bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered frontostriatal coupling in pre‐manifest Huntington’s disease: effects of increasing cognitive load
Authors: Wolf R. C. , Sambataro F. , Vasic N. , Schönfeldt‐Lecuona C. , Ecker D. , Landwehrmeyer B. 
Published: August 2008

Background and purpose:  Functional neuroimaging studies have suggested a dysfunction of prefrontal regions in clinically pre‐symptomatic individuals with the Huntington’s disease (HD) gene mutation (pre‐HD) during cognitive processing. The objective of this study was to test the impact of cognitive demand on prefrontal connectivity in pre‐HD individuals.Methods:  Sixteen healthy controls and sixteen pre‐HD subjects were studied using functional MRI and a verbal working memory task with increasing cognitive load. Load‐dependent functional connectivity of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was investigated by means of psychophysiological interactions.Results:  In pre‐HD subjects, aberrant functional connectivity of the left DLPFC was found at high working memory load levels only. Compared with healthy controls, pre‐HD individuals exhibited lower connectivity strength in the left putamen, the right anterior cingulate and the left medial prefrontal cortex. Pre‐HD individuals close to the onset of motor symptoms additionally exhibited lower connectivity strength in the right putamen and the left superior frontal cortex. The connectivity strength in the left putamen was associated with several clinical measures including CAG repeat length, Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale motor score and predicted years to manifest symptom onset.Conclusion:  These findings suggest that early prefrontal connectivity abnormalities in pre‐HD individuals are modulated by cognitive demand.
Using Linkage Analysis to Identify Quantitative Trait Loci for Sleep Apnea in Relationship to Body Mass Index
Authors: Larkin E. K. , Patel S. R. , Elston R. C. , Gray‐McGuire C. , Zhu X. , Redline S. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryTo understand the genetics of sleep apnea, we evaluated the relationship between the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and body mass index (BMI) through linkage analysis to identify genetic loci that may influence AHI and BMI jointly and AHI independent of BMI.Haseman‐Elston sibling regression was conducted on AHI, AHI adjusted for BMI and BMI in African‐American and European‐American pedigrees. A comparison of the magnitude of linkage peaks was used to assess the relationship between AHI and BMI. In EAs, the strongest evidence for linkage to AHI was on 6q23‐25 and 10q24‐q25, both decreasing after BMI adjustment, suggesting loci with pleiotropic effects. Also, a promising area of linkage to AHI but not BMI was observed on 6p11‐q11 near the orexin‐2 receptor, suggesting BMI independent pathways. In AAs the strongest evidence of linkage for AHI after adjusting for BMI was on chromosome 8p21.3 with linkage increasing after BMI adjustment and on 8q24.1 with linkage decreasing after BMI adjustment. Novel linkage peaks were also observed in AAs to both BMI and AHI on chromosome 13 near the serotonin‐2a receptor. These analyses suggest genetic loci for sleep apnea that operate both independently of BMI and through BMI‐related pathways.
Blood lead levels in wintering and moulting Icelandic whooper swans over two decades
Authors: O'Connell M. M. , Rees E. C. , Einarsson Ó. , Spray C. J. , Thorstensen S. , O'Halloran J. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractLead poisoning of waterfowl through the ingestion of spent gunshot and discarded anglers' weights continues to be a problem worldwide. We took blood samples from 363 whooper swans Cygnus cygnus at wintering sites in Britain and Ireland and at moulting sites in Iceland during 2001–2005, and analysed them for total blood lead. Lead levels were generally low in swans in Iceland; 6% of samples exceeded 1.21 μmol L−1, the level indicative of elevated lead and above background levels. The proportion of swans with elevated lead was much higher in the wintering range, varying between 43 and 70% at three sites monitored over the winters 2003/2004–2005/2006, and with blood lead levels ranging up to 19.6 μmol L−1. The highest levels were in samples taken from swans in Scotland, with a mean value of 3.0 μmol L−1, but nevertheless they indicated a marked decrease compared with blood lead levels measured for whooper swans at the same site 20 years ago. There also appeared to be a significant long‐term decrease in the proportion of swans with elevated blood lead in Iceland, from 60% of birds in 1984 to 8% in 2005, although this may be due to the birds being caught in different parts of Iceland. The most likely source of elevated lead in whooper swans is spent gunshot. Management measures to reduce the impact of lead in the environment on the birds are discussed.
The importance of understanding different complaint themes' impact on commitment
Authors: Bunker Matthew P. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe research establishes that different complaint themes do not impact commitment with the same intensity. In other words, managers should not give the same amount of attention to all of the complaints received by the company. Thirty‐five complaints were recorded and eventually categorized into four groups. These groups were: (1) high price; (2) lacking a sense of community; (3) firm procedures; and (4) other. The fourth theme was labelled ‘other’ because of the heterogeneity that existed among the complaints that did not fit with the other three themes. These four themes were compared with each other concerning their effect on commitment. Because of the small sample size, a Kruskal‐Wallis test was used to analyse the data. Next, a post hoc test was conducted using a series of Mann‐Whitney tests. The results show that the theme with the most complaints (high price) did not have the biggest impact on commitment. Rather, another complaint (lacking a sense of community) demonstrated the largest impact on commitment. This research highlights the importance of analysing complaint groups with other relationship variables, and not just choosing the most frequently stated complaint as the area to improve an organization.
Oriented growth of garnet by topotactic reactions and epitaxy in high‐pressure, mafic garnet granulite formed by dehydration melting of metastable hornblende‐gabbronorite (Jijal Complex, Kohistan Complex, north Pakistan)
Authors: PADRÓN‐NAVARTA J. A. , GARRIDO C. J. , SÁNCHEZ‐NAVAS A. , TOMMASI A. , LÓPEZ SÁNCHEZ‐VIZCAÍNO V. , GÓMEZ‐PUGNAIRE M. T. , HUSSAIN S. S. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractGarnet growth in high‐pressure, mafic garnet granulites formed by dehydration melting of hornblende‐gabbronorite protoliths in the Jijal complex (Kohistan palaeo‐island arc complex, north Pakistan) was investigated through a microstructural EBSD‐SEM and HRTEM study. Composite samples preserve a sharp transition in which the low‐pressure precursor is replaced by garnet through a millimetre‐sized reaction front. A magmatic foliation in the gabbronorite is defined by mafic‐rich layering, with an associated magmatic lineation defined by the shape‐preferred orientation (SPO) of mafic clusters composed of orthopyroxene (Opx), clinopyroxene (Cpx), amphibole (Amp) and oxides. The shape of the reaction front is convoluted and oblique to the magmatic layering. Opx, Amp and, to a lesser extent, Cpx show a strong lattice‐preferred orientation (LPO) characterized by an alignment of [001] axes parallel to the magmatic lineation in the precursor hornblende‐gabbronorite. Product garnet (Grt) also displays a strong LPO. Two of the four 〈111〉 axes are within the magmatic foliation plane and the density maximum is subparallel to the precursor magmatic lineation. The crystallographic relationship 〈111〉Grt//[001]Opx,Cpx,Amp deduced from the LPO was confirmed by TEM observations. The sharp and discontinuous modal and compositional variations observed at the reaction front attest to the kinetic inhibition of prograde solid‐state reactions predicted by equilibrium‐phase diagrams. The P–T field for the equilibration of Jijal garnet granulites shows that the reaction affinities are 5–10 kJ mol.−1 for the Grt‐in reaction and 0–5 kJ mol.−1 for the Opx‐out reaction. Petrographic and textural observations indicate that garnet first nucleated on amphibole at the rims of mafic clusters; this topotactic replacement resulted in a strong LPO of garnet. Once the amphibole was consumed in the reaction, the parallelism of [001] axes of the mafic‐phase reactants favoured the growth of garnet crystals with similar orientations over a pyroxene substrate. These aggregates eventually sintered into single‐crystal garnet. In the absence of deformation, the orientation of mafic precursor phases conditioned the nucleation site and the crystallographic orientation of garnet because of topotaxial transformation reactions and homoepitaxial growth of garnet during the formation of high‐pressure, mafic garnet‐granulite after low‐pressure mafic protoliths.
Quantitative phase petrology of cordierite–orthoamphibole gneisses and related rocks
Authors: DIENER J. F. A. , POWELL R. , WHITE R. W. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractCordierite–orthoamphibole gneisses and rocks of similar composition commonly contain low‐variance mineral assemblages that can provide useful information about the metamorphic evolution of a terrane. New calculated petrogenetic grids and pseudosections are presented in the FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O (FMASH), Na2O–CaO–K2O–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O (NCKFMASH) and Na2O–CaO–K2O–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O–TiO2–Fe2O3 (NCKFMASHTO) chemical systems to investigate quantitatively the phase relations in these rocks. Although the bulk compositions of cordierite–orthoamphibole gneisses are close to FMASH, calculations in this system do not adequately account for the observed range of mineral assemblages. Calculations in NCKFMASH and NCKFMASHTO highlight the role of minor constituents such as Ca, Na and Fe3+ in the mineral assemblage evolution of such rocks and these systems are more appropriate for interpreting the evolution of natural examples.
Maintenance of platelet in vitro properties during 7‐day storage in M‐sol with a 30‐hour interruption of agitation
Authors: Wagner Stephen J. , Myrup Andrew , Awatefe Helen , Thompson‐Montgomery Dedeene , Hirayama Junichi , Skripchenko Andrey 
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND: Extensive periods without agitation can occasionally occur during platelet (PLT) shipment and can affect PLT quality during 5‐ to 7‐day storage. The use of buffer‐containing PLT additive solutions (ASs) may better preserve PLT quality during storage by maintaining PLT pH and other in vitro variables. A newly described bicarbonate‐containing AS, M‐sol, was compared to plasma for preservation of whole blood–derived PLT concentrates in which a 30‐hour interruption of agitation was included.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: ABO‐identical PLT‐rich plasma intermediate products were pooled in sets of four, split, and centrifuged with subsequent plasma expression (n = 12). Two units were resuspended with M‐sol AS to produce a 70 percent solution/30 percent plasma PLT concentrate; 2 units were resuspended in 100 percent plasma. One M‐sol resuspended unit and 1 plasma unit were held on a laboratory bench in a standard shipping box for 30 hours between Day 2 and Day 3, while the other M‐sol and plasma unit were continuously agitated. Standard in vitro testing for PLT quality variables on each set of 4 units was performed during storage (n = 12).RESULTS: Interrupting agitation of PLTs suspended in M‐sol resulted in less of a pH decrement during storage than that of PLTs suspended in 100 percent plasma. On Days 5 and 7, the pH differences between M‐sol and plasma units were 0.56 and 0.75 pH units, respectively (p < 0.0003). In addition, PLTs suspended in M‐sol and subjected to an interruption of agitation had lesser Day 7 CD62+ cells, glucose utilization, and lactate production and greater hypotonic stress response, morphology, swirling, and aggregation response than those suspended in plasma (p ≤ 0.005).CONCLUSION: The in vitro properties of PLTs suspended in 70 percent M‐sol/30 percent plasma and subjected to a 30‐hour interruption of agitation are better maintained during 7‐day storage than those of matched units suspended in plasma.
Credit constraints and productivity in Peruvian agriculture
Authors: Guirkinger Catherine , Boucher Stephen R. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThis article evaluates the performance of a rural credit market in Peru. We develop a model that shows that collateral requirements imposed by lenders in response to asymmetric information can lead not just to quantity rationing but also to transaction cost rationing and risk rationing. Just like quantity rationing, these two additional forms of nonprice rationing adversely affect farm resource allocation and productivity. We test the insights of the model using a panel data set from Northern Peru. We estimate the returns to productive endowments for constrained and unconstrained households using a switching regression model. We find that, consistent with the theory, productivity is independent of endowments for unconstrained households but is tightly linked to endowments for constrained households. We estimate that credit constraints lower the value of agricultural output in the study region by 26%.
Effects and mechanisms of PPARα activator fenofibrate on myocardial remodelling in hypertension
Authors: Li Chuan‐Bao , Li Xiao‐Xing , Chen Yu‐Guo , Zhang Cheng , Zhang Ming‐Xiang , Zhao Xue‐Qiang , Hao Ming‐Xiu , Hou Xiao‐Yang , Gong Mao‐Lei , Zhao Yu‐Xia , Bu Pei‐Li , Zhang Yun 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAlthough peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα) is highly expressed in the heart, the effects of PPARα on cardiac remodelling and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that PPARα activator fenofibrate plays a key role in left ventricular hypertrophic remodelling via the formation of c‐fos/c‐jun heterodimers in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs). Twenty‐four male 8‐week‐old SHRs were randomly divided into two groups, one group treated with oral saline (n= 10) and another treated with oral fenofibrate (60 mg.kg−1.d−1, n= 14). Ten same‐aged Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were selected as a normal control group. Using echocardiography, immunohistochemistry, co‐immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis and real‐time RT‐PCR, we showed that the left ventricular wall thickness and significantly reduced and left ventricular diastolic function improved in SHRs treated with fenofibrate compared with SHRs treated with saline. Similarly, the excessive collagen deposition and the up‐regulation of collagen I, collagen III, c‐fos and c‐jun seen in SHRs receiving saline were significantly attenuated in SHRs receiving fenofibrate. In addition, fenofibrate markedly decreased the expression of AP‐1 and c‐fos/c‐jun heterodimers (P < 0.01). These results demonstrated that PPARα activator fenofibrate may exert a protective effect on cardiac remodelling in SHRs by decreasing the expression of c‐fos and c‐jun and suppressing the formation of c‐fos/c‐jun heterodimers, which may further inhibit transcription of the downstream genes involved in the pathogenesis of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by hypertension.
Role of NADPH oxidase in H9c2 cardiac muscle cells exposed to simulated ischaemia‐reperfusion
Authors: Borchi Elisabetta , Parri Matteo , Papucci Laura , Becatti Matteo , Nassi Niccolò , Nassi Paolo , Nediani Chiara 
Published: August 2008

AbstractOxidative stress is associated with several cardiovascular pathologies, including hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Although oxidative stress is also increased after ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R), little is known about the role and the activation mechanisms, in cardiac myocytes under these conditions, of NADPH oxidase, a superoxide‐producing enzyme. We found that rat cardiac muscle cells (H9c2) subjected to an in vitro simulated ischaemia (substrate‐free medium plus hypoxia) followed by ‘reperfusion’, displayed increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production attributable to a parallel increase of NADPH oxidase activity. Our investigation on mechanisms responsible for NADPH oxidase activation showed a contribution of both the increase of NOX2 expression and p47phox translocation to the membrane. We also found that the increase of NADPH oxidase activity was associated with higher levels of lipid peroxidation, the activation of redox‐sensitive kinases, in particular ERK and JNK, and with cell death. Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a flavoprotein inhibitor used as NADPH oxidase inhibitor, prevented I/R‐induced ROS formation in treated cells, together with the related lipoperoxidative damage, and JNK phosphorylation without affecting ERK activation, resulting in protection against cell death. Our results provide evidence that NADPH oxidase is a key enzyme involved in I/R‐induced oxidant generation and suggest it can be a possible target in cardioprotective strategies against I/R injury, a condition of great importance in human pathology.
TRP‐ML1 functions as a lysosomal NAADP‐sensitive Ca2+ release channel in coronary arterial myocytes
Authors: Zhang Fan , Jin Si , Yi Fan , Li Pin‐Lan 
Published: August 2008

AbstractNicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a potent intracellular Ca2+ signalling second messenger, but the mechanism of NAADP‐induced Ca2+ release is still poorly understood. The present study tested the hypothesis that NAADP induces Ca2+ release from the lysosomal store via a TRP‐ML1 (transient receptor potential‐mucolipin 1)‐mediated Ca2+ release channel in coronary arterial myocytes (CAMs). RT‐PCR and Western blot analyses demonstrated that TRP‐ML1 was present in CAMs, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) detection revealed that the TRP‐ML1 was closely associated with some lysosomal proteins in these CAMs. ET‐1, a well‐known NAADP stimulator, was found to induce a local Ca2+ burst from lysosomes followed by a global Ca2+ release. This lysosome‐associated Ca2+ release was significantly inhibited in the TRP‐ML1 siRNA pre‐treated CAMs by 46.8 ± 12.6% in the local Ca2+ burst and 73.3 ± 14.9% in the global Ca2+ wave. In the reconstituted lysosomal channels from CAMs, NAADP activated Ca2+ release channels at concentrations of 1–1000 nM, but neither activators (1 μM IP3, 5 μM Rya) nor blockers (100 μM 2‐APB, 50 μM Rya) of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release channels had effect on the channel activity. Moreover, TRP‐ML1 gene silencing reduced this NAADP‐sensitive Ca2+ release channel activity in lysosomes by 71.5 ± 18.5%. Immunoprecipitation or blockade of TRP‐ML1 by anti‐TRP‐ML1 antibodies almost abolished NAADP‐induced activation of lysosomal Ca2+ channels (to 14.0 ± 4.4% of control). These results for the first time provide direct evidence that an NAADP‐sensitive Ca2+ release channel is characteristic of TRP‐ML1 channels.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Maternal and Neonatal Interleukin‐1 Receptor Antagonist Genotype and Pregnancy Outcome in a Population with a High Rate of Pre‐term Birth
Authors: Chaves José Humberto Belmino , Babayan Arthur , De Melo Bezerra Cledna , Linhares Iara M , Witkin Steven S 
Published: August 2008

Problem We evaluated associations between a length polymorphism in intron 2 of the gene coding for IL‐1ra (gene symbol IL1RN) and pregnancy outcome in a population with a high rate of preterm birth.Method of study Subjects were pregnant women in Maceio, Brazil and their newborns. DNA was tested for IL1RN genotypes and alleles by gene amplification using primer pairs that spanned the polymorphic region. Every subject completed a detailed questionnaire.Results The frequency of allele 2 (IL1RN*2) carriage was elevated in mothers with a spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) in the current pregnancy (P = 0.02) and also with a prior preterm delivery (P = .01). Both SPTB with intact membranes (P = 0.01) and SPTB preceded by pre‐term pre‐mature rupture of membranes (P = .03) were associated with IL1RN*2 carriage. A previous fetal demise was more than twice as prevalent in mothers positive for two copies of IL1RN*2.Conclusion Maternal carriage of IL1RN*2 increases susceptibility to inflammation‐triggered spontaneous pre‐term birth.
Multimodality Image‐Guided Radiotherapy of the Liver
Authors: Lee M. T. , Brock K. K. , Dawson L. A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryTechnological advances have made it possible for tumoricidal doses of radiation to be delivered to primary and metastatic liver cancers. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and positron emission tomography are used to help with tumor definition at the time of radiation planning. Specialized imaging techniques are also used for characterization of tumor motion due to breathing at the time of radiation planning. Image‐guided radiation therapy (IGRT), referring to the use of frequent imaging in the treatment position during a course of radiotherapy to localize the tumor prior to or during each treatment, improves accuracy and precision of radiation delivery. IGRT improves the concordance between the delivered doses to the tumor and normal tissues and the planned doses, which should improve our understanding of dose–outcome analyses. IGRT also reduces the volume of normal tissue that needs to be irradiated, and facilitates dose escalation to the tumor, potentially improving tumor control probability and reducing the risk of toxicity. Image registration is required to bring imaging data sets together at the time of radiation planning and also for image guidance at treatment. This study provides an overview of multimodality imaging and IGRT used in liver cancer conformal radiation therapy.
Nurse‐led newborn resuscitation in an urban neonatal unit
Authors: Neal Donna , Stewart Danny , Grant Cameron C 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim: To determine the safety and efficacy of neonatal nurses attending at‐risk deliveries.Methods: An audit of 2 years of delivery attendance by neonatal nurses at an urban hospital. Attendance also by a paediatrician if expected birth weight <2 kg, gestation < 35 weeks, twin pregnancy, foetal distress or any anomaly anticipated to seriously affect the newborn's health.Results: About 3021 deliveries were attended, 2228 (74%) by a neonatal nurse, 776 (25%) by a neonatal nurse and a paediatrician and 17 (1%) by a paediatrician. Twenty‐three children required intermittent positive pressure ventilation via endotracheal tube and/or cardiac massage. All but five of these were deliveries where both a neonatal nurse and a paediatrician were present. Three of these five deliveries had foetal tachycardia.There were 33 deliveries managed by the neonatal nurse alone where the 1‐min Apgar was three or less. All achieved a 10‐min Apgar of seven or greater. Over the study interval, the proportion of deliveries attended only by a neonatal nurse increased and intensity of resuscitation administered decreased.Conclusion: Appropriately trained neonatal nurses can safely resuscitate newborns. Addition of foetal tachycardia to the indications for paediatrician attendance identifies infants likely to require more resuscitation.
High‐risk human papilloma viruses (HPVs) were not detected in the benign skin lesions of a small number of children
Authors: Mammas I , Sourvinos G , Michael C , Spandidos DA 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim: Human papilloma virus (HPV) can be transmitted via sexual as well as nonsexual routes. Recently, ‘high‐risk’ HPVs were detected in the oral mucosa of children in whose cases there was no suspicion of sexual abuse. This implies that HPV 16 and 18 have additional nonsexual modes of transmission in childhood, such as vertical transmission and autoinoculation.Methods: Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, we examined the skin tissues of 12 children with benign skin lesions, aged between 6 and 13 years, for the presence of HPV.Results: Among 12 biopsy skin specimens, no ‘high‐risk’ HPV DNA was detected. Specific PCRs for HPV DNA 16 and 18 were also negative.Conclusion: This preliminary case‐control study indicates the absence of mucosal ‘high‐risk’ HPV types in the benign skin lesions of children.