bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abrupt shifts in African savanna tree cover along a climatic gradient
Authors: Favier Charly , Aleman Julie , Bremond Laurent , Dubois Marc A. , Freycon Vincent , Yangakola Jean‐Michel 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTAim  To describe patterns of tree cover in savannas over a climatic gradient and a range of spatial scales and test if there are identifiable climate‐related mean structures, if tree cover always increases with water availability and if there is a continuous trend or a stepwise trend in tree cover.Location  Central Tropical Africa.Methods  We compared a new analysis of satellite tree cover data with botanical, phytogeographical and environmental data.Results  Along the climatic transect, six vegetation structures were distinguished according to their average tree cover, which can co‐occur as mosaics. The resulting abrupt shifts in tree cover were not correlated to any shifts in either environmental variables or in tree species distributions.Main conclusions  A strong contrast appears between fine‐scale variability in tree cover and coarse‐scale structural states that are stable over several degrees of latitude. While climate parameters and species pools display a continuous evolution along the climatic gradient, these stable structural states have discontinuous transitions, resulting in regions containing mosaics of alternative stable states. Soils appear to have little effect inside the climatic stable state domains but a strong action on the location of the transitions. This indicates that savannas are patch dynamics systems, prone to feedbacks stabilizing their coarse‐scale structure over wide ranges of environmental conditions.
Taking Stock of Antidumping, Safeguards and Countervailing Duties, 1990–2009
Authors: Bown Chad P. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThis article examines the evolving, cross‐country use of antidumping, safeguard and countervailing duty policies – temporary trade barriers (TTBs) – over the period 1990–2009. I construct two new measures of imported products subject to the combined use of these TTBs before applying these measures to new data drawn from the World Bank’sTemporary Trade Barriers Database. I then establish a number of facts regarding trends in historical use to benchmark against policy activity during the global economic crisis of 2008–09. The 2008–09 economic shock mostly accentuates patterns and trends already visible in the precrisis data: e.g., while the major users of such policies overall combined to increase the product lines subject to TTBs by 25 per cent during the crisis, this was driven almost entirely by developing economies which increased their product coverage by 40 per cent. Perhaps surprisingly, recession‐affected high‐income economies increased their stock of product coverage by only 5 per cent during the crisis, a muted policy response consistent with earlier trends in which major developed economies like the United States and EU reduced the stock of imported products they subject to TTBs to 2007 levels that were only 50 per cent as high as their within‐period peak. Furthermore, a previously unidentified feature of the data is that a much larger share of China’s exported products to other developing economies is subject to foreign‐imposed antidumping than its exports to developed economies. The evidence confirms this feature is shared by a number of other major developing economy exporters, deepening concern that these discriminatory trade barriers are increasingly a ‘South–South’ phenomenon. Finally, I also clarify emerging trends in countervailing duty (anti‐subsidy) use across countries.
‘Superstition will Add to its Horrors’: The Early American Penitentiary and its Gothic Shadow
Authors: Fiddler Michael 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn relation to the early American penal experiment, we might imagine an unbroken line of development that takes us from William Penn's code of 1682 through to the monumental structures of the Jacksonian era. These were to be sources of civic pride and would locate the penitentiary as a utopic site (Rothman ). However, at each stage of this evolution of imprisonment, there was a Gothic undercurrent. In analysing these early penitentiaries, their architecture and the popular literature relating to them, we can begin to unpack the ongoing construction of the ‘place myth’ of the prison within the penal imagination.
Host specificity in phytophagous insects: selection pressure from generalist predators
Authors: Bernays E. A. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe narrow host range of insect herbivores is noted, and some of the reasons why specificity has evolved are reviewed. Works indicating the need for new approaches are pointed out including the possibility that generalist predators provide a suitable pressure. Experiments to test the hypothesis that generalists are more vulnerable than specialists to predators are described. They involve a vespid wasp and over thirty species pairs of caterpillars, matched for size and density. Overall, generalists were taken more readily than specialists: some but not all reasons could be detected. The results are discussed in ecological and evolutionary terms.
Multiple successional pathways and precocity in forest development: can some forests be born complex?
Authors: Donato Daniel C. , Campbell John L. , Franklin Jerry F. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundIn forests subject to stand‐replacing disturbances, conventional models of succession typically overlook early‐seral stages as a simple re‐organization/establishment period. These models treat structural development in essentially ‘relay floristic’ terms, with structural complexity (three‐dimensional heterogeneity) developing primarily in old‐growth stages, only after a closed‐canopy ‘self‐thinning’ phase and subsequent canopy gap formation. However, is it possible that early‐successional forests can sometimes exhibit spatial complexity similar to that in old‐growth forests – i.e. akin to an ‘initial floristic’ model of structural development?HypothesisBased on empirical observations, we present a hypothesis regarding an important alternative pathway in which protracted or sparse forest establishment and interspecific competition thin out tree densities early on – thereby precluding overstorey canopy closure or a traditionally defined self‐thinning phase. Although historically viewed as an impediment to stand development, we suggest this process may actually advance certain forms of structural complexity. These young stands can exhibit qualities typically attributed only to old forests, including: (1) canopy gaps associated with clumped and widely spaced tree stems; (2) vertically heterogeneous canopies including under‐ and mid‐stories, albeit lower stature; (3) co‐existence of shade‐tolerant and intolerant species; and (4) abundant dead wood. Moreover, some of these qualities may persist through succession, meaning that a significant portion of eventual old‐growth spatial pattern may already be determined in this early stage.ImplicationsThe relative frequency of this open‐canopy pathway, and the degree to which precocious complexity supports functional complexity analogous to that of old forests, are largely unknown due to the paucity of naturally regenerating forests in many regions. Nevertheless, recognition of this potential is important for the understanding and management of early‐successional forests.
Implementation of a skin cancer screening tool in a primary care setting: A pilot study
Authors: Bradley Holly B 
Published: November 2011

AbstractPurpose: (a) To explore whether there would be an increase in nurse practitioner (NP) skin cancer screening knowledge following an educational program. (b) To determine whether NPs report enhanced physical assessment skills when applying a screening tool in clinical practice. (c) To determine whether use of a skin cancer screening tool improves NP documentation during student physical exams.Data sources: Data were gathered in phase one of the study through a pretest, educational intervention, posttest, and program evaluation. Phase two gathered data from a prestudy patient chart analysis, and a poststudy chart analysis following implementation of a skin cancer screening tool. A convenience sample of six female NPs age of 40–64 years was drawn from a single college health center in the northeast.Conclusions: There is demonstrated efficacy educating NPs in proper documentation/early detection of skin cancer among young adults in a college health, primary care setting. Findings revealed a 223.4% increase in proper documentation of skin cancer screening and skin cancer patient education.Implications for practice: Educating NPs in skin cancer identification, screening and use of a skin cancer screening tool is an effective way to improve quality of services provided to patients and quality of NP documentation.
An Asymmetry in the Ethics of Procreation
Authors: Roberts Melinda A. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractAccording to the Asymmetry, it is wrong to bring a miserable child into existence but permissible not to bring a happy child into existence. When it comes to procreation, we don’t have complete procreative liberty. But we do have some discretion. The Asymmetry seems highly intuitive. But a plausible account of the Asymmetry has been surprisingly difficult to provide, and it may well be that most moral philosophers – or at least most consequentialists – think that all reasonable efforts to provide such an account have by now been exhausted. In this paper, I argue that, despite the difficulties, the Asymmetry is too important to be set aside. I also note a handful of accounts of the Asymmetry that have been proposed and why they fail. It seems, for example, that it will not do to say that some people matter morally and others don’t, or that a person matters morally in some worlds but not others. My own conclusion is that, while we are bound to say all people matter morally – you, me and the merely possible – we are not bound to say that all their losses– or all ours– matter morally. We can instead distinguish between morally significant and insignificant losses, with the distinction between the two being a matter of where the loss is incurred in relation to the person who incurs it. This way of looking at things – which I call Variabilism– provides the basis for a plausible account of the Asymmetry. The availability of such an account suggests, I think, that our prospects for rescuing the Asymmetry are bright.
Sensitive detection and accurate monitoring of Plasmodium vivax parasites on routine complete blood count using automatic blood cell analyzer (DxH800TM)
Authors: LEE H. K. , KIM S. I. , CHAE H. , KIM M. , LIM J. , OH E. J. , KIM Y. , PARK Y. J. , LEE W. , HAN K. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryIntroduction:  Plasmodium vivax malaria is one of the most important infectious diseases plaguing humanity and causes significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. The gold standard of P. vivax malaria diagnosis is the microscopy of blood smears. Although microscopy is a rapid, cost‐effective, and readily applicable method, it has many disadvantages, including low sensitivity, specificity, and precision. Therefore, there is a clear need for an effective screening test for P. vivax malaria detection both in high‐prevalence areas and developed countries.Methods:  A total of 1761 complete blood count (CBC) samples generated by the automated hematology analyzer (DxH 800™; Beckman Coulter Inc., Miami, FL, USA) were retrospectively analyzed. The sample pool contained 123 samples from 52 P. vivax malaria patients and 1504 nonmalarial samples including 509 patients with leukopenia (white blood cell <2000/μL) and 134 normal subjects.Results:  The P. vivax malaria samples exhibited easily recognizable typical malaria signals on the nucleated red blood cell (nRBC) plots (sensitivity 100%) in DxH 800™. All 1504 samples without P. vivax infection were negative for malaria signal (specificity 100%). The size of P. vivax malaria signals correlated roughly with the parasite burden.Conclusion:  DxH800™ provides very sensitive and specific, easily recognizable P. vivax malaria signals on routine CBC without need for the additional reagents or special procedures.
Simultaneous Detection of Six Diarrhea-Causing Bacterial Pathogens with an In-House PCR-Luminex Assay
Authors: Liu Jie , Gratz Jean , Maro Athanasia , Kumburu Happy , Kibiki Gibson , Taniuchi Mami , Howlader Arif Mahmud , Sobuz Shihab U. , Haque Rashidul , Talukder Kaisar A. , Qureshi Shahida , Zaidi Anita , Haverstick Doris M. , Houpt Eric R. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTDiarrhea can be caused by a range of pathogens, including several bacteria. Conventional diagnostic methods, such as culture, biochemical tests, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are laborious. We developed a 7-plex PCR-Luminex assay to simultaneously screen for several of the major diarrhea-causing bacteria directly in fecal specimens, including pathogenicAeromonas,Campylobacter jejuni,Campylobacter coli,Salmonella,Shigella, enteroinvasiveEscherichia coli(EIEC),Vibrio, andYersinia. We included an extrinsic control to verify extraction and amplification. The assay was first validated with reference strains or isolates and exhibited a limit of detection of 103to 105CFU/g of stool for each pathogen as well as quantitative detection up to 109CFU/g. A total of 205 clinical fecal specimens from individuals with diarrhea, previously cultured for enteric pathogens and tested forCampylobacterby ELISA, were evaluated. Using these predicate methods as standards, sensitivities and specificities of the PCR-Luminex assay were 89% and 94% forAeromonas, 89% and 93% forCampylobacter, 96% and 95% forSalmonella, 94% and 94% forShigella, 92% and 97% forVibrio, and 100% and 100% forYersinia, respectively. All discrepant results were further examined by singleplex real-time PCR assays targeting different gene regions, which revealed 89% (55/62 results) concordance with the PCR-Luminex assay. The fluorescent signals obtained with this approach exhibited a statistically significant correlation with the cycle threshold (CT) values from the cognate real-time PCR assays (P< 0.05). This multiplex PCR-Luminex assay enables sensitive, specific, and quantitative detection of the major bacterial causes of gastroenteritis.
Transcriptional analysis of human papillomavirus type 16 in histological sections of cervical dysplasia by in situ hybridisation
Authors: Coupe V M , González-Barreiro L , Gutiérrez-Berzal J , Melián-Bóveda A L , López-Rodríguez O , Alba-Domínguez J , Alba-Losada J 
Published: November 2011

BackgroundThe HPV-16 virus is well described as a causative agent in cervical cancer.AimsTo individually analyse the transcription profile of the HPV-16 viral genes in patient biopsies of varying grades of cervical dysplasia by a chromogenic in situ hybridisation technique.Methods19 formalin fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) biopsies of cervical dysplasia were analysed by a chromogenic in situ hybridisation protocol using novel long single stranded digoxigenin labelled DNA probes targeted to the individual HPV-16 gene RNAs.ResultsA transcription pattern for all the HPV-16 genes that is always conserved to the upper intermediate and superficial layers of the cervical epithelium and is independent of the level of dysplasia is described. E1 and E6 transcripts were found to express with a uniquely nuclear localisation; all other transcripts had both nuclear and cytoplasmic localisation. E5 oncogene transcripts were abundant in all cases, being equal to or greater than E7. Deep investigation of the E2 RNA transcript showed a potential alternative transcript with a possible novel start codon.ConclusionsThis data represents new information on HPV-16 viral transcription events that bring into question some of the current beliefs on the mechanism of HPV-16 infection in the progression to cervical cancer. Results support high expression of the E5 and E7 oncogenes in cervical dysplasias infected by HPV-16 in contrast to the low levels identified for the E6 oncogene and a possible alternative transcript for the E2 gene. The diagnostic utility of the detection of HPV-16 RNA transcripts is becoming more apparent and a renewed look at their in situ localisation in cervical biopsies could be beneficial.
Genetically Modified T cells Targeting Interleukin-11 Receptor α-Chain Kill Human Osteosarcoma Cells and Induce the Regression of Established Osteosarcoma Lung Metastases
Authors: Huang Gangxiong , Yu Ling , Cooper Laurence J.N. , Hollomon Mario , Huls Helen , Kleinerman Eugenie S. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe treatment of osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases remains a challenge. T cells genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which recognizes a tumor-associated antigen, have shown activity against hematopoietic malignancies in clinical trials, but this requires the identification of a specific receptor on the tumor cell. In the current study, we found that interleukin (IL)-11Rα was selectively expressed on 14 of 16 osteosarcoma patients' lung metastases and four different human osteosarcoma cell lines, indicating that IL-11Rα may be a novel target for CAR-specific T-cell therapy. IL-11Rα expression was absent or low in normal organ tissues, with the exception of the gastrointestinal tract. IL-11Rα-CAR–specific T cells were obtained by non-viral gene transfer of Sleeping Beauty DNA plasmids and selectively expanded ex vivo using artificial antigen-presenting cells derived from IL-11Rα + K562 cells genetically modified to coexpress T-cell costimulatory molecules. IL-11Rα-CAR+ T cells killed all four osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro; cytotoxicity correlated with the level of IL-11Rα expression on the tumor cells. Intravenous injection of IL-11Rα-CAR+ T cells into mice resulted in the regression of osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases with no organ toxicity. Together, the data suggest that IL-11Rα-CAR T cells may represent a new therapy for patients with osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases. Cancer Res; 72(1); 271–81. ©2011 AACR.
Overcoming Erlotinib Resistance in EGFR Mutation–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Targeting Survivin
Authors: Okamoto Kunio , Okamoto Isamu , Hatashita Erina , Kuwata Kiyoko , Yamaguchi Haruka , Kita Aya , Yamanaka Kentaro , Ono Mayumi , Nakagawa Kazuhiko 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Loss of PTEN was recently shown to contribute to resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in EGFR mutation–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through activation of the protein kinase AKT. We previously showed that downregulation of the expression of the antiapoptotic protein survivin by EGFR–TKIs contributes to EGFR–TKI-induced apoptosis in EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC cells. We have now investigated the role of survivin expression in EGFR–TKI resistance induced by PTEN loss. The EGFR–TKI erlotinib did not affect survivin expression or induce apoptosis in EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC cells with PTEN loss. Downregulation of survivin either by transfection with a specific short interfering RNA or by exposure to the small-molecule survivin suppressor YM155 reversed erlotinib resistance in such cells in vitro. Furthermore, combination therapy with YM155 and erlotinib inhibited the growth of tumors formed by EGFR mutation–positive, PTEN-deficient NSCLC cells in nude mice to a greater extent than did treatment with either drug alone. These results thus indicate that persistent activation of signaling by the AKT–survivin pathway induced by PTEN loss underlies a mechanism of resistance to erlotinib-induced apoptosis in EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC. They further suggest that the targeting of survivin has the potential to overcome EGFR–TKI resistance in EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(1); 204–13. ©2011 AACR.
Clinical and Genetic Association of Serum Ceruloplasmin With Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Wilson Tang W.H. , Wu Yuping , Hartiala Jaana , Fan Yiying , Stewart Alexandre F.R. , Roberts Robert , McPherson Ruth , Fox Paul L. , Allayee Hooman , Hazen Stanley L. 
Published: November 2011

Objective—
Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is an acute-phase reactant that is increased in inflammatory diseases and in acute coronary syndromes. Cp has recently been shown to possess nitric oxide (NO) oxidase catalytic activity, but its impact on long-term cardiovascular outcomes in stable cardiac patients has not been explored.

Methods and Results—

We examined serum Cp levels and their relationship with incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; death, myocardial infarction [MI], stroke) over 3-year follow-up in 4177 patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. We also carried out a genome-wide association study to identify the genetic determinants of serum Cp levels and evaluate their relationship to prevalent and incident cardiovascular risk. In our cohort (age 63±11 years, 66% male, 32% history of MI, 31% diabetes mellitus), mean Cp level was 24±6 mg/dL. Serum Cp level was associated with greater risk of MI at 3 years (hazard ratio [quartile 4 versus 1] 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79–3.09,
P
<0.001). After adjustment for traditional risk factors, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and creatinine clearance, Cp remained independently predictive of MACE (hazard ratio 1.55, 95% CI 1.10–2.17,
P
=0.012). A 2-stage genome-wide association study identified a locus on chromosome 3 over the
CP
gene that was significantly associated with Cp levels (lead single-nucleotide polymorphism rs13072552;
P
=1.90×10
−11
). However, this variant, which leads to modestly increased serum Cp levels (≈1.5–2 mg/dL per minor allele copy), was not associated with coronary artery disease or future risk of MACE.

Conclusion—

In stable cardiac patients, serum Cp provides independent risk prediction of long-term adverse cardiac events. Genetic variants at the
CP
locus that modestly affect serum Cp levels are not associated with prevalent or incident risk of coronary artery disease in this study population.
Novel Approach of Medialization Thyroplasty with Arytenoid Adduction Performed under General Anesthesia with a Laryngeal Mask
Authors: Stow Nicholas W. , Lee Jennifer W. , Cole Ian E. 
Published: November 2011

ObjectiveTo objectively assess the voice outcomes of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis treated with medialization thyroplasty and arytenoid adduction suture.Study DesignCase series of patients who underwent medialization thyroplasty and arytenoid adduction suture. Preoperative and postoperative voice testing was performed and the data were compared by statistical analysis.SettingTertiary referral teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia.SubjectsAll patients had a unilateral vocal fold paralysis, with a large posterior glottic gap and vocal symptoms affecting their quality of life.MethodsThirteen patients with a diagnosis of a unilateral vocal fold paralysis with a large posterior glottic gap, vocal symptoms, and total denervation of the vocal fold underwent medialization thyroplasty and arytenoid adduction suture. The surgery was performed in a novel method under a general anesthetic using a laryngeal mask and with direct intraoperative endoscopic feedback. Preoperative and postoperative measures of voice performance were compared, including acoustic analysis (fundamental frequency, speech intensity against quiet and loud background noise, speech rate) and aerodynamic assessment (airflow, maximum phonation time).ResultsMedialization thyroplasty with arytenoid adduction suture significantly improved aerodynamic assessment and phonation duration for both male and female subjects overall. There were 2 of 13 treatment failures. Median follow‐up time was 6 months.ConclusionPreliminary results indicate that in selected patients with vocal fold paralysis, medialization thyroplasty with arytenoid adduction suture leads to significant improvements in objective voice measures. Longer follow‐up data are required to further quantify the voice outcomes after this procedure.