bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glycine Improves Biochemical and Biomechanical Properties Following Inflammation of the Achilles Tendon
Authors: Vieira Cristiano Pedrozo , Oliveira Letícia Prado De , Guerra Flávia Da Ré , Almeida Marcos Dos Santos De , Marcondes Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes , Pimentel Edson Rosa 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACTTendinopathy of the Achilles tendon is a clinical problem that motivates the scientific community to search for treatments that assist in restoring its functional properties. Glycine has broad biological effects, acting as a modulator of the inflammatory cascade, and is the predominant amino acid in collagen. A 5% glycine diet provided beneficial effects against toxicity and inflammation since glycine may restructure the collagen molecules faster due to its broad anti‐inflammatory effects. The purpose was analyze the effects of a 5% glycine diet in rats as a treatment for the inflammatory process. The experimental groups were as follows: C (control group), G1 and G3 (inflammatory group), and G2 and G4 (glycine + inflammatory group). G1 and G2 were euthanized 8 days following injury, and G3 and G4 were euthanized 22 days following injury. The concentrations of hydroxyproline, non‐collagenous proteins, and glycosaminoglycans, as well as the activity of MMP‐2 and ‐9 were analyzed. Biomechanical and morphological tests were employed. Higher concentrations of hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycans were found in G4 and an increased activity of MMP‐2 was found in G2. Higher birefringence was noted in group G2. The biomechanical results indicated that the tendon was more resistant to loading to rupture upon treatment with a glycine diet in group G4. Glycine induced the synthesis of important components of the tendon. A rapid remodeling was noted when compared with the inflamed‐only groups. These data suggest that glycine may be a beneficial supplement for individuals with inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Anat Rec, 298:538–545, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Critical Role of the Transcription Factor Fli‐1 in Murine Lupus Development by Regulation of Interleukin‐6 Expression
Authors: Sato Shuzo , Lennard Richard Mara , Brandon Danielle , Jones Buie Joy N. , Oates Jim C. , Gilkeson Gary S. , Zhang Xian K. 
Published: August 2014

ObjectiveThe Fli‐1 transcription factor is implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), both in humans and in animal models. Dysregulation of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is also associated with SLE. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Fli‐1 directly regulates the expression of IL‐6.MethodsSera were collected from wild‐type and Fli‐1–heterozygous (Fli‐1+/−) MRL/lpr mice, and the concentration of IL‐6 was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of IL‐6 in the kidney was measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis. T cells were isolated from wild‐type and Fli‐1+/− MRL/lpr mice and stimulated with CD3/CD28 beads, and the concentration of IL‐6 in the supernatants was measured by ELISA. MS1 endothelial cells were transfected with Fli‐1 and control small interfering RNA, and the production of IL‐6 was compared after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. A chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was performed to determine whether Fli‐1 binds to the IL‐6 promoter region. Transient transfections with the NIH3T3 cell line were performed to examine whether Fli‐1 regulates the expression of IL‐6.ResultsFli‐1+/− MRL/lpr mice had significantly decreased IL‐6 levels in sera and reduced expression of IL‐6 in kidneys as compared to their wild‐type littermates. T cells isolated from Fli‐1+/− MRL/lpr mice produced less IL‐6 than did those from wild‐type mice. Inhibiting the expression of Fli‐1 in endothelial cells resulted in reduced production of IL‐6. The ChIP assay revealed direct binding of Fli‐1 to 3 regions within the IL‐6 promoter. Fli‐1 activated transcription from the IL‐6 promoter in a dose‐dependent manner.ConclusionThe direct regulation of IL‐6 expression by Fli‐1 represents one possible mechanism for the protective effect of decreased Fli‐1 expression in lupus.
The Nuclear Receptor Constitutive Androstane Receptor/NR1I3 Enhances the Profibrotic Effects of Transforming Growth Factor β and Contributes to the Development of Experimental Dermal Fibrosis
Authors: Avouac Jérôme , Palumbo‐Zerr Katrin , Ruzehaji Nadira , Tomcik Michal , Zerr Pawel , Dees Clara , Distler Alfiya , Beyer Christian , Schneider Holm , Distler Oliver , Schett Georg , Allanore Yannick , Distler Jörg H. W. 
Published: August 2014

ObjectiveNuclear receptors regulate cell growth, differentiation, and homeostasis. Selective nuclear receptors promote fibroblast activation, which leads to tissue fibrosis, the hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of constitutive androstane receptor (CAR)/NR1I3, an orphan nuclear receptor, on fibroblast activation and experimental dermal fibrosis.MethodsCAR expression was quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. CAR expression was modulated by small molecules, small interfering RNA, forced overexpression, and site‐directed mutagenesis. The effects of CAR activation were analyzed in cultured fibroblasts, in bleomycin‐induced dermal fibrosis, and in mice overexpressing a constitutively active transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) receptor type I (TβRI‐CA).ResultsUp‐regulation of CAR was detected in the skin and in dermal fibroblasts in SSc patients. Stimulation of healthy fibroblasts with TGFβ induced the expression of CAR messenger RNA and protein in a Smad‐dependent manner. Pharmacologic activation or overexpression of CAR in healthy fibroblasts significantly increased the stimulatory effects of TGFβ on collagen synthesis and myofibroblast differentiation, and amplified the stimulatory effects of TGFβ on COL1A2 transcription activity. Treatment with CAR agonist increased the activation of canonical TGFβ signaling in murine models of SSc and exacerbated bleomycin‐induced and TβRI‐CA–induced fibrosis with increased dermal thickening, myofibroblast counts, and collagen accumulation.ConclusionOur findings indicate that CAR is up‐regulated in SSc and regulates TGFβ signaling. Activation of CAR increases the profibrotic effects of TGFβ in cultured fibroblasts and in different preclinical models of SSc. Thus, inactivation of CAR might be a novel approach to target aberrant TGFβ signaling in SSc and in other fibrotic diseases.
A New Finite Time Convergence Condition for Super‐Twisting Observer Based on Lyapunov Analysis
Authors: Mu Chaoxu , Sun Changyin 
Published: August 2014

AbstractA new convergence condition is proposed for the super‐twisting sliding mode observer in this paper, where Lyapunov stability analysis is used as the main method to get the new convergence condition. The super‐twisting sliding mode observer is designed to obtain unknown system states of the second order nonlinear system with bounded uncertainties and disturbances. By involving a quadratic Lyapunov function, the Lyapunov approach is applied to the stability analysis of the super‐twisting observer, from which a new convergence condition is obtained to guarantee the finite time convergence of the observer. Simulation results of a pendulum and a rigid manipulator are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new convergence condition.
Solution Synthesis, Conformational Analysis, and Antimicrobial Activity of Three Alamethicin F50/5 Analogs Bearing a Trifluoroacetyl Label
Authors: De Zotti Marta , Ballano Gema , Jost Micha , Salnikov Evgeniy S. , Bechinger Burkhard , Oancea Simona , Crisma Marco , Toniolo Claudio , Formaggio Fernando 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWe prepared, by solution‐phase methods, and fully characterized three analogs of the membrane‐active peptaibiotic alamethicin F50/5, bearing a single trifluoroacetyl (Tfa) label at the N‐terminus, at position 9 (central region) or at position 19 (C‐terminus), and with the three Gln at positions 7, 18, and 19 replaced by Glu(OMe) residues. To add the Tfa label at position 9 or 19, a γ‐trifluoroacetylated α,γ‐diaminobutyric acid (Dab) residue was incorporated as a replacement for the original Val9 or Glu(OMe)19 amino acid. We performed a detailed conformational analysis of the three analogs (using FT‐IR absorption, CD, 2D‐NMR, and X‐ray diffraction), which clearly showed that Tfa labeling does not introduce any dramatic backbone modification in the predominantly α‐helical structure of the parent peptaibiotic. The results of an initial solid‐state 19F‐NMR study on one of the analogs favor the conclusion that the Tfa group is a very promising reporter for the analysis of peptaibioticmembrane interactions. Finally, we found that the antimicrobial activities of the three newly synthesized analogs depend on the position of the Tfa label in the peptide sequence.
Microjaponin, A New Dihydroagarofuranoid Sesquiterpene from the Stem of Microtropis japonica with Antituberculosis Activity
Authors: Chen Jih‐Jung , Kuo Wen‐Lung , Chen Ih‐Sheng , Peng Chien‐Fang , Sung Ping‐Jyun , Cheng Ming‐Jen , Lim Yun‐Ping 
Published: August 2014

AbstractA new dihydroagarofuran‐based sesquiterpene, microjaponin (1), was isolated from the stem of Microtropis japonica. Its structure was determined by in‐depth spectroscopic and mass‐spectrometric analyses. Microjaponin (1) exhibited potent in vitro antituberculosis activity, with an MIC value of 12.5 μg/ml against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.
Phytotoxic Potential of Onopordum acanthium L. (Asteraceae)
Authors: Watanabe Yusuke , Novaes Paula , Varela Rosa M. , Molinillo José M. G. , Kato‐Noguchi Hisashi , Macías Francisco A. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractOnopordum acanthium L. (Asteraceae) is a plant native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia, but it is invasive in disturbed areas and agricultural fields around the world, causing many agronomic problems by interfering with crops or preventing animals from grazing on pastures. Allelopathy could be one of the reasons that this plant has spread over different continents. The aim of the present study was to bioprospect O. acanthium leaf extracts through the isolation and purification of allelopathic secondary metabolites with phytotoxicity to explain their invasive behavior. Phytotoxic activity was tested using etiolated wheat coleoptiles. The most active extract was selected to perform a bioassay‐guided isolation of two flavonoids, pectolarigenin (1) and scutellarein 4′‐methyl ether (2), and two sesquiterpene lactones, elemanolide 11(13)‐dehydromelitensin β‐hydroxyisobutyrate (3) and acanthiolide (4). All compounds were isolated for the first time from O. acanthium, and acanthiolide (4) is described for the first time. Compound 3 strongly inhibited the growth of wheat coleoptiles and 1 showed an intermediate effect. The results indicate that these compounds could contribute to the invasion of O. acanthium in ecological systems and agricultural fields.
Adsorbents for Apheresis Prepared from Polysaccharides of Algae that Threaten Ecosystem Services
Authors: Kanno Kenichi , Tanigawa Tetsuya , Fujita Yoshihiro , Ohnaka Naoto , Kubo Yuichiro , Yoshida Kaito , Kojima Kota , Nakata Koshiro , Shimohara Masafumi 
Published: August 2014

AbstractIn this work, we investigated whether materials isolated from algae that threaten ecosystems can be used for human benefit. We converted acidic polysaccharides (ulvan) from the alga Ulva pertusa into soft hydrogel materials. In addition to ulvan, the hydrogels also contained alginate in a polyion complex with chitosan. Cross‐linking the hydrogel with glutaraldehyde reduced polysaccharide elution from the polyion complex gel. We also found that both ulvanchitosan and alginatechitosan gels were able to remove urea and heavy metals from aqueous solution. This is clinically significant, since during apheresis, toxic compounds such as urea have to be removed from the bloodstream of patients. Importantly, albumin was not removed by the hydrogels, implying that this vital protein can be returned to the bloodstream following dialysis.
Structure–Activity Relationships of Strychnine Analogs at Glycine Receptors
Authors: Mohsen Amal M. Y. , Heller Eberhard , Holzgrabe Ulrike , Jensen Anders A. , Zlotos Darius P. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractNine strychnine derivatives including neostrychnine, strychnidine, isostrychnine, 21,22‐dihydro‐21‐hydroxy‐22‐oxo‐strychnine, and several hydrogenated analogs were synthesized, and their antagonistic activities at human α1 and α1β glycine receptors were evaluated. Isostrychnine has shown the best pharmacological profile exhibiting an IC50 value of 1.6 μM at α1 glycine receptors and 3.7‐fold preference towards the α1 subtype. SAR Analysis indicates that the lactam moiety and the C(21)C(22) bond in strychnine are essential structural features for its high antagonistic potency at glycine receptors
Site‐Specific Modification of the Anticancer and Antituberculosis Polyether Salinomycin by Biosynthetic Engineering
Authors: Luhavaya Hanna , Williams Simon R. , Hong Hui , Gonzaga de Oliveira Luciana , Leadlay Peter F. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe complex bis‐spiroacetal polyether ionophore salinomycin has been identified as a uniquely selective agent against cancer stem cells and is also strikingly effective in an animal model of latent tuberculosis. The basis for these important activities is unknown. We show here that deletion of the salE gene abolishes salinomycin production and yields two new analogues, in both of which the C18C19 cis double bond is replaced by a hydroxy group stereospecifically located at C19, but which differ from each other in the configuration of the bis‐spiroacetal. These results identify SalE as a novel dehydratase and demonstrate that biosynthetic engineering can be used to redirect the reaction cascade of oxidative cyclization to yield new salinomycin analogues for use in mechanism‐of‐action studies.
Synergistic Actions of Tailoring Enzymes in Pradimicin Biosynthesis
Authors: Napan Kandy , Zhang Shuwei , Morgan Whitney , Anderson Thomas , Takemoto Jon Y. , Zhan Jixun 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThree key tailoring enzymes in pradimicin biosynthesis: PdmJ, PdmW, and PdmN, were investigated. PdmW was characterized as the C‐6 hydroxylase by structural characterization of the corresponding product, 6‐hydroxy‐G‐2A. The efficiencies of the C‐5 and C‐6 hydroxylations, catalyzed respectively by PdmJ and PdmW, were low when they were expressed individually with the early biosynthetic enzymes that form G‐2A. When these two cytochrome P450 enzymes were co‐expressed, a dihydroxylated product, 5,6‐dihydroxy‐G‐2A, was efficiently produced, indicating that these two enzymes work synergistically in pradimicin biosynthesis. Heterologously expressed PdmN in Streptomyces coelicolor CH999 converted G‐2A to JX137a by ligating a unit of D‐alanine to the carboxyl group. PdmN has relaxed substrate specificity toward both amino acid donors and acceptors. Through combinatorial biosynthesis, a series of new pradimicin analogues were produced.
The aging biological clock in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Case Mary E. , Griffith James , Dong Wubei , Tigner Ira L. , Gaines Kimberly , Jiang James C. , Jazwinski S. Michal , Arnold Jonathan ,   the Georgia Centenarian Study
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe biological clock affects aging through ras‐1 (bd) and lag‐1, and these two longevity genes together affect a clock phenotype and the clock oscillator in Neurospora crassa. Using an automated cell‐counting technique for measuring conidial longevity, we show that the clock‐associated genes lag‐1 and ras‐1 (bd) are true chronological longevity genes. For example, wild type (WT) has an estimated median life span of 24 days, while the double mutant lag‐1, ras‐1 (bd) has an estimated median life span of 120 days for macroconidia. We establish the biochemical function of lag‐1 by complementing LAG1 and LAC1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with lag‐1 in N. crassa. Longevity genes can affect the clock as well in that, the double mutant lag‐1, ras‐1 (bd) can stop the circadian rhythm in asexual reproduction (i.e., banding in race tubes) and lengthen the period of the frequency oscillator to 41 h. In contrast to the ras‐1 (bd), lag‐1 effects on chronological longevity, we find that this double mutant undergoes replicative senescence (i.e., the loss of replication function with time), unlike WT or the single mutants, lag‐1 and ras‐1 (bd). These results support the hypothesis that sphingolipid metabolism links aging and the biological clock through a common stress response
Functional engraftment of human peripheral T and B cells and sustained production of autoantibodies in NOD/LtSzscid/IL‐2Rγ−/− mice
Authors: Ishikawa Yuki , Usui Takashi , Shiomi Aoi , Shimizu Masakazu , Murakami Kosaku , Mimori Tsuneyo 
Published: August 2014

NOD/LtSzscid/IL‐2Rγ−/− (NSG) mice have advantages in establishing humanized mouse models. However, transferring human PBMCs into these mice often causes lethal GVH disease. In this study, we discovered an improved method for the engraftment of normal or pathological human PBMCs into NSG mice and examined the subsequent induction of specific immune responses. We sequentially transferred human CD4+ memory T (Tm) and B cells obtained from PBMCs of healthy adults or patients with autoimmune diseases into NSG mice. Removing naïve CD4+ T cells from the transferred PBMCs allowed successful engraftment without lethal GVH disease. The transferred Tm cells were found to reside mainly in the spleen and the lymphoid nodules, where they expressed MHC class II molecules and produced cytokines, including IL‐21. Surprisingly, the transferred B cells were also well maintained in the lymphoid organs, underwent de novo class‐switch recombination, and secreted all isotypes of human Igs at significant levels. Moreover, transferring patient‐derived Tm and B cells resulted in sustained production of IgM‐rheumatoid factor and antiaminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase Abs in these mice. These results suggest that transfer of Tm and B cells derived from human PBMCs into NSG mice could be a useful method for the study of human autoimmune mechanisms.
Thermal shrinkage of fabrics used for out layer of firefighter protective clothing under flash fire
Authors: Li Jun , Zhao Mengmeng , Xie Yuchen , Wang Yunyi 
Published: August 2014

SummaryThe thermal shrinkage of the firefighter protective clothing can greatly affect its thermal protective performance. In this study, a novel and systematic approach to measure the thermal shrinkage of fabrics used for the firefighter protective clothing is presented. The study was limited to fabrics that are used for the outer layer of fire fighter clothing. A total of six different fabrics were tested. They were exposed to a short duration simulation of a structural fire using a Thermal Protection Performance tester. The exposed fabrics were then scanned with a hand‐held laser scanner for their 3D surface appearance. Software named Geomagic Studio was used to deal with the point clouds of the fabric images. Another software package named ArcGis, which was normally used in geological studies, was then used to analyze the heights and slope angles of the tags and crests of the burned fabrics. The results showed that for the fabrics tested the thicker and heavier the fabric, the smaller was the thermal shrinkage. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐order ADER‐WENO ALE schemes on unstructured triangular meshes—application of several node solvers to hydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics
Authors: Boscheri W. , Dumbser M. , Balsara D. S. 
Published: August 2014

SUMMARYIn this paper, we present a class of high‐order accurate cell‐centered arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) one‐step ADER weighted essentially non‐oscillatory (WENO) finite volume schemes for the solution of nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws on two‐dimensional unstructured triangular meshes. High order of accuracy in space is achieved by a WENO reconstruction algorithm, while a local space–time Galerkin predictor allows the schemes to be high order accurate also in time by using an element‐local weak formulation of the governing PDE on moving meshes. The mesh motion can be computed by choosing among three different node solvers, which are for the first time compared with each other in this article: the node velocity may be obtained either (i) as an arithmetic average among the states surrounding the node, as suggested by Cheng and Shu, or (ii) as a solution of multiple one‐dimensional half‐Riemann problems around a vertex, as suggested by Maire, or (iii) by solving approximately a multidimensional Riemann problem around each vertex of the mesh using the genuinely multidimensional Harten–Lax–van Leer Riemann solver recently proposed by Balsara et al. Once the vertex velocity and thus the new node location have been determined by the node solver, the local mesh motion is then constructed by straight edges connecting the vertex positions at the old time level tn with the new ones at the next time level tn + 1. If necessary, a rezoning step can be introduced here to overcome mesh tangling or highly deformed elements. The final ALE finite volume scheme is based directly on a space–time conservation formulation of the governing PDE system, which therefore makes an additional remapping stage unnecessary, as the ALE fluxes already properly take into account the rezoned geometry. In this sense, our scheme falls into the category of direct ALE methods. Furthermore, the geometric conservation law is satisfied by the scheme by construction.We apply the high‐order algorithm presented in this paper to the Euler equations of compressible gas dynamics as well as to the ideal classical and relativistic magnetohydrodynamic equations. We show numerical convergence results up to fifth order of accuracy in space and time together with some classical numerical test problems for each hyperbolic system under consideration. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of Novel α‐(Acyloxy)‐α‐(quinolin‐4‐yl)acetamides by a Three‐Component Reaction between an Isocyanide, Quinoline‐4‐carbaldehyde, and Arenecarboxylic Acids
Authors: Taran Jafar , Ramazani Ali , Woo Joo Sang , Ślepokura Katarzyna , Lis Tadeusz 
Published: August 2014

AbstractNovel α‐(acyloxy)‐α‐(quinolin‐4‐yl)acetamides were synthesized by the Passerini three‐component reaction between an isocyanide, quinoline‐4‐carbaldehyde, and arenecarboxylic acids in H2O. The reactions were carried out in one pot at room temperature with quantitative yields.
PN Bond Cleavage during the Insertion of Carbon Fragments into PIIIN Bonds in Bis(diphenylphosphino) Amines
Authors: Biricik Nermin , Kayan Cezmi , Gümgüm Bahattin 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe reaction of tertiary amine functionalized phosphines with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes gives insertion of carbon fragments into the PIIIN bonds or PIIIN bond cleavage. The reaction of bis(diphenylphosphino) amines, 1a–1c, with two equiv. of aldehydes in toluene afforded the PIIIN bond inserted products, 2a–4a, 4b–6b, and 3c–5c, in moderate‐to‐good yield. The products were characterized by IR, 1H‐ and 31P‐NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis.