bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Artemisinic acid is a regulator of adipocyte differentiation and C/EBP δ expression
Authors: Lee Jongsung , Kim Moo‐Han , Lee Jin‐Hyuck , Jung Eunsun , Yoo Eun‐Sook , Park Deokhoon 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAdipocyte dysfunction is associated with the development of obesity. In this study, artemisinic acid, which was isolated from Artemisia annua L., inhibited adipogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) and its mechanism of action was determined. The mRNA levels of peroxidase proliferation‐activated receptor (PPAR) γ and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) α, late adipogenic factors, were reduced by artemisinic acid. Moreover, the mRNA levels of the PPAR γ target genes lipoprotein lipase, CD36, adipocyte protein, and liver X receptor were down‐regulated by artemisinic acid. Artemisinic acid reduced expression of the C/EBP δ gene without impacting C/EBP β. In addition, attempts to elucidate a possible mechanism underlying the artemisinic acid‐mediated effects revealed that reduced expression of the C/EBP δ gene was mediated by inhibiting Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK). Additionally, artemisinic acid also reduced the expression of the adipogenesis‐associated genes glucose transporter‐4 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In addition to the interference of artemisinic acid with adipogenesis, artemisinic acid significantly attenuated tumor necrosis factor‐α‐induced secretion of interleukin‐6 by undifferentiated hAMSCs, thus influencing insulin resistance and the inflammatory state characterizing obesity. Taken together, these findings indicate that inhibiting adipogenic differentiation of hAMSCs by artemisinic acid occurs primarily through reduced expression of C/EBP δ, which is mediated by the inhibition of JNK and suggest that aremisinic acid may be used as a complementary treatment option for obesity associated with metabolic syndrome. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 2488–2499, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Morphology Dependence of Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanostructure Prepared through Microwave Hydrothermal Process
Authors: Lin Kai‐Lun , Mai Fu‐Der , Chan You‐Cheng , Chung Jen‐Chieh , Lin Kou‐Min , Yu Chung‐Chin , Liao Ming‐Yuan , Li Feng‐Yin 
Published: March 2012

AbstractFive different morphologies selectively synthesized through a microwave hydrothermal route in order to determine the dependence of degradation efficiency on TiO2 morphologies. These five morphologies include nanosphere, nanotube, hollow sphere, nanorod and granule‐like particle. Scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and Brunauer‐Emment‐Teller methods were used to characterize the morphologies, crystalline structures, and specific surface area of these nanostructured TiO2. Oxidants were used as sacrificial electron acceptor to accelerate the degradation. The degradation mechanism of oxalic acid on the surface of TiO2 influenced by oxidants was discussed.
Quantitative evaluation of liver cirrhosis using T1 relaxation time with 3 tesla MRI before and after oxygen inhalation
Authors: Kim Kyung Ah , Park Mi‐Suk , Kim In‐Seong , Kiefer Berthold , Chung Woo‐Suk , Kim Myeong‐Jin , Kim Ki Whang 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPurpose:To quantify liver T1 relaxation times before and after oxygen inhalation in patients with and without liver cirrhosis using a 3 Tesla (T) MRI.Materials and Methods:Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent were obtained. Ninety‐two noncirrhotic patients and 87 patients with hepatitis B viral liver cirrhosis (72 Child‐Pugh class A and 15 Child‐Pugh class B or C) underwent MRI with a 3.0T system before and after the supply of 100% oxygen at a rate of 15 L/min by means of a nonrebreather ventilation mask for 3 min. T1 maps were acquired using three‐dimensional spoiled gradient echo sequences with two different flip angles (2° and 14°) and a fixed TR/TE (2.54 ms/0.95 ms). Liver T1 values were obtained using a T1 processing tool (MapIT software). The mean baseline T1 values of three groups (control, Child‐Pugh class A, and Child‐Pugh class B/C) were compared using an analysis of variance test. Liver T1 value before and after oxygenation was compared using a paired t‐test for each group.Results:The baseline liver T1 value was significantly higher in the control group (941 ± 136 ms) than in Child‐Pugh A (858 ± 143 ms) and Child‐Pugh B/C (783 ± 164 ms) group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001). The reduction in the liver T1 value after oxygen inhalation was significant in the control group (P = 0.012) but not significant in Child‐Pugh class A (P = 0.079) and Child‐Pugh class B/C (P = 0.752).Conclusion:The baseline liver T1 relaxation time was significantly different between the patients with and without liver cirrhosis. The shortening effect of oxygen on the liver T1 value was significant in the control group but not in the cirrhotic patients. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:405–410. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Correction of arterial input function in dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI of the liver
Authors: Wang Hesheng , Cao Yue 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPurpose:To develop a postprocessing method to correct saturation of arterial input function (AIF) in T1‐weighted dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) for quantification of hepatic perfusion.Materials and Methods:The saturated AIF is corrected by parameterizing the first pass of the AIF as a smooth function with a single peak and minimizing a least‐squares error in fitting the liver DCE‐MRI data to a dual‐input single‐compartment model. Sensitivities of the method to the degree of saturation in the AIF first‐pass peak and the image contrast‐to‐noise ratio were assessed. The method was also evaluated by correlating portal venous perfusion with an independent overall liver function measurement.Results:The proposed method corrects the distorted AIF with a saturation ratio up to 0.45. The corrected AIF improved hepatic arterial perfusion by −23.4% and portal venous perfusion by 26.9% in a study of 12 patients with liver cancers. The correlation between the mean voxelwise portal venous perfusion and overall liver function measurement was improved by using the corrected AIFs (R2 = 0.67) compared with the saturated AIFs (R2 = 0.39).Conclusion:The method is robust for correcting AIF distortion and has the potential to improve quantification of hepatic perfusion for assessment of liver tissue response to treatment in patients with hepatic cancers. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:411–421. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Integrated risk factors for vertebrate roadkill in southern Ontario
Authors: Farmer Robert G. , Brooks Ron J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractRoad mortality of animals (roadkill) threatens public safety and wildlife populations. As mitigation tools, predictive models of roadkill are becoming more common in the published literature; however, few models generalize across multiple taxa, and thus are less useful for management scenarios that account for multiple target species. Using a dataset of 653 vertebrate roadkills collected from 2 parks in southern Ontario, we constructed generalized linear mixed models to determine the simultaneous risk factors for bird, frog, mammal, five‐lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus), snake, toad, and turtle hatchling roadkills from among a set of 8 potential predictor variables. Posted road speed limit was the dominant roadkill predictor (positive coefficient), followed by maximum daily temperature (positive), habitat diversity (positive), and distance from wetlands (negative). All else being equal, as road speed limits increase from 20 km/hr to 50 km/hr, the model predicted the season's mean roadkill probability for a given location to increase from less than 0.1 to 0.75. Conversely, roadkill probability declined from 0.55 to 0.29 as distance from wetland edges increases from 0 km to 1 km. Model diagnostics calculated from randomly resampled cross‐validation datasets indicated that the best model formulation had an averaged predictive accuracy of 67.5% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.867. The best model also reflected seasonal patterns of animal behavior, including late‐summer frog movements and fall turtle hatching events. The best model also compared favorably to single‐taxon equivalent models. To reduce the incidence of vertebrate roadkill, we recommend that managers lower road speed limits, especially on roads near diverse habitats and near wetlands, and on warmer days if temporary signage is used. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Using Bayesian stable isotope mixing models to estimate wolf diet in a multi‐prey ecosystem
Authors: Derbridge Jonathan J. , Krausman Paul R. , Darimont Chris T. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractStable isotope analysis (SIA) of wolf (Canis lupus) tissues can be used to estimate diet and intra‐population diet variability when potential prey have distinct δ13C and δ15N values. We tested this technique using guard hairs collected from 44 wolves in 12 northwestern Montana packs, summer 2009. We used hierarchical Bayesian stable isotope mixing models to determine diet and scales of diet variation from δ13C and δ15N of wolves and potential prey, white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), elk (Cervus canadensis), moose (Alces alces), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), and other prey. As a check on SIA results, we conducted a separate diet analysis with temporally matched scats (i.e., collected in summer 2008) from 4 of the same packs. Wolves were centered on the ungulate prey in the isotope mixing space. Both methods revealed differences among pack diets and that wolves may consume moose in greater proportions than predicted by available biomass. Stable isotope analysis, and scat results were not entirely concordant; assumptions related to tissues of use in SIA, hair growth period in wolves, and scat sampling may have contributed to a mismatch between methods. Incorrect fractionation values, insufficient separation of prey in the isotope mixing space, choice of prior information in the Bayesian mixing models, and unexplained factors may have distorted diet estimates. However, the consistently high proportion of moose in pack diets suggests that increased population monitoring would benefit management of moose and wolves. Our results also support suggestions of other researchers that species‐specific fractionation values should be used whenever possible, and that SIA may sometimes only provide indices of use for general groups of prey (e.g., large ungulates). © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Kinetics of COx formation in the homogeneous metal/bromide‐catalyzed aerobic oxidation of p‐xylene
Authors: Sun Weizhen , An Meiying , Zhong Weimin , Zhao Ling 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe homogeneous metal/bromide‐catalyzed aerobic oxidation of p‐xylene with different catalyst concentrations was carried out, and the formation kinetics of COx including CO2 and CO was measured. The simplified elementary steps for the formation of COx were summarized, on the basis of which the kinetic model of COx formation was established. The model calculations were in good agreement with the experimental data for the CO2 formation and also successfully captured the first peak of the CO formation rate as a function of time. The obtained rate constants have narrow confidence intervals, among which only k1 and k2 are the adjustable parameters for different catalyst conditions. The decarboxylation of the carboxyl group in aromatic acid, the oxidation of the aryl radical, and the destruction of acetic acid are the major sources of CO2. The formation of CO mainly results from the destruction of acetic acid and the oxidation of the aryl radical. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 277–283, 2012
Functionalization and Compatibilization of Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Composites with Cellulose Microfibres: Morphology, Thermal and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Haque Md. Minhaz‐Ul , Errico Maria Emanuela , Gentile Gennaro , Avella Maurizio , Pracella Mariano 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA comparative study of the preparation and properties of composites of PCL with cellulose microfibres (CFs) containing butanoic‐acid‐modified cellulose (CB) or PCL grafted with maleic anhydride/glycidyl methacrylate as compatibilizers, is reported. The composites are obtained by melt mixing and analyzed using SEM, DSC, TGA, XRD, FT‐IR, NMR and tensile tests. An improved interfacial adhesion is observed in all compatibilized composites, as compared to PCL/CF. The crystallization behavior and crystallinity of PCL is largely affected by CF and CB content. Composites with PCL‐g‐MAGMA display higher values of tensile modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break.magnified image
Novel Generation of Liquid Crystalline Photo‐Actuators Based on Stretched Porous Polyethylene Films
Authors: Ryabchun Alexander , Bobrovsky Alexey , Stumpe Joachim , Shibaev Valery 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe preparation of photo‐actuators based on stretched porous polyethylene and an azobenzene‐containing liquid crystalline polymer network is reported for the first time. It is revealed that this kind of photo‐actuator possesses the following advantages: the lack of a need for using aligning coatings and cells preparation, high deformation of the actuator and its complete reversibility, good mechanical properties, and relatively low cost of fabrication. In addition some kinetic and thermodynamic features of the bending and unbending processes have been studied.
Epigenetic regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor a dynamic expression in transitional cell carcinoma
Authors: Ping Szu‐Yuan , Shen Kun‐Hung , Yu Dah‐Shyong 
Published: March 2012

AbstractVascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A) is a key mediator in the neovascularization of cancers. We have found that VEGF‐A was expressed at significantly higher levels in high‐grade transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cells than low‐grade TCC cells in our previous study. In the present study, promoter methylation pattern was assessed and quantified by bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS) and specific VEGF‐A CpG sites in low‐grade, but not in high‐grade, TCC cells were observed. Reporter assays indicated that hypermethylation of nine CpG sites can inhibit the transcriptional activity of the VEGF‐A gene. Subsequent chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay revealed down‐regulation of transcription activity of VEGF‐A with increasing binding of methyl‐CpG‐binding protein 2 (MBD2) and trimethyl‐histone H3 (Lys9) proteins to these CpG sites in low‐grade TCC cells during hypermethylation. Furthermore, treatment of low‐grade TCC cells with DNA methyltransferase inhibitor and histone deacetylase inhibitor can restore the expression of VEGF‐A and promote the invasive ability of low‐grade TCC cells. Hypermethylation with lower expression levels of VEGF‐A in low‐grade TCC tumors than high‐grade TCC tumors was also confirmed in clinical specimens by reverse transcriptase‐PCR and pyrosequencing analyses. Our findings are the first results indicating that VEGF‐A expression is suppressed in low‐grade TCC tumors by promoter hypermethylation. This offers a new perspective on the role of VEGF‐A in TCC tumor behavior. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Flow‐independent 3D whole‐heart vessel wall imaging using an interleaved T2‐preparation acquisition
Authors: Andia Marcelo E. , Henningsson Markus , Hussain Tarique , Phinikaridou Alkystis , Protti Andrea , Greil Gerald , Botnar Rene M. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractCurrent techniques to visualize the arterial vessel wall are limited in coverage because most of them are flow dependent. In this study, we present a novel technique for flow‐independent vessel wall imaging that takes advantage of the differences in T2 relaxation time of arterial blood and surrounding tissues using the T2‐preparation prepulse. The technique is based on the acquisition and subtraction of two data sets, one obtained with and one without T2‐preparation prepulse. This approach allows for nulling the signal of arterial blood while maintaining signal from muscle and vessel wall. The result of the subtraction is a flow‐independent black‐blood vessel wall image. To minimize the motion sensitivity of the subtraction step, we developed an interleaved acquisition for the T2‐preparation prepulse and non‐T2‐preparation prepulse images, which allows obtaining coronary vessel wall images from a whole‐heart acquisition with minimal misregistration artefacts. In this article, we present the technique and preliminary results in healthy subjects. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of urinary incontinence on health utility and health‐related quality of life in men following prostate surgery
Authors: Buckley Brian S. , Lapitan M.C.M. , Glazener C.M. ,   for the MAPS Trial Group
Published: March 2012

AbstractAimsThe impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) has been less well researched in men than women and the general population. This study aims to assess the association between UI and HRQoL in men 1 year after prostate surgery.MethodsPlanned secondary analysis of data from two parallel randomized controlled trials of active conservative treatment for UI in 853 men following radical prostatectomy (RP) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Men of any age were eligible for trial inclusion if they were experiencing UI 6 weeks after undergoing RP or TURP at 34 centers in the United Kingdom. Univariate and multivariate analysis considered associations between health status (SF‐12 and EQ‐5D) and self‐reported UI. Multivariate analysis controlled for age, obesity, UI prior to surgery, and concomitant fecal incontinence.ResultsMean age of 411 men in the RP trial was 62.3 years (SD 5.7) and 442 men in the TURP trial was 68.0 (SD 7.9). Of men with UI at 6 weeks after surgery, 76.7% in the RP group and 63.2% in the TURP group still had UI at 12 months. Any UI at 12 months was significantly associated with reduced HRQoL in the RP group and lower EQ‐5D and SF‐12 Mental Component Scores in the TURP group.ConclusionAny UI is a significant factor in reduced HRQoL in men following prostate surgery, particularly younger men who undergo RP. Its importance to patients as an adverse outcome should not be underestimated. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:465–469, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients: Translation and validation of the Spanish version of qualiveen
Authors: Ciudin Alexandru , Franco Agustin , Diaconu Mihai Gabriel , Peri Lluis , Vivas Veronica , Gonzalez Miguel Angel , Alcaraz Antonio 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPurposeUp until now there were no specific questionnaire translated into Spanish for evaluating urinary disorder specific health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Qualiveen is recommended by the European Association of Urology guidelines as a tool for evaluating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. The objective was to translate the Qualiveen into Spanish, adapt it cross‐culturally and validate it against the currently available tools.Materials and MethodsA bidirectional translation of Qualiveen was undertaken by professional translators. One hundred two Spanish MS patients were sent the Qualiveen and the ICIQ‐SF questionnaires twice within a month. The questionnaires were sent and received by mail and reviewed when the patients came for the scheduled visit.ResultsEighty‐one patients participated. The validation study showed that the Spanish version of Qualiveen has good internal consistency with Cronbach's coefficient superior to 0.80 for all the questionnaire's subdomains and also for the entire Qualiveen demonstrating high discriminative power. Also the test–retest analysis proved internal stability of the Qualiveen (kappa coefficient between 0.81 and 0.89). Finally, all the Qualiveen scores correlated with the ICIQ‐SF final score.ConclusionsThe Spanish version of Qualiveen functions similarly to the English language version retaining its discriminating power. It has shown it could be a valid instrument for discriminating between patients in a cross‐sectional survey, as well as for measuring within subject changes over time thus evaluating the extent to which MS patients' HRQoL is impaired by urinary‐related problems. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:517–520, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HPLC Quantitative Analysis of Insecticidal Didehydrostemofoline and Stemofoline in Stemona collinsiae Root Extracts
Authors: Kongkiatpaiboon Sumet , Gritsanapan Wandee 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTIntroductionStemona spp. have been traditionally used as natural pesticides and medicinal plants. Stemona collinsiae Craib has been of interest for its insecticidal activity, which has been supported by many scientific research studies. The roots contain didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline alkaloids as active components.ObjectiveTo develop and validate a HPLC method for the quantitative analysis of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline in S. collinsiae root extracts.MethodologyHPLC was carried out using a Hypersil BDS C18‐column eluted with methanol:1 m m ammonium acetate (55:45) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and detection at 295 nm. Method validation was performed to assure its linearity, precision, accuracy and limits of detection and quantitation.ResultsDidehydrostemofoline and stemofoline showed a linear relationship within the range of 0.5–432.4 and 0.5–188.4 µg/mL, respectively. The method was shown to be precise with RSD < 2%. The average recovery of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline were 98.80 and 99.97%, respectively. Eight samples of S. collinsiae root extracts were analysed and the average contents of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline were 0.78 and 0.048% w/w, respectively.ConclusionThe HPLC method developed was appropriate for the analysis of didehydrostemofoline and stemofoline in S. collinsiae root extracts. This work would be useful as a guide for the standardisation of S. collinsiae root extract raw materials and their products as natural pesticides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultradrawing properties of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene/attapulgite fibers
Authors: Yeh Jen‐Taut , Wang Chuen‐Kai , Hu Ping , Lai Yu‐Ching , Huang Lu‐Kai , Tsai Fang‐Chang 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAn investigation of the influence of the contents of original and modified attapulgite (ATP) on the ultradrawing properties of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/ATP (FAx) and UHMWPE/modified ATP (FAmx) as‐prepared fibers is reported. Similar to what is found for the orientation factor values, the achievable draw ratios (Dra) of the FAx and FAmx as‐prepared fibers approach a maximum value as the original ATP and/or modified ATP contents reach their corresponding optimum values. The maximum Dra value obtained for FAmx as‐prepared fiber specimens is significantly higher than that for FAx as‐prepared fiber specimens prepared at the optimum original ATP content. Similar to what is found for the orientation factors and achievable drawing properties, the tensile strength (σf) and initial modulus (E) of both drawn F2Ax and F2Amx fiber series specimens with a fixed draw ratio reach maximum values as the original and/or modified ATP contents approach the optimum values, respectively. The σf and E values of the F2Amx fiber specimens are always significantly higher than those of the corresponding F2Ax fiber specimens prepared at the same draw ratios and ATP contents but without being modified. To understand the interesting ultradrawing, orientation and tensile properties of FAx and FAmx fiber specimens, Fourier transform infrared spectral, specific surface area, transmission electron microscopic and elemental analyses of the original and modified ATPs were performed. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry