bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of temperature on detection of prey DNA in two species of carabid beetle
Authors: von Berg K. , Traugott M. , Symondson W.O.C. , Scheu S. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPCR-based techniques to investigate predator-prey trophic interactions are starting to be used more widely, but factors affecting DNA decay in predator guts are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of time since feeding, temperature and amplicon size on the detectability of prey DNA in the gut content of two closely related predator species. Cereal aphids,Sitobion avenae, were fed to the carabid beetlesPterostichus melanariusandNebria brevicollis. Beetles were allowed to digest their meal at 12°C, 16°C and 20°C, and batches of beetles were subsequently frozen at time periods from 0–72 h after feeding. Aphid DNA was detected within beetles' gut contents using primers amplifying fragments of 85, 231, 317 and 383 bp. Prey DNA detection rates were significantly higher inN. brevicollisthan inP. melanarius, indicating fundamental dissimilarities in prey digestion capacities. High temperatures (20°C) and large amplicons (383 bp) significantly decreased detection rates. The shortest amplicon gave the highest prey DNA detection success, whereas no differences were observed between the 231 bp and the 317 bp fragment. Our results indicate that factors such as ambient temperature, predator taxon and amplicon size should all be considered when interpreting data derived from PCR-based prey detection. Correction for such factors should make calculation of predation rates in the field more accurate and could help us to estimate when predation events occur in the field.
Structuring revolt: Communities of interpretation in the historiography of the Saya San rebellion
Authors: Aung-Thwin Maitrii 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe category of rebellion has held a special place in the epistemological construction of Southeast Asian culture, as studies of anti-colonial movements and their underlying ideological foundations have revealed strikingly similar modes for articulating protest. In particular, the combination of religion with resistance has endured as a useful framework for not only understanding how particular Southeast Asians may have conceptualised the historical processes associated with colonialism, but for how ‘autonomous’ vocabularies remained intact and available to rural communities in times of crisis. Among the several regional cases, British Burma's Saya San rebellion (1930–32) has emerged in scholarship as a quintessential example of one such social movement where protest was articulated through a mixture of millenarian expectations, ritual and Buddhist sensibilities. This study explores the role of scholarship in the historical construction of Saya San and retraces the interpretive strategies that link the various ways in which the rebellion has been imagined. Though different understandings of the Saya San rebellion have been offered since the 1930s, the remains of colonial administrative rule lay deeply embedded in this scholarship.
Optimality analysis of Th1/Th2 immune responses during microparasite-macroparasite co-infection, with epidemiological feedbacks
Authors: FENTON ANDY , LAMB TRACEY , GRAHAM ANDREA L. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYIndividuals are typically co-infected by a diverse community of microparasites (e.g. viruses or protozoa) and macroparasites (e.g. helminths). Vertebrates respond to these parasites differently, typically mounting T helper type 1 (Th1) responses against microparasites and Th2 responses against macroparasites. These two responses may be antagonistic such that hosts face a ‘decision’ of how to allocate potentially limiting resources. Such decisions at the individual host level will influence parasite abundance at the population level which, in turn, will feed back upon the individual level. We take a first step towards a complete theoretical framework by placing an analysis of optimal immune responses under microparasite-macroparasite co-infection within an epidemiological framework. We show that the optimal immune allocation is quantitatively sensitive to the shape of the trade-off curve and qualitatively sensitive to life-history traits of the host, microparasite and macroparasite. This model represents an important first step in placing optimality models of the immune response to co-infection into an epidemiological framework. Ultimately, however, a more complete framework is needed to bring together the optimal strategy at the individual level and the population-level consequences of those responses, before we can truly understand the evolution of host immune responses under parasite co-infection.
The association between pre-morbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis and outcome in first-episode psychosis
Authors: Jeppesen P. , Petersen L. , Thorup A. , Abel M.-B. , Øhlenschlæger J. , Christensen T. Ø. , Krarup G. , Jørgensen P. , Nordentoft M. 
Published: April 2008

BackgroundThe association between the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and outcome of schizophrenia may be confounded by other factors such as poor pre-morbid adjustment. The aim of the present study was to examine the independent contributions of DUP and of pre-morbid adjustment to the clinical and social outcomes of schizophrenia.MethodA longitudinal, prospective, 2-year follow-up study of 423 patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis was conducted. Patients were comprehensively assessed at entry, 1-year and 2-year follow-up. At entry, DUP was measured by IRAOS (an instrument for the assessment of onset and early course of schizophrenia) and pre-morbid adjustment was measured by the Pre-morbid Adjustment Scale (PAS) as ‘pre-morbid social adaptation’ and ‘pre-morbid school adaptation’. Outcome measures included the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Social Network Schedule and social information. Multiple linear regression models were used for data analysis.ResultsThe median DUP was 48 weeks, which is long compared to other studies. Longer DUP was independently associated with more psychotic symptoms at entry, 1-year and 2-year follow-up. Poorer pre-morbid social adaptation was independently associated with more negative symptoms and smaller social network at entry and 1-year follow-up. Poorer pre-morbid school adaptation was independently associated with poor vocational outcome at 1-year and 2-year follow-up.ConclusionsLonger DUP is associated with poorer 2-year outcome of psychosis in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, when pre-morbid functioning and other prognostic factors are controlled for. Impaired pre-morbid development is independently associated with more negative symptoms and poorer social outcome.
Maximum load carrying capacity of mobile manipulators: optimal control approach
Authors: Korayem M. H. , Nikoobin A. , Azimirad V. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYIn this paper, finding the maximum load carrying capacity of mobile manipulators for a given two-end-point task is formulated as an optimal control problem. The solution methods of this problem are broadly classified as indirect and direct. This work is based on the indirect solution which solves the optimization problem explicitly. In fixed-base manipulators, the maximum allowable load is limited mainly by their joint actuator capacity constraints. But when the manipulators are mounted on the mobile bases, the redundancy resolution and nonholonomic constraints are added to the problem. The concept of holonomic and nonholonomic constraints is described, and the extended Jacobian matrix and additional kinematic constraints are used to solve the extra DOFs of the system. Using the Pontryagin's minimum principle, optimality conditions for carrying the maximum payload in point-to-point motion are obtained which leads to the bang-bang control. There are some difficulties in satisfying the obtained optimality conditions, so an approach is presented to improve the formulation which leads to the two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP) solvable with available commands in different softwares. Then, an algorithm is developed to find the maximum payload and corresponding optimal path on the basis of the solution of TPBVP. One advantage of the proposed method is obtaining the maximum payload trajectory for every considered objective function. It means that other objectives can be achieved in addition to maximize the payload. For the sake of comparison with previous results in the literature, simulation tests are performed for a two-link wheeled mobile manipulator. The reasonable agreement is observed between the results, and the superiority of the method is illustrated. Then, simulations are performed for a PUMA arm mounted on a linear tracked base and the results are discussed. Finally, the effect of final time on the maximum payload is investigated, and it is shown that the approach presented is also able to solve the time-optimal control problem successfully.
Homotopy limits for 2-categories
Authors: GAMBINO NICOLA 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe study homotopy limits for 2-categories using the theory of Quillen model categories. In order to do so, we establish the existence of projective and injective model structures on diagram 2-categories. Using these results, we describe the homotopical behaviour not only of conical limits but also of weighted limits. Finally, pseudo-limits are related to homotopy limits.
Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in adult and developing mouse retinas
Authors: LI BAOQIN , McKERNAN KELLI , SHEN WEN 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC) is a Cl− uptake transporter that is responsible for maintaining a Cl− equilibrium potential positive to the resting potential in neurons. If NKCC is active, GABA and glycine can depolarize neurons. In view of the abundance of GABAergic and glycinergic synapses in retina, we undertook a series of studies using immunocytochemical techniques to determine the distribution of NKCC in retinas of both developing and adult mice. We found NKCC antibody (T4) labeling present in retinas from wild-type mice, but not in NKCC1-deficient mice, suggesting that the NKCC1 subtype is a major Cl− uptake transporter in mouse retina. Strong labeling of NKCC1 was present in horizontal cells and rod-bipolar dendrites in adult mice. Interestingly, we also found that a diffuse labeling pattern was present in photoreceptor terminals. However, NKCC1 was barely detectable in the inner retina of adult mice. Using an antibody against K-Cl cotransporter 2 (KCC2), we found that KCC2, a transporter that extrudes Cl−, was primarily expressed in the inner retina. The expression of NKCC1 in developing mouse retinas was studied from postnatal day (P) 1 to P21, NKCC1 labeling first appeared in the dendrites of horizontal and rod-bipolar cells as early as P7, followed by photoreceptor terminals between P10-P14; with expression gradually increasing concomitantly with the growth of synaptic terminals and dendrites throughout retinal development. In the inner retina, NKCC1 labeling was initially observed in the inner plexiform layer at P1, but labeling diminished after P5. The developmental increase in NKCC expression only occurred in the outer retina. Our results suggest that the distal synapses and synaptogenesis in mouse retinas undergo a unique process with a high intracellular Cl− presence due to NKCC1 expression.
Comments on the role of oceanic biota as a sink for anthropogenic CO2 emissions
Authors: Smith S. V. , Mackenzie F. T. 
Published: April 2008

In a letter published in Issues in Science and Technology, Revelle [1990] comments that one of the principal sinks for atmospheric carbon is probably phytoplankton production in the ocean. Revellegoes on to state (p. 21‐22).This process (that of phytoplankton growth and death, followed by settling of organic carbon out of the surface ocean to depth; the so‐called “biological pump”) could account for the sequestration of at least a billion tons of carbon of the total of five billion or six billion produced annually by fossil fuel consumption and biological activity.
Comparisons of Audio and Audiovisual Measures of Stuttering Frequency and Severity in Preschool-Age Children
Authors: Rousseau Isabelle , Onslow Mark , Packman Ann , Jones Mark 
Published: April 2008

Purpose
To determine whether measures of stuttering frequency and measures of overall stuttering severity in preschoolers differ when made from audio-only recordings compared with audiovisual recordings.

Method
Four blinded speech-language pathologists who had extensive experience with preschoolers who stutter measured stuttering frequency and rated overall severity from audio-only and audiovisual recordings of 36 preschool children who were stuttering. Stuttering frequency (percentage of syllables stuttered [%SS]) was based on counts of perceptually unambiguous stutterings, made in real time, and overall severity was measured using a 9-point rating scale.

Results
Stuttering frequency was statistically significantly lower by around 20% when made from audio-only recordings. This was found to be directly attributable to differences in the counts of stuttered syllables, rather than to differences in the total numbers of syllables spoken. No significant differences were found between recording modalities for the ratings of overall severity. Correlations between %SS scores in the 2 modalities and severity rating scores in the 2 modalities were high, indicating that observers agreed on data trends across speech samples.

Conclusions
Measures of %SS made from audio-only recordings may underestimate stuttering frequency in preschoolers. Although audio-only %SS measures may underestimate stuttering frequency at the start of a clinical trial to a clinically significant extent, posttreatment scores at or below 1.0%SS are likely to underestimate by 0.2%SS or less, which is clinically insignificant.
Cytoscape ESP: simple search of complex biological networks
Authors: Ashkenazi Maital , Bader Gary D. , Kuchinsky Allan , Moshelion Menachem , States David J. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Summary: Cytoscape enhanced search plugin (ESP) enables searching complex biological networks on multiple attribute fields using logical operators and wildcards. Queries use an intuitive syntax and simple search line interface. ESP is implemented as a Cytoscape plugin and complements existing search functions in the Cytoscape network visualization and analysis software, allowing users to easily identify nodes, edges and subgraphs of interest, even for very large networks.
Availabiity: http://chianti.ucsd.edu/cyto_web/plugins/
Contact: ashkenaz@agri.huji.ac.il
Activation of Toll‐like receptor 2 by a novel preparation of cell wall skeleton from Mycobacterium bovis BCG Tokyo (SMP‐105) sufficiently enhances immune responses against tumors
Authors: Murata Masashi 
Published: April 2008

The cell wall skeleton of Mycobacterium bovis BCG has been investigated as an immunopotentiating adjuvant for immuno‐therapy of malignant tumors via Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4. However, due to its high molecular weight, highly complicated lipoglycan structure, and complicated purification and isolation procedure, its exact structure–activity relationship has not been well established. We have newly isolated the cell wall skeleton from M. bovis BCG Tokyo (SMP‐105) and examined the binding of SMP‐105 with TLR. It was revealed that highly purified SMP‐105 activates the nuclear factor‐kB promoter in a TLR2‐dependent manner, not a TLR4‐dependent manner, using a reporter gene assay system. Peritoneal exudated cells of TLR2 and MyD88 knockout mice severely reduced the induction of tumor necrosis factor‐a and interleukin‐6 in the presence of SMP‐105, whereas cells from TLR4 knockout mice produced similar levels of cytokines to wild‐type mice. Dendritic cells and macrophages accumulated in the draining lymph nodes of treated mice. When mice were administered both SMP‐105 and mitomycin C‐inactivated Lewis lung carcinoma cells simultaneously, interferon‐g‐producing cells reacting to the tumor were increased distinctly in draining lymph nodes. When C57BL/6 mice, into which splenocytes from OT‐I transgenic mice had been transferred, were administered with both SMP‐105 and E.G7‐OVA, OVA‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) increased markedly. Mice treated with SMP‐105 and inactivated Lewis lung carcinoma cells suppressed the growth of implanted tumors. These results suggest that the activation of TLR2 by SMP‐105 sufficiently enhanced immune responses, such as the number of interferon‐g‐producing cells and CTL, and prevented the growth of tumors without the contribution of TLR4. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1435–1440)
Tumor blood flow interruption after radiotherapy strongly inhibits tumor regrowth
Authors: Hori Katsuyoshi , Furumoto Shozo , Kubota Kazuo 
Published: April 2008

To clarify the therapeutic significance of interrupting tumor blood flow after irradiation, we investigated X‐irradiation‐induced changes in hemodynamic parameters (blood flow, extravasation and washout of fluorescein isothiocyanate‐dextran, and interstitial fluid pressure) in a variant of Yoshida sarcoma, LY80. Tumors in anesthetized male Donryu rats received local irradiation (10 Gy). At 48 h after irradiation, tumor blood flow increased significantly; at 72–96 h after irradiation, a 2–2.5‐fold increase was observed. All parameters then consistently showed improved tumor microcirculation, which probably contributed to regrowth of cancer because certain cells survived irradiation. Rats received an intravenous dose (10 mg/kg) of a combretastatin derivative, AC7700 (AVE8062), which interrupts tumor blood flow and disrupts tumor vessels. At all times evaluated after irradiation, AC7700 completely stopped tumor blood flow. Radiotherapy efficacy was significantly enhanced when combined with AC7700: AC7700 given 48 h after irradiation, when tumor blood flow increased significantly, remarkably suppressed tumor regrowth compared with AC7700 given 48 h before irradiation. Also, postirradiation AC7700 completely inhibited not only primary tumor regrowth but also regional lymph node metastases in half of tumor‐bearing rats and led to a significant improvement in survival. These results strongly suggest that the combination effect was enhanced via interruption of increased tumor blood flow after irradiation. This therapeutic combination and timing may have important benefits, even in tumors with low sensitivity to either treatment alone, because the effect was considerably greater than additive. Our data thus show that destruction of tumor microcirculation after irradiation is quite effective for preventing cancer recurrence. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1485–1491)
MEK inhibition induces caspases activation, differentiation blockade and PML/RARα degradation in acute promyelocytic leukaemia
Authors: Barbarroja Nuria , Siendones Emilio , Torres Luis Arístides , Luque Mª Jose , Martinez Julio Manuel , Dorado Gabriel , Velasco Francisco , Torres Antonio , López‐Pedrera Chary 
Published: April 2008

SummaryThe hallmark of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is the reciprocal translocation t(15;17), which leads to the expression of the promyelocytic leukaemia/retinoic acid receptor α (PML/RARα) fusion protein and a cell differentiation blockade at the promyelocytic stage. PML/RARα is directly targeted by all‐trans‐retinoic acid (ATRA), which degrades the oncoprotein and induces complete remission of malignancies. The aberrant function of PML/RARα, together with the constitutive activation of the mitogen‐activated protein/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) signalling pathway, regulates the ability of haematopoietic cells to proliferate, differentiate, and escape from apoptotic episodes. The role of the MEK/ERK pathway in PML/RARα expression, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis in APL cells was analysed using specific MEK inhibitors. The blockade of MEK/ERK pathway resulted in caspase‐dependent degradation of PML/RARα, and attenuation of the cell differentiation induction. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show that PML/RARα was suppressed by MEK/ERK inhibition, through a mechanism dependent on caspase activation. ATRA co‐operated with MEK inhibitor to increase degradation of PML/RARα and exhibited a convergence point in caspase activation with MEK inhibitors. Taken together, our data suggest a new role of MEK/ERK pathway in the pathogenesis of APL, thus supporting the use of MEK/ERK inhibitors as an efficient therapeutic strategy for this haematological malignancy.
The description of sorption curves
Authors: Barrow N. J. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryIn this paper I discuss sorption curves: choosing them, fitting them, and interpreting them. The Langmuir equation is not appropriate for reaction of ions with soil. Despite some disadvantages, the Freundlich equation is the best simple equation. Fitting sorption equations causes statistical difficulties because sorption is usually calculated from the change in concentration. The two variables are therefore not independent. If this is ignored, the errors in the coefficients of the fitted curves will be small, but there will be larger errors in the measures of goodness of fit and tests of significance will not be valid. If mild but nevertheless adequate mixing of soil and solution are chosen, sorption and desorption will be the opposites of each other. We can therefore learn much about the rates of desorption by studying the rates of sorption. If a sink is used to capture desorbed nutrients, the potential rate of desorption will be underestimated, as no sink can instantly and completely remove all the nutrients from solution. Especially with phosphate, continuing reaction makes the surface potential more negative. This means that re‐application is made to a soil of smaller buffering capacity. This effect has been insufficiently studied. It influences both the response to further applications, and the ability of soil to store nutrients.
Effects of mineral surface iron on the CPMAS 13C‐NMR spectroscopic detection of organic matter from soil fractions in an agricultural topsoil with different amendments
Authors: Séquaris J.‐M. , Philipp H. , Narres H.‐D. , Vereecken H. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryThe decrease of NMR visibility of the C signal in soil samples due to the association between organic carbon (OC) and the topsoil mineral surface was investigated. CPMAS 13C‐NMR spectra were obtained for soil particle‐size fractions (< 2 μm, 2–20 μm, > 20 μm) and bulk soils from an agricultural topsoil (Chernozem) that had received three different amendments (no fertilization, mineral fertilization (NPK), mineral (NPK) and organic (cattle manure) fertilizations) at Bad Lauchstädt, Germany. The soil organic carbon content of the three soils depended on the degree of soil fertilization. There was no constant relationship between the total NMR signal intensity and the total amount of organic carbon (TOC) for all size fractions. Indeed, a key role played in the C signal intensity by the paramagnetic ferric ion from the clay content in soil fractions and bulk soils was confirmed. Thus, we describe the variations of C signal intensity by taking into account the distribution of clay‐associated OC and non‐associated OC pools. Depending on the amendment, the C signal visibility was weakened by a factor of 2–4 for the clay‐associated OC. This estimation was rendered possible by combining mineral specific surface area (SSA) measurements with the N2 gas adsorption method (BET method) and determination of TOC and iron concentrations. This approach contributes to the quantitative evaluation of the CPMAS 13C‐NMR detection.