bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of stearic acid on plasma lipid and lipoproteins in humans
Authors: Mensink Ronald P. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractMore than 40 years ago, saturated FA with 12, 14, and 16 carbon atoms (lauric acid, myristic acid, and palmitic acid) were demonstrated to be “hypercholesterolemic saturated FA.” It was further concluded that the serum total cholesterol level would hardly be changed by isocaloric replacement of stearic acid (18∶0) by oleic acid (cis‐18∶1n−9) or carbohydrates. These earlier studies did not address the effects of the various FA on the serum lipoprotein profile. Later studies found that the hypercholesterolemic saturated FA increase serum total cholesterol levels by raising concentrations of both the atherogenic LDL and the antiatherogenic HDL. Consequently, the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol will hardly change when carbohydrates replace these saturated FA. Compared with other saturated FA, stearic acid lowers LDL cholesterol. Studies on the effects on HDL cholesterol are less conclusive. In some, the effects on HDL cholesterol were comparable to those of palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, whereas in others a decrease was observed. This may suggest that in this respect the source of stearic acid is of importance, which needs however further study. From all these studies, however, it can be concluded that stearic acid may decrease the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol slightly when compared with palmitic or myristic acid. Without doubt, the effects of stearic acid are more favorable than those of trans monounsaturated FA.
Mitochondrial cholesterol transport: A possible target in the management of hyperlipidemia
Authors: Hall E. A. , Ren S. , Hylemon P. B. , Redford K. , del Castillo A. , Gil G. , Pandak W. M. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractSterol 27‐hydroxylase (CYP27A1) may defend cells against accumulation of excess cholesterol, making this enzyme a possible target in the management of hyperlipidemia. The study objective was to analyze cholesterol homeostatic responses to increases in CYP27A1 activity in HepG2 cells and primary human hepatocytes. Increasing CYP27A1 activity by increasing enzyme expression led to significant increases in bile acid synthesis with compensatory increases in HMG‐CoA reductase (HMGR) activity/protein, LDL receptor (LDLR) mRNA, and LDLR‐mediated cholesterol uptake. Under these conditions, only a small increase in cellular 27‐hydroxycholesterol (27OH‐Chol) concentration was observed. No changes were detected in mature sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins (SREBP) 1 or 2. Increasing CYP27A1 activity by increasing mitochondrial cholesterol transport (i.e., substrate availability) led to greater increases in bile acid synthesis with significant increases in cellular 27OH‐Chol concentration. Mature SREBP 2 protein decreased significantly with compensatory decreases in HMGR protein. No change was detected in mature SREBP 1 protein. Despite increasing 27OH‐Chol and lowering SREBP 2 protein concentrations, LDLR mRNA increased significantly, suggesting alternative mechanisms of LDLR transcriptional regulation. These findings suggest that regulation of liver mitochondrial cholesterol transport represents a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.
Lipoprotein‐apolipoprotein changes in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Cassader Maurizio , Ruiu Gianluca , Gambino Roberto , Alemanno Natalina , Triolo Giorgio , Veglia Fabrizio , Pagano Gianfranco 
Published: November 2006

AbstractRecent studies have demonstrated that the incidence of cardiovascular events occurring with renal transplantation is higher than that in the general population. Renal transplantation modifies the characteristic dyslipidemia of chronic renal failure. In this study the change in lipoprotein and lipid values of 103 transplant recipients after transplantation was investigated. The aim of our work was to examine the short‐term and long‐term variations in lipid metabolism. The major lipoprotein fractions (VLDL, LDL, HDL) were separated by preparative ultracentrifugation, and TG and cholesterol concentrations were determined in plasma and lipoprotein fractions. Whole plasma apolipoproteins were determined by a rate immunonephelometric technique. In the pretransplant period the patients displayed the typical picture of uremics. After transplantation the most evident alterations in the lipoprotein profile occurred in our case series after 3 mon. The major finding was a 35% reduction in plasma TG. The modifications in the TG‐rich lipoproteins of our transplant recipients persisted throughout the observation period. In the initial 3‐mon period, total cholesterol remained steady, whereas LDL‐cholesterol and total apolipoprotein B showed a significant increase. No significant changes were found in total and transported TG and cholesterol between the 3‐mon and the 6‐yr values. The substantial stability of cholesterol levels after transplantation and in subsequent reports, as well as a higher incidence of cardiovascular complications, may suggest that the mechanisms responsible for vessel damage must be sought mainly in the structural and physicochemical alterations of the individual lipoprotein fractions or in other risk factors.
Associations between apolipoprotein E genotype and circulating F2‐isoprostane levels in humans
Authors: Dietrich Marion , Hu Youqing , Block Gladys , Olano Estibaliz , Packer Lester , Morrow Jason D. , Hudes Mark , Abdukeyum Gulbahar , Rimbach Gerald , Minihane Anne M. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractApolipoprotein E (apoE), an important determinant of plasma lipoprotein metabolism, has three common alleles (ε2, ε3, and ε4). Population studies have shown that the risk of diseases characterized by oxidative damage, such as coronary heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, is significantly higher in ɛ4 carriers. We evaluated the association between apoE genotypes and plasma F2‐isoprostane levels, an index of lipid peroxidation, in humans. Two hundred seventy‐four healthy subjects (104 males, 170 females; 46.9±13.0 yr; 200 whites, 74 blacks; 81 nonsmokers, 64 passive smokers, and 129 active smokers) recruited for a randomized clinical antioxidant intervention trial were included in this analysis. ApoE genotype was determined by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Free plasma F2‐isoprostane was measured by GC‐MS. Genotype groups were compared using multiple regression analysis with adjustment for sex, age, race, smoking status, body mass index, plasma ascorbic acid, and β‐carotene. Subjects with ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4 genotype (ε4‐carriers) and with ε2/ε3 and ε3/ε3 (non‐ε4‐carriers) were pooled for analysis. In subjects with high cholesterol levels (total cholesterol above 200 mg/dl), plasma F2‐isoprostane levels were 29% higher in ε4 carriers than in non‐ε4‐carriers (P=0.0056). High‐cholesterol subjects that are ε4 carriers have significantly higher levels of lipid peroxidation as assessed by circulating F2‐isoprostane levels.
The impact of age, body mass index, and fish intake on the EPA and DHA content of human erythrocytes
Authors: Sands Scott A. , Reid Kimberly J. , Windsor Sheryl L. , Harris William S. 
Published: November 2006

Abstractn−3 FA are beneficial for cardiovascular health, reducing platelet aggregation, TG levels, and the risk of sudden death from myocardial infarction. The percentage of EPA + DHA in red blood cells (RBC), also known as the Omega‐3 Index, has recently been proposed as a risk marker for death from coronary heart disease (CHD). The purpose of this study was to begin to explore the factors that can influence RBC EPA + DHA. We collected information on the number of servings of tuna or nonfried fish consumed per month, as well as on age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status, the presence of diabetes, and body mass index (BMI) in 163 adults in Kansas City who were not taking fish oil supplements. The average RBC EPA + DHA in this population was 4.9±2.1%. On a multivariate analysis, four factors significantly and independently influenced the Omega‐3 Index: fish servings, age, BMI, and diabetes. The Index increased by 0.24 units with each additional monthly serving of tuna or nonfried fish (P<0.0001), and by 0.5 units for each additional decade in age (P<0.0001). The Index was 1.13% units lower in subjects with diabetes (P=0.015) and decreased by 0.3% units with each 3‐unit increase in BMI (P=0.001). Gender or smoking status had no effect, and the univariate relationship with ethnicity vanished after controlling for deathfrom CHD, further studies are warranted to delineate the nondietary factors that influence RBC EPA + DHA content.
A video method for empirically studying wait‐perception bias
Authors: Seawright Kristie K. , Sampson Scott E. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractCustomer queues resemble inventories of goods in that they both incur costs of waiting. However, the immediate costs of customer queues are primarily psychological, with subsequent costs being customer dissatisfaction and reduced future sales. A fundamental element of psychological waiting costs is wait‐perception bias, which is the propensity to overestimate (or underestimate) the passage of time spent waiting. In 1985, Maister proposed a number of principles that affect wait‐perception bias [Maister, D., 1985. The psychology of waiting lines. In: Czepiel, J., Solomon, M., Surprenant, C. (Eds.), The Service Encounter. Lexington Books, Lexington, MA, pp. 113–123]. Maister's principles have been frequently quoted in operations management literature, but they have rarely been put to empirical test. One challenge in trying to test these principles is that traditional empirical methods can make it very difficult to accurately represent specific waiting conditions while controlling for confounding factors.This article describes a video‐based data collection methodology for studying wait‐perception bias. We specifically look at Maister's principle about the impact of wait explanation on wait‐perception bias. Results show that there is a significant difference in wait‐perception bias due to the presence or absence of an explanation, but that whether the explanation focuses on customer cause or server cause makes little difference. The findings provide needed empirical support for one of Maister's principles, with additional contribution being the development of a video‐based research methodology that is able to enrich queuing research by enabling the study of wait‐perception bias.
Effect of Surgical Hand Scrub Time on Subsequent Bacterial Growth
Authors: Wheelock Sean McKay , Lookinland Sandra 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTIn this experimental study, the researchers evaluated the effect of surgical hand scrub time on subsequent bacterial growth and assessed the effectiveness of the glove juice technique in a clinical setting. In a randomized crossover design, 25 perioperative staff members scrubbed for two or three minutes in the first trial and vice versa in the second trial, after which they wore sterile surgical gloves for one hour under clinical conditions. The researchers then sampled the subjects' nondominant hands for bacterial growth, cultured aliquots from the sampling solution, and counted microorganisms. Scrubbing for three minutes produced lower mean log bacterial counts than scrubbing for two minutes. Although the mean bacterial count differed significantly (P =.02) between the two‐minute and three‐minute surgical hand scrub times, it fell below 0.5 log, which is the threshold for practical and clinical significance. This finding suggests that a two‐minute surgical hand scrub is clinically as effective as a three‐minute surgical hand scrub. The glove juice technique demonstrated sensitivity and reliability in enumerating bacteria on the hands of perioperative staff members in a clinical setting. AORN J 65 (June 1997) 1087‐1098.
THE EFFECT OF HUSBANDS’ FERTILITY PREFERENCES ON COUPLES’ REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN RURAL BANGLADESH
Authors: HOSSAIN MIAN B. , PHILLIPS JAMES F. , MOZUMDER A. B. M. KHORSHED A. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryBangladesh society is profoundly gender stratified, and yet male roles in reproductive health processes have not been rigorously investigated. This study examines the association between men’s reproductive health knowledge, attitude and behaviour and their wives’ subsequent reproductive behaviour using longitudinal data from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). A total of 4969 matched husband-and-wife data from a 1998 survey and women’s contraceptive use history data following this survey are used. Results show a significant association between husbands’ fertility preferences and current use of any family planning method. When wives’ background characteristics, and husbands’ background and socioeconomic characteristics are controlled for, the predicted probability of using a method of contraception among non-educated wives whose husbands want more children is 0·49 compared with 0·64 for those whose husbands do not want more children. However, the net effect of husbands’ preference for additional children diminishes as wives’ level of education increases. Among wives who had completed high school, the predicted probability of using a method of contraception is 0·70 for those whose husbands want more children compared with 0·69 for those whose husbands do not want more children.
The social environment compresses the diversity of genetic aberrations into the uniformity of schizophrenia manifestations
Authors: Behrendt Ralf-Peter 
Published: November 2006

Genetically and neurodevelopmentally, there may be a thousand schizophrenias, yet there would be no schizophrenia at all without active contribution from all of us; none – outside the primitive processes that regulate our relationship with one another. In order to understand the nature of schizophrenia as it unfolds relatively uniformly in the social context, we need to depart from an evolutionarily more feasible understanding of society.
Archaeology and cultural macroevolution
Authors: O'Brien Michael J. 
Published: November 2006

Given the numerous parallels between the archaeological and paleontological records, it is not surprising to find a considerable fit between macroevolutionary approaches and methods used in biology – for example, cladistics and clade-diversity measures – and some of those that have long been used in archaeology – for example, seriation. Key, however, is recognizing that this methodological congruence is illusory in terms of how evolution has traditionally been viewed in biology and archaeology.
ARTISTS AND ALCHEMISTS IN PROUST'S
A LA RECHERCHE DU TEMPS PERDU
Authors: Topping Margaret 
Published: November 2006

Abstract

This article explores the significance of a network of images drawn from the world of alchemy that is present as a persistent undercurrent in Marcel Proust's
A la recherche du temps perdu
. It is argued that alchemical images — of transmutation, crucibles and gold itself — provide emblematic markers, within the diegesis of the novel, for the narrator-protagonist's evolution to creation. These images encompass the full hierarchy of aspirations of the alchemist, from financial gain to the spiritual transcendence sought by the true initiate. Indeed,
A la recherche
charts a metaphorical progression from material to spiritual ideals. In tracing out the narrator-initiate's path, alchemical images draw in such key themes as art, society and desire, and encompass a very Proustian range of tones and effects, from the celebratory to the satirical. The article also aligns Proust as novelistic creator with the alchemist of style and perception who transmutes the base matter of observation and experience into gold. In this respect, Proust is situated in relation to a broader nineteenth-century artistic emphasis on transfiguration rather than imitation.
FROM THIRD-WORLDISM TO FOURTH-WORLD
FLÂNERIE
? FRANÇOIS MASPERO'S RECENT JOURNEYS
Authors: Milne Anne-Louise 
Published: November 2006

Abstract

This article explores the transformation of 1960s internationalism into a preoccupation with urban relations in the increasingly international city of Paris as it is reflected in the work of François Maspero. It considers whether peripheral communities continue to be identified with the potential for social and political renewal, and charts the way in which Maspero structures his interaction with the suburban Other. It compares this interaction with the well-known pose of the
flâneur
, which is both intimately associated with Paris and more generally perceived as emblematic of a self-consciously modern way of negotiating the city. In so doing it assesses the political ambitions of Maspero's recent works and considers to what extent they continue a mode of militant intellectual action generally perceived to have ended in the wake of May 1968.
Changes in large herbivore populations across large areas of Tanzania
Authors: Stoner Chantal , Caro Tim , Mduma Simon , Mlingwa Charles , Sabuni George , Borner Markus , Schelten Christiane 
Published: November 2006

AbstractWe collated aerial census data collected during the late 1980s to early 2000s for large herbivore populations in eight large census zones in Tanzania. Of the ungulate populations that showed significant changes in densities at the start versus end of this decade, most declined; very few populations increased significantly. Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, hartebeest, reedbuck, roan antelope, sable antelope, warthog and zebra, for example, declined in over 50% of the zones where they were surveyed. Interestingly, small‐bodied species fared particularly poorly in many census zones, whereas elephant and giraffe generally fared well across the country. Most populations of all herbivores declined in some portions of the country (e.g. Burigi‐Biharamulo, Katavi, Greater Ruaha and Tarangire census zones). These surveys suggest that, even in a country renowned for its protected areas and conservation commitment, some large herbivore populations need more conservation attention in order to remain stable.
Unmasking of central hypothyroidism following growth hormone replacement in adult hypopituitary patients
Authors: Agha Amar , Walker Dorothy , Perry Les , Drake William M. , Chew Shern L. , Jenkins Paul J. , Grossman Ashley B. , Monson John P. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryBackground  The effect of GH replacement on thyroid function in hypopituitary patients has hitherto been studied in small groups of children and adults with conflicting results.Objective  We aimed to define the effect and clinical significance of adult GH replacement on thyroid status in a large cohort of GH‐deficient patients.Patients and method  We studied 243 patients with severe GH deficiency due to various hypothalamo‐pituitary disorders. Before GH treatment, 159 patients had treated central hypothyroidism (treated group) while 84 patients were considered euthyroid (untreated group). GH dose was titrated over 3 months to achieve serum IGF‐1 concentration in the upper half of the age‐adjusted normal range. Serial measurements of serum T4, T3, TSH and quality of life were made at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after commencing GH replacement.Results  In the untreated group, we observed a significant reduction in serum T4 concentration without a significant increase in serum T3 or TSH concentration; 30/84 patients (36%) became hypothyroid and needed initiation of T4 therapy. Similar but lesser changes were seen in the treated group, 25 of whom (16%) required an increase in T4 dose. Patients who became hypothyroid after GH replacement had lower baseline serum T4 concentration, were more likely to have multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies and showed less improvement in quality of life compared with patients who remained euthyroid.Conclusion  GH deficiency masks central hypothyroidism in a significant proportion of hypopituitary patients and this is exposed after GH replacement. We recommend that hypopituitary patients with GH deficiency and low normal serum T4 concentration should be considered for T4 replacement prior to commencement of GH in order to provide a robust baseline from which to judge the clinical effects of GH replacement.
Mycorrhizal responses to nitrogen fertilization in boreal ecosystems: potential consequences for soil carbon storage
Authors: TRESEDER KATHLEEN K. , TURNER KATIE M. , MACK MICHELLE C. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractMycorrhizal fungi can contribute to soil carbon sequestration by immobilizing carbon in living fungal tissues and by producing recalcitrant compounds that remain in the soil following fungal senescence. We hypothesized that nitrogen (N) fertilization would decrease these carbon stocks, because plants should reduce investment of carbon in mycorrhizal fungi when N availability is high. We measured the abundance of two major groups of mycorrhizal fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, in the top 10 cm of soil in control and N‐fertilized plots within three Alaskan boreal ecosystems that represented different recovery stages following severe fire. Pools of mycorrhizal carbon included root‐associated AM and ECM structures; soil‐associated AM hyphae; and glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by AM fungi. Total mycorrhizal carbon pools decreased by approximately 50 g C m−2 in the youngest site under N fertilization, and this reduction was driven mostly by glomalin. Total mycorrhizal carbon did not change significantly in the other sites. Root‐associated AM structures were more abundant under N fertilization across all sites, and root‐associated ECM structures increased marginally significantly. We found no significant N effects on AM hyphae. Carbon sequestered within living mycorrhizal structures (0.051–0.21 g m−2) was modest compared with that of glomalin (33–203 g m−2). We conclude that our hypothesis was only supported in relation to glomalin stocks within one of the three study sites. As N effects on glomalin were inconsistent among sites, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying this variation would improve our ability to predict ecosystem feedbacks to global change.
Genetic multivariate calibration for near infrared spectroscopic determination of protein, moisture, dry mass, hardness and other residues of wheat
Authors: Özdemir Durmuş 
Published: November 2006

SummaryDetermination of wheat flour quality parameters, such as protein, moisture, dry mass by wet chemistry analyses takes long time. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) coupled with multivariate calibration offers a fast and nondestructive alternative to obtain reliable results. However, due to the complexity of the spectra obtained from NIR, some wavelength selection is generally required to improve the predictive ability of multivariate calibration methods. In this study, two different wheat data sets are investigated with the aim of establishing successful calibration models using NIR spectra of wheat samples. The first data set (material 1) was obtained from the ftp address (ftp://ftp.clarkson.edu/pub/hopkepk/Chemdata/) and contained 100 NIR spectra of wheat of which wet chemical analysis of protein and moisture content were done with reference methods. The second data set (material 2) contained 176 spectra and was downloaded from http://www.spectroscopynow.com/Spy/basehtml/SpyH/1,1181,2‐1‐2‐0‐0‐newsdetail‐0‐74,00.html. This wheat data set was given with the quality parameters, such as protein content, moisture content, other residues, dry mass, protein content in dry mass and hardness that were determined previously. Multivariate calibration models generated with genetic inverse least squares method demonstrated very good prediction results for the parameter mentioned here. Overall, the average per cent recoveries (APR) ranged between 99.23% and 100.34% with a standard deviation (SD) ranging from 0.34 to 3.15 for all the parameters investigated, except hardness. The APR value of hardness was 103.32 with the SD of 14.97.