bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tumours of the lacrimal gland. Epidemiological, Clinical and Genetic Characteristics
Authors: von Holstein Sarah Linéa 
Published: June 2014

AbstractTumours of the lacrimal gland are rare, but the prognosis may be grave. To date, no population‐based incidence and distribution data on lacrimal gland tumours exist. In addition, almost nothing is known about the genetic profile of epithelial tumours of the lacrimal gland.We collected specimens and clinical files on all biopsied lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark over a 34‐year period and re‐evaluated the diagnosis to provide updated population‐based incidence rates and epidemiological characteristics. Clinical data regarding symptoms, clinical examinations, treatment and follow‐up were collected for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), pleomorphic adenoma (PA), carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Ca‐ex‐PA) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). Using RT‐PCR, FISH, immunohistochemistry, Q‐PCR and high‐resolution array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (arrayCGH) we explored the genetic characteristics including copy number alterations (CNA) in ACC, PA, Ca‐ex‐PA and MEC.The incidence of biopsied lacrimal gland lesions was 1.3/1 000 000/year, and ~50% were neoplastic lesions. Of these, 55% were malignant tumours with epithelial tumours as the most frequent. The overall incidence was increasing, and this was caused by an increase in biopsied non‐neoplastic lesions. We found that 10/14 ACCs either expressed the MYB–NFIB fusion gene and/or had rearrangements of MYB. All ACCs expressed the MYB protein. ACC was characterized by recurrent copy number losses involving 6q, 12q and 17q and gains involving 19q, 8q and 11q. ArrayCGH revealed an apparently normal genomic profile in 11/19 PAs. The remaining 8 PAs had recurrent copy number losses involving 1p, 6q, 8q and 13q and gain involving 9p. PA expressed PLAG1 in all tumours whereas only 2/29 tumours expressed HMGA2. Ca‐ex‐PA was characterized by recurrent copy number gain involving 22q. PLAG1 was expressed in 3/5 Ca‐ex‐PA whereas none of these tumours expressed HMGA2. MEC expressed the CRTC1–MAML2, and this fusion was found to be tumour‐specific for lacrimal gland MEC.In conclusion, lacrimal gland lesions that require pathological evaluation are rare in the Danish population, and the incidence rate of biopsied benign lesions is increasing. Epithelial tumours of the lacrimal gland are molecularly very similar to their salivary gland counterparts in the expression of the tumour‐specific fusion genes and in their genomic imbalances as demonstrated by arrayCGH. MYB–NFIB is a useful biomarker for ACC and MYB, and its downstream target genes may be potential therapeutic targets for these tumours.
Cryosurgery of eyelid basal cell carcinomas including 781 cases treated over 30 years
Authors: Lindgren Gun , Larkö Olle 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPurposeTo present the results of a 30‐year prospective study in which eyelid basal cell carcinomas were treated with cryosurgery.MethodsBasal cell carcinomas with well‐defined borders on the eyelids or medial canthus, diagnosed by punch biopsy, were included. Cryosurgery was performed using liquid nitrogen sprayed into a cone circumscribing the tumours. The tumours were treated in a double freeze‐thaw cycles technique. The minimum thawing time of the frozen area outside the tumour margin was at least 60 seconds. During the first 20 years of the study, patients were re‐examined for up to 10 years. In the last 10 years of the study, most patients were followed up for 1 year, and if there was no visible scarring in the treated area at the 1‐year check‐up, follow‐ups were implemented at the patient's request following self‐assessment.ResultsIn total, 781 tumours in 768 patients were treated. The median age of the patients at treatment was 73 years, mean 70.9 years (range 22–102 years). More women (58%) were treated than men. The median tumour size was 8 mm, mean 9.1 mm (range 2–25 mm). There were few side‐effects requiring intervention. Twelve patients underwent surgery due to ektropion during follow‐up. In 101 patients, treatment of the tumour resulted in conjunctival growth on the skin side, which required correcting operations in 28 patients. Three recurrences have occurred.ConclusionCryosurgery is an effective treatment modality for eyelid basal cell carcinomas, resulting in few recurrences and good cosmetic and functional outcomes at a low cost.
Child abuse, disruptive behavior disorders, depression, and salivary cortisol levels among institutionalized and community‐residing boys in Mongolia
Authors: Kohrt Brandon A. , Hruschka Daniel J. , Kohrt Holbrook E. , Carrion Victor G. , Waldman Irwin D. , Worthman Carol M. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIntroductionHypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis activity is related to childhood disruptive behavior disorders and to exposure to abuse and neglect. This study explores the relationship of diurnal salivary cortisol levels with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and caregiver attitudes toward physical punishment among boys in Mongolia.MethodsSalivary cortisol was collected in the home or institution 4 times daily for 4 days from 46 boys, aged 4–10 years, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Caregivers rated child disruptive behavior symptoms, attitudes toward physical punishment, and community violence exposures. Mixed effects models were used to estimate the association of psychopathology and caregiver attitudes with salivary cortisol levels.ResultsBoys meeting criteria for ODD displayed consistently lower diurnal salivary cortisol levels compared to boys without ODD diagnoses. Controlling for ODD diagnosis, boys with depression showed higher cortisol levels throughout the day. No other diagnosis was associated with cortisol levels. Psychiatric diagnosis accounted for 17% of between individual variations in cortisol levels unexplained by the covariates. In a separate model, caregivers’ beliefs regarding physical punishment accounted for 11% of between individual differences: boys with caregivers who stated physical punishment was necessary for discipline displayed hypocortisolism. Institutionalization did not associate with cortisol levels.DiscussionSalivary cortisol data from a non‐Western naturalistic setting support an association of reduced basal HPA activity with disruptive behavior disorders and caregiver attitudes toward discipline. These findings suggest HPA functioning may be a reflection of or mediate disruptive behavior disorders in children across ethnic and cultural settings.
Review article: chemokines as orchestrators of autoimmune hepatitis and potential therapeutic targets
Authors: Czaja A. J. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryBackgroundChemokines contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis by directing the migration and positioning of inflammatory and immune cells within the liver.AimDescribe the liver‐infiltrating effector cell populations in autoimmune hepatitis, indicate the chemokines that influence their migration, describe the role of chemokines in hepatic fibrosis and identify chemokine‐directed treatment opportunities.MethodsStudies cited in Pub Med from 1972 to 2014 for autoimmune hepatitis, chemokines in liver disease, pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis and chemokine therapy were selected.ResultsT helper type 17 lymphocytes expressing CXCR3 and CCR6 are attracted to the liver by the secretion of CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11. These cells recruit pro‐inflammatory T helper type 1 lymphocytes expressing CXCR3 and CCR5 by secreting CXCL10. Resident natural killer T cells expressing CXCR6 migrate in response to the local secretion of CXCL16, and they modulate the inflammatory response. T helper type 2 lymphocytes expressing CCR4 are attracted by CCL17 and CCL22, and they dampen the expansion of pro‐inflammatory cells. Regulatory T cells expressing CXCR3 are attracted by the secretion of CXCL9, and they help dampen the pro‐inflammatory responses. CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL4, CXCL10 and CXCL16 promote fibrosis by activating or attracting hepatic stellate cells, and CX3CL1 may prevent fibrosis by affecting the apoptosis of monocytes.ConclusionsChemokines are requisites for mobilising, directing and positioning the effector cells in immune‐mediated liver disease. They are feasible therapeutic targets in autoimmune hepatitis, and the evaluation of monoclonal antibodies that neutralise the pro‐inflammatory ligands or designer peptides that block receptor activity are investigational opportunities.
Establishment and characterization of a dairy goat mammary epithelial cell line with human telomerase (hT‐MECs)
Authors: Shi Huaiping , Shi Hengbo , Luo Jun , Wang Wei , Haile Abiel B. , Xu Huifen , Li Jun 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAlthough research on dairy goat mammary gland have referred extensively to molecular mechanisms, research on lines of dairy goat mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are still rare. This paper sought to establish an immortalMECline by stable transfection of human telomerase.MECsfrom a lactating (45 days post‐parturition)XinongSaanendairy goat were cultured purely and subsequently transfected with a plasmid carrying the sequence of human telomerase. ImmortalizedMECsby human telomerase (hT‐MECs) exhibited a typical cobblestone morphology and activity and expression levels of telomerase resembled that ofMCF‐7 cells. hT‐MECson passage 42 grew vigorously and ‘S’ sigmoid curves of growth were observed. Moreover, hT‐MECsmaintained a normal chromosome modal number of 2n = 60, keratin 8 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were evidently expressed, and beta‐casein protein was synthesized and secreted. Beta‐casein expression was enhanced by prolactin (P < 0.05). Lipid droplets were found in hT‐MECs, and messengerRNAlevels ofPPARG,SREBP,FASN,ACCandSCDin hT‐MECs(passage 40) were similar toMECs(passage 7). In conclusion, the obtained hT‐MECline retained a normal morphology, growth characteristics, cytogenetics and secretory characteristics as primaryMECs. Hence, it can be a representative model cell line, for molecular and functional analysis, of dairy goatMECsfor an extended period of time.
Cyclopamine did not affect mouse oocyte maturation in vitro but decreased early embryonic development
Authors: Liu Yang , Wei Zhuying , Huang Yafei , Bai Chunling , Zan Linsen , Li Guangpeng 
Published: June 2014

AbstractHedgehog (Hh) pathway has been studied in various animal body life procedures and is suggested to be important for the development of multiple organs. The genes involved in the Hh signaling pathway were expressed in the ovary of mice, pigs and cattle. However, the function of Hh signaling pathway on oocyte maturation and early embryonic development is still controversial. We detected the effect of sonic hedgehog (Shh) and cyclopamine on the in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes and embryo development. The results showed that the presence of Shh or cyclopamine resulted in similar oocyte maturation to control groups. Shh did not improve early embryonic development. However, the supplement of cyclopamine depressed early embryo development. The mRNA of shh, ptch1, smo and gli1 were less detected in the denuded oocytes. The expression levels of ptch1 ascended from the uncleaved zygote to blastocyst stage. Smo or gli1 were expressed on a higher level at the two‐cell or four‐cell stage in early embryonic development separately. Therefore, Shh did not affect mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development, but cyclopamine led to inhibited development of mouse early embryo. The effects of Hh signaling on the oocyte maturation and early embryo development might be species‐specific.
The Construction of Causal Schemes: Learning Mechanisms at the Knowledge Level
Authors: diSessa Andrea A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis work uses microgenetic study of classroom learning to illuminate (1) the role of pre‐instructional student knowledge in the construction of normative scientific knowledge, and (2) the learning mechanisms that drive change. Three enactments of an instructional sequence designed to lead to a scientific understanding of thermal equilibration are used as data sources. Only data from a scaffolded student inquiry preceding introduction of a normative model were used. Hence, the study involves nearly autonomous student learning. In two classes, students developed stable and socially shared explanations (“causal schemes”) for understanding thermal equilibration. One case resulted in a near‐normative understanding, while the other resulted in a non‐normative “alternative conception.” The near‐normative case seems to be a particularly clear example wherein the constructed causal scheme is a composition of previously documented naïve conceptions. Detailed prior description of these naive elements allows a much better than usual view of the corresponding details of change during construction of the new scheme. A list of candidate mechanisms that can account for observed change is presented. The non‐normative construction seems also to be a composition, albeit of a different structural form, using a different (although similar) set of naïve elements. This article provides one of very few high‐resolution process analyses showing the productive use of naïve knowledge in learning.
A proposed expert system for word sense disambiguation: deductive ambiguity resolution based on data mining and forward chaining
Authors: Fakhrahmad S.M. , Sadreddini M.H. , Zolghadri Jahromi M. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractOne of the major issues in the process of machine translation is the problem of choosing the proper translation for a multi‐sense word referred to as word sense disambiguation (WSD). Two commonly used approaches to this problem are statistical and example‐based methods. In statistical methods, ambiguity resolution is mostly carried out by making use of some statistics extracted from previously translated documents or dual corpora of source and target languages. Example‐based methods follow a similar approach as they also make use of bilingual corpora. However, they perform the task of matching at run‐time (i.e. online matching). In this paper, by looking at the WSD problem from a different viewpoint, we propose a system, which consists of two main parts. The first part includes a data mining algorithm, which runs offline and extracts some useful knowledge about the co‐occurrences of the words. In this algorithm, each sentence is imagined as a transaction in Market Basket Data Analysis problem, and the words included in a sentence play the role of purchased items. The second part of the system is an expert system whose knowledge base consists of the set of association rules generated by the first part. Moreover, in order to deduce the correct senses of the words, we introduce an efficient algorithm based on forward chaining in order to be used in the inference engine of the proposed expert system. The encouraging performance of the system in terms of precision and recall as well as its efficiency will be analysed and discussed through a set of experiments.
Kinetic analysis of human CYP24A1 metabolism of vitamin D via the C24‐oxidation pathway
Authors: Tieu Elaine W. , Tang Edith K. Y. , Tuckey Robert C. 
Published: June 2014

CYP24A1 is the multicatalytic cytochrome P450 responsible for the catabolism of vitamin D via the C23‐ and C24‐oxidation pathways. We successfully expressed the labile human enzyme in Escherichia coli and partially purified it in an active state that permitted detailed characterization of its metabolism of 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] and the intermediates of the C24‐oxidation pathway in a phospholipid‐vesicle reconstituted system. The C24‐oxidation pathway intermediates, 1,24,25‐trihydroxyvitamin D3, 24‐oxo‐1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3, 24‐oxo‐1,23,25‐trihydroxyvitamin D3 and tetranor‐1,23‐dihydroxyvitamin D3, were enzymatically produced from 1,25(OH)2D3 using rat CYP24A1. Both 1,25(OH)2D3 and 1,23‐dihydroxy‐24,25,26,27‐tetranorvitamin D3 were found to partition strongly into the phospholipid bilayer when in aqueous medium. Changes to the phospholipid concentration did not affect the kinetic parameters for the metabolism of 1,25(OH)2D3 by CYP24A1, indicating that it is the concentration of substrates in the membrane phase (mol substrate·mol phospholipid−1) that determines their rate of metabolism. CYP24A1 exhibited Km values for the different C24‐intermediates ranging from 0.34 to 15 mmol·mol phospholipid−1, with 24‐oxo‐1,23,25‐trihydroxyvitamin D3 [24‐oxo‐1,23,25(OH)3D3] displaying the lowest and 1,24,25‐trihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,24,25(OH)3D3] displaying the highest. The kcat values varied by up to 3.8‐fold, with 1,24,25(OH)3D3 displaying the highest kcat (34 min−1) and 24‐oxo‐1,23,25(OH)3D3 the lowest. The data show that the cleavage of the side chain of 24‐oxo‐1,23,25(OH)3D3 occurs with the highest catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) and produces 1‐hydroxy‐23‐oxo‐24,25,26,27‐tetranorvitamin D3 and not 1,23‐dihydroxy‐24,25,26,27‐tetranorvitamin D3, as the primary product. These kinetic analyses also show that intermediates of the C24‐oxidation pathway effectively compete with precursor substrates for binding to the active site of the enzyme, which manifests as an accumulation of intermediates, indicating that they dissociate after each catalytic step.
Phenological response to climate change in China: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Ge Quansheng , Wang Huanjiong , Rutishauser This , Dai Junhu 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe change in the phenology of plants or animals reflects the response of living systems to climate change. Numerous studies have reported a consistent earlier spring phenophases in many parts of middle and high latitudes reflecting increasing temperatures with the exception of China. A systematic analysis of Chinese phenological response could complement the assessment of climate change impact for the whole Northern Hemisphere. Here, we analyze 1263 phenological time series (1960–2011, with 20+ years data) of 112 species extracted from 48 studies across 145 sites in China. Taxonomic groups include trees, shrubs, herbs, birds, amphibians and insects. Results demonstrate that 90.8% of the spring/summer phenophases time series show earlier trends and 69.0% of the autumn phenophases records show later trends. For spring/summer phenophases, the mean advance across all the taxonomic groups was 2.75 days decade−1 ranging between 2.11 and 6.11 days decade−1 for insects and amphibians, respectively. Herbs and amphibians show significantly stronger advancement than trees, shrubs and insect. The response of phenophases of different taxonomic groups in autumn is more complex: trees, shrubs, herbs and insects show a delay between 1.93 and 4.84 days decade−1, while other groups reveal an advancement ranging from 1.10 to 2.11 days decade−1. For woody plants (including trees and shrubs), the stronger shifts toward earlier spring/summer were detected from the data series starting from more recent decades (1980s–2000s). The geographic factors (latitude, longitude and altitude) could only explain 9% and 3% of the overall variance in spring/summer and autumn phenological trends, respectively. The rate of change in spring/summer phenophase of woody plants (1960s–2000s) generally matches measured local warming across 49 sites in China (R = −0.33, P < 0.05).
Measuring fluxes of trace gases and energy between ecosystems and the atmosphere – the state and future of the eddy covariance method
Authors: Baldocchi Dennis 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe application of the eddy covariance flux method to measure fluxes of trace gas and energy between ecosystems and the atmosphere has exploded over the past 25 years. This opinion paper provides a perspective on the contributions and future opportunities of the eddy covariance method. First, the paper discusses the pros and cons of this method relative to other methods used to measure the exchange of trace gases between ecosystems and the atmosphere. Second, it discusses how the use of eddy covariance method has grown and evolved. Today, more than 400 flux measurement sites are operating world‐wide and the duration of the time series exceed a decade at dozens of sites. Networks of tower sites now enable scientists to ask scientific questions related to climatic and ecological gradients, disturbance, changes in land use, and management. The paper ends with discussions on where the field of flux measurement is heading. Topics discussed include role of open access data sharing and data mining, in this new era of big data, and opportunities new sensors that measure a variety of trace gases, like volatile organic carbon compounds, methane and nitrous oxide, and aerosols, may yield.
Predicted avian responses to bioenergy development scenarios in an intensive agricultural landscape
Authors: Uden Daniel R. , Allen Craig R. , Mitchell Rob B. , McCoy Tim D. , Guan Qingfeng 
Published: June 2014

AbstractConversion of native prairie to agriculture has increased food and bioenergy production but decreased wildlife habitat. However, enrollment of highly erodible cropland in conservation programs has compensated for some grassland loss. In the future, climate change and production of second‐generation perennial biofuel crops could further transform agricultural landscapes and increase or decrease grassland area. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is an alternative biofuel feedstock that may be economically and environmentally superior to maize (Zea mays) grain for ethanol production on marginally productive lands. Switchgrass could benefit farmers economically and increase grassland area, but there is uncertainty as to how conversions between rowcrops, switchgrass monocultures and conservation grasslands might occur and affect wildlife. To explore potential impacts on grassland birds, we developed four agricultural land‐use change scenarios for an intensively cultivated landscape, each driven by potential future climatic changes and ensuing irrigation limitations, ethanol demand, commodity prices, and continuation of a conservation program. For each scenario, we calculated changes in area for landcover classes and predicted changes in grassland bird abundances. Overall, birds responded positively to the replacement of rowcrops with switchgrass and negatively to the conversion of conservation grasslands to switchgrass or rowcrops. Landscape context and interactions between climate, crop water use, and irrigation availability could influence future land‐use, and subsequently, avian habitat quality and quantity. Switchgrass is likely to provide higher quality avian habitat than rowcrops but lower quality habitat than conservation grasslands, and therefore, may most benefit birds in heavily cultivated, irrigation dependent landscapes under warmer and drier conditions, where economic profitability may also encourage conversions to drought tolerant bioenergy feedstocks.