bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlated Expression ofCD47andSIRPAin Bone Marrow and in Peripheral Blood Predicts Recurrence in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Nagahara Makoto , Mimori Koshi , Kataoka Akemi , Ishii Hideshi , Tanaka Fumiaki , Nakagawa Tsuyoshi , Sato Takanobu , Ono Shinji , Sugihara Kenichi , Mori Masaki
Published: August 2010

Purpose: CD47 plays a variety of roles in intercellular signaling. Herein, we focused on the clinicopathologic significance of CD47 expression in human breast cancer. Our data suggest that the correlation between CD47 and signal regulatory protein α (SIRPA) expression may play a key role in the progression of breast cancer.

Experimental Design: Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate CD47 mRNA and SIRPA mRNA expression in bone marrow and in peripheral blood from 738 cases of breast cancer.

Results: In patients with high levels of CD47 expression in the bone marrow, survival was significantly poorer compared with patients with low levels of CD47 expression [disease-free survival (DFS), P = 0.0035; overall survival (OS), P = 0.015]. Furthermore, high CD47 expression group in a multivariate analysis showed significance as an independent variable for poorer prognosis in DFS (P = 0.024). In the peripheral blood, however, high CD47 expression in patients was not an independent and significant prognostic factor for DFS and OS in a multivariate analysis. CD47 expression was strongly correlated with SIRPA expression in both the bone marrow (P < 0.0001) and peripheral blood (P < 0.0001) of breast cancer patients.

Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to show that a host factor in bone marrow confers prognostic importance. CD47 is an important biomarker in breast cancer, and functions as a prognostic factor for DFS. Moreover, we suggest that the poor prognosis of breast cancer patients with high expression of CD47 is due to an active CD47/SIRPA signaling pathway in circulating cells. Clin Cancer Res; 16(18); 4625–35. ©2010 AACR.
Apelin Is a Crucial Factor for Hypoxia-Induced Retinal Angiogenesis
Authors: Kasai Atsushi , Ishimaru Yuki , Kinjo Toshihiko , Satooka Tatsuya , Matsumoto Nao , Yoshioka Yasuhiro , Yamamuro Akiko , Gomi Fumi , Shintani Norihito , Baba Akemichi , Maeda Sadaaki
Published: August 2010

Objective—

To investigate the role of endogenous apelin in pathological retinal angiogenesis.

Methods and Results—

The progression of ischemic retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, is closely associated with pathological retinal angiogenesis, mainly induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin. Although antiangiogenic therapies using anti-VEGF drugs are effective in treating retinal neovascularization, they show a transient efficacy and cause general adverse effects. New therapeutic target molecules are needed to resolve these issues. It was recently demonstrated that the apelin/APJ system, a newly deorphanized G protein–coupled receptor system, is involved in physiological retinal vascularization. Retinal angiography and mRNA expression were examined during hypoxia-induced retinal angiogenesis in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Compared with age-matched control mice, retinal apelin expression was dramatically increased during the hypoxic phase in oxygen-induced retinopathy model mice. APJ was colocalized in proliferative cells, which were probably endothelial cells of the ectopic vessels in the vitreous body. Apelin deficiency hardly induced hypoxia-induced retinal angiogenesis despite the upregulation of VEGF and erythropoietin mRNA in oxygen-induced retinopathy model mice. Apelin small and interfering RNA suppressed the proliferation of endothelial cells independent of the VEGF/VEGF receptor 2 signaling pathway.

Conclusion—

These results suggest that apelin is a prerequisite factor for hypoxia-induced retinal angiogenesis.
Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression and Functional Response to Nitric Oxide Are Both Important Modulators of Circulating Angiogenic Cell Response to Angiogenic Stimuli
Authors: Heiss Christian , Schanz Andrea , Amabile Nicolas , Jahn Sarah , Chen Qiumei , Wong Maelene L. , Rassaf Tienush , Heinen Yvonne , Cortese-Krott Miriam , Grossman William , Yeghiazarians Yerem , Springer Matthew L.
Published: August 2010

Objective—

Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs), also termed endothelial progenitor cells, play an integral role in vascular repair and are functionally impaired in coronary artery disease (CAD). The role of nitric oxide (NO) in CAC function is poorly understood. We hypothesized that CAC migration toward angiogenic signals is modulated by both NO synthase (NOS) expression and functional response to NO.

Methods and Results—

Similar to endothelial cells, CAC chemotaxis to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was blocked by inhibition of NOS, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, or guanylyl cyclase or by treatment with an NO scavenger. Addition of an NO donor (
S
-nitroso-
N
-acetylpenicillamine) and the NOS substrate
l
-arginine increased random cell migration (chemokinesis) and enhanced VEGF-dependent chemotaxis. Healthy CACs expressed endothelial NOS, but endothelial NOS was not detected in CAD patient CACs. Both chemokinesis and chemotaxis to VEGF of patient CACs were decreased compared with healthy CACs but were restored to healthy values by
S
-nitroso-
N
-acetylpenicillamine. In parallel, CAD patients exhibited lower flow-mediated vasodilation and plasma NO source nitrite than young, healthy subjects, indicating endothelial dysfunction with reduced NO bioavailability.

Conclusion—

NOS activity is required for CAC chemotaxis. In CAD patients, impairment of NOS expression and NO bioavailability, rather than response to NO, may contribute to dysfunction of CACs and limit their regenerative capacity.
Depletion of Intracellular Ca
2+
Stores Stimulates the Translocation of Vanilloid Transient Receptor Potential 4-C1 Heteromeric Channels to the Plasma Membrane
Authors: Ma Xin , Cao Jingyuan , Luo Jianhong , Nilius Bernd , Huang Yu , Ambudkar Indu S. , Yao Xiaoqiang
Published: August 2010

Objective—

To examine the effect of Ca
2+
store depletion on the translocation of vanilloid transient receptor potential (TRPV) 4-C1 heteromeric channels to the plasma membrane.

Methods and Results—

Vesicular trafficking is a key mechanism for controlling the surface expression of TRP channels in the plasma membrane, where they perform their function. TRP channels in vivo are often composed of heteromeric subunits. Experiments using total internal fluorescence reflection microscopy and biotin surface labeling show that Ca
2+
store depletion enhanced TRPV4-C1 translocation into the plasma membrane in human embryonic kidney 293 cells that were coexpressed with TRPV4 and canonical transient receptor potential 1 (TRPC1). Fluorescent Ca
2+
measurement and patch clamp studies demonstrated that Ca
2+
store depletion enhanced 4α-PDD–stimulated Ca
2+
influx and cation current. The translocation required stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1). TRPV4-C1 heteromeric channels were more favorably translocated to the plasma membrane than TRPC1 or TRPV4 homomeric channels. Similar results were obtained in native vascular endothelial cells.

Conclusion—

Ca
2+
store depletion stimulates the insertion of TRPV4-C1 heteromeric channels into the plasma membrane, resulting in an augmented Ca
2+
influx in response to flow in the human embryonic kidney cell overexpression system and native endothelial cells.
A Granular Core for Self-healing, Variable Modulus Sandwich Composites
Authors: Phillips David M. , Baur Jeffery W.
Published: August 2010

Sandwich composites that exhibit complete mechanical and geometric healing when subjected to three-point bending are realized using a novel, pressure-triggered granular core. The sandwich composites are constructed with fiberglass-reinforced, epoxy face sheets and a granular core consisting of noncohesive, glass microballoons. By controlling the granular core hydrostatic compression in the range of 0—0.083 MPa, the observed shear modulus of the core spanned nearly three orders of magnitude. Core compression is achieved by evacuating the interior of the sandwich structure and allowing the atmospheric pressure acting on the sandwich to compress the core. Although the compressed cores typically begin to yield near 1% shear strain, the degenerate nature of the core allows for complete recovery of the modulus even after a large strain. By exploiting the inherent stiffness of the sandwich skin and the tunable modulus of the granular core, these sandwich composites are able to undergo healing cycles and completely recover both their mechanical and geometric properties.
Validity of powder metallurgy-based method for processing carbon fibers reinforced titanium matrix composites
Authors: Even C. , Arvieu C. , Coutand B. , Quenisset J.M.
Published: August 2010

Titanium matrix composites reinforced by continuous carbon fibers were prepared using powder metallurgy (PM) and hot compression. The study of fiber—matrix interfaces has shown that direct coupling between carbon and titanium is possible without interposing any diffusion barrier, provided compression temperatures are lower than 700°C. However, high pressures of about 200 MPa for 1 h must be applied. The validity of the used PM-based processing method has been discussed and some discrepancy between expected and measured mechanical performance has been justified, which enables directions for processing improvement to be proposed.
Base Closings: The Rise and Decline of the US Military Bases Issue in Spain, 1975-2005
Authors: Cooley Alexander , Hopkin Jonathan
Published: August 2010

This article examines the conditions under which the United States foreign military bases become a contentious political issue in democratic base-hosting countries. Democratic consolidation, and in particular the institutionalization of the party system, reduces the incentives for political elites to mobilize domestic political support in opposition to foreign military presence. In the Spanish case, changes in the pattern of party competition explain why the basing issue was particularly contentious in domestic politics from 1981 to 1988, despite long-standing and profound public opposition to the use of the bases by the United States, and most recently in the 2003 Iraq campaign. Neither a public opinion explanation, focusing on anti-Americanism, nor a security-based explanation, focusing on the nature of bilateral security relations, can explain these same trends. The argument illuminates long-neglected important interactions in emerging democracies between party system dynamics and foreign policy positions and has important implications for determining the domestic political conditions under which overseas democratic countries will contest United States security hegemony.
Use of a Postfall Assessment Tool to Prevent Falls
Authors: Gray-Miceli Deanna , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Johnson Jerry
Published: August 2010

Nursing research in fall prevention should not only identify etiologic risk factors to fall but seek to identify underlying causes, whenever possible. Few studies have investigated the use of a comprehensive postfall assessment tool (PFAT) by nurses as an intervention for the prevention of recurrent falls, especially one that prompts nurses to consider all potential causes through a categorization scheme. This study tested use of a comprehensive PFAT as an intervention, prospectively, facility-wide for 1 year by registered nurses using a pretest—posttest design. A 29.4% reduction in the fall rate ( z = 3.89, p < .001), 27.6% decline in total falls experienced by all fallers ( p < .001), and a 34.0% decline for recurrent fallers ( p = .025) from preintervention to intervention year was observed when trained nurses categorized falls according to perceived causes. These declines are likely due to consistent and rigorous use by trained nursing staff, prompting their critical examination of each fall.
The impact of globalization on professional accounting firms: Evidence from New Zealand
Authors: Baskerville Rachel F. , Hay David
Published: August 2010

This study examines how the survivors survived the turbulence of affiliations and global mergers among accounting firms in the 1980s. The core data in this project are narratives from an oral history study of partners in large New Zealand accounting firms in the 1980s. The survival of accounting firms and the careers of their partners were substantially affected by their ability to form and maintain affiliations with global firms. The major benefit of Big 8 affiliation was improved auditing technology, and formerly important audit firms without an affiliation to a Big 8 firm disintegrated. Over the same period, accounting firms generally also became more managerial and bureaucratic. This was consistent with trends in other professional organizations.
Accounting by women: Fear, favour and the path to professional recognition for Australian women accountants
Authors: Cooper Kathie
Published: August 2010

This article traces the campaign by women in Australia to gain admission to accounting bodies and is set within the context of views of the abilities and place of women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In general, women were perceived as having neither the nature nor the intelligence for the commercial world and were better suited to being companions to men rather than competitors. The article demonstrates that even though some men thought that men and women should have equal opportunities, many others actively or passively resisted any movement that would allow women to compete with men within the workplace, including the profession of accounting. For almost 40 years, women faced opposition to gaining membership of professional accounting bodies in the UK and Australia, on the basis that the rights of men were favoured along with a fear that these rights would be compromised if women had equal rights to compete in the workforce.
Discussing the Duluth Curriculum: Creating a Process of Change for Men Who Batter
Authors: Miller Scott
Published: August 2010

This is an edited version of a heretofore unpublished conversation between Ellen Pence and Luis Aravena. It provides a clear explanation of the philosophy and method of the Duluth Model men’s program, emphasizing the need to put the experience of women who have been abused at the center of our work with abusive men, especially by helping abusive men become more self-reflective with regard to their behavior.
The Contributions of Ellen Pence to Batterer Programming
Authors: Gondolf Edward W.
Published: August 2010

Ellen Pence helped build the foundation of batterer programming with the Duluth program. The program forged new ground and bridged the concerns of advocates and criminal justice officials by developing its “Power and Control Wheel” from women’s experiences with abuse. Its dialogical format, responding to vignettes and control logs, helps to engage men in a reflective process, to monitor their behavior, and to identify alternative outlooks and responses. At the same time, Ellen’s work remains rooted in a gender analysis and a coordinated community response. Critics of Duluth programming miss the mark with a distorted caricature of Duluth, neglect of substantiating research, and the bias from their own personal agendas. Ellen’s personal touch of insightful humor and personal interest has helped to move forward the lessons of Duluth and the field itself. Her groundbreaking program helps to sort through the disarray of approaches among batterer programs today.
Desert, democracy, and consumer surplus
Authors: Dekker Teun J.
Published: August 2010

If one wishes to give individuals what they deserve, one must find some way of appraising those characteristics that render them deserving. In modern democratic societies, it seems attractive to base this appraisal on an aggregation of the valuations individuals hold of the desert bases under consideration. Some have argued that the market can provide such an appraisal. However, I argue that the market does not provide a satisfactory democratic appraisal that is relevant for desert, as it allows for the existence of net consumer surplus. Nevertheless, I submit that a procedure that does not leave any net consumer surplus would succeed where the market fails. Taking the average valuation of the individuals in society for a given desert base would meet this requirement. Hence, I claim that such a procedure can provide the satisfactory democratic appraisal that the market cannot, and can be used to give individuals what they deserve.
Google Earth and the nation state
Authors: Kumar Sangeet
Published: August 2010

This article analyzes the nature of sovereignty in a globalizing world and the role new media entities play within it. It studies a protracted engagement between Google and nation states on the ability of the newly launched software Google Earth to zoom in on classified locations. Reading this tussle as an engagement between an older form of sovereignty and a newer one, this article argues that new media entities such as Google represent a new modality of power, increasingly making inroads into the Westphalian nation-state system. This new mode of power operates by presenting itself as ‘centerless’ thus claiming to operate in the interests of the larger global good. Given their architecture as a ‘distributed network’ they are increasingly difficult to regulate, thus making their challenge hard to counter. Interrogating their claim of having no interests of their own, this article argues that digital networks continue to reify older hierarchies within the global order even as they claim to erase those very hierarchies.
Identification and functional analysis of endothelial tip cell–enriched genes
Authors: del Toro Raquel , Prahst Claudia , Mathivet Thomas , Siegfried Geraldine , Kaminker Joshua S. , Larrivee Bruno , Breant Christiane , Duarte Antonio , Takakura Nobuyuki , Fukamizu Akiyoshi , Penninger Josef , Eichmann Anne
Published: August 2010

Sprouting of developing blood vessels is mediated by specialized motile endothelial cells localized at the tips of growing capillaries. Following behind the tip cells, endothelial stalk cells form the capillary lumen and proliferate. Expression of the Notch ligand Delta-like-4 (Dll4) in tip cells suppresses tip cell fate in neighboring stalk cells via Notch signaling. In DLL4+/− mouse mutants, most retinal endothelial cells display morphologic features of tip cells. We hypothesized that these mouse mutants could be used to isolate tip cells and so to determine their genetic repertoire. Using transcriptome analysis of retinal endothelial cells isolated from DLL4+/− and wild-type mice, we identified 3 clusters of tip cell–enriched genes, encoding extracellular matrix degrading enzymes, basement membrane components, and secreted molecules. Secreted molecules endothelial-specific molecule 1, angiopoietin 2, and apelin bind to cognate receptors on endothelial stalk cells. Knockout mice and zebrafish morpholino knockdown of apelin showed delayed angiogenesis and reduced proliferation of stalk cells expressing the apelin receptor APJ. Thus, tip cells may regulate angiogenesis via matrix remodeling, production of basement membrane, and release of secreted molecules, some of which regulate stalk cell behavior.
FLT3 as a therapeutic target in AML: still challenging after all these years
Authors: Kindler Thomas , Lipka Daniel B. , Fischer Thomas
Published: August 2010

Mutations within the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene on chromosome 13q12 have been detected in up to 35% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and represent one of the most frequently identified genetic alterations in AML. Over the last years, FLT3 has emerged as a promising molecular target in therapy of AML. Here, we review results of clinical trials and of correlative laboratory studies using small molecule FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in AML patients. We also review mechanisms of primary and secondary drug resistance to FLT3-TKI, and from the data currently available we summarize lessons learned from FLT3-TKI monotherapy. Finally, for using FLT3 as a molecular target, we discuss novel strategies to overcome treatment failure and to improve FLT3 inhibitor therapy.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress response in an INS-1 pancreatic β-cell line with inducible expression of a folding-deficient proinsulin
Authors: Hartley Taila , Siva Madura , Lai Elida , Teodoro Tracy , Zhang Liling , Volchuk Allen
Published: August 2010

Background

Cells respond to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER) stress by activating the unfolded protein response. To study the ER stress response in pancreatic β-cells we developed a model system that allows for pathophysiological ER stress based on the Akita mouse. This mouse strain expresses a mutant insulin 2 gene (C96Y), which prevents normal proinsulin folding causing ER stress and eventual β-cell apoptosis. A double-stable pancreatic β-cell line (pTet-ON INS-1) with inducible expression of insulin 2 (C96Y) fused to EGFP was generated to study the ER stress response.

Results

Expression of Ins 2 (C96Y)-EGFP resulted in activation of the ER stress pathways (PERK, IRE1 and ATF6) and caused dilation of the ER. To identify gene expression changes resulting from mutant insulin expression we performed microarray expression profiling and real time PCR experiments. We observed an induction of various ER chaperone, co-chaperone and ER-associated degradation genes after 24 h and an increase in pro-apoptotic genes (Chop and Trib3) following 48 h of mutant insulin expression. The latter changes occurred at a time when general apoptosis was detected in the cell population, although the relative amount of cell death was low. Inhibiting the proteasome or depleting Herp protein expression increased mutant insulin levels and enhanced cell apoptosis, indicating that ER-associated degradation is maintaining cell survival.

Conclusions

The inducible mutant insulin expressing cell model has allowed for the identification of the ER stress response in β-cells and the repertoire of genes/proteins induced is unique to this cell type. ER-associated degradation is essential in maintaining cell survival in cells expressing mutant insulin. This cell model will be useful for the molecular characterization of ER stress-induced genes.
Transcription profiling of fertilization and early seed development events in a solanaceous species using a 7.7 K cDNA microarray from Solanum chacoenseovules
Authors: Tebbji Faiza , Nantel André , Matton Daniel P
Published: August 2010

Background

To provide a broad analysis of gene expression changes in developing embryos from a solanaceous species, we produced amplicon-derived microarrays with 7741 ESTs isolated from Solanum chacoense ovules bearing embryos from all developmental stages. Our aims were to: 1) identify genes expressed in a tissue-specific and temporal-specific manner; 2) define clusters of genes showing similar patterns of spatial and temporal expression; and 3) identify stage-specific or transition-specific candidate genes for further functional genomic analyses.

Results

We analyzed gene expression during S. chacoense embryogenesis in a series of experiments with probes derived from ovules isolated before and after fertilization (from 0 to 22 days after pollination), and from leaves, anthers, and styles. From the 6374 unigenes present in our array, 1024 genes were differentially expressed (≥ ± 2 fold change, p value ≤ 0.01) in fertilized ovules compared to unfertilized ovules and only limited expression overlap was observed between these genes and the genes expressed in the other tissues tested, with the vast majority of the fertilization-regulated genes specifically or predominantly expressed in ovules (955 genes). During embryogenesis three major expression profiles corresponding to early, middle and late stages of embryo development were identified. From the early and middle stages, a large number of genes corresponding to cell cycle, DNA processing, signal transduction, and transcriptional regulation were found. Defense and stress response-related genes were found in all stages of embryo development. Protein biosynthesis genes, genes coding for ribosomal proteins and other components of the translation machinery were highly expressed in embryos during the early stage. Genes for protein degradation were overrepresented later in the middle and late stages of embryo development. As expected, storage protein transcripts accumulated predominantly in the late stage of embryo development.

Conclusion

Our analysis provides the first study in a solanaceous species of the transcriptional program that takes place during the early phases of plant reproductive development, including all embryogenesis steps during a comprehensive time-course. Our comparative expression profiling strategy between fertilized and unfertilized ovules identified a subset of genes specifically or predominantly expressed in ovules while a closer analysis between each consecutive time point allowed the identification of a subset of stage-specific and transition-specific genes.
Results of five-year systematic screening for latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers in Portugal
Authors: Torres Costa José , Silva Rui , Sá Raul , Cardoso Maria João , Nienhaus Albert
Published: August 2010

Introduction

The risk of tuberculosis (TB) in healthcare workers (HCWs) is related to its incidence in the general population, and increased by the specific risk as a professional group. The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HCWs in Portugal using the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) was analyzed over a five-year period.

Methods

A screening programme for LTBI in HCWs was conducted, with clinical evaluations, TST, IGRA, and chest radiography. Putative risk factors for LTBI were assessed by a standardised questionnaire.

Results

Between September 2005 and June 2009, 5,414 HCWs were screened. The prevalence of LTBI was 55.2% and 25.9% using a TST ≥ 10 mm or an IGRA test result (QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube) INF-γ ≥0.35 IU/mL as a criterion for LTBI, respectively. In 53 HCWs active TB was diagnosed. The number of HCWs with newly detected active TB decreased from 19 in the first year to 6 in 2008. Risk assessment was poorly related to TST diameter. However, physicians (1.7%) and nurses (1.0%) had the highest rates of active TB.

Conclusions

LTBI and TB burden among HCWs in Portugal is high. The screening of these professionals to identify HCWs with LTBI is essential in order to offer preventive chemotherapy to those with a high risk of future progression to disease. Systematic screening had a positive impact on the rate of active TB in HCWs either by early case detection or by increasing the awareness of HCWs and therefore the precautions taken by them.
Trans-generational epigenetic regulation of C. elegans primordial germ cells
Authors: Furuhashi Hirofumi , Takasaki Teruaki , Rechtsteiner Andreas , Li Tengguo , Kimura Hiroshi , Checchi Paula M , Strome Susan , Kelly William G
Published: August 2010

Background

The processes through which the germline maintains its continuity across generations has long been the focus of biological research. Recent studies have suggested that germline continuity can involve epigenetic regulation, including regulation of histone modifications. However, it is not clear how histone modifications generated in one generation can influence the transcription program and development of germ cells of the next.

Results

We show that the histone H3K36 methyltransferase maternal effect sterile (MES)-4 is an epigenetic modifier that prevents aberrant transcription activity in Caenorhabditis elegans primordial germ cells (PGCs). In mes-4 mutant PGCs, RNA Pol II activation is abnormally regulated and the PGCs degenerate. Genetic and genomewide analyses of MES-4-mediated H3K36 methylation suggest that MES-4 activity can operate independently of ongoing transcription, and may be predominantly responsible for maintenance methylation of H3K36 in germline-expressed loci.

Conclusions

Our data suggest a model in which MES-4 helps to maintain an 'epigenetic memory' of transcription that occurred in germ cells of previous generations, and that MES-4 and its epigenetic product are essential for normal germ cell development.
Multichannel matching pursuit for seismic trace decomposition
Authors: Wang Yanghua
Published: August 2010

The technique of matching pursuit can adaptively decompose a seismic trace into a series of wavelets. However, the solution is not unique and is also strongly affected by data noise. Multichannel matching pursuit (MCMP), exploiting lateral coherence as a constraint, might improve the uniqueness of the solution. It extracts a constituent wavelet that has an optimal correlation coefficient to neighboring traces, instead of to a single trace only. According to linearity theory, a wavelet shared by neighboring traces is the best match to the average of multiple traces, and therefore it might effectively suppress the data noise and stabilize the performance. It is found that the MCMP scheme greatly improves spatial continuity in decomposition and can generate a plausible time-frequency spectrum with high resolution for reservoir detection.
Oxidative stress in cold-induced hyperthyroid state
Authors: Venditti P. , Di Stefano L. , Di Meo S.
Published: August 2010

Exposure of homeothermic animals to low environmental temperature is associated with oxidative stress in several body tissues. Because cold exposure induces a condition of functional hyperthyroidism, the observation that tissue oxidative stress also happens in experimental hyperthyroidism, induced by 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3) treatment, suggests that this hormone is responsible for the oxidative damage found in tissues from cold-exposed animals. Examination of T3-responsive tissues, such as brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver, shows that changes in factors favoring oxidative modifications are similar in experimental and functional hyperthyroidism. However, differences are also apparent, likely due to the action of physiological regulators, such as noradrenaline and thyroxine, whose levels are different in cold-exposed and T3-treated animals. To date, there is evidence that biochemical changes underlying the thermogenic response to cold as well as those leading to oxidative stress require a synergism between T3- and noradrenaline-generated signals. Conversely, available results suggest that thyroxine (T4) supplies a direct contribution to cold-induced BAT oxidative damage, but contributes to the liver response only as a T3 precursor.
Kinetic and functional analysis of the small RNA methyltransferase HEN1: The catalytic domain is essential for preferential modification of duplex RNA
Authors: Vilkaitis Giedrius , Plotnikova Alexandra , Klimašauskas Saulius
Published: August 2010

The HEN1 RNA methyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana catalyzes S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet)-dependent 2′-O-methylation at the 3′-termini of small double-stranded RNAs and is a crucial factor in the biogenesis of plant small noncoding RNAs, such as miRNAs or siRNAs. We performed functional and kinetic studies of the full-length HEN1 methyltransferase and its truncated form comprising the C-terminal part of the protein (residues 666–942) with a variety of model RNA substrates. Kinetic parameters obtained with natural RNA substrates indicate that HEN1 is highly catalytically efficient in the absence of any supplementary proteins. We find that the enzyme modifies individual strands in succession leading to complete methylation of an RNA duplex. The rates of methyl group transfer to individual strands of hemimethylated substrates under single turnover conditions are comparable with the multiple turnover rate under steady-state conditions, suggesting that release of reaction products is not a rate-limiting event in the reaction cycle. The truncated protein, which includes conserved motifs characteristic for AdoMet binding, efficiently modifies double-stranded RNA substrates in vitro; however, in contrast to the full-length methyltransferase, it shows weaker interactions with both substrates and is sensitive to base mispairing in the first and second positions of the RNA duplex. Our findings suggest an important role for the N-terminal domains in stabilizing the catalytic complex and indicate that major structural determinants required for selective recognition and methylation of RNA duplexes reside in the C-terminal domain.
New structural aspects of FKBP38 activation
Authors: Maestre-Martínez Mitcheell , Haupt Katja , Edlich Frank , Jahreis Günther , Jarczowski Franziska , Erdmann Frank , Fischer Gunter , Lücke Christian
Published: August 2010

The human FK506-binding protein 38 (FKBP38) regulates Bcl-2 in neuronal apoptosis. To control Bcl-2 activity, FKBP38 requires a prior interaction with the Ca2+-sensor calmodulin (CaM). The resulting FKBP38/CaM complex is unique within the FKBP family. Here, we present novel insights into the structural arrangement of this complex. Chemical shift perturbation analyses of the individual protein domains revealed two separate interaction sites between FKBP38 and CaM. On the one hand, residues Glu303, Tyr307 and Leu311, belonging to the predicted CaM-binding site at the C-terminal end of FKBP38, become embedded in the hydrophobic target protein-binding cleft of the C-terminal CaM lobe. On the other hand, in a second binding interaction, the N-terminal end of the catalytic FKBP38 domain shows surface contacts to the AB and CD loops of CaM as well as the adjacent helices. Furthermore, a Glu-rich region at the non-structured FKBP38 N-terminus features additional contacts to CaM helix A. In combination with previous results, we thus conclude that the FKBP38/CaM complex is constituted by (i) a Ca2+-dependent interaction of the CaM-binding motif at the C-terminal end of FKBP38 with the C-terminal CaM lobe and (ii) a Ca2+-independent interaction between the N-terminal CaM lobe and the N-terminal region of the catalytic FKBP38 domain.
The hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1 functions as both a positive and negative modulator of aging
Authors: Leiser Scott F. , Kaeberlein Matt
Published: August 2010

In the past year and a half, five studies have independently established a direct connection between the hypoxic response transcription factor, HIF-1, and aging inCaenorhabditis elegans. These studies demonstrated that HIF-1 can both promote and limit longevity via pathways that are mechanistically distinct. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding modulation of aging by HIF-1 and speculate on potential aspects of HIF-1 function that could be relevant for mammalian longevity and healthspan.
The relationship between three heat shock protein 70 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to lung cancer
Authors: Wang Yuzhen , Zhou Fang , Wu Yiming , Xu Dong , Li Weihui , Liang Shoupei
Published: August 2010

Background: Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) has been shown to act as a chaperone and be associated with a variety of tumors. We investigated HSP70-1 G+190C, HSP70-2 A+1267G, and HSP70-hom T+2437C polymorphisms to assess whether genetic variation in HSP70 plays a role in the occurrence and development of lung cancer.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted using 159 patients with lung cancer and 202 control subjects. Genomic DNA was typed for HSP70 polymorphisms using polymerase chain reactions with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the relative risks of lung cancer.

Results: There were significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between patients and controls for the HSP70-1 G+190C polymorphisms with and without adjustment for age, gender, smoking history, drinking history and family history of cancer (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the polymorphisms of HSP70-2 A+1267G and HSP70-hom T+2437C. The haplotype analysis showed that the G/A/C and C/G/T haplotypes were associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer compared to the G/G/T haplotype. After adjustments for other risk factors, such as age, gender, drinking history and family history of cancer, the interactions between the HSP70-1 and HSP70-hom genotypes and smoking were confirmed [I(AB), 2.56 and 5.12, respectively].

Conclusions:
HSP70-1 G+190C may be a functional polymorphism and affect susceptibility to lung cancer, and homozygous C/C genotype may enhance the risk of lung cancer. In addition, smoking along with HSP70-1 G+190C and HSP70-hom T+2437C, may increase the risk of lung cancer.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1657–63.
Effects of long-term progesterone exposure on porcine uterine gene expression: progesterone alone does not induce secreted phosphoprotein 1 (osteopontin) in glandular epithelium
Authors: Bailey Daniel W , Dunlap Kathrin A , Erikson David W , Patel Atish K , Bazer Fuller W , Burghardt Robert C , Johnson Greg A
Published: August 2010

Pigs experience significant conceptus loss near mid-gestation, correlating with increasing glandular epithelial (GE) development and secretory activity. Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1, osteopontin) increases in GE between days 30 and 40 of pregnancy and is expressed in the GE of day 90 pseudopregnant pigs, suggesting that progesterone (P4) from corpora lutea is responsible for induction of SPP1 in GE. In this study, pigs were ovariectomized and treated daily with P4to assess effects of 40 days of P4exposure on SPP1, P4receptor (PGR), uteroferrin (ACP5), and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) expression in porcine endometria.PGRmRNA decreased in pigs injected with P4compared with pigs injected with corn oil (CO), and PGRs were downregulated in the luminal epithelium (LE) and GE.ACP5mRNA increased in pigs injected with P4compared with pigs injected with CO, andACP5was induced in the GE of P4-treated pigs.FGF7mRNA increased in pigs injected with P4compared with pigs injected with CO, andFGF7was induced in the LE and GE of P4-treated pigs.SPP1mRNA was not different between pigs injected with P4compared with pigs injected with CO, and SPP1 was not present in the GE of P4-treated pigs. Therefore, long-term P4, in the absence of ovarian and/or conceptus factors, does not induce SPP1 expression in GE. We hypothesize that a servomechanism involving sequential effects of multiple hormones and cytokines, similar to those for sheep and humans, is required for GE differentiation and function, including the synthesis and secretion of SPP1.
Metal Oxide-based (ZnO and IZO) Thin Film Transistors and Circuits
Authors: Khan Shahrukh Akbar , Hatalis Miltiadis K.
Published: August 2010

This work emphasizes room temperature deposition and fabrication of staggered bottom-gate ZnO and IZO TFTs. We synthesized these oxide thin films by RF sputtering in an Ar/Oxygen ambience with no intentional heating of the substrates. Bottom gate staggered structure ZnO TFTs were fabricated (Ti/Au/Ti gate and Au/Ti source/drain) and characterized. ZnO TFTs retained well-behaved transfer characteristics down to a channel length of 4 μm with field effect mobility of 5 cm2/V.s, on/off current ratio exceeding 106 and threshold voltage around -5V. The IZO TFTs, with ITO as gate metal layer and highly conducting amorphous IZO forming the source/drain material had reasonably high field effect mobility of 20 cm2/V.s and on/off current ratio exceeding 106, which are well suited for active matrix display applications. Finally, to demonstrate the viability of oxide-based device integration, simple circuits such as inverters and pseudo-logic circuits are designed, fabricated and tested.
Infrared Emission Properties of Ho Doped KPb2Cl5
Authors: Hömmerich Uwe , Oyebola Olusola , Brown Ei , Trivedi Sudhir B. , Bluiett Althea G. , Zavada John M.
Published: August 2010

We report on the optical properties of Ho doped KPb2Cl5 (Ho: KPC) for potential applications as an infrared (IR) solid-state gain medium. The investigated crystal was synthesized from commercial starting materials of PbCl2, KCl, and HoCl3 followed by several purification steps including directional freezing, zone-refinement, and chlorination. The Ho: KPC crystal was subsequently grown by Bridgman technique. Following optical excitation at 885 nm, several IR emission bands were observed at room-temperature with average wavelengths at 1.07, 1.18, 1.35, 1.65, 2.00, 2.94, and 3.96 μm. The emission at 3.96 μm originated from the 5I5 -> 5I6 transitions of Ho3+ and was further evaluated for possible applications in mid-IR lasers. The decay time of the 5I5 excited state was measured to be 5.0 ms at room-temperature. The long 5I5 lifetime is favorable for laser applications and indicates that non-radiative multi-phonon relaxations are small in Ho: KPC. Based on a Judd-Ofelt analysis, the emission quantum efficiency was determined to be near unity resulting in a peak emission cross-section of 0.62×10-20 cm2 at 3.96 μm. A drawback for laser applications is the long decay time of the lower 5I6 state with a value of 4.8 ms . Since the 3.96 μm transition terminates in the 5I6 level, its long lifetime will lead to population bottlenecking, which limits possible mid-IR lasing to pulsed and quasi-cw operation.
Magnetic and Electric Properties of Phase Separated Glass Ceramics in CoO–TiO2–SiO2 System Prepared by Melt Quenching Process
Authors: Nakamura Hiroki , Kishi Tetsuo , Muro Yuji , Tamura Ryuji , Tokiwa Kazuyasu , Yasumori Atsuo
Published: August 2010

The developments of high performance magnetic materials are required in various applications such as high sensitive magnetic sensing and hyperthermia in cancer treatment. Recently, Co-doped TiO2 has been received considerable attention as a candidate for such materials because of their ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. On the other hand, the phase-separated glasses and the derived glass-ceramics having unique micro-nano structure are utilized for various applications. In this study, the phase separated glass-ceramics in CoO-TiO2-SiO2 system with Al2O3 addition were prepared by melt-quenching process. The as-quenched samples consisted of the TiO2-rich phase and the SiO2-rich one which were formed by a nucleation-growth mechanism of phase separation. From the results of XRD measurements, the samples were found to have a TiO2 crystalline phase and a SiO2-rich glassy phase. The samples showed the magnetic property, which were regarded as a mixture of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. The samples also showed the electric conductivity at room temperature. However, the conductivity of the sample decreased with increase of the Co content, and the temperature dependence of the conductivity of the ferromagnetic samples was different from the other ones. As a result, the Co ions in the phase-separated glass-ceramics in TiO2-SiO2 system were found to affect on both the magnetic and the electric conductive characteristics.
The Effect of Carbon Black Additions on Electromagnetic Wave Absorption of Fe73Si16B7Nb3Cu1 Base P/M Sheets
Authors: Kim Sun-I , Sohn K. Y. , Park W. W.
Published: August 2010

Melt-spun Fe73-Si16-B7-Nb3-Cu1 (at%) amorphous strip was pulverized and then crystallized to obtain nano-grain structure at 540° for 1h under a nitrogen atmosphere. Carbon black of 0.1∼ 1wt% and its dispersant were mixed with the nano-grain structured Fe-based powder for 1h via ball milling for 1h. The mixture was tape-cast with a polymer-based organic binder, and dried at 100° to make a thin sheet. The microstructure and electromagnetic wave absorption properties of the sheet were investigated using a network analyzer. As a result, the properties of electromagnetic wave absorption were improved by the increase of dielectric loss, which was mainly caused by the increase of complex permittivity with the addition of carbon black.
Widening the Envelope of UK HLW Vitrification – Experimental Studies with High Waste Loading Formulations Containing Platinoids
Authors: Steele Carl James , Scales Charlie , Dunnett Barbara
Published: August 2010

Sellafield Ltd operates 3 vitrification lines to convert highly active concentrate liquor arising as a waste product of reprocessing operations into glass for safe interim storage in the Vitrified Product Store (VPS) prior to long term disposal.
Highly Active Liquor (HAL) is stored in Highly Active Storage Tanks and transferred to WVP in batches to the liquid stock tank. It is metered in a semi-continuous batch operation to a calciner (rotating tube furnace) where it is converted into an oxide powder (calcine). Glass frit is fed at the lower end of the calciner where it discharges into an Inconel melter vessel controlled at approximately 1100 C. The glass and calcine are melted together and then poured into a container as a batch operation. After two pours the container is allowed to cool, a lid is then fitted to the container, which after further cooling is welded to the container. This container is then cleaned and transferred to the VPS.
Platinoid species containing ruthenium, rhodium and palladium present in the HAL form insoluble oxide phases in the glass product. The platinoid concentration in the glass will increase with increasing waste oxide loading to an extent that settling of the platinoids in the glass may occur, leading to heel enrichment, poor melter performance and difficulty in draining the melter. The viscosity will also increase, which may require higher melter temperatures to mix and pour the molten glass and could result in enhanced corrosion of the melter.
Inactive laboratory scale experiments with different glass frit formulations have been performed to determine whether product quality could be maintained with higher platinoid concentrations. Operational envelopes with existing formulations were expanded to observe laboratory trial performance and determine any changes to resulting glass qualities. Also, glasses with high waste incorporations have been produced to test process capability and to ascertain any potential phase separation or devitrification issues that could affect either the process or product performance. Physical properties of the different glass formulations were performed to measure changes in viscosity, density and the rates of settling to examine the amount of phase separation that can occur.
The results have shown that ruthenium, palladium or rhodium were insoluble in the melt and were not evenly distributed throughout the glass but clustered together. These results will be used as a basis for further development work. This paper presents some findings of these experiments.
TEM of C-component Dislocations Associated with Pyramidal Slip Activity in Hexagonal α2-Ti3Al
Authors: Wiezorek Jörg M. K. , Kulovits Andreas K.
Published: August 2010

While only a minor phase constituent, the deformation behavior of the hexagonal α2-Ti3Al phase, significantly affects the mechanical properties of two-phase TiAl based alloys. We have used conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to investigate the fine structure of pyramidal plane glide dislocations, with Burgers vectors of the type b=<2c+a>, in α2-Ti3Al after room temperature compression of binary polysynthetically twinned TiAl normal to the lamellar interfaces to nominal plastic strains of 1%-7%. We report atomic resolution observations of non-co-planar dislocation core configurations for <2c+a>-dislocations and show that translamellar deformation twins active in the majority γ-TiAl phase play an important role in facilitating pyramidal plane slip in α2-Ti3Al in the lamellar two-phase alloys.