bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A variant in the LRRFIP1 gene is associated with adiposity and inflammation
Authors: Plourde Melanie , Vohl Marie‐Claude , Bellis Claire , Carless Melanie , Dyer Thomas , Dolley Guillaume , Marette André , Després Jean‐Pierre , Bouchard Claude , Blangero John , Pérusse Louis
Published: March 2013

Inflammation is an important factor linking abdominal obesity with insulin resistance and related cardiometabolic risk. A genome‐wide association study of adiposity‐related traits performed in the Quebec Family Study (QFS) revealed that a single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the LRRFIP1 gene (rs11680012) was associated with abdominal adiposity (P = 4.6 × 10–6).

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between polymorphisms in LRRFIP1 gene and adiposity (BMI, fat mass (FM), waist circumference (WC), and computed tomography‐derived areas of total, subcutaneous and visceral abdominal adipose tissue) and markers of inflammation (C‐reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)).

Design and Methods:

Using Sequenom, 16 tag SNPs in the LRRFIP1 gene, capturing 78% of the genetic variation, were genotyped in 926 participants of the QFS.

Results:

Eight SNPs (rs7575941, rs3769053, rs11689421, rs3820808, rs11680012, rs3806505, rs6739130, and rs11686141) showed evidence of association with at least two adiposity phenotypes and plasma levels of one marker of inflammation. The strongest evidence of association was observed with rs11680012, which explained 1.8–3.4% of the variance in areas of abdominal adiposity and 2.0% of the variation in CRP levels. Carriers of the rare allele of rs11680012 had ∼30% more abdominal adiposity (P values between 2.7 × 10–4 and 3.8 × 10–6) and 75% higher CRP levels (P = 1.6 × 10–4) than the common allele in age and sex adjusted data. Rs11680012 is a G/C SNP converting an arginine into a threonine and this amino acid substitution may potentially alter exonic splicing.

Conclusion:

This gene may therefore represent a potential interesting target to investigate in further functional studies on adiposity and inflammation.
A natural fiber complex reduces body weight in the overweight and obese: A double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Grube Barbara , Chong Pee‐Win , Lau Kai‐Zhia , Orzechowski Hans‐Dieter
Published: March 2013

Objective:

A proprietary natural fiber complex (Litramine IQP G‐002AS) derived from Opuntia ficus‐indica, and standardized on lipophilic activity, was previously shown in preclinical and human studies to reduce dietary fat absorption through gastrointestinal (GI) fat binding. Here, we investigated the efficacy and safety of IQP G‐002AS in body weight reduction.

Design and Methods:

One hundred twenty‐five overweight and obese adults participated in the study. Subjects were advised on physical activity, and received nutritional counseling, including hypocaloric diet plans (30% energy from fat and 500 kcal deficit/day). After a 2‐week placebo run‐in phase, subjects were randomized to receive either 3 g/day of IQP G‐002AS (IQ) or a placebo. The primary endpoint was change in body weight from baseline; secondary endpoints included additional obesity measures and safety parameters.

Results:

One hundred twenty‐three subjects completed the 12‐week treatment phase (intention‐to‐treat (ITT) population: 30 male and 93 female; mean BMI: 29.6 ± 2.8 kg/m2 and age: 45.4 ± 11.3 years). The mean body weight change from baseline was 3.8 ± 1.8 kg in IQ vs. 1.4 ± 2.6 kg in placebo (P < 0.001). More IQ subjects lost at least 5% of their initial body weight compared to placebo (P = 0.027). Compared with placebo, IQ also showed significantly greater reduction in BMI, body fat composition, and waist circumference. IQ was well tolerated with no adverse reactions reported.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that the natural fiber complex Litramine IQP G‐002AS is effective in promoting weight loss.
The impact of metabolic syndrome and endothelial dysfunction on exercise‐induced cardiovascular changes
Authors: Rossi Amanda M. , Davies Elaine , Lavoie Kim L. , Arsenault André , Gordon Jennifer L. , Meloche Bernard , Bacon Simon L.
Published: March 2013

Objective:

There is limited information regarding the synergistic or additive effects of metabolic syndrome (MS) and endothelial dysfunction (ED) on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Altered cardiovascular responses to exercise have been shown to predict future cardiovascular events as well as assess autonomic function. The present study evaluated the impact of MS and brachial artery reactivity (a proxy of ED) on peak exercise‐induced cardiovascular changes.

Design and Methods:

Individuals (n = 303) undergoing a standard nuclear medicine exercise stress test were assessed for MS. Participants underwent a Forearm Hyperaemic Reactivity test and were considered to have dysfunctional reactivity if their rate of uptake ratio (RUR) was <3.55. Resting and peak blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Reactivity was calculated as the difference between peak and resting measures.

Results:

Analyses, adjusting for age, sex, resting HR, total metabolic equivalents (METs), and a history of major CVD, revealed a main effect of MS (F = 5.51, η2 = 0.02, P = 0.02) and RUR (F = 6.69, η2 = 0.02, P = 0.01) on HR reactivity, such that patients with MS and/or poor RUR had reduced HR reactivity. There were no interactive effects of RUR and MS. There were no effects of RUR or MS on systolic BP (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP) reactivity or rate pressure product (RPP) reactivity.

Conclusions:

The presence of decreased HR reactivity among participants with MS or poor brachial artery reactivity, combined with the lack of difference in other exercise‐induced cardiovascular changes, indicates that these patients may have some degree of parasympathetic dysregulation. Further longitudinal studies are needed to understand the long‐term implications of MS and endothelial abnormalities in this context.
Obesity and the occurrence of bronchitis in adolescents
Authors: Lee Yungling L. , Chen Yang‐Ching , Chen Yu‐An
Published: March 2013

Objective:

Previous studies have shown that an elevated BMI was associated with higher risks of bronchitis among children. The magnitude of how increase in BMI influencing the risk of incident bronchitis remained unexplored. The objective of this study is to assess the association between BMI and the incidence of bronchitis in the Taiwan Children Health Study.

Design:

A school‐based prospective cohort study.

Methods:

We conducted a population‐based prospective cohort study among seventh‐grade school children in 14 Taiwanese communities. A total of 3,634 adolescents completed follow‐up questionnaire in 2009. Associations between BMI and incident bronchitis were analyzed by multiple Poisson regression models, taking overdispersion into account.

Results:

Among eligible cohort participants without bronchitis at study entry, the proportion of overweight and obesity were 32.1% and 17.9%. Overweight was 40.7% and obesity was 27.7% among those with incident bronchitis. The BMI percentile categories showed significant increasing trends for bronchitis in total eligible children and in girls (P for trend <0.001). Overweight and obesity were both associated with increased risks of incident bronchitis. This association was significant in girls only while stratified by gender.

Conclusions:

Our data showed that the BMI percentile and weight status were associated with higher risks of incident bronchitis in adolescents, especially in girls.
Obesity and body fat classification in the metabolic syndrome: Impact on cardiometabolic risk metabotype
Authors: Phillips Catherine M. , Tierney Audrey C. , Perez‐Martinez Pablo , Defoort Catherine , Blaak Ellen E. , Gjelstad Ingrid M. F. , Lopez‐Miranda Jose , Kiec‐Klimczak Malgorzata , Malczewska‐Malec Malgorzata , Drevon Christian A. , Hall Wendy , Lovegrove Julie A. , Karlstrom Brita , Risérus Ulf , Roche Helen M.
Published: March 2013

Objective:

Obesity is a key factor in the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. We investigated whether obesity classification by BMI and body fat percentage (BF%) influences cardiometabolic profile and dietary responsiveness in 486 MetS subjects (LIPGENE dietary intervention study).

Design and Methods:

Anthropometric measures, markers of inflammation and glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, adhesion molecules, and hemostatic factors were determined at baseline and after 12 weeks of four dietary interventions (high saturated fat (SFA), high monounsaturated fat (MUFA), and two low fat high complex carbohydrate (LFHCC) diets, one supplemented with long chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n‐3 PUFAs)).

Results:

About 39 and 87% of subjects classified as normal and overweight by BMI were obese according to their BF%. Individuals classified as obese by BMI (≥30 kg/m2) and BF% (≥25% (men) and ≥35% (women)) (OO, n = 284) had larger waist and hip measurements, higher BMI and were heavier (P < 0.001) than those classified as nonobese by BMI but obese by BF% (NOO, n = 92). OO individuals displayed a more proinflammatory (higher C reactive protein (CRP) and leptin), prothrombotic (higher plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1)), proatherogenic (higher leptin/adiponectin ratio) and more insulin resistant (higher HOMA‐IR) metabolic profile relative to the NOO group (P < 0.001). Interestingly, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) concentrations were lower post‐intervention in NOO individuals compared with OO subjects (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

In conclusion, assessing BF% and BMI as part of a metabotype may help to identify individuals at greater cardiometabolic risk than BMI alone.
A novel index of whole body antilipolytic insulin action
Authors: Van Pelt Rachael E. , Gozansky Wendolyn S. , Kohrt Wendy M.
Published: March 2013

Objective:

Assessment of antilipolytic insulin action is important in obesity research, but extensive isotopic tracer studies are not always feasible. We evaluated whether an index of antilipolytic insulin action could be derived from readily available insulin and glycerol concentrations obtained during clamps or oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT).

Design and Methods:

We evaluated data collected from 29 subjects who had undergone a 3‐stage hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp (4, 8, and 40 mU/m2/min) with infusion of [2H5]glycerol to calculate the glycerol rate of appearance (GLYRA). Exponential decay curves for GLYRA across insulin concentrations were generated for each individual and suppression of lipolysis was calculated as the insulin concentration needed to half‐maximally suppress GLYRA (GLYRA EC50). Areas under the curve for glycerol (GLYAUC) and insulin (INSAUC) were calculated and their products (INSAUC × GLYAUC) were calculated as an index of insulin suppression of lipolysis.

Results:

The clamp index was highly correlated with GLYRA EC50 (r = 0.862, P < 0.001), as was an OGTT‐derived index (r = 0.720, P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that the products of the insulin and glycerol AUC from either a clamp or an OGTT are good biomarkers of the antilipolytic action of insulin and are comparable with direct measurement by isotopic tracer methods.
Get More Out of Your Data: A New Approach to Agglomeration and Aggregation Studies Using Nanoparticle Impact Experiments
Authors: Ellison Joanna , Tschulik Kristina , Stuart Emma J. E. , Jurkschat Kerstin , Omanović Dario , Uhlemann Margitta , Crossley Alison , Compton Richard G.
Published: March 2013

Anodic particle coloumetry is used to size silver nanoparticles impacting a carbon microelectrode in a potassium chloride/citrate solution. Besides their size, their agglomeration state in solution is also investigated solely by electrochemical means and subsequent data analysis. Validation of this new approach to nanoparticle agglomeration studies is performed by comparison with the results of a commercially available nanoparticle tracking analysis system, which shows excellent agreement. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the electrochemical technique has the advantage of directly yielding the number of atoms per impacting nanoparticle irrespective of its shape. This is not true for the optical nanoparticle tracking system, which requires a correction for the nonspherical shape of agglomerated nanoparticles to derive reasonable information on the agglomeration state.
Networked Collective Action and the Institutionalized Policy Debate: Bringing Cyberactivism to the Policy Arena?
Authors: Milan Stefania , Hintz Arne
Published: March 2013

New forms of networked action and informal collaboration are challenging traditional notions of civil society. Based on the proliferation of new technologies, and spurred by the spread of trans‐border delocalized communities and the increasing disillusionment with traditional forms of political organization, civic action is becoming increasingly flexible, temporary, and elusive. This type of nontraditionally organized collective action often stays below the radar of public discourse, unless it is propelled to the spotlight because of international political developments such as the WikiLeaks case (and the related actions by the cyberactivist network Anonymous) and the mass protests in Northern Africa and the Middle East (and the role of social networking tools in these uprisings). In this article, we investigate the interactions and (in)compatibilities of Internet‐based networked collective action with institutionalized spaces of policy debate. We begin by characterizing online networked action as an emerging form of organized civil society, focusing on the realm of cyberactivists who are building and using cyber‐infrastructure (“grassroots tech groups”). In particular, we examine their values, identity features, and organizational forms. Based on this analysis, we explore two dimensions in which cyberactivism challenges established forms of institutionalized policy debate: the structural dimension and the realm of action repertoires. We ask whether these new forms of civil society are structurally compatible with current multistakeholder governance, and we discuss their repertoires of action with regard to policy advocacy and policy interventions, and thus the level and type of their engagement with governance processes and institutions.
Activism and the Online Mediation Opportunity Structure: Attempts to Impact Global Climate Change Policies?
Authors: Uldam Julie
Published: March 2013

The annual United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change conferences provides a transnational mediation opportunity structure for activist networks to contest policies that favor market‐based models for solving the climate crisis. Online technologies, including commercial social media, have arguably increased possibilities for being involved in protests on a transnational level. However, this article shows how online modes of action privilege lobbying tactics over civil disobedience tactics, arguing that the former is often incommensurate with an anticapitalist climate approach to climate change activism. This impedes possibilities for using online media to protest at the radical end of the climate justice movement spectrum. This article explores this interrelationship between activist demands and (online) modes of action through a focus on the mobilization efforts of London‐based activists for the 17th UN climate conference in 2011.
Online Campaigning Organizations and Storytelling Strategies: GetUp! in Australia
Authors: Vromen Ariadne , Coleman William
Published: March 2013

There has been an international growth in online campaigning organizations that engage in public policy debate and mobilize citizens. This paper analyzes how political action undertaken by these organizations promotes an innovative approach to storytelling and discursive politics. The main question addressed here is: how do storytelling tactics underpin the multi‐issue oriented, online strategies of campaigning organizations? GetUp! is an Australian online political campaigning organization with over 600,000 members, that has conducted high‐profile public policy campaigns on issues as diverse as mental health, electoral law, same‐sex marriage, and climate change. This qualitative case study demonstrates how GetUp!'s communications strategy tries to use storytelling to reorient political debate—and the nature of politics itself—in an affective way. The construction of online campaign stories underpins their political tactics. Stories are used to help citizens, and to a lesser extent, decision makers, identify with an issue, build community, and act in recognition of the moral urgency for political change.
A computational approach to the free radical polymerization kinetics of alkyl α‐hydroxymethacrylate monomers: A structure–reactivity relationship
Authors: Işık Mehtap , Karahan Özlem , Avci Duygu , Aviyente Viktorya
Published: March 2013

Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6–31+G(d) level were carried out for 16 alkyl α‐hydroxymethacrylate (RHMA) monomers, and the calculated quantum chemical descriptors were used to construct a quantitative structure–activity relationship model of the reactivity parameters of those monomers. A multiple regression analysis was adopted to predict the polymerization kinetics. The molecular descriptors used in this study are the Mulliken and APT charges of the backbone C atoms in proximity of the reactive center, the total dipole moment (µ), the energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (EHOMO), the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (ELUMO), the isotropic polarizability (α), the Mulliken atomic spin density (ρs), the ionization energy (IE), the electron affinity (EA), the resonance parameter (Res), the natural atomic orbital occupancies, and the bond distances of the bonds in the proximity to the reactive center of the RHMA monomers and their corresponding radicals. Among the various descriptors considered, the IE and EA of the monomers, the bond order of carbonyl double bond of monomer (BOCO), the resonance stabilization parameter of the monomeric radical, and the Mulliken atomic spin density (ρs) of C5 of the radical were found to be correlated (R2 = 0.9416) with the experimental rates of photopolymerization. The correlation with experiment is also satisfactory when additional monomers are included in the data set; a new correlation is thus generated (R2 = 0.9186). This study is expected to shed light on predicting the reactivities of RHMA monomers prior to their synthesis and to rank their photopolymerization rates based on their quantitative structural properties. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2375–2384
Accurate prediction of hot spot residues through physicochemical characteristics of amino acid sequences
Authors: Chen Peng , Li Jinyan , Wong Limsoon , Kuwahara Hiroyuki , Huang Jianhua Z. , Gao Xin
Published: March 2013

Hot spot residues of proteins are fundamental interface residues that help proteins perform their functions. Detecting hot spots by experimental methods is costly and time‐consuming. Sequential and structural information has been widely used in the computational prediction of hot spots. However, structural information is not always available. In this article, we investigated the problem of identifying hot spots using only physicochemical characteristics extracted from amino acid sequences. We first extracted 132 relatively independent physicochemical features from a set of the 544 properties in AAindex1, an amino acid index database. Each feature was utilized to train a classification model with a novel encoding schema for hot spot prediction by the IBk algorithm, an extension of the K‐nearest neighbor algorithm. The combinations of the individual classifiers were explored and the classifiers that appeared frequently in the top performing combinations were selected. The hot spot predictor was built based on an ensemble of these classifiers and to work in a voting manner. Experimental results demonstrated that our method effectively exploited the feature space and allowed flexible weights of features for different queries. On the commonly used hot spot benchmark sets, our method significantly outperformed other machine learning algorithms and state‐of‐the‐art hot spot predictors. The program is available at http://sfb.kaust.edu.sa/pages/software.aspx. Proteins 2013; 81:1351–1362 © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Theoretical investigation on the diatomic ligand migration process and ligand binding properties in non‐O2‐binding H‐NOX domain
Authors: Zhang Yuebin , Liu Li , Wu Lei , Li Shuai , Li Fei , Li Zhengqiang
Published: March 2013

The Nostoc sp (Ns) H‐NOX (heme‐nitric oxide or OXygen‐binding) domain shares 35% sequence identity with soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and exhibits similar ligand binding property with the sGC. Previously, our molecular dynamic (MD) simulation work identified that there exists a Y‐shaped tunnel system hosted in the Ns H‐NOX interior, which servers for ligand migration. The tunnels were then confirmed by Winter et al. [PNAS 2011;108(43):E 881–889] recently using x‐ray crystallography with xenon pressured conditions. In this work, to further investigate how the protein matrix of Ns H‐NOX modulates the ligand migration process and how the distal residue composition affects the ligand binding prosperities, the free energy profiles for nitric oxide (NO), carbon monooxide (CO), and O2 migration are explored using the steered MDs simulation and the ligand binding energies are calculated using QM/MM schemes. The potential of mean force profiles suggest that the longer branch of the tunnel would be the most favorable route for NO migration and a second NO trapping site other than the distal heme pocket along this route in the Ns H‐NOX was identified. On the contrary, CO and O2 would prefer to diffuse via the shorter branch of the tunnel. The QM/MM (quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics) calculations suggest that the hydrophobic distal pocket of Ns H‐NOX would provide an approximately vacuum environment and the ligand discrimination would be determined by the intrinsic binding properties of the diatomic gas ligand to the heme group. Proteins 2013; 81:1363–1376. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inositol phosphates compete with nucleic acids for binding to bovine leukemia virus matrix protein: Implications for deltaretroviral assembly
Authors: Qualley Dominic F. , Lackey Crystal M. , Paterson Justin P.
Published: March 2013

The matrix (MA) domain of retroviral Gag proteins plays a crucial role in virion assembly. In human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1), a lentivirus, the presence of phosphatidylinositol‐(4,5)‐bisphosphate triggers a conformational change allowing the MA domain to bind the plasma membrane (PM). In this study, the MA protein from bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was used to investigate the mechanism of viral Gag binding to the membrane during replication of a deltaretrovirus. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to measure the binding affinity of MA for two RNA constructs derived from the BLV genome as well as for single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA). The importance of electrostatic interactions and the ability of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) to compete with nucleic acids for binding to MA were also investigated. Our data show that IP6 effectively competes with RNA and DNA for BLV MA binding, while [NaCl] of greater than 100 mM is required to produce any observable effect on DNA‐MA binding. These results suggest that BLV assembly may be highly dependent on the specific interaction of the MA domain with components of the PM, as observed previously with HIV‐1. The mode of MA binding to nucleic acids and the implications for BLV assembly are discussed. Proteins 2013; 81:1377–1385. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimization of molecular docking scores with support vector rank regression
Authors: Wang Wei , He Wanlin , Zhou Xi , Chen Xin
Published: March 2013

This work introduces the support vector rank regression (SVRR) algorithm for the optimization of molecular docking scores. Seven original docking scores reported by two docking software were integrated by the SVRR algorithm. The resulting SVRR scores showed an average of 12.1% improvement (59.5–66.7%) in binding conformation prediction tests to rank the correctly computed conformation in the first place, along with 16.7% RMSD improvement (2.5414 vs. 2.1162 Å) for the top ranked conformations. In compound library screening (LS) tests, an average of 46.3% improvement (18.2–26.6%) was also observed to rank the correct ligand in the first place. Furthermore, it was shown that SVRR scores trained with different example datasets, using different training strategies, all exhibited exceedingly consistent accuracies, suggesting that the SVRR algorithm is highly robust and generalizable. In contrast, using the same training datasets, traditional support vector classification and regression algorithms failed to improve comparably the accuracy of LS and conformation prediction. These results suggested that, with additional features to indicate the comparative fitness between computed binding conformations, the SVRR algorithm holds the potential to create a new category of more accurate integrative docking scores. Proteins 2013; 81:1386–1398. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of latent heating in warm frontogenesis
Authors: Igel Adele L. , van den Heever Susan C.
Published: March 2013

The role of latent heating from individual cloud processes associated with one part of a springtime extratropical cyclone, the warm front, is assessed using high‐resolution modelling. Condensation and cloud droplet nucleation are the largest sources of latent heat along the frontal surface and together produce rates of horizontal frontogenesis that are of the same order of magnitude as the deformation and tilting terms at mid levels; however, near the surface latent heating does not cause strong frontogenesis. In the vertical, stabilization caused by condensation and cloud nucleation is nearly everywhere higher than stabilization caused by dry dynamics, and is the primary process through which high static stability is found along the frontal surface. The frontogenesis and static stability tendency equations are combined to form an expression for the frontal slope tendency. While dynamic processes lead to increases in frontal slope, latent heating often counteracts this tendency. This indicates that the direct effect of latent heating on the thermal structure of the front is to decrease the slope and in that sense weaken the warm front.
Nature of closed‐ and open‐shell interactions between noble metals and rare gas atoms
Authors: Jamshidi Zahra , Eskandari Kiomars , Azami S. Mohammad
Published: March 2013

Interactions between noble metals and rare gases have become an interesting topic over the last few years. In this work, a computational study of the open‐shell (d10s1) and closed‐shell (d10s and d10s2) noble metals (M = Cu, Ag, and Au) with three heaviest rare gas atoms (Rg = Kr, Xe, and Rn) has been performed. Potential energy curves based onab initio[MP2, MP4, QCISD, and CCSD(T)] and DFT functionals (M06‐2X and CAM‐B3LYP) were obtained for ionic and neutral AuXe complexes. Dissociation energies indicate that neutral metals have the lowest and cationic metals have the highest affinities for interaction with rare gas atoms. For the same metals, there is a continuous increase in dissociation energies (De) from Kr to Rn. The nature of bonding and the trend ofDeand equilibrium bond lengths (Re) have been interpreted by means of quantum theory of atoms in molecules, natural bond orbital, and energy decomposition analysis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A computational investigation on the geometries, stabilities, antioxidant activity, and the substituent effects of the L‐ascorbic acid and their derivatives
Authors: Zhao Run‐Ning , Yuan Yanhong , Liu Fuyi , Han Ju‐Guang , Sheng LiuSi
Published: March 2013

The geometries, stabilities, and antioxidant activities of L‐Ascorbic acid (1a), D‐erythroascorbate (2a), and D‐erythroascorbate glucoside (3a) as well as their sulfur and selenium derivatives are systematically investigated by using density functional theory. Emphasis is placed on studies of the two main mechanisms, that is, hydrogen atom donation and single‐electron transfer, and the O—H bond dissociation enthalpy and the ionization potential are computed in the gas phase and water solution. The calculated results indicate that the 2‐OH group in the five‐membered ring acts as an important H atom donor to free radicals. The 2‐OH radical spin density distribution shows that the unpaired electron is mostly located at the C3 atom of the five‐membered ring and partially at the vicinal O atoms, proving that a certain delocalization of the odd electron is effective in the five‐membered ring. In water aqueous solution, the antioxidant capacity and the electron donating ability are increased as the O atom in the five‐membered ring of 1a, 2a, and 3a is replaced by S and Se, respectively, in good agreement with experimental measurements; Furthermore, their antioxidant capacities are enhanced as compared with the standard antioxidant (resveratrol). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
General resonance mediation
Authors: McGarrie Moritz
Published: March 2013

Abstract

We extend the framework of general gauge mediation to cases where the mediating fields have a nontrivial spectral function, as might arise from strong dynamics. Demonstrating through examples, this setup describes a broad class of possible models of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking. A main emphasis is to give general formulas for cross sections forσ(visible→hidden) in these resonance models. We will also give formulas for soft masses, A-terms and demonstrate the framework with a holographic setup.
Databases of the thiotemplate modular systems (CSDB) and their in silico recombinants (r-CSDB)
Authors: Diminic Janko , Zucko Jurica , Ruzic Ida Trninic , Gacesa Ranko , Hranueli Daslav , Long Paul F , Cullum John , Starcevic Antonio
Published: March 2013

Modular biosynthetic clusters are responsible for the synthesis of many important pharmaceutical products. They include polyketide synthases (PKS clusters), non-ribosomal synthetases (NRPS clusters), and mixed clusters (containing both PKS and NRPS modules). The ClustScan database (CSDB) contains highly annotated descriptions of 170 clusters. The database has a hierarchical organization, which allows easy extraction of DNA and protein sequences of polypeptides, modules, and domains as well as an organization of the annotation so as to be able to predict the product chemistry to view it or export it in a standard SMILES format. The recombinant ClustScan database contains information about predicted recombinants between PKS clusters. The recombinants are generated by modeling homologous recombination and are associated with annotation and prediction of product chemistry automatically generated by the model. The database contains over 20,000 recombinants and is a resource for in silico approaches to detecting promising new compounds. Methods are available to construct the corresponding recombinants in the laboratory.
Sesamol Treatment Reduces Plasma Cholesterol and Triacylglycerol Levels in Mouse Models of Acute and Chronic Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Kumar Nitesh , Mudgal Jayesh , Parihar Vipan K. , Nayak Pawan G. , Kutty N. Gopalan , Rao C. Mallikarjuna
Published: March 2013

The active constituents of Sesamum indicum, sesamin and sesamolin, have already been explored for hypolipidemic action. In this study we have explored the anti‐dyslipidemic activity of another active component and metabolite of sesamolin (sesamol), by using acute models of hyperlipidemia viz., a fat tolerance test, a tyloxapol‐induced hyperlipidemia model and a chronic model of hyperlipidemia viz., a high‐fat diet‐induced hyperlipidemia model in Swiss albino mice. Sesamol (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased triacylglycerol absorption in the fat tolerance test by showing a dose‐dependent decrease in triacylglycerol levels. The hypolipidemic effect of sesamol at 200 mg/kg was equivalent to 10 mg/kg of orlistat. In the tyloxapol‐induced hyperlipidemia model, Sesamol at 200 mg/kg reversed the elevated levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol compared with the tyloxapol group at 12 and 24 h, which indicates its probable effect on cholesterol synthesis. Chronic hyperlipidemia in mice was produced by feeding a high‐diet, a mixture of cholesterol (2 % w/w), cholic acid (1 % w/w) and coconut oil 30 % (v/w) with standard powdered standard animal chow (up to 100 g). Niacin (100 mg/kg) and sesamol (100 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the elevated body weight compared with the high fat diet control group. Elevated levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol were significantly (P < 0.05) reversed by the sesamol (50 and 100 mg/kg), implying that it might reduce the absorption and increase the excretion of cholesterol as well.
Effect of Liquid Oil on the Distribution and Reactivity of a Hydrophobic Solute in Solid Lipid Nanoparticles
Authors: Yucel Umut , Elias Ryan J. , Coupland John N.
Published: March 2013

The performance of solid lipid nanoparticles is often modified by the addition of small amounts of liquid oil. The effects of added liquid lipid (tetradecane, C14) on the distribution and reactivity of the spin probe 4‐phenyl‐2,2,5,5‐tetramethyl‐3‐imidazoline‐1‐oxyl nitroxide (PTMIO) in solid lipid nanoparticles (eicosane, C20) were investigated as a function of storage time and temperature. Emulsions prepared with blends of C14:C20 (100 % C14, 90 % C20, 99 % C20, and 100 % C20) and stabilized by sodium caseinate (1 wt%) were stored at 21.5 °C or 5 °C for 5 or 24 h prior to EPR analyses. In the liquid C14 droplets the PTMIO partitioned between the droplet and aqueous phases (70 and 30 %, respectively) independent of storage conditions. However, the proportion of probe in droplets decreased with increasing crystalline C20 concentration. The fraction of PTMIO in droplets containing C20 decreased in the following sequence: 5 h at room temperature >24 h at room temperature >24 h at refrigerated temperature and was lower in droplets with a higher proportion of C20. The residual PTMIO in semicrystalline droplets has higher polarity and lower mobility than PTMIO in liquid oil droplets suggesting it is in a layer surrounding the crystalline lipid core, and partly immobilized by interaction with the surface layer. The model of PTMIO distribution was consistent with the kinetics of PTMIO reduction by aqueous ascorbate ions.
Religious Social Networks and Volunteering: Examining Recruitment via Close Ties
Authors: Merino Stephen M.
Published: March 2013

A growing number of studies point to religious social networks as the critical link between religion and volunteering, mediating the effect of religious participation and predicting volunteering more strongly than beliefs. Previous studies have examined how the presence or absence of religiously based social ties predicts volunteering behavior. However, few studies have focused on the role of recruitment in personal networks. Examining the sources and frequency of recruitment efforts is especially important, since being asked to volunteer is one of the strongest predictors of volunteering. Using data from the nationally representative Portraits of American Life Study, this study examines the frequency and effectiveness of volunteer recruitment via close, same-faith ties. I find that same-faith friends and family members vary widely in their propensity to make volunteer requests, depending on whether religion is a salient aspect of the relationship and whether the relationship is connected to congregational social networks. I also find that, for churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike, ties to people actively involved in a congregation are important sources of volunteer invitations. As expected, having been asked to volunteer is a strong predictor of volunteering. However, the recruitment source appears to be less critical. I explore how these findings shed light on the mechanisms linking religious networks and volunteering.
A uniqueness result for the quasiconvex operator and first order PDEs for convex envelopes
Authors: Barron E.N. , Jensen R.R.
Published: March 2013

The operator involved in quasiconvex functions is

L(u) = \mathrm{\min }_{|y| = 1,y \cdot Du = 0}\:yD^{2}uy^{T}

and this also arises as the governing operator in a worst case tug-of-war (Kohn and Serfaty (2006) [7]) and principal curvature of a surface. In Barron et al. (2012) [4] a comparison principle for

L(u) = g > 0

was proved. A new and much simpler proof is presented in this paper based on Barles and Busca (2001) [3] and Lu and Wang (2008) [8]. Since

L(u)/ |Du|

is the minimal principal curvature of a surface, we show by example that

L(u)−g|Du| = 0

does not have a unique solution, even if

g > 0

. Finally, we complete the identification of first order evolution problems giving the convex envelope of a given function.
The HBx protein of hepatitis B virus confers resistance against nucleolar stress and anti‐cancer drug‐induced p53 expression
Authors: Kapoor Neetu Rohit , Ahuja Richa , Shukla Surendra K. , Kumar Vijay
Published: March 2013

The nucleolus is a stress sensor associated with cell cycle progression and a viral target. However, the role of the nucleolus during hepatitis B virus infection has not been studied. Here we show that under nucleolar stress, the HBx oncoprotein down‐regulates p53 and p21waf1 levels by disrupting the interaction between ribosomal protein L11 and MDM2. Further, HBx inhibited Act D‐mediated down‐regulation of proliferative factors such as c‐Myc and cyclin E and revived RNA pol I‐dependent transcription under these conditions. Importantly, HBx also countered the action of anticancer drug Paclitaxel suggesting its possible role in drug resistance. Thus, HBx not only can facilitate cell proliferation under stress conditions but can confer resistance against anticancer drugs.
pepgrep: A Tool for Peptide MS/MS Pattern Matching
Authors: Chernukhin Igor
Published: March 2013

Typically, detection of protein sequences in collision-induced dissociation (CID) tandem MS (MS2) dataset is performed by mapping identified peptide ions back to protein sequence by using the protein database search (PDS) engine. Finding a particular peptide sequence of interest in CID MS2 records very often requires manual evaluation of the spectrum, regardless of whether the peptide-associated MS2 scan is identified by PDS algorithm or not. We have developed a compact cross-platform database-free command-line utility, pepgrep, which helps to find an MS2 fingerprint for a selected peptide sequence by pattern-matching of modelled MS2 data using Peptide-to-MS2 scoring algorithm. pepgrep can incorporate dozens of mass offsets corresponding to a variety of post-translational modifications (PTMs) into the algorithm. Decoy peptide sequences are used with the tested peptide sequence to reduce false-positive results. The engine is capable of screening an MS2 data file at a high rate when using a cluster computing environment. The matched MS2 spectrum can be displayed by using built-in graphical application programming interface (API) or optionally recorded to file. Using this algorithm, we were able to find extra peptide sequences in studied CID spectra that were missed by PDS identification. Also we found pepgrep especially useful for examining a CID of small fractions of peptides resulting from, for example, affinity purification techniques. The peptide sequences in such samples are less likely to be positively identified by using routine protein-centric algorithm implemented in PDS. The software is freely available at http://bsproteomics.essex.ac.uk:8080/data/download/pepgrep-1.4.tgz.
Emerging concepts on the epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of the Kiss1 gene
Authors: Semaan Sheila J. , Kauffman Alexander S.
Published: March 2013

Kisspeptin and its receptor have been implicated as critical regulators of reproductive physiology, with humans and mice without functioning kisspeptin systems displaying severe pubertal and reproductive defects. Alterations in the expression of Kiss1 (the gene encoding kisspeptin) over development, along with differences in Kiss1 expression between the sexes in adulthood, may be critical for the maturation and functioning of the neuroendocrine reproductive system and could possibly contribute to pubertal progression, sex differences in luteinizing hormone secretion, and other facets of reproductive physiology. It is therefore essential to understand how Kiss1 gene expression develops and what possible regulatory mechanisms govern the modulation of its expression. A number of recent studies, primarily in rodent or cell line models, have focused on the contributions of epigenetic mechanisms to the regulation of Kiss1 gene expression; thus far, mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and histone methylation have been investigated. This review discusses the most recent findings on the epigenetic control of Kiss1 expression in adulthood, the evidence for epigenetic factors affecting Kiss1 expression during puberty and development, and findings regarding the contribution of epigenetics to the sexually dimorphic expression of Kiss1 in the hypothalamus.
Predictors of emergency cesarean delivery among international migrant women in Canada
Authors: Gagnon Anita J. , Merry Lisa , Haase Kristen
Published: March 2013

Objective

To determine the predictors of emergency cesarean delivery among international migrant women.

Methods

Between February 2006 and May 2009, 1025 postpartum migrant women were recruited from 12 hospitals in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Logistic regression was used to model migration, social, health service, and biomedical factors predictive of emergency cesarean.

Results

Overall, 14% percent of participants underwent emergency cesarean. The greatest risk was for women having their first delivery (odds ratio [OR], 5.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1–11.3); newborns weighing 4000 g or more (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.9–6.5); no health insurance (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.2–6.4); delivery on a Friday (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2–3.9); incomes of less than 30 000 Canadian dollars (OR, 1.9; 1.2–3.0); and induced labor (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–3.0). Compared with immigrants, asylum seekers (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2–0.6) and refugees (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2–1.0) were protected against emergency cesarean.

Conclusion

Indicators specific to, or more common among, migrants were informative in assessing the likelihood of emergency cesarean. The risk associated with being uninsured, day of delivery, income, and immigration class suggests the importance of considering non‐biomedical factors in reducing the need for emergency cesarean among migrants.
Association of maternal sleep practices with pre‐eclampsia, low birth weight, and stillbirth among Ghanaian women
Authors: Owusu Jocelynn T. , Anderson Frank J. , Coleman Jerry , Oppong Samuel , Seffah Joseph D. , Aikins Alfred , O'Brien Louise M.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To assess sleep practices, and investigate their relationship with maternal and fetal outcomes, among pregnant Ghanaian women.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study conducted at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana, between June and July 2011, postpartum women were interviewed within 48 hours of delivery about sleep quality and practices during pregnancy. Interviews were coupled with a systematic review of participants' medical charts for key outcomes including maternal hypertension, pre‐eclampsia, premature delivery, low birth weight, and stillbirth.

Results

Most women reported poor sleep quality during pregnancy. Snoring during pregnancy was independently associated with pre‐eclampsia (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–8.5; P = 0.007). The newborns of women who reported supine sleep during pregnancy were at increased risk of low birth weight (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.2–20.2; P = 0.025) and stillbirth (OR, 8.0; 95% CI, 1.5–43.2; P = 0.016). Low birth weight was found to mediate the relationship between supine sleep and stillbirth.

Conclusion

The present findings in an African population demonstrate that maternal sleep, a modifiable risk factor, has a significant role in pre‐eclampsia, low birth weight, and subsequently stillbirth.
Myomectomy during cesarean delivery
Authors: Song Dianrong , Zhang Wei , Chames Mark C. , Guo Jie
Published: March 2013

Background

The optimal management of leiomyomas during cesarean delivery is unclear.

Objectives

To assess the safety of myomectomy performed during cesarean delivery.

Search strategy

PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify potentially relevant studies published prior to June 30, 2012.

Selection criteria

Case‐control study comparing myomectomy with no myomectomy in patients undergoing cesarean delivery.

Data collection and analysis

The quality of the studies was assessed and data were extracted independently by 2 authors.

Main results

Nine studies, including 1 082 women with leiomyomas, met the inclusion criteria; 443 (41.0%) women underwent cesarean myomectomy and 639 (59.1%) underwent cesarean delivery alone. The drop in hemoglobin after surgery was 0.30 g/dL greater in the cesarean myomectomy group than in the control group, but the difference was not significant. The operative time was 4.94 minutes longer in the cesarean myomectomy group, but again the difference was not significant. The overall incidence of fever was comparable in the 2 groups. No hysterectomies were performed in any of the included studies.

Conclusions

Cesarean myomectomy may be a reasonable option for some women with leiomyoma. However, no definite conclusion can be drawn because the data included in the meta‐analysis were of low quality.
Putting provider abortion skills into practice
Authors: Healy Joan
Published: March 2013

Global progress to reduce maternal deaths from unsafe abortion is inadequate. Clarifying abortion values and attitudes, using updated WHO safe abortion technical guidance, networking with other providers, and securing adequate abortion and contraceptive supplies can support providers to put induced abortion, postabortion care, and contraceptive skills into practice. Revised national guidelines based on updated WHO guidance can support women's healthcare providers to offer safe abortion for all legal indications and other measures to protect women's life and health. Recommendations of the United Nations and partner agencies can be used to support integration of abortion into other health programs, to expand provision of abortion care by midlevel providers, such as midwives, and to advocate for resources and results based on an expanded reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health Continuum of Care. Together, these efforts can generate concerted progress toward eliminating unsafe abortion, which is an entirely preventable cause of maternal mortality.