bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Artificial neural networks in pancreatic disease
Authors: Bartosch-Härlid A , Andersson B , Aho U , Nilsson J , Andersson R 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackgroundAn artificial neural network (ANNs) is a non-linear pattern recognition technique that is rapidly gaining in popularity in medical decision-making. This study investigated the use of ANNs for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in pancreatic disease, especially acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.MethodsPubMed was searched for articles on the use of ANNs in pancreatic diseases using the MeSH terms ‘neural networks (computer)’, ‘pancreatic neoplasms’, ‘pancreatitis’ and ‘pancreatic diseases’. A systematic review of the articles was performed.ResultsEleven articles were identified, published between 1993 and 2007. The situations that lend themselves best to analysis by ANNs are complex multifactorial relationships, medical decisions when a second opinion is needed and when automated interpretation is required, for example in a situation of an inadequate number of experts.ConclusionConventional linear models have limitations in terms of diagnosis and prediction of outcome in acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Management of these disorders can be improved by applying ANNs to existing clinical parameters and newly established gene expression profiles.
The impact of published recommendations on the management of penetrating abdominal injury (Br J Surg 2008; 95: 515–521)
Authors: Watson N F S , Coleman J P , Robinson M H , Maxwell-Armstrong C A 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
The Editors welcome topical correspondence from readers relating to articles published in the Journal. Responses should be sent electronically via the BJS website (www.bjs.co.uk). All letters will be reviewed and, if approved,appear on the website. A selection of these will be edited and published in the Journal. Letters must be no more than 250 words in length.
The neuronal organization of a unique cerebellar specialization: The valvula cerebelli of a mormyrid fish
Authors: Shi Zhigang , Zhang Yueping , Meek Johannes , Qiao Jiantian , Han Victor Z. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractPhotomicrograph of a Golgi cell from the valvular ridge of the cerebellum of a mormyrid fish (Gnathonemus petersii). The cell was filled with neurobiotin in a transverse slice of the valvular ridges and the neurobiotin was revealed with red fluorescent dye. Nissl counterstaining is shown in green. The cell was photographed in a slice of 200 μm using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The cell body is located in the basal region of the ganglionic layer. Several smooth primary dendrites arise from the molecular side of the soma and give off secondary and tertiary branches irregularly. The dendrites become thinner and smoother as they extend further into the molecular layer. The thick axon arises from the granular layer side of the soma and projects into the granular layer where it branches extensively. En passant synaptic boutons are visible on the axonal branches. The large ball‐like ending of the main axon is probably a cut branch of the axon at the edge of the slice. J. Comp. Neurol. 509: 449‐473, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A mouse model of fragile X syndrome exhibits heightened arousal and/or emotion following errors or reversal of contingencies
Authors: Moon J. , Ota K.T. , Driscoll L.L. , Levitsky D.A. , Strupp B.J. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis study was designed to further assess cognitive and affective functioning in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the Fmr1tm1Cgr or Fmr1 “knockout” (KO) mouse. Male KO mice and wild‐type littermate controls were tested on learning set and reversal learning tasks. The KO mice were not impaired in associative learning, transfer of learning, or reversal learning, based on measures of learning rate. Analyses of videotapes of the reversal learning task revealed that both groups of mice exhibited higher levels of activity and wall‐climbing during the initial sessions of the task than during the final sessions, a pattern also seen for trials following an error relative to those following a correct response. Notably, the increase in both behavioral measures seen early in the task was significantly more pronounced for the KO mice than for controls, as was the error‐induced increase in activity level. This pattern of effects suggests that the KO mice reacted more strongly than controls to the reversal of contingencies and pronounced drop in reinforcement rate, and to errors in general. This pattern of effects is consistent with the heightened emotional reactivity frequently described for humans with FXS. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 473–485, 2008.
Application of parallel tabu search‐based hierarchical optimization to distribution system service restoration
Authors: Furuta Atsuhiro , Mori Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis paper proposes a hybrid method of hierarchical optimization and parallel tabu search (PTS) for distribution system service restoration with distributed generators. The objective is to evaluate the optimal route to recover the service. The improvement of power quality makes the service restoration more important. Distribution system service restoration is one of the complicated combinational optimization problems that are expressed as nonlinear mixed integer programming. In this paper, an efficient method is proposed to restore the service in a hierarchical optimization with PTS. The proposed method is tested in a sample system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(4): 15–23, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ eej.20463
Characteristics evaluation of a CO2‐capturing power generation system with reheat cycle utilizing regenerative oxygen‐combustion steam‐superheater
Authors: Sik Pak Pyong 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA new CO2‐capturing power generation system is proposed that can be easily realized by applying conventional technologies. In the proposed system, the temperature of medium‐pressure steam in a thermal power plant is raised by utilizing an oxygen‐combusting regenerative steam‐superheater. The CO2 generated by combusting the fuel in the superheater can be easily separated and captured from the exhaust gas at the condenser outlet, and is liquefied. The superheated steam is used to drive a steam turbine power generation system. Using a high‐efficiency combined cycle power generation system as an example, it is shown that the proposed system can increase the power output by 10.8%, and decrease the CO2 emissions of the entire integrated system by 18.6% with a power generation efficiency drop of 2.36% compared with the original power plant without CO2 capture, when the superheated steam temperature is 750 °C. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 165(1): 35–41, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20575
Increasing the audio watermark data rate in the construction of ubiquitous acoustic spaces
Authors: Modegi Toshio 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe propose “Ubiquitous Acoustic Spaces,” in which each sound source can emit some address information with audio signals and allow automatic access to its related cyber space, using handheld devices such as cell phones. In order to realize this concept, we have considered three types of extraction methods: acoustic modulation, audio fingerprints, and audio watermarking. We have proposed a novel audio watermarking technique, which allows contactless asynchronous detection of embedded audio watermarks through speaker and microphone devices. However, its embedding data rate was around 10 bps, which was not sufficient for embedding generally used URL address texts.Therefore, we have extended the embedding frequency range and proposed a duplicated embedding algorithm, which uses both the previously proposed frequency division method and the temporal division method together. By these improvements, the possible embedding data rate could be extended to 61.5 bps, and we could extract watermarks through public telephone networks, even from a cell phone sound source.In this paper, we describe our improved watermark embedding and extracting algorithms, and present experimental results on watermark extraction precision under several audio signal capturing conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 165(1): 42–51, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20758
Supplemental dietary flaxseed oil affects both neutral and phospholipid fatty acids in cultured tilapia
Authors: de Souza Nilson E. , Stevanato Flávia B. , Garcia Edivaldo E. , Visentainer Jeane E. L. , Zara Ricardo F. , Visentainer Jesui V. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis work aimed to evaluate the neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipid (PL) classes in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) muscle tissue. Tilapias were raised in captivity for a period of 5 months with increasing levels (0, 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00%) of flaxseed oil [source of α‐linolenic acid (LNA), 18:3n‐3] in substitution for sunflower oil (control). The NL/PL ratio was 1.9, and 45 fatty acids were determined for both classes of lipid. The class totals of n‐3 acids always increased in all treatments, while the totals for n‐6 acids always decreased (p <0.05). For a given level of flaxseed oil, the LNA contents were consistently higher, including EPA (20:5n‐3) and DHA (22:6n‐3). Arachidonic acid (20:4n‐6) remained high in the PL but was reduced as levels of dietary flaxseed oil were increased. The n‐6/n‐3 ratios decreased significantly with the rise in flaxseed oil content in all treatments, and highly unsaturated fatty acid contents increased with the levels of flaxseed oil. Overall, the influence of flaxseed oil on the fatty acid composition in the contributing NL and PL classes was to increase n‐3 PUFA, thus raising the nutritional value of this freshwater fish meat and, consequently, contributing to the health of consumers.
N‐3 enrichment of pork with fishmeal: Effects on production and consumer acceptability
Authors: Sioutis Stelios , Coates Alison M. , Buckley Jonathan D. , Murphy Timothy W. , Channon Heather A. , Howe Peter R. C. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis study aimed to develop pork products of acceptable organoleptic quality enriched with long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n‐3 PUFA). Female pigs were fed a finisher diet containing 15% PorcOmega™ tuna fishmeal or a commercial diet. Pigs and rations were weighed weekly. The feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in pigs fed fishmeal than in controls (2.61 ± 0.01 versus 2.96 ± 0.06, p <0.05). After 6 weeks, the pigs were butchered and the fatty acid contents of selected pork products were analyzed by gas chromatography. Shelf life was tested by thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS), initially and after 5 days of cold storage, and sensory qualities were evaluated after cooking. LC n‐3 PUFA contents of pork products from pigs fed fishmeal were higher than in controls (steak 300%, stir‐fry 250%, diced 520%, mince 480%, sausage 360%; p <0.05 in all cases). There were no differences between n‐3‐enriched and regular pork in either TBARS content of stored raw products or sensory characteristics after cooking. Incorporating fishmeal in the finisher diet resulted in greater feed efficiency and production of nutritionally enhanced pork products with organoleptic profiles and stability comparable to those of regular pork.
Functional glutamate transport in rodent optic nerve axons and glia
Authors: Arranz Amaia M. , Hussein Ali , Alix James J. P. , Pérez‐Cerdá Fernando , Allcock Natalie , Matute Carlos , Fern Robert 
Published: June 2008

AbstractRecent findings suggest that synaptic‐type glutamate signaling operates between axons and their supporting glial cells. Glutamate reuptake will be a necessary component of such a system. Evidence for glutamate‐mediated damage of oligodendroglia somata and processes in white matter suggests that glutamate regulation in white matter structures is also of clinical importance. The expression of glutamate transporters was examined in postnatal Day 14–17 (P14–17) mouse and in mature mouse and rat optic nerve using immuno‐histochemistry and immuno‐electron microscopy. EAAC1 was the major glutamate transporter detected in oligodendroglia cell membranes in both developing and mature optic nerve, while GLT‐1 was the most heavily expressed transporter in the membranes of astrocytes. Both EAAC1 and GLAST were also seen in adult astrocytes, but there was little membrane expression of either at P14–17. GLAST, EAAC1, and GLT‐1 were expressed in P14–17 axons with marked GLT‐1 expression in the axolemma, while in mature axons EAAC1 was abundant at the node of Ranvier. Functional glutamate transport was probed in P14–17 mouse optic nerve revealing Na+‐dependent, TBOA‐blockable uptake of D‐aspartate in astrocytes, axons, and oligodendrocytes. The data show that in addition to oligodendroglia and astrocytes, axons represent a potential source for extracellular glutamate in white matter during ischaemic conditions, and have the capacity for Na+‐dependent glutamate uptake. The findings support the possibility of functional synaptic‐type glutamate release from central axons, an event that will require axonal glutamate reuptake. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chromium (VI)‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis is reduced by garlic and its derivative S‐allylcysteine through the activation of Nrf2 in the hepatocytes of Wistar rats
Authors: Kalayarasan Srinivasan , Sriram Narayanan , Sureshkumar Ananthasadagopan , Sudhandiran Ganapasam 
Published: June 2008

AbstractChromium (VI) compounds are genotoxic and carcinogenic in a variety of experimental systems. Garlic and its derivatives possess antioxidant properties to scavenge the toxic radicals. The mechanism by which garlic induces the antioxidant and phase II enzymes during oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis is not known. This study aims to evaluate the protective role of aqueous garlic extract (AGE; 200 mg kg−1 b.w.) and S‐allylcysteine (SAC; 100 mg kg−1 b.w.) on potassium dichromate‐induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in the hepatocytes of Wistar rats. Activities of liver marker enzymes such as aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were found to be increased in the serum of chromium‐induced group, whereas administration of garlic extract and SAC restored the enzymes to near normal status. The activities of enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase), non‐enzymic antioxidants (vitamin C and vitamin E) and the levels of reduced glutathione were found to be decreased, while an increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen species were observed in the liver tissues of chromium‐induced group. Administration of AGE and SAC reversed the status of these parameters substantially. Histological and transmission electron microscopic studies support our findings. Confocal microscopic analysis using annexin‐V showed the involvement of apoptosis. Further, the expression of a novel transcription factor, nuclear factor‐E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) was investigated using Immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The results show the promising role of Nrf2‐mediated antioxidant defense of AGE and SAC against chromium toxicity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of the gastrointestinal biotransformation of zearalenone in a Caco‐2 cell culture system with liquid chromatographic methods
Authors: Schaut A. , De Saeger S. , Sergent T. , Schneider Y‐J. , Larondelle Y. , Pussemier L. , Van Peteghem C. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA high‐performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection (HPLC‐FLD) was developed and validated for the detection of zearalenone (ZON), α‐zearalenol (α‐ZOL) and β‐zearalenol (β‐ZOL) in in vitro biological samples. Furthermore, a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the detection of ZON, α‐ZOL, β‐ZOL, α‐zearalanol (α‐ZAL) and β‐zearalanol (β‐ZAL) in in vitro biological samples. Zearalanone (ZAN) was used as internal standard in both methods. The limit of detection/limit of quantitation (LOD/LOQ) values for ZON, α‐ZOL and β‐ZOL were 2/7, 2/7 and 4/13 µg l−1, respectively, for the HPLC‐FLD method. For the LC‐MS/MS method LOD/LOQ values for ZON, α‐ZOL, β‐ZOL, α‐ZAL and β‐ZAL were 6/20, 5/17, 4/14, 9/30 and 6/19 µg l−1, respectively. Within‐day and between‐day precision were less then 11 and 14%, respectively for the HPLC‐FLD method, and both less then 20% for the LC‐MS/MS method. The recovery of ZON and its metabolites ranged between 73 and 89% for the HPLC‐FLD method and between 69 and 112% for the LC‐MS/MS method. The methods were used for the detection of the compounds in in vitro biological samples, obtained with human intestinal Caco‐2 cells culture experiments. The 8‐days post‐confluent Caco‐2 cells were treated with ZON or a mixture of ZON and imazalil (IMA). After an incubation time of 24 h the samples were analysed with the HPLC‐FLD method. Neither ZON nor its derivatives were detected in the samples. The disappearance of ZON could possibly point out the formation of phase II metabolites like glucuronide conjugates. Therefore, samples were pretreated with β‐glucuronidase before LC‐MS/MS analysis. The LC‐MS/MS results showed that ZON, α‐ZOL and β‐ZOL could only be detected in the β‐glucuronidase pretreated samples. This confirmed the formation of glucuronide conjugates and the hydroxylation of ZON during the incubation with Caco‐2 cells. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cadmium‐induced neurological disorders: prophylactic role of taurine
Authors: Sinha Mahua , Manna Prasenjit , Sil Parames C. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe present study was conducted to investigate whether the conditionally essential amino acid taurine could play any protective role against the potent neurotoxin cadmium (Cd)‐induced oxidative impairment in mice brain. Cd administration in the form of CdCl2 (at a dose of 4 mg kg−1 body weight for 3 days, orally) increased the intracellular accumulation of metallic Cd, reactive oxygen species and super oxide radicals. The toxin also augmented the extent of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and the levels of glutathione disulfide. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes and the levels of reduced glutathione as well as total thiols have been significantly decreased due to Cd exposure. In addition, the toxin also caused significant DNA degradation (as evidenced from DNA smearing and diphenylamine reaction). Oral administration of taurine (at a dose of 100 mg kg−1 body weight for 5 days) was found to be very effective in the prevention of Cd‐induced oxidative impairment in the brain tissue of experimental mice. In addition, taurine treatment could also prevent the reduction in the in vivo antioxidant power linearly up to a dose of 100 mg kg−1 body weight. The preventive role of taurine against Cd‐induced cerebral oxidative damage was supported by the observation under scanning electron microscope as well as histological examination of brain segments. To validate the experimental results, a well‐known water soluble antioxidant, vitamin C, was used as the positive control in the study. In all, the results suggest that taurine plays a beneficial role against Cd‐induced cerebral oxidative stress. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
K+ channels and the cAMP–PKA pathway modulate TGF‐β1‐induced migration of rat vascular myofibroblasts
Authors: Liu Ya‐Rong , Ye Wen‐Lei , Zeng Xi‐Min , Ren Wen‐Hua , Zhang Yu‐Qiu , Mei Yan‐Ai 
Published: June 2008

AbstractOur previous studies have indicated that TGF‐β1 exerts its effect on the expression of A‐type potassium channels (IA) in rat vascular myofibroblasts by activation of protein kinase C during the phenotypic transformation of vascular fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. In the present study, patch‐clamp whole‐cell recording and transwell‐migration assays were used to examine the effects of TGF‐β1‐ and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA)‐induced expression of IA channels on myofibroblast migration and its modulation by the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Our results reveal that incubation of fibroblasts with TGF‐β1 or PMA up‐regulates the expression of IA channels and increases myofibroblast migration. Blocking IA channel expression by 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP) significantly inhibits TGF‐β1‐ and PMA‐induced myofibroblast migration. Incubation of fibroblasts with forskolin does not result in increased expression of IA channels but does cause a slight increase in fibroblast migration at higher concentrations. In addition, forskolin increases the TGF‐β1‐ and PMA‐induced myofibroblast migration but inhibits TGF‐β1‐ and PMA‐induced the expression of IA channels. Whole‐cell current recordings showed that forskolin augments the delayed rectifier outward K+ (IK) current amplitude of fibroblasts, but not the IA of myofibroblasts. Our results also indicate that TGF‐β1‐ and PMA‐induced expression of IA channels might be related to increase TGF‐β1‐ or PMA‐induced myofibroblast migration. Promoting fibroblast and myofibroblast migration via the PKA pathway does not seem to involve the expression of IA channels, but the modulation of IK and IA channels might be implicated. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 835–843, 2008, © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficacy of low‐dose intermittent interferon‐alpha monotherapy in patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b who were predicted or failed to respond to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy
Authors: Akuta Norio , Suzuki Fumitaka , Kawamura Yusuke , Yatsuji Hiromi , Sezaki Hitomi , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Hosaka Tetsuya , Kobayashi Masahiro , Kobayashi Mariko , Arase Yasuji , Ikeda Kenji , Kumada Hiromitsu 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe efficacy of interferon (IFN) monotherapy for non‐responders to pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy is still unclear. To evaluate the impact of IFN monotherapy on biochemical response, 200 consecutive patients infected with HCV genotype 1b, who received low‐dose intermittent IFN‐alpha monotherapy, were investigated. A median IFN dose per day of 3 million units was administered during a median period of 74 weeks. As a whole, the ALT normalization rates were 50.5, 65.9, 58.4, and 61.7% at 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks, respectively. In 40 patients, who had abnormal AFP levels at the start of treatment, 52.5% achieved normalization of AFP within 48 weeks. Multivariate analysis identified indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min as the parameter that influenced significantly and independently ALT normalization. ALT normalization rates of patients who were predicted to be poor responders to PEG‐IFN plus RBV combination therapy (but not substitutions of amino acid 70 and/or 91 in the HCV core region, female sex, and lower levels of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol) were similar to others. Furthermore, the ALT normalization rates in non‐responders to combination therapy were 29.2, 60.9, 60.0, and 40.0% at 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks, respectively. The results suggest that low‐dose intermittent IFN monotherapy is an efficacious therapeutic regimen for patients unsuitable for PEG‐IFN plus RBV, including non‐responders, because it can lead to ALT normalization and thus a reduced risk of hepatocarcinogenesis. J. Med. Virol. 80:1363–1369, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.