bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Advanced Curriculum on the Achievement of Mathematically Promising Elementary Students
Authors: Gavin M. Katherine , Casa Tutita M. , Adelson Jill L. , Carroll Susan R. , Sheffield Linda Jensen 
Published: April 2009

The primary aim of Project M3: Mentoring Mathematical Minds was to develop and field test advanced units for mathematically promising elementary students based on exemplary practices in gifted and mathematics education. This article describes the development of the units and reports on mathematics achievement results for students in Grades 3 to 5 from 11 urban and suburban schools after exposure to the curriculum. Data analyses indicate statistically significant differences favoring each of the experimental groups over the comparison group on the ITBS (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills) Concepts and Estimation Test and on Open-Response Assessments at all three grade levels. Furthermore, the effect sizes range from 0.29 to 0.59 on the ITBS Concepts and Estimation Scale and 0.69 to 0.97 on the Open-Response Assessments. These results indicate that these units, designed to address the needs of mathematically promising students, positively affected their achievement. Putting the Research to Use: To date, there is a paucity of research-based, challenging mathematics curriculum units designed specifically for mathematically promising elementary students. As a result, gifted programming for these students, if it exists within a district, often involves a collection of assorted math puzzles and problems or an above-grade-level textbook that was written for the average student. The findings from this curriculum study suggest to practitioners that mathematics curriculum units that are challenging and engaging with a focus on important math concepts and that encourage students to think and act like practicing mathematicians contribute to students' math achievement. The fact that this study was replicated with a second cohort strengthens the result. In addition, since almost 50% of the students came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the study illustrates that the curriculum was highly effective with this special population, while meeting the needs of all talented students.
Self- and manual mobilization improves spine mobility in men with ankylosing spondylitis — a randomized study
Authors: Widberg Kyllikki , Karimi Hossein , Hafström Ingiäld 
Published: April 2009

Aims: To evaluate effects of physiotherapeutic intervention in terms of self- and manual mobilization on chest expansion, vital capacity, posture, spine mobility and experienced consequences of the disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Design: A prospective, randomized controlled study. Methods: Thirty-two men, aged between 23 and 60 years, with ankylosing spondylitis were randomized to active or no treatment for eight weeks. Physiotherapeutic intervention included individualized self- and manual mobilization for 1 hour twice a week and individually adjusted home exercises. Two blinded investigators made the assessments of chest expansion, posture and spinal mobility before and after the treatment period. The patient filled in three and the physiotherapist one of the four Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis scales (BAS scales). Results: In the treatment group chest expansion increased at the level of processus xiphoideus (P<0.01), with no difference in vital capacity compared with the control group. The posture improved in the cervical (C7—wall distance) (P<0.001) and in the thoracic spine (P<0.05). Thoracic and lumbar spine flexion improved (P<0.01) as did sagittal range of motion P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index total scoring improved (P<0.001) in the treatment group compared with the control group. The other three BAS scales showed no differences between groups. At four months follow-up of the treatment group, cervical spine posture, lumbar flexion and range of motion as well as BAS Metrology Index were still improved. Conclusion: This study shows that eight weeks of self- and manual mobilization treatment improved chest expansion, posture and spine mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Does assessing error in perceiving postural limits by testing functional reach predict likelihood of falls in hospitalized stroke patients?
Authors: Takatori Katsuhiko , Okada Yohei , Shomoto Koji , Shimada Tomoaki 
Published: April 2009

Objective: To investigate the relationship between errors in perceiving postural limits and falls in hospitalized hemiplegic patients and to determine whether this relationship is useful for identifying patients at high risk of falls. Design: Observational study. Subjects: Seventy-six hemiplegic patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation hospital. Methods: Error in perceiving postural limits was defined as the difference between the estimated maximum reach and actual reach distances, and its relationship to falls during hospitalization was investigated. Other measurements included Functional Ambulation Category, Brunnstrom's recovery stage, sensory disturbance, fear of falling and the Japanese version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-J). Results: For the multiple fall group, the error in estimated distance (EED) was significantly greater than that for the zero/single fall group (P<0.01). Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that EED (odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1—1.4, P<0.01) and MADRS-J scores (odds ratio 1.1, 95% CI 1.0—1.3, P<0.05) were correlated with multiple falls. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve for EED, the cut-off value for discriminating multiple fallers was 6.3cm (sensitivity 81.0%, specificity 78.2%, area under the curve 0.8). Conclusions: The results suggest that assessing error in perceiving postural limits by measuring the maximum reach of the non-affected side of hemiplegic patients is one way to identify those who are at high risk for falling.
Imatinib for refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease with fibrotic features
Authors: Olivieri Attilio , Locatelli Franco , Zecca Marco , Sanna Adele , Cimminiello Michele , Raimondi Roberto , Gini Guido , Mordini Nicola , Balduzzi Adriana , Leoni Pietro , Gabrielli Armando , Bacigalupo Andrea 
Published: April 2009

AbstractWe previously reported that patients with fibrotic, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) have antibodies activating the platelet-derived growth factor receptor pathway. Because this pathway can be inhibited by imatinib, we performed a pilot study including 19 patients with refractory cGVHD, given imatinib at a starting dose of 100 mg per day. All patients had active cGVHD with measurable involvement of skin or other districts and had previously failed at least 2 treatment lines. Patient median age was 29 years (range, 10-62 years), and median duration of cGvHD was 37 months (range, 4-107 months). The organs involved were skin (n = 17), lung (n = 11), and bowel (n = 5); 15 patients had sicca syndrome. Imatinib-related, grade 3 to 4 toxicity included fluid retention, infections, and anemia. Imatinib was discontinued in 8 patients: in 3 because of toxicity and in 5 because of lack of response (n = 3) or relapse of malignancy (n = 2). Overall response rate at 6 months was 79%, with 7 complete remissions (CRs) and 8 partial remissions (PRs). With a median follow-up of 17 months, 16 patients are alive, 14 still in CR or PR. The 18-month probability of overall survival is 84%. This study suggests that imatinib is a promising treatment for patients with refractory fibrotic cGVHD.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Griscelli syndrome type 2: a single-center report on 10 patients
Authors: Pachlopnik Schmid Jana , Moshous Despina , Boddaert Nathalie , Neven Bénédicte , Dal Cortivo Liliane , Tardieu Marc , Cavazzana-Calvo Marina , Blanche Stéphane , de Saint Basile Geneviève , Fischer Alain 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for Griscelli syndrome type 2, an inherited immune disorder causing fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Optimal therapeutic modalities are not yet well known. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome for 10 patients who underwent HSCT in a single center between 1996 and 2008. Seven patients (70%) were cured of the primary immune defect (mean follow-up, 5.2 years; range, 0.8-12.0 years), 4 of them without neurologic sequelae. In the 3 deceased patients, death occurred within 110 days of HSCT and was probably due to adverse reaction to HSCT in 2 patients and to HLH relapse in one patient. One patient received 2 transplants because of graft failure. Clinical events included veno-occlusive disease (n = 5), acute (n = 7) or chronic (n = 1) graft-versus-host disease II-III, and Epstein-Barr virus–induced lymphoproliferative disease (n = 2). Of the 7 patients with neurologic involvement before HSCT, 4 survived and 2 presented sequelae. Furthermore, 1 patient lacking neurologic involvement before HSCT developed long-term sequelae. These results demonstrate the efficacy of HSCT in curing the immune disorder but also show that neurologic HLH before HSCT is a major factor, given the neurologic sequelae after otherwise successful HSCT. Additional studies are required to improve treatment.
Pre-operative pulmonary evaluation of lung cancer patients: a review of the literature
Authors: van Tilburg P. M. B. , Stam H. , Hoogsteden H. C. , van Klaveren R. J. 
Published: April 2009

Complete anatomical resection of the primary tumour is still the standard of care in patients with early stage lung cancer. Because these patients are usually smokers who also suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, regional differences in pulmonary function due to lung tissue destruction exist.The purpose of the present article is to evaluate the currently available guidelines and to discuss novel methods for the pre-operative functional and anatomical pulmonary evaluation in lung cancer patients.Despite the fact that knowledge on the pre-operative evaluation of the pulmonary function has substantially increased during the past decade, the majority of the studies are small, underpowered and, with exception of a proposed algorithm, not prospectively validated in independent cohorts.The future harmonisation of guidelines is required and novel imaging techniques should be incorporated in the pre-operative evaluation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with borderline pulmonary function.
Unusual microbes in asthma exacerbation:Alcaligenes xylosoxidansand Leishmania
Authors: Robibaro B. , Funk G-C. , Dekan G. , Demetriou D. , Ziesche R. , Winkler S. , Block L.H. 
Published: April 2009

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition characterised by a variable degree of airflow limitation. Exacerbations during the course of asthma often occur due to environmental factors or infectious, mostly viral, aetiology.The present study reports the case of a 61-yr-old male with severe asthma hospitalised due to increasing respiratory distress. Since recovery was delayed despite anti-obstructive/anti-inflammatory and antibiotic therapy, further diagnostic procedures, including bronchoscopy, were performed in order to attempt to identify the cause of the worsening respiratory condition.The surprising finding consisted of a rare coincidence of concomitant infection with the bacterial pathogenAlcaligenes xylosoxidans, grown from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the protozoan parasite Leishmania spp., revealed by histopathological examination of bronchial mucosal biopsy specimens. This is the first report of an isolated bronchial mucosal involvement of Leishmania in an HIV-negative asthma patient following brief exposure in Leishmania-endemic regions. Further, to the best of the present authors’ knowledge, this represents the first description ofA. xylosoxidansin asthma, although it is questionable whether it was an infection or colonisation.The present observation identifies previously unreported microbial pathogens associated with asthma exacerbation. Further, the report highlights the importance of obtaining a thorough travel history and applying invasive diagnostic procedures in circumstances of treatment failure, even under unfavourable conditions.
Consort hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Authors: Merget R. , Sander I. , Ewig S. , Sennekamp J. , Bruening T. 
Published: April 2009

To date, there is little information in the literature that hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to birds may occur without direct contact to birds.A 62-yr-old pensioner developed mild flu-like symptoms, fatigue and polyuria several hours after each meeting with his new female partner, either in hotels or his apartment. After divorcing from her ex-husband, who was a canary fancier, the female had moved into a bungalow ∼6 months earlier. When the couple met for the first time at the bungalow, the patient's symptoms worsened and he developed shortness of breath. The patient had never entered the bird house or the married couple's house.Hypersensitivity pneumonitis was demonstrated by chest radiography, computed tomography, a restrictive ventilatory defect, decreased diffusion capacity and hypoxaemia after physical exercise. Sensitisation to canaries was shown by immunoassays. Canary antigens were detected by a polyclonal immunoassay at different locations of the married couple's house and the female's bungalow, where no birds had ever been kept.In conclusion, hypersensitivity pneumonitis should be recognised as a further consort disease,i.e.a disease that can be transmitted by partners.
Outpatient treatment and early discharge of symptomatic pulmonary embolism: a systematic review
Authors: Squizzato A. , Galli M. , Dentali F. , Ageno W. 
Published: April 2009

The published literature regarding the safety of outpatient treatment of symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) was systematically summarised.A literature search was performed using the PubMed and EMBASE databases. Studies in which patients had symptomatic PE and the antithrombotic treatment was administered completely at home or the patients were discharged early were selected. A scoring system was used to divide studies into three quality categories. Short- and long-term outcomes were extracted: all-cause mortality, death from PE or from major haemorrhage, recurrent venous thromboembolism, and major bleeding.Eleven observational studies were included. No randomised controlled studies were identified. No study fulfilled the criteria for high quality. A total of 928 patients with symptomatic PE were treated completely as outpatients or discharged early; haemodynamic instability and hypoxia were the main exclusion criteria. No patient died during the first 7 days of antithrombotic treatment.Outpatient treatment of symptomatic PE is not based on high-quality evidence. Although the published data suggest that certain subgroups of haemodynamically and respiratorily stable patients may be safely treated at home when a well-defined management programme is applied, further studies are warranted for a short-term prognostic risk stratification of this PE subgroup.
Extracellular Hsp72, an endogenous DAMP, is released by virally infected airway epithelial cells and activates neutrophils via Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4
Authors: Wheeler Derek S , Chase Margaret A , Senft Albert P , Poynter Sue E , Wong Hector R , Page Kristen 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackgroundNeutrophils play an important role in the pathophysiology of RSV, though RSV does not appear to directly activate neutrophils in the lower airways. Therefore locally produced cytokines or other molecules released by virally-infected airway epithelial cells are likely responsible for recruiting and activating neutrophils. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are generally regarded as intracellular proteins acting as molecular chaperones; however, HSP72 can also be released from cells, and the implications of this release are not fully understood.MethodsHuman bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-) were infected with RSV and Hsp72 levels were measured by Western blot and ELISA. Tracheal aspirates were obtained from critically ill children infected with RSV and analyzed for Hsp72 levels by ELISA. Primary human neutrophils and differentiated HL-60 cells were cultured with Hsp72 and supernatants analyzed for cytokine production. In some cases, cells were pretreated with polymyxin B prior to treatment with Hsp72. IκBα was assessed by Western blot and EMSA's were performed to determine NF-κB activation. HL-60 cells were pretreated with neutralizing antibody against TLR4 prior to Hsp72 treatment. Neutrophils were harvested from the bone marrow of wild type or TLR4-deficient mice prior to treatment with Hsp72.ResultsInfection of 16HBE14o- with RSV showed an induction of intracellular Hsp72 levels as well as extracellular release of Hsp72. Primary human neutrophils from normal donors and differentiated HL-60 cells treated with increasing concentrations of Hsp72 resulted in increased cytokine (IL-8 and TNFα) production. This effect was independent of the low levels of endotoxin in the Hsp72 preparation. Hsp72 mediated cytokine production via activation of NF-κB translocation and DNA binding. Using bone marrow-derived neutrophils from wild type and TLR4-mutant mice, we showed that Hsp72 directly activates neutrophil-derived cytokine production via the activation of TLR4.ConclusionCollectively these data suggest that extracellular Hsp72 is released from virally infected airway epithelial cells resulting in the recruitment and activation of neutrophils.
Transcriptomic analysis of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora TTO1
Authors: Bai Xiaodong , Adams Byron J , Ciche Todd A , Clifton Sandra , Gaugler Randy , Hogenhout Saskia A , Spieth John , Sternberg Paul W , Wilson Richard K , Grewal Parwinder S 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and its symbiotic bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens, are important biological control agents of insect pests. This nematode-bacterium-insect association represents an emerging tripartite model for research on mutualistic and parasitic symbioses. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying these biological processes may serve as a foundation for improving the biological control potential of the nematode-bacterium complex. This large-scale expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis effort enables gene discovery and development of microsatellite markers. These ESTs will also aid in the annotation of the upcoming complete genome sequence of H. bacteriophora.

Results
A total of 31,485 high quality ESTs were generated from cDNA libraries of the adult H. bacteriophora TTO1 strain. Cluster analysis revealed the presence of 3,051 contigs and 7,835 singletons, representing 10,886 distinct EST sequences. About 72% of the distinct EST sequences had significant matches (E value < 1e-5) to proteins in GenBank's non-redundant (nr) and Wormpep190 databases. We have identified 12 ESTs corresponding to 8 genes potentially involved in RNA interference, 22 ESTs corresponding to 14 genes potentially involved in dauer-related processes, and 51 ESTs corresponding to 27 genes potentially involved in defense and stress responses. Comparison to ESTs and proteins of free-living nematodes led to the identification of 554 parasitic nematode-specific ESTs in H. bacteriophora, among which are those encoding F-box-like/WD-repeat protein theromacin, Bax inhibitor-1-like protein, and PAZ domain containing protein. Gene Ontology terms were assigned to 6,685 of the 10,886 ESTs. A total of 168 microsatellite loci were identified with primers designable for 141 loci.

Conclusion
A total of 10,886 distinct EST sequences were identified from adult H. bacteriophora cDNA libraries. BLAST searches revealed ESTs potentially involved in parasitism, RNA interference, defense responses, stress responses, and dauer-related processes. The putative microsatellite markers identified in H. bacteriophora ESTs will enable genetic mapping and population genetic studies. These genomic resources provide the material base necessary for genome annotation, microarray development, and in-depth gene functional analysis.
Structure-Function analysis of the CTLA-4 interaction with PP2A
Authors: Teft Wendy A , Chau Thu A , Madrenas Joaquín 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
CTLA-4 functions primarily as an inhibitor of T cell activation. There are several candidate explanations as to how CTLA-4 modulates T cell responses, but the exact mechanism remains undefined. The tail of CTLA-4 does not have any intrinsic enzymatic activity but is able to associate with several signaling molecules including the serine/threonine phosphatase PP2A. PP2A is a heterotrimeric molecule comprised of a regulatory B subunit associated with a core dimer of a scaffolding (A) and a catalytic (C) subunit.

Results
Here, we performed an analysis of the human CTLA-4 interface interacting with PP2A. We show that PP2A interacts with the cytoplasmic tail of CTLA-4 in two different sites, one on the lysine rich motif, and the other on the tyrosine residue located at position 182 (but not the tyrosine 165 of the YVKM motif). Although the interaction between CTLA-4 and PP2A was not required for inhibition of T cell responses, it was important for T cell activation by inverse agonists of CTLA-4. Such an interaction was functionally relevant because the inverse agonists induced IL-2 production in an okadaic acid-dependent manner.

Conclusion
Our studies demonstrate that PP2A interacts with the cytoplasmic tail of human CTLA-4 through two motifs, the lysine rich motif centered at lysine 155 and the tyrosine residue 182. This interaction and the phosphatase activity of PP2A are important for CTLA-4-mediated T cell activation.
Looking for a pattern: An MEG study on the abstract mismatch negativity in musicians and nonmusicians
Authors: Herholz Sibylle C , Lappe Claudia , Pantev Christo 
Published: April 2009

Abstract

Background
The mismatch negativity (MMN) is an early component of event-related potentials/fields, which can be observed in response to violations of regularities in sound sequences. The MMN can be elicited by simple feature (e.g. pitch) deviations in standard oddball paradigms as well as by violations of more complex sequential patterns. By means of magnetoencephalography (MEG) we investigated if a pattern MMN could be elicited based on global rather than local probabilities and if the underlying ability to integrate long sequences of tones is enhanced in musicians compared to nonmusicians.

Results
A pattern MMN was observed in response to violations of a predominant sequential pattern (AAAB) within a standard oddball tone sequence consisting of only two different tones. This pattern MMN was elicited even though the probability of pattern deviants in the sequence was as high as 0.5. Musicians showed more leftward-lateralized pattern MMN responses, which might be due to a stronger specialization of the ability to integrate information in a sequence of tones over a long time range.

Conclusion
The results indicate that auditory grouping and the probability distribution of possible patterns within a sequence influence the expectations about upcoming tones, and that the MMN might also be based on global statistical knowledge instead of a local memory trace. The results also show that auditory grouping based on sequential regularities can occur at a much slower presentation rate than previously presumed, and that probability distributions of possible patterns should be taken into account even for the construction of simple oddball sequences.