bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
4‐Nitramino‐3,5‐dinitropyrazole‐Based Energetic Salts
Authors: Zhang Yanqiang , Parrish Damon A. , Shreeve Jean'ne M. 
Published: December 2011

Abstract4‐Nitramino‐3,5‐dinitropyrazole was prepared and stabilized through the formation of its ammonium salt. With selected cations, 14 nitrogen‐rich energetic salts were synthesized in high yield by metathesis reactions. These salts were fully characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Additionally, the structures of the ammonium, 3,4,5‐triaminotriazolium, and biguanidinium salts were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Based on experimental and calculated values, the 4‐nitramino‐3,5‐dinitropyrazolate salts show properties, such as decomposition temperatures (115–229 °C), detonation pressures (23.27–37.42 GPa) and velocities (7713–9013 ms−1), and impact sensitivities (5–40 J) that place them with energetics such as RDX and TATB.
Hydrodynamics of a rectangular liquid JET in an immiscible liquid–liquid system
Authors: Bhatelia Tejas J. , Parmar Harisinh B. , Phan Chi , Pareek Vishnu K. , Tadé Moses O. , Evans Geoffrey M. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractVolume of fluid and continuum surface force methodologies were applied to two‐ and three‐dimensionally model the motion of a liquid jet injected vertically downward from a rectangular nozzle into another immiscible liquid. Grid independent solutions were obtained for a 10 mm2 nozzle with aspect ratios in the range 1–10. It was found that unlike the 3D simulation, the 2D CFD model was not able to predict the necking and breakup features observed in the experimental system. The 3D model showed that upon exiting the rectangular nozzle the liquid jet underwent a transition before becoming circular in cross‐section and eventually reaching an equilibrium diameter prior to breakup into droplets. For a given nozzle geometry it was found that equilibrium jet diameter increased with increasing liquid volumetric flowrate, with good agreement between CFD simulations and experimental observations. The 3D model was applied to rectangular nozzles with different aspect ratios and it was found that for a given liquid flowrate there was an optimum aspect ratio for generating minimum‐sized droplets, which was approximately 30% less than for a circular nozzle with the same cross‐sectional area. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
CO2 exchange along a hydrologic gradient in the Kenai Lowlands, AK: feedback implications of wetland drying and vegetation succession
Authors: Ives Susan L. , Sullivan Patrick F. , Dial Roman , Berg Edward E. , Welker Jeffrey M. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTBoreal wetlands hold vast stocks of soil carbon (C), which may be vulnerable to changes in climate. In southcentral Alaska, wetlands of the Kenai Lowlands have experienced a warming and drying trend that has led to woody vegetation encroachment into herbaceous wetlands. We examined whether predicted higher rates of gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP) would be offset by higher rates of ecosystem respiration (ER) in woody wetland communities. We measured net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in four communities along a hydrologic and vegetation gradient during (1) a warm and dry growing season, (2) a more typical cool and wet growing season and (3) the intervening winter. We fit simple GEP and ER models to our data and estimated annual NEE for each community using hourly measurements of photosynthetically active radiation and air temperature. We found that woody communities exhibited greater GEP than herbaceous communities under cool and moist conditions, but more similar GEP under warm and dry conditions. Woody communities also showed greater ER than herbaceous communities during all seasons, outpacing GEP during the warm and dry growing season. On an annual basis, we estimated that herbaceous communities were either net sinks or approximately CO2 neutral, ranging from −132·8 to 4·7 g CO2–C m−2 y−1. In contrast, woody communities were sources of CO2 to the atmosphere, ranging from 78·8 to 181·7 g CO2–C m−2 y−1. Our results suggest that the initial encroachment of woody vegetation into herbaceous wetlands will lead to a substantial loss of C, particularly if conditions continue to become warmer and drier. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct visualization of electrophoretic mobility shift assays using nanoparticle–aptamer conjugates
Authors: Wang Min S. , Reed Scott M. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHere, we demonstrate that aptamers tethered to gold nanoparticles enable direct visualization of protein–oligonucleotide interactions during gel electrophoresis. This technique is used to confirm that an aptamer previously identified as binding to C‐reactive protein (CRP) only binds to the monomeric form of CRP. While native, pentameric CRP (pCRP) is used in clinical assays to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, it is the monomeric isoform that is more strongly associated with pro‐inflammatory and pro‐atherogenic effects. To visualize this selectivity, the CRP–aptamer was conjugated to streptavidin‐coated gold nanoparticles and the mobility of the free oligonucleotide–nanoparticle conjugate (ON‐NP) and the protein/ON‐NP complex bands were visualized and recorded during electrophoresis using a simple digital camera. At a concentration of 6 μg/mL, monomeric CRP showed a significant decrease in the observed ON‐NP mobility, whereas no change in mobility was observed with pCRP up to 18 μg/mL. Advantages of this nanoparticle‐based electrophoretic mobility shift assay (NP‐EMSA) over the traditional EMSA include real‐time detection of protein–oligonucleotide interactions, the avoidance of harmful radioisotopes, and elimination of the need for expensive gel imagers. The availability of both the NP‐EMSA technique and an mCRP‐specific probe will allow for improved clinical diagnostic to more accurately predict future CVD risk.
Internal evaluation, historically speaking
Authors: Mathison Sandra 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe author analyzes the growth and nature of internal evaluation from the 1960s to the present and suggests that internal evaluation has been on the increase because of its perceived importance. Although the 1960s were characterized by a rich intellectual development of evaluation theory and practice, the fiscal conservatism of the 1980s ushered in evaluation practice focused more specifically on cost effectiveness. During that time, internal evaluation began to increase. In the 1990s this trend continued and was intensified by the reinvention of government known as the New Public Management. The author argues that in this results‐oriented neoliberal context, evaluation is maintained as an internal function, but focuses primarily on descriptive accounts of performance. The chapter concludes with some speculation about the nature of future internal evaluation. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
Evaluation survivor: How to outwit, outplay, and outlast as an internal government evaluator
Authors: Kniker Ted 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThis chapter describes the author's experience and insights as the chief of evaluation for public diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State, and as a consultant assisting federal agencies in a multitude of evaluation activities relating what helps and hinders internal evaluation functions. The article discusses the challenges faced by the internal evaluators, how they overcame these challenges, and how they compare to trends observed by the author in other federal evaluation offices. Ideas are provided for how to better incorporate evaluation functions into organizational management. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
Internal evaluation in American public school districts: The importance of externally driven accountability mandates
Authors: King Jean A. , Rohmer‐Hirt Johnna A. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractFrom the 1980s to the present, educational accountability in the United States has grown dramatically. Such accountability in U.S. school districts, although driven primarily by external demands, has internal manifestations as well. The chapter traces the historical development of internal evaluation in American school districts, then highlights four current forms of internal evaluation (standardized testing programs, evaluations of externally funded programs, support for school improvement planning, and evaluation capacity building), along with a brief description of the decade‐long development of internal evaluation in one school district. The unique features of internal evaluation in educational settings are highlighted, and the chapter concludes with implications of current practice for the continuing development of internal educational evaluation. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
Issues in internal evaluation: Implications for practice, training, and research
Authors: Volkov Boris B. , Baron Michelle E. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThis chapter highlights themes running throughout the preceding chapters and illustrates important issues in improving the design, implementation, and use of internal evaluation. The authors contemplate where internal evaluation might go in the future by suggesting new directions for how internal evaluation is conceptualized and practiced to realize its potential for enhancing the organizational and program growth and competitive advantage. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
The Omo‐Turkana Basin Fossil Hominins and Their Contribution to Our Understanding of Human Evolution in Africa
Authors: Wood Bernard , Leakey Meave 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe Omo‐Turkana Basin, including the hominin fossil sites around Lake Turkana and the sites along the lower reaches of the Omo River, has made and continues to make an important contribution to improving our murky understanding of human evolution. This review highlights the various ways the Omo‐Turkana Basin fossil record has contributed to, and continues to challenge, interpretations of human evolution. Despite many diagrams that look suspiciously like comprehensive hypotheses about human evolutionary history, any sensible paleoanthropologist knows that the early hominin fossil record is too meager to do anything other than offer very provisional statements about hominin taxonomy and phylogeny. If history tells us anything, it is that we still have much to learn about the hominin clade. Thus, we summarize the current state of knowledge of the hominin species represented at the Omo‐Turkana Basin sites. We then focus on three specific topics for which the fossil evidence is especially relevant: the origin and nature of Paranthropus; the origin and nature of early Homo; and the ongoing debate about whether the pattern of human evolution is more consistent with speciation by cladogenesis, with greater taxonomic diversity or with speciation by anagenetic transformation, resulting in less taxonomic diversity and a more linear interpretation of human evolutionary history. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aberrantly methylated PKP1 in the progression of Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kaz Andrew M. , Luo Yanxin , Dzieciatkowski Slavomir , Chak Amitabh , Willis Joseph E. , Upton Melissa P. , Leidner Rom S. , Grady William M. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe aberrant DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes occurs frequently in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and likely affects the initiation and progression of BE to EAC. In the present study, we discovered PKP1 as a novel methylated gene in EAC and then investigated the role of loss of PKP1, a constituent of the desmosome complex found in stratified epithelial layers, on the behavior of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma cells. By using primary esophageal tissue samples we determined that PKP1 was rarely methylated in normal squamous esophagus (5/55; 9.1%) and BE (5/39; 12.8%) and more frequently methylated in Barrett's esophagus with high‐grade dysplasia (HGD) or EAC (20/60; 33.3%; P < 0.05). Furthermore, PKP1 levels were decreased in BE and HGD/EAC cases compared to normal squamous esophagus cases. Knockdown of PKP1 in the BE cell lines CP‐A and CP‐D (both normally express PKP1) resulted in increased cell motility. Thus, PKP1 loss secondary to promoter methylation, as well as other mechanisms, may promote the progression of BE to EAC in a subset of patients via decreased desmosome assembly and increased cell motility. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Direct evaluation of individual hydrogen bond energy in situ in intra‐ and intermolecular multiple hydrogen bonds system
Authors: Liu Cui , Zhao Dong‐Xia , Yang Zhong‐Zhi 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe results of evaluating the individual hydrogen bond (H‐bond) strength are expected to be helpful for the rational design of new strategies for molecular recognition or supramolecular assemblies. Unfortunately, there is few obvious and unambiguous means of evaluating the energy of a single H‐bond within a multiple H‐bonds system. We present a local analytic model, ABEEMσπ H‐bond energy (HBE) model based on ab initio calculations (MP2) as benchmark, to directly and rapidly evaluate the individual HBE in situ in inter‐ and intramolecular multiple H‐bonds system. This model describes the HBE as the sum of electrostatic and van der Waals (vdW) interactions which all depend upon the geometry and environment, and the ambient environment of H‐bond in the model is accounted fairly. Thus, it can fairly consider the cooperative effect and secondary effect. The application range of ABEEMσπ HBE model is rather wide. This work has discussed the individual H‐bond in DNA base pair and protein peptide dimers. The results indicate that the interactions among donor H atom, acceptor atom as well as those atoms connected to them with 1,2 or 1,3 relationships are all important for evaluating the HBE, although the interaction between the donor H atom and the acceptor atom is large. Furthermore, our model quantitatively indicates the polarization ability of N, O, and S in a new style, and gives the percentage of the polarization effect in HBE, which can not be given by fixed partial charge force field. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2012
In Silico screening for agonists and blockers of the β2 adrenergic receptor: Implications of inactive and activated state structures
Authors: Costanzi Stefano , Vilar Santiago 
Published: December 2011

AbstractTen crystal structures of the β2 adrenergic receptor have been published, reflecting different signaling states. Here, through controlled‐docking experiments, we examined the implications of using inactive or activated structures on the in silico screening for agonists and blockers of the receptor. Specifically, we targeted the crystal structures solved in complex with carazolol (2RH1), the neutral antagonist alprenalol, the irreversible agonist FAUC50 (3PDS), and the full agonist BI‐167017 (3P0G). Our results indicate that activated structures favor agonists over blockers, whereas inactive structures favor blockers over agonists. This tendency is more marked for activated than for inactive structures. Additionally, agonists tend to receive more favorable docking scores when docked at activated rather than inactive structures, while blockers do the opposite. Hence, the difference between the docking scores attained with an activated and an inactive structure is an excellent means for the classification of ligands into agonists and blockers as we determined through receiver operating characteristic curves and linear discriminant analysis. With respect to virtual screening, all structures prioritized well agonists and blockers over nonbinders. However, inactive structures worked better for blockers and activated structures worked better for agonists, respectively. Notably, the combination of individual docking experiments through receptor ensemble docking resulted in an excellent performance in the retrieval of both agonists and blockers. Finally, we demonstrated that the induced‐fit docking of agonists is a viable way of modifying an inactive crystal structure and bias it toward the in silico recognition of agonists rather than blockers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011
Bone morphogenetic protein receptor type Ia localization causes increased BMP2 signaling in mice exhibiting increased peak bone mass phenotype
Authors: Bragdon Beth , Bonor Jeremy , Shultz Kathryn L. , Beamer Wesley G. , Rosen Clifford J. , Nohe Anja 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is a growth factor that initiates osteoblast differentiation. Recent studies show that BMP2 signaling regulates bone mineral density (BMD). BMP2 interacts with BMP receptor type Ia (BMPRIa) and type II receptor leading to the activation of the Smad signaling pathway. BMPRIa must shuttle between distinct plasma membrane domains, enriched of Caveolin‐1 alpha and Caveolin‐1 beta isoforms, and receptor activation occurs in these domains. Yet it remains unknown whether the molecular mechanism that regulates BMP2 signaling is driving mineralization and BMD. Therefore, the B6.C3H‐1‐12 congenic mouse model with increased BMD and osteoblast mineralization was utilized in this study. Using the family image correlation spectroscopy, we determined if BMP2 led to a significant re‐localization of BMPRIa to caveolae of the alpha/beta isoforms in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) isolated from B6.C3H‐1‐12 mice compared to the C57BL/6J mice, which served as controls. The control, C57BL/6J mice, was selected due to only 4 Mb of chromosome 1 from the C3H/HeJ mouse was backcrossed to a C57BL/6J background. Using reporter gene assays, the B6.C3H‐1‐12 BMSCs responded to BMP2 with increased Smad activation. Furthermore, disrupting caveolae reduced the BMP2‐induced Smad signaling in BMSCs isolated from B6.C3H‐1‐12 and C57BL/6J. This study suggests for the first time a regulatory mechanism of BMPRIa signaling at the plasma membrane of BMSCs that (i) associated with genetic differences in the distal Chromosome 1 segment carried by the B6.C3H‐1‐12 congenic and (ii) contributes to increase BMD of the B6.C3H‐1‐12 compared to the C57BL/6J control mice. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 2870–2879, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development and evaluation of a trehalose‐contained solution formula to preserve hUC‐MSCs at 4°C
Authors: Di Guohu , Wang Jiexi , Liu Minxia , Wu Chu‐Tse , Han Ying , Duan Haifeng 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHuman mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) hold great promise in cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Various preclinical and clinical trials have been carried out to illustrate the therapeutic potential of these cells. However, one major challenge for manufacturing clinical grade hMSCs is the requisition of current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) grade practices in cell isolation, processing, storage, and distribution. Development of non‐toxic and animal serum‐free preservation medium is critical for storage and distribution of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, we developed a solution formula that could preserve MSCs at 4°C for up to 3 weeks. In the solution, trehalose is a key ingredient for maintaining survival of MSCs. Among the concentrations investigated, 40 mM trehalose showed the best outcome with the viability maintained more than 92.7 ± 1.5% for 7 days. Cells preserved in the solution formula for 3 weeks still remained about 70% viability, and produced results similar to those of freshly harvested hMSCs in terms of growth kinetics, expression profile of cell surface antigens, and differentiation potential. In summary, storage of MSCs in the medium makes it far easier for transporting the cells from processing units to clinical sites. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 879–884, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of COX‐2/PGE2 in gossypol‐induced apoptosis of colorectal carcinoma cells
Authors: Chien Chih‐Chiang , Ko Ching‐Huai , Shen Shing‐Chuan , Yang Liang‐Yo , Chen Yen‐Chou 
Published: December 2011

AbstractOur previous study showed that gossypol (GOS) exhibits potent cytotoxic effects via apoptosis induction against human colorectal carcinoma cells; however, the role of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2/prostaglandin (PG)E2 on GOS‐induced apoptosis is still unknown. In the present study, 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) addition significantly inhibited GOS‐induced apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma HT‐29 cells in accordance with inducing COX‐2 protein/PGE2 production. TPA inhibition of GOS‐induced apoptosis was blocked by adding protein kinase (PK)C inhibitors including staurosporine (ST), GF109203X (GF), and H7, characterized by the occurrence of cleaved caspase 3 proteins and a decrease in COX‐2 protein/PGE2 production in HT‐29 cells. The addition of COX activity inhibitors, including NS398 (NS), aspirin (AS), diclofenac (DI), and indomethacin (IN), suppressed TPA protection of GOS‐induced apoptosis with decreased PGE2 production in HT‐29 cells. Application of PGE2, but not it analogs PGD2, PGJ2, or PGF2α, protected HT‐29 cells from GOS‐induced DNA ladders, and the E‐prostanoid (EP1) receptor agonist, 17PT‐PGE2, mimicked the protection induced by PGE2, whereas the selective EP2 receptor agonist, butaprostol (BUT), the EP3 receptor agonist, sulprostol (SUL), and the EP4 receptor agonist, PGE1 alcohol (PGE1), showed no significant effects on GOS‐induced apoptosis in HT‐29 cells. PGE2's protection against GOS‐induced apoptosis was reversed by adding the selective EP1 receptor antagonist, SC‐19220. Furthermore, GOS had an effective apoptotic effect on COLO205 colorectal carcinoma cells which expressed undetectable level of endogenous COX‐2 protein than HT‐29 cells, and the decreased COX‐2 protein level via COX‐2 siRNA or addition of COX‐2 activity inhibitor NS significantly elevated GOS‐induced cell death in HT‐29 cells. COLO205‐T cells were established through sustained TPA incubation of COLO205 cells, and COLO205‐T cells showed a lower sensitivity to GOS‐induced cell death with increased COX‐2 (not Bcl‐2 and Mcl‐1) protein than parental COLO‐205 cells. A decrease in COX‐2 protein expression in COLO205‐T cells by COX‐2 siRNA transfection or enhanced GOS‐induced cell death according to MTT assay and DNA integrity assay. The notion of COX‐2/PGE2 activation against GOS‐induced apoptosis in colon carcinoma cells was demonstrated, and the combination of GOS and COX‐2 inhibitors to treat colon carcinoma possesses clinical potential worthy of further investigation. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 3128–3137, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.