bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two cases of pyodermatitis‐pyostomatitis vegetans
Authors: KO Hyun‐Chang , JUNG Do‐Sang , JWA Seung‐Wook , CHO Hyun‐Ho , KIM Byung‐Soo , KWON Kyung‐Sool , KIM Moon‐Bum
Published: April 2009

Pyodermatitis‐pyostomatitis vegetans (PPV) is a rare chronic pustular and vegetating mucocutaneous dermatosis. The oral lesions present as multiple, friable and yellowish pustules, which form “snail tracts” and rupture easily. The cutaneous lesions begin as crusted erythematous papulopustules that coalesce to form large vegetating plaques, usually in the axillae, genital area and scalp. Cutaneous lesions usually develop at the same time as the oral lesions or thereafter. PPV is usually considered as a specific marker for inflammatory bowel disease since the concurrence of PPV and inflammatory bowel disease has been reported in approximately 70% of cases. We report two patients who showed typical clinical and histopathological features of PPV, but were not accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease.
Necrotizing fasciitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: YAMASHIRO Etsuko , ASATO Yutaka , TAIRA Kiyohito , AWAZAWA Ryoko , YAMAMOTO Yu‐ichi , HAGIWARA Keisuke , TAMAKI Hajime , UEZATO Hiroshi
Published: April 2009

A 69‐year‐old woman presented with shivering and pain in the lower extremities on 5 April 2006; she was referred to the dermatology division of our hospital on the following day with difficulty in walking. She had been suffering from non‐viral, non‐alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and was being treated by the Division of Internal Medicine. Physical examination showed edema in the lower extremities and light purpuras on the groin and legs. Low blood pressure had been observed since admission. Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) was suspected on the basis of the skin symptoms, systemic conditions, and magnetic resonance imaging. During surgical debridement under general anesthesia, cardiopulmonary arrest occurred, and the patient died 12 h after admission. NF, in its early stages, exhibits few skin changes. In order to differentiate it from other skin infections, it is necessary to take into account blood pressure, abnormal systemic conditions, and severe pain out of proportion to its minor skin changes. In the present case, Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected by blood culture. Soft tissue infectious diseases caused by S. pneumoniae, especially NF, are very rare. We have reviewed reported cases of NF caused by S. pneumoniae.
Endogenous tenascin‐C enhances glioblastoma invasion with reactive change of surrounding brain tissue
Authors: Hirata Eishu , Arakawa Yoshiki , Shirahata Mitsuaki , Yamaguchi Makoto , Kishi Yo , Okada Takashi , Takahashi Jun A. , Matsuda Michiyuki , Hashimoto Nobuo
Published: April 2009

Tenascin‐C is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein implicated in embryogenesis, wound healing and tumor progression. We previously revealed that tenascin‐C expression is correlated with the prognosis of patients with glioblastoma. However, the exact role of endogenous tenascin‐C in regulation of glioblastoma proliferation and invasion remains to be established. We show here that endogenous tenascin‐C facilitates glioblastoma invasion, followed by reactive change of the surrounding brain tissue. Although shRNA‐mediated knockdown of endogenous tenascin‐C does not affect proliferation of glioblastoma cells, it abolishes cell migration on a two‐dimensional substrate and tumor invasion with brain tissue changes in a xenograft model. The tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that associates with integrins, was decreased in tenascin‐C‐knockdown cells. In the analysis of clinical samples, tenascin‐C expression correlates with the volume of peritumoral reactive change detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Interestingly, glioblastoma cells with high tenascin‐C expression infiltrate brain tissue in an autocrine manner. Our results suggest that endogenous tenascin‐C contributes the invasive nature of glioblastoma and the compositional change of brain tissue, which renders tenascin‐C as a prime candidate for anti‐invasion therapy for glioblastoma. (Cancer Sci 2009)
Safety of hookworm infection in individuals with measurable airway responsiveness: a randomized placebo‐controlled feasibility study
Authors: Feary J. , Venn A. , Brown A. , Hooi D. , Falcone F. H. , Mortimer K. , Pritchard D. I. , Britton J.
Published: April 2009

Background
Epidemiological evidence suggests that hookworm infection protects against asthma. However, for ethical and safety reasons, before testing this hypothesis in a clinical trial in asthma it is necessary to establish whether experimental hookworm infection might exacerbate airway responsiveness during larval lung migration.

Objective
To determine whether hookworm larval migration through the lungs increases airway responsiveness in allergic individuals with measurable airway responsiveness but not clinical asthma, and investigate the general tolerability of infection and effect on allergic symptoms.

Methods
Thirty individuals with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and measurable airway responsiveness to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) but not clinically diagnosed asthma were randomized, double‐blind to cutaneous administration of either 10 hookworm larvae or histamine placebo, and followed for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the maximum fall from baseline in provocative dose of inhaled AMP required to reduce 1‐s forced expiratory volume by 10% (PD10AMP) measured at any time over the 4 weeks after active or placebo infection. Secondary outcomes included peak flow variability in the 4 weeks after infection, rhinoconjunctivitis symptom severity and adverse effect diary scores over the 12‐week study period, and change in allergen skin test responses between baseline and 12 weeks.

Results
Mean maximum change in PD10AMP from baseline was slightly but not significantly greater in the hookworm than the placebo group (−1.67 and −1.16 doubling doses; mean difference −0.51, 95% confidence interval −1.80 to 0.78, P=0.42). Symptom scores of potential adverse effects were more commonly reported in the hookworm group, but infection was generally well tolerated. There were no significant differences in peak‐flow variability, rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms or skin test responses between groups.

Conclusion
Hookworm infection did not cause clinically significant exacerbation of airway responsiveness and was well tolerated. Suitably powered trials are now indicated to determine the clinical effectiveness of hookworm infection in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma.
Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor interaction: biological, clinical and therapeutic importance
Authors: TERRAUBE V. , O’DONNELL J. S. , JENKINS P. V.
Published: April 2009

Summary.  The interaction of factor VIII (FVIII) with von Willebrand Factor (VWF) is of direct clinical significance in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with haemophilia A and von Willebrand disease (VWD). A normal haemostatic response to vascular injury requires both FVIII and VWF. It is well‐established that in addition to its role in mediating platelet to platelet and platelet to matrix binding, VWF has a direct role in thrombin and fibrin generation by acting as a carrier molecule for the cofactor FVIII. Recent studies show that the interaction affects not only the biology of both FVIII and VWF, and the pathology of haemophilia and VWD, but also presents opportunities in the treatment of haemophilia. This review details the mechanisms and the molecular determinants of FVIII interaction with VWF, and the role of FVIII–VWF interaction in modulating FVIII interactions with other proteases, cell types and cellular receptors. The effect of defective interaction of FVIII with VWF as a result of mutations in either protein is discussed.
Pharmacokinetics of 4‐aminopyridine derivatives in dogs
Authors: OLBY N. J. , SMITH D. T. , HUMPHREY J. , SPINAPOLICE K. , PARKE N. , MEHTA P. M. , DISE D. , PAPICH M.
Published: April 2009

Blockade of potassium channels with 4‐aminopryidine (4‐AP) restores conduction to demyelinated axons and improves function. Unfortunately, 4‐AP causes adverse effects and its clinical effects are unpredictable and limited. Derivatives of 4‐AP have been tested in models of spinal cord injury in guinea pigs; three derivatives (methyl‐, ethyl‐ and t‐butyl carbamate derivatives) showed promise. This study investigates the safety and pharmacokinetics of these derivatives in dogs. Each derivative was administered orally to dogs starting at doses below effective doses in guinea pigs, and increasing the dose on sequential days. Routine blood work was performed prior to and 24 h after drug administration, blood samples were collected at intervals over 24 h after drug administration, and dogs were monitored for side effects. Derivative plasma levels were determined using high‐pressure liquid chromatography. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were taken to determine CSF levels. No adverse effects were seen even when using doses higher than those that improved conduction in spinal cord injured guinea pigs. Peak plasma levels occurred at 36.6 (ethyl), 87 (t‐butyl) and 175 (methyl) min and plasma level was related to drug dose. Penetration of the central nervous system (CNS) was good, with CSF levels higher than plasma levels for the t‐butyl derivative.
EHD2 inhibits ligand‐induced endocytosis and signaling of the leucine‐rich repeat receptor‐like protein LeEix2
Authors: Bar Maya , Avni Adi
Published: April 2009

Plants are constantly being challenged by aspiring pathogens. In order to protect themselves, plants have developed numerous defense mechanisms that are either specific or non‐specific to the pathogen. Pattern recognition receptors can trigger plant defense responses in response to specific ligands or patterns. EIX (ethylene‐inducing xylanase) triggers a defense response via the LeEix2 receptor, while bacterial flagellin triggers plant innate immunity via the FLS2 receptor. Endocytosis has been suggested to be crucial for the process in both cases. Here we show that the EIX elicitor triggers internalization of the LeEix2 receptor. Treatment with endocytosis, actin or microtubule inhibitors greatly reduced the internalization of LeEix2. Additionally, we demonstrate that plant EHD2 binds to LeEix2 and is an important factor in its internalization and in regulation of the induction of defense responses such as the hypersensitive response, ethylene biosynthesis and induction of pathogenesis‐related protein expression in the case of EIX/LeEix2 (an LRR receptor lacking a kinase domain), but does not appear to be involved in the FLS2 system (an LRR receptor possessing a kinase domain). Our results suggest that various endocytosis pathways are involved in the induction of plant defense responses.
Is dengue a threat to the blood supply?
Authors: Teo D. , Ng L. C. , Lam S.
Published: April 2009

summary Dengue is the most common arthropod‐borne infection worldwide, affecting at least 50 million people every year and endemic in more than 100 countries. The dengue virus is a single‐stranded RNA virus with four major serotypes. Infection with one serotype confers homotypic immunity but not heterologous immunity, and secondary infection with another serotype may lead to more severe disease. The major route of transmission occurs through the Aedes aegypti mosquito vector, but dengue has also been transmitted through blood transfusion and organ transplantation. Infection results in a spectrum of clinical illness ranging from asymptomatic infection, undifferentiated fever, dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) to dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Dengue is spreading rapidly to new areas and with increasing frequency of major outbreaks. A trend has also been observed towards increasing age among infected patients. This will impact blood supply availability as more blood donors are deferred because of dengue infection or exposure to infection. The risk of transmission through transfusion of blood from asymptomatic viraemic donors will also increase. Although screening tests for dengue and effective pathogen reduction processes are now available for the blood supply, the value of implementing these costly measures needs to be carefully considered. Demand for platelets and fresh frozen plasma will rise with increasing number of DHF/DSS. Evidence‐based guidelines for the clinical use of these blood components in the management of patients with DHF/DSS have not been well established, and inappropriate use will contribute to the challenges faced by blood services.
The poorest of the poor: a poverty appraisal of households affected by visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar, India
Authors: Boelaert M. , Meheus F. , Sanchez A. , Singh S. P. , Vanlerberghe V. , Picado A. , Meessen B. , Sundar S.
Published: April 2009

Objective  To provide data about wealth distribution in visceral leishmanisis (VL)‐affected communities compared to that of the general population of Bihar State, India.

Methods  After extensive disease risk mapping, 16 clusters with high VL transmission were selected in Bihar. An exhaustive census of all households in the clusters was conducted and socio‐economic household characteristics were documented by questionnaire. Data on the general Bihar population taken from the National Family Health Survey of India were used for comparison. An asset index was developed based on Principal Components Analysis and the distribution of this asset index for the VL communities was compared with that of the general population of Bihar.

Results  83% of households in communities with high VL attack rates belonged to the two lowest quintiles of the Bihar wealth distribution. All socio‐economic indicators showed significantly lower wealth for those households.

Conclusion  Visceral leishmanisis clearly affects the poorest of the poor in India. They are most vulnerable, as this vector‐born disease is linked to poor housing and unhealthy habitats. The disease leads the affected households to more destitution because of its impact on household income and wealth. Support for the present VL elimination initiative is important in the fight against poverty.
Orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction in patients with recurring bladder cancer after renal transplantation – a report of two cases and a review of the literature
Authors: Wang Jianwen , Xing Nianzeng , Zhang Xiaodong , Yan Yong , Zhang Junhui , Li Xiaobei , Zhang Weili , Guan Delin
Published: April 2009

Abstract:  Renal transplant recipients have a high risk of developing multiple and invasive urothelial tumors because of long‐term immunosuppression and infections with oncogenic viruses in China. However, treatment of renal transplant recipients who developed invasive bladder tumor is challenging. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction following radical cystectomy in renal transplant recipients. Orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction and preservation of the transplanted kidney were performed in two patients after one and 36 months of transplantation, respectively. One recipient was lacking a bladder because of prior cystectomy before the transplantation, and the other developed multiple and invasive bladder cancer after the transplantation. During the 14‐month and seven‐yr follow‐up postoperation, no serious complications occurred except slight hydronephrosis in one patient. No rejection and graft dysfunction occurred in both patients with reduced dosage of immunosuppressants, and serum creatinine as a marker of renal function remained stable. Urinary continence was satisfactory during the day and night with voluntary voiding. Our experience showed that radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder reconstruction in transplant patients with stable renal function is a safe and effective way to provide better quality of life, satisfactory urinary diversion and preservation of renal function simultaneously.
Record of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lep, Pyralidae) in inland South Africa and its genetic relationship with the coastal population
Authors: Assefa Y. , Van den Berg J. , Mitchell A. , Le Rü B. P. , Conlong D. E.
Published: April 2009

Surveys to investigate the distribution and abundance of stem borers in natural habitats were conducted in February 2006 and January–February 2007. The surveys included eastern, northern and central parts of South Africa as well as three localities in Lesotho. During the surveys, Eldana saccharina Walker was recovered from three new localities in inland South Africa and two new indigenous hosts, Phragmites australis Cav. and Panicum maximum Jacq. from Boskop in the North‐West Province and Oribi Gorge in KwaZulu‐Natal respectively. Populations of E. saccharina in different parts of Africa are known for their differences in larval feeding behaviours, host plant choice and natural enemies. It is important to understand the origin of the newly recovered population for prevention of incursion and efficient management in case it invades crops. Molecular analysis indicated that the populations recovered in these new locations and from the new host plants are part of the southern African population of E. saccharina. With change in climate, and disturbance in wetlands the insect is expected in the future to be more abundant and problematic in inland areas of southern Africa.
Effects of food and temperature on development, fecundity and life‐table parameters of Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Jalali M. A. , Tirry L. , De Clercq P.
Published: April 2009

Development, reproduction and life tables of Adalia bipunctata (L.) were studied at three temperatures (19, 23 and 27°C) on a mixture of frozen pollen and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs as a factitious food and on the aphids Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) as natural foods. Development time of A. bipunctata on all tested diets decreased with increasing temperature. Mortality was lowest at 23°C, averaging 44.5%, 42.6% and 24.3% on factitious food, A. pisum and M. persicae respectively. The shortest developmental time from egg to adult at this temperature was observed on factitious food (18.55 days). However, the factitious food was inferior to the aphid diets in terms of reproduction, yielding the longest pre‐oviposition period, shortest oviposition period and lowest fecundity. The mean oviposition rate at 23°C varied from 19.94 to 25.03 eggs day−1 on factitious food and M. persicae respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) on different foods increased with increasing temperature and ranged from a minimum of 0.08 females/female/day on factitious food (19°C) to a maximum of 0.18 females/female/day on A. pisum (27°C). The results suggest that a mixture of E. kuehniella eggs and pollen fully support development of A. bipunctata larvae and can be used as an alternative to live aphids in the mass rearing of the pre‐imaginal stages of the predator. However, reproductive performance of a laboratory population may be better on aphids than on the factitious food.
Susceptibility of different life stages of the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi, to entomopathogenic fungi
Authors: Daniel C. , Wyss E.
Published: April 2009

The effects of six fungus isolates on the mortality of different life stages of the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae), were assessed in a series of laboratory experiments to find an isolate suitable for biological control. In a first step, the effects of fungus treatments on mortality, mycosis and fecundity of adult flies at a concentration of 107 conidia/ml were evaluated. All fungus isolates caused mycosis but virulence varied considerably among the isolates. Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea caused 90–100% mortality and had the strongest influence on fecundity. Metarhizium anisopliae also induced high rates of mortality, while the pathogenicity of Isaria farinosa was low. The effects of lower conidia concentrations and the influence of the age of flies were assessed in a second step. Higher conidia concentrations generally resulted in a higher mortality. B. bassiana was most efficient at low concentrations. Young flies showed lower mortality rates than older flies but, sub‐lethal effects on eclosion rate of eggs were greater in younger flies. Finally, the effects on L3 larvae were tested: none of the fungus isolates induced mortality in more than 25% of larvae. As L3 larvae and pupae are not susceptible to fungus infection, field control of R. cerasi should be focused on adult flies.
Tuning the excitability of midbrain dopamine neurons by modulating the Ca2+ sensitivity of SK channels
Authors: Ji Huifang , Hougaard Charlotte , Herrik Kjartan Frisch , Strøbæk Dorte , Christophersen Palle , Shepard Paul D.
Published: April 2009

Small conductance Ca2+ ‐activated K+ (SK) channels play a prominent role in modulating the spontaneous activity of dopamine (DA) neurons as well as their response to synaptically‐released glutamate. SK channel gating is dependent on Ca2+ binding to constitutively bound calmodulin, which itself is subject to endogenous and exogenous modulation. In the present study, patch‐clamp recording techniques were used to examine the relationship between the apparent Ca2+ affinity of cloned SK3 channels expressed in cultured human embryonic kidney 293 cells and the excitability of DA neurons in slices from rat substantia nigra using the positive and negative SK channel modulators, 6,7‐dichloro‐1H‐indole‐2,3‐dione‐3‐oxime and R‐N‐(benzimidazol‐2‐yl)‐1,2,3,4‐tetrohydro‐1‐naphtylamine. Increasing the apparent Ca2+ affinity of SK channels decreased the responsiveness of DA neurons to depolarizing current pulses, enhanced spike frequency adaptation and slowed spontaneous firing, effects attributable to an increase in the amplitude and duration of an apamin‐sensitive afterhyperpolarization. In contrast, decreasing the apparent Ca2+ affinity of SK channels enhanced DA neuronal excitability and changed the firing pattern from a pacemaker to an irregular or bursting discharge. Both the reduction in apparent Ca2+ affinity and the bursting associated with negative SK channel modulation were gradually surmounted by co‐application of the positive SK channel modulator. These results underscore the importance of SK channels in ‘tuning’ the excitability of DA neurons and demonstrate that gating modulation, in a manner analogous to physiological regulation of SK channels in vivo, represents a means of altering the response of DA neurons to membrane depolarization.
CLUSTERING VERY LARGE DATA SETS USING A LOW MEMORY MATRIX FACTORED REPRESENTATION
Authors: Littau David , Boley Daniel
Published: April 2009

A scalable method to cluster data sets too large to fit in memory is presented. This method does not depend on random subsampling, but does scan every individual data sample in a deterministic way. The original data are represented in factored form by the product of two matrices, one or both of which is very sparse. This factored form avoids the need to multiply together these two matrices by using a variant of the Principal Direction Divisive Partitioning (PDDP) algorithm which does not depend on computing the distances between the individual samples. The resulting clustering algorithm is Piecemeal PDDP (PMPDDP), in which the original data are broken up into sections which will fit into memory and clustered. The cluster centers are used to create approximations to the original data items, and each original data item is represented by a linear combination of these centers. We evaluate the performance of PMPDDP on three real data sets, and observe that the quality of the clusters of PMPDDP is comparable to PDDP for the data sets examined.
ADAPTIVE MULTI‐OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION BASED ON NONDOMINATED SOLUTIONS
Authors: Yang Dongdong , Jiao Licheng , Gong Maoguo
Published: April 2009

An adaptive hybrid model (AHM) based on nondominated solutions is presented in this study for multi‐objective optimization problems (MOPs). In this model, three search phases are devised according to the number of nondominated solutions in the current population: 1) emphasizing the dominated solutions when the population contains very few nondominated solutions; 2) maintaining the balance between nondominated and dominated solutions when nondominated ones become more; 3) when the population consists of adequate nondominated solutions, dominated ones could be ignored and the isolated nondominated ones are allocated more computational budget by their crowding distance values for heuristic search. To exploit local information efficiently, a local incremental search algorithm, LISA, is proposed and merged into the model. This model maintains the adaptive mechanism between the optimization process by the online discovered nondominated solutions. The proposed model is validated using five ZDT and five DTLZ problems. Compared with three other state‐of‐the‐art multi‐objective algorithms, namely NSGA‐II, SPEA2, and PESA‐II, AHM achieves comparable results in terms of convergence and diversity metrics. Finally, the sensitivity of introduced parameters and scalability to the number of objectives are investigated.
COMMUNICATION LANGUAGES FOR MULTIAGENT SYSTEMS
Authors: Verdicchio Mario , Colombetti Marco
Published: April 2009

Agent Communication Languages (ACLs) have recently acquired a primary role in open multiagent systems, which need a standard communication framework shared by all interacting heterogeneous agents. According to the most important ACL standard proposals so far, agents are supposed to carry out the communication process by performing actions of a specific type, namely, communicative acts, whose semantics is defined in terms of the agents' mental states. Although following the mainstream guidelines inspired by the Speech Act Theory, our work illustrates an alternative model of agent communication, by shifting the focus from agents' mental states to their social state. Taking an existing communicative act library, we provide a semantics for a significant set of acts based on the concept of commitment, and prove that our approach tackles some issues that have not been dealt with in an effective way yet and that may have hindered the rise of an universally accepted ACL standard.
Local Linear M‐estimation in non‐parametric spatial regression
Authors: Lin Zhengyan , Li Degui , Gao Jiti
Published: April 2009

Abstract.  A robust version of local linear regression smoothers augmented with variable bandwidths is investigated for dependent spatial processes. The (uniform) weak consistency as well as asymptotic normality for the local linear M‐estimator (LLME) of the spatial regression function g(x) are established under some mild conditions. Furthermore, an additive model is considered to avoid the curse of dimensionality for spatial processes and an estimation procedure based on combining the marginal integration technique with LLME is applied in this paper. Meanwhile, we present a simulated study to illustrate the proposed estimation method. Our simulation results show that the estimation method works well numerically.
Marginal Effects for Competing Risks Models with Piecewise Constant Hazards*
Authors: Kyyrä Tomi
Published: April 2009

In the competing risks context, the effect of a covariate on the hazard function for a particular cause may be very different from its effect on the likelihood of exiting due to that cause. The latter probability is a function of all cause‐specific hazards, and thereby potentially affected by indirect effects via hazards for competing causes. We consider the effects of covariates on the cumulative probability of exiting from a particular cause. These ‘marginal effects’ are decomposed into direct effects via the hazard of interest and indirect effects via the hazards for competing causes. For the piecewise constant hazard specification we derive simple closed‐form expressions for the marginal effects that can be computed from the standard hazard function estimates. An empirical application illustrates that the marginal effects provide a useful and coherent way of summarizing the results of competing risks analysis.
Monitoring population productivity in the saiga antelope
Authors: Kühl A. , Mysterud A. , Grachev Iu. A. , Bekenov A. B. , Ubushaev B. S. , Lushchekina A. A. , Milner‐Gulland E. J.
Published: April 2009

Effective conservation requires a good understanding of factors causing variation in population growth rate. We here analyse the relationship between female age and fecundity in the saiga antelope Saiga tatarica tatarica, a critically endangered ungulate of the Eurasian steppes and semideserts, at both individual and population levels. Annual variation in age structure and twinning rates was investigated using long‐term datasets, sampling a total of 3308 females in four populations over more than 40 years. Further, a new non‐invasive method is presented, estimating twinning rates from both calves and placentas encountered during calving aggregation transects. At an individual level, the most parsimonious model for twinning rates included three age classes (1, 2 and ≥3 years); however, the model with only two classes (1 and ≥2 years) was competitive and particularly useful for monitoring because these two age classes can reliably be determined by direct observation in the field. Among yearlings, 77.4% were fecund and 11.7% twinned, whereas among older females 94.6% were fecund and 72.6% twinned. At a population level, annual variation in age structure (proportion ≥2 years) correlated well with annual variation in twinning rate except in the north‐west Pre‐Caspian population. Our results suggest that the recent poaching‐driven collapse in saiga numbers has potentially resulted in reductions in fecundity, which will have an impact on population growth rate. Our results highlight the potential for monitoring of twinning rate using non‐invasive calving aggregation transects as a cost‐effective additional tool to population counts for monitoring the status of this critically endangered species. These monitoring methods are also potentially transferable to other ungulate species.
Genetic Admixture in Brazilians Exposed to Infection with Leishmania chagasi
Authors: Ettinger Nicholas A. , Duggal Priya , Braz Regina F. S. , Nascimento Eliana T. , Beaty Terri H. , Jeronimo Selma M. B. , Pearson Richard D. , Blackwell Jenefer M. , Moreno Lina , Wilson Mary E.
Published: April 2009

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in northeast Brazil is a disease caused by infection with the protozoan Leishmania chagasi. Infection leads to variable clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infection to potentially fatal disease. Prior studies suggest the genetic background of the host contributes to the development of different outcomes after infection, although it is not known if ancestral background itself influences outcomes. VL is endemic in peri‐urban areas around the city of Natal in northeast Brazil. The population of northeast Brazil is a mixture of distinct racial and ethnic groups. We hypothesized that some sub‐populations may be more susceptible than others to develop different clinical outcomes after L. chagasi infection. Using microsatellite markers, we examined whether admixture of the population as a whole, or markers likely inherited from a distinct ethnic background, differed between individuals with VL, individuals with an asymptomatic infection, or individuals with no infection. There was no apparent significant difference in overall population admixture proportions among the three clinical phenotype groups. However, one marker on Chr. 22 displayed evidence of excess ancestry from putative ancestral populations among different clinical phenotypes, suggesting this region may contain genes determining the course of L. chagasi infection.
SNP Discovery and Haplotype Analysis in the Segmentally Duplicated DRD5 Coding Region
Authors: Housley Donna J. E. , Nikolas Molly , Venta Patrick J. , Jernigan Kathrine A. , Waldman Irwin D. , Nigg Joel T. , Friderici Karen H.
Published: April 2009

The dopamine receptor 5 gene (DRD5) holds much promise as a candidate locus for contributing to neuropsychiatric disorders and other diseases influenced by the dopaminergic system, as well as having potential to affect normal behavioral variation. However, detailed analyses of this gene have been complicated by its location within a segmentally duplicated chromosomal region. Microsatellites and SNPs upstream from the coding region have been used for association studies, but we find, using bioinformatics resources, that these markers all lie within a previously unrecognized second segmental duplication (SD). In order to accurately analyze the DRD5 locus for polymorphisms in the absence of contaminating pseudogene sequences, we developed a fast and reliable method for sequence analysis and genotyping within the DRD5 coding region. We employed restriction enzyme digestion of genomic DNA to eliminate the pseudogenes prior to PCR amplification of the functional gene. This approach allowed us to determine the DRD5 haplotype structure using 31 trios and to reveal additional rare variants in 171 unrelated individuals. We clarify the inconsistencies and errors of the recorded SNPs in dbSNP and HapMap and illustrate the importance of using caution when choosing SNPs in regions of suspected duplications. The simple and relatively inexpensive method presented herein allows for convenient analysis of sequence variation in DRD5 and can be easily adapted to other duplicated genomic regions in order to obtain good quality sequence data.
A new scenario for the evolutionary origin of hair, feather, and avian scales
Authors: Dhouailly Danielle
Published: April 2009

In zoology it is well known that birds are characterized by the presence of feathers, and mammals by hairs. Another common point of view is that avian scales are directly related to reptilian scales. As a skin embryologist, I have been fascinated by the problem of regionalization of skin appendages in amniotes throughout my scientific life. Here I have collected the arguments that result from classical experimental embryology, from the modern molecular biology era, and from the recent discovery of new fossils. These arguments shape my view that avian ectoderm is primarily programmed toward forming feathers, and mammalian ectoderm toward forming hairs. The other ectoderm derivatives – scales in birds, glands in mammals, or cornea in both classes – can become feathers or hairs through metaplastic process, and appear to have a negative regulatory mechanism over this basic program. How this program is altered remains, in most part, to be determined. However, it is clear that the regulation of the Wnt/beta‐catenin pathway is a critical hub. The level of beta‐catenin is crucial for feather and hair formation, as its down‐regulation appears to be linked with the formation of avian scales in chick, and cutaneous glands in mice. Furthermore, its inhibition leads to the formation of nude skin and is required for that of corneal epithelium. Here I propose a new theory, to be further considered and tested when we have new information from genomic studies. With this theory, I suggest that the alpha‐keratinized hairs from living synapsids may have evolved from the hypothetical glandular integument of the first amniotes, which may have presented similarities with common day terrestrial amphibians. Concerning feathers, they may have evolved independently of squamate scales, each originating from the hypothetical roughened beta‐keratinized integument of the first sauropsids. The avian overlapping scales, which cover the feet in some bird species, may have developed later in evolution, being secondarily derived from feathers.
Origin and evolution of the integumentary skeleton in non‐tetrapod vertebrates
Authors: Sire Jean‐Yves , Donoghue Philip C. J. , Vickaryous Matthews K.
Published: April 2009

Most non‐tetrapod vertebrates develop mineralized extra‐oral elements within the integument. Known collectively as the integumentary skeleton, these elements represent the structurally diverse skin‐bound contribution to the dermal skeleton. In this review we begin by summarizing what is known about the histological diversity of the four main groups of integumentary skeletal tissues: hypermineralized (capping) tissues; dentine; plywood‐like tissues; and bone. For most modern taxa, the integumentary skeleton has undergone widespread reduction and modification often rendering the homology and relationships of these elements confused and uncertain. Fundamentally, however, all integumentary skeletal elements are derived (alone or in combination) from only two types of cell condensations: odontogenic and osteogenic condensations. We review the origin and diversification of the integumentary skeleton in aquatic non‐tetrapods (including stem gnathostomes), focusing on tissues derived from odontogenic (hypermineralized tissues, dentines and elasmodine) and osteogenic (bone tissues) cell condensations. The novelty of our new scenario of integumentary skeletal evolution resides in the demonstration that elasmodine, the main component of elasmoid scales, is odontogenic in origin. Based on available data we propose that elasmodine is a form of lamellar dentine. Given its widespread distribution in non‐tetrapod lineages we further propose that elasmodine is a very ancient tissue in vertebrates and predict that it will be found in ancestral rhombic scales and cosmoid scales.
The anatomy and development of the claws of Xenopus laevis (Lissamphibia: Anura) reveal alternate pathways of structural evolution in the integument of tetrapods
Authors: Maddin Hillary C. , Eckhart Leopold , Jaeger Karin , Russell Anthony P. , Ghannadan Minoo
Published: April 2009

Digital end organs composed of hard, modified epidermis, generally referred to as claws, are present in mammals and reptiles as well as in several non‐amniote taxa such as clawed salamanders and frogs, including Xenopus laevis. So far, only the claws and nails of mammals have been characterized extensively and the question of whether claws were present in the common ancestor of all extant tetrapods is as yet unresolved. To provide a basis for comparisons between amniote and non‐amniote claws, we investigated the development, growth and ultrastructure of the epidermal component of the claws of X. laevis. Histological examination of developing claws of X. laevis shows that claw formation is initiated at the tip of the toe by the appearance of superficial cornified cells that are dark brown. Subsequent accumulation of new, proximally extended claw sheath corneocyte layers increases the length of the claw. Histological studies of adult claws show that proliferation of cornifying claw sheath cells occurs along the entire length of the claw‐forming epidermis. Living epidermal cells that are converting into the cornified claw sheath corneocytes undergo a form of programmed cell death that is accompanied by degradation of nuclear DNA. Subsequently, the cytoplasm and the nuclear remnants acquire a brown colour by an as‐yet unknown mechanism that is likely homologous to the colouration mechanism that occurs in other hard, cornified structures of amphibians such as nuptial pads and tadpole beaks. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cornified claw sheath consists of parallel layers of corneocytes with interdigitations being confined to intra‐layer contacts and a cementing substance filling the intercorneocyte spaces. Together with recent reports that showed the main molecular components of amniote claws are absent in Xenopus, our data support the hypothesis that claws of amphibians likely represent clade‐specific innovations, non‐homologous to amniote claws.
Evolutionary and developmental origins of the vertebrate dentition
Authors: Huysseune Ann , Sire Jean‐Yves , Witten P. Eckhard
Published: April 2009

According to the classical theory, teeth derive from odontodes that invaded the oral cavity in conjunction with the origin of jaws (the ‘outside in’ theory). A recent alternative hypothesis suggests that teeth evolved prior to the origin of jaws as endodermal derivatives (the ‘inside out’ hypothesis). We compare the two theories in the light of current data and propose a third scenario, a revised ‘outside in’ hypothesis. We suggest that teeth may have arisen before the origin of jaws, as a result of competent, odontode‐forming ectoderm invading the oropharyngeal cavity through the mouth as well as through the gill slits, interacting with neural crest‐derived mesenchyme. This hypothesis revives the homology between skin denticles (odontodes) and teeth. Our hypothesis is based on (1) the assumption that endoderm alone, together with neural crest, cannot form teeth; (2) the observation that pharyngeal teeth are present only in species known to possess gill slits, and disappear from the pharyngeal region in early tetrapods concomitant with the closure of gill slits, and (3) the observation that the dental lamina (sensu Reif, 1982) is not a prerequisite for teeth to form. We next discuss the progress that has been made to understand the spatially restricted loss of teeth from certain arches, and the many questions that remain regarding the ontogenetic loss of teeth in specific taxa. The recent advances that have been made in our knowledge on the molecular control of tooth formation in non‐mammalians (mostly in some teleost model species) will undoubtedly contribute to answering these questions in the coming years.
FOOD SAFETY BEHAVIORS OF ADULT/ELDERLY CAREGIVERS IN NEVADA
Authors: WILSON MARY P. , BABU ARUNA SURENDERA , OMAYE STANLEY T.
Published: April 2009

As a prelude to developing food safety educational modules for Nevada adult/elderly caregiver facilities, we assessed the extent of such behavior through questionnaires, i.e., we assessed the behavior, attitudes and food safety practices of supervisors in adult/elderly care facilities. Our questionnaire was based on a validated consumer food behavior questionnaire, modified to better assess the needs of the target audience. The questionnaire was tested and revised before being distributed to the targeted group. Mailing lists were obtained from a variety of state, local and personal resources. Data were collected from 390 adult/elderly licensed caregiver facilities located throughout urban and rural areas of Nevada. Findings showed that although caregivers have a basic understanding of food safety, specific concerns exist, e.g., we found only 39% have Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point guidelines, and up to 44 and 34% exhibited risky food preferences and cleanness behavior, respectively. Thus, we were able to determine some gaps in food safety knowledge for adult/elderly care facilities in Nevada, where future educational strategies will be targeted.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

We found in this Nevada survey study that managers at adult/elderly caregiver facilities have some basic understanding about food safety; however, knowledge gaps do exist, such as the lack of understanding Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point. Comparing among northern, southern and rural Nevada, we found that risky food preferences and behavior concerns may be attributed to the gaps, and that there were regional differences. Our findings may be applied to other regions across the U.S.A. as the need for adult/elderly caregiver facilities increases due to the aging of the population. In the future, we will utilize this information to develop educational food safety training modules targeting the specific needs of these adult/elderly caregiver facilities.
A PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR HIGH‐PRESSURE CARBON DIOXIDE INACTIVATION OF MICROORGANISMS
Authors: BUZRUL S.
Published: April 2009

The Weibull model, which is commonly used for thermal inactivation of microorganisms in literature, was used to describe microbial inactivation by high‐pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD). The number of parameters of the model was reduced from two to one in order to avoid interrelationship of these parameters with a slight loss of goodness‐of‐fit. A second‐order polynomial function fulfilling a number of constraints was proposed for the secondary modeling of the time‐constant parameter of the reduced Weibull model. This function consists of both pressure and temperature and therefore can be used for HPCD treatments.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The application of any new technology in food preservation requires a reliable model that accurately describes and predicts the inactivation data of microorganisms. In principle, the methodology presented here could be used to describe and predict the survival data for high‐pressure carbon dioxide inactivation of microorganisms at least for some pressure and temperature ranges if the isobaric/isothermal survival curves of these microorganisms are linear, concave upward or downward.
USE OF MALIC ACID AND OTHER QUALITY STABILIZING COMPOUNDS TO ASSURE THE SAFETY OF FRESH‐CUT “FUJI” APPLES BY INACTIVATION OFLISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES,SALMONELLAENTERITIDIS ANDESCHERICHIA COLIO157:H7
Authors: RAYBAUDI‐MASSILIA ROSA M. , MOSQUEDA‐MELGAR JONATHAN , SOBRINO‐LÓPEZ ANGEL , SOLIVA‐FORTUNY ROBERT , MARTÍN‐BELLOSO OLGA
Published: April 2009

The effectiveness of malic acid in combination with physicochemical quality stabilizing compounds to inactivateListeria monocytogenes, SalmonellaEnteritidis andEscherichia coliO157:H7 inoculated in fresh‐cut “Fuji” apples packaged in air and stored at 5C was evaluated. Apple pieces were immersed for 1 min in solutions containing 1% w/v N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, 1% w/v glutathione and 1% w/v calcium lactate with and without 2.5% w/v D‐L malic acid to control apple browning, softening and reduce the populations of pathogenic microorganisms. Fresh‐cut apples dipped in each solution were then inoculated withL. monocytogenes, S.Enteritidis orE. coliO157:H7.The use of malic acid in combination with physicochemical quality stabilizing compounds caused more than 5 log10 cfu/g ofL. monocytogenes, S.Enteritidis andE. coliO157:H7 counts. The results obtained in this work pointed out the potential use of malic acid in combination with physicochemical quality stabilizing compounds as a good alternative for safety assurance of fresh‐cut apples.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The use of organic acids such as malic acid, as well as physicochemical quality stabilizing compounds such as N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, glutathione and calcium lactate on fresh‐cut fruits can benefit the fresh‐cut products industry, since they can assure the safety and quality of these products. The main reason for their suitability is their natural origin, thus resulting in fruits that are both attractive and healthy for the consumers who demand fresh‐like products.
QUALITY DECAY OF FRESH PROCESSED FISH STORED UNDER REFRIGERATED CONDITIONS
Authors: BARBUZZI G. , GRIMALDI F. , DEL NOBILE M.A.
Published: April 2009

The ability of commercial fresh fish to be processed to produce fresh‐fish based hamburger was assessed in this work. In particular, four commercially important fish species, i.e., hake (Merluccius merluccius), mackerel (Scomber scombrus), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata) were packed in an aluminium/plastic laminated film, stored at 4C, and studied for changes in trimethylamine (TMA) and biogenic amines such as histamine, cadaverine, putrescine and spermidine. In terms of TMA content, results suggest that sea bass and sea bream resulted into species suitable to be fresh processed having a TMA acceptability limit of 5.5 and 10 days, respectively, whereas in the same conditions, hake and mackerel resulted highly perishable products with a TMA acceptability limit of 2.2 and 1.7 days, respectively. Concerning food safety related to histamine content, for the entire period of observation all species showed an amount lower than the maximum content allowed (100 ppm).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This work is an interesting investigation on the possibility to process fresh fish. The results of the research can be advantageously used by fish industry. The fish‐based hamburger represents a strategic solution to overcome the barrier to fish consumption that is subjected to many influences among which one is the consideration of fish as time‐consuming meal.