bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in Antioxidant Status and Biochemical Indices after Acute Administration of Artemether, Artemether‐Lumefantrine and Halofantrine in Rats
Authors: Adaramoye Oluwatosin A. , Osaimoje Dorcas O. , Akinsanya Adewale M. , Nneji Chiaka M. , Fafunso Michael A. , Ademowo Olusegun G. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract:   Artemether, artemether‐lumefantrine, or coartem and halofantrine are alternative antimalarial drugs to chloroquine. Their efficacy and potential to delay drug resistance in falciparum malaria had led to their increased use. Although these drugs have proven to be well tolerated, there are adverse effects associated with them. This study was designed to examine the toxic potential of acute administration of these drugs in rats. Twenty‐four rats were divided into four groups: group I (control) received distilled water; group II received artemether for 5 days with an initial dose of 3.2 g/kg body weight on day 1 and 1.6 mg/kg body weight on days 2–5; group III received coartem (27 mg/kg body weight/day) for 3 days, which was divided into two equal portions per day; and group IV received halofantrine (24 mg/kg body weight/day) in three equal portions. Administration of artemether, coartem and halofantrine caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in reduced glutathione levels in the liver by 29%, 21% and 26%, respectively. In contrast, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the kidney glutathione levels. Furthermore, artemether, coartem and halofantrine decreased the liver‐ and kidney‐enzymatic antioxidant status of the animals. Precisely, artemether, coartem and halofantrine decreased liver superoxide dismutase and catalase activities by 45%, 50% and 57%; and 20%, 29% and 23%, respectively. While the kidney catalase activities were decreased by 41%, 28% and 30%, respectively, the drugs however did not produce significant effect (P > 0.05) on the kidney superoxide dismutase activities. In addition, artemether, coartem and halofantrine decreased the hepatic levels of glutathione S‐transferase by 64%, 51% and 53%, respectively. Administration of artemether, coartem and halofantrine significantly increased (P < 0.05) liver and kidney lipid peroxidation levels by 67%, 50% and 81%; and 58%, 43% and 31%, respectively. This indicates that the liver is considerably more affected than the kidneys. Similarly, halofantrine treatment caused significant elevation (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum creatinine, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and blood urea nitrogen by 73%, 66%, 61% and 63%, respectively. These data indicate that oral administration of artemether, coartem and halofantrine has adverse effects on both enzymic and non‐enzymatic antioxidant status of the animals.
HLA DRB1, DQB1 and insulin promoter VNTR polymorphisms: interactions and the association with adult‐onset diabetes mellitus in Czech patients
Authors: Cejkova P. , Novota P. , Cerna M. , Kolostova K. , Novakova D. , Kucera P. , Novak J. , Andel M. , Weber P. , Zdarsky E. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryBoth the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 and the HLA DQB1 gene loci play a role in the development and progression of autoimmune diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Similarly, the insulin promoter variable number tandem repeats (INS‐VNTR) polymorphism is also involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). We studied the association between each of these polymorphisms and DM diagnosed in patients older than age 35 years. Furthermore, we analysed possible interactions between HLA DRB1/DQB1 and INS‐VNTR polymorphisms. Based on C‐peptide and GADA levels we were able to distinguish three types of diabetes: T1DM, latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and T2DM. INS‐VNTR was genotyped indirectly by typing INS–23HphI A/T polymorphism. The genotype and allele frequencies of INS–23HphI did not differ between each of the diabetic groups and group of healthy subjects. We did, however, observe an association between the INS–23HphI alleles, genotypes and C‐peptide secretion in all diabetic patients: A allele frequency was 86.2% in the C‐peptide‐negative group vs. 65.4% in the C‐peptide‐positive group (Pcorr. < 0.005); AA genotype was found to be 72.4% in the C‐peptide‐negative group vs. 42.6% in the C‐peptide‐positive groups (Pcorr. < 0.01). The HLA genotyping revealed a significantly higher frequency of HLA DRB1*03 allele in both T1DM and LADA groups when compared to healthy subjects: T1DM (25.7%) vs. control group (10.15%), odds ratio (OR) = 3.06, P < 0.05; LADA (27.6%) vs. control (10.15%), OR = 3.37, P < 0.01. The simultaneous presence of both HLA DRB1*04 and INS–23HphI AA genotype was detected in 37.5% of the T1DM group compared to only 9.2% of the healthy individuals group (OR = 5.9, Pcorr. < 0.007). We summarize that in the Central Bohemian population of the Czech Republic, the INS–23HphI A allele appears to be associated with a decrease in pancreatic beta cell secretory activity. HLA genotyping points to at least a partial difference in mechanism, which leads to T1DM and LADA development as well as a more diverse genetic predisposition in juvenile‐ and adult‐onset diabetes. The simultaneous effect of HLA and INS‐VNTR alleles/genotypes predispose individuals to an increased risk of diabetes development.
Accuracy of Nurses' Diagnoses of Psychosocial Responses
Authors: Lunney Margaret , Karlik Beverly A. , Kiss Margaret , Murphy Patricia 
Published: February 2008

PURPOSE. To describe the accuracy of staff nurses' diagnoses or interpretations of the human responses of patients in hospital settings. METHODS. The sample was 62 staff nurses in three hospitals who assessed and diagnosed the psychosocial problems of one to four patients. Two trained raters followed with assessment, diagnosis, and ratings of nurses' accuracy of 153 cases. A seven‐point interval scale was used to judge accuracy. FINDINGS. The means of accuracy scores across nurses were significantly different (f = 1.66; p<.05; df = 2,59). A significant percentage of nurses' diagnoses were scored at the two highest levels of accuracy (45.2%), and 12.8% were scored at the three lowest levels of accuracy. According to the expert raters, a high percentage of patients (54.4%) were experiencing fear or anxiety. CONCLUSIONS. More attention needs to be given to the accuracy of nurses' diagnoses of psychosocial responses.
Foreign Manufacturing Investment in China: The Role of Industrial Agglomeration and Industrial Linkages
Authors: He Canfei 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis paper investigates the forces that determine the industrial distribution of foreign manufacturing investment. It highlights the importance of industrial agglomeration and industrial linkage in attracting foreign investment to manufacturing industries. Using panel data for two‐digit manufacturing industries in Beijing during the period of 1999‐2004, this study finds that geographically agglomerated industries with strong intra‐industrial linkages are indeed attractive to foreign investment. Previous foreign investment has led to the current industrial concentration of foreign investment. Investors also favor capital‐intensive and technology‐intensive industries, and they tend to be attracted to the most profitable and exporting industries, but avoid industries with high real labor costs and high entry barriers. Competitive local industries that possess comparative advantages are critical for attracting foreign investment. The existence of industrial clusters certainly enhances a city's attractiveness to foreign investment.
Cyclooxygenase‐2 Expression Induced by Photofrin Photodynamic Therapy Involves the p38 MAPK Pathway†
Authors: Luna Marian , Wong Sam , Ferrario Angela , Gomer Charles J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT), using the porphyrin photosensitizer Photofrin (PH), is approved for the clinical treatment of solid tumors. In addition to the direct cytotoxic responses of PH–PDT‐mediated oxidative stress, this procedure also induces expression of angiogenic and prosurvival molecules including cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). In vivo treatment efficacy is improved when PH‐PDT is combined with inhibitors of COX‐2. In the current study we evaluated the signaling pathways involved with PH–PDT‐mediated COX‐2 expression in a mouse fibrosarcoma cell line. COX‐2 promoter reporter constructs with mutated transcription elements documented that the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) element, cyclic‐AMP response element 2 (CRE‐2), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) element and activator binding protein‐1 (AP‐1) element were responsive to PH‐PDT. Transcription factor binding assays demonstrated that nuclear protein binding to NFκB, CRE‐2, c‐fos and c‐jun elements were elevated following PH‐PDT. Kinase phosphorylation upstream of COX‐2 expression was also examined following PH‐PDT. Stress‐activated protein kinase/c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) and c‐Jun were phosphorylated following PH‐PDT but the SAPK/JNK inhibitor SP600125 failed to attenuate COX‐2 expression. In contrast, p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), which activates CRE‐2 binding, was phosphorylated following PH‐PDT and inhibitors of p38 MAPK, SB203580 and SB202190, decreased PH–PDT‐induced COX‐2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, which also increases CRE‐2 binding activity, was initially high in untreated cells, decreased immediately following PH‐PDT and then rapidly increased. MEK1/2 is immediately upstream of ERK1/2 and the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 failed to attenuate COX‐2 expression while the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 induced a slight decrease in COX‐2 expression. The NFκB inhibitor SN50 failed to reduce COX‐2 expression. These results demonstrate that multiple protein kinase cascades can be activated by oxidative stress and that the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and CRE‐2 binding are involved in COX‐2 expression following PH‐PDT.
The Arg160Trp Allele of Melanocortin‐1 Receptor Gene Might Protect Against Vitiligo†
Authors: Széll Márta , Baltás Eszter , Bodai László , Bata‐Csörgő Zsuzsanna , Nagy Nikoletta , Dallos Attila , Pourfarzi Reza , Simics Enikő , Kondorosi Ildikó , Szalai Zsuzsanna , Tóth Gábor K. , Hunyadi János , Dobozy Attila , Kemény Lajos 
Published: February 2008

AbstractMelanocortin‐1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) play pivotal roles in the regulation of human pigmentation. We aimed to study whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the MC1R and ASIP genes contribute to the pathogenesis of the polygenic pigment skin disorder, vitiligo. The PCR‐amplified, full‐length MC1R gene was studied with sequence analysis, and the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) SNP of ASIP was detected using restriction fragment length polymorphism. The allele frequency of the ASIP SNP did not show any difference between the skin type, hair color and eye color‐matched 97 vitiligo patients and the 59 healthy control individuals. As one of the MC1R polymorphisms showed significantly higher incidence among fair‐skinned individuals (Fitzpatrick I + II, n = 140) than among dark‐skinned individuals (Fitzpatrick III + IV, n = 90), both vitiligo patients and controls were divided into two groups and the frequency of the MC1R alleles was studied separately in fair‐skinned and dark‐skinned subgroups of diseased and healthy groups. C478T, one of the MC1R SNPs studied in 108 fair‐skinned vitiligo patients and in 70 fair‐skinned healthy control individuals, showed a significant difference (P = 0.0262, odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 3.6 [0.0046–0.1003]) in allele frequency between the two groups: the allele frequency was higher in the control group, suggesting protection against vitiligo. Computer prediction of antigenicity has revealed that the Arg160Trp amino acid change caused by this SNP results in a decrease in antigenicity of the affected peptide epitope.
A New Synthesis of Rizatriptan Based on Radical Cyclization
Authors: Rádl Stanislav , Klecán Ondřej , Klvaňa Robert , Havlíček Jaroslav 
Published: February 2008

A new methodology useful for preparation of indole derivatives bearing a 2-(dialkylamino)-ethyl substituent at the 3-position has been developed. Application of this methodology to the synthesis of N,N-dimethyl-2-{5-[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]-1H-indol-3-yl}ethan-1-amine (rizatriptan; 3) is described. The key reaction step is based on the radical cyclization of N-[4-(dimethylamino)but-2-yn-1-yl]-N-{2-iodo-4-[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]phenyl}-acetamide (21), easily available by the Mannich reaction, and subsequent isomerization of the primarily formed methylidene derivative 22.
Comparisons of Instantaneous TRMM Ground Validation and Satellite Rain-Rate Estimates at Different Spatial Scales
Authors: Wolff David B. , Fisher Brad L. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
This study provides a comprehensive intercomparison of instantaneous rain rates observed by the two rain sensors aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite with ground data from two regional sites established for long-term ground validation: Kwajalein Atoll and Melbourne, Florida. The satellite rain algorithms utilize remote observations of precipitation collected by the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and the Precipitation Radar (PR) aboard the TRMM satellite. Three standard level II rain products are generated from operational applications of the TMI, PR, and combined (COM) rain algorithms using rain information collected from the TMI and the PR along the orbital track of the TRMM satellite. In the first part of the study, 0.5° × 0.5° instantaneous rain rates obtained from the TRMM 3G68 product were analyzed and compared to instantaneous Ground Validation (GV) program rain rates gridded at a scale of 0.5° × 0.5°. In the second part of the study, TMI, PR, COM, and GV rain rates were spatiotemporally matched and averaged at the scale of the TMI footprint (∼150 km2). This study covered a 6-yr period (1999–2004) and consisted of over 50 000 footprints for each GV site. In the first analysis, the results showed that all of the respective rain-rate estimates agree well, with some exceptions. The more salient differences were associated with heavy rain events in which one or more of the algorithms failed to properly retrieve these extreme events. Also, it appears that there is a preferred mode of precipitation for TMI rain rates at or near 2 mm h−1 over the ocean. This mode was noted over ocean areas of Kwajalein and Melbourne and has been observed in TRMM tropical–global ocean areas as well.
A Comparison of Climate Prediction and Simulation over the Tropical Pacific
Authors: Misra Vasubandhu , Marx L. , Fennessy M. , Kirtman B. , Kinter J. L. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
This study compares an ensemble of seasonal hindcasts with a multidecadal integration from the same global coupled climate model over the tropical Pacific Ocean. It is shown that the annual mean state of the SST and its variability are different over the tropical Pacific Ocean in the two operating modes of the model.
These differences are symptoms of an inherent difference in the physics of coupled air–sea interactions and upper ocean variability. It is argued that in the presence of large coupled model errors and in the absence of coupled data assimilation, the competing and at times additive influence of the initialization and model errors can change the behavior of the air–sea interaction physics and upper ocean dynamics.
Boils and Turbulence in a Weakly Stratified Shallow Tidal Sea
Authors: Thorpe S. A. , Green J. A. M. , Simpson J. H. , Osborn T. R. , Smith W. A. M. Nimmo 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
Measurements of turbulence are made in a weakly but variably stratified region of tidal straining in the eastern Irish Sea using turbulence sensors profiling vertically through the water column on the Fast Light Yo-yo (FLY) profiler and horizontally on the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Autosub. The tidal currents exceed 1 m s−1 at the location of the measurements in water of a depth of about 43.5 m, and result in turbulence extending from the seabed to the surface with a cycle period that is half that of the tides, as previously observed. The time of onset of enhanced turbulence that is measured by the sensors on FLY and Autosub as the speed of tidal currents increases are in good agreement, as are their mean levels. Boils on the sea surface are identified using the Autonomously Recording Inverted Echo Sounder, version 2 (ARIES II), a two-beam upward-pointing side-scan sonar mounted on a rig resting on the seabed. The boils have mean horizontal dimensions of about 25 m. They are continually present when turbulence within the water column near the surface is large, typically when the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy per unit mass ɛ exceeds about 3 × 10−6 W kg−1, compared to the rate of about 1 × 10−7 W kg−1 near times of slack tide when no boils are observed. The top of a region with a relatively high ɛ gradually extends upward from the seabed as the tidal flow increases and, in stably stratified conditions resulting from tidal straining during ebb tides, can be detected in the ARIES II sonographs as it approaches the sea surface, although only after sound reflection from the sea surface. Upward-moving bursts of enhanced turbulence below the surface with horizontal dimensions of about 5–9 m in the direction of the tidal flow are identified in the AUV record in periods of high tidal flow using conditional sampling. The bursts result in slight upward displacements of the AUV from its set operational depth. Boils first appear at times before the region of generally enhanced turbulence reaches the surface: large localized upward-moving bursts appear to precede the main advancing region of small-scale turbulence.
The ECMWF Ocean Analysis System: ORA-S3
Authors: Balmaseda Magdalena A. , Vidard Arthur , Anderson David L. T. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract
A new operational ocean analysis/reanalysis system (ORA-S3) has been implemented at ECMWF. The reanalysis, started from 1 January 1959, is continuously maintained up to 11 days behind real time and is used to initialize seasonal forecasts as well as to provide a historical representation of the ocean for climate studies. It has several innovative features, including an online bias-correction algorithm, the assimilation of salinity data on temperature surfaces, and the assimilation of altimeter-derived sea level anomalies and global sea level trends. It is designed to reduce spurious climate variability in the resulting ocean reanalysis due to the nonstationary nature of the observing system, while still taking advantage of the observation information. The new analysis system is compared with the previous operational version; the equatorial temperature biases are reduced and equatorial currents are improved. The impact of assimilation in the ocean state is discussed by diagnosis of the assimilation increment and bias correction terms. The resulting analysis not only improves the fit to the data, but also improves the representation of the interannual variability. In addition to the basic analysis, a real-time analysis is produced (RT-S3). This is needed for monthly forecasts and in the future may be needed for shorter-range forecasts. It is initialized from the near-real-time ORA-S3 and run each day from it.
Persuasion and Social Psychology
Authors: Marková Ivana 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis editor's introduction to the issue recalls the main methodological approaches to persuasion, rhetoric and propaganda in social psychology. It summarizes the classical theories issued from Hovland's Yale Communication Program in experimental social psychology, like dissonance, attitude changes, inoculation approach, elaboration likelihood model. Yet there are, today, competing perspectives on persuasion, which turn attention to the meaning of persuasion in modern complex societies, in technology and the media. These perspectives place emphasis not on changes of attitudes, but on communication, social influence and group processes. It is shown that the collection of articles in this issue brings out these diverse approaches in social psychology. Broadly, it encompasses social psychological studies based on the research of attitudes and attitude changes on the one hand, and those based on the studies of influence and communication on the other.
Hidden Effects of Influence and Persuasion
Authors: Laurens Stéphane 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis paper revisits the different notions of influence, persuasion and influencebound subjects. It illustrates and critiques the dominant prevailing concept of influence and its effects, which, though diversely denominated and presented through various theories, always comes down to reaffirming the relationship of dominance and the possibility of the nullification of the subject within the relationship with the other. With this aim, it studies the classical theories of interpersonal influence and brings to attention some of the bodies of information which have been systematically neglected or set aside, particularly concerning suggestion, possession, mesmerism and somnambulism.
Persuasion, Rhetoric and Authority
Authors: Scarantino Luca Maria 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe author argues that the persuasive process is articulated within a dynamic linking beliefs and emotions. The different possible states of equilibrium balancing these two aspects define a persuasive process as more inherently rational or more inherently rhetorical. This latter, being marked by an immediate emotional participation, functions within a social context of the community type. It is dominated by an aesthetic form of communication, where epistemic belief proceeds out of a conformist adherence to the ethos of the group. Its extreme form is represented by the discourse of propaganda. Linked to the epistemic structure of the rhetorical discourse there corresponds a moral structure of resentment and an authoritarian social structure. Although rational elements and emotional elements still coexist within concrete discourses, the possibility of distinguishing them in terms of autonomous functionalities represents the specific adjunct brought by philosophical reflection to the determination of the epistemic structure of persuasion.
Persuasion and Propaganda
Authors: Marková Ivana 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThis paper aims to show that propaganda and persuasion are underlined by two forms of communication, one aiming at a monologue, and the other aiming at a dialogue, which in practice do often coexist, with one or the other prevailing at a particular time. In order to understand propaganda or persuasion, we need to study them as part of the systems (e.g. institutions, organizations, communication) to which they belong, rather than treat them as decontextualized phenomena. Both propaganda and persuasion involve conscious and unconscious communicative processes. Nevertheless, the majority of social psychology experiments still assume that the experimenter should deal with phenomena only at a conscious level. In dialogical communication, however, latent and unconscious thought, inner dialogue, and ‘the depth of consciousness’, are presupposed to be unavoidable aspects of communication, whether it is concerned with influence processes, persuasion or social representations. They all are established through cultural-historical processes and determine symbolic meanings of social communication of the present and future.
Lost in Translation: From Influence to Persuasion
Authors: Jesuino Jorge Correia 
Published: February 2008

AbstractSocial influence and persuasion are not synonyms. This paper traces back the different approaches and distinctions constituting the two concepts and argues that the two research traditions focused respectively on social influence in group processes and on individual attitude change through persuasive communication, could be re-examined from a different vantage point, casting a new light on the continuities between them.