bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel natural alleles at FLC and LVR loci account for enhanced vernalization responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: SÁNCHEZ‐BERMEJO EDUARDO , MÉNDEZ‐VIGO BELÉN , PICÓ F. XAVIER , MARTÍNEZ‐ZAPATER JOSÉ M. , ALONSO‐BLANCO CARLOS 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTVernalization, the induction of flowering by low winter temperatures, is likely to be involved in plant climatic adaptation. However, the genetic, molecular and ecological bases underlying the quantitative variation that tunes vernalization sensitivity to natural environments are largely unknown. To address these questions, we have studied the enhanced vernalization response shown by the Ll‐0 accession of Arabidopsis thaliana. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for several flowering initiation traits in relation to vernalization, in a new Ler × Ll‐0 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, identified large effect alleles at FRI, FLC and HUA2, together with two small effect loci named as Llagostera vernalization response (LVR) 1 and 2. Phenotypic analyses of near isogenic lines validated LVR1 effect on flowering vernalization responses. To further characterize the FLC allele from Ll‐0, we carried out genetic association analyses using a regional collection of wild genotypes. FLC‐Ll‐0 appeared as a low‐frequency allele that is distinguished by polymorphism Del(‐57), a 50‐bp‐deletion in the 5′‐UTR. Del(‐57) was significantly associated with enhanced vernalization responses and FLC RNA expression, as well as with altitude and minimum temperatures. These results are consistent with Del(‐57) acting as a novel cis‐regulatory FLC polymorphism that may confer climatic adaptation by increasing vernalization sensitivity.
Pulmonary and systemic effects of mononuclear leukapheresis
Authors: Barr L. , Brittan M. , Conway Morris A. , Stewart A. , Dhaliwal K. , Anderson N. , Turner M. , Manson L. , Simpson A. J. 
Published: April 2012

Background and Objectives  There is increasing evidence that monocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of acute lung inflammation. Mononuclear cell (MNC) leukapheresis can be used to remove large numbers of monocytes from circulating blood; however, the detailed characteristics of monocyte subpopulations removed by MNC leukapheresis, and the biological effects on the lung, remain incompletely defined.Material and Methods  Six healthy male volunteers underwent MNC leukapheresis of four total blood volumes. Blood was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h; bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 8–9 h. Multiparameter flow cytometry was used to identify subpopulations of monocytes in blood and monocyte‐like cells in BAL fluid.Results  A median of 5·57 × 109 monocytes were retrieved. Blood monocyte counts indicated that the circulating blood monocyte pool was actively replenished during leukapheresis and subsequently contained a greater proportion of classical (CD14++ CD16−) monocytes. A particular subpopulation of monocyte‐like cells, reminiscent of classical monocytes, was also prominent in BAL fluid after leukapheresis.Conclusion  Mononuclear cell leukapheresis was safe. The greater proportion of classical monocytes present in blood after MNC leukapheresis may be clinically significant. MNC leukapheresis also appears to affect the proportion of monocyte‐like cells in the lung; however, we found no evidence that leukapheresis has a clinically important pro‐inflammatory effect in the human lung.
Individual Variation in Trophic Egg Production: Evidence for Maternal Manipulation in Response to Resource and Competition Levels
Authors: Filippi Lisa , Hironaka Mantaro , Nomakuchi Shintaro 
Published: April 2012

AbstractFemales of the subsocial shield bugParastrachia japonensis(Heteroptera: Parastrachiidae) incorporate trophic eggs (nutritive eggs) into their egg mass. Considerable variation occurs among females in trophic egg number and the proportion of an egg mass that is composed of trophic eggs. Because trophic eggs are essential to the development and survival of young, this variation could significantly impact female fitness. We tested the hypothesis that trophic egg abundance is induced by maternal phenotype (weight, body size) and resource exposure. We predicted that resource limitations would cause females to produce fewer fertile eggs and more trophic eggs and that larger and heavier females would produce more of each egg type. Females ovipositing early in the season are exposed to different resource conditions than those that oviposit late. Thus, we compared egg production patterns between these two groups and several other factors related to nesting. No correlation was seen between body size and trophic egg abundance, or, indeed, egg production, overall; however, heavier females produced heavier egg masses. Counter to our prediction, late females, which had greater access to food, produced significantly more total eggs, fewer fertile eggs, and more trophic eggs than early females. A binomial generalized linear model analysis indicated that the factors most correlated with the percentage of an egg mass destined to become trophic eggs were resource abundance, resulting from early or late oviposition, and distance of the nest from the host tree, with closer females producing more trophic eggs. The findings support our hypothesis that resource availability and, to a lesser extent, maternal phenotype affect trophic egg abundance.
Is sentinel node biopsy the standard of care in melanoma management? The opinions and practices of Australian specialists
Authors: Anderson Austen , Love Robert , Chan Jonathan 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTBackground/Objective:  There is international debate over the role of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in invasive melanoma management. There is currently evidence that SNB offers prognostic information; however, the therapeutic benefit of SNB is yet to be elucidated. Many experts describe SNB as the standard of care in the management of patients with melanoma. Labelling a procedure as a standard of care has consequences from the perspectives of both patient care and cost. This study aims to determine the opinions of Australian dermatologists and plastic surgeons on the role of SNB, to compare these opinions between specialties and to compare self‐reported practices with current evidence.Methods:  An online survey of 10 questions was distributed to members of the Australasian College of Dermatologists and the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.Results:  A total of 137 responses were received (66 dermatologists and 71 plastic surgeons), representing 16% of the dermatologists and 20% of the plastic surgeons in Australia. Just over half of the respondents (51%) said SNB should not be the standard of care. More dermatologists than plastic surgeons held this view. In total 15% of specialists were counselling patients outside current guidelines.Conclusions:  Australian specialists are divided on the role of SNB in the management of patients with melanoma. There are differences in opinion on the role of SNB in melanoma management between speciality groups and regions. A significant percentage of specialists are counselling patients outside current guidelines.
Incidence of acute rheumatic fever in New Zealand children and youth
Authors: Milne Richard J , Lennon Diana R , Stewart Joanna M , Vander Hoorn Stephen , Scuffham Paul A 
Published: April 2012

Aim:  To estimate acute rheumatic fever (ARF) incidence rates for New Zealand children and youth by ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation and region.Methods:  National hospital admissions with a principal diagnosis of ARF (ICD9_AM 390‐392; ICD10‐AM I00‐I02) were obtained from routine statistics and stratified by age, ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation index (NZDep2006) and District Health Board (DHB).Results:  The mean incidence rate for ARF in 2000–2009 peaked at 9 to 12 years of age. Incidence rates for children 5 to 14 years of age for Māori were 40.2 (95% confidence interval 36.8, 43.8), Pacific 81.2 (73.4, 89.6), non‐Māori/Pacific 2.1 (1.6, 2.6) and all children 17.2 (16.1, 18.3) per 100 000. Māori and Pacific incidence rates increased by 79% and 73% in 1993–2009, while non‐Māori/Pacific rates declined by 71%. Overall rates increased by 59%.In 2000–2009, Māori and Pacific children comprised 30% of children 5–14 years of age but accounted for 95% of new cases. Almost 90% of index cases of ARF were in the highest five deciles of socioeconomic deprivation and 70% were in the most deprived quintile. A child living in the most deprived decile has about one in 150 risk of being admitted to the hospital for ARF by 15 years of age. Ten DHBs containing 76% of the population 5 to 14 years of age accounted for 94% of index cases of ARF.Conclusions:  ARF with its attendant rheumatic heart disease is an increasing public health issue for disadvantaged North Island communities with high concentrations of Māori and/or Pacific families.
Genetic and ecophysiological diversity of Cladophora (Cladophorales, Ulvophyceae) in various salinity regimes
Authors: Hayakawa Yu‐ichiro , Ogawa Taku , Yoshikawa Shinya , Ohki Kaori , Kamiya Mitsunobu 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYAlthough Cladophora species frequently appear in brackish environments, their genetic diversity, phenological patterns and physiological properties have not been well investigated in these environments. Cladophora is distributed throughout Mikata‐goko, an area consisting of five coastal lakes that are directly or indirectly connected to the sea, resulting in a salinity gradient ranging from fully marine to freshwater. To elucidate genetic and ecological variation in Cladophora, we monthly compared ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences of Cladophora specimens across six study sites characterized by different salinity regimes for a year. A total of 12 ribotypes were detected and assigned to six species, four of which were restricted to the marine habitat. Ribotype I of C. vagabunda (L.) Hoek was distributed in high‐salinity brackish waters (mean salinity ≤13 psu; maximum salinity ≤31 psu), whereas C. vagabunda ribotype II and C. glomerata were abundant in low‐salinity brackish waters (mean salinity ≤5 psu; maximum salinity ≤10 psu). Although Cladophora albida (Nees) Kütz. and C. glomerata (L.) Kütz. were collected during all four seasons, C. laetevirens (Dillwyn) Kütz., C. oligocladoidea Hoek and Chihara, C. opaca Sakai and C. vagabunda displayed marked seasonal variation. Culture experiments revealed that optimal salinity conditions for vegetative growth vary among ribotypes collected from different salinity regimes, suggesting that Cladophora distributions are controlled by ribotype‐specific ecophysiological adaptations. In contrast, temperature optima and tolerance were similar among ribotypes showing different seasonalities, and thus their phenologies may be controlled by other environmental factors or biotic conditions, such as reproductive maturity and spore germination.
Is the penoscrotal approach inferior to the perineal approach for artificial sphincter implantation in male urinary incontinence? A preliminary experience
Authors: Shen Yuan‐Chi , Chiang Po‐Hui 
Published: April 2012

AbstractArtificial urinary sphincter is the gold standard of treatment for urinary incontinence as a result of sphincter incompetence. The perineal incision for cuff placement, and low abdominal incision for the placement of a pressure‐regulating balloon and pump is the original design. Wilson et al. presented a modified method by a single penoscrotal (transscrotal) incision for implantation of all pieces. However, some experts believe there are important differences between the two methods, and the traditional perineal incision is better than the modified penoscrotal incision. The objective of our study was to show the characteristics of penoscrotal incision and determine whether the penoscrotal approach is inferior to the perineal approach in clinical outcome and complications. From May 1994 to July 2011, a total of 21 male patients underwent 27 artificial urinary sphincter implantations. Twelve cuffs were placed with the perineal approach and 15 with the penoscrotal approach. The patients in the penoscrotal group had a shorter operative time (86.0 ± 21.1 vs 115.4 ± 32.0 min, P = 0.018) and hospital stay (5.4 ± 2.2 vs 9.3 ± 2.5 days, P = 0.002) compared with the perineal group. There was no statistical significance in long‐term completely dry rate (penoscrotal vs perineal: 66.7% vs 50%, P = 0.767), infection rate (20% vs 33.3%, P = 0.617) and subsequent tandem cuff‐added rate (6.7% vs 16.7%, P = 0.675) between the two approaches. Hence, penoscrotal incision is not inferior to traditional perineal incision for artificial urinary sphincter implantation in male urinary incontinence.
Environmental and socio‐economic factors related to urban bird communities
Authors: LUCK GARY W. , SMALLBONE LISA T. , SHEFFIELD KATHRYN J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractUrban fauna communities may be strongly influenced by environmental and socio‐economic factors, but the relative importance of these factors is poorly known. Most research on urban fauna has been conducted in large cities and it is unclear if the patterns found in these locations coincide with those from smaller human settlements. We examined the relative importance of environmental and socio‐economic factors in explaining variation in urban bird communities across 72 neighbourhoods in 18 regional towns in south‐eastern Australia. Native bird species richness varied from 6 to 32 across neighbourhoods and was higher in neighbourhoods with more nectar‐rich plants. Variation in bird species diversity across neighbourhoods was also strongly positively related to the density of nectar‐rich plants, but was higher also in neighbourhoods with higher socio‐economic status (reflecting higher levels of disposal income, education and home ownership). The density of native birds across neighbourhoods per season varied from 1 to 15 birds per hectare and was lower in neighbourhoods with a greater cover of impervious surfaces. The density of exotic birds (introduced to Australia) per season also varied across neighbourhoods (0–13 birds per hectare) and was lower in neighbourhoods with more nectar‐rich plants and higher in neighbourhoods with greater impervious surface cover. Our results demonstrated that the vegetation characteristics of household gardens, along streetscapes and in urban parklands had a strong influence on the richness and diversity of urban bird communities. The density of native and exotic birds varied primarily in response to changes in the built environment (measured through impervious surface cover). Socio‐economic factors had relatively little direct influence on urban birds, but neighbourhood socio‐economics may influence bird communities indirectly through the positive relationship between socio‐economic status and vegetation cover recorded in our study area.
Value of concomitant endoscopic balloon dilation for intestinal stricture during long‐term infliximab therapy in patients with crohn's disease
Authors: Ono Yoichiro , Hirai Fumihito , Matsui Toshiyuki , Beppu Takahiro , Yano Yutaka , Takatsu Noritaka , Takaki Yasuhiro , Nagahama Takashi , Hisabe Takashi , Yao Kenshi , Higashi Daijiro , Futami Kitaro 
Published: April 2012

Aim:  We assessed the long‐term outcome of infliximab (IFX) therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and investigated the efficacy of concomitant endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) for intestinal stricture during treatment.Methods:  The effectiveness of maintenance therapy with IFX was retrospectively evaluated in 185 patients with CD in a single center (median observation period 24 months). IFX effectiveness with and without immunomodulators (IMM) and enteral nutrition (EN), as well as cumulative surgery‐free rates, were compared. The efficacy of concomitant EBD in patients with obstructive symptoms and high‐level stricture was evaluated.Results:  In 185 patients receiving the maintenance therapy, the long‐term efficacy rate was 84.9% at 24 months and 79.0% at 48 months. The cumulative surgery‐free rate was significantly higher in the maintenance group (P < 0.001). Concomitant IMM and EN did not significantly affect the effectiveness of IFX. IFX was discontinued in only 18 cases (7.3%). Symptomatic high‐level stricture occurred in 33 patients (17.8%) in the maintenance group and the cumulative surgery‐free rate was significantly higher in the EBD combination compared with the non‐EBD group (P < 0.05). If EBD were considered invasive intervention, the actual cumulative surgery rate in the maintenance group was significantly lower compared with the cumulative invasive intervention rate (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  Long‐term treatment with IFX is highly effective. The surgery‐free rate was clearly higher in the maintenance group. Only concomitant EBD for intestinal stricture helped in the avoidance of surgery.
Histopathologic evaluation of the anterior segment of eyes enucleated due to glaucoma secondary to primary lens displacement in 13 canine globes
Authors: Alario Anthony F. , Pizzirani Stefano , Pirie Christopher G. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPurpose  To describe histologic anterior segment changes in eyes affected with primary lens displacement (PLD) and secondary glaucoma.Methods  Histologic sections stained with H&E from canine eyes enucleated because of PLD and secondary glaucoma were examined.Results  Thirteen eyes from 12 patients were evaluated. Four dogs were castrated males and eight spayed females. Median age was 8 years of age (range 3–13). Breeds included seven terriers and five other breeds. All eyes examined demonstrated varying degrees of inflammation involving the iris and cleft. Mononuclear and melanophagic infiltration of the cleft was found in all specimens. Four globes also showed polymorphonuclear infiltrate. Pre‐iridal fibrovascular membranes were clearly identified in 10 of 13 eyes. Total inflammatory score was significantly greater in all globes examined compared with an age‐matched group of normal dogs. The posterior pigmented iris epithelium demonstrated a consistent pattern of hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy and cystic degeneration, more prominent in the more central regions. In some cases, hyperplasia was of greatest severity in the mid‐iris and associated with thinning or flattening of the pupillary region.Conclusions  These results suggest that lens instability may be associated with chronic inflammation and secondary glaucoma. Mechanical irritation from an unstable lens may result in hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of the posterior pigmented iris epithelium and subsequent cellular exfoliation and release of melanin. An inflammatory reaction directly or indirectly related to melanin release may obstruct the outflow pathways ultimately leading to glaucoma and loss of vision. Use of topical steroids may be warranted in dogs with PLD.
Welfare state regimes, health and health inequalities in adolescence: a multilevel study in 32 countries
Authors: Richter Matthias , Rathman Katharina , Gabhainn Saoirse Nic , Zambon Alessio , Boyce William , Hurrelmann Klaus 
Published: April 2012

AbstractComparative research on health and health inequalities has recently started to establish a welfare regime perspective. The objective of this study was to determine whether different welfare regimes are associated with health and health inequalities among adolescents. Data were collected from the ‘Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children’ study in 2006, including 11‐ to 15‐year‐old students from 32 countries (N = 141,091). Prevalence rates and multilevel logistic regression models were calculated for self‐rated health (SRH) and health complaints. The results show that between 4 per cent and 7 per cent of the variation in both health outcomes is attributable to differences between countries. Compared to the Scandinavian regime, the Southern regime had lower odds ratios for SRH, while for health complaints the Southern and Eastern regime showed high odds ratios. The association between subjective health and welfare regime was largely unaffected by adjusting for individual socioeconomic position. After adjustment for the welfare regime typology, the country‐level variations were reduced to 4.6 per cent for SRH and to 2.9 per cent for health complaints. Regarding cross‐level interaction effects between welfare regimes and socioeconomic position, no clear regime‐specific pattern was found. Consistent with research on adults this study shows that welfare regimes are important in explaining variations in adolescent health across countries.
Contradictions of value: between use and exchange in cord blood bioeconomy
Authors: Brown Nik 
Published: April 2012

AbstractUmbilical cord blood (CB) has become established as an increasingly viable clinical alternative to bone marrow in the treatment of leukaemia leading to the construction of a global network of CB banks promoted through a moral ethos of gift. Additionally, some banks offer the opportunity to retain stem cells privately. CB is discursively presented as clinical ‘waste’, a ‘by‐product’ of birthing. In this way CB units are made available to a global exchange‐based bioeconomy. Crucially, CB collection has developed in parallel with several necessary obstetric practices, especially the immediate clamping of the cord following delivery, essential to high volume collection. However, this article strongly suggests the promotional basis of CB banking (such as by gift, waste or donation) is in tension with the growing preference of new parents to delay cord clamping. Based on focus groups with expectant parents, the promotion of CB banking can in fact be seen to feed into critical reflection on the value of CB for newborn infants, potentially reinvigorating a tradition of delayed umbilical cord clamping. Theoretically, these contradictory systems of valuing are conceptualised through recent literature on bioeconomy and Marx’s writings on the contrasting tensions between use and exchange value.
Ordinal Dominance Curve Based Inference for Stochastically Ordered Distributions
Authors: Davidov Ori , Herman Amir 
Published: April 2012

SummaryIn a variety of applications researchers collect data that are sampled under ordered experimental conditions. In such situations it is reasonable to assume that outcomes are ordered stochastically by the level of the treatment. For example a toxicologist may want to assess the effect of a toxin on the reproductive system by studying the number of offspring produced by an animal as a function of the dose that it received. A variety of scientific questions arise in such a context. The most basic is whether a dose–response relationship is present. If so, determining the minimal toxic dose is of great interest. The strength of the ordering between groups i&lt;j may be assessed by the probabilities ℙXi⩽Xj or monotone functions thereof. Large probabilities indicate a strong ordering. We find that such (and other) questions are naturally addressed by studying the ordinal dominance curve and the area under the curve (AUC). We develop new, non-parametric, order-restricted estimators for the AUCs in K⩾2 samples and investigate them in detail. We show that the restricted estimators are strongly consistent and have lower mean-squared error compared with the unrestricted estimators. In the two-sample case estimators are considerably improved in those situations where the data are highly variable and/or sample sizes are small, and where the AUC is close to its boundary value. Note that these are precisely the conditions under which estimating the AUC is difficult. Simulations indicate that in the multisample case estimators are improved under a much broader set of conditions with substantial reductions in mean-squared error. These estimators provide a basis for a family of distribution-free tests for the usual stochastic order in K⩾2 samples. Limiting distributions are derived. An accurate and simple approximation to the tail area is given for K = 2. Simulation studies show that the new tests perform well compared with existing alternatives. The methodology proposed is illustrated by applying it to an aquatic toxicology study where it is used to determine the minimal toxic dose more accurately.