bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic syndrome and its components are associated with increased thyroid volume and nodule prevalence in a mild-to-moderate iodine-deficient area
Authors: Ayturk Semra , Gursoy Alptekin , Kut Altug , Anil Cuneyd , Nar Asli , Tutuncu Neslihan Bascil 
Published: July 2009

ObjectiveMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities with insulin resistance (IR) as a major component. It has been recently questioned whether MetS and its related components are associated with functional and morphological alterations of the thyroid gland. The aim of our study is to examine thyroid volume and nodule prevalence in a case–control study of patients with MetS in a mild-to-moderate iodine-deficient area.DesignTwo hundred and seventy-eight patients with MetS were randomly matched for age, gender, and smoking habits with 261 subjects without MetS. Serum TSH, free tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine, and the level of IR, which was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for IR, as well as other MetS parameters were evaluated. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed in all subjects. All subjects with thyroid nodules >1 cm were offered to undergo thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy.ResultsTSH was significantly positively correlated with the presence of MetS diagnosis. There was no association between free thyroid hormone levels and MetS and its related components. Mean thyroid volume was significantly higher in patients with MetS than in controls (17.5±5.5 vs 12.2±4.2 ml, P<0.0001). Also the percentage of patients with thyroid nodules was significantly higher in patients with MetS (50.4 vs 14.6%, P<0.0001). Subjects were also divided into two groups according to the presence of IR. The group of subjects with IR had increased thyroid volume and nodule formation. The odds ratio for the development of thyroid nodule in the presence of IR was 3.2. TSH as well as all MetS components were found to be independent predictors for thyroid volume increase. IR but not TSH was found to be correlated with thyroid nodule formation. Thyroid cancer was diagnosed in 3 out of 38 patients with MetS who agreed to have a biopsy (7.9%). None of the subjects in the control group was diagnosed to have thyroid cancer.ConclusionsThe results suggest that patients with MetS have significantly increased thyroid volume and nodule prevalence. Multivariate regression analysis model demonstrated that the presence of IR contributed substantially to this increased risk. Our data provide the first evidence that IR is an independent risk factor for nodule formation in an iodine-deficient environment.
Volatile constituents of Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’ Hérit. (Geraniaceae)
Authors: Radulović Niko , Dekić Milan , Stojanović-Radić Zorica , Palić Radosav 
Published: July 2009

AbstractEssential oils from Erodium cicutarium were obtained by hydrodistillation (samples consisting of entire plants (ec1), leaves and stems (ec2)) and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), resulting in a total of 177 components being identified. The essential oils were of a very similar chemical composition and consisted mainly of aliphatic compounds and their derivatives. Fatty acids and fatty acid derived compounds were the most common, 51.3% (ec1) and 60.1% (ec2), followed by carotenoid derived compounds, 12.6% (ec1) and 20.2% (ec2), and then terpenoids, 14.9% (ec1) and 14.2% (ec2). The main constituents in the oils were hexadecanoic acid, 22.8% (ec2) and 35.9% (ec1) and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, 10.8% (ec2) and 11.6% (ec1). The results obtained differ markedly from those previously reported for the same species.
Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil
Authors: Mihajilov-Krstev Tatjana , Radnović Dragan , Kitić Dušanka , Zlatković Bojan , Ristić Mihailo , Branković Suzana 
Published: July 2009

AbstractEssential oil of Satureja hortensis L. was analyzed by GC and GC/MS and tested by a broth micro-well dilution method for activity against multiresistant clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria from 10 different genera: Klebsiella, Escherichia, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Acinetobacter. The main compounds in the oil were carvacrol (67%), γ-terpinene (15.3%) and p-cymene (6.73%). The oil showed activity against all tested strains. MIC/MBC values were in the range of 0.78-25 μl/ml, with the exception of the strain P. aeruginosa. Microbicidal concentration for this particular strain (50 μl/ml) was the highest tested concentration. The oil showed inhibitory and bactericidal effect at the same concentration (MIC=MBC) for all but three strains.
The combined effect of Cd2+ and ACh on action potentials of Nitellopsis obtusa cells
Authors: Kisnierienė Vilma , Sakalauskas Vidmantas , Pleskačiauskas Aleksandras , Yurin Vladimir , Rukšėnas Osvaldas 
Published: July 2009

AbstractInterrelations between the action of acetylcholine (ACh) and cadmium ions (Cd2+) on bioelectrogenesis of Nitellopsis obtusa cells were investigated. We analyzed repetitively triggered action potentials (AP), their reproducibility, shape and dynamics of membrane potential after AP induction. ACh significantly increased membrane permeability only at high concentrations (1 mM and 5 mM). Repolarisation level of action potential after the first stimulus was much more positive in all cells treated with ACh as compared to the control. Differences of membrane potentials between points just before the first and the second stimuli were 23.4±.0 mV (control); 40.4±5.9 mV (1 mM ACh solution) and 57.7 ± 8.5 mV (5 mM ACh solution). Cd2+ at 20 μM concentration was examined as a possible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in vivo. We found that cadmium strengthens depolarizing effect of acetylcholine after the first stimulus. The highest velocity of AP repolarization was reduced after ACh application and Cd2+strengthened this effect. There were no differences in dynamics of membrane potential after repetitively triggered action potentials in ACh or ACh and Cd2+ solutions. This shows that cadmium in small concentration acts as inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase.
Nicotine-induced memory impairment by increasing brain oxidative stress
Authors: Hritcu Lucian , Ciobica Alin , Gorgan Lucian 
Published: July 2009

AbstractMale Wistar rats were subjected to chronic nicotine treatment (0.3 mg/kg; 7 continuous days) and their memory performance was studied by means of Y-maze and multi-trial passive avoidance tasks. Nicotine significantly decreased spontaneous alternation in Y-maze task and step-through-latency in the multi-trial passive avoidance task, suggesting effects on both short-term memory and long-term memory, respectively. In addition, nicotine induced neuronal apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, reduced antioxidant enzymes activity, and increased production of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species, suggesting pro-oxidant activity. Our results provide further support that nicotine-induced memory impairment is due to an increase in brain oxidative stress in rats.
Biosorption of phosphate from synthetic wastewater by biosolids
Authors: Hrenovic Jasna , Rozic Mirela , Ivankovic Tomislav , Farkas Anamarija 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the potential of phosphate (P) removal from wastewater by biosolids prepared by the immobilization of P-accumulating bacteria onto organic bentonite. Organic bentonite was prepared by treating bentonite clay with quaternary ammonium salt — cetyltrimetylammonium (CTA) bromide. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the bentonite was found to be 179.0 meq/100 g of the dry bentonite. The CTA occupied ca. 175% of the CEC. Modification of bentonite with CTA in amounts higher than 55% of the CEC resulted in the change of zeta potential of particles from negative to positive. Only in reactors containing organic bentonite samples occupied with 3.5 and 28% of the CEC was P efficiently removed from wastewater by combined adsorption and bacterial uptake in the biomass. Organic bentonite samples with higher CTA loadings (from 55 to 175% of the CEC) showed bactericidal effects. To enhance P removal from wastewater in the aerated biological system, biosolids consisting of P-accumulating bacteria and organic bentonite can be used, but special attention should be given to the configuration of sorbed CTA molecules and its potential desorption.
Lipopeptides as anti-infectives: a practical perspective
Authors: Pirri Giovanna , Giuliani Andrea , Nicoletto Silvia , Pizzuto Lorena , Rinaldi Andrea 
Published: July 2009

AbstractLipopeptide antibiotics represent an old class of antibiotics that were discovered over 50 years ago, which includes the old polymyxins but also new entries, such as the recently approved daptomycin. They generally consist of a hydrophilic cyclic peptide portion attached to a fatty acid chain which facilitates insertion into the lipid bilayer of bacterial membranes. This review presents an overview of this class of antibiotics, focusing on their therapeutic applications and putting particular emphasis on chemical modifications introduced to improve their activity.
Fungal septins: one ring to rule it all?
Authors: González-Novo Alberto , Vázquez de Aldana Carlos , Jiménez Javier 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSeptins are a conserved family of GTP-binding proteins found in living organisms ranging from yeasts to mammals. They are able to polymerize and form hetero-oligomers that assemble into higher-order structures whose detailed molecular architecture has recently been described in different organisms. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, septins exert numerous functions throughout the cell cycle, serving as scaffolds for many different proteins or as diffusion barriers at the bud neck. In other fungi, septins are required for the proper completion of diverse functions such as polarized growth or pathogenesis. Recent results from several fungi have revealed important differences in septin organization and regulation as compared with S. cerevisiae, especially during Candida albicans hyphal growth and in Ashbya gossypii. Here we focus on these recent findings, their relevance in the biology of these eukaryotes and in consequence the “renaissance” of the study of septin structures in cells showing a different kind of morphological behaviour.
Sound production and chorusing behaviour in larvae of Icosium tomentosum
Authors: Kočárek Petr 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSubstrate-borne vibrations produced by the larvae of non-lamiinae longicorn Icosium tomentosum Lucas, 1854 (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) are also emitted as loud sounds audible to humans. The vibrations consists of a long sequence of regularly repeated pulses at a rate of 8 pulses per second. The duration of the pulses are 0.061±0.009 s and the interpulse intervals are 0.065±0.015 s. The mechanism of vibration generation is the scraping by strongly sclerotised mandibles against the bark. Chorusing behaviour previously unknown in Cerambycidae larvae have been observed when the larvae feeding in the same or nearby branches starting to produce the audible vibrations in reaction to the vibrations of another larva.
FACTORS INFLUENCING LIGHT SCATTERING IN THE EYE
Authors: Ikaunieks G. , Ozolinsh M. , Stepanovs A. , Lejiete V. , Reva N. 
Published: July 2009

FACTORS INFLUENCING LIGHT SCATTERING IN THE EYEOur vision in the twilight or dark is strongly affected by the intraocular light scattering (straylight). Of especial importance is to assess this phenomenon in view of the night driving. The authors have studied the spectral dependence of retinal stray-light and estimated the possibility to reduce it with yellow filters and small apertures. For the measurements the direct compensation flicker method was used. The results show that this spectral dependence is close to Rayleigh's scattering (∝λ-4). As could be expected from the known data, the yellow filter should reduce retinal straylight, especially for blue light. However, in the experiments this scattering was not removed with such a filter but instead slightly increased. The optical apertures reduced light scattering in the eye, especially for red color.
Dicle Ringing Station (Se Turkey) - Ringing Results and Seasonal Bird Migration Dynamics in 2003-2005
Authors: Filar Monika , Biricik Murat 
Published: July 2009

Dicle Ringing Station (Se Turkey) - Ringing Results and Seasonal Bird Migration Dynamics in 2003-2005
Dicle Ringing Station is a field station in the campus of Dicle University, Diyarbakır (SE Turkey), and has been working since 2003. From that year it also belongs to the SEEN organization (SE European Bird Migration Network). The paper includes information collected during three autumn and one spring seasons. Totally, 5393 birds were ringed. Detailed information about study site and ringing results are reported in the paper.
Stopover of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) On Autumn Migration Through the Polish Baltic Coast
Authors: Meina Łukasz , Ginter Małgorzata , Rosińska Katarzyna 
Published: July 2009

Stopover of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) On Autumn Migration Through the Polish Baltic Coast
Data were collected during autumn migration at three ringing stations of the Operation Baltic: Bukowo-Kopań, Mierzeja Wiślana and Hel. Apart from different localization at the Polish Baltic coast, these places differ also in topography and habitat. Only data from years with the highest number of caught birds were used in the analyses, thus altogether the data on more than 25 500 ringed Robins and 1700 retraps were included. Based on migration dynamics graphs and number of retraps, a stopover index was calculated. Next, the index values were compared between days with a high and low number of caught birds and also between different fat categories. Differences between birds caught once and retraps were shown in relation to daily activity, age structure and fat level. Additionally changes in weight and fat level between first and last control in retraps were considered. At Mierzeja Wiślana and Hel the stopover index decreased in the course of autumn season in contrast to Bukowo-Kopań where an increasing trend was observed. At Bukowo-Kopań more birds decided to stopover than at Mierzeja Wiślana and Hel but at Mierzeja Wiślana Robins stayed longer than at other stations. Moreover, at Mierzeja Wiślana a half of departing retraps increased in fat level while at the other stations only ca 20% of retraps. Our results showed that in Robins the weak body condition is a decisive factor to stopover after crossing the sea. Differentiation in food resources and competition between individuals had an effect on the stopover index. Stopover duration at different ringing stations can depend on distance which birds cover before landing at the coast.
Low‐Threshold Distributed‐Feedback Lasers Based on Pyrene‐Cored Starburst Molecules with 1,3,6,8‐Attached Oligo(9,9‐Dialkylfluorene) Arms
Authors: Xia Ruidong , Lai Wen‐Yong , Levermore Peter A. , Huang Wei , Bradley Donal D. C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractHere, a detailed characterization of the optical gain properties of sky‐blue‐light‐emitting pyrene‐cored 9,9‐dialkylfluorene starbursts is reported; it is shown that these materials possess encouragingly low laser thresholds and relatively high thermal and environmental stability. The materials exhibit high solid‐state photoluminescence (PL) quantum efficiencies (>90%) and near‐single‐exponential PL decay transients with excited state lifetimes of ∼1.4 ns. The thin‐film slab waveguide amplified spontaneous emission (ASE)‐measured net gain reaches 75–78 cm−1. The ASE threshold energy is found to remain unaffected by heating at temperatures up to 130 °C, 40 to 50 °C above Tg. The ASE remained observable for annealing temperatures up to 170 or 200 °C. 1D distributed feedback lasers with 75% fill factor and 320 nm period show optical pumping thresholds down to 38–65 Wcm−2, laser slope efficiencies up to 3.9%, and wavelength tuning ranges of ∼40 nm around 471–512 nm. In addition, these lasers have relatively long operational lifetimes, with N1/2 ≥ 1.1 × 105 pulses for unencapsulated devices operated at ten times threshold in air.
Controlling Light Emission in Luminescent Solar Concentrators Through Use of Dye Molecules Aligned in a Planar Manner by Liquid Crystals
Authors: Verbunt Paul P. C. , Kaiser Anton , Hermans Ko , Bastiaansen Cees W. M. , Broer Dirk J. , Debije Michael G. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) is a potential low‐cost enhancement of the standard large‐area silicon photovoltaic panels for the generation of electricity from sunlight. In this work, guest–host systems are investigated using anisotropic fluorescent dyes and liquid crystal mesogens to control the direction of emitted light in the LSC. It is determined that up to 30% more light is emitted from the edge of an LSC waveguide with planar dye alignment parallel to the alignment direction than from any edge of an LSC with no alignment (isotropic). The aligned samples continue to show dichroic performance after additions of both edge mirrors and rear scattering layer.
Diamond Transistor Array for Extracellular Recording From Electrogenic Cells
Authors: Dankerl Markus , Eick Stefan , Hofmann Boris , Hauf Moritz , Ingebrandt Sven , Offenhäusser Andreas , Stutzmann Martin , Garrido Jose A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe transduction of electric signals from cells to electronic devices is mandatory for medical applications such as neuroprostheses and fundamental research on communication in neuronal networks. Here, the use of diamond with its advantages for biological applications as a new material for biohybrid devices for the detection of cell signals is investigated. Using the surface conductivity of hydrogen‐terminated single‐crystalline diamond substrates, arrays of solution‐gate field‐effect transistors were fabricated. The characterization of the transistors reveals a good stability in electrolyte solutions for at least 7 days. On these devices, cardiomyocyte‐like HL‐1 cells as well as human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293), which were stably transfected with potassium channels, are cultured. Both types of cells show healthy growth and good adhesion to the substrate. The diamond transistors are used to detect electrical signals from both types of cells by recording the extracellular potential. For the HL‐1 cells, the shape of action potentials can be resolved and the propagation of the signal across the cell layer is visible. Potassium currents of HEK293 cells are activated with the patch‐clamp technique in voltage‐clamp mode and simultaneously measured with the field‐effect transistors. The ion sensitivity of the diamond surface enables the detection of released potassium ions accumulated in the cleft between transistor and cell.
On the Synthesis of Carbon Nanofibers and Nanotubes by Microwave Irradiation: Parameters, Catalysts, and Substrates
Authors: Druzhinina Tamara , Hoeppener Stephanie , Schubert Ulrich S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe microwave (MW)‐assisted synthesis of one dimensional carbon systems is introduced as a promising approach to improve the speed and cost‐effectiveness of the fabrication process. Improved reaction conditions are generated by direct MW heating and synthesis under advanced reaction conditions. The influence of the reaction conditions is investigated and the importance of individual process parameters on the synthesis is discussed. Temperature and pressure data recorded during the irradiation process are analyzed in detail and allow the determination of essential process parameters. This leads to improved reaction conditions, better control of the one‐dimensional carbon nanosystems by tuning the catalyst materials, and allows expanding this approach to initiate the synthesis on a variety of different substrates, such as quartz glass and mica.
Application of the distributed activation energy model to biomass and biomass constituents devolatilization
Authors: Navarro María V. , Murillo Ramón , Mastral Ana M. , Puy Neus , Bartroli Jordi 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn this study, an investigation about the thermal behavior of four different woods was carried out. The distributed activation energy model was applied to study the effect of heating rate on the reaction of single solids. Results obtained were used in the curve prediction of fraction of mass remaining and rate of mass loss vs. temperature at more realistic heating rates. The possible calculation of biomass samples behavior in pyrolysis conditions as the summation of their constituents, lignin, cellulose, and hemi‐cellulose is also explored. All the samples show a weak interaction between the constituents which produce slight differences between experimental and calculated behavior. However, differences between experimental and calculated data lower than 2% offer a robust test of the applicability of the model on kinetic studies of a wide range of biomass samples, heating rates, data input format and equipment layout. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
Resolution of structure characteristics of AE signals in multiphase flow system—From data to information
Authors: He Yi‐Jun , Wang Jing‐Dai , Cao Yi‐Jia , Yang Yong‐Rong 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis investigation was performed to study the underlying structure characteristics of acoustic emission (AE) signals, which could be helpful not only to understand a relatively complete picture of hydrodynamics in multiphase flow systems, but also to extract the most useful information from the original signals with respect to a particular measurement requirement. However, due to AE signals are made up of emission from many acoustic sources at different scales, the resolution of AE signals is often very complicated and appears to be relatively poorly researched. In this study, the structure characteristics of AE signals measured both in gas–solid fluidized bed and liquid–solid stirred tank were researched in detail by resorting to wavelet transform and rescaled range analysis. A general criterion was proposed to resolve AE signals into three physical‐related characteristic scales, i.e., microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale. Multiscale resolution of AE signals implied that AE signals in microscale represented totally the dynamics of solid phase and could be applied to measure particle‐related properties. Furthermore, based on the structure characteristics of AE signals, useful features related to particles motion were extracted to establish two new prediction models, one for on‐line measurements of particle size distribution (PSD) and average particle size in gas–solid fluidized bed and the other for on‐line measurement of the suspension height in liquid–solid stirred tank. The prediction results indicated that (1) measurements of PSD and average particle size using AE method showed a fairly good agreement with that using sieve method both for laboratory scale and plant scale fluidized beds, and (2) measurements of the suspension height using AE method showed a fairly good agreement with that using visual method. The results thus validated that the extracted features based on analyses of structure characteristics of AE signals were very useful for establishing effective on‐line measurement models with respect to some particular applications. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009