bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Career Consequences of a Mistaken Research Project: The Case of Polywater
Authors: Diamond, Jr. Arthur M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractPolywater, one of the most famous mistaken scientific research programs of the past half‐century, is used as a case study to examine whether polywater researchers later experienced lower citation counts, or less favorable job mobility. The primary result is that simply writing on polywater, either pro or con, has a negative impact on future citations, in comparison with those who never wrote on polywater. The lifetime value of the lost citations is roughly in the range of $13,000 to $19,000. However writing on polywater did not affect the probability of a scientist leaving university employment.
Seasonal Homes and the Local Property Tax: Evidence from New York State
Authors: Hadsell Lester , Colarusso Chad 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis study examines the growth of seasonal (i.e., second or vacation) homes and their impact on local property tax rates using evidence from towns and villages in New York State between 1990 and 2000. We find that a greater concentration of seasonal homes in a municipality is associated with a lower effective property tax rate in towns, and a higher rate in small and rural villages. An alternative measure of tax burden, property taxes as a percentage of median household income, is not related to the presence of seasonal homes in towns but is positively related in small and rural villages. Our findings for towns contradict the findings of an earlier study by Fritz (1982) that found that an increase in town property allocated to vacation homes was significantly associated with an increasing property tax rate, although our findings for villages supports his findings.
Investigating Smoker's Profile: The Role of Psychosocial Characteristics and the Effectiveness of Tobacco Policy Tools
Authors: Raptou Elena , Mattas Konstadinos , Katrakilidis Constantinos 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis article investigates smoker's profile by addressing the determinants of cigarette demand and providing a circumstantial exposition of the psychosocial characteristics that differentiate smoking patterns. At the same time, the impact of tobacco control policies on smoking rates and their effectiveness on decreasing cigarette consumption are also analyzed. Consumers are distinguished in four smoking groups in concurrence to smoking status, and dichotomous indicators are constructed to describe tobacco control policies, psychosocial, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics. The empirical analysis estimates an ordered probit model with sample selectivity. The results indicate the absence of selectivity bias for cigarette consumption; hence, the subsample of smokers comprises a random independent sample and smoking participation and cigarette consumption form distinct stages of smoking behavior. Most of the psychosocial factors are found to be statistically significant in the econometric analysis, implying the main determinants of smoking behavior. In addition, total smoking bans in workplaces and educational institutions comprise efficient policy tools for decreasing cigarette demand, while partial smoking restrictions are accrued to be ineffective in reducing smoking participation.
Mode of Induction of Ventricular Tachycardia and Prognosis in Patients with Coronary Disease: The Multicenter UnSustained Tachycardia Trial (MUSTT)
Authors: PICCINI JONATHAN P. , HAFLEY GAIL E. , LEE KERRY L. , FISHER JOHN D. , JOSEPHSON MARK E. , PRYSTOWSKY ERIC N. , BUXTON ALFRED E. ,   for the MUSTT Investigators
Published: April 2009

Introduction: Programmed stimulation is an important prognostic tool in the evaluation of patients with an ejection fraction ≤40% after myocardial infarction. Many believe that ventricular tachycardia (VT) requiring 3 ventricular extrastimuli (VES) for induction is less likely to occur spontaneously and has less predictive value. However, it is unknown whether the mode of VT induction is associated with long‐term prognosis. Methods and Results: We analyzed a cohort of 371 patients enrolled in MUSTT who had inducible monomorphic VT and who were not treated with antiarrhythmic drugs or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator during the trial. Patients in whom sustained VT was induced with 1 or 2 VES or burst pacing (single VES n = 15, double VES n = 127, burst n = 7, total n = 149) were compared with those in whom VT was induced with 3 VES (n = 222). Compared with the others, patients requiring 3 VES were closer to their most recent myocardial infarction (17 vs 51 months, P = 0.035) and showed a trend toward a lower ejection fraction (26% vs 30%, P = 0.057). VT requiring 3 VES had a shorter cycle length (240 vs 260 ms, P < 0.001). Despite these findings, there was no difference in the incidence of arrhythmic death or cardiac arrest (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.69‐1.51) or all‐cause mortality (HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.76‐1.39) according to the mode of induction in adjusted analyses. Conclusions: The prognostic significance of VT induced by 3 VES is similar to that of VT induced by 1 or 2 VES, or burst pacing, in patients with coronary disease and abnormal LV function.
Ship Service Life and Naval Force Structure
Authors: KOENIG PHILIP , NALCHAJIAN DON , HOOTMAN JOHN 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe Naval Sea Systems Command has conducted several interdisciplinary studies recently, motivated by a need to address the high cost and extended duration of naval vessel design and construction. Naval architecture and force structure studies have been key components of these efforts. Two general approaches are available: development of alternative future fleet design and programming concepts, and changes in ship expected service life policy. These are not mutually exclusive alternatives, service life is a key variable in future force planning regardless of any other variables considered. In this paper, issues associated with both approaches are described and discussed. Potential implications for future naval force structure planning are identified and recommendations for future work are suggested.
Differing acceptance of familiar and unfamiliar plant species by an oligophagous beetle
Authors: Kühnle Anne , Müller Caroline 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe mustard leaf beetle, Phaedon cochleariae (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is specialized to feed and develop on various species within the Brassicaceae. In this study, we investigated the acceptance of several host plant species (Brassica rapa L. and Sinapis alba L.), commonly used by the beetle (familiar plants), and of various unfamiliar plants, including systematically and chemically related [Bunias orientalis L. (Brassicaceae) and Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae), both Brassicales], as well as unrelated non‐host plant species [Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae); Lamiales]. Emphasis was laid on the acceptance of the neophyte B. orientalis, and on underlying cues responsible for the acceptance of the various species. Behavioural responses to plant volatiles were studied using a static four‐chamber olfactometer. Stimulants and deterrents were investigated by bioassay‐guided solid phase extraction and semi‐preparative high performance liquid chromatography. A difference in acceptance of plant species was found: odours and polar compounds of all Brassicales evoked attraction and feeding stimulation, respectively, in Ph. cochleariae. Glucosinolates and their volatile hydrolysis products could be the main compounds that are involved in attraction of the beetles. In contrast, Ph. cochleariae did not respond to odours of the non‐host P. lanceolata, and some fractions of this plant had feeding‐deterrent effects, due to the presence of iridoid glycosides, among others. Although adult females accepted the neophyte B. orientalis for oviposition, neonate larvae did not survive on it. The flavonoid‐containing fraction of this plant was deterrent, whereas a similar fraction had been shown to cause some feeding stimulation when derived from S. alba. Differences in qualitative and quantitative composition of related metabolites lead to differentiated plant acceptance, proving the complexity of plant cues and of insect responses that determine host acceptance behaviour. The possibility of a diet breadth enlargement to B. orientalis and the role of Ph. cochleariae as a putative native biocontrol agent of this invasive plant are discussed.
An innovative method to measure skin pigmentation
Authors: Masuda Yuji , Yamashita Toyonobu , Hirao Tetsuji , Takahashi Motoji 
Published: April 2009

Background/purpose: It is crucial to establish an accurate method for measuring skin pigmentation in cosmetic science and clinical dermatology. Here, we report a non‐invasive precise method for measuring skin melanin content.Methods: In order to determine the concentrations of melanin and hemoglobin in skin, we used the spectrum resolution (SR) method. In brief, the absorption spectrum of the skin was calculated from the reflection spectrum using a spectrophotometer. The concentrations of melanin and hemoglobin were then determined using a multiple regression analysis, assuming that the absorption spectrum of the skin is expressed as a linear summation of the absorptions of melanin and hemoglobin according to the Lambert–Beer law. The skin changes in the volar forearm, which had been irradiated by ultraviolet rays (UV), were observed daily by the SR method.Results: A multiple regression analysis with an absorption spectrum of 500–700 nm was performed. The multiple correlation coefficient was 0.993, resulting in a satisfactory precise estimate of the concentrations of melanin. After UV irradiation, the concentration of melanin monitored by the SR method increased until 8 days and decreased gradually afterwards.Conclusions: The SR method allows the evaluation of the changes of epidermal melanin induced by UV irradiation.
Variation in modern pollen from tropical evergreen forests and the monsoon seasonality gradient in SW India
Authors: Barboni D. , Bonnefille R. , Prasad S. , Ramesh B.R. 
Published: April 2009

Abstract. This study analyses the pollen signature of tropical lowland forests (< 1000 m a.s.l.) in the Asian monsoon climate. Its aim is to investigate how well the pollen data can reproduce the vegetation patterns in tropical India, and how the variations in the pollen composition are related to the gradient of decreasing plant moisture availability (measured by the ratio of actual over equilibrium evapotranspiration) that is associated with the strong seasonality of precipitation that characterizes the monsoon climate regime.We used canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to relate the variations in the pollen composition of 71 surface soil samples from evergreen and semi‐evergreen forests distributed along the western coast of south India (8° 48’ N‐15° 08’ N), with the climate characteristics of the sampling sites. We show that variations in plant moisture availability strongly determine variations in the pollen composition; for example evergreen and semi‐evergreen forests can be distinguished on the basis of their pollen assemblages. Variations in the mean temperature of the coldest month associated with elevation also determine distinct pollen assemblages; for example evergreen forests above 800 m a.s.l. present different pollen signatures than those below this altitude/temperature limit. Variations in the relative abundance of some pollen taxa are strongly related to plant moisture availability and taxa indicators of climate can be identified. Hence, modern pollen assemblages from tropical forests in south India carry considerable information about vegetation patterns and climate. Paleoclimatic changes, notably in the monsoon season, could be quantified.
Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation
Authors: Chytrý Milan , Otýpková Zdenka 
Published: April 2009

Abstract. In European phytosociology, variable plot sizes are traditionally used for sampling different vegetation types. This practice may generate problems in current vegetation or habitat survey projects based on large data sets, which include relevés made by many authors at different times. In order to determine the extent of variation in plot sizes used in European phytosociology, we collected a data set of 41 174 relevés with an indication of plot size, published in six major European journals focusing on phytosociology from 1970 to 2000. As an additional data set, we took 27 365 relevés from the Czech National Phytosociological Database. From each data set, we calculated basic statistical figures for plot sizes used to sample vegetation of various phytosociological classes.The results show that in Europe the traditionally used size of vegetation plots is roughly proportional to vegetation height; however, there is a large variation in plot size, both within and among vegetation classes. The effect of variable plot sizes on vegetation analysis and classification is not sufficiently known, but use of standardized plot sizes would be desirable in future projects of vegetation or habitat survey. Based on our analysis, we suggest four plot sizes as possible standards. They are 4 m2 for sampling aquatic vegetation and low‐grown herbaceous vegetation, 16 m2 for most grassland, heathland and other herbaceous or low‐scrub vegetation types, 50 m2 for scrub, and 200 m2 for woodlands. It has been pointed out that in some situations, sampling in either small or large plots may result in assignment of relevés to different phytosociological classes or habitat types. Therefore defining vegetation and habitat types as scale‐dependent concepts is needed.
BOOK REVIEWS
Authors: van Andel Jelte 
Published: April 2009

Book reviewed in this article:Gurevitch, J., Scheiner, S.M. & Fox, G.A. 2002. The Ecology of Plants. xvi + 523 pp. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA, USA. ISBN 0‐87893‐291‐7 (hardcover). Price: USD 89.95.
Avoiding misinterpretation of biotic interactions with the intertypeK12‐function: population independence vs. random labelling hypotheses
Authors: Goreaud F. , Pélissier R. 
Published: April 2009

Abstract.The interactions between plants of different species, age or size play an important role in the dynamics of an ecosystem and can induce specific structures. These interactions can be studied by analysing the spatial structure of the corresponding bivariate patterns. The intertypeL12‐function has recently been successfully used in many papers for that purpose. However, when interpreting the results obtained with ecological data, at least two different null hypotheses – independence or random labelling – can be appropriate, depending on the context of the study and the nature of the data. As these two hypotheses correspond to different confidence intervals, an inappropriate choice of the null hypothesis can lead to misinterpretations of biotic interactions when studying ecological data. This problem has rarely been mentioned in the literature.In this paper we clarify the differences between these two null hypotheses, and illustrate the risk of misinterpretation when using an inappropriate null hypothesis. We review the main characteristics of these two hypotheses, and analyse the spatial structure of both real data from forest stands and simulated virtual stands of different structures. We demonstrate that the risk of misinterpretation is quite high, and that extreme misinterpretations, i.e. cases leading to opposite conclusions in terms of spatial interaction, can occur in a significant number of cases. We therefore propose some guidelines to help ecologists avoid such misinterpretations.
Innovative procedure in surgical management of chronic lymphoedema
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Reza , Mehdikhah Zohreh , Kavyani Ali , Saberi Ali Reza 
Published: April 2009

Background:  Lymphoedema is the result of impaired lymphatic drainage from the affected organ. This abnormality can be primary or secondary. Different non‐operative and operative approaches have been introduced to treat chronic lymphoedema. In the present study, we describe a new surgical technique and compare its results with other more commonplace methods.Materials and Methods:  The study included 296 patients who had been diagnosed with chronic lower extremity lymphoedema and who had not responded to non‐operative management for at least 6 months. Data was collected over 15 years, between March 1987 and March 2002. Doppler ultrasonography of the deep venous system was routinely undertaken in all patients to confirm its patency. The 296 patients underwent surgery and their progress was followed for at least 1 year postoperatively.Results:  All of the patients were operated on using our new technique, which is a modified form of the Homan techniques. The outcome was excellent, and 89.2% of patients were free of complication. The most common complication was wound seroma.Conclusions:  Considering the difficulties associated with the treatment of chronic lymphoedema and the variety of surgical options, our method achieves excellent results, and could even become the standard operative procedure for treating intractable forms of disease.
Factors for conversion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: Is timing important?
Authors: Li Wing‐Hong , Chu Colin Wai‐Ho , Cheung Moon‐Tong 
Published: April 2009

Aim:  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is regarded as the gold standard treatment for gallstones. Conversion to open cholecystectomy is still common, and preoperative factors to predict conversion are useful in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative factors that could predict conversion in acute cholecystitis.Methods:  This is a retrospective review of 83 patients with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy carried out as an emergency operation. Clinical, biochemical, and operative factors were analyzed for association with conversion.Results:  A total of 83 patients were recruited to this study. The overall conversion rate was 33.7% (28/83). A longer duration of symptoms before presentation (P = 0.005) and surgery that was carried out over 48 h after admission (P = 0.022) were associated with a higher conversion rate. Emergency operations that began between 20.00 hours and 08.00 hours were also associated with a higher rate of conversion (P = 0.003). Other factors that were associated with conversion included male sex (P = 0.004), low albumin level upon admission (P = 0.024), prolonged prothrombin time (P = 0.040), and a raised serum total bilirubin level (P = 0.024). ASA scores were found to be similar in both groups (P = 0.509). Multivariate analysis by logistic regression showed that the independent risk factors for conversion in emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy were surgery >48 h after admission (P = 0.028), emergency operation started between 20.00 hours and 08.00 hours (P = 0.026), and longer duration of symptoms before presentation (P = 0.034).Conclusions:  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be carried out within 48 h of the patient being admitted for acute cholecystitis. The operation should be carried out during the daytime.
The combination of polymorphisms within MCP‐1 and IL‐1β associated with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Li K.‐S. , Wang B.‐Y. , Liu S.‐Y. , Yao S.‐P. , Guo L. , Mao D.‐W. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryMonocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) is a chemokine involved in monocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation. Raised level of MCP‐1 has been widely demonstrated in the intestinal mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), suggesting an important role of MCP‐1 in the pathogenesis of UC. The –2518A/G polymorphism in the promoter region of MCP‐1 gene affecting its transcriptional activation has been reported recently. In order to assess the potential role of this polymorphism in UC, we examined its distribution in 162 unrelated UC patients and 203 healthy controls. In addition, considering the gene regulatory association between interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and MCP‐1, we further examined whether the gene polymorphisms between MCP‐1 and IL‐1β exert synergetic effects on risk of UC. Our results show that the distribution of MCP‐1 genotype or allele frequencies between UC patients and controls was not significantly different; however, the association between the polymorphism of MCP‐1 –2518 GG and the polymorphism of IL‐1β–511 T in UC patients is significant (OR 2.062, 95% CI 1.034–4.113, P = 0.038). This is the first report describing the association between MCP‐1 polymorphism and UC, and our data suggest that the MCP‐1 –2518 polymorphism itself does not represent an independent genetic risk factor for UC. In contrast, the combination polymorphisms between MCP‐1 and IL‐1β can increase UC risk significantly, which might help us understand the molecular mechanism underlying the development of UC.
Utility of MtCOI polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism in differentiating between Q and B whitefly Bemisia tabaci biotypes
Authors: Ma Wei‐Hua , Li Xian‐Chun , Dennehy Timothy J. , Lei Chao‐Liang , Wang Mo , Degain Benjamin A. , Nichols Robert L. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe invasive, insecticide‐resistant, Q whitefly biotype, has gradually spread to other countries including the US via human‐mediated movement of plant materials. We assessed the utility of the VspI‐based mtCOI (mitochondrion cytochrome oxidase I) polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) technique as a rapid, cost‐effective, and reliable alternative for differentiating the Q from the dominant B biotype in Arizona. Using the standard mtCOI gene sequencing and mtCOI PCR‐RFLP techniques, we biotyped eight whitefly strains of five individuals each collected from poinsettia and cotton at different locations in Arizona. Complete concordance was observed between the two methods, with three strains being identified as the Q biotype and five samples as the B biotype. We also scanned the mtCOI gene sequences for VspI polymorphisms in the B and Q biotype whiteflies currently available in the GenBank database. This global screening revealed the existence of three and four VspI polymorphic types for the Q and B biotypes, respectively. Nevertheless, all three VspI polymorphic Q biotype whiteflies shared a common and unique VspI site that can be used to differentiate Q biotype from the four VspI polymorphic B biotype whiteflies identified. These results demonstrate that the VspI‐based mtCOI gene PCR‐RFLP provides a reliable diagnostic tool for differentiating the Q and B biotype whiteflies in the US and elsewhere.
Modes of action of fraxinellone against the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens
Authors: Liu Zhi Long , Ho Shuit Hung , Goh Swee Hock 
Published: April 2009

AbstractFraxinellone significantly reduced the relative growth rate, food consumption rate as well as the efficiency of conversion of ingested food into biomass of Heliothis virescens when incorporated into artificial diets at concentrations of 4.31 × 10−5 mol/L and above. After being fed with fraxinellone‐treated diets for 24 h, the larval midguts of H. virescens possess significantly lower activities of α‐amylase and non‐specific proteases and higher activities of cytochrome P450s. In vitro, the compound did not inhibit the activities of α‐amylase and non‐specific proteases extracted from the larval midguts. Clear evidence of post‐ingestive toxicity of fraxinellone to midgut cells was observed under an electron microscope. The modes of action of the compound against insects were discussed.