bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibitors of melanogenesis increase toxicity of cyclophosphamide and lymphocytes against melanoma cells
Authors: Slominski Andrzej , Zbytek Blazej , Slominski Radomir 
Published: September 2008

AbstractHigh mortality rate for metastatic melanoma is related to its resistant to the current methods of therapy. Melanogenesis is a metabolic pathway characteristic for normal and malignant melanocytes that can affect the behavior of melanoma cells or its surrounding environment. Human melanoma cells in which production of melanin pigment is dependent on tyrosine levels in medium were used for experiments. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were derived from the buffy coats purchased from Lifeblood Biological Services. Cell pigmentation was evaluated macroscopically, and tyrosinase activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Cell proliferation and viability were measured using lactate dehydrogenase release MTT, [3H]‐thymidine incorporation and DNA content analyses, and gene expression was measured by real time RT‐PCR. Pigmented melanoma cells were significantly less sensitive to cyclophosphamide and to killing action of IL‐2‐activated peripheral blood lymphocytes. The inhibition of melanogenesis by either blocking tyrosinase catalytic site or chelating copper ions sensitized melanoma cells towards cytotoxic action of cyclophosphamide, and amplified immunotoxic activities of IL‐2 activated lymphocytes. Exogenous L‐DOPA inhibited lymphocyte proliferation producing the cell cycle arrest in G1/0 and dramatically inhibited the production of IL‐1beta, TNF‐alpha, IL‐6 and IL‐10. Thus, the active melanogenesis could not only impair the cytotoxic action of cyclophosphamid but also has potent immunosuppressive properties. This resistance to a chemotherapeutic agent or immunotoxic activity of lymphocytes could be reverted by the action of tyrosinase inhibitors. Thus, the inhibition of melanogenesis might represent a valid therapeutic target for the management of advanced melanotic melanomas. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of the water–salinity crop production function of wheat using experimental data of the Golestan province, Iran
Authors: Kiani A. R. , Abbasi F. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractOptimisation of agricultural water management in arid and semi‐arid regions requires the availability of water–salinity crop production functions. A two‐year experiment was conducted in the northern Golestan province of Iran to assess the water–salinity production function of wheat. The treatments in the experiment consisted of four levels of irrigation water, i.e. 50 (W1), 75 (W2), 100 (W3) and 125 (W4) % of crop water requirement, and four levels of water salinity, respectively 1.5 (S1), 8.5 (S2), 11.5 (S3) and 14.2 (S4) dS m−1. The plots were arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications and water quantity as main plot treatment and water quality as subplot treatment. The data were analysed using linear, quadratic, Cobb–Douglas and transcendental functions, complemented with an economic analysis. The results indicate that for the given climate–soil conditions, transcendental functions best predict wheat yield under both water and salinity stress conditions. Yield reduction caused by a unit increase of matric potential is found to be larger than that caused by a unit increase of osmotic potential. The marginal rate of technical substitution indicates that each one of the two factors studied, namely soil salinity and water supply, can be substituted with the other in a wide range in order to achieve equal amount of yield. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidized carbon nanotubes for simultaneous removal of endrin and Cd(Π) from water and their separation from water
Authors: Peng Xianjia , Jia Jianjun , Luan Zhaokun 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Previous investigation has shown that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are effective for the removal of organic pollutants and oxidized carbon nanotubes (OCNTs) are effective for the removal of heavy metals. In this investigation, OCNTs were used for simultaneous removal of endrin and Cd(Π) from water. Separation of OCNTs from water was also investigated.RESULTS: The removal efficiencies of endrin and Cd(Π) by OCNTs were 89–97% and 96–100%, respectively. Endrin removal capacity of OCNTs is approximately the same as that of powdered activated carbon (PAC) and as‐prepared CNTs. Cd(Π) removal capacity of OCNTs is much higher than that of PAC and as‐prepared CNTs. OCNTs can be separated efficiently from water using AlCl3.CONCLUSION: OCNTs are effective for the simultaneous removal of endrin and Cd(Π) and after adsorption, OCNTs can be separated from water by dosing AlCl3. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Profiles of xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylitol production under different oxygen transfer volumetric coefficient values
Authors: Branco Ricardo F , dos Santos Julio C , Sarrouh Boutros F , Rivaldi Juan D , Pessoa, Jr Adalberto , da Silva Silvio S 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Xylitol is a sugar alcohol (polyalcohol) with many interesting properties for pharmaceutical and food products. It is currently produced by a chemical process, which has some disadvantages such as high energy requirement. Therefore microbiological production of xylitol has been studied as an alternative, but its viability is dependent on optimisation of the fermentation variables. Among these, aeration is fundamental, because xylitol is produced only under adequate oxygen availability. In most experiments with xylitol‐producing yeasts, low oxygen transfer volumetric coefficient (KLa) values are used to maintain microaerobic conditions. However, in the present study the use of relatively high KLa values resulted in high xylitol production. The effect of aeration was also evaluated via the profiles of xylose reductase (XR) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XD) activities during the experiments.RESULTS: The highest XR specific activity (1.45 ± 0.21 U mgprotein−1) was achieved during the experiment with the lowest KLa value (12 h−1), while the highest XD specific activity (0.19 ± 0.03 U mgprotein−1) was observed with a KLa value of 25 h−1. Xylitol production was enhanced when KLa was increased from 12 to 50 h−1, which resulted in the best condition observed, corresponding to a xylitol volumetric productivity of 1.50 ± 0.08 gxylitol L−1 h−1 and an efficiency of 71 ± 6.0%.CONCLUSION: The results showed that the enzyme activities during xylitol bioproduction depend greatly on the initial KLa value (oxygen availability). This finding supplies important information for further studies in molecular biology and genetic engineering aimed at improving xylitol bioproduction. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Differentiation of international terrorism: attack as threat, means, and violence
Authors: Yokota K. , Watanabe K. , Wachi T. , Hoshino M. , Sato A. , Fujita G. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis study examined whether international terrorism could be differentiated into different behavioural themes related to the way of using force. The sample consisted of 217 international terrorist organisations that had perpetrated five or more terrorist incidents. A non‐metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that all of the terrorist incidents could be assigned to one of three themes reflecting different styles of the use of force: ‘attack as threat’, ‘attack as means’, and ‘attack as violence’. In the current sample, 189 of the terrorist organisations repeated one theme in more than 50% of their series of incidents, suggesting their preference for one of the three themes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficacy of standard deviational ellipses in the application of criminal geographic profiling
Authors: Kent Joshua , Leitner Michael 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe premise for this study is that the physical and cultural landscape has a deterministic effect on the location and distribution of serial crime. As a consequence, the distribution of linked crime scenes should exhibit a shape and orientation that is consistent with the underlying landscape. Geographic Profiling models that are able to account for these effects will provide more accurate results than those models that do not. Utilizing basic geographic principles of central tendency and spatial diffusion, this research first analyzed the output of circular and elliptical profile models generated for 30 serial burglaries (n = 164) and 67 serial robberies (n = 370) in Baltimore, Maryland between 1994 and 1997. A comparative analysis of the model output reveals that the Standard Deviational Ellipse is significantly (p = 0.000) better able to predict the home location of a serial offender than profiles generated from circles. Next, the relationship between the orientation of elliptical profiles and the mean linear orientation of the corresponding landscape was assessed to reveal a moderate but significant correlation (r = 0.511, p < 0.001). Together, these findings demonstrate that landscape does impact the locations of crime, and is a measurable parameter that can improve the efficacy of geographic profiling. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment Criteria Indicative of Deception (ACID): an integrated system of investigative interviewing and detecting deception
Authors: Colwell Kevin , Hiscock‐Anisman Cheryl K. , Memon Amina , Taylor Laura , Prewett Jessica 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis study describes the assimilation and validation of Assessment Criteria Indicative of Deception (ACID). ACID is derived from investigative interviewing, Criteria‐Based Content Analysis, Reality Monitoring, and interpersonal deception. Each component has been previously published. Thirty‐eight university undergraduates entered a professor's office and either stole an exam or replaced an exam that had been stolen previously. They were interviewed 1 week later with the Reality Interview, which is deliberately challenging and aims to enhance the detection of deception. Half responded honestly and completely; half distorted their responses to avoid incrimination. Incentives were provided. Honest responses were longer, more detailed, and contained more admissions of potential mistakes. Most importantly, honest respondents benefited from attempts to enhance recall, whereas these same attempts caused deceptive respondents to provide shorter, more repetitive statements. This is a promising technique; 33 of 38 cases were classified accurately. Discussion includes characteristics of deception, process of deception during an investigative interview, hypothetical interview strategies to facilitate the detection of deception, strengths and weaknesses of the study, and areas for future research. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distance patterns and disposal sites in rural area homicides committed in Finland
Authors: Häkkänen Helinä , Hurme Katri , Liukkonen Markku 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe present study examined offender characteristics, distance patterns, and the nature of disposal sites in rural area homicides. Pre‐trial investigation files of cases where victims' bodies were found in rural areas in 1994–2005 (n = 46) and forensic psychiatric examination reports of the offenders were content‐analysed. Psychopathy Check List‐Revised was used to assess psychopathy. Investigators of these homicides filled out a questionnaire on the offender's familiarity with the body disposal area, and MapInfo was used to measure offender/victim‐residence‐to‐crime‐to‐body‐disposal‐site distances. Rural area homicides more frequently involved multiple offenders who were significantly younger than offenders in other homicides. Of the victims, 73% were found in woods and 27% in water. Offenders were familiar with disposal sites in over half of the cases. The victim's gender, close relationship with the offender, and the offender's violent crime history were associated with longer homicide‐scene‐to‐body‐disposal‐site distances. The number of inhabitants and offender's violent crime history were related to longer offender‐residence‐to‐body‐disposal‐site distances. Offender's age, intelligence, or psychopathology bore no significant association with the distance patterns. The results can be applied when searching missing persons in homicide investigations and in prioritising suspects in rural area homicides. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mathematical modeling of appendicular bone growth in glaucous‐winged gulls
Authors: Hayward James L. , Henson Shandelle M. , Banks John C. , Lyn Sheena L. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractDevelopment of locomotor activity is crucial in tetrapods. In birds, this development leads to different functions for hindlimbs and forelimbs. The emergence of walking and flying as very different complex behavior patterns only weeks after hatching provides an interesting case study in animal development. We measured the diaphyseal lengths and midshaft diameters of three wing bones (humerus, ulna, and carpometacarpus) and three leg bones (femur, tibiotarsus, and tarsometatarsus) of 79 juvenile (ages 0–42 days) and 13 adult glaucous‐winged gulls (Larus glaucescens), a semiprecocial species. From a suite of nine alternative mathematical models, we used information‐theoretic criteria to determine the best model(s) for length and diameter of each bone as a function of age; that is, we determined the model(s) that obtained the best tradeoff between the minimized sum of squared residuals and the number of parameters used to fit the model. The Janoschek and Holling III models best described bone growth, with at least one of these models yielding an R2 ≥ 0.94 for every dimension except tarsometatarsus diameter (R2 = 0.87). We used the best growth models to construct accurate allometric comparisons of the bones. Early maximal absolute growth rates characterize the humerus, femur, and tarsometatarsus, bones that assume adult‐type support functions relatively early during juvenile development. Leg bone lengths exhibit more rapid but less sustained relative growth than wing bone lengths. Wing bone diameters are initially smaller than leg bone diameters, although this relationship is reversed by fledging. Wing bones and the femur approach adult length by fledging but continue to increase in diameter past fledging; the tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus approach both adult length and diameter by fledging. In short, the pattern of bone growth in this semiprecocial species reflects the changing behavioral needs of the developing organism. J. Morphol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine exposure fails to produce delayed degeneration of substantia nigra neurons in monkeys
Authors: Garrido‐Gil Pablo , Belzunegui Silvia , Sebastián Waldy San , Izal‐Azcárate Amaya , López Berta , Marcilla Irene , Luquin Maria Rosario 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWe assessed the presence of degenerating neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of parkinsonian monkeys. For this purpose, we used two histological markers of cellular death, Fluoro Jade B (FJB) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL). Eight monkeys were subacutelly treated with four to six 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) injections (1–1.5 mg/kg, cumulative dose) and sacrificed 1 week and 11 months after last MPTP injection. Eight additional monkeys were chronically exposed to MPTP (4.5–15.3 mg/kg, cumulative dose) and sacrificed 6–35 months after last MPTP dose. Three intact monkeys served as controls. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐ and TUNEL‐positive cells was quantified in SNpc and VTA and colocalization of FJB‐positive and TUNEL‐positive cells with neuronal (TH, NeuN, MAP2) and glial markers (human ferritin, GFAP) assessed on doubly labelled tissue sections. Only MPTP monkeys with 1‐week survival displayed few doubly FJB‐TH‐labelled cells. Both groups of subacute MPTP monkeys, but not chronic MPTP monkeys, showed a significant increased number of TUNEL‐positive cells in SNpc. TUNEL‐positive cells exhibited morphological features and histological markers indicative of glial cells, whereas TUNEL/NeuN or TUNEL/MAP‐2 colocalization was not observed. Our results indicate that MPTP treatment produced a nonapoptotic cell death of dopaminergic cells and the activation of the apoptotic cascade in glial cells. More importantly, we failed to demonstrate the existence of a delayed neurodegenerative process in the dopaminergic neurons after concluding MPTP injection thus, casting doubt on the validity of the “progressive model” created by repeated MPTP administration to monkeys. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Blockade of the 5‐HT3receptor for days causes sustained relief from mechanical allodynia following spinal cord injury
Authors: Chen Yuhua , Oatway Mark A. , Weaver Lynne C. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractChronic neuropathic pain is a frequent, serious outcome of spinal cord injury (SCI) that is highly refractory to treatment. Serotonin can contribute to neuropathic pain after SCI, as suggested by our previous observation that transient blockade of the 5‐HT3receptor by intrathecal injections of the antagonist ondansetron reduces mechanical allodynia after SCI in rats. The current study determined whether intrathecal or intravenous infusion of ondansetron for 3 or 7 days, respectively, could cause sustained blockade of mechanical allodynia at and below the level of a twelfth thoracic clip compression injury in rats. Intrathecal 3‐day infusion of ondansetron (2.0 μg/hr), targeted to the cord rostral to the SCI and commencing at 28 days after SCI, decreased at‐level mechanical allodynia by 40% and below‐level allodynia by 60% compared with saline‐treated rats (controls). This reduction was sustained throughout drug delivery and for 1 day afterward. During the next 3 days, allodynia gradually returned toward the values of saline‐treated rats. An initial experiment showed that bolus intravenous injections of ondansetron (20–100 μg) at 28 days after SCI decreased both at‐ and below‐level allodynia for 90–120 min. Intravenous 7‐day infusions (20 μg/hr), commencing at 28 days after SCI, significantly decreased at‐level allodynia by 48% and below‐level allodynia by 51% compared with controls. This reduction of allodynia lasted throughout the infusion and for 1–3 days afterward while pain responses gradually approached those of controls. These findings suggest a potential role of 5‐HT3receptor antagonism in the relief of neuropathic pain after SCI in humans. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Minimum information about animal experiments: supplier is also important
Authors: Lonjon Nicolas , Prieto Monica , Haton Henri , Brøchner Christian B. , Bauchet Luc , Costalat Vincent , Privat Alain , Gaviria Manuel , Perrin Florence E. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractIt has now been established that functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) depends on several parameters, including animal strain. Here we demonstrate that rats from the same strain (Wistar) but from two independent commercial suppliers present different motor, sensory, and autonomic outcomes after a standard model of SCI, the so‐called compression model. Recovery is correlated with the extension of the lesion, and we show that the vertebral canal diameter varies between the two suppliers. To substantiate this point, we carried out another set of experiments, with the so‐called contusion model, which requires bone ablation and thus whose extension is not related to vertebral canal diameter. We show that there is no difference between the two suppliers. The purpose of our communication is to alert researchers on how crucial it is to control experimental parameters as closely as possible and to establish a standard for animal experiment in order to avoid unexpected biases. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endophytic fungi found in association with Smallanthus sonchifolius (Asteraceae) as resourceful producers of cytotoxic bioactive natural products
Authors: Gallo Margareth B. C. , Chagas Fernanda O. , Almeida Marília O. , Macedo Cláudia C. , Cavalcanti Bruno C. , Barros Francisco W. A. , de Moraes Manoel O. , Costa‐Lotufo Letícia V. , Pessoa Cláudia , Bastos Jairo K. , Pupo Mônica T. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSmallanthus sonchifolius is a traditional Andean plant which has been cultured mainly in Brazil, Japan and New Zealand due to its medicinal properties. A study of the endophytic fungi associated to the plant was carried out in order to characterize new cytotoxic agents. Thirty two fungal strains were isolated and submitted to cultivation and extraction producing 186 extracts. Of these, 12% displayed moderate to high cytotoxic activities and were considered promising anticancer compound sources. The ethyl acetate fractions of Nigrospora sphaerica and Phoma betae liquid fermentations contained the synergistic compounds 8‐hydroxy‐6‐methoxy‐3‐methylisocoumarin and (22E,24R)‐ergosta‐4,6,8(14),22‐tetraen‐3‐one which are potential compounds for drug discovery. Another isolated compound, pimara‐7,15‐dien‐3‐β‐ol diterpene is being characterized for the first time through a detailed spectroscopic analysis including GC/MS, homo‐ and hetero‐nuclear correlated NMR experiments (HMQC, HMBC, COSY and NOEdiff) along with its optical rotation. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ecological distribution and characterization of four collections of Bacillus thuringiensis strains
Authors: Hernández‐Rodríguez Carmen Sara , Ferré Juan 
Published: September 2008

AbstractFour Collections comprising 507 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis have been analysed in this study. A different ecological origin characterizes each collection. Collection No. 1 was established from soil, dust, and grain samples from Spanish agricultural and non‐cultivated soil, silos, and mills. Collection No. 2 is the result of a screening in olive‐crop related environments in Spain. Collection No. 3 is made up of strains isolated from potato‐growing areas in Bolivia. Collection No. 4 has been generated for this study and includes strains collected from diverse types of samples belonging to several habitats from Spain and Mexico. Crystal morphologies and cry1A and cry2 gene content were assessed for all isolates from each collection. In the 507 strains, the most common crystal morphology was bipyramidal crystals. Frequencies of cry1A and cry2 genes were 61.5% and 59.2%, respectively, and there was a strong correlation between the occurrence of cry1A and cry2 genes. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)