bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Land use and water management challenges in Lithuanian rural areas
Authors: Maziliauskas Antanas 
Published: March 2004

AbstractLithuania has been transforming its agriculture and rural development sector during the past decade and is now close to joining the EU. This has included land reform and transformation of water management. The land restitution process will be completed soon. The average size of private agricultural land tenure is 5.7 ha. The large number of small‐size agricultural holdings is an issue to be addressed in the upcoming land consolidation projects. The maintenance of large‐scale drainage systems installed during the former period needs a lot of organisational and financial support. The study presents a critical analysis of the present state of land use and agricultural water management infrastructure in Lithuania. The existing opportunities are highlighted, with the emphasis on actions to be taken to explore the challenges arising.The EU pre‐accession programme SAPARD that started in 2000 is already addressing some investment issues in rural areas. Unfortunately, it does not assist the required investments in drainage infrastructure and does not deal with land consolidation issues. A critical review of existing measures suggests some new actions within the framework of the coming support from EU Structural Funds. The research gives the background for the preparation of comprehensive support measures for reforming land use and assisting the water management sector to be included in the framework of the Single Programming Document which is being prepared for the use of EU structural funds for the period of 2004–2006 after the accession of Lithuania to the EU. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting subcellular localization of proteins by hybridizing functional domain composition and pseudo‐amino acid composition
Authors: Chou Kuo‐Chen , Cai Yu‐Dong 
Published: March 2004

AbstractRecent advances in large‐scale genome sequencing have led to the rapid accumulation of amino acid sequences of proteins whose functions are unknown. Since the functions of these proteins are closely correlated with their subcellular localizations, many efforts have been made to develop a variety of methods for predicting protein subcellular location. In this study, based on the strategy by hybridizing the functional domain composition and the pseudo‐amino acid composition (Cai and Chou [2003]: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 305:407–411), the Intimate Sorting Algorithm (ISort predictor) was developed for predicting the protein subcellular location. As a showcase, the same plant and non‐plant protein datasets as investigated by the previous investigators were used for demonstration. The overall success rate by the jackknife test for the plant protein dataset was 85.4%, and that for the non‐plant protein dataset 91.9%. These are so far the highest success rates achieved for the two datasets by following a rigorous cross validation test procedure, further confirming that such a hybrid approach may become a very useful high‐throughput tool in the area of bioinformatics, proteomics, as well as molecular cell biology. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in human and mouse red blood cell membranes and its interaction with ecto‐apyrase
Authors: Sterling Kenneth M. , Shah Sanjiv , Kim Ronald J. , Johnston Nicholas I. F. , Salikhova Anna Y. , Abraham Edward H. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractElevated blood ATP and increased red blood cell (RBC) ATP transport is associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). In this report, we demonstrate the presence of the wild‐type and the ΔF508 mutant form of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein in RBC membranes and its putative interaction with ecto‐apyrase, an ATP hydrolyzing enzyme also present in the RBC membrane. RBC membranes of control and ΔF508 individuals and of wild‐type and CF transmembrane conductance regulator‐knockout mice were examined by immunoblot using several antibodies directed against different epitopes of this protein. These experiments indicated that human RBC membranes contain comparable amounts of the wild‐type CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein and the ΔF508 mutant form of the protein, respectively. CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein was also detected in wild‐type mouse RBC membranes but not in the gene knockout mouse RBC membranes. Antibodies directed against ecto‐apyrase co‐immunoprecipitated CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein of human RBC membranes indicating a physical interaction between these two membrane proteins consistent with ATP transport and extracellular hydrolysis. We conclude that RBCs are a significant repository of CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein and should provide a novel system for evaluating its expression and function. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modulation of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor proteins and ERK1/2 activity in allylamine‐injured vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Jones Sarah A. , Patterson Jan L. , Chao Jun‐Tzu , Ramos Kenneth S. , Wilson Emily 
Published: March 2004

AbstractChronic oxidative injury by allylamine (AAM) induces proliferative vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) phenotypes in the rat aorta similar to those seen in rodent and human atherosclerotic lesions. The proliferative advantage of AAM vSMC compared to control cells is maintained with serial passage of the cells and the advantage is nullified when AAM cells are seeded on a collagen substrate. In this study, we evaluate the potential role of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, p27 and p21, and mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases, ERK1/2, in mediating the proliferative advantage of AAM stressed vSMC over control cells on plastic or collagen substrates. p27 levels in randomly cycling cells were comparable in both cell types irrespective of the substrate. In contrast, basal levels of p21 were 1.9 ± 0.3 (P < 0.05)‐fold higher in randomly cycling AAM cells seeded on plastic compared to controls, a difference that was lost on a collagen substrate. Following G0 synchronization, basal levels of both p27 and p21 were higher in AAM cells seeded on plastic compared to controls (1.7 ± 0.2 and 2.0 ± 0.3‐fold, respectively, P < 0.05), but these differences were lost upon mitogenic stimulation. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) decreased p27 and p21 levels in cycling AAM cells relative to controls in a substrate‐dependent manner. AAM cells seeded on plastic exhibited enhanced ERK1/2 activation upon mitogenic stimulation; seeding on collagen nullified this advantage. The duration of ERK1/2 activation was prolonged in AAM cells independently of the seeding substrate. We conclude that substrate‐dependent acquisition of proliferative phenotypes following repeated cycles of AAM injury correlates with modulation of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, p27 and p21. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Viral appropriation of apoptotic and NF‐κB signaling pathways
Authors: Bowie Andrew G. , Zhan Jun , Marshall William L. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractViruses utilize a variety of strategies to evade the host immune response and replicate in the cells they infect. The comparatively large genomes of the Orthopoxviruses and gammaherpesviruses encode several immunomodulatory proteins that are homologous to component of the innate immune system of host cells, which are reviewed here. However, the viral mechanisms used to survive host responses are quite distinct between these two virus families. Poxviruses undergo continuous lytic replication in the host cytoplasm while expressing many genes that inhibit innate immune responses. In contrast, herpesviruses persist in a latent state during much of their lifecycle while expressing only a limited number of relatively non‐immunogenic viral proteins, thereby avoiding the adaptive immune response. Poxviruses suppress, whereas latent gammaherpesviruses activate, signaling by NF‐κB, yet both viruses target similar host signaling pathways to suppress the apoptotic response. Here, modulation of apoptotic and NF‐κB signal transduction pathways are examined as examples of common pathways appropriated in contrasting ways by herpesviruses and poxviruses. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficient solution technique for solving the Poisson–Boltzmann equation
Authors: Sayyed–Ahmad Abdallah , Tuncay Kagan , Ortoleva Peter J. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) equation has been extensively used to analyze the energetics and structure of proteins and other significant biomolecules immersed in electrolyte media. A new highly efficient approach for solving PB‐type equations that allows for the modeling of many‐atoms structures such as encountered in cell biology, virology, and nanotechnology is presented. We accomplish these efficiencies by reformulating the elliptic PB equation as the long‐time solution of an advection‐diffusion equation. An efficient modified, memory optimized, alternating direction implicit scheme is used to integrate the reformulated PB equation. Our approach is demonstrated on protein composites (a polio virus capsid protomer and a pentamer). The approach has great potential for the analysis of supramillion atoms immersed in a host electrolyte. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 25: 1068–1074, 2004
Transformational change: A historical review
Authors: White William L. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractRecovery from alcoholism can occur through a process of psychological death and rebirth. Generating a new person within a body once occupied by another, transformational change (TC) stands as a life‐defining experience demarcating before (old self) and after (new self). The TC experiences of 7 individuals (Handsome Lake, John Gough, Francis Murphy, Jerry McAuley, Bill Wilson, Marty Mann, and Malcolm X) are presented here. Their recoveries from addiction catalyzed larger abstinence‐based mutual aid, advocacy, or religious/cultural revitalization movements. Psychotherapists are encouraged to respect the healing power of the TC experience, avoid aborting the TC experience via superficial amelioration of its more disquieting manifestations, interpret the TC experience in ways that solidify and sustain the change process, and help bridge the TC experience and the construction of a new identity and lifestyle. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session.
Quantum change: Ten years later
Authors: C'de Baca Janet , Wilbourne Paula 
Published: March 2004

AbstractTen years ago, 55 people shared their stories of personality transformation and sudden extensive cognitive and behavior changes. We termed this type of change “quantum change” (QC). The majority reported that because of their experience, their lives were much better, and most were confident the changes would last. Thirty people from the original study were re‐interviewed. Most remembered quite vividly the QC experience reported 10 years earlier. The QC experiences fell along a continuum, with some describing their QC as a one‐time event that dramatically changed the way they lived, others experienced repeated changes that were either of similar intensity to the initial experience or milder than the initial experience, and some framed the initial change experience as one aspect of a continuing growth process. These dramatic changes have continued, and none described a return to old ways of being. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session.
Leptin inhibits lysophosphatidic acid‐induced intracellular calcium rise by a protein kinase C‐dependent mechanism
Authors: Eiras Sonia , Camiña Jesus P. , Diaz‐Rodriguez Esther , Gualillo Oreste , Casanueva Felipe F. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractLeptin communicates the status of body energy stores to the central nervous system, regulating appetite, metabolic rate, and neuroendocrine functions. These effects are mediated by leptin binding and activation of the cognate cell surface receptor, a member of type I cytokine receptor family, which lead to the activation of receptor‐associated kinases of the Janus family. In this work, we demonstrate that leptin inhibits the l‐α‐lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)‐induced intracellular calcium mobilization in a dose‐dependent manner in HEK‐293 cells stably expressing full‐length leptin receptor (OB‐Rb). This action appears to be selective, as it was not observed when other signaling families, such as VIP or EGF, were studied. Pretreatment with the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, wortmannin, reversed the effect of leptin, pointing to PI3K as an intermediate molecule involved in this process. An unspecific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, staurosporine, disrupted the inhibitory action of leptin. Furthermore, intracellular levels of phosphorylated PKCε and PKCδ rose to a maximum 5 min after leptin administration, suggesting that these atypical PKC isoforms are involved in the observed cross‐desensitization. To define the regions of the OB‐Rb intracellular domain required for the cross‐desensitization, a series of C‐terminal deletion mutants were transfected into HEK‐293 cells. C‐terminal truncation that removed the consensus Box 3 motif of OB‐Rb prevented leptin action, indicating that heterologous desensitization over LPA was exerted at the level of this intracellular motif. Our date demonstrate that leptin plays a key role in the regulation of the earliest signaling pathways activated by growth factors, such as LPA, through a signaling pathway involving PKCδ and PKCε coupled to Box 3 motif of the OB‐Rb through PI3K. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparative analysis of dendritic cells transduced with different anti‐apoptotic molecules: sensitivity to tumor‐induced apoptosis
Authors: Balkir Levent , Tourkova Irina L. , Makarenkova Valeria P. , Shurin Galina V. , Robbins Paul D. , Yin Xiao‐Ming , Chatta Gurkamal , Shurin Michael R. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBackgroundTumors develop mechanisms to escape recognition by the immune system. It has recently been demonstrated that tumors cause apoptotic death of key immune cells, including the major antigen‐presenting cells, dendritic cells (DC). Elimination of DC from the tumor environment significantly diminishes development of specific immunologic responses. We have recently demonstrated that tumor‐induced DC apoptosis could be prevented by overexpression of the anti‐apoptotic molecule Bcl‐xL. The aim of this study was to identify extrinsic and intrinsic tumor‐induced apoptotic pathways in DC by targeting different anti‐apoptotic molecules, including FLIP, XIAP/hILP, dominant‐negative procaspase‐9 and HSP70.MethodsMurine bone marrow derived DC were transduced with adenoviral vectors carrying different anti‐apoptotic molecules and co‐incubated with tumor cells in a Transwell system. Apoptosis of DC was assessed by Annexin V and PI staining.ResultsWe have demonstrated that adenoviral infection of DC with genes encoding different anti‐apoptotic molecules exhibits different degrees of resistance to melanoma‐induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we have shown that anti‐apoptotic molecules other than the Bcl‐2 family of proteins are able to protect DC and prevent tumor‐induced apoptosis in DC.ConclusionsThe results show that tumor‐induced apoptosis of DC is not limited to the mitochondrial pathway of cell death and open additional possibilities for targeted molecular protection of DC longevity in cancer. Therefore, effective protection of DC from tumor‐induced apoptosis may significantly improve the efficacy of DC‐based therapies for cancer. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decline of surface MHC I by adenoviral gene transfer of anti‐MHC I intrabodies in human endothelial cells—new perspectives for the generation of universal donor cells for tissue transplantation
Authors: Beyer Florian , Doebis Cornelia , Busch Annette , Ritter Thomas , Mhashilkar Abner , Marasco Wayne M. , Laube Horst , Volk Hans‐Dieter , Seifert Martina 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe seeding of small‐calibre vascular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts with endothelial cells provides an increase in biocompatibility of the graft surface. The harvest and ex vivo culture of autologous endothelial cells is highly delicate. Allogeneic human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) could be a potential cell source—however, rejection might occur due to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I mismatches. Lowering cell surface MHC I expression on endothelial cells by gene transfer of an anti‐MHC I intrabody might reduce graft failure. The intrabody consists of a single‐chain variable fragment (sFv) of an anti‐MHC I antibody, carrying a terminal KDEL sequence to retain the molecule together with the MHC I inside the endoplasmic reticulum.MethodsAdenoviral gene transfer was used to express the intrabody in HUVEC. The MHC I surface expression was measured 48 h after transduction by flow cytometry. Functional effects of the intrabody expression were analyzed in a calcein release cytotoxicity assay.ResultsA transduction efficiency of more than 95% with EGFP‐adenovirus indicates a sufficient gene transfer into HUVEC. Intrabody‐adenovirus‐transduced HUVEC show a massive reduction in MHC I surface expression creating almost a complete ‘knockout’ phenotype. Stimulation with inflammatory cytokines could not overcome this effect. The cell lysis of anti‐MHC I intrabody‐expressing HUVEC in a cytotoxicity assay is reduced when compared with the level of the MHC mismatched control.ConclusionsOur data indicate that HUVEC with reduced levels of MHC I might be used as universal donor cells for the seeding of vascular grafts. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors affecting retrovirus‐mediated gene transfer to human CD34+ cells
Authors: Hong Youngtae , Lee Karim , Yu Seung Shin , Kim Sujeong , Kim Joong‐Gon , Shin Hee Young , Kim Sunyoung 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBackgroundRetrovirus‐mediated gene transfer is a useful technology in studying the biology of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as well as in developing gene therapy products for a variety of human diseases. One of the most important factors determining the success of these studies is the number of HSCs receiving the gene of interest.MethodsWe tested various parameters for their influences on gene transfer efficiency to CD34+ cells derived from bone marrow. Based on a literature survey, three medium formulations of CD34+ cells have been compared for their effects on gene delivery efficiency and differentiation of them. We also tested whether FBS, used in the medium formulation, could be replaced with human serum or synthetic material.ResultsFormulation A, consisting of stem cell factor, Flt‐3 ligand, thrombopoietin, and IL‐3, provided optimum results in that it maintained the highest percentage of CD34+ cells during the culture as well as produced the highest gene delivery efficiency. It was found that the synthetic serum substitute containing bovine serum albumin, insulin and human transferrin could replace the fetal bovine serum present in the original formulation A without compromising gene transfer efficiency. When the transduction procedure was repeated three times, the gene could be delivered in up to 60% of the cell population. Gene delivery efficiency was comparable between CD34+ cells derived from bone marrow and mobilized peripheral blood.ConclusionsOur data could be useful in designing a procedure for stem cell gene therapy and providing a basis for further improving the conditions for gene transfer to various HSCs. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving the survival of human CNS precursor‐derived neurons after transplantation
Authors: Le Belle J.E. , Caldwell M.A. , Svendsen C.N. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractWe have examined the effects of predifferentiation and energy substrate deprivation on long‐term expanded human neural precursor cells (HNPCs). The pre‐differentiation of HNPC cultures produced large numbers of neurons (>60%) and mature glial cells capable of generating glycogen stores that protected the neuronal population from experimental metabolic stress. When predifferentiated HNPCs were transplanted into intact adult rat hippocampus, fewer cells survived compared to undifferentiated HNPC transplants. This cell death was completely attenuated, however, when predifferentiated HNPC cultures were pretreated to boost glial energy stores and resulted in greatly increased neuronal survival in vivo. The transplanted cells primarily engrafted within the granular layer of the dentate gyrus, where a large proportion of the predifferentiated HNPCs co‐expressed neuronal markers whereas most HNPCs outside of the neuronal layer did not, indicating that the predifferentiated cells remained capable of responding to local cues in the adult brain. Undifferentiated HNPCs migrated more widely in the brain after grafting than did the predifferentiated cells, which generally remained within the hippocampus. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differentiation of embryonic stem cells to a neural fate: A route to re‐building the nervous system?
Authors: Lang Kenneth J.D. , Rathjen Joy , Vassilieva Svetlana , Rathjen Peter D. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThe many and varied proposed applications of cell replacement therapies in the treatment of human disease states, particularly those arising from cell loss or dysfunction, have been discussed widely in both the scientific and popular press. Although an attractive concept, cell therapies require the development of a readily available source of donor cells suitable for transplantation. Embryonic stem (ES) cells, with proven ability to differentiate to all cell populations of the embryo and adult in vitro, provide a potential source of therapeutic cells. The differentiation capability of mouse ES cells in vitro has been studied extensively over the last 20 years and the formation of neural precursors and neural cell lineages from mouse ES cells is well established. Cell populations highly enriched/homogenous in neural precursors have been achieved using a variety of chemical or biological inducing agents coupled with selective growth conditions. Preliminary reports suggest that similar neural enrichment is seen when these methodologies are applied to primate and human ES cells. ES cell‐derived neural precursors have been analyzed in vitro and in vivo and found to be functionally normal and, after introduction into rodent models of human neurodegenerative diseases, capable of effecting measurable disease recovery. We review progress in the formation of neural precursors from mouse ES cells, particularly the recent reports of directed differentiation of ES in response to biological inductive factors, and assess the transfer of these approaches to human ES cells. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multifaceted dialogue between graft and host in neurotransplantation
Authors: Ourednik Vaclav , Ourednik Jitka 
Published: March 2004

AbstractCurrent restorative neurotransplantation research focuses mainly on the potential of the neural graft to replace damaged or missing cell populations and to deliver needed gene products in the form of transgenes. Because of this graft‐oriented bias of the procedure, possible dormant regenerative capabilities within the host have been largely underestimated and dismissed as insignificant. This review discusses existing evidence that neural grafts can have stimulating effects on host‐intrinsic plasticity that can help regeneration of the mammalian central nervous system. If confirmed, the synergistic interaction between graft and host might substantially enhance our therapeutic possibilities. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.