bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
International disease monitoring, October to December 2009
Authors: Sabirovic M. , Roberts H. , Lopez M. , Hancock R. 
Published: October 2010

African swine fever outbreaks in the Caucasus region, and one in the Leningrad region
Bluetongue virus serotype 4 (BTV‐4) outbreaks in Morocco and Tunisia pose a threat to Spain and Portugal
Feral pigeon with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in Russia
Rift Valley fever in South Africa
Continuing spread of West Nile virus in Italy
These are among matters discussed in the international disease monitoring report for October to December 2009, prepared by Defra's Food and Farming Group, Global Animal Health
Automatic feedback-directed object fusing
Authors: Wimmer Christian , Mössenbösck Hanspeter 
Published: October 2010

Object fusing is an optimization that embeds certain referenced objects into their referencing object. The order of objects on the heap is changed in such a way that objects that are accessed together are placed next to each other in memory. Their offset is then fixed, that is, the objects are colocated, allowing field loads to be replaced by address arithmetic. Array fusing specifically optimizes arrays, which are frequently used for the implementation of dynamic data structures. Therefore, the length of arrays often varies, and fields referencing such arrays have to be changed. An efficient code pattern detects these changes and allows the optimized access of such fields.
We integrated these optimizations into Sun Microsystems' Java HotSpot™ VM. The analysis is performed automatically at runtime, requires no actions on the part of the programmer, and supports dynamic class loading. To safely eliminate a field load, the colocation of the object that holds the field and the object that is referenced by the field must be guaranteed. Two preconditions must be satisfied: The objects must be allocated at the same time, and the field must not be overwritten later. These preconditions are checked by the just-in-time compiler to avoid an interprocedural data flow analysis. The garbage collector ensures that groups of colocated objects are not split by copying groups as a whole. The evaluation shows that the dynamic approach successfully identifies and optimizes frequently accessed fields for several benchmarks with a low compilation and analysis overhead. It leads to a speedup of up to 76% for simple benchmarks and up to 6% for complex workloads.
Ensemble Evaluation of Hydrologically Enhanced Noah-LSM: Partitioning of the Water Balance in High-Resolution Simulations over the Little Washita River Experimental Watershed
Authors: Rosero Enrique , Gulden Lindsey E. , Yang Zong-Liang , De Goncalves Luis G. , Niu Guo-Yue , Kaheil Yasir H. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe ability of two versions of the Noah land surface model (LSM) to simulate the water cycle of the Little Washita River experimental watershed is evaluated. One version that uses the standard hydrological parameterizations of Noah 2.7 (STD) is compared another version that replaces STD’s subsurface hydrology with a simple aquifer model and topography-related surface and subsurface runoff parameterizations (GW). Simulations on a distributed grid at fine resolution are compared to the long-term distribution of observed daily-mean runoff, the spatial statistics of observed soil moisture, and locally observed latent heat flux. The evaluation targets the typical behavior of ensembles of models that use realistic, near-optimal sets of parameters important to runoff. STD and GW overestimate the ratio of runoff to evapotranspiration. In the subset of STD and GW runs that best reproduce the timing and the volume of streamflow, the surface-to-subsurface runoff ratio is overestimated and simulated streamflow is much flashier than observations. Both models’ soil columns wet and dry too quickly, implying that there are structural shortcomings in the formulation of STD that cannot be overcome by adding GW’s increased complexity to the model. In its current formulation, GW extremely underestimates baseflow’s contribution to total runoff and requires a shallow water table to function realistically. In the catchment (depth to water table &gt;10 m), GW functions as a simple bucket model. Because model parameters are likely scale and site dependent, the need for even “physically based” models to be extensively calibrated for all domains on which they are applied is underscored.
Steroids and statins: an old and a new anti-inflammatory strategy compared
Authors: Vukovic Petar M , Maravic-Stojkovic Vera R , Peric Miodrag S , Jovic Miomir Dj , Cirkovic Milan V , Gradinac Sinisa Dj , Djukanovic Bosko P , Milojevic Predrag S 
Published: October 2010

Objectives: This study compared the anti-inflammatory effects of methylprednisolone (MP) and atorvastatin and analysed their influences on clinical variables in patients undergoing coronary revascularization. Methods: Ninety patients with compromised left ventricular ejection fraction (≤30%) undergoing elective coronary surgery were equally randomized to one of three groups: statin group, treatment with atorvastatin (20 mg/day) 3 weeks before surgery; methylprednisolone group, a single shot of methylpredniosolone (10mg/kg); and control group. Results: Postoperative IL-6 was higher in the control group when compared to the methylprednisolone and statin groups (p<0.01). IL-6 was higher in the statin-treated patients (p<0.05 versus methylprednisolone). Administration of methylprednisolone as well as statin treatment increased postoperative cardiac index, left ventricular stroke work index, decreased postoperative atrial fibrilation rate and reduced ICU stay (p<0.05 versus control). The number of patients requiring inotropic support was lower in the methylprednisolone group when compared with the other two groups (p<0.01). Tracheal intubation time was reduced in patients who received methylprednisolone (p<0.01 versus control). Conclusions: Preoperative administration of either methylprednisolone or atorvastatin reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine release, improved haemodynamics, decreased postoperative atrial fibrilation rate and reduced ICU stay in patients with significantly impaired cardiac function undergoing coronary revascularization. Treatment with methylprednisolone was associated with less inotropic support requirements and reduced mechanical ventilation time.
Normative data, preliminary inter-rater reliability and predictive validity of the Drive Home Maze Test
Authors: Krishnasamy Charmaine , Unsworth Carolyn A 
Published: October 2010

Objective: The Drive Home Maze Test has been developed as part of a clinic-based driver assessment battery. This article reports normative data and preliminary inter-rater reliability for this test together with predictive validity for a clinical sample. Subjects and setting: 223 individuals contributed to the normative data. Of these, data from 42 clients undergoing driver assessment as part of their rehabilitation or health care plan were used to ascertain the predictive validity of the Drive Home Maze Test for on-road driving performance (Pass/ Fail). Main measure: The Drive Home Maze Test was developed for occupational therapy driver assessors to use with all older and/ or functionally impaired drivers prior to on-road testing. The test assesses a person s executive function, attention and visuoconstructive skills. Results: The normative data indicated that time taken and number of errors on the maze increases with age. Performance on this test was strongly indicative of driver assessment outcome using the regression model: ln(Odds of failing on road) = 5.9451 + 2.7047 (log10 time taken to complete the maze). Excellent preliminary inter-rater reliability was also found using Ordinary Least Products linear regression analysis to test for bias between two raters for time taken and number of errors on the maze, with values ranging from r = 0.858 to 0.999. Conclusions: The Drive Home Maze Test provides useful information concerning a person's cognitive skills prior to undertaking an on-road assessment. Time taken to complete this test is indicative of the outcome of an on-road driver assessment.
Active living—the perception of older people with chronic conditions
Authors: Fuller Beth G. , Stewart Williams Jennifer A. , Byles Julie E. 
Published: October 2010

Objectives: To describe and understand factors which enhance and impede participation in physical activity for older adults with and without chronic illness and develop a framework of health behaviours for ‘active living’. Methods: A contrasting group framework was used to compare discussions in two sets of focus groups with relatively healthy and less healthy older adults. The thematic analysis was informed by the Transtheoretical Model, the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory. Results: All participants affirmed the health benefits of physical activity and there was broad agreement that social support and conductive environments contributed to the promotion of opportunities for physical activity. However, perceptions of specific factors needed to maintain and promote good health differed between healthy and less healthy participants. Connection to community, sense of place and ‘walkability’ of neighbourhoods were identified as motivators for undertaking physical activity, whilst barriers were associated with health, the environment, family and attitudes to physical activity. Discussions: The focus groups highlighted the importance of social, behavioural and contextual factors in promoting opportunities for physical activity in older adults with and without chronic illness. The findings were used to propose an Active Living Framework which is the subject of ongoing research.
Patient engagement with a diabetes self-management intervention
Authors: Lindenmeyer Antje , Whitlock Sandra , Sturt Jackie , Griffiths Frances 
Published: October 2010

Objectives: To explore how people living with type 2 diabetes self-manage their condition in everyday life and the impact of the Diabetes Manual programme, a one-to-one structured educational intervention aiming to increase skills and confidence for self-management.Method: Semi-structured interviews with 12 participants on the Diabetes Manual trial, sampled purposively according to baseline self-efficacy and educational attainment.Results: When describing their experience of living with diabetes, there was little difference between intervention and control participants, although those who had received the programme talked more about the use of blood glucose self-assessment. Programme users were grouped into three categories, Programme Engagers (n = 2), Programme Browsers (n = 4) and Information Seekers (n = 6). Of the two participants engaging with the programme, one described a very positive experience, the other felt unsupported by their practice. None noticed a difference in the approach used by their health professional. Participants’ approach to the Diabetes Manual programme suggests they will continue to use it as a resource in the future.Conclusion: Participants used the Diabetes Manual programme in different ways, choosing the timing and depth of engagement. Their experience suggests that the programme requires close communication and openness towards collaborative approaches to improve skills and confidence for self-management.
A model of the process of transformation in primary care for people living with chronic illnesses
Authors: Dubouloz Claire-Jehanne , King Judy , Paterson Barbara , Ashe Brenda , Chevrier Jacques , Moldoveanu Mirela 
Published: October 2010

Objectives: The objective of the research was to construct a conceptual framework that explains the process of personal transformation within a primary care context for people living with chronic illnesses. Methods: A literature search of articles published from 1990 to 2007 in CINAHL, ERIC, Healthstar, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, dissertation abstracts and SocINFO databases, was conducted to identify qualitative research studies investigating personal change in chronic illness or disability. Five hundred and fifty-six articles were identified; the researchers conducted a metasynthesis of a subgroup of these articles whose focus was on transformation in primary care (n = 5). Results: The metasynthesis project presents a model of the conceptualizations of transformation. Transformation in chronic illness is presented as a process of learning about self and the chronic illness in an iterative and continually changing manner. The primary care context has its greatest influence on critical reflection, which occurs in the first phase (initial response). Discussion: This model illustrates the complex processes that occur for someone living with a chronic illness. Health practitioners who understand why and how people transform in living with chronic illnesses will be able to apply this model in determining people’s needs and how to assist people during the transformative process.
Characteristics and outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia refractory to 1 cycle of high-dose cytarabine-based induction chemotherapy
Authors: Ravandi Farhad , Cortes Jorge , Faderl Stefan , O'Brien Susan , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Verstovsek Srdan , Santos Fabio P. S. , Shan Jianqin , Brandt Mark , de Lima Marcos , Pierce Sherry , Kantarjian Hagop 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Pretreatment characteristics and outcome of patients treated with induction regimens containing high-dose ara-C (HiDAC) at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center refractory to 1 cycle of induction were compared with similar patients achieving a complete response (CR). Among 1597 patients treated with HiDAC-based induction from 1995 to 2009, 285 were refractory to 1 cycle. Median age was 59 years (range, 18-85 years). Induction regimens included HiDAC with anthracyclines (n = 181; 64%) or HiDAC with nonanthracycline chemotherapy (n = 104; 36%). Refractory patients were older (median age, 59 vs 56 years; P < .001), more likely with unfavorable cytogenetics (P < .001) and antecedent hematologic disorder (P < .001), and had a higher presentation white blood cell count (P = .04), but not a higher incidence of FLT3 mutations (P = .85), than those achieving CR. Forty-three patients (22%) responded to salvage (35 CR and 8 CR without platelet recovery). With a median follow-up of 72 months (range, 27-118 months) in responders, 11 are alive. Nineteen patients (7%) were alive and in CR for at least 6 months, including 9 who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation. On multivariate analysis, severe thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, increasing marrow blast percentage, unfavorable cytogenetics, and salvage not including allogeneic stem cell transplantation were associated with a worse survival. Alternative strategies are needed for these patients.
Identification of the Rage-dependent gene regulatory network in a mouse model of skin inflammation
Authors: Riehl Astrid , Bauer Tobias , Brors Benedikt , Busch Hauke , Mark Regina , Németh Julia , Gebhardt Christoffer , Bierhaus Angelika , Nawroth Peter , Eils Roland , König Rainer , Angel Peter , Hess Jochen 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackgroundIn the past, molecular mechanisms that drive the initiation of an inflammatory response have been studied intensively. However, corresponding mechanisms that sustain the expression of inflammatory response genes and hence contribute to the establishment of chronic disorders remain poorly understood. Recently, we provided genetic evidence that signaling via the receptor for advanced glycation end products (Rage) drives the strength and maintenance of an inflammatory reaction. In order to decipher the mode of Rage function on gene transcription levels during inflammation, we applied global gene expression profiling on time-resolved samples of mouse back skin, which had been treated with the phorbol ester TPA, a potent inducer of skin inflammation.ResultsRanking of TPA-regulated genes according to their time average mean and peak expression and superimposition of data sets from wild-type (wt) andRage-deficient mice revealed that Rage signaling is not essential for initial changes in TPA-induced transcription, but absolutely required for sustained alterations in transcript levels. Next, we used a data set of differentially expressed genes between TPA-treatedwtandRage-deficient skin and performed computational analysis of their proximal promoter regions. We found a highly significant enrichment for several transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) leading to the prediction that corresponding transcription factors, such as Sp1, Tcfap2, E2f, Myc and Egr, are regulated by Rage signaling. Accordingly, we could confirm aberrant expression and regulation of members of the E2f protein family in epidermal keratinocytes of Rage-deficient mice.ConclusionsIn summary, our data support the model that engagement of Rage converts a transient cellular stimulation into sustained cellular dysfunction and highlight a novel role of the Rb-E2f pathway in Rage-dependent inflammation during pathological conditions.
The humoral response to Plasmodium falciparum VarO rosetting variant and its association with protection against malaria in Beninese children
Authors: Vigan-Womas Inès , Lokossou Adjimon , Guillotte Micheline , Juillerat Alexandre , Bentley Graham , Garcia André , Mercereau-Puijalon Odile , Migot-Nabias Florence 
Published: October 2010

Abstract

Background
The capacity of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to bind uninfected erythrocytes (rosetting) is associated with severe malaria in African children. Rosetting is mediated by a subset of the variant surface antigens PfEMP1 targeted by protective antibody responses. Analysis of the response to rosette-forming parasites and their PfEMP1 adhesive domains is essential for understanding the acquisition of protection against severe malaria. To this end, the antibody response to a rosetting variant was analysed in children recruited with severe or uncomplicated malaria or asymptomatic P. falciparum infection.

Methods
Serum was collected from Beninese children with severe malaria, uncomplicated malaria or P. falciparum asymptomatic infection (N = 65, 37 and 52, respectively) and from immune adults (N = 30) living in the area. Infected erythrocyte surface-reactive IgG, rosette disrupting antibodies and IgG to the parasite crude extract were analysed using the single variant Palo Alto VarO-infected line. IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 to PfEMP1-varO-derived NTS-DBL1α1, CIDRγ and DBL2βC2 recombinant domains were analysed by ELISA. Antibody responses were compared in the clinical groups. Stability of the response was studied using a blood sampling collected 14 months later from asymptomatic children.

Results
Seroprevalence of erythrocyte surface-reactive IgG was high in adults (100%) and asymptomatic children (92.3%) but low in children with severe or uncomplicated malaria (26.1% and 37.8%, respectively). The IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 antibody responses to the varO-derived PfEMP1 domains were significantly higher in asymptomatic children than in children with clinical malaria in a multivariate analysis correcting for age and parasite density at enrolment. They were essentially stable, although levels tended to decrease with time. VarO-surface reactivity correlated positively with IgG reactivity to the rosetting domain varO-NTS-DBL1α1. None of the children sera, including those with surface-reactive antibodies possessed anti-VarO-rosetting activity, and few adults had rosette-disrupting antibodies.

Conclusions
Children with severe and uncomplicated malaria had similar responses. The higher prevalence and level of VarO-reactive antibodies in asymptomatic children compared to children with malaria is consistent with a protective role for anti-VarO antibodies against clinical falciparum malaria. The mechanism of such protection seems independent of rosette-disruption, suggesting that the cytophilic properties of antibodies come into play.
Single-cell and coupled GRN models of cell patterning in the Arabidopsis thaliana root stem cell niche
Authors: Azpeitia Eugenio , Benítez Mariana , Vega Iliusi , Villarreal Carlos , Alvarez-Buylla Elena R 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackgroundRecent experimental work has uncovered some of the genetic components required to maintain theArabidopsis thalianaroot stem cell niche (SCN) and its structure. Two main pathways are involved. One pathway depends on the genesSHORTROOTandSCARECROWand the other depends on thePLETHORAgenes, which have been proposed to constitute the auxin readouts. Recent evidence suggests that a regulatory circuit, composed ofWOX5andCLE40, also contributes to the SCN maintenance. Yet, we still do not understand how the niche is dynamically maintained and patterned or if the uncovered molecular components are sufficient to recover the observed gene expression configurations that characterize the cell types within the root SCN. Mathematical and computational tools have proven useful in understanding the dynamics of cell differentiation. Hence, to further explore root SCN patterning, we integrated available experimental data into dynamic Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) models and addressed if these are sufficient to attain observed gene expression configurations in the root SCN in a robust and autonomous manner.ResultsWe found that an SCN GRN model based only on experimental data did not reproduce the configurations observed within the root SCN. We developed several alternative GRN models that recover these expected stable gene configurations. Such models incorporate a few additional components and interactions in addition to those that have been uncovered. The recovered configurations are stable to perturbations, and the models are able to recover the observed gene expression profiles of almost all the mutants described so far. However, the robustness of the postulated GRNs is not as high as that of other previously studied networks.ConclusionsThese models are the first published approximations for a dynamic mechanism of theA. thalianaroot SCN cellular pattering. Our model is useful to formally show that the data now available are not sufficient to fully reproduce root SCN organization and genetic profiles. We then highlight some experimental holes that remain to be studied and postulate some novel gene interactions. Finally, we suggest the existence of a generic dynamical motif that can be involved in both plant and animal SCN maintenance.