bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of Quantitative PCR and Culture Methods To Characterize Ecological Flux in Bacterial Biofilms
Authors: Dalwai F. , Spratt D. A. , Pratten J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT

An in vitro model of supragingival plaque associated with gingivitis was characterized by traditional culture techniques, comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing of isolates, and quantitative PCR (QPCR).
Actinomyces naeslundii
,
Prevotella
spp., and
Porphyromonas gingivalis
increased under conditions emulating gingivitis. Gram-negative species and total bacteria were dramatically underestimated by culture compared to the estimates obtained by QPCR.
Expression and function of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in rat intrapulmonary arteries
Authors: Robert R. , Savineau J-P. , Norez C. , Becq F. , Guibert C. 
Published: June 2007

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene encodes a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent chloride channel located mainly at the apical membrane of epithelial cells. In myocytes of pulmonary arteries, numerous chloride channels have been identified and described, but not the CFTR. Thus the presence and function of the CFTR was investigated in rat intrapulmonary arteries.CFTR expression, localisation and function were analysed in cultured smooth muscle cells using Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and immunoprecipitation followed by protein kinase A phosphorylation, immunolocalisation and an iodide efflux assay, respectively. The role of the CFTR in pulmonary vasoreactivity was determined in arterial rings using an organ bath system.RT-PCR and immunoprecipitation analyses, as well as the immunolocalisation study, revealed the expression of CFTR gene transcripts and protein. The iodide efflux assay showed the existence of functional cAMP-, calcium- and volume-dependent chloride channels. Furthermore, the following effects were found: 1) inhibition of forskolin/genistein-activated iodide efflux by glibenclamide, diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid and CFTR-specific inhibitor (CFTRinh)-172; 2) activation of iodide efflux by the benzoquinolizinium derivative CFTR activators MPB-07 and MPB-91; and 3) inhibition of MPB-dependent efflux by CFTRinh-172. Finally, CFTR activators induced concentration-dependent vasorelaxation in rings preconstricted with phenylephrine, in the presence or absence of endothelium.The present results are the first to reveal functional cyclic adenosine monophosphate-regulated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator contributing to endothelium-independent vasorelaxation in rat intrapulmonary arterial myocytes.
Molecular basis for the reproductive division of labour in a lower termite
Authors: Weil Tobias , Rehli Michael , Korb Judith 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackgroundPolyphenism, the expression of different phenotypes with the same genetic background, is well known for social insects. The substantial physiological and morphological differences among the castes generally are the result of differential gene expression. In lower termites, workers are developmentally flexible to become neotenic replacement reproductives via a single moult after the death of the founding reproductives. Thus, both castes (neotenics and workers) are expected to differ mainly in the expression of genes linked to reproductive division of labour, which constitutes the fundamental basis of insect societies.ResultsRepresentational difference analysis of cDNAs was used to study differential gene expression between neotenics and workers in the drywood termiteCryptotermes secundus(Kalotermitidae). We identified and, at least partially cloned five novel genes that were highly expressed in female neotenics. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of all five genes in different castes (neotenics, founding reproductives, winged sexuals and workers of both sexes) confirmed the differential expression patterns. In addition, the relative expression of these genes was determined in three body parts of female neotenics (head, thorax, and abdomen) using quantitative real-time PCR.ConclusionThe identified genes could be involved in the control and regulation of reproductive division of labour. Interestingly, this study revealed an expression pattern partly similar to social Hymenoptera indicating both common and species-specific regulatory mechanisms in hemimetabolous and holometabolous social insects.
Oral infection of mice with Salmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium causes meningitis and infection of the brain
Authors: Wickham Mark E , Brown Nat F , Provias John , Finlay B Brett , Coombes Brian K 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background

Salmonella meningitis is a rare and serious infection of the central nervous system following acute Salmonella enterica sepsis. For this pathogen, no appropriate model has been reported in which to examine infection kinetics and natural dissemination to the brain.

Methods
Five mouse lines including C57BL/6, Balb/c, 129S6-Slc11a1tm1

Mcg
, 129S1/SvImJ, B6.129-Inpp5dtm1

Rkh
were used in the murine typhoid model to examine the dissemination of systemic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium following oral infection.

Results
We report data on spontaneous meningitis and brain infection following oral infection of mice with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Conclusion
This model may provide a system in which dissemination of bacteria through the central nervous system and the influence of host and bacterial genetics can be queried.
250 labels used to stigmatise people with mental illness
Authors: Rose Diana , Thornicroft Graham , Pinfold Vanessa , Kassam Aliya 
Published: June 2007

Abstract

Background
The stigma against people with mental illness is a major barrier to help-seeking in young people for mental health problems. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent of stigma in relation to treatment avoidance in 14 year-old school students in England in relation to how they refer to people with mental illness.

Methods
This is a qualitative, cross-sectional study. The data were gathered as part of the baseline assessment for an intervention study intended to reduce stigma among 14 year old school students. The participating schools were two grammar (selective) schools and three comprehensive (non-selective) schools. At the start of the lesson, the students were asked 'What sorts of words or phrases might you use to describe someone who experiences mental health problems?' Words and terms used to refer to mental illness were enumerated. Using the grounded theory approach, words and terms were grouped in terms of their denotative and connotative meanings. Labels were then derived to capture the key themes attached by the students to the concepts of mental illness. The frequencies of occurrence for each word were also tabulated.

Results
400 of the 472 participating students (85%) provided 250 words and terms to describe a person with mental illness. Five themes were identified from the data. The first theme called 'popular derogatory terms' (116 items) accounted for nearly half of the words examined. The second theme occurred less often and was described as 'negative emotional state' (61 items). The third theme demonstrated the confusion of young people between physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health problems (38 items). The use of psychiatric diagnoses (15 items) and terms related to violence (9 items) were unexpectedly uncommon.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest the hypothesis that help-seeking by mentally ill young people may be improved by interventions that address both their lack of factual information about mental illness, and those which reduce their strong negative emotional reactions towards people with mental illness.
Surface contact analysis in axial thrust bearings based on different numerical interpolation approaches
Authors: Offner G , Lechner M , Mahmoud K , Priebsch H H 
Published: June 2007

The simulation of moving parts in combustion engines and power trains by means of flexible multi-body dynamics requires complex computation techniques for the contact areas. Understanding surface interactions in detail is of great value for new products and can reduce the development time and costs significantly. Modelling of lubricated contacts, which exist in slider bearings (axial and radial) and in the cylinder kit (piston, rings, and cylinder liner) are challenging tasks. Here, the simulation models have rough discretizations of the body surfaces and fine oil-film discretizations. Although body surfaces are usually given by finite element method (FEM) meshes, the non-linear reaction force of the loaded oil-film is determined by integrating the lubricant pressure field on the hydrodynamic mesh. The pressure is commonly calculated by solving a type of Reynolds equation in the gap between the contacting surfaces. The combination of different types of meshes of the body surfaces and the oil-film highly affects the quality of the results. Interpolation and integration approaches have to be capable of dealing with the high sensitivity of algorithms used for elastohydrodynamic contacts. This paper presents an analysis of numerically simulated contacts in axial slider bearings for combustion engines. A surface contact algorithm with different numerical interpolation approaches for the clearance gap and its time derivative is utilized to investigate the elastohydrodynamic behaviour of axial thrust bearings. Thereby, the complete set of equations for moving and elastic bodies and oil-film reaction forces have to be solved in time domain to obtain the actual shape of the deformed clearance. The numerical interpolation approaches comprise the Fritsch-Butland interpolation with the Brodlie-derivative-formulation as well as generalized cubic spline functions. The investigations consider effects of inclined crankshafts as they occur in axial thrust bearings of combustion engines. Detailed results are shown applying linear and tetragonal FEM meshes for the surfaces of the contacting bodies.
Dynamic verification of a multi-body computational model of human head and neck for frontal, lateral, and rear impacts
Authors: van Lopik D W , Acar M 
Published: June 2007

A multi-body computational model of the human head and neck was previously shown to be in good agreement with experimental findings from actual human cervical spine specimens. The model segments were tested in three directions of loading showing main and coupled motions to be accurate and realistic. The model's ability to predict the dynamic response of the head and neck, when subjected to acceleration pulses representing frontal, lateral, and rear-end impacts, is verified using experimental data derived from sled acceleration tests with human volunteers for 15 g frontal and 7 g lateral impacts and from isolated cervical spine specimen tests for rear-end impacts. Response corridors based on sled acceleration tests with human volunteers for frontal and lateral impacts are used to evaluate the model and investigate the effect of muscle activation on the head-neck motion. Firstly, the impacts are simulated with both passive and active muscle behaviour. Secondly, the local loads in the soft-tissue elements during the frontal impact are analysed. For rear-end impact simulation experiments using ligamentous isolated cervical spine specimens are used to evaluate the model performance before investigating the effects of muscle tensioning. Good agreement with human volunteer response corridors resulting from frontal and lateral impacts, and isolated cervical spine specimen sled test rear-end impact experiments is demonstrated for the model, highlighting the important role the muscles of the neck play in the head-neck response to acceleration impacts. The model is shown to be able to predict the loads and deformations of the cervical spine components making it suitable for injury analysis.
A study of commercial vehicle brake judder transmission using multi-body dynamic analysis
Authors: Hussain K , Yang S H , Day A 
Published: June 2007

Braking-induced forced vibration, known as brake judder in road vehicles, causes dissatisfaction to drivers and passengers and also damage and possible early failure in components and systems. In this paper, the transmission of judder vibration from the point of generation (the brake friction pair) through the vehicle structure to the driver is investigated for the particular case of a heavy commercial vehicle. The investigation uses a computer simulation multi-body dynamic model based on the automatic dynamic analysis of mechanical systems software to identify any characteristics of the vehicle suspension design that might influence the vibration transmission from the wheel to the driver. The model uses a simplified rigid chassis and cab to lump the chassis parameters, so that the investigation can focus on the front axle/suspension design, which is a beam axle leaf spring arrangement, and the rear axle/suspension assembly, which is a tandem axle bogie design. Results from the modelling indicate that brake judder vibration is transmitted to the chassis of the vehicle through a leaf spring ‘wind-up’ mode and a ‘walking’ mode associated with the rear tandem axle. Of particular interest is the longitudinal vibration transmitted through the chassis, since this creates a direct vibration transmission path to the cab and driver. The simulation results were compared with the previously published experimental work on the same design of commercial vehicle, and agreement between the predicted and the measured vibration characteristics and frequencies was found. It is concluded that the rear suspension design parameters could affect the transmission of brake judder vibration to the cab and driver and that a tandem rear axle offers some design opportunity to control the transmission of brake judder vibrations from the wheel to the cab and driver. Given that brake judder has so far defied all attempts to eliminate completely from vehicle brake systems, this is potentially an important opportunity.
Real-time multi-body formulation for virtual-reality-based design and evaluation of automobile controllers
Authors: Naya M A , Dopico D , Perez J A , Cuadrado J 
Published: June 2007

Nowadays, modelling and simulation of vehicle dynamics play a great role in the design and evaluation of vehicle control systems, as they reduce costly and time-consuming construction of prototypes and experimentation. Multi-body simulation can be used for controller design, tuning and testing of electronic control units, optimum control, or onboard devices providing driver advice and/or actuation. This article reports on the application of a robust real-time formulation to the development of a low-cost and efficient computational framework for the design and evaluation of automobile motion controllers. The core elements of the tool are the real-time formalism for the dynamics of multi-body systems, a virtual-reality (VR) interface for human-in-the-loop simulation, and Matlab for the controllers. A detailed model of an existing prototype car has been implemented in the Fortran language, and controllers have been designed for several purposes, in order to test the developed framework. It has been demonstrated that the dynamic formalism is fast enough to enable human-in-the-loop simulation, that the VR interface is of great help for both control design and evaluation, and that Matlab algorithms can be efficiently connected to the Fortran computational model of the car.
Color Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging of Protein Microdot Arrays
Authors: Shen Gangyi , Han Zhiqiang , Liu Wei , Chen Yi 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
A novel method for readout of protein microdot arrays was presented by using a laboratory-built color SPR imaging system which used multiwavelength light as an excitation source and color CCD as an image detector. True color images were directly recorded from IgG microdot arrays. At the incident angles of 44–47°, the colors complementary to the resonance absorption were recorded, depending on the concentration of IgG between 0.05 and 1.00 mg/mL, which indicates that the color signals contain both qualitative and quantitative information.
Cation-exchange Resin as Efficient, Cost-effective and Recyclable Catalyst for the Synthesis of 3-Propargylindoles
Authors: Yadav J S , Reddy B V Subba , Kumar G G K S Narayana , Rao K V Raghavendra 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with propargylic acetates in the presence of Amberlyst A-15® under mild conditions to produce 3-propargylated indoles in excellent yields with high selectivity. This is the first example for the alkylation of indoles with propargylic acetates using the acid catalyst.
Interface-initiated Emulsion Polymerization: Synthesis of Hollow Sphere with a Hole in the Shell
Authors: Chen Yun , Qian Zhen , Zhang Zhicheng 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
The polystyrene (PSt) hollow spheres with a hole in the shell can be successfully prepared by interface-initiated emulsion polymerization in the presence of isooctane. The results indicated that the St/isooctane ratio had a great influence on the final morphology and divinylbenzene (DVB) disadvantaged the form of the hollow structure.
Chronic Respiratory Disease in A Caesarian-Derived and a Conventional Rat Colony
Authors: Bell Deirdre P. 
Published: June 2007

Summary Lungs of rats kept under conventional conditions are histologically distinguishable from those of rats of a caesarian-derived colony after the age of about 5 weeks. The lungs of rats from this caesarian-derived colony, which has been maintained by a simple and inexpensive technique for seven years, are free from chronic respiratory disease.
The Care and Management of Laboratory Hystricomorph Rodents
Authors: Weir Barbara J. 
Published: June 2007

Summary The caging, feeding and handling of four unusual laboratory hystricomorph rodents is described. These rodents are: the chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger), the agouti (Dasyprocta aguti), the acouchi (Myoprocta pratti), and the African porcupine (Hystrix cristatd). The animals were kept for study of their reproduction and some details of this are given.
A simplified metabolism cage and tail cup for young rats
Authors: Frape D. L. , Wilkinson J. , Chubb L. G. 
Published: June 2007

A description is given of an inexpensive metabolism cage, in which powdered diets can be fed without measurable loss. Coprophagy is completely eliminated in rats fitted with a new design of tail cup, and in this way total collections of faeces and urine are readily achieved. Cups of a similar design have been fitted both to young male and to adult female rats, and use over periods of several weeks has revealed no ill effects. Reproducible estimates of dietary protein quality have been obtained with collection periods as short as 48 to 96 hours, and growth rates are quite good in adequately and uniformly heated rooms.
Reproductive performance in a cat colony over a 10-year period
Authors: Robinson Roy , Cox H. W. 
Published: June 2007

Various aspects of reproductive performance in a cat colony are analysed in order to provide a basis for future studies. The aspects considered are: effect of mortality on litter size at different stages, and differential effect of losses on sex ratio of kittens reared; trend in litter size for successive parities; monthly variation in frequency of litters and litter size; output of kittens per queen per year. The sex ratio for live kittens was found to be 99.3 males per 100 females. Significant lower sex ratios of 65.6 and 79.7 were found in stillborn and in kittens which died between birth and weaning respectively. The mean litter size was 4.20 born (4.07 after deducting stillbirths), 3.65 at weaning. An inverse relation was found between incidence of stillbirths and subsequent loss before weaning. The mortality rate in each case was 1.5 kittens per affected litter. The mean litter size was smaller for the first litter but then increased to a constant 'plateau' until almost the end of the queen's reproductive life. Litters were produced throughout the year, but with greater frequency in the early spring months and again in the late summer. Litter size was greater in the summer months. Kitten mortality was lower in the summer than in the winter. A mean of 10.8 kittens were born per queen per year, and the mean number weaned was 9.4, representing a survival rate of 87 per cent.
The Footbridge over the River Adige at Legnago in Italy Part 2: The Assessment of Human-Induced Vibrations
Authors: Bullo Sandra , Marco Roberto Di 
Published: June 2007

Pedestrian bridges are usually characterised by moderate dead loads and high deformability; such conditions make them particularly sensitive to dynamic loads, which can induce significant vibrations. The footbridge over River Adige in Legnago (Northern Italy) is a triangulated space-lattice truss made using steel tubes; after its construction, the structure proved to be particularly sensitive to horizontal actions, that can produce an oscillation involving lateral translation and the deck torsion on its longitudinal axis. The effectiveness of the stiffening work - carried out in order to reduce such movements — has been assessed through analyses that were able to reveal the structure's response to dynamic loads, such as those induced by pedestrian traffic. In particular, the study was broken down into two successive analyses, following the current procedures for vibration control in similar structures. A modal analysis for the evaluation of natural frequencies and mode shapes (with experimental tests for validation) — constituting the first part of the work [1] — enabled us to verify whether the structure's natural frequencies are included within the typical frequencies range of human-induced dynamic load; and a dynamic analysis — whose outcome is illustrated below - aimed to assess the entity of the vibrations and maximum accelerations due to the transit of one or more pedestrians, with view to verify the emergence of uncomfortable conditions for the users.