bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of TGF‐β1 codon 25 (G915C) polymorphism with hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Pereira Fernanda Albuquerque , da Silva Naize Nara Pinheiro , Rodart Itatiana Ferreira , Carmo Theomira Mauadie Azevedo , Lemaire Denise Carneiro , Reis Mitermayer Galvão 
Published: November 2007

AbstractCytokines play a key role in the regulation of immune responses. In hepatitis C virus infection (HCV), the production of abnormal cytokine levels appears to contribute to the progression of the disease, viral persistence, and affects response to therapy. Cytokine genes are polymorphic at specific sites, and certain polymorphisms located within coding/regulatory regions have been shown to affect the overall expression and secretion of cytokines. The aim of the present study was to identify potential markers of cytokines genes associated with the susceptibility to HCV infection. The cohort was composed of 128 individuals infected by HCV and 94 healthy controls. Genotyping was carried out by PCR‐SSP. The distributions of the following polymorphisms were compared in these groups: TNF‐α (−308G/A [rs1800629]), TGF‐β1 (codon 10 T/C [rs1982073], codon 25 G/C [rs1800471]), IL‐10 (−1082 A/G [rs 1800896]; −819T/C [rs1800871]; −592A/C [rs 1800872]), IL‐6 (−174G/C [rs1800795]), and IFN‐γ (+874T/A [rs2430561]). This study demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the frequency of TGF‐β1 codon 25 polymorphism between healthy subjects and those infected with HCV. No associations were observed between polymorphisms of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐10, TGF‐β1 codon 10, and IL‐6 and HCV infection. These findings suggest that TGF‐β1 codon 25 polymorphism could be a host genetic factor associated with susceptibility to HCV infection. J. Med. Virol. 80:58–64, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of unusual rotavirus genotypes G8P[8] and G12P[6] in South Korea
Authors: Le Van Phan , Kim Ji‐Yeon , Cho Sung‐Lim , Nam Sun‐Woo , Lim Inseok , Lee Hee‐Joong , Kim Kijeong , Chung Sang‐In , Song Wonkeun , Lee Kyu Man , Rhee Moon‐Soo , Lee Jung‐Sook , Kim Wonyong 
Published: November 2007

AbstractFive hundred four fecal specimens, collected between 2004 and 2006 from young children with acute diarrhea, were screened for rotavirus by ELISA with VP6‐specific antibody. Of these samples, 394 (78.2%) were confirmed as group A rotavirus and they underwent G‐ and P typing using a combination of ELISA, RT‐PCR, and sequence analysis methods. The dominant circulating G serotype was G1 (35.6%) followed by G3 (26.4%), G4 (14.7%), and G2 (11.9%). There was a low prevalence of G9 (1.0%) and of unusual G type rotavirus, in particular, G12 (0.5%) and G8 (0.3%). Of the P genotype rotavirus in circulation, P[8] (53.0%) was most common followed by P[6] (15.5%), P[4] (15.2%), and P[9] (2.3%). Determination of G‐ and P type combinations revealed that G1P[8] strains were most prevalent (25.4%), amid G3P[8] (16.8%), G2P[4] (6.3%), and G4P[6] (6.1%) strains. Unusual or rare combinations such as G2P[6], G2P[8], G3P[4], G2P[9], G1P[9], G3P[9], G12P[6], G1P[4], G3P[6], and G8P[8] were also found. Owing to the recent emergence of G8 and G12 rotavirus, the findings from this study are important since they provide new information concerning the local and global spread of rotavirus genotypes. J. Med. Virol. 80:175–182, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A community‐derived outbreak of adenovirus type 3 in children in Taiwan between 2004 and 2005
Authors: Chang Sui‐Yuan , Lee Chun‐Nan , Lin Pi‐Han , Huang Hsueh‐Hung , Chang Luan‐Yin , Ko Wilson , Chang Shu‐Fang , Lee Ping‐Ing , Huang Li‐Min , Kao Chuan‐Liang 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAn outbreak of respiratory adenovirus infection in children was observed in northern Taiwan between November 2004 and February 2005. Using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) to determine the serotype(s) of 172 adenovirus isolates in the outbreak period, we found that adenovirus type 3 (Ad3) was the predominant type (87.2%), followed by Ad2 (6.4%), Ad1 (4.1%), Ad7 (1.2%), Ad4 (0.6%), and Ad5 (0.6%). The genotype of Ad3 was analyzed for 15 isolates from the outbreak period by RFLP of the full‐length genome. All these isolates belonged to genotype Ad3a2. Compared with the Ad3‐infected patients in the baseline period, a significantly higher proportion of Ad3‐infected patients in the outbreak period had severe infections (58.0% vs. 40.2%, P = 0.01), which included bronchopneumonia (28.7%), exudative tonsillitis (24.1%), and tonsillitis (16.1%). Moreover, patients with severe infections were significantly younger than those without (4.10 vs. 8.15 years, P < 0.001). In summary, our study demonstrated that Ad3 was the predominant serotype responsible for the respiratory adenovirus outbreak in northern Taiwan during 2004–2005 and was associated with severe infections in the outbreak period. J. Med. Virol. 80:102–112, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Frequency and clinical significance of human β‐herpesviruses in cervical samples from Italian women
Authors: Broccolo Francesco , Cassina G. , Chiari S. , Garcia‐Parra R. , Villa A. , Leone B.E. , Brenna A. , Locatelli G. , Mangioni C. , Cocuzza C.E. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractHuman papillomaviruses (HPVs) are necessary, but not sufficient, for the development of cervical cancer (CC). Human β‐herpesviruses (β‐HHVs) have been suggested as possible cofactors in the oncogenesis of CC. In this cross‐sectional study, the prevalence and possible association of cytomegalovirus (CMV), HHV‐6 and ‐7 with HPV presence was investigated by quantitative real‐time PCR assays in cervical samples obtained from 208 italian women. The two most common high‐risk HPV types found were 31 and 16. Overall, the positive rates for CMV, HHV‐6 and HHV‐7 were 66%, 25%, and 6%, respectively. In particular, the prevalence of CMV was found to be extremely high irrespective of either the cytological category or HPV positivity. The prevalence of HHV‐6 DNA was significantly higher in high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) respect to normal women (P < 0.017); by contrast, the prevalence HHV‐7 DNA was generally low and not associated with SIL. Copresence of CMV and HHV‐6 DNA was found to be significantly higher in patients with SIL respect to normal women (P < 0.05). No correlation was demonstrated between the viral load of all three β‐HHVs and the different cytological stages or with the HPV presence. A few patients with severe disease however showed very high viral loads which for HHV‐6 may be indicative of viral integration. In conclusion, this study suggests that CMV and HHV‐7 alone are probably not implicated in the oncogenesis of CC whilst HHV‐6 alone or together with CMV may contribute to the development of CC. J. Med. Virol. 80:147–153, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of diatomaceous earth on the performance and blood variables of broiler chicks during experimental aflatoxicosis
Authors: Modirsanei Mehrdad , Mansoori Behzad , Khosravi Ali Reza , Kiaei Mohammad Mehdi , Khazraeinia Parvaneh , Farkhoy Mohsen , Masoumi Zahra 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND: Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a type of tectosilicate found in large quantities in Iran. It is possible that this compound can absorb mycotoxins. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of DE on experimental aflatoxicosis in broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. In four treatments of four replicates, 160 one‐day‐old Hubbard male chicks were subjected to two levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (0 and 1.0 mg kg−1) and DE (0 and 30 mg kg−1)RESULTS: Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and productive efficiency index were adversely affected in the chicks treated with AFB1. Weight of heart was significantly decreased (20.3%) by AFB1 (P < 0.05). Serum total protein, albumin, and the activity of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were decreased by AFB1. DE significantly (P < 0.05) increased body weight gain (9.51%), feed intake (7.44%), and improved feed conversion ratio (2.08%) as well as productive efficiency index (5.48%) in the birds that subjected to AFB1 DE also increased serum albumin (22.6%), and the activity of serum LDH (44.4%).CONCLUSION: DE might be beneficial in reducing toxic effects of AFB1 in broilers. It is possible to include DE as an alternative to other mycotoxin binders at levels of 30 mg kg−1 in the diets on offer to broilers between the ages of 1 and 42 days. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Position, leverage and opportunity: a typology of strategic logics linking resources with competitive advantage
Authors: Bingham Christopher B. , Eisenhardt Kathleen M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe resource‐based view's (RBVs) contribution toward understanding competitive advantage remains unfulfilled. A reason is the confounding of the concept of resources with RBVs strategic logic. We disentangle these by developing a typology of strategic logics (i.e., leverage, position, and opportunity) that specify alternative theoretical pathways linking resources with competitive advantage. We clarify their market assumptions, relevant performance objectives, and managerial challenges. Besides introducing the logic of opportunity, we indicate the central insight that competitive advantage stems from the linkages among resources, not just their attributes. Thus, while VRIN resources may be useful for creating advantage, they may be neither necessary nor sufficient for competitive advantage to ensue. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensing of diurnal and semi‐diurnal variability in the water vapour content in the tropics using GPS measurements
Authors: Pramualsakdikul Surat , Haas Rüdiger , Elgered Gunnar , Scherneck Hans‐Georg 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe diurnal and semi‐diurnal variability of the integrated precipitable water vapour (IPWV) was studied by using Global Positioning System (GPS) data (1998–2004) from 14 International GNSS Service (IGS) stations located between latitudes 20°S and 20°N, and longitudes 70° –170°E. The phases and amplitudes of the IPWV are compared to the corresponding estimates from two numerical weather models (NWMs). Results reveal that there are diurnal amplitudes of more than 0.4 mm for most sites, except sites on small islands in the ocean. The maximum diurnal amplitude is 3 mm at Bakosurtanal, Indonesia. The estimated semi‐diurnal signals are in general small. The maximum of the IPWV typically occurs between 1200 and 2400 local solar time. The results suggest that GPS data are useful for high‐temporal‐resolution studies of IPWV. The accuracy of the estimated diurnal amplitudes is limited by the use of a simple model for the mean temperature of the wet refractivity, and the accuracy of the estimated semi‐diurnal amplitudes is likely to be improved by a higher temporal resolution of the ground pressure data at the GPS sites. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
A time series analysis on the seasonality of air temperature anomalies
Authors: Wakaura Masatsugu , Ogata Yosihiko 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSurface air temperature anomalies relative to seasonal variations are of great concern from a long‐term forecasting perspective. This article is concerned with marginally normalized time series in which the original data of the temperatures are standardized using the mean values and variances of the estimated deterministic seasonal cycles. A particular parametric form of a non‐stationary auto‐regressive (AR) model to quantify the anomalies is considered, by applying it to the normalized data. This model fits substantially better than an ordinary AR model for normalized datasets of the surface air temperature obtained from almost all of the stations in Japan, and exhibits a significant seasonal structure in their auto‐correlation. The model is applied to high‐pass filtered data to investigate the relation between the seasonal structure and a high‐frequency variability in anomalies, which helps in determining the climatic influence on anomalies of surface air temperature in Japan. Furthermore, an illustrative example in the pricing of weather derivatives to achieve better performance of the non‐stationary model than that of the ordinary AR model is presented. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
The economic value of weather forecasts for decision‐making problems in the profit/loss situation
Authors: Lee Ki‐Kwang , Lee Joong‐Woo 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis article presents a method to estimate the economic value of forecasts for profit‐oriented enterprise decision‐making problems related to the levels of preparations for goods or services. The sales of goods or services in the study are supposed to be influenced and predicted by meteorological variables. Value is calculated in terms of monetary profit (or benefit) returned from the user's decision under the specific payoff structure, which is represented by a profit/loss ratio model. The decision is determined as a function of the user's subjective reliability of forecasts and forecast probability. The resulting value score (VS) curve shows the scaled economic values relative to the value of a perfect forecast, specified by a function of the profit/loss ratios for different decision makers. The proposed evaluation method, based on the profit/loss ratio model and the VS, is illustrated using hypothetical sets of forecasts, and later verified by applying site‐specific probability and deterministic forecasts, each of which is generated from the Korea and China Meteorological Administrations (KMA and CMA). The application results show that decision makers with high subjective reliability of forecasts can receive great benefits from a given forecast, and there are ranges of profit/loss ratios in which each of the forecast sources used for the evaluation is preferred. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Brominated flame retardants in US food
Authors: Schecter Arnold , Harris T. Robert , Shah Nirav , Musumba Alice , Päpke Olaf 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe and others recently began studying brominated flame retardant levels in various matrices in the US including human milk and other food. This paper reviews the food studies. In our studies, ten to thirteen polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners were measured, usually including BDE 209. All US women's milk samples were contaminated with PBDEs from 6 to 419 ng/g, lipid, orders of magnitude higher than levels reported in European studies, and are the highest reported worldwide. We compared our market basket studies of meat, fish and dairy products with other US food studies of meat and fish. US studies showed somewhat higher levels of PBDEs than reported elsewhere. Fish were most highly contaminated (median 616 pg/g), then meat (median190 pg/g) and dairy products (median 32.2 pg/g). However, unlike some European countries where fish predominates, dietary intake of PBDEs in the US is mostly from meat, then fish and then dairy products. Broiling can decrease the amount of PBDEs per serving. We also measured levels of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), another brominated flame retardant, in human milk. The levels are lower than PBDEs, 0.16–1.2 ng/g, similar to European levels, unlike PBDEs where US levels are much higher than European levels.
Tumor necrosis factor‐α antagonists and neuropathy
Authors: Stübgen Joerg‐Patrick 
Published: November 2007

AbstractTumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α plays an important role in many aspects of immune system development, immune‐response regulation, and T‐cell–mediated tissue injury. The evidence that TNF‐α, released by autoreactive T cells and macrophages, may contribute to the pathogenesis of immune‐mediated demyelinating neuropathies is reviewed. TNF‐α antagonists (infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab) are indicated for the treatment of advanced inflammatory rheumatic and bowel disease, but these drugs can induce a range of autoimmune diseases that also attack the central and peripheral nervous systems. Case histories and series report on the association between anti–TNF‐α treatment and various disorders of peripheral nerve such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, Miller Fisher syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block, mononeuropathy multiplex, and axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathies. The proposed pathogeneses of TNF‐α–associated neuropathies include both a T‐cell and humoral immune attack against peripheral nerve myelin, vasculitis‐induced nerve ischemia, and inhibition of signaling support for axons. Most neuropathies improve over a period of months by withdrawal of the TNF‐α antagonist, with or without additional immune‐modulating treatment. Preliminary observations suggest that TNF‐α antagonists may be useful as an antigen‐nonspecific treatment approach to immune‐mediated neuropathies in patients with a poor response to, or intolerance of, standard therapies, but further studies are required. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Effects of high‐intensity focused ultrasound on nerve conduction
Authors: Foley Jessica L. , Little James W. , Vaezy Shahram 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe effects of various exposures (intensity, duration) of high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on sciatic nerve conduction were investigated in vivo in rats. The objective was to identify HIFU exposures that produce biological effects ranging from partial to complete conduction block, indicating potential use of HIFU as an alternative to current clinical methods of inducing nerve conduction block. In the study, 26 nerves were exposed and treated with 5‐s applications of 5.7‐MHZ HIFU with acoustic intensities of 390, 2,255, 3,310, and 7,890 W/cm2 (spatial peak, temporal peak). Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), in response to electrical stimulation of the nerve proximal to the HIFU site, were recorded from the plantar foot muscles immediately before and after HIFU treatment and 2 and 4 h after treatment. Furthermore, a preliminary long‐term investigation was performed on 27 nerves with the same four sets of HIFU parameters. CMAPs were measured at the survival endpoint for each animal (7 or 28 days after treatment). For nerves treated with the three lower exposures, CMAPs decreased initially within 4 h or 7 days after HIFU treatment and then recovered to their baseline level at 28 days after treatment. For the highest exposure, however, CMAPs remained absent even 28 days after treatment. These exposure‐dependent effects of HIFU on nerve function suggest its future potential as a novel treatment for severe spasticity and pain. Muscle Nerve, 2007
A model of capillary cohesion for numerical simulations of 3D polydisperse granular media
Authors: Richefeu V. , El Youssoufi M. S. , Peyroux R. , Radjaï F. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe present a 3D discrete‐element approach for numerical investigation of wet granular media. This approach relies on the basic laws of contact and Coulomb friction enriched by a capillary force law between particles. We show that the latter can be expressed as a simple explicit function of the gap and volume of the liquid bridge connecting a pair of spherical particles. The length scales involved in this expression are analyzed by comparing with direct integration of the Laplace–Young equation. We illustrate and validate this approach by application to direct shear and simple compression loadings. The shear and compression strengths obtained from simulations reproduce well the experimental measurements under similar material and boundary conditions. Our findings clearly show that the number density of liquid bonds in the bulk is a decisive parameter for the overall cohesion of wet granular materials. A homogeneous distribution of the liquid within the bridge debonding distance, even at low volume contents, leads to the highest cohesion. The latter is independent of the liquid content as far as the liquid remains in the pendular state and the number density of liquid bonds remains constant. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomics of the aqueous humor in healthy New Zealand rabbits
Authors: Stastna Miroslava , Behrens Ashley , Noguera Guillermo , Herretes Samantha , McDonnell Peter , Van Eyk Jennifer E. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThere are several physiological roles postulated for aqueous humor, a liquid located in the anterior and posterior chamber of the eye, such as maintenance of the intraocular pressure, provision of nutrients, and removal of metabolic waste from neighboring tissues and provision of an immune response and protection during inflammation and infection. To link these function to specific or classes of proteins, identification of the aqueous humor proteome is essential. Aqueous humor obtained from healthy New Zealand white rabbits was analyzed using three synergistic protein separation methods: 1‐D gel electrophoresis, 2‐DE, and 1‐DLC (RPLC) prior to protein identification by MS. As each of these separation methods separates intact proteins based on different physical properties (pIs, molecular weights, hydrophobicity, solubility, etc.) the proteome coverage is expanded. This was confirmed, since overlap between all three separation technologies was only about 8.2% with many proteins found uniquely by a single method. Although the most dominant protein presented in normal aqueous humor is albumin, by using this extensive separation/MS strategy, additional proteins were identified in total amount of 98 nonredundant proteins (plus an additional ten proteins for consideration). This expands the current protein identifications by approximately 65%. The aqueous humor proteome comprises a specific selection of cellular and plasma based proteins and can almost exclusively be divided into four functional groups: cell–cell interactions/wound healing, proteases and protease inhibitors, antioxidant protection, and antibacterial/anti‐inflammatory proteins.
Darifenacin: first M3 receptor antagonist for overactive bladder
Authors: Chaplin Steve , Chapple Christopher 
Published: November 2007

AbstractDarifenacin (Emselex) is the first antimuscarinic agent to target the M3 receptor that is associated with detrusor muscle contraction. In our New products review Steve Chaplin presents the clinical data relating to its efficacy and adverse effects, and Professor Christopher Chapple comments on its place in the treatment of overactive bladder. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Interface Ltd
Differences in fecal particle size between free‐ranging and captive individuals of two browser species
Authors: Hummel Jürgen , Fritz Julia , Kienzle Ellen , Medici E. Patricia , Lang Stefanie , Zimmermann Waltraut , Streich W. Jürgen , Clauss Marcus 
Published: November 2007

AbstractData from captive animals indicated that browsing (BR) ruminants have larger fecal particles—indicative of lesser chewing efficiency—than grazers (GR). To answer whether this reflects fundamental differences between the animal groups, or different reactions of basically similar organisms to diets fed in captivity, we compared mean fecal particle size (MPS) in a GR and a BR ruminant (aurox Bos primigenius taurus, giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis) and a GR and a BR hindgut fermenter (Przewalski's horse Equus ferus przewalskii, lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris), both from captivity and from the wild. As would be expected owing to a proportion of finely ground, pelleted feeds in captive diets, MPS was smaller in captive than free‐ranging GR. In contrast, MPS was drastically higher in captive than in free‐ranging BR of either digestion type. Thus, the difference in MPS between GR and BR was much more pronounced among captive than free‐ranging animals. The results indicate that BR teeth have adapted to their natural diet so that in the wild, they achieve a particle size reduction similar to that of GR. However, although GR teeth seem equally adapted to food ingested in captivity, the BR teeth seem less well suited to efficiently chew captive diets. In the case of ruminants, less efficient particle size reduction could contribute to potential clinical problems like “rumen blockage” and bezoar formation. Comparisons of MPS between free‐ranging and captive animals might offer indications for the physical suitability of zoo diets. Zoo Biol 27:70–77, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.