bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lentiviral‐based BMP4 in vivo gene transfer strategy increases pull‐out tensile strength without an improvement in the osteointegration of the tendon graft in a rat model of biceps tenodesis
Authors: Coen Michael J. , Chen Shin‐Tai , Rundle Charles H. , Wergedal Jon E. , Lau Kin‐Hing William 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe present study aimed to develop a rat model of biceps tenodesis and to assess the feasibility of a lentiviral (LV)‐based bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 in vivo gene transfer strategy for healing of biceps tenodesis.MethodsA rat model of biceps tenodesis was developed with an interference‐fit open surgical technique. A LV vector expressing a BMP4 gene or β‐galactosidase (β‐gal) control gene was applied to the bone tunnel and the tendon graft before its insertion into the bone tunnel. Osteointegration was assessed by histology and pull‐out tensile strength was measured by a biomechanical test suitable for small rat biceps tendon grafts.ResultsNeo‐chondrogenesis was seen at the tendon–bone interface of LV‐BMP4‐treated but not control rats. The LV‐BMP4‐treated rats showed 32% (p < 0.05) more newly‐formed trabecular bone at the tendon–bone junction than the LV‐β‐gal‐treated controls after 3 weeks. However, the sites of neo‐chondrogenesis and new bone formation in the LV‐BMP4‐treated tenodesis were highly spotty. Although the LV‐BMP4 strategy did not promote bony integration of the tendon graft, it yielded a 29.5 ± 11.8% (p = 0.066) increase in improvement the pull‐out strength of rat biceps tendons compared to the LV‐β‐gal treatment after 5 weeks.ConclusionsAlthough the LV‐BMP4 in vivo gene transfer strategy did not enhance osteointegration of the tendon graft, it yielded a marked improvement in the return of the pull‐out strength of the tendon graft. This presumably was largely a result of the bone formation effect of BMP4 that traps or anchors the tendon graft onto the bony tunnel. Published 2011. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Investigations of the origin of phase differences seen with ultrashort TE imaging of short T2 meniscal tissue
Authors: Carl Michael , Chiang Jing‐Tzyh Alan 
Published: September 2011

AbstractUltrashort echo time MRI requires specialized pulse sequences with nominal echo times as low as a few microseconds to detect signals from the short T2 tissues frequently encountered in the musculoskeletal system. Usually, magnitude images are reconstructed and these often show low tissue contrast. Ultrashort echo time phase images of the meniscus show surprisingly high contrast despite their very short echo time. In this article, we investigated the source of this contrast using the Bloch equations, simulations, phantom experiments, and tissue studies. Phase evolution was shown to occur in ultrashort echo time sequences during the finite radiofrequency pulse and readout periods, and previously unrecognized susceptibility differences between fiber groups were observed in the meniscus. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The function of electoral communication in a developing democracy: the case of South Africa
Authors: Fourie Lynnette , du Plessis Neeltje 
Published: September 2011

This article investigates the unique challenges facing political parties in terms of their communicative responsibilities in a developing democracy as demonstrated by the electoral communication of political parties in the national elections in South Africa over the past 14 years. Election posters, radio and television advertising messages were analysed and discussed in the light of the informational and interpretational functions of political parties. Messages were analysed in terms of the use of emotional and cognitive message structures, the use of negative messages in comparing party policies on specific issues, as well as the portrayal of leaders. Messages were also analysed to determine whether they had contributed to the advancement of the political debate in a developing democracy.The conclusion that the communicative responsibilities of political parties imply that they ideally should assist voters in reaching informed decisions, stimulate public debate on politically sensitive issues without harming democracy and encourage citizens to exercise their democratic responsibility to participate in the democratic process was reached. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Refractory pediatric nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma associated with ectopic production of beta hCG and hypercalcemia induced by PTHrP
Authors: Inoue Nami , Watanabe Hiroyoshi , Takehara Hiroo , Hamazaki Minoru , Kagami Shoji 
Published: September 2011

AbstractA 3‐month‐old male with a mass on the right side of his back was admitted to our hospital. The tumor was a pathologically high‐grade nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS). Treatment included subtotal tumor resection followed by chemotherapy. Elevation of serum beta hCG and hypercalcemia with detection of PTHrP was associated with tumor progression. The tumor was refractory to multiagent chemotherapy, and the patient died of the disease at 22 months of age. This case is novel in demonstrating a beta hCG secreting refractory NRSTS. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 1244–1246. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Homogeneous magnesium isotopic composition of seawater: an excellent geostandard for Mg isotope analysis
Authors: Ling Ming‐Xing , Sedaghatpour Fatemeh , Teng Fang‐Zhen , Hays Phillip D. , Strauss Josiah , Sun Weidong 
Published: September 2011

The magnesium (Mg) isotopic compositions of 40 seawater samples from the Gulf of Mexico and of one seawater sample from the southwest Hawaii area were determined by multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC‐ICP‐MS) to investigate the homogeneity of Mg isotopes in seawater. The results indicate that the Mg isotopic composition of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico is homogeneous, both vertically and horizontally, with average values for δ26Mg = −0.832 ± 0.068 and δ25Mg = −0.432 ± 0.053 (n = 40, 2SD) – identical to those of seawater from Hawaii (average δ26Mg = −0.829 ± 0.037 and δ25Mg = −0.427 ± 0.033) and to the average literature values of seawater worldwide (δ26Mg = −0.83 ± 0.11 and δ25Mg = −0.43 ± 0.06, n = 49, 2SD). Collectively, global seawater has a homogeneous Mg isotopic composition with δ26Mg = −0.83 ± 0.09 and δ25Mg = −0.43 ± 0.06 (2SD, n = 90).The magnesium isotopic composition of seawater is principally controlled by river water input, carbonate precipitation and oceanic hydrothermal interactions. The homogeneous Mg isotopic composition of seawater indicates a steady‐state budget in terms of Mg isotopes in oceans, consistent with a long Mg residence time (~13 Ma). Considering that seawater is homogeneous, readily available in large amounts, can be easily accessed and processed for isotopic analysis, and has an isotopic composition near the middle of the natural range of variation, it is an excellent geostandard for accuracy assessment to rule out analytical artifacts during high‐precision Mg isotopic analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DISCONNECTING THE FLOODPLAIN: EARTHWORKS AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL EFFECT ON A DRYLAND FLOODPLAIN IN THE MURRAY–DARLING BASIN, AUSTRALIA
Authors: Steinfeld C. M. M. , Kingsford R. T. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTGlobally, dams and water extractions are well‐recognised disruptors of flow regimes in floodplain wetlands, but little is known of the hydrological and ecological impacts of floodplain earthworks constructed for irrigation, flood mitigation and erosion control. We mapped the distribution of earthworks with high‐resolution SPOT (Système Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre) imagery in an internationally recognised Ramsar wetland, the Macquarie Marshes of the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. There were 339 km levees, 1648 km channels, 54 off‐river storages and 664 tanks (0.5–5 m high), detected within the 4793 km2 floodplain study area. Earthworks reduced localised flooding compared with undeveloped sites. The most pronounced disconnection of the original floodplain (73.0%) occurred where earthworks were most concentrated compared with areas with few earthworks (53.2%). We investigated relationships between hydrological connectivity and mortality of the perennial flood‐dependent river red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis at 55 floodplain sites (225 × 150 m). Over half of the river red gums were dead at 21.8% of the sites. Earthworks blocked surface flows to flood‐dependent vegetation and drowned vegetation in artificially inundated off‐river storages. Mortality was due to impacts of earthworks and potentially exacerbated by effects of river regulation, water extraction and climate. River red gums were healthiest in narrow river corridors where earthworks confined flows and flows could recede freely. Rehabilitation of flood‐dependent ecosystems should focus on reinstating lateral connectivity and protecting environmental flows. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of adaptive random testing and random testing under various testing and debugging scenarios
Authors: Liu Huai , Kuo Fei‐Ching , Chen Tsong Yueh 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYAdaptive random testing is an enhancement of random testing. Previous studies on adaptive random testing assumed that once a failure is detected, testing is terminated and debugging is conducted immediately. It has been shown that adaptive random testing normally uses fewer test cases than random testing for detecting the first software failure. However, under many practical situations, testing should not be withheld after the detection of a failure. Thus, it is important to investigate the effectiveness with respect to the detection of multiple failures. In this paper, we compare adaptive random testing and random testing under various scenarios and examine whether adaptive random testing is still able to use fewer test cases than random testing to detect multiple software failures. Our study delivers some interesting results and highlights a number of promising research projects. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pretreatment with Interferon-γ Enhances the Therapeutic Activity of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Animal Models of Colitis
Authors: Duijvestein Marjolijn , Wildenberg Manon E. , Welling Mick M. , Hennink Simone , Molendijk Ilse , van Zuylen Vanessa L. , Bosse Tjalling , Vos Anne Christine W. , de Jonge-Muller Eveline S. M. , Roelofs Helene , van der Weerd Louise , Verspaget Hein W. , Fibbe Willem E. , te Velde Anje A. , van den Brink Gijs R. , Hommes Daniel W. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are currently under investigation for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, including Crohn's disease. MSCs are pluripotent cells with immunosuppressive properties. Recent data suggest that resting MSCs do not have significant immunomodulatory activity, but that the immunosuppressive function of MSCs has to be elicited by interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In this article, we assessed the effects of IFN-γ prestimulation of MSCs (IMSCs) on their immunosuppressive properties in vitro and in vivo. To this end, we pretreated MSCs with IFN-γ and assessed their therapeutic effects in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)- and trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice. We found that mice treated with IMSCs (but not MSCs) showed a significantly attenuated development of DSS-induced colitis. Furthermore, IMSCs alleviated symptoms of TNBS-induced colitis. IMSC-treated mice displayed an increase in body weight, lower colitis scores, and better survival rates compared with untreated mice. In addition, serum amyloid A protein levels and local proinflammatory cytokine levels in colonic tissues were significantly suppressed after administration of IMSC. We also observed that IMSCs showed greater migration potential than unstimulated MSCs to sites within the inflamed intestine. In conclusion, we show that prestimulation of MSCs with IFN-γ enhances their capacity to inhibit Th1 inflammatory responses, resulting in diminished mucosal damage in experimental colitis. These data demonstrate that IFN-γ activation of MSCs increases their immunosuppresive capacities and importantly, their therapeutic efficacy in vivo.
Distinct Developmental Ground States of Epiblast Stem Cell Lines Determine Different Pluripotency Features
Authors: Bernemann Christof , Greber Boris , Ko Kinarm , Sterneckert Jared , Han Dong Wook , Araúzo-Bravo Marcos J. , Schöler Hans R. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from mouse postimplantation embryos at embryonic day (E) 5.5–E7.5 at the onset of gastrulation, which makes them a valuable tool for studying mammalian postimplantation development in vitro. EpiSCs can also be reprogrammed into a mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC)-like state. Some reports have shown that the reversion of EpiSCs requires transcription factor overexpression, whereas others have suggested that use of stringent mESC culture conditions alone is sufficient for the reversion of EpiSCs. To clarify these discrepancies, we systematically compared a panel of independent EpiSC lines. We found that—regardless of the embryonic day of derivation—the different EpiSC lines shared a number of defining characteristics such as the ability to form teratomas. However, despite use of standard EpiSC culture conditions, some lines exhibited elevated expression of genes associated with mesendodermal differentiation. Pluripotency (Oct4) and mesodermal (Brachyury) marker genes were coexpressed in this subset of lines. Interestingly, the expression of mesendodermal marker genes was negatively correlated with the cells' ability to efficiently undergo neural induction. Moreover, these mesodermal marker gene-expressing cell lines could not be efficiently reverted to an mESC-like state by using stringent mESC culture conditions. Conversely, Brachyury overexpression diminished the reversion efficiency in otherwise Brachyury-negative lines. Overall, our data suggest that different EpiSC lines may undergo self-renewal into distinct developmental states, a finding with important implications for functional readouts such as reversion of EpiSCs to an mESC-like state as well as directed differentiation.
Novel Hematopoietic Progenitor Populations Revealed by Direct Assessment of GATA1 Protein Expression and cMPL Signaling Events
Authors: Heffner Garrett C. , Clutter Matthew R. , Nolan Garry P. , Weissman Irving L. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) must exhibit tight regulation of both self-renewal and differentiation to maintain homeostasis of the hematopoietic system as well as to avoid aberrations in growth that may result in leukemias or other disorders. In this study, we sought to understand the molecular basis of lineage determination, with particular focus on factors that influence megakaryocyte/erythrocyte-lineage commitment, in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. We used intracellular flow cytometry to identify two novel hematopoietic progenitor populations within the mouse bone-marrow cKit(+) Lineage (−) Sca1(+) (KLS) Flk2 (+) compartment that differ in their protein-level expression of GATA1, a critical megakaryocyte/erythrocyte-promoting transcription factor. GATA1-high repopulating cells exhibited the cell surface phenotype KLS Flk2(+ to int), CD150(int), CD105(+), cMPL(+), and were termed “FSE cells.” GATA1-low progenitors were identified as KLS Flk2(+), CD150(−), and cMPL(−), and were termed “Flk(+) CD150(−) cells.” FSE cells had increased megakaryocyte/platelet potential in culture and transplant settings and exhibited a higher clonal frequency of colony-forming unit–spleen activity compared with Flk(+) CD150(−) cells, suggesting functional consequences of GATA1 upregulation in promoting megakaryocyte and erythroid lineage priming. Activation of ERK and AKT signal-transduction cascades was observed by intracellular flow cytometry in long-term HSCs and FSE cells, but not in Flk(+) CD150(−) cells in response to stimulation with thrombopoietin, an important megakaryocyte-promoting cytokine. We provide a mechanistic rationale for megakaryocyte/erythroid bias within KLS Flk2(+) cells, and demonstrate how assessment of intracellular factors and signaling events can be used to refine our understanding of lineage commitment during early definitive hematopoiesis.
Predicting and presenting plausible future scenarios of wind power production from numerical weather prediction systems: a qualitative ex ante evaluation for decision making
Authors: Cutler Nicholas J. , Outhred Hugh R. , MacGill Iain F. , Kepert Jeffrey D. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper is concerned with evaluating techniques to forecast plausible future scenarios in wind power production for up to 48 h ahead, where the term scenario refers to a coherent chronological prediction including the timing, rapidity and size of large changes. Such predictions are of great interest in power systems with high regional wind penetration where a large rapid change in wind power may pose a threat to power system security. Numerous studies have evaluated wind power forecasting methods on ex post statistical measures of forecast accuracy such as root mean square error. Other work has assessed the forecast value by simulating automated decision making for bidding wind generation into particular electricity markets, and in some cases, the ex ante value of a perfect forecast has been assessed. The future, however, will always be uncertain, and decision making always takes place in an ex ante context. This paper discusses how numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems forecasts are produced, with a particular focus on uncertainty and how forecasters might visually present plausible future scenarios for wind power to electricity industry decision makers. It is difficult to quantify the ex ante value of visual wind power forecast information to the complex decision‐making process involved. Consequently, this paper explores qualitative assessments of ex ante value by proposing six desirable attributes for the techniques and the presentation of NWP forecasts to decision makers. It uses these attributes to assess four such methodologies, which include NWP ensemble methods and the recently introduced NWP spatial field approach. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Once BITten, twice shy?
Authors: Tienhaara Kyla 
Published: September 2011

AbstractOver the past half-century, but particularly in the last two decades, states have signed a considerable number of bilateral investment treaties (BITs), as well as a smaller number of bilateral and regional free trade agreements containing provisions on investment protection. These agreements are primarily enforced through an arbitration process known as investor–state dispute settlement. As a result, in nearly every country in the world some sovereign authority has been transferred from the national/public sphere (local courts) to the international/private sphere (investment treaty arbitration). In this article it is argued that although states agreed to ‘share’ some of their sovereignty with arbitrators, they did not intend to cede the degree of authority that these private actors would eventually claim to possess. Many states are now taking efforts to rein in arbitrators, with states that have been ‘BITten’ in arbitration leading the charge.
‘Sharing’ political authority with finance capital: The case of Britain's Public Private Partnerships
Authors: Shaoul Jean 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Since the early 1980s, there has been a global trend to increasingly use private finance for public infrastructure. Part of a broader range of policies associated with the neoliberal agenda, such arrangements have become known as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). While the proponents of PPPs stress the savings to be made by using financial intermediaries, the financial outcomes have been very different from the stated objectives. This paper seeks to develop this work by going beyond a financial assessment of the policy, focusing on political power and the way that the policy has led to a shift in the power of the state relative to the corporations. Using evidence from case studies of operational projects in the UK as exemplars, it will show how financial advisors, typically the big four international accountancy firms, play an increasingly important role in the development and implementation of policy, and how once projects are operational the private sector partners are increasingly able to strengthen their own position vis a vis the state. As such, the creeping privatisation espoused by all governments, the international financial institutions, the EU, and transnational corporations is an expression of more fundamental processes: the increasing domination of finance capital.
Shape and size of Antarctic icebergs derived from ship observation data
Authors: Romanov Yuri A. , Romanova Nina A. , Romanov Peter 
Published: September 2011

AbstractWe have examined information on the shape and size of Antarctic icebergs as derived from the ship data archive of Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. The data in the archive cover the period from 1957–2009. For each of five major iceberg shapes we have established their relative frequency of occurrence in the Southern Ocean and the frequency distribution of the iceberg length and freeboard. Weathered and tabular icebergs were observed most often and comprised 66.9% and 22.6% of all reported icebergs respectively. Sloping, pinnacle, and dome icebergs represented correspondingly only 5.6%, 3.2% and 1.7% of the total number of icebergs observed. A distinct maximum was found in frequency distributions of the iceberg length and freeboard for all iceberg shapes. The most frequently observed iceberg lengths (modal length) ranged from 100–200 m for weathered and pinnacled icebergs to 400–600 m for tabular and dome-shaped iceberg. The modal freeboard of icebergs changed from 30–40 m for tabular and weathered icebergs to 50–60 m for domed, pinnacle and sloping icebergs. To calculate the overall mean size parameters of Antarctic icebergs we totalled corresponding mean values for each iceberg shape weighted by the frequency of occurrence of icebergs of each shape. The mean iceberg length and the standard deviation obtained within this approach were correspondingly 381 m and 349 m. The mean iceberg freeboard was equal to 41.2 m with a standard deviation of 12.1 m.