bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mobilization of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells by Yeast-Derivedβ-Glucan Requires Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9
Authors: Cramer Daniel E. , Wagner Stephanie , Li Bing , Liu Jingjing , Hansen Richard , Reca Ryan , Wu Wan , Surma Ewa Zuba , Laber Damian A. , Ratajczak Mariusz Z. , Yan Jun 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPoly-(1,6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1,3)-β-d-glucopyranose (PGG) β-glucan is a soluble yeast-derived polysaccharide that has previously been shown to induce hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) mobilization. However, the mobilizing mechanism of action remains unknown. Here, we confirmed that PGG β-glucan alone or in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilizes HPC into the periphery. Optimal mobilizing effects were seen 24–48 hours after PGG β-glucan doses of 4.8–9.6 mg/kg. Animals treated with G-CSF and PGG β-glucan showed a collaborative effect in HPC mobilization compared with G-CSF treatment alone. Additional studies demonstrated that neither complement 3 nor complement receptor 3 played a role in this effect and that PGG β-glucan treatment did not induce proinflammatory cytokine secretion. However, bone marrow cells from PGG β-glucan-treated mice secreted abundant matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and PGG β-glucan-induced HPC mobilization was abrogated in MMP-9 knockout mice. Moreover, we demonstrated that both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells contributed to MMP-9 secretion upon PGG β-glucan treatment. In addition, HPCs mobilized by PGG β-glucan had similar levels of engraftment in host and lineage differentiation capability compared with those mobilized by G-CSF. Thus, PGG β-glucan is an agent that enhances HPC mobilization and may improve the outcome of clinical stem cell transplantation.Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Reduced Glucocorticoid Production Rate, Decreased 5α-Reductase Activity, and Adipose Tissue Insulin Sensitization After Weight Loss
Authors: Tomlinson Jeremy W. , Finney Joanne , Hughes Beverly A. , Hughes Susan V. , Stewart Paul M. 
Published: March 2008

OBJECTIVE—The epidemics of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes have heightened the need to understand mechanisms that contribute to their pathogenesis. Increased endogenous glucocorticoid production has been implicated based on parallels with Cushing's syndrome. We have assessed the impact of weight loss on glucocorticoid secretion and metabolism (notably 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and 5α-reductase [5αR] activity) and insulin sensitivity.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Twenty obese volunteers were investigated before and after weight loss. Patients underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps with simultaneous adipose microdialysis and oral cortisone acetate administration. Changes in glucocorticoid secretion and metabolism were assessed using 24-h urine collections.
RESULTS—Before weight loss, fat mass correlated with glucocorticoid secretion rate (total fat, r = 0.46, P &lt; 0.05; trunk fat, r = 0.52, P &lt; 0.05); however, glucocorticoid secretion rate was inversely related to insulin sensitivity (r = −0.51, P &lt; 0.05). Hyperinsulinemia failed to suppress adipose tissue interstitial fluid glycerol release (180 ± 50 μmol [basal] vs. 153 ± 10 μmol [steady state], NS). After oral cortisone (25 mg), cortisol concentrations within adipose interstitial fluid increased (4.3 ± 1.1 vs. 14.2 ± 2.6 nmol/l, P &lt; 0.01), but glycerol concentrations did not change. After weight loss, insulin sensitivity increased. Consistent with insulin sensitization, adipose tissue interstitial fluid glycerol concentrations fell under hyperinsulinemic conditions (186 ± 16 vs. 117 ± 9 μmol, P &lt; 0.05). Glucocorticoid secretion decreased (11,751 ± 1,520 vs. 7,464 ± 937 μg/24 h, P &lt; 0.05) as did 5αR activity (5α-tetrahydrocortisol–to–tetrahydrocortisol ratio 1.41 ± 0.16 vs. 1.12 ± 0.17, P &lt; 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS—Obesity is associated with insulin resistance within adipose tissue and increased cortisol secretion rates; both are reversed with weight loss. Reduced 5αR activity after weight loss may decrease hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and reduce glucocorticoid metabolite production.
Microwave assisted reactions of 2-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-R1-furo[3,2-b] pyrrole-5-carboxhydrazides
Authors: Gašparová Renáta , Moncman Martin , Horváth Branislav 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
The effect of microwave irradiation on the reactions of 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-R1-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxhydrazides 1 with 5-arylfuran-2-carboxaldehydes 2, thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde (3) and methyl 2-formylfuro[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylates 4 has been studied. Reactions of 1 with formic and acetic acid, respectively, led to acylhydrazides 9a–c. Reaction of 1a with 4-substituted 1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one 10 led to imidazole derivative 13. 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thiones 15a,b were synthesized by two-step reaction of 1a with potassium isothiocyanate and phenyl isothiocyanate, respectively, and subsequent base-catalyzed cyclization of thiosemicarbazides 14a,b. Pyrazole 16 was prepared by reaction of 1a with pentane-2,4-dione.
Spectrofluorometric determination of nicardipine, nifedipine and isradipine in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids
Authors: Al-Ghannam Sheikha , Al-Olyan Abeer 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
A simple and highly sensitive spectrofluorometric method was developed for the determination of some 1,4-dihydropyridine compounds namely, nicardipine, nifedipine and isradipine in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids. The method is based on the reduction of nicardipine, nifedipine and isradipine with Zn/HCl and measuring the fluorescence intensity obtained (λem/λex) at 460/364, 450/393 and 446/360 nm, respectively. The factors affecting the development of the fluorophore and its stability were studied and optimized. The effect of some surfactants such as β-cyclodextrin (βCD), carboxymethylcelullose (CMC), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and triton X-100, on the fluorescence intensity was studied. The fluorescence intensity-concentration plots of nicardipine, nifedipine and isradipine were rectilinear over the ranges 0.4–6.0, 0.2–4.0 and 0.1–9.0 μg ml−1 with detection limits of 0.0028, 0.017 and 0.016 μg ml−1, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to commercial tablets containing the compounds; the percentage recovery agreed well with those obtained using the official methods. The method was further extended to the in vitro determination of the compounds in spiked human plasma and urine samples. A proposal of the reduction reaction pathway was postulated.
Reference Curves for the Gross Motor Function Measure: Percentiles for Clinical Description and Tracking Over Time Among Children With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Hanna Steven E , Bartlett Doreen J , Rivard Lisa M , Russell Dianne J 
Published: March 2008

Background and Purpose
Physical therapists frequently use the 66-item Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) to examine gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Until now, reference percentiles for this measure were not available. The aim of this study was to improve the clinical utility of this gross motor measure by developing cross-sectional reference percentiles for the GMFM-66 within levels of the GMFCS.

Subjects and Methods
A total of 1,940 motor measurements from 650 children with CP were used to develop percentiles. These observations were taken from a subsample, stratified by age and GMFCS, of those in a longitudinal cohort study reported in 2002. A standard LMS (skewness-median-coefficient of variation) method was used to develop cross-sectional reference percentiles.

Results
Reference curves were created for the GMFM-66 by age and GMFCS level, plotted at the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentiles. The variability of change in children's percentiles over a 1-year interval also was investigated.

Discussion and Conclusion
The reference percentiles extend the clinical utility of the GMFM-66 and GMFCS by providing for appropriate normative interpretation of GMFM-66 scores within GMFCS levels. When interpreting change in percentiles over time, therapists must carefully consider the large variability in change that is typical among children with CP. The use of percentiles should be supplemented by interpretation of the raw scores to understand change in function as well as relative standing.
Mental Imagery and Affect in English/French Bilingual Readers: A Cross-Linguistic Perspective
Authors: Krasny Karen A. , Sadoski Mark 
Published: March 2008

Abstract: We investigated the evocation of mental imagery and affect in English/French bilinguals to determine whether the linguistic demands of reading in a second language (L2) limit readers’ ability to form non-verbal text representations of literary stories. The participants were 26 Grade 11 French immersion students enrolled in a Canadian high school. Each student read two literary stories, one in English and another in French. Next they rated story paragraphs for the degree of either mental imagery or emotional response evoked. Later, students reread the same texts and completed a writing task in which they reported their imagery or emotions in response to the two highest-rated paragraphs. Moderate to high correlations were found between ratings of imagery and emotional response for each story, for two French stories combined, for two English stories combined, and for all stories in both languages combined. Reading times were somewhat longer for the French versions. The patterns of response for both the ratings and the written reports replicate and extend earlier research and suggest that as bilingual readers progress in their ability to read in their L2, reports of imagery and affect become closer in kind and number to those reported in response to reading the same text in their first language.
Effet de la nature des éléments grammaticaux sur la saisie en français langue seconde
Authors: Simard Daphnée 
Published: March 2008

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between three different syntactic elements and the intake of linguistic information presented in a written text. To attain this objective, young learners (n = 76) of French as a second language read a text containing three targeted syntactic elements. Three experimental conditions were created. In the first group, participants (n = 21) read a text in which the targeted syntactic elements were highlighted using typographical cues. Participants in the second group (n = 29) read the same text, but the syntactic elements targeted by the study were not highlighted. The participants in the third group (n = 26) were not exposed to the text. Intake was operationalized through the results obtained on an error-identification task that the students completed immediately after having been exposed to one of the experimental conditions. The results obtained only partially confirm the study hypothesis, according to which intake product will vary according to the syntactic elements to which the learner is exposed, independent of the experimental condition to which they are exposed.
Survival, differentiation, and migration of bioreactor-expanded human neural precursor cells in a model of Parkinson disease in rats
Authors: Mukhida Karim , Baghbaderani Behnam A. , Hong Murray , Lewington Matthew , Phillips Timothy , McLeod Marcus , Sen Arindom , Behie Leo A. , Mendez Ivar 
Published: March 2008

Object
Fetal tissue transplantation for Parkinson disease (PD) has demonstrated promising results in experimental and clinical studies. However, the widespread clinical application of this therapeutic approach is limited by a lack of fetal tissue. Human neural precursor cells (HNPCs) are attractive candidates for transplantation because of their long-term proliferation activity. Furthermore, these cells can be reproducibly expanded in a standardized fashion in suspension bioreactors. In this study the authors sought to determine whether the survival, differentiation, and migration of HNPCs after transplantation depended on the region of precursor cell origin, intracerebral site of transplantation, and duration of their expansion.

Methods
Human neural precursor cells were isolated from the telencephalon, brainstem, ventral mesencephalon, and spinal cord of human fetuses 8–10 weeks of gestational age, and their differentiation potential characterized in vitro. After expansion in suspension bioreactors, the HNPCs were transplanted into the striatum and substantia nigra of parkinsonian rats. Histological analyses were performed 7 weeks posttransplantation.

Results
The HNPCs isolated from various regions of the neuraxis demonstrated diverse propensities to differentiate into astrocytes and neurons and could all successfully expand under standardized conditions in suspension bioreactors. At 7 weeks posttransplantation, survival and migration were significantly greater for HNPCs obtained from the more rostral brain regions. The HNPCs differentiated predominantly into astrocytes after transplantation into the striatum or substantia nigra regions, and thus no behavioral improvement was observed.

Conclusions
Understanding the regional differences in HNPC properties is prerequisite to their application for PD cell restoration strategies.
Vascular endothelial growth factor is associated with histological instability of carotid plaques
Authors: Russell D A , Abbott C R , Gough M J 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackgroundVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes events favouring carotid plaque instability: inflammatory chemoattraction, thrombogenesis, and upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and cell adhesion molecules. The aim of this study was to assess neovascularization, VEGF and its receptors in high-grade stable and unstable carotid plaques.MethodsImmunohistochemical staining for CD34, VEGF, VEGF receptor (VEGFR) 1 and VEGFR2 was performed in 34 intact carotid endarterectomy specimens, and compared in sections demonstrating maximal histological instability (cap rupture/thinning) or, if stable, maximal stenosis.ResultsVEGF staining was increased in 12 unstable compared with 22 stable plaques (median (interquartile range, i.q.r.) plaque score 4·0 (4·0–4·0) versus 3·0 (2·0–3·0); P = 0·002) with upregulation of VEGFR1 (plaque score 4·0 (2·0–4·0) versus 2·0 (1·0–3·0); P = 0·016). In unstable plaques this was associated with increased microvessel density in the cap (median (i.q.r.) 12·1 (4·0–30·0) versus 1·1 (0·0–7·3) microvessels/mm2; P = 0·017) and shoulder regions (7·7 (3·4–21·4) versus 3·1 (0·4–10·8) microvessels/mm2; P = 0·176).ConclusionIncreased VEGF and receptor staining were seen in histologically unstable carotid plaques. Although these differences could reflect cytokine-driven inflammatory events accompanying plaque instability, VEGF and VEGFR1 could be key mediators.
Bioanalytical methods for the determination of antipsychotic drugs
Authors: Zhang Guodong , Jr Alvin V. Terry , Bartlett Michael G. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAntipsychotic drugs are popular for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychoses. In general, antipsychotics are administered in oral doses of only a few milligrams per day and they are widely metabolized in the body. Therefore, the concentration of these drugs in plasma is very low (pg‐ng/mL levels). In addition, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antipsychotic drugs has proven to be of notable value for determining poor compliance of patients and addressing the challenges associated with considerable genetic variability in their metabolism. Thus, in order to conduct pharmacology and toxicology studies and clinical TDM of antipsychotics, as well as address the challenges associated with polypharmacy and drug metabolism, highly sensitive, selective and accurate bioanalytical methods are essential. The most recent studies on the determination of antipsychotics will be reviewed, including separation techniques, sample pretreatment, detectors and validation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Serial and single‐victim rapists: differences in crime‐scene violence, interpersonal involvement, and criminal sophistication
Authors: Park Jisun , Schlesinger Louis B. , Pinizzotto Anthony J. , Davis Edward F. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThree categories of crime‐scene behaviors (violence, interpersonal involvement, and criminal sophistication) among a group of 22 serial and 22 single‐victim rapists were studied. Findings indicate that serial rapists were more likely to display a higher level of criminally sophisticated behaviors to avoid detection, whereas single‐victim rapists were more likely to behave violently and engage in some form of interpersonal involvement with their victims. Implications of these findings for investigation and for understanding offenders' behavior are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anticipatory injustice among adolescents: age and racial/ethnic differences in perceived unfairness of the justice system
Authors: Woolard Jennifer L. , Harvell, M.P.P. Samantha , Graham, Ph.D. Sandra 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe present study examines age differences in anticipatory injustice, or the expectation of unfair or discriminatory treatment in the legal system. 1,393 adolescents and young adults from the community or from detention centers and jails were interviewed regarding demographic and justice system experience, intelligence, expectations about fair treatment, and legal decisions. African Americans and Latinos and those with more system experience expected greater injustice across multiple legal contexts. Anticipatory injustice increased with age among African Americans and those with the most system experience. It also predicted choices about police interrogation, attorney consultation, and plea agreements. Anticipations of injustice during adolescence may affect future interactions with court officials as well as more general constructs of legal socialization. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Student‐configurable, Web‐accessible virtual systems for system dynamics and controls courses
Authors: Kypuros Javier A. , Connolly Thomas J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis article describes a process for disseminating, via the Internet, configurable animated simulations of physical systems—virtual systems—used to visualize System Dynamics concepts. To enable widespread use, software tools readily available under a General Public License (GPL) are used. However, the dynamic systems are simulated and animated using MATLAB®. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 92–104, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20125
Open channel design using Visual Basic
Authors: Günal Mustafa , Özcan Atilla 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis article describes a computer program, which is developed in Visual Basic, for designing open channels. Manning, Darcy–Weisbach, or Hazen–Williams equations can be used to calculate the uniform flow parameters. The program is also able to calculate and draw the surface profile with deciding the profile type of gradually varied flow. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 127–136, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20131
Synthetic Scope of Ru(OH)x/Al2O3‐Catalyzed Hydrogen‐Transfer Reactions: An Application to Reduction of Allylic Alcohols by a Sequential Process of Isomerization/Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley‐Type Reduction
Authors: Kim Jung Won , Koike Takeshi , Kotani Miyuki , Yamaguchi Kazuya , Mizuno Noritaka 
Published: March 2008

AbstractReduction of allylic alcohols can be promoted efficiently by the supported ruthenium catalyst Ru(OH)x/Al2O3. Various allylic alcohols were converted to saturated alcohols in excellent yields by using 2‐propanol without any additives. This Ru(OH)x/Al2O3‐catalyzed reduction of a dienol proceeds only at the allylic double bond to afford the corresponding enol, and chemoselective isomerization and reduction can be realized under similar conditions. The catalysis is truly heterogeneous and the high catalytic performance can be maintained during at least three recycles of the Ru(OH)x/Al2O3 catalyst. The transformation of allylic alcohols to saturated alcohols consists of three sequential reactions: oxidation of allylic alcohols to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds; reduction of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds to saturated carbonyl compounds; and reduction of saturated carbonyl compounds to saturated alcohols.
Synthesis and Properties of DNA Complexes Containing 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinoxy (TEMPO) Moieties as Organic Radical Battery Materials
Authors: Qu Jinqing , Morita Ryuhei , Satoh Masaharu , Wada Jun , Terakura Fumiaki , Mizoguchi Kenji , Ogata Naoya , Masuda Toshio 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe report here the first example of organic radical battery with DNA. Though there is a growing interest in DNA/cationic‐lipid complexes as promising gene delivery vehicles, few efforts have been focused on the use of such complexes as advanced materials for organic optoelectronic applications. The present article describes how substitution of the sodium counter cation of DNA with cationic amphiphilic lipid(1–4) provided novel DNA–lipid complexes that contain TEMPO radicals, in which the actual mole ratio of phosphate to lipid was 1:0.84 to 1:0.16. All the TEMPO‐containing DNA–lipid complexes displayed reversible two‐stage charge/discharge processes, the discharge capacities of which were 40.5–60.0 A h kg−1. In particular, the capacity of a DNA–lipid(3)‐based cell reached 60.0 A h kg−1, which corresponds to 192 % relative to its theoretical value for the single‐electron one‐stage process, indicating a two‐electron process.
Determination of Lead, Iron and Nickel in Water and Vegetable Samples after Preconcentration with Aspergillus niger Loaded on Silica Gel
Authors: Baytak Sıtkı , Koçyiǧit Abdurrahim , Türker Ali Rehber 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA method for the determination of Fe(III), Pb(II), and Ni(II) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after preconcentrating on a column containing Aspergillus niger loaded on silica gel 60 (Biosorbent) is described. The effect of experimental parameters such as pH, flow rate of sample solution, and volume of sample solution were investigated on the recovery of the analytes. The effect of interfering ions on the recovery of the analytes has also been investigated. Recoveries of Fe(III), Pb(II), and Ni(II) were (98 ± 2), (98 ± 3), (99 ± 2)% at the 95% confidence level, respectively. For the analytes, 50‐fold preconcentration was obtained. The analytical detection limits for Fe(III), Pb(II), and Ni(II) were 1.7, 5.2, and 1.6 ng/mL, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of trace metals in various water and vegetable samples. The analytes have been determined with relative error lower than 7%.
Systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Zuckerman Dan S. , Clark Jeffrey W. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA proliferation of new cytotoxic and biologic agents has led to improved survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The ability of surgery to increase long‐term survival in patients with liver and/or lung metastases also has been firmly established. It has become increasingly difficult as the numbers and types of treatment options have expanded to identify optimal drug combinations, sequences, and duration and the best way to integrate systemic chemotherapy with potentially curative surgery for metastatic lesions. For this review, the authors examined how recent clinical trials have addressed some pertinent questions regarding the use of systemic chemotherapy and biologic agents in patients with mCRC. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.