bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Results of a survey by the European Society of Radiology (ESR): undergraduate radiology education in Europe—influences of a modern teaching approach
Authors: Oris Elena , Verstraete Koenraad , Valcke Martin ,   on behalf of the ESR Working Group on Undergraduate Education
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Objectives
The purpose of the present study is to determine in what way a conventional versus a modern medical curriculum influences teaching delivery in formal radiology education.

Methods
A web-based questionnaire was distributed by the ESR to radiology teaching staff from 93 European teaching institutions.

Results
Early exposure to radiology in pre-clinical years is typically reported in institutions with a modern curriculum. The average number of teaching hours related to radiology is similar in both curriculum types (60 h). Radiology in modern curricula is mainly taught by radiologists, radiology trainees (50%), radiographers (20%) or clinicians (17%). Mandatory clerkships are pertinent to modern curricula (55% vs. 41% conventional curriculum), which start in the first (13% vs. 4% conventional curriculum) or second year of the training (9% vs. 2% conventional curriculum). The common core in both curricula consists of radiology examinations, to work with radiology teaching files, to attend radiology conferences, and to participate in multidisciplinary meetings.

Conclusion
The influence of a modern curriculum on the formal radiology teaching is visible in terms of earlier exposure to radiology, involvement of a wider range of staff grades and range of profession involved in teaching, and radiology clerkships with more active and integrated tasks.

Main Message
• This study looks at differences in the nature of formal radiology teaching.
More on puzzling words and spellings in Aramaic incantation bowls and related texts
Authors: Müller-Kessler Christa 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe corpus of Aramaic incantation bowls and their related texts opens a new approach to the lexicographical study of the Aramaic dialects in Babylonia of late antiquity. Some of these texts were copies of “Vorlagen” that the scribes no longer understood. Nevertheless, they are more reliable text sources than one supposes. Errors, garbled spellings, miscomprehensions and misreadings are always feasible, and are typical phenomena of copied texts. In the case of new text variants one can approach the puzzling words and text passages anew. This study deals first and foremost with words that are obvious corrupted spellings or scribal errors caused by text transmissions. There are also cases of the breakdown of standard spellings and orthographic conventions from the dialect of “Vorlage” that hide the lexical assignment of a word. Since one is dealing here with the earliest text material of the late Aramaic period, they can be taken as a significant contribution to the placing of many lexemes in existing dictionaries.
Japanese exploration of Central Asia: The Ōtani expeditions and their British connections
Authors: Galambos Imre , Kōichi Kitsudō 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe Archives of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) include a small lot of material relating to the three expeditions to western China organized and financed by Count Ōtani Kozui (1902–14), with the aim of exploring Buddhist sites. Ōtani also recognized the significance of promoting their results outside of Japan and integrating them into the international academic community, primarily Britain. Since his collection was later dispersed, the material in the RGS Archives provides valuable information on the expeditions and clarifies the context for some of the discoveries. In addition, it evidences traces of the interaction between Japanese and British scholarly circles, as an example of the complex international network of scholarship on Central Asia in the early part of the twentieth century. It also shows the efforts invested by the Japanese side in trying to have their results acknowledged as being equal to those of Western explorers.
Weight matrix based identification of terpene synthases conserved motifs in Arabidopsis thaliana proteome
Authors: Srivastava Suchita , Luqman Suaib , Khan Feroz 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTerpenes comprise the most diverse collection of natural products. Out of more than 30,000 individual terpenoids identified, at least half are synthesized by plants. A relatively small, but quantitatively significant, number of terpenoids are involved in primary plant metabolism. However, the vast majorities are classified as secondary metabolites; compounds not required for plant growth and development but presumed to have an ecological function in communication or defense and are widely used in industrial applications. Terpene hydrocarbon scaffolds are generated by the action of the mechanistically intriguing family of mono-, sesqui-, and diterpene synthases collectively termed as terpene synthases, that catalyze multistep reactions with diphosphorylated substrates of 10 (geranyl diphosphate), 15 (farnesyl diphosphate) or 20 (geranylgeranyl diphosphate) carbons. In the studied work, we performed a computational study on proteome wide identification of terpene synthase motifs in Arabidopsis thaliana proteome on the basis of weight matrix approach. We have developed an optimal weight matrix for the identification of terpene synthase motifs in the plant’s proteome. Weight matrix was constructed by aligning orthologous sequences of known terpene synthases originated from diverse plant species viz., Abies grandis, Nicotiana tobaccum etc. Sequences of detected domains & motifs were retrieved through SwissProtKB/NCBI on the basis of specific conservation IDs of Prosite, Pfam, Interpro, Prodom, COG, TIGR databases, while position specific scoring matrices were made through MEME, MotifSampler, PossuMsearch tools. Weight matrix based search of conserved motifs in the proteome of A. thaliana was done through ESA, Lahead and Simple algorithm based search tools of PossuMsearch biosuite in Linux system. Prediction was first validated by using positive control data set and optimized the method to reach prediction accuracy upto >90%. After tool performance evaluation, prediction was made on whole proteome at specific threshold/score value. Significant results were found in A. thaliana with motif similarity ranges from 80% to 100%. This proteome wide search model paves the path to identify more terpene synthases genes in A. thaliana, as well as in other plant systems.
Inhibiton of NFκB activation and aromatase activity by vanilloids: An in vitro and in silico study
Authors: Luqman Suaib , Meena Abha , Marler Laura , Kondratyuk Tamara , Pezzuto John 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTarget-specific drugs, including natural products, offer promise for the amelioration of cancer and other human ailments with reduced side-effects. Capsaicin, the pungent ingredient present in chillies (Capsicum annuum L.), and capsazepine, a synthetic analogue of capsaicin (collectively referred to as vanilloids), are known to possess a variety of pharmacological and physiological properties. In our continuous effort to discover cancer chemopreventive agents from natural products, we investigated the effect of vanilloids on NFκB activation with stably transfected 293/NFκB-Luc human embryonic kidney cells induced by treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), and aromatase activity. Capsaicin and capsazepine blocked TNFα-induced NFκB activation in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 13.5 and 8.5 μM, respectively. No cytotoxicity was observed at higher test concentration (20 μg/mL). In addition, these vanilloids inhibited aromatase activity with IC50 values of 0.68 and 4.21 μM, respectively. Computer aided molecular docking studies showed acceptable docking scores indicating good binding affinity of vanilloids with aromatase and NFκB. Based on these findings, aromatase and NFκB are suggested as valid targets for these compounds; additional investigation of chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic potential is required.
An integrated strategy for prediction uncertainty analysis
Authors: Vanlier J. , Tiemann C.A. , Hilbers P.A.J. , van Riel N.A.W. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Motivation: To further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying biochemical pathways mathematical modelling is used. Since many parameter values are unknown they need to be estimated using experimental observations. The complexity of models necessary to describe biological pathways in combination with the limited amount of quantitative data results in large parameter uncertainty which propagates into model predictions. Therefore prediction uncertainty analysis is an important topic that needs to be addressed in Systems Biology modelling.
Results: We propose a strategy for model prediction uncertainty analysis by integrating profile likelihood analysis with Bayesian estimation. Our method is illustrated with an application to a model of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway. The analysis identified predictions on unobserved variables that could be made with a high level of confidence, despite that some parameters were non-identifiable.
Availability and implementation: Source code is available at: http://bmi.bmt.tue.nl/sysbio/software/pua.html.
Contact: j.vanlier@tue.nl
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Clinical course and predictive value of liver function tests in patients hospitalized for worsening heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: an analysis of the EVEREST trial
Authors: Ambrosy Andrew P. , Vaduganathan Muthiah , Huffman Mark D. , Khan Sadiya , Kwasny Mary J. , Fought Angela J. , Maggioni Aldo P. , Swedberg Karl , Konstam Marvin A. , Zannad Faiez , Gheorghiade Mihai ,   on behalf of the EVEREST trial investigators
Published: February 2012

AimsAbnormal liver function tests (LFTs) are common in ambulatory heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to characterize abnormal LFTs during index hospitalization.Methods and resultsA post‐hoc analysis was carried out of the placebo group of the EVEREST (Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study with Tolvaptan) trial, which enrolled patients hospitalized for HF with an ejection fraction (EF) ≤40% and no history of primary significant liver disease or acute hepatic failure. LFTs (abbreviation, cut‐offs for abnormal values) including serum albumin (ALB, <3.3 g/dL), aspartate transaminase (AST, >34 IU/L), alanine transaminase (ALT, >34 IU/L), alkaline phosphatase (AP, >123 IU/L),γ‐glutamyl transferase (GGT, >50 IU/L), and total bilirubin (T Bili, >1.2 mg/dL) were measured at baseline, discharge/day 7, and post‐discharge. Co‐primary endpoints were all‐cause mortality (ACM) and cardiovascular mortality or first HF hospitalization (CVM + HFH). Study participants had a mean age of 65.6 ±12.0 years, were mostly male, reported high prevalences of medical co‐morbidities, and were well treated with evidence‐based therapies. Baseline LFT abnormalities were common (ALB 17%, AST 21%, ALT 21%, AP 23%, GGT 62%, and T Bili 26%). Abnormal T Bili was the only marker to decrease substantially from baseline (26%) to discharge/day 7 (19%). All LFTs, except AP, improved post‐discharge. Lower baseline ALB and elevated T Bili were associated with higher rates of ACM, and in‐hospital decreases in ALB and increases in T Bili were associated with higher rates of both ACM and CVM + HFH.ConclusionLFT abnormalities are common during hospitalization for HF in patients with reduced EF and were persistent at discharge. Baseline and in‐hospital changes in ALB and T Bili provide additional prognostic value.
Brassinosteroids Antagonize Gibberellin- and Salicylate-Mediated Root Immunity in Rice
Authors: De Vleesschauwer David , Van Buyten Evelien , Satoh Kouji , Balidion Johny , Mauleon Ramil , Choi Il-Ryong , Vera-Cruz Casiana , Kikuchi Shoshi , Höfte Monica 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a unique class of plant steroid hormones that orchestrate myriad growth and developmental processes. Although BRs have long been known to protect plants from a suite of biotic and abiotic stresses, our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still rudimentary. Aiming to further decipher the molecular logic of BR-modulated immunity, we have examined the dynamics and impact of BRs during infection of rice (Oryza sativa) with the root oomycete Pythium graminicola. Challenging the prevailing view that BRs positively regulate plant innate immunity, we show that P. graminicola exploits BRs as virulence factors and hijacks the rice BR machinery to inflict disease. Moreover, we demonstrate that this immune-suppressive effect of BRs is due, at least in part, to negative cross talk with salicylic acid (SA) and gibberellic acid (GA) pathways. BR-mediated suppression of SA defenses occurred downstream of SA biosynthesis, but upstream of the master defense regulators NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES1 and OsWRKY45. In contrast, BR alleviated GA-directed immune responses by interfering at multiple levels with GA metabolism, resulting in indirect stabilization of the DELLA protein and central GA repressor SLENDER RICE1 (SLR1). Collectively, these data favor a model whereby P. graminicola coopts the plant BR pathway as a decoy to antagonize effectual SA- and GA-mediated defenses. Our results highlight the importance of BRs in modulating plant immunity and uncover pathogen-mediated manipulation of plant steroid homeostasis as a core virulence strategy.
Combination of low free testosterone and low vitamin D predicts mortality in older men referred for coronary angiography
Authors: Lerchbaum Elisabeth , Pilz Stefan , Boehm Bernhard O. , Grammer Tanja B. , Obermayer‐Pietsch Barbara , März Winfried 
Published: February 2012

SummaryContextLow levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and free testosterone (FT) are both associated with increased mortality. Experimental studies show a complex interplay of vitamin D and androgen metabolism suggesting that a deficiency of both hormones may be associated with a particularly adverse clinical outcome.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of parallel FT and 25(OH)D deficiency in a large cohort of older men.DesignWe measured total testosterone (TT), sex hormone‐binding globulin and 25(OH)D levels in 2069 men who were routinely referred for coronary angiography (1997–2000).Main outcome measuresCox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) (with 95% confidence intervals) for mortality from all causes, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular causes according to combined deficiency of FT and 25(OH)D.ResultsIn multivariate‐adjusted analyses, we found an increased risk for all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality for men in the lowest FT [HR 1·26 (1·03–1·54), 1·24 (0·96–1·60) and 1·39 (1·00–1·93), respectively] and 25(OH)D quartile [HR 1·77 (1·47–2·13), 1·65 (1·29–2·10) and 1·89 (1·38–2·60) respectively] compared with men in higher FT and 25(OH)D quartiles. There was no independent association of TT levels with mortality. Multivariate‐adjusted HRs progressively increased with the number of hormones (FT and 25(OH)D) in the lowest quartile [0 vs 2 hormone deficiencies: 2·11 (1·60–2·79) for all cause, 1·77 (1·23–2·55) for cardiovascular and 2·33 (1·45–3·47) for noncardiovascular mortality, respectively].ConclusionA combined deficiency of FT and 25(OH)D is significantly associated with fatal events in a large cohort of men referred for coronary angiography.
The 312N variant of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor gene (LHCGR) confers up to 2·7‐fold increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome in a Sardinian population
Authors: Capalbo A. , Sagnella F. , Apa R. , Fulghesu A. M. , Lanzone A. , Morciano A. , Farcomeni A. , Gangale M. F. , Moro F. , Martinez D. , Ciardulli A. , Palla C. , Uras M. L. , Spettu F. , Cappai A. , Carcassi C. , Neri G. , Tiziano F. D. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryObjectivePolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent condition, affecting about 15% of women of reproductive age. Because of its familial occurrence, a multifactorial model of susceptibility, including both genetic and environmental factors, has been proposed. However, the identification of genetic factors has been elusive.DesignCase–control study aimed at evaluating possible associations between functionally relevant variants of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotrophin receptor gene (LHCGR) and PCOS phenotype.PatientsA total of 198 PCOS and 187 non‐PCOS women, aged 14–35 years, of Sardinian origin, were referred to the outpatient clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Cagliari (Sardinia). PCOS diagnosis was based on the Rotterdam criteria.MeasurementsWe determined the genotype of ins18LQ, S291N and S312N variants at the LHCGR locus. Genotype was related to the presence or absence of PCOS and to several clinical and biochemical characteristics.ResultsThe presence of at least one 312N allele was strongly associated with PCOS risk (OR, 2·04; 95% CI, 1·32–3·14; χ2, 10·47; P = 0·001). 312N homozygosity was associated with a further risk increase (OR, 2·73; 95% CI, 1·25–5·95; χ2, 6·65; P = 0·01). The number of ins18LQ alleles was associated with LH serum levels in controls (χ2, 8·04, P = 0·017).ConclusionsFor the first time, we have identified a genetic variant that is strongly associated with PCOS in an isolated population. These results, if confirmed in other cohorts, may provide the opportunity to test the S312N genotype at the LHCGR locus in fertile women to assess the risk of PCOS. The avoidance of triggering factors like weight increase may improve the reproductive outcome of potentially at‐risk subjects.
Can online course‐based assessment methods be fair and equitable? Relationships between students' preferences and performance within online and offline assessments
Authors: Hewson C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTo address concerns raised regarding the use of online course‐based summative assessment methods, a quasi‐experimental design was implemented in which students who completed a summative assessment either online or offline were compared on performance scores when using their self‐reported preferred or non‐preferred modes. Performance scores were found not to differ depending on whether the assessment was completed in the preferred or non‐preferred mode. These findings provide preliminary support for the validity of online assessment methods. Future studies could help determine the extent to which this finding generalizes beyond the assessment procedures and type of sample used here. Suggestions for follow‐up studies are offered, including exploring the validity of more complex computer‐related online assessment tasks and investigating the impact of using preferred and non‐preferred modes upon the quality of the student experience.
Detecting breakdowns in local coherence in the writing of Chinese English learners
Authors: Wang Y. , Harrington M. , White P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis paper introduces CTutor, an automated writing evaluation (AWE) tool for detecting breakdowns in local coherence and reports on a study that applies it to the writing of Chinese L2 English learners. The program is based on Centering theory (CT), a theory of local coherence and salience. The principles of CT are first introduced and then the design and function of CTutor are described. The effectiveness and reliability of the program was evaluated in a study that compared performance by CTutor and two human raters on the analysis of local incoherence and provision of revision on learner essays. Intermediate Chinese English as a foreign language learners (n = 52) were divided into two groups: one receiving CTutor feedback and the other receiving feedback from human raters. Learners in both groups completed three essays; each of which involved the submission of a first draft, revision with feedback on local coherence quality and re‐submission. Our results from the comparison between CTutor and human experts showed that this software tool is able to detect local coherence breakdowns with moderate accuracy (F1‐measure is around 0.4). There was also little difference between participants' responses to CTutor feedback and human feedback in terms of revision behaviour, with both feedback modes resulting in similar revision pattern. Potential use of the program in instructional settings is discussed.
Reproduction‐longevity trade‐offs reflect diet, not adaptation
Authors: ATTISANO A. , MOORE A. J. , MOORE P. J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractA tenet of life history evolution is that allocation of limited resources results in trade‐offs, such as that between reproduction and lifespan. Reproduction and lifespan are also influenced proximately by differences in the availability of specific nutrients. What is unknown is how the evolution of the ability to use a nutritionally novel diet is reflected in this fundamental trade‐off. Does the evolution of the ability to use a nutritionally novel food maintain the trade‐off in reproduction and longevity, or do the proximate effects of nutrition alter the adapted trade‐off? We tested this by measuring trade‐offs in male milkweed bugs, Oncopeltus fasciatus, fed either an adapted diet of sunflower or the ancestral diet of milkweed. Sunflower‐fed males lived longer but invested less in reproduction, both in mating and fertility. Milkweed‐fed males invested in both mating and fertility at the expense of survival. The evolution of an expanded diet was not constrained by the existing trade‐off, but instead was accompanied by a different trade‐off between reproduction and longevity. We suggest that this occurs because diets differ in promoting germ line development or longevity.
Gene silencing in adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes through oral delivery of double‐stranded RNA
Authors: Coy M. R. , Sanscrainte N. D. , Chalaire K. C. , Inberg A. , Maayan I. , Glick E. , Paldi N. , Becnel J. J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe induction of the naturally occurring phenomenon of RNA interference (RNAi) to study gene function in insects is now common practice. With appropriately chosen targets, the RNAi pathway has also been exploited for insect control, typically through oral delivery of dsRNA. Adapting current methods to deliver foreign compounds, such as amino acids and pesticides, to mosquitoes through sucrose solutions, we tested whether such an approach could be used in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Using a non‐specific dsRNA construct, we found that adult Ae. aegypti ingested dsRNA through this method and that the ingested dsRNA can be recovered from the mosquitoes post‐feeding. Through the feeding of a species‐specific dsRNA construct against vacuolar ATPase, subunit A, we found that significant gene knockdown could be achieved at 12, 24 and 48 h post‐feeding.