bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
B‐cell responses to B‐cell activation factor of the TNF family (BAFF) are impaired in the absence of PI3K delta
Authors: Henley Thomas , Kovesdi Dorottya , Turner Martin 
Published: November 2008

AbstractB‐cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) is critical for the survival and maturation of B cells. The molecular mechanisms by which BAFF regulates the survival of developing B cells are becoming better understood. Recent evidence has begun to emerge demonstrating a role for the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in response to BAFF. However, the importance of the PI3K family for BAFF‐signalling and the effects of loss of PI3K function on BAFF responses are still unknown. We therefore investigated the BAFF‐mediated responses of B cells deficient for the PI3K catalytic subunit P110δ. We find that the loss of P110δ impairs the BAFF‐mediated survival of cultured B cells demonstrating a direct role for this member of the PI3K family in regulating the survival of B cells in response to BAFF. P110δ was required for the growth of B cells in response to BAFF and was critical for the upregulation of the receptor for BAFF following BCR crosslinking. Our findings reveal an important role for p110δ in regulating B‐cell responses to BAFF.
Endogenous humoral autoreactive immune responses to apoptotic cells: Effects on phagocytic uptake, chemotactic migration and antigenic spread
Authors: Das Joy , Arora Pooja , Gracias Donald , Praveen Alagangula , Raj Beena P. J. , Martin Elishba , Pal Rahul 
Published: November 2008

AbstractEnhanced cell death and deficient clearance of cellular debris are thought to contribute to increased self‐antigen exposure in systemic autoimmune disease. To investigate the characteristics of early humoral autoimmune responses, six monoclonal antibodies were generated from two autoimmune prone strains of mice. All antibodies specifically bound the surface of late‐stage apoptotic cells. Similar antibody reactivities were present in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. While IgM antibodies significantly reduced the phagocytic uptake of apoptotic thymocytes, IgG antibodies enhanced uptake. Poly‐reactivity was demonstrated in the recognition of ribonucleoproteins and lipids. An antibody reactive towards lysophosphatidylcholine reversed lysophosphatidylcholine‐mediated inhibition of LPS‐induced TNF‐α production and adversely affected the transmigration of phagocytes towards an apoptotic stimulus. In several instances, CDR were characterized by the accumulation of somatic mutations. Anti‐idiotypic antibodies generated upon immunization bound distinct cellular moieties and self‐antigens. Poly‐specific, apoptotic cell‐reactive autoantibodies can therefore directly impact upon the course of disease by influencing phagocytic uptake of apoptotic cells, by inducing a pro‐inflammatory environment through neutralization of bioactive lipids, by blinding phagocytes to the presence of dying cells through the negation of lipidic chemotactic signals, and by mediating diversification of the humoral autoimmune response via the idiotypic network.
APRIL (TNFSF13) regulates collagen‐induced arthritis, IL‐17 production and Th2 response
Authors: Xiao Yanping , Motomura Seiichi , Podack Eckhard R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA proliferation‐inducing ligand (APRIL or TNFSF13) shares receptors with B‐cell activation factor of the TNF family (BAFF) on B and T cells. Although much is known about the function of APRIL in B cells, its role in T cells remains unclear. Blocking both BAFF and APRIL suggested that BAFF and/or APRIL contributed to collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA); however, the role of APRIL alone in CIA remained unresolved. We show here that, in vitro, our newly generated APRIL−/− mice exhibited increased T‐cell proliferation, enhanced Th2 cytokine production under non‐polarizing conditions, and augmented IL‐13 and IL‐17 production under Th2 polarizing conditions. Upon immunization with OVA and aluminum potassium sulfate, APRIL−/− mice responded with an increased antigen‐specific IgG1 response. We also show that in APRIL−/− mice, the incidence of CIA was significantly reduced compared with WT mice in parallel with diminished levels of antigen‐specific IgG2a autoantibody and IL‐17 production. Our data indicate that APRIL plays an important role in the regulation of cytokine production and that APRIL‐triggered signals contribute to arthritis. Blockade of APRIL thus may be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
From Molecular to Nanostructured Iron Complexes of Amphiphilic Chelators Based on 8‐Hydroxyquinoline Subunits – Evidence of Self‐Assembled Edifices Mimicking Siderophores from Marine Bacteria
Authors: Brandel Jérémy , Torelli Stéphane , Gellon Gisèle , Serratrice Guy , Putaux Jean‐Luc , Pierre Jean‐Louis 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAmphiphilic iron chelators based on the 8‐hydroxyquinoline moiety were synthesized in order to study their potential trend to aggregate into more complex structures. The QS10 and QS4 ligands only differ by the length of the lipophilic alkyl chain (C10 and C4, respectively) tethered to the chelating subunit. Physicochemical investigations in aqueous solution were performed to determine the global stability constants of the iron complexes. At physiological pH, the [Fe(QS10)3]3– predominant species undergoes time‐dependent reorganization, as evidenced by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy: after a few hours of equilibration, iron‐rich micelles arranged in large clustered structures were observed, whereas after several days complexes were assembled into nanospheres with typical diameters of 100 to 200 nm. This pattern is different from the previous reported amphiphilic catechol derivative and highlights the importance of the nature of the chelating subunit and the residual charge on the type of aggregates formed. These results are relevant to mimic the properties of siderophores from marine bacteria. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
A New Class of Modular Oxazoline‐NHC Ligands and Their Coordination Chemistry with Platinum Metals
Authors: Schneider Nathanaëlle , Bellemin‐Laponnaz Stéphane , Wadepohl Hubert , Gade Lutz H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA novel family of enantiomerically pure imidazolium salts [(NHC‐Ox)H]+X– (2a–g) has been generated bearing an oxazoline unit and in which both heterocycles are connected by a (dimethyl)methylene bridge. Deprotonation of the imidazolium salt 2f and subsequent reaction of the resulting free carbene with [Rh(nbd)Cl]2 (nbd = norbornadiene) afforded the neutral rhodium(I) complex [(NHC‐Ox)Rh(nbd)Br] (3) in which the ligand was found to be monodentate. Bromide abstraction lead to the air‐stable cationic complex [(NHC‐Ox)Rh(nbd)]PF6 (4) with the expected bidentate coordination mode of the ligand. Reaction of the imidazolium salt 2d with Karstedt's catalyst and one equivalent of KOtBu gave the trigonal planar platinum(0) complex [(NHC‐Ox)Pt(dvtms)] (5) (dvtms = divinyltetramethylsiloxane), which was oxidized by CsBr3 to give the square planar platinum(II) complex [(NHC‐Ox)PtBr2] (6). Complex [(NHC‐Ox)PtCl2] (7) was directly prepared by reaction of the imidazolium salt with Ag2O followed by the addition of [PtCl2(1,5‐cod)]. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Sensitive fluorescent staining for proteomic analysis of proteins in 1‐D and 2‐D SDS‐PAGE and its comparison with SYPRO Ruby by PMF
Authors: Cong Wei‐Tao , Hwang Sun‐Young , Jin Li‐Tai , Choi Jung‐Kap 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA novel fluorescence‐based method for protein staining on SDS polyacrylamide gel is described. In this method, proteins are stained using counterion (palmatine and SDS) staining solution, which is inexpensive, easy to perform, and does not involve a destaining step. Fixing and staining of proteins using the counterion protocol take less than an hour. As little as 2 ng of protein can be detected. Another interesting feature of the staining protocol described here is the compatibility with MALDI‐TOF MS which shows a similar number of identification score and sequence coverage compared with those of SYPRO Ruby.
A multiway approach for classification and characterization of rabbit liver apothioneins by CE‐ESI‐MS
Authors: Benavente Fernando , Andón Balbina , Giménez Estela , Olivieri Alejandro C. , Barbosa José , Sanz‐Nebot Victoria 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe applied a multiway approach to extract information from the analysis of protein isoforms by CE‐ESI‐MS. Metallothioneins (MT) are low‐molecular‐weight proteins (6–7 kDa) with a strong affinity for heavy‐metal ions. Rabbit liver MT‐I and MT‐II fractions are purified from MT samples. At low pH, the bound metal ions were released from the amino acid structures, giving rise to apothioneins. MT‐I, MT‐II and MT apothioneins, which are complex mixtures of protein isoforms, were analyzed by CE‐ESI‐MS. After data pre‐processing, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) were applied to the data sets. In both cases, the models enabled classification of the protein samples and identification of their characteristic sub‐isoforms using a set of three components. MCR‐ALS required an initial estimate of the pure mass spectra of the three components. Thus, PARAFAC loadings were used to initialize the MCR‐ALS optimization. The classifications obtained with MCR‐ALS were slightly better than those obtained with PARAFAC, probably because MCR‐ALS was less affected by the small migration time shifts of the pre‐processed electropherograms. However, no differences were found between the pure mass spectra of the three components in either model. Finally, MCR‐ALS allowed us to obtain an individual electrophoretic profile of each of the three components for each of the samples analyzed, which proved valuable for characterization and quantification purposes.
Continuous flow assay for the simultaneous measurement of the electrophoretic mobility, catalytic activity and its variation over time of individual molecules of Escherichia coli β‐galactosidase
Authors: Craig Douglas B. , Nichols Ellert R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA CE‐LIF detection‐based assay was developed for the study of individual molecules of Escherichia coli β‐galactosidase. The assay allows for the simultaneous measurement of the electrophoretic mobility, catalytic activity and the variation in activity over time of individual enzyme molecules. In addition to showing the microheterogeneity of the enzyme molecules with respect to mobility and activity, it was demonstrated that at elevated temperatures the enzyme activity fluctuates over time. Incubation at varying temperatures showed that individual β‐galactosidase molecules exhibit differences in their change in activity upon a change in incubation temperature. Incubation at one temperature, followed by an incubation at an elevated temperature and subsequent incubation back at the initial lower temperature caused the molecules to have a different activity than they had initially. Additionally, thermal denaturation was found to cause a rapid and complete loss of activity.
The role of corporate culture in the process of strategic human resource management: Evidence from Chinese enterprises
Authors: Wei Li‐qun , Liu Jun , Zhang Yichi , Chiu Randy K. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractExtant research on strategic human resource management (SHRM) has primarily focused on the content of SHRM (best practices, bundles of practices, etc.) and its effect on firm performance. Little research has examined the SHRM process so as to better understand how SHRM is adopted and implemented and what impact it has on organizational processes and outcomes. This article examines the role of corporate culture in the SHRM adoption and implementation process. Empirical results from a sample of 223 Chinese enterprises indicate that corporate culture has an impact on the adoption of SHRM, and that different types of culture affect the SHRM process differently. Specifically, group and developmental cultures have positive effects on the adoption of SHRM, but the effect of hierarchical culture is not significant. Developmental culture is also found to have a direct effect on firm performance. This study offers significant implications for HRM in China and other dynamic and emerging economies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluating the effect of scale in flood inundation modelling in urban environments
Authors: Fewtrell T. J. , Bates P. D. , Horritt M. , Hunter N. M. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractCellular‐based approaches for flood inundation modelling have been extensively calibrated and evaluated for the prediction of flood flows on rural river reaches. However, there has only been limited application of these approaches to urban environments, where the need for flood management is greatest. Practical application of two‐dimensional (2D) flood inundation models is often limited by computation time and processing power on standard desktop PCs when attempting to resolve flows on the high‐resolution grids necessary to replicate urban features. Consequently, it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of coarse grids to represent flood flows through urban environments. To examine these effects, LISFLOOD‐FP, a 2D storage cell model, is applied to hypothetical flooding scenarios in Greenfields, Glasgow. Grid resampling techniques in GIS software packages are evaluated and a bilinear gridding technique appears to provide the most accurate and physically intuitive results. A gridding method maintaining sharp elevation changes at building interfaces and neighbouring land is presented and estimates of the discretization noise associated with the coarse resolution grids suggest little improvement over current gridding methods. The variation in model results from the friction sensitivity analysis suggests a non‐stationary response to Manning's n with changing model resolution. Model results suggests that a coarse resolution model for urban applications is limited by the representation of urban media in coarse model grids. Furthermore, critical length scales related to building dimensions and building separation distances exist in urban areas that determine maximum possible grid resolutions for hydraulic models of urban flooding. Copyright ©, 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of upland land management on flooding: results from an improved pasture hillslope
Authors: Marshall Miles R. , Francis Oliver J. , Frogbrook Zoe L. , Jackson Bethanna M. , McIntyre Neil , Reynolds Brian , Solloway Imogen , Wheater Howard S. , Chell Joanne 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn response to growing concern about impacts of upland agricultural land management on flood risk, an intensely instrumented experimental catchment has been established at Pontbren, a sheep‐farmed headwater catchment of the River Severn, UK. Primary aims are to develop understanding of the processes governing flood generation and the associated impacts of land management practices, and to bridge the gap between process understanding and ability to predict effects on downstream flooding. To achieve this, the experiment is designed to operate at plot (∼100 m2), hillslope (∼0·1 km2) and small catchment scale (∼10 km2). Hillslope‐scale data, from an under‐drained, agriculturally ‘improved’ pasture, show that drain flow is a dominant runoff process. However, depending on antecedent moisture conditions, overland flow may exceed drain flow rates and can be an important contributor to peak flow runoff at the hillslope‐scale. Flow, soil tension data and tracer tests confirm the importance of macropores and presence of perched water tables under ‘normal’ wet conditions. Comparisons of pasture runoff with that from within a 10 year‐old tree shelterbelt show significantly reduced overland flow due to the presence of trees and/or absence of sheep. Comparisons of soil hydraulic properties show significant increases in hydraulic conductivity and saturated moisture content of soil under trees compared to adjacent improved pasture. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring the impact of backflow and dredging on water clarity using MODIS images of Poyang Lake, China
Authors: Cui Lijuan , Wu Guofeng , Liu Yaolin 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackflow from the Yangtze River to Poyang Lake occurs frequently due to their different flood seasons. Based on the reasons for and time period of backflow, this study estimated the spatial‐temporal extent and the change of water clarity influenced by sediments within the backflow and northern Poyang Lake using time‐series Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images. The results revealed that the sediments from backflows together with dredging activities in the northern Poyang Lake not only affected the northern Poyang Lake, but also influenced the central and southern Poyang Lake and the Poyang Lake national nature reserve, and resulted in great decline of water clarity in the regions influenced, which could seriously affect the lake ecosystem. The results indicated that MODIS images have potential for monitoring the distribution of sediments from backflows and dredging activities. However, the potential is limited because of the frequent cloud cover in the study area and the characteristics of backflow itself. The dredging activity combined with backflows might have great negative impacts on the Poyang Lake ecosystem, and it would be worthwhile to explore the possible impacts in order to develop scientific knowledge to support the decisions, which need to be made by the responsible authorities for deciding how to rationally manage this unique lake ecosystem Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple method using climatic variables to estimate canopy temperature, sensible and latent heat fluxes in a winter wheat field on the North China Plain
Authors: Li L. , Yu Q. , Su Z. , van der Tol C. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractEstimation of evapotranspiration from a crop field is of great importance for detecting crop water status and proper irrigation scheduling. The Penman–Monteith equation is widely viewed as the best method to estimate evapotranspiration but it requires canopy resistance, which is very difficult to determine in practice. This paper presents a simple method simplified from the Penman–Monteith equation for estimating canopy temperature (Tc). The proposed method is a biophysically‐sound extended version of that proposed by Todorovic. The estimated canopy temperature is used to calculate sensible heat flux, and then latent heat flux is calculated as the residual of the surface energy balance. An eddy covariance (EC) system and an infrared thermometer (IRT) were installed in an irrigated winter wheat field on the North China Plain in 2004 and 2005, to measure Tc, and sensible and latent heat fluxes were used to test the modified Todorovic model (MTD). The results indicate that the original Todorovic model (TD) severely underestimates Tc and sensible heat flux, and hence severely overestimates the latent heat flux. However, the MTD model has good capability for estimating Tc, and gives acceptable results for latent heat flux at both half‐hourly and daily scales. The MTD model results also agreed well with the evapotranspiration calculated from the measured Tc. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parallel evolution of placentation in Australian scincid lizards
Authors: Stewart James R. , Thompson Michael B. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractViviparity and placental nutrient provision have evolved on numerous occasions in squamate reptiles. Five lineages are substantially placentotrophic and two of these, the genera Pseudemoia and Niveoscincus, are closely related scincid lizards that have independently evolved viviparity and placentation. Histological comparison of placental ontogeny of placentotrophic species of these genera with development of the extraembryonic membranes of oviparous outgroups indicates a high level of homoplasy. The terminal placental stage of each lineage consists of an omphaloplacenta (yolk sac placenta) and a chorioallantoic placenta and each type of placentation consists of both identical and distinguishable characters. We infer three derived placental functions based on morphology and suggest that the level of structural similarity between lineages results from different evolutionary patterns. Functional characteristics include (1) respiratory exchange regions of chorioallantoic placentation, (2) nutritive exchange regions of the omphaloplacenta, and (3) localized sites of nutritive exchange in the chorioallantoic placenta. Structural similarity in the chorioallantoic placentae for respiration likely resulted from parallel evolutionary trajectories driven by selection to maintain functions characteristic of the eggs of oviparous ancestors. Structural similarity in omphaloplacentation is explainable by selection for nutritional transport developmentally constrained by formation of the isolated yolk mass complex, whereas nutritive sites in the chorioallantoic placentae evolved in the absence of genetic or developmental constraints and differ structurally. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 312B:590–602, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Disentangling the proximate factors of deforestation: The case of the Monarch butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico
Authors: Honey‐Rosés J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractUnderstanding the causes of environmental degradation can lead to more effective forest management. Often, the discussion about the causes of deforestation confuses issues across spatial and temporal scales. Such is the case in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) in Mexico where various hypotheses compete to explain the deforestation observed there. This paper analyzes these hypotheses using the analytical approaches developed by the literature on environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. This paper first distinguishes between proximate factors and underlying socioeconomic forces. It then reviews recent deforestation studies to evaluate the relative impact of each proximate factor observed in the MBBR. Illegal logging stands out as the factor with the most empirical support. In contrast, agricultural clearing, while frequently cited as major driver of forest loss, has much less empirical backing. These conclusions update the deforestation diagnosis for this protected area and suggest that more attention should be directed at understanding the illicit timber trade. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct Monitoring of the Cross‐Over from Diffusion‐Controlled to Decomposition‐Controlled Initiation in Free Radical Polymerization
Authors: Kreft Tomasz , Reed Wayne F. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractHigh‐resolution free radical polymerization kinetics was obtained using automatic continuous online monitoring of polymerization reactions (ACOMP). A sharp cross‐over from diffusion‐controlled initiation at low [monomer] to initiator decomposition control at higher [monomer] was found, and agrees with the quasi‐steady state approximation (QSSA). The cross‐over was also measurable within individual experiments. The kinetic implications for polymer weight average molecular weight $\overline M _{\rm w}$ and intrinsic viscosity (η)w were analyzed, and the QSSA‐predicted trends for the ratios of final to initial $\overline M _{\rm w}$, and (η)w, confirmed. Analytical expressions for conversion are contrasted, and it was found that first‐order fits, while not fully justified theoretically, nonetheless are robust, which simplifies calculations needed for controlling molecular weight distributions in “semi‐batch” reactions, where reagents are fed to the reactor through programmable flow profiles. At the low monomer concentrations used, there was no evidence that propagation or termination rate coefficients changed during the reactions.magnified image