bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Power of Games and the Games of Power in Rural Iran
Authors: Keshavjee Rafique H. 
Published: July 2007

To some, it might seem frivolous to speak of village games when issues such as freedom and democracy, factions and socio-political configurations of a larger order loom in Iran. However, this paper hopes to demonstrate that these games, by their very frivolity, reveal and help resolve tensions not only in the village, but ones that lie at the very core of society. The village might have been where they were observed, but such events can become a window to basic questions such as how society continues in spite of tension and conflict.The games were observed over Nawruz, the Persian new year which coincides with the vernal equinox, during fieldwork conducted between 1976 and 1979 on the mystical roots of the modernization of the Isma'ilis of Iran. The data, in the form of films of the games and notes from observations and interviews, was collected in villages north of the town of Birjand, southern Khurasan.
Banking and Credit Rationing Under the Islamic Republic of Iran
Authors: Valibeigi Mehrdad 
Published: July 2007

Since the Iranian revolution of 1979, the Iranian banking system and practices have changed significantly. Shortly after the revolution, according to a decree by the Revolutionary Council, banks and insurance companies were nationalized. In 1980 and 1982 legislation was passed to convert all banking practices to Islamic interest-free banking. Despite such significant developments in the Iranian banking system, this area of research has not been given its due attention by the scholars in the field. It is the purpose of this study to describe the process of post-revolutionary change in the Iranian banking system and outline the new trends in credit rationing practices after the revolution.It will be argued here that the Islamization of the banking system did not result in the so-called abolition of interest from the financial system; in practice the banking system continues to pay interest—now called “profit“—to savings account depositors, and standard interest-bearing financial contracts continue to be utilized by the banks under new Islamic terms.
WHY DO WOMEN APPEAR TO DEVELOP ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE MORE READILY THAN MEN?
Authors: Norton Robyn , Batey Robert 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn the last 20 years evidence has accumulated which suggests that women develop alcoholic liver disease more readily than do men. A number of factors have been hypothesized as contributing to their increased susceptibility. Differences in nutritional intake were initially thought to play a large role in the development of alcoholic liver disease. However, more recently, a number of constitutional and other environmental factors have been investigated.It is suggested that there is much to be gained from studies which consider factors in combination rather than in isolation. It is possible that more than one factor contributes to the differing suscceptibility in males and females. In addition, it is likely that some of the proposed factors are not independent of one another. The relative importance of each factor in explaining the difference between sexes, and their degree of independence can only be assessed in multivariate studies.
Oxygen Partial Pressure in Outer Layers of Skin: Simulation Using Three‐Dimensional Multilayered Models
Authors: WANG WEN 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTObjective: Papillary loops in dermal papillae are believed to facilitate oxygen delivery to the germinal layer in the epidermis. The study aims to simulate the distribution of the oxygen partial pressure, pO2, in superficial layers of skin and to quantify oxygen supply from different sources.Methods: A theoretical model that considered heterogeneity in tissue properties was developed based on the anatomical arrangement of the upper skin. Distribution of pO2 in tissues and in blood was solved numerically. Effects of the blood flow rate and the skin surface condition were investigated.Results: Under normal blood flow rate and skin surface conditions, approximately one‐quarter of the oxygen consumed in the upper skin came from papillary loops. Subpapillary plexus was the main supplier, which accounted for more than 60% of the total oxygen supply. Oxygen diffusion into the skin from the air was restricted to superficial regions of the germinal layer and accounted for approximately 10% of the total oxygen uptake.Conclusions: Papillary loops in dermal papillae facilitate oxygen delivery to the germinal layer from the circulation. The flow rate in papillary loops affects pO2 distribution in dermal papillae. In the epidermis, however, pO2 is strongly affected by skin surface conditions.
Interactions of Platelets with Subendothelium and Endothelium
Authors: CHEN JUNMEI , LÓPEZ JOSÉ A. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTIn this review, the authors summarize how platelets interact with subendothelium when the vessel wall is damaged or with intact endothelium in the inflammatory state. When subendothelium is exposed to rapidly flowing blood upon vessel damage, platelets adhere rapidly to the exposed surface, decelerate, and aggregate to arrest bleeding. Under high shear stress, such as is found in the microcirculation, the interaction between subendothelial von Willebrand factor (VWF) and its platelet receptor, glycoprotein (GP) Ib‐IX‐V, is required to slow down platelets and allow the platelet collagen receptors α2β1 and GP VI to bind to collagen. GP VI and α2β1 play important roles to activate platelets in the early stage and work with GP Ib‐IX‐V to fully activate platelets to form thrombi. GP Ib‐IX‐V and GP VI employ similar signaling pathways for platelet activation and the signals from both receptors are down‐modulated by PECAM‐1 (platelet–endothelial–cell adhesion molecule 1) to prevent unnecessary platelet activation under high shear. During inflammatory states, intact endothelial cells release VWF and P‐selectin from their Weibel‐Palade bodies. Both molecules are ligands for GP Ib‐IX‐V. The newly released VWF is larger and stickier than the form normally found in plasma and binds platelets spontaneously. Normally, VWF is processed by proteolysis by the plasma metalloprotease ADAMTS‐13. Failure of this processing results in the microvascular thrombotic disorder thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In this review, the authors also use available crystal structures of platelet receptors and ligands to explain the details of their interactions.
Exploring the effects of communication intervention for developmental pragmatic language impairments: a signal‐generation study
Authors: Adams Catherine , Lloyd Julian , Aldred Catherine , Baxendale Janet 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground: The remediation of pragmatic problems forms a significant part of the caseload for professionals working with children with communication problems. There is little systematic evidence that demonstrates the benefits of speech and language therapy for children whose difficulties lie primarily within the pragmatic domain or which indicates whether changes in pragmatic behaviours, which are a result of a specific intervention, can be measured over time.Aims: To generate a signal of change in pragmatic and other language behaviours for children with pragmatic language impairments; to gauge the magnitude and nature of the signal and to make recommendations for future studies.Methods and Procedures: A case series of six children with pragmatic language impairments without diagnosis of autism received 8 weeks of individual intensive speech and language therapy supported in a mainstream educational setting in the UK. Measures of pragmatic behaviours in conversation were made at seven data points before and after therapy using Bishop's ALICC procedure. Conversation coders were blind to the point of assessment. Inferential comprehension, narrative, sentence formulation and sentence recall skills were also tested before and after therapy. The opinions of teachers and parents were sought regarding any change in communication and social abilities of the children over time.Outcomes and Results: All children showed change in communication behaviour on some conversational measures, even if the child functioned at the ceiling on standardized language testing. Some conversation measures had more utility as outcome measures than others. Most children showed substantial change on standardized language measures, but there are limitations on the use of these due to heterogeneity within the group. Overall, the intervention produced a signal for change in pragmatics and/or language behaviour in all children. Parent/teacher opinion reported demonstrable change in communication behaviour and engagement in the curriculum.Conclusions: There is a strong signal that change in pragmatic language behaviour can be measured in well‐controlled intervention studies but this signal is complex. Outcome measures should take into account changes in language processing skills that are significantly impaired in many children with PLI. For those children within the PLI group who function at ceiling on language tests, conversational measures may have the potential to signal change, but this finding has not been subjected to group study or to testing in generalized settings. Qualitative data regarding behaviour, classroom engagement and generalization of language gains will be an essential supplement to measuring progress in a diverse population.
Neuroglobin Ligand Binding Kinetics
Authors: Kiger Laurent , Uzan Julien , Dewilde Sylvia , Burmester Thorsten , Hankeln Thomas , Moens Luc , Hamdane Djemel , Baudin‐Creuza Veronique , Marden Michael C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractNeuroglobin, cytoglobin, and hemoglobins from Drosophila melanogaster and Arabidopsis thaliana were studied for their ligand binding properties versus temperature. These globins have a common feature of being hexacoordinated (via the distal histidine) under deoxy conditions, displaying an enhanced amplitude for the alpha absorption band at 560 nm. External ligands can bind, but the transition from the hexacoordinated form to the ligand (L) bound species is slow, as expected for a replacement reaction Fe‐His ↔ Fe ↔ Fe‐L. Histidine binding is on the order of 1 ms; dissociation times are variable, and may be as long as 1 s for the highest histidine affinities. Oxygen binds rapidly but dissociates slowly, requiring as much as 1 s. These rates would correspond to a very high affinity for the pentacoordinated form; however, competition with the distal histidine leads decreases the affinity for the external ligand. The observed oxygen affinity remains in the range of 1 to 10 mm Hg. The low oxygen dissociation indicates a stabilization via H‐bonds as for certain globins from parasites (Ascaris, the trematodes). Other ligands such as CO, or CN for the ferric form, show a decreased affinity, since only the competition with the E7 histidine, but not the stabilizing H‐bond, plays a role. In addition, the competitive internal ligand leads to a weaker observed temperature dependence of the ligand affinity, since the difference in equilibrium energy for the two ligands is much lower than that of ligand binding to pentacoordinated hemoglobin. This effect could be of biological relevance for certain organisms, since it would lead to an oxygen affinity that is nearly independent of temperature.
IUBMB Life, 56: 709‐719, 2004
Fatty acid composition and chilling resistance in the green alga Caulerpa prolifera (forrskal) lamouroux (Chlorophyta, caulerpales)
Authors: Terrados Jorge , Lopez‐Jimenez Jose Angel 
Published: July 2007

AbstractPlant resistance to chilling injury depends on the maintenance of membrane functions. An increase in the degree of unsaturation of membrane fatty acids can help maintain membrane function at low temperatures by reducing the temperature at which deleterious membrane phase‐transitions occur. The fatty acid composition of membranes of the chlorophycean Caulerpa prolifera was determined in summer and winter in the Mar Menor coastal Lagoon (SE Spain). In January the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher than in August. Membrane content of mono‐ and diunsaturated fatty acids was similar in the two seasons. The unsaturation index of membranes changed from 76.15 ± 1.80 (mean ± standard error) in August to 128.05 ± 0.32 in January. It is suggested that this increase in the degree of unsaturation might be important to allow C. prolifera to decrease its lower threshold of survival temperature and acclimate net photosynthesis and dark respiration rates to winter temperatures in the Mar Menor.
Paraquat induced DNA damage by reactive oxygen species
Authors: Ali Shakir , Jain S. K. , Abdulla Mohamed , Athar Mohammad 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe redox cycling contact herbicide paraquat (PQ) causes oxidative damage to pulmonary tissue. PQ is reduced enzymatically to PQ radical in lung where it reacts with molecular oxygen, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS damage various macromolecules including DNA. However, the ability of paraquat to mediate DNA damage is unknown. In this study, Bam H1 site (5′‐GGATCC‐3′) on pBR322 DNA was chosen as the target sequence for a study of the PQ‐mediated DNA damage. The incubation of PQ with plasmid DNA in the presence of freshly prepared rat lung microsomes and NADPH resulted in damage to the restriction site. The PQ‐treated DNA was not digested with the endonuclease reflected by the digestion pattern of DNA on agarose gels. The effect was dependent on the dose of PQ. The PQ‐mediated damage to DNA was comparable to DNA damage caused by ROS generated through the xanthine‐xanthine oxidase system. The results of the present study suggest that ROS generated by PQ in vitro under aerobic conditions may lead to a modification of the restriction site on DNA.
Guanidino compounds generate reactive oxygen species
Authors: Mori Akitane , Kohno Masahiro , Masumizu Toshiki , Noda Yasuko , Packer Lester 
Published: July 2007

AbstractMethylguanidine, guanidinoacetic acid and guanidinosuccinic acid are endogenous substances in body tissues. Extremely high levels of these substances are known to be related to the pathogenesis of epilepsy and renal failure such as uremia. In this study it was demonstrated that methylguanidine, guanidinoacetic acid and guanidinosuccinic acid, and arginine generate hydroxyl radicals in aqueous solution. These findings suggest that a high level of guanidino compounds accumulating near or within cells such as neurons (in an epileptogenic focus) or nephrons (in uremic patients) may cause free radical damage leading to these clinical disorders. Arginine may have a similar role in the pathogenesis of hyperarginemia.
Specificity of two types of phospholipase A2 inhibitors from the plasma of venomous snakes
Authors: Inoue Seiji , Shimada Akiko , Ohkura Naoki , Ikeda Kiyoshi , Samejima Yuji , Omori‐Satoh Tamotsu , Hayashi Kyozo 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSpecificity of two different types of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitory proteins from the blood plasma of venomous snakes was investigated. Two Crotalidae inhibitors, having a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) in their sequences, inhibited specifically the group‐II acidic PLA2s of their own snake venom. On the other hand, Elapidae inhibitor, having two tandem patterns of cysteine residues found in proteins of the Ly‐6 superfamily, inhibited not only the group‐I PLA2 from its own snake venom but also the group‐I, ‐II, and ‐III PLA2s from other snake venom. Amino acid sequences of PLA2s that were specifically inhibited by the inhibitors were compared with those of the other PLA2s. A unique aromatic patch structure appeared on the group‐II acidic PLA2s was suggested to be involved in the binding to the Crotalidae inhibitors; and residues located in or close to the Ca2+ binding loop of PLA2, in the binding to the Elapidae inhibitor.
Effect of vitamin D deficiency on lipid composition and calcium transport in basolateral membrane vesicles from chick intestine
Authors: Alisio Arturo , Cañas Fernando , de Bronia Delia H. , Pereira Rodolfo , de Talamoni Nori Tolosa 
Published: July 2007

AbstractVitamin D deficiency affects the lipid composition and Ca2+ uptake of intestinal basolateral membranes from chick intestine. The increased cholesterol content causes an increase in the molar ratio cholesterol/phospholipid. Phospholipid classes remain unchanged, but the percentages of arachidonic acid from the major phospholipid fractions are increased. After 24 hours of oral administration of 2,000 IU of cholecalciferol to vitamin D‐deficient chicks, the cholesterol values do not change, but the amount of arachidonic acid returns to normal values. Ca2+ uptake driven by ATP is diminished in vesicles from intestinal basolateral membranes of vitamin D‐deficient chicks. Cholecalciferol treatment returns these values to the controls which might be due mainly to the increased number of Ca2+ pump units. In conclusion, changes in lipid composition and in Ca2+ pump caused by vitamin D deficiency seems to play a role in the decrease of vesicular Ca2+ transport. A single dose of cholecalciferol restores only partially the lipid‐protein changes produced by vitamin D deficiency.
No influence of a single bout of exercise on urinary excretion of 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine in humans
Authors: Sumida Satoshi , Okamura Koji , Doi Tatsuya , Sakurai Masao , Yoshioka Yasuyuki , Sugawa‐Katayama Yohko 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe investigated the effect of a single bout of intensive exercise on the excretion of 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine in the 24 h urine from healthy non‐smokers. We studied three exercise tests in Experiment 1; which consisted of incremental exercise to exhaustion on a treadmill in eleven male long distance runners. Experiment 2; which comprised incremental exercise until reaching exhaustion on abicycle ergometer in six male untrained subjects. Experiment 3; which consisted of a 20 km run by eleven male long distance runners. No differences in the urinary 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine excretion were obselwed from days 1 or 3 after each respective exercise regimen. However, significant increases in the plasma creatine kinase activity were observed at 24 h or 48 h after exercise, except for Experiment 2. Our results thus suggest that the oxidative stress during a single bout of intensive exercise does not result in an accumulation of oxidative DNA damage.
Proteolytic activities of mouse sarcoma 180 cells that are inhibited by Bowman‐Birk and Kunitz protease inhibitors
Authors: Chu Shu‐Chen , Chou Fen‐Pi , Liu Jer‐Yuh , Lin Li‐Jen , Hsieh Yih‐Shou 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIn this study, using zymogram analysis two proteolytic activities were identified in the mouse sarcoma 180 (S‐180) cells that were activated by trypsin treatment and inhibited by both BBI and ACTI. These enzymes, with molecular weights of 46 kDa (dominant band) and 62 kDa (minor band), were mainly localized in the cytosol, and had optimal activity at pH 7 and 8 respectively. Their inhibition by DFP, BBI and ACTI but not EDTA and TPCK indicated they were trypsin‐like serine proteases and may be the intracellular target‐enzymes of protease inhibitors. The level of the precursor of the 62 kDa protease was significantly increased in the S‐180 solid and soft tumors, whereas the level of the 46 kDa precursor was almost undetectable, implying that a physiological role may be played by these serine proteases during tumor invasion.
Activation of macrophages by lactoferrin: secretion of TNF‐α, IL‐8 and NO
Authors: Sorimachi Kenji , Akimoto Kazumi , Hattori Yoshiyuki , Ieiri Tamio , Niwa Akira 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWhen macrophages were cultured with lactoferrin, cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α), interleukin 8 (IL‐8) and nitric oxide (NO) were secreted. Secretion of TNF‐α peaked at 6 h of incubation in the presence of lactoferrin and then declined. About 80% of the maximum secretion of IL‐8 was observed at 6 h of incubation. The concentration of IL‐8 in the culture medium remained almost constant between 24‐72 h. In contrast, no siginificant effect on NO secretion was observed at 6 h, but a significant effect was observed at 24 h and secretion gradually increased between 24‐72 h. The effects of lactoferrin on the secretion of TNF‐α, IL‐8 and NO were dose‐dependent and lactoferrin had a significant effect on secretion at concentrations greater than 10 mg/ml. The use of reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) showed that the results obtained were consistant with the cytokine secretion results. It is concluded that lactoferrin activates macrophages which result in the secretion of TNF‐α, IL‐8 and NO.
Hydroxyl radical‐induced decline in motility and increase in lipid peroxidation and DNA modification in human sperm
Authors: Chen Chung‐Shung , Wei Yau‐Huei , Chao Hsiang‐Tai , Pan Rong‐Long 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe employed the xanthine‐xanthine oxidase system to produce H2O2 or simply used commercially available H2O2 solution to investigate the effects of exogenous hydroxyl radicals on the motility characteristics and on lipid peroxidation and DNA modification of human sperm. The functional parameters of sperm motility declined concomitantly upon incubation of sperm with hydroxyl radicals. After incubation of freshly ejaculated human sperm with 0.23 mM H2O2 in the presence of 1.8 mM ADP and 2.7 mM FeSO4 for 1 hr at 37°C, 90% reduction of motility was observed. Effect of hydroxyl radicals on sperm motility was dependent on the concentrations of FeSO4 and H2O2, respectively. The remaining motility of sperm after 1 hr incubation showed negative linear correlation with FeSO4 concentration. The response of sperm motility to FeSO4 was also dependent on the concentration of H2O2. Except for the amplitude of lateral head displacement, functional parameters of sperm declined with the increase of H2O2 concentration. Moreover, we found that lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) and accumulation of modified DNA indicated by 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OH‐dG) in human sperm were significantly accelerated by exogenous hydroxyl radicals. The contents of lipid peroxides and 8‐OH‐dG in the spermatozoa were increased from 24.6±2.4 nmol MDA/1×107 sperm and 0.17±0.02% in the untreated group to 30.6±1.2 nmol MDA/1×107 sperm and 1.9±0.47%, respectively, in the sperm treated at 37°C for 1 hr with 2.03 mM H2O2, 1.8 mM ADP and 4.5 mM FeSO4. Taken together, these results suggest that the detrimental effects of hydroxyl radicals on human sperm functions may be mediated, at least partly, through lipid peroxidation and DNA modification.
Penetration of erythrocyte membrane by peroxynitrite: participation of the anion exchange protein
Authors: Soszynski Mirosław , Bartosz Grzegorz 
Published: July 2007

AbstractParticipation of the anion exchange protein (Band 3 protein) of the erythrocyte membrane in the transport of peroxynitrite into erythrocytes was shown by partial inhibition of hemoglobin oxidation by extracellular peroynitrite in cells treated with Band 3 inhibitors. These results demonstrate that permeation in the anionic form may be a minor pathway in the membrane transport of the peroxynitrite anion/peroxynitrous acid couple, especially in membranes reach in anion exchangers or channels.