bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fluorescein Analogues Inhibit SecA ATPase: The First Sub‐micromolar Inhibitor of Bacterial Protein Translocation
Authors: Huang Ying‐Ju , Wang Hongyun , Gao Fen‐Biao , Li Minyong , Yang Hsiuchin , Wang Binghe , Tai Phang C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSecA is a central component of the general secretion system that is essential for bacterial growth and thus an ideal target for antimicrobial agents. A series of fluorescein analogues were first screened against the ATPase activity using the truncated unregulated SecA catalytic domain. Rose bengal (RB) and erythrosin B (EB) were found to be potent inhibitors SecA with IC50 values of 0.5 μM and 2 μM, respectively. RB and EB inhibit the catalytic SecA ATPase more effectively than the F1F0‐proton ATPase. We used three assays to test the effect of these compounds on full‐length SecA ATPase: in solution (intrinsic ATPase), in membrane preparation, and translocation ATPase. RB and EB show the following trend in terms of IC50 values: translocation ATPase<membrane ATPase<intrinsic ATPase. Very importantly, the potency of these fluorescein analogues in inhibiting the truncated SecA ATPase correlates with their ability to inhibit the biologically relevant protein translocation activity of SecA. The in vitro translocation of proOmpA precursors into membrane vesicles is strongly inhibited by RB with IC50 values of approximately 0.25 μM, making RB the most potent inhibitor of SecA ATPase and SecA‐dependent protein translocation reported thus far. The ability of these compounds to inhibit SecA also directly translates into antibacterial effects. Our findings show the value of fluorescein analogues as probes for mechanistic studies of SecA functions and for the potential development of new antimicrobial agents with SecA as the target.
A multicenter study of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection in patients with solid tumors in 3 countries
Authors: Chemaly Roy F. , Vigil Karen J. , Saad Mustafa , Vilar‐Compte Diana , Cornejo‐Juarez Patricia , Perez‐Jimenez Carolina , Mubarak Sawsan , Salhab Mohammed , Jiang Ying , Granwehr Bruno , Adachi Javier A. , Raad Issam I. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND:Pandemic influenza A (hereafter 2009/H1N1) caused significant morbidity and mortality during the 2009 pandemia. Patients with chronic medical conditions and immunosuppressive diseases had a greater risk of complications. However, data regarding the characteristics and outcome of 2009/H1N1 infection in patients with solid tumors are nonexistent. Herein, the authors describe a series of influenza 2009/H1N1 in patients with solid malignancies at 3 major cancer hospitals worldwide.METHODS:The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with solid organ malignancies and 2009/H1N1 from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas; the Mexican National Cancer Institute, Federal District of Mexico; and King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, Jordan from the period of the 2009 H1N1 pandemia. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, and outcome were extracted.RESULTS:In total, 115 cases were identified during the pandemic influenza among the 3 institutions. High rates of hospitalization (50%), pneumonia (23%), and death (9.5%) were reported. Patients who developed pneumonia and those who died were moderately to severely immunocompromised (P = .001 and P = .006, respectively). A multivariate competing risk analysis demonstrated that a delay >48 hours in starting antiviral therapy was associated significantly with an increased risk of developing pneumonia (P = .013).CONCLUSIONS:The 2009/H1N1 pandemic caused severe illness in immunocompromised patients with cancer who had solid tumors, and heavily immunosuppressed patients were at greater risk of developing pneumonia and death. Early initiation of antiviral therapy is crucial in this patient population to decrease morbidity and probably mortality. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Neural crest cells pattern the surface cephalic ectoderm during FEZ formation
Authors: Hu Diane , Marcucio Ralph S. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground: Multiple fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) ligands are expressed in the forebrain and facial ectoderm, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in the facial ectoderm. Both pathways activate the MAP kinase cascade and can be suppressed by SU5402. We placed a bead soaked in SU5402 into the brain after emigration of neural crest cells was complete. Results: Within 24 hr we observed reduced pMEK and pERK staining that persisted for at least 48 hr. This was accompanied by significant apoptosis in the face. By day 15, the upper beaks were truncated. Molecular changes in the FNP were also apparent. Normally, Shh is expressed in the frontonasal ectodermal zone and controls patterned growth of the upper jaw. In treated embryos, Shh expression was reduced. Both the structural and molecular deficits were mitigated after transplantation of FNP‐derived mesenchymal cells. Conclusions: Thus, mesenchymal cells actively participate in signaling interactions of the face, and the absence of neural crest cells in neurocristopathies may not be merely structural. Developmental Dynamics 241:732–740, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayesian approach to estimating reproductive inhibition potency in aquatic toxicity testing
Authors: Zhang Jing , Bailer A. John , Oris James T. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Effectively and accurately assessing the toxicity of chemicals and their impact on the environment continues to be an important concern in ecotoxicology. Single experiments conducted by a particular laboratory commonly serve as the basis of toxicity risk assessment. These laboratories often have a long history of conducting experiments using particular protocols. In the present study, a Bayesian analysis for estimating potency based on a single experiment was formulated, which then served as the basis for incorporating the experimental information from historical controls. A Bayesian hierarchical model was developed to estimate the relative inhibition concentrations (RIp) of a toxicant and flexible ways of using historical control information were suggested. The methods were illustrated using a data set produced by the test for reproduction in Ceriodaphnia dubia in which the number of young produced over three broods was recorded. In addition, simulation studies were included to compare the Bayesian methods with previously proposed estimators of potency. The Bayesian methods gave more precise RIp estimates with smaller variation and nominal coverage probability offsetting a small negative bias in the point estimate. Incorporating historical control information in the Bayesian hierarchical model effectively uses the useful information from past similar experiments when estimating the RIp, and results in potency estimates that are more precise compared to frequentist methods. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:916–927. © 2012 SETAC
Methods for registration of magnetic resonance images of ex vivo prostate specimens with histology
Authors: Kimm Simon Y. , Tarin Tatum V. , Lee Jin Hyung , Hu Bob , Jensen Kristin , Nishimura Dwight , Brooks James D. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPurpose:To evaluate two methods of scanning and tissue processing to achieve accurate magnetic resonance (MR)‐histologic correlation in human prostate specimens.Materials and Methods:Two prostates had acrylic paint markers injected to define the plane of imaging and serve as internal fiducials. Each was placed on a polycarbonate plane‐finder device (PFD), which was adjusted to align the imaging and cutting planes. Three prostates were aligned by use of a plane finder key (PFK), a polycarbonate plate that locks the specimen in a cylindrical carrier. Markers were injected for registration analysis. Prostates were imaged, then sectioned. Imaging software was used to create registration maps of the MR and histology images. Measurements between control points were made and compared.Results:Accurate correlation was achieved between MR and histologic images. The mean displacement (MD) between the corresponding registration points using the PFD technique ranged from 1.11–1.38 mm for each section. The MD for all sections was 1.24 mm. The MD using the PFK technique ranged from 0.79–1.01 mm for each section, and the MD across all sections for the PFK was 0.92 mm.Conclusion:We describe two methods that can achieve accurate, reproducible correlation between MR imaging and histologic sections in human prostatectomy specimens. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:206–212. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MR enterography: Relationship between intestinal fold pattern and the clinical presentation of adult celiac disease
Authors: Tomei Ernesto , Diacinti Daniele , Stagnitti Andrea , Marini Mario , Laghi Andrea , Passariello Roberto , Semelka Richard C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPurpose:To correlate the clinical presentation of adult celiac disease with various intestinal fold patterns using MR‐enterography.Materials and Methods:Fifty‐four consecutive adult celiac patients (34 female, 20 male, 18 to 62 years) were studied by MR‐enterography. Two radiologists blinded to the patients' clinical history evaluated in consensus MR studies, classifying the intestinal fold pattern into four categories: (a) no fold abnormalities, (b) isolated loss of folds in the duodenum, (c) jejunization of ileum, and (d) jejuno‐ileal fold pattern reversal. Patients presented with the varying clinical forms of Celiac disease, classified as: (i) typical disease, (ii) atypical disease, and (iii) silent form.Results:Twenty‐three patients showed no intestinal fold abnormalities; 11 patients had isolated loss of duodenal folds; 9 patients showed jejunization of ileum and 11 had jejuno‐ileal fold pattern reversal. 18/23 (78%) patients with MRI normal fold pattern had the silent clinical form of Celiac disease (Sensitivity 78%; specificity 100%; PPV = 1, NPV = 0.78); 9/11 (82%) patients with the isolated loss of duodenal folds had the atypical clinical form (sensitivity 82%; and specificity 100%; PPV = 1; NPV = 0.82). All 20 patients with the jejunization of ileum and jejuno‐ileal fold pattern reversal had typical celiac disease (sensitivity and specificity of 100%; PPV and NPV = 1).Conclusion:MR‐enterography findings in patients with celiac disease, demonstrates good correlation between MR findings and clinical severity. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:183–187. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Resettlement and woodland management problems and options: a case study from North‐western Ethiopia
Authors: Lemenih M. , Kassa H. , Kassie G. T. , Abebaw D. , Teka W. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTDeforestation in African dry forests is widespread and its drivers are complex and vary in space and time. In this paper, we assessed impacts of immigration on dry forests and options for improved management in a resettlement district in north‐western Ethiopia. Key informants interviews, focus group discussions and household questionnaire survey were used to collect data. The results indicated that forests of the district are degrading in spatial coverage and quality. The most important drivers were land use change, excessive wood harvest, grazing pressure and forest fire following immigration. The continuous influx of people with different origins, cultures, religions and lengths of residence in the district underscores absence of social bonds for collective action to regulate access. This, coupled with weak formal regulatory system, market forces and policy incentives for farming, resulted in a near open access situation. Our findings confirm the negative relationships between migration and environment not necessarily because of the mere population number added through immigration but because of lack of regulatory frameworks (formal or informal) and poor social capital. Enforcing existing policy of farm size and putting institutional framework on the ground to regulate rate of immigration, extraction of forest products and to encourage tree planting to meet wood demand are suggested measures. We conclude that Government programmes that opt for resettlement as a measure for poverty alleviation must also have mitigating measures to reducing negative impacts on the natural resource base. Thus, the trade‐off between environment and development must be carefully managed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Splitting of Pi and other 31P NMR anomalies of skeletal muscle metabolites in canine muscular dystrophy
Authors: Wary Claire , Naulet Thibaud , Thibaud Jean‐Laurent , Monnet Aurélien , Blot Stéphane , Carlier Pierre G. 
Published: February 2012

Many anomalies exist in the resting 31P muscle spectra of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) but few have been reported in Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD), the closest existing animal model for DMD. Because GRMD is recommended for preclinical evaluation of therapies and quantitative outcome measures are needed, we investigated anomalies of 31P NMRS in tibial cranial and biceps femoris muscles from 14 GRMD compared to 9 control (CONT) dogs.Alterations observed in DMD children – low phosphocreatine and high phospho‐monoesters and ‐diesters – were all found in GRMD but increased pH was not. More surprisingly, inorganic phosphate (Pi) appeared to present a prominent splitting with an enhanced Pib resonance at 0.3 ppm downfield of Pia. Assuming that both resonances are Pi, the pH for Pia in GRMD corresponded to a physiological intracellular pHa (6.97 ± 0.05), while pHb approached the extracellular range (7.27 ± 0.10) and correlated with pHa in GRMD (R2 = 0.65). Both Pia and Pib were elevated compared to CONT and Pia increased with age for GRMD (R2 = 0.48, p < 0.001).Magnetisation transfer experiments between γATP and Pi were conducted to better characterise Pi pools. Equal T1 relaxation times for Pib and Pia did not support a mitochondrial origin of Pib. We suggest that Pib could originate from degenerating hypercontracted cells that have a leaky membrane and inadequate cell homeostasis and pH regulation. Pib showed minimal chemical exchange in all dogs, while the exchange rate of Pia was reduced in GRMD and might extraneously reflect low glycolytic activity in DMD.Taken together, the ensemble of 31P NMRS alterations identifies muscle dysfunction and could provide useful biomarkers of therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, among these, two might relate more specifically to dystrophic processes and merit further investigation: one is the existence of the enhanced alkaline Pib pool; the other, mechanisms by which membrane disruption might increase phosphodiesters in dystrophy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theoretical study of spectroscopic and molecular properties of several low‐lying electronic states of CO molecule
Authors: Shi De‐Heng , Li Wen‐Tao , Sun Jin‐Feng , Zhu Zun‐Lue 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe potential energy curves (PECs) of eight low‐lying electronic states (X1Σ+, a3Π, a′3Σ+, d3Δ, e3Σ−, A1Π, I1Σ−, and D1Δ) of the carbon monoxide molecule have been studied by an ab initio quantum chemical method. The calculations have been performed using the complete active space self‐consistent field method, which is followed by the valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach in combination with the correlation‐consistent aug‐cc‐pV5Z basis set. The effects on the PECs by the core‐valence correlation and relativistic corrections are included. The way to consider the relativistic corrections is to use the third‐order Douglas–Kroll Hamiltonian approximation at the level of a cc‐pV5Z basis set. Core‐valence correlation corrections are performed using the cc‐pCVQZ basis set. To obtain more reliable results, the PECs determined by the MRCI calculations are corrected for size‐extensivity errors by means of the Davidson modification (MRCI+Q). The spectroscopic parameters (De, Te, Re, ωe, ωexe, ωeye, Be, αe, and γe) of these electronic states are calculated using these PECs. The spectroscopic parameters are compared with those reported in the literature. Using the Breit–Pauli operator, the spin–orbit coupling effect on the spectroscopic parameters is discussed for the a3Π electronic state. With the PECs obtained by the MRCI+Q/aug‐cc‐pV5Z+CV+DK calculations, the complete vibrational states of each electronic state have been determined. The vibrational manifolds have been calculated for each vibrational state of each electronic state. The vibrational level G(ν), inertial rotation constant Bν, and centrifugal distortion constant Dν of the first 20 vibrational states when the rotational quantum number J equals zero are reported and compared with the experimental data. Comparison with the measurements demonstrates that the present spectroscopic parameters and molecular constants determined by the MRCI+Q/aug‐cc‐pV5Z+CV+DK calculations are both reliable and accurate. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Innate immune interferon responses to Human immunodeficiency virus‐1 infection
Authors: Hughes Rose , Towers Greg , Noursadeghi Mahdad 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYType I interferon (IFN) responses represent the canonical host innate immune response to viruses, which serves to upregulate expression of antiviral restriction factors and augment adaptive immune defences. There is clear evidence for type I IFN activity in both acute and chronic HIV‐1 infection in vivo, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells have been identified as one important source for these responses, through innate immune detection of viral RNA by Toll‐like receptor 7. In addition, new insights into the molecular mechanisms that trigger induction of type I IFNs suggest innate immune receptors for viral DNA may also mediate these responses. It is widely recognised that HIV‐1 restriction factors share the characteristic of IFN‐inducible expression, and that the virus has evolved to counteract these antiviral mechanisms. However, in some target cells, such as macrophages, IFN can still effectively restrict virus. In this context, HIV‐1 shows the ability to evade innate immune recognition and thereby avoid induction of type I IFN in order to successfully establish productive infection. The relative importance of evasion of innate immune detection and evasion of IFN‐inducible restriction in the natural history of HIV‐1 infection is not known, and the data suggest that type I IFN responses may play a role in both viral control and in the immunopathogenesis of progressive disease. Further study of the relationship between HIV‐1 infection and type I IFN responses is required to unravel these issues and inform the development of novel therapeutics or vaccine strategies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selectively chosen ciphertext security in threshold public‐key encryption
Authors: Kim Kitak , Park Jong Hwan , Lee Dong Hoon 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThreshold public‐key encryption can control decryption abilities of an authorized user group in such a way that each user of the group can produce only a decryption share and at least t of them should collect decryption shares to recover a message. We present a new threshold public‐key encryption that is secure against selectively chosen ciphertext attacks. Semantic security against chosen ciphertext adversaries is the de facto level of security for public‐key encryption deployed in practice because many encryption systems are broken in a model of chosen ciphertext security. The security of the proposed system is formally proved without random oracles under a new assumption. We also provide proof of the intractability of our assumption in the generic group model. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of Monodisperse, Covalently Cross‐Linked, Degradable “Smart” Microgels Using Microfluidics
Authors: Kesselman Leah R. B. , Shinwary Siawash , Selvaganapathy P. Ravi , Hoare Todd 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe development of a robust method for the synthesis of highly monodisperse microgels cross‐linked with degradable covalent bonds offers the potential for fabricating microgels with the highly controllable porosities, cell interactions, and degradation half‐lives required for biomedical applications. A microfluidic chip is designed that enables the on‐chip mixing and emulsification of two reactive polymer solutions (hydrazide and aldehyde‐functionalized carbohydrates) to form monodisperse, hydrazone cross‐linked microgels in the size range of ≈40–100 μm. The device can be run continuously for at least 30 h without a significant drift in particle size. The resulting microgels have a homogeneous bulk composition and can swell and deswell as the solvent conditions change in predictable ways based on the chemistry of the reactive polymers used, thereby enabling improved control over both the chemistry and morphology of the resulting microgels relative to other reported approaches. The in situ gelation chemistry used facilitates rapid microgel formation within the droplets without requiring the use of UV light or heating to initiate polymerization, thus making this approach of particular potential utility in cell encapsulation or drug delivery (as demonstrated).
An Improved Method for Synthesis of N‐stearoyl and N‐palmitoylethanolamine
Authors: Wang Xiaosan , Wang Tong , Wang Xingguo 
Published: February 2012

AbstractCertain N‐acylethanolamines interact with cannabinoid receptors and have anorexic and neuroprotective effects. Traditional methods for the synthesis of N‐acylethanolamines use fatty acid chlorides, fatty acid methyl esters, free fatty acids and triacylglycerols as acyl donors to react with ethanolamine. In the present study, we investigated the feasibility of using fatty acid vinyl esters as the acyl donor to synthesize N‐stearoyl and N‐palmitoylethanolamine. Theoretically, the use of fatty acid vinyl esters should lead to an irreversible reaction because the volatile acetaldehyde by‐product is easily removed. Four reaction conditions, i.e. catalyst concentration, substrate ratio, temperature, and time were evaluated. The reaction performed at mild temperatures and with an excess amount of ethanolamine which acted as both reactant and solvent resulted in the formation of high purity N‐stearoyl and N‐palmitoylethanolamine. When 20 mmol ethanolamine was reacted with 1 mmol vinyl stearate at 80 °C for 1 h with 1% sodium methoxide as catalyst, N‐stearoylethanolamine with 96% purity was obtained after the removal of excess ethanolamine without further purification, while N‐palmitoylethanolamine with 98% purity was obtained by reacting with the same substrate ratio at 60 °C for 1.5 h with 3% catalyst. Complete conversion of vinyl stearate and palmitate was achieved.
A neglected phonetic law: The assimilation of pretonic yod to a following coronal in North-West Semitic
Authors: Garnier Romain , Jacques Guillaume 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis paper shows the existence of a pretonic assimilation of *y to a following coronal consonant (including *y from proto-Semitic *y and *w) in North-West Semitic languages. This rule, which has been obscured by analogy in each of the North-West Semitic languages, explains three independent sets of facts: the formation of irregular maqtal-s in Hebrew, Phoenician and Aramaic; the irregular conjugations of several verbs in Hebrew; and the plural formation of the irregular noun “house” in Hebrew and Aramaic. This proposal also solves the long-standing problem of the etymology of the verb “to give” in North-West Semitic languages (NTN in Hebrew vs. YTN in Phoenician).