bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bovine SLC11A1 3′ UTR SSCP genotype evaluated by a macrophage in vitro killing assay employing a Brucella abortus strain
Authors: Martinez R. , Toro R. , Montoya F. , Burbano M. , Tobón J. , Gallego J. , Dunner S. , Cañón J. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryThe 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the bovine natural resistance‐associated macrophage gene (NRAMP1 or SLC11A1) was genotyped in Colombian Creole Blanco Orejinegro (BON) (Bos taurus) (n = 140) and Zebu Brahman (Bos indicus) (Z) (n = 20) cattle and their crosses (BON × Zebu Brahman [B × Z] [n = 10]; Zebu Brahman × BON [Z × B] [n = 10]), and in animals from a Holstein × BON (H × B) (n = 10) cross. Direct sequencing and single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) helped in detecting the polymorphic behaviour. The association between resistance to brucellosis infection and SSCP genotype was evaluated using a macrophage in vitro killing assay employing a virulent Brucella abortus strain. The 3′ UTR (GT) repeated polymorphism was gentoyped and its association with resistance to brucellosis was evaluated. When all breeds were grouped, a high frequency in the homozygote GT12 (AA genotype) (0.823) and a very low frequency in the homozygote GT10 (BB genotype) (0.047) were detected. The BON (0.963), Z × B (0.60) and H × B (1.00) cattle showed high GT12 allele frequencies, unlike that seen for the B × Z and Zebu cattle (0.3002 and 0.218, respectively). The GT10 allele was only found in the Zebu cattle (0.391). A significant association (p < 0.001) was found between the B. abortus macrophage in vitro killing assay phenotypes and the bovine SLC11A1 3′ UTR genotypes, which suggests that the A allele may be associated with resistance. Because only nine animals had the BB genotype, the results require some confirmation in more extensive populations.
Variation at the insulin‐like growth factor 1 gene and its association with body weight traits in the chicken
Authors: Bian L.H. , Wang S.Z. , Wang Q.G. , Zhang S. , Wang Y.X. , Li H. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryThe insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is essential for normal embryonic and postnatal growth in mammals. In this study, a total of 342 F2 individuals, derived from Broiler crossing to Baier layer (Northeast Agricultural University Resource Population, NEAURP), were used to investigate the associations of haplotypes in the chicken IGF1 (cIGF1) gene with body weight traits. Primers for the 5′‐flanking, exon 3 and 3′‐flanking regions of cIGF1 were designed according to chicken genome database. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between parental lines were detected by sequencing, and PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) and PCR single‐stranded‐conformation polymorphism (PCR‐SSCP) methods were used to genotype the SNPs in the population. Haplotypes were constructed with the three SNPs detected. The association analysis showed that haplotypes based on three cIGF1 polymorphisms (c.‐366A>C, c.528G>A and c.*1024C>T) were associated with body weight traits, suggesting that cIGF1 or a tightly linked gene had effects on body weight in the chicken.
Causes and projections of abrupt climate‐driven ecosystem shifts in the North Atlantic
Authors: Beaugrand Grégory , Edwards Martin , Brander Keith , Luczak Christophe , Ibanez Frederic 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWarming of the global climate is now unequivocal and its impact on Earth’ functional units has become more apparent. Here, we show that marine ecosystems are not equally sensitive to climate change and reveal a critical thermal boundary where a small increase in temperature triggers abrupt ecosystem shifts seen across multiple trophic levels. This large‐scale boundary is located in regions where abrupt ecosystem shifts have been reported in the North Atlantic sector and thereby allows us to link these shifts by a global common phenomenon. We show that these changes alter the biodiversity and carrying capacity of ecosystems and may, combined with fishing, precipitate the reduction of some stocks of Atlantic cod already severely impacted by exploitation. These findings offer a way to anticipate major ecosystem changes and to propose adaptive strategies for marine exploited resources such as cod in order to minimize social and economic consequences.
Rapid evolution buffers ecosystem impacts of viruses in a microbial food web§
Authors: Lennon Jay T. , Martiny Jennifer B. H. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractPredation and parasitism often regulate population dynamics, community interactions, and ecosystem functioning. The strength of these top‐down pressures is variable, however, and may be influenced by both ecological and evolutionary processes. We conducted a chemostat experiment to assess the direct and indirect effects of viruses on a marine microbial food web comprised of an autotrophic host (Synechococcus) and non‐target heterotrophic bacteria. Viruses dramatically altered the host population dynamics, which in turn influenced phosphorus resource availability and the stoichiometric allocation of nutrients into microbial biomass. These virus effects diminished with time, but could not be attributed to changes in the abundance or composition of heterotrophic bacteria. Instead, attenuation of the virus effects coincided with the detection of resistant host phenotypes, suggesting that rapid evolution buffered the effect of viruses on nutrient cycling. Our results demonstrate that evolutionary processes are important for community dynamics and ecosystem processes on ecologically relevant time scales.
Novel DNA ligase with broad nucleotide cofactor specificity from the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfophobococcus zilligii: influence of ancestral DNA ligase on cofactor utilization
Authors: Sun Younguk , Seo Moo Seok , Kim Jae Hyun , Kim Yun Jae , Kim Gun A , Lee Jong Il , Lee Jung‐Hyun , Kwon Suk‐Tae 
Published: July 2008

SummaryDNA ligases are divided into two groups according to their cofactor requirement to form ligase‐adenylate, ATP‐dependent DNA ligases and NAD+‐dependent DNA ligases. The conventional view that archaeal DNA ligases only utilize ATP has recently been disputed with discoveries of dual‐specificity DNA ligases (ATP/ADP or ATP/NAD+) from the orders Desulfurococcales and Thermococcales. Here, we studied DNA ligase encoded by the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfophobococcus zilligii. The ligase exhibited multiple cofactor specificity utilizing ADP and GTP in addition to ATP. The unusual cofactor specificity was confirmed via a DNA ligase nick‐closing activity assay using a fluorescein/biotin‐labelled oligonucleotide and a radiolabelled oligonucleotide. The exploitation of GTP as a catalytic energy source has not to date been reported in any known DNA ligase. This phenomenon may provide evolutionary evidence of the nucleotide cofactor utilization by DNA ligases. To bolster this hypothesis, we summarize and evaluate previous assertions. We contend that DNA ligase evolution likely started from crenarchaeotal DNA ligases and diverged to eukaryal DNA ligases and euryarchaeotal DNA ligases. Subsequently, the NAD+‐utilizing property of some euryarchaeotal DNA ligases may have successfully differentiated to bacterial NAD+‐dependent DNA ligases.
Microvascular disease: what does the UKPDS tell us about diabetic nephropathy?
Authors: Bilous R. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe UK Prospective Diabetes Study is the largest study in Type 2 diabetes with pre‐specified renal outcomes. The study showed that the natural history of nephropathy in newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients was similar to that described previously in those with Type 1 diabetes. Around 2% per annum progress from normo‐ to micro‐albuminuria [urinary albumin concentration (UAC) > 50 mg/l] and a further 2% from microalbuminuria to clinical grade proteinuria (UAC > 300 mg/l). Mortality rates for those with nephropathy are high, increasing from 1.4% per annum (normoalbuminuria) to 4.6% per annum (clinical grade proteinuria), and to 19.2% per annum for those with renal impairment.More intensive blood glucose control resulted in both a 33% reduction in relative risk of development of microalbuminuria or clinical grade proteinuria at 12 years, and a significant reduction in the proportion doubling their plasma creatinine (0.91 vs. 3.52%, P = 0.0028).Tighter blood pressure control also reduced microalbuminuria and clinical grade proteinuria; but at 6 years there was no effect on plasma creatinine levels.These data underline the importance of glycaemic and blood pressure control in Type 2 diabetes in order to prevent diabetic nephropathy. Those patients unlucky enough to develop nephropathy need intensive surveillance and correction of cardiovascular risk factors.
Ethnic diversity in Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Davis T. M. E. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackground and Methods  The present review assesses published data relating to the main ethnic groups in the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), namely White Caucasians (WC; 82% of the cohort), Indian‐Asians (IA; 10%) and Afro‐Caribbeans (AC; 8%).Results  At entry, the IA patients were younger than WC and AC patients, had a greater waist–hip ratio and more sedentary lifestyle, but had the lowest prevalence of hypertension and current smoking. The AC patients had the poorest glycaemic control but the most favourable lipid profile. The differences in modifiable vascular risk factors did not change over 9 years of follow‐up. Consistent with UKPDS exclusion criteria, few patients had complications at baseline and there were no between‐group differences. An interim analysis of incident fatal/non‐fatal myocardial infarction (median follow‐up 8.7 years) showed that the AC patients had a 70% lower risk than WC after adjustment for explanatory variables and that IA patients had a similar risk to WC. An analysis of complete albuminuria and renal failure data (median follow‐up 15 years) showed that IA ethnicity was independently associated with an increased risk.Conclusions  There are sustained ethnic differences in the nature of diabetes, including vascular risk factors. AC patients had a substantially reduced risk of myocardial infarction that was not explained by their more favourable lipid profile, while IA patients were more likely to develop nephropathy than WC and IA patients. Longer follow‐up is needed to determine whether the increased macrovascular risk observed in IA patients in other studies is replicated in the UKPDS cohort.
Feminism and Imperialism, 1890–1920: Our Anti‐Imperialist Sisters—Missing in Action from American Feminist Sociology*
Authors: Mann Susan A. 
Published: July 2008

This article retrieves part of our historical past to address two omissions in American feminist sociology on the subject of global imperialism. The first section addresses the inadequate attention feminist sociologists have paid to how major leaders of the women's movement responded to U.S. overseas expansion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It documents how these early feminists had both progressive and reactionary responses to the anti‐imperialist struggles of their era. Particular emphasis is given to how issues of race, class, and gender were interwoven in their discourses on imperialism.The second section focuses on how the writings of the most famous woman theorist and critic of imperialism during this era—Rosa Luxemburg—are virtually ignored in U.S. portrayals of feminist sociology and women founders of sociology. To address this omission, Luxemburg's theory of imperialism is examined, as well as how it has influenced contemporary global feminist works. A critical analysis of these Luxemburg‐inspired works considers their implications for understanding global imperialism today. In this way, the past is used to clarify the present.
Quasi‐maximum likelihood estimation of a censored equation system with a copula approach: meat consumption by U.S. individuals
Authors: Yen Steven T. , Lin Biing‐Hwan 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA copula approach to censored system estimation is proposed. The quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator departs from the multivariate normal error distribution predominantly used in existing estimators and resolves the computational difficulty with multiple probability integrals in high‐dimensional censored systems. An application to individual meat consumption demonstrates that the procedure produces very different empirical estimates from existing Gaussian full‐information and quasi‐maximum likelihood estimates.
Oestrogen Promotes Coronary Angiogenesis even under Normoxic Conditions
Authors: Nematbakhsh Mehdi , Ghadesi Mehrzad , Hosseinbalam Marzieh , Khazaei Majid , Gharagozlo Marjan , Dashti Gholamreza , Rajabi Parvin , Rafieian Shahram 
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  Angiogenic therapy is one of the new treatments of ischaemic heart disease. Oestrogen has angiogenic properties under hypoxic condition, and if oestrogen also induces angiogenesis under normoxic condition, it could be used in combination with other angiogenic therapies in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease. In this study, we evaluated the angiogenic effect of high‐dose oestrogen treatment in normoxic rat heart tissue. Fifty‐two ovariectomized rats were randomized in oestrogen‐treated and control groups. 17β‐Oestradiol (1 mg/week) and normal saline (1 mg/week) were administered intramuscularly in the treatment and control groups for 2 months. After that, coronary capillary density and coronary vessel permeability were measured. The serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was also measured before and after the treatment. The results indicate that coronary capillary density (number of capillary per square millimetre) and coronary vessel permeability (fluorescence intensity) were significantly higher in the oestrogen‐treated group than in the control group (628 ± 26 per mm2 versus 540 ± 26 per mm2; P < 0.05 and 207 ± 10 versus 147 ± 19 per gram tissue; P < 0.05). Oestrogen treatment increased serum VEGF level in the oestrogen‐treated group compared to the control group (52 ± 3 versus 33 ± 6 pg/ml; P < 0.05), but interestingly VEGF was also increased in the control group after placebo treatment. It seems that high‐dose oestrogen administration has angiogenic properties even in normoxic conditions. These angiogenic properties may result from oestrogen's direct effect on VEGF or other mechanisms, such as endothelial progenitor cell mobilization. Because of the broad effect of oestrogen on angiogenic growth factors and endothelial cells, more studies are required to clarify angiogenic properties of high‐dose oestrogen.
Attenuation of Bleomycin‐Induced Lung Fibrosis by Oxymatrine Is Associated with Regulation of Fibroblast Proliferation and Collagen Production in Primary Culture
Authors: Chen Xiaohong , Sun Renshan , Hu Jianming , Mo Ziyao , Yang Zifeng , Liao Dongjiang , Zhong Nanshan 
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  There is no satisfactory treatment for pulmonary fibrosis, which is characterized by altered control of proliferation of mesenchymal fibroblasts and extracellular matrix production. Oxymatrine is an alkaloid extracted from the Chinese herb Sophora japonica (Sophora flavescens Ait.) with capacities of anti‐inflammation, inhibition of immune reaction, antivirus, protection against acute lung injury and antihepatic fibrosis. In this study, the effect of oxymatrine on pulmonary fibrosis was investigated using a bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model. The results showed that bleomycin challenge provoked severe pulmonary fibrosis with marked increase in hydroxyproline content of lung tissue and lung fibrosis fraction, which was prevented by oxymatrine in a dose‐dependent manner. In addition, bleomycin injection resulted in a marked increase of myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde level that was attenuated by oxymatrine. Administration of oxymatrine inhibited the proliferation of murine lung fibroblasts, arrested the cells at G0/G1 phase and reduced the expression of cell cycle regulatory protein, cyclin D1 in vitro. Furthermore, the steady‐state production of collagen and the expression of α1(I) pro‐collagen and α2(I) pro‐collagen mRNA in fibroblasts were inhibited by oxymatrine in a dose‐dependent manner. These results suggested that oxymatrine may attenuate pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice, partly through inhibition of inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation in lung induced by bleomycin and reduction of fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis.
Comparative analysis of Bayer wide‐range C‐reactive protein (wr‐CRP) and the Dade‐Behring high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: MAHARSHAK Nitsan , ARBEL Yaron , GAL‐OZ Amir , ROGOWSKI Ori , SHAPIRA Itzhak , BERLINER Shlomo , VERED Yaffa , CANAANI Jonathan , DOTAN Iris 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE:  The recently introduced Bayer wide‐range C‐reactive protein (wr‐CRP) assay might be relevant for the real‐time low‐cost and online determination of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity. Our aim was to examine whether wr‐CRP can substitute for the Dade Behring high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) assay in IBD patients.METHODS:  A total of 71 patients with IBD, of whom 48 had Crohn's disease CD and 23 had ulcerative colitis (UC) with various intensities of disease activity participated in the study. The CRP of patients who were under treatment at the Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases were measured using both wr‐CRP and the hs‐CRP.RESULTS:  A significant (r = 0.995; P < 0.001) correlation was noted between the hs‐CRP and wr‐CRP measurements for the whole sample as well as for the two diseases, CD (r = 0.994; P < 0.001) and UC (r = 0.997; P < 0.001), which were analyzed separately.CONCLUSION:  The Bayer wr‐CRP assay might be a useful low‐cost and real‐time inflammation‐sensitive biomarker in patients with IBD.
Clinical review of 23 patients with tuberculous peritonitis: Presenting features and diagnosis
Authors: POYRAZOGLU Orhan K , TIMURKAAN Mustafa , YALNIZ Mehmet , ATASEVEN Huseyin , DOGUKAN Muruvvet , BAHCECIOǦLU Ibrahim H 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE:  To better identify which clinical, laboratory, radiological and invasive procedures were most useful in diagnosing tuberculous peritonitis and to assess the methods in order to reach the diagnosis in future cases.METHODS:  Tuberculous peritonitis cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. Their clinical presentation, physical examination, laboratory and diagnostic methods were evaluated.RESULTS:  Twenty‐three cases of tuberculous peritonitis were diagnosed. The mean age of the patients were 30 ± 11 years and 16 were women. The mean duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 3.6 months. All patients presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal swelling (91.3%), loss of appetite (87%) and weight loss (82.6%) were the other commonest symptoms. The major physical findings were ascites (78.3%) and fever (60.9%). The serum ascites albumin gradient was <1.1 g/dL in all. An ascites fast bacilli smear was positive in 12 (52.2%) patients. Skin tests with purified protein derivative, adenosine deaminase and polymerase chain reaction were performed in seven, four and five patients, respectively. The tuberculous culture was positive in only two. The most common radiological findings were ascites (100%) and omental involvement (65.2%). A laparoscopy was performed in nine of 23 patients. A total of 22 patients completed anti‐tuberculous therapy successfully and were cured, except one with cirrhosis.CONCLUSION:  Tuberculous peritonitis may be fatal but is medically cured if diagnosed in a timely fashion. Although both non‐invasive and invasive tests have additional benefits, clinician suspicion is still the first step for the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.
Isolation of 10 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
Authors: SEGELBACHER GERNOT , ROLSHAUSEN GREGOR , WEIS‐DOOTZ TANJA , SERRANO DAVID , SCHAEFER H. MARTIN 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe isolated 10 polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci from the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) and optimized them for future studies of population differentiation in populations with different migration strategies in southwestern Germany. The loci were screened for polymorphism using 178 individuals from two populations in Germany and Spain. The primers amplified highly variable loci characterized by two to 19 alleles per locus and their observed and expected heterozygosities range from 0.47 to 0.81 and from 0.50 to 0.91, respectively.
Characterising cortical density in the mid-tibia: intra-individual variation in adolescent girls and boys
Authors: Cooper D M L , Ahamed Y , Macdonald H M , McKay H A 
Published: July 2008

Background:Inter-individual differences in cortical bone volumetric density (CoD), such as those related to sex, are a product of differences in remodelling rates. While cortical bone is often treated as a uniform tissue, remodelling rates also varywithinindividual bones. This level of adaptation has largely been overlooked in analyses of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) images. Further, such variation in CoD has never been assessed in growing bones. We hypothesised that CoD varied significantly within the same cross-section of the mid-tibia of adolescents. We further hypothesised that due to the profound impact of oestrogen on remodelling, this variation would be different between sexes.Methods:Subjects were 183 adolescents (99 girls and 84 boys) in grade 6 and 7 with a mean age of 12.1 years. We used age at peak height velocity to adjust for maturational differences between sexes. Image data from a mid-tibia pQCT scan of each subject were assessed regionally within eight sectors distributed about the cortex and aligned by the anterior tibial crest. We used a repeated measures general linear model to assess intra-individual variation in CoD while controlling for differences in ethnicity, maturity, height, weight, physical activity level and total cross-sectional bone area (ToA).Results:Sector based variation in CoD was significant (p<0.001), with the anterior cortex having lower density than the posterior cortex. The largest percentage difference (anteriorvsposteromedial sectors) was 12.2%. A significant sector*sex interaction (p = 0.018) was detected; however, its impact was relatively small with girls having 1.1–3.6% denser bones than boys depending on the sector (2.7% average difference).Conclusions:The magnitude of the variation in CoD across sectorswithinindividuals of both sex was far greater than the mean differencesbetweenthe sexes. This finding indicates that the microstructural variation within the mid-tibia is detectable by pQCT and its magnitude suggests an important level of adaptation to loading.
Comparison of Advanced Radar Polarimetric Techniques for Operational Attenuation Correction at C Band
Authors: Vulpiani Gianfranco , Tabary Pierre , Parent du Chatelet Jacques , Marzano Frank S. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Rain path attenuation correction is a challenging task for quantitative use of weather radar measurements at frequencies higher than S band. The proportionality relationship between specific attenuation αhh (specific differential attenuation αdp) and specific differential phase Kdp is the basis for simple path-integrated attenuation correction using differential phase Φdp. However, the coefficients of proportionality are known to be dependent upon temperature, on the one hand, and shape and raindrop size distribution, on the other hand. To solve this problem, a Bayesian classification scheme is proposed to empirically find the prevailing rain regime and adapt the Φdp-based method. The proposed approach herein is compared with other polarimetric techniques currently available in the literature. Several episodes observed in the Paris, France, area by the C-band dual-polarized weather radar operating in Trappes (France) are analyzed and results are discussed.