bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conspecific and heterospecific plant–soil feedbacks influence survivorship and growth of temperate tree seedlings
Authors: McCarthy‐Neumann Sarah , Kobe Richard K. 
Published: January 2010

Summary1. The Janzen–Connell (J–C) Model proposes that host‐specific enemies could maintain high tree species diversity by reducing seedling performance near conspecific adults. An implicit, but untested assumption of the J–C Model is that negative conspecific feedbacks would promote replacement by heterospecific seedlings.2. In a glasshouse experiment, we tested plant–soil feedbacks as a J–C mechanism in four temperate tree species. We assessed effects of conspecific‐ relative to heterospecific‐cultured soil extracts on seedling survival, total mass and performance for each focal species. To test the implicit assumption of replacement by heterospecific seedlings, we also compared relative performance of conspecific versus heterospecific seedlings grown with soil extract cultured by a particular tree species. We also tested whether soil microbes caused these plant–soil feedbacks and whether low irradiance increased seedling vulnerability to pathogens.3. When grown with conspecific versus heterospecific soil extract,Acer rubrummass decreased,Quercus rubramass increased andFraxinus americanaincreased survival. Conspecific extract reducedAcer saccharummass in low light but increased it in high light. To integrate survival and growth, we examined seedling performance [(mean total mass × mean survival time)/(days of experiment)] at low and high light. In conspecific versus heterospecific soil extract, seedling performance was lower in two, higher in four and neutral in 18 of 24 cases, suggesting no advantage to dispersing away from conspecifics. Based on relative seedling performance within a soil extract, conspecific seedlings were disadvantaged in two, favoured in three and neutral in 19 of 24 cases relative to heterospecific seedlings.4. Species pairwise interactions of soil modification and seedling performance were chemically mediated, occurring regardless of sterilization. Microbes lacked host specificity and reduced performance regardless of extract source. Additionally, microbial factors reduced seedling performance forQ. rubraregardless of light availability, and forA. rubrumandF. americanaonly in high light.5. Synthesis.These chemical‐mediated plant–soil feedbacks probably influence community dynamics, but are inconsistent with the J–C Model. Even when a species’ seedlings responded more negatively to conspecific than heterospecific soil, heterospecific seedlings were not necessarily favoured in that species’ soil, precluding heterospecific replacement as an explanation for coexistence.
A review of cetacean occurrence in West African waters from the Gulf of Guinea to Angola
Authors: WEIR Caroline R. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThe cetacean fauna of the west coast of Africa is poorly described. Therefore, literature on the occurrence of cetacean species in the waters of 13 potential West African range states from the Gulf of Guinea to Angola was reviewed, including sighting, stranding, capture, bycatch and whaling records.At least 28 species of cetacean were documented in the study region, comprising seven baleen whale species and 21 species of toothed whale (including at least 17 delphinid species).Cetaceans could be broadly split into seven ecological categories, based on their distribution. A warm temperate/tropical deep‐water cetacean community dominated the study area. Cooler water from the Benguela Current influenced southern Angola (≤16°S latitude) and at least three cetacean species occurred predominantly in this region.Only three or fewer species were confirmed in the waters of Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Seventeen or more species were documented in Ghana, Gabon and Angola, where dedicated cetacean research projects have been initiated in recent years. Angola had the most diverse documented cetacean community: 28 confirmed species.The humpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaewas the most widely recorded species, and was documented in 11 (85%) countries. Sperm whalesPhyseter macrocephalus, Bryde's whalesBalaenopteracf.brydei, bottlenose dolphinsTursiops truncatusand Atlantic spotted dolphinsStenella frontaliswere recorded in over half of the countries.
Autoregulation of the Bacillus subtilis response regulator gene degU is coupled with the proteolysis of DegU‐P by ClpCP
Authors: Ogura Mitsuo , Tsukahara Kensuke 
Published: January 2010

SummaryThe response regulator DegU and its cognate kinase DegS constitute a two‐component system in Bacillus subtilis that regulates many cellular processes, including exoprotease production and competence development. Using DNA footprint assay, gel shift assay and mutational analyses of P3degU‐lacZ fusions, we showed that phosphorylated DegU (DegU‐P) binds to two direct repeats (DR1 and DR2) of the consensus DegU‐binding sequence in the P3degU promoter. The alteration of chromosomal DR2 severely decreased degU expression, demonstrating its importance in positive autoregulation of degU. Observation of DegU protein levels suggested that DegU is degraded. Western blot analysis of DegU in disruption mutants of genes encoding various ATP‐dependent proteases strongly suggested that ClpCP degrades DegU. Moreover, when de novo protein synthesis was blocked, DegU was rapidly degraded in the wild‐type but not in the clpC and clpP strains, and DegU with a mutated phosphorylation site was much stable. These results suggested preferential degradation of DegU‐P by ClpCP, but not of unphosphorylated DegU. We confirmed that DegU‐P was degraded preferentially using an in vitro ClpCP degradation system. Furthermore, a mutational analysis showed that the N‐terminal region of DegU is important for proteolysis.
Elucidation of the complete ferrichrome A biosynthetic pathway in Ustilago maydis
Authors: Winterberg Britta , Uhlmann Stefanie , Linne Uwe , Lessing Franziska , Marahiel Mohamed A. , Eichhorn Heiko , Kahmann Regine , Schirawski Jan 
Published: January 2010

SummaryIron is an important element for many essential processes in living organisms. To acquire iron, the basidiomycete Ustilago maydis synthesizes the iron‐chelating siderophores ferrichrome and ferrichrome A. The chemical structures of these siderophores have been elucidated long time ago but so far only two enzymes involved in their biosynthesis have been described. Sid1, an ornithine monoxygenase, is needed for the biosynthesis of both siderophores, and Sid2, a non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), is involved in ferrichrome generation. In this work we identified four novel enzymes, Fer3, Fer4, Fer5 and Hcs1, involved in ferrichrome A biosynthesis in U. maydis. By HPLC‐MS analysis of siderophore accumulation in culture supernatants of deletion strains, we show that Fer3, an NRPS, Fer4, an enoyl‐coenzyme A (CoA)‐hydratase, and Fer5, an acylase, are required for ferrichrome A production. We demonstrate by conditional expression of the hydroxymethyl glutaryl (HMG)‐CoA synthase Hcs1 in U. maydis that HMG‐CoA is an essential precursor for ferrichrome A. In addition, we heterologously expressed and purified Hcs1, Fer4 and Fer5, and demonstrated the enzymatic activities by in vitro experiments. Thus, we describe the first complete fungal siderophore biosynthetic pathway by functionally characterizing four novel genes responsible for ferrichrome A biosynthesis in U. maydis.
Does geographical location influence the phenotype of Fabry disease in women in Europe?
Authors: Barba‐Romero M‐Á , Deegan P , Giugliani R , Hughes D 
Published: January 2010

Barba‐Romero M‐Á, Deegan P, Giugliani R, Hughes D. Does geographical location influence the phenotype of Fabry disease in women in Europe?This study examines the relationship between phenotype and geographical location of patients with Fabry disease in Europe. Data were taken from patients enrolled in the Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS), as of October 2007. A modified version of the Mainz Severity Score Index (FOS‐MSSI) was used to classify patients according to the severity of disease. European patients were grouped depending on country of residence (northern or southern European countries). Results are presented from 762 patients enrolled in FOS in Europe (357 men and 405 women); 66% lived in northern and 34% in southern countries. Median age at onset of symptoms of Fabry disease was similar in both sexes. No differences in disease severity were seen among men, according to place of residence; however, women living in northern countries had higher severity scores (p < 0.001) than those in southern countries. In men and women, FOS‐MSSI scores increased with age, irrespective of place of residence. The results suggest that expression of different phenotypic features in Fabry disease in women living in Europe may be influenced by extra‐genetic or epigenetic factors. These factors might be related to dietary or environmental influences that differ according to the patient's country of residence.
Successful treatment of unresectable advanced hepatoblastoma: Living liver transplantation after surgical removal of lung metastasis
Authors: Miyamura Takako , Yoshida Ryuichi , Yagi Takahito , Matsukawa Hiroyoshi , Chayama Kousuke , Ishida Toshiaki , Washio Kana , Morishita Naoto , Oda Megumi , Morishima Tsuneo 
Published: January 2010

Miyamura T, Yoshida R, Yagi T, Matsukawa H, Chayama K, Ishida T, Washio K, Morishita N, Oda M, Morishima T. Successful treatment of unresectable advanced hepatoblastoma: Living liver transplantation after surgical removal of lung metastasis. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: E87–E91. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Hepatoblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of the liver in children. Intensive combination chemotherapy has increased the number of surgically resectable cases and improved prognosis markedly. However, unresectable cases and cases with residual metastasis, including lung metastases, have a poor prognosis. In these refractory cases, treatment strategy has not been established. On the other hand, living liver transplantation has been shown to be effective in cases of advanced hepatoblastoma, but its effectiveness in cases with residual distant metastases after chemotherapy remains unclear. We report one successful case of advanced unresectable hepatoblastoma with multiple lung metastases. Intensive chemotherapy consisting of high‐dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was not effective. We performed living liver transplantation after surgical resection of residual lung metastases, which were histologically viable. After liver transplantation, the level of tumor marker decreased gradually. The patient experienced no severe complications. This case suggested that living liver transplantation could be effective in cases of advanced refractory hepatoblastoma after control of distant metastases.
Male Ornamentation in a Sex‐Role Reversed Pipefish Corythoichthys haematopterus
Authors: Matsumoto Koji , Sogabe Atsushi , Yanagisawa Yasunobu 
Published: January 2010

AbstractSexual selection theory predicts that mating competition in sex‐role reversed animals acts more strongly on females than males and consequently females are expected to develop secondary sexual traits. However, in a sex‐role reversed pipefish Corythoichthys haematopterus (family: Syngnathidae), only males develop an ornamental trait on the thorax, consisting of approx. 3–5 speckles alternated by lateral stripes of brilliant light blue and orange. To understand the function of this male ornament, we examined whether the presence of females affects the expression of this trait, and whether the expression of this trait depends on the male’s physical condition. Individual males were reared in a tank for a month in four different conditions: in high or low food supply and in the presence or absence of a female. After 1 mo, males in better condition expressed larger and deeper blue and yellow speckles, and males maintained with a female expressed larger and deeper blue speckles than solely reared males. These results indicated that the male ornament functions as a signal conveying information on the phenotypic quality of its holder and that females are potential receivers of this signal. Because C. haematopterus exhibits strict monogamy and competition for a mate occurs only among females, we concluded that the male ornament is not displayed in the context of mating competition but rather it is used as a cue for partner recognition to maintain pair bond.
Screening for deep venous thrombosis after idiopathic scoliosis surgery in children: a pilot study
Authors: KAABACHI OLFA , ALKAISSI ALI , KOUBAA WALID , ALOUI NADIA , EL HOUDA TOUMI NOUR 
Published: January 2010

SummaryBackground:  Venous thrombosis remains an uncommon disorder in childhood. However, the incidence appears to be increasing for a multitude of reasons. The aim of the study was to detect asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis and prothrombotic diseases in nonsyndromic children undergoing scoliosis surgery.Methods:  A prospective study including forty successive teenagers scheduled for posterior spinal fusion. Patients with scoliosis with a history of hemoglobinopathies, cardiac defects, blood clots, early onset osteoporosis, as well as patients with skeletal dysplasias and nonskeletal dysplastic syndromic entities have been excluded. The protocol was designed for active screening of deep venous thrombosis using color Doppler ultrasonography on a day before surgery and repeated on the 3rd, 7th and 15th day postoperatively. Evaluation of prothrombotic disorders included antithrombin and protein C activities, and total protein S antigen level.Results:  No patient has manifested clinical symptoms of venous thrombosis in our study. Preoperative Doppler and ultrasound examinations were normal in all patients. Although repeated Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated a transient small clot in two patients. Congenital antithrombin deficiency of 5% has been observed in one child only, without the development of deep venous thrombosis.Conclusion:  Thromboembolic event seems to be rare after scoliosis surgery. Prophylaxis for venous thrombosis should not be recommended in such patient. But, larger series are required to confirm such results.
Anal acoustic reflectometry: a new technique for assessing anal sphincter function
Authors: Mitchell P. J. , Klarskov N. , Hosker G , Lose G. , Kiff E. S. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractObjective  Anal acoustic reflectometry (AAR) is a new technique that offers an assessment of anal sphincter function by the measurement of additional parameters not available with conventional manometry. The aim of this study is to describe the technique, methodology and initial pilot study results.Method  Wideband sounds (100 Hz to 16 kHz) are transmitted into a thin polyurethane bag placed within the anal canal. Calculation of cross‐sectional area from reflected sound waves, over a range of pressures (0–200 cm H2O) during inflation/deflation of the bag, results in five physiological parameters of anal canal function. Five patients [three continent (two female) and two incontinent (both female)] were assessed with AAR and anal manometry.Results  Anal acoustic reflectometry parameters were reduced in incontinent when compared with continent patients. Resting Opening Pressures (cmH2O) were 27 and 16 in patients with faecal incontinence (FI) vs 44 and 72 in continent patients; Resting Opening Elastance (cmH2O/mm2) was 0.88 and 1.08 in FI patients vs 1.65 and 1.34 in continent patients. The Resting Opening Pressure of a similarly aged continent male (55 cmH2O) was greater than three of the females. During assessment of voluntary contraction (one FI female vs one continent female), Squeeze Opening Pressure (cmH2O) was 31 vs 100 and Elastance (cmH2O/mm2) 0.61 vs 2.07.Conclusion  Anal acoustic reflectometry appears to be promising technique. Further work is in place to clarify whether it will be useful in clinical assessment of incontinent patients.
The prevalence of retinopathy in men with Type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: West S. D. , Groves D. C. , Lipinski H. J. , Nicoll D. J. , Mason R. H. , Scanlon P. H. , Stradling J. R. 
Published: January 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 423–430 (2010)AbstractAims  To clarify the relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and diabetic retinopathy.Research design and methods  A cohort of 240 men from primary and secondary care previously participated in a study on the prevalence of OSA in Type 2 diabetes and provided anthropometric information, details of their diabetes, had glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measured and overnight oximetry performed. They were re‐contacted for permission to review their routine screening clinical retinal photographs, which were then scored by a trained grader, providing detailed retinopathy, maculopathy and photocoagulation scores.Results  One hundred and eighteen men both consented and had retinal photographs available to review. Of these, 24% had OSA, with mean ± sd 4% oxygen saturation (SaO2) dips/h of 20.9 ± 16.6 vs. 2.8 ± 2.1 in the non‐OSA group. As expected, the OSA group had a significantly higher mean body mass index of 31.9 ± 5.2 vs. 28.5 ± 5.1 kg/m2 and neck size 44.5 ± 3.6 vs. 41.9 ± 2.5 cm, but the two groups did not differ significantly in age, diabetes duration, diabetes treatment, HbA1c, smoking history or proportion with known hypertension. Retinopathy and maculopathy scores were significantly worse in the OSA group (P < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed only OSA (R2 = 0.19, P < 0.0001) and HbA1c (R2 = 0.04, P = 0.03) to be significant independent predictors of retinopathy. OSA was the only independent significant predictor of the total microaneurysm score (R2 = 0.21, P = 0.004), a detailed retinopathy subclassification. OSA was the only independent significant predictor of maculopathy (R2 = 0.3, P < 0.001).Conclusion  In men with Type 2 diabetes, there is a strong association between retinopathy and OSA, independent of conventional retinopathy risk factors.
Suspended insulin infusion during overnight closed‐loop glucose control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Elleri D. , Allen J. M. , Nodale M. , Wilinska M. E. , Acerini C. L. , Dunger D. B. , Hovorka R. 
Published: January 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 480–484 (2010)AbstractAims  We assessed an extended interruption of subcutaneous insulin delivery during overnight closed‐loop glucose control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).Methods  In seven young subjects with T1D [age 14.2 ± 2.1 years, diabetes duration 6.9 ± 4.0 years, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 8.0 ± 1.5%, body mass index (BMI) 21.4 ± 4.0 kg/m2, total daily insulin dose 0.9 ± 0.2 units/kg/day; mean ± sd) participating in overnight closed‐loop glucose control studies, insulin delivery was interrupted for at least 90 min on the basis of predicted hypoglycaemia, low prevailing glucose levels or a too‐steep decline in glucose levels.Results  Insulin delivery was interrupted for 165 (105, 210) min [median, interquartile range (IQR)]. Plasma glucose was 6.2 ± 3.2 mmol/l at the time of interruption and 5.5 ± 2.0 mmol/l 105 min later (P = 0.15, paired t‐test). Plasma glucose declined during the first hour of the interruption at a rate of 0.02 ± 0.03 mmol/l per min and reached a nadir of 5.2 ± 2.7 mmol/l; 105 min after the interruption, plasma glucose was increasing at a rate of 0.01 ± 0.03 mmol/l per min. When insulin delivery restarted, plasma glucose was 6.4 ± 2.2 mmol/l and peaked at 7.9 ± 2.1 mmol/l in 60 min (P = 0.01). Physiological levels of plasma insulin were measured throughout with a nadir of 119 ± 78 pmol/l.Conclusions  A prolonged interruption of insulin delivery during overnight closed‐loop glucose control to prevent hypoglycaemia was not associated with an increased risk of hyperglycaemia in young people with T1D.
HEALTH‐CARE COMPETITION: INTRODUCTION
Authors: VOGEL RONALD J. 
Published: January 2010

Medicare expenditures increased 497 percent, federal medicaid expenditures 484 percent, and state and local medicaid expenditures 458 percent between 1970 and 1981. Private health‐insurance premiums increased 329 percent, while patient direct payments rose 214 percent.1 Although these results include quantity and price changes, Waldo and Gibson (1982) show that “price inflation has been a major factor in the increase in health‐care spending.” Moreover, health‐care expenditures exceeded 10 percent of GNP (10.5 percent) for the first time in 1982 (Office of the Secretary 1983); the comparable figure in 1960 was 5.3 percent of GNP.This rapid growth in price and quantity (“expenditures” or “costs”in the nontechnical literature) has raised a cry across the land for cost containment or increased competition in the health‐care sector. Curiously, when one searches for a definition of “competition” in the same nontechnical literature, it is not immediately obvious what the word means.
COMPETITIVE POTENTIAL OF HOSPITALS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS
Authors: LUFT HAROLD S. , MAERKI SUSAN C. 
Published: January 2010

Despite many proposals to encourage health‐care competition, some underlying assumptions about providers—both physicians and hospitals—have not been examined. This paper attempts to measure the potential for hospital competition by asking a very simple question: What proportion of United States hospitals have neighboring hospitals within reasonable commuting distance?Distances between short‐term general hospitals can be calculated by using geographic coordinates for their addresses. According to data from 48 states and 6,520 hospitals, 47 percent of hospitals have no neighbors within 5 miles, and 77 percent have fewer than five neighbors within 5 miles. At a 15‐mile radius, the numbers drop to 23 percent and 62 percent, respectively.These results imply that the potential for competitive hospital markets might not exist in large portions of the country. National strategies are likely to be most effective in the few dense hospital markets located primarily in the Northeast and Pacific states.
A MANDATE OF PRICE STABILITY FOR THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
Authors: HETZEL ROBERT L. 
Published: January 2010

In recent years, the rules‐versus‐discretion debate over monetary policy has taken on new life. In the 1960s, this debate focused on the relative merits of nonactivist policies versus activist stabilization policies. When rational expectations arguments emerged in the 1970s, the debate broadened into three categories: activist policies characterized by rules, activist policies characterized by discretion, and nonactivist policies characterized by rules.This paper presents arguments for a particular example of the latter of these policies…specifically, a monetary policy which accords preeminence to achieving price‐level stability. Central to these arguments is a comparison of this hypothetical policy with the actual monetary policy pursued by the Federal Reserve System, which is a type of activist policy characterized by discretion. The comparison suggests that actual monetary policy is more constrained than is generally realized. A rule mandating that the Federal Reserve accord preeminence to achieving price‐level stability, then, should not be regarded as a policy which would significantly increase constraints on monetary policy. Instead, such a rule should be regarded as replacing implicit, poorly understood constraints with explicit constraints.