bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transforming Growth Factor β Enhances Respiratory Syncytial Virus Replication and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Induction in Human Epithelial Cells
Authors: McCann Kelly L. , Imani Farhad 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACT
Asthma is characterized as a chronic inflammatory disease associated with significant tissue remodeling. Patients with asthma are more susceptible to virus-induced exacerbation, which subsequently can lead to increased rates of hospitalization and mortality. While the most common cause of asthma-related deaths is respiratory viral infections, the underlying factors in the lung environment which render asthmatic subjects more susceptible to viral exacerbation are not yet identified. Since transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a critical cytokine for lung tissue remodeling and asthma phenotype, we have focused on the effects of TGF-β on viral replication and virus-induced inflammation. Treatment of human epithelial cells with TGF-β increased respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) replication by approximately fourfold. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA and protein expression were also significantly increased above levels with RSV infection alone. The increase in RSV replication and TNF-α expression after TGF-β treatment was concomitant with an increase in virus-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Our data reveal a novel effect for TGF-β on RSV replication and provide a potential mechanism for the exaggerated inflammatory response observed in asthmatic subjects during respiratory viral infections.
A Simple Model for Pollution Dispersion in a Convective Boundary Layer
Authors: Stull Roland , Ainslie Bruce 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
A simplified model for dispersion in a convective boundary layer is presented and is used to diagnose crosswind-integrated concentrations, ground-level concentrations, and vertical plume spread over flat terrain for various release heights. The model parameterizes the long-wavelength oscillation of the time-averaged plume centerline versus downwind distance under unstable conditions, using a simple sine wave. This wave is phase shifted to account for the influence of source height and is damped toward the mid–mixed layer to account for the well-mixed end state of convective dispersion. This model represents an improvement over a previous model in two ways. First, vertical dispersion about the oscillating time-averaged centerline is parameterized using a lognormal distribution instead of a Gaussian distribution so as to give better ground-level concentration. Second, to account for the addition of surface-layer shear-generated turbulence to a convective boundary layer, the wavelength of the time-averaged oscillation is stretched as a function of the ratio of friction velocity to the Deardorff convective velocity scale. Results are tested against published laboratory, large-eddy simulation, and field data and are compared with the dispersion scheme used in the AERMOD regulatory dispersion model. In general, the simplified convective dispersion model provides close agreement with the observations and simulations. The utility of a buoyancy velocity to serve as a convection scale is also demonstrated.
Examining gender differences in the health behaviors of Canadian university students
Authors: Dawson Kimberley A , Schneider Margaret A , Fletcher Paula C , Bryden Pamela J 
Published: January 2007

The relationship between lifestyle choices and health outcomes has been an area of interest for many health professionals. Gender differences in these choices have also been an area of scrutiny. Aims: The purpose of the present investigation was to examine gender differences in the health and lifestyle behavioral choices of Canadian university students. Methods: A total of 638 (472 female and 166 male) undergraduate students were evaluated. Results: Males and females differed significantly in their responses to appraisals of general state of health, hours/day engaged in social activities, frequency of drinking alcohol, amount of alcohol consumed per session, total number of sexual partners, number of meals eaten per day, participation in physical activity, completion of annual check-ups with doctor, screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and hypertension screening. Generally, men engaged in more risky health behaviors than females (e.g. alcohol use). Conclsion: Results are discussed in terms of cultural comparisons to previous research studies evaluating college health behaviors. Suggestions are made for health professionals to incorporate gender differences in behavioral change programmes geared towards improving awareness of the consequences of lifestyle choices.
Effective graft depletion of MiHAg T-cell specificities and consequences for graft-versus-host disease
Authors: de Witte Moniek A. , Toebes Mireille , Song Ji-Ying , Wolkers Monika C. , Schumacher Ton N. M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractMinor histocompatibility antigen (MiHAg) differences between donor and recipient in MHC-matched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) often result in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). While MiHAg-specific T-cell responses can in theory be directed against a large number of polymorphic differences between donor and recipient, in practice, T-cell responses against only a small set of MiHAgs appear to dominate the immune response, and it has been suggested that immunodominance may predict an important contribution to the development of GVHD. Here, we addressed the feasibility of graft engineering by ex vivo removal of T cells with 1 or more defined antigen specificities in a well-characterized experimental HSCT model (B6 → BALB.B). We demonstrate that immunodominant H60- and H4-specific CD8+ T-cell responses can be effectively suppressed through MHC class I tetramer–mediated purging of the naive CD8+ T cell repertoire. Importantly, the development of GVHD occurs unimpeded upon suppression of the immunodominant MiHAg-specific T-cell response. These data indicate that antigen-specific graft engineering is feasible, but that parameters other than immunodominance may be required to select T-cell specificities that are targeted for removal.
The alternative sigma factor SigB of Corynebacterium glutamicum modulates global gene expression during transition from exponential growth to stationary phase
Authors: Larisch Christof , Nakunst Diana , Hüser Andrea T , Tauch Andreas , Kalinowski Jörn 
Published: January 2007

Abstract

Background

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a gram-positive soil bacterium widely used for the industrial production of amino acids. There is great interest in the examination of the molecular mechanism of transcription control. One of these control mechanisms are sigma factors. C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 has seven putative sigma factor-encoding genes, including sigA and sigB. The sigA gene encodes the essential primary sigma factor of C. glutamicum and is responsible for promoter recognition of house-keeping genes. The sigB gene codes for the non-essential sigma factor SigB that has a proposed role in stress reponse.

Results
The sigB gene expression was highest at transition between exponential growth and stationary phase, when the amount of sigA mRNA was already decreasing. Genome-wide transcription profiles of the wild-type and the sigB mutant were recorded by comparative DNA microarray hybridizations. The data indicated that the mRNA levels of 111 genes are significantly changed in the sigB-proficient strain during the transition phase, whereas the expression profile of the sigB-deficient strain showed only minor changes (26 genes). The genes that are higher expressed during transition phase only in the sigB-proficient strain mainly belong to the functional categories amino acid metabolism, carbon metabolism, stress defense, membrane processes, and phosphorus metabolism. The transcription start points of six of these genes were determined and the deduced promoter sequences turned out to be indistinguishable from that of the consensus promoter recognized by SigA. Real-time reverse transcription PCR assays revealed that the expression profiles of these genes during growth were similar to that of the sigB gene itself. In the sigB mutant, however, the transcription profiles resembled that of the sigA gene encoding the house-keeping sigma factor.

Conclusion
During transition phase, the sigB gene showed an enhanced expression, while simultaneously the sigA mRNA decreased in abundance. This might cause a replacement of SigA by SigB at the RNA polymerase core enzyme and in turn results in increased expression of genes relevant for the transition and the stationary phase, either to cope with nutrient limitation or with the accompanying oxidative stress. The increased expression of genes encoding anti-oxidative or protection functions also prepares the cell for upcoming limitations and environmental stresses.
Quantitative analysis of Nipah virus proteins released as virus-like particles reveals central role for the matrix protein
Authors: Patch Jared R , Crameri Gary , Wang Lin-Fa , Eaton Bryan T , Broder Christopher C 
Published: January 2007

Abstract

Background

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging paramyxovirus distinguished by its ability to cause fatal disease in both animal and human hosts. Together with Hendra virus (HeV), they comprise the genus Henipavirus in the Paramyxoviridae family. NiV and HeV are also restricted to Biosafety Level-4 containment and this has hampered progress towards examining details of their replication and morphogenesis. Here, we have established recombinant expression systems to study NiV particle assembly and budding through the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs).

Results
When expressed by recombinant Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA) or plasmid transfection, individual NiV matrix (M), fusion (F) and attachment (G) proteins were all released into culture supernatants in a membrane-associated state as determined by sucrose density gradient flotation and immunoprecipitation. However, co-expression of F and G along with M revealed a shift in their distribution across the gradient, indicating association with M in VLPs. Protein release was also altered depending on the context of viral proteins being expressed, with F, G and nucleocapsid (N) protein reducing M release, and N release dependent on the co-expression of M. Immunoelectron microscopy and density analysis revealed VLPs that were similar to authentic virus. Differences in the budding dynamics of NiV proteins were also noted between rMVA and plasmid based strategies, suggesting that over-expression by poxvirus may not be appropriate for studying the details of recombinant virus particle assembly and release.

Conclusion
Taken together, the results indicate that NiV M, F, and G each possess some ability to bud from expressing cells, and that co-expression of these viral proteins results in a more organized budding process with M playing a central role. These findings will aid our understanding of paramyxovirus particle assembly in general and could help facilitate the development of a novel vaccine approach for henipaviruses.
Neuromuscular deterioration in the early stage of sepsis in rats
Authors: Cankayali Ilkin , Dogan Yusuf Hakan , Solak Ilhami , Demirag Kubilay , Eris Oguz , Demirgoren Serdar , Moral Ali Resat 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Introduction
Critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) is a clinical condition frequently seen in patients being treated in critical care units in the final stage of sepsis. The etiopathology of CIP is still unclear, and the onset time of appearance of the electrophysiological findings has not been elucidated. The very little research that has been carried out on this topic is limited to clinical electrophysiological and histopathological studies. In this study, electrophysiological alterations in the early stage of experimentally induced sepsis were investigated in septic rats.

Methods
We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled experimental study in an animal basic science laboratory with 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200 to 250 g. All of the rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the sepsis group (n = 20), cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was performed to induce experimental sepsis. In the sham-operated group (n = 10), laparotomy without CLP was performed. Before and 24 hours after CLP and laparotomy, the right sciatic nerve was stimulated from the sciatic notch and compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were recorded from the gastrocnemius muscle. Recordings of latency, amplitude, and duration of the CMAP were evaluated.

Results
CMAP durations before and 24 hours after surgery were 0.45 ± 0.05 ms and 0.48 ± 0.05 ms, respectively, in the sham-operated group and 0.46 ± 0.05 ms and 0.55 ± 0.01 ms, respectively, in the sepsis group. Latency measurements in the sham-operated group were 0.078 ± 0.010 ms and 0.080 ± 0.015 ms, respectively, whereas measurements were found to be prolonged in the sepsis group: 0.094 ± 0.015 ms and 0.149 ± 0.054 ms before and 24 hours after surgery, respectively (p < 0.05). CMAP amplitudes in the sham-operated group before and 24 hours after surgery were 8.41 ± 0.79 mV and 8.28 ± 1.92 mV, respectively, whereas in the sepsis group the amplitude measurements decreased to 7.60 ± 1.75 mV and 4.87 ± 3.44 mV, respectively (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
The results of the study indicate that electrophysiological alterations appear in the first 24 hours after experimental sepsis and are characterized by an increase in latency and a decrease in CMAP amplitude. The results also suggest that electrophysiological findings seen in patients with CIP might appear before clinical signs of CIP.
Normalization of boutique two-color microarrays with a high proportion of differentially expressed probes
Authors: Oshlack Alicia , Emslie Dianne , Corcoran Lynn M , Smyth Gordon K 
Published: January 2007

AbstractNormalization is critical for removing systematic variation from microarray data. For two-color microarray platforms, intensity-dependent lowess normalization is commonly used to correct relative gene expression values for biases. Here we outline a normalization method for use when the assumptions of lowess normalization fail. Specifically, this can occur when specialized boutique arrays are constructed that contain a subset of genes selected to test particular biological functions.
GENECODIS: a web-based tool for finding significant concurrent annotations in gene lists
Authors: Carmona-Saez Pedro , Chagoyen Monica , Tirado Francisco , Carazo Jose M , Pascual-Montano Alberto 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWe present GENECODIS, a web-based tool that integrates different sources of information to search for annotations that frequently co-occur in a set of genes and rank them by statistical significance. The analysis of concurrent annotations provides significant information for the biologic interpretation of high-throughput experiments and may outperform the results of standard methods for the functional analysis of gene lists. GENECODIS is publicly available at http://genecodis.dacya.ucm.es/.
Knowledge and Explanation
Authors: Jenkins C. S. 
Published: January 2007

Craig (1990) casts doubt upon the project of trying to give the traditional sort of necessary and sufficient conditions for A knows that p. He interprets the inadequacy of existing analyses of knowledge as evidence that our concept of knowledge is complex and diffuse, and concludes that we should aim to understand it by thinking about the rôle the concept plays in our lives, rather than by trying to find necessary and sufficient conditions for the truth of knowledge ascriptions.There is surely something right about Craig's view: we are unlikely to succeed in any attempt to analyse away the intricacies in our concept of knowledge. We cannot realistically hope to uncover a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for A knows that p which are in all cases either clearly satisfied or clearly not satisfied. Nor, I suspect, is it possible to offer necessary and sufficient conditions for knowledge which are widely accepted as being more securely understood than knowledge itself.
Probing Lithium and Alumina Impurities in Air- and Water Stable Ionic Liquids by Cyclic Voltammetry and In Situ Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
Authors: Endres Frank , El Abedin Sherif Zein , Borissenko Natalia 
Published: January 2007

In this paper we report on some results on the electrochemical breakdown of ionic liquids at the cathodic limit of the electrochemical window and on the probing of inorganic impurities in ionic liquids (originating from the synthesis) at the interface electrode/electrolyte by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy on Au(111). It will be shown that the restructuring/reconstruction of Au(111) in ultrapure 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([Py1,4]Tf2N) leads to a transition from a wormlike surface structure to a surface with well defined terraces. Close to the cathodic decomposition of the liquid the quality of the STM pictures gets worse and at the onset of massive ionic liquid breakdown a film forms on the gold surface finally shielding completely the gold terraces. When the [Py1,4]Tf2N liquid, made by a metathesis reaction from [Py1,4]Cl and LiTf2N, is not thoroughly washed after the synthesis, the in situ STM pictures show in a wide potential range the same surface structures as with the ultrapure liquid, but in the cathodic regime the deposition of lithium in only a few monolayers is observed. In the respective cyclic voltammograms on Au(111) there is clear evidence for lithium deposition.
We show furthermore that a spectroscopically ultrapure 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ionic liquid ([EMIm]Tf2N) can show unexpected behaviour at the electrode/electrolyte interface when after synthesis it is subject to an Al2O3 treatment with the aim to remove organic impurities. Al2O3 seems to be dissolved in the ionic liquid in low concentrations and deposited at the electrode surface. At lower electrode potentials the alumina seems to be reduced to metallic aluminium. Our results show that even ultrapure ionic liquids can contain inorganic impurities which are very difficult to probe with conventional analytical methods. Better synthesis routes will be necessary to make ultrapure ionic liquids for fundamental physicochemical studies.
Wide‐Diameter Implants: Analysis of Clinical Outcome of 304 Fixtures
Authors: Degidi Marco , Piattelli Adriano , Iezzi Giovanna , Carinci Francesco 
Published: January 2007

Background: In the last decade, the use of wide‐diameter implants (WDIs; diameter >3.75 mm) has increased. Although good clinical outcomes have been reported in recent literature, there are few reports on this topic. Thus, we planned a retrospective study on a large series of WDIs to evaluate the clinical outcome.Methods: From October of 1996 to December of 2004, 205 patients were operated on, and 304 WDIs were inserted. The mean postloading follow‐up was 30 months. Implant diameter and length ranged from 5.0 to 6.5 mm and from 8.0 to 15 mm, respectively. Because only five of 304 implants were lost (i.e., a survival rate of 98.4%) and no statistical differences were detected among the studied variables, no or reduced crestal bone resorption (CBR) was considered an indicator of success to evaluate the effect of several host‐, surgery‐, and implant‐related factors. A general linear model (GLM) was performed to detect variables that were associated statistically with CBR.Results: Only five of 304 WDIs were lost, and no differences were detected among the studied variables. On the contrary, the GLM showed that distal teeth (i.e., premolars and molars), small implant diameter (i.e., 5.0 and 5.5 mm), and short implant length (i.e., <13 mm) correlated with a statistically significant lower CBR.Conclusion: The use of WDIs is a viable treatment option, and it may provide benefits in posterior regions for long‐term maintenance of various implant‐supported prosthetic rehabilitations.
Gingival Crevicular Fluid Prostaglandin E2 and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance Levels in Smokers and Non‐Smokers With Chronic Periodontitis Following Phase I Periodontal Therapy and Adjunctive Use of Flurbiprofen
Authors: Kurtiş Bülent , Tüter Gülay , Serdar Muhittin , Pınar Selin , Demirel İlkim , Toyman Utku 
Published: January 2007

Background: It has been established that smoking is an important risk factor for the initiation and progression of chronic periodontitis (CP). This study investigates the effects of phase I periodontal therapy and adjunctive flurbiprofen administration on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples from smoker and non‐smoker patients with CP.Methods: Twenty‐one non‐smoker and 21 smoker patients with CP were divided into four groups according to treatment modalities. Group 1 (non‐smokers with CP) and group 3 (smokers with CP) patients received daily 100‐mg flurbiprofen tablets in a 2 × 1 regimen for 10 days together with scaling and root planing (SRP). Patients in group 2 (non‐smokers with CP) and group 4 (smokers with CP) received placebo tablets in a 2 × 1 regimen for 10 days together with SRP. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) measurements were recorded and GCF samples were collected at baseline and on day 10 of drug intake from each sampling area by a single examiner who was unaware of the treatment modality. Assays for GCF PGE2 and TBARS were carried out by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and fluorometric method, respectively.Results: All groups showed statistically significant reductions in PI and GI scores following the phase I periodontal treatment on day 10 (P <0.05), but no statistical differences were observed in PD and CAL scores after the therapy. In groups 1 and 2, the reduction of GCF PGE2 and TBARS levels were not significant after the therapy compared to baseline levels. In group 3, GCF PGE2 and TBARS levels exhibited a statistically significant decrease (P <0.05) after the therapy. Group 4 showed significant reductions (P <0.05) in GCF PGE2 levels after the therapy. No statistically significant reductions were observed in group 4 with regard to GCF TBARS levels. When groups 1 and 3 were compared according to GCF TBARS levels after the therapy, a more statistically significant reduction was observed in group 3 (P = 0.001).Conclusion: These results suggest that additional flurbiprofen administration may have more inhibitory effects on GCF levels of PGE2 and TBARS in the groups of smokers compared to non‐smokers with CP.
Inside Front Cover: Field‐Driven Biofunctionalization of Polymer Fiber Surfaces during Electrospinning (Adv. Mater. 1/2007)
Authors: Sun X.‐Y. , Shankar R. , Börner H. G. , Ghosh T. K. , Spontak R. J. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractSurface‐biofunctionalized synthetic polymer fibers composed of a fiber‐forming host polymer and an oligopeptide conjugate can be prepared from electrospinning, report Spontak and co‐workers on p. 87. The conjugate consists of a polypeptide segment and a polymer block that is compatible with the host polymer. Because the more polarizable peptide segment migrates to the surface during electrospinning, peptide surface‐enrichment is achieved in a single step without further treatment.