bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parallelism in the oxygen transport system of the lake whitefish: the role of physiological divergence in ecological speciation
Authors: EVANS MELISSA L. , PRÆBEL KIM , PERUZZI STEFANO , BERNATCHEZ LOUIS 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIn North America, populations of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) have evolved sympatric ‘dwarf’ and ‘normal’ ecotypes that are associated with distinct trophic niches within lakes. Trophic specialization should place diverging physiological demands on individuals, and thus, genes and phenotypes associated with energy production represent ideal candidates for studies of adaptation. Here, we test for the parallel divergence of traits involved in oxygen transport in dwarf and normal lake whitefish from Québec, Canada and Maine, USA. We observed significant differences in red blood cell morphology between the ecotypes. Specifically, dwarfs exhibited larger nuclei and a higher nucleus area/total cell area than normal whitefish in all of the lakes examined. In addition, isoelectric focusing gels revealed variation in the haemoglobin protein components found in whitefish. Dwarf and normal whitefish exhibited a similar number of protein components, but the composition of these components differed, with dwarf whitefish bearing a greater proportion of cathodic components compared to the normals. Furthermore, dwarf whitefish showed significant haemoglobin gene upregulation in the brain compared with the levels shown in normals. Together, our results indicate that metabolic traits involved in oxygen transport differ between the whitefish ecotypes and the strong parallel patterns of divergence observed across lakes implicates ecologically driven selection pressures. We discuss the function of these traits in relation to the differing trophic niches occupied by the whitefish and the potential contributions of trait plasticity and genetic divergence to energetic adaptation.
Mitochondrial barcodes are diagnostic of shared refugia but not species in hybridizing oak gallwasps
Authors: NICHOLLS JAMES A. , CHALLIS RICHARD J. , MUTUN SERAP , STONE GRAHAM N. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractMitochondrial DNA barcodes provide a simple taxonomic tool for systematic and ecological research, with particular benefit for poorly studied or species‐rich taxa. Barcoding assumes genetic diversity follows species boundaries; however, many processes disrupt species‐level monophyly of barcodes leading to incorrect classifications. Spatial population structure, particularly when shared across closely related and potentially hybridizing taxa, can invalidate barcoding approaches yet few data exist to examine its impacts. We test how shared population structure across hybridizing species impacts upon mitochondrial barcodes by sequencing the cytochrome b gene for 518 individuals of four well‐delimited Western Palaearctic gallwasp species within the Andricus quercuscalicis species group. Mitochondrial barcodes clustered individuals into mixed‐species clades corresponding to refugia, with no difference in within‐ and between‐species divergence. Four nuclear genes were also sequenced from 4 to 11 individuals per refugial population of each species. Multi‐locus analyses of these data supported established species, with no support for the refugial clustering across species seen in mitochondrial barcodes. This pattern is consistent with mitochondrial introgression among populations of species sharing the same glacial refugium, such that mitochondrial barcodes identify a shared history of population structure rather than species. Many taxa show phylogeographic structure across glacial refugia, suggesting that mitochondrial barcoding may fail when applied to other sets of co‐distributed, closely related species. Robust barcoding approaches must sample extensively across population structure to disentangle spatial from species‐level variation. Methods incorporating multiple unlinked loci are also essential to accommodate coalescent variation among genes and provide power to resolve recently diverged species.
Ionic conductances regulating the excitability of colonic smooth muscles
Authors: Koh S. D. , Ward S. M. , Sanders K. M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe tunica muscularis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains two layers of smooth muscle cells (SMC) oriented perpendicular to each other. SMC express a variety of voltage‐dependent and voltage‐independent ionic conductance(s) that develop membrane potential and control excitability. Resting membrane potentials (RMP) vary through the GI tract but generally are within the range of −80 to −40 mV. RMP sets the ‘gain’ of smooth muscle and regulates openings of voltage‐dependent Ca2+channels. A variety of K+channels contribute to setting RMP of SMC. In most regions, RMP is considerably less negative than the K+equilibrium potential, due to a finely tuned balance between background K+channels and non‐selective cation channels (NSCC). Variations in expression patterns and openings of K+channels and NSCC account for differences of the RMP in different regions of the GI tract. Smooth muscle excitability is also regulated by interstitial cells (interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and PDGFRα+cells) that express additional conductances and are electrically coupled to SMC. Thus, ‘myogenic’ activity results from the integrated behavior of the SMC/ICC/PDGFRα+cell (SIP) syncytium. Inputs from excitatory and inhibitory motor neurons are required to produce the complex motor patterns of the gut. Motor neurons innervate three cell types in the SIP, and receptors, second messenger pathways, and ion channels in these cells mediate postjunctional responses. Studies of isolated SIP cells have begun to unravel the mechanisms responsible for neural responses. This review discusses ion channels that set and regulate RMP of SIP cells and how neurotransmitters regulate membrane potential.
Ulcerative colitis patients in remission have an altered secretory capacity in the proximal colon despite macroscopically normal mucosa
Authors: Gustafsson J. K. , Hansson G. C. , Sjövall H. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground  One of the hallmarks of acute colitis is loss of epithelial transport. For unknown reasons, many patients still suffer from GI symptoms during remission, indicating a sustained imbalance between absorption and secretion. We hypothesize that the colonic epithelium becomes more reactive to secretagogues to compensate for a failing barrier.Methods  Biopsies from ascending colon and sigmoid colon of UC patients in remission and controls were mounted in Ussing chambers. Membrane current (Im) and epithelial capacitance (Cp) were used as markers for anion secretion and mucus exocytosis. Carbachol (1 mmol L−1) and forskolin (10 μmol L−1) were used to study Ca2+ and cAMP‐mediated secretion.Key Results  Baseline values showed segmental patterns with higher Im in ascending colon and higher Cp in sigmoid colon of both UC patients and controls, but the patterns did not differ between the groups. The Im response to forskolin was increased (+35%) in the ascending colon of UC patients and the Im response to carbachol was decreased (−40%) in the same segment. No group differences were seen in the distal colon for either the forskolin or carbachol‐induced Im responses. The Cp response to carbachol was instead up‐regulated in the distal colon of UC patients, but remained unaffected in the proximal colon.Conclusions & Inferences  The proximal colonic mucosa of UC patients in remission seems to shift its reactivity to secretagogues, becoming more sensitive to cAMP‐dependent secretion and less sensitive to Ca2+‐dependent secretion. This phenomenon may contribute to residual diarrhea in this patient group, despite resolution of inflammation.
Vacuolar membrane transporters OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 modulate iron translocation between flag leaves and seeds in rice
Authors: Zhang Yu , Xu Yong‐Han , Yi Hong‐Yin , Gong Ji‐Ming 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe plant vacuole is an important organelle for storing excess iron (Fe), though its contribution to increasing the Fe content in staple foods remains largely unexplored. In this study we report the isolation and functional characterization of two rice genes OsVIT1 and OsVIT2, orthologs of the Arabidopsis VIT1. Transient expression of OsVIT1:EGFP and OsVIT2:EGFP protein fusions revealed that OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 are localized to the vacuolar membrane. Ectopic expression of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 partially rescued the Fe2+‐ and Zn2+‐sensitive phenotypes in yeast mutant Δccc1 and Δzrc1, and further increased vacuolar Fe2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ accumulation. These data together suggest that OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 function to transport Fe2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ across the tonoplast into vacuoles in yeast. In rice, OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 are highly expressed in flag leaf blade and sheath, respectively, and in contrast to OsVIT1, OsVIT2 is highly responsive to Fe treatments. Interestingly, functional disruption of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 leads to increased Fe/Zn accumulation in rice seeds and a corresponding decrease in the source organ flag leaves, indicating an enhanced Fe/Zn translocation between source and sink organs, which might represent a novel strategy to biofortify Fe/Zn in staple foods.
A review of topical therapy for skin infections with bacteria and yeast
Authors: Mueller Ralf S. , Bergvall Kerstin , Bensignor Emmanuel , Bond Ross 
Published: June 2012

Background – Cutaneous infections with bacteria and yeasts are common in small animal practice. Treatment with systemic antibiotics or antifungal agents may not be ideal, because of the increasing development of multiresistant organisms, the cost and the possible adverse effects. Topical antimicrobials may be used as adjunctive therapy to systemic treatment or as sole therapy instead of systemic treatment.Objective – This literature review evaluated studies on topical antimicrobial treatment of skin infections.Methods – In vitroandin vivostudies evaluating topical antimicrobial agents were identified using a number of electronic and manual searches of textbooks and articles. Studies were evaluated, and the evidence for or against the use of the topical agents was extracted.Results – There is good evidence for the efficacy of chlorhexidine and, to a lesser degree, benzoyl peroxide in canine bacterial skin infections. There is limited evidence for the efficacy of silver sulfadiazine and medical honey against bacterial skin infections in the dog, and for the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide and stannous fluoride in the horse. Good evidence supports the use of a combination of chlorhexidine and miconazole in dogs with cutaneousMalasseziainfections. There is insufficient evidence to recommend any other topical therapy for use in cutaneous infections.Conclusions and clinical importance – Although many antimicrobial topicals are marketed in veterinary dermatology, the efficacy has been reported for only a minority of agents. Randomized controlled trials evaluating various topical treatments are therefore urgently needed.
Effects of breed and dietary nutrient density on the growth performance, blood metabolite, and genes expression of target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling pathway of female broiler chickens
Authors: Wang X.‐q. , Jiang W. , Tan H.‐z. , Zhang D.‐x. , Zhang H.‐j. , Wei S. , Yan H.‐c. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThis study was conducted to compare the effects of exchanged diets with identical energy level on characteristics of slow‐growing (WENs Yellow‐Feathered Chicken, WYFC) and fast‐growing (White Recessive Rock Chicken, WRRC) female chickens. A total of 1450 WYFC and 1150 WRRC 1‐day‐old female hatchlings were used. A high‐nutrient‐density (HND) diet and a low‐nutrient‐density (LND) diet were formulated for three phases. A completely randomized experimental design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (diet and breed), each with five replicates of 145 and 115 birds, was applied. The results showed that WRRC had a higher body weight (BW), average daily feed intake and average daily gain than WYFC throughout the experiment (p < 0.05). WYFC that were provided with HND groups had a higher BW only in the starter and grower phases, whereas WRRC had a higher BW in the HND group than in LND groups throughout the experiment. The feed:gain ratio and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were better for WRRC in the starter and grower phases; however, these ratios were better for WYFC in the finisher period. The LND groups had a higher PER throughout the experiment for both breeds (p < 0.05). The breast and leg muscle weights were higher for WRRC compared with WYFC during the grower and finisher phases (p < 0.05). WRRC had a lower liver index but higher serum UA and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations than WYFC (p < 0.05). No diet effect was observed on organ indices, muscle yields or blood responses. The gene expressions of Rheb, TOR, S6K1 and 4E‐BP1 in gastrocnemius muscle were the highest in the WYFC‐LND groups at 63 and 105 days (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that different genotypes respond differently to changes in dietary nutrient density and that lower‐nutrient‐density diets are optimal for the long‐term housing of broiler chickens.
Contracted bladder developing after prostate brachytherapy
Authors: Yamada Yuta , Minowada Shigeru , Aruga Takashi , Homma Yukio 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis report describes an extremely rare case of severely contracted bladder developing after prostate brachytherapy. In April 2001, a 76‐year‐old man initially presented to our hospital for weak urinary stream. The patient was diagnosed with and treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia. During follow up, prostate‐specific antigen level was elevated. In November 2005, the patient underwent transrectal prostate biopsy. Pathology showed adenocarcinoma, Gleason score 3 + 4 = 7. The patient was diagnosed with stage cT1cN0M0 prostate cancer. In January 2006, he underwent brachytherapy for prostate cancer. The procedure of brachytherapy was uneventful and the patient was discharged without any problems. Four months after the implant, the patient was admitted to our hospital for deterioration of kidney function as a result of a contracted bladder. Urinary culture of tuberculosis was negative and urinary cytology was class II. A urethral catheter was indwelled and the patient has been followed every month for catheter replacement. Bladder capacity is now less than 5 mL.
Dexamethasone versus ondansetron in combination with dexamethasone for the prophylaxis of postoperative vomiting in pediatric outpatients: a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: de Orange Flávia A. , Marques Jaime , Flores Marília , Borges Paulo S. G. N. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryObjectives:  To determine the frequency of postoperative vomiting (POV) in children submitted to outpatient surgery and to compare the efficacy of antiemetic drugs in preventing this complication.Background:  Nausea and vomiting are common in the immediate postoperative period following anesthetic and surgical procedures. Compared to adults, pediatric patients are more likely to develop postoperative nausea and vomiting, the incidence of which ranges from 8.9% to 42%.Methods:  This double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial included 129 children. The participants were randomized into three prophylactic treatment groups: dexamethasone (n = 43), ondansetron in combination with dexamethasone (n = 44), and placebo (n = 42). The variables studied were the frequency of POV and the incidence of vomiting after the patient had been discharged from hospital, the need for antiemetic rescue therapy in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), need for hospitalization, and the time the patient remained in the PACU. A significance level of 5% was adopted.Results:  Postoperative vomiting occurred in 12.4% of the children, with no statistically significant difference between the groups: 6.8% in the group receiving ondansetron combined with dexamethasone, 14.3% in the placebo group, and 14% in the group that received dexamethasone alone (P = 0.47). Furthermore, no significant difference was found between the groups with respect to the time the children remained in the PACU, and only five patients reported having vomited following discharge from hospital.Conclusions:  The prophylactic use of antiemetic drugs failed to reduce the incidence of POV in pediatric outpatient surgery with a low emetic potential; therefore, routine prophylaxis may be unnecessary.
Cancer auditing – how accurate are your data?
Authors: Platell C. , Penter C. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAim  Human involvement in the collection and entering of information into a database leads to a degree of error. The aim of this study was to assess the concordance between two individuals blinded from each other who independently collected information on the same set of patients and entered it into a colorectal neoplasia database.Method  A colorectal research nurse and a surgeon independently maintained an electronic database on all new patients admitted with colorectal neoplasia under the surgeon over a 5‐year period. Twenty‐three key endpoints were selected from the database in order to determine the agreement between the two observers. The κ statistic (for nominal and ordinal data) and the concordance correlation coefficient (for interval data) were used to determine the level of agreement between the two data sets.Results  Both observers recorded 432 new referrals during this period. There was only complete concordance between the two databases with respect to the number of new patients and returns to theatre within 30 days. Nonetheless, there was almost perfect concordance between the two data sets for a majority of the endpoints. The most important areas of variance were in the length of stay (κ = 0.78), the American Society of Anesthesiology grade (κ = 0.41), emergency surgery (κ = 0.36), nodal staging (κ = 0.54) and time to recurrence (κ = 0.77).Conclusion  This study highlights a number of important areas of data inaccuracy in a prospective colorectal database. The inaccuracies were due to observer bias, issues of data interpretation, or just difficulty in collecting the information accurately.
Computing Voronoi Treemaps: Faster, Simpler, and Resolution‐independent
Authors: Nocaj Arlind , Brandes Ulrik 
Published: June 2012

AbstractVoronoi treemaps represent hierarchies as nested polygons. We here show that, contrary to the apparent popular belief, utilization of an algorithm for weighted Voronoi diagrams is not only feasible, but also more efficient than previous low‐resolution approximations, even when the latter are implemented on graphics hardware. More precisely, we propose an instantiation of Lloyd's method for centroidal Voronoi diagrams with Aurenhammer's algorithm for power diagrams that yields an algorithm running in 𝒪(n log n) rather than Ω(n2) time per iteration, with n the number of sites. We describe its implementation and present evidence that it is faster also in practice.
Multi‐layer illustrative dense flow visualization
Authors: Carnecky R. , Schindler B. , Fuchs R. , Peikert R. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe present a dense visualization of vector fields on multi‐layered surfaces. The method is based on the illustration buffer, which provides a screen space representation of the surface, where each pixel stores a list of all surface layers. This representation is implemented on the GPU using shaders and leads to a fast output sensitive technique. In our approach, we first use procedural noise to create an initial spot pattern on the surface that has both an almost constant screen space frequency and is view independent. Then, we perform anisotropic diffusion simultaneously on all surface layers using a discretization scheme that maintains second order convergence while only accessing the four neighboring pixels. Finally, we enhance this result with illustrative techniques and composite the final image. Our method works with time‐evolving surfaces, time‐dependent vector fields, and moving cameras. We apply our method to CFD data sets from engineering and astronomy as well as synthetic velocity fields.
Illustrative Membrane Clipping
Authors: Birkeland Å. , Bruckner S. , Brambilla A. , Viola I. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractClipping is a fast, common technique for resolving occlusions. It only requires simple interaction, is easily understandable, and thus has been very popular for volume exploration. However, a drawback of clipping is that the technique indiscriminately cuts through features. Illustrators, for example, consider the structures in the vicinity of the cut when visualizing complex spatial data and make sure that smaller structures near the clipping plane are kept in the image and not cut into fragments. In this paper we present a new technique, which combines the simple clipping interaction with automated selective feature preservation using an elastic membrane. In order to prevent cutting objects near the clipping plane, the deformable membrane uses underlying data properties to adjust itself to salient structures. To achieve this behaviour, we translate data attributes into a potential field which acts on the membrane, thus moving the problem of deformation into the soft‐body dynamics domain. This allows us to exploit existing GPU‐based physics libraries which achieve interactive frame rates. For manual adjustment, the user can insert additional potential fields, as well as pinning the membrane to interesting areas. We demonstrate that our method can act as a flexible and non‐invasive replacement of traditional clipping planes.
Travel‐Route‐Centered Metro Map Layout and Annotation
Authors: Wu Hsiang‐Yun , Takahashi Shigeo , Lin Chun‐Cheng , Yen Hsu‐Chun 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWhen providing travel guides for a specific route in a metro network, we often place the route around the center of the map and annotate stations on the route with thumbnail photographs. Nonetheless, existing methods do not offer an effective means of customizing the network layout in order to accommodate such large annotation labels while preserving its planar embedding. This paper presents a new approach for designing the metro map layout in order to annotate stations on a specific travel route with large annotation labels. Our idea is to elongate the travel route to be straight along the centerline of the map so that we can systematically annotate such stations with external labels. This is accomplished by extending the conventional mixed‐integer programming technique for computing octilinear layouts where orientations inherent to the metro line segments are plausibly rearranged. The stations are then connected with external labels through leaders while minimizing intersections with metro lines for enhancing visual clarity. We present several design examples of metro maps and user studies to demonstrate that the proposed aesthetic criteria successfully direct viewers’ attention to specific travel routes.