bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The TRAF6, but not the TRAF2/3, binding domain of CD40 is required for cytokine production in human lung fibroblasts
Authors: Purkerson Jeffrey M. , Smith Roger S. , Pollock Stephen J. , Phipps Richard P. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractFibroblasts are key effector cells in inciting inflammation, wound healing, and scarring. CD40, a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, mediates intercellular communication between fibroblasts and cells that express CD154 (CD40L), including T lymphocytes and platelets. To better understand the mechanisms by which CD40 regulates fibroblast function in inflammation and scarring, we examined the ability of CD40 cytoplasmic tail regions (CD40ct) containing the TRAF6 or the TRAF2/3 binding domains to regulate cytokine and chemokine expression by primary human lung fibroblasts. The full‐length human CD40ct, the first 35 amino acids of the CD40ct encompassing the TRAF6 binding site (1–35), and amino acids 35–53 containing the TRAF2/TRAF3 binding domain were expressed in human lung fibroblasts as fusion proteins with the extracellular domain of human CD8α by retroviral transduction. The TRAF6, but not the TRAF2/3, binding domain was found to regulate IL‐8 and IL‐6 production, and induce activation of NF‐κB and Jun kinase in lung fibroblasts, demonstrating for the first time that CD40ct domains can function independently to regulate pro‐inflammatory responses of primary human fibroblasts. Thus, targeting TRAF6 function through pharmacological intervention may represent a viable strategy for modulating localized inflammation.
Solvothermal Synthesis of Metastable γ‐MnS Hollow Spheres and Control of Their Phase
Authors: Lei Shuijin , Tang Kaibin , Yang Qing , Zheng Huagui 
Published: September 2005

AbstractA solvothermal route has been developed to prepare metastable wurtzite‐structure γ‐MnS hollow spheres from anhydrous manganese chloride, sulfur powder, and potassium borohydride in ethylene glycol at 150–180 °C. The metastable γ‐MnS and stable α‐MnS were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field‐emission scanning electronic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence. Experiments show that the reaction temperature, the solvent, and the concentration and reducibility of the reductant are the crucial factors affecting the phase of the product. A possible growth mechanism for the hollow sphere is proposed. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Effect of metals on herbicides–α‐synuclein association: A possible factor in neurodegenerative disease studied by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: André Claire , Truong Tong T. , Robert Jean Francois , Guillaume Yves C. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe aggregation of α‐synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is a critical step in the Parkinson's disease (PD). The etiology of the disease is unknown but recent epidemiological and experimental studies have renewed interest in the hypothesis that environmental factors, especially herbicides and metals, have a role on the pathogenesis of PD. For the first time, the association constants of α‐synuclein with five herbicides have been calculated using a capillary electrophoresis (CE) method. In addition, the effect of a number of metals on this binding has been investigated. It appears that the herbicides preferentially bind to a partially folded intermediate conformation of α‐synuclein induced by manganese, aluminium, cadmium, copper and zinc. Then, metal increases the synuclein–herbicide association. However, this study shows contrasting actions with the antibiotic rifampicin and magnesium addition leading to a decrease of the α‐synuclein–herbicide interaction even if other metals are present in the bulk solvent. Considering epidemiological studies, all these results suggest an underlying molecular basis for PD and related body diseases.
Separation of living and dead polymers in synthetic polypeptide mixtures by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis using differences in ionization states
Authors: Souaïd Eddy , Cottet Hervé 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe complexity in the mechanisms of polymerization of N‐carboxyanhydrides requires the development of new analytical techniques able to separate mixtures of synthetic polypeptides. This work focuses on the separation of poly(Nϵ‐trifluoroacetyl‐L‐lysine) (PTLL) mixtures by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (CE). The main goal of this work was to find electrophoretic conditions that permit the separation and the quantification of the dead polymer families that were previously identified in the samples. The influence of the pH of the electrolyte on the selectivity of the separation was carefully investigated. The mechanisms of separation of the PTTLs are discussed as a function of their ionization state. The separations obtained on a noncovalently coated capillary were compared with those obtained on a fused‐silica capillary. Finally, using two different electrolytes, it is possible to quantify the three families of PTLLs, namely, the living PTLLs, the dead PTLLs with N‐formyl end group and the dead PTLLs with a carboxylic end group. These results confirm the importance of CE for the separation of synthetic organic polymers in nonaqueous electrolytes.
Effects of the limited analyte solubility on its mobility and zone shape: Electrophoretic behavior of sanguinarine and chelerythrine around pH 7
Authors: Vespalec Radim , Vlčková Markéta , Kubáň Vlastimil 
Published: September 2005

AbstractElectrophoretic mobilities and shapes of zones of sanguinarine and chelerythrine in aqueous media around pH 7 are affected by limited solubility of their uncharged forms and by the pH‐dependent chemical equilibrium between cationic and uncharged forms of these alkaloids. The sanguinarine solubility in sodium MOPS of pH 7.4 was estimated at 50 µmol·L−1. Sanguinarine zones in this buffer have the shape of tailed peak with concentration‐independent mobility if the injected sanguinarine concentration exceeds this solubility limit only slightly. The chelerythrine solubility is higher because of lower dissociation constants of its cations. Precipitation of sanguinarine and chelerythrine with the phosphate anions decelerates their electrophoretic transport in phosphate buffer. Sanguinarine solubility is 5 µmol·L−1 at the most in 13 mmol·L−1 sodium phosphate buffer of pH 7.4. Acidifying of the sample up to pH 3 decreases the tailing of the peaks of sanguinarine and chelerythrine and contributes to the rise of sharp maxima of their migrating zones. Any capillary coating deteriorates the peak shape.
Neural correlates of the interaction between transient and sustained processes: A mixed blocked/event‐related fMRI study
Authors: Scheibe Christina , Wartenburger Isabell , Wüstenberg Torsten , Kathmann Norbert , Villringer Arno , Heekeren Hauke R. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractComplete understanding of the neural correlates of cognitive processes requires investigation of both event‐ and state‐related correlates of cognitive performance as well as their interaction. Neuroimaging studies using blocked designs confound these two types of processes and studies using event‐related designs focus exclusively on the detection of transient effects. Recent fMRI studies used mixed blocked/event‐related designs and found that transient and sustained activity can be dissociated, but it is not yet known how event‐related and state‐related processing interact. Here we used a phonological categorization paradigm in a mixed blocked/event‐related design to investigate where in the brain transient activity interacts with sustained activity. Task difficulty was parametrically manipulated based on individually determined categorization thresholds. We found an interaction effect of transient and sustained activity in the left precuneus. In this cortical structure transient activity increased with increasing task difficulty, while sustained neural activity decreased with increasing task difficulty. Our data suggest that sustained activity is enhanced during processing of an easy task, presumably because of ongoing internally cued endogenous processing, still allowing effortless processing of transient stimuli. During performance of a difficult task, sustained activity in the precuneus is reduced to provide resources for processing incoming stimuli. Processing of stimuli that are expected to be difficult elicits increased transient responses independent of the actual physical properties of the stimuli. In showing an interaction between transient and sustained activity in the precuneus, the present results accommodate seemingly diverging results from previous studies using event‐related or blocked designs and expand the knowledge emerging from previous studies using mixed blocked/event‐related designs. Hum Brain Mapp, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimal segmentation of microcomputed tomographic images of porous tissue‐engineering scaffolds
Authors: Rajagopalan Srinivasan , Lu Lichun , Yaszemski Michael J. , Robb Richard A. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe morphometric properties of the porous tissue‐engineering scaffolds play a dominant role in the initial cell attachment and subsequent tissue regeneration. These properties can be derived nondestructively with the use of quantitative analysis of high‐resolution microcomputed tomography (μCT) imaging of scaffolds. Accurate segmentation of these acquired images into solid and porous subspaces is critical to the integrity of morphometric analysis. The absence of a single image‐processing technique to provide such accurate separability immune to all the intricacies of the acquired data makes this seemingly simple task significantly error prone. Consequently, an optimal segmentation has to be selected by ranking the segmentations produced by a multiplicity of methods. This article proposes a robust, easy‐to‐implement, unambiguous, signal‐processing‐based, ground‐truth‐free, segmentation rating metric that correlates with visual acuity. With the use of this metric it is possible, for the first time, to threshold the data with a wide range of techniques and select automatically the technique that best delineates the acquired image. The proposed solution has been extensively tested on μCT images of scaffolds fabricated with biodegradable poly (propylene fumarate) (PPF) with the use of a solvent casting particulate leaching process. The approaches proposed and the results obtained may have profound implications for accurate image‐based characterization of tissue‐engineering scaffolds. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
Positive in vivo heterologous gene regulation by electric pulses delivery with metallothionein I gene promoter
Authors: Rubenstrunk Anne , Trollet Capucine , Orsini Cécile , Scherman Daniel 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackgroundIn vivo electrotransfer is a physical method of gene delivery in various tissues and organs. It is a promising strategy for the systemic secretion of therapeutic proteins and for DNA vaccination. Nevertheless, for the success of gene therapy in clinics, it is essential to develop gene regulation systems. The existing systems described in the literature all rely on the creation of an artificial transcription factor and/or an inducer drug. New strategies based on endogenous regulatable elements are being developed. We have previously identified the murine metallothionein promoter as an endogenous promoter inducible by controlled electric stimuli applied for electrotransfer experiments. We report here a regulation strategy based on this murine metallothionein promoter in a plasmid context using electric pulses delivery as an inducer.MethodsPlasmids containing different constructions of the murine metallothionein I (mMT‐I) promoter were transfected in mice tibialis‐cranalis muscles using the simple skeletal muscle electrotransfer method. The regulation system was studied with the murine secreted alkaline phosphatase (MUSEAP) reporter gene.ResultsThe mMT‐I promoter can be transiently induced in vivo by application of electric fields. Its inducibility was analyzed in a plasmid context. We demonstrated that the mechanism of this transcriptional induction is not mediated by the cellular entry of metal ions. The ARE (antioxidant‐responsive element) sequence was identified as the element responsive to the electric field stimulation.ConclusionsThis time‐control of the expression of a therapeutic gene by physical stimuli could be of value in the context of gene regulation for gene therapy. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DNA damage responses after exposure to DNA‐based products
Authors: Smith Catherine C. , Aylott Michael C. , Fisher Krishna J. , Lynch Anthony M. , Gooderham Nigel J. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackgroundThe development of DNA‐based therapies holds great promise for the treatment of diseases that remain difficult to manage using conventional pharmaceuticals. Whilst there are considerable data regarding chemical‐induced DNA damage, there are limited reports published studying the potential of exogenous DNA to damage genomic DNA.MethodsTo investigate this problem, the differential gene expression (DGE) of DNA repair genes was examined to identify biomarkers, based on the hypothesis that DNA damage, including double‐strand breaks (DSBs) and insertional mutagenesis, would be expected to induce biological pathways associated with repair. Human HepG2 cells were exposed to the chemical genotoxins, etoposide (ETOP) and methylmethanesulphonate (MMS), as positive controls, or biological agents (i.e. exogenous DNA with and without the use of transfection complexes or via various viral vectors). Following transfection (6–72 h) the cells were harvested for RNA and DGE was determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR).ResultsThe expression of genes involved in the repair of DSBs were significantly increased after treatment with ETOP (>4‐fold) or MMS (>5‐fold). Transfection using Effectene and ExGen 500 resulted in no significant changes; however, transfection with ExGen 500 resulted in an increase in the expression levels of GADD45 mRNA, consistent with global cellular stress. Viral vectors increased (3–6‐fold) expression of genes associated with DSBs and cellular stress responses and, as expected, the effect was the most marked with the retroviral vector.ConclusionsThe DGE profiles observed in HepG2 cells following transduction/transfection suggest that a subset of DNA repair genes may provide novel biomarkers to rapidly detect DNA damage induced by DNA products at the level of the genome, rather than at selected genes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physical incorporation of a single‐stranded oligodeoxynucleotide during targeted repair of a human chromosomal locus
Authors: Radecke Sarah , Radecke Frank , Peter Ingrid , Schwarz Klaus 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackgroundTargeted gene repair is an attractive method to correct point‐mutated genes at their natural chromosomal sites, but it is still rather inefficient. As revealed by earlier studies, successful gene correction requires a productive interaction of the repair molecule with the target locus. The work here set out to investigate whether DNA repair, e.g., mismatch repair, or a direct incorporation of the correction molecule follows as the step upon the initial interaction.MethodsSingle‐stranded 21mer oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) of sense orientation were directed towards point‐mutated enhanced green fluorescence protein transgene loci in HEK‐293‐derived cell clones. First gene repair assays compared ODNs carrying the canonical termini 5′‐phosphate and 3′‐OH with their respective variants harbouring non‐canonical termini (5′‐OH, 3′‐H). Second, a protocol was established to allow efficient recovery of integrated short biotin‐labelled ODNs from the genomes of gene‐corrected cells using streptavidin‐coated beads in order to test directly whether transfected ODNs become bona fide parts of the target locus DNA.ResultsOligodeoxynucleotides with canonical termini were about 34‐fold more efficient than their counterparts carrying non‐canonical termini in a phosphorothioate‐modified backbone. Furthermore, biotinylated fragments were successfully recovered from genomic DNAs of gene‐corrected cells.ConclusionsThe experiment showed that ODNs are incorporated into a mammalian genome. This unravels one early repair step and also sets an unexpected example of genome dynamics possibly relevant to other ODN‐based cell techniques. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strangulation signs: Initial correlation of MRI, MSCT, and forensic neck findings
Authors: Yen Kathrin , Thali Michael J. , Aghayev Emin , Jackowski Christian , Schweitzer Wolf , Boesch Chris , Vock Peter , Dirnhofer Richard , Sonnenschein Martin 
Published: September 2005

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in hanging and manual strangulation cases and compare them with forensic autopsy results.Materials and MethodsPostmortem MSCT and MRI of nine persons who died from hanging or manual strangulation were performed. The neck findings were compared with those discovered during forensic autopsy. In addition, two living patients underwent imaging and clinical examination following severe manual strangulation and near‐hanging, respectively. For evaluation, the findings were divided into “primary” (strangulation mark and subcutaneous desiccation (i.e., soft‐tissue thinning as a result of tissue fluids being driven out by mechanical compression) in hanging, and subcutaneous and intramuscular hemorrhage in manual strangulation) and “collateral” signs. The Wilcoxon two‐tailed test was used for statistical analysis of the lymph node and salivary gland findings.ResultsIn hanging, the primary and most frequent collateral signs were revealed by imaging. In manual strangulation, the primary findings were accurately depicted, with the exception of one slight hemorrhage. Apart from a vocal cord hemorrhage, all frequent collateral signs could be diagnosed radiologically. Traumatic lymph node hemorrhage (P = 0.031) was found in all of the manual strangulation cases.ConclusionMSCT and MRI revealed strangulation signs concordantly with forensic pathology findings. Imaging offers a great potential for the forensic examination of lesions due to strangulation in both clinical and postmortem settings. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correction for heart rate variability improves coronary magnetic resonance angiography
Authors: Leiner Tim , Katsimaglis George , Yeh Ernest N. , Kissinger Kraig V. , van Yperen Gert , Eggers Holger , Manning Warren J. , Botnar René M. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractPurposeTo address degradation of coronary MR angiography (MRA) image quality due to heart rate variability (HRV)‐associated variations in coronary artery position and motion.Materials and MethodsFree‐breathing navigator‐gated and ‐corrected coronary MRA using subject‐specific trigger delays and acquisition windows was combined with a real‐time HRV correction algorithm, such as commonly used in left ventricular wall motion studies. Ten healthy adults underwent free‐breathing navigator‐gated and ‐corrected coronary MRA with and without HRV correction. Signal‐to‐noise (SNR), contrast‐to‐noise (CNR), vessel length, diameter, sharpness, and subjective image quality (on a five‐point scale) were compared in a blinded fashion.ResultsVessel sharpness improved significantly for both the left (LCA) and right (RCA) coronary artery systems (P = 0.016 and P = 0.015, respectively) with the use of HRV correction. Subjective image quality also improved significantly when HRV correction was used (P = 0.003). There were no significant differences with regard to SNR and CNR (P > 0.1).ConclusionsPreliminary results suggest that HRV correction improves objective and subjective image quality in coronary MRA. Continued studies in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease are warranted to investigate the clinical impact of this technique. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of harvest stage and re‐growth on yield, composition, ensilage and in vitro digestibility of new forage sorghum varieties
Authors: Miron Joshua , Solomon Ran , Adin Gabriel , Nir Uri , Nikbachat Moses , Yosef Edith , Carmi Avner , Weinberg Zwi G. , Kipnis Tal , Zuckerman Ephraim , Ben‐Ghedalia Daniel 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe effect of growth stage and re‐growth on the nutritional and ensilage characteristics of two new sorghum hybrids, BMR‐101 and Silobuster, and one commercial variety, FS‐5, was examined in this study. Varieties were sampled during the summer at the early heading (EH) stage and were harvested at the soft dough (SD) stage. Additional irrigation enabled autumn re‐growth and a second harvest. Plants of FS‐5 and BMR‐101 were resistant to lodging at EH. However, BMR‐101 and Silobuster suffered from high lodging at the SD stage of the summer harvest. Dry matter (DM) content of FS‐5 and BMR‐101 at EH was below 250 g kg−1. DM yields of the varieties were similar at the summer harvest and higher than their respective re‐growth cuts. Ensilage DM losses were moderate and similar across varieties. Hemicellulose of SD plants was partly solubilised and most of the water‐soluble carbohydrate fermented, yielding lactic acid, ethanol and volatile fatty acids (VFA), and a pH < 4. In vitro DM digestibility of varieties was similar in summer silages, but lower in the respective re‐growth silages of FS‐5 and BMR‐101, reflecting the higher content of neutral detergent fibre and lignin in the re‐growth silages. The summer plus re‐growth cumulative yields of digestible DM of the respective FS‐5, Silobuster and BMR‐101 silages were 14.7, 16.6 and 14.5 t ha−1. The commercial variety, FS‐5, may have some advantage over BMR‐101 and Silobuster owing to its relative resistance to lodging in addition to its high yield and good ensilage properties. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Clarification and sterilization of raw depectinized apple juice by ceramic ultrafiltration membranes
Authors: Li Jun , Wang Zhengfu , Ge Yiqiang , Sun Qingfu , Hu Xiaosong 
Published: September 2005

AbstractRaw depectinized apple juice was clarified and sterilized in a cross‐flow pilot scale ultrafiltration system using ceramic tubular membranes (MEMBRALOX®, Pall) with mean pore size of 100 nm. The permeate flux significantly decreased with time until a steady‐state was established. An increase in filtration pressure increased the permeate flux while there is an optimum pressure (about 0.85 bar) above which the increase of pressure does not increase the flux significantly. The higher the cross‐flow velocity was, the higher was the transmembrane flux. When the operating temperature increased, the permeation rate increased subsequently. Analytical measurement showed that suspended solids and turbidity could almost be removed by the ceramic ultrafiltration membrane, but pH, acidity, sugar and soluble solid content of the juices showed no significant change. The bacteria challenge tests with Micrococcus flavus showed that the logarithm value of the bacteria reduction rate came up to above 9 in the cross‐flow tubular ceramic system. When the permeate was collected in sterile bottles in a laminar flow shell and kept at 4 °C, 8 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C, for 28 days, the apple juice experienced minimal changes in physicochemical properties at lower temperatures of 4 °C, or 8 °C. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry