bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Macrophages Control Vascular Stem/Progenitor Cell Plasticity Through Tumor Necrosis Factor-α–Mediated Nuclear Factor-κB Activation
Authors: Wong Mei Mei , Chen Yikuan , Margariti Andriani , Winkler Bernhard , Campagnolo Paola , Potter Claire , Hu Yanhua , Xu Qingbo 
Published: January 2014

Objective—
Vascular lineage differentiation of stem/progenitor cells can contribute to both tissue repair and exacerbation of vascular diseases such as in vein grafts. The role of macrophages in controlling vascular progenitor differentiation is largely unknown and may play an important role in graft development. This study aims to identify the role of macrophages in vascular stem/progenitor cell differentiation and thereafter elucidate the mechanisms that are involved in the macrophage- mediated process.

Approach and Results—
We provide in vitro evidence that macrophages can induce endothelial cell (EC) differentiation of the stem/progenitor cells while simultaneously inhibiting their smooth muscle cell differentiation. Mechanistically, both effects were mediated by macrophage-derived tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) via TNF-α receptor 1 and canonical nuclear factor-κB activation. Although the overexpression of p65 enhanced EC (or attenuated smooth muscle cell) differentiation, p65 or TNF-α receptor 1 knockdown using lentiviral short hairpin RNA inhibited EC (or rescued smooth muscle cell) differentiation in response to TNF-α. Furthermore, TNF-α–mediated EC differentiation was driven by direct binding of nuclear factor-κB (p65) to specific VE-cadherin promoter sequences. Subsequent experiments using an ex vivo decellularized vessel scaffold confirmed an increase in the number of ECs and reduction in smooth muscle cell marker expression in the presence of TNF-α. The lack of TNF-α in a knockout mouse model of vein graft decreased endothelialization and significantly increased thrombosis formation.

Conclusions—
Our study highlights the role of macrophages in directing vascular stem/progenitor cell lineage commitment through TNF-α–mediated TNF-α receptor 1 and nuclear factor-κB activation that is likely required for endothelial repair in vascular diseases such as vein graft.
Shear-Sensitive Regulation of Neutrophil Flow Behavior and Its Potential Impact on Microvascular Blood Flow Dysregulation in Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Cheng Ran , Rowe Dylan , Sethu Palaniappan , Daugherty Alan , Yu Guoqiang , Shin Hainsworth Y. 
Published: January 2014

Objective—
Shear stress–induced pseudopod retraction is an anti-inflammatory measure that minimizes neutrophil activity and is regulated by membrane cholesterol. We tested the hypothesis that a hypercholesterolemic impairment of shear mechanotransduction alters the neutrophil flow behavior leading to microvascular dysfunction.

Approach and Results—

We examined the shear effects on the flow behavior of human leukocytes. When subjected to shearing during cone-plate viscometry, leukocyte suspensions exhibited parallel time-dependent reductions in viscosity and pseudopod activity. Shear-induced reductions in suspension viscosity were attenuated by membrane cholesterol enrichment. We also showed that enhanced pseudopod activity of leukocyte suspensions in 10% hematocrit significantly (
P
<0.05) raised the flow resistance of microvascular mimics. These results implicate an impaired neutrophil pseudopod retraction response to shear in hypercholesterolemic microvascular dysfunction. We confirmed this using near-infrared diffuse correlation spectroscopy to assess skeletal muscle blood flow regulation in the hindlimbs of mice subjected to reactive hyperemia. Using a custom protocol for the mouse, we extrapolated an adjusted peak flow and time to adjusted peak flow to quantify the early phase of the blood flow recovery response during reactive hyperemia when shear mechanobiology likely has a maximal impact. Compared with mice on normal diet, hypercholesterolemic mice exhibited significantly (
P
<0.05) reduced adjusted peak flow and prolonged time to adjusted peak flow which correlated (
r
=0.4 and
r
=−0.3, respectively) with neutrophil shear responsiveness and were abrogated by neutropenia.

Conclusions—
These results provide the first evidence that the neutrophils contribute to tissue blood flow autoregulation. Moreover, a deficit in the neutrophil responsiveness to shear may be a feature of hypercholesterolemia-related microvascular dysfunction.
Cytochrome P450 2C8 ω3-Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolites Increase Mouse Retinal Pathologic Neovascularization—Brief Report
Authors: Shao Zhuo , Fu Zhongjie , Stahl Andreas , Joyal Jean-Sébastien , Hatton Colman , Juan Aimee , Hurst Christian , Evans Lucy , Cui Zhenghao , Pei Dorothy , Gong Yan , Xu Dan , Tian Katherine , Bogardus Hannah , Edin Matthew L. , Lih Fred , Sapieha Przemyslaw , Chen Jing , Panigrahy Dipak , Hellstrom Ann , Zeldin Darryl C. , Smith Lois E.H. 
Published: January 2014

Objective—
Regulation of angiogenesis is critical for many diseases. Specifically, pathological retinal neovascularization, a major cause of blindness, is suppressed with dietary ω3-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3LCPUFAs) through antiangiogenic metabolites of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. Cytochrome P450 epoxygenases (CYP2C8) also metabolize LCPUFAs, producing bioactive epoxides, which are inactivated by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) to transdihydrodiols. The effect of these enzymes and their metabolites on neovascularization is unknown.

Approach and Results—

The mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy was used to investigate retinal neovascularization. We found that CYP2C (localized in wild-type monocytes/macrophages) is upregulated in oxygen-induced retinopathy, whereas sEH is suppressed, resulting in an increased retinal epoxide:diol ratio. With a ω3LCPUFA-enriched diet, retinal neovascularization increases in
Tie2
-driven human-
CYP2C8
–overexpressing mice (
Tie2-CYP2C8-Tg
), associated with increased plasma 19,20-epoxydocosapentaenoic acid and retinal epoxide:diol ratio. 19,20-Epoxydocosapentaenoic acids and the epoxide:diol ratio are decreased with overexpression of
sEH
(
Tie2-sEH-Tg
). Overexpression of
CYP2C8
or
sEH
in mice does not change normal retinal vascular development compared with their wild-type littermate controls. The proangiogenic role in retina of CYP2C8 with both ω3LCPUFA and ω6LCPUFA and antiangiogenic role of sEH in ω3LCPUFA metabolism were corroborated in aortic ring assays.

Conclusions—
Our results suggest that CYP2C ω3LCPUFA metabolites promote retinal pathological angiogenesis. CYP2C8 is part of a novel lipid metabolic pathway influencing retinal neovascularization.
Role of SN1 Lipases on Plasma Lipids in Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
Authors: Miksztowicz Verónica , Schreier Laura , McCoy Mary , Lucero Diego , Fassio Eduardo , Billheimer Jeffrey , Rader Daniel J. , Berg Gabriela 
Published: January 2014

Objective—
To assess the phospholipase activity of endothelial (EL) and hepatic lipase (HL) in postheparin plasma of subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS)/obesity and their relationship with atherogenic and antiatherogenic lipoproteins. Additionally, to evaluate lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and HL activity as triglyceride (TG)-hydrolyses to complete the analyses of SN1 lipolytic enzymes in the same patient.

Approach and Results—

Plasma EL, HL, and LPL activities were evaluated in 59 patients with MS and 36 controls. A trend toward higher EL activity was observed in MS. EL activity was increased in obese compared with normal weight group (
P
=0.009) and was negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (
P
=0.014 and
P
=0.005) and apolipoprotein A-I (
P
=0.045 and
P
=0.001) in control and MS group, respectively. HL activity, as TG-hydrolase, was increased in MS (
P
=0.025) as well as in obese group (
P
=0.017); directly correlated with low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (
P
=0.005) and apolipoprotein B (
P
=0.003) and negatively with high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (
P
=0.021) in control group. LPL was decreased in MS (
P
<0.001) as well as in overweight and obese compared with normal weight group (
P
=0.015 and
P
=0.004, respectively); inversely correlated %TG-very low-density lipoproteins (
P
=0.04) and TG/apolipoprotein B index (
P
=0.013) in control group. These associations were not found in MS.

Conclusions—
We describe for the first time EL and HL activity as phospholipases in MS/obesity, being both responsible for high-density lipoprotein catabolism. Our results elucidate part of the remaining controversies about SN1 lipases activity in MS and different grades of obesity. The impact of insulin resistance on the activity of the 3 enzymes determines the lipoprotein alterations observed in these states.
A Removal Filter for Suspicious Extreme Rainfall Profiles in TRMM PR 2A25 Version-7 Data
Authors: Hamada Atsushi , Takayabu Yukari N. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis study reports on the presence of suspicious “extreme rainfall” data in the 2A25 version-7 (V7) product of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) dataset and introduces a simple method for detecting and filtering out the suspicious data. These suspicious data in V7 are found by comparing the extreme rainfall characteristics in the V7 and version-6 products. Most of the suspicious extremes are located over land, especially in mountainous regions. Radar reflectivities in the suspicious extremes show significant monotonic increases toward the echo bottom. These facts indicate that the suspicious extremes are mainly caused by contamination from ground or sea clutter. A simple thresholding filter for eliminating the suspicious extreme data is developed using common characteristics in the horizontal and vertical rainfall structures and reflectivities in the suspicious extremes. The proposed filter mitigates deformations in the frequency distribution of the surface rainfall rate in the 2A25 V7 product.
Earth’s Energy Imbalance
Authors: Trenberth Kevin E. , Fasullo John T. , Balmaseda Magdalena A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractClimate change from increased greenhouse gases arises from a global energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). TOA measurements of radiation from space can track changes over time but lack absolute accuracy. An inventory of energy storage changes shows that over 90% of the imbalance is manifested as a rise in ocean heat content (OHC). Data from the Ocean Reanalysis System, version 4 (ORAS4), and other OHC-estimated rates of change are used to compare with model-based estimates of TOA energy imbalance [from the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4)] and with TOA satellite measurements for the year 2000 onward. Most ocean-only OHC analyses extend to only 700-m depth, have large discrepancies among the rates of change of OHC, and do not resolve interannual variability adequately to capture ENSO and volcanic eruption effects, all aspects that are improved with assimilation of multivariate data. ORAS4 rates of change of OHC quantitatively agree with the radiative forcing estimates of impacts of the three major volcanic eruptions since 1960 (Mt. Agung, 1963; El Chichón, 1982; and Mt. Pinatubo, 1991). The natural variability of the energy imbalance is substantial from month to month, associated with cloud and weather variations, and interannually mainly associated with ENSO, while the sun affects 15% of the climate change signal on decadal time scales. All estimates (OHC and TOA) show that over the past decade the energy imbalance ranges between about 0.5 and 1 W m−2. By using the full-depth ocean, there is a better overall accounting for energy, but discrepancies remain at interannual time scales between OHC- and TOA-based estimates, notably in 2008/09.
Indo-Pacific–Induced Wave Trains during Austral Autumn and Their Effect on Australian Rainfall
Authors: van Rensch Peter , Cai Wenju 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
During austral winter and spring, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), individually or in combination, induce equivalent-barotropic Rossby wave trains, affecting midlatitude Australian rainfall. In autumn, ENSO is at its annual minimum, and the IOD has usually not developed. However, there is still a strong equivalent-barotropic Rossby wave train associated with tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) variability, with a pressure anomaly to the south of Australia. This wave train is similar in position, but opposite in sign, to the IOD-induced wave train in winter and spring and has little effect on Australian rainfall. This study shows that the SST in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean (SETIO) displays a high variance during austral autumn, with a strong influence on southeast and eastern Australian rainfall. However, this influence is slightly weaker than that associated with SST to the north of Australia, which shares fluctuations with SST in the SETIO region. The SST north of Australia is coherent with a convective dipole in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which is the source of a wave train to the east of Australia influencing rainfall in eastern Australia. ENSO Modoki is a contributor to the convective dipole and as a result it exerts a weak influence on eastern Australian rainfall through the connecting north Australian SST relationship. Thus, SST to the north of Australia acts as the main agent for delivering the impact of tropical Indo-Pacific variability to eastern Australia.
Quality-Controlled Upper-Air Sounding Dataset for DYNAMO/CINDY/AMIE: Development and Corrections
Authors: Ciesielski Paul E. , Yu Hungjui , Johnson Richard H. , Yoneyama Kunio , Katsumata Masaki , Long Charles N. , Wang Junhong , Loehrer Scot M. , Young Kathryn , Williams Steven F. , Brown William , Braun John , Van Hove Teresa 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
The upper-air sounding network for Dynamics of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) has provided an unprecedented set of observations for studying the MJO over the Indian Ocean, where coupling of this oscillation with deep convection first occurs. With 72 rawinsonde sites and dropsonde data from 13 aircraft missions, the sounding network covers the tropics from eastern Africa to the western Pacific. In total nearly 26 000 soundings were collected from this network during the experiment’s 6-month extended observing period (from October 2011 to March 2012). Slightly more than half of the soundings, collected from 33 sites, are at high vertical resolution. Rigorous post–field phase processing of the sonde data included several levels of quality checks and a variety of corrections that address a number of issues (e.g., daytime dry bias, baseline surface data errors, ship deck heating effects, and artificial dry spikes in slow-ascent soundings).
Because of the importance of an accurate description of the moisture field in meeting the scientific goals of the experiment, particular attention is given to humidity correction and its validation. The humidity corrections, though small relative to some previous field campaigns, produced high-fidelity moisture analyses in which sonde precipitable water compared well with independent estimates. An assessment of operational model moisture analyses using corrected sonde data shows an overall good agreement with the exception at upper levels, where model moisture and clouds are more abundant than the sonde data would indicate.
Inducing Tropical Cyclones to Undergo Brownian Motion: A Comparison between Itô and Stratonovich in a Numerical Weather Prediction Model
Authors: Hodyss Daniel , McLay Justin G. , Moskaitis Jon , Serra Efren A. 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Stochastic parameterization has become commonplace in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models used for probabilistic prediction. Here a specific stochastic parameterization will be related to the theory of stochastic differential equations and shown to be affected strongly by the choice of stochastic calculus. From an NWP perspective the focus will be on ameliorating a common trait of the ensemble distributions of tropical cyclone (TC) tracks (or position); namely, that they generally contain a bias and an underestimate of the variance. With this trait in mind the authors present a stochastic track variance inflation parameterization. This parameterization makes use of a properly constructed stochastic advection term that follows a TC and induces its position to undergo Brownian motion. A central characteristic of Brownian motion is that its variance increases with time, which allows for an effective inflation of an ensemble’s TC track variance. Using this stochastic parameterization the authors present a comparison of the behavior of TCs from the perspective of the stochastic calculi of Itô and Stratonovich within an operational NWP model. The central difference between these two perspectives as pertains to TCs is shown to be properly predicted by the stochastic calculus and the Itô correction. In the cases presented here these differences will manifest as overly intense TCs, which, depending on the strength of the forcing, could lead to problems with numerical stability and physical realism.
MRI-guided laser ablation of neuroendocrine tumor hepatic metastases
Authors: Perälä Jukka , Klemola Rauli , Kallio Raija , Li Chengli , Vihriälä Ilkka , Salmela Pasi I , Tervonen Osmo , Sequeiros Roberto Blanco 
Published: January 2014

Background Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) represent a therapeutically challenging and heterogeneous group of malignancies occurring throughout the body, but mainly in the gastrointestinal system. Purpose To describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided laser ablation of NET liver metastases and assess its role within the current treatment options and methods. Material and Methods Two patients with NET tumor hepatic metastases were treated with MRI-guided interstitial laser ablation (LITT). Three tumors were treated. Clinical follow-up time was 10 years. Results Both patients were successfully treated. There were no local recurrences at the ablation site during the follow-up. Both patients had survived at 10-year follow-up. One patient is disease-free. Conclusion MRI-guided laser ablation can be used to treat NET tumor liver metastases but combination therapy and a rigorous follow-up schedule are recommended.
The cytokine midkine supports neutrophil trafficking during acute inflammation by promoting adhesion via β2 integrins (CD11/CD18)
Authors: Weckbach Ludwig T. , Gola Anita , Winkelmann Michael , Jakob Sascha M. , Groesser Leopold , Borgolte Julia , Pogoda Frank , Pick Robert , Pruenster Monika , Müller-Höcker Josef , Deindl Elisabeth , Sperandio Markus , Walzog Barbara 
Published: January 2014

Key PointsMK promotes PMN recruitment during the acute inflammatory response. MK and β2 integrins (CD11/CD18) cooperate in mediating PMN adhesion during acute inflammation.
Active von Willebrand factor predicts 28-day mortality in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome
Authors: Hyseni Agon , Kemperman Hans , de Lange Dylan W. , Kesecioglu Jozef , de Groot Philip G. , Roest Mark 
Published: January 2014

Key Pointsvon Willebrand factor in its glycoprotein Ib conformation predicts 28-day mortality and could be a useful addition to the APACHE-IV score.
Optimality conditions for pessimistic semivectorial bilevel programming problems
Authors: Liu Bingbing , Wan Zhongping , Chen Jiawei , Wang Guangmin 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
In this paper, a class of pessimistic semivectorial bilevel programming problems is investigated. By using the scalarization method, we transform the pessimistic semivectorial bilevel programming problem into a scalar objective optimization problem with inequality constraints. Furthermore, we derive a generalized minimax optimization problem using the maximization bilevel optimal value function, of which the sensitivity analysis is constructed via the lower-level value function approach. Using the generalized differentiation calculus of Mordukhovich, the first-order necessary optimality conditions are established in the smooth setting. As an application, we take the optimality conditions of the bilevel programming problems with multiobjective lower level problem when the lower level multiobjective optimization problem is linear with respect to the lower-level variables.

MSC:90C26, 90C30, 90C31, 90C46.
Identification of a major locus interacting with MC1R and modifying black coat color in an F2 Nellore-Angus population
Authors: Hulsman Hanna Lauren L , Sanders James O , Riley David G , Abbey Colette A , Gill Clare A 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
In cattle, base color is assumed to depend on the enzymatic activity specified by the MC1R locus, i.e. the extension locus, with alleles coding for black (E

D
), red (e), and wild-type (E

+
). In most mammals, these alleles are presumed to follow the dominance model of E

D
> E

+
> e, although exceptions are found. In Bos indicus x Bos taurus F2 cattle, some E

D

E

+
heterozygotes are discordant with the dominance series for MC1R and display various degrees of red pigmentation on an otherwise predicted black background. The objective of this study was to identify loci that modify black coat color in these individuals.

Results
Reddening was classified with a subjective scoring system. Interval analyses identified chromosome-wide suggestive (P < 0.05) and significant (P < 0.01) QTL on bovine chromosomes (BTA) 4 and 5, although these were not confirmed using single-marker association or Bayesian methods. Evidence of a major locus (F = 114.61) that affects reddening was detected between 60 and 73 Mb on BTA 6 (Btau4.0 build), and at 72 Mb by single-marker association and Bayesian methods. The posterior mean of the genetic variance for this region accounted for 43.75% of the genetic variation in reddening. This region coincided with a cluster of tyrosine kinase receptor genes (PDGFRA, KIT and KDR). Fitting SNP haplotypes for a 1 Mb interval that contained all three genes and centered on KIT accounted for the majority of the variation attributed to this major locus, which suggests that one of these genes or associated regulatory elements, is responsible for the majority of variation in degree of reddening.

Conclusions
Recombinants in a 5 Mb region surrounding the cluster of tyrosine kinase receptor genes implicated PDGFRA as the strongest positional candidate gene. A higher density marker panel and functional analyses will be required to validate the role of PDGFRA or other regulatory variants and their interaction with MC1R for the modification of black coat color in Bos indicus influenced cattle.