bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Calculating gambling odds and lung ages for smokers
Authors: Hansen J. E. , Sun X-G. , Wasserman K. 
Published: September 2009

Interpreting spirometry as normal or abnormal using 95% confidence limits can obscure milder airflow decreases. Other analyses might better persuade cigarette smokers to quit.High-quality spirometric data of ambulatory never- and current-smokers of African-, European- and Latin-American ethnicity from the Third National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (n>9000) were analysed. We desired to calculate, for each decade of life, the odds that specific ratios of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to 6 s (%FEV1/FEV6) and to forced vital capacity (%FEV1/FVC) values came from a current- or never-smoker. We also desired to develop new, simpler and better formulas to estimate changes in physiological lung age (Δlung age) for males and females.For each decade of life, odds increase strikingly that smoking decreases %FEV1/FEV6and %FEV1/FVC. At least for these three ethnicities, Δlung age can be easily calculated as the product of (predicted - actual) %FEV1/FEV6× 4 or (predicted - actual) %FEV1/FVC × 3. Through the sixth decade of life, smokers' Δlung age increase rapidly but little thereafter, presumably due to the inabilities of older smokers to participate in the survey or their deaths.Using odds and Δlung ages rather than traditional 95% confidence limits might better persuade smokers to quit.
Pulmonary changes induced bytrans,trans-2,4-decadienal, a component of cooking oil fumes
Authors: Wang C-K. , Chang L. W. , Chang H. , Yang C-H. , Tsai M-H. , Tsai H-T. , Lin P. 
Published: September 2009

Cooking oil fumes (COF) are known to be associated with respiratory diseases and risk of lung cancer. Involvement oftrans,trans-2,4-decadienal (tt-DDE), a major component in COF, is suspected.Male CD-1® (ICR) mice were intratracheally instilled with either 8 or 24 mg·kg−1tt-DDE weekly for 8 weeks. Total numbers and types of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), as well as pathological changes, and inflammatory gene modulations in the lung tissues were assessed.We demonstrated that the number of alveolar macrophages in the BALF was significantly increased intt-DDE-exposed animals. Histologically, there was a dose-correlated increase in epithelial hyperplasia and granulomatous nodules at the bronchioloalveolar junctions (BAJ). Although both Clara and alveolar type II cells were present in the BAJ lesion, only Clara cells were actively proliferative. However, only alveolar type II cells were found in the BAJ granulomatous nodules. Enhanced accumulation of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3), a known pro-carcinogenic factor, was also detected in many alveolar type II cells at the BAJ lesions.As both BAJ hyperplasia and enhanced pSTAT3 accumulation are known risk factors associated with increased lung adenocarcinoma development, these findings suggest thattt-DDE may pose a risk in lung carcinogenesis.
Gene promoter methylation assayed in exhaled breath, with differences in smokers and lung cancer patients
Authors: Han Weiguo , Wang Tao , Reilly Andrew A , Keller Steven M , Spivack Simon D 
Published: September 2009

Abstract

Background
There is a need for new, noninvasive risk assessment tools for use in lung cancer population screening and prevention programs.

Methods
To investigate the technical feasibility of determining DNA methylation in exhaled breath condensate, we applied our previously-developed method for tag-adapted bisulfite genomic DNA sequencing (tBGS) for mapping of DNA methylation, and adapted it to exhaled breath condensate (EBC) from lung cancer cases and non-cancer controls. Promoter methylation patterns were analyzed in DAPK, RASSF1A and PAX5β promoters in EBC samples from 54 individuals, comprised of 37 controls [current- (n = 19), former- (n = 10), and never-smokers (n = 8)] and 17 lung cancer cases [current- (n = 5), former- (n = 11), and never-smokers (n = 1)].

Results
We found: (1) Wide inter-individual variability in methylation density and spatial distribution for DAPK, PAX5β and RASSF1A. (2) Methylation patterns from paired exhaled breath condensate and mouth rinse specimens were completely divergent. (3) For smoking status, the methylation density of RASSF1A was statistically different (p = 0.0285); pair-wise comparisons showed that the former smokers had higher methylation density versus never smokers and current smokers (p = 0.019 and p = 0.031). For DAPK and PAX5β, there was no such significant smoking-related difference. Underlying lung disease did not impact on methylation density for this geneset. (4) In case-control comparisons, CpG at -63 of DAPK promoter and +52 of PAX5β promoter were significantly associated with lung cancer status (p = 0.0042 and 0.0093, respectively). After adjusting for multiple testing, both loci were of borderline significance (padj = 0.054 and 0.031). (5) The DAPK gene had a regional methylation pattern with two blocks (1)~-215~-113 and (2) -84 ~+26); while similar in block 1, there was a significant case-control difference in methylation density in block 2 (p = 0.045); (6)Tumor stage and histology did not impact on the methylation density among the cases. (7) The results of qMSP applied to EBC correlated with the corresponding tBGS sequencing map loci.

Conclusion
Our results show that DNA methylation in exhaled breath condensate is detectable and is likely of lung origin. Suggestive correlations with smoking and lung cancer case-control status depend on individual gene and CpG site examined.
Actomyosin contractility controls cell surface area of oligodendrocytes
Authors: Kippert Angelika , Fitzner Dirk , Helenius Jonne , Simons Mikael 
Published: September 2009

Abstract

Background
To form myelin oligodendrocytes expand and wrap their plasma membrane multiple times around an axon. How is this expansion controlled?

Results
Here we show that cell surface area depends on actomyosin contractility and is regulated by physical properties of the supporting matrix. Moreover, we find that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG), molecules associated with non-permissive growth properties within the central nervous system (CNS), block cell surface spreading. Most importantly, the inhibitory effects of CSPG on plasma membrane extension were completely prevented by treatment with inhibitors of actomyosin contractility and by RNAi mediated knockdown of myosin II. In addition, we found that reductions of plasma membrane area were accompanied by changes in the rate of fluid-phase endocytosis.

Conclusion
In summary, our results establish a novel connection between endocytosis, cell surface extension and actomyosin contractility. These findings open up new possibilities of how to promote the morphological differentiation of oligodendrocytes in a non-permissive growth environment.
See related minireview by Bauer and ffrench-Constant: http://www.jbiol.com/content/8/8/78
The NF-kappa B inhibitor, celastrol, could enhance the anti-cancer effect of gambogic acid on oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: He Di , Xu Qin , Yan Ming , Zhang Ping , Zhou Xiaojian , Zhang Zhiyuan , Duan Wenhu , Zhong Laiping , Ye Dongxia , Chen Wantao 
Published: September 2009

Abstract

Background
Gambogic acid (GA) is a major active ingredient of gamboge, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine that has been reported to be a potent cytotoxic agent against some malignant tumors. Many studies have shown that the NF-kappa B signaling pathway plays an important role in anti-apoptosis and the drug resistance of tumor cells during chemotherapy. In this study, the effects and mechanisms of GA and the NF-kappa B inhibitor celastrol on oral cancer cells were investigated.

Methods
Three human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, Tca8113, TSCC and NT, were treated with GA alone, celastrol alone or GA plus celastrol. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay. The rate of apoptosis was examined with annexin V/PI staining as well as transmission electronic microscopy in Tca8113 cells. The level of constitutive NF-kappa B activity in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines was determined by immunofluorescence assays and nuclear extracts and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) in vitro. To further investigate the role of NF-kappa B activity in GA and celastrol treatment in oral squamous cell carcinoma, we used the dominant negative mutant SR-IκBα to inhibit NF-kappa B activity and to observe its influence on the effect of GA.

Results
The results showed that GA could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of the oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and that the NF-kappa B pathway was simultaneously activated by GA treatment. The minimal cytotoxic dose of celastrol was able to effectively suppress the GA-induced NF-kappa B pathway activation. Following the combined treatment with GA and the minimal cytotoxic dose of celastrol or the dominant negative mutant SR-IκBα, proliferation was significantly inhibited, and the apoptotic rate of Tca8113 cells was significantly increased.

Conclusion
The combination of GA and celastrol has a synergistic antitumor effect. The effect can be primarily attributed to apoptosis induced by a decrease in NF-kappa B pathway activation. The NF-kappa B signaling pathway plays an important role in this process. Therefore, combining GA and celastrol may be a promising modality for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Changes in health-related quality of life and clinical implications in Chinese patients with chronic cough
Authors: Ma Wei , Yu Li , Wang Yu , Li Xin , LÜ Hanjing , Qiu Zhongmin 
Published: September 2009

Abstract

Background
Chronic cough has negative effects on quality of life. However, the changes in health-related quality of life and clinical implications remain unclear in Chinese patients with chronic cough.

Methods
A standard Chinese version of Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ) was developed by an established translation procedure and its repeatability was assessed in a preliminary study involving 20 untreated patients with stable chronic cough. The quality of life was measured with the Short form-36 health survey and compared between 110 patients with chronic cough and 90 healthy volunteers. The changes in health-related quality of life were evaluated in the patients with chronic cough with the LCQ just before the specific treatment was initiated and a week after the cough had resolved completely. Cough threshold with inhaled capsaicin, expressed as the lowest concentration of capsaicin required for the induction of ≥5 coughs, was also measured.

Results
The repeatability of the Chinese version of the LCQ was validated at a four day interval with the intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.89-0.94 for total and domain score (n = 20). The scores of the Short form-36 health survey were significantly lower in patients with chronic cough than those in healthy volunteers. In general, there was no significant difference in overall quality of life between different causes of chronic cough or genders although embarrassment, frustration and sleep disturbance were more common in female patients, as indicated by the LCQ. However, the successful treatment of cough obviously increased the total scores of the LCQ from 14.2 ± 2.7 to 19.5 ± 1.9 (t = 13.7, P < 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between the total score of the LCQ and physical (r = 0.39, P < 0.0001) or mental (r = 0.30, P < 0.001) component summary of the Short form-36 health survey but not between the LCQ and capsaicin cough threshold.

Conclusion
The quality of life is significantly impaired in Chinese patients with chronic cough. The Chinese version of the LCQ is a valid measure of cough related quality of life and is repeatable and responsive.
Arterial tortuosity syndrome in two Italian paediatric patients
Authors: Ritelli Marco , Drera Bruno , Vicchio Mariano , Puppini Giovanni , Biban Paolo , Pilati Mara , Prioli Maria Antonia , Barlati Sergio , Colombi Marina 
Published: September 2009

Abstract

Background
Arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS) (OMIM #208050) is a rare autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder characterized by tortuosity and elongation of the large and medium-sized arteries, propensity to aneurysms formation, vascular dissection, and pulmonary arteries stenosis. ATS is caused by mutations in SLC2A10 gene, encoding for the facilitative glucose transporter 10 (GLUT10). So far, 17 SLC2A10 mutations have been reported in 32 families, two of which were Italian with a total of five patients. Here we present the clinical and molecular characterization of two novel Italian paediatric ATS patients.

Methods
The exons and intronic flanking regions of SLC2A10 gene were amplified and direct sequencing was performed.

Results
In both patients, the involvement of major- and medium-sized arteries was characteristic; the nonvascular connective tissue manifestations were mild and not pathognomic of the disorder. Both patients, born from non-consanguineous parents, were heterozygous for two different SLC2A10 mutations, three of which were recurrent and one was novel (p.Arg231Trp). This mutation is localized at the endofacial loop between the transmembrane domains 6 and 7 of GLUT10.

Conclusion
Two novel ATS patients were characterized at clinical and molecular level. Overall, four ATS unrelated families are known in Italy so far. Though ATS clinical delineation improved in the last years, further works in the comprehension of disease presentation and complications onset, particularly in paediatric age, and on ATS molecular basis are needed to add new insights for diagnosis and prevention strategies for related complications.
A Novel Isoform of Human LZIP Negatively Regulates the Transactivation of the Glucocorticoid Receptor
Authors: Kang Hyereen , Kim Yoon Suk , Ko Jesang 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe human leucine zipper protein (LZIP) is a basic leucine zipper transcription factor that is involved in leukocyte migration, tumor suppression, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated protein degradation. Although evidence suggests a diversity of roles for LZIP, its function is not fully understood, and the subcellular localization of LZIP is still controversial. We identified a novel isoform of LZIP and characterized its function in ligand-induced transactivation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in COS-7 and HeLa cells. A novel isoform of human LZIP designated as “sLZIP” contains a deleted putative transmembrane domain (amino acids 229–245) of LZIP and consists of 345 amino acids. LZIP and sLZIP were ubiquitously expressed in a variety of cell lines and tissues, with LZIP being much more common. sLZIP was mainly localized in the nucleus, whereas LZIP was located in the cytoplasm. Unlike LZIP, sLZIP was not involved in the chemokine-mediated signal pathway. sLZIP recruited histone deacetylases (HDACs) to the promoter region of the mouse mammary tumor virus luciferase reporter gene and enhanced the activities of HDACs, resulting in suppression of expression of the GR target genes. Our findings suggest that sLZIP functions as a negative regulator in glucocorticoid-induced transcriptional activation of GR by recruitment and activation of HDACs.
Determination of Physical, Acoustical, Mechanical, and Chemical Properties of Fresh Young Coconut Fruit for Maturity Separation
Authors: Terdwongworakul Anupun , Jarimopas Bundit , Chaiyapong Songtham , Singh Sher Paul , Singh Jay 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Young coconut is a popular tropical fruit featuring soft white aromatic flesh and sweet white or transparent juice. As most coconut pickers are relatively unskilled, the harvested crop tends to be distinguished by the collection of fruit of varying levels of maturity. This research has sought to improve the accuracy of grading-packaging systems by developing correlations between maturity levels and the physical, acoustical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the fruit. Results show that maturity significantly affects the specific gravity, shell rupture force, shell secant modulus, flesh penetrating force, flesh firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, flesh thickness (FT), and natural frequency of young coconut at p&lt;0.05. The FT expressed the highest linear correlation with maturity among the properties observed. Fruit orientation, sound impact point, and maturity significantly affected the natural frequency of young coconut at p&lt;0.05. Impacting the ridge of a young coconut gave significantly different natural frequency with maturity regardless of the impact position. The optimum impact point was observed to be midway between the fruit equator and the stem on the ridge. Applying the defined physical and chemical properties to the discriminant model, the maturity of young coconut could be classified with an accuracy of 94.0 %. Analysis employing partial least squares regression predicted the relationship between the maturity index, represented by the FT and the physical, sound, mechanical, and chemical properties, with a correlation coefficient (R) value of 0.82 and a root mean squared error of prediction value of 1.03.
Benutzerzentrierte, graphische Interaktionsmetaphern für FahrerinformationssystemeUser-Centered, Graphical Interaction Metaphors for In-Vehicle Information Systems
Authors: Broy Verena 
Published: September 2009

Zusammenfassung
Konventionellen Menüdarstellungen in Fahrerinformationssystemen (FIS) mangelt es an einem adäquaten Interaktionsmodell für die typischerweise heterogene Benutzergruppe. Um Attraktivität und Gebrauchstauglichkeit zu erhöhen, wird ein graphischer, metaphernbasierter Ansatz entwickelt. Dreidimensionale Anzeige-Bedienkonzepte sowie kartographische Repräsentationen großer Datenmengen und erklärende Animationen werden aus vertrauten Gegenständen und deren physikalischen Eigenschaften abgeleitet. Eine benutzerbasierte Evaluierung bezüglich Attraktivität, Gebrauchstauglichkeit und Verträglichkeit mit der Fahraufgabe weist empirisch eindeutige Vorteile hinsichtlich der Herausforderungen für FIS nach.
Downscaling Multiple Seismic Inversion Constraints to Fine-Scale Flow Models
Authors: Kalla Subhash , White Christopher D. , Gunning James , Glinsky Michael E. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryWell data reveal reservoir layering with high vertical resolution but are areally sparse, whereas seismic data have low vertical resolution but are areally dense. Improved reservoir models can be constructed by integrating these data. The proposed method combines stochastic seismic inversion results, finer-scale well data, and geologic continuity models to build ensembles of flow models.Stochastic seismic inversions operating at the mesoscale generate rock property estimates, such as porosity, that are consistent with regional rock physics and true-amplitude imaged seismic data. These can be used in a cascading workflow to generate ensembles of fine-scale reservoir models wherein each realization from the Bayesian seismic inversion is treated as an exact constraint for a subensemble of fine-scale models. Exact constraints ensure that relevant interproperty and interzone correlations implied by rock physics and seismic data are preserved in the downscaled models. Uncertainty in the rock physics and seismic response is included by using multiple stochastic inversions in a cascading workflow. In contrast, inexact constraints generally do not preserve these correlations. We use two-point covariance at the fine scale to provide prior model thickness and porosity distributions of multiple facies. A Bayesian formulation uses the kriged data as the prior with the coarse constraints as the likelihood, and this posterior is sampled using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method in a sequential simulation framework.These methods generate rich pinchout behavior and flexible spatial connectivities in the fine-scale model. These flow models are easily represented on a cornerpoint grid. 2D examples illustrate the interactions of prior and constraint data, and 3D examples demonstrate algorithm performance and the effects of stratigraphic variability on flow behavior.
Information Sources and Drugs Consumption. TV: a Risk Factor in Schoolchildren
Authors: Prieto-Cruz Carin Alexa 
Published: September 2009

Drug consumption in the population represents an area of continuous study which requires substantial knowledge of the associated variables in order to improve programs dedicated to consumption prevention. The main goal of this research was to determine the variables which can predict drug consumption in a group of 570 schoolchildren based on the knowledge the target group has got about these drugs. The type of study was transversal. The multifactorial logistic regression model determined factors associated with drug consumption in the sample. The most important factor contributing to consumption was television. The presentation of drug consumers on television is thought to be significantly negative and it is taken in a simplistic form.
El uso indebido de drogas en la población en general es un área en continuo estudio que requiere de un mayor conocimiento de las variables asociadas para lograr una mejora en los programas de prevención y la información se presenta como una de las de menor estudio; el objetivo principal de la presente investigación fue determinar variables predictoras de consumo de drogas en un grupo de escolares a partir de la información que tengan de ellas. El tipo de estudio fue transversal; el modelo de regresión logística multifactorial determinó las variables asociadas al consumo de drogas en una muestra de 570 niños; se concluyó que el factor que más afectó al objeto de estudio fue la fuente de información, definida por la televisión, de la cual se piensa que la presentación de consumidores de drogas en ella es significativamente negativa y se toma de una forma simplista.
New Educational Settings. Cognitive Challenges for the Realization of a Collective Intelligence
Authors: González-Navarro María 
Published: September 2009

Understanding communication technologies through the networks by which people connect, communicate and cooperate has been a constant feature in the work of researchers who have not dissociated their view about the meaning of technologies within new social movements. This paper states that Information and Communication Technologies are not only networks that people join individually, but that they also act as social technologies. Their improvement depends both on the diversity of their functions (social, political, cognitive, etc.) and on the flexibility they have to adapt to functional diversity (to lifecycles, changing and fluctuating mobility or to audiovisual perception thresholds, for example). This idea is supported by the new technological challenge represented by portable devices, the personal area network, high-use user interfaces, systems designed for home care, etc. All this will be tried and tested in this paper within the educational context.Comprender las tecnologías de la comunicación a la luz de las redes con que se comunican y entran en cooperación las personas ha sido una constante en autores que no han disociado su visión acerca del significado de las tecnologías respecto a los nuevos movimientos sociales. Este artículo sostiene que las TIC no son sólo una red a la que se suman los individuos, sino que actúan como tecnologías sociales cuyo perfeccionamiento depende tanto de la diversidad de sus funciones (socio-políticas, cognitivas, etc.) como de la flexibilidad con que se adapten a nuestra diversidad funcional (ciclos de la vida, motricidad, umbrales de percepción, etc.). Prueba de ello son desafíos tecnológicos como el diseño de dispositivos llevables, las redes de área personal, las interfaces de usuario de alta usabilidad, los sistemas de cuidado en el hogar, etc. Este artículo explora dichas tesis en relación con el entorno educativo.