bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of two Mst1‐deficient mouse models
Authors: Anguera Montserrat C. , Liu Matthew , Avruch Joseph , Lee Jeannie T. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractMammalian sterile 20‐like kinase 1 (Mst1) is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase belonging to the family of Sterile 20‐like kinases. MST1 has been inferred to play important roles in apoptosis and in the inhibition of proliferation in mammalian cells. Here, we describe the genetic characterization of Mst1‐deficient mice produced by two distinct gene‐trap insertions. Animals generated from clone RRT293 exhibit transmission ratio distortion favoring the mutated allele which is amplified with each generation. Inexplicably, while the mutated allele is favored for transmission, its homozygosity is embryonic lethal. By contrast, animals generated from the second Mst1 gene‐trap clone, AJ0315, do not show any gross abnormalities. We find that the discrepancy in phenotype is most likely attributable to a second insertion in the RRT293 clone. Thus, a mutation in Mst1 alone does not affect survival. Our results set the stage for identification of the lethal second‐site mutation that is paradoxically favored for transmission. Developmental Dynamics 237:3424–3434, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential requirements for Fgf3 and Fgf8 during mouse forebrain development
Authors: Theil Thomas , Dominguez‐Frutos Elena , Schimmang Thomas 
Published: October 2008

AbstractMultiple Fgfs are expressed during formation and patterning of the telencephalon in vertebrates. Fgf8 has been shown to control the size of the telencephalon and the development of signaling centers in zebrafish and mouse. Next to Fgf8, Fgf3 also influences telencephalic gene expression in the zebrafish. Moreover, Fgf3 and Fgf8 have been shown to have combinatorial functions during forebrain development in this species. Here, we have examined telencephalic development in Fgf3 null mouse mutants and embryos that lack both Fgf3 and Fgf8 in their forebrain. In contrast to zebrafish, Fgf3 mutants show normal forebrain development and expression of telencephalic marker genes. Although double mutants for Fgf3 and Fgf8 show a further reduction of forebrain size no additional changes of telencephalic gene expression are observed compared with Fgf8 mutants. Therefore unlike in zebrafish, Fgf3 is not required for mouse forebrain development whereas Fgf8 has a central role during this process. Developmental Dynamics 237:3417–3423, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Murine retroviruses re‐engineered for lineage tracing and expression of toxic genes in the developing chick embryo
Authors: Venters Sara J. , Dias Da Silva Magnus R. , Hyer Jeanette 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe describe two replication incompetent retroviral vectors that co‐express green fluorescent protein (GFP) and beta‐galactosidase. These vectors incorporate either the avian reticuloendotheliosis (spleen necrosis virus; SNV) promoter or the chick beta‐actin promoter, into the backbone of the murine leukemia (MLV) viral vector. The additional promoters drive transgene expression in avian tissue. The remainder of the vector is MLV‐like, allowing high titer viral particle production by means of transient transfection. The SNV promoter produces high and early expression of introduced genes, enabling detection of the single copy integrated GFP gene in infected cells and their progeny in vivo. Substitution of the LacZ coding DNA with a relevant gene of interest will enable its co‐expression with GFP, thus allowing visualization of the effect of specific and stable changes in gene expression throughout development. As the VSV‐G pseudotyped viral vector is replication incompetent, changes in gene expression can be controlled temporally, by altering the timing of introduction. Developmental Dynamics 237:3260–3269, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Haploid male germ cell‐ and oocyte‐specific Mbd3l1 and Mbd3l2 genes are dispensable for early development, fertility, and zygotic DNA demethylation in the mouse
Authors: Jin Seung‐Gi , Tsark Walter , Szabó Piroska E. , Pfeifer Gerd P. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractGenome‐wide erasure of CpG methylation occurs along the paternal pronucleus in fertilized oocytes. This process involves an active, replication‐independent enzymatic step, which has remained enigmatic. MBD3L1 and MBD3L2 are two mammalian homologues of the methyl‐CpG‐binding protein genes MBD2 and MBD3 that arose from recent gene duplication events. Expression of Mbd3l1 occurs specifically in haploid male germ cells. Mbd3l2 expression is restricted to metaphase II oocytes and zygotes making both proteins candidates for the zygotic demethylation process. Neither of these genes was able to promote reactivation of a methylation‐silenced reporter gene. We created Mbd3l1 and Mbd3l2 knockout mice, which were viable and fertile. We show that demethylation of the paternal pronucleus in Mbd3l1−/− and Mbd3l2−/− mice is identical to that in wild‐type controls. These data suggest that Mbd3l1 and Mbd3l2 are not involved in genome‐wide demethylation of paternal genomes in mouse zygotes and are dispensable for normal development. Developmental Dynamics 237:3435–3443, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficient temporally‐controlled targeted mutagenesis in smooth muscle cells of the adult mouse
Authors: Wendling Olivia , Bornert Jean‐Marc , Chambon Pierre , Metzger Daniel 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTo generate temporally‐controlled targeted somatic mutations selectively and efficiently in smooth muscles, we have established a transgenic SMA‐Cre‐ERT2 mouse line in which the expression of the Tamoxifen‐dependent Cre‐ERT2 recombinase is under the control of a large genomic DNA segment of the mouse smooth muscle α actin (SMA) gene, contained in a Bacterial artificial chromosome (Bac). In this transgenic mouse line, Cre‐ERT2‐mediated recombination of LoxP‐flanked target DNA is strictly Tamoxifen‐dependent, and efficient in both vascular and visceral smooth muscle cells. Moreover, with the exception of few cardiomyocytes, LoxP‐flanked DNA excision is restricted to smooth muscle cells. Thus, SMA‐Cre‐ERT2 mice should be of great value to analyze gene function in smooth muscles, and to establish new animal models of human smooth muscle disorders. genesis 47:14–18, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Processing and Characterization of Spherical Alumina Pellets Coated with BaTiO3 and Li0.10Ti0.02Ni0.88O Dielectric Materials
Authors: Fournaud Benoit , Iordan Alexandra , Rossignol Sylvie , Tatibouët Jean‐Michel , Thollon Stephanie 
Published: October 2008

AbstractSol–gel methods were used to synthesize BaTiO3 and LixTiyNi(1–x) materials. Processes using these sols were adjusted to coat spherical alumina pellets. The annealing temperature was studied in detail. This study also focuses on the characterization of the deposits. Data obtained by XRD, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and gravimetric analyses were compared. Multiple impregnations were necessary to achieve a satisfactory deposit of the dielectric material. For Li0.10Ti0.02Ni0.88O, these sol–gel methods led to an impregnation depth of 50 μm, whereas for BaTiO3 a homogeneous deposit of only 5 μm was obtained. A special treatment with an ammonia solution was required to efficiently disperse BaTiO3. This preparation method achieved a spherical deposit of the dielectric material. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
N‐Alkylation of Ammonioundecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborate(1–) for the Preparation of Anions for Ionic Liquids
Authors: Justus Eugen , Vöge Andrea , Gabel Detlef 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDifferent N‐alkylated derivatives of ammonioundecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborate(1–), [B12H11NH3]–, were prepared. Strategies for the introduction of one alkyl chain or two equal alkyl chains and the trisubstitution by two different alkyl chains were developed. Several of the resulting salts have low melting points and are examples of a new class of ionic liquids.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Synthesis of (Hydrazonido)aluminum Complexes
Authors: Javed Saba , Hoffman David M. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractComplexes [XAl{CH2CR=NNMe2}2] {X = Cl and R = Me oriPr, X = Me and R = Me, and X = N(NMe2)[CR=CH2] and R = Me oriPr} were synthesized by salt metathesis reactions involving lithium salts of hydrazones, Li[CH2CR=NNMe2]. X‐ray crystallographic studies showed that all the complexes contain two chelating hydrazonido ligands bonding to aluminum through the methylene carbon and amine nitrogen(–NMe2). For the complexes in which X = N(NMe2)[CR=CH2] (R = Me oriPr), the N(NMe2)[CR=CH2] ligand represents a linkage isomer in which the hydrazonido ligand bonds through nitrogen rather than through carbon, thereby becoming a hydrazido ligand. In the single crystal containing [Al{CH2CiPr=NNMe2}2{N(NMe2)(CiPr=CH2)}], its isomer [Al{CH2CiPr=NNMe2}3], having two chelating hydrazonido and one monodentate hydrazonido ligands, is present 45 % of the time. In solution, the [Al{CH2CR=NNMe2}2{N(NMe2)(CR=CH2)}] (R = Me oriPr) complexes are in equilibrium with [Al{CH2CR=NNMe2}3]. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Bi16I4 – A New Bismuth Subiodide: An Analysis of Molecular Packing and Electronic Structures of the Compounds in the BimI4 (m = 14, 16, 18) Family
Authors: Lindsjö Martin , Kloo Lars , Kuznetzov Alexei , Popovkin Boris 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA new bismuth subiodide Bi16I4 was synthesized by high‐temperature synthesis. Its structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis [C2/m (No. 12), a = 25.948(6) Å, b = 4.354(1) Å, c = 13.259(3) Å, β = 104.48(2)°, Z = 2, R1 = 0.041, wRall(F2) = 0.109]. The compound belongs to the BimI4 (m = 14, 16, 18) family of low‐dimensional subhalides that feature one‐dimensional bismuth stripes of varying width, terminated by iodine atoms. Ab initio calculations at the DFT level were performed on 3D structures of all three BimI4 compounds of the family. According to the computational data all three compounds are expected to exhibit metallic behavior and Pauli paramagnetism, with a directional anisotropy of the properties indicated by the calculated band structures. The molecular packing in bismuth subiodides has been analyzed in detail and two homologous series – Bi8+4nI4 and Bi10+4nI4 (n = 0, 1, 2, ...) – are suggested to describe existing and possible structures of the compounds of the BimI4 family. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Structure and Conformational Studies of the Disaccharides Derived from the Inner Core of the Lipopolysaccharide Isolated from Sinorhizobium fredii SMH12
Authors: Fernández de Córdoba Francisco J. , Rodríguez‐Carvajal Miguel A. , Tejero‐Mateo Pilar , Gil‐Serrano Antonio M. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe structure and conformational behaviour of the core region of the lipopolysaccharide isolated from Sinorhizobium fredii SMH12, a wide‐ranging host bacterium isolated from nodulated soybean plants growing in Vietnam, have been studied. A mixture of oligosaccharides was isolated from the lipopolysaccharide by mild hydrolysis followed by size‐exclusion chromatography. The structures were determined by sugar analysis, ESI‐MS/MS and NMR studies. Conformational analysis was performed by molecular dynamics calculations and compared with the NMR spectroscopic data. The results indicate that the core oligosaccharide contains a disaccharide made up of α‐D‐glucopyranuronic acid (1→4)‐linked to D‐Kdo. In solution, this disaccharide exists as an equilibrium of three different structures. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
The process of definitive institutionalization of community dwelling demented vs non demented elderly: data obtained from a network of sentinel general practitioners
Authors: Schoenmakers Birgitte , Buntinx Frank , Devroey Dirk , Van Casteren Viviane , DeLepeleire Jan 
Published: October 2008

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between characteristics of community dwelling demented and non demented elderly and their caregivers at the moment of definitive institutionalization.MethodsThe study is a cross‐sectional analysis performed on data obtained from a Network of Sentinel General Practitioners.ResultsOlder demented patients with several concomitant diseases were mainly placed because of unmanageable behavioral disturbances. Strikingly, these dementia patients were more often confronted with a time delay in definitive institutionalization due to their high care dependence. Although burden in the dementia family caregivers was an important motivation for definitive institutionalization, it did not seem to be a motive in the final institutionalization circumstances.ConclusionsBehavioral disturbances are independently of caregiver burden, professional support, or a spousal relationship the main direct reason for institutionalization of community dwelling demented elderly. The way caregivers feel supported might play the key role in the final placement decision. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improved spatial learning in aged rats by genetic activation of protein kinase C in small groups of hippocampal neurons
Authors: Zhang Guo‐rong , Liu Meng , Cao Haiyan , Kong Lingxin , Wang Xiaodan , O'Brien Jennifer A. , Wu Shuo‐chieh , Cook Robert G. , Geller Alfred I. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractAge‐related decline in human cognition is well known, and there are correlative changes in the function of neocortical and hippocampal neurons. Similarly, age‐related decline in learning has been observed in rodents, including deficits in a hippocampal‐dependent learning paradigm, the Morris water maze. Furthermore, there are correlative deficits in specific signaling pathways, including protein kinase C (PKC) pathways, in cerebellar, hippocampal, or neocortical neurons. PKC pathways are strong candidates for mediating the molecular changes that underlie spatial learning, as they play critical roles in neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity, including long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression (LTD), and deletion of specific PKC genes results in deficits in learning. Conversely, genetic activation of PKC pathways in small groups of hippocampal or cortical neurons enhances learning in specific paradigms. In this study, the authors delivered a constitutively active PKC into small groups of hippocampal dentate granule neurons in aged rats (using a herpes simplex virus‐1 vector). Aged 2‐year‐old rats that received the constitutively active PKC displayed improved performance in the Morris water maze relative to controls in three different measures. These results indicate that PKC pathways play an important role in mediating spatial learning in aged rats. Additionally, these results represent a system for studying the neural mechanisms underlying aging‐related learning deficits, and potentially developing gene therapies for cognitive and age‐related deficits. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bilateral NMDA lesions centered on the postrhinal cortex have minimal effects on hippocampal place cell firing
Authors: Nerad Ludek , Liu Ping , Bilkey David K. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe postrhinal cortex (POR) receives input from parietal cortex and sends output to the hippocampus. It may, therefore, relay spatial information to the hippocampus and as a result, lesions of POR may disturb the spatial firing patterns of hippocampal place cells. To test this hypothesis, the firing of hippocampal CA1 place cells in rats with bilateral N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid lesions centered on the POR (n = 83 cells) and rats with sham lesions (n = 77 cells) was compared, while animals foraged freely. The main effect of postrhinal lesions on the basic firing properties of hippocampal place cells was to decrease the coherence of their firing fields. In contrast to the previously reported effects of lesions of neighboring perirhinal cortex, however, there was no effect of postrhinal lesions on the location stability of the fields over time or in the response of these cells to the animal's movement. These data indicate that information originating from the POR has relatively little influence on hippocampal place cell firing while an animal is engaged in foraging behavior. This also suggests that perirhinal and postrhinal cortices make distinct contributions to hippocampal functioning. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison and validation of MODIS standard and new combination of Terra and Aqua snow cover products in northern Xinjiang, China
Authors: Wang Xianwei , Xie Hongjie , Liang Tiangang , Huang Xiaodong 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTaking northern Xinjiang, China, as an example, this study first compares the standard MODIS Terra and Aqua snow cover classifications, and then compares the accuracy of the standard MODIS daily and 8‐day snow cover products with the new daily and multi‐day snow cover combination of MODIS Terra and Aqua observations using in situ measurements. Under clear sky in both products, the agreement of land classification from MODIS Terra and Aqua daily and 8‐day snow cover products is close to 100% for a entire water year. In contrast, the agreement of snow classification from MODIS Terra and Aqua is high only in the winter months, decreasing in the rest of the period. The high agreement mainly concentrates in land or snow‐dominated areas, and major disagreements take place in the transitions zones from snow to land. The disagreement (mainly snow–land) in the 8‐day products is higher than that in the daily products. In addition, both MODIS Terra and Aqua cloud masks tend to map more areas in the transition zones as cloud. Under clear sky conditions, the three daily products have similar accuracy of snow and land classification, and the 8‐day standard products and the multi‐day combination product also have similar accuracy of snow and land classification. This further suggests that the algorithm in the combination of Terra and Aqua snow cover products is valid. Moreover, in the actual weather/cloud conditions, the combination products from Terra and Aqua reduce cloud blockage and improve snow classification accuracy against either MODIS Terra or Aqua (51% against 44% and 34% for daily and 92% against 87% and 78% for 8‐day, respectively), although Terra snow product (daily or 8‐day) has slightly better accuracy than the Aqua snow product. The new combination products can provide better mapping of spatiotemporal variation of snow cover/glacier and for snow‐melting modeling. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activator protein 2 alpha (AP2α) suppresses 42 kDa C/CAAT enhancer binding protein α (p42C/EBPα) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Bennett Kristi L. , Romigh Todd , Arab Khelifa , Teresi Rosemary E. , Tada Yasuhiro , Eng Charis , Plass Christoph 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe tumor suppressor C/CAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) is a transcription factor involved in cell cycle control and cellular differentiation. A recent study showed that C/EBPα is frequently downregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by DNA methylation in an upstream regulatory region. Here, we investigated how DNA methylation in the upstream regulatory region disrupts the transcriptional regulation of C/EBPα in HNSCC. The results reveal that aberrant methylation correlates with methyl binding domain protein binding and repressive histone modifications. This methylated region contains previously uninvestigated AP2α binding sites. AP2α suppresses C/EBPα promoter activity and protein expression. Interestingly, silencing AP2α by shRNA increases the antiproliferative isoform of C/EBPα (p42C/EBPα). Furthermore, growth analysis revealed that these 2 isoforms yield very different proliferative properties in HNSCC. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cancer mortality in women and men who survived the siege of Leningrad (1941–1944)
Authors: Koupil Ilona , Plavinskaja Svetlana , Parfenova Nina , Shestov Dmitri B. , Danziger Phoebe Day , Vågerö Denny 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe population of Leningrad suffered from severe starvation, cold and psychological stress during the siege in World War II in 1941–1944. We investigated the long‐term effects of the siege on cancer mortality in 3,901 men and 1,429 women, born between 1910 and 1940. All study subjects were residents of St. Petersburg, formerly Leningrad, between 1975 and 1982. One third of them had experienced the siege as children, adolescents or young adults (age range, 1–31 years at the peak of starvation in 1941–1942). Associations of siege exposure with risk of death from cancer were studied using a multivariable Cox regression, stratified by gender and period of birth, adjusted for age, smoking, alcohol and social characteristics, from 1975 to 1977 (men) and 1980 to 1982, respectively (women), until the end of 2005. Women who were 10–18 years old at the peak of starvation were taller as adults (age‐adjusted difference, 1.7 cm; 95% CI, 0.5–3.0) and had a higher risk of dying from breast cancer compared with unexposed women born during the same period (age‐adjusted HR, 9.9; 95% CI, 1.1–86.5). Mortality from prostate cancer was nonsignificantly higher in exposed men. The experience of severe starvation and stress during childhood and adolescence may have long‐term effects on cancer in surviving men and women. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spindle assembly checkpoint and p53 deficiencies cooperate for tumorigenesis in mice
Authors: Chi Ya‐Hui , Ward Jerrold M. , Cheng Lily I. , Yasunaga Junichiro , Jeang Kuan‐Teh 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) guards against chromosomal missegregation during mitosis. To investigate the role of SAC in tumor development, mice heterozygously knocked out for the mitotic arrest deficient (Mad) genes Mad1 and/or Mad2 were mated with p53+/− mice. Increased tumor frequencies were reproducibly observed in Mad2+/−p53+/− (88.2%) and Mad1+/−Mad2+/−p53+/− (95.0%) mice compared with p53+/− (66.7%) mice. Moreover, 53% of Mad2+/−p53+/− mice developed lymphomas compared with 11% of p53+/− mice. By examining chromosome content, increased loss in diploidy was seen in cells from Mad2+/−p53+/− versus p53+/− mice, correlating loss of SAC function, in a p53+/− context, with increased aneuploidy and tumorigenesis. The findings here provide evidence for a cooperative role of Mad1/Mad2 and p53 genes in preventing tumor development. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Folate status in various pathophysiological conditions
Authors: Wani Nissar Ahmad , Hamid Abid , Kaur Jyotdeep 
Published: October 2008

AbstractFolate is the generic term for compounds that have vitamin activity similar to that of pteroylglutamic acid. Folate acts as a coenzyme in several single carbon transfers involved in biosynthesis of purine nucleotides and deoxythymidylic acid essential for DNA and RNA synthesis. In addition, folate provides one‐carbon unit for methylation of a wide variety of biological substances including DNA, proteins, phospholipids, and neurotransmitters, thereby regulating their function. Recent epidemiological‐clinical and experimental studies suggest the association of folate deficiency with the risk of various cancers, birth defects, and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, it is important to consider the conditions that are associated with altered folate status and their consequences. The impairment in folate status has been found in number of pathophysiological conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, alcoholism, pregnancy, neonatal growth, and during administration of some drugs. The recent advances dealing with mechanistic aspects of impaired folate status in these conditions have been discussed in this review. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(12): 834–842, 2008