bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional regulation of the human asparagine synthetase gene by carbohydrate availability
Authors: BARBOSA-TESSMANN Ione P. , PINEDA Van Leung , NICK Harry S. , SCHUSTER Sheldon M. , KILBERG Michael S. 
Published: August 2015

Transcription of the asparagine synthetase (AS) gene is induced by amino acid deprivation. The present data illustrate that this gene is also under transcriptional control by carbohydrate availability. Incubation of human HepG2 hepatoma cells in glucose-free medium resulted in an increased AS mRNA content, reaching a maximum of about 14-fold over control cells after approx. 12 h. Extracellular glucose caused the repression of the content of AS mRNA in a concentration-dependent manner, with a k1/2 (concentration causing a half-maximal repression) of 1 mM. Fructose, galactose, mannose, 2-deoxyglucose and xylitol were found to maintain the mRNA content of both AS and the glucose-regulated protein GRP78 in a state of repression, whereas 3-O-methylglucose did not. Incubation in either histidine-free or glucose-free medium also resulted in adaptive regulation of the AS gene in BNL-CL.2 mouse hepatocytes, rat C6 glioma cells and human MOLT4 lymphocytes, in addition to HepG2 cells. In contrast, the steady-state mRNA content of GRP78 was unaffected by amino acid availability. Transient transfection assays using a reporter gene construct documented that glucose deprivation increases AS gene transcription via elements within the proximal 3 kbp of the AS promoter. These results illustrate that human AS gene transcription is induced following glucose limitation of the cells.
Structure and chromosomal assignment of the human lectin-like oxidized low-density-lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) gene
Authors: AOYAMA Takuma , SAWAMURA Tatsuya , FURUTANI Yoshiyuki , MATSUOKA Rumiko , YOSHIDA Michihiro C. , FUJIWARA Hisayoshi , MASAKI Tomoh 
Published: August 2015

We have reported the cDNA cloning of a modified low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, designated lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), which is postulated to be involved in endothelial dysfunction and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Here, we determined the organization of the human LOX-1 gene, including the 5´-regulatory region. The 5´-regulatory region contained several potential cis-regulatory elements, such as GATA-2 binding element, c-ets-1 binding element, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-responsive element and shear-stress-responsive elements, which may mediate the endothelium-specific and inducible expression of LOX-1. The major transcription-initiation site was found to be located 29 nucleotides downstream of the TATA box and 61 nucleotides upstream from the translation-initiation codon. The minor initiation site was found to be 5 bp downstream from the major site. Most of the promoter activity of the LOX-1 gene was ascribed to the region (-150 to -90) containing the GC and CAAT boxes. The coding sequence was divided into 6 exons by 5 introns. The first 3 exons corresponded to the different functional domains of the protein (cytoplasmic, transmembrane and neck domains), and the residual 3 exons encoded the carbohydrate-recognition domain similar to the case of other C-type lectin genes. The LOX-1 gene was a single-copy gene and assigned to the p12.3–p13.2 region of chromosome 12. Since the locus for a familial hypertension has been mapped to the overlapping region, LOX-1 might be the gene responsible for the hypertension.
A new scorpion toxin (BmK-PL) stimulates Ca2+-release channel activity of the skeletal-muscle ryanodine receptor by an indirect mechanism
Authors: KUNIYASU Akihiko , KAWANO Seiko , HIRAYAMA Yoshiyuki , JI Yong-Hua , XU Ke , OHKURA Masamichi , FURUKAWA Ken-Ichi , OHIZUMI Yasushi , HIRAOKA Masayasu , NAKAYAMA Hitoshi 
Published: August 2015

A peptide toxin isolated from the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensiKarsch (BmK-PL) stimulated Ca2+-release channel activity in both triad membranes and reconstituted ryanodine receptors partially purified from rabbit skeletal muscle. In [3H]ryanodine binding experiments, the toxin increased the affinity of ryanodine for the receptor, from a Kd of 24.3 nM to 2.9 nM, which is an enhancement similar to that seen with known receptor activators, such as ATP and high concentrations of KCl. In contrast, toxin enhancement was not observed with purified receptors, although intrinsic binding activity and stimulation by the conventional receptor activators were retained. In single channel recordings of Ca2+-release activity, the toxin increased the open channel probability (Po) from 0.019 to 0.043 (226% of control) in triad preparations. Further toxin enhancement of Po from 0.07 to 0.37 (529% of control) was observed using partially-purified receptors in the presence of ATP. When purified receptors were assayed in the presence of ATP, however, they showed a high value of Po (0.33) and no further increase was observed following application of the toxin. Results derived from two different experimental methods consistently suggest that a molecule(s) required for toxin-induced enhancement is absent from the purified receptor preparation. Western blot analysis of receptors prepared using three different protocols showed that triadin was missing from the purified receptor preparation. The scorpion toxin minimally enhanced Ca2+-release channel activity of cardiac preparations. From these results, we conclude that the toxin preferentially increases the activity of skeletal-muscle ryanodine receptors by an indirect mechanism, possibly binding to associated protein molecule(s). Triadin is a strong candidate for such a molecule.
Biophysical activity of an artificial surfactant containing an analogue of surfactant protein (SP)-C and native SP-B
Authors: PALMBLAD Marie , JOHANSSON Jan , ROBERTSON Bengt , CURSTEDT Tore 
Published: August 2015

Natural surfactant preparations containing phospholipids and the hydrophobic surfactant proteins B and C (SP-B and SP-C) are effective in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. The limited supply, and the risk of infectious agents and immunological reactions have promoted the evaluation of synthetic peptides in surfactant preparations. However, the folding of synthetic SP-C into an α-helix is inefficient and α-helical SP-C analogues with Val → Leu substitutions form oligomers. In order to circumvent these problems we have synthesized an SP-C analogue, named SP-C(LKS), which differs from SP-C mainly by the exchange of most of the Val residues in positions 16–28 with Leu residues to promote an α-helical conformation, and by the introduction of Lys residues at positions 17, 22 and 27 in order to locate positive charges around the helical circumference and thereby avoid self polymerization. CD spectroscopy showed a spectrum typical for α-helical peptides and SDS/PAGE disclosed a single band. The biophysical activity of artificial surfactant preparations containing SP-C(LKS) and phospholipids, with and without native SP-B, was measured using a Wilhelmy balance and a pulsating bubble surfactometer. SP-C(LKS) (3%, w/w) in a mixture of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC)/phosphatidylglycerol/palmitic acid (68:22:9, by wt.) suspended in 150 mM NaCl, showed rapid spreading at the air-liquid interface and produced a surface tension of &lt; 1 mN/m at minimum bubble size (γmin) and 42 mN/m at maximum bubble size (γmax) in the pulsating bubble surfactometer. The addition of 2% (w/w) SP-B to the preparation reduced the maximum surface tension to 33–35 mN/m, i.e. both γmin and γmax values were similar to those of natural surfactant preparations. Optimal in vitro characteristics were also obtained from a preparation containing SP-C(LKS), SP-B, DPPC and phosphatidylglycerol, i.e. when palmitic acid was omitted from the lipid mixture. SP-B containing surfactant preparations made up in Hepes buffer at pH 6.9, instead of in 150 mM NaCl, had similar biophysical activity provided that palmitic acid was omitted, but decreased activity in the presence of palmitic acid.
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) induces myotube hypertrophy associated with an increase in anaerobic glycolysis in a clonal skeletal-muscle cell model
Authors: SEMSARIAN Christopher , SUTRAVE Pramod , RICHMOND David R. , GRAHAM Robert M. 
Published: August 2015

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an important autocrine/paracrine mediator of skeletal-muscle growth and development. To develop a definitive cultured cell model of skeletal-muscle hypertrophy, C2C12 cells were stably transfected with IGF-I and clonal lines developed and evaluated. Quantitative morphometric analysis showed that IGF-I-transfected myotubes had a larger area (2381±60 µm2 versus 1429±39 µm2; P&lt; 0.0001) and a greater maximum width (21.4±0.6 µm versus 13.9±0.3 µm; P&lt; 0.0001) than control C2C12 myotubes, independent of the number of cell nuclei per myotube. IGF-I-transfected myotubes had higher levels of protein synthesis but no difference in DNA synthesis when compared with control myotubes, indicating the development of hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia. Both lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase activities were increased (3- and 5-fold respectively), and total lactate levels were higher (2.3-fold) in IGF-I-transfected compared with control myotubes, indicating an increase in anaerobic glycolysis in the hypertrophied myotubes. However, expression of genes involved in skeletal-muscle growth or hypertrophy in vivo, e.g. myocyte nuclear factor and myostatin, was not altered in the IGF-I myotubes. Finally, myotube hypertrophy could also be induced by treatment of C2C12 cells with recombinant IGF-I or by growing C2C12 cells in conditioned media from IGF-I-transfected cells. This quantitative model should be uniquely useful for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of skeletal-muscle hypertrophy.
Cloning, expression and subcellular localization of two novel splice variants of mouse transient receptor potential channel 2
Authors: HOFMANN Thomas , SCHAEFER Michael , SCHULTZ Günter , GUDERMANN Thomas 
Published: August 2015

Transient receptor potential channels (TRPCs) are known as candidate molecular correlates of receptor-activated or store-operated calcium entry. While functional roles for most TRPCs have been suggested, the physiological relevance of TRPC2 remains obscure. Whereas human and bovine TRPC2 are candidate pseudogenes, full-length rodent TRPC2 transcripts have been reported. There is, however, considerable controversy concerning mRNA splicing, tissue distribution and the function of these proteins. We report the molecular cloning of two novel murine TRPC2 splice variants, mTRPC2α and mTRPC2β. mTRPC2α RNA is expressed at low levels in many tissues and cell systems, while mTRPC2β is exclusively and abundantly expressed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). When expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells, mTRPC2 did not enhance receptor- or store-activated calcium entry. In order to investigate the basis of such a functional defect, mTRPC2–green fluorescent protein fusion proteins were examined by confocal microscopy. Fusion proteins were retained in endomembranes when expressed in HEK-293 or other cells of epithelial or neuronal origin. Co-expression of TRPC2 with other TRPCs did not restore plasma-membrane trafficking. We conclude that TRPC2 may form functional channels in the cellular context of the VNO, but is unlikely to have a physiological function in other tissues.
The sequences of mTRPC2α and mTRPC2β have been submitted to GenBank under the accession numbers AF230802 and AF230803 respectively.
Perivenous expression of the mRNA of the three hypoxia-inducible factor α-subunits, HIF1α, HIF2α and HIF3α, in rat liver
Authors: KIETZMANN Thomas , CORNESSE Yvonne , BRECHTEL Katja , MODARESSI Said , JUNGERMANN Kurt 
Published: August 2015

The cDNAs of three hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) α-subunits were cloned from RNA of primary rat hepatocytes by reverse transcriptase PCR. All three cDNAs encoded functionally active proteins, of 825, 874 and 662 amino acids. After transfection they were able to activate luciferase activity of a luciferase gene construct containing three HIF-responsive elements. The mRNAs of the rat HIF α-subunits were expressed predominantly in the perivenous zone of rat liver tissue; the nuclear HIFα proteins, however, did not appear to be zonated.
The sequence data reported here have been deposited in the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database under the following accession numbers: rHIF1α, Y09507; rHIF2α, AJ277828; rHIF3α, AJ277827.
Rat peptide methionine sulphoxide reductase: cloning of the cDNA, and down-regulation of gene expression and enzyme activity during aging
Authors: PETROPOULOS Isabelle , MARY Jean , PERICHON Martine , FRIGUET Bertrand 
Published: August 2015

Peptide methionine sulphoxide reductase (PMSR, EC 1.8.4.6), the msrA or pmsR gene product, is a ubiquitous enzyme catalysing the reduction of methionine sulphoxide to methionine in proteins. Decreased expression and/or activity of the PMSR with age could explain, at least in part, the accumulation of oxidized protein observed upon aging. To test this hypothesis, the rat pmsR cDNA was cloned and sequenced. The recombinant protein was expressed, its catalytic activity checked with a synthetic substrate and polyclonal antibodies were raised against recombinant PMSR. The expression of the pmsR gene and protein as well as its catalytic activity were then analysed as a function of age in the rat brain and in two organs that express the most PMSR, liver and kidney. It appears that pmsR gene expression decreases with age in liver and kidney as early as 18 months, whereas protein level and protein activity are reduced in the three organs at the very end of the life of the rat (26 months). These results suggest that the down-regulation of PMSR can contribute to the accumulation of oxidized protein that has been associated with the aging process.
The rat peptide methionine sulphoxide reductase sequence reported in this paper has been deposited in the GenBank Nucleotide Sequence Database under accession number AY005464.
US Supreme Court Law Clerks as Information Sources
Authors: Kromphardt Christopher D. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractJustices use information from attorneys, amici, and the solicitor general to learn about cases. One source that has gone with little empirical scrutiny is their law clerks. I validate a measure of clerk preferences and analyze the role of information conveyed by clerks in shaping the justices’ votes on the merits. I report asymmetric support for the theory that clerks get what they want when they craft credible signals: the results support the conclusion that conservative clerks can influence vote direction. These findings bolster understanding of the role of information in hierarchical relationships and shine light on clerks’ roles.
Writing the Book of Judges
Authors: Slotnick Elliot , Goldman Sheldon , Schiavoni Sara 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis is part 1 of a two-part series detailing the selection and confirmation processes of lower federal court judges during President Obama’s first 6 years. Our attention in part 1 is on Obama’s lower federal court appointments during the 113th Congress, specifically on the selection processes. We then examine the backgrounds and attributes of those confirmed during the 113th, looking at the appointees to the district and appeals courts separately. Confirmation processes are the main focus of part 2 of our study, where we discuss the lead-up to the nuclear option, the “fallout” from its invocation, and the renewed emphasis on the Blue Slip system as a tool of the minority party in the Senate. We conclude by taking a deeper look at the administration’s historic contribution to enhancing diversity on the federal bench across the district and circuit courts and, as well, make a similar assessment of the impact of the Obama appointments on the partisan makeup of the federal bench on the district courts and across the appellate circuits.
The complexities of assessments in professional hospitality education
Authors: Brinkman-Staneva Marina 
Published: August 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to highlight some inadequacies of the position of lecturers’ qualifications to design assessments within hospitality curricula while meeting the requirements of international and national quality frameworks.The Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area leaves the responsibility for designing appropriate teaching and assessment strategies in the hands of educators without fully recognizing the complexity of formulating the desired learning outcomes. Additionally, the subject-oriented background of the majority of educators within universities of applied sciences seems to be ignored in respect of its influence on assessment design.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper reflects on the author’s experience in designing courses, teaching and assessment strategies at the NHTV University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands, as well as observations of processes at other universities of applied sciences.

Findings
– The author argues for a uniform delineation of hospitality professional qualifications which integrates learning outcomes from international, national and industry profiles. It is proposed that course design should start with assessment design to achieve alignment with learning outcomes and instructional strategies. Universities of applied sciences will have to train course designers in advanced assessment methods and encourage all faculty to acquire appropriate didactical training in assessing students.

Practical implications
– This paper offers a view on the strategy necessary to ensuring adequate preparation of lecturers in the areas of writing–learning outcomes and preparing assessment.

Originality/value
– The value of the paper lies in the fact that it is a unique critique of pedagogy in Dutch universities of applied sciences.
Urinothorax: a rare finding after urinary intervention
Authors: Abdel‐Rahman Ahmed M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIntroductionWe report a case in our center of unilateral urinothorax that occurred post percutaneous nephrolithotomy as a rare cause of pleural effusion and acute dyspnea.MethodsReport of a case.ResultsInitial chest CT showed massive left sided pleural effusion from which biochemical investigations revealed exudative effusion and urinothorax. The effusion was drained by central venous pressure catheter and urologic problem was resolved.Conclusionsurinothorax should be suspected as a cause of pleural effusion in obstructive uropathy and post renal and ureteric maneuvers.
A comparative study on free and bound phenolic acid content and their antioxidant activity in bran of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars of Eastern Himalayan range
Authors: Begum Ashma , Goswami Aradhana , Chowdhury Pritish 
Published: August 2015

SummaryIn our study, seven most prevailing but unexplored indigenous rice cultivars of northeast India, situated in the Eastern Himalayan Range, were investigated for their phenolic acid profile, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacities in free and bound phenolic extracts of their bran. HPLC studies showed the presence of ferulic, p‐coumaric, sinapic, caffeic, chlorogenic and vanillic acids, with ferulic and p‐coumaric acids being the dominant phenolic acids in the bound form. The lower EC50 values of the bound extracts than the free extracts suggested the better radical scavenging activity of the bound extracts. Significant correlations were observed between TPC and phenolic acid content (HPLC‐DAD) of bound extracts, and between Trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and phenolic acid content (HPLC‐DAD) of both free and bound extracts. The findings suggest that phenolic acids in the rice cultivars investigated were exclusively present in bound form and contribute significantly towards their antioxidant capacity.
Inequality in Political Philosophy and in Epidemiology: A Remarriage
Authors: Eyal Nir 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIn political philosophy and in economics, unfair inequality is usually assessed between individuals, nowadays often on luck‐egalitarian grounds. You have more than I do (through no fault of my own) and that's unfair. By contrast, in epidemiology and sociology, unfair inequality is traditionally assessed between groups. More is concentrated among people of your class or race than among people of mine, and that's unfair. I shall call this difference the egalitarian ‘divorce’.Epidemiologists, and their ‘divorce lawyers’ Paula Braveman, Norman Daniels, and Iris Marion Young, explain that not every inequality between individuals is an inequity. Only inequality between social status groups is unfair. Only such inequality stems from problems like partiality, discrimination, oppression, inequality‐related population health problems, and unfair distribution of prospects. And it alone is actionable. By contrast, inequality between individuals, e.g. in longevity, is natural, inevitable, less important, or otherwise less informative — not unjust.In ‘divorce trial’ mode, I respond to epidemiologists that group inequalities lack the intrinsic disvalue that they ascribe them. They may be instrumentally or contingently bad or wrong, not essentially so. I then shift to ‘remarriage’: although group inequalities lack intrinsic badness or wrongness, for multiple reasons they remain useful to measure.
Performance of a Culturally Tailored Cognitive‐Behavioral Intervention Integrated in a Public Health Setting to Reduce Risk of Antepartum Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Jesse D. Elizabeth , Gaynes Bradley N. , Feldhousen Elizabeth B. , Newton Edward R. , Bunch Shelia , Hollon Steven D. 
Published: August 2015

IntroductionCognitive‐behavioral group interventions have been shown to improve depressive symptoms in adult populations. This article details the feasibility and efficacy of a 6‐week, culturally tailored, cognitive‐behavioral intervention offered to rural, minority, low‐income women at risk for antepartum depression.MethodsA total of 146 pregnant women were stratified by high risk for antepartum depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] score of 10 or higher) or by low‐moderate risk (EPDS score of 4‐9) and randomized to a cognitive‐behavioral intervention or treatment as usual. Differences in mean change of EPDS and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)‐II scores for low‐moderate and high‐risk women in the cognitive‐behavioral intervention and treatment as usual for the full sample were assessed from baseline (T1), posttreatment (T2), and one‐month follow‐up (T3), and for African American women in the subsample.ResultsBoth the cognitive‐behavioral intervention and treatment‐as‐usual groups had significant reductions in the EPDS scores from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3. In women at high risk for depression (n = 62), there was no significant treatment effect from T1 to T2 or T3 for the EPDS. However, in low‐moderate risk women, there was a significantly greater mean change in the BDI‐II scores from significant decrease in the BDI‐II scores from T1 to T2 (4.92 vs 0.59, P = .018) and T1 to T3 (5.67 vs 1.51, P = .04). Also, the cognitive‐behavioral intervention significantly reduced EPDS scores for African American women at high risk (n = 43) from T1 to T2 (5.59 vs 2.18, P = .02) and from T1 to T3 (6.32 vs 3.14, P = .04).DiscussionA cognitive‐behavioral intervention integrated within prenatal clinics is feasible in this sample, although attrition rates were high. Compared to treatment as usual, the cognitive‐behavioral intervention reduced depressive symptoms for African American women at high risk for antepartum depression and for the full sample of women at low‐moderate risk for antepartum depression. These promising findings need to be replicated in a larger controlled clinical trial that incorporates methods to maintain greater participant engagement.