bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Marine climate influences on interannual variability of tropical cyclones in the eastern Caribbean: 1979–2008
Authors: Jury Mark R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractInterannual variability of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the eastern Caribbean is studied using MIT‐Hurdat fields during the July–October season from 1979 to 2008. TC intensity shows local climate sensitivity particularly for upper ocean currents, salinity and mixed‐layer depth, and 200–850 mb wind shear. Remote influences from the Southern Oscillation, Saharan dust, and the South American monsoon are also identified as important. Ocean currents diminish along the coast of South America, so interbasin transfer between the North Brazil and Caribbean Currents declines in seasons of frequent and intense TCs. This is related to a dipole pattern in the sea surface height formed mainly by reduced trade wind upwelling northeast of Venezuela. A low‐salinity plume from the Orinoco River spreads across the eastern Caribbean. It is the weaker currents and shallower mixed layer that conspire with surplus heat to build thermodynamic energy available for TC intensification.
Point rainfall statistics for ecohydrological analyses derived from satellite integrated rainfall measurements
Authors: del Jesus Manuel , Rinaldo Andrea , Rodríguez‐Iturbe Ignacio 
Published: April 2015

AbstractSatellite rainfall measurements, nowadays commonly available, provide valuable information about the spatial structure of rainfall. In areas with low‐density rain gage networks, or where these networks are nonexistent, satellite rainfall measurements can also provide useful estimates to be used as virtual rain gages. However, satellite and rain gage measurements are statistically different in nature and cannot be directly compared to one another. In the present paper, we develop a methodology to downscale satellite rainfall measurements to generate rain‐gage‐equivalent statistics. We apply the methodology to four locations along a strong rainfall gradient in the Kalahari transect, southern Africa, to validate the methodology. We show that the method allows the estimation of point rainfall statistics where only satellite measurements exist. Point rainfall statistics are key descriptors for ecohydrologic studies linking the response of vegetation to rainfall dynamics.
Evaluating nonindigenous species management in a Bayesian networks derived relative risk framework for Padilla Bay, WA, USA
Authors: Herring Carlie E , Stinson Jonah , Landis Wayne G 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Many coastal regions are encountering issues with the spread of nonindigenous species (NIS). In this study, we conducted a regional risk assessment using a Bayesian network relative risk model (BN-RRM) to analyze multiple vectors of NIS introductions to Padilla Bay, Washington, a National Estuarine Research Reserve. We had 3 objectives in this study. The 1st objective was to determine whether the BN-RRM could be used to calculate risk from NIS introductions for Padilla Bay. Our 2nd objective was to determine which regions and endpoints were at greatest risk from NIS introductions. Our 3rd objective was to incorporate a management option into the model and predict endpoint risk if it were to be implemented. Eradication can occur at different stages of NIS invasions, such as the elimination of these species before being introduced to the habitat or removal of the species after settlement. We incorporated the ballast water treatment management scenario into the model, observed the risk to the endpoints, and compared this risk with the initial risk estimates. The model results indicated that the southern portion of the bay was at greatest risk because of NIS. Changes in community composition, Dungeness crab, and eelgrass were the endpoints most at risk from NIS introductions. The currents node, which controls the exposure of NIS to the bay from the surrounding marine environment, was the parameter that had the greatest influence on risk. The ballast water management scenario displayed an approximate 1% reduction in risk in this Padilla Bay case study. The models we developed provide an adaptable template for decision makers interested in managing NIS in other coastal regions and large bodies of water. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2015;X:000–000. ©2015 SETAC
Key Points
We approached the issue of nonindigenous species (NIS) from a landscape-scale ecological risk assessment, analyzing multiple vectors of introduction and their associated spectrum of NIS, and created a model that enables us to quantitatively calculate risk from NIS introductions to coastal endpoints. The most important variable in the estimation of risk was the Currents node, which described both an important vector for the rate introduction of propagules from transportation and as a connection to existing patches of NIS in the region We incorporated a ballast water treatment management scenario into the Bayesian network model, which predicted little change in risk from the initial risk calculations. The BN-RRM approach described in this paper can be used as a template for other coastal communities interested in calculating and managing risk from NIS.
Tetramethylpyrazine reduces inflammation in liver fibrosis and inhibits inflammatory cytokine expression in hepatic stellate cells by modulating NLRP3 inflammasome pathway
Authors: Wu Xiafei , Zhang Feng , Xiong Xin , Lu Chunfeng , Lian Naqi , Lu Yin , Zheng Shizhong 
Published: April 2015

AbstractHepatic fibrosis is concomitant with liver inflammation, which has been highlighted as significant treatment of chronic liver disease. We previously demonstrated that tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), the effective component of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, can inhibit the activation of HSCs and consequential anti‐hepatic fibrosis. In this study, our work demonstrated that TMP improved liver histological architecture, decreased hepatic enzyme levels and attenuated collagen deposition in the rat fibrotic liver. In addition, TMP significantly protected the liver from CCl4‐caused injury and fibrogenesis by suppressing inflammation with reducing levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), NLRP3, nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). Experiments in vitro showed that TMP inhibited inflammatory cytokine expression in HSCs associated with disrupting platelet‐derived growth factor‐b receptor (PDGF‐βR)/NLRP3/caspase1 pathway. These data collectively indicate that TMP can attenuate liver inflammation in liver fibrosis and possibly by targeting HSCs via PDGF‐βR/NLRP3/caspase1 pathway. It provides novel mechanistic insights into TMP as a potential therapeutic remedy for hepatic fibrosis. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(4):312–321, 2015
Winter habitat use of greater sage‐grouse relative to activity levels at natural gas well pads
Authors: Holloran Matthew J. , Fedy Bradley C. , Dahlke John 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTEnergy development in western North America has been shown to negatively influence greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations. No effective methods of reducing on‐site impacts of energy development to greater sage‐grouse are known. We investigated greater sage‐grouse use of wintering habitats relative to distances to infrastructure, densities of infrastructure, and activity levels associated with infrastructure of a natural gas field over 5 years in southwestern Wyoming. We compared year‐long drilling locations, locations of conventional well pads, locations of well pads with off‐site condensate and produced water gathering systems (LGS), and plowed main haul roads to the number of and time associated with greater sage‐grouse visits to continually monitored, distinct patches of habitat. Liquid gathering systems reduced human activity levels at producing well pads approximately 53%. We used data loggers to monitor distinct patches of habitat throughout the 2005–2006 to 2009–2010 winters and used the number of times and the amount of time individuals from a sample of greater sage‐grouse (n = 236) were detected at data logger stations to model frequency and time of occurrence as functions of anthropogenic and habitat variables. Greater sage‐grouse avoided suitable winter habitats in areas with high well pad densities regardless of differences in activity levels associated with well pads. Our results further suggested that greater sage‐grouse avoidance of conventional well pads was stronger than LGS well pads. We found relatively consistent positive relationships between distance to infrastructure with high levels of human activity and average hours greater sage‐grouse spent in an area. Greater sage‐grouse avoidance of natural gas field infrastructure during the winter may be explained mechanistically as movements of individuals from areas close to high levels of activity—movements that may occur at the time human activity is experienced—followed by a lack of movement back into these areas. Minimizing the densities of well pads may reduce on‐site impacts of energy development on wintering greater sage‐grouse. Our study, additionally, indicated that reducing anthropogenic activity levels associated with energy developments may reduce the temporal scale of indirect greater sage‐grouse winter habitat loss. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Living Anionic Polymerization of Benzofulvene in Hydrocarbon Solvent
Authors: Kosaka Yuki , Goseki Raita , Kawauchi Susumu , Ishizone Takashi 
Published: April 2015

SummaryAnionic polymerization of benzofulvene (BF) quantitatively proceeded with sec‐BuLi in benzene at 0∼55 °C. The resulting poly(BF) s possessed predicted molecular weights based on the molar ratios between monomer and initiator and narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn < 1.1). The result of postpolymerization demonstrated that the propagating chain end anion of poly(BF) was stable in benzene at 0 °C for at least 1 h. Anionic sequential copolymerization of isoprene and BF was also performed in benzene to afford a well‐defined polyisoprene‐b‐poly(BF) in quantitative yield. The 13C NMR analysis revealed that the poly(BF) obtained with sec‐BuLi in benzene at 0 °C possessed 76% of the 1,4‐structure and 24% of the 1,2‐structure.
Development and validation of a clinical scale for rating the severity of Blepharospasm
Authors: Defazio Giovanni , Hallett Mark , Jinnah Hyder A. , Stebbins Glenn T. , Gigante Angelo F. , Ferrazzano Gina , Conte Antonella , Fabbrini Giovanni , Berardelli Alfredo 
Published: April 2015

AbstractExisting scales for rating the severity of blepharospasm (BSP) are limited by a number of potential drawbacks. We therefore developed and validated a novel scale for rating the severity of BSP. The development of the scale started with careful examination of the clinical spectrum of the condition by a panel of experts who selected phenomenological aspects thought to be relevant to disease severity. Thereafter, selected items were first checked for reliability, then reliable items were combined to generate the scale, and clinimetric properties of the scale were evaluated. Finally, the confidence with which the scale could be used by people without high levels of movement disorders skill was assessed. The new scale, based on objective criteria, yielded moderate to almost perfect reliability, acceptable internal consistency, satisfactory scaling assumptions, lack of floor and ceiling effects, partial correlations with a prior severity scale and with a quality of life scale, and good sensitivity to change. Despite a few limitations, the foregoing features make the novel scale more suitable than existing scales to assess the severity of BSP in natural history and pathophysiologic studies as well as in clinical trials. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Matters of fiber size and myonuclear domain: Does size matter more than age?
Authors: Karlsen Anders , Couppé Christian , Andersen Jesper L. , Mikkelsen Ulla R. , Nielsen Rie H. , Magnusson S. Peter , Kjaer Michael , Mackey Abigail L. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The relationship between fiber size and myonuclear content is poorly understood. Methods: Biopsy cross‐sections from young and old trained and untrained healthy individuals were analyzed for fiber area and myonuclei, and 2 fiber‐size‐dependent cluster analyses were performed. Results: When comparing fibers of similar size, no effect of training or age was found for myonuclear domain. There was a linear relationship between fiber area and myonuclei per fiber (r = 0.99; P < 0.001) and a non‐linear relationship between fiber area and domain (r = 0.97–0.99; P < 0.0001), with a markedly smaller domain in fibers <3,000 µm2. A higher proportion of type II fibers <3,000 µm2 was observed in the old subjects. Conclusions: These findings suggest that age‐related reductions in myonuclear domain size could be explained by the greater proportion of small fibers. The data also highlight the usefulness of determining fiber‐size‐based clusters for gaining mechanistic insight into the relationship between skeletal muscle fiber size and myonuclear content. Muscle Nerve 52: 1040–1046, 2015
Spinal muscular atrophy functional composite score: A functional measure in spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Montes Jacqueline , Glanzman Allan M. , Mazzone Elena S. , Martens William B. , Dunaway Sally , Pasternak Amy , Riley Susan O , Quigley Janet , Pandya Shree , De Vivo Darryl C , Kaufmann Petra , Chiriboga Claudia A. , Finkel Richard S. , Tennekoon Gihan I. , Darras Basil T. , Pane Marika , Mercuri Eugenio , Mcdermott Michael P. ,   for the Pediatric Neuromuscular Clinical Research Network, Muscle Study Group, SMA Europe
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTIntroduction: With clinical trials underway, our objective was to construct a composite score of global function that could discriminate among people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods: Data were collected from 126 participants with SMA types 2 and 3. Scores from the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale—Expanded and Upper Limb Module were expressed as a percentage of the maximum score and 6‐minute walk test as percent of predicted normal distance. A principal component analysis was performed on the correlation matrix for the 3 percentage scores. Results: The first principal component yielded a composite score with approximately equal weighting of the 3 components and accounted for 82% of the total variability. The SMA functional composite score, an unweighted average of the 3 individual percentage scores, correlated almost perfectly with the first principal component. Conclusions: This combination of measures broadens the spectrum of ability that can be quantified in type 2 and 3 SMA patients. Muscle Nerve 52: 942–947, 2015
High‐performance thin film composite membranes with well‐defined poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer additives for CO2 separation
Authors: Scofield Joel M. P. , Gurr Paul A. , Kim Jinguk , Fu Qiang , Halim Andri , Kentish Sandra E. , Qiao Greg G. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTA series of well‐defined diblock copolymers (BCPs) consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were synthesized and blended with commercially available PEBAX® 2533 to form the active layer of thin‐film composite (TFC) membranes, via spin‐coating. BCPs with a PEG component ranging from 1 to 10 kDa and a PDMS component ranging from 1 to 10 kDa were synthesized by a facile condensation reaction of hydroxyl terminated PEG and carboxylic acid functionalized PDMS. The BCP/PEBAX® 2533 blends up to 50 wt % on cross‐linked PDMS gutter layers were tested at 35 °C and 350 kPa. TFC membranes containing BCPs of 1 kDa PEG and 1–5 kDa PDMS produced optimal results with CO2 permeances of approximately 1000 GPU which is an increase up to 250% of the permeance of pure PEBAX® 2533 composite membranes, while maintaining a CO2/N2 selectivity of 21. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1500–1511
Optically active helical polymers with pendent thiourea groups: Chiral organocatalyst for asymmetric michael addition reaction
Authors: Zhang Haiyang , Yang Wantai , Deng Jianping 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTThis article reports a novel category of helical substituted polyacetylenes bearing pendant thiourea groups and showing remarkable asymmetric catalysis ability. Thiourea‐based monomer and another chiral monomer underwent copolymerization, affording copolymers with considerable optical activity. The copolymers were used as chiral organocatalyst to homogeneously catalyze the asymmetric Michael addition of diethyl malonate to trans‐β‐nitrostyrene. During catalysis, a synergetic effect occurred between the pendant thiourea moieties and the helical structures in the polymer backbones. The enantioselectivity of the reaction was governed by the thiourea moieties. Meanwhile, the concaves along the helices provided specific domains where the substrates and catalytic groups were packed together, leading to a remarkable enhancement of product yield and enantioselectivity. Product with high yield (85%) and satisfactory ee (up to 72%) can be obtained. The present helical polymers open up new opportunities for developing macromolecules as mimetic enzymes catalyzing asymmetric reactions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1816–1823
Structural analysis of the polo‐box domain of human Polo‐like kinase 2
Authors: Kim Ju Hee , Ku Bonsu , Lee Kyung S. , Kim Seung Jun 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTPolo‐like kinases (Plks) are the key regulators of cell cycle progression, the members of which share a kinase domain and a polo‐box domain (PBD) that serves as a protein‐binding module. While Plk1 is a promising target for antitumor therapy, Plk2 is regarded as a tumor suppressor even though the two Plks commonly recognize the S‐pS/T‐P motif through their PBD. Herein, we report the crystal structure of the PBD of Plk2 at 2.7 Å. Despite the overall structural similarity with that of Plk1 reflecting their high sequence homology, the crystal structure also contains its own features including the highly ordered loop connecting two subdomains and the absence of 310‐helices in the N‐terminal region unlike the PBD of Plk1. Based on the three‐dimensional structure, we furthermore could model its interaction with two types of phosphopeptides, one of which was previously screened as the optimal peptide for the PBD of Plk2. Proteins 2015; 83:1201–1208. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Growth retardation ofEscherichia coliby artificial increase of intracellular ATP
Authors: Na Yoon-Ah , Lee Joo-Young , Bang Weon-Jeong , Lee Hyo Jung , Choi Su-In , Kwon Soon-Kyeong , Jung Kwang-Hwan , Kim Jihyun F , Kim Pil 
Published: April 2015

AbstractOverexpression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) was reported to cause the harboring of higher intracellular ATP concentration in Escherichia coli, accompanied with a slower growth rate. For systematic determination of the relationship between the artificial increase of ATP and growth retardation, PCKWT enzyme was directly evolved in vitro and further overexpressed. The evolved PCK67 showed a 60 % greater catalytic efficiency than that of PCKWT. Consequently, the PCK67-overexpressing E. coli showed the highest ATP concentration at the log phase of 1.45 μmol/gcell, with the slowest growth rate of 0.66 h−1, while the PCKWT-overexpressing cells displayed 1.00 μmol/gcell ATP concentration with the growth rate of 0.84 h−1 and the control had 0.28 μmol/gcell with 1.03 h−1. To find a plausible reason, PCK-overexpressing cells in a steady state during chemostat growth were applied to monitor intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Higher amount of intracellular ROS were observed as the ATP levels increased. To confirm the hypothesis of slower growth rate without perturbation of the carbon flux by PCK-overexpression, phototrophic Gloeobacter rhodopsin (GR) was expressed. The GR-expressing strain under illumination harbored 81 % more ATP concentration along with 82 % higher ROS, with a 54 % slower maximum growth rate than the control, while both the GR-expressing strain under dark and dicarboxylate transporter (a control membrane protein)-expressing strain showed a lower ATP and increased ROS, and slower growth rate. Regardless of carbon flux changes, the artificial ATP increase was related to the ROS increase and it was reciprocally correlated to the maximum growth rate. To verify that the accumulated intracellular ROS were responsible for the growth retardation, glutathione was added to the medium to reduce the ROS. As a result, the growth retardation was restored by the addition of 0.1 mM glutathione. Anaerobic culture even enabled the artificial ATP-increased E. coli to grow faster than control. Collectively, it was concluded that artificial ATP increases inhibit the growth of E. coli due to the overproduction of ROS.
Comparative metabolic profiling reveals the key role of amino acids metabolism in the rapamycin overproduction by Streptomyces hygroscopicus
Authors: Wang Baohua , Liu Jiao , Liu Huanhuan , Huang Di , Wen Jianping 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Rapamycin is an important natural macrolide antibiotic with antifungal, immunosuppressive and anticancer activity produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus. In this study, a mutant strain obtained by ultraviolet mutagenesis displayed higher rapamycin production capacity compared to the wild-type S. hygroscopicus ATCC 29253. To gain insights into the mechanism of rapamycin overproduction, comparative metabolic profiling between the wild-type and mutant strain was performed. A total of 86 metabolites were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Pattern recognition methods, including principal component analysis, partial least squares and partial least squares discriminant analysis, were employed to determine the key biomarkers. The results showed that 22 potential biomarkers were closely associated with the increase of rapamycin production and the tremendous metabolic difference was observed between the two strains. Furthermore, metabolic pathway analysis revealed that amino acids metabolism played an important role in the synthesis of rapamycin, especially lysine, valine, tryptophan, isoleucine, glutamate, arginine and ornithine. The inadequate supply of amino acids, or namely “nitrogen starvation” occurred in the mutant strain. Subsequently, the exogenous addition of amino acids into the fermentation medium of the mutant strain confirmed the above conclusion, and rapamycin production of the mutant strain increased to 426.7 mg/L after adding lysine, approximately 5.8-fold of that in the wild-type strain. Finally, the results of real-time PCR and enzyme activity assays demonstrated that dihydrodipicolinate synthase involved with lysine metabolism played vital role in the biosynthesis of rapamycin. These findings will provide a theoretical basis for further improving production of rapamycin.