bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant and Acetylcholinesterase Response to Repeated Malathion Exposure in Rat Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus
Authors: Trevisan Rafael , Uliano‐Silva Marcela , Pandolfo Pablo , Franco Jeferson L. , Brocardo Patrícia S. , Santos Adair R. S. , Farina Marcelo , Rodrigues Ana Lúcia S. , Takahashi Reinaldo N. , Dafre Alcir L. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract:  The wide use of the organophosphate insecticide malathion is accompanied by the risk of human exposure, especially in developing countries, which underlines the need of basic studies in this area. Some reports have shown that low doses of malathion, in a repeated treatment regimen, are unable to reduce acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the rat brain, in contrast to the inhibitory effect in acute treatment. In order to investigate if AChE activity is affected by repeated low‐level malathion administration, female Wistar rats were exposed to malathion (50 and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for 3 consecutive days. Exposure to malathion 50 mg/kg did not affect AChE activity, as previously observed. Contrary to expectation, 100 mg/kg malathion produced a significant increase in AChE activity in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Besides AChE inhibition, malathion may act as a pro‐oxidative agent by interfering with antioxidant defences, as shown by a decrease of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity in the cerebral cortex (100 mg/kg malathion). These effects are in contrast to response in the hippocampus where the increase in AChE activity correlates positively with the antioxidant defences, while the opposite was found in the cerebral cortex. These data indicate that, with low doses, and after a short period of exposure, malathion induces an up‐regulation of AChE activity, a pattern similar to that found in the hippocampus for the antioxidant defences studied. The cerebral cortex was more vulnerable to malathion, as reflected in a decrease of two antioxidant enzymes. This study indicates that (i) alternatively to AChE inhibition, interference with the antioxidant defence system may be another important target for malathion toxicity; (ii) hippocampal and cortical AChE activity in rats can be increased after repeated low‐dose malathion exposure. This response suggests the occurrence of a pathophysiological response in order to maintain the homeostasis of the cholinergic system in these cerebral structures.
Redshift-dependent lag—luminosity relation in 565 BATSE gamma-ray bursts
Authors: Tsutsui Ryo , Nakamura Takashi , Yonetoku Daisuke , Murakami Toshio , Tanabe Sachiko , Kodama Yoshiki 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
We compared redshifts zY measured from the Yonetoku relation and zlag from the lag–luminosity relation for 565 BATSE gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and were surprised to find that the correlation between these two redshifts is very low. Assuming that the luminosity is a function of both zY and the intrinsic spectral lag τlag, we found a new redshift-dependent lag–luminosity relation L= 7.5 × 1050 erg s−1 (1 +z)2.53τ−0.282lag with the correlation coefficient of 0.77 and the chance probability of 7.9 × 10−75. Although the spectral lag is computed from two channels of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE), our new lag–luminosity relation suggests that a future lag–luminosity relation defined in the Swift data should also depend on the redshift.
X-ray line ratio 3C/3D in Fe xvii
Authors: Chen G. X. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
The X-ray line intensity ratio 3C/3D in Fe xvii is potentially one of the most useful plasma diagnostic line ratios for X-ray astronomy. Based on our recent converged and highly accurate atomic calculations for electron impact excitation of Fe xvii using the fully relativistic close-coupling method, we demonstrate that 3C/3D in Fe xvii is not a constant with respect to electron temperature/energy. The cascade effects (including the excitation and recombination population pumping) on 3C/3D as a function of temperature (for Maxwellian plasmas) or electron beam energy (for some laboratory plasmas) are studied and elaborated. For Maxwellian plasmas prevailing in astrophysical sources under the condition of collisional ionization equilibrium, a new and highly accurate 3C/3D line ratio is reported. The values of 3C/3D reported in this work are 2.66, 2.76, 2.81, 2.88 and 2.94 for electron temperatures of 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10 MK, respectively. The uncertainty in our new line ratio is estimated to be about 5 per cent. These new 3C/3D values are expected to have immediate applications for a wide range of X-ray spectra observed from both point sources as well as extended sources.
Spinal and supraspinal adaptations associated with balance training and their functional relevance
Authors: Taube W. , Gruber M. , Gollhofer A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTraditionally, balance training has been used to rehabilitate ankle injuries and postural deficits. Prospective studies have shown preventive effects with respect to ankle and knee joint injuries. Presently, balance training is not only applied for rehabilitation and prevention but also for improving motor performance, especially muscle power. The recent application of noninvasive electrophysiological and brain imaging techniques revealed insights into the central control of posture and the adaptations induced by balance training. This information is important for our understanding of the basic control and adaptation mechanisms and to conceptualize appropriate training programmes for athletes, elderly people and patients. The present review presents neurophysiological adaptations induced by balance training and their influence on motor behaviour. It emphasizes the plasticity of the sensorimotor system, particularly the spinal and supraspinal structures. The relevance of balance training is highlighted with respect to athletic performance, postural control within elderly people as well as injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Signal Transfer in Haloarchaeal Sensory Rhodopsin– Transducer Complexes†
Authors: Sasaki Jun , Spudich John L. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractMembrane‐inserted complexes consisting of two photochemically reactive sensory rhodopsin (SR) subunits flanking a homodimer of a transducing protein subunit (Htr) are used by halophilic archaea for sensing light gradients to modulate their swimming behavior (phototaxis). The SR–Htr complexes extend into the cytoplasm where the Htr subunits bind a his‐kinase that controls a phosphorylation system that regulates the flagellar motors. This review focuses on current progress primarily on the mechanism of signal relay within the SRII–HtrII complexes from Natronomonas pharaonis and Halobacterium salinarum. The recent elucidation of a photoactive site steric trigger crucial for signal relay, advances in understanding the role of proton transfer from the chromophore to the protein in SRII activation, and the localization of signal relay to the membrane‐embedded portion of the SRII–HtrII interface, are beginning to produce a clear picture of the signal transfer process. The SR–Htr complexes offer unprecedented opportunities to resolve first examples of the chemistry of signal relay between membrane proteins at the atomic level, which would provide a major contribution to the general understanding of dynamic interactions between integral membrane proteins.
Protein Diffusion Probed by the Transient Grating Method with a New Type of Photochromic Molecule†
Authors: Eitoku Takeshi , Terazima Masahide 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA new type of photochromic molecule that can be used for diffusion coefficient (D) measurements of various proteins in solution is described. The absorption spectrum of this molecule is changed upon photoexcitation by the trans–cis isomerization reaction. Target proteins were labeled by this photochromic molecule in the dark and the translational motion of the proteins was detected by the transient grating (TG) method. The TG signal was simple enough to determine D accurately and was stable even for long‐time irradiation by the laser light. The TG method using this probe molecule improves many drawbacks of the other techniques.
Role of Ocular Melanin in Ophthalmic Physiology and Pathology†
Authors: Hu Dan‐Ning , Simon John D. , Sarna Tadeusz 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe mammalian eye consists of several layers of pigmented tissues that contain melanin. The eye is a unique organ for pigment cell research because one can isolate and compare melanosomes from different tissues and embryonic origins. Retinal, iris and ciliary pigment epithelial cells are derived from the neural ectoderm, more specifically from the extremity of the embryonic optical cup, which is also the origin of the retina. In contrast, the pigment‐generating cells in the choroid and in the stroma of the iris and ciliary body, uveal melanocytes, are developed from the neural crest, the same origin as the melanocytes in skin and hair. This review examines the potential functions of ocular melanin in the human eye. Following a discussion of the role of melanins in the pigment epithelium and uveal melanocytes, three specific topics are explored in detail—photo‐screening protective effects, biophysical and biochemical protective effects, and the biologic and photobiologic effects of the two main classes of melanins (generally found as mixtures in ocular melanosomes)—eumelanin and pheomelanin.
Alpha‐retinals as Rhodopsin Chromophores—Preference for the 9‐Z Configuration and Partial Agonist Activity†
Authors: Wang Yajie , Bovee‐Geurts Petra H. M. , Lugtenburg Johan , DeGrip Willem J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe visual pigment rhodopsin, the photosensory element of the rod photoreceptor cell in the vertebrate retina, shows in combination with an endogenous ligand, 11‐Z retinal, an astonishing photochemical performance. It exhibits an unprecedented quantum yield (0.67) in a highly defined and ultrafast photoisomerization process. This triggers the conformational changes leading to the active state Meta(rhodopsin) II. Retinal is covalently bound to Lys‐296 of the protein opsin in a protonated Schiff base. The resulting positive charge delocalization over the terminal part of the polyene chain of retinal creates a conjugation defect that upon photoexcitation moves to the opposite end of the polyene. Shortening the polyene as in 4,5‐dehydro,5,6‐dihydro (alpha), 5,6‐dihydro or 7,8‐dihydro‐analogs might facilitate photoisomerization of a 9‐Z and a 11‐Z bond. Here we describe pigment analogs generated with bovine opsin and 11‐Z or 9‐Z 4,5‐dehydro,5,6‐dihydro‐retinal that were further characterized by UV–Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. The preference of opsin for native 11‐Z retinal over the 9‐Z isomer is reversed in 4,5‐dehydro,5,6‐dihydro‐retinal. 9‐Z 4,5‐dehydro,5,6‐dihydro‐retinal readily generated a photosensitive pigment. This modification has no effect on the quantum yield, but affects the Batho↔blueshifted intermediate (BSI) equilibrium and leads to a strong decrease in the G‐protein activation rate because of a downshift of the pKa of the Meta I↔Meta II equilibrium.
The Photoreaction of the Photoactive Yellow Protein Domain in the Light Sensor Histidine Kinase Ppr is Influenced by the C‐terminal Domains†
Authors: Kamikubo Hironari , Koyama Tomonori , Hayashi Michihiro , Shirai Kumiko , Yamazaki Yoichi , Imamoto Yasushi , Kataoka Mikio 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTo study the role of the C‐terminal domains in the photocycle of a light sensor histidine kinase (Ppr) having a photoactive yellow protein (PYP) domain as the photosensor domain, we analyzed the photocycles of the PYP domain of Ppr (Ppr‐PYP) and full‐length Ppr. The gene fragment for Ppr‐PYP was expressed in Escherichia coli, and it was chemically reconstituted with p‐coumaric acid; the full‐length gene of Ppr was coexpressed with tyrosine ammonia‐lyase and p‐coumaric acid ligase for biosynthesis in cells. The light/dark difference spectra of Ppr‐PYP were pH sensitive. They were represented as a linear combination of two independent difference spectra analogous to the PYPL/dark and PYPM/dark difference spectra of PYP from Halorhodospira halophila, suggesting that the pH dependence of the difference spectra is explained by the equilibrium shift between the PYPL‐ and PYPM‐like intermediates. The light/dark difference spectrum of Ppr showed the equilibrium shift toward PYPL compared with that of Ppr‐PYP. Kinetic measurements of the photocycles of Ppr and Ppr‐PYP revealed that the C‐terminal domains accelerate the recovery of the dark state. These observations suggest an interaction between the C‐terminal domains and the PYP domain during the photocycle, by which light signals captured by the PYP domain are transferred to the C‐terminal domains.
Culture and Biology: The Foundation of Pathways of Development
Authors: Keller Heidi 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis paper develops the argument that the relationship of biology and culture is systematic: evolved predispositions and learning devices allow individuals to acquire contextually relevant information to become competent in particular environments. It is proposed to synthesize evolutionary theory with cultural and indigenous approaches defining cultural contexts on the basis of shared practices and shared beliefs. Human development can be understood as a series of evolved developmental tasks that need to be solved locally to define adaptive life histories. Early parenting strategies are defined for two prototypical sociocultural contexts: rural farmers in traditional non‐Western villages and urban Western middle‐class families. Parenting strategies are supposed to lay the foundation during the brain imprint period of infancy for different developmental pathways of self‐development.
Building Boxes and Policing Boundaries: (De)Constructing Intersexuality, Transgender and Bisexuality
Authors: Lucal Betsy 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe process of social differentiation, or the process of creating boxes in which we can place other people and in which we can place ourselves, is key to the existence and persistence of social inequality. The focus of this article is on the construction and maintenance of boxes and boundaries with respect to sex, gender and sexuality. We take the existence of these boxes and boundaries for granted, organizing our lives around them in a variety of ways. Exceptions to them call our categorizations and the decisions we make based upon them into question. Particularly interesting in this context are intersexuality, transgender and bisexuality. Intersexuality, transgender and bisexuality have in common the fact that they challenge our easy reliance on categories and the boundaries between those categories. Our responses to, treatment of and understanding of these exceptions provides striking insights into our system of boxes and boundaries and, correspondingly, to sex‐, gender‐ and sexuality‐based inequalities.
Single-Dose, Therapeutic Vaccination of Mice with Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Expressing Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Protein
Authors: Liao John B. , Publicover Jean , Rose John K. , DiMaio Daniel 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT
We are developing recombinant attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) as a vaccine vector to generate humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Here, we explore the use of VSV vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. Immunotherapy targeting high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) lesions has the potential to benefit HPV-infected individuals and cervical cancer patients by generating cytotoxic T cells that kill tumor cells that express viral antigens. A single dose of VSV expressing the HPV type 16 (HPV16) E7 oncogene was used for therapeutic vaccination of mice bearing TC-1 syngeneic tumors, which express HPV16 E7. HPV16 E7-specific T cells were generated and displayed cytotoxic activity against the tumor cells. By 14 days postvaccination, average tumor volumes were 10-fold less in the vaccinated group than in mice that received the empty-vector VSV, and regression of preexisting tumors occurred in some cases. This antitumor effect was CD8 T-cell dependent. Our results demonstrate antitumor responses to HPV16 E7 and suggest that recombinant-VSV-based vaccination should be explored as a therapeutic strategy for cervical carcinoma and other HPV-associated cancers.
Recombinant AttenuatedSalmonella entericaSerovar Typhimurium Expressing the Carboxy-Terminal Domain of Alpha Toxin fromClostridium perfringensInduces Protective Responses against Necrotic Enteritis in Chickens
Authors: Zekarias Bereket , Mo Hua , Curtiss Roy 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTClostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis (NE) is a widespread disease in chickens that causes high mortality and reduced growth performance. Traditionally, NE was controlled by the routine application of antimicrobials in the feed, a practice that currently is unpopular. Consequently, there has been an increase in the occurrence of NE, and it has become a threat to the current objective of antimicrobial-free farming. The pathogenesis of NE is associated with the proliferation ofC. perfringensin the small intestine and the secretion of large amounts of alpha toxin, the major virulence factor. Since there is no vaccine for NE, we have developed a candidate live oral recombinant attenuatedSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium vaccine (RASV) that delivers a nontoxic fragment of alpha toxin. The 3′ end of theplcgene, encoding the C-terminal domain of alpha toxin (PlcC), was cloned into plasmids that enable the expression and secretion of PlcC fused to a signal peptide. Plasmids were inserted intoSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium host strain χ8914, which has attenuatingpabAandpabBdeletion mutations. Three-day-old broiler chicks were orally immunized with 109CFU of the vaccine strain and developed alpha toxin-neutralizing serum antibodies. When serum from these chickens was added intoC. perfringensbroth cultures, bacterial growth was suppressed. In addition, immunofluorescent microscopy showed that serum antibodies bind to the bacterial surface. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA titers in RASV-immunized chickens were low; however, when the chickens were given a parenteral boost injection with a purified recombinant PlcC protein (rPlcC), the RASV-immunized chickens mounted rapid high serum IgG and bile IgA titers exceeding those primed by rPlcC injection. RASV-immunized chickens had reduced intestinal mucosal pathology after challenge with virulentC. perfringens. These results indicate that oral RASV expressing an alpha toxin C-terminal peptide induces protective immunity against NE.
Mice with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treated with
Mycobacterium vaccae
Develop Strikingly Enhanced Recall Gamma Interferon Responses to
M. vaccae
Cell Wall Skeleton
Authors: Rodríguez-Güell Elisabeth , Agustí Gemma , Corominas Mercè , Cardona Pere-Joan , Luquin Marina , Julián Esther 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

Whole heat-killed
Mycobacterium vaccae
is used as an immunotherapeutic agent in tuberculosis (TB), but the compound(s) that triggers its immunostimulatory ability is not known. Here, we show that among different subcellular fractions, the cell wall skeleton induced a prominent expression of gamma interferon in splenocytes from both non-TB and TB
M. vaccae
-treated mice.
Prospective Evaluation of Rapid Antigen Tests for Diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Metapneumovirus Infections
Authors: Aslanzadeh Jaber , Zheng Xiaotian , Li Haijing , Tetreault Janice , Ratkiewicz Irene , Meng Shufang , Hamilton Pamela , Tang Yi-Wei 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are two important viral pathogens that cause respiratory tract infections in the pediatric population. The rapid detection of these agents allows the prompt isolation and treatment of infected patients. In the present prospective study, we evaluated the performances of four rapid antigen detection assays, including a rapid chromatographic immunoassay (CIA) for RSV (Directigen EZ RSV; Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD), a direct fluorescent-antibody assay (DFA) for RSV (Bartels; Trinity Biotech, Carlsbad, CA), and two DFAs for hMPV manufactured by Diagnostic Hybrids Inc. (DHI; Athens, OH) and Imagen (Oxoid Ltd., Basingstoke, Hampshire, United Kingdom). The clinical specimens tested comprised 515 nasopharyngeal aspirates submitted to the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Hartford Hospital from 1 November 2006 to 21 April 2007. Compared to the results of real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), the CIA had a sensitivity of 79.8% and a specificity of 89.5%. The RSV DFA with Bartels reagents showed a sensitivity of 94.1% and a specificity of 96.8%. For hMPV, the sensitivity and specificity were 62.5% and 99.8%, respectively, for the DHI DFA and 63.2% and 100%, respectively, for the Imagen DFA. The hands-on and test turnaround times for CIA were 10 and 30 to 60 min, respectively, and the hands-on and test turnaround times for the RSV and hMPV DFAs were 30 and 105 min, respectively. We conclude that while the RSV CIA is user-friendly, it lacks sensitivity and specificity, especially during off-peak months. In contrast, the RSV DFA is more sensitive and specific, but interpretation of its results is subjective and it demands technical time and expertise. Similarly, both hMPV DFAs are highly specific in comparison to the results of RT-PCR, but their sensitivities await further improvements.
Novel Wide-Range Quantitative Nested Real-Time PCR Assay for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA: Development and Methodology
Authors: Takahashi Teruyuki , Tamura Masato , Asami Yukihiro , Kitamura Eiko , Saito Kosuke , Suzuki Tsukasa , Takahashi Sachiko Nonaka , Matsumoto Koichi , Sawada Shigemasa , Yokoyama Eise , Takasu Toshiaki 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACT

Previously, we designed an internally controlled quantitative nested real-time (QNRT) PCR assay for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DNA in order to rapidly diagnose tuberculous meningitis. This technique combined the high sensitivity of nested PCR with the accurate quantification of real-time PCR. In this study, we attempted to improve the original QNRT-PCR assay and newly developed the wide-range QNRT-PCR (WR-QNRT-PCR) assay, which is more accurate and has a wider detection range. For use as an internal-control “calibrator” to measure the copy number of
M. tuberculosis
DNA, an original new-mutation plasmid (NM-plasmid) was developed. It had artificial random nucleotides in five regions annealing specific primers and probes. The NM-plasmid demonstrated statistically uniform amplifications (
F
= 1.086,
P
= 0.774) against a range (1 to 10
5
) of copy numbers of mimic
M. tuberculosis
DNA and was regarded as appropriate for use as a new internal control in the WR-QNRT-PSR assay. In addition, by the optimization of assay conditions in WR-QNRT-PCR, two-step amplification of target DNA was completely consistent with the standard curve of this assay. Due to the development of the NM-plasmid as the new internal control, significantly improved quantitative accuracy and a wider detection range were realized with the WR-QNRT-PCR assay. In the next study, we will try to use this novel assay method with actual clinical samples and examine its clinical usefulness.
RNase P RNA Gene (rnpB) Phylogeny of Hemoplasmas and OtherMycoplasmaSpecies
Authors: Peters Iain R. , Helps Chris R. , McAuliffe Laura , Neimark Harold , Lappin Michael R. , Gruffydd-Jones Timothy J. , Day Michael J. , Hoelzle Ludwig E. , Willi Barbara , Meli Marina , Hofmann-Lehmann Regina , Tasker Séverine 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTPartial sequences of the RNase P RNA gene (rnpB) were obtained from a number of hemoplasmas and otherMycoplasmaspecies. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences showed that all hemoplasmas were present within a single clade and were most closely related toMycoplasma fastidiosum, similar to the results found with 16S rRNA gene phylogeny.