bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of Leukotriene Receptors in the Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion and the Effects on Pain Behaviors
Authors: Okubo Masamichi , Yamanaka Hiroki , Kobayashi Kimiko , Fukuoka Tetsuo , Dai Yi , Noguchi Koichi 
Published: September 2010

Background: Leukotrienes (LTs) belong to the large family of lipid mediators implicated in various inflammatory conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Four distinct types (BLT1, BLT2, CysLT1 and CysLT2) of G-protein-coupled receptors for LTs have been identified. Several studies have reported that LTs are involved in inflammatory pain, but the mechanism and the expression of LT receptors in the nociceptive pathway are unknown. Results: We investigated the precise expression of these four types of LT receptors in the adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) using reverse transcription-polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) and radioisotope-labeled in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). We detected mRNAs for BLT1 and CysLT2 in the DRG, but not for BLT2 and CysLT1. CysLT2 mRNA was preferentially expressed by small sized DRG neurons (about 36% of total neurons), whereas BLT1 mRNA was expressed by non-neuronal cells. Double labeling analysis of CysLT2 with NF-200, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), isolectin B4 (IB4), transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) and P2X3 receptor revealed that many CysLT2-labeled neurons were localized with unmyelinated and non-peptidergic neurons, and interestingly, CysLT2 mRNA heavily co-localized with TRPV1 and P2X3-positive neurons. Intraplantar injection of LTC4, a CysLT2 receptor agonist, itself did not induce the thermal hyperalgesia, spontaneous pain behaviors or swelling of hind paw. However, pretreatment of LTC4 remarkably enhanced the painful behaviors produced by alpha, beta-methylene adenosine 5′-triphosphate (αβ-me-ATP), a P2X3 receptor agonist. Conclusions: These data suggests that CysLT2 expressed in DRG neurons may play a role as a modulator of P2X3, and contribute to a potentiation of the neuronal activity following peripheral inflammation.
Sepsis is a major determinant of outcome in critically ill HIV/AIDS patients
Authors: Japiassú André M , Amâncio Rodrigo T , Mesquita Emerson C , Medeiros Denise M , Bernal Helena B , Nunes Estevão P , Luz Paula M , Grinsztejn Beatriz , Bozza Fernando A 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
Introduction
New challenges have arisen for the management of critically ill HIV/AIDS patients. Severe sepsis has emerged as a common cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission for those living with HIV/AIDS. Contrastingly, HIV/AIDS patients have been systematically excluded from sepsis studies, limiting the understanding of the impact of sepsis in this population. We prospectively followed up critically ill HIV/AIDS patients to evaluate the main risk factors for hospital mortality and the impact of severe sepsis on the short- and long-term survival.

Methods
All consecutive HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU of an infectious diseases research center, from June 2006 to May 2008, were included. Severity of illness, time since AIDS diagnosis, CD4 cell count, antiretroviral treatment, incidence of severe sepsis, and organ dysfunctions were registered. The 28-day, hospital, and 6-month outcomes were obtained for all patients. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis measured the effect of potential factors on 28-day and 6-month mortality.

Results
During the 2-year study period, 88 HIV/AIDS critically ill patients were admitted to the ICU. Seventy percent of patients had opportunist infections, median CD4 count was 75 cells/mm3, and 45% were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Location on a ward before ICU admission, cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunctions on the first day after admission, and the presence of severe sepsis/septic shock were associated with reduced 28-day and 6-month survival on a univariate analysis. After a multivariate analysis, severe sepsis determined the highest hazard ratio (HR) for 28-day (adjusted HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.21-8.07) and 6-month (adjusted HR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.42-7.86) mortality. Severe sepsis occurred in 44 (50%) patients, mainly because of lower respiratory tract infections. The survival of septic and nonseptic patients was significantly different at 28-day and 6-month follow-up times (log-rank and Peto test, P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Severe sepsis has emerged as a major cause of admission and mortality for hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients, significantly affecting short- and longer-term survival of critically ill HIV/AIDS patients.
The MicroRNA Spectrum in 12 Body Fluids
Authors: Weber Jessica A , Baxter David H , Zhang Shile , Huang David Y , How Huang Kuo , Jen Lee Ming , Galas David J , Wang Kai 
Published: September 2010

BACKGROUND
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that play an important role in regulating various biological processes through their interaction with cellular messenger RNAs. Extracellular miRNAs in serum, plasma, saliva, and urine have recently been shown to be associated with various pathological conditions including cancer.

METHODS
With the goal of assessing the distribution of miRNAs and demonstrating the potential use of miRNAs as biomarkers, we examined the presence of miRNAs in 12 human body fluids and urine samples from women in different stages of pregnancy or patients with different urothelial cancers. Using quantitative PCR, we conducted a global survey of the miRNA distribution in these fluids.

RESULTS
miRNAs were present in all fluids tested and showed distinct compositions in different fluid types. Several of the highly abundant miRNAs in these fluids were common among multiple fluid types, and some of the miRNAs were enriched in specific fluids. We also observed distinct miRNA patterns in the urine samples obtained from individuals with different physiopathological conditions.

CONCLUSIONS
MicroRNAs are ubiquitous in all the body fluid types tested. Fluid type–specific miRNAs may have functional roles associated with the surrounding tissues. In addition, the changes in miRNA spectra observed in the urine samples from patients with different urothelial conditions demonstrates the potential for using concentrations of specific miRNAs in body fluids as biomarkers for detecting and monitoring various physiopathological conditions.
The aesthetic independence of the screenplay
Authors: Koivumki M.-R 
Published: September 2010

The aesthetic independence of an artwork is usually defined by the direct relationship between the viewer and the artwork. The screenplay, however, is actualized for the viewer only via cinematic performance. Therefore, we should ask how the viewer experiences the performance and to
what extent this experience is created by the contribution of the screenplay, and especially which elements are realized in the presentation and contribute to building up the performance for the viewer to experience.
The approach I am leaning on, and through which I am hoping to gain new
insights into the aesthetic independence, is dramaturgical and thus practice-based. The common hermeneutic approach in artistic research usually defines what the artworks are and how they exist in our world as cultural phenomena. Through the dramaturgical approach I explore how the screenplay
functions within the presentational process.
I discuss the contribution of the screenplay as a literary artwork by asking how the literary characteristics of the screenplay appear in a film and their function in the performance. I also explore the screenplay's contribution from the viewer's
point of view. Here I am not leaning on the perception theories; instead I am using my own observation of the cinematic performance. Lastly, I discuss the dramaturgical process as an interpretive continuum that leads from the screenwriter to the viewer.
Natural Grassland Response to Herbicides and Application Timing for Selective Control of Tall Fescue, an Invasive Cool-Season Grass
Authors: Ruffner Marvin E. , Barnes Thomas G. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractNatural grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America. Conservation efforts are often hampered by exotic plant invasions in existing remnant natural grasslands. Tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix(Scop.) Holub.] is an introduced cool-season (C3) forage/turf grass which readily invades natural grasslands in Kentucky and neighboring states. Our study objectives were to (1) compare the efficacy and application timing effect of clethodim to that of imazapic to selectively remove tall fescue from natural grasslands and (2) evaluate the response of the nontarget grassland plant community (i.e., native grass and forb canopy cover) following herbicide treatments. Clethodim and imazapic treatments consisted of early (April 4, 2001) and late (April 20, 2001) applications, and these were applied at 0.23 and 0.21 kg ai ha−1, respectively. Both herbicides reduced tall fescue cover (P ≤ 0.05); herbicide application timing had no effect on herbicide efficacy to control tall fescue. Native grass cover was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in all herbicide-treated plots compared to the untreated controls, except for the late clethodim-treated plots. All herbicide treatments increased forb abundance compared to controls. Spring applications of clethodim were equally effective to those of imazapic at controlling tall fescue in natural grasslands. Imazapic released native grasses better than clethodim, whereas clethodim was better at increasing forb abundance. Furthermore, early clethodim treatments had fewer nontarget effects on native C4grasses compared to late clethodim treatments. Overall, clethodim shows promise as a beneficial management tool for tall fescue control in C4-dominated natural grasslands.
Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum) Management in Florida's Apalachicola Bottomland Hardwood Forests
Authors: Minogue Patrick J. , Bohn Kimberly K. , Osiecka Anna , Lauer Dwight K. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractJapanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum) is an invasive vine that has been identified as an economic and ecological threat in forest ecosystems of the Southeast. In two separate studies, we examined the use of directed sprays of glyphosate, imazapyr, and metsulfuron-methyl herbicides, alone and in combination, for control of Japanese climbing fern and for impacts to associated vegetation in mixed bottomland hardwood–cypress forests at two first terrace sites of the Apalachicola River in north Florida. Two yr after treatment, various rates of glyphosate alone generally provided greater percent control (84 to 95%) than imazapyr alone (−25 to 86%) or metsulfuron-methyl alone (−5 to 53%). Combinations of 2% glyphosate and imazapyr and/or metsulfuron-methyl resulted in 81 to 97% control at 2 yr after treatment, with no significant differences among the combination treatments or 2% glyphosate alone. Change in percent cover of associated vegetation groups was not influenced by treatment except for one location where graminoid cover increased 1 yr after metsulfuron-methyl treatment but decreased after imazapyr or glyphosate application. Species richness of dominant understory vegetation remained nearly constant at both locations regardless of treatment. These data indicate that glyphosate alone or in combination with imazapyr or metsulfuron-methyl will provide effective, although not complete, control of Japanese climbing fern, and that directed herbicide sprays minimally impact nontarget vegetation.
Ecotype Variability and Edaphic Characteristics for Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) Populations in Mississippi
Authors: Bryson Charles T. , Krutz L. Jason , Ervin Gary N. , Reddy Krishna N. , Byrd John D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractCogongrass is a highly invasive, perennial grass that is found on all continents, except Antarctica. It continues to spread at an alarming rate in the southeastern United States. Cogongrass has been reported from a wide array of habitats; however, soils from areas where cogongrass grows have never been characterized. Live cogongrass plants, herbarium specimens, and soil samples were collected from 53 cogongrass populations from across the 10 physiographic regions and land use areas in Mississippi. Cogongrass leaf and inflorescence morphology varied among sites, and plants were found in soils varying widely in texture (ranging from 28 to 86% sand, 3 to 48% silt, and 6 to 43% clay), organic matter content (ranging from 0.9 to 5.0%), pH (ranging from 4.4 to 8.0), and nutrient status: 6 to 190 kg ha−1(15 to 470 lb A−1) of phosphorus (P), 46 to 734 kg ha−1of potassium (K), 150 to 7,620 kg ha−1of calcium (Ca), 26 to 1,090 kg ha−1of magnesium (Mg), 1 to 190 kg ha−1of zinc (Zn), 145 to 800 kg ha−1of estimated sulfur (S) based on organic matter, and 57 to 300 kg ha−1of sodium (Na). These soil parameters were highly variable among cogongrass populations, even within physiographic regions or land use areas, and encompassed much of the soil physiochemical diversity within the state. Soil characteristics were significantly correlated with leaf length (Ca, K, Mg, P, Zn, and percentage of sand and silt), leaf width (Ca, P, Mg, and percentage of sand and silt), the leaf length-to-width ratio (K and P), inflorescence length (Na, P, and pH), inflorescence width (S, organic matter, and pH), and the inflorescence length-to-width ratio (S and organic matter). These data indicate that cogongrass is able to establish, emerge, grow, and reproduce on a wide array of soils in Mississippi. This ability provides cogongrass an advantage over other plant species that are more limited in the soil types that support their growth.
Wild and Cultivated Potato (Solanum sect. Petota) Escaped and Persistent Outside of its Natural Range
Authors: Simon Reinhard , Xie Conghua H. , Clausen Andrea , Jansky Shelley H. , Halterman Dennis , Conner Tony , Knapp Sandra , Brundage Jennifer , Symon David , Spooner David 
Published: September 2010

AbstractWild potato contains about 100 species that are native to the Americas from the southwestern United States to central Chile and adjacent Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. We report the occurrence of naturalized populations of the wild potato Solanum chacoense in seven sites in southern Australia, eastern China, England, New Zealand, the eastern United States, central Peru, and east-central Argentina. Modeling similar climatic niches on the basis of the distribution of S. chacoense from South America shows that observations of naturalized S. chacoense overlap with predicted areas. A literature review reveals that although S. chacoense possesses traits typical of an invasive species, all populations presently appear to be contained near their site of introduction.
Effects of 1-Year vs. Annual Treatment of Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) in Forests
Authors: Loeb Robert E. , Germeraad Jesse , Treece Travis , Wakefield Daniel , Ward Steve 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAmur honeysuckle recovery following treatments annually and only in 1-year, during 2002 to 2009, was compared in the forests of Radnor Lake State Natural Area in Nashville, TN. Annual treatment areas had significantly lower mean Amur honeysuckle plant counts than 1-yr treatment areas for both ≤ 1 m (3.3 ft) and > 1 m plant heights and on both sloped and level areas, except for plants ≤ 1 m tall on level areas, which most likely indicated more soil moisture increasing seedling establishment and root sprouting in the first year after treatment. The significant, positive Pearson's product moment correlations for Amur honeysuckle counts of plants ≤ 1 m tall, with arboreal basal area and with canopy species diversity in the level areas of the annual treatment plots, were also most likely evidence for the importance of greater soil moisture during the first year after treatment for greater Amur honeysuckle recovery. For land managers interested in native vegetation restoration, guidance is provided to plan for long-term, invasive plant species treatment and recovery monitoring.
Beach Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia): An Invasive Coastal Species
Authors: Cousins Matthew M. , Briggs Jeanne , Gresham Chuck , Whetstone Jack , Whitwell Ted 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBeach vitex is a salt-tolerant, perennial, invasive shrub that has naturalized in coastal areas of the southeastern United States. Since its introduction in the 1980s, this Pacific Rim native has invaded many fragile beach-dune ecosystems along the Mid-Atlantic, Southern Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico. Large-scale monocultures of beach vitex supplant native species through rapid vegetative reproduction and seed production. Fruits are capable of water-based dispersal, allowing for potential rapid range expansion in coastal areas. Ecosystem damage resulting from exclusion of native plant species by beach vitex and fears associated with potential negative effects on sea turtle nesting have served to promote the control and survey efforts presently underway in coastal areas of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland.
Viability, Growth, and Fertility of Knotweed Cytotypes in North America
Authors: Gammon Melinda A. , Baack Eric , Orth Jennifer Forman , Kesseli Rick 
Published: September 2010

AbstractHybridization between two introduced plant species can influence the invasion capabilities of the exotic taxa, but the role of hybridization will likely differ in different invasions, even of the same species. Until now, studies concerning the ploidy of Japanese knotweed, giant knotweed, and their hybrids have been conducted in Europe or native ranges in Asia. Here, we assess the role of hybridization and ploidy in a U.S. invasion. We use flow cytometry to characterize DNA content in (1) established families in a common garden, (2) seedlings grown from common garden parents, and (3) wild populations. We also measured fertility in the garden and the field and vegetative growth traits in the garden. Although the majority of our parental and hybrid samples had ploidy levels previously documented in Europe (4X and 8X for parental species; 6X for hybrids), we found a wider range of knotweed cytotypes established in our garden (4X, 6X, 7X, 8X, 9X, and 10X) and additionally detected 5X, 11X, 12X, and possibly 14X ploidy levels in progeny from garden seed parents. The unexpected cytotypes were not confined to the greenhouse or common garden, in that all < 11X ploidy levels were also found in field populations in Massachusetts. In several cases, these data contradicted our expectations on the basis of morphological and molecular analysis, suggesting both significant introgression and the introduction of multiple cytotypes from Asia. With one exception (14X), we found all cytotypes were capable of strong vegetative growth, seed set, and the production of viable pollen. Without barriers to sexual reproduction, introgression is expected to progress, creating a progressively more diverse swarm of invasive genotypes.
Daily Corticosteroids Reduce Infection-associated Relapses in Frequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome
Authors: Gulati Ashima , Sinha Aditi , Sreenivas Vishnubhatla , Math Aparna , Hari Pankaj , Bagga Arvind 
Published: September 2010

Summary

Background and objectives
Relapses of nephrotic syndrome often follow minor infections, commonly of the upper respiratory tract. Daily administration of maintenance prednisolone during intercurrent infections was examined to determine whether the treatment reduces relapse rates in children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
In a randomized controlled trial (nonblind, parallel group, tertiary-care hospital), 100 patients with idiopathic, frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome eligible for therapy with prolonged low-dose, alternate-day prednisolone with or without levamisole were randomized to either receive their usual dose of alternate-day prednisolone daily for 7 days during intercurrent infections (intervention group) or continue alternate-day prednisolone (controls). Primary outcome was assessed by comparing the rates of infection-associated relapses at 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the frequency of infections and the cumulative amount of prednisolone received in both groups.

Results
Patients in the intervention group showed significantly lower infection-associated (rate difference, 0.7 episodes/patient per year; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.3, 1.1) and lower total relapse rates (0.9 episodes/patient per year, 95% CI 0.4, 1.4) without increase in steroid toxicity. Poisson regression, adjusted for occurrence of infections, showed that daily administration of prednisolone during infections independently resulted in 59% reduction in frequency of relapses (rate ratio, 0.41; 95% CI 0.3, 0.6). For every six patients receiving this intervention, one showed a reduction of relapse frequency to less than three per year.

Conclusions
Daily administration of maintenance doses of prednisolone, during intercurrent infections, significantly reduces relapse rates and the proportion of children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome.
Plasmonic abilities of gold and silver spherical nanoantennas in terms of size dependent multipolar resonance frequencies and plasmon damping rates
Authors: Kolwas K. , Derkachova A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAbsorbing and emitting optical properties of a spherical plasmonic nanoantenna are described in terms of the size dependent resonance frequencies and damping rates of the multipolar surface plasmons (SP). We provide the plasmon size characteristics for gold and silver spherical particles up to the large size retardation regime where the plasmon radiative damping is significant. We underline the role of the radiation damping in comparison with the energy dissipation damping in formation of receiving and transmitting properties of a plasmonic particle. The size dependence of both: the multipolar SP resonance frequencies and corresponding damping rates can be a convenient tool in tailoring the characteristics of plasmonic nanoantennas for given application. Such characteristics enable to control an operation frequency of a plasmonic nanoantenna and to change the operation range from the spectrally broad to spectrally narrow and vice versa. It is also possible to switch between particle receiving (enhanced absorption) and emitting (enhanced scattering) abilities. Changing the polarization geometry of observation it is possible to effectively separate the dipole and the quadrupole plasmon radiation from all the non-plasmonic contributions to the scattered light.
Fourier optics approach to imaging with sub-wavelength resolution through metal-dielectric multilayers
Authors: Kotyński R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractMetal-dielectric layered stacks for imaging with sub-wavelength resolution are regarded as linear isoplanatic systems — a concept popular in Fourier optics and in scalar diffraction theory. In this context, a layered flat lens is a one-dimensional spatial filter characterised by the point spread function. However, depending on the model of the source, the definition of the point spread function for multilayers with sub-wavelength resolution may be formulated in several ways. Here, a distinction is made between a soft source and hard electric or magnetic sources. Each of these definitions leads to a different meaning of perfect imaging. It is shown that some simple interpretations of the PSF, such as the relation of its width to the resolution of the imaging system are ambiguous for the multilayers with sub-wavelenth resolution. These differences must be observed in point spread function engineering of layered systems with sub-wavelength sized PSF.