bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in Materials Use in Transition Economies
Authors: Kovanda Jan , Hak Tomas 
Published: December 2008

SummaryThis article examines the development of material consumption in three transition economies during the years 1990–2002. We compare the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland and benchmark their material consumption against average values for the 15 member states of the European Union (formation as of 1995) representing a typical market economy. The article compares consumption of materials in these countries and relates them to relevant socioeconomic variables, using the IPAT equation as a starting point. The article tries to answer whether there has been a convergence in per capita material consumption in these transition economies, in order to identify commonalities associated with the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy in terms of the development of material consumption. We investigate the relation between material consumption, population development, economic growth, and technological change during the transition.We show that the three transition economies, in general, experienced a convergence in per capita material consumption, including a common decrease in the consumption of biomass. Two out of three countries further recorded a decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels and an increase in the consumption of minerals. We found a general trend of increasing dependence on foreign resources during the transition. On the basis of the IPAT analysis, we found that the development of material consumption was mostly driven by the growth in consumption and by technological change. Although gross domestic product (GDP) growth contributed to a growth in material consumption, the influence of technology supported a reverse effect. In some of the countries, however, the factors decreasing material consumption (i.e., shifts to services and technological change) were not able to outweigh those factors causing material consumption to grow (i.e., increase in GDP).
Isolation of Bifidobacteria from Breast Milk and Assessment of the Bifidobacterial Population by PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis and Quantitative Real-Time PCR
Authors: Martín Rocío , Jiménez Esther , Heilig Hans , Fernández Leonides , Marín María L. , Zoetendal Erwin G. , Rodríguez Juan M. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

The objective of this work was to elucidate if breast milk contains bifidobacteria and whether they can be transmitted to the infant gut through breastfeeding. Twenty-three women and their respective infants provided samples of breast milk and feces, respectively, at days 4 to 7 after birth. Gram-positive and catalase-negative isolates from specific media with typical bifidobacterial shapes were identified to the genus level by F6PPK (fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase) assays and to the species level by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bifidobacterial communities in breast milk were assessed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), and their levels were estimated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRTi-PCR). Bifidobacteria were present in 8 milk samples and 21 fecal samples.
Bifidobacterium breve
,
B. adolescentis
, and
B. bifidum
were isolated from milk samples, while infant feces also contained
B. longum
and
B. pseudocatenulatum
. PCR-DGGE revealed the presence of one to four dominant bifidobacterial bands in 22 milk samples. Sequences with similarities above 98% were identified as
Bifidobacterium breve
,
B. adolescentis
,
B. longum
,
B. bifidum
, and
B. dentium.
Bifidobacterial DNA was detected by qRTi-PCR in the same 22 milk samples at a range between 40 and 10,000 16S rRNA gene copies per ml. In conclusion, human milk seems to be a source of living bifidobacteria for the infant gut.
MucR, a Novel Membrane-Associated Regulator of Alginate Biosynthesis inPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Hay Iain D. , Remminghorst Uwe , Rehm Bernd H. A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTAlginate biosynthesis byPseudomonas aeruginosawas shown to be regulated by the intracellular second messenger bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic-dimeric-GMP (c-di-GMP), and binding of c-di-GMP to the membrane protein Alg44 was required for alginate production. In this study, PA1727, a c-di-GMP-synthesizing enzyme was functionally analyzed and identified to be involved in regulation of alginate production. Deletion of the PA1727 gene in the mucoid alginate-overproducingP. aeruginosastrain PDO300 resulted in a nonmucoid phenotype and an about 38-fold decrease in alginate production; thus, this gene is designatedmucR. The mucoid alginate-overproducing phenotype was restored by introducing themucRgene into the isogenic ΔmucRmutant. Moreover, transfer of the MucR-encoding plasmid into strain PDO300 led to an about sevenfold increase in alginate production, wrinkly colony morphology, increased pellicle formation, auto-aggregation, and the formation of highly structured biofilms as well as the inhibition of swarming motility. Outer membrane protein profile analysis showed that overproduction of MucR mediates a strong reduction in the copy number of FliC (flagellin), required for flagellum-mediated motility. Translational reporter enzyme fusions with LacZ and PhoA suggested that MucR is located in the cytoplasmic membrane with a cytosolic C terminus. Deletion of the proposed C-terminal GGDEF domain abolished MucR function. MucR was purified and identified using tryptic peptide fingerprinting and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Overall, experimental evidence was provided suggesting that MucR specifically regulates alginate biosynthesis by activation of alginate production through generation of a localized c-di-GMP pool in the vicinity of Alg44.
Notes on a Forgotten Manuscript of Hesiod's Theogony
Authors: Vioque Guillermo Galán 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn this article the author studies a new witness (Vaticanus gr. 1825) of Hesiod's Theogony that has been overlooked by recent editors of Hesiod's poems. It is a reliable testimony that should be preferred over one of its apographa, Laurentianus Conv. Soppr. 15, frequently quoted in West's edition.
Josephus on Fate, Free Will, and Ancient Jewish Types of Compatibilism
Authors: Klawans Jonathan 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRecent scholarship on fate and free will in ancient Judaism is characterized by a lack of precision with regard to the nature of these disputes. There is also some disagreement concerning the degree to which the disparate positions can be constructively compared with either Hellenistic philosophical approaches or later rabbinic theological ones. It is argued here that Josephus's brief typology of ancient Jewish disputes on this topic finds confirmation in other ancient Jewish literature, especially the Wisdom of Ben Sira, the sectarian Dead Sea Scrolls, and later rabbinic literature. Yet it is imperative to nuance Josephus's typology so as to avoid imposing Hellenistic philosophical systems onto ancient Jewish theological ones. These observations hold true especially when it comes to understanding the balance between fate and free will — the “compatibilism” — that characterizes the Pharisaic approach. It is rarely noticed that Josephus's accounts attribute to this group two distinct ways of balancing fate and free will. On the one hand, each of these two approaches finds distinct analogues within rabbinic literature, a fact that further confirms both Josephus's reliability and the productivity of comparing his accounts with later rabbinic traditions. On the other hand, neither of the two types of compatibilism attributed by Josephus to the Pharisees can be identified with Stoic compatibilism. Nonetheless, the term “compatibilism” remains the most appropriate term for distinguishing the Pharisaic compromises from the more extreme (but by no means uncomplicated) positions that seem to have characterized the Sadducees and Essenes in Josephus's day.
Vows for the Masses: Eison and the Popular Expansion of Precept-Conferral Ceremonies in Premodern Japan
Authors: Meeks Lori 
Published: December 2008

AbstractOver the course of his roughly fifty-year ministry, the Japanese vinaya (ritsu) revivalist priest Eison (also read “Eizon,” 1201–1290) is said to have bestowed the bodhisattva precepts upon some 97,710 people. Many of these conferrals were given en masse, with tens or hundreds (and, according to some records, even thousands) taking precepts (jukai; Chns. shoujie) from Eison together, in single ceremonies. This study places Eison's use of precept-conferral ceremonies in the broader historical context of East Asian, and especially Japanese, Buddhist practice. It then focuses on the particular methods used and innovations introduced by Eison and his vinaya-revival movement, paying close attention to the socio-political roles that precept-conferral ceremonies played in relationships between monks, monasteries, and lay devotees in medieval Japan.
Posterolateral Structures of the Knee in Posterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency
Authors: Kozanek Michal , Fu Eric C. , Van de Velde Samuel K. , Gill Thomas J. , Guoan Li 
Published: December 2008

Background In vitro data suggest that injury to the posterior cruciate ligament stresses the posterolateral structures of the knee, placing them at greater risk of secondary injury. However, it is not known how isolated posterior cruciate ligament deficiency affects these soft tissue stabilizers of the knee joint in vivo. Hypothesis Posterior cruciate ligament deficiency will alter the apparent length patterns of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and popliteus. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods The apparent length changes in the lateral collateral ligament and popliteus muscle-tendon unit during weightbearing knee flexion were studied in 14 patients with isolated, unilateral posterior cruciate ligament deficiency using magnetic resonance imaging, dual-orthogonal fluoroscopy, and 3-dimensional modeling. Data of the injured and uninjured contralateral sides were compared. Results Posterior cruciate ligament deficiency caused significant increases in the apparent length of both posterolateral structures (P <. 05). The differences between injured and uninjured contralateral side were greatest at 120° of knee flexion in the lateral collateral ligament (48.2 ± 6.1 mm and 51.6 ± 6.1 mm, respectively) and at 30° of knee flexion in the popliteus (101.2 ± 9.3 mm and 110.4 ± 10.2 mm, respectively). Conclusion Deficiency of the posterior cruciate ligament alters the length patterns of posterolateral structures in vivo and might place them at greater risk of secondary injury. Clinical Relevance Reestablishment of normal kinematics after posterior cruciate ligament injury is critical for restoring normal function of posterolateral structures of the knee.
Eccentric Loading versus Eccentric Loading plus Shock-Wave Treatment for Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy
Authors: Rompe Jan D. , Furia John , Maffulli Nicola 
Published: December 2008

Background Results of a previous randomized controlled trial have shown comparable effectiveness of a standardized eccentric loading training and of repetitive low-energy shock-wave treatment (SWT) in patients suffering from chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. No randomized controlled trials have tested whether a combined approach might lead to even better results. Purpose To compare the effectiveness of 2 management strategies—group 1: eccentric loading and group 2: eccentric loading plus repetitive low-energy shock-wave therapy. Study Design Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods Sixty-eight patients with a chronic recalcitrant (>6 months) noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy were enrolled in a randomized controlled study. All patients had received unsuccessful management for >3 months, including at least (1) peritendinous local injections, (2) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and (3) physiotherapy. A computerized random-number generator was used to draw up an allocation schedule. Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. Results At 4 months from baseline, the VISA-A score increased in both groups, from 50 to 73 points in group 1 (eccentric loading) and from 51 to 87 points in group 2 (eccentric loading plus shock-wave treatment). Pain rating decreased in both groups, from 7 to 4 points in group 1 and from 7 to 2 points in group 2. Nineteen of 34 patients in group 1 (56%) and 28 of 34 patients in group 2 (82%) reported a Likert scale of 1 or 2 points (“completely recovered” or “much improved”). For all outcome measures, groups 1 and 2 differed significantly in favor of the combined approach at the 4-month follow-up. At 1 year from baseline, there was no difference any longer, with 15 failed patients of group 1 opting for having the combined therapy as cross-over and with 6 failed patients of group 2 having undergone surgery. Conclusion At 4-month follow-up, eccentric loading alone was less effective when compared with a combination of eccentric loading and repetitive low-energy shock-wave treatment.
The expert patients programme online, a 1-year study of an Internet-based self-management programme for people with long-term conditions
Authors: Lorig Kate R. , Ritter Philip L. , Dost Ayesha , Plant Kathryn , Laurent Diana D. , Mcneil Ian 
Published: December 2008

Objectives: Evaluate the effectiveness of an online self-management programme (EPP Online) for England residents with long-term conditions. Methods: A prospective longitudinal study. Data were collected online at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The intervention was an asynchronous 6-week chronic-disease self-management programme offered online. We measured seven health status measures (health distress, self-rated health, illness intrusiveness, disability, fatigue, pain and shortness of breath), four behaviours (aerobic exercise, stretching exercise, stress management and communications with physician), and five utilization measures (GP visits, pharmacy visits, PT/OT visits, emergency visits and hospitalizations). We also measured self-efficacy and satisfaction with the health care system. Results: A total of 568 completed baseline data: 546 (81%) completed 6 months and 443 (78%) completed 1 year. Significant improvements (p<0.01) were found at 6 months for all variables except self-rated health, disability, stretching, hospitalizations and nights in hospital. At 12 months only decrease in disability, nights in hospital and hospitalizations were not significant with reduction in visits to emergency departments being marginally significant (p = 0.012). Both self-efficacy and satisfaction with the health care system improved significantly. Discussion: The peer-led online programme conditions appears to decrease symptoms, improve health behaviours, self-efficacy and satisfaction with the health care system and reducing health care utilization up to 1 year.
Rac GTPases play critical roles in early T-cell development
Authors: Dumont Celine , Corsoni-Tadrzak Agnieszka , Ruf Sandra , de Boer Jasper , Williams Adam , Turner Martin , Kioussis Dimitris , Tybulewicz Victor L. J. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
The Rac1 and Rac2 GTPases play important roles in many processes including cytoskeletal reorganization, proliferation, and survival, and are required for B-cell development. Previous studies had shown that deficiency in Rac2 did not affect T-cell development, whereas the function of Rac1 in this process has not been investigated. We now show that simultaneous absence of both GTPases resulted in a very strong developmental block at the pre-TCR checkpoint and in defective positive selection. Unexpectedly, deficiency of Rac1 and Rac2 also resulted in the aberrant survival of thymocytes lacking expression of TCRβ, showing hallmarks of hyperactive Notch signaling. Furthermore, we found a similar novel phenotype in the absence of Vav1, Vav2, and Vav3, which function as guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rac1 and Rac2. These results show that a pathway containing Vav and Rac proteins may negatively regulate Notch signaling during early thymic development.
Comparative and phylogenomic studies on the mitochondrial genomes of Pentatomomorpha (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera)
Authors: Hua Jimeng , Li Ming , Dong Pengzhi , Cui Ying , Xie Qiang , Bu Wenjun 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackgroundNucleotide sequences and the gene arrangements of mitochondrial genomes are effective tools for resolving phylogenetic problems. Hemipteroid insects are known to possess highly reorganized mitochondrial genomes, but in the suborder Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera), there was only one complete mitochondrial genome sequenced without gene rearrangement and the phylogeny of infraorder Pentatomomorpha in Heteroptera was still uncertain.ResultsFifteen mitochondrial genomes of the suborder Heteroptera were sequenced. Gene rearrangements were found as follows: 1)tRNA-IandtRNA-Qswitched positions in Aradidae, 2)tRNA-TandtRNA-Pswitched positions in Largidae and Pyrrhocoridae. Two recombination events were found in Alydidae and Malcidae. The other mt-genomes were organized in the same way as observed inDrosophila yakuba. The phylogenetic analyses of infraorder Pentatomomorpha based on the nucleotide sequence raised the hypothesis of (Aradoidea + (Pentatomoidea + (Pyrrhocoroidea + (Lygaeoidea + Coreoidea)))). The rearrangement oftRNA-TandtRNA-Palso linked Largidae and Pyrrhocoridae together. Furthermore, the conserved sequence block in the unusual intergenic spacers betweentRNA-HandND4favored the monophyly of Lygaeoidea. Tetranucleotide ATCA was inferred to be the initiation codon ofND2in Cydnidae. No correlation was found between the rates of nucleotide substitution and gene rearrangement. CG content was significantly correlated with the nucleotide substitution rate of each gene. For ND1, there was a positive correlation (P< 0.01) between amino acids variations and hydrophobicity, but a negative correlation (P< 0.01) for ND6. No conserved sequence was found among the control regions and these regions were not always the most AT-rich region of the mt-genome.ConclusionHeteropteran insects are extremely complex groups worthy of further study because of the unusual tetranucleotide initiation codon and their great mt-genomic diversity, including gene rearrangements and recombinations. The mt-genome is a powerful molecular marker for resolving phylogeny at the level of the superfamily and family. Gene rearrangements were not correlated with nucleotide substitution rates. CG content variation caused the different evolutionary patterns among genes. For ND1, in many polar or nonpolar regions the specific identity of the amino acid residues might be more important than maintaining the polarity of these regions, while the opposite is true for ND6. Most sequences of the control regions did not appear to be important for regulatory functions. Finally, we suggest that the term "AT-rich regions" should not be used.
Transcriptome profiling of the feeding-to-fasting transition in chicken liver
Authors: Désert Colette , Duclos Michel J , Blavy Pierre , Lecerf Frédéric , Moreews François , Klopp Christophe , Aubry Marc , Herault Frédéric , Le Roy Pascale , Berri Cécile , Douaire Madeleine , Diot Christian , Lagarrigue Sandrine 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackgroundStarvation triggers a complex array of adaptative metabolic responses including energy-metabolic responses, a process which must imply tissue specific alterations in gene expression and in which the liver plays a central role. The present study aimed to describe the evolution of global gene expression profiles in liver of 4-week-old male chickens during a 48 h fasting period using a chicken 20 K oligoarray.ResultsA large number of genes were modulated by fasting (3532 genes with a pvalue corrected by Benjamini-Hochberg < 0.01); 2062 showed an amplitude of variation higher than +/- 40% among those, 1162 presented an human ortholog, allowing to collect functional information. Notably more genes were down-regulated than up-regulated, whatever the duration of fasting (16 h or 48 h). The number of genes differentially expressed after 48 h of fasting was 3.5-fold higher than after 16 h of fasting. Four clusters of co-expressed genes were identified by a hierarchical cluster analysis. Gene Ontology, KEGG and Ingenuity databases were then used to identify the metabolic processes associated to each cluster. After 16 h of fasting, genes involved in ketogenesis, gluconeogenesis and mitochondrial or peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation, were up-regulated (cluster-1) whereas genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis were down-regulated (cluster-2). For all genes tested, the microarray data was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Most genes were altered by fasting as already reported in mammals. A notable exception was theHMG-CoA synthase 1gene, which was up-regulated following 16 and 48 h of fasting while the other genes involved in cholesterol metabolism were down-regulated as reported in mammalian studies. We further focused on genes not represented on the microarray and candidates for the regulation of the target genes belonging to cluster-1 and -2 and involved in lipid metabolism. Data are provided concerning PPARa, SREBP1, SREBP2, NR1H3 transcription factors and two desaturases (FADS1, FADS2).ConclusionThis study evidences numerous genes altered by starvation in chickens and suggests a global repression of cellular activity in response to this stressor. The central role of lipid and acetyl-CoA metabolisms and its regulation at transcriptional level are confirmed in chicken liver in response to short-term fasting. Interesting expression modulations were observed forNR1H3, FADS1andFADS2genes. Further studies are needed to precise their role in the complex regulatory network controlling lipid metabolism.
Eventration of diaphragm with gastric volvulus: a case report
Authors: Shah Naveed Nazir , Mohsin Mir , Khursheed Syed Quibtiya , Farooq Syed Suraiya Arjumand , Buchh Arshad Altaf , Quraishi Abdul Quadir 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Background
Eventration of diaphragm associated with gastric volvulus is an uncommon condition.

Case presentation
We are reporting a case of a 60-year-old male having left sided total diaphragmatic eventration associated with chronic intermittent organo-axial gastric volvulus. The patient presented with progressive dyspnea and intermittent gastrointestinal symptoms. Plication of left hemidiaphragm with anterior gastropexy was performed through an abdominal approach. Postoperatively the patient's symptoms improved.

Conclusion
Symptomatic gastric volvulus associated with diaphragmatic eventration is a surgical emergency and always requires surgical repair.