bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Models in researching cardiovascular morphogenesis
Authors: Weninger Wolfgang J. , Geyer Stefan H. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractSeveral types of “models” are used in modern biological and biomedical research and teaching. This article attempts to provide a brief explanation of the termini model organism, theoretic and mathematic model, three‐dimensional (3D) model, and 4D model, and an overview about the generation and the fields of applications of these types of models. It will then focus on the application of theoretic and mathematic models, 3D models, 4D models, and simulation for researching cardiovascular morphogenesis. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 96:163–175, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cardiosulfa Induces Heart Deformation in Zebrafish through the AhR‐Mediated, CYP1A‐Independent Pathway
Authors: Ko Sung‐Kyun , Shin Injae 
Published: June 2012

AbstractHeart development is a complicated and elaborate biological process. To study this and similar complicated process and diseases, the discovery and use of small molecules for probing biological events is invaluable. As part of such an investigation, we have identified cardiosulfa, a small molecule that induces severely impaired heart morphology and function in zebrafish. The results of the present study show that cardiosulfa‐promoted heart deformation is protected by negative regulators of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway, such as the AhR antagonist CH‐223191 and an AhR2‐morpholino antisense oligonucleotide, zfahr2‐MO. However, the toxic effect of cardiosulfa is not alleviated by zfcyp1a‐MO, a morpholino antisense oligo for cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), which is the most well‐characterized gene of the AhR pathway. Similar results were obtained for the known AhR agonist PCB126. These observations suggest that cardiosulfa causes heart deformation in zebrafish through the AhR‐mediated, CYP1A‐independent pathway. Our results indicate that cardiosulfa has potential as a novel type of a biological probe to investigate the AhR pathway.
Profiling divergences in GPU applications
Authors: Coutinho Bruno , Sampaio Diogo , Pereira Fernando M. Q. , Meira Wagner 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYThe increasing programmability and the high computational power of graphics processing units make them attractive to general purpose programming. However, taking full benefit of this execution environment is a challenging task. One of these challenges stems from divergences, a phenomenon that occurs when threads that execute in lock‐step are forced to take different program paths because of branches in the code. In face of divergences, some threads will have to wait, idly, while their diverging siblings execute. Optimizing the code to avoid divergences is difficult because this task demands a deep understanding of programs that might be large and convoluted. To facilitate the detection of divergences, this paper introduces the divergence map, a data structure that indicates the location and the volume of divergences in a program. We build this map via dynamic profiling techniques, which we have implemented on top of an open source Parallel Thread Execution compiler. To illustrate the importance of the divergence map, we have used it to pinpoint the core regions that must be optimized in well‐known public applications. By hand optimizing some applications, we have added 9–11% speedups onto kernels that have already gone through the sieve of many programmers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Set‐shifting among adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Fitzpatrick Kathleen Kara , Darcy Alison , Colborn Danielle , Gudorf Caroline , Lock James 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjective:Set‐shifting difficulties are documented for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, AN typically onsets in adolescents and it is unclear if set‐shifting difficulties are a result of chronic AN or present earlier in its course. This study examined whether adolescents with short duration AN demonstrated set‐shifting difficulties compared to healthy controls (HC).Method:Data on set‐shifting collected from the Delis‐Kaplan executive functioning system and Wisconsin card sort task (WCST) as well as eating psychopathology were collected from 32 adolescent inpatients with AN and compared with those from 22 HCs.Results:There were no differences in set‐shifting in adolescents with AN compared to HCs on most measures.Discussion:The findings suggest that set‐shifting difficulties in AN may be a consequence of AN. Future studies should explore set‐shifting difficulties in a larger sample of adolescents with the AN to determine if there is sub‐set of adolescents with these difficulties and determine any relationship of set‐shifting to the development of a chronic from of AN. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012;45:909–912)
Total Syntheses of the Gregatins A–D and Aspertetronin A: Structure Revisions of These Compounds and of Aspertetronin B, Together with Plausible Structure Revisions of Gregatin E, Cyclogregatin, Graminin A, the Penicilliols A and B, and the Huaspenones A and B
Authors: Burghart‐Stoll Heike , Brückner Reinhard 
Published: June 2012

AbstractComprehensive comparisons of 1H and 13C NMR chemical shift values in the furanone cores a, b, and c provide plausible support for a reassessment of the furanone nuclei of the title compounds from b to c. Total syntheses via enantiomerically pure lactic esters were based on the Seebach–Fráter “self‐reproduction of stereocenters” methodology. Attachment of the hexadienyl side‐chain in a trans,trans‐selective manner was achieved by addition of the Seebach–Fráter enolate to trans‐hex‐4‐en‐1‐al rather than to trans‐hex‐3‐en‐1‐al. The type‐c furanone cores of the synthetic materials were reached by single or double acylation of a model γ‐hydroxy‐β‐oxo ester (compound 50) and its hexadiene‐containing counterpart 29. Our syntheses confirmed the novel connectivities in six compounds. In addition, they required revision of the configuration of a quaternary carbon atom in five cases. Moreover, they allowed elucidation of the configurations of four previously unassigned stereocenters. Hindsight analyses of why the furanone cores of the title compounds had been misinterpreted as a and/or b instead of c are given. Why the stereocenters in the heterocycles had been incorrectly configured, on the bases (a) of relay studies in the 1960s, and (b) of a 1984 total synthesis of gregatin B, is also discussed.
Myelin debris regulates inflammatory responses in an experimental demyelination animal model and multiple sclerosis lesions
Authors: Clarner Tim , Diederichs Felix , Berger Katharina , Denecke Bernd , Gan Lin , van der Valk Paul , Beyer Cordian , Amor Sandra , Kipp Markus 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIn multiple sclerosis (MS), gray matter pathology is characterized by less pronounced inflammation when compared with white matter lesions. Although regional differences in the cytoarchitecture may account for these differences, the amount of myelin debris in the cortex during a demyelinating event might also be contributory. To analyze the association between myelin debris levels and inflammatory responses, cortical areas with distinct and sparse myelination were analyzed for micro‐ and astrogliosis before and after cuprizone‐induced demyelination in mice. In postmortem tissue of MS patients, leucocortical lesions were assessed for the type and level of inflammation in the cortical and white matter regions of the lesion. Furthermore, mice were injected intracerebrally with myelin‐enriched debris, and the inflammatory response analyzed in white and grey matter areas. Our studies show that the magnitude of myelin loss positively correlates with microgliosis in the cuprizone model. In MS, the number of MHC class II expressing cells is higher in the white compared with the grey matter part of leucocortical lesions. Finally, direct application of myelin debris into the corpus callosum or cortex of mice induces profound and comparable inflammation in both regions. Our data suggest that myelin debris is an important variable in the inflammatory response during demyelinating events. Whether myelin‐driven inflammation affects neuronal integrity remains to be clarified. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ni‐free Zr–Cu–Al–Nb–Pd bulk metallic glasses with different Zr/Cu ratios for biomedical applications
Authors: Huang Lu , Yokoyama Yoshihiko , Wu Wei , Liaw Peter K. , Pang Shujie , Inoue Akihisa , Zhang Tao , He Wei 
Published: June 2012

AbstractZr‐based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) possess attractive properties for prospective biomedical applications. The present study designs Ni‐free Zr–Cu–Al–Nb–Pd BMGs and investigates their in vitro biocompatibility by studying mechanical properties, bio‐corrosion resistance, and cellular responses. The Ti–6Al–4V alloy is used as a reference material. It is found that the Zr‐based BMGs exhibit good mechanical properties, including high strengths above 1600 MPa, high hardness over 4700 MPa, and low elastic moduli of 85–90 GPa. The Zr‐based BMGs are corrosion resistant in a simulated body environment, as revealed by wide passive regions, low passive current densities, and high pitting overpotentials. The formation of ZrO2‐rich surface passive films of the Zr‐based BMGs contributes to their high corrosion resistance, whereas their pitting corrosion in the phosphate buffered saline solution can be attributed to the sensitivity of the ZrO2 films to the chloride ion. The general biosafety of the Zr‐based BMGs is revealed by normal cell adhesions and cell morphologies. Moreover, the Zr/Cu content ratio in the alloy composition affects the biocompatibility of the Zr‐based BMGs, by increasing their corrosion resistance and surface wettability with the increase of the Zr/Cu ratio. Effects of Zr/Cu ratios can be used to guide the future design of biocompatible Zr‐based BMGs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 100B: 1472–1482, 2012.
Effects of ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide on solubility and cytotoxicity of the resin monomer triethylene glycol dimethacrylate
Authors: Nocca Giuseppina , D'Antò Vincenzo , Rivieccio Virginia , Schweikl Helmut , Amato Massimo , Rengo Sandro , Lupi Alessandro , Spagnuolo Gianrico 
Published: June 2012

AbstractSeveral in vitro studies have reported contrasting values for triethylene glycol‐dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) concentrations shown to induce cytotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effective concentrations of TEGDMA reached under the routine experimental conditions used in biocompatibility in vitro tests and determines changes in cytotoxicity and the associated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) based on different TEGDMA solutions. TEGDMA was added to cell culture medium either directly or previously dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or ethanol (EtOH), both in the presence and absence of cells. Intracellular and extracellular TEGDMA concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The cytotoxicity effects of TEGDMA preparations were determined in 3T3‐fibroblasts by 3‐(4,5 dimethyiazol‐2‐1)‐2‐5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The production of ROS was measured by flow cytometry. In the absence of cells the effective final TEGDMA concentrations obtained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium were significantly lower than the nominal one. When 2 mmol/L TEGDMA was first solubilized in DMSO or EtOH, a significant decrease in cell viability, and an increase in ROS production—compared to pure TEGDMA—was observed. After 2 h of incubation, TEGDMA previously dissolved in DMSO or ETOH was reduced by 15% and 20%, respectively, whereas otherwise it remained unaffected. Our results demonstrate that the effective concentration of TEGDMA dissolved in culture medium (in the presence or absence of solvents) does not concur with the nominal one. Therefore, the presence of the utilized solvents does not substantially alter the monomer solubility but eases its entrance into the cells thus improving its cytotoxic potency. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 100B: 1500–1506, 2012.
Characterization andin vivoevaluation of laser sintered dental endosseous implants in dogs
Authors: Witek Lukasz , Marin Charles , Granato Rodrigo , Bonfante Estevam A. , Campos Felipe , Bisinotto Julio , Suzuki Marcelo , Coelho Paulo G. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractLaser metal sintering has shown promising results, but no comparison with other commercially available surface has been performed. This study sought to evaluate the biomechanical and histological early bone response to laser sintered implants relative to alumina‐blasted/acid‐etched (AB/AE). Surface topography was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and optical interferometry. Surface chemistry was assessed by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Beagle dogs (n= 18) received 4 Ti‐6Al‐4V implants (one per surface) in each radius, remaining for 1, 3, and 6 weeks (n= 6 dogs per evaluation time)in vivo. Bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) were evaluated. Biomechanical evaluation comprised torque‐to‐interface failure. The laser sintered surface presented higherSaandSqthan AB/AE. Chemistry assessment showed the alloy metallic components along with adsorbed carbon species. Significantly higher torque was observed at 1 (p< 0.02) and 6 week (p< 0.02) for the laser sintered, whereas at 3 week no significant differences were observed. Significantly higher BIC and BAFO was observed for the Laser Sintered (p< 0.04, andp< 0.03, respectively) only at 1 week, whereas no significant differences were observed at 3 and 6 weeks. The laser sintered implants presented biocompatible and osseoconductive properties and improved biomechanical response compared with the AB/AE surface only at 1 and 6 weeksin vivo. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 100B: 1566–1573, 2012.
Bone attenuation on routine chest CT correlates with bone mineral density on DXA in patients with COPD
Authors: Romme Elisabeth APM , Murchison John T , Phang Kee F , Jansen Frits H , Rutten Erica PA , Wouters Emiel FM , Smeenk Frank WJM , Van Beek Edwin JR , MacNee William 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although primarily a disease of the lungs, is associated with extrapulmonary effects such as muscle weakness and osteoporosis. Fractures owing to osteoporosis cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with COPD. To prevent osteoporotic fractures, it is important to diagnose osteoporosis in an early stage and to start anti-osteoporotic therapy in at-risk patients. Because routine chest computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used to assess the extent of emphysema and airways disease in patients with COPD, we investigated whether simple attenuation measurement of the thoracic spine on routine chest CT may provide useful information on bone health in patients with COPD. Fifty-eight patients with moderate to very severe COPD were included in our study. The average attenuation of thoracic vertebrae 4, 7, and 10 on chest CT was correlated with the lowest bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip and lumbar spine (L1 to L4) on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in patients with COPD. The inter- and intra-observer variabilities of the attenuation measurements were low as shown by Bland-Altman plots. Pearson's correlation coefficient between the average attenuation of the three thoracic vertebrae and the lowest BMD of the hip and lumbar spine was high (r = 0.827, p &lt; 0.001). A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the area under the curve for osteoporosis was 0.969 (p &lt; 0.001), corresponding to an attenuation threshold of 147 Hounsfield Units (HU). In conclusion, our data demonstrated that bone attenuation measured on routine chest CT correlated strongly with BMD assessed on DXA in patients with COPD. Routine chest CT may provide useful information on bone health in patients with COPD. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Sclerostin and DKK1 in postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with denosumab
Authors: Gatti Davide , Viapiana Ombretta , Fracassi Elena , Idolazzi Luca , Dartizio Carmela , Povino Maria Rosaria , Adami Silvano , Rossini Maurizio 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
The bone mass benefits of antiresorbers in postmenopausal osteoporosis are limited by the rapid coupling of decreasing bone resorption with bone formation. Wnt signaling is involved in this coupling process during treatment with bisphosphonates, whereas its role during treatment with the anti-receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) antibody denosumab is unknown. The study population includes patients participating in a placebo-controlled trial lasting 36 months: 19 women were on placebo and 24 on subcutaneous 60 mg denosumab every 6 months. All measured parameters (serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [sCTX], serum bone alkaline phosphatase [bAP], Dickkopf-1 [DKK1], and sclerostin) remained unchanged during the observation period in the placebo group. sCTX and bAP were significantly suppressed by denosumab treatment over the entire follow-up. Denosumab treatment was associated with significant (p &lt; 0.05) increases (28% to 32%) in serum sclerostin over the entire study follow-up. Serum DKK1 significantly decreased within the first 6 months with a trend for further continuous decreases, which reached statistical significance (p &lt; 0.05) versus placebo group from the 18th month onward. The changes in DKK1 were significantly and positively related with the changes in sCTX and bAP and negatively with hip bone mineral density (BMD) changes. The changes in sclerostin were significantly and negatively related only with those of bAP. The changes in bone turnover markers associated with denosumab treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis is associated with significant increase in sclerostin similar to those seen after long-term treatment with bisphosphonates and significant decrease in DKK1. This latter observation might explain the continuous increase over 5 years in BMD observed during treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with denosumab. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Determining the contents of protein and amino acids in peanuts using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Li , Wang Qiang , Liu Hongzhi , Liu Li , Du Yin 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: The protein and amino acid contents of peanuts play a key role in determining their quality and value. Therefore, accurate, nondestructive, quick, and automated measurement of these components would be valuable in a commercial environment. This study explored the feasibility of determining the contents of protein and amino acids in peanuts using near infrared–reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS).RESULTS: 141 peanut samples were collected from 12 provinces in China. The spectra were scanned and obtained with an NIRS system. The determination coefficient and the ratio of the standard deviation in the validation set to the standard error of validation corresponded to 0.99 and 6.53 for protein, 0.88 and 2.52 for Asp, 0.83 and 3.00 for Thr, 0.86 and 2.40 for Ser, 0.87 and 2.57 for Glu, 0.88 and 2.36 for Gly, 0.88 and 3.00 for Leu, 0.89 and 2.88 for Arg, and 0.96 and 7.50 for Cys.CONCLUSIONS: NIRS combined with multivariate calibration has significant potential in determining the protein and amino acid contents of peanuts. This method is suitable for use in an industrial setting owing to its ease of use as well as the relatively low cost of obtaining and running the necessary equipment. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
STAT1 gene expression is enhanced by nuclear EGFR and HER2 via cooperation With STAT3
Authors: Han Woody , Carpenter Richard L. , Cao Xinyu , Lo Hui‐Wen 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBoth EGFR and HER2 are important mediators of tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Despite their best‐characterized roles as plasma membrane‐bound receptors, both receptors undergo nuclear translocation though the impact of this process remains unclear. In this study, we provide evidence showing that EGFR upregulates expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), a transcription factor responding to inflammatory signals and regulating genes involved in inflammatory response. EGFR regulation of STAT1 expression is primarily attributed to the nuclear activity of EGFR. The oncogenic transcription factor STAT3 binds to the STAT1 promoter and synergizes with nuclear EGFR to significantly enhance STAT1 gene expression. Structural characterization of the human STAT1 gene promoter indicates the presence of four functional STAT3‐binding sites in the promoter and their importance in STAT1 co‐regulation by EGFR and STAT3. The constitutively activated EGFR variant, EGFRvIII, also cooperates with STAT3 to activate the STAT1 gene promoter through the identified STAT3‐binding sites within the promoter. Using human breast cancer cell lines, we further found a positive association between levels of STAT1, EGFR, and p‐STAT3. Furthermore, we found that STAT1 expression is transcriptionally upregulated by HER2 and heregulin stimulation in breast cancer cells, and the level is further augmented by activated STAT3. In summary, we report in this study that STAT1 expression is upregulated by nuclear EGFR, EGFRvIII and HER2, and that STAT3 synergizes with the three receptors to further enhance STAT1 expression. These novel findings establish a novel link between the mitogenic ErbB signaling pathway and the inflammatory pathway mediated by STAT1. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nicotine as a potential neuroprotective agent for Parkinson's disease
Authors: Quik Maryka , Perez Xiomara A. , Bordia Tanuja 
Published: June 2012

AbstractConverging research efforts suggest that nicotine and other drugs that act at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) may be beneficial in the management of Parkinson's disease. This idea initially stemmed from the results of epidemiological studies that demonstrated that smoking is associated with a decreased incidence of Parkinson's disease. The subsequent finding that nicotine administration protected against nigrostriatal damage in parkinsonian animal models led to the idea that nicotine in tobacco products may contribute to this apparent protective action. Nicotine most likely exerts its effects by interacting at nAChRs. Accumulating research indicates that multiple subtypes containing nAChRs, including α4β2, α6β2, and/or α7, may be involved. Stimulation of nAChRs initially activates various intracellular transduction pathways primarily via alterations in calcium signaling. Consequent adaptations in immune responsiveness and trophic factors may ultimately mediate nicotine's ability to reduce/halt the neuronal damage that arises in Parkinson's disease. In addition to a potential neuroprotective action, nicotine also has antidepressant properties and improves attention/cognition. Altogether, these findings suggest that nicotine and nAChR drugs represent promising therapeutic agents for the management of Parkinson's disease. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society