bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
3,3′,4′,5,7-Pentamethylquercetin reduces angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis in rats
Authors: Mao Zhangfan , Liang Yuanxin , Du Xinling , Sun Zongquan 
Published: September 2009

Quercetin has been shown to possess beneficial pharmacological properties in treatment of heart disease, but lack of stability and bioavailability limits its clinical use. In this study, we investigated for the first time the effect of a methylated form of quercetin, 3,3′,4′,5,7-pentamethylquercetin (PMQ), on myocardial protection in rats. Angiotensin II was delivered to Sprague–Dawley rats subcutaneously, while PMQ (5 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage; blood pressure was monitored daily. The production of NADPH oxidase was measured, and cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis were detected. The results revealed that PMQ could downregulate the expression of the NADPH oxidase gene and reduce angiotensin II- induced cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis in rats. Therefore, we believe that PMQ showed beneficial effects on myocardium in angiotensin II-administered rats, and its potential to be used for treatment of cardiovascular disease deserves further attention.
Validation of spontaneous assessment of baroreceptor reflex sensitivity and its relation to heart rate variability in the ovine fetus pre- and near-term
Authors: Frasch Martin G. , Müller Thomas , Szynkaruk Mark , Schwab Matthias 
Published: September 2009

Assessment of baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) in the ovine fetus provides insight into autonomic cardiovascular regulation. Currently, assessment of BRS relies on vasoactive drugs, but this approach is limited by feasibility issues and by the nonphysiologic nature of the stimulus. Thus we aimed to validate the method of spontaneous BRS assessment against the reference method of using vasoactive drugs in preterm (0.76 gestation, n = 16) and near-term (0.86 gestation, n = 16) chronically instrumented ovine fetuses. The BRS measures derived from the spontaneous and reference methods correlated at both gestational ages (R = 0.67 ± 0.03). The sequence method of spontaneous BRS measures also correlated both to the root mean square of standard deviations (RMSSD), which is a measure of fetal heart rate variability reflecting vagal modulation (R = 0.69 ± 0.03), and to fetal body weight (R = 0.65 ± 0.03), which is a surrogate for growth trajectory of each fetus. The methodology presented may aid in developing new models to study BRS and cardiovascular control in ovine fetus in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Effect of water temperature on laboratory swimming performance and natural activity levels of adult largemouth bass
Authors: Hasler Caleb T. , Suski Cory D. , Hanson Kyle C. , Cooke Steven J. , Philipp David P. , Tufts Bruce L. 
Published: September 2009

Although locomotory performance in vertebrates is related to fitness, most performance tests are conducted in a laboratory setting, or in a manner that forces the organism to move not of their own volition. Biotelemetry offers the possibility to measure voluntary activity in a natural setting and provides the opportunity to combine laboratory-derived data with field studies on wild fish. In this study, it was found that laboratory- and field-based measurements of swimming performance and voluntary activity resulted in similar general seasonal trends, though each measurement assessed a different swimming type. In the field, all swimming metrics were lower at cooler water temperatures and were lowest during early winter (mean daily activity = 0.016 BL/s; mean voluntary swimming activity = 0.04319 BL/s; maximum swimming speed = 0.17 BL/s). In the laboratory, fish acclimatized to 25.0, 14.0, and 7.5 °C decreased swimming performance (Ucrit) with water temperature (25.0 °C (2.17 BL/s); 14.0 °C (1.69 BL/s); 7.5 °C (1.17 BL/s). Although some species and tissues have been shown to exhibit different degrees of thermal adaptation, these results show that swimming, one of the most important functions in fish, is largely dependent on environmental temperature, at least in largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède, 1802)).
Source levels and communication-range models for harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) underwater calls in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
Authors: Rossong M. A. , Terhune J. M. 
Published: September 2009

Harp seals ( Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) produce underwater call types during the breeding season that are thought to be important for reproductive behaviours and herd formation. Underwater calls were recorded in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, in March 2007. A four hydrophone array system determined the locations of nearby calling seals and call source levels (amplitudes at 1 m from the seal). Source levels ranged from 103 to 180 dB re 1 µPa-m and mean values per call type ranged from 129 to 151 dB re 1 µPa-m with considerable overlap between call types. Short-range sound transmission losses under the ice were variable. Theoretical communication-range models were constructed under quiet (0 sea state, transmission-loss pattern of 20 log range) and noisy (herd noise, transmission-loss patterns of 15, 17.5, or 20 log range) conditions. Monte Carlo models for the calls for a quiet sea indicated median distances of 0.5–5.5 km (maximum 80 km). Communication distances in the presence of other calling seals dropped to 0.03–0.5 km (maximum 15 km) for dB loss = 20 log range but were longer under different spreading-loss patterns. Communication ranges are significantly influenced by call source levels, background noise, and in situ sound transmission patterns.
Population genetics and social organization of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Azores inferred by microsatellite analyses
Authors: Pinela A. M. , Quérouil S. , Magalhães S. , Silva M. A. , Prieto R. , Matos J. A. , Santos R. S. 
Published: September 2009

In the northeast Atlantic Ocean, the archipelago of the Azores is frequented by female–offspring groups of sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus L., 1758), as well as large males. The Azores apparently constitute both a feeding ground and a reproduction site. Little is known about the population and group structure of sperm whales in the area. We analysed 151 sloughed skin and biopsy samples collected from 2002 to 2004. Molecular analyses involved genetic tagging using 11 microsatellite loci and molecular sexing. Our objectives were to determine the population genetic structure, compare relatedness within and between social groups, infer kinship, and estimate the age of males at dispersal. Results suggest that individuals visiting the archipelago of the Azores belong to a single population. High genetic diversity and absence of inbreeding suggest that the population is recovering from whaling. Individuals sampled in close association are highly related, as well as those observed in the same area on the same day, suggesting that secondary social groups (i.e., the union of primary social units) are largely but not exclusively composed of relatives. Probable mother–offspring and full-sibling pairs were identified. Age of males at dispersal was estimated at 16.6 years, which was well above previous estimates for this species.
Stable hydrogen isotope (δD) values in songbird nestlings: effects of diet, temperature, and body size
Authors: Betini Gustavo S. , Hobson Keith A. , Wassenaar Leonard I. , Norris D. Ryan 
Published: September 2009

Stable hydrogen isotopes (δD) can be a powerful tool for estimating the large-scale movements of animals, but the cause and extent of isotopic variation within animal tissues remain poorly understood. Here, we simultaneously examined three hypotheses to explain δD variation in the blood (δDB) of nestling Tree Swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) from a single nest-box population in southern Ontario, Canada: (1) microgeographic and (or) temporal variation in δD of local diet, (2) potential evaporation of protium resulting from variation in nest-box temperature, and (3) differences in body size resulting in higher rates of water loss and isotope fractionation in larger birds. δDB ranged from –128‰ to –94‰, with a mean ± SD of –113‰ ± 7‰. Nest-box temperatures ranged from 21.5 to 38 °C immediately prior to blood collection. A general linear mixed-effects model explained 80% of the variation in δDB and provided evidence that δD values in prey, maximum temperature 1 day prior to blood collection, and body size were all significant predictors of δDB. Our results suggest that isotopic variation in individuals and local populations arises from a combination of physiological factors and local environmental variation. To gain a complete understanding of how δD values can be used to estimate animal movements, additional work is needed to determine how these factors influence other tissues, such as metabolically inert feathers, and animals of different age classes.
Temperature and site selection by Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) during hibernation near the species’ northern range limit
Authors: Edge C. B. , Steinberg B. D. , Brooks R. J. , Litzgus J. D. 
Published: September 2009

Many animals that live in northern climates enter a state of prolonged dormancy during winter. These animals possess a suite of physiological and behavioural adaptations that minimize threats to survival while overwintering. There are three major threats to overwintering survival: metabolic and respiratory acidosis, freezing, and predation. Selection of hibernation sites should minimize these threats. We monitored dissolved oxygen, water depth, and temperature at overwintering locations of Blanding’s Turtles ( Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838)) and at stations located haphazardly in six different habitat types over two winters in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. Water depth and dissolved oxygen in overwintering sites used by turtles were similar to those measured at haphazard stations. In contrast, estimated turtle body temperatures (~0 °C) were significantly lower and less variable than water temperatures measured at haphazard stations. These data and those reported elsewhere suggest that there are two alternatives for selection of suitable hibernacula by anoxia tolerant turtles. In areas where there is periodic access to aerial oxygen, turtles select sites where ice cover may not be present for the entire winter, but in areas where ice cover restricts access to air, turtles select sites where water temperatures are close to 0 °C.
ON OPEN RECTANGLE-OF-INFLUENCE AND RECTANGULAR DUAL DRAWINGS OF PLANE GRAPHS
Authors: ZHANG HUAMING , VAIDYA MILIND 
Published: September 2009

Irreducible triangulations are plane graphs with a quadrangular exterior face, triangular interior faces and no separating triangles. Fusy proposed a straight-line grid drawing algorithm for irreducible triangulations, whose grid size is asymptotically with high probability 11n/27 × 11n/27 up to an additive error of [Formula: see text]. Later on, Fusy generalized the idea to quadrangulations and obtained a straight-line grid drawing, whose grid size is asymptotically with high probability 13n/27 × 13n/27 up to an additive error of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we first prove that the above two straight-line grid drawing algorithms for irreducible triangulations and quadrangulations actually produce open rectangle-of-influence drawings for them respectively. Therefore, the above mentioned straight-line grid drawing size bounds also hold for the open rectangle-of-influence drawings. These results improve previous known drawing sizes.In the second part of the paper, we present another application of the results obtained by Fusy. We present a linear time algorithm for constructing a rectangular dual for a randomly generated irreducible triangulation with n vertices, one of its dimensions equals [Formula: see text] asymptotically with high probability, up to an additive error of [Formula: see text]. In addition, we prove that the one dimension tight bound for a rectangular dual of any irreducible triangulations with n vertices is (n + 1)/2.
POLYNOMIAL APPROXIMATION SCHEMES FOR THE MAX-MIN ALLOCATION PROBLEM UNDER A GRADE OF SERVICE PROVISION
Authors: LI JIANPING , LI WEIDONG , LI JIANBO 
Published: September 2009

The max-min allocation problem under a grade of service provision is defined in the following model: given a set [Formula: see text] of m parallel machines and a set [Formula: see text] of n jobs, where machines and jobs are all entitled to different levels of grade of service (GoS), each job [Formula: see text] has its processing time pj and it can only be allocated to a machine Mi whose GoS level is no more than the GoS level the job Jj has. The goal is to allocate all jobs to m machines to maximize the minimum machine load among these m machines, where the machine load of Mi is the sum of the processing time of jobs executed on Mi. The best known approximation algorithm [4] to solve this problem produces an allocation in which the minimum machine completion time is at least Ω ( log log log m/ log log m) of the optimal value. In this paper, we respectively present four approximation schemes to solve this problem and its two special versions: (1) a polynomial time approximation scheme (PTAS) with a running time [Formula: see text] for the general version, where ϵ > 0; (2) a PTAS and a fully polynomial time approximation scheme (FPTAS) with the running time O(n) for the version where the number m of machines is fixed; (3) a PTAS with the running time O(n) for the version where the number of GoS levels is bounded by k.
Tumor Apoptotic Bodies Inhibit CTL Responses and Antitumor Immunity via Membrane-Bound Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Inducing CD8+ T-Cell Anergy and CD4+ Tr1 Cell Responses
Authors: Xie Yufeng , Bai Ou , Yuan Jinying , Chibbar Rajni , Slattery Karen , Wei Yangdou , Deng Yulin , Xiang Jim 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTumor cell apoptosis induced by radiation therapy results in apoptotic tumor cells and apparition of membrane blebs termed apoptotic bodies (APB). The immune responses induced by apoptotic tumor cells have been extensively studied. However, the role of APB in modulation of tumor immune responses is elusive. In this study, we induced apoptosis in 90% ovabumin-expressing EG7 tumor cells by in vitro irradiation (9,000 rad) of tumor cells with a subsequent cell culture for 9 hours. APB purified from irradiation-induced apoptotic EG7 cell culture supernatant by differential ultracentrifugation were vesicles with 50 to 90 nm in diameter and expressed apoptosis-specific Annexin V, 14-3-3, and Histone H3. We then investigated its potential modulation in DCOVA–induced T-cell responses and antitumor immunity. We found that EG7-derived APB were tolerogenic and capable of suppressing DCOVA-stimulated CD8+ CTL responses and antitumor immunity via its induction of CD8+ T-cell anergy and type 1 regulatory CD4+ T-cell responses. Analysis of apoptotic tumor cells and APB revealed the expression of membrane-bound transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 associated with irradiation-induced apoptosis formation, which is a result from activation of transcriptional factor NF-AT specific for TGF-β1 promoters. Our data further elucidate that it is the membrane-bound TGF-β1 expression on APB that contributes to its in vitro antiproliferative effect as shown by using neutralizing TGF-β1–specific antibody. Administration of anti–TGF-β1 antibody in vivo also blocked APB-mediated immune suppression of CD8+ CTL responses and antitumor immunity. Therefore, our study may have great impact in designing a combined radiation therapy with immunotherapy of cancer. [Cancer Res 2009;69(19):7756–66]
Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 Enhances Tumor Growth by Supporting Recruitment of Gr-1+CD11b+ Myeloid Cells into Tumors
Authors: Marttila-Ichihara Fumiko , Auvinen Kaisa , Elima Kati , Jalkanen Sirpa , Salmi Marko 
Published: September 2009

AbstractCancer growth is regulated by several nonmalignant cell types, such as leukocytes and endothelial cells, which reside in the stroma of the tumor. Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is an amine oxidase enzyme that is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells. It supports leukocyte traffic into inflamed tissues, but nothing is known about its possible role in cancer biology in vivo. Here, we report that B16 melanoma and EL-4 lymphoma remain smaller in VAP-1–deficient mice than in wild-type controls. We found an unexpected defect in tumor angiogenesis in the absence of VAP-1. VAP-1 also selectively enhanced the recruitment of Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid cells into the tumors. Generation of mice expressing enzymatically inactive VAP-1 showed that the oxidase activity of VAP-1 was necessary to support neoangiogenesis, myeloid cell recruitment, and tumor growth in vivo. These data describe VAP-1 as the first adhesion molecule known to be involved in the recruitment of Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid cells into tumors. They also suggest that VAP-1 is a potential new tool for immunotherapy of tumors that could be exploited to reduce tumor burden by controlling the traffic of Gr-1+CD11b+ myeloid cells. [Cancer Res 2009;69(19):7875–83]
Overexpression of Kinesins Mediates Docetaxel Resistance in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: De Sarmishtha , Cipriano Rocky , Jackson Mark W. , Stark George R. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapy remains a major barrier to the successful treatment of cancer. To understand mechanisms underlying docetaxel resistance in breast cancer, we used an insertional mutagenesis strategy to identify proteins whose overexpression confers resistance. A strong promoter was inserted approximately randomly into the genomes of tumor-derived breast cancer cells, using a novel lentiviral vector. We isolated a docetaxel-resistant clone in which the level of the kinesin KIFC3 was elevated. When KIFC3 or the additional kinesins KIFC1, KIF1A, or KIF5A were overexpressed in the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB231 and MDA-MB 468, the cells became more resistant to docetaxel. The binding of kinesins to microtubules opposes the stabilizing effect of docetaxel that prevents cytokinesis and leads to apoptosis. Our finding that kinesins can mediate docetaxel resistance might lead to novel therapeutic approaches in which kinesin inhibitors are paired with taxanes. [Cancer Res 2009;69(20):8035–42]
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Defines Cervicovaginal Anatomy, Cancer, and VEGF Trap Antiangiogenic Efficacy in Estrogen-Treated K14-HPV16 Transgenic Mice
Authors: Garbow Joel R. , Santeford Andrea C. , Anderson Jeff R. , Engelbach John A. , Arbeit Jeffrey M. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Noninvasive detection of dysplasia provides a potential platform for monitoring the efficacy of chemopreventive therapy of premalignancy, imaging the tissue compartments comprising dysplasia: epithelium, microvasculature, and stromal inflammatory cells. Here, using respiratory-gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the anatomy of premalignant and malignant stages of cervical carcinogenesis in estrogen-treated K14-HPV16 transgenic mice was noninvasively defined. Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI was used to quantify leakage across premalignant dysplastic microvasculature. Vascular permeability as measured by DCE-MRI, Ktrans, was similar in transgenic (0.053 ± 0.020 min−1; n = 32 mice) and nontransgenic (0.056 ± 0.029 min−1; n = 17 mice) animals despite a 2-fold increase in microvascular area in the former compared with the latter. DCE-MRI did detect a significant decrease in vascular permeability accompanying diminution of dysplastic microvasculature by the antiangiogenic agent, vascular endothelial growth factor Trap (Ktrans = 0.052 ± 0.013 min−1 pretreatment; n = 6 mice versus Ktrans = 0.019 ± 0.008 min−1 post-treatment; n = 5 mice). Thus, we determined that the threshold of microvessel leakage associated with cervical dysplasia was &lt;17 kDa and highlighted the potential of DCE-MRI to noninvasively monitor the efficacy of antiangiogenic drugs or chemoprevention regimens targeting the vasculature in premalignant cervical dysplasia. [Cancer Res 2009;69(20):7945–52]
Immutable Functional Attributes of Histologic Grade Revealed by Context-Independent Gene Expression in Primary Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Dairkee Shanaz H. , Sayeed Aejaz , Luciani Gloria , Champion Stacey , Meng Zhenhang , Jakkula Lakshmi R. , Feiler Heidi S. , Gray Joe W. , Moore Dan H. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Inherent cancer phenotypes that are independent of fluctuating cross-talk with the surrounding tissue matrix are highly desirable candidates for targeting tumor cells. Our novel study design uses epithelial cell lines derived from low versus high histologic grade primary breast cancer to effectively diminish the breadth of transient variability generated within the tumor microenvironment of the host, revealing a “paracrine-independent expression of grade-associated” (PEGA) gene signature. PEGA members extended beyond “proliferation-driven” signatures commonly associated with aggressive, high-grade breast cancer. The calcium-binding protein S100P was prominent among PEGA genes overexpressed in high-grade tumors. A three-member fingerprint of S100P-correlated genes, consisting of GPRC5A, FXYD3, and PYCARD, conferred poor outcome in multiple breast cancer data sets, irrespective of estrogen receptor status but dependent on tumor size (P &lt; 0.01). S100P silencing markedly diminished coregulated gene transcripts and reversed aggressive tumor behavior. Exposure to pathway-implicated agents, including the calmodulin inhibitor N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, phenothiazine, and chlorpromazine, resulted in rapid apoptotic cell death in high-grade tumor cells resistant to the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. This is the first comprehensive study describing molecular phenotypes intimately associated with histologic grade whose expression remains relatively fixed despite an unavoidably changing environment to which tumor cells are invariably exposed. [Cancer Res 2009;69(19):7826–34]
The Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor–Targeting Antibody, CP-751,871, Suppresses Tumor-Derived VEGF and Synergizes with Rapamycin in Models of Childhood Sarcoma
Authors: Kurmasheva Raushan T. , Dudkin Lorina , Billups Catherine , Debelenko Larisa V. , Morton Christopher L. , Houghton Peter J. 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Signaling through the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) occurs in many human cancers, including childhood sarcomas. As a consequence, targeting the IGF-1R has become a focus for cancer drug development. We examined the antitumor activity of CP-751,871, a human antibody that blocks IGF-1R ligand binding, alone and in combination with rapamycin against sarcoma cell lines in vitro and xenograft models in vivo. In Ewing sarcoma (EWS) cell lines, CP751,871 inhibited growth poorly (&lt;50%), but prevented rapamycin-induced hyperphosphorylation of AKT(Ser473) and induced greater than additive apoptosis. Rapamycin treatment also increased secretion of IGF-1 resulting in phosphorylation of IGF-1R (Tyr1131) that was blocked by CP751,871. In vivo CP-751,871, rapamycin, or the combination were evaluated against EWS, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts. CP751871 induced significant growth inhibition [EFS(T/C) &gt;2] in four models. Rapamycin induced significant growth inhibition [EFS(T/C) &gt;2] in nine models. Although neither agent given alone caused tumor regressions, in combination, these agents had greater than additive activity against 5 of 13 xenografts and induced complete remissions in one model each of rhabdomyosarcoma and EWS, and in three of four osteosarcoma models. CP751,871 caused complete IGF-1R down-regulation, suppression of AKT phosphorylation, and dramatically suppressed tumor-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in some sarcoma xenografts. Rapamycin treatment did not markedly suppress VEGF in tumors and synergized only in tumor lines where VEGF was dramatically inhibited by CP751,871. These data suggest a model in which blockade of IGF-1R suppresses tumor-derived VEGF to a level where rapamycin can effectively suppress the response in vascular endothelial cells. [Cancer Res 2009;69(19):7662–71]