bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the MIS Fellowship Experience
Authors: Sherman Vadim , Kavic Steven 
Published: January 2008

Surgeons are committed to the principle of improving clinical practice through assessment of personal outcomes. Indeed, “practice-based learning and improvement” has been adopted as one of the 6 core competencies that are required areas of instruction and evaluation in surgical residency. Residents are encouraged to analyze their own experiences, ideally in a systematic fashion, in the hopes that this semi-objective process will lead to better patient care. At what point does this reflective process begin, and how do we teach it? In our students, it is too early—there is an obvious need to experience surgical clerkships before it is possible to appraise their experience. For residents and fellows, it is worthwhile to hear about the process from those who have had the opportunity to reflect and are still close enough to training to speak the common tongue. In this issue, Dr. Vadim Sherman examines some of the evolution of his thoughts on surgical training. As he has transitioned from medical student to resident, resident to fellow, fellow to attending, and attending to fellowship director, he has a unique vantage point to discuss training in minimally invasive surgery. I hope that you enjoy his commentary, and I look forward to your responses and reactions to this column.
Expansion of multipotent and lymphoid-committed human progenitors through intracellular dimerization of Mpl
Authors: Abdel-Azim Hisham , Zhu Yuhua , Hollis Roger , Wang Xiuli , Ge Shundi , Hao Qian-Lin , Smbatyan Goar , Kohn Donald B. , Rosol Michael , Crooks Gay M. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractSelf-renewal capacity is rapidly lost during differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells to lineage-committed progenitors. We demonstrate here that regulated intracellular signaling through the cytokine receptor Mpl induces profound expansion of not only multipotent (ie, lymphomyeloid) but also lymphoid-committed human hematopoietic progenitors. A fusion protein containing the intracellular signaling domain of Mpl and a dimerization domain was constitutively expressed in populations enriched in human lymphomyeloid progenitor/stem cells (CD34+CD38−Lin−CD7−) and multilymphoid progenitors (CD34+CD38−Lin−CD7+). Intracellular dimerization of Mpl in target cells was induced by in vitro or in vivo administration of a diffusible synthetic ligand. In vitro, Mpl dimerization produced divisions of clonogenic, multilineage CD34+ cells able to engraft immunodeficient mice. When dimerization was induced in vivo after transplantation of either lymphomyeloid or multilymphoid progenitors, donor-derived hematopoiesis was sustained for at least 12 weeks and primitive CD34+Lin− progenitors were expanded more than 1000-fold. Lineage potential of progenitors was not altered and differentiation was not prevented by synthetically induced Mpl signaling. These data demonstrate that dimerization of a single cytokine receptor can deliver a profound expansion signal in both uncommitted and lymphoid-committed human hematopoietic progenitors.
Bortezomib inhibits tumor adaptation to hypoxia by stimulating the FIH-mediated repression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1
Authors: Shin Dong Hoon , Chun Yang-Sook , Lee Dong Soon , Huang L. Eric , Park Jong-Wan 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBortezomib (PS-341), a proteasome inhibitor, has been examined clinically for the treatment of multiple myeloma and several solid tumors. Bortezomib directly induces tumor cell death and has also been reported to inhibit tumor adaptation to hypoxia by functionally inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). However, the mechanism underlying HIF-1 inhibition by bortezomib remains obscure. In the present study, we demonstrated that bortezomib attenuated the hypoxic induction of erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor at subnanomolar concentrations in multiple myeloma and liver cancer cell lines, regardless of cytotoxic concentrations of bortezomib. Bortezomib repressed HIF-1α activity by inhibiting the recruitment of p300 coactivator. Specifically, bortezomib targeted HIF-1α C-terminal transactivation domain (CAD) but not the CAD lacking Asn803, which is a hydroxylation site by the factor inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH). Accordingly, this effect of bortezomib on CAD was augmented by FIH expression and abolished by FIH knock-down. Furthermore, bortezomib stimulated the interaction between CAD and FIH under hypoxic conditions, and FIH inhibition reversed the suppressions of erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor by bortezomib. We propose that the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of bortezomib on tumor angiogenesis and hypoxic adaptation involves the repression of HIF-1α transcriptional activity by reinforcing the FIH-mediated inhibition of p300 recruitment.
Systematic analysis of transcribed loci in ENCODE regions using RACE sequencing reveals extensive transcription in the human genome
Authors: Wu Jia Qian , Du Jiang , Rozowsky Joel , Zhang Zhengdong , Urban Alexander E , Euskirchen Ghia , Weissman Sherman , Gerstein Mark , Snyder Michael 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
Background
Recent studies of the mammalian transcriptome have revealed a large number of additional transcribed regions and extraordinary complexity in transcript diversity. However, there is still much uncertainty regarding precisely what portion of the genome is transcribed, the exact structures of these novel transcripts, and the levels of the transcripts produced.

Results
We have interrogated the transcribed loci in 420 selected ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements (ENCODE) regions using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) sequencing. We analyzed annotated known gene regions, but primarily we focused on novel transcriptionally active regions (TARs), which were previously identified by high-density oligonucleotide tiling arrays and on random regions that were not believed to be transcribed. We found RACE sequencing to be very sensitive and were able to detect low levels of transcripts in specific cell types that were not detectable by microarrays. We also observed many instances of sense-antisense transcripts; further analysis suggests that many of the antisense transcripts (but not all) may be artifacts generated from the reverse transcription reaction. Our results show that the majority of the novel TARs analyzed (60%) are connected to other novel TARs or known exons. Of previously unannotated random regions, 17% were shown to produce overlapping transcripts. Furthermore, it is estimated that 9% of the novel transcripts encode proteins.

Conclusion
We conclude that RACE sequencing is an efficient, sensitive, and highly accurate method for characterization of the transcriptome of specific cell/tissue types. Using this method, it appears that much of the genome is represented in polyA+ RNA. Moreover, a fraction of the novel RNAs can encode protein and are likely to be functional.
CXCL4-induced migration of activated T lymphocytes is mediated by the chemokine receptor CXCR3
Authors: Mueller Anja , Meiser Andrea , McDonagh Ellen M , Fox James M , Petit Sarah J , Xanthou Georgina , Williams Timothy J , Pease James E 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe chemokine CXCL4/platelet factor-4 is released by activated platelets in micromolar concentrations and is a chemoattractant for leukocytes via an unidentified receptor. Recently, a variant of the human chemokine receptor CXCR3 (CXCR3-B) was described, which transduced apoptotic but not chemotactic signals in microvascular endothelial cells following exposure to high concentrations of CXCL4. Here, we show that CXCL4 can induce intracellular calcium release and the migration of activated human T lymphocytes. CXCL4-induced chemotaxis of T lymphocytes was inhibited by a CXCR3 antagonist and pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin (PTX), suggestive of CXCR3-mediated G-protein signaling via Gαi-sensitive subunits. Specific binding by T lymphocytes of the CXCR3 ligand CXCL10 was not effectively competed by CXCL4, suggesting that the two are allotopic ligands. We subsequently used expression systems to dissect the potential roles of each CXCR3 isoform in mediating CXCL4 function. Transient expression of the CXCR3-A and CXCR3-B isoforms in the murine pre-B cell L1.2 produced cells that migrated in response to CXCL4 in a manner sensitive to PTX and a CXCR3 antagonist. Binding of radiolabeled CXCL4 to L1.2 CXCR3 transfectants was of low affinity and appeared to be mediated chiefly by glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), as no specific CXCL4 binding was observed in GAG-deficient 745-Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing CXCR3. We suggest that following platelet activation, the CXCR3/CXCL4 axis may play a role in T lymphocyte recruitment and the subsequent amplification of inflammation observed in diseases such as atherosclerosis. In such a setting, antagonism of the CXCR3/CXCL4 axis may represent a useful, therapeutic intervention.
Attenuation of Neutron Radiation Damage Through a Simulated RPV Wall
Authors: Server William , Spanner Jack , Rosinski Stan , Brumovsky Milan , Kytka Milos 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
An experiment has been conducted in which a 180-mm thick reactor pressure vessel (RPV) wall has been simulated using eighteen 10-mm slices and irradiated under test reactor conditions to investigate the through wall attenuation of neutron embrittlement. Attenuation of neutron radiation damage through the wall of an RPV is a process that involves a changing neutron flux spectrum. The effect of the changing spectrum has not been fully studied to define the change in fracture toughness properties through the RPV wall. One low copper content base metal and one high copper content Linde 80 weld metal have been irradiated in various positions through the simulated wall to allow quantification of an improved experimentally-based embrittlement attenuation model. Comparisons are made of predicted attenuation changes in toughness properties with measured fracture toughness and Charpy V-notch results for the high copper content weld metal and the low copper content plate. The predictions of through-wall attenuation follow the practice defined in ASTM E 900-02, in which the attenuation of high energy neutron fluence (E&gt;1 MeV) is projected based upon displacements per atom (dpa) change through the wall thickness. The resultant degree of material damage (Charpy V-notch 41 J transition temperature, T41J) using this dpa-based fluence change is estimated also using the ASTM E 900-02 embrittlement model. The irradiation-induced shift in T41J (ΔT41J) is typically assumed to infer the shift in fracture toughness transition temperature to be used for structural integrity assessments for the reactor pressure vessel. This assumption will be checked by measuring Master Curve fracture toughness properties for the high copper content weld metal and the low copper content plate.
Lineared Inverse Scattering Methods in Elasticity for Shape Reconstruction of Defects
Authors: Gangfeng Zheng , Bin Wu , Cunfu He 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
Two linearized methods for the ultrasonic inversion are formulated for the shape reconstruction of defects in an elastic material. The methods are based on the elastodynamic inverse Born and Kirchhoff approximations. From the numerical analysis for two kinds of defects, it is verified that the Born inversion works well for volumetric defects and the Kirchhoff inversion for surface defects. Combination of two inversion methods leads to the separation of surface in a part from the volumetric part of the defect.
Field Performance Monitoring of Repair Treatments on Joint Concrete Pavements
Authors: Chen Dar Hao , Won Moon 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
This paper presents the performance of three rehabilitation methods on six highways to restore the condition of concrete pavement: (1) polyurethane foam injection (PFI), (2) dowel bar retrofit (DBR), and (3) full depth repair (FDR). PFI was able to raise the slabs to the target levels; however, it was not able to maintain the slabs at the target levels and thus prevent slabs from further settlement. In addition, new cracks have been observed in some slabs and it was believed that PFI might have created uneven supports that allowed the truck traffic to shatter the slabs. Long-term benefits of DBR were demonstrated on a project with 10 years of traffic, where asphalt overlay was placed. Only minimum reflective cracks were observed on the DBR sections as compared to severe reflective cracks on sections without DBR. In another project, DBR effectively restored the ride quality that reduced the International Roughness Index (IRI) from 2.83 m/km to 1.26 m/km. The poor ride of this pavement section before DBR was due mainly to severe faulting. This illustrates that dowel bars provided excellent load transfer at transverse contraction joints, which minimized the potential for faulting. FDR has been used to repair localized pavement distresses. However, subsidence of slabs and cracks reappeared on the slabs that received FDR, due partly to the inadequate base support. Currently, there are no objective test methods and criteria for base preparation in the FDR specifications. To improve the effectiveness of FDR, current FDR specifications need to be revised.
Early Development of the Sacramento Perch
Authors: León Abimael , Miller Chris E , Teh Swee J 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
Populations of the Sacramento perch Archoplites interruptus, California's only native centrarchid, are declining and early development of this imperiled species is poorly known. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to describe the early development of Sacramento perch from fertilization to initiation of exogenous feeding. Embryos were obtained in the laboratory by spawning induction via photoperiod-temperature control or gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment. Gross morphology and histological analyses were integrated to describe the early development. Cleavage was synchronous until the 64-cell stage, which allowed us to calculate the duration of one mitotic cycle during early synchronous cleavage (τ0) as 10–16 min at 25.4–25.6°C. A description of histological events from time to morulation, gastrulation, hatch, and exogenous feeding larvae is provided. Yolk sac larvae tended to adhere to the spawning substrate or sediment during the critical organogenesis stages. Larvae swam up and began exogenous feeding within 4 d postfertilization. Primordial germ cells were observed in 10-d-old larvae, but sex differentiation occurred after 43 d. External sexual dimorphism was not observed in early life stages.
Effect of the Dietary Ratio of Digestible Energy to Crude Protein on Growth and Feed Conversion in Juvenile Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei under Similar Levels of Daily Protein Consumption
Authors: Venero Jesus A , Davis D Allen , Rouse David B 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
We evaluated the effect of the dietary ratio of digestible energy (DE) : Crude protein (CP) on growth performance and nutrient utilization in juvenile Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei fed various diets with a constant daily protein input. Juveniles (weight = 0.94 ± 0.04 g [mean ± SE]; n = 30) were stocked in an indoor recirculating-water system (173-L polyethylene tanks; 20 shrimp/tank) and were assigned to four different treatments. Two treatments consisted of 30% and 40% CP diets (30 isoenergetic [ISO]-100% and 40 ISO-75%, respectively) with a constant level of DE (3.28 kcal/g). Two treatments consisted of 30% and 40% CP diets with variable levels of DE (2.70 and 3.6 kcal/g, respectively) that maintained a constant DE : CP ratio of 9 kcal/g of protein (30 ratio [RAT]-100% and 40 RAT-75%, respectively). At the end of the 49-d trial, final weight and weight gain did not differ among the treatments. However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower (P &lt; 0.01) for the 40 RAT-75% and 40 ISO-75% groups than for the 30 ISO-100% and 30 RAT-100% groups. Final body composition (dry matter, CP, and gross energy) and protein conversion efficiency were not significantly different among the four treatments. However, energy conversion efficiency was significantly higher for the 40 ISO-75% group than for the 30 ISO-100% group. This study demonstrates that when the level of energy is appropriate, increasing dietary protein content allows for reduced feed inputs without affecting shrimp growth performance, while actually improving FCR and water quality due to presumably lower wastage of feed.
Using Customized Rate-Coding and Recruitment Strategies to Maintain Forces During Repetitive Activation of Human Muscles
Authors: Chou Li-Wei , Kesar Trisha M , Binder-Macleod Stuart A 
Published: January 2008

Background and Purpose
During functional electrical stimulation (FES), clinicians typically increase stimulation intensity to offset fatigue and maintain functional levels of force production. However, recent studies have suggested that increasing the stimulation frequency is an effective strategy for overcoming fatigue during FES. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 5 stimulation strategies on maintaining forces during repetitive isometric muscle activation.

Subjects and Methods
The right quadriceps femoris muscles of 12 subjects with no history of lower-extremity orthopedic, neurological, or vascular problems were tested. The 5 stimulation strategies were: progressively increasing the frequency, progressively increasing the intensity, and 3 combination protocols that first increased the intensity and then increased the frequency. The only difference among the 3 combination protocols was the starting frequency used in each protocol (20, 30, or 40 Hz). For all protocols, the stimulation frequency or intensity was increased progressively every time the peak force declined more than 10% from a targeted force level. The specific step increases in frequency or intensity were customized for each subject. A contraction was defined as successful when its peak force exceeded 90% of the targeted force level.

Results
The results showed that progressively increasing only the frequency produced 59% more successful contractions than progressively increasing only the intensity. In addition, the combination stimulation protocol that began with 30-Hz trains produced the most successful contractions (mean=1,205 contractions; 35%–74% more than the other 4 protocols tested).

Discussion and Conclusions
The results suggest that increasing the stimulation intensity and then the frequency is the best strategy to maintain muscle performance and could help clinicians design optimal stimulation protocols to use for each patient during FES.
Les sanglots longs de la violence de l’automne : French Diplomacy Reacts to the October Crisis
Authors: Meren David 
Published: January 2008

Employing information gathered chiefly from the archives of France's Ministère des Affaires Étrangères (MAE), this article examines official French perceptions of the October Crisis, and how these were influenced by evolving attitudes in Paris regarding Quebec and Canada. It is argued that French official perceptions of the October Crisis were shaped foremost by a belief that arose in the 1960s among elements in the French political class that Quebec was evolving toward some form of international sovereignty. The October Crisis, thus, was perceived in French circles as a manifestation of Quebec's larger political evolution; Ottawa's hard-line response was seen as misguided and ultimately exacerbating the crisis, and as consistent with federalist resistance to Quebec épanouissement. These French perceptions were reinforced by the invocation of the War Measures Act. The result was a rather ambiguous response from Paris that condemned FLQ actions out of a general opposition to political violence, but that was tempered by a concern that the reaction of Canadian and Quebec authorities, notably the former, not be permitted to interfere with the French view of the Québécois interest. À partir d’informations recueillies principalement aux archives du ministère français des Affaires étrangères (MAE), cette étude examine les perceptions françaises officielles concernant la Crise d’octobre, et la manière dont ces perceptions ont été influencées par l’attitude qu’a adoptée Paris à l’égard du Québec et du Canada. Cet article soutient que les perceptions françaises officielles concernant la Crise d’octobre ont avant tout été influencées par une conviction, parmi certains membres de la classe politique française dans les années 60, que le Québec s’acheminait vers une forme de souveraineté internationale. Ainsi, dans les milieux français, la Crise d’octobre a été perçue comme une manifestation de l’évolution politique générale du Québec; la réaction intransigeante d’Ottawa a été perçue comme une erreur qui avait contribué à l’aggravation de la crise et qui illustrait l’opposition fédéraliste à l’épanouissement du Québec. Ces perceptions n’ont été que renforcées par le décret de la Loi des mesures de guerre. Il en a résulté une réponse plutôt équivoque de la France, qui a condamné les actes du FLQ par opposition à toute violence politique, mais dont la condamnation a été tempérée du fait qu’elle ne voulait pas que la réaction des autorités québécoises et, surtout, canadiennes contrarie les intérêts québécois tels que les concevaient les Français.
Tobacco Warning Labels and the Protection Motivation Model: Implications for Canadian Tobacco Control Policy
Authors: Cismaru Magdalena , Lavack Anne M. 
Published: January 2008

Since 2000, Canada has mandated the use of a set of 16 rotating graphic warning labels that cover the top 50 percent of the front and back of each cigarette package. This paper examines the issue of tobacco warning labels within the context of the Protection Motivation Model. Based on this psychological model, we provide recommendations as to how tobacco warning labels could be revised to include specific recommendations and coping advice that would outline the benefits of quitting (response efficacy) and offer encouragement (self-efficacy).