bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Colour phases of the eastern screech owl: a comparison of biomechanical variables of body contour feathers
Authors: Pannkuk Evan L. , Siefferman Lynn M. , Butts Jeffrey A. 
Published: September 2009

Summary
1.
Melanin is a ubiquitous pigment in the animal kingdom and has been reported to increase biological tissue strength. Melanin is responsible for many observed cases of colour polymorphism, or existence of two or more distinct plumage colours in one species (regardless of age, sex, or mass). Researchers have postulated that the relative concentration of melanin pigments deposited in feathers may function to strengthen feathers but colour polymorphic species have been ignored. Here, we investigate whether different morphs of a polymorphic bird species exhibit differential plumage strength.
2.
While colour polymorphism is widespread in birds, there is no consensus on the adaptive significance of polymorphism or the maintenance of clinal variation in colour morphs. The eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) is a polymorphic species; individuals exhibit rufous, intermediate, or grey coloration that is likely caused by relative amounts or concentration of black or rufous melanin subtype (eumelanin and pheomelanin respectively). This species exhibits clinal variation in morph prevalence; the rufous morph predominates in humid deciduous forests while the grey morph is more common in dry or cold environments.
3.
Here, we test the hypothesis that differences in feather strength may select for darker plumage in drier climates. First, we use reflectance spectrometry to objectively verify differences in colour morphs of the eastern screech owl. Second, we measure mechanical variables and morphology of dorsal feather barbs.
4.
While reflectance spectrometry objectively separated the three colour morphs, we found no significant differences in the mechanical variables of plumage morphs. These results fail to demonstrate differences in plumage strength among eastern screech owl colour variants.
5.
This conclusion rejects the hypothesis that melanin subtype affects the strength of body contour feathers in the eastern screech owl and may not factor in the maintenance of the observed clinal variation.
When sea‐ice clock is ahead of Adélie penguins’ clock
Authors: Beaulieu Michaël , Dervaux Antoine , Thierry Anne‐Mathilde , Lazin David , Le Maho Yvon , Ropert‐Coudert Yan , Spée Marion , Raclot Thierry , Ancel André 
Published: September 2009

Abstract 1.  In Polar Regions, the extent and dynamics of sea‐ice are changing. This affects the ocean productivity which consecutively impacts plankton communities and polar top predators like penguins. Yet, the underlying behavioural and physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. 2.
Here we monitored the ecophysiological responses of Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) pairs during two seasons of contrasting timing of sea‐ice retreat. Beside classical breeding parameters like foraging trip duration, body mass and reproductive success, we also investigated food‐related stress (via plasma corticosterone concentration), nutritional state (via metabolite levels) and the use of penguins’ habitat (via blood isotopic values). 3.  Body mass and reproductive success remained unchanged but foraging trips were shorter when sea‐ice retreated earlier. Constant plasma corticosterone concentrations indicated that none of the feeding conditions resulted in a food‐related stress. However metabolite levels were lower when sea‐ice retreated early, suggesting that the foraging performance and the quality/quantity of food differed. Indeed isotopic ratios indicated that coastal prey like fish contributed more to the penguins’ diet when sea‐ice retreated prematurely. 4.  The early sea‐ice retreat was related to higher chlorophyll concentrations, known to favour krill recruitment. Paradoxically, this was not associated to a higher krill contribution in the penguins’ diet. We propose that a shift in the phytoplankton quality (rather than quantity), affecting krill recruitment, forced penguins to switch to more available prey like coastal fish. 5.  In some Antarctic regions, sea‐ice is retreating earlier and earlier. In the present study, even though the timing of sea‐ice retreat and the consecutive ocean productivity differed drastically between the 2 years, Adélie penguins were not severely affected because they were able to adjust their at‐sea behaviour and thus maintained their body condition and reproductive success unchanged. 6.  This suggests that the timing of sea‐ice retreat does not represent an important threat to populations of Adélie penguins at least as long as alternative resources are still available and other environmental parameters like winter sea‐ice extent are not dramatically altered.
Information content analysis in automated microscopy imaging using an adaptive autofocus algorithm for multimodal functions
Authors: BRÁZDILOVÁ S.L. , KOZUBEK M. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryWe present a new algorithm to analyse information content in images acquired using automated fluorescence microscopy. The algorithm belongs to the group of autofocusing methods, but differs from its predecessors in that it can handle thick specimens and operate also in confocal mode. It measures the information content in images using a ‘content function’, which is essentially the same concept as a focus function. Unlike previously presented algorithms, this algorithm tries to find all significant axial positions in cases where the content function applied to real data is not unimodal, which is often the case. This requirement precludes using algorithms that rely on unimodality. Moreover, choosing a content function requires careful consideration, because some functions suppress local maxima. First, we test 19 content functions and evaluate their ability to show local maxima clearly. The results show that only six content functions succeed. To save time, the acquisition procedure needs to vary the step size adaptively, because a wide range of possible axial positions has to be passed so as not to miss a local maximum. The algorithm therefore has to assess the steepness of the content function online so that it can decide to use a bigger or smaller step size to acquire the next image. Therefore, the algorithm needs to know about typical behaviour of content functions. We show that for normalized variance, one of the most promising content functions, this knowledge can be obtained after normalizing with respect to the theoretical maximum of this function, and using hierarchical clustering. The resulting algorithm is more reliable and efficient than a simple procedure with constant steps.
Elucidating the role of genetic drift and natural selection in cork oak differentiation regarding drought tolerance
Authors: RAMÍREZ‐VALIENTE J. A. , LORENZO Z. , SOTO A. , VALLADARES F. , GIL L. , ARANDA I. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractDrought is the main selection agent in Mediterranean ecosystems and it has been suggested as an important evolutionary force responsible for population diversification in these types of environments. However, population divergence in quantitative traits can be driven by either natural selection, genetic drift or both. To investigate the roles of these forces on among‐population divergence in ecophysiological traits related to drought tolerance (carbon isotope discrimination, specific leaf area, leaf size and leaf nitrogen content), we compared molecular and quantitative genetic differentiation in a common garden experiment including thirteen cork oak (Quercus suberL.) populations across a gradient of rainfall and temperature. Population differentiation for height, specific leaf area, leaf size and nitrogen leaf content measured during a dry year far exceeded the molecular differentiation measured by six nuclear microsatellites. Populations from dry‐cool sites showed the lowest nitrogen leaf content and the smallest and thickest leaves contrasting with those from humid‐warm sites. These results suggest (i) these traits are subjected to divergence selection and (ii) the genetic differences among populations are partly due to climate adaptation. By contrast, the low among‐population divergence found in basal diameter, annual growth and carbon isotopic discrimination (a surrogate for water use efficiency) suggests low or no divergence selection for these traits. Among‐population differentiation for neutral markers was not a good predictor for differentiation regarding the quantitative traits studied here, except for leaf size. The correlation observed between the genetic differentiation for leaf size and that for molecular markers was exclusively due to the association between leaf size and the microsatelliteQpZAG46, which suggests a possible linkage betweenQpZAG46 and genes encoding for leaf size.
Phylogeography ofCamassia quamashin western North America: postglacial colonization and transport by indigenous peoples
Authors: TOMIMATSU HIROSHI , KEPHART SUSAN R. , VELLEND MARK 
Published: September 2009

AbstractRecent human activities have spread numerous plant species across the globe, yet it is unclear to what degree historical human activities influenced plant dispersal. In western North America,Camassia quamashwas one of the most important food plants for indigenous peoples, who transported its propagules either intentionally or accidentally. We investigated how human and natural dispersal might have contributed to the current pattern of spatial genetic structure inC. quamashby performing phylogeographical surveys at two geographical scales. We sequenced two noncoding regions of chloroplast deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in 226 individuals from 53 populations ofC. quamashas well as 126 individuals from 21 populations of the non‐food plantZigadenus venenosus. Contrary to the expectation of anthropogenic transport,C. quamashpopulations did not exhibit weaker genetic structure thanZ. venenosuspopulations. We also failed to find convincing evidence for signatures of transport. Instead, our data showed strong effects of past glaciation and geographical barriers of the mountains in the Cascade Range, Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. West of the Cascades, the species appears to have largely migrated northward from a southern refugium after deglaciation, whereas few populations having a highly divergent haplotype might have survived in southwestern Washington. Our data suggest that despite substantial ethnobotanical evidence for anthropogenic transport, the current pattern of genetic structure ofC. quamashdoes not show any detectable signatures of transport by indigenous peoples and is better understood as the result of natural dispersal processes.
Predictors for progression in immunoglobulin A nephropathy with significant proteinuria
Authors: HWANG HYEON SEOK , KIM BYUNG SOO , SHIN YOUNG SHIN , YOON HYE EUN , SONG JOON CHANG , CHOI BUM SOON , PARK CHEOL WHEE , YANG CHUL WOO , KIM YONG SOO , BANG BYUNG KEE 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Proteinuria is a primary factor requiring treatment in immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy. The purpose of this study was to assess the relevance of treatment response and relapse of proteinuria with renal function decline.Methods:  One hundred and twenty‐five biopsy‐proven primary IgA nephropathy patients who had more than 1.0 g/day proteinuria at the first assessment were studied. All patients underwent anti‐proteinuric treatment, and the association of the rate of renal function decline with treatment responsiveness, clinical and laboratory data was investigated.Results:  The treatment response of the patients was: 30.4% complete response (<0.3 g/day proteinuria), 32.8% partial response (0.3–1.0 g/day), 23.2% minimal response (decrement but not reduced to <1 g/day) and 13.6% no response (no decrement of proteinuria). The slope of renal function decline (−1.06 vs−1.24 mL/min per 1.73 m2/year, P = 0.580) was comparable between complete and partial response groups, but they were slower than those of minimal or non‐response groups (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis including other parameters, mean arterial pressure (MAP; β = –0.240, P = 0.004) during follow up, minimal (β = –0.393, P < 0.001) and non‐response (β = –0.403, P < 0.001) were significant predictors. In further investigation of complete and partial response groups, MAP (β = –0.332, P = 0.001) and relapse of proteinuria (β = –0.329, P = 0.001) were independently associated with slope of renal decline.Conclusion:  Achievement of less than 1.0 g/day proteinuria and MAP were important for limiting the loss of renal function, and relapse of proteinuria should be closely monitored in proteinuric IgA nephropathy.
Evaluation of erythrocyte dysmorphism by light microscopy with lowering of the condenser lens: A simple and efficient method
Authors: BARROS SILVA GYL EANES , COSTA ROBERTO SILVA , RAVINAL ROBERTO CUAN , SILVA JUCÉLIA SARAIVA E , DANTAS MARCIO , COIMBRA TEREZILA MACHADO 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT:Aim:  To demonstrate that the evaluation of erythrocyte dysmorphism by light microscopy with lowering of the condenser lens (LMLC) is useful to identify patients with a haematuria of glomerular or non‐glomerular origin.Methods:  A comparative double‐blind study between phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and LMLC is reported to evaluate the efficacy of these techniques. Urine samples of 39 patients followed up for 9 months were analyzed, and classified as glomerular and non‐glomerular haematuria. The different microscopic techniques were compared using receiver–operator curve (ROC) analysis and area under curve (AUC). Reproducibility was assessed by coefficient of variation (CV).Results:  Specific cut‐offs were set for each method according to their best rate of specificity and sensitivity as follows: 30% for phase contrast microscopy and 40% for standard LMLC, reaching in the first method the rate of 95% and 100% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively, and in the second method the rate of 90% and 100% of sensitivity and specificity, respectively. In ROC analysis, AUC for PCM was 0.99 and AUC for LMLC was 0.96. The CV was very similar in glomerular haematuria group for PCM (35%) and LMLC (35.3%).Conclusion:  LMLC proved to be effective in contributing to the direction of investigation of haematuria, toward the nephrological or urological side. This method can substitute PCM when this equipment is not available.
Chronic kidney disease in Tasmania
Authors: JOSE MATTHEW D , OTAHAL PETR , KIRKLAND GEOFF , BLIZZARD LEIGH 
Published: September 2009

SUMMARYAim:  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease which is becoming a major public health issue due to its high rate of premature death, poor quality of life and expensive end‐stage treatment (dialysis or transplantation). The burden of this chronic condition in a community setting was examined.Methods:  Data were obtained from 369 098 Tasmanian adults (aged ≥18 years) and included 1 640 687 measurements of creatinine taken between 1995 and 2007. In 2007 alone, testing comprised 25.5% of the state's adult population. A modelled estimate of CKD prevalence was developed.Results:  For those at risk of CKD (aged >50 years), 50.6%, 70.2% and 82% had a measured creatinine (and reported estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)) during the last 1, 2 and 3 years respectively. However, only 9.4% of people with eGFR of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 had albuminuria formally measured. Estimated prevalence of stage III or greater CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2) was at least 11.4% of women and 8.6% of men during 2007. Detection of low eGFR increased significantly over the last 13 years. There was a large geographic variation throughout Tasmania and high relative mortality with lower eGFR. There is a broad gap between the number of people with eGFR of less than 15 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (stage V CKD) and those receiving dialysis treatment.Conclusion:  The number of people identified with low eGFR has increased significantly since 1995 with a large geographic variation. Despite this, testing for kidney disease (by measuring serum creatinine and albuminuria) in people at risk is still suboptimal.
Comparable transplant outcomes between local and shipped deceased‐donor kidneys in Australia: Analysis of Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry 1992–2007
Authors: LIM WAI H , RUSS GRAEME R , MCDONALD STEPHEN P 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Allocation of deceased‐donor kidneys in Australia often involves the shipping of well‐matched renal allografts across states. However, the impact of shipping on graft outcomes remains unclear. In this study, the effect of shipping of well‐matched (0–2 human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches) and poorer‐matched (3–6 HLA mismatches) deceased‐donor kidneys on transplant outcomes in Australia were examined.Methods:  Using data from Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA), graft and patient outcomes were compared between shipped and locally transplanted allografts in Australia between 1992 and 2007 stratified by the number of HLA mismatches.Results:  Recipients receiving shipped renal allografts were more likely to be highly sensitized with previous grafts and/or higher panel reactive antibodies levels with significantly longer graft ischaemic time compared to local allografts. Regardless of the HLA mismatches, the risk of delayed graft function, acute rejection, 12 month serum creatinine, graft failure and patient survival was similar between shipped and locally transplanted renal allografts.Conclusion:  Recipients of shipped renal allografts with 0–2 and 3–6 HLA mismatches have similar transplant outcomes to locally transplanted allografts.
BDNF and NT‐3 increase excitatory input connectivity in rat hippocampal cultures
Authors: Jacobi Shimshon , Soriano Jordi , Segal Menahem , Moses Elisha 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe neurotrophic factors brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) have been shown to promote excitatory and inhibitory synapse development. However, a quantitative analysis of their influence on connectivity has proven in general difficult to achieve. In this work we use a novel experimental approach based on percolation concepts that provides a quantification of the average number of connections per neuron. In combination with electrophysiological measurements, we characterize the changes in network connectivity induced by BDNF and NT‐3 in rat hippocampal cultures. We show that, on the one hand, BDNF and NT‐3 accelerate the maturation of connectivity in the network by about 17 h. On the other hand, BDNF and NT‐3 increase the number of excitatory input connections by a factor of about two, but without modifying the number of inhibitory input connections. This scenario of a dominant effect on the excitation is supported by the analysis of spontaneous population bursts in cultures treated with either BDNF or NT‐3, which show burst amplitudes that are insensitive to the blockade of inhibition. A leaky integrate‐and‐fire model reproduces the experimental results well.
Altered distribution and function of A2A adenosine receptors in the brain of WAG/Rij rats with genetic absence epilepsy, before and after appearance of the disease
Authors: D’Alimonte Iolanda , D’Auro Mariagrazia , Citraro Rita , Biagioni Francesca , Jiang Shucui , Nargi Eleonora , Buccella Silvana , Di Iorio Patrizia , Giuliani Patricia , Ballerini Patrizia , Caciagli Francesco , Russo Emilio , De Sarro Giovambattista , Ciccarelli Renata 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe involvement of excitatory adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs), which probably contribute to the pathophysiology of convulsive seizures, has never been investigated in absence epilepsy. Here, we examined the distribution and function of A2ARs in the brain of Wistar Albino Glaxo/Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats, a model of human absence epilepsy in which disease onset occurs 2–3 months after birth. In the cerebral areas that are mostly involved in the generation of absence seizures (somatosensory cortex, reticular and ventrobasal thalamic nuclei), A2AR density was lower in presymptomatic WAG/Rij rats than in control rats, as evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Accordingly, in cortical/thalamic slices prepared from the brain of these rats, A2AR stimulation with the agonist 2‐[4‐(‐2‐carboxyethyl)‐phenylamino]‐5′‐N‐ethylcarboxamido‐adenosine failed to modulate either cAMP formation, mitogen‐activated protein kinase system, or K+‐evoked glutamate release. In contrast, A2AR expression, signalling and function were significantly enhanced in brain slices from epileptic WAG/Rij rats as compared with matched control animals. Additionally, the in vivo injection of the A2AR agonist CGS21680, or the antagonist 5‐amino‐7‐(2‐phenylethyl)‐2‐(2‐fuyl)‐pyrazolo‐(4,3‐c)1,2,4‐triazolo(1,5‐c)‐pyrimidine, in the examined brain areas of epileptic rats, increased and decreased, respectively, the number/duration of recorded spontaneous spike–wave discharges in a dose‐dependent manner during a 1–5 h post‐treatment period. Our results support the hypothesis that alteration of excitatory A2AR is involved in the pathogenesis of absence seizures and might represent a new interesting target for the therapeutic management of this disease.
Paraventricular hypothalamic oxytocinergic cells responding to noxious stimulation and projecting to the spinal dorsal horn represent a homeostatic analgesic mechanism
Authors: Condés‐Lara Miguel , Rojas‐Piloni Gerardo , Martínez‐Lorenzana Guadalupe , Rodríguez‐Jiménez Javier 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe participation of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in an endogenous central mechanism of analgesia has been observed using rats in various experimental procedures including electrophysiological and behavioral tests. However, little is known about the PVN neuronal responses to noxious stimulation. The only data available indicate a c‐fos increase after noxious visceral stimulations. Our electrophysiological recordings of single PVN cells showed that, out of 223 cells, 79 responded to noxious mechanical and/or thermal stimuli, and another 10 responsive cells were found in the Reuniers thalamic nucleus. These cells responded only to noxious stimuli mainly in the ipsilateral hind limb but we also observed cells responding to stimulation of both hind limbs and also the tail. Mechanical stimulation was most effective but some cells could respond to both mechanical and thermal noxious stimuli. Some of the responding PVN cells were identified by antidromic stimulation in the ipsilateral lumbar dorsal horn spinal cord. Finally, in order to document the nature of the neurotransmitter and the projection to the spinal cord of the PVN cells that responded to noxious stimulation, we used a juxtacellular approach to record and stain some neurons and found them to be oxytocinergic by immunofluorescence procedures. The PVN cells activated by noxious stimuli may suppress the peripheral incoming afferent A‐delta and C fibers, completing a circuit involved in diffuse endogenous analgesia. This mechanism strongly suggests that the PVN participates in a homeostatic mechanism involved in pain and analgesia.