bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Governance beyond the State: Issues of Legitimacy in International Territorial Administration
Authors: Stahn Carsten 
Published: November 2005

AbstractInternational actors have been involved in the administration of territories since the 19th century. The early experiments of the League of Nations in territorial administration have broken new boundaries in this regard. The UN practice in the field of peacemaking, and the more recent engagements of the international community in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq, show that international administration is likely to be with us for some more time. Yet, until now, international practice has not yet developed satisfactory methods to adjust the exercise of public authority within the context of international administration to modern standards of international governance and public legitimacy. This article revisits the prevailing conceptions of authority in international territorial administration. It argues that contemporary models of international authority should be re-conceptualized in light of cosmopolitan principles, such as functional limitations to public authority, diversified accountability models and an origin-neutral application of governance standards.
On the Euclidean Minimum Spanning Tree Problem
Authors: Rajasekaran Sanguthevar 
Published: November 2005

Given a weighted graph G(V;E), a minimum spanning tree for G can be obtained in linear time using a randomized algorithm or nearly linear time using a deterministic algorithm. Given n points in the plane, we can construct a graph with these points as nodes and an edge between every pair of nodes. The weight on any edge is the Euclidean distance between the two points. Finding a minimum spanning tree for this graph is known as the Euclidean minimum spanning tree problem (EMSTP). The minimum spanning tree algorithms alluded to before will run in time O(n2) (or nearly O(n2)) on this graph. In this note we point out that it is possible to devise simple algorithms for EMSTP in k- dimensions (for any constant k) whose expected run time is O(n), under the assumption that the points are uniformly distributed in the space of interest.CR Categories: F2.2 Nonnumerical Algorithms and Problems; G.3 Probabilistic Algorithms
Skill of Medium-Range Hydrological Ensemble Predictions
Authors: Roulin Emmanuel , Vannitsem Stéphane 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
A hydrological ensemble prediction system, integrating a water balance model with ensemble precipitation forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Ensemble Prediction System (EPS), is evaluated for two Belgian catchments. The skill of streamflow forecast for high flows is analyzed using a 6-yr period of archived EPS forecasts. The probabilistic skill of this hydrological prediction system is much better than the one based on historical precipitation inputs and extends beyond 9 days for both catchments. The skill is larger in winter than in summer. The use of this approach for operational forecasts is briefly discussed.
Alternative splicing and protein function
Authors: Neverov AD , Artamonova II , Nurtdinov RN , Frishman D , Gelfand MS , Mironov AA 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
Background
Alternative splicing is a major mechanism of generating protein diversity in higher eukaryotes. Although at least half, and probably more, of mammalian genes are alternatively spliced, it was not clear, whether the frequency of alternative splicing is the same in different functional categories. The problem is obscured by uneven coverage of genes by ESTs and a large number of artifacts in the EST data.

Results
We have developed a method that generates possible mRNA isoforms for human genes contained in the EDAS database, taking into account the effects of nonsense-mediated decay and translation initiation rules, and a procedure for offsetting the effects of uneven EST coverage. Then we computed the number of mRNA isoforms for genes from different functional categories. Genes encoding ribosomal proteins and genes in the category "Small GTPase-mediated signal transduction" tend to have fewer isoforms than the average, whereas the genes in the category "DNA replication and chromosome cycle" have more isoforms than the average. Genes encoding proteins involved in protein-protein interactions tend to be alternatively spliced more often than genes encoding non-interacting proteins, although there is no significant difference in the number of isoforms of alternatively spliced genes.

Conclusion
Filtering for functional isoforms satisfying biological constraints and accountung for uneven EST coverage allowed us to describe differences in alternative splicing of genes from different functional categories. The observations seem to be consistent with expectations based on current biological knowledge: less isoforms for ribosomal and signal transduction proteins, and more alternative splicing of interacting and cell cycle proteins.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism 677C>T is associated with peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Pollex Rebecca L , Mamakeesick Mary , Zinman Bernard , Harris Stewart B , Hanley Anthony JG , Hegele Robert A 
Published: November 2005

Abstract

Background
Individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to develop peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the manifestation of extensive atherosclerosis throughout the lower extremities. One putative determinant of PAD is the 677C>T polymorphism in the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which has previously been found to associate with various diabetic complications including retinopathy, nephropathy, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible role for the MTHFR 677C>T gene polymorphism with PAD in subjects with type 2 diabetes from an isolated aboriginal Canadian population.

Methods
The 677C>T MTHFR gene polymorphism was genotyped in 138 subjects of Oji-Cree descent. Participants were selected from a community-wide survey that included PAD assessment by ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, and also intermittent claudication assessment by the Rose questionnaire.

Results

MTHFR 677T allele carriers had an increased risk of PAD with an odds ratio of 3.54 (95% CI 1.01, 12.4), P = 0.049, after adjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes, hypertension, current smoking habits, and use of insulin or oral treatment for diabetes. None of these additional co-variables was significantly associated with PAD. No association was found between MTHFR genotype and intermittent claudication.

Conclusion
The genetic influence of the MTHFR 677C>T genotype on diabetic PAD is modest, yet for the Oji-Cree it is a major risk factor in comparison to other traditional risk factors.
Malaria chemoprophylaxis and the serologic response to measles and diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis vaccines
Authors: Rosen Jennifer B , Breman Joel G , Manclark Charles R , Meade Bruce D , Collins William E , Lobel Hans O , Saliou Pierre , Roberts Jacquelin M , Campaoré Pierre , Miller Mark A 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundAcute malaria has been associated with a decreased antibody response to tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, meningococcal, salmonella, and Hib vaccines. Interest in giving malaria drug therapy and prevention at the time of childhood immunizations has increased greatly following recent trials of intermittent preventive therapy during infancy (IPTi), stimulating this re-analysis of unpublished data. The effect of malaria chemoprophylaxis on vaccine response was studied following administration of measles vaccines and diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis (DTP) vaccines.MethodsIn 1975, six villages divided into two groups of children ≤74 months of age from Burkina Faso, were assigned to receive amodiaquine hydrochloride chemoprophylaxis (CH+) every two weeks for seven months or no chemoprophylaxis (CH-). After five months, children in each group received either one dose of measles or two doses of DTP vaccines.ResultsFor recipients of the measles vaccine, the seroconversion rates in CH+ and CH- children, respectively, were 93% and 96% (P > 0.05). The seroresponse rates in CH+ and CH- children respectively, were 73% and 86% for diphtheria (P > 0.05) and 77% and 91% for tetanus toxoid (P > 0.05). In a subset analysis, in which only children who strictly adhered to chemoprophylaxis criteria were included, there were, likewise, no significant differences in seroconversion or seroresponse for measles, diphtheria, or tetanus vaccines (P > 0.05). While analysis for pertussis showed a 43% (CH+) and 67% (CH-) response (P < 0.05), analyses using logistic regression to control for sex, age, chemoprophylaxis, weight-for-height Z-score, and pre-vaccination geometric mean titer (GMT), demonstrated that chemoprophylaxis was not associated with a significantly different conversion rate following DTP and measles vaccines. Seven months of chemoprophylaxis decreased significantly the malaria IFA and ELISA GMTs in the CH+ group.ConclusionMalaria chemoprophylaxis prior to vaccination in malaria endemic settings did not improve or impair immunogenicity of DTP and measles vaccines. This is the first human study to look at the association between malaria chemoprophylaxis and the serologic response to whole-cell pertussis vaccine.
Evolution of subtype C HIV-1 Env in a slowly progressing Zambian infant
Authors: Zhang Hong , Hoffmann Federico , He Jun , He Xiang , Kankasa Chipepo , Ruprecht Ruth , West John T , Orti Guillermo , Wood Charles 
Published: November 2005

Abstract

Background
Given the high prevalence of mother to child infection, the development of a better understanding of African subtype C HIV-1 transmission and natural evolution is of significant importance. In this study, we genotypically and phenotypically characterized subtype C viruses isolated over a 67-month follow-up period from an in utero-infected Zambian infant. Changes in genotype and phenotype were correlated to alterations of the host humoral immune response.

Results
A comparison of baseline maternal and infant samples indicated that the infant sequences are monophyletic and contain a fraction of the diversity observed in the mother. This finding suggests that selective transmission occurred from mother to child. Peaks in infant HIV-1 Env genetic diversity and divergence were noted at 48 months, but were not correlated with changes in co-receptor usage or syncytia phenotype. Phylogenetic analyses revealed an accumulation of mutations over time, as well as the reappearance of ancestral lineages. In the infant C2-V4 region of Env, neither the median number of putative N-glycosylation sites or median sequence length showed consistent increases over time. The infant possessed neutralizing antibodies at birth, but these decreased in effectiveness or quantity with time. De novo humoral responses were detected in the child after 12 months, and corresponded with an increase in Env diversity.

Conclusion
Our study demonstrates a correlation between HIV-1 Env evolution and the humoral immune response. There was an increase in genetic diversification in the infant viral sequences after 12 months, which coincided with increases in neutralizing antibody titers. In addition, episodes of viral growth and successive immune reactions in the first 5–6 years were observed in this slow progressor infant with delayed onset of AIDS. Whether this pattern is typical of slow progressing subtype C HIV-1 infected infant needs to be further substantiated.
Development of a health care policy characterisation model based on use of private health insurance
Authors: Moorin Rachael E , Holman C D'Arcy J 
Published: November 2005

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this study was to develop a policy characterisation process based on measuring shifts in use of private health insurance (PHI) immediately following implementation of changes in federal health care policy.

Method
Population-based hospital morbidity data from 1980 to 2001 were used to produce trend lines in the annual proportions of public, privately insured and privately uninsured hospital separations in age-stratified subgroups. A policy characterisation model was developed using visual and statistical assessment of the trend lines associated with changes in federal health care policy.

Results
Of eight changes in federal health care policy, two (introduction of Medicare and Lifetime Health Cover) were directly associated with major changes in the trend lines; however, minor changes in trends were associated with several of the other federal policies. Three types of policy effects were characterised by our model: direction change, magnitude change and inhibition. Results from our model suggest that a policy of Lifetime Health Cover, with a sanction for late adoption of PHI, was immediately successful in changing the private: public mix. The desired effect of the 30% rebate was immediate only in the oldest age group (70+ years), however, introduction of the lifetime health cover and limitations in the model restricted the ability to determine whether or if the rebate had a delayed effect at younger ages.

Conclusion
An outcome-based policy characterisation model is useful in evaluating immediate effects of changes in health care policy.
Chemokine receptors Ccr1, Ccr2, and Ccr5 mediate neutrophil migration to postischemic tissue
Authors: Reichel Christoph A , Khandoga Andrej , Anders Hans-Joachim , Schlöndorff Detlef , Luckow Bruno , Krombach Fritz 
Published: November 2005

AbstractLeukocyte infiltration of reerfused tissue is a key event in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion. However, the role of chemokine receptors Ccr1, Ccr2, and Ccr5 for each single step of the postischemic recruitment process of leukocytes has not yet been characterized. Leukocyte rolling, firm adherence, transendothelial, and extravascular migration were analyzed in the cremaster muscle of anaesthetized C57BL/6 mice using near-infrared reflected light oblique transillumination microscopy. Prior to 30 min of ischemia as well as at 5, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after onset of reperfusion, migration parameters were determined in wild-type, Ccr1−/−, Ccr2−/−, and Ccr5−/− mice. Sham-operated wild-type mice without ischemia were used as controls. No differences were detected in numbers of rolling leukocytes among groups. In contrast, the number of firmly adherent leukocytes was increased significantly in wild-type mice as compared with sham-operated mice throughout the entire reperfusion phase. Already after 5 min of reperfusion, this increase was reduced significantly in Ccr1−/− and Ccr5−/− mice, whereas only in Ccr2−/− mice, was adherence attenuated significantly at 120 min after onset of reperfusion. Furthermore, after 120 min of reperfusion, the number of transmigrated leukocytes (&gt;80% Ly-6G+ neutrophils) was elevated in wild-type mice as compared with sham-operated animals. This elevation was significantly lower in Ccr1−/−, Ccr2−/−, and Ccr5−/− mice. Leukocyte extravascular migration distances were comparable among groups. In conclusion, these in vivo data demonstrate that Ccr1, Ccr2, and Ccr5 mediate the postischemic recruitment of neutrophils through effects on intravascular adherence and subsequent transmigration.
Impaired NADPH oxidase activity in Rac2-deficient murine neutrophils does not result from defective translocation of p47phox and p67phox and can be rescued by exogenous arachidonic acid
Authors: Kim Chaekyun , Dinauer Mary C 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
Rac2 is a hematopoietic-specific Rho-GTPase that plays a stimulus-specific role in regulating reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activation and other functional responses in neutrophils. In this study, rac2-/- neutrophils were shown to have significantly decreased NADPH oxidase activity and actin remodeling in response to exogenous arachidonic acid (AA), as previously observed for phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) as agonists. PMA-, fMLP-, or AA-induced translocation of p47phox and p67phox to the plasma membrane was not impaired in rac2-- neutrophils. Combined stimulation of rac2-/- neutrophils with exogenous AA and PMA had a synergistic effect on NADPH oxidase activity, and superoxide production increased to a level that was at least as high as wild-type cells and had no effect on fMLP-elicited enzyme activity. Membrane translocation of p47phox and p67phox as well as Rac1 activation was not increased further by combined PMA and AA stimulation. Inhibitor studies were consistent with important roles for phorbol ester-activated protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms and an atypical isoform, PKCζ, in superoxide production by wild-type and rac2-/- neutrophils stimulated with AA and PMA. In addition, PMA-stimulated release of AA and cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 expression in rac2-/- neutrophils were similar to wild-type, suggesting that deficient AA production by PMA-stimulated rac2-/- neutrophils does not explain the effect of exogenous AA on oxidase activity. Although not required for translocation of p47phox and p67phox, Rac2 is necessary for optimal activity of the assembled oxidase complex, an effect that can be replaced by exogenous AA, which may act directly or via an exogenous AA-induced mediator.
Effect of dantrolene on lipid peroxidation, glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzyme activities in experimental otitis media with effusion in guinea pigs
Authors: Ucuncu H , Taysi S , Aktan B , Buyukokuroglu M E , Elmastas M 
Published: November 2005

The aims of our study were to assess whether the increased oxidative stress in experimental otitis media with effusion (OME) induced by histamine was reflected in erythrocytes and middle ear effusion fluid by lipid peroxidation; to survey the alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities in experimental OME; and to determine the effect of dantrolene on this oxidative stress. Erythrocyte and middle ear effusion malondialdehyde (MDA) level, erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GRD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were measured in three groups of seven guinea pigs, 3 hours after injection of 0.1 mL of histamine (or saline) into the middle ear in guinea pigs with OME (experimental group), in a dantrolene sodium group and in a control group. Erythrocyte and effusion MDA levels in the dantrolene group were significantly lower than those of the experimental group. Erythrocyte GSH-Px, GST, GRD activities, and GSH levels were significantly higher in the dantrolene group than in the experimental group. Dantrolene sodium decreased the erythrocyte and effusion MDA levels, on the other hand, it increased the GSH and GSH-dependent enzymes. These findings suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in histamine-induced OME. Pretreatment with dantrolene sodium increases antioxidant enzymes activities and decreases formation of MDA, the indicator of lipid peroxidation, in histamine induced OME.
Utility of Prostate-Specific Antigen Kinetics in Addition to Clinical Factors in the Selection of Patients for Salvage Local Therapy
Authors: Lee Andrew K. , D'Amico Anthony V. 
Published: November 2005

A detectable and rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after radical prostatectomy or a rising PSA above the nadir value after radiation therapy may represent a local failure, distant failure, or both. Determining the site or sites of failure is critical for selecting the appropriate salvage therapy. Nevertheless, although PSA failure precedes clinically evident failure by several years, determining the source of the biochemical failure is often not possible using currently available diagnostic studies. Selecting the optimal therapeutic approach may be guided by the initial clinical factors (eg, T-category, PSA, biopsy Gleason score). If the patient has had a radical prostatectomy, then the pathologic outcomes of the surgery (eg, pathologic T-category and prostatectomy Gleason score, nodal and margin status) may provide further information. Beyond pretreatment clinical and post-treatment pathologic factors, PSA kinetics, and specifically a pretreatment PSA velocity > 2 ng/mL/year, an interval to PSA failure < 3 years and a post-treatment PSA doubling time < 3 months place a man at increased risk for metastases and subsequent prostate cancer–specific mortality, making these men poor candidates for local-only salvage therapy. Therefore, the optimal candidate for local-only salvage therapy is a man whose pretreatment PSA velocity was 2 ng/mL/year or less, interval to PSA failure exceeds 3 years, and post-treatment PSA doubling time is at least 12 months, and who did not have biopsy or prostatectomy Gleason score of 8 to 10 or seminal vesicle or lymph node involvement.
Overexpression of the ETS-Related Gene, ERG, Predicts a Worse Outcome in Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Normal Karyotype: A Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study
Authors: Marcucci Guido , Baldus Claudia D. , Ruppert Amy S. , Radmacher Michael D. , Mrózek Krzysztof , Whitman Susan P. , Kolitz Jonathan E. , Edwards Colin G. , Vardiman James W. , Powell Bayard L. , Baer Maria R. , Moore Joseph O. , Perrotti Danilo , Caligiuri Michael A. , Carroll Andrew J. , Larson Richard A. , de la Chapelle Albert , Bloomfield Clara D. 
Published: November 2005

Purpose To test the prognostic significance of ETS-related gene (ERG) expression in cytogenetically normal primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients and Methods Pretreatment blood samples from 84 cytogenetically normal AML patients aged less than 60 years, who were characterized for BAALC expression, FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD), and MLL partial tandem duplication (PTD) and uniformly treated on Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9621 protocol, were analyzed for ERG expression by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Patients were divided into quartiles according to ERG levels and were compared for clinical outcome. High-density oligonucleotide arrays were used to identify genes differentially expressed between high and low ERG expressers. Results With a median follow-up of 5.7 years, patients with the upper 25% of ERG expression values had a worse cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR; P < .001) and overall survival (OS; P = .011) than the remaining patients. In a multivariable analysis, high ERG expression (P < .001) and the presence of MLL PTD (P = .027) predicted worse CIR. With regard to OS, an interaction was observed between expression of ERG and BAALC (P = .013), with ERG overexpression predicting shorter survival only in low BAALC expressers (P = .002). ERG overexpression was an independent prognostic factor even when the unfavorable group of FLT3 ITD patients lacking an FLT3 wild-type allele was included. High ERG expression was associated with upregulation of 112 expressed-sequenced tags and named genes, many of which are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Conclusion ERG overexpression in AML patients with normal cytogenetics predicts an adverse clinical outcome and seems to be associated with a specific molecular signature.