bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of Selected Incisor Characteristics for Determining the Age of Hucul Horses
Authors: Łuszczyński Jarosław , Pieszka Magdalena 
Published: November 2011

Usefulness of Selected Incisor Characteristics for Determining the Age of Hucul HorsesThe aim of this study was to assess the suitability of selected characteristics of incisors for age determination in Hucul horses. The study included 173 Hucul horses (137 mares, 28 stallions and 8 geldings) from one day to 27 years of age. Breeding documentation was used to determine the actual age of the horses, which were then divided into age groups. Each group of horses was assigned a specific incisor characteristic to help identify their age. Selected incisor characteristics were used to evaluate the age of the horses according to the method reported by Pruski (2007) and the results were compared with the actual age, indicating the percentage of errors made. It was found that most errors were made in the case of horses over 11 years old, when assessing the changing shape of the occlusal surface of incisors (Table 1). In this group the percentage of errors was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than that found for horses from the first three youngest age groups, in which the eruption time of deciduous incisors, the disappearance of cups on deciduous incisors and the eruption time of permanent incisors were taken into account. Compared to the above traits, errors were made significantly more often (P≤0.01) when age was determined based on the disappearance of permanent incisors, in a group of horses aged between 6 and 11 years. The eruption time of deciduous incisors and permanent incisors were the traits which enabled the most accurate determination of the horses' age. The results obtained suggest that age determination based on dentition is not accurate enough and can only play a subsidiary role, for example when no breeding records are available.
Effect of Housing System on Egg Quality in Laying Hens
Authors: Lewko Lidia , Gornowicz Ewa 
Published: November 2011

Effect of Housing System on Egg Quality in Laying HensThe aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of eggs from hybrids of laying hens of selected Polish breeding strains depending on their housing system. Analysis was made of eggs from KA-62, KA-42, KA-68 and KA-48 hybrids housed in three systems: cage, litter and free range. One hundred eggs, randomly chosen from each experimental group between 34 and 36 weeks of age, were evaluated for a set of physical characteristics such as weight of egg and egg fraction, percentage of main egg fractions, egg shape index, air cell height, albumen height and pH, Haugh units, yolk colour and pH, as well as shell colour, thickness, density and deformation. Caged birds produced the heaviest eggs (61.06 g) with the lowest shape index (77.86%), lightest shell (39.86) and highest percentage of albumen (57.04%) and yolk (29.89%) in the egg. The most favourable quality traits of albumen from the analysed eggs, i.e. greatest height (5.00 mm) and Haugh units (69.70) were characteristic of egg albumen from hens raised on litter. Shell quality analysis showed that the eggs of free-range birds were characterized by the highest weight of shell (5.76 g), which had the greatest thickness (360.14 μm) and density (81.01 mg/cm2). Detailed analysis of the physical characteristics of eggs from the hybrids of laying hens revealed significant (P≤0.05) differences depending on the housing system. The eggs of caged layers showed many characteristics desired by processors. Meanwhile, the eggs of hens kept on litter were characterized by dietetic properties that could meet specific needs of the consumers.
Use of quantitative structure–enantioselective retention relationship for the liquid chromatography chiral separation prediction of the series of pyrrolidin‐2‐one compounds
Authors: Rasulev Bakhtiyor , Turabekova Malakhat , Gorska Magdalena , Kulig Katarzyna , Bielejewska Anna , Lipkowski Janusz , Leszczynski Jerzy 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn this work, the enantioseparation of 15 structurally similar chiral solutes is studied, and analysis of the retention factors is performed using a genetic algorithm and multiple linear regression analysis technique. The present quantitative structure–enantioselective retention relationship model generated for retention factors' data has confirmed the importance of a number of descriptors altering the retention behavior and enantioselectivity of the studied compounds. Thus, fragment‐based descriptor PSA, which encodes polar surface area, has confirmed the crucial role of heteroatoms in the retention behavior exhibited by pyrroliddin‐2‐ones. The presence of ELUMO descriptor, which represents a quantum‐chemical property, has indicated the role of charge transfer interactions between the chiral stationary phase and enantiomers to retention factors, showing that lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy is significantly different between enantiomers. The developed model exhibits a very good performance characterized by following statistical parameters: r2 = 0.93 for training set and r2 = 0.99 for the validation set. The selected three‐variable model displays high predictive ability, catching the main factors affecting the enantioselectivity of studied chiral compounds, and therefore can be used for prediction of retention factors of other chiral compounds of similar structure to improve the separation process and so on. Chirality, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A simple parallel gas chromatography column screening system
Authors: Schafer Wes , Hamilton Simon E. , Pirzada Zainab , Welch Christopher J. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractA simple approach to the automated screening of four different columns on a single gas chromatography (GC) instrument is used for rapid chiral GC method development. Configuration of a conventional GC instrument with a second autosampler and several inexpensive Y‐splitters enables simultaneous evaluation of two different columns, allowing a total of four different columns to be evaluated in two automated back to back runs. The resulting system affords a simple and effective approach to chiral GC method development that speeds analysis while eliminating the need for slow and tedious manual interchange of columns. An example of developing a rapid isothermal GC method from the screening results obtained by the instrument is also shown. Chirality, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gauge invariant atomic orbital‐density functional theory prediction of accurate gas phase 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts
Authors: Ebrahimi Hossein Pasha , Shaghaghi Hoora , Tafazzoli Mohsen 
Published: November 2011

AbstractHartree‐Fock and density functional theory methods at gauge invariant atomic orbital approach with different simplest basis sets were employed for the computation of chemical shifts. The wave functions for calculating gas‐phase 1H and 13C chemical shifts have been optimally selected using empirical models. The effects of electron correlation treatment, triple‐ξ valance shell, diffuse function, and polarization function on calculated chemical shifts have been discussed. Through empirical scaling of shielding, accurate predictions of 1H chemical shifts are achieved for the molecules studied, when considering small Pople basis sets. Gas phase experimental 1H chemical shifts in alcohols, amines and hydrocarbons were used to examine the theoretical optimal levels for obtaining the 1H chemical shift. In addition, this model has been used for 13C chemical shifts of gaseous hydrocarbons in relation to two different references. Furthermore, to assess the reliability of applied model for selection the most efficient wave function and calculation method two 24 factorial designs were considered and the results were discussed in this procedure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 38: 269–279, 2011
Transient expression of Ngn3 in Xenopus endoderm promotes early and ectopic development of pancreatic beta and delta cells
Authors: Oropez Daniel , Horb Marko 
Published: November 2011

AbstractPromoting ectopic development of pancreatic beta cells from other cell types is one of the strategies being pursued for the treatment of diabetes. To achieve this, a detailed outline of the molecular lineage that operates in pancreatic progenitor cells to generate beta cells over other endocrine cell types is necessary. Here, we demonstrate that early transient expression of the endocrine progenitor bHLH protein Neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) favors the promotion of pancreatic beta and delta cell fates over an alpha cell fate, while later transient expression promotes ectopic development of all three endocrine cell fates. We found that short‐term activation of Ngn3 in Xenopus laevis endoderm just after gastrulation was sufficient to promote both early and ectopic development of beta and delta cells. By examining gene expression changes 4 h after Ngn3 activation we identified several new downstream targets of Ngn3. We show that several of these are required for the promotion of ectopic beta cells by Ngn3 as well as for normal beta cell development. These results provide new detail regarding the Ngn3 transcriptional network operating in endocrine progenitor cells to specify a beta cell phenotype and should help define new approaches to promote ectopic development of beta cells for diabetes therapy. genesis 50:271–285, 2012.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adapting the buccal micronucleus cytome assay for use in wild birds: Age and sex affect background frequency in pigeons
Authors: Shepherd G.L. , Somers C.M. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractMicronucleus (MN) formation has been used extensively as a biomarker of damage from genotoxic exposures. The Buccal MN Cytome (BMCyt) assay provides a noninvasive means of quantifying MN frequency in humans, but it has not been developed for use in wildlife. We adapted the BMCyt assay for use in wild birds, with a focus on feral pigeons (Columba livia) as a potential indicator species. Five of six urban bird species sampled using oral cavity swabs produced sufficient buccal cells for the BMCyt assay. The body size of species sampled ranged almost 100‐fold (∼60 to 5,000 g), but was a not major factor influencing the number of buccal cells collected. Pigeon cells were stained and scored following published BMCyt assay protocols for humans, but with a modified fixation approach using heat and methanol. Pigeons had the same common nuclear abnormalities reported in human studies, and a similar background MN formation frequency of 0.88 MN/1,000 cells. Adult pigeons had on average a threefold higher rate of MN formation than juveniles, and males had a 1.4‐ to 2.2‐fold higher frequency than females. Domestic and feral pigeons did not differ in overall MN frequency. Our results indicate that the BMCyt assay can be used on wild birds, and could provide a means of assessing environmental genotoxicity in pigeons, a useful indicator species. However, bird age and sex are important factors affecting background MN frequency, and thereby the design of environmental studies. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modelling the bulk flow of a bedrock‐constrained, multi‐channel reach of the Mekong River, Siphandone, southern Laos
Authors: Van Tri P. D. , Carling Paul A. , Atkinson Peter M. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTThe general nature of bulk flow within bedrock single‐channel reaches has been considered by several studies recently. However, the flow structure of a bedrock‐constrained, large river with a multiple channel network has not been investigated previously. The multiple channel network of the Siphandone wetlands in Laos, a section of the Mekong River, was modelled using a steady one‐dimensional hydraulic model. The river network is characterized by a spatially‐varying channel‐form leading to significant changes in the bulk flow properties between and along the channels. The challenge to model the bulk flow in such a remote region was the lack of ideal boundary conditions. The flow models considered both low flow, high inbank and overbank flows and were calibrated using SPOT satellite sensor imagery and limited field data concerning water levels.The application of the model highlighted flow characteristics of a large multi‐channel network and also further indicated the field data that would be required to properly characterize the flow field empirically. Important results included the observation that adjacent channels within the network had different water surface slopes for the same moments in time; thus calibration data for modelling similar systems needs to account for these significant local differences. Further, the in‐channel hydraulic roughness coefficient strongly varied from one cross‐section to the next (Manning's ‘n’ range: 0·01 to 0·10). These differences were amplified during low flow but persisted in muted form during high discharges. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting gully initiation: comparing data mining techniques, analytical hierarchy processes and the topographic threshold
Authors: Svoray Tal , Michailov Evgenia , Cohen Avraham , Rokah Lior , Sturm Arnon 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTPredicting gully initiation at catchment scale was done previously by integrating a geographical information system (GIS) with physically based models, statistical procedures or with knowledge‐based expert systems. However, the reliability and validity of applying these procedures are still questionable. In this work, a data mining (DM) procedure based on decision trees was applied to identify areas of gully initiation risk. Performance was compared with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) expert system and with the commonly used topographic threshold (TT) technique. A spatial database was used to test the models, composed of a target variable (presence or absence of initial points) and ten independent environmental, climatic and human‐induced variables. The following findings emerged: using the same input layers, DM provided better predictive ability of gully initiation points than the application of both AHP and TT. The main difference between DM and TT was the very high overestimation inherent in TT. In addition, the minimum slope observed for soil detachment was 2°, whereas in other studies it is 3°. This could be explained by soil resistance, which is substantially lower in agricultural fields, while most studies test unploughed soil. Finally, rainfall intensity events >62.2 mm h‐1(for a period of 30 min) were found to have a significant effect on gully initiation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hypoxia and Hypoxia Inducible Factors: Diverse Roles in Liver Diseases
Authors: Nath Bharath , Szabo Gyongyi 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Hypoxia has been shown to have a role in the pathogenesis of several forms of liver disease. The hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are a family of evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators that affect a homeostatic response to low oxygen tension and have been identified as key mediators of angiogenesis, inflammation, and metabolism. In this review we summarize the evidence for a role of HIFs across a range of hepatic pathophysiology. We describe regulation of the HIFs and review investigations that demonstrate a role for HIFs in the development of liver fibrosis, activation of innate immune pathways, hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as other liver diseases in both human disease as well as murine models. (Hepatology 2012;)
Hepatitis C and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: The Clinical Perspective
Authors: Hartridge-Lambert Sidonie K. , Stein Eytan M. , Markowitz Arnold J. , Portlock Carol S. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a commonly transmitted infection that has both hepatic and extrahepatic repercussions. These range from the inflammatory to the oncologic with an undisputed link to hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its role in the development of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) is becoming better understood, leading to opportunities for research, therapy, and even prevention. Research in the field has progressed significantly over the last decade, with the number of patients diagnosed with HCV and B-NHL rising incrementally. It is therefore becoming crucial to fully understand the pathobiologic link of HCV in B cell lymphomagenesis and its optimal management in the oncologic setting. (Hepatology 2012)
Toll-like receptor 4–dependent Kupffer cell activation and liver injury in a novel mouse model of parenteral nutrition and intestinal injury
Authors: El Kasmi Karim C. , Anderson Aimee L. , Devereaux Michael W. , Fillon Sophie A. , Harris Kirk J. , Lovell Mark A. , Finegold Milton J. , Sokol Ronald J. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Infants with intestinal failure who are parenteral nutrition (PN)-dependent may develop cholestatic liver injury and cirrhosis (PN-associated liver injury: PNALI). The pathogenesis of PNALI remains incompletely understood. We hypothesized that intestinal injury with increased intestinal permeability combined with administration of PN promotes lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling dependent Kupffer cell (KC) activation as an early event in the pathogenesis of PNALI. We developed a mouse model in which intestinal injury and increased permeability were induced by oral treatment for 4 days with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) followed by continuous infusion of soy lipid-based PN solution through a central venous catheter for 7 (PN7d/DSS) and 28 (PN28d/DSS) days. Purified KCs were probed for transcription of proinflammatory cytokines. PN7d/DSS mice showed increased intestinal permeability and elevated portal vein LPS levels, evidence of hepatocyte injury and cholestasis (serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bile acids, total bilirubin), and increased KC expression of interleukin-6 (

Il6

), tumor necrosis factor α (

Tnf

α), and transforming growth factor β (

Tgf

β). Markers of liver injury remained elevated in PN28d/DSS mice associated with lobular inflammation, hepatocyte apoptosis, peliosis, and KC hypertrophy and hyperplasia. PN infusion without DSS pretreatment or DSS pretreatment alone did not result in liver injury or KC activation, even though portal vein LPS levels were elevated. Suppression of the intestinal microbiota with broad spectrum antibiotics or ablation of TLR4 signaling in

Tlr4

mutant mice resulted in significantly reduced KC activation and markedly attenuated liver injury in PN7d/DSS mice.

Conclusion :

These data suggest that intestinal-derived LPS activates KC through TLR4 signaling in early stages of PNALI. (Hepatology 2012)
The global burden of hepatitis E virus genotypes 1 and 2 in 2005
Authors: Rein David B. , Stevens Gretchen A. , Theaker Jordan , Wittenborn John S. , Wiersma Steven T. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

We estimated the global burden of hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 1 and 2 in 2005. HEV is an emergent waterborne infection that causes source-originated epidemics of acute disease with a case fatality rate thought to vary by age and pregnancy status. To create our estimates, we modeled the annual disease burden of HEV genotypes 1 and 2 for 9 of 21 regions defined for the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (the GBD 2010 Study), which represent 71% of the world's population. We estimated the seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibody and annual incidence of infection for each region using data from 37 published national studies and the DISMOD 3, a generic disease model designed for the GBD Study. We converted incident infections into three mutually exclusive results of infection: (1) asymptomatic episodes, (2) symptomatic disease, and (3) death from HEV. We also estimated incremental cases of stillbirths among infected pregnant women. For 2005, we estimated 20.1 (95% credible interval [Cr.I.]: 2.8–37.0) million incident HEV infections across the nine GBD Regions, resulting in 3.4 (95% Cr.I.: 0.5–6.5) million symptomatic cases, 70,000 (95% Cr.I.: 12,400–132,732) deaths, and 3,000 (95% Cr.I.: 1,892–4,424) stillbirths. We estimated a probability of symptomatic illness given infection of 0.198 (95% Cr.I.: 0.167–0.229) and a probability of death given symptomatic illness of 0.019 (95% Cr.I.: 0.017–0.021) for nonpregnant cases and 0.198 (95% Cr.I.: 0.169–0.227) for pregnant cases. Conclusion: The model was most sensitive to estimates of age-specific incidence of HEV disease. (Hepatology 2012)
Durandal: Fast exact clustering of protein decoys
Authors: Berenger Francois , Shrestha Rojan , Zhou Yong , Simoncini David , Zhang Kam Y. J. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn protein folding, clustering is commonly used as one way to identify the best decoy produced. Initializing the pairwise distance matrix for a large decoy set is computationally expensive. We have proposed a fast method that works even on large decoy sets. This method is implemented in a software called Durandal. Durandal has been shown to be consistently faster than other software performing fast exact clustering. In some cases, Durandal can even outperform the speed of an approximate method. Durandal uses the triangular inequality to accelerate exact clustering, without compromising the distance function. Recently, we have further enhanced the performance of Durandal by incorporating a Quaternion‐based characteristic polynomial method that has increased the speed of Durandal between 13% and 27% compared with the previous version. Durandal source code is available under the GNU General Public License at http://www.riken.jp/zhangiru/software/durandal_released_qcp.tgz. Alternatively, a compiled version of Durandal is also distributed with the nightly builds of the Phenix (http://www.phenix‐online.org/) crystallographic software suite (Adams et al., Acta Crystallogr Sect D 2010, 66, 213). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2012
Meta‐analysis of endoscopic versus sublabial pituitary surgery
Authors: DeKlotz Timothy R. , Chia Stanley H. , Lu Wenxin , Makambi Kepher H. , Aulisi Edward , Deeb Ziad 
Published: November 2011

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:To determine whether the endoscopic or sublabial transseptal transsphenoidal approach for pituitary surgery has superior outcomes or decreased complication rates.Study Design:Retrospective meta‐analysis of literature.Methods:A MEDLINE search was conducted identifying all relevant literature in the English language from 1998 through 2010. Studies explicitly identifying pure sublabial or completely endoscopic approaches were included. Meta‐analysis comparing the two techniques was performed for multiple outcome measures utilizing a random effects approach.Results:A total of 21 endoscopic studies (n = 2,335) and 17 sublabial studies (n = 2,565) met inclusion criteria. Analysis revealed significantly superior rates of gross tumor resection (79% vs. 65%, P < .0001), as well as lower rates of cerebral spinal fluid leak (5% vs. 7%, P < .01), septal perforation (0% vs. 5%), and postoperative epistaxis (1% vs. 4%, P < .0001) for the endoscopic approach compared to the sublabial approach. There was no difference between the two techniques in the incidence of meningitis, diabetes insipidus, or resolution of hormonal abnormality. Hospital stay (P = .01) was shorter for endoscopic surgery compared to sublabial surgery, and there was no significant difference in terms of length of operation.Conclusions:The sublabial transsphenoidal approach has been the gold standard for pituitary surgery for many years. However, meta‐analysis of the recent literature demonstrates superior outcomes and decreased postoperative complications with the endoscopic approach, potentially justifying a shift toward endoscopic pituitary surgery.