bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized Phase III Study Comparing Paclitaxel–Bleomycin, Etoposide, and Cisplatin (BEP) to Standard BEP in Intermediate-Prognosis Germ-Cell Cancer: Intergroup Study EORTC 30983
Authors: de Wit Ronald , Skoneczna Iwona , Daugaard Gedske , De Santis Maria , Garin August , Aass Nina , Witjes Alfred J. , Albers Peter , White Jeffery D. , Germa-Lluch José R. , Marreaud Sandrine , Collette Laurence
Published: January 2012

Purpose

To compare the efficacy of four cycles of paclitaxel–bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (T-BEP) to four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) in previously untreated patients with intermediate-prognosis germ-cell cancer (GCC).

Patients and Methods

Patients were randomly assigned to receive either T-BEP or standard BEP. Patients assigned to the T-BEP group received paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 in a 3-hour infusion. Patients who were administered T-BEP received primary granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis. The study was designed as a randomized open-label phase II/III study. To show a 10% improvement in 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), the study aimed to recruit 498 patients but closed with 337 patients as a result of slow accrual.

Results

Accrual was from November 1998 to April 2009. A total of 169patients were administered BEP, and 168 patients were administered T-BEP. Thirteen patients in both arms were ineligible, mainly as a result of a good prognosis of GCC (eight patients administered BEP; six patients administered T-BEP) or a poor prognosis of GCC (one patient administered BEP; four patients administered T-BEP). PFS at 3 years (intent to treat) was 79.4% in the T-BEP group versus 71.1% in the BEP group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; CI, 0.47 to 1.13; P [log-rank test] = 0.153). PFS at 3 years in all eligible patients was 82.7% versus 70.1%, respectively (HR, 0.60; CI: 0.37 to 0.97) and was statistically significant (P = 0.03). Overall survival was not statistically different.

Conclusion

T-BEP administered with G-CSF seems to be a safe and effective treatment regimen for patients with intermediate-prognosis GCC. However, the study recruited a smaller-than-planned number of patients and included 7.7% ineligible patients. The primary analysis of the trial could not demonstrate statistical superiority of T-BEP for PFS. When ineligible patients were excluded, the analysis of all eligible patients demonstrated a 12% superior 3-year PFS with T-BEP, which was statistically significant.
Cancer Genomics: Technology, Discovery, and Translation
Authors: Tran Ben , Dancey Janet E. , Kamel-Reid Suzanne , McPherson John D. , Bedard Philippe L. , Brown Andrew M.K. , Zhang Tong , Shaw Patricia , Onetto Nicole , Stein Lincoln , Hudson Thomas J. , Neel Benjamin G. , Siu Lillian L.
Published: January 2012

In recent years, the increasing awareness that somatic mutations and other genetic aberrations drive human malignancies has led us within reach of personalized cancer medicine (PCM). The implementation of PCM is based on the following premises: genetic aberrations exist in human malignancies; a subset of these aberrations drive oncogenesis and tumor biology; these aberrations are actionable (defined as having the potential to affect management recommendations based on diagnostic, prognostic, and/or predictive implications); and there are highly specific anticancer agents available that effectively modulate these targets. This article highlights the technology underlying cancer genomics and examines the early results of genome sequencing and the challenges met in the discovery of new genetic aberrations. Finally, drawing from experiences gained in a feasibility study of somatic mutation genotyping and targeted exome sequencing led by Princess Margaret Hospital–University Health Network and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the processes, challenges, and issues involved in the translation of cancer genomics to the clinic are discussed.
ΔNp63 knockout mice reveal its indispensable role as a master regulator of epithelial development and differentiation
Authors: Romano Rose-Anne , Smalley Kirsten , Magraw Caitlin , Serna Vanida Ann , Kurita Takeshi , Raghavan Srikala , Sinha Satrajit
Published: January 2012

The transcription factor p63 is important in the development of the skin as p63-null mice exhibit striking defects in embryonic epidermal morphogenesis. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie this phenotype is complicated by the existence of multiple p63 isoforms, including TAp63 and ΔNp63. To investigate the role of ΔNp63 in epidermal morphogenesis we generated ΔNp63 knock-in mice in which the ΔNp63-specific exon is replaced by GFP. Homozygous ΔNp63gfp/gfp animals exhibit severe developmental anomalies including truncated forelimbs and the absence of hind limbs, largely phenocopying existing knockouts in which all p63 isoforms are deleted. ΔNp63-null animals show a poorly developed stratified epidermis comprising isolated clusters of disorganized epithelial cells. Despite the failure to develop a mature stratified epidermis, the patches of ΔNp63-null keratinocytes are able to stratify and undergo a program of terminal differentiation. However, we observe premature expression of markers associated with terminal differentiation, which is unique to ΔNp63-null animals and not evident in the skin of mice lacking all p63 isoforms. We posit that the dysregulated and accelerated keratinocyte differentiation phenotype is driven by significant alterations in the expression of key components of the Notch signaling pathway, some of which are direct transcriptional targets of ΔNp63 as demonstrated by ChIP experiments. The analysis of ΔNp63gfp/gfp knockout mice reaffirms the indispensable role of the ΔN isoform of p63 in epithelial biology and confirms that ΔNp63-null keratinocytes are capable of committing to an epidermal cell lineage, but are likely to suffer from diminished renewal capacity and an altered differentiation fate.
The lineage-specific geneponzr1is essential for zebrafish pronephric and pharyngeal arch development
Authors: Bedell Victoria M. , Person Anthony D. , Larson Jon D. , McLoon Anna , Balciunas Darius , Clark Karl J. , Neff Kevin I. , Nelson Katie E. , Bill Brent R. , Schimmenti Lisa A. , Beiraghi Soraya , Ekker Stephen C.
Published: January 2012

The Homeobox (Hox) and Paired box (Pax) gene families are key determinants of animal body plans and organ structure. In particular, they function within regulatory networks that control organogenesis. How these conserved genes elicit differences in organ form and function in response to evolutionary pressures is incompletely understood. We molecularly and functionally characterized one member of an evolutionarily dynamic gene family, plac8 onzin related protein 1 (ponzr1), in the zebrafish. ponzr1 mRNA is expressed early in the developing kidney and pharyngeal arches. Using ponzr1-targeting morpholinos, we show that ponzr1 is required for formation of the glomerulus. Loss of ponzr1 results in a nonfunctional glomerulus but retention of a functional pronephros, an arrangement similar to the aglomerular kidneys found in a subset of marine fish. ponzr1 is integrated into the pax2a pathway, with ponzr1 expression requiring pax2a gene function, and proper pax2a expression requiring normal ponzr1 expression. In addition to pronephric function, ponzr1 is required for pharyngeal arch formation. We functionally demonstrate that ponzr1 can act as a transcription factor or co-factor, providing the first molecular mode of action for this newly described gene family. Together, this work provides experimental evidence of an additional mechanism that incorporates evolutionarily dynamic, lineage-specific gene families into conserved regulatory gene networks to create functional organ diversity.
Frizzled1/2/7 signaling directs β-catenin nuclearisation and initiates endoderm specification in macromeres during sea urchin embryogenesis
Authors: Lhomond Guy , McClay David R. , Gache Christian , Croce Jenifer C.
Published: January 2012

In sea urchins, the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin in micromeres and macromeres at 4th and 5th cleavage activates the developmental gene regulatory circuits that specify all of the vegetal tissues (i.e. skeletogenic mesoderm, endoderm and non-skeletogenic mesoderm). Here, through the analysis of maternal Frizzled receptors as potential contributors to these processes, we found that, in Paracentrotus lividus, the receptor Frizzled1/2/7 is required by 5th cleavage for β-catenin nuclearisation selectively in macromere daughter cells. Perturbation analyses established further that Frizzled1/2/7 signaling is required subsequently for the specification of the endomesoderm and then the endoderm but not for that of the non-skeletogenic mesoderm, even though this cell type also originates from the endomesoderm lineage. Complementary analyses on Wnt6 showed that this maternal ligand is similarly required at 5th cleavage for the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin exclusively in the macromeres and for endoderm but not for non-skeletogenic mesoderm specification. In addition, Wnt6 misexpression reverses Frizzled1/2/7 downregulation-induced phenotypes. Thus, the results indicate that Wnt6 and Frizzled1/2/7 are likely to behave as the ligand-receptor pair responsible for initiating β-catenin nuclearisation in macromeres at 5th cleavage and that event is necessary for endoderm specification. They show also that β-catenin nuclearisation in micromeres and macromeres takes place through a different mechanism, and that non-skeletogenic mesoderm specification occurs independently of the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin in macromeres at the 5th cleavage. Evolutionarily, this analysis outlines further the conserved involvement of the Frizzled1/2/7 subfamily, but not of specific Wnts, in the activation of canonical Wnt signaling during early animal development.
Accuracy of Genomic Selection Methods in a Standard Data Set of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taedaL.)
Authors: Resende M F R , Muñoz P , Resende M D V , Garrick D J , Fernando R L , Davis J M , Jokela E J , Martin T A , Peter G F , Kirst M
Published: January 2012

Genomic selection can increase genetic gain per generation through early selection. Genomic selection is expected to be particularly valuable for traits that are costly to phenotype and expressed late in the life cycle of long-lived species. Alternative approaches to genomic selection prediction models may perform differently for traits with distinct genetic properties. Here the performance of four different original methods of genomic selection that differ with respect to assumptions regarding distribution of marker effects, including (i) ridge regression–best linear unbiased prediction (RR–BLUP), (ii) Bayes A, (iii) Bayes Cπ, and (iv) Bayesian LASSO are presented. In addition, a modified RR–BLUP (RR–BLUP B) that utilizes a selected subset of markers was evaluated. The accuracy of these methods was compared across 17 traits with distinct heritabilities and genetic architectures, including growth, development, and disease-resistance properties, measured in a Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) training population of 951 individuals genotyped with 4853 SNPs. The predictive ability of the methods was evaluated using a 10-fold, cross-validation approach, and differed only marginally for most method/trait combinations. Interestingly, for fusiform rust disease-resistance traits, Bayes Cπ, Bayes A, and RR–BLUB B had higher predictive ability than RR–BLUP and Bayesian LASSO. Fusiform rust is controlled by few genes of large effect. A limitation of RR–BLUP is the assumption of equal contribution of all markers to the observed variation. However, RR-BLUP B performed equally well as the Bayesian approaches.The genotypic and phenotypic data used in this study are publically available for comparative analysis of genomic selection prediction models.
A National Profile of Childhood Epilepsy and Seizure Disorder
Authors: Russ Shirley A. , Larson Kandyce , Halfon Neal
Published: January 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To determine sociodemographics, patterns of comorbidity, and function of US children with reported epilepsy/seizure disorder.

METHODS:

Bivariate and multivariable cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (2007) on 91 605 children ages birth to 17 years, including 977 children reported by their parents to have been diagnosed with epilepsy/seizure disorder.

RESULTS:

Estimated lifetime prevalence of epilepsy/seizure disorder was 10.2/1000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.7–11.8) or 1%, and of current reported epilepsy/seizure disorder was 6.3/1000 (95% CI: 4.9–7.8). Epilepsy/seizure disorder prevalence was higher in lower-income families and in older, male children. Children with current reported epilepsy/seizure disorder were significantly more likely than those never diagnosed to experience depression (8% vs 2%), anxiety (17% vs 3%), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (23% vs 6%), conduct problems (16% vs 3%), developmental delay (51% vs 3%), autism/autism spectrum disorder (16% vs 1%), and headaches (14% vs 5%) (all P < .05). They had greater risk of limitation in ability to do things (relative risk: 9.22; 95% CI: 7.56–11.24), repeating a school grade (relative risk: 2.59; CI: 1.52–4.40), poorer social competence and greater parent aggravation, and were at increased risk of having unmet medical and mental health needs. Children with prior but not current seizures largely had intermediate risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a nationally representative sample, children with seizures were at increased risk for mental health, developmental, and physical comorbidities, increasing needs for care coordination and specialized services. Children with reported prior but not current seizures need further study to establish reasons for their higher than expected levels of reported functional limitations.
Urinary Proteome Analysis to Exclude Severe Vesicoureteral Reflux
Authors: Drube Jens , Schiffer Eric , Lau Esther , Petersen Claus , Kirschstein Martin , Kemper Markus J. , Lichtinghagen Ralf , Ure Benno , Mischak Harald , Pape Lars , Ehrich Jochen H.H.
Published: January 2012

OBJECTIVES:

High-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR, grade IV or V) is a risk factor for renal scarring, impaired renal function, and arterial hypertension. Voiding cystourethrography is the gold standard for detecting the severity of VUR. High-grade VUR is present in the minority of children with urinary tract infection (UTI), thus exposing the majority to invasive diagnostics that have no surgical consequence. We therefore aimed at establishing a noninvasive test to identify children with high-grade VUR.

METHODS:

In a case-control study, a specific urinary proteome pattern was established by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry in 18 patients with primary VUR grade IV or V, distinguishing these from 19 patients without VUR after UTI. This proteome pattern was independently validated in a blinded cohort of 17 patients with VUR grade IV or V and 19 patients without VUR.

RESULTS:

Sensitivity in detecting VUR grade IV or V in the blinded study was 88%, specificity was 79%. The test’s accuracy was independent of age, gender, and grade of VUR in the contralateral kidney. The odds ratio of suffering from VUR grade IV or V when tested positive was 28 (95% confidence interval: 4.5 to 176.0).

CONCLUSIONS:

This noninvasive test is ready for prospective validation in large cohorts with the aim of identifying those children with UTI and hydronephrosis in need of further invasive diagnostics, such as voiding cystourethrography, thus sparing most children without pathologic urinary proteome patterns from additional diagnostics.
Predictors of Cognitive Function and Recovery 10 Years After Traumatic Brain Injury in Young Children
Authors: Anderson Vicki , Godfrey Celia , Rosenfeld Jeffrey V. , Catroppa Cathy
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) has implications for functional outcomes, but few studies have documented long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to plot recovery of cognitive and functional skills after early childhood TBI to 10 years postinjury and to identify the contribution of injury, environment, preinjury characteristics, and acute functional recovery.

METHODS:

Subjects were recruited consecutively to this prospective, longitudinal study, which used a between-factor design, with injury severity as the independent variable. Forty children with TBI aged 2 and 7 years were recruited on admission to a tertiary pediatric hospital, divided according to injury severity, and compared with 16 healthy controls acutely and 12 and 30 months and 10 years postinjury. Cognition, adaptive ability, executive function, and social/behavioral skills were examined.

RESULTS:

Children with severe TBI had poorest outcomes, with deficits greatest for cognition. Recovery trajectories were similar across severity groups but with significant gains in verbal skills from 12 and 30 months to 12 months and 10 years. Predictors of outcome included preinjury ability (for adaptive function) and family function (social/behavioral skills).

CONCLUSIONS:

Results confirm a high risk of persisting deficits after severe TBI in early childhood. Children with less severe TBI appear to recover to function normally. Contrary to speculation about “growing into deficits,” after protracted recovery to 30 months, young children make age-appropriate progress at least to 10 years postinsult. Environmental factors were found to contribute to adaptive and social/behavioral recovery.
Perioperative Methylprednisolone and Outcome in Neonates Undergoing Heart Surgery
Authors: Pasquali Sara K. , Li Jennifer S. , He Xia , Jacobs Marshall L. , O’Brien Sean M. , Hall Matthew , Jaquiss Robert D. B. , Welke Karl F. , Peterson Eric D. , Shah Samir S. , Gaynor J. William , Jacobs Jeffrey P.
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND:

Recent studies have called into question the benefit of perioperative corticosteroids in children undergoing heart surgery, but have been limited by the lack of placebo control, limited power, and grouping of various steroid regimens together in analysis. We evaluated outcomes across methylprednisolone regimens versus no steroids in a large cohort of neonates.

METHODS:

Clinical data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database were linked to medication data from the Pediatric Health Information Systems Database for neonates (≤30 days) undergoing heart surgery (2004–2008) at 25 participating centers. Multivariable analysis adjusting for patient and center characteristics, surgical risk category, and within-center clustering was used to evaluate the association of methylprednisolone regimen with outcome.

RESULTS:

A total of 3180 neonates were included: 22% received methylprednisolone on both the day before and day of surgery, 12% on the day before surgery only, and 28% on the day of surgery only; 38% did not receive any perioperative steroids. In multivariable analysis, there was no significant mortality or length-of-stay benefit associated with any methylprednisolone regimen versus no steroids, and no difference in postoperative infection. In subgroup analysis by surgical-risk group, there was a significant association of methylprednisolone with infection consistent across all regimens (overall odds ratio 2.6, 95% confidence interval 1.3–5.2) in the lower-surgical-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS:

This multicenter observational analysis did not find any benefit associated with methylprednisolone in neonates undergoing heart surgery and suggested increased infection in certain subgroups. These data reinforce the need for a large randomized trial in this population.
Hepatitis A Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents in the United States
Authors: Dorell Christina G. , Yankey David , Byrd Kathy K. , Murphy Trudy V.
Published: January 2012

OBJECTIVE:

Hepatitis A infection causes severe disease among adolescents and adults. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices instituted incremental recommendations for hepatitis A vaccination (HepA) at 2 years of age based on risk (1996), in selected states (1999), and universally at 1 year of age, with vaccination through 18 years of age based on risk or desire for protection (2006). We assessed adolescent HepA coverage in the United States and factors independently associated with vaccination.

METHODS:

Data from the 2009 National Immunization Survey–Teen (n = 20 066) were analyzed to determine ≥1- and ≥2-dose HepA coverage among adolescents 13 to 17 years of age. We used bivariate and multivariable analyses to test associations between HepA initiation and sociodemographic characteristics stratified by state groups: group 1, universal child vaccination since 1999; group 2, consideration for child vaccination since 1999; group 3, universal child vaccination at 1 year of age since 2006.

RESULTS:

In 2009, national 1-dose HepA coverage among adolescents was 42.0%. Seventy percent of vaccinees completed the 2-dose series. One-dose coverage was 74.3% among group 1 states, 54.0% for group 2 states, and 27.8% for group 3 states. The adjusted prevalence ratios of vaccination initiation were highest for states with a vaccination requirement and for adolescents whose providers recommended HepA.

CONCLUSIONS:

HepA coverage was low among most adolescents in the United States in 2009 leaving a large population susceptible to hepatitis A infection maturing into adulthood.
Intravenous Acetaminophen in the United States: Iatrogenic Dosing Errors
Authors: Dart Richard C. , Rumack Barry H.
Published: January 2012

An intravenous formulation of acetaminophen was introduced to the United States in 2011. Experience from Europe indicates that serious dosing errors are likely to occur. Most events have involved a 10-fold dosing error in small children caused by calculating the dosage in milligrams, but then administering the solution in milliliters. The solution is 10 mg/mL; therefore, a 10-fold overdose occurs. Evaluation of overdose with the intravenous formulation is similar to oral overdose. A serum acetaminophen concentration should be drawn 4 hours after the infusion was started or as soon thereafter as possible. If the serum acetaminophen concentration plots above the treatment line on the Rumack-Matthew nomogram, treatment with acetylcysteine should be initiated. Health care providers are encouraged to contact their regional poison center (1-800-222-1222) so that dosing errors will be reported, and the experience with this new product can be accumulated.
Integrated Optoelectronic Devices on Silicon
Authors: Liang Di , Bowers John E.
Published: January 2012

Silicon (Si) has been the dominating material platform of microelectronics over half century. Continuous technological advances in circuit design and manufacturing enable complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chips with increasingly high integration complexity to be fabricated in an unprecedently scale and economical manner. Conventional Si-based planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) has benefited from advanced CMOS technology but only demonstrate passive functionalities in most circumstances due to poor light emission efficiency and weak major electro-optic effects (e.g., Pockels effect, the Kerr effect and the Franz–Keldysh effect) in Si. Recently, a new hybrid III-V-on-Si integration platform has been developed, aiming to bridge the gap between Si and III-V direct-bandgap materials for active Si photonic integrated circuit applications. Since then high-performance lasers, amplifiers, photodetectors and modulators, etc. have been demonstrated. Here we review the most recent progress on hybrid Si lasers and high-speed hybrid Si modulators. The former include distributed feedback (DFB) lasers showing over 10 mW output power and up to 85 oC continuous-wave (cw) operation, compact hybrid microring lasers with cw threshold less than 4 mA and over 3 mW output power, and 4-channel hybrid Si AWG lasers with channel space of 360 GHz. Recently fabricated traveling-wave electro-absorption modulators (EAMs) and Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulators (MZM) on this platform support 50 Gb/s and 40 Gb/s data transmission with over 10 dB extinction ratio, respectively.
Studies of Nanomechanical Properties of Pulsed Laser Deposited NbN films on Si Using Nanoindentation
Authors: Mamun M. A. , Farha A. H. , Ufuktepe Y. , Elsayed-Ali H. E. , Elmustafa A. A.
Published: January 2012

Nanomechanical and structural properties of pulsed laser deposited niobium nitride thin films were investigated using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and nanoindentation. NbN film reveals cubic δ-NbN structure with the corresponding diffraction peaks from the (111), (200), and (220) planes. The NbN thin films depict highly granular structure, with a wide range of grain sizes that range from 15-40 nm with an average surface roughness of 6 nm. The average modulus of the film is 420±60 GPa, whereas for the substrate the average modulus is 180 GPa, which is considered higher than the average modulus for Si reported in the literature due to pile-up. The hardness of the film increases from an average of 12 GPa for deep indents (Si substrate) measured using XP CSM and load control (LC) modes to an average of 25 GPa measured using the DCM II head in CSM and LC modules. The average hardness of the Si substrate is 12 GPa.
Why should men break all the rules?
Authors: Cook Angela
Published: January 2012

This paper presents the results of a detailed investigation of grammatical inflexion for number in spoken Modern Standard Chinese and explores whether the use of the plural marker men conforms to the guidelines laid down in standard grammar reference works. For the purposes of studying morphological features in context a new source of spoken language samples is identified: published transcripts of television broadcasts. This study focusses on spoken Modern Standard Chinese in mainland China, as exemplified in a popular Chinese chat show over the period 2003 to 2006. The analysis of the data shows significant discrepancies between the traditional grammatical analysis of the plural marker men and its actual use in real-life situations, with the so-called plural suffix employed to perform many more functions than have traditionally been ascribed to it. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the contexts in which the plural suffix is used suggests that to maintain that inflexion for number is optional in Chinese, as many grammar textbooks do, may be somewhat misleading.
Relationship between a Visual Art and Its Cultural Background
Authors: Yang Yanning
Published: January 2012

This paper attempts to explore the relationship between a particular culture and its visual art by comparing two landscape paintings with distinctive cultural backgrounds. The Chinese landscape painting Early Spring (1072) and the Western landscape painting The Hay Wain (1821) respectively created by Guo Xi and John Constable are chosen for the purpose. The two paintings are compared by adopting Michael O’Toole’s (1994) systemic-functional model for the analysis of visual images in terms of Modal, Compositional and Representational functions. The comparison shows that the semiotic choices are different across the three functions. This paper then explains the semiotic differences between the two paintings by examining the distinctions between Chinese and English cultures. The findings in the research suggest that the semiotic distinctions in visual arts arise from different understandings of some fundamental values and principles in different cultures.
Genetic structure among coastal tailed frog populations at Mount St. Helens is moderated by post‐disturbance management
Authors: Spear Stephen F. , Crisafulli Charles M. , Storfer Andrew
Published: January 2012

Catastrophic disturbances often provide “natural laboratories” that allow for greater understanding of ecological processes and response of natural populations. The 1980 eruption of the Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington, USA, provided a unique opportunity to test biotic effects of a large‐scale stochastic disturbance, as well as the influence of post‐disturbance management. Despite severe alteration of nearly 600 km2of habitat, coastal tailed frogs (Ascaphus truei) were found within a portion of the blast area five years after eruption. We investigated the genetic source of recolonization within the blast area and tested whether post‐eruption salvage logging and subsequent tree planting influenced tailed frog movement patterns. Our results support widespread recolonization across the blast area from multiple sources, as all sites are grouped into one genetic cluster. Landscape genetic models suggest that gene flow through the unmanaged portion of the blast area is influenced only by distance between sites and the frost‐free period (r2= 0.74). In contrast, gene flow pathways within the blast area where salvage logging and replanting occurred post‐eruption are strongly limited (r2= 0.83) by the physiologically important variables of heat load and precipitation. These data suggest that the lack of understory and coarse wood (downed and standing dead tree boles) refugia in salvaged areas may leave frogs more susceptible to desiccation and mortality than those frogs moving through the naturally regenerated area. Simulated populations based on the landscape genetic models show an increase in the inbreeding coefficient in the managed area relative to the unmanaged blast area. In sum, we show surprising resilience of an amphibian species to a catastrophic disturbance, and we suggest that, at least for this species, naturally regenerating habitat may better maintain long‐term genetic diversity of populations than actively managed habitat.
Concentrating anthropogenic disturbance to balance ecological and economic values: applications to forest management
Authors: Tittler Rebecca , Messier Christian , Fall Andrew
Published: January 2012

To maintain healthy ecosystems, natural‐disturbance‐based management aims to minimize differences between unmanaged and managed landscapes. Two related approaches may help accomplish this goal, either applied together or in isolation: (1) concentrating anthropogenic disturbance through zoning (with protected areas and intensive management); and (2) emulating natural disturbances. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of these two approaches, applied both in isolation and in combination, on the structure of the forest landscape. To do so, we use a spatially explicit landscape simulation model on a large fire‐dominated landscape in eastern Canada. Specifically, we examine the effects of (1) increasing the maximum size of logged stands (cutblocks) to better emulate the full range of fire sizes in a fire‐dominated landscape, (2) increasing protected areas, and (3) adding aggregated or dispersed intensive wood production areas to the landscape in addition to protected areas (triad management). We focus on maximizing the amount and minimizing the fragmentation of old‐growth forest and on reducing road construction. Increasing maximum cutblock size and adding protected areas led to reduced road construction, while the latter also resulted in less fragmentation and more old growth. Although protected areas led to reduced harvest volume, the addition of an intensive production zone (triad management) counterbalanced this loss and resulted in more old growth than equivalent scenarios with protected areas but no intensive production zone. However, we found no differences between aggregated and dispersed intensive wood production. Our results imply that differences between unmanaged and managed landscapes can be reduced by concentrating logging efforts through a combination of protected areas and intensive wood production, and by creating some larger cutblocks. We conclude that the forest industry and regulators should therefore seek to increase protected areas through triad management and consider increasing maximum cutblock size. These results add to a growing body of literature indicating that intensive management on a small part of the landscape may be better than less intensive management spread out over a much larger part of the landscape, whether this is in the context of forestry, agriculture, or urban development.
Insulin Augmentation of Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion Is Impaired in Insulin-Resistant Humans
Authors: Halperin Florencia , Lopez Ximena , Manning Raquel , Kahn C. Ronald , Kulkarni Rohit N. , Goldfine Allison B.
Published: January 2012

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, the latter possibly caused by a defect in insulin signaling in β-cells. We hypothesized that insulin’s effect to potentiate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) would be diminished in insulin-resistant persons. To evaluate the effect of insulin to modulate GSIS in insulin-resistant compared with insulin-sensitive subjects, 10 participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 11 with T2D, and 8 healthy control subjects were studied on two occasions. The insulin secretory response was assessed by the administration of dextrose for 80 min following a 4-h clamp with either saline infusion (sham) or an isoglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp using B28-Asp-insulin (which can be distinguished immunologically from endogenous insulin) that raised insulin concentrations to high physiologic concentrations. Pre-exposure to insulin augmented GSIS in healthy persons. This effect was attenuated in insulin-resistant cohorts, both those with IGT and those with T2D. Insulin potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in insulin-resistant subjects to a lesser degree than in normal subjects. This is consistent with an effect of insulin to regulate β-cell function in humans in vivo with therapeutic implications.
Who Is Ignorant
Authors: Wu Ping
Published: January 2012

Who Is Ignorant

This article studies dispute between Chinese sports journalists and Chinese sports elites in a socio-cultural context. Based upon a number of case studies, the professional features of Chinese sports journalism and Chinese elite sport are elaborated and the different characteristics of Chinese sports journalists and Chinese sportspeople are examined. The study then investigates how the cultural differences between Chinese sports journalists and Chinese sportspeople affect their understandings of news values and the duty of the news media and concludes that the different understandings of the media's duty are often the trigger of dispute.
The interplay of configuration and conformation in helical perylenequinones: Insights from chirality induction in liquid crystals and calculations
Authors: Frezza Elisa , Pieraccini Silvia , Mazzini Stefania , Ferrarini Alberta , Spada Gian Piero
Published: January 2012

The chirality transfer in liquid crystals induced by two helical perylenequinones (namely, the natural compounds cercosporin and phleichrome) was investigated by integrating measurements of helical twisting power with a conformational analysis by DFT calculations and with the prediction of their twisting ability by the surface-chirality method. The two quasi-enantiomeric derivatives induce oppositely handed cholesteric phases when introduced as dopants in nematic solvents. We evaluated the role of the different conformations of the chiral hydroxyalkyl side chains in determining the helical twisting power: They were found to affect the strength of the chirality transfer, although the handedness of the induced cholesteric phase is essentially determined by the axial chirality (helicity) of the core of the perylenequinones.
Images de Guyane, entre réduction et cloisonnement
Authors: Jolivet Marie-José
Published: January 2012

Résumé Cet article s’intéresse au style et à l’évolution des images de la Guyane et des Guyanais produites au cours des cent cinquante dernières années (illustrations de récits de voyage ou d’exploration, photographies, films documentaires). La dimension multiculturelle et multiethnique du pays est au cœur de la réflexion. Des images « assignées » par le colonisateur puis les cadres métropolitains du DOM, aux images produites ou assumées par les Guyanais, ressortent finalement des tendances très semblables : réduction à telle ou telle composante humaine ou naturelle, alors promue au rang d’image globalement représentative ; cloisonnement presque étanche de ces divers éléments. Mais, à la question de savoir à quelles images chaque Guyanais peut s’identifier, et qui se pose aussi en termes d’hyper ou d’hyporeprésentation, les réponses varient sensiblement en fonction des époques et des positions respectives des groupes en présence.
L'histoire comme vous ne l'avez jamais vue : un film népalais
Authors: de Sales Anne
Published: January 2012

Résumé Simarekha ou La Frontière , acclamé comme le premier film historique népalais, est resté à l’affiche du plus grand cinéma de Katmandou pendant plusieurs mois en 1998. Il présente une version révisée de l’histoire officielle de la conquête par des colons hindous au xx e siècle de la principauté de Gorkha, alors gouvernée par un chef tribal. Plusieurs récits de cet événement fondateur de l’histoire nationale (une chronique, un chapitre d’un manuel scolaire, une pièce de théâtre, un roman) sont analysés ici comme autant d’étapes d’un processus qui aboutit à son interprétation cinématographique. La mise en images opère une sorte de télescopage de cet enchaînement historique tout en l’ancrant dans la situation présente, marquée par de violentes revendications ethniques. Le film eut un fort impact émotionnel sur les spectateurs qui eurent le sentiment de découvrir la vérité sur eux-mêmes et sur leur passé. En condensant les multiples évocations d’une identité « feuilletée », les images permettent aux intéressés de s’ajuster au contexte actuel.
L'image ou sa dissolution au moment de la préparation de l'exposition internationale japonaise de 2005
Authors: Houdart Sophie
Published: January 2012

Résumé La préparation de l’exposition internationale japonaise de 2005 est l’occasion de suivre, entre autres choses, les processus de mise en images d’un projet à vocation politique. Dans le cadre de cette contribution, est présenté le scénario, rhétorique et visuel, déployé par l’architecte japonais en charge des plans préliminaires. Ce scénario, supporté par des dispositifs et imageries virtuels, se donne pour objet de dissoudre le traditionnel pavillon et, rendant l’architecture invisible, de transformer la nature, cadre autant que thème de l’exposition, en sujet. En tant qu’outil chargé de remporter l’adhésion nationale aussi bien qu’internationale au projet d’exposition, le scénario architectural est confronté à d’autres dispositifs visuels, les uns comme les autres constituant autant de systèmes d’argumentations différents.
Du logement à la ville : nouvel agenda urbain et questionnements scientifiques
Authors: Bertrand Monique
Published: January 2012

Résumé Les évolutions qui ont marqué les politiques du logement depuis trente ans en appellent aujourd’hui à une meilleure identification de la demande citadine du Sud. Face à des indicateurs de comparaison sommaires, le renouvellement des recherches s’impose pour mettre en doute la pertinence de certaines catégories résidentielles, classer les déterminants des pratiques d’hébergement, de cohabitation et de mobilité à différents niveaux d’observation urbaine et selon des temporalités variées. Mettre en perspective des trajectoires individuelles ou familiales et les recompositions démographiques, sociales et territoriales qui font l’histoire plus générale des villes, tel est le défi commun des études indiennes, latino-américaines et africaines qui sont présentées dans ce numéro.
Ruptures et continuités résidentielles au fil des générations chez les classes moyennes de Mexico
Authors: Zamorano Villarreal Claudia C.
Published: January 2012

Résumé Les pratiques résidentielles des classes moyennes de Mexico sont abordées à partir d’une lignée familiale arrivée en ville en 1927, et suivie sur trois générations. L’étude s’attache aux ruptures et aux continuités que manifeste chaque génération, replacée dans son contexte socio-économique, en matière de localisation et de filières d’accès au logement. Ces deux aspects sont analysés en termes de cycle d’intégration urbaine comprenant l’ensemble des stratégies matrimoniales, professionnelles et résidentielles des différents membres de la lignée urbaine. On s’interroge ainsi sur les raisons énoncées par les acteurs pour justifier leurs choix, en vertu d’une logique pratique qui englobe à la fois des principes d’honneur et de tradition, une rationalité matérielle et une capacité d’adaptation à la conjoncture.
Logement des pauvres, médiation politique et contrôle urbain à Mumbai (Inde)
Authors: Heuzé Djallal Gérard
Published: January 2012

Résumé L’Inde a un taux bas d’urbanisation tout en abritant des concentrations urbaines remarquables. En partant de l’exemple de la métropole de Mumbai, la contribution s’attache à décrire comment les hommes politiques et certains industriels ont facilité la pérennisation de situations chaotiques dans lesquelles les migrants, légalement insécurisés, se voyaient tolérés et parfois encouragés dans leurs efforts d’autoconstruction. L’évolution du contexte industriel, financier et immobilier, associée à la liquidation du mouvement ouvrier, a changé la donne. Les émeutes intercommunautaires ont succédé aux grèves, les partis extrémistes aux centristes et les réseaux mafieux aux syndicalistes, pendant que les hommes politiques suivaient, avec réticence, le mouvement de libéralisation économique et du « nettoyage urbain ».
Água, saneamento e saúde no Brasil interseções e desacordos
Authors: Rezende Sonaly , Heller Léo , Lanza Queiroz Ana Carolina
Published: January 2012

[pt] O percurso e o atual momento do setor de saneamento no Brasil são discutidos à luz de suas interfaces com a saúde, abordando-se a consolidação do poder público e das ações integradas de saúde e saneamento, passando pela mudança de paradigma surgida no cerne de uma ótica desenvolvimentista que resultou na bipolarização destas ações e identificando as atuais reações contrárias à ruptura entre os setores e as possibilidades advindas de novos marcos legais. Verificam-se convergências e interseções, explicadas pelas necessidades intrínsecas a cada setor e por outros condicionantes sistêmicos, e a importância de se consolidar uma visão integrada de saúde e saneamento para o avanço do desenvolvimento social do País. A expressão saneamento corresponde, no Brasil, a um conjunto de ações caracterizadas pelo abastecimento de água, esgotamento sanitário, limpeza urbana e manejo de resíduos sólidos e drenagem e manejo das águas pluviais urbanas. O termo “saneamiento”, utilizado em países de língua hispânica, corresponde ao denominado “esgotamento sanitário” no Brasil.

[es] El pasado y el presente del sector de saneamiento en Brasil son planteados en función de sus interfaces con la salud, dirigiéndose a la consolidación del poder público y de las acciones integradas de la salud y saneamiento, transcurriendo al cambio del paradigma que surgió en el contexto de una óptica “desarrollista”, que ha resultado en la bipolarización de dichas acciones, e identificando las actuales reacciones contrarias a la ruptura entre los sectores y las posibilidades originadas de nuevos marcos legales. Se analizan las convergencias e intersecciones, explicadas a partir de las necesidades intrínsecas de cada sector y por otros condicionantes sistémicos, y la importancia de consolidar una visión integrada entre la salud y el saneamiento para el avance del desarrollo social del País. Hay que aclarar que la expresión “saneamiento” corresponde, en Brasil, a un conjunto de acciones caracterizadas por el suministro de agua, el manejo de las aguas residuales y de los residuos sólidos, la limpieza urbana y el drenaje y la gestión de aguas pluviales urbanas. El término “saneamiento”, utilizado en los países hispano-hablantes, corresponde a lo que en Brasil se denomina “esgotamento sanitário”.
Agua, Poder y Discursos: Conflictos Socio-territoriales por la construcción de centrales hidroeléctricas en la Patagonia Chilena
Authors: Romero Toledo Hugo , Romero Aravena Hugo , Toledo Olivares Ximena
Published: January 2012

Chile está próximo a celebrar su Bicentenario de vida republicana y sus treinta y cinco años desde la aplicación de un estricto modelo económico neoliberal, donde han surgido numerosos conflictos que involucran a la dicotomía capital/territorio y que implican al agua como recurso principal. Uno de estos conflictos es el que actualmente ocurre en la Región de Aysén en la Patagonia Chilena donde, producto de la privatización del agua, un megaproyecto de producción hidroeléctrica de inversión transnacional colisiona con territorios de alta calidad ambiental y producción tradicional.
El conocimiento por parte de los indígenas de la Justicia novohispana: El caso de Mateo Chimaltecuhtli (Cholula, siglo XVI)
Authors: Ruz Barrio Miguel Ángel
Published: January 2012

El objetivo de este artículo es presentar cómo se interiorizó el funcionamiento de la Justicia por parte de los indígenas en el Centro de México durante los inicios de la época colonial. Para ello, nos centraremos en un caso particular, el de Mateo Chimaltecuhtli quien participó al menos en dos pleitos entre 1560 y 1565. En el primero de ellos, se trataba de un litigio entre Totomihuacan y algunos principales de Cholula, entre los que estaba Mateo, motivado por los límites entre ambas comunidades. En el segundo, se enfrenta a las acusaciones de su madrastra por el reparto de la herencia del padre de Mateo.
Que se de diferente modo al gobierno de las Indias, que se van perdiendo muy a prisa. Arbitrismo y administración a principios del siglo XVII
Authors: Amadori Arrigo
Published: January 2012

A pesar de que el arbitrismo era un elemento importante de la vida política hispánica del siglo XVII, la historiografía americanista no ha puesto demasiado énfasis en su estudio. Este artículo intenta resaltar la trascendencia de este género a través de la obra del arbitrista Manuel Gaytán de Torres. El objetivo consiste en trazar una aproximación a sus percepciones sobre la administración, la organización institucional americana y los principios que debían informar el ejercicio de los oficios, y a sus propuestas para revertir la compleja situación atravesada por el mundo hispánico en las primeras décadas del siglo XVII. Los escritos de Gaytán poseen un gran interés porque forman parte del movimiento reformista que se desarrolló durante el valimiento del conde-duque de Olivares y comparten bastantes puntos en común con el programa del favorito real.
Imágenes y ermitaños. Un ciclo hierofánico ignorado por la Historiografía
Authors: Rubial García Antonio
Published: January 2012

Hasta el momento, la historiografía sobre las apariciones milagrosas en el mundo hispanoamericano ha privilegiado la participación de los indígenas en dicho proceso y, así, ha olvidado a otros importantes actores en él. A través del análisis de seis casos de santuarios novohispanos, este artículo muestra que los ermitaños constituyeron otra presencia casi tan importante como aquella, tanto en la literatura aparicionista como en la formación de esos centros de peregrinación.