bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecological consequences of intraspecific variation in lake Daphnia
Authors: DUFFY MEGHAN A. 
Published: October 2009

Summary1. Although populations harbour considerable diversity, most ecological studies still assume they are homogeneous. However, mounting evidence suggests that intraspecific diversity is not only common, but also important for interactions with community members. Here, intraspecific variation in Daphnia dentifera in haemoglobin content is shown to be a marker of hypolimnion use.2. Hypolimnion use differed substantially within and among D. dentifera populations. Daphnia dentifera with haemoglobin resided primarily in the hypolimnion, while D. dentifera lacking haemoglobin migrated vertically. These ‘deep’ and ‘migratory’D. dentifera had different seasonal phenologies and dynamics.3. Deep and migratory D. dentifera had qualitatively different relationships with an important competitor, Daphnia pulicaria. Deep D. dentifera density was negatively correlated with D. pulicaria density, whereas migratory density was not correlated with D. pulicaria density.4. Given that D. pulicaria tends to reside in the hypolimnion, this negative correlation probably reflects competition between D. pulicaria and the deep D. dentifera. This pattern would have been missed if only the relationship between the overall lake populations of D. dentifera and D. pulicaria had been studied.5. Abundances of deep D. dentifera and D. pulicaria were both correlated with the size of the hypolimnetic refuge from fish predation, but in opposite directions. Lakes with large refuges generally had high D. pulicaria and low deep D. dentifera densities.
Rising concentrations of atmospheric CO2 have increased growth in natural stands of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Authors: COLE CHRISTOPHER T. , ANDERSON JON E. , LINDROTH RICHARD L. , WALLER DONALD M. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAs atmospheric CO2 levels rise, temperate and boreal forests in the Northern Hemisphere are gaining importance as carbon sinks. Quantification of that role, however, has been difficult due to the confounding effects of climate change. Recent large‐scale experiments with quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a dominant species in many northern forest ecosystems, indicate that elevated CO2 levels can enhance net primary production. Field studies also reveal that droughts contribute to extensive aspen mortality. To complement this work, we analyzed how the growth of wild aspen clones in Wisconsin has responded to historical shifts in CO2 and climate, accounting for age, genotype (microsatellite heterozygosity), and other factors. Aspen growth has increased an average of 53% over the past five decades, primarily in response to the 19.2% rise in ambient CO2 levels. CO2‐induced growth is particularly enhanced during periods of high moisture availability. The analysis accounts for the highly nonlinear changes in growth rate with age, and is unaffected by sex or location sampled. Growth also increases with individual heterozygosity, but this heterozygote advantage has not changed with rising levels of CO2 or moisture. Thus, increases in future growth predicted from previous large‐scale, common‐garden work are already evident in this abundant and ecologically important tree species. Owing to aspen's role as a foundation species in many North American forest ecosystems, CO2‐stimulated growth is likely to have repercussions for numerous associated species and ecosystem processes.
Abundant nuclear copies of mitochondrial origin (NUMTs) in the Aedes aegypti genome
Authors: Black IV W. C. , Bernhardt S. A. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractA portion of the Aedes aegypti mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 gene (ND4) was amplified using PCR with a 42 °C annealing temperature. Amplified fragments from individual mosquitoes were similar to ND4 but contained multiple segregating sites. We suspected that nuclear copies of mitochondrial origin (NUMTs) exist in the Ae. aegypti genome. A BlastN search in VectorBase with the entire Ae. aegypti mitochondrial genome identified 233 NUMTs comprising 110 178 bp in 145 supercontigs. At a density of 0.080 bp/kb, this represents the second highest density of NUMTs in an insect genome and the highest in Diptera. Analyses of flanking sequences suggested that Ae. aegypti NUMTs arise through mtDNA leakage from damaged mitochondria followed by breakage and nonhomologous recombination, rather than through duplicative processes such as transposition or molecular drive.
A coleopteran triosephosphate isomerase: X‐ray structure and phylogenetic impact of insect sequences
Authors: Knobeloch D. , Schmidt A. , Scheerer P. , Krauss N. , Wessner H. , Scholz Ch. , Küttner G. , Von Rintelen T. , Wessel A. , Höhne W. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractA coleopteran triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) from Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm beetle) was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized with respect to thermal stability, kinetic parameters and oligomeric state. The enzyme was successfully crystallized and the structure determined by X‐ray analysis to 2.0 Å resolution. This is the first example of an invertebrate TIM. We compare structural features with known structures of TIMs from microorganisms, plants and vertebrates, and discuss the utility of the Tenebrio TIM sequence, together with several newly sequenced insect TIMs, for molecular phylogenetic analysis.
HAADF‐STEM analysis of layered double perovskite La2CuSnO6 grown epitaxially
Authors: HARUTA M. , KOMATSU H. , KURATA H. , SHIMAKAWA Y. , ISODA S. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryStructural observation of layered double perovskite oxide La2CuSnO6 thin films grown epitaxially on SrTiO3 is reported by high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF‐STEM). Particularly the transition layer at the interface was observed, and the first B site layer at the interface was found to be almost formed by the Cu atomic layer as the random structure, followed by formation of the layered structure.In addition, HAADF‐STEM images indicate that the thin film is not single crystalline, but some irregular structures were observed to grow around the interface near atomic steps of the substrate of SrTiO3. Therefore, the steps largely affect the growth process of the thin film.
Formation process of β‐FeSi2 from amorphous Fe‐Si synthesized by ion implantation: Fe concentration dependence
Authors: NAITO M. , ISHIMARU M. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryFormation processes of β‐FeSi2 from amorphous Fe‐Si layers have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Si(111) substrates were irradiated with 120 keV Fe ions at −150°C to fluences of 1.0 × 1017 and 4.0 × 1017 cm–2. An amorphous Fe‐Si layer embedded in an amorphous Si was formed in the low‐fluence sample, whereas an amorphous Fe‐Si surface layer on an amorphous Si was obtained in the high‐fluence one. The amorphous Fe‐Si layers were crystallized to β‐FeSi2 after thermal annealing at 800°C for 2 h. Cross‐sectional and plan‐view TEM observations revealed that, prior to the formation of β‐FeSi2, the amorphous Fe‐Si layers crystallized to α‐FeSi2 in the low‐fluence sample and to ɛ‐FeSi in the high‐fluence one. The absence of metastable γ‐FeSi2 which is considered as a precursor of epitaxially grown β‐FeSi2 on Si was attributed to the instability of γ‐phase in an amorphous matrix.
TEM, HRTEM, electron holography and electron tomography studies of γ′ and γ″ nanoparticles in Inconel 718 superalloy
Authors: DUBIEL B. , KRUK A. , STEPNIOWSKA E. , CEMPURA G. , GEIGER D. , FORMANEK P. , HERNANDEZ J. , MIDGLEY P. , CZYRSKA‐FILEMONOWICZ A. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe aim of the study was the identification of γ′ and γ″ strengthening precipitates in a commercial nickel‐base superalloy Inconel 718 (Ni‐19Fe‐18Cr‐5Nb‐3Mo‐1Ti‐0.5Al‐0.04C, wt %) using TEM dark‐field, HRTEM, electron holography and electron tomography imaging. To identify γ′ and γ″ nanoparticles unambiguously, a systematic analysis of experimental and theoretical diffraction patterns were performed. Using HRTEM method it was possible to analyse small areas of precipitates appearance. Electron holography and electron tomography techniques show new possibilities of visualization of γ′ and γ″ nanoparticles. The analysis by means of different complementary TEM methods showed that γ″ particles exhibit a shape of thin plates, while γ′ phase precipitates are almost spherical.
Tensorial Minkowski functionals and anisotropy measures for planar patterns
Authors: SCHRÖDER‐TURK G.E. , KAPFER S. , BREIDENBACH B. , BEISBART C. , MECKE K. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryQuantitative measures for anisotropic characteristics of spatial structure are needed when relating the morphology of microstructured heterogeneous materials to tensorial physical properties such as elasticity, permeability and conductance. Tensor‐valued Minkowski functionals, defined in the framework of integral geometry, provide a concise set of descriptors of anisotropic morphology. In this article, we describe the robust computation of these measures for microscopy images and polygonal shapes. We demonstrate their relevance for shape description, their versatility and their robustness by applying them to experimental data sets, specifically microscopy data sets of non‐equilibrium stationary Turing patterns and the shapes of ice grains from Antarctic cores.
Improvement of the pore trapping method to immobilize vital coccoid bacteria for high‐resolution AFM: a study of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: TURNER R.D. , THOMSON N.H. , KIRKHAM J. , DEVINE D. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryPreparation of vital bacteria for atomic force microscope study under aqueous fluid, such as physiological buffer or bacterial growth medium, presents challenges as cells will often desorb from the supporting surface or be dislodged by the atomic force microscope tip during imaging. An established method of immobilizing coccoid bacteria is to trap cells in polycarbonate track etched filter pores. We have significantly improved this method by modifying the pore diameter of commercially available filters to correspond to the diameter of the target strain, enabling high‐resolution imaging of stationary organisms under buffer and dividing organisms under growth media.
Automatic twin statistics from electron backscattered diffraction data
Authors: MARSHALL P.E. , PROUST G. , ROGERS J.T. , MCCABE R.J. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryA new computer code has been developed to automatically extract quantitative twin statistics from electron backscatter diffraction data. The new code is an improvement upon previous codes in that it handles materials of any crystal symmetry, type I, Type II and compound twins, and general stress states. Moreover, accuracy of the results has been greatly improved. In addition, twin statistics including number, area fraction, twin thickness and twinning dependencies on orientation, grain size and neighbourhood effects can be routinely analysed. The new code has been applied to scan data from deformed magnesium, zirconium and uranium, and can potentially be used for any twinning material for which reliable electron backscatter diffraction results can be obtained.
Severe cutaneous reactions caused by barbiturates in seven Iranian children
Authors: Mamishi Setareh , Fattahi Fatemeh , Pourpak Zahra , Aghaee Farzaneh Mirza , Moinfar Zeinab , Mohammadi Mahmoud , Ashrafi Mahmoud , Moin Mostafa 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground The severe adverse cutaneous reactions of erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare mucocutaneous diseases associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The most common cause is antiepileptic drugs, particularly carbamazepine and lamotrigine, as well as the barbiturates group (phenobarbital and phenytoin). In this article, we present seven children with severe adverse cutaneous reactions caused by barbiturates.Case Reports The age of the affected children was between 2 and 11 years and they all had a history of taking barbiturates. Their symptoms started 1–3 weeks after the initiation of barbiturates, including a prodrome characterized by 2–3 days of malaise, fever, cough and anorexia, after which the skin and mucosal lesions appeared and worsened. The skin lesions varied from rash to large bullae, plus different forms of mucous membrane involvement. The offending drugs (barbiturates) were stopped immediately and care was largely supportive.Conclusion As a result of the morbidity and/or mortality associated with EM, SJS and TEN, physicians should keep in mind their differential diagnosis when cutaneous reactions are observed in patients undergoing barbiturate therapy. Furthermore, although TEN and SJS are life‐threatening diseases, early detection and appropriate care can lead to a decrease in the incidence of death. The strategies described here seem to be successful and safe because, despite the serious conditions, our patients responded well. All survived.
Photodynamic therapy with methyl aminolevulinate for primary nodular basal cell carcinoma: results of two randomized studies
Authors: Foley Peter , Freeman Michael , Menter Alan , Siller Gregory , El‐Azhary Rokea A. , Gebauer Kurt , Lowe Nicholas J. , Jarratt Michael T. , Murrell Dedee F. , Rich Phoebe , Pariser David M. , Oseroff Allan R. , Barnetson Ross , Anderson Christopher , Kossard Steven , Gibson Lawrence E. , Tope Whitney D. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  Data suggest that photodynamic therapy using topical methyl aminolevulinate (MAL PDT) may be a noninvasive alternative to excisional surgery for nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In the studies described here, we investigated the histologic response, tolerability, and cosmetic outcome with MAL PDT for primary nodular BCC (≤ 5 mm in depth).Methods  Two multicenter, randomized, double‐blind studies with similar design and procedures were conducted. After surface debridement and minor tumor debulking, MAL cream 160 mg/g (66 patients with 75 lesions) or placebo cream (65 patients with 75 lesions) was applied for 3 h, followed by illumination with broad‐spectrum red light (75 J/cm2, 570–670 nm). This was repeated 7 days later. Lesions with a partial response (≥ 50% reduction in greatest diameter) at 3 months were re‐treated (21%). Treatment sites were excised at 3 months (clinical nonresponders) or 6 months (clinical responders) after the last treatment.Results  Histologically verified lesion complete response rates were higher with MAL PDT than with placebo [73% (55/75) vs. 27% (20/75)]. Treatment was most effective for facial lesions (89% complete response). Cosmetic outcome was good or excellent in 98% of evaluable, completely responding lesions treated with MAL PDT.Conclusion  Although longer follow‐up studies are required, these promising data indicate the potential of topical MAL PDT as a noninvasive treatment alternative for nodular BCC.
Impact of ivermectin drug combinations on Pediculus humanus capitis infestation in primary schoolchildren of south Indian rural villages
Authors: Munirathinam Arumugam , Sunish Ittoop Pulikkottil , Rajendran Rathinasamy , Tyagi Brij Kishore 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  Antifilarial drug combinations including ivermectin provide antifilarial activity with ancillary benefits on intestinal helminths and ectoparasites, such as chiggers and lice. The impact of single oral dose of antifilarial drugs, viz; (1) diethylcarbamazine (DEC) alone, (ii) DEC + albendazole (ALB), (iii) ivermectin (IVR) + DEC and (iv) IVR + ALB, was determined, on the head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) in primary school children in a rural community in south India.Methods  Primary school children (n = 534) of age 6–10 years from four villages of South India were examined for the presence of head lice before and after single dose of DEC + ivermectin drug combination. The effectiveness and the duration of cure sustained by these drugs were quantified. The head louse was examined by “combing method” during post‐treatment periods at 15, 45, 60 and 75 days interval.Results  The antifilarial drug consumption rate was similar (96–98%) in all treatment arms. In pre‐treatment survey the prevalence of head lice in children administered with DEC, DEC + ALB, IVR + DEC and IVR + ALB arm was 86%, 80%, 87% and 80%, respectively, with the latter two arms demonstrating significant reduction in louse infestation (P < 0.05) for 60 days.Conclusion  Single dose with IVR combination demonstrates a greater impact in reducing head louse infestation in the endemic rural communities for nearly 60 days. Therefore, in regions such as Africa where ivermectin is part of the antifilariasis campaign, this drug will have an additional benefit in reducing head lice infestation.
Upper gastrointestinal abnormalities and Helicobacter pylori in Behçet's disease
Authors: Çakmak Seray Külcü , Çakmak Atıl , Gül Ülker , Sulaimanov Marlen , Bingöl Pelin , Hazinedaroğlu M. Selçuk 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  There are few published clinical trials concerning upper gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Behçet's disease (BD), and most have been performed on patients with upper GI tract symptoms.Aim  We sought to determine whether routine endoscopy is indicated in asymptomatic patients with BD and whether Helicobacter pylori plays a role in the pathogenesis of BD.Methods  Forty consecutive patients with BD and 40 age‐ and gender‐matched controls with tinea pedis were studied. All patients underwent fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Urea breath test was used to identify H. pylori.Results  Abnormalities were noted in 37 patients (93%): hiatal hernia (53%), antral gastritis (33%), pan‐gastritis (23%), gastric ulceration (8%), and duodenal ulceration (8%). Helicobacter pylori was found in 26 patients (65%) with BD and in 28 controls (70%) (no significant difference by chi‐squared test, P > 0.05). We found a high incidence of upper GI abnormalities in BD, but the abnormalities were not specific for the disorder.Conclusions  Routine endoscopy and screening for H. pylori infection may not be necessary in asymptomatic patients with BD.
Schnitzler syndrome: response to anakinra in two cases and a review of the literature
Authors: Schuster Christian , Kränke Birger , Aberer Elisabeth , Arbab Emad , Sturm Gunter , Aberer Werner 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  Schnitzler syndrome is a rare disease characterized by a chronic urticarial eruption and monoclonal gammopathy, as well as clinical and laboratory signs of inflammation. The pathophysiology is still unknown, although various autoantibody‐mediated mechanisms have been described. Complete remission of symptoms has been reported recently in patients with Schnitzler syndrome treated with anakinra, an interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist.Methods  Two patients with Schnitzler syndrome treated with anakinra therapy are presented.Results  We report two cases of nearly complete remission of symptoms in Schnitzler syndrome after the initiation of anakinra therapy, and the first observation of a relapse under continuous daily anakinra therapy. A review of the published literature on the treatment of Schnitzler syndrome with anakinra is presented.Conclusions  Based on published data, monotherapy with anakinra is currently the most promising treatment for Schnitzler syndrome, because it is able to induce complete remission of symptoms.
Demonstration of pemphigus‐specific immunofluorescence pattern by direct immunofluorescence of plucked hair
Authors: Rao Raghavendra , Dasari Kavitha , Shenoi Shrutakirthi , Balachandran Chandrashekaran 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) of perilesional skin is the gold standard in the diagnosis of pemphigus. Since the outer root sheath (ORS) of anagen hair is structurally analogous to epidermal keratinocytes, pemphigus specific immunofluorescence pattern may be present in the ORS.Methods  Twenty consecutive patients of pemphigus were enrolled in the study, irrespective of any other inclusion or exclusion criteria. Hairs were plucked in a similar fashion to that of trichogram. Approximately 5 anagen hairs were selected processed and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugates. DIF of perilesional skin and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) were carried out simultaneously. DIF of hair was also done in equal numbers of controls with other dermatoses.Results  Intercellular deposition of IgG was seen in the ORS of anagen hair in 85% of patients (n = 17). The test was positive in all patients who had scalp lesions (n = 10); however, it was also positive in 7 patients (77.7%) who did not have scalp lesions. The test was negative in 3 patients; two of whom were elderly and had sparse scalp hair. The other patient only had mucosal lesion. The test was negative in the control group.Conclusion  DIF of hair is a simple, non‐invasive test. In future, it may alleviate the need for skin biopsies, in patients with pemphigus.
Does chloroquine therapy of porphyria cutanea tarda influence liver pathology?
Authors: Wollina U , Köstler E , Koch A , Riedel H , Stölzel U 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is regularly associated with changes in liver tissue. On the other hand, systematic investigations are lacking on whether there is a correlation between the severity of liver damage and chloroquine treatment.Patients and methods  During a 20‐year period, liver biopsies were obtained in 89 patients with PCT confirmed by biochemical analysis of urine and feces and low‐dose chloroquine therapy. Seventeen patients with alcohol‐induced liver disease were excluded. In 8 of 63 patients, only a single biopsy was available. Classification of liver damage was performed according to the Riedel score. Electron microscopy was available from 24 patients. In a second group of patients, the HFE status was investigated and Berlin blue stains of liver biopsies were performed.Results  There was no correlation between the duration of cutaneous symptoms and liver pathology. After 12 months chloroquine treatment, 45 patients (81%) disclosed an improvement of liver pathology, nine (16%) had no change, and a worsening was observed in one patient (3%). All patients achieved a complete clinical and biochemical remission. In 13 of 16 patients with a relapse, there was again a deterioration of liver damage. Patients with HFE mutations had a significant higher risk (P < 0.05) for hepatic siderosis.Conclusions  The severity of liver damage was not correlated with the disease duration. Chloroquine treatment resulted in PCT remission (clinical and biochemical) and in 81% to an improvement of liver morphology.
Lamellar ichthyosis with a novel homozygous C‐terminal mutation in the transglutaminase‐1 gene
Authors: Rodríguez‐Pazos Laura , Ginarte Manuel , Vega‐Gliemmo Ana , Toribio Jaime 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  The majority of cases of Lamellar ichthyosis (LI) are caused by mutations in the transglutaminase‐1 (TGM1) gene. The mutations in the β‐barrel domains of the TGM1 gene are found very infrequently and several authors have suggested that these domains are not essential for the function of the enzyme. Other authors have postulated that mutations in these loci are pathogenic but they imply a less severe clinical picture of LI.Case report  We report a patient with a severe phenotype of LI who had a homozygous mutation affecting the β‐barrel 2 domain of the TGM1.Conclusions  This finding indicates that the integrity of β‐barrel domains is important for the correct function of the enzyme and that we are still far away from a consistent genotype‐phenotype correlation.