bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in protein expression associated with chronic in vitro exposure of hexavalent chromium to osteoblasts and monocytes: A proteomic approach
Authors: Raghunathan Vijay Krishna , Grant M. Helen , Ellis Elizabeth M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractCr (VI) is a well‐recognized environmental toxin and carcinogen. It is known to be released from orthopedic metal implants in‐situ by biocorrosion and is speculated to play a role in periprosthetic osteolysis. It is hence essential to understand its long‐term biological effects. We have assessed the in vitro responses of osteoblasts and monocytes to chronic exposure (3 weeks) to Cr (VI), at concentrations that have been measured in patients with metal implants, using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. Cr (VI) exposure resulted in a differential time‐dependent regulation of glycolytic, stress, and cytoskeletal proteins. The proteins that have been found to be altered in expression play an essential role in normal cellular functioning such as energy metabolism, cell signaling, and proliferation. The results highlight the complex molecular changes that occur in both cell types with long‐term exposure to Cr and may be useful in establishing a series of clinically useful biomarkers to monitor long‐term use of metallic implants. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Evaluation of a silica‐containing bone graft substitute in a vertebral defect model
Authors: Kobayashi Hideo , Turner A. Simon , Seim Howard B. , Kawamoto Teruya , Bauer Thomas W. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractOrthopedic and spine surgeons are in need of supplements or replacements for autograft. We investigated the histological properties of three formulations of Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate [calcium sodium phosphosilicate putty with or without autograft and NovaBone 45S5 Bioglass particulate (NovaBone, LLC, Jacksonville, FL)] using a sheep vertebral bone void model. Bone voids were surgically created in L3, L4, and L5 in each of 22 sheep, and the voids were filled with one of the tested biomaterials or left empty as a control. Histological evaluations were performed at either: 0, 6, or 12 weeks after surgery. Undecalcified sections were digitized, and the areas of the original defect and new bone were quantified. Decalcified sections were evaluated qualitatively. Histomorphometry showed a significant increase in the amount of bone between 6 and 12 weeks in all groups, but there was no significant difference in new bone formation among the formulations or between any formulation and the empty defects. The granules of all three formulations were associated with an inflammatory reaction. Many of the particles appear to have a hollow center, and the narrow tunnel through the center of the particles was sometimes associated with acute inflammation especially at 6 weeks. These particles were also associated with chronic inflammation at both 6 and 12 weeks, although the extent of inflammation decreased between 6 and 12 weeks. The search for the optimum bone graft substitute/extender will continue. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Surface characteristics and protein adsorption on combinatorial binary Ti‐M (Cr, Al, Ni) and Al‐M (Ta, Zr) library films
Authors: Bai Zhijun , Filiaggi M. J. , Sanderson R. J. , Lohstreter L. B. , McArthur M. A. , Dahn J. R. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSystematic studies of protein adsorption onto metallic biomaterial surfaces are generally lacking. Here, combinatorial binary library films with compositional gradients of Ti1‐xCrx, Ti1‐xAlx, Ti1‐xNix and Al1‐xTax, (0 <x < 1) and Al1‐yZry (0 < y <0.5) as well as corresponding pure metal films were sputtered onto clean Si surfaces. Bulk and surface chemistry, film microstructure, and surface roughness were subsequently correlated to fibrinogen or albumin adsorption measured using a high throughput wavelength dispersive spectroscopy technique. X‐ray diffraction revealed these binary films to have crystalline phases present primarily at either extreme of the compositional library and an amorphous zone dominating along the gradient. These mirror‐like films were generally found by atomic force microscopy to have a roughness of less than 8 nm, with any relative increases in roughness consistent with the development of crystalline phases. Surface chemistry by quantitative high‐resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy differed significantly from bulk film composition as measured by electron microprobe, with TiO2 and Al2O3 preferentially forming on the binary film surfaces. Correspondingly, protein adsorption onto these films closely correlated with their surface oxide fractions. Aluminum deposited as either a constant‐composition film or as part of a binary library consistently adsorbed the least amount of albumin and fibrinogen, with alumina‐enrichment of the surface oxide correlating with this adsorption. Overall, this combinatorial materials approach coupled with high‐throughput surface analytical methods provides an efficient method of screening potential metallic biomaterials that may enable as well systematic studies of surface properties driving protein adsorption on these metal / metal oxide systems. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Evaluation of polydimethylsiloxane modification methods for cell response
Authors: Pakstis L. M. , Dunkers J. P. , Zheng A. , Vorburger T. V. , Quinn T. P. , Cicerone M. T. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractMany methods exist in the literature to modify surfaces with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins prior to cell seeding. However, there are few studies that systematically characterize and compare surface properties and cell response results among modification methods that use different bonding mechanisms. In this work, we compare cell response and physical characterization results from fibronectin or laminin attached to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer surfaces by physical adsorption, chemisorption, and covalent attachment to determine the best method to modify a deformable surface. We evaluate modification methods based on completeness and uniformity of coverage, surface roughness, and hydrophilicity of attached ECM protein. Smooth muscle cell adhesion, proliferation, morphology, and phenotype were also evaluated. We found that chemisorption methods resulted in higher amounts of protein attachment than physical adsorption and covalent bonding of the ECM proteins. Cell response to protein‐modified surfaces was similar with respect to cell adhesion, area, aspect ratio, and phenotype. When all the data are considered, the chemisorption methods, most notably silane_70, provide the best surface properties and highest cell proliferation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Chondrogenesis using mesenchymal stem cells and PCL scaffolds
Authors: Kim Hye‐Joung , Lee Jin‐Ho , Im Gun‐Il 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe tested the in vitro feasibility of porous PCL (poly(ε‐caprolactone)) as a scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and determined the effects of various surface treatments. Three porous PCL scaffold modifications were examined: (1) PCL/Pluronic F127, (2) PCL/collagen, and (3) PCL/Pluronic F127/collagen, in addition to (4) PCL‐only. MSCs (5 × 105) were seeded in PCL scaffolds of pore size 100–150 μm, and after 3 weeks of in vitro culture, MSC‐scaffolds were investigated for gross appearance, DNA amount, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, chondrogenic gene expression, and histology. Grossly, the cell‐scaffold complexes became harder, and were more easily manipulated with a forceps after 3 weeks of culture. The three surface‐treated scaffolds had higher DNA contents than did the PCL‐only scaffold, and the GAG contents in PCL/collagen and PCL/F127/collagen scaffolds were higher than those seen in the PCL‐only scaffold. Real‐time PCR showed that Sox‐9 and COL2A1 mRNA levels were remarkably elevated in PCL/collagen and PCL/F127/collagen scaffolds versus the PCL‐only scaffold. On the other hand, Col1A1 and Col10A1 mRNA levels were lower in the three modified PCL scaffolds than in the PCL‐only scaffold. Histological findings generally concurred with GAG and RT‐PCR findings, and demonstrated the affinity of PCL‐based scaffolds for MSCs and the potentials of these scaffold to induce chondrogenic differentiation. Cells showed more differentiated appearance and more abundant extracellular matrix formation in PCL/collagen and PCL/collagen/F127 scaffolds. Our findings suggest that PCL‐based porous scaffolds may be useful carriers for MSC transplantation in the cartilage tissue engineering field, and that collagen‐based surface modifications further enhance the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010
Preparation and properties of nanometer titanium dioxide/silk fibroin blend membrane
Authors: Xia Youyi , Gao Guoan , Li Yuewu 
Published: February 2009

AbstractA novel nanometer titanium dioxide (nanoTD)/silk fibroin (SF) blend membrane was prepared and characterized by AFM, FTIR, DSC, and XRD. The strength, solubility and thermal properties and the antibacterial activity of the blend membrane were then investigated. The results show that at a nanoTD/SF weight ratio of 0.1%, nanoTD particles were evenly dispersed in the blend membrane. The blend membrane exhibited a crystalline 2θ XRD peak at 21.1° and the decomposition temperature was 28.72°C higher than for a pure SF membrane. The results show that the blend membrane had higher crystallinity and better antibacterial activity and strength than a pure SF membrane, whereas its solubility was lower. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Moving targets: The dynamics of goal setting and performance
Authors: McNair‐Connolly C. J. , Watts Ted , Polutnik Lidija 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAs organizations seek ways to improve performance, reduce costs, and maximize the value created for customers and other stakeholders, they need to make sure that the dynamics embedded in their management control system—the linkages between goal setting and performance—create a natural platform for internalization of the organization's goals by the workforce. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
How strategic budgeting can control cost while improving performance
Authors: Taylor Audrey 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWhen managers focus on overall goals in making resource choices, wiser choices are made, efficiencies encouraged, and collaboration fostered. It is simple, fast, and flexible. To that end, this article presents a format for budgeting called strategic budgeting. This new budgeting format addresses the frustrations of implementing—and being held accountable for—a budget. It uses the concepts of information symmetry, mutual monitoring, and a group budget buffer (a pool that supports the funding of nonbudgeted expenditures). Strategic budgeting thus ensures that funding follows strategic intent—in other words, what actually supports a company's goals. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Racing to success by identifying key performance drivers
Authors: Paulson Gjerde Kathy A. , Hughes Susan B. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThis article focuses on ways to identify key performance drivers (KPDs) and key performance indicators (KPIs). Unfortunately, lists of KPIs published in the past often focus on one industry and assume a generic business strategy. In addition, an overemphasis on financial measures will mean that KPIs will reflect past activities rather than signaling future performance. Managers need to develop meaningful metrics for their own businesses, not use generic KPIs. This is particularly important in small and medium‐sized enterprises. How adept are you at this task? Do you know what drives net income for your organization? © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cloning and analysis of rat osteoclast inhibitory lectin gene promoter
Authors: Quan Jin‐Xing , Zheng Fang , Li Xiao‐Xia , Hu Li‐Ling , Sun Zi‐Yang , Jiao Yan‐Li , Wang Bao‐Li 
Published: February 2009

AbstractOsteoclast inhibitory lectin (OCIL) is a novel regulator of bone remodeling, however, little is known concerning how OCIL is regulated to date. In this study, approximately 4.4 kb of the 5′‐flanking sequence of rat OCIL gene was cloned into the promoter‐less reporter vector pGL3‐basic and transiently transfected into three different cell lines. The differences in the levels of luciferase activity paralleled well with the levels of OCIL mRNA expression in these cells, suggesting that the regulation of rat OCIL gene expression occurs mainly at the transcriptional level. Additional luciferase assays using a series of constructs containing unidirectionally deleted fragments showed that the construct‐1819/pGL3 (−1819 to +118) exhibited the highest luciferase activity, suggesting the presence of functional promoter in this region. The region from −4370 to −2805 might contain negative regulatory elements, while the region from −1819 to −1336 might have important positive regulatory elements that enhance OCIL transcription. Sequence analysis of the promoter revealed the absence of both TATA and CAAT boxes. However, in the proximal promoter region (−81 to +118), several potential transcription factor binding sites that may be responsible for the basal transcriptional activity of rat OCIL promoter were observed. The promoter contains several potential Sp1 binding sites, and cotransfection of a shRNA expression plasmid that knockdowns Sp1 significantly reduced OCIL promoter activity and endogenous gene expression and moreover, overexpressing Sp7, a Sp1 family member that also binds to Sp1 binding sequence, increased OCIL promoter activity and gene expression, suggesting a role of Sp1 family proteins in regulation of OCIL transcription. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 599–607, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Almost resolvable cycle systems—an analogue of Hanani triple systems
Authors: Lindner C. C. , Meszka M. , Rosa A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is the initiation of an attack on the general existence problem for almost resolvable 2k‐cycle systems. We give a complete solution for 2k=6 as well as a complete solution modulo one possible exception for 2k=10 and 14. We also show that the existence question for almost resolvable 2k‐cycle systems can be settled if we can show the existence for the two smallest possible orders 4k+1 and 8k+1. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 17: 404–410, 2009
K6‐minors in triangulations and complete quadrangulations
Authors: Mukae Raiji , Nakamoto Atsuhiro 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn this paper, we shall prove that a projective‐planar (resp., toroidal) triangulation G has K6 as a minor if and only if G has no quadrangulation isomorphic to K4 (resp., K5 ) as a subgraph. As an application of the theorems, we can prove that Hadwiger's conjecture is true for projective‐planar and toroidal triangulations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 60: 302‐312, 2009
Implications among linkage properties in graphs
Authors: Liu Qi , West Douglas B. , Yu Gexin 
Published: February 2009

AbstractGiven a graph H with vertices w1, …, wm, a graph G with at least m vertices is H‐linked if for every choice of vertices v1, …, vm in G, there is a subdivision of H in G such that vi is the branch vertex representing wi (for all i ). This concept generalizes the notions of k‐linked, k‐connected, and k‐ordered graphs. For graphs H1 and H2 with the same order that are not contained in stars, the property of being H1‐linked implies that of being H2‐linked if and only if H2⊆H1. The implication also holds when H1 is obtained from H2 by replacing an edge xy with an edge from y to a new vertex x′. Other instances of nonimplication are obtained, using a lemma that the number of vertices appearing in minimum vertex covers of a graph G is at most the vertex cover number plus the size of a maximum matching. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 60: 327‐337, 2009
Oligohis‐tags: mechanisms of binding to Ni2+‐NTA surfaces
Authors: Knecht Steven , Ricklin Daniel , Eberle Alex N. , Ernst Beat 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSince immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) was first reported, several modifications have been developed. Among them, Ni2+ immobilized by chelation with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) bound to a solid support has become the most common method for the purification of proteins carrying either a C‐ or N‐terminal histidine (His) tag. Despite its broad application in protein purification, only little is known about the binding properties of the His‐tag, and therefore almost no thermodynamic and kinetic data are available. In this study, we investigated the binding mechanism of His‐tags to Ni2+‐NTA. Different series of oligohistidines and mixed oligohistidines/oligoalanines were synthesized using automated solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Binding to Ni2+‐NTA was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using commercially available NTA sensor chips from Biacore. The hexahistidine tag shows an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 14 ± 1 nM and thus the highest affinity of the peptides synthesized in this study. Furthermore, we could demonstrate that two His separated by either one or four residues are the preferred binding motifs within hexahis tag. Finally, elongation of these referred motifs decreased affinity, probably due to increased entropy costs upon binding. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scoring ligand similarity in structure‐based virtual screening
Authors: Zavodszky Maria I. , Rohatgi Anjali , Van Voorst Jeffrey R. , Yan Honggao , Kuhn Leslie A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractScoring to identify high‐affinity compounds remains a challenge in virtual screening. On one hand, protein–ligand scoring focuses on weighting favorable and unfavorable interactions between the two molecules. Ligand‐based scoring, on the other hand, focuses on how well the shape and chemistry of each ligand candidate overlay on a three‐dimensional reference ligand. Our hypothesis is that a hybrid approach, using ligand‐based scoring to rank dockings selected by protein–ligand scoring, can ensure that high‐ranking molecules mimic the shape and chemistry of a known ligand while also complementing the binding site. Results from applying this approach to screen nearly 70 000 National Cancer Institute (NCI) compounds for thrombin inhibitors tend to support the hypothesis. EON ligand‐based ranking of docked molecules yielded the majority (4/5) of newly discovered, low to mid‐micromolar inhibitors from a panel of 27 assayed compounds, whereas ranking docked compounds by protein–ligand scoring alone resulted in one new inhibitor. Since the results depend on the choice of scoring function, an analysis of properties was performed on the top‐scoring docked compounds according to five different protein–ligand scoring functions, plus EON scoring using three different reference compounds. The results indicate that the choice of scoring function, even among scoring functions measuring the same types of interactions, can have an unexpectedly large effect on which compounds are chosen from screening. Furthermore, there was almost no overlap between the top‐scoring compounds from protein–ligand versus ligand‐based scoring, indicating the two approaches provide complementary information. Matchprint analysis, a new addition to the SLIDE (Screening Ligands by Induced‐fit Docking, Efficiently) screening toolset, facilitated comparison of docked molecules' interactions with those of known inhibitors. The majority of interactions conserved among top‐scoring compounds for a given scoring function, and from the different scoring functions, proved to be conserved interactions in known inhibitors. This was particularly true in the S1 pocket, which was occupied by all the docked compounds. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent trends of thunderstorm and hailstorm frequency and their relation to atmospheric characteristics in southwest Germany
Authors: Kunz M. , Sander J. , Kottmeier Ch. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn the context of climate change, it is of particular interest whether extreme events connected to severe thunderstorms have been increasing in number or intensity over the past few decades. Due to their small horizontal extent, such events are not entirely and uniquely captured by current observation systems. To obtain comprehensive information about the convective activity in the state of Baden‐Württemberg (southwest Germany), we analysed different datasets for the period 1974–2003. They comprise thunderstorm days detected at synoptic stations, hail damage data from a building insurance company, large‐scale circulation and weather patterns, and convective indices derived from radiosonde observations at 12:00 UTC.While the annual number of thunderstorm days remained almost unchanged in the mean, hail damage and hail days significantly increased in the last three decades. Both damage and additional radar data indicate that the majority of hail days can be attributed to three specific circulation patterns. Two of the three patterns associated with the preferable occurrence of hail show a significant increase.Most of the commonly used convective indices that depend upon surface temperature and moisture reveal a positive trend regarding both the annual extreme values and the number of days above/below specific thresholds. A relationship was established between the indices and the annual number of hail damage days, yielding correlation coefficients between 0.65 and 0.80. In contrast to this, indices derived from temperature and moisture at higher levels exhibit either a negative or no significant trend. It is shown that the trend directions of the indices may be attributed to differential temperature and moisture stratification in the various atmospheric layers. The significant positive trends of both surface temperature and water vapour can be concisely expressed by an increase in wet‐bulb potential temperature. This indicates the presence of warmer parcels throughout the whole troposphere during convection. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Growth and vibrational spectroscopic studies of strontium tartrate (C4H4O6Sr): a nonlinear optical single crystal
Authors: Krishnakumar V. , Dheivamalar S. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe nonlinear optical crystal strontium tartrate (SrT) was grown by the gel method. The vibrational spectra were recorded to determine the symmetries of molecular vibrations. The microhardness of the crystal was also tested. The observed, infrared (IR) bands were also assigned and discussed. The optical transmission spectral study was also carried out. The nonlinear property is confirmed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Density functional theory calculations and vibrational spectra of p‐bromonitrobenzene
Authors: Krishnakumar V. , Jayamani N. , Mathammal R. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractFT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra of p‐bromonitrobenzene (p‐BNB) have been recorded in the region 4000–400 cm−1 and 4000–50 cm−1, respectively. The molecular structure, geometry optimization, vibrational wavenumbers have been investigated. The spectra were interpreted with the aid of normal coordinate analysis based on the density functional theory (DFT) using the standard B3LYP/6‐31G method and basis set combination and was scaled using multiple scale factors yielding good agreement between observed and calculated wavenumbers. The results of the calculations are applied to simulate infrared and Raman spectra of the title compound which showed reasonable agreement with the observed spectra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.