bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Figure–Ground Representation and Its Decay in Primary Visual Cortex
Authors: Strother Lars , Lavell Cheryl , Vilis Tutis 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
We used fMRI to study figure–ground representation and its decay in primary visual cortex (V1). Human observers viewed a motion-defined figure that gradually became camouflaged by a cluttered background after it stopped moving. V1 showed positive fMRI responses corresponding to the moving figure and negative fMRI responses corresponding to the static background. This positive–negative delineation of V1 “figure” and “background” fMRI responses defined a retinotopically organized figure–ground representation that persisted after the figure stopped moving but eventually decayed. The temporal dynamics of V1 “figure” and “background” fMRI responses differed substantially. Positive “figure” responses continued to increase for several seconds after the figure stopped moving and remained elevated after the figure had disappeared. We propose that the sustained positive V1 “figure” fMRI responses reflected both persistent figure–ground representation and sustained attention to the location of the figure after its disappearance, as did subjects' reports of persistence. The decreasing “background” fMRI responses were relatively shorter-lived and less biased by spatial attention. Our results show that the transition from a vivid figure–ground percept to its disappearance corresponds to the concurrent decay of figure enhancement and background suppression in V1, both of which play a role in form-based perceptual memory.
Multa curiosa Vallisneri's Early Studies on Earth Sciences
Authors: Luzzini Francesco 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn 1687, after he graduated in Medicine, young Antonio Vallisneri (1661-1730) returned in the Duchy of Modena and Reggio. In those years he mainly served as general practitioner; nevertheless, he also devoted many studies to various aspects of the natural sciences. He performed many observations, accurately reporting them in seven Quaderni, which were compiled between 1694 and 1701.Though the Earth sciences occupy only a small part of these diaries, the accuracy of the notes makes them a precious token of the scientific praxis adopted by the author in this field of study. This paper deals with the analysis of these early geological reports, pointing out the main criteria of Vallisneri's experimental method and paying attention to the great significance which these documents had in the elaboration of some of his published works.
OSCE field activities: verbal encouragement, factual cutback
Authors: Evers Frank 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe OSCE reality reveals an ambiguous picture of the Organization's field activities. There is significant verbal encouragement, but also hesitation about further field engagements and an alarming actual cutback of existing field missions. During the Corfu Process in 2009-10, the participating States shared with each other opinions on these processes in a friendly tone which was as such a positive signal. At the OSCE Summit in Astana in December 2010, the Heads of State or Government of the 56 OSCE participating States collectively emphasized the value of the OSCE field missions. Beyond the declarations however, the picture is quite disappointing, the reduction of OSCE field activities that started about a decade ago continues on. Reasons include the marginalisation of the OSCE in general and emphasis put on other international organisations, fundamental mistrust and divergences between participating States, the perception of OSCE field operations as vehicles for interfering into internal affairs and traditional zones of interest, budgetary constraints of many participating States, shifts of regional interests and the takeover of various activities and responsibilities by the European Union, especially in South-eastern Europe. Apart from this, it is particularly disquieting that the OSCE is clearly about to lose its position as leading conflict manager. The second Kyrgyz crisis in June 2010 demonstrated once again the deep uncertainties in various participating States about OSCE conflict mediation. Aside from diverse brainstorming activities hosted by the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship in 2011, there is currently no fundamental discussion on preventing the Organization's field activities from slowly, but surely losing profile and standing.
The OSCE contribution to democratization in North African countries
Authors: Wohlfeld Monika 
Published: December 2011

AbstractThe article focuses on a possible assistance of the OSCE to North African countries in political transition following the events of the so called 'Arab Spring'. The OSCE has extensive experience in relevant realms. It also has a long-standing institutionalized dialogue and co-operation with a number of North African states.
The discussion within the Organization itself on what the OSCE could offer and with states such as Tunisia on their needs has began in January 2011, and is ongoing. The OSCE has also implemented first hands-on projects aimed at supporting the transitions processes in those countries, and linked to the on-going election processes there. But the OSCE Mediterranean dialogue suffers from the institutional context in which the Mediterranean Partners have the status akin to that of observers, and a certain lack of vision.
Multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in preclinical studies for pediatric CNS AT/RT: Evidence for synergy with Topoisomerase-I inhibition
Authors: Jayanthan Aarthi , Bernoux Delphine , Bose Pinaki , Riabowol Karl , Narendran Aru 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Currently, Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT) constitutes one of the most difficult to treat malignancies in pediatrics. Hence, new knowledge of potential targets for therapeutics and the development of novel treatment approaches are urgently needed. We have evaluated the presence of cytokine pathways and the effects of two clinically available multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors for cytotoxicity, target modulation and drug combinability against AT/RT cell lines.

Results
AT/RT cell lines expressed measurable quantities of VEGF, FGF, PDGF and SDF-1, although the absolute amounts varied between the cell lines. The targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib inhibited the key signaling molecule Erk, which was activated following the addition of own conditioned media, suggesting the existence of autocrine/paracrine growth stimulatory pathways. The multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib also showed significant growth inhibition of AT/RT cells and their activity was enhanced by combination with the topoisomerase inhibitor, irinotecan. The loss of cytoplasmic NF-kappa-B in response to irinotecan was diminished by sorafenib, providing evidence for a possible benefit for this drug combination.

Conclusions
In addition to previously described involvement of insulin like growth factor (IGF) family of cytokines, a multitude of other growth factors may contribute to the growth and survival of AT/RT cells. However, consistent with the heterogeneous nature of this tumor, quantitative and qualitative differences may exist among different tumor samples. Multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors appear to have effective antitumor activity against all cell lines studied. In addition, the target modulation studies and drug combinability data provide the groundwork for additional studies and support the evaluation of these agents in future treatment protocols.
Cluster-randomized study of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in infants (IPTi) in southern Tanzania: evaluation of impact on survival
Authors: Schellenberg Joanna RM Armstrong , Maokola Werner , Shirima Kizito , Manzi Fatuma , Mrisho Mwifadhi , Mushi Adiel , Alonso Pedro , Mshinda Hassan , Tanner Marcel , Schellenberg David M 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Intermittent Preventive Treatment for malaria control in infants (IPTi) consists of the administration of a treatment dose of an anti-malarial drug, usually sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, at scheduled intervals, regardless of the presence of Plasmodium falciparum infection. A pooled analysis of individually randomized trials reported that IPTi reduced clinical episodes by 30%. This study evaluated the effect of IPTi on child survival in the context of a five-district implementation project in southern Tanzania. [Trial registration: clinical trials.gov NCT00152204].

Methods
After baseline household and health facility surveys in 2004, five districts comprising 24 divisions were randomly assigned either to receive IPTi (n = 12) or not (n = 12). Implementation started in March 2005, led by routine health services with support from the research team. In 2007, a large household survey was undertaken to assess the impact of IPTi on survival in infants aged two-11 months through birth history interviews with all women aged 13-49 years. The analysis is based on an "intention-to-treat" ecological design, with survival outcomes analysed according to the cluster in which the mothers lived.

Results
Survival in infants aged two-11 months was comparable in IPTi and comparison areas at baseline. In intervention areas in 2007, 48% of children aged 12-23 months had documented evidence of receiving three doses of IPTi, compared to 2% in comparison areas (P < 0.0001). Over the three years of the study there was a marked improvement in survival in both groups. Between 2001-4 and 2005-7, mortality rates in two-11 month olds fell from 34.1 to 23.6 per 1,000 person-years in intervention areas and from 32.3 to 20.7 in comparison areas. In 2007, divisions implementing IPTi had a 14% (95% CI -12%, 49%) higher mortality rate in two-11 month olds in comparison with non-implementing divisions (P = 0.31).

Conclusion
The lack of evidence of an effect of IPTi on survival could be a false negative result due to a lack of power or imbalance of unmeasured confounders. Alternatively, there could be no mortality impact of IPTi due to low coverage, late administration, drug resistance, decreased malaria transmission or improvements in vector control and case management. This study raises important questions for programme evaluation design.
Health effects of dietary phospholipids
Authors: Küllenberg Daniela , Taylor Lenka A , Schneider Michael , Massing Ulrich 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Beneficial effects of dietary phospholipids (PLs) have been mentioned since the early 1900's in relation to different illnesses and symptoms, e.g. coronary heart disease, inflammation or cancer. This article gives a summary of the most common therapeutic uses of dietary PLs to provide an overview of their approved and proposed benefits; and to identify further investigational needs.
From the majority of the studies it became evident that dietary PLs have a positive impact in several diseases, apparently without severe side effects. Furthermore, they were shown to reduce side effects of some drugs. Both effects can partially be explained by the fact that PL are highly effective in delivering their fatty acid (FA) residues for incorporation into the membranes of cells involved in different diseases, e.g. immune or cancer cells. The altered membrane composition is assumed to have effects on the activity of membrane proteins (e.g. receptors) by affecting the microstructure of membranes and, therefore, the characteristics of the cellular membrane, e.g. of lipid rafts, or by influencing the biosynthesis of FA derived lipid second messengers. However, since the FAs originally bound to the applied PLs are increased in the cellular membrane after their consumption or supplementation, the FA composition of the PL and thus the type of PL is crucial for its effect. Here, we have reviewed the effects of PL from soy, egg yolk, milk and marine sources. Most studies have been performed in vitro or in animals and only limited evidence is available for the benefit of PL supplementation in humans. More research is needed to understand the impact of PL supplementation and confirm its health benefits.
Novel water-soluble polyurethane nanomicelles for cancer chemotherapy: physicochemical characterization and cellular activities
Authors: Khosroushahi Ahmad Yari , Naderi-Manesh Hossein , Yeganeh Hamid , Barar Jaleh , Omidi Yadollah 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackgroundEfficient delivery of anticancer chemotherapies such as paclitaxel (PTX) can improve treatment strategy in a variety of tumors such as breast and ovarian cancers. Accordingly, researches on polymeric nanomicelles continue to find suitable delivery systems. However, due to biocompatibility concerns, a few micellar nanoformulations have exquisitely been translated into clinical uses. Here, we report the synthesis of novel water-soluble nanomicelles using bioactive polyurethane (PU) polymer and efficient delivery of PTX in the human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.ResultsThe amphiphilic polyurethane was prepared through formation of urethane bounds between hydroxyl groups in poly (tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMEG) and dimethylol propionic acid with isocyanate groups in toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The free isocyanate groups were blocked with phenol, while the free carboxyl groups of dimethylol propionic acid were reacted with triethylamine to attain ionic centers in the polymer backbone. These hydrophobic PTMEG blocks displayed self-assembly forming polymeric nanomicelles in water. The PTX loaded PU nanomicelles showed suitable physical stability, negative zeta potential charge (-43) and high loading efficiency (80%) with low level of critical micelle concentration (CMC). In vitro drug release profile showed a faster rate of drug liberation at pH 5.4 as compared to that of pH 7.4, implying involvement of a pH-sensitive mechanism for drug release from the nanomicelles. The kinetic of release exquisitely obeyed the Higuchi model, confirming involvement of diffusion and somewhat erosion at pH 5.4. These nanomicelles significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of the human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, leading them to apoptosis. The real time RT-PCR analysis confirmed the activation of apoptosis as result of liberation of cytochrome c in the cells treated with the PTX loaded PU nanomicelles. The comet assay analysis showed somewhat DNA fragmentation in the treated cells.ConclusionsBased upon these findings, we propose that the bioactive waterborne polyurethane nanomicelles can be used as an effective nanocarrier for delivery of anticancer chemotherapies such as paclitaxel.
Ga-doped ZnO transparent electrodes with TiO2 blocking layer/nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Kim Ji-Hong , Lee Kyung-Ju , Roh Ji-Hyung , Song Sang-Woo , Park Jae-Ho , Yer In-Hyung , Moon Byung-Moo 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Ga-doped ZnO [GZO] thin films were employed for the transparent electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs]. The electrical property of the deposited GZO films was as good as that of commercially used fluorine-doped tin oxide [FTO]. In order to protect the GZO and enhance the photovoltaic properties, a TiO2 blocking layer was deposited on the GZO surface. Then, TiO2 nanoparticles were coated on the blocking layer, and dye was attached for the fabrication of DSSCs. The fabricated DSSCs with the GZO/TiO2 glasses showed an enhanced conversion efficiency of 4.02% compared to the devices with the normal GZO glasses (3.36%). Furthermore, they showed better characteristics even than those using the FTO glasses, which can be attributed to the reduced charge recombination and series resistance.
Enhanced electrochemical properties of fluoride-coated LiCoO2 thin films
Authors: Lee Hye Jin , Kim Seuk Buom , Park Yong Joon 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
The electrochemical properties of fluoride-coated lithium cobalt oxide [LiCoO2] thin films were characterized. Aluminum fluoride [AlF3] and lanthanum fluoride [LaF3] coating layers were fabricated on a pristine LiCoO2 thin film by using a spin-coating process. The AlF3- and LaF3-coated films exhibited a higher rate capability, cyclic performance, and stability at high temperature than the pristine film. This indicates that the AlF3 and LaF3 layers effectively protected the surface of the pristine LiCoO2 film from the reactive electrolyte.
Non-stem cancer cell kinetics modulate solid tumor progression
Authors: Morton Charles I , Hlatky Lynn , Hahnfeldt Philip , Enderling Heiko 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Solid tumors are heterogeneous in composition. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed to drive tumor progression, but the relative frequencies of CSCs versus non-stem cancer cells span wide ranges even within tumors arising from the same tissue type. Tumor growth kinetics and composition can be studied through an agent-based cellular automaton model using minimal sets of biological assumptions and parameters. Herein we describe a pivotal role for the generational life span of non-stem cancer cells in modulating solid tumor progression in silico.

Results
We demonstrate that although CSCs are necessary for progression, their expansion and consequently tumor growth kinetics are surprisingly modulated by the dynamics of the non-stem cancer cells. Simulations reveal that slight variations in non-stem cancer cell proliferative capacity can result in tumors with distinctly different growth kinetics. Longer generational life spans yield self-inhibited tumors, as the emerging population of non-stem cancer cells spatially impedes expansion of the CSC compartment. Conversely, shorter generational life spans yield persistence-limited tumors, with symmetric division frequency of CSCs determining tumor growth rate. We show that the CSC fraction of a tumor population can vary by multiple orders of magnitude as a function of the generational life span of the non-stem cancer cells.

Conclusions
Our study suggests that variability in the growth rate and CSC content of solid tumors may be, in part, attributable to the proliferative capacity of the non-stem cancer cell population that arises during asymmetric division of CSCs. In our model, intermediate proliferative capacities give rise to the fastest-growing tumors, resulting in self-metastatic expansion driven by a balance between symmetric CSC division and expansion of the non-stem cancer population. Our results highlight the importance of non-stem cancer cell dynamics in the CSC hypothesis, and may offer a novel explanation for the large variations in CSC fractions reported in vivo.
Modularity detection in protein-protein interaction networks
Authors: Narayanan Tejaswini , Gersten Merril , Subramaniam Shankar , Grama Ananth 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Many recent studies have investigated modularity in biological networks, and its role in functional and structural characterization of constituent biomolecules. A technique that has shown considerable promise in the domain of modularity detection is the Newman and Girvan (NG) algorithm, which relies on the number of shortest-paths across pairs of vertices in the network traversing a given edge, referred to as the betweenness of that edge. The edge with the highest betweenness is iteratively eliminated from the network, with the betweenness of the remaining edges recalculated in every iteration. This generates a complete dendrogram, from which modules are extracted by applying a quality metric called modularity denoted by Q. This exhaustive computation can be prohibitively expensive for large networks such as Protein-Protein Interaction Networks. In this paper, we present a novel optimization to the modularity detection algorithm, in terms of an efficient termination criterion based on a target edge betweenness value, using which the process of iterative edge removal may be terminated.

Results
We validate the robustness of our approach by applying our algorithm on real-world protein-protein interaction networks of Yeast, C.Elegans and Drosophila, and demonstrate that our algorithm consistently has significant computational gains in terms of reduced runtime, when compared to the NG algorithm. Furthermore, our algorithm produces modules comparable to those from the NG algorithm, qualitatively and quantitatively. We illustrate this using comparison metrics such as module distribution, module membership cardinality, modularity Q, and Jaccard Similarity Coefficient.

Conclusions
We have presented an optimized approach for efficient modularity detection in networks. The intuition driving our approach is the extraction of holistic measures of centrality from graphs, which are representative of inherent modular structure of the underlying network, and the application of those measures to efficiently guide the modularity detection process. We have empirically evaluated our approach in the specific context of real-world large scale biological networks, and have demonstrated significant savings in computational time while maintaining comparable quality of detected modules.
PTPN22 polymorphisms may indicate a role for this gene in atopic dermatitis in West Highland white terriers
Authors: Roque Joana Barros , O'Leary Caroline A , Kyaw-Tanner Myat , Duffy David L , Gharahkhani Puya , Vogelnest Linda , Mason Kenneth , Shipstone Michael 
Published: December 2011

Abstract

Background
Canine atopic dermatitis is an allergic inflammatory skin disease common in West Highland white terriers. A genome-wide association study for atopic dermatitis in a population of West Highland white terriers identified a 1.3 Mb area of association on CFA17 containing canine protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (lymphoid) PTPN22. This gene is a potential candidate gene for canine atopic dermatitis as it encodes a lymphoid-specific signalling mediator that regulates T-cell and possibly B-cell activity.

Findings
Sequencing of PTPN22 in three atopic and three non-atopic West Highland white terriers identified 18 polymorphisms, including five genetic variants with a bioinformatically predicted functional effect. An intronic polymorphic repeat sequence variant was excluded as the cause of the genome-wide association study peak signal, by large-scale genotyping in 72 West Highland white terriers (gene-dropping simulation method, P = 0.01).

Conclusions
This study identified 18 genetic variants in PTPN22 that might be associated with atopic dermatitis in West Highland white terriers. This preliminary data may direct further study on the role of PTPN22 in this disease. Large scale genotyping and complementary genomic and proteomic assays would be required to assess this possibility.