bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A convenient plasmid system for construction of helper‐dependent adenoviral vectors and its application for analysis of the breast‐cancer‐specific mammaglobin promoter
Authors: Shi Chang‐Xin , Graham Frank L. , Hitt Mary M. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackgroundHelper‐dependent (HD) adenovirus (Ad) vectors, deleted of all viral coding sequences, have a higher cloning capacity, improved performance of tissue‐specific promoters, and reduced toxicity in animals relative to first‐generation Ad vectors, making these vectors promising tools for gene transfer in vitro and in vivo. However, the large size of HDAd precursor plasmids renders them relatively difficult to manipulate due to the paucity of unique restriction enzyme sites suitable for transgene insertion and to the size constraints imposed by the viral packaging machinery.MethodsWe have constructed a series of HDAd precursor plasmids that allows cassette insertion at a unique site in the vector backbone. We have tested whether these vector backbones will support the tissue‐specificity of inserted expression cassettes in a study of the activity of the potentially breast‐cancer‐specific mammaglobin promoter and enhancer.ResultsWe report here the generation of a series of HDAd precursor plasmids, both with and without an additional reporter expression cassette, that were designed to accommodate a wide range in size of inserted DNA. The system was validated for transcriptional targeting studies by demonstrating the tissue‐specificity and activity of the mammaglobin promoter rescued using this precursor system. In addition, we have extended our previous studies on the mammaglobin promoter by demonstrating that two copies of the mammaglobin enhancer fused to the minimal promoter surpassed the activity of the single enhancer/promoter by at least 10‐fold in breast cancer cells while maintaining only minimal expression in normal cells both in vitro and in a mouse tumor model.ConclusionsThis versatile plasmid system simplifies the construction of HDAd vectors and was valuable in demonstrating the targeting potential of the mammaglobin promoter for breast cancer gene therapy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chitosan‐g‐PEG/DNA complexes deliver gene to the rat liver via intrabiliary and intraportal infusions
Authors: Jiang Xuan , Dai Hui , Leong Kam W. , Goh Suat‐Hong , Mao Hai‐Quan , Yang Yi‐Yan 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackgroundChitosan has been shown to be a non‐toxic and efficient vector forin vitrogene transfection andin vivogene delivery through pulmonary and oral administrations. Recently, we have shown that chitosan/DNA nanoparticles could mediate high levels of gene expression following intrabiliary infusion1. In this study, we have examined the possibility of using polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐grafted chitosan/DNA complexes to deliver genes to the liver through bile duct and portal vein infusions.MethodsPEG (Mw: 5 kDa) was grafted onto chitosan (Mw: 47 kDa, deacetylation degree: 94%) with grafting degrees of 3.6% and 9.6% (molar percentage of chitosan monosaccharide units grafted with PEG). The stability of chitosan‐g‐PEG/DNA complexes was studied by measuring the change in particle size and by agarose gel electrophoresis against bile or serum challenge. The influence of PEG grafting on gene transfection efficiency was evaluated in HepG2 cells using luciferase reporter gene. Chitosan and chitosan‐g‐PEG/DNA complexes were delivered to the liver through bile duct and portal vein infusions with a syringe pump. Gene expression in the liver and the distribution of gene expression in other organs were evaluated. The acute liver toxicity of chitosan and chitosan‐g‐PEG/DNA complexes was examined by measuring serum alanine aminotranferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities as a function of time.ResultsBoth chitosan and chitosan‐g‐PEG displayed comparable gene transfection efficiency in HepG2 cells. After challenge with serum and bile, chitosan‐g‐PEG/DNA complexes, especially those prepared with chitosan‐g‐PEG (GD = 9.6%), did not form large aggregates like chitosan/DNA complexes but remained stable for up to 30 min. In addition, chitosan‐g‐PEG prevented the degradation of DNA in the presence of serum and bile. On day 3 after bile duct infusion, chitosan‐g‐PEG (GD = 9.6%)/DNA complexes mediated three times higher gene expression in the liver than chitosan/DNA complexes and yielded background levels of gene expression in other organs. On day 1 following portal vein infusion, gene expression level induced by chitosan/DNA complexes was hardly detectable but chitosan‐g‐PEG (GD = 9.6%) mediated significant transgene expression. Interestingly, transgene expression by chitosan‐g‐PEG/DNA complexes in other organs after portal vein infusion increased with increasing grafting degree of PEG. The ALT and AST assays indicated that grafting of PEG to chitosan reduced the acute liver toxicity towards the complexes.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the potential of chitosan‐g‐PEG as a safe and more stable gene carrier to the liver. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gene conjugation of molecular adjuvant C3d3 to hCGβ increased the anti‐hCGβ Th2 and humoral immune response in DNA immunization
Authors: Wang Xiu‐Li , Zhao Xin‐Rong , Yu Min , Yuan Min‐Min , Yao Xiao‐Ying , Li Da‐Jin 
Published: January 2006

AbstractHuman chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been used as an anti‐fertility vaccine and as a target for cancer immunotherapy. We have explored the use of three copies of C3d in DNA vaccine as molecular adjuvant to improve the immunogenicity of this hormone in previous work and found that the immune response induced by pcDNA3‐hCGβ‐C3d3 has been enhanced 243‐fold compared with pcDNA3‐hCGβ following DNA immunization in BALB/c mice. In the present study, a new functionally active DNA vaccine of hCGβ‐C3d3 chimera based on pCMV4 vector has been described. We compared the expression efficiency of pCMV4 and pcDNA3 eukaryotic vectors for hCGβ and hCGβ‐C3d3 fusion protein and the immune response of mice immunized with pcDNA3‐hCGβ, pCMV4‐hCGβ, pcDNA3‐hCGβ‐C3d3 and pCMV4‐hCGβ‐C3d3, respectively, at 25, 50 and 100 pmol dose, and further analyzed the levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines produced by spleen lymphocytes of the immunized mice upon hCG restimulation in vitro. It was found that pCMV4 vector achieved 1.3–1.5‐fold higher protein expression and raised 1.1–1.2 (primary) and 1.2–1.3 (booster) logs higher titer of anti‐hCGβ IgG than pcDNA3. Mice vaccinated with 50 pmol of hCGβ‐C3d3‐DNAs elicited the highest titer of hCGβ‐specific antibody among the serial doses and the immune response induced by pCMV4‐hCGβ‐C3d3 were, respectively, 1.3, 1.3 and 1.2 logs higher than that of pcDNA3‐hCGβ‐C3d3 and 2.2, 2.9 and 2.4 logs higher than that of pCMV4‐hCGβ at week 2 following the booster immunization. Moreover, we observed that the production of IL‐4 and IL‐10 increased in mice vaccinated with hCGβ‐C3d3‐DNAs and the ratio of IL‐4/IFN‐γ showed a Th2 bias of immune response in the mice immunized with hCGβ‐C3d3‐DNAs. These findings indicated that gene fusion of C3d3 to hCGβ, as a means of harnessing the adjuvant potential of the innate immune system, may improve the antigen‐specific Th2 humoral immune response of the hCGβ DNA vaccine and the pCMV4 vector is a more ideal eukaryotic vector for DNA vaccine than pcDNA3. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Domination in a graph with a 2‐factor
Authors: Kawarabayashi Ken‐ichi , Plummer Michael D. , Saito Akira 
Published: January 2006

AbstractLet γ(G) be the domination number of a graph G. Reed 6 proved that every graph G of minimum degree at least three satisfies γ(G) ≤ (3/8)|G|, and conjectured that a better upper bound can be obtained for cubic graphs. In this paper, we prove that a 2‐edge‐connected cubic graph G of girth at least 3k satisfies $\gamma (G)\le (({3k+2}))/({9k+3})|G|$. For $k\ge 3$, this gives $\gamma (G)\le ({11}/{30})|G|$, which is better than Reed's bound. In order to obtain this bound, we actually prove a more general theorem for graphs with a 2‐factor. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 52: 1–6, 2006
On connectivity in graphs with given clique number
Authors: Hellwig Angelika , Volkmann Lutz 
Published: January 2006

AbstractWe consider finite, undirected, and simple graphs G of order n(G) and minimum degree δ(G). The connectivity κ(G) for a connected graph G is defined as the minimum cardinality over all vertex‐cuts.If κ(G) < δ(G), then Topp and Volkmann 7 showed in 1993 for p‐partite graphs G that

As a simple consequence, Topp and Volkmann obtained for p‐partite graphs G the identity κ(G) = δ(G), if

In this article, we will show that these results remain true for graphs G with ω(G) ≤ p, where ω(G) denotes the clique number of G. Since each p‐partite graph G satisfies ω(G) ≤ p, this generalizes the results of Topp and Volkmann. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 52: 7–14, 2006
Signed graph factors and degree sequences
Authors: Hoffman Dean , Jordon Heather 
Published: January 2006

AbstractFor a signed graph G and function $f: V(G) \rightarrow Z$, a signed f‐factor of G is a spanning subgraph F such that sdegF(υ) = f(υ) for every vertex υ of G, where sdeg(υ) is the number of positive edges incident with v less the number of negative edges incident with υ, with loops counting twice in either case. For a given vertex‐function f, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a signed graph G to have a signed f‐factor. As a consequence of this result, an Erdős‐Gallai‐type result is given for a sequence of integers to be the degree sequence of a signed r‐graph, the graph with at most r positive and r negative edges between a given pair of distinct vertices. We discuss how the theory can be altered when mixed edges (i.e., edges with one positive and one negative end) are allowed, and how it applies to bidirected graphs. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 52: 27–36, 2006
Sodium tungstate decreases the phosphorylation of tau through GSK3 inactivation
Authors: Gómez‐Ramos Alberto , Domínguez Jorge , Zafra Delia , Corominola Helena , Gomis Ramon , Guinovart Joan J. , Avila Jesús 
Published: January 2006

AbstractTungstate treatment increases the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK3β) at serine 9, which triggers its inactivation both in cultured neural cells and in vivo. GSK3 phosphorylation is dependent on the activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) induced by tungstate. As a consequence of GSK3 inactivation, the phosphorylation of several GSK3‐dependent sites of the microtubule‐associated protein tau decreases. Tungstate reduces tau phosphorylation only in primed sequences, namely, those prephosphorylated by other kinases before GSK3β modification, which are serines 198, 199, or 202 and threonine 231. The phosphorylation at these sites is involved in reduction of the interaction of tau with microtubules that occurs in Alzheimer's disease. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preconditioning with thrombin can be protective or worsen damage after endothelin‐1‐induced focal ischemia in rats
Authors: Henrich‐Noack Petra , Striggow Frank , Reiser Georg , Reymann Klaus G. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe serine protease thrombin has shown direct neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects on brain tissue in cerebral ischemia. Previous data suggested that thrombin‐induced protection in vivo can be achieved by preconditioning rather than by acute treatment. In the current work, we used a model of mild ischemia to investigate the effects of preischemic intracerebral thrombin injection on neural damage. By intracerebral injection of endothelin‐1 in freely moving animals, we achieved middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and 7 days postischemia we performed histological quantification of the infarct areas. Thrombin was injected as a preconditioning stimulus intracerebrally 7 days or 2 and 3 days before ischemia. For acute treatment, thrombin was injected 20 min before MCAO. Thrombin induced significant neuroprotection when given 7 days before endothelin‐1‐induced MCAO but was deleterious when given 2 and 3 days before the insult. The deleterious effect was not seen when thrombin was given acutely before ischemia. Our data demonstrate that preconditioning with thrombin can protect against damage or worsen ischemic damage. Its effect depended on the time interval between thrombin injection and insult. A low dose of thrombin did not induce a major deleterious effect in the acute phase of the infarct development after mild transient ischemia. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficiency of nutrient utilization and reproductive performance of pre‐pubertal anestrous dairy heifers supplemented with inorganic and organic chromium compounds
Authors: Biswas Partha , Haldar Sudipto , Pakhira Manik C , Ghosh Tapan K , Biswas Chinmoy 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAn on‐farm trial was conducted to ascertain the effects of chromium supplementation on the nutrient utilization and reproductive performance of cross‐bred (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) pre‐pubertal anestrous dairy heifers. Chromium was supplemented (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg kg−1 diet dry matter) as chromium chloride hexahydrate or chromium–yeast complex. The intake of the total digestible nutrients (P < 0.01) and body weight gain (P < 0.05) increased with supplementation of chromium. Chromium–yeast supplementation resulted in a dose‐dependent increment (P < 0.01) in the total digestible nutrient intake. Intake and apparent absorption of chromium increased linearly (P < 0.001) with the dose. Chromium chloride tended to be better absorbed (P < 0.10) than the chromium–yeast complex. The source of supplemental chromium did not affect the plasma concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, total protein and albumin. The postprandial plasma glucose concentration in the control group increased by 38% versus 0.27 and 1.1% in the heifers supplemented with 1.0 mg Cr kg−1 dry matter as chromium chloride and chromium–yeast complex, respectively. The postprandial increment in the plasma cholesterol was also generally lower in the supplemented heifers. The plasma chromium concentration varied (P < 0.05) between the groups, although it was difficult to correlate these changes with the sources and doses of supplemental chromium. Chromium chloride and chromium–yeast supplementation resulted in similar changes in the plasma concentrations of copper, zinc, iron and manganese (P > 0.05). Plasma concentrations of copper and zinc, which increased (P < 0.001) with chromium supplementation, declined quadratically (P < 0.05) as the dose of supplemental chromium increased. At the end of the supplementation, two, four and three heifers fed with 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg Cr kg−1 dry matter (as chromium chloride), respectively, developed Graffian follicles and showed estrus; the numbers were one, three and four in the corresponding groups fed with chromium–yeast complex and one, two and three heifers amongst them showed estrus. All the supplemented animals showing estrus conceived and no abortion was reported during the first trimester of their pregnancy. It was concluded that chromium supplementation could appreciably enhance the nutrient utilization and the reproductive performance in anestrous dairy heifers and inorganic trivalent chromium (CrCl3.6H2O) supplementation might be as useful as a chromium–yeast complex for this purpose. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
The effects of travel activities and seasons on expenditure
Authors: Jang SooCheong (Shawn) , Cai Liping A. , Morrison Alastair M. , O'Leary Joseph T. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe primary objective of this research was to improve the understanding of the relationships among travel activities, seasons and expenditure after controlling for income. Path analysis was used to test all hypothesised causal relationships. In addition to its conceptual contributions, the findings of the study revealed how international travellers spend during travel in response to changes in activity preferences and season of travel. To maximise travellers' expenditure and to generate greater tourism revenues, destination policy‐makers and marketers need to identify what types of activities and which season contribute most to their destination. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Endorsement advertising in aboriginal tourism: an experiment in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Janet , Wall Geoffrey , Tsai Chen‐Tsang (Simon) 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAboriginal cultures have become important tourism attractions worldwide. Cultural villages provide ready access to selected aspects of these cultures in a staged format. They package and promote culture to tourists. Advertising is one component of the promotional mix. Using brochures as the advertising media, the objective of this research is to ascertain the types of advertising endorsers and advertising appeals that are most likely to be successful in attracting visitors to such cultural villages. Adopting an experimental approach, a two‐factor experimental design is manipulated. The causal effect is obtained by using MANOVA and Scheffe tests. The findings are twofold:

the advertising effectiveness of using an aboriginal employee is better than using other types of endorsers;
an emotional advertising appeal elicits a better response than a rational advertising appeal. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Khaosan Road: an evolving backpacker tourist enclave being partially reclaimed by the locals
Authors: Howard Robert W. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackpacker tourist enclaves dot the globe but have been little studied. The present study examined the structure and functioning of Khaosan Road; Bangkok's large archetypal backpacker bubble. It gauged basic dimensions such as tourist area spread, guesthouse and business numbers, and tourist economic and social impact. It surveyed tourist demographics, travel motives, behaviour, and reactions to and uses of the area, and characteristics and reactions of Thai visitors and street vendors. The area is a complex, evolving system with mixed ownership and functions. It is expanding, going up‐market and becoming a key nightlife area for young Thais. Overdevelopment may alter its appeal to backpackers. The data give a detailed picture of one backpacker enclave, which may partly generalise to others. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics of propane oxydehydrogenation on metals oxides and metals phosphates catalysts: Evidence of compensation effects
Authors: Jibril B. Y. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractKinetics of oxidative dehydrogenation of propane has been tested on three groups of catalysts; alumina‐supported metal oxides (MO) (where metal is V, Cr, Ni, Zr, Mo, or Ba), alumina‐supported rare earth metal oxides (RO) (where metal is Ce, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, or Yb), and metal phosphates (MP) (where metal is V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zr, Mg, Ba, or Ce). They were found to be active and exhibited different selectivities to propylene, ethylene, and COx (CO and CO2). The Arrhenius parameters—apparent pre‐exponential factor (lnAapp) and activation energy Eapp)—were evaluated. Evidence of compensation effects was established through statistically significant linear relationship between ln Aapp and Eapp. The rates of propane conversions and COx productions on MO and MP showed common compensation line different from that of RO. When the data for rates of production of propylene and ethylene were plotted, the line for the ethylene rate on MO appeared above that of propylene rate, contrary to the observation on MP and RO. An attempt was made to associate the differences in the behaviors of the catalysts with differences in the ensembles of chemisorbed species that form the respective active centers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 176–183, 2006
Perception of tactile massage as a complement to other forms of pain relief in rheumatic disease
Authors: Bergsten Ulrika , Petersson Ingemar F. , Arvidsson Barbro 
Published: January 2006

AbstractObjective. To investigate how patients with rheumatic disease perceive tactile massage as a complement to other pain alleviation methods.Methods. A phenomenographic approach with semi‐structured interviews was employed on a strategic sample of 14 patients with various rheumatic diseases, both inflammatory and non‐inflammatory, who had been admitted to Spenshult Rheumatic Hospital.Results. Three descriptive categories with a total of nine conceptions emerged. The descriptive categories were: experiencing alleviation, experiencing trust, and gaining insight. Experiencing alleviation described how patients experience relaxation, pleasure and respite. Experiencing trust described how patients experience a sense of security, confirmation and inner peace. Gaining insight described how patients get to know themselves, see possibilities, and experience wholeness.Conclusions. When caring for patients who have a chronic illness involving considerable changes to their lives, it is important for health professionals not only to be aware of their physical needs but also to take account of the whole person. This study demonstrates the importance of offering patients a complement to conventional treatment. Tactile massage is a method that promotes a holistic view of patients with chronic pain as well as allowing them to find a new focus in terms of the disease and how they cope with it in their daily lives. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The dominantly inherited motor and sensory neuropathies: Clinical and molecular advances
Authors: Nicholson Garth A. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe rapid advances in the molecular genetics and cell biology of hereditary neuropathy have revealed great genetic complexity. It is a challenge for physicians and laboratories to keep pace with new discoveries. Classification of hereditary neuropathies has evolved from a simple clinical to a detailed molecular classification. However, the molecular classification is not simple to use, as different mutations of the same gene produce a range of phenotypes. The logistics of testing for multiple gene mutations are considerable. This review gives a clinical overview of molecular and clinical advances in the dominant hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies [HMSNs, Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) neuropathy], which account for some 60%–70% of families with CMT. The dominant forms of CMT have cellular mechanisms different from those of recessive forms and are a separate diagnostic challenge, so they are not included in this review. Diagnostic testing requires accurate clinical information and a selective approach to gene screening until the cost of multiple gene mutation screening falls. Accurate molecular diagnosis is critical to genetic counseling. This review concentrates on how molecular information can be used clinically, on how physicians can keep pace with new developments, and on the relevance of this new knowledge to patients. Muscle Nerve, 2006
Cutaneous silent period in carpal tunnel syndrome
Authors: Svilpauskaite Jovita , Truffert André , Vaiciene Nerija , Magistris Michel R. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe cutaneous silent period (CuSP), a transient suppression of electromyographic activity that follows painful stimuli, allows an indirect study of the small‐diameter A‐δ fibers. To assess the function of these fibers in peripheral nerve disorders, we compared the CuSP of 40 controls to that of 40 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and one patient with a traumatic transection of the median nerve. Patients with CTS were divided into three severity groups, based on electrophysiological data. In CTS, digit 2 evoked CuSP onset latency was increased in all groups, and CuSP duration from abductor digiti minimi was reduced in all groups. In our series, although some parameters of the CuSP were altered, only transection of the nerve abolished it. A‐δ fibers are robust, probably due to their less vulnerable small diameter. This characteristic may be useful to study various conditions and essential for patients to retain some sensation within the median nerve territory. Muscle Nerve, 2006