bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glucose tolerance status is a better predictor of diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes than metabolic syndrome: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Furtado de Souza Camila , Dalzochio Mériane Boeira , de Oliveira Francisco Jorge Arsego , Gross Jorge Luiz , Leitão Cristiane Bauermann 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Backround
To evaluate the importance of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in predicting diabetes and cardiovascular disease in patients with and without Metabolic Syndrome from a population treated in a primary care unit.

Research design and methods
A prospective cohort study was conducted with subjects regularly attending the primary care unit of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Participants underwent a 75 g OGTT. Metabolic syndrome definition was based on the criteria of IDF/AHA/NHLBI-2010.

Results
Participants mean age was 61 ± 12 years (males: 38%; whites: 67%). Of the 148 subjects included, 127 (86%) were followed for 36 ± 14 months, 21 (14%) were lost. Subjects were classified into four groups based on baseline OGTT: 29% normal (n = 43), 28% impaired fasting glucose (IFG; n = 42), 26% impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 38), and 17% diabetes (n = 25). Metabolic syndrome prevalence was lower in normal group (28%), intermediate in IFG (62%) and IGT (65%) groups, and higher among subjects with diabetes (92%; P <0.001). Incidence of diabetes increased along with the stages of glucose metabolism disturbance (normal: 0%, IFG: 16%, IGT: 28%; P = 0.004). No patient with normal OGTT developed diabetes, regardless metabolic syndrome presence. Diabetes at baseline was the major determinant of cardiovascular disease occurrence (normal: 0%, IFG: 4%, IGT: 0%, diabetes: 24%; P = 0.001). In Cox-regression analysis, only the 2 h OGTT results were associated with diabetes (OR = 1.03; 95%CI 1.01–1.06; P <0.001) and cardiovascular disease development (OR = 1.013; 95%CI 1.002–1.025; P = 0.024).

Conclusions
In this sample of subjects undergoing diabetes screening, the OGTT predicted diabetes and cardiovascular disease more effectively than the metabolic syndrome status.
Analysis of traumatic injuries presenting to a referral hospital emergency department in Moshi, Tanzania
Authors: Casey Erica R , Muro Florida , Thielman Nathan M , Maya Elifuraha , Ossmann Eric W , Hocker Michael B , Gerardo Charles J 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Injuries represent a significant and growing public health concern in the developing world, yet their impact on patients and the emergency health-care system in the countries of East Africa has received limited attention. This study evaluates the magnitude and scope of injury related disorders in the population presenting to a referral hospital emergency department in northern Tanzania.

Methods
A retrospective chart review of patients presenting to the emergency department at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre was performed. A standardized data collection form was used for data abstraction from the emergency department logbook and the complete medical record for all injured patients. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, location, type and outcomes were recorded.

Results
Ten thousand six hundred twenty-two patients presented to the emergency department for evaluation and treatment during the 7-month study period. One thousand two hundred twenty-four patients (11.5%) had injuries. Males and individuals aged 15 to 44 years were most frequently injured, representing 73.4% and 57.8%, respectively. Road traffic injuries were the most common mechanism of injury, representing 43.9% of injuries. Head injuries (36.5%) and extremity injuries (59.5%) were the most common location of injury. The majority of injured patients, 59.3%, were admitted from the emergency department to the hospital wards, and 5.6%, required admission to an intensive care unit. Death occurred in 5.4% of injured patients.

Conclusions
These data give a detailed and more robust picture of the patient demographics, mechanisms of injury, types of injury and patient outcomes from similar resource-limited settings.
A review of official data obtained from dog control records generated by the dog control service of county cork, Ireland during 2007
Authors: O’Sullivan Edmond N , Hanlon Alison J 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundThere are no peer reviewed data on dog control records from an official agency in Ireland. In order to address this, a total of 2,669 official dog control service records generated during 2007 by Cork County Council dog control service were reviewed.ResultsOver 70 percent of records related to unwanted dogs and dogs not under their owners control. Stray dogs were collected by the service regularly throughout the year but with notable increase in voluntary surrenders by owners from January through to April. The majority of dogs collected or surrendered were male (2:1 ratio), of medium size, described as having a friendly temperament and were not wearing a neck collar. The Crossbreed and Greyhound breeds were more frequently collected as strays, while Greyhounds and German Shepherds were more frequently voluntarily surrendered by their owner. Restricted breeds such as Pit Bull terriers, German Shepherds and Rottweilers were more frequently reported by members of the public for aggressive behaviour while the only restricted breed reported for biting or snapping was the German Shepherd.ConclusionsRoutine recording of dog control services in County Cork provide data on responsible dog ownership including the licensing of breeds, and surrender of owned dogs and the collection of stray dogs. Data capture and utilisation of dog control services by local authorities has potential to inform policy on responsible dog ownership and education programmes.
Production and downstream processing of (1→3)-β-D-glucan from mutant strain of Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31750
Authors: Kalyanasundaram Gayathiri T , Doble Mukesh , Gummadi Sathyanarayana N 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
We isolated a mutant that produced higher levels of curdlan than the wild strain Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31750 by chemical mutagenesis using N-methyl-N-nitro-nitrosoguanidine. The mutant strain produced 66 g/L of curdlan in 120 h with a yield of (0.88) while, the wild strain produced 41 g/L in 120 h with a yield of (0.62) in a stirred bioreactor. The mutant could not produce curdlan when the pH was shifted from 7.0 to 5.5 after nitrogen depletion as followed for wild strain. In contrast, pH optimum for cell growth and curdlan production for mutant was found to be 7.0. We optimized the downstream processing of curdlan by varying different volumes of NaOH and HCl for extraction and precipitation of curdlan. The molecular weight of the purified curdlan from the wild and mutant strain was 6.6 × 105 Da and 5.8 × 105 Da respectively. The monosaccharide analyses confirm that curdlan from both wild and mutant strain contains only glucose units. From the NMR and FTIR data, it has been confirmed that curdlan was exclusively composed of β (1 → 3)-D-glucan residues.
Adenosine receptor expression in rheumatoid synovium: a basis for methotrexate action
Authors: Stamp Lisa K , Hazlett Jody , Roberts Rebecca L , Frampton Christopher , Highton John , Hessian Paul A 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Introduction

Methotrexate (MTX) exerts at least part of its anti-inflammatory effects through adenosine receptors (ADOR). The aims of this study were to determine the expression of all four adenosine receptor genes (ADORA1, ADORA2A, ADORA2B, ADORA3 and ADORA3variant) in rheumatoid synovial tissue and any influence of MTX exposure on this expression. Furthermore, we investigated whether polymorphisms within ADORA3 were associated with response and/or adverse effects associated with MTX.

Methods

Adenosine receptor gene expression was undertaken using PCR in 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial samples. A separate cohort of 225 RA patients receiving MTX was genotyped for SNPs in the ADORA3 receptor gene. Double immunofluorescence was used to identify cells expressing ADOR protein.

Results

All ADOR genes were expressed in all synovial samples. ADORA3 and A3variant were the dominant subtypes expressed irrespective of MTX therapy. Expression of ADORA2A and ADORA2B was increased in patients receiving MTX compared to those not receiving MTX. There was no association between the ADORA3rs1544224 SNP and high and low disease activity or MTX-associated adverse effects. ADORA2B protein expression was most obvious in vascular endothelial cells whereas ADORA3 protein was more abundant and expressed by synovial fibroblasts.

Conclusions

We have shown that adenosine receptors are expressed in RA synovium. There is differential expression of receptors such that ADORA3 is expressed at significantly higher levels. This evidence demonstrates the potential for MTX to exert its anti-inflammatory effects at the primary site of pathology within the joints of patients with RA.
The antimicrobial activity of the alcohols fromMusca domestica
Authors: Gołębiowski Marek , Dawgul Małgorzata , Kamysz Wojciech , Boguś Mieczysława I. , Wieloch Wioletta , Włóka Emilia , Paszkiewicz Monika , Przybysz Elżbieta , Stepnowski Piotr 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe total cuticular alcohols in larvae, male, and female of M. domestica were detected in comparable amounts (4.59, 3.95 and 4.03 µg/g of the insect body, respectively). The total cuticular alcohols in pupae occurred in smaller quantities (2.16 µg/g of the insect body). The major free alcohol in M. domestica larvae was C12:0 (70.4%). Internal alcohols of M. domestica larvae were not found. Among cuticular pupae alcohols, C12:0 (31.0%) was the most abundant compound. Other alcohols were detected in smaller amounts from 3.7% (C14:0) to 14.4% (C16:0). In the internal lipids of pupae, only 5 alcohols were identified in traces. Most abundant alcohol in male was C24:0 (57.5%). The percentage content of cuticular C24:0 in male and female were significantly higher than those of cuticular lipids in larvae and pupae and compromised 57.5%, 36.5%, 0.9% and 5.6%, respectively. Only two alcohols were present in internal lipids of male in traces (C18:0 and C20:0). Most abundant cuticular alcohols in female were C24:0 (36.5%) and C12:0 (26.8%). Other alcohols were present in smaller quantities from 1.5% (C14:0) to 11.9% (C22:0) and two alcohols were present in traces (C26:0 and C28:0). Only two alcohols (C18:0 and C20:0) were detected in comparable amounts in internal lipids of female (3.61±0.32 and 5.01±0.42 µg/g of the insect body, respectively). For isolated alcohols antimicrobial activity against reference strains of bacteria and fungi was determined (Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Rhodococcus equi ATCC 6939, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13882, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, Aspergillus niger ATCC, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida lipolytica PCM 2680, and Candida tropicalis PCM 2681). Individual alcohols have shown approximately equal activity against fungal strains. C14:0 was effective against gram-positive bacteria, while gram-negative bacteria were resistant to all tested alcohols. Mixtures of alcohols found in cuticular lipids of larvae, pupae, male and female of M. domestica presented in general higher antimicrobial activity in comparison to individual alcohols. In contrast, crude extracts containing both, cuticular and internal lipids, showed no antifungal activity against entomopathogenic fungus C. coronatus efficiently killing adult house flies (but not larvae and pupae).
Pressure and particle motion detection thresholds in fish: a re-examination of salient auditory cues in teleosts
Authors: Radford Craig A , Montgomery John C , Caiger Paul , Higgs Dennis M 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe auditory evoked potential technique has been used for the past 30 years to evaluate the hearing ability of fish. The resulting audiograms are typically presented in terms of sound pressure (dB re 1 µPa) with the particle motion (dB re 1 ms-2) component largely ignored until recently. When audiograms have been presented in terms of particle acceleration, one of two approaches has been used for stimulus characterization: measuring the pressure gradient between two hydrophones or using accelerometers. With rare exceptions these values are presented from experiments using a speaker as the stimulus, thus making it impossible to truly separate the contribution of direct particle displacement and pressure detection in the response. Here we compare the particle acceleration and pressure auditory thresholds of three species of fish with differing hearing specialisations, Goldfish (Carassius auratus; weberian ossicles), bigeye (Pempheris adspersus hearing specialisation) and a third species with no swim bladder, the common triplefin (Forstergyian lappillum), using three different methods of determining particle accelerations. In terms of particle acceleration all three fish species have similar hearing thresholds, but when expressed as pressure thresholds goldfish are the most sensitive followed by bigeye, with triplefin the least sensitive. It is suggested here that all fish have a similar ability to detect the particle motion component of the sound field and it is their ability to transduce the pressure component of the sound field to the inner ear via ancillary hearing structures that provides the differences in hearing ability. Therefore, care is needed in stimuli presentation and measurement when determining hearing ability of fish and when interpreting comparative hearing abilities between species.
TiO2-Polyheptazine Hybrid Photoanodes for Visible Light-Driven Water Splitting: The Effect of External Bias
Authors: Bledowski Michal , Wang Lidong , Ramakrishnan Ayyappan , Beranek Radim 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTVisible (λ > 420 nm) light-driven photooxidation of water at TiO2-polyheptazine (TiO2-PH) hybrid photoanodes loaded with two different metal oxide co-catalysts was investigated in a twoelectrode setup. As compared to TiO2-PH photoanodes loaded with colloidal IrO2, photoelectrodes modified with photodeposited CoOx oxygen-evolving co-catalyst (Co-Pi) showed both higher photocurrents and more efficient oxygen evolution. The minimum external electric bias needed to observe complete photooxidation of water to dioxygen at TiO2-PH photoanodes modified with Co-Pi was estimated to be ca. 0.6 V at pH 7.
A Study of Anodization Time and Voltage Effect on the Fabrication of Self- Ordered Nano Porous Aluminum Oxide Films: A Gas Sensor Application
Authors: Abrego Ildeman , Campos Alfredo , Bethancourt Gricelda , Ching-Prado E. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTThe effect of time and voltage on the fabrication of self ordered nano porous aluminum oxide structure is studied. A two-step anodization process in 0.4M sulphuric acid and at low temperature was used to prepare structure with pore diameter between 20 to 29 nm. The surface morphology, including porous structure mainly, is characterized using scanning electron microscopy. Pore density 1010 to 1011 cm-2 is found. Thickness and electrical response are performed to these films. Capacitive sensor measurements for different water concentration are presented and discussed. The gas sensibility dependences with pore diameter and thickness layer are also reported.
Annealing Temperature, Time and Thickness Dependencies in (TCO) SnO2 Thin Films Grown by Spray Pyrolysis Technique
Authors: Campos Alfredo , Watson Amanda , Abrego Ildemán , Ching-Prado E. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTTin oxide thin films were prepared by spray pyrolysis method using SnCl2.2H2O as starting precursor and deposited on glass substrate. Three groups of samples with different preparation conditions (temperature, time and thickness) were synthetized. The samples were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible Spectroscopy and Van der Pauw four-point electrical measurements. The grain size in the samples changes from 80 to 500 nm. Optical and electrical parameters were measured or calculated, such as: band gap, refractive index, sheet resistance, transmittance spectrum and figure of merit. Film thicknesses were obtained from fringes features in the transmittance spectra with a variation from 76 to 761 nm. A mechanism of transformation from tin dichloride to tin oxide is proposed and discussed; additionally the visual yellow color of some samples, related with a low transparency, is associated to the amount of abhurite or tin hydroxide complex coexisting with tin oxide. The figure of merit showed that 500 ºC, 42 sprays and 1 hour of annealing time were the best conditions in the preparation of SnO2 with TCO properties.
Callus Culture of Arceuthobium americanum Nutt. ex Englem. and Explant Response to Varying Auxin and Cytokinin Concentrations
Authors: Martin Lyssa L. , Friedman Cynthia Ross , Smith Ronald G. 
Published: June 2012

The lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe Arceuthobium americanum is a severe pest in coniferous forests of western North America. To facilitate laboratory studies of this obligate parasite, a modified White’s medium was used for in vitro culture; the concentrations of IAA and Kn were varied to determine optimal IAA/Kn ratios. It was found that explant health was related to the concentration of IAA (p = 0.008), but not Kn (p = 0.937), and that explants were healthiest at an IAA/Kn ratio of 0.1. Radicular apices were generated at IAA/Kn ratios of 1.0 or greater, but no shoot organogenesis was observed. These data suggest that A. americanum is more sensitive to auxins than cytokinins. Parasites of plants are known to secrete high levels of cytokinins, which stimulate the host to shuttle nutrients to the infected area, and so we suspect that A. americanum has reduced cytokinin sensitivity. Key words: Callus culture, Arceuthobium americanum, Explant, Response, Cytokinin, Insensitivity D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v21i1.9557 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 21(1): 1-10, 2011 (June)
Studies on High Frequency Shoot Regeneration in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)
Authors: Wadeyar Bangaramma S. , Lokesha R. 
Published: June 2012

High frequency shoot regeneration was attempted in sesame (Sesamum indicum L. Pedaliaceae), using five genotypes/varieties viz. Tumkur and Gulbarga Locals (land races), W-II, E-8 and DS-1 (varieties). The hypocotyl-derived callus obtained through direct seeding method was placed on MS with five different treatments viz. pre-culture of callus on high sucrose (6 - 9%) for two weeks and transferring on to plain MS with 3% sucrose, MS with variable concentrations of TDZ alone, MS with constant TDZ and variable concentrations of BA and IAA, MS with variable concentrations of BA and IAA without TDZ, MS with ABA and AgNO3 and MS with BAP, NAA and AgNO3. Highest frequency of cent per cent shoot regeneration was initiated in variety DS-1on MS containing NAA 2.5 mg/l, BAP 3.5 mg/l and 20 µM AgNO3 with 2.50 mean shoots/callus followed by 91.6% in variety W-II on MS containing 25 µM TDZ with 2.20 mean shoots/callus. The other treatments had poor shoot regeneration response. The results have been discussed in the light of sesame improvement through biotechnological ways. Key words: Sesamum indicum, hypocotyl, high frequency, shoot regeneration D. O. I. 10.3329/ptcb.v21i1.9562 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 21(1): 45-52, 2011 (June)
Bacteria Associated with the Tannery Effluent and their Alkaline Protease Activities
Authors: Saha Mihir Lal , Begum K. J. M. Hashina , Khan Mahbubar Rahman , Gomes Donald James 
Published: June 2012

Samples collected from different stages of the tannery processing were found to be alkaline. A good number of bacteria were found to be associated with the different stages of leather processing. The aerobic heterotrophic bacterial count ranged in between 11.9 × 106 and 46.7 × 106. The highest count was observed in the soaking stage and the minimum was found with the bating stage. Among 40 isolates, 31 showed positive proteolytic activities on different protein based media. Identified organisms were Bacillus subtilis (9), B. licheniformis (6), B. alcalophilus (2), B. badius (2), B. cereus (2), B. circulans (2), B. pumilus (2), B. alvei (1), B. brevis (1), B. coagulans (1), B. megaterium (1), B. polymyxa (1) and Micrococcus varians (1). Proteolytic activity was measured as zone ratio on skim milk agar which was found to be in between 1.5 and 5.8. Higher zone ratio was observed in B. subtilis (TS/1/E), B. pumilus (TS/1/S1/A3 and TD/S2/C3), B. licheniformis (TS/1/Q) and B. badius (TD/21-D). The alkaline protease production by the nine selected isolates ranged in between 7.1 and 119.3 U/ml. Two isolates of B. pumilus (TS/1/S1/A3 and TD/S2/C3) were found to be good alkaline protease producers (119.3 and 94.8 U/ml) among the tested organisms. Biotechnologically these two isolates or their enzymes could be utilized in the tannery industry. Key words: Bacteria, tannery, effluent, alkaline protease D. O. I. 10.3329/ptcb.v21i1.9563 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 21(1): 53-61, 2011 (June)
In Vitro Study of Callus Induction in Wedelia trilobata Using Different Growth Regulators
Authors: Thakur Tripti , Dadsena Rakesh , Nandeshwar S. B. , Kumar Anil 
Published: June 2012

Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitch is a member of Asteraceae (formerly Compositae), the sunflower family. Its common name includes “Wedelia” and trailing daisy, although some people mistakenly call it Singapore daisy. In a wider sense the genus Wedelia, named in honor of Georg Wolfgang Wedel (1645 –1721), Professor of Botany at Jena, Germany, has about 70 species of tropical strand plant, Wollastonia biflora (formerly known as Wedelia biflora), to which it is closely related. In a more narrow sense, and now more widely accepted, Wedelia is considered to be a genus of relatively a few species of strictly American origin, one of which is Wedelia parviceps Blake, a herbaceous or sub-shrubby weed common in croplands, harvested fields, pasteures and roadside bush in hot climate in central America (Garcia et al. 1975). Interestingly, the Hawaiian endemic genus Lipochaeta is scarcely distinct from it genetically, and two sections of Lipochaeta appears to have been independently derived from Wedelia like ancestors (Wagner et al. 1990). Key words: Wedelia trilobata, Callus induction, In vitro D. O. I. 10.3329/ptcb.v21i1.9614 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 21(1): 95-99, 2011 (June) - Short communication