bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Energy Infrastructure Investment and the Rise of the Uncorporation1
Authors: Ribstein Larry E. 
Published: September 2011

While most large U.S. businesses have long been organized as corporations, a significant portion of our economy, including major parts of our energy infrastructure, are organized as other types of legal entities. These “uncorporations” include such business forms as Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs).Many practitioners have dismissed these alternative entities as merely tax devices and only peripherally important to mainstream business. But this view misses important features of the uncorporation that make it an important alternative in dealing with the “agency” costs that arise in public companies from separating managerial control from equity ownership. Corporate governance relies heavily on agents such as auditors, class action lawyers, judges, and independent directors to protect shareholders from managerial self‐interest. The obvious costs and defects of relying on these governance mechanisms have generally been seen as a reasonable price to pay for the benefits of the corporate form.But this conclusion depends on the availability and effectiveness of the alternative mechanisms for addressing agency costs. Uncorporations provide such an alternative by tying managers' economic well‐being so closely to that of their firms that corporate monitoring devices become less necessary. Uncorporate governance mechanisms include managerial compensation that is based largely (if not entirely) on the firm's profits or cash distributions, and restrictions on managers' control of corporate cash through liquidation rights and requirements for cash distributions. Business people and policy makers should evaluate the potential benefits of uncorporations before concluding that the costs of corporate governance are an inevitable price of separating ownership and control in modern firms.
Simulating natural selection in landscape genetics
Authors: LANDGUTH E. L. , CUSHMAN S. A. , JOHNSON N. A. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractLinking landscape effects to key evolutionary processes through individual organism movement and natural selection is essential to provide a foundation for evolutionary landscape genetics. Of particular importance is determining how spatially‐explicit, individual‐based models differ from classic population genetics and evolutionary ecology models based on ideal panmictic populations in an allopatric setting in their predictions of population structure and frequency of fixation of adaptive alleles. We explore initial applications of a spatially‐explicit, individual‐based evolutionary landscape genetics program that incorporates all factors – mutation, gene flow, genetic drift and selection – that affect the frequency of an allele in a population. We incorporate natural selection by imposing differential survival rates defined by local relative fitness values on a landscape. Selection coefficients thus can vary not only for genotypes, but also in space as functions of local environmental variability. This simulator enables coupling of gene flow (governed by resistance surfaces), with natural selection (governed by selection surfaces). We validate the individual‐based simulations under Wright‐Fisher assumptions. We show that under isolation‐by‐distance processes, there are deviations in the rate of change and equilibrium values of allele frequency. The program provides a valuable tool (cdpopv1.0;http://cel.dbs.umt.edu/software/CDPOP/) for the study of evolutionary landscape genetics that allows explicit evaluation of the interactions between gene flow and selection in complex landscapes.
Pharmacodynamic Monitoring of CanineT‐Cell Cytokine Responses to Oral Cyclosporine
Authors: Archer T.M. , Fellman C.L. , Stokes J.V. , Pinchuk L.M. , Lunsford K.V. , Pruett S.B. , Langston V.C. , Mackin A.J. 
Published: September 2011

BackgroundPharmacodynamic assays measure the immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporine onT‐cells and offer an alternative assessment of efficacy in individual patients.ObjectiveTo assess the immunosuppressive effects of high and low dosage cyclosporine on canineT‐cells and to develop a novel testing system for individualized dose adjustment.AnimalsSeven healthy femaleWalker hounds.MethodsExperimental study using a paired comparison design. Flow cytometry was used to measureT‐cell expression ofIL‐2,IL‐4, andIFN‐γ. Cytokine expression 8 days after oral administration of high and low dosages of cyclosporine was compared to baseline and washout values, respectively. The high dosage was initially 10 mg/kg q12h and was then adjusted to attain established immunosuppressive trough blood drug concentrations (>600 ng/mL). The low dosage was 5 mg/kg q24h.ResultsHigh dosage cyclosporine resulted in significant decreases inIL‐2 andIFN‐γ expression (P = .0156,P = .0156), but notIL‐4 expression (P = .2188). Low dosage cyclosporine was associated with a significant decrease inIFN‐γ expression (P = .0156), whileIL‐2 expression was not affected (P = .1094).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceT‐cell function is suppressed at trough blood drug concentrations exceeding 600 ng/mL, and is at least partially suppressed in some dogs at low dosages. Direct evaluation ofT‐cell function could be an effective, more sensitive alternative to measuring blood drug concentrations for monitoring immunosuppressive therapy.
Pharmacokinetics and distribution of minocycline in mature horses after oral administration of multiple doses and comparison with minimum inhibitory concentrations
Authors: SCHNABEL L. V. , PAPICH M. G. , DIVERS T. J. , ALTIER C. , APREA M. S. , McCARREL T. M. , FORTIER L. A. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryReasons for performing study: Minocycline holds great potential for use in horses not only for its antimicrobial effects but also for its anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. However, there are no pharmacokinetic or safety data available regarding the use of oral minocycline in horses.Objectives: To determine pharmacokinetics, safety and penetration into plasma, synovial fluid, aqueous humour (AH) and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of minocycline after oral administration of multiple doses in horses and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of minocycline for equine pathogenic bacteria.Methods: Six horses received minocycline (4 mg/kg bwt q. 12 h for 5 doses). Thirty‐three blood and 9 synovial fluid samples were collected over 96 h. Aqueous humour and CSF samples were collected 1 h after the final dose. Minocycline concentrations were measured using high pressure liquid chromatography. The MIC values of minocycline for equine bacterial isolates were determined.Results: At steady state, the mean ± s.d. peak concentration of minocycline in the plasma was 0.67 ± 0.26 µg/ml and the mean half‐life was 11.48 ± 3.23 h. The highest trough synovial fluid minocycline concentration was 0.33 ± 0.12 µg/ml. The AH concentration of minocycline was 0.09 ± 0.03 µg/ml in normal eyes and 0.11 ± 0.04 µg/ml in blood aqueous barrier‐disrupted eyes. The mean CSF concentration of minocycline was 0.38 ± 0.09 µg/ml. The MIC values were determined for 301 isolates. Minocycline concentrations were above the MIC50 and MIC90 for many gram‐positive equine pathogens.Potential relevance: This study supports the use of orally administered minocycline at a dose of 4 mg/kg bwt every 12 h for the treatment of nonocular infections caused by susceptible (MIC≤0.25 µg/ml) organisms in horses. Further studies are required to determine the dose that would be effective for the treatment of ocular infections.
Yield of catheter angiography in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage with and without intraventricular extension
Authors: Kadkhodayan Yasha , Almandoz Josser E Delgado , Kelly James E , Kale Sushant P , Jagadeesan Bharathi D , Moran Christopher J , Cross DeWitte T , Derdeyn Colin P 
Published: September 2011

Background and aimThe role of imaging for the detection of vascular lesions in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is poorly defined. A study was undertaken to compare the yield of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in patients with ICH with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and those without IVH.MethodsThe DSA database at our institution was reviewed for patients who underwent DSA for acute spontaneous ICH over a period of 68 months. Patients with known vascular malformation or brain neoplasm, prior surgery, ischemic infarction, subarachnoid hemorrhage or isolated IVH were excluded. Patients were grouped into those with associated IVH (group A) and those without (group B). Baseline demographic and clinical data, non-contrast head CT (NCCT) probability for a vascular lesion and angiographic results were compared.Results293 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria (141 women, 152 men, mean age 57, range 18–88), 139 in group A and 154 in group B. Age and sex distributions were similar (p>0.05). Group A patients were more likely to be hypertensive or coagulopathic (p=0.001). Group B had more patients with high probability NCCT scans (p<0.001). Underlying vascular lesions were found in 21 patients (15.1%) in group A and 34 (22.1%) in group B (p>0.05).ConclusionThe presence of IVH in patients with acute spontaneous ICH is not associated with an increased risk of an underlying vascular lesion and should not be used to select patients for neurovascular evaluation.
Polyphosphazenes containing lactic acid ester and methoxyethoxyethoxy side groups — Thermosensitive properties and, in vitro degradation, and biocompatibility
Authors: Bi Yunmei , Gong Xiaoying , He Feng , Xu Li , Chen Lin , Zeng Xianghui , Yu Li 
Published: September 2011

The thermosensitive and hydrolytic properties and biocompatibility of polyphosphazenes containing lactic acid ester and methoxyethoxyethoxy as co-substitutents were investigated. Depending on the type of lactic acid ester, these polyphosphazenes exhibited lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) (from 33 to 52 °C), which were almost concentration-independent in the range of 1.5 to 15 wt% of the polymers in aqueous solution. The salt effect on the thermosensitivity of the polymers was studied by measuring their LCST in aqueous solutions containing various salts. Bu4NBr and KI showed salting-in effects among the tested six salts, but NH4Br, NaBr, NH4Cl, and NaCl showed salting-out effects. Hydrolysis studies showed the rate of polymer hydrolysis decreased in the order of basic > acidic > neutral solution. The polyphosphazene with bulkier and more hydrophobic ester groups was more stable in hydrolysis. The results of a cytotoxicity study using an MTT assay method with HepG2 cell and K562/VCR cell showed that these polyphosphazenes and their degradation products were biocompatible. The thermoresponsiveness and biocompatibility of these biodegradable polyphosphazenes may favor the polymers as potential stimuli-responsive materials in biomedical applications.
Community Outreach and Cardiovascular Health (COACH) Trial
Authors: Allen Jerilyn K. , Dennison-Himmelfarb Cheryl R. , Szanton Sarah L. , Bone Lee , Hill Martha N. , Levine David M. , West Murray , Barlow Amy , Lewis-Boyer LaPricia , Donnelly-Strozzo Mary , Curtis Carol , Anderson Katherine 
Published: September 2011

Background—
Despite well-publicized guidelines on the appropriate management of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, the implementation of risk-reducing practices remains poor. This report describes the results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of a comprehensive program of cardiovascular disease risk reduction delivered by nurse practitioner /community health worker (NP/CHW) teams versus enhanced usual care (EUC) to improve lipids, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and patient perceptions of the quality of their chronic illness care in patients in urban community health centers.

Methods and Results—
A total of 525 patients with documented cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, or hypertension and levels of LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, or HbA1c that exceeded goals established by national guidelines were randomly assigned to NP/CHW (n=261) or EUC (n=264) groups. The NP/CHW intervention included aggressive pharmacological management and tailored educational and behavioral counseling for lifestyle modification and problem solving to address barriers to adherence and control. Compared with EUC, patients in the NP/CHW group had significantly greater 12-month improvement in total cholesterol (difference, 19.7 mg/dL), LDL cholesterol (difference,15.9 mg/dL), triglycerides (difference, 16.3 mg/dL), systolic blood pressure (difference, 6.2 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (difference, 3.1 mm Hg), HbA1c (difference, 0.5%), and perceptions of the quality of their chronic illness care (difference, 1.2 points).

Conclusions—
An intervention delivered by an NP/CHW team using individualized treatment regimens based on treat-to-target algorithms can be an effective approach to improve risk factor status and perceptions of chronic illness care in high-risk patients.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00241904.
Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Vellenga Edo , van Putten Wim , Ossenkoppele Gert J. , Verdonck Leo F. , Theobald Matthias , Cornelissen Jan J. , Huijgens Peter C. , Maertens Johan , Gratwohl Alois , Schaafsma Ron , Schanz Urs , Graux Carlos , Schouten Harry C. , Ferrant Augustin , Bargetzi Mario , Fey Martin F. , Löwenberg Bob ,   for the Dutch-Belgian Hemato-Oncology Cooperative Group (HOVON), and Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research Collaborative Group (SAKK)
Published: September 2011

Abstract
We report the results of a prospective, randomized phase 3 trial evaluating autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) versus intensive consolidation chemotherapy in newly diagnosed AML patients in complete remission (CR1). Patients with AML (16-60 years) in CR1 after 2 cycles of intensive chemotherapy and not eligible for allogeneic SCT were randomized between intensive chemotherapy with etoposide and mitoxantrone or ASCT ater high-dose cyclophosphamide and busulfan. Of patients randomized (chemotherapy, n = 259; ASCT, n = 258), more than 90% received their assigned treatment. The 2 groups were comparable with regard to prognostic factors. The ASCT group showed a markedly reduced relapse rate (58% vs 70%, P = .02) and better relapse-free survival at 5 years (38% vs 29%, P = .065, hazard ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-1.1) with nonrelapse mortality of 4% versus 1% in the chemotherapy arm (P = .02). Overall survival was similar (44% vs 41% at 5 years, P = .86) because of more opportunities for salvage with second-line chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation in patients relapsing on the chemotherapy arm. This large study shows a relapse advantage for ASCT as postremission therapy but similar survival because more relapsing patients on the chemotherapy arm were salvaged with a late transplantation for relapse. This trial is registered at www.trialregister.nl as #NTR230 and #NTR291.
Spleen transcriptome response to infection with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in broiler chickens
Authors: Sandford Erin E , Orr Megan , Balfanz Emma , Bowerman Nate , Li Xianyao , Zhou Huaijun , Johnson Timothy J , Kariyawasam Subhashinie , Liu Peng , Nolan Lisa K , Lamont Susan J 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Background
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is detrimental to poultry health and its zoonotic potential is a food safety concern. Regulation of antimicrobials in food-production animals has put greater focus on enhancing host resistance to bacterial infections through genetics. To better define effective mechanism of host resistance, global gene expression in the spleen of chickens, harvested at two times post-infection (PI) with APEC, was measured using microarray technology, in a design that will enable investigation of effects of vaccination, challenge, and pathology level.

Results
There were 1,101 genes significantly differentially expressed between severely infected and non-infected groups on day 1 PI and 1,723 on day 5 PI. Very little difference was seen between mildly infected and non-infected groups on either time point. Between birds exhibiting mild and severe pathology, there were 2 significantly differentially expressed genes on day 1 PI and 799 on day 5 PI. Groups with greater pathology had more genes with increased expression than decreased expression levels. Several predominate immune pathways, Toll-like receptor, Jak-STAT, and cytokine signaling, were represented between challenged and non-challenged groups. Vaccination had, surprisingly, no detectible effect on gene expression, although it significantly protected the birds from observable gross lesions. Functional characterization of significantly expressed genes revealed unique gene ontology classifications during each time point, with many unique to a particular treatment or class contrast.

Conclusions
More severe pathology caused by APEC infection was associated with a high level of gene expression differences and increase in gene expression levels. Many of the significantly differentially expressed genes were unique to a particular treatment, pathology level or time point. The present study not only investigates the transcriptomic regulations of APEC infection, but also the degree of pathology associated with that infection. This study will allow for greater discovery into host mechanisms for disease resistance, providing targets for marker assisted selection and advanced drug development.
Protection of protease-activated receptor 2 mediated vasodilatation against angiotensin II-induced vascular dysfunction in mice
Authors: Chia Elizabeth , Kagota Satomi , Wijekoon Enoka P , McGuire John J 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Background
Under conditions of cardiovascular dysfunction, protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) agonists maintain vasodilatation activity, which has been attributed to increased cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase and calcium-activated potassium channel (SK3.1) activities. Protease-activated receptor 2 agonist mediated vasodilatation is unknown under conditions of dysfunction caused by angiotensin II. The main purpose of our study was to determine whether PAR2-induced vasodilatation of resistance arteries was attenuated by prolonged angiotensin II treatment in mice. We compared the vasodilatation of resistance-type arteries (mesenteric) from angiotensin II-treated PAR2 wild-type mice (WT) induced by PAR2 agonist 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-amide (2fly) to the responses obtained in controls (saline treatment). We also investigated arterial vasodilatation in angiotensin II-treated PAR2 deficient (PAR2-/-) mice.

Results
2fly-induced relaxations of untreated arteries from angiotensin II-treated WT were not different than saline-treated WT. Treatment of arteries with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and SK3.1 inhibitor (L-NAME + TRAM-34) blocked 2fly in angiotensin II-treated WT. Protein and mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 were increased, and cyclooxygenase activity increased the sensitivity of arteries to 2fly in only angiotensin II-treated WT. These protective vasodilatation mechanisms were selective for 2fly compared with acetylcholine- and nitroprusside-induced relaxations which were attenuated by angiotensin II; PAR2-/- were protected against this attenuation of nitroprusside.

Conclusions
PAR2-mediated vasodilatation of resistance type arteries is protected against the negative effects of angiotensin II-induced vascular dysfunction in mice. In conditions of endothelial dysfunction, angiotensin II induction of cyclooxygenases increases sensitivity to PAR2 agonist and the preserved vasodilatation mechanism involves activation of SK3.1.
Ex vivo hepatic venography for hepatocellular carcinoma in livers explanted for liver transplantation
Authors: Miyazaki Kensuke , Soyama Akihiko , Hidaka Masaaki , Hamasaki Koji , Yamanouchi Kosho , Takatsuki Mitsuhisa , Kanematsu Takashi , Eguchi Susumu 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is supposed to have a venous drainage system to a portal vein, which makes intrahepatic metastasis possible. However, the mechanism of extrahepatic recurrence, including the possibility of a direct route to the systemic circulation from the HCC nodules, remains unclear. Therefore, we performed retrograde hepatic venography for HCC in livers that had been explanted for liver transplantation in order to explore the possible direct connection between the hepatic vein and HCC nodules.

Methods
Of 105 living-donor liver transplantations (LDLT) performed up to July, 2009 at the Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Hospital, dynamic hepatic venography was performed with contrast media under fluoroscopy for the most recent 13 cases with HCC. The presence of a tumor stain for each HCC case was evaluated and compared with the histological findings of HCC.

Results
Hepatic venography revealed a tumor stain in 2 of 13 cases (15%). Neither showed any microscopic tumor invasion of HCC into the hepatic vein. In the other 11 cases, there were 4 microscopic portal venous invasions and 2 microscopic hepatic venous invasions. No patients have shown HCC recurrence in follow-up (median period, 13 months).

Conclusion
Using ex vivo hepatic venography, a direct connection to the hepatic vein from HCC in whole liver was revealed in 2 cases without demonstrated histopathological invasion to hepatic vein for the first time in the literature. The finding suggests that there is direct spillage of HCC cells into the systemic circulation via hepatic vein.
Double-strand break repair processes drive evolution of the mitochondrial genome in Arabidopsis
Authors: Davila Jaime I , Arrieta-Montiel Maria P , Wamboldt Yashitola , Cao Jun , Hagmann Joerg , Shedge Vikas , Xu Ying-Zhi , Weigel Detlef , Mackenzie Sally A 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Background
The mitochondrial genome of higher plants is unusually dynamic, with recombination and nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) activities producing variability in size and organization. Plant mitochondrial DNA also generally displays much lower nucleotide substitution rates than mammalian or yeast systems. Arabidopsis displays these features and expedites characterization of the mitochondrial recombination surveillance gene MSH1 (MutS 1 homolog), lending itself to detailed study of de novo mitochondrial genome activity. In the present study, we investigated the underlying basis for unusual plant features as they contribute to rapid mitochondrial genome evolution.

Results
We obtained evidence of double-strand break (DSB) repair, including NHEJ, sequence deletions and mitochondrial asymmetric recombination activity in Arabidopsis wild-type and msh1 mutants on the basis of data generated by Illumina deep sequencing and confirmed by DNA gel blot analysis. On a larger scale, with mitochondrial comparisons across 72 Arabidopsis ecotypes, similar evidence of DSB repair activity differentiated ecotypes. Forty-seven repeat pairs were active in DNA exchange in the msh1 mutant. Recombination sites showed asymmetrical DNA exchange within lengths of 50- to 556-bp sharing sequence identity as low as 85%. De novo asymmetrical recombination involved heteroduplex formation, gene conversion and mismatch repair activities. Substoichiometric shifting by asymmetrical exchange created the appearance of rapid sequence gain and loss in association with particular repeat classes.

Conclusions
Extensive mitochondrial genomic variation within a single plant species derives largely from DSB activity and its repair. Observed gene conversion and mismatch repair activity contribute to the low nucleotide substitution rates seen in these genomes. On a phenotypic level, these patterns of rearrangement likely contribute to the reproductive versatility of higher plants.