bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Digging deep: Exploring college students' knowledge of macroevolutionary time
Authors: Catley Kefyn M. , Novick Laura R. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractSome ability to comprehend deep time is a prerequisite for understanding macroevolution. This study examines students' knowledge of deep time in the context of seven major historical and evolutionary events (e.g., the age of the Earth, the emergence of life, the appearance of a pre‐modern human, Homo habilis). The subjects were 126 students recruited from psychology, education, and biology classes at two universities. They were assigned to stronger and weaker background groups based on their college‐level biology coursework. Subjects provided startlingly large time ranges for all questions, ranging over several orders of magnitude (e.g., from 1,000 to 600 billion years ago for when most dinosaurs became extinct), coupled with the strong tendency to underestimate how long ago the events occurred. Converting absolute time estimates to relative time estimates allowed subjects' knowledge of the spacing of the events to be examined and also provided a clearer picture of their patterns of over and underestimation. The results of this study suggest that many students are without an effective conceptual framework to make sense of very large time frames. Although there were no consistent differences in the accuracy of students' responses as a function of their biology background, the weaker background students showed greater variability, providing more time estimates at both the low and high extremes. We describe a pedagogical strategy that uses a relative approach presenting major evolutionary events as they unfolded in time and advocate a tool from professional practice to depict events in time and space. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 311–332, 2009
Momentum and kinetic energy: Confusable concepts in secondary school physics
Authors: Bryce T.G.K. , MacMillan K. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractResearchers and practitioners alike express concerns about the conceptual difficulties associated with the concepts of momentum and kinetic energy currently taught in school physics. This article presents an in‐depth analysis of the treatment given to them in 44 published textbooks written for UK secondary school certificate courses. This is set against some of the more contentious issues apparent in the literature concerned with the underlying physics and pedagogical arguments about how best to help students understand. The research evolved a set of criteria which were used to scrutinize how texts explain ideas and exemplify their applications. Despite the evident merits of many textbooks, the findings suggest that incomplete explanations are surprisingly prevalent, with several fundamental issues likely to be unclear to student readers, particularly those relating to when and where conservation might apply. Confusion exists between these difficult and somewhat overlapping ideas, arguably through the neglect of constructivist considerations. The commonly emphasized mechanistic, number‐crunching approach to the analysis of simple collision problems is judged to be un‐profitable, underlining the more general point that prevailing, accepted content and pedagogy may be the source of many misunderstandings. Implications are discussed and suggestions made for alternative treatments of these deceptively complex topics. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 739–761, 2009
Developing a Tissue Resource to Characterize the Genome of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Voidonikolas Georgios , Gingras Marie‐Claude , Hodges Sally , McGuire Amy L. , Chen Changyi , Gibbs Richard A. , Brunicardi F. Charles , Fisher William E. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWith recent advances in DNA sequencing technology, medicine is entering an era in which a personalized genomic approach to diagnosis and treatment of disease is feasible. However, discovering the role of altered DNA sequences in various disease states will be a challenging task. The genomic approach offers great promise for diseases, such as pancreatic cancer, in which the effect of current diagnostic and treatment modalities is disappointing. To facilitate the characterization of the genome of pancreatic cancer, high‐quality and well‐annotated tissue repositories are needed. This article summarizes the basic principles that guide the creation of such a repository, including sample processing and preservation techniques, sample size and composition, and collection of clinical data elements.
Brief report: Direct and indirect relations of risk factors with eating behavior problems in late adolescent females
Authors: Mayer Birgit , Muris Peter , Meesters Cor , Zimmermann‐van Beuningen Ritine 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThis study explored correlations between risk factors and eating behavior problems in late adolescent, non‐clinical females (N = 301). Participants completed questionnaires for assessing eating problems, the closely associated factors of Body Mass Index (BMI) and body dissatisfaction, and a number of other risk variables that are thought to be involved in psychopathology in general, namely insecure attachment, low self‐esteem, and negative affect (i.e., social anxiety and depression). Results indicated that high levels of eating problems were associated with high levels of insecure attachment, social anxiety, and depression, and with low levels of self‐esteem. Further, regression analyses suggested that depression and self‐esteem had a unique, direct relationship with eating problems, whereas insecure attachment and social anxiety only seemed to have indirect relations. The links between these general risk variables and eating behavior problems were independent from the specific eating problem correlates of BMI and body dissatisfaction.
Fertility assistance program following the Sichuan earthquake in China
Authors: Qin Lang , Luo Shan , Li Xiaohong , Wang Yan , Li Shangwei 
Published: January 2009

AbstractOn May 12, 2008 an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale hit Wenchuan in Sichuan province, a mountainous region in western China, and rendered many parents childless. Doctors from the Women's Fertility Program of the Second West China Hospital in Sichuan carried out a post earthquake fertility assistance program in the following 3 months. The program included 3 parts: sociomedical fertility health support; psychological counseling and intervention in reproductive health; and an assisted reproductive technology (ART) service. Couples whose children had died or were disabled in the earthquake were entitled to free fertility counseling and ART, if required. Some women are currently pregnant as a result of the program, which has been successful in helping some surviving couples achieve their reproductive desires.
The Discursive Process of Legalization: Charting Islands of Persuasion in the ICC Case
Authors: Deitelhoff Nicole 
Published: January 2009

AbstractFor many political observers the successful creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) came as a surprise, as major powers, in particular the United States, had opposed the plans for the ICC. Moreover, the institutional design of the ICC entails enormous sovereignty costs for states but only uncertain benefits. An analysis of the negotiations suggests that the court's successful creation can be attributed to persuasion and discourse within negotiations, that is, a shift in states' interests. The article develops a theoretical model of institutional change that defines the conditions under which persuasion and discourse can affect collective decision making. In particular, this study attempts to show that if (traditionally) weaker actors alter normative and institutional settings of negotiations they can further the chance of persuasion and discourse.
ON MARKOV-SWITCHING ARMA PROCESSES—STATIONARITY, EXISTENCE OF MOMENTS, AND GEOMETRIC ERGODICITY
Authors: Stelzer Robert 
Published: January 2009

The probabilistic properties of ℝd-valued Markov-switching autoregressive moving average (ARMA) processes with a general state space parameter chain are analyzed. Stationarity and ergodicity conditions are given, and an easy-to-check general sufficient stationarity condition based on a tailor-made norm is introduced. Moreover, it is shown that causality of all individual regimes is neither a necessary nor a sufficient criterion for strict negativity of the associated Lyapunov exponent.Finiteness of moments is also considered and geometric ergodicity and strong mixing are proven. The easily verifiable sufficient stationarity condition is extended to ensure these properties.
A foodborne outbreak ofCryptosporidium hominisinfection
Authors: ETHELBERG S. , LISBY M. , VESTERGAARD L. S. , ENEMARK H. L. , OLSEN K. E. P. , STENSVOLD C. R. , NIELSEN H. V. , PORSBO L. J. , PLESNER A.-M. , MØLBAK K. 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARYFoodborne outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis are uncommon. In Denmark human cases are generally infrequently diagnosed. In 2005 an outbreak of diarrhoea affected company employees near Copenhagen. In all 99 employees were reported ill; 13 were positive forCryptosporidium hominisinfection. Two analytical epidemiological studies were performed; an initial case-control study followed by a cohort study using an electronic questionnaire. Disease was associated with eating from the canteen salad bar on one, possibly two, specific weekdays [relative risk 4·1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·1–8·3]. Three separate salad bar ingredients were found to be likely sources: peeled whole carrots served in a bowl of water, grated carrots, and red peppers (in multivariate analysis, whole carrots: OR 2·1, 95% CI 1·1–4·0; grated carrots: OR 2·1, 95% CI 1·2–3·9; peppers: OR 3·3, 95% CI 1·7–6·6). We speculate that a person excreting the parasite may have contaminated the salad buffet.
Acquisition and Cross-Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus in European Intensive Care Units
Authors: Bloemendaal Alexander L. A. , Fluit Ad C. , Jansen Wouter M. T. , Vriens Menno R. , Ferry Tristan , Argaud Laurent , Amorim Jose M. , Resende A. C. , Pascual Alvaro , López-Cerero Lorena , Stefani Stefania , Castiglione Giacomo , Evangelopoulou Penelope , Tsiplakou Sophia , Rinkes Inne H. M. Borel , Verhoef Jan 
Published: January 2009

Objective.To study the acquisition and cross-transmission of Staphylococcus aureus in different intensive care units (ICUs).Methods.We performed a multicenter cohort study. Six ICUs in 6 countries participated. During a 3-month period at each ICU, all patients had nasal and perineal swab specimens obtained at ICU admission and during their stay. All S. aureus isolates that were collected were genotyped by spa typing and multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis typing for cross-transmission analysis. A total of 629 patients were admitted to ICUs, and 224 of these patients were found to be colonized with S. aureus at least once during ICU stay (22% were found to be colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]). A total of 316 patients who had test results negative for S. aureus at ICU admission and had at least 1 follow-up swab sample obtained for culture were eligible for acquisition analysis.Results.A total of 45 patients acquired S. aureus during ICU stay (31 acquired methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [MSSA], and 14 acquired MRSA). Several factors that were believed to affect the rate of acquisition of S. aureus were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analyses, including the amount of hand disinfectant used, colonization pressure, number of beds per nurse, antibiotic use, length of stay, and ICU setting (private room versus open ICU treatment). Greater colonization pressure and a greater number of beds per nurse correlated with a higher rate of acquisition for both MSSA and MRSA. The type of ICU setting was related to MRSA acquisition only, and the amount of hand disinfectant used was related to MSSA acquisition only. In 18 (40%) of the cases of S. aureus acquisition, cross-transmission from another patient was possible.Conclusions.Colonization pressure, the number of beds per nurse, and the treatment of all patients in private rooms correlated with the number of S. aureus acquisitions on an ICU. The amount of hand disinfectant used was correlated with the number of cases of MSSA acquisition but not with the number of cases of MRSA acquisition. The number of cases of patient-to-patient cross-transmission was comparable for MSSA and MRSA.
SQUAMOSA Promoter Binding Protein–Like7 Is a Central Regulator for Copper Homeostasis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Yamasaki Hiroaki , Hayashi Makoto , Fukazawa Mitsue , Kobayashi Yoshichika , Shikanai Toshiharu 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Expression of miR398 is induced in response to copper deficiency and is involved in the degradation of mRNAs encoding copper/zinc superoxide dismutase in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that SPL7 (for SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein–like7) is essential for this response of miR398. SPL7 is homologous to Copper response regulator1, the transcription factor that is required for switching between plastocyanin and cytochrome c 6 in response to copper deficiency in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. SPL7 bound directly to GTAC motifs in the miR398 promoter in vitro, and these motifs were essential and sufficient for the response to copper deficiency in vivo. SPL7 is also required for the expression of multiple microRNAs, miR397, miR408, and miR857, involved in copper homeostasis and of genes encoding several copper transporters and a copper chaperone, indicating its central role in response to copper deficiency. Consistent with this idea, the growth of spl7 plants was severely impaired under low-copper conditions.
A Polypyrimidine Tract Binding Protein, Pumpkin RBP50, Forms the Basis of a Phloem-Mobile Ribonucleoprotein Complex
Authors: Ham Byung-Kook , Brandom Jeri L. , Xoconostle-Cázares Beatriz , Ringgold Vanessa , Lough Tony J. , Lucas William J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractRNA binding proteins (RBPs) are integral components of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes and play a central role in RNA processing. In plants, some RBPs function in a non-cell-autonomous manner. The angiosperm phloem translocation stream contains a unique population of RBPs, but little is known regarding the nature of the proteins and mRNA species that constitute phloem-mobile RNP complexes. Here, we identified and characterized a 50-kD pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima cv Big Max) phloem RNA binding protein (RBP50) that is evolutionarily related to animal polypyrimidine tract binding proteins. In situ hybridization studies indicated a high level of RBP50 transcripts in companion cells, while immunolocalization experiments detected RBP50 in both companion cells and sieve elements. A comparison of the levels of RBP50 present in vascular bundles and phloem sap indicated that this protein is highly enriched in the phloem sap. Heterografting experiments confirmed that RBP50 is translocated from source to sink tissues. Collectively, these findings established that RBP50 functions as a non-cell-autonomous RBP. Protein overlay, coimmunoprecipitation, and cross-linking experiments identified the phloem proteins and mRNA species that constitute RBP50-based RNP complexes. Gel mobility-shift assays demonstrated that specificity, with respect to the bound mRNA, is established by the polypyrimidine tract binding motifs within such transcripts. We present a model for RBP50-based RNP complexes within the pumpkin phloem translocation stream.
MYB58 and MYB63 Are Transcriptional Activators of the Lignin Biosynthetic Pathway during Secondary Cell Wall Formation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhou Jianli , Lee Chanhui , Zhong Ruiqin , Ye Zheng-Hua 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
It has previously been shown that SECONDARY WALL–ASSOCIATED NAC DOMAIN PROTEIN1 (SND1) is a key transcription factor regulating secondary cell wall formation, including the biosynthesis of cellulose, xylan, and lignin. In this study, we show that two closely related SND1-regulated MYB transcription factors, MYB58 and MYB63, are transcriptional regulators specifically activating lignin biosynthetic genes during secondary wall formation in Arabidopsis thaliana. MYB58 and MYB63 are phylogenetically distinct from previously characterized MYBs shown to be associated with secondary wall formation or phenylpropanoid metabolism. Expression studies showed that MYB58 and MYB63 are specifically expressed in fibers and vessels undergoing secondary wall thickening. Dominant repression of their functions led to a reduction in secondary wall thickening and lignin content. Overexpression of MYB58 and MYB63 resulted in specific activation of lignin biosynthetic genes and concomitant ectopic deposition of lignin in cells that are normally unlignified. MYB58 was able to activate directly the expression of lignin biosynthetic genes and a secondary wall–associated laccase (LAC4) gene. Furthermore, the expression of MYB58 and MYB63 was shown to be regulated by the SND1 close homologs NST1, NST2, VND6, and VND7 and their downstream target MYB46. Together, our results indicate that MYB58 and MYB63 are specific transcriptional activators of lignin biosynthesis in the SND1-mediated transcriptional network regulating secondary wall formation.
Glucocorticoid resistance in a multiple myeloma cell line is regulated by a transcription elongation block in the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1)
Authors: Sánchez‐Vega Beatriz , Gandhi Varsha 
Published: January 2009

SummaryGlucocorticoid (GC) effects are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Several studies have demonstrated that a lower number of receptors per cell were associated with poor GC response. The regulation of GR expression is complex; the levels of GR can be autologously regulated by its ligand and also by transcriptional, post‐transcriptional and post‐translational mechanisms. Using three human myeloma cell lines that parallel the development of GC resistance, this work describes the mechanism involved in the downregulation of GR expression. The decreased expression was neither due to mutations in the gene encoding GR, NR3C1, nor due to methylation of the promoters. A gradual decrease in NR3C1 transcripts was seen during the development of resistance, the level of expression of exon 1 to 2 RNA fragments remained the same in sensitive and resistant cell lines but a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that RNA polymerase II, detectable throughout exon 2 to 3 in the sensitive cells, was undetectable on exon 3 in the resistant variant, suggesting lower or no transcription at this site. These studies demonstrated that downregulation of NR3C1 mRNA in a resistant cell line involves a block to transcriptional elongation within intron B of NR3C1. This block may represent an important element in the regulation of GR expression.
The protein C ω‐loop substitution Asn2Ile is associated with reduced protein C anticoagulant activity
Authors: Preston Roger J. S. , Morse Colin , Murden Sherina L. , Brady Sara Kate , O’Donnell James S. , Mumford Andrew D. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryWe report a kindred with heritable protein C (PC) deficiency in which two siblings with severe thrombosis showed a composite type I and IIb PC deficiency phenotype, identified using commercial PC assays (proband: PC antigen 42 u/dl, amidolytic activity 40 u/dl, anticoagulant activity 9 u/dl). The independent PROC nucleotide variations c.669C>A (predictive of Ser181Arg) and c.131C>T (predictive of Asn2Ile) segregated with the type I and type IIb PC deficiency phenotypes respectively, but co‐segregated in the siblings with severe thrombosis. Soluble thrombomodulin (sTM)‐mediated inhibition of plasma thrombin generation from an individual with PC‐Asn2Ile was lower (endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) 56 ± 1% that of ETP determined without sTM) than control plasma (ETP 15 ± 2%) indicating reduced PC anticoagulant activity. Recombinant APC‐Asn2Ile exhibited normal amidolytic activity but impaired anticoagulant activity. Protein S (PS)‐dependent anticoagulant activity of recombinant APC‐Asn2Ile and binding of recombinant APC‐Asn2Ile to endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) were reduced compared to recombinant wild‐type APC. Asn2 lies within the ω‐loop of the PC/APC Gla domain and this region is critical for calcium‐induced folding and subsequent interactions with anionic phospholipids, EPCR and PS. The disruption of these interactions in this naturally‐occurring PC variant highlights their collective importance in mediating APC anticoagulant activity in vivo.
Effect of some thermal and chemical pre‐treatments on smoked oyster mushroom quality
Authors: Eissa Hesham A. , Fouad Gamal M. , Shouk Abd Elhafeeze A. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe effect of different thermal and chemical pre‐treatments on quality and enzyme activities of smoked mushroom was investigated. Mushrooms were blanched (water and steam) and dipped in different concentrations of SO2, H2O2, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid for 10 min before smoking. Enzyme activities, colour characteristics, microbiological and sensory examinations were carried out every 2 weeks up to 8 weeks of storage at 4 °C. Smoked mushroom pre‐treated with sulphites (SO2), H2O2 and steam blanching had the best colour values, better scores for all sensory characteristics and lower non‐enzymatic browning compared with the other pre‐treatments. Pre‐treatment against total aerobic bacteria, yeast and moulds was the most effective when using citric acid, EDTA and steam, followed by smoking of mushroom. The most effective pre‐treatments on quality and safety of smoked mushrooms were those using H2O2 and steam. It can be concluded that thermal and chemical treatments followed by smoking of mushroom reduce enzyme activities and are suitable for preserving mushrooms.
Survival of acid‐adapted or non‐adapted Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7, in traditional Greek salads
Authors: Tassou Chrysoula C. , Samaras Fotis J. , Arkoudelos John S. , Mallidis Constantinos G. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe fate of three pathogens Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 that were inoculated in fish roe salad and aubergine salad with or without preservatives after being adapted in acid environment or not, was determined. The salads were stored at 10 °C and the pathogens population was counted at regular intervals. Parameters (lag time, death rates calculated with Baranyi equation) were used to compare the behaviour of the pathogens. In the absence of preservatives the pathogens survived during the 15 days of storage. A 1 log reduction was observed for Listeria and 2 logs reduction for Salmonella and E. coli in both salads. In most cases, acid adaptation decreased the death rate even in the presence of preservatives. The addition of sorbic and benzoic acid in the salads increased the death rate of the pathogens during storage significantly and they were not detected at 7–10 days for Salmonella, 8–12 days for Listeria and 5 days for E. coli. It is concluded that a well‐studied combination of hurdles is appropriate to ensure safety of home‐made traditional salads free of preservatives.