bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
State Policy Innovativeness Revisited
Authors: Boehmke Frederick J. , Skinner Paul 
Published: May 2012

AbstractHow do the American states vary in their propensity for innovativeness, or their willingness to adopt new policies sooner or later relative to other states? Most studies today use event history analysis (EHA) to focus almost exclusively on one policy area at a time at the expense of a broader understanding of innovativeness as a characteristic of states. To return to the concept of innovativeness more broadly, our study revisits and updates the original approach taken by Walker by updating his average innovation scores with new data covering more than 180 different policies. We use these data to construct a new, dynamic measure of innovativeness that addresses biases and shortcomings in the original measure and we provide measures of uncertainty for both. These new scores build on the logic of EHA to address issues such as right-censoring and to facilitate measuring changes in innovativeness over time. We then compare the two measures of innovativeness and evaluate differences across states, spatial patterns, and changes in innovativeness over time.
Environmental Free Riding in State Water Pollution Enforcement
Authors: Konisky David M. , Woods Neal D. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractInterjurisdictional pollution spillovers are a critical issue in U.S. environmental policy. When policy responsibility is decentralized, state governmental agencies have incentives to promote these externalities in order to capture the benefits of economic activity within their borders while compelling neighbors to shoulder the resultant environmental costs. To test this free riding hypothesis, prior studies have relied on crude proxies to delineate a regulated entity's proximity to a neighboring state. In this article, we develop a more refined set of measures using newly available data on facility location to isolate the conditions under which free riding is theoretically more likely to occur. We then assess state enforcement of the federal Clean Water Act directed at major water polluters under these conditions to determine the extent to which U.S. states engage in environmental free riding behavior. Our empirical results are mixed, but in general they fail to support theoretical expectations generated by the free rider argument.
Comparison of the potency of a variety of β-glucans to induce cytokine production in human whole blood
Authors: Noss Ilka , Doekes Gert , Thorne Peter S , Heederik Dick JJ , Wouters Inge M 
Published: May 2012

β-Glucans are components of fungal cell walls and potent stimulants of innate immunity. The majority of research on biological activities of glucans has focused on β-(1→3)-glucans, which have been implicated in relation to fungal exposure-associated respiratory symptoms and as important stimulatory agents in anti-fungal immune responses. Fungi—and bacteria and plants—produce a wide variety of glucans with vast differences in the proportion and arrangement of their β-(1→3)-, -(1→4)- and -(1→6)-glycosidic linkages. Thus far, the pro-inflammatory potential of different β-glucans has not been studied within the same experimental model. Therefore, we compared the potency of 13 different glucan preparations to induce in vitro production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in human, whole blood cultures. The strongest inducers of all cytokines were pustulan [β-(1→6)-glucan], lichenan [β-(1→3)-(1→4)-glucan], xyloglucan [β-(1→4)-glucan] and pullulan [α-(1→4)-(1→6)-glucan]. Moderate-to-strong cytokine production was observed for curdlan [β-(1→3)-glucan], baker’s yeast glucan [β-(1→3)-(1→6)-glucan] and barley glucan [β-(1→3)-(1→4)-glucan], while all other glucan preparations induced very low, or no, detectable levels of cytokines. We therefore conclude that innate immunity reactions are not exclusively induced by β-(1→3)-glucans, but also by β-(1→6)- and β-(1→4)-structures. Thus, not only β-(1→3)-glucan, but also other β-glucans and particularly β-(1→6)-glucans should be considered in future research.
HES1 opposes a PTEN-dependent check on survival, differentiation, and proliferation of TCRβ-selected mouse thymocytes
Authors: Wong Gladys W. , Knowles Gisele C. , Mak Tak W. , Ferrando Adolfo A. , Zúñiga-Pflücker Juan Carlos 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The developmental progression of immature thymocytes requires cooperative input from several pathways, with Notch signals playing an indispensable role at the T-cell receptor (TCR)–β selection checkpoint. Notch signals affect the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, which is required for pTα/TCRβ (pre-TCR)–induced survival, differentiation, and proliferation of developing αβ-lineage thymocytes. However, the molecular players responsible for the interaction between the Notch and PI3K pathways at this critical developmental stage are unknown. Here, we show that Notch induction of Hes1 is necessary to repress the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor, PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog), which in turn facilitates pre-TCR–induced differentiation. In support of this mechanism, deletion or down-regulation of Pten overcomes the Notch signaling requirement for survival and differentiation during β-selection. In addition, c-Myc is a critical target of Notch at this stage, as c-Myc expression overcomes the Notch signaling requirement for proliferation during β-selection. Collectively, our results point to HES1, via repression of PTEN, and c-Myc as critical mediators of Notch function at the β-selection checkpoint.
How I treat prolymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Dearden Claire 
Published: May 2012

AbstractT- and B-cell subtypes of prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) are rare, aggressive lymphoid malignancies with characteristic morphologic, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular features. Recent studies have highlighted the role of specific oncogenes, such as TCL-1, MTCP-1, and ATM in the case of T-cell and TP53 mutations in the case of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. Despite the advances in the understanding of the biology of these conditions, the prognosis for these patients remains poor with short survival and no curative therapy. The advent of monoclonal antibodies has improved treatment options. Currently, the best treatment for T-PLL is intravenous alemtuzumab, which has resulted in very high response rates of more than 90% when given as first-line treatment and a significant improvement in survival. Consolidation of remissions with autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation further prolongs survival, and the latter may offer potential cure. In B-PLL, rituximab-based combination chemo-immunotherapy is effective in fitter patients. TP53 abnormalities are common and, as for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, these patients should be managed using an alemtuzumab-based therapy. The role of allogeneic transplant with nonmyeloablative conditioning needs to be explored further in both T- and B-cell PLL to broaden the patient eligibility for what may be a curative treatment.
CDP-diacylglycerol synthetase-controlled phosphoinositide availability limits VEGFA signaling and vascular morphogenesis
Authors: Pan Weijun , Pham Van N. , Stratman Amber N. , Castranova Daniel , Kamei Makoto , Kidd Kameha R. , Lo Brigid D. , Shaw Kenna M. , Torres-Vazquez Jesus , Mikelis Constantinos M. , Gutkind J. Silvio , Davis George E. , Weinstein Brant M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms that regulate angiogenesis and translating these into effective therapies are of enormous scientific and clinical interests. In this report, we demonstrate the central role of CDP-diacylglycerol synthetase (CDS) in the regulation of VEGFA signaling and angiogenesis. CDS activity maintains phosphoinositide 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP2) availability through resynthesis of phosphoinositides, whereas VEGFA, mainly through phospholipase Cγ1, consumes PIP2 for signal transduction. Loss of CDS2, 1 of 2 vertebrate CDS enzymes, results in vascular-specific defects in zebrafish in vivo and failure of VEGFA-induced angiogenesis in endothelial cells in vitro. Absence of CDS2 also results in reduced arterial differentiation and reduced angiogenic signaling. CDS2 deficit-caused phenotypes can be successfully rescued by artificial elevation of PIP2 levels, and excess PIP2 or increased CDS2 activity can promote excess angiogenesis. These results suggest that availability of CDS-controlled resynthesis of phosphoinositides is essential for angiogenesis.
On the growth of solutions of second order complex differential equation with meromorphic coefficients
Authors: Wu Pengcheng , Wu Shengjian , Zhu Jun 
Published: May 2012

AbstractWe consider the differential equationf''+Af'+Bf= 0 whereA(z) andB(z) ≢ 0 are mero-morphic functions. Assume thatA(z) belongs to the Edrei-Fuchs class andB(z) has a deficient value ∞, iff≢ 0 is a meromorphic solution of the equation, thenfmust have infinite order.Mathematical Subject Classification 2000:34M10; 30D35.
Learning Sparse Representations for Fruit-Fly Gene Expression Pattern Image Annotation and Retrieval
Authors: Yuan Lei , Woodard Alexander , Ji Shuiwang , Jiang Yuan , Zhou Zhi-Hua , Kumar Sudhir , Ye Jieping 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackgroundFruit fly embryogenesis is one of the best understood animal development systems, and the spatiotemporal gene expression dynamics in this process are captured by digital images. Analysis of these high-throughput images will provide novel insights into the functions, interactions, and networks of animal genes governing development. To facilitate comparative analysis, web-based interfaces have been developed to conduct image retrieval based on body part keywords and images. Currently, the keyword annotation of spatiotemporal gene expression patterns is conducted manually. However, this manual practice does not scale with the continuously expanding collection of images. In addition, existing image retrieval systems based on the expression patterns may be made more accurate using keywords.ResultsIn this article, we adapt advanced data mining and computer vision techniques to address the key challenges in annotating and retrieving fruit fly gene expression pattern images. To boost the performance of image annotation and retrieval, we propose representations integrating spatial information and sparse features, overcoming the limitations of prior schemes.ConclusionsWe perform systematic experimental studies to evaluate the proposed schemes in comparison with current methods. Experimental results indicate that the integration of spatial information and sparse features lead to consistent performance improvement in image annotation, while for the task of retrieval, sparse features alone yields better results.
Development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers from a genome survey of Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra)
Authors: Jiao Yun , Jia Hui-min , Li Xiong-wei , Chai Ming-liang , Jia Hui-juan , Chen Zhe , Wang Guo-yun , Chai Chun-yan , van de Weg Eric , Gao Zhong-shan 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackgroundChinese bayberry (Myrica rubraSieb. and Zucc.) is a subtropical evergreen tree originating in China. It has been cultivated in southern China for several thousand years, and annual production has reached 1.1 million tons. The taste and high level of health promoting characters identified in the fruit in recent years has stimulated its extension in China and introduction to Australia. A limited number of co-dominant markers have been developed and applied in genetic diversity and identity studies. Here we report, for the first time, a survey of whole genome shotgun data to develop a large number of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to analyse the genetic diversity of the common cultivated Chinese bayberry and the relationship with three otherMyricaspecies.ResultsThe whole genome shotgun survey of Chinese bayberry produced 9.01Gb of sequence data, about 26x coverage of the estimated genome size of 323 Mb. The genome sequences were highly heterozygous, but with little duplication. From the initial assembled scaffold covering 255 Mb sequence data, 28,602 SSRs (≥5 repeats) were identified. Dinucleotide was the most common repeat motif with a frequency of 84.73%, followed by 13.78% trinucleotide, 1.34% tetranucleotide, 0.12% pentanucleotide and 0.04% hexanucleotide. From 600 primer pairs, 186 polymorphic SSRs were developed. Of these, 158 were used to screen 29 Chinese bayberry accessions and three otherMyricaspecies: 91.14%, 89.87% and 46.84% SSRs could be used inMyrica adenophora,Myrica nanaandMyrica cerifera,respectively. The UPGMA dendrogram tree showed that cultivatedMyrica rubrais closely related toMyrica adenophoraandMyrica nana, originating in southwest China, and very distantly related toMyrica cerifera, originating in America. These markers can be used in the construction of a linkage map and for genetic diversity studies inMyricaspecies.ConclusionMyrica rubrahas a small genome of about 323 Mb with a high level of heterozygosity. A large number of SSRs were identified, and 158 polymorphic SSR markers developed, 91% of which can be transferred to otherMyricaspecies.
Plasticity of DNA methylation in mouse T cell activation and differentiation
Authors: Li Yan , Chen Guobing , Ma Lina , Ohms Stephen J , Sun Chao , Shannon M Frances , Fan Jun Y 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Background
Circulating CD4+ T helper cells are activated through interactions with antigen presenting cells and undergo differentiation into specific T helper cell subsets depending on the type of antigen encountered. In addition, the relative composition of the circulating CD4+ T cell population changes as animals mature with an increased percentage of the population being memory/effector type cells.

Results
Here, we report on the highly plastic nature of DNA methylation at the genome-wide level as T cells undergo activation, differentiation and aging. Of particular note were the findings that DNA demethylation occurred rapidly following T cell activation and that all differentiated T cell populations displayed lower levels of global methylation than the non-differentiated population. In addition, T cells from older mice had a reduced level of DNA methylation, most likely explained by the increase in the memory/effector cell fraction. Although significant genome-wide changes were observed, changes in DNA methylation at individual genes were restricted to specific cell types. Changes in the expression of enzymes involved in DNA methylation and demethylation reflect in most cases the changes observed in the genome-wide DNA methylation status.

Conclusion
We have demonstrated that DNA methylation is dynamic and flexible in CD4+ T cells and changes rapidly both in a genome-wide and in a targeted manner during T cell activation, differentiation. These changes are accompanied by parallel changes in the enzymatic complexes that have been implicated in DNA methylation and demethylation implying that the balance between these opposing activities may play a role in the maintaining the methylation profile of a given cell type but also allow flexibility in a cell population that needs to respond rapidly to environmental signals.
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS): is there a difference based on onset of symptoms - pediatric versus adult?
Authors: Kumar Nilay , Bashar Qumseya , Reddy Naveen , Sengupta Jyotirmoy , Ananthakrishnan Ashwin , Schroeder Abigail , Hogan Walter J , Venkatesan Thangam 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Background
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is a well-recognized functional gastrointestinal disorder in children but its presentation is poorly understood in adults. Genetic differences in pediatric-onset (presentation before age 18) and adult-onset CVS have been reported recently but their clinical features and possible differences in response to therapy have not been well studied.

Methods
This was a retrospective review of 101 CVS patients seen at the Medical College of Wisconsin between 2006 and 2008. Rome III criteria were utilized to make the diagnosis of CVS.

Results
Our study population comprised of 29(29%) pediatric-onset and 72 (71%) adult-onset CVS patients. Pediatric-onset CVS patients were more likely to be female (86% vs. 57%, p = 0.005) and had a higher prevalence of CVS plus (CVS + neurocognitive disorders) as compared to adult-onset CVS patients (14% vs. 3%, p = 0.05). There was a longer delay in diagnosis (10 ± 7 years) in the pediatric-onset group when compared to (5 ± 7 years) adult-onset CVS group (p = 0.001). Chronic opiate use was less frequent in the pediatric-onset group compared to adult-onset patients (0% vs. 23%, p = 0.004). Aside from these differences, the two groups were similar with regards to their clinical features and the time of onset of symptoms did not predict response to standard treatment. The majority of patients (86%) responded to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants (topiramate), coenzyme Q-10, and L-carnitine. Non-response to therapy was associated with coalescence of symptoms, chronic opiate use and more severe disease as characterized by longer episodes, greater number of emergency department visits in the year prior to presentation, presence of disability and non-compliance on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, only compliance to therapy was associated with a response. (88% vs. 38%, Odds Ratio, OR 9.6; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.18-77.05).

Conclusion
Despite reported genetic differences, the clinical features and response to standard therapy in pediatric- and adult-onset CVS were mostly similar. Most patients (86%) responded to therapy and compliance was the only factor associated with a response.
Risk of inflammatory bowel disease following a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Porter Chad K , Cash Brooks D , Pimentel Mark , Akinseye Akintunde , Riddle Mark S 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Background
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms often overlap. In some IBS cases there are subtle inflammatory changes similar to the immune-mediated pathophysiology of IBD, and the risk of both increases after infectious gastroenteritis (IGE).

Methods
To evaluate the effect of IBS and IGE on IBD risk utilizing US Department of Defense medical encounter data, active duty personnel with IBS were matched to subjects without IBS. Medical encounter history was analyzed to assess for incident IBD. IGE was identified from documented medical encounters and by self-report. Relative risks were calculated using Poisson regression models.

Results
We identified 9,341 incident IBS cases and 18,678 matched non-IBS subjects and found an 8.6-fold higher incidence (p < 0.0001) of IBD among those with IBS (238.1 per 100,000 person-years) compared to our referent population (27.8 per 100,000 person-years). In a subset (n = 2,205) of well-defined IBS cases, IBD risk was 15 times that of subjects without IBS. The median time between IBS and IBD diagnoses was 2.1 years. IGE also increased IBD risk approximately 2-fold ( p < 0.05) after controlling for IBS.

Conclusions
These data reflect a complex interaction between illness presentation and diagnosis of IBS and IBD and suggest intercurrent IGE may increase IBD risk in IBS patients. Additional studies are needed to determine whether IBS lies on the causal pathway for IBD or whether the two are on a pathophysiological spectrum of the same clinical illness. These data suggest consideration of risk reduction interventions for IGE among IBS patients at high disease risk.
Methylseleninic acid restricts tumor growth in nude mice model of metastatic breast cancer probably via inhibiting angiopoietin-2
Authors: Wu Xiaojing , Zhang Yidi , Pei Zengyang , Chen Si , Yang Xu , Chen Yin , Lin Degui , Ma Runlin Z 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Background
Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) plays critical roles in vascular morphogenesis and its upregulation is frequently associated with various tumors. Previous studies showed that certain selenium compounds possess anti-tumor effects. However, the underlining mechanism has not been elucidated in detail. Plus, results of research on the anti-tumor effects of selenium compounds remain controversial.

Methods
We investigated levels of Ang-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the estrogen-independent bone metastatic mammary cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells in response to treatment by methylseleninic acid (MSeA), and further examined the effects of MSeA oral administration on xenograft mammary tumors of athymic nude mice by RT-PCR, Western, radioimmuno assay, and Immunohistochemistry.

Results
Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with MSeA caused significant reduction of Ang-2 mRNA transcripts and secretion of Ang-2 proteins by the cells. Level of VEGF protein was accordingly decreased following the treatment. Compared with the controls, oral administration of MSeA (3 mg/kg/day for 18 days) to the nude mice carrying MDA-MB-231 induced tumors resulted in significant reduction in xenograft tumor volume and weights, significant decrease in microvascular density, and promotion of vascular normalization by increasing pericytes coverage. As expected, level of VEGF was also decreased in MSeA treated tumors.

Conclusions
Our results point out that MSeA exerts its anti-tumor effects, at least in part, by inhibiting the Ang-2/Tie2 pathway, probably via inhibiting VEGF.
The association between the preoperative serum levels of lipocalin-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and prognosis of breast cancer
Authors: Sung Hyuna , Choi Ji-Yeob , Lee Sang-Ah , Lee Kyoung-Mu , Han Sohee , Jeon Sujee , Song Minkyo , Lee Yunhee , Park Sue K , Yoo Keun-Young , Noh Dong-Young , Ahn Sei-Hyun , Kang Daehee 
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Background
Although a number of experimental studies have suggested the role of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in breast cancer progression, limited numbers of epidemiological studies have examined the relationship between the levels of lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 and breast cancer survival.

Methods
Preoperative serum levels of lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 were measured in 303 breast cancer patients and 74 healthy controls recruited between 2004 and 2007. We examined the association between lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 levels and disease-free survival (DFS) using Cox proportional hazard regression model.

Results
The serum levels of lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 were not significantly different between patients and controls (P > 0.05). Elevated lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 levels were associated with reduced DFS of breast cancer ( P
trend = 0.029 and P
trend = 0.063, respectively). When lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 levels were categorized based on the combined risk score, patients with higher levels of both lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 exhibited poor DFS compared to patients with lower levels (P
trend = 0.004). Furthermore, these effects were profound in patients with BMI less than 25 kg/m2 (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 3.17; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.66-6.06, P
trend < 0.001) or lymph-node negative breast cancer (aHR, 5.36; 95% CI, 2.18-13.2, P
trend < 0.001).

Conclusions
Our study suggests that the elevated levels of lipocalin-2 and MMP-9 are associated with reduced breast cancer survival, particularly in patients with lower BMI and lymph-node negative breast cancers.