bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developments in the field of allergy in 2009 through the eyes of Clinical and Experimental Allergy
Authors: Chu H. W. , Lloyd C. M. , Karmaus W. , Maestrelli P. , Mason P. , Salcedo G. , Thaikoottathil J. , Wardlaw A. J. 
Published: October 2010

SummaryIn 2009 the journal published in the region of 200 papers including reviews, editorials, opinion pieces and original papers that ran the full gamut of allergic disease. It is instructive to take stock of this output to determine patterns of interest and where the cutting edge lies. We have surveyed the field of allergic disease as seen through the pages of Clinical and Experimental Allergy (CEA) highlighting trends, emphasizing notable observations and placing discoveries in the context of other key papers published during the year. The review is divided into similar sections as the journal. In the field of Asthma and Rhinitis CEA has contributed significantly to the debate about asthma phenotypes and expressed opinions about the cause of intrinsic asthma. It has also added its halfpennyworth to the hunt for meaningful biomarkers. In Mechanisms the considerable interest in T cell subsets including Th17 and T regulatory cells continues apace and the discipline of Epidemiology continues to invoke a steady stream of papers on risk factors for asthma with investigators still trying to explain the post‐second world war epidemic of allergic disease. Experimental Models continue to make important contributions to our understanding of pathogenesis of allergic disease and in the Clinical Allergy section various angles on immunotherapy are explored. New allergens continue to be described in the allergens section to make those allergen chips even more complicated. A rich and vibrant year helpfully summarized by some of our associate editors. Cite this as: H. W. Chu, C. M. Lloyd, W. Karmaus, P. Maestrelli, P. Mason, G. Salcedo, J. Thaikoottathil and A. J. Wardlaw, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1611–1631.
Natural killer cells in human autoimmune diseases
Authors: Schleinitz Nicolas , Vély Frédéric , Harlé Jean‐Robert , Vivier Eric 
Published: October 2010

SummaryNatural killer (NK) cells have been implicated in tumour surveillance and in the early control of several microbial infections. In autoimmune disease their involvement in these processes has been evaluated in animal models, with conflicting results. Both a disease‐controlling and a disease‐promoting role have been suggested. In human autoimmune disease only a few studies, mainly descriptive, have demonstrated qualitative and quantitative modification of NK cells. These changes were observed on blood‐ or tissue‐infiltrating NK cells. Taken together with our expanding knowledge of the genetical variability of NK cell receptors and NK cell physiology, these findings pave the way for the dissection of the role of NK cells in human autoimmune diseases. NK cells may be directly involved in these diseases through their potential autoreactivity or through their interaction with dendritic cells, macrophages or T lymphocytes, thereby inducing excessive inflammation or favouring the adaptive autoimmune response. Thus, NK cells may be implicated in the onset, the maintenance or the progression of autoimmune diseases. Some reports also suggest the involvement of NK cells in the treatment of human autoimmune disease by biotherapies. All these observations suggest that NK cells are involved in the complex processes of autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, further careful analysis of NK cells at different steps of these diseases, in different tissues and through combined genetical and functional studies will contribute to a better understanding of their role in autoimmune diseases. This knowledge might allow the development of new therapeutic strategies based on NK cells for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases.
The effects of plant pathogens on tree recruitment in the Western Amazon under a projected future climate: a dynamical systems analysis
Authors: Thompson Sally , Alvarez‐Loayza Patricia , Terborgh John , Katul Gabriel 
Published: October 2010

Summary 1. Climate change predictions in the Amazon have largely focused on carbon–water relations, while the impacts of increased air temperature and reduced precipitation on host–pathogen relationships have not been extensively explored. These relationships are known to affect recruitment of many Amazonian plant species. 2. Host–pathogen relationships are well suited to a dynamical analysis of the effects of climate change due to the direct linkages between pathogen behaviour and abiotic factors such as temperature and rainfall. 3. Seedlings of the palm Iriartea deltoidea experience significant mortality due to infection by the fungus Diplodia mutila. This host–pathogen interaction was examined by combining a semi‐analytical model with field data illustrating the temperature sensitivity of D. mutila reproductive rates and I. deltoidea seedling mortality in response to infection. 4. The data–model combination shows that projected climatic shifts in rainfall and temperature for the Amazon region will tend to reduce recruitment by altering pathogen activity and reducing palm fecundity. The magnitude of the reduction is sensitive to the details of the epidemiology of the D. mutila–I. deltoidea host–pathogen system, and ranges from 10% to 56% under plausible scenarios. 5. Although considerable uncertainty remains, the proposed model provides a blueprint for research on one aspect of ecosystem change in future climate models. 6.
Synthesis. The study illustrates the potential for ecosystem responses to climate change, which can be investigated through tractable models simple enough to assimilate into climate modelling frameworks. Particular environmental sensitivities in fungal dynamics are identified. The implications of combined plant physiological stress and enhanced pathogenic activity under future climate scenarios are highlighted as critical issues for projecting forest response.
Patients with clinically node negative extremity Merkel cell carcinoma: The importance of identifying and treating patients with microscopic nodal metastases
Authors: Veness Michael , Howle Julie 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACTObjectives:  To review the management of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the distal arm or leg.Methods:  The files of 27 patients with clinically node‐negative extremity‐located MCC treated between 1993 and 2007 at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, were reviewed.Results:  The median age was 79 (range 48–91 years); there were 16 women and 11 men. The median follow up was 36 months. Eighteen patients had a below knee primary and nine had a below elbow primary. None had previous treatment of draining nodes. Most (26/27) underwent excision and 10 of the 27 received adjuvant local radiotherapy. The median lesion size was 19 mm (range 10–30 mm). In total 55% relapsed with most occurrences in the ipsilateral nodes of the axilla or groin. Median time to relapse was 5.5 months. Overall survival at two and five years was 68% and 57%, respectively.Conclusions:  Patients with extremity MCC experience a high rate of nodal relapse. Recently published evidence supports a survival benefit to identifying patients with microscopic nodal metastases. As en bloc primary and nodal treatment is not possible, and elective nodal treatment is likely to over‐treat many patients, sentinel lymph node biopsy is a useful adjunct to current investigations and should be recommended.
Population‐based determinants of radical prostatectomy surgical margin positivity
Authors: Williams Stephen B. , D’Amico Anthony V. , Weinberg Aaron C. , Gu Xiangmei , Lipsitz Stuart R. , Hu Jim C. 
Published: October 2010

Study Type – Prognosis (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does
the study add? Prior population and single‐centre studies have assessed incidence of positive surgical margins. The current study derived population‐based positive surgical margin cut‐offs in order to help identify underperforming surgeons who may benefit from further courses and/or self study to improve outcomes.OBJECTIVE• To characterize factors associated with positive surgical margins (PSMs) and derive population‐based PSM cutoffs to evaluate surgeon performance in radical prostatectomy (RP).PATIENTS AND METHODS• SEER‐Medicare data were used to identify 4247 men diagnosed with prostate cancer during 2004–2005 who underwent RP up to 2006.• We performed logistic regression to assess the impact of tumour characteristics, surgeon volume and surgical approach on the likelihood of PSMs for pT2 and PT3a disease.• Moreover, we derived 25th and 10th percentile cutoffs from binomial distribution equations.RESULTS• Overall, 19.4% of men experienced PSMs with a pT2 vs pT3a PSM rate of 14.9% vs 42% (P < 0.001). Extrapolating from our population‐based results, a surgeon incurring more than three PSMs in 10 cases of pT2 disease performed below the 25th percentile.• There was a trend for fewer PSMs with minimally invasive vs open RP (17.4% vs 20.1%, P= 0.086), and the PSM rate also decreased over the study period from 21.3% in 2004 to 16.6% in 2006 (P= 0.028) with significant geographic variation (P < 0.001).• In adjusted analyses, temporal and geographic variation in PSM persisted, and men with high (odds ratio 3.68, 95% CI 2.82–4.81) and intermediate (odds ratio 2.52, 95% CI 2.03–3.13) vs low‐risk disease were at greater odds to experience PSMs. Notably, neither surgical approach nor surgeon volume was significantly associated with PSMs.CONCLUSION• Our population‐based PSM benchmarks allow identification of under‐performing outliers who may seek courses or video self‐study to improve outcomes. There was significant temporal and geographic variation in PSMs but neither surgeon volume nor surgical approach was associated with PSMs.
High‐fat diet associated with obesity induces impairment of mouse corpus cavernosum responses
Authors: Toque Haroldo A. , da Silva Fábio H. , Calixto Marina C. , Lintomen Letícia , Schenka André A. , Saad Mario J. , Zanesco Angelina , Antunes Edson 
Published: October 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case control)  Level of Evidence 3bWhat’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. ED has been found in patients with cardiovascular and endocrine‐metabolic diseases. Overweight, obesity and weight gain have been shown to be independent risk factors for the development of ED. Clinical studies show that ED should be considered an early clinical manifestation of risk factors for cardiovascular events, including acute myocardial infarction. However, the mechanisms that explains ED associated with obesity are yet to be fully elucidated.Using a mice model of high‐fat diet associated with obesity, we have demonstrated that ED is the result of impaired endothelial and nitrergic cavernosal relaxations along with increased contractile responses, favouring penile detumescence.OBJECTIVEObesity induced by high‐fat diet (HFD) is one of the most important risk factor for the development of erectile dysfunction (ED) in man. This study aimed to characterize the ED resulting from obesity associated with HFD in mice.MATERIALS AND METHODSC57BL/6 mice fed for 10 weeks with either HFD to induce obesity or a standard‐chow diet (SD) were used. Corpus cavernosum was surgically dissected free, and strips were mounted in 10‐mL organ baths containing Krebs solution.Functional responses to endothelium‐dependent and ‐independent agents, as well as to electrical‐field stimulation were measured in the cavernosal tissue. Levels of cGMP in erectile tissue were detected by enzyme immunoassay assay.RESULTSThe potency (pEC50) and maximal response (Emax) to acetylcholine were significantly lower in the HFD group compared with the SD group. A marked decrease in the non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic (nitrergic) cavernosal relaxations in the HFD group was also detected. There were no significant differences between the SD and HFD groups for the cavernosal relaxations in response to sodium nitroprusside.The contractile responses elicited by the α1‐adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine were significantly greater in the HFD group compared with the SD group.Similarly, the electrical‐field stimulation (2–8 Hz)‐induced adrenergic contractions were markedly greater in HFD mice. The pEC50for endothelin‐1 was about 6.9‐fold higher in the HFD compared with SD group.The basal cGMP content was 47% lower in HFD strips compared with SD group. There were no morphological alterations in erectile tissue of HFD group compared with SD mice.CONCLUSIONObesity associated with HFD favours ED as result of impaired endothelial and nitrergic cavernosal relaxations along with increased contractile responses to adrenergic stimulation and endothelin‐1 receptor activation.
Immunohistochemical study of the cavernous nerves in the periprostatic region
Authors: Costello Anthony J. , Dowdle Benjamin W. , Namdarian Benjamin , Pedersen John , Murphy Declan G. 
Published: October 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The anatomy of the periprostatic tissues, in particular the fascial layers and neurovascular structures, remain a somewhat enigmatic and controversial area. Despite the considerable advances made in this area since the original dissections of Walsh and Donker almost thirty years ago, the precise location and function of these structures remains uncertain. The topic is of tremendous importance as we continue to refine surgical techniques to allow men the maximum opportunity to recover erectile function following radical prostatectomy. Yet many of these surgical refinements are not based on definitive knowledge of the relevant anatomy and clearly more knowledge is required.For the first time, we have not just characterized the quantitative nature of the periprostatic nerves, but we also offer some insight into the likely functional nature of these nerves by selectively staining the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves using immunohistochemical methods.OBJECTIVE• To characterize the immunohistochemical nature of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves surrounding the prostate.MATERIALS AND METHODS• Using serial sectioning, four male cadavers were investigated using a combination of haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic contributions to the autonomic nervous system in the periprostatic region were assessed by staining analysis, the number of nerves fibres was quantified, their position relative to the prostate recorded and their function inferred.• The fascial architecture of the neurovascular bundle (NVB) was also quantified.RESULTS• Approximately 27.8% of all nerve fibres identified were found on the anterior half of the prostate, above the 3 to 9 o’clock level. At the base, mid, and apex of prostate, parasympathetic fibres accounted for 4%, 5% and 6.8% of the nerves located on the anterolateral aspect of the prostate, respectively.• Sympathetic nerves found above the 3 to 9 o’clock level represented ≈15% of the total number of nerves.• When staining the periprostatic fascia, the classical NVB exhibited a distinct fascial architecture with three separate compartments.CONCLUSIONS• A tiny minority of nerves in the anterior periprostatic region are functionally significant parasympathetic nerves.• There is little anatomical evidence to support higher incisions in the lateral prostatic fascia to spare cavernous nerve fibres, although such approaches may reduce the risk of traction injury on the more posterolaterally located NVB.• The presence of distinct fascial compartments in the NVB is also confirmed.
The interaction of body mass index and race in predicting biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Lee Daniel J. , Ritch Chad , Desai Manisha , Benson Mitchell C. , McKiernan James M. 
Published: October 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVE• To examine the interaction of body mass index (BMI) and race in predicting biochemical failure (BCF) after radical prostatectomy (RP). The relative contribution of BMI and race to BCF after RP has not been well characterized.PATIENTS AND METHODS• From 1988 to 2008, 969 white and black men underwent RP and BMI data were available. In all, 168 (17.3%) were black and 801 (82.7%) were white men.• BCF was defined as a post‐surgery PSA level ≥0.2 ng/mL on ≥2 measurements. Cox regression methods were used to model the relationship between race, BMI and BCF.RESULTS• The 969 men had a mean age of 59.8 ± 7.2 years. There was no significant difference in BMI between black and white men (P= 0.32).• The 5‐year disease‐free survival for black obese men was the lowest at 48%, compared with non‐obese black (73%), obese white (82%) and non‐obese white men (83%, P < 0.001).• BMI did not have a significant impact on BCF. In a multivariate analysis, black race remained an independent predictor of BCF [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.76, P= 0.01].• BMI does not affect the risk of BCF in black men differently than white men (P value for interaction 0.93).CONCLUSIONS• Black race is an independent predictor of biochemical failure after adjusting for pathological factors. The impact of BMI on BCF did not vary among different races.• These findings suggest that elevated BMI does not affect the BCF rates of black men more than in other races, and that other factors may influence the racial variability in disease‐free survival and BCF risk.
The Cognitive Processing of Politics and Politicians: Archival Studies of Conceptual and Integrative Complexity
Authors: Suedfeld Peter 
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACT
This article reviews over 30 years of research on the role of integrative complexity (IC) in politics. IC is a measure of the cognitive structure underlying information processing and decision making in a specific situation and time of interest to the researcher or policymaker. As such, it is a state counterpart of conceptual complexity, the trait (transsituationally and transtemporally stable) component of cognitive structure. In the beginning (the first article using the measure was published in 1976), most of the studies were by the author or his students (or both), notably Philip Tetlock; more recently, IC has attracted the attention of a growing number of political and social psychologists.The article traces the theoretical development of IC; describes how the variable is scored in archival or contemporary materials (speeches, interviews, memoirs, etc.); discusses possible influences on IC, such as stress, ideology, and official role; and presents findings on how measures of IC can be used to forecast political decisions (e.g., deciding between war and peace). Research on the role of IC in individual success and failure in military and political leaders is also described.
Learning by creating and exchanging objects: The SCY experience
Authors: De Jong Ton , Van Joolingen Wouter R. , Giemza Adam , Girault Isabelle , Hoppe Ulrich , Kindermann Jörg , Kluge Anders , Lazonder Ard W. , Vold Vibeke , Weinberger Armin , Weinbrenner Stefan , Wichmann Astrid , Anjewierden Anjo , Bodin Marjolaine , Bollen Lars , D′Ham Cédric , Dolonen Jan , Engler Jan , Geraedts Caspar , Grosskreutz Henrik , Hovardas Tasos , Julien Rachel , Lechner Judith , Ludvigsen Sten , Matteman Yuri , Meistadt Øyvind , Næss Bjørge , Ney Muriel , Pedaste Margus , Perritano Anthony , Rinket Marieke , Von Schlanbusch Henrik , Sarapuu Tago , Schulz Florian , Sikken Jakob , Slotta Jim , Toussaint Jeremy , Verkade Alex , Wajeman Claire , Wasson Barbara , Zacharia Zacharias C. , Van Der Zanden Martine 
Published: October 2010

AbstractScience Created by You (SCY) is a project on learning in science and technology domains. SCY uses a pedagogical approach that centres around products, called ‘emerging learning objects’ (ELOs) that are created by students. Students work individually and collaboratively in SCY‐Lab (the general SCY learning environment) on ‘missions’ that are guided by socio‐scientific questions (for example ‘How can we design a CO2‐friendly house?’). Fulfilling SCY missions requires a combination of knowledge from different content areas (eg, physics, mathematics, biology, as well as social sciences). While on a SCY mission, students perform several types of learning activities that can be characterised as productive processes (experiment, game, share, explain, design, etc), they encounter multiple resources, collaborate with varying coalitions of peers and use changing constellations of tools and scaffolds. The configuration of SCY‐Lab is adaptive to the actual learning situation and may provide advice to students on appropriate learning activities, resources, tools and scaffolds, or peer students who can support the learning process. The SCY project aims at students between 12 and 18 years old. In the course of the project, a total of four SCY missions will be developed, of which one is currently available.
A Survey of Ocean Simulation and Rendering Techniques in Computer Graphics
Authors: Darles E. , Crespin B. , Ghazanfarpour D. , Gonzato J.C. 
Published: October 2010

Abstract This paper presents a survey of ocean simulation and rendering methods in computer graphics. To model and animate the ocean’s surface, these methods mainly rely on two main approaches: on the one hand, those which approximate ocean dynamics with parametric, spectral or hybrid models and use empirical laws from oceanographic research. We will see that this type of methods essentially allows the simulation of ocean scenes in the deep water domain, without breaking waves. On the other hand, physically‐based methods use Navier–Stokes equations to represent breaking waves and more generally ocean surface near the shore. We also describe ocean rendering methods in computer graphics, with a special interest in the simulation of phenomena such as foam and spray, and light’s interaction with the ocean surface.
Heterogeneous and vulnerable: the health risks facing transnational female sex workers
Authors: Choi Susanne Y.P. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractRepresentations of transnational sex workers have been dominated by the trafficked victim discourse that often overlooks the heterogeneity of this population and variations in the health risks that different sub‐groups face. This paper addresses this deficiency by examining differences in the socio‐economic backgrounds, working conditions, HIV/AIDS knowledge, and vulnerability to health risks of female sex workers from Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Mainland China currently working in the Chinese city of Macau. It also examines the correlates of three health risks: client‐perpetrated violence, non‐condom use and condom failure. The results show major differences in the socio‐economic profiles, working conditions and exposure to health risks of the four groups of workers studied. They also suggest that age, ethnicity, education, economic pressure, AIDS and STI knowledge, and workplace condom‐use norm are significant correlates of the three health risks examined. The findings shed light on the importance of locating the social and cultural contexts that constrain the response of different groups of transnational sex workers to health risks, and the need to tailor intervention measures to meet the specific conditions of individual groups. They also point out the urgency of tackling the interpersonal and structural obstacles to safe sex practices among marginalised populations.