bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Magnetic Strength of the Water Salinity Treatment Devices on Salt Accumulation in the Root Zoon and Its Impact on Growth and Productivity of Olive Trees
Authors: Abdelwahed Samer Mohamed , Farag Mohamed Ebrahim Hassan , Youssef Mohamed Ahmed
Published: May 2024

This study was conducted during the two successive seasons 2022 and 2023 at Wadi El-Natron west Nile Delta (EL-Behera governorate) to evaluate three commercial magnetic devices “Water magnetizers” of different manufacturers (Nefertari Biomagnetic 6000 Gauss, Magnolith 8000 Gauss, Delta Water 14000 Gauss), and to figure out which is more effective to reduce the negative effect of irrigating olive trees with saline water. The study examined the effect on vegetative growth, leaf mineral contents, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf proline content, and relative water content of Manzanillo olive trees. The experiment confirmed that olive trees can be irrigated with water containing 3500 ppm without causing high salt stress. Data also showed a positive effect of magnetically treated water on all vegetative growth characters (growth rate, stem diameter, number of green leaves), an increase in all elements content in experimental plant leaves except sodium and chloride, an increase in leaf chlorophyll content, decreased leaf proline content and increase relative water content. In terms of determining whether commercial devices are more effective than others, the Magnolith has been demonstrated to achieve the best results when compared to other devices, in most cases the difference between using "Delta Water" or "Nefertari" was not big enough to be significant. "Nefertari" recorded almost the lowest values of the studied vegetative growth characters, leaf chlorophyll, and relative water content. This indicates that the strength of the magnets alone is not the only thing that affects how well the device works; furthermore, it depends also on how the magnetic fields are configured and the manufacturing expertise.
Potential Effect of Chloroquine in Modulating Hyperglycemia and PTEN Receptor Linked Dyslipidemia on Alloxan-induced Diabetic Mice
Authors: Etti Imaobong C. , Essang Eno-obong A. , Olorunsola Emmanuel O.
Published: May 2024

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening disease associated with worsening of glycemic control, progressive metabolic dysfunctions and disruption of the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) receptor. 
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of chloroquine on blood glucose level and lipid profile of alloxan-induced diabetic mice and to observe its interaction with PTEN, a negative regulator of insulin signaling pathway.
Methodology: Thirty mice were used for the experiment. A group (n = 5) was kept as healthy control while the others were pre-treated with 140 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate in distilled water. The alloxan-induced diabetic mice were randomly divided into four groups: diabetic model control group, 60 mg/kg chloroquine, 120 mg/kg chloroquine, and 10 mg/kg glibenclamide treatment groups respectively. Treatment was done once daily for seven days and the blood glucose level was investigated acutely and then daily throughout the experimental period. A molecular docking study was also conducted to evaluate the interaction of chloroquine with PTEN using PYRX software, while an automated COBAS C 311 machine was used to analyze the lipid profile after the treatment period. 
Results: Oral administration of chloroquine gradually and significantly lowered the raised blood glucose level in a time- and dose-dependent manner. A repeated study with 120 mg/kg of chloroquine revealed a decline in blood sugar from 221.5 ± 3.6 on day 1 to 85.5 ± 2.4 on day 7 in comparison to glibenclamide, whose sugar level was reduced to 75.5 ± 3.7 at the end of day 7. The docking study revealed a non-competitive inhibition with an inhibition score of -6.1 in comparison to metformin, which had a score of -4.4, and glibenclamide, which had a score of -9.0. This interaction resulted in a conformational change of the receptor, hence, enhancing glucose uptake and reducing the raised hyperglycemia. Treatment with chloroquine was also observed to reduce the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels from 162 in the model group to 144 and 141 to 116 mmol/L, respectively. The levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) following treatment with chloroquine were not statistically different from the non-diabetic healthy mice. These values were very similar to those obtained with glibenclamide-treated diabetic mice.
Conclusion: From the results, chloroquine possesses potent antidiabetic properties and can improve dyslipidemia imposed by hyperglycemia probably owing to its inhibition of PTEN, a negative regulator of insulin resistance.
Sickle Cell Disease Complications and BMI Percentiles of Pediatric Patients
Authors: Alaka Anuoluwapo Abisola , Iyanda Ayobola Abolape
Published: May 2024

BMI percentile is a good index of nutritional status among pediatric patients. Yet there is a dearth of information about the relationship between this important anthropometric parameter and specific severity indices among pediatric patients. The study is designed to explore the possibility of such a relationship.
Methods: Pediatric study participants were divided into test [HbSS, HbSC] and control [HbAA] groups. The questionnaire was administered to obtain information on age, gender, and clinical features of the disease [pain frequency, leg ulcer, priapism]. The anthropometry indices were determined. BMI as well as BMI percentiles were calculated. Data were summarized using relative frequency, mean, and standard deviation while analysis of variance, LSD post hoc tests and Chi‑squared tests were used for inferential statistics. Significant levels were set with P < 0.05.
Results: There were significant differences in the body weight, height and BMI of HbAA, HbSC and HbSS. The distribution of the BMI percentiles for the three genotypes showed that 5% of HbAA, 20% of HbSC, and 35.7% of HbSS were in unhealthy categories. The occurrence of leg ulcers and priapism among the two SCD genotypes was 0% and 3.57% respectively. The Chi-square tests showed a significant difference between BMI percentiles (X2=72.51; P=<.001) or painful episodes (X2=15.992; P=.003) and hemoglobin genotypes [HbSS, HbSC]. Among SCD patients there was a relationship between BMI percentiles and pain frequency (X2=50.59; P=<.001).
Conclusion: The study suggests that SCD impacts BMI percentiles. Also, the frequency of occurrence of priapism and leg ulcers varied widely, indicating that priapism among the SCD patients may be a more common SCD complication than leg ulcer in the region. The fact that there was a higher frequency of pain among HbSS than HbSC suggests a bias in distribution of pain frequency in the 2 hemoglobinopathies.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)
Authors: Yadav Hitesh Kumar , Vimal S. C. , Yadav S. K. , Chauhan Prakriti , Chourasiya V.K , Kumar Ashok , Sharma Manvendra , Pratap Arun
Published: May 2024

The present study on genetic divergence among 33 genotypes in mungbean was carried out using Mahalanobis D2 statistics for yield and its contributing traits, and a total of six clusters were formed. Cluster VI contains the highest number of genotypes (17), followed by clusters I, II, and V with 7, 4, and 3 genotypes, respectively, and clusters III and VI are monogenotypic. The inter-cluster distance was highest between clusters I and VI (250.89) and lowest between clusters I and III (57.74), whereas the intra-cluster distance was highest in cluster IV (63.97) and lowest for clusters III and VI (0.00), which have only one genotype. Cluster III records the highest mean for seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant, and lowest days to maturity, and Cluster VI also records the second highest mean for seed yield per plant, highest seed germination%, speed of germination, and seed viability. The maximum contribution towards genetic diversity was determined by the number of primary branches per plant (12.12%), followed by the number of secondary branches per plant. Genotypes belonging to clusters III and VI may be taken for a hybridization breeding program. Therefore, from the analysis, it was also concluded that genotypes belonging to different clusters separated by a high statistical distance may be used for developing new recombinants and desired traits.
Construction of Twenty-five Points Second Order Rotatable Design in Three Dimensions using Trigonometric Functions
Authors: Matundura Dennis Mwan , Kosgei Mathew , Too Robert
Published: May 2024

This study focuses on the construction of (25SOR) in Three Dimensions (3D) engaging trigonometric functions. Designing experiments in multiple dimensions is crucial for efficiently exploring complex systems and optimizing various processes. The proposed methodology utilizes trigonometric functions to generate a set of experimental points that exhibit desirable properties, such as rotatability, orthogonality, and uniformity, in the three-dimensional space. By employing trigonometric transformations, a design with twenty-five equally spaced points is constructed, ensuring the ability to conduct thorough investigations across the entire experimental region. The advantages of utilizing trigonometric functions in the design construction process include the flexibility to achieve rotational symmetry and the capability to control the distribution of points systematically. The resulting 25SOR design facilitates comprehensive experimentation and enables researchers to efficiently evaluate response surfaces and identify optimal operating conditions in three-dimensional spaces. This approach holds promise for applications in various fields, including agriculture, where the exploration of multidimensional parameter spaces is essential for enhancing performance and efficiency.
The Influence of Intellectual Capital on Financial Performance with Earnings Management as A Mediating Variable in Financial Companies Listed on The IDX in 2020-2022
Authors: Wasista I Gede Pande Eka , Pradnyani Ni Luh Putu Sri Purnama , Wasita Putu Aristya Adi
Published: May 2024

Financial performance is a form of evaluation and analysis of the financial performance of an entity in achieving its objectives. To achieve good financial performance, of course, quality resources are needed. Intellectual capital can be the main reason for achieving good financial performance in an entity because it has competitive advantages such as knowledge, skills, experience, and adequate information, which is in line with the resource-based view theory. However, to achieve good financial performance in the eyes of the public, earnings management practices are often carried out in each entity to cover up failures or fulfill the wishes of stakeholders. Earnings management practices are acts of manipulation of an entity's financial data to make it look good in the eyes of the public and do not describe actual financial performance. This research was conducted on insurance sub-sector financial companies listed on the IDX in 2020–2022. The method of determining the sample used was purposive sampling with the criteria that the insurance sub-sector financial companies published their annual reports consecutively from 2020–2022, so that 11 insurance sub-sector financial companies were obtained. The data analysis techniques used are SEM-PLS and path analysis using the SmartPLS application. Based on the research results, it is known that intellectual capital proxied using VAIC has a positive effect on financial performance proxied by ROA. Intellectual capital proxied by VAIC has no effect on earnings management proxied by DAC. Earnings management, proxied by DAC, has no effect on financial performance, proxied by ROA. Intellectual capital has no effect on financial performance after being mediated by earnings management; therefore, earnings management is called full mediation.
Argümantasyon Temellı̇ Sosyobı̇lı̇msel Konu Öğretı̇mı̇nı̇n 7. Sınıf Öğrencı̇lerı̇nı̇n Argümantasyon Düzeylerı̇ne, Karar Verme Becerı̇lerı̇ne ve Karar Verme Stı̇llerı̇ne Etkı̇sı̇
Authors: Karcılı Işıl , Sevım Serkan
Published: May 2024

Bu çalışmanın amacı sosyobilimsel konularda argümantasyon temelli etkinliklerin öğrencilerin argümantasyon düzeylerine, karar verme becerilerine ve karar verme stillerine etkisini araştırmaktır. Araştırma yedinci sınıfta öğrenim gören 23 öğrenci ile yapılmıştır. Argüman düzeyini ölçmek için Argümantasyon Değerlendirme Rubriği kullanılmıştır. Öğrencilerin cevapları rubriğe göre puanlanmış ve süreç içinde argüman ögelerini daha rahat kullandıkları, birçoğunun en az bir çürütücü yazabildiği görülmüştür. Karar verme becerilerini ölçmek için Karar Verme Becerisi Değerlendirme Rubriği kullanılmıştır. Öğrencilerin etkinliklere verdiği yanıtlar değerlendirilerek rubriğe göre puanlanmış ve öğrencilerin her iki rubrikten aldıkları puanlar doğrultusunda argüman düzeyleri ve karar verme becerileri arasındaki ilişkiye bakıldığında pozitif yönlü, çok yüksek ve anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Öğrencilerin karar verme stillerini belirlemek için Karar Verme Stilleri Ölçeği (KVSÖ) kullanılmıştır. Ölçek ön test ve son test olarak uygulanmış ve argümantasyon etkinliklerinin rasyonel karar verme stili üzerinde olumlu yönde etkiye sahip olduğu görülürken sezgisel ve bağımlı karar verme stillerinin azalması üzerinde olumlu bir etkiye sahip olduğu görülmüştür.
Ligand‐Free and Heterogeneous Palladium on Carbon‐Catalyzed Hetero‐Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling
Authors: Kitamura Yoshiaki , Sako Satoko , Tsutsui Azusa , Monguchi Yasunari , Maegawa Tomohiro , Kitade Yukio , Sajiki Hironao
Published: February 2010

A ligand‐free and heterogeneous palladium on carbon (Pd/C)‐catalyzed hetero‐Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction has been developed. The protocol enables the construction of both heterocyclic‐alicyclic and heterocyclic‐heterocyclic biaryl derivatives in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, Pd/C could be reused. The time‐course study clarified that palladium was leached into the reaction media as the reaction proceeded and then completely deposited on the carbon support.
Simultaneous quantitative measurement of gaseous species composition and solids volume fraction in a gas/solid flow
Authors: Laviolette Jean‐Philippe , Patience Gregory S. , Chaouki Jamal
Published: February 2010

A novel spectroscopic method was developed to measure quantitatively and simultaneously solids volume fraction (1−ε) and gaseous species composition (Yi) in a gas/solid system. The method was comprised of an FT‐IR coupled to a fiber‐optic probe that could perform real‐time and in situ measurements of absorbance. The effect of (1−ε) and Yi on the absorbance spectra were additive and could be independently calibrated. Experiments were conducted with alkane/nitrogen mixtures and two types of particles: sand and FCC. Fuel mole fractions and (1−ε) were varied between 1.8–10.1 mol % and 0–0.45, respectively. The relative errors for Yi time‐averaged measurements were below 6% and the error increased significantly with decreasing beam intensity. A proof of concept for a novel application in fluidized beds was also completed: the fiber‐optic probe was used to measure the molar fraction of a tracer gas inside the emulsion and bubble phases during gas tracer experiments. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010
Expanding spectrum of the association between Type 1 Gaucher disease and cancers: A series of patients with up to 3 sequential cancers of multiple types—Correlation with genotype and phenotype
Authors: Lo Sarah M. , Stein Philip , Mullaly Sean , Bar Michael , Jain Dhanpat , Pastores Gregory M. , Mistry Pramod K.
Published: February 2010

In Gaucher disease (GD), inherited deficiency of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase due to mutations in GBA1 gene results in accumulation of glucosylceramide in tissue macrophages, systemic macrophage activation, and a complex multisystemic phenotype. We and others have reported an increased risk of multiple myeloma and other malignancies in non‐neuronopathic Type 1 GD (GD1). Here, we describe a subset of GD1 patients with multiple malignancies. In our cohort of 403 patients with GD1, nine patients (2.2%) developed two or three different types of cancers either consecutively or simultaneously. Patients were characterized by age at diagnosis of GD1, GBA1 genotype, disease severity, age at cancer diagnosis, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) status, and splenectomy status. Of the nine patients, six developed two types of malignancies and three had three cancers each. Overall, the hematologic malignancies comprised lymphoma/leukemia (4) and multiple myeloma (4). Nonhematologic malignancies included colon (2), lung (2), thyroid (2), and prostate cancer (1). Of the seven patients who received ERT, the first cancer was diagnosed before initiation of ERT in all but one. Asplenic patients were more likely to have single or multiple cancers compared with patients with intact spleens (P < 0.0072 and P < 0.0203, respectively). Our data strengthen the association of GD1 and cancer and suggest that patients may be at risk of developing multiple malignancies. We found an association between splenectomy and multiple cancers in GD1. It will be of interest to determine whether timely ERT and declining rates of splenectomy will translate into declining rates of multiple and single cancers. Am. J. Hematol. 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of 3D parametric model of human spine and simulator for biomedical engineering education and scoliosis screening
Authors: Devedzic Goran , Ristic Branko , Stefanovic Miladin , Cukovic Sasa , Lukovic Tanja
Published: February 2010

Engineering education has been changing during the time and starting to cover many interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary fields. We are witnessing the growing importance of biomedical engineering (BME). It leads to increasing needs for development of effective education in BME on the one side, and development of different models and simulation tools for both education and medical purposes on the other hand. BME is a highly interdisciplinary field, influenced by various other engineering and medical fields. This article describes the instrumentation, technique and the results in development of 3D parametric model of human spine and its kinematics using 3D computer aided modeling and simulation. Based on 3D parametric model of spine, software for simulation and visualization of scoliosis (deformation of spine) is also developed. The presented solutions, 3D model and scoliosis simulator could improve education in the field of BME and become useful tool in spinal deformities detection and treatment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 20: 434–444, 2012
ChemInform Abstract: Density Functional Theory Calculations of the Optical Rotation and Electronic Circular Dichroism: The Absolute Configuration of the Highly Flexible trans‐Isocytoxazone Revised.
Authors: Kwit Marcin , Rozwadowska Maria D. , Gawronski Jacek , Grajewska Agnieszka
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Structures of New Flavonoids and Benzofuran‐Type Stilbene and Degranulation Inhibitors of Rat Basophilic Leukemia Cells from the Brazilian Herbal Medicine Cissus sicyoides.
Authors: Xu Fengming , Matsuda Hisashi , Hata Hiroki , Sugawara Kaoru , Nakamura Seikou , Yoshikawa Masayuki
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Understanding Structure‐Performance Relationships in Oxidic Catalysts: Controlling Shape and Tuning Performance
Authors: van Bokhoven Jeroen A.
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: An Update on the Synthesis of β‐Lactams
Authors: Aranda M. Teresa , Perez‐Faginas Paula , Gonzalez‐Muniz Rosario
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: The Chemistry of Reactive Radical Intermediates in Combustion and the Atmosphere
Authors: Hayes Carrigan J. , Merle John K. , Hadad Christopher M.
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Overview of 45 Years of Studies on Peptide Chemistry
Authors: Okada Yoshio
Published: February 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Online Preconcentration and Determination of Trace Levels Cadmium in Water Samples Using Flow Injection Systems Coupled with Flame AAS
Authors: Zhao Songlin , Liang Huading , Yan Hua , Yan Zhengzhong , Chen Suqing , Zhu Xiandi , Cheng Miaoxian
Published: February 2010

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of trace levels cadmium in water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. It is based on the online sorption of Cd(II) ions on a microcolumn packed with HCl treated bamboo charcoal. In a pH range of 5.0–7.5, Cd(II) ions were effectively retained on the microcolumn, which exhibited fast kinetics, permitting the use of high sample flow rates up to at least 12.8 mL/min without the loss of retention efficiency. The retained Cd(II) ions were quantitatively eluted with HCl (2.0 mol/L) for an online determination. With a preconcentration time of 80 s at a sample loading flow rate of 8.6 mL/min, a sensitivity enhancement factor of 63 was obtained compared with the slope of the linear portion of the calibration curves before and after preconcentration. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system for cadmium was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997, at levels from 1–40 ng/mL. The precision (RSD) for 11 replicate measurements were 3.2% for the determination of 5 ng/mL Cd(II) and 1.8% for 20 ng/mL Cd(II), respectively, and the detection limit (3s) was 0.36 ng/mL. The accuracy was assessed through the determination of a certified reference material, and also through recovery experiments.
Generation and characterization of a novel neural crest marker allele, Inka1‐LacZ, reveals a role for Inka1 in mouse neural tube closure
Authors: Reid Bethany S. , Sargent Thomas D. , Williams Trevor
Published: February 2010

Previous studies identified Inka1 as a gene regulated by AP‐2α in the neural crest required for craniofacial morphogenesis in fish and frog. Here, we extend the analysis of Inka1 function and regulation to the mouse by generating a LacZ knock‐in allele. Inka1‐LacZ allele expression occurs in the cephalic mesenchyme, heart, and paraxial mesoderm prior to E8.5. Subsequently, expression is observed in the migratory neural crest cells and their derivatives. Consistent with expression of Inka1 in tissues of the developing head during neurulation, a low percentage of Inka1−/− mice show exencephaly while the remainder are viable and fertile. Further studies indicate that AP‐2α is not required for Inka1 expression in the mouse, and suggest that there is no significant genetic interaction between these two factors during embryogenesis. Together, these data demonstrate that while the expression domain of Inka1 is conserved among vertebrates, its function and regulation are not. Developmental Dynamics 239:1188–1196, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of the autophagic machinery in human neutrophils
Authors: Mitroulis Ioannis , Kourtzelis Ioannis , Kambas Konstantinos , Rafail Stavros , Chrysanthopoulou Akrivi , Speletas Matthaios , Ritis Konstantinos
Published: February 2010

The induction of the autophagy machinery, a process for the catabolism of cytosolic proteins and organelles, constitutes a crucial mechanism in innate immunity. However, the involvement of autophagy in human neutrophils and the possible inducers of this process have not been completely elucidated. In this study, the induction of autophagy was examined in human neutrophils treated with various activators and detected by the formation of acidified autophagosomes through monodansylcadaverine staining and via LC‐3B conversion screened by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. In addition, the expression of the ATG genes was assessed by real‐time RT‐PCR. We provide evidence that autophagy is implicated in human neutrophils in both a phagocytosis‐independent (rapamycin, TLR agonists, PMA) and phagocytosis (Escherichia coli)‐dependent initiation manner. ROS activation is a positive mechanism for autophagy induction in the case of PMA, TLR activation and phagocytosis. Furthermore, LC3B gene expression was uniformly upregulated, indicating a transcriptional level of regulation for the autophagic machinery. This study provides a stepping stone toward further investigation of autophagy in neutrophil‐driven inflammatory disorders.
Azodicarboxamides vs. Azodicarboxylates in Reactions against Thioisomünchnones: 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition or Nucleophilic Addition?
Authors: Sánchez Bárbara , López Ignacio , Light Mark E. , Silvero Guadalupe , Bravo José Luis
Published: February 2010

This communication presents the first study on the use of azodicarboxamides against mesoionic heterocycles as 1,3‐dipoles. The reactions yield thioureido compounds. Their formation could be explained, on the basis of experimental results and preliminary theoretical calculations, by a nucleophilic addition followed by rearrangement; however, a formal 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition and subsequent fragmentation and rearrangement of the transient cycloadducts could not be ruled out. Reactions are carried out in refluxing toluene and are complete in 90–240 min. Structural elucidation of the products is based on single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, as well as other spectroscopic data and 2D‐NMR correlations.
Synthesis and Optical Properties of Cyanine Dyes as Fluorescent DNA Base Substitutions for Live Cell Imaging (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 7/2010)
Authors: Holzhauser Carolin , Berndl Sina , Menacher Florian , Breunig Miriam , Göpferich Achim , Wagenknecht Hans‐Achim
Published: February 2010

The cover picture shows how thiazole orange and its elongated derivative TO3 can be combined as a fluorescent base pair for imaging nucleic acids inside living cells. Both dyes were incorporated synthetically as DNA base substitutions and are able to display DNA dehybridization by changing color from red to green. Details are discussed in the article by H.‐A. Wagenknecht et al. on p. 1239 ff.
A novel polyacrylamide gel system for proteomic use offering controllable pore expansion by crosslinker cleavage
Authors: Bornemann Sandra , Rietschel Benjamin , Baltruschat Sabrina , Karas Michael , Meyer Bjoern
Published: February 2010

SDS‐PAGE is still one of the most widespread separation techniques in proteomic research and usually coupled to subsequent MS measurement for protein identification. The proteins are digested while embedded in the gel matrix. The resultant peptides are eluted out of the gel and finally analyzed. The in‐gel digestion process suffers from several drawbacks which influence the experimental outcome with respect to protein sequence coverage and detection sensitivity. Limited accessibility of the protease to the substrate protein and insufficient peptide extraction represent the two major problems. To specifically target these issues, we established a novel partly reversible gel system, in which the gel matrix can be conditionally cleaved to increase the pore diameters. By using a crosslinker mixture consisting of Bis and ethylene‐glycol‐diacrylate the acrylamide filament interconnections can be partly hydrolyzed in alkaline solution. The new hybrid gels have been tested to be compatible with a variety of acidic staining techniques. They exhibit similar electrophoretic performance compared with regular solely Bis‐based gels, but yield significantly better MS results. Thus, the Bis/ethylene‐glycol‐diacrylate SDS‐PAGE gel system is a promising alternative for MS‐based in‐gel workflows and might be transferred to other gel‐electrophoretic applications.
Working memory for vibrotactile frequencies: Comparison of cortical activity in blind and sighted individuals
Authors: Burton Harold , Sinclair Robert J. , Dixit Sachin
Published: February 2010

In blind, occipital cortex showed robust activation to nonvisual stimuli in many prior functional neuroimaging studies. The cognitive processes represented by these activations are not fully determined, although a verbal recognition memory role has been demonstrated. In congenitally blind and sighted (10 per group), we contrasted responses to a vibrotactile one‐back frequency retention task with 5‐s delays and a vibrotactile amplitude‐change task; both tasks involved the same vibration parameters. The one‐back paradigm required continuous updating for working memory (WM). Findings in both groups confirmed roles in WM for right hemisphere dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) and dorsal/ventral attention components of posterior parietal cortex. Negative findings in bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex suggested task performance without subvocalization. In bilateral occipital cortex, blind showed comparable positive responses to both tasks, whereas WM evoked large negative responses in sighted. Greater utilization of attention resources in blind were suggested as causing larger responses in dorsal and ventral attention systems, right DLPFC, and persistent responses across delays between trials in somatosensory and premotor cortex. In sighted, responses in somatosensory and premotor areas showed iterated peaks matched to stimulation trial intervals. The findings in occipital cortex of blind suggest that tactile activations do not represent cognitive operations for nonverbal WM task. However, these data suggest a role in sensory processing for tactile information in blind that parallels a similar contribution for visual stimuli in occipital cortex of sighted. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of white matter tract damage in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Pievani Michela , Agosta Federica , Pagani Elisabetta , Canu Elisa , Sala Stefania , Absinta Martina , Geroldi Cristina , Ganzola Rossana , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Filippi Massimo
Published: February 2010

Diffusion tensor MRI‐based tractography was used to investigate white matter (WM) changes in the major limbic (i.e., fornix and cingulum) and cortico‐cortical association pathways [i.e., the uncinate fasciculus, the inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus, the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), the superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the corpus callosum] in 25 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 19 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients, and 15 healthy controls (HC). Mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), as well as axial (DA) and radial (DR) diffusivities were measured for each tract, using an atlas‐based tractography approach. The association of WM tract integrity with hippocampal volume was also assessed. MD values were significantly different among groups in all WM tracts (P values ranging from 0.002 to 0.03), except in the fornix (P = 0.06) and the inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus (P = 0.09). Conversely, FA was significantly different among groups in the fornix only (P = 0.02). DA values were significantly different among groups in all WM tracts (P values ranging from 0.001 to 0.01), except in the fornix (P = 0.13) and the cingulum (P = 0.29). Significantly different DR values among groups were found in the fornix (P = 0.02) and the ILF (P = 0.01). In the fornix and cingulum, DR was significantly more increased than DA in both patient groups compared to HC. No difference in DA versus DR was found in cortico‐cortical WM tracts. DA values in the fornix were significantly correlated with the hippocampal volume. This study demonstrates a different pattern of WM involvement in the limbic and cortico‐cortical association pathways in aMCI and AD patients. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modern multimodality therapy for pediatric nonorbital parameningeal sarcomas
Authors: Zevallos Jose P. , Jain Kunal , Roberts Dianna , Santillan Alfredo A. , Huh Winston , Hanna Ehab Y. , Kupferman Michael E.
Published: February 2010

Background

Nonorbital parameningeal sarcomas are rare, aggressive tumors that arise predominantly in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study was to review their management and to clarify the role of surgery in their treatment.

Methods

Treatment, prognostic factors, and outcomes for patients over a 10‐year period were reviewed.

Results

In all, 34 patients were identified. The most common tumor site was the maxillary sinus, and 73% were rhabdomyosarcoma. Six patients (18%) presented with positive nodal metastases and 3 patients (10%) presented with distant metastases. Overall, 18 patients were treated surgically. Locoregional recurrence rate was 43%; no patients developed distant recurrence. Five‐year overall survival was 66.8%, disease‐specific survival was 68.1%, and disease‐free survival was 31.9%.

Conclusions

Pediatric nonorbital parameningeal sarcomas require aggressive multimodality treatment. Although chemotherapy and radiation constitute the treatment of choice in most cases, surgery may have a role as salvage therapy and in cases that fail to respond to chemoradiation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
Themes of Liver Transplantation
Authors: Starzl Thomas E. , Fung John J.
Published: February 2010

Liver transplantation was the product of five interlocking themes. These began in 1958-1959 with canine studies of then theoretical hepatotrophic molecules in portal venous blood (Theme I) and with the contemporaneous parallel development of liver and multivisceral transplant models (Theme II). Further Theme I investigations showed that insulin was the principal, although not the only, portal hepatotrophic factor. In addition to resolving long-standing controversies about the pathophysiology of portacaval shunt, the hepatotrophic studies blazed new trails in the regulation of liver size, function, and regeneration. They also targeted inborn metabolic errors (e.g., familial hyperlipoproteinemia) whose palliation by portal diversion presaged definitive correction with liver replacement. Clinical use of the Theme II transplant models depended on multiple drug immunosuppression (Theme III, Immunology), guided by an empirical algorithm of pattern recognition and therapeutic response. Successful liver replacement was first accomplished in 1967 with azathioprine, prednisone, and antilymphoid globulin. With this regimen, the world's longest surviving liver recipient is now 40 years postoperative. Incremental improvements in survival outcome occurred (Theme IV) when azathioprine was replaced by cyclosporine (1979), which was replaced in turn by tacrolimus (1989). However, the biologic meaning of alloengraftment remained enigmatic until multilineage donor leukocyte microchimerism was discovered in 1992 in long-surviving organ recipients. Seminal mechanisms were then identified (clonal exhaustion-deletion and immune ignorance) that linked organ engraftment and the acquired tolerance of bone marrow transplantation and eventually clarified the relationship of transplantation immunology to the immunology of infections, neoplasms, and autoimmune disorders. With this insight, better strategies of immunosuppression have evolved. As liver and other kinds of organ transplantation became accepted as healthcare standards, the ethical, legal, equity, and the other humanism issues of Theme V have been resolved less conclusively than the medical-scientific problems of Themes I-IV. Hepatology 2010
Accumulation of Natural Killer T Cells in Progressive Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Syn Wing-Kin , Oo Ye Htun , Pereira Thiago A. , Karaca Gamze F. , Jung Youngmi , Omenetti Alessia , Witek Rafal P. , Choi Steve S. , Guy Cynthia D. , Fearing Caitlin M. , Teaberry Vanessa , Pereira Fausto E.L. , Adams David H. , Diehl Anna Mae
Published: February 2010

Liver inflammation is greater in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) than steatosis, suggesting that immune responses contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. Livers normally contain many natural killer T (NKT) cells that produce factors that modulate inflammatory and fibrogenic responses. Such cells are relatively depleted in steatosis, but their status in more advanced NAFLD is uncertain. We hypothesized that NKT cells accumulate and promote fibrosis progression in NASH. We aimed to determine if livers become enriched with NKT cells during NASH-related fibrosis; identify responsible mechanisms; and assess if NKT cells stimulate fibrogenesis. NKT cells were analyzed in wildtype mice and Patched-deficient (Ptc+/−) mice with an overly active Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, before and after feeding methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diets to induce NASH-related fibrosis. Effects of NKT cell-derived factors on hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were examined and fibrogenesis was evaluated in CD1d-deficient mice that lack NKT cells. NKT cells were quantified in human cirrhotic and nondiseased livers. During NASH-related fibrogenesis in wildtype mice, Hh pathway activation occurred, leading to induction of factors that promoted NKT cell recruitment, retention, and viability, plus liver enrichment with NKT cells. Ptc+/− mice accumulated more NKT cells and developed worse liver fibrosis; CD1d-deficient mice that lack NKT cells were protected from fibrosis. NKT cell-conditioned medium stimulated HSC to become myofibroblastic. Liver explants were 2-fold enriched with NKT cells in patients with non-NASH cirrhosis, and 4-fold enriched in patients with NASH cirrhosis.

Conclusion

: Hh pathway activation leads to hepatic enrichment with NKT cells that contribute to fibrosis progression in NASH. (Hepatology 2010;)
Overlapping and distinct role of CXCR7‐SDF‐1/ITAC and CXCR4‐SDF‐1 axes in regulating metastatic behavior of human rhabdomyosarcomas
Authors: Grymula Katarzyna , Tarnowski Maciej , Wysoczynski Marcin , Drukala Justyna , Barr Frederic G. , Ratajczak Janina , Kucia Magdalena , Ratajczak Mariusz Z.
Published: February 2010

We have demonstrated that the α‐chemokine stromal‐derived factor (SDF)‐1‐CXCR4 axis plays an important role in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) metastasis. With the recent description of CXCR7, a new receptor for SDF‐1 that also binds the interferon‐inducible T‐cell α chemoattractant (ITAC) chemokine, we became interested in the role of the CXCR7‐SDF‐1/ITAC axis in RMS progression. To address this issue, we evaluated 6 highly metastatic alveolar (A)RMS and 3 less metastatic embryonal (E)RMS cell lines and found that all these cell lines express CXCR7. Although CXCR4 was expressed at a much higher level by highly metastatic ARMS lines, CXCR7 was present at a high level on ERMS lines. We also noticed that CXCR7 expression on RMS cells was downregulated in hypoxic conditions. More importantly, the CXCR7 receptor on RMS cell lines was functional after stimulation with ITAC and SDF‐1 as evidenced by mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)p42/44 and AKT phosphorylation as well as CXCR7 internalization, chemotaxis, cell motility and adhesion assays. Similarly to CXCR4, signaling from activated CXCR7 was not associated with increased RMS proliferation or cell survival. Moreover, CXCR7+ RMS cells responded to SDF‐1 and I‐TAC in the presence of CXCR4 antagonists (T140, AMD3100). Furthermore, while intravenous injection of RMS cells with overexpressed CXCR7 resulted in increased seeding efficiency of tumor cells to bone marrow, CXCR7 downregulation showed the opposite effect. In conclusion, the CXCR7‐SDF‐1/ITAC axis is involved in the progression of RMS; targeting of the CXCR4‐SDF‐1 axis alone without simultaneous blockage of CXCR7 will be an inefficient strategy for inhibiting SDF‐1‐mediated prometastatic responses of RMS cells.
KIF1A and EDNRB are differentially methylated in primary HNSCC and salivary rinses
Authors: Demokan Semra , Chang Xiaofei , Chuang Alice , Mydlarz Wojciech K. , Kaur Jatinder , Huang Peng , Khan Zubair , Khan Tanbir , Ostrow Kimberly L. , Brait Mariana , Hoque Mohammad O. , Liegeois Nanette J. , Sidransky David , Koch Wayne , Califano Joseph A.
Published: February 2010

Silencing of tumor suppressor genes plays a vital role in head and neck carcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate to the utility of aberrant promoter hypermethylation for detection in a panel of 10 genes (KIF1A, EDNRB, CDH4, TERT, CD44, NISCH, PAK3, VGF, MAL and FKBP4) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) via a candidate gene approach. We investigated methylation of the gene promoters by bisulfite modification and quantitative methylation‐specific PCR (Q‐MSP) in a preliminary study of a limited cohort of salivary rinses from healthy subjects (n = 61) and patients with HNSCC (n = 33). The methylation status of 2 selected genes (EDNRB and KIF1A) were then analyzed in 15 normal mucosa samples from a healthy population, 101 HNSCC tumors and the corresponding salivary rinses from 71 out of the 101 HNSCC patients were collected before treatment. The promoter regions of CDH4, TERT, VGF, MAL, FKBP4, NISCH and PAK3 were methylated in normal salivary rinses while no methylation of CD44 was observed in either normal salivary rinses or tumor samples. However, KIF1A and EDNRB were methylated in 98 and 97% of primary HNSCC tissues respectively and were only methylated in 2 and 6.6% of normal salivary rinses. In addition, KIF1A and EDNRB were methylated in 38 and 67.6% of salivary rinses from HNSCC patients, respectively. Promoter hypermethylation of KIF1A and EDNRB is a frequent event in primary HNSCC, and these genes are preferentially methylated in salivary rinses from HNSCC patients. KIF1A and EDNRB are potential biomarkers for HNSCC detection.
The benefits of rapid 3D fMRI
Authors: Lindquist Martin A.
Published: February 2010

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides the ability to image blood dynamics through the entire brain with a high spatial resolution. However, the temporal resolution is much slower than the underlying neuronal activity one seeks to infer. Recent developments in rapid imaging allow 3D fMRI studies to be performed at a temporal resolution of 100 ms; a 10‐fold increase compared to standard approaches. This increase in temporal resolution offers a number of potential benefits. First, it allows the focus of analysis to be shifted from changes in blood flow taking place 5–8 s after neuronal activity to more transient changes taking place immediately following activation. We argue that studying these changes provides valuable information about the relative timing of activation across different regions of the brain, which is crucial for inferring brain pathways. Second, rapid imaging allows for the efficient modeling of physiological artifacts without problems with aliasing; something that is difficult at standard resolutions. We illustrate how removal of these artifacts provides the increase in signal‐to‐noise ratio required for studying the subtle changes in oxygenation we are interested in. Finally, we show how high temporal resolution data provides the opportunity to focus the analysis on the rate of change in oxygenation rather than the level of oxygenation as is the current practice. The price of performing rapid imaging studies is a decrease in spatial resolution. However, we argue that the resolution is still comparable to the effective resolution used in most fMRI studies. We illustrate our approach using two fMRI data sets. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 20, 14–22, 2010
Matrix‐independent stimulation of human tubular epithelial cell migration by Rho kinase inhibitors
Authors: Kroening Sven , Stix Jana , Keller Christof , Streiff Cedric , Goppelt‐Struebe Margarete
Published: February 2010

Proximal tubular epithelial cells differ from other epithelial cells in the expression of N‐cadherin as major adherens junction protein instead of E‐cadherin. Migration of proximal epithelial cells (HKC‐8) was analyzed by scratch wounding and by a barrier assay, which allowed determination of migration velocity on different extracellular matrices. Migration velocity was about threefold higher on fibronectin compared to collagen IV. The differential migration velocity was reflected by the orientation of F‐actin stress fibers. TGF‐β activated secretion of fibronectin and thus increased migration on collagen IV, but did not further promote migration on fibronectin. Pharmacological inhibition of Rho kinases (ROCKs) by Y‐27632, hydroxyfasudil and H‐1152, or siRNA against ROCKs significantly increased migration velocity independently of the extracellular matrix. Cells at the migration front showed long filopodia, which could not be mimicked by overexpression of consitutively active Cdc42, indicative of a more complex regulation of F‐actin structures. N‐cadherin was reorganized from tight zipper‐like structures into loosened cell–cell contacts upon incubation with Y‐27632, but HKC‐8 cells still migrated as cohort. Migration through single cell pores in a modified Boyden chamber assay was also stimulated by ROCK inhibitors. ROCK inhibitors enhanced migration of primary cultures of renal tubular cells which consisted of proximal and distal tubular cells expressing N‐cadherin and E‐cadherin, respectively. There was no indication of a switch in cadherin expression in these cells or a preferential migration of N‐cadherin expressing cells. Pharmacologic inhibition of ROCKs may thus favor repair processes in renal tubules by increasing the migratory capacity of tubular epithelial cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 223:703–712, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.