bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physical and biological changes to a lengthening stream gradient following a decade of rapid glacial recession
Authors: FINN DEBRA S. , RÄSÄNEN KATJA , ROBINSON CHRISTOPHER T. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractIn mountains, environmental gradients are steep in both terrestrial and aquatic systems, and climate change is causing upward shifts of physical and biological features of these gradients. Glacial streams are an interesting system to evaluate such shifts both because streams have a linear nature (for simplicity of analysis), and because the stream habitat will at least temporarily lengthen as it follows receding glaciers upward. The Tschierva Glacier, Swiss Alps, receded 482 m upstream from 1997 to 2008. We tested the null hypothesis that the physical and biological stream gradient below this glacier maintained the same structure between these time periods, but simply shifted upward following the glacial source. We compared longitudinal patterns of water temperature and zoobenthic community structure in 1997 and 2007–2008 during three seasons (spring, summer, fall) along the uppermost ca. 5 stream km. Upward shifts were evident, including colonization of the newly exposed stream reaches by cold‐adapted taxa, and the appearance in 2007/2008 of four lower‐altitude species that were previously absent. Overall, however, results rejected the null hypothesis, instead revealing significant changes in gradient structures. These included a more steeply increasing temperature profile downstream of the glacier and increased amplitude of seasonal community turnover in 2007/2008 vs. 1997. Long‐term (1955–2007) flow records revealed increasing short‐term and seasonal hydrologic variability, which might have influenced the increased intra‐annual community variability. The steepening of the temperature gradient was likely caused by a warming lake‐outlet tributary upon which glacial influence was diminished between 1997 and 2007/2008. These results suggest that upward‐shifting gradients in glacial streams can involve complex interactions with other landscape elements and that local‐scale climate response can progress even more rapidly than the rate of glacial recession.
Low‐dose metronomic chemotherapy with cisplatin: can it suppress angiogenesis in H22 hepatocarcinoma cells?
Authors: Shen Fang‐Zhen , Wang Jing , Liang Jun , Mu Kun , Hou Ji‐Yuan , Wang Yan‐Tao 
Published: December 2009

SummaryLow‐dose chemotherapy drugs can suppress tumours by restraining tumour vessel growth and preventing the repair of damaged vascular endothelial cells. Cisplatin is a broad‐spectrum, cell cycle‐non‐specific drug, but has serious side effects if used at high doses. There have been few reports on the anti‐angiogenic effects of low‐dose cisplatin and hence the effect of low‐dose metronomic (LDM) chemotherapy on the proliferation and neovascularization of H22 hepatocarcinoma cells is discussed in this research. The influence of LDM chemotherapy with cisplatin on human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and proliferation of the HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cell line were measured using MTT assays. The LDM group was treated with cisplatin 0.6 mg/kg/day; the control group with saline 0.2 ml; the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) group with cisplatin 9 mg/kg/day. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP‐2) were detected using immunohistochemical staining. A chicken chorio‐allantoic membrane (CAM) model was used to check the inhibitory effect of LDM chemotherapy with cisplatin on neovascularization in vivo. Low‐dose cisplatin inhibited HUVEC proliferation in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner, but was ineffective in inhibiting HepG2 cell proliferation. Tumour growth was delayed in mice receiving LDM cisplatin, without apparent body weight loss, compared with mice that received MTD cisplatin. Microvessel density and expression of VEGF and MMP‐2 were much lower in mice receiving LDM cisplatin than in the control and MTD groups. Continuous low‐dose cisplatin suppressed CAM angiogenesis in vivo. LDM chemotherapy with cisplatin can inhibit the growth of blood vessel endothelial cells in vitro and shows anti‐angiogenic ability in vivo.
A quantitative study of lung dysfunction following haemorrhagic shock in rats
Authors: Sato Hiroaki , Tanaka Toshiko , Kita Toshiro , Tanaka Noriyuki 
Published: December 2009

SummaryHaemorrhagic shock occasionally causes an episode of lung dysfunction, the severity of which appears to correlate with fatal outcome. Our previous study indicated that proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β, played a key role in the development of lung dysfunction through recruitment of activated neutrophils by causing pulmonary endothelial cell damage. Here, we examined this issue quantitatively by grading four groups of severity of bleeding in rats. As the amount of bleeding increased, the expression of mRNA for TNF‐α and IL‐1β in the lung tissue and the pulmonary serum levels of both cytokines increased progressively up to 5 h, and the frequency of activated neutrophils increased likewise. The lung dysfunction indices serum lactic dehydrogenase‐3 isozyme (LDH‐3), partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and alveolar‐arterial oxygen tension difference (AaDO2) in blood deteriorated as the amount of bleeding increased. The frequency of activated neutrophils in the lung correlated well with the LDH‐3 level 5 h after haemorrhagic shock. The present results demonstrate that the increase of proinflammatory cytokines and the recruitment of activated neutrophils into the lung following haemorrhagic shock are quantitatively related to progression of lung dysfunction as the amount of bleeding increases.
Potential role of CXCL10 in the induction of cell injury and mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Singh Lipi , Arora Sunil Kumar , Bakshi Dapinder K. , Majumdar Siddarth , Wig Jai Dev 
Published: December 2009

SummaryChemokines have been known to play a critical role in pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis and acinar cell death. However, the role played by one of the CXC chemokines: CXCL10 in regulation of acinar cell death has remained unexplored. Hence, this study was designed to assess the role of CXCL10 promoting apoptosis in ex vivo cultured acinar cells. Primary human pancreatic acinar cell cultures were established and exposed to varying doses of CXCL10 for different time intervals. Apoptotic induction was evaluated by both qualitative as well as quantitative analyses. Various mediators of apoptosis were also studied by Western blotting, membrane potential (Ψm) and ATP depletion in acinar cells. Analysis of apoptosis via DNA ladder and cell death detection – ELISA demonstrated that CXCL10 induced 3.9‐fold apoptosis when administrated at an optimal dose of 0.1 μg of recombinant CXCL10 for 8 h. Quantitative analysis using FACS and dual staining by PI‐annexin showed increased apoptosis (48.98 and 53.78% respectively). The involvement of upstream apoptotic regulators like pJNK, p38 and Bax was established on the basis of their increased expression of CXCL10. The change of Ψm by 50% was observed in the presence of CXCL10 in treated acinar cells along with enhanced expression of Cytochrome C, apaf‐1 and caspase 9/3 activation. In addition, ATP depletion was also noticed in CXCL10 stimulated acinar cells. CXCL10 induces cell death in human cultured pancreatic cells leading to apoptosis and DNA fragmentation via CXCR3 signalling. These signalling mechanisms may play an important role in parenchymal cell loss and injury in pancreatitis.
Relative importance of habitat connectivity in shaping the genetic profiles of two southern African elephant‐shrews
Authors: Smit Hanneline A. , Watson Johan , Jansen van Vuuren Bettine 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAim  When interpreting genetic patterns across a landscape it is surprisingly difficult to disentangle the effects of landscape connectivity from those of species biology. Here, the spatial distributions of genetic variation of two sympatric elephant‐shrew species, the western rock elephant‐shrew (Elephantulus rupestris) and the round‐eared elephant‐shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus), are determined and compared. We selected these species because they have similar biologies but differ markedly in habitat use, the rationale being that differences in their genetic structure should be a result largely of landscape variables directly or indirectly affecting dispersal rather than of the biology of the species.Location  South Africa and Namibia.Methods  Mitochondrial sequence data (control region and cytochrome b) were used to describe the phylogeographic structure of these elephant‐shrew species across their distribution. To determine whether genetic variation is significantly structured, spatial analyses of molecular variation were performed. Isolation‐by‐distance versus alternative patterns of genetic structure was investigated using a Mantel test.Results  Our analyses indicated an overall structured genetic profile for E. rupestris, a species closely associated with rocky outcrops. This was in contrast to a pattern mostly of isolation‐by‐distance across the distribution of M. proboscideus, a species found on gravel plains.Main conclusions  Specific landscape features will differentially affect gene flow (both historical and current), and therefore also the spatial genetic structure, of species with markedly different habitat requirements. The genetic profiles for the two species included here support predictions based on the connectivity of their respective occupied habitats. The results also support the more general prediction that species with a naturally clustered distribution (such as E. rupestris) should have a more structured genetic pattern than those having a more continuous distribution (M. proboscideus).
Sovereign Wealth Funds: Stylized Facts about their Determinants and Governance*
Authors: Aizenman Joshua , Glick Reuven 
Published: December 2009

AbstractConcerns about the implications of foreign investments by sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) stem in large part from apprehensions about the objectives and governance quality of these institutions. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the stylized facts of SWFs by providing a statistical analysis of a range of characteristics of SWFs, including the motivation for their establishment as well as their size, governance and effect on reserve management behaviour. Specifically, it estimates what factors foster the establishment of SWFs as well as affect their size. It also investigates the extent to which the governance and transparency of individual SWFs correlate with domestic and global governance practices. Lastly, it analyses how asset accumulation by SWFs may affect central bank holdings of official reserves.
Erasure: Temporality and the Second Generation
Authors: FELLOWS DIANE 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThis essay is about one street, Lottumstraße, in Berlin, Germany, where my parent and grandparents lived prior to 1940. The current morphology of the street is contrasted with my mother's experience of life on Lottumstraße during the 1930s. The essay is part of a longer investigation regarding issues of post‐memory as interpreted by the second and third generation of trauma survivors. The essay suggests that, through the act of erasure, traces of the original urban or street condition, and the subsequent urban mark‐making of each successive generation, would be perceived and interpreted in order to authenticate the particulars of place over time. Traces underscore the responsibility to not only remember historic events but to recognize that those events have contemporary political and social implications. The larger scope of the work includes a film production titled ‘TopoNarratives 1‐4’: four short stories based upon specific people and places shaped by the events of the second world war that resonate through subsequent generations across topographies and contemporary political events. The work investigates the relationship of the second generation's personal construction of place to the public consequence of those private interpretations within the built environment.Résumé L'essai concerne une rue de Berlin, Lottumstraße, où ma mère et mes grands‐parents ont vécu avant 1940. Il met en opposition la morphologie actuelle de la rue et l'expérience de vie de ma mère pendant les années 1930. Ce travail s'inscrit dans une étude plus longue sur des aspects de la post‐mémoire dans son interprétation par les deuxième et troisième générations de survivants à des traumatismes. Par l'acte d'effacement, les traces de l'état originel de la ville ou de la rue, ainsi que les empreintes urbaines ultérieures de chaque génération, sont perçues et interprétées de manière à authentifier les caractéristiques d'un lieu à travers le temps. Ces traces soulignent la responsabilité de ne pas oublier des événements historiques, mais aussi celle de reconnaître les implications politiques et sociales contemporaines de ceux‐ci. Le champ élargi de l'étude comprend la production d'un film intitulé‘TopoNaratives 1‐4’, soit quatre histoires courtes liées à des personnes et des lieux particuliers, façonnés par les épisodes de la seconde guerre mondiale qui résonnent au fil des générations successives à travers les topographies et les événements politiques contemporains. Le travail examine le lien entre l'élaboration individuelle d'un lieu par la deuxième génération et l'impact public de ces interprétations privées au sein de l'environnement construit.
Packing identical spheres into a cylinder
Authors: Stoyan Yu. G. , Yaskov G. N. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe paper deals with the optimization problem of packing identical spheres into a cylinder of minimal height. A mathematical model of the problem is constructed and its characteristics are considered. On the ground of characteristics, a strategy of searching for an approximation to a global minimum is offered. The strategy includes a special search tree construction, a modification of the Zoutendijk method of feasible directions to calculate local minima, and a modification of the decremental neighborhood method to search for an approximation to a global minimum. Numerical examples and performance analysis of solutions are given. On the basis of the mathematical model and numerical experiment, a number of conclusions are drawn.
Infantile spasms and pigmentary mosaicism
Authors: Hansen Lars K. , Bygum Anette , Krogh Lotte N. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryWe present a 3‐year‐old boy with pigmentary mosaicism and persistent intractable infantile spasms due to mosaicism of chromosome 7. Getting the diagnosis of pigmentary mosaicism in a child with infantile spasms may not be easy, as most diagnostic work‐up is done in infancy, at a time when skin manifestations can be subtle. We stress the need for a meticulous search for an etiology in cases of infantile spasms. Diagnostic work‐up should include a dermatologic evaluation with skin biopsies for fibroblast culture (and karyotyping) from abnormal pigmented skin areas.
Role of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Differentiating Oligodendrogliomas from Astrocytomas
Authors: Chawla Sanjeev , Oleaga Laura , Wang Sumei , Krejza Jaroslaw , Wolf Ronald L. , Woo John H. , O'Rourke Donald M. , Judy Kevin D. , Grady Michael S. , Melhem Elias R. , Poptani Harish 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Preoperative differentiation of astrocytomas from oligodendrogliomas is clinically important, as oligodendrogliomas are more sensitive to chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in distinguishing astrocytomas from oligodendrogliomas. METHODS Forty‐six patients [astrocytomas (n= 17) and oligodendrogliomas (n= 29)] underwent magnetic resonance imaging and multi voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging before treatment. Peak areas for N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), myo‐inositol (mI), glutamate/glutamine (Glx), and lipids + lactate (Lip+Lac) were analyzed from voxels that exhibited hyperintensity on fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images and were normalized to Cr from each voxel. The average metabolite/Cr ratios from these voxels were then compared between astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Receiver‐operating curve analyses were used as measures of differentiation accuracy of metabolite ratios. A threshold value for a metabolite ratio was estimated by maximizing the sum of sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS A significant difference in mI/Cr was observed between astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas (.50 ± .18 vs. 0.66 ± 0.20, P < .05). Using a threshold value of .56 for mI/Cr ratio, it was possible to differentiate oligodendrogliomas from astrocytomas with a sensitivity of 72.4% and specificity of 76.4%. CONCLUSION These results suggest that mI/Cr might aid in distinguishing oligodendrogliomas from astrocytomas. J Neuroimaging 2010;20:3‐8.
Elevated Levels of Pre‐Procedural High‐Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein Is Associated with Midterm Restenosis after Extra‐ and Intracranial Stenting
Authors: Gupta Rishi , Bhatt Archit , Kassab Mounzer , Majid Arshad 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEHigh‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) is an inflammatory marker associated with subsequent coronary events and neointimal hyperplasia after coronary artery stent placement. We sought to determine if elevated levels of hsCRP are associated with restenosis after placement of extra‐ and intracranial stents.METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 73 consecutive patients at Michigan State University from July 2006 until June 2007 who underwent treatment with carotid artery stent placement or intracranial stent placement. Data were collected in regards to demographics, pre‐procedural hsCRP, and LDL levels, and angiographic variables characterizing the lesion before and after treatment. A binary logistic regression model was constructed to determine independent predictors of restenosis.RESULTSA total of 73 patients with a mean age of 69 ± 11 years were studied. A total of 57 patients were treated with extracranial carotid stenting, 22 (38%) of whom were symptomatic, while 16 patients underwent intracranial stenting (all were symptomatic). There were 9 patients (4 intracranial stents [25%] and 5 carotid stents [8.8%]) who developed a restenosis of >50%. In binary logistic regression modeling, the following variables were found to be independently predictive of developing restenosis: smaller vessel diameter (OR .49, 95% CI .23‐.98, P‐value .046) and elevated hsCRP (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.29‐6.66, P‐value .018).CONCLUSIONSElevated levels of pre‐procedural hsCRP may be predictive of the development of neointimal hyperplasia in patients treated with extra‐ or intracranial stenting procedures. Future prospective multicenter studies will be required to confirm these findings.J Neuroimaging 2010;20:74‐77.
Measurement of Antiplatelet Inhibition during Neurointerventional Procedures: The Effect of Antithrombotic Duration and Loading Dose
Authors: Pandya DJ , Fitzsimmons BFM , Wolfe TJ , Hussain SI , Lynch JR , Ortega‐Gutierrez S , Zaidat OO 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Symptomatic thromboembolic events are the most common complications associated with aneurysm coiling, and carotid and intracranial stenting. Our objective is to assess the effect of aspirin (ASA) and clopidogrel dose and duration on platelet inhibition using a point of care assay in neurointerventional (NI) suite. METHOD The dose, duration, and point of care platelet function assay data for clopidogrel and aspirin therapy were prospectively collected between February 2006 and November 2007. Inadequate platelet inhibition for ASA was defined as ≥550 ASA reaction units (ARU), and for clopidogrel was defined as ≤50% inhibition of the P2Y12/ADP receptor RESULTS We collected data from 216 consecutive patients. Inadequate platelet inhibition was noted in 13% of patients on aspirin and 66% of patients on clopidogrel (P‐value < .0001). Patients taking clopidogrel 75 mg for ≥7 days, 300 mg for 24 hours, and 600 mg same day load had a mean P2Y12/ADP inhibition of 45%, 35% (P‐value = .09), and 16%, respectively (P‐value = .005). CONCLUSION Premedication with clopidogrel, in contrast to aspirin, does not achieve adequate platelet inhibition in about two‐third of the patients. Same day antiplatelet loading may be insufficient to achieve adequate platelet inhibition and should be avoided if clinically feasible. J Neuroimaging 2010;20:64‐69.
Decreased Cortical Somatosensory Finger Representation in X‐Linked Recessive Bulbospinal Neuronopathy (Kennedy Disease): A Magnetoencephalographic Study
Authors: Suntrup Sonja , Kristina Teismann Inga , Steinstraeter Olaf , Bernd Ringelstein Erich , Pantev Christo , Dziewas Rainer 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND Kennedy disease (KD) clinically presents as progressive lower motor neuron disease with minimal or no sensory impairment. However, electrophysiological studies found abnormal somatosensory‐evoked potentials even in absence of clinical deficits. Little is known about possible influences of this sensory neuropathy on the central somatosensory processing. METHODS In this study, the cortical topography of index finger representation was studied in 7 patients with genetically proven KD compared to healthy control subjects by means of magnetoencephalography using an established stimulation paradigm. Data analysis was carried out with synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM). Additionally, the latency and source amplitude of the earliest cortical somatosensory‐evoked field (SEF) component were determined based on traditional single dipole source analysis. RESULTS In KD patients the latency of the SEF was prolonged (48.6 vs. 37.4 ms, P < .005). There was no significant difference in dipole source amplitude, but stimulus‐related SAM activation of the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (pseudo‐t‐values –.107 vs. –.199, P < .05), including maximum activity (53.5%), was reduced. CONCLUSIONS These results implicate that even subclinical sensory neuropathy leads to possible functional reorganization of the sensorimotor cortex in KD patients and reinforces the view that in KD the somatosensory system is extensively involved.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: a very rare cause of tropical pyomyositis
Authors: THOMAS Joe , PRABHU Vadivelmurugan Nagasubramani Naga , VARAPRASAD Irlapatti Rajendra , AGRAWAL Sumeet , NARSIMULU Gumdal 
Published: December 2009

AbstractPyomyositis is a purulent infection of skeletal muscles that arise from hematogenous spread associated with abscess formation. Most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus in more than 90–95% of cases but other rare organisms can cause this infection. Herein we report a rare case of strenotrophomonas maltophilia as a cause of pyomyositis which is a rare occurrence, especially in immunocompetent adults. Strenotrophomonas is a multidrug‐resistant aerobic non‐fermentative, non‐sporulating, Gram‐negative bacillus which usually produces nosocomial infections, but community‐acquired infections are also rarely reported. This a first case report of strenotrophomonas maltophilia causing pyomyositis in an immunocompetent adult.