bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Repertoire and Clonality of T‐Cell Receptor Beta Variable Genes Expressed in Endometrium and Blood T Cells of Patients with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Authors: Dokouhaki Pouneh , Moghaddam Rosa , Rezvany MohammadReza , Ghassemi Jamileh , Novin Marefat Ghaffari , Zarnani Amirhassan , Akhondi Mohammah‐Mehdi , Ostadkarampour Mahyar , Mellstedt Håkan , Razavi Alireza , Jeddi‐Tehrani Mahmood 
Published: July 2008

Problem  Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a relatively common disorder, the underlying causes of which are thought to be immunological in most cases.Method of study  Expression profile and clonality pattern of T‐cell receptor beta variable (TCRBV) genes in endometrium and blood of patients with RSA were investigated by semi‐quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) using BV gene‐specific primers. Relative expression of each BV family was determined and clonal expansion of the over‐expressed genes was assessed by analysis of CDR3 length polymorphism.Results  Compared to blood, relative expression of four TCRBV genes was significantly higher in the endometrium of RSA group. Over‐expressed genes, except for TCRBV3, all had restricted and oligoclonal patterns of expression in the endometrium.Conclusion  Endometrial T cells have a skewed TCRBV repertoire with restricted transcript heterogeneity, which is shared by both groups and minor variations observed in this pattern in RSA patients may reflect more recent and/or repeated exposure to nominal antigens or superantigens.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Association of Tumor Necrosis Factor‐Alpha and Interleukin‐10 Gene Polymorphisms in Iranian Patients with Pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Mirahmadian Mahroo , Kalantar Fathollah , Heidari Golnaz , Safdarian Lili , Mansouri Reza , Amirzargar Ali Akbar 
Published: July 2008

Problem  Considering that certain cytokines may change during pre‐eclampsia (PE), because of functional polymorphisms in their genes, our purpose was to determine the association between tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) gene polymorphisms and development of PE.Method of study  The genetic polymorphisms of TNF‐α and IL‐10 was studied by polymerase chain reaction‐sequence specific primers in the DNA of peripheral blood cell from 160 patients with PE and 100 healthy pregnant women.Results  We found a significant difference between TNF‐α A allele (−308) and G allele (−238) in PE patients compared with those of the control groups. A significantly higher C/C genotype frequency of IL‐10 (−592 and −819) was observed in the PE patients than in the control groups. In addition, the frequencies of three common IL‐10 haplotypes (GCC, ACC, and ATA) did not show any significant difference between the study groups.Conclusion  These findings would support the concept of contribution of TNF‐α and IL‐10 gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of PE in our population.
THIN‐LAYER INFRARED RADIATION DRYING OF RED PEPPER SLICES
Authors: NASIROGLU SAHIN , KOCABIYIK HABIB 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT Drying characteristics and changing of quality parameters of red pepper were determined experimentally as a function of infrared power (IP) and air velocity during infrared drying. Drying experiments of red pepper slices were carried out at three levels of IP (300, 400 and 500 W) and at three air velocities (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m/s). The drying time at air velocity from 1.0 to 2.0 m/s ranged between 314 and 455 min, 213 and 297 min and 196 and 230 min at IP of 300, 400 and 500 W, respectively. Drying rate increased with increasing IP and decreasing air velocity. All drying experiments had a falling rate of drying period. The specific energy consumption was varied between 4.62 and 7.59 kW·h/kg for all the drying conditions. Thickness change/shrinkage was found to be in the range of 0.162 and 0.263. The color parameters and the rehydration ratio were significantly influenced by IP and air velocity.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSDrying is an important operation in red pepper processing. In open‐air condition, the drying time of red pepper is 8–10 days. Several researchers state that drying in open‐air conditions also has some disadvantages such as lack of ability to control the drying operation properly, long drying time, weather uncertainties, high labor costs, large area requirement, insect infestation and contamination with dust and other foreign materials. The results from this study can be used as reference for drying of red pepper in similar applications. The drying method proposed in this study decreased the time required for drying of red pepper, reduced the space needed for equipment and protected the product quality. Therefore, the drying technique proposed in this study can be a good alternative to other drying techniques available. Also, the proposed drying method can be used as a reference to drying applications of various vegetables and fruits.
CONVECTIVE DRYING OF PUMPKIN: INFLUENCE OF PRETREATMENT AND DRYING TEMPERATURE
Authors: PEREZ NELSON E. , SCHMALKO MIGUEL E. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to study the influence of blanching as a pretreatment on the drying rate, color and rehydration rate of pumpkin slices (Cucurbita maxima) dried in a convective dryer at 50, 60 and 70C. The different pretreatments did not modify drying time. The diffusion coefficient depended on temperature and moisture content, but not on pretreatments. It varied between 1.6 and 2.9 × 10−9 m2/s and activation energy was approximately 35.6 kJ/mol. The rehydration rate of the dried sample, which was found to be influenced by drying temperature but not by the pretreatments, reached about 2 kg water/kg dry solid in about 150 s in boiling water. Color parameters “L” and “b” were influenced by drying temperature and pretreatments. Parameter L varied between 36 and 53 and parameter b varied between 20 and 31. Samples dried at 70C without pretreatments presented color parameter values very similar to those of the fresh sample.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThis work evaluates the pretreatment and drying conditions of pumpkin. Five parameters of the optimal product are considered: pretreatment time, drying time, temperature, color and rehydration rate of the product. With these results, drying of pumpkin can be carried out in industrial convective dryers and the dried product may be used in the preparation of soups, premixed foods, snacks, etc.
ADSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF CROCIN IN THE EXTRACT OF GARDENIA FRUITS (GARDENIA JASMINOIDES ELLIS) ON MACROPOROUS RESINS
Authors: YANG BIN , GAO YANXIANG , LIU XUAN , LI YUANYUAN , ZHAO JIAN 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT To study resin adsorptions and investigate the differences between processes in crude extracts and microfiltrates, the adsorption characteristics of crocin in the extract of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis on 10 macroporous styrene‐divinylbenzene (SDVB) resins were investigated. Ground gardenia fruit was extracted with water and the crude extract was partially purified by microfiltration. The crude extract and microfiltrate were mixed with the 10 resins until the adsorption of crocin reached equilibrium on resins. The adsorption followed the pseudo‐second‐order kinetics closely, but the data also fitted the first‐order and intraparticle diffusion models. Furthermore, the Freundlich isotherm was found suitable for describing the equilibrate adsorption data. XAD‐1180, HP20, HPD‐100A and AB‐8 stood out as the best performing resins in terms of their adsorptive capacities and selectivities for crocin. The thermodynamics of the adsorption process was shown to be spontaneous and exothermal in nature, and controlled by physical rather than chemical mechanisms. Adsorption with SDVB resins in conjunction with microfiltration was found to be an efficient process for the purification of crocin in gardenia extract.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSMacroporous resins have been industrially applied in the recovery and purification of some products from plant extracts. However, there is a lack of understanding of the adsorption process and many of the applications are based on empirical data rather than on predicable models. Therefore, the development of reliable mathematical models that can accurately describe and predicate experimental data of adsorption would be extremely helpful in understanding the adsorption process as well as optimizing the design of adsorption systems.
HIGH HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE EXTRACTION OF SALIDROSIDE FROM RHODIOLA SACHALINENSIS
Authors: BI HUI‐MIN , ZHANG SHOU‐QIN , LIU CHANG‐JIAO , WANG CHANG‐ZHENG 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT A nonthermal process, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), was used as a new extraction technique to obtain salidroside from Rhodiola sachalinensis. The leaching rates of salidroside were measured under different treatment conditions. When the material was treated under 500 MPa of hydrostatic pressure with 50 times of volume 60% (v/v) of ethanol solution as the extracting solvent, the leaching rate of salidroside was up to 0.401% in 3 min, while that of ultrasonic extraction was at 0.288% in 30 min and that of reflux extraction was at 0.302% in 120 min. The HHP extraction technique showed high efficiency in extracting salidroside at room temperature using moderate ethanol concentration.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Rhodiola is prevalently used as a safe and effective antifatigue drug and as an adaptogen around the world. But the common extraction methods used to yield commercial products are still traditional ones, which could easily lead some thermosensitive ingredients to lose their biologic activities. The nonthermal extraction method is the key point of the realization of herb modernization. The high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technique can be operated at room temperature and can shorten processing time. The extract produced by the method has proved to be of higher extraction yield than traditional varieties. In addition, the HHP technique only consumes electric energy without exhaust emission, which is an environment‐friendly method. In the future, we will cooperate with those far‐seeing companies to achieve its industrialization. The annual sale of herbs in the whole world has reached 30 billion. We do not doubt the prospect of this technique.
OPTIMIZATION OF MANUFACTURE OF ALMOND PASTE COOKIES USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY
Authors: FARRIS STEFANO , PIERGIOVANNI LUCIANO 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT The response surface methodology (RSM) was used in the optimization of a modified recipe of almond paste cookies to pinpoint the best combination of the most important factors, in order to obtain an enhanced product with quality characteristics similar to the typical one. In this modified recipe, bamboo fiber and fructose were added as humectant and anticrystallizing agents to extend the shelf life of the cookies. Five quantitative controllable factors were selected for the experimental design: weight of bamboo fiber, fructose/saccharose ratio (F/S) and weight of egg white as ingredients, and baking time and temperature as process parameters. To assess the product quality, texture, moisture content and color were considered as dependent variables. The three second‐order polynomial models obtained by RSM and the subsequent optimization step indicated that a formulation with 28.95 g of fiber, 252.5 g of egg white, an F/S equal to 0.1, baking time and temperature of 21.5 min and 185.5C, respectively, represents the best recipe to manufacture a new product with quality attributes very similar to the typical one and, in addition, with an extended shelf life. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe importance of this work arises from the possibility to obtain new formulations by the enhancement of original recipes of products with a very limited shelf life using a statistical and designed approach. The achieved results led to a higher quality of these products over time, without changing the most important characteristics related to consumer acceptance.
Spontaneous In Vitro Transformation of Adult Neural Precursors into Stem‐Like Cancer Cells
Authors: Siebzehnrubl Florian A. , Jeske Ina , Müller Dorit , Buslei Rolf , Coras Roland , Hahnen Eric , Huttner Hagen B. , Corbeil Denis , Kaesbauer Johanna , Appl Thomas , Von Hörsten Stephan , Blümcke Ingmar 
Published: July 2008

AbstractRecent studies have found that cellular self‐renewal capacity in brain cancer is heterogeneous, with only stem‐like cells having this property. A link between adult stem cells and cancer stem cells remains, however, to be shown. Here, we describe the emergence of cancer stem‐like cells from in vitro cultured brain stem cells. Adult rat subventricular zone (SVZ) stem cells transformed into tumorigenic cell lines after expansion in vitro. These cell lines maintained characteristic features of stem‐like cells expressing Nestin, Musashi‐1 and CD133, but continued to proliferate upon differentiation induction. Karyotyping detected multiple acquired chromosomal aberrations, and syngeneic transplantation into the brain of adult rats resulted in malignant tumor formation. Tumors revealed streak necrosis and displayed a neural as well as an undifferentiated phenotype. Deficient downregulation of platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor alpha was identified as candidate mechanism for tumor cell proliferation, and its knockdown by siRNA resulted in a reduction of cell growth. Our data point to adult brain precursor cells to be transformed in malignancies. Furthermore, in vitro expansion of adult neural stem cells, which will be mandatory for therapeutic strategies in neurological disorders, also harbors the risk for amplifying precursor cells with acquired genetic abnormalities and induction of malignant tumors after transplantation.
Femtosecond Laser Disruption of Filamentous Cyanobacteria Unveils Dissimilar Cellular Stability Between Heterocysts and Vegetative Cells
Authors: Arellano Juan B. , Vázquez de Aldana Javier R. , Méndez Cruz , González‐Pérez Sergio , Moreno Pablo , Roso Luis 
Published: July 2008

AbstractFilamentous cyanobacteria develop heterocysts in response to deprivation for combined nitrogen under aerobic conditions. The most prominent structural change in heterocysts is the biosynthesis of an envelope that restricts gas permeability, providing an appropriate micro‐oxic environment for N2 fixation inside. The additional thickness of the differentiated cells, when compared to vegetative cells, makes filamentous cyanobacteria an attractive biological system to investigate cellular response against femtosecond laser processing. By irradiating the cyanobacterial filaments with 120 fs, 795 nm, 1 kHz pulses focused through a 100× microscope objective with a numerical aperture of 0.85, we have determined that the pulse energy threshold for an apparent disruption of the cell wall of vegetative cells is 13 ± 4 nJ per pulse. A further increase in the pulse energy to 43 ± 13 nJ causes the complete removal of vegetative cells. In contrast, the pulse energy threshold has to be augmented about three‐fold for heterocyst envelope disruption or two‐fold for complete removal of heterocysts. We propose that the singular cross‐linked structure of the glycolipid multilayer of the envelope, required to restrict gas permeability, accounts for the remarked difference in the ablation energy threshold between vegetative cells and heterocysts.
Optimization of Groove Geometry for Thrust Air Bearing to Maximize Bearing Stiffness
Authors: Hashimoto Hiromu , Ochiai Masayuki 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Hydrodynamic gas film bearings are widely used for very-high-speed, lightly loaded rotating machinery. In the design of hydrodynamic gas film bearings, it is of cardinal importance to enhance the stiffness of gas films to minimize vibration due to external excitations. Among various types of hydrodynamic gas film thrust bearings, grooved bearings have an advantage of high stiffness and load-carrying capacity, but the stiffness of the bearings strongly depends on groove geometry. Therefore, when the groove geometry is suitably designed, it is expected to considerably improve the stability characteristics of the bearings. However, conventional bearing geometries are based on a fixed logarithmic spiral curve, and there is no literature on how to effectively change the groove geometry to drastically improve the bearing characteristics. In this paper, the entirely new optimum design methodology, in which the groove geometry can be flexibly changed by using the spline function, is presented to maximize the stiffness of gas films for grooved thrust bearings. The effectiveness of the methodology is experimentally verified.
An Acoustic-Energy Method for Estimating the Onset of Acoustic Instabilities in Premixed Gas-Turbine Combustors
Authors: Ibrahim Z. M. , Williams F. A. , Buckley S. G. , Twardochleb C. Z. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
For given acoustic frequencies of premixed gas-turbine combustors, a classical method not currently in use is explored for assessing whether acoustically driven oscillatory combustion will occur. The method involves cataloging linear amplification and attenuation mechanisms and estimating magnitudes of their rates. Linear approximations to nonlinear mechanisms are included in an effort to obtain a reasonably complete description. A stability index is defined such that oscillation is predicted to occur when the value of the index exceeds unity. The method is tested on the basis of new experiments and experimental data available in literature. Moderate success is achieved in rationalizing these experimental results. The objective of the method is to enable quick and inexpensive decisions to be made for a wide variety of potential design configurations and operating conditions, without the complexity of computational fluid dynamics. The approach therefore may complement other approaches already in use.
Comparison of Conventional, Nested, and Real-Time PCR Assays for Rapid and Accurate Detection of
Vibrio vulnificus
Authors: Kim Hyong Sun , Kim Dong-Min , Neupane Ganesh Prasad , Lee Yu-mi , Yang Nam-Woong , Jang Sook Jin , Jung Sook-In , Park Kyung-Hwa , Park Hae-Ryoung , Lee Chang Seop , Lee Sun Hee 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

We conducted a prospective study to target
toxR
in the blood of patients with skin and soft tissue infections who were admitted to four tertiary hospitals to assess the clinical usefulness of real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) as a diagnostic technique. We performed conventional PCR (C-PCR), nested PCR (N-PCR), and Q-PCR assays and compared the results to those obtained using the “gold standard” of microbiological culture. The lower detection limit for the Q-PCR assay was 5 × 10
0
copies/μl. By use of blood samples of patients with skin and soft tissue infections, the sensitivities of the C-PCR and N-PCR assays against the target
toxR
gene of
V. vulnificus
as diagnostic tools were determined to be 45% and 86%, respectively. The C-PCR and N-PCR assays had specificities of 100% and 73%, respectively. When we adopted a crossing-point (cp) cutoff value of <38 cp as a positive result, the Q-PCR assay had 100% sensitivity and specificity. Q-PCR to detect
V. vulnificus
-specific genes is not only the most sensitive and specific of the techniques but also the most rapid diagnostic method. Therefore, the appropriate application of the Q-PCR assay using blood is useful for the rapid diagnosis and subsequent treatment of
V. vulnificus
sepsis.
Comprehensive Study of Strains Previously DesignatedStreptococcus bovisConsecutively Isolated from Human Blood Cultures and Emended Description ofStreptococcus gallolyticusandStreptococcus infantariussubsp.coli
Authors: Beck Marcella , Frodl Reinhard , Funke Guido 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTModern taxonomy has delineatedStreptococcus gallolyticussubsp.gallolyticus,S. gallolyticussubsp.pasteurianus,Streptococcus infantariussubsp.coli, andS. infantariussubsp.infantariuswithin the heterogenous group of previously designated clinicalStreptococcus bovisbacteria. In the present study, 58 consecutive blood culture isolates initially designatedS. boviswere further characterized by applying phenotypic and molecular genetic methods, and possible disease associations were investigated by studying the patients' records. Published phenotypic characteristics ofS. gallolyticusandS. infantariuswere not unequivocal and did not allow an unambiguous phenotypic differentiation of the 58 clinical isolates. However, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences clearly assigned the strains toS. gallolyticussubsp.gallolyticus(n= 29),S. gallolyticussubsp.pasteurianus(n= 12), andS. infantariussubsp.coli(n= 17). Only 28% of the patients with available records presented with endocarditis and 7% presented with colon carcinoma, whereas 37% of the patients had altered liver parenchyma and 28% had gall bladder disease as underlying diseases. Detailed antimicrobial susceptibility data on bothS. gallolyticussubspecies andS. infantariussubsp.coliare given for the first time. As a result of the extensive characterization of the largest number ofS. gallolyticusandS. infantariushuman clinical isolates published so far, emended species descriptions are given. It is recommended that both clinical microbiologists and infectious disease specialists avoid the designationS. bovisfor trueS. gallolyticusandS. infantariusstrains in the future in order to get a clearer picture of the possible disease associations of these species.
Diminished Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 DNA Yield from Dried Blood Spots after Storage in a Humid Incubator at 37°C Compared to −20°C
Authors: Mitchell Caroline , Jennings Cheryl , Brambilla Donald , Aldrovandi Grace , Amedee Angela Martin , Beck Ingrid , Bremer James W. , Coombs Robert , Decker Don , Fiscus Susan , Fitzgibbon Joseph , Luzuriaga Katherine , Moye John , Palumbo Paul , Reichelderfer Patricia , Somasundaran Mohan , Stevens Wendy , Frenkel Lisa 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

Collecting whole blood on filter paper simplifies the processing, transport, and storage of specimens used for the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and other tests. Specimens may be collected in tropical or rural areas with minimal facilities for handling specimens. To compare simulated tropical conditions with freezer storage, we examined the stability of HIV-1 DNA in dried blood spots (DBS) stored in humid heat and at −20°C. DBS were created by spotting 50-μl aliquots of whole blood on 903 filter paper. DNA was extracted from DBS at baseline and after 2, 6, or 12 months of storage at −20°C or at 37°C with ∼85% humidity. The DNA was tested undiluted or diluted using the Amplicor HIV-1 DNA PCR (Roche), version 1.5. Each reaction was scored positive, negative, or indeterminate based on optical density. Results were compared between storage conditions and over time. A total of 1,832 reactions from 916 DBS were analyzed, including 100 DBS at baseline, 418 stored at −20°C, and 398 stored at 37°C. A chi-square test showed fewer positive reactions for DBS stored at 37°C (55%) than for those stored at −20°C (78%) (
P
< 0.0001). Samples stored at −20°C showed little change in the probability of detection of HIV-1 DNA over time; the odds ratio (OR) was 0.93 after storage for 1 year. Samples stored at 37°C demonstrated a significant change in detection at 1 year (OR, 0.29). We conclude that exposure of DBS to 37°C and high humidity impaired the recovery of HIV-1 DNA from DBS, whereas DNA recovery was preserved when DBS were stored frozen.