bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Mediterranean Paradox for Susceptibility Factors in Coronary Heart Disease Extends to Genetics
Authors: Lao Oscar , Dupanloup Isabelle , Barbujani Guido , Bertranpetit Jaume , Calafell Francesc 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) shows a North to South gradient in Europe. We tested whether that gradient could be accounted for by the distribution of putative susceptibility genotypes. We correlated the published frequencies of susceptibility genotypes for the genes most often associated with CHD (ACE, AGT, APOE, F2, F5, MTHFR, PON1, and SERPINE1) with the incidence of the disease, controlling for the effects of smoking, systolic pressure, total cholesterol, and body‐mass index. In three polymorphisms a negative correlation between the incidence of CHD and the frequency of a suceptibility genotype was observed. For ACE this correlation was significantly negative even when discounting classical susceptibility factors. This suggests that some alleles described as susceptibility factors cannot account for disease incidence at the population level. A genetic component must be added to the “Mediterranean paradox”: genetic variants deemed to be risk factors for CHD show a geographical pattern uncorrelated with the disease incidence. This pattern can be understood from the history of populations which has shaped the genetic diversity of the European populations in North‐South clines, similar to what is observed for CHD incidence, which will tend to create spurious correlations with polymorphisms related, or not related, to the disease.
Variability in outcome for children with an ASD diagnosis at age 2
Authors: Turner Lauren M. , Stone Wendy L. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  Few studies have examined the variability in outcomes of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at age 2. Research is needed to understand the children whose symptoms – or diagnoses – change over time. The objectives of this study were to examine the behavioral and diagnostic outcomes of a carefully defined sample of 2‐year‐old children with ASD, and to identify child and environmental factors that contribute to variability in outcomes at age 4.Methods:  Forty‐eight children diagnosed with autism or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS) at age 2 were followed to age 4. Diagnostic measures included the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Generic (ADOS‐G) and clinical diagnosis at ages 2 and 4, and the ADI‐R at age 4.Results:  Diagnostic stability for an ASD diagnosis (autism or PDDNOS) was 63%, and for an autism diagnosis was 68%. Children who failed to meet diagnostic criteria for ASD at follow‐up were more likely to: 1) be 30 months or younger at initial evaluation; 2) have milder symptoms of autism, particularly in the social domain; and 3) have higher cognitive scores at age 2. No differences between children with stable and unstable diagnoses were found for amount of intervention services received. Among the children with unstable diagnoses, all but one continued to have developmental disorders, most commonly in the area of language.Conclusions:  The stability of ASD was lower in the present study than has been reported previously, a finding largely attributable to children who were diagnosed at 30 months or younger. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
Sustainable tourist behaviour – a discussion of opportunities for change
Authors: Budeanu Adriana 
Published: August 2007

AbstractResearch shows that despite their declared positive attitudes towards sustainable tourism, only a few tourists act accordingly by buying responsible tourism products, choosing environmentally friendly transportation or behaving responsibly towards destination communities. The low support from customers is one of the main barriers for progress towards sustainable tourism. One reason can be that existing initiatives are missing customers' attention, discouraging industry and governments to continue promoting sustainable tourism. Positive attempts to encourage sustainable consumption in other sectors indicate that specific barriers may reside in the nature of tourist choices. Taking a critical look at tourism research and literature, this article examines the interplay between reasons for tourists' choice of products and services, and environmental motivations. After identifying possible gaps that may explain current failures to stimulate responsible tourist choices, the article concludes by discussing the implications for the effectiveness of informative and awareness‐raising tools aimed to facilitate the shift towards responsible tourist behaviour and actions.
A DIAPHRAGM SLAVE PULSATOR FOR MILKING MACHINES
Authors: PHILLIPS D. S. M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe relay pulsator described here has been found to give reliable and efficient operation both in laboratory tests and in field use. The air passages and ports can be designed to provide ample cross‐section to handle the air from at least two sets of teat cups without changing the shape of the pulsation curve, and also can provide the air path necessary for operation of releasers or as a master pulsator.The unit is very robust and can be washed by circulation washing procedures without any risk of damage. The low cost of manufacture and the ease of installation and maintenance are all features in its favour.
The employee view
Authors: TOOKE F H 
Published: August 2007

Over a span of roughly 30 years the dairy industry has been steadily advancing in its technology. Two main areas in this advance have affected the employee. They are the development of high speed processing and bottling, and the steady progress of the carton in gradually speeding up production and the use of less and less manual labour.The high speed bottling plant has on the plus side done away with a lot of manhandling of a heavy product and helped to improve the pay with less hours worked. On the minus side, a lot of processing jobs were lost. These things had relatively little effect on the milkman.Cartoning has a plus side for processing workers in that it replaced some jobs which otherwise have been lost. For retail milkmen the carton that was first produced for very good reasons is now, with improved productivity and the interest shown in it by the supermarkets, posing a threat to retail distribution which would make the processing job losses minimal by comparison.
The neuroprotective effect of Activin A and B: implication for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Kupershmidt Lana , Amit Tamar , Bar‐Am Orit , Youdim Moussa B. H. , Blumenfeld Zeev 
Published: August 2007

AbstractActivin is a member of the transforming growth factor‐β superfamily which comprises a growing list of multifunctional proteins that function as modulators of cell proliferation, differentiation, hormone secretion and neuronal survival. This study examined the neuroprotective effect of both Activin A and B in serum withdrawal and oxidative stress apoptotic cellular models and investigated the expression of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic proteins, which may account for the mechanism of Activin‐induced neuroprotection. Here, we report that recombinant Activin A and B are neuroprotective against serum deprivation‐ and toxin‐ [either the parkinsonism‐inducing neurotoxin, 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) or the peroxynitrite donor, 3‐(4‐morpholinyl) sydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN‐1)] induced neuronal death in human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time that transient transfection with Activin βA or βB significantly protect SH‐SY5Y and rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells against serum withdrawal‐induced apoptosis. This survival effect is mediated by the Bcl‐2 family members and involves inhibition of caspase‐3 activation; reduction of cleaved poly‐ADP ribose polymerase and phosphorylated H2A.X protein levels and elevation of tyrosine hydroxylase expression. These results indicate that both Activin‐A and ‐B share the potential to induce neuroprotective activity and thus may have positive impact on aging and neurodegenerative diseases to retard the accelerated rate of neuronal degeneration.
Behavioral expression of cocaine sensitization in rats is accompanied by a distinct pattern of modifications in the PKA/DARPP‐32 signaling pathway
Authors: Scheggi Simona , Raone Anna , De Montis Maria Graziella , Tagliamonte Alessandro , Gambarana Carla 
Published: August 2007

AbstractRepeated cocaine administration induces behavioral sensitization and modifications in the phosphorylation pattern of dopamine and cAMP‐regulated phosphoprotein of Mr 32 000 (DARPP‐32), characterized by a tonic increase in the Thr75 phosphorylated form, and a decrease in the Thr34 phosphorylated form. This study further investigated the correlations between cocaine sensitization and modifications in the DARPP‐32 phosphorylation pattern, cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity, and mGluR5 tone in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Behavioral sensitization and modifications in these neurochemical markers followed a similar temporal pattern. Moreover, in sensitized rats acute cocaine administration modified phosphorylation levels of Thr75‐ and Thr34‐DARPP‐32, GluR1, and NR1 subunits in the nucleus accumbens only at a dose double the efficacious dose in control rats. These results suggest that the high levels of phospho‐Thr75 DARPP‐32 maintain PKA in a prevalent inhibited state. Furthermore, in sensitized rats the acute administration of 6‐methyl‐2‐(phenylethynyl)‐pyridine, a mGluR5 antagonist, reinstated the phosphorylation levels of Thr75‐ and Thr34‐DARPP‐32, GluR1, and NR1 to control values, and a subsequent cocaine challenge did not elicit a sensitized response. These data suggest that a tonic increase in mGluR5 transmission in cocaine‐sensitized rats sustains both the increase in phospho‐Thr75 DARPP‐32 levels and the expression of behavioral sensitization.
The role of the VQIVYK peptide in tau protein phosphorylation
Authors: Perez Mar , Santa‐María Ismael , Tortosa Elena , Cuadros Raquel , Valle Mercedes del , Hernández Felix , Moreno Francisco J. , Avila Jesús 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAlthough it remains unclear whether they are related to one another, tau aggregation and phosphorylation are the main pathological hallmarks of the neuronal disorders known as tauopathies. The capacity to aggregate is impaired in a variant of the tau 3R isoform that lacks residues 306–311 (nomenclature for the largest CNS tau isoform) and hence, we have taken advantage of this feature to study how phosphorylation and aggregation may be related as well as the role of this six amino acid peptide (VQIVYK). Through these analyses, we found that the phosphorylation of the tau variant was higher than that of the complete tau protein and that not only the deletion of these residues, but also the interaction of these residues, in tau 3R, with thioflavin‐S augmented tau phosphorylation by glycogen synthase kinase 3. In addition, the binding of the peptide containing the residues 306–311 to the whole tau protein provoked an increase in tau phosphorylation. This observation could be physiologically relevant as may suggest that tau–tau interactions, through those residues, facilitate tau phosphorylation. In summary, our data indicate that deletion of residues VQIVYK, in tau protein produces an increase in tau phosphorylation, without tau aggregation, because the VQIVYK peptide, that favors aggregation, is missing. On the other hand, when the whole tau protein interacts with thioflavin‐S or the peptide VQIVYK, an increase in both aggregation and phosphorylation occurs.
Characterization of microsatellite loci for the endangered cactus Echinocactus grusonii, and their cross‐species utilization
Authors: HARDESTY B. D. , HUGHES S. L. , RODRIGUEZ V. M. , HAWKINS J. A 
Published: August 2007

Abstract Echinocactus grusonii is common in trade but critically endangered in its natural habitat. With the ultimate aim of developing a certification scheme to aid in the conservation of this species, we have isolated E. grusonii microsatellites from a nonenriched library. Fifty‐seven sequences contained a microsatellite array, of which 12 were polymorphic among 30 individuals from a single wild population. All 12 microsatellite primer pairs amplified product in one or more species in a screen of 27 other cactus species.
PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of nine microsatellite loci from the chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus (Perciformes, Scombridae)
Authors: YAGISHITA N. , KOBAYASHI T. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe stock abundance of the chub mackerel Scomber japonicus — a very important species for fisheries, particularly in Japan — in the Pacific Ocean off Japan has remained at a low level. For studying the population genetics of the chub mackerel, we isolated nine polymorphic microsatellite loci (12–31 alleles/locus; expected heterozygosity, 0.762–0.983) from this species. Cross‐species amplification indicated that eight of the nine microsatellite loci in the blue mackerel S. australasicus were polymorphic and functional.
LIQUIDITY AND ASSET PRICING UNDER THE THREE‐MOMENT CAPM PARADIGM
Authors: Nguyen Duong , Mishra Suchismita , Prakash Arun , Ghosh Dilip K. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe examine whether the use of the three‐moment capital asset pricing model can account for liquidity risk. We also make a comparative analysis of a four‐factor model based on Fama–French and Pástor–Stambaugh factors versus a model based solely on stock characteristics. Our findings suggest that neither of the models captures the liquidity premium nor do stock characteristics serve as proxies for liquidity. We also find that sensitivities of stock return to fluctuations in market liquidity do not subsume the effect of characteristic liquidity. Furthermore, our empirical findings are robust to differences in market microstructure or trading protocols between NYSE/AMEX and NASDAQ.
SHORT‐MATURITY OPTIONS AND JUMP MEMORY
Authors: Arnold Tom , Hilliard Jimmy E. , Schwartz Adam 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe investigate jump memory using an extensive database of short‐term S&P 500 index options. Jump memory refers to the attenuation of the implied jump intensity and magnitude parameters following a crash event. We use a genetic algorithm to obtain a time series of implied parameter estimates and posit behavioral and rational explanations for parameter attenuation following a crash event. We find that a nested form of the jump‐diffusion model sharpens the remaining parameter estimates and has a negligible effect on pricing accuracy.
Minimising algorithm‐induced artefacts in true ortho‐image generation: a direct method implemented in the vector domain
Authors: Sheng Yongwei 
Published: August 2007

AbstractTrue ortho‐images are generated from perspective images with both object and terrain displacement distortion corrected and with occlusions removed. However, widely used algorithms based on a Z‐buffer have drawbacks and may result in artefacts in the generated ortho‐images. This paper analyses the artefacts induced by Z‐buffer algorithms in true ortho‐image generation, and proposes a vector‐based method to avoid algorithm‐induced artefacts. The proposed method treats a perspective image pixel as a square patch instead of an image pixel point, and generates ortho‐images in the vector domain. Under the vector implementation, occlusion detection is a simple process, and image resampling becomes a straightforward procedure. Most importantly, this method can minimise artefacts in the ortho‐images so generated.
Early Postnatal Stress Confers Enduring Vulnerability to Limbic Epileptogenesis
Authors: Salzberg Michael , Kumar Gaurav , Supit Laureen , Jones Nigel C. , Morris Margaret J. , Rees Sandra , O'Brien Terence J. 
Published: August 2007

Summary
Purpose: Early life stress has enduring behavioral and neuroendocrine effects, particularly in hippocampus and amygdala. This may be relevant to mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) that arises from these structures. In rats, we tested the hypothesis that early postnatal stress, in the form of maternal separation (MS), creates vulnerability to limbic epileptogenesis in adult life.
Methods: On postnatal days 2–14, we exposed male and female nonepileptic rats to either MS for 180 min/day, or early handling (EH) and brief separation (15 min/day). At 7 weeks of age, rats of both genders exposed to MS displayed significantly increased anxiety, as evidenced by reduced time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze compared with EH rats. For epileptogenesis experiments, separate cohorts of rats, similarly exposed to either early life MS or EH, were implanted with bipolar electrodes into the left amygdala and one week later rapid electrical kindling performed until fully kindled (five Class V seizures, Racine scale).
Results: In females, fewer stimulations were required following MS than EH to reach the fully kindled state (39.6 ± 6.4 vs. 67.1 ± 9.4; p < 0.0001); no differences were observed in males (MS: 49.1 ± 5.1; EH: 53.7 ± 6.6 stimulations).
Discussion: We conclude that, while postnatal MS stress increases anxiety in both genders, this early life stressor results in persisting vulnerability to limbic epileptogenesis only in females. This has implications for human MTLE and its psychiatric comorbidities, suggesting a common causation model and the involvement of gender‐specific factors such as sex hormones.
Gender Differences in Bone Mineral Density in Epilepsy
Authors: Sheth Raj D. , Binkley Neil , Hermann Bruce P. 
Published: August 2007

Summary
Purpose: Bone accrual in adolescence is a major determinant of peak bone mass and risk of osteoporotic fractures later in life. Postmenopausal women are at highest risk, although, both men and premenopausal women with epilepsy experience adverse bone effects. We examined gender differences in bone density in epilepsy.
Methods: Cross‐sectional study examining age and gender‐specific z‐score total bone mineral density (z‐BMD) in 108 ambulatory children with epilepsy between 6 and 18 years of age (61 females 12.8 ± 3.6 years; 47 males 12.4 ± 3.1 years) compared to 35 healthy controls who were first‐degree cousins of patients (21 females 13.8 ± 2.5 years and 14 males 11.7 ± 2.5 years).
Results: Patients with epilepsy accrued lower z‐BMD compared to controls (0.27 ± 0.77 vs. 0.53 ± 1.1, p < 0.05), and were reduced for both females (0.23 ± 1.1 vs. 0.47 ± 0.76; p = 0.14, NS) and males (0.3 ± 1.1 vs. 0.8 ± 0.5; p = 0.11, NS). Increasing duration of epilepsy was associated with lower BMD in males (correlation coefficient = 0.06; p = 0.05). Males with ≥6 years of epilepsy experienced the lowest z‐BMD compared to controls (−0.89 ± 0.80 vs. 0.62 ± 0.80; p = 0.45). Fractures occurred in two females with epilepsy for ≥6 years and z‐BMD of −1.5 and −2.7.
Conclusions: BMD in both males and females with epilepsy is reduced. Young males with more chronic epilepsy (≥6 years) had the lowest BMD. Age at onset of epilepsy, growth trends, and hormonal differences may underlie these gender differences. Lower bone accrual in adolescence may contribute to increased fracture risk for both men and women with epilepsy.
Role of Medium‐Chain Triglycerides in the Alcohol‐Mediated Cytochrome P450 2E1 Induction of Mitochondria
Authors: Lieber Charles S. , Cao Qi , DeCarli Leonore M. , Leo Maria A. , Mak Ki M. , Ponomarenko Anatoly , Ren Chaoling , Wang Xiaolei 
Published: August 2007

Background:  Chronic alcohol consumption is known to induce cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) leading to lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction and hepatotoxicity. We showed that replacement of dietary long‐chain triglycerides (LCT) by medium‐chain triglycerides (MCT) could be protective. We now wondered whether the induction of mitochondrial CYP2E1 plays a role and whether liver injury could be avoided through mitochondrial intervention.Methods:  Rats were fed 4 different isocaloric liquid diets. The control group received our standard dextrin‐maltose diet with intake limited to the average consumption of the 3 alcohol groups fed ad libitum the alcohol containing Lieber‐DeCarli liquid diet. The fat was either 32% of calories as LCT (alcohol), or 16% as LCT + 16% as MCT (alcohol‐MCT 16%), or 32% as MCT only (alcohol‐MCT 32%).Results:  After 21 days, compared to the controls, the alcohol and both alcohol‐MCT groups had a significant increase in mitochondrial CYP2E1 (p < 0.05 for both). As shown before, the same was found for the microsomal CYP2E1. When MCT replaced all the fat, like in the alcohol‐MCT 32% group, CYP2E1 was significantly reduced by 40% in mitochondria (p < 0.05) and 30% in microsomes (p < 0.01). In mitochondria, 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE), a parameter of oxidative stress, paralleled CYP2E1. Compared to controls, alcohol and alcohol‐MCT 16% significantly raised mitochondrial 4‐HNE (p < 0.001), whereas the alcohol‐MCT 32% diet brought it down to control levels (p < 0.001). Mitochondrial reduced glutathione (GSH) was also significantly lowered by alcohol consumption (p < 0.05), and it increased to almost normal levels with alcohol‐MCT 32% (p = 0.006). These changes in the mitochondria reflected the reduction observed in total liver in which alcohol‐MCT 32% decreased the alcohol‐induced steatosis with a diminution of triglycerides (p < 0.001) and of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor‐α (p < 0.001).Conclusion:  Mitochondria participate in the induction of CYP2E1 by alcohol and contribute to lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion. Thus, lipid composition of the diet is an important determinant for the beneficial effect of MCT, with a diet containing a mixture of LCT/MCT being ineffective.