bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Requirement of myeloid cell–specific Fas expression for prevention of systemic autoimmunity in mice
Authors: Cuda Carla M. , Agrawal Hemant , Misharin Alexander V. , Haines G. Kenneth , Hutcheson Jack , Weber Evan , Schoenfeldt Joseph A. , Mohan Chandra , Pope Richard M. , Perlman Harris 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectiveThe death receptor Fas is a critical mediator of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, and its role in mediating lymphoproliferation has been extensively examined. The present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of myeloid cell–specific loss of Fas.MethodsMice with Fas flanked by loxP sites (Fasflox/flox) were crossed with mice expressing Cre under control of the murine lysozyme M gene promoter (CreLysM), which functions in mature lysozyme‐expressing cells of the myelomonocytic lineage. The genotype for CreLysMFasflox/flox mice was verified by polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometric analysis. Flow cytometric analysis was also used to characterize myeloid, dendritic, and lymphoid cell distribution and activation in bone marrow, blood, and spleen. Luminex‐based assays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure serum cytokine/chemokine and immunoglobulin levels. Renal damage or dysfunction was examined by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analysis.ResultsCreLysMFasflox/flox mice exhibited a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)–like disease that included leukocytosis, splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinemia, antinuclear autoantibody and proinflammatory cytokine production, and glomerulonephritis. Loss of Fas in myeloid cells increased levels of both Gr‐1low and Gr‐1intermediate blood monocytes and splenic macrophages and, in a paracrine manner, incited activation of conventional dendritic cells and lymphocytes in CreLysMFasflox/flox mice.ConclusionTaken together, these results suggest that loss of Fas in myeloid cells is sufficient to induce inflammatory phenotypes in mice, reminiscent of an SLE‐like disease. Thus, Fas in myeloid cells may be considered a suppressor of systemic autoimmunity.
Decreased Th17 and antigen‐specific humoral responses in CX3CR1‐deficient mice in the collagen‐induced arthritis model
Authors: Tarrant Teresa K. , Liu Peng , Rampersad Rishi R. , Esserman Denise , Rothlein Lisa R. , Timoshchenko Roman G. , McGinnis Marcus W. , Fitzhugh David J. , Patel Dhavalkumar D. , Fong Alan M. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectiveCX3CR1 is a chemokine receptor that uniquely binds to its ligand fractalkine (CX3CL1) and has been shown to be important in inflammatory arthritis responses, largely due to its effects on cellular migration. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that genetic deficiency of CX3CR1 is protective in the chronic inflammatory arthritis model collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). Because CX3CR1 is expressed on T cells and antigen‐presenting cells, we also examined adaptive immune functions in this model.MethodsAutoantibody formation, clinical, histologic, T cell proliferative, and cytokine responses were evaluated in wild‐type and CX3CR1‐deficient DBA/1J mice after immunization with heterologous type II collagen (CII).ResultsCX3CR1−/−mice had an ∼30% reduction in arthritis severity compared to wild‐type mice, as determined by 2 independent measures, paw swelling (P< 0.01) and clinical disease score (P< 0.0001). Additionally, compared to wild‐type mice, CX3CR1−/−mice had an ∼50% decrease in anti‐CII autoantibody formation (P< 0.05), decreased Th17 intraarticular cytokine expression (P< 0.01 for interleukin‐17 [IL‐17] andP< 0.001 for IL‐23), and decreased total numbers of Th17 cells in inflamed joints (P< 0.05).ConclusionOur findings indicate that CX3CR1 deficiency is protective in inflammatory arthritis and may have effects that extend beyond migration that involve adaptive immune responses in autoimmune disease.
Best Practice und Worst Case? Der Umgang mit der Hochschulzeitgeschichte an der Universität Jena und der Humboldt‐Universität: ein exemplarischer Vergleich
Authors: Hechler Daniel , Pasternack Peer 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBest Practice vs. Worst Case? How East German Universities Deal with their Contemporary History: the Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of Jena. East German universities are often criticized for a lack of efforts to come to terms with their own history in the GDR. Two universities are regularly compared to illustrate the chances and shortcomings in this field: while the University of Jena is considered as very active in dealing with their own contemporary history the Humboldt University of Berlin is claimed to have substantial deficits. As a part of a general survey of the efforts of East German universities concerning their own contemporary history this contrastive picture is examined. It can be shown that the main differences between the two universities are less the intensity of historical self‐reflection but rather the thematic focus and the forms of presentation.
Carboxylation of Arene CH Bonds with CO2: A DFT‐Based Approach to Catalyst Design
Authors: Uhe Andreas , Hölscher Markus , Leitner Walter 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA prototypical catalytic cycle for the direct carboxylation of unactivated arene CH bonds with CO2 based on ruthenium(II) pincer complexes as catalysts is proposed and investigated by density functional theory (DFT) methods. The energetic span model is used to predict the turnover frequency (TOF) of various potential catalysts, evaluating their efficiency for this reaction. In addition to modifications of the catalyst structure, we also investigated the effect of the substrate, the solvent, and the influence of a base on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the reaction. Turnover frequencies in the range of 105–107 h−1 are predicted for the best systems. Alternative reaction pathways that might prevent the reaction are also investigated. In all cases, either the respective intermediates are found to be unstable or activation barriers are found to be very high, thereby indicating that these alternative pathways will not interfere with the proposed catalytic cycle. As a result, several ruthenium pincer complexes are suggested as very promising candidates for experimental investigation as catalysts for the carboxylation of arene CH bonds with CO2.
The versatile synthesis method for hierarchical micro‐ and mesoporous zeolite: An embedded nanocarbon cluster approach
Authors: Wattanakit Chularat , Warakulwit Chompunuch , Pantu Piboon , Sunpetch Boonruen , Charoenpanich Metta , Limtrakul Jumras 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn this work, we are reporting for the first time the synthesis of hierarchical micro‐ and mesoporous zeolite using silica–carbon (SiO2/C) composites prepared by pyrolysis of carbonaceous gases in the presence of silica gel. The pyrolysis effectively yielded carbon deposited onto the raw silica material. The obtained SiO2/C composites were utilised as a bifunctional material, mesoporous template and silica source, for the zeolite synthesis. Tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) was used as a microporous template. The combination of the obtained composites and the TPAOH for the hydrothermal synthesis resulted in the formation of hierarchical micro‐ and mesoporous ZSM‐5. The results from the SEM, TEM, and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, and 27Al MAS NMR characterisations of the synthesised samples obtained after the removal of the templates confirmed the successful formation of the micro‐ and mesoporous zeolites. The mesoporosity of the zeolites could be controlled by adjusting the carbon content in the SiO2/C composites while the carbon content could be controlled by varying the deposition time and the concentration of the carbonaceous gases used. This controllable and efficient synthesis method is considered to be a promising method for creating hierarchical micro‐ and mesoporous zeolites. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Generation of mice with conditional null allele for GdX/Ubl4A
Authors: Wang Yangmeng , Wang Dianjun , Ren Fangli , Zhang Yuanjiang , Lin Fuyu , Hou Ning , Cheng Xuan , Zhang Peng , Wang Yinyin , Jia Baoqing , Yang Xiao , Chang Zhijie 
Published: December 2011

AbstractGdX (also named Ubl4A) is a house‐keeping gene located on the X chromosome and encodes a protein harboring an ubiquitin‐like domain in human and mouse. Although identified in 1988, the function of GdX remains unknown. To elucidate the role of GdX in vivo, we generated a conditional GdX knockout mouse in which Exon 2 was flanked by two loxP sites. We obtained viable and fertile mice with homozygous GdXflox/flox or GdXflox/Y allele. Germ‐line transmission was confirmed by crossing the mouse bearing conditionally targeted allele with an EIIα‐Cre transgenic mouse. GdX was successfully depleted in tissues of EIIα‐Cre‐GdX‐null mice. GdX−/− and GdX−/Y mice are viable and exhibit normal development compared with wild‐type littermates within 6 months during our observation. We also observed that GdX knockout male mice were functionally normal in the reproductive system where Ubl4B was specifically expressed. GdXflox/flox and GdXflox/Y conditional mice provide a tool for further tissue‐specific function analysis of the GdX protein under different conditions. genesis 50:534–542, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Downregulation of MUC1 expression and its recognition by CD8+ T cells on the surface of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells treated with HDACi
Authors: Roulois David , Blanquart Christophe , Panterne Clarisse , Gueugnon Fabien , Grégoire Marc , Fonteneau Jean‐François 
Published: December 2011

AbstractResearch into new treatments against malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is of great interest, as this aggressive cancer is often resistant to conventional therapies. One potential strategy is the use of epigenetic drugs, such as 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine (5‐azaCdR), a DNA‐hypomethylating drug, and valproate (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi). Indeed, these drugs not only trigger MPM cell death, but also induce the expression of cancer testis antigens recognized by CD8+ T cells, such as New York‐esophageal cancer‐1 (NY‐ESO‐1). The objective of this study was to assess effects of these drugs on the expression and recognition by CD8+ T cells of Mucin1 (MUC1), a tumor‐associated antigen that is overexpressed by MPM. MPM tumor cell lines were treated with epigenetic drugs, alone or in combination. MUC1 expression by MPM cells, and its recognition by a MUC1‐specific CD8+ T‐cell clone, was downregulated by HDACi when used alone or in combination with 5‐azaCdR. This effect was not due to a blocking of the HLA class I presentation pathway in treated MPM cells, as NY‐ESO‐1 induced by 5‐azaCdR alone, or with VPA, was recognized by a NY‐ESO‐1‐specific T‐cell clone. This study suggests that the choice of tumor antigens could be critical for strategies combining epigenetic drugs with immunotherapy.
TMSOTf‐Catalyzed Silylation: Streamlined Regioselective One‐Pot Protection and Acetylation of Carbohydrates
Authors: Joseph A. Abragam , Verma Ved Prakash , Liu Xin‐Yi , Wu Chia‐Hui , Dhurandhare Vijay M. , Wang Cheng‐Chung 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA highly efficient TMSOTf‐catalyzed HMDS silylation of sugars, which can easily be integrated with subsequent reactions in one‐pot fashion, has been developed. Its usefulness was demonstrated by applications to streamlined regioselective one‐pot protection and nonenzymatic acetylation of unprotected sugars. Monosaccharide and trehalose building blocks with orthogonally well‐differentiated hydroxy groups were efficiently prepared starting with free sugars in one‐pot fashion without the need for prior per‐O‐silylation.
Convenient Synthesis of a Galacturonic Acid Based Macrocycle with Potential Copper‐Complexation Ability
Authors: Allam Anas , Dupont Laurent , Behr Jean‐Bernard , Plantier‐Royon Richard 
Published: December 2011

AbstractA convenient approach to the construction of a galacturonic acid based macrocycle containing an amide group and a triazole ring has been achieved. The key step relies on the efficient formation of a 16‐membered ring by a copper‐catalysed intramolecular cycloaddition reaction applied to analkyne‐azide galacturonate. Depending on the reaction conditions, the outcome of the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition varied; the expected intramolecular 1,4‐triazole was obtained as well as a C2‐symmetric dimer in different ratios. A preliminary study of the complexation properties of this macrocycle towards CuII cations revealed the formation of cryptates in a 1:1 metal/ligand ratio.
Growing trend of CE at the omics level: The frontier of systems biology – An update
Authors: Ban Eunmi , Park Soo Hyun , Kang Min‐Jung , Lee Hyun‐Jung , Song Eun Joo , Yoo Young Sook 
Published: December 2011

AbstractOmics is the study of proteins, peptides, genes, and metabolites in living organisms. Systems biology aims to understand the system through the study of the relationship between elements such as genes and proteins in biological system. Recently, systems biology emerged as the result of the advanced development of high‐throughput analysis technologies such as DNA sequencers, DNA arrays, and mass spectrometry for omics studies. Among a number of analytical tools and technologies, CE and CE coupled to MS are promising and relatively rapidly developing tools with the potential to provide qualitative and quantitative analyses of biological molecules. With an emphasis on CE for systems biology, this review summarizes the method developments and applications of CE for the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies focusing on the drug discovery and disease diagnosis and therapies since 2009.
Collaborative algebraic decoding of interleaved Reed–Solomon codes
Authors: Shayegh Farnaz , Reza Soleymani M. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTWe derive and analyse an algorithm for collaborative decoding of heterogeneous interleaved Reed–Solomon (IRS) codes. They are generated by interleaving several codewords from different Reed–Solomon codes with the same length over the same Galois field. The basis of the decoding algorithm is similar to the Guruswami–Sudan (GS) decoding method. However, here multivariate interpolation is used to decode all the codewords of the interleaved scheme simultaneously. In the presence of burst errors, we show that the error‐correction capability of this algorithm is larger than that of independent decoding of each codeword using the standard GS method. In the latter case, the error‐correction capability is equal to the decoding radius of the GS algorithm for the Reed–Solomon code with the largest dimension. Also, concatenated codes using IRS codes as their outer codes and binary linear block codes as their inner codes are considered. Assuming maximum likelihood decoding of the inner code, we derive upper and lower bounds for the word error probability of concatenated codes over additive white Gaussian noise channel with binary phase‐shift keying modulation for both cases of independent and collaborative decoding of the outer IRS codes. We show that collaborative decoding provides considerable coding gain compared with independent decoding. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement strategies for the tools and techniques of quality improvement: Utilization of a performance evaluation matrix in the taiwanese high‐tech industry
Authors: Chen Shun‐Hsing 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThis study integrates importance–performance analysis (IPA) and Slack's IPA matrix to provide a more comprehensive performance‐evaluation matrix for prioritizing improvement actions with regard to the tools and techniques of quality improvement. The study undertakes a review of the literature to identify the tools and techniques most widely used by high‐tech businesses in Taiwan. Following a survey of 394 managers and technicians, these tools and techniques are then placed on the integrated performance‐evaluation matrix to determine appropriate priorities for improvement actions. The study finds that “new seven” total quality management tools are used less often than “old seven” total quality management tools, and that education, training, and the efficient use of corporate resources are required to improve the frequency of utilization and the performance of the tools and techniques of quality improvement. © 2011Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Macroinvertebrate Assemblages of an Andean High‐Altitude Tropical Stream: The Importance of Season and Flow
Authors: Ríos‐Touma Blanca , Encalada Andrea C. , Prat Fornells Narcís 
Published: December 2011

AbstractWe studied the Piburja stream, a high‐altitude tropical stream in Ecuador. Our main goals were to determine whether the macroinvertebrate community composition and abundance differed between seasons, reaches and velocity patches. Likewise, we aimed to examine the importance of the hydrological regime in determining these differences. Flow was significantly higher in the wet season, but the stability of flow was higher in the dry season. There was a strong increase in macroinvertebrate community metrics (richness, density and diversity) in the dry season. Seasons and velocity patches better explained the community composition. Reaches did not show differences at the community level, but some taxa showed significant differences among reaches. Our findings differed from those published in previous studies that have suggested that mountain tropical streams are non‐seasonal. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Life History Traits of the Endangered Endemic Amphipod Echinogammarus cari (Crustacea, Gammaridae) from the Dinaric Karst
Authors: Žganec Krešimir , Đurić Petra , Gottstein Sanja 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe life history of the endemic amphipod Echinogammarus cari, endangered by damming, was studied at a site on the Gojačka Dobra River which was flooded after closure of a large dam (D5) and at a site in an intact tributary (B2). Four replicate samples in moss microhabitats were collected over twelve months. Site B2 had a lower range and mean water temperature (10.8 °C) and higher concentration of calcium ions. The population sampled at this site showed continuous reproduction, very high densities and a cohort life span of 6–7 months. Site D5 showed higher summer temperatures (max. recorded: 21.0 °C), and the population at this site had a reproductive resting stage in September and October, a lower density and a cohort life span of 7–12 months. Growth of cohorts was faster during the colder period of the year at both sites, while higher summer temperatures at D5 inhibited growth. These results show that the proximate cause of the restricted distribution of the species is adaptation to relatively colder conditions with higher calcium content. The presented results provide a better understanding of the damming impact on the species and will contribute to the development of conservation plans to ensure its future survival. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
EURO CORPORATE BOND RISK FACTORS
Authors: Castagnetti Carolina , Rossi Eduardo 
Published: December 2011

SUMMARYThis paper investigates the determinants of credit spread changes in euro‐denominated bonds. We adopt a factor model framework, inspired by the credit risk structural approach, as credit spread changes can be easily viewed as an excess return on corporate bonds over Treasury bonds. We try to assess the relative importance of market and idiosyncratic factors as an explanation of movements in credit spreads. We adopt a heterogeneous panel with a multifactor error model and propose a two‐step estimation procedure, which yields consistent estimates of unobserved factors. The analysis is carried out with a panel of monthly redemption yields on a set of corporate bonds for a time span of 3 years. Our results suggest that the euro corporate market is driven by observable and unobservable factors. The unobservable factors are identified through a consistent estimation of individual and common observable effects. The empirical results suggest that an unobserved common factor has a significant role in explaining the systematic changes in credit spreads. However, in contrast to evidence regarding US credit spread changes, it cannot be identified as a market factor. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
QCT measures of bone strength at the thoracic and lumbar spine: The Framingham study
Authors: Samelson Elizabeth J , Christiansen Blaine A , Demissie Serkalem , Broe Kerry E , Louie-Gao Qiong , Cupples L Adrienne , Roberts Benjamin J , Manoharam Rajaram , D'Agostino John , Lang Thomas , Kiel Douglas P , Bouxsein Mary L 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
We used volumetric quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scans to evaluate volumetric bone density (vBMD), geometry, and strength in the thoracic (T8 to T10) and lumbar (L3 to L5) spine and determined how these parameters varied with age, sex, and spinal region. Participants included 690 participants of the Framingham Study, 40 to 87 years old (mean, 61 years). In both women and men, trabecular vBMD declined with age similarly for lumbar and thoracic regions, whereas cortical vBMD and integral vBMD, vertebral strength, and compressive force declined more at the lumbar spine than thoracic spine (interaction, p &lt; 0.01). Notably, in men, cortical vBMD increased (β = 0.0004, p = 0.01), and vertebral strength did not change (β = 1.9305, p = 0.66) at the thoracic spine with age. In both women and men, vertebral cross-sectional area increased less and the factor-of-risk increased more with age at the lumbar than at the thoracic region (interaction, p &lt; 0.01). For example, in women, the factor-of-risk for forward flexion increased (worsened) with age 6.8-fold more in the lumbar spine (β = 0.0157), compared with the thoracic spine (β = 0.0023). vBMD and vertebral strength declined more and the factor-of-risk increased more with age in women than men (interaction, p &lt; 0.01). For instance, integral vBMD for the lumbar spine declined 36% from 40 to 75 years of age in women compared with 18% in men. There was little or no age-related change in the forces applied to the thoracic vertebrae in either women or men. Age-related changes were greater in the lumbar spine than in the thoracic region and greater in women than men. Whereas women lost bone density and strength at both the thoracic and lumbar spine, in men, vertebral strength declined only at the lumbar spine. Our study confirms the importance of evaluating determinants of vertebral strength in both the thoracic and lumbar spine and in both women and men to understand mechanisms underlying the structural failure of vertebral bodies with aging. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Molecular characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from diverse habitats of India
Authors: Patel Ketan D. , Chudasama Chaitanyasinh J. , Ingle Sanjay S. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains were isolated from 94 samples from different geographical regions. Novel types of crystalline inclusion bodies were observed from some of the isolates. Crystalline inclusions of bipyramidal, spherical and cuboidal morphology were found produced by most of the isolates. Isolate GS12 showed crystal on one side of spore while isolate GM108 formed crystals on both termini of spore. Isolate GN31 produced large sized bipyramidal crystals. SDS‐PAGE analysis of the spore crystal suspension showed major protein bands in the range of 29 and 140 kDa. Two new serovars of Bt viz. GS4 and GN24 having H3abce and H3ab serotype respectively were isolated. Toxicity comparable to the reference strain Bacillus thuringiensis subs. kurstaki (Btk) HD‐1 was observed for the isolates GM20, GM17 and MP3 against larvae of Helicoverpa armigera. Some of the isolates harboring cry genes like cry1Ac and cry2 did not show any toxicity towards H. armigera while most of the isolates were harboring cry1, cry1Ac and cry2 gene. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)