bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lycium barbarum polysaccharides regulate phenotypic and functional maturation of murine dendritic cells
Authors: Zhu Jie , Zhao Lu‐Hang , Zhao Xiao‐Ping , Chen Zhi 
Published: December 2006

AbstractLycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) have been known to have a variety of immunomodulatory functions including activation of T cells, B cells and NK cells. Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen‐presenting cells that play pivotal roles in the initiation of the primary immune response. However, little is known about the immunomodulatory effects of LBPs on murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDC). In the present study, the effects of LBPs on the phenotypic and functional maturation of murine BMDC were investigated in vitro. Compared to the BMDC that were only subjected to treatment with RPMI1640, the co‐expression of I‐A/I‐E, CD11c and secretion of IL‐12 p40 by BMDC stimulated with LBPs (100 μg/ml) were increased. In addition, the endocytosis of FITC‐dextran by LBPs‐treated BMDC (100 μg/ml) was impaired, whereas the activation of proliferation of allogenic lymphocytes by BMDC was enhanced. Our results strongly suggest that LBPs are capable of promoting both the phenotypic and functional maturation of murine BMDC in vitro.
Evaluation of rabbit auricular chondrocyte isolation and growth parameters in cell culture
Authors: Fröhlich M. , Maličev E. , Gorenšek M. , Knežević M. , Velikonja N. Kregar 
Published: December 2006

AbstractAuricular cartilage is an attractive potential source of cells for many tissue engineering applications. However, there are several requirements that have to be fulfilled in order to develop a suitable tissue engineered implant. Animal experiments serve as important tools for validating novel concepts of cartilage regeneration; therefore rabbit auricular chondrocytes were studied. Various parameters including isolation procedures, passage number, rate of proliferation and gene expression profile for major extracellular matrix components were evaluated in order to assess the potential use of elastic chondrocytes for tissue engineering. Chondrocytes were isolated from rabbit ear cartilage and grown in monolayer cultures over four passages. Yields of harvested cells and proliferation were analysed from the digestion step to the fourth passage, and changes in phenotype were monitored. The proliferation capacity of cell cultures decreased during cultivation and was accompanied by enlargement of cells, this phenomenon being especially evident in the third and fourth passages. The expression of cartilage specific genes for collagen type II, aggrecan and cartilage non‐specific collagen type I was determined. The mRNA levels for all three genes were obviously lower in the primo culture than immediately after isolation. During subsequent cultivation the expression of collagen type II decreased further, while there were only slight changes in expression of aggrecan and collagen type I. This study provides a valuable basis for testing of different tissue engineering applications in rabbit model, where auricular chondrocytes are considered as cell source.
Silencing invariant chain of DCs enhances Th1 response using small interfering RNA
Authors: Ke Shan , Chen Xue‐Hua , Li Hao , Li Jian‐Fang , Gu Qin‐Long , Liu Bing‐Ya , Zhu Zheng‐Gang 
Published: December 2006

AbstractRNA interference (RNAi), which causes the degradation of any RNA in a sequence specific manner, is a posttranscriptional gene silencing mechanism. Targeting the invariant chain (Ii) in DCs has been used as an approach to enhance antitumor immunity. It is demonstrated in this article that transfection of H‐2K DCs with siRNA specific for Ii gene can significantly knock down Ii. When exposed to TNF‐α, immature DCs transfected with Ii siRNA can differentiate into mature DCs without reducing viability or IL‐12p70 production. Ii siRNA‐treated H‐2K DCs exhibited an increased allostimulatory capacity in a lymphocyte proliferation assay. Furthermore, Ii siRNA‐transfected H‐2K DCs enhanced Th1 responses by increasing IFN‐γ and decreasing IL‐4 production, and much stronger cytotoxic activity was observed when DCs were co‐transfected with Ii siRNA and an endogenous tumor antigen in vitro. Our findings indicate that silencing the Ii gene in DCs with siRNA may offer a potential approach to enhancing antitumor immunotherapy.
Response of digestive gland cells of freshwater mussel Unio tumidus to phenolic compound exposure in vivo
Authors: Labieniec Magdalena , Biernat Monika , Gabryelak Teresa 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe exposure of freshwater mussels Unio tumidus to phenolic compounds (tannic, ellagic and gallic acid) in vivo caused changes in proteins and DNA function of digestive gland cells. The mussels were exposed to various concentrations of tested polyphenols (60, 200 and 500 μM) for 24 and 48 h and their antioxidant and pro‐oxidant effects were determined. The number of SH‐groups was quantified spectrophotometrically using Ellman's reagent. Oxidative modification of proteins increased in the digestive gland cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. The level of nuclear DNA damage was investigated using the comet assay. The results revealed that polyphenolic acids induce single and double‐strand breaks in DNA. The highest changes were observed for tannic and gallic acids and the smallest ones for ellagic acid. 1 h of DNA repair process was also studied using the same method. The data obtained in this experiment demonstrate that the most effective DNA repair occurs in the cells exposed to phenolic compounds for 24 h. A longer incubation (up to 48 h) does not decrease the capacity of the repair mechanism. The antioxidant activity of the tested phenols was analyzed spectrofluorimetrically using a fluorescence probe DCFH‐DA (dichlorofluorescein—diacetate). The experimental data showed that the tested acids can act as antioxidants when used at higher doses (200 and 500 μM) against the reactive oxygen species present in the digestive gland cells. The most effective was ellagic acid, also applied at the smallest dose of 60 μM, in comparison with tannic and gallic acids. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that chosen water‐soluble polyphenols, which are located in various plant tissues and are also found in the aquatic environment, can influence organisms living in the water. They can be exposed to these chemicals that cause morphological alterations and changes in certain physiological processes in their organs (i.e. digestive gland cells of bivalve molluscs).
Expression of KIT receptor tyrosine kinase protein in normal human skin: Preliminary observations
Authors: Hussein Mahmoud R. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractKIT proto‐oncogene is a receptor tyrosine kinase critical for signal transduction in several cell types. An understanding of KIT distribution in normal skin may reveal new insights into its implication in cutaneous biology and its associated disease states. This study examines expression patterns of KIT protein in normal human skin. KIT protein expression was examined in 50 specimens of normal human skin using specific antibodies (CD117) and immunoperoxidase staining methods. KIT protein expression was seen in keratinocytes (stratum basale), melanocytes, mast cells, and in both sebaceous and sweat glands. In contrast, KIT protein expression was absent in stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum corneum, blood vessels and arrector pili muscle. Thus, the expression of KIT protein in normal human skin suggests its possible role in regulation of cutaneous development and function.
CETP inhibition in cardiovascular risk management: a critical appraisal
Authors: Dullaart R. P. F. , Dallinga‐Thie G. M. , Wolffenbuttel B. H. R. , Van Tol A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIn view of the cardioprotective effect of high‐density lipoproteins (HDL) and the limited effects of statin and fibrate therapy on HDL cholesterol, it is clinically relevant to test whether pharmacological treatment aimed at raising HDL lowers cardiovascular risk. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a new therapeutic target, because the cholesteryl ester transfer process lowers HDL cholesterol and contributes to an atherogenic lipoprotein profile, particularly when plasma triglycerides are high. Clinical evidence suggests that coronary artery calcification as well as intima media thickness is positively related to plasma cholesteryl ester transfer, and that high plasma CETP concentration is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in hypertriglyceridaemia. However, CETP could also have anti‐atherogenic potential, since it provides a potentially beneficial route for delivery of HDL‐derived cholesteryl esters to the liver. In addition, CETP could also favourably stimulate peripheral cell cholesterol removal and enhance hepatic cholesterol uptake. Recent evidence suggests that a high CETP level may confer lower cardiovascular risk in the context of low triglycerides. At maximal doses, the CETP inhibitors JTT‐705 and torcetrapib elicit a marked rise in HDL cholesterol of up to 34% and 91–106%, respectively. The effectiveness of these drugs on (intermediate) clinical outcome measures is currently being tested in large‐scale phase III clinical trials, with torcetrapib being only evaluated in combination therapy with atorvastatin. When and how to use CETP inhibitors, e.g. in combination with a statin or a fibrate, is a major challenge. We propose that low HDL cholesterol in the context of high triglycerides, such as found in type 2 diabetes mellitus, could become an important indication area for this new class of drugs.
Effects of Textural Properties and Surface Oxygen Content of Activated Carbons on the Desorption Activation Energy of Water
Authors: Li Xin , Li Zhong , Xia Qibin , Xi Hongxia , Zhao Zhenxia 
Published: December 2006

This work mainly describes investigations of the effects of pore structure and oxygen content of activated carbons on the desorption activation energy, Ed, of water. First, the textural properties and the surface oxygen content as well as the surface acidities of the activated carbons studied were determined by nitrogen adsorption, XPS and Boehm titration methods. The water vapour isotherms of the samples were then measured and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) experiments were conducted to estimate the desorption activation energy, Ed, of water on the activated carbons. The effects of pore structure and surface oxygen content of the activated carbons on the magnitude of Ed are discussed. The results obtained show that the surface acidities of the activated carbons were in direct proportion to their surface oxygen contents, with the value of Ed for water on the activated carbons increasing with increasing surface oxygen content and decreasing pore size of the activated carbons. When the magnitude of the surface acidity was 0.578, 0.436 and 0.338 mmol/g, respectively, the Ed for water had corresponding values of 48.61, 41.67 and 37.22 kJ/mol, respectively. The amount of water vapour adsorbed at lower relative humidity increased with increasing surface acidity, whilst it was dependent on the pore volume at higher relative humidity due to pore filling, i.e. the larger the total pore volume of the activated carbons, the larger their adsorption capacities towards for water vapour.
Adsorption Equilibria of Butan-1-ol, Toluene and Water Vapour onto Sorbonorit 4 Activated Carbon and the Co-Adsorption of Organic Compounds and Water Vapour onto SKT Activated Carbon
Authors: Nastaj Józef , Chybowska Małgorzata 
Published: December 2006

The results of both experimental and theoretical investigations are presented. The results of experimental investigations of adsorption equilibria for the pure components butan-1-ol, toluene and water vapour onto Sorbonorit 4 activated carbon are first reported, with measurements having been undertaken using a dynamic gravimetric method. The results for butan-1-ol and toluene were correlated using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, Toth and Dubinin–Astakhov models, while the results for water vapour were correlated using the equations of Dubinin and Serpinsky and of Barton and Barton and co-workers. A simple model enabling the prediction of the adsorption equilibria of butan-1-ol/water vapour and toluene/water vapour mixtures on SKT activated carbon is then presented. Such predictions were made on the basis of data for the pure components, with the equilibrium data for both pure components and mixtures being taken from the literature. The model, which is simple to simulate and verify using experimental data, is based on the Polanyi theory and the Dubinin–Astakhov isotherm equation. With this model, fairly good agreement was observed between predicted and experimental binary mixture adsorption data for the systems examined.
Adsorption of a Non-Ionic Surfactant on Soils: A Model Study
Authors: Xue Xiaobo , Zhou Yanmei , Wang Dongshen 
Published: December 2006

The adsorption of the widely used non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX) onto three model inorganic soil components (silica powder, γ-alumina and calcite) was investigated in a series of batch experiments in which the aqueous phase was equilibrated with the solid under different solution conditions. TX showed no discernable adsorption onto γ-alumina over the pH range 3.8 < pH < 12.1 and a temperature of 15°C or onto calcite at the same temperature and pH range 7.7 < pH < 11.7. However, significant and reversible adsorption from solutions was found for silica powder suspensions. The adsorption isotherms obtained for TX uptake onto silica powder were best fitted by the Freundlich model. An increase in the ionic strength of the electrolytic solution led to a decrease in the surface concentration of TX on silica powder, indicating significant electrostatic interactions between TX and silica powder particles, possibly through interaction with the surface silanol groups of the solid substrate. Increasing the pH value of the electrolyte solution from 6 to 9 led to a considerably decrease in the amount of TX adsorbed, while a decrease in the solution pH from 6 to 3 had only a slight effect on the surface concentration of adsorbed TX. The adsorption of TX onto silica powder decreased as the temperature was increased in the range 15–45°C, indicating that the adsorption process was exothermic. The magnitude of the calculated enthalpy of adsorption (ca. 10 kJ/mol) demonstrated that the uptake at the solid/liquid interface at an equilibrium pH of 6.1 was largely due to physisorption.
Analytical and Experimental Study on Noise Attenuation of Multi-Cylinder Diesel Engine with Existing and Modified Muffler
Authors: Ghosh Bankim Bihari , Bhattacharya Paritosh , Bose Prabir Kumar , Vaijanapurkar M.Y. 
Published: December 2006

Man's desire for a pollution free atmosphere entails control of air pollution and noise pollution. The principal sources of noise in automotive engines are intake noise, radiator noise, combustion noise, exhaust noise etc. Out of these, exhaust noise is predominant and has to be controlled. Noise pollution affects human beings physiologically and psychologically. In this paper on reactive muffler for a multi-cylinder diesel engine is designed and modified. More attenuation is given by making some changes in its configuration. The Bond graph technique has been applied for the analytical results of the muffler. The modelling of acoustic and other systems are easily and logically achieved through Bond graph technique[1,2,3]. Bond graph, invented by Paynter, is a method or representation of a physical system by means of symbols and lines, identifying power flow paths and lumped parameter elements of resistance, capacitance and inductance. The Bond graph model is created by taking wave propagation in acoustic material into consideration. The analysis of the Bond Graph model was carried out by using software COSMO-KGP. These results were compared with the experimental results and found to be in close agreement.
Structural Vibrations of Wooden House Walls
Authors: Bolmsvik Åsa 
Published: December 2006

The flanking transmission between apartments due to a structure borne source is studied. The apartments studied were two-storey houses with a wooden framework. Acoustic measurements are often made in new built apartments to make sure that they fulfil the building regulations. Traditional measurements give no information about the contribution of the surrounding walls to the sound transmission. This paper describes a method of measuring flanking transmission. The acceleration levels on the receiving parts in the apartment below the source are studied. Thereby the contribution to the sound pressure in the room from each flanking part can be distinguished.
Ruth B. Purtilo and Henk A.M.J. ten Have (Eds.). Ethical Foundations of Palliative Care for Alzheimer Disease. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004.
Authors: Gordon Michael 
Published: January 2007

RÉSUMÉRésultant de la contribution d'une vingtaine d'auteurs oeuvrant dans les champs de l'éthique, des soins palliatifs et des sciences neuro-comportementales, cet ouvrage propose une vaste exploration des relations entre éthique, soins palliatifs et démences incluant celle de type Alzheimer. Une variété de questions de pointe y sont abordées, le développement menant souvent à un questionnement des fondements de l'approche actuelle en matière de soins palliatifs.
If You can't Beat Them, Join Them: Government Cleansings of Witches and Mau Mau in 1950s Kenya
Authors: Luongo Katherine 
Published: January 2007

During the mid-1950s British administrators in the Machakos District of Kenya enlisted categories of Kamba occult “experts”—“witchdoctors” and “cleansers”—to cleanse local “witches” and migrants from Nairobi who were believed to have taken the Mau Mau oath. A compendium of colonial documents concerning the “cleansing” campaigns illustrates how and why the socio-historical context of Mau Mau-era Machakos drove the colonial administration to break with its longstandingde factopolicy of not officially combating supernatural challenges to state authority with supernatural means. The overwhelming disorder wrought by Mau Mau motivated state officials to break with precedent and to identify and employ Kamba “experts” to cleanse Mau Mau adherents and witches.The widespread and politicized nature of the violence occurring during Mau Mau, and its perceived linkages to the supernatural, precipitated the state's shift to the employment of Kamba experts to combat “witchcraft” and Mau Mau oathing. An anthro-historical approach to understanding Mau Mau in Machakos shows that, while the cleansings constituted a group of “critical moments” at which British colonial officials could argue that they had dealt with supernatural challenges to state authority by rendering them “knowable,” the cleansings also demonstrated the degree to which state authority became situated in Kamba colonial officials and the extent to which the implementation and interpretation of British colonial cleansing policies depended on these local authorities.
The Bounds of the Permissible: Using “Cultural Evidence” in Civil Jury Cases
Authors: Currie Robert J. 
Published: January 2007

RésuméAu centre de toute considération de la «culture dans le domaine du droit» est la question si, et dans quelle mesure, la culture est justiciable, contestable et peut être introduite comme preuve devant les cours. Des experts des disciplines des sciences sociales et humaines sont souvent appelés à présenter ce genre de preuve. Alors que la Cour suprême du Canada a développé des critères pour évaluer la preuve par expertise, ceux-ci sont plus difficiles à appliquer lorsque la preuve présentée est de nature ‘culturelle’ plutôt que scientifique classique. Le souci de la probité de la preuve par expertise est accru dans les cas où un jury doit évaluer les faits. Ce texte commente une décision récente de la Cour suprême de la Nouvelle-Écosse, en matière de diffamation liée à des propos caractérisant un comportement de raciste, l'utilisant comme plate-forme pour discuter des enjeux particuliers soulevés par la preuve culturelle dans le domaine civil.
The Erasure of Ms. G.: The Cultural Specificity of Substance Abuse and Adjudication Without Imagination
Authors: Roy Vera J. 
Published: January 2007

RésuméCe texte promeut l'approche de «l'imagination» tel que définie par Geertz dans le cadre du processus judiciaire, dans le but d'encourager la compréhension et le jugement réfléchi de cas marqués par la différence interculturelle. Cette approche réfléchie – c'est-à-dire, celle qui encourage une conscience du rôle de la culture dominante et de la loi elle-même dans les cas devant la cour – revêt une grande importance dans les cas qui impliquent des personnes d'origine autochtone. L'analyse se fait en trois étapes. Dans un premier temps, un survol de l'historique des relations entre l'État canadien et les peuples autochtones souligne l'aspect culturel de la toxicomanie dans les cas de femmes autochtones. La deuxième étape consiste en une synthèse des statistiques disponibles pour nous donner une meilleure compréhension de l'image de la femme autochtone toxicomane qui prévaut dans le discours social et juridique. Enfin, une analyse du jugement Winnipeg Child and Family Services c. D.F.G. confirme que les idées préconçues jouent un rôle important dans l'appareil judiciaire et démontre les contraintes sur le processus décisionnel créées par le discours libéral de droits individuels. Par conséquent, la disparition de l'identité culturelle, les lacunes dans les arrêts, ainsi que l'incapacité de gérer convenablement les conséquences de ces lacunes, démontrent comment l'absence «d'imagination» peut mettre en péril le fondement même des jugements pour ceux qui sont définis par leur différence devant la société et la loi.
Timing of seroconversion and acquisition of positive polymerase chain reaction assay results in calves experimentally infected with bovine leukemia virus
Authors: Nagy Dusty W. , Tyler Jeff W. , Kleiboeker Steven B. 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Objective—To determine the interval to provirus and serum antibody detection (via PCR assay and ELISA, respectively) in calves after experimental inoculation with bovine leukemia virus (BLV).
Animals—8 colostrum-deprived, BLV-negative Holstein bull calves (≥ 6 weeks old).
Procedures—Via IM injection, each calf received a fresh whole-blood inoculum (day 0) calculated to contain 2 × 106 lymphocytes. Blood samples for the ELISA and PCR assay were collected from calves immediately prior to inoculation and weekly thereafter for 7 weeks. Mean and median number of weeks to PCR-detected conversion of BLV status and seroconversion were calculated. Point sensitivity and cumulative sensitivity of the 2 assays were calculated at each sample collection. At each sampling time, the proportion of calves identified as infected by the cumulative weekly ELISA and PCR assay results was compared by use of a Fisher exact test.
Results—In 5 calves, conversion of BLV status was detected via PCR assay before seroconversion was identified. However, seroconversion preceded PCR-detected conversion in 2 calves. In 1 calf, both assays yielded positive results at the same test date. These differences were not significant.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In experimentally inoculated BLV-negative calves, conversion of BLV status was detected via PCR assay more quickly than via ELISA; this difference was not significant and probably not clinically important. The PCR assay may be useful as a confirmatory test in animals of exceptional value; tests based on viral identification may become critically important if vaccines against BLV infection are developed and marketed.