bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Akt phosphorylation is required for heat acclimation‐induced neuroprotection
Authors: Shein Na’ama A. , Tsenter Jeanna , Alexandrovich Alexander G. , Horowitz Michal , Shohami Esther 
Published: August 2007

AbstractLong‐term heat exposure, known as heat acclimation (HA; 30 days at 34 ± 1°C) is neuroprotective against traumatic brain injury. Acclimated mice were previously found to display improved functional recovery as well as an increase in the levels of the specific erythropoietin receptor. As the activation of this receptor is known to facilitate functional recovery on one hand and the phosphorylation and activation of Akt, an intracellular kinase which regulates anti‐apoptotic pathways on the other, in this study we investigated whether HA affects Akt phosphorylation prior to and following injury and whether this step is required for development of HA‐induced neuroprotection. Akt phosphorylation was blocked using Triciribine (TCN), a compound shown to block the phosphorylation process without affecting upstream effectors of this kinase, and several post‐injury functional end‐point measures were subsequently evaluated. Acclimation led to a post‐injury increase in the levels of phosphorylated Akt, resulting in higher levels when compared with normothermic controls at 4 h post‐injury (63.6 ± 5.2% and 42.7 ± 3.7%, respectively,p ≤ 0.05). This increase was diminished following TCN administration. Post‐injury TCN treatment abolished the HA‐induced functional benefits, including effects on motor and cognitive functions as well as the attenuation of edema formation. We therefore suggest that Akt phosphorylation is essential for HA‐induced neuroprotection after traumatic brain injury.
genepop’007: a complete re‐implementation of thegenepopsoftware for Windows and Linux
Authors: ROUSSET FRANÇOIS 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis note summarizes developments of thegenepopsoftware since its first description in 1995, and in particular those new to version 4.0: an extended input format, several estimators of neighbourhood size under isolation by distance, new estimators and confidence intervals for null allele frequency, and less important extensions to previous options.genepopnow runs under Linux as well as under Windows, and can be entirely controlled by batch calls.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Psilopeganum sinense Hemsl (Rutaceae), an endangered herb endemic to Yangtze River valley
Authors: TANG FEIYAN , YE QIGANG , YAO XIAOHONG , HUANG HONGWEN 
Published: August 2007

AbstractTwenty‐nine primer pairs flanking microsatellite repeats were designed from an AC‐enriched genomic library of Psilopeganum sinense and tested using 24 individuals derived from a natural population. A total of 11 microsatellite loci were found polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus varied from two to eight, with an average value of 3.7. The ranges of observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.000–0.750 and 0.365–0.800, respectively. These microsatellite loci have been directly applied to the ongoing conservation genetic studies of P. sinense.
PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Development of 52 new polymorphic SSR markers from cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.): transferability to related taxa and selection of a reduced set for DNA fingerprinting and diversity studies
Authors: ESCRIBANO P. , VIRUEL M. A. , HORMAZA J. I. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractFifty‐two single locus polymorphic microsatellites were developed using two genomic libraries digested with HaeIII and RsaI of cherimoya cv. Fino de Jete enriched in CT/AG repeats. A total of 222 alleles were detected with the selected simple sequence repeats (SSRs). The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.08 to 0.73 and from 0.20 to 0.84, respectively. Most of the SSRs were transferable to other species in the Annonaceae. A set of 20 microsatellites was selected to facilitate the exchange of data among laboratories.
PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Twelve new microsatellite markers for the Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis
Authors: GAO HUAN , KONG JIE , YAN BINLUN , YU FEI , LUAN SHENG , CAI SHENGLI 
Published: August 2007

AbstractTwelve new microsatellite markers were isolated by sequencing random clones from a genomic library of Fenneropenaeus chinensis. The number of alleles per locus ranged from five to 15. The polymorphism information content ranged from 0.568 to 0.898, and observed and expected heterozygosities from 0.344 to 0.882 and from 0.691 to 0.915, respectively. All loci except one conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These markers, described here for Chinese shrimp, will be further used to analyse the species’ population genetics.
COMPUTER PROGRAMS: d‐novl: a program to simulate overlap between two niche‐based distribution models
Authors: STOCKMAN AMY K. , DANELL RYAN M. , BOND JASON E. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract d‐novl is a Monte Carlo program designed to generate a null expectation of overlap between two niche‐based distribution models. The user may choose between two growth algorithms: the separated algorithm grows a random number of disjointed growth areas, whereas the number of islands algorithm allows the user to input the desired number of growth areas. The latter algorithm can also be used to grow a single growth area. The resulting probability distribution of expected overlap values can be exported into a spreadsheet for further analysis. d‐novl is freely available for Mac and Windows platforms at http://www.mygalomorphae.org.
PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers in Acer mono Maxim
Authors: KIKUCHI S. , SHIBATA M. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThirteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for Acer mono Maxim., one of the major components of deciduous forests in Japan. An average of 13.8 alleles were found, with expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.140 to 0.945 in 34 A. mono individuals from the Ogawa Forest Reserve in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. This set of microsatellite markers can be used to analyse mating patterns and gene flow in A. mono populations.
Performance evaluation of the efficiency of Philippine Private Higher Educational Institutions: application of frontier approaches
Authors: Castano Mary Caroline N. , Cabanda Emilyn C. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper evaluates the efficiency performance of Philippine Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEIs), using frontier approaches known as data envelopment analysis – Malmquist indices and stochastic frontier analysis. The sample consists of 30 private educational institutions, which were granted autonomy over the time period 1999–2003, with a total of 150 observations. The paper also analyzes whether technical inefficiency is systematically related to age, ownership (private sectarian versus private non‐sectarian), and autonomy status. Significant new findings show that higher technological progress boosted the higher productivity growth of the majority of PHEIs (about 66.67%). We also found that age and ownership have positive and statistically significant effects on its technical inefficiency. PHEIs obtained a technical efficiency of 71.2%, and therefore need to increase their output revenues by 28.8% to be efficient. These new findings contribute significantly to educational performance.
Administrative evaluation and public sector reform: an analytic hierarchy process approach
Authors: Sato Yuji 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to propose a rational approach to administrative evaluation, including one prospective way to delegate authorities from the public sector to alternative sectors in the process of public sector reform. Specifically, we show how to match projects of a local government with alternative sectors rationally by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The matching process consists of three steps: evaluating projects of a local government; characterizing alternative sectors; and deriving overall judgments. The results of this paper quantitatively clarify the evaluation of projects and the characteristic of sectors, and it is concluded that 35% of local government projects should be devolved from the public sector to alternative sectors.
THE USE OF NON‐DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND PATTERN RECOGNITION IN THE STUDY OF FLINT ARTEFACTS
Authors: BRUIN M. DE , KORTHOVEN P. J. M. , BAKELS C. C. , GROEN F. C. A. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTSA method is described for the identification of the origin of flint artefacts. The method is based on the variation in the trace element concentrations for different origins. The trace element concentrations were determined by non‐destructive neutron activation analysis. The identification was obtained from a pattern recognition analysis.
COMPOSITION VARIATIONS IN OBSIDIAN SOURCES AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS*
Authors: BOWMAN H. R. , ASARO F. , PERLMAN I. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTSAn obsidian source can exhibit considerable variations in chemical composition. One such flow at Borax Lake in Lake County, California has been carefully investigated by neutron activation analysis of specimens from a number of different loci. It was found that the variable elements were completely coherent, and thus judgements concerning provenience could be just as definitive as with extremely homogeneous materials.
PRE‐ISLAMIC CERAMIC GLAZES AT KISH AND NINEVEH IN IRAQ
Authors: HEDGES R. E. M. , MOOREY P. R. S. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTSChemical analyses (mainly by XRF) have been made of a series of glazed pottery vessels and sherds excavated from Kish and Nineveh in Iraq, manufactured between c. 600 b.c. and a.d. 600 (also a small Islamic group from Hira). The results strongly suggest, contrary to general assumption, that lead glazing was not practised in this area at this time; that the local glazing tradition persisted unchanged for 1200 years; and that the production at different periods, or at different places, can be characterized by statistically significant variations in the glaze composition.
A LYONS BRANCH OF THE POTTERY‐MAKING FIRM OF ATEIUS OF AREZZO
Authors: WIDEMANN F. , PICON M. , ASARO F. , MICHEL H. V. , PERLMAN I. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTSFifty‐one waster sherds of Terra Sigillata (∼20‐0 b.c.) from Arezzo, Italy and Lyons, France have been chemically analysed for twenty‐eight elements by neutron activation and seven by X‐ray fluorescence. Most of the elemental abundances were measured with high precision and cross‐comparisons of the two techniques of measurement (and sample preparation) give added insight as to their relative precision, the calibration differences and the extent to which volatile materials such as carbonate or water influence the results. The sherds from Arezzo formed a homogeneous and distinctive chemical group while all but two of those from Lyons were classified into three such groups. Two of the Lyons groups (MML A and MML B) were from Montée de La Muette and one was from Loyasse. Four additional sherds from houses excavated in Strasbourg and one from Lyons, all of which bore the signature of the famous Anetine pottery‐making firm of Ateius, were also analyzed by the same techniques. These signed sherds all had the same composition pattern and it closely matched one of those from Montée de La Muette (MML A) in Lyons. It is therefore suggested that these five sherds bearing the Ateius signature were made in the general vicinity of Lyons and were part of the output of an as yet unknown Gallic branch of the firm of Ateius.
Impact of Medicaid Prior Authorization Requirement for COX‐2 Inhibitor Drugs in Nebraska
Authors: Siracuse Mark V. , Vuchetich Phillip J. 
Published: August 2007

Objective. Determine the impact of a Prior Authorization Requirement (PAR) program on Medicaid pharmacy expenditures and utilization.Data Source. Prescription claims for Nebraska Medicaid recipients who received a cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor, a nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory (NSAID) drug, or other pain relievers between July 2001 and June 2003.Study Design and Data Collection/Extraction. This was a retrospective cross‐sectional study with a 12‐month pre‐PAR implementation period and a 12‐month post‐PAR implementation period. Pharmacy transactions for COX‐2 inhibitors, NSAIDs, other pain relievers, and gastroprotectants were identified by their National Drug Code (NDC) in a Microsoft SQL query. The PAR was designed to approve COX‐2 inhibitor use only for recipients at high risk of GI side effects while restricting access to those patients at low to moderate risk of GI side effects.Principal Findings. One year following implementation of the PAR, overall expenditures on COX‐2 inhibitors for Nebraska Medicaid dropped 50 percent. The overall impact on pharmacy expenditures, including NSAIDs, pain relief medications, and gastroprotectants when necessary to relieve gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, for those recipients who switched from a COX‐2 inhibitor to an NSAID or other pain relievers was a decline of approximately 35 percent.Conclusion and Implications for State Policy. PAR for COX‐2 inhibitors successfully reduced Medicaid prescription expenditures. Recipients at high risk for GI side effects appropriately received COX‐2 inhibitors. Recipients at low to moderate risk for GI side effects who were switched to NSAIDs or other pain relievers had lower overall prescription expenditures. Further research is needed to determine the impact of PAR on overall health outcomes and costs. In this study, rather than take a “one size fits all” approach to prescription drug cost‐saving strategies, Medicaid policy makers understood that patient variation required accurate identification of disease severity to determine when equally efficacious low‐cost alternatives were appropriate.
Testing for Statistical Discrimination by Race/Ethnicity in Panel Data for Depression Treatment in Primary Care
Authors: McGuire Thomas G. , Ayanian John Z. , Ford Daniel E. , Henke Rachel E. M. , Rost Kathryn M. , Zaslavsky Alan M. 
Published: August 2007

Objective. To test for discrimination by race/ethnicity arising from clinical uncertainty in treatment for depression, also known as “statistical discrimination.”Data Sources. We used survey data from 1,321 African‐American, Hispanic, and white adults identified with depression in primary care. Surveys were administered every six months for two years in the Quality Improvement for Depression (QID) studies.Study Design. To examine whether and how change in depression severity affects change in treatment intensity by race/ethnicity, we used multivariate cross‐sectional and change models that difference out unobserved time‐invariant patient characteristics potentially correlated with race/ethnicity.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. Treatment intensity was operationalized as expenditures on drugs, primary care, and specialty services, weighted by national prices from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Patient race/ethnicity was collected at baseline by self‐report.Principal Findings. Change in depression severity is less associated with change in treatment intensity in minority patients than in whites, consistent with the hypothesis of statistical discrimination. The differential effect by racial/ethnic group was accounted for by use of mental health specialists.Conclusions. Enhanced physician–patient communication and use of standardized depression instruments may reduce statistical discrimination arising from clinical uncertainty and be useful in reducing racial/ethnic inequities in depression treatment.
Urotensin II: a novel vasoactive mediator linked to chronic liver disease and portal hypertension
Authors: Kemp William , Krum Henry , Colman John , Bailey Michael , Yandle Tim , Richards Mark , Roberts Stuart 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground/Aims: Urotensin II (UII) is recognised as the most potent human vasoconstrictor; however, its role in chronic liver disease (CLD) is unknown.Aim: We sought to determine serum UII levels in CLD and explore its relationship with clinical features and outcomes of patients with CLD and portal hypertension.Methods: UII was analysed by radio‐immunoassay on cirrhotic patients undergoing hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) determination and age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Follow‐up data were prospectively recorded.Results: From 1997 to 2004, 80 patients (male/female: 74/6) underwent a total of 94 HVPG assessments. UII was higher in cirrhotic patients compared with controls (2.05±0.06 and 1.55±0.09 pmol/L, P<0.001) and was correlated with HVPG (r=+0.35, P=0.001) and severity of CLD (r=+0.6, P<0.001). UII was higher in patients who developed refractory ascites (2.45±0.13 vs. 1.7±0.12 pmol/L, P<0.001) and in those who died during the follow‐up period (2.27±0.15 pmol/L vs. 1.95±0.08 pmol/L, P<0.05).Conclusion: Serum UII is elevated in patients with CLD, and is associated with the severity of the underlying liver disease and the degree of portal hypertension. Baseline levels can predict future complications such as refractory ascites and patient survival.
Role of Ca2+‐dependent potassium channels in in vitro anandamide‐mediated mesenteric vasorelaxation in rats with biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Yang Ying‐Ying , Lin Han‐Chieh , Huang Yi‐Tsau , Lee Tzung‐Yan , Hou Ming‐Chih , Wang Ying‐Wen , Lee Fa‐Yauh , Lee Shou‐Dong 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground/Aim: Anandamide can activate potassium (K+) channels to induce an endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation in normal rat mesenteric arteries. Cannabinoids contribute partly to the splanchnic vasodilation in cirrhosis. This study investigated the roles of vascular K+ channels in anandamide‐induced mesenteric vasorelaxation in isolated rat cirrhotic vessels.Methods: The effects of the pretreatment of AM251, a specific CB1 receptor antagonist, were assessed on the vascular reactivity to phenylephrine (PE), potassium chloride (KCl), acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Additionally, cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2) receptors' protein expression and the effects of different K+ channel blockers on vascular reactivity to anandamide were also studied.Results: Cirrhotic mesenteric arteries showed an overexpression of CB1 receptor associated with hyporeactivity to PE and KCl, and hyper‐response to ACh, SNP and anandamide. Pretreatment with AM251 significantly improved the hyporeactivity to KCl and ameliorated the hyper‐response to ACh in cirrhotic vessels. Increased relaxation response to anandamide was suppressed by combinations of vascular Ca2+‐dependent K+ channel blockers (including apamin+charybdotoxin+iberiotoxin or apamin+TRAM‐34+iberiotoxin) (TRAM‐34, 1‐[(2‐chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]‐1H‐pyrazole).Conclusions: In cirrhotic mesenteric arteries, vascular CB1 receptor and anandamide contribute to the in vitro hyporeactivity to KCl. In addition, hyper‐response to ACh may probably act through the modulation of vascular Ca2+‐dependent K+ channels.
The Short‐Term Effects of Acupuncture on Myofascial Pain Patients After Clenching
Authors: Shen Yoshi F. , Goddard Greg 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAim:  Short‐term pain reduction from acupuncture in chronic myofascial pain subjects was evaluated using an 11‐point (0 to 10) numeric rating scale, visual analog scale (VAS), and pain rating of mechanical pressure on the masseter muscle.Methods:  A single‐blind, randomized, controlled, clinical trial with an independent observer was performed. Fifteen chronic myofascial pain subjects over the age of 18 were randomly assigned into groups: nine subjects received real acupuncture; six subjects received sham acupuncture. Each subject clenched his/her teeth for 2 minutes. Acupuncture or sham acupuncture was administered at the Hegu Large Intestine 4 acupoint. Sham acupuncture was conducted by lightly pricking the skin with a shortened, blunted acupuncture needle through a foam pad, without penetrating the skin. The foam pad visually conceals the needle's point of the entry, so that the subject cannot discern which technique is being used. The subjects rated their general pain on a numeric rating scale. A mechanical pain stimulus was applied with an algometer and the subject rated his/her pain on a VAS. Statistical analysis was performed using the repeated measures anova, paired t‐tests, and Fisher's exact test as appropriate.Results:  There was a statistically significant difference in pain tolerance with acupuncture (P = 0.027). There was statistically significant reduction in face pain (P = 0.003), neck pain (P = 0.011), and headache (P = 0.015) with perception of real acupuncture.Conclusion:  Pain tolerance in the masticatory muscles increased significantly more with acupuncture than sham acupuncture.
In vivo Effects of Mutant HERG K+ Channel Inhibition by Disopyramide in Patients with a Short QT‐1 Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Authors: SCHIMPF RAINER , VELTMANN CHRISTIAN , GIUSTETTO CARLA , GAITA FIORENZO , BORGGREFE MARTIN , WOLPERT CHRISTIAN 
Published: August 2007

Introduction:
Quinidine has been evaluated in patients with a short QT‐1 syndrome caused by an IKr gain‐of‐function mutation of HERG. Recently, in vitro data with disopyramide showed an even stronger effect on the N588K mutant current. The aim of the present study was to test the in vivo effects of disopyramide in patients with short QT‐1 syndrome caused by a N588K mutation in HERG.
Methods and Results:
Repetitive ECGs were recorded in two female patients with short QT‐1 syndrome with a N588K‐HERG mutation off drugs, on oral quinidine, and on oral disopyramide. One patient underwent exercise testing on drugs to determine the QT interval to heart rate relation, whereas the QT interval was calculated to the peak of the T wave in lead V3. In the same patient, drug‐induced changes in ventricular effective refractory periods were determined by programmed ventricular stimulation via the ICD lead. Disopyramide increased the QT interval from QTc 329 ms/QTc 315 ms, respectively, off drugs to QTc 358 ms/QTc 333 ms in both patients and restored the heart rate dependence of the QT interval toward normal subjects (−0.39 ms/bpm off drugs, −0.58 ms/bpm on disopyramide vs. 1.29 ± 0.33 ms/bpm in normal subjects). The ventricular effective refractory period increased under disopyramide by 40 ms.
Conclusion:
These preliminary observations suggest that oral disopyramide may be a suitable alternative to quinidine for prolonging the QT interval and ventricular effective refractory periods in patients with short QT‐1 syndrome. Further studies of this pharmacologic approach are warranted.