bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pre‐operative forced‐air warming as a method of anxiolysis
Authors: Wen R. J. , Leslie K. , Rajendra P. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryWe tested the hypothesis that pre‐operative forced‐air warming is as effective for anxiolysis as intravenous midazolam, using a blinded, placebo controlled factorial design. One hundred and twenty patients were randomly assigned to cotton blanket and saline injection (n = 30), forced‐air warmer and saline injection (n = 30), midazolam 30 μg.kg−1 and cotton blanket (n = 30), and forced‐air warmer and midazolam 30 μg.kg−1 (n = 30). Patients completed visual analogue scales for anxiety and thermal comfort, and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, at baseline and after 20 min. The estimated effect of midazolam on visual analogue scores for anxiety was −10 (95% CI −3 to −18; p = 0.007) and on state anxiety was −5 (95% CI −7 to −4; p = 0.03). Warming had no influence on visual analogue scores for anxiety (p = 0.50) or state anxiety (p = 0.33), but its estimated effect on thermal comfort was +23 (95% CI 19–27; p < 0.0001). There was no interaction between midazolam and warming. Pre‐operative warming was not equivalent to midazolam for anxiolysis and cannot be recommended solely for this purpose.
Retrograde tracheal intubation
Authors: Dhara S. S. 
Published: September 2009

SummarySuccessful management of difficult tracheal intubation by retrograde intubation has been reported for almost 50 years and can be used whether or not it is anticipated. There are numerous reports of variations to the basic technique to enhance reproducibility of this guided blind procedure. A review and analysis of the equipment and techniques provides a better understanding of this effective technique.
The effect of dobutamine on blood flow of free tissue transfer flaps during head and neck reconstructive surgery*
Authors: Scholz A. , Pugh S. , Fardy M. , Shafik M. , Hall J. E. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryIn view of the controversy over the use of inotropes in free tissue transfer surgery, we assessed the effect of different intra‐operative dobutamine infusion rates on blood flow in the anastomosed recipient artery. Twenty patients undergoing head and neck tumour resection and immediate reconstructive surgery with free tissue transfer were recruited. After completion of the microvascular anastomoses, patients received dobutamine infusions of 2, 4 and 6 μg.kg−1.min−1 in a randomised order. After steady state dobutamine concentration was achieved, mean and maximum blood flow in the arterial anastomosis was measured at each concentration, using the Medi‐Stim Butterfly Flowmeter system. Systemic haemodynamic parameters were simultaneously recorded using a pulse contour cardiac output system. Both mean and maximum blood flow increased significantly in the anastomosed artery at dobutamine infusions of 4 and 6 μg.kg−1.min−1 and this was accompanied by increased cardiac output. This may improve free flap perfusion.
A documented previous difficult tracheal intubation as a prognostic test for a subsequent difficult tracheal intubation in adults
Authors: Lundstrøm L. H. , Møller A. M. , Rosenstock C. , Astrup G. , Gätke M. R. , Wetterslev J ,   the Danish Anaesthesia Database
Published: September 2009

SummaryWe investigated the diagnostic accuracy of a documented previous difficult tracheal intubation as a stand‐alone test for predicting a subsequent difficult intubation. Our assessment included patients from the Danish Anaesthesia Database who were scheduled for tracheal intubation by direct laryngoscopy. We used a four‐point scale to grade the tracheal intubation. A previous difficult intubation was defined according to the presence of a record documenting a difficult penultimate tracheal intubation‐score for the 15 499 patients anaesthetised more than once. Our assessment demonstrates that a documented history of previous difficult or failed intubation using direct laryngoscopy are strong predictors of a subsequent difficult or failed intubation and may identify 30% of these patients. Although previous investigators have reported predictive values that exceed our findings markedly, a documented previous difficult or failed tracheal intubation appears in everyday anaesthetic practice to be a strong predictor of a subsequent difficult tracheal intubation.
Impact of prior therapies on the relative efficacy of bortezomib compared with dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Vogl Dan T. , Stadtmauer Edward A. , Richardson Paul G. , Sonneveld Pieter , Schuster Michael W. , Irwin David , Facon Thierry , Harousseau Jean‐Luc , Boral Anthony , Neuwirth Rachel , Anderson Kenneth C. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThis subgroup analysis of the phase III APEX (Assessment of Proteasome Inhibition for Extending Remissions) trial examined whether prior exposure to specific therapies affected the relative efficacy of bortezomib versus dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory myeloma. Time to progression and overall survival were superior with bortezomib in all subgroups, with no evidence of interaction between any prior therapies and assignment to study therapy. Patients with prior thalidomide exposure had worse outcomes overall, but neither prior thalidomide nor prior autologous stem cell transplantation affected the relative efficacy of bortezomib versus dexamethasone. These results confirm the superiority of bortezomib over dexamethasone, regardless of prior exposure to specific therapies (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00048230).
Human embryonic stem cells secrete soluble factors that inhibit cancer cell growth
Authors: Giuffrida D. , Rogers I. M. , Nagy A. , Calogero A. E. , Brown T. J. , Casper R. F. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractObjectives:  The aim of this study was to determine whether normal human embryonic stem cells (hESC) would secrete factors that arrest growth of human epithelial cancer cell lines.Materials and methods:  Cell proliferation was examined using the MTT assay then haemocytometer cell counts. Staining with propidium iodide followed by flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle stages. Heat denaturation and molecular fractionation experiments were also performed.Results:  We found that hESC conditioned medium (hESC CM) inhibited SKOV‐3 and HEY cell proliferation. Similar results were also obtained when we used breast and prostate cancer cell lines, whereas little or no inhibitory effect was observed when human fibroblasts were tested. Moreover, a co‐culture model confirmed that inhibition of cancer cell proliferation is mediated by soluble factors produced by hESCs. We also determined that the proportion of cancer cells in G1 phase was increased by hESC CM treatment, accompanied by decrease in cells in S and G2/M phases, suggesting that the factors slow progression of cancer cells by cell cycle inhibition. Heat denaturation and molecular fractionation experiments indicated a low molecular weight thermostable factor was responsible for these properties.Conclusions:  Our findings provide evidence that the human embryonic microenvironment contains soluble factor(s) that are capable of inhibiting growth of cancer cells, and that exposure to such factors may represent a new cancer treatment strategy.
Lower numbers of circulating natural killer T (NK T) cells in individuals with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated neurological disease
Authors: Ndhlovu L C , Snyder-Cappione J E , Carvalho K I , Leal F E , Loo C P , Bruno F R , Jha A R , Devita D , Hasenkrug A M , Barbosa H M R , Segurado A C , Nixon D F , Murphy E L , Kallas E G 
Published: September 2009

Summary
Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects 10–20 million people worldwide. The majority of infected individuals are asymptomatic; however, approximately 3% develop the debilitating neurological disease HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). There is also currently no cure, vaccine or effective therapy for HTLV-1 infection, and the mechanisms for progression to HAM/TSP remain unclear. NK T cells are an immunoregulatory T cell subset whose frequencies and effector functions are associated critically with immunity against infectious diseases. We hypothesized that NK T cells are associated with HAM/TSP progression. We measured NK T cell frequencies and absolute numbers in individuals with HAM/TSP infection from two cohorts on two continents: São Paulo, Brazil and San Francisco, CA, USA, and found significantly lower levels when compared with healthy subjects and/or asymptomatic carriers. Also, the circulating NK T cell compartment in HAM/TSP subjects is comprised of significantly more CD4+ and fewer CD8+ cells than healthy controls. These findings suggest that lower numbers of circulating NK T cells and enrichment of the CD4+ NK T subset are associated with HTLV-1 disease progression.
The European carbon balance. Part 3: forests
Authors: LUYSSAERT S. , CIAIS P. , PIAO S. L. , SCHULZE E.‐D. , JUNG M. , ZAEHLE S. , SCHELHAAS M. J. , REICHSTEIN M. , CHURKINA G. , PAPALE D. , ABRIL G. , BEER C. , GRACE J. , LOUSTAU D. , MATTEUCCI G. , MAGNANI F. , NABUURS G. J. , VERBEECK H. , SULKAVA M. , Van Der WERF G. R. , JANSSENS I. A. ,   members of the CARBOEUROPE‐IP SYNTHESIS TEAM
Published: September 2009

AbstractWe present a new synthesis, based on a suite of complementary approaches, of the primary production and carbon sink in forests of the 25 member states of the European Union (EU‐25) during 1990–2005. Upscaled terrestrial observations and model‐based approaches agree within 25% on the mean net primary production (NPP) of forests, i.e. 520±75 g C m−2 yr−1over a forest area of 1.32 × 106 km2to 1.55 × 106 km2(EU‐25). New estimates of the mean long‐term carbon forest sink (net biome production, NBP) of EU‐25 forests amounts 75±20 g C m−2 yr−1. The ratio of NBP to NPP is 0.15±0.05. Estimates of the fate of the carbon inputs via NPP in wood harvests, forest fires, losses to lakes and rivers and heterotrophic respiration remain uncertain, which explains the considerable uncertainty of NBP. Inventory‐based assessments and assumptions suggest that 29±15% of the NBP (i.e., 22 g C m−2 yr−1) is sequestered in the forest soil, but large uncertainty remains concerning the drivers and future of the soil organic carbon. The remaining 71±15% of the NBP (i.e., 53 g C m−2 yr−1) is realized as woody biomass increments. In the EU‐25, the relatively large forest NBP is thought to be the result of a sustained difference between NPP, which increased during the past decades, and carbon losses primarily by harvest and heterotrophic respiration, which increased less over the same period.
Presentation and comments on EU legislation related to food industries–environment interactions: sustainable development, and protection of nature and biodiversity – genetically modified organisms
Authors: Arvanitoyannis Ioannis S. , Choreftaki Stefania , Tserkezou Persefoni 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe European Union (EU) legislation regarding sustainable development moves along two distinct lines: the impact of industries (food industries included) on the environment (release of gases and green house effect and the effect of cultivating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on the environment. EU voted three communications [COM(2002)524, COM(2003)301, COM(2004)38] in an attempt to set an action plan based on technologies to manage pollution, by promoting less polluting and less resource‐intensive products and services and ways to manage resources more efficiently. As such environment‐friendly technologies pervade practically all economic activities and sectors it is anticipated that they will reduce effectively energy and resource consumption thereby creating fewer emissions and less waste. As regards the cultivation and/or importing of GMOs, EU legislation was based on two directives (E.U. 90/219/EEC, E.U. 2001/18/EC) and four regulations [Regulation (EC) No. 258/97, Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003, Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003 and Regulation (EC) No. 1946/2003]. The directives aimed at adopting measures for limited use of GM micro‐organisms, making the procedure for granting consent to the deliberate release and placing on the market of GMOs more efficient and more transparent, making GMO labelling compulsory and thereby enhancing GMOs traceability along the entire food chain.
Influence of the cavity‐size on the survival rate of proximal ART restorations in primary molars
Authors: KEMOLI ARTHUR MUSAKULU , Van AMERONGEN WILLEM EVERT 
Published: September 2009

Aim.  To evaluate the influence of the size of proximal cavities on the survival rate of the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) restorations.Design.  A total of 804 children, aged 6–8 years, from a low socio‐economic community, with an ART restorable proximal carious lesion in their primary molars, participated. Over a 3‐week period, three ‘experienced’ and four ‘inexperienced’ operators randomly paired with four ‘experienced’ and four ‘inexperienced’ assistants, made the restorations at site using hand instruments. They randomly used Fuji IX, Ketac Molar Easymix and Ketac Molar Aplicap glass ionomer cements to restore the cavities, under randomly selected rubber dam and cotton roll isolation methods. The fillings were independently evaluated by nine trained and calibrated evaluators.Results.  After 1 year, the survival rate of the fillings evaluated in the study was 44.8%. Irrespective of the other factors involved, restorations with the highest survival rate were of size between 2 and 3 mm (mesio‐distal, bucco‐lingual, and depth) or volumes 10.0–19.9 mm3 (Chi‐square, P = 0.002, KM mean survival of 345 days).Conclusions.  While the survival rates for class II ART restorations were still low, the choice of medium‐sized proximal cavities gave better survival rates for this technique.
The allometry of reproduction within plant populations
Authors: Weiner Jacob , Campbell Lesley G. , Pino Joan , Echarte Laura 
Published: September 2009

Summary 1.
The quantitative relationship between size and reproductive output is a central aspect of a plant’s strategy: the conversion of growth into fitness. As plant allocation is allometric in the broad sense, i.e. it changes with size, we take an allometric perspective and review existing data on the relationship between individual vegetative (V, x‐axis) and reproductive (R, y‐axis) biomass within plant populations, rather than analysing biomass ratios such as reproductive effort (R/(R+V)). 2.
The allometric relationship between R and V among individuals within a population is most informative when cumulative at senescence (total R–V relationship), as this represents the potential reproductive output of individuals given their biomass. Earlier measurements may be misleading if plants are at different developmental stages and therefore have not achieved the full reproductive output their size permits. Much of the data that have been considered evidence for plasticity in reproductive allometry are actually evidence for plasticity in the rate of growth and development. 3.
Although a positive x‐intercept implies a minimum size for reproducing, a plant can have a threshold size for reproducing without having a positive x‐intercept. 4.
Most of the available data are for annual and monocarpic species whereas allometric data on long‐lived iteroparous plants are scarce. We find three common total R–V patterns: short‐lived, herbaceous plants and clonal plants usually show a simple, linear relationship, either (i) passing through the origin or (ii) with a positive x‐intercept, whereas larger and longer‐lived plants often exhibit (iii) classical log–log allometric relationships with slope <1. While the determinants of plant size are numerous and interact with one another, the potential reproductive output of an individual is primarily determined by its size and allometric programme, although this potential is not always achieved. 5.
Synthesis. The total R–V relationship for a genotype appears to be a relatively fixed‐boundary condition. Below this boundary, a plant can increase its reproductive output by: (i) moving towards the boundary: allocating more of its resources to reproduction, or (ii) growing more to increase its potential reproductive output. At the boundary, the plant cannot increase its reproductive output without growing more first. Analysing size‐dependent reproduction is the first step in understanding plant reproductive allocation, but more integrative models must include time and environmental cues, i.e. development.
Factors affecting detection probability in plant distribution studies
Authors: Chen Guoke , Kéry Marc , Zhang Jinlong , Ma Keping 
Published: September 2009

Summary 1.  Plant ecologists have been rather slow to appreciate the existence and the effects of imperfect detection probability in plants. Sources of heterogeneous detectability include differences in morphology or life‐form, patch size, observers and survey effort. Understanding the relationship between such factors and detectability is crucial for the efficient design of new plant distribution studies and for the interpretation of existing ones. 2.  We have studied the factors affecting detectability in a large permanent plot (24 ha) in East China where the true distribution of six shrub and tree species was known from a detailed earlier inventory. Two observers independently resurveyed and recorded detection and non‐detection of each species in each 20 × 20 m sampling quadrat. A total of 288 quadrats were resurveyed (218 by observer A, 211 by observer B and 141 by both). We used generalized linear mixed modelling to study the relationships between detection and species, observer, survey effort and patch size. 3.
Detectability of an occupied quadrat was remarkably low and ranged from 0.09 to 0.34 on average for the six shrub and tree species. Differences of detection among species were mainly as a result of distinctive morphology rather than life‐form. There was no significant difference of overall detection probability between the two observers. Detectability increased to 0.95 as the survey path approached 20% area of the sampling quadrat and as a plant patch covered c. 19% of the area of the sampling quadrat. 4.
Synthesis. Our results suggest that imperfect detection is much more widespread than currently acknowledged by most plant ecologists. We identify several sources of heterogeneity in detectability (species, survey effort and patch size) that ought to be considered when studying and modelling the distribution of plant species. Detectability should be accounted for in plant distribution studies to avoid spurious inferences.
Local versus landscape‐scale effects of savanna trees on grasses
Authors: Riginos Corinna , Grace James B. , Augustine David J. , Young Truman P. 
Published: September 2009

Summary1. Savanna ecosystems – defined by the coexistence of trees and grasses – cover more than one‐fifth the world’s land surface and harbour most of the world’s rangelands, livestock and large mammal diversity. Savanna trees can have a variety of effects on grasses, with consequences for the wild and domestic herbivores that depend on them.2. Studies of these effects have focused on two different spatial scales. At the scale of individual trees, many studies have shown net positive effects of trees on sub‐canopy grass nutrient concentrations and biomass. At the landscape scale, other studies have shown negative effects of high tree densities on grass productivity. These disparate results have led to different conclusions about the effects of trees on forage quality and ungulate nutrition in savannas.3. We integrate these approaches by examining the effects of trees on grasses at both spatial scales and across a range of landscape‐scale tree densities. We quantified grass biomass, species composition and nutrient concentrations in these different contexts in anAcacia drepanolobiumsavanna in Laikipia, Kenya.4. Individual trees had positive effects on grass biomass, most likely because trees enrich soil nitrogen. Grass leaf phosphorus in sub‐canopy areas, however, was depressed. The effects of individual trees could explain the effects of increasing landscape‐scale tree cover for the biomass of only two of the four dominant grass species.5. The negative effects of trees on grass and soil phosphorus, combined with depressed grass productivity in areas of high tree cover, suggest that ungulate nutrition may be compromised in areas with many trees.6. Synthesis. We conclude that few, isolated trees may have positive local effects on savanna grasses and forage, but in areas of high tree density the negative landscape‐scale effects of trees are likely to outweigh these positive effects. In savannas and other patchy landscapes, attempts to predict the consequences of changes in patch abundances for ecosystem services (e.g. rangeland productivity and carbon sequestration) will depend on our understanding of the extent to which local, patch‐scale dynamics do or do not predict landscape‐scale dynamics.
Pre‐dispersal acorn predation in mixed oak forests: interspecific differences are driven by the interplay among seed phenology, seed size and predator size
Authors: Espelta Josep M. , Bonal Raúl , Sánchez‐Humanes Belén 
Published: September 2009

Summary1. Pre‐dispersal seed predation (PSP) often occurs in multi‐host–predator systems (e.g. several plant species exposed to a common array of granivorous insects). However, whether the interaction among seed phenology, seed size and predator size accounts for interspecific differences in PSP remains elusive.2. We studied PSP in a mixed‐oak forest with two oaks (the larger‐seeded Quercus humilis and the smaller‐seeded Q. ilex), both depredated by two acorn weevils (the smaller Curculio glandium and the larger C. elephas). We intensively monitored acorn production and infestation phenology and we identified the weevil species depredating acorns by means of DNA taxonomy.3. The minimum acorn size required for infestation was lower for C. glandium than for C. elephas, in accordance with their different body sizes. This resulted in an earlier infestation phenology in C. glandium and the ability of this species to infest both smaller and larger acorns. Above a minimum acorn size threshold, no selection for larger acorns by weevils was observed.4. Initial acorn crop size was similar in the two oaks. Nonetheless, the earlier acorn phenology and the production of larger acorns in Q. humilis favoured the earlier infestation by C. glandium and the predation by both small and large weevils. Smaller acorns of Q. ilex almost excluded infestation by the larger C. elephas.5. Although larger acorns of Q. humilis could better survive infestation (preserve the embryo), higher PSP in this species finally resulted in a lower mature acorn crop size than in Q. ilex.6. Synthesis. In a multi‐host–predator system, smaller‐seeded species may benefit from a reduced PSP because they exclude larger granivorous insects, but also by means of a ‘free‐rider effect’, if larger‐seeded heterospecifics earlier reach a critical size to be depredated. These results also highlight the benefits of a small body size in granivorous insects to depredate seeds earlier and to forage on a wider range of seed sizes. Whether the advantage of ‘being small’ in this antagonistic plant–animal interaction is offset by other processes, or whether it results in a pressure towards seed and insect size reduction, deserves further attention.