bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IP3R function in cells of the immune system
Authors: Akimzhanov Askar M. , Boehning Darren 
Published: October 2011

AbstractCalcium ions regulate almost all cellular processes. Inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) are ubiquitous calcium channels which mediate calcium release primarily from endoplasmic reticulum stores. IP3Rs are activated by the soluble second messenger inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3), which is produced in response to various stimuli by the action of phospholipase C enzymes. Very soon after the discovery that IP3 is a calcium mobilizing second messenger, it was found that T‐cell receptor signaling is dependent upon IP3R activity. It is now known that cell signaling throughout the immune system is dependent upon IP3R‐dependent calcium release for many critical processes, including cellular activation, proliferation, and death. This channel plays a critical role in orchestrating the immune response in health and disease and thus offers potential as a therapeutic target in immune‐related disorders. WIREs Membr Transp Signal 2012,1:329–339. doi: 10.1002/wmts.27For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
An Update on the Use of Co‐products from the Milling of Rice in Value‐Added Food Products
Authors: Shih Fred F. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBecause of the large amount of rice produced annually, milled rice co‐products, such as rice flour, rice bran, rice bran oil, wax, and rice hulls are plentiful and readily available. These co‐products are valuable sources of food ingredients, but they are currently under‐utilized. Rice bran and flour contain different levels of protein. When treated with carbohydrate‐hydrolyzing enzymes, high‐protein products can be produced, which are nutritious and used widely in health and baby food formulations. Recently, subcritical water processing has also been studied, in which water is put under high pressure to maintain its liquid state and used as an environmental‐friendly media for the recovery of rice bran proteins. Rice flour contains more than 90% rice starch (RS), and functional properties of RS are normally modified to suit the needs for food applications. For example, the addition of small amounts of phosphorylated RS esters or pregelatinized rice flour to frying batters made of rice flour was found to impart superior sensory characteristics and lower the amount of oil‐uptake. Reductions in oil uptake of up to 50% were observed with the rice based formulations compared with batters made from traditional wheat ingredients. Treatment of RS with octenylsuccinic anhydride produces modified starch products that are useful as an emulsifying agent for the encapsulation of lipophilic compounds. Similarly, other rice‐based products, such as microcrystalline celluloses from rice hulls, edible films formed with rice wax, various components with antioxidant properties, and germinated brown rice flours have also been developed.
Estimation of Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition in Cottonseed Kernel Powder Using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
Authors: Quampah Alfred , Huang Zhuang Rong , Wu Jian Guo , Liu Hai Ying , Li Jin Rong , Zhu Shui Jin , Shi Chun Hai 
Published: October 2011

AbstractOil content and fatty acid composition in 444 ground cottonseed kernel samples were analyzed using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Calibration equations were developed for oil and fatty acid contents with the modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression method. The correlations between NIRS and reference values in external validation were in agreement with the predictions in calibration. Each equation was assessed based on the relative prediction determinant for external validation (RPDv). Equations corresponding to total oil content (RPDv = 11.495) and linoleic acid (RPDv = 5.026) showed high accuracy. For palmitic acid (RPDv = 1.914), myristic acid (RPDv = 1.724) and oleic acid (RPDv = 1.999), the equations were predicted with relatively high accuracy while those for palmitoleic acid (RPDv = 0.686), stearic acid (RPDv = 0.792), linolenic acid (RPDv = 0.475) and 1‐eicosenoic acid (RPDv = 0.619) were poorly predicted. The equations for traits with RPDv > 1.5 could be reliably used in screening samples for breeding programs.
Biochemistry of Citric Acid Production from Rapeseed Oil by Yarrowia lipolytica Yeast
Authors: Kamzolova Svetlana V. , Lunina Julia N. , Morgunov Igor G. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe growth of wild type strain Yarrowia lipolytica VKM Y‐2373 and its mutant Y. lipolytica NG40/UV7 as well as the biosynthesis of citric and isocitric acid on rapeseed oil were studied. It was indicated that the initial step of assimilation of rapeseed oil in the yeast Y. lipolytica is its hydrolysis by extracellular lipases with the formation of glycerol and fatty acids, which appear in the medium in the phase of active growth. The concentrations of these metabolites were changed insignificantly upon further cultivation. Lipase and the key enzymes of glycerol metabolism (glycerol kinase) and the glyoxylate cycle responsible for the metabolism of fatty acids (isocitrate lyase and malate synthase) are induced just at the beginning of the growth phase and remain active in the course of further cultivation. These results, taken together, suggest that glycerol and fatty acids available in the medium do not suppress the metabolism of each other. Citric acid production and a ratio between citric and isocitric acids depended on the strain used. It was revealed that the wild strain produced almost equal amounts of citric and isocitric acids while the mutant produced only citric acid (175 g/L) with a yield of 1.5 g of CA per g of oil.
Antioxidant Activities and Oxidative Stabilities of Some Unconventional Oilseeds
Authors: Uluata Sibel , Özdemir Nurhayat 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe oils of some unconventional oilseeds (hemp, radish, terebinth, stinging nettle, laurel) were obtained by a cold‐press method in which the total oil content, fatty acids, tocopherol isomers, some metal contents (Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu), antioxidant activity and oxidative stability were determined. The total oil content was determined ranging between 30.68 and 43.12%, and the oil samples had large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid and linoleic acid. Of all the oils, terebinth seed oil had the highest α‐tocopherol content (102.21 ± 1.01 mg/kg oil). Laurel oilseed had the highest antiradical activity in both the DPPH and ABTS assays. The peroxide value of the non‐oxidized oils ranged between 0.51 and 3.73 mequiv O2/kg oil. The TBARS value of the non‐oxidized oils ranged between 0.68 ± 0.02 and 6.43 ± 0.48 mmol MA equiv/g oil. At 110 °C, the Rancimat induction period of the oils ranged between 1.32 and 43.44 h. The infrared spectra of the samples were recorded by FTIR spectroscopy. The absorbance values of the spectrum bands were observed and it was determined that some of the chemical groups of oxidized oils caused changes in absorbance. As a result of the present research, the analyzed oils could be evaluated as an alternative to traditionally consumed vegetable oils or as additives to them.
Focal adhesion kinase inhibitors are potent anti‐angiogenic agents
Authors: Cabrita Miguel A. , Jones Laura M. , Quizi Jennifer L. , Sabourin Luc A. , McKay Bruce C. , Addison Christina L. 
Published: October 2011

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase and scaffold protein localized to focal adhesions, is uniquely positioned at the convergence point of integrin and receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways. FAK is overexpressed in many tumor cells, hence various inhibitors targeting its activity have been tested for anti‐tumor activity. However, the direct effects of these pharmacologic agents on the endothelial cells of the vasculature have not been examined. Using primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), we characterized the effects of two FAK inhibitors, PF‐573,228 and FAK Inhibitor 14 on essential processes for angiogenesis, such as migration, proliferation, viability and endothelial cell tube formation. We observed that treatment with either FAK Inhibitor 14 or PF‐573,228 resulted in reduced HUVEC viability, migration and tube formation in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, we found that PF‐573,228 had the added ability to induce apoptosis of endothelial cells within 36 h post‐drug administration even in the continued presence of VEGF stimulation. FAK inhibitors also resulted in modification of the actin cytoskeleton within HUVEC, with observed increased stress fiber formation in the presence of drug. Given that endothelial cells were sensitive to FAK inhibitors at concentrations well below those reported to inhibit tumor cell migration, we confirmed their ability to inhibit endothelial‐derived FAK autophosphorylation and FAK‐mediated phosphorylation of recombinant paxillin at these doses. Taken together, our data indicate that small molecule inhibitors of FAK are potent anti‐angiogenic agents and suggest their utility in combinatorial therapeutic approaches targeting tumor angiogenesis.
Summer–winter transitions in Antarctic ponds: III. Chemical changes
Authors: Webster-Brown Jenny , Hawes Ian , Safi Karl , Sorrell Brian , Wilson Nathaniel 
Published: October 2011

AbstractObservations were made of water column chemistry in four Na-Cl dominated ponds on the McMurdo Ice Shelf from the end of January to early April in 2008. During that time the ponds went from ice-free to predominantly frozen, with only a small volume of residual hypoxic, saline liquid trapped at the base of each pond. Changes in the concentrations of inorganic solutes with time distinguished Na, Cl, Mg, K, SO4, As, U and Mn as ions and trace elements that behave mainly conservatively during freezing, from those which are affected by biological processes (removing HCO3) and the precipitation of mineral phases such as calcite (removing Ca and more HCO3). Dissolved Fe, Mo, Cu and Zn also show evidence of precipitation from the water column during freezing; geochemical speciation modelling predicts the formation of stable insoluble mineral phases such as Fe oxides and oxyhydroxides while conditions are oxic, and Fe-, Cu-, Mo- and Zn-sulphide minerals in the presence of H2S. Consequently, under winter conditions, residual liquid beneath the ice in such ponds is anticipated to be an anoxic Na-Cl brine with the capacity to develop high concentrations of toxic trace elements such as As and U.
Scheduling of newly emerging drugs: a critical review of decisions over 40 years
Authors: Coulson Carolyn , Caulkins Jonathan P. 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTAims  Decisions on whether and how to ‘schedule’ drugs (i.e. to determine their legal status and penalties to be applied for sale or possession) are often heavily criticized. We sought to assess more comprehensively the results of such decisions for newly emerging drugs.Methods  Through analysis of legislation and secondary sources, we identified 63 substances that have emerged since 1971, including all that have been added to the most restrictive schedule by the United Nations, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and/or New Zealand.Measurements  For each jurisdiction we recorded whether, when, and how the substance was scheduled and note what decisions engendered substantial criticism or controversy within the international treaties' framework of balancing medical benefits with risk of abuse.Findings  (i) The rate of emergence of new drugs has been fairly steady. (ii) There is broad cross‐national agreement on what should be scheduled. (iii) The United States often acts first. (iv) Temporary bans that delay final decisions by 12–18 months can sometimes allow final decisions to be grounded on a substantially expanded research base. (v) It appears that no more than seven of the decisions reached by the United States with respect to the 63 substances are candidates for being considered errors, and arguably the United States has committed at most one serious Type I and one serious Type II error. Results for other countries are broadly similar.Conclusions  The process for determining the legal status of new psychoactive substances appears to function reasonably well, within the framework of international treaty obligations. Most criticisms relate to one or a few substances (e.g. 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and/or complaints that the decisions discount benefits that are not recognized by the treaties (e.g. recreational or religious use).
IL‐12 and IL‐10 Production are Differentially Regulated by Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase in Mast Cells
Authors: Song C. , Zhang Q. , Liu X. , Shan Y. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe cellular mechanisms that directly regulate the production of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in mast cells are currently unresolved. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) in the production of IL‐12 and IL‐10 in mouse bone marrow‐derived mast cells (BMMCs), stimulated with Escherichia coli‐derived LPS. LPS activates the PI3K signalling pathway; analysis of cytokine production following LPS stimulation of BMMCs revealed that inhibition of the PI3K pathway differentially regulated IL‐10 and IL‐12 syntheses. IL‐12 production was enhanced, whereas IL‐10 levels were suppressed. Inhibition of LPS‐mediated activation of the PI3K pathway resulted in a pronounced reduction of NF‐κB activity that was dependent on IκBα phosphorylation. These findings demonstrate a regulatory function for PI3K in modulating IL‐10 and IL‐12 production in mast cells and provide insight into how engagement of the PI3K pathway affects the induction of key immunoregulatory cytokines that control both qualitative and quantitative aspects of early inflammation.
Environmental heterogeneity influences the reliability of secondary sexual traits as condition indicators
Authors: VERGARA P. , MARTINEZ‐PADILLA J. , MOUGEOT F. , LECKIE F. , REDPATH S. M. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractNumerous studies have shown positive associations between ornaments and condition, as predicted by indicator models of sexual selection. However, this idea is continuously challenged by opposite results, which reveal our lack of full understanding of how sexual selection works. Environmental heterogeneity may explain such inconsistencies, but valid field tests of this idea are currently lacking. We first analysed the relationship between condition and ornament expression from nine populations over 7 years in a wild bird, the red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. We then manipulated male aggressiveness at the population level by means of testosterone implants in a replicated field experiment. We found that the relationship between condition and ornamentation varied greatly between environments and became stronger when environmental conditions (ECs) were worse or when aggressiveness in the population was experimentally increased. Some ornaments may therefore reliably advertise a better condition only in adverse ECs. Considering environmental heterogeneity can help reconcile conflicting findings regarding the reliability of ornaments as indicators of condition and will help our understanding of sexual selection processes.
The SNP Genotypes of Growth Hormone Gene Associated with Reproductive Traits in Tsaiya Ducks
Authors: Chang Mu‐Tzu , Cheng Yu‐Shin , Huang Mu‐Chiou 
Published: October 2011

ContentsOur previous cDNA microarray study showed that the growth hormone (GH) gene may involve in the duck egg formation process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between GH genotypes of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and reproductive traits of Tsaiya ducks. Primer pairs for the coding region in the GH were designed based on the duck genomic sequence. Polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐single strand polymorphism (SSCP) and were verified by DNA sequencing. Nineteen SNPs were identified in the duck GH gene, of which three coding SNPs (C3169T, C3700T and C5058G) were genotyped to investigate the associations with reproductive traits. The results showed that each SNP was associated with at least one duck fertility‐related trait (p < 0.05). Haplotypes constructed on these three SNPs were associated with fertility rate (FR) and maximum duration of fertility (MDF) (p < 0.05). In particular, diplotype H1H1 was dominant for FR and MDF. This suggested that GH gene polymorphisms are associated with duck fertility‐related traits. The SNPs in this gene may be used as potential markers for marker‐assisted selection.
Relationship Between Apoptosis and Proliferation in Granulosa and Theca Cells of Cystic Follicles in Sows
Authors: Sun Y‐L , Zhang J , Ping Z‐G , Wang C‐Q , Sun Y‐F , Chen L , Li X‐Y , Li C‐J , Zhu X‐L , Liu Z , Zhang W , Zhou X 
Published: October 2011

ContentsTo investigate the causes of the occurrence and persistence of porcine cystic follicles, we evaluated the apoptosis and proliferation of follicular cells in these cysts. Apoptotic frequencies were examined by TUNEL assay and the expression of apoptosis regulators (XIAP, bax, bc1‐2 and caspase‐3) by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real‐time quantitative PCR; cell proliferation activity was evaluated by PCNA immunohistochemistry and proliferation of in vitro cultured granulosa and theca cells. The low apoptotic frequency and weak proliferative activity were found in cystic follicles. Low frequency of apoptosis might be associated with decreased amounts of apoptotic‐related factors (bax and caspase‐3) and increased amounts of anti‐apoptotic factors (XIAP and bcl‐2) in cystic follicles. Significantly lower proliferation activity was detected in granulosa and theca cells from cystic follicles, and lesser PCNA‐positive cells were found in cystic follicles. Our results indicate that the programmed cell death and cell proliferation system were altered in cystic follicles. The disorder between apoptosis and proliferation was responsible for maintaining a static condition without degeneration, which leads to the long‐term persistence of follicles. These findings provide important novel insights into the pathogenesis of follicular cysts in sows.
The RANKL‐OPG system in clinical periodontology
Authors: Belibasakis Georgios N. , Bostanci Nagihan 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand‐osteoprotegerin (RANKL‐OPG) bi‐molecular system is the “bottle‐neck” regulator of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, both in physiological and pathological conditions. This review aims to elaborate the current knowledge on RANKL and OPG in periodontal disease, and to evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic potential as biomarkers of the disease.Materials and MethodsTo pursue this aim, electronic and manual searches were performed for identifying clinical and in vivo studies on RANKL and OPG in gingival tissue, gingival crevicular fluid, saliva and blood. Smoking and diabetes mellitus were also considered for their potential effects.ResultsPapers fulfilling the inclusion criteria demonstrate that RANKL is up‐regulated, whereas OPG is down‐regulated in periodontitis, compared to periodontal health, resulting in an increased RANKL/OPG ratio. This ratio is further up‐regulated in smokers and diabetics, and is not affected by conventional periodontal treatment.ConclusionsThe increased RANKL/OPG ratio may serve as a biomarker that denotes the occurrence of periodontitis, but may not necessarily predict on‐going disease activity. Its steadily elevated levels post treatment may indicate that the molecular mechanisms of bone resorption are still active, holding an imminent risk for relapse of the disease. Additional adjunct treatment modalities that would “switch‐off” the RANKL/OPG ratio may therefore be required.
Price Ceilings on Milk Production Quota Values: Future or Folly?
Authors: Cairns Alex , Meilke Karl 
Published: October 2011

Since the inception of supply management in Canada during the 1970s, milk production quota has been used to regulate output and participation in the dairy industry. In recent years, milk quota values have increased dramatically, almost tripling in value since the mid 1980s. This led to the Dairy Farmers of Ontario intervening on the milk production quota exchange on two occasions: first, in November 2006 with a progressive transfer assessment and then in July 2009, replacing the former policy with a firm price ceiling—fixing the unit price of quota at $25,000. These policies represent a significant redistribution of economic benefits from milk producers selling their quota to those remaining in the industry. The objective of this study is to first explore the reasons for the increase in production quota values; and second, to assess the welfare and distributional effects of each of the two quota policy schemes. Our results suggest that the increase in quota values were driven by basic economic factors and that the efficiency losses from intervention in the quota exchange are nontrivial. We conclude by suggesting there are several alternative policy options that could minimize efficiency losses while moderating the escalation in quota values.Depuis la mise en place du système de gestion de l’offre au Canada dans les années 1970, les quotas laitiers sont utilisés pour régulariser la production et la participation dans l’industrie laitière. Au cours des dernières années, la valeur des quotas laitiers a fait un bond considérable et a pratiquement triplé depuis le milieu des années 1980. Cette situation a amené la Dairy Farmers of Ontario à intervenir à deux reprises dans le système d’échange de quotas laitiers : en novembre 2006, en imposant l’établissement d’un transfert progressif et en juillet 2009, en remplaçant la politique précédente par l’établissement d’un prix plafond ferme fixéà 25 000 $. Ces politiques permettent une importante redistribution des avantages économiques lorsque des producteurs de lait vendent leurs quotas à des producteurs qui demeurent dans le secteur. La présente étude visait d’abord à examiner les raisons qui sous‐tendent l’augmentation de la valeur des quotas de production et ensuite àévaluer le bien‐être et les effets distributifs de chaque plan de quotas. Les résultats de notre étude autorisent à penser que l’augmentation de la valeur des quotas a été motivée par des facteurs économiques fondamentaux et que les pertes d’efficacité découlant de l’intervention dans les échanges de quotas n’étaient pas sans importance. En conclusion, nous estimons qu’il existe plusieurs politiques de rechange qui pourraient minimiser les pertes d’efficacité tout en modérant l’escalade de la valeur des quotas.
In Vitro
Resistance Profile of the Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Protease Inhibitor BI 201335
Authors: Lagacé Lisette , White Peter W. , Bousquet Christiane , Dansereau Nathalie , Dô Florence , Llinas-Brunet Montse , Marquis Martin , Massariol Marie-Josée , Maurice Roger , Spickler Catherine , Thibeault Diane , Triki Ibtissem , Zhao Songping , Kukolj George 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT

The
in vitro
resistance profile of BI 201335 was evaluated through selection and characterization of variants in genotype 1a (GT 1a) and genotype 1b (GT 1b) replicons. NS3 R155K and D168V were the most frequently observed resistant variants. Phenotypic characterization of the mutants revealed shifts in sensitivity specific to BI 201335 that did not alter susceptibility to alpha interferon. In contrast to macrocyclic and covalent protease inhibitors, changes at V36, T54, F43, and Q80 did not confer resistance to BI 201335.