bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of sugar replacers on cognitive performance and function in rats
Authors: Rozan Pascale , Deremaux Laetitia , Wils Daniel , Nejdi Amine , Messaoudi Michaël , Saniez Marie-Hélène 
Published: April 2008

Glycaemic responses to the dextrin NUTRIOSE®6 (Dex) and the MALTISORB® maltitol (Mal) have been studied previously but their effects on vigilance and cognitive performances are still not known. The present study assesses dose-related glycaemic responses following Dex administration and the hypothesis that Dex and Mal could modulate the glycaemic response, improve vigilance under stress conditions and improve cognitive performances in rats. The glycaemic responses following Dex and corn syrup GLUCIDEX®IT 21 (CoS) solutions at 0·3, 0·5 and 1·0 g/kg body weight administered by oral administration (experiment 1) and glycaemic responses to three cereal bars (standard (CoS), Dex or Dex/Mal bar) (experiment 2) were evaluated. Rats having eaten cereal bars were submitted to vigilance and aversive light stimulus avoidance conditioning tests to assess their vigilance and cognitive performances. The first experiment showed that the glycaemic response to both products is dose-related and that CoS induced a glycaemic response three times higher than the Dex response. The second experiment showed the same glycaemic response for the three cereal bar-treated rats. Yet, an increase in the vigilance of Dex/Mal-treated rats as well as a better discrimination between two levers in the cognitive test for Dex- and Dex/Mal-treated rats were noticed. These results suggest that the glycaemic response is not the only factor to be considered in predicting the efficiency of a food ingredient on vigilance and cognitive performances: these behaviours are improved after Dex- and Mal-prepared cereal bar ingestion whereas the glycaemic response does not differ from the CoS-prepared bar.
Lifestyle, glucose regulation and the cognitive effects of glucose load in middle-aged adults
Authors: Riby Leigh M. , McLaughlin Jennifer , Riby Deborah M. 
Published: April 2008

Interventions aimed at improving glucose regulatory mechanisms have been suggested as a possible source of cognitive enhancement in the elderly. In particular, previous research has identified episodic memory as a target for facilitation after either moderate increases in glycaemia (after a glucose drink) or after improvements in glucose regulation. The present study aimed to extend this research by examining the joint effects of glucose ingestion and glucose regulation on cognition. In addition, risk factors associated with the development of poor glucose regulation in middle-aged adults were considered. In a repeated measures design, thirty-three middle-aged adults (aged 35–55 years) performed a battery of memory and non-memory tasks after either 25 g or 50 g glucose or a sweetness matched placebo drink. To assess the impact of individual differences in glucose regulation, blood glucose measurements were taken on four occasions during testing. A lifestyle and diet questionnaire was also administered. Consistent with previous research, episodic memory ability benefited from glucose ingestion when task demands were high. Blood glucose concentration was also found to predict performance across a number of cognitive domains. Interestingly, the risk factors associated with poor glucose regulation were linked to dietary impacts traditionally associated with poor health, e.g. the consumption of high-sugar sweets and drinks. The research replicates earlier work suggesting that task demands are critical to the glucose facilitation effect. Importantly, the data demonstrate clear associations between elevated glycaemia and relatively poor cognitive performance, which may be partly due to the effect of dietary and lifestyle factors.
CompoCow: a predictive model to estimate variations in body composition and the energy requirements of cull cows during finishing
Authors: GARCIA F. , AGABRIEL J. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYCull cows account for a large part of beef consumption in France and are a significant proportion of farm income for dairy (0·10) and beef systems (up to 0·30). On-farm observations highlight considerable variations in cull cow phenotypes in terms of age, frame size, health, physiological status and body condition. Consequently, an important issue for producers of cull cows is the management of feed supply during the finishing period to obtain a satisfactory condition score and conformation prior to slaughter.New feeding recommendations for cull cows should consider live weight and live weight gain, age, frame size and body condition score (BCS) to estimate the energy requirements. A predictive model, called CompoCow, was developed for this purpose. The present paper describes the CompoCow model by summarizing developments from previous modelling approaches and outlining the assumptions and equations used in the model. CompoCow combines a growth model for the cow during its productive period (3–8 years old) and a model for the finishing period (in days) and was parameterized for Charolais, Limousine and Holstein breeds. Sensitivity analysis highlighted that the outputs of the model were mainly sensitive to initial body weight and expected body weight gain of the animal. The proportion of lipid in live weight gain was related to body weight, BCS and frame size of the animal. The model also accounts for the higher proportion of lipid in live weight gain in Holstein than in Charolais cows. The model was applied to data from Charolais cows. It showed that the proportion of variability explained by CompoCow for energy requirements was higher than the proportion obtained with previous INRA recommendations, 0·78 and 0·67, respectively. CompoCow does not rely on mechanistic relationships, but it appears robust as it accounts correctly for the effects of age and BCS on the requirements.
Worms and malaria: blind men feeling the elephant?
Authors: NACHER M. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYFor thousands of years the deadliest human parasite,Plasmodium falciparum, has been evolving in populations also infected by the most prevalent parasites, worms. This is likely to have shaped the genome of all 3 protagonists – man, worms and malaria. Observational studies in Thailand have shown that althoughP.falciparummalaria incidence increased two-fold in helminth-infected patients, there was a 64% reduction of cerebral malaria and an 84% reduction of acute renal failure in helminth-infected patients relative to those without helminths. In addition, it was suggested that mixed infections, anaemia and gametocyte carriage were more frequent in helminth-infected patients. On the contrary, fever was lower in helminth-infected patients. The present hypotheses, their implications and the limitations of the results described and of those from studies in Africa are discussed.
An antibody-based ELISA for quantification of Ani s 1, a major allergen fromAnisakis simplex
Authors: ARILLA M. C. , IBARROLA I. , MARTÍNEZ A. , MONTESEIRÍN J. , CONDE J. , ASTURIAS J. A. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYAnisakis simplexis a nematode parasite that can infect humans who have eaten raw or undercooked seafood. Larvae invading the gastrointestinal mucosa excrete/secrete proteins that are implicated in the pathogenesis of anisakiasis and can induce IgE-mediated symptoms. Since Ani s 1 is a potent secreted allergen with important clinical relevance, its measurement could assess the quality of allergenic products used in diagnosis/immunotherapy ofAnisakisallergy and track the presence ofA. simplexparasites in fish foodstuffs. An antibody-based ELISA for quantification of Ani s 1 has been developed based on monoclonal antibody 4F2 as capture antibody and biotin-labelled polyclonal antibodies against Ani s 1 as detection reagent. The dose-response standard curves, obtained with natural and recombinant antigens, ranged from 4 to 2000 ng/ml and were identical and parallel to that of theA. simplexextract. The linear portion of the dose-response curve with nAni s 1 was between 15 and 250 ng/ml with inter-assay and intra-assays coefficients of variation less than 20% and 10%, respectively. The assay was specific since there was no cross-reaction with other extracts (exceptAscarisextracts) and was highly sensitive (detection limit of 1·8 ng/ml), being able to detect Ani s 1 in fish extracts from codfish and monkfish.
An experimental model for fatal malaria due to TNF-α-dependent hepatic damage
Authors: SEIXAS E. , OLIVEIRA P. , MOURA NUNES J. F. , COUTINHO A. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYWhile BALB/c mice survive infection with blood stages ofPlasmodium chabaudi chabaudi(AS), 70% of DBA/2 mice die by day 9–11 of infection, both strains controlling parasitaemia. We describe here that infection of DBA/2 mice results in extensive, multifocal hepatocyte death. Antibody neutralization of TNF-α prevents both liver damage and death.
The Brauer–Manin obstruction on del Pezzo surfaces of degree 2 branched along a plane section of a Kummer surface
Authors: LOGAN ADAM 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis paper discusses the Brauer–Manin obstruction on double covers of the projective plane branched along a plane section of a Kummer surface from both the practical and the theoretical points of view. Theoretical highlights include the determination of a complete set of generators for the Brauer group; on the practical side, we give several surfaces with a Brauer–Manin obstruction and verify that the Brauer–Manin obstruction is the only one for a collection of several thousand surfaces of this type.
Modulatory effects of oligodendrocytes on the conduction velocity of action potentials along axons in the alveus of the rat hippocampal CA1 region
Authors: Yamazaki Yoshihiko , Hozumi Yasukazu , Kaneko Kenya , Sugihara Toshimichi , Fujii Satoshi , Goto Kaoru , Kato Hiroshi 
Published: April 2008

AbstractLike neurons and astrocytes, oligodendrocytes have a variety of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels. However, except for facilitating the rapid conduction of action potentials by forming myelin and buffering extracellular K+, little is known about the direct involvement of oligodendrocytes in neuronal activities. To investigate their physiological roles, we focused on oligodendrocytes in the alveus of the rat hippocampal CA1 region. These cells were found to respond to exogenously applied glutamate by depolarization through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and non-NMDA receptors. Electrical stimulation of the border between the alveus and stratum oriens evoked inward currents through several routes involving glutamate receptors and inward rectifier K+ channels. Moreover, electrical stimulation resembling in vivo activity evoked long-lasting depolarization. To examine the modulatory effects of oligodendrocytes on neuronal activities, we performed dual, whole-cell recording on CA1 pyramidal neurons and oligodendrocytes. Direct depolarization of oligodendrocytes shortened the latencies of action potentials evoked by antidromic stimulation. These results indicate that oligodendrocytes increase the conduction velocity of action potentials by a mechanism additional to saltatory conduction, and that they have active roles in information processing in the brain.
Modeling the Biofiltration of Dimethyl Sulfide in the Presence of Methanol in Inorganic Biofilters at Steady State
Authors: Zhang Yuefeng , Liss Steven N. , Allen D. Grant 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe presence of methanol (MeOH) improves DMS removal (up to 11‐fold) by enhancing biomass growth in inorganic biofilters. Although the overall effect is positive, prolonged growth on methanol also negatively affects DMS degradation as a result of competition with DMS. The objectives of this study were to explore the potential to optimize DMS removal with methanol addition and to develop and experimentally validate a mathematical model describing the biofiltration of DMS in the presence of MeOH. Continuous experiments using three bench‐scale biofilters packed with inorganic material were performed to examine the removal of DMS under different MeOH addition rates ranging from 0 to 140 g/m3/h. For a constant DMS loading of 3.5 g/m3/h, a maximum DMS removal rate of 1.8 g/m3/h was achieved at a MeOH addition rate of 20 g/m3/h in the inorganic biofilters. A steady‐state model incorporating the competitive and activation effects of MeOH on DMS biodegradation was developed, and the modeled results on DMS and MeOH removal were in close agreement with experimental data. Both the experimental data and model simulation suggest that there is an optimum MeOH addition rate for a given DMS loading. A step‐feeding strategy for MeOH addition was proposed and tested by the model to optimize DMS removal. The model‐predicted results demonstrate that six‐step feeding of MeOH enhances DMS treatment by 46% in the biofilters when compared to conventional feeding (one‐step) of MeOH at the same total mass loading.
Climatic, Tectonic, and Biotic Evolution in Continental Cores: Colorado Plateau Coring Project Workshop; St. George, Utah, 13–16 November 2007
Authors: Olsen Paul E. , Kent Dennis V. , Geissman John W. 
Published: April 2008

A workshop was convened in St. George, Utah, to advance planning for the Colorado Plateau Coring Project (CPCP). The vast continental basins of the southwestern United States, particularly well exposed on the Colorado Plateau and its environs, contain one of the richest stratigraphic records of early Mesozoic age (between roughly 145 and 250 million years ago). This time period was punctuated by two of the major mass extinctions in the past 550 million years and witnessed the evolutionary appearance of the modern biota and dramatic climate changes on the continents.Since the mid‐nineteenth century, classic studies of these basins, their strata, and their fossils have made this sequence instrumental in framing our context for the early Mesozoic world. Nonetheless, striking ambiguities in temporal resolution, uncertainties in global correlations with other early Mesozoic strata, and major doubts about latitudinal position still hamper testing of the major competing climatic, biotic, and tectonic hypotheses.
Carbon Dioxide Splitting: A Summary of the Peer-Reviewed Scientific Literature
Authors: Rayne Sierra 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIncreasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere have stimulated significant global research and development efforts regarding the reduction in CO2 emissions from all point and non-point sources. In addition to technologies that do not use carbon feedstocks or which capture and "permanently" store CO2 (i.e., sequestration), there is considerable worldwide interest among the academic, industrial, and government communities regarding methods for dissociating waste stream carbon dioxide molecules into their constituent carbon and oxygen ("CO2 splitting") atoms as a final "end-of-pipe" treatment option. The splitting of carbon dioxide has also been actively discussed and researched in the space exploration and extraterrestrial colonization programs for several decades. This document summarizes the peer-reviewed open source scientific literature regarding carbon dioxide splitting.
Employing nifedipine as a tocolytic agent prior to external cephalic version
Authors: SALIM RAED , ZAFRAN NOAH , NACHUM ZOHAR , EDELSTEIN SHMUEL , SHALEV ELIEZER 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground. External cephalic version (ECV) is accepted as a means of reducing the rate of breech presentation at term. Routine use of tocolysis prior to an ECV has been described to increase its success rate. The study's objective was to evaluate the efficacy of oral nifedipine as a tocolytic agent prior to ECV, and to compare it with intravenous ritodrine (IR). Methods. Women with breech presentation at term considered suitable for ECV were given nifedipine prior to the procedure. The success rate was compared to a cohort of women who underwent an ECV attempt at our department during the years 1999–2002 using IR prior to the procedure. Power analysis indicated that 70 women were needed in each group to detect a difference of 25% from our baseline success rate of 50%. Results. Seventy‐six women receiving nifedipine before their ECV attempt were compared to 90 women who received IR. Age, parity, gestational age at ECV, type of breech, placental location, fetal weight, and gestational age at delivery were not different between the groups. The overall success rate was 54% and 50% in the nifedipine and ritodrine groups respectively (p = 0.6). The success rate among primiparous women was 35% and 29% respectively (p = 0.8). The success rate among multiparous women was 64% and 63% respectively (p = 1.0). The success rate was statistically different between primiparous and multiparous women in each group (p<0.05). Conclusion. Oral nifedipine may be as effective as IR when administered before ECV.
Attitudes towards cesarean section in a nationwide sample of obstetricians and gynecologists
Authors: GUNNERVIK CHRISTINA , SYDSJÖ GUNILLA , SYDSJÖ ADAM , EKHOLM SELLING KATARINA , JOSEFSSON ANN 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective. The Swedish cesarean section (CS) rate has increased dramatically over the last decades, but remains relatively low compared to several other countries in the Western world. The reasons for this continuous increase are multifactorial and difficult to investigate. That pregnant women are demanding CS more frequently does not appear to be the major explanatory factor for the increasing CS rate. Since Swedish CS rates are relatively low, it is important to study attitudes to CS in a nationwide population of Swedish obstetricians and gynecologists in order to determine the possible concerns of this group. Methods. In 2006, a study‐specific questionnaire was created and posted to Swedish obstetricians and gynecologists. In total, 1,280 obstetricians and gynecologists received a questionnaire and replied with a response rate of 66%. Results. In general, older and longer work experience physicians had a more positive attitude towards providing CS on maternal request or elective CS for women who fear vaginal delivery. In addition, these colleagues were more positive in expressing their belief that elective CS is as safe as vaginal delivery for the mother and her child. The main difference between female and male physicians was that males were more positive toward providing CS on maternal request (p <0.001). Conclusion. We have shown that female physicians differ from their male colleagues in their attitudes toward providing CS on maternal request. Female physicians were more reluctant than males to provide CS on maternal request.
Mapping an HIV/STD prevention curriculum for Zambian in‐school settings
Authors: Mpofu Elias , Lawrence Frank , Ngoma Mary Shilalukey , Siziya Seter , Malungo Jacob R. S. 
Published: March 2008

HIV/AIDS poses grave risk to human development in sub‐Saharan Africa. Evidence‐based interventions that are rooted in local culture could help efforts to prevent threats to human development from HIV/AIDS. We used concept mapping (Concept System, 2006) to construct the components and content of a locally developed HIV/AIDS curriculum for use by secondary schools in Lusaka, Zambia. Participants were school counsellors (n = 14), youth health program officers (n = 7), and regular education teachers (n = 3) from the education, health, and youth development agencies in Lusaka, Zambia (males = 11; females = 13; mean age 38; SD = 15 years). Concept mapping yielded six statement clusters defining preliminary components of a locally grounded in‐school HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum and the content items that define these components: (1) life skills education (18 items), (2) sexuality and reproductive health (10 items), (3) treatment, care and support (13 items), (4) counselling (12 items), (5) basic facts about HIV/AIDS (11 items), and (6) dissemination of information about HIV/AIDS (11 items). Zambian locally constructed constructs for an HIV/STD prevention curriculum overlap those promoted by public health programs in the country and internationally.
Visualization of unfavorable interactions in protein folds
Authors: Weichenberger Christian X. , Byzia Piotr , Sippl Manfred J. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
Summary: Three dimensional structures of proteins contain errors which often originate from limitations of the experimental techniques employed. Such errors frequently result in unfavorable atomic interactions. Here we present a new web service, called Interaction Viewer, for the visualization and correction of such errors. We show how the Interaction Viewer is used in combination with the NQ-Flipper service to spot strained asparagine and glutamine rotamers and we emphasize the convenience of this service in correcting such errors.
Availability: The web service is integrated with the NQ-Flipper service and accessible at http://flipper.services.came.sbg.ac.at
Contact: sippl@came.sbg.ac.at
An improved physico-chemical model of hybridization on high-density oligonucleotide microarrays
Authors: Ono Naoaki , Suzuki Shingo , Furusawa Chikara , Agata Tomoharu , Kashiwagi Akiko , Shimizu Hiroshi , Yomo Tetsuya 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Motivation: High-density DNA microarrays provide useful tools to analyze gene expression comprehensively. However, it is still difficult to obtain accurate expression levels from the observed microarray data because the signal intensity is affected by complicated factors involving probe–target hybridization, such as non-linear behavior of hybridization, non-specific hybridization, and folding of probe and target oligonucleotides. Various methods for microarray data analysis have been proposed to address this problem. In our previous report, we presented a benchmark analysis of probe–target hybridization using artificially synthesized oligonucleotides as targets, in which the effect of non-specific hybridization was negligible. The results showed that the preceding models explained the behavior of probe–target hybridization only within a narrow range of target concentrations. More accurate models are required for quantitative expression analysis.
Results: The experiments showed that finiteness of both probe and target molecules should be considered to explain the hybridization behavior. In this article, we present an extension of the Langmuir model that reproduces the experimental results consistently. In this model, we introduced the effects of secondary structure formation, and dissociation of the probe–target duplex during washing after hybridization. The results will provide useful methods for the understanding and analysis of microarray experiments.
Availability: The method was implemented for the R software and can be downloaded from our website (http://www-shimizu.ist.osaka-u.ac.jp/shimizu_lab/FHarray/).
Contact: furusawa@ist.osaka-u.ac.jp
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Dissection of Rat Brains
Authors: Paul Carol Ann , Beltz Barbara , Berger-Sweeney Joanne 
Published: April 2008

INTRODUCTIONIn this protocol, the perfused brain of a rat is separated from the surrounding tissue and post-fixed in a formalin/sucrose solution in preparation for freezing and sectioning. Dissection should be done as soon as possible after perfusion to prevent desiccation of the brain. This procedure can also be used to dissect fresh (non-perfused) brains, for example, for Golgi-Cox stain or neurochemical assays.