bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immuno–Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Index Predicts Survival in Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With R-CHOP: A GELA Study
Authors: Copie-Bergman Christiane , Gaulard Philippe , Leroy Karen , Briere Josette , Baia Maryse , Jais Jean-Philippe , Salles Gilles A. , Berger Françoise , Haioun Corinne , Tilly Herve , Emile Jean-François , Banham Alison H. , Mounier Nicolas , Gisselbrecht Christian , Feugier Pierre , Coiffier Bertrand , Molina Thierry J.
Published: September 2009

Purpose

To evaluate the prognostic value of cell of origin immunohistochemical markers and BCL2, BCL6, and c-MYC translocations in a homogeneous cohort of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP).

Patients and Methods

Patients with CD20+ DLBCL were enrolled in the randomized LNH98-5 and 01-5B Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte trials. Paraffin-embedded tumor samples of 119 patients treated with R-CHOP were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for CD10, BCL6, MUM1/IRF4, LMO2, and forkhead box protein P1 (FOXP1) expression and for BCL2, BCL6, and c-MYC breakpoints by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on tissue microarray.

Results

LMO2 expression and BCL2 breakpoint were associated with the germinal center (GC) subtype defined by Hans' algorithm, respectively (P < .0001; P = .0002) whereas FOXP1 expression and BCL6 breakpoint were associated with the non-germinal center (non-GC) subtype (P = .008 and P = .0001, respectively). The immunohistochemical markers analyzed independently, GC/non-GC phenotype and BCL2 breakpoint did not predict overall survival (OS). BCL6 breakpoint was significantly associated with an unfavorable impact on OS (P = .04). Interestingly, an immunoFISH index, defined by positivity for at least two of three non-GC markers (FOXP1, MUM1/IRF4, BCL6 breakpoint) was significantly associated with a shorter 5-year OS rate (44%; 95% CI, 28 to 60 v 78%; 95% CI, 59 to 89; P = .01) which was independent (P = .04) of the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (P = .04) in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that combining immunohistochemistry with FISH allows construction of an immunoFISH index that significantly predicts survival in elderly DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP.
Dynamic Model for Predicting Death Within 12 Months in Patients With Primary or Post–Polycythemia Vera/Essential Thrombocythemia Myelofibrosis
Authors: Tam Constantine S. , Kantarjian Hagop , Cortes Jorge , Lynn Alice , Pierce Sherry , Zhou Lingsha , Keating Michael J. , Thomas Deborah A. , Verstovsek Srdan
Published: September 2009

Purpose

Current prognostic tools in myelofibrosis (MF) fail to identify patients at the highest risk of death and are limited by their applicability only to the time of diagnosis. We aimed to define an accelerated phase (AP) in MF by characterizing disease features that can identify patients with median overall survival of ≤ 12 months at any time in the disease course.

Patients and Methods

Baseline characteristics of 370 consecutive patients with MF from a single center were analyzed to identify features associated with a median overall survival of ≤ 12 months. These putative AP features were then validated by following the course of chronic-phase patients (no AP features at baseline) until the development of one or more AP features and determining their subsequent survival.

Results

The following three characteristics were associated with poor survival at baseline and were selected as putative AP features: blasts in blood or bone marrow ≥ 10%, platelets less than 50 × 109/L, and chromosome 17 aberrations (median overall survival, 10, 12, and 5 months, respectively). In the validation phase, chronic-phase patients who developed AP features during follow-up were found to have short subsequent survival times (median overall survival, 12, 15, and 6 months, respectively). AP was a necessary step in the progression to blast phase, with leukemic transformation being exceedingly rare (3% risk at 10 years) in patients who remained persistently in chronic phase.

Conclusion

Blood or bone marrow blasts ≥ 10%, platelets less than 50 × 109/L, and chromosome 17 aberrations defined AP in patients with MF. Patients in AP should be candidates for intensive therapeutic interventions.
Genetic Abnormalities of the EGFR Pathway in African American Patients With Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Leidner Rom S. , Fu Pingfu , Clifford Bradley , Hamdan Ayad , Jin Cheng , Eisenberg Rosana , Boggon Titus J. , Skokan Margaret , Franklin Wilbur A. , Cappuzzo Federico , Hirsch Fred R. , Varella-Garcia Marileila , Halmos Balazs
Published: September 2009

Purpose

Previous studies in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have demonstrated a wide variation in responsiveness to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) –targeting agents and in genetic aberrancies of the EGFR pathway according to ethnic background, most notably a higher frequency of activating EGFR mutations among East-Asian patients. We investigated the frequency of EGFR pathway aberrancies among African American patients with NSCLC, for whom limited information presently exists.

Patients and Methods

EGFR fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on archived tissues from 53 African American patients. Extracted DNA was sequenced for mutational analysis of EGFR exons 18 to 21 and KRAS exon 2. Results were compared by multivariate analysis to an historical control cohort of 102 white patients with NSCLC.

Results

African Americans were significantly less likely to harbor activating mutations of EGFR than white patients (2% v 17%; P = .022). Only one EGFR mutation was identified, a novel S768N substitution. EGFR FISH assay was more frequently positive for African Americans than for white patients (51% v 32%; P = .018). KRAS mutational frequency did not differ between the groups (23% v 21%; P = .409).

Conclusion

African American patients with NSCLC are significantly less likely than white counterparts to harbor activating mutations of EGFR, which suggests that EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are unlikely to yield major remissions in this population. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence that points to genetic heterogeneity of the EGFR pathway in NSCLC among different ethnic groups and that underscores the need for consideration of these differences in the design of future trials of agents that target the EGFR pathway.
Phase I, Pharmacokinetic, and Pharmacodynamic Study of AMG 479, a Fully Human Monoclonal Antibody to Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor 1
Authors: Tolcher Anthony W. , Sarantopoulos John , Patnaik Amita , Papadopoulos Kyriakos , Lin Chia-Chi , Rodon Jordi , Murphy Barbara , Roth Bruce , McCaffery Ian , Gorski Kevin S. , Kaiser Brianne , Zhu Min , Deng Hongjie , Friberg Greg , Puzanov Igor
Published: September 2009

Purpose

To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and evidence of antitumor activity of AMG 479, a fully human monoclonal antibody to insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1R).

Patients and Methods

Patients with advanced solid malignancies or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma received escalating doses of AMG 479 intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks (Q2W). Blood samples were assayed to determine pharmacokinetic parameters and IGF-1R occupancy on neutrophils; fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography scans were used to assess tumor metabolic effects.

Results

Fifty-three patients received 312 infusions of AMG 479 Q2W. Overall, the most common grades 1 to 2 toxicities were fatigue, thrombocytopenia, fever, rash, chills, and anorexia. One dose-limiting toxicity (ie, grade 3 thrombocytopenia) occurred in a patient at 20 mg/kg during course 1; grade 3 thrombocytopenia (n = 8) and grade 3 transaminitis elevations (n = 1) also were reported but not in the escalation phase. The maximum-planned dose of 20 mg/kg was safely administered; thus, an MTD was not reached. High levels of neutrophil IGF-1R binding and increases from baseline in serum IGF-1 levels were observed in the 12- and 20-mg/kg cohorts. Tumor responses included one durable complete response (CR) and one unconfirmed partial response (PR) in two patients with Ewing/primitive neuroectodermal tumors and included one PR and one minor response in two patients with neuroendocrine tumors. The patients with Ewing/PNET who had a CR have remained disease free on therapy after 28 months.

Conclusion

AMG 479 can be administered safely at 20 mg/kg IV Q2W. The absence of severe toxicities, attainment of serum concentrations associated with high levels of IGF-1R binding on neutrophils, and provocative antitumor activity warrant additional studies of this agent.
How Do Financial Firms Manage Risk? Unraveling the Interaction of Financial and Operational Hedging
Authors: Hankins Kristine Watson
Published: September 2009

This paper investigates how firms manage risk by examining the relationship between financial and operational hedging using a sample of bank holding companies. Risk management theory holds that capital market imperfections make cash flow volatility costly. I investigate whether financial firms consider this cost or focus exclusively on managing tradable exposures. After documenting that acquisitions provide operational hedging by reducing potentially costly volatility, I find that postacquisition financial hedging declines even after controlling for the specific underlying risks. In addition, the decrease in financial hedging is related to the acquisition's level of operational hedging. Larger increases in operational hedging are followed by larger declines in financial hedging. These results indicate that firms in this sample manage aggregate risk, not just tradable exposures, and that operational hedging can substitute for financial hedging.

This paper was accepted by John Birge, focused issue editor.
The Silver Lining Effect: Formal Analysis and Experiments
Authors: Jarnebrant Peter , Toubia Olivier , Johnson Eric
Published: September 2009

The silver lining effect predicts that segregating a small gain from a larger loss results in greater psychological value than does integrating them into a smaller loss. Using a generic prospect theory value function, we formalize this effect and derive conditions under which it should occur. We show analytically that if the gain is smaller than a certain threshold, segregation is optimal. This threshold increases with the size of the loss and decreases with the degree of loss aversion of the decision maker. Our formal analysis results in a set of predictions suggesting that the silver lining effect is more likely to occur when (i) the gain is smaller (for a given loss), (ii) the loss is larger (for a given gain), and (iii) the decision maker is less loss averse. We test and confirm these predictions in two studies of preferences, both in a nonmonetary and a monetary setting, analyzing the data in a hierarchical Bayesian framework.
The Effects of Problem Structure and Team Diversity on Brainstorming Effectiveness
Authors: Kavadias Stylianos , Sommer Svenja C.
Published: September 2009

Since Osborn's Applied Imagination book in 1953 (Osborn, A. F. 1953. Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative Thinking. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York), the effectiveness of brainstorming has been widely debated. While some researchers and practitioners consider it the standard idea generation and problem-solving method in organizations, part of the social science literature has argued in favor of nominal groups, i.e., the same number of individuals generating solutions in isolation. In this paper, we revisit this debate, and we explore the implications that the underlying problem structure and the team diversity have on the quality of the best solution as obtained by the different group configurations. We build on the normative search literature of new product development, and we show that no group configuration dominates. Therefore, nominal groups perform better in specialized problems, even when the factors that affect the solution quality exhibit complex interactions (problem complexity). In cross-functional problems, the brainstorming group exploits the competence diversity of its participants to attain better solutions. However, their advantage vanishes for extremely complex problems.
CEO Ambivalence and Responses to Strategic Issues
Authors: Plambeck Nils , Weber Klaus
Published: September 2009

We examine how executives' ambivalent evaluation of a strategic issue relates to organizational actions taken in response. Ambivalence occurs when a decision maker evaluates an issue as simultaneously positive and negative, a state that has received scant attention in organizational research. We integrate findings in social psychology with the behavioral theory of the firm to suggest how executives' ambivalence prompts wider and more vigorous search for action responses and enables broader participation. Data from a two-wave survey of 104 German CEOs who evaluated the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and reported their organizations' responses show that organizations whose CEOs evaluated the event as both positive and negative were more likely to take action when both evaluations were also strongly held. The reported actions were also of greater scope, novelty, and riskiness. The study contributes to research on organizational decision making by theorizing the role of top executives' ambivalence and by providing a first systematic test of how ambivalence affects responses to strategic issues.
Relation between response inhibition and symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity in children
Authors: Gambin Małgorzata , Święcicka Małgorzata
Published: September 2009

Objective. This study assessed the relation of response inhibition with inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity.

Method. The stop signal task was employed to investigate inhibitory control in 76 children with symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity and 48 normal control subjects. The Rating Scale for teachers, which measures the intensity of hyperactivity–impulsivity and inattention, was completed for each child.

Results. Response inhibition deficit was found in children with symptoms of inattention alone or both inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity, but not in children with hyperactive–impulsive symptoms alone. Stepwise regression indicated that distractibility–fatigability is the best predictor of the stop signal reaction time.

Conclusions. Symptoms of inattention, rather than symptoms of hyperactivity–impulsivity, are associated with the response inhibition impairment.
Derivation and assessment of a hypermasculine values questionnaire
Authors: Archer John
Published: September 2009

Four studies are reported on the derivation and assessment of a hypermasculinity scale. In Study 1, a questionnaire measure of hypermasculine values was derived from an initial 122 items, rated on a seven‐point scale by 600 men from eight categories, based on occupation or sport interest. Factor analysis and item reduction produced 26‐ and 16‐ item scales (Hypermasculine Values Questionnaire, HVQ and Short Hypermasculine Values Questionnaire) with high internal consistencies. There were substantial differences between categories, consistent with predictions based on their gender‐stereotypic connotations. Study 2 involved the scales being administered to another similarly composed sample: again high internal consistency and unidimensionality (in a confirmatory factor analysis) were found, and a similar association with category membership. Test–retest reliability was high. In Study 3, the concurrent and discriminative validity of the HVQ was studied, by comparing it with an existing measure of hypermasculinity, male role norms, attitudes to women's rights, gender‐related traits, and trait aggression. Associations were found with other gender scales, and there was a moderate association with trait physical aggression. The range of associations reflected the items on the scale, which involve toughness, the need to avoid femininity, and control of women's sexuality, themes familiar from ethnographic accounts of masculinity. Study 4 showed that the HVQ was associated with hostile but not benevolent sexism, and replicated its association with trait aggression.
Applicant impression management in job interview: The moderating role of interviewer affectivity
Authors: Chen Chien‐Cheng , Wen‐Fen Yang Irene , Lin Wei‐Chih
Published: September 2009

In light of the organizational need to obtain talented personnel, an appropriate evaluation of applicant behaviour in the selection interview is crucial. Extending past research on applicant use of impression management (IM) tactics, this study examines the effects of a broad set of IM tactics in a field setting, and also investigates the moderating roles of two rarely tested interviewer characteristics: interviewer positive affectivity (PA) and negative affectivity (NA). Due to the nested nature of the data, consisting of 142 job applicants and 33 interviewers, we adopt hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) to examine the proposed hypotheses. The results indicate that three IM tactics (self‐focused IM, SFIM; other‐focused IM, OFIM; and non‐verbal IM, NVIM) are significantly positively related to interviewer evaluations. Furthermore, interviewer PA appears to strengthen the positive effects of SFIM tactics on interviewer evaluations, while the effects of NVIM tactics may be weaker when interviewers are high in NA. In addition, these findings suggest the importance of interviewer trait affectivity in explaining interviewer's decision‐making variability, which may lead to low inter‐rater reliability and in turn restrict the level of achievable validity.
Low Expression of Human Histocompatibility Soluble Leukocyte Antigen-G (HLA-G5) in Invasive Cervical Cancer With and Without Metastasis, Associated With Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Authors: Guimarães Marcia C.M. , Soares Christiane P. , Donadi Eduardo A. , Derchain Sophie F.M. , Andrade Liliana A.L.A. , Silva Tarsia G.A. , Hassumi Marcela K. , Simoes Renata T. , Miranda Fabiana A. , Lira Régia C.P. , Crispim Janaina , Soares Edson G.
Published: September 2009

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex class Ib molecule that acts as a specific immunosuppressor. Some studies have demonstrated that human papillomavirus (HPV) seems to be involved in lower or absent HLA-G expression, particularly in cervical cancer. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional study, systematically comparing the qualitative expression of the HLA-G5 isoform in invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC), stratifying patients according to the presence [ICC with metastasis (ICCw)] and absence [ICC without metastasis (ICCwt)] of metastasis, correlating these findings with interference of HPV and demographic and clinical variables. Seventy-nine patients with a diagnosis of ICC were stratified into two groups: ICCwt ( n=52 patients) and ICCw ( n=27). Two biopsies were collected from each patient (one from the tumor lesion and one from a lymph node). Immunohistochemistry analyses were performed for the HLA-G5 isoform, for HPV detection, and virus typing. HLA-G5 isoform molecules were detected in 25 cases (31.6%), 17 (32.7%) without metastasis and 8 (29.6%) with metastasis. HPV was detected in the cervical lesions of 74 patients (93.7%), but low expression of the HLA-G5 isoform was observed in all HPV-related cases. These findings are important; however, additional studies are necessary to identify the influence of HPV with HLA-G5 isoform expression on invasive cervical malignancies.
Endogenous and Transplanted Small Hepatocytes in Retrorsine-treated/Partially Hepatectomized Rat Liver Show Differences in Growth, Phenotype, and Proximity to Clusters of γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase-positive Host Hepatocytes
Authors: Tateno Chise , Carreiro Marie P. , Hixson Douglas C.
Published: September 2009

In the present report, we have compared the phenotype and growth of small hepatocyte progenitors (SHPs) induced by retrorsine/partial hepatectomy (R/PH) and small hepatocytes (SHs) isolated from normal adult liver. SHs were isolated by a combination of differential centrifugation and Percoll isodensity fractionation from a liver cell suspension prepared by collagenase perfusion of a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)-positive Fischer F344 rat liver. Following further purification by flow cytometry, the SH-R3 fraction was transplanted via the portal vein into R/PH-treated, DPPIV-negative Fischer F344 rats. Frozen sections from tissue harvested at 5, 7, and 21 days after transplantation were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence to compare the phenotypic characteristics of colonies formed by exogenous SH-R3s and endogenous SHPs. Colonies of transplanted SHs and endogenous SHPs displayed similar histologies and phenotypes but were distinguished from surrounding hepatocytes by their elevated expression of transferrin receptor. SH-R3 colonies were frequently located within clusters of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive host hepatocytes. Although significantly smaller at 5 and 7 days after PH, by day 21, SH-R3 colonies were similar in size to those formed by SHPs. The present results suggest that endogenous SHPs are derived, at least in part, from SHPs.
Localization of Angiopoietin-1 and Tie2 Immunoreactivity in Rodent Ependyma and Adjacent Blood Vessels Suggests Functional Relationships
Authors: Horton Brooke N. , Solanki Rajanikant B. , Rajneesh Kiran F. , Kulesza Piotr , Ardelt Agnieszka A.
Published: September 2009

Angiopoietin-1 (Angpt1; previously Ang-1) participates in vascular maintenance and remodeling. In the current study, we investigated the distribution of Angpt1 protein in rat brain. We detected Angpt1 immunoreactivity (IR) in cerebral blood vessels, cuboidal ependyma, and tanycytes, which are specialized hypothalamic bipolar ependymal cells. We also evaluated patterns of IR of endothelium-specific receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (Tie2, the receptor for Angpt1). Tie2 IR was present in Angpt1-immunoreactive cuboidal ependyma in a membranous pattern, suggesting an autocrine or paracrine role for Angpt1- Tie2. Tie2 IR was also associated with peri-ependymal blood vessels, some of which were contacted by tips of Angpt1-immunoreactive tanycyte processes, implying a potential functional ligand2receptor interaction mediating communication between the cerebrospinal fluid and vascular compartments. Because we previously found that cerebral Angpt1 expression was modulated by 17β-estradiol (E2), and because some tanycyte functions are modulated by E2, we tested the hypothesis that E2 affects ependymal and tanycyte Angpt1 expression in vivo. No gross E2 effect on the ependymal pattern of Angpt1 IR or cerebral Angpt1 protein content was observed.
Gangliosides Are Important for the Preservation of the Structure and Organization of RBL-2H3 Mast Cells
Authors: Mariano Silveira e Souza Adriana Maria , Trindade Edvaldo S. , Jamur Maria Célia , Oliver Constance
Published: September 2009

Gangliosides are known to be important in many biological processes. However, details concerning the exact function of these glycosphingolipids in cell physiology are poorly understood. In this study, the role of gangliosides present on the surface of rodent mast cells in maintaining cell structure was examined using RBL-2H3 mast cells and two mutant cell lines (E5 and D1) deficient in the gangliosides, GM1 and the α-galactosyl derivatives of the ganglioside GD1b. The two deficient cell lines were morphologically different from each other as well as from the parental RBL-2H3 cells. Actin filaments in RBL-2H3 and E5 cells were under the plasma membrane following the spindle shape of the cells, whereas in D1 cells, they were concentrated in large membrane ruffles. Microtubules in RBL-2H3 and E5 cells radiated from the centrosome and were organized into long, straight bundles. The bundles in D1 cells were thicker and organized circumferentially under the plasma membrane. The endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi complex, and the secretory granule matrix were also altered in the mutant cell lines. These results suggest that the mast cell- specific α-galactosyl derivatives of ganglioside GD1b and GM1 are important in maintaining normal cell morphology.
Re-evaluation of Laboratory Cone Penetration Method for High Liquid Limit Based on Free Swell Property of Soil
Authors: Deka Shailen , Sreedeep S. , Dash Sujit Kumar
Published: September 2009

Percussion and laboratory cone penetration are two different methods employed for the determination of liquid limit of the soil. The empirical nature, advantages and limitations of these methods in determining liquid limit of the soil has been discussed in detail in the literature. One of the most important observations is that the soils with high liquid limit exhibits higher discrepancy between the two methods. There is a need to understand the reason for this discrepancy and to obtain identical values for all ranges of liquid limit. As an initial attempt, the present study reviews the possible reasons for the discrepancy in liquid limit values obtained by the two methods. Furthermore, a re-evaluation of the cone penetration method has been done and a modified penetration limit is proposed based on the free swell index of the soil. The cone penetration liquid limit was re-calculated by employing the modified penetration limit, and compared with the percussion liquid limit. It is noted that the modified penetration limit based on free swell property of the soil minimizes the difference in liquid limit values obtained by using both methods. It is further emphasized that the observations obtained from the present study cannot be compared with the field cone penetration results. The details of the experimental scheme adopted are described in detail in this technical paper.
Comparison of Structure and Quenching Performance of Vegetable Oils
Authors: de Souza Ester Carvalho , Fernandes Mauro R. , Augustinho Sylvana C.M. , de Campos Franceschini Canale Lauralice , Totten George E.
Published: September 2009

This work describes the physical property analysis and molecular structural characterization by gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of cottonseed, sunflower, corn, canola, and soybean oils. To assess the relative quenching performance of these different vegetable oils, cooling curve analyses was conducted according to ASTM D6200 at series of quenchant bath temperatures: 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120°C. For comparison, cooling curve analysis under the same testing conditions for a commercially available conventional and an accelerated petroleum oil-based quenchant was also performed. This work showed that although the different vegetable oils exhibited significantly different molecular structures, their viscosity and viscosity-temperature behavior was comparable. Also, the quenching performance of the different vegetable oils, while not identical, was not significantly different from each other. However, it is noteworthy that the vegetable oils did not exhibit classical film boiling or nucleate boiling behavior during quenching. For this reason, the quenching performance was different from either the conventional or the accelerated quench oils, which exhibited the expected film boiling, nucleate boiling, and convective cooling behavior. The relative difference in quenching performance between petroleum oil derived quenchants and vegetable oils is discussed in detail.
Effects of Strength, Permeability, and Air Void Parameters on Freezing-Thawing Resistance of Concrete with and Without Air Entrainment
Authors: Lomboy Gilson , Wang Kejin
Published: September 2009

The present research is aimed at investigating effects of concrete properties, particularly concrete rapid chloride permeability, strength, and air void parameters, on freezing-thawing (FT) resistance. In this study, concrete mixtures are made with different types of cement (Types I with 15 % class C fly ash and Type IP cements), different water-to-binder ratios (w/b=0.25, 0.35, 0.45, and 0.55), and with or without air entraining agent. The 28-day compressive strength, rapid chloride permeability, and FT durability of the concrete are determined according to ASTM C873, C1202, and C666A, respectively. The air void parameters of the concrete are measured with air void analyzer, Rapid Air, and porosity (ASTM C642) tests. The results indicate that although concrete made with a low w/b (≤0.35) has low rapid chloride permeability (≤1320 C), it generally still requires proper air entrainment for a desirable FT resistance (with a durability factor of ≥85 %), except for the concrete having very low rapid chloride permeability (520 C) and very high 28-day compressive strength (88 MPa or 12 760 psi). For the non-air-entrained concrete studied, there are clear relationships between FT durability and porosity, w/b, and permeability. However, such relationships do not exist for air-entrained concrete. The FT resistance of air-entrained concrete is largely dependent on the concrete air void characteristics.
Breaking Form through Sound: Instrumental Aesthetics, Tempête, and Temporality in the French Baroque Cantata
Authors: Cabrini Michele
Published: September 2009

Between Lully's death (1687) and Rameau's operatic debut (1733), composers of the tragédie en musique experimented with instrumental effects, greatly expanding the dramatic role of the orchestra. The profusion of these effects coincides with a new aesthetic reappraisal of instrumental music in France, as can be observed in the writings of Du Bos. The tempête constitutes one of the most remarkable examples. Its sonic violence was too strong to end with the instrumental movement that depicted it; indeed, composers often prolonged the storm scene into a series of movements all connected by thematic material and key to produce a verisimilar effect of the storm's momentum, thereby creating what I term “the domino effect.” By the early eighteenth century, the tempête had become such a well established and popular topos that it began migrating to non-staged genres like the cantata.

The transference of the tempest topos from the tragédie lyrique to the French baroque cantata entailed the breaking of formal frames. Unlike the supple dramatic structure of French opera, the cantata adopted the more rigid mold of the Italian opera seria—the recitative-aria unit—which separated the flow of time into active and static moments. Three case studies—Bernier's Hipolite et Aricie (1703), Jacquet de la Guerre's Jonas (1708), and Morin's Le naufrage d'Ulisse (1712)—demonstrate how composers manipulated this mold to satisfy a French aesthetic that valued temporal continuity for the sake of verisimilitude. All three composers employ key and instrumental music to portray the storm's forward momentum across recitatives and arias, relying primarily on rhythmic energy and melodic activity to create continuity. Although each composer's musical response varies according to personal style, what emerges is a shared aesthetic and compositional strategy employed to portray an event whose relentless power transcends the temporal boundaries between recitative and aria. This aesthetic of continuity and linearity shown by French baroque composers influenced the treatment of the tempest topos in the later eighteenth-century repertory, vocal and instrumental alike, including opera, the concerto, the overture-suite, and the characteristic symphony.
Thelonious Monk's Pianism
Authors: Givan Benjamin
Published: September 2009

The jazz pianist Thelonious Monk's highly idiosyncratic instrumental technique has long been a topic of controversy. Examination of competing views sheds light on the circumstances under which Monk's detractors have accused him of incompetence, whereas his devotees have generally argued either that he was proficient in a conventional sense or that his pianistic imperfections were irrelevant to his music's intellectual content.

New perspectives on Monk's pianism may be sought through the analysis of concert films that document his playing in close detail. The films indicate that sometimes Monk intentionally created technical hurdles for himself in order to imbue his playing with a degree of expressive tension.
Identification of the Major Sex-Determining Region of Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Authors: Martínez Paulino , Bouza Carmen , Hermida Miguel , Fernández Jesús , Toro Miguel Angel , Vera Manuel , Pardo Belén , Millán Adrián , Fernández Carlos , Vilas Román , Viñas Ana , Sánchez Laura , Felip Alicia , Piferrer Francesc , Ferreiro Isabel , Cabaleiro Santiago
Published: September 2009

Sex determination in fish is a labile character in evolutionary terms. The sex-determining (SD) master gene can differ even between closely related fish species. This group is an interesting model for studying the evolution of the SD region and the gonadal differentiation pathway. The turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) is a flatfish of great commercial value, where a strong sexual dimorphism exists for growth rate. Following a QTL and marker association approach in five families and a natural population, we identified the main SD region of turbot at the proximal end of linkage group (LG) 5, close to the SmaUSC-E30 marker. The refined map of this region suggested that this marker would be 2.6 cM and 1.4 Mb from the putative SD gene. This region appeared mostly undifferentiated between males and females, and no relevant recombination frequency differences were detected between sexes. Comparative genomics of LG5 marker sequences against five model species showed no similarity of this chromosome to the sex chromosomes of medaka, stickleback, and fugu, but suggested a similarity to a sex-associated QTL from Oreochromis spp. The segregation analysis of the closest markers to the SD region demonstrated a ZW/ZZ model of sex determination in turbot. A small proportion of families did not fit perfectly with this model, which suggests that other minor genetic and/or environmental factors are involved in sex determination in this species.
Mapping Loci Associated With Tail Color and Sex Determination in the Short-Lived Fish Nothobranchius furzeri
Authors: Valenzano Dario Riccardo , Kirschner Jeanette , Kamber Roarke A , Zhang Elisa , Weber David , Cellerino Alessandro , Englert Christoph , Platzer Matthias , Reichwald Kathrin , Brunet Anne
Published: September 2009

The African fish Nothobranchius furzeri is the shortest-lived vertebrate species that can reproduce in captivity, with a median life span of 9–11 weeks for the shortest-lived strain. Natural populations of N. furzeri display differences in life span, aging biomarkers, behavior, and color, which make N. furzeri a unique vertebrate system for studying the genetic basis of these traits. We mapped regions of the genome involved in sex determination and tail color by genotyping microsatellite markers in the F2 progeny of a cross between a short-lived, yellow-tailed strain and a long-lived, red-tailed strain of N. furzeri. We identified one region linked with the yellow/red tail color that maps close to melanocortin 1 receptor (mc1r), a gene involved in pigmentation in several vertebrate species. Analysis of the segregation of sex-linked markers revealed that N. furzeri has a genetic sex determination system with males as the heterogametic sex and markedly reduced recombination in the male sex-determining region. Our results demonstrate that both naturally-evolved pigmentation differences and sex determination in N. furzeri are controlled by simple genetic mechanisms and set the stage for the molecular genetic dissection of factors underlying such traits. The microsatellite-based linkage map we developed for N. furzeri will also facilitate analysis of the genetic architecture of traits that characterize this group of vertebrates, including short life span and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.
Bayesian Computation and Model Selection Without Likelihoods
Authors: Leuenberger Christoph , Wegmann Daniel
Published: September 2009

Until recently, the use of Bayesian inference was limited to a few cases because for many realistic probability models the likelihood function cannot be calculated analytically. The situation changed with the advent of likelihood-free inference algorithms, often subsumed under the term approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). A key innovation was the use of a postsampling regression adjustment, allowing larger tolerance values and as such shifting computation time to realistic orders of magnitude. Here we propose a reformulation of the regression adjustment in terms of a general linear model (GLM). This allows the integration into the sound theoretical framework of Bayesian statistics and the use of its methods, including model selection via Bayes factors. We then apply the proposed methodology to the question of population subdivision among western chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes verus.
Disease incidence is related to bleaching extent in reef‐building corals
Authors: Brandt Marilyn E. , McManus John W.
Published: September 2009

Recent outbreaks of coral bleaching and disease have contributed to substantial declines in the abundance of reef‐building coral. Significant attention has been paid to both phenomena in order to determine their effect on reef trajectories. Although each is positively correlated with high temperatures, few studies have explored the potential links between bleaching and disease. A longitudinal study of corals in the Florida Keys was therefore conducted during the 2005 Caribbean bleaching event to quantify bleaching extent and disease incidence in corals, and to determine whether they were related or if they acted as discrete phenomena. These data indicated that overall, a positive correlation exists between bleaching extent and disease incidence. However, the specific interactions between these two phenomena varied among disease bleaching combinations. Montastraea faveolata colonies with greater bleaching intensities later developed white plague (WP) infections. Meanwhile, Siderastrea siderea colonies with dark spot disease (DS) bleached more extensively than apparently healthy colonies. Finally, bleaching and black band disease (BB) co‐occurred on Colpophyllia natans throughout the bleaching event. WP, BB, and bleaching are each independently capable of changing the structure of coral populations through loss of living tissue, and DS is an important indicator of reef health. Understanding the dynamics of how these mortality sources interact is critical to understanding mortality patterns and predicting how reef communities will respond to future events.
Assessing the effect on survival of natal dispersal using multistate capture–recapture models
Authors: Devillard Sébastien , Bray Yves
Published: September 2009

Despite their crucial importance in understanding and modeling of the evolution of natal dispersal, it is still difficult to reliably estimate the costs of natal dispersal. We have developed a multistate capture–recapture model, mixing telemetry and recoveries, to simultaneously estimate natal dispersal probability, survival probability of dispersers vs. philopatric individuals, and the proportions of individuals dying from different causes. By applying this model to the European hare (Lepus europaeus), we show that dispersing juveniles suffer from a considerably higher mortality rate during their first post‐weaning year compared to philopatric juveniles, due to both hunters and predators. We emphasize the usefulness and reliability of our model in the broader context of studies of natal dispersal costs, as well as the evolutionary and management implications of such a dispersal cost in declining European hare populations.
Order of arrival affects competition in two reef fishes
Authors: Geange Shane W. , Stier Adrian C.
Published: September 2009

Many communities experience repeated periods of colonization due to seasonally regenerating habitats or pulsed arrival of young‐of‐year. When an individual's persistence in a community depends upon the strength of competitive interactions, changes in the timing of arrival relative to the arrival of a competitor can modify competitive strength and, ultimately, establishment in the community. We investigated whether the strength of intracohort competitive interactions between recent settlers of the reef fishesThalassoma hardwickeandT. quinquevittatumare dependent on the sequence and temporal separation of their arrival into communities. To achieve this, we manipulated the sequence and timing of arrival of each species onto experimental patch reefs by simulating settlement pulses and monitoring survival and aggressive interactions. Both species survived best in the absence of competitors, but when competitors were present, they did best when they arrived at the same time. Survival declined as each species entered the community progressively later than its competitor and as aggression by its competitor increased. Intraspecific effects of residentT. hardwickewere similar to interspecific effects. This study shows that the strength of competition depends not only on the identity of competitors, but also on the sequence and timing of their interactions, suggesting that when examining interaction strengths, it is important to identify temporal variability in the direction and magnitude of their effects. Furthermore, our findings provide empirical evidence for the importance of competitive lotteries in the maintenance of species diversity in demographically open marine systems.
Ephemeral metapopulations show high genetic diversity at regional scales
Authors: Berendonk T. U. , Spitze K. , Kerfoot W. C.
Published: September 2009

One of the primary questions concerning the long‐term preservation of nature and its diversity is the maintenance of genetic diversity. However, despite numerous theoretical investigations, comparative empirical information on how local extinctions influence regional genetic variation does not exist. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an empirical study comparing the genetic variation of permanent vs. ephemeral species at two scales (local variation, regional variation). This approach, utilizing a microsatellite analysis of six midge species of the genus Chaoborus generated intriguing scale‐dependent results. Species that experienced repeated local extinctions had reduced genetic variation at the local level, yet the regional genetic variation was greater than in species with permanent populations. Our findings call into question the assumption that species with repeated local extinctions generally contain lower genetic diversity, especially if they experience a “nomadic” pattern of dispersal. We encourage comparative analyses of empirical genetic data at dual scales as molecular tools become more available in ecological studies.
Planting intensity, residence time, and species traits determine invasion success of alien woody species
Authors: Pyšek Petr , Křivánek Martin , Jarošík Vojtěch
Published: September 2009

We studied the relative importance of residence time, propagule pressure, and species traits in three stages of invasion of alien woody plants cultivated for about 150 years in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. The probability of escape from cultivation, naturalization, and invasion was assessed using classification trees. We compared 109 escaped–not‐escaped congeneric pairs, 44 naturalized–not‐naturalized, and 17 invasive–not‐invasive congeneric pairs. We used the following predictors of the above probabilities: date of introduction to the target region as a measure of residence time; intensity of planting in the target area as a proxy for propagule pressure; the area of origin; and 21 species‐specific biological and ecological traits. The misclassification rates of the naturalization and invasion model were low, at 19.3% and 11.8%, respectively, indicating that the variables used included the major determinants of these processes. The probability of escape increased with residence time in the Czech Republic, whereas the probability of naturalization increased with the residence time in Europe. This indicates that some species were already adapted to local conditions when introduced to the Czech Republic. Apart from residence time, the probability of escape depends on planting intensity (propagule pressure), and that of naturalization on the area of origin and fruit size; it is lower for species from Asia and those with small fruits. The probability of invasion is determined by a long residence time and the ability to tolerate low temperatures. These results indicate that a simple suite of factors determines, with a high probability, the invasion success of alien woody plants, and that the relative role of biological traits and other factors is stage dependent. High levels of propagule pressure as a result of planting lead to woody species eventually escaping from cultivation, regardless of biological traits. However, the biological traits play a role in later stages of invasion.
Woodland‐to‐forest transition during prolonged drought in Minnesota after ca. AD 1300
Authors: Shuman Bryan , Henderson Anna K. , Plank Colin , Stefanova Ivanka , Ziegler Susy S.
Published: September 2009

Interactions among multiple causes of ecological perturbation, such as climate change and disturbance, can produce “ecological surprises.” Here, we examine whether climate–fire–vegetation interactions can produce ecological changes that differ in direction from those expected from the effects of climate change alone. To do so, we focus on the “Big Woods” of central Minnesota, USA, which was shaped both by climate and fire. The deciduous Big Woods forest replaced regional woodlands and savannas after the severity of regional fire regimes declined at ca. AD 1300. A trend toward wet conditions has long been assumed to explain the forest expansion, but we show that water levels at two lakes within the region (Wolsfeld Lake and Bufflehead Pond) were low when open woodlands were transformed into the Big Woods. Water levels were high instead at ca. 2240–795 BC when regional fire regimes were most severe. Based on the correlation between water levels and fire‐regime severity, we infer that prolonged or repeated droughts after ca. AD 1265 reduced the biomass and connectivity of fine fuels (grasses) within the woodlands. As a result, regional fire severity declined and allowed tree populations to expand. Tree‐ring data from the region show a peak in the recruitment of key Big Woods tree species during the AD 1930s drought and suggest that low regional moisture balance need not have been a limiting factor for forest expansion. The regional history, thus, demonstrates the types of counterintuitive ecosystem changes that may arise as climate changes in the future.