bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic inhibition of caspase‐2 reduces hypoxic‐ischemic and excitotoxic neonatal brain injury
Authors: Carlsson Ylva , Schwendimann Leslie , Vontell Regina , Rousset Catherine I. , Wang Xiaoyang , Lebon Sophie , Charriaut‐Marlangue Christiane , Supramaniam Veena , Hagberg Henrik , Gressens Pierre , Jacotot Etienne 
Published: March 2011

AbstractObjective:Perinatal brain injury is a major cause of neurodevelopmental handicaps. Multiple pathways of oxidant stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity lead to cell damage and death, including caspase‐dependent apoptosis. Caspase‐2 (Casp2; Nedd‐2, Ich‐1) is a developmentally regulated initiator caspase, which poorly cleaves other caspases but can initiate mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. We have investigated if Casp2 could mediate perinatal ischemic brain damage.Methods:Casp2 expression in human neonatal brains and developmental patterns in rats and mice were evaluated. Casp2‐deficient (Casp2−/−), wild‐type (WT), and heterozygous (Casp2+/−) newborn C57BL/6 mice were subjected to hypoxia‐ischemia (unilateral carotid occlusion + exposure to 10% oxygen for 50 minutes) or intracerebral injection of the excitotoxic N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate‐receptor agonist ibotenate. In addition, Casp2 specific siRNAs were preinjected into the brain of WT newborn mice 24 hours before ibotenate treatment. Brain tissues were examined by immunohistochemical staining (cresyl violet, MAP2, NF68, Casp2, Casp3) and Western blotting. Lesion volumes and injury in the cortical plates and white matter were quantified together with activated Casp3.Results:Casp2 is highly expressed in the neonatal brain. Casp2‐deficient mice subjected to hypoxia‐ischemia at postnatal day 9 present significantly lower cerebral infarction, reduced white matter injury, and reduced Casp3 activation in the thalamus and hippocampus. Both Casp2−/− mice and siRNA‐administered WT mice conferred reduction of gray and white matter injury after excitotoxic insult at postnatal day 5. Casp3 activation was also found reduced in Casp2‐deficient mice subjected to excitotoxicity.Interpretation:These data suggest for the first time a role of Casp2 in neonatal brain damage. ANN NEUROL 2011;
Metabolic engineering of menaquinone‐8 pathway of Escherichia coli as a microbial platform for vitamin K production
Authors: Kong Min Kyung , Lee Pyung Cheon 
Published: March 2011

AbstractMenaquinone‐8 (MK‐8, vitamin K) is composed of a non‐polar side chain and a polar head group. Escherichia coli was chosen and metabolically engineered as a microbial platform for production of MK‐8. MK‐8 content in E. coli was significantly enhanced by modulating two precursor pools, which supply a non‐polar side chain and a polar head group, and further increased by blocking formation of the competitor ubiquinone‐8 (Q‐8). Overexpression of E. coli IspA, DXR, or IDI increased MK‐8 content up to twofold. A similar positive effect was also observed when E. coli MenA, MenB, MenC, MenD, MenE, MenF, or UbiE was overexpressed. The Q‐8‐deficient ubiCA mutant enhanced MK‐8 content by 30% compared to wild‐type E. coli. When MenA or MenD was overexpressed, MK‐8 content was enhanced fivefold compared with wild‐type E. coli. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:1997–2002. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biochemical analysis and kinetic modeling of the thermal inactivation of MBP‐fused heparinase I: Implications for a comprehensive thermostabilization strategy
Authors: Chen Shuo , Ye Fengchun , Chen Yang , Chen Yu , Zhao Hongxin , Yatsunami Rie , Nakamura Satoshi , Arisaka Fumio , Xing Xin‐Hui 
Published: March 2011

AbstractEnzymatic degradation of heparin by heparin lyases has not only largely facilitated heparin structural analysis and contamination detection, but also showed great potential to be a green and cost‐effective way to produce low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). However, the commercial use of heparinase I (HepI), one of the most studied heparin lyases, has been largely hampered by its low productivity and extremely poor thermostability. Here we report the thermal inactivation mechanism and strategic thermal stabilization of maltose‐binding protein (MBP)‐HepI, a fusion HepI produced in E. coli with high yield, solubility and activity. Biochemical studies demonstrated that the thermal inactivation of MBP‐HepI involves an unfolding step that is temperature‐dependently reversible, followed by an irreversible dimerization step induced by intermolecular disulfide bonds. A good consistency between the kinetic modeling and experimental data of the inactivation was obtained within a wide range of temperature and enzyme concentration, confirming the adequacy of the proposed inactivation model. Based on the inactivation mechanism, a comprehensive strategy was proposed for the thermal stabilization of MBP‐HepI, in which Ca2+ and Tween 80 were used to inhibit unfolding while site mutation at Cys297 and DTT were employed to suppress dimerization. The engineered enzyme exhibits remarkably improved storage and operational thermostability, for example, 16‐fold increase in half‐life at its optimum temperature of 30°C and 8‐fold increase in remaining activity of 95% after 1‐week storage at 4°C, and therefore shows great potential as a commercial biocatalyst for heparin degradation in the pharmaceutical industry. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:1841–1851. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Strategies to suppress hydrogen‐consuming microorganisms affect macro and micro scale structure and microbiology of granular sludge
Authors: Abreu A.A. , Alves J.I. , Pereira M.A. , Sousa D.Z. , Alves M.M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractTreatment of anaerobic granules with heat and two chemical treatments, contacting with 2‐bromoethanesulfonate (BES) and with BES + Chloroform, were applied to suppress hydrogen‐consuming microorganisms. Three mesophilic expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors—RHeat, RBES, and RBES + Chlo—were inoculated with the treated sludges and fed with synthetic sugar‐based wastewater (5 gCOD L−1, HRT 20–12 h). Morphological integrity of granules and bacterial communities were assessed by quantitative image analysis and 16S rRNA gene based techniques, respectively. Hydrogen production in RHeat was under 300 mL H2 L−1 day−1, with a transient peak of 1,000 mL H2 L−1 day−1 after decreasing HRT. In RBES + Chlo hydrogen production rate did not exceed 300 mL H2 L−1 day−1 and there was granule fragmentation, release of free filaments from aggregates, and decrease of granule density. In RBES, there was an initial period with unstable hydrogen production, but a pulse of BES triggered its production rate to 700 ± 200 mL H2 L−1 day−1. This strategy did not affect granules structure significantly. Bacteria branching within Clostridiaceae and Ruminococcaceae were present in this sludge. This work demonstrates that, methods applied to suppress H2‐consuming microorganisms can cause changes in the macro‐ and microstructure of granular sludge, which can be incompatible with the operation of high‐rate reactors. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011; 108:1766–1775. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exact and approximate solutions for the decades‐old Michaelis‐Menten equation: Progress‐curve analysis through integrated rate equations
Authors: Goličnik Marko 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe Michaelis‐Menten rate equation can be found in most general biochemistry textbooks, where the time derivative of the substrate is a hyperbolic function of two kinetic parameters (the limiting rate V, and the Michaelis constant KM) and the amount of substrate. However, fundamental concepts of enzyme kinetics can be difficult to understand fully, or can even be misunderstood, by students when based only on the differential form of the Michaelis‐Menten equation, and the variety of methods available to calculate the kinetic constants from rate versus substrate concentration “textbook data.” Consequently, enzyme kinetics can be confusing if an analytical solution of the Michaelis‐Menten equation is not available. Therefore, the still rarely known exact solution to the Michaelis‐Menten equation is presented here through the explicit closed‐form equation in terms of the Lambert W(x) function. Unfortunately, as the W(x) is not available in standard curve‐fitting computer programs, the practical use of this direct solution is limited for most life‐science students. Thus, the purpose of this article is to provide analytical approximations to the equation for modeling Michaelis‐Menten kinetics. The elementary and explicit nature of these approximations can provide students with direct and simple estimations of kinetic parameters from raw experimental time‐course data. The Michaelis‐Menten kinetics studied in the latter context can provide an ideal alternative to the 100‐year‐old problems of data transformation, graphical visualization, and data analysis of enzyme‐catalyzed reactions. Hence, the content of the course presented here could gradually become an important component of the modern biochemistry curriculum in the 21st century. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 117–125, 2011
Right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by MR imaging and stereology: Comparison with standard image analysis method
Authors: Mazonakis Michalis , Pagonidis Konstantinos , Damilakis John 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of the stereological method for estimating right ventricular parameters on cine MR images. The end‐diastolic volume (EDV), end‐systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) were estimated in 19 consecutive patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease employing the stereological point counting method. Stereological measurements were performed with different grids of test points. The RV parameters were also derived by the standard method based on the manual adjustment of automatically obtained endocardial contours. The statistical difference and agreement between the two methods was found. Measurement reproducibility of both methods was determined. The counting of about 100 test points on all MR images provided EDV and ESV with a mean coefficient of error of 7.0 ± 1.3% and 7.4 ± 2.1%, respectively. The volume estimation precision was not significantly improved by counting more points (EDV: P = 0.058; ESV:P = 0.333). Stereological estimations were not significantly different from those by the standard method (EDV: P = 0.093; ESV: P = 0.072; SV: P = 0.291; EF: P = 0.300). The 95% limits of agreement between the two methods were clinically acceptable (EDV: −12.1 cm3, 18.9 cm3; ESV: −6.4 cm3, 10.4 cm3; SV: −10.5 cm3, 13.5 cm3; EF: −7.5%, 6.3%). The repeatability of stereological estimations was better than that of the standard method (coefficient of variability: 3.4–5.3% versus 4.0–7.1%). The measurement time with stereolgy was less than 4 min. The stereological method may be considered as an improvement over the standard method due to its accuracy and repeatability. Clin. Anat. 24:868–873, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The clinical interest of the ary‐thyro‐cricoid fascicle
Authors: Maranillo Eva , Rodriguez‐Niedenführ Marc , Hernandez‐Morato Ignacio , Pascual‐Font Arán , Donat Emilio , McHanwell Stephen , Vázquez Teresa 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe aim of this work was to study the prevalence and form of the ary‐thyro‐cricoid (ATC) muscular fascicle, a variable muscular slip connecting the oblique and/or transverse arytenoid muscles with the thyroarytenoid (TA) and/or lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA) muscles resembling a sphincter encircling the glottis. Thirty larynges obtained from necropsies of individuals with no known laryngeal pathology were dissected. The ATC fascicle was observed in 96.7% of the larynges. It appeared bilaterally in 60% of subjects and unilaterally in 36.7%. The posterior attachment of the muscular slip was observed to be in common with either the transverse arytenoid (34%), or the oblique arytenoid (28%) or both muscles (38%). Its fibers terminated by intermingling with either those of the LCA muscle (10.6%), or the TA muscle (38.3%) or both (51.1%). These variable attachments mean that there are nine possible variants of this muscular fascicle. The ATC fascicle was supplied by branches originating bilaterally from the recurrent laryngeal (RLN) and internal laryngeal nerves. The existence of this ATC fascicle could explain the variable position (intermediate, paramedian or lateral) adopted by the vocal folds after lesion of the RLN. The bilateral disposition and innervation of the fascicle could also complicate the interpretation of electromyographic techniques used for testing laryngeal nerve function. Clin. Anat. 24:706–710, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Child Protection Week: An Effective Method of Hospital‐wide Training
Authors: Brewer Helen , Mitchell Claire , Tomlinson Richard 
Published: March 2011

Key Practitioner Messages

This is the first study assessing hospital‐wide knowledge and the impact of a Child Protection Week as a method of training.
We have identified the effective elements of a Child Protection Week. The newsletter and Intranet articles proved the most recalled media.
Self‐declaration of child protection knowledge is an effective method to evidence training. Staff were significantly more likely to have positive knowledge, skills and attitudes to safeguard children.
Differences in consumer preferences when facing branded versus non‐branded choices
Authors: Ubilava David , Foster Kenneth A. , Lusk Jayson L. , Nilsson Tomas 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBecause brands can signal reputation and serve as proxies for trust, consumer preferences for credence attributes may differ for branded and non‐branded products. We test this hypothesis using data from a choice experiment conducted with US pork consumers. The results indicate that consumers are usually willing to pay more for a certification attribute in a non‐branded as compared to branded product. Additionally, greater variation in consumer willingness‐to‐pay for credence attributes is observed in the non‐branded case. This latter characteristic of the results may represent the increased uncertainty some consumers internalize concerning quality consistency when brand information is not provided. These results have interesting implications for producers, processors, retailers, and policy makers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
“No More” leads to “Want More,” but “No Less” leads to “Want Less”: Consumers' counterfactual thinking when faced with quantity restriction discounts
Authors: Yoon Sukki , Vargas Patrick 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe current research examines the impact of point‐of‐purchase (POP) discounts on consumers' counterfactual thinking (CFT). Study 1 reveals that consumers tend to engage in upward CFT (what might have been better) rather than downward CFT (what might have been worse) in response to POP discounts. Study 2 shows that upward CFT depends on how the discount information is framed. A discount with a lower‐quantity restriction (e.g., “X % off if you buy at least Y items”) leads consumers to counterfactually wish to buy more, but a discount with an upper‐quantity restriction (“X % off – limit Y items per customer”) leads consumers to wish to buy less. Study participants in both conditions report they would buy the same POP‐suggested amount, but for completely opposite reasons. In Study 3, this convergence effect in purchase quantity disappears when the maximum and minimum restrictions are lifted, suggesting that quantity restrictions in POP discounts guide quantity decisions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Profiling key purchase influencers: Those perceived as consumer savvy
Authors: Nancarrow Clive , Tinson Julie , Brace Ian 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe concept of consumer intelligence or consumer savvy is defined and the way in which this can be measured is examined with a view to determining if and how being perceived to be savvy affects decision‐making influence in a family setting in the UK. A sample of 524 matched pairs (mother and her child) drawn from the TNS postal panel responded to a questionnaire that determined the mother's perception of how savvy her child is with regard to shopping in general and with regard to two product categories (casual clothes for the child and a summer holiday). The child's reported influence on decision making in these categories as well as their money management is also explored. The children perceived to be more savvy were female and older. Mothers in lower socio‐economic groups were also more likely to perceive their children as ‘savvy’. The more savvy children were more involved in the purchase decision process. Implications and future research avenues are presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aggregation Behaviors of Tricarbocyanine Dye in Water and in AOT Reverse Micelles
Authors: Zhu Ruixue , Lü Rong , Yu Anchi 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe photophysical property of the tricarbocyanine dye IR144 has been extensively studied in non‐aqueous solvents. However, as a potential near‐infrared biomedical imaging probe, the photophysical property of IR144 in water is still little known. So, the aggregation behaviors of IR144 in water with steady‐state absorption spectroscopy and integrated polarization dependent femtosecond pump‐probe spectroscopy were investigated. Through comparing the absorption spectral bandshape of IR144 in water and in water pool of AOT reverse micelles, It is found that IR144 form dimer aggregates in water even at very low concentration (<1.0×10−7 mol·L−1). And the absorption spectrum of the IR144 aggregates always displays a bimodal feature, which is independent of the dye concentration ranging from 1.0×10−7 to 1.0×10−4 mol·L−1. For better understanding the aggregation behaviors of IR144 in water, we measured the ground state recovery kinetics and the reorientation kinetics of IR144 in water and in water pool of AOT reverse micelles (W0=[H2O]/[AOT], W0=40). It is found that the fluorescence quantum yield of IR144 in water is lower than that in water pool of AOT reverse micelles, and the reorientation time of IR144 in water is slower than that in water pool of AOT reverse micelles. Those kinetic measurements also verify that IR144 exists as dimer aggregates in water.
Study on Conductivity Properties of PEDOT Prepared through a Modified LB Film Method
Authors: Zheng Huajing , Jiang Yadong , Xu Jianhua , Yang Yajie 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAdopting LB film method, an arachidic acid (AA)/PEDOT multilayer LB film was chosen, and polymerized EDOT monomers in hydrophilic group of LB to prepare arachidic acid (AA)/PEDOT multilayer LB film. UV‐Vis, FT‐IR and XPS analyses implied that EDOT was effectively polymerized in film, and thus PEDOT conducting polymer was produced. Analyses of XRR and SIMS indicated that film had a well‐arranged lamella structure, and further research showed that polymerization of EDOT in AA film destroyed the orderliness of the original LB film. This phenomenon could be related to the destructive effect of polymerization on layered structure. We used four‐point probe and semiconductor instrument to study the conductivity property of the film, and observed that the conductivity of AA/PEDOT film had sudden changes with the processing time of changes in effective conduction network. That was caused by "permeability" in conducting channel of multilayer film. The test results also indicated that the conductivity of AA/PEDOT film was obviously better than that of spin‐coating PEDOT/PSS film or that of ODA‐SA/PEDOT‐PSS film, which was due to the higher π structure of PEDOT structure and ordered film structure.
Homology Modeling of Cry1Ac Toxin‐binding Alkaline Phosphatase Receptor from Helicoverpa armigera and Its Functional Interpretation
Authors: Shan Shipinga , Xia Liqiu , Ding Xuezhia , Zhang Youminga , Hu Shengbiaoa , Sun Yunjuna , Yu Ziquana , Han Lizhenb 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAlkaline phosphatases (ALPs) attached to the midgut membrane with glycosyl phosphotidyl inositol (GPI) have been proposed as the putative Cry1Ac toxin receptor in Helicoverpa armigera. Activated toxins bind to ALP receptors on the brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) of the midgut epithelium, which activates intracellular oncotic pathways and leads to cell death. However, with the long‐term use of Cry toxin, insects can develop a strong resistance to insecticidal delta‐endotoxins. Although the molecular mechanism of insect resistance has not been fully understood, insects develop resistance to biopesticides due to changes of toxins binding to midgut receptors. So, it is a good idea to investigate the molecular mechanism of insect resistance by analyzing ALP receptor from Helicoverpa armigera (Ha‐ALP). Based on crystal structure of shrimp alkaline phosphatase, the three‐dimensional structure of the Cry1Ac toxin‐binding Ha‐ALP receptor was obtained by homology modeling and the model was further evaluated using PROSA energy and ERRAT. The important role of binding of toxin to GalNAc on Ha‐ALP was discussed in the aspect of Cry1Ac toxicity. Specific recognition sites of the binding of oligosaccharides to Ha‐ALP were predicted. Post‐translational modification of ALP provides insights into the functional properties of ALP and leads to profound understanding of receptor and toxin interactions.
A Calorimetric Study on the Interaction of Zinc and Cadmium Ions with Jack Bean Urease
Authors: Rezaei Behbehani G. , Saboury A. A. , Sabbaghy F. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractA thermodynamic study on the interaction of Jack bean urease, JBU, with Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) at 290, 300 and 310 K in 30 mmol/L Tris buffer solution, pH 7.0. The heats of JBU+Zn2+ and JBU+ 2+ interactions are reported and analyzed in terms of the extended solvation theory. It was indicated that there is a set of 12 identical and non‐interacting binding sites for Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions. The interactions of Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions with JBU are exothermic and both enthalpy and entropy driven. The association equilibrium constants for JBU+Zn2+ complexes are 4118.20, 3354.70 and 2790.62 L·mol−1 at 290, 300 and 310 K respectively. The association equilibrium constants for JBU+Cd2+ interactions are 2831.6 and 2386.28 L· −1 at 300 and 310 K, respectively.
DFT Studies on Detonation Properties, Pyrolysis Mechanism, and Stability of the Nitro and Hydroxyl Derivatives of Benzene
Authors: Du Hongchen , Liu Hui , Liu Yan , Zhang Jianyinga , Wang Fang , Gong Xuedong 
Published: March 2011

AbstractNinety‐one nitro and hydroxyl derivatives of benzene were studied at the B3LYP/6‐31G∗︁ level of density functional theory. Detonation properties were calculated using the Kamlet‐Jacobs equation. Three candidates (pentanitrophenol, pentanitrobenzene, and hexanitrobenzene) were recommended as potential high energy density compounds for their perfect detonation performances and reasonable stability. The pyrolysis mechanism was studied by analyzing the bond dissociation energy (BDE) and the activation energy (Ea) of hydrogen transfer (H–T) reaction for those with adjacent nitro and hydroxyl groups. The results show that Ea is much lower than BDEs of all bonds, so when there are adjacent nitro and hydroxyl groups in a molecule, the stability of the compound will decrease and the pyrolysis will be initiated by the H–T process. Otherwise, the pyrolysis will start from the breaking of the weakest C–NO2 bond, and only under such condition, the Mulliken population or BDE of the C–NO2 bond can be used to assess the relative stability of the compound.