bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biotechniques laboratory: An enabling course in the biological sciences
Authors: Di Trapani Giovanna , Clarke Frank 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPractical skills and competencies are critical to student engagement and effective learning in laboratory courses. This article describes the design of a yearlong, stand‐alone laboratory course—the Biotechniques Laboratory—a common core course in the second year of all our degree programs in the biological sciences. It is an enabling, introductory laboratory course with a focus on the development of basic, practical skills, competencies, and knowledge in experimental techniques commonly used across the biological sciences. It is based on a full “hands on” approach where all students undertake a variety of practical exercises derived principally from the disciplines of biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and microbiology. Explicit skills training, the opportunity to repeat laboratory exercises until the required skill and/or competency is achieved, the consolidation of learned skills in different contexts throughout the course and a competency based assessment method are all distinctive features that facilitate the achievement of the desired student outcomes. Students graduate from this course enabled to more effectively engage and achieve in advanced laboratory courses and research projects developing higher order skills and knowledge for use in graduate studies and/or employment.
Is the undergraduate research experience (URE) always best?: The power of choice in a bifurcated practical stream for a large introductory biochemistry class
Authors: Rowland Susan L. , Lawrie Gwen A. , Behrendorff James B. Y. H. , Gillam Elizabeth M. J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractScience undergraduate courses typically cater to a mixed‐learner cohort, with a diversity of motivations and skills. This diversity introduces pressure for designers of the practical laboratory curriculum. Students who are struggling with the course need a series of tasks that begin simply, and transition to more conceptually difficult material. More capable students need opportunities for conceptual extension and creative activity. In this report, we examine an approach we have used to address this problem in the context of a large introductory biochemistry undergraduate class. Rather than attempting to compromise on a single practical series for our 470 students, we devised two parallel but equivalent practical streams and offered students their choice of laboratory experience. One stream (called Laboratory Experience for Acquiring Practical Skills) was designed to allow acquisition of a range of common biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory skills. The other (called Active Learning Laboratory Undergraduate Research Experience) was designed to offer an authentic (but scaffolded) undergraduate research project. We discuss the ramifications and implications of our approach in terms of funding, staffing, and assessment while also examining student motivation, satisfaction, and skills acquisition. We present data supporting the practical and pedagogical value of laboratory exercise streaming to meet the diverse needs of students. We suggest a framework that can be used to pre‐emptively identify and address problems associated with a bifurcated practical series and increase the sustainability of the approach.
Backup support of the mother–child technique: Technical considerations for the size of the mother guiding catheter
Authors: Takeshita Satoshi , Takagi Ayumu , Saito Shigeru 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground: We previously proposed a technique called the “mother–child technique” to facilitate stent delivery for complex coronary lesions. This technique is applicable when the backup support of the guiding catheter is insufficient. In this study, we used an in vitro coronary artery tree model to determine the impact of the size of the mother guiding catheter on the backup support of the mother–child guiding system. Methods: The backup support was measured for the 4‐in‐5, 4‐in‐6, 4‐in‐7, and 4‐in‐8 systems as well as for the 5‐in‐6, 5‐in‐7, and 5‐in‐8 systems. Results: Advancement of the child catheter into the coronary artery tree model improved the backup support of the mother–child system. When a 4‐Fr child catheter was advanced by 9 cm, the relative increase in the backup support was 174% in the 4‐in‐5 system; it was 203% in the 4‐in‐6, and 135% in the 4‐in‐7 system (P < 0.05 vs. the mother catheter alone). The relative increase with the 5‐Fr child catheter was 289% in the 5‐in‐6 system, and 152% in the 5‐in‐7 system (P < 0.0001 vs. the mother catheter alone). However, the improvement in the backup support with 9‐cm child catheter advancement did not reach statistical significance for either the 4‐in‐8 (115%) or the 5‐in‐8 (112%) system (P = NS). Conclusions: The relative increase in the backup support of the mother–child system was inversely related to the size of the mother guiding catheter. Thus, the mother–child technique may be most useful for PCIs in which a small guiding catheter is used, such as transradial coronary interventions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Kinetic and catalytic performance of a BI‐porous composite material in catalytic cracking and isomerisation reactions
Authors: Al‐Khattaf S. , Odedairo T. , Balasamy R. J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractCatalytic behaviour of pure zeolite ZSM‐5 and a bi‐porous composite material (BCM) were investigated in transformation of m‐xylene, while zeolite HY and the bi‐porous composite were used in the cracking of 1,3,5‐triisopropylbenzene (TIPB). The micro/mesoporous material was used to understand the effect of the presence of mesopores on these reactions. Various characterisation techniques, that is, XRD, SEM, TGA, FT‐IR and nitrogen sorption measurements were applied for complete characterisation of the catalysts. Catalytic tests using CREC riser simulator showed that the micro/mesoporous composite catalyst exhibited higher catalytic activity as compared with the conventional microporous ZSM‐5 and HY zeolite for transformation of m‐xylene and for the catalytic cracking of TIPB, respectively. The outstanding catalytic reactivity of m‐xylene and TIPB molecules were mainly attributed to the easier access of active sites provided by the mesopores. Apparent activation energies for the disappearance of m‐xylene and TIPB over all catalysts were found to decrease in the order: EBCM > EZSM‐5 and EBCM > EHY, respectively. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Ectoenzymes controlling leukocyte traffic
Authors: Salmi Marko , Jalkanen Sirpa 
Published: January 2012

AbstractEctoenzymes are a diverse group of membrane proteins that have their catalytic sites outside the plasma membrane. Many of them are found on leukocytes and endothelial cells, and they are multifunctional in nature. Collectively, different ectoenzymes can modulate each step of leukocyte–endothelial contacts, as well as subsequent cell migration in tissues. Here, we review how ectoenzymes belonging to the oxidase, NAD‐metabolizing enzyme, nucleotidase and peptidase/protease families regulate and fine‐tune leukocyte trafficking, and how ectoenzymes have been targeted both in preclinical and clinical trials.
APOE genotype alters glial activation and loss of synaptic markers in mice
Authors: Zhu Yuangui , Nwabuisi‐Heath Evelyn , Dumanis Sonya B. , Tai Leon M. , Yu Chunjiang , Rebeck G. William , Ladu Mary Jo 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe ϵ4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is the strongest genetic risk factor for late‐onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), and affects clinical outcomes of chronic and acute brain damages. The mechanisms by which apoE affect diverse diseases and disorders may involve modulation of the glial response to various types of brain damage. We examined glial activation in a mouse model where each of the human APOE alleles are expressed under the endogenous mouse APOE promoter, as well as in APOE knock‐out mice. APOE4 mice displayed increased glial activation in response to intracerebroventricular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) compared to APOE2 and APOE3 mice by several measures. There were higher levels of microglia/macrophage, astrocytes, and invading T‐cells after LPS injection in APOE4 mice. APOE4 mice also displayed greater and more prolonged increases of cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α) than APOE2 and APOE3 mice. We found that APOE4 mice had greater synaptic protein loss after LPS injection, as measured by three markers: PSD‐95, drebin, and synaptophysin. In all assays, APOE knock‐out mice responded similar to APOE4 mice, suggesting that the apoE4 protein may lack anti‐inflammatory characteristics of apoE2 and apoE3. Together, these findings demonstrate that APOE4 predisposes to inflammation, which could contribute to its association with Alzheimer's disease and other disorders. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nek2A contributes to tumorigenic growth and possibly functions as potential therapeutic target for human breast cancer
Authors: Wang Shuling , Li Weidong , Liu Ning , Zhang Fei , Liu Han , Liu Fen , Liu Junjun , Zhang Tongxian , Niu Yun 
Published: January 2012

AbstractNek2A (NIMA‐related kinases 2A) has been known as an important centrosome regulatory factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Nek2A and the role it played in different stages of breast cancer. We detected the expression of Nek2A in both mRNA and protein levels in MCF10 cell lines including MCF‐10A, MCF‐10DCIS.com, MCF‐10CA1a and in human breast samples which contained normal breast tissue (NBT), breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Our study revealed that the mRNA and protein expression of Nek2A were significantly up‐regulated in MCF‐10DCIS.com and MCF‐10CA1a cell lines as well as in human primary breast cancer tissue (DCIS and IDC). Our study also presented a correlation between Nek2A mRNA expression and some clinic pathological factors. We found that Nek2A mRNA expression was associated with molecular subtypes, ER, PR and Ki‐67 immunoreactivity (P < 0.05) in DCIS and associated with histological grade, lymph node metastasis, molecular subtypes, c‐erbB‐2, and Ki‐67 expression (P < 0.05) in IDC. In addition, we observed that ectopic expression of Nek2A in “normal” immortalized MCF‐10A breast epithelial cell resulted in increased Nek2A which lead to abnormal centrosomes. Furthermore, knockdown of Nek2A in MCF‐10DCIS.com could remarkably inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest in MCF‐10DCIS.com cell line. These data suggested that Nek2A might bear a close relationship with development and progression of breast carcinoma, and highlighted its role as a novel potential biomarker for diagnosis and a possible therapeutic target for human breast cancer especially for DCIS. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1904–1914, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Euscaphic acid isolated from roots of Rosa rugosa inhibits LPS‐induced inflammatory responses via TLR4‐mediated NF‐κB inactivation in RAW 264.7 macrophages
Authors: Kim In‐Tae , Ryu Suran , Shin Ji‐Sun , Choi Jung‐Hye , Park Hee‐Juhn , Lee Kyung‐Tae 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAs an attempt to search for bioactive natural products exerting anti‐inflammatory activity, we have evaluated the anti‐inflammatory effects of euscaphic acid (19α‐hydroxyursane‐type triterpenoids, EA) isolated from roots of Rosa rugosa and its underlying molecular mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. EA concentration‐dependently reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 macgophages. Consistent with these data, expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) protein and iNOS, COX‐2, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β mRNA were inhibited by EA in a concentration‐dependent manner. In addition, EA attenuated LPS‐induced DNA binding and transcriptional activity of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB), which was accompanied by a parallel reduction of degradation and phosphorylation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IκBα) and consequently by decreased nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF‐κB. Pretreatment with EA significantly inhibited the LPS‐induced phosphorylation of IκB kinase β (IKKβ), p38, and JNK, whereas the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was unaffected. Furthermore, EA interfered with the LPS‐induced clustering of TNF receptor‐associated factor 6 (TRAF6) with interleukin receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and transforming growth factor‐β‐activated kinase 1 (TAK1). Taken together, these results suggest that EA inhibits LPS‐induced inflammatory responses by interference with the clustering of TRAF6 with IRAK1 and TAK1, resulting in blocking the activation of IKK and MAPKs signal transduction to downregulate NF‐κB activations. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1936–1946, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The PPARδ ligand L‐165041 inhibits vegf‐induced angiogenesis, but the antiangiogenic effect is not related to PPARδ
Authors: Park Jin‐Hee , Lee Kuy‐Sook , Lim Hyun‐Joung , Kim Hanna , Kwak Hyun‐Jeong , Park Hyun‐Young 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPeroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)δ is known to be expressed ubiquitously and involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. Recent studies have demonstrated that PPARδ is expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and plays a potential role in endothelial survival and proliferation. Although PPARα and PPARγ are well recognized to play anti‐inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic roles in ECs, the general effect of PPARδ on angiogenesis in ECs remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the effect of the PPARδ ligand L‐165041 on vascular EC proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro as well as in vivo. Our data show that L‐165041 inhibited VEGF‐induced cell proliferation and migration in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs). L‐165041 also inhibited angiogenesis in the Matrigel plug assay and aortic ring assay. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that L‐165041 reduced the number of ECs in the S phase and the expression levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins such as cyclin A, cyclin E, CDK2, and CDK4; phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein was suppressed by pretreatment with L‐165041. We confirmed whether these antiangiogenic effects of L‐165041 were PPARδ‐dependent using GW501516 and PPARδ siRNA. GW501516 treatment did not inhibit VEGF‐induced angiogenesis, and transfection of PPARδ siRNA did not reverse this antiangiogenic effect of L‐165041, suggesting that the antiangiogenic effect of L‐165041 on ECs is PPARδ‐independent. Together, these data indicate that the PPARδ ligand L‐165041 inhibits VEGF‐stimulated angiogenesis by suppressing the cell cycle progression independently of PPARδ. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of L‐165041 in the treatment of many disorders related to pathological angiogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1947–1954, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dispersive interactions in water bilayers at metallic surfaces: A comparison of the PBE and RPBE functional including semiempirical dispersion corrections
Authors: Tonigold Katrin , Groß Axel 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe accuracy and reliability of the density functional theory (DFT)‐D approach to account for dispersion effects in first‐principles studies of water–metal interfaces has been addressed by studying several water–metal systems. In addition to performing periodic DFT calculations for semi‐infinite substrates using the popular PBE and RPBE functionals, the water dimer and water–metal atom systems have also been treated by coupled‐cluster calculations. We show that indeed semiempirical dispersion correction schemes can be used to yield thermodynamically stable water bilayers at surfaces. However, the actual density functional needs to be chosen carefully. Whereas the dispersion‐corrected RPBE functional yields a good description of both the water–water and the water–metal interaction, the dispersion‐corrected PBE functional overestimates the energies of both systems. In contrast thereto, the adsorption distances predicted by the PBE functional is hardly changed due to the additional dispersion interaction, explaining the good performance of previous DFT‐PBE studies of water–metal systems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2012
Effect of surfactant on styrene removal from waste gas streams in biotrickling filters
Authors: Song Tiantian , Yang Chunping , Zeng Guangming , Yu Guanlong , Xu Chao 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: The performance of two biotrickling filters (BTFs) was evaluated for styrene removal from gas streams at the start‐up period and at a pseudo‐steady‐state under various operating conditions.RESULTS: The BTFs exceeded 99% removal efficiency within 19 days when the average inlet styrene concentration was 250 mg m−3 and gas empty bed retention time (EBCT) was 30.0 s. The effect of a surfactant, Triton X‐100, on styrene removal was examined by comparative experiments in which one biofilter was fed with nutrient solution with the surfactant while the other without the surfactant, and the average organic loading rate of styrene was set at 65.3, 100.9 and 201.7 g styrene m−3 h−1, respectively. Results showed that the corresponding average removal efficiency was 87%, 70% and 50% for the BTF without surfactant, while the average removal efficiency for the BTF with surfactant was 96%, 92% and 82%. Excessive biomass accumulation was observed in the medium when the styrene loading rate was high. However, the biomass density within the BTF medium when the surfactant was added remained stable during the whole period of the operation.CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that the use of Triton X‐100 can improve the degradation of styrene and control the excessive biomass accumulation. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
A meta‐analysis of randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials for the effects of garlic on serum lipid profiles
Authors: Zeng Tao , Guo Fang‐Fang , Zhang Cui‐Li , Song Fu‐Yong , Zhao Xiu‐Lan , Xie Ke‐Qin 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Inconsistent results were obtained for the lipid‐regulating effects of garlic in clinical trials. With increasing interest in complementary medicine for hyperlipoidemia, it is important to explore the real effects of garlic. This meta‐ analysis was performed to investigate the influence of garlic on serum lipid parameters.RESULTS: A total of 26 studies were included into meta‐analysis. Overall, garlic was superior to placebo in reducing serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels. Compared with the placebo groups, serum TC and TG levels in the garlic group were reduced by 0.28 (95% CI, − 0.45, − 0.11) mmol L−1 (P = 0.001) and 0.13 (95% CI, − 0.20, − 0.06) mmol L−1 (P < 0.001), respectively. The effects of garlic were more striking in subjects with long‐term intervention and higher baseline TC levels. Garlic powder and aged garlic extract were more effective in reducing serum TC levels, while garlic oil was more effective in lowering serum TG levels. In contrast, garlic did not influence other lipid parameters, including low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), apolipoprotein B, and TC/HDL‐C ratio.CONCLUSION: Garlic could reduce serum TC and TG levels, and garlic therapy should benefit patients with risk of cardiovascular diseases. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
LAND USE AND CLIMATE CHANGES AND THEIR IMPACTS ON RUNOFF IN THE YARLUNG ZANGBO RIVER BASIN, CHINA
Authors: Liu Z. , Yao Z. , Huang H. , Wu S. , Liu G. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTImpacts of land use and climate change on runoff were investigated by studying the runoff in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin, China. Trends in precipitation, mean air temperature, and runoff were analysed by non‐parametric Mann‐Kendall tests. Land‐use changes were examined with land‐use transition matrix and geographic information system tools. Land‐use and climate changes showed several characteristics, including increased reforestation, decreased grassland, retreat of glaciers and increased desertification. Human activity caused great impact, especially within densely populated regions and cities. Reforestation and degradation of grasslands were more frequent than deforestation and cultivation of grasslands. Annual mean air temperature, precipitation and runoff showed increasing trends between 1974 and 2000. The impacts of land use and climate change on runoff had different effects depending on region and season. In the season of freezing, climate change clearly affected runoff within regions that experienced precipitation. Altered evapotranspiration accounted for about 80 per cent of runoff changes, whereas land‐use changes appear to have had greatest impact on runoff changes within regions that have inconsistent relationships between runoff and climate change. It was demonstrated that afforestation leads to increased runoff in dry seasons. It was estimated that glacier snow melt has caused annual runoff to increase at least 6·0 mm/10yr, 2·1 mm/10yr and 1·7 mm/10yr in Regions 1, 3 and 4, respectively, whereas evapotranspiration caused annual runoff to decrease at least 7·4 mm/10yr in Region 2. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Live Monitoring of Cargo Release From Peptide‐Based Hybrid Nanocapsules Induced by Enzyme Cleavage
Authors: Andrieu Julien , Kotman Niklas , Maier Matthias , Mailänder Volker , Strauss Wolfgang S. L. , Weiss Clemens K. , Landfester Katharina 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe miniemulsion process is used as a new route for the preparation of enzyme‐responsive nanocapsules with payload‐release properties. Peptide‐based hybrid nanocapsules are prepared via interfacial polyaddition containing a water‐soluble dye that is efficiently encapsulated inside. The influence of the synthetic parameters as the functionality of the peptide and the nature of the dispersed phase on the structure of the nanocapsules were investigated. After redispersion in water, the enzymatic cleavage of the peptide sequence and the release of the fluorescent dye are both monitored in real time. This is evidenced because of the quenching FRET system framing the recognition site in the peptide sequence, and the fluorescence recovery of the self‐quenched encapsulated dye respectively.
Quantitative assessment of small bowel motility by nonrigid registration of dynamic MR images
Authors: Odille Freddy , Menys Alex , Ahmed Asia , Punwani Shonit , Taylor Stuart A. , Atkinson David 
Published: January 2012

AbstractEvaluation of small bowel motility from two‐dimensional dynamic MRI is of increasing interest for the assessment of segmental diseases such as Crohn's disease. We propose to use nonrigid image registration for automated motility analysis. Registration is particularly difficult when localized intensity changes occur (e.g., due to intraluminal flow or through‐plane motion). Therefore, displacements were extracted using a joint registration and modeling of intensity changes. Results were analyzed in 10 patients with known or suspected Crohn's disease. Bowel wall displacements were assessed by tracking bowel cross‐sectional markers over time. Automated tracking with the proposed technique was in good agreement with manual tracking (similar bias, improved standard deviations). The ability to quantify different grades of bowel motility was investigated by comparing direct motion measures (i.e., changes in bowel cross‐sectional diameter or area) and various parametric maps, e.g., based on the Jacobian of the measured displacements with expert grading. Among these measures, the standard deviation over time of the Jacobian was the best at predicting grades from 1 (moving normally) to 4 (not moving at all) in 50 bowel regions with normal and pathologically reduced motility, yielding 93% correct classification with a 1‐class tolerance (i.e., same score as the expert ± 1). Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.