bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The evolution of anatomical illustration and wax modelling in Italy from the 16th to early 19th centuries
Authors: Riva Alessandro , Conti Gabriele , Solinas Paola , Loy Francesco 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAlthough the contribution to anatomical illustration by Vesalius and his followers has received much attention, less credit has been given to Veslingius and particularly Fabricius. By 1600, Fabricius had amassed more than 300 paintings that together made the Tabulae Pictae, a great atlas of anatomy that was highly admired by his contemporaries. Many of his new observations were incorporated into subsequent books, including those by Casserius, Spighelius, Harvey and Veslingius. Also of importance were the Tabulae by Eustachius (1552), which, although only published in 1714, greatly influenced anatomical wax modelling. In 1742, Pope Benedict XIV established a Museum of Anatomy in Bologna, entrusting to Ercole Lelli the creation of several anatomical preparations in wax. Felice Fontana realised that the production of a large number of models by the casting method would make cadaveric specimens superfluous for anatomical teaching and in 1771 he asked the Grand Duke to fund a wax‐modelling workshop in Florence as part of the Natural History Museum, later known as La Specola. Fontana engaged Giuseppe Ferrini as his first modeller and then the 19‐year‐old Clemente Susini who, by his death in 1814, had superintended the production of, or personally made, more than 2000 models. In 1780, the Austrian Emperor Joseph II visited La Specola and ordered a great number of models for his Josephinum museum; these were made by Fontana with the help of Clemente Susini and supervised by the anatomist Paolo Mascagni. It is, however, in Cagliari that some of Susini’s greatest waxes are to be found. These were made when he was free of Fontana’s influence and were based on dissections made by Francesco Antonio Boi (University of Cagliari). Their distinctive anatomical features include the emphasis given to nerves and the absence of lymphatics in the brain, a mistake made on earlier waxes. The refined technical perfection of the anatomical details demonstrates the closeness of the cooperation between Susini and Boi, whereas the expressiveness of the faces and the harmony of colours make the models of Cagliari masterpieces of figurative art.
The evolution of human artistic creativity
Authors: Morriss‐Kay Gillian M. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractCreating visual art is one of the defining characteristics of the human species, but the paucity of archaeological evidence means that we have limited information on the origin and evolution of this aspect of human culture. The components of art include colour, pattern and the reproduction of visual likeness. The 2D and 3D art forms that were created by Upper Palaeolithic Europeans at least 30 000 years ago are conceptually equivalent to those created in recent centuries, indicating that human cognition and symbolling activity, as well as anatomy, were fully modern by that time. The origins of art are therefore much more ancient and lie within Africa, before worldwide human dispersal. The earliest known evidence of ‘artistic behaviour’ is of human body decoration, including skin colouring with ochre and the use of beads, although both may have had functional origins. Zig‐zag and criss‐cross patterns, nested curves and parallel lines are the earliest known patterns to have been created separately from the body; their similarity to entopic phenomena (involuntary products of the visual system) suggests a physiological origin. 3D art may have begun with human likeness recognition in natural objects, which were modified to enhance that likeness; some 2D art has also clearly been influenced by suggestive features of an uneven surface. The creation of images from the imagination, or ‘the mind’s eye’, required a seminal evolutionary change in the neural structures underpinning perception; this change would have had a survival advantage in both tool‐making and hunting. Analysis of early tool‐making techniques suggests that creating 3D objects (sculptures and reliefs) involves their cognitive deconstruction into a series of surfaces, a principle that could have been applied to early sculpture. The cognitive ability to create art separate from the body must have originated in Africa but the practice may have begun at different times in genetically and culturally distinct groups both within Africa and during global dispersal, leading to the regional variety seen in both ancient and recent art. At all stages in the evolution of artistic creativity, stylistic change must have been due to rare, highly gifted individuals.
Dynamic expression of Six family genes in the dental mesenchyme and the epithelial ameloblast stem/progenitor cells during murine tooth development
Authors: Nonomura Koji , Takahashi Masanori , Wakamatsu Yoshio , Takano‐Yamamoto Teruko , Osumi Noriko 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Six family transcription factor genes play multiple and crucial roles in the development of the vertebrate sensory system including the eye, olfactory epithelium and otic vesicle, and these genes are highly expressed in the neural crest‐derived cranial mesenchymal cells in the mouse embryo. However, expression patterns have yet to be determined for the Six family genes in the developing tooth germ. In this study, we examined expression of six members of the Six family genes in the dental mesenchyme and the dental epithelium of the developing tooth germs in mice by in situ hybridization. We found dynamic expression patterns for Six1, Six2, Six4 and Six5 in the oral epithelium and mesenchymal cells with distinct expression patterns at the early stage before invagination of the dental epithelium. In addition, expression of Six1 and Six4 was observed in the inner enamel epithelium of the incisor and molar tooth germs at the cap stage. Expression of Six5 was maintained in the bell stage tooth germs, and intense expression of Six1 and Six4 was detected not only in the mesenchyme‐derived dental follicle but also in the proliferating inner enamel epithelium of the labial cervical loop of the incisor tooth germ. Taken together, our results suggest that dynamic expression of Six family genes represents specific stages of the developing tooth germ. This dynamic expression is embodied in changes in both space and over time, and these changes in expression suggest that Six family genes may participate in tooth germ morphogenesis and the proliferation and/or differentiation of the incisor ameloblast stem/progenitor cells.
TRANSFUSION COMPLICATIONS: A fatal case of transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis in the State of Delaware
Authors: Zhao Yong , Love Kenneth R. , Hall Scott W. , Beardell Frank V. 
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Most cases of human babesiosis in North America are caused by Babesia microti, which is endemic in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States. Although the disease is usually transmitted by a tick bite, there has been an increase in the number of transfusion‐transmitted cases reported. We describe a fatal case of transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis in a nonendemic state, Delaware.CASE REPORT: The patient was a 43‐year‐old Caucasian woman with history of transfusion‐dependent Diamond‐Blackfan syndrome, hepatitis C, and splenectomy. She was admitted initially for presumptive pneumonia. The next day, a routine examination of the peripheral blood smears revealed numerous intraerythrocytic ring forms, consistent with Babesia. The parasitemia was approximately 5% to 6%. The diagnosis was confirmed by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B. microti DNA and high titer of antibody to B. microti (1:2048). Despite aggressive therapy including clindamycin and quinine antibiotics, the patient expired 3 days after admission. Subsequently, 13 blood donors were tested for B. microti. All tested donors were negative by PCR. However, one donor living in New Jersey had a significant elevated B. microti antibody titer (1:1024).CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this is the first reported case of transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis in Delaware, a nonendemic state. Our case illustrates that clinicians should consider babesiosis in the differential diagnosis of immunocompromised patients who have fever and recent transfusion history, even in areas where babesiosis is not endemic. It also demonstrates the need for better preventive strategies including more sensitive, specific, and rapid blood donor screening tests to prevent transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis.
BLOOD DONORS AND BLOOD COLLECTION: Testing blood donors for Chagas disease in the Paris area, France: first results after 18 months of screening
Authors: El Ghouzzi Marie‐Hélène , Boiret Elisabeth , Wind Françoise , Brochard Claudine , Fittere Sébastien , Paris Luc , Mazier Dominique , Sansonetti Nicole , Bierling Philippe 
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America (LA). Currently 10 million people are infected despite World Health Organization efforts aimed at preventing domestic transmission. However, with the migration of infected asymptomatic individuals to nonendemic countries, transmission of Chagas disease by transfusion may become a worldwide problem. The observation that the number of cases of Chagas disease has increased over the past 10 years in French Guiana, together with the results of a previous hospital‐based study in the Paris area, confirms the transmission of Chagas disease from patients coming from LA. For these reasons, the French authorities stopped the collection of blood in French Guiana in 2005 and began screening blood donors in the French Caribbean islands and, in 2007, in continental France.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data on birth place, mother's birth place, and travel in LA were recorded for at‐risk donors. These subjects were tested using two enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).RESULTS: Of the 312,458 individuals who gave blood in the Paris area during an 18‐month period, 30,837 were tested. Of these, 972 were born in LA, three of whom were positive for the two ELISAs and immunofluorescence tests. The prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi–positive donors was 9.7 in 100,000 tested donors, but 0.31% among donors born in LA. Serology tests gave discrepant results in 1.02% of the samples.CONCLUSION: The efficiency of blood donor screening programs could be improved by screening only blood donors who were born in LA or who have traveled in LA for extended periods, using a single enzyme immunoassay.
TRANSFUSION COMPLICATIONS: Improvement of an ultrasensitive human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 real‐time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction targeting the long terminal repeat region
Authors: Edelmann Anke , Kalus Ulrich , Oltmann Anke , Stein Angela , Unbehaun Anett , Drosten Christian , Krüger Detlev H. , Hofmann Jörg 
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV‐1) assays applying nucleic acid testing (NAT) rely on HIV‐1 sequence‐specific primers and probes. Their hybridization can be limited or abolished by genetic polymorphisms occurring in the target sequence.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood donations are routinely tested for HIV‐1/2 antibodies and for HIV‐1 RNA in our blood transfusion unit. Recently, HIV‐1 RNA was undetectable with an established in‐house real‐time long terminal repeat (LTR) reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in two cases, whereas serologic assays were positive. The reason for this discrepancy was elucidated by sequencing of the NAT target region in the respective single donations. An improved primer was designed and tested on HIV‐1 reference panels and blood donations to ensure reliable detection of HIV‐1 RNA.RESULTS: Direct sequencing of the target region, isolated from samples of two unrelated HIV‐positive blood donors, revealed one and four mismatches in the hybridization domain of the forward primer, respectively. Both viruses belong to HIV‐1 Subtype B. LTR RT‐PCR with an additional forward primer was suitable for all strains of HIV‐1 tested with high sensitivity.CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance of HIV‐1 genetic diversity is essentially required to continually evaluate its impact on performance of diagnostic and patient monitoring assays.
Identification of microRNA profiles in docetaxel‐resistant human non‐small cell lung carcinoma cells (SPC‐A1)
Authors: Rui Wang , Bing Feng , Hai‐Zhu Song , Wei De , Long‐Bang Chen 
Published: November 2009

AbstractDocetaxel has been used as first‐line chemotherapy in advanced non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), but further extensive and effective application is prevented by drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been identified as important posttranscriptional regulators, which are involved in various biological processes. The aim of this study was to identify microRNA expression profiles involved in the development of docetaxel resistance in NSCLC. Here, microarray chip technology was employed to identify miRNA expression profiles in docetaxel‐resistant human NSCLC cell line (SPC‐A1/docetaxel). Then, the changes of miRNAs expression (>2‐fold compared with control SPC‐A1 cell line) were testified by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) assay. Furthermore, the potential target genes regulated by selected miRNAs were analysed by various target prediction tools. The expression of a total of 52 miRNAs showed significant difference between SPC‐A1/docetaxel cells and control SPC‐A1 cells (P < 0.01). Six miRNAs (miR‐192, 200b, 194, 424, 98 and 212) exhibited more than 2‐fold changes in their expression levels, which were validated by qRT‐PCR. The expression of three miRNAs (miR‐200b, 194 and 212) was significantly down‐regulated in SPC‐A1/docetaxel cells, while the expression of other three miRNAs (miR‐192, 424 and 98) was significantly up‐regulated in SPC‐A1/docetaxel cells (P < 0.01). Potential target genes controlled by six selected miRNAs were divided into four groups according to various functions: apoptosis and proliferation (71 genes), cell cycle (68 genes), DNA damage (26 genes) and DNA repair (59 genes). The expression of a few target genes in SPC‐A1/docetaxel and SPC‐A1 cells were further confirmed by qRT‐PCR and Western blot. Taken together, the identification of microRNA expression profiles in docetaxel‐resistant NSCLC cells could provide a better understanding of mechanisms involved in drug sensitivity or resistance, which would be helpful to develop novel strategies for targeted therapies in chemorefractive NSCLC patients.
Extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus mimicking cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: report of a case
Authors: Suchak Ravi , Verdolini Roberto , Robson Alistair , Stefanato Catherine M. 
Published: November 2009

Early lesions of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) may present as a mild lichenoid tissue reaction, occasionally together with basilar epidermotropism, mimicking early cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides (MF) variant. We report a case of extragenital LSA in which both histological patterns were present in the same clinically homogenous and stable lesion. A 27‐year‐old man presented with a history of white atrophic plaques on the trunk. A biopsy of an abdominal lesion revealed epidermal thinning, a superficial perivascular lymphoid cell infiltrate with focal epidermotropism, mild nuclear atypia and perinuclear halos. Immunophenotyping showed decreased CD5 and CD7, with a slight predominance of CD8‐positive T‐lymphocytes. All these changes were suggestive of MF. However, a repeat biopsy 3 months later from the same stable plaque revealed features diagnostic of LSA. LSA mimicking early MF histologically has been reported in genital skin. Conversely, MF may clinically and histopathologically resemble LSA. With gene rearrangement studies, clonal proliferation may not be detected in early MF but has been reported to occur in LSA. Awareness of the histopathologic spectrum of LSA within a stable plaque is important to avoid a potential diagnostic pitfall, and should prompt a repeat biopsy.Suchak R, Verdolini R, Robson A and Stefanato CM. Extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus mimicking cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: report of a case.
Palisaded neutrophilic granulomatous dermatitis with leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient without any underlying systemic disease detected to date
Authors: Misago Noriyuki , Shinoda Yohsuke , Tago Masaki , Narisawa Yutaka 
Published: November 2009

Palisaded neutrophilic granulomatous dermatitis (PNGD) is a rare dermatologic condition which shows various clinical and histopathological features. Although the PNGD lesions have been suggested to begin as leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), there is still insufficient clinicopathological information in the reported cases of PNGD in acute stage with LCV. The relationship between PNGD and interstitial granumatous dermatis (IGD) also remains unclear. This report presents the case of a 60‐year‐old female patient with multiple erythematous nodules on the extremities. She had no underlying systemic disease detected to date, although transient, abnormal liver function tests were seen. The histopathological examination of an erythematous nodule revealed the features of PNGD in the acute stage. The patient presented the characteristic features of LCV including palisaded granulomatous pattern, and the interstitial granulomatous pattern was seen together, suggesting that PNGD with LCV can show an interstitial granulomatous pattern. The present case also suggested that PNGD in the acute stage with LCV tends to clinically manifest as erythematous nodules on the extremities and histopathologically shows a remarkable papillary edema and an extensive fibrin deposition in and around the vessel wall. PNGD may be associated with transient liver dysfunction.Misago N, Shinoda Y, Tago M, Narisawa Y. Palisaded neutrophilic granulomatous dermatitis with leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient without any underlying systemic disease detected to date.
Chimpanzees in hepatitis C virus research: 1998–2007
Authors: Bettauer R.H. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Chimpanzees have been widely used in hepatitis C virus (HCV) research, but their endangered status and high financial and ethical costs have prompted a closer review.Methods  One hundred and nine articles published in 1998–2007 were analyzed for the number of chimpanzees involved, experimental procedures, objectives and other relevant issues.Results  The articles described the use of 852 chimpanzees, but accounting for likely multiple uses, the number of individual chimpanzees involved here is estimated to be approximately 500. Most articles addressed immunology and inoculation studies. A significant portion of studies lasted for several months or years. Approximately one half of the individual chimpanzees were each used in 2–10 studies.Conclusions  Significant financial and scientific resources have been expended in these chimpanzee HCV studies. Discussion addresses troublesome questions presented by some of the reviewed articles, including statistical validity, repeatability, and biological relevance of this model. These concerns merit attention as future approaches to HCV research and research priorities are considered.
Construction and Application of Efficient Ac‐Ds Transposon Tagging Vectors in Rice
Authors: Qu Shaohong , Jeon Jong‐Seong , Ouwerkerk Pieter B.F. , Bellizzi Maria , Leach Jan , Ronald Pamela , Wang Guo‐Liang 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Transposons are effective mutagens alternative to T‐DNA for the generation of insertional mutants in many plant species including those whose transformation is inefficient. The current strategies of transposon tagging are usually slow and labor‐intensive and yield low frequency of tagged lines. We have constructed a series of transposon tagging vectors based on three approaches: (i) AcTPase controlled by glucocorticoid binding domain/VP16 acidic activation domain/Gal4 DNA‐binding domain (GVG) chemical‐inducible expression system; (ii) deletion of AcTPase via Cre‐lox site‐specific recombination that was initially triggered by Ds excision; and (iii) suppression of early transposition events in transformed rice callus through a dual‐functional hygromycin resistance gene in a novel Ds element (HPT‐Ds). We tested these vectors in transgenic rice and characterized the transposition events. Our results showed that these vectors are useful resources for functional genomics of rice and other crop plants. The vectors are freely available for the community.
Water Supply Changes N and P Conservation in a Perennial Grass Leymus chinensis
Authors: Huang Ju‐Ying , Yu Hai‐Long , Li Ling‐Hao , Yuan Zhi‐You , Bartels Samuel 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Changes in precipitation can influence soil water and nutrient availability, and thus affect plant nutrient conservation strategies. Better understanding of how nutrient conservation changes with variations in water availability is crucial for predicting the potential influence of global climate change on plant nutrient‐use strategy. Here, green‐leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, N‐ and P‐resorption proficiency (the terminal N and P concentration in senescent leaves, NRP and PRP, respectively), and N‐ and P‐resorption efficiency (the proportional N and P withdrawn from senescent leaves prior to abscission, NRE and PRE, respectively) of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a typical perennial grass species in northern China, were examined along a water supply gradient to explore how plant nutrient conservation responds to water change. Increasing water supply at low levels (< 9000 mL/year) increased NRP, PRP and PRE, but decreased green‐leaf N concentration. It did not significantly affect green‐leaf P concentration or NRE. By contrast, all N and P conservation indicators were not significantly influenced at high water supply levels (> 9000 mL/year). These results indicated that changes in water availability at low levels could affect leaf‐level nutrient characteristics, especially for the species in semiarid ecosystems. Therefore, global changes in precipitation may pose effects on plant nutrient economy, and thus on nutrient cycling in the plant‐soil systems.
Substrate Selectivity of Glycerol‐3‐phosphate Acyl Transferase in Rice
Authors: Zhu Su‐Qin , Zhao Hua , Zhou Rong , Ji Ben‐Hua , Dan Xiao‐Yan 
Published: November 2009

Abstract Substrate selectivity of glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2. 3. 1. 15) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was explored in a comparative study of acyltransferases from seven plant species. In vitro labeling of acyl carrier protein (ACP) with 14C or 3H showed that acyltransferase from chill‐sensitive plants, such as rice that uses either oleic (18:1) or palmitic acid (16:0) as acyl donor at comparable rates, displays lower selectivity than the enzyme from chill‐resistant plants, such as spinach, which preferentially uses oleic acid (18:1) rather than palmitic acid (16:0) as an acyl donor. This may be a result of the size and character of the substrate‐binding pocket of acyltransferase. Homology modeling and protein structure‐based sequence alignment of acyltransferases revealed that proteins from either chill‐sensitive or chill‐tolerant plants shared a highly conserved domain containing the proposed substrate‐binding pocket. However, the aligned residues surrounding the substrate‐binding pocket are highly heterogeneous and may have an influence mainly on the size of the substrate binding pockets of acyltransferases. The substrate selectivity of acyltransferase of rice can be improved by enlarging the substrate‐binding pocket using molecular biological methods.