bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Wnt/β‐Catenin Signaling Promotes Engraftment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Repair Lung Injury
Authors: Sun Zhaorui , Gong Xuemin , Zhu Huiming , Wang Cong , Xu Xiaomeng , Cui Di , Qian Weiping , Han Xiaodong 
Published: July 2013

AbstractWe sought to explore the treatment effects and the repair mechanisms of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during HCl‐induced acute lung injury (ALI). MSCs were delivered through the tail veins of rats 24 h after intranasal instillation of HCl. The results showed that MSCs did not ameliorate the histopathologic changes of ALI and pulmonary fibrosis. We found that the activated Wnt/β‐catenin signaling may regulate the differentiation of MSCs and is associated with lung fibroblasts activation, pulmonary fibrosis and tissue repair process in ALI rats. Immunofluorescence and histology analysis indicated that activated canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling induced most MSCs to differentiate into myofibroblasts or fibroblasts in vivo. However, inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling by Dickkopf‐1 (DKK1) promotes epithelial differentiation of MSCs induced by native alveolar epithelial cells which are beneficial to repair the injured lung epithelium. Inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling after MSCs transplantation ameliorated pulmonary fibrosis and improved pulmonary function which attenuated the lung injury. In vitro study, activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling stimulated MSCs to express myofibroblasts markers, which was attenuated by DKK1. Furthermore, Wnt3α activated Wnt/β‐catenin signaling in lung fibroblasts to enhance the expression of collagen I, vimentin and α‐smooth muscle actin, but DKK1 attenuated these proteins expression. These findings demonstrated that canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling plays a key role in regulating differentiation of MSCs in vivo or in vitro and the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. Our study suggested that inhibition of abnormal activated Wnt/β‐catenin signaling would promote MSCs epithelial differentiation to repair lung injury and reduce pulmonary fibrosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 213–224, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Decomposition of gas‐phase dimethyl sulfide using microwave catalysis over V2O5/γ‐Al2O3
Authors: Wei Zaishan , Liu Lihong , Chen Zhouyang , Ni Baoren , Sun Jianliang 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDDimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a gaseous odor pollutant with very low threshold values that has serious impacts on environment quality and human health. The study reports a microwave catalytic reactor with V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst for oxidation decomposition of dimethyl sulfide.RESULTSA combination of microwave and V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 or microwave combined with V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 and ozone as an oxidant completely converted DMS. The effect of DMS removal using microwave and V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 is close to that of catalytic oxidizing of DMS using ozone and V2O5/γ‐Al2O3. Microwave accentuates catalytic oxidation of DMS, and increases DMS removal efficiency. The addition of ozone to microwave catalysis over V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 leads to the enhancement of DMS removal. (CH3)2SO, HCOOCH3 and SCO species are formed in the microwave catalytic DMS reaction. The mechanism of microwave catalytic DMS over V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 was dominated by a free radical oxidation route. (CH3)2SO, (CH3)2SO2, SCO and CH3OH species are formed in the microwave catalytic oxidation of DMS.CONCLUSIONOzone enhances free radical formation. Oxidative reactions involving ozone and radicals play the dominant role in the destruction of DMS molecules using a microwave combined with V2O5/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst using ozone as an oxidant. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Ionospheric density perturbations recorded by DEMETER above intense thunderstorms
Authors: Parrot M. , Sauvaud J. A. , Soula S. , Pinçon J. L. , van der Velde O. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractDEMETER (Detection of Electromagnetic Emissions Transmitted From Earthquake Regions) was a three‐axis stabilized Earth‐pointing spacecraft launched on 29 June 2004 into a low‐altitude (710 km) polar and circular orbit that was subsequently lowered to 650 km until the end of the mission in December 2010. DEMETER measured electromagnetic waves all around the Earth, except in the auroral zones (invariant latitude >65°). The frequency range for the electric field was from DC up to 3.5 MHz, and for the magnetic field, it was from a few hertz up to 20 kHz. At its altitude, the phenomena observed on the E field and B field spectrograms recorded during nighttime by the satellite in the very low frequency range are mainly dominated by whistlers. In a first step, the more intense whistlers have been searched. They correspond to the most powerful lightning strokes occurring below DEMETER. Then, it is shown that this intense lightning activity is able to perturb the electron and ion densities at the satellite altitude (up to 133%) during nighttime. These intense lightning strokes are generally associated with transient luminous events, and one event with many sprites recorded on 17 November 2006 above Europe is reported. Examining the charged particle precipitation, it is shown that this density enhancement in the high ionosphere can be related to the energetic particle precipitation induced by the strong whistlers emitted during a long‐duration thunderstorm activity at the same location.
Recent changes in air temperature, heat waves occurrences, and atmospheric circulation in Northern Africa
Authors: Fontaine Bernard , Janicot Serge , Monerie Paul‐Arthur 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThis study documents the time evolution of air temperature and heat waves occurrences over Northern Africa for the period 1979–2011. A significant warming (1°–3°C), appearing by the mid‐1960s over Sahara and Sahel, is associated with higher/lesser frequency of warm/cold temperatures, as with longer duration and higher occurrences of heat waves. Heat waves episodes of at least 4 day duration have been examined after removing the long‐term evolution. These episodes are associated with specific anomalies: (i) in spring, positive low‐level temperature anomalies over the Sahel and Sahara; low and midlevel cyclonic rotation over Morocco associated with a Rossby wave pattern, lessening the Harmattan; more/less atmospheric moisture westward/eastward to 0°; upward/downward anomalies above the western/eastern regions associated with the Rossby wave pattern; (ii) in summer, a similar but weaker positive low‐level temperature anomaly (up to 3°C); less moisture westward to 10°W, a cyclonic anomaly in central Sahel favoring the monsoon eastward to 0° and a midlevel anticyclonic anomaly over the Western Sahara, increasing southward the flux divergence associated with the African Easterly Jet. In March–May, two to three heat waves propagate eastward. They are preceded by an abnormal warm cell over Libya and southwesterlies over the West Sahara. A large trough stands over North Atlantic while midtropospheric subsidence and anticyclonic rotation reinforce over the continent, then migrates toward the Arabian peninsula in breaking up. These signals are spatially coherent and might suggest the role of short Rossby waves with an eastward group velocity and a baroclinic mode, possibly associated with jet stream deformation.
Production of high specific activity 195mPt‐cisplatinum at South African Nuclear Energy Corporation for Phase 0 clinical trials in healthy individual subjects
Authors: Zeevaart Jan Rijn , Wagener Judith , Marjanovic‐Painter Biljana , Sathekge Mike , Soni Nischal , Zinn Christa , Perkins Gary , Smith Suzanne V. 
Published: July 2013

Platinum agents continue to be the main chemotherapeutic agents used in the first‐line and second‐line treatments of cancer patients. It is important to fully understand the biological profile of these compounds in order to optimize the dose given to each patient. In a joint project with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Nuclear Medicine Department at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation synthesized and supplied 195mPt‐cisplatinum (commonly referred to as cisplatin) for a clinical pilot study on healthy volunteers. Enriched 194PtCl2 was prepared by digestion of enriched 194Pt metal (>95%) followed by thermal decomposition over a 3 h period. The 194PtCl2 was then placed in a quartz ampoule, was irradiated in SAFARI‐1 up to 200 h, then decay cooled for a minimum of 34 h prior to synthesis of final product. 195mPt(NH3)2I2, formed with the addition of KI and NH4OH, was converted to the diaqua species [195mPt(NH3)2(H2O)2]2+ by reaction with AgNO3. The conversion to 195mPt‐cisplatinum was completed by the addition of concentrated HCl. The final product yield was 51.7% ± 5.2% (n = 5). The chemical and radionuclidic purity in each case was >95%.The use of a high flux reactor position affords a higher specific activity product (15.9 ± 2.5 MBq/mg at end of synthesis) than previously found (5 MBq/mg). Volunteers received between 108 and 126 MBq of radioactivity, which is equivalent to 6.8–10.0 mg of carrier cisplatinum. Such high specific activities afforded a significant reduction (~50%) in the chemical dose of a carrier cisplatinum, which represents less than 10% of a typical chemotherapeutic dose given to patients. A good manufacturing practice GMP compliant product was produced and was administered to 10 healthy volunteers as part of an ethically approved Phase 0 clinical trial. The majority of the injected activity 27.5% ± 5.8% was excreted in the urine within 5 h post injection (p.i.). Only 8.5% ± 3.1% of cisplatinum remained in blood pools at 5 h, which gradually cleared over the 6‐day monitoring period p.i. At the end of the study (6 days p.i.), a total of 37.4% ± 5.3% of the product had cleared from the blood into urine, and approximately 63% remained in the body. The significantly lower concentration of carrier cisplatinum used for imaging resulted in a well‐tolerated product. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimized expression, purification and characterization of a family 11 xylanase (AuXyn11A) from Aspergillus usamii E001 in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Zhang Hui‐Min , Wang Jun‐Qing , Wu Min‐Chen , Gao Shu‐Juan , Li Jian‐Fang , Yang Yan‐Jun 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDXylanases have attracted much attention because of their potential applications. Unfortunately, the commercialization of xylanases is limited by their low catalytic activities. The aim of this study was to improve the activity of a xylanase by optimization of the expression conditions and to investigate its characterization.RESULTSThe activity of recombinant AuXyn11A (reAuXyn11A), a family 11 xylanase from Aspergillus usamii E001 expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115, reached 912.6 U mL−1 under the optimized conditions, which was 2.14 times as high as that expressed using the standard protocol. After the endogenous 18‐aa propeptide had been processed in P. pastoris, reAuXyn11A (188‐aa mature peptide) was secreted and purified with a specific activity of 22 714 U mg−1. It displayed maximum activity at pH 5 and 50 °C and was stable in the pH range 4–8 and at a temperature of 45 °C or below. Its activity was not significantly affected by most metal ions and EDTA. Xylooligosaccharides ranging from xylobiose (X2) to xylohexaose (X6) were produced from insoluble corncob xylan by reAuXyn11A.CONCLUSIONIts high specific activity and good enzymatic properties suggest that reAuXyn11A is a potential candidate for applications in industrial processes. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of cultivar and culture system on nutritional and organoleptic quality of strawberry
Authors: Akhatou Ikram , Fernández Recamales Ángeles 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDStrawberries are widely appreciated and consumed as a pleasant‐tasting fruit either in fresh form or as processed product. Of the many factors which can affect the quality of fruit (sensorial and nutritional), the cultivar is especially important, but it is also affected by crop conditions. The main characteristics related to the fruit quality and nutritional attributes were assessed in several varieties of strawberry grown in soilless and soil culture. The effect of different cultivars and cropping systems on selected quality parameters, were assessed by applying multivariate statistical methods, such as principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA).RESULTSDifferences among cultivars were observed based on the mineral composition and glucose and fructose concentrations in both cultivation systems. However, no significant differences between cultivars were detected in sourness. Tamar and Camarosa were the sweetest cultivars among those grown in soilless and soil system, respectively. Both varieties also had the highest total sugars/total acids ratio. The comparison between strawberries cultivated in soil and soilless systems also revealed significant differences in the mineral composition, content of sugars and related parameters.CONCLUSIONGood discrimination was observed between cultivars of conventional crops, whereas no clear separation between cultivars grown in the soilless system was achieved by PLS‐DA. PLS‐DA also allowed differentiation of samples by type of crop (soilless vs. conventional crop). This information could be useful for selection of growing conditions and high‐quality cultivars. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
The dimensions of ‘traditional food’ in reflexive modernity: Norway as a case study
Authors: Amilien Virginie , Hegnes Atle Wehn 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis article aims to better understand the definition(s) of ‘traditional’ food. The authors discuss and exemplify how this rhetorical concept is used in the specialist literature and in Norwegian public debate. The authors ultimately propose a set of central dimensions of traditional food and their relevance across various discourses.RESULTSAfter examining the use of the concept ‘tradition’ in scientific publications, the authors note that it is based on two main axes: time and know‐how. These are interwoven in a ‘meaning’ dimension in the connection between time and culture, but also in a ‘place’ dimension that is systematically materialised in food. In order to better describe and understand the dynamic that emerges from the interplay of innovation and tradition, the article goes through the broadest use of ‘traditional food’ in public discourses, in national and regional newspapers, and in consumers' attitudes. There, the concept of ‘traditional food’ is used for both preserving historic values and renewing sense of identity.CONCLUSIONThe article can be regarded as an empirical example which elaborates the understanding of tradition in reflexive modernity. It concludes that the concept of traditional food is neither fixed nor finite but is a fluid and energetic concept which, based on the tensions between four central axes, can adapt to the discourses of preservation, moderation and innovation. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Facile Synthesis of Amphiphilic Heterografted Copolymers with Crystalline and Amorphous Side Chains
Authors: Gao Qing , Wang Yanshai , Ren Yingying , Li Yang 
Published: July 2013

AbstractAn amphiphilic polymer brush with PB and PEO side chains is prepared by combined “grafting‐onto” and “grafting‐from”. The linear and star‐shaped heterografted copolymer synthesized is of controlled molecular weight and has a narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn < 1.2). A DSC study of this heterografted copolymer containing crystalline and amorphous chains shows that it displays “fractionated crystallization” behavior. The study on isothermal crystallization kinetics of the copolymer is carried out in isothermal step crystallization (ISC) experiments, in which two crystallization exothermic peaks at low temperatures are observed. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the amphiphilic brush polymer in an aqueous solution is determined by a fluorescence technique. The results show that this amphiphilic brush forms aggregates in the system.magnified image
Dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]pyrrole and Benzothiadiazole‐Based Semicrystalline Copolymer for Photovoltaic Devices with Indene‐C60 Bisadduct
Authors: Lee Wonho , Kim Gi‐Hwan , Jeong Eunjae , Wang Xiaowei , Yum Seungjib , Ko Seo‐Jin , Hwang Sungu , Kim Jin Young , Woo Han Young 
Published: July 2013

A semicrystalline low‐bandgap polymer (PDTPBT) based on alternating dithienopyrrole and benzothiadiazole moieties as a pair of the indene‐C60 bisadduct (ICBA) for polymeric solar cells is reported. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of PDTPBT is measured to be −3.47 eV, ensuring sufficient energy offset for photoinduced charge transfer to ICBA. Photovoltaic cells are fabricated with ICBA and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as an acceptor. By replacing PC71BM with ICBA, the open‐circuit voltage is increased by 0.23 V and the resulting power conversion efficiency is improved from 1.17% to 1.71%. To optimize the ICBA‐based devices, crystalline low‐bandgap structures should be designed carefully as a pair of ICBA by considering the energy‐level offset for charge separation and crystalline interchain ordering, for minimizing the intercalated ICBAs inside the polymer domain.
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Magnetic Polymer/Nickel Hybrid Nanoparticles Via Miniemulsion Polymerization
Authors: Staudt Thiago , Machado Thiago O. , Vogel Nicolas , Weiss Clemens K. , Araujo Pedro H. H. , Sayer Claudia , Landfester Katharina 
Published: July 2013

This work shows a method to synthesize and encapsulate magnetic nickel nanocrystals into polymeric colloidal particles through miniemulsion polymerization. The nickel nanoparticles are produced by a thermal decomposition method in the presence of oleylamine and triphenylphosphine, which results in a hydrophobic surface. However, being compatible with the monomer does not ensure a successful encapsulation by miniemulsion polymerization, as the nickel nanoparticles are expelled from the polymer particles with increasing styrene conversion due to the poor adhesion interaction between the organic shells of the nickel nanoparticles and the polystyrene. Changing the hydrophobic polystyrene to a polymer with higher polarity such as poly(methyl methacrylate) proves to be efficient for encapsulation of nickel nanoparticles when employing a hydrophilic initiator. After encapsulation, these nanoparticles show magnetic response.
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Consumer Risk Perceptions and Marketing Strategy: The Case of Genetically Modified Food
Authors: Phillips Diane M. , Hallman William K. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTNew technologies are hitting the marketplace every day. In trying to make sense of these new technologies, consumers perceive a series of risks and benefits of consumption and use those perceptions to form product judgments. One way for managers to mitigate organizational related risk is to understand how consumers perceive consumption‐related risk. To illustrate this point, the case of genetically modified (GM) food is examined and a series of focus groups is conducted in which participants examined different product labels that either framed the technology as a benefit gained or as a risk avoided. The results indicate that consumers do indeed form very different product evaluations based on how the new technology is framed, but these evaluations vary based on the level of the consumers’ preexisting knowledge. This study provides support for the contention that a better understanding of consumer risk perceptions is an important first step in developing marketing strategies for new technology‐oriented products.
The Beliefs Which Influence Young Males to Speed and Strategies to Slow Them Down: Informing the Content of Antispeeding Messages
Authors: Lewis Ioni , Watson Barry , White Katherine M. , Elliott Barry 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTYoung male drivers are overrepresented in road‐related fatalities. Speeding represents a pervasive and significant contributor to road trauma. Antispeeding messages represent a long‐standing strategy aimed at discouraging drivers from speeding. These messages, however, have not always achieved their persuasive objectives that may be due, in part, to them not always targeting the most salient beliefs underpinning the speeding behavior of particular driver groups. The current study elicited key beliefs underpinning speeding behavior as well as strategies used to avoid speeding, using a well‐validated belief‐based model, the theory of planned behavior, and in‐depth qualitative methods. To obtain the most comprehensive understanding about the salient beliefs and strategies of young male drivers, how such beliefs and strategies compared with those of drivers of varying ages and gender, was also explored. Overall, 75 males and females (aged 17–25 or 30–55) participated in group discussions. The findings revealed beliefs that were particularly relevant to young males and that would likely represent key foci for developing message content. For instance, the need to feel in control and the desire to experience positive affect when driving were salient advantages; while infringements were a salient disadvantage and, in particular, the loss of points and the implications associated with potential license loss as opposed to the monetary (fine) loss (behavioral beliefs). For normative influences, young males appeared to hold notable misperceptions (compared with other drivers, such as young females); for instance, young males believed that females/girlfriends were impressed by their speeding. In the case of control beliefs, the findings revealed low perceptions of control with respect to being able to not speed and a belief that something “extraordinary” would need to happen for a young male driver to lose control of their vehicle while speeding. The practical implications of the findings, in terms of providing suggestions for devising the content of antispeeding messages, are discussed.
Improved seed methods for symmetric positive definite linear equations with multiple right‐hand sides
Authors: Abdel‐Rehim Abdou M. , Morgan Ronald B. , Wilcox Walter 
Published: July 2013

SUMMARYWe consider symmetric positive definite systems of linear equations with multiple right‐hand sides. The seed conjugate gradient (CG) method solves one right‐hand side with the CG method and simultaneously projects over the Krylov subspace thus developed for the other right‐hand sides. Then the next system is solved and used to seed the remaining ones. Rounding error in the CG method limits how much the seeding can improve convergence. We propose three changes to the seed CG method: only the first right‐hand side is used for seeding, this system is solved past convergence, and the roundoff error is controlled with some reorthogonalization. We will show that results are actually better with only one seeding, even in the case of related right‐hand sides. Controlling rounding error gives the potential for rapid convergence for the second and subsequent right‐hand sides. Polynomial preconditioning can help reduce storage needed for reorthogonalization. The new seed methods are applied to examples including matrices from quantum chromodynamics. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.