bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Double activation improves rabbit freeze–thawed oocytes developmental potential
Authors: Wang J. , Cong L. , Zhang Z.G. , Cao Y.X. , Wei Z.L. , Zhou P. , Zhao J.H. , He X.J. 
Published: August 2009

SummaryObjective: To investigate the effects of various activation methods on freeze–thawed rabbit oocytes developmental potential. Methods: Rabbit oocytes were vitrified by cryoleafs and cryoprotected with ethylene glycol and propanediol. After thawing, the oocytes were fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Surviving oocytes after ICSI were divided into five groups at random. Group 1: Oocytes (n = 30) activated 1 h after ICSI by calcium ionomycin (I0634); Group 2: Oocytes (n = 26) activated by strontium chloride an hour after ICSI; Group 3: Oocytes (n = 33) activated by I0634 twice; Group 4: Oocytes (n = 28) were activated by strontium chloride twice; Control Group: Inactivated oocytes (n = 39). Blastocysts derived from each group were transplanted to recipient rabbits. Results: Rates of fertilization, cleavage and blastocyst formation of Group 3 were higher than those of Group 1 and Group 2 (81.8% vs 33.3% vs 53.8%, 54.5% vs 16.7% vs 26.9%, p < 0.05; 15.2% vs 3.3% vs 7.7%, p > 0.05). The rabbit transplanted with embryos derived from Group 3 became pregnant. Embryos derived from double activation could implant into endometrium. Conclusion: Double activation may increase freeze–thawed oocytes developmental potential. After activation, oocytes cleavage velocity may be faster than that of oocytes without activation.
Anaemia among pregnant Palestinian women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Authors: Khader A , Madi H , Riccardo F , Sabatinelli G 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo assess anaemia prevalence and correlated social and biological determinants among pregnant women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt).DesignA cross-sectional survey conducted among pregnant women attending/accessing UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) health centres in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in September and October 2006.SettingFifty-five UNRWA health centres in the oPt (eighteen in the Gaza Strip and thirty-seven in the West Bank).SubjectsA random sample of 1740 pregnant women.ResultsOverall anaemia prevalence was 38·6 % (95 % CI 36·3, 40·9 %). A substantial difference in anaemia prevalence was observed between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (44·9 %v. 31·1 %, respectively), as well as a significant increase in anaemia prevalence in the Gaza Strip compared with an Agency-wide survey conducted in 2004 (44·9 %v. 35·7 %, respectively). Anaemia prevalence was found to increase with age, parity and trimester of gestation.ConclusionsAnaemia still appears to be a public health problem among pregnant women in spite of UNRWA interventions. The West Bank shows prevalence rates similar to those observed in neighbouring countries, while the Gaza Strip has higher rates. Prevalence rates of anaemia among pregnant Palestinian women are more than two times higher than those observed in Europe.
Uberon: towards a comprehensive multi-species anatomy ontology
Authors: Haendel Melissa , Gkoutos Georgios , Lewis Suzanna , Mungall Chris 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe lack of a single unified species-neutral ontology covering the anatomy of a variety of metazoans is a hindrance to translating model organism research to human health. We have developed an Uber-anatomy ontology to fill this need, filling the gap between the CARO upper-level ontology and species-specific anatomical ontologies.
Translating Environmental Science into Policy and Action
Authors: Talbot Lee 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Background/Question/Methods:
Many ecologists are skilled at identifying environmental problems and defining solutions, but not at achieving concrete action to implement those insights. The question, then, is how to help ecologists translate environmental science into policy and action. Most ecologists' education and training do not prepare them to be effective in the policy arena, much less in ways to achieve action. Ecologists find disincentives in the form of the academic attitude that somehow the application of science is inferior to so-called "pure science." This ivory tower holdover has been largely discredited in the context of environmental issues, and the discipline of conservation biology exists explicitly to foster applications of science, but the attitude remains a potent obstacle, especially for younger ecologists seeking academic acceptance and tenure. Even when ecologists ignore or overcome this obstacle there are few resources available to provide guidance for achieving action. For example, most textbooks that describe the policy process present an academic picture that bears little relationship to the messy real world process. One approach to providing such guidance has been developed in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. This is a course developed specifically to identify and analyze the basic principles, skills and strategies involved in turning scientific knowledge and information, and the policies derived from them, into action. The course uses a series of actual case histories drawn from experience with local and national U.S. and foreign governments, UN organizations, NGOs and other relevant situations. The approach is to give a case hissory, analyze it and derive from it the principles, strategies and skills that work. The professor describes the setting, background, objective, procedure followed and the result. This is followed by class discussion to analyze the case and identify what lessons can be learned and what specific principles, skills and strategies were responsible for or contributed to the results.

Results/Conclusions:
While there are some basic principles that hold true in many situations, no single formula for achieving action can be applied in every case. Each situation is somewhat different and to succeed one has to be able to select from an array of principles and skills to fit them to the special needs. This course is a proven way to provide students with a "tool kit" of principles, skills and strategies to guide them effectively to translate environmental science into policy and action.
Demographic vital rates and population growth: rethinking the relationship in a harvested elk population
Authors: Conard Jonathan , Gipson Philip 
Published: August 2009

AbstractUnderstanding the nature of the relationship between demographic vital rates and the rate of population change (λ) is important for determining effective strategies for population management and conservation. We examined the relative impacts of various demographic vital rates on λ within the range of temporal vital rate variability observed in a harvested population to test the hypotheses that adult survival rates in ungulates are relatively invariant when compared to other vital rates and that variability in calf survival has a greater influence on rates of population change than adult survival. Vital rates were estimated for an elk (Cervus elaphus) population at Fort Riley, Kansas from October 2003 – February 2007. The magnitude of adult survival rates were similar to other harvested populations and models including a negative relationship between survival and age received the highest levels of support. Prime-age adult survival had the highest stage-specific elasticity values, indicating a high contribution of these matrix elements to λ. Life-stage simulation analysis indicated that variation in calf survival had the highest correlation with variation in λ (r^2^ = 0.61). Our results suggest that adult survival rates in harvested populations may experience increased levels of variability, but that calf survival rates have the greatest relative influence on λ due to the wider range of variability observed for this vital rate.
Signalling pathways in prostate carcinogenesis: potentials for molecular-targeted therapy
Authors: Ramsay Alison K. , LEUNG Hing Y. 
Published: August 2009

Prostate cancer represents a major health issue and its incidence is rising globally. In developed countries, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of death from cancer in men. Androgen deprivation reduces tumour activity in approx. 80% of patients with advanced disease, but most tumours relapse within 2 years to an incurable hormone-resistant state. Even for patients with early disease at the time of diagnosis, a proportion of patients will unfortunately develop relapsed disease following radical therapy. Treatment options for patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer are very limited and, even with toxic therapy, such as docetaxel, the life expectancy is only improved by a median of 2 months. Advances in molecular oncology have identified key signalling pathways that are considered to be driving events in prostate carcinogenesis. The activation of multiple signalling pathways increases further the possibility of cross-talk among ‘linear’ signalling cascades. Hence signalling networks that may incorporate distinct pathways in prostate cancer, particularly in hormone-resistant disease, are increasingly appreciated in drug development programmes. With the development of potent small-molecule inhibitors capable of specifically suppressing the activities of individual ‘linear’ cascades, it may be that, by combining these agents as guided by the molecular signature of prostate cancer, a more efficient therapeutic regime may be developed. Therefore the present review focuses on evidence of abnormal signalling in prostate cancer and the potential of these targets in drug development, and incorporates key findings of relevant clinical trials to date.
Circumstantial Risks in Psychotic Offenders and their Criminal History: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Goethals K.R. , van Marle H.J. C. 
Published: August 2009

The authors present the results of a review of the literature between 1990 and 2006. A search of www.PubMed.com and www.PsychInfo.com yielded 1942 articles using the following search terms: (crime/violence) AND (psychosis/schizophrenia) AND (substance abuse); (crime/violence) AND (psychosis/schizophrenia) AND (personality disorder/psychopathy); or (crime/violence) AND (psychosis/schizophrenia) AND (youth). Ultimately, however, only 29 articles remained after eliminating the articles on irrelevant topics. This review covers the literature on the influence of the circumstantial risks to which violent psychotic patients were exposed since childhood. The temporal relationship between a psychotic disorder and criminality, prior psychiatric care, the victims, psychosocial and circumstantial problems, and behavior problems in childhood and adolescence are discussed, in that order. Studies into the time of the first offense in relation to the onset of psychosis, diagnosis and first admission yielded a variety of results. Most of the forensic patients had had previous contact with general psychiatry before becoming a forensic patient, but the quality of the psychiatric care was not always appropriate. The victims of schizophrenic patients were mostly persons that they knew. Besides substance abuse, social functioning was viewed as an important risk factor. Externalizing behavior in childhood and adolescence was seen most often in future schizophrenics who later committed offenses. In summary, it can be stated that a psychotic disorder should never be seen separately from the circumstantial risk factors.
PopABC: a program to infer historical demographic parameters
Authors: Lopes Joao S. , Balding David , Beaumont Mark A. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Summary: PopABC is a computer package for inferring the pattern of demographic divergence of closely related populations and species. The software performs coalescent simulation in the framework of approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). PopABC can also be used to perform Bayesian model choice to discriminate between different demographic scenarios. The program can be used either for research or for education and teaching purposes.
Availability and Implementation: Source code and binaries are freely available at http://www.reading.ac.uk/∼sar05sal/software.htm. The program was implemented in C and can run on UNIX, MacOSX and Windows operating systems.
Contact: joao.lopes@reading.ac.uk
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Pathogenicity of Native Entomopathogenic Fungus Nomuraea rileyi Against Spodoptera litura
Authors: Padanad Mahesh S. , Krishnaraj P. U. 
Published: August 2009

The entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi was isolated from Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera insect cadavers collected from different sampling sites. Pathogenicity of ten N. rileyi isolates against Spodoptera litura was studied by exposing third instars to topical application of a spore concentration of 108 conidia/ml. All ten isolates of N rileyi were active against third instars of S. litura, resulting in 85 to 97% mortality. However, there were statistically no significant differences among the isolates with respect to the pathogenicity levels. Median lethal time (LT50) values of N. rileyi isolates against third instars of S. litura ranged from 5.5 to 6.6 days, which were not statistically different. This strongly suggests that the isolates from different geographical locations are equally pathogenic against S. litura. Accepted for publication 29 June 2009. Published 7 August 2009.
Pattern and sustainability of the bushmeat trade in the Haut Niger National Park, Republic of Guinea
Authors: Brugiere David , Magassouba Bakary 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTo document the bushmeat trade in the buffer zone of the Haut Niger National Park (HNNP), Republic of Guinea, we monitored the number of carcasses offered for sale in 16 villages over a one year period in 2001. Overall, we counted a total of 9134 carcasses from 27 species. This represents a biomass harvest of about 170,000 kg, a figure that could reach 335,100 kg when game consumed by hunters (i.e. not sold) and markets not sampled are taken into account. Ungulates (eleven species) and rodents (four species) accounted for 53.5% and 24.8% of the carcasses counted respectively (80.8% and 11.4% of the total biomass, respectively). The number of carcasses counted in villages bordering a heavily trafficked road was significantly higher than in more rural villages, thus highlighting the stimulating effect of roads on the bushmeat trade. Compared with existing data collected in 1995, the proportion of ungulates counted in the Mansira Moribaya village in 2001 increased significantly while that of rodents decreased significantly. The harvest of duiker species at Mansira Moribaya was in excess of the maximum sustainable harvest. These results of this study were used to establish a sustainable wildlife management scheme in the HNNP.
Oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) off the Malabar Coast: density dependence and environmental effects
Authors: XU CAILIN , BOYCE MARK S. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractMarine fish stocks are known for extensive variation in landings, with temporal fluctuations attributable to density‐dependent as well as environmental effects. In this paper we analysed a 44‐yr time‐series of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps landings from the Arabian Sea off the Malabar Coast of India. Density dependence was detected in the landings of oil sardine, reinforcing the potential for sustainable yields. Significant environmental factors (precipitation and sea level reflecting the strength of upwelling) during the monsoon period (June–August) are hypothesized to affect the dynamics of landings by influencing spawning and recruitment success. Together, density dependence and environmental variability during the monsoon explained 80% of the among‐years variance in landings. Our results have important consequences for understanding catch variability and are potentially useful for facilitating management of this commercially important fishery.
Presence of the mosquito Anopheles hyrcanus in South Moravia, Czech Republic
Authors: ŠEBESTA O. , RETTICH F. , MINÁŘ J. , HALOUZKA J. , HUBÁLEK Z. , JUŘICOVÁ Z. , RUDOLF I. , ŠIKUTOVÁ S. , GELBIČ I. , REITER P. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract.During a survey of mosquitoes in the South Moravian lowland area, the mosquito Anopheles hyrcanus (Pallas) (Diptera: Culicidae) was found breeding in an ancient fishpond (Nesyt). It is not clear whether this southern Palaearctic species, a known vector of malaria in Asia which has not been recorded in the Czech Republic until this year, has gone undetected in the past or whether it has recently moved into the region as a result of climate change.
Distribution of ‘promoter’ sandflies associated with incidence of classic Kaposi's sarcoma
Authors: ASCOLI V. , SENIS G. , ZUCCHETTO A. , VALERIO L. , FACCHINELLI L. , BUDRONI M. , DAL MASO L. , COLUZZI M. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract.The patchy geographical distributions of classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV‐8), better known as Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus (KSHV) remain unexplained. It has been proposed that certain species of bloodsucking insects (‘promoter arthropods') promote the reactivation of HHV‐8/KSHV and facilitate both HHV‐8/KSHV transmission and KS development. This hypothesis was tested by sampling the presence and density of human‐biting Diptera with CDC light traps in two areas of Sardinia with contrasting incidence rates of classic KS. In total, 11 030 specimens (99.9% sandflies and 0.1% mosquitoes) belonging to 10 species were collected from 40 rural sites. Five of these species are considered to be possible promoter arthropods because of the irritation their bites cause: Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead; Phlebotomus perfiliewi Parrot (Diptera: Psychodidae); Aedes berlandi Seguy; Culiseta annulata (Schrank) and Culex theileri Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae). Five species are probable ‘non‐promoters' because their bites are not particularly irritating: Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart); Culex pipiens s.l.; Anopheles algeriensis Theobald; Anopheles maculipennis s.l., and Anopheles plumbeus Stephens. A significant correlation was found between the geographical distribution of promoter arthropods and incidence rates of KS (Spearman's r = 0.59,P < 0.01). Promoter arthropods were more likely to be caught in areas with cutaneous leishmaniasis and a past high prevalence of malaria, and in areas of limestone, acid volcanic soil and cereal cultivation. The study supports the association between promoter arthropods and classic KS, which may explain the geographic variability of KS and HHV‐8/KSHV, and highlights the links with a number of variables previously associated with the incidence of KS.
An 18S ribosomal DNA barcode for the study of Isomermis lairdi, a parasite of the blackfly Simulium damnosum s.l.
Authors: CRAINEY J. L. , WILSON M. D. , POST R. J. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract.The mermithid parasite, Isomermis lairdi Mondet, Poinar & Bernadou (Nematoda: Mermithidae), is known to have a major impact on populations of Simulium damnosum s.l. Theobald (Diptera: Simuliidae) and on their efficiency as vectors of Onchocerca volvulus (Leuckart) (Nematoda: Filarioidea). However, the value of I. lairdi and other mermithid parasites as potential means of integrated vector control has not been fully realized. This is partly because traditional taxonomic approaches have been insufficient for describing and analysing important aspects of their biology and host range. In total, rDNA barcode sequences have been obtained from over 70 I. lairdi mermithids found parasitizing S. damnosum s.l. larvae in three different rivers. No two sequences were found to vary by more than 0.5%, and cytospecies identification of mermithid hosts revealed that I. lairdi with identical rDNA barcodes can parasitize multiple cytoforms of the S. damnosum complex, including S. squamosum (Enderlein). Phylogenetic analysis using a partial sequence from the 18S ribosomal DNA barcode, grouped I. lairdi in a monophyletic group with Gastromermis viridis Welch (Nematoda: Mermithidae) and Isomermis wisconsinensis Welch (Nematoda: Mermithidae).
The species delimitation problem in theSimulium damnosumcomplex, blackfly vectors of onchocerciasis
Authors: MORALES‐HOJAS R. , KRUEGER A. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract.TheSimulium damnosumTheobald complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) comprises 57 cytoforms grouped into six subcomplexes. Previous phylogenetic studies using gene sequences have not completely resolved the evolutionary relationships of the cytoforms. The present study investigated the systematics of the complex using a phylogeographic approach. The differentiation between eastern and western forms observed in the phylogenetic studies is confirmed in the estimated haplotype networks. However, haplotypes tend to group in geographical clades and not according to cytoforms. Spatial analyses of the molecular variance also resulted in optimal groupings of sequences that did not correspond to cytoform boundaries. Moreover, Mantel tests showed significant correlations, although not strong, between genetic and geographical distances. This suggests an isolation‐by‐distance model of differentiation. Furthermore, there are instances in which genetic differentiation between cytoforms is low and not significant. These results indicate a lack of clear genetic differentiation between the cytoforms, which may be explained either by a separation of the taxa recent enough to allow the accumulation of few genetic differences or by recombination between the genomes of the cytoforms, which may be the result of hybridization with introgression or of non‐independent evolutionary lineages. The results also emphasize the need for further sampling and for the use of more variable markers in order to clarify the evolutionary history of the group.
Electrophysiological characterization of pathways for K+ uptake into growing and non‐growing leaf cells of barley
Authors: VOLKOV VADIM , BOSCARI ALEXANDRE , CLÉMENT MATHILDE , MILLER ANTHONY J. , AMTMANN ANNA , FRICKE WIELAND 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTPotassium is a major osmolyte used by plant cells. The accumulation rates of K+ in cells may limit the rate of expansion. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of ion channels in K+ uptake using patch clamp technique. Ion currents were quantified in protoplasts of the elongation and emerged blade zone of the developing leaf 3 of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). A time‐dependent inward‐rectifying K+‐selective current was observed almost exclusively in elongation zone protoplasts. The current showed characteristics typical of Shaker‐type channels. Instantaneous inward current was highest in the epidermis of the emerged blade and selective for Na+ over K+. Selectivity disappeared, and currents decreased or remained the same, depending on tissue, in response to salt treatment. Net accumulation rates of K+ in cells calculated from patch clamp current–voltage curves exceeded rates calculated from membrane potential and K+ concentrations of cells measured in planta by factor 2.5–2.7 at physiological apoplastic K+ concentrations (10–100 mm). It is concluded that under these conditions, K+ accumulation in growing barley leaf cells is not limited by transport properties of cells. Under saline conditions, down‐regulation of voltage‐independent channels may reduce the capacity for growth‐related K+ accumulation.