bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethanol Acceptance Is High During Early Infancy and Becomes Still Higher After Previous Ethanol Ingestion
Authors: Sanders Sarah , Spear Norman E. 
Published: May 2007

Background: Infant (preweanling) rats readily accept ethanol without initiation procedures. During their second and third postnatal weeks, rats ingest large quantities of even high concentrations of ethanol. The present study tested the consequences of still earlier exposure to ethanol differing in concentration, mode of administration, and contextual circumstances.Methods: Every 48 hours from postnatal day 2 (P2) to P10, pups were given access to 0, 5, 15, or 25% ethanol through an independent feeding procedure (consumption off the floor; COF) or by intragastric (i.g.) administration. The amount of ethanol consumed was matched for the 2 modes of ethanol delivery. On P12 pups were tested for intake of 15% ethanol through an intraoral infusion test or COF.Results: Beginning on P6, pups ingested more ethanol solution than water, and by P8 and P10 they ingested large quantities of ethanol—1.5 to 2.0 g/kg ethanol from 15 or 25% ethanol solution within a 10‐minute period. This early experience with ingestion of ethanol increased subsequent ethanol intake on P12, particularly when concentration and mode of ingestion were the same as before.Conclusions: Intake on P12 was increased by prior exposure to ethanol intragastrically as well as by the conventional oral route, suggesting pharmacological effects of prior ethanol exposure. Yet, the apparently greater influence of prior exposure by the oral route and the influence of prior ethanol concentration also implicate the importance of ethanol's chemosensory attributes for effects of prior ethanol exposure. The equivalent g/kg intake of ethanol in 15 or 25% solutions during the early part of the second postnatal week suggests that regulation of ethanol intake at P8 and P10 is similar to that observed previously in adults. Change in aspects of ethanol ingestion at about P6 may reflect the shift in function of the GABA system at about this age.
Association Between Body Mass Index and Mortality in an 80‐Year‐Old Population
Authors: Takata Yutaka , Ansai Toshihiro , Soh Inho , Akifusa Sumio , Sonoki Kazuo , Fujisawa Kiyoshi , Awano Shuji , Kagiyama Shuntaro , Hamasaki Tomoko , Nakamichi Ikuo , Yoshida Akihiro , Takehara Tadamichi 
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in an 80‐year‐old population.DESIGN: Cohort study.SETTING: Community‐based.PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred ninety‐seven of 1,282 (54.4%) 80‐year‐old candidate individuals.MEASUREMENTS: The dates and causes of all deaths were followed up for 4 years.RESULTS: The relative hazard ratios (HRs) for all‐cause mortality were lower in overweight subjects (BMI≥25.0) than in underweight (BMI<18.5) or normal‐weight (BMI 18.5–24.9) subjects. Similarly, the HRs for mortality due to CVD in overweight subjects were 78% less (HR=0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.06–0.77) than those in underweight subjects, and those in normal weight subjects were 78% less (HR=0.22, 95% CI=0.08–0.60) than those in underweight subjects. Mortality due to CVD was 4.6 times (HR 4.64, 95% CI=1.68–12.80) as high in underweight subjects as in normal‐weight subjects, and mortality due to cancers was 88% lower (HR=0.12, 95% CI=0.02–0.78) in the overweight group than in the underweight group. There were no differences in mortality due to pneumonia.CONCLUSION: Overweight status was associated with longevity and underweight with short life, due to lower and higher mortality, respectively, from CVD and cancer.
Sociotropic Concerns and Support for Counterterrorism Policies*
Authors: Joslyn Mark R. , Haider‐Markel Donald P. 
Published: May 2007

Objective. An individual's personal experiences and perception of the collective experience are often linked to political attitudes, especially those concerning the national economy. In this article, we examine whether personal concern about terrorism and perceptions of public concern about terrorism affect attitudes about counterterrorism policies. In addition, we evaluate which factor is the strongest predictor across several counterterrorism policies.Method. We analyze individual‐level survey data collected during the fall of 2001.Results. Our results indicate that perceptions of public concerns are the strongest and most consistent predictor of policy attitudes about terrorism.Conclusion. The implications for theory about perceptions of public opinion and the competing role of personal interest and sociotropic concern are discussed.
Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs Associated with Recurrent Episodes of Atrial Fibrillation: The FRACTAL Registry
Authors: REYNOLDS MATTHEW R. , ESSEBAG VIDAL , ZIMETBAUM PETER , COHEN DAVID J. 
Published: May 2007

Introduction: Drivers of cost in the atrial fibrillation (AF) population are not fully understood. We sought to characterize the resource utilization and costs of treating new‐onset AF, with emphasis on the incremental costs associated with recurrent episodes of AF over time. Methods and Results: An inception cohort of 973 AF patients was followed at 3–6 month intervals in an observational registry over a mean of 24 ± 9 months. AF therapies, clinical outcomes, and both inpatient and outpatient medical resource utilization were tracked at each follow‐up interval. Registry patients were managed primarily with cardioversion and pharmacological therapy. Direct healthcare costs were calculated from a U.S. perspective by multiplying measures of resource utilization by representative price weights. Costs were compared among patients in whom the initial episode of AF became permanent and patients who initially achieved sinus rhythm and had either 0, 1–2, or ≥3 documented recurrences during follow‐up. Mean annual costs for these four groups were $2,372, $3,385, $6,331, and $10,312 per patient per year, respectively (P < 0.001 for trend), with the largest variation related to hospital costs. In multivariable analysis controlling for demographic characteristics and baseline cardiac and comorbid conditions, each documented recurrence of AF was found to increase annual healthcare costs by ∼$1,600. Conclusion: Following initial diagnosis, patients with AF treated with traditional therapies incur $4,000–$5,000 in annual direct healthcare costs. Costs are markedly higher in patients with multiple AF recurrences. These data may be helpful in evaluating the economic impact of new technologies for treating AF.
Effect of microthread on the maintenance of marginal bone level: a 3‐year prospective study
Authors: Lee Dong‐Won , Choi Young‐Shill , Park Kwang‐Ho , Kim Chang‐Sung , Moon Ik‐Sang 
Published: May 2007

AbstractObjectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long‐term effect of the microthread on the maintenance of marginal bone level.Material and methods: Seventeen patients were selected and two types of Astra Tech implants were installed, with the Microthread™ on the coronal portion of the fixture [Astra Tech Single Tooth Implant (ST)] or without the Microthread™ [Astra Tech TiOblast Implant (TB)]. ST and TB were installed adjacent to each other within the same partially edentulous sites and marginal bone loss was evaluated by radiographic image. The marginal bone‐level alteration of the each fixture after prosthesis insertion was analyzed.Results: The marginal bone loss of ST and TB differed significantly during the observation period (P<0.01). Marginal bone levels of both ST and TB were stabilized after 1 year of lading.Conclusions: The Microthread™ might have an effect in maintaining the marginal bone loss against loading.
A mouse model of Waardenburg syndrome type IV resulting from an ENU‐induced mutation in endothelin 3
Authors: Matera Ivana , Cockroft Jody L. , Moran Jennifer L. , Beier David R. , Goldowitz Dan , Pavan William J. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryA line of mutant mice (114‐CH19) exhibiting white spotting and preweaning lethality was identified during an N‐ethyl‐N‐nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen. The trait segregated as a semidominant bellyspot with reduced penetrance. Homozygous mutant mice showed preweaning lethality, and exhibited white spotting over the majority of the body surface, with pigmented patches remaining around the pinnae, eyes and tail. Linkage analysis localized 114‐CH19 on mouse chromosome 2, suggesting endothelin 3 (Edn3) as a candidate gene. Sequence analysis of Edn3 identified a G > A transversion that encodes an arginine to histidine substitution (R96H). This mutation is predicted to disrupt furin‐mediated proteolytic cleavage of pro‐endothelin that is necessary to form biologically active EDN3. This mutation is novel among human and mouse EDN3 mutants, is the first reported EDN3 ENU mutant, and is the second reported EDN3 point mutation. This study demonstrates the power of using ENU mutagenesis screens to generate new animal models of human disease, and expands the spectrum of EDN3 mutant alleles.
Human genetic variation studies and HLA class II loci
Authors: Agrawal S. , Khan F. , Bharadwaj U. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryHuman leucocyte antigen (HLA) loci widely known for their role in generation of immune responses by encoding cell‐surface heterodimers are often considered to be effective for the purpose of reconstructing human phylogenies due to high degree of polymorphism and less recombination. In the present study, we have made an attempt to study HLA class II loci (DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1) in inferring phylogenetic relationship based on both phylogenetic and haplotype approach. In the phylogenetic approach, the compiled database of 19 populations got segregated and finely resolved in three basal clusters with very high bootstrap values corresponding to four geo‐ethnic groups of Africans, Orientals, Americans and Caucasians. Maximum‐ likelihood phylogram has placed North Indian Hindus alongside other Caucasian populations. Haplotype analysis revealed high range of haplotype diversity with nearly 144 observed haplotypes. The haplotype distribution suggested that numbers of Caucasian‐specific haplotypes are frequently found among north Indian Hindus. Our results indicate that if the property of less recombination is explored to assign extended haplotypes, followed by strong interpretation based on more logistic statistical model, then there is a high possibility that HLA class II loci can infer exact and accurate phylogenetic assessments as revealed by mtDNA and Y‐chromosome markers.
Predicting the Long‐Term Effects of Hunting on Plant Species Composition and Diversity in Tropical Forests
Authors: Muller‐Landau Helene C. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTHunting can change abundances of vertebrate seed predators and seed dispersers, causing species‐specific changes in seed dispersal and seed predation and altering seedling communities. What are the consequences of these changes for the adult plant community in the next generation and beyond? Here, I derive equations showing how reduced seed dispersal reduces plant reproduction by intensifying kin competition, increasing vulnerability to natural enemies, and reducing the proportion of seeds passing through disperser guts. I parameterize these equations with available empirical data to estimate the likely effects on next‐generation abundances. I then consider the indirect effects and longer‐term feedbacks of changed seed or adult abundances on reproductive rates due to density‐dependent interactions with natural enemies and mutualists, as well as niche differentiation with competitors, and discuss their likely qualitative effects. The factors limiting seed disperser and seed predator populations in natural and hunted forests emerge as critical for determining the long‐term effects of hunting on rates of seed dispersal and seed predation. For example, where seed dispersers are held to a constant abundance by hunters, decreases in the availability of their preferred food plants are expected to lead to increased per‐seed dispersal probabilities, potentially to the point of compensating for the initial disperser decline. I close by discussing the likely reversibility of hunting‐induced changes in tropical forests and key questions and directions for future research.
SURVIVAL OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ON JERKY CONTAMINATED POSTPROCESSING
Authors: BOLES JANE ANN , NEARY KATHY , CLAWSON KRIS 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the survival of Listeria monocytogenes on jerky inoculated postprocessing and treated with sodium lactate or hot water dip. After drying at 60C for 3, 6, 9 or 12 h, jerky slices were removed from the smokehouse and dipped in a cocktail of L. monocytogenes. Samples were vacuum packaged (control), vacuum packaged and dipped in 72C water for 20 s or dipped in 2% sodium lactate. Samples were stored for 0, 3, 6, 9 or 12 weeks. Packages dipped in 72C water for 20 s resulted in a slight significant reduction (0.42 log) of L. monocytogenes on jerky initially compared to either the control or sodium lactate dip. After 3 weeks of storage, water dip (3.1 log reduction) was similar to control (3.2 log reduction), but had significantly fewer L. monocytogenes surviving than sodium lactate‐dipped (2.7 log reduction) slices. After 6 weeks of storage, control and water‐dipped jerky slices had below detectable limits of L. monocytogenes.
UTILIZATION OF WET OKARA IN LOW‐FAT BEEF PATTIES
Authors: TURHAN SADETTIN , TEMIZ HASAN , SAGIR INCI 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT The effects of different levels of wet okara (0, 7.5, 15, 22.5, 30 and 37.5%) on proximate composition, cholesterol content, pH, cook loss, color and sensory characteristics of low‐fat beef patties were studied. Okara addition affected some quality parameters of beef patties. While the moisture content of raw and cooked beef patties increased by the addition of okara, the protein content decreased. The addition of okara reduced the cholesterol content by about 6–56% for uncooked beef patties, and 9–42% for cooked beef patties. The cooking yield of beef patties improved by the addition of okara. The addition of okara increased the pH, and L and b values of raw beef patties and decreased the a value. The effect of wet okara on the sensory properties was statistically significant (P < 0.05), and the highest scores for overall acceptability were recorded for 7.5, 15 and 22.5% added okara. The results indicate that wet okara can be used up to 22.5% for the production of cheaper and healthier beef patties.
SOME RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF AQUEOUS PEANUT FLOUR DISPERSIONS*
Authors: DAVIS J.P. , GHARST G. , SANDERS T.H. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT The rheological behaviors of aqueous peanut flour dispersions were characterized across a range of conditions, including controlled heating and cooling rates under both large‐ and small‐strain deformations. Fat content of the dry flours influenced rheological changes, as dispersions of higher‐fat flours were less viscous than lower‐fat flours on an equal weight basis. A roast effect was also apparent, especially for dispersions of the higher‐fat flours in which light roast flours were more viscous than dark roast flours. Dispersions of toasted soy flour were more viscous at lower temperatures (<75C), but at higher temperatures, low‐fat peanut flour dispersions were more viscous than soy. Centrifugal separation revealed that the insoluble material of all dispersions primarily contributed to the observed rheological responses. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to characterize the soluble and insoluble proteins making up the various dispersions, and these results are discussed in terms of observed rheological phenomena.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSPeanut flour is a dry powder prepared after partial extraction of peanut oil from roasted peanut seed. This flour, as compared to peanut butter or whole peanut seed, has numerous functional advantages in formulated foods, including improved stability to lipid oxidation, an enriched protein content and the handling ease of a powder. However, there is no published fundamental rheological data pertaining to these ingredients. Accordingly, commercially available peanut flours with varying roast intensities and fat contents were rheologically characterized in aqueous dispersions, both in the absence and presence of heat. Residual fat content in the flours primarily affected rheological behaviors, with high‐fat flours being less viscous under equivalent conditions. A yield stress was observed in all dispersions held at 40C, which correlated with stability of the dispersion to particle settling. This data could ultimately aid texture optimization of products containing such flours.
Age-Specific Salivary Immunoglobulin A Response to
Streptococcus mutans
GbpB
Authors: Nogueira Ruchele D. , Alves Alessandra C. , King William F. , Gonçalves Reginaldo B. , Höfling José F. , Smith Daniel J. , Mattos-Graner Renata O. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT

In a follow-up study of children infected with
Streptococcus mutans
at an early age (children previously shown to respond poorly to
S. mutans
GbpB), there was a delay in their immune response, rather than a complete inability to respond to this antigen. Epitopes in the N-terminal third of GbpB were identified as targets for naturally induced immunoglobulin A antibody in children at an early age.
Levels of Ca
2+
-Dipicolinic Acid in Individual
Bacillus
Spores Determined Using Microfluidic Raman Tweezers
Authors: Huang Shu-shi , Chen De , Pelczar Patricia L. , Vepachedu Venkata Ramana , Setlow Peter , Li Yong-qing 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (dipicolinic acid [DPA]) in a 1:1 chelate with calcium ion (Ca-DPA) comprises 5 to 15% of the dry weight of spores of
Bacillus
species. Ca-DPA is important in spore resistance to many environmental stresses and in spore stability, and Ca-DPA levels in spore populations can vary with spore species/strains, as well as with sporulation conditions. We have measured levels of Ca-DPA in large numbers of individual spores in populations of a variety of
Bacillus
species and strains by using microfluidic Raman tweezers, in which a single spore is trapped in a focused laser beam and its Ca-DPA is quantitated from the intensity of the Ca-DPA-specific band at 1,017 cm
−1
in Raman spectroscopy. Conclusions from these measurements include the following: (i) Ca-DPA concentrations in the spore core are >800 mM, well above Ca-DPA solubility; (ii) SpoVA proteins may be involved in Ca-DPA uptake in sporulation; and (iii) Ca-DPA levels differ significantly among individual spores in a population, but much of this variation could be due to variations in the sizes of individual spores.
Discrepancy in Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Results Obtained for Oral Streptococci with the Etest and Agar Dilution
Authors: Mokaddas Eiman M. , Salako Nathaneal O. , Philip Leeba , Rotimi Vincent O. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT

A total of 270 viridans group streptococci (VS) isolated from healthy children, identified to the species level, were tested for their susceptibilities to penicillin, imipenem, erythromycin, and vancomycin. A total of 270 isolates and 1,080 organism-antibiotic combinations were evaluated. The overall susceptibility rates of all isolates obtained by the Etest (ET) versus agar dilution (AD) were 60.4% versus 61.8% for penicillin, 63.8% versus 63.9% for erythromycin, 90.6% versus 96% for vancomycin, and 99.1% versus 96.0% for imipenem, respectively. Major discrepancies occurred in the testing of the susceptibility of
Streptococcus mutans
to vancomycin, with 59.5% (ET) versus 100% (AD), followed by
S. salivarius
, with 84.1% versus 100%;
S. oralis
, with 82.1% versus 96.4%; and
S. mitis
, with 90% versus 100%, respectively. There were also differences in the rates of susceptibility of
S. mutans
, 66.5% (ET) versus 85.1% (AD), and
S. intermedius
, 82.9% versus 72.1%, respectively, to penicillin. General agreement between the results of ET and AD was obtained for 973 organism-antibiotic combinations out of 1,080 antibiotic combinations, i.e., 90.1%. Very major errors were found for 6.8% of isolates, and major errors were found for 3.2% of isolates; the minor errors were negligible. Agreement between the results of the two methods was 98.7% for penicillin, 94.6% for vancomycin, 96.9% for imipenem, and 99.9% for erythromycin. The highest rate of very major errors was for vancomycin, at 5.4%. The ET appears to be as efficient as AD for susceptibility testing of VS, except for vancomycin, where very major errors in the results were relatively high.
Evaluation of Direct Detection of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Rifampin Resistance by a Nitrate Reductase Assay Applied to Sputum Samples in Cotonou, Benin
Authors: Affolabi Dissou , Odoun Mathieu , Martin Anandi , Palomino Juan Carlos , Anagonou Séverin , Portaels Françoise 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate a nitrate reductase assay (NRA) performed on smear-positive sputa for the direct detection of rifampin resistance in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
. A total of 213 smear-positive sputa with a positivity score of 1+ or more (>1 acid-fast bacillus per field by fluorescence microscopy) were used in the study. The samples were decontaminated using the modified Petroff method, and portions of the resulting suspension were used to perform the NRA. The NRA results were compared with the reference indirect proportion method for 177 specimens for which comparable results were available. NRA results were obtained at day 10 for 15 specimens (9%), results for 88 specimens (50%) were obtained at day 14, results for 66 specimens (37%) were obtained at day 18, and results for the remaining 8 specimens (4%) were obtained at day 28. Thus, 96% of NRA results were obtained in 18 days. Of the 177 specimens, there was only one discrepancy (susceptible according to the NRA and resistant according to the indirect proportion method). NRA is simple to perform and provides a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective means for the detection of rifampin resistance in
M. tuberculosis
isolates.
Evidence that the Spread of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Strains with the Beijing Genotype Is Human Population Dependent
Authors: Hanekom M. , van der Spuy G. D. , van Pittius N. C. Gey , McEvoy C. R. E. , Ndabambi S. L. , Victor T. C. , Hoal E. G. , van Helden P. D. , Warren R. M. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT

This study describes a comparative analysis of the Beijing mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit types of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates from Cape Town, South Africa, and East Asia. The results show a significant association between the frequency of occurrence of strains from defined Beijing sublineages and the human population from whom they were cultured (
P
< 0.0001).
Atypical Norovirus Epidemic in Hong Kong during Summer of 2006 Caused by a New Genogroup II/4 Variant
Authors: Ho Eric C. M. , Cheng Peter K. C. , Lau Angela W. L. , Wong Ann H. , Lim Wilina W. L. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACT
An atypically high level of norovirus activity was noticed in Hong Kong beginning in early May 2006. A study was carried out to investigate whether this was caused by a new norovirus variant. Epidemiological data including monthly positivity rates and the numbers of outbreaks per month from January to July 2006 were analyzed and compared to those from 2002 to 2005. In a comparison with the epidemiological data from 2001 to 2005, an atypical peak of norovirus-associated gastroenteritis outbreak was observed beginning in May 2006, concurring with a striking increase in norovirus activity. Most of the outbreaks (>60%) were located in homes for the elderly. Phylogenetic analysis for both RdRp and 5′ capsid regions showed that this epidemic was caused by a new genogroup II/4 variant. This variant was genetically distinct from the predominant variants of 2002 and 2004 but was closely related to one of the 95/96-subset variants which caused an epidemic in Hong Kong in 2001, suggesting that the 95/96 subset may be starting to recirculate.