bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling increased soil cohesion due to roots with EUROSEM
Authors: Baets S. De , Torri D. , Poesen J. , Salvador M. P. , Meersmans J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAs organic root exudates cause soil particles to adhere firmly to root surfaces, roots significantly increase soil strength and therefore also increase the resistance of the topsoil to erosion by concentrated flow. This paper aims at contributing to a better prediction of the root effects on soil erosion rates in the EUROSEM model, as the input values accounting for roots, presented in the user manual, do not account for differences in root density or root architecture. Recent research indicates that small changes in root density or differences in root architecture considerably influence soil erosion rates during concentrated flow. The approach for incorporating the root effects into this model is based on a comparison of measured soil detachment rates for bare and for root‐permeated topsoil samples with predicted erosion rates under the same flow conditions using the erosion equation of EUROSEM. Through backwards calculation, transport capacity efficiencies and corresponding soil cohesion values can be assessed for bare and root‐permeated topsoils respectively. The results are promising and present soil cohesion values that are in accordance with reported values in the literature for the same soil type (silt loam). The results show that grass roots provide a larger increase in soil cohesion as compared with tap‐rooted species and that the increase in soil cohesion is not significantly different under wet and dry soil conditions, either for fibrous root systems or for tap root systems. Power and exponential relationships are established between measured root density values and the corresponding calculated soil cohesion values, reflecting the effects of roots on the resistance of the topsoil to concentrated flow incision. These relationships enable one to incorporate the root effect into the soil erosion model EUROSEM, through adapting the soil cohesion input value. A scenario analysis shows that the contribution of roots to soil cohesion is very important for preventing soil loss and reducing runoff volume. The increase in soil shear strength due to the binding effect of roots on soil particles is two orders of magnitude lower as compared with soil reinforcement achieved when roots mobilize their tensile strength during soil shearing and root breakage. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Longitudinal assessment of psychotherapeutic day hospital treatment for elderly patients with depression
Authors: Canuto Alessandra , Meiler‐Mititelu Corina , Herrmann François R. , Delaloye Christophe , Giannakopoulos Panteleimon , Weber Kerstin 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjectiveAlthough previous studies suggested that psychiatric day hospital care is a valuable alternative to inpatient treatment, its effectiveness for elderly patients is disputed. Small number of cases, poor definition of the psychotherapeutic setting, and absence of systematic assessment at different time points may explain the observed discrepancies. We performed an assessment of a psychiatric day hospital treatment combining individual and group psychotherapy in a series of 122 elderly depressed outpatients.MethodsThe Geriatric Depression Scale, Short Form Survey, as well as a Therapeutic Community Assessment Scale and Group Evaluation Scale were repeated at admission, 3, 6, 12 months and discharge. The day hospital program was based on psychotherapeutic treatment combining individual and group settings. All patients presented with major depression or a depressive episode of bipolar disease. Variables included severity of depressive symptoms, quality of life, adhesion to therapeutic community treatment and progress in groups of psychotherapy, art‐therapy, and psychomotricity.ResultsThere was a significant reduction of depressive symptoms, and improvement in mental quality of life across all time points studied. Adhesion to therapeutic community increased from admission to discharge. This was also the case for the progress in group therapy for all three groups used, yet the evolution of this parameter at intermediate time points was highly variable. Neither demographic characteristics, nor pharmacological treatment or presence of stressful life events predicted the clinical improvement.ConclusionsPsychotherapeutic care program in day hospitals may improve clinical status and quality of life in elderly depressed patients. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decreased hippocampal cell proliferation correlates with increased expression of BMP4 in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Li Dabing , Tang Jun , Xu Haiwei , Fan Xiaotang , Bai Yun , Yang Li 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAlterations in hippocampal cell proliferation have been identified in transgenic (tg) mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Previously, we have demonstrated that endogenous level of BMP4 in the dentate gyrus (DG) affects hippocampal cell proliferation in a pentylentetrazol kindling‐induced epilepsy model. In the present study, we evaluated hippocampal cell proliferation and BMP4 mRNA level in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 tg mouse, a well‐established mouse model in which coexpression of familial AD‐linked APP “Swedish” (APPswe) and PS1ΔE9 polypeptide variants leads to Aβ deposition throughout the hippocampus and cortex. The number of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)‐labeled cells in the DG subgranular zone (DG‐SGZ) of 9‐ and 12‐month‐old APPswe/PS1ΔE9 tg mice was markedly reduced compared with age‐matched nontransgenic littermates, whereas, the BMP4 mRNA level was significantly increased in the tg mice. There was a significant correlation between the increased BMP4 mRNA expression and the decreased number of BrdU labeled cells. After effectively blocking the expression of endogenous BMP4 with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODN), the decrease in hippocampal cell proliferation in the DG‐SGZ and hilus of 9‐ and 12‐month‐old tg mice was reversed. These findings suggest that the increased expression of BMP4 mRNA within the DG of the hippocampus may contribute to the decrease in cell proliferation in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 tg mice. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Opposite impact of NKG2D genotype by lifestyle exposure to risk of aerodigestive tract cancer among Japanese
Authors: Furue Hiroki , Kumimoto Hiroshi , Matsuo Keitaro , Suzuki Takeshi , Hasegawa Yasuhisa , Shinoda Masayuki , Sugimura Tomotaka , Mitsudo Kenji , Tohnai Iwai , Ueda Minoru , Tajima Kazuo , Ishizaki Kanji 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIt was reported that there are 2 haplotypes in natural killer complex (NKC) region. One of them could be divided by NKG2D polymorphism into 2 haplotype alleles (high and low natural killer (NK) cell activity) and were associated with overall cancer risks. However, its impact on a specific cancer is unclear. Therefore, by a case‐control study, we analyzed the association between NKG2D genotype and aerodigestive tract cancer risk. Subjects were 502 aerodigestive tract cancer patients (276 with head and neck, 226 with esophageal) and 1,004 sex‐age matched noncancer controls. Exposures to 2 lifestyle factors, smoking and drinking, were evaluated by a self‐administered questionnaire. The genotype of NKG2D was determined by the TaqMan method, and its impact was assessed by multivariable logistic regression models. Association strength was measured by the odds ratio (OR) and its confidence intervals (CI). An overall analysis revealed no statistically significant association between NKG2D genotype and the risk of aerodigestive tract cancer. However, we found protective effects of G allele among never smokers (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.15–0.84) and never drinkers (0.42; 0.19–0.94). In contrary, increased risks were observed for G allele among heavy smokers (5.92; 3.23–10.85) and heavy drinkers (4.13; 2.29–7.47). Interactions between NKG2D genotype and lifestyle exposure were statistically significant (interaction p = 0.001 for smoking, 0.005 for drinking). The same trends were observed in both sexes, and in head and neck cancer and esophageal cancer independently. These results suggest an opposite impact of NKG2D genotype by lifestyle exposure to the risk of aerodigestive tract cancer among a Japanese population. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Metastatic cancer cells with macrophage properties: Evidence from a new murine tumor model
Authors: Huysentruyt Leanne C. , Mukherjee Purna , Banerjee Dia , Shelton Laura M. , Seyfried Thomas N. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMetastasis is the process by which cancer cells disseminate from the primary neoplasm and invade surrounding tissue and distant organs, and is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality for cancer patients. Most conventional cancer therapies are ineffective in managing tumor metastasis. This has been due in large part to the absence of in vivo metastatic models that represent the full spectrum of metastatic disease. Here we identify 3 new spontaneously arising tumors in the inbred VM mouse strain, which has a relatively high incidence of CNS tumors. Two of the tumors (VM‐M2 and VM‐M3) reliably expressed all of the major biological processes of metastasis to include local invasion, intravasation, immune system survival, extravasation and secondary tumor formation involving liver, kidney, spleen, lung and brain. Metastasis was assessed through visual organ inspection, histology, immunohistochemistry and bioluminescence imaging. The metastatic VM tumor cells also expressed multiple properties of macrophages including morphological appearance, surface adhesion, phagocytosis, total lipid composition (glycosphingolipids and phospholipids) and gene expression (CD11b, Iba1, F4/80, CD68, CD45 and CXCR4). The third tumor (VM‐NM1) grew rapidly and expressed properties of neural stem/progenitor cells, but was neither invasive nor metastatic. Our data indicate that spontaneous brain tumors can arise from different cell types in VM mice and that metastatic cancer can represent a disease of macrophage‐like cells similar to those described in several human metastatic cancers. The new VM tumor model will be useful for defining the biological processes of cancer metastasis and for evaluating potential therapies for tumor management. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A celecoxib derivative inhibits focal adhesion signaling and induces caspase‐8‐dependent apoptosis in human acute myeloid leukemia cells
Authors: Casanova Isolda , Bosch Rosa , Lasa Adriana , Parreño Matilde , Céspedes María Virtudes , Brunet Salut , Nomdedéu Josep F. , Mangues María Antònia , Sierra Jorge , Mangues Ramon 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMost acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), including those with c‐Kit or FLT3 mutations, show enhanced anchorage independent growth associated with constitutive activation of focal adhesion proteins. Moreover, these alterations increase cell survival, inhibit apoptosis and are associated with poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, the induction of apoptosis by selective inhibition of focal adhesion signaling may represent a novel anti‐AML therapy. Here, we have evaluated the antitumor effect and the mechanism of action of celecoxib and E7123, a non‐Cox‐2 inhibitor derivative, in a panel of human AML cell lines and bone marrow mononuclear cells from AML patients. Both compounds induce cell death by inhibiting focal adhesion signaling through p130Cas, FAK and c‐Src, leading to caspase‐8 dependent apoptosis. This mechanism of action differs from that of classical cytotoxic drugs or of other targeted therapies, and is amenable to rational drug development. Therefore, both drugs could be developed as AML therapeutics; nevertheless, E7123 shows more activity than celecoxib against AML cells, and may not present its Cox‐2 dependent cardiovascular toxicity. Finally, our results support the evaluation of celecoxib in AML patients, and the preclinical evaluation of E7123, before its possible clinical testing. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Studies of the cellular uptake of hydrogel nanospheres and microspheres by phagocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells
Authors: Nguyen Kytai Truong , Shukla Kajal P. , Moctezuma Miriam , Braden Arthur R. C. , Zhou Jun , Hu Zhibing , Tang Liping 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIntensive research efforts have been placed on the development of nanospheres for targeted drug delivery for treating a variety of diseases, including coronary restenosis, cancer, and inflammatory reactions. Although most of these drug‐bearing spheres are delivered via intravenous administration, little is known about the effect of sphere physical characteristics on the responses of vascular and blood cells. To find the answer, this work was aimed to investigate the cellular uptake of nanosized (100 nm) and microsized hydrogel spheres (1 μm) made of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) by vascular cells and phagocytes under various flow conditions in vitro. We found that the cellular uptake of nanospheres depended on incubation times and sphere concentrations as well as on the introduced shear stress levels of the medium. Measurements of the intracellular‐released fluorescence and confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed that nanospheres were internalized by endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells more than microspheres, whereas microspheres were rapidly taken up by phagocytes, especially at high concentration. Our results strongly suggest that hydrogel nanospheres are more effective as an intravascular delivery system compared to microspheres in the terms of vascular cellular uptake and biocompatibility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Electrosynthesis of hydrogel films on metal substrates for the development of coatings with tunable drug delivery performances
Authors: De Giglio E. , Cometa S. , Satriano C. , Sabbatini L. , Zambonin P. G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractNovel polyacrylates‐based hydrogel thin films were prepared by electrochemical polymerization, a new method to obtain hydrogels directly onto metal substrates. 2‐Hydroxy‐ethyl‐methacrylate (HEMA), a macromer poly (ethylene‐glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA) and PEGDA copolymerized with acrylic acid (AA) were used to obtain hydrogels. The electrosynthesized coatings were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, to assess their surface chemical composition, and by water content determination measurements, to characterize the swelling behavior. In particular, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring was used to evaluate the pH‐dependency of the swelling for AA‐containing hydrogels. Moreover, a model protein (bovine serum albumin) and a model drug (caffeine) were entrapped within the hydrogel coatings during electrosynthesis, to examine the release performances and mechanisms of the electrosynthesized hydrogels. It was observed that all the examined polymers showed significant release properties and, in particular, AA‐containing hydrogel films confirmed a strong pH‐dependence as expected. These coatings seem to be promising in orthopedic field for in situ drug delivery applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Cationic supramolecules consisting of oligoethylenimine‐grafted α‐cyclodextrins threaded on poly(ethylene oxide) for gene delivery
Authors: Yang Chuan , Li Hongzhe , Wang Xin , Li Jun 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn this study, three cationic polyrotaxanes composed of multiple oligoethylenimine‐grafted α‐cyclodextrin rings threaded on a poly(ethylene oxide) chain have been synthesized and characterized, and investigated for gene delivery. All three cationic polyrotaxanes could efficiently compact pDNA into small nanoparticles, with diameters ranging from 100 to 200 nm. In both BHK‐21 and MES‐SA cell lines, the transfection efficiency mediated by the cationic polyrotaxanes were comparable or even higher than that of branched polyethylenimine (PEI) with a molecular weight of 25 kDa, which is one of the most efficient gene‐delivery vectors to date. Moreover, the cationic polyrotaxanes showed much lower cytotoxicity than branched PEI (25 kDa). Hence, these cationic poly rotaxanes have high potentials as new carriers for gene delivery. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Factors influencing collagen biosynthesis
Authors: Kavitha O. , Thampan Raghava Varman 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe importance of collagen, the major structural protein of animal kingdom, in maintaining the normal structure and function of the skin is well known. The same property is exploited widely in medical and industrial fields in finding agents, which could influence the synthesis of this protein. In this context in vitro production of collagen is of high significance. A literature survey has been made to analyze the various factors that influence collagen biosynthesis. There are various physical and biological factors that can either induce or inhibit collagen biosynthesis at various levels of gene expression. However reports concentrating on the effects of plants‐derived compounds in stimulating collagen synthesis are scanty. Since extracts of many plants are known to be beneficial in the wound healing process, plants‐derived compounds will have a definite role in the regulation of collagen synthesis. The present study emphasizes the need for unearthing the role of these plant derived factors on collagen synthesis which will be of immense application in the medical field. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 1150–1160, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protease production by Aspergillus oryzae in solid‐state fermentation using agroindustrial substrates
Authors: Chutmanop Jarun , Chuichulcherm Sinsupha , Chisti Yusuf , Srinophakun Penjit 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: An inexpensive and readily available agroindustrial substrate such as rice bran can be used to produce cheap commercial enzymes by solid‐state fermentation. This work investigates the production of food‐grade proteases by solid‐state fermentation using readily available Thai rice bran.RESULTS: A local strain of Aspergillus oryzae (Ozykat‐1) was used to produce proteases. Rice bran used alone proved to have poor substrate morphology (insufficient porosity) for satisfactory solid‐state fermentation. A certain amount of wheat bran was necessary to improve the morphology of the substrate. The following variables affected protease production: substrate composition, initial moisture content and initial pH. A high protease activity (∼1200 U g−1 dry solids) was obtained on a substrate that had a wheat bran to rice bran ratio of 0.33 by dry weight, a moisture content of 50%, initial pH of 7.5, and incubation temperature of 30 °C.CONCLUSION: Nutritionally, rice bran used alone was as good a substrate as mixed bran for producing protease, but rice bran had poor morphological characteristics for consistent fermentation. A substrate that had a wheat bran to rice bran ratio of 0.33 by dry weight was best for producing protease. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Age‐related changes in the human thymus studied with scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Cavallotti Carlo , D'Andrea Vito , Tonnarini Gianfranco , Cavallotti Chiara , Bruzzone Paolo 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis investigation describes some morphological, age‐related changes in different compartments and cells of the human thymus. Scanning electron microscopic observations were done on human thymus samples obtained from four young and eight elderly patients during thoracic surgery and/or diagnostic biopsy of the thymus, after receiving authorization from the Ethical Committee of our university. The morphological data were submitted to quantitative image analysis so as to obtain quantitative results. Subsequently, the related values were used for statistical analysis. Our findings demonstrate that (1) all thymus compartments (subcapsular spaces, cortical, medullar, thymus microenvironment) contain numerous thymocytes even after the thymus has aged. (2) In older humans, residual thymus lymphoid islets contain, in addition to fatty cells and/or fibrous cells, also the same types of resident and nonresident cells (permanent and moving cells) that are found in young and adult subjects. (3) Endothelial cells of thymus microvessels contain numerous gaps. These gaps are tight in young subjects and become loose with age. (4) Thymocytes, in older subjects, are always found near these loose endothelial gaps of thymus microvessels. (5) While thymus cortical microvessels are provided with pericytes and/or periarteriolar spaces, microvessels of the thymus medullar are free of such spaces. Our morphological and quantitative results lead us to consider the possibility that the thymus fraction of resident and permanent cells (including thymocytes and reticular epithelial cells) is larger in younger subjects compared with older ones. The endothelial loose gaps of thymus microvessels, in older subjects, can allow the bidirectional transit of thymocytes through the wall of the said microvessels. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Air temperature impacts over Eastern North America and Europe associated with low‐frequency North Atlantic SST variability
Authors: Arguez Anthony , O'Brien James J. , Smith Shawn R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAir temperature anomalies over eastern North America and Europe are analysed during the extreme phases of the two leading low‐frequency modes of North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) during the 1906–2005 period. The leading mode of SST is a multi‐decadal signal—commonly referred to as the Atlantic multi‐decadal oscillation—with uniform polarity over the North Atlantic. Air temperature anomalies over the eastern United States and Northern Europe during extreme phases of this mode are of the same sign as the corresponding SST anomalies. The most intense air temperature impacts occur in summer months. The second mode exhibits considerable spectral energy in the quasi‐decadal (∼12 year) range. The spatial signature and associated air temperature anomalies of mode 2 are strongly correlated with both SST and land temperature impacts of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Intervertebral disc degeneration in a naturally occurring primate model: Radiographic and biomechanical evidence
Authors: Nuckley David J. , Kramer Patricia A. , Del Rosario Adeline , Fabro Nathan , Baran Szczepan , Ching Randal P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractClassic degenerative disc disease is a serious health problem worldwide, whose etiological basis—mechanical stimulus, biochemical changes, or natural aging—is poorly understood. Animal models are critical to the study of degenerative disc disease initiation and progression and for attempts to regulate, ameliorate, or eliminate it. The macaque represents a primate model with natural disc degeneration that might serve to advance the field; we aimed to provide radiographic (morphologic) and biomechanical evidence of natural disc degeneration in this model. A factorial study design was used to examine the relationship between the radiographic appearance of disc degeneration and its biomechanical consequences. Eighteen macaques of advanced age (22.3 ± 0.9 years) had radiographs taken to assess the degree of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc degeneration using a standard atlas method. Each spine was harvested and dynamic biomechanical tests were performed. Advancing disc degeneration (degree of disc space narrowing and osteophytosis) was associated with increased stiffness, decreased energy absorption, and increased natural frequency of the intervertebral disc. These associations linking the dynamics of the intervertebral disc and its degree of degeneration are similar to those found in humans. Our results indicate the macaque model with morphologic and biomechanical efficacy could aid in understanding the progression of disc degeneration and in developing therapeutic strategies to prevent or inhibit its course. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1283–1288, 2008