bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kant's A Priori Intuition of Space Independent of Postulates
Authors: Valdez Edgar J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractDefences of Kant's foundations of geometry fall short if they are unable to equally ground Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries. Thus, Kant's account must be separated from geometrical postulates. I argue that characterizing space as the form of outer intuition must be independent of postulates. Geometrical postulates are then expressions of particular spatializing activities made possible by the a priori intuition of space. While Amit Hagar contends that this is to speak of noumena, I argue that a Kantian account of space as the form of outer attention-directing remains seated in the subject.
ALLAN RAMSAY, THE IDEA OF ‘SCOTTISH MUSIC’ AND THE BEGINNINGS OF ‘NATIONAL MUSIC’ IN EUROPE
Authors: Gelbart Matthew 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTThis article examines the process of fashioning an idea of ‘national’ music, by considering the social and political conditions that made such an idea possible at a particular historical moment. An early example, Scotland, is the focus here, and helps to show the type of discursive and active work involved in giving meaning to the idea of ‘Scottish music’ in a cultural sense. I argue that the poet and song collector Allan Ramsay played a central role in the years beginning around 1720. Before Ramsay's generation, there was only a limited sense of ethnic identity translating into poetic or musical style. Furthermore, Ramsay himself, in attempting to harness song and music as national cultural capital, also had to contend with the fact that Scotland was ethnically, culturally and linguistically split along the Highland–Lowland divide, and in other ways as well. Through his song collectionA Tea-Table Miscellanyand his follow-up publication of tunes for that collection, as well as through his involvement with Edinburgh's elite musical community, Ramsay helped transform Scotland's musical culture from a manuscript-based milieu organized around specific musical functions and occasions to one in which national origins helped validate music, and printed collections enshrined such groupings. Lastly, in addition to its direct influence, Ramsay's work helped shape the emergent discourse about national song indirectly: an extensive outgrowth of thought rooted partly in Ramsay's own ideas led to his being used as a negative example among collectors of ‘folk’ music from the later eighteenth century onward.
Anti‐miR‐155 oligonucleotide enhances chemosensitivity of U251 cell to taxol by inducing apoptosis
Authors: Meng Wei , Jiang Ling , Lu Lin , Hu Haiyan , Yu Hailang , Ding Dapeng , Xiao Kun , Zheng Wenling , Guo Hongbo , Ma Wenli 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe oncogene, microRNA‐155, is significantly elevated in GBM (glioblastoma multiforme), regulating multiple genes associated with cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasiveness. Thus, miR‐155 can theoretically become a target for enhancement of the chemotherapy in cancer. Down‐regulating miR‐155 to enhance the effect of taxol has not been studied in human GBM. Human GBM U251 cells were treated with taxol and the miR‐155 inhibitor alone or in combination. IC50 values were dramatically decreased in cells treated with miR‐155 inhibitor combined with taxol, to a greater extent than those treated with taxol alone. Furthermore, the miR‐155 inhibitor significantly enhanced apoptosis in U251 cells. The data suggest that miR‐155 blockage increased the chemosensitivity to taxol in GBM cells, making combined treatment an effective therapeutic strategy for controlling the growth by inhibiting EAG1 expression.
Ion-matter interaction: the three-dimensional version of the thermal spike model. Application to nanoparticle irradiation with swift heavy ions
Authors: Dufour Ch , Khomenkov V , Rizza G , Toulemonde M 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
In the framework of swift heavy ion–matter interaction, the thermal spike has proved its worth for nearly two decades. This paper deals with the necessary refinement of the computation due to the kind of materials of interest, i.e. nanomaterials such as multilayered systems or composite films constituted of nanocylinders or nanospheres embedded in an insulating matrix. The three-dimensional computation of the thermal spike model is applied for the first time in the case of ions striking layers containing spherical nanoparticles embedded in a silica matrix. The temperature profiles calculated at each point (x, y, z) of the target for a total duration up to 10−10 s and different values of ion impact parameter allow a possible explanation of the particle shape change under irradiation with swift heavy ions having an energy of several MeV amu−1
Electric field induced silicon carbide nanotubes: a promising gas sensor for detecting SO2
Authors: Jia Y B , Zhuang G L , Wang J G 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Finding an effective strategy for detecting SO2 gas is very important in order to solve the problem of pollution of SO2. Based on the first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we herein explore the possibility of using (5, 5) silicon carbide nanotubes (SiCNTs) with an external electric field (EF) as a potential gas sensor for SO2 detection. It is found that SO2 molecules can be chemisorbed to the Si–C bonds of SiCNTs and can generate a different charge distribution under the EF, resulting in the breaking of some S–C bonds. It is these broken S–C bonds that induce a decrease in the band gap. Furthermore, with the concentration of SO2 exceeding 20%, the band gap of SiCNT under an EF of 9.00 V nm−1 would be reduced from 1.75 eV for SiCNT to zero, indicating the transformation from a semiconductor to a conductor. Hence, with an appropriate EF, SiCNTs can effectively respond to SO2 and serve as sensors for detecting SO2 gas.
Strength of ultrananocrystalline diamond controlled by friction of buried interfaces
Authors: Mo Yifei , Stone Donald , Szlufarska Izabela 
Published: January 2012

The following text amendments should be made for clarification:In the left column at the bottom of page 2, the sentence 'Since the fraction of GB atoms scales approximately linearly with the grain diameterd,...' should be changed into 'Since the fraction of GB atoms scales approximately linearly withthe inverse ofthe grain diameterd,...'In the left column on page 7, the second sentence 'It is because H passivation leads to a replacement of strong interfacial C–C bonds with weaker C–H bonds...' should be changed into 'It is because H passivation of C atoms leads to a reduction of the number of strong interfacial C–C bonds...'
The transcriptional activity of co‐activator AIB1 is regulated by the SUMO E3 Ligase PIAS1
Authors: Li Shujing , Yang Chunhua , Hong Yongde , Bi Hailian , Zhao Feng , Liu Ying , Ao Xiang , Pang Pengsha , Xing Xinrong , Chang Alan K. , Xiao Liyun , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wu Huijian 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground informationAmplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1) is a transcriptional coactivator of nuclear receptors and other transcription factors. It is required for animal growth and reproductive development, and has also been implicated in breast carcinogenesis. Although AIB1 is known to be covalently modified by SUMO‐1, which serves to regulate its stability and transcriptional activity, the exact SUMO E3 ligase involved in its sumoylation has not been determined. In order to resolve this question, we investigated the interaction between AIB1 and different members of PIAS proteins (all are SUMO E3 ligases) through immunoprecipiation.ResultsAmong the five different PIAS proteins, only PIAS1 co‐immunoprecipitated with AIB1 in extract prepared from breast cancer cells (MCF‐7). Over‐expression of PIAS1 together with AIB1 in MCF‐7 cells led to increased sumoylation of AIB1, resulting in repression of its transcriptional activity. In contrast, the PIAS1 mutant (C350S) lacking E3 ligase activity appeared to have no effect on the sumoylation of AIB1. Through sumoylation of AIB1, PIAS1 also promoted the stability of AIB1 and attenuated its interaction with estrogen receptor α (ERα), resulting in repression of the transactivation activity of ERα. In addition, MCF‐7 cells co‐transfected with wild‐type PIAS1 and AIB1 showed about 40% reduction in cell growth, while cells co‐transfected with wild‐type PIAS1 and mutant AIB1 resistant to sumoylation showed about 34% increase in cell growth compared to cells transformed with wild‐type AIB1 only.ConclusionsTaken together, these results suggested that PIAS1 may play a crucial role in the regulation of AIB1 transcriptional activity through sumoylation.
Do small airway abnormalities characterize asthma phenotypes? In search of proof
Authors: Contoli M. , Kraft M. , Hamid Q. , Bousquet J. , Rabe K. F. , Fabbri L. M. , Papi A. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryThe role of small airway abnormalities in asthma pathogenesis has been extensively studied and debated for several decades. However, whether or not small airway abnormalities play a relevant role in specific phenotypes of asthmatic patients and contribute to clinical presentation is largely unknown. In the present review, we evaluated available data on the role of small airways in severe asthma, with a further focus on asthma in smokers and asthma in the elderly. These phenotypes are characterized by a poor response to treatment and they can represent a model of greater small airway impairment. In severe asthmatics, small airway involvement has been shown through evidence of both distal inflammation and of increased air trapping. The few available data on asthmatics who smoke, and elderly asthmatics, similarly suggests that small airway abnormalities contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. In this perspective, there could be a rationale for specifically assessing small airway impairment in these patients and for clinical studies evaluating whether pharmacological approaches targeting the more peripheral airways result in clinical benefits beyond conventional therapy.
Severe asthma: future treatments
Authors: O'Byrne P. M. , Naji N. , Gauvreau G. M. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryBackgroundPatients with severe refractory asthma have not achieved asthma control, even with high doses of ICS, usually in combination with LABAs and other maintenance treatments.ObjectiveThe most promising approaches currently under investigation are those which reduce airway eosinophils in patients with severe refractory asthma and a persisting airway eosinophilia.ResultsMonoclonal antibodies against IL‐5 have been shown to improve lung function, improve asthma control, reduce exacerbation risk and allow reduction or elimination of maintenance oral corticosteroids in this subset of patients. Bronchial thermoplasty may provide benefit in improving control and reducing exacerbations in selected patients. The addition of the muscarinic antagonist, tiotropium also improves airflow obstruction, but its benefit on exacerbation risk is not yet established. Other developments being evaluated in severe refractory asthma are CXCR2 antagonists in patients with a persisting neutrophilic airway inflammation, and CRTh2 antagonists, both of which are small molecule antagonists, and hMabs against IL4 and IL‐13. Finally, other approaches to reduce receptor numbers, using inhaled anti‐sense, has shown to reduce allergen‐induced airway eosinophilia, and combining different anti‐sense against different targets may become a feasible treatment option.ConclusionsA variety of new treatment options are being investigated to help improve overall asthma control in patients with severe refractory asthma. These include medications to optimize lung function; bronchial thermoplasty to reduce airway smooth muscle in central airways; and those which target specific inflammatory cells or receptors of inflammatory mediators.Clinical RelevancePatients with severe refractory asthma have the greatest unmet treatment needs to improve asthma control and reduce exacerbation risk. New treatment approaches have been identified which will benefit subsets of these patients. Phenotyping patients is necessary to select those likely to benefit.
What can genetics tell us about the cause of fixed airflow obstruction?
Authors: Wain L. V. , Artigas M. Soler , Tobin M. D. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality worldwide with smoking being the most important risk factor of the disease. However, lung function and COPD are known to also have a genetic component and a deeper knowledge of the genetic architecture of the disease could lead to further understanding of predisposition to COPD and also to development of new therapeutic interventions. Genetic linkage studies and candidate gene association studies have not provided evidence to convincingly identify the genes underlying lung function or COPD. However, recent large genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) including tens of thousands of individuals have identified 26 variants at different loci in the human genome that show robust association with quantitative lung function measures in the general population. A growing number of these variants are being shown to be associated with COPD. Following the identification of these new lung function loci, the challenge now lies in refining the signals to identify the causative variants underlying the association signals and relating these signals to the molecular pathways that underlie lung function.
Water residence time and the dynamics of toxic cyanobacteria
Authors: ROMO SUSANA , SORIA JUAN , FERNÁNDEZ FRANCISCA , OUAHID YOUNESS , BARÓN‐SOLÁ ÁNGEL 
Published: January 2012

Summary1. Climate change affects aquatic ecosystems differently depending on local conditions. In the Mediterranean region, predicted drier seasons could especially affect lake water residence time and in consequence cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin dynamics.2. We carried out a 3‐year study of a shallow, Mediterranean lake (Lake Albufera, Spain), to study the effects of water residence time and other drivers on the dynamics of harmful cyanobacteria and microcystin concentrations (MCYST).3. Longer water residence time in dry years and dry seasons increased total cyanobacteria biomass, Microcystis aeruginosa populations and MCYST concentrations in the lake water and seston. Droughts increased water retention time by about 45%, and M. aeruginosa populations and MCYST were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher.4. All samples analysed contained MCYST, and among them 70% had values above the recommended guidelines. Flows lower than 10 m3 s−1 raised toxicological risk from low to moderate‐high according to international standards. Mean MCYST concentrations bound in the cells were one order of magnitude higher than in the water (11 ± 2.9 and 1.2 ± 0.3 μg L−1, respectively).5. The microcystin content per unit biovolume of M. aeruginosa was generally higher at the start of population growth (April–May) than at the population maximum (July–October). This was related to increase in water residence time, total phosphorus concentration and mean colony size within the edible range (<50 μm). The maximum MCYST content corresponded with average populations of 103 colonies L−1 and 2 mm3 L−1, which could additionally be used to evaluate toxicological risks in the lake.6. Microcystis aeruginosa colonies were larger with increasing water residence time and more closely related to the lake hydrology and water column stagnation than to MCYST colony content.7. Feasible measures for restoration and conservation of shallow Mediterranean lakes in a future climate scenario are discussed.
Local adaptation in populations of a Brachionus group plicatilis cryptic species inhabiting three deep crater lakes in Central Mexico
Authors: ALCÁNTARA‐RODRÍGUEZ JOSÉ ARTURO , CIROS‐PÉREZ JORGE , ORTEGA‐MAYAGOITIA ELIZABETH , SERRANIA‐SOTO CARMEN R. , PIEDRA‐IBARRA ELÍAS 
Published: January 2012

Summary1. Salinity is a strong selective force for many aquatic organisms, affecting both ecological and evolutionary processes. Most of our knowledge on the effects of salinity on rotifers in the Brachionus plicatilis species complex is based mainly on populations from waterbodies that experience broad environmental changes both seasonally and annually. We tested the hypothesis that, despite the supposedly high potential for gene flow among rotifers inhabiting neighbouring environments, constant salinity has promoted local adaptation, genetic population divergence and even cryptic speciation in B. plicatilis complex populations from three deep maar lakes of distinct salinities [1.1, 6.5 and 9.0 g L−1 total dissolved solids (TDS)] in Central Mexico.2. To look for local adaptation, we performed common garden experiments to test the effect of different salinities on population density and intrinsic growth rate (r). Then, we evaluated the genetic divergence by sequencing the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and performed reproductive trials to assess the potential gene flow among the three populations and with other closely related B. plicatilis complex species.3. We confirmed that the rotifer populations have phenotypic plasticity in tolerance of salinity, but only rotifers from the least saline lake are adapted to low salinity. Among the populations, sequence divergence at COI was very low (just a single haplotype was found), suggesting a persistent founder effect from a relatively recent single colonisation event and a subsequent dispersal from one lake to the others, and a very restricted immigration rate. In the phylogenetic analysis, rotifers from this area of Mexico clustered in the same clade with the middle‐sized species Brachionus ibericus and B. sp. ‘Almenara’. Mexican rotifers showed successful recognition, copulation and formation of hybrids among them, but interpopulation breeding with the Spanish B. ibericus and B. sp. ‘Almenara’ was unsuccessful.4. We conclude that the B. plicatilis complex populations from these three lakes belong to a new biological species not yet described (presently named B. sp. ‘Mexico’). To our knowledge, this is the first report of local adaptation of a natural B. plicatilis complex population living in freshwater conditions (1.1 g L−1 TDS).
The effectiveness of a self‐adjusting file to remove residual gutta‐percha after retreatment with rotary files
Authors: Abramovitz I. , Relles‐Bonar S. , Baransi B. , Kfir A. 
Published: January 2012

Abramovitz I, Relles‐Bonar S, Baransi B, Kfir A. The effectiveness of a self‐adjusting file to remove residual gutta‐percha after retreatment with rotary files. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 386–392, 2012.AbstractAim  To test the efficacy of a two‐stage retreatment method in which the Self‐Adjusting File (SAF) is used to remove root canal filling residue left in the canal after using ProTaper Universal retreatment files.Method  One of the curved mesial canals of 25 extracted mandibular molars was instrumented up to ProTaper F2, followed by NiTi K‐files up to size 45 and filled. Radiographs of these canals served as a pre‐treatment control, which was later compared with those of the same canals after each stage of the retreatment procedure. Stage 1 consisted of ProTaper Universal D1–D3 retreatment files, which were used to remove the bulk of root filling material, followed by stage 2 in which a SAF file was applied to remove the remaining root canal filling residue. The amount of the radiopaque material in each third of the canal was evaluated before and after each stage, using bucco‐lingual and mesio‐distal radiographs. The amount of residue was expressed as the per cent of the root canal filled area, as measured in the pre‐treatment control. The difference between the control and results of the first and second stages of retreatment was analysed using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test.Results  Radiopaque residue was present after the use of the ProTaper Universal rotary files in 7.8 (±12.9)%, 12.9 (±13.9)% and 34.7 (±22.8)% of the coronal, mid‐root and apical areas, respectively. Following the supplementary application of the SAF, the amounts of residue were reduced to 2.6 (±3.7)%, 4.1 (±5.7)% and 6.7 (±9.4)% of the coronal, mid‐root and apical canal areas, respectively (P < 0.01 for the coronal and mid‐root and P < 0.001 for the apical third).Conclusion  No system removed the root filling materials entirely. The use of the SAF after rotary instrumentation using ProTaper Universal retreatment files resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of filling residue in curved canals of mandibular molars.
Seed dispersal by Galápagos tortoises
Authors: Blake Stephen , Wikelski Martin , Cabrera Fredy , Guezou Anne , Silva Miriam , Sadeghayobi E. , Yackulic Charles B. , Jaramillo Patricia 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim  Large‐bodied vertebrates often have a dramatic role in ecosystem function through herbivory, trampling, seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. The iconic Galápagos tortoises (Chelonoidis nigra) are the largest extant terrestrial ectotherms, yet their ecology is poorly known. Large body size should confer a generalist diet, benign digestive processes and long‐distance ranging ability, rendering giant tortoises adept seed dispersers. We sought to determine the extent of seed dispersal by Galápagos tortoises and their impact on seed germination for selected species, and to assess potential impacts of tortoise dispersal on the vegetation dynamics of the Galápagos.Location  Galápagos, Ecuador.Methods  To determine the number of seeds dispersed we identified and counted intact seeds from 120 fresh dung piles in both agricultural and national park land. To estimate the distance over which tortoises move seeds we used estimated digesta retention times from captive tortoises as a proxy for retention times of wild tortoises and tortoise movement data obtained from GPS telemetry. We conducted germination trials for five plant species to determine whether tortoise processing influenced germination success.Results  In our dung sample, we found intact seeds from > 45 plant species, of which 11 were from introduced species. Tortoises defecated, on average, 464 (SE 95) seeds and 2.8 (SE 0.2) species per dung pile. Seed numbers were dominated by introduced species, particularly in agricultural land. Tortoises frequently moved seeds over long distances; during mean digesta retention times (12 days) tortoises moved an average of 394 m (SE 34) and a maximum of 4355 m over the longest recorded retention time (28 days). We did not find evidence that tortoise ingestion or the presence of dung influenced seed germination success.Main conclusions  Galápagos tortoises are prodigious seed dispersers, regularly moving large quantities of seeds over long distances. This may confer important advantages to tortoise‐dispersed species, including transport of seeds away from the parent plants into sites favourable for germination. More extensive research is needed to quantify germination success, recruitment to adulthood and demography of plants under natural conditions, with and without tortoise dispersal, to determine the seed dispersal effectiveness of Galápagos tortoises.