bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of esophagogastric junction relaxation by 4‐second Integrated Relaxation Pressure in achalasia using High Resolution Manometry with water‐perfused catheters
Authors: Ortiz V. , Poppele G. , Alonso N. , Castellano C. , Garrigues V. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundRelaxation of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is now evaluated calculating 4‐second integrated relaxation pressure (4‐s IRP) by high resolution manometry (HREPT). Solid‐state catheters have been used to define abnormal values. Our aim was to evaluate 4‐s IRP in esophageal achalasia using HREPT with perfused catheters.MethodsFrom June 2009 to June 2013, 936 HREPT studies have been performed in our unit. Of these, 194 patients having treated achalasia were excluded. Control group was constituted by 695 patients without achalasia, and 47 patients with untreated achalasia constituted the study group. HREPT was performed with water‐perfused catheters. To establish the cut‐off value for 4‐s IRP that better discriminate patients with achalasia from all other patients, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed.Key ResultsTwenty three of 47 achalasia patients (49%) showed a 4‐s IRP under 15 mmHg; and seven (15%) had a value under modified Chicago criteria. A cut‐off value for 4‐s IRP of 6.5 mmHg, calculated by ROC analysis, highly discriminates achalasia from the rest of the patients and especially from scleroderma patients (area under the curve: 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995–1.000; p < 0.001).Conclusions & InferencesCut‐off values for 4‐s IRP defined using HREPT with solid‐state catheters are not adequate for diagnosing esophageal achalasia with water‐perfused systems. A lower value, i.e., 6.5 mmHg, is suggested for this equipment. The diagnostic criteria of esophageal achalasia should be modified for HREPT performed with water‐perfused systems.
Chaperone network composition in Solanum lycopersicum explored by transcriptome profiling and microarray meta‐analysis
Authors: FRAGKOSTEFANAKIS SOTIRIOS , SIMM STEFAN , PAUL PUNEET , BUBLAK DANIELA , SCHARF KLAUS‐DIETER , SCHLEIFF ENRICO 
Published: August 2014

AbstractHeat shock proteins (Hsps) are molecular chaperones primarily involved in maintenance of protein homeostasis. Their function has been best characterized in heat stress (HS) response during which Hsps are transcriptionally controlled by HS transcription factors (Hsfs). The role of Hsfs and Hsps in HS response in tomato was initially examined by transcriptome analysis using the massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE) method. Approximately 9.6% of all genes expressed in leaves are enhanced in response to HS, including a subset of Hsfs and Hsps. The underlying Hsp‐Hsf networks with potential functions in stress responses or developmental processes were further explored by meta‐analysis of existing microarray datasets. We identified clusters with differential transcript profiles with respect to abiotic stresses, plant organs and developmental stages. The composition of two clusters points towards two major chaperone networks. One cluster consisted of constitutively expressed plastidial chaperones and other genes involved in chloroplast protein homeostasis. The second cluster represents genes strongly induced by heat, drought and salinity stress, including HsfA2 and many stress‐inducible chaperones, but also potential targets of HsfA2 not related to protein homeostasis. This observation attributes a central regulatory role to HsfA2 in controlling different aspects of abiotic stress response and tolerance in tomato.
Systemic signalling in photosynthetic induction of Rumex K‐1 (Rumex patientia × Rumex tianschaious) leaves
Authors: HOU FEI , JIN LI‐QIAO , ZHANG ZI‐SHAN , GAO HUI‐YUAN 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe rapid induction of photosynthesis is critical for plants under light‐fleck environment. Most previous studies about photosynthetic induction focused upon single leaf, but they did not consider the systemic integrity of plant. Here, we verified whether systemic signalling is involved in photosynthetic induction. Rumex K‐1 (Rumex patientia × Rumex tianschaious) plants were grown under light‐fleck condition. After whole night dark adaptation, different numbers of leaves (system leaf or SL) were pre‐illuminated with light, and then the photosynthetic induction of other leaves (target leaf or TL) was investigated. This study showed that the pre‐illumination of SL promoted photosynthetic induction in TL. This promotion was independent of the number of SL, the light intensity on SL and the distance between SL and TL, indicating that this systemic signalling is non‐dose‐dependent. More interestingly, the photosynthetic induction was promoted by only the pre‐illumination of morphological upper leaf rather than the pre‐illumination of morphological lower leaf, indicating that the transfer of this signal is directional. The results showed that the transfer of this systemic signalling depends upon the phloem. This systemic signalling helps plants to use light energy more efficiently under light flecks.
Combining quantitative trait loci analysis with physiological models to predict genotype‐specific transpiration rates
Authors: REUNING GRETCHEN A. , BAUERLE WILLIAM L. , MULLEN JACK L. , MCKAY JOHN K. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractTranspiration is controlled by evaporative demand and stomatal conductance (gs), and there can be substantial genetic variation in gs. A key parameter in empirical models of transpiration is minimum stomatal conductance (g0), a trait that can be measured and has a large effect on gs and transpiration. In Arabidopsis thaliana, g0 exhibits both environmental and genetic variation, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been mapped. We used this information to create a genetically parameterized empirical model to predict transpiration of genotypes. For the parental lines, this worked well. However, in a recombinant inbred population, the predictions proved less accurate. When based only upon their genotype at a single g0 QTL, genotypes were less distinct than our model predicted. Follow‐up experiments indicated that both genotype by environment interaction and a polygenic inheritance complicate the application of genetic effects into physiological models. The use of ecophysiological or ‘crop’ models for predicting transpiration of novel genetic lines will benefit from incorporating further knowledge of the genetic control and degree of independence of core traits/parameters underlying gs variation.
Parallel Micro Manipulator for Effective Optical Spot Array Alignment
Authors: Li Zheng Yuan , Park Sae Whan , Inh Yong Seok , Choi Jong Yoon , Koo Ja Choon 
Published: August 2014

Photolithography is one of the core technologies of micro-nano fabrication. Recently, lithography technology is applied to diverse field of technologies. These technologies include MEMS (micro electro mechanical system) devices, FPD (flat panel display), and semiconductor industry. When it comes to the typical exposure process of lithography technology, photomask costs is occupying large portion of the optical system. So, how to reduce the cost of the mask and employing maskless lithography technology has become an important issue to engineers. Although there being both advantages and disadvantages, maskless lithography is a receiving substantial attention from engineers in the fileds of micro-nano fabrication. With the development of technology, low cost, flexibility, efficiency in the fabrication of device are in high demand in maskless lithography technology.
How to generate line/space patterns is gaining considerable attention in terms of maskless lithography exposure process. In order to achieve the accurate alignments of numerous optical heads within a reasonable amount of tack time, installing autonomous position align micro parallel manipulator system in each optical heads required. Applied parallel manipulator that consists of four 2-DOF (degree of freedom) decoupled actuator gives chances to provide 6-DOF independence motion, and has strength in high accuracy. It is thus, this parallel manipulator is suitable for the experiment.
This paper covers the follows: First, we reported the DMD (Digital Micro mirror Device)-based makless lithography system to introduce spot array method in maskless digital exposure process. Second, applying a redundant parallel micro manipulator and analyzing kinematic characteristic of the 4-[PP]PS parallel manipulator is described. After that, comparing benefits and drawbacks of 4-[PP]PS parallel and 4-DOF serial manipulator is covered. Third, proposing a suitable error model of the system and applying the genetic algorithm to alignment spot array concerning position correction. Finally, we designed experiment which has vision sensor and align unit to verify positioning algorithm. Simulation and experimental result will be shown with the regard to parallel manipulator can find the optimal solution based on genetic algorithm and carry out the problem of spot array alignment by reducing the position error of the system.
A Gapless, Unambiguous Genome Sequence of the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strain EDL933
Authors: Latif Haythem , Li Howard J. , Charusanti Pep , Palsson Bernhard Ø. , Aziz Ramy K. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
EDL933 is the prototypic strain for enterohemorrhagic
E. coli
serotype O157:H7, associated with deadly food-borne outbreaks. Because the publicly available sequence of the EDL933 genome has gaps and >6,000 ambiguous base calls, we here present an updated high-quality, unambiguous genome sequence with no assembly gaps.
Draft Genome Sequence of Haloalkaliphilic
Exiguobacterium
sp. Strain AB2 from Manleluag Ophiolitic Spring, Philippines
Authors: Cabria Gamaliel Lysander B. , Argayosa Vina B. , Lazaro Jose Enrico H. , Argayosa Anacleto M. , Arcilla Carlo A. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACT

Exiguobacterium
sp. AB2 is a haloalkaliphilic bacterium isolated from a hyperalkaline spring in Manleluag, Pangasinan, Philippines. Sequencing of bacterial DNA assembled a 2.85 MB draft genome. Analysis suggests the presence of genes for tolerance to stresses such as elevated pH and salt concentrations and toxic metals.
Registration of whole immunohistochemical slide images: an efficient way to characterize biomarker colocalization
Authors: Moles Lopez Xavier , Barbot Paul , Van Eycke Yves-Rémi , Verset Laurine , Trépant Anne-Laure , Larbanoix Lionel , Salmon Isabelle , Decaestecker Christine 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
Background and objective Extracting accurate information from complex biological processes involved in diseases, such as cancers, requires the simultaneous targeting of multiple proteins and locating their respective expression in tissue samples. This information can be collected by imaging and registering adjacent sections from the same tissue sample and stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Registration accuracy should be on the scale of a few cells to enable protein colocalization to be assessed.
Methods We propose a simple and efficient method based on the open-source elastix framework to register virtual slides of adjacent sections from the same tissue sample. We characterize registration accuracies for different types of tissue and IHC staining.
Results Our results indicate that this technique is suitable for the evaluation of the colocalization of biomarkers on the scale of a few cells. We also show that using this technique in conjunction with a sequential IHC labeling and erasing technique offers improved registration accuracies.
Discussion Brightfield IHC enables to address the problem of large series of tissue samples, which are usually required in clinical research. However, this approach, which is simple at the tissue processing level, requires challenging image analysis processes, such as accurate registration, to view and extract the protein colocalization information.
Conclusions The method proposed in this work enables accurate registration (on the scale of a few cells) of virtual slides of adjacent tissue sections on which the expression of different proteins is evidenced by standard IHC. Furthermore, combining our method with a sequential labeling and erasing technique enables cell-scale colocalization.
Reduction in stillbirths at term after new birth induction paradigm: results of a national intervention
Authors: Hedegaard Mette , Lidegaard Øjvind , Skovlund Charlotte Wessel , Mørch Lina Steinrud , Hedegaard Morten 
Published: August 2014

ObjectiveThe risk of fetal death increases steeply after 42 gestational weeks. Since 2009, Denmark has had a more proactive policy including prevention of prolonged pregnancy, and early intervention in women with diabetes, preeclampsia, high body mass index and of a higher age group. The aim of this study was to describe the development in fetal deaths with this more proactive birth induction practice, and to identify and quantify contributing factors for this development.DesignNational cohort study.SettingDenmark.ParticipantsDelivering women in Denmark, 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2012.Outcome measuresStillbirths per 1000 women at risk (prospective risk of stillbirth) and per 1000 newborn from 37 and 40 gestational weeks, respectively, through the study period.ResultsDuring the study period, 829 165 children were live born and 3770 (0.45%) stillborn. Induction of labour increased from 12.4% in year 2000 to 25.1% in 2012 (p<0.001), and the percentage of children born at or after 42 weeks decreased from 8.0% to 1.5% (p<0.001). Through the same period, the prospective risk of stillbirth after 37 weeks fell from 0.70 to 0.41/1000 ongoing pregnancies (p<0.001), and from 2.4 to 1.4/1000 newborn (p<0.001). The regression analysis confirmed the inverse association between year of birth and risk of stillbirth. The lowest risk was observed in the years 2011–2012 as compared with years 2000–2002 with a fully adjusted HR of 0.69 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.83). The general earlier induction, the focused earlier induction of women with body mass index >30, twins, and of women above 40 years and a halving of smoking pregnant women were all independent contributing factors for the decrease.ConclusionsA gradually more proactive and differential earlier labour induction practice is likely to have mainly been responsible for the substantial reduction in stillbirths in Denmark.
Educational differences in mortality and the relative importance of different causes of death: a 7-year follow-up study of Spanish adults
Authors: Reques Laura , Giráldez-García Carolina , Miqueleiz Estrella , Belza María J , Regidor Enrique 
Published: August 2014

BackgroundThe evidence on mortality patterns by education in Spain comes from regional areas. This study aimed to estimate these patterns in the whole Spanish population.MethodsAll citizens aged 25 years and over and residing in Spain in 2001 were followed during 7 years to determine their vital status, resulting in a total of 196 470 401 person-years and 2 379 558 deaths. We estimated the age-adjusted total and cause-specific mortality by educational level—primary, lower secondary, upper secondary and university education—and then calculated the relative and absolute measures of inequality in mortality and contribution of the leading causes of death to absolute inequalities.ResultsExcept for some cancer sites, the mortality rate for the leading causes of death shows an inverse gradient with educational level. The leading causes of death with the highest relative index of inequality ratios were HIV disease (9.81 in women and 11.61 in men), diabetes in women (4.02) and suicide in men (3.52). The leading causes of death that contribute most to the absolute inequality in mortality are cardiovascular diseases (48.8%), respiratory diseases (9.3%) and diabetes mellitus (8.8%) in women, and cardiovascular diseases (20.8%), respiratory diseases (19.8%) and cancer (19.6%) in men.ConclusionsAlthough the causes of death with the strongest gradient in mortality rate are HIV disease in both sexes, diabetes mellitus in women and suicide in men, most of the absolute education-related inequalities in total mortality are due to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus in women and to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer in men.
Identifying barriers to participation in cardiac prevention and rehabilitation programmes via decision tree analysis: establishing targets for remedial interventions
Authors: Reges Orna , Vilchinsky Noa , Leibowitz Morton , Khaskia Abdulrahem , Mosseri Morris , Kark Jeremy D 
Published: August 2014

BackgroundParticipation rates of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in efficacious cardiac prevention and rehabilitation programmes (CPRPs) are low, particularly in ethnic minorities. Few studies have evaluated the full array of potential barriers to participation in a multiethnic cohort with identical insurance coverage.ObjectiveTo assess the hierarchy of multiple barriers (ie, sociodemographic, systemic, illness related, psychological and cultural) to participation in CPRP of Jewish and Arab patients served by a regional hospital in Israel.MethodsPatients with ACS (N=420) were interviewed during hospitalisation about potential barriers and subsequently about participation in CPRP. Decision tree analysis determined, hierarchically, the best predictors of participation in CPRP.ResultsEthnicity was the salient predictor of participation in CPRP (61.1% (95% CI 55.6% to 66.5%) of Jewish patients versus 17.2% (95% CI 11.2% to 24.9%) of Arab patients). Among Jewish patients the dominant determinant was a recommendation for CPRP in the hospital discharge letter (32.5% (95% CI 23.1% to 43.1%) vs 71.9% (95% CI 65.8% to 77.6%) participation without and with a recommendation, respectively). Other major hierarchical determinants included age, discharge diagnosis, socioeconomic position and perceived benefits of exercise. Among Arab patients, anxiety was the main predictor (5.5% (95% CI 1.1% to 14.1%) vs 27.9% (95% CI 17.7% to 40.0%) participation among those with high vs lower anxiety levels). Additional contributors were a predischarge visit to the rehabilitation centre (familiarisation) and car ownership (access).ConclusionsUtilisation of decision tree analysis enables us to identify the key barriers to participation in CPRP in an ethnic-specific mode. Interventions to improve participation can then be designed to address each group's specific barriers.
Multiple positive solutions for a class of concave–convex elliptic problems in ℝNinvolving sign-changing weight, II
Authors: Huang Yisheng , Wu Tsung-Fang , Wu Yuanze 
Published: August 2014

In this paper, we study the following concave–convex elliptic problems: [Formula: see text] where N ≥ 3, 1 < q < 2 < p < 2* = 2N/(N - 2), λ > 0 and μ < 0 are two parameters. By using several variational methods and a perturbation argument, we obtain three positive solutions to this problem under the predefined conditions of fλ(x) and gμ(x), which simultaneously extends the result of [T. Hsu, Multiple positive solutions for a class of concave–convex semilinear elliptic equations in unbounded domains with sign-changing weights, Bound. Value Probl. 2010 (2010), Article ID 856932, 18pp.; T. Wu, Multiple positive solutions for a class of concave–convex elliptic problems in ℝNinvolving sign-changing weight, J. Funct. Anal. 258 (2010) 99–131]. We also study the concentration behavior of these three solutions both for λ → 0 and μ → -∞.
Vaccine-Elicited CD8+ T Cells Cure Mesothelioma by Overcoming Tumor-Induced Immunosuppressive Environment
Authors: Tan Zhiwu , Zhou Jingying , Cheung Allen K.L. , Yu Zhe , Cheung Ka-Wai , Liang Jianguo , Wang Haibo , Lee Boon Kiat , Man Kwan , Liu Li , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Chen Zhiwei 
Published: August 2014

AbstractEradicating malignant tumors by vaccine-elicited host immunity remains a major medical challenge. To date, correlates of immune protection remain unknown for malignant mesothelioma. In this study, we demonstrated that antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell immune response correlates with the elimination of malignant mesothelioma by a model PD-1–based DNA vaccine. Unlike the nonprotective tumor antigen WT1-based DNA vaccines, the model vaccine showed complete and long-lasting protection against lethal mesothelioma challenge in immunocompetent BALB/c mice. Furthermore, it remained highly immunogenic in tumor-bearing animals and led to therapeutic cure of preexisting mesothelioma. T-cell depletion and adoptive transfer experiments revealed that vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cells conferred to the protective efficacy in a dose-dependent way. Also, these CD8+ T cells functioned by releasing inflammatory IFNγ and TNFα in the vicinity of target cells as well as by initiating TRAIL-directed tumor cell apoptosis. Importantly, repeated DNA vaccinations, a major advantage over live-vectored vaccines with issues of preexisting immunity, achieve an active functional state, not only preventing the rise of exhausted PD-1+ and Tim-3+ CD8+ T cells but also suppressing tumor-induced myeloid-derived suppressive cells and Treg cells, with the frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells inversely correlating with tumor mass. Our results provide new insights into quantitative and qualitative requirements of vaccine-elicited functional CD8+ T cells in cancer prevention and immunotherapy. Cancer Res; 74(21); 6010–21. ©2014 AACR.
Translesion Polymerase η Is Upregulated by Cancer Therapeutics and Confers Anticancer Drug Resistance
Authors: Tomicic Maja T. , Aasland Dorthe , Naumann Steffen C. , Meise Ruth , Barckhausen Christina , Kaina Bernd , Christmann Markus 
Published: August 2014

Abstract
DNA repair processes are a key determinant of the sensitivity of cancer cells to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics, which may induce certain repair genes as a mechanism to promote resistance. Here, we report the results of a screen for repair genes induced in cancer cells treated with DNA crosslinking agents, which identified the translesion polymerase η (PolH) as a p53-regulated target acting as one defense against interstrand crosslink (ICL)-inducing agents. PolH was induced by fotemustine, mafosfamide, and lomustine in breast cancer, glioma, and melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo, with similar inductions observed in normal cells such as lymphocytes and diploid fibroblasts. PolH contributions to the protection against ICL-inducing agents were evaluated by its siRNA-mediated attenuation in cells, which elevated sensitivity to these drugs in all tumor cell models. Conversely, PolH overexpression protected cancer cells against these drugs. PolH attenuation reduced repair of ICL lesions as measured by host cell reactivation assays and enhanced persistence of γH2AX foci. Moreover, we observed a strong accumulation of PolH in the nucleus of drug-treated cells along with direct binding to damaged DNA. Taken together, our findings implicated PolH in ICL repair as a mechanism of cancer drug resistance and normal tissue protection. Cancer Res; 74(19); 5585–96. ©2014 AACR.