bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economic Evaluation of a School-based Combined Program with a Targeted Pit and Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Mouth Rinse in Japan
Authors: Sakuma Shihoko , Yoshihara Akihiro , Miyazaki Hideo , Kobayashi Seigo 
Published: March 2012

Background:
In Niigata prefecture, Japan, a system has been developed based on a school-based fluoride mouth rinse program as follows; students with caries susceptible teeth are screened in a school dental examination, and encouraged to receive sealant placement in local dental clinics. However, the cost-effectiveness of sealant application in the public health has been questioned. The aim of this study was to estimate of the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit ratio for a school-based combined program with fluoride mouth rinse and targeted fissure sealant in children residing in non-fluoridated areas in Japan.

Participants:
The analysis was based on comparing an intervention group with two cohorts in the 8-year-old (n=66) and 11-year-old (n=58) participating in the combined program for four and seven years, respectively, with a control group of the same grades (n=43 and n=54 respectively).

Methods:
The study measured mean differences in number of decayed and filled teeth (DFT) between the study groups and a combined program cost per child during study periods. The cost-effectiveness ratio was expressed as an individual annual program cost per DFT averted. In the cost-benefit ratio the mean difference in treatment cost between groups (program benefit) was compared to program cost.

Results:
The mean reduced DFT differences between groups were 1.44 in 8-year-old and 3.17 in 11-year-old children. The cost-effectiveness ratio was ¥ 493 in the 8-year-old and ¥ 202 in the 11-year-old, respectively. The cost-benefit ratio was 1.84 in 8-year-old children and 2.42 in 11-year-old.

Conclusion:
This combined program indicated acceptable cost-effectiveness and cost –benefit ratio.
In Vitro Osteogenic Induction Of Human Gingival Fibroblasts For Bone Regeneration
Authors: Mostafa Nesrine Z , Uludağ Hasan , Varkey Mathew , Dederich Douglas N , Doschak Michael R , El-Bialy Tarek H 
Published: March 2012

Background And Objective:Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease causing bone loss, and is a primary cause of tooth loss. Gingival fibroblasts are readily available with minimal donor site morbidity and may be ideal for tissue engineering efforts in regenerating lost alveolar bone. Dexamethasone (Dex) is commonly employed forin vitroosteogenic induction of a variety of cells, but its effect on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) is still controversial. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the osteogenic differentiation of HGF following Dex treatment.Methods:Cultured HGFs were exposed to osteogenic medium containing a wide range of Dex concentrations (0.01-10 µM). The osteogenic phenotype was assessed based on changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, the mRNA expression of selected extracellular matrix proteins critical for mineralization and the extent of extracellular mineralization (Von Kossa staining and Ca-content).Results:All assays showed a consistent and maximal osteogenic effect of Dex on HGF at 0.1 and 0.5 µM (weeks 3 and 4), as evidenced by significant osteopontin and osteocalcin expression and mineralization. Longer cultures (week 4) also yielded positive osteogenic effect of Dex at 0.01 µM. Moreover, ALP activity was significantly stimulated at 0.1 and 0.5 µM Dex initially after one week, but ALP was subsequently reduced under Dex. Higher Dex concentrations caused down regulation of osteogenic effects observed at the optimal (0.1-0.5 µM) concentrations.Conclusion:Under appropriate osteogenic conditioning, Dex treated HGFs could be a potential source of cells for cell-based therapy for periodontal bone regeneration.
The Impact of Tax Incentives on the Choice to Hold Shares Acquired from Employee Stock Option Exercises
Authors: Huston G. Ryan , Smith Thomas J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT
This paper extends prior stock option literature by examining the impact of individual and corporate tax incentives on the decision to hold or sell shares acquired through the exercises of incentive stock options (ISOs) and non-qualified stock options (NQSOs). We focus on factors found in prior literature to be associated with the choice to hold or sell in the context of the type of stock option exercised. Specifically, we find that the positive (negative) relation found in prior literature between the decision to hold shares following exercise and future returns (depth) is associated more with NQSOs than ISOs, consistent with individual tax incentives. Examining corporate tax incentives, we find that corporate tax benefits mitigate insiders' likelihood to hold shares obtained from ISO exercise. Furthermore, we find evidence that firms compensate employees to forgo individual tax benefits associated with holding shares from ISO exercise, and as this compensation increases, insiders are more likely to sell following exercise.
JEL Classifications: H24; H25; J33.
Upper and lower body coordination in FES-assisted sit-to-stand transfers in paraplegic subjects - A case study
Authors: Jović Jovana , Coste Christine Azevedo , Fraisse Philippe , Fattal Charles 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The objective of the work presented is to improve functional electrical stimulation (FES) assisted sit-to-stand motion in complete paraplegic individuals by restoring coordination between the upper part of the subject’s body, under voluntary control, and the lower part of the body, under FES control. The proposed approach is based on the observation of trunk movement during rising motion and a detection algorithm, which triggers a pre-programmed stimulation pattern. We present a pilot study carried out on one T6 paraplegic subject. We validated the ability of the subject to produce repeatable trunk acceleration during sit-to-stand transfers under FES and, the ability of the system to trigger the stimulator at the desired instant in time. We also analyzed the influence of the timing of leg stimulation, relative to the trunk acceleration profile, on upper limb efforts applied during sit-to-stand motion.
Leaf epidermal features of Salix species (Salicaceae) and their systematic significance
Authors: Ghahremaninejad Farrokh , Khalili Zohreh , Maassoumi Ali Asghar , Mirzaie‐Nodoushan Hossein , Riahi Mehrshid 
Published: March 2012

• Premise of the study: The classification of the genus Salix has historically been intrinsically difficult due to its propensity toward plasticity and high variation in diagnostic morphological characters. We investigated leaf epidermal characteristics, focusing on the stomatal apparatus because it may provide critical insights into the evolution and taxonomy of Salix and its closely related genera.• Methods: Light microscopy was used to examine the leaf epidermal features in 32 taxa of Salix.• Key results: Characters such as shape, size, and density of stomatal complexes were very useful in differentiating Salix species. Variation in features of stomatal apparatus in Salix is wider than previously known. Moreover, the type of stomatal complex proved to be very helpful in discriminating Chosenia as members of the genus Salix.• Conclusions: The results of the present study support the placement of Chosenia within Salix and the combining of subgenera Chamaetia and Vetrix because of similarities in their unique stomatal apparatus.
Fire Ants in Houston Toad Habitat: Annual Activity and Responses to Canopy Cover and Fire
Authors: Brown Donald J. , DeVolld Bei , Nowlin Weston H. , Forstner Michael R.J. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta (RIFA) is an invasive species found throughout the southern and southeastern United States. Since its introduction, RIFA has been shown to negatively affect a wide range of native vertebrate and invertebrate species. The purposes of this study were to delineate the annual RIFA activity pattern, investigate the association between overstory canopy cover and RIFA captures, and evaluate the effects of low-intensity prescribed fire around pond edges on RIFA in the Lost Pines ecoregion of Texas, a region that provides habitat for most of the remaining endangered Houston toads Bufo houstonensis. We found that annual RIFA activity followed a quadratic curve, with above-average activity between May and October. We found an inverse relationship between mean percentage of canopy cover near pond edges and mean number of RIFA captured. We found that low-intensity prescribed burning had no significant influence on RIFA captures during our study period. However, strong spatial and temporal capture variability was apparent, and thus a strong impact would have been necessary to detect an effect. Although this study provides evidence that should decrease concerns that wildlife managers, conservation biologists, and landowners in the Lost Pines ecoregion may have about exacerbating RIFA abundance when using fire as an ecosystem management tool, we recommend additional work be conducted using a greater sample size, greater sampling effort, and longer study duration. We found that RIFA activity was highest during the time frame in which juvenile Houston toads emerge from ponds. Thus, RIFA control may be a useful Houston toad recovery tool where breeding ponds are not within dense canopy habitats.
The impact of theManual of Nearctic Dipteraon phylogenetic dipterology
Authors: Yeates David K. , Wiegmann Brian M. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractOur knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of Diptera advanced through the 20th century at an unprecedented rate; the two crowning achievements of the century were Hennig's magnum opus – theHandbuch der Zoologietreatment of the order and Volume 3 of theManual of Nearctic Dipteraseries, edited by McAlpine and Wood. The Manual is outstanding because of its scope and rigorous, consistent approach, treating the relationships of the entire order at family level using Hennigian argumentation. Synapomorphic characters from all life stages were identified using outgroup comparison and monophyletic taxa were established using synapomorphies mapped onto nodes. The Manual chapters energized a generation of students to publish rigorous, quantitative cladistic phylogenetic treatments of many dipteran groups. The chapters also acted as an authoritative scaffold for the development of dipteran molecular systematics in the 1990s. No other megadiverse insect order has had such an influential phylogenetic springboard into the 21st century.
A review of the crane fly genusEpiphragma(Diptera: Tipulidaes.l.) in North America (including Mexico)
Authors: Gelhaus Jon K. , Ruggeri Anthony 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis study examines the seven described species ofEpiphragmaOsten Sacken (Diptera: Tipulidaes.l.) known to occur in North America including Mexico. A key to species, descriptions, distributional ranges, habitat information, and literature references are given and the wing patterning and male genitalia are illustrated. The male ofEpiphragma celatorAlexander is described for the first time and the species range is extended north from Michoacan, Mexico to southern Arizona, United States of America. The range ofEpiphragma arizonenseAlexander is extended from southern Arizona south to Sinaloa, Mexico. The male hypopygium ofEpiphragma nebulosum(Bellardi) and wing and hypopygium ofEpiphragmaoreonymphaAlexander are illustrated for the first time.
The Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research: From Principles to Policy
Authors: Zoloth Laurie 
Published: March 2012

AbstractHuman stem cell research, because of its potential for both transformative sources of knowledge and for translation into widespread practical applications, has been a subject of ethical, religious, and policy debates since the first cells were characterized. The technology touches on some of humanities most urgent concerns and some of our most fundamental narratives. Stem cell research is characterized by a swiftly moving knowledge base, with first human embryonic (hES), then induced pluripotent cells (iPS) being seen as the best new hope in the search for cures to diseases. Each new advance in science brings new ethical and moral quandaries to the debate. This presentation will outline the history of ethical questions surrounding stem cell research, describe the variety of responses to such concerns, and define some of the international policy that has emerged to create ethical frameworks for ongoing research on stem cells. We will consider what questions, if any , can be understood as settled within a general consensus, and what questions may be raised by the future directions of stem cell research.
Analysis of Human Endoderm Development Using Lineage-specific Reporter hESCs
Authors: Stanley Ed 
Published: March 2012

AbstractHuman induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), derived by the in vitro reprogramming of somatic cells, resemble embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of the pre-implantation blastocyst stage embryo. In vitro, these pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be directed to differentiate toward specific lineages and, therefore, represent a tractable platform for the study of important events during the specification of early human cell types. A key step in differentiation is the commitment of PSCs to mesendoderm formation and the subsequent emergence of lineage-restricted progenitors. Studies from both embryology and from in vitro ESC differentiation systems have identified BMP4 and Activin A as important factors that control the direction of differentiation within nascent mesendoderm. Using a completely defined recombinant protein based differentiation medium, we have examined requirements for each of these factors in the generation of a variety of endodermal lineages, including thymus, lung and pancreas. This analysis has been aided by suite of genetically tagged hESC lines that enable precursors representing these cell types to be easily identified.Human cells generated from differentiated PSCs represent a new tool for medical research as well as an avenue toward potential cell-based therapies of the future. In addition to the cellular products of PSC differentiation, findings from these experiments have interesting parallels with embryology and provide clues to some of the important events surrounding lineage commitment during early human development.
NKX2-5GFP/w Human Embryonic Stem Cells Permit the Identification of Human Cardiac Progenitor Cells and Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Elliott David 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDifferentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into cardiac progenitors is a powerful approach to dissect the molecular control of early human cardiogenesis. Cardiomyocytes can be derived from hESCs via the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs), which are cellular aggregates containing derivatives of all three germ layers that arise from differentiating hESCs. In order to identify, purify and characterize emerging cardiac progenitor cells (hESC-CPCs), we engineered a hESC line, NKX2-5GFP/w, in which GFP replaced the coding region of the conserved cardiac transcription factor NKX2-5. Using this line we have optimized a protocol for the differentiation of hESC-CPCs and cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) from hESCs in a 96-well plate format in serum free, chemically defined media that enables the precise and reproducible manipulation of differentiation conditions. EBs are formed by centrifugation (spin EBs). The combination of Activin A, bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and WNT 3a drives mesoderm formation until day three. Subsequently, the cytokine cocktail is replaced with media without growth factors and the EBs endogenous signaling networks control the specification of cardiovascular progenitors. Contractile foci are found in almost all EBs and all beating areas are GFP positive. Flow cytometric analysis for GFP demonstrates that up to 30 % of cells within the EB are NKX2-5 positive. The production of GFP+ cells is temporally restricted to day six and day nine of EB differentiation; after this time no further cardiac cells are specified. Electrophysiological studies show that the GFP+ CMs have a fetal phenotype. Expression analysis supports this finding demonstrating that NKX2-5+ hESC-CPCs and CMs constitute developmentally distinct populations with both having gene expression profiles closer to fetal heart than adult heart. Clonal analysis demonstrates that NKX2-5+ cells are capable of giving rise to the three major lineages in the heart, namely cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle and endothelium. Together, these data demonstrate that NKX2-5GFP/w hESC lines facilitate the identification, isolation and culture of human cardiovascular progenitors. David A Elliott1*, Stefan R Braam2, Louise Lagerqvist3, Katerina Koutsis1, Rob Jenny1, Magdaline Costa1, Elizabeth Ng1, Tanya Hatzistavrou1, Rhys JP Skelton, Claire E Hirst1, Cissy Yu1, Ouda Khammy4, Xuleing Li1, Sue Mei Lim1, Richard P Davis2, Adam L Goulburn1, Robert Passier2, John M Haynes3, Colin W Pouton3, David M Kaye4, Christine L Mummery2, Andrew G Elefanty1 and Edouard G Stanley1.1 Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia
2 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
3 Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
4 Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
Prospective Isolation of Therapeutically Relevant Human Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Cardiovascular Progenitors
Authors: Ardehali Reza , Weissman Irving 
Published: March 2012

AbstractCardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are promising candidates to regenerate myocardium as a treatment for heart disease. However, this application is limited because of the inability to prospectively identify a pure population of cardiovascular progenitors (CVPs) that is devoid of residual, undifferentiated cells capable of teratoma formation. Furthermore, the potential of hESC-derived cardiovascular lineage cells to functionally couple to human myocardium remains unknown. The purpose of the current study was to test the hypotheses that (i) CVPs derived from hESCs can be isolated based on a set of distinct surface markers and (ii) they can functionally integrate into the human fetal heart. We screened a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to prospectively identify early cardiovascular precursors that emerge from differentiating hESCs based on the expression of surface markers. We discovered four surface markers that highly enrich for CVPs: receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor family, ROR2, aminopeptidase-N, CD13, kinase insert domain protein receptor, KDR, and platelet-derived growth factor-α, PDGFRα. This quadruple positive population, or QP, gave rise to cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. We observed rare clusters of ROR2+ cells and diffuse expression of KDR and PDGFRα in first trimester human fetal hearts. Upon delivery of the QP cells into murine hearts, they developed into mature cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, but failed to functionally integrate. While no teratomas were observed in the animals transplanted with QP cells, one out of the seven mice transplanted with the quadruple-negative cells developed teratoma in the heart. In contrast to traditional murine heart models for cell transplantation, delivery of the QP cells into human fetal hearts, heterotopically transplanted into rat’s abdomen, resulted in structural and functional integration of hESC-derived CVPs into human hearts. Taken together, we have shown for the first time that CVPs, defined by four novel surface markers, can structurally and functionally integrate into the electrical syncytia of a human fetal heart upon transplantation.
Professional guidelines and approaches to the ethical oversight of stem cell research
Authors: Sugarman Jeremy 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe extraordinary excitement over the scientific, medical, and financial possibilities of stem cell research has been accompanied by ethical concerns. As a consequence, professional groups have developed approaches to addressing these concerns across the continuum of stem cell research, from bench to bedside and to publication. Prominent approaches that have received considerable traction include those developed by the National Academy of Sciences, the International Society for Stem Cell Research, and the Hinxton Group. Understanding and implementing such approaches promises to mitigate some of the ethical issues related to stem cell research.
International stem cell policies
Authors: Matthews Kirstin 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAfter the first isolation of human embryonic stem cells was reported in 1998, many countries reviewed their national policies regarding human embryo research. During this process, several countries amended current policies or created new policies to specifically address human embryonic stem cell research. These policies can be classified in three broad categories: restrictive, permissive with limits, or permissive. Over this 13 year period, there has been a global trend to transition policies from restrictive to more permissive. These shifts have occurred due to the efforts of scientists who have advocated for policy harmonization. While countries still possess a range of policies, this attempt towards harmonization has had a positive impact on the field by improving the quality and quantity of international scientific collaborations. This talk will review national stem cell policies, describe how international collaborations have been fostered under such policies, and discuss the impact of these international collaborations in the field of stem cell research.