bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Varenicline-Associated Acute Renal Failure
Authors: Bird Matthew L , Vesta YuKimi S 
Published: November 2008

Objective: To report an association between acute renal failure and varenicline. Case Summary: A 53-year-old white male with preexisting moderate renal insufficiency was admitted to the hospital for acute renal failure following a change in serum creatinine from 4 mg/dL at baseline to 10.6 mg/dL upon admission. One week prior to admission, the patient started taking varenicline (dose undetermined) for smoking cessation and had been stable on all other medications for 2 months prior to admission. All hospital workup tests were negative for prerenal azotemia, postrenal obstruction, and intrinsic renal disease. Varenicline was discontinued on admission. With no other changes in therapy, the serum creatinine level decreased each day of the patient's 5-day hospitalization to 8.6 mg/dL upon discharge, and it was 6.4 mg/dL at a follow-up appointment 2 weeks after discharge. Discussion: Varenicline is a novel medication that is effective for smoking cessation. Adverse effects are generally mild and self-limiting, with gastrointestinal effects most commonly reported. According to the package insert, varenicline does not change creatinine clearance to any appreciable extent, but it should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment. It also states that varenicline can cause acute renal failure rarely; to our knowledge, this is the first published association of varenicline with renal effects. Use of the Naranjo probability scale showed varenicline to be the probable cause of renal dysfunction in this patient because of the temporal relationship and lack of alternative causes. Conclusions: Although there was a probable relationship between varenicline and acute renal failure in this patient, the significant benefit of smoking cessation to overall health outweighs the risk of this rare adverse effect. Clinicians should be aware of this potential adverse effect and should monitor renal function upon initiation of varenicline therapy, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Efficiency of solar energy conversion as a function of light intensity
Authors: Varfolomeev Sergei 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
The kinetic model has been developed for disserting the efficiency of solar energy conversion as a function of light intensity. A comparison of theory with experimental results shows that the model provides a satisfactory agreement. We have estimated the essential parameters of photosynthetic systems (the size of the photosynthetic antenna, the rate of electron transport, the correlation between photosynthesis and respiration) that are responsible for reaching the maximum efficiency at "one sun" and "one hundred suns" light illumination intensities. Recommendations for the improvement of photosynthetic system parameters using genetic engineering methods are also provided.
The future of solar photovoltaics: A new challenge for chemical physics
Authors: Shevaleevskiy Oleg 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
In recent times, photovoltaic (PV) technologies for solar energy conversion have gained greater recognition. World production of PV cells and modules over the last five years grew at an average of around 40 % a year. The history of modern PV science started more than half a century ago. However, the period that followed exploited the mid-20th century developments in the basics of solid-state physics and semiconductor science. With only a few exceptions, almost no major achievements were attained during a long period of time. The present paper offers an attempt of a critical retrospective look at the history and current progress of solar PV research from a personal viewpoint. It also addresses the current status of research on conventional solid-state PV devices and compares it with the alternative organic and molecular PV systems. The paper briefly describes the potential of new types of organic and mesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The paper shows that chemical physics rather than traditional solid-state physics is expected to lead to exciting challenges in the future of PV science.
Tailoring of metal cluster-like materials for the molecular oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Alonso-Vante Nicolas 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Research of nanometer scale range catalysts based on cluster-like mono-, bi-metallic, and chalcogenides for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as cathodes, a major challenge for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) nowadays, for facilitating efficient electron transfer using the carbonyl chemical route is reviewed. A strategy aimed at reducing the amount of expensive catalyst materials, giving the accessibility of non-noble materials and taking into account the activity and selectivity of cathodes for the ORR is devised as well.
Factors affecting light energy conversion in dual fluorophore-nitroxide molecules in solution and a protein
Authors: Likhtenshtein Gertz I. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDonor-acceptor structures capable of retaining the charge-photoseparated state during the time long enough for secondary chemical reactions of these charges to occur attract special interest from the viewpoint of the problem of light energy utilization. We proposed dual fluorophore-nitroxide compounds (FNO•) as systems for the conversion of light energy to chemical energy. In these systems, the fluorophore segment in the excited singlet state serves as an electron donor, and the nitroxide segment is an electron acceptor. InFNO•, the photo- and chemical reduction of nitroxide results in the drastic decay of the electron spin resonance (ESR) signal from the nitroxide and the parallel enhancement of fluorescence. The same groups allow one to measure the factors affecting the electron transfer, namely, molecular dynamics and micropolarity of the medium in the vicinity of the donor (by fluorescence technique) and acceptor (by ESR) moieties. We demonstrate that in the dual probes the nitroxide segment is photoreduced to hydroxylamine in solution and in such nanoscale structures as serum albumins. The photoreduction occurs by very weak reducing agents (glycerol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, etc.) without a violation of the fluorophore structure. Therefore, photochemical reactions in the dual compounds with the formation of a reducing agent as hydroxyl amine can be considered as processes of light energy transfer. The nitroxide segment tethered to the donor-bridge-acceptor triad affects the photoseparated charge recombination via the mechanism of spin catalysis. Proficiency of the dual compounds for developing energy conversion systems can be extended by an optimal choice of the participants of the photochemical and -physical processes.
High Intracellular Chloride Slows the Decay of Glycinergic Currents
Authors: Pitt Samantha J. , Sivilotti Lucia G. , Beato Marco 
Published: November 2008

The time course of currents mediated by native and recombinant glycine receptors was examined with a combination of rapid agonist applications to outside-out patches and single-channel recording. The deactivation time constant of currents evoked by brief, saturating pulses of glycine is profoundly affected by the chloride concentration on the intracellular side of the cell membrane. Deactivation was threefold slower when intracellular chloride was increased from a low level (10 mm), similar to that observed in living mature neurons, to 131 mm(“symmetrical” chloride, often used in pipette internal solutions). Single-channel analysis revealed that high chloride has its greatest effect on the channel closing rate, slowing it by a factor of 2 compared with the value we estimated in the cell-attached mode (in which the channels are at physiological intracellular chloride concentrations). The same effect of chloride was observed when glycinergic evoked synaptic currents were recorded from juvenile rat spinal motoneuronsin vitro, because the decay time constant was reduced from ∼7 ms to ∼3 ms when cells were dialyzed with 10 mmchloride intracellular recording solution.Our results indicate that the time course of glycinergic synaptic inhibition in intact neurons is much faster than is estimated by measurements in symmetrical chloride and can be modulated by changes in intracellular chloride concentration in the range that can occur in physiological or pathological conditions.
Molecular Population Genetics and Evolution of Drosophila Meiosis Genes
Authors: Anderson Jennifer A , Gilliland William D , Langley Charles H 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWhile many functional elements of the meiotic process are well characterized in model organisms, the genetic basis of most of the natural phenotypic variation observed in meiotic pathways has not been determined. To begin to address this issue, we characterized patterns of polymorphism and divergence in the protein-coding regions of 33 genes across 31 lines of Drosophila melanogaster and 6 lines of Drosophila simulans. We sequenced genes known to be involved in chromosome segregation, recombination, DNA repair, and related heterochromatin binding. As expected, we found several of the genes to be highly conserved, consistent with purifying selection. However, a subset of genes showed patterns of polymorphism and divergence typical of other types of natural selection. Moreover, several intriguing differences between the two Drosophila lineages were evident: along the D. simulans lineage we consistently found evidence of adaptive protein evolution, whereas along the D. melanogaster lineage several loci exhibited patterns consistent with the maintenance of protein variation.
Construction and Characterization of Deletions With Defined End Points in Drosophila Using P Elements in Trans
Authors: Paré Adam C , Dean Derek M , Ewer John 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
We used P-element transposase-mediated “male recombination” between two P elements in trans to create genetic deletions that removed a number of loci, including the gene encoding the neuropeptide crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP). Two classes of recombinant chromosomes were produced. Approximately one-quarter were viable when homozygous or hemizygous, whereas the remaining lines caused homozygous and hemizygous lethality. Preliminary analyses using PCR and CCAP immunohistochemistry suggested that, whereas the DNA of the viable lines was largely intact, most lethal lines contained chromosomal deletions that were roughly bounded by the insertion sites of the two P elements used. Southern blot analyses of select lethal lines showed that the DNA flanking the deletion was indeed grossly intact whereas the intervening DNA could not be detected. Sequencing across the deletion in three of these lethal lines identified a single line bearing intact genomic DNA on either side of the deletion separated by 30 bp of P-element DNA. The method described here suggests a simple procedure for creating deletions with defined end points. Importantly, it can use preexisting P-element insertion strains and does not rely on the use of transposable elements that are engineered to cause specific DNA rearrangements.
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial of Montelukast for Acute Bronchiolitis
Authors: Amirav Israel , Luder Anthony S. , Kruger Natalie , Borovitch Yael , Babai Ilan , Miron Dan , Zuker Miriam , Tal Gay , Mandelberg Avigdor 
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND. Cysteinyl leukotrienes are implicated in the inflammation of bronchiolitis. Recently, a specific cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, montelukast (Singulair [MSD, Haarlem, Netherlands]), has been approved for infants in granule sachets.
OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of montelukast on clinical progress and on cytokines in acute bronchiolitis.
METHODS. This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study in 2 medical centers. Fifty-three infants (mean age: 3.8 ± 3.5 months) with a first episode of acute bronchiolitis were randomly assigned to receive either 4-mg montelukast sachets or placebo, every day, from hospital admission until discharge. The primary outcome was length of stay, and secondary outcomes included clinical severity score (maximum of 12) and changes in type 1 and 2 cytokine levels (including interleukin4/IFN-γ ratio as a surrogate for the T-helper 2/T-helper 1 ratio) in nasal lavage.
RESULTS. Both groups were comparable at baseline, and cytokine levels correlated positively with disease severity. There were neither differences in length of stay (4.63 ± 1.88 [placebo group] vs 4.65 ± 1.97 days [montelukast group]) nor in clinical severity score and cytokine levels between the 2 groups. No differences in interleukin 4/IFN-γ ratio between the 2 groups were seen. There was a slight tendency for infants in the montelukast group to recover more slowly than those in the placebo group (clinical severity score at discharge: 6.1 ± 2.4 vs 4.8 ± 2.2, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS. Montelukast did not improve the clinical course in acute bronchiolitis. No significant effect of montelukast on the T-helper 2/T-helper 1 cytokine ratio when given in the early acute phase could be demonstrated.
A Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in a Methylatable Foxa2 Binding Site of the G6PC2 Promoter Is Associated With Insulin Secretion In Vivo and Increased Promoter Activity In Vitro
Authors: Dos Santos Christine , Bougnères Pierre , Fradin Delphine 
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVE—The G6PC2 gene encoding islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase related protein (IGRP) has a common promoter variant, rs573225 (−231G/A), located within a Foxa binding site. We tested the cis-regulatory effects of rs573225 on promoter activity and its association with insulin response to oral glucose.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Functional effects of rs573225 were explored in transfected INS-1 and HIT-T β-cell lines. A total of 734 young obese subjects of European ancestry were genotyped for rs573225. Insulin and glucose levels were measured in response to oral glucose, and the insulinogenic index (IGI) of insulin secretion was calculated.
RESULTS—In vitro, the G allele showed a higher affinity for binding Foxa2 transcription factor and increased G6PC2 promoter activity. Foxa2 binding is modified if the C adjacent to the G allele is methylated. IGI was associated with rs573225 by linear regression analysis and was 30% greater in AA or AG than in GG obese children. rs573225 was also associated with fasting glucose.
CONCLUSIONS—rs573225 is a functional cis-regulatory (epi)-single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of G6PC2 associated with glucose-insulin homeostasis in obese children, likely to explain the results of recent genome-wide association studies in nondiabetic adults.
Somatostatin Secreted by Islet δ-Cells Fulfills Multiple Roles as a Paracrine Regulator of Islet Function
Authors: Hauge-Evans Astrid C. , King Aileen J. , Carmignac Danielle , Richardson Carolyn C. , Robinson Iain C.A.F. , Low Malcolm J. , Christie Michael R. , Persaud Shanta J. , Jones Peter M. 
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVE— Somatostatin (SST) is secreted by islet δ-cells and by extraislet neuroendocrine cells. SST receptors have been identified on α- and β-cells, and exogenous SST inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion, consistent with a role for SST in regulating α- and β-cell function. However, the specific intraislet function of δ-cell SST remains uncertain. We have used Sst−/− mice to investigate the role of δ-cell SST in the regulation of insulin and glucagon secretion in vitro and in vivo.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Islet morphology was assessed by histological analysis. Hormone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in control and Sst−/− mice in vivo and from isolated islets in vitro.
RESULTS— Islet size and organization did not differ between Sst−/− and control islets, nor did islet glucagon or insulin content. Sst−/− mice showed enhanced insulin and glucagon secretory responses in vivo. In vitro stimulus-induced insulin and glucagon secretion was enhanced from perifused Sst−/− islets compared with control islets and was inhibited by exogenous SST in Sst−/− but not control islets. No difference in the switch-off rate of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was observed between genotypes, but the cholinergic agonist carbamylcholine enhanced glucose-induced insulin secretion to a lesser extent in Sst−/− islets compared with controls. Glucose suppressed glucagon secretion from control but not Sst−/− islets.
CONCLUSIONS— We suggest that δ-cell SST exerts a tonic inhibitory influence on insulin and glucagon secretion, which may facilitate the islet response to cholinergic activation. In addition, δ-cell SST is implicated in the nutrient-induced suppression of glucagon secretion.
Fuhrmanolepis dubinskyi n. sp. (Cestoda: Dilepididae) from woodcock Scolopax rusticola (L.) (Aves, Charadriiformes) in Slovakia
Authors: Macko J. , Hanzelová V. , Dudiňák V. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Dilepidid cestode Fuhrmanolepis dubinskyi n. sp. from woodcock, Scolopax rusticola L. in Slovakia is described on the basis of light microscope observations. The new taxon is characterised by medium sized strobila, single crown of ten, 47–53 μm long “diorchid” (wrench-shaped) rostellar hooks. Genital pores alternate irregularly. Number of testes is 20–30 and measurements of cirrus-sac and evaginated cirrus reach 176 − 217 × 18 − 31 and 38 − 56 × 16 − 21 μm, respectively. The uterus is reticular and eggs possess spiny embryophore. F. dubinskyi is differentiated from closely related congeneric species and some other morphologically similar dilepidids.
Detection of Toxocara canis larvae by PCR in the liver of experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
Authors: Borecka A. , Gawor J. , Niedworok M. , Sordyl B. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Toxocariasis is a common human zoonosis, which induces a clinically unapparent course of infection. Diagnosis is difficult and relies upon serological testing (searching of specific IgG antibodies by ELISA), laboratory abnormalities and clinical manifestations. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was adapted for the detection of Toxocara canis larvae in a host tissue. Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were used as an animal model for human toxocariasis. 8 animals were inoculated with 1000 T. canis eggs, four uninfected were used as control. At 3, 5, 7, and 14 days post-infection, 2 infected and 1 control gerbil were killed and their livers were used for molecular analysis. Specific primer in the PCR reaction allowed identification of T. canis larvae, with the parasite gDNA found in the liver of all infected gerbils. The results indicate that the PCR method has a potential as a supporting technique for the diagnosis of human toxocariasis.
Effect of potassium napthenate on yield attributing characters and seed yield of cowpea cv. Bari falon-1 (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i> (L.) Walp.) grown under early <i>Rabi</i> season
Authors: Ullah Md Jafar , Fattah Quazi Abdul , Hossain Feroza 
Published: November 2008

An experiment was carried out during 2001-2002 on the effect of different concentrations of potassium naphthenate (KNap), applied as foliar spray on yield and yield attributing characters of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) grown in early Rabi season. Results indicated that the four concentrations of KNap had significatly positive effects on almost all reproductive parameters. 1500 KNap gave higher values than three other concentrations. Â Â Key words: Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, Potassium napthenate, Yield attributes, Yield doi:10.3329/bjb.v36i1.1546 Bangladesh J. Bot. 36(1): 29-32, 2007 (June)
Morphogenetic and diurnal variation of total phenols in some <i>Hypericum</i> species from Turkey during their phenological cycles
Authors: Ayan Ali Kemal , Yanar Pgizjam , Cirak Cuneyt , Bilgener Mahmut 
Published: November 2008

The genus Hypericum has attracted scientific interest worldwide in recent years, since it is a source of a variety of biologically active compounds including the phenolics. The present study was to determine ontogenetic, morphogenetic and diurnal variation of the total phenol contents in some Hypericum species growing in Turkey namely, H. nummularioides, H. hyssopifolium, H. pruinatum and H. scabrum. Plants were separated into stem, leaf and reproductive tissues, which were dried separately, and subsequently assayed for total phenol contents. Among different tissues, leaves had higher phenol contents and the highest content reached at noon in all species tested. But, ontogenetic change in the total phenol contents of whole plants varied among the species. It reached the highest level at floral budding in H. hyssopifolium and H. scabrum, at full flowering in H. pruinatum and at fresh fruiting in H. nummularioides. Â Key words: Hypericum sp., Diurnal variation, Total phenols, Phenological cycles doi:10.3329/bjb.v36i1.1547 Bangladesh J. Bot. 36(1): 39-46, 2007 (June)
Analysis of molecular and morphological characteristics of plants transformed with antifungal gene
Authors: Islam Aparna , Hassairi Afif , Reddy Vanga S 
Published: November 2008

A defensin gene isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), Ca-AFP in the background of pCAMBIA1301 was transferred into tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum L. var. petit havana) genome following transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404. Although all the explants showed GUS activity after co-cultivation, transgenic tobacco shoots were regenerated only from those explants cultured in presence of bacteriostatic antibiotic carbenicillin under hygromycin selection. Presence of the antifungal gene in the regenerated plants was confirmed by PCR, while integration of the whole T-DNA was demonstrated by southern blot hybridization. Furthermore, southern blot hybridization revealed that most of the transgenics contained single copy of the T-DNA while few were found to have multiple copies. Expression of the GUS and Ca-AFP genes in the transgenic plants was observed. Morphological analysis demonstrated that presence of the transgenes produced no morphological abnormality or yield discrepancy in the transgenics. Â Key words: Ca-AFP, Tobacco, Chickpea, Defensin peptide, Bacteriostatic antibiotics doi:10.3329/bjb.v36i1.1548 Bangladesh J. Bot. 36(1): 47-52, 2007 (June)
Bacteria and actinomycetes growing on floppy and compact discs under ambient conditions
Authors: Khan Mahbubar Rahman , Saha Mihir Lal , Zuha Sanjida Binte 
Published: November 2008

Floppy and compact discs gradually loose their quality. On closer examination deteriorated discs showed diverse microbial growth on their surfaces. Among the associated organisms 15 actinomycetes and 12 bacterial isolates were selected for detailed studies. The selected actinomycetes were Streptomyces diastaticus, S. rimosus, S. cyaneus, S. olivaceoviridis, S. halstedii, S. fulvissimus, S. albidoflavus, S. exfoliates and S. griseoflavus and the bacterial strains were Bacillus lentus, B. circulans, B. badius, B. laterosporus, B. larvae and B. thuringiensis. In addition, Micrococcus sedentarius was also isolated. Utilization of crushed disc materials was observed during this study, which was indicative of deterioration of floppy and compact discs. Â Key words: Compact disc, Floppy disc, Microorganisms, Recalcitrant doi:10.3329/bjb.v37i1.1557 Bangladesh J. Bot. 37(1): 7-14, 2008 (June)