bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of oregano on bacterial enzymes in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced experimental colon carcinogenesis
Authors: Srihari T. , Balasubramaniyan V. , Nalini N. 
Published: October 2008

Colon cancer incidence is higher in developed countries than in developing countries. We determined the effect of oregano ( Origanum vulgare L.) on fecal bacterial enzyme activities in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced experimental colon carcinogenesis in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into 6 groups and all animals were fed with a high-fat diet (20% fat in the diet). Group 1 served as control and group 2 animals received 60 mg·kg–1body weight (b.w.) oregano daily for 15 weeks. To induce colon cancer, DMH (20 mg·kg–1b.w.) was injected subcutaneously once a week for the first 4 weeks (groups 3–6). In addition, oregano was administered at 20, 40, or 60 mg·kg–1b.w. each day orally for the entire 15 weeks (groups 4–6). We analyzed the fecal bacterial enzyme activities and found it to be significantly higher in the group treated with DMH alone than in the control group. Oregano supplementation at all 3 doses significantly suppressed the bacterial enzyme activities and modulated oxidative stress significantly compared with the unsupplemented DMH-treated group. Results of our present investigation therefore revealed that oregano markedly inhibited DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis and that the optimal dose of 40 mg·kg–1b.w. was more effective than either the higher or lower doses.
Reduction of asymmetric dimethylarginine in the protective effects of rutaecarpine on gastric mucosal injury
Authors: Liu Ying-Zi , Zhou Yuan , Li Dai , Wang Li , Hu Gao-Yun , Peng Jun , Li Yuan-Jian 
Published: October 2008

Our recent study has shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) plays an important role in facilitating gastric mucosal injury by multiple factors. To explore whether the protection of rutaecarpine against gastric mucosal injury is related to reduction of ADMA content, a model of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats was selected for this study. The ulcer index, the content of ADMA and NO, and the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) in gastric tissues were measured in vivo after pretreatment with rutaecarpine. The in vitro effect of rutaecarpine on the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and NO from isolated gastric tissues was also determined. The results showed that ethanol significantly increased the ulcer index, decreased the DDAH activity and the NO level, and elevated the ADMA level, which was attenuated by pretreatment with rutaecarpine (0.6 mg/kg or 1.2 mg/kg). In the isolated gastric tissues, rutaecarpine significantly increased the release of both CGRP and NO; the release of NO, but not CGRP, was abolished in the presence of l-NAME (10−4 mol/L). The present results suggest that rutaecarpine protects the gastric mucosa against injury induced by ethanol and that the gastroprotection of rutaecarpine is related to reduction of ADMA levels through stimulating the release of CGRP.
Macrodynamic Cooperative Complexity of Information Dynamics
Authors: Lerner Vladimir S. 
Published: October 2008

The introduced concept and measure of macrocomplexity (MC) arise in an irreversible macrodynamic cooperative process and determine the process components ability to assemble into an integrated system. MC serves as a common indicator of the origin of the cooperative complexity measured by the specific entropy speed per assembled volume, rather than the entropy, as it has been accepted before. The MC cooperative mechanism is studied using the variation principle (VP) of information macrodynamics (IMD), applied to a complex system with the macrolevel dynamics and random microlevel stochastics and different forms of physical and virtual transitions of information. This principle describes a transition from a local unstable process movement to a local stable process — the former is associated with the current influx of information that precedes cooperation, and the latter is continued after the cooperation with incoming information and its accumulation. This transition enables the production of the cooperative phenomena and, in particular, the contributions from different superimposing processes, which are measured by the MC. MC, arising as an indicator of these phenomena at the unification (or decomposition) of the system processes, is defined by the invariant information measure, allowing for both analytical formulation and computer evaluation. An optimal multi-dimensional consolidation process, satisfying the VP, forms the information hierarchical network (IN) consisting of the model eigenvalues sequential cooperation in triples. The MC of such an optimal cooperative triplet structure is measured by the IN triplet code (as an algorithm of the minimal program, which evaluates the IN hierarchical structure by the triplet information contributions in bits of information). The distributed IN allows for the automatic arrangement and measurement of the MC-local complexities in a multi-dimensional cooperative process, taking into account the MC time-space locations and mutual dependencies, and providing the MC hierarchical invariant information measure by quantity and quality in the triplet code. The MC is connected to Kolmogorov (K) complexity, which measures a deterministic order over a stochastic disorder by a minimal program. The MC specific consists of providing a computable complexity measure of a cooperative dynamic irreversible process, as an opposite to the K incomputability.
Post-rift compressional reactivation potential of passive margins and extensional basins
Authors: Cloetingh Sierd , Beekman Fred , Ziegler Peter A. , van Wees Jan-Diederik , Sokoutis Dimitrios 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Poly-phase deformation of a compressional nature is a common feature in the post-rift evolution of passive margins and rifts. The compressional mode of deformation in these sedimentary basins, originally formed by extension in an intraplate setting, is characterized by a spectrum of spatial wavelengths spanning several tens of kilometres up to several hundreds of kilometres. The actual mode of compressional deformation appears to be strongly affected by the rheological structure of the underlying lithosphere, the level of the regional intraplate stress field, and the geometry of the rifted basin configuration prior to late-stage compressional reactivation. The interplay of plumes and intraplate compressional deformation can lead to temporal transitions from basin inversion to lithospheric folding. These modes of deformation lead to substantial differential vertical motions, late-stage anomalies in subsidence and uplift patterns. The development of innovative combinations of numerical and analogue modelling techniques is the key to differentiating different modes of compressional deformation of passive margins and extensional basins.
Present-day stresses, seismicity and Neogene-to-Recent tectonics of Australia's ‘passive’ margins: intraplate deformation controlled by plate boundary forces
Authors: Hillis Richard R. , Sandiford Mike , Reynolds Scott D. , Quigley Mark C. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Neogene-to-Recent deformation is widespread on and adjacent to Australia's ‘passive’ margins. Elevated historical seismic activity and relatively high levels of Neogene-to-Recent tectonic activity are recognized in the Flinders and Mount Lofty Ranges, the SE Australian Passive Margin, SW Western Australia and the North West Shelf. In all cases the orientation of palaeostresses inferred from Neogene-to-Recent structures is consistent with independent determinations of the orientation of the present-day stress field.
Present-day stress orientations (and neotectonic palaeostress trends) vary across the Australian continent. Plate-scale stress modelling that incorporates the complex nature of the convergent plate boundary of the Indo-Australian Plate (with segments of continent–continent collision, continent–arc collision and subduction) indicates that present-day stress orientations in the Australian continent are consistent with a first-order control by plate-boundary forces. The consistency between the present-day, plate-boundary-sourced stress orientations and the record of deformation deduced from neotectonic structures implicates plate boundary forces in the ongoing intraplate deformation of the Australian continent.

Deformation rates inferred from seismicity and neotectonics (as high as 10
−16
s
−1
) are faster than seismic strain rates in many other ‘stable’ intraplate regions, suggestive of unusually high stress levels imposed on the Australian intraplate environment from plate boundary interactions many thousands of kilometres distant. The spatial overlap of neotectonic structures and zones of concentrated historical seismicity with ancient fault zones and/or regions of enhanced crustal heat flow indicates that patterns of active deformation in Australia are in part, governed, by prior tectonic structuring and are also related to structural and thermal weakening of continental crust. Neogene-to-Recent intraplate deformation within the Australian continent has had profound and under-recognized effects on hydrocarbon occurrence, both by amplifying some hydrocarbon-hosting structures and by inducing leakage from pre-existing traps due to fault reactivation or tilting.
Evidence for kilometre-scale Neogene exhumation driven by compressional deformation in the Irish Sea basin system
Authors: Holford Simon P. , Green Paul F. , Turner Jonathan P. , Williams Gareth A. , Hillis Richard R. , Tappin David R. , Duddy Ian R. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Large tracts of the NW European continental shelf and Atlantic margin have experienced kilometre-scale exhumation during the Cenozoic, the timing and causes of which are debated. There is particular uncertainty about the exhumation history of the Irish Sea basin system, Western UK, which has been suggested to be a focal point of Cenozoic exhumation across the NW European continental shelf. Many studies have attributed the exhumation of this region to processes associated with the early Palaeogene initiation of the Iceland Plume, whilst the magnitude and causes of Neogene exhumation have attracted little attention. However, the sedimentary basins of the southern Irish Sea contain a mid–late Cenozoic sedimentary succession up to 1.5 km in thickness, the analysis of which should permit the contributions of Palaeogene and Neogene events to the Cenozoic exhumation of this region to be separated. In this paper, an analysis of the palaeothermal, mechanical and structural properties of the Cenozoic succession is presented with the aim of quantifying the timing and magnitude of Neogene exhumation, and identifying its ultimate causes. Synthesis of an extensive apatite fission-track analysis (AFTA), vitrinite reflectance (VR) and compaction (sonic velocity and density log-derived porosities) database shows that the preserved Cenozoic sediments in the southern Irish Sea were more deeply buried by up to 1.5 km of additional section prior to exhumation which began between 20 and 15 Ma. Maximum burial depths of the preserved sedimentary succession in the St George's Channel Basin were reached during mid–late Cenozoic times meaning that no evidence for early Palaeogene exhumation is preserved whereas AFTA data from the Mochras borehole (onshore NW Wales) show that early Palaeogene cooling (i.e. exhumation) at this location was not significant. Seismic reflection data indicate that compressional shortening was the principal driving mechanism for the Neogene exhumation of the southern Irish Sea. Coeval Neogene shortening and exhumation is observed in several sedimentary basins around the British Isles, including those along the UK Atlantic margin. This suggests that the forces responsible for the deformation and exhumation of the margin may also be responsible for the generation of kilometre-scale exhumation in an intraplate sedimentary basin system located >1000 km from the most proximal plate boundary. The results presented here show that compressional deformation has made an important contribution to the Neogene exhumation of the NW European continental shelf.
Design and implementation trade-offs for wide-area resource discovery
Authors: Albrecht Jeannie , Oppenheimer David , Vahdat Amin , Patterson David A. 
Published: October 2008

We describe the design and implementation of SWORD, a scalable resource discovery service for wide-area distributed systems. In contrast to previous systems, SWORD allows users to describe desired resources as a topology of interconnected groups with required intragroup, intergroup, and per-node characteristics, along with the utility that the application derives from specified ranges of metric values. This design gives users the flexibility to find geographically distributed resources for applications that are sensitive to both node and network characteristics, and allows the system to rank acceptable configurations based on their quality for that application.
Rather than evaluating a single implementation of SWORD, we explore a variety of architectural designs that deliver the required functionality in a scalable and highly available manner. We discuss the trade-offs of using a centralized architecture as compared to a fully decentralized design to perform wide-area resource discovery. To summarize our results, we found that a centralized architecture based on 4-node server cluster sites at network-peering facilities outperforms a decentralized DHT-based resource discovery infrastructure with respect to query latency for all but the smallest number of sites. However, although a centralized architecture shows significant promise in stable environments, we find that our decentralized implementation has acceptable performance and also benefits from the DHT's self-healing properties in more volatile environments. We evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of centralized and distributed resource discovery architectures on 1000 hosts in emulation and on approximately 200 PlanetLab nodes spread across the Internet.
Information scraps
Authors: Bernstein Michael , Van Kleek Max , Karger David , schraefel m.c. 
Published: October 2008

In this article we investigateinformation scraps—personal information where content has been scribbled on Post-it notes, scrawled on the corners of sheets of paper, stuck in our pockets, sent in email messages to ourselves, and stashed in miscellaneous digital text files. Information scraps encode information ranging from ideas and sketches to notes, reminders, shipment tracking numbers, driving directions, and even poetry. Although information scraps are ubiquitous, we have much still to learn about these loose forms of information practice. Why do we keep information scraps outside of our traditional PIM applications? What role do information scraps play in our overall information practice? How might PIM applications be better designed to accommodate and support information scraps' creation, manipulation and retrieval?We pursued these questions by studying the information scrap practices of 27 knowledge workers at five organizations. Our observations shed light on information scraps' content, form, media, and location. From this data, we elaborate on the typical information scrap lifecycle, and identify common roles that information scraps play: temporary storage, archiving, work-in-progress, reminding, and management of unusual data. These roles suggest a set of unmet design needs in current PIM tools: lightweight entry, unconstrained content, flexible use and adaptability, visibility, and mobility.
Using Mammographic Density to Improve Breast Cancer Screening Outcomes
Authors: Kavanagh Anne M. , Byrnes Graham B. , Nickson Carolyn , Cawson Jennifer N. , Giles Graham G. , Hopper John L. , Gertig Dorota M. , English Dallas R. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
It is possible that the performance of mammographic screening would be improved if it is targeted at women at higher risk of breast cancer or who are more likely to have their cancer missed at screening, through more intensive screening or alternative screening modalities. We conducted a case-control study within a population-based Australian mammographic screening program (1,706 invasive breast cancers and 5,637 randomly selected controls). We used logistic regression to examine the effects of breast density, age, and hormone therapy use, all known to influence both breast cancer risk and the sensitivity of mammographic screening, on the risk of small (≤15 mm) and large (&gt;15 mm) screen-detected and interval breast cancers. The risk of small screen-detected cancers was not associated with density, but the risk of large screen-detected cancers was nearly 3-fold for the second quintile and approximately 4-fold for the four highest density categories (third and fourth quintiles and the two highest deciles) compared with the lowest quintile. The risk of interval cancers increased monotonically across the density categories [highest decile odds ratio (OR), 4.65; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.96-7.31]. The risk of small and large screen-detected cancers, but not interval cancers, increased with age. After adjusting for age and density, hormone therapy use was associated with a moderately elevated risk of interval cancers (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.12-1.81). The effectiveness of the screening program could be improved if density were to be used to identify women most likely to have poor screening outcomes. There would be little additional benefit in targeting screening based on age and hormone therapy use. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2818–24)
Cyclin D1 Pro241Pro (CCND1-G870A) Polymorphism Is Associated with Increased Cancer Risk in Human Populations: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pabalan Noel , Bapat Bharati , Sung Lillian , Jarjanazi Hamdi , Francisco-Pabalan Ofelia , Ozcelik Hilmi 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
The G870A polymorphism in the CCND1 gene may influence cancer risk. However, data from published studies with individual low statistical power have been controversial. To evaluate whether combined evidence shows an association between this polymorphism and cancer, we considered all available studies in a meta-analysis. Sixty studies were combined representing data for 18,411 cases and 22,209 controls. In our meta-analysis, we investigated overall sample and two ethnic populations (Caucasians and Asians) as well as nine cancer subtypes. Individuals who are homozygous for A allele (AA) were found to be associated with significantly increased cancer risk in overall sample [odds ratio (OR), 1.23; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.13-1.33; P ≤ 0.0001], Caucasians (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.07-1.26; P = 0.0002), and Asians (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.39; P ≤ 0.001). Among the nine cancer subtypes investigated, modestly significant risk (ORs, 1.08 to 1.51; P = 0.02 to 0.04) was detected in breast, colorectal, head and neck, and other cancers. Highly significant and increased risk was found to be associated with genitourinary (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.20-1.89; P = 0.0004) and blood-related cancers (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.28-2.05; P ≤ 0.0001). Individuals who are heterozygous for AG were found to be at increased risk in overall, ethnic groups, as well as breast and colorectal cancers. Significant dominant effects seem to prevail in the majority of the categories investigated, where some recessive effects were also detected. Overall, the risk effects associated with this polymorphism were small; however, due its common occurrence, it affects a large portion of the human population (AA, 25%; AG, 50%). Although the independent small risk associated with CCND1-A870G polymorphism is not clinically useful, its interaction with other genetic variants and environmental factors has been shown to be associated with further increase in cancer risk (OR, 1.6-7.1). In conclusion, our study strongly supports the increased cancer risk associated with CCND1-A870G polymorphism in the human population. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2773–81)
Aberrant Promoter Methylation of Multiple Genes during Pathogenesis of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Brait Mariana , Begum Shahnaz , Carvalho André L. , Dasgupta Santanu , Vettore André L. , Czerniak Bogdan , Caballero Otávia L. , Westra William H. , Sidransky David , Hoque Mohammad Obaidul 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Purpose: The aims of our study were to elucidate the role of methylation of a large panel of genes during multistage pathogenesis of bladder cancer and to correlate our findings with patient age and other clinicopathologic features.
Experimental Design: We studied the methylation status of 21 genes by quantitative methylation-specific PCR in an evaluation set of 25 tumor and 5 normal samples. Based on methylation frequency in tumors and normals in gene evaluation set, we selected 7 candidate genes and tested an independent set of 93 tumors and 26 normals. The presence or absence of methylation was evaluated for an association with cancer using cross-tabulations and χ2 or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate. All statistical tests were two-sided.
Results: Most primary tumors (89 of 93, 96%) had methylation of one or more genes of independent set; 53 (57%) CCNA1, 29 (31%) MINT1, 36 (39%) CRBP, 53 (57%) CCND2, 66 (71%) PGP9.5, 60 (65%) CALCA, and 78 (84%) AIM1. Normal uroepithelium samples from 26 controls revealed no methylation of the CCNA1 and MINT1 genes, whereas methylation of CRBP, CCND2, PGP9.5, and CALCA was detected at low levels. All the 7 genes in independent set were tightly correlated with each other and 3 of these genes showed increased methylation frequencies in bladder cancer with increasing age. PGP9.5 and AIM1 methylation correlated with primary tumor invasion.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that the methylation profile of novel genes in bladder cancers correlates with clinicopathologic features of poor prognosis and is an age-related phenomenon. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2786–94)
Congenital Abnormalities and Acute Leukemia among Children with Down Syndrome: A Children's Oncology Group Study
Authors: Linabery Amy M. , Blair Cindy K. , Gamis Alan S. , Olshan Andrew F. , Heerema Nyla A. , Ross Julie A. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Children with Down syndrome, due to their heightened risk of leukemia and increased prevalence of congenital abnormalities, comprise a valuable population in which to study etiology. A Children's Oncology Group study investigated the causes of childhood leukemia in children with Down syndrome diagnosed at ages 0 to 19 years during the period 1997-2002. Telephone interviews were completed with mothers of 158 cases [n = 97 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and n = 61 acute myeloid leukemia (AML)] and 173 controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed via unconditional logistic regression to evaluate the association between congenital abnormalities and acute leukemia overall, and ALL and AML analyzed separately. The results do not provide evidence for an association among the index children (ORCombined, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.45-1.23; ORALL, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.38-1.20; ORAML,1.03; 95% CI, 0.49-2.16) or their siblings (ORCombined, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.71-2.13; ORALL, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.60-2.09; ORAML, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.66-3.86), suggesting congenital malformations do not confer additional risk of leukemia beyond the risk attributable to trisomy 21 in this population. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2572–7)