bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A social and self-reflective approach to MALL
Authors: Ros i Solé Cristina , Calic Jelena , Neijmann Daisy 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThere is a growing recognition that learning is increasingly taking place on the move and located beyond educational environments, ‘in the gaps of daily life’ (Sharples et al., 2007). And yet, language learners have mostly been perceived as being fixed in particular contexts, whether in the educational environment, abroad, or in their homes and communities. As several authors have pointed out (Castells et al., 2007; Okabe & Ito, 2006; Sharples et al., 2007), mobile devices allow learners to capitalize on the multiple sites that they travel through, whether they be public or private spaces, formal or informal ones, and reflect on their social practices and their learner selves. This paper investigates whether such a context-sensitive and social-oriented approach to Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) can be applied to the language learning context and how it is manifested. In order to carry out this investigation, we will be drawing on literature on the development of identity in second language learning (Norton, 2000; Kramsch, 2006; Phipps, 2007) and the use of ethnographic approaches to data collection and interpretation. We will be reporting on two case studies, involving learners of Icelandic and Serbian/Croatian, conducted over two years at a UK university. The paper concludes that the use of mobile technology enables language learners to use these devices as ‘a prosthesis of the self’ (Kress & Pachler, 2007) which allows them to explore the perception of their L2 selves in a variety of day-to-day scenarios.
Utilizing lexical data from a Web-derived corpus to expand productive collocation knowledge
Authors: Wu Shaoqun , Witten Ian H. , Franken Margaret 
Published: December 2009

AbstractCollocations are of great importance for second language learners, and a learner’s knowledge of them plays a key role in producing language fluently (Nation, 2001: 323). In this article we describe and evaluate an innovative system that uses a Web-derived corpus and digital library software to produce a vast concordance and present it in a way that helps students use collocations more effectively in their writing. Instead of live search we use an off-line corpus of short sequences of words, along with their frequencies. They are preprocessed, filtered, and organized into a searchable digital library collection containing 380 million five-word sequences drawn from a vocabulary of 145,000 words. Although the phrases are short, learners can browse more extended contexts because the system automatically locates sample sentences that contain them, either on the Web or in the British National Corpus. Two evaluations were conducted: an expert user tested the system to see if it could generate suitable alternatives for given text fragments, and students used it for a particular exercise. Both suggest that, even within the constraints of a limited study, the system could and did help students improve their writing.
Effect of intrinsic organic carbon on the optical properties of fresh diesel soot
Authors: Adler Gabriella , Riziq Ali Abo , Erlick Carynelisa , Rudich Yinon 
Published: December 2009

This study focuses on the retrieval of the normalized mass absorption cross section (MAC) of soot using theoretical calculations that incorporate new measurements of the optical properties of organic carbon (OC) intrinsic to fresh diesel soot. Intrinsic OC was extracted by water and an organic solvent, and the complex refractive index of the extracted OC was derived at 532 and 355-nm wavelengths using cavity ring-down aerosol spectrometry. The extracted OC was found to absorb weakly in the visible wavelengths and moderately at blue wavelengths. The mass ratio of OC and elemental carbon (EC) in the collected particles was evaluated using a thermo-optical method. The measured EC/OC ratio in the soot exhibited substantial variability from measurement to measurement, ranging between 2 and 5. To test the sensitivity of the MAC to this variability, three different EC/OC ratios (2∶1, 1∶1, and 1∶2) were chosen as representative. Particle size and spherule morphology were estimated using scanning electron microscopy, and the soot was found to be primarily in the form of aggregates with a dominant aggregate diameter mode in the range 200–250 nm. The measured refractive index of the extracted OC was used with a variety of theoretical models to calculate the MAC of internally mixed diesel soot at 532 and 355 nm. We conclude that Rayleigh–Debye–Gans theory on clusters of coated spherules and T-matrix of a solid EC spheroid coated by intrinsic OC are both consistent with previous measurements; however, Rayleigh–Debye–Gans theory provides a more realistic physical model for the calculation
Quantitative biological imaging by ptychographic x-ray diffraction microscopy
Authors: Giewekemeyer Klaus , Thibault Pierre , Kalbfleisch Sebastian , Beerlink André , Kewish Cameron M. , Dierolf Martin , Pfeiffer Franz , Salditt Tim 
Published: December 2009

Recent advances in coherent x-ray diffractive imaging have paved the way to reliable and quantitative imaging of noncompact specimens at the nanometer scale. Introduced a year ago, an advanced implementation of ptychographic coherent diffractive imaging has removed much of the previous limitations regarding sample preparation and illumination conditions. Here, we apply this recent approach toward structure determination at the nanoscale to biological microscopy. We show that the projected electron density of unstained and unsliced freeze-dried cells of the bacterium
Deinococcus radiodurans
can be derived from the reconstructed phase in a straightforward and reproducible way, with quantified and small errors. Thus, the approach may contribute in the future to the understanding of the highly disputed nucleoid structure of bacterial cells. In the present study, the estimated resolution for the cells was 85 nm (half-period length), whereas 50-nm resolution was demonstrated for lithographic test structures. With respect to the diameter of the pinhole used to illuminate the samples, a superresolution of about 15 was achieved for the cells and 30 for the test structures, respectively. These values should be assessed in view of the low dose applied on the order of ≃1.3·10
5
Gy, and were shown to scale with photon fluence.
Heart failure registry: a valuable tool for improving the management of patients with heart failure
Authors: Jonsson Åsa , Edner Magnus , Alehagen Urban , Dahlström Ulf 
Published: December 2009

AimsGuidelines on how to diagnose and treat patients with heart failure (HF) are published regularly. However, many patients do not fulfil the diagnostic criteria and are not treated with recommended drugs. The Swedish Heart Failure Registry (S‐HFR) is an instrument which may help to optimize the handling of HF patients.Methods and resultsThe S‐HFR is an Internet‐based registry in which participating centres (units) can record details of their HF patients directly online and transfer data from standardized forms or from computerized patient documentation. Up to December 2007, 16 117 patients from 78 units had been included in the S‐HFR. Of these, 10 229 patients had been followed for at least 1 year, and 2133 deaths were recorded. Online reports from the registry showed that electrocardiograms were available for 97% of the patients. Sinus rhythm was found in 51% of patients and atrial fibrillation in 38%. Echocardiography was performed in 83% of the patients. Overall, 77% of patients were treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, 80% were on beta‐blockers, 34% on aldosterone antagonists, and 83% on diuretics.ConclusionThe S‐HFR is a valuable tool for improving the management of patients with HF, since it enables participating centres to focus on their own potential for improving diagnoses and medical treatment, through the online reports provided.
Using indicators for evaluating, comparing, and communicating the ecological status of exploited marine ecosystems. 1. The IndiSeas project
Authors: Shin Yunne-Jai , Shannon Lynne J. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Shin, Y-J., and Shannon, L. J. 2010. Using indicators for evaluating, comparing and communicating the ecological status of exploited marine ecosystems. 1. The IndiSeas project. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 686–691. One of the challenges faced by the scientific community grappling with the ecosystem approach to fisheries is to propose a generic set of synthetic ecological indicators, which would accurately reflect the effects of fisheries on marine ecosystems, and could support sound communication and management practices. The IndiSeas Working Group was established in 2005 under the auspices of the Eur-Oceans Network of Excellence to develop methods to provide indicators-based assessments of the status of exploited marine ecosystems in a comparative framework. Here, we present the two main outputs of the first phase of the project: a suite of papers documenting a combination of indicator-based methods and results comparing the ecological status of the world's exploited marine ecosystems, and a website aiming to communicate these results beyond scientific audiences.
QTL for body weight, morphometric traits and stress response in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax
Authors: Massault C. , Hellemans B. , Louro B. , Batargias C. , Van Houdt J. K. J. , Canario A. , Volckaert F. A. M. , Bovenhuis H. , Haley C. , De Koning D. J. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryNatural mating and mass spawning in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., Moronidae, Teleostei) complicate genetic studies and the implementation of selective breeding schemes. We utilized a two‐step experimental design for detecting QTL in mass‐spawning species: 2122 offspring from natural mating between 57 parents (22 males, 34 females and one missing) phenotyped for body weight, eight morphometric traits and cortisol levels, had been previously assigned to parents based on genotypes of 31 DNA microsatellite markers. Five large full‐sib families (five sires and two dams) were selected from the offspring (570 animals), which were genotyped with 67 additional markers. A new genetic map was compiled, specific to our population, but based on the previously published map. QTL mapping was performed with two methods: half‐sib regression analysis (paternal and maternal) and variance component analysis accounting for all family relationships. Two significant QTL were found for body weight on linkage group 4 and 6, six significant QTL for morphometric traits on linkage groups 1B, 4, 6, 7, 15 and 23 and three suggestive QTL for stress response on linkage groups 3, 14 and 23. The QTL explained between 8% and 38% of phenotypic variance. The results are the first step towards identifying genes involved in economically important traits like body weight and stress response in European sea bass.
Blood coagulation, fibrinolysis and lipid profile in patients with prolactinoma
Authors: Erem Cihangir , Kocak Mustafa , Nuhoglu İrfan , Yılmaz Mustafa , Ucuncu Ozge 
Published: December 2009

SummaryObjective  Although the strong association between hyperprolactinaemia and platelet aggregation is well recognized, there are no studies on changes in coagulation and fibrinolytic status in patients with prolactinoma. To our knowledge, tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1), plasma tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and thrombin‐activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) levels in these patients have not been investigated. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the markers of endogenous coagulation/fibrinolysis, including TFPI and TAFI, and to investigate the relationships between prolactin (PRL) and these haemostatic parameters and serum lipid profile in patients with prolactinoma.Research methods and procedures  Twenty‐two patients with untreated, newly diagnosed prolactinoma and 20 age‐matched healthy controls were included in the study. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, factors V, VII, VIII, IX and X activities, von Willebrand factor, antithrombin III (AT‐III), protein C, protein S, tissue plasminogen activator (t‐PA), PAI‐1, TFPI and TAFI, as well as common lipid variables, were measured. The relationships between serum PRL and these haemostatic parameters were evaluated.Results  Compared with the control subjects, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, platelet count, fibrinogen, AT‐III, PAI‐1 and PAI‐1/t‐PA ratio were significantly increased in patients with prolactinoma (P < 0·0001, P < 0·001, P < 0·05, P < 0·05, P < 0·0001, P < 0·05, P < 0·0001 and P < 0·0001, respectively), whereas TFPI levels were significantly decreased (P < 0·01). Plasma TAFI Ag levels were not significantly different in patients with prolactinoma compared with the controls. In patients with prolactinoma, serum PRL was positively correlated with plasma FVII levels and apo B (r: 0·679, P < 0·05; r: 0·548, P < 0·05, respectively).Conclusion  We found some important differences in the haemostatic parameters between the patients with prolactinoma and healthy controls. Increased platelet count, fibrinogen, PAI‐1 and decreased TFPI in patients with prolactinoma may represent a potential hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state, which might augment the risk for atherosclerotic and atherothrombotic complications. Thus, disturbances of the haemostatic system and dyslipidaemia may lead to the excess mortality in patients with prolactinoma.
Partial growth hormone deficiency is associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile and increased carotid intima‐medial thickness
Authors: Murray Robert D. , Wieringa Gilbert , Lawrance Jeremy A. , Adams Judith E. , Shalet Stephen M. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryObjective  To quantify the relative prevalence of surrogate markers of vascular risk in adults with partial GH deficiency (GH insufficiency, GHI).Context  Hypopituitary adults with untreated GH deficiency (GHD) have an excess vascular mortality and demonstrate clustering of adverse vascular risk factors. The vascular risk profile of GHI adults has yet to be comprehensively studied.Design  A cross‐sectional case controlled study.Patients  Thirty GHD adults, 24 GHI, and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. GHI adults were defined biochemically using two GH stimulation tests (peak GH 3–7 μg/l).Measurements  Serum lipids and apolipoproteins, plasminogen activator inhibitor type‐I (PAI‐I), C‐reactive protein (CRP), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], fibrinogen, blood pressure and carotid intima‐medial thickness (IMT).Results  IGF‐I levels of GHI adults were lower than controls (373 ± 123 vs 295 ± 104 μg/l; P < 0·001). Total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and triglycerides (TG) values were consistently between those of, but not significantly different from, GHD and control subjects. GHI adults showed significantly elevated PAI‐I levels [80 (13–98) vs 50·5 (3–98) ng/ml; P = 0·01], although no there were differences in CRP, Lp(a), and fibrinogen levels compared with control subjects. No differences in systolic or diastolic blood pressure were shown between study groups. In parallel with the increased vascular risk profile of GH‐insufficient adults, carotid IMT was significantly increased (0·503 ± 0·08 vs 0·578 ± 0·130 mm; P = 0·02). TC, LDL‐C, Waist‐Hip Ratio (WHR), truncal fat mass, and IMT correlated with IGF‐I levels and GH status. TG, KITT, and PAI‐I additionally correlated with GH status, but not with IGF‐I levels.Conclusion  GHI adults are at elevated vascular risk, reflected by adverse surrogate markers and increased carotid IMT. The surrogate risk marker profile parallels GHD adults, but is less divergent from that observed in healthy individuals. No data are yet available as to whether these anomalies will be reflected in an increased vascular mortality in GHI adults.
Outcome of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with pituitary adenomas resistant to conventional treatments: a 5·25‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Schalin‐Jäntti Camilla , Valanne Leena , Tenhunen Mikko , Setälä Kirsi , Paetau Anders , Sane Timo , Kouri Mauri 
Published: December 2009

SummaryObjective  To investigate the long‐term outcome of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) [45 Gy (range 45–54) in 25 fractions] in patients with pituitary adenomas characterized by tumour progression or hormonally active disease despite surgery and/or medical therapy.Design  This was an observational follow‐up study of 5·25 years (median; range 1·7–10·4).Patients and measurements  Pituitary tumour volume, visual acuity/fields, hypersecretion, hypopituitarism, cerebrovascular disease, second brain tumours and mortality were examined at regular intervals after FSRT in 30 patients with pituitary adenomas (20 nonfunctioning macroadenomas, 10 functioning). Prior to FSRT, 83% had been operated 1–3 times, 47% had visual field deficits/impaired vision and 50% pituitary dysfunction. Progressive disease, stable disease, partial and complete tumour response were defined by MRI.Results  Tumour growth control was 100%. At the end of follow‐up, 30% had stable disease, 60% partial and 10% complete tumour response. Visual function was preserved and 36% of patients with prior field deficits improved. GH decreased from 4·2 (range, 2·3–6·5) to 1·1 (range, 0·5–1·5) μg/l (P < 0·001) in patients with acromegaly, and medical therapy could be reduced. In large prolactinomas, partial response or complete tumour response was achieved. FSRT was well tolerated. Pituitary function remained normal in 27%, 33% of patients had stable dysfunction, 17% deteriorated further and 23% developed new dysfunction. There were no cerebrovascular events, second brain tumours or FSRT‐related deaths.Conclusion  According to this long‐term follow‐up study, FSRT is an efficient and safe adjuvant therapy for pituitary adenomas refractory to conventional treatments.
Influence of physiological dietary selenium supplementation on the natural course of autoimmune thyroiditis
Authors: Nacamulli Davide , Mian Caterina , Petricca Daniela , Lazzarotto Francesca , Barollo Susi , Pozza Dina , Masiero Stefano , Faggian Diego , Plebani Mario , Girelli Maria E. , Mantero Franco , Betterle Corrado 
Published: December 2009

SummaryObjective  Our study aimed to investigate whether physiological doses of selenium (Se) influence the natural course of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).Design and Patients  A total of 76 consecutive patients (65F, 11M, median 43, range 15‐75 years) with AIT, normal or slightly elevated TSH and fT4 within the normal range were divided into two groups: Group 0 (30 cases) was given no treatment while Group 1 (46 cases) was treated with sodium selenite 80 μg/day as a single oral dose for 12 months. Thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TPO‐Ab; Tg‐Ab), TSH, fT4 and urine iodine concentrations (UIC) were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of follow‐up. Thyroid ultrasonography (US) was performed at each follow‐up point. Echogenicity was measured by histographic analysis of gray‐scale pixels (gsp) ranging from 0 = black to 255 = white.Results  Thyroid echogenicity decreased significantly in both groups after 6 months, but after 12 months, it had changed no more in Group 1, whereas it had dropped further in Group 0. No significant variation in TPO‐Ab or Tg‐Ab levels was observed between the two groups after 6 months, but both values decreased significantly after 12 months in Group 1, and five patients in this group became negative for TPO‐Ab. TSH and FT4 showed no significant variations in either group.Conclusions  Dietary supplementation with physiological doses of Se seems to be effective in preventing a reduction in thyroid echogenicity after 6 months of treatment and in reducing TPO‐Ab and Tg‐Ab after 12 months, but does not modify TSH or FT4.
The Metabolic syndrome is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis independent of insulin resistance: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study‐CVD
Authors: Xu Lin , Jiang Chao Qiang , Lam Tai Hing , Lin Jie Ming , Yue Xiao Jun , Cheng Kar Keung , Liu Bin , Jin Ya Li , Zhang Wei Sen , Thomas G Neil 
Published: December 2009

SummaryObjective  We examined whether the association of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and subclinical atherosclerosis is independent of insulin resistance in a Chinese community sample with no history of type 2 diabetes.Methods  Five hundred and ninety‐six men and 526 women from a substudy of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS‐CVD) had carotid intimal‐medial thickness (IMT) measured by B‐mode ultrasonography, and brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle‐brachial systolic blood pressure index (ABI) measured simultaneously by a noninvasive automatic waveform analyser.Results  Fourteen percentage had MetS as defined by the International Diabetes Federation. Obesity indices, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, lipids, fasting and postload glucose and insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, glycosylated haemoglobin A1c, leptin, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, IMT and PWV increased and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, adiponectin and ABI decreased significantly with increasing number of MetS components after adjusting for age and sex (P for trend from 0·004 to <0·001). After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and insulin resistance, the odds ratios [OR (95% CI)] of thicker IMT (≥1·0 mm), higher PWV (≥14·0 m/s) and low ABI (≤1·0) for MetS were significantly increased [2.28 (1.19−4.38), 2.17 (1.36−3.46) and 1.72 (1.14−2.59), respectively, all P < 0.01] but were lower than the adjusted OR for those with three or more MetS components.Conclusion  MetS was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis independent of insulin resistance. The presence of increasing number of MetS risk factors appeared to be more important than the diagnosis of MetS in predicting subclinical atherosclerosis. Early screening for MetS risk factors might identify those at greater cardiovascular risk.