bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Post‐procedural hemodiafiltration in acute coronary syndrome patients with associated renal and cardiac dysfunction undergoing urgent and emergency coronary angiography
Authors: Marenzi Giancarlo , Mazzotta Gianfranco , Londrino Francesco , Gistri Roberto , Moltrasio Marco , Cabiati Angelo , Assanelli Emilio , Veglia Fabrizio , Rombolà Giuseppe 
Published: October 2014

ObjectivesWe investigated the use of a 3‐hr treatment with hemodiafiltration, initiated soon after emergency or urgent coronary angiography in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with associated severe renal and cardiac dysfunction.BackgroundPatients with ACS and severe combined renal and cardiac dysfunction have a particularly high mortality risk. In them, the ideal strategy to both optimize treatment of coronary disease and minimize renal injury risk is currently unknown.MethodsThis was an interventional study. ACS patients (STEMI and NSTEMI) with associated severe renal (eGFR ≤30 ml/min/1.73 m2) and cardiac (LVEF ≤40%) dysfunction, admitted at La Spezia Hospital <24 hr from symptoms onset, underwent a prophylactic 3‐hr hemodiafiltration treatment, which was started soon after urgent or emergency coronary procedure. Controls were patients matched for age, gender, Mehran's risk score, and kind of ACS, admitted at the Centro Cardiologico Monzino Milan. In‐hospital and 1‐year outcomes were evaluated.ResultsSixty patients (30% STEMI), 30 hemodiafiltration‐treated patients and 30 controls, with similar baseline characteristics, were included. In‐hospital and cumulative 1‐year mortality rates were significantly lower in hemodiafiltration‐treated patients than in controls (3% vs. 23%; P = 0.05, and 10% vs. 53%; P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, they had a lower incidence of severe AKI (10% vs. 40%; P = 0.015) and lower need for rescue renal replacement therapy during hospitalization (7% vs. 27%; P = 0.04).ConclusionsOur pilot study suggests that, in ACS patients with severe renal and cardiac insufficiency, treatment with an aggressive prophylactic hemodiafiltration session after urgent or emergency coronary angiography seems to be associated with a relevant improvement in survival. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Design and Synthesis of Imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazole–Chalcone Conjugates: Microtubule‐Destabilizing Agents
Authors: Kamal Ahmed , Balakrishna Moku , Nayak V. Lakshma , Shaik Thokhir Basha , Faazil Shaikh , Nimbarte Vijaykumar D. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA series of chalcone conjugates featuring the imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazole scaffold was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines (MCF‐7, A549, HeLa, DU‐145 and HT‐29). These new hybrid molecules have shown promising cytotoxic activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.64 to 30.9 μM. Among them, (E)‐3‐(6‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐2,3‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazol‐5‐yl)‐1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one (11 x) showed potent antiproliferative activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.64 to 1.44 μM in all tested cell lines. To investigate the mechanism of action, the detailed biological aspects of this promising conjugate (11 x) were carried out on the A549 lung cancer cell line. The tubulin polymerization assay and immunofluoresence analysis results suggest that this conjugate effectively inhibits microtubule assembly in A549 cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that this conjugate induces cell‐cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and leads to apoptotic cell death. This was further confirmed by Hoechst staining, activation of caspase‐3, DNA fragmentation analysis, and Annexin V–FITC assay. Moreover, molecular docking studies indicated that this conjugate (11 x) interacts and binds efficiently with the tubulin protein.
Synthesis, Structure, and Biological Activities of a New μ‐Oxamido‐Bridged Dicopper(II) Complex: The Influence of Hydrophobicity of Bridging Ligand on DNA Binding and Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Wang Ling‐Dong , Tao Lin , Li Yan‐Tuan , Wu Zhi‐Yong , Yan Cui‐Wei 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTA new μ‐oxamido‐bridged dicopper(II) complex, [Cu2(papo)(H2O)‐ (phen)]Cl·CH3OH·H2O, where H3papo and phen represent N‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐N'‐(3‐aminopropyl)oxamide and 1,10‐phenanthroline, respectively, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity measurement, infrared and electronic spectra studies, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P‐1. Each copper(II) ion is located in a slightly distorted square‐pyramidal environment. The Cu···Cu distance through the oxamide bridge is 5.1848(7) Å. The three‐dimensional supramolecular structure is built‐up by hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions. The dicopper(II) complex exhibits cytotoxic activity against the SMMC‐7721 and A549 cell lines. The reactivity toward herring sperm DNA and protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) reveals that the dicopper(II) complex can interact with the DNA by the intercalation mode, and effectively quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA via a static mechanism. The influence of hydrophobicity of the bridging ligand on DNA‐binding properties and in vitro cytotoxic activities of this kind of dicopper(II) complexes was investigated.
Biotransformation of catechin and extraction of active polysaccharide from green tea leaves via simultaneous treatment with tannase and pectinase
Authors: Baik Joo Hyun , Shin Kwang‐Soon , Park Yooheon , Yu Kwang‐Won , Suh Hyung Joo , Choi Hyeon‐Son 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDGreen tea is a dietary source of bioactive compounds for human health. Enzymatic treatments induce the bioconversion of bioactive components, which can improve biological activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of simultaneous treatment with tannase and Rapidase on biotransformation of catechins and extraction of polysaccharide from green tea extract (GTE).RESULTSTannase and pectinase treatments induced the biotransformation of catechins and altered tea polysaccharide () content. The addition of GTE to the enzyme reaction resulted in a significant increase in degallated catechins, including gallic acid, a product of the tannase reaction (314.5–4076.0 µg mL−1) and a reduction in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Biotransformation of catechins improved the radical scavenging activity of GTE. Pectinase treatment led to change of TPS composition in GTE by hydrolyzing polysaccharides. In addition, pectinase‐driven hydrolysis in polysaccharides significantly increased TPS‐induced Interleukin 6 (IL‐6) production in macrophages. In particular, treatment of Rapidase (TPS‐Ra) led to the highest IL‐6 production among TPS samples, similar to treatment of highly purified pectinase (TPS‐GTE), a positive control.CONCLUSIONSimultaneous processing with tannase and Rapidase can be an efficient method for the extraction of bioactive polysaccharides and biotransformation of catechins with enhanced radical scavenging activity from green tea. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Stretchable and flexible resistive behavior of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate) thin film on ultra‐low modulus polydimethylsiloxane with trench‐type roughness
Authors: Mehdi Syed Murtuza , Jo Jeongdai , Doh Yang Hoi , Dang Hyun Woo , Choi Kyung Hyun 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the resistive behavior of rod‐coated micrometer thick films of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) on ultra‐low modulus (120– 130 kPa) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate having scratch or microtrench‐type roughness patterns. On average, the films were found to remain electrically functional up to 23% axial strain with an average increase of three times in the value of the normalized resistance. The films were also found to remain conductive up to bending diameter of 4 mm with an average increase of 1.12 times their initial resistance. The rod‐coated PEDOT:PSS films on ultra‐low modulus PDMS having microtrench‐type roughness were also found to remain functional even after 1000 bending cycles at a bending diameter of 4 mm and even smaller with an increase in resistance that was on average 1.15 times their initial resistance. The films were found to fail firstly by cracking and thereby debonding from the substrate under the application of axial strain. On the other hand, the films exhibit no delamination under bending strains. The results from this investigation suggest that the polymer–polymer laminate has potential applicability in stretchable and flexible electronics and related applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 226–233
Molecular dynamics of the P450cam–Pdx complex reveals complex stability and novel interface contacts
Authors: Hollingsworth Scott A. , Poulos Thomas L. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractCytochrome P450cam catalyzes the stereo and regiospecific hydroxylation of camphor to 5‐exo‐hydroxylcamphor. The two electrons for the oxidation of camphor are provided by putidaredoxin (Pdx), a Fe2S2 containing protein. Two recent crystal structures of the P450cam–Pdx complex, one solved with the aid of covalent cross‐linking and one without, have provided a structural picture of the redox partner interaction. To study the stability of the complex structure and the minor differences between the recent crystal structures, a 100 nanosecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of the cross‐linked structure, mutated in silico to wild type and the linker molecule removed, was performed. The complex was stable over the course of the simulation though conformational changes including the movement of the C helix of P450cam further toward Pdx allowed for the formation of a number of new contacts at the complex interface that remained stable throughout the simulation. While several minor crystal contacts were lost in the simulation, all major contacts that had been experimentally studied previously were maintained. The equilibrated MD structure contained a mixture of contacts resembling both the cross‐linked and noncovalent structures and the newly identified interactions. Finally, the reformation of the P450cam Asp251–Arg186 ion pair in the MD simulation mirrors the ion pair observed in the more promiscuous CYP101D1 and suggests that the Asp251–Arg186 ion pair may be important.
Quaternary structure of WzzB and WzzE polysaccharide copolymerases
Authors: Kalynych Sergei , Cherney Maia , Bostina Mihnea , Rouiller Isabelle , Cygler Miroslaw 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBacteria have evolved cellular control mechanisms to ensure proper length specification for surface‐bound polysaccharides. Members of the Polysaccharide Copolymerase (PCP) family are central to this process. PCP‐1 family members are anchored to the inner membrane through two transmembrane helices and contain a large periplasm‐exposed domain. PCPs are known to form homooligomers but their exact stoichiometry is controversial in view of conflicting structural and biochemical data. Several prior investigations addressing this question indicated a nonameric, hexameric, or tetrameric organization of several PCP‐1 family members. In this work, we gathered additional evidence that E.coli WzzB and WzzE PCPs form octameric homo‐oligomeric complexes. Detergent‐solubilized PCPs were purified to homogeneity and subjected to blue native gel analysis, which indicated the presence of a predominant high‐molecular product of over 500 kDa in mass. Molecular mass of WzzE and WzzB‐detergent oligomers was estimated to be 550 kDA by size‐exclusion coupled to multiangle laser light scattering (SEC‐MALLS). Oligomeric organization of purified WzzB and WzzE was further investigated by negative stain electron microscopy and by X‐ray crystallography, respectively. Analysis of EM‐derived molecular envelope of WzzB indicated that the full‐length protein is composed of eight protomers. Crystal structure of LDAO‐solubilized WzzE was solved to 6 Å resolutions and revealed its octameric subunit stoichiometry. In summary, we identified a possible biological unit utilized for the glycan chain length determination by two PCP‐1 family members. This provides an important step toward further unraveling of the mechanistic basis of chain length control of the O‐antigen and the enterobacterial common antigen.
Structures of Arg‐ and Gln‐type bacterial cysteine dioxygenase homologs
Authors: Driggers Camden M. , Hartman Steven J. , Karplus P. Andrew 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn some bacteria, cysteine is converted to cysteine sulfinic acid by cysteine dioxygenases (CDO) that are only ∼15–30% identical in sequence to mammalian CDOs. Among bacterial proteins having this range of sequence similarity to mammalian CDO are some that conserve an active site Arg residue (“Arg‐type” enzymes) and some having a Gln substituted for this Arg (“Gln‐type” enzymes). Here, we describe a structure from each of these enzyme types by analyzing structures originally solved by structural genomics groups but not published: a Bacillus subtilis “Arg‐type” enzyme that has cysteine dioxygenase activity (BsCDO), and a Ralstonia eutropha “Gln‐type” CDO homolog of uncharacterized activity (ReCDOhom). The BsCDO active site is well conserved with mammalian CDO, and a cysteine complex captured in the active site confirms that the cysteine binding mode is also similar. The ReCDOhom structure reveals a new active site Arg residue that is hydrogen bonding to an iron‐bound diatomic molecule we have interpreted as dioxygen. Notably, the Arg position is not compatible with the mode of Cys binding seen in both rat CDO and BsCDO. As sequence alignments show that this newly discovered active site Arg is well conserved among “Gln‐type” CDO enzymes, we conclude that the “Gln‐type” CDO homologs are not authentic CDOs but will have substrate specificity more similar to 3‐mercaptopropionate dioxygenases.
Actin‐induced dimerization of palladin promotes actin‐bundling
Authors: Vattepu Ravi , Yadav Rahul , Beck Moriah R. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA subset of actin binding proteins is able to form crosslinks between two or more actin filaments, thus producing structures of parallel or networked bundles. These actin crosslinking proteins interact with actin through either bivalent binding or dimerization. We recently identified two binding sites within the actin binding domain of palladin, an actin crosslinking protein that plays an important role in normal cell adhesion and motility during wound healing and embryonic development. In this study, we show that actin induces dimerization of palladin. Furthermore, the extent of dimerization reflects earlier comparisons of actin binding and bundling between different domains of palladin. On the basis of these results we hypothesized that actin binding may promote a conformational change that results in dimerization of palladin, which in turn may drive the crosslinking of actin filaments. The proximal distance between two actin binding sites on crosslinking proteins determines the ultrastructural properties of the filament network, therefore we also explored interdomain interactions using a combination of chemical crosslinking experiments and actin cosedimentation assays. Limited proteolysis data reveals that palladin is less susceptible to enzyme digestion after actin binding. Our results suggest that domain movements in palladin are necessary for interactions with actin and are induced by interactions with actin filaments. Accordingly, we put forth a model linking the structural changes to functional dynamics.
Crystal structure of human Ankyrin G death domain
Authors: Liu Ying , Zhang Yan , Wang Jia‐Huai 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTAnkyrins (Ank) are a ubiquitously expressed family of multifunctional membrane adapter proteins. Ankyrin G (AnkG) is critical for assembling and maintenance of the axon initial segment. Here we present the 2.1 Å crystal structure of human AnkG death domain (hAnkG‐DD). The core death domain is composed of six α‐helices and three 310‐helices. It forms a hydrophobic pocket on the surface of the molecule. The C‐terminal tail of the hAnkG‐DD curves back to have the aromatic ring of a phenylalanine residue, Phe100 insert into this pocket, which anchors the flexible tail onto the core domain. Related DDs were selected for structure comparison. The major variations are at the C‐terminal region, including the α6 and the long C‐terminal extension. The results of size exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation suggest that hAnkG‐DD exists as monomer in solution. Our work should help for the future investigation of the structure–function of AnkG. Proteins 2014; 82:3476–3482. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
First report of resistance to acetolactate‐synthase‐inhibiting herbicides in yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus): confirmation and characterization
Authors: Tehranchian Parsa , Norsworthy Jason K , Nandula Vijay , McElroy Scott , Chen Shu , Scott Robert C 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDYellow nutsedge is one of the most problematic sedges in Arkansas rice, requiring the frequent use of halosulfuron (sulfonylurea) for its control. In the summer of 2012, halosulfuron at 53 g ha−1 (labeled field rate) failed to control yellow nutsedge. The level of resistance to halosulfuron was determined in the putative resistant biotype, and its cross‐resistance to other acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors from four different herbicide families. ALS enzyme assays and analysis of the ALS gene were used to ascertain the resistance mechanism.RESULTSNone of the resistant plants was killed by halosulfuron at a dose of 13 568 g ha−1 (256× the field dose), indicating a high level of resistance. Based on the whole‐plant bioassay, the resistant biotype was not controlled by any of the ALS‐inhibiting herbicides (imazamox, imazethapyr, penoxsulam, bispyribac, pyrithiobac‐sodium, bensulfuron and halosulfuron) tested at the labeled field rate. The ALS enzyme from the resistant biotype was 2540 times less responsive to halosulfuron than the susceptible biotype, and a Trp574‐to‐Leu substitution was detected by ALS gene sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq.CONCLUSIONThe results suggest a target‐site alteration as the mechanism of resistance in yellow nutsedge, which accounts for the cross‐resistance to other ALS‐inhibiting herbicide families. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Exposure to websites that encourage self‐harm and suicide: Prevalence rates and association with actual thoughts of self‐harm and thoughts of suicide in the United States
Authors: Mitchell Kimberly J. , Wells Melissa , Priebe Gisela , Ybarra Michele L. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTThis article provides 12‐month prevalence rates of youth exposure to websites which encourage self‐harm or suicide and examines whether such exposure is related to thoughts of self‐harm and thoughts of suicide in the past 30 days. Data were collected via telephone from a nationally representative survey of 1560 Internet‐using youth, ages 10–17 residing in the United States. One percent (95% CI: 0.5%, 1.5%) of youth reported visiting a website that encouraged self‐harm or suicide. Youth who visited such websites were seven times more likely to say they had thought about killing themselves; and 11 times more likely to think about hurting themselves, even after adjusting for several known risk factors for thoughts of self‐harm and thoughts of suicide. Given that youth thinking about self‐harm and suicide are more likely to visit these sites, they may represent an opportunity for identification of youth in need of crisis intervention.
Regulating higher education: Quality assurance and neo-liberal managerialism in higher education—A critical introduction
Authors: Jarvis Darryl S L 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Quality assurance (QA) regimes have become an increasingly dominant regulatory tool in the management of higher education sectors around the world. By one estimate, nearly half the countries in the world now have quality assurance systems or QA regulatory bodies for higher education. This paper explores the emergence and spread of QA regimes, the coalescence of regulatory logics around qualifications frameworks, and the broad confluence of such approaches in terms of their impact on the historically contested relationship between the state and university. By focusing on the interlocking regulatory logics provided by QA, the article explores how such approaches impose quasi-market, competitive based rationalities premised on neo-liberal managerialism using a policy discourse that is often informed by conviction rather than evidence.
Inter-phylum HGT has shaped the metabolism of many mesophilic and anaerobic bacteria
Authors: Caro-Quintero Alejandro , Konstantinidis Konstantinos T 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Genome sequencing has revealed that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major evolutionary process in bacteria. Although it is generally assumed that closely related organisms engage in genetic exchange more frequently than distantly related ones, the frequency of HGT among distantly related organisms and the effect of ecological relatedness on the frequency has not been rigorously assessed. Here, we devised a novel bioinformatic pipeline, which minimized the effect of over-representation of specific taxa in the available databases and other limitations of homology-based approaches by analyzing genomes in standardized triplets, to quantify gene exchange between bacterial genomes representing different phyla. Our analysis revealed the existence of networks of genetic exchange between organisms with overlapping ecological niches, with mesophilic anaerobic organisms showing the highest frequency of exchange and engaging in HGT twice as frequently as their aerobic counterparts. Examination of individual cases suggested that inter-phylum HGT is more pronounced than previously thought, affecting up to ∼16% of the total genes and ∼35% of the metabolic genes in some genomes (conservative estimation). In contrast, ribosomal and other universal protein-coding genes were subjected to HGT at least 150 times less frequently than genes encoding the most promiscuous metabolic functions (for example, various dehydrogenases and ABC transport systems), suggesting that the species tree based on the former genes may be reliable. These results indicated that the metabolic diversity of microbial communities within most habitats has been largely assembled from preexisting genetic diversity through HGT and that HGT accounts for the functional redundancy among phyla.
Functional specialization of stomatal bHLHs through modification of DNA-binding and phosphoregulation potential
Authors: Davies Kelli A. , Bergmann Dominique C. 
Published: October 2014

Significance
Developmental complexity often parallels expansion of transcription factor families, and highly similar proteins can play related but distinct roles in the development of cell lineages and cell types. Comparative sequence analyses can point to regions of proteins that may be involved in specialization, but complementary functional approaches are required to confirm these roles. Using the “natural laboratory” of stomatal development in which closely related basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors regulate distinct sequential processes, we assign functions to unique domains and identify functional divergences hidden within regions of sequence identity.