bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inertial-Convective Subrange Estimates of Thermal Variance Dissipation Rate from Moored Temperature Measurements
Authors: Zhang Yanwei , Moum James N. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
A procedure for estimating thermal variance dissipation rate χT by scaling the inertial-convective subrange of temperature gradient spectra from thermistor measurements on a Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) equatorial mooring, maintained by NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center, is demonstrated. The inertial-convective subrange of wavenumbers/frequencies is contaminated by the vertical motion induced by the pumping of the surface float by surface gravity waves through the local vertical temperature gradient. The uncontaminated signal can be retrieved by removing the part of the measured signal that is coherent with the signal induced by surface gravity waves, which must be measured independently. An estimate of χT is then obtained by fitting corrected spectra to theoretical temperature gradient spectra over the inertial-convective subrange (0.05 &lt; f &lt; 0.5 Hz); this estimate is referred to as χTIC. Here χTIC was calculated over 120-min intervals and compared with estimates of χTo determined by scaling temperature gradient spectra at high wavenumbers (viscous-convective and viscous-diffusive subranges). Large differences up to a factor of 20 and of unknown origin occur infrequently, especially when both background currents and vertical temperature gradients are weak, but the results herein indicate that 75% of the data pairs are within a factor of 3 of each other. Tests on 15-, 30-, 60-, 120-min intervals demonstrate that differences between the two methods are nearly random, unbiased, and less than estimates of natural variability determined from unrelated experiments at the same location. Because the inertial-convective subrange occupies a lower-frequency range than is typically used for turbulence measurements, the potential for more routine measurements of χT exists. The evaluation of degraded signals (resampled from original measurements) indicates that a particularly important component of such a measurement is the independent resolution of the surface wave–induced signal.
Phase Space Volume Conservation under Space and Time Discretization Schemes for the Shallow-Water Equations
Authors: Sommer Matthias , Reich Sebastian 
Published: August 2010

AbstractApplying concepts of analytical mechanics to numerical discretization techniques for geophysical flows has recently been proposed. So far, mostly the role of the conservation laws for energy- and vorticity-based quantities has been discussed, but recently the conservation of phase space volume has also been addressed. This topic relates directly to questions in statistical fluid mechanics and in ensemble weather and climate forecasting. Here, phase space volume behavior of different spatial and temporal discretization schemes for the shallow-water equations on the sphere are investigated. Combinations of spatially symmetric and common temporal discretizations are compared. Furthermore, the relation between time reversibility and long-time volume averages is addressed.
Inducible Fli-1 gene deletion in adult mice modifies several myeloid lineage commitment decisions and accelerates proliferation arrest and terminal erythrocytic differentiation
Authors: Starck Joëlle , Weiss-Gayet Michèle , Gonnet Colette , Guyot Boris , Vicat Jean-Michel , Morlé François 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
This study investigated the role of the ETS transcription factor Fli-1 in adult myelopoiesis using new transgenic mice allowing inducible Fli-1 gene deletion. Fli-1 deletion in adult induced mild thrombocytopenia associated with a drastic decrease in large mature megakaryocytes number. Bone marrow bipotent megakaryocytic-erythrocytic progenitors (MEPs) increased by 50% without increase in erythrocytic and megakaryocytic common myeloid progenitor progeny, suggesting increased production from upstream stem cells. These MEPs were almost unable to generate pure colonies containing large mature megakaryocytes, but generated the same total number of colonies mainly identifiable as erythroid colonies containing a reduced number of more differentiated cells. Cytological and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses of MEP progeny in semisolid and liquid cultures confirmed the drastic decrease in large mature megakaryocytes but revealed a surprisingly modest (50%) reduction of CD41-positive cells indicating the persistence of a megakaryocytic commitment potential. Symmetrical increase and decrease of monocytic and granulocytic progenitors were also observed in the progeny of purified granulocytic-monocytic progenitors and common myeloid progenitors. In summary, this study indicates that Fli-1 controls several lineages commitment decisions at the stem cell, MEP, and granulocytic-monocytic progenitor levels, stimulates the proliferation of committed erythrocytic progenitors at the expense of their differentiation, and is a major regulator of late stages of megakaryocytic differentiation.
CD57 defines a functionally distinct population of mature NK cells in the human CD56dimCD16+ NK-cell subset
Authors: Lopez-Vergès Sandra , Milush Jeffrey M. , Pandey Suchitra , York Vanessa A. , Arakawa-Hoyt Janice , Pircher Hanspeter , Norris Philip J. , Nixon Douglas F. , Lanier Lewis L. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractNatural killer (NK) cells are innate immune lymphocytes that express a heterogeneous repertoire of germline-encoded receptors and undergo a distinct pattern of maturation. CD57 is a marker of terminal differentiation on human CD8+ T cells. Very few newborn or fetal NK cells express CD57; however, the frequency of CD57-bearing NK cells increases with age. We assessed the transcriptional, phenotypic, and functional differences between CD57+ and CD57− NK cells within the CD56dim mature NK subset. CD57+ NK cells express a repertoire of NK-cell receptors, suggestive of a more mature phenotype, and proliferate less when stimulated with target cells and/or cytokines. By contrast, a higher frequency of CD57+ NK cells produced interferon-γ and demonstrated more potent lytic activity when these cells were stimulated through the activating receptor CD16; however, they are less responsive to stimulation by interleukin-12 and interleukin-18. Finally, CD57 expression is induced on CD57−CD56dim NK cells after activation by interleukin-2. A combination of a mature phenotype, a higher cytotoxic capacity, a higher sensitivity to stimulation via CD16, with a decreased responsiveness to cytokines, and a decreased capacity to proliferate suggest that CD57+ NK cells are highly mature and might be terminally differentiated.
Persistence survey of Toxic Shock Syndrome toxin-1 producing Staphylococcus aureusand serum antibodies to this superantigen in five groups of menstruating women
Authors: Parsonnet Jeffrey , Hansmann Melanie A , Seymour Jon L , Delaney Mary L , DuBois Andrea M , Modern Paul A , Jones Michaelle B , Wild John E , Onderdonk Andrew B 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackgroundMenstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (mTSS) is thought to be associated with the vaginal colonization with specific strains ofStaphylococcus aureusTSST-1 in women who lack sufficient antibody titers to this toxin. There are no published studies that examine the seroconversion in women with various colonization patterns of this organism. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence ofStaphylococcus aureuscolonization at three body sites (vagina, nares, and anus) and serum antibody to toxic shock syndrome toxin-producingStaphylococcus aureusamong a small group of healthy, menstruating women evaluated previously in a larger study.MethodsOne year after the completion of that study, 311 subjects were recalled into 5 groups. Four samples were obtained from each participant at several visits over an additional 6-11 month period: 1) an anterior nares swab; 2) an anal swab; 3) a vagina swab; and 4) a blood sample. Gram stain, a catalase test, and a rapidS. aureus-specific latex agglutination test were performed to phenotypically identifyS. aureusfrom sample swabs. A competitive ELISA was used to quantify TSST-1 production. Human TSST-1 IgG antibodies were determined from the blood samples using a sandwich ELISA method.ResultsWe found only 41% of toxigenicS. aureusand 35.5% of non-toxigenic nasal carriage could be classified as persistent. None of the toxigenicS. aureusvaginal or anal carriage could be classified as persistent. Despite the low persistence ofS. aureuscolonization, subjects colonized with a toxigenic strain were found to display distributions of antibody titers skewed toward higher titers than other subjects. Seven percent (5/75) of subjects became seropositive during recall, but none experienced toxic shock syndrome-like symptoms.ConclusionsNasal carriage ofS. aureusappears to be persistent and the best predicator of subsequent colonization, whereas vaginal and anal carriage appear to be more transient. From these findings, it appears that antibody titers in women found to be colonized with toxigenicS. aureusremained skewed toward higher titers whether or not the colonies were found to be persistent or transient in nature. This suggests that colonization at some point in time is sufficient to elevate antibody titer levels and those levels appear to be persistent. Results also indicate that women can become seropositive without experiencing signs or symptoms of toxic shock syndrome.
Identification of the risk for liver fibrosis on CHB patients using an artificial neural network based on routine and serum markers
Authors: Wang Danan , Wang Qinghui , Shan Fengping , Liu Beixing , Lu Changlong 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
Liver fibrosis progression is commonly found in patients with CHB. Liver biopsy is a gold standard for identifying the extent of liver fibrosis, but has many draw-backs. It is essential to construct a noninvasive model to predict the levels of risk for liver fibrosis. It would provide very useful information to help reduce the number of liver biopsies of CHB patients.

Methods
339 chronic hepatitis B patients with HBsAg-positive were investigated retrospectively, and divided at random into 2 subsets with twice as many patients in the training set as in the validation set; 116 additional patients were consequently enrolled in the study as the testing set. A three-layer artificial neural network was developed using a Bayesian learning algorithm. Sensitivity and ROC analysis were performed to explain the importance of input variables and the performance of the neural network.

Results
There were 329 patients without significant fibrosis and 126 with significant fibrosis in the study. All markers except gender, HB, ALP and TP were found to be statistically significant factors associated with significant fibrosis. The sensitivity analysis showed that the most important factors in the predictive model were age, AST, platelet, and GGT, and the influence on the output variable among coal miners were 22.3-24.6%. The AUROC in 3 sets was 0.883, 0.884, and 0.920. In the testing set, for a decision threshold of 0.33, sensitivity and negative predictive values were 100% and all CHB patients with significant fibrosis would be identified.

Conclusions
The artificial neural network model based on routine and serum markers would predict the risk for liver fibrosis with a high accuracy. 47.4% of CHB patients at a decision threshold of 0.33 would be free of liver biopsy and wouldn't be missed.
Multiplex PCR technique could be an alternative approach for early detection of leprosy among close contacts - a pilot study from India
Authors: Banerjee Surajita , Sarkar Kamalesh , Gupta Soma , Mahapatra Prasanta Sinha , Gupta Siddhartha , Guha Samudra , Bandhopadhayay Debasis , Ghosal Chaitry , Paine Suman Kalyan , Dutta Rathindra Nath , Biswas Nibir , Bhattacharya Basudev 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
Implementation of Multi drug Therapy (MDT) regimen has resulted in the decline of the total number of leprosy cases in the world. Though the prevalence rate has been declining, the incidence rate remains more or less constant and high in South East Asian countries particularly in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Srilanka. Leprosy, particularly that of multibacillary type spreads silently before it is clinically detected. An early detection and treatment would help to prevent transmission in the community. Multiplex PCR (M-PCR) technique appears to be promising towards early detection among contacts of leprosy cases.

Methods
A total of 234 paucibacillary (PB) and 205 multibacillary (MB) leprosy cases were studied in a community of an endemic area of Bankura district of West Bengal (Eastern India). They were assessed by smear examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and M-PCR technique. These patients were treated with Multidrug Therapy (MDT) as prescribed by WHO following detection. A total of 110 MB and 72 PB contacts were studied by performing M-PCR in their nasal swab samples.

Results
83.4% of MB patients were observed to be positive by smear examination for AFB and 89.2% by M-PCR. While 22.2% of PB patients were found to be positive by smear examination for AFB, 80.3% of these patients were positive by M-PCR. Among leprosy contacts (using M-PCR), 10.9% were found to be positive among MB contacts and 1.3% among PB contacts. Interestingly, two contacts of M-PCR positive MB cases developed leprosy during the period of two years follow up.

Conclusion
The M-PCR technique appears to be an efficient tool for early detection of leprosy cases in community based contact tracing amongst close associates of PB and MB cases. Early contact tracing using a molecular biology tool can be of great help in curbing the incidence of leprosy further.
Biological characteristics and treatment outcomes of metastatic or recurrent neuroendocrine tumors: tumor grade and metastatic site are important for treatment strategy
Authors: Kim Su-Jung , Kim Jin Won , Han Sae-Won , Oh Do-Youn , Lee Se-Hoon , Kim Dong-Wan , Im Seock-Ah , Kim Tae-You , Seog Heo Dae , Bang Yung-Jue 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
Studies about the biology, treatment pattern, and treatment outcome of metastatic/recurrent neuroendocrine tumor (NET) have been few.

Methods
We enrolled patients with metastatic/recurrent NET diagnosed between January 1996 and July 2007 and retrospectively analyzed.

Results
A total of 103 patients were evaluated. Twenty-six patients (25.2%) had pancreatic NET, 27 (26.2%) had gastrointestinal NET, 2 (1.9%) had lung NET, 28 (27.2%) had NET from other sites, and 20 (19.4%) had NET from unknown origin. The liver was the most common metastatic site (68.9%). Thirty-four patients had grade 1 disease, 1 (1.0%) had grade 2 disease, 15 (14.6%) had grade 3 disease, 9 (8.7%) had large cell disease, and 7 (6.8%) had small cell disease.
Sixty-six patients received systemic treatment (interferon, somatostatin analogues or chemotherapy), 64 patients received local treatment (TACE, radiofrequency ablation, metastasectomy, etc.). Thirty-six patients received both systemic and local treatments.
Median overall survival (OS) was 29.0 months (95% confidence interval, 25.0-33.0) in the103 patients. OS was significantly influenced by grade (p = .001). OS was 43.0, 23.0, and 29.0 months in patients who received local treatment only, systemic treatment only, and both treatments, respectively (p = .245). The median time-to-progression (TTP) was 6.0 months. Overall response rate was 34.0% and disease-control rate was 64.2%. TTP was influenced by the presence of liver metastasis (p = .011).

Conclusions
OS of metastatic/recurrent NET was different according to tumor grade. TTP was different according to metastasis site. Therefore, development of optimal treatment strategy based on the characteristics of NET is warranted.
Factors associated with cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy in an urban setting: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Huang Xu , Zhang Qingyuan , Kang Xinmei , Song Ying , Zhao Wenhui 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
Fatigue is prevalent in breast cancer survivors and has profound effects on daily life. The interference of fatigue with endocrine therapy may be difficult to separate. This study investigates the prevalence and severity of fatigue and identifies the demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors associated with cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy in an urban area.

Methods
Women with stage I-IIIA breast cancer were recruited and asked to participate (n = 371) in the study. The 315 women who responded to the questionnaire (84.9%), 54 (17.1%) had completed endocrine therapy and 261 (82.9%) were still undergoing endocrine therapy. The patients had been diagnosed at an average of 31 months prior to recruitment (range, 7 to 60 months); the average age was 48 (range, 33 to 72) years. The 11-point scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were employed to quantify the level of fatigue experienced by the patients. Logistic regression analyses and a trend test method were performed to evaluate factors associated with CRF.

Results
Among the 315 patients, 189 (60%) had experienced or were experiencing CRF during endocrine therapy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with CRF, including BMI (body mass index), clinical stage, menopausal status, duration of endocrine therapy, physical activity, and diet. Factors unrelated to CRF were age, marital status, treatment, endocrine therapy drugs, alcohol intake, and smoking. The trend test method revealed an association between physical activity and dietary level and the intensity of CRF.

Conclusions
The present findings suggest that fatigue is an important problem in the majority of breast cancer patients during endocrine therapy. We found that BMI, clinical stage, menopausal status, duration of endocrine therapy, physical activity, and diet are associated with fatigue. Future research should focus on the impact factors of CRF and lifestyle in the management of breast cancer patients.
Stimulation of osteogenic differentiation in human osteoprogenitor cells by pulsed electromagnetic fields: an in vitro study
Authors: Jansen Justus HW , van der Jagt Olav P , Punt Bas J , Verhaar Jan AN , van Leeuwen Johannes PTM , Weinans Harrie , Jahr Holger 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
Although pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation may be clinically beneficial during fracture healing and for a wide range of bone disorders, there is still debate on its working mechanism. Mesenchymal stem cells are likely mediators facilitating the observed clinical effects of PEMF. Here, we performed in vitro experiments to investigate the effect of PEMF stimulation on human bone marrow-derived stromal cell (BMSC) metabolism and, specifically, whether PEMF can stimulate their osteogenic differentiation.

Methods
BMSCs derived from four different donors were cultured in osteogenic medium, with the PEMF treated group being continuously exposed to a 15 Hz, 1 Gauss EM field, consisting of 5-millisecond bursts with 5-microsecond pulses. On culture day 1, 5, 9, and 14, cells were collected for biochemical analysis (DNA amount, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition), expression of various osteoblast-relevant genes and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Differences between treated and control groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results
Biochemical analysis revealed significant, differentiation stage-dependent, PEMF-induced differences: PEMF increased mineralization at day 9 and 14, without altering alkaline phosphatase activity. Cell proliferation, as measured by DNA amounts, was not affected by PEMF until day 14. Here, DNA content stagnated in PEMF treated group, resulting in less DNA compared to control.
Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that during early culture, up to day 9, PEMF treatment increased mRNA levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2, transforming growth factor-beta 1, osteoprotegerin, matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3, osteocalcin, and bone sialoprotein. In contrast, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand expression was primarily stimulated on day 14. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was not affected by PEMF stimulation.

Conclusions
PEMF exposure of differentiating human BMSCs enhanced mineralization and seemed to induce differentiation at the expense of proliferation. The osteogenic stimulus of PEMF was confirmed by the up-regulation of several osteogenic marker genes in the PEMF treated group, which preceded the deposition of mineral itself. These findings indicate that PEMF can directly stimulate osteoprogenitor cells towards osteogenic differentiation. This supports the theory that PEMF treatment may recruit these cells to facilitate an osteogenic response in vivo.
Stabilizing mutations increase secretion of functional soluble TCR-Ig fusion proteins
Authors: Lunde Elin , Løset Geir Åge , Bogen Bjarne , Sandlie Inger 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackgroundWhereas T cell receptors (TCRs) detect peptide/major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) with exquisite specificity, there are challenges regarding their expression and use as soluble detection molecules due to molecular instability. We have investigated strategies for the production of TCR-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion proteins. Two different TCRs that are characteristic of a mouse model for idiotype (Id) dependent immune regulation were engineered. They are structurally unrelated with different variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) segments, but each share one V gene segment, either Vαor Vβ, with the well characterized murine TCR, 2C.ResultsSeveral TCR-Ig formats were assessed. In one, the TCR V domains were fused to Ig constant (C) regions. In others, the complete extracellular part of the TCR was fused either to a complete Ig or an Ig Fc region. All molecules were initially poorly secreted from eukaryotic cells, but replacement of unfavourable amino acids in the V regions improved secretion, as did the introduction of a disulfide bridge between the TCR C domains and the removal of an unpaired cysteine. A screening strategy for selection of mutations that stabilize the actual fusion molecules was developed and used successfully. Molecules that included the complete heterodimeric TCR, with a stabilizing disulfide bridge, were correctly folded as they bound TCR-specific antibodies (Abs) and detected pMHC on cells after specific peptide loading.ConclusionsWe show that fully functional TCR-Ig fusion proteins can be made in good yields following stabilizing engineering of TCR V and C region genes. This is important since TCR-Ig fusions will be important probes for the presence of specific pMHCsin vitroandin vivo. In the absence of further affinity maturation, the reagents will be very useful for the detection of kinetic stability of complexes of peptide and MHC.