bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Bioactive Oxylipins Formed by Non‐Enzymatic Free‐Radical‐Catalyzed Pathways: the Phytoprostanes
Authors: Durand Thierry , Bultel‐Poncé Valérie , Guy Alexandre , Berger Susanne , Mueller Martin J. , Galano Jean‐Marie 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn animals and plants, fatty acids with at least three double bonds can be oxidized to prostaglandin‐like compounds via enzymatic and non‐enzymatic pathways. The most common fatty acid precursor in mammals is arachidonic acid (C20:4) (AA) which can be converted through the cyclooxygenase pathway to a series of prostaglandins (PG). Non‐enzymatic cyclization of arachidonate yields a series of isoprostanes (IsoP) which comprises all PG (minor compounds) as well as PG isomers that cannot be formed enzymatically. In contrast, in plants, α‐linolenic acid (C18:3) (ALA) is the most common substrate for the allene oxide synthase pathway leading to the jasmonate (JA) family of lipid mediators. Non‐enzymatic oxidation of linolenate leads to a series of C18‐IsoPs termed dinor IsoP or phytoprostanes (PP). PP structurally resemble JA but cannot be formed enzymatically. We will give an overview of the biological activity of the different classes of PP and also discuss their analytical applications and the strategies developed so far for the total synthesis of PP, depending on the synthetic approaches according to the targets and which key steps serve to access the natural products.
Head rotation evoked tinnitus due to superior semicircular canal dehiscence
Authors: Nam E-C , Lewis R , Nakajima H H , Merchant S N , Levine R A 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIntroduction:Superior semicircular canal dehiscence affects the auditory and vestibular systems due to a partial defect in the canal's bony wall. In most cases, sound- and pressure-induced vertigo are present, and are sometimes accompanied by pulse-synchronous tinnitus.Case presentation:We describe a 50-year-old man with superior semicircular canal dehiscence whose only complaints were head rotation induced tinnitus and autophony. Head rotation in the plane of the right semicircular canal with an angular velocity exceeding 600°/second repeatedly induced a ‘cricket’ sound in the patient's right ear. High resolution temporal bone computed tomography changes, and an elevated umbo velocity, supported the diagnosis of superior semicircular canal dehiscence.Conclusion:In addition to pulse-synchronous or continuous tinnitus, head rotation induced tinnitus can be the only presenting symptom of superior semicircular canal dehiscence without vestibular complaints. We suggest that, in our patient, the bony defect of the superior semicircular canal (‘third window’) might have enhanced the flow of inner ear fluid, possibly producing tinnitus.
Facial reanimation with end-to-end hypoglossofacial anastomosis: 20 years’ experience
Authors: Catli T , Bayazit Y A , Gokdogan O , Goksu N 
Published: September 2009

AbstractObjective:This study aimed to evaluate retrospectively the results of experience with end-to-end anastomosis of cranial nerves VII and XII, performed due to transection of the facial nerve during acoustic neuroma removal.Methods:We assessed the facial reanimation results of 33 patients whose facial nerves had been transected during acoustic neuroma excision via a retrosigmoid approach, between 1985 and 2006, and who underwent end-to-end hypoglossofacial anastomosis. We compared the facial nerve functions of patients receiving short term (two to three years) and long term (more than three years) follow up, and we assessed any complications of the anastomosis.Results:A House–Brackmann grade III facial function was achieved in 46.2 and 86.4 per cent of the patients in the short and long term, respectively. House–Brackmann grade IV facial function was achieved in 53.8 and 13.6 per cent of the patients in the short and long term, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the facial recovery results, comparing the short and long term follow-up periods (p = 0.03). Disarticulation was the most common complication, seen in 19 (57.6 per cent) patients; numbness of the tongue was the next commonest (10 (30.3 per cent) patients). None of the patients developed dysphagia.Conclusion:Despite such morbidities as disarticulation and tongue numbness, end-to-end hypoglossofacial anastomosis is still an effective procedure for the surgical rehabilitation of static and dynamic facial nerve functions. Significant improvement in facial nerve function can occur more than three years post-operatively.
Anticipated Benefits of Care (ABC): psychometrics and predictive value in psychiatric disorders
Authors: Warden D. , Trivedi M. H. , Carmody T. J. , Gollan J. K. , Kashner T. M. , Lind L. , Crismon M. L. , Rush A. J. 
Published: September 2009

BackgroundAttitudes and expectations about treatment have been associated with symptomatic outcomes, adherence and utilization in patients with psychiatric disorders. No measure of patients' anticipated benefits of treatment on domains of everyday functioning has previously been available.MethodThe Anticipated Benefits of Care (ABC) is a new, 10-item questionnaire used to measure patient expectations about the impact of treatment on domains of everyday functioning. The ABC was collected at baseline in adult out-patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (n=528), bipolar disorder (n=395) and schizophrenia (n=447) in the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP). Psychometric properties of the ABC were assessed, and the association of ABC scores with treatment response at 3 months was evaluated.ResultsEvaluation of the ABC's internal consistency yielded Cronbach's α of 0.90–0.92 for patients across disorders. Factor analysis showed that the ABC was unidimensional for all patients and for patients with each disorder. For patients with MDD, lower anticipated benefits of treatment was associated with less symptom improvement and lower odds of treatment response [odds ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57–0.87, p=0.0011]. There was no association between ABC and symptom improvement or treatment response for patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, possibly because these patients had modest benefits with treatment.ConclusionsThe ABC is the first self-report that measures patient expectations about the benefits of treatment on everyday functioning, filling an important gap in available assessments of attitudes and expectations about treatment. The ABC is simple, easy to use, and has acceptable psychometric properties for use in research or clinical settings.
Experimental investigation of fast electron transport in solid density matter: Recent results from a new technique of X-ray energy-encoded 2D imaging
Authors: Labate L. , Förster E. , Giulietti A. , Giulietti D. , Höfer S. , Kämpfer T. , Köster P. , Kozlova M. , Levato T. , Lötzsch R. , Lübcke A. , Mocek T. , Polan J. , Rus B. , Uschmann I. , Zamponi F. , Gizzi L.A. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe development activity of a new experimental technique for the study of the fast electron transport in high density matter is reported. This new diagnostic tool enables the X-ray 2D imaging of ultrahigh intensity laser plasmas with simultaneous spectral resolution in a very large energy range to be obtained. Results from recent experiments are discussed, in which the electron propagation in multilayer targets was studied by using the Kα. In particular, results highlighting the role of anisotropic Bremsstrahlung are reported, for the sake of the explanation of the capabilities of the new diagnostics. A discussion of a test experiment conceived to extend the technique to a single-shot operation is finally given.
‘Political Religion’ and the Totalitarian Departures of Inter-war Europe: On the Uses and Disadvantages of an Analytical Category
Authors: ROBERTS DAVID D. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThis article seeks to clarify the uses and disadvantages of the concept of ‘political religion’, which has recently returned to currency, especially to account for the liturgy and the sense of world-historical mission central to Italian fascism, German Nazism and Soviet communism. But the category leads us to inflate abiding, suprahistorical impulses at the expense of historical specificity and novelty. And by making the phenomena in question seem relatively familiar, it diverts us from the deeper challenge they constitute. Still, the objections of critics often miss dimensions that ‘political religion’ at least approximates. Essential to the requisite synthesis is a recast notion of totalitarianism, understood as a novel frame of mind leading to a new mode of collective action.
‘The Continuation of Politics by Other Means’: Britain, the Two Germanys and the Olympic Games, 1949–1972
Authors: HUGHES R. GERALD , OWEN RACHEL J. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThis article evaluates the interplay between international sport and international politics during the cold war through an examination of the two Germanys and the Olympics from a British perspective. Germany was at the centre of Olympic and cold war politics between 1945 and the early 1970s, and the two German states competed fiercely over questions of national legitimacy. West Germany was initially successful in denying international recognition to the ‘other’ German state. East Germany countered this by developing a strategy that utilised international sport, particularly the Olympic Games, to further its claims for statehood. While recognising the flaws in the West German case against East Germany, British policy was constrained by the need to accommodate Bonn's sensibilities, given that the Federal Republic was a major ally. An examination of this ‘Olympian’ struggle from a British perspective tells us much about the West's cold war strategy and casts new light on this arena of East–West competition.
Selling Social Democracy in the Netherlands: Activism and its Sources of Inspiration during the 1930s
Authors: RULOF BERNARD 
Published: September 2009

AbstractDuring the 1930s the Dutch social democratic party changed into a party which sought to reform rather than to abolish capitalism. This transformation was accompanied by a change in tactics and strategy intended to meet the challenges of economic and political crises. Henceforth, the Sociaal-Democratische Arbeiderspartij tried to establish co-operation with social groupings well beyond its traditional rank and file of industrial labourers. A new generation of voluntarist politicians proposed to adopt the methods of propaganda, and turned for inspiration to activities undertaken by Belgian and German socialists, as well as the world of commercial advertising.
Simple SVM based whole-genome segmentation
Authors: Bedo Justin , Macintyre Geoff , Haviv Izhak , Kowalczyk Adam 
Published: September 2009

AbstractWe present a support vector machine (SVM) based framework for DNA segmentation into binary classes. Two applications are explored: transcription start site prediction and transcription factor binding prediction. Experiments demonstrate our approach has significantly better performance than other methods on both tasks.
POLITICAL ECONOMY OF INFORMALIZATION
Authors: Slavnic Zoran 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT
This article has two main aims. The first is to problematize the dominant view of the informal economy as a sort of separate economy, related primarily to (immigrant) small business and distinct from the so-called formal economy, which for the most part encompasses big companies as well as state economic activities. In contrast, the present article assumes that all economic actors are increasingly ready to adopt informal economic strategies to secure their economical survival. In line with this assumption, the second aim of the article is to contribute to our knowledge of the causes of, as well as the actors within, the current informalization trends that characterize Western economies. The article concludes that the informalization of contemporary advanced economies in general terms is a result of a structural conflict between new economic trends and old regulatory frameworks. These frameworks, with their focus on decommodification, have become too restrictive for new forms of capital accumulation, with their focus on flexible adaptation, which include an increasing demand for the re-commodification of labour. The conflict emerges and intensifies, among other reasons, because of the radically different internal operational logics, agendas and priorities that characterize these two social processes.
Detection of new protein domains using co-occurrence: application toPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Terrapon Nicolas , Gascuel Olivier , Maréchal Éric , Bréehélin Laurent 
Published: September 2009

AbstractMotivation: Hidden Markov models (HMMs) have proved to be a powerful tool for protein domain identification in newly sequenced organisms. However, numerous domains may be missed in highly divergent proteins. This is the case for Plasmodium falciparum proteins, the main causal agent of human malaria.Results: We propose a method to improve the sensitivity of HMM domain detection by exploiting the tendency of the domains to appear preferentially with a few other favorite domains in a protein. When sequence information alone is not sufficient to warrant the presence of a particular domain, our method enables its detection on the basis of the presence of other Pfam or InterPro domains. Moreover, a shuffling procedure allows us to estimate the false discovery rate associated with the results. Applied to P.falciparum, our method identifies 585 new Pfam domains (versus the 3683 already known domains in the Pfam database) with an estimated error rate &lt;20%. These new domains provide 387 new Gene Ontology (GO) annotations to the P.falciparum proteome. Analogous and congruent results are obtained when applying the method to related Plasmodium species (P.vivax and P.yoelii).Availability: Supplementary Material and a database of the new domains and GO predictions achieved on Plasmodium proteins are available at http://www.lirmm.fr/∼terrapon/codd/Contact: brehelin@lirmm.frSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
LIBRUS: combined machine learning and homology information for sequence-based ligand-binding residue prediction
Authors: Kauffman Chris , Karypis George 
Published: September 2009

Abstract
Motivation: Identifying residues that interact with ligands is useful as a first step to understanding protein function and as an aid to designing small molecules that target the protein for interaction. Several studies have shown that sequence features are very informative for this type of prediction, while structure features have also been useful when structure is available. We develop a sequence-based method, called LIBRUS, that combines homology-based transfer and direct prediction using machine learning and compare it to previous sequence-based work and current structure-based methods.
Results: Our analysis shows that homology-based transfer is slightly more discriminating than a support vector machine learner using profiles and predicted secondary structure. We combine these two approaches in a method called LIBRUS. On a benchmark of 885 sequence-independent proteins, it achieves an area under the ROC curve (ROC) of 0.83 with 45% precision at 50% recall, a significant improvement over previous sequence-based efforts. On an independent benchmark set, a current method, FINDSITE, based on structure features achieves an ROC of 0.81 with 54% precision at 50% recall, while LIBRUS achieves an ROC of 0.82 with 39% precision at 50% recall at a smaller computational cost. When LIBRUS and FINDSITE predictions are combined, performance is increased beyond either reaching an ROC of 0.86 and 59% precision at 50% recall.
Availability: Software developed for this study is available at http://bioinfo.cs.umn.edu/supplements/binf2009 along with Supplementary data on the study.
Contact: kauffman@cs.umn.edu; karypis@cs.umn.edu
Censusing the mountain gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes: complete sweep method versus monitoring
Authors: Gray Maryke , McNeilage Alastair , Fawcett Katie , Robbins Martha M. , Ssebide Benard , Mbula Deo , Uwingeli Prosper 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) of the Virunga Volcanoes Range of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are one of the most endangered ape populations in the world. Following a dramatic decline during the 1960s, and relative stability in the 1970s, the population steadily increased during the 1980s. Due to political instability and war, a complete census had not been conducted since 1989. Here we compare the results of a complete census using the ‘sweep method’ conducted in 2003 with those from a monitoring program, to estimate the size and distribution of the gorilla population. A total of 360 gorillas were counted from census measurements and known habituated groups. Based on quantitative assessments of the census accuracy, we calculated that an additional 20 gorillas were not counted, leading to an estimated population of 380 individuals, and a 1.15% annual growth rate since 1989. The Ranger Based Monitoring programme yielded similar results. The encouraging results must be viewed with caution, however, because the growth was concentrated almost entirely in one section of the Virungas. Additionally, the distribution of gorilla groups was negatively correlated with the frequency of human disturbances, which highlights the need to continue strengthening conservation efforts.
Sharing natural resources: mountain gorillas and people in the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda
Authors: Van Gils Hein , Kayijamahe Eugene 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe compatibility of natural resource use by people and mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) within the Parc National des Volcans was studied. The distribution of gorillas was modelled using a Maximum Entropy algorithm. Biophysical predictor variables were trained with daily GPS locations of gorillas during 2006. Elevation, as a climate surrogate, was the best predictor (58%) of the occurrence of gorillas. The mid‐altitudes (2500–3500 m a.s.l.) contained the bulk of the gorilla groups. Incoming solar radiation, as proxy for comfortable nesting sites, was the second best predictor (17%). Vegetation types, as foliage provider, (13%) and slope steepness for providing security (12%) were contributing predictors. The modelled and actual gorilla distributions were together overlaid with people’s resource use in the park. Both people and gorillas were congregated in the areas identified as most suitable for gorillas. However, within these areas spatial segregation was found between human natural resource‐users and gorillas. Therefore, the number of gorillas is likely to be limited by the human natural resource use within the park. A perimeter fence, the introduction of community‐based natural resource management, and a buffer zone are discussed as short‐, medium‐ and long‐term mitigation measures.
Seedling survival in Manilkara butugi Chiov. along a dispersal gradient in Kakamega forest, Kenya
Authors: Wahungu Geoffery M. , Mureu Lucy K. , Wato Yussuf A. , Mureithi Sarah N. , Karanja Geoffery G. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe spatial patterns of seedling distribution in Manilkara butugi were studied between December 2004 and April 2005 at Kakamega forest, Kenya. Our objectives were to determine the spatial variation in seedling density in relation to distance from the parent tree and the survivorship patterns of M. butugi seedlings. We hypothesized that seedling density and mortality would be highest beneath the parent tree and would reduce with increasing distance from the parent tree. Line transects, radiating along the four compass directions from mature female M. butugi trees were established, and quadrats marked out at intervals of 5 m in which seedlings were counted. To determine establishment and survivorship, belt transects 5 m × 40 m running along the northerly compass direction were laid and data collected on seedling variables. Seedling density reduced with increasing distance from the parent plant (F = 25.72, df = 3; P < 0.001). Whereas seedling height (F = 14.806, df = 1; P < 0.05) and the number of leaves (F = 12.45, df = 1; P < 0.05) increased with increasing distance from the parent tree, damage to seedlings reduced with increasing distance (F = 27.59, P < 0.05). Our results were consistent with the Janzen–Cornell escape hypothesis and have implications for natural regeneration of M. butugi and to maintenance of species diversity.
The use of breeding sites of Tilapia congica (Thys & van Audenaerde 1960) to delineate conservation sites in the Lake Tumba, Democratic Republic of Congo: toward the conservation of the lake ecosystem
Authors: Inogwabini Bila‐Isia , Dianda Mputu , Lingopa Zanga 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTo guide the zoning process in Lake Tumba, Democratic Republic of Congo, breeding sites of Tilapia congica were studied. Physical metrics measured were: nest depths, exposure to sun rays, distance from the edges, site spreads, and habitat types. Mean nest depth = 0.23 m ± 0.08 (SD), range = 0.04–2.2 m (n = 553 nests); 100% (n = 70 sites) sites were exposed to the sun and the polynomial regression analysis showed 90% sites were within the range 51–250 m from the lake shores (y = −1.7143x2 + 10.371x− 1.8; R2 = 0.597, n = 70 sites), with 60% clumped within the range of 51–150 m, indicating a relationship between nesting sites and the distance from edges. The largest group spread group was 300 m, and among the four breeding sites identified, one was ∼10 km long, meaning a zonal spatial spread ∏ = 300 ha and a core reproduction zone ∏′ = 100 ha. T. congica built 87.30% of their nest in habitats where Hippo grass Vossia cuspidata (48.20%) and Water lily Nympheae stellata (39.10%) dominated. T. congica shared 41.81% of its nesting sites with other fish species, leading to the conclusion that protecting the species habitats would provide the umbrella for the conservation of other species.
Analysis of candidate genes underlying two epistatic quantitative trait loci on SSC12 affecting litter size in pig
Authors: Fernández‐Rodríguez A. , Rodríguez C. , Varona L. , Balcells I. , Noguera J. L. , Óvilo C. , Fernández A. I. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe previous results from a genome scan for total number of piglets born and number of piglets born alive in a F2 Iberian by Meishan intercross showed several single and epistatic QTL. One of the most interesting results was obtained for SSC12, where two QTL affecting both traits showed epistatic interaction. In this study, we proposed two genes (SLC9A3R1 and NOS2) as biological and potentially positional candidates underlying these QTL. Both cDNAs were characterized and 23 polymorphisms were detected. A chromosome scan was conducted with 12 markers, plus one SNP in SLC9A3R1 and one in NOS2, covering 110 cM of SSC12. The epistatic QTL (QTL1 at 15 cM and QTL2 at 97 cM) were confirmed, and SLC9A3R1 and NOS2 were mapped around the QTL1 and QTL2 regions respectively. Several SNPs in both genes were tested with standard animal model and marker assisted association tests. The most significant results were obtained with the NOS2 haplotype defined by one missense SNP c.2192C > T (Val to Ala) and a 15 bp duplication at the 3′UTR. This duplication seems to include AU‐rich elements, and could be a target site for miRNA, therefore there are statistical and biological indications to consider this haplotype as the potential causal mutation underlying QTL2. SLC9A3R1 results were not conclusive. Although the interaction between the SNPs was not significant, we cannot reject the possibility of interaction of the NOS2 haplotype with other polymorphisms closely linked to the SL9A3R1 SNPs analysed.