bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IFN-β Treatment Requires B Cells for Efficacy in Neuroautoimmunity
Authors: Schubert Ryan D. , Hu Yang , Kumar Gaurav , Szeto Spencer , Abraham Peter , Winderl Johannes , Guthridge Joel M. , Pardo Gabriel , Dunn Jeffrey , Steinman Lawrence , Axtell Robert C. 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
IFN-β remains the most widely prescribed treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Despite widespread use of IFN-β, the therapeutic mechanism is still partially understood. Particularly, the clinical relevance of increased B cell activity during IFN-β treatment is unclear. In this article, we show that IFN-β pushes some B cells into a transitional, regulatory population that is a critical mechanism for therapy. IFN-β treatment increases the absolute number of regulatory CD19+CD24++CD38++ transitional B cells in peripheral blood relative to treatment-naive and Copaxone-treated patients. In addition, we found that transitional B cells from both healthy controls and IFN-β–treated MS patients are potent producers of IL-10, and that the capability of IFN-β to induce IL-10 is amplified when B cells are stimulated. Similar changes are seen in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. IFN-β treatment increases transitional and regulatory B cell populations, as well as IL-10 secretion in the spleen. Furthermore, we found that IFN-β increases autoantibody production, implicating humoral immune activation in B cell regulatory responses. Finally, we demonstrate that IFN-β therapy requires immune-regulatory B cells by showing that B cell–deficient mice do not benefit clinically or histopathologically from IFN-β treatment. These results have significant implications for the diagnosis and treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
Randomized controlled trial of comparison of the adequacy, and diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration with and without a stylet in Indian patients: A prospective single blind study
Authors: Nijhawan Sandeep , Singh Bir , Kumar Amritesh , Ramrakhiani Dilip , Mathur Amit , Gupta Gaurav 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is done using EUS-FNA needle with an internal stylet by most of the endosonographers. There is no data to suggest that it improves the quality of cytology specimen, and it is tedious and time-consuming. Aim: To compare EUS-FNA specimens obtained with stylet and without stylet for adequacy of the specimen, amount of blood on the slide, number of passes and diagnostic yield. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing EUS-FNA of solid lesions by one experienced endosonographer at an Indian tertiary center from October 2013 to July 2014 were included. Totally, 115 consecutive patients with 128 lesions were randomized to undergo EUS-FNA with or without stylet. Cytology slides were evaluated by a single pathologist blinded to FNA technique. Results: EUS-FNA was done with stylet in 66 lesions (Group 1) and without stylet in 62 lesions (Group 2). Site of lesion was lymph node in 67 (52.3%), pancreas in 43 (33.6%), liver in 8 (6.2%), gastrointestinal subepithelial lesion in 4 (3.1%) and others in 6 (4.9%). The average size of the lesion was 23.7 ± 14.8. When outcomes of two groups were compared, there was no statistically significant difference in adequacy of smears (P = 1.00), amount of blood on slides (P = 0.92), number of passes (P = 0.49) and diagnostic yield (P = 0.86). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in adequacy of the specimen, amount of blood on the slide, number of passes and diagnostic yield between with and without a stylet groups. The use of a stylet does not confer any advantage during EUS-FNA.
Cohomogeneity One Randers Metrics
Authors: Li Jifu , Hu Zhiguang , Deng Shaoqiang 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAn action of a Lie groupGon a smooth manifoldMis called cohomogeneity one if the orbit spaceM/Gis of dimension 1. A Finsler metricFonMis called invariant ifFis invariant under the action ofG. In this paper, we study invariant Randers metrics on cohomogeneity one manifolds. We first give a sufficient and necessary condition for the existence of invariant Randers metrics on cohomogeneity one manifolds. Then we obtain some results on invariant Killing vector fields on the cohomogeneity one manifolds and use them to deduce some sufficient and necessary conditions for a cohomogeneity one Randers metric to be Einstein.
On the Relation of Real and Complex Lie Supergroups
Authors: Kalus Matthias 
Published: February 2015

AbstractA complex Lie supergroup can be described as a real Lie supergroup with integrable almost complex structure. The necessary and sufficient conditions on an almost complex structure on a real Lie supergroup for defining a complex Lie supergroup are deduced. The classification of real Lie supergroups with such almost complex structures yields a new approach to the known classification of complex Lie supergroups by complexHarish-Chandra superpairs. A universal complexi ûcation of a real Lie supergroup is constructed
Collaborative Approach for Sustainable Auditing of Global Supply Chains
Authors: Appolloni Andrea , Risso Mario , Zhang Tao 
Published: February 2015

Over the last years, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an important component of business activities for many companies in the world. Much attention has been devoted considering also supply chain perspective. Multinational corporations are not only responsible for sound environmental and social practices within their own premises, but increasingly also for sustainable performance of their suppliers, and ultimately for the entire supply chain which they lead as channel leaders. That is why, large buyers have recently come under pressure to increase monitoring of suppliers' behaviours to bolster CSR compliance. This paper aims to present a conceptual framework for analyzing the Sustainable Procurement practices in global supply chains. An important aspect of implementing such supply chain CSR initiatives involves achieving supplier compliance. It also seeks to demonstrate how a specific consortium of Large European Telecommunications Companies, implements and manages together CSR practices, integrating social and environmental aspects at its suppliers based in Asia. This cooperation is an opportunity for members to collectively work on issues of common concern to find industry-wide solutions, aimed at jointly auditing suppliers in developing countries on sustainable sourcing. The information collected and conclusions reached offer strategies for advancing CSR beyond the superficial and often ineffectual 'code of conduct' stage.
International Offshoring, Local Effects: an Inquiry on Italian Firms
Authors: Corò Giancarlo , Schenkel Marina , Volpe Mario 
Published: February 2015

Does offshoring affect industrial productivity at local level? In order to reply to this question a set of equation have been estimated on a panel of Italian provinces in the period 1999-2010, using DOLS (Dynamic Ordinary Least Square) methodology for panel data. The main results of the empirical analysis are: 1) offshoring has not damaged manufacturing employment: 2) offshoring has increased employment in services. The proposed explanation is that offshoring is associated with productivity growth, an indirect proof that the process was not pursued simply as a cost-reduction seeking strategy. However short and long run effects may differ, and data shows that the process is still in its initial stage
The Dose-Effect Safety Profile of Skeletal Muscle Precursor Cell Therapy in a Dog Model of Intrinsic Urinary Sphincter Deficiency
Authors: Williams J. Koudy , Eckman Delrae , Dean Ashley , Moradi Mahmoudreza , Allickson Julie , Cline J. Mark , Yoo James J. , Atala Anthony 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Locally injected skeletal muscle precursor cells (skMPCs) integrate into and restore the muscle layers, innervation, vasculature, and function of the sphincter complex in animal models of intrinsic urinary sphincter deficiency (ISD). The goal of the present study was to test the dose-effect safety profile of skMPC therapy in a dog model of ISD. Sphincter deficiency was created in 20 adult female dogs by surgically removing the skeletal muscle layer of the urinary sphincter complex. skMPCs isolated from the hind leg were expanded in culture and injected 4 weeks later into the sphincter complex at a dose of 25 million cells (n = 5), 50 million cells (n = 5), or 100 million cells (n = 5) per milliliter in a 2-ml volume. Five dogs received no sphincter injection. The measures of maximal sphincter pressure, complete blood count, and blood chemistry were performed monthly until their sacrifice at 9 months. At that point, full necropsy was performed to assess the safety of the skMPC injections. Injection of different doses of cells had no effects on the body weight, blood cell count, or kidney or liver function test results (p &gt; .05 among the skMPC doses). Some incidental pathologic features were found in the lower urinary tract in all groups and were most likely associated with repeat catheterization. The maximal urinary sphincter pressure was higher in the 50 million cells per milliliter treatment group than in the other experimental groups (p &lt; .05). The findings of the present study have confirmed that urinary sphincter injection of skMPCs results in no significant local or systemic pathologic features within the dose range that improves sphincter pressures.
Proceedings: Moving Toward Cell-Based Therapies for Liver Disease
Authors: Kadyk Lisa C. , Collins Lila R. , Littman Neil J. , Millan Maria T. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Summary
Despite available medical therapy and organ transplantation, a significant unmet medical need remains for the treatment of liver failure, end-stage liver disease, and liver-based inborn errors of metabolism. Liver cell transplantation has the potential to address this need; however, the field is in search of a suitable cell therapeutic. The ability to reproducibly generate a well-characterized source of engraftable and functional liver cells has continued to be a challenge. Recent progress with tissue-derived stem/progenitor cells and pluripotent stem cell-derived cells now offers the field the opportunity to address this challenge.
Mucosal effects of tenofovir 1% gel
Authors: Hladik Florian , Burgener Adam , Ballweber Lamar , Gottardo Raphael , Vojtech Lucia , Fourati Slim , Dai James Y , Cameron Mark J , Strobl Johanna , Hughes Sean M , Hoesley Craig , Andrew Philip , Johnson Sherri , Piper Jeanna , Friend David R , Ball T Blake , Cranston Ross D , Mayer Kenneth H , McElrath M Juliana , McGowan Ian 
Published: February 2015

Tenofovir gel is being evaluated for vaginal and rectal pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV transmission. Because this is a new prevention strategy, we broadly assessed its effects on the mucosa. In MTN-007, a phase-1, randomized, double-blinded rectal microbicide trial, we used systems genomics/proteomics to determine the effect of tenofovir 1% gel, nonoxynol-9 2% gel, placebo gel or no treatment on rectal biopsies (15 subjects/arm). We also treated primary vaginal epithelial cells from four healthy women with tenofovir in vitro. After seven days of administration, tenofovir 1% gel had broad-ranging effects on the rectal mucosa, which were more pronounced than, but different from, those of the detergent nonoxynol-9. Tenofovir suppressed anti-inflammatory mediators, increased T cell densities, caused mitochondrial dysfunction, altered regulatory pathways of cell differentiation and survival, and stimulated epithelial cell proliferation. The breadth of mucosal changes induced by tenofovir indicates that its safety over longer-term topical use should be carefully monitored.Clinical trial registration: NCT01232803.
Slow stick slip of antigorite serpentinite under hydrothermal conditions as a possible mechanism for slow earthquakes
Authors: Okazaki Keishi , Katayama Ikuo 
Published: January 2015

AbstractSlow earthquakes, characterized by a different scaling law to regular earthquakes, have been detected at the hydrated plate interface in the subduction zones, but the generating mechanism of them remains almost unexplored. Frictional experiments on antigorite serpentinite under hydrothermal conditions are conducted to assess the distinct scaling law of slow earthquakes. Slow stick‐slip was observed at temperatures that were close to the dehydration temperature of antigorite, which is resulted by the localized dehydration of serpentine in the shear zone. The occurrence of slow stick‐slip is consistent with the temperature range found in the corner of the mantle wedge in SW Japan and Cascadia, where slow earthquakes occur. The laboratory slow stick‐slip shows a similar scaling law of slow earthquakes, but distinct from that of regular earthquakes. We propose that the shear‐induced dehydration of the serpentine play an important role for the generation of slow earthquakes.
Magma production rate along the Ninetyeast Ridge and its relationship to Indian plate motion and Kerguelen hot spot activity
Authors: Sreejith K. M. , Krishna K. S. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe Ninetyeast Ridge, a linear trace of the Kerguelen hot spot in the Indian Ocean, was emplaced on a rapidly drifting Indian plate. Magma production rates along the ridge track are computed using gravity‐derived excess crustal thickness data. The production rates change between 2 and 15 m3/s over timescales of 3–16 Myr. Major variations in magma production rates are primarily associated with significant changes in the Indian plate velocity with low‐production phases linked to high plate velocity periods. The lowest magma production rate (2 m3/s) at 62 Ma is associated with the rapid northward drift of Indian plate under the influence of the Reunion mantle plume. The contemporaneous slowing of the African plate coincides with increase in magma production rate along the Walvis Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean. The present study suggests that variations in the Indian plate motion and frequent ridge jumps have a major role in controlling the magma production, particularly on long‐period cycles (~16 Myr). Short‐period variations (~5 Myr) in magma productions may be associated with intrinsic changes in the plume, possibly due to the presence of solitary waves in the plume conduit.
On the VHF radar echoes in the region of midnight aurora: Signs of ground echoes modulated by the ionosphere
Authors: Kozlovsky Alexander , Lester Mark 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWe present all‐sky interferometric meteor radar (MR), VHF (36.9 MHz), observations from Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory and report on the unusual echoes, which were detected at low elevation on the northern horizon, typically during substorms. These echoes have a near‐zero Doppler shift, relatively low power, but with a sharp rise to the power peak, short lifetime (less than 2 s), and nonexponential decay (NED). We suggest that such auroral NED echoes are in fact ground backscatter of the MR waves which have been refracted in the ionosphere, passing through the ionosphere in the substorm region, where pulsating aurora (at a frequency higher than 1.7 Hz) occurs and causes quasiperiodic modulation of the wave propagation conditions, which leads to corresponding modulation of the amplitude of return. The MR treats such oscillating signal as meteor trails.
Static Coulomb stress‐based Southern California earthquake forecasts: A pseudoprospective test
Authors: Strader Anne , Jackson David D. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMany studies support the hypothesis that where earthquakes occur, recent changes in resolved Coulomb stress tend to be positive. How about the converse hypothesis, that where resolved Coulomb stress recently increased, earthquakes are more likely to occur? Successful earthquake forecasting by Coulomb stress changes requires the converse. To test this, we calculated stress everywhere in our study area, not just at earthquake locations. We modeled stress accumulation in Southern California since 1812 both from the elastic effect of slip below locked faults and from M ≥ 5 “source” earthquakes up to any given date. To minimize the effect of secondary aftershocks not directly related to the source earthquakes, we measured seismicity using a gridded binary map: each 0.1° × 0.1° cell is “activated” if containing one or more test events (“receiver” earthquakes) of M ≥ 2.8. We then constructed an empirical relationship between resolved Coulomb stress and activation rate within regions with similar stress values, defining probabilities of activated cells during the “test” period, within 11 years of the M7.1 Hector Mine earthquake. We found that Coulomb stress reliably indicates future earthquake locations at the 95% confidence interval. However, smoothed seismicity forecasts outperformed Coulomb forecasts in some areas with large earthquakes due to aftershock clustering. Most earthquakes tend to nucleate in areas with Coulomb stress changes greater than 0.5 MPa or less than −0.5 MPa. Within areas with increased Coulomb stress from older earthquakes, fewer earthquakes occurred than anticipated. After reducing stress uncertainty impact, Coulomb rate‐and‐state forecasts may also improve upon statistical earthquake forecasts.
Monthly gravity field models derived from GRACE Level 1B data using a modified short‐arc approach
Authors: Chen Qiujie , Shen Yunzhong , Zhang Xingfu , Hsu Houze , Chen Wu , Ju Xiaolei , Lou Lizhi 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn this study, a new time series of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) monthly solutions, complete to degree and order 60 spanning from January 2003 to August 2011, has been derived based on a modified short‐arc approach. Our models entitled Tongji‐GRACE01 are available on the website of International Centre for Global Earth Models (http://icgem.gfz-potsdam.de/ICGEM/). The traditional short‐arc approach, with no more than 1 h arcs, requires the gradient corrections of satellite orbits in order to reduce the impact of orbit errors on the final solution. Here the modified short‐arc approach has been proposed, which has three major differences compared to the traditional one: (1) All the corrections of orbits and range rate measurements are solved together with the geopotential coefficients and the accelerometer biases using a weighted least squares adjustment; (2) the boundary position parameters are not required; and (3) the arc length can be extended to 2 h. The comparisons of geoid degree powers and the mass change signals in the Amazon basin, the Antarctic, and Antarctic Peninsula demonstrate that our model is comparable with the other existing models, i.e., the Centre for Space Research RL05, Jet Propulsion Laboratory RL05, and GeoForschungsZentrum RL05a models. The correlation coefficients of the mass change time series between our model and the other models are better than 0.9 in the Antarctic and Antarctic Peninsula. The mass change rates in the Antarctic and Antarctic Peninsula derived from our model are −92.7 ± 38.0 Gt/yr and −23.9 ± 12.4 Gt/yr, respectively, which are very close to those from other three models and with similar spatial patterns of signals.
Multiparameter adjoint tomography of the crust and upper mantle beneath East Asia: 1. Model construction and comparisons
Authors: Chen Min , Niu Fenglin , Liu Qinya , Tromp Jeroen , Zheng Xiufen 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWe present a 3‐D radially anisotropic model of the crust and mantle beneath East Asia down to 900 km depth. Adjoint tomography based on a spectral element method is applied to a phenomenal data set comprising 1.7 million frequency‐dependent traveltime measurements from waveforms of 227 earthquakes recorded by 1869 stations. Compressional wave speeds are independently constrained and simultaneously inverted along with shear wave speeds (VSH and VSV) using the same waveform data set with comparable resolution. After 20 iterations, the new model (named EARA2014) exhibits sharp and detailed wave speed anomalies with improved correlations with surface tectonic units compared to previous models. In the upper 100 km, high wave speed (high‐V) anomalies correlate very well with the Junggar and Tarim Basins, the Ordos Block, and the Yangtze Platform, while strong low wave speed (low‐V) anomalies coincide with the Qiangtang Block, the Songpan Ganzi Fold Belt, the Chuandian Block, the Altay‐Sayan Mountain Range, and the back‐arc basins along the Pacific and Philippine Sea Plate margins. At greater depths, narrow high‐V anomalies correspond to major subduction zones and broad high‐V anomalies to cratonic roots in the upper mantle and fragmented slabs in the mantle transition zone. In particular, EARA2014 reveals a strong high‐V structure beneath Tibet, appearing below 100 km depth and extending to the bottom of the mantle transition zone, and laterally spanning across the Lhasa and Qiangtang Blocks. In this paper we emphasize technical aspects of the model construction and provide a general discussion through comparisons.
Advancements in decadal climate predictability: The role of nonoceanic drivers
Authors: Bellucci A. , Haarsma R. , Bellouin N. , Booth B. , Cagnazzo C. , van den Hurk B. , Keenlyside N. , Koenigk T. , Massonnet F. , Materia S. , Weiss M. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWe review recent progress in understanding the role of sea ice, land surface, stratosphere, and aerosols in decadal‐scale predictability and discuss the perspectives for improving the predictive capabilities of current Earth system models (ESMs). These constituents have received relatively little attention because their contribution to the slow climatic manifold is controversial in comparison to that of the large heat capacity of the oceans. Furthermore, their initialization as well as their representation in state‐of‐the‐art climate models remains a challenge. Numerous extraoceanic processes that could be active over the decadal range are proposed. Potential predictability associated with the aforementioned, poorly represented, and scarcely observed constituents of the climate system has been primarily inspected through numerical simulations performed under idealized experimental settings. The impact, however, on practical decadal predictions, conducted with realistically initialized full‐fledged climate models, is still largely unexploited. Enhancing initial‐value predictability through an improved model initialization appears to be a viable option for land surface, sea ice, and, marginally, the stratosphere. Similarly, capturing future aerosol emission storylines might lead to an improved representation of both global and regional short‐term climatic changes. In addition to these factors, a key role on the overall predictive ability of ESMs is expected to be played by an accurate representation of processes associated with specific components of the climate system. These act as “signal carriers,” transferring across the climatic phase space the information associated with the initial state and boundary forcings, and dynamically bridging different (otherwise unconnected) subsystems. Through this mechanism, Earth system components trigger low‐frequency variability modes, thus extending the predictability beyond the seasonal scale.