bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic and phenotypic variation among Galaxias maculatus populations reflects contrasting landscape effects between northern and southern Patagonia
Authors: CARREA CECILIA , CUSSAC VICTOR E. , RUZZANTE DANIEL E. 
Published: November 2012

Summary1. Understanding the influence of landscape characteristics on genetic and phenotypic intraspecific variability can yield insights into how evolutionary processes work as well as provide essential information for the conservation of biodiversity.2. Our aim was to compare the genetic structure and phenotypic variation among Galaxias maculatus populations inhabiting two Atlantic Ocean river basins in Patagonia in relation to historical and contemporary landscape characteristics associated with latitude.3. Population genetic analysis (based on eight microsatellite loci, 505 individuals) indicates that genetic structure is more pronounced in the Río Negro basin (RN) at 39–41°S (10 localities) than in the southernmost Santa Cruz River basin (SCR) at 49–50°S (seven localities). Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed different effects of geographic distance in shaping population differentiation patterns in the two basins.4. While in northern Patagonia, fragmented populations could have survived the severity of Quaternary climate cycles, at higher latitudes G. maculatus populations were probably extirpated by extensive ice sheets. Extant populations in the upper reaches of the southernmost basin probably originated from refugia close to the Atlantic Ocean.5. Based on otolith microchemistry, we have documented facultative diadromy for the first time for the species in the SCR basin, while no evidence of migration to the sea was found in individuals from the RN basin. Vertebral number increased with latitude, and within the SCR basin, the higher counts are possibly associated with a migratory life style.
Responses of an African wading bird community to resource pulses are related to foraging guild and food‐web position
Authors: CUMMING GRAEME S. , NDLOVU MDUDUZI , MUTUMI GREGORY L. , HOCKEY PHILIP A. R. 
Published: November 2012

Summary1. The immediate impacts of nutrient inputs on aquatic systems are well documented, but the ways in which resource pulses affect the wider food web of water‐associated vertebrates remain obscure.2. We monitored the wading bird community of Barberspan, a natural freshwater lake and Ramsar wetland in South Africa, before, during and after the addition of a pulse of nutrients in the form of a sewage overspill from an upstream processing facility. We counted waders at 13 points around the lake over 3 years, every 2 months from March 2007 to March 2010, and sampled water quality during all counting periods from January 2008 to January 2010.3. We used our data to test the hypothesis that wading birds that forage directly at lower trophic levels and/or on prey populations that have fast turnover rates, such as those of phytoplankton and invertebrates, will be more heavily influenced by nutrient addition than birds that forage on species with lower turnover rates and/or at higher trophic levels (such as frogs and fish).4. During the sampling period Barberspan experienced a significant, nutrient‐driven decline and subsequent recovery in dissolved oxygen and pH. This trend was mirrored by significant changes in the wading bird community. Partial Mantel tests and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that the nutrient pulse had marked short‐term, negative impacts on both the diversity and the abundance of medium‐sized, shoreline foragers such as scolopacids (e.g. sandpipers).5. Our analysis supports the proposal that both food‐web position and the turnover rate of the prey population are strong influences on ecological responses to resource pulses. Analysis of time series of principal components that describe community composition suggested that recovery of the prey base was rapid and that the bird community was able to respond via immigration. These results must, of course, be considered provisional in the absence of replicated experimental data.6. More generally, we interpret our results as suggesting that two different mechanisms act in different directions to determine the sensitivity of secondary and tertiary consumers to changes in their prey. First, for ‘earlier’ consumers (i.e. that forage lower in the food web), there are (on average) fewer generalist consumers and fewer stored nutrients in the intervening trophic levels. This increases the sensitivity of earlier consumer populations to changes in the composition of the primary consumer community. Second, the dynamics of prey populations lower in the food web tend to be faster, making recovery faster and serving to decrease the sensitivity of earlier consumers to perturbations. These dynamics may obscure the impacts of nutrient pulses in cases where additional analysis of system trajectories is not undertaken.
Mineral evolution and processes of ferruginous microbialite accretion – an example from the Middle Eocene stromatolitic and ooidal ironstones of the Bahariya Depression, Western Desert, Egypt
Authors: Salama W. , El Aref M. M. , Gaupp R. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractPeritidal ferruginous microbialites form the main bulk of the Middle Eocene ironstone deposits of the Bahariya Depression, Western Desert, Egypt. They include ferruginous stromatolites and microbially coated grains (ferruginous oncoids and ooids). Their internal structures reveal repeated cycles of microbial and Fe oxyhydroxide laminae. The microbial laminae consist of fossilised neutrophilic filamentous iron‐oxidising bacteria. These bacteria oxidised the Fe(II)‐rich acidic groundwater upon meeting the marine water at an approximately neutral pH. The iron oxyhydroxide laminae were initially precipitated as amorphous iron oxhydroxides and subsequently recrystallised into nanocrystalline goethite during early diagenesis. Organic remains such as proteinaceous compounds, lipids, carbohydrates and carotenoids are preserved and can be identified by Raman spectroscopy. The ferruginous microbialites were subjected to post‐depositional subaerial weathering associated with sea‐level retreat and subsurface alteration by continued ascent of the Fe(II)‐rich acidic groundwater. At this stage, another iron‐oxidising bacterial generation prevailed in the acidic environment. The acidity of the groundwater was caused by oxidation of pyrite in the underlying Cenomanian Bahariya formation. The positive iron isotopic ratios and presence of ferrous and ferric iron sulphates may result from partial iron oxidation along the redox boundary in an oxygen‐depleted environment.
Age‐related changes in skin barrier function – Quantitative evaluation of 150 female subjects
Authors: Luebberding S. , Krueger N. , Kerscher M. 
Published: November 2012

SynopsisThe protection against water loss and the prevention of substances and bacteria penetrating into the body rank as the most important functions of the skin. This so‐called ‘skin barrier function’ is the natural frontier between the inner organism and the environment, and is primarily formed by the epidermis. An impairment of the skin barrier function is often found in diseased and damaged skin. An influence of ageing on skin barrier function is widely accepted, but has not been conclusively evaluated yet. Therefore, the aim of this clinical study was to assess the potential influence of ageing on skin barrier function, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration, sebum content and pH value. One hundred and fifty healthy women aged 18–80, divided into five age groups with 30 subjects each, were evaluated in this study. TEWL, hydration level, sebum secretion and pH value of hydro‐lipid acid film were measured with worldwide acknowledged biophysical measuring methods at cheek, neck, décolleté, volar forearm and dorsum of hand. Whereas TEWL and stratum corneum hydration showed only very low correlation with subject's age, the sebum production decreased significantly with age, resulting in the lowest skin surface lipids levels measured in subjects older than 70 years. The highest skin surface pH was measured in subjects between 50 and 60 years, whereas the eldest age group had the lowest mean pH. The dorsum of the hand was the location with the highest TEWL and lowest stratum corneum hydration in all age groups. The results show that only some parameters related to skin barrier function are influenced by ageing. Whereas sebum production decreases significantly over lifetime and skin surface pH is significantly increased in menopausal woman, TEWL and stratum corneum hydration show only minor variations with ageing.
Improvement in skin color achieved by smoking cessation
Authors: Ishiwata T. , Seyama K. , Hirao T. , Shimada K. , Morio Y. , Miura K. , Kume A. , Takagi H. , Takahashi K. 
Published: November 2012

SynopsisIt has been well known that habitual smoking accelerates premature skin ageing recognized as ‘smoker's face’. However, the effect of smoking cessation on the appearance of skin has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate objectively the effect of smoking cessation on the skin's appearance. The stratum corneum carbonyl protein level and skin colour of the cheek and the hand were measured. The change before and during the smoking cessation treatment (0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks), and the success or failure in smoking cessation, was compared and examined. Eighty‐four cases who had smoking cessation treatment were examined. The level of the stratum corneum carbonyl protein did not show any difference comparing before and after treatment for the smoking cessation success group and the failure group. The lightness of skin colour showed an upward tendency 4–12 weeks after starting the treatment in the success group and increased significantly compared with the failure group. The redness showed a significant decrease in comparison with before the treatment, and it also showed a significant decrease compared with the failure group. The yellowness did not show any clear tendency. Also, the haemoglobin showed a decreased tendency. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis showed a possibility that the lightness and haemoglobin could be changed by smoking cessation treatment. In conclusion, our study showed that an upward tendency of skin lightness was seen to correspond with a haemoglobin decrease accompanied by smoking cessation. If we can easily measure skin improvement as an effect of smoking cessation, it is thought to be a useful aid for smoking cessation support.
The relationship between oral health education and quality of life in adolescents
Authors: Carvalho Jefferson Calixto , Rebelo Maria Augusta Bessa , Vettore Mario Vianna 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundThere is no study on the association between oral health education and oral health quality of life (OHQoL).AimTo assess the relationship between oral health education activities integrated into primary care services and OHQoL in adolescents.DesignA retrospective observational survey was conducted on 300 randomly selected 12–14 years‐of‐age adolescents living in two publicly funded health service administrative areas in Manaus, Brazil. Between 2006 and 2008, dental treatment and oral health education were offered in one area (DT/OHE group), whereas in the other area, only dental treatment was provided (DT group). Collected data included socio‐demographic characteristics, health services use, health‐related behaviours, dental pain, dental caries and Child‐OIDP. Independent variables were compared between groups by Mann–Whitney and chi‐square tests. The association between one or more OIDP (Child‐OIDP ≥ 1) and DT group tested using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsCaries, use of dental services and health‐related behaviours did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). Child‐OIDP ≥ 1 was higher in DT group (90.0%) compared with DT/OHE group (79.3%) (P = 0.01). Child‐OIDP ≥ 1 was independently associated with DT group [OR = 4.4 (1.1; 17.0)].ConclusionsAdolescents living in an area where OHE and DT were provided had better OHRQoL than those living in an area where only DT was provided.
Comparing the use of, and considering the need for, lumbar puncture in children with influenza or other respiratory virus infections
Authors: Khandaker Gulam , Heron Leon , Rashid Harunor , Li‐Kim‐Moy Jean , Lester‐Smith David , Kesson Alison , McCaskill Mary , Jones Cheryl , Zurynski Yvonne , Elliott Elizabeth J. , Dwyer Dominic E. , Booy Robert 
Published: November 2012

Please cite this paper as: Khandaker et al. (2012) Comparing the use of, and considering the need for, lumbar puncture in children with influenza or other respiratory virus infections. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI:10.1111/irv.12039.Background  The clinical presentation of influenza in infancy may be similar to serious bacterial infection and be investigated with invasive procedures like lumbar puncture (LP), despite very limited evidence that influenza occurs concomitantly with bacterial meningitis, perhaps because the diagnosis of influenza is very often not established when the decision to perform LP is being considered.Methods  A retrospective medical record review was undertaken in all children presenting to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia, in one winter season with laboratory‐confirmed influenza or other respiratory virus infections (ORVIs) but excluding respiratory syncytial virus, to compare the use of, and reflect on the need for, the performance of invasive diagnostic procedures, principally LP, but also blood culture, in influenza and non‐influenza cases. We also determined the rate of concomitant bacterial meningitis or bacteraemia.Findings  Of 294 children, 51% had laboratory‐confirmed influenza and 49% had ORVIs such as parainfluenza viruses (34%) and adenoviruses (15%). Of those with influenza, 18% had a LP and 71% had a blood culture performed compared with 6·3% and 55·5% in the ORVI group (for both P < 0·01). In multivariate analysis, diagnosis of influenza was a strong independent predictor of both LP (P = 0·02) and blood culture (P = 0·05) being performed, and, in comparison with ORVIs, influenza cases were almost three times more likely to have a LP performed on presentation to hospital. One child with influenza (0·9%) had bacteraemia and none had meningitis.Interpretation  Children with influenza were more likely to undergo LP on presentation to hospital compared with those presenting with ORVIs. If influenza is confirmed on admission by near‐patient testing, clinicians may be reassured and less inclined to perform LP, although if meningitis is clinically suspected, the clinician should act accordingly. We found that the risk of bacterial meningitis and bacteraemia was very low in hospitalised children with influenza and ORVIs. A systematic review should be performed to investigate this across a large number of settings.
Hedgerow trees and extended‐width field margins enhance macro‐moth diversity: implications for management
Authors: Merckx Thomas , Marini Lorenzo , Feber Ruth E. , Macdonald David W. 
Published: November 2012

Summary

Improving the effectiveness of agri‐environment schemes is essential for reversing declines in farmland biodiversity. Crucial to achieving this is identifying management options that are practical and beneficial to biodiversity, and understanding the influence of the surrounding landscape. We used data on abundance and species richness of farmland macro‐moths, many of which are declining, and trait‐based analyses on their feeding guild, mobility and conservation status, to explore local‐ and landscape‐scale effects of two farmland features (extended‐width field margins and hedgerow trees) and surrounding farmland intensification.
Macro‐moths were light trapped at 48 fixed sites on 16 farms, over 4 years, within a 1200‐km2 area of lowland UK farmland. Sites belonged to one of four experimental groups that differed in their combinations of hedgerow tree presence and field margin width.
Hedgerow trees and extended‐width field margins locally increased species richness, but not abundance, of macro‐moths, irrespective of each other's presence. Overall, species richness and abundance were not affected by agricultural intensification, as measured by the amount of arable land in the surrounding landscape.
Sedentary moths showed double the species richness, but were half as abundant as mobile moths. Both groups responded positively to extended‐width margin and hedgerow tree presence. The effect of hedgerow trees was particularly strong for shrub‐ and/or tree‐feeding species.
Analyses based on the conservation status of moths demonstrated that agricultural intensification lowered the species richness of nationally severely declining UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species and the abundance of both nationally moderately declining and priority species. These effects were most pronounced at the 0·8‐km radius scale.
Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that the presence of extended‐width field margins and hedgerow trees, possibly promoted by agri‐environment schemes targeting their implementation at relatively small spatial scales (0·8 km), may help mitigate negative effects of agricultural intensification on macro‐moths. A wide range of other taxa feed on macro‐moths and may therefore indirectly benefit from these features. Nevertheless, taxa differ widely in their mobility and measures mitigating biodiversity loss may need to be targeted at multiple spatial scales to maximize their effectiveness for multiple taxa.
Capturing the elasticity and morphology of live fibroblast cell cultures during degradation with atomic force microscopy
Authors: AIFANTIS K.E. , SHRIVASTAVA S. , PELIDOU S.H. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryAtomic force microscopy, in a liquid environment, was used to capture in vitro the morphological and mechanical changes that cultured fibroblasts undergo as time elapses from the completion of the cell culture. Topography images illustrated that initially, the nucleus had a height of 1.18 ± 0.2 μm, and after 48 h it had decreased to 550 ± 60 nm; similarly, the cell membrane exhibited significant shrinkage from 34 ± 4 to 23 ± 2 μm. After each image scan, atomic force microscopy indentation was performed on the centre of the nucleus, to measure the changes in the cell elasticity. Examination of the force‐distance curves indicated that the membrane elastic modulus at the nucleus remained the same within the time frame of 48 h, even though the cell morphology had significantly changed.
Clinicopathologic review of eruptive pseudoangiomatosis in Korean adults: report of 32 cases
Authors: Kim Jung Eun , Kim Byung Jik , Park Hyun Jeong , Park Young Min , Park Chul Jong , Cho Sang Hyun , Kim Si Yong , Kang Hoon 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground  Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis (EP) is a rare, benign, spontaneously regressing exanthema of unknown etiology, characterized by an eruption of distinctive erythematous papules. This study was performed to evaluate the etiologic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics of EP in Koreans.Methods  Patients diagnosed with EP during 2005–2010 were included in a retrospective study. Diagnoses were based on clinical findings and confirmed by histology. Biopsies were re‐examined. Patient gender, age at onset, disease duration, lesion location, season of occurrence, concomitant diseases, occupation, previous related events, disease course, responses to treatment, and laboratory findings were analyzed.Results  A total of 32 patients were identified. Mean age at onset was 50.06 ± 17.12 years. Two patients developed lesions after outdoor activities. Two patients presented with simultaneous occurrences in family members. One patient reported having taken herbal medicine. One subject experienced systemic contact dermatitis caused by eating a lacquer chicken dish just before the lesions developed. All patients had typical erythematous papules measuring 2–5 mm. Lesions were usually located on exposed sites. No prodromal or systemic symptoms were observed. Routine laboratory tests were within normal ranges, except in one patient with known hyperlipidemia. Most patients were treated with oral antihistamine and topical steroid, or oral prednisolone. Eight patients did not receive any treatment. Mean disease duration was 1.64 ± 1.41 months in the treatment group and 1.20 ± 1.24 months in the no‐treatment group (P > 0.05).Conclusions  Any clear relationship between EP and exposure to allergens or insect bites has yet to be elucidated. In patients in whom EP occurs on non‐exposed sites, drugs and food should be considered as possible causative agents. Intravascular neutrophil infiltration on histology can be helpful in diagnosing EP.
Karyotype evolution and phylogenetic analyses in the genus Cardiospermum L. (Paullinieae, Sapindaceae)
Authors: Urdampilleta J. D. , Coulleri J. P. , Ferrucci M. S. , Forni‐Martins E. R. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractCardiospermum L. belongs to the Paullinieae tribe (Sapindaceae) and comprises 16 species. Of these, 12 species are present in South America and all occur in Brazil. Cardiospermum shows the most variable chromosome number of the tribe. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Cardiospermum, especially with other species of the tribe, are poorly understood. This research focuses on characterisation of the karyotypic features of Cardiospermum using conventional cytogenetic methods, CMA/DAPI chromosome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). To elucidate the phylogeny of the genus, the nuclear markers ITS1 and ITS2 were sequenced and analysed using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. Cardiospermum shows important diversity in basic numbers, with x = 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12. All species studied have metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes, some species have subtelocentric chromosomes, while telocentric chromosomes are absent. The interphase nuclei differentiate the Cardiospermum species into two groups. The CMA3/DAPI chromosome banding revealed the presence of an AT‐rich terminal region in C. corindum, C. grandiflorum and C. urvilleoides, whereas GC‐rich regions were found in C. grandiflorum, C. halicacabum var. halicacabum, C. halicacabum var. microcarpum, C. heringeri and C. integerrimum. FISH revealed syntenic and non‐syntenic distribution of the 18‐5.8‐26S and 5S rDNA. The syntenic distribution always occurred in the short arms of the same chromosome in all of the species. The phylogenetic relationships reveal, in part, the taxonomic arrangement of the genus Cardiospermum.