bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental manipulation of soil depth alters species richness and co‐occurrence in restored tallgrass prairie
Authors: Dornbush Mathew E. , Wilsey Brian J. 
Published: November 2009

Summary1. In relatively fertile ecosystems, such as the tallgrass prairie, local species diversity is largely controlled by the competitive effects of community dominants. Despite the relative importance of soil resources in shaping competitive outcomes, we have a limited understanding of the ways by which plants partition below‐ground space and resources while competing, and thus, how these interactions feedback to affect local diversity.2. We experimentally tested whether potential rooting depth affected plant species diversity and composition by seeding 36 tallgrass prairie species into replicated, bare‐ground plots in which soil depth was manipulated to produce shallow‐ (20 cm), medium‐ (42 cm) and deep‐soil treatments all within one soil type. Because root architecture and foraging strategies differ among species, we hypothesized that soil depth alone could affect plant richness, diversity and community composition.3. After 3 years, richness (S) significantly increased with soil depth (P < 0.0001), but there was no significant change in species diversity (P > 0.1) or composition (multi‐response permutation procedure,P > 0.2). The lack of a depth effect upon diversity resulted from the opposing effect of increasing soil depth enhancing S, but decreasing evenness.4. Species presence among depth treatments was strongly nested, with species found in shallow soils reflecting a subset of the species found in the medium‐depth treatment, and the species found within the medium‐depth treatment reflecting a subset of those found in the deepest soils.5. All depth treatments contained the same dominant grasses, thus differences inSresulted from the nested loss of forbs. Conversely, increasing soil depth added sets of new species, but the specific identity of the species present appeared interchangeable among replicates of a given depth.6. Synthesis. Our results provide the first field‐based experimental evidence that altering soil depth alters species occurrence and diversity in predictable ways in seeded tallgrass prairie. Our results have important theoretical implications for understanding the processes promoting plant co‐occurrence in grasslands, and generate testable hypotheses concerning the conditions under which root‐niche partitioning is probably important for maintaining local richness in grasslands. Future work is needed to elucidate the generality and mechanistic basis of our results.
Staphylococcus aureus SarA is a regulatory protein responsive to redox and pH that can support bacteriophage lambda integrase‐mediated excision/recombination
Authors: Fujimoto David F. , Higginbotham Robin H. , Sterba Kristen M. , Maleki Soheila J. , Segall Anca M. , Smeltzer Mark S. , Hurlburt Barry K. 
Published: November 2009

Summary Staphylococcus aureus produces a wide array of virulence factors and causes a correspondingly diverse array of infections. Production of these virulence factors is under the control of a complex network of global regulatory elements, one of which is sarA. sarA encodes a DNA binding protein that is considered to function as a transcription factor capable of acting as either a repressor or an activator. Using competitive ELISA assays, we demonstrate that SarA is present at approximately 50 000 copies per cell, which is not characteristic of classical transcription factors. We also demonstrate that SarA is present at all stages of growth in vitro and is capable of binding DNA with high affinity but that its binding affinity and pattern of shifted complexes in electrophoretic mobility shift assays is responsive to the redox state. We also show that SarA binds to the bacteriophage lambda (λ) attachment site, attL, producing SarA‐DNA complexes similar to intasomes, which consist of bacteriophage lambda integrase, Escherichia coli integration host factor and attL DNA. In addition, SarA stimulates intramolecular excision recombination in the absence of λ excisionase, a DNA binding accessory protein. Taken together, these data suggest that SarA may function as an architectural accessory protein.
Cutaneous acanthamebiasis infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients
Authors: Galarza Carlos , Ramos Willy , Gutierrez Ericson L. , Ronceros Gerardo , Teran Maria , Uribe Martha , Ñavincopa Marcos , Ortega‐Loayza Alex G. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Cutaneous acanthamebiasis is a rare infection and few patients have been reported worldwide.Methods  Observational and descriptive study carried out from March 1996 to February 2006 in patients with diagnosis of cutaneous free‐living amebic infection caused by Acanthamoeba spp. The patients were diagnosed at the Dos de Mayo National Hospital (Lima‐Peru) where skin biopsies, histopathologic studies and cultures were performed. The clinical and epidemiologic characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and evolution were recorded in a survey.Results  Five patients with cutaneous free‐living amebic infection caused by Acanthamoeba spp. were identified. Skin lesions were ulceronecrotic (four patients), an infiltrative bluish plaque (one patient), and a periorbital tumor (one patient). Three patients were positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), had only cutaneous involvement, and died of opportunistic infections. The two immunocompetent patients developed Acanthamoeba granulomatous encephalitis and meningoencephalitis that progressed to intracranial hypertension and death.Conclusion  The clinical manifestations of cutaneous free‐living amebic infection caused by Acanthamoeba spp. appear to vary according to the underlying immunologic status.
Expression of p16 protein in acral lentiginous melanoma
Authors: Hsieh Ricardo , Firmiano Aline , Sotto Mirian N. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a clinicopathologic subtype of cutaneous malignant melanoma. ALM is the most common type of melanoma amongst Asians, Africans, and patients with mixed ancestry. In Brazil, ALM comprises 10% of cutaneous melanoma. ALM develops on palmar, plantar, and subungual skin, and its biology is different from that of other cutaneous melanomas, where sunlight is the major known environmental determinant. Alterations and inactivation of the p16INK4 gene that encodes a specific inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinase have been related to melanoma genesis and progression. Few studies, however, have addressed p16 expression in ALM.Methods  In order to verify and compare p16 protein expression, 32 paraffin‐embedded ALM specimens were subjected to a immunohistochemical technique using a monoclonal anti‐p16 antibody. The tumors were classified according to thickness (up to 1.0 mm and thicker than 1.0 mm) and the presence of ulceration.Results  Twenty‐five (78%) ALMs displayed positive p16 protein expression: 21 of the 25 (84%) with a thickness of more than 1.0 mm, and four of the seven (57%) with a thickness of 1.0 mm or less. Thirteen of the 17 (76%) nonulcerated lesions and 12 of the 15 (80%) ulcerated lesions displayed positive p16 protein expression.Conclusion  The data obtained suggest that p16 protein expression per se may not represent a marker of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) pathway disturbance in ALM tumorigenesis.
Leg ulcer caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans ssp. shinshuense infection
Authors: Kondo Makoto , Kurokawa Ichiro , Ito Yoshiyuki , Yamanaka Kei‐ichi , Yamazaki Toshio , Mizutani Hitoshi 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  An 81‐year‐old man presented with a skin ulcer on the left forearm caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans ssp. shinshuense. The patient first noticed the subcutaneous nodule with an undermined ulcer and areola on the left forearm without any episode of trauma.Methods  The rod‐shaped and acid‐fast bacteria taken from the ulcerative lesion were positive for Ziehl–Neelsen staining. The bacterial colony was cultured on Ogawa slant egg medium at 28 °C.Results  A clinical diagnosis of Mycobacterium infection was made. For therapy, in addition to oral clarithromycin, topical sulfadiazine silver and hyperthermia were used. One month after starting treatment, topical treatment was changed to U‐pasta (sucrose, povidone‐iodine). Four months after the onset of the disease, bacterial colonies composed of scotochromogens were identified as Mycobacterium marinum by the DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) method. The growth speed and characteristics of the bacterial colonies were different from those of Mycobacterium marinum.Conclusions  This pathogenetic bacterium was finally identified as Mycobacterium ulcerans ssp. shinshuense by the polymerase chain reaction method and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Nine months after the onset of the disease, the ulcer was re‐epithelialized with a residual scar.
Treatment of acquired bilateral nevus of Ota‐like macules (Hori's nevus) using 1064‐nm Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser with low fluence
Authors: Cho Sung Bin , Park Soo Jie , Kim Moon Jung , Bu Tae Sung 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Acquired bilateral nevus of Ota‐like macules (ABNOM), or Hori's nevus, is a common dermal melanocytic hyperpigmentation in Asians.Aim  To describe the effect of 1064‐nm Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser (QSNY) with low fluence in South Korean patients with ABNOM.Methods  Fifteen South Korean patients (13 women and two men; mean age, 33.2 years; range, 26–52 years; Fitzpatrick skin type IV), clinically diagnosed with ABNOM, and treated using 1064‐nm QSNY with low fluence, were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with 1064‐nm QSNY using a MedLite C6™ (HoyaConBio Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) at 1–2‐week intervals. The laser settings were 2.2–2.6 J/cm2 using a 6‐mm spot size, followed by 4–6 J/cm2 using a 4‐mm spot size.Results  The median number of QSNY treatment sessions was 11 (range, 10–15). Follow‐up results 2 months after the final treatment revealed that seven of the 15 patients (46.7%) demonstrated clinical improvement of 76–100%, and five (33.3%) of 51–75%. Three patients showed moderate clinical improvement between 26% and 50%. Post‐therapy dyschromia, including hypo‐ and hyperpigmentation, was not observed.Conclusion  We suggest that QSNY with low fluence provides an easy‐to‐perform, low‐downtime, effective treatment algorithm in certain cases of ABNOM in Asian patients.
Virtual Grand Rounds in Dermatology: an 8‐year experience in web‐based teledermatology
Authors: Hu Stephanie W. , Foong Henry B. B. , Elpern David J. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Teledermatology utilizes telecommunication technologies for the exchange of dermatologic information across distances. In 2000, we developed the Virtual Grand Rounds in Dermatology (VGRD) as a free, user‐friendly platform for dermatologists to present complex dermatologic cases to the international community for clinical feedback, consultation, and continuing education.Methods  VGRD was designed using simple graphics to facilitate access in remote and developing geographic regions. Members present their case according to a recommended template and are encouraged to provide clinical and histopathologic photographs. Viewers’ comments are posted on the site within 24–48 h following receipt.Results  VGRD's low‐cost store‐and‐forward system allows easy accessibility to expertise for colleagues around the world. VGRD currently comprises a community of 344 clinicians across all dermatologic subspecialties, and links users to cases as well as a recent interactive addition for more urgent feedback: VGRD Blog. The Maine Virtual Skin Clinic is another sister site developed as an educational tool for physicians and residents in primary care. VGRD can be found at http://www.vgrd.org.Conclusions  With its easy‐to‐use platform for teleconsultation services, VGRD has the potential to enhance clinical outcomes and education. In the next few years, we hope to continue to expand VGRD, including launching a comprehensive search engine in VGRD to provide users with a “one‐stop resource.” With the growth of teledermatology, we will combine web consultations with web‐based education into a single resource for dermatologists interested in new possibilities in clinical practice, patient care, and continuing education.
Agreement between histological diagnosis of skin lesions by histopathologists and a dermato‐histopathologist
Authors: Heal Clare F. , Weedon David , Raasch Beverly A. , Hill Brendan T. , Buettner Petra G. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Skin cancer is an increasing problem in fair‐skinned populations worldwide. It is important that doctors are able to diagnose skin lesions accurately, and this is supported by accurate histological diagnosis.Objective  To compare agreement for histological diagnosis between local histopathologists with a dermato‐histopathologist from a stratified random sample of excised skin lesions derived from a set of epidemiological data.Methods  All excised and histologically confirmed skin cancers in Townsville/Thuringowa, Australia from December 1996 to October 1999 were recorded. A stratified sample of 407 of 8694 skin excisions slides was analyzed.Results  Positive predictive values (PPVs) for the primary histological diagnosis were above 90% for basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous melanoma, and common naevus. For squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the PPV was 72.6% [95% CI = (65.5, 79.0)].Discussion  Lack of agreement between histopathologists regarding the diagnosis of SCC and actinic keratosis has been previously recognized in the literature and this is again reflected in our study. The result also illustrates the difficulty involved for doctors in accurately clinically diagnosing lesions for which a consensus is hard to reach histologically.
Laser lipolysis with pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of gynecomastia
Authors: Rho Yong Kwan , Kim Beom Joon , Kim Myeung Nam , Kang Kweon Soo , Han Hee Jin 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Lipolysis using laser is currently widely used for reducing localized fat. A 1064 nm neodynium‐doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser lipolysis was investigated in this study to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the treatment of gynecomastia.Methods  Five male patients diagnosed with gynecomastia were enrolled in this study, which was designed as a controlled split‐breast trial. One breast of each patient was subjected to laser lipolysis and was then compared with a contralateral breast. Photographs and clinical assessments were obtained before the lipolysis, and at the fourth and eighth weeks thereafter. Computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasound (US) imaging were used to evaluate the changes in the breasts’ thicknesses.Results  The mean chest circumference was found to have been significantly reduced 8 weeks after the laser lipolysis. The clinical outcomes of the laser lipolysis were considered favorable by both the patients and clinicians. The CT and US scans showed that the thicknesses of the treated right breasts reduced more than those of the left breasts were 8 weeks after the laser lipolysis. The side effects (pain, edema, and ecchymosis) were minimal and disappeared shortly after they first manifested.Limitations  The limitations of this study are that it employed small treatment groups and short‐term follow‐up.Conclusion  This study demonstrated that gynecomastia can be treated effectively and safely through 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser lipolysis.
Diversity of bathyal macrofauna on the northeastern Pacific margin: the influence of methane seeps and oxygen minimum zones
Authors: Levin Lisa A. , Mendoza Guillermo F. , Gonzalez Jennifer P. , Thurber Andrew R. , Cordes Erik E. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe upper continental slope in the northeastern Pacific Ocean is intercepted by a deep oxygen minimum zone (OMZ; 650–1100 m) and punctuated by conduits of methane seepage. We examined the effects of these two dominant sources of heterogeneity on the density, composition and diversity of heterotrophic macrofauna off Hydrate Ridge, Oregon (OR; 800 m water depth), where the seeps co‐occur within an OMZ, and off the Eel River, Northern California (CA; 500 m), where seeps are overlain by better oxygenated waters. We hypothesized that seeps (containing clam beds and microbial mats) should contribute a suite of distinct species to the regional margin species pool but that OMZ‐associated hypoxia would dampen seep‐related heterogeneity. Macrofaunal densities were highest (23,000–33,510 ind·m−2) in the CA seep sediments and in the OR near‐seep samples, intermediate in the OR seep, CA near seep and CA and OR 500‐m margin sediments (10,054–19,777 ind·m−2), and lowest in the CA and OR OMZ habitats at 800 m (4269–7847 ind·m−2). Annelids constituted over 50% of the taxa in all but the CA clam bed and OR microbial mat sediments, where mollusks were abundant. Approximately 50% of seep species appeared to be habitat endemic; species present in microbial mats largely formed a subset of those present in the clam beds. Dorvilleid and ampharetid polychaetes were dominant in the seep sediments; non‐seep margin sediments at 500 and 800 m were populated heavily by branchiate polychaetes including cossurids and paraonids. Alpha diversity (Es[20] calculated per core) was lowest and rank 1 dominance was highest in the CA and OR microbial mat habitats. Pooled analyses of Es[100] revealed highest species richness in the CA clam bed and near‐seep habitats (30.3 and 29.6, respectively), and lowest species richness in the OR microbial mat and near‐seep habitats (16.5 and 17.9, respectively). Non‐seep sediments (500 and 800 m) off both CA and OR were more homogeneous (55–57% within‐habitat similarity) than clam bed and microbial mat sediments (only 32–37% within‐habitat similarity). CA sediment macrofauna generally exhibit higher alpha diversity, and as habitats are combined, a higher rate of increase in the slope of the species accumulation curves than do OR margin macrofauna. Methane seeps in the NE Pacific introduce significant heterogeneity that increases margin biodiversity at multiple spatial scales. However, our hypothesis that the OMZ would lessen the seep contributions to diversity was not supported. The better oxygenated CA seeps at 500 m shared more of the background margin fauna (at 500 m) than did the OR seeps at 800 m (with OMZ fauna at 800 m). Geographical differences in the fluxes of methane‐rich fluids and the increased reliance on chemosynthetic food sources with increased depth could explain these results.
The Australian species of the subfamily Pergulinae, with descriptions of two new Pergula Morice species (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Pergidae)
Authors: Schmidt Stefan , Smith David R 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe Pergulinae occur in South America and Australia with a single genus on each continent. The Australian genus Pergula Morice was known only from a single male of Pergula turneri Morice, 1919, from the south‐western part of Western Australia. Two additional species are described, Pergula exilis sp. nov. from Western Australia and Pergula xantha sp. nov. from Queensland and New South Wales. The female of P. xantha is the first female described for the genus, and the species is the first record of the genus for eastern Australia. A key is provided for separation of species.
Saga of the short‐range endemic
Authors: Majer Jonathan 
Published: November 2009

AbstractShort‐range endemic invertebrates (SREs), by their very nature, can be threatened if an impending development overlaps their range. Since their extinction would be unacceptable under State and Federal legislation, surveys for their presence are often required before approval for a project can be granted. Annually, millions of dollars are being spent in Western Australia alone on surveys for SREs. In contrast, funds for research on non‐SRE terrestrial invertebrates, which probably represent around 98% of animal species, are extremely sparse. This overview outlines the current attention that is being paid to SRE surveys, and contrasts it to the situation with the rest of the invertebrate fauna. The perils of not including terrestrial invertebrates in survey and research agendas are discussed, and more inclusive solutions which consider all terrestrial invertebrates are outlined.
Salinity tolerance of Aedes camptorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) from two regions in southwestern Australia
Authors: Van Schie Clarissa , Spafford Helen , Carver Scott , Weinstein Philip 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Aedes camptorhynchus (Thomson) (Diptera: Culicidae) is widely distributed throughout southwestern Australia in both coastal and inland sites, and is a vector of Ross River virus (Togoviridae: Alphavirus). Larvae of this species are most commonly found in brackish to saline and hypersaline waters. In inland southwestern Australia secondary (anthropogenic) salinisation of agricultural land has led to widespread increases in the amount and saline standing water and available breeding habitat for Ae. camptorhynchus. Given the epidemiological significance of this mosquito species it is particularly important to understand the fundamental biology in order to inform vector management and environmental remediation strategies. We therefore sought to determine the salinity tolerance of Ae. camptorhynchus larvae collected from the coastal saltmarshes (coastal) and the southern wheatbelt (inland) of Western Australia. Ae. camptorhynchus neonate larvae were collected from the two sites and then reared in seawater or water from the source locations which were manipulated to saline concentrations ranging from 2.96 to 88.8 parts per thousand (p.p.t.) by dilution or addition of NaCl. Overall, Ae. camptorhynchus tolerated a wide range of salinities. The majority of Ae. camptorhynchus from the inland site that survived to adulthood did so at salinities between 8 and 30 p.p.t., whereas the majority of coastal mosquitoes that survived to adulthood did so in salinities between 22 and 52 p.p.t. Larvae were able to complete development in salinities up to 62 p.p.t., but none survived to adulthood at higher salinities. An increase in the number and distribution of Ae. camptorhynchus, associated with rising salinity, in previously freshwater habitats of inland southwestern Australia could have health consequences by increasing the potential for Ross River virus activity.
Procontarinia pustulata, a new gall midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on mango, Mangifera indica (Anarcadiaceae), in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea
Authors: Kolesik Peter , Rice Anthony D , Bellis Glenn A , Wirthensohn Michelle G 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Procontarinia pustulata sp. n. is described from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Larvae feed on mango Mangifera indica causing blister‐like galls on leaves. The new species pupates in the soil. The genus Procontarinia Kieffer & Cecconi contains 15 named and several unnamed species, all of which feed on mango, with several being pests of cultivated mango worldwide. Procontarinia pustulata sp. n. differs from its congeners in morphology and gall anatomy as well as DNA sequence of COI. A simple technique is presented for rearing soil‐pupating gall midges in tropical region.