bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal Social Insurance with Linear Income Taxation*
Authors: Bovenberg Lans , Birch Sørensen Peter 
Published: April 2009

AbstractWe study optimal social insurance aimed at insuring disability risk in the presence of linear income taxation. Optimal disability insurance benefits rise with previous earnings. Optimal insurance is incomplete even though disability risks are exogenous and verifiable so that moral hazard in disability insurance is absent. Imperfect insurance is optimal because it encourages workers to insure themselves against disability by working and saving more, thereby alleviating the distortionary impact of the redistributive income tax on labor supply and savings.
Neoclassical versus Frontier Production Models? Testing for the Skewness of Regression Residuals*
Authors: Kuosmanen Timo , Fosgerau Mogens 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe empirical literature on production and cost functions is divided into two strands. The neoclassical approach concentrates on model parameters, while the frontier approach decomposes the disturbance term to a symmetric noise term and a positively skewed inefficiency term. We propose a theoretical justification for the skewness of the inefficiency term, arguing that this skewness is the key testable hypothesis of the frontier approach. We propose to test the regression residuals for skewness in order to distinguish the two competing approaches. Our test builds directly upon the asymmetry of regression residuals and does not require any prior distributional assumptions.
Incorporating Judgement in Fan Charts
Authors: Österholm Pär 
Published: April 2009

AbstractWithin a decision‐making group, such as a central bank's monetary‐policy committee, group members often hold differing views about the future of key economic variables. Such differences of opinion can be thought of as reflecting differing sets of judgement. This paper suggests modelling each agent's judgement as one scenario in a macroeconomic model. Each judgement set has a specific dynamic impact on the system and, accordingly, a particular predictive density—or fan chart—associated with it. A weighted linear combination of the predictive densities yields a final predictive density that reflects the uncertainty perceived by the agents generating the forecast.
Refined Geographic Distribution of the Oriental ALDH2*504Lys (nee 487Lys) Variant
Authors: Li Hui , Borinskaya Svetlana , Yoshimura Kimio , Kal’ina Nina , Marusin Andrey , Stepanov Vadim A. , Qin Zhendong , Khaliq Shagufta , Lee Mi‐Young , Yang Yajun , Mohyuddin Aisha , Gurwitz David , Mehdi Syed Qasim , Rogaev Evgeny , Jin Li , Yankovsky Nikolay K. , Kidd Judith R. , Kidd Kenneth K. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryMitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is one of the most important enzymes in human alcohol metabolism. The oriental ALDH2*504Lys variant functions as a dominant negative, greatly reducing activity in heterozygotes and abolishing activity in homozygotes. This allele is associated with serious disorders such as alcohol liver disease, late onset Alzheimer disease, colorectal cancer, and esophageal cancer, and is best known for protection against alcoholism. Many hundreds of papers in various languages have been published on this variant, providing allele frequency data for many different populations. To develop a highly refined global geographic distribution of ALDH2*504Lys, we have collected new data on 4,091 individuals from 86 population samples and assembled published data on a total of 80,691 individuals from 366 population samples. The allele is essentially absent in all parts of the world except East Asia. The ALDH2*504Lys allele has its highest frequency in Southeast China, and occurs in most areas of China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Indochina with frequencies gradually declining radially from Southeast China. As the indigenous populations in South China have much lower frequencies than the southern Han migrants from Central China, we conclude that ALDH2*504Lys was carried by Han Chinese as they spread throughout East Asia. Esophageal cancer, with its highest incidence in East Asia, may be associated with ALDH2*504Lys because of a toxic effect of increased acetaldehyde in the tissue where ingested ethanol has its highest concentration. While the distributions of esophageal cancer and ALDH2*504Lys do not precisely correlate, that does not disprove the hypothesis. In general the study of fine scale geographic distributions of ALDH2*504Lys and diseases may help in understanding the multiple relationships among genes, diseases, environments, and cultures.
There will be blood: autohaemorrhage behaviour as part of the defence repertoire of an insect
Authors: Bateman P. W. , Fleming P. A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractArmoured ground crickets Acanthoplus discoidalis (Bradyporidae) have an arsenal of defence mechanisms in response to attack. Males but not females can stridulate when attacked, while both sexes will bite and regurgitate upon provocation. They will also autohaemorrhage. Here we have quantified these responses, examining how individuals of both sexes respond to repeated simulated predatory attack from the side (grabbing the legs with forceps) or from above (grabbing the animal by the pronotum). We found different responses depending on the method of attack. When attack was directed from the side (at the legs) the crickets can bite their attacker and males stridulate intensely. About 62% of such attacks elicited an autohaemorrhage response, where the crickets squirt 13±22 mg of acrid‐smelling haemolymph 43±63 mm from seams in the connective tissue between the trochanter and coxa of each leg and from under the pronotum. By contrast, animals attacked from above could not turn and bite their attacker, and stridulation was also reduced in males. About 86% of such attacks elicited an autohaemorrhage response with 19±19 mg of haemolymph projecting 10±30 mm from the body. Autohaemorrhaging is an effective form of chemical defence against bearded dragon lizards Pogona vitticeps (Agamidae) and Aca. discoidalis haemolymph applied to Gryllus bimaculatus nymphs (which have no such chemical defence) successfully saved them from predation by striped skinks Trachylepis punctatissima (Scincidae).
Therapeutic antibodies: successes, limitations and hopes for the future
Authors: Chames Patrick , Van Regenmortel Marc , Weiss Etienne , Baty Daniel 
Published: April 2009

With more than 20 molecules in clinical use, monoclonal antibodies have finally come of age as therapeutics, generating a market value of $11 billion in 2004, expected to reach $26 billion by 2010. While delivering interesting results in the treatment of several major diseases including autoimmune, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, cancer and inflammation, clinical trials and research are generating a wealth of useful information, for instance about associations of clinical responses with Fc receptor polymorphisms and the infiltration and recruitment of effector cells into targeted tissues. Some functional limitations of therapeutic antibodies have come to light such as inadequate pharmacokinetics and tissue accessibility as well as impaired interactions with the immune system, and these deficiencies point to areas where additional research is needed. This review aims at giving an overview of the current state of the art and describes the most promising avenues that are being followed to create the next generation of antibody‐based therapeutic agents.This article is part of a themed section on Vector Design and Drug Delivery. For a list of all articles in this section see the end of this paper, or visit: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121548564/issueyear?year=2009
Chemical vectors for gene delivery: a current review on polymers, peptides and lipids containing histidine or imidazole as nucleic acids carriers
Authors: Midoux Patrick , Pichon Chantal , Yaouanc Jean‐Jacques , Jaffrès Paul‐Alain 
Published: April 2009

DNA/cationic lipid (lipoplexes), DNA/cationic polymer (polyplexes) and DNA/cationic polymer/cationic lipid (lipopolyplexes) electrostatic complexes are proposed as non‐viral nucleic acids delivery systems. These DNA‐nanoparticles are taken up by the cells through endocytosis processes, but the low capacity of DNA to escape from endosomes is regarded as the major limitations of their transfection efficiency. Here, we present a current report on a particular class of carriers including the polymers, peptides and lipids, which is based on the exploitation of the imidazole ring as an endosome destabilization device to favour the nucleic acids delivery in the cytosol. The imidazole ring of histidine is a weak base that has the ability to acquire a cationic charge when the pH of the environment drops bellow 6. As it has been demonstrated for poly(histidine), this phenomena can induce membrane fusion and/or membrane permeation in an acidic medium. Moreover, the accumulation of histidine residues inside acidic vesicles can induce a proton sponge effect, which increases their osmolarity and their swelling. The proof of concept has been shown with polylysine partially substituted with histidine residues that has caused a dramatic increase by 3–4.5 orders of magnitude of the transfection efficiency of DNA/polylysine polyplexes. Then, several histidine‐rich polymers and peptides as well as lipids with imidazole, imidazolinium or imidazolium polar head have been reported to be efficient carriers to deliver nucleic acids including genes, mRNA or SiRNA in vitro and in vivo. More remarkable, histidylated carriers are often weakly cytotoxic, making them promising chemical vectors for nucleic acids delivery.This article is part of a themed section on Vector Design and Drug Delivery. For a list of all articles in this section see the end of this paper, or visit: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121548564/issueyear?year=2009
Delivery of magic bullets: on the still rocky road to gene therapy
Authors: Takeda K. 
Published: April 2009

In this issue, the promises, problems and current progress towards gene therapy are examined in a themed set of six reviews. These cover the major methodologies deployed over the last twenty to thirty years to deliver a gene or other potentially therapeutic molecules into an organism. Initial enthusiasm and optimism concerning the prospects for gene therapy and more generally, the delivery of magic bullets, arose after the pioneering discoveries of monoclonal antibodies and retroviral infection during the 1970's and were fuelled by strategies to make synthetic viruses and the advent of chemical vectors over the succeeding twenty years. However, despite significant advances, to date, the early hopes of widespread gene therapy still remain largely unfulfilled.This article is part of a themed section on Vector Design and Drug Delivery. For a list of all articles in this section see the end of this paper, or visit: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121548564/issueyear?year=2009
Serum adipokine levels predictive of liver injury in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Lemoine Maud , Ratziu Vlad , Kim Minji , Maachi Mustapha , Wendum Dominique , Paye François , Bastard Jean Philippe , Poupon Raoul , Housset Chantal , Capeau Jacqueline , Serfaty Lawrence 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAims: The aim of this study was to determine whether serum levels of adipokines, including the ratio of serum adiponectin to leptin (A/L) levels could predict the severity of liver injury in patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Patients and methods: Fifty‐seven patients with biopsy‐proven non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (mean age 51±12, sex ratio 1), 17 with simple steatosis (mean age 47±12, sex ratio 1.4) and 10 controls without steatosis (mean age 51±11, sex ratio 4) were investigated. In all subjects, serum concentrations of triglycerides, ultrasensitive C reactive protein, leptin, adiponectin, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1, interleukin (IL)‐6 and Homeostasis Model Assessment Method (HOMA) were measured. Hepatic expression of adiponectin and its two receptors was assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.Results: Body mass index (BMI) and HOMA were correlated positively with leptin levels (r=0.44 and 0.28 respectively) and negatively with the A/L ratio (r=0.51 and 0.41 respectively). Independent parameters associated with NASH vs steatosis were HOMA>3 [odds ratio (OR)=6.9] and A/L ratio <1.4 103 (OR=5.2). The combination of HOMA with A/L ratio showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82 for distinguishing between NASH and steatosis. Extensive portal fibrosis was present in 17 (23%) patients with NAFLD. Three independent parameters were associated with fibrosis: age (OR=1.1), BMI (OR=1.3) and high IL‐6 levels (OR=1.6). The hepatic expression of adiponectin receptor 2 was significantly higher in patients with NASH compared with controls and was related with necroinflammatory injury.Conclusions: This study shows that in patients with NAFLD, the combination of HOMA with A/L ratio may be a useful non‐invasive approach to appreciate the severity of liver damage.
Effect of human umbilical cord blood‐derived mesenchymal stem cells in a cirrhotic rat model
Authors: Jung Kyung Hee , Shin Hyun Phil , Lee Sun , Lim Yun Jeong , Hwang Soo Han , Han Hoon , Park Hwon Kyum , Chung Joo‐Ho , Yim Sung‐Vin 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground/Aim: Cirrhosis is a long‐term consequence of chronic hepatic injury and no effective therapy is currently available for this disease. Recent reports have shown that the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate into hepatocytes, and umbilical cord blood is a rich source of MSCs. Hence, we investigated the effect of infusing of human umbilical cord blood‐derived MSCs (HMSCs) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced cirrhosis in a rat model.Methods: The effect of HMSCs on cirrhosis was evaluated using haematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. To evaluate cirrhosis‐related factors, we measured protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), collagen type I and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA).Results: Histological findings showed that liver fibrosis in rats was alleviated by HMSCs infusion. Interestingly, CM‐DiI‐labelled HMSCs expressed the hepatocyte‐specific markers, human albumin and α‐fetoprotein. Infusion of HMSCs significantly inhibited TGF‐β1, collagen type I and α‐SMA expressions in CCl4‐induced cirrhotic rats.Conclusion: Our results showed that HMSCs infusion could improve liver fibrosis in rats with CCl4‐induced cirrhosis, raising the possibility for clinical use of HMSCs in the treatment of cirrhosis.
Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid in combination with vitamin E on adipokines and apoptosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Balmer Maria Luisa , Siegrist Kathrin , Zimmermann Arthur , Dufour Jean‐François 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground/Aims: Adipokines and hepatocellular apoptosis participate in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In a randomized trial ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with vitamin E (VitE) improved serum aminotransferases and hepatic histology. The present work evaluates the effect of this combination on adipokines and hepatocellular apoptosis.Methods: Circulating levels of adiponectin, resistin, leptin, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, retinol binding protein‐4, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and tumour necrosis factor‐α were measured by enzyme‐linked immunoassays at the beginning and after 2 years of treatment with either UDCA+VitE, UDCA+placebo (P) or P+P. Apoptosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry for activated caspase‐3 and circulating levels of apoptosis‐associated cytokeratin 18 fragments (M30).Results: Levels of adiponectin increased in patients treated with UDCA+VitE, whereas they decreased in the two other groups (P<0.04) and correlated with the improvement of liver steatosis (P<0.04). M30 levels worsened in the P/P group and improved in the other two groups. They correlated with hepatocellular apoptosis (P<0.02) and steatosis (P<0.02) as well as negatively with adiponectin levels (P<0.04).Conclusions: UDCA+VitE improves not only aminotransferase levels and liver histology of patients with NASH, but also decreases hepatocellular apoptosis and restores circulating levels of adiponectin. These results suggest that the UDCA+VitE combination has metabolic effects in addition to its beneficial cytoprotective properties.
Treatment of hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels with peginterferon α‐2a and ribavirin: a multicentric study
Authors: Puoti Claudio , Pellicelli Adriano M. , Romano Mario , Mecenate Fabrizio , Guarisco Riccardo , Barbarini Giorgio , Mazzoni Ettore , Spilabotti Lucia , Bellis Lia , Paglia Federica , Barlattani Angelo , Picardi Antonio , Paffetti Amerigo , Bonaventura Maria Elena , Nosotti Lorenzo , Mitidieri Olga , Dell' Unto Orlando , Villani Roberto , Dell' Unto Chiara , Morrone Aldo , Soccorsi Fabrizio ,   on behalf of the Club Epatologico Ospedaliero (Hospital Liver Club – CLEO)
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground/Aims: To evaluate, in clinical practice, the efficacy and safety of combined antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.Methods: Eighty‐eight HCV carriers with persistently normal ALT levels were enrolled. All patients received peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) α‐2a 180 μg once weekly plus ribavirin (RBV) 800 mg/day for 24 weeks (HCV‐2 and ‐3) or 1000–1200 mg/day for 48 weeks (HCV‐1).Results: Rapid virological response (RVR) was seen in 66/88 patients (75%): 19/32 HCV‐1 (59%), 40/46 HCV‐2 (87%) and 7/10 HCV‐3 patients. Younger patients, leaner subjects and patients with non‐1 genotype or lower baseline HCV RNA levels were more likely to achieve an RVR. Sustained virological response (SVR) was seen in 69/88 patients (78%): 20/32 HCV‐1 patients (62%), 41/46 HCV‐2 patients (89%) and 8/10 (80%) HCV‐3 patients. The overall SVR rate was 88% in patients with RVR (58/66) and 50% in those without RVR.Conclusions: The combination of PEG‐IFN α‐2a and RBV produces, in patients with normal ALT, virological response rates that are comparable or even higher than those obtained in patients with elevated ALT levels. Thus, we suggest that in selected cases immediate therapy might be preferred to a ‘wait‐and‐see’ policy.
Seed Dispersal and Seedling Emergence in a Created and a Natural Salt Marsh on the Gulf of Mexico Coast in Southwest Louisiana, U.S.A.
Authors: Elsey‐Quirk Tracy , Middleton Beth A. , Proffitt C. Edward 
Published: April 2009

Abstract Early regeneration dynamics related to seed dispersal and seedling emergence can contribute to differences in species composition among a created and a natural salt marsh. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) whether aquatic and aerial seed dispersal differed in low and high elevations within a created marsh and a natural marsh and (2) whether seedling emergence was influenced by marsh, the presence of openings in the vegetation, and seed availability along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast. Aerial seed traps captured a greater quantity of seeds than aquatic traps. Several factors influenced aquatic and aerial seed dispersal in a created and a natural salt marsh, including distance from the marsh edge, cover of existing vegetation, and water depth. The natural marsh had a high seed density of Spartina alterniflora and Distichlis spicata, the low‐elevation created marsh had a high seed density of S. alterniflora, and the high‐elevation created marsh had a high seed density of Aster subulatus and Iva frutescens. The presence of adult plants and water depth above the marsh surface influenced seed density. In the natural marsh, openings in vegetation increased seedling emergence for all species, whereas in the low‐elevation created marsh, S. alterniflora had higher seedling density under a canopy of vegetation. According to the early regeneration dynamics, the future vegetation in areas of the low‐elevation created marsh may become similar to that in the natural marsh. In the high‐elevation created marsh, vegetation may be upland fringe habitat dominated by high‐elevation marsh shrubs and annual herbaceous species.
Animals in the Restoration Process—Progressing the Trends
Authors: Majer Jonathan D. 
Published: April 2009

Abstract A survey of fauna‐focused papers in Restoration Ecology indicates that increased attention is being paid to this component of the biota. Although much of this work is for monitoring, a growing number of studies relate to the economic or ecological value of animals in restored land. There is still a bias toward vertebrates over invertebrates, although the proportion of invertebrate‐focused papers is steadily increasing. Analysis of these papers suggests that greater synergy would have been obtained if standardized protocols had been used and, in the case of invertebrates, studies would have been more informative if species‐level identifications had been obtained. Partnerships with industry should allow long‐term studies to be performed, which would provide more reliable information than that yielded from chronosequence‐type investigations.
Acupuncture for Treating Acute Attacks of Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Ying , Liang Fanrong , Yang Xuguang , Tian Xiaoping , Yan Jie , Sun Guojie , Chang Xiaorong , Tang Yong , Ma Tingting , Zhou Li , Lan Lei , Yao Wen , Zou Ran 
Published: April 2009

Objective.— To discuss the results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of verum acupuncture in treating acute migraine attacks.Background.— Acupuncture has been used in China for centuries to treat migraine headache. Convincing evidence of its efficacy in alleviating pain, however, has been inadequate to date.Methods.— A total of 218 patients with migraine were recruited for the study; 180 met the inclusion criteria; 175 completed the callback process and were randomized into 3 groups. One group received verum acupuncture while subjects in the other 2 groups were treated with sham acupuncture. Each patient received 1 session of treatment and was observed over a period of 24 hours. The main outcome measure was the differences in visual analog scale (VAS) scores before treatment and 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours after treatment.Results.— Significant decreases in VAS scores from baseline were observed in the fourth hour after treatment when VAS was measured in the patients who received either verum acupuncture or sham acupunctures (P < .05). The VAS scores in the fourth hour after treatment decreased by a median of 1.0 cm, 0.5 cm, and 0.1 cm in the verum acupuncture group, sham acupuncture group 1, and sham acupuncture group 2, respectively. Similarly, there was a significant difference in the change in VAS scores from baseline in the second hour after treatment among the 3 groups (P = .006). Moreover, at the second hour after treatment, only patients treated with verum acupuncture showed significant decreases in VAS scores from baseline by a median of 0.7 cm (P < .001). Significant differences were observed in pain relief, relapse, or aggravation within 24 hours after treatment as well as in the general evaluations among the 3 groups (P < .05). Most patients in the acupuncture group experienced complete pain relief (40.7%) and did not experience recurrence or intensification of pain (79.6%).Conclusion.— Verum acupuncture treatment is more effective than sham acupuncture based on either Chinese or Western nonacupoints in reducing the discomfort of acute migraine. Verum acupuncture is also clearly effective in relieving pain and preventing migraine relapse or aggravation. These findings support the contention that there are specific physiological effects that distinguish genuine acupoints from nonacupoints.