bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary moderately oxidized oil activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway in the liver of pigs
Authors: Varady Juliane , Gessner Denise K , Most Erika , Eder Klaus , Ringseis Robert 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Background
Previous studies have shown that administration of oxidized oils increases gene expression and activities of various enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and stress response in the liver of rats and guinea pigs. As these genes are controlled by nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2), we investigated the hypothesis that feeding of oxidized fats causes an activation of that transcription factor in the liver which in turn activates the expression of antioxidant, cytoprotective and detoxifying genes.

Methods
Twenty four crossbred pigs were allocated to two groups of 12 pigs each and fed nutritionally adequate diets with either fresh rapeseed oil (fresh fat group) or oxidized rapeseed oil prepared by heating at a temperature of 175°C for 72 h (oxidized fat group).

Results
After 29 days of feeding, pigs of the oxidized fat group had a markedly increased nuclear concentration of the transcription factor Nrf2 and a higher activity of cellular superoxide dismutase and T4-UDP glucuronosyltransferase in liver than the fresh fat group (P < 0.05). In addition, transcript levels of antioxidant and phase II genes in liver, like superoxide dismutase 1, heme oxygenase 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, thioredoxin reductase 1, microsomal glutathione-S-transferase 1, UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 in the liver were higher in the oxidized fat group than in the fresh fat group (P < 0.05). Moreover, pigs of the oxidized fat group had an increased hepatic nuclear concentration of the transcription factor NF-κB which is also an important transcription factor mediating cellular stress response.

Conclusion
The present study shows for the first time that administration of an oxidized fat activates the Nrf2 in the liver of pigs which likely reflects an adaptive mechanism to prevent cellular oxidative damage. Activation of the NF-κB pathway might also contribute to this effect of oxidized fat.
Robust multiple-vehicle tracking via adaptive integration of multiple visual features
Authors: Sheng Hao , Wei Qi , Li Chao , Xiong Zhang 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
This article presents a robust approach to tracking multiple vehicles with integration of multiple visual features. The observation is modeled by democratic integration strategies according to the reliability of the information in the current multi-visual features to adjust their weights. The appearance model is also embedded in a particle filter (PF) tracking framework. Furthermore, we propose a new model updating algorithm based on the PF. In order to avoid incorrect results caused by "model drift" introduced into the observation model, model updating should only be controlled in a reliable manner, and the rate of updating is based on reliability. This article also presents the experiments using a real video sequence to verify the proposed method.
Movement of the external ear in human embryo
Authors: Kagurasho Miho , Yamada Shigehito , Uwabe Chigako , Kose Katsumi , Takakuwa Tetsuya 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Introduction
External ears, one of the major face components, show an interesting movement during craniofacial morphogenesis in human embryo. The present study was performed to see if movement of the external ears in a human embryo could be explained by differential growth.

Methods
In all, 171 samples between Carnegie stage (CS) 17 and CS 23 were selected from MR image datasets of human embryos obtained from the Kyoto Collection of Human Embryos. The three-dimensional absolute position of 13 representative anatomical landmarks, including external and internal ears, from MRI data was traced to evaluate the movement between the different stages with identical magnification. Two different sets of reference axes were selected for evaluation and comparison of the movements.

Results
When the pituitary gland and the first cervical vertebra were selected as a reference axis, the 13 anatomical landmarks of the face spread out within the same region as the embryo enlarged and changed shape. The external ear did move mainly laterally, but not cranially. The distance between the external and internal ear stayed approximately constant. Three-dimensionally, the external ear located in the caudal ventral parts of the internal ear in CS 17, moved mainly laterally until CS 23. When surface landmarks eyes and mouth were selected as a reference axis, external ears moved from the caudal lateral ventral region to the position between eyes and mouth during development.

Conclusion
The results indicate that movement of all anatomical landmarks, including external and internal ears, can be explained by differential growth. Also, when the external ear is recognized as one of the facial landmarks and having a relative position to other landmarks such as the eyes and mouth, the external ears seem to move cranially.
Myocardial citrullination in rheumatoid arthritis: a correlative histopathologic study
Authors: Giles Jon T , Fert-Bober Justyna , Park Jin Kyun , Bingham Clifton O , Andrade Felipe , Fox-Talbot Karen , Pappas Dimitrios , Rosen Antony , van Eyk Jennifer , Bathon Joan M , Halushka Marc K 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Introduction
The aim of this study was to explore the presence and localization of myocardial citrullination in samples from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to rheumatic and non-rheumatic disease control groups.

Methods
Archived myocardial samples obtained during autopsy from 1995 to 2009 were assembled into four groups: RA; scleroderma; fatal myocarditis; and non-rheumatic disease controls. Samples were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the presence and localization of citrullination and peptidyl arginine deiminase enzymes (PADs) by a single cardiovascular pathologist blinded to disease group and clinical characteristics.

Results
Myocardial samples from seventeen RA patients were compared with those from fourteen controls, five fatal myocarditis patients, and ten scleroderma patients. Strong citrullination staining was detected exclusively in the myocardial interstitium in each of the groups. However, average and peak anti-citrulline staining was 59% and 44% higher, respectively, for the RA group compared to the combined non-RA groups (P < 0.05 for both comparisons). Myocardial fibrosis did not differ between the groups. In contrast to citrullination, PADs 1 to 3 and 6 were detected in cardiomyocytes (primarily PADs 1 and 3), resident inflammatory cells (primarily PADs 2 and 4), and, to a smaller extent, in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. PAD staining did not co-localize with anti-citrulline staining in the interstitium and did not vary by disease state.

Conclusions
Staining for citrullination was higher in the myocardial interstitium of RA compared to other disease states, a finding that could link autoimmunity to the known increase in myocardial dysfunction and heart failure in RA.
Costs and outcomes of an intervention programme for offenders with personality disorders
Authors: Barrett Barbara , Byford Sarah 
Published: February 2012

BackgroundThe dangerous severe personality disorder programme was developed in high secure prisons and hospitals at great expense to identify and treat the most dangerous offenders with personality disorders.AimsTo evaluate whether the long-term costs of the programme are greater or less than the long-term outcomes.MethodWe used a Markov decision model with a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the incremental cost of the programme per serious offence prevented and a cost-offset analysis to consider whether monetary benefits were greater than costs.ResultsCosts were consistently higher for the intervention programme and the cost per serious offence prevented was over £2 million, although there was some evidence that adjustments to the programme could lead to similar interventions becoming cost-effective.ConclusionsLittle evidence was found to support the cost-effectiveness of the intervention programme for offenders with personality disorders, although delivery of the programme in a lower-cost prison would probably yield greater benefits than costs. There are frequent calls for mentally disordered offenders to be detained in secure hospitals rather than prisons; however, if reoffending remains the outcome of interest for policy makers, it is likely that the costs of detention in hospital will remain greater than the benefits for dangerous offenders with a personality disorder.
Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) Promotes Gene Expression of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ2 (PPARγ2) and Its Target Genes during Adipogenesis
Authors: LeBlanc Scott E. , Konda Silvana , Wu Qiong , Hu Yu-Jie , Oslowski Christine M. , Sif Saïd , Imbalzano Anthony N. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Regulation of adipose tissue formation by adipogenic-regulatory proteins has long been a topic of interest given the ever-increasing health concerns of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the general population. Differentiation of precursor cells into adipocytes involves a complex network of cofactors that facilitate the functions of transcriptional regulators from the CCATT/enhancer binding protein, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) families. Many of these cofactors are enzymes that modulate the structure of chromatin by altering histone-DNA contacts in an ATP-dependent manner or by posttranslationally modifying the histone proteins. Here we report that inhibition of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) expression in multiple cell culture models for adipogenesis prevented the activation of adipogenic genes. In contrast, overexpression of Prmt5 enhanced adipogenic gene expression and differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that Prmt5 binds to and dimethylates histones at adipogenic promoters. Furthermore, the presence of Prmt5 promoted the binding of ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzymes and was required for the binding of PPARγ2 at PPARγ2-regulated promoters. The data indicate that Prmt5 acts as a coactivator for the activation of adipogenic gene expression and promotes adipogenic differentiation.
ROS constitute a convergence nexus in the development of IGF1 resistance and impaired wound healing in a rat model of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bitar Milad S. , Al-Mulla Fahd 
Published: February 2012

SummaryAn indolent non-healing wound and insulin and/or insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) resistance are cardinal features of diabetes, inflammation and hypercortisolemia. Little is known about why these phenomena occur in so many contexts. Do the various triggers that induce insulin and/or IGF1 resistance and retard wound healing act through a common mechanism? Cultured dermal fibroblasts from rats and full-thickness excisional wounds were used as models to test the premise that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a causal role in the development of IGF1 resistance and impaired wound healing under different but pathophysiologically relevant clinical settings, including diabetes, dexamethasone-induced hypercortisolemia and TNFα-induced inflammation. In normal fibroblasts, IGF1 initiated a strong degree of phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) (Tyr612) and Akt (Ser473), concomitantly with increased PI3K activity. This phenomenon seemed to be attenuated in fibroblasts that had phenotypic features of diabetes, inflammation or hypercortisolemia. Notably, these cells also exhibited an increase in the activity of the ROS−phospho-JNK (p-JNK)−p-IRS1 (Ser307) axis. The above-mentioned defects were reflected functionally by attenuation in IGF1-dependent stimulation of key fibroblast functions, including collagen synthesis and cell proliferation, migration and contraction. The effects of IGF1 on glucose disposal and cutaneous wound healing were also impaired in diabetic or hypercortisolemic rats. The ROS suppressors EUK-134 and α-lipoic acid, or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing of JNK expression, restored IGF1 sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo, and also ameliorated the impairment in IGF1-mediated wound responses during diabetes, inflammation and hypercortisolemia. Our data advance the notion that ROS constitute a convergence nexus for the development of IGF1 resistance and impaired wound healing under different but pathophysiologically relevant clinical settings, with a proof of concept for the beneficial effect of ROS suppressors.
Numerical Investigation of Laminar to Turbulent Boundary Layer Transition on a Naca 0012 Airfoil for Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine Applications
Authors: Castelli Marco Raciti , Garbo Francesco , Benini Ernesto 
Published: February 2012

Laminar to turbulent transition in vertical-axis wind turbines has a dramatic effect on overall rotor performance, especially in fast rotating machines, where reliable prediction of the total drag coefficient for high values of tip speed ratio is one of the most critical topic in CFD simulations. This paper presents a 2D numerical investigation of the capability of the γ–θ transition model to predict the laminar to turbulent transition and consequent friction drag over a NACA 0012 airfoil for a Reynolds number of 360,000, which is typical of vertical-axis wind turbine blades during operation. The analized range of angles of attack varies from 0 deg to 10 deg. The commercial CFD solver ANSYS FLUENT® is used. In particular, the sensitivity to grid resolution is investigated for four different architectures: a completely unstructured mesh, a hybrid structured-triangular one and two distinct hybrid structured-triangular meshes where the wake region behind the airfoil is discretized using a fully structured grid. The effect of freestream turbulence intensity on the transition onset is also analyzed. Finally, CFD results are compared to experimental data, although affected by some uncertainty, and to the predictions of an interactive program for the design and analysis of subsonic isolated airfoils (XFOIL), showing a very good agreement provided that the value of freestream turbulence intensity is known.
Tracing the Emergence of a Novel Sex-Determining Gene in Medaka,Oryzias luzonensis
Authors: Myosho Taijun , Otake Hiroyuki , Masuyama Haruo , Matsuda Masaru , Kuroki Yoko , Fujiyama Asao , Naruse Kiyoshi , Hamaguchi Satoshi , Sakaizumi Mitsuru 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThree sex-determining (SD) genes, SRY (mammals), Dmy (medaka), and DM-W (Xenopus laevis), have been identified to date in vertebrates. However, how and why a new sex-determining gene appears remains unknown, as do the switching mechanisms of the master sex-determining gene. Here, we used positional cloning to search for the sex-determining gene in Oryzias luzonensis and found that GsdfY (gonadal soma derived growth factor on the Y chromosome) has replaced Dmy as the master sex-determining gene in this species. We found that GsdfY showed high expression specifically in males during sex differentiation. Furthermore, the presence of a genomic fragment that included GsdfY converts XX individuals into fertile XX males. Luciferase assays demonstrated that the upstream sequence of GsdfY contributes to the male-specific high expression. Gsdf is downstream of Dmy in the sex-determining cascade of O. latipes, suggesting that emergence of the Dmy-independent Gsdf allele led to the appearance of this novel sex-determining gene in O. luzonensis.
Computationally Efficient Sibship and Parentage Assignment from Multilocus Marker Data
Authors: Wang Jinliang 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Quite a few methods have been proposed to infer sibship and parentage among individuals from their multilocus marker genotypes. They are all based on Mendelian laws either qualitatively (exclusion methods) or quantitatively (likelihood methods), have different optimization criteria, and use different algorithms in searching for the optimal solution. The full-likelihood method assigns sibship and parentage relationships among all sampled individuals jointly. It is by far the most accurate method, but is computationally prohibitive for large data sets with many individuals and many loci. In this article I propose a new likelihood-based method that is computationally efficient enough to handle large data sets. The method uses the sum of the log likelihoods of pairwise relationships in a configuration as the score to measure its plausibility, where log likelihoods of pairwise relationships are calculated only once and stored for repeated use. By analyzing several empirical and many simulated data sets, I show that the new method is more accurate than pairwise likelihood and exclusion-based methods, but is slightly less accurate than the full-likelihood method. However, the new method is computationally much more efficient than the full-likelihood method, and for the cases of both sexes polygamous and markers with genotyping errors, it can be several orders faster. The new method can handle a large sample with thousands of individuals and the number of markers limited only by the computer memory.
Kinetic Study of Iron Dissolution from Low Grade Kaolin Using Oxalic Acid Solutions
Authors: Martínez-Luévanos A. , Serrato-Villegas L. E. , Rodríguez-Delgado M. G. , Carrillo-Pedroza F. R. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTKaolin is an important material that is used in industrial applications, including ceramics, paper, paints, fiberglass, inks, pharmaceuticals, and cement. The presence of impurities, particularly iron and titanium bearing materials, imparts color to kaolin. During weathering or hydrothermal alteration, significant levels of iron oxides can be deposited that leave a concentrated kaolinitic clay unusable for industrial application. Therefore, several chemical methods have been applied to kaolin beneficiation in order to reduce these contaminants. Ferric oxide dissolution is of particular interest for producers of industrial minerals such as kaolin. The objective of this work was to examine the kinetics of iron dissolution form low grade kaolin using oxalic acid solutions. The effects of acid concentration and reaction temperature were studied. It was determined that the iron dissolution rate increases with oxalic acid concentration, temperature. Leaching data showed that iron dissolution from low grade kaolin is due to diffusion through the product layer. The activation energy of the process was 46.32 kJ/mol.
Determination of Vanadium Valency in Roasted Stone Coal by Separate Dissolve-Potentiometric Titration Method
Authors: Shenxu Bao , Yimin Zhang , Jing Hang , Xiao Yang , Yangjia Hu 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTStone coal is an important vanadium-bearing resource in China. Most vanadium exists in stone coal as V(III), which is stable and not easily to be extracted. The V(III) should be oxidized to V(IV) and/or V(V) by roasting with additives at high temperature and then extracted by acid leaching and/or water leaching. Hence, the vanadium valency in roasted stone coal can reflect the roasting efficiency and leaching rate. In traditional digestion process, the V(V) can oxidize V(III) in solution and this causes great error to the determination of vanadium valency. In this study, the V(IV) and V(V) in roasted stone coal is dissolved firstly in 5% of hydrochloric acid at room temperature for 1h because the V(III) embedded in crystal lattice can not dissolve in dilute acid. The acid solution containing V(IV) and V(V) is titrated by 0.02 M ammonium ferrous sulfate (AFS), and the jump in titration curve indicates the reducing of V(V) to V(IV) by ferrous ion. The volume of V(V) can be calculated according to the consumption of AFS. The total volume of vanadium can be determined by potassium permanganate oxidation-ammonium ferrous sulfate titrimetric method. Hence, the volume of V(IV) can be obtained by deducting the quantity of V(V) from the total vanadium. Secondly, the undissolved residue is digested in Teflon vessel by phosphoric acid and hydrofluoric acid at 90 °C for 2h. The digestion solution is also titrated by AFS under nitrogen atmosphere, and the jump in titration curve denotes the reducing of V(IV) to V(III) by ferrous ion in phosphoric acid medium. So, the volume of V(III) and V(IV) can be obtained in the same way. This method is characterized by high measuring accuracy and excellent reproducibility.
EFFECT OF FROTHER (MIBC) ADDITION ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROBUBBLES GENERATED BY AIR DISSOLVED NUCLEATION
Authors: Martínez-Ramos Estrella , Pérez-Garibay Roberto , Rubio-Rojas Jorge 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAn identification of the characteristics of microbbubles dispersion is presented in this paper, when frother addition (MIBC) is modified in a biphasic system (air-water). Sauter diameter (d32), gas flow rate (Jg), superficial area flow density of the microbubbles (Sb) and air holdup (εg) are the measured variables in this research work. The studied frother additions were 0, 10 and 20 ppm. Similar to conventional bubble sizes, it was observed also, that air holdup increases with the air flow rate. The linear relationship between εg and Sb permits to conclude that superficial area flow density, a variable difficult to measure directly, may be estimated if air gas holdup is known. Furthermore, the experimental results showed that frother addition (MIBC) reduced the Sauter diameter, increasing all other variables.
Use of Electronic Results Reporting to Diagnose and Monitor AKI in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Selby Nicholas M. , Crowley Lisa , Fluck Richard J. , McIntyre Christopher W. , Monaghan John , Lawson Nigel , Kolhe Nitin V. 
Published: February 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
Many patients with AKI are cared for by non-nephrologists. This can result in variable standards of care that contribute to poor outcomes.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
To improve AKI recognition, a real-time, hospital-wide, electronic reporting system was designed based on current Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. This system allowed prospective data collection on AKI incidence and outcomes such as mortality rate, length of hospital stay, and renal recovery. The setting was a 1139-bed teaching hospital with a tertiary referral nephrology unit.

Results
An electronic reporting system was successfully introduced into clinical practice (false positive rate, 1.7%; false negative rate, 0.2%). The results showed that there were 3202 AKI episodes in 2619 patients during the 9-month study period (5.4% of hospital admissions). The in-hospital mortality rate was 23.8% and increased with more severe AKI (16.1% for stage 1 AKI versus 36.1% for stage 3) (P<0.001). More severe AKI was associated with longer length of hospital stay for stage 1 (8 days; interquartile range, 13) versus 11 days for stage 3 (interquartile range, 16) (P<0.001) and reduced chance of renal recovery (80.0% in stage 1 AKI versus 58.8% in stage 3) (P<0.001). Utility of the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria was reduced in those with pre-existing CKD.

Conclusions
AKI is common in hospitalized patients and is associated with very poor outcomes. The successful implementation of electronic alert systems to aid early recognition of AKI across all acute specialties is one strategy that may help raise standards of care.