bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of GM1 surface expression precedes annexin V‐phycoerythrin binding of neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis during in vitro aging
Authors: Sheriff Ahmed , Gaipl Udo S. , Franz Sandra , Heyder Petra , Voll Reinhard E. , Kalden Joachim R. , Herrmann Martin 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackgroundApoptosis of neutrophil granulocytes is an important determinant of the resolution of inflammation. Apoptotic neutrophils undergo specific alterations in their receptor profiles. These alterations are likely to contribute to the characteristic functional silencing of the dying cells.MethodsBy flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, we analyzed the ganglioside GM1, a lipid raft marker, with respect to its surface expression on neutrophil and eosinophil granulocytes. Apoptosis was monitored by morphological changes and by the binding of annexin V‐phycoerythrin (AxV‐PE).ResultsGM1, which was stained by the cholera toxin subunit B, was found only on neutrophil granulocytes; eosinophil granulocytes did not bind cholera toxin subunit B. GM1 was lost from the surfaces of neutrophils before AxV‐PE binding (early apoptosis). Surprisingly, GM1 reappeared during the late stages of apoptosis, although without functional consequences. GM1 was found on the cell surface and in intracellular membranes, whereas CD16 was found only at the cell surface.ConclusionsLoss of surface GM1 is a new marker for the detection of the aging of neutrophils. Its loss precedes the binding of AxV‐PE of neutrophils. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bioconversion of D,L‐tert‐leucine Nitrile to D‐tert‐leucine by Recombinant Cells expressing Nitrile Hydratase and D‐selective Amidase
Authors: Brandão P.F.B. , Verseck S. , Syldatk C. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThis project is aimed at studying the feasibility of producing D‐tert‐leucine (D‐Tle) from racemic tert‐leucine‐nitrile (Tle‐nitrile) using nitrile‐transforming enzymes. For the conversion of Tle‐nitrile to D‐Tle, a bacterial strain, previously recovered from a deep‐sea sediment, Rhodococcus erythropolis 870‐AN019, was used, which expresses a nitrile hydratase (NHase)/amidase system for nitrile metabolism. This strain was able to perform the sequential conversion of the nitrile to the acid, via the intermediate racemic tert‐leucine amide (Tle‐amide). However, the activities of both enzymes were low and the amidase was found to be L‐selective. A developed recombinant E. coli strain, expressing the NHase of R. erythropolis 870‐AN019, showed a 10‐fold increase in activity, compared to the wild type strain. A second recombinant E. coli expressing the D‐selective amidase from Variovorax paradoxus 19–3 was used to complete the conversion of the racemic amide into D‐Tle. The optimal pH and temperature ranges for the enzymes activities were, 7–9 and 30–40 °C, respectively, for the NHase, and 7–9.5 and 47–49 °C, respectively, for the D‐amidase. Thus, a compromise between the optimal biotransformation temperatures was necessary in order to achieve satisfactory activities for both enzymes in one pot reactions. In addition, the D‐amidase activity towards Tle‐amide was 10‐fold lower than the recombinant NHase towards Tle‐nitrile, indicating that a higher concentration of the first enzyme was necessary during biotransformations. The sequential conversion to produce D‐Tle was achieved using a whole cell mixture of both recombinant strains in one pot reactions at different temperatures. A temperature of 35 °C appeared to be the best compromise to obtain good activity of both enzymes in the same reaction. A fed‐batch biotransformation of Tle‐nitrile produced 700 mg of D‐Tle in 4.5 h, however, unconverted nitrile and L‐amide were still present. The accumulation of unconverted amide resulted in the inhibition of the NHase that lead to the accumulation of nitrile, which further inhibited both NHase and D‐amidase. Since both enzymes were inhibited by Tle‐nitrile and Tle‐amide, a continuous process, which would control the concentration of these compounds in the reactor, was investigated. Alginate co‐immobilized whole cells were used in a continuous stirred tank reactor biotransformation to attempt the production of D‐Tle from Tle‐nitrile, but this procedure did not improve the productivity.
Identification and Expression in E. coli of Novel Nitrile Hydratases from the Metagenome
Authors: Liebeton K. , Eck J. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA PCR‐based screening procedure using degenerate consensus primers was employed to identify nitrile hydratase (NHase) encoding genes in libraries of cloned environmental DNA. Screening of about 3 Gbp of metagenomic DNA led to the identification of twelve novel and highly diverse NHase α‐subunits, ten β‐subunits, and three NHase activator proteins. The disruption of the natural arrangement of the genes encoding the NHase subunits and a reduced temperature proved to be beneficial for the soluble expression in E. coli. Of nine NHases investigated, six were produced in an active conformation. The co‐expression of corresponding activator proteins resulted in the activation of a previously inactive enzyme and a marked increase in activity of another enzyme. Thus, the sequence‐homology based screening approach led to the identification and finally the production of novel and diverse NHase enzymes.
Fish as bioindicators to assess the effects of pollution in two southern Brazilian rivers using the Comet assay and micronucleus test
Authors: de Andrade Vanessa Moraes , da Silva Juliana , da Silva Fernanda R. , Heuser Vanina D. , Dias Johnny F. , Yoneama Maria Lúcia , de Freitas Thales R.O. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIndustrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and municipal wastewaters contain unknown substances and complex mixtures that are released into the environment and can lead to contamination of surface and subsurface waters. In the present report, we have used the alkaline Comet assay and the micronucleus (MN) test to detect the genotoxicity due to multiple sources of pollution in the peripheral blood of two native estuarine fish (mullet and sea catfish) and evaluated possible interactive genotoxic effects from multiple contaminants and the seasonal variation of the genotoxicity. Mullet and sea catfish were captured in the Tramandaí and Mampituba Rivers in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Reference animals were obtained from the Armazém lagoon. Fish captured in the two estuaries during the four seasons over a period of 2 years had increased levels of DNA damage and MN frequencies relative to the reference fish. In general, the alkaline Comet assay was more sensitive to the genotoxicity of the river contaminants than the MN test. The Comet assay demonstrated significant differences in fish captured at different seasons and at the two river sites, while the MN test showed significant differences only for the annual average for mullet from both sites and fish from the control site. The increases in DNA damage appear to be related to the increase in the number of people in the towns close to the study areas during the warm spring and summer seasons. Although no specific cause‐effect relationships were established, comparison of the chemical contaminants and physical variations in the rivers with the genotoxicity data indicate that there may be some association between hydrocarbons, metals, pH, and water temperature and the level of damaged cells observed in mullet and sea catfish from the Tramandaí and Mampituba estuaries. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unemployment variation over the business cycles: a comparison of forecasting models
Authors: Moshiri Saeed , Brown Laura 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAsymmetry has been well documented in the business cycle literature. The asymmetric business cycle suggests that major macroeconomic series, such as a country's unemployment rate, are non‐linear and, therefore, the use of linear models to explain their behaviour and forecast their future values may not be appropriate. Many researchers have focused on providing evidence for the non‐linearity in the unemployment series. Only recently have there been some developments in applying non‐linear models to estimate and forecast unemployment rates. A major concern of non‐linear modelling is the model specification problem; it is very hard to test all possible non‐linear specifications, and to select the most appropriate specification for a particular model.
Artificial neural network (ANN) models provide a solution to the difficulty of forecasting unemployment over the asymmetric business cycle. ANN models are non‐linear, do not rely upon the classical regression assumptions, are capable of learning the structure of all kinds of patterns in a data set with a specified degree of accuracy, and can then use this structure to forecast future values of the data. In this paper, we apply two ANN models, a back‐propagation model and a generalized regression neural network model to estimate and forecast post‐war aggregate unemployment rates in the USA, Canada, UK, France and Japan. We compare the out‐of‐sample forecast results obtained by the ANN models with those obtained by several linear and non‐linear times series models currently used in the literature. It is shown that the artificial neural network models are able to forecast the unemployment series as well as, and in some cases better than, the other univariate econometrics time series models in our test. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CO Desorption Rate Dependence on CO Partial Pressure over Platinum Fuel Cell Catalysts
Authors: Davies J. C. , Nielsen R. M. , Thomsen L. B. , Chorkendorff I. , Logadóttir Á. , Lodziana Z. , Nørskov J. K. , Li W. X. , Hammer B. , Longwitz S. R. , Schnadt J. , Vestergaard E. K. , Vang R. T. , Besenbacher F. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractCarbon monoxide adsorption on high area platinum fuel cell catalysts was investigated. Isotopic exchange experiments were performed to determine the exchange rate (k) of CO under different partial pressures of CO (pCO) in argon. A linear dependence of ln(k) with ln(pCO) was observed. This pressure dependence of the rate of exchange is explained by considering a change in surface coverage of CO with different CO pressures and a subsequent reduction in the CO binding energy as demonstrated by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. High Pressure Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (HP STM) studies on the Pt(111) surface have also displayed a pressure dependency of the coverage consistent with this data. The relevance of these observations to the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) anode reaction is discussed.
Turbulent heat transfer of natural convection between two vertical parallel plates
Authors: Inagaki Terumi , Maruyama Shinji 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe measure heat transfer coefficients of natural convection between two vertical smooth parallel plates heated uniformly in the laminar, transition, and turbulent regions. The heat transfer characteristics are experimentally investigated with changing width, δ, between the vertical parallel plates, wall heat flux, qw, overall watercourse length, L,of the vertical parallel plate and heating conditions. For natural convection between the vertical parallel plates, in the turbulent region of $Ra_{x}^{*} > 10^{14}$, the heat transfer is strongly suppressed owing to the effect of combined convection. On the contrary, the heat transfer in the laminar region is enhanced due to the tunnel effect. These tendencies become pronounced with decreasing δ and increasing L.The location of the heat transfer reduction shifts downstream with increasing qw under a fixed δ. Furthermore, under smaller δ, we cannot clearly distinguish the transition process in accordance with both the heat transfer enhancement in the laminar region and the heat transfer reduction in the turbulent region. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(1): 56–67, 2002
Role of AKT/PKB signaling in fibroblast growth factor‐1 (FGF‐1)‐induced angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM)
Authors: Forough Reza , Weylie Brian , Patel Chirag , Ambrus Sandy , Singh Ugra S. , Zhu James 
Published: November 2004

AbstractTransfection of chicken chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) with a chimeric secreted version of fibroblast growth factor‐1 (sp‐FGF‐1) gene construct leads to a significant increase in vascularization. Though FGF‐stimulated angiogenesis has been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms regulating FGF‐1‐induced angiogenesis are poorly understood in vivo. This study was designed to investigate the role of the AKT (PKB) kinase signaling pathway in mediating sp‐FGF‐1‐induced angiogenesis in the chicken CAM. The involvement of the AKT pathway was demonstrated by up‐regulation of AKT1 mRNA expression in sp‐FGF‐1 compared to vector alone control transfected CAMs as demonstrated by real‐time RT‐PCR. Western analysis using an antibody specific to the activated AKT (phosphorylated AKT), demonstrated an increase in AKT activity in sp‐FGF‐1 compared to vector control transfected CAMs. More importantly, the AKT inhibitor ML‐9 significantly reduced sp‐FGF‐1‐induced angiogenesis in CAMs. These results indicate that AKT signaling plays a role in FGF‐1‐stimulated angiogenesis in vivo and the AKT pathway may serve as a therapeutic target for angiogenesis‐associated diseases. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Doxycycline‐ and tetracycline‐regulated transcriptional silencer enhance the expression level and transactivating performance of rtTA
Authors: Lai Jen‐Feng , Cheng Hsin‐Yuan , Cheng Tzu‐Ling , Lin Yu‐Yu , Chen Li‐Chieh , Lin Mau‐Ting , Jou Tzuu‐Shuh 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe tetracycline‐regulated transcriptional silencer (tTS) has been demonstrated to mitigate leaky expression of the tetracycline‐inducible promoter under uninduced condition, and, when conjugated with reverse‐type tetracycline‐controlled transactivator (rtTA), shows great promise for gene therapy. This effect was attributed to the effectiveness of tTS as a repressor of transcription at the tetracycline‐regulated promoter. However, we observed an unexpected increase in transactivational activity by rtTA in the presence of tTS under inducible condition.MethodsTo explore the nature of this co‐activational effect of tTS on rtTA, we examined the expression patterns of rtTA by Western blotting analysis of total cellular lysates or an enriched ubiquitinated pool of proteins under various conditions, including the one when proteasomal degradation is inhibited.ResultsWe demonstrate tTS, in addition to its established role as a transcriptional silencer, can enhance rtTA expression level by salvaging rtTA from the ubiquitin‐dependent proteasomal degradation pathway. Along with this finding, we also demonstrate that doxycycline, a commonly used tetracycline analogue, inhibits the susceptibility of rtTA to ubiquitin/proteasome‐mediated degradation and enhances the expression level of rtTA.ConclusionsTaken together, our data establish an unappreciated role of doxycycline and tTS in tetracycline‐regulated gene expression and the functionality of rtTA, and should shed light on the design of gene therapy vectors based on tetracycline‐controlled transcriptional regulation systems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of the nuclease inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) for improved non‐viral intratumoral in vivo gene transfer by jet‐injection
Authors: Walther Wolfgang , Stein Ulrike , Siegel Robert , Fichtner Iduna , Schlag Peter M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackgroundStability, integrity and retention of the DNA within the targeted tissue is decisive for efficient gene transfer using naked DNA. Pre‐clinical and clinical studies require reproducible transfection rates by preventing rapid degradation of naked DNA in the transduced tissue. Tumor tissues contain nuclease activity, which can affect DNA stability if naked DNA is used. Therefore, inhibition of nuclease‐mediated DNA degradation by the nuclease inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) might lead to improved gene transfer efficiency in tumor tissues.MethodsFor both, DNA‐degradation analysis and in vivo gene transfer experiments, the β‐galactosidase (LacZ)‐expressing pCMVβ and the cytosine deaminase (CD)‐expressing pCMV‐CD plasmid were used. Influence of the nuclease inhibitor ATA was determined in tumors, in which naked pCMVβ or pCMV‐CD DNA and ATA was co‐administered by jet‐injection. The nuclease activity and inhibition by ATA was analyzed using the DNase Alert detection system. The influence of ATA on LacZ expression was determined by specific ELISA and its effect on the therapeutic efficacy of CD gene transfer on tumor growth was determined in vivo.ResultsThe screening of different human mammary and colon carcinoma models revealed strong nuclease activity rapidly degrading naked plasmid DNA. Co‐administration of ATA with pCMVβ or pCMV‐CD for in vivo jet‐injection of tumors prevented DNA from nuclease degradation associated with either increased LacZ gene expression or improved reduction in tumor growth.ConclusionsTumor‐associated nuclease activity is a notable hurdle in gene transfer of naked DNA and therefore inhibition of nucleolytic degradation of plasmid DNA facilitates intratumoral gene expression. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of the glucocerebrosidase gene in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Sato Christine , Morgan Angharad , Lang Anthony E. , Salehi‐Rad Shabnam , Kawarai Toshitaka , Meng Yan , Ray Peter N. , Farrer Lindsay A. , St George‐Hyslop Peter , Rogaeva Ekaterina 
Published: November 2004

AbstractParkinson's disease (PD) is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized clinically by a combination of motor symptoms. Identifying novel PD genetic risk factors is important for understanding its pathogenesis. A recent study suggested that up to 21% of subjects with PD may have mutations in the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene. We investigated the GBA gene for mutations in 88 PD cases and 122 normal controls and detected the presence of heterozygous GBA mutations in 5 PD cases and in 1 control. Sequencing of the entire open reading frame of the GBA gene in a subset of 25 cases with early‐onset PD (<50 years of age) uncovered no additional mutations. Our results demonstrate a marginally significant association of GBA mutations with PD and suggest that variations in the GBA gene may constitute a rare susceptibility factor for PD (P = 0.048). © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Pre‐handover signalling for QoS aware mobility management
Authors: Chaouchi Hakima , Antunes Pedro Marques 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn this paper we present a new approach to provide fast handover in Mobile IP. A new Pre‐Handover Signalling (PHS) protocol is proposed to allow the network to achieve accurate handover decisions considering different constraints such as QoS, load balancing in the base stations, the user profile, the mobile node service requirements, etc. In addition we propose to minimize the time discovery of the new base station in order to minimize the handover latency. We propose to start the PHS as soon as the mobile node crosses a predefined critical zone area in its current location, this signalling will provide a list of candidate cells to the mobile node with corresponding priorities; the mobile node will select the highest priority base station as soon as the layer two handover occurs. We propose in the current work to use an extension of COPS (Common Open Policy Service) to support the proposed PHS mechanism and overcome the blind handover decisions of Mobile IP and improve the handover performance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Highly convergent dynamic models obtained by modal synthesis with application to short wave pulse propagation
Authors: Barauskas Rimantas , Barauskiene Ramute 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA general approach for obtaining the matrices of a substructure ensuring minimum modal frequency errors of the whole structure is presented. The mass and stiffness matrices of a small component domain of selected dimension are obtained by applying the modal synthesis of a limited number of close‐to‐exact modes such that after assembling a larger joined domain model the modal convergence rate of the latter should be as high as possible. The goal is achieved by formulating the minimization problem for the penalty‐type target function representing the cumulative relative modal frequency error of the joined sample domain and by applying the gradient descent minimization method. After the optimum matrices of a component domain are obtained, they can be used in any structure as higher‐order elements or super‐elements. The well‐known generalized mass matrices obtained as a weighted sum of lumped and consistent components can be treated as a special case of the presented approach. The obtained dynamic models are used for modelling short transient waves and wave pulses propagating in elastic or acoustic environments by using a only a few nodal points per pulse length. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design of frames using genetic algorithm, force method and graph theory
Authors: Kaveh A. , Abdietehrani A. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn the process of discrete‐sizing optimal design of frame structures by genetic algorithm, analysis should be performed several times. In this article, the force method is employed for the analysis using subminimal cycle basis of their graph models. The advantage of employing this method lies in the fact that the matrices corresponding to particular and complementary solutions are formed once and independently of the mechanical properties of members. These matrices are then used several times in the process of the sequential analyses, increasing the speed of optimization. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How Customer Satisfaction Improvement Works To Fuel Business Recovery at IBM
Authors: Schiff Larry 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBack in 1995, IBM was in bad shape, economically and competitively. Its subsequent business turnaround was based on the simple‐sounding principle of thoroughly satisfying customers. Avoiding the trap of bureaucracy, it developed a disciplined and direct method of dealing with customers, worldwide, applying its own best practices for measurable behaviors of every customer‐touching employee. The strength of the system is the firm foundation set by top management and continually reinforced by other executives—and by a reward structure in which achieving customer satisfaction is a critical factor. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nonverbal Communication: How To Read What's Plain as the Nose… or Eyelid… or Chin… on Their Faces
Authors: Fulfer Mac 
Published: November 2004

AbstractFor most people, “reading” others' nonverbal messages is an intuitive, “gut” process. But learning to do it consciously and deliberately can enhance understanding and thus greatly improve interpersonal relations in a wide variety of situations. At work, it can be a useful tool to facilitate decision making and ease work processes—for example, during interviews or at meetings. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Role of Change Management in Establishing a Shared Services Business Model at Air Products and Chemicals
Authors: Legare Thomas L. , Bechtel Rebecca L. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractUnder a shared services strategy, staff functions operate as an internal market‐place for their own services, with a business focus of service to customers. When Air Products and Chemicals' Controllership recognized the cost and effectiveness advantages to following this model, it began a transformation process that altered the human as well as the functional dynamics in the company. Its ultimate success resulted from the depth of its effort to implement change. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.