bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of human neutrophil elastase-catalysed inactivation of factor VIII(a)
Authors: Ogiwara Kenichi , Matsumoto Tomoko , Nishiya Katsumi , Takeyama Masahiro , Shima Midori , Nogami Keiji 
Published: April 2011

SummaryMechanisms of inflammation and coagulation are linked through various pathways. Human neutrophil elastase (HNE), can bind to activated platelets, might be localised on platelet membranes that provide negatively-charged phospholipid essential for the optimum function of tenase complex. In this study, we examined the effect of HNE on factor (F)VIII. FVIII activity was rapidly diminished in the presence of HNE and was undetectable within 10 minutes. The inactivation rate waŝ8-fold greater than that of activated protein C (APC). This time-dependent inactivation was moderately affected by von Willebrand factor. HNE proteolysed the heavy chain (HCh) of FVIII into two terminal products, A11–358 and A2375–708, by limited proteolysis at Val358, Val374, and Val708. Cleavage at Val708 was much slower than that at Val358 in the >90-kDa A1-A2-B compared to the 90-kDa A1-A2. The 80-kDa light chain (LCh) was proteolysed to 75-kDa product by cleavage at Val1670. HNE-cata- lysed FVIIIa inactivation was markedly slower than that of native FVIII (by ~25-fold), due to delayed cleavage at Val708 in FVIIIa. The inactivation rate mediated by HNE was ~8-fold lower than that by APC. Cleavages at Val358 and Val708 were regulated by the presence of LCh and HCh, respectively. In conclusion, HNE-catalysed FVIII inactivation was associated with the limited-proteolysis that led to A11–358, A2375–708, and A3-C1-C21671–2332, and subsequently to critical cleavage at Val708. HNE-related FVIII(a) reaction might play a role in inactivation of HNE-induced coagulation process, and appeared to depend on the amounts of inactivated FVIII and active FVIIIa which is predominantly resistant to HNE inactivation.Note: An account of this work was presented at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, December 10, 2009, New Orleans, LA, USA.
A novel family of RGD-containing disintegrins (Tablysin-15) from the salivary gland of the horsefly Tabanus yao targets αIIbβ3 or αVβ3 and inhibits platelet aggregation and angiogenesis
Authors: Liu Huan , Yang Xuening , Andersen John , Wang Yipeng , Tokumasu Fuyuki , Ribeiro José , Ma Dongying , Xu Xueqing , An Su , Francischetti Ivo , Lai Ren 
Published: April 2011

SummaryA novel family of RGD-containing molecules (Tablysin-15) has been molecularly characterised from the salivary gland of the haematophagous horsefly Tabanus yao. Tablysin-15 does not share primary sequence homology to any disintegrin discovered so far, and displays an RGD motif in the N-terminus of the molecule. It is also distinct from disintegrins from Viperidae since its mature form is not released from a metalloproteinase precursor. Tablysin-15 exhibits high affinity binding for platelet αIIbβ3 and endothelial cell αVβ3 integrins, but not for α5β1 or α2β1. Accordingly, it blocks endothelial cell adhesion to vitronectin (IC50 ~1 nM) and marginally to fibronectin (IC50 ~1 μM), but not to collagen. It also inhibits fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced endothelial cell proliferation, and attenuates tube formation in vitro. In platelets, Tablysin-15 inhibits aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and convulxin, and prevents static platelet adhesion to immobilised fibrinogen. In addition, solid-phase assays and flow cytometry demonstrates that αIIbβ3 binds to Tablysin-15. Moreover, immobilised Tablysin-15 supports platelet adhesion by a mechanism which was blocked by anti-integrin αIIbβ3 monoclonal antibody (e.g. abciximab) or by EDTA. Furthermore, Tablysin-15 dose-dependently attenuates thrombus formation to collagen under flow. Consistent with these findings, Tablysin-15 displays antithrombotic properties in vivo suggesting that it is a useful tool to block αIIbβ3, or as a prototype to develop antithrombotics. The RGD motif in the unique sequence of Tablysin-15 represents a novel template for studying the structure-function relationship of the disintegrin family of inhibitors.
Experimental Study of Collection Efficiencies between Submicron Aerosols and Cloud Droplets
Authors: Ladino Luis , Stetzer Olaf , Hattendorf Bodo , Günther Detlef , Croft Betty , Lohmann Ulrike 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Collection efficiency E experiments for aerosol particles scavenged by cloud droplets were carried out in the newly built Collision Ice Nucleation Chamber (CLINCH). Pure water droplets having radii between 12.8 and 20.0 μm were allowed to fall freely and to collide in a laminar flow with lithium metaborate particles having radii between 0.05 and 0.33 μm. At the bottom of the chamber, the droplets and the particles captured were collected using a cup impactor. The collected solution was analyzed for the scavenged aerosol mass by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Evaporation of droplets was taken into account since the relative humidity inside the chamber was below 100%, resulting in final theoretical droplet sizes between 4.2 and 17.6 μm. The resulting experimental measurements were compared with theoretical values to see their correlation. The authors found an experimental trend similar to theory, as well as the “Greenfield gap” at the particle radius of 0.24 μm (E = 0.038) for the smallest cloud droplet size investigated in this study. The experimental values of collection efficiency found herein agree with those from theory within one order of magnitude, similar to previous studies reported in the literature.
An Integrated Framework for a Joint Assimilation of Brightness Temperature and Soil Moisture Using the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II
Authors: Dumedah Gift , Berg Aaron A. , Wineberg Mark 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis study has applied the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) in a two-step assimilation procedure to jointly assimilate brightness temperature into a radiative transfer model and soil moisture into a land surface model. The first assimilation procedure generates a time series of soil moisture by assimilating brightness temperature from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) into the Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM). The second procedure generates assimilated soil moisture by assimilating the soil moisture from LPRM into the Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS). Note that the assimilated soil moisture was generated by merging two soil moisture estimates: one from LPRM and the other from the CLASS simulation. The assimilated soil moisture is better than using the soil moisture determined either from the satellite observation or the land surface scheme alone. This method provides improved model state and parameterizations for both LPRM and CLASS with the aim to facilitate real-time forecasts when satellite information becomes available. Application of this framework to the Brightwater Creek watershed in southern Saskatchewan illustrates the utility of the joint assimilation framework to improve a time series of soil moisture estimates. The estimated soil moisture datasets were evaluated over an agricultural site in southern Saskatchewan using in situ monitoring networks. These results demonstrate that soil moisture generated from assimilation of brightness temperature could be improved by incorporating it into a land surface model. A comparison between the assimilated soil moisture and in situ dataset demonstrates an improvement in accuracy and temporal pattern that is accomplished through the assimilation framework.
A Simple Analytical Model of Periodic Coastal Upwelling
Authors: Orlić Mirko , Pasarić Zoran 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
An existing reduced-gravity model that reproduces the response of the coastal sea to alongshore wind forcing at subinertial frequencies is extended by allowing for cross-shore wind forcing and by considering superinertial frequencies. The obtained explicit solution shows that the wind-driven currents are predominantly controlled by friction and the Coriolis force at subinertial frequencies and by friction and local acceleration at superinertial frequencies. The effect of the coast is manifested by coastal-trapped variability at subinertial frequencies and baroclinic inertia–gravity waves propagating away from the coast at superinertial frequencies. The pycnocline oscillates at the coast not only at subinertial but also at superinertial frequencies, with the alongshore wind contributing more to the former and the cross-shore wind influencing more the latter. The oscillations are most pronounced when the periodic wind forcing is resonantly coupled to the local inertial oscillations (but only if the wind is not rotating counter to the inertial currents) and at near-zero frequencies (but not when the wind is purely cross-shore). These theoretical findings are related to recent observations of diurnal temperature oscillations in the near-shore water column.
Estimating Geostrophic Shear from Seismic Images of Oceanic Structure*
Authors: Sheen Katy L. , White Nicky , Caulfield C. P. , Hobbs Richard W. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
It is shown that geostrophic vertical shear estimates can be recovered from seismic (i.e., acoustic) images of thermohaline structure. In the Southern Ocean, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current forms a loop within the Falkland Trough before it flows northward into the Argentine Basin. Seismic profiles that cross this loop show the detailed structure of different water masses with a horizontal resolution of O(10 m). Coherent seismic reflections are tilted in response to current flow around the Falkland Trough. Average slopes were measured on length scales that are large enough to ensure that the geostrophic approximation is valid (i.e., with a Rossby number &lt;0.1). By combining shear estimates with satellite altimetric measurements and acoustic Doppler current profiles, geostrophic velocities can be calculated throughout the data volume. This technique for estimating geostrophic vertical shear from legacy seismic images yields useful information about the spatial and temporal variation of mesoscale circulation.
Using MetOp-A AVHRR Clear-Sky Measurements to Cloud-Clear MetOp-A IASI Column Radiances
Authors: Maddy Eric S. , King Thomas S. , Sun Haibing , Wolf Walter W. , Barnet Christopher D. , Heidinger Andrew , Cheng Zhaohui , Goldberg Mitchell D. , Gambacorta Antonia , Zhang Chen , Zhang Kexin 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
High spatial resolution measurements from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on the Meteorological Operation (MetOp)-A satellite that are collocated to the footprints from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on the satellite are exploited to improve and quality control cloud-cleared radiances obtained from the IASI. For a partial set of mostly ocean MetOp-A orbits collected on 3 October 2010 for latitudes between 70°S and 75°N, these cloud-cleared radiances and clear-sky subpixel AVHRR measurements within the IASI footprint agree to better than 0.25-K root-mean-squared difference for AVHRR window channels with almost zero bias. For the same dataset, surface skin temperatures retrieved using the combined AVHRR, IASI, and Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) cloud-clearing algorithm match well with ECMWF model surface skin temperatures over ocean, yielding total uncertainties ≤1.2 K for scenes with up to 97% cloudiness.
Ensemble-Based Analysis of Factors Leading to the Development of a Multiday Warm-Season Heavy Rain Event
Authors: Schumacher Russ S. 
Published: April 2011

This study makes use of operational global ensemble forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) to examine the factors contributing to, or inhibiting, the development of a long-lived continental vortex and its associated rainfall. From 25 to 30 June 2007, a vortex developed and grew upscale over the southern plains of the United States. It was associated with persistent heavy rainfall, with over 100 mm of rain falling in much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, and amounts exceeding 300 mm in southeastern Kansas. Previous research has shown that, in comparison with other rainfall events of similar temporal and spatial scales, this event was particularly difficult for numerical models to predict.Considering the ensemble members as different possible realizations of the evolution of the event, several methods are used to examine the processes that led to the development and maintenance of the long-lived vortex and its associated rainfall, and to its apparently limited predictability. Linear statistics are calculated to identify synoptic-scale flow features that were correlated to area-averaged precipitation, and differences between composites of “dry” and “wet” ensemble members are used to pinpoint the processes that were favorable or detrimental to the system’s development. The maintenance of the vortex, and its slow movement in the southern plains, are found to be closely related to the strength of a closed midlevel anticyclone in the southwestern United States and the strength of a midlevel ridge in the northern plains. In particular, with a weaker upstream anticyclone, the shear and flow over the incipient vortex are relatively weak, which allows for slow movement and persistent heavy rains. On the other hand, when the upstream anticyclone is stronger, there is stronger northerly shear and flow, which causes the incipient vortex to move southwestward into the high terrain of Mexico and dissipate. These relatively small differences in the wind and mass fields early in the ensemble forecast, in conjunction with modifications of the synoptic and mesoscale flow by deep convection, lead to very large spread in the resulting precipitation forecasts.
The Clerical Response to a Totalitarian Political Religion: La Civiltà Cattolica and Italian Fascism
Authors: Nelis Jan 
Published: April 2011

This article offers a close reading of the discourse on Italian fascism within the authoritative Italian Jesuit periodical La Civiltà Cattolica. The author shows that, when confronted with the fascist movement, La Civiltà Cattolica made no moves to oppose the regime, instead positioning itself so as to negotiate with and accommodate the fascist rhetoric. This decision was driven in part by the close alignment between the politics of Catholicism and fascism, and further fostered by the absence of a viable alternative political power. The article also illustrates the manner in which Catholic intellectuals intuitively perceived some aspects of fascist totalitarianism and the ‘sacralization of politics’ as threatening, particularly when confronted with manifestations of what was termed ‘political heresy’, along with certain features of fascist associationalism. However, despite their concerns no explicit rupture between Church and regime ever eventuated; on the contrary, some accounts imply an intended merger, however unstable it may have proven, between the ‘religious’ and ‘totalitarian’ goals of both parties.
Heterodox Economics, Tolerance, and Pluralism
Authors: Lee Frederic S. 
Published: April 2011

In my response to Garnett and Mearman, I argue that many of their comments are based on the assumption that mainstream economics has truth and value, which is in fact not the case. In addition, I argue that that the divided economics community arises from actions taken by mainstream economists and not due to actions taken by heterodox economists. Finally, I argue that pluralism through tolerance is the way forward. JEL classification: B40, B50
Cardiovascular risk profile of young hypertensive patients: the OPENJOVEN study
Authors: Martell-Claros Nieves , Galgo-Nafria Alberto 
Published: April 2011

Background: Knowledge of the hypertensive patient’s characteristics is an important aspect to improve its clinical handling. Because of the burden that the patients of advanced age suppose in primary care, few data exist about the youngest patient's cardiovascular profile. Objective: To describe the cardiovascular profile of the young hypertensive patient (<55 years) in primary care in Spain. Design and methods: Cross-sectional multicentre study that was carried out in centres of primary care of the whole Spanish territory. At total of 2108 doctors participated and 6815 patients diagnosed with high blood pressure were included. We used a survey of risk factors, subclinical organ damage, and cardiovascular or renal established disease according to the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology 2007 guidelines to evaluate the cardiovascular risk. Results: Of the hypertensive patients, 5.8% did have not another cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF), 23.2% had one risk factor associated with high blood pressure, 32.8% two, 24.7% three, 11.3% four, and 2.3% had five risk factors. The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor was dyslipidaemia, found in 80.4% (37.9% with treatment), followed by abdominal obesity, in 45.9% of the hypertensive patients. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 44.4%. The cardiovascular risk was average in 0.2% of the sample, low in 5%, moderate in 26.1%, high in 47.3%, and very high in 21.4%. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that newly diagnosed young hypertensive patients have an intense association of CVRF and a high cardiovascular risk.
MiR-29a down-regulation in ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas contributes to apoptosis blockade through MCL-1 overexpression
Authors: Desjobert Cécile , Renalier Marie-Hélène , Bergalet Julie , Dejean Emilie , Joseph Nicole , Kruczynski Anna , Soulier Jean , Espinos Estelle , Meggetto Fabienne , Cavaillé Jérome , Delsol Georges , Lamant Laurence 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Although deregulated expression of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) has been described in solid cancers and leukemias, little evidence of miRNA deregulation has been reported in ALK-positive (ALK+) anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL). These tumors overexpress the major antiapoptotic protein myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1), a situation that could compensate for the lack of BCL-2. We report that ALK+ ALCL cell lines and biopsy specimens (n = 20) express a low level of miR-29a and that this down-modulation requires an active NPM-ALK kinase. Murine models (transgenic mice and mouse embryonic fibroblast [MEF] cells), which allow conditional NPM-ALK fusion protein expression, showed an increase of miR-29a expression in the absence of NPM-ALK. Concordant results were observed after the abolition of NPM-ALK kinase activity (siALK or PF-2341066) in NPM-ALK+ ALCL cell lines. In addition, we showed that low expression of miR-29a, probably through methylation repression, plays an important regulatory role in MCL-1 overexpression that could promote tumor cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis. Enforced miR-29a expression was found to modulate apoptosis through inhibition of MCL-1 expression in ALCL cell lines and in a xenografted model, with a concomitant tumor growth reduction. Thus, synthetic miR-29a represents a potential new tool to affect tumorigenesis in these lymphomas.
Disruption of heparan sulfate proteoglycan conformation perturbs B-cell maturation and APRIL-mediated plasma cell survival
Authors: Reijmers Rogier M. , Groen Richard W. J. , Kuil Annemieke , Weijer Kees , Kimberley Fiona C. , Medema Jan Paul , van Kuppevelt Toin H. , Li Jin-Ping , Spaargaren Marcel , Pals Steven T. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe development and antigen-dependent differentiation of B lymphocytes are orchestrated by an array of growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines that require tight spatiotemporal regulation. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans specifically bind and regulate the bioavailability of soluble protein ligands, but their role in the immune system has remained largely unexplored. Modification of heparan sulfate by glucuronyl C5-epimerase (Glce) controls heparan sulfate-chain flexibility and thereby affects ligand binding. Here we show that Glce deficiency impairs B-cell maturation, resulting in decreased plasma cell numbers and immunoglobulin levels. We demonstrate that C5-epimerase modification of heparan sulfate is critical for binding of a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL) and that Glce-deficient plasma cells fail to respond to APRIL-mediated survival signals. Our results identify heparan sulfate proteoglycans as novel players in B-cell maturation and differentiation and suggest that heparan sulfate conformation is crucial for recruitment of factors that control plasma cell survival.
Expansion and functional diversification of a leucyl aminopeptidase family that encodes the major protein constituents of Drosophila sperm
Authors: Dorus Steve , Wilkin Elaine C , Karr Timothy L 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Background
The evolutionary diversification of gene families through gene creation (and loss) is a dynamic process believed to be critical to the evolution of functional novelty. Previous identification of a closely related family of eight annotated metalloprotease genes of the M17 Merops family in the Drosophila sperm proteome (termed, S perm-L eucylA minoP eptidases, S-LAPs 1-8) led us to hypothesize that this gene family may have experienced such a diversification during insect evolution.

Results
To assess putative functional activities of S-LAPs, we (i) demonstrated that all S-LAPs are specifically expressed in the testis, (ii) confirmed their presence in sperm by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, (iii) determined that they represent a major portion of the total protein in sperm and (iv) identified aminopeptidase enzymatic activity in sperm extracts using LAP-specific substrates. Functionally significant divergence at the canonical M17 active site indicates that the largest phylogenetic group of S-LAPs lost catalytic activity and likely acquired novel, as yet undetermined, functions in sperm prior to the expansion of the gene family.

Conclusions
Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed the dramatic expansion of the S-LAP gene family during Drosophila evolution and copy number heterogeneity in the genomes of related insects. This finding, in conjunction with the loss of catalytic activity and potential neofunctionalization amongst some family members, extends empirical support for pervasive "revolving door" turnover in the evolution of reproductive gene family composition and function.
Integration of molecular biology tools for identifying promoters and genes abundantly expressed in flowers of Oncidium Gower Ramsey
Authors: Hsu Chen-Tran , Liao De-Chih , Wu Fu-Hui , Liu Nien-Tze , Shen Shu-Chen , Chou Shu-Jen , Tung Shu-Yun , Yang Chang-Hsien , Chan Ming-Tsair , Lin Choun-Sea 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundOrchids comprise one of the largest families of flowering plants and generate commercially important flowers. However, model plants, such asArabidopsis thalianado not contain all plant genes, and agronomic and horticulturally important genera and species must be individually studied.ResultsSeveral molecular biology tools were used to isolate flower-specific gene promoters fromOncidium'Gower Ramsey' (Onc. GR). A cDNA library of reproductive tissues was used to construct a microarray in order to compare gene expression in flowers and leaves. Five genes were highly expressed in flower tissues, and the subcellular locations of the corresponding proteins were identified using lip transient transformation with fluorescent protein-fusion constructs. BAC clones of the 5 genes, together with 7 previously published flower- and reproductive growth-specific genes inOnc. GR, were identified for cloning of their promoter regions. Interestingly, 3 of the 5 novel flower-abundant genes were putative trypsin inhibitor (TI) genes (OnTI1,OnTI2andOnTI3), which were tandemly duplicated in the same BAC clone. Their promoters were identified using transient GUS reporter gene transformation and stableA. thalianatransformation analyses.ConclusionsBy combining cDNA microarray, BAC library, and bombardment assay techniques, we successfully identified flower-directed orchid genes and promoters.