bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation of CCN2/Connective tissue growth factor expression in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc: Role of Smad and activator protein 1 signaling
Authors: Tran Cassie M. , Markova Dessislava , Smith Harvey E. , Susarla Bala , Ponnappan Ravi Kumar , Anderson D. Greg , Symes Aviva , Shapiro Irving M. , Risbud Makarand V. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) regulation of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in cells of the nucleus pulposus of rats, mice, and humans.MethodsReal‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were used to measure CTGF expression in the nucleus pulposus. Transfections were used to measure the effects of Smads 2, 3, and 7 and activator protein 1 (AP‐1) on TGFβ‐mediated CTGF promoter activity.ResultsCTGF expression was lower in neonatal rat discs than in skeletally mature rat discs. An increase in CTGF expression and promoter activity was observed in rat nucleus pulposus cells after TGFβ treatment. Deletion analysis indicated that promoter constructs lacking Smad and AP‐1 motifs were unresponsive to treatment. Analysis showed that full‐length Smad3 and the Smad3 MH‐2 domain alone increased CTGF activity. Further evidence of Smad3 and AP‐1 involvement was seen when DN‐Smad3, SiRNA‐Smad3, Smad7, and DN‐AP‐1 suppressed TGFβ‐mediated activation of the CTGF promoter. When either Smad3 or AP‐1 sites were mutated, CTGF promoter induction by TGFβ was suppressed. We also observed a decrease in the expression of CTGF in discs from Smad3‐null mice as compared with those from wild‐type mice. Analysis of human nucleus pulposus samples indicated a trend toward increasing CTGF and TGFβ expression in the degenerated state.ConclusionTGFβ, through Smad3 and AP‐1, serves as a positive regulator of CTGF expression in the nucleus pulposus. We propose that CTGF is a part of the limited reparative response of the degenerated disc.
A randomized, double‐blind, controlled study of ultrasound‐guided corticosteroid injection into the joint of patients with inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Cunnington Joanna , Marshall Nicola , Hide Geoff , Bracewell Claire , Isaacs John , Platt Philip , Kane David 
Published: March 2010

AbstractObjectiveMost corticosteroid injections into the joint are guided by the clinical examination (CE), but up to 70% are inaccurately placed, which may contribute to an inadequate response. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ultrasound (US) guidance improves the accuracy and clinical outcome of joint injections as compared with CE guidance in patients with inflammatory arthritis.MethodsA total of 184 patients with inflammatory arthritis and an inflamed joint (shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, or ankle) were randomized to receive either US‐guided or CE‐guided corticosteroid injections. Visual analog scales (VAS) for assessment of function, pain, and stiffness of the target joint, a modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, and the EuroQol 5‐domain questionnaire were obtained at baseline and at 2 weeks and 6 weeks postinjection. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C‐reactive protein level were measured at baseline and 2 weeks. Contrast injected with the steroid was used to assess the accuracy of the joint injection.ResultsOne‐third of CE‐guided injections were inaccurate. US‐guided injections performed by a trainee rheumatologist were more accurate than the CE‐guided injections performed by more senior rheumatologists (83% versus 66%; P = 0.010). There was no significant difference in clinical outcome between the group receiving US‐guided injections and the group receiving CE‐guided injections. Accurate injections led to greater improvement in joint function, as determined by VAS scores, at 6 weeks, as compared with inaccurate injections (30.6 mm versus 21.2 mm; P = 0.030). Clinicians who used US guidance reliably assessed the accuracy of joint injection (P < 0.001), whereas those who used CE guidance did not (P = 0.29).ConclusionUS guidance significantly improves the accuracy of joint injection, allowing a trainee to rapidly achieve higher accuracy than more experienced rheumatologists. US guidance did not improve the short‐term outcome of joint injection.
Suppression of skin and kidney disease by inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase in lupus‐prone mice
Authors: Deng Guo‐Min , Liu Lena , Bahjat Frances Rena , Pine Polly R. , Tsokos George C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractObjectiveSpleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is involved in membrane‐mediated signaling in various cells, including immune cells. It is overexpressed in T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and its inhibition has been shown to improve T cell function as well as to improve disease manifestations in (NZB × NZW)F1 lupus‐prone mice and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. While clinical trials examining Syk inhibition in patients with SLE are being considered, the aim of our experiments was to determine whether the therapeutic effects of Syk inhibition extend to other strains of lupus‐prone mice and whether they result in improvement in skin disease and modification of established disease.MethodsFemale MRL/lpr or BAK/BAX mice were studied. Starting either at age 4 weeks (before disease) or at age 16 weeks (after established disease) and continuing for up to 16 weeks, mice were fed chow containing the Syk inhibitor R788 or control chow.ResultsWe found that inhibition of Syk in MRL/lpr and BAK/BAX mice prevented the development of skin disease and significantly reduced established skin disease. Similarly, Syk inhibition reduced the size of the spleen and lymph nodes, suppressed the development of renal disease, and suppressed established renal disease. Discontinuation of treatment resulted in extended suppression of skin disease for at least 8 weeks and suppression of renal disease for 4 weeks.ConclusionSyk inhibition suppresses the development of lupus skin and kidney disease in lupus‐prone mice, suppresses established disease in lupus‐prone mice, and may represent a valuable treatment for patients with SLE.
Highly localized energy transfer induced by the interaction between a large vortex and four small vortices
Authors: Luo Zhexian , Ping Fan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe scale interaction is simulated using a two‐dimensional barotropic model with an initial condition of a large‐scale vortex accompanied with four small‐scale vortices. We show that both direct and inverse energy cascades occur simultaneously and that the spatial distribution of energy transfer flux across a moderate length scale is characterized by a highly localized configuration, which contains several closed systems with a spatial scale of 50–100 km embedded in two wave trains. This would imply that the temporal change of enstrophy at closed centers is more complex than that at noncenters. The increase of complexity is further correlated with amplification of the enstrophy difference, which is the value of enstrophy at t = 24 h minus that at the initial time. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Analysis of work trips made by taxi in canadian cities
Authors: Kattan Lina , de Barros Alexandre , Wirasinghe S. C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis paper presents two regression models for work trips made by taxi for the year 1996 and the year 2001, respectively for 25 Canadian cities. These regression models indicates the primary factors that influence work commuting by taxi. Two major factors are identified: the total number of work trips made by public transit and the total number of low‐income households. The 2001 regression model indicates an increase of the value of the transit commuter's coefficient from its 1996 figure. These results highlight the important role that taxis play in: (i) decreasing the demand for parking especially in urban cores and (ii) serving the transportation disadvantaged population especially in outlying areas poorly served by public transport. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Access mode choice behaviors of water transportation: a case of Bangkok
Authors: Park Dongjoo , Lee Seungjae , Kim Chansung , Choi Changho , Lee Chungwon 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis research attempted to analyze the impacts of the enhancement of access modes to the main water transportation mode in Bangkok, Thailand. In order to achieve this purpose, access mode choice behaviors are modeled using the probability distribution function (PDF) model, the multinomial logit (MNL) model, and the nested logit (NL) model. The study also attempted to analyze the catchment areas for different access modes and the factors affecting them. Factors affecting the extent of the catchment area such as main haul distance were evaluated. Based on survey results, service attributes such as access cost, in‐vehicle travel time, and out‐of‐vehicle travel time (OVTT) were found to have a significant impact on access mode choice behavior. Socioeconomic factors such as age, gender, income, and occupation were found to affect access mode choice behavior as well. Apart from these factors, trip departure time, egress mode used, and main haul distance were also found to affect access mode choice behavior. It was evaluated that the NL model is most suitable to model access mode choice behavior. A selected NL model was applied in order to predict the impacts of adopting different policies. It was found that reducing in‐vehicle travel time, waiting time and/or cost of the bus ride gave most significant impact on the enhancement of access modes. As results of this study, various methods have been suggested to enhance the access/egress service of the water transportation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interaction of angiotensin receptor type 1 blockers with ATP‐binding cassette transporters
Authors: Weiss J. , Sauer A. , Divac N. , Herzog M. , Schwedhelm E. , Böger R. H. , Haefeli W. E. , Benndorf R. A. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractATP‐binding cassette (ABC)‐transporters, such as P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp/ABCB1), multidrug resistance‐associated proteins (MRPs/ABCCs) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) transport numerous drugs thus regulating their absorption, distribution and excretion. Angiotensin receptor type 1 blockers (ARBs), used to treat hypertension and heart failure, are commonly administered in combination therapy. However, their interaction potential is not well studied and their effect on ABC‐transporters remains elusive. The study therefore aimed to elucidate the effect of various ARBs (telmisartan, candesartan, candesartan‐cilexetil, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, olmesartan‐medoxomil, eprosartan) on ABC‐transporter activityin vitro. P‐gp inhibition was assessed by calcein assay, BCRP inhibition by pheophorbide A efflux assay, and MRP2 inhibition by a MRP2 PREDIVEZ™ Kit. Induction of P‐gp, BCRP and MRP2 was assessed by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and for P‐gp also in a functional assay. Telmisartan was identified as one of the most potent inhibitors of P‐gp currently known (IC50=0.38±0.2 µMfor murine P‐gp) and it also inhibited human BCRP (IC50=16.9±8.1 µM) and human MRP2 (IC50=25.4±0.6 µM). Moreover, the prodrug candesartan‐cilexetil, but not candesartan itself, significantly inhibited P‐gp and BCRP activity. None of the compounds tested induced mRNA transcription of P‐gp or BCRP but eprosartan and olmesartan induced MRP2 mRNA expression. In conclusion, telmisartan substantially differed from other ARBs with respect to its potential to inhibit ABC‐transporters relevant for drug pharmacokinetics and tissue defense. These findings may explain the known interaction of telmisartan with digoxin and suggest that it may modulate the bioavailability of drugs whose absorption is restricted by P‐gp and possibly also by BCRP or MRP2. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organophosphorus compound detection on a cell chip with yeast coexpressing hydrolase and eGFP
Authors: Fukuda Takeshi , Tsuchiya Keiji , Makishima Hirokazu , Tsuchiyama Kouta , Mulchandani Ashok , Kuroda Kouichi , Ueda Mitsuyoshi , Suye Shin‐ichiro 
Published: March 2010

AbstractOrganophosphorus compounds (OPs) such as pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides are highly toxic but are nevertheless extensively used worldwide. To detect OPs, we constructed a yeast strain that co‐displays organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) on the cell surface using a Flo1p anchor system. OP degradation releases protons and causes a change in pH. This pH change results in structural deformation of EGFP, which triggers quenching of its fluorescence, thereby making this cell useful for visual detection of OPs. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the high‐intensity fluorescence displayed by EGFP on the cell surface. The yeast strain possessed sufficient OPH hydrolytic activities for degrading OPs, as measured by incubation with 1 mM paraoxon for 24 h at 30°C. In addition, with 20 mM paraoxon at 30°C, fluorescence quenching of EGFP on the single yeast cell was observed within 40 s in a microchamber chip. These observations suggest that engineered yeast cells are suitable for simultaneous degradation and visual detection of OPs.
Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Imines
Authors: Baeza Alejandro , Pfaltz Andreas 
Published: March 2010

AbstractWe have evaluated a wide range of iridium complexes derived from chiral oxazoline‐based N,P ligands for the asymmetric hydrogenation of imines and identified three efficient catalysts. These catalysts are readily synthesized by straightforward convenient routes and are air and moisture stable. In the reduction of acetophenone N‐arylimines and related acyclic substrates, excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 % ee) were obtained by using 0.1–0.5 mol % of catalyst at −20 °C and 5–50 bar hydrogen pressure.
A stereodynamic tripodal ligand with three different coordinating arms: Synthesis and zinc(II), copper(I) complexation study
Authors: Liang Jian , Canary James W. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractA tetradentate tripodal ligand containing a chiral center and three different coordinating arms was designed and synthesized. Its complexation properties with ZnII and CuI were studied by NMR and optical spectroscopy. NMR experiments demonstrated the formation of two diastereomers, indicating the stabilization of the central tertiary amine configuration by metal coordination. The inversion of pyramidalization of the central tertiary amine of the ligand was found to be highly dependent upon metal ion, solvent, and temperature. Dynamic NMR measurements were used to estimate the energy of activation required for nitrogen atom inversion. Finally, absorption and circular dichroism measurements confirmed the expectation that metal complexes of the ligand gave rise to circular dichroism but that such spectra were not characterized by exciton‐coupling, in contrast to previously described ligands containing two identical arms with strong chromophores. Chirality 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bayesian hierarchical models for food frequency assessment
Authors: Song Hae‐Ryoung , Lawson Andrew B. , Nitcheva Daniela 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe aim of this study is to assess the biases of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) by comparing total energy intake (TEI) with total energy expenditure (TEE) obtained from doubly labelled water(DLW) biomarker after adjusting measurement errors in DLW. We develop several Bayesian hierarchical measurement error models of DLW with different distributional assumptions on TEI to obtain precise bias estimates of TEI. Inference is carried out by using MCMC simulation techniques in a fully Bayesian framework, and model comparisons are done via the mean square predictive error. Our results showed that the joint model with random effects under the Gamma distribution is the best fit model in terms of the MSPE and residual diagnostics, in which bias in TEI is not significant based on the 95% credible interval. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 38: 506–516; 2010 © 2010 Statistical Society of Canada
Uniformly convergent numerical method for singularly perturbed differential‐difference equation using grid equidistribution
Authors: Mohapatra Jugal , Natesan Srinivasan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractIn this paper, a class of singularly perturbed differential‐difference equations with small delay and shift terms is considered. A numerical method comprising of upwind finite difference operator on an adaptive grid, which is formed by equidistributing the arc‐length monitor function, is constructed for approximating the solution. The method is proved to be robust, in the sense that the discrete solution obtained converges in the maximum norm to the exact solution uniformly with respect to the perturbation parameter. Parameter‐uniform error bounds for the numerical approximations are established. Numerical examples support the theoretical results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling and simulation of bioheat transfer in the human eye using the 3D alpha finite element method (αFEM)
Authors: Li Eric , Liu G. R. , Tan Vincent , He Z. C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractComputational modeling is an effective tool for the detection of eye abnormalities and a valuable assistant to hyperthermia treatments. In all these diagnoses and treatments, predicting the temperature distribution accurately is very important. However, the standard finite element method (FEM) currently used for such purposes has strong reliance on element meshes and the discretized system exhibits the so‐called ‘overly stiff’ behavior. To overcome this shortcoming, this paper formulates an alpha finite element method (αFEM) to compute two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) bioheat transfer in the human eyes. The αFEM can produce much more accurate results using triangular (2D) and tetrahedron (3D) elements that can be generated automatically for complicated domains and hence is particularly suited for modeling human eyes. In the αFEM, a scaling factor α∈[0, 1] is introduced to combine the ‘overly stiff’ FEM model and ‘overly soft’ node‐based finite element method (NS‐FEM) model. With a properly chosen α, the αFEM can produce models with very ‘close‐to‐exact’ stiffness of the continuous system. Numerical results have shown that the present method gives much more accurate results compared with the standard FEM and the NS‐FEM. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A linear finite element acoustic fluid–structure model of ultrasonic angioplasty in vivo
Authors: Wylie Mark P. , McGuinness Garrett B. , Gavin Graham P. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe delivery of high‐power ultrasonic energy via small diameter wire waveguides represents a new alternative therapy for the treatment of chronic totally occluded arteries (CTOs). This type of energy manifests itself as a mechanical vibration at the distal‐tip of the waveguide with amplitudes of vibration up to 60 µm and at frequencies of 20–50 kHz. Disruption of diseased tissue is reported to be a result of direct mechanical ablation, cavitation, pressure components and acoustic streaming and that ablation was only evident above the cavitation threshold. This work presents a linear finite element acoustic fluid–structure model of an ultrasonic angioplasty waveguide in vivo. The model was first verified against a reported analytical solution for an oscillating sphere. It was determined that 140 elements per wavelength (EPW) were required to predict the pressure profile generated by the wire waveguide distal‐tip. Implementing this EPW count, the pressure field surrounding a range of distal‐tip geometries was modelled. For validation, a model was developed with parameters based on a bench‐top experiment from the literature of an ultrasonic wire waveguide in a phantom leg. This model showed good correlation with the experimental measurements. These models may aid in the further development of this technology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human ESC colony formation is dependent on interplay between self‐renewing hESCs and unique precursors responsible for niche generation
Authors: Moogk Duane , Stewart Morag , Gamble Darik , Bhatia Mickie , Jervis Eric 
Published: March 2010

AbstractHuman embryonic stem cell (hESC) cultures are heterogeneous and constituting paracrine signals are required to maintain pluripotency. The cellular interplay and dynamic nature of this heterogeneity is not understood. Here, long‐term hESC imaging and tracking revealed that hESC heterogeneity is dynamic and hESC self‐renewal is dependent on colony‐proximal distributions of paracrine signals. Tracking of hESCs forming colonies revealed that a biologically distinct cell type arises at the colony periphery in the absence of feeders. Higher rates of cell death occur in these hESC‐derived cells, leading to clonal selection of colony reestablishing cells. hESC‐derived feeders co‐transferred during passaging promoted rapid colony recovery and expansion and reduced overall clonal selection of self‐renewing hESCs. Our findings demonstrate that hESC‐derived feeders arise from a distinct subpopulation of hESCs that respond to paracrine cues at the colony periphery that are required to sustain and establish clonal hESC self‐renewal. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Sensitivity to ethanol and other hedonic stimuli in an animal model of adolescence: Implications for prevention science?
Authors: Spear Linda Patia , Varlinskaya Elena I. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAge‐related patterns of sensitivity to appetitive and aversive stimuli seemingly have deep evolutionary roots, with marked developmental transformations seen during adolescence in a number of relatively ancient brain systems critical for motivating and directing reward‐related behaviors. Using a simple animal model of adolescence in the rat, adolescents have been shown to be more sensitive than their adult counterparts to positive rewarding effects of alcohol, other drugs, and certain natural stimuli, while being less sensitive to the aversive properties of such stimuli. Adolescent‐typical alcohol sensitivities may be exacerbated further by a history of prior stress or alcohol exposure as well as by genetic vulnerabilities, permitting relatively high levels of adolescent alcohol use and perhaps an increased probability for the emergence of abuse disorders. A number of potential (albeit tentative) implications of these basic research findings for prevention science are considered. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 236–243, 2010
Secondary lymphoid organs are dispensable for the development of T‐cell‐mediated immunity during tuberculosis
Authors: Day Tracey A. , Koch Markus , Nouailles Geraldine , Jacobsen Marc , Kosmiadi George A. , Miekley Delia , Kuhlmann Stefanie , Jörg Sabine , Gamradt Pia , Mollenkopf Hans‐Joachim , Hurwitz Robert , Reece Stephen T. , Kaufmann Stefan H. E. , Kursar Mischo 
Published: March 2010

AbstractTuberculosis causes 2 million deaths per year, yet in most cases the immune response successfully contains the infection and prevents disease outbreak. Induced lymphoid structures associated with pulmonary granuloma are observed during tuberculosis in both humans and mice and could orchestrate host defense. To investigate whether granuloma perform lymphoid functions, mice lacking secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). As in WT mice, granuloma developed, exponential growth of MTB was controlled, and antigen‐specific T‐cell responses including memory T cells were generated in the absence of SLO. Moreover, adoptively transferred T cells were primed locally in lungs in a granuloma‐dependent manner. T‐cell activation was delayed in the absence of SLO, but resulted in a normal development program including protective subsets and functional recall responses that protected mice against secondary MTB infection. Our data demonstrate that protective immune responses can be generated independently of SLO during MTB infection and implicate local pulmonary T‐cell priming as a mechanism contributing to host defense.