bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is reduced female survival after mating a by-product of male-male competition in the dung fly Sepsis cynipsea?
Authors: Teuschl Y , Hosken DJ , Blanckenhorn WU 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
In a number of species males damage females during copulation, but the reasons for this remain unclear. It may be that males are trying to manipulate female mating behaviour or their life histories. Alternatively, damage may be a side-effect of male-male competition. In the black scavenger or dung fly Sepsis cynipsea (Diptera: Sepsidae) mating reduces female survival, apparently because males wound females during copulation. However, this damage does not seem to relate to attempted manipulation of female reproduction by males. Here we tested the hypothesis that harming females during mating is an incidental by-product of characters favoured during pre-copulatory male-male competition. We assessed whether males and their sons vary genetically in their ability to obtain matings and harm females, and whether more successful males were also more damaging. We did this by ranking males' mating success in paired competitions across several females whose longevity under starvation was subsequently measured.

Results
As previously reported, our results show mating is costly for female S. cynipsea. However, variance in female longevity was not explained by male identity, family, body size, number of previous copulations, or copulation duration. Nevertheless, there was a positive correlation between the harm fathers inflicted on their mates (affecting female longevity) and the harm sons inflicted on theirs. Additionally, family identity significantly influenced male copulation success.

Conclusion
Our results indicate a heritable component of some yet unspecified male trait(s) that influence harm and mating success. However, there was no relationship between copulation success of fathers or sons and the mean longevity of their mates. We therefore found no support for harm being a side effect of traits favoured in pre-copulatory male-male competition.
Genetic polymorphisms of TLR3 are associated with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk in Cantonese population
Authors: He Jun-Fang , Jia Wei-Hua , Fan Qin , Zhou Xin-Xi , Qin Hai-De , Shugart Yin Yao , Zeng Yi-Xin 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is endemic in Southern China, displays a strong relationship with genetic susceptibility and associates with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) plays an important role in the antivirus response. Therefore, we examined the association between TLR3 gene polymorphisms and NPC susceptibility.

Methods
We performed a case-control study of 434 NPC cases and 512 healthy controls matched on age, sex and residence. Both cases and controls are of Cantonese origin from Southern China. Genetic variants in TLR3 were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA direct sequencing and four SNPs were genotyped in all samples.

Results
Our results showed that allele C for SNP 829A/C increased NPC risk significantly ((p = 0.0068, OR = 1.49, 95%CI:1.10–2.00). When adjusted for age, gender and VCA-IgA antibody titers, the NPC risk was reduced significantly among individuals who carried the haplotype "ATCT" compared to those who carried the most common haplotype "ACCT" (p = 0.0054, OR = 0.028; 95% CI (0.002–0.341).

Conclusion
The TLR3 polymorphisms may be relevant to NPC susceptibility in the Cantonese population, although the reduction in NPC risk is modest and the biological mechanism of the observed association merits further investigation.
Informal knowledge transfer in the period before formal health education programmes: case studies of mass media coverage of HIV and SIDS in England and Wales
Authors: Hilliard Nick , Jenkins Rebeka , Pashayan Nora , Powles John 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
How advances in knowledge lead via behaviour change to better health is not well understood. Here we report two case studies: a rapid reduction in HIV transmission in homosexual men and a decline in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) that took place in the period before the relevant national education programmes commenced, respectively, in 1986 and 1991. The role of newspapers in transferring knowledge relevant to reducing the risk of AIDS and SIDS is assessed.

Methods

HIV

Searches were made of The Times (1981–1985), Gay News (1981–1984) and, for the key period of April to June 1983, of eight newspapers with the highest readership. Information on transmission route and educational messages were abstracted and analysed.

SIDS

Searches were made of The Times and the Guardian (1985–1991), The Sun (selected periods only, 1988–1991) and selected nursing journals published in England and Wales. Information on sleeping position and educational messages were abstracted and analysed.

Results

HIV

Forty-five out of 50 articles identified in newspapers described homosexuals as an at risk group. Sexual transmission of AIDS was, however, covered poorly, with only 7 (14%) articles referring explicitly to sexual transmission. Only seven articles (14%) associated risk with promiscuity. None of the articles were specific about changes in behaviour that could be expected to reduce risk. Gay periodicals did not include specific advice on reducing the number of partners until early 1984.

SIDS

Out of 165 relevant articles in The Times and 84 in the Guardian, 7 were published before 1991 and associated risk with sleeping position. The reviewed nursing journals reflected a pervasive sense of uncertainty about the link between SIDS and sleeping position.

Conclusion
Presumptively receptive audiences responded rapidly to new knowledge on how changes in personal behaviour might reduce risk, even though the 'signals' were not strong and were transmitted, at least partly, through informal and 'horizontal' channels. Advances in knowledge with the potential to prevent disease by behaviour change may thus yield substantial health benefits even without the mediation of formal education campaigns ('interventions'). Formal campaigns, when they came, did make important additional contributions, especially in the case of SIDS.
Dendritic Cell‐Based Vaccine against Coccidioides Infection
Authors: AWASTHI SHANJANA 
Published: October 2007

Abstract:
Coccidioides causes coccidioidomycosis in the southwestern United States. Its clinical manifestations range from the primary asymptomatic to progressive pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease. Because of endemicity, frequent relapse, and virulent nature of Coccidioides, there is an urgent need for the development of effective therapy or vaccine. It has been recognized from studies in human patients and in murine models that the divergence in their susceptibility to Coccidioides infection is related to differences in T cell response. Dendritic cells (DCs) are most potent antigen‐presenting cells that play a critical role in activating naïve T cells. On account of their unique immunostimulatory capacity, DCs have been used for the development of immunotherapy and vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases. We recently investigated the immunostimulatory potential of a DC‐based vaccine in a murine model against Coccidioides posadasii (C. posadasii). Our results suggest that DCs act as a potent adjuvant and activate protective responses in mice against C. posadasii.
Pendred Syndrome in Two Galician Families: Insights into Clinical Phenotypes through Cellular, Genetic, and Molecular Studies
Authors: Palos Fernando , García-Rendueles María E. R. , Araujo-Vilar David , Obregon Maria Jesús , Calvo Rosa Maria , Cameselle-Teijeiro Jose , Bravo Susana B. , Perez-Guerra Oscar , Loidi Lourdes , Czarnocka Barbara , Alvarez Paula , Refetoff Samuel , Dominguez-Gerpe Lourdes , Alvarez Clara V. , Lado-Abeal Joaquin 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Context: We studied two families from Galicia (northwest Spain) with Pendred syndrome (PS) and unusual thyroid phenotypes. In family A, the proposita had a large goiter and hypothyroxinemia but normal TSH and free T3 (FT3). In family B, some affected members showed deafness but not goiter.
Objective: Our objective was to identify the mutations causing PS and molecular mechanisms underlying the thyroid phenotypes.
Interventions: Interventions included extraction of DNA and of thyroid tissue.
Patients: Propositi and 10 members of the two families participated in the study.
Main Outcome Measures: Main outcome measures included SLC26A4 gene analysis, deiodinase activities in thyroid tissue, and c.416–1G→A effects on SLC26A4 splicing. In addition, a primary PS thyrocyte culture, T-PS2, was obtained from propositus B and compared with another culture of normal human thyrocytes, NT, by Western blotting, confocal microscopy, and iodine uptake kinetics.
Results: Proposita A was heterozygous for c.578C→T and c.279delT, presented with goiter, and had normal TSH and FT3 but low FT4 attributable to high type 1 and type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase activities in the goiter. Propositus B bore c.279delT and a novel mutation c.416–1G→A; some deaf relatives were homozygous for c.416–1G→A but did not present goiter. The c.279delT mutation was associated with identical haplotype in the two families. T-PS2 showed truncated pendrin retained intracellularly and high iodine uptake with low efflux leading to iodine retention.
Conclusions: c.279delT is a founder mutation in Galicia. Proposita A adapted to poor organification by increasing deiodinase activities in the goiter, avoiding hypothyroidism. Lack of goiter in subjects homozygous for c.416–1G→A was due to incomplete penetrance allowing synthesis of some wild-type pendrin. Intracellular iodine retention, as seen in T-PS2, could play a role in thyroid alterations in PS.
Long-Term Observation of 87 Girls with Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty Treated with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogs: Impact on Adult Height, Body Mass Index, Bone Mineral Content, and Reproductive Function
Authors: Pasquino Anna Maria , Pucarelli Ida , Accardo Fabiana , Demiraj Vitan , Segni Maria , Di Nardo Raffaella 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Objective: We assessed in a retrospective unicenter study the impact of treatment with GnRH analogs (GnRHa) on adult height (AH), body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), and reproductive function in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP).
Patients: Eighty-seven ICPP patients were treated with GnRHa for 4.2 ± 1.6 yr (range 3–7.9) and observed for 9.9 ± 2.0 yr (range 4–10.6 yr) after discontinuation of treatment; to estimate the efficacy better, 32 comparable ICPP untreated girls were analyzed.
Results: AH was 159.8 ± 5.3 cm, significantly higher than pretreatment predicted AH (PAH) either for accelerated or for average tables of Bayley and Pinneau. The gain in centimeters between pretreatment PAH and AH was 5.1 ± 4.5 and 9.5 ± 4.6 cm, respectively. Hormonal values and ovarian and uterine dimensions, reduced during treatment, increased to normal after 1 yr without therapy. Age of menarche was 13.6 ± 1.1 yr with an interval of 0.9 ± 0.4 yr after therapy. Menstrual pattern was normal. Six girls became pregnant and delivered normal offspring. BMI sd score for chronological age increased, but not significantly, before, during, and after therapy. BMD at discontinuation of treatment was significantly lower and increased to control values after gonadal activity resumption.
Conclusions: GnRHa treatment in ICPP is safe for the reproductive system, BMD, and BMI and helpful in reaching AH close to target height; however, the variability of individual responses suggests that one choose more parameters than increment in height, especially in girls with pubertal onset over 8 yr of age.
Abnormal Sex Chromosome Constitution and Longitudinal Growth: Serum Levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-I, IGF Binding Protein-3, Luteinizing Hormone, and Testosterone in 109 Males with 47,XXY, 47,XYY, or Sex-Determining Region of the Y Chromosome (SRY)-Positive 46,XX Karyotypes
Authors: Aksglaede Lise , Skakkebaek Niels E. , Juul Anders 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Context: Growth is a highly complex process regulated by the interaction between sex steroids and the GH IGF-axis. However, other factors such as sex chromosome-related genes play independent roles.
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of abnormal chromosome constitution for longitudinal growth in relation to reproductive hormones, IGF-I, and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3.
Setting: The study was conducted at an outpatient clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital.
Participants: Participants included 86 47,XXY males, 14 46,XX-males, and nine 47,XYY.
Main Outcome Measures: Standing and sitting height, serum levels of reproductive hormones, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 were measured.
Results: In boys with 47,XXY and 47,XYY karyotypes, growth was accelerated already in childhood, compared with healthy boys. 46,XX-males were significantly shorter than healthy boys but matched the stature of healthy girls. In 47,XXY sitting height to height ratios were lower than expected, whereas body proportions in 46,XX-males and 47,XYY were normal. In all subjects serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were within normal limits. The boys with 46,XX and 47,XXY karyotypes presented with low normal testosterone and elevated LH levels after puberty, whereas the sex hormone secretion of the 47,XYY boys remained normal.
Conclusion: We found accelerated growth in early childhood in boys with 47,XXY and 47,XYY karyotypes, whereas 46,XX-males were shorter than controls. These abnormal growth patterns were not reflected in circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. The boys with 46,XX and 47,XXY karyotypes developed hypogonadism in puberty, but androgen secretion in 47,XYY boys remained normal. The abnormal stature of these patients may be a result of abnormal gene expression due to the underlying chromosome aberration resulting in excessive expression of growth-related genes.
Progestin-Inflammatory Cytokine Interactions Affect Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and -3 Expression in Term Decidual Cells: Implications for Treatment of Chorioamnionitis-Induced Preterm Delivery
Authors: Oner Ceyda , Schatz Frederick , Kizilay Gulnur , Murk William , Buchwalder Lynn F. , Kayisli Umit A. , Arici Aydin , Lockwood Charles J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractContext: Chorioamnionitis (CAM)-elicited preterm delivery (PTD) is associated with elevated amniotic fluid levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. We hypothesized that IL-1β and TNF-α may induce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3 activity to promote PTD by degrading decidual and fetal membranes and cervical extracellular matrix.Objective: Our objective was to evaluate: 1) MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression in decidual sections from uncomplicated term, idiopathic preterm, and CAM-complicated deliveries, and 2) the separate and interactive effects of IL-1β, TNF-α, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), and a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) on MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression in term decidual cells (DCs).Interventions and Main Outcome Measures: Decidua were immunostained for MMP-1 and MMP-3. Cultured term DCs were incubated with estradiol (E2) or E2 plus MPA with or without IL-1β or TNF-α with or without SB203580. ELISA and Western blotting assessed secreted MMP-1 and MMP-3 levels, quantitative real-time RT-PCR assessed mRNA levels, and substrate gel zymography was used to determined MMP-1 and MMP-3 proteolytic activity.Results: MMP-1 and MMP-3 immunostaining was more prominent in CAM-complicated decidua vs. control preterm and term decidual specimens (P &lt; 0.05). Compared with basal outputs by DCs incubated with E2, TNF-α enhanced MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion by 14 ± 3- and 9 ± 2-fold, respectively, and IL-1β increased MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion by 13 ± 3- and 19 ± 2-fold, respectively (P &lt; 0.05). Addition of MPA lowered basal MMP-1 and MMP-3 outputs by 70%, whereas the TNF-α- and IL-1β-enhanced MMP-1 and MMP-3 levels were blunted by more than 50% (P &lt; 0.05). SB203580 suppressed TNF-α- and IL-1β-induced MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion by severalfold. Western blotting confirmed the ELISA results, and mRNA levels corresponded with MMP-1 and MMP-3 protein levels. MMP-1 and MMP-3 proteolytic activity was confirmed by substrate gel zymography.Conclusion: Augmented DC-expressed MMP-1 and MMP-3 in CAM-complicated pregnancies may promote PTD via decidual, fetal membrane, and cervical extracellular matrix degradation. Effects of progestin-p38 MAPK signaling inhibition on cytokine-enhanced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression in term DCs suggest alternative mechanisms to prevent CAM-induced PTD.
Type 1 Diabetes Associated with Acquired Generalized Lipodystrophy and Insulin Resistance: The Effect of Long-Term Leptin Therapy
Authors: Park Jean Y. , Chong Angeline Y. , Cochran Elaine K. , Kleiner David E. , Haller Michael J. , Schatz Desmond A. , Gorden Phillip 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Context: Acquired generalized lipodystrophy (AGL) is marked by severe insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia. Rarely, AGL and type 1 diabetes (T1D) coexist.
Objective: Our objective was to describe the response to leptin therapy in patients with coexisting AGL and T1D and to document the autoimmune diseases associated with AGL.
Design and Setting: We conducted an open-label prospective study at the Clinical Research Center of the National Institutes of Health.
Patients: Participants included 50 patients with generalized or partial lipodystrophy (acquired or congenital); two patients had both AGL and T1D.
Intervention: Patients were treated with 12 months of recombinant human leptin administration to achieve high-normal serum concentrations.
Results: Two patients had both AGL and T1D. The first was diagnosed with T1D at age 8 yr. Beginning at age 11 yr, he developed generalized lipodystrophy, elevated transaminases, and poor glycemic control [hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 10.7%] despite markedly increased insulin requirements (3.3–5 U/kg·d). Further evaluation revealed hypoleptinemia and hypertriglyceridemia. At age 15 yr, leptin therapy was initiated, and after 1 yr, his insulin requirements fell to 1 U/kg·d, his glycemic control improved (HbA1c 8.4%), and both his triglycerides and transaminases normalized. The second patient developed concurrent AGL and T1D at age 6 yr. Despite insulin doses of up to 32 U/kg·d, she developed poor glycemic control (HbA1c 10.6%), hypertriglyceridemia (2984 mg/dl), elevated transaminases, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. At age 13 yr, leptin therapy was started, and after 1 yr, her glycemic control improved (HbA1c 7.3%) and her insulin requirements decreased (17 U/kg·d). Her triglycerides remained elevated but were improved (441 mg/dl).
Conclusions: Long-term recombinant leptin therapy is effective in treating the insulin resistance of patients with the unusual combination of T1D and AGL.
Optimal, robust, and benign horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines
Authors: Farthing S. P. 
Published: October 2007

The remarkable success of fixed speed and pitch ‘propellers’ in tapping the gusting and shifting wind begs explanation. Glauert's two-dimensional analysis of ‘horizontal axis wind turbines’ was an incomplete aside to aviation propeller theory in 1935, but is now the basis of most ‘Hawt’ algorithms. A very simple windmill optimum is found for his ‘blade element momentum’ theory, even for the movement inclined to the wind in ‘vertical axis wind turbines’. Optimizing the two-dimensional ‘Vawt’ pitch cycles for high speed ratios matches the best Hawt power. Making the optimum ‘robust’ to variation of the wind further discovers a Hawt blade element chord and fixed pitch with a very broad quartic optimum around the design wind and ‘benign’ avoidance of high aerodynamic load coefficients further from it; and finds a fixed cycle of pitching to give a benign quartic Vawt.
Numerical and experimental study of the influence of drag reduction agent (carboxy methyl cellulose) on the central jet pump performance
Authors: El Gazzar M , Meakhail T , Mikhail S 
Published: October 2007

Several experimental and theoretical investigations have been carried out to improve the performance of the jet pump through study of the influence of various geometric variables on its overall efficiency. To the best knowledge of the authors, none of these investigations studied the effect of the use of polymer solutions, e.g. carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), as an agent of drag reduction on the jet pump performance, which is the objective of the present work. The present numerical study is carried out and compared with the previous experimental results explained in Gazzar et al. [1]. A computational fluid dynamics code is used to predict the performance of the jet pump and to shed more light on the mechanism of the mixing process especially if the primary stream is a Newtonian fluid, while the secondary stream is (the polymer solution) assumed to be a non-Newtonian fluid. Discussion and comparison between the experimental and theoretical results are included. The results of this comparison prove the validity of the computational code used, and illustrate the prominent effect of adding drag reduction agents (CMC) on jet pump performance.
Real-time commercial availability index of a steam power plant: Graph theory and matrix method
Authors: Mohan M , Gandhi O. P. , Agrawal V. P. 
Published: October 2007

Worldwide, the structure of the power industry is changing to that of a market economy to ensure commercial accountability. Resources, therefore, are allocated for operation and maintenance from commerical considerations rather than technical alone, necessitating the introduction of a commercial approach to analysis of reliabilty, efficiency, and maintenance criticality for power plants. These requirements suggest the need to introduce performance monitoring systems in the form of a single composite index encompassing the consequences of non-performance with respect to all these parameters and which can effectively respond to market demands. Such performance monitoring system is developed in the current paper. Graph theory has been applied to the complex system of a steam power plant to consider its structure explicitly and to derive reliability/availability, efficiency, and maintenance indices. Its representation at system level is modeled by system structure graphs to study reliability/efficiency indices (viz. RTRI and RTEI). The approach has already been applied by the authors for the development of an efficiency index, i.e. RTEI, and a maintenance criticality index to optimize the maintenance cost. In the current paper, it is applied to develop a single composite index, i.e., a real-time commercial availability index (RTAI)com. The various attributes that affect commercial availability are identified as also the interactions among them. With these, a commercial availability attributes' digraph is developed and its corresponding variable permanent commercial availability attribute interaction matrix is written. The permanent function of this matrix is then analysed to study the various aspects of commercial availability as well as to evaluate (RTAI)com. A scheme for implementation of the procedure to develop a single composite index has also been proposed. This will monitor the health of the mechanical equipment of a steam power plant as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)® monitors its electrical equipment.