bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating soil water fluxes from soil water records obtained using dielectric sensors
Authors: Fernández‐Gálvez J. , Verhoef A. , Barahona E. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAccurate estimation of the soil water balance (SWB) is important for a number of applications (e.g. environmental, meteorological, agronomical and hydrological). The objective of this study was to develop and test techniques for the estimation of soil water fluxes and SWB components (particularly infiltration, evaporation and drainage below the root zone) from soil water records. The work presented here is based on profile soil moisture data measured using dielectric methods, at 30‐min resolution, at an experimental site with different vegetation covers (barley, sunflower and bare soil). Estimates of infiltration were derived by assuming that observed gains in the soil profile water content during rainfall were due to infiltration. Inaccuracies related to diurnal fluctuations present in the dielectric‐based soil water records are resolved by filtering the data with adequate threshold values. Inconsistencies caused by the redistribution of water after rain events were corrected by allowing for a redistribution period before computing water gains. Estimates of evaporation and drainage were derived from water losses above and below the deepest zero flux plane (ZFP), respectively. The evaporation estimates for the sunflower field were compared to evaporation data obtained with an eddy covariance (EC) system located elsewhere in the field. The EC estimate of total evaporation for the growing season was about 25% larger than that derived from the soil water records. This was consistent with differences in crop growth (based on direct measurements of biomass, and field mapping of vegetation using laser altimetry) between the EC footprint and the area of the field used for soil moisture monitoring. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BRCA1‐IRIS activates cyclin D1 expression in breast cancer cells by downregulating the JNK phosphatase DUSP3/VHR
Authors: Hao Lu , ElShamy Wael M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCyclin D1 plays an important role in cell cycle progression. In breast cancer, Cyclin D1 expression is deregulated by several mechanisms. We previously showed that in breast cancer cells, overexpression of BRCA1‐IRIS induces Cyclin D1 overexpression and increases cell proliferation. BRCA1‐IRIS alone or in complex with steroid receptor co‐activators was targeted to the cyclin D1 promoter pre‐bound by the c‐Jun/AP1 and activated its transcription, which could explain the co‐overexpression of BRCA1‐IRIS and Cyclin D1 in breast cancer cells coupled with their increased proliferation. We report here an alternate or a complementary pathway by which BRCA1‐IRIS activates Cyclin D1 expression. BRCA1‐IRIS overexpression decreases the expression of the dual specificity phosphatase, DUSP3/VHR, an endogenous inhibitor of several MAPKs, including c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase. Although, the mechanism by which BRCA1‐IRIS overexpression accomplishes that is not yet known, it is sufficient to induce Cyclin D1 overexpression in a human mammary epithelial cell model. Cyclin D1 overexpression could be blocked by co‐overexpression of VHR in those cells. Furthermore, in 2 breast cancer cell lines that overexpress both BRCA1‐IRIS and Cyclin D1 (MCF‐7 and SKBR3) depletion of BRCA1‐IRIS by RNA interference attenuated the expression of Cyclin D1 by elevating the expression level of VHR. These data demonstrate a critical role for BRCA1‐IRIS in human breast cancer cell‐cycle control and suggest that deregulated expression of BRCA1‐IRIS is likely to reduce dependence on normal physiological growth stimuli, thereby providing a growth advantage to tumor cells and a potential mechanism of resistance to endocrine therapy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of a local vasodilator delivery system using fibrin glue to prevent arterial graft from spasm
Authors: Qi Xian‐Rong , Yan Ying , Ma Xu‐Dong , Li Tao‐Yuan , Nie Xiao‐yan , Yang Bi‐Bo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe clinical benefits of coronary artery bypass graft operations can be compromised by postoperative vasospasm. Traditionally, local papaverine (PPV) has been employed during the procedure to prevent and counteract vasospasm. But the relatively short action period limited its application. Fibrin glue (FG) might be a potential carrier of PPV for counteracting vasospasm in a longer action period than PPV solution. After FG incorporated with PPV (PPV‐FG) was locally administrated in axillary and femoral arteries of dogs, PPV concentrations in artery vessels surrounding the administration sites were compared with the concentrations at the same sites in dogs given PPV solution. The properties of PPV's release in vitro and maintenance in vessel as well as the influence on the mean peripheral blood pressure and drug concentration in peripheral vein after the introduction PPV‐FG on the surface of artery in dogs were evaluated. FG was considered to provide a sustained release of PPV and could maintain a high PPV concentration in artery vessel around the administration site. The results suggested that FG was an effective substrate for reserving PPV in the administrated site in a defined period. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Early gene expression analyzed by cDNA microarray and real‐time PCR in osteoblasts cultured with chitosan monomer
Authors: Ganno Tomoko , Yamada Shizuka , Ohara Naoko , Matsunaga Tsunenori , Yanagiguchi Kajiro , Ikeda Takeshi , Ishizaki Hidetaka , Hayashi Yoshihiko 
Published: February 2007

AbstractChitosan has a variety of biological activities. Although it has been reported that chitosan promotes osteogenesis in bone lesions, little is known about how it modulates the hard tissue forming cells at the gene level. This study focused on gene expressions in osteoblasts cultured with a super‐low concentration of chitosan monomer. cDNA probes were synthesized from isolated RNA and labeled with fluorescent dye. They were hybridized with Human 3.8 II cDNA microarray, and the fluorescent signal was analyzed. cDNA microarray analysis revealed that 10 genes concerning to various signaling‐related molecules were expressed at ≥2.0‐fold higher signal ratio levels in the experimental group when compared with the control group after 3 days. Real‐time PCR analysis showed that chitosan monomer induced an increase in the expression of four signal transduction genes, mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)K3, MAPKKK11, Rac1 and Shc1, together with the alkaline phosphatase gene. These results suggest that a super‐low concentration of chitosan monomer could modulate the activity of osteoblastic cells through mRNA levels and that chitosan monomer directly affects signal transduction inside cells. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
New computational strategy to analyze the interactions of ERα and ERβ with different ERE sequences
Authors: Marabotti Anna , Colonna Giovanni , Facchiano Angelo 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe importance of computational methods for the simulation and analysis of biological systems has increased during the last years. In particular, methods to predict binding energies are developing not only with the aim of ranking the affinities between two or more complexes, but also to quantify the contribution of different types of interaction. In this work, we present the application of HINT, a non Newtonian force field, to rank the affinities of complexes formed by estrogen receptors (ER) α and β and different estrogen responsive elements (ERE) near the estrogen‐regulated genes. We used the crystallographic coordinates of the DNA binding domain of ERα complexed to a consensus ERE as a starting point to simulate several complexes in which some nucleotides in the ERE sequence were mutated. Moreover, we used homology modeling methods to create the structure of the complexes between the DNA binding domain of ERβ (for which no experimental structures are currently available) and the same ERE sequences. Our results show that HINT is able to rank the affinities of ERα and ERβ for different ERE sequences, and to correctly identify the positions on the DNA sequence that are most important for binding affinity. Moreover, the HINT output gives us the opportunity to identify and quantify the role played by each single atom of amino acids and nucleotides in the binding event, as well as to predict the effect on the binding affinity for other nucleotide mutations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2007
Learning from structural adjustment: why selectivity may not be the key to successful programmes in Africa
Authors: Noorbakhsh Farhad , Paloni Alberto 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMany donors have come to view selectivity in aid allocation—particularly towards countries with good governance—as the key for improving aid effectiveness. This position draws support from research according to which the success of policy reforms depends exclusively on domestic political economy factors. This finding has recently been questioned, however. This paper makes an original contribution to the literature with its attempt to identify the determinants of compliance with World Bank conditionality by employing publicly available data which evaluate a country's compliance directly. Our analysis suggests that poor compliance is not exclusively determined by exogenous factors, which the World Bank cannot influence, but is also a consequence of poor policy design. Better design of reform programmes is essential for greater aid effectiveness. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neurobarrier coupling in the brain: Adjusting glucose entry with demand
Authors: Leybaert Luc , De Bock Marijke , Van Moorhem Marijke , Decrock Elke , De Vuyst Elke 
Published: February 2007

AbstractGlucose transport over the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a nonrate‐limiting step and has therefore received little attention as a possible adjustment point within the transport reaction cascade from blood glucose to brain cell glycolysis. Considerations of the normal working point of facilitated BBB glucose shuttling via the GLUT‐1 protein indicate that the transport is working at about one‐third of Tmax under basal conditions. Substitution of Tmax estimates indicates that the transport is then just enough to keep up with glucose consumption, maintaining the steady state. After brain activation, glucose transport has to be stimulated, and this can be accomplished by increasing the driving force or changing the Tmax and/or Kt parameters of BBB transport. The first possibility involves a decrease of brain interstitial glucose with subsequent flow stimulation according to the law of mass action (LMA), whereas the second possibility involves signaling from activated neurons to the BBB, a regulation loop that we propose to be called “neurobarrier coupling” (NBC). Theoretical analysis of the LMA effect and comparison with data on glucose dynamics during brain activation suggest that this factor alone only covers about half of the stimulation necessary to bring glucose delivery into line with the elevated glucose consumption during activation. Adjusting glucose entry with demand thus probably involves both LMA and NBC effects, depending on the degree of brain activation. Further work is needed to demonstrate NBC effects following physiological brain activation in vivo and to identify the signals that lead to NBC in in vitro experiments. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in selected quality characteristics of minimally processed carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) when treated with ascorbic acid
Authors: Ding Phebe , Ahmad Siti Hajar , Ghazali Hasanah Mohd. 
Published: February 2007

Abstract‘B 10’ carambola of ripening stage (RS) 3 and 4 were minimally processed (MP) and then dipped in 0, 15 and 30 mg L−1 ascorbic acid (AA). The 1‐cm‐thick slices were then dried, packed into cling‐wrapped‐foam tray and stored at 7 °C for 0, 3 and 5 days. Skin colour (L*, C* and h°), flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration, vitamin C content, titratable acidity, pH, degree of browning, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and sensory attributes of MP carambola treated with AA were determined. AA treatment had significant effect in decreasing cut surface browning degree but no significant effect on all the selected quality characteristics of the MP carambola. In the sensory evaluation, flesh colour, sweetness, flavour and overall taste were significantly affected by AA treatment especially at 15 mg L−1. The RS of fruit significantly affected skin colour (C* and h°), pH and sensory attributes of colour and flavour of the MP carambola. As storage day (SD) progressed, skin colour (C* and h°), flesh firmness and vitamin C content, cut surface browning, PPO activity and all the sensory attributes of MP carambola decreased significantly. Flesh firmness of the MP carambola was affected by the interaction between AA × SD. Sensory attributes of MP carambola were affected significantly by AA × RS. All the sensory attributes of MP carambola positively correlated to each other but negatively correlated with browning degree. PPO activity positively correlated with browning degree. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Nutrient losses from rain‐fed bench terraced cultivation systems in high rainfall areas of the mid‐hills of Nepal
Authors: Acharya G. P. , McDonald M. A. , Tripathi B. P. , Gardner R. M. , Mawdesley K. J. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractBetween the elevations of 1000 and 2000 m in the mid‐hills of Nepal, over 12 million people subsist on land‐holdings of less than 0·5 ha. These farmers have limited access to commercial inputs such as fertilisers and are reliant on organic manures for soil fertility maintenance. Participatory research was conducted with farmers on bari land (upper slope rain‐fed crop terraces) in the hill community of Landruk (bench terraces 0–5° slope, 3000–3500 mm annual rainfall, which aimed to develop soil and water management interventions that controlled erosion without resulting in high leaching, and so were effective in minimising total nutrient losses. Interventions tested were the control of water movement through diversion of run‐on and planting fodder grasses on terrace risers on bench terraces. The interventions were effective in reducing soil loss from the bari land in comparison with existing farmer practices, but no effect was observed on nutrient losses in solution form through runoff and leaching. Losses of NO3‐N in leachate ranged from 17·3 to 99·7 kg ha−1 yr−1, but only 0·7 to 5·6 kg ha−1 yr−1 in runoff. The overall nutrient balance suggests that the system is not sustainable. Fertility is heavily dependent on livestock inputs and if the current trends of declining livestock numbers due to labour constraints continue, further losses in productivity can be expected. However, farmers are interested in interventions that tie ecosystem services with productivity enhancement and farmers' priorities should be used as entry points for promoting interventions that are system compatible and harness niche opportunities. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surfactant protein‐A mRNA expression by human fetal membranes is increased in histological chorioamnionitis but not in spontaneous labour at term
Authors: Han YM , Romero R , Kim YM , Kim J‐S , Richani K , Friel LA , Kusanovic JP , Jeanty C , Vitale S , Nien JK , Espinoza J , Kim CJ 
Published: February 2007

AbstractSurfactant protein‐A (SP‐A) is produced by the fetal lung, participates in innate immunity, and has been proposed to play a role in the initiation of parturition in mice. Amniotic fluid SP‐A concentration increases as a function of gestational age, and SP‐A protein has been demonstrated in human chorioamniotic membranes. This study was conducted to determine whether parturition at term, gestational age and chorioamnionitis in preterm delivery (PTD) are associated with changes in the expression of SP‐A in the chorioamniotic membranes. Chorioamniotic membranes were obtained from women at term and women with PTD (n = 58). SP‐A mRNA and protein expression was detected in amniotic epithelial cells, chorionic trophoblasts and macrophages by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Quantitative real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR demonstrated predominant expression of SP‐A1 mRNA, whose expression was 17.4‐fold higher in patients with PTD with chorioamnionitis (n = 15) than in those without (n = 13) (p = 0.018). While no difference was observed in SP‐A1 mRNA expression in the chorioamniotic membranes of women at term not in labour (n = 16) and those in labour (n = 14) (p = 0.87), the expression in term membranes was higher than that of membranes from women with PTD without chorioamnionitis (p = 0.003). Analysis of JAR choriocarcinoma cells demonstrated SP‐A1 mRNA expression that was up‐regulated following lipopolysaccharide treatment. Furthermore, monocytic cell lines (THP‐1 and U937) and peripheral blood monocytes (CD14+/CD115+) obtained from pregnant women also expressed SP‐A1 mRNA and protein, suggesting the presence of autocrine/paracrine activation in vivo. Interestingly, a mid‐trimester amniotic fluid sample obtained from a case of tracheal atresia contained SP‐A (3.13 µg/ml), indicating the presence of SP‐A of extrapulmonary origin. These findings suggest not only that SP‐A expression is a part of the innate immune response deployed during chorioamniotic inflammation, but also that chorioamniotic membranes are a source of SP‐A in the amniotic fluid with advancing gestation. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hypocalcemia as a presentation for multifocal osteosarcoma
Authors: Soltani Akbar , Hasani‐Ranjbar Shirin , Moayyeri Alireza 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe report the case of a 16‐year‐old male with multifocal osteosarcoma presented with symptomatic hypocalcemia. The patient presented signs of hypocalcemia accompanied by generalized bone pain and a femoral mass. Further evaluation revealed secondary hyperparathyroidism, highly elevated alkaline phosphatase levels, and generalized sclerotic and lytic lesions. Biopsy confirmed osteosarcomatosis. Despite aggressive chemotherapy, he died from progressive disease 2 months after diagnosis. The course of disease in this patient suggests that hypocalcemia reflects a poor prognosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:687–689. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of bacterial translation and growth by peptide nucleic acids targeted to domain II of 23S rRNA
Authors: Xue‐Wen Huang , Jie Pan , Xian‐Yuan An , Hong‐Xiang Zhuge 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe objective of this work was to study the inhibitory effects of antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) targeted to domain II of 23S rRNA on bacterial translation and growth. In this paper, we report that PNA(G1138) or peptide‐PNA(G1138) targeted to domain II of 23S rRNA can inhibit both translation in vitro (in a cell‐free translation system) and bacterial growth in vivo. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC) are 0.15 and 10 µM, respectively. The inhibition effect of PNA(G1138) in vitro is somewhat lower than that of tetracycline (IC50 = 0.12 µM), but the MIC of peptide‐PNA(G1138) against Escherichia coli is significantly higher than that of tetracycline (MIC = 4 µM). Further studies based on similar colony‐forming unit (CFU) assays showed that peptide‐PNA(G1138) at 10 µM is bactericidal, but the bactericidal effect is less effective than that of tetracycline. Nevertheless, the results demonstrated that the peptide‐PNA(G1138) treatment is bactericidal in a dose‐ and sequence‐dependent manner and that the G1138 site of 23S rRNA is a possible sequence target for designing novel PNA‐based antibiotics. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recombinant preparation and characterization of interactions for a calmodulin‐binding chromogranin A peptide and calmodulin
Authors: Kang Sunmi , Kang Jinho , Yoo Seung Hyun , Park Sunghyouk 
Published: February 2007

AbstractChromogranin‐derived peptides have important and varied biological activities. They affect a wide spectrum of targets such as fungal membranes, blood vessels, myocardial cells, and pancreatic cells. Despite the biological significance and the diverse activities, the molecular mechanisms of the interactions between the peptides and the target proteins have not been well understood. Here, we studied the interaction between a chromogranin A–derived peptide (CGA40–65) and its target protein, calmodulin, with NMR spectroscopy. Calmodulin was easily prepared with standard recombinant technology, but CGA40–65 posed challenges requiring multistep procedures. The recombinantly produced peptide retained the calmodulin‐binding property of the full‐length CGA, as shown by the HSQC binding experiment. By applying resonance assignments, we identified the residues in calmodulin involved in the CGA40–65 binding. We also found that the peak changes are close to those exhibited by the peptides having the wrap‐around binding mechanism. Further analysis revealed that the CGA40–65‐induced changes are more similar to those by CaMKIp peptide than those by smMLCKp peptide among the wrap‐around binding peptides, suggesting that CGA40‐65 can be categorized as a CaMKIp‐like peptide. Our report is the first residue‐resolution mechanistic study involving chromogranin peptides and their target proteins. Our approaches should be applicable to interaction studies involving other chromogranin‐derived peptides and their cellular target proteins. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Meteorological conditions in heavy orographic rainfall in the british isles
Authors: Douglas C. K. M. , Glasspoole J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe paper attempts to clarify certain points raised during the discussion on orographic rain held by the Society on February 21, 1945 (Q.J., 71 p. 41). It is shown that rain in the warm sectors of depressions plays a large and often dominant part in large falls of orographic rain. A brief description is given of the outstanding orographic rains since 1909, with a note on the synoptic situation. Some recent cases with upper air information bring out the importance of a deep damp layer (almost or quite saturated) in the warm air, and it is considered that convergence is the main factor in producing this, though other factors also are taken into account It is shown that potential instability in the warm air is not a necessary factor for heavy orographic rainfall. A general discussion of this subject is included.
The spontaneous crystallization of supercooled water
Authors: Mason B. J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIt is shown theoretically that the rate of nucleation of the ice phase in supercooled water changes very rapidly with temperature in the neighbourhood of −40°C. Thus, in chilling a supercooled water cloud below this temperature one would expect to observe a rapid increase in the number of ice crystals which appear as the temperature falls. This is verified by observations made in a cold chamber. The different critical temperatures for the spontaneous appearance of ice crystals quoted by Schaefer (−39°) and the Oxford workers (−41°C) probably arise as the result of differences in the experimental conditions. It is tentatively suggested that the parts of mother‐of‐pearl clouds showing iridescence at temperatures around −80°C consist of spheres of ‘glassy’ ice, which may eventually crystallize spontaneously to form ice crystals towards the leeward edges of the cloud.