bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The GRACE‐satellite gravity and geoid fields in analysing large‐scale, cratonic or intracratonic basins
Authors: Braitenberg Carla , Ebbing Jörg 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACTThe recently released gravity potential field development derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellite allows an unprecedented opportunity to use the gravity field to make global comparisons of structures of geological interest. The spatial resolution of the gravity field is sufficiently good to map large‐scale or intracratonic and cratonic basins, as the areal extent of these basins is 0.5 × 106 km2 and greater. We present the gravity anomaly, Bouguer, geoid and terrain corrected geoid fields for a selection of nine large‐scale basins and show that the satellite‐derived field can be used to successfully identify distinctive structures of these basins, e.g., extinct rifts underlying the basins and generally the isostatic state. The studied basins are the Eastern Barents Sea, West Siberian, Tarim, Congo, Michigan, Amazon, Solimões, Parnaiba and Paranà basins. We complete the mapping of the gravity field with a description of the basins in terms of areal extension and depth, sedimentary age and presence and age of volcanism. Interpretation of the satellite gravity anomalies and considerations regarding the crustal thickness as known from seismic investigations, allows us to conclude that for the greater part of the basins there is evidence for high‐density material in the lower crust and/or upper mantle. This density anomaly is, at least partly, compensating for the low‐density sedimentary infill instead of the crustal thinning mechanism. For our selection of basins, crustal thickness variations and Moho topography cannot be considered as mechanisms of compensation of the sedimentary loading, which is a clear difference to well‐defined rift basins.
Intestinal lymphocytic epithelioganglionitis: a unique combination of inflammation in bowel dysmotility: a histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of 28 cases
Authors: Veress Béla , Nyberg Björn , Törnblom Hans , Lindberg Greger 
Published: April 2009

Aims:  Visceral inflammatory neuropathies are enteric disorders underlying various forms of bowel dysmotility. The aim was to analyse the microscopic characteristics of a unique combination of intraepithelial lymphocytosis and myenteric ganglioneuritis.Methods and results:  Paraffin sections of full‐thickness proximal jejunal biopsy specimens from 28 patients, with proven disorders of gastrointestinal motility, were analysed following conventional and immunohistochemical staining. Serial transversal and tangential sectioning visualized large myenteric plexus areas. Between 1993 and 2005, 28 patients with inflammatory neuropathy (25 female and three male) showed this combination of lymphocytic infiltration. Two of the patients also had coeliac disease. The mean number of intraepithelial CD3+ lymphocytes was 36 per 100 epithelial cells (range 27–68; upper normal limit 25 lymphocytes). There was myenteric ganglionitis of variable severity (mean 4.6 myenteric lymphocytes per ganglion; upper normal limit two lymphocytes) with cytotoxic T‐cell predominance. Myenteric neurons showed signs of degeneration and an abnormal immunohistological pattern. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy of Cajal cells were observed. The longitudinal muscle layer was thickened in many cases.Conclusions:  A subset of patients with gastrointestinal motility disorders exhibit the combination of intraepithelial lymphocytosis and myenteric ganglionitis in full thickness biopsy specimens of the small bowel. We suggest calling this entity ‘intestinal lymphocytic epithelioganglionitis’.
Postharvest Aloe vera gel‐coating modulates fruit ripening and quality of ‘Arctic Snow’ nectarine kept in ambient and cold storage
Authors: Ahmed Muhammad J. , Singh Zora , Khan Ahmad S. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryTo evaluate the role of Aloe vera gel coating on ripening and fruit quality of nectarine (Prunus persica L. Batch cv ‘Arctic Snow’), the uncoated and coated fruit were allowed to ripen at 20 ± 1 °C in first experiment and in the second experiment, the fruit were stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% RH for 3 and 6 weeks prior to ripening at 20 ± 1 °C. Aloe vera gel‐coated fruit kept at ambient or 3 and 6 weeks cold storage reduced respiration rate, ethylene production (62, 37 and 43% respectively), retarded fruit softening, reduced electrolyte leakage (EL), weight loss (65%), levels of ascorbic acid and total antioxidants (24, 9 and 13%) during ripening than control. In conclusion, Aloe vera gel can be used for extending storage life at ambient or cold storage and maintaining quality of ‘Arctic Snow’ nectarine.
Methyl jasmonate coupled with modified atmosphere packaging to extend shelf life of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) during cold storage
Authors: Siripatrawan Ubonrat , Assatarakul Kitipong 
Published: April 2009

SummaryThe effects of methyl jasmonate coupled with modified atmosphere packaging (MJ+MAP) on the quality and shelf life of mature green tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were investigated during cold storage at 5 °C. Tomatoes were treated with 10−4 m MJ and packaged under 5%O2/5%CO2/90%N2 in a plastic bag. The effects of MJ+MAP were compared with control as well as heat treated (HT) samples. Control samples were tomatoes packaged under atmospheric air. HT samples were prepared by dipping tomatoes in hot water at 50 °C for 3 min and packaged under atmospheric air. The results showed that MJ+MAP and HT could delay ethylene production during tomato ripening and consequently slowed down the softening rate. MJ+MAP tomatoes showed better quality and less chilling injury (CI) symptoms than HT and control samples. Based on a nine‐point score, shelf life criteria assumed that rejection would occur when the sensory attributes declined below 5. Control and HT overall acceptance scores were shown to fall below 5 scores after 3 and 6 weeks storage, while MJ+MAP had overall acceptance scores above 5 for up to 9 weeks. Control and HT samples could be stored for about 4 and 6 weeks, respectively, while MJ+MAP tomatoes could be stored for up to 9 weeks.
A seasonal shift in habitat suitability enhances an annual predator subsidy
Authors: Lewis Danny , Denno Robert F. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryEntry of substantial numbers of natural enemies from outside a habitat can have profound impacts on food web structure in the recipient habitat, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, including the role of relative predator fitness in source and recipient habitats. We studied a naturally occurring annual movement of the salt‐marsh spiderPardosa littoralisacross habitats in an attempt to clarify factors enhancing and impeding movements of predator populations.Marsh vegetation is dominated by two cordgrass species,Spartina patens, a complex‐structured grass with a well‐developed litter layer, andSpartina alterniflora, a sparse‐structured grass with little thatch accumulation.Pardosahunts across both habitats and can drastically reduce densities of planthoppers and leafhoppers, the most abundant marsh herbivores.We found an annual subsidy ofPardosafromS. patens, extending hundreds of meters intoS. alternifloramade possible by a winter refuge provided byS. patens. As a result, the strength of the subsidy is correlated with the severity of the preceding winter, with the largest subsidies following the coldest winters.HigherPardosafitness in the recipient habitat following winter, as indicated by higher growth rates associated with greater prey availability, enhanced the strength of this subsidy. Conversely, lower structural complexity inS. alterniflora, which is associated with higher rates of cannibalism in this spider, may impede the subsidy.The mechanistic underpinnings of the predator subsidy demonstrated here can improve our understanding of subsidies in other contexts, such as conservation biological control. In addition, identifying such subsidies is key to preserving food webs in recipient habitats when source habitats are threatened.
An intervention program to promote health‐related physical fitness in nurses
Authors: Yuan Su‐Chuan , Chou Ming‐Chih , Hwu Lien‐Jen , Chang Yin‐O , Hsu Wen‐Hsin , Kuo Hsien‐Wen 
Published: April 2009

Aims.  To assess the effects of exercise intervention on nurses’ health‐related physical fitness.Background.  Regular exercise that includes gymnastics or aerobics has a positive effect on fitness. In Taiwan, there are not much data which assess the effects of exercise intervention on nurses’ health‐related physical fitness. Many studies have reported the high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in nurses However, there has been limited research on intervention programs that are designed to improve the general physical fitness of nurses.Design.  A quasi‐experimental study was conducted at a medical centre in central Taiwan.Methods.  Ninety nurses from five different units of a hospital volunteered to participate in this study and participated in an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group engaged in a three‐month intervention program consisting of treadmill exercise. Indicators of the health‐related physical fitness of both groups were established and assessed before and after the intervention.Results.  Before intervention, the control group had significantly better grasp strength, flexibility and durability of abdominal muscles than the experimental group (p < 0·05). After the intervention, logistic regression was used to adjust for marital status, work duration, regular exercise and workload and found that the experimental group performed significantly better (p < 0·05) on body mass index, grasp strength, flexibility, durability of abdominal and back muscles and cardiopulmonary function.Conclusions.  This study demonstrates that the development and implementation of an intervention program can promote and improve the health‐related physical fitness of nurses.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is suggested that nurses engage in an exercise program while in the workplace to lower the risk of MSDs and to promote working efficiency.
Predictors of depression in Chinese community‐dwelling people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Yang Juan , Li Sijian , Zheng Yanling 
Published: April 2009

Aims.  To examine levels of perceived social support and depression and to identify the related factors and predictors of depression among Chinese community‐dwelling people with type 2 diabetes.Background.  People with type 2 diabetes have a high risk for depression. Depression is a serious issue that leads to poor metabolic control and increased health care costs. However, little is known about the factors contributing to depression in Chinese people with type 2 diabetes.Design.  A cross‐sectional, descriptive correlation design was used.Methods.  A convenient sample consisting of 148 people with type 2 diabetes participated. Personal information questionnaire was used to obtain socio‐demographic characteristics; Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to measure depression and perceived social support, respectively. Spearman’s correlation and Stepwise multiple regression analysis were used in data analysis.Results.  The mean index score for depression was 46·53 and 39·2% of the subjects reported depression. The mean score for perceived social support was 5·24. Age, education level, marital status, monthly family income, living status, work status, regular exercise, duration of diabetes, diabetic complications, other chronic diseases and perceived social support were significantly correlated with depression. The best predictors of depression were perceived social support, duration of diabetes, regular exercise, work status and other chronic diseases.Conclusions.  Depression was common in people with type 2 diabetes. The people who had lower levels of perceived social support, longer diabetic duration, did not exercise regularly, were unemployed or retired and had other chronic diseases were more likely to report depression.Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses working in communities should assist people with type 2 diabetes in earlier detecting and treating their depression. Nurses should also design practical interventions to decrease depressive symptoms of those people through improving their diabetic conditions and perceived social support.
New measures of diabetes self‐care agency, diabetes self‐efficacy, and diabetes self‐management for insulin‐treated individuals with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Sousa Valmi D , Hartman Susan W , Miller Edith H , Carroll Michael A 
Published: April 2009

Aims and objectives.  To develop and refine three new scales that measure diabetes self‐care agency, diabetes self‐efficacy and diabetes self‐management to reflect the American Diabetes Association current standards of diabetes care and the American Association of Diabetes Educators self‐care behaviours. And, to establish the clarity, consistency and content validity of the scales.Background.  There is a need to have valid and reliable instruments or scales to assess an individual’s diabetes self‐care agency, self‐efficacy and self‐management to plan appropriate interventions that can be effective in improving glycaemic control and delaying or preventing diabetes‐related complications.Design.  A methodological design was used to conduct this study.Methods.  Ten clinicians and 10 insulin‐treated individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) from a diabetes care center in the southern USA participated in this study. Analysis consisted of inter‐rater agreement to determine clarity and consistency with standards of diabetes care and content validity of individual items on the scales (I‐CVI) and the overall scales (S‐CVI/Ave) to determine relevance for current diabetes care practice.Results.  All I‐CVI and S‐CVI/Ave of the DSES exceeded the minimum acceptable criteria. All I‐CVI and the S‐CVI of the DSMS also exceeded the minimum accepted criteria, except for one item that had I‐CVI = 0·70. Evaluation of the items and the directions of the scales by the sample of insulin‐treated individuals with T2DM exceeded the minimum criteria of 80% inter‐rater agreement.Relevance to research and clinical practice.  Further psychometric testing of the scales with samples of insulin‐treated individuals with diabetes is warranted and will lay the groundwork for further research and clinical practice to enhance the capability, confidence and actual performance of diabetes self‐management activities among insulin‐treated individuals with T2DM.Conclusions.  The scales can be used by diabetes care providers to assess and follow‐up individuals with diabetes who need intense case management. They also can be the measures of choice to conduct future research to test the effects of interventions among insulin‐treated individuals with T2DM.
Phylogeographic and demographic effects of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations in a montane salamander,Plethodon fourchensis
Authors: SHEPARD DONALD B. , BURBRINK FRANK T. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractClimatic changes associated with Pleistocene glacial cycles profoundly affected species distributions, patterns of interpopulation gene flow, and demography. In species restricted to montane habitats, ranges may expand and contract along an elevational gradients in response to environmental fluctuations and create high levels of genetic variation among populations on different mountains. The salamanderPlethodon fourchensisis restricted to high‐elevation, mesic forest on five montane isolates in the Ouachita Mountains. We used DNA sequence data along with ecological niche modelling and coalescent simulations to test several hypotheses related to the effects of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations on species in montane habitats. Our results revealed thatP. fourchensisis composed of four well‐supported, geographically structured lineages. Geographic breaks between lineages occurred in the vicinity of major valleys and a narrow high‐elevation pass. Ecological niche modelling predicted that environmental conditions in valleys separating most mountains are suitable; however, interglacial periods like the present are predicted to be times of range expansion inP. fourchensis. Divergence dating and coalescent simulations indicated that lineage diversification occurred during the Middle Pleistocene via the fragmentation of a wide‐ranging ancestor. Bayesian skyline plots showed gradual decreases in population size in three of four lineages over the most recent glacial period and a slight to moderate amount of population growth during the Holocene. Our results not only demonstrate that climatic changes during the Pleistocene had profound effects on species restricted to montane habitats, but comparison of our results forP. fourchensiswith its parapatric, sister taxon,P. ouachitae, also emphasizes how responses can vary substantially even among closely related, similarly distributed taxa.
IsCupressus sempervirensnative in Italy? An answer from genetic and palaeobotanical data
Authors: BAGNOLI F. , VENDRAMIN G. G. , BUONAMICI A. , DOULIS A. G. , GONZÁLEZ‐MARTÍNEZ S. C. , LA PORTA N. , MAGRI D. , RADDI P. , SEBASTIANI F. , FINESCHI S. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis study represents the first large‐scale analysis using nuclear molecular markers to assess genetic diversity and structure ofCupressus sempervirensL.. Genetic and fossil data were combined to infer the possible role of human activity and evolutionary history in shaping the diversity of cypress populations. We analysed 30 populations with six polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers. Dramatic reductions in heterozygosity and allelic richness were observed from east to west across the species range. Structure analysis assigned individuals to two main groups separating central Mediterranean and eastern populations. The two main groups could be further divided into five subgroups which showed the following geographical distributions: Turkey with the Greek islands Rhodes and Samos, Greece (Crete), Southern Italy, Northern Italy, Tunisia with Central Italy. This pattern of genetic structure is also supported bysamovaand Barrier analyses. Palaeobotanical data indicated thatCupressuswas present in Italy in the Pliocene, Pleistocene and Holocene. Furthermore, our molecular survey showed that Italian cypress populations experienced bottlenecks that resulted in reduced genetic diversity and allelic richness and greater genetic differentiation. Recent colonization or introduction may also have influenced levels of diversity detected in the Italian populations, as most individuals found in this range today have multilocus genotypes that are also present in the eastern range of the species. The data reveal a new interpretation of the history of cypress distribution characterized by ancient eastern populations (Turkey and Greek islands) and a mosaic of recently introduced trees and remnants of ancient, depauperate populations in the central Mediterranean range.
On the Critique by Colin Anderson of ‘A Reply to Dembic: On an End to the Beginning of Mis‐Understanding the Immune Response’
Authors: Cohn M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractMy proposal of a set of postulates that can be used to guide computer modeling has understandably met with significant criticism at two levels, semantic and conceptual. The major source of contention is my assumption that the sorting of the paratopic repertoire is both necessary and sufficient to explain the evolutionarily selected mechanism for the self‐nonself discrimination. While `necessary' is agreed upon, `sufficient' is debatable as this commentary illustrates. My essay is in defense of `sufficiency'.
Association of KIR2DL2 polymorphism rs2756923 with type 1 diabetes and preliminary evidence for lack of inhibition through HLA‐C1 ligand binding
Authors: Ramos‐Lopez E. , Scholten F. , Aminkeng F. , Wild C. , Kalhes H. , Seidl C. , Tonn T. , Van der Auwera B. , Badenhoop K. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractKiller cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) on chromosome 19q13.4 regulate the function of not only human natural killer (NK) cells but also T cells. An increase in activating KIR– human leucocyte antigen ligand pairs has been associated with an additional risk to develop type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D families [n = 184 (552 individuals); n = 176 (528 subjects)], unrelated T1D patients (n = 380; n = 394) and healthy controls (n = 315; n = 401) from Germany and Belgium, respectively, were genotyped for the rs2756923 polymorphism within the KIR gene cluster haplotype B in exon 8 of the KIR2DL2 gene. We observed in both Germans and Belgians an overtransmission of the allele ‘G’ of the KIR2DL2‐rs2756923 polymorphism (64.2% vs 35.8%, P = 3 × 10−4 and 60.0% vs 40.0%, P = 0.02, respectively). In addition, this allele was more frequent in German patients than in healthy controls (78.4% vs 21.6%, P = 1 × 10−3). Preliminary results from a cytotoxicity assay suggest that inhibition of NK‐cell cytotoxicity may be impaired in individuals carrying the rs2756923 G allele. These data suggest a potential role of the KIR2DL2‐rs2756923 polymorphism in T1D in Germans and Belgians.
MHC class I chain‐related gene A transmembrane polymorphism in Spanish women with breast cancer
Authors: Lavado‐Valenzuela R. , Benavides M. , Carabantes F. , Alonso A. , Caballero A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe NKG2D–major histocompatibility complex class I‐related chain A (MICA) system plays a key role in the antitumoral immune response. We studied five alleles of a microsatellite in the MICA transmembrane region; one of which (MICA‐A5.1) gives rise to a truncated protein. The MICA‐A5 allele was reduced in breast cancer patients compared with healthy controls (P = 0.04). Given the association between the HLA‐B7 allele and the susceptibility to breast cancer in our area, we also analyzed the distribution of the frequency of the MICA alleles in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐B7 patients compared with patients with the other alleles. The MICA‐A5.1 allele was increased in HLA‐B7 patients (P = 0.0003). These results suggest that the MICA‐A5 allele appears to confer protection against human breast cancer and that the MICA‐A5.1 appears to increase the susceptibility to breast cancer in HLA‐B7 patients in our area.
Characterization of glutathioneS‐transferase in the saturniid moth,Samia Cynthia pryeri(Lep.: Saturniidae)
Authors: Yamamoto K. , Miake F. , Aso Y. , Teshiba S. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAn enzyme, which possesses glutathioneS‐transferase (GST) activity, has been found in the midgut of the saturniid moth,Samia cynthia pryeri. The enzyme was initially purified into homogeneity by ammonium sulphate fractionation, affinity chromatography, and ion‐exchange chromatography. The resulting enzyme revealed a single band with a molecular mass of 23 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis under reduced conditions. When tested with 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene, a universal substrate of GST, the purified remnants had an optimum pH of 8.0 for enzymatic activity, and was fairly stable at pH 5–9 and at temperatures below 40°C. The enzyme was also responsive to 4‐hydroxynonenal, a cytotoxic lipid‐peroxidation product. The present GST was inhibited by organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides including fenitrothion, permethrin and deltamethrin.