bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The 3′ Untranslated Region of the Andes Hantavirus Small mRNA Functionally Replaces the Poly(A) Tail and Stimulates Cap-Dependent Translation Initiation from the Viral mRNA
Authors: Vera-Otarola Jorge , Soto-Rifo Ricardo , Ricci Emiliano P. , Ohlmann Théophile , Darlix Jean-Luc , López-Lastra Marcelo 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

In the process of translation of eukaryotic mRNAs, the 5′ cap and the 3′ poly(A) tail interact synergistically to stimulate protein synthesis. Unlike its cellular counterparts, the small mRNA (SmRNA) of Andes hantavirus (ANDV), a member of the
Bunyaviridae
, lacks a 3′ poly(A) tail. Here we report that the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of the ANDV SmRNA functionally replaces a poly(A) tail and synergistically stimulates cap-dependent translation initiation from the viral mRNA. Stimulation of translation by the 3′UTR of the ANDV SmRNA was found to be independent of viral proteins and of host poly(A)-binding protein.
Connaissance et incertitudes en gestion des infrastructures civiles : un point de vue décisionnelLe présent ouvrage fait partie d’une série d’articles publiés dans ce numéro spécial consacré au génie hydrotechnique.
Authors: Frenette R. , Bernard O. , Putallaz Y. , Gérard B. 
Published: July 2010

Sur la base d’une caractérisation de la pertinence, du niveau et du type d’incertitude, un gestionnaire peut savoir quels sont les outils les mieux adaptés pour gérer les conséquences du vieillissement d’une infrastructure sur son niveau de service. En présence d’une incertitude élevée, le gestionnaire doit disposer d’un processus de décision formalisé qui lui permet de protéger ses ressources globales. Le coût du traitement et des conséquences potentielles des risques associés à ces ressources constitue un passif à considérer comme une « provision pour risques ». Pour communiquer auprès des financeurs, cette provision peut être combinée avec la valeur résiduelle du système pour déterminer un indicateur de patrimoine. Enfin, pour suivre l’évolution de son système d’infrastructure, le gestionnaire peut utiliser la notion de turbulence issue d’une combinaison entre l’indicateur de patrimoine et la valeur actuelle nette des plans d’actions de maintenance. Cet indicateur de turbulence permet de surveiller l’équilibre entre l’efficacité économique des plans d’actions et la durabilité du patrimoine. La maîtrise de cet équilibre et de son incertain sont deux éléments essentiels du développement durable de nos infrastructures.
Choline kinase and its functionThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue entitled “Second International Symposium on Recent Advances in Basic, Clinical, and Social Medicine” and has undergone the Journal's usual peer review process.
Authors: Wu Gengshu , Vance Dennis E. 
Published: July 2010

Choline kinase (CK) was discovered in 1953. Progress in understanding the function of CK was slow until its purification in 1984. The subsequent cloning and expression of the cDNA led to the description of the gene structures. Two genes encode choline kinase, Chka and Chkb, and 3 isoforms of the enzyme have been identified — CKα-1, CKα-2, and CKβ — and the active form of CK is a hetero- or homo-dimer. More recently, gene-disrupted mice have been described. Mice that lack CKα die early in embryogenesis. In contrast, mice that lack CKβ survive to adulthood, but develop hindlimb muscular dystrophy and forelimb bone deformity. It has been shown that this hindlimb muscular dystrophy is due to decreased biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine and increased catabolism of phosphatidylcholine in the hindlimbs, but not the forelimbs, of mice. CK and its product phosphocholine have also been implicated in development of numerous cancers. Thus, a possible treatment for some kinds of cancer may involve drug inhibition of CK or targeting the expression of CK with RNA interference. In the mid 1950s it was clear that CK was important for the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine, but no one predicted a role for CK in muscular dystrophy, bone deformities, or cancer.
Proteomic profile of primary isolated rat mesangial cells in high-glucose culture condition and decreased expression of PSMA6 in renal cortex of diabetic ratsThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue entitled “Second International Symposium on Recent Advances in Basic, Clinical, and Social Medicine” and has undergone the Journal's usual peer review process.
Authors: Li Zhiguo , Zhang Haojun , Dong Xi , Burczynski Frank J. , Choy Patrick , Yang Fang , Liu Hui , Li Ping , Gong Yuewen 
Published: July 2010

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important complications of diabetic patients and is characterized histologically by an accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein in the glomerular mesangium. Therefore, mesangial cells likely play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Here, we employed proteomic techniques to investigate the protein profile of rat mesangial cells under high-glucose culture conditions. Primary isolated rat glomerular mesangial cells were cultured under different concentrations of glucose (5.4 mmol·L–1for normal control and 30 mmol·L–1for high glucose) for 0, 8, 16, and 72 h, as well as for 25 days. Cellular total proteins were isolated from these cells and employed for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Differentially expressed proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption – ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and some of these proteins were documented in rat models of diabetes by Western blot. Rat mesangial cells were successfully isolated in the laboratory and their proliferation rates were significantly inhibited by high glucose. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analyses revealed 28 differentially expressed protein spots between the normal and high-glucose groups. After MALDI-TOF-MS analysis, all 28 protein spots were successfully identified with the peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) method. Representatively, SOD1, PCBP1 and PSMA6 were validated by Western blot analysis following protein extractions from the normal and high-glucose groups. Abundance of these proteins was consistent with that found in 2-DE. Moreover, expression of SOD1, PCBP1, and PSMA6 in renal cortex was further examined in two rat models of diabetes (streptozotocin-induced and spontaneous OLETF diabetic models). Abundance of SOD1 and PCBP1 proteins did not show any significant difference between normal control and diabetic rats. However, abundance of the PSMA6 protein was significantly reduced in the renal cortex of both STZ-induced and spontaneous OLETF diabetic rats. Proteomic analysis identified 28 differentially expressed proteins in primary isolated rat mesangial cells between normal and high glucose treatments. Expression of one identified protein was found to be consistent with expression in the renal cortex of two rat diabetic models. Therefore, identification of protein expression patterns in mesangial cells can be employed to develop a therapeutic target for treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Neuregulin-1 regulates the expression of Akt, Bcl-2, and Bad signaling after focal cerebral ischemia in ratsThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue entitled “Second International Symposium on Recent Advances in Basic, Clinical, and Social Medicine” and has undergone the Journal's usual peer review process.
Authors: Guo Wen-Ping , Fu Xin-Ge , Jiang Su-Ming , Wu Jian-Zhong 
Published: July 2010

Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) is a member of the epidermal growth factor family. Our previous study showed that NRG-1 protected neurons from apoptosis following focal cerebral ischemia by the inhibition of caspase-3 and TNF-α expression. However, the molecular signaling mechanisms for this action of NRG-1 following cerebral ischemia are not fully understood. Presently, activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway has been implicated as a major contributor to neuronal survival after an ischemic insult. In the present study, we investigated whether NRG-1 modulates the activation of Akt and its downstream targets Bad and Bcl-2 expression after transient focal cerebral ischemia by intraluminal blockade of the middle cerebral artery. Western blot was employed to analyze the change of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) expression; reverse transcription and polymerization chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to measure changes of Bcl-2 mRNA. The level of phosphorylation of Bad (p-Bad) was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that recombinant human NRG-1(3.0 ng·kg–1) significantly increased the expression of p-Akt protein, Bcl-2 mRNA, and the level of p-Bad, respectively, whereas administration of LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, significantly decreased the expression of p-Akt, p-Bad, and Bcl-2 induced by NRG-1 after a 60 min ischemic insult, followed by 24 h of reperfusion. These results indicate that NRG-1 may be involved in regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and p-Bad through the PI3K/Akt pathway after transient focal cerebral ischemia.
The effects of amiloride, a Na+–H+exchange inhibitor, on iliac artery stenosis after balloon injury in rabbitsThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue entitled “Second International Symposium on Recent Advances in Basic, Clinical, and Social Medicine” and has undergone the Journal's usual peer review process.
Authors: Fang Xiao Yi , Lin Ni Yang , Li Yu Guang 
Published: July 2010

This study was designed to explore the effects of amiloride, a Na+–H+exchange (NHE) inhibitor, on vessel stenosis by observing the expression of NHE-1 protein in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) after balloon injury and the effects of amiloride on VSM cell proliferation, migration, and excretion of extracellular matrices (ECMs). A total of 32 adult male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a balloon injury group (BG), an amiloride-treated group (AG), and a sham-operated group (SG). The left iliac artery was injured by inflating a 2.5 mm × 20 mm Foley catheter in BG and AG rabbits; in SG rabbits, the Foley catheter was inserted but not inflated. Amiloride (5 mg·kg–1·d–1) was injected intraperitoneally in AG and the same volume of distilled water was used in BG 3 days before balloon injury and for 28 days after the injury. The left iliac artery was stained by hematoxylin–eosin, α-actin, and Masson's trichrome to observe the vessel cava, neointima, media layer, and ECMs. NHE-1 proteins of the VSM were detected by Western blotting. A narrowing of the arterial cava, neointima formation, and thickened VSM layer were observed 28 days after balloon injury in BG and AG. However, in AG, the vessel cava was not as narrowed as that of BG and the intimal areas were to a lesser extent than in BG. In AG, the α-actin-positive areas and the ECM areas in the neointima were increased compared with SG, but to a lesser extent than in BG. The expression of NHE-1 protein in VSM was increased in BG and AG after balloon injury; however, the levels in AG were significantly less than in BG. In conclusion, VSM cell proliferation, migration, and excretion of ECMs contributed to vessel stenosis in the BG and AG rabbits. The expression of NHE-1 protein in VSM increased after balloon injury. Amiloride, an inhibitor of NHE-1, can limit the development of vessel stenosis through inhibition of VSM cell proliferation, migration, and excretion of ECMs.
Involvement of NF-κB activation in the apoptosis induced by extracellular adenosine in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cellsThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue entitled “Second International Symposium on Recent Advances in Basic, Clinical, and Social Medicine” and has undergone the Journal's usual peer review process.
Authors: Wu Ling-Fei , Li Guo-Ping , Su Jian-Dong , Pu Ze-Jin , Feng Jia-Lin , Ye Yan-Qing , Wei Bi-Liu 
Published: July 2010

Adenosine can exhibit cytotoxic activity in vivo and in vitro, though its mechanisms are still uncertain. In this study, we investigated the adenosine-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway and the role of NF-κB in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of adenosine for 12–48 h, and the effect of adenosine on cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of adenosine alone or in combination with an NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), was also evaluated by MTT assay and the mode of cell death was detected by Hoechst 33342 staining. Cell cycle progress was performed by flow cytometry with PI staining. The protein expressions of Bcl-2, p53, NF-κB subunit p65, and caspase-3 were assayed by Western blot. Caspase-3 activity was measured by spectrophotomteric assay. The results showed that adenosine significantly reduced the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with IC50(24 and 48 h) of 2.52 and 1.89 mmol·L–1, respectively. The apoptotic index (percentage of sub-G1phase) of HepG2 cells in adenosine treatment alone for 12 and 24 h or in combination with PDTC were 8.30%, 22.32% and 20.18%, 30.89%, respectively. All of them were higher than that in the control group (0.81%, p < 0.01). The characteristic changes of cell apoptosis (chromatin condensation and sub-G1peak) were observed under fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. We also found that the apoptotic process triggered by adenosine was involved in G0–G1cell-cycle arrest, enhanced the activity of caspase-3, upregulated p53 and NF-κB p65 expression, and downregulated Bcl-2 expression. Inhibition of NF-κB by PDTC decreased NF-κB p65 expression, enhanced cell apoptosis ratio, and increased caspase-3 activity. NF-κB may play an anti-apoptosis role in adenosine-induced HepG2 cytotoxicity.
Relationship among superoxide-related enzyme, PPARs, and endothelium-dependent relaxation in murine aortas previously organ-cultured in high-glucose conditions
Authors: Takenouchi Yasuhiro , Kobayashi Tsuneo , Taguchi Kumiko , Matsumoto Takayuki , Kamata Katsuo 
Published: July 2010

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship among superoxide anion, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and endothelium-dependent relaxation in murine aortas organ-cultured in a high-glucose condition. Aortas organ-cultured with a high concentration of glucose (40 mmol/L, 20 h; HG group) exhibited the following characteristics (versus aortas cultured in serum-free medium): (i) significantly weaker relaxation to acetylcholine, but unchanged relaxation to SNP and unchanged contractions to norepinephrine and isotonic K+, (ii) significantly greater superoxide generation (indicated by the amount of nitroblue tetrazolium reduced, (iii) significantly higher protein expression levels of gp91phox, NAD(P)H oxidase subunits, and endothelial NO synthase, (iv) significantly lower protein expression level of Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), and (v) markedly greater reduction in the protein expression of PPARγ than in that of PPARα. The HG-induced impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation was prevented by cotreatment with tempol (a SOD mimetic). These results suggest that in the mouse aorta, exposure to high glucose levels may lead to an excessive generation of superoxide via increased gp91phox and decreased Mn-SOD protein expression and that this may in turn trigger an impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation. Moreover, such protein changes in gp91phox and Mn-SOD may be secondary to a decreased expression of PPARγ protein.
Visual observation of erosion processes on the Black Marl badlands in the southern Alps, France
Authors: Yamakoshi T. , Mathys N. , Klotz S. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract

To clarify the erosion processes on a marly bare slope in the southern Alps, the erosion processes on a steep and erodible slope composed of Black Marls formations were observed using a time-lapse video camera. The observations revealed that miniature debris flows (MDFs) occurred at the time of the rainfall–runoff event during which the most severe erosion took place over the 3 month observation period. Analysing the camera images, we show some characteristics of the MDFs and discuss them in the context of real rainfall–runoff phenomena observed at the outlet of the small experimental basin that contained the visually observed slope. The following results were obtained. (1) It is roughly estimated that the total amount of sediment discharged by the MDFs was not quantitatively negligible in comparison with the total sediment discharge from the entire experimental basin. (2) The MDFs occurred only during the rising limb of the hydrograph, which lasted 6 min. The visual observation also provided information on triggering conditions. Compared with the precipitation data, it was found that a rainfall intensity of 1 mm min
−1
triggered MDFs and an antecedent cumulative rainfall of 10.4 mm was also enough to trigger an MDF. This is consistent with a previous study in Draix. (3) Although the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor and Manning's
n
of the MDFs observed differ considerably, they are consistent with results in the literature reporting erosion phenomena on very steep slopes up to 36°. (4) Based on this observation and a review of the literature, on very steep and highly erodible slopes, MDFs or similar phenomena might play an important role in erosion and transport processes. It is important to consider this possibility when examining erosion models for catchments composed of steep and erodible slopes.
Relationship between the residual shear strength and the methylene blue value in weathered clay soils
Authors: Meisina C. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
A new correlation is proposed between the residual shear strength and the methylene blue value (‘value of blue’; VB) for weathered clay soils on argillaceous bedrock and on alluvial soils in the Oltrepo Pavese area (Northern Italy), which can be considered as geologically representative of a large part of the Italian Apennines. Shallow landslides occur periodically in these soils as a result of high-intensity rainfall events. A number of soils were tested. Trench pits were used for sampling and for the soil profile description (lithology, structure, grade of weathering, thickness). Field surveys were integrated with some standard geotechnical laboratory tests. The methylene blue dye adsorption (VB) was determined in accordance with the French AFNOR standards. The residual strength friction angle was measured with direct shear tests; the procedure employed for the measure involved inserting the soil at the liquid limit in the direct shear ring, applying consolidation in stages and then shearing (Kanji method). The applicability of some existing correlations between the residual friction angle and index properties were tested. The correlations are characterized by a large amount of scatter in the data and tend to overestimate the residual friction angle. The VB test is easy and rapid to perform and appears to be a good indicator of the residual strength friction angle for the tested soils.
Weathering in the crystalline rocks of Calabria, Italy, and relationships to landslides
Authors: Calcaterra Domenico , Parise Mario 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
This paper reviews approximately 40 years of studies focused on landslides in weathered crystalline rocks of Calabria, southern Italy. In these studies geological, geomorphological, mineralogical, petrographical, engineering-geological and geotechnical aspects of the Palaeozoic granitoids and the high-grade metamorphic rocks cropping out in the Calabrian massifs have been considered. This in turn has allowed depiction of the regional landsliding scenario, where almost all the main typologies of mass movements have been recognized, ranging from shallow soil slips and extremely rapid debris flows to slow-moving deep-seated gravitational slope deformations. From north to south, the Sila Massif, Coastal Chain, and Poro, Serre and Aspromonte Massifs are described, with reference to the studies dealing with weathering and slope movements in the different geological and morphological settings. The regional extent of the weathering processes gave researchers the opportunity to adopt and calibrate mapping methods, specifically devoted to analysis and mitigation of the landslide hazard in weathered materials, which have also been applied to important civil engineering works. A further distinctive character of the Calabrian weathering is its age, which has been ascribed to Tertiary time. Such an ancient initiation could be regarded as one of the main reasons for the depth of the weathered mantle, which, despite the rugged topography, in some districts exceeds 150–200 m.
The Hunters Crossing weathered rock slide, Haywood County, North Carolina, USA
Authors: Latham Rebecca S. , Wooten Richard M. , Billington Edward D. , Gillon Kenneth A. , Witt Anne C. , Bauer Jennifer B. , Fuemmeler Stephen J. , Douglas Thomas J. , Kinner David , Waters-Tormey Cheryl 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The Hunters Crossing landslide is a slow-moving, weathered rock slide affecting a small community of condominiums in the town of Waynesville in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Haywood County, North Carolina. In November 2005, studies were begun to assess the characteristics of this landslide and the potential for further movement and damage to structures. Work included drilling several boreholes, performing seismic velocity surveys, and surveying benchmarks among other investigations. Data indicate that the potential failure surface is located no more than 11 m below the ground surface, possibly at the contact between saprolite and partially weathered rock. However, inclinometers installed at two locations on the slope have not detected enough movement to corroborate that assessment. Studies continue at this site to determine the location of the failure surface, to identify the mechanisms that accelerate movement, and to relate these findings to a broader understanding of weathered rock slides elsewhere in the southeastern USA.
Intensity of female preference for call source level in midwife toads Alytes cisternasii and A. obstetricans
Authors: Márquez Rafael , Bosch Jaime , Eekhout Xavier 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWe address the question of whether female preference exerts selection on male calling energy (souce level). We investigate whether female midwife toads express a preference between advertisement calls that have different source levels but that reach them with similar intensities (due to differences in distance). Females were presented with pairs of recordings of identical synthetic calls, recorded at the same location in the field site, and reaching the microphone at similar sound levels (69 dB peak SPL). Stimulus 'Hi source level' was recorded two meters away from the sound source but emitted with higher sound intensity, and stimulus 'Low source level' was recorded one meter away from the source but emitted with lower source level. We use a protocol of 'playback setpoints' for tests with no a priori expectations. We did not find evidence of female preference for source level in either species. Alytes obstetricans females reversed their choice when differences in intensity were lower, suggesting lower selectivity during the approach phase. We conclude that any selection on male call intensity is unlikely to occur, possibly being severely limited by calling location (male–female distance) and by transmission conditions.