bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Conserved PFT1 Tandem Repeat Is Crucial for Proper Flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Rival Pauline , Press Maximilian O , Bale Jacob , Grancharova Tanya , Undurraga Soledad F , Queitsch Christine 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
It is widely appreciated that short tandem repeat (STR) variation underlies substantial phenotypic variation in organisms. Some propose that the high mutation rates of STRs in functional genomic regions facilitate evolutionary adaptation. Despite their high mutation rate, some STRs show little to no variation in populations. One such STR occurs in the Arabidopsis thaliana gene PFT1 (MED25), where it encodes an interrupted polyglutamine tract. Although the PFT1 STR is large (∼270 bp), and thus expected to be extremely variable, it shows only minuscule variation across A. thaliana strains. We hypothesized that the PFT1 STR is under selective constraint, due to previously undescribed roles in PFT1 function. We investigated this hypothesis using plants expressing transgenic PFT1 constructs with either an endogenous STR or synthetic STRs of varying length. Transgenic plants carrying the endogenous PFT1 STR generally performed best in complementing a pft1 null mutant across adult PFT1-dependent traits. In stark contrast, transgenic plants carrying a PFT1 transgene lacking the STR phenocopied a pft1 loss-of-function mutant for flowering time phenotypes and were generally hypomorphic for other traits, establishing the functional importance of this domain. Transgenic plants carrying various synthetic constructs occupied the phenotypic space between wild-type and pft1 loss-of-function mutants. By varying PFT1 STR length, we discovered that PFT1 can act as either an activator or repressor of flowering in a photoperiod-dependent manner. We conclude that the PFT1 STR is constrained to its approximate wild-type length by its various functional requirements. Our study implies that there is strong selection on STRs not only to generate allelic diversity, but also to maintain certain lengths pursuant to optimal molecular function.
Genetic Analysis of Resistance and Sensitivity to 2-Deoxyglucose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: McCartney Rhonda R , Chandrashekarappa Dakshayini G , Zhang Bob B , Schmidt Martin C 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Aerobic glycolysis is a metabolic pathway utilized by human cancer cells and also by yeast cells when they ferment glucose to ethanol. Both cancer cells and yeast cells are inhibited by the presence of low concentrations of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG). Genetic screens in yeast used resistance to 2-deoxyglucose to identify a small set of genes that function in regulating glucose metabolism. A recent high throughput screen for 2-deoxyglucose resistance identified a much larger set of seemingly unrelated genes. Here, we demonstrate that these newly identified genes do not in fact confer significant resistance to 2-deoxyglucose. Further, we show that the relative toxicity of 2-deoxyglucose is carbon source dependent, as is the resistance conferred by gene deletions. Snf1 kinase, the AMP-activated protein kinase of yeast, is required for 2-deoxyglucose resistance in cells growing on glucose. Mutations in the SNF1 gene that reduce kinase activity render cells hypersensitive to 2-deoxyglucose, while an activating mutation in SNF1 confers 2-deoxyglucose resistance. Snf1 kinase activated by 2-deoxyglucose does not phosphorylate the Mig1 protein, a known Snf1 substrate during glucose limitation. Thus, different stimuli elicit distinct responses from the Snf1 kinase.
Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Flourishing Novel Approaches in the Era of Biological Therapy
Authors: Chiu Joanne W. , Wong Hilda , Leung Roland , Pang Roberta , Cheung Tan-To , Fan Sheung-Tat , Poon Ronnie , Yau Thomas 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
The progress in the development of systemic treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) has been slow. The mainstream treatment remains using chemotherapy including gemcitabine, FOLFIRINOX, and nab-paclitaxel. Erlotinib is the only approved biological therapy with marginal benefit. Studies of agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor, angiogenesis, and RAS signaling have not been satisfying, and the usefulness of targeted therapy in APC is uncertain. Understanding in molecular processes and tumor biology has opened the door for new treatment strategies such as targeting insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, transforming growth factor β, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, and Notch pathway. New directions also include the upcoming immunotherapy and many novel agents that act on the microenvironment. The practice of personalized medicine using predictive biomarkers and pharmacogenomics signatures may also enhance the effectiveness of existing treatment. Future treatment approaches may involve comprehensive genomic assessment of tumor and integrated combinations of multiple agents to overcome treatment resistance.
Reverse-Phase Protein Array for Prediction of Patients at Low Risk of Developing Bone Metastasis From Breast Cancer
Authors: Hayashi Naoki , Manyam Ganiraju C. , Gonzalez-Angulo Ana M. , Niikura Naoki , Yamauchi Hideko , Nakamura Seigo , Hortobágyi Gabriel N. , Baggerly Keith A. , Ueno Naoto T. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackground.A biomarker that predicts bone metastasis based on a protein laboratory assay has not been demonstrated. Reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) enables quantification of total and phosphorylated proteins, providing information about their functional status. The aim of this study was to identify bone-metastasis-related markers in patients with primary breast cancer using RPPA analysis.Patients and Methods.Tumor samples were obtained from 169 patients with primary invasive breast carcinoma who underwent surgery. The patients were categorized by whether they developed breast cancer bone metastasis (BCBM) during follow-up. Clinical characteristics and protein expression by RPPA were compared and verified by leave-one-out cross-validation.Results.Lymph node status (p = .023) and expression level of 22 proteins by RPPA were significantly correlated with BCBM in logistic regression analysis. These variables were used to build a logistic regression model. After filtering the variables through a stepwise algorithm, the final model, consisting of 8 proteins and lymph node status, had sensitivity of 30.0%, specificity of 90.5%, positive predictive value of 30.0%, and negative predictive value of 90.5% in the cross-validation. Most of the identified proteins were associated with cell cycle or signal transduction (CDK2, CDKN1A, Rb1, Src, phosphorylated-ribosomal S6 kinase, HER2, BCL11A, and MYH11).Conclusion.Our validated model, in which the primary tumor is tested with RPPA, can predict patients who are at low risk of developing BCBM and thus who likely would not benefit from receiving a bisphosphonate in the adjuvant setting. Clinical trials excluding these patients have the potential to clarify the benefit of bisphosphonates in the adjuvant setting.
Modeling of Anaerobic Digestion with a Focus on Estimation of Hydrolysis Constants at 35, 55, and 60 °C
Authors: Haghighatafshar Salar , Ossiansson Elin , Koch Konrad , Kjerstadius Hamse , Jansen Jes la Cour , Davidsson Åsa 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACT: Hydrolysis constants of mixed sludge at 35, 55, and 60 °C were found to be 0.32, 0.44, and 0.50 1/d, respectively, in pilot‐scale, semicontinuously operated anaerobic digesters. The hydrolysis constants and estimated chemical oxygen demand fractions in the feed were introduced to a mathematical model for anaerobic digestion published by Siegrist et al. (2002), which is similar to Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1. First‐order and Monod‐type kinetics were tested for estimation of hydrolysis constants. The applied kinetics were found to affect the outcome of the regression study. Moreover, the free ammonia inhibition model was excluded for both propionate oxidation and acetate conversion, thanks to the apparent acclimatized biomass. No substantial accumulation of volatile fatty acids was observed in the reactors at 35, 55, and 60 °C, corresponding to free ammonia nitrogen concentrations of about 20, 110, and 130 g N/m3, respectively.
Optimizing Firm Inventory Costs as a Fuzzy Problem
Authors: Kacprzak Dariusz , Kosiński Witold 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
The fixed order quantity model of inventory management system is used in the deterministic part. Several elements of inventory cost, such as ordering cost, transportation and storing costs, frozen capital cost, as well as extra rebates, are taken into account in the model. Then the fuzzy optimization problem for the total cost function is formulated within the space of Ordered Fuzzy Numbers when all variables of the model are fuzzy. After the choice of a particular defuzzification functional an appropriate theorem is formulated which gives the solution of the problem.
Clustering Algorithms in Hybrid Recommender System on MovieLens Data
Authors: Kuzelewska Urszula 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Decisions are taken by humans very often during professional as well as leisure activities. It is particularly evident during surfing the Internet: selecting web sites to explore, choosing needed information in search engine results or deciding which product to buy in an on-line store. Recommender systems are electronic applications, the aim of which is to support humans in this decision making process. They are widely used in many applications: adaptive WWW servers, e-learning, music and video preferences, internet stores etc. In on-line solutions, such as e-shops or libraries, the aim of recommendations is to show customers the products which they are probably interested in. As input data the following are taken: shopping basket archives, ratings of the products or servers log files.
The article presents a solution of recommender system which helps users to select an interesting product. The system analyses data from other customers' ratings of the products. It uses clustering methods to find similarities among the users and proposed techniques to identify users' profiles. The system was implemented in Apache Mahout environment and tested on a movie database. Selected similarity measures are based on: Euclidean distance, cosine as well as correlation coefficient and loglikehood function.
Number of Clusters and the Quality of Hybrid Predictive Models in Analytical CRM
Authors: Łapczyński Mariusz , Jefmański Bartłomiej 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Making more accurate marketing decisions by managers requires building effective predictive models. Typically, these models specify the probability of customer belonging to a particular category, group or segment. The analytical CRM categories refer to customers interested in starting cooperation with the company (acquisition models), customers who purchase additional products (cross- and up-sell models) or customers intending to resign from the cooperation (churn models). During building predictive models researchers use analytical tools from various disciplines with an emphasis on their best performance. This article attempts to build a hybrid predictive model combining decision trees (C&RT algorithm) and cluster analysis (k-means). During experiments five different cluster validity indices and eight datasets were used. The performance of models was evaluated by using popular measures such as: accuracy, precision, recall, G-mean, F-measure and lift in the first and in the second decile. The authors tried to find a connection between the number of clusters and models' quality.
The Multi-Criteria Negotiation Analysis Based on the Membership Function
Authors: Roszkowska Ewa , Wachowicz Tomasz 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
In this paper we propose a multi-criteria model based on the fuzzy preferences approach which can be implemented in the prenegotiation phase to evaluate the negotiations packages. The applicability of some multi-criteria ranking methods were discussed for building a scoring function for negotiation packages. The first one is Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) technique which determines the sum of the partial satisfactions from each negotiation issue and aggregate them using the issue weights. The other one is Distance Based Methods (DBM), with its extension based on the distances to ideal or anti-ideal package, i.e. the TOPSIS procedure. In our approach the negotiator's preferences over the issues are represented by fuzzy membership functions and next a selected multi-criteria decision making method is adopted to determine the global rating of each package. The membership functions are used here as the equivalents of utility functions spread over the negotiation issues, which let us compare different type of data. One of the key advantages of the approach proposed is its usefulness for building a general scoring function in the ill-structured negotiation problem, namely the situation in which the problem itself as well as the negotiators preferences cannot be precisely defined, the available information is uncertain, subjective and vague. Secondly, all proposed variants of scoring functions produce consistent rankings, even though the new packages are added (or removed) and do not result in rank reversal.
Equitable Distribution in a Three Players Problem
Authors: Szopa Marek 
Published: August 2014

Abstract

Jazz band is a 3 player superadditive game in characteristic function form. Three players have to divide the payoff they can get, while being in a grand coalition, provided their individual and duo coalitions payoffs are known. Assumptions of individual and collective rationality lead to the notion of the core of the game. We discuss offers that cannot readily be refused [OCRR] as the solutions of the game in case of an empty core, when duo coalitions are the best options but only for two out of three players. The experiment shows that even in case of an empty core the most probable results are three-way coalitions and the share of the weakest player usually exceeds his OCRR. The Shapley value is introduced and its fairness is discussed as it lies at the side of the core while, on the other hand, the nucleolus lies exactly at the center of the core. We conclude that, in spite of that, the Shapley value is the best candidate for a fair sharing solution of the jazz band game and other similar games as, opposite to the other values, it is dependent both on individual and duo coalitions payoffs.
Prognosis of Postviral Olfactory Loss: Follow-up Study for Longer than One Year
Authors: Lee Doh Young , Lee Woo Hyun , Wee Jee Hye , Kim Jeong-Whun 
Published: August 2014

Background There have been very few studies on the prognosis of postviral olfactory dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate its long-term prognosis and factors influencing the prognosis. Methods This study included patients who were diagnosed with postviral olfactory dysfunction at least one year ago in a Smell and Taste Clinic and whose telephone interviews were available. Their medical records were reviewed, and they were asked to score their subjective olfactory function on a 100-point scale by telephone interview. Results A total of 63 patients and 20 normal controls without nasal pathology were included. The mean of the patients was 49.5 years, and 19 males and 44 females were included. The mean length of follow-up was 33.4 months. Olfactory dysfunction was subjectively improved in 85.7% of the patients. The recovery rate to subjective normosmia was 31.7%. The mean symptom scores for smell significantly increased in comparison with baseline from 25.6 to 69.0. Among the 25 patients (37.7%) who underwent follow-up butanol threshold test (BTT), the score improved from 4.6 to 7.3. Olfactory improvement was more frequently reported by females (p = .003) and in patients with follow-up duration for longer than 2 years (p = .043). Conclusions Follow-up of postviral olfactory loss revealed that over 80% of the patients reported subjective recovery after one year. The more favorable prognosis was associated with longer follow-up duration and female gender.
« Dis-moi ce que tu manges et je te dirai qui tu es ! ». Approche sémiotique des représentations mentales des marques alimentaires
Authors: Kessous Aurélie , Chalamon Isabelle 
Published: August 2014

L’objet de cet article est de mieux comprendre comment utiliser les représentations mentales du « bon » et du « mauvais » dans le management des marques alimentaires. Pour ce faire, nous présentons d’une part, une classification de 4 types de produits : (1- produits authentiques et naturels, 2- produits d’excès et de transgression, 3- produits diététiques et fonctionnels, 4- produits pratico-économiques) sur laquelle se superposent 4 profils de consommateurs (1- authentiques, 2- transgressifs, 3- diététiques et 4- économes). Nous mettons en évidence d’autre part, les implications des représentations mentales du « bon » et du « mauvais » en matière de management des marques alimentaires. Cette étude repose sur des entretiens individuels de 20 consommateurs qui constituent le corpus d’une analyse sémiotique.
La fonction Achats de demain : analyse prospective par la méthode PM
Authors: Trehan Natacha 
Published: August 2014

L’article présente les résultats d’une recherche prospective sur la fonction Achats par la méthode PM avec 42 acteurs-experts. Il ressort que les missions Achat de demain sont la création de valeur, la contribution à la réinvention du business model de l’entreprise, alors que le pouvoir s’inverse en faveur des fournisseurs clés. L’acheteur pilote de ces évolutions est nommé « mutant noétique ».
Effect of Vitamin D3 on Untreated Graves' Disease with Vitamin D Deficiency
Authors: Alhuzaim Omar N. , Aljohani Naji 
Published: August 2014

Objective Besides its classical role in calcium and bone homeostasis, vitamin D is considered a potent immunomodulator that can affect the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. Our aim is to evaluate the effect of vitamin D correction to a patient with new onset Graves' disease (GD) with an underlying vitamin D deficiency. Method We describe the effect of vitamin D3 on untreated Graves' disease with vitamin D deficiency. Results A healthy Saudi woman in her 40s sought consultation with a three-month history of palpitation. She denied any history of heat intolerance, weight loss, menstrual irregularity or sweating. She has a history of chronic muscle aches and pains. Physical examination revealed a mild diffusely enlarged and non-tender thyroid gland with no bruit. She had no signs of Graves' ophthalmopathy. In laboratory examinations, the initial thyroid function test, which was done in an outside hospital, revealed a TSH, 0.01 mIU/L; FT4, 22.5 pmol/L and FT3, 6.5 pmol/L. Vitamin D 25-OH level was done in our hospital and showed a result of 26.0 nmol/L with a TSH, 0.013 mIU/L; FT4, 16.7 pmol/L; and FT3, 3.8 pmol/L. TSH receptor antibody was positive. TC-99 m thyroid scintigraphy demonstrated an enlarged thyroid gland with increased radiotracer trapping and heterogeneous distribution. The patient was given only oral cholecalciferol 4000 IU per day since November 2012 (prescribed by an outside hospital) then from May 2013 onwards she was given 50,000 IU per month. Follow-up laboratory exams revealed improved vitamin D levels as well as TSH and FT4. She eventually improved both clinically and biochemically with a satisfactory outcome. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate the onset and/or development of GD and correction of the deficiency may be able to reverse it. However, further prospective clinical studies will be needed to define the role of vitamin D treatment in GD.
How Might a Central Bank Report Uncertainty?
Authors: Fair Ray C. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
An important question for central banks is how they should report the uncertainty of their forecasts. This paper discusses a way in which a central bank could report the uncertainty of its forecasts in a world in which it used a single macroeconometric model to make its forecasts and guide its policies. Suggestions are then made as to what might be feasible for a central bank to report given that it is unlikely to be willing to commit to a single model. A particular model is used as an illustration.
Planarians as invertebrate bioindicators in freshwater environmental quality: the biomarkers approach
Authors: Knakievicz Tanise 
Published: August 2014

Environmental contamination has become an increasing global problem. Different scientific strategies have been developed inÂ order to assess the impact of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems. Planarians are simple organisms with incredible regenerativeÂ capacity due to the presence of neoblastos, which are stem cells. They are easy test organisms and inexpensive to growÂ in the laboratory. These characteristics make planarians suitable model-organisms for studies in various fields, includingÂ ecotoxicology. This article presents an overview of biological responses measured in planarians. Nine biological responsesÂ measured in planarians were reviewed: 1) histo-cytopathological alterations in planarians; 2) Mobility or behavioral assay;Â 3) regeneration assay; 4) comet assay; 5) micronucleus assay; 6) chromosome aberration assay; 7) biomarkers in molecularÂ level; 8) sexual reproduction assay; 9) asexual reproduction assay. This review also summarizes the results of ecotoxicologicalÂ evaluations performed in planarians with metals in different parts of the world. All these measurement possibilities makeÂ Planarians good bioindicators. Due to this, planarians have been used to evaluate the toxic, cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic,Â and teratogenic effects of metals, and also to evaluate the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. Planarians are also consideredÂ excellent model organisms for the study of developmental biology and cell differentiation process of stem cells. Therefore, weÂ conclude that these data contributes to the future establishment of standardized methods in tropical planarians with basis onÂ internationally agreed protocols on biomarker-based monitoring programmes.
Urbanization and the carbon cycle: Current capabilities and research outlook from the natural sciences perspective
Authors: Hutyra Lucy R. , Duren Riley , Gurney Kevin R. , Grimm Nancy , Kort Eric A. , Larson Elisabeth , Shrestha Gyami 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThis paper explores the urban carbon cycle from the natural sciences perspective, identifying key knowledge gaps and priority areas for future research. The combination of large, concentrated carbon fluxes and rapid change makes cities key elements of the carbon cycle and offers the potential for them to serve as “first responders” for climate action. Estimates of urban‐scale carbon fluxes are significantly more uncertain than at larger spatial scales, in part because past studies have mostly avoided local/urban scales where the mix of anthropogenic and natural fluxes is complex and difficult to observationally isolate. To develop effective emission reduction policies, we need to understand emission sources and how they may be changing. Such improved quantification and understanding of underlying processes at the urban scale will not only provide policy‐relevant information and improve the understanding of urban dynamics and future scenarios, but will also translate into better global‐scale anthropogenic flux estimates, and advance our understanding of carbon cycle and climate feedbacks across multiple scales. Understanding the relationship between urbanization and urban carbon flows requires intellectual integration with research communities beyond the natural sciences. Cities can serve as interdisciplinary process laboratories that are sufficiently constrained in both spatial and governance scale to support truly integrated research by the natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering. A thoughtfully crafted science research agenda that is grounded in sustained, dense observations relevant to estimating urban carbon fluxes and their controlling processes and is focused on a statistically significant sample of cities will advance our understanding of the carbon cycle.