bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Institution-building, not nation-building: a structural-functional model
Authors: Kalu Kalu N. 
Published: March 2011

By building on the essential tenets of Parsonian structural-functionalism, this article focuses on structure, process, and norms as critical to the development of enduring institutions. The contemporary orientation to nation-building that tends to focus on the structural and administrative elements of state reconstruction, especially in post-conflict situations, should be re-evaluated in favor of a more grass-roots, sociologically driven and institutionally based approach. The concept of institutions utilized here is derived from both macro (social organization) and micro (individual) levels of analysis on how a series of actions, practices, and differentiated roles are able to sustain a level of functional and organic equilibrium over time. While equilibrium suggests a type of ‘stable state’, it helps to reinforce the argument that effective institutions (including individual behaviors, norms and values) can provide the structural foundation needed for successful nation-building initiatives. Hence in that order, there should be a redirection of effort on institution-building rather than nation-building. Points for practitioners There needs to be a common but important realization that the little things that guide and regulate human conduct in private or public sectors are just as consequential as the big ones. But of equal importance is that administrative practices create regularized patterns of behavior, each dependent on the other, so that the resultant effect becomes a functional whole. Other points to note are that the structure of work (what we do) is as important as the structure of organizations (systems and relationships that allow us to do what we do), each playing essential roles that sustain system dynamics.
1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 limits monocyte maturation in lupus sera
Authors: Lerman MA , Burnham JM , Behrens EM 
Published: March 2011

In this study we examined whether treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitaminD3 (1,25(OH)2D3) affects human APC maturation in vitro under multiple cytokine milieus. Human monocytes were elutriated from whole blood, incubated with human sera in the presence or absence of 1,25(OH)2D3, and stimulated with IFNα, GM-CSF/IL-4, or were cultured without stimulatory cytokines. Incubation of control monocytes with 1,25(OH)2D3 limited expression of cell surface makers of maturation whether monocytes were stimulated in IFNα, GM-CSF/IL-4, or in serum alone. The ability of 1,25(OH)2D3 to affect human monocyte phenotype was assessed by incubating cells with sera from 15 patients with SLE and from 5 healthy volunteers. Addition of 1,25(OH)2D3 resulted in significant reductions in the expression of MHC Class II, CD40, and CD86 and increases in expression of CD14 in both types of sera. Overall, 1,25(OH)2D3 limited human APC activation via IFNα-induced and independent mechanisms. 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited APC activation by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera, suggesting that it may be possible for 1,25(OH)2D3 to reduce the immunostimulatory effects of the SLE milieu by interfering with the soluble cytokine mediators in the sera of SLE patients.
High-resolution genome-wide mapping of HIF-binding sites by ChIP-seq
Authors: Schödel Johannes , Oikonomopoulos Spyros , Ragoussis Jiannis , Pugh Christopher W. , Ratcliffe Peter J. , Mole David R. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractHypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) regulates the major transcriptional cascade central to the response of all mammalian cells to alterations in oxygen tension. Expression arrays indicate that many hundreds of genes are regulated by this pathway, controlling diverse processes that in turn orchestrate both oxygen delivery and utilization. However, the extent to which HIF exerts direct versus indirect control over gene expression together with the factors dictating the range of HIF-regulated genes remains unclear. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to high throughput sequencing, we identify HIF-binding sites across the genome, independently of gene architecture. Using gene set enrichment analysis, we demonstrate robust associations with the regulation of gene expression by HIF, indicating that these sites operate over long genomic intervals. Analysis of HIF-binding motifs demonstrates sequence preferences outside of the core RCGTG-binding motif but does not reveal any additional absolute sequence requirements. Across the entire genome, only a small proportion of these potential binding sites are bound by HIF, although occupancy of potential sites was enhanced approximately 20-fold at normoxic DNAse1 hypersensitivity sites (irrespective of distance from promoters), suggesting that epigenetic regulation of chromatin may have an important role in defining the response to hypoxia.
Nuclear phospholipid scramblase 1 prolongs the mitotic expansion of granulocyte precursors during G-CSF-induced granulopoiesis
Authors: Chen Chun-Wei , Sowden Mark , Zhao Qian , Wiedmer Therese , Sims Peter J 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTPLSCR1−/− mice exhibit normal, steady-state hematologic parameters but impaired emergency granulopoiesis upon in vivo administration of G-CSF. The mechanism by which PLSCR1 contributes to G-CSF-induced neutrophil production is largely unknown. We now report that the expansion of bone marrow myelocytes upon in vivo G-CSF treatment is reduced in PLSCR1−/− mice relative to WT. Using SCF-ER-Hoxb8-immortalized myeloid progenitors to examine the progression of G-CSF-driven granulocytic differentiation in vitro, we found that PLSCR1 prolongs the period of mitotic expansion of proliferative granulocyte precursors, thereby giving rise to increased neutrophil production from their progenitors. This effect of PLSCR1 is blocked by a ΔNLS-PLSCR1, which prevents its nuclear import. By contrast, mutation that prevents the membrane association of PLSCR1 has minimal impact on the role of PLSCR1 in G-CSF-induced granulopoiesis. These data imply that the capacity of PLSCR1 to augment G-CSF-dependent production of mature neutrophils from myeloid progenitors is unrelated to its reported activities at the endofacial surface of the plasma membrane but does require entry of the protein into the nucleus, suggesting that this response is mediated through the observed effects of PLSCR1 on gene transcription.
DC-SIGN ligation greatly affects dendritic cell differentiation from monocytes compromising their normal function
Authors: Švajger Urban , Obermajer Nataša , Anderluh Marko , Kos Janko , Jeras Matjaž 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTDC-SIGN is a C-type lectin selectively expressed by certain types of DCs, including monocyte-derived DCs. Many reports have described the impact of DC-SIGN engagement with concomitant TLR signaling in tailoring of the DC maturation process, but so far, none has addressed the importance of DC-SIGN engagement during their differentiation from blood progenitors. We therefore examined the role of DC-SIGN engagement limited to the stage of IL-4-guided differentiation of DCs from human peripheral blood monocytes but not during maturation. We used two different anti-DC-SIGN antibodies with reported DC-SIGN-engaging activities. In cultures with DC-SIGN ligands, the resulting iDCs displayed abrogated expression of differentiation markers CD1a and DC-SIGN. Without further DC-SIGN activation, such DCs matured with low CD80/CD86 and high ILT3 expression, along with the appearance of macrophage marker CD14. Additionally, treated DCs indicated a tolerogenic potential by possessing a low, allostimulatory capacity and inducing naïve, allogeneic CD4+ T cells to produce low levels of IFN-γ. Upon activation, IL-10 production was greatly increased by such DCs; however, the use of IL-10-blocking antibodies could not completely reverse alternative DC activation. This suggests an alternative activation response that is a result of a different elementary state of DCs generated with concomitant ligation of DC-SIGN. During differentiation, IL-4-induced pSTAT6 was reduced by DC-SIGN ligands. Furthermore, during LPS-induced maturation, treated DCs displayed lowered activation levels of p38 MAPK, STAT1, as well as STAT6, compared with controls. Collectively, evidence is presented confirming a crucial role for DC-SIGN signaling in DC generation from monocytes.
Transcriptional regulation of the major HIV-1 coreceptor, CXCR4, by the κ opioid receptor
Authors: Finley Matthew J , Steele Amber , Cornwell William D , Rogers Thomas J 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTPrevious studies have demonstrated that KOR activation results in decreased susceptibility to infection by HIV-1 in human PBMCs. In the present studies, we have found this effect is, in part, a result of down-regulation of the major HIV-1 coreceptor, CXCR4. Using a combination of biochemical approaches, our results show that CXCR4 protein and mRNA levels were reduced significantly following KOR activation. We evaluated the nature of the signaling pathway(s), which were induced by KOR activation, using transcription factor-binding array analysis and comparing extracts from control and KOR-activated cells. We determined that the IRFs and STATs were induced following KOR activation, and these events were important for the inhibition of CXCR4 expression. Using chemical inhibitors and siRNA constructs, we determined that JAK2, STAT3, and IRF2 were critical members of this signal transduction pathway. Immediately following KOR activation, JAK2 was phosphorylated, and this was required for the phosphorylation/activation of STAT3. Moreover, IRF2 mRNA and protein expression were also up-regulated, and further studies using ChIP analysis showed that IRF2 was induced to bind in vivo to the CXCR4 promoter. This is the first report detailing the initiation of a KOR-induced JAK2/STAT3 and IRF2 signaling cascade, and these pathways result in substantial down-regulation of CXCR4 expression. The capacity of KOR to down-regulate CXCR4 expression may provide a strategy for the development of novel therapeutics for the inhibition of HIV replication.
Chitin particles induce size-dependent but carbohydrate-independent innate eosinophilia
Authors: Kogiso Mari , Nishiyama Akihito , Shinohara Tsutomu , Nakamura Masataka , Mizoguchi Emiko , Misawa Yoshinori , Guinet Elisabeth , Nouri-Shirazi Mahyar , Dorey C Kathleen , Henriksen Ruth Ann , Shibata Yoshimi 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTMurine Mφ that phagocytose CMP develop into M1; this response depends on the size and the chemical composition of the particles. In contrast, recent studies concluded that chitin particles induce M2 and eosinophil migration, promoting acquired Th2 immune responses against chitin-containing microbes or allergens. This study examined whether these apparently inconsistent responses to chitin could be induced by variation in the size and chemical composition of the chitin particles. We compared the responses of Mφ with CMP, LCB, and Sephadex G-100 beads (&gt;40 μm). Beads were given i.p. to WT mice and to mice deficient in a CRTH2, a receptor for the eosinophil chemoattractant PGD2. In contrast to the M1 activation induced by CMP, i.p. administration of LCB or Sephadex beads induced within 24 h a CRTH2-dependent peritoneal eosinophilia, as well as CRTH2-independent activation of peritoneal Mφ that expressed Arg I, an M2 phenotype. LCB-induced Mφ exhibited elevated Arg I and a surface MR, reduced surface TLR2 levels, and no change in the levels of CHI3L1 or IL-10 production. Our results indicate that the effects of chitin in vivo are highly dependent on particle size and that large, nonphagocytosable beads, independent of their chemical composition, induce innate eosinophilia and activate Mφ expressing several M2, but not M1, phenotypes.
Autoimmune Oophoritis with Multiple Molecular Targets Mitigated by Transgenic Expression of Mater
Authors: Otsuka Noriyuki , Tong Zhi-Bin , Vanevski Konstantina , Tu Wei , Cheng Mickie H. , Nelson Lawrence M. 
Published: March 2011

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) resulting from ovarian autoimmunity is a poorly understood clinical condition lacking in effective treatments. Understanding the targets of the autoimmune response and induction of ovarian-specific tolerance would allow development of focused therapies to preserve fertility in an at-risk population. MATER (maternal antigen that embryos require) is a known ovarian autoantigen targeted in autoimmune syndromes of POI. We attempt to induce ovarian-specific tolerance via transgenic expression of the MATER antigen on potentially tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells (APC), which typically present antigen via the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule. We hypothesize that expression of MATER in a MHC class II-dependent manner on APC can mediate induction of ovarian tolerance.We utilized a well-characterized murine model of ovarian autoimmunity, whereby oophoritis develops after d 3 neonatal thymectomy (NTx). Wild-type and transgenic mice, carrying an MHC Class II-driven Mater gene (IE-Mater), were subjected to NTx and assessed for evidence of autoimmune oophoritis. After disease induction by NTx, female mice carrying the IE-Mater transgene had significant reductions in histological oophoritis (56%) and circulating ovarian autoantibodies (28%) compared with wild-type females (94% and 82%, respectively). Incidence of other autoimmunity was unaffected as assessed by antinuclear autoantibodies. Transgenic expression of MATER in APC can induce antigen-specific tolerance with a significant reduction in ovarian autoimmunity. Lack of complete disease protection suggests that other antigens may also play a role in autoimmune oophoritis. As a known autoantigen in the human APS1 (autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1), which is associated with POI, MATER may represent a relevant target for future diagnostic and therapeutic clinical interventions.
Transformation of Glucose to 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural by SiO2–MgCl2 Composite
Authors: Yasuda Masahide , Nakamura Yasuhisa , Matsumoto Jin , Yokoi Haruhiko , Shiragami Tsutomu 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (2a) was formed in a 70% yield by dehydration of glucose in MeCN at 140 °C in an autoclave using a composite of MgCl2 with silica gel which served as an acid catalyst under dry conditions. 10% and 32% yields of 2a were obtained from mannose and galactose, respectively.
Understanding public preferences for prioritizing health care interventions in England: Does the type of health gain matter?
Authors: Mason Helen , Baker Rachel , Donaldson Cam 
Published: March 2011

Objectives: Health care budgets are finite and decisions must be made about which interventions to provide and, by implication, which will not be provided. The aim of this study was to investigate what features of health care interventions, including the type of health gain, are important to members of the public in England in making priority-setting decisions and to understand why. Methods: Q methodology was used with 52 members of the public in north east England. Respondents rank ordered 36 health care interventions from those they would give highest priority to through to those they would give lowest priority to. A form of factor analysis was used to reveal a small number of shared viewpoints. Results: Five factors emerged: ‘life saving to maximize the size of the health gain’, ‘everyone deserves a chance at life’, ‘(potential for) own benefit’, ‘maximum benefit for (perceived) lowest cost’ and ‘quality of life and social responsibility’. There were different views about which interventions should be given priority. Respondents considered not only the type of health gain received from an intervention as important, but also the size of the health gain, who received the health gain and an individual's personal responsibility. Conclusions: Aspects other than health gain need to be considered when soliciting the public's views of priorities for health care interventions.
General practitioner commissioning consortia and budgetary risk: Evidence from the modelling of ‘fair share’ practice budgets for mental health
Authors: Asthana Sheena , Gibson Alex , Hewson Paul , Bailey Trevor , Dibben Chris 
Published: March 2011

Objectives: To contribute to current policy debates regarding the devolution of commissioning responsibilities to locally-based consortia of general practices in England by assessing the potential magnitude and significance of budgetary risk for commissioning units of different sizes. Methods: Predictive distributions of practice-level mental health care resource needs (used by the Department of Health to set ‘fair-share’ practice budgets) are aggregated to a range of hypothetical, but spatially-contiguous, consortia serving populations of up to 400,000 patients. The resulting joint distributions describe the extent to which the legitimate mental health needs of consortia populations are likely to vary. Budgetary risk is calculated as the likelihood that a consortia's resource needs will, in any given year, exceed its allocation (taken as the mean of its predictive distribution) by more than 1%, 3%, 5% or 10%. The relationship between population size and budgetary risk is then explored. Results: If between 500 and 600 consortia are created in England (serving 87,000 to 104,000 patients) then, in order to meet the legitimate mental health needs of their patients, each year around 15 to 26 consortia will overspend by at least 5%, and one or two by at least 10%. The budgetary risk faced by consortia serving smaller/larger populations can be read off the graphs provided. Conclusions: Unless steps are taken to mitigate budgetary risk, the devolution of decision-making and introduction of fixed budgets is likely to result in significant financial instability. It will be difficult to reconcile the policy objectives of devolved commissioning, best met through relatively small and fully accountable consortia, with the need for financial stability, which is best met by pooling risk across larger populations.
Studentships and fellowships
Authors: Light Kate , Harden Melissa , Wright Kath 
Published: March 2011

This edition of ‘What's on the web’ reviews websites that provide information about studentship and fellowship award schemes for both clinical and non-clinical researchers. The included organizations provide funding opportunities to researchers based in the UK and elsewhere at different stages of their research careers. If you would like to alert readers to useful web pages or suggest topics for this column, please send details to:
Ventral Premotor Cortex May Be Required for Dynamic Changes in the Feeling of Limb Ownership: A Lesion Study
Authors: Zeller Daniel , Gross Catharina , Bartsch Andreas , Johansen-Berg Heidi , Classen Joseph 
Published: March 2011

The feeling of “body ownership” may be experimentally investigated by perceptual illusions. The “rubber hand illusion” (RHI) leads human subjects to experience an artificial hand as their own. According to functional imaging, the ventral premotor cortex (PMv) plays a key role in the integration of multisensory inputs allowing the “incorporation” of the rubber hand into body representation. However, causal structure–function relationships can only be obtained by lesion studies.Here, we tested the RHI in 70 stroke patients and in 40 age-matched healthy controls. Additionally, asomatognosia, the unawareness of one's own body parts, was assessed in a subgroup of 64 stroke patients. Ischemic lesions were delineated on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images and normalized. Right-hemispheric lesions were mirrored across the midline. Voxels that might be essential for RHI and/or somatognosia were defined by voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping. Probabilistic diffusion tractography was used to identify tracts passing through these voxels.Contralesional rubber hand illusion failure (RHIF) was observed in 18 (26%) of 70 stroke patients, an additional ipsilesional RHIF in seven of these patients. RHIF-associated lesion voxels were located subcortically adjacent to the insula, basal ganglia, and within the periventricular white matter. Tractography revealed fiber tract connections of these voxels with premotor, parietal, and prefrontal cortex. Contralesional asomatognosia was found in 18 (28%) of 64 stroke patients. In contrast to RHIF, asomatognosia-associated lesion voxels showed no connection with PMv.The results point to a role of PMv and its connections in mediating changes in the sense of limb ownership driven by multisensory stimulation.
Automatische Kommissionierung geometrisch unterschiedlicher Artikel
Authors: Bruns Rainer , Cleves Björn 
Published: March 2011

Zusammenfassung
Die Kommissionierung ist bedingt durch den hohen Anteil manueller Tätigkeiten der größte Kostenfaktor im Lagerumfeld. Zur Automatisierung der Hauptaufgaben eines Kommissionierers Erfassen und Erkennen von Artikeln werden Ansätze der industriellen Bildverarbeitung und der künstlichen Intelligenz aufgegriffen. Die Handhabung der Artikel wird durch ein am Lehrstuhl entwickeltes Greiferprinzip realisiert.
Hitler und der Juliputsch 1934 in Österreich. Eine Fallstudie zur nationalsozialistischen Außenpolitik in der Frühphase des Regimes
Authors: Bauer Kurt 
Published: March 2011

Vorspann
Der Juliputsch von 1934 ist ein zentrales Ereignis der österreichischen und auch der deutschen Geschichte. Entsprechend gut ist es dokumentiert und erforscht. Eine der wichtigsten Fragen ist aber bis heute ungeklärt: Wie kam es überhaupt zu diesem frühen Versuch einer nationalsozialistischen Machtergreifung in Österreich? Und welche Rolle hat Hitler bei alldem gespielt? Mittlerweile sind so viele Quellen bekannt und auch systematisch ediert, dass hier erstmals überzeugend nachgewiesen werden kann, dass Hitler von Anfang an alle Fäden in der Hand hielt und dass auch in diesem Fall mitnichten von einem „schwachen Diktator“ die Rede sein kann.
Molecular Detection of Brucella spp. DNA in Patients with Manifestations Compatible with Emotional Disorders
Authors: Kechagia M. , Mitka S. , Papadogiannaki E. , Kontos V. , Koutis C. 
Published: March 2011

Objectives:
Human brucellosis is a common zoonosis in Greece and an important Public Health issue. Its true
incidence is likely to be higher than reported due to underreporting and misdiagnosing of chronic forms which can
manifest with depression and other neuropsychiatric symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible
presence of Brucella DNA in the blood of patients with emotional disorders who did not have acute brucellosis or a
diagnosis of chronic brucellosis.

Methods:
From March 2009 to May 2009, inhabitants of a Greek region endemic for brucellosis were examined and
grouped as “patients” and “controls” respectively on the basis of the presence or absence of a diagnosis of emotional
disorder. A total of 78 whole blood samples were obtained and analyzed by Polymerase Chain Reaction using specific
primers.

Results:
Brucella DNA was detected in 3 (15%) out of 20 patients with emotional disorders, whereas all controls were found to be negative.

Conclusions:
The appearance of psychiatric - mainly depressive - symptoms in inhabitants of brucellosis endemic areas should raise a suspicion of chronic brucellosis.
On generalized inverses of singular matrix pencils
Authors: Röbenack Klaus , Reinschke Kurt 
Published: March 2011

On generalized inverses of singular matrix pencilsLinear time-invariant networks are modelled by linear differential-algebraic equations with constant coefficients. These equations can be represented by a matrix pencil. Many publications on this subject are restricted to regular matrix pencils. In particular, the influence of the Weierstrass structure of a regular pencil on the poles of its inverse is well known. In this paper we investigate singular matrix pencils. The relations between the Kronecker structure of a singular matrix pencil and the multiplicity of poles at zero of the Moore-Penrose inverse and the Drazin inverse of the rational matrix are investigated. We present example networks whose circuit equations yield singular matrix pencils.