bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of productivity, disturbance, and ecosystem size on food‐chain length: insights from a metacommunity model of intraguild predation
Authors: Takimoto Gaku , Post David M. , Spiller David A. , Holt Robert D. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTraditionally, productivity and disturbance have been hypothesized as important determinants of food‐chain length. More recently, growing empirical evidence suggests a strong role of ecosystem size. To theoretically explore the effects of basal productivity, disturbance, and ecosystem size on food‐chain length, we develop and analyze a metacommunity model of intraguild predation (IGP). The model finds that, when local IGP is weak, increasing basal productivity, weakening disturbance, and increasing ecosystem size will generally increase food‐chain length. When local IGP is strong, by contrast, increasing basal productivity or weakening disturbance favors intraguild predators and hinders the coexistence of intraguild predators and intraguild prey, limiting food‐chain length. In contrast, increasing ecosystem size can promote coexistence even when local IGP is strong, increasing food‐chain length through inserting intraguild prey and changing the degree of omnivory by intraguild predators. Intraguild prey needs to be the superior colonizer to intraguild predators for this to occur. We discuss that these theoretical predictions appear consistent with empirical patterns.
Influence of Maternal Diet During Early Pregnancy on the Fatty Acid Profile in the Fetus at Late Pregnancy in Rats
Authors: Fernandes Flavia Spreafico , Tavares do Carmo Maria das Graças , Herrera Emilio 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe aim of the study was to determine the effects of different dietary fatty acids during the first half of pregnancy on the fatty acid composition of maternal adipose tissue and of maternal and fetal plasma at mid‐ and late‐pregnancy. Pregnant rats received soybean‐, olive‐, fish‐, linseed‐ or palm‐oil diets from conception to day 12 of gestation. Virgin rats receiving the same treatments were studied in parallel. At day 12, some rats were sacrificed and others were returned to the standard diet and studied at day 20. At day 12, the concentrations of most fatty acids in plasma reflected the dietary composition and individual fatty acids in lumbar adipose tissue of pregnant rats correlated with those in the diet. At day 20, the plasma concentration of each fatty acid was higher in pregnant than in both virgin rats and day‐12 pregnant rats. The composition in 20‐day pregnant (but not in virgin) rats resembled the diet consumed during the first 12 days. Fatty acid concentration in fetal plasma was also influenced by the maternal diet during the first 12 days of pregnancy, and long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC‐PUFA) concentrations correlated with those in the mothers. In conclusion, during the first half of pregnancy maternal adipose tissue stores dietary‐derived fatty acids, which are released into blood during late pregnancy enabling LC‐PUFA to become available to the fetus.
Isolated ACTH deficiency in self referred patients for LOH syndrome: two case reports
Authors: Sato Yoshikazu , Tanda Hitoshi , Nakajima Hisao , Nitta Toshikazu , Akagashi Keigo , Hanzawa Tatsuo , Tobe Musashi , Haga Kazunori , Uchida Kousuke , Honma Ichiya 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe experienced two cases of isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) in patients self referred for late‐onset hypogonadism (LOH) syndrome. IAD is secondary adrenal insufficiency due to lack of secretion of ACTH and delayed diagnosis of this rare condition may be life‐threatening. The predominant symptoms of IAD, such as general malaise and weakness, resemble those of LOH syndrome creating the possibility that IAD may be referred as LOH syndrome. Two middle aged men with severe general malaise visited our clinic requesting evaluation for LOH syndrome. Previous treatments had been ineffective and based on varying incorrect diagnoses by previous doctors. The patients self referred themselves for LOH syndrome. Some of their symptoms were consistent with LOH syndrome but others were atypical, in particular, the severity of malaise and appetite loss. Hormonal assays were compatible with adrenal insufficiency secondary to ACTH deficiency. Steroid replacement dramatically improved their symptoms. The clinical course of our two patients and points of differential diagnosis between IAD and LOH syndrome are reported here.
Process mapping of PTA and stent placement in a university hospital interventional radiology department
Authors: de Bucourt Maximilian , Busse Reinhard , Güttler Felix , Reinhold Thomas , Vollnberg Bernd , Kentenich Max , Hamm Bernd , Teichgräber Ulf K. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Objective
To apply the process mapping technique in an interdisciplinary approach in order to visualize, better understand, and efficiently organize percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stent placement procedures in a university hospital’s interventional radiology department.

Methods
After providing an overview of seven established mapping techniques for medical professionals, the process mapping technique was chosen and applied in an interdisciplinary approach including referrers (physicians, nurses, and other staff in referring departments, e.g., vascular surgery), providers (interventional radiologists, nurses, technicians, and staff of the angiography suite), and specialists of the hospital’s controlling department.

Results
A generally binding and standardized process map was created, describing the entire procedure for a patient in whom the radiological intervention of PTA or stent treatment is contemplated from admission to the department of vascular surgery until discharge after successful treatment. This visualization tool assists in better understanding (especially given natural staff fluctuation over time) and efficiently organizing PTA and stent procedures.

Conclusion
Process mapping can be applied for streamlining workflow in healthcare, especially in interdisciplinary settings. By defining exactly what a business entity does, who is responsible, to what standard a process should be completed, and how the success can be assessed, this technique can be used to eliminate waste and inefficiencies from the workplace while providing high-quality goods and services easily, quickly, and inexpensively.

Main Messages

• Process mapping can be used in a university hospital’s interventional radiology department.
• Process mapping can describe the patient’s entire process from admission to PTA/stent placement until discharge.
• Process mapping can be used in interdisciplinary teams (e.g., referrers, providers, and controlling specialists).
• Process mapping can be used in order to more efficiently organize PTA and stent placement procedures.
• Process mapping can assist in better understanding and efficiently organizing procedures in standardized fashion.
Surgical treatment of melorheostosis: Report of two cases
Authors: Chou Shih‐Hsiang , Chen Chung‐Hwan , Chen Jian‐Chih , Chien Song‐Hsiung , Cheng Yuh‐Min 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMelorheostosis is a rare disease that usually burdens the patient with painful disability or soft tissue compromise. The treatment is usually symptomatic and conservative. Patients with severe and complicated forms of the disease may require surgery. Involvement of the distal part of a limb usually carries more morbidity, such as tumefaction pain, cosmetic and psychosocial or functional problems that render conservative treatment unsatisfactory to patients. In our series, surgical debulking or decompression of the mass effect provided prompt symptom relief.
Molecular and morphological characterization of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) from Chilean vineyards
Authors: Correa M.C.G. , Germain J-F. , Malausa T. , Zaviezo T. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMealybugs are major pests of grapevines worldwide. They cause economic losses by lowering the cosmetic value of fruits, reducing yields, transmitting viruses and resulting in the quarantine or rejection of produce in international trade. Knowledge of the species present in a vineyard is important for the adjustment of management strategies. We surveyed and accurately characterized the mealybugs infesting vineyards in one of the main production areas of Chile; 164 mealybugs were sampled from 26 vineyards in four regions of Chile and identified by DNA sequencing for two markers (cytochrome oxidase I and internal transcribed spacer 2) and morphological examination.Pseudococcus viburni(Signoret) was the most common species, followed byPseudococcus meridionalisPrado andPseudococcus cribataGonzález. Molecular variability at the COI and ITS2 loci was observed in bothP. viburniandP. cribata. A comparison of haplotypes ofP. viburniworldwide provides support for a recent hypothesis that this species is native to South America, a finding with direct consequences for management. NeitherPseudococcus longispinus(Targioni & Tozzetti) norPlanococcus ficusSignoret were found.
Another America: Russian mental discoveries of the North-west Pacific region in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries
Authors: Winkler Martina 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis article explores Russian perceptions of ‘America’ as they emerged in the eighteenth century when traders, explorers, and scholars approached the North American continent from the Pacific side. It argues that these perceptions were fundamentally different from the European mental discovery of America via the Atlantic. Rather than imagining a ‘new world’, the protagonists saw the north-west American coastline as a part of the North Pacific basin, which, in turn, was considered a part of the Russian empire. Only in the early nineteenth century did Russian geographic and cultural concepts change, becoming more similar to those of Europeans and to contemporary ideas of continents and global structures.
Evidence for Language-Specific Influence on the Preference of Stress Patterns in Infants Learning an Iambic Language (Hebrew)
Authors: Segal Osnat , Kishon-Rabin Liat 
Published: February 2012

Purpose
The ability of infants to develop recognition of a common stress pattern that is language specific has been tested mainly in trochaic languages with a strong-weak (SW) stress pattern. The goals of the present study were: (a) to test Hebrew-learning infants on their stress pattern preference in the Hebrew language, for which the weak-strong (WS) stress pattern is the common one, and (b) to test whether the infants would generalize any preference for the common stress pattern in Hebrew to English words, which belong to a different rhythmic class.

Method
Fifty-six 9-month-old Hebrew-learning infants were tested on their preference for SW and WS stress patterns using Hebrew and English bisyllabic words with the Head-Turn Preference Procedure.

Results
The infants showed preference for WS Hebrew words but not for SW English words.

Conclusion
Hebrew-learning infants recognize the common stress pattern in their native language, supporting language-specific distributional learning by infants. This recognition, however, is not generalized to a foreign language with different prosodic characteristics.
Identifying a Comparison for Matching Rough Voice Quality
Authors: Patel Sona , Shrivastav Rahul , Eddins David A. 
Published: February 2012

Purpose
Perceptual estimates of voice quality obtained using rating scales are subject to contextual biases that influence how individuals assign numbers to estimate the magnitude of vocal quality. Because rating scales are commonly used in clinical settings, assessments of voice quality are also subject to the limitations of these scales. Instead, a matching task can be used to obtain objective measures of voice quality, thereby facilitating model development and tools for clinical use.

Method
Twenty-seven individuals participated in a rating task or at least 1 of 3 matching tests (named after their modulation functions: SINE, SQUARE, POWER) to quantify the degree of roughness in dysphonic voice stimuli. Participants evaluated the roughness of 34 voice samples using an amplitude-modulated complex carrier.

Results
The matching thresholds were highly correlated with the ratings estimates. Reliability of thresholds did not significantly differ across tasks, but linear regressions showed that the POWER test resulted in larger perceptual distances.

Conclusions
A matching task can be used to obtain reliable estimates of roughness in dysphonic voices. The POWER comparison is recommended because the variability in matching thresholds across the range of roughness was evenly distributed, and the perceptual distances between stimuli were maximized.
Peptide tag forming a rapid covalent bond to a protein, through engineering a bacterial adhesin
Authors: Zakeri Bijan , Fierer Jacob O. , Celik Emrah , Chittock Emily C. , Schwarz-Linek Ulrich , Moy Vincent T. , Howarth Mark 
Published: February 2012

Protein interactions with peptides generally have low thermodynamic and mechanical stability.
Streptococcus pyogenes
fibronectin-binding protein FbaB contains a domain with a spontaneous isopeptide bond between Lys and Asp. By splitting this domain and rational engineering of the fragments, we obtained a peptide (SpyTag) which formed an amide bond to its protein partner (SpyCatcher) in minutes. Reaction occurred in high yield simply upon mixing and amidst diverse conditions of pH, temperature, and buffer. SpyTag could be fused at either terminus or internally and reacted specifically at the mammalian cell surface. Peptide binding was not reversed by boiling or competing peptide. Single-molecule dynamic force spectroscopy showed that SpyTag did not separate from SpyCatcher until the force exceeded 1 nN, where covalent bonds snap. The robust reaction conditions and irreversible linkage of SpyTag shed light on spontaneous isopeptide bond formation and should provide a targetable lock in cells and a stable module for new protein architectures.
Evading invaders: the effectiveness of a behavioral response acquired through lifetime exposure
Authors: Freidenfelds N. A. , Robbins T. R. , Langkilde T. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms driving adaptations to survive agonistic interactions, and their function, provides insight into how native species adapt to aggressive invaders, a growing global threat. We staged encounters between native fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) and red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) on and off the ant mound (nest) to examine the effectiveness of lizard antipredator behavior through ontogeny while focusing on the impact of lifetime and evolutionary exposure to this invasive threat. We used field-caught and lab-reared lizards from a fire ant–invaded and an uninvaded site. In ∼90% of cases, fire ants found lizards within 12 min in natural lizard habitat. Lizards that performed rapid twitches of their body and/or fled after initial encounter with a fire ant scout reduced their risk of having additional fire ants recruit to the attack. The majority of lizards that had been exposed to fire ants within their lifetime (field-caught lizards from the invaded site) behaviorally responded to attack, whereas relatively few lizards that were naïve to fire ants (all lab-reared lizards and field-caught lizards from the uninvaded site) responded. Because fewer adult lizards responded to fire ants than juveniles, they were recruited to by additional attacking ants significantly more than were juveniles. Our data suggest that the higher percentage of responsive adults within invaded populations is the result of within-lifetime selection acting against unresponsive adults, and/or lifetime exposure to fire ants triggering the retention of this juvenile behavior into adulthood, rather than selection acting on a heritable trait across generations.
Unipro UGENE: a unified bioinformatics toolkit
Authors: Okonechnikov Konstantin , Golosova Olga , Fursov Mikhail ,   the UGENE team
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Summary: Unipro UGENE is a multiplatform open-source software with the main goal of assisting molecular biologists without much expertise in bioinformatics to manage, analyze and visualize their data. UGENE integrates widely used bioinformatics tools within a common user interface. The toolkit supports multiple biological data formats and allows the retrieval of data from remote data sources. It provides visualization modules for biological objects such as annotated genome sequences, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) assembly data, multiple sequence alignments, phylogenetic trees and 3D structures. Most of the integrated algorithms are tuned for maximum performance by the usage of multithreading and special processor instructions. UGENE includes a visual environment for creating reusable workflows that can be launched on local resources or in a High Performance Computing (HPC) environment. UGENE is written in C++ using the Qt framework. The built-in plugin system and structured UGENE API make it possible to extend the toolkit with new functionality.
Availability and implementation: UGENE binaries are freely available for MS Windows, Linux and Mac OS X at http://ugene.unipro.ru/download.html. UGENE code is licensed under the GPLv2; the information about the code licensing and copyright of integrated tools can be found in the LICENSE.3rd_party file provided with the source bundle.
Contact: ugene@unipro.ru
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A new statistical approach to detecting differentially methylated loci for case control Illumina array methylation data
Authors: Chen Zhongxue , Liu Qingzhong , Nadarajah Saralees 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Motivation: As an epigenetic alteration, DNA methylation plays an important role in epigenetic controls of gene transcription. Recent advances in genome-wide scan of DNA methylation provide great opportunities in studying the impact of DNA methylation on many human diseases including various types of cancer. Due to the unique feature of this type of data, applicable statistical methods are limited and new sophisticated approaches are desirable.
Results: In this article, we propose a new statistical test to detect differentially methylated loci for case control methylation data generated by Illumina arrays. This new method utilizes the important finding that DNA methylation is highly correlated with age. The proposed method estimates the overall P-value by combining the P-values from independent individual tests each for one age group. Through real data application and simulation study, we show that the proposed test is robust and usually more powerful than other methods.
Contact: Zhongxue.Chen@uth.tmc.edu
Oases:robustde novoRNA-seq assembly across the dynamic range of expression levels
Authors: Schulz Marcel H. , Zerbino Daniel R. , Vingron Martin , Birney Ewan 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMotivation: High-throughput sequencing has made the analysis of new model organisms more affordable. Although assembling a new genome can still be costly and difficult, it is possible to use RNA-seq to sequence mRNA. In the absence of a known genome, it is necessary to assemble these sequences de novo, taking into account possible alternative isoforms and the dynamic range of expression values.Results: We present a software package named Oases designed to heuristically assemble RNA-seq reads in the absence of a reference genome, across a broad spectrum of expression values and in presence of alternative isoforms. It achieves this by using an array of hash lengths, a dynamic filtering of noise, a robust resolution of alternative splicing events and the efficient merging of multiple assemblies. It was tested on human and mouse RNA-seq data and is shown to improve significantly on the transABySS and Trinity de novo transcriptome assemblers.Availability and implementation: Oases is freely available under the GPL license at www.ebi.ac.uk/~zerbino/oases/Contact: dzerbino@ucsc.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SiteComp: a server for ligand binding site analysis in protein structures
Authors: Lin Yingjie , Yoo Seungyeul , Sanchez Roberto 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Motivation: Computational characterization of ligand-binding sites in proteins provides preliminary information for functional annotation, protein design and ligand optimization. SiteComp implements binding site analysis for comparison of binding sites, evaluation of residue contribution to binding sites and identification of sub-sites with distinct molecular interaction properties.
Availability and implementation: The SiteComp server and tutorials are freely available at http://sitecomp.sanchezlab.org
Contact: roberto@sanchezlab.org; roberto.sanchez@mssm.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
R/DWD: distance-weighted discrimination for classification, visualization and batch adjustment
Authors: Huang Hanwen , Lu Xiaosun , Liu Yufeng , Haaland Perry , Marron J.S. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Summary: R/DWD is an extensible package for classification. It is built based on a recently developed powerful classification method called distance weighted discrimination (DWD). DWD is related to, and has been shown to be superior to, the support vector machine in situations that are fundamental to bioinformatics, such as very high dimensional data. DWD has proven to be very useful for several fundamental bioinformatics tasks, including classification, data visualization and removal of biases, such as batch effects. Earlier DWD implementations, however, relied on Matlab, which is not free and requires a license. The major contribution of the R/DWD package is an implementation that is completely in R and thus can be used without any requirements for licensing or software purchase. In addition, R/DWD also provides efficient solvers for second-order-cone-programming and quadratic programming.
Availability and implementation: The package is freely available from cran.r-project.org.
Contact: hanwen.huang@uth.tmc.edu; Perry_Haaland@bd.com
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Identifying key trends in sales – from a training perspective
Authors: Little Bob 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to describe key issues at macro and micro levels which impact – and affect – sales training activities and facilitation for “successful selling” in the contemporary economic climate.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reports presentations from key speakers at the Institute of Sales & Marketing's Successful Selling conference.FindingsAt the macro level, a number of crises are impacting on the economy and, thus, successful selling. However, there is still the opportunity to compete for market share, via brand differentiation. At the micro level, customers must see sellers as “trusted advisors”; successful selling depends on “connecting” with customers' values; ethical selling is important not just in helping people to be successful salespeople but also in helping society to have confidence in its sales professionals, thus enabling buyers to buy with confidence; traditional sales models are becoming superseded by “internet research, internal discussion and the preparation of shortlists, then a decision followed by contacting the vendor”. “E‐selling” is becoming increasingly important, so sellers must have personal branding, create an internet footprint, and engage with social media.Practical implicationsThis paper reveals key issues in sales so L&D professionals can commission, develop, deliver and/or facilitate appropriate activities and resources to develop the sales skills needed for success in the next ten years.Originality/valueArmed with knowledge of the modern trends in successful selling, L&D professionals can source and resource sales‐related training activities to turn their salespeople into star performers in contemporary markets and enable their organisations to maintain/increase their competitive advantage.