bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolomic Characterization of Knockout Mutants in Arabidopsis: Development of a Metabolite Profiling Database for Knockout Mutants in Arabidopsis
Authors: Fukushima Atsushi , Kusano Miyako , Mejia Ramon Francisco , Iwasa Mami , Kobayashi Makoto , Hayashi Naomi , Watanabe-Takahashi Akiko , Narisawa Tomoko , Tohge Takayuki , Hur Manhoi , Wurtele Eve Syrkin , Nikolau Basil J. , Saito Kazuki 
Published: May 2014

AbstractDespite recent intensive research efforts in functional genomics, the functions of only a limited number of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genes have been determined experimentally, and improving gene annotation remains a major challenge in plant science. As metabolite profiling can characterize the metabolomic phenotype of a genetic perturbation in the plant metabolism, it provides clues to the function(s) of genes of interest. We chose 50 Arabidopsis mutants, including a set of characterized and uncharacterized mutants, that resemble wild-type plants. We performed metabolite profiling of the plants using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. To make the data set available as an efficient public functional genomics tool for hypothesis generation, we developed the Metabolite Profiling Database for Knock-Out Mutants in Arabidopsis (MeKO). It allows the evaluation of whether a mutation affects metabolism during normal plant growth and contains images of mutants, data on differences in metabolite accumulation, and interactive analysis tools. Nonprocessed data, including chromatograms, mass spectra, and experimental metadata, follow the guidelines set by the Metabolomics Standards Initiative and are freely downloadable. Proof-of-concept analysis suggests that MeKO is highly useful for the generation of hypotheses for genes of interest and for improving gene annotation. MeKO is publicly available at http://prime.psc.riken.jp/meko/.
Efficacy and safety of infliximab in treating patients with ulcerative colitis: Experiences from a single medical center in southern China
Authors: Zhou You Lian , Xie Shan , Wang Pu , Zhang Ting , Lin Min Yi , Tan Jia Sheng , Zhi Fa Chao , Jiang Bo , Chen Ye 
Published: May 2014

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy including the patients' response rates to infliximab (IFX) therapy, relapse rates after IFX‐induced clinical remission, and the safety of IFX in Chinese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) from a single center in southern China and to identify the risk factors associated with disease relapse.MethodsMedical records of Chinese UC patients who were diagnosed and received at least two infusions of IFX at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from July 2010 to February 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcomes were regarded as the clinical response and relapse rates during 30 weeks after the initiation of the therapy. Overall adverse events and relapse‐related risk factors were also evaluated.ResultsA total of 24 UC patients was finally included. The clinical response and remission rates were 83.3% and 50.0% at week 2, 91.3% and 73.9% at week 6 and 84.6% and 61.5% by week 30. Relapse after IFX‐induced clinical remission was initiated at the fourth infusion. The relapse rate was 29.4% at week 14, 25.0% at week 22 and 20.0% at week 30, respectively. After 30 weeks only 33.3% remained on maintenance therapy. IFX‐associated adverse events occurred in 29.2% of patients, with most being mild and transient. Patients with distal or extensive colitis were at a higher risk of relapse than those with ulcerative proctitis.ConclusionsIFX is effective and safe in treating Chinese UC patients, although long‐term remission is hard to achieve. Distal or extensive colitis may be an independent predictor of disease relapse.
Granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) producing malignant pleural mesothelioma: Report of a case
Authors: Fujiwara Ayako , Higashiyama Masahiko , Kanou Takashi , Okami Jiro , Tokunaga Toshiteru , Tomita Yasuhiko , Kodama Ken 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis report presents a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) producing granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) that was treated by tumor resection. A 76‐year‐old male presented with a huge right‐side chest wall tumor, along with a slight fever and chest wall pain. Laboratory findings showed an increased white blood cell count (64600 cells/μL) and C‐reactive protein level (20.57 mg/dL). The patient underwent surgical removal of the tumor along with tissue from the chest wall and histopathological analysis led to a diagnosis of sarcomatous type of MPM. Immunohistochemical findings for both anti‐human G‐CSF and interleukin‐6 monoclonal antibodies were positive. Although the general condition of the patient quickly improved after surgery, local recurrence occurred two months later and he died of respiratory failure seven months after the operation, though surgery provided symptom relief. G‐CSF‐producing MPMs usually show a poor prognosis, though less‐invasive surgery may be considered for relief of symptoms.
Efficacy of simulation‐based trauma team training of non‐technical skills. A systematic review
Authors: GJERAA K. , MØLLER T. P. , ØSTERGAARD D. 
Published: May 2014

Trauma resuscitation is a complex situation, and most organisations have multi‐professional trauma teams. Non‐technical skills are challenged during trauma resuscitation, and they play an important role in the prevention of critical incidents. Simulation‐based training of these is recommended. Our research question was: Does simulation‐based trauma team training of non‐technical skills have effect on reaction, learning, behaviour or patient outcome?The authors searched PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library and found 13 studies eligible for analysis. We described and compared the educational interventions and the evaluations of effect according to the four Kirkpatrick levels: reaction, learning (knowledge, skills, attitudes), behaviour (in a clinical setting) and patient outcome.No studies were randomised, controlled and blinded, resulting in a moderate to high risk of bias. The multi‐professional trauma teams had positive reactions to simulation‐based training of non‐technical skills. Knowledge and skills improved in all studies evaluating the effect on learning. Three studies found improvements in team performance (behaviour) in the clinical setting. One of these found difficulties in maintaining these skills. Two studies evaluated on patient outcome, of which none showed improvements in mortality, complication rate or duration of hospitalisation.A significant effect on learning was found after simulation‐based training of the multi‐professional trauma team in non‐technical skills. Three studies demonstrated significantly increased clinical team performance. No effect on patient outcome was found. All studies had a moderate to high risk of bias. More comprehensive randomised studies are needed to evaluate the effect on patient outcome.
Are Individual Investors Uninformed? Evidence from Trading Behaviors by Heterogeneous Investors around Unfaithful Corporate Disclosure
Authors: Chung Chune Young , Lee Jonghyeon , Park Jinwoo 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis paper examines the trading behaviors of individual investors as well as domestic and foreign institutional investors around a unique corporate event: unfaithful disclosure (non‐disclosure, canceling disclosure and changing disclosure of a firm's material information). Our study relied on the daily trading data of different groups of investors in Korea's stock market. We found that the market reacts negatively toward announcements on forewarnings of unfaithful disclosure by the Korea Exchange as well as toward the confirmation of the forewarnings. Further, our finding indicates that firms that are proved to be responsible for the unfaithful disclosure tend to perform poorly prior to the announcement days of the forewarnings. This implies that poor‐performing firms are likely to have negative information and thus, have incentives not to disclose or not to correctly disclose bad news. In addition, our result demonstrates that firms performing poorly before receiving the forewarnings subsequently perform poorly after confirmation of the unfaithful disclosure, which is consistent with the incentives of unfaithful disclosure. Most importantly, we found that individual investors constantly buy shares of firms receiving the forewarnings prior to the announcements, whereas both domestic and foreign institutional investors sell them. Even after the confirmation of unfaithful disclosure, individual investors continue to buy shares of unfaithful firms and domestic and foreign institutional investors continue to sell them. Because institutional investors are considered to be better informed and/or more sophisticated investors than individual investors, this finding adds to the evidence of information asymmetry among different types of investors prior to the news release as well as to the evidence of trading behaviors by individual investors who are unsophisticatedly following the news release.
A Reexamination of Diversification Premiums: An Information Asymmetry Perspective
Authors: Chae Joon , Jung Jin‐Young , Yang Cheol‐Won 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAcquiring firms that earn positive abnormal returns on acquisitions may have internal capital markets that overcome the information asymmetry costs in less‐developed capital markets. In this paper, through an examination of data on 1064 acquiring firms in theKorean market from 1994 to 2011, we find that the highest acquiring returns occur when the firms with high information asymmetry acquire firms with low information asymmetry. To measure the degree of information asymmetry, we use the models ofGlosten–Harris (1988), Hasbrouck (1991) and Foster–Viswanathan (1993), which we selected from a variety of studies on market microstructure. We also find that the effect of information asymmetry on mergers and acquisitions (M&As) was larger before the Asian financial crisis of 1998, as well as before the global financial crisis of 2007, and that theKorean capital market was less developed before these crises than after them. We show that the internal capital market hypothesis holds forM&As, and that information asymmetry is a strong determinant ofM&Adecisions in emerging markets.
Volume Information and the Profitability of Technical Trading
Authors: Chang Yung‐Ho , Chan Chia‐Chung , Chiang Ya‐Chun 
Published: May 2014

AbstractPast studies have employed market indices to gauge the usefulness of technical trading, disclosing an enigma concerning the technical trading of individual stocks. We, for the first time, applied technical trading rules to each and every stock listed in an emerging equity market. We controlled the vast data set by share turnover that signifies trading volume information. Blending price and volume information, we observed that variable‐length moving averages (VMAs) generally outperform the buy‐and‐hold strategy. VMAs, however, beat the equity market index only for less liquid stocks. Notably, the profitability of VMAs decreases with share turnover, indicating a possible liquidity effect on the profitability of technical trading.
The Flow–Performance Relationship of Chinese Equity Mutual Funds: Net Flows, Inflows, and Outflows
Authors: Ko Kwangsoo , Wang Yaping , Paek Miyoun , Ha Yeonjeong 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis paper investigates the flow–performance relationship of Chinese equity mutual funds, and is the first attempt to analyze their cash flows. The empirical findings are summarized as follows. First, prior performance has a positive effect on subsequent cash flows. Second, flow outliers in 2007 seem to blur the flow–performance relationship. Third, during the stable period from 2008 Q1 to 2012 Q4, convexity is observed for the net flow–performance relationship due to the inflow–performance relationship. Fourth, the disposition effect is corroborated by the results of the portfolio approach, piecewise linear regression and SVAR model. Fifth, variance decomposition analysis shows that market return shock explains the forecasted error variance of cash flows to a large extent. Finally, while both inflows and outflows respond positively to market return shock over time, the response of inflows is stronger than that of outflows.
Cord blood Insulin‐like peptide 3 (INSL3) but not testosterone is reduced in idiopathic cryptorchidism
Authors: Fénichel Patrick , Lahlou Najiba , Coquillard Patrick , Panaïa‐Ferrari Patricia , Wagner‐Mahler Kathy , Brucker‐Davis Françoise 
Published: May 2014

SummaryBackgroundCryptorchidism, the most frequent congenital malformation in full‐term male newborns, increases the risk of hypofertility and testicular cancer. Most cases remain idiopathic but epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested a role of both genetic and environmental factors. Physiological testicular descent is regulated by two major Leydig hormones: insulin‐like peptide 3 (INSL3) and testosterone.ObjectivesTo study the endocrine context at birth as a reflection of late pregnancy in isolated idiopathic cryptorchidism and to analyse the possible disruptions of INSL3 and/or testosterone.MethodsFrom a prospective case–control study at Nice University Hospital, we assessed 180 boys born after 34 weeks gestation: 52 cryptorchid (48 unilateral, 4 bilateral; 26 transient, 26 persistent), and 128 controls matched for term, weight and time of birth. INSL3 and testosterone were measured in cord blood and compared in both groups as were other components of the pituitary‐gonadic axis: LH, HCG, FSH, AMH and SHBG.ResultsINSL3 was decreased in cryptorchid boys (P = 0·031), especially transient cryptorchid (P = 0·029), while testosterone was unchanged as were the other hormones measured. INSL3 was significantly decreased (P = 0·018) in the group of 20 with nonpalpable testes compared with the group of 21 with palpable testes (15 suprascrotal, five inguinal, one high scrotal) according to Scorer classification. In the whole population, INSL3 correlated positively with LH and negatively with AMH, but with no other measured hormones.ConclusionsINSL3 but not testosterone is decreased at birth in idiopathic cryptorchidism, especially in transient forms. This hormonal decrease may contribute to the impaired testicular descent along with genetic and anatomical factors. Whether foetal environment (nutritional and/or toxicological) interferes with INSL3 secretion in humans remains to be confirmed.
Evaluating the influence of surface soil moisture and soil surface roughness on optical directional reflectance factors
Authors: Croft H. , Anderson K. , Kuhn N. J. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryFine‐scale information on soil surface roughness (SSR) is needed for calculating heat budgets, monitoring soil degradation and parameterizing surface runoff and sediment transfer models. Previous work has demonstrated the potential of using hyperspectral, hemispherical conical reflectance factors (HCRFs) to retrieve the SSR of different soil crusting states. However, this was achieved by using dry soil surfaces, generated in controlled laboratory conditions. The primary aim of this study was therefore to test the impact that in situ variations in surface soil moisture (SSM) content had on the ability of directional reflectance factors to characterize SSR conditions. Five soil plots (20 cm × 20 cm in area) representing different agricultural conditions were subjected to different durations of natural rainfall to produce a range of different levels of SSR. The values of SSM varied from 8.7 to 20.1% across all soil plots. Point laser data (4‐mm sample spacing) were geostatistically analysed to give a spatially‐distributed measure of SSR, giving sill variance values from 3.2 to 23.0. The HCRFs from each soil state were measured using a ground‐based hyperspectral spectroradiometer for a range of viewing zenith angles from extreme forward‐scatter (θr = −60°) to extreme back‐scatter (θr = +60°) at a 10° sampling resolution in the solar principal plane. The results showed that despite a large range of SSM values, forward‐scattered reflectance factors exhibited a very strong relationship with SSR (R2 = 0.84 at θr = −60°). Our findings demonstrate the operational potential of HCRFs for providing spatially‐distributed SSR measurements, across spatial extents containing spatio‐temporal variations in SSM content.
Effect of Trail Bifurcation Asymmetry and Pheromone Presence or Absence on Trail Choice by Lasius niger Ants
Authors: Forster Antonia , Czaczkes Tomer J. , Warner Emma , Woodall Tom , Martin Emily , Ratnieks Francis L. W. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractDuring foraging, ant workers are known to make use of multiple information sources, such as private information (personal memory) and social information (trail pheromones). Environmental effects on foraging, and how these interact with other information sources, have, however, been little studied. One environmental effect is trail bifurcation asymmetry. Ants forage on branching trail networks and must often decide which branch to take at a junction (bifurcation). This is an important decision, as finding food sources relies on making the correct choices at bifurcations. Bifurcation angle may provide important information when making this choice. We used a Y‐maze with a pivoting 90° bifurcation to study trail choice of Lasius niger foragers at varying branch asymmetries (0°, [both branches 45° from straight ahead], 30° [branches at 30° and 60° from straight ahead], 45°, 60° and 90° [one branch straight ahead, the other at 90°]). The experiment was carried out either with equal amounts of trail pheromone on both branches of the bifurcation or with pheromone present on only one branch. Our results show that with equal pheromone, trail asymmetry has a significant effect on trail choice. Ants preferentially follow the branch deviating least from straight, and this effect increases as asymmetry increases (47% at 0°, 54% at 30°, 57% at 45°, 66% at 60° and 73% at 90°). However, when pheromone is only present on one branch, the graded effect of asymmetry disappears. Overall, however, there is an effect of asymmetry as the preference of ants for the pheromone‐marked branch over the unmarked branch is reduced from 65%, when it is the less deviating branch, to 53%, when it is the more deviating branch. These results demonstrate that trail asymmetry influences ant decision‐making at bifurcations and that this information interacts with trail pheromone presence in a non‐hierarchical manner.
Loss of genetic integrity in wild lake trout populations following stocking: insights from an exhaustive study of 72 lakes from Québec, Canada
Authors: Valiquette Eliane , Perrier Charles , Thibault Isabel , Bernatchez Louis 
Published: May 2014

AbstractStocking represents the most important management tool worldwide to increase and sustain commercial and recreational fisheries in a context of overexploitation. Genetic impacts of this practice have been investigated in many studies, which examined population and individual admixture, but few have investigated determinants of these processes. Here, we addressed these questions from the genotyping at 19 microsatellite loci of 3341 adult lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from 72 unstocked and stocked lakes. Results showed an increase in genetic diversity and a twofold decrease in the extent of genetic differentiation among stocked populations when compared to unstocked. Stocked populations were characterized by significant admixture at both population and individual levels. Moreover, levels of admixture in stocked populations were strongly correlated with stocking intensity and a threshold value of total homogenization between source and stocked populations was identified. Our results also suggest that under certain scenarios, the genetic impacts of stocking could be of short duration. Overall, our study emphasizes the important alteration of the genetic integrity of stocked populations and the need to better understand determinants of admixture to optimize stocking strategies and to conserve the genetic integrity of wild populations.
Efficacy and Safety of Ecabet Sodium as an Adjuvant Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wang Youhua , Wang Ben , Lv Zhi Fa , Yang Yang , Wang Fucai , Wang Hui , Chen Shuping , Xie Yong , Zhou Xiaojiang 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have reported that the application of ecabet sodium during the eradication of Helicobacter pylori can improve the eradication rate and reduce therapy‐associated side effects. However, the efficacy and safety of this therapy are controversial.ObjectivesTo determine whether ecabet sodium improves the eradication rate of H. pylori and examine treatment safety by conducting a meta‐analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).MethodsLiterature searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Science Citation Index, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, and the Wanfang Database. A meta‐analysis of all RCTs comparing ecabet sodium supplementation with nonecabet sodium‐containing therapy was performed.ResultsThirteen RCTs that included a total of 1808 patients were assessed. The meta‐analysis showed that the eradication rate in the ecabet sodium‐containing quadruple therapy group was higher than that in the standard triple therapy group (84.5% vs 74.55%, OR 1.757 (95%CI: 1.307 to 2.362), p < .001). The analysis also showed that the eradication rate in the ecabet sodium‐containing triple therapy group was significantly higher than that in the PPI plus amoxicillin or clarithromycin therapy group (74.6% vs 43.9%,OR 3.727 (95%CI: 2.320 to 5.988), p < .001)(ITT), (74.6% vs 43.9%,OR 3.863 (95%CI: 2.369 to 6.298), p < .001) (PP). Furthermore, our meta‐analysis suggested that the occurrence of side effects did not significantly differ between patients receiving ecabet sodium‐containing therapy and patients receiving nonecabet sodium‐containing therapy (14.0% vs 13.3%, OR 1.055 (95%CI: 0.632 to 1.759), p = .839).ConclusionSupplementation with ecabet sodium during H. pylori eradication therapy improves the eradication rate. The use of ecabet sodium does not increase the side effects based on our meta‐analysis.
Role of activated hepatic stellate cells in proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lin Nan , Chen Zhiju , Lu Yi , Li Yangzhu , Hu Kunpeng , Xu Ruiyun 
Published: May 2014

AimCancer is not only influenced by specific tumor cells but also by the stromal microenvironment. Upon liver damage, activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSC) become highly proliferative myofibroblast‐like cells and are thought to secrete molecules that influence development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of aHSC in the development of HCC.MethodsTo assess if aHSC secreted factor(s) that promote microvascular endothelial cell (MEC) tube formation, MEC were plated with aHSC‐conditioned medium and tube formation analyzed by light microscopy. An established transendothelial migration assay with MEC was used to evaluate the role of aHSC in migration and metastasis. A novel in vitro and in vivo orthotopic mouse HCC tumor model was used to investigate angiogenic, proliferative and metastatic activity of aHSC.ResultsWe found that aHSC promoted angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). aHSC‐conditioned medium increased the ability of MEC to form tubes which was dependent upon aHSC‐secreted VEGF. In addition, HCC orthogenic tumors derived from co‐injection of H22 cells plus aHSC into the hepatic lobes of mice had greater cell proliferation and vascularization, as evaluated by the presence of CD34 and VEGF expression, than tumors resulting from H22 injections alone. aHSC also migrated from the primary tumor to sites of metastasis.ConclusionOur findings support aHSC playing multiple roles in HCC development and metastasis.