bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Gugolz Alessandro 
Published: June 2007

SummaryThe Sultanate of Oman has enacted a modern and detailed statute protecting its cultural heritage. It is one of the newest and most modern pieces of legislation within the Arab world and provides broad protection for the rich cultural heritage of the country. The enactment of the statute and its application to protect culture and the nation's cultural heritage became an important political aim, and the year 1994 was officially declared as the “Year of National Heritage”.
Evaluating Cultural Property: The Economic Approach
Authors: Frey Bruno S. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe preservation of cultural heritage is costly and one has to decide if and which items of cultural heritage are worth preserving. A method for determining the value of cultural heritage is therefore needed. In economics, several evaluation procedures are applied. This article briefly comments on impact studies and willingness- to-pay studies (hedonic market approach and the travel cost approach) and then focuses on contingent valuation surveys. The application of contingent valuation on the arts and related problems are discussed. Finally, the article combines the evaluation methods with democratic decisions by referenda. Switzerland presents an example of referenda held on art policy.
Anti‐adipogenic action of pitavastatin occurs through the coordinate regulation of PPARγ and Pref‐1 expression
Authors: Nicholson A C , Hajjar D P , Zhou X , He W , Gotto A M , Han J 
Published: June 2007

Background and purpose:Adipocyte differentiation in vitro is coordinately activated by two transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), but it is inhibited by preadipocyte factor‐1 (pref‐1). Statins, inhibitors of HMG‐CoA reductase and de novo cholesterol synthesis, can have pleiotropic effects which influence adipocyte phenotype by ill‐defined mechanisms. We investigated the effects of pitavastatin (NK‐104) on adipocyte differentiation and the transcriptional pathways involved.Experimental approach:The effects of pitavastatin on adipocyte differentiation were evaluated by the formation of oil droplets, content of cellular triglyceride and expression of adipocyte‐specific genes. Regulatory mechanisms were assessed by analysis of PPARγ, C/EBPα and pref‐1 expression.Key results:Pitavastatin significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes in response to adipogenic inducers. Evidence for inhibition included fewer Oil Red O positive droplets, less cellular triglyceride and decreased expression of adipocyte‐specific genes, including fatty acid binding protein (aP2), CD36, adipsin and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). The inhibitory effects of pitavastatin on adipocyte differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes were time and concentration dependent. Pitavastatin significantly blocked induction of PPARγ expression, but not C/EBPα expression or DNA binding activity of PPARγ. Also, pitavastatin induced pref‐1 expression in preadipocytes and maintained expression of pref‐1 at high levels in differentiated cells.Conclusions and implications:Our data suggest that pitavastatin inhibits adipocyte differentiation by blocking PPARγ expression and activating pref‐1 expression. These studies may have implications in the regulation of adipogenesis in response to statins.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 151, 807–815; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707250
OMA Browser—Exploring orthologous relations across 352 complete genomes
Authors: Schneider Adrian , Dessimoz Christophe , Gonnet Gaston H. 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
Motivation: Inference of the evolutionary relation between proteins, in particular the identification of orthologs, is a central problem in comparative genomics. Several large-scale efforts with various methodologies and scope tackle this problem, including OMA (the Orthologous MAtrix project).
Results: Based on the results of the OMA project, we introduce here the OMA Browser, a web-based tool allowing the exploration of orthologous relations over 352 complete genomes. Orthologs can be viewed as groups across species, but also at the level of sequence pairs, allowing the distinction among one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-many orthologs.
Availability: http://omabrowser.org
Contact: schneadr@inf.ethz.ch
POODLE-L: a two-level SVM prediction system for reliably predicting long disordered regions
Authors: Hirose Shuichi , Shimizu Kana , Kanai Satoru , Kuroda Yutaka , Noguchi Tamotsu 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
Motivation: Recent experimental and theoretical studies have revealed several proteins containing sequence segments that are unfolded under physiological conditions. These segments are called disordered regions. They are actively investigated because of their possible involvement in various biological processes, such as cell signaling, transcriptional and translational regulation. Additionally, disordered regions can represent a major obstacle to high-throughput proteome analysis and often need to be removed from experimental targets. The accurate prediction of long disordered regions is thus expected to provide annotations that are useful for a wide range of applications.
Results: We developed Prediction Of Order and Disorder by machine LEarning (POODLE-L; L stands for long), the Support Vector Machines (SVMs) based method for predicting long disordered regions using 10 kinds of simple physico-chemical properties of amino acid. POODLE-L assembles the output of 10 two-level SVM predictors into a final prediction of disordered regions. The performance of POODLE-L for predicting long disordered regions, which exhibited a Matthew's correlation coefficient of 0.658, was the highest when compared with eight well-established publicly available disordered region predictors.
Availability: POODLE-L is freely available at http://mbs.cbrc.jp/poodle/poodle-l.html
Contact: hirose-shuichi@aist.go.jp
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hyperthyroidism may affect serum N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide levels independently of cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Arikan Senay , Tuzcu Alpaslan , Gokalp Deniz , Bahceci Mithat , Danis Ramazan 
Published: June 2007

SummaryBackground and aim  It is known that NT‐proBNP levels increase in cardiac failure. However, NT‐proBNP levels in different thyroid states are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate serum NT‐proBNP levels in both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients without cardiac insufficiency.Subjects and methods  Thirty‐six patients with hyperthyroidism (42·9 ± 16·7 years), 25 patients with hypothyroidism (35·4 ± 13·9 years) and 34 age‐matched euthyroid subjects (41·4 ± 13·8 years) were included in the study. After anthropometric evaluations, body fat analyses were determined by bioelectrical impedance. Electrocardiography and echocardiography were used in cardiac evaluations. Serum NT‐proBNP was measured by immunoassay.Results  Mean serum NT‐proBNP levels in hyperthyroid patients were higher than in both control subjects (13·65 ± 13·02 vs. 6·50 ± 4·83 pmol/l, P = 0·002) and hypothyroid patients (13·65 ± 13·02 vs. 5·98 ± 5·08 pmol/l, P = 0·003). However, mean serum NT‐proBNP levels in hypothyroid patients were not different from those in control subjects. There was a positive correlation between serum NT‐proBNP and thyroid hormones (NT‐proBNP and FT3: r = 0·324, P = 0·001; NT‐proBNP and FT4: r = 0·269, P = 0·009, respectively). Serum NT‐proBNP levels were positively correlated with left ventricle end‐diastolic diameters (r = 0·232, P = 0·04), interventricular septum thickness (r = 0·315, P = 0·006), and negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r = –0·238, P = 0·04).Conclusions  Serum NT‐proBNP levels may increase in hyperthyroidism independently of cardiac insufficiency. Therefore, hyperthyroidism may lead to cardiac ultrastructural changes undetermined by conventional echocardiography and these changes may be responsible for elevation of NT‐proBNP levels. In contrast to decreased thyroid hormones, excess thyroid hormones may have a more pronounced effect on serum NT‐proBNP levels.
Serum resistin in gestational diabetes mellitus and early postpartum
Authors: Chen Danqing , Fang Qin , Chai Yun , Wang Hanzhi , Huang Hefeng , Dong Minyue 
Published: June 2007

SummaryObjectives  To observe the alterations in serum resistin in gestational diabetes (GDM) and the early postpartum period, and compare this to nondiabetic pregnancies in order to evaluate the role of serum resistin in gestational diabetes mellitus.Design  A cross‐sectional study.Patients  Twenty women with normal pregnancy and 20 with gestational diabetes.Measurements  Serum resistin concentration was assayed by ELISA.Results  Serum resistin concentration was significantly higher in women with GDM than in controls before delivery. Serum levels of resistin significantly decreased after delivery in both the GDM group and controls (P < 0·001 for both). There was a trend of higher serum resistin in women with GDM than in controls. Differences existed on days 1 (P < 0·001) and 3 (P = 0·013), but not by day 5 (P = 0·052) after delivery.Conclusions  Elevated serum resistin level was observed in women with gestational diabetes, suggesting that it is important in the pathology of the disease.
Screening of Cushing's syndrome in adult patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus
Authors: Reimondo Giuseppe , Pia Anna , Allasino Barbara , Tassone Francesco , Bovio Silvia , Borretta Giorgio , Angeli Alberto , Terzolo Massimo 
Published: June 2007

SummaryObjective  Recent studies have shown that a relatively high number of diabetic patients may have unsuspected Cushing's syndrome (CS). The aim of the present study was to screen for CS in adult patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus who were not selected for clinical characteristics, such as poor control and obesity, which may increase the pre‐test probability of CS.Design, patients and measurement  We prospectively evaluated 100 consecutive diabetic patients at diagnosis from 2003 to 2004. No patient had clear Cushingoid features. Screening was performed by using the overnight 1‐mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) after complete recovery from acute concomitant illnesses and attainment of satisfactory glycaemic control. The threshold of adequate suppression after DST was set at 110 nmol/l.Results  Five patients failed to suppress cortisol after DST and underwent a repeated DST and a confirmatory standard 2‐day, 2‐mg DST after 3–6 months from the baseline evaluation. In one woman, a definitive diagnosis of CS was made by a surgically proven pituitary adenoma, and glycaemic control improved after cure of CS.Conclusions  The results of the present study support the view that unknown CS is not rare among patients with diabetes mellitus. This is the first demonstration that screening for CS may be feasible at the clinical onset of diabetes in an unselected cohort of patients. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of CS may provide the opportunity to improve the prognosis of diabetes.
Age‐, gender‐, and weight‐related effects on levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D are not mediated by vitamin D binding protein
Authors: Bolland Mark J. , Grey Andrew B. , Ames Ruth W. , Horne Anne M. , Mason Barbara H. , Wattie Diana J. , Gamble Greg D. , Bouillon Roger , Reid Ian R. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryObjective  25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels are inversely related to body weight, and have been reported to decline with age and be lower in women than men. We hypothesized that these findings might be explained by effects of these variables on vitamin D binding protein (DBP) levels. We set out to determine the relationships between DBP and gender, 25OHD, body weight and body composition.Design  Cross‐sectional analysis.Patients  One hundred healthy, middle‐aged and older, community‐dwelling men and women.Measurements  All participants were measured for 25OHD, DBP, body weight, bone mineral density and body composition.Results  Women had higher mean DBP levels than men but lower total 25OHD levels [DBP: women, mean (SD) 339 (36) mg/l, men 307 (71) mg/l, P = 0·005; 25OHD: women 67 (23) nmol/l, men 91 (39) nmol/l, P < 0·001]. In women, there were significant positive relationships between DBP and albumin (r = 0·33) and 25OHD (r = 0·34) whereas in men there were no significant relationships between DBP and any measured variables. There was no significant relationship between DBP and age, body weight, body mass index, fat mass or percentage fat in men or women.Conclusion  We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that DBP levels are related to age, or adiposity. The changes in 25OHD levels with age, gender, or fat mass are not due to underlying relationships between DBP and these variables. This suggests that the relationships consistently observed between 25OHD and body composition and gender are of biological origin and not due to adaptation to changes in transport proteins.
Bone mineral density remains stable in HAART‐treated HIV‐infected men over 2 years
Authors: Bolland Mark J. , Grey Andrew B. , Horne Anne M. , Briggs Simon E. , Thomas Mark G. , Ellis‐Pegler Rod B. , Woodhouse Andrew F. , Gamble Greg D. , Reid Ian R. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryObjective  Recently we reported that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected Caucasian men treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have normal weight‐adjusted bone mineral density (BMD), in contrast to most other cross‐sectional analyses, which have reported low BMD in HIV‐infected patients. We have now addressed the question of whether there is accelerated BMD loss over time in HIV‐infected men.Design  A 2‐year, prospective, longitudinal study.Subjects  Twenty‐three HAART‐treated, HIV‐infected men and 26 healthy controls.Measurements  All participants had measurements of BMD and bone‐related laboratory parameters at baseline, and a repeat measurement of BMD at 2 years.Results  In the HIV‐infected men the mean age was 47 years, the mean duration of infection was 8·2 years, and the mean duration of HAART was 54 months. Over 2 years of follow‐up, BMD increased from baseline in the HIV‐infected men by 2·6% at the lumbar spine (P = 0·05 vs. baseline), and remained stable at the total hip (mean change 0·1%, P > 0·99) and total body (mean change 0·6%, P = 0·39). Mean changes in BMD in the control group were 1·4% at the lumbar spine, –0·1% at the total hip, and –0·8% at the total body. The HIV‐infected men lost less total body BMD than the control group (P = 0·01). In the HIV‐infected men, body weight remained stable over 2 years while fat mass decreased and lean mass tended to increase, whereas in the controls, body weight and fat mass increased while lean mass remained stable.Conclusions  Accelerated bone loss does not occur in HIV‐infected men treated with HAART. Monitoring of BMD in HIV‐infected men may not be necessary.
Differences in morphological and physiological traits between native and invasive populations of Sapium sebiferum
Authors: ZOU J. , ROGERS W. E. , SIEMANN E. 
Published: June 2007

Summary

Functional traits contribute to the success of invasive plants. These traits can reflect inherent properties or they can be new adaptations from evolutionary responses to escape from natural enemies of the introduced range. We tested the hypothesis that genetic shifts in morphological and physiological traits have occurred between native and invasive populations of Sapium sebiferum.
Sapium sebiferum seedlings were grown in a greenhouse using seed collected from four populations of its introduced range (US) and four from native Chinese populations that are thought to be genetic candidates of the introduced populations. We examined plant biomass production, relative growth rate (RGR), relative stem height growth rate (RHR), root : shoot ratio (RSR), total number of leaves (TLN) and leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR), net CO2 assimilation (A) and shoot specific respiration rate (RD).
US populations of S. sebiferum differed from Chinese populations for most plant variables. Final shoot and total biomass, as well as, RGRs of invasive (US) populations were significantly greater than those of native (Chinese) populations, although RHR and TLN per seedling did not differ between them. Root : shoot ratios (RSR) were significantly lower, while leaf traits including TLA, LAR and SLA were generally greater for invasive populations compared to native populations. Net CO2 A was significantly higher for invasive populations than for native populations, but no significant difference in RD was found between two population types.
Of 13 measured plant variables, RSRs, TLA and CO2 A were identified as traits that contributed the most to differences observed between native Chinese and invasive US populations. The suite of morphological and physiological traits functioning together may result in different growth strategies for native versus invasive populations. By virtue of these traits, invasive populations of S. sebiferum may use soil resources and light more efficiently than native populations, which may have given rise to their competitive superiority in the introduced range.
Clonal diversity of a lizard malaria parasite, Plasmodium mexicanum, in its vertebrate host, the western fence lizard: role of variation in transmission intensity over time and space
Authors: VARDO A. M. , SCHALL J. J. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWithin the vertebrate host, infections of a malaria parasite (Plasmodium) could include a single genotype of cells (single‐clone infections) or two to several genotypes (multiclone infections). Clonal diversity of infection plays an important role in the biology of the parasite, including its life history, virulence, and transmission. We determined the clonal diversity of Plasmodium mexicanum, a lizard malaria parasite at a study region in northern California, using variable microsatellite markers, the first such study for any malaria parasite of lizards or birds (the most common hosts for Plasmodium species). Multiclonal infections are common (50–88% of infections among samples), and measures of genetic diversity for the metapopulation (expected heterozygosity, number of alleles per locus, allele length variation, and effective population size) all indicated a substantial overall genetic diversity. Comparing years with high prevalence (1996–1998 = 25–32% lizards infected), and years with low prevalence (2001–2005 = 6–12%) found fewer alleles in samples taken from the low‐prevalence years, but no reduction in overall diversity (H = 0.64–0.90 among loci). In most cases, rare alleles appeared to be lost as prevalence declined. For sites chronically experiencing low transmission intensity (prevalence ~1%), overall diversity was also high (H = 0.79–0.91), but there were fewer multiclonal infections. Theory predicts an apparent excess in expected heterozygosity follows a genetic bottleneck. Evidence for such a distortion in genetic diversity was observed after the drop in parasite prevalence under the infinite alleles mutation model but not for the stepwise mutation model. The results are similar to those reported for the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, worldwide, and support the conclusion that malaria parasites maintain high genetic diversity in host populations despite the potential for loss in alleles during the transmission cycle or during periods/locations when transmission intensity is low.
Rates, types, and psychosocial correlates of legal charges in adolescents with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder
Authors: Barzman Drew H , DelBello Melissa P , Fleck David E , Lehmkuhl Heather , Strakowski Stephen M 
Published: June 2007

Objectives:  To examine the rates, types, and psychosocial correlates of legal charges in adolescents with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder (BD).Methods:  Adolescents (n = 80), between the ages of 12 and 21 years (mean = 15.6, standard deviation = 2.3), hospitalized for their initial manic or mixed episode of BD, were evaluated for the incidence of prior juvenile offending (i.e., legal charges). We examined potential psychosocial correlates associated with legal charges using chi‐square, t‐tests, and discriminant function analyses to determine if there were differences between adolescents who did and did not offend prior to their first manic episode.Results:  Juvenile antisocial behaviors were common (55%) for adolescents with newly diagnosed BD. Discriminant function analysis revealed that older age at first treatment (p < 0.01), sexual activity over the previous month (p < 0.05), therapeutic use of stimulants (p < 0.05), and anxiety disorders were the most significant factors to differentiate between bipolar adolescents who offended and those who did not (Wilks’ lambda = 0.80, p < 0.005).Conclusions:  Our findings indicate that there are identifiable psychosocial correlates associated with antisocial behaviors in adolescents with newly diagnosed BD that may improve our understanding of juvenile antisocial behaviors.
Diagnosing bipolar disorder in trauma exposed primary care patients
Authors: Graves Ruth Elaine , Alim Tanya N , Aigbogun Notalelomwan , Chrishon Kris , Mellman Thomas A , Charney Dennis S , Lawson William B 
Published: June 2007

Objectives:  Bipolar disorder (BD) is often under‐recognized in non‐psychiatric settings, especially in African Americans. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is a screening instrument proposed to show adequate sensitivity and specificity for bipolar spectrum disorders. The current study is an examination of the usefulness of this instrument in a trauma exposed subgroup of mainly African American patients attending primary care clinics.Methods:  The sample is a part of a larger study exploring traumatic stress exposure and psychopathology. Consenting patients in 3 academically affiliated primary care clinics were asked to complete the MDQ. Ninety percent of the participants were African American. Diagnostic performance was determined in a trauma exposed subgroup by employing the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV (SCID) as a gold standard.Results:  Of the total group of 579 participants, 178 (30.7%) screened positive for BD along with 77 (33.7%) of the 228 trauma exposed subjects who were SCID interviewed. Only 13 (27%) of the MDQ positives met SCID criteria for BD and were true positives. The sensitivity was 61.9% and the specificity was 69%, with a positive predictive value of 16.8% and a negative predictive value of 94.7%.Conclusions:  The MDQ was found to have low specificity in a predominately African American group of trauma exposed patients attending primary care.