bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cyclooxygenase-2 and B-cell lymphoma-2 expression in cystitis glandularis and primary vesicle adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Zhongxing , Ge Guangcheng , Feng Rui , Wu Dan , Shen Bin , Wang Xing , Cui Yan , Li Junrong , Ju Xiaobing 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
Although cystitis glandularis (CG) is a common benign urinary bladder epithelial abnormality, it remains unclear whether CG is a premalignant lesion. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) overexpression has recently been reported as a potential tumor initiator or promoter. We evaluated and compared COX-2 and Bcl-2 expression in CG, chronic cystitis (CC), and primary vesicle adenocarcinoma (ADC) tissues.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective study to investigate COX-2 and Bcl-2 levels in CG and ADC. We obtained tissue samples from 75 patients (including 11 cases of CC, 30 typical cases of CG (CGTP), 30 cases of intestinal CG (CGIT), and 4 cases of ADC) between 1989 and 2009 from the Surgical Pathology Archives of the No. 2 People’s Hospital of Zhenjiang, affiliated with Jiangsu University. COX-2 and Bcl-2 immunohistochemical staining was performed on all tissues. Nine normal bladder epithelial specimens were evaluated as control samples. Correlations between COX-2 and Bcl-2 expression in CG were also analyzed.

Results
COX-2 and Bcl-2 expression was higher in the ADC group compared to other groups (p < 0.05). COX-2 and Bcl-2 levels were higher in the CGIT group compared to the CGTP group (p = 0.000 for both). The CGIT and CGTP groups both showed higher COX-2 expression compared to the CC group (p = 0.000 for both). There was no difference in Bcl-2 expression between the CGTP and CC groups (p = 0.452). Additionally, the difference in COX-2 and Bcl-2 expression between the control and CC groups was also insignificant (p = 0.668 and p = 0.097, respectively). Finally, we found that COX-2 and Bcl-2 levels were positively related (r = 0.648, p = 0.000).

Conclusion
COX-2 and Bcl-2 overexpression in the CG group suggests that CG, particularly the intestinal type, may be a premalignant lesion that converts into a tumor in the presence of carcinogens.
To evaluate the effectiveness of health care ethics consultation based on the goals of health care ethics consultation: a prospective cohort study with randomization
Authors: Chen Yen-Yuan , Chu Tzong-Shinn , Kao Yu-Hui , Tsai Pi-Ru , Huang Tien-Shang , Ko Wen-Je 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe growing prevalence of health care ethics consultation (HCEC) services in the U.S. has been accompanied by an increase in calls for accountability and quality assurance, and for the debates surrounding why and how HCEC is evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of HCEC as indicated by several novel outcome measurements in East Asian medical encounters.MethodsPatients with medical uncertainty or conflict regarding value-laden issues, and requests made by the attending physicians or nurses for HCEC from December 1, 2009 to April 30, 2012 were randomly assigned to the usual care group (UC group) and the intervention group (HCEC group). The patients in the HCEC group received HCEC conducted by an individual ethics consultant. Data analysis was based on the intention-to-treat principle. Mann–Whitney test and Chi-squared test were used depending on the scale of measurement.ResultsThirty-three patients (53.23%) were randomly assigned to the HCEC group and 29 patients were randomly assigned to the UC group. Among the 33 patients in the HCEC group, two (6.06%) of them ultimately did not receive a HCEC service. Among the 29 patients in the UC group, four (13.79%) of them received a HCEC service. The survival rate at hospital discharge did not differ between the two groups. Patients in the HCEC group showed significant reductions in the entire ICU stay and entire hospital stay. HCEC significantly facilitated achieving the goal of medical care (p < .01). Furthermore, patients in the HCEC group had a shorter ICU stay and shorter hospital stay after the occurrence of medical uncertainty or conflict regarding value-laden issues than those in the UC group.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated that HCEC were associated with reduced consumption of medical resources as indicated by shorter entire ICU stay, entire hospital stay, and shorter ICU and hospital stay after the occurrence of the medical uncertainty or conflict regarding value-laden issues. This study also showed that HCEC facilitated achieving a consensus regarding the goal of medical care, which conforms to the goal of HCEC.
Resiquimod and polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid formulation with aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant for foot-and-mouth disease vaccine
Authors: Zhou Chun-Xue , Li Dong , Chen Ying-Li , Lu Zeng-Jun , Sun Pu , Cao Yi-Mei , Bao Hui-Fang , Fu Yuan-Fang , Li Ping-Hua , Bai Xing-Wen , Xie Bao-Xia , Liu Zai-Xin 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists reportedly have potent antiviral and antitumor activities and may be a new kind of adjuvant for enhancing immune efficacy. Resiquimod (R848) is an imidazoquinoline compound with potent antiviral activity and functions through the TLR7/TLR8 MyD88-dependent signaling pathway. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] is a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA that induces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the activation of NF-κB through TLR3. This study investigated the potential of R848 and poly(I:C) as an adjuvant 146S foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccine formulated with aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3).

Results
Antibody titers to FMDV and CD8+ T cells were markedly enhanced in mice immunized to 146S FMDV + Al(OH)3 + R848 + poly(I:C) compared with mice immunized to FMDV + ISA206. IFN-γ secretion substantially increased compared with IL-4 secretion by splenic T cells stimulated with FMDV antigens in vitro, suggesting that R848, poly(I:C), and with Al(OH)3 together biased the immune response toward a Th1-type direction.

Conclusions
These results indicated that the R848 and poly(I:C) together with Al(OH)3 enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses to immunization with 146S FMDV antigens. Thus, this new vaccine formulation can be used for FMDV prevention.
Chemical composition and in vitroevaluation of the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of pitaya (dragon fruit) peel
Authors: Luo Hui , Cai Yongqiang , Peng Zhijun , Liu Tao , Yang Shengjie 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background

Hylocereus polyrhizus and Hylocereus undatus are two varieties of the commonly called pitaya fruits, and pitaya fruits have gained popularity in many countries all over the world. However, studies on chemical composition and the nutritional quality of pitaya flesh peel are limited.

Results
Extracts of pitaya (H. polyrhizus and H. undatus) peel were extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. Their cytotoxic and antioxidant activities were investigated. The main components of H. polyrhizus extract were β-amyrin (15.87%), α-amyrin (13.90%), octacosane (12.2%), γ-sitosterol (9.35%), octadecane (6.27%), 1-tetracosanol (5.19%), stigmast-4-en-3-one (4.65%), and campesterol (4.16%), whereas H. undatus were β-amyrin (23.39%), γ-sitosterol (19.32%), and octadecane (9.25%), heptacosane (5.52%), campesterol (5.27%), nonacosane (5.02%), and trichloroacetic acid, hexadecyl ester (5.21%). Both of the two extracts possessed good cytotoxic activities against PC3, Bcap-37, and MGC-803 cells (IC50 values ranging from 0.61 to 0.73 mg/mL), and the activities of their main components were also studied. Furthermore, these extracts also presented some radical scavenging activities, with IC50 values of 0.83 and 0.91 mg/mL, respectively.

Conclusion
This paper provides evidence for studying the chemical composition of supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of pitaya peel and their biological activity.
Cloning and characterization of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1 gene from chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum, 1792)
Authors: Yu Jeong-Nam , Ham Seung Hyub , Lee Seung Il , Jin Hyung-Joo , Ueda Hiroshi , Jin Deuk-Hee 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Here, we report the information about molecular and expression characterization of NR1 gene in chum salmon for the first time. The complete NR1 subunit showed a large open-reading frame of 2844 bp in the total length of 3193 bp, and this cDNA contained a coding region encoding 948 amino acids and a stop codon. The organization of the NR1 subunit of chum salmon were similar of most other fishes, except C’ terminal. The expression of NR1 subunit was to show higher in the natal river near to the hatchery than near to the coast. We expect that the information reported herein may facilitate further investigations on the relationship between memory factors of natal rivers and homing mechanisms in Salmonidae.
Photobiomodulation with near infrared light mitigates Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology in cerebral cortex – evidence from two transgenic mouse models
Authors: Purushothuman Sivaraman , Johnstone Daniel M , Nandasena Charith , Mitrofanis John , Stone Jonathan 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Previous work has demonstrated the efficacy of irradiating tissue with red to infrared light in mitigating cerebral pathology and degeneration in animal models of stroke, traumatic brain injury, parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using mouse models, we explored the neuroprotective effect of near infrared light (NIr) treatment, delivered at an age when substantial pathology is already present in the cerebral cortex.

Methods
We studied two mouse models with AD-related pathologies: the K369I tau transgenic model (K3), engineered to develop neurofibrillary tangles, and the APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic model (APP/PS1), engineered to develop amyloid plaques. Mice were treated with NIr 20 times over a four-week period and histochemistry was used to quantify AD-related pathological hallmarks and other markers of cell damage in the neocortex and hippocampus.

Results
In the K3 mice, NIr treatment was associated with a reduction in hyperphosphorylated tau, neurofibrillary tangles and oxidative stress markers (4-hydroxynonenal and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine) to near wildtype levels in the neocortex and hippocampus, and with a restoration of expression of the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase in surviving neurons. In the APP/PS1 mice, NIr treatment was associated with a reduction in the size and number of amyloid-β plaques in the neocortex and hippocampus.

Conclusions
Our results, in two transgenic mouse models, suggest that NIr may have potential as an effective, minimally-invasive intervention for mitigating, and even reversing, progressive cerebral degenerations.
In vivo functions of small GTPases in neocortical development
Authors: Shah Bhavin , Püschel Andreas W. 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
The complex mammalian cortex develops from a simple neuroepithelium through the proliferation of neuronal progenitors, their asymmetric division and cell migration. Newly generated neurons transiently assume a multipolar morphology before they polarize to form a trailing axon and a leading process that is required for their radial migration. The polarization and migration events during cortical development are under the control of multiple signaling cascades that coordinate the different cellular processes involved in neuronal differentiation. GTPases perform essential functions at different stages of neuronal development as central components of these pathways. They have been widely studied using cell lines and primary neuronal cultures but their physiological function in vivo still remains to be explored in many cases. Here we review the function of GTPases that have been studied genetically by the analysis of the embryonic nervous system in knockout mice. The phenotype of these mutants has highlighted the importance of GTPases for different steps of development by orchestrating cytoskeletal rearrangements and neuronal polarization.
Functional cointegration: definition and nonparametric estimation
Authors: Banerjee Anurag , Pitarakis Jean-Yves 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWe formally define a concept of functional cointegration linking the dynamics of two time series via a functional coefficient. This is achieved through the use of a concept of summability as an alternative to I(1)’ness which is no longer suitable under nonlinear dynamics. We subsequently introduce a nonparametric approach for estimating the unknown functional coefficients. Our method is based on a piecewise local least squares principle and is computationally simple to implement. We establish its consistency properties and evaluate its performance in finite samples. We subsequently illustrate its usefulness through an application that explores linkages between stock prices and dividends via a sentiment indicator.
Validation of a Design Procedure for Failure Mode Control of EB-Frames: Push-Over and IDA Analyses
Authors: Mastrandrea Luigi , Nastri Elide , Piluso Vincenzo 
Published: January 2014

The paper is devoted to the investigation of the seismic response of eccentrically braced frames characterised
by links having different length. In addition, the analysed structures have been designed according to a methodology, already
proposed by the authors, aiming to guarantee a collapse mechanism of global type. Therefore, the results of the nonlinear
analyses herein presented provide the validation of the proposed design procedure, by testifying that all the designed
structures exhibit a global failure mode where all the links are yielded while all the columns remain in elastic range
with the exception of the base section of first storey columns, leading to high energy dissipation capacity and global
ductility.
Furthermore, two different distributions of the link lengths are examined. The first one is characterised by short links with
uniform lengths along the height of the structure. The second one is characterised by the use of link elements having different
length at the different storeys which are selected to assure the same value of the non-dimensional link length.
The seismic response of EB-Frames with such distributions of the link length is investigated by means of both push-over
analyses and dynamic non-linear analyses. The comparison of the performances is mainly carried out in terms of plastic
hinges distribution, local ductility demand and frame lateral stiffness.
Office-Level Characteristics of the Big 4 and Audit Report Timeliness
Authors: Whitworth James D. , Lambert Tamara A. 
Published: January 2014

SUMMARY:
Recent changes in the audit and financial reporting environment have resulted in longer audit report lags and have increased the importance of identifying factors associated with a timely audit. We examine timeliness implications of office-specific attributes of the audit firm. Specifically, we examine whether office-specific industry expertise, office size, and the importance of the client to the local office are associated with audit delay (i.e., the time between fiscal year-end and the audit report date). We explore the sensitivity of our results to various measures and consider the impact of earnings quality. We examine two types of industry expertise and whether the aforementioned audit firm attributes are associated with a propensity to issue an early earnings announcement. We find that office-specific industry expertise is negatively associated with audit delay (for all but the largest quartile of firm offices) while office size and client importance are both positively associated with audit delay; however, the most important clients are associated with a more timely audit. Office-specific industry expertise is positively associated with the propensity to announce earnings substantially early and such expertise garnered via a product-specialist strategy is positively associated with audit delay relative to a low-cost specialist strategy. Our study provides further support for the importance of office-specific characteristics on audit and financial reporting outcomes and provides evidence of the benefit of office-specific industry expertise.
Epiphyllous fungi from the Oligocene shallowmarine deposits of the Krabbedalen Formation, Kap Brewster, central East Greenland
Authors: Worobiec Grzegorz , Worobiec Elżbieta 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACT
Fructifications of epiphyllous fungi were encountered during palynological investigation of the Lower Oligocene shallow-marine deposits of the Krabbedalen Formation at the Savoia Halvø, Kap Brewster, central East Greenland. Six fossil taxa from the family Microthyriaceae (Phragmothyrites kangukensis Kalgutkar, Phragmothyrites sp., Plochmopeltinites sp., Trichothyrites cf. ostiolatus (Cookson) Kalgutkar & Jansonius, Trichothyrites sp. 1, and Trichothyrites sp. 2) and one incertae sedis fungal remain are reported. Fungal remains from the Krabbedalen Formation represent the youngest, Oligocene occurrence of the epiphyllous fungi in the Palaeogene of the Arctic. The presence of epiphyllous, microthyriaceous fungi in low quantities and in low taxonomical diversity points to a humid and not necessarily warm climate, which is corroborated by data obtained from the analysis of microscopic plant remains.
Late quaternary Nupela taxa of Retezat Mts (S. Carpathians), with description of Nupela pocsii sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae)
Authors: Buczkó Krisztina , Wojtal Agata Z. , Magyari Enikő K. 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Nupela pocsii Buczkó & Wojtal, sp. nov., a new species from the Retezat Mountains (S. Carpathians), is described. High asymmetry (along apical and transapical axes and in raphe pattern) and small dimensions are the most characteristic features of this taxon. Nupela pocsii was found during paleolimnological research in early Holocene sediment of Lake Brazi. Seven other representatives of the genus Nupela were detected in high-resolution diatom analyses of three lake sediment sequences of the Retezat Mts: Nupela fennica (Hustedt) Lange-Bertalot, N. imperfecta (Schimanski) Lange-Bertalot, N. impexiformis (Lange-Bertalot) Lange-Bertalot, N. lapidosa (Krasske) Lange-Bertalot, N. paludigena (R. P. Scherer) Lange-Bertalot, N. vitiosa (Schimanski) Siver & Hamilton and an unidentified Nupela Vyverman & Compere species. Our results suggest high diversity of oligotraphenic species in these mountain lakes during their ontogeny, which began 17,000-15,000 years ago. In addition to the newly described species this is also the first record of N. paludigena in European lakes, although its occurrence was previously documented by SEM and LM from Lake Saint Anna without correct identification.
Multigene evidence reveals the systematic position of Pleurocladopsis simulans (C. Massal.) R. M. Schust. within Schistochila Dumort., Schistochilaceae
Authors: He Xiaolan , Sun Yu 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
The monotypic Pleurocladopsis, endemic to Chile, was established by Schuster in 1964 based on an earlier poorly known species Cephalozia (?) simulans C. Massal. The phylogenetic position of Pleurocladopsis simulans had been considered uncertain until it was placed in the family Schistochilaceae on account of the gynoecial and sporophytic characters. It has been assumed that Pleurocladopsis represents the starting point of evolution in Schistochilaceae. In the present study, the phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of Pleurocladopsis simulans are inferred from phylogenetic analysis of three chloroplast DNA sequence data. The result suggests that the genus was established solely based on the autapomorphic characters, thus obscuring its actual phylogenetic relationship with Schistochila and that these characters are later derived rather than ancestral. The result also confirms that the gynoecial and sporophytic characters are important in taxonomy, but they may be not sufficient at the infrafamilial level and at other lower taxonomic levels. In accordance with the results of the present study, Pleurocladopsis is synonymised with Schistochila, and the new combination Schistochila simulans (C. Massal.) Xiao L. He & Yu Sun is made.
Sporophytes of the rare liverwort Cephalozia macounii
Authors: Laaka-Lindberg Sanna , Syrjänen Kimmo 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe dioicous epixylic liverwort Cephalozia macounii (Aust.) Aust. is rare over its entire distribution area in the Northern Hemisphere. It is protected under the EU Habitats Directive and classified as critically endangered in Finland and Sweden. One reason cited for its rareness and the declining trend in its distribution its poor reproductive capacity. It does not produce asexual gemmae, which in general is common among liverworts. Although female plants with perianths are quite common, the male plants of the species have rarely been seen and sporophytes have not been described until now. In this paper we describe and illustrate the sporophytes of C. macounii on the basis of an old specimen collected in Southern Finland in the 1800s.
Batrachospermum atrum (Rhodophyta) – first record in Poland
Authors: Kowalski Wojciech A. , Kwandrans Janina 
Published: January 2014

Abstract The paper gives new data on the occurrence of Batrachospermum atrum (Hudson) Harvey, a freshwater Rhodophyta species rare in Poland. It was found growing on stony bottom in a small stream in northwestern Poland; at this site it was associated mainly with Potamogeton nodosus Poir., green algae Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kützing and Mougeotia sp. Its occurrence in Poland and some ecological data are discussed, and original photographs of the plant and its habitat are presented.
Contribution to the knowledge of the lichen biota of Bolivia. 5
Authors: Flakus Adam , Sipman Harrie J. M. , Bach Kerstin , Flakus Pamela Rodriguez , Knudsen Kerry , Ahti Teuvo , Schiefelbein Ulf , Palice Zdeněk , Meneses Q. Rosa I. , Jabłońska Agnieszka , Oset Magdalena , Kukwa Martin 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
This paper presents new records of 180 lichen species from Bolivia; 103 are new national records. Three species, Bryonora curvescens (Mudd) Poelt (also from Ecuador), Lepraria elobata Tønsberg and Pyrenula laetior Müll. Arg., are reported for the first time from the Southern Hemisphere, and five, Bathelium aff. sphaericum (C. W. Dodge) R. C. Harris, Lepraria jackii Tønsberg, Psiloparmelia arhizinosa Hale, Szczawinskia tsugae A. Funk and Trinathotrema lumbricoides (Sipman) Sipman & Aptroot, are new to South America. To complement the rather poorly recognized distribution of some species, five of the taxa reported here are also new to Ecuador. Notes on distribution and chemistry are provided for most species, and some, especially those belonging to taxonomically critical groups, are discussed in greater detail.