bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of wind stress anomalies on the seasonal pattern of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) settlement in South Australia
Authors: LINNANE ADRIAN , JAMES CHARLES , MIDDLETON JOHN , HAWTHORNE PETER , HOARE MATTHEW 
Published: June 2010

AbstractQuantified estimates of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardii) puerulus settlement have been undertaken in the Southern Zone fishery of South Australia since the early 1990s. An analysis of mean monthly puerulus settlement indices from 1995 to 2007 in three monitoring sites revealed a strong seasonal correlation (r > 0.94 between sites) in settlement patterns. Settlement was highest during the winter months of June, July and August with peak settlement in all sites occurring in July. A reduced secondary settlement occurred during February and March. Seasonal trends were correlated with monthly wind stress and direction data in order to investigate possible environmental drivers of settlement. Using monthly averages of wind stress, it was hypothesized that strong along‐shore wind‐stress anomalies (ASWSA) prior to peak settlement would influence puerulus indices. Maximum ASWSA over the December–May period prior to maximum settlement was therefore examined. The results showed significant correlations (P < 0.1, r = 0.51–0.90) between wind stress and puerulus settlement in all but one site. We suggest that storm events, in combination with onshore surface drift during the period of settlement, are the principal physical oceanographic mechanisms influencing settlement patterns within the Southern Zone rock lobster fishery of South Australia.
Reproductive traits of riverine shrimps may explain the impact of altered flow conditions
Authors: RICHARDSON ADAM , HUMPHRIES PAUL 
Published: June 2010

Summary1. The response of a species to environmental disturbance is largely mediated by its life history traits that have evolved within a particular habitat template. Altered flow seasonality, as a direct consequence of river regulation, is a major environmental disturbance and has been implicated in the redistribution of a range of riverine organisms. An understanding of the reasons for species‐specific responses, however, has proved elusive.2. Here, we investigated the reproduction of three riverine shrimp species (Paratya australiensis, Caridina mccullochi and Macrobrachium australiense) that show contrasting patterns in distribution and abundance in regulated Australian rivers.3. In all three species, breeding females were largest, and fecundity was greatest early in the breeding season (November–December). Fecundity and egg size subsequently declined, with lower investment (overall and per offspring) perhaps indicating that conditions for larvae were more favourable later in the breeding season (a time normally characterised by low flow, warm water and high productivity).4. Interspecific differences in absolute values of reproductive traits were, however, striking. Paratya australiensis has typically ‘opportunistic’ traits (small body size, small eggs and high fecundity), whereas M. australiense has more ‘equilibrium’ traits (larger body size, larger eggs and moderate fecundity). Caridina mccullochi is intermediate, having neither high fecundity nor large size, and has limited swimming ability when young. This species is now absent from at least one heavily regulated river in south‐eastern Australia, and we hypothesise that its life history may explain this absence.5. Studies involving aspects of life history, such as reproductive traits, are likely to improve our understanding of a range of organisms and assist in the management of disturbed or altered environments.
Well‐controlled proinflammatory cytokine responses of Peyer’s patch cells to probiotic Lactobacillus casei
Authors: Chiba Yukihide , Shida Kan , Nagata Satoru , Wada Mariko , Bian Lei , Wang Chongxin , Shimizu Toshiaki , Yamashiro Yuichiro , Kiyoshima‐Shibata Junko , Nanno Msanobu , Nomoto Koji 
Published: June 2010

SummaryIn order to clarify the probiotic features of immunomodulation, cytokine production by murine spleen and Peyer’s patch (PP) cells was examined in response to probiotic and pathogenic bacteria. In spleen cells, probiotic Lactobacillus casei induced interleukin (IL)‐12 production by CD11b+ cells more strongly than pathogenic Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and effectively promoted the development of T helper (Th) type 1 cells followed by high levels of secretion of interferon (IFN)‐γ. Although the levels of IL‐12 secreted by PP cells in response to L. casei were lower in comparison with spleen cells, Th1 cells developed as a result of this low‐level induction of IL‐12. However, IFN‐γ secretion by the L. casei‐induced Th1 cells stimulated with a specific antigen was down‐regulated in PP cells. Development of IL‐17‐producing Th17 cells was efficiently induced in PP cells by antigen stimulation. Lactobacillus casei slightly, but significantly, inhibited the antigen‐induced secretion of IL‐17 without a decrease in the proportion of Th17 cells. No bacteria tested induced the development of IL‐10‐producing, transforming growth factor‐β‐producing or Foxp3‐expressing regulatory T cells, thus suggesting that certain probiotics might regulate proinflammatory responses through as yet unidentified mechanisms in PP cells. These data show probiotic L. casei to have considerable potential to induce IL‐12 production and promote Th1 cell development, but the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL‐12 and IL‐17 may be well controlled in PP cells.
Methodologic evaluation of adaptive conjoint analysis to assess patient preferences: an application in oncology
Authors: Pieterse Arwen H. , Stiggelbout Anne M. , Marijnen Corrie A.M. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground  Adaptive conjoint analysis (ACA) is an individually tailored preferences elicitation technique that mimics actual decision‐making processes by asking participants to make trade‐offs between the various dimensions that underlie decision problems. ACA is increasingly applied in patient preferences assessments but formal evaluation of its validity and reliability is lacking.Objective  To investigate ACA’s validity and reliability in elicitation of treatment outcome preferences.Methods  Sixty‐eight disease‐free rectal cancer patients, treated with surgery with or without preoperative radiotherapy were asked to complete exercises to assess their preferences for radiotherapy [using the treatment trade‐off method (TTM)] and for key outcomes associated with radiotherapy (using ACA). We assessed (i) rank ordering of ACA‐derived outcome‐probability utilities, (ii) compensatory decision making, (iii) ACA test–retest reliability, and (iv) concordance of ACA‐ and TTM‐based preferences.Results  All participants completed the TTM and 66 completed the ACA questionnaire, in 15 min on average. Outcome utilities were rank ordered in agreement with probabilities from best to worst in most participants, except for sexual dysfunction. Most participants were willing to trade survival and their most important outcome. Mean importance ratings were similar at retest. ACA‐ and TTM‐based preferences differed. TTM‐based preferences were related to past treatment, ACA‐based preferences were not.Conclusions  ACA assesses group‐level preferences reliably over time and captures individual preferences independently from treatment experience in treated cancer patients. ACA seems a valid treatment outcome preference elicitation method in a context in which trade‐offs between cure and quality of life need to be considered.
Detection of Hypoxia Inducible Factors and Angiogenic Growth Factors during Foetal Endochondral and Intramembranous Ossification
Authors: De Spiegelaere W. , Cornillie P. , Casteleyn C. , Burvenich C. , Van den Broeck W. 
Published: June 2010

With 6 figures and 1 tableSummaryDuring skeletogenesis, the development of a new vascular network, i.e. angiogenesis, is triggered by hypoxia through the activation of the hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) HIF‐1α and HIF‐2α. HIFs regulate the expression of several genes, including those coding for angiogenic growth factors such as VEGFA, angiopoietin‐1 (ANGPT1) and angiopoietin‐2 (ANGPT2). The expression of HIFs and angiogenic growth factors is well documented in endochondral ossification, but few data exist on their expression during intramembranous ossification. In this study, the localization of these factors was examined using immunohistochemistry and RT‐PCR in bones of porcine foetuses. Immunostaining for HIF‐1α and HIF‐2α was observed during endochondral ossification, whereas only HIF‐2α was present at sites of intramembranous ossification. Furthermore, immunostaining for ANGPT2 was present at sites of endochondral and intramembranous ossification. In addition, gene transcripts for ANGPT1, ANGPT2 and VEGFA were detected with RT‐PCR in laser capture microdissected isolates from both types of ossification. These results indicate that angiogenesis plays an important role during endochondral and intramembranous ossification. However, the different expression pattern of the HIF‐α subunits suggests that alternative regulatory pathways trigger angiogenesis in these distinct types of ossification.
Mechanisms of Mate Investment in the Polygamous Fowl, Gallus gallus
Authors: Wilson David R. , McDonald Paul G. , Evans Christopher S. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractMale fowl (Gallus gallus) that have recently mated invest in their mates by producing antipredator alarm signals at a higher rate. It remains unclear, however, whether these males are investing judiciously in their mates, or responding more generally to recent mating success. Here, we manipulated each male’s mating experience with two different females to test whether males invest selectively in their mates. For 1 wk, males could interact with both females, but could mate with only one of them. In the second week, we removed either the mated or the unmated female and measured the male’s rate of alarm calling. Males did not invest preferentially in their mates, suggesting that increased alarm calling is a more general response to recent mating experience. This relationship could be based on a relatively simple cognitive rule of thumb or on an underlying physiological mechanism. Testosterone and corticosterone are associated with reproduction and antipredator behaviour in other species and so could provide the necessary physiological link in fowl. To test this, we measured plasma levels of testosterone and corticosterone before, during and after mating. Results show that hormone levels did not change as a function of male mating status and hence cannot provide the link between mating and calling behaviour. Instead, we suggest that a general cognitive mechanism is more likely to explain prudent mate investment in this species.
Spermatozoa Concentration, Seminal Plasma Composition and Their Physiological Relationship in the Endangered Stellate Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) and Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii )
Authors: Li P , Rodina M , Hulak M , Li Z‐H , Linhart O 
Published: June 2010

ContentsComparative studies of ionic composition, osmolality, protein concentration and pH of seminal plasma along with spermatozoa concentrations were carried out in stellate sturgeon, Acipenser stellatus, and Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii. Analysis of A. gueldenstaedtii sperm showed significantly higher concentrations of Na+ (34.58 ± 4.61 mm), Ca2+ (0.35 ± 0.12 mm), Mg2+ (0.70 ± 0.25 mm), Cl− (13.50 ± 4.04 mm) and proteins (0.60 ± 0.29 mg/ml) in the seminal plasma than did seminal plasma of A. stellatus: Na+ (20.08 ± 10.75 mm), Ca2+ (0.28 ± 0.06 mm), Mg2+ (0.29 ± 0.05 mm), Cl− (7.50 ± 3.00 mm) and 0.30 ± 0.11 mg/ml proteins. Significantly higher concentration of K+ (5.42 ± 1.06 mm) was observed in A. stellatus compared to A. gueldenstaedtii K+ (2.29 ± 0.50 mm). Concentration of Na+ was positively correlated with osmolality (r = 0.819), levels of Cl− (r = 0.922) and Mg2+ (r = 0.727) and pH (r = 0.848). The concentration of Mg2+ was positively correlated with protein concentration (r = 0.774), Na+ (r = 0.727), Cl− (r = 0.872) and Ca2+ (r = 0.801). A positive relationship was also found between concentration of K+ and spermatozoa concentration (r = 0.709). Results revealed strong inter‐species differences in several parameters. The data should be useful for artificial fertilization and for cryopreservation of sturgeon sperm.
Association between β‐adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms and relative response to β2‐agonists and anticholinergic drugs in Japanese asthmatic patients
Authors: ASANO Koichiro , YAMADA‐YAMASAWA Wakako , KUDOH Hiroyasu , MATSUZAKI Tatsu , NAKAJIMA Takahiro , HAKUNO Haruhiko , HIRAOKA Rika , FUKUNAGA Koichi , OGUMA Tsuyoshi , SAYAMA Koichi , YAMAGUCHI Kazuhiro , NAGABUKURO Akira , HARADA Yosuke , ISHIZAKA Akitoshi 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Whether β2‐adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) polymorphisms are associated with airway responsiveness to β2‐agonist medications remains controversial, partly due to factors that may confound pharmacogenetic associations, including age, cigarette smoking and airway remodelling. To overcome these problems, we performed an analysis using parameters that reflected the specific bronchodilator response to β2‐agonists.Methods:  The increases in FEV1 after inhalation of procaterol hydrochloride (ΔFEV1 procaterol) or oxitropium bromide (ΔFEV1 oxitropium), and after sequential inhalation of procaterol and oxitropium (total airway reversibility), were measured in 81 Japanese patients with moderate to severe asthma. Approximately 3 kb of the DNA sequence of the coding and 5′‐flanking regions of ADRB2 were genotyped by direct sequencing and PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.Results:  The mean age of the participants was 54 years, and 38 (47%) were smokers. Although ΔFEV1 procaterol and ΔFEV1 oxitropium adjusted for predicted FEV1 were not associated with ADRB2 polymorphisms, the ratio of ΔFEV1 procaterol to total airway reversibility was significantly associated with the ADRB2 A46G genotype (P < 0.05). Patients who were homozygous for the A46 allele (arginine at amino acid 16) were more responsive than carriers of the G46 (glycine 16) allele (P = 0.008). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that ΔFEV1 procaterol was correlated with the number of A46 alleles (P = 0.014), and also with total airway reversibility (P < 0.001) and smoking index in current smokers (P = 0.009).Conclusions:  The ADRB2 A46G polymorphism was associated with a relatively greater bronchodilator responsiveness to β2‐agonists even in elderly asthmatic patients and smokers.
Long‐term non‐invasive ventilation to manage persistent ventilatory failure after COPD exacerbation
Authors: OSCROFT Nicholas S. , QUINNELL Timothy G. , SHNEERSON John M. , SMITH Ian E. 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Patients with ventilatory failure at discharge from hospital following an exacerbation of COPD (ECOPD) have increased work of breathing and reduced inspiratory muscle strength compared with those with a normal arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2). They also have a significantly worse prognosis. Long‐term non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) may offer a treatment strategy but benefits have not been established.Methods:  We examined the outcomes of 35 patients, with a PaCO2 >7.5 kPa and normal pH, following hospital admission with an ECOPD. Patients were initiated on long‐term NIPPV. Our aims were to establish if NIPPV was tolerated and to describe the effects on ventilatory parameters.Results:  Daytime arterial blood gases and nocturnal ventilatory parameters improved significantly on NIPPV. Diurnal PaO2, self‐ventilating, rose from (mean (SD)) 7.3 (1.8) to 8.1 (0.9) kPa (P = 0.005) and PaCO2 fell from 8.8 (1.3) to 7.3 (0.8) kPa (P ≤ 0.001). Mean overnight oxygen saturations increased from 82% (7%) to 89% (2%) (P ≤ 0.001) and mean overnight transcutaneous carbon dioxide fell from 7.6 (1.3) to 5.6 (1.7) kPa (P ≤ 0.001). Similar changes were seen in a group of stable COPD patients, who initiated NIPPV without a preceding exacerbation, suggesting improvements were not solely due to recovery from exacerbation. Acceptance (89%) and compliance (8.4 (3.5) h/day) with domiciliary treatment were good. Median survival was 28.6 months (95% CI: 10.9–46.8).Conclusions:  NIPPV was well tolerated in this group and appears to improve ventilation. Our preliminary data support further investigation of NIPPV in patients who remain hypercapnic after hospital admission with ECOPD.
Four‐year impact of a continuous quality improvement effort implemented by a network of diabetes outpatient clinics: the AMD‐Annals initiative
Authors: Nicolucci A. , Rossi M. C. , Arcangeli A. , Cimino A. , De Bigontina G. , Fava D. , Gentile S. , Giorda C. , Meloncelli I. , Pellegrini F. , Valentini U. , Vespasiani G. ,   on behalf of AMD‐Annals Study Group
Published: June 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 1041–1048 (2010)AbstractAims  We evaluated the impact of a continuous quality improvement effort implemented by a network of Italian diabetes clinics operating in the national healthcare system.Methods  This was a controlled before‐and‐after study involving 95 centres, of which 67 joined the initiative since 2004 (group A) and 18 were first involved in 2007 (group B, control). All centres used electronic medical record systems. Information on quality indicators was extracted for the period 2004–2007. Data were centrally analysed anonymously and results were published annually. Each centre’s performance was ranked against the ‘best performers’. We compared quality indicators between the two groups of centres over 4 years.Results  Over 100 000 Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were evaluated annually. The proportion of patients with glycated haemoglobin levels < 7% increased by 6% in group A (2007–2004 difference) and by 1.3% in group B. The proportion of patients with low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol < 100 mg/dl improved by over 10% in both groups. The rate of patients with blood pressure values ≤ 130/85 mmHg increased in group A (+6.4%), but not in group B (–1.4%). The use of insulin increased in group A only (+5.2%), while the use of statins increased by over 20% in both groups.Conclusions  A physician‐led quality improvement effort, based on the systematic evaluation of routine data, is effective in improving the performance of a large number of diabetes clinics. The small percentage increase in the number of patients at target, if applied to large numbers of patients, would translate into a significant impact on public health.
Procedural methodology for a grounded meta‐analysis of qualitative case studies
Authors: Stall‐Meadows Celia , Hyle Adrienne 
Published: June 2010

AbstractUniversity researchers conduct large numbers of case studies in the field of consumer studies each year and many are published in the research journals. Although illuminative and rich in description, qualitative data collected in case studies are singular and often lack generalizability. There is a need for comprehensive studies that subsume individual case studies related to consumer sciences in nutrition, apparel and clothing, consumer consumption, housing, and family studies.The purpose of this paper was to present a step‐by‐step methodological procedure for a qualitative meta‐analysis, using components of Straus and Corbin's grounded theory data coding technique. This research provides a systematic and rigorous research procedure for deriving hypothetical statements from multiple case studies in the consumer studies discipline as well as other academic disciplines. This method offers a way to overcome the limitation of individual, data‐burdensome case studies bounded by context. It extracts conceptual trends across individual case study and eliminates these contextual boundaries. It fills a void in research techniques, by combining existing qualitative case study methods, grounded theory coding techniques, and meta‐analysis to create generalizable hypotheses, grounded in the data. This methodology can provide testable hypotheses which contribute to the larger picture of an overall theory in consumer studies or another academic field.
Dialysate and Blood Temperature During Hemodialysis: Comparing Isothermic Dialysis With a Single‐Pass Batch System
Authors: Dhondt Annemieke , Eloot Sunny , Verbeke Francis , Vanholder Raymond 
Published: June 2010

AbstractThe Genius is a convenient single‐pass batch hemodialysis system. Dialysate is heated during the preparation phase. Once the container is filled at one of the three available starting temperatures, dialysate cools spontaneously. As dialysate temperature plays an important role in hemodynamic stability, knowledge of the instantaneous dialysate temperature is important. We documented the evolution of dialysate temperature during Genius dialysis with dialysate prepared at two different temperatures (low and medium) as well as its effect on blood temperature and hemodynamic stability. Genius dialysis was compared to isothermic dialysis obtained by a module programmed to obtain a constant blood temperature. With Genius, dialysate temperature progressively decreased from 36.3 (low) and 37.6°C (medium) in the beginning to 34.4 and 35.3°C at the end of the session, both following first‐order kinetics. During isothermic dialysis, dialysate cooled from 37.3 to 35.4°C, being warmer than with Genius low. Blood temperature decreased during dialysis with Genius low, from 36.4 to 36.2°C, whereas with medium temperature, blood temperature initially rose from 36.4°C at 15 min to 36.5 and 36.6°C at 30 and 60 min, respectively, followed by a decrease from 180 min onward, to 36.4°C at the end. During isothermic dialysis, blood temperature remained stable, as expected. Blood pressure decreased during all three schedules, with the highest value at 15 min during isothermic dialysis, and at the end of the session, the lowest value with isothermic dialysis.
Minimal Extracorporeal Circulation Circuit Standby for “Off‐Pump” Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation
Authors: Anastasiadis Kyriakos , Westaby Stephen , Antonitsis Polychronis , Argiriadou Helena , Karapanagiotidis Georgios , Pigott David , Papakonstantinou Christos 
Published: June 2010

AbstractWe propose, as an addition to the off‐pump technique for implantation of an axial flow left ventricular assist device, the use of a minimal extracorporeal circuit for circulatory support, in the setting of hemodynamic instability during implantation. Thus, the use of conventional cardiopulmonary bypass could be avoided. This set‐up provides simplicity and effectiveness and enhanced safety of the off‐pump implantation while it may offer adequate circulatory support if required.
The Efficacy of Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐2 Depends on Its Mode of Delivery
Authors: La Wan‐Geun , Kang Sun‐Woong , Yang Hee Seok , Bhang Suk Ho , Lee Sun Hwa , Park Jung‐Ho , Kim Byung‐Soo 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) induces bone regeneration in a dose‐dependent manner, with higher doses of BMP‐2 inducing greater bone formation. Previously, we showed that long‐term delivery of BMP‐2 provides better ectopic bone formation than short‐term delivery of an equivalent dose. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of orthotopic bone formation over a range of BMP‐2 doses, using different delivery modes. Heparin‐conjugated poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanospheres suspended in fibrin gel were used as a long‐term delivery system, and fibrin gel was used as a short‐term delivery system. Different doses of BMP‐2 were delivered to mouse calvarial defects using either long‐term or short‐term delivery systems. Eight weeks after treatment, bone regeneration was evaluated by histomorphometry. For both delivery systems, bone regeneration increased as the BMP‐2 dose increased up to 1 µg and did not increase beyond this dose. Importantly, at BMP‐2 doses higher than 1 µg, long‐term delivery resulted in much greater bone formation than short‐term delivery. This study shows that long‐term delivery of BMP‐2 is more effective at enhancing orthotopic bone formation than short‐term delivery over a range of doses.