bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Remote sensing of plant functional types
Authors: Ustin Susan L. , Gamon John A. 
Published: May 2010

SummaryConceptually, plant functional types represent a classification scheme between species and broad vegetation types. Historically, these were based on physiological, structural and/or phenological properties, whereas recently, they have reflected plant responses to resources or environmental conditions. Often, an underlying assumption, based on an economic analogy, is that the functional role of vegetation can be identified by linked sets of morphological and physiological traits constrained by resources, based on the hypothesis of functional convergence. Using these concepts, ecologists have defined a variety of functional traits that are often context dependent, and the diversity of proposed traits demonstrates the lack of agreement on universal categories. Historically, remotely sensed data have been interpreted in ways that parallel these observations, often focused on the categorization of vegetation into discrete types, often dependent on the sampling scale. At the same time, current thinking in both ecology and remote sensing has moved towards viewing vegetation as a continuum rather than as discrete classes. The capabilities of new remote sensing instruments have led us to propose a new concept of optically distinguishable functional types (‘optical types’) as a unique way to address the scale dependence of this problem. This would ensure more direct relationships between ecological information and remote sensing observations.

Contents

Summary
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I.
Introduction
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II.
History of functional‐type classifications of vegetation
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III.
History of remote sensing of vegetation
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IV.
New sensors and perspectives
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V.
Measuring detailed canopy structure
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VI.
The emerging hypothesis of ‘optical types’
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VII.
Conclusions
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Acknowledgements
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References
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RGS9‐2 mediates specific inhibition of agonist‐induced internalization of D2‐dopamine receptors
Authors: Celver Jeremy , Sharma Meenakshi , Kovoor Abraham 
Published: May 2010

J. Neurochem.(2010)114, 739–749.AbstractRegulator of G protein signaling 9‐2 (RGS9‐2), a member of the RGS family of GTPase accelerating proteins, is expressed specifically in the striatum, a brain region involved in controlling movement, motivation, mood and addiction. RGS9‐2 can be found co‐localized with D2‐class dopamine receptors in medium spiny striatal neurons and altered functioning of both RGS9‐2 and D2‐like dopamine receptors have been implicated in schizophrenia, movement disorders and reward responses. Previously we showed that RGS9‐2 can specifically co‐localize with D2‐dopamine receptors (D2R). Here we provide further evidence of the specificity of RGS9‐2 for regulating D2R cellular functions: the expression of RGS9‐2 inhibits dopamine‐mediated cellular internalization of D2R, while the expression of another RGS protein, RGS4, had no effect. In addition, the agonist‐mediated internalization of the G protein coupled delta opioid receptor was unaffected by RGS9‐2 expression. We utilized mutant constructs of RGS9‐2 to show that the RGS9‐2 DEP (for Disheveled, EGL‐10, Pleckstrin homology) domain and the GTPase accelerating activity of RGS9‐2 were necessary for mediating specific inhibition of D2R internalization.
AAV‐mediated expression of wild‐type and ALS‐linked mutant VAPB selectively triggers death of motoneurons through a Ca2+‐dependent ER‐associated pathway
Authors: Langou Karine , Moumen Anice , Pellegrino Christophe , Aebischer Julianne , Medina Igor , Aebischer Patrick , Raoul Cédric 
Published: May 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 795–809.AbstractA dominant mutation in the gene coding for the vesicle‐associated membrane protein‐associated protein B (VAPB) was associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal paralytic disorder characterized by the selective loss of motoneurons in the brain and spinal cord. Adeno‐associated viral vectors that we show to transduce up to 90% of motoneurons in vitro were used to model VAPB‐associated neurodegenerative process. We observed that Adeno‐associated viral‐mediated over‐expression of both wild‐type and mutated form of human VAPB selectively induces death of primary motoneurons, albeit with different kinetics. We provide evidence that ER stress and impaired homeostatic regulation of calcium (Ca2+) are implicated in the death process. Finally, we found that completion of the motoneuron death program triggered by the over‐expression of wild‐type and mutant VAPB implicates calpains, caspase 12 and 3. Our viral‐based in vitro model, which recapitulates the selective vulnerability of motoneurons to the presence of mutant VAPB and also to VAPB gene dosage effect, identifies aberrant Ca2+ signals and ER‐derived death pathways as important events in the motoneuron degenerative process.
ERP and RT Delays in Long‐Term Abstinent Alcoholics in Processing of Emotional Facial Expressions During Gender and Emotion Categorization Tasks
Authors: Fein George , Key Kameron , Szymanski Michael D. 
Published: May 2010

Background:  There is considerable evidence that alcoholics differ from nonalcoholics in the processing of stimuli that have emotional content. The current study examines those differences that are present in multi‐year abstinent individuals.Methods:  We compared reaction time (RT), accuracy, and Event Related Potentials (ERP) measures in long‐term abstinent alcoholics (LTAA, n = 52) with that in age‐ and gender‐comparable nonalcoholic controls (NAC, n = 47). Subjects were presented with male and female faces exhibiting happy, neutral, or sad facial expressions and were instructed to identify the picture gender in 1 task and the emotion being expressed in a subsequent task.Results:  LTAA had slower RTs than NAC when instructed to identify emotion, while RT was comparable when identifying gender. There were no differences between groups on task accuracy. P160 latency was increased in LTAA for both tasks compared to NAC, though P160 amplitude did not differ between groups. The P160 effect was about 5 × as large as the RT effect and was statistically independent of the RT effect, while the RT effect was no longer present after removing variance because of the P160 effect.Conclusions:  Our data demonstrate slower early processing of emotional facial stimuli in alcoholics that is unresolved by long‐term abstinence and is most sensitively indexed by delayed P160 latency in LTAA.
Noninvasive Diagnosis of Large Esophageal Varices by Fibroscan: Strong Influence of the Cirrhosis Etiology
Authors: Nguyen‐Khac Eric , Saint‐Leger Pierre , Tramier Blaise , Coevoet Hugues , Capron Dominique , Dupas Jean‐Louis 
Published: May 2010

Background:  Large esophageal varices (LOV) were diagnosed by endoscopy in patients with cirrhosis. Noninvasive method would be valuable.Aims:  To evaluate the diagnostic performance of Fibroscan for LOV prediction and to investigate the prognostic value of liver stiffness (LS) in cirrhosis.Patients and Methods:  One hundred and eighty‐three patients with cirrhosis (103 alcohol, 58 viral, and 22 others) underwent an endoscopy and a Fibroscan. Of those patients, 41 (22.4%) had LOV.Results:  Median LS was 33.66 kPa (range: 12–75), higher in patients with LOV than those without (51.24 ± 1.61 vs. 29.81 ± 1.82 kPa, p < 0.0001), and in alcoholic than nonalcoholic (40.39 ± 1.75 vs. 25.73 ± 1.82, p < 0.0001). In whole population, a LS ≥48 kPa predicted LOV with sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of 73.2, 73.2, 44.1, and 90.4%, respectively, and an area under ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.75 (CI 95%: 0.69–0.82). For alcoholic cirrhosis, LS was ≥47.2 kPa with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV of 84.6, 63.6, 44, and 92.5%, respectively, AUROC 0.77 (0.68–0.85). For viral cirrhosis, a LS ≥19.8 kPa generated diagnostic values of 88.9, 55.1, 26.7, and 96.4% and 0.73 (0.60–0.84). Sixteen (8.75%) patients died at 1 year. In multivariate analysis, LS was not predictive of mortality.Conclusions:  Etiology of cirrhosis has strong impact on LS cutoff for diagnosis of LOV. Studies should be performed with homogenous cirrhosis etiology.
Age of Drinking Onset as a Moderator of the Efficacy of Parent‐Based, Brief Motivational, and Combined Intervention Approaches to Reduce Drinking and Consequences Among College Students
Authors: Mallett Kimberly A. , Ray Anne E. , Turrisi Rob , Belden Calum , Bachrach Rachel L. , Larimer Mary E. 
Published: May 2010

Background:  The current study tested age of onset as a moderator of intervention efficacy on drinking and consequence outcomes among a high‐risk population of college students (i.e., former high school athletes).Methods:  Students were randomized to one of four conditions: assessment only control, combined parent‐based intervention (PBI) and brief motivational intervention (BMI), PBI alone, and BMI alone. Participants (n = 1,275) completed web‐administered measures at baseline (summer before starting college) and 10‐month follow‐up.Results:  Overall, the combined intervention demonstrated the strongest and most consistent reductions across all outcomes, particularly with the youngest initiators. Participants who initiated drinking at the youngest ages had significantly lower peak drinking, typical weekly drinking, and reported consequences at follow‐up when they received the combined intervention when compared to the control group. The BMI and PBI groups, when examined independently, demonstrated significant effects across outcomes but were inconsistent across the different age groups.Conclusion:  Results suggest the combination of a PBI and a peer‐delivered BMI is an appropriate and efficacious way to reduce drinking and related consequences among individuals who initiated drinking earlier in adolescence and are at an increased risk of experiencing alcohol problems.
Acute Ethanol Effects on Brain Activation in Low‐ and High‐Level Responders to Alcohol
Authors: Trim Ryan S. , Simmons Alan N. , Tolentino Neil J. , Hall Shana A. , Matthews Scott C. , Robinson Shannon K. , Smith Tom L. , Padula Claudia B. , Paulus Martin P. , Tapert Susan F. , Schuckit Marc A. 
Published: May 2010

Background:  A low level of response (LR) to alcohol is an important endophenotype associated with an increased risk of alcoholism. However, little is known about how neural functioning may differ between individuals with low and high LRs to alcohol. This study examined whether LR group effects on neural activity varied as a function of acute alcohol consumption.Methods:  A total of 30 matched high‐ and low‐LR pairs (N = 60 healthy young adults) were recruited from the University of California, San Diego, and administered a structured diagnostic interview and laboratory alcohol challenge followed by two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions under placebo and alcohol conditions, in randomized order. Task performance and blood oxygen level‐dependent response contrast to high relative to low working memory load in an event‐related visual working memory (VWM) task were examined across 120 fMRI sessions.Results:  Both LR groups performed similarly on the VWM task across conditions. A significant LR group by condition interaction effect was observed in inferior frontal and cingulate regions, such that alcohol attenuated the LR group differences found under placebo (p < 0.05). The LR group by condition effect remained even after controlling for cerebral blood flow, age, and typical drinking quantity.Conclusions:  Alcohol had differential effects on brain activation for low‐ and high‐LR individuals within frontal and cingulate regions. These findings represent an additional step in the search for physiological correlates of a low LR and identify brain regions that may be associated with the low LR response.
Transcallosal White Matter Degradation Detected With Quantitative Fiber Tracking in Alcoholic Men and Women: Selective Relations to Dissociable Functions
Authors: Pfefferbaum Adolf , Rosenbloom Margaret J. , Fama Rosemary , Sassoon Stephanie A. , Sullivan Edith V. 
Published: May 2010

Introduction: Excessive alcohol consumption can adversely affect white matter fibers and disrupt transmission of neuronal signals. Here, we examined six anatomically defined transcallosal white matter fiber bundles and asked whether any bundle was specifically vulnerable to alcohol, what aspect of white matter integrity was most affected, whether women were more vulnerable than men, and whether evidence of compromise in specific bundles was associated with deficits in balance, sustained attention, associative learning, and psychomotor function, commonly affected in alcoholics.Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging quantitative fiber tracking assessed integrity of six transcallosal white matter bundles in 87 alcoholics (59 men, 28 women) and 88 healthy controls (42 men, 46 women). Measures included orientational diffusion coherence (fractional anisotropy, FA) and magnitude of diffusion, quantified separately for axial (longitudinal; λL) and radial (transverse; λT) diffusivity. The Digit Symbol Test and a test of ataxia were also administered.Results: Alcoholism negatively affected callosal FA and λT of all but the sensory‐motor bundle. Women showed no evidence for greater vulnerability to alcohol than men. Multiple regression analyses confirmed a double dissociation: higher diffusivity in sensory‐motor and parietal bundles was associated with poorer balance but not psychomotor speed, whereas higher diffusivity in prefrontal and temporal bundles was associated with slower psychomotor speed but not balance.Conclusions: This study revealed stronger alcohol effects for FA and radial diffusivity than axial diffusivity, suggesting myelin degradation, but no evidence for greater vulnerability to alcohol in women than men. The presence of brain‐behavior relationships provides support for the role of alcoholism‐related commissural white matter degradation as a substrate of cognitive and motor impairment. Identification of a double dissociation provides further support for the role of selective white matter integrity in specific domains of performance.
MAOA Interacts With the ALDH2 Gene in Anxiety–Depression Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Lee Sheng‐Yu , Hahn Cheng‐Yi , Lee Jia‐Fu , Huang San‐Yuan , Chen Shiou‐Lan , Kuo Po‐Hsiu , Lee I Hui , Yeh Tzung Lieh , Yang Yen Kuang , Chen Shih‐Heng , Ko Huei‐Chen , Lu Ru‐Band 
Published: May 2010

Background:  Alcohol dependence is usually comorbid with anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or both; this comorbidity may increase drinking behavior. We previously hypothesized that anxiety–depressive alcohol dependence (ANX/DEP ALC) was a genetically specific subtype of alcohol dependence. ANX/DEP ALC may be related to dopamine and serotonin, which are catalyzed by monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). The aim of this study was to determine whether the interaction between the MAOA and the ALDH2 genes is associated with ANX/DEP ALC.Methods:  We recruited 383 Han Chinese men in Taiwan: 143 ANX/DEP ALC and 240 healthy controls. The diagnosis of ANX/DEP ALC (alcohol dependence with a past or current history of anxiety, depressive disorder, or both) was made using DSM‐IV criteria. Genotypes of ALDH2 and MAOA‐uVNTR (variable number of tandem repeat located upstream) were determined using PCR‐RFLP.Results:  The ALDH2, but not the MAOA‐uVNTR, polymorphism was associated with ANX/DEP ALC. After stratifying the MAOA‐uVNTR polymorphism, we found a stronger association between the ALDH2*1/*2 and *2/*2 genotypes and the controls in the MAOA‐uVNTR 4‐repeat subgroup. Logistic regression significantly associated the interaction between ALDH2 and MAOA variants with ANX/DEP ALC.Conclusion:  We conclude that the MAOA and ALDH2 genes interact in ANX/DEP ALC. Although the MAOA gene alone is not associated with ANX/DEP ALC, we hypothesize that different variants of MAOA‐uVNTR polymorphisms modify the protective effects of the ALDH2*2 allele on ANX/DEP ALC in Han Chinese in Taiwan.
Impact of Chronic Alcohol Ingestion on Cardiac Muscle Protein Expression
Authors: Fogle Rachel L. , Lynch Christopher J. , Palopoli Mary , Deiter Gina , Stanley Bruce A. , Vary Thomas C. 
Published: May 2010

Background:  Chronic alcohol abuse contributes not only to an increased risk of health‐related complications, but also to a premature mortality in adults. Myocardial dysfunction, including the development of a syndrome referred to as alcoholic cardiomyopathy, appears to be a major contributing factor. One mechanism to account for the pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy involves alterations in protein expression secondary to an inhibition of protein synthesis. However, the full extent to which myocardial proteins are affected by chronic alcohol consumption remains unresolved.Methods:  The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the expression of cardiac proteins. Male rats were maintained for 16 weeks on a 40% ethanol‐containing diet in which alcohol was provided both in drinking water and agar blocks. Control animals were pair‐fed to consume the same caloric intake. Heart homogenates from control‐ and ethanol‐fed rats were labeled with the cleavable isotope coded affinity tags (ICAT™). Following the reaction with the ICAT™ reagent, we applied one‐dimensional gel electrophoresis with in‐gel trypsin digestion of proteins and subsequent MALDI‐TOF‐TOF mass spectrometric techniques for identification of peptides. Differences in the expression of cardiac proteins from control‐ and ethanol‐fed rats were determined by mass spectrometry approaches.Results:  Initial proteomic analysis identified and quantified hundreds of cardiac proteins. Major decreases in the expression of specific myocardial proteins were observed. Proteins were grouped depending on their contribution to multiple activities of cardiac function and metabolism, including mitochondrial‐, glycolytic‐, myofibrillar‐, membrane‐associated, and plasma proteins. Another group contained identified proteins that could not be properly categorized under the aforementioned classification system.Conclusions:  Based on the changes in proteins, we speculate modulation of cardiac muscle protein expression represents a fundamental alteration induced by chronic alcohol consumption, consistent with changes in myocardial wall thickness measured under the same conditions.
Validity Study of Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scales Conducted Among Patients Admitted to French Emergency Department for Alcohol Consumption–Related Disorders
Authors: Arnaud Benjamin , Malet Laurent , Teissedre Frédérique , Izaute Marie , Moustafa Fares , Geneste Julie , Schmidt Jeannot , Llorca Pierre‐Michel , Brousse Georges 
Published: May 2010

Background:  Alcohol‐related disorders (ARD) encountered in emergency departments (ED) have a high prevalence and are underestimated. It is necessary to provide professionals with a tool to identify patients in whom there is a risk that alcohol‐related and mental health problems may be associated. Kessler’s K6/10 psychological distress scales are fast, easy‐to‐use, and have been shown to achieve a good performance in the identification of psychological distress associated with ARD.Aim:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Kessler scales, version 6 and 10, with a sample of patients admitted to EDs for alcohol consumption.Methods:  On the day after their admission, with a zero “blood” alcohol concentration, 71 patients were randomly assigned to be assessed using 6 or 10 items version. The internal consistency and factor structure of the K6/10 versions were examined. Convergent validity was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).Results:  The prevalence of psychological distress in our sample was approximately 60%. The selected threshold scores were 10 for K6 (Sensitivity: 0.92; Specificity: 0.62) and 14 for K10 (Sensitivity: 0.95; Specificity: 0.54). The Cronbach coefficients for K6 and K10 were 0.76 and 0.84, respectively. The factor analyses indicated the multidimensional nature of K6/10. The 2 versions, containing 6 and 10 items respectively, correlated better with the HADS (0.83 and 0.70, respectively) than with the HDRS (0.51 and 0.49, respectively). The areas under the ROC Curve indicated a high level of accuracy for both the K6 (0.87) and the K10 (0.77). The difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions:  This study confirms the good psychometric characteristics of Kessler’s psychological distress scale. Even though similar performances were observed for K6/10, the brevity of the K6 makes it more suitable for use in EDs.
Opiniones: End‐of‐Life Care Preferences and Planning of Older Latinos
Authors: Kelley Amy S. , Wenger Neil S. , Sarkisian Catherine A. 
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVES: To measure end‐of‐life (EOL) care preferences and advance care planning (ACP) in older Latinos and to examine the relationship between culture‐based attitudes and extent of ACP.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional interview.SETTING: Twenty‐two senior centers in greater Los Angeles.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred forty‐seven Latinos aged 60 and older.MEASUREMENTS: EOL care preferences, extent of ACP, attitudes regarding patient autonomy, family‐centered decision‐making, trust in healthcare providers, and health and sociodemographic characteristics.RESULTS: If seriously ill, 84% of participants would prefer medical care focused on comfort rather than care focused on extending life, yet 47% had never discussed such preferences with their family or doctor, and 77% had no advance directive. Most participants favored family‐centered decision making (64%) and limited patient autonomy (63%). Greater acculturation, education, and desire for autonomy were associated with having an advance directive (P‐values <.03). Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, greater acculturation (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1–2.4) and preferring greater autonomy (AOR=1.6, 95% CI=1.1–2.3) were independently associated with having an advance directive.CONCLUSIONS: The majority of older Latinos studied preferred less‐aggressive, comfort‐focused EOL care, yet few had documented or communicated this preference. This discrepancy places older Latinos at risk of receiving high‐intensity care inconsistent with their preferences.
Hospitalizations and Skilled Nursing Facility Admissions Before and After the Implementation of a Home‐Based Primary Care Program
Authors: Wajnberg Ania , Wang Karen H. , Aniff Mohamed , Kunins Hillary V. 
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of an urban house calls program (HCP) on healthcare utilization.DESIGN: Retrospective chart review with pre/post analysis.SETTING: Urban home‐based primary care program.PARTICIPANTS: All participants (N=179) in a capitated insurance program enrolled in a HCP between October 2004 and August 2006.INTERVENTION: Enrollment into HCP.MEASUREMENTS: Hospitalizations and skilled nursing facility (SNF) admissions before and after enrollment. Patients with at least one hospitalization or SNF admission before and after enrollment were compared using the McNemar test. Median number of hospitalizations and SNF placements before and after HCP enrollment were compared using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank sum test.RESULTS: Sixty‐one percent of patients had one or more hospitalizations before enrollment, whereas only 38% had one or more hospitalizations after enrollment (P<.001). Thirty‐eight percent of patients had at least one SNF placement before enrollment, compared with 18% after enrollment (P=.001). The median hospitalization rate decreased from 1 to 0; the median SNF placement rate was 0 (interquartile range 0–1) before enrollment and 0 (interquartile range 0–0) after enrollment (P<.001).CONCLUSION: A HCP may be associated with fewer hospitalizations and SNF placements. Models of care that reduce morbidity and preserve quality of life are critical to help homebound older adults remain in their communities.