bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pulsed Radiofrequency Lesioning of the Suprascapular Nerve for Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Liliang Po-Chou , Lu Kang , Liang Cheng-Loong , Tsai Yu-Duan , Hsieh Ching-Hua , Chen Han-Jung 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT
Objective. Chronic shoulder pain is difficult to treat, and the efficacy of most interventions is limited. This study was conducted to evaluate pulsed mode radiofrequency (PRF) lesioning of the suprascapular nerve for treating chronic shoulder pain.
Interventions. Thirteen procedures using PRF lesioning of suprascapular nerve were performed under fluoroscopic guide in 11 patients (13 shoulder joints) with chronic shoulder pain for at least 3 months.
Outcome Measures. The patients were evaluated for pain, shoulder disability function, and medication requirements prior to and after treatment.
Results. At 1-month follow-up assessment, 10 (76.9%) shoulder joints had significant pain relief (visual analog scale ≥ 50% reduction), and at 6-month follow-up assessment, nine (69.2%) still had significant pain relief. The mean VAS score of 11 patients before PRF was 7.5 ± 1.0, and the scores at 1-month and 6-month follow-up were 2.8 ± 2.6 and 2.5 ± 2.8, respectively. A significant pain reduction (P &lt; 0.001) was observed. The mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index scores at 6-month follow-up also showed a significant decrease compared with pre-PRF (P &lt; 0.001). Medication requirements were evaluated 1 month and 6 months after the PRF. Nine (81.8%) patients had their medication requirement decreased.
Conclusions. Pulsed mode radiofrequency lesioning to suprascapular nerve is a potential treatment option for patients suffering chronic shoulder pain. It provides long-lasting pain relief and decreases pain medication requirements.
EEG stages predict treatment response in experimental status epilepticus
Authors: Wang Norman C. , Good Levi B. , Marsh Steven T. , Treiman David M. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryProgression of severity in experimental status epilepticus (SE), defined as refractoriness to first‐ and second‐line abortive agents, may be related to a five‐stage progression of electroencephalography (EEG) patterns. This was tested in the lithium–pilocarpine rat SE model. Abortive treatment with diazepam and phenobarbital was given at EEG stages I, III, and V. In stage I, the combination therapy resulted in 100% SE termination. However, stage III corresponded to high treatment resistance (0% abortion) and stage V to an intermediate response (63%). Comparisons of time‐to‐treatment durations showed overlap between stage I and stage III, despite having markedly different response rates to abortive medications. Therefore, EEG patterns reflect the dynamic pathophysiology of SE and can be used as reliable and specific markers to distinguish treatment‐responsive from treatment‐refractory SE more accurately than time alone.
Treatment of severe recalcitrant hidradenitis suppurativa with adalimumab
Authors: Harde Viola , Mrowietz Ulrich 
Published: January 2009

SummaryHidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease featuring inflammatory nodules, fistulas and discharge of secretions in the intertriginous regions. Without therapy the disease is chronic and progressive. The most effective treatment is the radical wide excision of the affected areas. Systemic antibiotics, immunosuppressants, oral retinoids or antiandrogens have limited beneficial effects. TNF‐α antagonists may represent a new therapeutic approach for patients suffering from severe hidradenitis suppurativa offering promising positive influence on the disease outcome. In contrast to infliximab and etanercept, there are only few reports describing the use of adalimumab in severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Here we report a case of a patient with severe recalcitrant hidradenitis suppurativa successfully treated with adalimumab.
Romance on the Early Modern Stage
Authors: Mulready Cyrus 
Published: January 2009

AbstractIn Shakespeare studies, the term romance is widely understood to refer to a group of plays from the late period of the Shakespearean canon. In looking at two plays from the period of 1590–1610, Orlando Furioso and the Arthurian romance Tom a Lincoln, this essay identifies an earlier history for the genre. I term this kind of drama ‘stage romance’, a popular genre that originated in the earliest days of the Elizabethan theater. These plays demonstrate the emergence of ‘romance’ out of a global history: the social, intellectual, and economic changes prompted by England's increasing role in an expanding global economy.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for storm‐petrels
Authors: SUN ZHENGXIN , GÓMEZ‐DÍAZ ELENA , BAILIE ANNA , FRIESEN VICKI 
Published: January 2009

AbstractPrimers were developed for 10 microsatellite loci for two species of Oceanodroma storm‐petrels. Variability was tested in 27 O. castro and 22 O. monteiroi from the Azores, and 24 O. leucorhoa from Norway. At least six loci amplified reliably and were polymorphic in each species. The number of alleles per locus averaged 4.6, and observed heterozygosities averaged 0.41. Most primers also yielded polymerase chain reaction products in O. tethys, O. hornbyi and Pterodroma phaeopygia. These loci are being used to assay population genetic structure in storm‐petrels.
Tri‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellites in dhufish Glaucosoma hebracium (Perciformes)
Authors: BURRIDGE CHRISTOPHER P. , ENGLAND PHILLIP R. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThirteen polymorphic tri‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellite markers are reported for the exploited marine dhufish (Glaucosoma hebracium) from southwestern Australia. Variation was assessed among 48 individuals collected from a single locality. Most loci had 2–5 alleles, although one had more than 20 alleles, with corresponding observed heterozygosities of 0.02–0.81. These loci were also polymorphic in congeneric species.
Distinct Profiles of Cytotoxic Granules in Memory CD8 T Cells Correlate with Function, Differentiation Stage, and Antigen Exposure
Authors: Harari Alexandre , Enders Felicitas Bellutti , Cellerai Cristina , Bart Pierre-Alexandre , Pantaleo Giuseppe 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTCytotoxic CD8 T cells exert their antiviral and antitumor activity primarily through the secretion of cytotoxic granules. Degranulation activity and cytotoxic granules (perforin plus granzymes) generally define CD8 T cells with cytotoxic function. In this study, we have investigated the expression of granzyme K (GrmK) in comparison to that of GrmA, GrmB, and perforin. The expression of the cytotoxic granules was assessed in virus-specific CD8 T cells specific to influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We observed a dichotomy between GrmK and perforin expression in virus-specific CD8 T cells. The profile in influenza virus-specific CD8 T cells was perforin−GrmB−GrmA+/−GrmK+; in CMV-specific cells, it was perforin+GrmB+GrmA+GrmK−/+; and in EBV- and HIV-1-specific cells, it was perforin−/+GrmB+GrmA+GrmK+. On the basis of the delineation of memory and effector CD8 T cells with CD45RA and CD127, the GrmK+profile was associated with early-stage memory CD8 T-cell differentiation, the perforin+GrmB+GrmA+profile with advanced-stage differentiation, and the GrmB+GrmA+Grmk+profile with intermediate-stage differentiation. Furthermore, perforin and GrmB but not GrmA and GrmK correlated with cytotoxic activity. Finally, changes in antigen exposure in vitro and in vivo during primary HIV-1 infection and vaccination modulated cytotoxic granule profiles. These results advance our understanding of the relationship between distinct profiles of cytotoxic granules in memory CD8 T cells and function, differentiation stage, and antigen exposure.
Identification of Potential Recombination Breakpoints in Human Parechoviruses
Authors: Zoll Jan , Galama Jochem M. D. , van Kuppeveld Frank J. M. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT
Based on a comparison of the phylogeny of two distant regions, evidence has been found for recombination within parechoviruses. However, recombination breakpoints could not be detected in this way. We searched for potential recombination breakpoints in parechovirus by analysis of complete parechovirus sequences, including a newly isolated strain. Bootscan analysis demonstrated that parechoviruses are mosaic viruses build of regions related to corresponding genomic regions of other parechoviruses. With a genetic algorithm for recombination detection, sites for recombination were found. Analysis of partial sequences, as defined by recombination breakpoints, showed phylogenetic segregation between regions.
Pater Desiderius Lenz at Beuron: History, Egyptology, and Modernism in Nineteenth-Century German Monastic Art
Authors: Davenport Nancy 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe text is an introduction to the art made by a Benedictine community of artist/monks in the village of Beuron in the state of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The founder of the school, Pater Desiderius Lenz, studied art in Munich, received a scholarship to work in Rome, but discovered the source for his work in the flat two-dimensional colored drawings and prints of Egyptian art in albums published by the German archaeologist, Richard Lepsius. The iconic and non-empathetic style of Beuron art inspired by Lenz's ideas and writings is discussed with respect to its source in the Benedictine experience, bonded as it is to the church walls and to the Gregorian chanting of the monastic choirs. But at the same time, because of its rejection of the form and expression of the three-dimensional world of man and nature, it is characterized as being Modernist as well, an early by-product of that twentieth century stylistic phenomenon. Through Lenz's first architectural project, the St. Maurus Chapel above the Danube near Beuron, and his evolving exploration of the subject of the Pieta, his Egypto-Modernist religious imagery is described.
The End of the Democratic Transition? Analyzing the Quality of Democracy Model in Post-Communism
Authors: Ciobanu Monica 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe problem addressed in this article is the adequacy of the recently developed quality of democracy model in analyzing post-communist democracies in the context of their recent accession into the European Union. In order to provide some clarification of this question, the conceptual framework is utilized in light of past and recent political developments in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Several procedural and substantive dimensions of the model are examined, particularly participation and competition, accountability, governance, rule of law, corruption and aspects of popular legitimacy. The main conclusion is that while the model proves its ability to understand some of the specific dynamics and peculiarities of these cases, it is less successful in showing how democratic legitimacy becomes institutionalized.
Acceding to the Norm: The Accession of LDCs to the WTO
Authors: Hawthorne Helen 
Published: January 2009

AbstractLeast-developed countries (LDCs) have been included in the multilateral trade regime since the days of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), with the majority joining during the 1960s and 1970s following their independence. The Doha Round of negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has focused significant attention on the role and impact of LDCs that are currently WTO members as well as the process of accession for those remaining outside the organization. This article examines the accession experiences of LDCs joining both the GATT and the WTO with regard to international development norms, and demonstrates that the manner in which the majority of LDCs acceded to the multilateral trade regime has enabled them to have a greater impact on the multilateral trade organization than would otherwise have been possible.
Bilateralism and Multilateralism: Taiwan's Trade Liberalization Trajectory
Authors: Huang Chen-wei 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWhether or not bilateralism and regionalism have threatened multilateralism has been debated in the literature. In recent years, the United States has argued that the increasing numbers of regional and bilateral trading arrangements made under the Bush administration are 'complementary' to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Accordingly, the case of Taiwan's bilateral trade negotiations with the United States and its accession to the WTO provide a useful case study for examining the relations between bilateralism and multilateralism. This article not only aims to study the role of bilateralism and multilateralism in Taiwan's liberalization process, it also seeks to compare the two types of trade diplomacy in terms of power relations, decision-making and negotiation, and the influence of negotiation on economic liberalization. The article is divided into three sections: the first section focuses on US–Taiwan bilateral trade negotiations during the 1970s and 1980s; the second section mainly discusses the process of Taiwan's WTO accession; and the final section examines Taiwan's bilateral and multilateral trade diplomacy after its accession.
Developing Objective Operational Definitions for Monitoring Drought
Authors: Quiring Steven M. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Drought is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to accurately describe because its definition is both spatially variant and context dependent. Decision makers in local, state, and federal agencies commonly use operational drought definitions that are based on specific drought index thresholds to trigger water conservation measures and determine levels of drought assistance. Unfortunately, many state drought plans utilize operational drought definitions that are derived subjectively and therefore may not be appropriate for triggering drought responses. This paper presents an objective methodology for establishing operational drought definitions. The advantages of this methodology are demonstrated by calculating meteorological drought thresholds for the Palmer drought severity index, the standardized precipitation index, and percent of normal precipitation using both station and climate division data from Texas. Results indicate that using subjectively derived operational drought definitions may lead to over- or underestimating true drought severity. Therefore, it is more appropriate to use an objective location-specific method for defining operational drought thresholds.
An Adjoint Sensitivity Study of Buoyancy- and Wind-Driven Circulation on the New Jersey Inner Shelf
Authors: Zhang Weifeng G. , Wilkin John L. , Levin Julia C. , Arango Hernan G. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Adjoint sensitivity analysis is used to study the New York Bight circulation for three idealized situations: an unforced buoyant river plume, and upwelling and downwelling wind forcing. A derivation of adjoint sensitivity is presented that clarifies how the method simultaneously addresses initial, boundary, and forcing sensitivities. Considerations of interpretation and appropriate definitions of sensitivity scalar indices are discussed. The adjoint method identifies the oceanic conditions and forcing that are “dynamically upstream” to a region or feature of interest, as well as the relative roles of the prior ocean state, forcing, and dynamical influences. To illustrate the method, which is quite general, the authors consider coastal sea surface temperature (SST) variability and define the adjoint scalar index as the temporal–spatial mean squared SST anomaly on a segment of the New Jersey coast at the conclusion of a 3-day period. In the absence of wind, surface temperature advection dominates the SST anomaly with two sources of surface water identified. Downwelling winds amplify upstream advective influence. Sensitivity to temperature is separated into direct advection and the dynamic effect on density stratification and mixing. For upwelling conditions, this decomposition shows that coastal SST is controlled by both advection from the south and subsurface, but above the 5-m depth, and temperature-related density stratification between 5 and 15 m to 10 km offshore. By identifying the timing and location of ocean conditions crucial to subsequent prediction of specific circulation features, the adjoint sensitivity method has application to quantitative evaluation of observational sampling strategies.
Inferring Convective Weather Characteristics with Geostationary High Spectral Resolution IR Window Measurements: A Look into the Future
Authors: Sieglaff Justin M. , Schmit Timothy J. , Menzel W. Paul , Ackerman Steven A. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
A high spectral resolution geostationary sounder can make spectrally detailed measurements of the infrared spectrum at high temporal resolution, which provides unique information about the lower-tropospheric temperature and moisture structure. Within the infrared window region, many spectrally narrow, relatively weak water vapor absorption lines and one carbon dioxide absorption line exist. Frequent measurement of these absorption lines can provide critical information for monitoring the evolution of the lower-tropospheric thermodynamic state. This can improve short-term convective forecasts by monitoring regions of changing atmospheric stability. While providing valuable observations, the current geostationary sounders are spectrally broad and do not resolve the important spectrally narrow absorption lines needed to observe the planetary boundary layer. The usefulness of high spectral resolution measurements from polar-orbiting instruments has been shown in the literature, as has the usefulness of high temporal resolution measurements from geostationary instruments. Little attention has been given to the combination of high temporal along with high spectral resolution measurements. This paper demonstrates the potential utility of high temporal and high spectral resolution infrared radiances.
Novel roles for erythroid Ankyrin-1 revealed through an ENU-induced null mouse mutant
Authors: Rank Gerhard , Sutton Rosemary , Marshall Vikki , Lundie Rachel J. , Caddy Jacinta , Romeo Tony , Fernandez Kate , McCormack Matthew P. , Cooke Brian M. , Foote Simon J. , Crabb Brendan S. , Curtis David J. , Hilton Douglas J. , Kile Benjamin T. , Jane Stephen M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractInsights into the role of ankyrin-1 (ANK-1) in the formation and stabilization of the red cell cytoskeleton have come from studies on the nb/nb mice, which carry hypomorphic alleles of Ank-1. Here, we revise several paradigms established in the nb/nb mice through analysis of an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)–induced Ank-1–null mouse. Mice homozygous for the Ank-1 mutation are profoundly anemic in utero and most die perinatally, indicating that Ank-1 plays a nonredundant role in erythroid development. The surviving pups exhibit features of severe hereditary spherocytosis (HS), with marked hemolysis, jaundice, compensatory extramedullary erythropoiesis, and tissue iron overload. Red cell membrane analysis reveals a complete loss of ANK-1 protein and a marked reduction in β-spectrin. As a consequence, the red cells exhibit total disruption of cytoskeletal architecture and severely altered hemorheologic properties. Heterozygous mutant mice, which have wild-type levels of ANK-1 and spectrin in their RBC membranes and normal red cell survival and ultrastructure, exhibit profound resistance to malaria, which is not due to impaired parasite entry into RBC. These findings provide novel insights into the role of Ank-1, and define an ideal model for the study of HS and malarial resistance.
DFP: a Bioconductor package for fuzzy profile identification and gene reduction of microarray data
Authors: Glez-Peña Daniel , Álvarez Rodrigo , Díaz Fernando , Fdez-Riverola Florentino 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Background
Expression profiling assays done by using DNA microarray technology generate enormous data sets that are not amenable to simple analysis. The greatest challenge in maximizing the use of this huge amount of data is to develop algorithms to interpret and interconnect results from different genes under different conditions. In this context, fuzzy logic can provide a systematic and unbiased way to both (i) find biologically significant insights relating to meaningful genes, thereby removing the need for expert knowledge in preliminary steps of microarray data analyses and (ii) reduce the cost and complexity of later applied machine learning techniques being able to achieve interpretable models.

Results
DFP is a new Bioconductor R package that implements a method for discretizing and selecting differentially expressed genes based on the application of fuzzy logic. DFP takes advantage of fuzzy membership functions to assign linguistic labels to gene expression levels. The technique builds a reduced set of relevant genes (FP, Fuzzy Pattern) able to summarize and represent each underlying class (pathology). A last step constructs a biased set of genes (DFP, Discriminant Fuzzy Pattern) by intersecting existing fuzzy patterns in order to detect discriminative elements. In addition, the software provides new functions and visualisation tools that summarize achieved results and aid in the interpretation of differentially expressed genes from multiple microarray experiments.

Conclusion
DFP integrates with other packages of the Bioconductor project, uses common data structures and is accompanied by ample documentation. It has the advantage that its parameters are highly configurable, facilitating the discovery of biologically relevant connections between sets of genes belonging to different pathologies. This information makes it possible to automatically filter irrelevant genes thereby reducing the large volume of data supplied by microarray experiments. Based on these contributions GENE CBR, a successful tool for cancer diagnosis using microarray datasets, has recently been released.
Activity of mevalonate pathway inhibitors against breast and ovarian cancers in the ATP-based tumour chemosensitivity assay
Authors: Knight Louise A , Kurbacher Christian M , Glaysher Sharon , Fernando Augusta , Reichelt Ralf , Dexel Susanne , Reinhold Uwe , Cree Ian A 
Published: January 2009

AbstractPrevious data suggest that lipophilic statins such as fluvastatin and N-bisphosphonates such as zoledronic acid, both inhibitors of the mevalonate metabolic pathway, have anti-cancer effectsin vitroand in patients. We have examined the effect of fluvastatin alone and in combination with zoledronic acid in the ATP-based tumour chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) for effects on breast and ovarian cancer tumour-derived cells. Both zoledronic acid and fluvastatin showed activity in the ATP-TCA against breast and ovarian cancer, though fluvastatin alone was less active, particularly against breast cancer. The combination of zoledronic acid and fluvastatin was more active than either single agent in the ATP-TCA with some synergy against breast and ovarian cancer tumour-derived cells. Sequential drug experiments showed that pre-treatment of ovarian tumour cells with fluvastatin resulted in decreased sensitivity to zoledronic acid. Addition of mevalonate pathway components with zoledronic acid with or without fluvastatin showed little effect, while mevalonate did reduced inhibition due to fluvastatin. These data suggest that the combination of zoledronic acid and fluvastatin may have activity against breast and ovarian cancer based on direct anti-cancer cell effects. A clinical trial to test this is in preparation.