bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Starch Levels Reduced by High Temperature During Ripening in Japonica Rice Lines Near‐Isogenic for the Wx Locus
Authors: Inukai T. , Hirayama Y. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractOne problem caused by high temperature during ripening in Japonica rice cultivars is a reduction in the amount of starch in the endosperm. To better understand this deleterious effect, we compared the accumulation of the two components of starch, amylose and amylopectin in grains ripened at high (32/28 °C) and low (22/18 °C) day/night temperatures in a set of lines of Japonica cultivar Taichung 65 (T65Wxb) that are near‐isogenic for the Wx locus, which encodes granule‐bound starch synthase I. In T65Wxb ripened at high temperature, the amount of starch per grain decreased. However, amylose per grain significantly decreased while amylopectin per grain significantly increased. On the other hand, the amount of amylopectin in T65wx, the amylose‐free line, did not differ significantly at the high and low temperatures. These data indicated that high temperatures during ripening did not directly affect amylopectin accumulation in T65Wxb and that the reduction in starch in T65Wxb from the high temperatures was caused by a decrease only of amylose. The results for T65Wxa and T65Wxop were also consistent with this conclusion. As a result of the decrease in amylose, the outer region of starch granules from T65Wxb ripened at the high temperatures also had less I2KI staining. Because this fact might suggest that a portion of amylose was synthesized inside the developing granules after amylopectin synthesis in rice, the effect of amylose deposition in increasing of the density of starch granules is also discussed.
Changes in the Aerobic Vaginal Bacterial Mucous Load after Treatment with Intravaginal Sponges in Anoestrous Ewes: Effect of Medroxiprogesterone Acetate and Antibiotic Treatment Use
Authors: Gatti M , Zunino P , Ungerfeld R 
Published: April 2010

ContentIntravaginal sponges (IS) impregnated with progestagens are widely used for oestrous synchronization in ewes. As progestogens depress the immuno response, the first aim was to determine whether medroxiprogesterone acetate (MAP) content affects the vaginal bacteria number (VBN) in IS‐treated anoestrous ewes. The second aim was to compare the effectiveness of different antibiotic treatments to control the VBN increase caused by IS. In both experiments, IS were inserted during 14 days in anoestrous ewes. In the first, 11 ewes received commercial sponges (50 mg MAP), and 10 ewes received placebo sponges. For the second experiment, IS were inserted in three groups (n = 12/group), containing oxytetracycline im (20 mg/kg); injected into the sponge (0.02 mg), or control (no antibiotic). At sponge withdrawal, all ewes received 300 UI eCG. Mucous samples were collected from the vagina before sponge insertion, at sponge withdrawal, 24, 48 and 72 h later, and the VBN (colony‐forming units per ml; CFU/ml) was counted after 48‐h incubation. Medroxiprogesterone content did not affect VBN (log CFU/ml: 4.3 ± 0.2 vs 4.4 ± 0.2 with and without MAP, respectively). Bacterial number increased from 3.5 ± 0.2 at sponge insertion to 6.9 ± 0.1 at sponge withdrawal (p < 0.0001) and decreased the following day to 4.3 ± 0.2 (p < 0.0001). In the second experiment, VBN increased at sponge withdrawal (p < 0.0001) in all groups and decreased the following day (p < 0.0001). The CFU/ml at sponge withdrawal was lower in ewes treated with antibiotics (p < 0.0001), being even lower when local rather than systemic antibiotic was administered (log CFU/ml: 3.3 ± 1.8 vs 7.2 ± 1.8). The day of oestrous VBN was similar for all treatments and similar to that observed before sponge insertion. We concluded that MAP does not influence the increase in VBN, as the main effect is provoked by the sponge device itself, and local antibiotic treatment resulted in a lower bacterial growth than systemic treatments.
New insights into hereditary angio‐oedema: Molecular diagnosis and therapy
Authors: Nagy Nikoletta , Grattan Clive E , McGrath John A 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTHereditary angio‐oedema (HAE) is a rare but potentially life‐threatening condition. Three types are now recognized. Types I and II HAE involve mutations in the C1NH (SERPING1) gene, encoding the C1 inhibitor protein, whereas type III HAE involves mutations in the F12 gene, encoding coagulation factor XII (Hageman factor). They share a common final pathway leading to increased bradykinin formation. HAE must be distinguished from acquired angio‐oedema with C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor‐induced angio‐oedema and the much more common histaminergic angio‐oedema, occurring with or without weals. Understanding the pathogenesis of HAE is leading to the introduction of new therapies that target the bradykinin receptor or inhibit kallikrein activity, innovations that will hopefully reduce morbidity and mortality in this group of severe genetic disease.
Study of alpha‐lipoic acid penetration in the human aqueous after topical administration
Authors: Cagini Carlo , Leontiadis Arianna , Ricci Maria A , Bartolini Anna , Dragoni Annalisa , Pellegrino Roberto M 
Published: April 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To determine the concentration of alpha‐lipoic acid in the aqueous and investigate if its topical instillation can increase quantities.Methods:  A total of 70 patients selected to undergo cataract surgery were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was used as a control group; for the patients in Group 2, a single instillation of alpha‐lipoic acid eye drops (1%) was administered. Immediately before surgery, an aliquot of 40–120 µL of aqueous was aspirated. The individual aspirations were combined to constitute pools representing time intervals with respect to administration. The levels of alpha‐lipoic acid in the aqueous were measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.Results:  Pool 0 was created by combining the samples of aqueous obtained from the patients in Group 1, the control group; and the level of alpha‐lipoic acid was 27.5 + 2.6 ng/mL. In the other pools, the time interval between the administration of the eye drops and sampling was, respectively, 23 min, 53 min, 72 min, 93 min and 114 min; and the level of alpha‐lipoic acid was 33.0 + 10.8 ng/mL, 52.0 + 2.5 ng/mL, 86.7 + 2.5 ng/mL, 91.2 + 2.5 ng/mL and 80.3 + 2.5 ng/mL.Conclusion:  Our study demonstrates the presence of alpha‐lipoic acid in the aqueous and indicates that its concentration increases after it is administered in the form of eye drops, reaching maximum values after around 93 min. The concentrations that are achieved in the anterior chamber allow us to theorize the possibility of exploiting the antioxidant properties of alpha‐lipoic acid.
Damage analysis of laminated composites using a new coupled micro‐meso approach
Authors: FARROKHABADI A. , HOSSEINI‐TOUDESHKY H. , MOHAMMADI B. 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTIn this study, the simplicity and strong physical meaning of micromechanics approach and capability of mesomechanics approach for damage analysis of structures with complex loadings are employed to develop a new micro‐meso approach. For this purpose, a new micromechanics model is developed to predict the matrix cracking initiation and evolution in laminated composites. These damage initiation and evolution are replaced with the damage criteria and flow rule in the continuum damage approach, respectively. The results of this procedure are used in the FEM damage analyses of laminated composites to predict constitutive response of layered composites. It is shown that, the predicted stress distribution and strain energy in a lamina unit cell are in good agreement with the finite element results. Furthermore, it is shown that the predicted stress–strain behaviours are in good agreement with the available experimental results for various laminates with different lay‐ups.
Reliability study of fracture mechanics based non‐probabilistic interval analysis model
Authors: QIU Z. , WANG J. 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we advanced a new interval reliability analysis model for fracture reliability analysis. Based on the non‐probabilistic stress intensity factor interference model and the ratio of the volume of the safe region to the total volume of the region associated with the variation of the standardized interval variables is suggested as the measure of structural non‐probabilistic reliability. We use this theory to calculate the reliability of structure based on fracture criterion. This model needs less uncertain information, so it has less limitation for analysing an uncertain structure or system. Examples of practical application are given to explain the simplicity and practicability of this model by comparing the interval reliability analysis model with probabilistic reliability analysis model.
Sensitivity analysis of creep crack growth prediction using the statistical distribution of uniaxial data
Authors: YATOMI M. , NIKBIN K. M. 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTDue to the variables and unknowns in both material properties and predictive models in creep crack growth (CCG) rates, it is difficult to predict failure of a component precisely. A failure strain constraint based transient and steady state CCG model (called NSW) modified using probabilistic techniques, has been employed to predict CCG using uniaxial data as basic material property. In this paper the influence of scatter in the creep uniaxial properties, the parameter C* and creep crack initiation and growth rate have been examined using probabilistic methods. Using uniaxial and CCG properties of C‐Mn steel at 360 °C, a method is developed which takes into account the scatter of the data and its sensitivity to the correlating parameters employed. It is shown that for an improved prediction method in components containing cracks the NSW crack growth model employed would benefit from a probabilistic analysis. This should be performed by considering the experimental scatter in failure strain, the creep stress index and in estimating the C* parameter.
Influence of within‐field position and adjoining habitat on carabid beetle assemblages in winter wheat
Authors: Anjum‐Zubair M. , Schmidt‐Entling Martin H. , Querner Pascal , Frank Thomas 
Published: April 2010

The influence of within‐field position and adjoining habitat on carabid beetles was studied in 20 winter wheat fields in ten different Swiss agricultural landscapes. In each landscape, two winter wheat fields (one with adjoining sown wildflower area and one with adjoining grassy margin) were investigated.Carabid beetles were caught in pitfall traps 3 and 30 m from the edge in each of the 20 wheat fields. Significantly more individuals were found in the centres (30‐m position) than at the edges (3‐m position). Conversely, species richness was significantly higher at the field edges than in the centres.Of the ten most abundant species,Poecilus cupreus,Agonum muelleriandPterostichus melanariuswere significantly more abundant in the field centres than at the edges.Harpalus rufipeswas significantly more abundant in the fields adjoining sown wildflower areas than in the fields adjoining grassy margins.In conclusion, the response of carabid beetles to within‐field position and adjoining habitats was species specific. This needs to be taken into account in habitat management for biodiversity conservation and pest control.
Effect of shock wave number on renal oxidative stress and inflammation
Authors: Clark Daniel L. , Connors Bret A. , Evan Andrew P. , Handa Rajash K. , Gao Sujuan 
Published: April 2010

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Oxidative stress and inflammation are tissue‐ and cell‐level components of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL)‐induced acute renal injury, which we recently showed to be localized principally to the medulla within the focal zone of the lithotripter. This study reports that the magnitude of the oxidative stress and inflammation observed in the medulla after SWL is dependent on the number of shock waves delivered to the kidney, indicating that this is a sensitive measure of renal injury caused by shock waves.OBJECTIVE To determine if the magnitude of the acute injury response to shock‐wave lithotripsy (SWL) depends on the number of SWs delivered to the kidney, as SWL causes acute renal oxidative stress and inflammation which are most severe in the portion of the kidney within the focal zone of the lithotripter.MATERIALS AND METHODS Pigs (7–8 weeks old) received 500, 1000 or 2000 SWs at 24 kV from a lithotripter to the lower pole calyx of one kidney. At 4 h after treatment the kidneys were removed, and samples of cortex and medulla were frozen for analysis of the cytokine, interleukin‐6, and for the stress response protein, heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1). Urine samples taken before and after treatment were analysed for the inflammatory cytokine, tumour necrosis factor‐α. For comparison, we included previously published cytokine data from pigs exposed to sham treatment.RESULTS Treatment with either 1000 or 2000 SWs caused a significant induction of HO‐1 in the renal medulla within the focal zone of the lithotripter (F2, 1000 SWs, P < 0.05; 2000 SWs, P < 0.001). Interleukin‐6 was also significantly elevated in the renal medulla of the pigs that received either 1000 or 2000 SWs (P < 0.05 and <0.001, respectively). Linear dose–response modelling showed a significant correlation between the HO‐1 and interleukin‐6 responses with SW dose (P < 0.001). Urinary excretion of tumour necrosis factor‐α from the lithotripsy‐treated kidney increased only for pigs that received 2000 SWs (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION The magnitude of renal oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the medulla increased with the number of SWs. However, it is not known if the HO‐1 response is beneficial or deleterious; determining that will inform us whether SWL‐induced renal injury can be assessed by quantifying markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Capitalism, Unfree Labor and Colonial Doxa: The Master and Servant Act from Britain to Hong Kong, 1823–1932
Authors: CHOI WAI KIT 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe Master and Servant Act was a law that allowed the use of penal sanction against workers for breach of contract in nineteenth century Britain. For scholars who believe that wage laborers under capitalism are free from “extra‐economic” coercion, this law was an anomaly. One explanation suggests technological backwardness during the early stages of capitalism as the cause. In this paper I will challenge this account and offer an alternative explanation. As the British Empire expanded, the same law was enacted in many British colonies. If it was the process of capitalist production that rendered the Master and Servant Act necessary, this explanation should also apply to the British colonies. By focusing on Hong Kong, I show that this was not the case. Instead, I show that the use of judiciary coercion could be explained by Bourdieu's notions of doxa, habitus and field.
Building an image of Villages‐in‐the‐City: A Clarification of China's Distinct Urban Spaces
Authors: CHUNG HIM 
Published: April 2010

AbstractVillages‐in‐the‐city (chengzhongcun) as distinct urban spaces in Chinese cities have attracted a lot of scholarly attention, and the term has been variously interpreted. The term ‘urban village’ was initially borrowed and applied to describe this urban phenomenon. While the term in a Western context refers to a planned neighbourhood that features good urban planning and design, the question posed in this essay is: are villages‐in‐the‐city the Chinese equivalent of urban villages? Furthermore, within China, villages‐in‐the‐city are always regarded as migrant enclaves, no different from Zhejiang village or Xinjiang village in Beijing. Are they the same kind of settlement? A primary aim of this essay is to reassert the differences between villages‐in‐the‐city and urban villages that have developed in the United Kingdom. A secondary objective is to explore the variations between villages‐in‐the‐city and Zhejiang village. Through investigating the variations between these urban morphologies, this study attempts to fill gaps in the current literature and hence clarify the misconceptions and confusion about Chinese villages‐in‐the‐city.Résumé De nombreuses études ont été consacrées aux ‘villages dans la ville’ (chengzhongcun) en tant qu'espaces urbains différenciés au sein des grandes villes chinoises, et le terme a été interprété de manière variée. À l'origine, on a emprunté et appliqué l'expression ‘village urbain’ pour décrire ce phénomène; dans un contexte occidental, celle‐ci décrit un quartier aménagé, caractérisé par un urbanisme et une conception de bon niveau. Ce texte pose donc la question suivante: les villages dans la ville sont‐ils les équivalents chinois des villages urbains? De plus, en Chine, les villages dans la ville sont toujours considérés comme des enclaves pour migrants, tels les ‘villages’ de Zhejiang et de Xinjiang à Beijing. S'agit‐il du même type d'implantation? La première finalité de ce travail est de rétablir les différences entre les villages dans la ville et les villages urbains qui se sont développés au Royaume‐Uni. Un second objectif sera d'examiner les divergences entre les villages dans la ville et le village de Zhejiang. En analysant les divergences entre ces morphologies urbaines, l'étude s'efforce de compléter la littérature actuelle et, ce faisant, de clarifier les idées fausses et les confusions à propos des ‘villages dans la ville’ en Chine.
Allergic characteristics of urban schoolchildren with atopic eczema in Ghana
Authors: Hogewoning AA , Larbi IA , Addo HA , Amoah AS , Boakye D , Hartgers F , Yazdanbakhsh M , Van Ree R , Bouwes Bavinck JN , Lavrijsen APM 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackground  Atopic eczema is an increasing clinical problem in Africa.Objective  To determine allergic characteristics and to identify possible risk factors for eczema among schoolchildren in an urbanized area in Ghana.Patients and methods  Schoolchildren aged 3–16 years with eczema were recruited. For each patient, one to three age‐ and sex‐matched controls were selected. All children completed a questionnaire and were skin prick tested with a panel of allergens. Blood was drawn to determine the total and allergen‐specific IgE. Conditional logistic regression models with the matching factors included in the model were used to calculate the odds ratios and to adjust for possible confounders.Results  A total of 52 children with eczema (27 boys and 25 girls) and 99 controls were included. Levels of total IgE were found to be 9.1 (1.1; 78.4) times more often elevated in children with eczema. This association was mainly driven by elevated IgE levels against cockroach antigen. Children with eczema were found to have 2.0 (0.87; 4.7) times more often positive skin prick tests (SPT), but this association diminished to 1.2 (0.40; 3.6) after adjustment for total IgE levels. Frequent washing with soap was identified as a risk factor for the development of eczema among these children.Conclusion  Schoolchildren with eczema in Ghana were characterized by elevated IgE levels especially against cockroach antigen. The association between eczema and positive SPT was much weaker suggesting immune hyporesponsiveness of the skin. After adjustment for IgE level, SPT were less suitable to distinguish children with and without eczema.
Analysis of plasma d‐dimer concentration in patients with delayed pressure urticaria
Authors: Kasperska‐Zając A , Jasinska T 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackground  Activation of fibrinolysis system has been observed in spontaneous urticaria.Aim  To investigate the haemostatic activation in DPU, expressed by plasma d‐dimer concentration, the index of active fibrinolysis.Methods  Plasma d‐dimer concentrations were measured in eight patients with pure DPU of varying severity as well as in 30 healthy subjects.Results  The analysis of individual results indicated that three patients of the eight show d‐dimer concentration higher than the upper limit of the normal range. All the patients had severe DPU and manifested extensive lesions. The remaining five milder cases showed values within the normal range.Conclusions  Our analysis revealed that DPU patients may differ in their haemostatic activation state depending on severity of the disease. In severe DPU cases hyperfibrinolysis may occur, manifested by elevated plasma d‐dimer concentration, probably as a consequence of the systemic inflammatory response.
Ranging behavior and habitat selection of terrestrial insectivorous birds in north‐east Tanzania: implications for corridor design in the Eastern Arc Mountains
Authors: Newmark W. D. , Mkongewa V. J. , Sobek A. D. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractUnderstanding the ranging behavior and habitat selection of understory tropical birds is important for corridor design and enhancing functional connectivity in fragmented tropical landscapes. Here we report on the ranging behavior and habitat selection of three terrestrial insectivorous bird species, the spot‐throat Modulatrix stictigula, Usambara thrush Turdus roehli and orange ground thrush Zoothera gurneyi, in the East (EUM) and West (WUM) Usambara Mountains in north‐east Tanzania. Based on 5945 locations and 3676 bird radio‐tracking hours conducted between 2001 and 2008 at four study sites in the EUM and WUM, we determined that the 95% kernel home range and 50% kernel core range for the spot‐throat, Usambara thrush, and orange ground thrush are similar yet large (aggregate mean home range=10.3±1.1 ha; aggregate mean core range 1.5±0.4 ha); that these species are adverse to crossing non‐forested openings – no bird was recorded over the course of the study to cross a non‐forested opening >15 m; and that the most extinction‐prone species in our study system, the spot‐throat and Usambara thrush, preferentially used slightly disturbed and primary forest, respectively. These results indicate that maintaining continuous forest cover and minimizing forest disturbance in corridors in the Eastern Arc Mountains is important for enhancing their habitat suitability for these species.
Pharmacists’ online information literacy: an assessment of their use of Internet‐based medicines information
Authors: Peterson‐Clark Geraldine , Aslani Parisa , Williams Kylie Anne 
Published: April 2010

AbstractIntroduction:  Pharmacists need effective skills in accessing and using Internet‐based medicines information (IBMI) for themselves and their consumers. However, there is limited information regarding how pharmacists use the Internet.Objectives:  To develop and use a research instrument to measure pharmacists’ Internet knowledge, search skills, evaluation of and opinions about using IBMI.Methods:  A structured questionnaire examining general Internet knowledge, ability to search for and select pertinent IBMI, evaluation of IBMI, opinions about using IBMI and current Internet use was developed. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to analyse IBMI evaluation.Results:  208 pharmacists responded (response rate 20.6%). There was a large variation in pharmacists’ scores. Mean scores were low for General Internet Knowledge (mean 7.91 ± 3.62; scale 0–16), Search and Selection of IBMI (4.98 ± 2.91; 0–10) and Opinions on IBMI (44.51 ± 9.61; 0–80). Four factors [Professionalism of website (4 items; factor loading 0.62–0.87; Cronbach’s α 0.84), Disclosure (5; 0.37–0.79; 0.73), Appropriateness of content (5; 0.32–0.50; 0.65), Standard of information (6; 0.31–0.48; 0.58)] were extracted from the evaluation scale, explaining 36.89% of the total variance.Conclusions:  A tool was developed to evaluate pharmacists’ skills and opinions in using IBMI. A wide range of skills and opinions highlighted the need for training in online information literacy.