bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nematodes of the order Rhabditida from Andalucía Oriental, Spain. The genus Ablechroiulus Andrássy, 1966 with description of three new species and a key to species
Authors: Peña-Santiago Reyes , Abolafia Joaquín 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThree new species of the genus Ablechroiulus are described from natural areas in the SE Iberian Peninsula. Ablechroiulus castaneanus sp. n. is characterised by a body length of 0.69-0.80 mm in females and 0.58-0.76 mm in males, lip region offset by a shallow constriction and with six rounded lips bearing setae, stoma 18-20 μm long, metacorpus cylindrical, vulva prominent with high lips, female tail (45-52 μm, c = 12.5-15.6, c′ = 2.5-2.7) divided into two distinct regions, phasmid at base of anterior region of tail, male tail (39-63 μm, c = 12.1-14.8, c′ = 2.6-2.7) with posterior filiform part and acute terminus, bursa leptoderan with nine pairs of papillae (1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 3), spicules 21-25 μm long and gubernaculum 10-15 μm long. Ablechroiulus querquetulanus sp. n. is characterised by a body length of 1.2-1.5 mm in females and 1.4 mm in male, stoma 24-31 μm long, procorpus 1.5 times longer than metacorpus, female tail filiform (262-318 μm, c = 4.2-4.7, c′ = 9-11), male tail (180-228 μm, c = 6.2-7.8, c′ = 3.8-5.4) with very long posterior filiform part, bursa leptoderan with nine pairs of papillae (1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2) of which papillae 2-3 and 5-6 are fused at base, spicules 63-72 μm long and fused at terminus and gubernaculum 32-46 μm long. Ablechroiulus verminosus sp. n. is characterised by a body length of 0.76-1.10 mm in females and 0.83-0.97 mm in males, lip region with six rounded lips bearing three setae on each side, stoma 18-26 μm long, female tail filiform (88-167 μm, c = 6.6-8.7, c′ = 5.0-7.1), male tail (63-81 μm, c = 11.0-13.3, c′ = 2.7-3.2) with posterior filiform part, bursa leptoderan with nine pairs of papillae (1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 3) of which papillae 5-6 are fused at base, spicules 29-42 μm long, and gubernaculum 10-24 μm long. SEM pictures are provided for A. verminosus sp. n. An identification key to species of the genus as well as a tabular compendium are also provided.
Should Constitutional Courts Adjudicate Political Disputes? The Perspectives of Democratization in Soviet Successor States
Authors: Mazmanyan Armen 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThis article explores the consequences and the opportunities of political involvement of constitutional courts in post-Soviet countries. The answers to this inquiry allow a discussion on institutional design alternatives that would help constitutional courts to better support democracy. The author identifies particular practical difficulties with the present institutional settings (referring to them as to a 'paradox of political empowerment') and investigates the options for addressing the limitations created by the described model. In particular, the article reconsiders the widely accepted opinion that constitutional designers should have abandoned the 'political' responsibilities of constitutional courts (such as review of electoral disputes, inter-branch conflicts of jurisdictions, etc.) in these countries for the sake of preserving their institutional survival and legitimacy. The author argues that these 'political' responsibilities are essential for enabling democratic contributions by constitutional courts, and two conceptual justifications are forwarded to support this proposition. In contrast to the suggestions to abandon the 'political' responsibilities, the article proposes to address the problem of constitutional courts' political involvement and the hazard of damaging their legitimacy by enhancing the discretion of constitutional courts through introduction of a sound 'political question doctrine'.
Riming of Graupel: Wind Tunnel Investigations of Collection Kernels and Growth Regimes
Authors: von Blohn Nadine , Diehl Karoline , Mitra Subir K. , Borrmann Stephan 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Laboratory experiments were carried out in the vertical wind tunnel in Mainz, Germany, to study the collision coalescence growth of single spherical ice particles having initial radii between 290 and 380 μm while they were freely floated in a laminar flow containing a cloud of supercooled droplets with radii between 10 and 20 μm. The experiments were performed in a temperature range between −8 and −12°C, where riming proceeds in the atmosphere, and with cloud liquid water contents lying between 0.9 and 1.6 g m−3 (i.e., values typically found in mixed-phase clouds). The collection kernels were calculated from the mass increase of the rimed ice particles and the average liquid water content during the experiments. Surface temperature measurements of growing graupel indicated that a dry growth regime prevailed during the whole set of growth experiments. The collection kernels of rimed ice particles attained values between 0.9 and 2.3 cm3 s−1 depending on their collector momenta (mass × fall velocity of the riming ice particles), which had values between 0.04 and 0.1 g cm s−1. It was found that the collection kernels of ice particles determined from the present set of experiments were higher than the collection kernels of liquid drops. To correct for this discrepancy, an empirical factor depending on the cloud droplet radii was extracted from the newly measured data as well as from the old data. For the investigated size ranges of ice particles and droplets, these corrected collection kernels of ice particles can be incorporated in cloud models for the corresponding size ranges.
Tim-3 mediates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and cross-presentation
Authors: Nakayama Masafumi , Akiba Hisaya , Takeda Kazuyoshi , Kojima Yuko , Hashiguchi Masaaki , Azuma Miyuki , Yagita Hideo , Okumura Ko 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Phagocytes such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) engulf apoptotic cells to maintain peripheral immune tolerance. However, the mechanism for the recognition of dying cells by phagocytes is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) recognizes apoptotic cells through the FG loop in the IgV domain, and is crucial for clearance of apoptotic cells by phagocytes. Whereas Tim-4 is highly expressed on peritoneal resident macrophages, Tim-3 is expressed on peritoneal exudate macrophages, monocytes, and splenic DCs, indicating distinct Tim-mediated phagocytic pathways used by different phagocytes. Furthermore, phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by CD8+ DCs is inhibited by anti–Tim-3 mAb, resulting in a reduced cross-presentation of dying cell-associated antigens in vitro and in vivo. Administration of anti–Tim-3 as well as anti–Tim-4 mAb induces autoantibody production. These results indicate a crucial role for Tim-3 in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and cross-presentation, which may be linked to peripheral tolerance.
Interleukin-6 aborts lymphopoiesis and elevates production of myeloid cells in systemic lupus erythematosus–prone B6.Sle1.Yaa animals
Authors: Maeda Kenichiro , Malykhin Alex , Teague-Weber Brittany N. , Sun Xiao-Hong , Farris A. Darise , Coggeshall K. Mark 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
We previously reported the inhibitory action of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on B lymphopoiesis with SHIP−/− mice and showed that IL-6 biases lineage commitment toward myeloid cell fates in vitro and in vivo. Because elevated IL-6 is a feature of chronic inflammatory diseases, we applied an animal model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to determine whether IL-6 has similar effects on hematopoiesis. We found that IL-6 levels were elevated in the B6.Sle1.Yaa mice, and the increase was accompanied by losses of CD19+ B cells and more primitive B-lymphoid progenitors in bone marrow. Both the CD19+ B-cell population and their progenitors recovered in an IL-6−/− background. The uncommitted progenitors, containing precursors for both lymphoid and myeloid fates, expressed IL-6 receptor-α chain and responded to IL-6 by phosphorylation of STAT3. IL-6 stimulation caused uncommitted progenitors to express the Id1 transcription factor, which is known to inhibit lymphopoiesis and elevate myelopoiesis, and its expression was MAPK dependent. We conclude that chronic inflammatory conditions accompanied by increased IL-6 production bias uncommitted progenitors to a myeloid fate by inducing Id1 expression.
Genome-wide identification of Xenopus matrix metalloproteinases: conservation and unique duplications in amphibians
Authors: Fu Liezhen , Das Biswajit , Mathew Smita , Shi Yun-Bo 
Published: February 2009

Abstract

Background
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are members of the superfamily of Zn2+ dependent extracellular or membrane-bound endopeptidases which have been implicated to play critical roles in vertebrate development and human pathogenesis. A number of MMP genes have been found to be upregulated in some or all organs during frog metamorphosis, suggesting that different MMPs may have different functions in various organs/tissues. The recent advances in EST (expressed sequence tag) sequencing and the completion of the genome of Xenopus (X.) tropicalis prompted us to systematically analyze the existence of MMPs in the Xenopus genome.

Results
We examined X. laevis and X. tropicalis ESTs and genomic sequences for MMPs and obtained likely homologs for 20 out of the 25 MMPs known in higher vertebrates. Four of the five missing MMPs, i.e. MMPs 8, 10, 12 and 27, were all encoded on human Chromosome 11 and the other missing MMP, MMP22 (a chicken MMP), was also absent in human genome. In addition, we identified several novel MMPs which appears to be derived from unique duplications over evolution, are present in the genomes of both Xenopus species.

Conclusion
We identified the homologs of most of the mammalian MMPs in Xenopus and discovered a number of novel MMPs. Our results suggest that MMP genes undergo dynamic changes over evolution. It will be of interest in the future to investigate whether MMP expression and functions during vertebrate development are conserved. The sequence information reported here should facilitate such an endeavor in the near future.
Using cell fate attractors to uncover transcriptional regulation of HL60 neutrophil differentiation
Authors: Huang Albert C , Hu Limei , Kauffman Stuart A , Zhang Wei , Shmulevich Ilya 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackgroundThe process of cellular differentiation is governed by complex dynamical biomolecular networks consisting of a multitude of genes and their products acting in concert to determine a particular cell fate. Thus, a systems level view is necessary for understanding how a cell coordinates this process and for developing effective therapeutic strategies to treat diseases, such as cancer, in which differentiation plays a significant role. Theoretical considerations and recent experimental evidence support the view that cell fates are high dimensional attractor states of the underlying molecular networks. The temporal behavior of the network states progressing toward different cell fate attractors has the potential to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms governing differentiation.ResultsUsing the HL60 multipotent promyelocytic leukemia cell line, we performed experiments that ultimately led to two different cell fate attractors by two treatments of varying dosage and duration of the differentiation agent all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). The dosage and duration combinations of the two treatments were chosen by means of flow cytometric measurements of CD11b, a well-known early differentiation marker, such that they generated two intermediate populations that were poised at the apparently same stage of differentiation. However, the population of one treatment proceeded toward the terminally differentiated neutrophil attractor while that of the other treatment reverted back toward the undifferentiated promyelocytic attractor. We monitored the gene expression changes in the two populations after their respective treatments over a period of five days and identified a set of genes that diverged in their expression, a subset of which promotes neutrophil differentiation while the other represses cell cycle progression. By employing promoter based transcription factor binding site analysis, we found enrichment in the set of divergent genes, of transcription factors functionally linked to tumor progression, cell cycle, and development.ConclusionSince many of the transcription factors identified by this approach are also known to be implicated in hematopoietic differentiation and leukemia, this study points to the utility of incorporating a dynamical systems level view into a computational analysis framework for elucidating transcriptional mechanisms regulating differentiation.
Retrospective Evaluation of the Clinical and Radiographic Risk Factors Associated With Severe Pulmonary Hemorrhage in First-Line Advanced, Unresectable Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Carboplatin and Paclitaxel Plus Bevacizumab
Authors: Sandler Alan B. , Schiller Joan H. , Gray Robert , Dimery Isaiah , Brahmer Julie , Samant Meghna , Wang Lisa I. , Johnson David H. 
Published: February 2009

Purpose Severe (grade ≥ 3) pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer was observed in two prospective, randomized, phase II (N = 99) and phase III (N = 878) trials of bevacizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel. Retrospective case-control and cohort analyses were conducted to identify associated radiographic and clinical risk factors for PH. Patients and Methods Six patients with PH from the phase II trial, 15 potential PH patients with hemorrhage at any site from the phase III trial, and their matched controls were evaluated with review of baseline and on-treatment radiographs by an independent radiology facility, blinded to patient/control status. Patients with severe (grade ≥ 3) PH from each trial were matched with up to three controls based on sex, age group, histology (phase II), or sex and age group (phase III). Results Seven PH patients in the phase III trial were identified as severe PH. Six of the patients were early onset (occurred < 150 days of initiating bevacizumab) and one was late onset. Baseline tumor cavitation, not tumor location, was identified as the only potential risk factor for patients with early onset. Combined analysis of severe PH patients from the phase II and phase III trials (n = 13), compared with their pooled matched controls (n = 42), did not identify any additional baseline radiographic or clinical variables associated with PH. Conclusion PH was an uncommon event. Based on these analyses, baseline tumor cavitation may be a potential risk factor for PH. No other baseline clinical variables were predictive for PH although the number of events was small.
Identification of Leptomeningeal Disease in Aggressive B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Improved Sensitivity of Flow Cytometry
Authors: Quijano Sandra , López Antonio , Manuel Sancho Juan , Panizo Carlos , Debén Guillermo , Castilla Cristina , Antonio García-Vela José , Salar Antonio , Alonso-Vence Natalia , González-Barca Eva , Peñalver Francisco Javier , Plaza-Villa Josefa , Morado Marta , García-Marco José , Arias Jesús , Briones Javier , Ferrer Secundino , Capote Javier , Nicolás Concepción , Orfao Alberto 
Published: February 2009

Purpose Here, we evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a new 11-parameter flow cytometry (FCM) approach versus conventional cytology (CC) for detecting neoplastic cells in stabilized CSF samples from newly diagnosed aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) at high risk of CNS relapse, using a prospective, multicentric study design. Patients and Methods Moreover, we compared the distribution of different subpopulations of CSF leukocytes and the clinico-biologic characteristics of CSF+ versus CSF−, patients, in an attempt to define new algorithms useful for predicting CNS disease. Results Overall, 27 (22%) of 123 patients showed infiltration by FCM, while CC was positive in only seven patients (6%), with three other cases being suspicious (2%). CC+/FCM+ samples typically had more than 20% neoplastic B cells and/or ≥ one neoplastic B cell/μL, while FCM+/CC− samples showed lower levels (P < .0001) of infiltration. Interestingly, in Burkitt lymphoma, presence of CNS disease by FCM could be predicted with a high specificity when increased serum β2-microglobulin and neurological symptoms coexisted, while peripheral blood involvement was the only independent parameter associated with CNS disease in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, with low predictive value. Conclusion FCM significantly improves the sensitivity of CC for the identification of leptomeningeal disease in aggressive B-NHL at higher risk of CNS disease, particularly in paucicellular samples.
High Numbers of Tumor-Infiltrating Programmed Cell Death 1–Positive Regulatory Lymphocytes Are Associated With Improved Overall Survival in Follicular Lymphoma
Authors: Carreras Joaquim , Lopez-Guillermo Armando , Roncador Giovanna , Villamor Neus , Colomo Lluis , Martinez Antonio , Hamoudi Rifat , Howat William J. , Montserrat Emili , Campo Elias 
Published: February 2009

PurposeTumor microenvironment influences the behavior of follicular lymphoma (FL), although the specific cell subsets involved are not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) –positive inhibitory immunoregulatory lymphoid cells in the clinicobiologic features and outcome of patients with FL.Patients and MethodsWe examined samples from 100 patients (53 men and 47 women; median age, 54 years) at diagnosis, as well as in 32 patients at first relapse, with a recently generated monoclonal antibody against PD-1. The cells were quantified using computerized image analysis. Additional analysis consisted of double immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.ResultsPD-1 expression was alternative to FOXP3 in lymphoid cells from both reactive tonsils and FL. At diagnosis, the median percentage of PD-1–positive cells was 14% (range, 0.1% to 74%). Patients with grade 3 FL, poor performance status, and high serum lactate dehydrogenase showed lower numbers of PD-1–positive cells. After a median follow-up of 6.2 years, patients with PD-1–positive cells ≤ 5% (n = 25), 6% to 33% (n = 50), and more than 33% (n = 25) had a 5-year progression-free survival rate of 20%, 46%, and 48% (P = .038) and overall survival (OS) of 50%, 77%, and 95% (P = .004), respectively. PD-1 and FL International Prognostic Index maintained prognostic value for OS in multivariate analysis. Patients with PD-1–positive cells ≤ 5% showed a higher risk of histologic transformation. At that time, transformed diffuse large B-cell lymphomas had lower percentage of PD-1–positive cells than FL.ConclusionA high content of PD-1–positive cells predicted favorable outcome of FL patients, whereas a marked reduction is observed in transformation.
HLA-Identical Sibling Compared With 8/8 Matched and Mismatched Unrelated Donor Bone Marrow Transplant for Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Arora Mukta , Weisdorf Daniel J. , Spellman Stephen R. , Haagenson Michael D. , Klein John P. , Hurley Carolyn K. , Selby George B. , Antin Joseph H. , Kernan Nancy A. , Kollman Craig , Nademanee Auayporn , McGlave Philip , Horowitz Mary M. , Petersdorf Effie W. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeTransplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from an unrelated donor (URD) is an option for many patients who do not have an HLA-identical sibling donor (MSD). Current criteria for the selection of URDs include consideration for HLA alleles determined by high resolution typing methods, with preference for allele-matched donors. However, the utility and outcome associated with transplants from URDs compared with those from MSDs remains undefined.Patients and MethodsWe examined clinical outcome after patients received bone marrow transplants (BMTs) from MSDs; HLA-A, -B, -C, and DRB1 allele-matched URDs (8/8); and HLA-mismatched URDs in a homogeneous population of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in first chronic phase (CP1) where a strong allogeneic effect and hence a lower risk of relapse is anticipated. Transplantation outcomes were compared between 1,052 URD and 3,514 MSD BMT recipients with CML in CP1.ResultsFive-year overall survival and leukemia-free survival (LFS) after receipt of BMTs from 8/8 matched URDs were worse than those after receipt of BMTs from MSDs (5-year survival, 55% v 63%; RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.56; P < .001; LFS, 50% v 55%; RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.40; P = .006). Survival was progressively worse with greater degrees of mismatch. Similar and low risk of relapse were observed after receipt of transplant from either MSD or URD.ConclusionIn this homogeneous cohort of good risk patients with CML in CP1, 5-year overall survival and LFS after receipt of transplant from 8/8 allele-matched donors were modestly though significantly worse than those after receipt of transplant from MSDs. Additive adverse effects of multilocus mismatching are not well tolerated and should be avoided if possible.
Modified-Release Hydrocortisone to Provide Circadian Cortisol Profiles
Authors: Debono Miguel , Ghobadi Cyrus , Rostami-Hodjegan Amin , Huatan Hiep , Campbell Michael J. , Newell-Price John , Darzy Ken , Merke Deborah P. , Arlt Wiebke , Ross Richard J. 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Context: Cortisol has a distinct circadian rhythm regulated by the brain’s central pacemaker. Loss of this rhythm is associated with metabolic abnormalities, fatigue, and poor quality of life. Conventional glucocorticoid replacement cannot replicate this rhythm.
Objectives: Our objectives were to define key variables of physiological cortisol rhythm, and by pharmacokinetic modeling test whether modified-release hydrocortisone (MR-HC) can provide circadian cortisol profiles.
Setting: The study was performed at a Clinical Research Facility.
Design and Methods: Using data from a cross-sectional study in healthy reference subjects (n = 33), we defined parameters for the cortisol rhythm. We then tested MR-HC against immediate-release hydrocortisone in healthy volunteers (n = 28) in an open-label, randomized, single-dose, cross-over study. We compared profiles with physiological cortisol levels, and modeled an optimal treatment regimen.
Results: The key variables in the physiological cortisol profile included: peak 15.5 μg/dl (95% reference range 11.7–20.6), acrophase 0832 h (95% confidence interval 0759–0905), nadir less than 2 μg/dl (95% reference range 1.5–2.5), time of nadir 0018 h (95% confidence interval 2339–0058), and quiescent phase (below the mesor) 1943–0531 h. MR-HC 15 mg demonstrated delayed and sustained release with a mean (sem) maximum observed concentration of 16.6 (1.4) μg/dl at 7.41 (0.57) h after drug. Bioavailability of MR-HC 5, 10, and 15 mg was 100, 79, and 86% that of immediate-release hydrocortisone. Modeling suggested that MR-HC 15–20 mg at 2300 h and 10 mg at 0700 h could reproduce physiological cortisol levels.
Conclusion: By defining circadian rhythms and using modern formulation technology, it is possible to allow a more physiological circadian replacement of cortisol.