bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
From the Schoolhouse to the Statehouse: Teacher Union Political Activism and U.S. State Education Reform Policy
Authors: Hartney Michael , Flavin Patrick 
Published: July 2011

AbstractElementary and secondary education policy making in the U.S. states is heavily influenced by the political bargaining of various actors, with teacher unions one of the most important actors. Yet previous studies that assess the impact of teacher unions on education reform use problematic measures of their direct political influence, instead opting for broader measures of membership or collective bargaining power. By contrast, the authors measure teacher union political activity by calculating the percentage of campaign contributions to candidates for state office that come from teacher unions. Using this measure, the authors find that increased teacher union political activity greatly reduces the chances that states enact reform-oriented education policies such as school choice and performance pay for teachers, while previous measures of teacher union strength bear little relationship to a state's adoption of these reform policies. These findings highlight the importance of paying careful attention to how political influence is operationalized in studies that assess the role organized interests play in shaping U.S. state policies.
Targeting levels or oligomerization of nucleophosmin 1 induces differentiation and loss of survival of human AML cells with mutant NPM1
Authors: Balusu Ramesh , Fiskus Warren , Rao Rekha , Chong Daniel G. , Nalluri Srilatha , Mudunuru Uma , Ma Hongwei , Chen Lei , Venkannagari Sreedhar , Ha Kyungsoo , Abhyankar Sunil , Williams Casey , McGuirk Joseph , Khoury Hanna Jean , Ustun Celalettin , Bhalla Kapil N. 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) is an oligomeric, nucleolar phosphoprotein that functions as a molecular chaperone for both proteins and nucleic acids. NPM1 is mutated in approximately one-third of patients with AML. The mutant NPM1c+ contains a 4-base insert that results in extra C-terminal residues encoding a nuclear export signal, which causes NPM1c+ to be localized in the cytoplasm. Here, we determined the effects of targeting NPM1 in cultured and primary AML cells. Treatment with siRNA to NPM1 induced p53 and p21, decreased the percentage of cells in S-phase of the cell cycle, as well as induced differentiation of the AML OCI-AML3 cells that express both NPMc+ and unmutated NPM1. Notably, knockdown of NPM1 by shRNA abolished lethal AML phenotype induced by OCI-AML3 cells in NOD/SCID mice. Knockdown of NPM1 also sensitized OCI-AML3 to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and cytarabine. Inhibition of NPM1 oligomerization by NSC348884 induced apoptosis and sensitized OCI-AML3 and primary AML cells expressing NPM1c+ to ATRA. This effect was significantly less in AML cells coexpressing FLT3-ITD, or in AML or normal CD34+ progenitor cells expressing wild-type NPM1. Thus, attenuating levels or oligomerization of NPM1 selectively induces apoptosis and sensitizes NPM1c+ expressing AML cells to treatment with ATRA and cytarabine.
Rescue of murine silica-induced lung injury and fibrosis by human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Spitalieri P. , Quitadamo M.C. , Orlandi A. , Guerra L. , Giardina E. , Casavola V. , Novelli G. , Saltini C. , Sangiuolo F. 
Published: July 2011

Alveolar type II pneumocytes (ATII cells) are considered putative alveolar stem cells. Since no treatment is available to repair damaged epithelium and prevent lung fibrosis, novel approaches to induce regeneration of injured alveolar epithelium are desired.The objective of this study was to assess both the capacity of human embryonic stem cells (HUES-3) to differentiatein vitrointo ATII cells and the ability of committed HUES-3 cells (HUES-3-ATII cells) to recoverin vivoa pulmonary fibrosis model obtained by silica-induced damage.In vitrodifferentiated HUES-3-ATII cells displayed an alveolar phenotype characterised by multi-lamellar body and tight junction formation, by the expression of specific markers such as surfactant protein (SP)-B, SP-C and zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and the activity of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-mediated chloride ion transport.After transplantation of HUES-3-ATII cells into silica-damaged mice, histological and biomolecular analyses revealed a significant reduction of inflammation and fibrosis markers along with lung function improvement, weight recovery and increased survival. The persistence of human SP-C, human nuclear antigen and human DNA in the engrafted lungs indicates that differentiated cells remained engrafted up to 10 weeks.In conclusion, cell therapy using HUES-3 cells may be considered a promising approach to lung injury repair.
Airways changes related to air pollution exposure in wheezing children
Authors: Martins P.C. , Valente J. , Papoila A.L. , Caires I. , Araújo-Martins J. , Mata P. , Lopes M. , Torres S. , Rosado-Pinto J. , Borrego C. , Annesi-Maesano I. , Neuparth N. 
Published: July 2011

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between individual total exposure to air pollution and airway changes in a group of 51 wheezing children.Respiratory status was assessed four times (January 2006, June 2006, January 2007 and June 2007) during a 1-week period through a standardised questionnaire, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide fraction and pH in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). Concentrations of particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm (PM10), O3, NO2and volatile organic compounds were estimated through direct measurements with anad hocdevice or air pollution modelling in the children's schools and at their homes in the same 4 weeks of the study. For each child, total exposure to the different air pollutants was estimated as a function of pollutant concentrations and daily activity patterns.Increasing total exposure to PM10, NO2, benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene was significantly associated with a decrease of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and with an increase of change in FEV1. Increasing exposure to NO2and benzene was also related to a significant decrease of FEV1/forced vital capacity. Increasing exposure to PM10, NO2, benzene and ethylbenzene was associated with acidity of EBC.This study suggests an association in wheezing children between airway changes and total exposure to air pollutants, as estimated by taking into account the concentration in the various microenvironments attended by the children.
Pulmonary manifestations of immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease
Authors: Ryu J.H. , Sekiguchi H. , Yi E.S. 
Published: July 2011

Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related sclerosing disease (ISD) (also called IgG4-related systemic disease, IgG4-related disease or hyper-IgG4 disease) is a recently described systemic fibroinflammatory disease associated with elevated circulating levels of IgG4.Although initial descriptions of this disorder focused on its pancreatic presentation (autoimmune pancreatitis), it has become apparent that ISD is a systemic disease with many facets. The lesion of ISD is characterised by lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, fibrosis, phlebitis and increased numbers of IgG4-positive plasma cells. The disease can either be localised to one or two organs, or be present with diffuse multi-organ disease. Furthermore, lesions in different organs can present simultaneously or metachronously. In the thorax, lesions associated with ISD have been described in the lung parenchyma, airways and pleura, as well as the mediastinum.Data published to date suggest that ISD may account for a portion of various fibroinflammatory conditions of unknown cause encountered in the chest, including inflammatory pseudotumours, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, fibrosing mediastinitis, inflammatory pleural lesions and, occasionally, airway disease.Some aspects of pulmonary manifestations attributed to ISD remain controversial and additional studies are needed to clarify the relationship along with the increasing relevance of this disorder to pulmonary medicine.
Interferon release does not add discriminatory value to smear-negative HIV–tuberculosis algorithms
Authors: Rangaka M.X. , Gideon H.P. , Wilkinson K.A. , Pai M. , Mwansa-Kambafwile J. , Maartens G. , Glynn J.R. , Boulle A. , Fielding K. , Goliath R. , Titus R. , Mathee S. , Wilkinson R.J. 
Published: July 2011

Clinical algorithms for evaluating HIV-infected individuals for tuberculosis (TB) prior to isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) perform poorly, and interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) have moderate accuracy for active TB. It is unclear whether, when used as adjunct tests, IGRAs add any clinical discriminatory value for active TB diagnosis in the pre-IPT assessment.779 sputum smear-negative HIV-infected persons, established on or about to commence combined antiretroviral therapy (ART), were screened for TB prior to IPT. Stepwise multivariable logistic regression was used to develop clinical prediction models. The discriminatory ability was assessed by receiver operator characteristic area under the curve (AUC). QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in-tube (QFT-GIT) was evaluated.The prevalence of smear-negative TB by culture was 6.4% (95% CI 4.9–8.4%). Used alone, QFT-GIT and the tuberculin skin test (TST) had comparable performance; the post-test probability of disease based on single negative tests was 3–4%. In a multivariable model, the QFT-GIT test did not improve the ability of a clinical algorithm, which included not taking ART, weight <60 kg, no prior history of TB, any one positive TB symptom/sign (cough ≥2 weeks) and CD4+ count <250 cells per mm3, to discriminate smear-negative culture-positive and -negative TB (72% to 74%; AUC comparison p=0.33). The TST marginally improved the discriminatory ability of the clinical model (to 77%, AUC comparison p=0.04).QFT-GIT does not improve the discriminatory ability of current TB screening clinical algorithms used to evaluate HIV-infected individuals for TB ahead of preventive therapy. Evaluation of new TB diagnostics for clinical relevance should follow a multivariable process that goes beyond test accuracy.
TOF-SIMS analysis of exhaled particles from patients with asthma and healthy controls
Authors: Almstrand A-C. , Josefson M. , Bredberg A. , Lausmaa J. , Sjövall P. , Larsson P. , Olin A-C. 
Published: July 2011

Particles in exhaled air (PEx) may reflect the composition of respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF); thus, there is a need to assess their potential as sources of biomarkers for respiratory diseases. In the present study, we compared PEx from patients with asthma and controls using time-of-flight–secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and multivariate analysis.Particles were collected using an instrument developed in-house. 15 nonsmoking subjects with physician-diagnosed asthma and 11 nonsmoking healthy controls performed 10 consecutive forced exhalations into the instrument. Particle concentrations were recorded and samples of particles collected on silicon plates were analysed by TOF-SIMS.Subjects with asthma exhaled significantly lower numbers of particles than controls (p=0.03) and the ratio of unsaturated to saturated phospholipids was significantly lower in samples from subjects with asthma (0.25versus0.35; p=0.036). Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis models showed good separation between both positive and negative spectra. Molecular ions from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol, and protein fragments were found to discriminate the groups.We conclude that analysis of PEx is a promising method to examine the composition of RTLF. In the present explorative study, we could discriminate between subjects with asthma and healthy controls based on TOF-SIMS spectra from PEx.
Transcriptional profiling of Medicago truncatula under salt stress identified a novel CBF transcription factor MtCBF4 that plays an important role in abiotic stress responses
Authors: Li Daofeng , Zhang Yunqin , Hu Xiaona , Shen Xiaoye , Ma Lei , Su Zhen , Wang Tao , Dong Jiangli 
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background
Salt stress hinders the growth of plants and reduces crop production worldwide. However, different plant species might possess different adaptive mechanisms to mitigate salt stress. We conducted a detailed pathway analysis of transcriptional dynamics in the roots of Medicago truncatula seedlings under salt stress and selected a transcription factor gene, MtCBF4, for experimental validation.

Results
A microarray experiment was conducted using root samples collected 6, 24, and 48 h after application of 180 mM NaCl. Analysis of 11 statistically significant expression profiles revealed different behaviors between primary and secondary metabolism pathways in response to external stress. Secondary metabolism that helps to maintain osmotic balance was induced. One of the highly induced transcription factor genes was successfully cloned, and was named MtCBF4. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MtCBF4, which belongs to the AP2-EREBP transcription factor family, is a novel member of the CBF transcription factor in M. truncatula. MtCBF4 is shown to be a nuclear-localized protein. Expression of MtCBF4 in M. truncatula was induced by most of the abiotic stresses, including salt, drought, cold, and abscisic acid, suggesting crosstalk between these abiotic stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis over-expressing MtCBF4 enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress, and activated expression of downstream genes that contain DRE elements. Over-expression of MtCBF4 in M. truncatula also enhanced salt tolerance and induced expression level of corresponding downstream genes.

Conclusion
Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis revealed complex mechanisms exist in plants in response to salt stress. The novel transcription factor gene MtCBF4 identified here played an important role in response to abiotic stresses, indicating that it might be a good candidate gene for genetic improvement to produce stress-tolerant plants.
Development of a highly sensitive real-time one step RT-PCR combined complementary locked primer technology and conjugated minor groove binder probe
Authors: Hong JiYoung , Kang Byunghak , Kim Ahyoun , Hwang Seoyeon , Ahn Jinhee , Lee Sunhwa , Kim Jonghyen , Park Jae-Hak , Cheon Doo-Sung 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background
Enterovirus (EV) infections are commonly associated with encephalitis and meningitis. Detection of enteroviral RNA in clinical specimens has been demonstrated to improve the management of patients, by ruling out other causes of disease.

Method
To develop a sensitive and reliable assay for routine laboratory diagnosis, we developed a real-time one step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay with minor groove binder probes and primers modified with complementary locked primer technology (TMC-PCR). We checked the sensitivity of the developed assay by comparing it to a previously published TaqMan probe real-time one-step RT-PCR (TTN-PCR) procedure using enteroviral isolates, Enterovirus Proficiency panels from Quality Control on Molecular Diagnostics (QCMD-2007), and clinical specimens from patients with suspected EV infections.

Results
One hundred clinical specimens from 158 suspected viral meningitis cases were determined to be positive by the TMC-PCR assay (63.29%), whereas only 60 were found to be positive by the TTN-PCR assay (37.97%). The positive and negative agreements between the TMC-PCR and TTN-PCR assays were 100% and 59.2%, respectively.

Conclusion
This data suggest that the TMC-PCR assay may be suitable for routine diagnostic screening from patient suspected EV infection.
Comparison of outcomes in patients with stage III versus limited stage IV non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Cheruvu Praveena , Metcalfe Su K , Metcalfe Justin , Chen Yuhchyau , Okunieff Paul , Milano Michael T 
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background
Standard therapy for metastatic non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes palliative systemic chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Recent studies of patients with limited metastases treated with curative-intent stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) have shown encouraging survival. We hypothesized that patients treated with SBRT for limited metastases have comparable outcomes with those treated with curative-intent radiation for Stage III NSCLC.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the records of NSCLC patients treated with curative-intent radiotherapy at the University of Rochester from 2000-2008. We identified 3 groups of patients with NSCLC: stage III, stage IV, and recurrent stage IV (initial stage I-II). All stage IV NSCLC patients treated with SBRT had ≤ 8 lesions.

Results
Of 146 patients, 88% had KPS ≥ 80%, 30% had > 5% weight loss, and 95% were smokers. The 5-year OS from date of NSCLC diagnosis for stage III, initial stage IV and recurrent stage IV was 7%, 14%, and 27% respectively. The 5-year OS from date of metastatic diagnosis was significantly (p < 0.00001) superior among those with limited metastases (≤ 8 lesions) versus stage III patients who developed extensive metastases not amenable to SBRT (14% vs. 0%).

Conclusion
Stage IV NSCLC is a heterogeneous patient population, with a selected cohort apparently faring better than Stage III patients. Though patients with limited metastases are favorably selected by virtue of more indolent disease and/or less bulky disease burden, perhaps staging these patients differently is appropriate for prognostic and treatment characterization. Aggressive local therapy may be indicated in these patients, though prospective clinical studies are needed.
Sustained eradication of hepatitis C virus by low-dose long-term interferon therapy in a renal transplant recipient with dual infection with hepatitis B and C viruses: a case report
Authors: Chang Ming-Ling , Lai Ping-Chin , Yeh Chau-Ting 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Introduction
Accelerated liver function deterioration has been recognized in renal transplant recipients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although combination therapy with interferon plus ribavirin has been established as the standard treatment for patients with chronic HCV, the high risk of allograft rejection associated with interferon therapy has greatly discouraged the clinical use of this regimen. In Asia, where chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) is prevalent, dual infection with HBV and HCV poses an even greater challenge for clinical hepatologists.

Case presentation
In this article, we report the case of a 51-year-old Taiwanese man with dual infection with HBV and HCV prior to renal transplantation. Low-dose interferon (3 to 6 × 106 U/week) and ribavirin (100 mg/day to 200 mg/day) were prescribed following the reactivation of the man's HCV after renal transplantation. Additionally, lamivudine (100 mg/day) was administered concomitantly to prevent HBV reactivation. His initial serum HCV RNA concentration was 5.2 × 106 copies/mL (genotype 2a). After three and one-half years of antiviral therapy, his HCV was successfully eradicated without any episodes of allograft rejection. His serum HCV RNA remained negative six months after withdrawal from interferon and ribavirin treatment. His serum HBV DNA remained undetectable throughout the course of therapy.

Conclusion
Low-dose, long-term interferon therapy may achieve sustained eradication of HCV in the renal transplant recipient with dual infection with HBV and HCV.
Systematic Bias in Genomic Classification Due to Contaminating Non-neoplastic Tissue in Breast Tumor Samples
Authors: Elloumi Fathi , Hu Zhiyuan , Li Yan , Parker Joel S , Gulley Margaret L , Amos Keith D , Troester Melissa A 
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background
Genomic tests are available to predict breast cancer recurrence and to guide clinical decision making. These predictors provide recurrence risk scores along with a measure of uncertainty, usually a confidence interval. The confidence interval conveys random error and not systematic bias. Standard tumor sampling methods make this problematic, as it is common to have a substantial proportion (typically 30-50%) of a tumor sample comprised of histologically benign tissue. This "normal" tissue could represent a source of non-random error or systematic bias in genomic classification.

Methods
To assess the performance characteristics of genomic classification to systematic error from normal contamination, we collected 55 tumor samples and paired tumor-adjacent normal tissue. Using genomic signatures from the tumor and paired normal, we evaluated how increasing normal contamination altered recurrence risk scores for various genomic predictors.

Results
Simulations of normal tissue contamination caused misclassification of tumors in all predictors evaluated, but different breast cancer predictors showed different types of vulnerability to normal tissue bias. While two predictors had unpredictable direction of bias (either higher or lower risk of relapse resulted from normal contamination), one signature showed predictable direction of normal tissue effects. Due to this predictable direction of effect, this signature (the PAM50) was adjusted for normal tissue contamination and these corrections improved sensitivity and negative predictive value. For all three assays quality control standards and/or appropriate bias adjustment strategies can be used to improve assay reliability.

Conclusions
Normal tissue sampled concurrently with tumor is an important source of bias in breast genomic predictors. All genomic predictors show some sensitivity to normal tissue contamination and ideal strategies for mitigating this bias vary depending upon the particular genes and computational methods used in the predictor.
Uptake of family planning methods and unplanned pregnancies among HIV‐infected individuals: a cross‐sectional survey among clients at HIV clinics in Uganda
Authors: Wanyenze Rhoda K , Tumwesigye Nazarius M , Kindyomunda Rosemary , Beyeza‐Kashesya Jolly , Atuyambe Lynn , Kansiime Apolo , Neema Stella , Ssali Francis , Akol Zainab , Mirembe Florence 
Published: July 2011

BackgroundPrevention of unplanned pregnancies among HIV‐infected individuals is critical to the prevention of mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT), but its potential has not been fully utilized by PMTCT programmes. The uptake of family planning methods among women in Uganda is low, with current use of family planning methods estimated at 24%, but available data has not been disaggregated by HIV status. The aim of this study was to assess the utilization of family planning and unintended pregnancies among HIV‐infected people in Uganda.MethodsWe conducted exit interviews with 1100 HIV‐infected individuals, including 441 men and 659 women, from 12 HIV clinics in three districts in Uganda to assess the uptake of family planning services, and unplanned pregnancies, among HIV‐infected people. We conducted multivariate analysis for predictors of current use of family planning among women who were married or in consensual union and were not pregnant at the time of the interview.ResultsOne‐third (33%, 216) of the women reported being pregnant since their HIV diagnoses and 28% (123) of the men reported their partner being pregnant since their HIV diagnoses. Of these, 43% (105) said these pregnancies were not planned: 53% (80) among women compared with 26% (25) among men. Most respondents (58%; 640) reported that they were currently using family planning methods. Among women who were married or in consensual union and not pregnant, 80% (242) were currently using any family planning method and 68% were currently using modern family planning methods (excluding withdrawal, lactational amenorrhoea and rhythm). At multivariate analysis, women who did not discuss the number of children they wanted with their partners and those who did not disclose their HIV status to sexual partners were less likely to use modern family planning methods (adjusted OR 0.40, range 0.20‐0.81, and 0.30, range 0.10‐0.85, respectively).ConclusionsThe uptake of family planning among HIV‐infected individuals is fairly high. However, there are a large number of unplanned pregnancies. These findings highlight the need for strengthening of family planning services for HIV‐infected people.