bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fluoxetine induces vasodilatation of cerebral arterioles by co‐modulating NO/muscarinic signalling
Authors: Ofek Keren , Schoknecht Karl , Melamed‐Book Naomi , Heinemann Uwe , Friedman Alon , Soreq Hermona 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIschaemic stroke patients treated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) show improved motor, cognitive and executive functions, but the underlying mechanism(s) are incompletely understood. Here, we report that cerebral arterioles in the rat brain superfused with therapeutically effective doses of the SSRI fluoxetine showed consistent, dose‐dependent vasodilatation (by 1.2 to 1.6‐fold), suppressible by muscarinic and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) antagonists [atropine, NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME)] but resistant to nicotinic and serotoninergic antagonists (mecamylamine, methylsergide). Fluoxetine administered 10–30 min. following experimental vascular photo‐thrombosis increased arterial diameter (1.3–1.6), inducing partial, but lasting reperfusion of the ischaemic brain. In brain endothelial b.End.3 cells, fluoxetine induced rapid muscarinic receptor‐dependent increases in intracellular [Ca2+] and promoted albumin‐ and eNOS‐dependent nitric oxide (NO) production and HSP90 interaction. In vitro, fluoxetine suppressed recombinant human acetylcholinesterase (rhAChE) activity only in the presence of albumin. That fluoxetine induces vasodilatation of cerebral arterioles suggests co‐promotion of endothelial muscarinic and nitric oxide signalling, facilitated by albumin‐dependent inhibition of serum AChE.
Intrapleural delivery of MSCs attenuates acute lung injury by paracrine/endocrine mechanism
Authors: Qin Zhao‐hui , Xu Jin‐fu , Qu Jie‐ming , Zhang Jing , Sai Yin , Chen Chun‐mei , Wu Lian , Yu Long 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTwo different repair mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are suggested to participate in the repair of acute lung injury (ALI): (i) Cell engraftment mechanism, (ii) Paracrine/endocrine mechanism. However, the exact roles they play in the repair remain unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of paracrine/endocrine mechanism using a novel intrapleural delivery method of MSCs. Either 1 × 106 MSCs in 300 μl of PBS or 300 μl PBS alone were intrapleurally injected into rats with endotoxin‐induced ALI. On days 1, 3 or 7 after injections, samples of lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected from each rat for assessment of lung injury, biochemical analysis and histology. The distribution of MSCs was also traced by labelling the cells with 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). MSCs intrapleural injection significantly improved LPS‐induced lung histopathology compared with PBS‐treated group at day 3. There was also a significant decrease in total cell counts and protein concentration in BALF at day 7 in the MSCs ‐treated rats compared to PBS control group. Tracking the DAPI‐marked MSCs showed that there were no exotic MSCs in the lung parenchyma. MSCs administration resulted in a down‐regulation of pro‐inflammatory response to endotoxin by reducing TNF‐α both in the BALF and in the lung, while up‐regulating the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 in the lung. In conclusion, treatment with intrapleural MSCs administration markedly attenuates the severity of endotoxin‐induced ALI. This role is mediated by paracrine/endocrine repair mechanism of MSCs rather than by the cell engraftment mechanism.
The efficacy of virtual reality simulation training in laparoscopy: a systematic review of randomized trials
Authors: LARSEN CHRISTIAN RIFBJERG , OESTERGAARD JEANETT , OTTESEN BENT S. , SOERENSEN JETTE LED 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground. Virtual reality (VR) simulators for surgical training might possess the properties needed for basic training in laparoscopy. Evidence for training efficacy of VR has been investigated by research of varying quality over the past decade. Objective. To review randomized controlled trials regarding VR training efficacy compared with traditional or no training, with outcome measured as surgical performance in humans or animals. Data sources. In June 2011 Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched using the following medical subject headings (MeSh) terms: Laparoscopy/standards, Computing methodologies, Programmed instruction, Surgical procedures, Operative, and the following free text terms: Virtual real* OR simulat* AND Laparoscop* OR train* Limits: Controlled trials. Study eligibility criteria. All randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of VR training in laparoscopy, with outcome measured as surgical performance. Methods. A total of 98 studies were screened, 26 selected and 12 included, with a total of 241 participants. Results. Operation time was reduced by 17–50% by VR training, depending on simulator type and training principles. Proficiency‐based training appeared superior to training based on fixed time or fixed numbers of repetition. Simulators offering training for complete operative procedures came out as more efficient than simulators offering only basic skills training. Conclusions. Skills in laparoscopic surgery can be increased by proficiency‐based procedural VR simulator training. There is substantial evidence (grade IA – IIB) to support the use of VR simulators in laparoscopic training.
Predation of threespine stickleback by dragonfly naiads
Authors: Lescak Emily A. , von Hippel Frank A. , Lohman Brian K. , Sherbick Mary L. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThreespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) populations that have evolved pelvic girdle reduction are most commonly found in lakes with low dissolved ion concentration, a lack of piscivorous fishes and abundant macroinvertebrate predators. Researchers have speculated that macroinvertebrates have a propensity to consume prey with pelvic spines. If this is true, perhaps macroinvertebrates use the stickleback's spines to facilitate capture and manipulation. This study tested whether dragonfly naiads differentially prey upon stickleback possessing either a complete or reduced pelvis and documented naiad hunting and capturing behaviour. Results from an arena experiment suggest that naiads do not prey more heavily upon individuals with one pelvic phenotype over the other. However, results from trials where the naiads were presented with one stickleback with pelvic spines and another without suggest that naiads prey more heavily upon small stickleback with pelvic spines and large stickleback without pelvic spines and that they adjust their predatory behaviour based upon the pelvic phenotype of the prey.
A new methodology for evaluating the damage to the skin barrier caused by repeated application and removal of adhesive dressings
Authors: Waring Mike , Bielfeldt Stephan , Mätzold Katja , Wilhelm Klaus‐Peter 
Published: June 2012

BackgroundChronic wounds require frequent dressing changes. Adhesive dressings used for this indication can be damaging to the stratum corneum, particularly in the elderly where the skin tends to be thinner. Understanding the level of damage caused by dressing removal can aid dressing selection.MethodsThis study used a novel methodology that applied a stain to the skin and measured the intensity of that stain after repeated application and removal of a series of different adhesive types. Additionally, a traditional method of measuring skin barrier damage (transepidermal water loss) was also undertaken and compared with the staining methodology.ResultsThe staining methodology and measurement of transepidermal water loss differentiated the adhesive dressings, showing that silicone adhesives caused least trauma to the skin.ConclusionThe staining methodology was shown to be as effective as transepidermal water loss in detecting damage to the stratum corneum and was shown to detect disruption of the barrier earlier than the traditional technique.
Classification and distribution patterns of plant communities on Socotra Island, Yemen
Authors: De Sanctis Michele , Adeeb Achmed , Farcomeni Alessio , Patriarca Chiara , Saed Achmed , Attorre Fabio 
Published: June 2012

AbstractQuestionWhat are the main plant communities and vegetation zones on Socotra Island in relation to climatic, geological and topographic factors?LocationSocotra Island (Yemen).MethodsA total of 318 relevés were sampled along an altitudinal gradient. Floristic and environmental (topographic, geological and climatic) data were collected and analysed using numerical classification and NDMS ordination; an analysis of the correlation between plant communities and environmental factors was also performed.ResultsEight types of woody vegetation, seven of shrubs, six of herbaceous and seven of halophytic vegetation were identified. Ordination revealed the importance of altitudinal and climatic gradients, as well as of geological substrata.ConclusionsFour vegetation zones were identified. The first three are located in the arid region with altitude ranging from 0 to 1000 m and the fourth in the semi‐arid region from 1000 to 1500 m a.s.l. Specifically they are: (1) an arid coastal plain mainly located on an alluvial substratum between 0 and 200 m, characterized by shrubland and grassland communities; (2) a transition zone from 200 to 400 m, between the alluvial substratum and the upper limestone area; (3) an arid limestone zone between 400 and 1000 m, interspersed with hills and plateaus; and (4) a semi‐arid upper zone of the Haghier Mountains from 1000 to 1500 m on a granitic substratum.
Do goats preserve the forest? Evaluating the effects of grazing goats on combustible Mediterranean scrub
Authors: Mancilla‐Leytón J.M. , Pino Mejías R. , Martín Vicente A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractQuestionCan grazing by goats eliminate potentially combustible plant biomass and thereby change the flammability of mediterranean vegetation?LocationDoñana Natural Park, SW Spain.MethodsThe effect of goat grazing was evaluated, over a period of 42 mo, in 100 ha of pine forest understorey with an average density of 217 trees·ha−1. Grazing by large herbivores was halted temporarily in the study area, with wild deer excluded from 1970, and domestic goats excluded from 2002. However, following the creation of grazing exclusion plots and sampling of the vegetation within as a control, adult female Payoya goats were introduced to the area in spring 2007. Vegetation was sampled twice yearly using the point‐intercept method, and data of frequency, cover and phytovolume obtained. The study was completed with an analysis of change in the flammability of the study area (determined using data on the phytovolume and flammability of species). Changes in species richness and species diversity were determined.ResultsAfter 42 mo, the phytovolume of the ungrazed vegetation had increased significantly by 32%, while bare soil had decreased by 5%. This gave rise to a significant increase in flammability of 25%. Within the grazed area, species phytovolume decreased significantly by 34%, leading to a significant increase in bare soil of 51%, while the flammability of the area decreased by 22%. The number of species remained constant throughout the study at 20 species. Significant differences in species diversity were observed between grazed and ungrazed areas after 42 mo of grazing (species diversity index after 42 mo of exclusion = 1.59 ± 0.17, species diversity index after 42 mo of grazing = 0.95 ± 0.13).ConclusionsMonitoring of the scrub understorey has shown the positive impact of grazing goats: the resulting decrease in the quantity of total phytovolume (easily combustible vegetation) induces changes in species diversity without lowering species richness and reduces the risk of fire.
Air Services at Australian Cities: Change and Inertia 2005–2010
Authors: FUELLHART KURT , O'CONNOR KEVIN 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis research analyses international and domestic air services in Australia during a six year period, 2005–2010. We place air services into their urban context by relating them to city‐based measures such as population, tourism, and producer services employment among other measures. The research takes a supply‐side approach in an assessment of international and domestic capacity at major Australian airports from the perspective of the number of seats, the nature of links, and competition. Multiple linkage analysis and the concept of effective competitors allow us to explore this perspective at greater depth. Our findings show substantial changes in international patterns, specifically favouring Melbourne, Perth, and Gold Coast. In contrast, the domestic scene is characterised by little change, an outcome we link to the underlying stability in the settlement system and the location of some major economic activities. While the results are related to our measures of urban characteristics, some special region‐specific aspects are also at work. Finally, in both the international and domestic cases we find evidence of greater airline diversity which may benefit consumers.
Determining the Accuracy of Historical Landscape Paintings
Authors: FARAG‐MILLER MADIHA , MILLER KEITH , KIRKPATRICK J B. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractHistorical landscape paintings are widely used to reconstruct past environments. However, artists did not necessarily fully depict reality, many exercising license to relocate and remould features. This paper applies photogrammetric techniques to the problem of determining the accuracy of artistic depictions of landscapes. Four 19th century paintings of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia by different artists were used to test the methods. The artists varied in their accuracy, with Frankland, the surveyor, being the most accurate, and Glover, the romantic professional artist, being the least accurate. This variation suggests that the use of paintings for historical reconstructions and measurements of historic features should be preceded by an accuracy assessment.
Wildlife Visual Imagery: Do Pictures Used to Promote Destinations Online Match On‐site Species Visibility at Two Geographic Destinations?
Authors: CASTLEY J. GUY , BENNETT ADELE , PICKERING CATHERINE M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractDiverse photographic images (pictures) are used to promote wildlife tours on the Internet. But what pictures are used and are they likely to accurately reflect what visitors might see, and hence create realistic expectations for tourists? The relative importance of wildlife and the prevalence of iconic species were assessed for pictures on the Internet used by six English tour companies offering wildlife tours to very different destinations: Southern Africa and Australia. These were then compared with the likely visibility of wildlife at the destination. The content of 926 Southern African pictures representing 1316 different subjects, and 228 pictures representing 307 different subjects from Australia were classified into four themes (wildlife, landscapes/vegetation, activities, accommodation). Wildlife, particularly large mammals, was more frequently used for Southern African tours (43%) whereas pictures for Australian tours were often of landscapes (45%). Large, social mammals active during the day and hence highly visible (e.g. elephant, n= 64) were often used, while iconic, but cryptic, species such as koalas (n= 7), Tasmanian devil (n= 1), leopards (n= 12), and black rhinos (n= 2) were seldom used. Therefore, online pictures used for wildlife tours appear to merge well with what tourists are likely to see at the destination, but appear to diverge somewhat from established destination images for these two regions, particularly Australia.
Contextualist Theories of Vagueness
Authors: Åkerman Jonas 
Published: June 2012

AbstractDuring the last couple of decades, several attempts have been made to come up with a theory that can handle the various semantic, logical and philosophical problems raised by the vagueness of natural languages. One of the most influential ideas that have come into fashion in recent years is the idea that vagueness should be analysed as a form of context sensitivity. Such contextualist theories of vagueness have gained some popularity, but many philosophers have remained sceptical of the prospects of finding a tenable contextualist solution to the problems of vagueness. This paper provides an introduction to the most popular contextualist accounts, and a discussion of some of the most important arguments for and against them.
Impaired body but not face perception in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Shin Na Young , Jang Joon Hwan , Kim Hee Sun , Shim Geumsook , Hwang Jae Yeon , Kim Sung Nyun , Kwon Jun Soo 
Published: June 2012

Background. Empirical evidence involving the processing of social information by patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been relatively scarce. Our study investigated the perceptual abilities of patients with OCD to recognize human faces and bodies.Method. Fifty‐four drug‐free or drug‐naïve patients with OCD and 42 healthy controls performed discrimination tasks consisting of four types of stimuli: two sets of faces that were manipulated with regard to configuration and features, human bodies, and chairs. The stimuli were presented in upright and upside‐down orientations.Results. Patients with OCD were significantly less accurate in discriminating pairs of bodily postures implying actions. However, we found no significant differences between patient and control groups in the ability to recognize faces and chairs. The inversion effects for bodies and faces were also comparable between the two groups.Conclusions. The current findings suggest that patients with OCD experience difficulty in perceiving static forms of bodily postures, but are able to adequately recognize human faces. Our data indicate a selective deficit in the perception of bodily postures in those with OCD and suggest that this deficit is probably not related to the abnormal configurational processing of social objects.
A new heterogeneous family of telomerically encoded Cryptosporidium proteins
Authors: Bouzid Maha , Hunter Paul R. , McDonald Vincent , Elwin Kristin , Chalmers Rachel M. , Tyler Kevin M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractCryptosporidiosis is predominantly caused by two closely related species of protozoan parasites the zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum and anthroponotic Cryptosporidium hominis which diverge phenotypically in respect to host range and virulence. Using comparative genomics we identified two genes displaying overt heterogeneity between species. Although initial work suggested both were species specific, Cops‐1 for C. parvum and Chos‐1 for C. hominis, subsequent study identified an abridged ortholog of Cops‐1 in C. hominis. Cops‐1 and Chos‐1 showed limited, but significant, similarity to each other and share common features: (i) telomeric location: Cops‐1 is the last gene on chromosome 2, whilst Chos‐1 is the first gene on chromosome 5, (ii) encode circa 50‐kDa secreted proteins with isoelectric points above 10, (iii) are serine rich, and (iv) contain internal nucleotide repeats. Importantly, Cops‐1 sequence contains specific SNPs with good discriminatory power useful epidemiologically. C. parvum‐infected patient sera recognized a 50‐kDa protein in antigen preparations of C. parvum but not C. hominis, consistent with Cops‐1 being antigenic for patients. Interestingly, anti‐Cops‐1 monoclonal antibody (9E1) stained oocyst content and sporozoite surface of C. parvum only. This study provides a new example of protozoan telomeres as rapidly evolving contingency loci encoding putative virulence factors.
Evolving while invading: rapid adaptive evolution in juvenile development time for a biological control organism colonizing a high‐elevation environment
Authors: McEvoy Peter B. , Higgs Kimberley M. , Coombs Eric M. , Karaçetin Evrim , Ann Starcevich Leigh 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe report evidence of adaptive evolution in juvenile development time on a decadal timescale for the cinnabar moth
Tyria jacobaeae (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) colonizing new habitats and hosts from the Willamette Valley to the Coast Range and Cascades Mountains in Oregon. Four lines of evidence reveal shorter egg to pupa juvenile development times evolved in the mountains, where cooler temperatures shorten the growing season: (i) field observations showed that the mountain populations have shorter phenological development; (ii) a common garden experiment revealed genetic determination of phenotypic differences in juvenile development time between Willamette Valley and mountain populations correlated with the growing season; (iii) a laboratory experiment rearing offspring from parental crosses within and between Willamette Valley and Cascades populations demonstrated polygenic inheritance, high heritability, and genetic determination of phenotypic differences in development times; and (iv) statistical tests that exclude random processes (founder effect, genetic drift) in favor of natural selection as explanations for observed differences in phenology. These results support the hypothesis that rapid adaptation to the cooler mountain climate occurred in populations established from populations in the warmer valley climate. Our findings should motivate regulators to require evaluation of evolutionary potential of candidate biological control organisms prior to release.
Understanding admixture patterns in supplemented populations: a case study combining molecular analyses and temporally explicit simulations in Atlantic salmon
Authors: Perrier Charles , Baglinière Jean‐Luc , Evanno Guillaume 
Published: June 2012

AbstractGenetic admixture between wild and introduced populations is a rising concern for the management of endangered species. Here, we use a dual approach based on molecular analyses of samples collected before and after hatchery fish introduction in combination with a simulation study to obtain insight into the mechanisms of admixture in wild populations. Using 17 microsatellites, we genotyped pre‐ and post‐stocking samples from four Atlantic salmon populations supplemented with non‐native fish to estimate genetic admixture. We also used individual‐based temporally explicit simulations based on realistic demographic and stocking data to predict the extent of admixture. We found a low admixture by hatchery stocks within prestocking samples but moderate to high values in post‐stocking samples (from 12% to 60%). The simulation scenarios best fitting the real data suggested a 10–25 times lower survival of stocked fish relative to wild individuals. Simulations also suggested relatively high dispersal rates of stocked and wild fish, which may explain some high levels of admixture in weakly stocked populations and the persistence of indigenous genotypes in heavily stocked populations. This study overall demonstrates that combining genetic analyses with simulations can significantly improve the understanding of admixture mechanisms in wild populations.