bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Connectivity is a two‐way street—the need for a holistic approach to fish passage problems in regulated rivers
Authors: Calles O. , Greenberg L. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe evaluated the effects of a rehabilitation project, whose goal was to re‐establish longitudinal connectivity for anadromous trout in the regulated river Emån. We used a holistic approach, by tagging and following both upstream‐migrating spawners (N = 348) and downstream‐migrating smolts (N = 80) and kelts as they passed two hydroelectric plants (HEP 2‐3) with nature‐like fishways.When migrating upstream, 84–88% of the spawners stopped, primarily at spawning grounds, before reaching HEP2. The proportion of stoppers was lower (56%) for fish that had been to the fishways in previous years, indicating that the recolonization rate is likely to increase over time. Of the spawners that approached the fishway at HEP2, 77% rapidly located the fishway situated next to the tail‐race, resulting in an attraction efficiency of 81% and a passage efficiency of 95%. The time required to locate the fishway inside the former channel at HEP3 was substantial, but the attraction efficiency (89%) and passage efficiency (97%) were nevertheless high.The kelts swam downstream mainly in spring, using spill gates and the fishways, to swim past HEP2 and 3 and continue downstream to the Baltic Sea. Iteroparity was confirmed by the fact that 20% of the spawners were tagged in previous years. Smolt loss was about 30% for both HEPs, with a higher turbine‐induced loss 30% for fish passing through Francis runners than a Kaplan runner. Fifteen per cent of the tagged smolt reached the sea and none of these fish had swum through the Francis runners.It will probably take many years before longitudinal connectivity is fully re‐established in the river Emån, due to substantial losses of both upstream‐migrating spawners (35% loss) and downstream‐migrating smolts (50%) and kelts. In addition, smolt production in areas upstream of HEP3 is far below carrying capacity. Thus, additional measures that not only facilitate movement of upstream spawners, but also reduce mortality and injuries of downstream migrants are urgently needed to create a self‐sustaining fish population. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Layer‐By‐Layer Films as a Biomimetic Reservoir for rhBMP‐2 Delivery: Controlled Differentiation of Myoblasts to Osteoblasts
Authors: Crouzier Thomas , Ren Kefeng , Nicolas Claire , Roy Christian , Picart Catherine 
Published: February 2009

AbstractEfficient delivery of growth or survival factors to cells is one of the most important long‐term challenges of current cell‐based tissue engineering strategies. The extracellular matrix acts as a reservoir for a number of growth factors through interactions with its components. In the matrix, growth factors are protected against circulating proteases and locally concentrated. Thus, the localized and long‐lasting delivery of a matrix‐bound recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP‐2) from a biomaterial surface would mimic in vivo conditions and increase BMP‐2 efficiency by limiting its degradation. Herein, it is shown that crosslinked poly(L‐lysine)/hyaluronan (HA) layer‐by‐layer films can serve as a reservoir for rhBMP‐2 delivery to myoblasts and induce their differentiation into osteoblasts in a dose‐dependent manner. The amount of rhBMP‐2 loaded in the films is controlled by varying the deposition conditions and the film thickness. Its local concentration in the film is increased up to ≈500‐fold when compared to its initial solution concentration. Its adsorption on the films, as well as its diffusion within the films, is evidenced by microfluorimetry and confocal microscopy observations. A direct interaction of rhBMP‐2 with HA is demonstrated by size‐exclusion chromatography, which could be at the origin of the rhBMP‐2 “trapping” in the film and of its low release from the films. The bioactivity of rhBMP‐2‐loaded films is due neither to film degradation nor to rhBMP‐2 release. The rhBMP‐2‐containing films are extremely resistant and could sustain three successive culture sequences while remaining bioactive, thus confirming the important and protective effect of rhBMP‐2 immobilization. These films may find applications in the local delivery of immobilized growth factors for tissue‐engineered constructs and for metallic biomaterial surfaces, as they can be deposited on a wide range of substrates with different shapes, sizes, and composition.
A hybrid positioning system for technology‐independent location‐aware computing
Authors: Ficco Massimo , Russo Stefano 
Published: February 2009

AbstractLocation‐aware computing is a form of context‐aware mobile computing that refers to the ability of providing users with services that depend on their position. Locating the user terminal, often called positioning, is essential in this form of computing. Towards this aim, several technologies exist, ranging from personal area networking, to indoor, outdoor, and up to geographic area systems. Developers of location‐aware software applications have to face with a number of design choices, that typically depend on the chosen technology. This work addresses the problem of easing the development of pull location‐aware applications, by allowing uniform access to multiple heterogeneous positioning systems. Towards this aim, the paper proposes an approach to structure location‐aware mobile computing systems in a way independent of positioning technologies. The approach consists in structuring the system into a layered architecture, that provides application developers with a standard Java Application Programming Interface (JSR‐179 API), and encapsulates location data management and technology‐specific positioning subsystems into lower layers with clear interfaces. In order to demonstrate the proposed approach we present the development of HyLocSys. It is an open hybrid software architecture designed to support indoor/outdoor applications, which allows the uniform (combined or separate) use of several positioning technologies. HyLocSys uses a hybrid data model, which allows the integration of different location information representations (using symbolic and geometric coordinates). Moreover, it allows support to handset‐ and infrastructure‐based positioning approaches while respecting the privacy of the user. The paper presents a prototypal implementation of HyLocSys for heterogeneous scenarios. It has been implemented and tested on several platforms and mobile devices. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacological characterization of 2‐methoxy‐N‐propylnorapomorphine's interactions with D2and D3dopamine receptors
Authors: Skinbjerg Mette , Namkung Yoon , Halldin Christer , Innis Robert B. , Sibley David R. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractDopaminergic signaling pathways have been extensively investigated using PET imaging, primarily with antagonist radioligands of D2and D3dopamine receptors (DARs). Recently, agonist radioligands of D2/D3DARs have begun to be developed and employed. One such agonist is (R)‐2‐11CH3O‐N‐n‐propylnorapomorphine (MNPA). Here, we perform a pharmacological characterization of MNPA using recombinant D2and D3DARs expressed in HEK293 cells. MNPA was found to robustly inhibit forskolin‐stimulated cAMP accumulation to the same extent as dopamine in D2or D3DAR‐transfected cells, indicating that it is a full agonist at both receptors. MNPA is ∼50‐fold more potent than dopamine at the D2DAR, but equally potent as dopamine at the D3DAR. MNPA competition binding curves in membrane preparations expressing D2DARs revealed two binding states of high and low‐affinity. In the presence of GTP, only one binding state of low affinity was observed. Direct saturation binding assays using [3H]MNPA revealed similar results as with the competition experiments leading to the conclusion that MNPA binds to the D2DAR in an agonist‐specific fashion. In contrast to membrane preparations, using intact cell binding assays, only one site of low affinity was observed for MNPA and other agonists binding to the D2DAR. MNPA was also found to induce D2DAR internalization to an even greater extent than dopamine as determined using both cell surface receptor binding assays and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Taken together, our data indicate that the PET tracer, MNPA, is a full and potent agonist at both D2and D3receptors. Synapse 63:462–475, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Positron emission tomography imaging of amphetamine‐induced dopamine release in the human cortex: A comparative evaluation of the high affinity dopamine D2/3 radiotracers [11C]FLB 457 and [11C]fallypride
Authors: Narendran Rajesh , Frankle W. Gordon , Mason N. Scott , Rabiner Eugenii A. , Gunn Roger N. , Searle Graham E. , Vora Shivangi , Litschge Maralee , Kendro Steve , Cooper Thomas B. , Mathis Chester A. , Laruelle Marc 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe use of PET and SPECT endogenous competition binding techniques has contributed to the understanding of the role of dopamine in several neuropsychiatric disorders. An important limitation of these imaging studies is the fact that measurements of acute changes in synaptic dopamine have been restricted to the striatum. The ligands previously used, such as [11C]raclopride and [123I]IBZM, do not provide sufficient signal to noise ratio to quantify D2 receptors in extrastriatal areas, such as cortex, where the concentration of D2 receptors is much lower than in the striatum. Given the importance of cortical DA function in cognition, a method to measure cortical dopamine function in humans would be highly desirable. The goal of this study was to compare the ability of two high affinity DA D2 radioligands [11C]FLB 457 and [11C]fallypride to measure amphetamine‐induced changes in DA transmission in the human cortex. D2 receptor availability was measured in the cortical regions of interest with PET in 12 healthy volunteers under control and postamphetamine conditions (0.5 mg kg−1, oral), using both [11C]FLB 457 and [11C]fallypride (four scans per subjects). Kinetic modeling with an arterial input function was used to derive the binding potential (BPND) in eight cortical regions. Under controlled conditions, [11C]FLB 457 BPND was 30–70% higher compared with [11C]fallypride BPND in cortical regions. Amphetamine induced DA release led to a significant decrease in [11C]FLB 457 BPND in five out the eight cortical regions evaluated. In contrast, no significant decrease in [11C]fallypride BPND was detected in cortex following amphetamine. The difference between [11C]FLB 457 and [11C]fallypride ability to detect changes in the cortical D2 receptor availability following amphetamine is related to the higher signal to noise ratio provided by [11C]FLB 457. These findings suggest that [11C]FLB 457 is superior to [11C]fallypride for measurement of changes in cortical synaptic dopamine. Synapse 63:447–461, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Collagen accumulation over time in the murine lung after exposure to crocidolite asbestos or Libby amphibole
Authors: Smartt Aubrey M. , Brezinski Mary , Trapkus Melanie , Gardner Donald , Putnam Elizabeth A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractLibby, MT is the site of a closed vermiculite mine that produced ore contaminated with asbestos‐like amphiboles. Worldwide distribution of the material and the long latency period for manifestation of asbestos‐related diseases (ARDs) has created a significant health threat for many years to come. The composition of the Libby material [termed the Libby amphibole (LA)] differs from other well‐studied types of asbestos in that it is a mixture of several amphibole fibers. The purpose of this study was to determine the fibrotic effects of LA exposure in a mouse model and to compare these effects to those of a well‐characterized amphibole fiber, crocidolite asbestos. We exposed C57Bl/6 mice to LA or crocidolite and analyzed lung RNA, protein, and morphology at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post instillation. Our results indicate that both forms of amphibole studied induced increased collagen types I and III mRNA expression and collagen protein deposition in exposed murine lungs compared to the PBS‐instilled control lungs, and that these collagen increases were the most significant at 1 month after exposure. However, crocidolite‐exposed mice demonstrated greater increases in collagen deposition than those exposed to LA, indicating that the fibrotic effects of LA exposure, although not as severe as those of crocidolite in this model system, were still able to induce collagen deposition. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010.
Hierarchical Titanate Nanostructures through Hydrothermal Treatment of Commercial Titania Powders
Authors: Dong Zhenghong , Zhao Yongnan , Su Hao , Yu Jianguo , Li Lu 
Published: February 2009

AbstractHierarchical titanate nanostructures were hydrothermally synthesized in concentrated base solutions using commercial titania powders as starting materials. By varying the base concentration, nanowire arrays, flowers of nanosheets and nanotubes, and urchin‐like nanostructures of nanowires and nanotubes were sequentially fabricated. If the NaOH concentration was higher than 6 M, hydrated Na2Ti6O13 nanowire arrays, with nanowire diameters of 20–90 nm and an aspect ratio of 1100–5000, were produced at suitable reaction temperatures over a large area. In 10 M KOH solutions, aligned nanowires with a diameter of 30 nm and a lenght of 80 μm formed. In 4 M NaOH solutions, micrometer‐sized flowers of nanotubes and nanosheets formed. Reactions in 2 M NaOH solutions produced urchin‐like materials with a size of ca. 10 μm that were composed of nanotubes and nanowires. The adsorption behavior of the urchin‐like materials resembled macroporous materials with micropores. Since both base concentration and reaction temperature affected the reaction rate, the formation of various titanate nanostructures was proposed as a growth speed controlled process.
Synthesis of Aluminum‐Rich Analcime Using an Ethylene Diamine Derivative as Template
Authors: Naser Azizi Seyed , Yousefpour Maryam 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe hydrothermal synthesis of analcime (ANA) with N,N′‐dibenzyl‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (DBTMED) as template was systematically studied. The various parameters that affect the crystallization of analcime, such as temperature, time, Al source, and Si/Al ratio were investigated. Systematic variations of these parameters revealed that ANA was obtained from the reaction mixture with the optimized ratios of SiO2/Al2O3 = 5–9.5 in presence of DBTMED, whereas template‐free clear solution methods require SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of greater than 25. When experiments were conducted at 130 and 150 °C for 4 days, a mixture of analcime and zeolite P was present in the samples, and a pure analcime sample could be obtained with heating in the temperature range 160–180 °C. When microwave and conventional heating were used, analcime could be obtained after 2 days. The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, and IR spectroscopy.
Trilithium Trisaminotriazinates
Authors: Glatz Germund , Motz Günter , Kempe Rhett 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTwo trilithium‐tris(trimethylsilylamino)triazinates were prepared from the reaction of three equivalents nBuLi and one equivalent 2,4,6‐tris(trimethylsilyamino)‐1,3,5‐triazine (TrTMS3H3) in tetrahydrofurane (THF) or dimethoxyethane (DME). Concentration of the mother liquor gave single crystals suitablefor X‐ray diffraction. The solid‐state structures of [(TrTMS3)2Li6(THF)8]·2THF (1) and [(TrTMS3)2Li6(DME)4] (2) were determined. Two triply deprotonated TrTMS3 ligands are bridged by four lithium atoms.
Connective tissue growth factor(CCN2), a pathogenic factor in diabetic nephropathy. What does it do? How does it do it?
Authors: Mason Roger M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractConnective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is a member of the CCN family of matricellular proteins. Its expression is induced by a number of factors including TGF‐β. It has been associated with fibrosis in various tissues including the kidney. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) develops in about 30% of patients with diabetes and is characterized by thickening of renal basement membranes, fibrosis in the glomerulus (glomerulosclerosis), tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis, all of which compromise kidney function. This review examines changes in CTGF expression in the kidney in DN, the effects they have on glomerular mesangial and podocyte cells and the tubulointerstitium, and how these contribute to driving fibrotic changes in the disease. CTGF can bind to several other growth factors modifying their function. CTGF is also able to interact with receptors on cells, including integrins, tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA), low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP) and heparan sulphate proteoglycans. These interactions, the intracellular signalling pathways they activate, and the cellular responses evoked are reviewed. CTGF also induces the expression of chemokines which themselves have pharmacological actions on cells. CTGF may prompt some responses by acting through several different mechanisms, possibly simultaneously. For example, CTGF is often described as an effector of TGF‐β. It can promote TGF‐β signalling by binding directly to the growth factor, promoting its interaction with the TGF‐β receptor; by triggering intracellular signalling on binding the TrkA receptor, which leads to the transcriptional repression of Smad7, an inhibitor of the TGF‐β signalling pathway; and by binding to BMP‐7 whose own signalling pathway opposing TGF‐β is inhibited, leading to enhanced TGF‐β signalling.
The piggyBac transposon is an integrating non‐viral gene transfer vector that enhances the efficiency of GDEPT
Authors: Kang Yu , Zhang Xiao‐Yan , Jiang Wei , Wu Chao‐Qun , Chen Chun‐Mei , Gu Jian‐Ren , Zheng Yu‐Fang , Xu Cong‐Jian 
Published: February 2009

AbstractGene‐directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) is a strategy developed to selectively target cancer cells. However, the clinical benefit is limited due to its poor gene transfer efficiency. To overcome this obstacle, we took advantage of piggyBac (PB) transposon, a natural non‐viral gene vector that can induce stable chromosomal integration and persistent gene expression in vertebrate cells, including human cells. To determine whether the vector can also mediate stable gene expression in ovarian cancer cells, we constructed a PB transposon system that simultaneously expresses the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV‐tk) gene and the monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP1) reporter gene. The recombinant plasmid, pPB/TK, was transfected into ovarian adenocarcinoma cells SKOV3 with FuGENE HD reagent, and the efficiency was given by the percentage of mRFP1‐positive cells detected by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The specific expression of HSV‐tk in transfected cells was confirmed by RT‐PCR and western blotting. The sensitivity of transfected cells to pro‐drug ganciclovir (GCV) was determined by methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay. A total of 56.4 ± 8.4% cells transfected with pPB/TK were mRFP1 positive, compared to no measurable mRFP1 expression in pORF‐HSVtk‐transfected cells. The expression level of HSV‐tk in pPB/TK‐transfected cells was ∼10 times higher than in pORF‐HSVtk‐transfected cells. The results show that pPB/TK transfection increases the sensitivity of cells to GCV in a dose‐dependent manner. Our data indicate that the PB transposon system could enhance the anti‐tumor efficiency of GDEPT in ovarian cancer.
Menstrual cycle phase does not influence gender differences in experimental pain sensitivity
Authors: Klatzkin Rebecca R. , Mechlin Beth , Girdler Susan S. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractInfluence of menstrual cycle phase on experimental pain sensitivity in women and on gender differences in pain sensitivity was examined in 48 men and 49 women in response to cold pressor, heat, and ischemic pain. Each woman was tested at three points in their menstrual cycle in randomized order, the early follicular, late follicular, and luteal phases, while men were also tested three times, controlling for number of days between test sessions. Cycle phase was confirmed via serum hormone levels. As expected, women were significantly more sensitive to cold pain (p < .01), to heat pain (p < .0001), and to ischemic pain (p < .01) than men. However, pain perception during each task was not influenced by the menstrual cycle in women, nor did the menstrual cycle influence the magnitude of the gender differences in pain sensitivity. These results indicate that although women are more sensitive to a variety of noxious stimuli than men, menstrual cycle phase does not appear to moderate those differences in healthy men and women.
Naturerfahrungsräume – ein Beitrag der Stadtplanung zur Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung
Authors: Schemel Hans-Joachim 
Published: February 2009

Einleitung
Unbestritten ist die enorme Bedeutung von körperlicher Bewegung für die Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung von Kindern. Somit stellt sich die Frage: Wie kann im Interesse einer gesunden Entwicklung unserer Kinder das spontane Bedürfnis, sich im Freien zu bewegen, geweckt und gestärkt werden? Im Folgenden wird als Antwort auf diese Frage die Grünflächenkategorie „Städtischer Naturerfahrungsraum“ vorgestellt. Sie berücksichtigt die Bedürfnisse älterer Kinder nach vielfältigen und gestaltbaren Spielräumen.
Place of death of adolescents and young adults with cancer: First study in a French population
Authors: Montel Sebastien , Laurence Valerie , Copel Laure , Pacquement Helene , Flahault Cecile 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTObjective:To improve the palliative care and more effectively meet the needs of young patients and their families at the end of life, the authors investigated the place of death of adolescents and young adults treated in their institution and identified some of the factors influencing the choice of place of death.Methods:The parents and/or partners of adolescents and young adults (15 to 25 years old) who died at Institut Curie (cancer center) between 2000 and 2003 were contacted. Twenty-one families agreed to participate in the interview between October 2005 and April 2006. Analysis of the interviews comprised a descriptive part and a thematic part.Results:Nineteen out of 21 (90%) families declared that they did not really choose their child's place of death due to lack of time. However, all families said that they preferred the hospital. No family attended a bereavement group after their child's death and only 3 families (14%) consulted a mental health care professional. Thematic analysis showed that representations and beliefs concerning life and death at least partly determined the family's capacity to discuss the place of death with their child.Significance of results:Although progress has been made over recent years in France, there is still considerable room for improvement of palliative care to more effectively meet the needs of young patients and their families at the end of life.