bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Agriculture's terms of trade: issues and implications
Authors: Colman David 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe article addresses (1) the issue of what agricultural commodity prices should be compared to if we are concerned with the welfare of agriculturalists, (2) the general absence of product quality adjustment when analysis is undertaken comparing agricultural to manufactured goods prices, (3) the extent to which energy prices are or will be the driver of both manufactured and agricultural prices, and (4) the importance of considering agriculture's terms of trade (TOT) against the service sector, since the service sector is typically the largest in the economy. It reflects on the basic question of whether the widespread perception “that agriculture's TOT secularly decline” is correct.
Elevated nocturnal blood pressure and heart rate in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Hurum Harald , Sulheim Dag , Thaulow Erik , Wyller Vegard Bruun 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  To compare ambulatory recordings of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and healthy controls. We hypothesized both HR and blood pressure to be elevated among CFS patients.Methods:  Forty‐four CFS patients aged 12–18 years were recruited from our paediatric outpatient clinic. The controls were 52 healthy adolescents having similar distribution of age and gender. 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure and HR were recorded using a validated, portable oscillometric device.Results:  At night (sleep), HR, mean arterial blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in CFS patients as compared with controls (p < 0.01). During daytime, HR was significantly higher among CFS patients (p < 0.05), whereas blood pressures were equal among the two groups.Conclusions:  The findings support previous experimental evidence of sympathetic predominance of cardiovascular control in adolescent CFS patients. Also, the findings prompt increased focus on cardiovascular risk assessment and suggest a possible target for therapeutic intervention.
CAN THE TOYOTA WAY OVERCOME THE RECENT TOYOTA SETBACK? — A STUDY BASED ON THE THEORY OF CONSTRAINTS
Authors: WU SIMON , BLOS MAURICIO F. , WEE HUI MING , CHEN YI-LI 
Published: November 2010

The Japanese carmaker Toyota has long been regarded as the pinnacle of Japanese innovation, manufacturing quality and industrial strength — particularly since it overtook General Motors in 2008 to become the world's biggest carmaker. Its "lean" manufacturing techniques and culture of continuous improvement were the envy of the business world. Companies sent delegations to tour Toyota's factories in the hope that some of its magic would rub off on them. But within a few weeks all this has changed. Problems with "unintended acceleration" of its cars which the firm has belatedly taken seriously, has resulted in a crisis within the company. Toyota's woes were compounded on 9 February 2009 when it said it would also recall 440,000 hybrid vehicles, including the celebrated Prius, to fix a problem with their brakes. The firm's reputation for quality, on which the business was built, is shattered. Its market capitalization has dropped by an amount roughly equal to the entire value of Ford. But the greatest damage has been done by its misreading and mishandling of the crisis. Surrounding this current problem, we came with an interesting question: Can the Toyota Way bring back Toyota to the lead? The aim of this paper has the intention to answer two significant questions. The first question is "Is the Toyota Way safe enough to prevent problems brewing outside its factories?" In order to address this question and get reasonable answer, this study tries to use the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to discover the root causes and countermeasures of how Toyota's Way can bring back Toyota to the lead. The second question is "Can TOC deal with this kind of complicated problem effectively?" From the case study, we successfully answered the two preceding questions, presenting some findings about TOC problem solving strategy.
Apolipoprotein C-II and lipoprotein lipase show a temporal and geographic correlation with surfactant lipid synthesis in preparation for birth
Authors: Côté Mélissa , Provost Pierre R , Gérard-Hudon Marie-Christine , Tremblay Yves 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackgroundFatty acids are precursors in the synthesis of surfactant phospholipids. Recently, we showed expression of apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II), the essential cofactor of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), in the fetal mouse lung and found the protein on the day of the surge of surfactant synthesis (gestation day 17.5) in secretory granule-like structures in the distal epithelium. In the present study, we will answer the following questions: Does apoC-II protein localization change according to the stage of lung development, thus according to the need in surfactant? Are LPL molecules translocated to the luminal surface of capillaries? Do the sites of apoC-II and LPL gene expression change according to the stage of lung development and to protein localization?ResultsThe present study investigated whether the sites of apoC-II and LPL mRNA and protein accumulation are regulated in the mouse lung between gestation day 15 and postnatal day 10. The major sites of apoC-II and LPL gene expression changed over time and were found mainly in the distal epithelium at the end of gestation but not after birth. Accumulation of apoC-II in secretory granule-like structures was not systematically observed, but was found in the distal epithelium only at the end of gestation and soon after birth, mainly in epithelia with no or small lumina. A noticeable increase in surfactant lipid content was measured before the end of gestation day 18, which correlates temporally with the presence of apoC-II in secretory granules in distal epithelium with no or small lumina but not with large lumina. LPL was detected in capillaries at all the developmental times studied.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that apoC-II and LPL mRNAs correlate temporally and geographically with surfactant lipid synthesis in preparation for birth and suggests that fatty acid recruitment from the circulation by apoC-II-activated LPL is regionally modulated by apoC-II secretion. We propose a model where apoC-II is retained in secretory granules in distal epithelial cells until the lumina reaches a minimum size, and is then secreted when the rate of surfactant production becomes optimal.
miSolRNA: A tomato micro RNA relational database
Authors: Bazzini Ariel A , Asís Ramón , González Virginia , Bassi Sebastián , Conte Mariana , Soria Marcelo , Fernie Alisdair R , Asurmendi Sebastián , Carrari Fernando 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
The economic importance of Solanaceae plant species is well documented and tomato has become a model for functional genomics studies. In plants, important processes are regulated by microRNAs (miRNA).

Description
We describe here a data base integrating genetic map positions of miRNA-targeted genes, their expression profiles and their relations with quantitative fruit metabolic loci and yield associated traits. miSolRNA provides a metadata source to facilitate the construction of hypothesis aimed at defining physiological modes of action of regulatory process underlying the metabolism of the tomato fruit.

Conclusions
The MiSolRNA database allows the simple extraction of metadata for the proposal of new hypothesis concerning possible roles of miRNAs in the regulation of tomato fruit metabolism. It permits i) to map miRNAs and their predicted target sites both on expressed (SGN-UNIGENES) and newly annotated sequences (BAC sequences released), ii) to co-locate any predicted miRNA-target interaction with metabolic QTL found in tomato fruits, iii) to retrieve expression data of target genes in tomato fruit along their developmental period and iv) to design further experiments for unresolved questions in complex trait biology based on the use of genetic materials that have been proven to be a useful tools for map-based cloning experiments in Solanaceae plant species.
Patterns and seasonality of malaria transmission in the forest-savannah transitional zones of Ghana
Authors: Dery Dominic B , Brown Charles , Asante Kwaku Poku , Adams Mohammed , Dosoo David , Amenga-Etego Seeba , Wilson Mike , Chandramohan Daniel , Greenwood Brian , Owusu-Agyei Seth 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Knowledge of the local pattern of malaria transmission and the effect of season on transmission is essential for the planning and evaluation of malaria interventions. Therefore, entomological surveys were carried out in the forest-savannah transitional belt of Ghana (Kintampo) from November 2003 to November 2005 in preparation for drug and vaccine trials.

Results
A total of 23,406 mosquitoes were caught from 919 traps over the two-year period (November 2003 to November 2005): 54.3% were Culicines, 36.2% Anopheles funestus, and 9.4% Anopheles gambiae. Infection rates with Plasmodium
falciparum were 4.7% and 1.5% for Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus, respectively. Entomological inoculation rates (EIRs) were 269 infective bites per person per year in the first year (November 2003-October 2004) and 231 the following year (November 2004-November 2005). Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis detected only Anopheles
gambiae s.s. Nineteen mosquitoes were tested by PCR in the wet season; 16 were S-molecular form, 2 M-molecular form and 1 hybrid (S/M). In the dry season, sixteen mosquitoes were tested; 11 S-molecular form, 2 M-molecular form and 3 S/M hybrids. The frequency of knock down resistance (kdr) genotypes F(R) was 0.60.

Conclusion
The dynamics and seasonal abundance of malaria vectors in the Kintampo area was influenced by micro-ecology, rainfall and temperature patterns. Transmission patterns did not differ significantly between the two years (2004 and 2005) and both Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus were identified as effective vectors. EIR estimates in 2004/2005 were between 231 and 269 infective bites per person per year. The information provided by the study will help in planning intensified malaria control activities as well as evaluating the impact of malaria interventions in the middle belt of Ghana.
Orthovoltage intraoperative radiation therapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Bachireddy Pavan , Tseng Diane , Horoschak Melissa , Chang Daniel T , Koong Albert C , Kapp Daniel S , Tran Phuoc T 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Purpose
To analyze the outcomes of patients from a single institution treated with surgery and orthovoltage intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 23 consecutive patients from 1990-2001 treated with IORT to 23 discrete sites with median and mean follow up of 6.5 and 21 months, respectively. Most tumors were located in the head of the pancreas (83%) and sites irradiated included: tumor bed (57%), vessels (26%), both the tumor bed/vessels (13%) and other (4%). The majority of patients (83%) had IORT at the time of their definitive surgery. Three patients had preoperative chemoradiation (13%). Orthovoltage X-rays (200-250 kVp) were employed via individually sized and beveled cone applicators. Additional mean clinical characteristics include: age 64 (range 41-81); tumor size 4 cm (range 1.4-11); and IORT dose 1106 cGy (range 600-1500). Post-operative external beam radiation (EBRT) or chemotherapy was given to 65% and 76% of the assessable patients, respectively. Outcomes measured were infield control (IFC), loco-regional control (LRC), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS) and treatment-related complications.

Results
Kaplan-Meier (KM) 2-year IFC, LRC, DMFS and OS probabilities for the whole group were 83%, 61%, 26%, and 27%, respectively. Our cohort had three grade 3-5 complications associated with treatment (surgery and IORT).

Conclusions
Orthovoltage IORT following tumor reductive surgery is reasonably well tolerated and seems to confer in-field control in carefully selected patients. However, distant metastases remain the major problem for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
The right vertical infra-axillary incision for mitral valve replacement
Authors: Li Qing-guo , Wang Qiang , Wang Dong-jin 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
As the physiologic results of valve surgery have improved dramatically in recent years, the cosmetic effect of the procedure gains increased attention, and various alternatives to the standard median sternotomy have been developed for mitral valve surgery. We report a new minimally invasive and cosmetic approach for mitral valve replacement.

Methods
From December 2003 to December 2009, the right vertical infra-axillary incision (RVIAI) was employed to perform mitral valve replacement in 256 patients. 62.9% patients had replaced mechanical valve, others were bioprosthetic valve, at the same time 28.1% patients received tricuspid valvuloplasty.

Results
There were one hospital death in this series due to multiple organ failure, one reoperation for bleeding and one incision infection. Mean follow-up duration was 42.8 months (range, 3 to 72), and follow-up rate was 94%. There were no paravalvular leaks or late death during the follow up.

Conclusions
The RVIAI can be performed with favorable cosmetic and clinical results. It provides a good alternative to standard median sternotomy for MVR in selected patients.
Acute hydrothorax complicating peritoneal dialysis: a case report
Authors: Cho Yeoungjee , D'Intini Vincent , Ranganathan Dwarkanathan 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Introduction
Acute hydrothorax is an uncommon but a well-recognized complication of peritoneal dialysis. No single test is definitive for diagnosis. Although it is not a life-threatening condition, hydrothorax often requires abandonment of peritoneal dialysis. Delay in diagnosis can lead to worsening of the clinical status.

Case Presentation
A 33-year-old Caucasian woman with lupus, who was successfully treated with temporary peritoneal dialysis 17 years previously, presented with acute dyspnea and a right pleural effusion after recommencing peritoneal dialysis. Investigations eliminated infective, cardiac, and primary respiratory causes. Peritoneal dialysis-related hydrothorax was suggested by biochemistry, and a pleuroperitoneal leak was definitively confirmed by using a Tc-99 m DTPA (diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid) scintigraphy scan. Subsequently, she underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy-guided talc pleurodesis and was able to return successfully to peritoneal dialysis.

Conclusion
Although our case is not the first report that describes the occurrence of acute hydrothorax in peritoneal dialysis, it is an important condition to recognize for the wider general medical community. Furthermore, this case demonstrates that peritoneal dialysis can be continued with a hydrothorax, provided the underlying cause can be corrected. We review the literature pertaining to the utility and reliability of different diagnostic approaches to hydrothorax.
Hochdurchsatz-Sequenzierung in der Humangenetischen Diagnostik / Next-generation sequencing in genetic diagnostics
Authors: Biskup Saskia 
Published: November 2010

Zusammenfassung
Die Einführung der Hochdurchsatz-Sequenzierung in die humangenetische Diagnostik erfordert ein Umdenken auf vielen Ebenen mit überwiegend positiven, teilweise sogar revolutionären Aspekten. Diese sollen in diesem Beitrag neben den ebenso wichtigen kritischen Gesichtspunkten dargestellt werden. Die Zeiten, in denen vom Arzt indizierte oder vom Ratsuchenden gewünschte genetische Diagnostik sich über Monate bis Jahre bis zum mitgeteilten Ergebnis hinzog, gehören bereits der Vergangenheit an. Deutschland hat sich mit dem seit Kurzem in Kraft getretenen Gendiagnostikgesetz für die bevorstehende Revolution in der human-genetischen Diagnostik gerüstet. Im Folgenden soll anhand von vier häufigen Erkrankungen mit erblicher Komponente (Demenz, Parkinson-Krankheit, Epilepsie und erbliche Augenerkrankung) ein Ausblick in die greifbare Zukunft der humangenetischen Diagnostik gegeben werden.
Macroautophagy Regulates Energy Metabolism during Effector T Cell Activation
Authors: Hubbard Vanessa M. , Valdor Rut , Patel Bindi , Singh Rajat , Cuervo Ana Maria , Macian Fernando 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Macroautophagy is a highly conserved mechanism of lysosomal-mediated protein degradation that plays a key role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by recycling amino acids, reducing the amount of damaged proteins, and regulating protein levels in response to extracellular signals. We have found that macroautophagy is induced after effector T cell activation. Engagement of the TCR and CD28 results in enhanced microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) processing, increased numbers of LC3-containing vesicles, and increased LC3 flux, indicating active autophagosome formation and clearance. The autophagosomes formed in stimulated T cells actively fuse with lysosomes to degrade their cargo. Using a conditional KO mouse model where Atg7, a critical gene for macroautophagy, is specifically deleted in T cells, we have found that macroautophagy-deficient effector Th cells have defective IL-2 and IFN-γ production and reduced proliferation after stimulation, with no significant increase in apoptosis. We have found that ATP generation is decreased when autophagy is blocked, and defects in activation-induced cytokine production are restored when an exogenous energy source is added to macroautophagy-deficient T cells. Furthermore, we present evidence showing that the nature of the cargo inside autophagic vesicles found in resting T cells differs from the cargo of autophagosomes in activated T cells, where mitochondria and other organelles are selectively excluded. These results suggest that macroautophagy is an actively regulated process in T cells that can be induced in response to TCR engagement to accommodate the bioenergetic requirements of activated T cells.
Noncytotoxic Inhibition of Cytomegalovirus Replication through NK Cell Protease Granzyme M-Mediated Cleavage of Viral Phosphoprotein 71
Authors: van Domselaar Robert , Philippen Leonne E. , Quadir Razi , Wiertz Emmanuel J. H. J. , Kummer J. Alain , Bovenschen Niels 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Granzyme M (GrM) is highly expressed in cytotoxic granules of NK cells, which provide the first line of defense against viral pathogens. GrM knockout mice show increased susceptibility toward murine CMV infection. Although GrM is a potent inducer of cell death, the mechanism by which GrM eliminates viruses remains elusive. In this paper, we show that purified human GrM in combination with the perforin-analog streptolysin O (SLO) strongly inhibited human CMV (HCMV) replication in fibroblasts in the absence of host cell death. In a proteomic approach, GrM was highly specific toward the HCMV proteome and most efficiently cleaved phosphoprotein 71 (pp71), an HCMV tegument protein that is critical for viral replication. Cleavage of pp71 occurred when viral lysates were incubated with purified GrM, when intact cells expressing recombinant pp71 were challenged with living cytotoxic effector cells, and when HCMV-infected fibroblasts were incubated with SLO and purified GrM. GrM directly cleaved pp71 after Leu439, which coincided with aberrant cellular localization of both pp71 cleavage fragments as determined by confocal immunofluorescence. In a luciferase reporter assay, cleavage of pp71 after Leu439 by GrM completely abolished the ability of pp71 to transactivate the HCMV major immediate-early promoter, which is indispensable for effective HCMV replication. Finally, GrM decreased immediate-early 1 protein expression in HCMV-infected fibroblasts. These results indicate that the NK cell protease GrM mediates cell death-independent antiviral activity by direct cleavage of a viral substrate.
Survival Benefit Associated With Participation in Clinical Trials of Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Iskander Renata , Moyer Hannah , Vigneault Karine , Mahmud Salaheddin M. , Kimmelman Jonathan 
Published: May 2024

ImportanceMany cancer clinical investigators view clinical trials as offering better care for patients than routine clinical care. However, definitive evidence of clinical benefit from trial participation (hereafter referred to as the participation effect) has yet to emerge.ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence examining whether patient participation in cancer trials was associated with greater survival benefit compared with routine care.Data SourcesStudies were found through PubMed and Embase (January 1, 2000, until August 31, 2022), as well as backward and forward citation searching.Study SelectionStudies were included that compared overall survival of trial participants and routine care patients.Data Extraction and SynthesisData extraction and methodological quality assessment were completed by 2 independent coders using Covidence software. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and analyzed based on the quality of the comparison between trial participants and routine care patients (ie, extent to which studies controlled for bias and confounders).Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival of trial participants vs routine care patients.ResultsThirty-nine publications were included, comprising 85 comparisons of trial participants and routine care patients. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant overall survival benefit for trial participants (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.69-0.82]) when all studies were pooled, regardless of design or quality. However, survival benefits diminished in study subsets that matched trial participants and routine care patients for eligibility criteria (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.97]) and disappeared when only high-quality studies were pooled (HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.80-1.05]). They also disappeared when estimates were adjusted for potential publication bias (HR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.86-1.03]).Conclusions and RelevanceMany studies suggest a survival benefit for cancer trial participants. However, these benefits were not detected in studies using designs addressing important sources of bias and confounding. Pooled results of high-quality studies are not consistent with a beneficial effect of trial participation on its own.