bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stem cell factor–KIT signalling plays a pivotal role in regulating pigmentation in mammalian hair
Authors: Hachiya Akira , Sriwiriyanont Penkanok , Kobayashi Takeshi , Nagasawa Azumi , Yoshida Hiroshi , Ohuchi Atsushi , Kitahara Takashi , Visscher Marty O , Takema Yoshinori , Tsuboi Ryoji , Boissy Raymond E 
Published: February 2009

AbstractHair greying is one of the most distinct but least comprehended features of senescence. The signalling of stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor KIT has been documented to regulate essential roles in the maintenance of embryonic melanocyte lineages and postnatal cutaneous melanogenesis, although little is known about its detailed mechanisms in postnatal hair pigmentation. To address this, anagen human hair follicles and C57BL/6 murine pelage were analysed in this study. Molecular biological analyses of murine follicular skin indicated a significant increase of membrane‐bound SCF expression, reaching its peak 8–16 days after anagen induction in concert with the escalation of cutaneous tyrosinase activity and corresponding pigmentation. Administration of KIT–neutralizing antibody abolished MITF and tyrosinase expressions, resulting in a reversible hair depigmentation in murine regenerated hair and human hair organ culture. Quantitative RT‐PCR of human hair follicles indicated that KIT expression as well as the expression of several melanogenic factors, including MITF, was significantly lower in unpigmented than in pigmented follicles. Taken together, these data revealed a pivotal role of SCF–KIT signalling in the maintenance of human hair follicle melanogenesis during the anagen cycle and its involvement in physiological ageing of the hair follicle pigmentary unit. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Splenectomy in hereditary spherocytosis: Review of 1,657 patients and application of the pediatric quality indicators
Authors: Abdullah Fizan , Zhang Yiyi , Camp Melissa , Rossberg Mark I. , Bathurst Melinda A. , Colombani Paul M. , Casella James F. , Nabaweesi Rosemary , Chang David C. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of the present study is to profile the outcome and safety of pediatric patients undergoing splenectomy with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) using a nationwide sample and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Pediatric Quality Indicators (PDIs).Patients and MethodsA retrospective cross‐sectional descriptive analysis of a non‐overlapping combination of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), and Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) databases (1988–2004) were performed. These combined databases contain information from nearly 93 million discharges in the United States. Children with an age at admission of <18 years of age and HS (ICD‐9 diagnosis code of 282.0) who underwent total splenectomy (ICD‐9 procedure code of 41.5) were identified. Variables of gender, race, co‐existing diagnoses, hospital type, and charges adjusted to 2006 dollars, length of stay, inpatient mortality, and complications were collected. PDIs were identified for each patient by linking the data obtained from the NIS and KID databases with the PDIs using the AHRQ Quality Indicators Wizard.ResultsSplenectomy for HS was associated with low morbidity and mortality. Accompanying cholecystectomy and/or appendectomy appeared to be safely performed at the same operation. Of the 13 PDIs identified by AHRQ as potentially avoidable adverse events, none were observed to occur in more than 1% of the patients.ConclusionsBased on the results of this study, splenectomy in patients with HS appears safe and to result in a minimal number of potentially preventable complications as identified by the AHRQ PDIs. We have successfully demonstrated use of the indicators to aid in the analysis of a specific surgical procedure within a subset of the pediatric population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:834–837. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical implications of icaA and icaD genes in coagulase negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in febrile neutropenic pediatric cancer patients
Authors: El‐Mahallawy Hadir A. , Loutfy Samah A. , El‐Wakil Mohamed , El‐Al Abeer K. Abd , Morcos Hanaa 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackgroundStaphylococci are the most frequently isolated organisms from blood cultures of febrile neutropenic (FN) cancer patients. We aimed to define the nature of these isolates by studying the prevalence of icaA and icaD genes in coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Staphylococcus aureus isolates in relation to clinical and microbiological features.ProcedureFifty‐five CoNS and S. aureus isolates from blood cultures of FN pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy were tested for slime production using Congo red agar plate test (CRA test), and for the presence of icaA and icaD genes by PCR.ResultsOf the CoNS isolates, eight were positive for ica genes, and three were slime positive/ica negative. A total of 11 (24.4%) cases of CoNS bacteremia were either ica genes or CRA test positive. There was a concordance between ica genes and CRA test positivity (P < 0.001). S. aureus isolates exhibited icaA and icaD genes more than CoNS isolates (P = 0.03). Vancomycin was significantly more prescribed in episodes of ica‐positive cases (P = 0.029).ConclusionsThe results of the present study support the hypothesis that the ica genes are important virulence markers for clinically significant CoNS isolates, indicating their ability to produce slime. This could be used to assign a group with higher risk FN. On the other hand, absence of these genes may permit, along with other clinical criteria, the consideration of a low‐risk FN episode and allow for safe early discharge. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:824–828. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MscL of Bacillus subtilis prevents selective release of cytoplasmic proteins in a hypotonic environment
Authors: Kouwen Thijs R. H. M. , Antelmann Haike , van der Ploeg René , Denham Emma L. , Hecker Michael , van Dijl Jan Maarten 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBacillus subtilis serves as an excellent model to study protein secretion at a proteomic scale. Most of the extracellular proteins are exported from the cytoplasm via the secretory (Sec) pathway. Despite extensive studies, the secretion mechanisms of about 25% of the extracellular proteins are unknown. This suggests that B. subtilis makes use of alternative mechanisms to release proteins into its environment. In search for novel pathways, which contribute to biogenesis of the B. subtilis exoproteome, we investigated a possible role of the large conductance mechanosensitive channel protein MscL. We compared protein secretion by MscL deficient and proficient B. subtilis cells. MscL did not contribute to secretion under standard growth conditions. Unexpectedly, we discovered that under hypo‐osmotic shock conditions specific, normally cytoplasmic proteins were released by mscL mutant cells. This protein release was selective since not all cytoplasmic proteins were equally well released. We established that this protein release by mscL mutant cells cannot be attributed to cell death or lysis. The presence of MscL, therefore, seems to prevent the specific release of cytoplasmic proteins by B. subtilis during hypo‐osmotic shock. Our unprecedented findings imply that an unidentified system for selective release of cytoplasmic proteins is active in B. subtilis.
IgG glycosylation analysis
Authors: Huhn Carolin , Selman Maurice H. J. , Ruhaak L. Renee , Deelder André M. , Wuhrer Manfred 
Published: February 2009

AbstractA multitude of monoclonal IgG antibodies directed against a variety of therapeutic targets is currently being developed and produced by biotechnological companies. The biological activity of IgGs is modulated by the N‐glycans attached to the fragment crystallizable (Fc) part. For example, lack of core‐fucoses on these N‐glycans may lead to a drastic enhancement of antibody‐mediated cellular cytotoxicity. Moreover, sialylation of Fc N‐glycans determines the immunosuppressive properties of polyclonal IgG from human blood, which stimulates research into Fc glycosylation of human plasma IgG in various disease settings. This review presents and evaluates the different approaches which are used for IgG glycosylation analysis: N‐glycans may be enzymatically or chemically released from purified IgG, prior to chromatographic or mass spectrometric analysis. Moreover, IgGs may be treated with endoproteinases such as trypsin, followed by glycosylation analysis at the glycopeptide level, which is generally accomplished by HPLC with ESI‐MS. Alternatively, intact IgGs or fragments thereof obtained by enzymatic cleavages in the hinge region and by reduction may be analyzed by a large number of analytical techniques, including MS and chromatography or CE.
The trajectory of religious coping across time in response to the diagnosis of breast cancer
Authors: Gall Terry Lynn , Guirguis‐Younger Manal , Charbonneau Claire , Florack Peggy 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectives: This study investigates the mobilization of religious coping in women's response to breast cancer.Methods: Ninety‐three breast cancer patients and 160 women with a benign diagnosis participated. Breast cancer patients were assessed on their use of religious coping strategies and their level of emotional distress and well‐being at pre‐diagnosis, 1 week pre‐surgery, and 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years post‐surgery.Results: In general, breast cancer patients used religious strategies more frequently than women with a benign diagnosis; however, the patterns of use were similar across time for the majority of strategies. Results showed that religious coping strategies are mobilized early on in the process of adjustment to breast cancer. Breast cancer patients' use of support or comfort‐related strategies peaked around surgery and then declined, while the use of strategies that reflected more a process of meaning‐making remained elevated or increased into the long‐term. Positive and negative forms of religious coping were predictive of concurrent distress and emotional well‐being. As well, there was evidence that the mobilization of religious coping was predictive of changes in distress and well‐being across time. For example, women's increased use of active surrender coping from 1 to 6 months post‐surgery was related to a concomitant decrease in emotional distress and increase in emotional well‐being.Conclusions: Notably the nature of the relationship between religious coping and emotional adjustment depended on the type of religious coping strategy as well as the specific time of assessment. Specificity of information in the use of religious coping can allow health‐care professionals to better identify resources and address potential points of difficulty during the process of women's adjustment to breast cancer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Redesign of a protein–peptide interaction: Characterization and applications
Authors: Jackrel Meredith E. , Valverde Roberto , Regan Lynne 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe design of protein–peptide interactions has a wide array of practical applications and also reveals insight into the basis for molecular recognition. Here, we present the redesign of a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) protein scaffold, along with its corresponding peptide ligand. We show that the binding properties of these protein–peptide pairs can be understood, quantitatively, using straightforward chemical considerations. The recognition pairs we have developed are also practically useful for the specific identification of tagged proteins. We demonstrate the facile replacement of these proteins, which we have termed T‐Mods (TPR‐based recognition module), for antibodies in both detection and purification applications. The new protein–peptide pair has a dissociation constant that is weaker than typical antibody–antigen interactions, yet the recognition pair is highly specific and we have shown that this affinity is sufficient for both Western blotting and affinity purification. Moreover, we demonstrate that this more moderate affinity is actually advantageous for purification applications, because extremely harsh conditions are not required to dissociate the T‐Mod‐peptide interaction. The results we present are important, not only because they represent a successful application of protein design but also because they help define the properties that should be sought in other scaffolds that are being developed as antibody replacements.
Exact space symmetry of electron states in lattices under a magnetic field
Authors: Tronc P. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe previously established the transformations (including the gauge transformations) induced within the electron Hamiltonian by the point‐ and space‐symmetry operations of three‐ and low‐periodic lattices under a uniform magnetic field [P. Tronc and V. P. Smirnov, Phys. Status Solidi B 244, 2010 (2007)]. We also determined the full symmetry group of electron eigenfunctions by taking into account the electron confinement in tubes whose axes are parallel to the magnetic field direction. The confinement is known from experiments with semiconductors. From the symmetry point of view, the confinement implies a lack of translational symmetry in the directions that are not parallel to the field. A theoretical proof is given here for the lack of translational symmetry in any lattice and the relation between the electron‐Hamiltonian symmetry group and the eigenfunction symmetry group is provided. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electronic structure of BeTe and ZnTe
Authors: Joshi K. B. , Pandya R. K. , Kothari R. K. , Sharma B. K. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe empirical pseudopotential method has been applied to study electronic band structures of BeTe and ZnTe. The band‐structure calculations are performed to study the electron momentum density distribution also in the two semiconductors. The electron momentum distribution is studied in terms of Compton profiles computed along [100], [110], [111], [210], [211] and the [221] directions. The autocorrelation functions have also been computed along the principal crystallographic directions. The band‐by‐band decomposition of autocorrelation functions and the directional Compton profiles are presented. The results are interpreted in terms of band structure. The spherically averaged Compton profile of ZnTe is compared with the available experimental data. On the basis of theoretical anisotropies in the Compton profiles and autocorrelations, bands, bonds and momentum density build up in BeTe and ZnTe semiconductors are discussed. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Specific Lineage-Priming of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Provides the Molecular Framework for Their Plasticity
Authors: Delorme Bruno , Ringe Jochen , Pontikoglou Charalampos , Gaillard Julien , Langonné Alain , Sensebé Luc , Noël Danièle , Jorgensen Christian , Häupl Thomas , Charbord Pierre 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Lineage-priming is a molecular model of stem cell (SC) differentiation in which proliferating SCs express a subset of genes associated to the differentiation pathways to which they can commit. This concept has been developed for hematopoietic SCs, but has been poorly studied for other SC populations. Because the differentiation potential of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM MSCs) remains controversial, we have explored the theory of lineage-priming applied to these cells. We show that proliferating primary layers and clones of BM MSCs have precise priming to the osteoblastic (O), chondrocytic (C), adipocytic (A), and the vascular smooth muscle (V) lineages, but not to skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, hematopoietic, hepatocytic, or neural lineages. Priming was shown both at the mRNA (300 transcripts were evaluated) and the protein level. In particular, the master transactivator proteins PPARG, RUNX2, and SOX9 were coexpressed before differentiation induction in all cells from incipient clones. We further show that MSCs cultured in the presence of inducers differentiate into the lineages for which they are primed. Our data point out to a number of signaling pathways that might be activated in proliferating MSCs and would be responsible for the differentiation and proliferation potential of these cells. Our results extend the notion of lineage-priming and provide the molecular framework for inter-A, -O, -C, -V plasticity of BM MSCs. Our data highlight the use of BM MSCs for the cell therapy of skeletal or vascular disorders, but provide a word of caution about their use in other clinical indications.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Deconstructing Stem Cell Tumorigenicity: A Roadmap to Safe Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Knoepfler Paul S. 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Many of the earliest stem cell studies were conducted on cells isolated from tumors rather than from embryos. Of particular interest was research on embryonic carcinoma cells (EC), a type of stem cell derived from teratocarcinoma. The EC research laid the foundation for the later discovery of and subsequent work on embryonic stem cells (ESC). Both ESC isolated from the mouse (mESC) and then later from humans (hESC) shared not only pluripotency with their EC cousins, but also robust tumorigenicity as each readily form teratoma. Surprisingly, decades after the discovery of mESC, the question of what drives ESC to form tumors remains largely an open one. This gap in the field is particularly serious as stem cell tumorigenicity represents the key obstacle to the safe use of stem cell-based regenerative medicine therapies. Although some adult stem cell therapies appear to be safe, they have only a very narrow range of uses in human disease. Our understanding of the tumorigenicity of human induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC), perhaps the most promising modality for future patient-specific regenerative medicine therapies, is rudimentary. However, IPSC are predicted to possess tumorigenic potential equal to or greater than that of ESC. Here, the links between pluripotency and tumorigenicity are explored. New methods for more accurately testing the tumorigenic potential of IPSC and of other stem cells applicable to regenerative medicine are proposed. Finally, the most promising emerging approaches for overcoming the challenges of stem cell tumorigenicity are highlighted.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Field Emission and Radial Distribution Function Studies of Fractal-like Amorphous Carbon Nanotips
Authors: Solá F , Biaggi-Labiosa A , Fonseca LF , Resto O , Lebrón-Colón M , Meador MA 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
The short-range order of individual fractal-like amorphous carbon nanotips was investigated by means of energy-filtered electron diffraction in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The nanostructures were grown in porous silicon substrates in situ within the TEM by the electron beam-induced deposition method. The structure factorS(k) and the reduced radial distribution functionG(r) were calculated. From these calculations a bond angle of 124° was obtained which suggests a distorted graphitic structure. Field emission was obtained from individual nanostructures using two micromanipulators with sub-nanometer positioning resolution. A theoretical three-stage model that accounts for the geometry of the nanostructures provides a value for the field enhancement factor close to the one obtained experimentally from the Fowler-Nordheim law.
Violence in stalking situations
Authors: McEwan T. E. , Mullen P. E. , MacKenzie R. D. , Ogloff J. R. P. 
Published: February 2009

BackgroundStalking is often viewed as a precursor to violence, but determining which stalkers might attack is a difficult task. This study overcomes shortfalls in previous investigations by adopting a pseudo-prospective design and examining potential risk factors for different types of stalker.MethodDemographic, behavioural and diagnostic information was collected from stalkers referred to a community forensic mental health service (n=211). Potential risk factors for stalking violence were identified using odds ratios and χ2tests, and entered into logistic regression models. Model utility was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves.ResultsAmongst Rejected ex-intimate stalkers, violence was best predicted by previous violence, making threats and being employed (area under the curve=0.75), while for stalkers with other motives and relationships to the victim, being aged less than 30 years, substance use at the time of stalking and prior violence best predicted stalking violence (area under the curve=0.80).ConclusionsStalkers at increased risk of violence can be accurately identified by examining motivational and relationship type in conjunction with specific relevant risk factors. Previous violence is a particularly important risk factor, as are threats amongst ex-intimate stalkers. Approach behaviours and psychosis were shown to be less useful in predicting violence.
The Role of Ownership and Property Rights in China's Economic Transition
Authors: Putterman Louis 
Published: February 2009

The ever-greater roles played by markets and pecuniary incentives, and the increasing decision-making authority of localities, enterprises and individuals, have been central elements of China's economic reforms. Compared with these radical departures from the past, change in the area of property rights has been ambiguous. Depending on one's perspective, China might be seen as on its way to establishing a socialist market economy, in which public and collective ownership forms are predominant, or well along the path to a radical transformation of property rights, including a de facto private agriculture, massive private foreign investment, stock markets and the growth of private enterprise. What role property rights have played in the successes and problems of China's reforming economy is similarly debatable. The view that property rights have remained largely “social” leaves open interpretive possibilities ranging from the conclusion that China offers evidence of the viability of a market socialist option, to arguments that the transformation of property rights remains a major hurdle on the road to an economy that can support sustained growth. The quite different view that sectors experiencing substantial privatization have been the main contributors to the achievements of the reform economy, and that those maintaining public ownership have held back economic growth, is also taken by some.The nature of the property rights that have characterized China's economy during the years of economic reform, and the influence of property rights and property rights reform on the performance of the economy during that era are the subjects of this article.