bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Composition and environment of floodplain forests of northern Missouri
Authors: Dollar Kathleen E. , Pallardy Stephen G. , Garrett H. Gene
Published: March 2009

Trees and their environment were studied in floodplain forests in the glaciated region of northern Missouri. Ordination of tree vegetation samples by detrended correspondence analysis indicated a primary vegetation continuum of decreasing Acersaccharinum L. and increasing Caryalaciniosa (Michx. f.) Loud with several other species associated with secondary vegetation gradients, TWINSPAN classification of tree vegetation identified three groups of plots that were dominated by A. saccharinum in varying degrees of association with other species, most importantly Populusdeltoides Bartr. and Ulmusamericana L.; two groups dominated by species of Carya and Ulmus; and two groups where dominance was more broadly distributed among lowland Quercus spp., U. americana, Aesculusglabra Willd., Fraxinuspennsylvanica Marsh., Platanusoccidentalis L., and Betulanigra L. Importance of A. saccharinum was greatest in plots where the leading dominants were young, while Quercus and Carya spp. were more common in plots with older leading dominants, suggesting that the predominant environmental influence on vegetation composition was frequency and severity of disturbance associated with flooding. Plots with younger dominant trees had lower species richness and diversity than plots with older dominants. Higher soil pH and slough location were also positively correlated with A. saccharinum importance, and Acernegundo L. was more frequent in sloughs. Analysis of overstory and understory relationships indicated that A. saccharinum is likely to remain important in the immediate future in many forests currently dominated by this species because of its abundance in subcanopy positions. Potential canopy trees of F. pennsylvanica, C. laciniosa, Caryacordiformis (Wangenh.) K. Koch, and Celtisoccidentalis L. may, in the absence of major flooding disturbance, cause long-term shifts in composition in some of these forests. While Ulmus spp. are abundant in the understory, they are unlikely to become important canopy species because of disease.
Electrolyte leakage from fine roots of conifer seedlings: a rapid index of plant vitality following cold storage
Authors: McKay H.M.
Published: March 2009

Two-year-old Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Cam), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), and Japanese larch (Larixleptolepis (Sieb. & Zucc.) Gord.) were cold-stored at 1 °C for 1 to 6 months. In April at the end of the cold storage period, root growth potential and electrolyte leakage from the fine roots were assessed and related to plant survival and height growth. After cold storage, seedlings were planted on a second-rotation, cultivated site. In two experiments planted in 1989 and 1990, fine-root electrolyte leakage was closely correlated with survival and height growth. Fine-root leakage has also practical advantages over other available methods of assessing plant vitality after cold storage.
Photosynthesis, water relations, and leaf morphology of xeric versus mesic Quercusrubra ecotypes in central Pennsylvania in relation to moisture stress
Authors: Kubiske Mark E. , Abrams Marc D.
Published: March 2009

Differences in photosynthesis and water relations during drought, and in leaf morphology, were evaluated in 1-year-old greenhouse-grown Quercusrubra L. seedlings from neighboring mesic and xeric sites in central Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Xeric seedlings had higher photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance to water vapor than mesic seedlings during well-watered conditions. During a drought cycle, xeric seedlings maintained positive net photosynthesis at significantly lower predawn leaf water potential and relative water content. Mesic seedlings exhibited greater intrasource variation in gas exchange during drought, which may be related to reduced selection pressure for drought tolerance characteristics on the mesic site or to gene flow from the adjacent, upslope xeric site. Nonstomatal limitations to photosynthesis increased during drought and accounted for 98% of the reduction in photosynthesis as both sources approached incipient wilting. Xeric seedlings exhibited less nonstomatal inhibition of photosynthesis during early and midstages of drought, suggesting a greater tolerance of the photosynthetic apparatus for tissue water deficit. Xeric seedlings also exhibited the expected leaf morphological characteristics, which included smaller leaf area and greater leaf thickness and specific leaf mass. These results indicate that Q. rubra growing on adjacent sites in central Pennsylvania exhibit ecotypic differences in ecophysiology that are consistent with site moisture conditions.
Morphological features as indicators of maturity in acclimatized Pinuspinaster from different invitro origins
Authors: Monteuuis Olivier , Dumas Elisabeth
Published: March 2009

Acclimatized Pinuspinaster Ait. plants originating from five different invitro culture origins were compared morphologically. After one growing season in the greenhouse, the plants displayed the following order of maturity (from juvenile to mature): (i) young seedlings; (ii) plants produced by adventitious budding from cotyledons; (iii) plants derived from micrografted meristems of 2-year-old seedlings; (iv) plants derived from micrografted meristems of a 13-year-old mature clone; and (v) plants derived from microcuttings of axillary shoots of the same 13-year-old mature clone. Plants derived from micrografts exhibited substantial variability with regard to morphological characteristics. This variability included some striking demonstrations of morphological rejuvenation among the mature clone micrografts which, on average, showed more juvenile traits than the microcuttings of the same clone.
Baldcypress height–diameter equations and their prediction confidence intervals
Authors: Parresol Bernard R.
Published: March 2009

Height–diameter relationships are an important component in yield estimation, stand description, and damage appraisals. A nonlinear exponential function used extensively in the northwest United States was chosen for bald cypress (Taxodiumdistichum (L.) Rich.). Homogeneity and normality of residuals were examined, and the function as well as the mean and individual prediction confidence bands were plotted. The inclusion of stand basal area as an additional independent variable provided a better fit to the data. The paper is concluded with a section on construction and use of simple and joint confidence intervals about the mean and individual predictions from the nonlinear regression.
ON THE COLOUR FACTOR RATIO CA/CF
Authors: MUKHERJEE NEE BANERJEE S. , BANERJEE S. N.
Published: March 2009

From the fractal properties of the hadron suggested by the statistical model, the colour factor ratio [Formula: see text] has been derived and is found to be in exact agreement with the corresponding QCD prediction.
AN IMPROVEMENT OF JENSEN'S INEQUALITY WITH SOME APPLICATIONS
Authors: Hussain Sabir , Pečarić Josip
Published: March 2009

The improved form of Jensen,s Inequality with applications by Weighted means is obtained.
Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptors in HCV‐Related Infection
Authors: Dharancy Sébastien , Lemoine Maud , Mathurin Philippe , Serfaty Lawrence , Dubuquoy Laurent
Published: March 2009

The topic of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors has been developed in the field of hepatology allowing envisaging therapeutic strategies for the most frequent chronic liver diseases such as chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). PPARs contribute to wide physiological processes within the liver such as lipid/glucid metabolisms, inflammatory response, cell differentiation, and cell cycle. In vitro experiments and animal studies showed that PPARα discloses anti‐inflammatory property, and PPARγ discloses anti‐inflammatory, antifibrogenic, and antiproliferative properties in the liver. Experimental and human studies showed impaired PPARs expression and function during HCV infection. The available nonhepatotoxic agonists of PPARs may constitute a progress in the therapeutic management of patients chronically infected with HCV.
The “Top-Down” Approach to the Evaluation of Children with Febrile Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Pohl Hans G. , Belman A. Barry
Published: March 2009

The evaluation of children presenting with urinary tract infection (UTI) has long entailed sonography and cystography to identify all urological abnormalities that might contribute to morbidity. The identification of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has been of primary concern since retrospective studies from the 1930s to 1960s established a strong association between VUR, recurrent UTI, and renal cortical scarring. It has been proposed that all VUR carries a risk for renal scarring and, therefore, all VUR should be identified and treated. We will not discuss the controversies surrounding VUR treatment in this review focusing instead on a new paradigm for the evaluation of the child with UTI that is predicated on identifying those at risk for scarring who are most deserving of further evaluation by cystography.
CFD Simulation of Thermal‐Hydraulic Benchmark V1000CT‐2 Using ANSYS CFX
Authors: Höhne Thomas
Published: March 2009

Plant measured data from VVER‐1000 coolant mixing experiments were used within the OECD/NEA
and AER coupled code benchmarks for light water reactors to test and validate computational fluid
dynamic (CFD) codes. The task is to compare the various calculations with measured data, using
specified boundary conditions and core power distributions. The experiments, which are provided for
CFD validation, include single loop cooling down or heating‐up by disturbing the heat transfer in the
steam generator through the steam valves at low reactor power and with all main coolant pumps in
operation. CFD calculations have been performed using a numerical grid model of 4.7 million
tetrahedral elements. The Best Practice Guidelines in using CFD in nuclear reactor safety applications
has been used. Different advanced turbulence models were utilized in the numerical simulation. The
results show a clear sector formation of the affected loop at the downcomer, lower plenum and core
inlet, which corresponds to the measured values. The maximum local values of the relative temperature
rise in the calculation are in the same range of the experiment. Due to this result, it is now possible to
improve the mixing models which are usually used in system codes.
Mathematical modelling of ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation
Authors: Fradkin Larissa Ju , Zalipaev Victor , Gridin Dmitri
Published: March 2009

High-frequency asymptotics have been used at our Centre to develop codes for modelling pulse propagation and scattering in the near-field of the ultrasonic transducers used in NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation), particularly of walls of nuclear reactors. The codes are hundreds of times faster than the direct numerical codes but no less accurate.
The
FTO
Gene Is Associated With an Atherogenic Lipid Profile and Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Doney Alex S.F. , Dannfald Jennifer , Kimber Charlotte H. , Donnelly Louise A. , Pearson Ewan , Morris Andrew D. , Palmer Colin N.A.
Published: March 2009

Background—

Common variation in the fat mass and obesity (
FTO
)–related gene is associated with increased body fat and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that this would also associate with metabolic phenotypes of insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Methods and Results—

FTO
rs9939609 genotype was determined in 4897 patients with type 2 diabetes in the prospective Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research Study in Tayside Scotland study. The A allele was associated with lower plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean difference, 0.03 mmol/L;
P
=0.008), higher triglycerides (0.1 mmol/L,
P
=0.007), higher atherogenic index of plasma (0.03,
P
=0.003), and, as expected, increased body mass index (0.77 kg/m
2
,
P
=8.8�10
−6
). During a mean follow-up of 3.6 years, the A allele was also associated with increased risk (hazard ratio, 2.36; CI, 1.49 to 3.74;
P
=0.0002) of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction (total of 324 events) in a model, including baseline age, gender, prevalent myocardial infarction, smoking status, statin, and insulin use. This association diminished but remained significant when obesity-related traits, such as body mass index, glycohemoglobin, and lipid parameters, were also included (hazard ratio, 2.01; CI, 1.18 to 3.45,
P
=0.011). There was a strong interaction of
FTO
genotype and statin use and cardiovascular outcome (
P
=0.001), such that cardiovascular morbidity and mortality was completely abrogated in individuals who were prescribed statins.

Conclusion—

The increased fat mass in carriers of the A allele of rs9939609 of
FTO
is associated not only with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, but also with an increase in atherogenic lipid profile and myocardial infarction in these patients. This variant may, therefore, in the future contribute to more effective targeting of specific preventative therapy.
Molecular Imaging of Innate Immune Cell Function in Transplant Rejection
Authors: Christen Thomas , Nahrendorf Matthias , Wildgruber Moritz , Swirski Filip K. , Aikawa Elena , Waterman Peter , Shimizu Koichi , Weissleder Ralph , Libby Peter
Published: March 2009

Background—

Clinical detection of transplant rejection by repeated endomyocardial biopsy requires catheterization and entails risks. Recently developed molecular and cellular imaging techniques that visualize macrophage host responses could provide a noninvasive alternative. Yet, which macrophage functions may provide useful markers for detecting parenchymal rejection remains uncertain.

Methods and Results—

We transplanted isografts from B6 mice and allografts from Balb/c mice heterotopically into B6 recipients. In this allograft across major histocompatability barriers, the transplanted heart undergoes predictable progressive rejection, leading to graft failure after 1 week. During rejection, crucial macrophage functions, including phagocytosis and release of proteases, render these abundant innate immune cells attractive imaging targets. Two or 6 days after transplantation, we injected either a fluorescent protease sensor or a magnetofluorescent phagocytosis marker. Histological and flow cytometric analyses established that macrophages function as the major cellular signal source. In vivo, we obtained a 3-dimensional functional map of macrophages showing higher phagocytic uptake of magnetofluorescent nanoparticles during rejection using magnetic resonance imaging and higher protease activity in allografts than in isografts using tomographic fluorescence. We further assessed the sensitivity of imaging to detect the degree of rejection. In vivo imaging of macrophage response correlated closely with gradually increasing allograft rejection and attenuated rejection in recipients with a genetically impaired immune response resulting from a deficiency in recombinase-1 (RAG-1
−/−
).

Conclusions—

Molecular imaging reporters of either phagocytosis or protease activity can detect cardiac allograft rejection noninvasively, promise to enhance the search for novel tolerance-inducing strategies, and have translational potential.
Kidney Androgen-Regulated Protein Transgenic Mice Show Hypertension and Renal Alterations Mediated by Oxidative Stress
Authors: Tornavaca O. , Pascual G. , Barreiro M.L. , Grande M.T. , Carretero A. , Riera M. , Garcia-Arumi E. , Bardaji B. , González-Núñez M. , Montero M.A. , López-Novoa J.M. , Meseguer A.
Published: March 2009

Background—

Kidney androgen-regulated protein (KAP), a proximal tubule androgen-regulated gene, codes for a protein of unknown function.

Methods and Results—

To investigate the consequences of KAP overexpression in kidney, we produced KAP transgenic mice and performed microarray expression analyses in kidneys of control and transgenic males. Downregulation of the androgen-sensitive Cyp4A14 monooxygenase gene in KAP transgenic mice prompted us to analyze blood pressure levels, and we observed that transgenic mice were hypertensive. Inhibition of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid synthesis by
N
-hydroxy-
N
′-(4-
n
-butyl-2-methylphenyl) formamidine (HET0016) reduced the increased 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid levels in urine and normalized arterial pressure in transgenic mice, as did the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin. Increased oxidative stress in transgenic mice was demonstrated by (1) enhanced excretion of urinary markers of oxidative stress, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, and thiobarbituric acid–reacting substances; (2) augmented mitochondrial DNA damage and malondialdehyde levels in kidneys; and (3) diminished catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity in transgenic kidneys. Mice exhibited renal defects that included focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, proteinuria, glycosuria, and fibrosis.

Conclusions—

Taken together, these results indicate that KAP expression is critical for cardiovascular-renal homeostasis maintenance and that hypertension is associated with increased oxidative stress. This is the first report showing that overexpression of an androgen-regulated, proximal tubule–specific gene induces hypertension. These observations may shed light on the molecular pathophysiology of gender differences in the prevalence and severity of hypertension and chronic renal disease.
Fatal and Nonfatal Cardiovascular Disease and the Use of Therapies for Secondary Prevention in a Rural Region of India
Authors: Joshi Rohina , Chow Clara K. , Raju P. Krishnam , Raju Rama , Reddy K. Srinath , MacMahon Stephen , Lopez Alan D. , Neal Bruce
Published: March 2009

Background—

The rate of cardiovascular disease is widely considered to be increasing throughout India. Precise and reliable data on fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular disease, however, are few, and little is known about the use of preventive therapies. This is particularly true for rural regions.

Methods and Results—

Data were collected from 53 villages in the Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh. Mortality data were obtained from a verbal autopsy-based mortality surveillance system during a 12-month period in 2003 to 2004. The prevalence of nonfatal cardiovascular disease and the use of preventive therapies were estimated from a stratified random sample of 4535 adults (≥30 years of age) in 2005. Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of mortality, accounting for at least 32% of all deaths. The average age at cardiovascular death was 65 years, and 51% of all cardiovascular deaths occurred in patients <70 years of age. Among adults, the prevalence of coronary heart disease was estimated to be 4.8% (95% CI, 4.1 to 5.5), and the prevalence of cerebrovascular disease was estimated at 2.0% (95% CI, 1.5 to 2.4). Among individuals with either diagnosis, 14% (95% CI, 10 to 18) reported taking aspirin, 41% (95% CI, 36 to 47) took a blood pressure-lowering medication, and 5% (95% CI, 3 to 7) reported using a cholesterol-lowering medication.

Conclusion—

This region has a large disease burden attributable to cardiovascular disease with significant underuse of proven, low-cost preventive medications.
Baseline Risk of Major Bleeding in Non–ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Subherwal Sumeet , Bach Richard G. , Chen Anita Y. , Gage Brian F. , Rao Sunil V. , Newby L. Kristin , Wang Tracy Y. , Gibler W. Brian , Ohman E. Magnus , Roe Matthew T. , Pollack Charles V. , Peterson Eric D. , Alexander Karen P.
Published: March 2009

Background—

Treatments for non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) reduce ischemic events but increase bleeding. Baseline prediction of bleeding risk can complement ischemic risk prediction for optimization of NSTEMI care; however, existing models are not well suited for this purpose.

Methods and Results—

We developed (n=71 277) and validated (n=17 857) a model that identifies 8 independent baseline predictors of in-hospital major bleeding among community-treated NSTEMI patients enrolled in the Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable angina patients Suppress ADverse outcomes with Early implementation of the ACC/AHA guidelines (CRUSADE) Quality Improvement Initiative. Model performance was tested by
c
statistics in the derivation and validation cohorts and according to postadmission treatment (ie, invasive and antithrombotic therapy). The CRUSADE bleeding score (range 1 to 100 points) was created by assignment of weighted integers that corresponded to the coefficient of each variable. The rate of major bleeding increased by bleeding risk score quintiles: 3.1% for those at very low risk (score ≤20); 5.5% for those at low risk (score 21–30); 8.6% for those at moderate risk (score 31–40); 11.9% for those at high risk (score 41–50); and 19.5% for those at very high risk (score >50;
P
trend
<0.001). The
c
statistics for the major bleeding model (derivation=0.72 and validation=0.71) and risk score (derivation=0.71 and validation=0.70) were similar. The
c
statistics for the model among treatment subgroups were as follows: ≥2 antithrombotics=0.72; <2 antithrombotics=0.73; invasive approach=0.73; conservative approach=0.68.

Conclusions—

The CRUSADE bleeding score quantifies risk for in-hospital major bleeding across all postadmission treatments, which enhances baseline risk assessment for NSTEMI care.
Cardiovascular Effects of Physiological and Standard Sex Steroid Replacement Regimens in Premature Ovarian Failure
Authors: Langrish Jeremy P. , Mills Nicholas L. , Bath Louise E. , Warner Pamela , Webb David J. , Kelnar Christopher J. , Critchley Hilary O.D. , Newby David E. , Wallace W. Hamish B.
Published: March 2009

Current hormone replacement therapy may not optimize cardiovascular health in women with premature ovarian failure. We compared the effects of physiological and standard sex steroid replacement regimens on cardiovascular health in these women. In an open-label, randomized, controlled crossover trial, 34 women with premature ovarian failure were randomly assigned to 4-week cycles of physiological (transdermal estradiol and vaginal progesterone) and standard (oral ethinylestradiol and norethisterone) therapy for 12 months. Cardiovascular health was assessed by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and renal and humoral factors. Eighteen women (19 to 39 years of age) completed the 28-month protocol. Both regimens caused similar suppression of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone and provided symptom relief. In comparison with the standard regimen, physiological sex steroid replacement caused lower mean 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressures throughout the 12-month treatment period (ANOVA;
P
≤0.0001 for both): systolic blood pressure was 7.3 mm Hg (95% CI: 2.5 to 12.0 mm Hg) and diastolic was 7.4 mm Hg (95% CI: 3.9 to 11.0 mm Hg) lower at 12 months. Although there were no differences in arterial stiffness, physiological sex steroid replacement reduced plasma angiotensin II (ANOVA;
P
=0.007) and serum creatinine (ANOVA;
P
=0.015) concentrations without altering plasma aldosterone concentrations. In comparison with a standard regimen, physiological sex steroid replacement in women with premature ovarian failure results in lower blood pressure, better renal function, and less activation of the renin-angiotensin system. These findings have major implications for the future cardiovascular health of young women who require long-term sex steroid replacement therapy.
On the Proper Use of Satellite-Derived Leaf Area Index in Climate Modeling
Authors: Ge Jianjun
Published: March 2009

Satellite-observed leaf area index (LAI) is increasingly being used in climate modeling. In common land surface models, LAI is specified for the vegetated part only. In contrast, satellite LAI is defined for the total area including both vegetated and nonvegetated fractions. Some recent modeling studies and model developments have not noticed this difference, which resulted in improper use of satellite LAI. This paper clarified this issue. A sensitivity test was carried out using a regional model to investigate the impacts of LAI definitions on simulated climates. This study showed that use of satellite LAI without considering the inconsistency in definition caused much smaller LAI values in the model. As a result, partitioning of surface energy into latent and sensible heat fluxes, as well as the model-simulated precipitation, was affected substantially. Overall, improper use of satellite LAI increased the model biases in simulated precipitation.
The Diabatic Contour-Advective Semi-Lagrangian Algorithms for the Spherical Shallow Water Equations
Authors: Mohebalhojeh Ali R. , Dritschel David G.
Published: March 2009

The diabatic contour-advective semi-Lagrangian (DCASL) algorithm is extended to the thermally forced shallow water equations on the sphere. DCASL rests on the partitioning of potential vorticity (PV) to adiabatic and diabatic parts solved, respectively, by contour advection and a grid-based conventional algorithm. The presence of PV in the source term for diabatic PV makes the shallow water equations distinct from the quasigeostrophic model previously studied. To address the more rapid generation of finescale structures in diabatic PV, two new features are added to DCASL: (i) the use of multiple sets of contours with successively finer contour intervals and (ii) the application of the underlying method of DCASL at a higher level to diabatic PV. That is, the diabatic PV is allowed to have both contour and grid parts. The added features make it possible to make the grid part of diabatic PV arbitrarily small and thus pave the way for a fully Lagrangian DCASL in the presence of forcing.

The DCASL algorithms are constructed using a standard semi-Lagrangian (SL) algorithm to solve for the grid-based part of diabatic PV. The 25-day time evolution of an unstable midlatitude jet triggered by the action of thermal forcing is used as a test case to examine and compare the properties of the DCASL algorithms with a pure SL algorithm for PV. Diagnostic measures of vortical and unbalanced activity as well as of the relative strength of the grid and contour parts of the solution for PV indicate that the superiority of contour advection can be maintained even in the presence of strong, nonsmooth forcing.
Accounting for Model Errors in Ensemble Data Assimilation
Authors: Li Hong , Kalnay Eugenia , Miyoshi Takemasa , Danforth Christopher M.
Published: March 2009

This study addresses the issue of model errors with the ensemble Kalman filter. Observations generated from the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis fields are assimilated into a low-resolution AGCM. Without an effort to account for model errors, the performance of the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF) is seriously degraded when compared with the perfect-model scenario. Several methods to account for model errors, including model bias and system noise, are investigated. The results suggest that the two pure bias removal methods considered [Dee and Da Silva (DdSM) and low dimensional (LDM)] are not able to beat the multiplicative or additive inflation schemes used to account for the effects of total model errors. In contrast, when the bias removal methods are augmented by additive noise representing random errors (DdSM+ and LDM+), they outperform the pure inflation schemes. Of these augmented methods, the LDM+, where the constant bias, diurnal bias, and state-dependent errors are estimated from a large sample of 6-h forecast errors, gives the best results. The advantage of the LDM+ over other methods is larger in data-sparse regions than in data-dense regions.
Western Soldiers and the Protection of Local Civilians in UN Peacekeeping Operations: Is a Nationalist Orientation in the Armed Forces Hindering Our Preparedness to Fight?
Authors: Blocq Daniel
Published: March 2009

Mandates for UN peacekeeping operations in Africa have become more robust since the delivery of the Brahimi Report in 2000. Contrary to before, soldiers are now unmistakably expected to use force to protect local civilians in a number of UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. While this expectation of force may be celebrated, the question rises whether peacekeeping soldiers can meet the expectation. Are they ready to kill and risk their lives to protect local civilians? This question is especially pertinent to Western armed forces, which have contributed little to post-millennium UN peace operations in Africa but are explicitly called upon by the UN administration to contribute to the robust peacekeeping missions. This article discusses the question of moral and psychological preparedness in light of the possible tension between the nationalist orientation in Western armed forces and the cosmopolitan demands of UN peacekeeping operations in Africa.
Effects of Relationship Motivation, Partner Familiarity, and Alcohol on Women's Risky Sexual Decision Making
Authors: Zawacki Tina , Norris Jeanette , Hessler Danielle M. , Morrison Diane M. , Stoner Susan A. , George William H. , Davis Kelly Cue , Abdallah Devon A.
Published: March 2009

This experiment examined the effects of women's relationship motivation, partner familiarity, and alcohol consumption on sexual decision making. Women completed an individual difference measure of relationship motivation and then were randomly assigned to partner familiarity condition (low, high) and to alcohol consumption condition (high dose, low dose, no alcohol, placebo). Then women read and projected themselves into a scenario of a sexual encounter. Relationship motivation and partner familiarity interacted with intoxication to influence primary appraisals of relationship potential. Participants' primary and secondary relationship appraisals mediated the effects of women's relationship motivation, partner familiarity, and intoxication on condom negotiation, sexual decision abdication, and unprotected sex intentions. These findings support a cognitive mediation model of women's sexual decision making and identify how individual and situational factors interact to shape alcohol's influences on cognitive appraisals that lead to risky sexual decisions. This knowledge can inform empirically based risky sex interventions.
Mutations in VLDLR as a Cause for Autosomal Recessive Cerebellar Ataxia With Mental Retardation (Dysequilibrium Syndrome)
Authors: Boycott Kym M. , Bonnemann Carsten , Herz Joachim , Neuert Stephanie , Beaulieu Chandree , Scott James N. , Venkatasubramanian Anuradha , Parboosingh Jillian S.
Published: March 2009

Dysequilibrium syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous condition that combines autosomal recessive, nonprogressive cerebellar ataxia with mental retardation. Here, we report the first patient heterozygous for 2 novel mutations in VLDLR. An 18-month-old girl presented with significant hypotonia, global developmental delay, and truncal and peripheral ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated hypoplasia of the inferior cerebellar vermis and hemispheres, small pons, and a simplified cortical sulcation pattern. Sequence analysis of the VLDLR gene identified a nonsense and missense mutation. Six mutations in VLDLR have now been identified in 5 families with a phenotype characterized by moderate-to-profound mental retardation, delayed ambulation, truncal and peripheral ataxia, and occasional seizures. Neuroanatomically, the loss-of-function effect of the different mutations is indistinguishable. VLDLR-associated cerebellar hypoplasia is emerging as a panethnic, clinically, and molecularly well-defined genetic syndrome.
Neurological Problems of Famous Musicians: The Classical Genre
Authors: Newmark Jonathan
Published: March 2009

Neurological histories of great musicians allow for a unique perspective on music physiology. Bedřich Smetana's autobiographical string quartet ends with the musical equivalent of tinnitus in the fourth movement, rendering the youthful and passionate themes of earlier movements moot as the piece ends depicting his ultimately fatal disease, neurosyphilis. Dmitri Shostakovich survived the censorship of Joseph Stalin's apparatchiks but suffered a prolonged form of paralysis attributable to slowly progressive motor neuron disease, although the viola sonata he wrote on his deathbed has become standard repertoire. Glenn Gould was a hypochondriacal pianist with obsessive-compulsive disorder and suspected Asperger syndrome. Vissarion Shebalin and (Ira) Randall Thompson had strokes followed by aphasia without amusia. Domenico Scarlatti provides an example of how even great composers must alter their technical expectations depending upon the skills and body habitus of their chief patrons. The focal dystonia afflicting Leon Fleisher and Gary Graffman catalyzed the discipline of performing arts medicine.
Management of Prolonged Seizures and Status Epilepticus in Childhood: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sofou Kalliopi , Kristjánsdóttir Ragnhildur , Papachatzakis Nikolaos E. , Ahmadzadeh Amir , Uvebrant Paul
Published: March 2009

Pediatric prolonged seizures and status epilepticus are medical emergencies necessitating immediate life-support and seizure-control measures. A systematic review of published data on the management of prolonged seizures and status epilepticus showed that buccal midazolam was significantly more effective than rectal diazepam, reaching a seizure-control rate of 70% and recurrence rate of 8%. Intranasal lorazepam was as effective as intramuscular paraldehyde in a cost-restrained setting. In refractory status epilepticus, both intravenous midazolam and valproate were equally effective to intravenous diazepam, with valproate exhibiting significantly faster seizure cessation and safer profile than diazepam, even in infancy. In conclusion, buccal midazolam is efficacious and safe thanks to its convenient route of administration, which may serve as first-line in the treatment of prolonged seizures. Intranasal lorazepam is an effective, easy-to-use, and safe drug for prolonged seizures. Intravenous valproate exhibits favorable efficacy and safety profile as third-line in status epilepticus, refractory to diazepam and phenytoin.
The Apartheid Museum: Performing a Spatial Dialectics
Authors: Rankin Elizabeth , Schmidt Leoni
Published: March 2009

The Apartheid Museum in South Africa is read through the lens of a condition of `prepossession', where histories of trauma continue to haunt a site while manifesting affectively through spatial ambiguities, which lead to an experience of `empathetic unsettledness'. Paradoxes concerning the provenance of the building and its location are discussed. An analysis follows of changing registers of spatiality through selected key areas of the complex, with reference to Henri Lefebvre's analysis of alternative experiences of space. His notion of `lived' space is applicable to trauma architecture as discussed by concentration camp researcher Wolfgang Sofsky. It is argued that the building critically performs a content which exceeds the limits of representation, thus engendering a sense of embodied unease. Further complications include the appropriation of suffering in dialectical tension with a moving commemoration of apartheid iniquities.
Aberrant regulation of pVHL levels by microRNA promotes the HIF/VEGF axis in CLL B cells
Authors: Ghosh Asish K. , Shanafelt Tait D. , Cimmino Amelia , Taccioli Cristian , Volinia Stefano , Liu Chang-gong , Calin George A. , Croce Carlo M. , Chan Denise A. , Giaccia Amato J. , Secreto Charla , Wellik Linda E. , Lee Yean K. , Mukhopadhyay Debabrata , Kay Neil E.
Published: March 2009

The molecular mechanism of autocrine regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells is unknown. Here, we report that CLL B cells express constitutive levels of HIF-1α under normoxia. We have examined the status of the von Hippel-Lindau gene product (pVHL) that is responsible for HIF-1α degradation and found it to be at a notably low level in CLL B cells compared with normal B cells. We demonstrate that the microRNA, miR-92-1, overexpressed in CLL B cells, can target the VHL transcript to repress its expression. We found that the stabilized HIF-1α can form an active complex with the transcriptional coactivator p300 and phosphorylated-STAT3 at the VEGF promoter and recruit RNA polymerase II. This is initial evidence that pVHL, without any genetic alteration, can be regulated by microRNA and explains the aberrant autocrine VEGF secretion in CLL.
Influence of cytogenetics in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma treated with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone: adverse effect of deletion 17p13
Authors: Reece Donna , Song Kevin W. , Fu Tommy , Roland Birgitte , Chang Hong , Horsman Douglas E. , Mansoor Adnan , Chen Christine , Masih-Khan Esther , Trieu Young , Bruyere Helene , Stewart Douglas A. , Bahlis Nizar J.
Published: March 2009

Although the combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone is effective therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, the influence of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities on outcomes is unknown. This subanalysis of a large, open-label study investigated the effects of the most common unfavorable cytogenetic abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization, del(13q), t(4;14), and del(17p13), in 130 evaluable patients treated with this regimen. Whereas patients with either del(13q) or t(4;14) experienced a median time to progression and overall survival comparable with those without these cytogenetic abnormalities, patients with del(17p13) had a significantly worse outcome, with a median time to progression of 2.22 months (hazard ratio, 2.82; P < .001) and median overall survival of 4.67 months (hazard ratio, 3.23; P < .001). Improved therapeutic strategies are required for this subgroup of patients. This study was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT00179647.
131I anti-CD45 radioimmunotherapy effectively targets and treats T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Gopal Ajay K. , Pagel John M. , Fromm Jonathan R. , Wilbur Shani , Press Oliver W.
Published: March 2009

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) options for T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (T-NHLs) are limited. We evaluated anti-CD45-RIT in human (h) and murine (m) T-NHL. CD45 was highly expressed on hT-NHL patient samples (median, 2.3 × 105 antigen-binding capacity units/cell) and hT-NHL cell lines (3.4 × 105 CD45 antigen-binding capacity units/cell). Biodistribution studies in hTNHL xenografts showed that 131I-labeled BC8 (anti-hCD45) delivered 154% (P = .01) and 237% (P = .002) more radioiodine to tumor sites over control antibodies at 24 hours and 48 hours, respectively. Importantly, tumor sites targeted with 131I-BC8 exhibited 2.5-fold (P = .05), 3.0-fold (P = .007), and 3.6-fold (P = .07) higher 131I retention over the nontarget organs of lungs, liver, and kidneys, respectively (24 hours). Because the clinical use of anti-hCD45 would target both T-NHL and other hematolymphoid tissues, we evaluated the ability of anti-mCD45 to target mT-NHL. mT-NHL grafts targeted with anti-mCD45 correspondingly retained 5.3 (P < .001), 5.4 (P < .001), and 8.7 (P < .001) times the radioactivity in tumor sites compared with nontarget organs of lung, liver, and kidney. 131I-labeled BC8 therapy yielded improved complete remission rates (75% vs 0%, P < .001) and progression-free survivals (median, 23 days vs 4.5 days, P < .001) compared with controls. These data indicate that the high CD45 expression of T-NHL allows reliable tumor targeting and disease control supporting anti-CD45 RIT for T-NHL patients.
Biomedical word sense disambiguation with ontologies and metadata: automation meets accuracy
Authors: Alexopoulou Dimitra , Andreopoulos Bill , Dietze Heiko , Doms Andreas , Gandon Fabien , Hakenberg Jörg , Khelif Khaled , Schroeder Michael , Wächter Thomas
Published: March 2009

Background

Ontology term labels can be ambiguous and have multiple senses. While this is no problem for human annotators, it is a challenge to automated methods, which identify ontology terms in text. Classical approaches to word sense disambiguation use co-occurring words or terms. However, most treat ontologies as simple terminologies, without making use of the ontology structure or the semantic similarity between terms. Another useful source of information for disambiguation are metadata. Here, we systematically compare three approaches to word sense disambiguation, which use ontologies and metadata, respectively.

Results

The 'Closest Sense' method assumes that the ontology defines multiple senses of the term. It computes the shortest path of co-occurring terms in the document to one of these senses. The 'Term Cooc' method defines a log-odds ratio for co-occurring terms including co-occurrences inferred from the ontology structure. The 'MetaData' approach trains a classifier on metadata. It does not require any ontology, but requires training data, which the other methods do not. To evaluate these approaches we defined a manually curated training corpus of 2600 documents for seven ambiguous terms from the Gene Ontology and MeSH. All approaches over all conditions achieve 80% success rate on average. The 'MetaData' approach performed best with 96%, when trained on high-quality data. Its performance deteriorates as quality of the training data decreases. The 'Term Cooc' approach performs better on Gene Ontology (92% success) than on MeSH (73% success) as MeSH is not a strict is-a/part-of, but rather a loose is-related-to hierarchy. The 'Closest Sense' approach achieves on average 80% success rate.

Conclusion

Metadata is valuable for disambiguation, but requires high quality training data. Closest Sense requires no training, but a large, consistently modelled ontology, which are two opposing conditions. Term Cooc achieves greater 90% success given a consistently modelled ontology. Overall, the results show that well structured ontologies can play a very important role to improve disambiguation.

Availability

The three benchmark datasets created for the purpose of disambiguation are available in Additional file 1.
Genetic clusters and sex-biased gene flow in a unicolonial Formica ant
Authors: Holzer Barbara , Keller Laurent , Chapuisat Michel
Published: March 2009

Background

Animal societies are diverse, ranging from small family-based groups to extraordinarily large social networks in which many unrelated individuals interact. At the extreme of this continuum, some ant species form unicolonial populations in which workers and queens can move among multiple interconnected nests without eliciting aggression. Although unicoloniality has been mostly studied in invasive ants, it also occurs in some native non-invasive species. Unicoloniality is commonly associated with very high queen number, which may result in levels of relatedness among nestmates being so low as to raise the question of the maintenance of altruism by kin selection in such systems. However, the actual relatedness among cooperating individuals critically depends on effective dispersal and the ensuing pattern of genetic structuring. In order to better understand the evolution of unicoloniality in native non-invasive ants, we investigated the fine-scale population genetic structure and gene flow in three unicolonial populations of the wood antF. paralugubris.

Results

The analysis of geo-referenced microsatellite genotypes and mitochondrial haplotypes revealed the presence of cryptic clusters of genetically-differentiated nests in the three populations ofF. paralugubris. Because of this spatial genetic heterogeneity, members of the same clusters were moderately but significantly related. The comparison of nuclear (microsatellite) and mitochondrial differentiation indicated that effective gene flow was male-biased in all populations.

Conclusion

The three unicolonial populations exhibited male-biased and mostly local gene flow. The high number of queens per nest, exchanges among neighbouring nests and restricted long-distance gene flow resulted in large clusters of genetically similar nests. The positive relatedness among clustermates suggests that kin selection may still contribute to the maintenance of altruism in unicolonial populations if competition occurs among clusters.
Determination of enriched histone modifications in non-genic portions of the human genome
Authors: Rosenfeld Jeffrey A , Wang Zhibin , Schones Dustin E , Zhao Keji , DeSalle Rob , Zhang Michael Q
Published: March 2009

Background

Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) has recently been used to identify the modification patterns for the methylation and acetylation of many different histone tails in genes and enhancers.

Results

We have extended the analysis of histone modifications to gene deserts, pericentromeres and subtelomeres. Using data from human CD4+ T cells, we have found that each of these non-genic regions has a particular profile of histone modifications that distinguish it from the other non-coding regions. Different methylation states of H4K20, H3K9 and H3K27 were found to be enriched in each region relative to the other regions. These findings indicate that non-genic regions of the genome are variable with respect to histone modification patterns, rather than being monolithic. We furthermore used consensus sequences for unassembled centromeres and telomeres to identify the significant histone modifications in these regions. Finally, we compared the modification patterns in non-genic regions to those at silent genes and genes with higher levels of expression. For all tested methylations with the exception of H3K27me3, the enrichment level of each modification state for silent genes is between that of non-genic regions and expressed genes. For H3K27me3, the highest levels are found in silent genes.

Conclusion

In addition to the histone modification pattern difference between euchromatin and heterochromatin regions, as is illustrated by the enrichment of H3K9me2/3 in non-genic regions while H3K9me1 is enriched at active genes; the chromatin modifications within non-genic (heterochromatin-like) regions (e.g. subtelomeres, pericentromeres and gene deserts) are also quite different.