bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of orexin in the regulation of glucose homeostasis
Authors: Tsuneki H. , Wada T. , Sasaoka T. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractOrexin‐A (hypocretin‐1) and orexin‐B (hypocretin‐2) are hypothalamic neuropeptides that play key roles in the regulation of wakefulness, feeding, reward, autonomic functions and energy homeostasis. To control these functions indispensable for survival, orexin‐expressing neurones integrate peripheral metabolic signals, interact with many types of neurones in the brain and modulate their activities via the activation of orexin‐1 receptor or orexin‐2 receptor. In addition, a new functional role of orexin is emerging in the regulation of insulin and leptin sensitivities responsible for whole‐body glucose metabolism. Recent evidence indicates that orexin efficiently protects against the development of peripheral insulin resistance induced by ageing or high‐fat feeding in mice. In particular, the orexin receptor‐2 signalling appears to confer resistance to diet‐induced obesity and insulin insensitivity by improving leptin sensitivity. In fact, the expression of orexin gene is known to be down‐regulated by hyperglycaemia in the rodent model of diabetes, such as ob/ob and db/db mice. Moreover, the levels of orexin receptor‐2 mRNA have been shown to decline in the brain of mice along with ageing. These suggest that hyperglycaemia due to insulin insensitivity during ageing or by habitual consumption of a high‐fat diet leads to the reduction in orexin expression in the hypothalamus, thereby further exacerbating peripheral insulin resistance. Therefore, orexin receptor controlling hypothalamic insulin/leptin actions may be a new target for possible future treatment of hyperglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Long‐term Forecast of the Demographic Transition in Japan and Asia
Authors: KOMINE Takao , KABE Shigesaburo 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe demographic structure of Asia is expected to change rapidly from around 2020 up to around 2050. Following Japan, which is already at an advanced stage of aging and birthrate decline, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore will also witness a further decline in their birthrates and an aging of their populations. Next in line will be the remaining countries of the Association of South‐East Asian Nations as well as India. Such changes, accompanied by a decline in the labor force, will not only adversely affect economic growth, but also have a major impact on voting structures, savings rates, and social security systems. Moreover, the process of demographic aging in Asia will be faster than in Japan, and its extent will be substantial, both of which exacerbates the negative effects. On positive side, these trends will give rise to the emergence of new markets.
Patterns of reproduction in two sympatric gerbil species in arid Egypt
Authors: SOLIMAN Sohail , MOHALLAL Eman M. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractDespite a significant number of studies on the reproductive characteristics of small mammals, very little of this work has been conducted on species in Egpyt. Here, the Egyptian greater gerbil (Gerbillus pyramidum Saint‐Hilaire, 1825) and Anderson's lesser Egyptian gerbil (Gerbillus andersoni De Winton, 1902) in northeastern Egypt were surveyed. Breeding behavior in these species was synchronized with rainfall in the winter and spring months. Surprisingly however, the removal of individual gerbils throughout the course of study resulted in an extension of reproductive activity into the dry summer and autumn months in the latter part of the sampling. These results are discussed in the context of density‐dependent reproductive behavior in small mammals.
Bats and Emerging Zoonoses: Henipaviruses and SARS
Authors: Field H. E. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryNearly 75% of all emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) that impact or threaten human health are zoonotic. The majority have spilled from wildlife reservoirs, either directly to humans or via domestic animals. The emergence of many can be attributed to predisposing factors such as global travel, trade, agricultural expansion, deforestation/habitat fragmentation, and urbanization; such factors increase the interface and/or the rate of contact between human, domestic animal, and wildlife populations, thereby creating increased opportunities for spillover events to occur. Infectious disease emergence can be regarded as primarily an ecological process. The epidemiological investigation of EIDs associated with wildlife requires a trans‐disciplinary approach that includes an understanding of the ecology of the wildlife species, and an understanding of human behaviours that increase risk of exposure. Investigations of the emergence of Nipah virus in Malaysia in 1999 and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China in 2003 provide useful case studies. The emergence of Nipah virus was associated with the increased size and density of commercial pig farms and their encroachment into forested areas. The movement of pigs for sale and slaughter in turn led to the rapid spread of infection to southern peninsular Malaysia, where the high‐density, largely urban pig populations facilitated transmission to humans. Identifying the factors associated with the emergence of SARS in southern China requires an understanding of the ecology of infection both in the natural reservoir and in secondary market reservoir species. A necessary extension of understanding the ecology of the reservoir is an understanding of the trade, and of the social and cultural context of wildlife consumption. Emerging infectious diseases originating from wildlife populations will continue to threaten public health. Mitigating and managing the risk requires an appreciation of the connectedness between human, livestock and wildlife health, and of the factors and processes that disrupt the balance.
Comparative genomic analysis ofAcidithiobacillus ferrooxidansstrains using theA. ferrooxidansATCC 23270 whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray
Authors: Luo Hailang , Shen Li , Yin Huaqun , Li Qian , Chen Qijiong , Luo Yanjie , Liao Liqin , Qiu Guanzhou , Liu Xueduan 
Published: May 2009

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is an important microorganism used in biomining operations for metal recovery. Whole-genomic diversity analysis based on the oligonucleotide microarray was used to analyze the gene content of 12 strains of A. ferrooxidans purified from various mining areas in China. Among the 3100 open reading frames (ORFs) on the slides, 1235 ORFs were absent in at least 1 strain of bacteria and 1385 ORFs were conserved in all strains. The hybridization results showed that these strains were highly diverse from a genomic perspective. The hybridization results of 4 major functional gene categories, namely electron transport, carbon metabolism, extracellular polysaccharides, and detoxification, were analyzed. Based on the hybridization signals obtained, a phylogenetic tree was built to analyze the evolution of the 12 tested strains, which indicated that the geographic distribution was the main factor influencing the strain diversity of these strains. Based on the hybridization signals of genes associated with bioleaching, another phylogenetic tree showed an evolutionary relationship from which the co-relation between the clustering of specific genes and geochemistry could be observed. The results revealed that the main factor was geochemistry, among which the following 6 factors were the most important: pH, Mg, Cu, S, Fe, and Al.
Characterization of Microbacterium sp. F10a and its role in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon removal in low-temperature soil
Authors: Sheng X. F. , He L. Y. , Zhou L. , Shen Y. Y. 
Published: May 2009

A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacterium isolated from oil-polluted soil was identified as Microbacterium sp. F10a based on 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Plant growth promoting characteristics of the strain, degradation rate of phenanthrene and pyrene, and cell surface hydrophobicity characteristics of the strain were further characterized. The strain was also evaluated for promoting the growth of wheat and phenanthrene and pyrene removal from soil artificially contaminated with a mixture of phenanthrene (200 mg·kg–1) and pyrene (150 mg·kg–1) in pot experiments. The strain had the plant growth promoting characteristics of producing indole acetic acid, siderophore, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity and solubilizing inorganic phosphate. The strain also has a cell surface hydrophobicity that could increase the aqueous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon solubility. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis showed that the degradation rates of phenanthrene (50 mg·L–1) and pyrene (20 mg·L–1) were 98% and 65%, respectively, under 28 °C after 7 days. Inoculation with the strain was found to significantly increase (p < 0.05) the growth of wheat and phenanthrene and pyrene removal in the unplanted or planted soils in a low-temperature environment. There were no significant differences in culturable bacterial numbers between live bacterial inoculation and dead bacterial inoculation controls in the unplanted and planted soils. However, the numbers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were significantly greater in the inoculated planted or unplanted soils compared with the dead bacterial inoculation controls.
ON THE QUANTUM KOLMOGOROV COMPLEXITY OF CLASSICAL STRINGS
Authors: MÜLLER MARKUS 
Published: May 2009

We show that classical and quantum Kolmogorov complexity of binary strings agree up to an additive constant. Both complexities are defined as the minimal length of any (classical resp. quantum) computer program that outputs the corresponding string. It follows that quantum complexity is an extension of classical complexity to the domain of quantum states. This is true even if we allow a small probabilistic error in the quantum computer's output. We outline a mathematical proof of this statement, based on an inequality for outputs of quantum operations and a classical program for the simulation of a universal quantum computer.
Petrus Brito, the author of the apparatus Ecce vicit leo?
Authors: Lefebvre-Teillard Anne 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA comparison between the opinions attributed to Petrus Brito in the Paris glosses on the Compilatio prima and the opinions expressed in the apparatus Ecce vicit leo on the Decretum (with Animal est substantia, one of the two major representative apparatus of the French, and, specifically, Paris canonistic school of the 13th century) shows a substantial correspondence in several significant instances. It is therefore possible to attribute the authorship of Ecce vicit leo to Petrus Brito.
The editio stipulationis, An interpretation of D. 2,13,1,4 (Ulp. 4 ad ed.)
Authors: Babusiaux Ulrike 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe Praetor's edict is said to be vague. Its contents are often better understood in the light of the broader context of legal and factual circumstances. Thus, the significance of the edict's editio stipulationis may be explained by analyzing its legal context and the practice with respect to the stipulatio, both of which establish that the stipulator was bound to inform the other party to the contract. That obligation may explain other specific features of the rules which applied to a verbal contract, in particular as regards the ambiguitas contra stipulatorem. An offence against the edictal obligation 'totam stipulationem edere' entailed that the stipulator would be worse off, but the sanction against him was not precisely stated. The very vague character of the edict may in this case have strengthened its effectiveness.
Authenticum and authenticae – What's in a name? References to Justinian's Novels in medieval manuscripts
Authors: Wallinga Tammo 
Published: May 2009

AbstractIn the Middle Ages Justinian's Novels were known in essentially two different forms: the Latin translation called the Authenticum, and excerpts from the Authenticum known as authenticae, which were incorporated in manuscripts of the Codex Justinianus. Correspondingly, there are two types of medieval references (allegationes): to texts in the Authenticum itself and to authenticae. This article studies the process of incorporating authenticae in the Codex Justinianus and argues that those allegationes that refer to the original Authenticum are no guarantee that this text was actually read in its original form by the author of the allegatio, rather than an authentica.
The Justices of the Peace at the heart of the French Law Reform experimental process (1914–1915)
Authors: Bernaudeau Vincent 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe pre-enactment stages of the French Act of 22 December 1915 extending the cases where a review of judgements rendered by Justices of the Peace (at the canton-district level) could be brought before the Cour de Cassation shed a new light on the respective roles played by representatives of Parliament, of the central administration departments, and of the highest level of the Judiciary. These three categories of established public actors were brought together in an institutionalized Law Reform experimental process (laboratoire législatif), in which they shared a common legitimacy. An analysis of their work highlights the importance of their legal experience and knowledge for the conception and drafting of the Act, but is also necessary in order to interpret and understand those actors' notions with regard to the role of justice and the establishment of peace towards the citizens. The system and the rules which tend to ensure the Act's application emphasize the Executive Departments' capacity to affect the working of the courts, so as to implement their policies in favour of rationalizing the legal practitioners' work and modernizing the Judiciary at the beginning of the 20th century.
Verapamil but not calpain or creatine alters arsenate-induced cardiac cell death
Authors: Luong MW , Rabkin SW 
Published: May 2009

The objective of this study was to examine the potential of arsenate to induce cardiomyocyte cell death and to explore the cellular mechanisms of arsenate toxicity. Isolated cardiomyocytes in culture from embryonic chick hearts were treated with a pentavalent arsenic species (H3AsO4) or arsenate. Arsenate produced a significant ( P < 0.01) concentration-dependent increase in cell death with an EC50about 1 mM. Cardiomyocytes manifested a loss of actin structure, reduced size, and damaged nuclei. Creatine 0.1–100 uM did not significantly modify arsenate-induced cell death. In contrast, verapamil, 0.01–1 uM, produced a significant concentration-dependent accentuation of arsenate-induced cell death. The effect of verapamil was evident at low concentrations of arsenate, which produced only a small increase in cell death, and at high concentrations of arsenate, which induced a large amount of cell death. Verapamil alone did not alter cardiomyocyte cell death. By comparison, calpain inhibitor II did not modify arsenate-induced cardiomyocyte cell death. These data suggest that cardiomyocytes are vulnerable to the effects of verapamil to increase the cellular toxicity of arsenate. Two potential cellular mechanisms of arsenate toxicity, however, are likely not involved in arsenate toxicity namely calpain activation and reduction of creatine phosphate production.
Protective role of the HLA–A*02 allele in Portuguese patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Silva AM , Bettencourt A , Pereira C , Santos E , Carvalho C , Mendonça D , Costa PP , Monteiro L , Martins B 
Published: May 2009

Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) HLA–DRB1*15. Recent evidence that CD8 T cells are implicated in MS suggests that HLA class I may also contribute. An association of HLA–A*02 and A*03 alleles has been described. Objectives We examined the influence of HLA–A*02 and HLA–A*03 in Portuguese patients with MS, independently of HLA–DRB1*15 using a logistic regression model. Conclusions DRB1*15 increased the risk of developing MS and HLA–A*02 decreased the risk. A*03 had no effect. To analyze if HLA–A*02 association was independent from DRB1*15, an interaction between these two alleles was introduced in the model; no significant interaction was found.
Transcriptomic analysis of tomato carpel development reveals alterations in ethylene and gibberellin synthesis during pat3/pat4 parthenocarpic fruit set
Authors: Pascual Laura , Blanca Jose M , Cañizares Joaquin , Nuez Fernado 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundTomato fruit set is a key process that has a great economic impact on crop production. We employed the Affymetrix GeneChip Tomato Genome Array to compare the transcriptome of a non-parthenocarpic line, UC82, with that of the parthenocarpic line RP75/59 (pat3/pat4mutant). We analyzed the transcriptome under normal conditions as well as with forced parthenocarpic development in RP75/59, emasculating the flowers 2 days before anthesis. This analysis helps to understand the fruit set in tomato.ResultsDifferentially expressed genes were extracted with maSigPro, which is designed for the analysis of single and multiseries time course microarray experiments. 2842 genes showed changes throughout normal carpel development and fruit set. Most of them showed a change of expression at or after anthesis. The main differences between lines were concentrated at the anthesis stage. We found 758 genes differentially expressed in parthenocarpic fruit set. Among these genes we detected cell cycle-related genes that were still activated at anthesis in the parthenocarpic line, which shows the lack of arrest in the parthenocarpic line at anthesis. Key genes for the synthesis of gibberellins and ethylene, which were up-regulated in the parthenocarpic line were also detected.ConclusionComparisons between array experiments determined that anthesis was the most different stage and the key point at which most of the genes were modulated. In the parthenocarpic line, anthesis seemed to be a short transitional stage to fruit set. In this line, the high GAs contends leads to the development of a parthenocarpic fruit, and ethylene may mimic pollination signals, inducing auxin synthesis in the ovary and the development of a jelly fruit.
Inter-observer reproducibility of HER2 immunohistochemical assessment and concordance with fluorescent in situhybridization (FISH): pathologist assessment compared to quantitative image analysis
Authors: Turashvili Gulisa , Leung Samuel , Turbin Dmitry , Montgomery Kelli , Gilks Blake , West Rob , Carrier Melinda , Huntsman David , Aparicio Samuel 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundIn breast cancer patients, HER2 overexpression is routinely assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and equivocal cases are subject to fluorescentin situhybridization (FISH). Our study compares HER2 scoring by histopathologists with automated quantitation of staining, and determines the concordance of IHC scores with FISH results.MethodsA tissue microarray was constructed from 1,212 invasive breast carcinoma cases with linked treatment and outcome information. IHC slides were semi-quantitatively scored by two independent pathologists on a range of 0 to 3+, and also analyzed with an Ariol automated system by two operators. 616 cases were scorable by both IHC and FISH.ResultsUsing data from unequivocal positive (3+) or negative (0, 1+) results, both visual and automated scores were highly consistent: there was excellent concordance between two pathologists (kappa = 1.000, 95% CI: 1-1), between two machines (kappa = 1.000, 95% CI: 1-1), and between both visual and both machine scores (kappa = 0.898, 95% CI: 0.775–0.979). Two pathologists successfully distinguished negative, positive and equivocal cases (kappa = 0.929, 95% CI: 0.909–0.946), with excellent agreement with machine 1 scores (kappa = 0.835, 95% CI: 0.806–0.862; kappa = 0.837, 95% CI: 0.81–0.862), and good agreement with machine 2 scores (kappa = 0.698, 95% CI: 0.6723–0.723; kappa = 0.709, 95% CI: 0.684–0.732), whereas the two machines showed good agreement (kappa = 0.806, 95% CI: 0.785–0.826). When comparing categorized IHC scores and FISH results, the agreement was excellent for visual 1 (kappa = 0.814, 95% CI: 0.768–0.856), good for visual 2 (kappa = 0.763, 95% CI: 0.712–0.81) and machine 1 (kappa = 0.665, 95% CI: 0.609–0.718), and moderate for machine 2 (kappa = 0.535, 95% CI: 0.485–0.584).ConclusionA fully automated image analysis system run by an experienced operator can provide results consistent with visual HER2 scoring. Further development of such systems will likely improve the accuracy of detection and categorization of membranous staining, making this technique suitable for use in quality assurance programs and eventually in clinical practice.
Dynamic regulation of RNA editing of ion channels and receptors in the mammalian nervous system
Authors: Tan Bao Zhen , Huang Hua , Lam Runyi , Soong Tuck Wah 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe post-transcriptional modification of mammalian transcripts in the central nervous system by adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing is an important mechanism for the generation of molecular diversity, and serves to regulate protein function through recoding of genomic information. As the molecular players and an increasing number of edited targets are identified and characterized, adenosine-to-inosine modification serves as an exquisite mechanism for customizing channel function within diverse biological niches. Here, we review the mechanisms that could regulate adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing and the impact of dysregulation in clinical conditions.
RAGE: therapeutic target and biomarker of the inflammatory response—the evidence mounts
Authors: Ramasamy Ravichandran , Yan Shi Fang , Schmidt Ann Marie 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
RAGE may be a biomarker and/or target for therapeutic intervention in chronic disease such as diabetes, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and tumors.
The RAGE binds multiple ligand families linked to hyperglycemia, aging, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Activation of RAGE by its ligands stimulates diverse signaling cascades. The recent observation that the cytoplasmic domain of RAGE interacts with diaphanous or mDia–1 links RAGE signal transduction to cellular migration and activation of the Rho GTPases, cdc42 and rac–1. Pharmacological blockade of RAGE or genetic deletion of RAGE imparts significant protection in murine models of diabetes, inflammatory conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, and tumors. Intriguingly, soluble forms of RAGE, including the splice variant–derived esRAGE, circulate in human plasma. Studies in human subjects suggest that sRAGE levels may be modulated by the diseases impacted by RAGE and its ligands. Thus, in addition to being a potential therapeutic target in chronic disease, monitoring of plasma sRAGE levels may provide a novel biomarker platform for tracking chronic inflammatory diseases, their severity, and response to therapeutic intervention.
Age at onset of first episode and time to treatment in
in-patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Morken Gunnar , Vaaler Arne E. , Folden Gunn E. , Andreassen Ole A. , Malt Ulrik F. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between age at onset and
time to first pharmacological treatment in patients with either bipolar I
or II disorder. A total of 146 consecutive in-patients acutely admitted
from the same catchment area were included. Patients were divided into
four age groups: 0–12 years (23%); 13–18 years (32%); 19–29 years (26%);
and 30 years (18%). Mean age at first affective episode was 20.2 years
(s.d.=11.8). This represents a similar pattern to the age at onset seen
in out-patients in the USA. Early age at onset predicted a longer time to
first pharmacological treatment (ρ =0.695, P
<0.01).