bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Will Russia Ever Join the WTO?
Authors: Dyker David 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWhy would Russia, a major power, be thwarted for fourteen years in its attempt to join the World Trade Organization (WTO)? Through a detailed examination of Russia's WTO accession negotiations, the diplomatic processes of the WTO's accession procedures are uncovered, showing that this diplomacy is best understood as a complex process where state-level factors and international regime-level factors, such as the rules and conditions of accession, interact. In the Russian case, the dialogue's length partly reflects technical difficulties in specific elements of the negotiations and partly a degree of ambivalence in the Russian government's attitudes towards accession. The Russian economy's high degree of dependence on oil and gas exports has taken the short-run urgency out of the negotiations from the Russian point of view, while reinforcing the medium-term case for accession within the context of a diversification policy. Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev and new Minister for the Economy Elvira Nabiullina are strongly committed to WTO accession as a basis for developing the Russian economy as an innovation-based economy. Meanwhile, Russia's former President and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is sympathetic to that idea, but is inconsistent in his pronouncements. At the regime level, the key obstacles to accession in the past have been Russia's insistence on the freedom to maintain government agricultural subsidies and the reluctance of other WTO members to compromise on this issue. Since the Georgian crisis of August 2008, the United States has tended increasingly to use WTO accession as an instrument of political leverage vis-à-vis Russia. It must be assumed that Georgia will veto any Russian application for membership unless a satisfactory solution to the Abkhazia/South Ossetia issue can be found.
The Value of ENSO Forecast Information to Dual-Purpose Winter Wheat Production in the U.S. Southern High Plains
Authors: Mauget Steve , Zhang John , Ko Jonghan 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
The value of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecast information to southern high plains winter wheat and cattle-grazing production systems was estimated here by simulation. Although previous work has calculated average forecast value, the approach here was to estimate probabilities of the value of single forecasts from value distributions associated with categorical ENSO forecast conditions. A simple ENSO-phase forecast system’s value was compared with that of an ideal forecast method that exactly predicted the tercile category of regional November–March precipitation. Simulations were conducted for four price scenarios with wheat prices that randomly varied about a historical ($3.22 per bushel) and elevated ($7.00 per bushel) mean and with returns on live weight gain that are consistent with the grain producer leasing pasturage or owning cattle. In the simulations at $3.22 per bushel, the best practices for specific forecast conditions varied with cattle-ownership conditions. However, the ENSO-phase system’s value distributions were comparable to that of the perfect forecast system; thus more-accurate regional precipitation forecasts may not lead to more forecast value at the farm level. In the simulations at $7.00 per bushel, even perfect categorical forecasts produced only minor profit effects, a result that is attributed here to an increased profit margin rather than to increased wheat value. Under both wheat-price conditions, however, the best no-forecast baseline practices are also shown to have value relative to an arbitrarily chosen management practice. Thus, following practices optimized to climatic conditions and current price and cost conditions might increase profits when no forecast information is available.
The Path Density of Interhemispheric Surface-to-Surface Transport. Part I: Development of the Diagnostic and Illustration with an Analytic Model
Authors: Holzer Mark 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
A new path-density diagnostic for atmospheric surface-to-surface transport is formulated. The path density η gives the joint probability that air whose last surface contact occurred on patch Ωi at time ti will make its next surface contact with patch Ωf after a residence time τ ∈ (τ, τ + dτ) and that it can be found in d3r during its surface-to-surface journey. The dependence on τ allows the average surface-to-surface flow rate carried by the paths to be computed. A simple algorithm for using passive tracers to determine η is developed. A key advantage of the diagnostic is that it can be computed efficiently without an adjoint model and using only a moderately large number of tracers. The nature of the path density is illustrated with a one-dimensional advection–diffusion model. In Part II of this study, the path density diagnostic is applied to quantify interhemispheric transport through the troposphere and stratosphere.
Infarction of tumor vessels by NGR-peptide–directed targeting of tissue factor: experimental results and first-in-man experience
Authors: Bieker Ralf , Kessler Torsten , Schwöppe Christian , Padró Teresa , Persigehl Thorsten , Bremer Christoph , Dreischalück Johannes , Kolkmeyer Astrid , Heindel Walter , Mesters Rolf M. , Berdel Wolfgang E. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe induced thrombosis of blood vessels in solid tumors in mice by a fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of tissue factor (truncated tissue factor, tTF) and the peptide GNGRAHA, targeting aminopeptidase N (CD13) and the integrin αvβ3 (CD51/CD61) on tumor vascular endothelium. The designed fusion protein tTF-NGR retained its thrombogenic activity as demonstrated by coagulation assays. In vivo studies in mice bearing established human adenocarcinoma (A549), melanoma (M21), and fibrosarcoma (HT1080) revealed that systemic administration of tTF-NGR induced partial or complete thrombotic occlusion of tumor vessels as shown by histologic analysis. tTF-NGR, but not untargeted tTF, induced significant tumor growth retardation or regression in all 3 types of solid tumors. Thrombosis induction in tumor vessels by tTF-NGR was also shown by contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the human fibrosarcoma xenograft model, MRI revealed a significant reduction of tumor perfusion by administration of tTF-NGR. Clinical first-in-man application of low dosages of this targeted coagulation factor revealed good tolerability and decreased tumor perfusion as measured by MRI. Targeted thrombosis in the tumor vasculature induced by tTF-NGR may be a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer.
Runx2 induces acute myeloid leukemia in cooperation with Cbfβ-SMMHC in mice
Authors: Kuo Ya-Huei , Zaidi Sayyed K. , Gornostaeva Svetlana , Komori Toshihisa , Stein Gary S. , Castilla Lucio H. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe core-binding factor (CBF) is a master regulator of developmental and differentiation programs, and CBF alterations are frequently associated with acute leukemia. The role of the CBF member RUNX2 in hematopoiesis is poorly understood. Genetic evidence suggests that deregulation of Runx2 may cause myeloid leukemia in mice expressing the fusion oncogene Cbfb-MYH11. In this study, we show that sustained expression of Runx2 modulates Cbfβ-smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC)–mediated myeloid leukemia development. Expression of Runx2 is high in the hematopoietic stem cell compartment and decreases during myeloid differentiation. Sustained Runx2 expression hinders myeloid progenitor differentiation capacity and represses expression of CBF targets Csf1R, Mpo, Cebpd, the cell cycle inhibitor Cdkn1a, and myeloid markers Cebpa and Gfi1. In addition, full-length Runx2 cooperates with Cbfβ-SMMHC in leukemia development in transplantation assays. Furthermore, we show that the nuclear matrix–targeting signal and DNA-binding runt-homology domain of Runx2 are essential for its leukemogenic activity. Conversely, Runx2 haplo-insufficiency delays the onset and reduces the incidence of acute myeloid leukemia. Together, these results indicate that Runx2 is expressed in the stem cell compartment, interferes with differentiation and represses CBF targets in the myeloid compartment, and modulates the leukemogenic function of Cbfβ-SMMHC in mouse leukemia.
IL23R in the Swedish, Finnish, Hungarian and Italian populations: association with IBD and psoriasis, and linkage to celiac disease
Authors: Einarsdottir Elisabet , Koskinen Lotta LE , Dukes Emma , Kainu Kati , Suomela Sari , Lappalainen Maarit , Ziberna Fabiana , Korponay-Szabo Ilma R , Kurppa Kalle , Kaukinen Katri , Ádány Róza , Pocsai Zsuzsa , Széles György , Färkkilä Martti , Turunen Ulla , Halme Leena , Paavola-Sakki Paulina , Not Tarcisio , Vatta Serena , Ventura Alessandro , Löfberg Robert , Torkvist Leif , Bresso Francesca , Halfvarson Jonas , Mäki Markku , Kontula Kimmo , Saarialho-Kere Ulpu , Kere Juha , D'Amato Mauro , Saavalainen Päivi 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Background
Association of the interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been confirmed in several populations. IL23R also associates with psoriasis, suggesting that the gene may be an important candidate for many chronic inflammatory diseases.

Methods
We studied association of single-nucleotide variants in IL23R with IBD in Swedish patients, in both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) subsets. The same genetic variants were also studied in Finnish patients with psoriasis or celiac disease, and in Hungarian and Italian patients with celiac disease.

Results
Association of IL23R with IBD was replicated in our Swedish patients, and linkage and association of the IL23R region with psoriasis was found in the Finnish population. The IL23R region was also linked to celiac disease in Finnish families, but no association of IL23R variants with celiac disease was found in the Finnish, Hungarian or Italian samples.

Conclusion
Our study is the first to demonstrate association of IL23R with CD and UC in Swedish patients with IBD. It is also the first study to report linkage and association of the IL23R region with psoriasis in the Finnish population. Importantly, this is the first report of linkage of the IL23R region to celiac disease, a chronic inflammatory condition in which IL23R has not been previously implicated.
Altering the ribosomal subunit ratio in yeast maximizes recombinant protein yield
Authors: Bonander Nicklas , Darby Richard AJ , Grgic Ljuban , Bora Nagamani , Wen Jikai , Brogna Saverio , Poyner David R , O'Neill Michael AA , Bill Roslyn M 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Background
The production of high yields of recombinant proteins is an enduring bottleneck in the post-genomic sciences that has yet to be addressed in a truly rational manner. Typically eukaryotic protein production experiments have relied on varying expression construct cassettes such as promoters and tags, or culture process parameters such as pH, temperature and aeration to enhance yields. These approaches require repeated rounds of trial-and-error optimization and cannot provide a mechanistic insight into the biology of recombinant protein production. We published an early transcriptome analysis that identified genes implicated in successful membrane protein production experiments in yeast. While there has been a subsequent explosion in such analyses in a range of production organisms, no one has yet exploited the genes identified. The aim of this study was to use the results of our previous comparative transcriptome analysis to engineer improved yeast strains and thereby gain an understanding of the mechanisms involved in high-yielding protein production hosts.

Results
We show that tuning BMS1 transcript levels in a doxycycline-dependent manner resulted in optimized yields of functional membrane and soluble protein targets. Online flow microcalorimetry demonstrated that there had been a substantial metabolic change to cells cultured under high-yielding conditions, and in particular that high yielding cells were more metabolically efficient. Polysome profiling showed that the key molecular event contributing to this metabolically efficient, high-yielding phenotype is a perturbation of the ratio of 60S to 40S ribosomal subunits from approximately 1:1 to 2:1, and correspondingly of 25S:18S ratios from 2:1 to 3:1. This result is consistent with the role of the gene product of BMS1 in ribosome biogenesis.

Conclusion
This work demonstrates the power of a rational approach to recombinant protein production by using the results of transcriptome analysis to engineer improved strains, thereby revealing the underlying biological events involved.
A case of Meigs syndrome mimicking metastatic breast carcinoma
Authors: Lanitis Sophocles , Sivakumar Sivahamy , Behranwala Kasim , Zacharakis Emmanouil , Al Mufti Ragheed , Hadjiminas Dimitri J 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Background
Adnexal masses are not uncommon in patients with breast cancer. Breast cancer and ovarian malignancies are known to be associated. In patients with breast cancer and co-existing pleural effusions, ascites and adnexal masses, the probability of disseminated disease is high. Nevertheless, benign ovarian masses can mimic this clinical picture when they are associated with Meigs' syndrome making the work-up and management of these patients challenging. To our knowledge, there are no similar reports in the literature and therefore we present this case to highlight this entity.

Case presentation
A 56-year old woman presented with a 4 cm, grade 2, invasive ductal carcinoma of her left breast. Pre-treatment staging investigations showed a 13.5 cm mass in her left ovary, a small amount of ascites and a large right pleural effusion. Serum tumour markers showed a raised CA125 supporting the malignant nature of the ovarian mass. The cytology from the pleural effusion was indeterminate but thoracoscopic biopsy failed to show malignancy. The patient was strongly against mastectomy and she was commenced on neo-adjuvant Letrozole 2.5 mg daily with a view to perform breast conserving surgery. After a good response to the hormone manipulation, the patient had breast conserving surgery, axillary sampling and laparoscopic excision of the ovarian mass which was eventually found to be a benign ovarian fibroma.

Conclusion
Despite the high probability of disseminated malignancy when an ovarian mass associated with ascites if found in a patient with a breast cancer and pleural effusion, clinicians should be aware about rare benign syndromes, like Meigs', which may mimic a similar picture and mislead the diagnosis and management plan.
Impact of GnRH ovarian stimulation protocols on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes
Authors: Pinto Fátima , Oliveira Cristiano , Cardoso Margarida F , Teixeira-da-Silva José , Silva Joaquina , Sousa Mário , Barros Alberto 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Background
Although a large number of studies have been conducted in relation to ovarian response and pregnancy after GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocols, most of them used single or combinations of a few predictive factors, and none included the stimulation protocol in the multivariable analysis. The present study was thus primarily designed to investigate the predictive value of the stimulation protocol and to analyze the possible relationships between stimulation protocols and treatment outcomes after adjusting for a large set of variables that potentially affect reproductive outcomes. Factors related to pregnancy achievement and predictive of the number of oocytes retrieved and high quality of the embryos obtained were also analyzed.

Methods
To analyze the impact of GnRH ovarian stimulation protocols on the independent predictors of ovarian response, high quality embryos and clinical pregnancy, two groups out of 278 ICSI treatment cycles were compared prospectively, 123 with a GnRH agonist and 155 with a GnRH antagonist, with multivariable analysis assessing outcomes after adjusting for a large set of variables.

Results
Antagonists were significantly associated with lower length and total dose of GnRH, lower length of rFSH, and higher numbers of oocytes and high quality embryos, whereas the agonist presented a higher fertilization rate and probability of pregnancy. Significant predictors of retrieved oocytes and high quality embryos were the antagonist protocol, lower female age, lower serum levels of basal FSH and higher total number of antral follicles. Significant predictors of clinical pregnancy were the agonist protocol, reduced number of attempts, increased endometrial thickness and lower female age. The probability of pregnancy increased until 30 years-old, with a decline after that age and with a sharp decline after 40 years-old.

Conclusion
The models found suggest that not only the protocol but also factors as female age, basal FSH, antral follicles, number of attempts and endometrial thickness should be analyzed for counselling patients undergoing an ICSI treatment.
Sensorineural hearing loss in Lassa fever: two case reports
Authors: Okokhere Peter O. , Ibekwe Titus S. , Akpede George O. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Introduction
Lassa fever is an acute arena viral haemorrhagic fever with varied neurological sequelae. Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the rare complications which occur usually during the convalescent stage of the infection.

Case presentation
The cases of two female patients aged 19 and 43 years old, respectively, with clinical features suggestive of Lassa fever and confirmed by immunoserological/Lassa-virus-specific reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction are presented. Both patients developed severe sensorineural hearing loss at acute phases of the infections.

Conclusion
Sensorineural hearing loss from Lassa fever infections can occur in both acute and convalescent stages and is probably induced by an immune response.
The biological effect of 125I seed continuous low dose rate irradiation in CL187 cells
Authors: Zhuang Hong-Qing , Wang Jun-Jie , Liao An-Yan , Wang Ji-Dong , Zhao Yong 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackgroundTo investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of125I seed continuous low-dose-rate irradiation on colonic cell line CL187 in vitro.MethodsThe CL187 cell line was exposed to radiation of60Coγ ray at high dose rate of 2 Gy/min and125I seed at low dose rate of 2.77 cGy/h. Radiation responses to different doses and dose rates were evaluated by colony-forming assay. Under125I seed low dose rate irradiation, a total of 12 culture dishes were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control group, and 2, 5, and 10 Gy irradiation groups. At 48 h after irradiation, apoptosis was detected by Annexin and Propidium iodide (PI) staining. Cell cycle arrests were detected by PI staining. In order to investigate the influence of low dose rate irradiation on the MAPK signal transduction, the expression changes of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Raf under continuous low dose rate irradiation (CLDR) and/or EGFR monoclonal antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence.ResultsThe relative biological effect (RBE) for125I seeds compared with60Co γ ray was 1.41. Apoptosis rates of CL187 cancer cells were 13.74% ± 1.63%, 32.58% ± 3.61%, and 46.27% ± 3.82% after 2 Gy, 5 Gy, and 10 Gy irradiation, respectively; however, the control group apoptosis rate was 1.67% ± 0.19%. G2/M cell cycle arrests of CL187 cancer cells were 42.59% ± 3.21%, 59.84% ± 4.96%, and 34.61% ± 2.79% after 2 Gy, 5 Gy, and 10 Gy irradiation, respectively; however, the control group apoptosis rate was 26.44% ± 2.53%.P< 0.05 vs. control groups by Student's t-test were found in every treated group both in apoptosis and in G2/M cell cycle arrest. After low dose rate irradiation, EGFR and Raf expression increased, but when EGFR was blocked by a monoclonal antibody, EGFR and Raf expression did not change.Conclusion125I seeds resulted in more effective inhibition than60Co γ ray high dose rate irradiation in CL187 cells. Apoptosis following G2/M cell cycle arrest was the main mechanism of cell-killing effects under low dose rate irradiation. CLDR could influence the proliferation of cells via MAPK signal transduction.
From nature, through chemical synthesis, toward use in agriculture: Oryzoxymycin case study
Authors: Bwire Regina N. , Majinda Runner R. , Masesane Ishmael B. , Steel Patrick G. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
The Diels-Alder adducts of ethyl (E)-3-nitroacrylate and furan provided a common and versatile template for the stereocontrolled synthesis of an isomer of the natural product oryzoxymycin and polyhydroxylated cyclohexyl β-amino acid derivatives. The strategy for the synthesis of the polyhydroxylated cyclic β-amino acid derivatives involved base-induced fragmentation of the oxanorbornene skeleton and face selective oxidation reactions. A Pd-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation reaction in the presence of organic acids is also described. This reaction is amenable to being enantioselective through use of optical pure chiral organic acids.
Prospects for processing wastes into products used in agriculture
Authors: Pawełczyk Adam , Szczygieł Bogdan 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
The authors have proposed their own newly developed universal procedure for assessing waste and selecting methods of processing the waste for agricultural purposes. Increasingly more rigorous environmental legal regulations, especially pertaining to sustainability in agricultural and chemical production, were the most convincing motivation for such approach. The procedure is based on technological and environmental safety criteria. Special attention is devoted to the chemical processing of hazardous wastes into fertilizer products and the underlying reasons for such methodology. As opposed to physical and biochemical processes, in chemical processes the agents used completely change the chemical structure of the waste materials or at least that of some of their components. As a result, new phases are formed and the harmful properties of the initial material are eliminated. Prospects for the chemical processing of hazardous wastes are demonstrated using as an example the utilization of asbestos wastes. There are vast amounts of asbestos materials installed in industrial, communal, and service facilities. Landfill asbestos waste disposal is the common practice, but this does not solve properly the problem of environmental hazard. The proposed utilization concept consists in destroying asbestos with a phosphoric acid solution in a two-stage process. The obtained suspension is then filtered, and the solution of phosphates containing an excess of phosphoric acid is subsequently neutralized with lime and processed into phosphate fertilizers of TSP (triple superphosphate) or DCP (dicalcium phosphate) type. Experiments showed that the process yielded asbestos-free products which did not contain any respirable fibers. Comparative immunological tests showed that the products did not cause any degeneration of human lung cells exposed to them, as opposed to the original asbestos, which had a highly damaging effect on the cells.
Self-assembled ordered mesoporous metals
Authors: Warren Scott C. , Wiesner Ulrich 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Control over the structure of metals at the mesoscale (2-50 nm) is crucial for emerging applications such as energy conversion, sensing, and information processing. The self-assembly of nanoparticles with block copolymers provides a natural entry point to materials of this length scale. The field's historical development, relevant physical models, and recent results are presented.