bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Midkine prevented hypoxic injury of mouse embryonic stem cells through activation of Akt and HIF‐1α via low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein‐1
Authors: Lee Sang Hun , Suh Han Na , Lee Yu Jin , Seo Bit Na , Ha Jeong Won , Han Ho Jae 
Published: June 2011

AbstractStem cell functions are dramatically altered by oxygen in tissue culture, which means the antioxidant/oxidant balance is critical for protection as well as toxicity. This study examined the effect of the heparin‐binding growth factor midkine (MK) on hypoxia‐induced apoptosis and related signal pathways in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Hypoxia (60 h) increased lactate dehydrogenase release and apoptosis, and reduced cell viability and proliferation. These effects were reversed by MK (100 ng/ml). MK also reversed hypoxia‐induced increases of intracellular reactive oxygen species, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Blockage of JNK and p38 MAPK using small interference (si)RNAs produced a decrease in apoptosis. A loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, increases of cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol, and cleaved caspase‐3 expression, as well as decreases in cIAP‐2 and Bcl‐2 were also reversed by MK. Hypoxia alone and hypoxia with MK increased low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein‐1 (LRP‐1) mRNA and protein expression. Hypoxia with MK rapidly increased serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt) phosphorylation which reversed by LRP‐1 Ab (0.1 µg/ml) and prolonged heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) expression. In addition, hypoxia with MK increased the expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α). Moreover, inhibition of Akt, HO‐1, and HIF‐1α signaling pathways abolished the MK‐induced blockage of apoptosis. In conclusion, MK partially prevented hypoxic injury of mESCs through activation of Akt, HO‐1, and HIF‐1α via LRP‐1. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 1731–1739, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Scrap cast iron and copper‐modified cast iron for reductive degradation of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene
Authors: Fan Jin‐Hong , Wang Hong‐Wu , Wu De‐Li , Liu Zhi‐Gang , Ma Lu‐Ming 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Little attention has been paid to the use of large‐sized scrap cast iron for reduction of refractory organic pollutants at neutral pH and in the presence of dissolved oxygen (DO).RESULTS: Scrap cast iron and copper‐modified cast iron with fresh surfaces have a high reactivity towards the reduction of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (2,4‐DNT). The extent of conversion reached around 80% and 97% respectively, though it gradually decreased with repeated reactions to relatively stable values of 63% and 72%, and recovered once the reacted filings were cleaned by dilute acid. After 50 days reaction, no dissolved copper appeared in the copper‐modified cast iron process. The mass loss of copper due to physical detachment reached 1.1% of the total coated copper within the initial 20 reaction days, and only 0.3% appeared in the next 30 days. 2,4‐DNT oxidizes scrap cast iron to generate mainly FeFe2O4 with DO, however, it oxidizes scrap copper‐modified cast iron to generate mainly γ‐FeO(OH) and α‐FeO(OH).CONCLUSION: Both samples of cast iron were successfully applied in the treatment of neutral wastewater containing 2,4‐DNT with high reactivity and good repeatable efficiency. Electrode reaction rate was enhanced by the deposited copper, which has strong chemical and physical stability. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Increase in bioethanol production yield from triticale by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with application of ultrasound
Authors: Pejin Dušanka J. , Mojović Ljiljana V. , Pejin Jelena D. , Grujić Olgica S. , Markov Siniša L. , Nikolić Svetlana B. , Marković Milica N. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Bioethanol produced from renewable biomass, such as sugar, starch or lignocellulosic materials, is one of the alternative energy resources that is environmentally friendly. Triticale crops have a high yield as well as a high starch content and amylolytic enzyme activity and are therefore considered to be ideal for bioethanol production.RESULTS: This study examined the feasibility of ultrasound pretreatment to enhance the release of fermentable sugars from triticale meal during pretreatment and consequently increase bioethanol yield in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process by Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Ultrasonic pretreatment effectively increased the glucose and maltose content after liquefaction by 15.71% and 52.57%, respectively, compared with the untreated control sample under determined optimal conditions of sonication (5 min, 60 °C). The ultrasound pretreatment consequently improved bioethanol production during SSF processing since the bioethanol content was increased by 10.89%.CONCLUSION: Taking into consideration significant process parameters obtained in the SSF process of triticale meal with ultrasound pretreatment at 60 °C, the process time may be reduced from 72 to 48 h. At that point of the SSF, maximum bioethanol content of 9.55% (w/v), bioethanol yield of 0.43 g g−1 of triticale starch, and percentage of the theoretical bioethanol yield of 84.56% were achieved. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of mouldy core and core rot on physiological and biochemical responses of apple fruit
Authors: Li Shunfeng , Zhang Lihua , Liu Xinghua 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Apple mouldy core (MC) and core rot (CR) are pathogenic disorders associated with the core region of fruits of susceptible varieties that have open calyx tubes. MC is not economically important because its symptoms are restricted to within the seed cavities, but CR is an important postharvest disease because its symptoms penetrate the fruit flesh and bring about economic losses. Recently, most studies have focused on causal agents and control of apple MC and CR. However, there is little information on the physiological and biochemical responses of apple fruits with MC and CR.RESULTS: The results indicated that MC and CR have different effects on the physiological and biochemical indices of apple fruits. Higher polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and total phenolic content were found in MC, dry CR (DCR) and asymptomatic tissue of wet CR (asympWCR) fruits than in healthy fruits, as well as significantly higher catalase and peroxidase activities in DCR and symptomatic tissue of WCR (sympWCR) fruits respectively, while asympWCR fruits showed a marked increase in malondialdehyde content, membrane permeability and superoxide production and a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that PPO and phenolic compounds may play a key role in the defence system of apple fruits against MC and CR. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
pH Sensitive Hierarchically Self‐Organized Bioinspired Films
Authors: Escalé Pierre , Rubatat Laurent , Derail Christophe , Save Maud , Billon Laurent 
Published: June 2011

AbstractIn the present manuscript, we have demonstrated that hierarchically structured smart porous polymer films based on honeycomb‐patterned surface can be elaborated from PS‐b‐P4VP pH‐responsive block copolymer using the breath figure process. Despite the fast film formation by a bottom‐up process, the copolymer nanostructuration was observed inside the walls of the honeycomb porous film. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), small angle X‐ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS) measurements were used to reveal both the hexagonal arrays formed by the pores at the micrometer length scale and the hexagonal copolymer self‐assembly at the nanometer length scale.Contact angle (CA) measurements were used to point out the reversible pH‐responsive wettability character of the surface. The PS‐b‐P4VP honeycomb film shows a contact angle variation of 20° between pH 9 and pH 3. An increase of the roughness was obtained with the pincushions hexagonal array enhancing the pH responsiveness of the polymer film with a switching CA gap of 75° when pH tuned from pH 9 to pH 3. This work presents the first report on honeycomb porous and pincushion films exhibiting a reversible pH‐responsive character. magnified image
Design and development of flexible fabric antenna for body‐worn applications and its performance study under flat and bent positions
Authors: Subramaniam Sankaralingam , Gupta Bhaskar 
Published: June 2011

AbstractModern communication systems are driven by the concept of being connected anywhere and at any time.Fuelled by the idea of a body‐centric approach to modern communication technology, many research projects have been initiated to integrate antennas and radio frequency (RF) systems into clothes with regard to size reduction and cost‐effectiveness; so that the wearer may not notice the existence of these subsystems. For instance, the development of wearable computer systems has been very rapid and soon one will see a wide range of unobtrusive wearable and ubiquitous computing equipment into his/her everyday wear. Rapid progress in wireless communication promises to replace all wired‐communication networks in the near future, in which antennas play a vital role. This paper describes design and development of a circular patch antenna for on‐body wireless communications. This antenna makes use of polyester‐combined cotton [65:35] fabric as its dielectric material and the conducting parts of the antenna are made up of copper. The impedance and radiation characteristics are determined experimentally when the antenna is kept in flat position. The performance characteristics of the antenna are analyzed under bent conditions too, to check compatibility with wearable applications. Results demonstrate the suitability of this kind of patch antenna for on‐body wireless communications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26188
High‐gain ultrathin resonant cavity antenna
Authors: Liu Yahong , Zhao Xiaopeng 
Published: June 2011

AbstractHigh‐gain and ultrathin cavity antennas consisting of conventional rectangular patch antenna and partially reflective surface (PRS) are investigated in the article.PRS is made of periodic distinct metallic patterns on the both sides of the single dielectric slab. The geometry is simpler and has not been used in the pervious references. The proposed cavity antenna has the advantages of ultrathin cavity (λ/70), high gain and high directivity. Compared with the conventional patch antenna, the results show the gain of the proposed antenna is higher by 4.5 dB. In addition, it is interesting that the antenna with the sectoral form radiation pattern can be realized when the defects are introduced in the periodic PRS structure. This special sectoral form radiation pattern has the characteristics of the narrow half‐power bandwidth (HPBW) of 30° in the E plane and the broad HPBW of 90° in the H plane, which is needed urgently by the station antennas of the mobile communication. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26213
Rapamycin does not control hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in LCMV‐infected perforin‐deficient mice
Authors: Rothman Jennifer A. , Das Rupali , Teachey David T. , Paessler Michele E. , Nichols Kim E. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractHemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an immunodysregulatory disorder for which more effective treatments are needed. The macrolide rapamycin has immunosuppressive properties, making it an attractive candidate for controlling the aberrant T cell activation that occurs in HLH. To investigate its therapeutic potential, we used rapamycin to treat Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)‐infected perforin‐deficient (Prf1−/−) mice according to a well‐established model of HLH. At the regimens tested, rapamycin did not improve weight loss, splenomegaly, hemophagocytosis, cytopenias, or proinflammatory cytokine production in LCMV‐infected Prf1−/− animals. Thus, single agent rapamycin appears ineffective in treating the clinical and laboratory manifestations of LCMV‐induced HLH. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 1239–1243. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantitative proteomics of microbes: Principles and applications to virulence
Authors: Malmström Lars , Malmström Johan , Aebersold Ruedi 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe rapidly increasing ability to sequence complete genomes of different microbial species and strains provides us with information regarding their genetic variability. Genetic variability is a mechanism for human pathogens to adapt to and avoid the immune system and to also develop resistance to antibiotics. However, the assessment of the contributions of individual genetic differences to resistance or other phenotypes is not a priori apparent from the genomic variability. Quantitative proteomics can provide accurate molecular phenotypes of microbes that are difficult to determine using alternative technologies. Over the recent few years we and others have developed a range of proteomic technologies for the quantitative analysis of microbial proteomes. Here, we describe the most commonly used techniques and discuss their strengths and weaknesses and illustrate their respective performance for the identification of virulence factors in Streptococcus pyogenes.
Role of computerised continuous performance task tests in ADHD
Authors: Ogundele Michael O , Ayyash Hani F , Banerjee Somnath 
Published: June 2011

AbstractDiagnosis of attention deficit‐hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is traditionally based on subjective assessments of behaviour by clinicians and carers in different settings, but this approach is prone to biases. Recent advances in computerised continuous performance task (CPT) tests have greatly improved their clinical utility in ADHD. In this article, the authors review the history of computerised CPT tests and their potential role in the diagnosis and management of children and adolescents with ADHD. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Interface Ltd
Refinement of protein termini in template‐based modeling using conformational space annealing
Authors: Park Hahnbeom , Ko Junsu , Joo Keehyoung , Lee Julian , Seok Chaok , Lee Jooyoung 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe rapid increase in the number of experimentally determined protein structures in recent years enables us to obtain more reliable protein tertiary structure models than ever by template‐based modeling. However, refinement of template‐based models beyond the limit available from the best templates is still needed for understanding protein function in atomic detail. In this work, we develop a new method for protein terminus modeling that can be applied to refinement of models with unreliable terminus structures. The energy function for terminus modeling consists of both physics‐based and knowledge‐based potential terms with carefully optimized relative weights. Effective sampling of both the framework and terminus is performed using the conformational space annealing technique. This method has been tested on a set of termini derived from a nonredundant structure database and two sets of termini from the CASP8 targets. The performance of the terminus modeling method is significantly improved over our previous method that does not employ terminus refinement. It is also comparable or superior to the best server methods tested in CASP8. The success of the current approach suggests that similar strategy may be applied to other types of refinement problems such as loop modeling or secondary structure rearrangement. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of particle shape on the random packing density of amorphous solids
Authors: Kyrylyuk Andriy V. , Philipse Albert P. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe packing density of a particulate solid strongly depends on the shape of the particles that are jammed at random close packing (RCP). To investigate the effect of particle shape on the RCP density of an amorphous solid, we studied jammed packings of binary mixtures of a‐thermal or granular spherocylinders by means of mechanical contraction computer simulations. We showed that the packing density of a jammed solid can be optimized by using slightly elongated particles. Starting from the Bernal random sphere packing, the RCP density first raises to a maximum for nearly spherical rod‐like particles and only beyond this maximum it monotonically decreases with the particle aspect ratio. We demonstrated that the density maximum appears not only for monodisperse systems but it is a universal feature of mixtures of randomly packed non‐spherical particles. The position of the density maximum is also universal – the optimal packing is found when one of the components in the binary mixture has the unique particle aspect ratio 0.5, irrespectively of the mixture composition. In the limit of large particle size disparity in a bidisperse jammed system, we revealed a universal scaling for the total packing density as a function of the aspect ratio of one component, regardless of the shape of the second component.magnified image
An amorphous solid composed of a binary mixture of spherical and non‐spherical, slightly elongated particles.
The properties of sol–gel processed indium‐doped zinc oxide semiconductor film and its application in organic solar cells
Authors: Kyaw A. K. K. , Wang Y. , Zhao D. W. , Huang Z. H. , Zeng X. T. , Sun X. W. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractIndium‐doped ZnO (IZO) films with various indium contents were deposited by sol–gel process for application in organic solar cells (OSCs). X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectrum verified that indium is incorporated in the ZnO films. All films showed polycrystalline nature with a hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. The resistivity of the films initially decreases yet increases again with higher doping. The lowest resistivity of 5.54 × 10−1 Ω‐cm was obtained at 1 at.% indium‐doped film. The optical transmittance of all films is above 80% in visible range and blue shift in absorption edge was observed upon indium doping. The humidity level influences surface morphology, electrical, and optical properties of the doped films due to the strong moisture absorption nature of indium doping precursor. The performance of inverted OSC employing 1 at.% IZO as a buffer layer is higher than that of cell using un‐doped ZnO, which can be attributed to the higher optical transmittance and lower resistivity of doped film.
CC Chemokine Ligand 2 and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Cooperatively Promote Pluripotency in Mouse Induced Pluripotent Cells
Authors: Hasegawa Yuki , Takahashi Naoko , Forrest Alistair R. R. , Shin Jay W. , Kinoshita Yohei , Suzuki Harukazu , Hayashizaki Yoshihide 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be maintained by feeder cells, which secrete leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). We found that feeder cells provide a relatively low concentration (25 unit/ml) of LIF, which is insufficient to maintain the ESCs/iPSCs pluripotency in feeder free conditions. To identify additional factors involved in the maintenance of pluripotency, we carried out a global transcript expression profiling of mouse iPSCs cultured on feeder cells and in feeder-free (LIF-treated) conditions. This identified 17 significantly differentially expressed genes (adjusted p value &lt;0.05) including seven chemokines overexpressed in iPSCs grown on feeder cells. Ectopic expression of these chemokines in iPSCs revealed that CC chemokine ligand 2 (Ccl2) induced the key transcription factor genes for pluripotency, Klf4, Nanog, Sox2, and Tbx3. Furthermore, addition of recombinant Ccl2 protein drastically increased the number of Nanog–green fluorescent protein–positive iPSCs grown in low-LIF feeder free conditions. We further revealed that pluripotency promotion by Ccl2 is mediated by activating the Stat3-pathway followed by Klf4 upregulation. We demonstrated that Ccl2-mediated increased pluripotency is independent of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and that Tbx3 may be upregulated by Klf4. Overall, Ccl2 cooperatively activates the Stat3-pathway with LIF in feeder-free conditions to maintain pluripotency for ESCs/iPSCs.
Endoscopic bilateral metallic stenting for malignant hilar obstruction using newly designed stents
Authors: Kogure Hirofumi , Isayama Hiroyuki , Kawakubo Kazumichi , Sasaki Takashi , Yamamoto Natsuyo , Hirano Kenji , Sasahira Naoki , Tsujino Takeshi , Tada Minoru , Koike Kazuhiko 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground/PurposeWhether unilateral or bilateral drainage should be performed for malignant hilar biliary obstruction is controversial. Moreover, endoscopic placement of bilateral metallic stents is difficult and complicated.MethodsNew metallic stents, such as the Niti‐S Y‐type stent (Y‐stent), BONASTENT M‐Hilar, and Niti‐S large cell D‐type stent (LCD), have recently been developed for bilateral stent‐in‐stent procedures to facilitate contralateral stent deployment through the interstices of the first metallic stent. We review the features and efficacy of these metallic stents designed for bilateral drainage in patients with hilar biliary obstruction.ResultsThe newly designed stents examined exhibited high technical success rates, low stent‐related complications, and good stent patency. Endoscopic reinterventions for occluded stents could be performed easily, particularly in patients with bilateral LCD placement.ConclusionEndoscopic bilateral stenting using newly designed metallic stents is feasible, safe, and effective in patients with unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction.
Isolation and characterization of an arsenate-reducing bacterium and its application for arsenic extraction from contaminated soil
Authors: Chang Young C , Nawata Akinori , Jung Kweon , Kikuchi Shintaro 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
A Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, Citrobacter sp. NC-1, was isolated from soil contaminated with arsenic at levels as high as 5,000 mg As kg−1. Strain NC-1 completely reduced 20 mM arsenate within 24 h and exhibited arsenate-reducing activity at concentrations as high as 60 mM. These results indicate that strain NC-1 is superior to other dissimilatory arsenate-reducing bacteria with respect to arsenate reduction, particularly at high concentrations. Strain NC-1 was also able to effectively extract arsenic from contaminated soils via the reduction of solid-phase arsenate to arsenite, which is much less adsorptive than arsenate. To characterize the reductase systems in strain NC-1, arsenate and nitrate reduction activities were investigated using washed-cell suspensions and crude cell extracts from cells grown on arsenate or nitrate. These reductase activities were induced individually by the two electron acceptors. This may be advantageous during bioremediation processes in which both contaminants are present.
Interactions of Polyacrylamide with Cationic Surfactants: Thermodynamic and Surface Parameters
Authors: Niranjan P. S. , Shukla Ratna , Upadhyay Santosh K. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe aggregation behaviour of two cationic surfactants, viz. cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and N‐cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC), in different concentrations of water‐soluble polyacrylamide has been studied in alkaline medium by electrical conductivity and surface tension measurements. A decrease in the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant with an increase in polymer content in the mixture was observed. The thermodynamic and surface parameters have been determined and discussed. The results indicate that micellisation becomes more favourable at higher polymer content.