bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Verification of Ensemble-Based Uncertainty Circles around Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasts
Authors: Dupont Thierry , Plu Matthieu , Caroff Philippe , Faure Ghislain 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Several tropical cyclone forecasting centers issue uncertainty information with regard to their official track forecasts, generally using the climatological distribution of position error. However, such methods are not able to convey information that depends on the situation. The purpose of the present study is to assess the skill of the Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at measuring the uncertainty of up to 3-day track forecasts issued by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) La Réunion in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The dispersion of cyclone positions in the EPS is extracted and translated at the RSMC forecast position. The verification relies on existing methods for probabilistic forecasts that are presently adapted to a cyclone-position metric. First, the probability distribution of forecast positions is compared to the climatological distribution using Brier scores. The probabilistic forecasts have better scores than the climatology, particularly after applying a simple calibration scheme. Second, uncertainty circles are built by fixing the probability at 75%. Their skill at detecting small and large error values is assessed. The circles have some skill for large errors up to the 3-day forecast (and maybe after); but the detection of small radii is skillful only up to 2-day forecasts. The applied methodology may be used to assess and to compare the skill of different probabilistic forecasting systems of cyclone position.
Western Allied Intelligence and the German Military Document Section, 1945-6
Authors: Mallett Derek R. 
Published: April 2011

In the year following the end of the second world war in Europe, various high-ranking Wehrmacht officers agreed to work for a co-ordinated US, British, and Canadian military intelligence operation called the ‘Hill Project’. This endeavor, which eventually expanded to almost 200 German prisoners of war, conducted research and analysis of the German Military Document Section at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, and produced over 3600 pages of reports for the Western Allied governments. The Hill Project constitutes a little-known aspect of the interesting postwar relationship between the West and their former enemies. This article examines the main goals of this program and the kind of information these research projects provided to Western Allied military intelligence. It contends that during its operation at Camp Ritchie, the main body of work completed by the Hill Project studied Wehrmacht methods as a means to potentially improve the structure and procedures of the Western Allied armies. Moreover, a select group of the Hill Project prisoners later transferred to Fort Hunt, Virginia, and assisted in preparing a defense of Western Europe against a potential invasion by the Soviet Army.
Income Distribution, Irrational Exuberance, and Growth
Authors: Rohit  
Published: April 2011

The current economic crisis facing the U.S. economy, and thereby the entire world, has its origins in not just the subprime markets but is more of a systemic crisis. Its roots can be found in certain significant economic developments in the United States since the late 1970s: dramatic growth in inequality of income; restricted government sector, especially in the 1990s; growing trade deficit; and declining business investment. Given that the three main sources of demand, and thereby of growth, were declining in importance, the only way that the U.S. economy could have grown was through injection of consumption demand. Here again, an increase in income inequality had the potential of dampening consumption through the route of underconsumption. Therefore, for even the consumption demand to increase there was a need for some external impetus. I present a theoretical model arguing that the growth process in such a situation perforce becomes dependent on speculative asset price markets which have the potential of influencing consumption of households through the wealth effect. It is precisely for this reason that such a trajectory of growth becomes a “bubble in the whirlpool of speculation.” JEL classification: E2, O1, O4
Pluralism, Academic Freedom, and Heterodox Economics
Authors: Garnett Robert F. 
Published: April 2011

Frederic Lee’s laudable attempt to expand heterodox economists’ academic rights is vitiated by his narrow conception of pluralism as tolerance. The author proposes an alternative view of academic pluralism that is more consistent with the epistemological assumptions and ethical requirements of academic freedom, and more conducive to the flourishing of heterodox economics—and economics at large—as a scholarly community. JEL classification: A20, B40, B50
The zebrafish heart regenerates after cryoinjury-induced myocardial infarction
Authors: Chablais Fabian , Veit Julia , Rainer Gregor , Jaźwińska Anna 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
In humans, myocardial infarction is characterized by irreversible loss of heart tissue, which becomes replaced with a fibrous scar. By contrast, teleost fish and urodele amphibians are capable of heart regeneration after a partial amputation. However, due to the lack of a suitable infarct model, it is not known how these animals respond to myocardial infarction.

Results
Here, we have established a heart infarct model in zebrafish using cryoinjury. In contrast to the common method of partial resection, cryoinjury results in massive cell death within 20% of the ventricular wall, similar to that observed in mammalian infarcts. As in mammals, the initial stages of the injury response include thrombosis, accumulation of fibroblasts and collagen deposition. However, at later stages, cardiac cells can enter the cell cycle and invade the infarct area in zebrafish. In the subsequent two months, fibrotic scar tissue is progressively eliminated by cell apoptosis and becomes replaced with a new myocardium, resulting in scarless regeneration. We show that tissue remodeling at the myocardial-infarct border zone is associated with accumulation of Vimentin-positive fibroblasts and with expression of an extracellular matrix protein Tenascin-C. Electrocardiogram analysis demonstrated that the reconstitution of the cardiac muscle leads to the restoration of the heart function.

Conclusions
We developed a new cryoinjury model to induce myocardial infarction in zebrafish. Although the initial stages following cryoinjury resemble typical healing in mammals, the zebrafish heart is capable of structural and functional regeneration. Understanding the key healing processes after myocardial infarction in zebrafish may result in identification of the barriers to efficient cardiac regeneration in mammals.
Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of auxin response factor (ARF) gene family in maize
Authors: Xing Hongyan , Pudake Ramesh N , Guo Ganggang , Xing Guofang , Hu Zhaorong , Zhang Yirong , Sun Qixin , Ni Zhongfu 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
Auxin signaling is vital for plant growth and development, and plays important role in apical dominance, tropic response, lateral root formation, vascular differentiation, embryo patterning and shoot elongation. Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) are the transcription factors that regulate the expression of auxin responsive genes. The ARF genes are represented by a large multigene family in plants. The first draft of full maize genome assembly has recently been released, however, to our knowledge, the ARF gene family from maize (ZmARF genes) has not been characterized in detail.

Results
In this study, 31 maize (Zea mays L.) genes that encode ARF proteins were identified in maize genome. It was shown that maize ARF genes fall into related sister pairs and chromosomal mapping revealed that duplication of ZmARFs was associated with the chromosomal block duplications. As expected, duplication of some ZmARFs showed a conserved intron/exon structure, whereas some others were more divergent, suggesting the possibility of functional diversification for these genes. Out of these 31 ZmARF genes, 14 possess auxin-responsive element in their promoter region, among which 7 appear to show small or negligible response to exogenous auxin. The 18 ZmARF genes were predicted to be the potential targets of small RNAs. Transgenic analysis revealed that increased miR167 level could cause degradation of transcripts of six potential targets (ZmARF3, 9, 16, 18, 22 and 30). The expressions of maize ARF genes are responsive to exogenous auxin treatment. Dynamic expression patterns of ZmARF genes were observed in different stages of embryo development.

Conclusions
Maize ARF gene family is expanded (31 genes) as compared to Arabidopsis (23 genes) and rice (25 genes). The expression of these genes in maize is regulated by auxin and small RNAs. Dynamic expression patterns of ZmARF genes in embryo at different stages were detected which suggest that maize ARF genes may be involved in seed development and germination.
Identification and characterization of wheat long non-protein coding RNAs responsive to powdery mildew infection and heat stress by using microarray analysis and SBS sequencing
Authors: Xin Mingming , Wang Yu , Yao Yingyin , Song Na , Hu Zhaorong , Qin Dandan , Xie Chaojie , Peng Huiru , Ni Zhongfu , Sun Qixin 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundBiotic and abiotic stresses, such as powdery mildew infection and high temperature, are important limiting factors for yield and grain quality in wheat production. Emerging evidences suggest that long non-protein coding RNAs (npcRNAs) are developmentally regulated and play roles in development and stress responses of plants. However, identification of long npcRNAs is limited to a few plant species, such as Arabidopsis, rice and maize, no systematic identification of long npcRNAs and their responses to abiotic and biotic stresses is reported in wheat.ResultsIn this study, by using computational analysis and experimental approach we identified 125 putative wheat stress responsive long npcRNAs, which are not conserved among plant species. Among them, some were precursors of small RNAs such as microRNAs and siRNAs, two long npcRNAs were identified as signal recognition particle (SRP) 7S RNA variants, and three were characterized as U3 snoRNAs. We found that wheat long npcRNAs showed tissue dependent expression patterns and were responsive to powdery mildew infection and heat stress.ConclusionOur results indicated that diverse sets of wheat long npcRNAs were responsive to powdery mildew infection and heat stress, and could function in wheat responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, which provided a starting point to understand their functions and regulatory mechanisms in the future.
Latexin expression is downregulated in human gastric carcinomas and exhibits tumor suppressor potential
Authors: Li Yong , Basang Zhuoma , Ding Huirong , Lu Zheming , Ning Tao , Wei Haoran , Cai Hong , Ke Yang 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
Latexin, also known as endogenous carboxypeptidase inhibitor (CPI), has been found to inhibit mouse stem cell populations and lymphoma cell proliferation, demonstrating its potential role as a tumor suppressor. Our previous study also suggested a correlation between latexin expression and malignant transformation of immortalized human gastric epithelial cells. Here, we examined latexin expression in human gastric carcinomas and investigated the effect of differential latexin expression on proliferation of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Methods
Monoclonal antibody against human latexin was prepared and immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect latexin expression in 41 paired gastric carcinomas and adjacent normal control tissues. Human gastric cancer cells MGC803 (latexin negative) stably transfected with LXN gene and BGC823 cells (latexin positive) stably transfected with antisense LXN gene were established for anchorage-dependent colony formation assay and tumorigenesis assay in nude mice. Differentially expressed genes in response to exogeneous latexin expression were screened using microarray analysis and identified by RT-PCR. Bisulfite sequencing was performed to analyze the correlation of the methylation status of LXN promoter with latexin expression in cell lines.

Results
Immunohistochemical analysis showed significantly reduced latexin expression in gastric carcinomas (6/41, 14.6%) compared to control tissues (31/41, 75.6%) (P < 0.05). Overexpression of LXN gene in MGC803 cells inhibited colony formation and tumor growth in nude mice. Conversely, BGC823 cells transfected with antisense LXN gene exhibited enhanced tumor growth and colony formation. Additionally, several tumor related genes, including Maspin, WFDC1, SLPI, S100P, and PDGFRB, were shown to be differentially expressed in MGC803 cells in response to latexin expression. Differential expression of Maspin and S100P was also identified in BGC823 cells while latexin expression was downregulated. Further bisulfite sequencing of the LXN gene promoter indicated CpG hypermethylation was correlated with silencing of latexin expression in human cells.

Conclusions
Latexin expression was reduced in human gastric cancers compared with their normal control tissues. The cellular and molecular evidences demonstrated the inhibitory effect of latexin in human gastric cancer cell growth and tumorigenicity. These results strongly suggest the possible involvement of latexin expression in tumor suppression.
A Sleeping Beauty DNA transposon-based genetic sensor for functional screening of vitamin D3 analogues
Authors: Staunstrup Nicklas H , Sharma Nynne , Bak Rasmus O , Svensson Lars , Petersen Thomas K , Aarenstrup Lene , Kristiansen Karsten , Bolund Lars , Mikkelsen Jacob Giehm 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundAnalogues of vitamin D3 are extensively used in the treatment of various illnesses, such as osteoporosis, inflammatory skin diseases, and cancer. Functional testing of new vitamin D3 analogues and formulations for improved systemic and topical administration is supported by sensitive screening methods that allow a comparative evaluation of drug properties. As a new tool in functional screening of vitamin D3 analogues, we describe a genomically integratable sensor for sensitive drug detection. This system facilitates assessment of the pharmacokinetic and pharmadynamic properties of vitamin D3 analogues. The tri-cistronic genetic sensor encodes a drug-sensoring protein, a reporter protein expressed from an activated sensor-responsive promoter, and a resistance marker.ResultsThe three expression cassettes, inserted in a head-to-tail orientation in a Sleeping Beauty DNA transposon vector, are efficiently inserted as a single genetic entity into the genome of cells of interest in a reaction catalyzed by the hyperactive SB100X transposase. The applicability of the sensor for screening purposes is demonstrated by the functional comparison of potent synthetic analogues of vitamin D3 designed for the treatment of psoriasis and cancer. In clones of human keratinocytes carrying from a single to numerous insertions of the vitamin D3 sensor, a sensitive sensor read-out is detected upon exposure to even low concentrations of vitamin D3 analogues. In comparative studies, the sensor unveils superior potency of new candidate drugs in comparison with analogues that are currently in clinical use.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate the use of the genetic sensor as a tool in first-line evaluation of new vitamin D3 analogues and pave the way for new types of drug delivery studies in sensor-transgenic animals.
Plasmodium falciparum msp1, msp2 and glurp allele frequency and diversity in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mwingira Felista , Nkwengulila Gamba , Schoepflin Sonja , Sumari Deborah , Beck Hans-Peter , Snounou Georges , Felger Ingrid , Olliaro Piero , Mugittu Kefas 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
The efficacy of anti-malarial drugs is assessed over a period of 28-63 days (depending on the drugs' residence time) following initiation of treatment in order to capture late failures. However, prolonged follow-up increases the likelihood of new infections depending on transmission intensity. Therefore, molecular genotyping of highly polymorphic regions of Plasmodium falciparum msp1, msp2 and glurp loci is usually carried out to distinguish recrudescence (true failures) from new infections. This tool has now been adopted as an integral part of anti-malarial efficacy studies and clinical trials. However, there are concerns over its utility and reliability because conclusions drawn from molecular typing depend on the genetic profile of the respective parasite populations, but this profile is not systematically documented in most endemic areas. This study presents the genetic diversity of P. falciparum msp1, msp2 and glurp markers in selected sub-Saharan Africa countries with varying levels of endemicity namely Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Burkina Faso and São Tomé.

Methods
A total 780 baseline (Day 0) blood samples from children less than seven years, recruited in a randomized controlled clinical trials done between 1996 and 2000 were genotyped. DNA was extracted; allelic frequency and diversity were investigated by PCR followed by capillary electrophoresis for msp2 and fragment sizing by a digitalized gel imager for msp1 and glurp.

Results and Conclusion

Plasmodium falciparum msp1, msp2 and glurp markers were highly polymorphic with low allele frequencies. A total of 17 msp1 genotypes [eight MAD20-, one RO33- and eight K1-types]; 116 msp2 genotypes [83 3D7 and 33 FC27- types] and 14 glurp genotypes were recorded. All five sites recorded very high expected heterozygosity (HE) values (0.68 - 0.99). HE was highest in msp2 locus (HE = 0.99), and lowest for msp1 (HE = 0.68) (P < 0.0001). The genetic diversity and allelic frequency recorded were independent of transmission intensity (P = 0.84, P = 0.25 respectively. A few genotypes had particularly high frequencies; however the most abundant showed only a 4% probability that a new infection would share the same genotype as the baseline infection. This is unlikely to confound the distinction of recrudescence from new infection, particularly if more than one marker is used for genotyping. Hence, this study supports the use of msp1, msp2 and glurp in malaria clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa to discriminate new from recrudescent infections.
Effect of household and village characteristics on financial catastrophe and impoverishment due to health care spending in Western and Central Rural China: A multilevel analysis
Authors: Shi Wuxiang , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi , Geater Alan , Zhang Junhua , Zhang Hong , Brombal Daniele 
Published: April 2011

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to examine the effect of household and community characteristics on financial catastrophe and impoverishment due to health payment in Western and Central Rural China.MethodsA household survey was conducted in 2008 in Hebei and Shaanxi provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region using a multi-stage sampling technique. Independent variables included village characteristics, household income, chronic illness status, health care use and health spending. A composite contextual variable, named village deprivation, was derived from socio-economic status and availability of health care facilities in each village using factor analysis. Dependent variables were whether household health payment was more than 40% of household's capacity to pay (catastrophic health payment) and whether household per capita income was put under Chinese national poverty line (1067 Yuan income per year) after health spending (impoverishment). Mixed effects logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the independent variables on the two outcomes.ResultsHouseholds with low per capita income, having elderly, hospitalized or chronically ill members, and whose head was unemployed were more likely to incur financial catastrophe and impoverishment due to health expenditure. Both catastrophic and impoverishing health payments increased with increased village deprivation. However, the presence of a village health clinic had no effect on the two outcomes, nor did household enrollment in the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (national health insurance).ConclusionsVillage deprivation independently increases the risk for financial hardship due to health payment after adjusting for known household-level factors. This suggests that policy makers need to view the individual, household and village as separate units for policy targeting.
Mechanical tuning of molecular machines for nucleotide recognition at the air-water interface
Authors: Mori Taizo , Okamoto Ken , Endo Hiroshi , Sakakibara Keita , Hill Jonathan P , Shinoda Satoshi , Matsukura Miki , Tsukube Hiroshi , Suzuki Yasumasa , Kanekiyo Yasumasa , Ariga Katsuhiko 
Published: April 2011

AbstractMolecular machines embedded in a Langmuir monolayer at the air-water interface can be operated by application of lateral pressure. As part of the challenge associated with versatile sensing of biologically important substances, we here demonstrate discrimination of nucleotides by applying a cholesterol-armed-triazacyclononane host molecule. This molecular machine can discriminate ribonucleotides based on a twofold to tenfold difference in binding constants under optimized conditions including accompanying ions in the subphase and lateral surface pressures of its Langmuir monolayer. The concept of mechanical tuning of the host structure for optimization of molecular recognition should become a novel methodology in bio-related nanotechnology as an alternative to traditional strategies based on increasingly complex and inconvenient molecular design strategies.
Pt-decorated nanoporous gold for glucose electrooxidation in neutral and alkaline solutions
Authors: Yan Xiuling , Ge Xingbo , Cui Songzhi 
Published: April 2011

AbstractExploiting electrocatalysts with high activity for glucose oxidation is of central importance for practical applications such as glucose fuel cell. Pt-decorated nanoporous gold (NPG-Pt), created by depositing a thin layer of Pt on NPG surface, was proposed as an active electrode for glucose electrooxidation in neutral and alkaline solutions. The structure and surface properties of NPG-Pt were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation in neutral and alkaline solutions was evaluated, which was found to depend strongly on the surface structure of NPG-Pt. A direct glucose fuel cell (DGFC) was performed based on the novel membrane electrode materials. With a low precious metal load of less than 0.3 mg cm-2 Au and 60 μg cm-2 Pt in anode and commercial Pt/C in cathode, the performance of DGFC in alkaline is much better than that in neutral condition.