bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling the Cost-Effectiveness of Colorectal Cancer Screening: Policy Guidance Based on Patient Preferences and Compliance
Authors: Subramanian Sujha , Bobashev Georgiy , Morris Robert J. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Background: Obtaining regular screening exams can significantly reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality. Most CRC models to date have assumed “ideal conditions” such as 100% compliance, and the effects of CRC screening tests have been assessed only under these conditions. In this study, we assess cost-effectiveness incorporating real-world patient preferences and compliance.
Methodology: We built an agent-based simulation model to assess the effect of compliance and patient preferences. Baseline values were derived from the 2003 and 2005 National Health Interview Survey, and effectiveness and cost parameters were obtained through literature review. Initial screening compliance was 45%, and compliance with follow-up diagnostic tests was 75%.
Results: The current level of screening reduces CRC mortality by 44.1% when compared with no screening. Increasing diagnostic follow-up compliance to 95% can lead to an additional 9.3% reduction in CRC mortality, whereas increasing initial screening compliance to 95% can result in an additional 50.4% reduction. These increases can be achieved at a cost of about $7,500 ($1,309-$32,864) per life year saved and $14,000 ($3,620-$35,855) per life year saved for diagnostic follow-up and initial screening tests, respectively.
Conclusions: Increasing compliance with both initial screening test recommendation and diagnostic testing are cost-effective approaches. The most cost-effective approach under limited funding is to increase compliance with diagnostic testing for those already being screened. Targeted interventions, which are necessary to increase compliance, are generally cost-effective under the base case scenarios presented in this model, but additional studies are required to identify the most cost-effective approach. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(7):1971–8)
Prostate Cancer Risk Associated Loci in African Americans
Authors: Xu Jianfeng , Kibel Adam S. , Hu Jennifer J. , Turner Aubrey R. , Pruett Kristen , Zheng Siqun Lilly , Sun Jielin , Isaacs Sarah D. , Wiley Kathleen E. , Kim Seong-Tae , Hsu Fang-Chi , Wu William , Torti Frank M. , Walsh Patrick C. , Chang Bao-Li , Isaacs William B. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Four genome-wide association studies, all in populations of European descent, have identified 20 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 20 regions that are associated with prostate cancer risk. We evaluated these 20 SNPs in a combined African American (AA) study, with 868 prostate cancer patients and 878 control subjects. For 17 of these 20 SNPs, implicated risk-associated alleles were found to be more common in these AA cases than controls, significantly more than expected under the null hypothesis (P = 0.03). Two of these 17 SNPs, located at 3p12, and region 2 at 8q24, were significantly associated with prostate cancer risk (P &lt; 0.05), and only SNP rs16901979 at region 2 of 8q24 remained significant after accounting for 20 tests. A multivariate analysis of additional SNPs across the broader 8q24 region revealed three independent prostate cancer risk-associated SNPs, including rs16901979, rs13254738, and rs10086908. The first two SNPs were ∼20 kb apart and the last SNP, a novel finding from this study, was ∼100 kb centromeric to the first two SNPs. These results suggest that a systematic evaluation of regions harboring known prostate cancer risk SNPs implicated in other races is an efficient approach to identify risk alleles for AA. However, studies with larger numbers of AA subjects are needed, and this will likely require a major collaborative effort to combine multiple AA study populations. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(7):2145–9)
Angiogenic Balance in Pregnancy and Subsequent Breast Cancer Risk and Survival: A Population Study
Authors: Vatten Lars J. , Romundstad Pål R. , Jenum Pål A. , Eskild Anne 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Background: Women with a history of preeclampsia have reduced breast cancer risk. Because preeclampsia is characterized by an imbalance in angiogenic factors, we assessed pregnancy levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and soluble endoglin (s-endoglin) and subsequent breast cancer risk.
Methods: In a case-control study among 26,744 pregnant women, we compared angiogenic factors between 145 women who later developed invasive breast cancer and 400 controls. The angiogenic factors were determined with ELISA in blood samples collected in weeks (median) 10, 23, and 35 of the baseline pregnancy.
Results: Concentrations of PlGF, sFlt-1, and s-endoglin did not differ between women who later developed breast cancer and control women, and odds ratios across quartiles of each factor did not indicate any association in blood samples from gestational week 10, 23, or 35. During pregnancy, there was a general increase in each angiogenic factor, but degree of increase from one sampling period to the next was not associated with later breast cancer risk. Among cases, 22 of 145 died from breast cancer during 10 years of follow-up, but there was no consistent indication that angiogenic factors measured in pregnancy up to several years before diagnosis were associated with case fatality.
Conclusions: The results of this nested case-control study, based on blood samples collected up to three time points during pregnancy, and subsequent cancer follow-up, do not provide any evidence that pregnancy levels of PlGF, sFlt-1, and s-endoglin are associated with breast cancer risk later in life. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(7):2074–8)
Low-Frequency Variability in a Turbulent Baroclinic Jet: Eddy–Mean Flow Interactions in a Two-Level Model
Authors: Bernstein Joseph , Farrell Brian 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
The origin of low-frequency variability in the midlatitude jet is investigated using a two-level baroclinic channel model. The model state fields are separated into slow and fast components using intermediate time- scale averaging. In the equation for the fast variables the nonlinear wave–wave interactions are parameterized as a stochastic excitation. The slowly varying ensemble mean eddy fluxes obtained from the resulting stochastic turbulence model are coupled with the slowly varying mean flow dynamics. This forms a coupled set of deterministic equations on the slow time scale that governs the dynamics of the eddy–mean flow interaction. The equilibria of this coupled system are found as a function of the excitation strength, which controls the level of turbulence. At low levels of turbulence the equilibrated flow with zonally symmetric mean forcing remains zonally symmetric, but as excitation increases it undergoes zonal symmetry-breaking bifurcations. Time-dependent flows arising from these bifurcations take the form of westward-propagating wavelike structures resembling blocking patterns. Features of these waves are characteristic of blocking in both observations and atmospheric general circulation model simulations including retrogression, eddy variance concentrated upstream of the waves, and eddy momentum flux forcing the waves.
Improving Seasonal Predictions of Climate Variability and Water Availability at the Catchment Scale
Authors: Switanek Matthew B. , Troch Peter A. , Castro Christopher L. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
In a water-stressed region, such as the southwestern United States, it is essential to improve current seasonal hydroclimatic predictions. Typically, seasonal hydroclimatic predictions have been conditioned by standard climate indices, for example, Niño-3 and Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO). In this work, the statistically unique relationships between sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and particular basins’ hydroclimates are explored. The regions where global SSTs are most correlated with the Little Colorado River and Gunnison River basins’ hydroclimates are located throughout the year and at varying time lags. The SSTs, from these regions of highest correlation, are subsequently used as hydroclimatic predictors for the two basins. This methodology, named basin-specific climate prediction (BSCP), is further used to perform hindcasts. The hydroclimatic hindcasts obtained using BSCP are shown to be closer to the historical record, for both basins, than using the standard climate indices as predictors.
The Effect of Tilted Rotation on Shear Instabilities at Low Stratifications
Authors: Jeffery Nicole , Wingate Beth 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
A linear stability analysis of the inviscid stratified Boussinesq equations is presented given a steady zonal flow with constant vertical shear in a tilted f plane. Full nonhydrostatic terms are included: 1) acceleration of vertical velocity and 2) Coriolis force terms arising from the meridional component of earth’s rotation vector. Calculations of growth rates, critical wavenumbers, and dominance regimes for baroclinic and symmetric instabilities are compared with results from the traditional nonhydrostatic equations, which include a strictly vertical rotation vector, as well as results from the hydrostatic equations. The authors find that for positive zonal z shear, tilted rotation enhances the dominance regime of symmetric instabilities at the expense of baroclinic instabilities and maintains symmetric instabilities at larger scales than previously indicated. Furthermore, in contrast to former studies, it is determined that hydrostatic growth rates for both instabilities are not maximal. Rather, growth rates peak in the fully nonhydrostatic equations for parameter regimes physically relevant and consistent with abyssal ocean stratifications and weak zonal z shears and oceanic measurements of the Labrador Sea and Southern Ocean. In addition, the authors find that zonal shear modifies the frequency range of subinertial inertio–gravity waves. Tilted rotation effects break the base flow shear reflection symmetry present in the traditional and hydrostatic models. Thus, only in the fully nonhydrostatic model does weak negative zonal z shear stabilize the flow and decrease the subinertial frequency range.
Data Mining Storm Attributes from Spatial Grids
Authors: Lakshmanan Valliappa , Smith Travis 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA technique to identify storms and capture scalar features within the geographic and temporal extent of the identified storms is described. The identification technique relies on clustering grid points in an observation field to find self-similar and spatially coherent clusters that meet the traditional understanding of what storms are. From these storms, geometric, spatial, and temporal features can be extracted. These scalar features can then be data mined to answer many types of research questions in an objective, data-driven manner. This is illustrated by using the technique to answer questions of forecaster skill and lightning predictability.
For How Long Should What Data Be Assimilated for the Mesoscale Forecasting of Convection and Why? Part I: On the Propagation of Initial Condition Errors and Their Implications for Data Assimilation
Authors: Fabry Frédéric , Sun Juanzhen 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Data assimilation is used among other things to constrain the initial conditions of weather forecasting models by fitting the model fields to observations made over a certain time interval. In particular, it tries to tie incomplete data with model constraints to detect and correct for initial condition errors. This is possible only if initial condition errors leave their signature on the data assimilated and if the model is capable of faithfully reproducing such signatures. Using simulations of the evolution of convective storms in the Great Plains over an active 6-day period, the propagation of initial condition errors to other variables as well as their effect on the accuracy of the forecasts were investigated. Increasing the assimilation time window boosts the ability of assimilation systems to detect a variety of initial condition errors; however, limits to the predictability of convective events impose a maximum assimilation period that is a function of the type of measurements assimilated as well as of the type of errors one tries to correct for. These findings are then used to suggest changes in assimilation approaches to take into account the different predictability times of the model fields constrained by assimilation.
Production of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid using two sequential enzymes overexpressed as double-tagged fusion proteins
Authors: Wang Tzu-Hsien , Chen Ying-Yin , Pan Hsin-Hung , Wang Feng-Pao , Cheng Chung-Hsien , Lee Wen-Chien 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Background
Two sequential enzymes in the production of sialic acids, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 2-epimerase (GlcNAc 2-epimerase) and N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid aldolase (Neu5Ac aldolase), were overexpressed as double-tagged gene fusions. Both were tagged with glutathione S-transferase (GST) at the N-terminus, but at the C-terminus, one was tagged with five contiguous aspartate residues (5D), and the other with five contiguous arginine residues (5R).

Results
Both fusion proteins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and retained enzymatic activity. The fusions were designed so their surfaces were charged under enzyme reaction conditions, which allowed isolation and immobilization in a single step, through a simple capture with either an anionic or a cationic exchanger (Sepharose Q or Sepharose SP) that electrostatically bound the 5D or 5R tag. The introduction of double tags only marginally altered the affinity of the enzymes for their substrates, and the double-tagged proteins were enzymatically active in both soluble and immobilized forms. Combined use of the fusion proteins led to the production of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) from N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc).

Conclusion
Double-tagged gene fusions were overexpressed to yield two enzymes that perform sequential steps in sialic acid synthesis. The proteins were easily immobilized via ionic tags onto ionic exchange resins and could thus be purified by direct capture from crude protein extracts. The immobilized, double-tagged proteins were effective for one-pot enzymatic production of sialic acid.
Functional annotations of diabetes nephropathy susceptibility loci through analysis of genome-wide renal gene expression in rat models of diabetes mellitus
Authors: Hu Yaomin , Kaisaki Pamela J , Argoud Karène , Wilder Steven P , Wallace Karin J , Woon Peng Y , Blancher Christine , Tarnow Lise , Groop Per-Henrik , Hadjadj Samy , Marre Michel , Parving Hans-Henrik , Farrall Martin , Cox Roger D , Lathrop Mark , Vionnet Nathalie , Bihoreau Marie-Thérèse , Gauguier Dominique 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Background
Hyperglycaemia in diabetes mellitus (DM) alters gene expression regulation in various organs and contributes to long term vascular and renal complications. We aimed to generate novel renal genome-wide gene transcription data in rat models of diabetes in order to test the responsiveness to hyperglycaemia and renal structural changes of positional candidate genes at selected diabetic nephropathy (DN) susceptibility loci.

Methods
Both Affymetrix and Illumina technologies were used to identify significant quantitative changes in the abundance of over 15,000 transcripts in kidney of models of spontaneous (genetically determined) mild hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance (Goto-Kakizaki-GK) and experimentally induced severe hyperglycaemia (Wistar-Kyoto-WKY rats injected with streptozotocin [STZ]).

Results
Different patterns of transcription regulation in the two rat models of diabetes likely underlie the roles of genetic variants and hyperglycaemia severity. The impact of prolonged hyperglycaemia on gene expression changes was more profound in STZ-WKY rats than in GK rats and involved largely different sets of genes. These included genes already tested in genetic studies of DN and a large number of protein coding sequences of unknown function which can be considered as functional and, when they map to DN loci, positional candidates for DN. Further expression analysis of rat orthologs of human DN positional candidate genes provided functional annotations of known and novel genes that are responsive to hyperglycaemia and may contribute to renal functional and/or structural alterations.

Conclusion
Combining transcriptomics in animal models and comparative genomics provides important information to improve functional annotations of disease susceptibility loci in humans and experimental support for testing candidate genes in human genetics.
The role of VEGF-C/D and Flt-4 in the lymphatic metastasis of early-stage invasive cervical carcinoma
Authors: Yu Hao , Zhang Shiqian , Zhang Renhua , Zhang Linlin 
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Background
To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-C/D and their receptor Flt-4 in the lymphatic metastasis of early-stage invasive cervical carcinoma.

Methods
Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with the antibodies against VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and Flt-4 was used to examine the expression of them in 97 cases of early-stage cervical carcinoma (Ia-IIa). Meanwhile, the lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was measured using the antibody against lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1). We then analyzed the correlation between Flt-4-positive vessel density (FVD), LVD and clinicopathological features of the tumors.

Results
(1) The positive rates of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and Flt-4 were 57.7%, 60.8%, and 52.6% in the cervical tumor samples, respectively. (2) The expression levels of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and Flt-4 were significantly correlated with lymphatic metastasis and lymphatic vessel invasion. LVD was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and lymphatic vessel invasion. On the other hand, FVD was strongly associated with clinical staging. (3) The expression levels of VEGF-C and VEGF-D were significantly correlated with LVD and FVD, while Flt-4 levels showed no correlation with LVD or FVD.

Conclusion
VEGF-C/D and Flt-4 may play an important role in the process of lymphatic metastasis of early-stage invasive cervical carcinoma through paracrine and autocrine mechanisms.
Der Wechsel zu einer neuen grand strategy unter Augustus und seine langfristigen FolgenThe new concept of grand strategy under Augustus and its longterm effects
Authors: Eich Armin 
Published: July 2009

Zusammenfassung
Das Luttwaksche Konzept der grand strategy, das die Anordnung der militärischen, fiskalischen, infrastrukturellen und anderer Machtmittel einer Großmacht in einer Aktionseinheit bezeichnet, ist ein sinnvolles Interpretationsmittel, um die fundamentalstrategische Neuausrichtung des Imperium Romanum unter Augustus zu beschreiben. Nach der augusteischen Entscheidung für eine ständig unter Waffen stehende Berufsarmee mußte diese Armee selbst für die Mittel sorgen, die ihre Existenz ermöglichten. Zu ihren Aufgaben innerhalb der augusteischen grand strategy rechnete daher die permanente Führung fiskalischer Erfassungskriege, in deren Zuge unter anderem territoriale Lücken (beispielsweise Nordwestspanien, Pisidien) geschlossen und die fiskalischen Potentiale der eroberten Gebiete (demographische und territoriale Civitasgrößen, Bodenschätze u. a.) systematisch und zentral erfaßt wurden. In einer Art zweiten Eroberung wurde das Prinzip der fiskalischen und militärpolizeilichen Durchdringung einerseits auf das gesamte bestehende Imperium angewandt und zweitens in großen Expansionsbewegungen (Illyricum, Mitteleuropa) über die Grenzen hinausgetragen. In Mitteleuropa kann die Praxis des fiskalischen Durchdringungskrieges auf einer tabula rasa beobachtet werden. Mit dem Scheitern des Zugriffs auf die Germania libera (und anderer Expansionspläne) wurde eine Balance zwischen den langfristigen Heereskosten und der territorialen Einnahmebasis dauerhaft verfehlt. Das chronisch unterfinanzierte Imperium versuchte in den kommenden Jahrhunderten wiederholt, die Vorentscheidung von 6/9 n. Chr. Gewaltsam zu revidieren. Da entscheidende Erfolge ausblieben, lief die Uhr des Imperiums langsam aber sicher ab. Die Abwärtsentwicklung wird im zweiten Teil des Aufsatzes skizziert.
Bürokratische Funktionseliten und politische Integration im Deutschen Zollverein (18341871)Bureaucratic functional elites and political integration within the German Customs Union (1834-1871)
Authors: Kreutzmann Marko 
Published: July 2009

Zusammenfassung
Die Gründung des Deutschen Zollvereins im Jahr 1834 setzte zwischen den beteiligten Staaten neben den wirtschaftlichen auch politische Integrationsprozesse in Gang. Eine entscheidende Rolle spielte dabei die wachsende bürokratische Verflechtung. Die für den Zollverein tätigen höheren Beamten konstituierten sich durch ihre gemeinsame Arbeit zu einer überstaatlichen, an den übergeordneten Interessen des Zollvereins orientierten Funktionselite. Obwohl die höheren Zollvereinsbeamten eine eher lose vernetzte Gruppierung ohne gemeinsames Programm oder eine koordinierte Handlungsstrategie blieben, entwickelten sie eine zunehmend auf den Zollverein bezogene Handlungslogik. Dabei emanzipierten sie sich von der bloßen Vertretung einzelstaatlicher Interessen. Dies galt sowohl in den kleineren und mittleren Zollvereinsstaaten als auch in Preußen, das aufgrund wechselnder Machtverhältnisse in leitenden Regierungspositionen keineswegs eine kontinuierliche Zollvereinspolitik betrieb. Demgegenüber erwies sich das Eigengewicht der über ein spezifisches Fachwissen verfügenden Beamtenschaft ähnlich wie auf der europäischen Ebene im 20. Jahrhundert als wichtiger Faktor der überstaatlichen Integration. Der fachliche Wissensvorsprung der höheren Zollvereinsbeamten ließ nur begrenzte personalpolitische Eingriffe der Regierungen zu. Zur Identifikation der Beamten mit der neuen Institution trugen vermutlich auch die hier gebotenen beruflichen Aufstiegschancen bei. Die höheren Zollvereinsbeamten traten dabei oft nicht nur für die Modernisierung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft ein, sondern sympathisierten auch mit dem politischen Liberalismus. Die bürokratische Integration im Zollverein begünstigte also keineswegs einseitig die obrigkeitsstaatlich geprägte, politische Partizipationsansprüche zurückdrängende Reichsgründung von 1871. Vielmehr konnten die höheren Zollvereinsbeamten ihre meist an den Forderungen des liberalen Bürgertums orientierten Konzepte in den Prozeß der Nationsbildung einbringen.