bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Look and touch: multimodal sensory control of flower inspection movements in the nocturnal hawkmothManduca sexta
Authors: Goyret Joaquín 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARYA crucial stage in the interaction between pollinators and plants is the moment of physical contact between them, known as flower inspection, or handling. Floral guides – conspicuous colour markings, or structural features of flower corollas – have been shown to be important in the inspecting behaviour of many insects, particularly in diurnal species. For the nocturnal hawkmoth Manduca sexta tactile input has an important role in flower inspection, but there is no knowledge about the use of visual floral guides in this behaviour. I carried out a series of experiments to first, evaluate the putative role of floral guides during flower inspection and second, to explore how simultaneous tactile and visual guides could influence this behaviour. Results show that visual floral guides affect flower inspection by M. sexta. Moths confine proboscis placement to areas of higher light reflectance regardless of their chromaticity, but do not appear to show movements in any particular direction within these areas. I also recorded inspection times, finding that moths can learn to inspect flowers more efficiently when visual floral guides are available. Additionally, I found that some visual floral guides can affect the body orientation that moths adopt while hovering in front of horizontal models. Finally, when presented with flower models offering both visual and tactile guides, the former influenced proboscis placement, whereas the latter controlled proboscis movements. Results show that innate inspection behaviour is under multimodal sensory control, consistent with other components of the foraging task. Fine scale inspection movements (elicited by diverse floral traits) and the tight adjustment between the morphology of pollinators and flowers appear to be adaptively integrated, facilitating reward assessment and effective pollen transfer.
The consequences of reversible gill remodelling on ammonia excretion in goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Perry Steve F. , Schwaiger Tyler , Kumai Yusuke , Tzaneva Velislava , Braun Marvin H. 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARYGoldfish acclimated to cold water (e.g. 7°C) experience a marked reduction in functional lamellar surface area owing to the proliferation of an interlamellar cell mass (ILCM), a phenomenon termed gill remodelling. The goal of the present study was to assess the consequences of the reduced functional surface area on the capacity of goldfish to excrete ammonia. Despite the expected impact of ambient temperature on functional surface area, fish acclimated to 7°C and 25°C exhibited similar rates of ammonia excretion (Jnet,amm); the Q10 values for fed and starved fish were 1.07 and 1.20, respectively. To control for possible temperature-related differences in rates of endogenous ammonia production, Jnet,amm was determined at the two acclimation temperatures after loading fish with 1.12 μmol g–1 of NH4Cl. In the 3 h post-injection period, Jnet,amm was elevated to a greater extent in the 25°C fish. To estimate the potential contribution of increased ventilation and cardiac output to ammonia clearance in the warmer fish, the ammonia loading experiment was repeated on the 7°C fish immediately after they were exercised to exhaustion. The rate of excretion of ammonia was significantly increased in the exercised 7°C fish (presumably experiencing increased ventilation and cardiac output for at least some of the measurement period) suggesting that differences in external and internal convection may at least partially explain the enhanced capacity of the 25°C fish to clear the ammonia load. To more specifically assess the contribution of the different functional surface areas on the differing rates of ammonia clearance at the two acclimation temperatures, the 7°C fish were exposed for 7 days to hypoxia (PO2=10 mmHg=1.33 kPa), a treatment known to cause the disappearance of the ILCM. The results demonstrated that the hypoxia-associated loss of the ILCM was accompanied by a significant increase in the rate of ammonia clearance in the 7°C fish when returned to normoxic conditions. To determine whether compensatory changes in the ammonia transporting proteins might be contributing to sustaining Jnet,amm under conditions of reduced functional lamellar surface area, the relative expression and branchial distribution of four Rh proteins were assessed by western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Although the relative expression of the Rh proteins was unaffected by acclimation temperature, there did appear to be a change in the spatial distribution of Rhag, Rhbg and Rhcg1. Specifically, these three Rh proteins (and to a lesser extent Rhcg2) appeared to localize in cells on the outer edge of the ILCM that were enriched with Na+/K+-ATPase. Thus, we suggest that despite the impediment to ammonia excretion imposed by the ILCM, goldfish acclimated to 7°C are able to sustain normal rates of excretion owing to the redistribution of ammonia transporting cells.
The control of breathing in goldfish (Carassius auratus) experiencing thermally induced gill remodelling
Authors: Tzaneva Velislava , Perry Steve F. 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARYAt temperatures below 15°C the gill lamellae of goldfish (Carassius auratus) are largely covered by an interlamellar cell mass (ILCM) which decreases the functional surface area of the gill. The presence of the ILCM in goldfish acclimated to cold water conceivably could lead to a covering of the neuroepithelial cells (NECs), which are believed to be important for sensing ambient O2 and CO2 levels. In this study we tested the hypothesis that goldfish with covered lamellae (and presumably fewer NECs exposed to the water) exhibit a decreased capacity to hyperventilate in response to hypoxic stimuli. Measurements of ventilation amplitude and frequency were performed during exposure to acute hypoxia (PwO2=30 mmHg) or following injections of the O2 chemoreceptor stimulant NaCN into the buccal cavity or caudal vein of fish acclimated to 25°C (uncovered lamellae) or 7°C (covered lamellae) to stimulate predominantly the externally or internally oriented NECs, respectively. The results demonstrated no significant differences in the response to hypoxia, with each group exhibiting similar percentage increases in ventilation amplitude (90–91%) and frequency (34–43%). Similarly, with the exception of a rightward shift of the ventilation frequency dose–response in the fish acclimated to 7°C, there were no significant differences between the two groups of fish in the ED50 values. These findings suggest that goldfish with covered lamellae retain the capacity to sense external hypoxic stimuli. Using immunohistochemistry to identify serotonin-enriched NECs, it was demonstrated that the presence of the ILCM results in the NECs being redistributed towards the distal regions of the lamellae. In 25°C-acclimated fish, the NECs were distributed evenly along the length of the lamellae with 53±3% of them in the distal half, whereas in fish acclimated to 7°C, 83±5% of the NECs were confined to the distal half. Using the neuronal marker antibody ZN-12, it was demonstrated that the NECs at the distal edges of the lamellae are innervated by nerve fibres. Thus, it is hypothesised that the capacity to sense external hypoxic stimuli in goldfish acclimated to cold water is maintained despite the increasing coverage of the gill epithelial surfaces because of a redistribution of innervated NECs to the exposed distal regions of the lamellae.
Changes in materials properties explain the effects of humidity on gecko adhesion
Authors: Puthoff Jonathan B. , Prowse Michael S. , Wilkinson Matt , Autumn Kellar 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARY
Geckos owe their remarkable stickiness to millions of dry setae on their toes, and the mechanism of adhesion in gecko setae has been the topic of scientific scrutiny for over two centuries. Previously, we demonstrated that van der Waals forces are sufficient for strong adhesion and friction in gecko setae, and that water-based capillary adhesion is not required. However, recent studies demonstrated that adhesion increases with relative humidity (RH) and proposed that surface hydration and capillary water bridge formation is important or even necessary. In this study, we confirmed a significant effect of RH on gecko adhesion, but rejected the capillary adhesion hypothesis. While contact forces of isolated tokay gecko setal arrays increased with humidity, the increase was similar on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces, inconsistent with a capillary mechanism. Contact forces increased with RH even at high shear rates, where capillary bridge formation is too slow to affect adhesion. How then can a humidity-related increase in adhesion and friction be explained? The effect of RH on the mechanical properties of setal β-keratin has escaped consideration until now. We discovered that an increase in RH softens setae and increases viscoelastic damping, which increases adhesion. Changes in setal materials properties, not capillary forces, fully explain humidity-enhanced adhesion, and van der Waals forces remain the only empirically supported mechanism of adhesion in geckos.
Posterior lymph heart function in two species of anurans: analysis based on both in vivo pressure–volume relationships by conductance manometry and ultrasound
Authors: Crossley Dane A. , Hillman Stanley S. 
Published: October 2010

SUMMARY
Rhinella marina and Lithobates catesbeianus have known differences in the capacity to mobilize lymph to stabilize blood volume following dehydration and hemorrhage. The purpose of these experiments was to assess whether there are interspecific differences in basic lymph heart functions. The end diastolic volumes of posterior lymph hearts averaged 10.8 μl kg–1 in R. marina and 7.9–10.8 μl kg–1 in L. catesbeianus by conductance manometry, and 9–32 μl kg–1 in R. marina by ultasound techniques, which correlated with body mass. Stroke volumes were approximately 20% of end diastolic volumes in both species. Peak systolic pressures and stroke work were correlated with the index of contractility (dP/dtmax) in both species. Stroke volume was correlated to stroke work but not peak systolic pressure, end diastolic volume or end diastolic pressure indicating the preload variables do not seem to determine stroke volume as would be predicted from Starling considerations of the blood heart. Renal portal elastance (end systolic pressure/stroke volume) an afterload index did not differ interspecifically, and was equivalent to values for systemic flow indices from mice of equivalent ventricular volume. These data, taken together with predictions derived from mammalian models on the effect of high resistance indicate afterload (renal portal pressure), may be important determinants of posterior lymph heart stroke volume. The shape of the pressure–volume loop is different from an idealized version previously reported, and is influenced by end diastolic volume. Our data indicate that increasing end diastolic pressure and volume can influence the loop shape but not the stroke volume. This indicates that lymph hearts do not behave in a Starling Law manner with increased preload volume.
Prediction of plywood bonding quality using an artificial neural network
Authors: Esteban Luis García , Fernández Francisco García , de Palacios Paloma 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe bonding quality test is one of the most important of all tests performed on plywood, because it determines the suitability of boards for use in the type of exposure they are intended for. Because this test involves aging pretreatment, results are not available in <24–97 h after manufacture, depending on the type of board, and therefore any error in the manufacturing process is not detected until 1–4 days later. To solve this time problem, an artificial neural network was developed as a predictive method to determine the suitability of board bonding through other properties that can be determined in less testing time: thickness, moisture content, density, bending strength, and modulus of elasticity. The network designed WAS a feedforward multilayer perceptron trained by supervised learning after normalization of the input data, and allowed the bonding test result to be predicted with 93% accuracy.
Abandoning Peracetic Acid-Based Dialyzer Reuse Is Associated with Improved Survival
Authors: Lacson Eduardo , Wang Weiling , Mooney Ann , Ofsthun Norma , Lazarus J. Michael , Hakim Raymond M. 
Published: October 2010

Summary

Background and objectives
Higher mortality risk reported with reuse versus single use of dialyzers is potentially related to reuse reagents that modify membrane surface characteristics and the blood-membrane interface. A key mechanism may involve stimulation of an inflammatory response.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
In a prospective crossover design, laboratory markers and mortality from 23 hemodialysis facilities abandoning reuse with peracetic acid mixture were tracked. C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, albumin, and prealbumin were measured for 2 consecutive months before abandoning reuse and subsequently within 3 and 6 months on single use. Survival models were utilized to compare the 6-month period before abandoning reuse (baseline) and the 6-month period on single use of dialyzers after a 3-month “washout period.”

Results
Patients from baseline and single-use periods had a mean age of approximately 63 years; 44% were female, 54% were diabetic, 60% were white, and the mean vintage was approximately 3.2 years. The unadjusted hazard ratio for death was 0.70 and after case-mix adjustment was 0.74 for single use compared with reuse. Patients with CRP ≥ 5 mg/L during reuse (mean CRP = 26.6 mg/ml in April) declined on single use to 20.2 mg/L by August and 20.4 mg/L by November. WBC count declined slightly during single use, but nutritional markers were unchanged.

Conclusions
Abandonment of peracetic-acid-based reuse was associated with improved survival and lower levels of inflammatory but not nutritional markers. Further study is needed to evaluate a potential link between dialyzer reuse, inflammation, and mortality.
Clinical Value of NPHS2 Analysis in Early- and Adult-Onset Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Santín Sheila , Tazón-Vega Bárbara , Silva Irene , Cobo María Ángeles , Giménez Isabel , Ruíz Patricia , García-Maset Rafael , Ballarín José , Torra Roser , Ars Elisabet 
Published: October 2010

Summary

Background and objectives
To date, very few cases with adult-onset focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) carrying NPHS2 variants have been described, all of them being compound heterozygous for the p.R229Q variant and one pathogenic mutation.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Mutation analysis was performed in 148 unrelated Spanish patients, of whom 50 presented with FSGS after 18 years of age. Pathogenicity of amino acid substitutions was evaluated through an in silico scoring system. Haplotype analysis was carried out using NPHS2 single nucleotide polymorphism and microsatellite markers.

Results
Compound heterozygous or homozygous NPHS2 pathogenic mutations were identified in seven childhood-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) cases. Six additional cases with late childhood- and adult-onset SRNS were compound heterozygotes for p.R229Q and one pathogenic mutation, mostly p.A284V. p.R229Q was more frequent among SRNS cases relative to controls (odds ratio = 2.65; P = 0.02). Significantly higher age at onset of the disease and slower progression to ESRD were found in patients with one pathogenic mutation plus the p.R229Q variant in respect to patients with two NPHS2 pathogenic mutations.

Conclusions

NPHS2 analysis has a clinical value in both childhood- and adult-onset SRNS patients. For adult-onset patients, the first step should be screening for p.R229Q and, if positive, for p.A284V. These alleles are present in conserved haplotypes, suggesting a common origin for these substitutions. Patients carrying this specific NPHS2 allele combination did not respond to corticoids or immunosuppressors and showed FSGS, average 8-year progression to ESRD, and low risk for recurrence of FSGS after kidney transplant.
Biological behavior of oral and perioral mast cell tumors in dogs: 44 cases (1996-2006)
Authors: Hillman Lorin A. , Garrett Laura D. , de Lorimier Louis-Philippe , Charney Sarah C. , Borst Luke B. , Fan Timothy M. 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Objective—To describe clinical outcome of dogs with mast cell tumors (MCTs) arising from the oral mucosa, oral mucocutaneous junction, or perioral region of the muzzle and evaluate the potential role of the chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7) in the biological behavior of these tumors.
Design—Retrospective case series.
Animals—44 dogs with MCTs of the oral mucosa (n = 14), oral mucocutaneous junction (19), or perioral region of the muzzle (11).
Procedures—Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, regional metastasis, treatments, cause of death, and survival time. Twenty of the 44 cases had stored histologic samples available for immunohistochemical staining for CCR7
Results—For all dogs, median survival time was 52 months. Twenty-six (59%) dogs had regional lymph node metastasis on admission. Median survival time for dogs with lymph node metastasis was 14 months, whereas median survival time was not reached for dogs without lymph node metastasis. Intensity of staining for CCR7 was not significantly associated with the presence of regional lymph node metastasis or survival time.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that in dogs with MCTs arising from the oral mucosa, oral mucocutaneous junction, or perioral region of the muzzle, the presence of regional lymph node metastasis at the time of diagnosis was a negative prognostic factor. However, prolonged survival times could be achieved with treatment. In addition, CCR7 expression in the primary tumor was not significantly associated with the presence of regional lymph node metastasis or survival time.
Distensible superficial venous orbital malformations involving the lower eyelid in two horses
Authors: Trope Gareth D. , Steel Catherine M. , Bowers John R. , Bradbury Leah A. , Hodge Priscilla J. , Maggs David J. 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Case Description—2 horses were examined because of vascular masses involving the lower eyelid.
Clinical Findings—Both horses had a unilateral, fluctuant mass involving the lower eyelid. For horse 1, the mass had been present since birth and had slowly increased in size over time. The mass also changed in size in response to various environmental stimuli, alterations in the position of the horse's head, and digital obstruction of superficial vessels adjacent to the mass. Horse 2 was brought to the hospital for euthanasia, and no historical or antemor-tem data were available. A combination of contrast angiography, Doppler ultrasonography, surgical exploration, and blood gas analysis (horse 1) and postmortem and histologic examination (horse 2) were used to determine that the masses consisted of non-neoplastic distended venous channels with anastomoses to the inferior lateral palpebral and angularis oculi veins (both horses) as well as the facial vein (horse 2). Histologic examination (horse 2) revealed large, endothelial cell-lined, blood-filled spaces within the deep dermis consistent with a distensible superficial venous orbital malformation.
Treatment and Outcome—Horse 1 underwent surgical exploration and ligation of the vascular malformation. Six months after surgery, the mass was markedly reduced in size, and size of the mass was static regardless of head position or environmental stimuli.
Clinical Relevance—Thorough preoperative planning with Doppler ultrasonography, contrast angiography, and blood gas analysis is recommended when attempting surgical correction of these malformations in horses. Surgical ligation can result in a successful cosmetic and functional outcome.
Study of the Flux Density Variation In and Around the Planet Jupiter using 16" LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope at the National Observatory, Nagarkot, Nepal
Authors: Ghimire NR , Shahi SR , Aryal B 
Published: October 2010

We present a study of relative flux density in and around the planet Jupiter using images taken from National Observatory located at Nagarkot, Nepal during the period from November, 2008 and January, 2010. For this Meade 16 inch LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is used. We processed the image in the software ALADIN2.5. The values of relative flux density of 2,50,000 pixels are used for the study. At first, the observed two-dimensional image of the planet is divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant is subdivided into three sections. We studied the variation of relative flux density along 12 directions. The relative flux density per pixel is found to lie in the range 138.17 to 157.36. The maximum value of relative flux density per pixel is found along the eastern direction and the minimum value is found along the northern direction. Thus the absorption feature is found to be prominent along the northern direction. The emission of less amount of flux from the second quadrant is due to the absorption by the materials in this section. In addition, the role of the inhomogeneous absorption by the on-going gravitational contraction in the planet cannot be identified. Due to the inhomogeneous absorption feature, we studied the outer contours of all sections. The values of total amount of flux per pixel in the outer layers of the first, second, third and fourth quadrants are found to be 81.79, 82.37, 82.44 and 82.49 respectively. Surprisingly, this value is found to be least in the first quadrant. This suggests that the outer part is found to be selective whereas the inner part is emissive. Key-words: Observation; Telescope; Jupiter; Flux density. DOI: 10.3126/sw.v8i8.3838 Scientific World Vol.8(8) 2010 pp.4-9
Estimation of Cosmological Constant of Nearby Spiral Galaxies using Rotation Curve
Authors: Bachhan RK , Aryal B , Khanal U 
Published: October 2010

An expression for rotational velocity of a test particle around the central mass in the invariant plane is derived. For this, a line element of Schwarzschild de-Sitter space-time is used to study the effect of cosmological constant Λ) on the motion of both massive and mass-less particles in the Universe. This expression is fitted for the mass and Λ. For this, the total mass M is divided into the mass of the black hole MB and a uniform sphere of radius r dominated by dust (ρd) which is supposed to vary as [please see full text PDF for the formula]. Using rotation curve data of 6 nearby spiral and barred spiral galaxies, we estimated the value of Λ and the mass of the galaxy. The cosmological constant (Λ) is found to be positive for all 6 galaxies. The positive Λ reveals the importance of de Sitter space, suggesting accelerating Universe. The cosmological constant (Λ) and the density (ρo) are found to lie in the range 1.269 x 10-41 to 9.490 x 10-42 km-2, and 7.044 x 10-9 to 3.250 x 10-8 km-1, respectively. The mass MB is found in the range 1.867 x 107 to 1.730 x 1010 solar mass. Our result shows a good agreement with the results of supernova project which gives positive Λ value, suggesting accelerating Universe.Keywords: Galaxies formation; General astronomical databases.DOI: 10.3126/sw.v8i8.3840 Scientific World Vol.8(8) 2010 pp.15-18