bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TCR Repertoire and Foxp3 Expression Define Functionally Distinct Subsets of CD4+ Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Kuczma Michal , Pawlikowska Iwona , Kopij Magdalena , Podolsky Robert , Rempala Grzegorz A. , Kraj Piotr 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Despite extensive research efforts to characterize peripheral regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing transcription factor Foxp3, their subset complexity, phenotypic characteristics, TCR repertoire and Ag specificities remain ambiguous. In this study, we identify and define two subsets of peripheral Treg cells differing in Foxp3 expression level and TCR repertoires. Treg cells expressing a high level of Foxp3 and TCRs not used by naive CD4+ T cells present a stable suppressor phenotype and dominate the peripheral Treg population in unmanipulated mice. The second Treg subset, expressing a lower level of Foxp3 and using TCRs shared with naive CD4+ T cells constitutes a small fraction of all Treg cells in unmanipulated mice and enriches Treg population with the same Ag specificities as expressed by activated/effector T cells. This Treg subset undergoes extensive expansion during response to Ag when it becomes a major population of Ag-specific Treg cells. Thus, Treg cells expressing TCRs shared with naive CD4+ T cells have a flexible phenotype and may down-regulate Foxp3 expression which may restore immune balance at the conclusion of immune response or convert these cells to effector T cells producing inflammatory cytokines.
Inhibition of Thymic Adipogenesis by Caloric Restriction Is Coupled with Reduction in Age-Related Thymic Involution
Authors: Yang Hyunwon , Youm Yun-Hee , Dixit Vishwa Deep 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Aging of thymus is characterized by reduction in naive T cell output together with progressive replacement of lymphostromal thymic zones with adipocytes. Determining how calorie restriction (CR), a prolongevity metabolic intervention, regulates thymic aging may allow identification of relevant mechanisms to prevent immunosenescence. Using a mouse model of chronic CR, we found that a reduction in age-related thymic adipogenic mechanism is coupled with maintenance of thymic function. The CR increased cellular density in the thymic cortex and medulla and preserved the epithelial signatures. Interestingly, CR prevented the age-related increase in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulators, FoxC2, and fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP-1), together with reduction in lipid-laden thymic fibroblasts. Additionally, CR specifically blocked the age-related elevation of thymic proadipogenic master regulator, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and its upstream activator xanthine-oxidoreductase (XOR). Furthermore, we found that specific inhibition of PPARγ in thymic stromal cells prevented their adipogenic transformation in an XOR-dependent mechanism. Activation of PPARγ-driven adipogenesis in OP9-DL1 stromal cells compromised their ability to support T cell development. Conversely, CR-induced reduction in EMT and thymic adipogenesis were coupled with elevated thymic output. Compared with 26-mo-old ad libitum fed mice, the T cells derived from age-matched CR animals displayed greater proliferation and higher IL-2 expression. Furthermore, CR prevented the deterioration of the peripheral TCR repertoire diversity in older animals. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that reducing proadipogenic signaling in thymus via CR may promote thymopoiesis during aging.
HLA-DQB1*0602 Determines Disease Susceptibility in a New “Humanized” Multiple Sclerosis Model in HLA-DR15 (DRB1*1501;DQB1*0602) Transgenic Mice
Authors: Kaushansky Nathali , Altmann Daniel M. , Ascough Stephanie , David Chella S. , Lassmann Hans , Ben-Nun Avraham 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
The susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurological autoimmune disease that primarily targets CNS myelin, has long been associated with HLA class-II genes. Although several other HLA and non-HLA disease predisposing alleles have been identified, alleles of the HLA-DR15 haplotype (DRB1*1501, DRB5*0101, and DQB1*0602) remain the strongest susceptibility factor. Many studies have suggested that the HLA-DRB1*1501 allele determines MS-associated susceptibility. However, due to strong linkage disequilibrium within the HLA class II region, it has been difficult to unequivocally determine the relative roles of the DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602 products. In this study we use HLA class-II transgenic mice to illuminate the relative contributions of the DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602 alleles or their combination to susceptibility toward a new “humanized” MS-like disease induced by myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP). Although many immunological studies have focused overwhelmingly on the role of the HLA-DRB1*1501 product in MS, we show that HLA-DRB1*1501 transgenics are refractory to MOBP disease induction, whereas the HLA-DQB1*0602 transgenics are susceptible via T cells reactive against MOBP15–36 and MOBP55–77 encephalitogenic epitopes. Although both transgenics react against these epitopes, the MOBP15–36- and MOBP55–77-reactive T cells are of Th2-type in HLA-DRB1*1501 transgenics and are pathogenic Th1/Th17 cells in the HLA-DQB1*0602 transgenic mice. This new humanized model of MS further implicates autoimmunity against MOBP in MS pathogenesis, provides the first evidence of pathogenic HLA-DQ-associated anti-myelin autoimmunity, and is the first to offer a rationale for HLA-DQB1*0602 association with MS. These findings have important bearing on the candidacy of the DQB1*0602 allele as a genetic risk factor for MS.
Cutting Edge: IL-15-Independent NK Cell Response to Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Sun Joseph C. , Ma Averil , Lanier Lewis L. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
NK cells respond rapidly during viral infection. The development, function, and survival of NK cells are thought to be dependent on IL-15. In mice lacking IL-15, NK cells are found in severely decreased numbers. Surprisingly, following infection of IL-15- and IL-15Rα-deficient mice with mouse CMV, we measured a robust proliferation of Ly49H-bearing NK cells in lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs capable of cytokine secretion and cytolytic function. Remarkably, even in Rag2−/− × Il2rg−/− mice, a widely used model of NK cell deficiency, we detected a significant number of NK cells 1 wk after mouse CMV infection. In these mice we measured a &gt;300-fold expansion of NK cells, which was dependent on recognition of the m157 viral glycoprotein ligand and IL-12. Together, these findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized independence of NK cells on IL-15 or other common γ signaling cytokines during their response against viral infection.
A multimodal Approach to the Treatment of Bilateral Choroidal Metastases from Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Fabrini Maria Grazia , Genovesi-Ebert Federica , Perrone Franco , De Liguoro Mario , Giovannetti Clara , Bogazzi Fausto , Rizzo Stanislao , Martino Enio , Cionini Luca 
Published: August 2009

A 58-year old man, affected by metastatic thyroid carcinoma, experienced a progressive bilateral visual impairment. Ophthalmic examination revealed the presence of a choroidal mass with an associated exudative retinal detachment in both eyes. Twelve years before, a diagnosis of metastatic thyroid carcinoma had been established and the patient had been subject to several therapeutic procedures. In May 2007, he received a radiotherapy treatment to the left eye with an episcleral plaque and bilateral bulbar injection of bevacizumab. The patient had a rapid and stable visual acuity recovery. Twenty months after treatment, the lesion treated with radiotherapy was still stable whereas the contra-lateral lesion had evolved and determined a vitreal hemorrhage.
Diagnosis of Vulvar Lesions by Non-Invasive Optical Analysis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Vlastos Anne-Therese , Charvet Igor , Dellacasa Ilaria , Capanna Federica , Pelte Marie-Françoise , Thueler Philippe , Saint-Ghislain Michel , Depeursinge Christian , Meda Paolo 
Published: August 2009

A procedure that could allow an early in vivo and non-invasive detection of vulvar lesions would be extremely useful. We tested an innovative optical method (Optiprobe), which uses a harmless, visible light source for the in vivo, on-line detection of minimal alterations in the structure of vulvar epithelium. A group of 3 female volunteers without gynecological symptoms were first screened to evaluate optical properties of normal vulvar tissue. Next, a group of 16 patients undergoing gynecological examination for vulvar lesions was evaluated by the Optiprobe at suspected sites before these sites were biopsied for histological analysis. Adjacent, non-involved sites were also measured to provide internal controls. Histological analysis of the biopsies identified one case that did not show obvious alterations, 4 cases of high-grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), 5 cases of vulvitis, and 6 cases of lichen sclerosis (LS). The optical properties of the VIN cases were significantly different from those of controls, due to a decrease in the absorption spectra and an increase in the scattering spectra. In contrast, a significant increase in the absorption spectra and a decrease in the scattering spectra were observed in the cases of vulvitis. In the LS cases, the absorption spectra were as in controls, whereas the scattering spectra were significantly decreased. We conclude that the Optiprobe provides a useful tool for a rapid and non-invasive detection of vulvar alterations. The method should contribute to reduce the number of biopsies and to facilitate the long-term follow-up of vulvar lesions.
The status of cervical cytology in Swaziland, Southern Africa: A descriptive study
Authors: Okonda Sylvain , Wright Colleen , Michelow Pam 
Published: August 2009

Background:
Cancer of the cervix is the most common cancer in women in Swaziland where most women never undergo cervical screening. The extremely high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland complicates the management of preinvasive and invasive cervical cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the current status of cervical cytology in Swaziland, its strengths and limitations.

Methods:
The study is a retrospective review of 12,188 conventional cervical smears received by the Central Public Health Laboratory in Swaziland from June 2004 to May 2006.

Results:
Review of results showed very high rates of cytologic abnormalities with 43.2% of smears screened reported as abnormal. The percentages of abnormalities were as follows: atypical squamous cells of undermined significance (ASC-US), 19.8%; atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude HSILs (ASC-H), 8.8%; low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 9.0%; high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 4.6%; squamous cell carcinomas, 0.5%; atypical endocervical cells, 0.6%; and atypical endometrial cells, 0.4%. Just over 5% of smears were inadequate. The highest rates of HSILs and invasive squamous carcinoma occurred in women aged 50–59 years.

Conclusions:
This study underscores the need to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions in Swaziland women. Based on studies of human papillomavirus (HPV) types in other Southern African countries, current HPV vaccines would reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer in the future, but cervical screening would still be required, both for women already infected with the HPV and for HPV subtypes not covered by current vaccines. The most cost-effective combination of screening modalities such as visual inspection, HPV DNA testing, and cytology should be investigated. Cervical cancer reduction needs to be managed within the greater framework of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Determination of ADME and Bioavailability Following Intravenous, Oral, and Dermal Routes of Exposure
Authors: Saghir Shakil A. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractHumans are exposed to chemicals either voluntarily or involuntarily through several routes. Therapeutic drugs are introduced into the human system via a number of routes including, but not limited to, oral, inhalation, intravenous (i.v.), topical, and subcutaneous. For occupational and environmental chemicals, the major routes of human exposure are inhalation, dermal, and oral. To determine the extent of exposure to chemicals, the concentration of the active molecules is measured in a biological medium. Determination of absolute and/or relative bioavailability of occupational and environmental chemical exposure through different routes is critical in understanding the risk to the general population of a low‐level exposure to these chemicals. This unit describes typical protocol designs to generate data for the calculation of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) and absolute and relative bioavailability of chemicals when exposed through i.v., oral, and dermal routes. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 41:5.8.1‐5.8.19. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Thioredoxin Redox Western Analysis
Authors: Go Young‐Mi , Jones Dean P. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractIncreasing evidence suggests that compartment‐specific changes are important in redox signaling and control. Examination of thiol/disulfide redox changes in thioredoxin (Trx) family members including Trx1 in cytoplasm and nucleus and Trx2 in mitochondria should aid in the understanding of compartmentalized redox signaling mechanisms. Methods to quantify redox states of both Trx1 and Trx2 by redox western analysis and to further calculate redox potential using the Nernst equation are described in this unit. The procedures to measure redox states of Trx1 and Trx2 consist of three parts, derivatization, redox western blotting, and calculation of redox potentials. Derivatization of proteins with thiol‐reactive reagents prior to redox western blotting prevents artifactual oxidation of protein thiols and allows separation of the reduced forms from oxidized forms of the protein. Consequently, the redox western analysis of Trx provides a convenient tool to estimate the redox state of different compartments and improve the understanding of redox signaling. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 41:17.12.1‐17.12.12. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Population balance modeling of particle size distribution in monomer‐starved semibatch emulsion polymerization
Authors: Sajjadi Shahriar 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe evolution of particle size distribution (PSD) in the monomer‐starved semibatch emulsion polymerization of styrene with a neat monomer feed is investigated using a population balance model. The system under study ranges from conventional batch emulsion to semicontinuous (micro)emulsion polymerization depending on the rate of monomer addition. It is shown that, contrary to what is often believed, the broadness of PSD is not necessarily associated with the length of nucleation period. The PSDs at the end of nucleation are found to be independent of surfactant concentration. Simulation results indicate that at the completion of nucleation the particle size is reduced and the PSD narrows with decreasing rate of monomer addition despite nucleation time increasing. The broad distribution of particles frequently encountered in semibatch emulsion polymerizations is therefore attributed to stochastic broadening during the growth stage. The zero‐one‐two‐three model developed in this article allows perceiving that the dominant kinetic mechanism may be different for particles with different sizes. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
The P86L common allele of CALHM1 does not influence risk for Alzheimer disease in Japanese cohorts
Authors: Inoue Ken , Tanaka Noriko , Yamashita Fumio , Sawano Yoshie , Asada Takashi , Goto Yu‐ichi 
Published: August 2009

AbstractA common P86L variant in CALHM1 was recently identified to increase susceptibility to Alzheimer disease (AD) in individuals of European‐descent. To determine whether or not this association is also valid in a different ethnic population, we directly sequenced three nearby SNPs including P86L in more than 2,500 Japanese AD case–control samples. We found no association between CALHM1 P86L polymorphism and AD risk in Japanese individuals. We also found a small number of non‐synonymous minor variants in both control and case populations, some of which are predicted to affect protein function, but are unlikely to increase this risk of AD in this population. We also determined that the P86L allele frequency is lower in non‐Caucasian populations than in Caucasians. Our findings suggest that the CALHM1 P86L common variant may not influence AD risk in Japanese. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ground‐penetrating radar survey over bronze age circular monuments on a sandy soil, complemented with electromagnetic induction and fluxgate gradiometer data
Authors: Verdonck L. , Simpson D. , Cornelis W. M. , Plyson A. , Bourgeois J. , Docter R. , Van Meirvenne M. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis paper presents a ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) survey over two circular structures originally surrounding Bronze Age burial mounds at the site of Koekelare (western Belgium). The region is characterized by sandy soils. Their low water storage capacity and the consequent moisture contrasts in dry summers played an important role in the detection of over 1000 Bronze Age funeral monuments through aerial archaeology in the past few decades. At Koekelare, low attenuation of GPR waves resulted in the detection of a double and single circular ditch. A fluxgate gradiometer survey and electromagnetic induction (EMI) measurements did not clearly reveal the ditches. For the GPR wave velocity analysis, constant velocity migration tests were combined with time‐domain reflectometry (TDR). The TDR measurements were made at different depths within the ditches and in the adjacent undisturbed soil, so that the differences in the physical soil parameters could be assessed.At a depth of approximately 0.45 to 0.8 m, the relatively homogeneous ditch fill produces few GPR reflections compared with the undisturbed soil, and is visible as a weak negative anomaly on the horizontal slices. At this depth, the grey or brownish black ditch fill was found in augering samples, clearly distinguishable from the yellowish brown sandy soil outside the ditches. The transition between the ditch and the underlying soil caused a gradual reflection of radar energy at a depth of approximately 0.8 to 1.2 m, although TDR showed no marked differences in relative permittivity between the ditches and the surrounding soil, and no clear steps as a function of depth. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computational relaxed TP model transformation: restricting the computation to subspaces of the dynamic model
Authors: Nagy Szabolcs , Petres Zoltán , Baranyi Péter , Hashimoto Hideki 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe tensor‐product (TP) model transformation is a recently proposed numerical method capable of transforming linear parameter varying state‐space models to the higher order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) based canonical form of polytopic models. It is also capable of generating various types of convex TP models, a type of polytop models, for linear matrix inequality based controller design. The crucial point of the TP model transformation is that its computational load exponentially explodes with the dimensionality of the parameter vector of the parameter‐varying state‐space model. In this paper we propose a modified TP model transformation that leads to considerable reduction of the computation. The key idea of the method is that instead of transforming the whole system matrix at once in the whole parameter space, we decompose the problem and perform the transformation element wise and restrict the computation to the subspace where the given element of the model varies. The modified TP model transformation can readily be executed in higher dimensional cases when the original TP model transformation fails. The effectiveness of the new method is illustrated with numerical examples. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society
The relationship between indecisiveness and eye movement patterns in a decision making informational search task
Authors: Patalano Andrea L. , Juhasz Barbara J. , Dicke Joanna 
Published: August 2009

AbstractIndecisiveness is a trait‐related general tendency to experience decision difficulties across a variety of situations, leading to decision delay, worry, and regret. Indecisiveness is proposed (Rassin, 2007) to be associated with an increase in desire for information acquisition and reliance on compensatory strategies—as evidenced by alternative‐based information search—during decision making. However existing studies provide conflicting findings. We conducted an information board study of indecisiveness, using eye tracking methodology, to test the hypotheses that the relationship between indecisiveness and choice strategy depends on being in the early stage of the decision making process, and that it depends on being in the presence of an opportunity to delay choice. We found strong evidence for the first hypothesis in that indecisive individuals changed shift behavior from the first to the second half of the task, consistent with a move from greater to lesser compensatory processing, while the shift behavior of decisive individuals suggested lesser compensatory processing over the whole task. Indecisiveness was also related to time spent viewing attributes of the selected course, and to time spent looking away from decision information. These findings resolve past discrepancies, suggest an interesting account of how the decision process unfolds for indecisive versus decisive individuals, and contribute to a better understanding of this tendency. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Public good provision in inter‐team conflicts: Effects of asymmetry and profit‐sharing rule
Authors: Kugler Tamar , Rapoport Amnon , Pazy Asya 
Published: August 2009

AbstractA fundamental problem in organizations is designing mechanisms for eliciting voluntary contributions from individual members of a team who are entrapped in a social dilemma. To solve the problem, we utilize a game‐theoretical framework that embeds the traditional within‐team social dilemma in a between‐team competition for an exogenously determined prize. In equilibrium, such competition enhances the incentive to contribute, therebyreducingfree‐riding. Extending existing literature, we focus on asymmetric competitions between teams of unequal size, and competitions between more than two teams. Comparing two protocols for sharing the prize—egalitarian and proportional profit‐sharing rules—we find that (i) free‐riding diminishes and (ii) team members contribute more toward their team's effort when they belong to the larger team and when the profit‐sharing rule is proportional. (iii) Additionally, under the egalitarian profit‐sharing rule team members contributemorethan predicted by the equilibrium solution. We discuss implications of our findings for eliciting contributions in competitive environments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.