bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Statistical modeling of baleen and body length at age in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus)
Authors: Lubetkin S.C. , Zeh J.E. , George J.C. 
Published: August 2012

We used baleen lengths and age estimates from 175 whales and body lengths and age estimates from 205 whales to test which of several single- and multi-stage growth models best characterized age-specific baleen and body lengths for bowhead whales ( Balaena mysticetus L., 1758) with the goal of determining which would be best for predicting whale age based on baleen or body length. Previous age estimates were compiled from several techniques, each of which is valid over a relatively limited set of physical characteristics. The best fitting single-stage growth model was a variation of the von Bertalanffy growth model for both baleen and body length data. Based on Bayesian information criterion, the two- and three-stage versions of the von Bertalanffy model fit the data better than did the single-stage models for both baleen and body length. The best baleen length models can be used to estimate expected ages for bowhead whales with up to 300–325 cm baleen, depending on sex, which correspond to age estimates approaching 60 years. The best body length models can be used to estimate expected ages for male bowhead whales up to 14 m, and female bowheads up to 15.5 m or ages up to approximately 40 years.
Scale-dependent drivers of ungulate patch use along a temporal and spatial gradient of snow depth
Authors: Witt J.C. , Webster C.R. , Froese R.E. , Drummer T.D. , Vucetich J.A. 
Published: August 2012

Anthropogenic changes in landscape composition or configuration have the potential to increase the abundance of generalist species, often resulting in cascading effects on other trophic levels and ecosystem function. The selection or utilization of individual patches of habitat, however, may vary in both time and space, as a result of patch and landscape attributes as well as dynamic abiotic factors (i.e., snowfall). We hypothesized that the use of high-quality habitat would be most strongly influenced by snow at local scales and by composition and the configuration of the landscape at greater spatial scales. To test this, we examined white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) selection of eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) patches as winter habitat over a 3-year period. Patch-level attributes were poor predictors of patch use in areas with strong gradients in abiotic factors relevant to the energetics of movement or forage acquisition. Additionally, heterogeneity in the greater landscape (3000 m radius buffer) served to increase use, while homogeneity appeared to decrease use. Our results suggest that interactions between deer migratory behavior, interannual variation in winter severity, and landscape context might provide spatial and temporal refugia for hemlock regeneration; a better understanding of which could aide conservation and restoration.
Scale and landscape perception: the case of refuge use by Boreal Toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas)
Authors: Long Z.L. , Prepas E.E. 
Published: August 2012

Refugia likely represent a critical resource necessary for the persistence of populations of Boreal Toads ( Anaxyrus boreas boreas (Baird and Girard, 1852)) in a given area. However, the features that define suitable refuge microsites and the extent to which the habitat surrounding refugia is exploited remains unclear. We sought to describe refuge characteristics in the context of their surroundings and to determine whether local-scale movement behaviour associated with refuge use might provide a novel perspective of landscape-level habitat selection. A pilot study suggested that refugia were selected primarily for physical structure in the form of coarse woody debris, but this was not the case. Instead, refugia provided favourable microclimates with elevated relative humidity compared with the surrounding habitat. Boreal Toads tended to forage at night within 15 m from refugia. This distance was used to calculate activity centres across toad summer home ranges. Activity centres prioritized the importance of treeless habitat overall and wetland habitat for females when compared with 50% core home ranges. This approach could be used to pinpoint critical habitat at the landscape scale, which may be of particular importance for conserving populations currently in decline.
Integration of outcrop and subsurface data during the development of a naturally fractured Eocene carbonate reservoir at the East Ras Budran concession, Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Authors: Bosworth William , Khalil Samir , Clare Alan , Comisky Joe , Abdelal Hany , Reed Tom , Kokkoros George 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The East Ras Budran Concession is located in the eastern rift shoulder of the Gulf of Suez. Syn- and pre-rift rocks are exposed in the north and east of the concession, and the Markha alluvial plain covers the SW. The Markha plain occupies the hanging wall of a large extensional fault which preserves most of the pre-rift stratigraphic sequence and >3500 m of syn-rift strata. Vertical wells drilled in 1999 indicated the presence of a >200 m oil column in low-porosity naturally fractured limestone beds of the Eocene Darat and Thebes formations. Outcrop, borehole image and core data define NW, WNW, N, NE, and ENE steeply dipping fracture sets. Borehole breakouts and drilling-induced fractures show that the minimum horizontal stress is aligned NNE to NE, so the NW and WNW fractures should be open in the subsurface. Using this structural picture, a near-horizontal well of 300 m length was drilled into the Darat in a NE direction. During testing, the well flowed at a rate of 1900 barrels of oil per day with no water. Future development of the field includes drilling similarly oriented wells with longer horizontal sections.
"Ad you like it"
Authors: Jain Ajay , Singh Chandan 
Published: August 2012

Sourcing and selection of online advertisement is done with the objective of streaming advertisements that match user's interests and internet surfing habits. Choosing relevant advertisements that bring user's focus and attention have higher click rate. Innovative concepts, such as crawling recently surfed web pages (or websites), user's (or web portal server) geographical location, user's profile, age, gender, and surfing habits., have been used to identify most relevant advertisements. However, selecting and streaming an advertisement that exactly matches user's interest continues to be a challe.
This paper proposes and shares an innovative technique that significantly helps in mapping user's interest quotient to streamed advertisements. This technique respects the individuality of a user and is able to differentiate between users. The proposed solution is implemented by enabling communication channels across multiple heterogeneous user-initiated applications. Applications that do not directly communicate with advertisement data sources, leverage other application running on the same user's account and submit their own metadata to the applications attached to advertisement data sources. The proposed paper helps in substituting publisher's assumptions of a user's interest with real-time user's objects of interest.
Neogenesis of Lymphoid Structures and Antibody Responses Occur in Human Melanoma Metastases
Authors: Cipponi Arcadi , Mercier Marjorie , Seremet Teofila , Baurain Jean-François , Théate Ivan , van den Oord Joost , Stas Marguerite , Boon Thierry , Coulie Pierre G. , van Baren Nicolas 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Lymphoid neogenesis, or the development of lymphoid structures in nonlymphoid organs, is frequently observed in chronically inflamed tissues, during the course of autoimmune, infectious, and chronic graft rejection diseases, in which a sustained lymphocyte activation occurs in the presence of persistent antigenic stimuli. The presence of such ectopic lymphoid structures has also been reported in primary lung, breast, and germline cancers, but not yet in melanoma. In this study, we observed ectopic lymphoid structures, defined as lymphoid follicles comprising clusters of B lymphocytes and follicular dendritic cells (DC), associated with high endothelial venules (HEV) and clusters of T cells and mature DCs, in 7 of 29 cutaneous metastases from melanoma patients. Some follicles contained germinal centers. In contrast to metastatic lesions, primary melanomas did not host follicles, but many contained HEVs, suggesting an incomplete lymphoid neogenesis. Analysis of the repertoire of rearranged immunoglobulin genes in the B cells of microdissected follicles revealed clonal amplification, somatic mutation and isotype switching, indicating a local antigen-driven B-cell response. Surprisingly, IgA responses were observed despite the nonmucosal location of the follicles. Taken together, our findings show the existence of lymphoid neogenesis in melanoma and suggest that the presence of functional ectopic lymphoid structures in direct contact with the tumor makes the local development of antimelanoma B- and T-cell responses possible. Cancer Res; 72(16); 3997–4007. ©2012 AACR.
Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Promote Immunosuppression in Ovarian Cancer via ICOS Costimulation of Foxp3+ T-Regulatory Cells
Authors: Conrad Curdin , Gregorio Josh , Wang Yi-Hong , Ito Tomoki , Meller Stephan , Hanabuchi Shino , Anderson Sonya , Atkinson Neely , Ramirez Pedro T. , Liu Yong-Jun , Freedman Ralph , Gilliet Michel 
Published: August 2012

AbstractEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fifth most common cause of cancer death among women. Despite its immunogenicity, effective antitumor responses are limited, due, in part, to the presence of forkhead box protein 3–positive (Foxp3+) T regulatory (Treg) cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, the mechanisms that regulate the accumulation and the suppressive function of these Foxp3+ Treg cells are poorly understood. Here, we found that the majority of Foxp3+ Treg cells accumulating in the tumor microenvironment of EOCs belong to the subset of Foxp3+ Treg cells expressing inducible costimulator (ICOS). The expansion and the suppressive function of these cells were strictly dependent on ICOS-L costimulation provided by tumor plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). Accordingly, ICOS+ Foxp3+ Treg cells were found to localize in close vicinity of tumor pDCs, and their number directly correlated with the numbers of pDCs in the tumors. Furthermore, pDCs and ICOS+ Foxp3+ Treg cells were found to be strong predictors for disease progression in patients with ovarian cancer, with ICOS+ Treg cell subset being a stronger predictor than total Foxp3+ Treg cells. These findings suggest an essential role for pDCs and ICOS-L in immunosuppression mediated by ICOS+ Foxp3+ Treg cells, leading to tumor progression in ovarian cancer. Cancer Res; 72(20); 5240–9. ©2012 AACR.
The Rectal Cancer microRNAome – microRNA Expression in Rectal Cancer and Matched Normal Mucosa
Authors: Gaedcke Jochen , Grade Marian , Camps Jordi , Søkilde Rolf , Kaczkowski Bogumil , Schetter Aaron J. , Difilippantonio Michael J. , Harris Curtis C. , Ghadimi B. Michael , Møller Søren , Beissbarth Tim , Ried Thomas , Litman Thomas 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose: miRNAs play a prominent role in a variety of physiologic and pathologic biologic processes, including cancer. For rectal cancers, only limited data are available on miRNA expression profiles, whereas the underlying genomic and transcriptomic aberrations have been firmly established. We therefore, aimed to comprehensively map the miRNA expression patterns of this disease.Experimental Design: Tumor biopsies and corresponding matched mucosa samples were prospectively collected from 57 patients with locally advanced rectal cancers. Total RNA was extracted, and tumor and mucosa miRNA expression profiles were subsequently established for all patients. The expression of selected miRNAs was validated using semi-quantitative real-time PCR.Results: Forty-nine miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (log2-fold difference &gt;0.5 and P &lt; 0.001) between rectal cancer and normal rectal mucosa. The predicted targets for these miRNAs were enriched for the following pathways: Wnt, TGF-beta, mTOR, insulin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and ErbB signaling. Thirteen of these 49 miRNAs seem to be rectal cancer-specific, and have not been previously reported for colon cancers: miR-492, miR-542-5p, miR-584, miR-483-5p, miR-144, miR-2110, miR-652, miR-375, miR-147b, miR-148a, miR-190, miR-26a/b, and miR-338-3p. Of clinical impact, miR-135b expression correlated significantly with disease-free and cancer-specific survival in an independent multicenter cohort of 116 patients.Conclusion: This comprehensive analysis of the rectal cancer miRNAome uncovered novel miRNAs and pathways associated with rectal cancer. This information contributes to a detailed view of this disease. Moreover, the identification and validation of miR-135b may help to identify novel molecular targets and pathways for therapeutic exploitation. Clin Cancer Res; 18(18); 4919–30. ©2012 AACR.
A Long-term Prospective Population Pharmacokinetic Study on Imatinib Plasma Concentrations in GIST Patients
Authors: Eechoute Karel , Fransson Martin N. , Reyners An K. , de Jong Floris A. , Sparreboom Alex , van der Graaf Winette T.A. , Friberg Lena E. , Schiavon Gaia , Wiemer Erik A.C. , Verweij Jaap , Loos Walter J. , Mathijssen Ron H.J. , De Giorgi Ugo 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Purpose: Imatinib minimal (trough) plasma concentrations after one month of treatment have shown a significant association with clinical benefit in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Considering that a retrospective pharmacokinetic analysis has also suggested that imatinib clearance increases over time in patients with soft tissue sarcoma and GIST, the primary aim of this study was to assess systemic exposure to imatinib at multiple time points in a long-term prospective population pharmacokinetic study. As imatinib is mainly metabolized in the liver, our secondary aim was to elucidate the potential effects of the volume of liver metastases on exposure to imatinib.
Experimental Design: Full pharmacokinetic blood sampling was conducted in 50 patients with GIST on the first day of imatinib treatment, and after one, six, and 12 months. In addition, on day 14, and monthly during imatinib treatment, trough samples were taken. Pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted using a compartmental model. Volume of liver metastases was assessed by computed tomographic (CT) imaging.
Results: After 90 days of treatment, a significant decrease in imatinib systemic exposure of 29.3% compared with baseline was observed (P &lt; 0.01). For every 100 cm3 increase of metastatic volume, a predicted decrease of 3.8% in imatinib clearance was observed.
Conclusions: This is the first prospective pharmacokinetic study in patients with GIST, showing a significant decrease of approximately 30% in imatinib exposure after long-term treatment. This means that future "trough level – clinical benefit" analyses should be time point specific. GIST liver involvement, however, has a marginal effect on imatinib clearance. Clin Cancer Res; 18(20); 5780–7. ©2012 AACR.
Clinical and Stent-Related Outcomes After Transcatheter or Operative Placement of Bare-Metal Stents in the Ventricular Septum or Subvalvar Systemic Outflow Tract
Authors: Porras Diego , McElhinney Doff B. , del Nido Pedro , Lock James E. , Meadows Jeffrey , Marshall Audrey C. 
Published: August 2012

Background—
Stenting of the systemic ventricular outflow tract and creation or enlargement of a ventricular septal defect using stents are potential therapeutic options in rare patients with congenital heart disease who develop significant ventricular hypertension due to outflow obstruction. These stents may be at increased risk of fracture because of exposure to cyclic compressive stresses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this intervention and to determine the incidence of stent fracture and other adverse outcomes after placement of intraventricular or interventricular stents for this indication.

Methods and Results—

Between 1992 and 2010, 27 patients underwent bare-metal stent placement in the ventricular septum or subvalvar systemic outflow tract, using 1 of the following 3 delivery approaches: (1) percutaneous (n=18), (2) intraoperative (n=8), and (3) hybrid (n=1). The median ventricular-to-aortic systolic pressure ratio decreased from 1.7 (1.3–2.6) to 1.1 (0.9–1.8) (
P
<0.001). Survival free from surgical reintervention for outflow obstruction was 92% at 1 year and 66% at 3 years. Stent fracture was diagnosed in 11 patients (41%) a median of 2.6 years (0.03–7.8 years) after stent placement and was always associated with recurrent obstruction. Survival free from diagnosis of stent fracture was 84% at 1 year and 73% at 3 years. Other adverse events included complete heart block (n=2) and increased atrioventricular valve regurgitation requiring surgical intervention (n=2).

Conclusions—
Transcatheter, intraoperative, or hybrid stenting of the ventricular septum or systemic outflow tract is feasible and effective in the short term. Stent fractures were common during follow-up and associated with recurrent obstruction.
Endothelium-Selective Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Prevents Diabetes Mellitus–Induced Impairment in Vascular Function and Reendothelialization via Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Mice
Authors: Li Francois Y.L. , Lam Karen S.L. , Tse Hung-Fat , Chen Cheng , Wang Yiqun , Vanhoutte Paul M. , Xu Aimin 
Published: August 2012

Background—
Endothelial damage and dysfunction are crucial mediators that link diabetes mellitus with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) has been implicated in regulation of both energy metabolism and vascular homeostasis. The present study investigated whether endothelium-selective activation of AMPK prevents diabetes mellitus–induced endothelial damage and vascular dysfunction by improving reendothelialization in mice.

Methods and Results—
Transgenic mice with endothelium-selective expression of a constitutively active (CA) AMPK were generated and rendered diabetic by the injection of streptozotocin. Relaxation and reendothelialization of carotid arteries and circulating numbers of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were examined after wire-induced denudation. Bone marrow–derived EPCs were isolated to monitor their in vivo and in vitro function. Compared with wild-type littermates, the CA-AMPK transgenic mice were resistant to diabetes mellitus–induced impairment in endothelium-dependent relaxation and reendothelialization of their injured carotid arteries. These changes in the transgenic mice were accompanied by increased mobilization of EPCs and enhanced incorporation of EPCs into injured blood vessels. Furthermore, EPCs from the transgenic mice exhibited augmented adhesion, migration, and tube formation capacities. At the molecular level, the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and the secretion of stromal cell–derived factor (SDF)-1α were upregulated in EPCs derived from the transgenic mice, whereas AMPK-mediated elevation of serum SDF-1α levels and improvements of EPC function and reendothelialization were all abrogated by pharmacological inhibition of heme oxygenase-1.

Conclusions—
Endothelium-specific AMPK activation is sufficient to protect against diabetes mellitus–induced aggravation of vascular injury by promoting EPC function and reendothelialization via upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 and SDF-1α.
Incidence of New Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Lesions Outside the Area of Initial Hypoperfusion Within 1 Week After Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Usnich Tatiana , Albach Fredrik N. , Brunecker Peter , Fiebach Jochen B. , Nolte Christian H. 
Published: August 2012

Background and Purpose—
New diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions are common in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The pathophysiology of these new lesions is unclear. We differentiated new DWI lesions outside the area of initial hypoperfusion from those confined to the area of initial hypoperfusion.

Methods—
Patients with acute stroke underwent 3 MRI examinations: on admission, on the next day, and 4 to 7 days after symptom onset. Patients were included if a perfusion deficit was present on the initial scan. Lesions on DWI images were delineated manually. Coregistered DWI images were analyzed visually for new hyperintensities. In reference to the perfusion maps (mean transit time), patients were classified as having “outside lesions” if new DWI lesions were outside or both outside and inside the area of the initial perfusion deficit or “inside lesions” if new DWI lesions were completely inside.

Results—
We enrolled 164 patients. Thirty-eight patients (23%) had outside lesions and 34 patients (21%) had inside lesions. In multivariable regression analysis, new outside lesions were significantly associated with symptomatic carotid stenosis, multiple index lesions pattern, and high low-density lipoprotein levels. New inside lesions were significantly associated with (spontaneous or thrombolytic) vessel recanalization, multiple index lesions pattern, and low low-density lipoprotein levels.

Conclusion—
Outside and inside lesions represent different pathophysiological entities. More specifically patients with outside lesions may have an increased risk for subsequent cerebrovascular events.
Prevalence and Predictors of 6-Month Fatigue in Patients With Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Feigin Valery L. , Barker-Collo Suzanne , Parag Varsha , Hackett Maree L. , Kerse Ngaire , Barber P. Alan , Theadom Alice , Krishnamurthi Rita 
Published: August 2012

Background and Purpose—
Although persistent and significant fatigue affects the daily life of stroke survivors, there are no population-based studies examining the prevalence of fatigue in 6-month survivors of ischemic stroke and few studies of predictors of poststroke fatigue.

Methods—
This article examined data from the Auckland Regional Community Stroke study conducted in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2002 to 2003. Presence of fatigue was evaluated at 6 months in 613 patients with ischemic stroke using a Short Form 36 Vitality Score (energy and fatigue) of ≤47. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of fatigue development 6 months poststroke.

Results—
The prevalence of fatigue was 30% (28% in men and 33% in women). There was a clear association between increased prevalence of fatigue and advancing age. The only baseline variables independently associated with an increased risk of developing fatigue at 6 months poststroke were prestroke incontinence and being of New Zealand European ethnicity. Being independent and living alone at baseline were associated with significant reduction in the risk of being fatigued at 6 months poststroke. Severe depression at 6 months was significantly and independently associated with being fatigued.

Conclusions—
The prevalence of fatigue found in our study is at the lower level of range reported in other studies. The prevalence of fatigue increased with advancing age, as found in most previous studies. Because fatigue can have a negative impact on stroke recovery, particular attention needs to be paid to those who are older, incontinent before stroke, and those who report severe symptoms of depression at 6 months after stroke.