bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diesel exhaust particles increase IL-1β-induced human β-defensin expression via NF-κB-mediated pathway in human lung epithelial cells
Authors: Nam Hae Yun , Ahn Eun-Kyung , Kim Hyung Jung , Lim Young , Lee Chun Beoun , Lee Kyo Young , Vallyathan Val 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackgroundHuman β-defensin (hBD)-2, antimicrobial peptide primarily induced in epithelial cells, is a key factor in the innate immune response of the respiratory tract. Several studies showed increased defensin levels in both inflammatory lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and infectious diseases. Recently, epidemiologic studies have demonstrated acute and serious adverse effects of particulate air pollution on respiratory health, especially in people with pre-existing inflammatory lung disease. To elucidate the effect of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on pulmonary innate immune response, we investigated the hBD-2 and interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression to DEP exposure in interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)-stimulated A549 cells.ResultsIL-1β markedly up-regulated the hBD-2 promoter activity, and the subsequent DEP exposure increased dose-dependently the expression of hBD-2 and inflammatory cytokine IL-8 at the transcriptional level. In addition, DEP further induced the NF-κB activation in IL-1β-stimulated A549 cells more rapidly than in unstimulated control cells, which was showed by nuclear translocation of p65 NF-κB and degradation of IκB-α. The experiment using two NF-κB inhibitors, PDTC and MG132, confirmed that this increase of hBD-2 expression following DEP exposure was regulated through NF-κB-mediated pathway.ConclusionThese results demonstrated that DEP exposure increases the expression of antimicrobial peptide and inflammatory cytokine at the transcriptional level in IL-1β-primed A549 epithelial cells and suggested that the increase is mediated at least partially through NF-κB activation. Therefore, DEP exposure may contribute to enhance the airway-responsiveness especially on the patients suffering from chronic respiratory disease.
Three minimum tile paths from bacterial artificial chromosome libraries of the soybean (Glycine max cv. 'Forrest'): tools for structural and functional genomics
Authors: Shultz JL , Yesudas C , Yaegashi S , Afzal AJ , Kazi S , Lightfoot DA 
Published: May 2006

Abstract

Background
The creation of minimally redundant tile paths (hereafter MTP) from contiguous sets of overlapping clones (hereafter contigs) in physical maps is a critical step for structural and functional genomics. Build 4 of the physical map of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. 'Forrest') showed the 1 Gbp haploid genome was composed of 0.7 Gbp diploid, 0.1 Gbp tetraploid and 0.2 Gbp octoploid regions. Therefore, the size of the unique genome was about 0.8 Gbp. The aim here was to create MTP sub-libraries from the soybean cv. Forrest physical map builds 2 to 4.

Results
The first MTP, named MTP2, was 14,208 clones (of mean insert size 140 kbp) picked from the 5,597 contigs of build 2. MTP2 was constructed from three BAC libraries (Bam HI (B), Hin dIII (H) and Eco RI (E) inserts). MTP2 encompassed the contigs of build 3 that derived from build 2 by a series of contig merges. MTP2 encompassed 2 Gbp compared to the soybean haploid genome of 1 Gbp and does not distinguish regions by ploidy. The second and third MTPs, called MTP4BH and MTP4E, were each based on build 4. Each was semi-automatically selected from 2,854 contigs. MTP4BH was 4,608 B and H insert clones of mean size 173 kbp in the large (27.6 kbp) T-DNA vector pCLD04541. MTP4BH was suitable for plant transformation and functional genomics. MTP4E was 4,608 BAC clones with large inserts (mean 175 kbp) in the small (7.5 kbp) pECBAC1 vector. MTP4E was suitable for DNA sequencing. MTP4BH and MTP4E clones each encompassed about 0.8 Gbp, the 0.7 Gbp diploid regions and 0.05 Gbp each from the tetraploid and octoploid regions. MTP2 and MTP4BH were used for BAC-end sequencing, EST integration, micro-satellite integration into the physical map and high information content fingerprinting. MTP4E will be used for genome sequence by pooled genomic clone index.

Conclusion
Each MTP and associated BES will be useful to deconvolute and ultimately finish the whole genome shotgun sequence of soybean.
The short coiled-coil domain-containing protein UNC-69 cooperates with UNC-76 to regulate axonal outgrowth and normal presynaptic organization in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Su Cheng-Wen , Tharin Suzanne , Jin Yishi , Wightman Bruce , Spector Mona , Meili David , Tsung Nancy , Rhiner Christa , Bourikas Dimitris , Stoeckli Esther , Garriga Gian , Horvitz H Robert , Hengartner Michael O 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Background
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been used extensively to identify the genetic requirements for proper nervous system development and function. Key to this process is the direction of vesicles to the growing axons and dendrites, which is required for growth-cone extension and synapse formation in the developing neurons. The contribution and mechanism of membrane traffic in neuronal development are not fully understood, however.

Results
We show that the C. elegans gene unc-69 is required for axon outgrowth, guidance, fasciculation and normal presynaptic organization. We identify UNC-69 as an evolutionarily conserved 108-amino-acid protein with a short coiled-coil domain. UNC-69 interacts physically with UNC-76, mutations in which produce similar defects to loss of unc-69 function. In addition, a weak reduction-of-function allele, unc-69(ju69), preferentially causes mislocalization of the synaptic vesicle marker synaptobrevin. UNC-69 and UNC-76 colocalize as puncta in neuronal processes and cooperate to regulate axon extension and synapse formation. The chicken UNC-69 homolog is highly expressed in the developing central nervous system, and its inactivation by RNA interference leads to axon guidance defects.

Conclusion
We have identified a novel protein complex, composed of UNC-69 and UNC-76, which promotes axonal growth and normal presynaptic organization in C. elegans. As both proteins are conserved through evolution, we suggest that the mammalian homologs of UNC-69 and UNC-76 (SCOCO and FEZ, respectively) may function similarly.
Chairperson and Faculty Gender in Academic Emergency Medicine Departments
Authors: Cheng David , Promes Susan , Clem Kathleen , Shah Anand , Pietrobon Ricardo 
Published: May 2006

Objectives:
Despite the influx of female physicians in academic medicine departments, there are a small number of women in faculty and departmental leadership positions in emergency medicine (EM). The objective of this study was to determine if the gender of the chairperson of an academic EM department is associated with the gender of the residency program director (RPD) and gender proportion of its faculty.
Methods:
This was a retrospective analysis of 133 academic EM departments using the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine online residency catalog, program Web site, or e‐mail. Main outcome measures were proportion of female EM faculty and gender of the RPD.
Results:
Data were available for 133 academic departments. Women chaired 7.5% (n= 10) of departments and comprised 22.3% of all faculty and 15.0% (n= 20) of RPD positions. EM departments that were chaired by women had a significantly higher percentage of female faculty compared with those led by men (31% vs. 22%; p = 0.01). Similarly, departments that were chaired by women had a significantly higher proportion of female RPDs compared with those chaired by men (50% vs. 12%; p < 0.01). Compared with departments chaired by men, the RPD was 5.0 times (95% confidence interval = 1.9 to 27.8; p < 0.01) more likely to be a woman if the chairperson was also a woman.
Conclusions:
An academic EM department was more likely to have a higher proportion of female faculty and a female RPD when the department chairperson was female.
Pyrene-modified DNA Aptamer as a Fluorescent Biosensor with High Affinity and Specificity for ATP Sensing
Authors: Kamekawa Nobuyuki , Shimomura Yukinori , Nakamura Mitsunobu , Yamana Kazushige 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
The fluorescence properties of anti-ATP apatmers labeled with a pyrenylmethyl group at the 2′-positin were investigated. The labeling of the nucleoside residue at the stem region adjacent to the ligand-binding pocket gave a fluorescent biosensor having high affinity yet retaining its specificity for ATP.
Oxygen Atom Transfer Catalytic Property of Oxorhenium(V) Complex with 2-Methylquinolin-8-ylamide and Tetrachlorocatecholate
Authors: Ohashi Tetuya , Miyashita Yoshitaro , Fujisawa Kiyoshi , Okamoto Ken-ichi 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
New oxorhenium(V) complex was prepared and characterized by an X-ray crystal analysis. The complex showed characteristic releasing property of monodentate ligand and high oxygen atom transfer catalytic activity from 2,6-lutidine-N-oxide to PPh3.
Dye Sensitization of ZnO by Unsymmetrical Squaraine Dyes Suppressing Aggregation
Authors: Otsuka Atsuhiro , Funabiki Kazumasa , Sugiyama Naoyuki , Yoshida Tsukasa , Minoura Hideki , Matsui Masaki 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
We have developed an efficient, cyan-colored, and novel squaraine-dye-sensitized ZnO solar cell, producing a maximum incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 59% at 630 nm. The solar cell sensitized by Sq 3 having bulky groups to prevent aggregation of dyes has achieved a 1.5% solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) with a short-circuit current density of 4.04 mA cm−2, an open-circuit photovoltage of 0.61 V, and a fill factor of 0.61 under standard AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm−2).
Increased Integrity of Free Circulating DNA in Sera of Patients with Colorectal or Periampullary Cancer: Direct Quantitative PCR for ALU Repeats
Authors: Umetani Naoyuki , Kim Joseph , Hiramatsu Suzanne , Reber Howard A , Hines Oscar J , Bilchik Anton J , Hoon Dave S B 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: Cell-free DNA circulating in blood is a candidate biomarker for malignant tumors. Unlike uniformly truncated DNA released from apoptotic nondiseased cells, DNA released from dead cancer cells varies in size. We developed a novel method to measure the ratio of longer to shorter DNA fragments (DNA integrity) in serum as a potential biomarker for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) or periampullary cancers (PACs).Methods: Sera from 32 patients with CRC (3 stage I, 14 stage II, 6 stage III, and 9 stage IV patients), 19 patients with PACs (2 stage I, 9 stage II, 1 stage III, and 7 stage IV patients), and 51 healthy volunteers were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR of ALU repeats (ALU-qPCR) with 2 sets of primers (115 and 247 bp) amplifying different lengths of DNA. We used serum directly as a template for ALU-qPCR without DNA purification. DNA integrity was determined as ratio of qPCR results of 247-bp ALU over 115-bp ALU.Results: ALU-qPCR had a detection limit of 0.01 pg of DNA. Eliminating DNA purification reduced technical artifacts and reagent/labor costs. Serum DNA integrity was significantly increased for stage I/II and III/IV CRC and stage I/II and III/IV PACs (P = 0.002, P = 0.006, P = 0.022, and P &lt;0.0001, respectively). ROC curves for detecting CRC and PACs had areas under the curves of 0.78 and 0.80, respectively.Conclusions: Direct ALU-qPCR is a robust, highly sensitive, and high-throughput method to measure serum DNA integrity. DNA integrity is a potential serum biomarker for detection and evaluation of CRC and PACs.
Representation of Head-Centric Flow in the Human Motion Complex
Authors: Goossens Jeroen , Dukelow Sean P. , Menon Ravi S. , Vilis Tutis , van den Berg Albert V. 
Published: May 2006

Recent neuroimaging studies have identified putative homologs of macaque middle temporal area (area MT) and medial superior temporal area (area MST) in humans. Little is known about the integration of visual and nonvisual signals in human motion areas compared with monkeys. Through extra-retinal signals, the brain can factor out the components of visual flow on the retina that are induced by eye-in-head and head-in-space rotations and achieve a representation of flow relative to the head (head-centric flow) or body (body-centric flow).Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to test whether extra-retinal eye-movement signals modulate responses to visual flow in the human MT+ complex. We distinguished between MT and MST and tested whether subdivisions of these areas may transform the retinal flow into head-centric flow.We report that interactions between eye-movement signals and visual flow are not evenly distributed across MT+. Pursuit hardly influenced the response of MT to flow, whereas the responses in MST to the same retinal stimuli were stronger during pursuit than during fixation. We also identified two subregions in which the flow-related responses were boosted significantly by pursuit, one overlapping part of MST. In addition, we found evidence of a metric relation between rotational flow relative to the head and fMRI signals in a subregion of MST. The latter findings provide an important advance over published single-cell recordings in monkey MST. A visual representation of the rotation of the head in the world derived from head-centric flow may supplement semicircular canals signals and is appropriate for cross-calibrating vestibular and visual signals.
ERK-Dependent Modulation of Cerebellar Synaptic Plasticity after Chronic Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure
Authors: Tonini Raffaella , Ciardo Sonia , Cerovic Milica , Rubino Tiziana , Parolaro Daniela , Mazzanti Michele , Zippel Renata 
Published: May 2006

Chronic exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) induces tolerance to cannabinoid-induced locomotor effects, which are mediated by cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) located in motor control regions, including the cerebellum. There is substantial evidence of cerebellar CB1R molecular adaptation and modifications in receptor signaling after prolonged cannabinoid exposure. However, very little is known about the effects of chronic cannabinoid administration on cerebellar synaptic plasticity, which may contribute to the development of cannabinoid behavioral tolerance.In the cerebellar cortex, activation of CB1R inhibits excitatory synaptic transmission at parallel fiber (PF)–Purkinje cell (PC) synapses by decreasing neurotransmitter release. Our study aimed to investigate the neurophysiological adaptive responses occurring at cerebellar PF-PC cell synapses after repeated THC exposure. In THC-tolerant mice, an increase of the basal release probability was found at PF-PC synapses, in parallel with a facilitation of slow mGluR1 (metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1)-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents and a reduced sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of the CB1R agonist CP55,940 [(−)-cis-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl]-trans-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol]. Additionally, after repeated THC exposures, presynaptic PF-PC long-term potentiation was blocked by A1R (adenosine receptor-1) activation. Inhibition of the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway prevented these alterations of cerebellar synaptic transmission and plasticity.In summary, we provide evidence for ERK-dependent modulatory mechanisms at PF-PC synapses after chronic THC administration. This contributes to generation of forms of pathological synaptic plasticity that might play a role in cannabinoid dependence.
Concepts of Adaptronic Structures (Konzepte adaptronischer Strukturen)
Authors: Giurgiutiu Victor 
Published: May 2006

Summary
For some time, engineers and scientists have been using the nature as an inspiration for their design of advanced robotics and mechanical systems. Today, nature has also become the inspiration for an entire new class of material systems – the adaptronic structures [1]. Using biological analogies and nature's ability to adapt a material's structure, morphology, shape, and properties to accommodate its changing environment and its aging process, present day engineers and scientists are designing material systems that can change their shape, control their vibrations, monitor their own health, and perform many other biological-inspired functions.
Adaptronische Systeme für automotive Anwendungen am Beispiel eines modularen, aktiven Strukturinterfaces (Smart Structures for Automotive Applications with the Example of a Modular Active Interface)
Authors: Melz Tobias , Hanselka Holger , Matthias Michael 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Die Adaptronik bietet Lösungspotentiale für die strukturmechanische Optimierung verschiedenster maschinenbaulicher Produkte durch Ansätze wie das Active Vibration Control (AVC) und Active Structural Acoustic Control (ASAC). Im automotiven Bereich werden zunehmend NVH-(Noise, Vibration, Harshness) Probleme mit adaptronischen Ansätzen zu lösen versucht. Zudem werden sicherheitstechnische Fragestellungen wie die Optimierung des Crashverhaltens sowie die Schadenüberwachung und zukünftig die Schadenbeeinflussung (SHM und SHC) untersucht.
Adaptronischer Schwingungsabsorber für einen weiten Einsatzbereich (Adaptronic Vibration Absorber for a Wide Field of Applications)
Authors: Kuhnen Klaus , Pagliarulo Pietro , May Chris , Janocha Hartmut 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
In vielen mechanischen Strukturen unserer technisierten Umwelt kommen unerwünschte, fremd- oder selbsterregte Schwingungen vor, die im Hinblick auf geringere Umweltbelastung und höhere Lebensdauer reduziert werden müssen. Dieses Ziel lässt sich häufig mit Hilfe von Schwingungsabsorbern erreichen, die dem schwingenden Hauptsystem entweder kinetische Energie entziehen oder gegenphasige Kompensationskräfte in die Struktur einleiten; dem entsprechend unterscheidet man passive und aktive Absorber. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt am Beispiel eines Hilfsmassedämpfers, wie beide Absorberklassen unter Anwendung des adaptronischen Konzepts und durch Einsatz aktiver Werkstoffe in einer einzigen kompakten Baueinheit realisiert werden können. An einer konkreten Anwendung wird abschließend demonstriert, dass sich hiermit auch zeitlich veränderliche Frequenzkomponenten von Strukturschwingungen breitbandig dämpfen lassen.
Volumetric, Chromatographic, Refractometric Studies on the Esterification of Methanol with Acetic Acid in the Presence of Cation-Exchange Resins
Authors: Erdem Beyhan , Cebe Mustafa 
Published: May 2006

Summary
Esterification of methyl alcohol with acetic acid catalysed by commercially available polymeric ion-exchange resins Amberlyst-15, Dowex 50W and Amberlite IR-120 was carried out in the temperature ranging between 323–338K. Mesh sizes and divinylbenzene contents had virtually no effect on the rate the data of which were correlated with a second-order homogeneous reaction. The samples were analysed with gas chromatography, refractometry and volumetry. The reproducibilities were the order of ±2.89%, ±5.07% and the order of ±6.58% respectively for the volumetric, chromatographic and refractometric methods.
Phase Equilibria in the Molten System KF-K2NbF7-Nb2O5
Authors: Kubíková B. , Daněk Vladimír , Gaune-Escard Marcelle 
Published: May 2006

Summary
Phase equilibria in the molten system KF-K2NbF7-Nb2O5 were investigated up to 20mol% of Nb2O5 by thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. In the binary and ternary systems oxofluoroniobate compounds are formed. They were evidenced by comparison of experimetal X-ray diffraction patterns with those in the international X-ray diffraction database (PDF-2). In the experimental compostion range the phase diagram of the molten KF-K2NbF7-Nb2O5 system consists of five crystallisation fields corresponding to KF, K3NbF8, K2NbF7, K2NbO3F and K3NbOF6.
China's Century: Fast Forward with Historical Baggage
Authors: SIU HELEN F. 
Published: May 2006

Private Life under Socialism: Love, Intimacy, and Family Change in. Chinese Village 1949–1999. Yan Yunxiang. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2003. 289 pp. Only Hope: Coming of Age under China's One‐Child Policy. Vanessa Fong. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2004. 242 pp. On the Move: Women in Rural‐to‐Urban Migration in Contemporary China. Arianne M. Gaetano and Tamara Jacka, eds. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004. 355 pp.
“There Is More to Life than a Glass of Water”: Immigration in the Contemporary United States
Authors: STEPICK ALEX 
Published: May 2006

Buddha Is Hiding: Refugees, Citizenship, the New America. Aiwha Ong. California Series in Public Anthropology. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003. 333 pp. Immigrants, Welfare Reform, and the Poverty of Policy. Philip Kretsedemas and Ana Aparacio, eds. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2004. 303 pp. Remaking the American Mainstream: Assimilation and Contemporary Immigration. Richard Alba and Victor Nee. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003. 359 pp.
The Chrysanthemum and the Song: Music, Memory and Identity in the South American Japanese Diaspora; Strangers in the Ethnic Homeland: Japanese Brazilian Return Migration in Transnational Perspective
Authors: MASTERSON DANIEL M. 
Published: May 2006

The Chrysanthemum and the Song: Music, Memory and Identity in the South American Japanese Diaspora. Dale A. Olsen. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 2004. 323 pp. Strangers in the Ethnic Homeland: Japanese Brazilian Return Migration in Transnational Perspective. Takeyuki Tsuda. New York: Columbia University Press, 2003. 431 pp.
Indigenous Attitudes and Ethnic Identity Construction in Mexico
Authors: Eisenstadt Todd A. 
Published: May 2006

Challenging primordialist positions commonly held in Mexico's policy debate over relations between indigenous groups and the state, this article confirms the instrumentalist position that ethnic identities may be readily shaped. Using findings from a recent survey in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Zacatecas, the author concludes, after distinguishing individual- from collectivity-oriented attitudes, that indigenous and non-indigenous respondents are similarly individualist. Important differences were found, however, on a second dimension distinguishing pro-state respondents from those who were more communally-oriented. Indigenous respondents, particularly in Oaxaca, were found to possess more statist orientations than non-indigenous respondents. The author asserts that decades-old state policies to assimilate indigenous communities may be partially responsible, and that disillusionment with these policies and state-led repression in Chiapas may explain attitude differences among indigenous respondents.Desafiando las visiones primordialistas comúnmente apoyadas en México durante los debates de política pública sobre las relaciones entre los grupos políticos y el estado, este artículo confirma la posición instrumentalista de que la identidad étnica puede ser voluntariamente adoptada. Usando hallazgos de una reciente encuesta en Chiapas, Oaxaca y Zacatecas, el autor concluye, después de distinguir las actitudes individuales de las colectivas, que los encuestados indígenas y no-indígenas son similarmente individualistas. Se encuentran importantes diferencias, pero en una segunda dimensión que distingue a los encuestados pro-estatales de los que tienen orientaciones comunitarias. Los indígenas consultados, particularmente los de Oaxaca, tienen orientaciones más estadistas que los no-indígenas (o sea más orien-tados hacía el estadogobierno). El autor argumenta que décadas de viejas políticas públicas estatales para asimilar a las comunidades indígenas pueden haber producido parcialmente estos resultados, y que las desilusiones por estas políticas y la represión estatal en Chiapas pueden explicar las diferentes actitudes entre los indígenas encuestados.