bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bridging the gap between methods research and the needs of policy makers: A review of the research priorities of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Authors: Longworth Louise , Sculpher Mark J. , Bojke Laura , Tosh Jonathan C. 
Published: March 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish a list of priority topics for methods research to support decision making at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).Methods: Potential priorities for methods research topics were identified through a focused literature review, interviews, an email survey, a workshop and a Web-based feedback exercise. Participants were members of the NICE secretariat and its advisory bodies, representatives from academia, industry, and other organizations working closely with NICE. The Web exercise was open to anyone to complete but publicized among the above groups.Results: A list of potential topics was collated. Priorities for further research differed according to the type of respondent and the extent to which they work directly with NICE. Priorities emerging from the group closest to NICE included: methodology for indirect and mixed treatment comparisons; synthesis of qualitative evidence; research relating to the use of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in decision making; methods and empirical research for establishing the cost-effectiveness threshold; and determining how data on the uncertainty of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness data should be taken into account in the decision-making process. Priorities emerging from the broadest group of respondents (through the Web exercise) included: methods for extrapolating beyond evidence observed in trials, methods for capturing benefits not included in the QALY and methods to assess when technologies should be recommended in the context of further evidence gathering.Conclusions: Consideration needs to be given to the needs of those who use the outputs of research for decision making when determining priorities for future methods research.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of cast versus splint in children with acceptably angulated wrist fractures
Authors: von Keyserlingk Camilla , Boutis Kathy , Willan Andrew R. , Hopkins Robert Borden , Goeree Ron 
Published: March 2011

Objectives: In a practice setting where casting is considered the standard of care, the aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of wrist splints compared with routine casting in children with acceptably angulated distal radius greenstick or transverse fractures.Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial (RCT). One hundred children with acceptably angulated distal radius greenstick or transverse fractures received either a wrist splint or cast. Information on health care provider and patient and family resource use as well as productivity cost was collected. Resource use was costed using unit costs from local administrative data sources and expense diaries. Effectiveness was assessed at 6 weeks using the performance version of the Activities Scale for Kids (ASKp) questionnaire. Cost-effectiveness analysis related differential costs to differential ASKp scores.Results: Mean total cost was $877.58 in the splint group and $950.35 in the cast group, with a mean difference of $−72.76 (standard error [SE] 45.88). Mean total healthcare cost was $670.66 in the splint group and $768.22 in the cast group, with a mean difference of $−97.56 (SE 9.24). Mean (SE) ASKp was 92.8 in the splint group and 91.4 in the cast group, with a mean difference of 1.439 (SE 1.585). Therefore, splint management was more effective and cheaper. After accounting for uncertainty, the probability of splint being cost-effective compared with cast was 94 percent for a willingness-to-pay threshold value of $0 for one-unit gain in ASKp score and exceeded 82 percent for all threshold values.Conclusions: In this RCT, splint management was cost-effective compared with casting in children with acceptably angulated distal radius greenstick or transverse fractures. This study challenges the existing standard of care for children with this type of fracture and provides justification on clinical and economic grounds for a change in routine practice.
Average Frobenius distribution for elliptic curves defined over finite Galois extensions of the rationals
Authors: JAMES KEVIN , SMITH ETHAN 
Published: March 2011

AbstractLet K be a fixed number field, assumed to be Galois over ℚ. Let r and f be fixed integers with f positive. Given an elliptic curve E, defined over K, we consider the problem of counting the number of degree f prime ideals of K with trace of Frobenius equal to r. Except in the case f = 2, we show that ‘on average,’ the number of such prime ideals with norm less than or equal to x satisfies an asymptotic identity that is in accordance with standard heuristics. This work is related to the classical Lang–Trotter conjecture and extends the work of several authors.
A novel rhodopsin-like gene expressed in zebrafish retina
Authors: MORROW JAMES M. , LAZIC SAVO , CHANG BELINDA S.W. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe visual pigment rhodopsin (rh1) constitutes the first step in the sensory transduction cascade in the rod photoreceptors of the vertebrate eye, forming the basis of vision at low light levels. In most vertebrates, rhodopsin is a single-copy gene whose function in rod photoreceptors is highly conserved. We found evidence for a second rhodopsin-like gene (rh1-2) in the zebrafish genome. This novel gene was not the product of a zebrafish-specific gene duplication event and contains a number of unique amino acid substitutions. Despite these differences, expression ofrh1-2in vitroyielded a protein that not only bound chromophore, producing an absorption spectrum in the visible range (λmax≈ 500 nm), but also activated in response to light. Unlikerh1,rh1-2is not expressed during the first 4 days of embryonic development; it is expressed in the retina of adult fish but not the brain or muscle. Similarrh1-2sequences were found in two otherDaniospecies, as well as a more distantly related cyprinid,Epalzeorhynchos bicolor. While sequences were only identified in cyprinid fish, phylogenetic analyses suggest an older origin for this gene family. Our study suggests thatrh1-2is a functional opsin gene that is expressed in the retina later in development. The discovery of a new previously uncharacterized opsin gene in zebrafish retina is surprising given its status as a model system for studies of vertebrate vision and visual development.
Ultracold O2 + O2 collisions in a magnetic field: On the role of the potential energy surface
Authors: Pérez-Ríos Jesús , Campos-Martínez José , Hernández Marta I. 
Published: March 2011

The collision dynamics of 17\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\text{O}_2(^3\Sigma _g^-) + ^{17}\text{O}_2(^3\Sigma _g^-)$\end{document}O2(3Σg−)+17O2(3Σg−) in the presence of a magnetic field is studied within the close-coupling formalism in the range between 10 nK and 50 mK. A recent global ab initio potential energy surface (PES) is employed and its effect on the dynamics is analyzed and compared with previous calculations where an experimentally derived PES was used [T. V. Tscherbul et al., New J. Phys 134, 055021 (2009)]. Compared to the results using the older PES, magnetic-field dependence of the low-field-seeking state in the ultracold regime is characterized by a very large background scattering length, abg, and cross sections exhibit broader and more pronounced Feshbach resonances. The marked resonance structure is somewhat surprising considering the influence of inelastic scattering but it can be explained by resorting to the analytical van der Waals theory, where the short-range amplitude of the entrance channel wavefunction is enhanced by the large abg. This strong sensitivity to the short range of the ab initio PES persists up to relatively high energies (10 mK). After this study and despite quantitative predictions are very difficult, it can be concluded that the ratio between elastic and spin relaxation scattering is generally small, except for magnetic fields which are either low or close to an asymmetric Fano-type resonance. Some general trends found here, such as a large density of quasibound states and a propensity toward large scattering lengths, could be also characteristic of other anisotropic molecule–molecule systems.
High sensitivity nanoparticle detection using optical microcavities
Authors: Lu Tao , Lee Hansuek , Chen Tong , Herchak Steven , Kim Ji-Hun , Fraser Scott E. , Flagan Richard C. , Vahala Kerry 
Published: March 2011

We demonstrate a highly sensitive nanoparticle and virus detection method by using a thermal-stabilized reference interferometer in conjunction with an ultrahigh-Q microcavity. Sensitivity is sufficient to resolve shifts caused by binding of individual nanobeads in solution down to a record radius of 12.5 nm, a size approaching that of single protein molecules. A histogram of wavelength shift versus nanoparticle radius shows that particle size can be inferred from shift maxima. Additionally, the signal-to-noise ratio for detection of Influenza A virus is enhanced to 38∶1 from the previously reported 3∶1. The method does not use feedback stabilization of the probe laser. It is also observed that the conjunction of particle-induced backscatter and optical-path-induced shifts can be used to enhance detection signal-to-noise.
Effect of helium on structure and compression behavior of SiO
2
glass
Authors: Shen Guoyin , Mei Qiang , Prakapenka Vitali B. , Lazor Peter , Sinogeikin Stanislav , Meng Yue , Park Changyong 
Published: March 2011

The behavior of volatiles is crucial for understanding the evolution of the Earth’s interior, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Noble gases as neutral species can serve as probes and be used for examining gas solubility in silicate melts and structural responses to any gas inclusion. Here, we report experimental results that reveal a strong effect of helium on the intermediate range structural order of SiO
2
glass and an unusually rigid behavior of the glass. The structure factor data show that the first sharp diffraction peak position of SiO
2
glass in helium medium remains essentially the same under pressures up to 18.6 GPa, suggesting that helium may have entered in the voids in SiO
2
glass under pressure. The dissolved helium makes the SiO
2
glass much less compressible at high pressures. GeO
2
glass and SiO
2
glass with H
2
as pressure medium do not display this effect. These observations suggest that the effect of helium on the structure and compression of SiO
2
glass is unique.
Inner functions and spherical isometries
Authors: Didas Michael , Eschmeier Jörg 
Published: March 2011

A commuting tuple

T
=
(

T
1

,
…
,

T
n

)
∈
B
(
H

)
n

T =(T_1, \ldots , T_n) \in B(H)^n

of bounded Hilbert-space operators is called a spherical isometry if

∑

i
=
1

n

T
i
∗

T
i

=

1
H

\sum _{i=1}^n T_i^*T_i = 1_H

. B. Prunaru initiated the study of

T
T

-Toeplitz operators, which he defined to be the solutions

X
∈
B
(
H
)

X \in B(H)

of the fixed-point equation

∑

i
=
1

n

T
i
∗

X

T
i

=
X

\sum _{i=1}^n T_i^*XT_i = X

. Using results of Aleksandrov on abstract inner functions, we show that

X
∈
B
(
H
)

X \in B(H)

is a

T
T

-Toeplitz operator precisely when

X
X

satisfies

J
∗

X
J
=
X

J^*XJ=X

for every isometry

J
J

in the unital dual algebra

A

T

⊂
B
(
H
)

\mathcal {A}_T \subset B(H)

generated by

T
T

. As a consequence we deduce that a spherical isometry

T
T

has empty point spectrum if and only if the only compact

T
T

-Toeplitz operator is the zero operator. Moreover, we show that if

σ
p

(
T
)
=
∅

\sigma _p(T) = \emptyset

, then an operator which commutes modulo the finite-rank operators with

A

T

\mathcal {A}_T

is a finite-rank perturbation of a

T
T

-Toeplitz operator.
Environmental stress and parasitism as drivers of population dynamics of Mesodesma donacium at its northern biogeographic range
Authors: Riascos José M. , Heilmayer Olaf , Oliva Marcelo E. , Laudien Jürgen 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Riascos, J. M., Heilmayer, O., Oliva, M. E., and Laudien, J. 2011. Environmental stress and parasitism as drivers of population dynamics of Mesodesma donacium at its northern biogeographic range. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 823–833. Mesodesma donacium is a commercially important bivalve in Chile and Peru. During strong El Niño events, populations at the northern end of its geographic distribution are wiped out, so to understand its threshold responses to biotic and abiotic factors, the population dynamics of one of the northernmost population remnants was analysed between 2005 and 2007. Strong interannual differences were found in abundance, body mass, growth rate, somatic production, and the prevalence of the parasite Polydora bioccipitalis. A Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that changes in beach slope, seemingly linked to repeated storm surges, negatively affected the clam's abundance and seemingly also affected growth, mortality, body mass somatic production, and parasite prevalence. Infestation by P. bioccipitalis was restricted to adult clams. Juvenile clams suffered high mortality because they inhabit the intertidal zone, where wave action is strong. Larger clams also showed high mortality, which seemed best explained by a synergistic effect of parasite load and environmental stress. This parasite-climate-driven mortality of larger clams had a strong impact on somatic production and implied a dramatic loss of fecundity (82%), which may significantly affect the ability of the species to recover its former abundance and distribution.
Exhaled Breath Condensate in Mechanically Ventilated Brain-injured Patients with No Lung Injury or Sepsis
Authors: Korovesi Ioanna , Papadomichelakis Evangelos , Orfanos Stylianos E. , Giamarellos-Bourboulis Evangellos J. , Livaditi Olga , Pelekanou Aimilia , Sotiropoulou Christina , Koutsoukou Antonia , Dimopoulou Ioanna , Ekonomidou Foteini , Psevdi Ekaterini , Armaganidis Apostolos , Roussos Charis , Marczin Nandor , Kotanidou Anastasia 
Published: March 2011

Background
The inflammatory influence of prolonged mechanical ventilation in uninjured lungs remains a matter of controversy and largely unexplored in humans. The authors investigated pulmonary inflammation by using exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in mechanically ventilated, brain-injured patients in the absence of acute lung injury or sepsis and explored the potential influence of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).

Methods
Inflammatory EBC markers were assessed in 27 mechanically ventilated, brain-injured patients with neither acute lung injury nor sepsis and in 12 healthy and 8 brain-injured control subjects. Patients were ventilated with 8 ml/kg during zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP group, n = 12) or 8 cm H(2)O PEEP (PEEP group, n = 15). EBC was collected on days 1, 3, and 5 of mechanical ventilation to measure pH; interleukins (IL)-10, 1β, 6, 8, and 12p70; and tumor necrosis factor-α.

Results
EBC pH was lower, whereas IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were greater in both patient groups compared with either control group; IL-6 was higher, whereas IL-10 and IL-12p70 were sporadically higher than in healthy control subjects; no differences were noted between the two patient groups, except for IL-10, which decreased by day 5 during PEEP. Leukocytes, soluble IL-6, and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in blood were constantly higher during zero end-expiratory pressure; EBC cytokines appeared mostly related to soluble IL-8 and inversely related to soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1.

Conclusions
In brain-injured, mechanically ventilated patients with neither acute lung injury nor sepsis, EBC markers appear to indicate the presence of subtle pulmonary inflammation that is mostly unaffected by PEEP. There is evidence for a systemic inflammatory response, especially in patients during zero end-expiratory pressure.
Genetic Interaction ofOsMADS3,DROOPING LEAF, andOsMADS13in Specifying Rice Floral Organ Identities and Meristem Determinacy
Authors: Li Haifeng , Liang Wanqi , Yin Changsong , Zhu Lu , Zhang Dabing 
Published: March 2011

AbstractGrass plants develop unique floral patterns that determine grain production. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the specification of floral organ identities and meristem determinacy, including the interaction among floral homeotic genes, remains largely unknown in grasses. Here, we report the interactions of rice (Oryza sativa) floral homeotic genes, OsMADS3 (a C-class gene), OsMADS13 (a D-class gene), and DROOPING LEAF (DL), in specifying floral organ identities and floral meristem determinacy. The interaction among these genes was revealed through the analysis of double mutants. osmads13-3 osmads3-4 displayed a loss of floral meristem determinacy and generated abundant carpelloid structures containing severe defective ovules in the flower center, which were not detectable in the single mutant. In addition, in situ hybridization and yeast two-hybrid analyses revealed that OsMADS13 and OsMADS3 did not regulate each other’s transcription or interact at the protein level. This indicates that OsMADS3 plays a synergistic role with OsMADS13 in both ovule development and floral meristem termination. Strikingly, osmads3-4 dl-sup6 displayed a severe loss of floral meristem determinacy and produced supernumerary whorls of lodicule-like organs at the forth whorl, suggesting that OsMADS3 and DL synergistically terminate the floral meristem. Furthermore, the defects of osmads13-3 dl-sup6 flowers appeared identical to those of dl-sup6, and the OsMADS13 expression was undetectable in dl-sup6 flowers. These observations suggest that DL and OsMADS13 may function in the same pathway specifying the identity of carpel/ovule and floral meristem. Collectively, we propose a model to illustrate the role of OsMADS3, DL, and OsMADS13 in the specification of flower organ identity and meristem determinacy in rice.
Applications of flow cytometry in plant pathology for genome size determination, detection and physiological status
Authors: D'HONDT LIESBET , HÖFTE MONICA , VAN BOCKSTAELE ERIK , LEUS LEEN 
Published: March 2011

SUMMARYFlow cytometers are probably the most multipurpose laboratory devices available. They can analyse a vast and very diverse range of cell parameters. This technique has left its mark on cancer, human immunodeficiency virus and immunology research, and is indispensable in routine clinical diagnostics. Flow cytometry (FCM) is also a well‐known tool for the detection and physiological status assessment of microorganisms in drinking water, marine environments, food and fermentation processes. However, flow cytometers are seldom used in plant pathology, despite FCM's major advantages as both a detection method and a research tool. Potential uses of FCM include the characterization of genome sizes of fungal and oomycete populations, multiplexed pathogen detection and the monitoring of the viability, culturability and gene expression of plant pathogens, and many others. This review provides an overview of the history, advantages and disadvantages of FCM, and focuses on the current applications and future possibilities of FCM in plant pathology.
Novel polymorphisms in ovine immune response genes and their association with abortion
Authors: Darlay R. J. , McCarthy A. J. , Illot N. E. , Smith J. E. , Shaw M.‐A. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe sheep has worldwide agricultural importance, yet the genetic control of the immune responses underlying susceptibility or resistance to ovine disease is little understood. Here, we identify six novel polymorphisms in the ovine immune response genes interferon‐γ (IFNG), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF), interleukin‐1β (IL1B) and interleukin‐4 (IL4) in pedigree Charollais flocks. We confirm the presence of previously reported polymorphisms in IFNG and IL1B in Charollais. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genotyping assays have been developed for four polymorphisms, IFNGg.168C>T, IFNGg.285A>G, IL1Bg.689C>T and TNFg.3UTRA>G, and a Taqman genotyping assay has been developed for IL4g.485C>T. The previously described IL2g.647C>T polymorphism is adapted for RFLP analysis. Allele frequencies are described in Charollais, Lleyn and Suffolk cross sheep. Polymorphisms are typed in both Charollais ewes and lambs and analysed against abortion phenotypes. A subset of animals have also been analysed for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, an abortion‐causing protozoan. The IFNGg.168T allele is shown to be associated with increased risk of a ewe having an abortion, while the IFNGg.285G allele is associated with increased risk of a lamb being aborted. These assays provide tools for the investigation of the genetic basis of other phenotypes in sheep, including infectious disease susceptibility.
Sequence variants in the bovine nucleophosmin 1 gene, their linkage and their associations with body weight in native cattle breeds in China
Authors: Huang Y. Z. , He H. , Wang J. , Li Z. J. , Lan X. Y. , Lei C. Z. , Zhang E. P. , Zhang C. L. , Wang J. Q. , Shen Q. W. , Chen H. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe nucleophosmin (nucleolar phosphoprotein B23, numatrin) gene (NPM1, previously known as nucleophosmin/nucleoplasmin family, member 1) encodes a multifunctional nucleolar phosphoprotein that plays a crucial role in cell growth and homeostasis. Seven sequence variants (SVs) were identified in the coding region of bovine NPM1, five of which were in complete linkage disequilibrium. Eight different haplotypes were identified, of which two major haplotypes have a frequency of 23.2% and 20.4%. Three SVs were significantly associated with body weight in the Nanyang population as analysed at different ages. No significant association was detected between 18 combined genotypes and body weight at five different ages. Our results suggest that some polymorphisms in NPM1 are associated with body weight at some ages and may be used as candidates for marker‐assisted selection and management in beef cattle breeding programmes.
CD180 functions in activation, survival and cycling of B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells
Authors: Porakishvili Nino , Memon Azka , Vispute Ketki , Kulikova Nina , Clark Edward A. , Rai Kanti R. , Nathwani Amit , Damle Rajendra N. , Chiorazzi Nicholas , Lydyard Peter M. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryWe previously showed that approximately 60% of B chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL) cells express surface CD180, an orphan receptor of the Toll‐like receptor family. Here we investigated the ability of anti‐CD180 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to induce activation, cell cycling, survival and signalling in B‐CLL cells and normal B cells. Upon addition of anti‐CD180 mAb, alone or in combination with anti‐CD40 mAb or recombinant IL‐4 (rIL‐4), expression of CD86, Ki‐67, uptake of DiOC6, phosphorylation of signalling protein kinases and Ca2+ flux were measured in B‐CLL cells from untreated patients and normal B cells from age‐matched volunteers. Normal B cells and approximately 50% of CD180+ B‐CLL clones responded to CD180 ligation by activation, cycling and increased survival comparable with, or superior to, those induced by anti‐CD40 mAb or rIL‐4 (Responder B‐CLL). Non‐responder CD180+ B‐CLL clones failed to respond to CD180 mAb and responded poorly to CD40 mAb and rIL‐4. Anti‐CD180 mAb induced phosphorylation of ZAP70/Syk, Erk, p38MAPK and Akt in normal B cells and Responder B‐CLL cells. In contrast, Erk, p38MAPK and Akt were not phosphorylated in Non‐responder B‐CLL cells indicating a block in signalling and possible anergy. CD180 may provide powerful expansion and survival signals for Responder B‐CLL cells and have an important prognostic value.