bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concanavalin A‐immobilized magnetic nanoparticles for selective enrichment of glycoproteins and application to glycoproteomics in hepatocelluar carcinoma cell line
Authors: Tang Jia , Liu Yang , Yin Peng , Yao Guoping , Yan Guoquan , Deng Chunhui , Zhang Xiangmin
Published: March 2010

Protein glycosylation is one of the most important PTMs in biological organism. Lectins such as concanavalin A (Con A) have been widely applied to N‐glycosylated protein investigation. In this study, we developed Con A‐immobilized magnetic nanoparticles for selective separation of glycoproteins. At first, a facile immobilization of Con A on aminophenylboronic acid‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles was performed by forming boronic acid‐sugar‐Con A bond in sandwich structure using methyl α‐D‐mannopyranoside as an intermedium. The selective capture ability of Con A‐modified magnetic nanoparticles for glycoproteins was tested using standard glycoproteins and cell lysate of human hepatocelluar carcinoma cell line 7703. In total 184 glycosylated sites were detected within 172 different glycopeptides corresponding to 101 glycoproteins. Also, the regeneration of the protein‐immobilized nanoparticles can easily be performed taking advantage of the reversible binding mechanism between boronic acid and sugar chain. The experiment results demonstrated that Con A‐modified magnetic nanoparticles by the facile and low‐cost synthesis provided a convenient and efficient enrichment approach for glycoproteins, and are promising candidates for large‐scale glycoproteomic research in complicated biological samples.
Proteomic analysis of the Echinococcus granulosus metacestode during infection of its intermediate host
Authors: Monteiro Karina M. , de Carvalho Marcos O. , Zaha Arnaldo , Ferreira Henrique B.
Published: March 2010

Cystic hydatid disease (CHD) is caused by infection with the Echinococcus granulosus metacestode and affects both humans and livestock. In this work, we performed a proteomic analysis of the E. granulosus metacestode during infection of its intermediate bovine host. Parasite proteins were identified in different metacestode components (94 from protoscolex, 25 from germinal layer and 20 from hydatid cyst fluid), along with host proteins (58) that permeate into the hydatid cyst, providing new insights into host‐parasite interplay. E. granulosus and platyhelminth EST data allowed successful identification of proteins potentially involved in downregulation of host defenses, highlighting possible evasion mechanisms adopted by the parasite to establish infection. Several intracellular proteins were found in hydatid cyst fluid, revealing a set of newly identified proteins that were previously thought to be inaccessible for inducing or modulating the host immune response. Host proteins identified in association with the hydatid cyst suggest that the parasite may bind/adsorb host molecules with nutritional and/or immune evasion purposes, masking surface antigens or inhibiting important effector molecules of host immunity, such as complement components and calgranulin. Overall, our results provide valuable information on parasite survival strategies in the adverse host environment and on the molecular mechanisms underpinning CHD immunopathology.
Proteomic analysis of the response of an acidophilic strain of Chlamydomonas sp. (Chlorophyta) to natural metal‐rich water
Authors: Cid Cristina , Garcia‐Descalzo Laura , Casado‐Lafuente Victor , Amils Ricardo , Aguilera Angeles
Published: March 2010

A proteomic approach including 2‐DE and MALDI‐TOF analysis has been developed to identify the soluble proteins of the unicellular photosynthetic algae Chlamydomonas sp. isolated from an extreme acidic environment, Río Tinto (southwest Spain). We have analyzed the soluble proteome obtained from whole cells growing on metal‐rich natural acidic water from the river in comparison with the same strain growing in artificial BG‐11 media. The most drastic effect was the decrease in the abundance of the ribulose‐1,5‐biphosphate carboxylase as well as other enzymes related to photosynthesis. However, phytochrome B, phosphoribulokinase, and phosphoglycerate kinase were upregulated when cells were grown in metal‐rich acidic water. Besides, increased accumulation of two Hsps, Hsp70 and Hsp90 as well as other stress‐related enzymes were also found in the cells growing in natural acidic water. These results suggest that naturally occurring metal‐rich water induces a stress response in acidophilic Chlamydomonas forcing algal cells to reorganize their metabolic pathways as an adaptive response to these environmental conditions.
Descriptive proteomic analysis shows protein variability between closely related clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Mehaffy Carolina , Hess Ann , Prenni Jessica E. , Mathema Barun , Kreiswirth Barry , Dobos Karen M.
Published: March 2010

The use of isobaric tags such as iTRAQ allows the relative and absolute quantification of hundreds of proteins in a single experiment for up to eight different samples. More classical techniques such as 2‐DE can offer a complimentary approach for the analysis of complex protein samples. In this study, the proteomes of secreted and cytosolic proteins of genetically closely related strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were analyzed. Analysis of 2‐D gels afforded 28 spots with variations in protein abundance between strains. These were identified by MS/MS. Meanwhile, a rigorous statistical analysis of iTRAQ data allowed the identification and quantification of 101 and 137 proteins in the secreted and cytosolic fractions, respectively. Interestingly, several differences in protein levels were observed between the closely related strains BE, C28 and H6. Seven proteins related to cell wall and cell processes were more abundant in BE, while enzymes related to metabolic pathways (GltA2, SucC, Gnd1, Eno) presented lower levels in the BE strain. Proteins involved in iron and sulfur acquisition (BfrB, ViuB, TB15.3 and SseC2) were more abundant in C28 and H6. In general, iTRAQ afforded rapid identification of fine differences between protein levels such as those presented between closely related strains. This provides a platform from which the relevance of these differences can be assessed further using complimentary proteomic and biological modeling methods.
Validation of the FACT‐Gastric cancer quality of life questionnaire for use in Spanish‐speaking countries
Authors: Debb Scott M. , Arnold Benjamin , Perez Barbara , Cella David
Published: March 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to validate a universal Spanish translation of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Gastric Cancer (FACT‐Ga; Version 4) questionnaire for use in Spanish‐speaking countries.

Methods: Translation of the FACT‐Ga from English to Spanish was accomplished by employing the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) translation methodology, which utilizes a multinational team of translation experts. A single (universal) Spanish version of the questionnaire was developed for use with gastric cancer patients recruited from Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Spain. Pretesting of the questionnaire was conducted using 75 cancer patients (15 from each country), who were also cognitively debriefed.

Results: Statistical analysis yielded marginal results for the Peru and Spain samples, although when analyzing pooled data from all five countries, statistics were within expected ranges. Qualitative analysis indicated that there were negligible linguistic concerns that impacted a very small proportion of the items.

Conclusion: The universal Spanish FACT‐Ga demonstrates content and linguistic validity, and is conceptually equivalent to its English source. It is a promising tool for use in evaluating the health‐related quality of life for Spanish‐speaking patients with gastrointestinal‐related cancers, given more research regarding universally derived reliability and validity statistics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A systematic N‐terminal peptide quantitative labeling strategy for differential proteomic analysis
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhang Jiyang , Zheng Zhaobin , Yang Xing , Jia Wei , Li Lei , Gong Yan , Cai Yun , Zhu Yunping , He Fuchu , Ying Wantao , Qian Xiaohong
Published: March 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a new systematic strategy for differential proteomic analysis.

Experimental design: The new systematic strategy was developed by coupling the stable isotope‐coded N‐terminal acetyl labeling for guanidinated peptides with LTQ‐FT MS for accurate data acquisition, and an in‐house graphic user interface program called “MS‐based acetyl quantification” for automatic data processing.

Results: The standard peptide mixture test showed that this method is easy and highly effective, with a linear dynamic range from 0.1 to 10 (R2 value >0.999 and slope error <5%), down to 25 fmol. Moreover, the range of quantitative ratios differing from the target value of 1.0 was statistically determined to be (0.6527, 1.5350) for the 99% confidence level in a fraction of plasma samples. The practicability of this method was further demonstrated in a pilot study on the differential proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, with the uncovering of 33 dysregulated proteins from different development stages.

Conclusions and clinical Relevance: The outcome of the differential proteomic analysis of plasma protein and cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the whole strategy as a promising alternative for exploration of potential biomarker in complex clinical or biological samples.
Differentially expressed proteins of MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells affected by Zilongjin, a complementary Chinese herbal medicine
Authors: Tian Zhi‐Hua , Li Zheng‐Fu , Zhou Shao‐Bo , Liang Yun‐Yan , He Da‐Cheng , Wang Dai‐Shu
Published: March 2010

Purpose: Zilongjin, a complementary Chinese herbal medicine, has been used to alleviate the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer therapy. However, the mechanisms of anti‐cancer activity of Zilongjin are still largely unkonwn.

Experimental design: First, the proteomic approach of combined 2‐DE and ESI‐MS/MS was used to investigate the effect of Zilongjin on the protein expression in MCF‐7 cells. Then, the differential expression of some proteins was confirmed by Western blot, cytoimmunofluoresecnce, and quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR analysis.

Results: The identified proteins with differential expression, involved in such events as protein translation, cellular signal transduction, cytoskeleton formation and transportation, include seven downregulating proteins, such as Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit I, Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1A Y‐chromosomal, Ran‐specific GTPase‐activating protein, Ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme E2 N, Tropomodulin‐3, Macrophage‐capping protein, and Tumor protein D52, as well as two upregulating proteins, HSP β‐1 and keratin18. Moreover, the differential expression of three proteins was confirmed.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: (i) These results provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms of Zilongjin on therapy for breast cancer. (ii) The application of the proteomic approaches will result in the more extended appreciation of Chinese medicine than those known at present.
Determination of Urea Nitrate and Guanidine Nitrate Vapor Pressures by Isothermal Thermogravimetry
Authors: Oxley Jimmie , Smith James L. , Brady Joe , Naik Sweta
Published: March 2010

Since the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, detection of military explosives has received much attention. Only in the last few years has detection of improvised explosives become a priority. Many detection methods require that the particulate or vapor be available. Elsewhere we have reported the vapor pressures of peroxide explosives triacetone triperoxide (TATP), diacetone diperoxide (DADP), and 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT). Herein we examine the vapor signatures of the nitrate salts of urea and guanidine (UN and GN, respectively), and compare them to ammonium nitrate (AN) and TATP using an isothermal thermo‐gravimetric method. The vapor signatures of the nitrate salts are assumed to be the vapor pressures of the neutral parent base and nitric acid. Studies were performed at elevated temperatures (80–120 °C for UN, 205–225 °C for GN, 100–160 °C for AN, and 40–59 °C for TATP), enthalpies of sublimation calculated and vapor pressures extrapolated to room temperature. Reported vapor pressure values (in Pa) are as follows: GN    ≪UN    <AN     ≪TATP 2.66×10−18  3.94×10−5  5.98×10−4  24.8
Characterization of cis elements of the probasin promoter necessary for prostate‐specific gene expression
Authors: Zhang JianFeng , Gao Nan , DeGraff David J. , Yu Xiuping , Sun Qian , Case Thomas C. , Kasper Susan , Matusik Robert J.
Published: March 2010

BACKGROUND

The androgen‐regulated probasin (PB) promoter has been used extensively to target transgenes to the prostate in transgenic mice; however, limited data exist on the mechanism that dictates prostate‐specific gene expression. Tissue‐specific gene expression involves synergistic effects among transcription factors associated in a complex bound to cis‐acting DNA elements.

METHODS

Using comprehensive linker scan mutagenesis, enzyme mobility shift and supershift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and transgenic animal studies, we have extensively characterized the prostate‐specific PB promoter.

RESULTS

We identified a series of nonreceptor transcription factors that are bound to the prostate‐specific rat PB promoter. These factors include several ubiquitously distributed proteins known to participate in steroid receptor‐mediated transcription. In addition, we identified two tissue‐specific DNA elements that are crucial in directing prostate‐specific PB expression, and confirmed the functional importance of both elements in transgenic animal studies. These two elements are functionally interchangeable and can be bound by multiple protein complexes, including the forkhead transcription factor FoxA1, a “pioneer factor” that has a restricted distribution to some cells type that are ectoderm and endoderm in origin. Using transgenic mice, we further demonstrate that the minimal PB promoter region (−244/−96 bp) that encompasses these tissue‐specific elements results in prostate‐specific gene expression in transgenic mice, contains androgen receptor and FoxA1‐binding sites, as well as ubiquitous transcription factor binding sites.

CONCLUSION

We propose that these sequence‐specific DNA‐binding proteins, including tissue‐restricted and ubiquitous factors, create the first level of transcriptional control, which responds to intracellular pathways that directs prostate‐specific gene expression. Prostate 70: 934–951, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of caveolin‐1 and ‐2 genetic variants and post‐treatment serum caveolin‐1 with prostate cancer risk and outcomes
Authors: Langeberg Wendy J. , Tahir Salahaldin A. , Feng Ziding , Kwon Erika M. , Ostrander Elaine A. , Thompson Timothy C. , Stanford Janet L.
Published: March 2010

BACKGROUND

Caveolin‐1 (cav‐1) is overexpressed by metastatic prostate cancer (PC) cells. Pre‐operative serum cav‐1 levels have been shown to be a prognostic marker for PC recurrence. This study evaluated the relationship between post‐treatment serum cav‐1 levels and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cav‐1 and ‐2 genes with risk of PC, aggressive PC, PC recurrence or death.

METHODS

Two case–control studies of PC among men in Washington State were combined for this analysis. Cases (n = 1,458) were diagnosed in 1993–1996 or 2002–2005 and identified via a SEER cancer registry. Age‐matched controls (n = 1,351) were identified via random digit dialing. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between exposures (19 haplotype‐tagging SNPs from all subjects and post‐treatment serum cav‐1 levels from a sample of 202 cases and 226 controls) and PC risk and aggressive PC. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the relationship between exposures and PC recurrence and death.

RESULTS

Rs9920 in cav‐1 was associated with an increased relative risk of overall PC (ORCT + CC = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.68) and aggressive PC (ORCT + CC = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.20, 2.06), but not with PC recurrence or death. High post‐treatment serum cav‐1 levels were not associated with PC risk, aggressive PC, or PC‐specific death, but approached a significant inverse association with PC recurrence (hazard ratio = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.47, 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

We found modest evidence for an association with a variant in the cav‐1 gene and risk of overall PC and aggressive PC, which merits further study. We found no evidence that higher post‐treatment serum cav‐1 is associated with risk of aggressive PC or adverse PC outcomes. Prostate 70: 1020–1035, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optoelectronic properties simulation of hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon Schottky diode
Authors: Chahi Mokhtar , Bouhekka Ahmed , Sib Jamal Dine , Kebab Aissa , Bouizem Yahya , Chahed Larbi
Published: March 2010

Microcrystalline silicon has its own macroscopic characteristics which are different from each of the single phase characteristics. Hence, each phase of µc‐Si:H plays an important role in electronic transport. In this paper, we model a basic Schottky structure with a 1 µm thick, the device considered in our study is an alternance of amorphous and crystalline regions with different fractions (0 to 80%). The latest has a columns shape whose average size between 50 Å and 200 Å. The heterojunction physics is applied to the region of interfaces between the crystalline and the amorphous components. The numerical solution of the continuity and Poisson’s equations by Newton‐Raphson method let us to simulate the spectral response and the I(V) characteristic of µc‐Si:H Schottky diode under monochromatic illumination for the wavelength varying between 0.4µm and 1.2µm and under diverse bias voltage. We observe that the maximum of sensibility of microcrystalline diodes shifts towards higher energies compared with them of amorphous diodes, with normalised efficiency varying from 0.7 to 0.8 and the maximum position varies slightly with crystalline fraction and independently to the applied voltage (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An investigation of rare earth chloride mixtures: combinatorial optimisation for AA2024‐t3 corrosion inhibition
Authors: Muster T. H. , Lau D. , Wrubel H. , Sherman N. , Hughes A. E. , Harvey T. G. , Markley T. , Alexander D. L. J. , Corrigan P. A. , White P. A. , Hardin S. G. , Glenn M. A. , Mardel J. , Garcia S. J. , Mol J. M. C.
Published: March 2010

Rare earth (lanthanides) cations have demonstrated exceptional activity as cathodic corrosion inhibitors for aluminium alloys (AAs). While Ce is generally regarded as the most active, there have been reports of synergistic interactions between mixtures of rare earths, which show increased inhibitive activity. In this study a combinatorial experimental approach was used to evaluate the corrosion inhibition of four rare earth chlorides (Ce, La, Pr, Nd) singly and as mixtures. The estimation of corrosion currents using both potentiodynamic scans and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) provided the quantification of corrosion inhibition. The results were then modelled to determine the best predicted inhibition activity. A partial least squares (PLS) regression indicated that the optimal response directly correlated with the amount of Ce present. From the regression analysis, Ce alone demonstrated the best inhibition activity, with the optimum mixture predicted to contain 100% Ce. The addition of La, Pr or Nd, was not observed to improve the inhibition activity. This study represents one of the first applications of combinatorial design to a fundamental question of corrosion inhibition. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A metastasis or a second independent cancer? Evaluating the clonal origin of tumors using array copy number data
Authors: Ostrovnaya Irina , Olshen Adam B. , Seshan Venkatraman E. , Orlow Irene , Albertson Donna G. , Begg Colin B.
Published: March 2010

When a cancer patient develops a new tumor it is necessary to determine if it is a recurrence (metastasis) of the original cancer, or an entirely new occurrence of the disease. This is accomplished by assessing the histo‐pathology of the lesions. However, there are many clinical scenarios in which this pathological diagnosis is difficult. Since each tumor is characterized by a distinct pattern of somatic mutations, a more definitive diagnosis is possible in principle in these difficult clinical scenarios by comparing the two patterns. In this article we develop and evaluate a statistical strategy for this comparison when the data are derived from array copy number data, designed to identify all of the somatic allelic gains and losses across the genome. First a segmentation algorithm is used to estimate the regions of allelic gain and loss. The correlation in these patterns between the two tumors is assessed, and this is complemented with more precise quantitative comparisons of each plausibly clonal mutation within individual chromosome arms. The results are combined to determine a likelihood ratio to distinguish clonal tumor pairs (metastases) from independent second primaries. Our data analyses show that in many cases a strong clonal signal emerges. Sensitivity analyses show that most of the diagnoses are robust when the data are of high quality. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating long‐term effects of treatment from placebo‐controlled trials with an extension period, using virtual twins
Authors: Vittinghoff Eric , McCulloch Charles E. , Woo Claudine , Cummings Steven R.
Published: March 2010

The best information about the benefits of long‐term treatment is obtained from a long‐term placebo‐controlled trial. However, once efficacy has been demonstrated in relatively brief trials, it may not be possible to conduct long‐term placebo‐controlled trials, for ethical or practical reasons. This paper presents a method for estimating long‐term effects of a treatment from a placebo‐controlled trial in which some participants originally randomized to active‐treatment volunteer to continue on treatment during an extension study, but follow‐up of participants originally assigned to placebo ends with the trial, or they are crossed over to active treatment during the extension. We propose using data from the trial to project the outcomes for a ‘virtual twin’ for each active‐treatment volunteer under the counterfactual placebo condition, and using bootstrap methods for inference. The proposed method is validated using simulation, and applied to data from the Fracture Intervention Trial and its extension, FLEX. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of outcome at 2 years of age after early intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Torrance H. L. , Bloemen M. C. T. , Mulder E. J. H. , Nikkels P. G. J. , Derks J. B. , De Vries L. S. , Visser G. H. A.
Published: March 2010

Objective

To examine the relative importance of antenatal and perinatal variables on short‐ and long‐term outcome of preterm growth restricted fetuses with umbilical artery (UA) Doppler abnormalities.

Methods

This was a cohort study of 180 neonates with birth weight < 10th percentile, gestational age at delivery < 34 weeks and abnormal Doppler ultrasound examination of the UA. Various antenatal and perinatal variables were studied in relation to short‐ and long‐term outcome.

Results

Neonatal and overall mortality (up to 2 years of age) were predicted by low gestational age at delivery. Neonatal mortality was additionally predicted by absent or reversed UA end‐diastolic flow, while the presence of severe neonatal complications and placental villitis were additional predictors of both infant (between 28 days and 1 year of postnatal life) and overall mortality. Placental villitis was found to be the only predictor of necrotizing enterocolitis. Low gestational age at delivery, male sex, abnormal cardiotocography, absent or reversed UA end‐diastolic flow and the HELLP syndrome predicted respiratory distress syndrome. Abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years was predicted by low birth weight (< 2.3rd percentile), fetal acidosis (UA pH < 7.00), and placental villitis.

Conclusion

Less advanced gestation at delivery remains an important predictor of short‐term outcome in growth‐restricted fetuses. In addition, the presence of placental villitis may aid neonatologists in the early identification of infants at increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, death and abnormal neurodevelopment at 2 years of age. Abnormal neurodevelopment was related to low weight and acidosis at birth, indicating that the severity of malnutrition and fetal acidosis affect long‐term outcome. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the constitutive modeling of reinforced rubber in a broad frequency domain
Authors: Suwannachit A. , Nackenhorst U.
Published: March 2010

A constitutive model for the numerical simulation of rubber behavior in a wide frequency range is presented. The combination between the well known Simo's viscoelastic model and a pseudo‐elastic approach enables for the modeling of inelastic effects at low frequencies, such as nonlinear elasticity, hysteretic behavior, and damage (Mullins effect). The constitutive formulation is derived in detail with an aim of the finite element implementation. Because mechanical response at high frequencies is usually characterized by complex modulus, the developed viscoelastic damage model is extended to high‐frequency analysis. A key idea is the decomposition of the deformation gradient into linear and nonlinear part. The nonlinear part is associated with inelastic deformations established at low frequencies, while the linear contribution plays an important role for dynamic analysis at high frequencies. As a result, the steady‐state response of rubber at a certain static deformation is evaluated and consequently leads to the numerical solution for complex modulus. The computational efficiency of the proposed model can be seen from a good agreement with experimental data.
The Utility of Urine Desmosine as a Marker of Lung Injury in Spine Surgery
Authors: Memtsoudis Stavros G. , Starcher Barry , Ma Yan , Buschiazzo Valeria , Urban Michael K. , Girardi Federico P.
Published: March 2010

The objective of this prospective observational study was to determine if urine desmosine levels, a marker of lung injury, increase in response to the periopreative insults of anterior and posterior spine surgery. Desmosine, a stable breakdown product of elastin, has been proposed as a surrogate marker of lung injury in patients with COPD, tobacco use, and ARDS. We recently evaluated this marker in patients undergoing knee surgery, but the utility of desmosine as a marker of lung injury in patients undergoing spine surgery remains unstudied. In this study, we enrolled ten consecutive patients, who underwent anterior/posterior spine surgery. Patient demographics and perioperative data were recorded. Urine samples were collected at baseline, 1 day, and 3 days postoperatively and analyzed for levels of desmosine using a previously validated radioimmunoassay. Desmosine levels were 35.9 ± 18.2 pmol/mg creatinine at baseline, 38.7 ± 11 pmol/mg creatinine on postoperative day 1, and 70.5 ± 49.1 pmol/mg creatinine on postoperative day 3, respectively. Desmosine/creatinine ratios measured on day 3 postoperatively were significantly elevated compared to levels at baseline, and represented a 96.3% increase. No difference was seen between levels at baseline and day 1 postoperatively. In conclusion, we were able to show a significant increase in urine desmosine levels associated with anterior/posterior spine surgery. In the context of previous studies, our findings suggest that desmosine may be a marker of lung injury in this setting. However, further research is warranted for validation and correlation of desmosine levels to clinical markers and various degrees of lung injury.
Interfacial Composition, Structural and Thermodynamic Parameters of Water/(Surfactant+n‐Butanol)/n‐Heptane Water‐in‐Oil Microemulsion Formation in Relation to the Surfactant Chain Length
Authors: De Mrinmoy , Bhattacharya Subhash C. , Moulik Satya P. , Panda Amiya K.
Published: March 2010

Interfacial behavior, structural and thermodynamic parameters of a water/(surfactant+nbutanol)/n‐heptane water‐in‐oil (w/o) microemulsion have been investigated using the dilution technique at different temperatures, and [water]/[surfactant] mole ratios. The cationic surfactants used were alkyltrimethyl ammonium bromides (CnTAB, n = 10, 14 and 16) while the nonionic surfactants were polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monoalkanoates (polysorbate), viz., palmitate (PS 40), stearate (PS 60) and oleate (PS 80). The distribution of cosurfactant between the oil–water interface and the bulk oil at the threshold level of stability, and the thermodynamics of transfer of the cosurfactant from the bulk oil to the interface were evaluated. Structural parameters such as the dimensions, population density and effective water pool radius of the dispersed water droplets in the oil phase and the interfacial population of the surfactant and cosurfactant have been evaluated in terms of the surfactant chain length.
Microemulsions with Mixed Nonionic Surfactants and Flavor Oil
Authors: Fanun Monzer
Published: March 2010

The microemulsion systems composed of water/sucrose laurate/ethoxylated mono‐di‐glyceride/peppermint oil were formulated and characterized using electrical conductivity and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. The solubilization capacity of water in the oil is dependent on the surfactant mixing ratio. A static percolation phenomenon was observed in these systems and the water volume fraction percolation threshold was determined. A progressive transformation of water‐in‐oil to bicontinuous microemulsions, occurring upon dilution with water was revealed for equal amounts of sucrose laurate and ethoxylated mono‐di‐glyceride in the microemulsions. The periodicity, that is a characteristic length for the domain size of the microemulsions, increases linearly with the increase in the water volume fraction, whereas the correlation length, that is also a characteristic length for the domain size, increases with the increase in the water volume fraction up to a certain value then decreases.
Uncoupling JAK3 activation induces apoptosis in human lymphoid cancer cells via regulating critical survival pathways
Authors: Nagy Zsuzsanna S. , Ross Jeremy A. , Rodriguez Georgialina , Bader Julia , Dimmock Jonathan , Kirken Robert A.
Published: March 2010

In the current work, we report that specific inhibition of Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK3) via NC1153 induces apoptosis of certain leukemia/lymphoma cell lines. Affymetrix microarray profiling following NC1153 treatment unveiled JAK3 dependent survival modulating pathways (p53, TGF‐β, TNFR and ER stress) in Kit225 cells. IL‐2 responsive NC1153 target genes were regulated in human JAK3 positive, but not in JAK3 negative lymphoid tumor cells. Moreover, primary lymphoma samples revealed that a number of these genes were reciprocally regulated during disease progression and JAK3 inhibition suggesting that downstream targets of JAK3 could be exploited in the development of novel cancer treatment regimes.
Interaction of testisin with maspin and its impact on invasion and cell death resistance of cervical cancer cells
Authors: Yeom Seon-Yong , Jang Hye-Lim , Lee Sook-Ja , Kim Eunhee , Son Hee Jung , Kim Byoung-Gie , Park Chaehwa
Published: March 2010

MINT‐7712147: Testisin (uniprotkb:Q9Y6M0) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Maspin (uniprotkb:P36952) by anti tag co‐immunoprecipitation (MI:0007)
Species‐dependence of the redox potential of the primary quinone electron acceptor QA in photosystem II verified by spectroelectrochemistry
Authors: Shibamoto Tadao , Kato Yuki , Nagao Ryo , Yamazaki Takuya , Tomo Tatsuya , Watanabe Tadashi
Published: March 2010

The redox potentials E
m(QA/) of the primary quinone electron acceptor QA in oxygen‐evolving photosystem II complexes of three species were determined by spectroelectrochemistry. The E
m(QA/) values were experimentally found to be −162 ± 3 mV for a higher plant spinach, −171 ± 3 mV for a green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and −104 ± 4 mV vs. SHE for a red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. On the basis of possible deviations for the experimental values, as estimated to differ by 9–29 mV from each true value, plausible causes for such remarkable species‐dependence of E
m(QA/) are discussed, mainly by invoking the effects of extrinsic subunits on the delicate structural environment around QA.
Ryanodine receptor studies using genetically engineered mice
Authors: Kushnir Alexander , Betzenhauser Matthew J. , Marks Andrew R.
Published: March 2010

Ryanodine receptors (RyR) regulate intracellular Ca2+ release in many cell types and have been implicated in a number of inherited human diseases. Over the past 15 years genetically engineered mouse models have been developed to elucidate the role that RyRs play in physiology and pathophysiology. To date these models have implicated RyRs in fundamental biological processes including excitation–contraction coupling and long term plasticity as well as diseases including malignant hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and seizures. In this review we summarize the RyR mouse models and how they have enhanced our understanding of the RyR channels and their roles in cellular physiology and disease.
Role of CREB in the regulatory action of sarsasapogenin on muscarinic M1receptor density during cell aging
Authors: Hu Haiyan , Zhang Rui , Zhang Yongfang , Xia Zongqin , Hu Yaer
Published: March 2010

This work studied the role of cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) in the up‐regulation of M1muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M1receptor) density by sarsasapogenin (ZMS) in CHO cells transfected with M1receptor gene (CHOm1 cells). During cell aging, sarsasapogenin elevated M1receptor density as well as CREB and phosphor‐CREB (pCREB) levels. CREB peaked earliest, followed by pCREB and M1receptor density peaked last. When CREB synthesis was blocked by antisense oligonucleotides, the elevation effect of sarsasapogenin on M1receptor density was abolished. These results suggest that sarsasapogenin up‐regulates M1receptor density in aged cells by promoting CREB production and phosphorylation. Furthermore, the results support the hypothesis that pCREB regulates M1receptor gene expression through heterodimer formation.
The role of behavioral mind‐sets in goal‐directed activity: Conceptual underpinnings and empirical evidence
Authors: Wyer Robert S. , Xu Alison Jing
Published: March 2010

The cognitive and motor behavior that people perform in the course of pursuing a goal can induce a mind‐set that persists to influence the strategy they use to attain very different goals in unrelated situations. Although the strategies governed by a mind‐set are typically applied consciously and deliberately, they are performed without awareness of the reasons for their selection. Research in both social psychology and consumer behavior exemplifies the impact of mind‐sets on comprehension, judgments, and decision making, thus providing evidence of the scope and diversity of their effects.
Maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy and the association with small-for-gestational-age infants
Authors: Thompson John M. D. , Wall Clare , Becroft David M. O. , Robinson Elizabeth , Wild Chris J. , Mitchell Edwin A.
Published: March 2010

Maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy is important for the growth and development of the fetus. The effects of pre-pregnancy nutrition (estimated by maternal size) are well documented. There is little information in today's Western society on the effect of maternal nutrition during pregnancy on the fetus. The aim of the study was to describe dietary patterns of a cohort of mothers during pregnancy (using principal components analysis with a varimax rotation) and assess the effect of these dietary patterns on the risk of delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) baby. The study was a case–control study investigating factors related to SGA. The population was 1714 subjects in Auckland, New Zealand, born between October 1995 and November 1997, about half of whom were born SGA ( ≤ 10th percentile for sex and gestation). Maternal dietary information was collected using FFQ after delivery for the first and last months of pregnancy. Three dietary patterns (traditional, junk and fusion) were defined. Factors associated with these dietary patterns when examined in multivariable analyses included marital status, maternal weight, maternal age and ethnicity. In multivariable analysis, mothers who had higher ‘traditional’ diet scores in early pregnancy were less likely to deliver a SGA infant (OR = 0·86; 95 % CI 0·75, 0·99). Maternal diet, particularly in early pregnancy, is important for the development of the fetus. Socio-demographic factors tend to be significantly related to dietary patterns, suggesting that extra resources may be necessary for disadvantaged mothers to ensure good nutrition in pregnancy.
Combining enteral with parenteral nutrition to improve postoperative glucose control
Authors: Lidder Paul , Flanagan Daniel , Fleming Simon , Russell Mark , Morgan Noel , Wheatley Tim , Rahamin Jo , Shaw Steve , Lewis Stephen
Published: March 2010

The provision of parenteral nutrition (PN) to ‘stressed’ patients often results in hyperglycaemia, which may be detrimental. In animal models limited amounts of enteral nutrition (EN) improve intestinal integrity and stimulate intestinal incretin production, which may lead to improved glucose control. We set out to assess if combining EN with PN results in improved glucose homeostasis rather than PN given alone. We conducted a randomised trial in a university teaching hospital of patients undergoing a ‘curative’ oesophagectomy for adenocarcinoma. Differences between the two intervention groups were assessed for continuous glucose measurement, insulin sensitivity using insulin tolerance tests (ITT) and homeostasis model analysis (HOMA), the incretin glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and intestinal permeability. The combination of PN with EN resulted in lower interstitial glucose concentrations (P = 0·002), reduced insulin resistance, improved insulin sensitivity (HOMA-insulin resistance (IR)P = 0·045; HOMA βP = 0·037; ITTP = 0·006), improved intestinal permeability (P < 0·001) and increased GIP (P = 0·01) when compared with PN alone. The combination of EN with PN, when compared with PN alone, results in reduced glucose concentrations, reduced insulin resistance, increased incretins and improvements in intestinal permeability.
UK Food Standards Agency Workshop Report: Diet and Immune Function
Authors: Sanderson Peter , Elsom Rachel L. , Kirkpatrick Verity , Calder Philip C. , Woodside Jayne V. , Williams Elizabeth A. , Rink Lothar , Fairweather-Tait Susan , Ivory Kamal , Cantorna Margherita , Watzl Bernhard , Stone Elaine M.
Published: March 2010

The UK Food Standards Agency convened a workshop on 13 May 2009 to discuss recently completed research on diet and immune function. The objective of the workshop was to review this research and to establish priorities for future research. Several of the trials presented at the workshop showed some effect of nutritional interventions (e.g. vitamin D, Zn, Se) on immune parameters. One trial found that increased fruit and vegetable intake may improve the antibody response to pneumococcal vaccination in older people. The workshop highlighted the need to further clarify the potential public health relevance of observed nutrition-related changes in immune function, e.g. susceptibility to infections and infectious morbidity.
Influence of fish oil or folate supplementation on the time course of plasma redox markers during pregnancy
Authors: Franke Corinna , Demmelmair Hans , Decsi Tamas , Campoy Cristina , Cruz Milagros , Molina-Font Juan A. , Mueller Klaus , Koletzko Berthold
Published: March 2010

Maternal supplementation with long-chain PUFA, to improve infant neurological development, might cause additional increase of oxidative stress. Pregnant women aged 18–41 years were randomised into one of four supplementation groups. From week 22 on, they received supplements containing either modified fish oil (n69), 5-methyl-tetrahydro-folate (n65), both (n64), or placebo (n72). Plasma Trolox-equivalent antioxidative capacity (TEAC), concentrations of α-tocopherol, retinol, β-carotene, free thiol groups, uric acid and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were determined at weeks 20 and 30 and at delivery. The studied antioxidants showed no significant differences between the four supplementation groups. At week 30 plasma TBARS levels were found to be significantly higher in the fish oil group (0·80 (sem0·04) μmol/l) than in the folate (0·67 (sem0·03) μmol/l;P = 0·024) and control (0·69 (sem0·04) μmol/l;P = 0·01) groups. Concentrations of retinol and free thiol groups decreased during pregnancy, whereas uric acid increased and β-carotene as well as TEAC showed only minor changes. Fish oil supplementation during the second half of pregnancy appears not to decrease antioxidant status. The increased TBARS levels at week 30 may indicate a period of increased oxidative stress in plasma at this time.
Lycopene isomerisation takes place within enterocytes during absorption in human subjects
Authors: Richelle Myriam , Sanchez Belén , Tavazzi Isabelle , Lambelet Pierre , Bortlik Karlheinz , Williamson Gary
Published: March 2010

Lycopene in fruits and vegetables occurs mostly (80–97 %) in the all-Econfiguration, whereas a considerable proportion of lycopene in the human body is present asZ-isomers. TheZ-isomers offer potentially better health benefits and show improved antioxidant activityin vitrowhen compared with the all-E-isomer. The absorption of dietary lycopene is a complex process involving transfer of the carotenoid from the food matrix into micelles, uptake by enterocytes, packaging into chylomicrons and finally secretion into plasma. Isomerisation could take place at any of these individual steps. By exploitingin vitroandin vivomodels, we traced lycopene isomerisation during absorption using various methods to mimic gastric and duodenal conditions, incorporation into mixed micelles, absorption and metabolism by various Caco-2 cell clones, and performed a postprandial study in human subjects to identify the profile of lycopene isomers in plasma chylomicrons. We demonstrate that all-E-lycopene remains unchanged during its passage in the gastrointestinal tract, including its incorporation into mixed micelles. The key site of lycopene isomerisation is inside the intestinal cells resulting in 29 % of lycopene asZ-isomers. Lycopene isomerisation in the various Caco-2 cell clones is consistent with that observed in human chylomicrons formed in a postprandial state. There is no selection in the release of lycopene isomers from enterocytes. Although there is a huge inter-individual variability of total lycopene absorption reported both inin vitrointestinal cell lines as well as in human chylomicrons, the lycopene isomer profile is quite similar.
Comparison of sex hormonal and metabolic profiles between omnivores and vegetarians in pre- and post-menopausal women
Authors: Karelis Antony D. , Fex Annie , Filion Marie-Eve , Adlercreutz Herman , Aubertin-Leheudre Mylène
Published: March 2010

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the sex hormonal and metabolic profiles in vegetarians and compare these with the profiles in omnivores. The design of the present study was cross-sectional. The study sample of pre- and post-menopausal women included forty-one omnivores and twenty-one vegetarians. Thereafter we determined: (1) plasma sex hormones, (2) fasting insulin, NEFA as well as apo-A and apo-B, (3) BMI, (4) a dietary profile (3 d dietary records), (5) physical activity and (6) total faecal excretion per 72 h and total urinary excretion per 72 h. Vegetarians showed higher levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), apo-A, total faecal excretion per 72 h and total fibre intake as well as lower levels of apo-B, free oestradiol, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-s) and BMI. Interestingly, after controlling for BMI, significant differences between groups still persisted except for apo-B. Moreover, stepwise regression analysis showed that total fibre intake explained 15·2 % of the variation in SHBG in our cohort, which accounted for the greatest source of unique variance. Results of the present study indicate that pre- and post-menopausal vegetarians present higher concentrations of SHBG, which could be explained, in part, by higher levels of fibre intake. This may explain, at least in part, the lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Citizen Responsibility for War in Imperfect Democracies
Authors: Rivera Lisa
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT: Are individual citizens of imperfect democracies morally responsible for unjust wars waged by their state? Moral responsibility for unjust wars involves both retrospective and social responsibility. Citizens of imperfect democracies are retrospectively responsible when they choose to vote for a leader they know will wage an unjust war. This situation may occur very rarely. For example, US citizens did not have this political option at the outset of the Vietnam and Iraq Wars. However, even when citizens are not retrospectively responsible they have the social responsibility to engage in collective action to address the harms unjust war causes.
Five Reasons why Margaret Somerville is Wrong about Same-Sex Marriage and the Rights of Children
Authors: Woodcock Scott
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACT: In written work and a lecture at the 2008 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences that was co-sponsored by the Canadian Philosophical Association, Margaret Somerville has claimed that allowing same-sex marriage is unethical because doing so violates the inherently procreative function of marriage and thereby undermines the rights and duties that exist between children and their biological parents. In my paper, I offer five reasons for thinking that Somerville’s argument for this conclusion is unpersuasive. In each case her argument either begs important questions about same-sex marriage or else relies on insufficient evidence to justify excluding a vulnerable minority group from participating in a state-sponsored social institution.
LAD ASYMPTOTICS UNDER CONDITIONAL HETEROSKEDASTICITY WITH POSSIBLY INFINITE ERROR DENSITIES
Authors: Cho Jin Seo , Han Chirok , Phillips Peter C.B.
Published: March 2010

Least absolute deviations (LAD) estimation of linear time series models is considered under conditional heteroskedasticity and serial correlation. The limit theory of the LAD estimator is obtained without assuming the finite density condition for the errors that is required in standard LAD asymptotics. The results are particularly useful in application of LAD estimation to financial time series data.
The Battle of Butlin's: Vulgarity and Virtue on the North Wales Coast, 1939–49
Authors: GRUFFUDD PYRS
Published: March 2010

At the outbreak of the Second World War the holiday camp entrepreneur Billy Butlin agreed a secret deal to build an Admiralty training camp near Pwllheli in North Wales. The camp would be transferred to Butlin at the end of the war for use as a holiday camp. Whilst planners were initially horrified, the strategic argument that such camps would concentrate coastal development and also provide the necessary places for the expansion of ‘holidays with pay’ prevailed. More sustained opposition came from those concerned about the imposition of a culture of urbanised mass leisure on the Welsh heartland of the Llŷn Peninsula. For some, the threat was ‘bathing beauties’ and alcohol; more profoundly, many feared the destruction of a Welsh-speaking rural polity. National sentiment rallied around an alternative social service camp and an overt form of Welsh nation-building. Nonetheless, Butlin won the case and the holiday camp opened in 1947.