bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isolation-by-distance within naturally established populations of European beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Authors: Chybicki Igor J. , Trojankiewicz Magdalena , Oleksa Andrzej , Dzialuk Artur , Burczyk Jaroslaw 
Published: August 2009

In plants, the magnitude of seed and pollen dispersal plays a pivotal role in shaping genetic structure of populations. Restricted dispersal of genes can stimulate the increase of inbreeding as well as spatial clustering of relatives. These phenomena are explained by the theory of isolation-by-distance. Because of its biology, European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) seems to be susceptible to isolation-by-distance. However, to date fine-scale effects, including biparental inbreeding and a spatial genetic structure are not fully recognized for this species. In this study, two populations of European beech were investigated, both representing a dense beech forest, typical for Central Europe. Using nine microsatellite markers and a recently developed method, we found a significant level of biparental inbreeding in both populations. Spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed that both populations exhibit clustering of related individuals up to 40 m. The observed spatial genetic structure fit well to the log-linear regression model. Thus, results confirmed our hypothesis of the presence of the isolation-by-distance effect. Furthermore, based on these results we inferred a dispersal mode, both for seeds and pollen; in particular, seed dispersal was 10–100 times more restricted than pollen flow, although a significant portion of short-distance pollinations responsible for biparental inbreeding cannot be excluded.
Genetics of Athletic Performance
Authors: Ostrander Elaine A. , Huson Heather J. , Ostrander Gary K. 
Published: August 2009

Performance enhancing polymorphisms (PEPs) are examples of natural genetic variation that affect the outcome of athletic challenges. Elite athletes, and what separates them from the average competitor, have been the subjects of discussion and debate for decades. While training, diet, and mental fitness are all clearly important contributors to achieving athletic success, the fact that individuals reaching the pinnacle of their chosen sports often share both physical and physiological attributes suggests a role for genetics. That multiple members of a family often participate in highly competitive events, such as the Olympics, further supports this argument. In this review, we discuss what is known regarding the genes and gene families, including the mitochondrial genome, that are believed to play a role in human athletic performance. Where possible, we describe the physiological impact of the critical gene variants and consider predictions about other potentially important genes. Finally, we discuss the implications of these findings on the future for competitive athletics.
The History of "Religious" Consciousness and the Diffusion of Culture: Strategies for Surviving Dissolution
Authors: Lease Gary 
Published: August 2009

AbstractIn this essay, Gary Leason advances a sweeping theory of religion as a specific technology of power which dissolves its own conditions of possibility. Religion, simply put, is its own gravedigger because the strategies employed to impose patterns of consistency and control on the messy reality of contradiction and contingency must eventually succumb to unmanageable paradoxes.
Fluctuation of Mass Flux in a Cloud-Resolving Simulation with Interactive Radiation
Authors: Davoudi J. , McFarlane N. A. , Birner T. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractIt was shown by Craig and Cohen that fluctuations of cumulus clouds under homogeneous large-scale forcing satisfy the Gibbs canonical ensemble in a strict radiative–convective equilibrium (RCE). In the limit of random noninteracting convective cells, an analytical expression for the distribution function of total mass flux over a region of given size was derived.The authors examine the consistency of the Gibbs canonical ensemble as a representation for the mass flux fluctuations when the large-scale forcing is time dependent. A cloud-resolving simulation (CRM) with interactive radiation, fixed imposed surface temperature, and diurnally varying solar forcing to mimic the diurnal cycle over the tropical ocean is used.As a necessary condition for the existence of a state of quasi-equilibrium, the time-scale separation between convective processes and forcing is studied. Detailed evaluation of time scales of convective adjustment and memory in a three-month run confirms the hypothesis of time-scale separation.The Craig and Cohen theory, in a varying range of heights between the cloud base up to the level of neutral buoyancy (LNB), is tested. It is shown that, although the theory is capable of reproducing the qualitative features of the variability, systematic deviations are detected. By quantifying the spatial distribution of the clouds, the authors suggest that deviations are associated with clustering effects.
Relationships between the Antarctic Oscillation, the Madden–Julian Oscillation, and ENSO, and Consequences for Rainfall Analysis
Authors: Pohl B. , Fauchereau N. , Reason C. J. C. , Rouault M. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
The Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) is the leading mode of atmospheric variability in the Southern Hemisphere mid- and high latitudes (south of 20°S). In this paper, the authors examine its statistical relationships with the major tropical climate signals at the intraseasonal and interannual time scales and their consequences on its potential influence on rainfall variability at regional scales. At the intraseasonal time scale, although the AAO shows its most energetic fluctuations in the 30–60-day range, it is not unambiguously related to the global-scale Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) activity, with in particular no coherent phase relationship with the MJO index. Moreover, in the high southern latitudes, the MJO-associated anomaly fields do not appear to project coherently on the well-known AAO patterns and are never of an annular nature. At the interannual time scale, a strong teleconnection with ENSO is found during the peak of the austral summer season, corroborating previous studies. El Niño (La Niña) tends to correspond to a negative (positive) AAO phase. The results are statistically significant only when the seasonal mean fields averaged for the November through February season are considered.
Based on these results, the authors then isolate the specific influence of the AAO on rainfall variability at both intraseasonal and interannual time scales. The example taken here is southern Africa, a region under the influence of both the MJO and ENSO, experiencing its main rainy season in austral summer and containing a relatively dense network of rain gauge measurements. At the interannual time scale, the significance of the teleconnections between southern African rainfall and the AAO reveals itself to be a statistical artifact and becomes very weak once the influence of ENSO is removed. At the intraseasonal time scale, the AAO is seen to significantly affect the rainfall amounts over much of the country, without interference with other modes of variability. Its influence in modulating the rain appears to be strongest during La Niña years.
The Seasonal Atmospheric Response to Projected Arctic Sea Ice Loss in the Late Twenty-First Century
Authors: Deser Clara , Tomas Robert , Alexander Michael , Lawrence David 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
The authors investigate the atmospheric response to projected Arctic sea ice loss at the end of the twenty-first century using an atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) coupled to a land surface model. The response was obtained from two 60-yr integrations: one with a repeating seasonal cycle of specified sea ice conditions for the late twentieth century (1980–99) and one with that of sea ice conditions for the late twenty-first century (2080–99). In both integrations, a repeating seasonal cycle of SSTs for 1980–99 was prescribed to isolate the impact of projected future sea ice loss. Note that greenhouse gas concentrations remained fixed at 1980–99 levels in both sets of experiments. The twentieth- and twenty-first-century sea ice (and SST) conditions were obtained from ensemble mean integrations of a coupled GCM under historical forcing and Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B scenario forcing, respectively.
The loss of Arctic sea ice is greatest in summer and fall, yet the response of the net surface energy budget over the Arctic Ocean is largest in winter. Air temperature and precipitation responses also maximize in winter, both over the Arctic Ocean and over the adjacent high-latitude continents. Snow depths increase over Siberia and northern Canada because of the enhanced winter precipitation. Atmospheric warming over the high-latitude continents is mainly confined to the boundary layer (below ∼850 hPa) and to regions with a strong low-level temperature inversion. Enhanced warm air advection by submonthly transient motions is the primary mechanism for the terrestrial warming. A significant large-scale atmospheric circulation response is found during winter, with a baroclinic (equivalent barotropic) vertical structure over the Arctic in November–December (January–March). This response resembles the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation in February only. Comparison with the fully coupled model reveals that Arctic sea ice loss accounts for most of the seasonal, spatial, and vertical structure of the high-latitude warming response to greenhouse gas forcing at the end of the twenty-first century.
Modeled Climate State and Dynamic Responses to Anomalous North American Snow Cover
Authors: Sobolowski Stefan , Gong Gavin , Ting Mingfang 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
The radiative and thermal properties of widespread snow cover anomalies have the potential to modulate local and remote climate over monthly to seasonal time scales. In this study, physical and dynamical links between anomalous North American snow conditions and Northern Hemisphere climate are examined. A pair of 40-member ensemble AGCM experiments is run, with prescribed high- and low-snow forcings over North America during the course of an entire year (EY). The difference between the two ensemble averages reflects the climatic response to sustained EY snow forcing. Local surface responses over the snow forcing occur in all seasons, and a significant remote surface temperature response occurs over Eurasia during spring. A hemispheric-scale transient eddy response to EY forcing also occurs, which propagates downstream from the forcing region to Eurasia, and then reaches a maximum in extent and amplitude in spring. The evolution of this transient eddy response is indicative of considerable downstream development and is consistent with known storm-track dynamics. This transient response is shown to be a result of persistent steepened temperature gradients created by the anomalous snow conditions, which contribute to enhanced baroclinicity over the storm-track entrance regions. A second pair of experiments is run, with the prescribed high- and low-snow forcings over North America restricted to the fall season (FS). The dynamical response to FS forcing is muted compared to the EY scenario, suggesting that the seasonal timing and persistence of the snow forcing are essential for the remote teleconnection.
Effectiveness and Safety of Medication Adjustments by Nurse Case Managers to Control Hyperglycemia
Authors: Curtis Jeffrey , Lipke Suzanne , Effland Shirley , Dickinson Bridget , McCabe Alberta , Russell Bernadine , Russell Marie , Bloomquist Paul , Wilson Charlton 
Published: August 2009

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of implementing standing orders for nurse case managers to adjust antihyperglycemic medications. Methods A retrospective cohort design was used to assess outcomes in American Indian and Alaska Native people who received case management and medication adjustment and those who received only standard primary care. Patients with diabetes and evidence of keeping regular follow-up appointments for diabetes care (N = 2345) who all had baseline A1C ≥ 7.0% were divided into 3 mutually exclusive groups for analysis: (1) those seen only by primary care providers (PCP; n = 1574); (2) those seen by nurse case managers (NCM; in addition to primary care) for diabetes education services only (n = 711); and (3) those who, in addition to a PCP and NCM visit, had medications adjusted by the nurse case managers (MA; n = 60). Outcome variables were number of visits with documentation of hypoglycemia (safety) and rate of A1C change (effectiveness). Results Documented hypoglycemia occurred more frequently with more intensive treatment. The MA group experienced the greatest rate of hypoglycemic events. The difference in hypoglycemia incidence between the groups was significant, but the number of events was small. Glycemic control improved most rapidly in the MA group, even after adjusting for potentially confounding variables. Conclusions In this setting, hypoglycemia occurs infrequently in all groups, but at higher rates with more intensive treatment. Nurse case management, whether with or without medication adjustment, is effective in improving short-term glucose control.
High-mix analogue insulins: do they have a therapeutic role?
Authors: Grant Paul , Dashora Umesh 
Published: August 2009

It is estimated that 39% of diabetic patients worldwide that use insulin therapy are prescribed premixed insulin formulations, largely because of the practical advantages of addressing both prandial and basal insulin needs with a single product. High-mix insulin analogues are a relatively little used therapy and this paper explores their role in the management of diabetes. There is a paucity of research on their clinical efficacy and safety with regards to hypoglycaemia and we conclude that in certain patients they can be helpful for difficult-to-control postprandial hyperglycaemia, but there are no long-term outcome studies to assess whether this has an impact on cardiovascular outcomes and the current gold standard of insulin therapy still remains a basal bolus regimen. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2009;9:166—170
Manifestation of lower extremity atherosclerosis in patients with high ankle-brachial index
Authors: Hong Zhang  , Li Xiao-Ying , Yajun Si  , Xilie Lu  , Liping Chen  , Zhaoyang Liu  
Published: August 2009

The purpose of this study was to identify the manifestation of lower extremity atherosclerotic lesions in patients with high ankle-brachial index (ABI). We studied 92 diabetic patients at random from the Endocrine Department of the Chinese PLA General Hospital. According to the ABI value, the subjects were divided into three groups: high, normal and low ABI groups. On the basis of the results of lower extremity artery duplex ultrasound, the patients in the high ABI group had a lower incidence of low extremity artery occlusion than those in the low ABI group, and the atherosclerotic lesions of patients in the high group mainly displayed diffuse dot-like hyperechogenicity spots or small plaques (60.9%), and their atherosclerotic lesions in the lower extremity were mostly found in the distal segment (44.4%). This atherosclerosis in the lower extremities of patients in the high ABI group was shown to be consistent with the pathological features of artery intimal and medial calcification. It suggests that a high ABI is highly predictive of artery calcification, which is a marker of poor cardiovascular prognosis in diabetes. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2009;9:160—164
Evaluation of the clinical performance of a chlorhexidine gluconate antimicrobial transparent dressing
Authors: Moureau Nancy L. , Deschneau Mary , Pyrek Janine 
Published: August 2009

Each year, an estimated 250,000 cases of central line associated bloodstream infections occur in hospitals in the United States (CDC, 2005). Reduction of CRBSI has become a major focus for education and initiatives to improve practice. Various antimicrobial agents and practices are supported with evidence to demonstrate impact on CRBSI. The broad spectrum activity of chlorhexidine as an antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agent is well accepted (Denton, 2001). The purpose of this clinical evaluation was to statistically validate the performance of a new chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) gel dressing. A fully integrated transparent dressing with a CHG gel pad was evaluated in six different facilities across the United States over a period of 73 days with 64 different clinicians. A total of 500 CHG gel dressings were applied during the evaluation period. The clinicians were asked to evaluate 16 levels of performance criteria of the new CHG gel dressings and compare these areas of performance to the performance of their current CHG disk plus transparent dressing being used at their facility. Their current dressing was replaced with the new CHG gel dressing. All sites changed dressings at 24—48 hours as needed, and then at seven days. The evaluation questions were striated into four performance groups: ease of application, gel dressing performance, securement function and ‘other’. In all 16 levels of performance ratings, the CHG gel dressing was rated ‘same as’, ‘better’, or ‘much better’. In addition to the antimicrobial advantages of a CHG gel dressing, clinical data demonstrates the following benefits: ease of use of a one piece CHG gel dressing, ability to fully visualise the insertion site through the gel, and absorption of fluid under the dressing. The new CHG gel dressing was well tolerated by patients and performed in a manner that equalled or well exceeded the current two step process of antimicrobial dressing application.
Loss of the Rho GTPase activating protein p190-B enhances hematopoietic stem cell engraftment potential
Authors: Xu Haiming , Eleswarapu Satyam , Geiger Hartmut , Szczur Kathleen , Daria Deidre , Zheng Yi , Settleman Jeffrey , Srour Edward F. , Williams David A. , Filippi Marie-Dominique 
Published: August 2009

AbstractHematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engraftment is a multistep process involving HSC homing to bone marrow, self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation to mature blood cells. Here, we show that loss of p190-B RhoGTPase activating protein, a negative regulator of Rho GTPases, results in enhanced long-term engraftment during serial transplantation. This effect is associated with maintenance of functional HSC-enriched cells. Furthermore, loss of p190-B led to marked improvement of HSC in vivo repopulation capacity during ex vivo culture without altering proliferation and multilineage differentiation of HSC and progeny. Transcriptional analysis revealed that p190-B deficiency represses the up-regulation of p16Ink4a in HSCs in primary and secondary transplantation recipients, providing a possible mechanism of p190-B–mediated HSC functions. Our study defines p190-B as a critical transducer element of HSC self-renewal activity and long-term engraftment, thus suggesting that p190-B is a target for HSC-based therapies requiring maintenance of engraftment phenotype.
GRP-78 secreted by tumor cells blocks the antiangiogenic activity of bortezomib
Authors: Kern Johann , Untergasser Gerold , Zenzmaier Christoph , Sarg Bettina , Gastl Guenther , Gunsilius Eberhard , Steurer Michael 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Antiangiogenic effects of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib were analyzed on tumor xenografts in vivo. Bortezomib strongly inhibited angiogenesis and vascularization in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Bortezomib's inhibitory effects on chorioallantoic membrane vascularization were abrogated in the presence of distinct tumor xenografts, thanks to a soluble factor secreted by tumor cells. Through size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography as well as mass spectroscopy, we identified GRP-78, a chaperone protein of the unfolded protein response, as being responsible for bortezomib resistance. Indeed, a variety of bortezomib-resistant solid tumor cell lines (PC-3, HRT-18), but not myeloma cell lines (U266, OPM-2), were able to secrete high amounts of GRP-78. Recombinant GRP-78 conferred bortezomib resistance to endothelial cells and OPM-2 myeloma cells. Knockdown of GRP78 gene expression in tumor cells and immunodepletion of GRP-78 protein from tumor cell supernatants restored bortezomib sensitivity. GRP-78 did not bind or complex bortezomib but induced prosurvival signals by phosphorylation of extracellular signal–related kinase and inhibited p53-mediated expression of proapoptotic Bok and Noxa proteins in endothelial cells. From our data, we conclude that distinct solid tumor cells are able to secrete GRP-78 into the tumor microenvironment, thus demonstrating a hitherto unknown mechanism of resistance to bortezomib.
The human alloreactive CD4+ T-cell repertoire is biased to a Th17 response and the frequency is inversely related to the number of HLA class II mismatches
Authors: Litjens Nicolle H. R. , van de Wetering Jacqueline , van Besouw Nicole M. , Betjes Michiel G. H. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractEstimates of precursor frequency and assessment of functional characteristics of alloreactive CD4+ T cells are all biased by the need for long-term culture. In this study, direct visualization of human alloreactive CD4+ T cells on the single-cell level was achieved using cell surface expression of CD154 as a tool for identification. The average frequency of alloreactive CD154+CD4+ T cells among peripheral blood CD4+ T cells was 0.1%, with half of the cells displaying a naive phenotype. The proliferation capacity and expression of cytokines after allogeneic stimulation resided in these CD154+CD4+ T cells. The repertoire of alloreactive CD4+ T cells was biased to a Th17 response, and on average 24% of alloreactive CD154+CD4+ memory T cells produced interleukin-17 (IL-17) after polyclonal stimulation. Unexpectedly, mixed cell cultures from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)–identical donors also generated alloreactive CD154+CD4+ T cells and yielded the highest frequency compared with HLA-nonidentical combinations. Therefore, reactivity to minor histocompatibility antigens between HLA-identical subjects appears to be relatively common. Alloreactive HLA-identical T cells did not proliferate or express cytokines, but were driven to proliferation in the presence of exogenous IL-2.
Prognostically relevant breakdown of 123 patients with systemic mastocytosis associated with other myeloid malignancies
Authors: Pardanani Animesh , Lim Ken-Hong , Lasho Terra L. , Finke Christy , McClure Rebecca F. , Li Chin-Yang , Tefferi Ayalew 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
The prognostic heterogeneity of the World Health Organization category of “systemic mastocytosis with associated clonal hematologic nonmast cell lineage disease” (SM-AHNMD) has not been systematically validated by primary data. Among 138 consecutive cases with SM-AHNMD, 123 (89%) had associated myeloid neoplasm: 55 (45%) myeloproliferative neoplasm (SM-MPN), 36 (29%) chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, 28 (23%) myelodysplastic syndrome (SM-MDS), and 4 (3%) acute leukemia. Of the myeloid subgroups, SM-MPN displayed a 2- to 3-fold better life expectancy (P = .003), whereas leukemic transformation was more frequent in SM-MDS (29%; P = .02). The presence of eosinophilia, although prevalent (34%), was prognostically neutral, and the overall results were not affected by exclusion of FIP1L1-PDGFRA-positive cases. We conclude that it is clinically more useful to consider specific entities, such as SM-MPN, systemic mastocytosis with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, SM-MDS, and systemic mastocytosis with-acute leukemia, rather than their broad reference as SM-AHNMD.