0.04 and derive a distance of 12.8 ± 0.8 kpc. The majority of the work in this study was undertaken by upper secondary school students involved in the Space to Grow astronomy education project in Australia.
Resolvent positive linear operators exhibit the reduction phenomenon
Authors: Altenberg Lee 
Published: February 2012

The spectral bound,
s
(
αA
+
βV
), of a combination of a resolvent positive linear operator
A
and an operator of multiplication
V
, was shown by Kato to be convex in

. Kato's result is shown here to imply, through an elementary “dual convexity” lemma, that
s
(
αA
+
βV
) is also convex in
α
> 0, and notably, ∂
s
(
αA
+
βV
)/∂
α
≤
s
(
A
). Diffusions typically have
s
(
A
) ≤ 0, so that for diffusions with spatially heterogeneous growth or decay rates,
greater mixing reduces growth
. Models of the evolution of dispersal in particular have found this result when
A
is a Laplacian or second-order elliptic operator, or a nonlocal diffusion operator, implying selection for reduced dispersal. These cases are shown here to be part of a single, broadly general, “reduction” phenomenon.
REVIEW: Effects of Germination on the Nutritional Profile of Gluten‐Free Cereals and Pseudocereals: A Review
Authors: Omary María Botero , Fong Christina , Rothschild Jeffrey , Finney Patrick 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTThere are a growing number of individuals diagnosed with food allergies and intolerances. Gluten, in particular, is avoided by many individuals because of celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and gluten ataxia. Individuals with allergies, intolerances, or both follow strict diets, but there is concern that these individuals may be at risk of several nutrient deficiencies, including decreased calcium, iron, B vitamins, and fiber. To prevent deficiencies, alternative sources of these nutrients must be provided. Gluten‐free cereals and pseudocereals such as amaranth, buckwheat, corn, millet, rice, sorghum, and quinoa can be excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other important nutrients. Germination of these edible seeds has been shown to further increase nutrient content and to reduce antinutrients. Their use to naturally fortify and enrich gluten‐free foods has great potential. Although there are many benefits to germinated seeds in food, more research must be done to improve texture and sensory properties to gain wider consumer acceptance. A review of germination of gluten‐free cereals and pseudocereals and its effect on their nutritional profile is presented.