bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mutant KRAS Conversion of Conventional T Cells into Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Zdanov Stephanie , Mandapathil Magis , Abu Eid Rasha , Adamson-Fadeyi Saudat , Wilson Willie , Qian Jiahua , Carnie Andrea , Tarasova Nadya , Mkrtichyan Mikayel , Berzofsky Jay A. , Whiteside Theresa L. , Khleif Samir N. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Constitutive activation of the KRAS oncogene in human malignancies is associated with aggressive tumor growth and poor prognosis. Similar to other oncogenes, KRAS acts in a cell-intrinsic manner to affect tumor growth or survival. However, we describe here a different, cell-extrinsic mechanism through which mutant KRAS contributes to tumor development. Tumor cells carrying mutated KRAS induced highly suppressive T cells, and silencing KRAS reversed this effect. Overexpression of the mutant KRASG12V gene in wild-type KRAS tumor cells led to regulatory T-cell (Treg) induction. We also demonstrate that mutant KRAS induces the secretion of IL10 and transforming growth factor-β1 (both required for Treg induction) by tumor cells through the activation of the MEK–ERK–AP1 pathway. Finally, we report that inhibition of KRAS reduces the infiltration of Tregs in KRAS-driven lung tumorigenesis even before tumor formation. This cell-extrinsic mechanism allows tumor cells harboring a mutant KRAS oncogene to escape immune recognition. Thus, an oncogene can promote tumor progression independent of its transforming activity by increasing the number and function of Tregs. This has a significant clinical potential, in which targeting KRAS and its downstream signaling pathways could be used as powerful immune modulators in cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(4); 354–65. ©2016 AACR.
Preliminary phylogeny of Fordiophyton (Melastomataceae), with the description of two new species<span><span><span><br /></span></span></span>
Authors: Zeng Si-Jin , Zou Long-Hai , Wang Pan , Hong Wen-Jun , Zhang Guo-Qiang , Chen Li-Jun , Zhuang Xue-Ying 
Published: February 2016

A preliminary phylogeny of Fordiophyton (Melastomataceae) and the description of two new taxa, F. chenii and F. huizhouense, from southern China, are presented here. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that Fordiophyton is monophyletic and the two new species are in this clade of Sonerileae. Fordiophyton chenii is morphologically similar to F. cordifolium. Both taxa have glabrous stems, large, cordate leaves and four-sided petioles, but F. chenii has a very short stem, rosette leaves, hypanthia with dense glandular trichomes, and the shorter stamens with yellow anthers. Fordiophyton huizhouense shares with F. peperomiifolium the short, densely hirsute stem and rosette leaves, but F. huizhouense is characterized by adaxially smooth leaves, lanceolate calyx lobes, and inflated, prolonged connective bases in the longer stamens.
Dairy and Growth, Latest Findings, and Lessons Learned
Authors: Clark David C. 
Published: February 2016

Background: Low birth weight is a significant risk factor in infant mortality and morbidity and the likelihood of chronic and clinical disease in later life. Objective: To identify reported associations between maternal dietary patterns and risk of low birth weight offspring. Methods: This article reviews some of the literature on this subject, with emphasis on maternal intake of dairy products. Results: Published data show a positive association between maternal dairy product intake and birth weight but are inconclusive with respect to fetal length. While data are limited, 2 studies have reported a positive association between maternal consumption of milk and yogurt and birth weight, but this association is not observed with respect to consumption of cheese. Conclusion: If correct, by deduction, this observation is suggestive that whey protein may be a contributing factor to birth weight. Indirect evidence supporting why this observation merits further investigation is presented.
The Desires of Their Hearts: The Multidisciplinary Perspectives of African Americans on End-of-Life Care in the African American Community
Authors: Rhodes Ramona L. , Elwood Bryan , Lee Simon C. , Tiro Jasmin A. , Halm Ethan A. , Skinner Celette S. 
Published: February 2016

Background: Studies have identified racial differences in advance care planning and use of hospice for care at the end of life. Multiple reasons for underuse among African American patients and their families have been proposed and deserve further exploration. Objective: The goal of this study was to examine perceptions of advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice among a diverse sample of African Americans with varying degrees of personal and professional experience with end-of-life care and use these responses to inform a culturally sensitive intervention to promote awareness of these options. Methods: Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted with African Americans who had varying degrees of experience and exposure to end-of-life care both personally and professionally. We conducted in-depth qualitative analyses of these interviews and focus group transcripts and determined that thematic saturation had been achieved. Results: Several themes emerged. Participants felt that advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice can be beneficial to African American patients and their families but identified specific barriers to completion of advance directives and hospice enrollment, including lack of knowledge, fear that these measures may hasten death or cause providers to deliver inadequate care, and perceived conflict with patients’ faith and religious beliefs. Providers described approaches they use to address these barriers in their practices. Conclusion: Findings, which are consistent with and further elucidate those identified from previous research, will inform design of a culturally sensitive intervention to increase awareness and understanding of advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice among members of the African American community.
When is a mutation not a mutation: the case of the c.594-2A>C splice variant in a woman harbouring another BRCA1 mutation in trans
Authors: Wong-Brown Michelle , McPhillips Mary , Gleeson Margaret , Spigelman Allan D. , Meldrum Cliff J. , Dooley Susan , Scott Rodney J. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractSince the identification of BRCA1 there has only ever been described two bi-allelic mutation carriers, one of whom was subsequently shown to be a mono-allelic carrier. The second patient diagnosed with two BRCA1 mutations appears to be accurate but there remain some questions about the missense variant identified in that patient.In this report we have identified a woman who is a bi-allelic mutation carrier of BRCA1 and provide an explanation as to why this patient has a phenotype very similar to that of any mono-allelic mutation carrier. The splice variant identified in this patient appears to be associated with the up-regulation of a BRCA1 splice variant that rescues the lethality of being a double mutant. The consequences of the findings of this report may have implications for mutation interpretation and that could serve as a model for not only BRCA1 but also for other autosomal dominant disorders that are considered as being embryonically lethal.
Functional imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma using diffusion-weighted MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients on waiting-list for liver transplantation
Authors: Boussouar Samia , Itti Emmanuel , Lin Shih-Jui , Decaens Thomas , Evangelista Eva , Chiaradia Melanie , Chalaye Julia , Baranes Laurence , Calderaro Julien , Laurent Alexis , Pigneur Frederic , Duvoux Christophe , Azoulay Daniel , Costentin Charlotte , Rahmouni Alain , Luciani Alain 
Published: February 2016

Abstract

Background
To compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with the standardized uptake values (SUV) measured by18F-FDG-PET/CT in naïve hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules, and to determine whether these markers are associated with tumours at high-risk of aggressiveness.

Methods
From 2007 to 2010, all patients with HCC on the waiting list for liver transplantation and who underwent both FDG-PET/CT and 1.5-T DWI-MRI (b values: 0, 200, 400, and 800 s/mm2) were included in this institutional review board-approved retrospective study. Tumour size, tumour ADC, tumour-to-liver ADC ratio (ADCT/L), maximal tumour SUV and tumour-to-liver SUV ratio (SUVT/L) were measured and compared to serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, tumour size and differentiation grade on explanted specimens.

Results
A total of 37 HCC nodules in 28 patients were available for correlation between MRI and PET/CT, 7 of which (in 7 patients) showed a SUVT/L > 1.15. We did not find any correlation between tumour ADC or ADCT/L and tumour SUV or SUVT/L. To note, SUVT/L was positively correlated with AFP levels (R = 0.95, P ≤ 0.0001), while ADCT/L was not (P = 0.73). Twenty-four patients (with 32 nodules) underwent liver transplantation. In this subgroup, an increased SUVT/L ratio was associated with larger tumours (average size, 32 ± 14 mm; range, 18–60 mm; P < 0.0001) and with poor differentiation on pathology (grades 3 and 4; P = 0.04), while ADCT/L was neither associated with tumour size or differentiation grade.

Conclusions
ADC and SUV measures in HCC nodules are not correlated. SUVT/L ratio correlates with AFP levels, tumour size and poor differentiation, and should probably be integrated as a co-variable in a predictive outcome model of patients on the waiting-list for liver transplantation.
Embodying self-compassion within virtual reality and its effects on patients with depression
Authors: Falconer Caroline J. , Rovira Aitor , King John A. , Gilbert Paul , Antley Angus , Fearon Pasco , Ralph Neil , Slater Mel , Brewin Chris R. 
Published: February 2016

BackgroundSelf-criticism is a ubiquitous feature of psychopathology and can be combatted by increasing levels of self-compassion. However, some patients are resistant to self-compassion.AimsTo investigate whether the effects of self-identification with virtual bodies within immersive virtual reality could be exploited to increase self-compassion in patients with depression.MethodWe developed an 8-minute scenario in which 15 patients practised delivering compassion in one virtual body and then experienced receiving it from themselves in another virtual body.ResultsIn an open trial, three repetitions of this scenario led to significant reductions in depression severity and self-criticism, as well as to a significant increase in self-compassion, from baseline to 4-week follow-up. Four patients showed clinically significant improvement.ConclusionsThe results indicate that interventions using immersive virtual reality may have considerable clinical potential and that further development of these methods preparatory to a controlled trial is now warranted.
Claims for sickness and disability benefits owing to mental
disorders in the UK: trends from 1995 to 2014
Authors: Viola Sebastião , Moncrieff Joanna 
Published: February 2016

BackgroundThere is international concern about the levels of sickness and
disability benefits, with mental disorders known to account for a large
proportion of claims.AimsTo examine trends in sickness and disability benefits awarded for mental
disorders in the UK.MethodThe researchers analysed UK Government data from 1995 to 2014.ResultsMental disorders have become the most common cause of receiving benefits,
with the number of claimants rising by 103% from 1995 to 1.1 million in
2014. Claimants with other conditions fell by 35%. In 2014, 47% of claims
were attributed to a mental disorder. The number of long-term claimants
(claiming over 5 years) with mental disorders increased by 87% from 2000
to 2011. Two-thirds of mental disorder claimants were classified as
having a depressive or anxiety disorder.ConclusionsCommon mental disorders may involve greater morbidity and social costs
than usually recognised. Availability of suitable employment, as well as
individual support, may be necessary to reduce benefit levels.
Precision autophagy directed by receptor regulators – emerging examples within the TRIM family
Authors: Kimura Tomonori , Mandell Michael , Deretic Vojo 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT
Selective autophagy entails cooperation between target recognition and assembly of the autophagic apparatus. Target recognition is conducted by receptors that often recognize tags, such as ubiquitin and galectins, although examples of selective autophagy independent of these tags are emerging. It is less known how receptors cooperate with the upstream autophagic regulators, beyond the well-characterized association of receptors with Atg8 or its homologs, such as LC3B (encoded by MAP1LC3B), on autophagic membranes. The molecular details of the emerging role in autophagy of the family of proteins called TRIMs shed light on the coordination between cargo recognition and the assembly and activation of the principal autophagy regulators. In their autophagy roles, TRIMs act both as receptors and as platforms (‘receptor regulators’) for the assembly of the core autophagy regulators, such as ULK1 and Beclin 1 in their activated state. As autophagic receptors, TRIMs can directly recognize endogenous or exogenous targets, obviating a need for intermediary autophagic tags, such as ubiquitin and galectins. The receptor and regulatory features embodied within the same entity allow TRIMs to govern cargo degradation in a highly exact process termed ‘precision autophagy’.
Ubiquitin chain diversity at a glance
Authors: Akutsu Masato , Dikic Ivan , Bremm Anja 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT
Ubiquitin plays an essential role in modulating protein functions, and deregulation of the ubiquitin system leads to the development of multiple human diseases. Owing to its molecular features, ubiquitin can form various homo- and heterotypic polymers on substrate proteins, thereby provoking distinct cellular responses. The concept of multifaceted ubiquitin chains encoding different functions has been substantiated in recent years. It has been established that all possible ubiquitin linkage types are utilized for chain assembly and propagation of specific signals in vivo. In addition, branched ubiquitin chains and phosphorylated ubiquitin molecules have been put under the spotlight recently. The development of novel technologies has provided detailed insights into the structure and function of previously poorly understood ubiquitin signals. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we provide an update on the complexity of ubiquitin chains and their physiological relevance.
Price Reactions to Rivals’ Local Channel Exits
Authors: Ozturk O. Cem , Venkataraman Sriram , Chintagunta Pradeep K. 
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we study the effect of a firm’s local channel exits on prices charged by incumbents remaining in the marketplace. Exits could result in higher prices due to tempered competition or lower prices due to reduced colocation or agglomeration benefits. The net effect of these two countervailing forces remains unknown. In addition, little is known about how this effect could change depending on incumbents’ geographic locations. We address this research gap by examining new car price reactions by incumbent multiproduct automobile dealerships who experience the exit of a Chrysler dealership in their local markets. We find evidence that the competition effect exceeds the colocation effect: prices increase by about 1% ($318) following an exit relative to the price change in the absence of an exit. More important, we find that the price increase is lower at dealerships more proximate to the exiting dealership than dealerships farther away for the same set of cars available across these locations. This finding suggests differences in the extent of the two forces (competition and agglomeration) at different distances from the closed dealership. We assess the generalizability of our results by looking at the impact of GM’s closure of Pontiac dealerships. Taken together, our results inform consumers, firms, and policymakers about possible implications of an exit. Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2015.0952.
Optimal Price/Lead-Time Menus for Queues with Customer Choice: Segmentation, Pooling, and Strategic Delay
Authors: Afèche Philipp , Pavlin J. Michael 
Published: February 2016

How should a firm design a price/lead-time menu and scheduling policy to maximize revenues from heterogeneous time-sensitive customers with private information about their preferences? We consider a queueing system with multiple customer types that differ in their valuations for instant delivery and their delay costs. The distinctive feature of our model is that the ranking of customer preferences depends on lead times: patient customers are willing to pay more than impatient customers for long lead times, and vice versa for speedier service. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions, in terms of the capacity, the market size, and the properties of the valuation-delay cost distribution, for three features of the optimal menu and segmentation: pricing out the middle of the delay cost spectrum while serving both ends, pooling types with different delay costs into a single class, and strategic delay to deliberately inflate lead times. This paper was accepted by Assaf Zeevi, stochastic models and simulation.
Gain Without Pain: The Extended Effects of a Behavioral Health Intervention
Authors: Mochon Daniel , Schwartz Janet , Maroba Josiase , Patel Deepak , Ariely Dan 
Published: February 2016

We examine the extended effects of an incentive-based behavioral health intervention designed to improve nutrition behavior. Although the intervention successfully improved the target behavior, less is known about any spillovers, positive or negative, that impacted the program’s net benefit. This novel examination presents an opportunity to advance our knowledge of this important question, particularly because many theories predict that balancing behaviors in other domains (e.g., reduced exercise) can occur. Our results show a positive and long-lasting persistence effect for the treatment group, even after the incentive was removed. Moreover, we observe no negative spillover effects into related domains such as exercise, and no negative impact on customer loyalty. These results support the use of incentive-based interventions and highlight the importance, for both theory and practice, of examining their extended effects. This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
The Role of Sales Agents in Information Disclosure: Evidence from a Field Experiment
Authors: Allcott Hunt , Sweeney Richard L. 
Published: February 2016

With a large nationwide retailer, we run a natural field experiment to measure the effects of energy use information disclosure, customer rebates, and sales agent incentives on demand for energy-efficient durable goods. Although a combination of large rebates plus sales incentives substantially increases market share, information and sales incentives alone each have zero statistical effect and explain at most a small fraction of the low baseline market share. Sales agents strategically comply only partially with the experiment, targeting information to more interested consumers but not discussing energy efficiency with the disinterested majority. These results suggest that seller-provided information is not a major barrier to energy-efficiency investments at current prices in this context. Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2327 . This paper was accepted by John List, behavioral economics.
Suction Potential and Water Absorption from Periodic Channels in Different Types of Homogeneous Soils
Authors: Solekhudin I. , Ang K. C. 
Published: February 2016

<p><span style="font-size: 10.000000pt; font-family: 'CMR10';">In this paper, problems involving infiltration from periodic identical trapezoidal channels into homogeneous soils with root water uptake are considered. The governing equation of infiltration through soil is transformed to a modified Helmholtz equation using Kirchoff transformation with dimensionless variables. A DRBEM with a predictor-corrector scheme is employed to obtain numerical solutions to the modified Helmholtz equation. The proposed method is used to solve infiltration problems in three different types of soil. Results are shown to be physically meaningful. </span></p>
"Ye relief of ye poor of sd towne”: Poverty and Localism in Eighteenth-Century New Jersey
Authors: Grigg John 
Published: February 2016

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: small;">In keeping with all the colonies of British North America in the eighteenth century, New Jersey residents grappled with the poor in their midst. Since the early seventeenth century, people in Britain and in its colonies had accepted that even hard working people could slip into poverty through no fault of their own. This, in turn, meant that officials and townspeople recognized the need for some form of poor relief either through providing work options for the able poor or through direct relief for those unable to work. In eighteenth-century New Jersey, provincial poor laws and local town practices imitated, to some extent, common practices in Britain. However, these practices were modified by both the character of New Jersey settlement and by the broad requirements of provincial legislation which allowed for a significant degree of local interpretation. Thus, poor relief in New Jersey towns was carried out on a personal level and was influenced by both compassion and pragmatism. <span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Research for this article was funded in part by grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission and the University of Nebraska-Omaha's Committee on Research and Creative Activity.</span></span>
Multiplicity result for non-homogeneous fractional Schrodinger--Kirchhoff-type equations in ℝ
n
Authors: Torres Ledesma César E. 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
In this paper we consider the existence of multiple solutions for the non-homogeneous fractional p-Laplacian equations of Schrödinger–Kirchhoff type

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g
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M\Bigg{(}\int_{\mathbb{R}^{n}}\int_{\mathbb{R}^{n}}\frac{|u(x)-u(z)|^{p}}{|x-{%
z}|^{n+ps}}\,dz\,dx\Bigg{)}(-\Delta)_{p}^{s}u+V(x)|u|^{p-2}u=f(x,u)+g(x)

in

ℝ
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, where (-Δ

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is the fractional p-Laplacian operator with 0¡s¡1¡p¡

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, p
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is a continuous function, V :

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n

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→

\to

ℝ
+

\mathbb{R}^{+}

is a potential function and g :

ℝ
n

\mathbb{R}^{n}

→

\to

ℝ

\mathbb{R}

is a perturbation term. Assuming that the potential V is bounded from bellow, that f(x,t) satisfies the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition and some other reasonable hypotheses, and that g(x) is sufficiently small in

L

p
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L^{p^{\prime}}

(

ℝ
n

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), we obtain some new criterion to guarantee that the equation above has at least two non-trivial solutions.
On Merger Profitability and the Intensity of Rivalry
Authors: Escrihuela-Villar Marc 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
This note considers a general symmetric quantity-setting oligopoly where the “coefficient of cooperation” defined by Cyert and DeGroot (1973, “An Analysis of Cooperation and Learning in a Duopoly Context”. The American Economic Review 63:24–37) is interpreted as the parameter indicating severity of competition. It is obtained that horizontal mergers are more likely to be profitable in a more competitive market structure. Consequently, the results by Salant et al. (1983, “The Effects of an Exogenous Change in Industry Structure on Cournot-Nash Equilibrium”. The Quarterly Journal of Economics 98 (2):185–99) about merger profitability are sensitive to the assumption of pre-merger Cournot competition.