bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential gene expression in umbilical cord blood and maternal peripheral blood
Authors: Merkerova Michaela , Vasikova Alzbeta , Bruchova Hana , Libalova Helena , Topinka Jan , Balascak Ivan , Sram Radim J. , Brdicka Radim 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectives:  Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has become a useful alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells for clinical and research applications. UCB represents neonatal blood and differs from adult blood in many aspects, displaying different cell composition and various features of cellular immaturity. To understand molecular basis of phenotypic differences between neonatal and adult blood, we studied variations in transcriptome of UCB and maternal peripheral blood (PB).Methods:  Using Illumina microarrays, we determined gene expression profiles of UCB and PB samples obtained from 30 mothers giving birth to living baby.Results:  Out of 20 589 tested genes, 424 genes were down‐regulated and 417 genes were up‐regulated in UCB compared with PB. Reduced expression of many immunity‐related pathways (e.g. TLR pathway, Jak‐STAT pathway, cytokine−cytokine receptor interaction) in neonatal blood cells may contribute to the poor response to antigens, increasing susceptibility to infections at the time of disappearance of protective maternal antibodies. On the other hand, overexpression of erythropoiesis‐related genes (glycophorins, fetal hemoglobins, enzymes catalysing heme synthesis and erythrocyte differentiation) in UCB probably enforces red cell production in newborns.Conclusions:  Our study demonstrates that neonatal and maternal bloods show specific gene expression profiles, likely reflecting differences in phenotypes of immunologically immature and fully evolved hematopoietic cells.
The role of peripheral blood, bone marrow aspirate and especially bone marrow trephine biopsy in distinguishing atypical chronic myeloid leukemia from chronic granulocytic leukemia and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Authors: Xubo Gong , Xingguo Lu , Xianguo Wu , Rongzhen Xu , Xibin Xiao , Lin Wang , Lei Zhu , Xiaohong Zhang , Genbo Xu , Xiaoying Zhao 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectives:  To better realize the features of peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) aspirate and especially BM trephine biopsy in atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML).Methods:  We studied PB, BM smears in 35 cases of aCML and compared with 84 cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia chronic phase (CGL‐CP), 39 cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). In addition, we evaluated characteristics of BM trephine biopsies in 21 cases of aCML and compared with 68 cases of CGL‐CP, 20 cases of CMML.Results:  All aCML patients presented with leukocytosis (median WBC 17.3 × 109/L), 48% had moderate anemia, and 85% had thrombocytopenia. Values of monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, percentage of immature granulocytes and monocytes (0.63 ± 0.41 × 109/L, 0.18 ± 0.16 × 109/L, 0.09 ±0.08 × 109/L, 6.27 ± 3.09%, and 2.46 ± 1.75%, respectively) were useful in distinguishing aCML from CGL‐CP and CMML groups. The BM smears showed that striking dysgranulopoieis (100%), dyserythropoiesis (48.6%), percentage of blasts, nucleated erythrocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils (2.45 ± 2.06%, 7.76 ± 2.89%, 1.30 ± 1.21%, 1.47 ± 1.60%, and 1.15 ± 1.08%, respectively) were all important parameters for a diagnosis of aCML. On BM trephine sections, aCML was characterized as hypercellularity, a moderate degree of reticulin fibrosis (71.4%), lymphocytopenia (76.2%), plasmacytopenia (90.5%), abnormal localization of immature precursors (28.5%), and absence of eosinophilia, basophilia, monocytosis. Furthermore, BM imprints, immunohistochemical, and cytochemical staining findings provided important morphological reference to BM trephine sections and made the identification of nucleated cells more convenient.Conclusions:  Besides the findings observed in PB and BM aspirate, features of BM trephine biopsy (including BM trephine section, BM imprint, immunohistochemical, and cytochemical staining) can also aid in the diagnosis of aCML.
The velocity-shape alignment of clusters and the kinetic Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect
Authors: Cunnama D. , Faltenbacher A. , Cress C. , Passmoor S. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
We use the Millennium simulation to probe the correlation between cluster velocities and their shapes and the consequences for measurements of the kinetic Sunyaev–Zeldovich (kSZ) effect. Haloes are generally prolate ellipsoids with orientations that are correlated with those of nearby haloes. We measure the mean streaming velocities of haloes along the lines that separate them, demonstrating that the peculiar velocities and the long axes of haloes tend to be somewhat aligned, especially for the most massive haloes. Since the kSZ effect is proportional to the line-of-sight velocity and the optical depth of the cluster, the alignment results in a strong enhancement of the kSZ signature in clusters moving along the line of sight. This effect has not been taken into account in many analyses of kSZ signatures.
Calling Out the Troops: Interest Groups, Press Releases, and Policy Promotion Through Speech
Authors: DEGREGORIO CHRISTINE 
Published: June 2009

Policy makers and issue advocates have a keen interest in controlling what the public knows about the issues they champion. On controversial matters, each side wants its base to be informed and active. To acquiesce and leave the task to others is to lose. Notwithstanding mounting evidence of the subject's importance, studies into just how interest groups use messages and communications outreach are a fairly recent phenomenon. Using over 400 press releases, I examine the extent to which advocacy groups' choices of message frames fit other established understandings of political outreach. Notably, frame content is simple and repeated. Moreover, when the public shows indifference, press releases focus on mobilization. When public interest is already aroused, press releases focus on furnishing information. These and other results affirm and extend our understanding of political speech and interest group mobilization.Los que hacen políticas y los promotores de asuntos políticos tienen un fuerte interés en controlar lo que sabe el público sobre los asuntos que abogan. En las cuestiones controvertidas, cada parte quiere tener una base informada y activa. La que ceda y les deje a otras la tarea estará derrotada. A pesar del aumento de evidencia sobre su importancia, los estudios del uso de mensajes y comunicados por los grupos de interés representan un fenómeno bastante reciente. Uso más de 400 comunicados de prensa para examinar hasta qué punto las perspectivas (frames) de mensajes escogidas por los grupos acuerdan con el conocimiento establecido de la interpelación política. Notablemente, el contenido de las perspectivas es sencillo y repetitivo. Además, los comunicados de prensa se enfocan en la movillización cuando el público manifiesta indiferencia, y se enfocan en la información cuando el público ya está interesado. Estos resultados y otros confirman y amplican nuestro conocimiento de la expresión política y de la movilización por los grupos de interés.
Another Look at Race, Roll‐Off, and the Straight‐Ticket Option
Authors: FEIG DOUGLAS G. 
Published: June 2009

In an article published in the September, 2007 issue of Politics and Policy, “Race, Roll‐Off, and the Straight‐Ticket Option,” this author reported that African‐American voters are less likely than white voters to roll off (or drop off) for lower‐level offices if the straight‐ticket option is available. That surprising result was traced to the finding that black voters were much more likely than white voters to use that option (which eliminates roll‐off for lower‐level offices). However, that finding was based on just one election in a Southern state. This article extends this research by exploring the race‐roll‐off‐straight‐ticket option relationship in three racially diverse Midwestern jurisdictions, and also by exploring it when votes for ballot measures are considered. It confirms the earlier result regarding elections for lower‐level office but finds that the option leads to increased roll‐off on ballot measures and, consequently, to even more roll‐off among black voters than white voters on ballot measures.En el artículo “Race, Roll‐Off, and the Straight‐Ticket Option,” publicado en el número de Septiembre de 2007 de Politics & Policy, éste autor reportó que en comparación con los votantes blancos, es más probable que los votantes afroamericanos ejerzan su voto a favor de todos los contendientes de su partido preferido si la opción de straight‐ticket fuera implementada. Esta opción implica que el elector puede votar en una sola boleta por todos los candidatos del mismo partido que están contendiendo por puestos de elección popular, esto en lugar de llenar una boleta por cada puesto (presidente, senador, diputado, y así respectivamente). Sin embargo, el hallazgo sobre la mayor predisposición de la población afroamericana a recurrir a dicha opción se basó en investigación realizada en un solo estado sureño. El presente artículo va más allá al explorar la relación entre raza y la opción straight–ticket en tres jurisdicciones racialmente diversas del medio‐oeste, y al explorarlas también cuando los votos son considerados para referenda. Esta investigación confirma el hallazgo de la investigación anterior sobre la preferencia afroamericana por el straight–ticket pero descubre que hay menor preferencia por dicha opción por parte de los afroamericanos respecto a los blancos cuando ésta involucra decidir asuntos de referenda de acuerdo a las posiciones del partido preferido.
Characterization of pABVA01, a Plasmid Encoding the OXA-24 Carbapenemase from Italian Isolates of
Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: D'Andrea Marco Maria , Giani Tommaso , D'Arezzo Silvia , Capone Alessandro , Petrosillo Nicola , Visca Paolo , Luzzaro Francesco , Rossolini Gian Maria 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT

Two epidemiologically unrelated carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
isolates were investigated as representatives of the first Italian isolates producing the OXA-24 carbapenemase. Both isolates were of European clonal lineage II and carried an identical OXA-24-encoding plasmid, named pABVA01. Comparative analysis revealed that in pABVA01,
bla
OXA-24
was part of a DNA module flanked by conserved inverted repeats homologous to XerC/XerD binding sites, which in other
Acinetobacter
plasmids flank different DNA modules, suggesting mobilization by a novel site-specific recombination mechanism.
Most Environmental Isolates ofCryptococcus neoformansvar.grubii(Serotype A) Are Not Lethal for Mice
Authors: Litvintseva Anastasia P. , Mitchell Thomas G. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTMost cases of cryptococcosis are caused byCryptococcus neoformansvar.grubii(serotype A), which is widespread in the environment, where it is primarily associated with pigeon excreta. A number of molecular epidemiological studies indicate that many environmental and clinical isolates of serotype A are indistinguishable. However, the murine virulence of environmental strains ofC. neoformanshas not been thoroughly evaluated. We used the murine intranasal model of cryptococcosis to compare the lethality of clinical and environmental strains of serotype A that possessed identical genotypes as determined by amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Eleven environmental strains were tested, and only one caused disease within 60 days postinfection, at which time the experiments were terminated. Conversely, 7 of 10 clinical isolates were lethal for mice at median times of 19 to 40 days. Passing environmental isolates in mice (up to three times) did not significantly increase their lethality. In follow-up studies, we developed a new genotyping technique based on hybridization with TCN2 and TCN4 retrotransposon-specific probes. Although the retrotransposon banding patterns were unstable after prolonged incubation in the laboratory, this method was able to differentiate clinical and environmental strains that had the same AFLP/MLST genotypes.
Cytokine Signaling Regulates the Outcome of Intracellular Macrophage Parasitism byCryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Voelz Kerstin , Lammas David A. , May Robin C. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTThe pathogenic yeastCryptococcus neoformansandC. gattiicommonly cause severe infections of the central nervous system in patients with impaired immunity but also increasingly in immunocompetent individuals.Cryptococcusis phagocytosed by macrophages but can then survive and proliferate within the phagosomes of these infected host cells. Moreover,Cryptococcusis able to escape into the extracellular environment via a recently discovered nonlytic mechanism (termed expulsion or extrusion). Although it is well established that the host's cytokine profile dramatically affects the outcome of cryptococcal disease, the molecular basis for this effect is unclear. Here, we report a systematic analysis of the influence of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines on the outcome of the interaction between macrophages and cryptococci. We show that Th1 and Th17 cytokines activate, whereas Th2 cytokines inhibit, anticryptococcal functions. Intracellular yeast proliferation and cryptococcal expulsion rates were significantly lower after treatment with the Th1 cytokines gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha and the Th17 cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17). Interestingly, however, the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 significantly increased intracellular yeast proliferation while reducing the occurrence of pathogen expulsion. These results help explain the observed poor prognosis associated with the Th2 cytokine profile (e.g., in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients).
Generation of Antigenic Variants via Gene Conversion: Evidence for Recombination Fitness Selection at the Locus Level in
Anaplasma marginale
Authors: Futse James E. , Brayton Kelly A. , Nydam Seth D. , Palmer Guy H. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT

Multiple bacterial and protozoal pathogens utilize gene conversion to generate antigenically variant surface proteins to evade immune clearance and establish persistent infection. Both the donor alleles that encode the variants following recombination into an expression site and the donor loci themselves are under evolutionary selection: the alleles that encode variants that are sufficiently antigenically unique yet retain growth fitness and the loci that allow efficient recombination. We examined allelic usage in generating
Anaplasma marginale
variants during in vivo infection in the mammalian reservoir host and identified preferential usage of specific alleles in the absence of immune selective pressure, consistent with certain individual alleles having a fitness advantage for in vivo growth. In contrast, the loci themselves appear to have been essentially equally selected for donor function in gene conversion with no significant effect of locus position relative to the expression site or origin of replication. This pattern of preferential allelic usage but lack of locus effect was observed independently for Msp2 and Msp3 variants, both generated by gene conversion. Furthermore, there was no locus effect observed when a single locus contained both
msp2
and
msp3
alleles in a tail-to-tail orientation flanked by a repeat. These experimental results support the hypothesis that predominance of specific variants reflects in vivo fitness as determined by the encoding allele, independent of locus structure and chromosomal position. Identification of highly fit variants provides targets for vaccines that will prevent the high-level bacteremia associated with acute disease.
Synthetic Peptide Vaccine Targeting a Cryptic Neutralizing Epitope in Domain 2 ofBacillus anthracisProtective Antigen
Authors: Oscherwitz Jon , Yu Fen , Jacobs Jana L. , Liu Te-Hui , Johnson Philip R. , Cease Kemp B. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTCurrent evidence suggests that protective antigen (PA)-based anthrax vaccines may elicit a narrow neutralizing antibody repertoire, and this may represent a vulnerability with PA-based vaccines. In an effort to identify neutralizing specificities which may complement those prevalent in PA antiserum, we evaluated whether sequences within the 2β2-2β3 loop of PA, which are apparent in the crystal structure of heptameric but not monomeric PA, might represent a target for an epitope-specific vaccine for anthrax and, further, whether antibodies to these sequences are induced in rabbits immunized with monomeric PA. We evaluated the immunogenicity in rabbits of a multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) displaying copies of amino acids (aa) 305 to 319 of this region. Overall, four out of six rabbits vaccinated with the MAP peptide in Freund's adjuvant developed high-titer, high-avidity antibody responses which cross-reacted with the immobilized peptide sequence comprising aa 305 to 319 and with PA, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and which displayed potent and durable neutralization of lethal toxin (LeTx) in vitro, with peak titers which were 452%, 100%, 67%, and 41% of the peak neutralization titers observed in positive-control rabbits immunized with PA. Importantly, analysis of sera from multiple cohorts of rabbits with high-titer immunity to PA demonstrated a virtual absence of this potent antibody specificity, and work by others suggests that this specificity may be present at only low levels in primate PA antiserum. These results highlight the potential importance of this immunologically cryptic neutralizing epitope from PA as a target for alternative and adjunctive vaccines for anthrax.
Strong Antibody Responses to
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
PE-PGRS62 Protein Are Associated with Latent and Active Tuberculosis
Authors: Koh Kah Wee , Soh Shu E , Seah Geok Teng 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
has a unique family of PE-PGRS proteins with conserved N-terminal domains (PE) containing site-specific proline-glutamine residues and polymorphic GC-rich repetitive sequences (PGRS). Tuberculosis (TB) patients produce antibodies against some such proteins, but it is not clear whether these responses correlate with disease. Clinical groups with different mycobacterium exposure were studied for their seroreactivity to PE-PGRS17 and PE-PGRS62 proteins and their respective PE domains. There were minimal antibody responses against both PE domains and full-length PE-PGRS17, even in patients with active TB. However, patients with active and latent TB showed significantly higher PE-PGRS62-specific immunoglobulin G antibody responses than treated TB patients and mycobacterium-reactive TB contacts without latent infection. Latently infected persons had high anti-PE-PGRS62 responses but low responses to the 38-kDa antigen commonly used for TB serology, while treated TB cases showed the opposite response. Thus, patterns of seroreactivity to PE-PGRS62 correlate with clinical status and are associated with latent TB infection.
An XML-based framework for bidirectional transformation in model-driven architecture (MDA)
Authors: Bhatti Shahid Nazir , Malik Asif Muhammad 
Published: June 2009

A model transformation in Model-Driven Architecture is the generation of a target model from a source model, which is normally based on different processes. These processes are described by a transformation definition, consisting of a number of transformation rules, and executed with the help of a transformational tool.
In Model-Driven Architecture approach, bidirectionality is one of the most desirable features of the transformational process. Here bi-directionality means that a transformation can be applied from source to target as well as back from target to source model.
Different technologies are available which provide bidirectionality between platform specific models to Code Generation but hardly any tool is providing bidirectionality between platform independent models to platform specific models. Here we proposed an XML-Based Bidirectional Transformation Model (as a framework) for Model-Driven Architecture that provides bidirectionality between platform independent model and platform specific model.
Integrating
EduLearn
learning content management system (LCMS) with cooperating learning object repositories (LORs) in a peer to peer (P2P) architectural framework
Authors: Prakash Lakshmi Sunil , Saini Dinesh Kumar , Kutti N. S. 
Published: June 2009

An attempt is made to integrate the
EduLearn
Learning Content Management System
(LCMS) components
with comparable
Learning Objects Repository (LORs)
, specified in Peer to Peer (P2P) architecture to provide a better framework for sharing Learning Objects.

Learning Content Designers need to be able to access a suitable learning object. For this the Learning Object needs to reside in an LOR which has the capacity to cater quickly to the needs of the Learning Content Designer.
Reuse of a Learning Object is possible only if it is available easily and it is designed in a standard format. Such a reusable learning object (RLO) has the ability of being reused in different learning contexts and for various objectives.
We have proposed a new framework for more efficient e-learning environment by using P2P architecture and Semantic Overlay Network. This will help in efficient management of LCMS components and improve the performance of LCMS through the RLO.
Our framework authenticates Learning Object Repositories and provides a better load balance for the framework using P2P technology.
Lightweight monadic regions
Authors: Kiselyov Oleg , Shan Chung-chieh 
Published: June 2009

We present Haskell libraries that statically ensure the safe use of resources such as file handles. We statically prevent accessing an already closed handle or forgetting to close it. The libraries can be trivially extended to other resources such as database connections and graphic contexts.
Because file handles and similar resources are scarce, we want to not just assure their safe use but further deallocate them soon after they are no longer needed. Relying on Fluet and Morrisett's [4] calculus of nested regions, we contribute a novel, improved, and extended implementation of the calculus in Haskell, with file handles as resources.
Our library supports region polymorphism and implicit region subtyping, along with higher-order functions, mutable state, recursion, and run-time exceptions. A program may allocate arbitrarily many resources and dispose of them in any order, not necessarily LIFO. Region annotations are part of an expression's inferred type.
Our new Haskell encoding of monadic regions as monad transformers needs no witness terms. It assures timely deallocation even when resources have markedly different lifetimes and the identity of the longest-living resource is determined only dynamically.
For contrast, we also implement a Haskell library for manual resource management, where deallocation is explicit and safety is assured by a form of linear types. We implement the linear typing in Haskell with the help of phantom types and a parameterized monad to statically track the type-state of resources.