bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Colonization of storm gaps by the spruce bark beetle: influence of gap and landscape characteristics
Authors: Schroeder Leif Martin 
Published: September 2009

After storm disturbances, there is a risk for degradation of the quality of fallen trees, and for subsequent tree mortality caused by the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Models assessing the risk for bark beetle colonization of different kinds of storm gaps would be a valuable tool for management decisions.
The present study aimed to determine which gap and landscape characteristics are correlated with the probability of colonization of wind‐felled Norway spruce trees by I. typographus.
The study included 36 storm gaps, varying in size from three to 1168 wind‐felled spruces, created by the storm Gudrun in southern Sweden in January 2005.
In the first summer, on average, 5% of the wind‐felled spruces were colonized by I. typographus. The percentage of colonized wind‐felled trees per gap was negatively correlated with the total area of storm gaps within 2000 m in the surrounding forest landscape.
In the second summer, the proportion of colonized trees increased to 50%. Both gap (mean diameter of wind‐felled trees and basal area of living spruce trees) and landscape variables (amount of spruce forest) were significantly correlated with colonization percentage and explained almost 50% of the variation between gaps.
There was no relationship between gap area and colonization percentage. This implies that landscapes with many large storm gaps, where logging resources will be most effectively used, should be salvaged first.
Production and characterization of an orally immunogenic Plasmodium antigen in plants using a virus‐based expression system
Authors: Webster Diane E. , Wang Lina , Mulcair Mark , Ma Charles , Santi Luca , Mason Hugh S. , Wesselingh Steve L. , Coppel Ross L. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryIncreasing numbers of plant‐made vaccines and pharmaceuticals are entering the late stage of product development and commercialization. Despite the theoretical benefits of such production, expression of parasite antigens in plants, particularly those from Plasmodium, the causative parasites for malaria, have achieved only limited success. We have previously shown that stable transformation of tobacco plants with a plant‐codon optimized form of the Plasmodium yoelii merozoite surface protein 4/5 (PyMSP4/5) gene resulted in PyMSP4/5 expression of up to ∼0.25% of total soluble protein. In this report, we describe the rapid expression of PyMSP4/5 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves using the deconstructed tobacco mosaic virus‐based magnICON® expression system. PyMSP4/5 yields of up to 10% TSP or 1–2 mg/g of fresh weight were consistently achieved. Characterization of the recombinant plant‐made PyMSP4/5 indicates that it is structurally similar to PyMSP4/5 expressed by Escherichia coli. It is notable that the plant‐made PyMSP4/5 protein retained its immunogenicity following long‐term storage at ambient temperature within freeze‐dried leaves. With assistance from a mucosal adjuvant the PyMSP4/5‐containing leaves induced PyMSP4/5‐specific antibodies when delivered orally to naïve mice or mice primed by a DNA vaccine. This study provides evidence that immunogenic Plasmodium antigens can be produced in large quantities in plants using the magnICON® viral vector system.
Intron‐mediated enhancement as a method for increasing transgene expression levels in barley
Authors: Bartlett Joanne G. , Snape John W. , Harwood Wendy A. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryIt is desirable to produce transgenic plants which have optimized and stable levels of transgene expression. Low levels of transgene expression may lead to an insufficient quantity of transgenic protein being produced for a particular purpose. This report demonstrates a means of enhancing transgene expression in barley beyond that conferred by the Ubi1 promoter, via the inclusion of an intron at a specific position within the transgene coding sequence. We independently cloned two different introns (RpoT‐i4 from maize and UBQ10‐i1 from Arabidopsis) into the same position within the firefly luciferase (luc) coding sequence. The constructs produced were transformed into barley (Hordeum vulgare) via Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation, and the resulting transformant populations (of between 119 and 123 independent plants for each construct) were assayed for luciferase activity. Both introns significantly increased luciferase activity, and a quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction assay revealed that the introns increased the accumulation of luciferase mRNA transcripts. The enhanced transgene expression levels were maintained in the T1 and T2 progenies. These findings show that intron‐mediated enhancement is a valuable additional tool for achieving high and stable levels of transgene expression in crop plants.
TheLP2leucine‐rich repeat receptor kinase gene promoter directs organ‐specific, light‐responsive expression in transgenic rice
Authors: Thilmony Roger , Guttman Mara , Thomson James G. , Blechl Ann E. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryBiotechnologists seeking to limit gene expression to nonseed tissues of genetically engineered cereal crops have only a few choices of well characterized organ‐specific promoters. We have isolated and characterized the promoter of the riceLeaf Panicle 2gene (LP2, Os02g40240). TheLP2gene encodes a leucine‐rich repeat‐receptor kinase‐like protein that is strongly expressed in leaves and other photosynthetic tissues. Transgenic rice plants containing anLP2promoter‐GUS::GFPbifunctional reporter gene displayed an organ‐specific pattern of expression. This expression corresponded to transcript levels observed on RNA blots of various rice organs and microarray gene expression data. The strongest β‐glucuronidase activity was observed in histochemically stained mesophyll cells, but other green tissues and leaf cell types including epidermal cells also exhibited expression. Low or undetectable levels ofLP2transcript andLP2‐mediated reporter gene expression were observed in roots, mature seeds, and reproductive tissues. TheLP2promoter is highly responsive to light and only weak expression was detected in etiolated rice seedlings. The specificity and strength of theLP2promoter suggests that this promoter will be a useful control element for green tissue‐specific expression in rice and potentially other plants. Organ‐specific promoters likeLP2will enable precise, localized expression of transgenes in biotechnology‐derived crops and limit the potential of unintended impacts on plant physiology and the environment.
Exploring the learning mechanism of web‐based question‐answering systems and their design
Authors: Zhang Yin 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn recent years, a number of models concerning question‐answering (QA) systems have been put forward. But many of them stress technology and neglect the research of QA itself. In this paper, we analyse the essence of QA and discuss the relationship between technology and QA. On that basis, we propose that when designing web‐based QA systems, more attention should be paid to the learning mechanism involved in the QA process than to technology. Some new ideas on the design of QA systems are also put forward in order to promote the rapid development of web‐based QA systems.
The Judge Specificity of Evaluations of Youth Social Behavior: The Case of Peer Provocation
Authors: Dirks Melanie A. , Treat Teresa A. , Weersing V. Robin 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIncreasingly, theorists have suggested that social competence is an evaluative construct that will vary as a function of who is judging behavior. This study examined how two key groups in children's social environments—peers (N = 663, age range = 10.83–15.25 years) and teachers (N = 49)—rated the effectiveness of different behaviors generated by youth in response to physical, verbal, and relational provocation by peers. Results indicated that youth evaluated aggressive responses as more effective than teachers whereas teachers evaluated seeking an explanation as more effective than youth. Both groups judged responses combining assertive and aggressive elements to be more effective than ‘pure’ aggression. Implications for measurement and intervention models of social competence are discussed.
Structural and Parameter Uncertainty in Bayesian Cost-Effectiveness Models
Authors: Jackson Christopher H. , Sharples Linda D. , Thompson Simon G. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryHealth economic decision models are subject to various forms of uncertainty, including uncertainty about the parameters of the model and about the model structure. These uncertainties can be handled within a Bayesian framework, which also allows evidence from previous studies to be combined with the data. As an example, we consider a Markov model for assessing the cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Using Markov chain Monte Carlo posterior simulation, uncertainty about the parameters of the model is formally incorporated in the estimates of expected cost and effectiveness. We extend these methods to include uncertainty about the choice between plausible model structures. This is accounted for by averaging the posterior distributions from the competing models using weights that are derived from the pseudo-marginal-likelihood and the deviance information criterion, which are measures of expected predictive utility. We also show how these cost-effectiveness calculations can be performed efficiently in the widely used software WinBUGS.
The multi‐professional approach: front‐line professionals' behaviours and interactions
Authors: Sousa Liliana , Costa Tânia 
Published: September 2009

Sousa L, Costa T. The multi‐professional approach: front‐line professionals' behaviours and interactionsInt J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 444–454 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.Given the complexity of social problems, the multi‐professional approach has been generally adopted in the Western world as a desirable work practice. This study aimed at identifying front‐line professionals' behaviours and interactions that significantly influenced (positively or negatively) multi‐professional processes and outcomes. The study was conducted using the critical incidents technique administered to 117 front‐line professionals involved in multi‐professional approaches from different agencies and areas of expertise. The main findings suggest that the multi‐professional approach among front‐line professionals is facilitated by the professionals' commitment and complementarity and inhibited by the absence of complementarity, professionals being aggressive and insensitive to other professionals, and incompetence. The multi‐professional approach emerges as a context in which it is necessary to articulate professionals' personal and professional similarities and differences. The results suggest that professionals need to develop new competencies, particularly interdependence, flexibility and reflection on the process and outcomes of the multi‐professional approach.
Comorbidity of learning disorders: prevalence and familial transmission
Authors: Landerl Karin , Moll Kristina 
Published: September 2009

Background:  In order to fully specify the profiles of risk and protective factors of developmental disorders, a better understanding of the conditions under which they co‐occur is required. So far, empirical evidence on comorbidities of specific learning disorders in arithmetic, reading and spelling is scarce.Methods:  Prevalence and gender ratios of specific learning disorders in arithmetic (AD), reading (RD), and spelling (SD) and their co‐occurrence were assessed in a large (N = 2586) population‐based sample of elementary school children and in a subsample of 293 children with at least one learning disorder (LD‐sample). A questionnaire on familial transmission was given to a subsample of 256 parents of children with a learning disorder and 146 typically developing children.Results:  The rates of deficits in arithmetic, reading, or spelling were four to five times higher in samples already experiencing marked problems in one academic domain compared to the full population. Thus, comorbidity of learning disorders was confirmed in a fairly standard school population. Rates of co‐occurrence decreased for AD and RD, but not isolated SD when more stringent cutoff criteria were applied, suggesting that the comorbidity of arithmetic and spelling disorder may be more strongly biologically mediated than the comorbidity of arithmetic and reading disorder. We found a preponderance of girls with AD and boys with SD. These imbalanced gender ratios were especially marked for isolated problems, while for comorbid problems gender ratios were mostly balanced with the exception of deficits in arithmetic and reading (but not spelling) which were more typical for girls. The parental questionnaire provided evidence for disorder‐specific familial transmission and co‐segregation of arithmetic and literacy deficits.Conclusions:  Comorbidities of learning disorders are not artificial. They are the result of a complex interplay between both general and disorder‐specific aetiological factors.
Dynamics of emotion regulation in infants of clinically depressed and nondepressed mothers
Authors: Manian Nanmathi , Bornstein Marc H. 
Published: September 2009

Background:  Emotion regulation (ER) has been conceptualized as an ongoing process of the individual’s emotion patterns in relation to moment‐to‐moment contextual demands. In contrast to traditional approaches of descriptively quantizing ER, we employed a dynamic approach to ER by examining key transitions in infants of clinically depressed and nondepressed mothers in the context of maternal still‐face (SF).Methods:  Mothers with (n = 48) and without a clinical diagnosis of depression (n = 68) were seen in a modified SF paradigm with their 5‐month‐olds. Infant states and self‐soothing behaviors were coded in 1‐sec time intervals.Results:  Infants of nondepressed mothers used attentional regulatory strategies, whereas infants of depressed mothers used internally directed strategies of self‐soothing to reduce negativity and maintain engagement with mother.Conclusions:  This study advances our understanding of processes underlying infant ER and points to possible mechanisms for the development of long‐term maladaptive ER strategies in infants of depressed mothers.
Reduced electrodermal fear conditioning from ages 3 to 8 years is associated with aggressive behavior at age 8 years
Authors: Gao Yu , Raine Adrian , Venables Peter H. , Dawson Michael E. , Mednick Sarnoff A. 
Published: September 2009

Background:  Poor fear conditioning characterizes adult psychopathy and criminality, but it is not known whether it is related to aggressive/antisocial behavior in early childhood.Methods:  Using a differential, partial reinforcement conditioning paradigm, electrodermal activity was recorded from 200 male and female children at ages 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 years. Antisocial/aggressive and hyperactive‐inattentive measures were collected at age 8.Results:  Poor electrodermal fear conditioning from ages 3 to 8 years was associated with aggressive behavior at age 8 in both males and females.Conclusions:  Results indicate that the relationship between poor fear conditioning and aggression occurs early in childhood. Enhanced electrodermal fear conditioning may protect children against future aggressive/violent behavior. Abnormal amygdala functioning, as indirectly assessed by fear conditioning, may be one of the factors influencing the development of childhood aggression.
ACCESS TO TREATMENT IN HIV PREVENTION TRIALS: PERSPECTIVES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNITY
Authors: BARSDORF NICOLA , MAMAN SUZANNE , KASS NANCY , SLACK CATHERINE 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTAccess to treatment, in HIV vaccine trials (HVTs), remains ethically controversial. In most prevention trials, including in South Africa, participants who seroconvert are referred to publicly funded programmes for treatment. This strategy is problematic when there is inadequate and uneven access to public sector antiretroviral therapy (ART) and support resources. The responsibilities, if any, of researchers, sponsors and public health authorities involved in HVTs has been hotly debated among academics, scholars, representatives of international organizations and sponsors. However, there is little published on community perceptions. Recent guidance asserts that communities should make inputs into treatment and care decisions. This qualitative study explored a South African community's perceptions of who should provide what to HVT participants as well as how and why this should be done. Twenty‐nine adults working at or attending five primary health care clinics in two rural areas in KwaZulu‐Natal participated in in‐depth interviews. Respondents expressed that researchers should ‘help participants to access’ treatment and care ‘because they are in a position to do so’ and ‘are in a relationship with’ trial participants. Respondents suggested that researchers could help by ‘facilitating referral’ until such time that participants can access care and treatment on their own. We highlight a series of implications for researchers in HVTs, including their need to be aware of prospective participants' considerable trust in and respect for researchers, the responsibility that this places on them, and the need for clear communication with communities so as not to erode community trust.
Prototype analysis of the concept of compassionate love
Authors: FEHR BEVERLEY , SPRECHER SUSAN 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSocial scientists are turning their attention to compassionate love, arguing that this kind of love may promote the greatest social good. The central thesis of this research was that compassionate love might be best understood as a prototype rather than a classically defined concept. Six studies were conducted with in Canada and the United States. In Study 1, participants generated features of compassionate love. Studies 2 and 3 revealed that some features (e.g., trust, caring) are considered more central to the concept of compassionate love than others (e.g., sacrifice, sympathy). This prototype structure was confirmed in studies of reaction time (Study 4), memory (Study 5), and logical inferences (Study 6). The implications of a prototype conceptualization of compassionate love for theorizing and research in this relatively new area are discussed.
Temporal discounting for monetary and close relationship outcomes
Authors: TAYLER SOPHIE , ARANTES JOANA , GRACE RANDOLPH C. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe present study extended research on intertemporal choice—in which individuals choose between outcomes that may be received immediately or after a delay—to close relationships. In Experiment 1, New Zealand university students aged 18 to 25 made decisions about hypothetical monetary and relationship outcomes, and in Experiment 2, about relationship outcomes which emphasized companionate or sexual aspects (Ns = 64). Both experiments found effects of delay and magnitude on temporal discounting rates, and domain independence for choices about close relationships, similar to previous studies with monetary outcomes. There were no significant gender differences. Overall, results suggest that people make intertemporal choices about relationships according to a similar process used to make decisions involving other types of outcomes.
Attachment, marital satisfaction, and divorce during the first fifteen years of parenthood
Authors: HIRSCHBERGER GILAD , SRIVASTAVA SANJAY , MARSH PENNY , COWAN CAROLYN PAPE , COWAN PHILIP A. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThis study examines 2 overlapping longitudinal samples of U.S. couples with children, covering a period of 15 years after the first child's birth. The first sample extended from the pregnancy with a first child until that child was 5.5 years old and the second from ages 4.5 to 14.5. Growth curve analyses revealed that marital satisfaction declined over 15 years for both husbands and wives. Attachment security measured in the second sample was associated with greater marital satisfaction but did not buffer against declines in marital satisfaction over time. Husbands' lower initial level of marital satisfaction measured around the first child's transition to school was the only significant predictor of marital dissolution. The discussion emphasizes theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Interaction of nilotinib, dasatinib and bosutinib with ABCB1 and ABCG2: implications for altered anti‐cancer effects and pharmacological properties
Authors: Hegedűs C , Özvegy‐Laczka C , Apáti Á , Magócsi M , Német K , Őrfi L , Kéri G , Katona M , Takáts Z , Váradi A , Szakács G , Sarkadi B 
Published: September 2009

Background and purpose:  ABC multidrug transporters (MDR‐ABC proteins) cause multiple drug resistance in cancer and may be involved in the decreased anti‐cancer efficiency and modified pharmacological properties of novel specifically targeted agents. It has been documented that ABCB1 and ABCG2 interact with several first‐generation, small‐molecule, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), including the Bcr‐Abl fusion kinase inhibitor imatinib, used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia. Here, we have investigated the specific interaction of these transporters with nilotinib, dasatinib and bosutinib, three clinically used, second‐generation inhibitors of the Bcr‐Abl tyrosine kinase activity.Experimental approach:  MDR‐ABC transporter function was screened in both membrane‐ and cell‐based (K562 cells) systems. Cytotoxicity measurements in Bcr‐Abl‐positive model cells were coupled with direct determination of intracellular TKI concentrations by high‐pressure liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and analysis of the pattern of Bcr‐Abl phosphorylation. Transporter function in membranes was assessed by ATPase activity.Key results:  Nilotinib and dasatinib were high‐affinity substrates of ABCG2, and this protein mediated an effective resistance in cancer cells against these compounds. Nilotinib and dasatinib also interacted with ABCB1, but this transporter provided resistance only against dasatinib. Neither ABCB1 nor ABCG2 induced resistance to bosutinib. At relatively higher concentrations, however, each TKI inhibited both transporters.Conclusions and implications:  A combination of in vitro assays may provide valuable preclinical information for the applicability of novel targeted anti‐cancer TKIs, even in multidrug‐resistant cancer. The pattern of MDR‐ABC transporter–TKI interactions may also help to understand the general pharmacokinetics and toxicities of new TKIs.