bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endosonographic findings of gastric ectopic pancreas: A single center experience
Authors: Park Sung Han , Kim Gwang Ha , Park Do Youn , Shin Na Ri , Cheong Jae Hoon , Moon Ji Yoon , Lee Bong Eun , Song Geun Am , Seo Hyung‐Il , Jeon Tae Yong 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Ectopic pancreas is a common submucosal lesion in the stomach, but its histological diagnosis is usually difficult when tissue samples are obtained with a conventional biopsy forceps. The aim of this study was to describe the endosonographic features of gastric ectopic pancreas.Methods:  We retrospectively analyzed a database of all patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) at Pusan National University Hospital from July 2006 to August 2010. A total of 26 patients with histologically confirmed ectopic pancreas were included in the study. The EUS features of their lesions were analyzed.Results:  Ten lesions were located in the antrum, and 16 lesions were located in the body. Nine lesions (34.6%) showed an umbilication or central dimpling on the surface, and a mural growth pattern was most commonly observed (61.5%). Twenty‐four lesions (92.3%) showed hypoechoic echogenicity, and 13 lesions (50.0%) were heterogeneous. The borders were indistinct in 16 lesions (61.5%) and lobulated margins were observed in 16 lesions (61.5%). Anechoic cystic or tubular structures appeared in 17 lesions (65.4%), and 20 lesions (76.9%) involved two or more sonographic layers.Conclusions:  The characteristic EUS features of ectopic pancreas are indistinct borders, lobulated margins, presence of anechoic duct‐like structures, a mural growth pattern, and localization within two or more layers. These EUS features are potentially useful for differentiating ectopic pancreas from other mesenchymal tumors in the stomach.
Increased CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are associated with tumor progression
Authors: Zhu Jiankang , Feng Alei , Sun Jintang , Jiang Zhenzhong , Zhang Guangyong , Wang Kexin , Hu Sanyuan , Qu Xun 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  A new subset of Treg cells, CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells, has been identified in mice. Herein, we aimed to identify this subset of T cells and to evaluate its function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:  We detected CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells and its expression of CCR6 and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) in peripheral blood of 91 HCC patients, 38 chronic hepatitis patients and 34 healthy donors by flow cytometry. CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells in HCC tissues were also analyzed.Results:  CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells were significantly increased in peripheral blood of HCC patients compared with healthy persons and chronic hepatitis patients (8.74% ± 0.42% vs 4.55% ± 0.33% and 5.15% ± 0.36%, P < 0.0001). The percentage of peripheral CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells was significantly higher in HCC patients with Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage III plus IV (P < 0.05). Patients with large tumor size and tumor vascular invasion were inclined to obtain high percentage of CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells (P < 0.05). The frequency of membrane‐bound TGF‐β1 positive cells in CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells from HCC patients was higher than that from the other two groups (P < 0.0001). A considerable proportion of CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells were present in HCC tissues, which has significant correlation with tumor size and TNM stage. Few CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells express CCR6 both in peripheral blood and tumor tissues from HCC patients.Conclusions:  Increased CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells in HCC patients are significantly correlated with tumor size, vascular invasion and TNM stage. Thus, increased CD4+CD69+CD25‐ T cells exert a critical role in HCC progression and might be a clinically aggressive phenotype of HCC.
Fatigue lives of RC beams strengthened with CFRP at different temperatures under cyclic bending loads
Authors: HUANG P.‐Y. , ZHOU H. , WANG H.‐Y. , GUO X.‐Y. 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACTFatigue performance of reinforced concrete (RC) components strengthened with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) is largely improved. However, temperature changes of service environment have a great effect on the fatigue behaviour of RC components strengthened with FRP. Concerning about temperature variations in subtropical areas such as South China, this paper analyses the fatigue behaviour of RC beams strengthened with carbon fibre laminate (CFL) from experimental studies and theoretical analysis under four different temperatures (5 °C, 20 °C, 50 °C, 80 °C) and five different stress levels (0.60, 0.66, 0.72, 0.78, 0.84). The paper discusses temperature fatigue behaviour of RC beams strengthened with CFL under cyclic bending loads in different service environments, and proposes a calculation formula of fatigue lives of RC beams strengthened with CFL under environmental temperatures and external forces coupling. Experimental results show that the formula not only effectively predicts the fatigue lives of the RC beams strengthened with CFL under environmental temperatures and bending loads coupling but also estimates the fatigue limits.
Bioavailability of soil organic matter and microbial community dynamics upon permafrost thaw
Authors: Coolen Marco J. L. , van de Giessen Jeroen , Zhu Elizabeth Y. , Wuchter Cornelia 
Published: May 2011

SummaryAmplified Arctic warming could thaw 25% of the permafrost area by 2100, exposing vast amounts of currently fixed organic carbon to microbially mediated decomposition and release of greenhouse gasses through soil organic matter (SOM) respiration. We performed time‐series incubation experiments with Holocene permafrost soils at 4°C for up to 11 days to determine changes in exoenzyme activities (EEAs) (i.e. phosphatase, β‐glucosidase, aminopeptidase) as a measure for the bioavailability of SOM in response to permafrost thaw. We also profiled SSU rRNA transcripts to follow the qualitative and quantitative changes in viable prokaryotes and eukaryotes during incubation. EEA, amount of rRNA transcripts and microbial community structures differed substantially between the various soil intervals in response to thaw: after 11 days of incubation, the active layer became slightly depleted in C and P and harboured bacterial phyla indicative of more oligotrophic conditions (Acidobacteria). A fast response in phosphatase and β‐glucosidase upon thaw, and a predominance of active copiotrophic Bacteroidetes, showed that the upper permafrost plate serves as storage of easily degradable carbon derived from the overlying thawed active layer during summer. EEA profiles and microbial community dynamics furthermore suggest that the deeper and older permafrost intervals mainly contain recalcitrant SOM, and that extracellular soil‐bound exoenzymes play a role in the initial cleavage of biopolymers, which could kick‐start microbial growth upon thaw. Basidiomycetous fungi and Candidate Subdivision OP5 bacteria were the first to respond in freshly thawed deeper permafrost intervals, and might play an important role in the decomposition of recalcitrant SOM to release more labile substrates to support the major bacterial phyla (β‐Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes), which predominated thereafter.
Bacillus cereus responses to acid stress
Authors: Mols Maarten , Abee Tjakko 
Published: May 2011

SummaryCoping with acid environments is one of the prerequisites for the soil saprophytic and human pathogenic lifestyle of Bacillus cereus. This minireview highlights novel insights in the responses displayed by vegetative cells and germinating spores of B. cereus upon exposure to low pH as well as organic acids, including acetic acid, lactic acid and sorbic acid. Insights regarding the possible acid‐inflicted damage, physiological responses and protective mechanisms have been compiled based on single cell fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and transcriptome analyses.
Drivers of bacterial diversity dynamics in permeable carbonate and silicate coral reef sands from the Red Sea
Authors: Schöttner Sandra , Pfitzner Barbara , Grünke Stefanie , Rasheed Mohammed , Wild Christian , Ramette Alban 
Published: May 2011

SummaryPermeable sediments and associated microbial communities play a fundamental role in nutrient recycling within coral reef ecosystems by ensuring high levels of primary production in oligotrophic environments. A previous study on organic matter degradation within biogenic carbonate and terrigenous silicate reef sands in the Red Sea suggested that observed sand‐specific differences in microbial activity could be caused by variations in microbial biomass and diversity. Here, we tested this hypothesis by comparing bacterial abundance and community structure in both sand types, and by further exploring the structuring effects of time (season) and space (sediment depth, in/out‐reef). Changes in bacterial community structure, as determined via automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA), were primarily driven by sand mineralogy at specific seasons, sediment depths and reef locations. By coupling ARISA with 16S‐ITS rRNA sequencing, we detected significant community shifts already at the bacterial class level, with Proteobacteria (Gamma‐, Delta‐, Alpha‐) and Actinobacteria being prominent members of the highly diverse communities. Overall, our findings suggest that reef sand‐associated bacterial communities vary substantially with sand type. Especially in synergy with environmental variation over time and space, mineralogical differences seem to play a central role in maintaining high levels of bacterial community heterogeneity. The local co‐occurrence of carbonate and silicate sands may thus significantly increase the availability of microbial niches within a single coral reef ecosystem.
Changes in viral and bacterial communities during the ice‐melting season in the coastal Arctic (Kongsfjorden, Ny‐Ålesund)
Authors: De Corte Daniele , Sintes Eva , Yokokawa Taichi , Herndl Gerhard J. 
Published: May 2011

SummaryMicrobial communities in Arctic coastal waters experience dramatic changes in environmental conditions during the spring to summer transition period, potentially leading to major variations in the relationship between viral and prokaryotic communities. To document these variations, a number of physico‐chemical and biological parameters were determined during the ice‐melting season in the coastal Arctic (Kongsfjorden, Ny‐Ålesund, Spitsbergen). The bacterial and viral abundance increased during the spring to summer transition period, probably associated to the increase in temperature and the development of a phytoplankton bloom. The increase in viral abundance was less pronounced than the increase in prokaryotic abundance; consequently, the viral to prokaryotic abundance ratio decreased. The bacterial and viral communities were stratified as determined by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA–PCR respectively. Both the bacterial and viral communities were characterized by a relatively low number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Despite the apparent low complexity of the bacterial and viral communities, the link between these two communities was weak over the melting season, as suggested by the different trends of prokaryotic and viral abundance during the sampling period. This weak relationship between the two communities might be explained by UV radiation and suspended particles differently affecting the viruses and prokaryotes in the coastal Arctic during this period. Based on our results, we conclude that the viral and bacterial communities in the Arctic were strongly affected by the variability of the environmental conditions during the transition period between spring and summer.
Cyclic diguanylate turnover mediated by the sole GGDEF/EAL response regulator in Pseudomonas putida: its role in the rhizosphere and an analysis of its target processes
Authors: Matilla Miguel A. , Travieso María L. , Ramos Juan L. , Ramos‐González María Isabel 
Published: May 2011

SummaryGGDEF and EAL/HD‐GYP protein domains are responsible for the synthesis and hydrolysis of the bacterial secondary messenger cyclic diguanylate (c‐di‐GMP) through their diguanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities, respectively. Forty‐three genes in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 are putatively involved in the turnover of c‐di‐GMP. Of them only rup4959 (locus PP4959) encodes a GGDEF/EAL response regulator, which was identified in a genome wide analysis as preferentially induced while this bacterium colonizes roots and adjacent soil areas (the rhizosphere). By using fusions to reporter genes it was confirmed that the rup4959 promoter is active in the rhizosphere and inducible by corn plant root exudates and microaerobiosis. Transcription of rup4959 was strictly dependent on the alternative transcriptional factor σS. The inactivation of the rup4959‐4957 operon altered the expression of 22 genes in the rhizosphere and had a negative effect upon oligopeptide utilization and biofilm formation. In multicopy or when overexpressed, rup4959 enhanced adhesin LapA‐dependent biofilm formation, the development of wrinkly colony morphology, and increased Calcofluor stainable exopolysaccharides (EPS). Under these conditions the inhibition of swarming motility was total and plant root tip colonization considerably less efficient, whereas swimming was partially diminished. This pleiotropic phenotype, which correlated with an increase in the global level of c‐di‐GMP, was not acquired with increased levels of Rup4959 catalytic mutant at GGDEF as a proof of this response regulator exhibiting diguanylate cyclase activity. A screen for mutants in putative targets of c‐di‐GMP led to the identification of a surface polysaccharide specific to KT2440, which is encoded by the genes cluster PP3133‐PP3141, as essential for phenotypes associated with increased c‐di‐GMP. Cellulose and alginate were discarded as the overproduced EPS, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core and O‐antigen were found to be essential for the development of wrinkly colony morphology.
Histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural observations of the esophagus morphology of Rinella icterica (Anuran, Bufonidae)
Authors: Pelli‐Martins Adriana A. , Machado‐Santos Clarice , Sales Armando , de Brito‐Gitirana Lycia 
Published: May 2011

Pelli‐Martins, A.A., Machado‐Santos, C., Sales, A. and de Brito‐Gitirana, L. 2011. Histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural observations of the esophagus morphology of Rinella icterica (Anuran, Bufonidae). —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 93: 373–380.AbstractThe esophagus of Rinella icterica was analyzed by employing histochemical methods and lectin histochemistry at light microscopy as well as by transmission electron microscopy. The mucosa was composed of a ciliated columnar pseudostratified epithelium with goblet cells, overlying a lamina propria. The goblet cells contained neutral and acid glycoconjugates and were positive for galactose residues. Moreover, two types of goblet cells were identified; one type was positive for mannose, and the other was negative. Serotonin‐immunoreactive cells (5HT‐IR) occurred randomly scattered at the base of the epithelium; they were also localized between the mucous cells of the gland. Both submucosa and adventitia were composed of loose connective tissue, and the muscularis was formed by smooth muscle. Although the basic morphology of the esophagus of R. icterica is similar to that of mammals, the esophagus showed some morphological differences that are likely to be related to the specific physiology of the tissue.
Mineral density and bone remodelling markers in patients with calcium lithiasis
Authors: Arrabal‐Polo Miguel Angel , Arrabal‐Martin Miguel , de Haro‐Munoz Tomas , Lopez‐Leon Victor M. , Merino‐Salas Sergio , Ochoa‐Hortal Miguel Angel , Garrido‐Gomez Juan , Lahoz‐Garcia Clara , Zuluaga‐Gomez Armando 
Published: May 2011

Study Type – Aetiology (case control)Level of Evidence 3bWhat’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?Hypercalciuria is related with bone mineral density loss.This study demonstrates the relationship between recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis and bone mineral density loss and their correlation with bone markers.OBJECTIVES• To show that a relationship exists between the loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and calcium renal lithiasis and that bone remodelling markers correlate with changes in BMD.• It is possible that many cases hypercalciuria are related to the increase of bone turnover and the predominance of bone resorption phenomena.PATIENTS AND METHODS• The present study comprised a transversal investigation in three groups: group O, without lithiasis; group A, with a single episode of lithiasis; and group B, with relapsed calcium renal lithiasis.• An analysis was made of body mass index; abdominal X‐ray and/or urography and renal ultrasonography; osteocalcin and β‐crosslaps bone markers; calcium and citrate concentrations in the urine; and femur and spinal column bone densitometry.• The results were analyzed by analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.RESULTS• Patients with relapsed calcium renal lithiasis present a greater BMD loss than those in the O or A groups.• Densitometry: T‐score femur −0.2 group O, −0.5 group A, −1.2 group B (P= 0.001); T‐score column −0.6 group O, −0.6 group A, −1.3 group B (P= 0.05).• A statistically significant negative correlation exists between values of β‐crosslaps and T‐score femur (R=−0.251; P= 0.009) and T‐score column (R=−0.324; P= 0.001); thus, a higher concentration of β‐crosslaps was accompanied by a lower value of the T‐score and a greater loss of BMD.• A positive relationship is observed between β‐crosslaps and osteocalcin (R= 0.611; P < 0.001) and between calciuria and cocient β‐crosslaps/osteocalcin (R= 0.303; P= 0.001).CONCLUSIONS• A statistically significant relationship is shown between the loss of BMD and relapsed calcium renal lithiasis.• Determination of bone remodelling markers (i.e. osteocalcin and β‐crosslaps) facilitates the diagnosis of osteopaenia/osteoporosis in these patients.
Metastatic potential of a renal mass according to original tumour size at presentation
Authors: Umbreit Eric C. , Shimko Mark S. , Childs M. Adam , Lohse Christine M. , Cheville John C. , Leibovich Bradley C. , Blute Michael L. , Thompson R. Houston 
Published: May 2011

Study Type – Prognosis (case series)Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVE • To determine the metastatic potential of renal masses based on original tumour size.MATERIALS AND METHODS • We identified 2651 patients who had undergone surgical resection for a unilateral, sporadic renal tumour between 1990 and 2006.• Associations of tumour size with synchronous metastasis at presentation [M1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC)] and development of metastases, death from RCC, and death from any cause after surgery were evaluated using logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression.RESULTS • Of the 2651 patients studied, 182 (6.9%) presented with M1 RCC. Tumour size was significantly greater in patients with M1 RCC than in patients with M0 RCC (a median size of 10 vs 4.5 cm; P < 0.001). Only 1 of the 629 patients (0.2%) with a tumour <3 cm had M1 RCC and that tumour was 2.5 cm. The risk of M1 RCC increased from 1.1% for patients with tumours 3–3.9 cm to 16.5% for patients with tumours ≥7 cm.• Of the 2124 patients with M0 RCC, 430 developed distant metastases at a median (range) of 1.4 (0.1–16.2) years after surgery. Only 9 of the 498 patients (1.8%) with a tumour <3 cm developed distant metastases after surgery.• Each 1‐cm increase in tumour size increased the risk of death from RCC by 20%[hazard ratio (HR) 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–1.22; P < 0.001] and death from any cause by 10% (HR 1.10; 95% CI 1.09–1.12; P < 0.001).• For the 1346 patients who were still alive at last follow‐up, the median (range) duration of follow‐up was 6.9 (0.1–19.7) years.CONCLUSIONS • Tumour size is significantly associated with metastases in patients with renal masses.• Patients with tumours <3 cm have a low risk of synchronous metastatic disease.
Transparency and Manipulation of Public Accounts
Authors: GAVAZZA ALESSANDRO , LIZZERI ALESSANDRO 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWe study the policy choices of an incumbent politician when voters imperfectly observe aggregate spending and the incumbent’s ability. We show that total spending is decreasing in the transparency of spending, but increasing in the transparency of the incumbent’s ability. The model further provides a possible explanation of the choice of inefficient tools of redistribution, and investigates the incentives for politicians to manipulate public accounts. We show that politicians may choose inefficient and manipulable tools, but that this choice has positive welfare consequences because it leads to a reduction in spending.
From the Shadow Price of Capital to the Marginal Cost of Funds: In Search of the Implementation of a Principle
Authors: LIU LIQUN 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe “folk principle” for multi‐period project evaluation states that if all the costs and benefits of a project are expressed as withdrawals from and increments to private consumption at different time points, then the appropriate discount rate is the consumer's rate of interest. The shadow price of capital (SPC) approach intends to implement this principle, but faces serious practical difficulties. By taking a utility‐based perspective, this paper explains why the SPC approach cannot fully implement the folk principle even theoretically. Then, it derives, as a complete implementation of the folk principle, a multi‐period cost‐benefit rule that is based on the concept of the marginal cost of funds.
Power of Incentives with Motivated Agents in Public Organizations
Authors: NAEGELEN FLORENCE , MOUGEOT MICHEL 
Published: May 2011

AbstractPublic service motivation is often considered as an argument for low‐powered incentive schemes in the public sector. In this paper, we characterize the optimal contract between a public regulator and an altruistic agent according to the degree α of public service motivation, when the type of the public service consumer is privately observed. We show that the requested effort is nondecreasing with α and can be higher than the first‐best level. Moreover, we show that the agent is put on a high‐powered contract when some customers are served but that this contract is associated with different types of consumers according to α. In contrast, the agent is never put on a cost‐plus contract. Finally, we show that the first‐best allocation can be achieved under budget balance for a degree of altruism higher than a threshold that we characterize.
A Dynamic Model of Public Opinion Formation
Authors: FATAS‐VILLAFRANCA FRANCISCO , SAURA DULCE , VAZQUEZ FRANCISCO J. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIn this paper, we seek to shed new light on the social process of public opinion formation. Drawing on previous contributions in cognition studies and political science, we propose and analyze a model in which heterogeneous agents (citizens) collectively learn and modify their opinions about a specific policy issue. The assumption of nonrationality on the part of agents gives core values, enduring general needs, social interaction, and the combination of the citizens´ intuition and occasional deliberate reasoning a key role in the dynamics of public opinion formation.