bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lung transplantation in scleroderma compared with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Schachna Lionel , Medsger Thomas A. , Dauber James H. , Wigley Fredrick M. , Braunstein Neil A. , White Barbara , Steen Virginia D. , Conte John V. , Yang Stephen C. , McCurry Kenneth R. , Borja Marvin C. , Plaskon David E. , Orens Jonathan B. , Gelber Allan C. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjectiveLung transplantation is a viable, life‐saving intervention for several primary pulmonary disorders complicated by severe lung dysfunction. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), a systemic autoimmune rheumatic disorder, would receive similar benefit from this intervention.MethodsSurvival following lung transplantation was examined at 2 university medical centers among 29 patients with scleroderma as compared with 70 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 38 with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), the latter groups representing pathologically related primary pulmonary disorders. The end point was death from any cause. Risk of mortality in patients with scleroderma was compared with that in patients with IPF or IPAH, with adjustment for demographic and clinical parameters.ResultsDuring 2 years of followup, 11 patients with scleroderma (38%), 23 with IPF (33%), and 14 with IPAH (37%) died. Cumulative survival at 6 months posttransplantation was 69% in the scleroderma group compared with 80% in the IPF group (log‐rankP= 0.21) and 79% in the IPAH group (P= 0.38). The estimated risk of mortality at 6 months was increased in patients with scleroderma compared with those with IPF (relative risk [RR] 1.70, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.74–3.93) and those with IPAH (RR 1.52, 95% CI 0.59–3.96), but the differences were not statistically significant. Over the following 18 months, there was convergence in the survival rates such that cumulative survival at 2 years was comparable, at ∼64%, among all 3 groups.ConclusionPatients with scleroderma who are recipients of lung transplantation experience similar rates of survival 2 years after the procedure compared with those with IPF or IPAH. Lung transplantation may represent a viable therapeutic option to consider for patients with end‐stage lung disease due to scleroderma.
A novel autoantigen to differentiate limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis from diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: The interferon‐inducible gene IFI16
Authors: Mondini Michele , Vidali Matteo , Andrea Marco De , Azzimonti Barbara , Airò Paolo , D'Ambrosio Roberta , Riboldi Piersandro , Meroni Pier Luigi , Albano Emanuele , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Gariglio Marisa , Landolfo Santo 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the presence and clinical significance of autoantibodies against the interferon‐inducible gene IFI16 in systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other autoimmune diseases.MethodsImmunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate the expression of IFI16 in skin biopsy specimens obtained from patients with SSc and patients with SLE. Levels of antibodies against IFI16 in sera from 82 patients with SSc and 100 patients with SLE were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Other autoimmune diseases such as primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic urticaria, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were also examined.ResultsExpression of IFI16 was greatly increased and was ubiquitous in all layers of the epidermis and in the dermal inflammatory infiltrates of lesional skin from both patients with SLE and patients with SSc. Patients with SLE, those with primary SS, and those with SSc exhibited significantly higher anti‐IFI16 IgG antibody levels compared with normal controls (for SLE, P < 0.002; for primary SS, P < 0.001; for SSc, P < 0.0005). Anti‐IFI16 titers above the ninety‐fifth percentile for control subjects were observed in 26% of the patients with SLE, 50% of those with primary SS, and 21% of those with SSc (28% of patients with limited cutaneous SSc [lcSSc] versus 4% of patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc [dcSSc]). In contrast, the prevalence of anti‐IFI16 was 4% in patients with RA, 5% in those with chronic urticaria, and 13% in those with HCV infection.ConclusionThe results of this study provide evidence that an IFN‐inducible gene, IFI16, may be involved in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of connective tissue disorders such as SSc. Moreover, a strict correlation with lcSSc was also demonstrated, thus providing a novel tool in the differential diagnosis of lcSSc from dcSSc.
Optimal replenishment policy for imperfect quality EMQ model with rework and backlogging
Authors: Wang Chiu Singa 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThis paper derives the optimal replenishment policy for imperfect quality economic manufacturing quantity (EMQ) model with rework and backlogging. The classic EMQ model assumes that all items produced are of perfect quality. However, in real‐life manufacturing settings, generation of imperfect quality items is almost inevitable. In this study, a random defective rate is assumed. All items produced are inspected and the defective items are classified as scrap and repairable. A rework process is involved in each production run when regular manufacturing process ends, and a rate of failure in repair is also assumed. Unit disposal cost and unit repairing and holding costs are included in our mathematical modelling and analysis. The renewal reward theorem is employed in this study to cope with the variable cycle length. The optimal replenishment policy in terms of lot‐size and backlogging level that minimizes expected overall costs for the proposed imperfect quality EMQ model is derived. Special cases of the model are identified and discussed. Numerical example is provided to demonstrate its practical usage. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of the hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate fibers by a hydrolase from Fusarium oxysporum LCH I and Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi
Authors: Nimchua Thidarat , Punnapayak Hunsa , Zimmermann Wolfgang 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers by two fungal hydrolases was investigated. The hydrolase from a newly isolated Fusarium oxysporum strain (LCH 1) was more efficient in releasing terephthalic acid from PET fibers compared to the enzyme from F. solani f. sp. pisi DSM 62420 when equal amounts of p‐nitrophenyl butyrate‐hydrolyzing activity were employed. PET fabrics treated under the same conditions with the enzyme from F. oxysporum LCH 1 also showed a considerably higher increase in hydrophilicity compared to fabrics treated with the enzyme from F. solani f. sp. pisi DSM 62420.
Bioreactor technology: A novel industrial tool for high‐tech production of bioactive molecules and biopharmaceuticals from plant roots
Authors: Sivakumar Ganapathy 
Published: November 2006

AbstractPlants are the richest source for different bioactive molecules. Because of the vast number of side effects associated with synthetic pharmaceuticals, medical biotechnologists turned to nature to provide new promising therapeutic molecules from plant biofactories. The large‐scale availability of the disease‐ and pesticide‐free raw material is, however, restricted in vivo. Many bioactive plant secondary metabolites are accumulated in roots. Engineered plants can also produce human therapeutic proteins. Vaccines and diagnostic monoclonal antibodies can be won from their roots, so that engineered plants hold immense potential for the biopharmaceutical industry. To obtain sufficient amounts of the plant bioactive molecules for application in human therapy, adventitious and hairy roots have to be cultured in in vitro systems. High‐tech pilot‐scale bioreactor technology for the establishment of a long‐term adventitious root culture from biopharmaceutical plants has recently been established. In this review, I briefly discuss a technology for cultivating bioactive molecule‐rich adventitious and hairy roots from plants using a high‐tech bioreactor system, as well as the principles and application of genome‐restructuring mechanisms for plant‐based biopharmaceutical production from roots. High‐tech bioreactor‐derived bioactive phytomolecules and biopharmaceuticals hold the prospect of providing permanent remedies for improving human well‐being.
Impact of denaturation with urea on recombinant apolipoprotein A‐IMilano ion‐exchange adsorption: Equilibrium uptake behavior and protein mass transfer kinetics
Authors: Hunter Alan K. , Suda Eric J. , Das Tapan K. , Shell Robert E. , Herberg John T. , Ramasubramanyan Natraj , Gustafson Mark E. , Ho Sa V. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractWe have studied the equilibrium uptake behavior and mass transfer rate of recombinant apolipoprotein A‐IMilano (apo A‐IM) on Q Sepharose HP under non‐denaturing, partially denaturing, and fully denaturing conditions. The protein of interest in this study is composed of amphipathic α helices that serve to solubilize and transport lipids. The dual nature of this molecule leads to the formation of micellar‐like structures and self association in solution. Under non‐denaturing conditions equilibrium uptake is 134 mg/mL media and the isotherm is essentially rectangular. When fully denatured with 6 M urea, the equilibrium binding capacity decreases to 25 mg/mL media and the isotherm becomes less favorable. The decrease in both binding affinity and media capacity when the protein is completely denatured with 6 M urea can be explained by the loss of all alpha helical structure. The rate of apo A‐IM mass transfer on Q Sepharose HP was characterized using a macropore diffusion model. Results of modeling studies indicate that effective pore diffusivity increases from 4.5 x 10–9 cm2/s in the absence of urea to 6.0 x 10–8 cm2/s when apo A‐IM is fully denatured with 6 M urea. Based on light‐scattering data reported for apo A‐I, protein self association appears to be the dominant cause of slow protein mass transfer observed under non‐denaturing conditions.
Utilization of renewables for lactic acid fermentation
Authors: Venus Joachim 
Published: November 2006

AbstractOriginally, lactic acid was produced from pure substrates like glucose. Increasingly, however, agricultural feedstocks such as grains and green biomass are also being used as raw materials for the biotechnological production of lactic acid. A high‐productivity lactic acid bacterium strain was selected, process parameters were optimized for the batch fermentation on a laboratory scale, and its performance at cultivation on a barley hydrolysate medium together with different supplements was examined. The present results for the cultivation of the Lactobacillus paracasei on complex nutrient broth are in the same range as those for another strain of the same species with pure glucose, de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe medium (MRS) minerals, peptone and yeast extract. Under these conditions, this strain was able to accumulate more than 100 g lactate/L in the MRS medium. Medium optimization experiments showed that the main part of the nitrogen‐containing nutrients in the medium (peptone, yeast extract) can be replaced by protein extracts from green biomass (lucerne green juice). The green juice after pressing fresh biomass contains a series of nitrogen‐containing compounds and inorganic salts, which are essential for cell growth. Thus, on laboratory scale, we have demonstrated that it is possible to substitute synthetic nutrients by renewable resources like cereals and green biomass without any loss of productivity. This high biomass concentration together with the number of living cells could increase the productivity to higher levels compared to the well‐adapted synthetic nutrients of MRS.
Engineered blood and lymphatic capillaries in 3‐D VEGF‐fibrin‐collagen matrices with interstitial flow
Authors: Helm Cara‐Lynn E. , Zisch Andreas , Swartz Melody A. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractIn vitro endothelial cell organization into capillaries is a long standing challenge of tissue engineering. We recently showed the utility of low level interstitial flow in guiding the organization of endothelial cells through a 3‐D fibrin matrix‐containing covalently bound vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Here this synergistic phenomenon was extended to explore the effects of matrix composition on in vitro capillary morphogenesis of human blood versus lymphatic endothelial cells (BECs and LECs). Different mixtures of fibrin and collagen were used in conjunction with constant concentrations of matrix‐bound VEGF and slow interstitial flow over 10 days. Interestingly, the BECs and LECs each showed a distinct preference in terms of organization for matrix composition: LECs organized the most extensively in a fibrin‐only matrix, while BEC organization was optimized in the compliant collagen‐containing matrices. Furthermore, the BECs and LECs produced architecturally different structures; while BECs organized in thick, branched networks containing wide lumen, the LECs were elongated into slender, overlapping networks with fine lumen. These data demonstrate the importance of the 3‐D matrix composition in facilitating and coordinating BEC and LEC capillary morphogenesis, which is important for in vitro vascularization of engineered tissues. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96: 167–176. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Molecular simulation of protein aggregation
Authors: Bratko Dusan , Cellmer Troy , Prausnitz John M. , Blanch Harvey W. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractComputer simulation offers unique possibilities for investigating molecular‐level phenomena difficult to probe experimentally. Drawing from a wealth of studies concerning protein folding, computational studies of protein aggregation are emerging. These studies have been successful in capturing aspects of aggregation known from experiment and are being used to refine experimental methods aimed at abating aggregation. Here we review molecular‐simulation studies of protein aggregation conducted in our laboratory. Specific attention is devoted to issues with implications for biotechnology. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96: 1–8. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tetrabromocinnamic Acid (TBCA) and Related Compounds Represent a New Class of Specific Protein Kinase CK2 Inhibitors
Authors: Pagano Mario A. , Poletto Giorgia , Di Maira Giovanni , Cozza Giorgio , Ruzzene Maria , Sarno Stefania , Bain Jenny , Elliott Matthew , Moro Stefano , Zagotto Giuseppe , Meggio Flavio , Pinna Lorenzo A. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAbnormally high constitutive activity of protein kinase CK2, levels of which are elevated in a variety of tumours, is suspected to underlie its pathogenic potential. The most widely employed CK2 inhibitor is 4,5,6,7‐tetrabromobenzotriazole (TBB), which exhibits a comparable efficacy toward another kinase, DYRK1 a. Here we describe the development of a new class of CK2 inhibitors, conceptually derived from TBB, which have lost their potency toward DYRK1 a. In particular, tetrabromocinnamic acid (TBCA) inhibits CK2 five times more efficiently than TBB (IC50 values 0.11 and 0.56 μM, respectively), without having any comparable effect on DYRK1 a (IC50 24.5 μM) or on a panel of 28 protein kinases. The usefulness of TBCA for cellular studies has been validated by showing that it reduces the viability of Jurkat cells more efficiently than TBB through enhancement of apoptosis. Collectively taken, the reported data support the view that suitably derivatized tetrabromobenzene molecules may provide powerful reagents for dissecting the cellular functions of CK2 and counteracting its pathogenic potentials.
Learning from Directed Evolution: Further Lessons from Theoretical Investigations into Cooperative Mutations in Lipase Enantioselectivity
Authors: Reetz Manfred T. , Puls Michael , Carballeira José Daniel , Vogel Andreas , Jaeger Karl‐Erich , Eggert Thorsten , Thiel Walter , Bocola Marco , Otte Nikolaj 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAn earlier experimental study, which involved the directed evolution of enantioselective lipase variants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as catalysts in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of 2‐methyl‐decanoic acid p‐nitrophenyl ester, provided a mutant with six mutations. Consequently, the selectivity factor was found to increase from E=1.1 for the wild‐type to E=51 for the best mutant. Only one of the amino acid exchanges in this mutant was found to occur next to the binding pocket, the other mutations being remote. Our previous theoretical analysis with molecular‐dynamics simulations helped to unveil the source of enhanced enantioselectivity: a relay mechanism that involves two of the six mutations was shown to induce strong cooperativity. In this investigation, single, double, and triple mutants were constructed and tested as enantioselective catalysts. This study supports our original postulate regarding the relay mechanism, offers further mechanistic insight into the role of individual mutations, and provides mutants that display even higher enantioselectivity (E of up to 64).
An Unexpected New Optimum in the Structure Space of DNA Solubilizing Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Vogel Stephanie R. , Kappes Manfred M. , Hennrich Frank , Richert Clemens 
Published: November 2006

AbstractHere we report quantitative data on the amount of single‐walled carbon nanotubes that can be suspended with oligodeoxynucleotides in aqueous buffer, together with rate constants for the thermal denaturation of the resulting DNA‐nanotube complexes at elevated temperatures. Sequence motifs d(GT)n and d(AC)n with n=2, 3, 5, 10, 20, or 40 were employed, both individually and as equimolar mixtures of the complementary strands. Unexpectedly, the greatest suspending efficiency was found for the mixture of short, complementary oligonucleotides d(GT)3 and d(AC)3. Unlike the suspending efficiency, the kinetic stability of the nanotube suspensions increases with increasing chain length of the DNA, with half life times of >25 h at 90 °C for the complexes of the longest strands. Our results identify a new, unexpected optimum in DNA sequence space for suspending carbon nanotubes. They also demonstrate that suspending power depends on the presence of complementary strands. Exploratory assays suggest that nanotubes can be deposited site‐selectively from suspensions formed with short DNA sequences.
Tuning of the Structures of Chiral Phosphane‐Phosphites: Application to the Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of α‐Acyloxy Phosphonates by Catalytic Hydrogenation
Authors: Rubio Miguel , Vargas Sergio , Suárez Andrés , Álvarez Eleuterio , Pizzano Antonio 
Published: November 2006

AbstractA family of new chiral phosphane‐phosphites 5 has been prepared and employed in the synthesis of rhodium complexes of formulation [Rh(cod)(5)]BF4 (7). The use of bulky phosphane or phosphite groups in the preparation of 7 avoids the formation of undesired disubstituted complexes, one of which (9 a) has been isolated and characterized. Ligands 5 display important differences from the bulkier phosphane‐phosphites 1: complexes 7—unlike their rigid [Rh(cod)(1)]BF4 counterparts—show fluxional behaviour in solution, consistent with backbone oscillation around the coordination plane. A detailed screening of ligands 1 and 5 in catalytic asymmetric hydrogenations of enol phosphonates 12 demonstrated a critical influence of the steric characteristics of the phosphane‐phosphite in the course of the reaction, and optimization of the two phosphorus functionalities resulted in the production of versatile and efficient catalysts for this class of hydrogenations: enantioselectivities of up to 98 % ee were thus obtained with substrates bearing an alkyl substituent in the β‐position, while for their challenging aryl counterparts values of up to 92 % ee were achieved. The coordination mode of phosphonate 12 a towards a Rh phosphane‐phosphite fragment has also been investigated and a preference of the olefin fragment to occupy the position cis to the phosphite group has been observed. From this observation an interpretation of the configurations of the hydrogenated phosphonates has also been made.
Synthetic, Structural, and Theoretical Investigations of Alkali Metal Germanium Hydrides—Contact Molecules and Separated Ions
Authors: Teng Weijie , Allis Damian G. , Ruhlandt‐Senge Karin 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe preparation of a series of crown ether ligated alkali metal (M=K, Rb, Cs) germyl derivatives M(crown ether)nGeH3 through the hydrolysis of the respective tris(trimethylsilyl)germanides is reported. Depending on the alkali metal and the crown ether diameter, the hydrides display either contact molecules or separated ions in the solid state, providing a unique structural insight into the geometry of the obscure GeH3− ion. Germyl derivatives displaying MGe bonds in the solid state are of the general formula [M([18]crown‐6)(thf)GeH3] with M=K (1) and M=Rb (4). The compounds display an unexpected geometry with two of the GeH3 hydrogen atoms closely approaching the metal center, resulting in a partially inverted structure. Interestingly, the lone pair at germanium is not pointed towards the alkali metal, rather two of the three hydrides are approaching the alkali metal center to display MH interactions. Separated ions display alkali metal cations bound to two crown ethers in a sandwich‐type arrangement and non‐coordinated GeH3− ions to afford complexes of the type [M(crown ether)2][GeH3] with M=K, crown ether=[15]crown‐5 (2); M=K, crown ether=[12]crown‐4 (3); and M=Cs, crown ether=[18]crown‐6 (5). The highly reactive germyl derivatives were characterized by using X‐ray crystallography, 1H and 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) and second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) calculations were performed to analyze the geometry of the GeH3− ion in the contact molecules 1 and 4.
Coordination Chemistry of a Kinetically Stabilized Germabenzene: Syntheses and Properties of Stable η6‐Germabenzene Complexes Coordinated to Transition Metals
Authors: Tokitoh Norihiro , Nakata Norio , Shinohara Akihiro , Takeda Nobuhiro , Sasamori Takahiro 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe first stable η6‐germabenzene complexes, that is, [M(CO)3(η6‐C5H5GeTbt)] {M = Cr (2), Mo (3), and W (4); Tbt = 2,4,6‐tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl}, have been synthesized by ligand‐exchange reactions between [M(CO)3(CH3CN)3] (M = Cr, Mo, and W) and the kinetically stabilized germabenzene 1 and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, IR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. In the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of 2–4, all of the signals for the germabenzene rings were shifted upfield relative to their counterparts in the free germabenzene 1. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of 2 and 4 revealed that the germabenzene ligand was nearly planar and was coordinated to the M(CO)3 group (M = Cr, W) in an η6 fashion. The formation of complexes 2–4 from germabenzene 1 should be noted as the application of germaaromatics as 6π‐electron ligands toward complexation with Group 6 metals. On the other hand, treatment of 1 with [{RuCp*Cl}4] (Cp* = C5Me5) in THF afforded a novel η5‐germacyclohexadienido complex of ruthenium—[RuCp*{η5‐C5H5GeTbt(Cl)}] (9)—instead of the expected η6‐germabenzene‐ruthenium cationic complex [RuCp*{η6‐C5H5GeTbt}]Cl (10). Crystallographic structural analysis of 9 showed that the five carbon atoms of the germacyclohexadienido ligand of 9 were coordinated to the Ru center in an η5 fashion.