bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular Clouds in Nearby Galaxies
Authors: Fukui Yasuo , Kawamura Akiko 
Published: August 2010

We present a review of spatially resolved giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in nearby galaxies, aiming at providing a template of GMC properties, which may be extrapolated to distant galaxies. We focus on the Magellanic system including the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC, SMC), M33, and a few dwarfs as observed in the J = 1–012CO transition at 2.6-mm wavelength. The X factor, a conversion factor of the12CO intensity to total molecular column density, and the GMC mass distribution, dN/dM, are similar among these galaxies, suggesting that GMCs share similar properties in the Local Group. The GMCs are classified into three types according to their level of star-formation activity and the types are interpreted in terms of evolution in 20–30 Myr rather than as three different generic types. A three-dimensional comparison including the velocity axis has revealed that GMCs in the LMC are associated with Hi envelopes. The Hi envelopes are probably gravitationally bound and may be infalling to increase the GMC mass via Hi-H2conversion. Recent submillimeter observations are revealing dense and warm clumps in GMCs, suggesting that the interior of a GMC also follows contraction leading to star formation on a similar timescale. Finally, we present an attempt to place these GMC properties among more distant galaxies and discuss future observational prospects.
Actinomycin D Decreases Mcl-1 Expression and Acts Synergistically with ABT-737 against Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Xu Haishan , Krystal Geoffrey W. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
Purpose: ABT-737, which blocks the function of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL but not Mcl-1, has shown single-agent activity in preclinical models of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Elevated expression of Mcl-1 induces resistance to ABT-737 in SCLC. Based on the short half-life of Mcl-1 mRNA and protein, we hypothesized that the actinomycin D could reverse Mcl-1–induced resistance to ABT-737.
Experimental Design: The dose-response of multiple SCLC cell lines to actinomycin D in the absence and presence of ABT-737 was followed by the assessment of Bcl-2 family expression and poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage by Western blot, viability by tetrazolium dye reduction and clonogenic assay, and cell cycle kinetics by flow cytometry.
Results: Actinomycin D decreased Mcl-1 expression and resulted in a cell line–dependent increase in Noxa expression. Clinically relevant concentrations of actinomycin D from 0.4 to 4 ng/mL showed single-agent activity across a panel of SCLC cell lines. When combined with low micromolar doses of ABT-737, near complete loss of viability was seen with synergistic combination indices of 0.5 to 0.7. Exposure to 4 ng/mL actinomycin was only required for the first 24 hours of the combined incubation, mimicking a clinically achievable area under the curve, but the presence of ABT-737 was required for an additional 48 hours to obtain maximal effect.
Conclusions: Clinically relevant concentrations of actinomycin D act synergistically with ABT-737 to induce SCLC apoptosis, which can be at least partially attributed to the actinomycin D–induced decrease in Mcl-1 and increase in Noxa expression. Taken together, these data suggest the feasibility of combining actinomycin D with BH3-mimetic drugs in the clinical setting. Clin Cancer Res; 16(17); 4392–400. ©2010 AACR.
The Relationship between Flux Coefficient and Entrainment Ratio in Density Currents
Authors: Wells Mathew , Cenedese Claudia , Caulfield C. P. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
The authors explore the theoretical and empirical relationship between the nonlocal quantities of the entrainment ratio E, the appropriately depth- and time-averaged flux coefficient Γ, and the bulk Froude number Fro in density currents. The main theoretical result is that E = 0.125 Γ Fro2(CU3/CL)/cosθ, where θ is the angle of the slope over which the density current flows, CL is the ratio the turbulent length scale to the depth of the density current, and CU is the ratio of the turbulent velocity scale to the mean velocity of the density current. In the case of high bulk Froude numbers Γ ∼ Fro−2 and (CU3/CL) = Cε ∼ 1, so E ∼ 0.1, consistent with observations of a constant entrainment ratio in unstratified jets and weakly stratified plumes. For bulk Froude numbers close to one, Γ is constant and has a value in the range of 0.1–0.3, which means that E ∼ Fro2, again in agreement with observations and previous experiments. For bulk Froude numbers less than one, Γ decreases rapidly with bulk Froude number, explaining the sudden decrease in entrainment ratios that has been observed in all field and experimental observations.
Interannual-to-Decadal Variability in the Bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current off the Philippines
Authors: Qiu Bo , Chen Shuiming 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
Satellite altimeter sea surface height (SSH) data from the past 17 yr are used to investigate the interannual-to-decadal changes in the bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current (NEC) along the Philippine coast. The NEC bifurcation latitude migrated quasi decadally between 10° and 15°N with northerly bifurcations observed in late 1992, 1997–98, and 2003–04 and southerly bifurcations in 1999–2000 and 2008–09. The observed NEC bifurcation latitude can be approximated well by the SSH anomalies in the 12°–14°N and 127°–130°E box east of the mean NEC bifurcation point. Using a 1 ½-layer reduced-gravity model forced by the ECMWF reanalysis wind stress data, the authors find that the SSH anomalies in this box can be simulated favorably to serve as a proxy for the observed NEC bifurcation. With the availability of the long-term reanalysis wind stress data, this helps to lengthen the NEC bifurcation time series back to 1962. Although quasi-decadal variability was prominent in the last two decades, the NEC bifurcation was dominated by changes with a 3–5-yr period during the 1980s and had low variance prior to the 1970s. These interdecadal modulations in the characteristics of the NEC bifurcation reflect similar interdecadal modulations in the wind forcing field over the western tropical North Pacific Ocean. Although the NEC bifurcation on interannual and longer time scales is generally related to the Niño-3.4 index with a positive (negative) index corresponding to a northerly (southerly) bifurcation, the exact location of bifurcation is determined by wind forcing in the 12°–14°N band that contains variability not fully representable by the Niño-3.4 index.
An Evaluation of Precipitation Forecasts from Operational Models and Reanalyses Including Precipitation Variations Associated with MJO Activity
Authors: Janowiak John E. , Bauer Peter , Wang Wanqiu , Arkin Phillip A. , Gottschalck Jon 
Published: August 2010

AbstractIn this paper, the results of an examination of precipitation forecasts for 1–30-day leads from global models run at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) during November 2007–February 2008 are presented. The performance of the model precipitation forecasts are examined in global and regional contexts, and results of a case study of precipitation variations that are associated with a moderate to strong Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) event are presented.The precipitation forecasts from the ECMWF and NCEP operational prediction models have nearly identical temporal correlation with observed precipitation at forecast leads from 2 to 9 days over the Northern Hemisphere during the cool season, despite the higher resolution of the ECMWF operational model, while the ECMWF operational model forecasts are slightly better in the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere during the warm season. The ECMWF Re-Analysis Interim (ERA-Interim) precipitation forecasts perform only slightly worse than the NCEP operational model, while NCEP’s Climate Forecast System low-resolution coupled model forecasts perform the worst among the four models. In terms of bias, the ECMWF operational model performs the best among the four model forecasts that were examined, particularly with respect to the ITCZ regions in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Local temporal correlations that were computed on daily precipitation totals for day-2 forecasts against observations indicate that the operational models at ECMWF and NCEP perform the best during the 4-month study period, and that all of the models have low to insignificant correlations over land and over much of the tropics. They perform the best in subtropical and extratropical oceanic regions.Also presented are results that show that striking improvements have been made over the past two decades in the ability of the models to represent precipitation variations that are associated with MJO. The model precipitation forecasts exhibit the ability to characterize the evolution of precipitation variations during a moderate–strong period of MJO conditions for forecast leads as long as 10 days.
Characteristics of Sonoran Desert Microbursts
Authors: Willingham Katherine M. , Thompson Elizabeth J. , Howard Kenneth W. , Dempsey Charles L. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
During the 2008 North American monsoon season, 140 microburst events were identified in Phoenix, Arizona, and the surrounding Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran microbursts were studied and examined for their frequency and characteristics, as observed from data collected from three Doppler radars and electrical power infrastructure damage reports. Sonoran microburst events were wet microbursts and occurred most frequently in the evening hours (1900–2100 local time). Stronger maximum differential velocities (20–25 m s−1) were observed more frequently in Sonoran microbursts than in many previously documented microbursts. Alignment of Doppler radar data to reports of wind-related damage to electrical power infrastructure in Phoenix allowed a comparison of microburst wind damage versus gust-front wind damage. For these damage reports, microburst winds caused more significant damage than gust-front winds.
Advances in the 5q− syndrome
Authors: Boultwood Jacqueline , Pellagatti Andrea , McKenzie Andrew N. J. , Wainscoat James S. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe 5q− syndrome is the most distinct of all the myelodysplastic syndromes with a clear genotype/phenotype relationship. The significant progress made during recent years has been based on the determination of the commonly deleted region and the demonstration of haploinsufficiency for the ribosomal gene RPS14. The functional screening of all the genes in the commonly deleted region determined that RPS14 haploinsufficiency is the probable cause of the erythroid defect in the 5q− syndrome. A mouse model of the human 5q− syndrome has now been created by chromosomal engineering involving a large-scale deletion of the Cd74-Nid67 interval (containing RPS14). A variety of lines of evidence support the model of ribosomal deficiency causing p53 activation and defective erythropoiesis, including most notably the crossing of the “5q− mice” with p53-deficient mice, thereby ameliorating the erythroid progenitor defect. Emerging evidence supports the notion that the p53 activation observed in the mouse model may also apply to the human 5q− syndrome. Other mouse modeling data suggest that haploinsufficiency of the microRNA genes miR-145 and miR-146a may contribute to the thrombocytosis seen in the 5q− syndrome. Lenalidomide has become an established therapy for the 5q− syndrome, although its precise mode of action remains uncertain.
Pretransplantation functional imaging predicts outcome following autologous stem cell transplantation for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Moskowitz Alison J. , Yahalom Joachim , Kewalramani Tarun , Maragulia Jocelyn C. , Vanak Jill M. , Zelenetz Andrew D. , Moskowitz Craig H. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
To identify prognostic factors for patients transplanted for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma we carried out a combined analysis of patients followed prospectively on 3 consecutive protocols at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. One hundred fifty-three patients with chemosensitive disease after ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide)–based salvage therapy (ST) proceeded to high-dose chemoradiotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Patients were evaluated with computed tomography and functional imaging (gallium or fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography) prior to ST and again before ASCT. Functional imaging status before ASCT was the only factor significant for event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival by multivariate analysis and clearly identifies poor risk patients (5-year EFS 31% and 75% for FI-positive and negative patients respectively). Administration of involved-field radiotherapy with ASCT was marginally significant for EFS (P = .055). Studies evaluating novel STs, conditioning regimens, post-ASCT maintenance, or allogeneic stem cell transplantation are warranted for patients who fail to normalize pre-ASCT functional imaging.
Taurine's health influence on Japanese high school girls
Authors: Ishikawa Megumi , Arai Shiho , Takano Mio , Hamada Atsumi , Kunimasa Kazuhiro , Mori Mari 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents has been increasing at an alarming rate. MS risks during childhood and adolescence adversely affect health conditions in later life. Thus, the characterization of their MS risks is a critical research field. The aims of this study are to survey the health status of Japanese adolescent females, a poorly characterized population, and to investigate the potential relationship between their MS risks and dietary factors like potassium (K) and taurine.

Methods
Anthropometric characteristics of 243 healthy school girls aged 13 to 18 years were measured. Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and plasma levels of glucose and insulin were analyzed in fasting blood samples. We assessed overweight, disturbed lipid prolife, higher blood pressure (hBP) and higher plasma glucose (hGlc) levels as indicators of MS risks. The relationships between MS risks and urinary K or taurine excretion were investigated by dividing into higher and lower groups at medians of their urinary excretions.

Results
Half of junior high school (JHS) and one-quarter of senior high school (SHS) girls had at least one MS risk. The quite common risk was hGlc, the rates being 21% in JHS girls and 14% in SHS. The prevalence of being overweight and obesity were only small portions, the rate being 0% and 0% in JHS girls, and 10% and 1% in SHS, respectively. Substantial differences in the prevalence of hBP were observed between JHS (22%) and SHS (4%) girls. Furthermore, higher urinary K excretion group showed a significant decrease in triglyceride level (P = 0.03) and increase in HDL level (P = 0.003) compared with the lower. Also, the higher urinary taurine excretion group exhibited a significant reduction in triglyceride level (P = 0.04) compared with the lower.

Conclusions
These results indicate that control of plasma glucose level rather than body weight is a crucial task in Japanese pubertal girls, and that a dietary habit rich in K and taurine could improve their lipid profile. Nutritional education based on these findings would help to prevent the future development of MS in Japanese female adolescents.
Locally adapted fish populations maintain small-scale genetic differentiation despite perturbation by a catastrophic flood event
Authors: Plath Martin , Hermann Bernd , Schröder Christiane , Riesch Rüdiger , Tobler Michael , García de León Francisco J , Schlupp Ingo , Tiedemann Ralph 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackgroundLocal adaptation to divergent environmental conditions can promote population genetic differentiation even in the absence of geographic barriers and hence, lead to speciation. Perturbations by catastrophic events, however, can distort such parapatric ecological speciation processes. Here, we asked whether an exceptionally strong flood led to homogenization of gene pools among locally adapted populations of the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae) in the Cueva del Azufre system in southern Mexico, where two strong environmental selection factors (darkness within caves and/or presence of toxic H2S in sulfidic springs) drive the diversification ofP. mexicana. Nine nuclear microsatellites as well as heritable female life history traits (both as a proxy for quantitative genetics and for trait divergence) were used as markers to compare genetic differentiation, genetic diversity, and especially population mixing (immigration and emigration) before and after the flood.ResultsHabitat type (i.e., non-sulfidic surface, sulfidic surface, or sulfidic cave), but not geographic distance was the major predictor of genetic differentiation. Before and after the flood, each habitat type harbored a genetically distinct population. Only a weak signal of individual dislocation among ecologically divergent habitat types was uncovered (with the exception of slightly increased dislocation from the Cueva del Azufre into the sulfidic creek, El Azufre). By contrast, several lines of evidence are indicative of increased flood-induced dislocation within the same habitat type, e.g., between different cave chambers of the Cueva del Azufre.ConclusionsThe virtual absence of individual dislocation among ecologically different habitat types indicates strong natural selection against migrants. Thus, our current study exemplifies that ecological speciation in this and other systems, in which extreme environmental factors drive speciation, may be little affected by temporary perturbations, as adaptations to physico-chemical stressors may directly affect the survival probability in divergent habitat types.
Association of genetic polymorphisms in the interleukin-10 promoter with risk of prostate cancer in Chinese
Authors: Liu Jie , Song Bao , Bai Xueli , Liu Wenjian , Li Zengjun , Wang Jialin , Zheng Yan , Wang Zhehai 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
Recent studies identified an increased risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in Caucasian men harboring polymorphisms of genes involved in innate immunity and inflammation. This study was designed to assess whether single nucleotide polymorphisms in the IL-10 promoter play a role in predisposing individuals to PCa in a Chinese population.

Methods
We genotyped three SNPs of the IL-10 promoter (-1082A/G, -819T/C and -592A/C) using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 262 subjects with PCa and 270 age-matched healthy controls. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were determined by logistic regression for the associations between IL-10 genotypes and haplotypes with the risk of PCa and advanced PCa grade.

Results
No significant differences in allele frequency or genotype distribution were observed for any of the IL-10 SNPs between PCa patients and control subjects. Significantly higher frequencies of -1082G, -819C and -592C allele and GCC haplotype were observed, however, in early stage patients in comparison to advanced PCa patients (for -1082 G, 13.9% vs 6.1%, OR = 2.48, P = 0.005; for -819 C 40.3% vs 30.8%, OR = 1.51, P = 0.043; for -512C, 40.3% vs 30.8%, OR = 1.51, P = 0.043; and for haplotype GCC 11.1%vs 5.1%, OR = 2.66, P = 0.008, respectively).

Conclusions
Our results identify that IL-10 promoter polymorphisms might not be a risk factor for PCa in Chinese cohorts, but rather incidence of polymorphisms associates with PCa grade, suggesting that IL-10 expression may impact PCa progression.
Molecular alterations in key-regulator genes among patients with T4 breast carcinoma
Authors: Massidda Bruno , Sini MariaCristina , Budroni Mario , Atzori Francesco , Deidda MariaCristina , Pusceddu Valeria , Perra MariaTeresa , Sirigu Paola , Cossu Antonio , Palomba Grazia , Ionta MariaTeresa , Palmieri Giuseppe 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackgroundPrognostic factors in patients who are diagnosed with T4 breast carcinomas are widely awaited. We here evaluated the clinical role of some molecular alterations involved in tumorigenesis in a well-characterized cohort of T4 breast cancer patients with a long follow-up period.MethodsA consecutive series of 53 patients with T4 breast carcinoma was enrolled between 1992 and 2001 in Sardinia, and observed up for a median of 125 months. Archival paraffin-embedded tissue sections were used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) analyses, in order to assess alterations in expression levels of survivin, p53, and pERK1-2proteins as well as in amplification ofCyclinD1andh-prunegenes. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods were used for survival assessment and statistical analysis.ResultsOverall, patients carrying increased expression of pERK1-2(p = 0.027) and survivin (p = 0.008) proteins as well as amplification ofh-prunegene (p = 0.045) presented a statistically-significant poorer overall survival in comparison with cases found negative for such alterations. After multivariate analysis, the pathological response to primary chemotherapy and the survivin overexpression in primary carcinoma represented the main parameters with a role as independent prognostic factors in our series.ConclusionsAlthough retrospective, our study identified some molecular parameters with a significant impact on prediction of the response to therapy or prognosis among T4 breast cancer patients. Further large prospective studies are needed in order to validate the use of such markers for the management of these patients.
Effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on the immunological properties of microglia
Authors: Ferger Annette I , Campanelli Loretta , Reimer Valentina , Muth Katharina N , Merdian Irma , Ludolph Albert C , Witting Anke 
Published: August 2010

Abstract

Background
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by both mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of microglia, the macrophages of the brain. Here, we investigate the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on the activation profile of microglial cells.

Methods
We incubated primary mouse microglia with the mitochondrial toxins 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) or rotenone. These mitochondrial toxins are known to induce neurodegeneration in humans and in experimental animals. We characterized lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced microglial activation and the alternative, interleukin-4- (IL-4-) induced microglial activation in these mitochondrial toxin-treated microglial cells.

Results
We found that, while mitochondrial toxins did not affect LPS-induced activation, as measured by release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), they did inhibit part of the IL-4-induced alternative activation, as measured by arginase activity and expression, induction of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and the counteraction of the LPS induced cytokine release.

Conclusions
Mitochondrial dysfunction in microglial cells inhibits part of the IL-4-induced alternative response. Because this alternative activation is considered to be associated with wound healing and an attenuation of inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction in microglial cells might contribute to the detrimental effects of neuroinflammation seen in neurodegenerative diseases.