bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase overexpression upon D-glucose metabolism in insulin-producing BRIN-BD11 cells
Authors: Kamagate Adama , Sener Abdullah , Courtois Philippe , Malaisse Willy J. , Herchuelz André 
Published: July 2008

In order to investigate the possible link between PMCA (plasma-membrane Ca2+-ATPase) activity and D-glucose catabolism in insulin-producing cells, BRIN-BD11 cells were transfected with two isoforms of PMCA2. Transfection of insulin-producing BRIN-BD11 cells with PMCA2yb and PMCA2wb was documented by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-PCR), Western blot analysis, indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and 45Ca2+ uptake by microsomes. In the transfected cells, the overexpression of PMCA coincided with three major anomalies of D-glucose metabolism, namely a lower rate of D-[5-3H]glucose utilization prevailing at a low extracellular concentration of D-glucose (1.1 mM), a low ratio between D-[U-14C]oxidation and D-[5-3H]glucose utilization prevailing at a high extracellular glucose concentration (16.7 mM), and a high ratio between the net generation of 14C-labelled acidic metabolites and amino acids and that of 3H2O from D-[5-3H]glucose. These anomalies resulted in a decreased estimated rate of ATP generation (linked to the catabolism of the hexose) and a lowered ATP cell content, whether at low or high extracellular D-glucose concentrations. The net uptake of 45Ca2+ by intact cells was also decreased in the transfected cells, but to a greater extent than can apparently be attributed to the change in the ATP-generation rate. These findings document the relevance of PMCA activity to both D-glucose metabolism and Ca2+ handling in insulin-producing cells, with emphasis on the key role of both cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations in the regulation of D-glucose catabolism. They also reveal that overexpression of PMCA leads, in insulin-producing cells, to an imbalance between ATP generation and consumption.
Benefits of a Timed Snack Protocol for Geriatric Patients With Dementia and Dysphagia
Authors: Boczko Faerella 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of snack recommendations in promoting weight gain among residents diagnosed with dysphagia and dementia (mild/moderate). A two-part comparison study was performed with residents for whom snack recommendations were made at the time of their dysphagia evaluations: The first part of this pilot study utilized a time-specific medication protocol enforced by interdisciplinary team members, while the second portion of the study intentionally followed no specific model beyond initial recommendation by the speech-language pathologist (SLP). All subjects were residents at a long-term care facility. Initial dysphagia evaluations were conducted because of weight loss.
The pilot data support the following conclusions: An interdisciplinary team must ensure complete follow-through of recommendations. In approaching the concept of snacks as “medication,” intake can be prescribed by medical personnel to ensure delivery as well as to encourage the resident who refuses meals. Hand-held snacks of the resident's preference remain a condition of the “medication.” Medical and nursing staff must be educated regarding nutritional benefits. While self-feeding as an aspect of ADL independence represents an ideal scenario, creative methods must be explored to encourage food intake. A need exists for future research to determine appropriate intervention measures that will provide assessment of measurable outcomes regarding improvement in self-feeding ability.
Percutaneous Tracheostomy: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Authors: Pandian Vinciya , Nguyen Thai Tran , Mirski Marek , Bhatti Nasir Islam 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
The techniques of performing a tracheostomy has transformed over time. Percutaneous tracheostomy is gaining popularity over open tracheostomy given its advantages and as a result the number of bedside tracheostomies has increased necessitating the need for a Percutaneous Tracheostomy Program. The Percutaneous Tracheostomy Program at the Johns Hopkins Hospital is a comprehensive service that provides care to patients before, during, and after a tracheostomy with a multidisciplinary approach aimed at decreasing complications. Education is provided to patients, families, and health-care professionals who are involved in the management of a tracheostomy. Ongoing prospective data collection serves as a tool for Quality Assurance.
The Effects of Chloroquine on Bleeding Time and Disappearance of Platelet 5-Hydroxytryptamine in Rabbits
Authors: Osim Eme , Mbajiorgu Felix , Nkomo Ishie , Coutts Allison , Munjeri Owen , Vaz Requel , Arthur Samuel , Musabayane Cephas 
Published: July 2008

Background: Chloroquine inhibits platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Because inhibi tion of platelet aggregation may prolong bleeding time, the effect of chloroquine adminis tration on bleeding time and disappearance of platelet serotonin, which may affect bleeding time, were studied. Methods and Results: Platelets were harvested from 12 rabbits. They were labelled with 111In to tag individual platelets and 14C-labelled 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) or serotonin. Doubly labelled platelets from the rabbits were returned to their donors. At timed intervals, from 2 to 66 hours, blood samples were drawn and platelets collected. 111In and 14C were separately counted. In 6 experiments, the animals served as control and received normal saline intra peritoneally (IP) daily for 4 days; the other 6 rabbits served as test and were given a therapeutic dose of chloroquine phosphate (10 mg/kg, IP) daily for 4 days. Indium disap peared in an exponential fashion in both control and test groups. The fraction of indium disappearing per hour was significantly less in chloroquine-treated rabbits than in control rabbits (P < .001). Ninety-nine percent of the indium-labelled platelets disappeared in 7.0 days in chloroquine-treated rabbits and 5.8 days in control rabbits (P < .001). Bleeding times in chloroquine-treated and control rabbits were not significantly different (64.8 ± 2.2 vs. 62.3 ± 4.0 sec, respectively). However, the labelled platelet serotonin disappeared more slowly in chloroquine-treated rabbits than in control rabbits. (K for chloroquine-treated and control rabbits was 0.0096 ± 0.0064 and 0.0254 ± 0.0016; respectively, P < .001). Conclusion: Chloroquine prolongs platelet survival but does not affect bleeding time in rabbits. Chloroquine also slows down the disappearance of labelled platelet serotonin. We propose that chloroquine increases the recycling of platelet 5HT, passing it on from platelet to platelet in rabbits and this may have a role in the maintenance of hemostasis.
A Computational Model of Early Argument Structure Acquisition
Authors: Alishahi Afra , Stevenson Suzanne 
Published: July 2008

AbstractHow children go about learning the general regularities that govern language, as well as keeping track of the exceptions to them, remains one of the challenging open questions in the cognitive science of language. Computational modeling is an important methodology in research aimed at addressing this issue. We must determine appropriate learning mechanisms that can grasp generalizations from examples of specific usages, and that exhibit patterns of behavior over the course of learning similar to those in children. Early learning of verb argument structure is an area of language acquisition that provides an interesting testbed for such approaches due to the complexity of verb usages. A range of linguistic factors interact in determining the felicitous use of a verb in various constructions—associations between syntactic forms and properties of meaning that form the basis for a number of linguistic and psycholinguistic theories of language. This article presents a computational model for the representation, acquisition, and use of verbs and constructions. The Bayesian framework is founded on a novel view of constructions as a probabilistic association between syntactic and semantic features. The computational experiments reported here demonstrate the feasibility of learning general constructions, and their exceptions, from individual usages of verbs. The behavior of the model over the timecourse of acquisition mimics, in relevant aspects, the stages of learning exhibited by children. Therefore, this proposal sheds light on the possible mechanisms at work in forming linguistic generalizations and maintaining knowledge of exceptions.
Strategy Generalization Across Orientation Tasks: Testing a Computational Cognitive Model
Authors: Gunzelmann Glenn 
Published: July 2008

AbstractHumans use their spatial information processing abilities flexibly to facilitate problem solving and decision making in a variety of tasks. This article explores the question of whether a general strategy can be adapted for performing two different spatial orientation tasks by testing the predictions of a computational cognitive model. Human performance was measured on an orientation task requiring participants to identify the location of a target either on a map (find‐on‐map) or within an egocentric view of a space (find‐in‐scene). A general strategy instantiated in a computational cognitive model of the find‐on‐map task, based on the results from , was adapted to perform both tasks and used to generate performance predictions for a new study. The qualitative fit of the model to the human data supports the view that participants were able to tailor a general strategy to the requirements of particular spatial tasks. The quantitative differences between the predictions of the model and the performance of human participants in the new experiment expose individual differences in sample populations. The model provides a means of accounting for those differences and a framework for understanding how human spatial abilities are applied to naturalistic spatial tasks that involve reasoning with maps.
Modeling How, When, and What Is Learned in a Simple Fault‐Finding Task
Authors: Ritter Frank E. , Bibby Peter A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe have developed a process model that learns in multiple ways while finding faults in a simple control panel device. The model predicts human participants' learning through its own learning. The model's performance was systematically compared to human learning data, including the time course and specific sequence of learned behaviors. These comparisons show that the model accounts very well for measures such as problem‐solving strategy, the relative difficulty of faults, and average fault‐finding time. More important, because the model learns and transfers its learning across problems, it also accounts for the faster problem‐solving times due to learning when examined across participants, across faults, and across the series of 20 trials on an individual participant basis. The model shows how learning while problem solving can lead to more recognition‐based performance, and helps explain how the shape of the learning curve can arise through learning and be modified by differential transfer. Overall, the quality of the correspondence appears to have arisen from procedural, declarative, and episodic learning all taking place within individual problem‐solving episodes.
The Deep Versus the Shallow: Effects of Co‐Speech Gestures in Learning From Discourse
Authors: Cutica Ilaria , Bucciarelli Monica 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis study concerned the role of gestures that accompany discourse in deep learning processes. We assumed that co‐speech gestures favor the construction of a complete mental representation of the discourse content, and we tested the predictions that a discourse accompanied by gestures, as compared with a discourse not accompanied by gestures, should result in better recollection of conceptual information, a greater number of discourse‐based inferences drawn from the information explicitly stated in the discourse, and poorer recognition of verbatim of the discourse. The results of three experiments confirmed these predictions.
Pilot Trial of N-acetylcysteine and Tigecycline as a Catheter-Lock Solution for Treatment of Hemodialysis Catheter–Associated Bacteremia
Authors: Aslam Saima , Trautner Barbara W. , Ramanathan Venkat , Darouiche Rabih O. 
Published: July 2008

We evaluated a catheter-lock solution consisting of N-acetylcysteine, tigecycline, and heparin for catheter salvage in patients with hemodialysis catheter-associated bacteremia. Eighteen case patients received the catheter-lock solution for 14 days plus systemic antibiotic therapy. Treatment was successful for 15 (83%) of the 18 case patients within 90 days of follow-up, with a median catheter retention interval of 64.5 days.Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00614679.
Role of the MexXY multidrug efflux pump in moderate aminoglycoside resistance inPseudomonas aeruginosaisolates fromPseudomonasmastitis
Authors: Chuanchuen Rungtip , Wannaprasat Wechsiri , Ajariyakhajorn Kittisak , Schweizer Herbert P. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTThe contribution of the MexXY multidrug efflux system to aminoglycoside resistance was investigated in 18 clinical isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosaobtained from dairy cows withPseudomonasmastitis. All of the isolates expressed MexXY as determined by reverse transcription‐PCR. The loss ofmexXYresulted in increased susceptibility (two‐ to 16‐fold decline in MIC) to aminoglycosides, confirming the contribution of this system in aminoglycoside resistance in these strains. As the impact of ΔmexXYvaried, overexpression of MexXY alone is not sufficient for aminoglycoside resistance. Expression ofmexXYalso varied and did not strictly correlate with aminoglycoside insusceptibility. Transcription levels ofmexYwere independent on mutations inmexZ, suggesting the existence of additional regulatory mechanisms other thanmexZ.
Incorporation of β‐amyloid protein through the bovine ileal epithelium before and after weaning: Model for orally transmitted amyloidoses
Authors: Ano Yasuhisa , Nakayama Hiroyuki , Sakai Yusuke , Sakudo Akikazu , Endo Maiko , Ebisu Shogo , Li JunYou , Uetsuka Koji , Manabe Noboru , Onodera Takashi 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTTo determine the mechanism of bovine intestinal incorporation of the pathogen, and the pathogenesis of prion protein in the early stage, cows suckling and weaning were orally given a fusion protein of Aβ‐EGFP. Aβ‐EGFP was incorporated through the villous columnar epithelial cells and accumulated in crypt patches in the ileum of suckling cows. The sites of the uptake and accumulation of Aβ‐EGFP are very close to the peripheral nervous system; however, such uptake of Aβ‐EGFP was not observed in 6‐month‐old post‐weaning cows. The present study, therefore, suggests that the weaning period is very important for the risk of transmission.
Adenosine receptor subtypes in the airways responses to 5′‐adenosine monophosphate inhalation of sensitized guinea‐pigs
Authors: Smith N. , Broadley K. J. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryBackgroundEndogenous adenosine levels are raised in the lungs during asthma attacks. 5′‐adenosine monophosphate (5′‐AMP) inhalation in asthmatics causes bronchoconstriction and in sensitized guinea‐pigs induces early (EAR) and late asthmatic responses (LAR), airway hyper‐reactivity (AHR) and inflammatory cell recruitment to the lungs.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the roles of A1, A2A, A2Band A3adenosine receptors in these responses to inhaled 5′‐AMP in sensitized guinea‐pigs. Comparisons were made with the effect of dexamethasone treatment on 5′‐AMP‐induced responses.MethodsFunctional airways responses to inhaled 5′‐AMP (3 and 300 mm) of actively sensitized, conscious guinea‐pigs were determined by whole‐body plethysmography following administration of selective adenosine receptor antagonists or their vehicles. AHR to inhaled histamine (1 mm) and inflammatory cell influx in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined.Results5′‐AMP at 3 mmcaused an immediate bronchoconstriction (EAR), whereas 300 mmcaused bronchodilatation. Both responses were followed at 6 h by a LAR, together with inflammatory cell influx and AHR to histamine. The A2Areceptor antagonist, ZM241385, further enhanced cell influx after 5′‐AMP inhalation (3 and 300 mm), and blocked the immediate bronchodilator response to 300 mm5′‐AMP, exposing an EAR. The A2Breceptor antagonist, MRS1706 (in the presence of ZM241385), inhibited the LAR, AHR and cell influx, following inhalation of 5′‐AMP (300 mm). The A3receptor antagonist, MRS1220, inhibited 5′‐AMP‐induced inflammatory cell influx. The A1receptor antagonist, DPCPX (in the presence of ZM241385), inhibited the EAR following 5′‐AMP inhalation (300 mm). Dexamethasone inhibited the LAR, AHR and cell influx following inhalation of 5′‐AMP (300 mm).ConclusionAll four adenosine receptor subtypes play various roles in the airways responses to inhaled 5′‐AMP in sensitized guinea‐pigs.
Rhinovirus infection and house dust mite exposure synergize in inducing bronchial epithelial cell interleukin‐8 release
Authors: Bossios A. , Gourgiotis D. , Skevaki C. L. , Saxoni‐Papageorgiou P. , Lötvall J. , Psarras S. , Karpathios T. , Constandopoulos A. G. , Johnston S. L. , Papadopoulos N. G. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryBackground
Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) and house dust mites (HDMs) are among the most common environmental factors able to induce airway inflammation in asthma. Although epidemiological studies suggest that they also synergize in inducing asthma exacerbations, there is no experimental evidence to support this, nor any information on the possible mechanisms involved.Objective
To investigate their interaction on the induction of airway epithelial inflammatory responses in vitro.Methods
BEAS‐2B cells were exposed to activated HDM Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus major allergen I (Der p I), HRVs (HRV1b or HRV16) or both in different sequences. IL‐8/CXCL8 release, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1 surface expression and nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) translocation were evaluated. Complementary, primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) exposed to both Der p I and RVs and IL‐8, IL‐6, IFN‐γ‐induced protein (IP)‐10/CXCL10, IFN‐λ1/IL‐29, regulated upon activation normal T lymphocyte expressed and secreted (RANTES)/CCL5 release were measured.Results
RV and Der p I up‐regulated IL‐8 release, ICAM‐1 expression and NF‐κB translocation in BEAS‐2B cells. Simultaneous exposure to both factors, as well as when cells were initially exposed to HRV and then to Der p I, resulted in further induction of IL‐8 in a synergistic manner. Synergism was not observed when cells were initially exposed to Der p I and then to HRV. This was the pattern in ICAM‐1 induction although the phenomenon was not synergistic. Concurrent exposure induced an early synergistic NF‐κB translocation induction, differentiating with time, partly explaining the above observation. In HBECs, both HRV and Der p I induced IL‐8, IL‐6, IL‐29 and IP‐10, while RANTES was induced only by HRV. Synergistic induction was observed only in IL‐8.Conclusion
HRV and enzymatically active Der p I can act synergistically in the induction of bronchial epithelial IL‐8 release, when HRV infection precedes or is concurrent with Der p I exposure. Such a synergy may represent an important mechanism in virus‐induced asthma exacerbations.
SlrR/SlrA controls the initiation of biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Kobayashi Kazuo 
Published: July 2008

SummaryUndomesticated strains of Bacillus subtilis can form pellicle biofilms in standing culture. Pellicle formation is initiated by repression of flagellar genes and activation of the eps and yqxM operons, which are involved in biofilm–matrix synthesis. SinI is thought to induce the eps and yqxM operons by antagonizing their repressor SinR. Here, we show that mutations in late‐flagellar genes prevent pellicle formation at an initiation step. These mutations reduce the activity of SlrR/SlrA. SlrR (formerly Slr) and SlrA are homologues of SinR and SinI respectively, and SlrR/SlrA represses σD‐dependent flagellar genes and activate the eps and yqxM operons. Contrary to previous reports, a sinI mutation does not prevent pellicle formation in B. subtilis strain ATCC 6051. ATCC 6051 has a frameshift mutation in the ywcC gene, which encodes a TetR‐type transcriptional repressor. The ywcC mutation depresses slrA transcription, thereby increasing SlrR/SlrA activity. In the ywcC mutant, SlrR/SlrA rather than SinI activates the eps and yqxM operons by antagonizing SinR. The roles of SlrR/SlrA and flagella in the initiation of pellicle formation are discussed.
Tsr–GFP accumulates linearly with time at cell poles, and can be used to differentiate ‘old’ versus ‘new’ poles, in Escherichia coli
Authors: Ping Liyan , Weiner Beth , Kleckner Nancy 
Published: July 2008

SummaryIn Escherichia coli, the chemotaxis receptor protein Tsr localizes abundantly to cell poles. The current study, utilizing a Tsr–GFP fusion protein and time‐lapse fluorescence microscopy of individual cell lineages, demonstrates that Tsr accumulates approximately linearly with time at the cell poles and that, in consequence, more Tsr is present at the old pole of each cell than at its newborn pole. The rate of pole‐localized Tsr accumulation is large enough that old and new poles can always be reliably distinguished, even for cells whose old poles have had only one generation to accumulate signal. Correspondingly, Tsr–GFP can be reliably used to assign new and old poles to any cell without use of information regarding pole heritage, thus providing a useful tool to analyse cells whose prior history is not available. The absolute level of Tsr–GFP at the old pole of a cell also provides a rough estimate of pole (and thus cell) age.
Muramyldipeptide Modulates CXCL‐8 Release of BEAS‐2B Cells via NOD2
Authors: Farkas L. , Stoelcker B. , Jentsch N. , Heitzer S. , Pfeifer M. , Schulz C. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractChronic inflammation and acute exacerbations are pathophysiological features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An impaired immune response to bacterial pathogens can contribute to both of them. Nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) is an intracellular receptor of innate immunity for muramyldipeptide (MDP). Mutations of the NOD2 gene followed by decreased recognition of MDP are associated with chronic intestinal inflammation and pulmonary complications of patients with allogenic stem cell transplant and sepsis. Our study provides evidence that NOD2, toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the adapter protein receptor‐interacting protein 2 (RIP2) are induced by tumor‐necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) in the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS‐2B. We also demonstrate that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can further increase NOD2 transcription in a TNF‐α and IFN‐γ‐induced activation state. In addition, we show that, while MDP fails to enhance CXCL‐8 release from otherwise unstimulated BEAS‐2B cells, a 12 h prestimulation period with TNF‐α and IFN‐γ primes the cells for an additional increase of CXCL‐8 secretion via induction of NOD2 and RIP2. LPS itself significantly augments CXCL‐8 production and co‐administration of MDP further increases cytokine secretion. Finally, overexpression of an SNP13 mutant decreased MDP‐induced chemokine production in BEAS‐2B cells compared with NOD2 wild type overexpression. Taken together, our work indicates that MDP and NOD2 play an important role for CXCL‐8 release of BEAS‐2B cells following LPS‐challenge via synergistic interactions between MDP and LPS.