bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Persistent parvovirus B19 infection detected by specific CD4+ T‐cell responses in a patient with hepatitis and polyarthritis
Authors: Pongratz G. , Lindner J. , Modrow S. , Schimanski S. , Schölmerich J. , Fleck M. 
Published: April 2009

Abstract.We, here, report the case of a parvovirus B19 infection in an immunocompetent male patient presenting with acute hepatitis and polyarthritis. To follow the course of infection, we used a previously established enzyme‐linked immunosorbent spot assay (ELISPOT) technique to detect CD4+ T cells specific for viral proteins. Even though symptoms of arthritis and hepatitis resolved in the immunocompetent individual within a few weeks, viral DNA in serum and CD4+ T cells specific for the viral protein VP1 unique region were still detectable more than 6 month after the onset of symptoms, thus pointing to a persistent state of infection. On the basis of this observation, we hypothesize that the intensity of liver involvement correlates with the likelihood of developing persistent parvovirus B19 infection. The described ELISPOT technique to detect virus‐specific CD4+ T cells provides an excellent tool to analyse the state of parvovirus B19 infection for future studies to test this hypothesis.
Antagonism between local dispersal and self‐incompatibility systems in a continuous plant population
Authors: CARTWRIGHT REED A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractMany self‐incompatible plant species exist in continuous populations in which individuals disperse locally. Local dispersal of pollen and seeds facilitates inbreeding because pollen pools are likely to contain relatives. Self‐incompatibility promotes outbreeding because relatives are likely to carry incompatible alleles. Therefore, populations can experience an antagonism between these forces. In this study, a novel computational model is used to explore the effects of this antagonism on gene flow, allelic diversity, neighbourhood sizes, and identity by descent. I confirm that this antagonism is sensitive to dispersal levels and linkage. However, the results suggest that there is little to no difference between the effects of gametophytic and sporophytic self‐incompatibility systems (GSI and SSI) on unlinked loci. More importantly, both GSI and SSI affect unlinked loci in a manner similar to obligate outcrossing without mating types. This suggests that the primary evolutionary impact of self‐incompatibility systems may be to prevent selfing, and prevention of biparental inbreeding might be a beneficial side‐effect.
Colour variation is incongruent with mitochondrial lineages: cryptic speciation and subsequent diversification in a Gulf of California reef fish (Teleostei: Blennioidei)
Authors: LIN H‐C. , SÁNCHEZ‐ORTIZ C. , HASTINGS P. A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe Gulf of California endemic reef fish, Acanthemblemaria crockeri (Blennioidei, Chaenopsidae), reportedly has two colour morphs, one with melanic lateral spots (‘Gulf’ morph) and one with orange spots (‘Cape’ morph). In this study, we recorded colour morph in both males and females and collected mitochondrial DNA sequence data for cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and tRNA‐Pro/D‐loop of specimens from throughout the Gulf to explore the genetic basis of the colour morphs. Two highly divergent (HKY + I distance = 11.9% for COI), reciprocally monophyletic lineages were identified, consistent with the presence of two parapatric species. A 30‐km gap between the distributions of mitochondrial lineages roughly corresponds to a hypothesized former seaway across the Baja California peninsula north of La Paz, although the estimated divergence time (1.84 million years ago) is more recent than the hypothetical seaway (3–4 million years ago). Surprisingly, the distribution of mitochondrial species is not congruent with the distribution of either male or female colour morphs. Our analysis also revealed significant population differentiation within both species and no shared haplotypes among populations. The northern Gulf species includes four populations (NB, CB, NM and CM) corresponding to northern and central Baja and northern and central mainland sites, while the Cape species includes two populations (SB and SM) corresponding to the Baja and mainland sides of the southern Gulf. The NB/CB division corresponds to a hypothesized Plio–Pleistocene mid‐peninsular seaway. The level of genetic divergence documented in this lineage is extraordinary for a marine fish with a pelagic larval stage within a semi‐enclosed basin.
Multilocus heterozygosity, parental relatedness and individual fitness components in a wild mountain goat,Oreamnos americanuspopulation
Authors: MAINGUY JULIEN , CÔTÉ STEEVE D. , COLTMAN DAVID W. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractMatings between relatives lead to a decrease in offspring genetic diversity which can reduce fitness, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. Because alpine ungulates generally live in small structured populations and often exhibit a polygynous mating system, they are susceptible to inbreeding. Here, we used marker‐based measures of pairwise genetic relatedness and inbreeding to investigate the fitness consequences of matings between relatives in a long‐term study population of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) at Caw Ridge, Alberta, Canada. We first assessed whether individuals avoided mating with kin by comparing actual and random mating pairs according to their estimated genetic relatedness, which was derived from 25 unlinked polymorphic microsatellite markers and reflected pedigree relatedness. We then examined whether individual multilocus heterozygosityH, used as a measure of inbreeding, was predicted by parental relatedness and associated with yearling survival and the annual probability of giving birth to a kid in adult females. Breeding pairs identified by genetic parentage analyses of offspring that survived to 1 year of age were less genetically related than expected under random matings. Parental relatedness was negatively correlated with offspringH, and more heterozygous yearlings had higher survival to 2 years of age. The probability of giving birth was not affected byHin adult females. Because kids that survived to yearling age were mainly produced by less genetically related parents, our results suggest that some individuals experienced inbreeding depression in early life. Future research will be required to quantify the levels of gene flow between different herds, and evaluate their effects on population genetic diversity and dynamics.
Glacial oceanographic contrasts explain phylogeography of Australian bull kelp
Authors: FRASER CERIDWEN I. , SPENCER HAMISH G. , WATERS JONATHAN M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe evolutionary effects of Southern Hemisphere Pleistocene oceanographic conditions — marked by fluctuations in sea levels and water temperatures, and redirected currents — are poorly understood. The southeastern tip of Australia presents an intriguing model system for studying the biological impacts of palaeoceanography. In particular, contrasting oceanographic conditions that existed on eastern vs. western sides of the Bassian Isthmus during Pleistocene glacial periods allow for natural comparisons between putative refugial vs. re‐invading populations. Whereas many western Tasmanian marine taxa were likely eliminated by cold subantarctic water during the last glacial period, eastern Tasmanian populations would have persisted in relatively warm temperatures mediated by the ongoing influence of the East Australian Current (EAC). Here we test for the effects of contrasting palaeoceanographic conditions on endemic bull kelp, Durvillaea potatorum, using DNA sequence analysis (COI; rbcL) of more than 100 individuals from 14 localities in southeastern Australia. Phylogenetic reconstructions reveal a deep (maximum divergence 4.7%) genetic split within D. potatorum, corresponding to the ‘eastern’ and ‘western’ geographical regions delimited by the Bassian Isthmus, a vicariant barrier during low Pleistocene sea levels. Concordant with the western region's cold glacial conditions, samples from western Tasmania and western Victoria are genetically monomorphic, suggesting postglacial expansion from a mainland refugium. Eastern samples, in contrast, comprise distinct regional haplogroups, suggesting the species persisted in eastern Tasmania throughout recent glacial periods. The deep east–west divergence seems consistent with earlier reports of morphological differences between ‘western’ and ‘eastern’D. potatorum, and it seems likely that these forms represent reproductively isolated species.
Heritability, covariation and natural selection on 24 traits of common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) from a field experiment
Authors: JOHNSON M. T. J. , AGRAWAL A. A. , MARON J. L. , SALMINEN J.‐P. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis study explored genetic variation and co‐variation in multiple functional plant traits. Our goal was to characterize selection, heritabilities and genetic correlations among different types of traits to gain insight into the evolutionary ecology of plant populations and their interactions with insect herbivores. In a field experiment, we detected significant heritable variation for each of 24 traits of Oenothera biennis and extensive genetic covariance among traits. Traits with diverse functions formed several distinct groups that exhibited positive genetic covariation with each other. Genetic variation in life‐history traits and secondary chemistry together explained a large proportion of variation in herbivory (r2 = 0.73). At the same time, selection acted on lifetime biomass, life‐history traits and two secondary compounds of O. biennis, explaining over 95% of the variation in relative fitness among genotypes. The combination of genetic covariances and directional selection acting on multiple traits suggests that adaptive evolution of particular traits is constrained, and that correlated evolution of groups of traits will occur, which is expected to drive the evolution of increased herbivore susceptibility. As a whole, our study indicates that an examination of genetic variation and covariation among many different types of traits can provide greater insight into the evolutionary ecology of plant populations and plant–herbivore interactions.
Getting in shape: adaptation and phylogenetic inertia in morphology of Australian anuran larvae
Authors: VAN BUSKIRK J. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe external morphology of frog larvae is predicted to vary among habitats, for a variety of functional reasons. I performed a phylogenetic comparative study to test whether correlations between habitat and the shape of the tadpole and its oral disc are adaptive in 82 species from south‐eastern Australia in the families Hylidae and Myobatrachidae. Habitat distributions and phylogenetic relationships were compiled from the literature and shape was quantified using geometric morphometric analysis of published drawings. Results indicate that shape evolved towards different optima in different habitats while also showing appreciable levels of phylogenetic inertia. Within myobatrachids, evolution of terrestrial tadpoles was associated with a short and shallow head/body and a shallow tail. In aquatic species, the use of benthic microhabitats was correlated with a long shallow tail, dorsal eye position, shallow head/body and ventral mouth with robust jaw sheaths. Even traits with evidence for adaptation evolved slowly in response to habitat shifts, usually requiring ≥10 million years to evolve half‐way to a new optimum. Although these findings support adaptive evolution of tadpole body form, they also highlight a strong influence of ancestral character states and indicate that phenotypes in extant species are partly maladaptive.
Change in agronomic performance of Lolium perenne and Lolium multiflorum varieties in the past 40 years based on data from Belgian VCU trials
Authors: Chaves B. , De Vliegher A. , Van Waes J. , Carlier L. , Marynissen B. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBy using data of Belgian trials for Value of Cultivation and Use (1963–2007) the change in agronomic performance of ryegrass varieties was quantified. Data included 144 Lolium perenne and 69 Lolium multiflorum candidate varieties, plus ‘Vigor’ and ‘Lemtal’, two varieties which were always included in the Value of Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials. As the genetics of ‘Vigor’ and ‘Lemtal’ have remained identical to those in 1963, these were used as constant standards to measure improvements of new varieties. Dry matter yield (DMY) of ‘Vigor’ and ‘Lemtal’ varied annually but did not show a progressive change, indicating that cultural changes in VCU trials of ryegrasses were small. By expressing DMY, persistency and rust resistance of the candidate varieties relative to Vigor and ‘Lemtal’, the change in agronomic performance due to breeding was determined. DMY increased with 0.3% of ‘Vigor’ and ‘Lemtal’ annually. Persistency showed an annual increase around 0.5% of the standard varieties. Before 1990, rust resistance of ryegrasses varied around 100% relative to ‘Vigor’ or ‘Lemtal’. After 1990, an annual increase of 3.6% against these standard varieties was found.
Identification of sources and inheritance of resistance of Chinese Brassica vegetables to white blister
Authors: Santos M. R. , Silva M. J. , Ferreira‐Pinto M. M. , Dias J. S. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThere is no information in the literature about the variability of resistance of Chinese Brassica vegetables, pak choi and Chinese cabbage, to the white blister disease caused by Albugo candida (Pers.) Kuntze. A collection of 43 accessions of pak choi and 19 accessions of Chinese cabbage was screened for resistance to the Portuguese A. candida isolate Ac 506 at the cotyledon stage. Different levels of resistance were found among the germplasm tested, ranging from complete resistance to full susceptibility. Most of the accessions were highly susceptible with less than 10% of resistant seedlings, and only four accessions of pak choi, presenting more than 50% resistant seedlings, were considered as new sources or resistance to white blister. Inheritance of resistance at the cotyledon stage was studied in two crosses between the most resistant pak choi accession, BRA 117, and the highly susceptible rapid cycling Brassica rapa line CrGC 1.19. It was proposed that resistance to white blister in pak choi BRA 117 is controlled by two nuclear genes with dominant recessive epistatic gene action.
Developing high oleic acid in Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass. by plant breeding
Authors: Petros Y. , Carlsson A. S. , Stymne S. , Zeleke H. , Fält A.‐S. , Merker A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractOleic acid content was increased from approximately 5–11% to 80–86% in Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass. materials from Ethiopia after repeated selection and breeding. Achenes collected from Ethiopia were screened for elevated oleic acid content by half seed technique. The starting materials for breeding were nine plants selected from among 272 seeds analysed and having an average oleic acid content of approximately 21% which is considered to be high compared with the 5–11% reported earlier for niger materials of Ethiopian origin. It was observed that the oleic acid content steadily increased after each round of selection and breeding. The percent oleic acid in the seed oil increased to an average of 35.2% and 53.4% after the first and second round of breeding, respectively and ultimately to over 80% after the third round of breeding. It was also observed that the percent oleic acid in the oil stabilizes and the plants breed true when the oleic acid content in the parental seeds was above 79%.
Isolation and functional analysis of the gene controlling the stub‐spreading trait in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Komori T. , Miyata M. , Yamamoto T. , Nitta N. , Hiei Y. , Yano M. , Ueki J. , Komari T. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe stub‐spreading trait, also designated as ‘tiller angle’, is one of the components that determine the plant type. In rice, the trait is quite important because of its close relationship to the yield performance. The Spk(t) gene is a major determinant of the trait in the cross of ‘Kasalath’ (indica) and ‘Nipponbare’ (japonica). In this study, the Spk(t) gene was isolated by a map‐based cloning strategy. Sequence analysis of the cDNA clones from the locus revealed that the Spk(t) transcripts and the spk(t) transcripts encode identical 259‐aa proteins of unknown function; however, the structure of the 3′‐untranslated region of each allele is quite different. Additional transgenic experiments in rice demonstrated that the difference is caused by a single‐nucleotide polymorphism at the 3′‐splicing site specific to the Spk(t) allele which thereby plays a critical role in the phenotypic expression. In addition to revealing the molecular mechanism underlying the allele differentiation at the Spk(t) locus, the information presented here should be useful for breeding of this trait in rice.
Identification of barley mutants in the cultivar ‘Lux’ at the Dhn loci through TILLING
Authors: Lababidi S. , Mejlhede N. , Rasmussen S. K. , Backes G. , Al‐Said W. , Baum M. , Jahoor A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractTILLING is a reverse genetic strategy that allows screening for mutations in genes with known sequences in a plant mutant population. A TILLING population has been developed for the Danish barley variety ‘Lux’ (Hordeum vulgare L.), by using sodium azide to induce mutations. Scoring of four visible phenotypic characters of barley seedling in reference to the parental cultivar ‘Lux’ in the M3 plants showed over 3.5% lethality. A series of pool ratios of mixed DNA from mutant lines were tested and 10‐fold pools appeared to be the practical mixing ratio for the detection of fragments in the 500–700 bp range. Two of the 13 known dehydrin genes, Dhn12 and Dhn13, respectively, were examined and five independent missense mutations were obtained from a population of 9575 barley mutant plants. This corresponds to a mutation density of approximately one mutation every two and half million base pairs for these two genes. The mutant population of approximately 10 000 lines was screened for mutations in two genes in a short time due to high pooling ratio.
Review article: Low‐molecular‐weight heparin as an alternative anticoagulant to unfractionated heparin for routine outpatient haemodialysis treatments
Authors: DAVENPORT ANDREW 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYUnfractionated heparin is currently the most widely used anticoagulant for outpatient haemodialysis. However, unfractionated heparin is a series of molecules, and as such has variable pharmacodynamics. Low‐molecular‐weight heparins were developed to improve both drug pharmacokinetic and dynamics, so to provide a reliable predictable clinical effect. The low‐molecular‐weight heparins are potent agents, but have an increased half‐life compared with unfractionated heparin, and also require specialist laboratory monitoring. Despite these apparent drawbacks, low‐molecular‐weight heparins have become the anticoagulants of choice in Western Europe for routine outpatient haemodialysis sessions, due to the reliability of their clinical effect, and ease of administration, coupled with cost reduction. In standard clinical practice laboratory monitoring is not routinely performed, with drug dosing assessed by clinical inspection of the extracorporeal circuit, and the time for fistula needle sites to stop bleeding.
Review article: Patient‐level outcomes: the missing link
Authors: O'SHAUGHNESSY DENISE V , ELDER GRAHAME J 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYTreatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be life‐saving, but can disrupt every aspect of a patient's life and the lives of family members. Many patients with CKD are elderly with significant comorbidities and sometimes therapies to improve survival may be less important than those that improve or maintain quality of life. In this setting, patient‐level benefits become particularly important goals of therapy. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are also essential to justify expensive therapies, such as medications used in the treatment of CKD mineral and bone disorders. Surprisingly, data to support the efficacy of these drugs for patient‐level outcomes remains limited. In fact, fewer RCT are conducted in renal medicine than in any other medical specialty and reliance is often placed on association data and the assessment of intermediate and biochemical end‐points. While some of these may prove to be valid surrogates for clinically important outcomes, some may not. Inclusion of patient‐level outcomes in clinical research provides a missing link that can inform a more comprehensive approach to clinical practice and patient care. Incorporating measures of health‐related quality of life into clinical trials can make outcomes more relevant and may be relatively simple. This paper provides examples of reliable, validated instruments to measure health‐related quality of life domains and functional status, together with practical instructions for their use. Most could be incorporated into RCT of CKD mineral and bone disorder treatments. Inclusion of outcomes that are perceived by patients to be significant should become standard practice in renal medicine and in clinical renal research.
Detection and prevention of chronic kidney disease in Indonesia: Initial community screening
Authors: PRODJOSUDJADI WIGUNO , SUHARDJONO  , SUWITRA KETUT , PRANAWA  , WIDIANA I GDE RAKA , LOEKMAN JODI SIDHARTA , NAINGGOLAN GINOVA , PRASANTO HERU , WIJAYANTI YANRI , DHARMEIZAR  , SJA'BANI MOCHAMMAD , NASUTION M YUSUF , BASUKI WIDODO , ADITIAWARDANA  , HARRIS DAVID CH , PUGSLEY DAVID J ,   FOR THE WORKING GROUP OF THE INDONESIAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
Published: April 2009

SUMMARY:Aim:  This survey evaluated the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD if estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2) and its risk factors amongst subjects from urban and semi‐urban areas.Methods:  History of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, cardio‐ and cerebrovascular diseases of subjects and their families was recorded. Blood pressure was determined as the mean of three readings in the sitting position and hypertension classified according to the Joint National Committee VII. Urinalysis was assessed using Combi 10R dipstick test. Random blood glucose and serum creatinine were measured in subjects with either hypertension, proteinuria, glycosuria and/or a history of diabetes. eGFR was calculated according Cockcroft–Gault (CG) adjusted by body surface area (BSA), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chinese MDRD equations.Results:  Of 9412 subjects recruited, 64.1% were female. Persistent proteinuria was found in almost 3%. Systolic and diastolic hypertension was found in 10%, isolated systolic hypertension in 4.8% and isolated diastolic hypertension in 4.6%. CKD was found in 12.5% (CG), 8.6% (MDRD) or 7.5% (Chinese MDRD) of subjects with either hypertension, proteinuria and/or diabetes. Proteinuria, systolic blood pressure and a history of diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of impaired eGFR. Obesity and smoking history were found in 32.5% and 19.8%, respectively.Conclusion:  The present study showed a high prevalence of CKD in representative urban and semi‐urban areas and argues for screening and treatment of all Indonesians, particularly those at an increased risk of CKD.