bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deleterious effects of light exposure on immunity and sexual coloration in birds
Authors: Blount Jonathan D. , Pike Thomas W. 
Published: October 2011

Summary1. Sunlight ultraviolet (UV) exposure can be highly damaging to biological tissues, being known to cause cellular damage and immunosuppression in humans and rodents, and depletion of carotenoid‐based sexual plumage coloration in birds (i.e. photobleaching). However, it remains unknown whether sunlight may cause photobleaching in living tissues that comprise sexual signals such as bare parts in birds. It seems possible that any carotenoids depleted from bare parts by sunlight could be replenished, but if so, this could impact the availability of carotenoids for other functions such as immunity and antioxidant defence. Such trade‐offs seem particularly likely in individuals that have a low dietary intake of carotenoids, or small amounts of carotenoids in body storage.2. We investigated the effects of exposure to simulated sunlight UV (UV+) on bill coloration, blood plasma and liver (i.e. body storage) carotenoids and pro‐inflammatory immune responses in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)in vivo, compared with individuals maintained in an identical environment but with the UV wavelengths removed by a filter (UV−). We also investigated whether any deleterious effects of UV exposure were mitigated by dietary carotenoid supplementation (UV+ Car+).3. Exposure to simulated sunlight UV was associated with low levels of carotenoids in liver, and elevated levels of carotenoids in blood plasma, suggesting the mobilisation of stored carotenoids. Simulated sunlight UV also caused impaired pro‐inflammatory immune responses, whereas this was not seen in carotenoid‐supplemented birds. We found no effects of simulated sunlight UV or carotenoid supplementation on oxidative damage in blood plasma or bill.4. Bill ‘carotenoid chroma’ diminished, and bill ‘UV chroma’ correspondingly increased, in all groups during the experiment (i.e. even in UV+ Car+ birds, and in UV− birds). This likely arose because the illuminance in the experimental cages was far higher than in standard laboratory housing conditions and suggests that carotenoid pigmentation is highly susceptible to photobleaching even under exposure to human‐visible wavelengths.5. These results highlight the potential for sunlight exposure to invoke a range of deleterious consequences for birds, including photobleaching and depression of immunity via pathways mediated by carotenoid allocation trade‐offs. The expression of carotenoid‐based sexual signals may therefore reveal an individual’s history of sunlight exposure and its deleterious effects on immunity.
Optimising by the response surface methodology the enzymatic elimination of clogging of a microfiltration membrane by pectin cake
Authors: Echavarría Ana‐Paola , Ibarz Albert , Conde Josep , Torras Carles , Pagán Jordi 
Published: October 2011

SummaryThe aim of this paper, in which clogging occurs on the filter at a constant vacuum pressure and constant pectin weight, is to find the optimal values of the variables, temperature and time, to know the best conditions to reduce this clogging by enzymatic hydrolysis. Moreover, different properties of the compression of the cake in the filter were determined such as the filtering medium total resistance (RfT), bed porosity (ε) and the cake‐specific resistance (α) at different times and temperatures. The filter area was 0.142 m2, and the value of the mass fraction of solids in the filtered suspension (S) was 0.12. Scanning electron microsopy (SEM) analyses were performed. The results showed that the compressive stress corresponding to the cake improves the flow rate in the filtration flux at the optimal temperature and time for the process, where the enzyme reaches its highest activity. The test results of this study can be applied in different system of filters during cross‐flow filtration.
Characterisation and stability of quality indices on storage of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima) purees
Authors: Provesi João Gustavo , Dias Carolinne Odebrech , de Mello Castanho Amboni Renata Dias , Amante Edna Regina 
Published: October 2011

SummaryPurees of Cucurbita moschata‘Menina Brasileira’ and of Cucurbita maxima‘Exposição’ pumpkins were produced. A commercial sterilisation test confirmed the effectiveness of the thermal treatment applied in the production. The stability was monitored during storage in ambient conditions. No significant alterations in pH, titratable acidity or soluble solids were noted. Both types of puree have a good concentration of carotenoids, although a slight decrease was detected in the ‘Exposição’ pumpkin puree after 15 days of storage. In relation to the colour of the purees, there were no significant alterations in a*, b* or ΔE during storage. Decreases in L* and WI were detected after 30–60 days of storage, thus suggesting a browning in an initial period. However, the scores given by the sensory assessors remained above 7 in a 9‐point scale, thus showing no significant alterations during storage. The results showed the stability of the pumpkin purees during the 180 days of storage under the proposed conditions.
Determination of toxic and essential elements in sunflower honey from Thrace Region, Turkey
Authors: Citak Demirhan , Silici Sibel , Tuzen Mustafa , Soylak Mustafa 
Published: October 2011

SummaryThe aim of this study was to determine the levels of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and selenium (Se) in sunflower honeys obtained from Thrace Region of Turkey. Trace and toxic element determination was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion. The accuracy of the method was checked by the standard reference material, NIST‐SRM 1515 Apple leaves. The maximum contents of trace and toxic elements in honey samples from Kesan (polluted area) were found as 0.46, 0.82, 1.98, 14.0, 9.86 μg kg−1, 0.48 mg kg−1, 137, 115 and 290 μg kg−1 for Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni and Se, respectively.
Anatomical Relationship Between the Collecting System and the Intrarenal Arteries in the Rabbit: Contribution for an Experimental Model
Authors: Shalgum A. , Marques‐Sampaio B. P. S. , Dafalla A. , Pereira‐Sampaio M. A. 
Published: October 2011

With 6 figures and 2 tablesSummaryIntrarenal anatomy was studied in detail to evaluate how useful rabbits could be as a urologic model. Only one renal artery was observed, which was divided into dorsal and ventral branches in all cases. Three segmental arteries (cranial, mesorenal and caudal) was the most frequent branching pattern found in both the dorsal and ventral division. There was an important artery related to the ureteropelvic junction in both dorsal and ventral surfaces in all specimens. The cranial pole was supplied by both dorsal and ventral divisions of the renal artery in 23 of 41 casts (56%). Although the cranial pole of the rabbit kidney could be useful as a model because of the resemblances with human kidney, the different relationship between the intrarenal arteries and the kidney collecting system in other regions of the kidney must be taken into consideration by the urologists, when using rabbit kidney in urological research.
Cloning and Phylogenetic Analysis of Coat Protein of Barley yellow dwarf virus Isolates from Different Regions of Pakistan
Authors: Siddiqui Nadir Naveed , Ilyas Muhammad , Mansoor Shahid , Azhar Abid , Saeed Muhammad 
Published: October 2011

AbstractBarley yellow dwarf virus (BYDVs) is an emerging threat for wheat and may seriously threaten its production, especially as climate change may result in increased infestation by aphids, the insect vectors of the virus. To assess the possibility of using pathogen‐derived resistance against the virus, the genetic diversity of BYDVs originating from different wheat‐growing areas of Pakistan where its incidence has been higher was investigated. Wheat samples with suspected symptoms of BYDVs were screened for the presence of Barley yellow dwarf and Cereal yellow dwarf viruses (B/CYDVs) subgroup 1 (Barley yellow dwarf virus‐PAV, BYDV‐MAV, BYDV‐SGV) and subgroup II (BYDV‐RPV, CYDV‐RPV, BYDV‐GPV) by PCR using basic multiplex oligonucleotides designed on coat protein (CP) of the virus. Of 37 samples tested, 13 were positive for BYDV subgroup I and only one sample was positive for BYDV subgroup II. Samples positive for subgroup I were further tested by PCR, and results showed that 10 samples were positive for BYDV‐PAV and three for BYDV‐MAV. DNA sequences of CP region of nine isolates (BYDV‐PAV) were determined and compared with available sequences in databases. Sequence analysis showed that three isolates (from Fatehjang, Nowshera and Attock districts) had maximum identity (92.8–94.6%) to BYDV‐PAS, and six isolates (from Peshawar, Islamabad Swabi and Faisalabad districts) had maximum identity (99.3–99.7%) to BYDV‐PAV. Thus BYDV‐PAV species may be dominant in northern wheat‐growing areas of Pakistan. The conserved nature of the BYDVs suggests that pathogen‐derived resistance strategies targeting the coat protein of the virus are likely to provide protection under field conditions.
Inheritance of resistance to sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) in an interspecific cross between Helianthus annuus and Helianthus debilis subsp. tardiflorus
Authors: Velasco Leonardo , Pérez‐Vich Begoña , Yassein Ahmed A. M. , Jan Chao‐Chien , Fernández‐Martínez José M. 
Published: October 2011

With 2 tablesAbstractSunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) constrains sunflower cultivation in many areas of Europe and Asia. Populations classified as race G that overcome all known resistance genes have recently appeared. The objective of this research was to study the inheritance of resistance to broomrape race G in a resistant accession of Helianthus debilis subsp. tardiflorus. Heads of H. debilis subsp. tardiflorus were emasculated and pollinated with pollen of the Helianthus annuus‐susceptible line HA 89. BC1F1, BC1F2, BC1F3, BC2F1, BC2F2 and BC2F3 generations were developed and evaluated for broomrape resistance. F1 plants were resistant, indicating dominance of resistance. BC1 populations segregated in a ratio of one resistant to one susceptible plant, whereas BC1F2 and BC2F2 populations segregated in a ratio of three resistant to one susceptible plant, which was confirmed in the evaluation of the BC1F3 and BC2F3 populations. The results indicated that resistance to broomrape race G in H. debilis subsp. tardiflorus is controlled by dominant alleles at a single locus. This mode of inheritance will facilitate the introgression of resistance into elite cultivars.
Intentional signals during saccadic and reaching delays in the human posterior parietal cortex
Authors: Galati Gaspare , Committeri Giorgia , Pitzalis Sabrina , Pelle Gina , Patria Fabiana , Fattori Patrizia , Galletti Claudio 
Published: October 2011

AbstractIn the monkey posterior parietal cortex (PPC), there is clear evidence of anatomically segregated neuronal populations specialized for planning saccades and arm‐reaching movements. However, functional neuroimaging studies in humans have yielded controversial results. Here we show that the human PPC contains distinct subregions responsive to salient visual cues, some of which combine spatial and action‐related signals into ‘intentional’ signals. Participants underwent event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing delayed saccades and long‐range arm reaches instructed by visual cues. We focused on activity in the time period following the cue and preceding the actual movement. The use of individual cortical surface reconstructions with detailed sulcal labeling allowed the definition of six responsive regions with distinctive anatomical locations in the PPC. Each region exhibited a distinctive combination of transient and sustained signals during the delay, modulated by either the cue spatial location (contralateral vs. ipsilateral), the instructed action (saccades vs. reaching) or both. Importantly, a lateral and a medial dorsal parietal region showed sustained responses during the delay preferentially for contralateral saccadic and reaching trials, respectively. In the lateral region, preference for saccades was evident only as a more sustained response during saccadic vs. reaching delays, whereas the medial region also showed a higher transient response to cues signaling reaching vs. saccadic actions. These response profiles closely match the behavior of neurons in the macaque lateral and medial intraparietal area, respectively, and suggest that these corresponding human regions are encoding spatially directed action plans or ‘intentions’.
Stomatal innovation and the rise of seed plants
Authors: McAdam Scott A. M. , Brodribb Timothy J. 
Published: October 2011

Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 1–8AbstractStomatal valves on the leaves of vascular plants not only prevent desiccation but also dynamically regulate water loss to maintain efficient daytime water use. This latter process involves sophisticated active control of stomatal aperture that may be absent from early‐branching plant clades. To test this hypothesis, we compare the stomatal response to light intensity in 13 species of ferns and lycophytes with a diverse sample of seed plants to determine whether the capacity to optimise water use is an ancestral or derived feature of stomatal physiology. We found that in seed plants, the ratio of photosynthesis to water use remained high and constant at different light intensities, but fern and lycophyte stomata were incapable of sustaining homeostatic water use efficiency. We conclude that efficient water use in early seed plants provided them with a competitive advantage that contributed to the decline of fern and lycophyte dominated‐ecosystems in the late Paleozoic.
Endoscopic mucosal resection vs transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the treatment of large rectal adenomas
Authors: Barendse R. M. , van den Broek F. J. C. , van Schooten J. , Bemelman W. A. , Fockens P. , de Graaf E. J. R. , Dekker E. ,   on behalf of the TREND study group
Published: October 2011

AbstractAim  Large (> 2 cm) rectal adenomas are currently treated by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) or piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). The potential lower morbidity of EMR becomes irrelevant if it is less effective. We aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of EMR and TEM for large rectal adenomas.Method  Data from patients undergoing TEM or EMR for a rectal adenoma > 2 cm in eight hospitals were retrospectively collected. Patient‐ and procedure‐related characteristics, complications and recurrences were recorded. As EMR may require several attempts to achieve complete resection, early (after a single intervention) and late (permitting re‐treatment for residual adenoma within 6 months) recurrence rates were determined.Results  Two hundred and ninety‐two (292) patients (49% male; mean age 67 years) were included; 219 were treated by TEM and 73 by EMR. Adenomas treated by EMR were smaller (median 30 vs 40 mm; P = 0.007). Perioperative complication rates were 2% for TEM and 6% for EMR (P = 0.171). Postoperative complications occurred in 24% of TEM patients and in 13% of EMR patients (P = 0.038). Median hospitalization after TEM was 3 days vs 0 days after EMR (P < 0.001). Median follow‐up was 12.6 months (0–47 months); Early recurrence rates were 10.2% in TEM patients and 31.0% in EMR patients (P < 0.001); late recurrence rates were 9.6% and 13.8%, respectively (P = 0.386).Conclusion  After a single intervention, EMR of large rectal adenomas seems less effective, but safer than TEM. When allowing re‐treatment of residual adenoma within 6 months, EMR and TEM seem equally effective. A prospective randomized comparison seems to be necessary.
Laparoscopic sigmoid resection with transrectal specimen extraction: a systematic review
Authors: Wolthuis A. M. , Van Geluwe B. , Fieuws S. , Penninckx F. , D’Hoore A. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractAim  A systematic review was performed to identify differences in surgical technique, postoperative morbidity, length of hospital stay and safety for procedures involving left‐sided laparoscopic colectomy with natural orifice specimen extraction.Method  A PubMed search was performed to retrieve studies reporting on left‐sided laparoscopic colorectal resection with transrectal specimen extraction. The quality of the different reports was assessed according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Six studies were included and all but one were cohort studies. Studies on transanal, transvaginal or transcolonic specimen extraction were excluded, as were reports on paediatric surgery.Results  Six papers (including 94 patients) fulfilled the search criteria. The techniques reported were not standardized and this technical heterogeneity hampered pooled analysis. A meta‐analysis could also not be performed because of differences in inter‐study methods, study population and results. All studies showed, nevertheless, that the technique is feasible with low morbidity and short postoperative hospital stay. No anal dysfunction was reported.Conclusion  To date, the evidence in favour of left‐sided laparoscopic colectomy with transrectal specimen extraction is weak (level IV–V). Future clinical research should focus on standardization of the technique. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to show the superiority of this approach with regard to postoperative pain and morbidity, hospital stay, recovery, function and cosmesis.
Contemporary diagnosis and management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis
Authors: Deem Samuel , Keane Thomas , Bhavsar Robin , El‐Zawahary Ahmed , Savage Stephen 
Published: October 2011

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Penile cancer is a rare malignancy with limited evidence to support most treatment recommendations. No randomised controlled trials have been published and few recommendations are available for guiding management. However, evidence‐based guidelines are currently available through the European Association of Urology.This review provides the reader with the most up‐to‐date information on diagnosis and management of all stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. It provides a rapid review and study guide for this rare disease.
To review the current literature available on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis and provide a contemporary management algorithm for treatment based on the best evidence available.
A complete review of the current English language literature was performed via PubMed and all available guidelines were reviewed.
Large randomised controlled trials are lacking in penile SCC due to the fortunately rare occurrence of the disease.
Treatment recommendations for the primary lesion, lymph nodes, and follow‐up in this review are based on the best current available literature.
Early diagnosis and aggressive organ‐sparing treatment remains the mainstay of therapy for penile SCC.
Variable institutional expertise currently makes treatment decisions difficult and unstandardised.
A multidisciplinary approach should be used in attempt to improve outcomes in this mutilating disease.
External quality assurance for image grading in the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme
Authors: Goatman K. A. , Philip S. , Fleming A. D. , Harvey R. D. , Swa K. K. , Styles C. , Black M. , Sell G. , Lee N. , Sharp P. F. , Olson J. A. 
Published: October 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 776–783 (2012)AbstractAims  To develop and evaluate an image grading external quality assurance system for the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme.Method  A web‐based image grading system was developed which closely matches the current Scottish national screening software. Two rounds of external quality assurance were run in autumn 2008 and spring 2010, each time using the same 100 images. Graders were compared with a consensus standard derived from the top‐level graders’ results. After the first round, the centre lead clinicians and top‐level graders reviewed the results and drew up guidance notes for the second round.Results  Grader sensitivities ranged from 60.0 to 100% (median 92.5%) in 2008, and from 62.5 to 100% (median 92.5%) in 2010. Specificities ranged from 34.0 to 98.0% (median 86%) in 2008, and 54.0 to 100% (median 88%) in 2010. There was no difference in sensitivity between grader levels, but first‐level graders had a significantly lower specificity than level‐two and level‐three graders. In 2008, one centre had a lower sensitivity but higher specificity than the majority of centres. Following the feedback from the first round, overall agreement improved in 2010 and there were no longer any significant differences between centres.Conclusions  A useful educational tool has been developed for image grading external quality assurance.
Severe hypoglycaemia and late‐life cognitive ability in older people with Type 2 diabetes: the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study
Authors: Aung P. P. , Strachan M. W. J. , Frier B. M. , Butcher I. , Deary I. J. , Price J. F. ,   on behalf of the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study Investigators
Published: October 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 328–336 (2012)AbstractObjective  To determine the association between lifetime severe hypoglycaemia and late‐life cognitive ability in older people with Type 2 diabetes.Methods  Cross‐sectional, population‐based study of 1066 men and women aged 60–75 years, with Type 2 diabetes. Frequency of severe hypoglycaemia over a person’s lifetime and in the year prior to cognitive testing was assessed using a previously validated self‐completion questionnaire. Results of age‐sensitive neuropsychological tests were combined to derive a late‐life general cognitive ability factor, ‘g’. Vocabulary test scores, which are stable during ageing, were used to estimate early life (prior) cognitive ability.Results  After age‐ and sex‐ adjustment, ‘g‘ was lower in subjects reporting at least one prior severe hypoglycaemia episode (n = 113), compared with those who did not report severe hypoglycaemia (mean ‘g’−0.34 vs. 0.05, P < 0.001). Mean vocabulary test scores did not differ significantly between the two groups (30.2 vs. 31.0, P = 0.13). After adjustment for vocabulary, difference in ‘g’ between the groups persisted (means −0.25 vs. 0.04, P < 0.001), with the group with severe hypoglycaemia demonstrating poorer performance on tests of Verbal Fluency (34.5 vs. 37.3, P = 0.02), Digit Symbol Testing (45.9 vs. 49.9, P = 0.002), Letter–Number Sequencing (9.1 vs. 9.8, P = 0.005) and Trail Making (P < 0.001). These associations persisted after adjustment for duration of diabetes, vascular disease and other potential confounders.Conclusions  Self‐reported history of severe hypoglycaemia was associated with poorer late‐life cognitive ability in people with Type 2 diabetes. Persistence of this association after adjustment for estimated prior cognitive ability suggests that the association may be attributable, at least in part, to an effect of hypoglycaemia on age‐related cognitive decline.
Ricardian Comparative Advantage and Geographical Concentration
Authors: Okubo Toshihiro 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis paper analyses geographical concentration using the continuum‐of‐goods trade model in the presence of labor migration, Ricardian comparative advantage and Marshallian‐type external increasing returns to scale. The findings show that higher transportation costs lead to concentration in one region, and lower transportation costs lead to diversification between the regions. For intermediate transportation costs, asymmetric diversification becomes a stable equilibrium in which the smaller population region has higher wage rates and a smaller externality, and vice versa. However, because the asymmetric equilibrium is an inefficient outcome, it leaves room for government intervention.