bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Examining the CDCynergy Event Assessment Tool: an investigation of the anthrax crisis in Boca Raton, Florida
Authors: McIntyre J.J. , Venette Steven 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThis paper examines the dependability of the Event Assessment Tool over time. The latter is part of a CD‐ROM—Emergency Risk Communication CDCynergy—distributed primarily to public information officers in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Event Assessment Tool is designed to aid emergency professionals in identifying the magnitude of a crisis event and to suggest appropriate actions to confront such a situation. Applied twice during the 2001 anthrax bioterrorism crisis in Boca Raton, Florida, the tool functioned in a binary manner by first indicating a moderate crisis level (on 4 October) and then four days later (on 8 October) a highly intense crisis, suggesting that it is time sensitive. This anthrax event provides an opportunity for crisis and disaster managers to understand the dynamic nature of crises. Rapid changes during these types of events suggest that any metric used to predict intensity must account for this variability. Additional limitations and implications of the tool are discussed.
Are rapid population estimates accurate? A field trial of two different assessment methods
Authors: Grais Rebecca F. , Coulombier Denis , Ampuero Julia , Lucas Marcelino E.S. , Barretto Avertino T. , Jacquier Guy , Diaz Francisco , Balandine Serge , Mahoudeau Claude , Brown Vincent 
Published: August 2006

AbstractEmergencies resulting in large‐scale displacement often lead to populations resettling in areas where basic health services and sanitation are unavailable. To plan relief‐related activities quickly, rapid population size estimates are needed. The currently recommended Quadrat method estimates total population by extrapolating the average population size living in square blocks of known area to the total site surface. An alternative approach, the T‐Square, provides a population estimate based on analysis of the spatial distribution of housing units taken throughout a site. We field tested both methods and validated the results against a census in Esturro Bairro, Beira, Mozambique. Compared to the census (population: 9,479), the T‐Square yielded a better population estimate (9,523) than the Quadrat method (7,681; 95% confidence interval: 6,160–9,201), but was more difficult for field survey teams to implement. Although applicable only to similar sites, several general conclusions can be drawn for emergency planning.
Characteristics of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) bedding sites
Authors: Rice Mindy B. , Jones Martin 
Published: August 2006

AbstractBlack rhino numbers have decreased greatly since the early 1970s, primarily as a result of poaching. A recent strategy to protect rhinos in Kenya has been to establish fenced sanctuaries. This has increased the rhino population and that of other species, but problems have emerged because of limited dispersal and rising animal densities. Unfortunately, how rhino utilize habitat, especially areas called bedding sites, is not well understood. These areas provide shade and may be a critical component of rhino habitat. We measured habitat variables at bedding sites located in bedding plots and compared them with control plots at Sweetwaters Reserve, Kenya.Euclea divinorumwas the most common tree in the bedding site comprising 64.3% of the vegetation. Elephant dung was significantly more likely to be found in bedding plots than in control plots which suggests that elephants and rhinos use overlapping habitats. Elephants may be causing damage to the tree species that are important for bedding sites. Resource competition between large herbivores in small reserves is likely to negatively affect the tree species. Black rhino habitat, particularly bedding sites, may be at risk and rhino numbers may decrease.
Assessing fragmentation and disturbance of west Kenyan rainforests by means of remotely sensed time series data and landscape metrics
Authors: Lung Tobias , Schaab Gertrud 
Published: August 2006

AbstractBiodiversity in tropical rainforests is heavily influenced by land use/cover change (LUCC), but so far there have been few LUCC studies conducted in Africa. We present several methods that make use of remotely sensed data and landscape metrics and allow for assessment of the development of land cover and thus forest fragmentation and disturbance over a substantial period of time. The study covers Kakamega Forest and its associated forest areas in western Kenya, over the last 30 years. The accuracy of a supervised multispectral classification of Landsat time series data encompassing seven time steps between 1972 and 2001 is numerically assessed using ground truth reference data considering the 2001 time step. Here, buffering the forest areas by 1 km, highest user's accuracies for the forest classes ‘near natural + old secondary forest’ (87.50%), ‘secondary forest’ (80.00%) and ‘bushland/shrubs’ (81.08%) are revealed. Images of a spatially distributed fragmentation index derived from the land cover time series by applying a three by 3 pixel‐sized moving window to determine forest pixels’ adjacency, highlight trends in forest fragmentation, e.g. the splitting into two separate forests along the Yala/Ikuywa corridor. Calculations of mean fragmentation indices for the Biodiversity Monitoring Transect Analysis in Eastern Africa (BIOTA‐East Africa) focus research areas are used to evaluate the fragmentation index and to demonstrate its potential to extrapolate (e.g. biological) field findings in space and time. Here we argue for a correlation of the fragmentation indices results not only with forest management regimes, but with population distribution and accessibility (e.g. by roads). A cluster analysis applying the isodata‐algorithm on the classification results of all seven times steps allows for a rapid visual assessment of the distinct pattern of typical land cover development trends since 1972. This reveals that parts of Kakamega Forest have experienced severe forest loss while others, especially in the north‐east, show signs of succession.
The activity of the immunoregulatory enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is decreased in smokers
Authors: Pertovaara M , Heliövaara M , Raitala A , Oja S S , Knekt P , Hurme M 
Published: August 2006

Summary
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme involved in the degradation of the essential amino acid tryptophan (trp) to its main metabolite kynurenine (kyn), suppresses T cell activity. Smoking has marked immunomodulatory effects, above all immunosuppressive, causing a reduction in the levels of immunoglobulins and an increased risk of infections. The immunostimulatory effects of smoking are manifested, for example, in increased autoantibody production. We sought to establish whether IDO activity is involved in the immunomodulatory effects of smoking. To this end we measured the ratio of kyn to trp, reflecting IDO activity, by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 784 (464 female, 230 male) subjects of a population-based sample of the adult Finnish population. Serum cotinine concentration as an indicator of active smoking was measured in the patients by radioimmunoassay and detailed data gathered on smoking habits. IDO activity was lower in smokers in this population-based sample compared with non-smokers when active smoking was classified according to serum cotinine concentration or history of smoking habits. Moreover, serum IDO activity correlated inversely with serum cotinine concentration. In conclusion, the activity of the IDO enzyme is decreased in smoking subjects, and the reduction in IDO-dependent immunosuppression could thus be responsible for the known immunostimulatory effects of smoking.
Intracellular cytokine profile of T lymphocytes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Barceló B , Pons J , Fuster A , Sauleda J , Noguera A , Ferrer J M , Agustí A G N 
Published: August 2006

Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response to inhaled particles, mainly tobacco smoking. T lymphocytes are important regulatory cells that secrete several cytokines and participate actively in this inflammatory response. According to the pattern of cytokines secreted, the immune response is classified as cytotoxic or type 1 [interferon (IFN)-γ-, interleukin (IL)-2-dependent] and humoral or type 2 (IL-4-, IL-5-, IL-10- and IL-13-dependent). This paper sought to compare the intracellular profile of cytokine expression determined by flow cytometry in T lymphocytes harvested from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and peripheral blood in patients with COPD, smokers with normal lung function and never smokers. We found that BAL T lymphocytes from COPD patients had a higher percentage of positive stained cells for most of the cytokines analysed when compared to never smokers or smokers with normal lung function. Differences reached statistical significance for IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13, particularly in CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, the expression of most of these cytokines was related inversely to the degree of airflow obstruction present suggesting local activation and/or selective homing of T lymphocytes to the lungs in COPD patients. These observations were not reproduced in circulating T lymphocytes. These results suggest that BAL T lymphocytes in patients with COPD produce more cytokines than in controls and tend to show a type 2 pattern of intracellular cytokine expression, particularly a Tc-2 profile. This is related inversely to the degree of airflow obstruction present.
In the rat, citrullinated autologous fibrinogen is immunogenic but the induced autoimmune response is not arthritogenic
Authors: Duplan V , Foulquier C , Clavel C , Al Badine R , Serre G , Saoudi A , Sebbag M 
Published: August 2006

SummaryConversion of arginyl to citrullyl residues (citrullination) is essential for the formation of the epitopes recognized by rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins (ACPA). ACPA are secreted by plasma cells of the rheumatoid synovial tissue where their major target, citrullinated fibrin, is abundant. Although numerous arguments suggest that ACPA play an important role in RA, their pathological relevance remains to be established. In the present study, we assessed the immunogenicity and arthritogenicity of complete Freund’s adjuvant-emulsified autologous citrullinated (C-rFBG) or non-citrullinated (NC-rFBG) fibrinogen in Lewis (LEW) and Brown–Norway rats, which exhibit drastic differences in their susceptibility to induced autoimmune diseases. NC-rFBG induced no antibody response. In contrast, a single injection of C-rFBG induced an IgG response directed mainly to citrullinated determinants of rFBG. However, all rat strains remained devoid of clinical and histological signs of arthritis up to 3 months after C-rFBG inoculation. Next, in LEW rats, we tested whether autoimmunity to C-rFBG could aggravate acute ankle arthritis triggered by intra-articular injection of incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA). However, such arthritis evolved identically in the presence or absence of anti-C-rFBG autoantibodies. However, IFA-injected joints were devoid of citrullinated fibrin deposits. Therefore, citrullination allows breakdown of immunological tolerance but the autoimmune response developed is not spontaneously arthritogenic. Whether or not it can aggravate arthritis with citrullinated fibrin deposits remains to be evaluated.
Anti‐interleukin‐6 monoclonal antibody inhibits autoimmune responses in a murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Liang Bailin , Gardner Debra B. , Griswold Don E. , Bugelski Peter J. , Song Xiao Yu R. 
Published: August 2006

SummarySystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease resulting from dysregulation of the immune system. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by macrophages, monocytes and T and B cells. It stimulates B‐cell differentiation/maturation, immunoglobulin secretion, and T‐cell functions. Elevated levels of IL‐6 in serum, urine and renal glomeruli were detected in patients with active SLE and in murine models of SLE. Our study investigated the role of IL‐6 in an SLE‐like disease in New Zealand Black/White (NZB/W) F1 mice by administration of an anti‐murine IL‐6 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Intraperitoneal administration of the anti‐IL‐6 mAb suppressed the production of anti‐dsDNA autoantibody. B‐cell proliferation induced by anti‐IgM and anti‐CD40 was lower in the anti‐IL‐6 mAb‐treated mice, ex vivo studies demonstrated that anti‐IL‐6 mAb treatment inhibited anti‐dsDNA production. Anti‐CD3‐induced T‐cell proliferation and mixed lymphocyte reactions were inhibited by anti‐IL‐6 mAb treatment, indicating a partial down‐regulation of T cells. Histological analysis showed that treatment with anti‐IL‐6 mAb prevented the development of severe kidney disease. These results suggest that treatment with anti‐IL‐6 mAb has a beneficial effect on autoimmunity in murine SLE and that autoreactive B cells may be the primary target for anti‐IL‐6 mAb treatment; its effect on autoreactive T cells is also indicated.
Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity in grapevine parts and berries (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Kishmish Chornyi (Sharad Seedless) during maturation
Authors: Doshi Pooja , Adsule Pandurang , Banerjee Kaushik 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThe phenolic composition and antioxidant potential were determined in grape berries, berry stem, leaves, leaf petiole and shoots of commercially popular variety Kishmish Chornyi (Sharad Seedless) at various stages of maturation. The berries and berry stems at the initial stage of maturation showed high amounts of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, flavan‐3‐ols and antioxidant activity in terms of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The effect of maturation was profound in grapes with a drastic reduction in various phenolic components and the FRAP value. The berries obtained at the last two harvests showed high anthocyanins and reducing sugars, but the least amount of all phenolic components and thus the antioxidant activity; however, berry stems, leaves, petioles and shoots, respectively, showed 7.6‐, 2.9‐, 2.3‐ and 1.5‐fold higher FRAP values than berries. Thus, besides the berries, different grapevine parts could also become a potential source of phenolics for pharmaceuticals or functional foods.
Antioxidant activity of Prunus mume extract in cooked chicken breast meat
Authors: Jo Seong‐Chun , Nam Ki‐Chang , Min Byoung‐Rok , Ahn Dong‐Uk , Cho Sung‐Hwan , Park Woo‐Po , Lee Seung‐Cheol 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThe antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from the fruit of Prunus mume were determined in chicken breast meat systems. When P. mume extract (PM) was added to chicken breast meat, 2‐thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) value at day 3 was decreased by about 45% of the control. PM did not affect colour of chicken meat compared with the control. The amounts of volatile aldehydes and hydrocarbons were significantly decreased by the addition of PM. Especially, hexanal was the most predominant volatile compound in the control taking up almost more than 50% of the total volatiles and PM reduced the amount into 26% of the control meat at 3 days.
Evaluation of phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Iranian caraway in comparison with clove and BHT using model systems and vegetable oil
Authors: Bamdad Fatemeh , Kadivar Mahdi , Keramat Javad 
Published: August 2006

SummaryAntioxidant activity (AA) of phenolic compounds in methanolic extract of Iranian caraway was compared with clove. Total phenolic content of caraway and clove extracts determined by the Folin‐Ciocalteu method, were 13.76 and 243.91 mg g−1 dry matter respectively, expressed as tannic acid equivalents, and total flavonoid content of extracts were 2.6 and 5.0 mg g−1 dry matter, respectively, expressed as epicatechin equivalents. The extracts were screened for their potency as antioxidant using various in vitro models, such as β‐carotene–linoleate, ferric thiocyanate, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydroxyl (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl radical (•OH) and reducing power model systems. AA of BHT was also determined in model systems. AA of methanolic extracts at different concentrations of total phenolic content according to β‐carotene bleaching and ferric thiocyanate methods expressed as AA (per cent inhibition relative to control) ranged from 82% to 96%.The scavenging effect of both extracts on DPPH and •OH radicals were 23–40% and 3.5–12.7%, respectively, which were comparable with BHT as a synthetic antioxidant. Extracts with high content of total phenolic compounds exhibited also good reducing power.
Antioxidant capacity and content of Brassica oleracea dietary antioxidants
Authors: Podse˛dek Anna , Sosnowska Dorota , Redzynia Małgorzata , Anders Barbara 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThis study has evaluated the antioxidant capacity and content of both water‐ and lipid‐soluble antioxidants present in red and white cabbages, savoy cabbage and Brussels sprouts. Total phenolic and vitamin C contents varied from 21 to 171 mg per 100 g and from 18 to 129 mg per 100 g, respectively. Levels of carotenoids ranged from 0.009 to 1.16 mg per 100 g, while α‐tocopherol levels from 0.008 to 0.82 mg per 100 g. Red cabbage and Brussels sprouts were the most rich sources of dietary antioxidants, while their content was the lowest in white cabbage. Water‐soluble antioxidants were the main antioxidant compounds in the vegetables tested, and their contribution to the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity values was near 99%. Among phenolic compounds, anthocyanins were the main constituents in red cabbage, but hydroxycinnamic acids predominated in other vegetables. Phenolic extracts were capable of scavenging O2·‐, DPPH· and ABTS·+ radicals and inhibited a lipid peroxidation in a linoleic acid emulsion.
Fractionation using supercritical CO2 influences the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of propolis against liver damage induced by tert‐butyl hydroperoxide
Authors: Wang Be‐Jen , Lien Yen‐Hui , Su Chun‐Li , Wu Chien‐Ping , Yu Zer‐Ran 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThe ethanolic extract (E) of propolis was further fractionated with supercritical CO2 into four fractions (R, F1, F2 and F3). The extracts and the four fractions were characterised in terms of antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity against tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (t‐BHP)‐induced damage in vitro and in a rat model. The in vitro study revealed that pre‐treatment with propolis extract or its fractions significantly protected the primary hepatocytes against damage by t‐BHP (P < 0.05). The hepatoprotective capacity increased with the dose of propolis. The R and F1 fractions had the highest flavinoid contents and most effectively protected the liver from damage by t‐BHP. This study also demonstrated that the oral pre‐treatment with propolis (50 and 100 mg kg−1) 5 days before a single dose of t‐BHP (1.5 mm kg−1, s.c. injection) was administered significantly kept the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (aspirate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) low, even after treatment with t‐BHP (P < 0.05). A pathological examination showed that lesions of liver were partially protected by treatment with propolis extract and fractions. Oxidative stress induced by t‐BHP led to lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) and changes in the levels of the antioxidant enzymes. However, all the fractions, except F3 at low concentration (50 mg kg−1), markedly suppressed lipid peroxidation and any increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes.
Ragi (Eleusine coracana L.) – a natural antioxidant for ghee (butter oil)
Authors: Mehta Bhavbhuti M. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryAddition of methanol pre‐extract of dehusked ragi powder (DRP) at the rate of 0.1%, 0.25% and 0.5% of methanol extract, the corresponding increase (over control) in phospholipids content observed was about 2.15, 4.53 and 8.15 mg 100 g−1 and water extractable phenolics content was about 0.52, 1.25 and 2.78 mg 100 g−1 of ghee respectively. The anti‐oxygenic indexes calculated from the induction periods of ghee samples stored at 80 ± 2 °C in comparison with control were in order: 1.47(0.1% pre‐extract) < 1.89(0.02% butylated hydroxyl anisole) < 1.93(0.25% pre‐extract) < 2.75(0.5% pre‐extract) suggesting that the phospholipids and the phenolic compounds of DRP transferred to ghee enhance its oxidative stability.
Co‐regulation of motility, exoenzyme and antibiotic production by the EnvZ‐OmpR‐FlhDC‐FliA pathway in Xenorhabdus nematophila
Authors: Park Dongjin , Forst Steven 
Published: August 2006

Summary Xenorhabdus nematophila is an emerging model for both mutualism and pathogenicity in different invertebrate hosts. Here we conduct a mutant study of the EnvZ‐OmpR two‐component system and the flagella sigma factor, FliA (σ28). Both ompR and envZ strains displayed precocious swarming behaviour, elevated flhD and fliA mRNA levels and early production of lipase, protease, haemolysin and antibiotic activity. Inactivation of fliA eliminated exoenzyme production which was restored by complementation with the fliAZ operon. Inactivation of flhA, a gene encoding a component of the flagella export apparatus, eliminated lipase but not protease or haemolysin production indicating these enzymes are secreted by different export pathways. FliA‐regulated lipase (xlpA) and protease (xrtA) genes were identified. Their expression and level of production were elevated in the ompR and envZ strains and markedly reduced in the fliA strain while both were expressed normally in the flhA strain. We also found that expression of nrps1 which encodes a non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase was elevated in the ompR and envZ strains. The fliA strain was pathogenic towards the insect host indicating that motility and FliA‐regulated exoenzyme production were not essential for virulence. These findings support a model in which the EnvZ‐OmpR‐FlhDC‐FliA regulatory network co‐ordinately controls flagella synthesis, and exoenzyme and antibiotic production in X. nematophila.
Ferri‐bacillibactin uptake and hydrolysis in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Miethke Marcus , Klotz Oliver , Linne Uwe , May Jürgen J. , Beckering Carsten L. , Marahiel Mohamed A. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryUpon iron limitation, Bacillus subtilis secretes the catecholic trilactone (2,3‐dihydroxybenzoate‐glycine‐threonine)3 siderophore bacillibactin (BB) for ferric iron scavenging. Here, we show that ferri‐BB uptake is mediated by the FeuABC transporter and that YuiI, a novel trilactone hydrolase, catalyses ferri‐BB hydrolysis leading to cytosolic iron release. Among several Fur‐regulated ABC transport mutants, only ΔfeuABC exhibited impaired growth during iron starvation. Quantification of intra‐ and extracellular (ferri)‐BB in iron‐depleted ΔfeuABC cultures revealed a fourfold increase of the extracellular siderophore concentration, confirming a blocked ferri‐BB uptake in the absence of FeuABC. Ferri‐BB was found to bind selectively to the periplasmic binding protein FeuA (Kd = 57 ± 1 nM), proving high‐affinity transport of the iron‐charged siderophore. During iron starvation, a ΔyuiI mutant displayed impaired growth and strong intracellular (30‐fold) and extracellular (6.5‐fold) (ferri)‐BB accumulation. Kinetic studies in vitro revealed that YuiI hydrolyses both BB and ferri‐BB. While BB hydrolysis led to strong accumulation of the tri‐ and dimeric reaction intermediates, ferri‐BB hydrolysis yielded exclusively the monomeric reaction product and occurred with a 25‐fold higher catalytic efficiency than BB single hydrolysis. Thus, ferri‐BB was the preferred substrate of the YuiI esterase whose gene locus was designated besA.