bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Ser/Thr kinase MAP4K4 drives c-Met-induced motility and invasiveness in a cell-based model of SHH medulloblastoma
Authors: Santhana Kumar Karthiga , Tripolitsioti Dimitra , Ma Min , Grählert Jasmin , Egli Katja B , Fiaschetti Giulio , Shalaby Tarek , Grotzer Michael A , Baumgartner Martin 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) comprises four molecularly and genetically distinct subgroups of embryonal brain tumors that develop in the cerebellum. MB mostly affects infants and children and is difficult to treat because of frequent dissemination of tumor cells within the leptomeningeal space. A potential promoter of cell dissemination is the c-Met proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase, which is aberrantly expressed in many human tumors including MB. Database analysis showed that c-Met is highly expressed in the sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup and in a small subset of Group 3 and Group 4 MB tumors. Using a cell-based three-dimensional cell motility assay combined with live-cell imaging, we investigated whether the c-Met ligand HGF could drive dissemination of MB cells expressing high levels of c-Met, and determined downstream effector mechanisms of this process. We detected variable c-Met expression in different established human MB cell lines, and we found that in lines expressing high c-Met levels, HGF promoted cell dissemination and invasiveness. Specifically, HGF-induced c-Met activation enhanced the capability of the individual cells to migrate in a JNK-dependent manner. Additionally, we identified the Ser/Thr kinase MAP4K4 as a novel driver of c-Met-induced invasive cell dissemination. This increased invasive motility was due to MAP4K4 control of F-actin dynamics in structures required for migration and invasion. Thus, MAP4K4 couples growth factor signaling to actin cytoskeleton regulation in tumor cells, suggesting that MAP4K4 could present a promising novel target to be evaluated for treating growth factor-induced dissemination of MB tumors of different subgroups and of other human cancers.
The price of fringe benefits when formal and informal labor markets coexist
Authors: Argente David , García Jorge Luis 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
We use the Mexican labor market structure to price the set of fringe benefits that household heads receive when formally employed. We exploit longitudinal, nationally-representative information on household heads who are formal, informal, or switch status at least once in our data. Using monthly labor income and an efficient markets hypothesis, we identify a standard linear model which accounts for time-variant household heads’ characteristics and household level and time fixed effects. Under the usual strict-exogeneity assumption, we find that the price of fringe benefits is approximately 7.9% of the average monthly labor income of informal workers, or $217 USD.

JEL Classification:D4; J3; J4
NKG2D ligand overexpression in lupus nephritis correlates with increased NK cell activity and differentiation in kidneys but not in the periphery
Authors: Spada Roberto , Rojas Jose´ M , Pe´rez-Yagu¨e Sonia , Mulens Vladimir , Cannata-Ortiz Pablo , Bragado Rafael , Barber Domingo F 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
NK cells are a major component of the immune system, and alterations in their activity are correlated with various autoimmune diseases. In the present work, we observed an increased expression of the NKG2D ligand MICA in SLE patients’ kidneys but not healthy subjects. We also show glomerulus-specific expression of the NKG2D ligands Rae-1 and Mult-1 in various murine SLE models, which correlated with a higher number of glomerular-infiltrating NK cells. As the role of NK cells in the immunopathogenesis of SLE is poorly understood, we explored NK cell differentiation and activity in tissues and organs in SLE-prone murine models by use of diseased and prediseased MRL/MpJ and MRL/lpr mice. We report here that phenotypically iNK cells accumulate only in the spleen but not in BM or kidneys of diseased mice. Infiltrating NK cells in kidneys undergoing a lupus nephritic process showed a more mature, activated phenotype compared with kidney, as well as peripheral NK cells from prediseased mice, as determined by IFN-γ and STAT5 analysis. These findings and the presence of glomerulus-specific NKG2D ligands in lupus-prone mice identify a role for NK cells and NKG2D ligands in the lupus nephritic process, which could aid in understanding their role in human SLE.
Endogenous Testosterone and its Relationship to Preclinical and Clinical Measures of Cardiovascular Disease in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Authors: Srinath Reshmi , Hill Golden Sherita , Carson Kathryn A. , Dobs Adrian 
Published: January 2015

Context:
Epidemiologic studies suggest that endogenous testosterone (T) levels in males may be implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD), however further clarification is needed.

Objective:
We assessed the cross-sectional relationship between endogenous plasma T and mean carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), and the longitudinal relationship with incident clinical CVD events, cardiac mortality, and all-cause mortality using male participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Design:
This study involved a subset of men from visit 4 of the ARIC study.

Setting:
The study was conducted in a community based cohort.

Participants:
Males who provided a morning blood sample excluding those taking androgen therapy, with prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, or heart failure (HF) (n = 1558).

Intervention:
None.

Main Outcome Measures:
Plasma T by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and carotid IMT using high resolution B-mode ultrasound were obtained at visit 4. Incident CHD, HF, cardiac mortality, and all-cause mortality were identified by surveillance through 2010 (median 12.8 years).

Results:
Lower T was significantly associated with higher body mass index, greater waist circumference, diabetes, hypertension, lower HDL, and never smoking (P = 0.01). T was not associated with mean cIMT in unadjusted or adjusted analyses. Following multivariable adjustment, there was no association of quartile (Q) of T with incident CHD [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.87 (95% CI = 0.60–1.26) for Q1; 0.97 (95% CI = 0.69–1.38) for Q2; 0.97 (95% CI = 0.69–1.36) for Q3 compared to reference of Q4] or for incident HF [HR = 0.77 (95% CI = 0.46–1.29) for Q1; 0.72 (95% CI = 0.43–1.21) for Q2; 0.87 (95% CI = 0.53–1.42) for Q3 compared to reference of Q4]. Similarly there was no association of Q of T with mortality or cardiac-associated mortality.

Conclusions:
Low male plasma T is cross-sectionally associated with key CVD risk factors, but after adjustment there was no association with mean cIMT, incident cardiac events, or mortality. Our results are reassuring that neither high nor low T levels directly predict atherosclerosis, but are a marker for other cardiovascular risk factors.
Research Resource: Monitoring Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Integrity in β-Cells at the Single-Cell Level
Authors: Kanekura Kohsuke , Ou Jianhong , Hara Takashi , Zhu Lihua J. , Urano Fumihiko 
Published: January 2015

AbstractEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane integrity is an emerging target for human chronic diseases associated with ER stress. Despite the underlying importance of compromised ER membrane integrity in disease states, the entire process leading to ER membrane permeabilization and cell death is still not clear due to technical limitations. Here we describe a novel method for monitoring ER membrane integrity at the single-cell level in real time. Using a β-cell line expressing ER-targeted redox sensitive green fluorescent protein, we could identify a β-cell population undergoing ER membrane permeabilization induced by palmitate and could monitor cell fate and ER stress of these cells at the single-cell level. Our method could be used to develop a novel therapeutic modality targeting the ER membrane for ER-associated disorders, including β-cell death in diabetes, neurodegeneration, and Wolfram syndrome.
Synthesis of a Silicalite-1-coated Titanium Silicalite-1 (TS-1) Zeolite and Its Catalytic Activity in Liquid-phase Oxidation
Authors: Sugiura Yusuke , Hirota Yuichiro , Uchida Yoshiaki , Nishiyama Norikazu 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Silicalite-1/titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) composites were synthesized by growing silicalite-1 on the surface of TS-1. Oxidation of 1-hexene was studied using both the silicalite-1/TS-1 composite and uncoated TS-1. The silicalite-1/TS-1 composite showed a higher selectivity toward 1,2-epoxyhexane than uncoated TS-1 because sequential reactions on the external surface of TS-1 were inhibited. The catalytic activity of the silicalite-1/TS-1 composite was almost the same as that of TS-1, suggesting that the silicalite-1 layer is very thin and that the diffusion resistance is negligibly small.
Collateral Valuation and Borrower Financial Constraints: Evidence from the Residential Real Estate Market
Authors: Agarwal Sumit , Ben-David Itzhak , Yao Vincent 
Published: January 2015

Financially constrained borrowers have the incentive to influence the appraisal process in order to increase borrowing or reduce the interest rate. We document that the average valuation bias for residential refinance transactions is above 5%. The bias is larger for highly leveraged transactions, around critical leverage thresholds, and for transactions mediated through a broker. Mortgages with inflated valuations default more often. Lenders account for 60%–90% of the bias through pricing. This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
A simplified questionnaire for self-assessment of hirsutism in population-based studies
Authors: Gabrielli Ligia , Aquino Estela M L 
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveThe measurement of excess body hair is not straightforward. As the modified Ferriman–Gallwey (mFG) score is unsuitable for self-assessment and requires specialist training, a short, self-administered questionnaire to identify hirsutism was constructed and validated for large-scale application, particularly targeting population-based studies.DesignA validation study was conducted to assess a new hirsutism questionnaire.MethodsA total of 90 women aged 35–72 years who were enrolled in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) were evaluated. A self-administered instrument containing four questions was designed to evaluate five body areas: upper lip, chin, chest, lower abdomen, and thighs with respect to the current distribution of body hair and that before 35 years of age. A score of 0–4 was attributed to each region based on drawings provided in the instrument. Test–retest reliability was evaluated by reformulating the initial questions. An independent medical examination was conducted to apply the gold standard, the mFG score.ResultsThe area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87–0.99). A cut-off score of 5 showed the best balance between sensitivity (85%) and specificity (90%), with 88.9% accuracy. Spearman's correlation between current and past body hair score was calculated at 0.82 (P=0.000), and showed a test–retest reliability of 0.49, with a trend toward similar answers regarding changes in the quantity of body hair over time, irrespective of how the questions were asked (P=0.000).ConclusionThe accuracy and internal consistency of this self-administered questionnaire for the identification of hirsutism were good. Therefore, this questionnaire represents a useful tool for self-assessment of hirsutism in population-based studies.
GH deficiency after traumatic brain injury: improvement in quality of life with GH therapy: analysis of the KIMS database
Authors: Gardner Chris J , Mattsson Anders F , Daousi Christina , Korbonits Márta , Koltowska-Haggstrom Maria , Cuthbertson Daniel J 
Published: January 2015

ObjectivePrevalence of GH deficiency (GHD) caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) is highly variable. Short-term studies show improvement in quality of life (QoL) during GH replacement (GHR), but long-term data are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical characteristics of post-traumatic hypopituitarism and the QoL effects of long-term GHR.Design/methodsPfizer International Metabolic Database patients with GHD caused by TBI and by non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) were compared regarding: clinical characteristics at baseline and 1-year of GHR, and QoL response up to 8-years of GHR (QoL-AGHDA total scores and dimensions) in relationship with country-specific norms.ResultsTBI patients compared with NFPA patients were younger, diagnosed with GHD 2.4 years later after primary disease onset (P<0.0001), had a higher incidence of isolated GHD, higher GH peak, a more favourable metabolic profile and worse QoL, were shorter by 0.9 cm (1.8 cm when corrected for age and gender; P=0.004) and received higher GH dose (mean difference: 0.04 mg/day P=0.006). In TBI patients, 1-year improvement in QoL was greater than in NFPA (change in QoL-AGHDA score 5.0 vs 3.5, respectively, P=0.04) and was sustained over 8 years. In TBI patients, socialisation normalised after 1 year of GHR, self-confidence and tenseness after 6 years and no normalisation of tiredness and memory was observed.ConclusionCompared with NFPA, TBI patients presented biochemically with less severe hypopituitarism and worse QoL scores. GHR achieved clinically relevant, long-term benefit in QoL.
Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase Influenza Vaccination in Pediatric Cancer Patients
Authors: Freedman Jason L. , Reilly Anne F. , Powell Stephanie C. , Bailey L. Charles 
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND:
Pediatric patients with cancer face more severe complications of influenza than healthy children. Although Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommend yearly vaccination in these patients, in our large academic center, &lt;60% of oncology patients receiving chemotherapy were immunized at baseline. Our objective was to increase this rate through a multifaceted quality improvement initiative.

METHODS:
Eligible patients were &gt;6 months old, within 1 year of receiving chemotherapy, &gt;100 days from stem cell transplant, and had ≥1 outpatient oncology visit between September 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013. Five interventions were instituted concomitantly: (1) family education: influenza/vaccine handouts were provided to families in clinic waiting rooms; (2) health informatics: daily lists of outpatients due for immunization were generated from the electronic medical record and sent automatically to triage staff and nurses; (3) outpatient clinic: patients due for vaccination were given colored wristbands during triage to alert providers; (4) inpatient: vaccine order was built into admission order set; and (5) provider education: staff education was provided at conferences on screening of patients, vaccine ordering, and documentation of refusals/contraindications.

RESULTS:
The complete influenza immunization rate increased by 20.1% to 64.5%, and the proportion of patients receiving ≥1 dose of vaccination increased by 22.9% to 77.7%. Similar changes were noted across all cancer types, with highest rates of immunization in leukemia/lymphoma patients (86.8%) and lowest in patients after stem cell transplant (66.7%).

CONCLUSIONS:
Technology, education, and multidisciplinary clinical process changes increased influenza vaccination rates. Ongoing efforts are targeting subgroups with lowest rates of immunization.
Online Problem-Solving Therapy After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wade Shari L. , Kurowski Brad G. , Kirkwood Michael W. , Zhang Nanhua , Cassedy Amy , Brown Tanya M. , Nielsen Britt , Stancin Terry , Taylor H. Gerry 
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND:
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to impairments in functioning in everyday settings. Evidence suggests that online family problem-solving therapy (FPST) may be effective in reducing adolescent behavioral morbidity. This article examines the efficacy of Counselor-Assisted Problem Solving (CAPS), a form of online FPST in improving long-term functional outcomes of adolescents with TBI relative to Internet resources only.

METHODS:
Children, aged 12 to 17 years, who were hospitalized in the previous 7 months for TBI were enrolled in a multisite, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Consented participants were randomly assigned to CAPS or an Internet resource comparison (IRC) condition. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at follow-ups 6, 12, and 18 months postbaseline. The Child and Functional Assessment Scale and the Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scale (IFIRS) served as primary outcomes of child and family functioning respectively.

RESULTS:
For the Child and Functional Assessment Scale total, we found a significant group × time interaction, with less impaired functioning for the CAPS group than for the IRC group at the final follow-up. Parent education moderated the efficacy of CAPS on overall rates of impairment and school/work functioning, with the advantage of CAPS over IRC evident at the final follow-up only for participants with less-educated parents. Neither group differences nor group × time interactions were found for the IFIRS.

CONCLUSIONS:
Relatively brief, online treatment shortly after injury may result in long-term improvements in child functioning, particularly among families of lower socioeconomic status. Clinical implementation of CAPS during the initial months postinjury should be considered.
Early Discharge of Infants and Risk of Readmission for Jaundice
Authors: Lain Samantha J. , Roberts Christine L. , Bowen Jennifer R. , Nassar Natasha 
Published: January 2015

OBJECTIVES:To examine the association between early discharge from hospital after birth and readmission to hospital for jaundice among term infants, and among infants discharged early, to investigate the perinatal risk factors for readmission for jaundice.METHODS:Birth data for 781 074 term live-born infants born in New South Wales, Australia from 2001 to 2010 were linked to hospital admission data. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between postnatal length of stay (LOS), gestational age (GA), and readmission for jaundice in the first 14 days of life. Other significant perinatal risk factors associated with readmission for jaundice were examined for infants discharged in the first 2 days after birth.RESULTS:Eight per 1000 term infants were readmitted for jaundice. Infants born at 37 weeks’ GA with an LOS at birth of 0 to 2 days were over 9 times (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.43; 95% CI, 8.34–10.67) and at 38 weeks’ GA were 4 times (aOR 4.05; 95% CI, 3.62–4.54) more likely to be readmitted for jaundice compared with infants born at 39 weeks’ GA with an LOS of 3 to 4 days. Other significant risk factors for readmission for jaundice for infants discharged 0 to 2 days after birth included vaginal birth, born to mothers from an Asian country, born to first-time mothers, or being breastfed at discharge.CONCLUSIONS:This study can inform guidelines or policy about identifying infants at risk for readmission for jaundice and ensure that appropriate post-discharge follow-up is received.
MOCVD of a Nanocomposite Film of Fe, Fe3O4 and Carbon Nanotubes from Ferric Acetylacetonate: Novel Thermodynamic Modeling to Reconcile with Experiment
Authors: Dhar Sukanya , Arod Pallavi , Narayan Achari K. V. L. V. , Shivashankar S. A. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThermodynamic modeling of the MOCVD process, using the standard free energy minimization algorithm, cannot always explain the deposition of hybrid films that occurs. The present investigation explores a modification of the procedure to account for the observed simultaneous deposition of metallic iron, Fe3O4, and carbon nanotubes from a single precursor. Such composite films have potential application in various device architectures and sensors, and are being studied as electrode material in energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors.With ferric acetylacetonate [Fe(acac)3] as the precursor, MOCVD in argon ambient results in a nanocomposite of CNT, Fe, and Fe3O4 (characterized by XRD and Raman spectroscopy) when growth temperature T and total reactor pressure P are in the range from 600°C-800°C and 5-30 torr, respectively. No previous report could be found on the single-step formation of a CNT-metal-metal oxide composite. Equilibrium thermodynamic modeling using available software predicts the deposition of only Fe3C and carbon, without any co-deposition of Fe and Fe3O4, in contrast with experimental observations. To reconcile this contradiction, the modeling of the process was approached by taking the molecular structure of the precursor into account, whereas “standard” thermodynamic simulations are restricted to the total number of atoms of each element in the reactant(s) as the input. When Ocon (statistical average of the oxygen atom(s) taken up by each metal atom during CVD) is restricted to lie between 0 and 1, thermodynamic computations predict simultaneous deposition of FeO1-x, Fe3C, Fe3O4 and C in the inert ambient. At high temperature and in a carbon-rich atmosphere, iron carbide decomposes to iron and carbon. Furthermore, FeO1-x yields Fe and Fe3O4 when cooled below 567°C. Therefore, the resulting film would be composed of Fe3O4, Fe and C, in agreement with experiment. The weight percentage of carbon (∼40%) calculated from thermodynamic analysis matches well with experimental data from TG-DTA.
Elderly Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck and the Benefit of Multimodality Therapy
Authors: Moye Virginia A. , Chandramouleeswaran Sindhu , Zhao Ni , Muss Hyman B. , Weissler Mark C. , Hayes David N. , Zevallos Jose P. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Background.
Limited data are available regarding outcomes in elderly head and neck cancer patients. This retrospective study was designed to characterize head and neck cancer in geriatric patients.

Patients and Methods.
This study included all patients in a large university-based tumor registry who were diagnosed with head and neck cancer from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2005. Patients aged ≥70 years at the time of diagnosis were defined as older. Overall survival and progression-free survival were censored at 60 months. Survival differences were compared using the log-rank test. Hazard ratios were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results.
Of 1,598 patients identified, 1,166 patients were aged &lt;70 years (i.e., younger) and 281 patients were aged ≥70 years (older). When controlling for possible confounders, older patients were nearly twice as likely to die within 5 years as their younger counterparts (hazard ratio: 1.92). The median life expectancy for older patients was nearly 5 years for stage I–II disease and &lt;2 years for stage III–IV disease. Older patients with stage III–IV disease who received multimodality therapy had 5-year survival similar to that younger patients with stage III–IV disease who were treated similarly (33.2% vs. 44.0%). Older patients with stage III–IV disease who received single-modality therapy had extremely poor survival compared with all other patients (hazard ratio for progression-free survival: 1.5).

Conclusion.
This study highlights the need for better understanding of the factors affecting head and neck cancer outcomes in elderly patients. Information about life expectancy in elderly head and neck cancer patients may help guide treatment decisions.