bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BH4 therapy impacts the nutrition status and intake in children with phenylketonuria: 2‐year follow‐up
Authors: Singh Rani H. , Quirk Meghan E. , Douglas Teresa D. , Brauchla Mary C. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe impact of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) treatment on phenylalanine tolerance, medical‐food consumption, and nutrition status in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) was investigated. Six children (5–12 years) with well‐controlled PKU, responding to a BH4 dose of 20 mg/kg per day, were assessed for 24 months. Mean dietary phenylalanine tolerance increased from 421 ± 128 to 1470 ± 455 mg/day. Height Z scores significantly improved from 0.25 ± 0.99 at baseline to 0.53 ± 1.16 at 24 months (p for trend < 0.001). Patients tolerated more phenylalanine and more intact protein and required less medical food (protein supplement). Improved linear growth and nutrition status was seen over the course of the 24‐month follow‐up. Due to the variation in phenylalanine tolerance, dietary recommendations should be tailored to the patient's individual requirements.
Production of PUFA Concentrates from Poultry and Fish Processing Waste
Authors: Patil Dipak , Nag Ahindra 
Published: October 2010

AbstractIn fish and poultry processing, viscera are generally considered as a waste product and often discarded. Chicken and hilsa fish (Hilsa ilisa) viscera were used for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) linoleic (18:2n‐6), eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n‐3). Free fatty acids (FFA) were extracted by alkaline hydrolysis of chicken and fish viscera; yields were 5.2 and 5.9% (w/w) respectively. PUFA concentrates were obtained by a two step process—deduction of saturated fatty acids (FA) by low temperature crystallization in acetone followed by urea inclusion compound‐based fractionation. Acetone treatment removed 90 and 96% of saturated FA in chicken and fish viscera respectively with FA to acetone ratio of 1:12 (w/v). Using an urea to FA ratio (w/w) of 4.0, chicken viscera produced a maximum of 84.1% of PUFA concentrates containing 82.1% of linoleic acid with a yield of 10% where as in the case of fish viscera the maximum PUFA concentrates were 91.3% containing 78.2% of EPA‐DHA with the yield of 11%. Thus, the utilization of poultry and fish processing waste into the production of PUFA concentrates has been shown.
MRI of the central nervous system in MS patients with and without pain
Authors: Svendsenl Kristina Bacher , Sørensenl Leif , Jensenl Troels Stahelin , Hansenl Hans Jacob , Bachl Flemming Winther 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground: Central pain (CP) is a common symptom in MS. Multiple theories are present about the mechanism of CP. Previous studies suggested that lesion of the spinothalamic tract is a necessary condition for development of CP. No previous study has in detail evaluated the association between the specific site of demyelinations and the presence of CP in MS.Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the location of plaques in MS patients with CP including a group of MS patients without pain as a reference group.Methods: All patients underwent a bedside sensory examination and MRI of the brain and spinal cord. MR imaging was acquired on an 1.5 Tesla MR equipment. A trained neuroradiologist, blinded to pain status, evaluated the MRI.Results: Thirteen MS patients with CP and 10 MS patients without pain were included. Allodynia and/or dysesthesia were more frequent in pain patients (11/13 vs. 1/10, P <0.01). No difference was found in the number of patients with plaques in spinothalamic tract, dorsal column‐medial lemniscus, dorsolateral funiculus, grey substance, thalamus or capsula interna. A non‐significantly lower number of pain patients had lesions in thalamo‐cortical pathways (8/13 vs. 10/10, P =0.027).Conclusions: No association between CP and site of demyelinations was found, although a trend toward a higher prevalence of intact thalamo‐cortical pathways was seen in pain patients. CP was associated with allodynia, suggesting central hyperexcitability.
Altered nociceptive C fibre input to primary somatosensory cortex in an animal model of hyperalgesia
Authors: Jensenl Tanja , Granmo Marcus , Schouenborg Jens 
Published: October 2010

AbstractEvaluating potentially analgesic effects of drugs and various treatments is critically dependent on valid animal models of pain. Since primary somatosensory (SI) cortex is likely to play an important role in processing sensory aspects of pain, we here assess whether monitoring SI cortex nociceptive C fibre evoked potentials can provide useful information about central changes related to hyperalgesia in rats. Recordings of tactile and CO2‐laser C fibre evoked potentials (LCEPs) in forelimb and hind limb SI cortex were made 20–24 h after UV‐B irradiation of the heel at a dose that produced behavioural signs of hyperalgesia.LCEPs from irradiated skin increased significantly in duration but showed no significant change in magnitude, measured as area under curve (AUC). By contrast, LCEPs in hind limb SI cortex from skin sites nearby the irradiated skin showed no increase in duration or onset latency but increased significantly in magnitude after UV‐B irradiation. The LCEPs in forelimb or hind limb SI cortex elicited from forelimb skin did not change in magnitude, but were significantly delayed in hind limb SI cortex. Tramadol, a centrally acting analgesic known to reduce hyperalgesia, induced changes that counteracted the changes produced by UV‐B irradiation on transmission to SI cortex from the hind paw, but had no significant effect on time course of LCEPs from forelimb skin. Tactile evoked potentials were not affected by UV‐B irradiation or tramadol. We conclude that altered sensory processing related to hyperalgesia is reflected in altered LCEPs in SI cortex.
A subcutaneous polymeric opioid delivery system for the treatment of cancer pain
Authors: Grossman Stuart A. , Nesbit Suzanne 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe optimal control of pain related to cancer requires the use of potent opioid analgesics. Despite significant efforts by the World Health Organization and other international agencies, oral morphine and other opioids remain largely unavailable to 80% of the world's population. As more cancer cases are being diagnosed in the developing world than elsewhere, large numbers of patients worldwide suffer from cancer‐related pain without reasonable therapeutic options. This manuscript describes a polymeric opioid delivery system designed to provide opioids subcutaneously at a continuous rate for 1–3 months alleviating concerns regarding compliance, misuse, diversion and costs. This approach to opioid administration could substantially impact the global treatment of patients with cancer pain.
Metabolic changes in visual cortex of neonatal monocular enucleated rat: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
Authors: Chow April M. , Zhou Iris Y. , Fan Shu Juan , Chan Kannie W.Y. , Chan Kevin C. , Wu Ed X. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractNeonatal monocular enucleation (ME) is often employed to study the developmental mechanisms underlying visual perception and the cross‐modal changes in the central nervous system caused by early loss of the visual input. However, underlying biochemical or metabolic mechanisms that accompany the morphological, physiological and behavioral changes after ME are not fully understood. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats (N = 14) were prepared and divided into 2 groups. The enucleated group (N = 8) underwent right ME (right eye removal) at postnatal day 10, while the normal group (N = 6) was intact and served as a control. Three weeks after ME, single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) was performed over the visual cortex of each hemisphere in all animals with a point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence at 7 T. The taurine (Tau) and N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) levels were found to be significantly lower in the left visual cortex (contralateral to enucleated eye) for enucleated animals. Such metabolic changes measured in vivo likely reflected the cortical degeneration associated with the reduction of neurons, axon terminals and overall neuronal activity. This study also demonstrated that 1H MRS approach has the potential to characterize neonatal ME and other developmental neuroplasticity models noninvasively for the biochemical and metabolic processes involved.
Decreasing strain on the surgeon in gynecologic minimally invasive surgery by using semi‐active robotics
Authors: Tchartchian Garri , Dietzel Joanna , Bojahr Bernd , Hackethal Andreas , De Wilde Rudy 
Published: October 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the advantages of a surgeon‐controlled robotic endoscope holder in gynecologic minimally invasive solo‐surgery as compared with conventional assistance with a second surgeon.MethodsOne hundred gynecologic laparoscopies were consecutively allocated to surgery with either a robot as the surgical assistant or a conventional assistant surgeon. Total operation time, image stability, and frequency of corrective maneuvers of the camera, in addition to the surgeon's satisfaction regarding the ergonomics of the intervention, were recorded. All interventions were performed by the same surgeon. All laparoscopic surgery was classified as either easy or advanced surgery.ResultsThe image stability score was significantly higher (10 vs 7; P < 0.001) and fewer corrective maneuvers of the robotic endoscope were necessary (1 vs 5; P < 0.001) with the robotic laparoscope holder; in addition, the surgeon recorded a significantly higher satisfaction score for the ergonomics of the semi‐active robot (10 vs 7; P < 0.001).ConclusionThe robot does not prolong total operation time and increases the surgeon's comfort by improving image stability and laparoscope handling. It could provide major benefit, especially in complex gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.
An investigation of the power for separating closely linked QTL in experimental populations
Authors: KAO CHEN-HUNG , ZENG MIAO-HUI 
Published: October 2010

SummaryHu & Xu (2008) developed a statistical method for computing the statistical power for detecting a quantitative trait locus (QTL) located in a marker interval. Their method is based on the regression interval mapping method and allows experimenters to effectively investigate the power for detecting a QTL in a population. This paper continues to work on the power analysis of separating multiple-linked QTLs. We propose simple formulae to calculate the power of separating closely linked QTLs located in marker intervals. The proposed formulae are simple functions of information numbers, variance inflation factors and genetic parameters of a statistical model in a population. Both regression and maximum likelihood interval mappings suitable for detecting QTL in the marker intervals are considered. In addition, the issue of separating linked QTLs in the progeny populations from anF2subject to further self and/or random mating is also touched upon. One of the primary keys to our approach is to derive the genotypic distributions of three and four loci for evaluating the correlation structures between pairwise unobservable QTLs in the model across populations. The proposed formulae allow us to predict the power of separation when several factors, such as sample sizes, sizes and directions of QTL effects, distances between QTLs, interval sizes and relative QTL positions in the intervals, are considered together at a time in different experimental populations. Numerical justifications and Monte Carlo simulations were provided for confirmation and illustration.
A quantitative genetic study of starvation resistance at different geographic scales in natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: GOENAGA JULIETA , JOSÉ FANARA JUAN , HASSON ESTEBAN 
Published: October 2010

SummaryFood shortage is a stress factor that commonly affects organisms in nature. Resistance to food shortage or starvation resistance (SR) is a complex quantitative trait with direct implications on fitness. However, surveys of natural genetic variation in SR at different geographic scales are scarce. Here, we have measured variation in SR in sets of lines derived from nine natural populations ofDrosophila melanogastercollected in western Argentina. Our study shows that within population variation explained a larger proportion of overall phenotypic variance (80%) than among populations (7·2%). We also noticed that an important fraction of variation was sex-specific. Overall females were more resistant to starvation than males; however, the magnitude of the sexual dimorphism (SD) in SR varied among lines and explained a significant fraction of phenotypic variance in all populations. Estimates of cross-sex genetic correlations suggest that the genetic architecture of SR is only partially shared between sexes in the populations examined, thus, facilitating further evolution of the SD.
Maternal impairment of transposon regulation inDrosophila melanogasterby mutations in the genesaubergine,piwiandSuppressor of variegation 205
Authors: SIMMONS MICHAEL J. , THORP MICHAEL W. , BUSCHETTE JARED T. , PETERSON KATHERINE , CROSS ERIC W. , BJORKLUND ERIKA L. 
Published: October 2010

SummaryTP5, aPelement inserted in the telomere-associated sequences of the X chromosome, represses the excision of otherPelements in the germ line through a combination of maternal and zygotic effects. The maternal component of this repression is impaired by heterozygous mutations in theaubergineandSuppressor of variegation 205genes; one mutation in thepiwigene also appears to impair repression. In the female germ line, the level ofTP5mRNA is increased by these impairing mutations. The impairingaubergineandpiwimutations also increase the level of germ-line mRNA fromCP, a transgene that encodes theP-element transposase; however, theSuppressor of variegation 205mutation does not. These findings are discussed in terms of a model ofP-element regulation that involves post-transcriptional and chromatin re-organizing events mediated by maternally transmitted small RNAs derived from the telomericPelement.
Video analysis of host–parasite interactions in nests of Darwin’s finches
Authors: O’Connor Jody A. , Robertson Jeremy , Kleindorfer Sonia 
Published: October 2010

AbstractParasites place their hosts under strong selection for adaptive traits that increase parasite resistance. The initial impact of invasive parasites has rarely been observed and can be particularly strong on naïve hosts with limited prior exposure to parasites.Philornis downsiis an introduced fly to the Galapagos Islands whose parasitic larvae cause high mortality in nestlings of Darwin's finches. We used a within-nest camera system and nest monitoring data to examine this new host–parasite interaction in the wild. ManyP. downsiflies entered finch nests with incubated eggs or nestlings but only when parent finches were not present. ParasiticP. downsilarvae were observed to emerge from the nest base at night to feed both internally and externally on nestlings. Adult and nestling Darwin’s finches exhibit grooming and avoidance behaviours in the presence ofP. downsiparasites. Specifically, in nests with high parasite intensity, nestlings increased self-preening behaviour, ate larvae and stood on top of one another. Female finches probed into their nestling’s nares (first instar larvae reside in the nares) and probed into the nest base (second and third larvae reside in the nest base during the day). These findings shed light on the emergence of anti-parasite behaviour as well as host–parasite relationships after recent parasitism in a naïve host.
Population size and habitat preference of the Vulnerable Bale monkeyChlorocebus djamdjamensisin Odobullu Forest and its distribution across the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Addisu , Bekele Afework , Hemson Graham , Teshome Eyob , Atickem Anagaw 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe Bale monkeyChlorocebus djamdjamensisis a little-known primate endemic to the south-eastern highlands of Ethiopia. From August 2007 to May 2008 we surveyed to determine the species' habitat preferences and population size in the Odobullu Forest and its range across the Bale Mountains. In Odobullu Forest a total of 136 transects of 1.8–3.0 km were surveyed over a total distance of 280 km. Bale monkey groups were encountered only in bamboo forest, suggesting that the species is a bamboo forest specialist. The density and population size of the Bale monkey in the bamboo forest of Odobullu Forest were estimated to be 121–141 km-2and 1,718–2,002, respectively. At a larger scale, we assessed the distribution of the Bale monkey in 40% of the bamboo forest across the Bale Mountains within the species’ altitudinal range of 2,400–3,250 m. We identified the areas to be surveyed using a 200 m digital elevation model and a 10-m resolution satellite image. We found the Bale monkey in five areas, three of which are previously unrecorded locations for the species. The Bale monkey is now categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, partly based on the results of our surveys. Although extensive, our surveys did not cover all of the species’ potential habitat and further surveys are required across all of the bamboo forest of the Bale Mountains and Sidamo region (the western extension of the Bale Mountains).
Would masking the smell of ripening paddy-fields help mitigate human–elephant conflict in Sri Lanka?
Authors: Santiapillai Charles , Read Bruce 
Published: October 2010

AbstractDespite its small size and high human population Sri Lanka is home to c. 4,400 wild Asian elephantsElephas maximus. Human–elephant conflict around agriculture is severe, with > 100 elephants and c. 50 people killed annually. Elephants appear to be able to time their raiding of paddy-fields in Sri Lanka with the harvesting of the rice, as if they are responding to an olfactory trigger. It is the elephant’s sophisticated chemosensory system that may hold the key to resolving human–elephant conflict. Research is required to determine the odours associated with the various development stages of rice, using gas chromatography, and to find a suitable substance that could be used to mask the specific odour of ripening rice. The use of chemosensory-based methods, if feasible, will not be a universal panacea for the mitigation of human–elephant conflict but, in combination with other methods, could reduce conflict and make it easier for farmers to harvest their crops in safety. Such a combination of methods could be useful across the range of both Asian and African elephants.
The Endangered yellow-headed parrotAmazona oratrixalong the Pacific coast of Mexico
Authors: Monterrubio-Rico Tiberio Cesar , Renton Katherine , Ortega-Rodríguez Juan Manuel , Pérez-Arteaga Alejandro , Cancino-Murillo Ramón 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe yellow-headed parrotAmazona oratrixis categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List but little is known about its distribution, particularly along the Pacific coast of Mexico. We used ecological niche models, with presence records from museum collections and historical sightings, overlain on vegetation maps, to predict the historical range of the yellow-headed parrot along the Pacific coast of Mexico. We compared this with the current range of the species, estimated with ecological niche models using presence–absence data from surveys during 2003–2008. We estimate that the range of the yellow-headed parrot along Mexico’s Pacific coast has contracted by 79%. The current range may now cover only 18,957 km2, in three main areas. At one of these, a small isolated area on the coast of Jalisco, the species may be vulnerable to extirpation or genetic endogamy. There is a lack of conserved tropical semi-deciduous forest, which provides optimal habitat for reproduction of this parrot, within the current range of the species. Only the south, along the coast of Oaxaca, has extensive areas of this habitat. There are only three, small, protected areas within the species’ current range. Conservation strategies need to be implemented to restore connectivity between the three main areas of the current range of the yellow-headed parrot on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
Setting conservation priorities for the Moroccan herpetofauna: the utility of regional red lists
Authors: Pleguezuelos Juan M. , Brito José C. , Fahd Soumía , Feriche Mónica , Mateo José A. , Moreno-Rueda Gregorio , Reques Ricardo , Santos Xavier 
Published: October 2010

AbstractWe assess the national conservation status of the amphibians and reptiles of Morocco by applying the IUCN Red List Criteria at the national level and assess its utility as a planning tool to establish regional priorities for conservation. We rely on the accessory data accompanying regional red lists, mainly distribution range and habitats used by, and threats affecting, species of conservation concern. We also correlated some natural history traits to examine the nature and causes of the risk of extinction. With 13 species of amphibians (31% regionally threatened) and 99 species of reptiles (14% regionally threatened), Morocco is one of the Mediterranean countries with the highest diversity of herpetofauna, mainly because of the high percentage of endemism (amphibians 31%, reptiles 24%). The relative frequencies of threatened species were found to be contingent on both taxonomic group and habitat. The overwhelming importance of the threats of small range and number of habitats used by species is different from the threats to the same species at the global level; this demonstrates the usefulness of national or regional analyses of conservation status for setting conservation priorities. The importance of regional assessment derives from the fact that the boundaries set for conservation management are mainly political rather than biogeographical.
New but nice? Do alien sacred ibisesThreskiornis aethiopicusstabilize nesting colonies of native spoonbillsPlatalea leucorodiaat Grand-Lieu Lake, France?
Authors: Clergeau Philippe , Fourcy Damien , Reeber Sébastien , Yésou Pierre 
Published: October 2010

AbstractIn spite of the general concerns about introduction of exotic species there are contrary arguments that introduced species could increase local biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. The assertion that native spoonbillsPlatalea leucorodiaare attracted by breeding, introduced sacred ibisesThreskiornis aethiopicus, and thus that the spoonbill colonies will be more stable, has been developed as an argument against the proposed eradication of the sacred ibis in western France. We analysed the possible interaction between these two species using information from a 5-year nest survey (2002–2006) in a large swamp in western France. We found that: (1) The spoonbills began to breed significantly earlier than ibises, by 15–25 days. (2) In an analysis using a grid of 80-m squares no site-fidelity effect was observed from one year to the next, both species preferentially using previously unused cells from which the other species was absent and cells occupied by their own species. (3) Spoonbills had a significantly greater dispersion than ibises. (4) The spoonbills almost always settled (90.3%) near a spoonbill nest. These results do not suggest any regular positive attraction of the spoonbills towards the ibises and consequently do not support the proposal that ibises attract spoonbills and play a role in the conservation of this species.