bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combination of CD34‐positive cell subsets with infarcted myocardium‐like matrix stiffness: a potential solution to cell‐based cardiac repair
Authors: Zhang Shuning , Ma Xin , Yao Kang , Zhu Hong , Huang Zheyong , Shen Li , Qian Juying , Zou Yunzeng , Sun Aijun , Ge Junbo 
Published: June 2014

AbstractDetection of the optimal cell transplantation strategy for myocardial infarction (MI) has attracted a great deal of attention. Commitment of engrafted cells to angiogenesis within damaged myocardium is regarded as one of the major targets in cell‐based cardiac repair. Bone marrow–derived CD34‐positive cells, a well‐characterized population of stem cells, might represent highly functional endothelial progenitor cells and result in the formation of new blood vessels. Recently, physical microenvironment (extracellular matrix stiffness) around the engrafted cells was found to exert an essential impact on their fate. Stem cells are able to feel and respond to the tissue‐like matrix stiffness to commit to a relevant lineage. Notably, the infarct area after MI experiences a time‐dependent stiffness change from flexible to rigid. Our previous observations demonstrated myocardial stiffness‐dependent differentiation of the unselected bone marrow–derived mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) along endothelial lineage cells. Myocardial stiffness (~42 kPa) within the optimal time domain of cell engraftment (at week 1 to 2) after MI provided a more favourable physical microenvironment for cell specification and cell‐based cardiac repair. However, the difference in tissue stiffness‐dependent cell differentiation between the specific cell subsets expressing and no expressing CD34 phenotype remains uncertain. We presumed that CD34‐positive cell subsets facilitated angiogenesis and subsequently resulted in cardiac repair under induction of infarcted myocardium‐like matrix stiffness compared with CD34‐negative cells. If the hypothesis were true, it would contribute greatly to detect the optimal cell subsets for cell therapy and to establish an optimized therapy strategy for cell‐based cardiac repair.
Critical Appraisal of Life Cycle Impact Assessment Databases for Agri‐food Materials
Authors: Teixeira Ricardo F.M. 
Published: June 2014

SummarySimplified life cycle assessment (LCA) is an attempt to expedite standard LCA methodology. One common simplification is to use secondary databases comprised of results, instead of inventories, from previous LCA studies to avoid data collection and speed up calculations. This article contains an assessment of the depth and variance in such databases, using descriptive analyses and clustering of 2,276 published global warming potential weighted emissions records for agri‐food products. Tables with mean and standard deviation for each product were generated and can be used in the future by LCA practitioners. The analysis of the data sets shows that clustering emissions by product name explains 55% of the variance in the database, whereas geographic region and method of production of the material explain only 2%. Significant gaps in the richness and comprehensiveness of databases available are also identified; data unavailability is one of the main reasons for uncertainty. The conclusion is thus that the use of secondary databases looks promising, but there are still challenges to overcome regarding the depth of databases.
Dynamic Models of Fixed Capital Stocks and Their Application in Industrial Ecology
Authors: Pauliuk Stefan , Wood Richard , Hertwich Edgar G. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryIndustrial assets or fixed capital stocks are at the core of the transition to a low‐carbon economy. They represent substantial accumulations of capital, bulk materials, and critical metals. Their lifetime determines the potential for material recycling and how fast they can be replaced by new, more efficient facilities. Their efficiency determines the coupling between useful output and energy and material throughput. A sound understanding of the economic and physical properties of fixed capital stocks is essential to anticipating the long‐term environmental and economic consequences of the new energy future. We identify substantial overlap in the way stocks are modeled in national accounting, dynamic material flow analysis, dynamic input‐output (I/O) analysis, and life cycle assessment (LCA) and we merge these concepts into a common framework for modeling fixed capital stocks. We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework for simultaneous accounting of capital and material stocks and for consequential LCA. We apply the framework to design a demand‐driven dynamic I/O model with dynamic capital stocks, and we synthesize both the marginal and attributional matrix of technical coefficients (A‐matrix) from detailed process inventories of fixed assets of different age cohorts and technologies. The stock modeling framework allows researchers to identify and exploit synergies between different model families under the umbrella of socioeconomic metabolism.
Hippocampal Surface Deformation Accuracy in T1‐Weighted Volumetric MRI Sequences in Subjects with Epilepsy
Authors: Hogan R. Edward , Moseley Emily D. , Maccotta Luigi 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSETo demonstrate the accuracy across different acquisition and analysis methods, we evaluated the variability in hippocampal volumetric and surface displacement measurements resulting from two different MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) acquisition protocols.METHODSNine epilepsy patients underwent two independent T1‐weighted magnetization prepared spoiled gradient sequences during a single 3T MRI session. Using high‐dimension mapping‐large deformation (HDM‐LD) segmentation, we calculated volumetric estimates and generated a vector‐based 3‐dimensional surface model of each subject's hippocampi, and evaluated volume and surface changes, the latter using a cluster‐based noise estimation model.RESULTSMean hippocampal volumes and standard deviations for the left hippocampi were 2,750 (826) mm3 and 2,782 (859) mm3 (P = .13), and for the right hippocampi were 2,558 (750) mm3 and 2,547 (692) mm3 (P = .76), respectively for the MPR1 and MPR2 sequences. Average Dice coefficient comparing overlap for segmentations was 86%. There was no significant effect of MRI sequence on volume estimates and no significant hippocampal surface change between sequences.CONCLUSIONStatistical comparison of hippocampal volumes and statistically thresholded HDM‐LD surfaces in TLE patients showed no differences between the segmentations obtained in the two MRI acquisition sequences. This validates the robustness across MRI sequences of the HDM‐LD technique for estimating volume and surface changes in subjects with epilepsy.
Eutectic, monotectic and immiscibility systems of nimesulide with water-soluble carriers: phase equilibria, solid-state characterisation and in-vivo/pharmacodynamic evaluation
Authors: Abdelkader Hamdy , Abdallah Ossama Y , Salem Hesham , Alani Adam W G , Alany Raid G 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Objectives
The solid-state interactions of fused mixtures nimesulide (ND) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, urea or mannitol were studied through constructing thaw-melt phase equilibrium diagrams.

Methods
The solid-state characteristics were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Various types of interactions were identified such as the formation of a eutectic system of ND-PEG 4000, monotectic system of ND-urea and complete solid immiscibility of ND with mannitol. The effects of carrier concentrations on the equilibrium solubility and in-vitro dissolution characteristics were studied.

Key findings
Linear increases (R2 &gt; 0.99) in the aqueous solubility of ND in various concentrations of PEG 4000 and urea were obtained, whereas mannitol did not exhibit any effect on the solubility of ND. Similar trends were obtained with the dissolution efficiency of the fused mixtures of ND with PEG 4000 and urea compared with the corresponding physical mixtures and untreated drug. The analgesic effects of untreated ND and the selected formulations were investigated by evaluating the drug's ability to inhibit the acetic acid-induced writhing response.

Conclusions
The analgesic effect of ND in a eutectic mixture with PEG 4000 and a monotectic mixture with urea was potentiated by 3.2 and 2.7-fold respectively compared with the untreated drug.
Identification of human cytochrome P450 isozymes involved in the metabolism of naftopidil enantiomers in vitro
Authors: Zhu Lijun , Liu Xiawen , Zhu Liu , Zhang Xingfei , Fu Xiaojing , Huang Junjun , Yuan Mu 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Objectives
Naftopidil (NAF) is a chiral compound with two enantiomers (R(+)-NAF and S(−)-NAF) and is used as a racemic mixture in clinical practice. This study aims to investigate the metabolism of NAF enantiomers in pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs) and cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYPs) involved in their metabolism.

Methods
Metabolism studies were conducted in vitro using HLMs. Specific chemical inhibitors and recombinant human CYPs were used to confirm that the CYPs contributed to the metabolism of NAF enantiomers.

Key findings
Three metabolites were found and characterized in the HLMs incubations from R(+)-NAF and S(−)-NAF, respectively. The major metabolic pathways of R(+)-NAF and S(−)-NAF were demethylation and hydroxylation. CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 inhibitors strongly inhibited R(+)-NAF metabolism, and CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4/5 inhibitors moderately inhibited R(+)-NAF metabolism. CYP2C9 inhibitors strongly inhibited S(−)-NAF metabolism, and CYP2C8, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4/5 inhibitors moderately inhibited S(−)-NAF metabolism. Consistent with the results of chemical inhibitors experiments, recombinant human CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 contributed greatly to R(+)-NAF metabolism, and CYP2C9 contributed greatly to S(−)-NAF metabolism.

Conclusion
Both R(+)-NAF and S(−)-NAF are metabolized to three metabolites in HLMs. CYP2C9 plays the most important role in the demethylation and hydroxylation of both NAF enantiomers, CYP2C19 is another major CYP isoform that is involved in R(+)-NAF metabolism.
Curcumin affects β-catenin pathway in hepatic stellate cell in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Cui Lei , Jia Xin , Zhou Qian , Zhai Xuguang , Zhou Yajun , Zhu Huixia 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Objectives
Emerging evidence indicates that Wnt/β-catenin pathway is linked to the fibrosis of different organs including liver fibrosis. β-Catenin promotes hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation, a key event in the development of liver fibrosis, and has emerged as a novel mediator of fibrosis. Curcumin, a natural active ingredient derived from turmeric, possesses an inhibitory effect on liver fibrosis. This study is aimed to examine whether curcumin affects β-catenin expression/activity in HSCs and explores the underlying mechanisms.

Methods
The researchers used Western blot, real-time PCR, transfection assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay and employed cultured HSCs and rat model of liver injury.

Key findings
Results showed that curcumin could reduce β-catenin protein level in HSCs in vitro and in vivo. Both β-catenin transactivation activity and DNA-binding activity were suppressed by curcumin. Moreover, nuclear β-catenin protein level was decreased by curcumin treatment. Further experiments suggested that delta-like homologue 1 contributed to curcumin inhibition of β-catenin transactivation activity in cultured HSCs.

Conclusions
Curcumin affects β-catenin pathway in HSCs and might suggest a possible new explanation for the effects of curcumin on HSC activation and liver fibrosis.
A randomized, controlled, clinical pilot study assessing the analgesic effect of morphine applied topically onto split-thickness skin wounds
Authors: Zaslansky Ruth , Ben-Nun Ohad , Ben-Shitrit Sima , Ullmann Yehuda , Kopf Andreas , Stein Christoph 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Objectives
To assess the effect of an opioid administered topically onto a standardized skin wound in patients without significant comorbidity. Findings to date are contradictory, often obtained from multimorbid patients with wounds lacking uniformity.

Methods
Forty-four patients undergoing surgery for skin grafting were randomly assigned to receive morphine (0.25, 0.75 or 1.25 mg/100 cm2 wound size) in hydroxyethylcellulose gel or placebo applied onto the excised split-thickness donor wound at the end of surgery. Pain, supplementary systemic opioids and adverse effects were assessed during the first 24 h after application. Healing was examined when the dressings were removed.

Key findings
Morphine doses ranged from 0.25 to 5.4 mg (mean 1.93 ± standard deviation 1.34 mg). No differences in pain scores or use of supplementary analgesics were found between the groups. Serious adverse effects did not occur; healing was not impaired. Large intragroup variability was observed for pain scores, wound sizes and supplementary analgesia.

Conclusions
Patients treated with topically applied morphine gel onto standardized skin wounds did not report lower pain scores compared with placebo-treated patients. Larger groups would be required to arrive at definitive conclusions. The split-thickness skin graft model can be used for future research.
A comparative study on phenolic components and biological activity of some Senecio species in Turkey
Authors: Albayrak Sevil , Aksoy Ahmet , Yurtseven Lutfiye , Yaşar Abit 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Objective
The phenolic components and biological activity of nine Senecio species growing in Turkey were investigated.

Methods
Senecio species were extracted with methanol. The content of total phenols was determined using Folin–Ciocalteu method, while individual phenolic acids and flavonoids were detected using HPLC analysis. Also, to determine the antioxidant capacity, phosphomolybdenum assay and 1,1-diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity assay were used. Antimicrobial activity of extract was determined using agar diffusion and broth microdilution method.

Key findings
The total phenolic contents of the extracts were found to be highest in Senecio cilicius and Senecio mollis extracts (117.45 and 113.40 mg equivalent to gallic acid/g, respectively). S. salsuginea showed the strongest free radical-scavenging activity with IC50 (the concentration providing 50% inhibition) = 26.23 μg/ml and S. mollis showed the highest antioxidant capacity in the phosphomolybdenum method (434.48 mg equivalent to ascorbic acid/g). The extracts exerted promising antibacterial activity against most of the test bacteria (minimal inhibitory concentration = 6.25–12.5 mg/ml), but no activity was observed against Candida albicans.

Conclusion
The results demonstrated that nine Senecio species possess high antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in accordance with the high amount of phenolic contents in the extracts that might be natural agencies used in many areas such as food, pharmacy and alternative medicine.
Comparative rangewide phylogeography of four endemic Taiwanese bat species
Authors: Kuo Hao‐Chih , Chen Shiang‐Fan , Fang Yin‐Ping , Flanders Jon , Rossiter Stephen J. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPhylogeographic reconstructions of codistributed taxa can help reveal the interplay between abiotic factors, such as altitude and climate, and species‐specific attributes, in shaping patterns of population genetic structure. Recent studies also demonstrate the value of both rangewide sampling and species distribution modelling (SDM) in comparative phylogeography. Here, we combine these approaches to study the population histories of four phylogenetically related forest‐dependent bat species. All are endemic to the mountainous island of Taiwan but show differences in their tolerance to altitude, with Murina gracilis considered to be a high‐altitude specialist, M. recondita and Kerivoula sp. low‐altitude specialists, and M. puta an altitudinal generalist. We tested the prediction that contrasting habitat preferences would impact on patterns of past and contemporary gene flow and found broad concordance between the results of population genetic analyses and species distribution models based on the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate. Both lowland species showed evidence of genetic divergence between the east and west of the island, consistent with SDMs that indicated the Central Mountain Range (CMR) has presented a long‐term and continuous barrier to gene flow since before the Last Glacial Maximum. In contrast, Murina gracilis and M. puta showed lower degrees of historical isolation and genetic differentiation associated with the CMR, reflecting greater gene flow, possibly coupled with past population growth in M. puta. Together our results highlight the usefulness of combining distribution models with phylogeographic analyses to understand the drivers of genetic structure.
Co‐ordinated regulation of the extracytoplasmic stress factor, sigmaE, with other Escherichia coli sigma factors by (p)ppGpp and DksA may be achieved by specific regulation of individual holoenzymes
Authors: Gopalkrishnan Saumya , Nicoloff Herve , Ades Sarah E. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThe E. coli alternative sigma factor, σE, transcribes genes required to maintain the cell envelope and is activated by conditions that destabilize the envelope. σE is also activated during entry into stationary phase in the absence of envelope stress by the alarmone (p)ppGpp. (p)ppGpp controls a large regulatory network, reducing expression of σ70‐dependent genes required for rapid growth and activating σ70‐dependent and alternative sigma factor‐dependent genes required for stress survival. The DksA protein often potentiates the effects of (p)ppGpp. Here we examine regulation of σE by (p)ppGpp and DksA following starvation for nutrients. We find that (p)ppGpp is required for increased σE activity under all conditions tested, but the requirement for DksA varies. DksA is required during amino acid starvation, but is dispensable during phosphate starvation. In contrast, regulation of σS is (p)ppGpp‐ and DksA‐dependent under all conditions tested, while negative regulation of σ70 is DksA‐ but not (p)ppGpp‐dependent during phosphate starvation, yet requires both factors during amino acid starvation. These findings suggest that the mechanism of transcriptional regulation by (p)ppGpp and/or DksA cannot yet be explained by a unifying model and is specific to individual promoters, individual holoenzymes, and specific starvation conditions.
Comparative analysis of the secretion capability of early and late flagellar type III secretion substrates
Authors: Singer Hanna M. , Erhardt Marc , Hughes Kelly T. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryA remarkable feature of the flagellar‐specific type III secretion system (T3SS) is the selective recognition of a few substrate proteins among the many thousand cytoplasmic proteins. Secretion substrates are divided into two specificity classes: early substrates secreted for hook‐basal body (HBB) construction and late substrates secreted after HBB completion. Secretion was reported to require a disordered N‐terminal secretion signal, mRNA secretion signals within the 5′‐untranslated region (5′‐UTR) and for late substrates, piloting proteins known as the T3S chaperones. Here, we utilized translational β‐lactamase fusions to probe the secretion efficacy of the N‐terminal secretion signal of fourteen secreted flagellar substrates in Salmonella enterica. We observed a surprising variety in secretion capability between flagellar proteins of the same secretory class. The peptide secretion signals of the early‐type substrates FlgD, FlgF, FlgE and the late‐type substrate FlgL were analysed in detail. Analysing the role of the 5′‐UTR in secretion of flgB and flgE revealed that the native 5′‐UTR substantially enhanced protein translation and secretion. Based on our data, we propose a multicomponent signal that drives secretion via the flagellar T3SS. Both mRNA and peptide signals are recognized by the export apparatus and together with substrate‐specific chaperones allowing for targeted secretion of flagellar substrates.
Copper binding in IscA inhibits iron‐sulphur cluster assembly in Escherichia coli
Authors: Tan Guoqiang , Cheng Zishuo , Pang Yilin , Landry Aaron P. , Li Jianghui , Lu Jianxin , Ding Huangen 
Published: June 2014

SummaryAmong the iron‐sulphur cluster assembly proteins encoded by gene cluster iscSUA‐hscBA‐fdx in Escherichia coli, IscA has a unique and strong iron binding activity and can provide iron for iron‐sulphur cluster assembly in proteins in vitro. Deletion of IscA and its paralogue SufA results in an E. coli mutant that fails to assemble [4Fe‐4S] clusters in proteins under aerobic conditions, suggesting that IscA has a crucial role for iron‐sulphur cluster biogenesis. Here we report that among the iron‐sulphur cluster assembly proteins, IscA also has a strong and specific binding activity for Cu(I) in vivo and in vitro. The Cu(I) centre in IscA is stable and resistant to oxidation under aerobic conditions. Mutation of the conserved cysteine residues that are essential for the iron binding in IscA abolishes the copper binding activity, indicating that copper and iron may share the same binding site in the protein. Additional studies reveal that copper can compete with iron for the metal binding site in IscA and effectively inhibits the IscA‐mediated [4Fe‐4S] cluster assembly in E. coli cells. The results suggest that copper may not only attack the [4Fe‐4S] clusters in dehydratases, but also block the [4Fe‐4S] cluster assembly in proteins by targeting IscA in cells.
Prompting professional prerogatives: New insights to reopen an old debate about nursing
Authors: Ayala Ricardo A. , Vanderstraeten Raf , Bracke Piet 
Published: June 2014

AbstractA profession is defined by neither a set of structural qualities nor a description idiosyncratic to a single culture. Rather, a profession detects problems in an area of work, intellectualizes that work, and offers solutions, developing a logic of competition with coexisting occupations. The best that structural explanations can offer to nursing is rigid, unmovable definitions such as “a semi‐profession,” whereas the ecological theory of the professions regards the continuous interplay among occupations cohabiting in an interacting system as the fundamental process of gaining or losing professional status. In this theoretically driven article we draw upon the notion of “social ecology of nursing” as a vector of development, arguing that nursing's professional status lies in its ability to adapt to “landscape” transformations and to protect its jurisdiction from competitors, equating fully established professions. In discussing the application of this theory, we invite readers to reopen a debate about the professional nature of nursing, considering cross‐national versions of nursing for more comprehensive definitions of the profession.
Misperception of body weight and associated factors
Authors: Boo Sunjoo 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe prevalence of obesity is increasing. In Korea, this is especially true of men in general, and women of low socioeconomic status. Misperception of body weight poses a barrier to the prevention of obesity. In this study, the misperception of body weight in relation to actual body weight and associated factors in Korean adults was evaluated. Data from 7162 adults who participated in the 2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Misperception of body weight was substantial in Koreans, with 48.9% underestimating and 6.8% overestimating their weight status. More men than women underestimated their weight status. Weight perception in women was affected more by sociodemographic characteristics. Women's underestimation was positively associated with older age, marital status, and lower socioeconomic status. This suggests that increasing public awareness of healthy weight will be helpful to counteract the current obesity epidemic in Korea.