bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enzyme‐synthesized poly(amine‐co‐esters) as nonviral vectors for gene delivery
Authors: Liu Jie , Jiang Zhaozhong , Zhou Jiangbing , Zhang Shengmin , Saltzman W. Mark 
Published: December 2010

AbstractA family of biodegradable poly(amine‐co‐esters) was synthesized in one step via enzymatic copolymerization of diesters with amino‐substituted diols. Diesters of length C4‐C12 (i.e., from succinate to dodecanedioate) were successfully copolymerized with diethanolamines with either an alkyl (methyl, ethyl, n‐butyl, t‐butyl) or an aryl (phenyl) substituent on the nitrogen. Upon protonation at slightly acidic conditions, these poly(amine‐co‐esters) readily turned to cationic polyelectrolytes, which were capable of condensing with polyanionic DNA to form nanometer‐sized polyplexes. In vitro screening with pLucDNA revealed that two of the copolymers, poly(N‐methyldiethyleneamine sebacate) (PMSC) and poly(N‐ethyldiethyleneamine sebacate) (PESC), possessed comparable or higher transfection efficiencies compared with Lipofectamine 2000. PMSC/pLucDNA and PESC/pLucDNA nanoparticles had desirable particle sizes (40–70 nm) for cellular uptake and were capable of functioning as proton sponges to facilitate endosomal escape after cellular uptake. These polyplex nanoparticles exhibited extremely low cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in vivo gene transfection experiments revealed that PMSC is a substantially more effective gene carrier than PEI in delivering pLucDNA to cells in tumors in mice. All these properties suggest that poly(amine‐co‐esters) are promising nonviral vectors for safe and efficient DNA delivery in gene therapy. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011.
Effects of aqueous environment and surface defects on Arg‐Gly‐Asp peptide adsorption on titanium oxide surfaces investigated by molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Zhang Hong‐ping , Lu Xiong , Leng Yang , Watari Fumio , Weng Jie , Feng Bo , Qu Shuxin 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe interactions between Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) peptides and titanium oxide (TiO2) surfaces are of considerable interest to medical technological and fundamental researchers. In the present study, a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to study the interfacial interaction between RGD and TiO2 at an atomistic level. Four important factors affecting RGD adsorption were considered: the initial configuration of the RGD, the crystal structure of the TiO2 materials, the presence of surface defects, and a water environment. Three types of RGD initial configurations were considered: lying and standing on the N or O end. First, RGD adsorptions on ideal rutile (110) and anatase (101) surfaces in a vacuum and in a water environment were studied; then the step edge effects were considered, and, finally, the synergistic effects of water and surface defects on RGD adsorption were investigated. The results from the vacuum indicated that the crystal structure of the surface was more important than the initial RGD configuration. The interaction between RGD and the anatase (101) surface was stronger than that between RGD and the rutile (110) surface according the energy analysis. Atomic step edges on TiO2 surfaces could greatly affect the adsorption of the RGD peptide. Water limited the interaction between the RGD peptide and the TiO2 substrate and helped to sustain the initial configuration of the former. These findings should be helpful in understanding the RGD–TiO2 interaction mechanisms and should provide useful theoretical guidelines for titanium surface treatments in orthopedic applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011.
t10c12‐CLA maintains higher bone mineral density during aging by modulating osteoclastogenesis and bone marrow adiposity
Authors: Rahman Md M. , Halade Ganesh V. , Williams Paul J. , Fernandes Gabriel 
Published: December 2010

AbstractConjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to positively influence calcium and bone metabolism. Earlier, we showed that CLA (equal mixture of c9t11‐CLA and t10c12‐CLA) could protect age‐associated bone loss by modulating inflammatory markers and osteoclastogenesis. Since, c9t11‐CLA and t10c12‐CLA isomers differentially regulate functional parameters and gene expression in different cell types, we examined the efficacy of individual CLA isomers against age‐associated bone loss using 12 months old C57BL/6 female mice fed for 6 months with 10% corn oil (CO), 9.5% CO + 0.5% c9t11‐CLA, 9.5% CO + 0.5% t10c12‐CLA or 9.5% CO + 0.25% c9t11‐CLA + 0.25% t10c12‐CLA. Mice fed a t10c12‐CLA diet maintained a significantly higher bone mineral density (BMD) in femoral, tibial and lumbar regions than those fed CO and c9t11‐CLA diets as measured by dual‐energy‐X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). The increased BMD was accompanied by a decreased production of osteoclastogenic factors, that is, RANKL, TRAP5b, TNF‐alpha and IL‐6 in serum. Moreover, a significant reduction of high fat diet‐induced bone marrow adiposity was observed in t10c12‐CLA fed mice as compared to that of CO and c9t11‐CLA fed mice, as measured by Oil‐Red‐O staining of bone marrow sections. In addition, a significant reduction of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorbing pit formation was observed in t10c12‐CLA treated RAW 264.7 cell culture stimulated with RANKL as compared to that of c9t11‐CLA and linoleic acid treated cultures. In conclusion, these findings suggest that t10c12‐CLA is the most potent CLA isomer and it exerts its anti‐osteoporotic effect by modulating osteoclastogenesis and bone marrow adiposity. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 2406–2414, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of membrane cholesterol depletion and GPI‐anchored protein reduction on osteoblastic mechanotransduction
Authors: Xing Yanghui , Gu Yan , Xu Li‐Chong , Siedlecki Christopher A. , Donahue Henry J. , You Jun 
Published: December 2010

AbstractWe previously demonstrated that oscillatory fluid flow activates MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cell calcium signaling pathways via a mechanism involving ATP releases and P2Y2 puringeric receptors. However, the molecular mechanisms by which fluid flow initiates cellular responses are still unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that lipid rafts, one of the important membrane structural components, may play an important role in transducing extracellular fluid shear stress to intracellular responses. Due to the limitations of current techniques, there is no direct approach to study the role of lipid rafts in transmitting fluid shear stress. In this study, we targeted two important membrane components associated with lipid rafts, cholesterol, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored proteins (GPI‐anchored proteins), to disrupt the integrity of cell membrane structures. We first demonstrated that membrane cholesterol depletion with the treatment of methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin inhibits oscillatory fluid flow induced intracellular calcium mobilization and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cells. Secondly, we used a novel approach to decrease the levels of GPI‐anchored proteins on cell membranes by overexpressing glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase D in MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cells. This resulted in significant inhibition of intracellular calcium mobilization and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in response to oscillatory fluid flow. Finally, we demonstrated that cholesterol depletion inhibited oscillatory fluid flow induced ATP releases, which were responsible for the activation of calcium signaling pathways in MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cells. Our findings suggest that cholesterol and GPI‐anchored proteins, two membrane structural components related to lipid rafts, may play an important role in osteoblastic cell mechanotransduction. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 2350–2359, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ClC‐3 is a main component of background chloride channels activated under isotonic conditions by autocrine ATP in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells
Authors: Yang Linjie , Ye Dong , Ye Wencai , Jiao Chenggang , Zhu Linyan , Mao Jianwen , Jacob Tim J.C. , Wang Liwei , Chen Lixin 
Published: December 2010

AbstractIn this study, the activation mechanisms of the background chloride current and the role of the current in maintaining of basal cell volume were investigated in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE‐2Z cells. Under isotonic conditions, a background chloride current was recorded by the patch clamp technique. The current presented the properties similar to those of the volume‐activated chloride current in the same cell line and was inhibited by chloride channel blockers or by cell shrinkage induced by hypertonic challenges. Extracellular applications of reactive blue 2, a purinergic receptor antagonist, suppressed the background chloride current in a concentration‐dependent manner under isotonic conditions. Depletion of extracellular ATP with apyrase or inhibition of ATP release from cells by gadolinium chloride decreased the background current. Extracellular applications of micromolar concentrations of ATP activated a chloride current which was inhibited by chloride channel blockers and hypertonic solutions. Extracellular ATP could also reverse the action of gadolinium chloride. Transfection of CNE‐2Z cells with ClC‐3 siRNA knocked down expression of ClC‐3 proteins, attenuated the background chloride current and prevented activation of the ATP‐induced current. Furthermore, knockdown of ClC‐3 expression or exposures of cells to ATP (10 mM), the chloride channel blockers 5‐nitro‐2‐(3‐phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) and tamoxifen, or reactive blue 2 increased cell volume under isotonic conditions. The results suggest that ClC‐3 protein may be a main component of background chloride channels which can be activated under isotonic conditions by autocrine/paracrine ATP through purinergic receptor pathways; the background current is involved in maintenance of basal cell volume. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 2516–2526, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Links between tropical indices and southern Australian rainfall
Authors: Smith Ian N. , Timbal Bertrand 
Published: December 2010

AbstractLinks between southern Australian rainfall totals and tropical indices are investigated with the aim of identifying potential explanations for observed trends over the period 1950–2008. We find that, as has been noted in many previous studies, fluctuations in Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies do not explain significantly more of interannual rainfall fluctuations than other indices which are dominated by El Nino Southern Oscillation events. It is proposed that a composite index, capturing SST variations in the Indian Ocean, the seas to the north of Australia, and the Pacific Ocean may be more useful in studying interannual variability. We also find that, while most indices can be significantly linked to rainfall fluctuations on interannual time scales, these links do not adequately describe the long‐term trends. This suggests that the drivers of long‐term trends in southern Australian rainfall do not involve the tropical oceans so much as changes in the large‐scale atmospheric circulation. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Storm surge modelling with geographic information systems: estimating areas and population affected by cyclone Nargis
Authors: Ozcelik Ceyhun , Gorokhovich Yuri , Doocy Shannon 
Published: December 2010

AbstractA methodology has been developed to model storm surges during cyclones, and to estimate affected areas and population with Geographical Information System (GIS). Surge profiles were derived from the calibrated wind velocity distribution by using regional regressive relationships between the wind velocities and surge heights. Discretised forms of the calculated surge profiles were entered in GIS analysis to estimate affected area and population. This approach was compared with a simple and more common GIS approach that uses a constant storm surge height. The study also considers the effects of different time advisories on the estimation of affected population and areas. It was found that for the cyclone ‘Nargis’, the affected area and population could be estimated with accuracies of 60 and 20%, respectively, for advisories issued when the cyclone centre was more than 600 km from the landing point. These accuracies were 80 and 60%, respectively, when the cyclone centre was within 200 km of landfall. The proposed methodology can be helpful for early warning systems and disaster risk management due to its simplicity and speed as well as in cases where minimal information on the affected areas and population is available such as in the case of cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Variations and prediction of the annual number of tropical cyclones affecting Korea and Japan
Authors: Goh Andy Zung‐Ching , Chan Johnny C. L. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis paper investigates the factors affecting the annual number of tropical cyclones (TCs) passing within 100 km of the coast of Korea and Japan (KJ). Using a training set consisting of the coefficients of empirical orthogonal functions of these factors between 1965 and 2005, equations are derived to predict the annual number of these TCs over the whole season in April, and to update this prediction for the July‐November (JN) season in June. Results show that the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) plays a key role in determining the behaviour of TCs affecting KJ, with more TCs affecting the region during El Niño and less during La Niña. This difference can be attributed to ENSO modifying the flow patterns, which in turn affects TC behaviour. The prediction equations suggest that the 500‐hPa geopotential height is more important in determining the number of TCs affecting KJ in the whole season, while both the 850‐hPa geopotential height and 850‐hPa vorticity play a role in the JN season. Both prediction schemes are able to produce acceptable results, with forecast skills of 42.3 and 33.3% over climatology for the whole, and JN seasons, respectively. The predicted TC number for 2006, 2007, and 2008 are also mostly accurate to within one standard deviation of the observed number. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Onset of the total ozone increase based on statistical analyses of global ground‐based data for the period 1964–2008
Authors: Krzyścin J. W. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe zonally averaged total column ozone from ground‐based observations for the period 1964–2008 is being examined to detect changes in the trend pattern. The ozone long‐term changes for the periods 1980–1995 and 1996–2008 are estimated through the use of a triad of regression models that differ in the description of a trend term. The trend term could be proportional to the amount of ozone‐depleting substances in the atmosphere, or has a piecewise linear form with turning points in 1980 and 1996, or described by any smooth curve. The standard indices of the ozone dynamical drivers: 10.7 cm solar flux, zonal component of the stratospheric wind in the tropics, the Arctic, and Antarctic Oscillation index, and the vertical component of the Eliassen‐Palm flux are used to parameterise the ozone response to changes in the atmospheric dynamics.The trends are calculated separately for each season and for the entire year by using the aggregated monthly mean data over broad latitudinal zones: SH polar (90°S–65°S), SH midlatitudes (60°S–30°S), Tropics (25°S–25°N), NH midlatitudes (30°N–60°N), NH polar (65°N–90°N), 50°S–50°N band, and the entire globe (90°S–90°N). All versions of the trend model give statistically significant (at the 95% confidence level) positive trends of ∼0.5–1.0% per decade for the period 1996–2008 over the whole globe (boreal spring), and over 50°S–50°N zone (boreal summer and the entire year). An agreement between trend values by various trend models with different parameterisation of the dynamically driven ozone variations builds a strong support for changes in the trend pattern since the mid‐1990s. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Temporal and spatial patterns of precipitation variability for annual, wet, and dry seasons in Turkey
Authors: Unal Yurdanur S. , Deniz Ali , Toros Hüseyin , Incecik Selahattin 
Published: December 2010

AbstractIn the present study, annual, wet and dry seasons precipitation records for the period 1961–2008 from 271 stations in Turkey were analysed using the rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF), the Mann‐Kendall trend test and the continuous wavelet transform (WT) method. Additionally, relationships between time variability of the significant spatial patterns and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Arctic Oscillation (AO), and North‐Sea Caspian Pattern (NCP) are examined. The REOF method was used to analyse the annual, dry, and wet season variability of precipitation patterns over Turkey. The Mann‐Kendall method was used to detect the temporal trend of the rotated principal components (RPCs) time series, and the continuous wavelet method was used to explore the periodicity of precipitation changes. Continuous WT results indicate that the significant 3–4 year, 6–10 year, and 12–16 year bands are the major period components. Precipitation in Turkey is uneven in space and time, and its complex temporal structure and spatial variations are different in each dry and wet season. The Mann‐Kendall test results show that decreasing annual precipitation is the dominating trend throughout Anatolia, including west, and southwest sections. Increasing annual precipitation can be observed in only northeast Black Sea region of Turkey. Decreasing wet/dry season precipitation that we observe throughout the country, except northeast coasts and eastern parts of Turkey, is expected to have a strong impact on the economic livelihood of the region, especially on agricultural production, drinking water supply, and hydroelectricity production. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Retention behaviors of natural products in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography using mobile phase comprising methanol, acetonitrile and water
Authors: Qiao Xue , Ye Min , Liang Yong‐Hong , Yang Wen‐Zhi , Guo De‐An 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe three‐component mobile phase, methanol–acetonitrile–water, has been frequently used for the separation of natural products in complicated herbal extracts by reversed‐phase liquid chromatography, especially when two‐component solvent systems do not work. However, the rational for optimization of this three‐solvent system is not clear, so far. In this study, the retention behavior of different types of natural products in RP‐LC with a methanol–acetonitrile–water elution system was studied. A total of 27 compounds from four classes, including steroids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpene saponins were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry or ultraviolet detectors. It was interesting to find that prolonged retention times and improved separation capabilities were obtained when the acetonitrile‐to‐methanol ratio was 3–16%. This rule applied to all four classes of natural products under different instrumental conditions, and could be valuable for the separation of natural products in complicated samples.
Sustainability in Canadian B&Bs: comparing the east versus west
Authors: Dodds Rachel , Holmes Mark Robert 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTAlthough bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) represent a small part of the overall accommodation sector, they can contribute to both the positive and negative impacts of the industry. Through a questionnaire of Canada's east and west coastal B&Bs, findings indicate that financial reasons are the biggest barrier to implementing environmental practices and government incentives and tax rebates may help the uptake of environmental measures. Results from this study can be used to motivate improvements for environmental commitment in this form of accommodation such as cost savings and strengthened lines of communication. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of muscle contraction and intensity of stimulation on the cutaneous silent period
Authors: Rodi Zoran , Springer Christiaan 
Published: December 2010

AbstractWe evaluated the influence of stimulus intensity (SI) and the amount of voluntary muscle contraction (VMC) on parameters of the cutaneous silent period (CSP). The CSP was measured in 15 healthy subjects at 20%, 40%, and 60% of maximal VMC and after an electric stimulus of 10, 15, and 20 times the sensory threshold. Average EMG amplitudes prior to stimulus and during the CSP increased with the amount of VMC. The CSP duration increased, and suppression index decreased, with increasing SI. The CSP onset and end latencies seemed to shorten and prolong, respectively, with the increasing SI, although this was not statistically significant. Considering the more meaningful temporal parameters of the CSP and the suppression index, it is not necessary to control the VMC, but it is advisable to control the SI. Muscle Nerve , 2011
Impact of resistance exercise training on interleukin‐6 and JAK/STAT in young men
Authors: Trenerry Marissa K. , Della Gatta Paul A. , Larsen Amy E. , Garnham Andrew P. , Cameron‐Smith David 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe JAK/STAT signaling pathway is essential for myogenic regeneration and is regulated by a diverse range of ligands, including interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB (PDGF‐BB). Our aim was to evaluate the responsiveness of IL‐6 and PDGF‐BB to intense exercise, along with STAT3 activation, before and after 12 weeks of resistance training. In young men, IL‐6 and PDGF‐BB protein concentrations were quantified in biopsied muscle and increased at 3 h post‐exercise (17.5‐fold and 3‐fold, respectively). The response was unaltered by 12 weeks of training. Similarly, STAT3 phosphorylation was elevated post‐exercise (12.5‐fold), irrespective of training status, as was the expression of downstream targets c‐MYC (8‐fold), c‐FOS (4.5‐fold), and SOCS3 (2.3‐fold). Thus, intense exercise transiently increases IL‐6 and PDGF‐BB proteins, and STAT3 phosphorylation is increased. These responses are preserved after intense exercise. This suggests they are not modified by training and may be an essential component of the adaptive responses to intense exercise. Muscle Nerve , 2011