bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The accident in Bhopal: Observations 20 years later
Authors: Willey Ronald J. , Hendershot Dennis C. , Berger Scott 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe most influential process safety accident passed its 20th anniversary on December 3, 2004. At an international symposium to mark the event in Kanpur, India, during the week of this anniversary, process safety practitioners from around the world assembled to discuss progress in resolving the Bhopal tragedy and in advancing the practice of process safety worldwide. This paper provides insight into the Bhopal site as attendees found it in December 2004. Since 1984, many positive steps worldwide have been made in regard to improvements in process safety and protection of personnel within chemical plants and of people in the surrounding communities. However, little visible progress has been made in decommissioning and decontaminating the Bhopal plant site, now under control of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Many plant chemicals, abandoned there in 1985, were still at the site in 2004, mostly in substandard storage conditions. Mitigation recently commenced, but unconfirmed reports of the mitigation methods are concerning. The lesson learned: we all have a responsibility to ensure that events which follow a chemical accident reach a proper conclusion; and that no further undue suffering results to the general public and our fellow employees. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 26:180–184, 2007
The potential for control of bracken in the UK using introduced herbivorous insects
Authors: Fowler Simon V. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBracken (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) is an invasive native weed in the UK causing problems in upland agriculture and in land of amenity and conservation value; it may represent a risk to human health. Existing control methods such as cutting or herbicide use are subject to practical, economic or environmental constraints in many areas of the UK. Classical biological control of bracken would involve the introduction of specialist bracken‐feeding herbivores from other parts of the world. Classical biological weed control has a reasonable record of success in other parts of the world and an exemplary safety record, but remains untried in the UK. The typical development of a classical weed biocontrol programme is presented using the UK bracken programme as an example. Finally the current position of this classical biocontrol programme is reviewed with an assessment of the prospects for the future. With appropriate funding, a full field release of at least one species of South African bracken‐feeding moth should be achieved during the mid‐1990s.
Biocontrol of soil‐borne plant pathogens: Concepts and their application
Authors: Deacon James W. , Berry Lorraine A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA few soil‐borne plant pathogens have been controlled successfully by commercial formulations of biocontrol agents, but many attempts to develop biocontrol inoculants, although promising under experimental conditions, have met with difficulties in practice. The reasons for this are discussed in this review, which outlines some of the major findings on the behaviour of microbial inoculants in soil. It is emphasized that biocontrol also occurs naturally in current agricultural practice and can be exploited purposely, but it is vulnerable to disruption by agrochemicals or mismanagement. The future of biocontrol of soilborne plant pathogens probably lies in integrated (biorational) control systems that combine the use of commercial inoculants, where appropriate, with management practices that maintain and enhance the natural biocontrol systems.
Adoption of XP practices in the industry—A survey
Authors: Bowers Alexia N. , Sangwan Raghvinder S. , Neill Colin J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAgile software development has recently become popular in the software industry. The methodologies in the Agile family are considered to be based on best practices. The most popular approach, Extreme Programming (XP), recommends certain best practices during the requirements gathering, implementation and testing phases of software development. In this paper, the authors analyze the best practices according to data from recent case studies and survey studies to see if and how they are followed. Metaphor was the least used practice, while unit testing was one of the most popular. Most of the practices varied across studies and projects. Agile software development is evolutionary in nature, so customizing the practices is still well within its sounds. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morphological analysis of osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL in mouse bone marrow cell cultures
Authors: Gardner Colin R. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractUnder the influence of RANKL, in the presence of M‐CSF, monocyte/macrophage precursor cells entered the osteoclast lineage and expressed the osteoclast marker tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). These cells were motile and began to differentiate by contacting and fusing together, initially forming cells with several nuclei. All sizes of cells continued to fuse, forming larger cells with more than 6 and as many as 50 nuclei. The degree of osteoclastogenesis was related to the concentration of RANKL. High cell density changed osteoclast morphology from a more rounded form with cytoplasm extended all round the cell to a form with cytoplasm concentrated around the nuclei and more restricted multiple cytoplasmic extensions. At optimal cell density and RANKL concentrations the large numbers of rounded cells fused into large cytoplasmic masses. On reaching a critical size, osteoclasts assumed a spread morphology with a peripheral ring structure. Most of the nuclei were associated with the peripheral ring. When cytoplasmic masses were present, rings also formed within the mass, often with no contact with the cell periphery. All forms of RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis were blocked by the endogenous decoy receptor osteoprotegerin and were also strongly reduced by calcitonin, with the later arriving morphological categories being the first to disappear.
The use of clinical profiles in the investigation of foodborne outbreaks in restaurants: United States, 1982–1997
Authors: HEDBERG C. W. , PALAZZI-CHURAS K. L. , RADKE V. J. , SELMAN C. A. , TAUXE R. V. 
Published: March 2007

SUMMARYImproving the efficiency of outbreak investigation in restaurants is critical to reducing outbreak-associated illness and improving prevention strategies. Because clinical characteristics of outbreaks are usually available before results of laboratory testing, we examined their use for determining contributing factors in outbreaks caused by restaurants. All confirmed foodborne outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1982 to 1997 were reviewed. Clinical profiles were developed based on outbreak characteristics. We compared the percentage of contributing factors by known agent and clinical profile to their occurrence in outbreaks of unclassified aetiology. In total, 2246 foodborne outbreaks were included: 697 (31%) with known aetiology and 1549 (69%) with aetiology undetermined. Salmonella accounted for 65% of outbreaks with a known aetiology. Norovirus-like clinical profiles were noted in 54% of outbreaks with undetermined aetiology. Improper holding times and temperatures were associated with outbreaks caused by Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella, and also with outbreaks of undetermined aetiology that fitted diarrhoea-toxin and vomiting-toxin clinical profiles. Poor personal hygiene was associated with norovirus, Shigella, and Salmonella, and also with outbreaks that fitted norovirus-like and vomiting-toxin clinical profiles. Contributing factors were similar for outbreaks with known aetiology and for those where aetiology was assigned by corresponding clinical profile. Rapidly categorizing outbreaks by clinical profile, before results of laboratory testing are available, can help identification of factors which contributed to the occurrence of the outbreak and will promote timely and efficient outbreak investigations.
Methylamine‐dependent release of nitric oxide and dopamine in the CNS modulates food intake in fasting rats
Authors: Raimondi L , Alfarano C , Pacini A , Livi S , Ghelardini C , DeSiena G , Pirisino R 
Published: March 2007

Background and purpose:Methylamine is an endogenous aliphatic amine exhibiting anorexigenic properties in mice. The aim of this work was to show whether methylamine also modifies feeding behaviour in rats and, if so, to identify the mediator(s) responsible for such effects.Experimental approach:Microdialysis experiments with the probe inserted in the periventricular hypothalamic nucleus were carried out in 12 h starved, freely moving rats. Collected perfusate samples following methylamine injection (i.c.v.) were analysed for nitric oxide by chemiluminescence and for dopamine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine content by HPLC. Kv1.6 potassium channel expression was reduced by antisense strategy and this decrease quantified by semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR analysis.Key results:Methylamine showed biphasic dose‐related effects on rat feeding. At doses of 15–30μg per rat, it was hyperphagic whereas higher doses (60–80μg) were hypophagic. Methylamine stimulated central nitric oxide (+115% vs. basal) following hyperphagic and dopamine release (60% over basal values) at hypophagic doses, respectively. Treatment withL‐NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine‐methyl ester (i.c.v. 2μg 10μl−1) or withα‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine (i.p. 100 mg kg−1) before methylamine injection, reduced nitric oxide output and hyperphagia, or dopamine release and hypophagia respectively. Moreover, hypophagia and hyperphagia, as well as nitric oxide and dopamine release were significantly reduced by down‐regulating brain Kv1.6 potassium channel expression.Conclusions and implications:The effects of methylamine on feeding depend on the hypothalamic release of nitric oxide and dopamine as a result of interaction at the Kv1.6 channels. The study of methylamine levels in the CNS may provide new perspectives on the physio‐pathogy of alimentary behaviour.British Journal of Pharmacology(2007)150, 1003–1010. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707170
The carbon monoxide‐releasing molecule CORM‐2 inhibits the inflammatory response induced by cytokines in Caco‐2 cells
Authors: Megías J , Busserolles J , Alcaraz M J 
Published: March 2007

Background and purpose:Recent evidence indicates that carbon monoxide‐releasing molecules (CO‐RMs) exhibit potential anti‐inflammatory properties. In the present study, we have investigated whether tricarbonyl dichloro ruthenium(II) dimer (CORM‐2) can control the inflammatory response induced by cytokines in a human colonic epithelial cell line, Caco‐2.Experimental approach:Caco‐2 cells were preincubated with CORM‐2 for 30 minutes and then stimulated with interleukin (IL)‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐α and interferon‐γ for different times. Gene expression was analyzed by real‐time PCR. Protein expression was investigated by Western blot and ELISA. Transcription factor activation was determined by the luciferase method.Key results:We have shown that CORM‐2 significantly decreased the mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase‐2 (NOS‐2) and the production of nitrite, in Caco‐2 cells stimulated with cytokines. IL‐8, IL‐6 and metalloproteinase‐7 (MMP‐7) mRNA and protein were also significantly reduced by CORM‐2. Time‐course and small interfering RNA studies suggest that inhibition of IL‐6 plays a role in the regulation of MMP‐7 expression by CORM‐2. These effects of CORM‐2 can be dependent on the modulation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), activator protein‐1, CCAT/enhancer binding protein and the phosphorylated forms of NF‐κB inhibitory protein‐α, c‐Jun N‐terminal protein kinase 1/2, p38 and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2.Conclusions and Implications:CORM‐2 can regulate a number of genes relevant in intestinal inflammation and cancer progression. These findings provide new insights into the anti‐inflammatory properties and potential applications of this class of compounds.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 977–986. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707184
Stimulatory action of protein kinase Cɛ isoform on the slow component of delayed rectifier K+ current in guinea‐pig atrial myocytes
Authors: Toda H , Ding W‐G , Yasuda Y , Toyoda F , Ito M , Matsuura H , Horie M 
Published: March 2007

Background and purpose:Protein kinase C (PKC) comprises at least twelve isoforms and has an isoform‐specific action on cardiac electrical activity. The slow component of delayed rectifier K+ current (I
Ks) is one of the major repolarizing currents in the hearts of many species and is also potentiated by PKC activation. Little is known, however, about PKC isoform(s) functionally involved in the potentiation of I
Ks in native cardiac myocytes.Experimental approach:IKs was recorded from guinea‐pig atrial myocytes, using the whole‐cell configuration of patch‐clamp method.Key results:Bath application of phenylephrine enhanced IKs concentration‐dependently with EC50 of 5.4 μM and the maximal response (97.1±11.9% increase, n=16) was obtained at 30 μM. Prazosin (1 μM) almost totally abolished the potentiation of IKs by phenylephrine, supporting the involvement of α1‐adrenoceptors. The stimulatory action of phenylephrine was significantly, if not entirely, inhibited by the general PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I but was little affected by Gö‐6976, Gö‐6983 and rottlerin. Furthermore, this stimulatory effect was significantly reduced by dialyzing atrial myocytes with PKCɛ‐selective inhibitory peptide ɛV1‐2 but was not significantly affected by conventional PKC isoform‐selective inhibitory peptide βC2‐4. Phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) at 100 nM substantially increased IKs by 64.2±1.3% (n=6), which was also significantly attenuated by an internal dialysis with ɛV1‐2 but not with βC2‐4.Conclusions and implications:The present study provides experimental evidence to suggest that, in native guinea‐pig cardiac myocytes, activation of PKC contributes to α1‐adrenoceptor‐mediated potentiation of I
Ks and that ɛ is the isoform predominantly involved in this PKC action.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 1011–1021. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707191
Capital Regulation for Position Risk in Banks, Securities Firms, and Insurance Companies
Authors: Herring Richard , Schuermann Til 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCurrently, banks, securities firms, and insurance companies conduct trading businesses that involve many of the same financial instruments and several of the same counterparties but that are subject to very different capital regulations. This chapter examines why these regulatory differences exist and what they imply for differences in minimum capital requirements for position risk. It considers differences in the definition and measurement of regulatory capital, and quantifies differences in the capital charges for position risk by reference to a model portfolio that contains a variety of financial instruments, including equity, fixed income instruments, swaps, foreign exchange positions, and options — instruments that may appear in the portfolios of securities firms, banks, or insurance companies. For most leading firms in the financial services industry, however, market forces, not minimum regulatory capital requirements, appear to play the dominant role in firms' capital decisions. The chapter concludes by considering measures to enhance market discipline.
The effects of a 3‐year obesity intervention in schoolchildren in Beijing
Authors: Jiang J. , Xia X. , Greiner T. , Wu G. , Lian G. , Rosenqvist U. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground  Childhood obesity has become a health problem in urban areas in China. Intervention to reduce childhood obesity should be of high priority. School‐based intervention programmes are needed to deal with the growing prevalence of childhood obesity in China.Methods  Five primary schools were selected randomly for this study in the Beijing urban area in China; two were allocated to the intervention group and three to the control group. A total of 2425 children (1029 children in intervention schools and 1396 children in control schools) took part in the study for 3 years. In the intervention group, children and their parents were involved in a programme of nutrition education and physical activity. Control school students followed their usual health and physical education curriculum with no extra intervention.Results  After the 3‐year intervention, the prevalence of overweight and obesity were significantly lower in the intervention schools than in the control schools (overweight: 9.8% vs. 14.4%, P < 0.01; obesity: 7.9% vs. 13.3%, P < 0.01). The prevalence of overweight and obesity decreased by 26.3% and 32.5% in intervention schools respectively after intervention. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in control schools. There was also significant difference in body mass index between intervention and control schools (18.2 ± 2.6 vs. 20.3 ± 3.4, P < 0.01) after intervention. More non‐obese children became obese in the control schools (7.0%) than in the intervention schools (2.4%) at end line (P < 0.01). Among the children who were obese at baseline, 49.2% remained obese at end line in intervention schools while 61.9% remained obese in control schools (P < 0.01).Conclusions  Our study showed that an intervention programme could be feasible in schools in Beijing, China. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was reduced in schoolchildren in Beijing through an intervention focused on nutrition education and physical activity. Overweight and obesity children as well as normal weight children and their parents should be involved in such an intervention programme.
Desert locust outbreaks in the Sahel: resource competition, predation and ecological effects of pest control
Authors: SÁNCHEZ‐ZAPATA JOSÉ A. , DONÁZAR JOSÉ A. , DELGADO ANTONIO , FORERO MANUELA G. , CEBALLOS OLGA , HIRALDO FERNANDO 
Published: March 2007

SummaryThe desert locustSchistocerca gregariahas been considered a major pest since ancient times, as locust swarms holding millions of insects move throughout the Sahel, northern Africa, Middle East and southern Mediterranean countries. Most research has focused on the biology of the species and the development of strategies in locust control, but little is known about the place of locust pulses within food webs in which domestic herbivores and European long‐distance migratory birds are also involved.We evaluated the role of desert locust outbreaks in the food webs of the Sahelian region. We analysed the potential resource competition with domestic herbivores and the response of a generalist predator by assessing its diet and foraging behaviour in relation to the availability of locusts.Stable isotope analyses revealed that little trophic overlap exists between desert locusts that feed on trees and shrubs and nomadic livestock that feed on grasses in the Sahelian savanna grasslands. These results suggest low resource competition with the main human resources in regions with little agricultural development. In addition, during an outbreak that occurred in winter, desert locusts were consumed by resident and long‐distance migrant birds. This accounted for significant changes in the diet and foraging strategies of wintering generalist predators such as the black kiteMilvus migrans.Synthesis and applications. Our results raise questions about the need for spraying locust swarms in areas where economic losses are scant and wintering populations of European trans‐Saharan migrant birds are high. A deeper insight into the ecological and economical role of these outbreaks is urgently needed, together with a reassessment of desert locust control in the Sahel.
Persistence ofMycobacterium aviumsubspecies paratuberculosis in rabbits: the interplay between horizontal and vertical transmission
Authors: JUDGE JOHANNA , DAVIDSON ROSS S. , MARION GLENN , WHITE PIRAN C.L. , HUTCHINGS MICHAEL R. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryParatuberculosis (Mycobacterium aviumsubspeciesparatuberculosis; Map) is a widespread and difficult disease to control in livestock populations and also has possible links to Crohn's disease in humans. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have been identified recently as the key wildlife species in terms of paratuberculosis transmission to the wider host community. Here, we test the hypothesis thatMapcan persist in rabbit populations for extended periods of time in the absence of any external source of infection.A spatially explicit stochastic simulation model of a generic host–disease interaction was developed to quantify the interplay between vertical and horizontal routes of transmission needed for the persistence ofMapin rabbit populations and to test the hypothesis. The model was parameterized based on empirical studies on rabbit population dynamics and on rabbit‐to‐rabbit routes ofMaptransmission.Predictions from the model suggest that any disease with susceptible–infected (SI) dynamics without disease‐induced mortality can persist within a rabbit population in the absence of vertical transmission, providing the horizontal transmission coefficient, β, is greater than approximately 0·012. The inclusion of any vertical transmission reduces the value of β that is necessary for infection to persist.Paratuberculosis persists in rabbit populations at all values of the horizontal and vertical transmission parameters in the range estimated from the field data and in many cases at all values within 95% confidence intervals around this range. The persistence ofMapinfection in rabbit populations in the absence of external sources of infection suggests that they may act as a reservoir of infection for sympatric livestock.Synthesis and applications.Our findings, in combination with the ubiquitous distribution of rabbits in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, suggests that ifMapbecomes established in rabbit populations they are likely to provide widespread and persistent environmental distributions of infection and thus disease risk to livestock and potentially humans. Where local rabbit populations are infected they should be included in any future paratuberculosis control strategies. Because eradication of rabbits is often not a realistic option, control strategies should include reducing interspecific transmission risk from rabbits to livestock via the faecal–oral route.
Ethyl pyruvate: a novel anti‐inflammatory agent
Authors: Fink M. P. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract.Ethyl pyruvate (EP) is a simple derivative of the endogenous metabolite, pyruvic acid. Treatment with EP has been shown to improve survival and/or ameliorate organ dysfunction in a wide variety of preclinical models of critical illnesses, such as severe sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute pancreatitis and stroke. EP was originally regarded as simply a way to administer pyruvate anion, whilst avoiding some of the problems associated with the instability of pyruvate in aqueous solutions. Increasingly, however, it is becoming apparent that certain pyruvate esters, including EP, have pharmacological effects, such as suppression of inflammation, that are quite distinct from those exerted by pyruvate anion. EP has been tested in human volunteers and shown to be safe at clinically relevant doses. It remains to be determined whether EP can be used successfully to treat human diseases.