bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced shear‐induced platelet aggregation due to low‐temperature storage
Authors: Montgomery Robbie K. , Reddoch Kristin M. , Evani Shankar J. , Cap Andrew P. , Ramasubramanian Anand K. 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundRefrigeration of platelets (PLTs) offers an attractive alternative to the currently practiced storage at room temperature since it may mitigate problems associated with bacterial contamination and extend storage lifetime. Refrigeration causes a number of biophysical and biochemical changes in PLTs and decreases PLT circulation time in vivo. However, the effect of refrigeration on PLT hemostatic functions under physiologic and pathophysiologic shear conditions has not been adequately characterized.Study Design and MethodsWashed PLTs prepared from either fresh PLT‐rich plasma (PRP) or PRP stored at 4°C for 2 days was mixed with exogenous von Willebrand factor (VWF) and fibrinogen and sheared in a cone‐and‐plate viscometer. PLT aggregation, activation, and VWF binding after shear and glycoprotein (GP) Ibα receptor expression and ristocetin‐induced PLT agglutination were measured.ResultsPLTs stored at 4°C for 2 days aggregated significantly more than fresh PLTs particularly at high shear rates (10,000/sec), and this increase was independent of PLT concentration or suspension viscosity. Further, refrigerated PLTs showed a greater increase in GP Ibα–dependent PLT activation under shear and also bound more VWF than fresh PLTs. However, the GP Ibα expression levels as measured by three different antibodies were significantly lower in refrigerated PLTs than in fresh PLTs, and refrigeration resulted in a modest decrease in ristocetin‐induced PLT agglutination.ConclusionThe combined results demonstrate that refrigeration increases PLT aggregation under high shear, but not static, conditions and also increases shear‐induced VWF binding and PLT activation. Clinically, enhanced shear‐induced PLT aggregation due to low temperature storage may be a beneficial strategy to prevent severe bleeding in trauma.
Measurement of the absolute immature platelet number reflects marrow production and is not impacted by platelet transfusion
Authors: Bat Taha , Leitman Susan F. , Calvo Katherine R. , Chauvet Donna , Dunbar Cynthia E. 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundThe ability to distinguish increased platelet (PLT) destruction from PLT hypoproduction is important in the care of patients with marrow failure syndromes and patients receiving high‐dose chemotherapy. The measurement of immature circulating PLTs based on RNA content using an automated counter is now feasible. This study evaluated the impact of recent PLT transfusion on measurement of immature PLT variables.Study Design and MethodsThe immature PLT fraction (IPF) and absolute immature PLT number (AIPN) were measured using a hematology analyzer before and after PLT transfusion in nine transfusion‐dependent patients with marrow failure secondary to aplastic anemia, myelodysplasia, or transplantation conditioning. IPF and AIPN were also measured serially over 5 days of storage in three plateletpheresis components collected from normal donors.ResultsPLT transfusion did not significantly change the mean AIPN in transfused patients. In contrast, IPF decreased significantly from 6.6 ± 4.6% on Day −1 to 2.3 ± 1.4% on Day 0 before returning to 4.3 ± 2.3% on Day +1. In the PLT component, AIPN and IPF% increased significantly over 5 days of storage, most likely due to an artifact of the staining and detection process for stored PLTs, no longer detected in vivo once the PLTs were transfused.ConclusionPLT transfusion decreases the IPF due to the resultant increase in circulating PLT count. However, PLT transfusion does not change the circulating AIPN, validating this assay as a reflection of ongoing PLT production by the marrow in various clinical settings, regardless of proximity to PLT transfusion.
Comparing the Foreign Aid Policies of Presidents Bush and Obama
Authors: Gibler Douglas M. , Miller Steven V. 
Published: October 2012

ObjectivesWe compare the rhetoric and actual foreign economic aid disbursements of the Bush and Obama Administrations.MethodsWe use U.S. foreign aid data from 2001 to 2013 (expected) to test our propositions.ResultsOur analyses suggest strong similarities but also key differences between presidencies. First, both presidents used aid to encourage development and democracy but also ignored the human rights policies of recipient countries. We actually find human rights abuse to be positively correlated with aid receipts, even after controlling for wealth and regime type; changes in rights policies have no effect in data for either administration. Second, overall aid disbursements have not increased under President Obama in real or percentage terms, again despite campaign and inaugural promises to do otherwise. Finally, our analyses confirm the proposition that the Bush Administration favored those countries that supported the war in Iraq—the “Coalition of the Willing”—by providing them with substantially larger aid allocations than would otherwise be predicted.ConclusionsThe Obama Administration has seemingly reversed the unstated policy of aid payments for U.S. partnership by penalizing Coalition members with aid allocations far below the rates predicted for other, similar countries.
Malaria incidence and agricultural efficiency in Uganda
Authors: Badiane Ousmane , Ulimwengu John 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe cost of accessing healthcare can be a major determinant of disease prevalence, which in turn has short‐ and long‐term welfare implications on poor households. In response, governments in developing countries often resort to subsidizing the cost of drugs, which, while perhaps easier to administer, may not always be the most effective way of addressing healthcare cost. In this regard, we analyze the impact of different types of household level health expenses on disease incidence and agricultural production efficiency. We use data from the 2006 Uganda National Household Survey, which covered approximately 7,400 households. The results suggest that a 10% increase in consultation, medicine, and hospitalization expenses would reduce malaria incidence respectively by 35.6%, 20.5%, and 21.3 %, which translates into a 1.1%, 0.6%, and 0.6 % decrease in agricultural inefficiency, respectively. The results indicate that helping poor households meet expenses for consultation through subsidies or eliminating consultation fees has a larger impact on malaria incidence and agricultural productivity among poor rural households than subsidizing the cost of medical drugs, the most common avenue chosen by developing country governments in the fight against the disease.
AN INTEGRAL THEORY OF FEMALE URINARY INCONTINENCE
Authors: Petros Peter E. Papa , Ulmsten Ulf I. 
Published: October 2012

Abstract In this Theory paper, the complex interplay of the specific structures involved in female urinary continence are analyzed. In addition the effects of age, hormones, and iatrogenically induced scar tissue on these structures, are discussed specifically with regard to understanding the proper basis for treatment of urinary incontinence.According to the Theory stress and urge symptoms may both derive, for different reasons from the same anatomical defect, a lax vagina. This laxity may be caused by defects within the vaginal wall itself, or its supporting structures i.e. ligaments, muscles, and their connective tissue insertions.The vagina has a dual function. It mediates (transmits) the various muscle movements involved in bladder neck opening and closure through three separate closure mechanisms. It also has a structural function, and prevents urgency by supporting the hypothesized stretch receptors at the proximal urethra and bladder neck. Altered collagen/elastin in the vaginal connective tissue and/or its ligamentous supports may cause laxity. This dissipates the muscle contraction, causing stress incontinence, and/or activation of an inappropriate micturition reflex, (“bladder instability”) by stimulation of bladder base stretch receptors. The latter is manifested by symptoms of frequency, urgency, nocturia with or without urine loss.
Structural insights into the common γ‐chain family of cytokines and receptors from the interleukin‐7 pathway
Authors: Walsh Scott T. R. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryOver the past 13 years, numerous crystal structures of complexes of the common γ‐chain (γc) cytokine receptors and their cytokines have been solved. Even with the remarkable progress in the structural biology of γc receptors and their cytokines or interleukins, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the structural and biophysical studies of interleukin‐7 (IL‐7) and its α‐receptor (IL‐7Rα) and comparisons with other γc family members. The structure of the IL‐7/IL‐7Rα complex teaches that interfaces between the γc interleukins and their receptors can vary in size, polarity, and specificity, and that significant conformational changes might be necessary for complexes of interleukins and their receptors to bind the shared, activating γc receptor. Binding, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies of IL‐7 and IL‐7Rα show that glycosylation and electrostatics can be important to interactions between interleukins and their receptor, even where the glycans and charged residues are distant from the interface. The structure of the IL‐7Rα homodimer is a reminder that often‐ignored non‐activating complexes likely perform roles just as important to signaling as activating complexes. And last but not least, the structural and biophysical studies help explain and potentially treat the diseases caused by aberrant IL‐7 signaling.
Structural and dynamic control of T‐cell receptor specificity, cross‐reactivity, and binding mechanism
Authors: Baker Brian M. , Scott Daniel R. , Blevins Sydney J. , Hawse William F. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryOver the past two decades, structural biology has shown how T‐cell receptors engage peptide/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) complexes and provided insight into the mechanisms underlying antigen specificity and cross‐reactivity. Here we review and contextualize our contributions, which have emphasized the influence of structural changes and molecular flexibility. A repeated observation is the presence of conformational melding, in which the T‐cell receptor (TCR), peptide, and in some cases, MHC protein cooperatively adjust in order for recognition to proceed. The structural changes reflect the intrinsic dynamics of the unligated proteins. Characterization of the dynamics of unligated TCR shows how binding loop motion can influence TCR cross‐reactivity as well as specificity towards peptide and MHC. Examination of peptide dynamics indicates not only peptide‐specific variation but also a peptide dependence to MHC flexibility. This latter point emphasizes that the TCR engages a composite peptide/MHC surface and that physically the receptor makes little distinction between the peptide and MHC. Much additional evidence for this can be found within the database of available structures, including our observations of a peptide dependence to the TCR binding mode and structural compensations for altered interatomic interactions, in which lost TCR‐peptide interactions are replaced with TCR‐MHC interactions. The lack of a hard‐coded physical distinction between peptide and MHC has implications not only for specificity and cross‐reactivity but also the mechanisms underlying MHC restriction as well as attempts to modulate and control TCR recognition.
Structural insights into activation of antiviral NK cell responses
Authors: Finton Kathryn A. , Strong Roland K. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryNatural killer (NK) cells are key components of innate immune responses, providing surveillance against cells undergoing tumorigenesis or infection, by viruses or internal pathogens. NK cells can directly eliminate compromised cells and regulate downstream responses of the innate and acquired immune systems through the release of immune modulators (cytokines, interferons). The importance of the role NK cells play in immune defense was demonstrated originally in herpes viral infections, usually mild or localized, which become severe and life threatening in NK‐deficient patients . NK cell effector functions are governed by balancing opposing signals from a diverse array of activating and inhibitory receptors. Many NK receptors occur in paired activating and inhibitory isoforms and recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins with varying degrees of peptide specificity. Structural studies have made considerable inroads into understanding the molecular mechanisms employed to broadly recognize multiple MHC ligands or specific pathogen‐associated antigens and the strategies employed by viruses to thwart these defenses. Although many details of NK development, signaling, and integration remain mysterious, it is clear that NK receptors are key components of a system exquisitely tuned to sense any dysregulation in MHC class I expression, or the expression of certain viral antigens, resulting in the elimination of affected cells.
Options for diagnosis and treatment of urachal carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Jianwen , Wu Jingbo 
Published: October 2012

AbstractUrachal carcinoma (UrC) is a rare but highly malignant epithelial cancer and commonly found in the urachal remnant which connects the dome of the bladder to the umbilicus via the ligamentum commune. Because of the specificity of the tumor location and its rarity, the diagnosis of UrC is often difficult. Although surgery is the treatment of choice for UrC, it still has a high incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis and there are few modestly standard chemotherapy regimens for these patients (response rate 30–40%). Thus, the treatment of local recurrence and distant metastasis of UrC following surgery has been a challenge. We review the clinical diagnosis and therapy of UrC and factors related to its prognosis.
Differential Roles of Arabidopsis Dynamin‐Related Proteins DRP3A, DRP3B, and DRP5B in Organelle DivisionF
Authors: Aung Kyaw , Hu Jianping 
Published: October 2012

AbstractDynamin‐related proteins (DRPs) are key components of the organelle division machineries, functioning as molecular scissors during the fission process. In Arabidopsis, DRP3A and DRP3B are shared by peroxisomal and mitochondrial division, whereas the structurally‐distinct DRP5B (ARC5) protein is involved in the division of chloroplasts and peroxisomes. Here, we further investigated the roles of DRP3A, DRP3B, and DRP5B in organelle division and plant development. Despite DRP5B's lack of stable association with mitochondria, drp5B mutants show defects in mitochondrial division. The drp3A‐2 drp3B‐2 drp5B‐2 triple mutant exhibits enhanced mitochondrial division phenotypes over drp3A‐2 drp3B‐2, but its peroxisomal morphology and plant growth phenotypes resemble those of the double mutant. We further demonstrated that DRP3A and DRP3B form a supercomplex in vivo, in which DRP3A is the major component, yet DRP5B is not a constituent of this complex. We thus conclude that DRP5B participates in the division of three types of organelles in Arabidopsis, acting independently of the DRP3 complex. Our findings will help elucidate the precise composition of the DRP3 complex at organelle division sites, and will be instrumental to studies aimed at understanding how the same protein mediates the morphogenesis of distinct organelles that are linked by metabolism.
Organelle Extensions in Plant CellsF
Authors: Mathur Jaideep , Mammone Alena , Barton Kiah A. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractCell walls lock each cell in a specific position within the supra‐organization of a plant. Despite its fixed location, each cell must be able to sense alterations in its immediate environment and respond rapidly to ensure the optimal functioning, continued growth and development, and eventual long‐term survival of the plant. The ultra‐structural detail that underlies our present understanding of the plant cell has largely been acquired from fixed and processed material that does not allow an appreciation of the dynamic nature of sub‐cellular events in the cell. In recent years, fluorescent protein‐aided imaging of living plant cells has added to our understanding of the dynamic nature of the plant cell. One of the major outcomes of live imaging of plant cells is the growing appreciation that organelle shapes are not fixed, and many organelles extend their surface transiently in rapid response to environmental stimuli. In many cases, the extensions appear as tubules extending from the main organelle. Specific terms such as stromules from plastids, matrixules from mitochondria, and peroxules from peroxisomes have been coined to describe the extensions. Here, we review our present understanding of organelle extensions and discuss how they may play potential roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis in plant cells.
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[ Jaideep Mathur (Corresponding author)]
Gene Expression Analysis Using a High‐Resolution DNA Microarray of Peripheral Whole Blood Immediately Before and After Leukocytapheresis for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Kusaoi Makio , Yamaji Ken , Murayama Go , Yasui Misa , Yamada Risa , Hishinuma Ruka , Nemoto Takuya , Hohtatsu Katsura , Kageyama Michiaki , Kawamoto Toshio , Sugimoto Kaoru , Sekiya Fumio , Kon Takayuki , Ogasawara Michihiro , Kempe Kazuo , Tsuda Hiroshi , Takasaki Yoshinari 
Published: October 2012

AbstractLeukocytapheresis (LCAP) is a safe, unique therapy pertaining to intractable rheumatoid arthritis (RA) even in cases of drug allergy or infectious states. To investigate how to represent LCAP efficacy, we have conducted gene expression analyses from the peripheral blood of RA patients treated with non‐woven polyethylene terephthalate filters. Peripheral blood samples were collected immediately before and after treatment from eight RA patients who received LCAP. Among these patients, all of them achieved 20% improvement in the core set of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR20), and thus, they were confirmed as LCAP responders. Gene expression analysis was done with a high‐resolution DNA microarray. The results of each of the two groups' gene expression values (immediately before and after LCAP) were calculated using Welch's t‐test. Calculations were performed with a statistical software R.basic package: if the P‐value was less than 0.05, this was seen as a significant change. In a comparison of 25 370 gene expressions, the number of genes showing a P‐value < 0.05 in the upregulating group was 2110, and in the downregulating group it was 1864. The results of pathway analysis using the MetaCore program indicate that gene groups work for cytoskeletal remodeling are upregulated, and genes related to immune responses, such as antigens presenting via major histocompatibility complex class I and II, are downregulated just after LCAP. These findings may relate to LCAP efficacy for RA patients, but this needs further investigation.
“Embedded regulation:” The migration of objects, scripts, and governance
Authors: Cloatre Emilie , Dingwall Robert 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThis paper asks why an officially unregulated market in pharmaceuticals in a least developed country, Djibouti, behaves as if it were strictly regulated, with limited access to a small number of high‐cost drugs. We use Actor‐Network Theory (ANT) to show that the explanation is more complex than critics of the international pharmaceutical industry have supposed. Regulation and property rights generated in developed countries have become embedded in the drugs and “black boxed” to the point of invisibility. This has allowed them to travel to Djibouti with the drugs, while maintaining their effects in action. This case study develops our understanding of the way in which materials that are not designated as regulatory agents may still have regulatory impacts through their ability to enrol complex networks of actors, rules, values, and practices. Finally, it argues against the notion of law as a fixed and distinctive space for action, as opposed to the ANT vision of a fluid and contingent order, where law is part of a socio‐technico‐legal alliance that happens to achieve certain effects.
Shall the law set them free? The formal and actual independence of regulatory agencies
Authors: Hanretty Chris , Koop Christel 
Published: October 2012

AbstractRegulation by independent agencies, rather than ministries, is believed to result in better policy outcomes. Yet this belief requires one to accept a complex causal chain leading from formal independence to actual independence from politics, to policy decisions, and, ultimately, to policy outcomes. In this study, we analyze the link between the formal and actual independence of regulatory agencies in Western Europe. New data on the appointment of chief executives of these agencies is used to create a proxy for the actual independence of agencies from politics. The analysis demonstrates that formal independence is an important determinant of actual independence, but the rule of law and the number of veto players matter as well.
Moderating Argos location errors in animal tracking data
Authors: Douglas David C. , Weinzierl Rolf , C. Davidson Sarah , Kays Roland , Wikelski Martin , Bohrer Gil 
Published: October 2012

Summary

The Argos System is used worldwide to satellite‐track free‐ranging animals, but location errors can range from tens of metres to hundreds of kilometres. Low‐quality locations (Argos classes A, 0, B and Z) dominate animal tracking data. Standard‐quality animal tracking locations (Argos classes 3, 2 and 1) have larger errors than those reported in Argos manuals.

The Douglas Argos‐filter (DAF) algorithm flags implausible locations based on user‐defined thresholds that allow the algorithm's performance to be tuned to species' movement behaviours and study objectives. The algorithm is available in Movebank – a free online infrastructure for storing, managing, sharing and analysing animal movement data.

We compared 21,044 temporally paired global positioning system (GPS) locations with Argos location estimates collected from Argos transmitters on free‐ranging waterfowl and condors (13 species, 314 individuals, 54,895 animal‐tracking days). The 95th error percentiles for unfiltered Argos locations 0, A, B and Z were within 35·8, 59·6, 163·2 and 220·2 km of the true location, respectively. After applying DAF with liberal thresholds, roughly 20% of the class 0 and A locations and 45% of the class B and Z locations were excluded, and the 95th error percentiles were reduced to 17·2, 15·0, 20·9 and 18·6 km for classes 0, A, B and Z, respectively. As thresholds were applied more conservatively, fewer locations were retained, but they possessed higher overall accuracy.

Douglas Argos‐filter can improve data accuracy by 50–90% and is an effective and flexible tool for preparing Argos data for direct biological interpretation or subsequent modelling.