bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Downregulates Proinflammatory TLRs While Upregulating Anti-Inflammatory TLRs in the Infected Cornea
Authors: Jiang Xiaoyu , McClellan Sharon A. , Barrett Ronald P. , Zhang Yunfan , Hazlett Linda D. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
TLRs recognize microbial pathogens and trigger an immune response, but their regulation by neuropeptides, such as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), during Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal infection remains unexplored. Therefore, C57BL/6 (B6) mice were injected i.p. with VIP, and mRNA, protein, and immunostaining assays were performed. After VIP treatment, PCR array and real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that proinflammatory TLRs (conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase, IRAK1, TLR1, TLR4, TLR6, TLR8, TLR9, and TNFR-associated factor 6) were downregulated, whereas anti-inflammatory TLRs (single Ig IL-1–related receptor [SIGIRR] and ST2) were upregulated. ELISA showed that VIP modestly downregulated phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit α but upregulated ST2 ~2-fold. SIGIRR was also upregulated, whereas TLR4 immunostaining was reduced in cornea; all confirmed the mRNA data. To determine whether VIP effects were cAMP dependent, mice were injected with small interfering RNA for type 7 adenylate cyclase (AC7), with or without VIP treatment. After silencing AC7, changes in mRNA levels of TLR1, TNFR-associated factor 6, and ST2 were seen and unchanged with addition of VIP, indicating that their regulation was cAMP dependent. In contrast, changes were seen in mRNA levels of conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase, IRAK1, 2, TLR4, 9 and SIGIRR following AC7 silencing alone; these were modified by VIP addition, indicating their cAMP independence. In vitro studies assessed the effects of VIP on TLR regulation in macrophages and Langerhans cells. VIP downregulated mRNA expression of proinflammatory TLRs while upregulating anti-inflammatory TLRs in both cell types. Collectively, the data provide evidence that VIP downregulates proinflammatory TLRs and upregulates anti-inflammatory TLRs and that this regulation is both cAMP dependent and independent and involves immune cell types found in the infected cornea.
Neutrophil Cerebrovascular Transmigration Triggers Rapid Neurotoxicity through Release of Proteases Associated with Decondensed DNA
Authors: Allen Charlotte , Thornton Peter , Denes Adam , McColl Barry W. , Pierozynski Adam , Monestier Marc , Pinteaux Emmanuel , Rothwell Nancy J. , Allan Stuart M. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Cerebrovascular inflammation contributes to diverse CNS disorders through mechanisms that are incompletely understood. The recruitment of neutrophils to the brain can contribute to neurotoxicity, particularly during acute brain injuries, such as cerebral ischemia, trauma, and seizures. However, the regulatory and effector mechanisms that underlie neutrophil-mediated neurotoxicity are poorly understood. In this study, we show that mouse neutrophils are not inherently toxic to neurons but that transendothelial migration across IL-1–stimulated brain endothelium triggers neutrophils to acquire a neurotoxic phenotype that causes the rapid death of cultured neurons. Neurotoxicity was induced by the addition of transmigrated neutrophils or conditioned medium, taken from transmigrated neutrophils, to neurons and was partially mediated by excitotoxic mechanisms and soluble proteins. Transmigrated neutrophils also released decondensed DNA associated with proteases, which are known as neutrophil extracellular traps. The blockade of histone–DNA complexes attenuated transmigrated neutrophil-induced neuronal death, whereas the inhibition of key neutrophil proteases in the presence of transmigrated neutrophils rescued neuronal viability. We also show that neutrophil recruitment in the brain is IL-1 dependent, and release of proteases and decondensed DNA from recruited neutrophils in the brain occurs in several in vivo experimental models of neuroinflammation. These data reveal new regulatory and effector mechanisms of neutrophil-mediated neurotoxicity (i.e., the release of proteases and decondensed DNA triggered by phenotypic transformation during cerebrovascular transmigration). Such mechanisms have important implications for neuroinflammatory disorders, notably in the development of antileukocyte therapies.
A Note on the Estimation of Long-Run Relationships in Panel Equations with Cross-Section Linkages
Authors: Di Iorio Francesca , Fachin Stefano 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
The authors address the issue of estimation and inference in dependent nonstationary panels of small cross-section dimensions. The main conclusion is that the best results are obtained applying bootstrap inference to single-equation estimators, such as fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares. Seemingly unrelated regression estimators perform badly, or are even unfeasible, when the time dimension is not very large compared to the cross-section dimension.
Integration-Free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Retinitis Pigmentosa Patient for Disease Modeling
Authors: Jin Zi-Bing , Okamoto Satoshi , Xiang Ping , Takahashi Masayo 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
We investigated retinitis pigmentosa (RP) caused by a mutation in the gene rhodopsin (RHO) with a patient-specific rod cell model generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from an RP patient. To generate the iPSCs and to avoid the unpredictable side effects associated with retrovirus integration at random loci in the host genome, a nonintegrating Sendai-virus vector was installed with four key reprogramming gene factors (POU5F1, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC) in skin cells from an RP patient. Subsequent selection of the iPSC lines was on the basis of karyotype analysis as well as in vitro and in vivo pluripotency tests. Using a serum-free, chemically defined, and stepwise differentiation method, the expressions of specific markers were sequentially induced in a neural retinal progenitor, a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) progenitor, a photoreceptor precursor, RPE cells, and photoreceptor cells. In the differentiated rod cells, diffused distribution of RHO protein in cytoplasm and expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers strongly indicated the involvement of ER stress. Furthermore, the rod cell numbers decreased significantly after successive culture, suggesting an in vitro model of rod degeneration. Thus, from integration-free patient-specific iPSCs, RP patient-specific rod cells were generated in vitro that recapitulated the disease feature and revealed evidence of ER stress in this patient, demonstrating its utility for disease modeling in vitro.
Adult Human Olfactory Epithelial-Derived Progenitors: A Potential Autologous Source for Cell-Based Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Wang Meng , Lu Chengliang , Roisen Fred 
Published: June 2012

AbstractHuman adult olfactory epithelial-derived neural progenitors (hONPs) can differentiate along several neural lineages in response to morphogenic signals in vitro. A previous study optimized the transfection paradigm for the differentiation of hONPs to dopaminergic neurons. This study engrafted cells modified by the most efficient transfection paradigm for dopaminergic neural restriction and pretransfected controls into a unilateral neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine-induced parkinsonian rat model. Approximately 35% of the animals engrafted with hONPs had improved behavioral recovery as demonstrated by the amphetamine-induced rotation test, as well as a corner preference and cylinder paw preference, over a period of 24 weeks. The pre- and post-transfected groups produced equivalent responses, indicating that the toxic host environment supported hONP dopaminergic differentiation in situ. Human fibroblasts used as a cellular control did not diminish the parkinsonian rotational deficits at any point during the study. Increased numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells were detected in the engrafted brains compared with the fibroblast-implanted and medium-only controls. Engrafted TH-positive hONPs were detected for a minimum of 6 months in vivo; they were multipolar, had long processes, and migrated beyond their initial injection sites. Higher dopamine levels were detected in the striatum of behaviorally improved animals than in equivalent regions of their nonrecovered counterparts. Throughout these experiments, no evidence of tumorigenicity was observed. These results support our hypothesis that human adult olfactory epithelial-derived progenitors represent a unique autologous cell type with promising potential for future use in a cell-based therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease.
Direct adaptive neuro‐fuzzy trajectory tracking of uncertain nonlinear systems
Authors: Theodoridis D. C. , Boutalis Y. S. , Christodoulou M. A. 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARYThis paper proposes a direct adaptive neuro‐fuzzy controller to address the adaptive tracking problem for a class of affine nonlinear multi‐variable multi‐input (MVMI) unknown systems that are linearizable by nonlinear state feedback. The proposed control scheme uses a recurrent neuro‐fuzzy model to approximate the system, which combines an underlying fuzzy model with the approximation abilities of high‐order neural networks to produce the fuzzy recurrent high‐order neural network approximator. A hybrid control scheme that combines an adaptive feedback linearization term and a sliding mode term improves system performance by suppressing the influence of external disturbances and approximation errors. The existence and boundedness of the control signal is always assured by employing the novel method of parameter modified hopping and incorporating it in weight updating laws making the closed‐loop system Lyapunov stable. The case of SISO systems is considered separately by following similar analysis with the more general MVMI case. Simulations performed on well‐known benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of the effect of rutile/anatase TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by hydrothermal route in electrospun PVA/TiO2 nanocomposites
Authors: Costa Rodrigo G. F. , Ribeiro Caue , Mattoso Luiz H. C. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractMixed rutile–anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment under acidic conditions and incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). These nanocomposites were electrospun to produce nanofibers of PVA/TiO2, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B and degradation of the polymer by UV‐C lamps were also investigated. The results showed that TiO2 nanoparticles did not change the morphology and thermal behavior of the nanofiber polymer, but were effective in modifying the UV absorption of PVA without reducing its stability. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Composition dependence of dielectric properties, elastic modulus, and electroactivity in (carbon black‐BaTiO3)/silicone rubber nanocomposites
Authors: Zhao Hang , Xia Yu‐Juan , Dang Zhi‐Min , Zha Jun‐Wei , Hu Guo‐Hua 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe dielectric properties, elastic modulus, and electromechanical responses of dielectric elastomers (DEs) consisting of silicone rubber and carbon black (CB) incorporated with BaTiO3 (BT) were studied. When compared with single filler/rubber composites, the resulting three‐component nanocomposites yielded very abnormal phenomena. They might be attributed to the interactions between the two kinds of fillers. The increase in concentration of CB (BT) would play a destructive role to the network structure formed by BT (CB) particles. The maximum electromechanical strain of the nanocomposites achieved at mass fraction mCB = 0.03 and mBT = 0.06. The resultant electromechanical strain would be attributed to the large dielectric permittivity in the three‐component nanocomposites, in which the BT particles themselves have a high dielectric permittivity and the electrical networks of CB particles have a contribution on the increase in dielectric permittivity of the three‐component nanocomposites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Pathologic characteristics of second breast cancers after breast conservation for ductal carcinoma in situ
Authors: Arvold Nils D. , Punglia Rinaa S. , Hughes Melissa E. , Jiang Wei , Edge Stephen B. , Javid Sara H. , Laronga Christine , Niland Joyce C. , Theriault Richard L. , Weeks Jane C. , Wong Yu‐Ning , Lee Sandra J. , Hassett Michael J. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND:The number of women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is increasing. Although many eventually develop a second breast cancer (SBC), little is known about the characteristics of SBCs. The authors described the characteristics of SBC and examined associations between the pathologic features of SBC and index DCIS cases.METHODS:Women were identified in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Outcomes Database who were diagnosed with DCIS from 1997 to 2008 and underwent lumpectomy and who subsequently developed SBC (including DCIS or invasive disease that occurred in the ipsilateral or contralateral breast). The Fisher exact test and the Spearman test were used to examine associations between the pathologic characteristics of SBC and index DCIS cases.RESULTS:Among 2636 women who underwent lumpectomy for DCIS, 150 (5.7%) experienced an SBC after a median of 55.5 months of follow‐up. Of these 150 women, 105 (70%) received adjuvant radiotherapy, and 50 (33.3%) received tamoxifen for their index DCIS. SBCs were ipsilateral in 54.7% of women and invasive in 50.7% of women. Among the index DCIS cases, 60.6% were estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive, and 54% were high grade, whereas 77.5% of SBCs were ER‐positive, and 48.2% were high grade. Tumor grade (P = .003) and ER status (P = .02) were associated significantly between index DCIS and SBC, whereas tumor size was not (P = .87).CONCLUSIONS:After breast conservation for DCIS, SBC in either breast exhibited pathologic characteristics similar to the index DCIS, suggesting that women with DCIS may be at risk for developing subsequent breast cancers of a similar phenotype. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Helping Depressed Clients Reconnect to Positive Emotion Experience: Current Insights and Future Directions
Authors: Dunn Barnaby D. 
Published: June 2012

A deficit in the ability to experience pleasure (anhedonia) is one of the core symptoms of depression. However, therapy to date has predominantly focused on understanding elevations in negative emotion experience in depression and relatively neglected ways to reconnect individuals to positive experience. This article reviews current insights into blunted positivity in depression, evaluating evidence that depression leads to disturbances in anticipation (positive emotion experience when approaching a goal or a rewarding stimulus) and consummation (positive emotion experience when attaining a goal or rewarding stimulus), as well as impaired positive emotion recognition. The case is made that existing treatments are only partially effective and that therapy outcomes are likely to be improved by focusing on augmenting positivity, capitalizing on emerging insights from positive affective neuroscience. Existing and emerging therapeutic techniques that may aid the promotion of positivity are critiqued, and some suggestions for future research and clinical practice are outlined. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Key Practitioner MessageTo improve depression treatment outcomes, it is important to focus on promoting positive affect in addition to reducing negative affect.Existing therapeutic elements (including activation scheduling, positive data logs, mindfulness, positive psychology and narrative therapy techniques) and novel experimental approaches (e.g., computerized bias modification, imagery, compassion and memory elaboration techniques) all show promise for building positive affect in depression.However, to maximize the potential of these techniques, a clearer understanding of the underlying mechanisms through which they act to influence positive affect is needed.Moreover, it is important to not over‐emphasize positive affect repair in therapy, as this could be experienced as invalidating by clients and lead to the adoption of inflexible emotion regulation strategies.
Encapsulation of Fluoride/Chloride in the C3v‐Symmetric Cleft of a Pentafluorophenyl‐Functionalized Cyanuric Acid Platform Based Tripodal Amide: Solid and Solution‐State Anion‐Binding Studies
Authors: Dutta Ranjan , Ghosh Pradyut 
Published: June 2012

AbstractA simple electron‐deficient cyanuric acid based tripodal amide, 1,3,5‐tris[2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzamido)ethyl]‐1,3,5‐triazinane‐2,4,6‐trione (L), was synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic studies. The binding of various anions towards L was thoroughly examined bysingle‐crystal X‐ray crystallography as well as solution‐state isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The crystallographic results show that L has an unsymmetrical cleft, where the third arm is perpendicularly disposed to the other two arms. Interestingly, L upon complexation with tetrabutylammonium fluoride/chloride shows encapsulation of monotopic fluoride/chloride in the C3v‐symmetric cleft by means of N–H···X (X = F–, Cl–) hydrogen‐bonding interactions in complexes 1 and 2. In complex 2, the encapsulated chloride ion shows evidence of anion–π interactions with the pentafluorophenyl moiety. A detailed solution‐state ITC study of L with tetrabutylammonium salts of different halides in acetonitrile showed an exothermic binding profile with 1:1 (host/guest) stoichiometry for fluoride (log Ka = 4.86 M–1), chloride (log Ka = 3.83 M–1), and bromide (log Ka = 2.97 M–1). In the case of iodide, no such binding was observed. Oxyanions like acetate and benzoate also show an exothermic binding profile with a 1:1 (host/guest) binding pattern, whereas other oxyanions like phosphate, sulfate, and nitrate failed to exhibit a 1:1 binding model. The presence of [L(X)]– (X = F, Cl) species as the base peak in the ESI (negative) mass spectra further confirmed the strong binding of the halide ions in the gaseous phase.
Effects of modes of cockpit automation on pilot performance and workload in a next generation flight concept of operation
Authors: Gil Guk‐Ho , Kaber David , Kaufmann Karl , Kim Sang‐Hwan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe objective of this study was to compare the effects of various forms of advanced cockpit automation for flight planning on pilot performance and workload under a futuristic concept of operation. A lab experiment was conducted in which airline pilots flew simulated tailored arrivals to an airport using three modes of automation (MOAs), including a control‐display unit (CDU) to the aircraft flight management system, an enhanced CDU (CDU+), and a continuous descent approach (CDA) tool. The arrival scenario required replanning to avoid convective activity and was constrained by a minimum fuel requirement at the initial approach fix. The CDU and CDU+ modes allowed for point‐by‐point path planning or selection among multiple standard arrivals, respectively. The CDA mode completely automated the route replanning for pilots. It was expected that the higher‐level automation would significantly reduce pilot workload and improve overall flight performance. In general, results indicated that the MOAs influenced pilot performance and workload responses according to hypotheses. This study provides new knowledge about the relationship of cockpit automation and interface features with pilot performance and workload in a novel next generation–style flight concept of operation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
C‐terminal deletions of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T‐antigen, a highly specific surrogate marker for virally induced malignancy
Authors: Schmitt Markus , Wieland Ulrike , Kreuter Alexander , Pawlita Michael 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIn 67–100% of cutaneous Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) integrates into the host genome. Mutations and deletions truncating the C‐terminal helicase domain of the T‐antigen (TAg) protein have been detected in these MCCs, but not in healthy skin specimens. C‐terminal deletions of the TAg nucleic acid sequences are characteristic for about 38% of these cases. While the association of MCPyV with MCC has been proven, it is unknown whether MCPyV may play a similar role in other tumor entities. We describe in detail the development and validation of a novel Merkel cell polyomavirus TAg C‐terminus deletion assay (MCPyV ΔC‐TAg). The triplex real‐time PCR quantifies the N‐ and C‐terminal part of the MCPyV TAg gene and the cellular β‐globin gene. By comparing the copy numbers of the N‐ and C‐terminal part, deletions of the MCPyV TAg C‐terminus are rapidly identified. MCPyV ΔC‐TAg was used to assess the physical state of MCPyV TAg in a large series of 55 MCCs, 15 cutaneous lymphomas and 47 forehead smears of healthy individuals. Neither DNA positivity nor viral load was able to discriminate MCCs from the other different types of samples. However, deleted TAg C‐terminus sequences were detected only in MCPyV positive MCCs (39%). Consequently, detection of deleted C‐terminal TAg sequences appears to be a highly specific surrogate marker for virally induced malignancy and should be used to support novel assumed MCPyV–tumor associations. The study further supports the notion that MCPyV does not play a role in cutaneous lymphoma pathogenesis.
Removal of high concentrations of H2S from simulated natural gas by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans immobilized on polyurethane foam
Authors: Cheng Rong , Zhou Wei , Lin Lin , Xie Tonghui , Zhang Yongkui 
Published: June 2012

AbstractA chemo‐biochemical process for desulfurization of simulated natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was investigated. The results showed that using polyurethane foam as a support for immobilization of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans obtained good biological oxidation performance and the maximum oxidation rate of ferrous iron was 4.12 kg m−3 h−1. Moreover, a semi‐empirical formula was set up for calculating theoretical ferrous oxidation rate as a function of influent Fe2+ and Fe2+ concentration in the bioreactor. The integrated chemical and biological process achieved removal efficiencies of about 80% when treating high concentrations of H2S (15 000 ± 100 ppmv). © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
COMPUTERISATION AND EFFICIENCY OF RURAL CREDIT COOPERATIVES: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA
Authors: Fu Xiaolan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis article explores the impact of computerisation on the efficiency of rural cooperative banks using recent survey data on the usage of various types of information technology in rural cooperative banks in India. Findings from the research suggest that the adoption of appropriate technology such as stand‐alone computers in branches promotes the efficiency of rural credit cooperatives; on the other hand, the employment of advanced local area networks is negatively associated with their efficiency. The skills in relation to information technologies of bank staff and the absorptive capacity of service users and the wider community are of crucial importance in the enhancement of efficiency. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.