bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Legal Origins and Socio-economic Consequences: Can Legal Origins Really Explain the Main Differences in Economic and Juridical Performances?
Authors: Cappiello Antonio 
Published: November 2010

AbstractRecently some analysts have focused the attention on the country's legal origins in order to explain the country's economic performances. Better performances in the economic and justice system have often been correlated to the flexibility and smooth framework of the common law. It has been also emphasised that the common law, more oriented toward private economic activity and civil law with greater orientation toward government intervention, have influenced countries' respective markets and socio-regulation. Without judging the appropriateness of entire juridical systems, our approach will take into consideration the criteria of the analysis in order to make some reflections on what could be a balanced approach to make comparisons and to conduct analysis with a significant output. Nevertheless, the debate generated by studies based on legal origins analysis such as Doing Business, ZERP, and LLSV is an important stimulus because it is related to the capacity of social science to recalibrate its instruments in order to give more complete explanation of complex phenomena that are difficult to gauge in unilateral models.
CTLs respond with activation and granule secretion when serving as targets for T-cell recognition
Authors: Milstein Oren , Hagin David , Lask Assaf , Reich-Zeliger Shlomit , Shezen Elias , Ophir Eran , Eidelstein Yaki , Afik Ran , Antebi Yaron E. , Dustin Michael L. , Reisner Yair 
Published: November 2010

AbstractCytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) suppress T cell responses directed against their antigens regardless of their own T cell receptor (TCR) specificity. This makes the use of CTLs promising for tolerance induction in autoimmunity and transplantation. It has been established that binding of the CTL CD8 molecule to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I α3 domain of the recognizing T cell must be permitted for death of the latter cell to ensue. However, the signaling events triggered in the CTL by this molecular interaction in the absence of TCR recognition have never been clarified. Here we use single-cell imaging to study the events occurring in CTLs serving as targets for recognition by specific T cells. We demonstrate that CTLs actively respond to recognition by polarizing their cytotoxic granules to the contact area, releasing their lethal cargo, and vigorously proliferating. Using CTLs from perforin knockout (KO) mice and lymphocyte specific kinase (Lck) knockdown with specific small interfering RNA (siRNA), we show that the killing of the recognizing CD8 T cell is perforin dependent and is initiated by Lck signaling in the CTL. Collectively, these data suggest a novel mechanism in which the entire cascade generally triggered by TCR engagement is “hijacked” in CTLs serving as targets for T cell recognition without TCR ligation.
The prognostic and functional role of microRNAs in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Marcucci Guido , Mrózek Krzysztof , Radmacher Michael D. , Garzon Ramiro , Bloomfield Clara D. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractExpression of microRNAs, a new class of noncoding RNAs that hybridize to target messenger RNA and regulate their translation into proteins, has been recently demonstrated to be altered in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Distinctive patterns of increased expression and/or silencing of multiple microRNAs (microRNA signatures) have been associated with specific cytogenetic and molecular subsets of AML. Changes in the expression of several microRNAs altered in AML have been shown to have functional relevance in leukemogenesis, with some microRNAs acting as oncogenes and others as tumor suppressors. Both microRNA signatures and a single microRNA (ie, miR-181a) have been shown to supply prognostic information complementing that gained from cytogenetics, gene mutations, and altered gene expression. Moreover, it has been demonstrated experimentally that antileukemic effects can be achieved by modulating microRNA expression by pharmacologic agents and/or increasing low endogenous levels of microRNAs with tumor suppressor function by synthetic microRNA oligonucleotides, or down-regulating high endogenous levels of leukemogenic microRNAs by antisense oligonucleotides (antagomirs). Therefore, it is reasonable to predict the development of novel microRNA-based therapeutic approaches in AML. We review herein results of current studies analyzing changes of microRNA expression in AML and discuss their potential biologic, diagnostic, and prognostic relevance.
Laparoscopic versus conventional appendectomy - a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Xiaohang , Zhang Jialin , Sang Lixuan , Zhang Wenliang , Chu Zhiqiang , Li Xin , Liu Yongfeng 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Although laparoscopic surgery has been available for a long time and laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been performed universally, it is still not clear whether open appendectomy (OA) or laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is the most appropriate surgical approach to acute appendicitis. The purpose of this work is to compare the therapeutic effects and safety of laparoscopic and conventional "open" appendectomy by means of a meta-analysis.

Methods
A meta-analysis was performed of all randomized controlled trials published in English that compared LA and OA in adults and children between 1990 and 2009. Calculations were made of the effect sizes of: operating time, postoperative length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, return to normal activity, resumption of diet, complications rates, and conversion to open surgery. The effect sizes were then pooled by a fixed or random-effects model.

Results
Forty-four randomized controlled trials with 5292 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Operating time was 12.35 min longer for LA (95% CI: 7.99 to 16.72, p < 0.00001). Hospital stay after LA was 0.60 days shorter (95% CI: -0.85 to -0.36, p < 0.00001). Patients returned to their normal activity 4.52 days earlier after LA (95% CI: -5.95 to -3.10, p < 0.00001), and resumed their diet 0.34 days earlier(95% CI: -0.46 to -0.21, p < 0.00001). Pain after LA on the first postoperative day was significantly less (p = 0.008). The overall conversion rate from LA to OA was 9.51%. With regard to the rate of complications, wound infection after LA was definitely reduced (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.59, p < 0.00001), while postoperative ileus was not significantly reduced(OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.47, p = 0.71). However, intra-abdominal abscess (IAA), intraoperative bleeding and urinary tract infection (UIT) after LA, occurred slightly more frequently(OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.43, p = 0.05; OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.54 to 4.48, p = 0.41; OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 0.58 to 5.29, p = 0.32).

Conclusion
LA provides considerable benefits over OA, including a shorter length of hospital stay, less postoperative pain, earlier postoperative recovery, and a lower complication rate. Furthermore, over the study period it was obvious that there had been a trend toward fewer differences in operating time for the two procedures. Although LA was associated with a slight increase in the incidence of IAA, intraoperative bleeding and UIT, it is a safe procedure. It may be that the widespread use of LA is due to its better therapeutic effect.
Testing for sexually transmitted infections in general practice: cross-sectional study
Authors: Sadler Katharine E , Low Nicola , Mercer Catherine H , Sutcliffe Lorna J , Islam M Amir , Shafi Shuja , Brook Gary M , Maguire Helen , Horner Patrick J , Cassell Jackie A 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Primary care is an important provider of sexual health care in England. We sought to explore the extent of testing for chlamydia and HIV in general practice and its relation to associated measures of sexual health in two contrasting geographical settings.

Methods
We analysed chlamydia and HIV testing data from 64 general practices and one genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic in Brent (from mid-2003 to mid-2006) and 143 general practices and two GUM clinics in Avon (2004). We examined associations between practice testing status, practice characteristics and hypothesised markers of population need (area level teenage conception rates and Index of Multiple Deprivation, IMD scores).

Results
No HIV or chlamydia testing was done in 19% (12/64) of general practices in Brent, compared to 2.1% (3/143) in Avon. In Brent, the mean age of general practitioners (GPs) in Brent practices that tested for chlamydia or HIV was lower than in those that had not conducted testing. Practices where no HIV testing was done had slightly higher local teenage conception rates (median 23.5 vs. 17.4/1000 women aged 15-44, p = 0.07) and served more deprived areas (median IMD score 27.1 vs. 21.8, p = 0.05). Mean yearly chlamydia and HIV testing rates, in practices that did test were 33.2 and 0.6 (per 1000 patients aged 15-44 years) in Brent, and 34.1 and 10.3 in Avon, respectively. In Brent practices only 20% of chlamydia tests were conducted in patients aged under 25 years, compared with 39% in Avon.

Conclusions
There are substantial geographical differences in the intensity of chlamydia and HIV testing in general practice. Interventions to facilitate sexually transmitted infection and HIV testing in general practice are needed to improve access to effective sexual health care. The use of routinely-collected laboratory, practice-level and demographic data for monitoring sexual health service provision and informing service planning should be more widely evaluated.
MicroRNA profiling of tomato leaf curl new delhi virus (tolcndv) infected tomato leaves indicates that deregulation of mir159/319 and mir172 might be linked with leaf curl disease
Authors: Naqvi Afsar R , Haq Qazi MR , Mukherjee Sunil K 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV), a constituent of the genus Begomovirus, infects tomato and other plants with a hallmark disease symptom of upward leaf curling. Since microRNAs (miRs) are known to control plants developmental processes, we evaluated the roles of miRNAs in Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) induced leaf curling.

Results
Microarray analyses of miRNAs, isolated from the leaves of both healthy and ToLCNDV agroinfected tomato cv Pusa Ruby, revealed that ToLCNDV infection significantly deregulated various miRNAs representing ~13 different conserved families (e.g., miR319, miR172, etc.). The precursors of these miRNAs showed similar deregulated patterns, indicating that the transcription regulation of respective miRNA genes was perhaps the cause of deregulation. The expression levels of the miRNA-targeted genes were antagonistic with respect to the amount of corresponding miRNA. Such deregulation was tissue-specific in nature as no analogous misexpression was found in flowers. The accumulation of miR159/319 and miR172 was observed to increase with the days post inoculation (dpi) of ToLCNDV agroinfection in tomato cv Pusa Ruby. Similarly, these miRs were also induced in ToLCNDV agroinfected tomato cv JK Asha and chilli plants, both exhibiting leaf curl symptoms. Our results indicate that miR159/319 and miR172 might be associated with leaf curl symptoms. This report raises the possibility of using miRNA(s) as potential signature molecules for ToLCNDV infection.

Conclusions
The expression of several host miRNAs is affected in response to viral infection. The levels of the corresponding pre-miRs and the predicted targets were also deregulated. This change in miRNA expression levels was specific to leaf tissues and observed to be associated with disease progression. Thus, certain host miRs are likely indicator of viral infection and could be potentially employed to develop viral resistance strategies.
Efficient Visual Recalibration from Either Visual or Haptic Feedback: The Importance of Being Wrong
Authors: Adams Wendy J. , Kerrigan Iona S. , Graf Erich W. 
Published: November 2010

The human visual system adapts to the changing statistics of its environment. For example, the light-from-above prior, an assumption that aids the interpretation of ambiguous shading information, can be modified by haptic (touch) feedback. Here we investigate the mechanisms that drive this adaptive learning. In particular, we ask whether visual information can be as effective as haptics in driving visual recalibration and whether increased information (feedback from multiple modalities) induces faster learning.During several hours' training, feedback encouraged observers to modify their existing light-from-above assumption. Feedback was one of the following: (1) haptic only, (2) haptic and stereoscopic (providing binocular shape information), or (3) stereoscopic only. Haptic-only feedback resulted in substantial learning; the perceived shape of shaded objects was modified in accordance with observers' new light priors. However, the addition of continuous visual feedback (condition 2) substantially reduced learning. When visual-only feedback was provided intermittently (condition 3), mimicking the time course of the haptic feedback of conditions 1 and 2, substantial learning returned.The intermittent nature of conflict information, or feedback, appears critical for learning. It causes an initial, erroneous percept to be corrected. Contrary to previous proposals, we found no particular advantage for cross-modal feedback. Instead, we suggest that an “oops” factor drives efficient learning; recalibration is prioritized when a mismatch exists between sequential representations of an object property. This “oops” factor appears important both across and within sensory modalities, suggesting a general principle for perceptual learning and recalibration.
Safety of Bevacizumab in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Geiger-Gritsch Sabine , Stollenwerk Bjoern , Miksad Rebecca , Guba Beate , Wild Claudia , Siebert Uwe 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Objective.
We performed a meta-analysis on adverse events seen with bevacizumab to combine the existing evidence about its safety in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods.
A systematic literature search was conducted to identify published, randomized controlled trials of bevacizumab in cancer patients with data on adverse events available. The primary endpoint was “severe adverse event,” a composite of grade 3 and 4 adverse events. Secondary endpoints for the exploratory analysis were individual adverse events. We used random-effects meta-analysis to combine data.

Results.
Thirteen eligible publications were identified and eight trials reported the primary endpoint. Compared with the control group, the bevacizumab group had a slightly higher risk for any severe adverse event (pooled relative risk, 1.10; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.01–1.19). The pooled risk difference was 7% (95% CI, 1%–13%), with a number needed to harm of 14 treated patients. Exploratory analyses showed a statistically significant higher risk for eight of the 15 evaluated secondary endpoints: bevacizumab was associated with a fourfold higher risk for hypertension, epistaxis, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage/perforation; a threefold higher risk for any bleeding events; and a lower, but elevated risk for proteinuria, leukopenia, diarrhea, and asthenia. No statistically significant differences were found for any thrombotic event (arterial or venous), hemoptysis, cardiac event, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, impaired wound healing, or death related to an adverse event.

Conclusion.
Treatment with bevacizumab was associated with a slightly higher risk for any severe (grade 3 or 4) adverse event in patients with cancer. The result may impact individual benefit–risk assessments and policy guidelines.
Northeast Pacific record of the Cretaceous marine gastropodAtiraand a review of its paleobiogeography
Authors: Squires Richard L. 
Published: November 2010

The Cretaceous record of the shallow-marine margaritine gastropod genusAtiraStewart, 1927 in the region extending from Vancouver Island, to northern Baja California is studied in detail for the first time. It is represented byA. popenoein. sp. (late Turonian to earliest Campanian),A. ornatissima(Gabb, 1864) (latest Santonian to late Campanian or possibly early Maastrichtian), andA. inornata(Gabb, 1864) (“mid” Maastrichtian), which is the youngest known species ofAtira.Atiraoriginated in the tropical waters of the Tethys Sea in western Europe as early as the Early Cretaceous, possibly during the Hauterivian but was present there by the late Aptian to early Albian. The genus subsequently immigrated to other regions and became adapted to warm-temperate waters. By the late Turonian it had migrated westward to northern California. During the Campanian it reached south Sakhalin and in the earliest Maastrichtian it was present in southwest Japan. AlthoughAtira?nebrascensis(Meek and Hayden, 1856) has been questionably reported from Campanian to “mid” Maastrichtian deposits in the Wyoming area of the Western Interior Basin, this species does not belong in genusAtira.
Sorption of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions in the presence of the methylglycinediacetic acid by microporous ion exchangers and sorbents from aqueous solutions
Authors: Jachuła Justyna , Kołodyńska Dorota , Hubicki Zbigniew 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
In the presented paper the use of a novel environmentally friendly aminopolycarboxylate chelating agent trisodium salt of methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA) to inactivate various metal ions by complex formation in microporous anion exchangers and sorbents was tested. MGDA is a new generation of chelator, undergoing biodegradation. The removal of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions in the presence of MGDA on microporous anion exchangers of the Lewatit group with different basicity of functional centres as well as on nitrolite and clinoptilolite was described. The studies were carried out by the dynamic (column) and the static (batch) methods. The influence of several parameters such as the concentration of analyzed metal ions, pH and temperature were studied with respect to sorption equilibrium. The sorption isotherms were obtained and fitted using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. Kinetic curves were also fitted using pseudo first order, pseudo second order as well as the intraparticle diffusion model equations to evaluate the most effective one.
Involvement of genetic instability in the downregulation of sFRP1 in Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Qiu Yunqing , Xu Liqian , Zhou Yang‐Huai , Shi Ming , MA Yingyu , Li Meng , Li Ji‐Cheng 
Published: November 2010

AbstractSecreted frizzled‐related protein 1 (sFRP1) is a new tumor suppressor based on recent researches, but the correlation of the genetic instability of sFRP1 gene with the clinicopathologic features of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been studied in Chinese people. In this study, 42 pairs of paraffin‐embedded HCC and adjacent non‐carcinoma tissues were examined for the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) of two microsatellite markers D8S532 and D8S1722 located in the vicinity of the sFRP1 gene. Envision immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of sFRP1. We found that the reduced expression of the sFRP1 protein was frequently observed in Chinese patients with HCC, which may at least partially result from the genetic instability, especially LOH. The LOH‐associated sFRP1 downregulation may play an important role in the development of HCC. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identifying and classifying hyperostosis frontalis interna via computerized tomography
Authors: May Hila , Peled Nathan , Dar Gali , Hay Ori , Abbas Janan , Masharawi Youssef , Hershkovitz Israel 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe aim of this study was to recognize the radiological characteristics of hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) and to establish a valid and reliable method for its identification and classification. A reliability test was carried out on 27 individuals who had undergone a head computerized tomography (CT) scan. Intra‐observer reliability was obtained by examining the images three times, by the same researcher, with a 2‐week interval between each sample ranking. The inter‐observer test was performed by three independent researchers. A validity test was carried out using two methods for identifying and classifying HFI: 46 cadaver skullcaps were ranked twice via computerized tomography scans and then by direct observation. Reliability and validity were calculated using Kappa test (SPSS 15.0). Reliability tests of ranking HFI via CT scans demonstrated good results (K > 0.7). As for validity, a very good consensus was obtained between the CT and direct observation, when moderate and advanced types of HFI were present (K = 0.82). The suggested classification method for HFI, using CT, demonstrated a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 90.5%, and positive predictive value of 91.3%. In conclusion, volume rendering is a reliable and valid tool for identifying HFI. The suggested three‐scale classification is most suitable for radiological diagnosis of the phenomena. Considering the increasing awareness of HFI as an early indicator of a developing malady, this study may assist radiologists in identifying and classifying the phenomena. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of the Dorsal Circumorbital Bones in the Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) and Its Bearing on the Homology of These Elements in the Gekkota
Authors: Wise Patrick Arthur David , Russell Anthony Patrick 
Published: November 2010

AbstractFive nominal elements comprise the circumorbital series of bones in gekkotans: prefrontal, postfrontal, postorbital, jugal, and lacrimal. Determination of the homology of two of these, the postfrontal and postorbital, has been particularly problematic. Two conflicting hypothesis exist relating to these: either the postorbital is lost and the postfrontal remains or they fuse during development to form a combined element, the postorbitofrontal. Such a combined element apparently occurs in at least some members of all lizard clades. There is, however, no direct developmental evidence that supports either theory. To overcome that, we investigate the sequence and pattern of ossification in the circumorbital region in a developmental series of the Leopard gecko. We posit that both the postfrontal and postorbital appear during development. Contrary to previous predictions they neither fuses to each other, nor do either degenerate. Instead, the postfrontal shifts anteriorly and fuses with the frontal to become indistinguishable from it by the time of hatching, and the postorbital persists as a robust independent element bounding the frontoparietal suture. These observations accord, in part, with both hypotheses of homology of these elements and result in the recognition of a new pattern, placing in doubt the existence of the composite postorbitofrontal. The phylogenetic implications of these findings may prove to be far reaching if similar and conserved patterns of development are encountered in other clades. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.