bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Choice criteria for Islamic home financing
Authors: Amin Hanudin 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the choice criteria for Islamic home financing in Malaysian Islamic banks. Most importantly, this study considers establishing a specific rank of choice criteria for Islamic home financing. Moreover, these choice criteria will also be ranked according to the selected demographic elements such as gender, marital status and age range.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quantitative study similar to what was employed by previous researchers. The study presents primary data collected by self‐administered questionnaires involving a sample of 150 Malaysian bank customers in Labuan, Malaysia. Of these, 141 questionnaires were returned with a response rate equivalent to 94 per cent. The Islamic home financing choice criteria as perceived by the Malaysian bank customers are analysed using frequencies, independent samples t‐test and ANOVA.FindingsThe results suggest that “Shariah principle”, “lower monthly payment”, “transparency practice”, “interest‐free practice” and “100 per cent financing” are the first five decision criteria considered as being very important. The least preferred criteria, among others, are “recommendation”, “longer financing period”, “product range” and “branch location”. Results also suggested that a small number of significant differences are apparent in the importance of choice criteria with respect to gender, marital status and age range.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contains three limitations. The first limitation was based on the sample area for the study which is confined to Labuan, Malaysia. Second, this study restricted the use of factor analysis since the data did not allow for aggregation. Third, this study was also unable to perform ANOVA for religion differences as the sample consisted largely of Muslims.Practical implicationsThe results are primarily beneficial to academics and practitioners in Malaysia by offering an insight into choice criteria for Islamic home financing. This study provides new results about different kinds of customer types and their preferences with regards to Islamic home financing selection. As such, Islamic bank managers can learn and plan to offer attractive schemes for the Islamic home financing market that meet Malaysian bank customers' needs. For the researcher, this study contributes to existing body of knowledge by providing an investigation of choice criteria in the Islamic home financing. Indeed, this study is considered an “eye‐opener” for Islamic home financing choice criteria which has limited previous studies. Originality/value –This study introduces the choice criteria for Islamic financing among Malaysian bank customers. The study offers an insight into Islamic home financing choice criteria in Malaysia which has limited previously been investigated.
The Islamic inter bank money market and a dual banking system: the Malaysian experience
Authors: Ismath Bacha Obiyathulla 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the operation of an Islamic inter‐bank money market (IIMM), within a dual banking system.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes Malaysia's Islamic IIMM. It then examines some of the key risks associated with money market functions. An empirical examination of the extent to which yields in the IIMM are correlated with conventional money market yields is undertaken. The implication of this on interest‐rate exposure for the Islamic financial sector is discussed. Finally, the paper looks at some of the challenges and offers conclusions.FindingsThe paper argues that even though an Islamic money market operates in an interest‐free environment and trades Shariah‐compliant instruments, many of the risks associated with conventional money markets, including interest‐rate risks are relevant. The empirical evidence, based on Malaysian data, points to Islamic money market profit rates/yields that are highly correlated and move in tandem with conventional money market rates. Given the dynamics of fund flows and cross‐linkages, an IIMM operating within a dual banking system cannot sterilize itself from interest‐rate risks. In fact, the paper argues that such an IIMM may actually enhance interest‐rate risk transmission to the Islamic banking sector, by providing additional channels of transmission. Ironical as it may be, the operations of an IIMM in a dual banking system may serve to bring the Islamic banking sector into closer orbit with the conventional sector.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into the IIMM, focusing on Malaysia.
Systematic review: hepatic fibrosis – regression with therapy
Authors: ZOIS C. D. , BALTAYIANNIS G. H. , KARAYIANNIS P. , TSIANOS E. V. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryBackground  Hepatic fibrosis occurs in response to chronic liver injury, regardless of the cause. An impressive amount of knowledge concerning the pathogenesis and treatment of liver fibrosis has emerged over the past few years. The hallmark of this event is the activation of the hepatic stellate cell. The latter event causes accumulation of extracellular matrix and formation of scar, leading to deterioration in hepatic function.Aim  To assess chronic liver injury, many invasive and non‐invasive methods have been suggested.Methods  Although transient elastography, image analysis of fractal geometry and fibrotest with actitest have been used in clinical practice, liver biopsy remains the recommended choice, especially when histological staging of fibrosis or response to treatment is needed.Conclusions  The recent advances in anti‐viral therapy have resulted in many reports on fibrosis and even on cirrhosis regression, especially early and in young people. A number of new agents have been suggested for the treatment of fibrosis, with promising results in animals; however, their efficacy in humans remains to be elucidated. The investigation of heterogeneity and plasticity of hepatic stellate cells is a topic of scientific interest and may result in improvements in patient management.
Effect of chronic exposure to morphine on the rat blood–brain barrier: focus on the P‐glycoprotein
Authors: Yousif Salah , Saubaméa Bruno , Cisternino Salvatore , Marie‐Claire Cynthia , Dauchy Sandrine , Scherrmann Jean‐Michel , Declèves Xavier 
Published: August 2008

AbstractMorphine may affect the properties of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) by modifying the expression of certain BBB markers. We have determined the effect of chronic morphine treatment on the expression and function of some BBB markers in the rat. The mRNAs of 19 selected genes encoding caveolins, endothelial transporters, receptors and tight junctions proteins in the total RNA of isolated cortex microvessels were assayed by quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR). The expression of genesMdr1a, Mrp1, Bcrp, Glut‐1andOccludin, was slightly increased, while that ofFlk‐1was decreased in microvessels from morphine‐treated rats. The expression of theMrd1aandMdr1bgenes encoding the P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) also increased in the whole hippocampus and cortex of morphine‐treated rats. TheMdr1agene induction (1.38‐fold) observed by qRT‐PCR was also confirmed usingin situhybridization technique (1.40‐fold). Immunoblotting revealed an increase in P‐gp expression in the hippocampus (1.8‐fold) and cortex (1.36‐fold) of morphine‐treated rats, but no effect in isolated microvessels. In contrast, morphine treatment increased by 1.48‐fold the expression of P‐gp in a large vessel‐enriched fraction. The integrity of the BBB, measured byin situbrain perfusion of [14C]‐sucrose, and the activity of P‐gp at the BBB, measured with the P‐gp substrate [3H]‐colchicine, were not modified by morphine. Immunohistofluorescence experiments revealed that P‐gp expression is restricted to large vessels and microvessels in control rats and that morphine treatment did not induce the expression of P‐gp in the brain parenchyma (astrocytes or neurons). Taken together, our results showed that chronic morphine treatment does not significantly alter BBB integrity or P‐gp activity. The impact of morphine‐mediated P‐gp induction observed in large vessels remains to be determined in terms of brain disposition of drugs that are P‐gp substrates.
Sources of Clostridia in Raw Milk on Farms
Authors: Julien Marie-Claude , Dion Patrice , Lafrenière Carole , Antoun Hani , Drouin Pascal 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

A PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was used to examine on-farm sources of
Clostridium
cluster I strains in four dairy farms over 2 years. Conventional microbiological analysis was used in parallel to monitor size of clostridial populations present in various components of the milk production chain (soil, forage, grass silage, maize silage, dry hay, and raw milk). PCR amplification with
Clostridium
cluster I-specific 16S rRNA gene primers followed by DGGE separation yielded a total of 47 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which varied greatly with respect to frequency of occurrence. Some OTUs were found only in forage, and forage profiles differed according to farm location (southern or northern Québec). More clostridial contamination was found in maize silage than in grass silage. Milk represented a potential environment for certain OTUs. No OTU was milk specific, indicating that OTUs originated from other environments. Most (83%) of the OTUs detected in raw milk were also found in grass or maize silage. Milk DGGE profiles differed according to farm and sampling year and fit into two distinct categories. One milk profile category was characterized by the presence of a few dominant OTUs, the presence of which appeared to be more related to farm management than to feed contamination. OTUs were more varied in the second profile category. The identities of certain OTUs frequently found in milk were resolved by cloning and sequencing.
Clostridium disporicum
was identified as an important member of clostridial populations transmitted to milk.
Clostridium tyrobutyricum
was consistently found in milk and was widespread in the other farm environments examined.
Specific DNA Binding of a Potential Transcriptional Regulator, Inosine 5′-Monophosphate Dehydrogenase-Related Protein VII, to the Promoter Region of a Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase I-Encoding Operon Retrieved from
Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus
Strain ΔH
Authors: Shinzato Naoya , Enoki Miho , Sato Hiroaki , Nakamura Kohei , Matsui Toru , Kamagata Yoichi 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Two methyl coenzyme M reductases (MCRs) encoded by the
mcr
and
mrt
operons of the hydrogenotrophic methanogen
Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus
ΔH are expressed in response to H
2
availability. In the present study,
cis
elements and
trans
-acting factors responsible for the gene expression of MCRs were investigated by using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and affinity particle purification. A survey of their operator regions by EMSA with protein extracts from
mrt
-expressing cultures restricted them to 46- and 41-bp-long
mcr
and
mrt
upstream regions, respectively. Affinity particle purification of DNA-binding proteins conjugated with putative operator regions resulted in the retrieval of a protein attributed to IMP dehydrogenase-related protein VII (IMPDH VII). IMPDH VII is predicted to have a winged helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif and two cystathionine β-synthase domains, and it has been suspected to be an energy-sensing module. EMSA with oligonucleotide probes with unusual sequences showed that the binding site of IMPDH VII mostly overlaps the factor B-responsible element-TATA box of the
mcr
operon. The results presented here suggest that IMPDH VII encoded by MTH126 is a plausible candidate for the transcriptional regulator of the
mcr
operon in this methanogen.
Multilocus Sequence Typing and Phylogenetic Analyses of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Isolates from the Ocean
Authors: Khan Nurul Huda , Ahsan Mahbuba , Yoshizawa Susumu , Hosoya Shoichi , Yokota Akira , Kogure Kazuhiro 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Recent isolation of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strains from the open ocean and subsequent pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses indicate that these strains have a unique genotype (N. H. Khan, Y. Ishii, N. Kimata-Kino, H. Esaki, T. Nishino, M. Nishimura, and K. Kogure, Microb. Ecol. 53:173-186, 2007). We hypothesized that ocean
P. aeruginosa
strains have a unique phylogenetic position relative to other strains. The objective of this study was to clarify the intraspecies phylogenetic relationship between marine strains and other strains from various geographical locations. Considering the advantages of using databases, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was chosen for the typing and discrimination of ocean
P. aeruginosa
strains. Seven housekeeping genes (
acsA
,
aroE
,
guaA
,
mutL
,
nuoD
,
ppsA
, and
trpE
) were analyzed, and the results were compared with data on the MLST website. These genes were also used for phylogenetic analysis of
P. aeruginosa
. Rooted and unrooted phylogenetic trees were generated for each gene locus and the concatenated gene fragments. MLST data showed that all the ocean strains were new. Trees constructed for individual and concatenated genes revealed that ocean
P. aeruginosa
strains have clusters distinct from those of other
P. aeruginosa
strains. These clusters roughly reflected the geographical locations of the isolates. These data support our previous findings that
P. aeruginosa
strains are present in the ocean. It can be concluded that the ocean
P. aeruginosa
strains have diverged from other isolates and form a distinct cluster based on MLST and phylogenetic analyses of seven housekeeping genes.
Inducible RNA Interference of
brlA
β in
Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Barton L. M. , Prade R. A. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

An inducible RNA interference (RNAi) construct composed of inverted repeating
alcA
promoters flanking the developmental regulatory gene
brlA
β was tested in
Aspergillus nidulans
. On inducing medium, the RNAi strains failed to sporulate and lacked
brlA
α and
brlA
β expression. RNAi was specific for
brlA
β, but not
brlA
α, silencing, indicating
brlA
α regulation by
brlA
β.
The Crucial Role of the Pls1 Tetraspanin during Ascospore Germination inPodospora anserinaProvides an Example of the Convergent Evolution of Morphogenetic Processes in Fungal Plant Pathogens and Saprobes
Authors: Lambou Karine , Malagnac Fabienne , Barbisan Crystel , Tharreau Didier , Lebrun Marc-Henri , Silar Philippe 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTPls1 tetraspanins were shown for some pathogenic fungi to be essential for appressorium-mediated penetration into their host plants. We show here thatPodospora anserina, a saprobic fungus lacking appressorium, containsPaPls1, a gene orthologous to knownPLS1genes. Inactivation ofPaPls1demonstrates that this gene is specifically required for the germination of ascospores inP. anserina. These ascospores are heavily melanized cells that germinate under inducing conditions through a specific pore. On the contrary,MgPLS1, which fully complements a ΔPaPls1ascospore germination defect, has no role in the germination ofMagnaporthe griseanonmelanized ascospores but is required for the formation of the penetration peg at the pore of its melanized appressorium.P. anserinamutants with mutation ofPaNox2, which encodes the NADPH oxidase of the NOX2 family, display the same ascospore-specific germination defect as the ΔPaPls1mutant. Both mutant phenotypes are suppressed by the inhibition of melanin biosynthesis, suggesting that they are involved in the same cellular process required for the germination ofP. anserinamelanized ascospores. The analysis of the distribution ofPLS1andNOX2genes in fungal genomes shows that they are either both present or both absent. These results indicate that the germination ofP. anserinaascospores and the formation of theM. griseaappressorium penetration peg use the same molecular machinery that includes Pls1 and Nox2. This machinery is specifically required for the emergence of polarized hyphae from reinforced structures such as appressoria and ascospores. Its recurrent recruitment during fungal evolution may account for some of the morphogenetic convergence observed in fungi.
Systematic Identification and Sequence Analysis of the Genomic Islands of the EnteropathogenicEscherichia coliStrain B171-8 by the Combined Use of Whole-Genome PCR Scanning and Fosmid Mapping
Authors: Ogura Yoshitoshi , Abe Hiroyuki , Katsura Keisuke , Kurokawa Ken , Asadulghani Md , Iguchi Atsushi , Ooka Tadasuke , Nakayama Keisuke , Yamashita Atsushi , Hattori Masahira , Tobe Toru , Hayashi Tetsuya 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTEnteropathogenicEscherichia coli(EPEC) and enterohemorrhagicE. coli(EHEC) are diarrheagenic pathogens that colonize the intestinal tract through the formation of attaching and effacing lesions, induced by effectors translocated via a type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded on the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE). In EHEC O157, numerous virulence factors, including around 40 T3SS effectors, have been identified. Most of them are encoded on genomic islands (GEIs) such as prophages and integrative elements. For EPEC, however, no systematic search of GEIs and virulence-related genes carried therein has been done, and only a limited number of virulence factors have been identified so far. In this study, we performed a systemic and genome-wide survey of the GEIs in strain B171-8, one of the prototype strains of EPEC, by the combined use of whole-genome PCR scanning and fosmid mapping and identified 22 large GEIs, including nine lambda-like prophages, three P2-like prophages, the LEE, and three additional integrative elements. On these prophages and integrative elements, we found genes for a set of T3SS proteins, a total of 33 T3SS effectors or effector homologues, and 12 other virulence factors which include five nonfimbrial adhesins. Most of the T3SS effector families identified are also present in EHEC O157, but B171-8 possesses a significantly smaller number of effectors. Not only the presence or absence of Shiga toxin genes but also the difference in the T3SS effector repertoire should be considered in analyzing the pathogenicity of EPEC and EHEC strains.
Deciphering the Unusual Acylation Pattern of
Helicobacter pylori
Lipid A
Authors: Stead Christopher M. , Beasley Ashley , Cotter Robert J. , Trent M. Stephen 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

The synthesis of “typical” hexa-acylated lipid A occurs via a nine-step enzymatic pathway, which is generally well conserved throughout all gram-negative bacteria. One exception to the rule is
Helicobacter pylori
, which has only eight homologs to the nine lipid A biosynthetic enzymes. The discrepancy occurs toward the end of the pathway, with
H. pylori
containing only a single putative secondary acyltransferase encoded by jhp0265. In
Escherichia coli
K-12, two late acyltransferases, termed LpxL and LpxM, are required for the biosynthesis of hexa-acylated lipid A. Detailed biochemical and genetic analyses reveal that
H. pylori
Jhp0265 (the protein encoded by jhp0265) is in fact an LpxL homolog, capable of transferring a stearoyl group to the hydroxyl group of the 2′ linked fatty acyl chain of lipid A. Despite the lack of a homolog to LpxM in the
H. pylori
genome, the organism synthesizes a hexa-acylated lipid A species, suggesting that an equivalent enzyme exists. Using radiolabeled lipid A substrates and acyl-acyl carrier protein as the fatty acyl donor, we were able to confirm the presence of a second
H. pylori
late acyl transferase by biochemical assays. After synthesis of the hexa-acylated lipid A species, several modification enzymes then function to produce the major lipid A species of
H. pylori
that is tetra-acylated. Jhp0634 was identified as an outer membrane deacylase that removes the 3′-linked acyl chains of
H. pylori
lipid A. Together, this work elucidates the biochemical machinery required for the acylation and deacylation of the lipid A domain of
H. pylori
lipopolysaccharide.
TheMycobacterium tuberculosis phoPROperon Is Positively Autoregulated in the Virulent Strain H37Rv
Authors: Gonzalo-Asensio Jesús , Soto Carlos Y. , Arbués Ainhoa , Sancho Javier , del Carmen Menéndez María , García María J. , Gicquel Brigitte , Martín Carlos 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTThe attenuatedMycobacterium tuberculosisH37Ra strain is an isogenic counterpart of the virulent paradigm strain H37Rv. Recently, a link between a point mutation in the PhoP transcriptional regulator and avirulence of H37Ra was established. Remarkably, a previous study demonstrated negative autoregulation of thephoPgene in H37Ra. These findings led us to study the transcriptional autoregulation of PhoP in the virulent H37Rv strain. In contrast to the negative autoregulation of PhoP previously published for H37Ra, our experiments using aphoPpromoter-lacZfusion showed that PhoP is positively autoregulated in both H37Rv and H37Ra compared with an H37RvphoPdeletion mutant constructed in this study. Using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis, we showed that thephoPgene is transcribed at similar levels in H37Rv and H37Ra. Gel mobility shift and DNase I footprinting assays allowed us to identify the precise binding region of PhoP from H37Rv to thephoPpromoter. We also carried out RT-PCR studies to demonstrate thatphoPis transcribed together with the adjacent genephoR, which codes for the cognate histidine kinase of thephoPRtwo-component system. In addition, quantitative RT-PCR studies showed thatphoRis independently transcribed from a promoter possibly regulated by PhoP. Finally, we discuss the possible role in virulence of a single point mutation found in thephoPgene from the attenuated H37Ra strain but not in virulent members of theM. tuberculosiscomplex.
A Soluble NADH-Dependent Fumarate Reductase in the Reductive Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle of
Hydrogenobacter thermophilus
TK-6
Authors: Miura Akane , Kameya Masafumi , Arai Hiroyuki , Ishii Masaharu , Igarashi Yasuo 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Fumarate reductase (FRD) is an enzyme that reduces fumarate to succinate. In many organisms, it is bound to the membrane and uses electron donors such as quinol. In this study, an FRD from a thermophilic chemolithoautotrophic bacterium,
Hydrogenobacter thermophilus
TK-6, was purified and characterized. FRD activity using NADH as an electron donor was not detected in the membrane fraction but was found in the soluble fraction. The purified enzyme was demonstrated to be a novel type of FRD, consisting of five subunits. One subunit showed high sequence identity to the catalytic subunits of known FRDs. Although the genes of typical FRDs are assembled in a cluster, the five genes encoding the
H. thermophilus
FRD were distant from each other in the genome. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that the
H. thermophilus
FRD was located in a distinct position from those of known soluble FRDs. This is the first report of a soluble NADH-dependent FRD in
Bacteria
and of the purification of a FRD that operates in the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle.