bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interactions of Mycoplasma bovoculi with Erythrocytes: Role of p94 Surface Protein
Authors: Salih B. A. , Rosenbusch R. F. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe attachment of two strains of Mycoplasma bovoculi to erythrocytes was measured using 35S‐methionine‐labelled organisms. Receptor sites of M. bovoculi involved in this attachment are trypsin‐sensitive, since mild trypsin treatment of the intact organisms abolished this process completely. Pretreatment of erythrocyt***es with trypsin or increasing concentrations of neuraminidase resulted in no measurable effect. Monoclonal antibody MA25.5 directed against a M. bovoculi surface antigen of 94 kDa termed p94 blocked 40% of the attachment, while MA18.13 directed against a 57 kDa protein band of M. bovoculi had no effect on the attachment process. Other properties of M. bovoculi were tested using six strains of the mycoplasma and erythrocytes from several animal species. None of the strains showed haemagglutinating or haemadsorbing activities.
Isolation and Identification of Vibrio metschnicovii from Domestic Ducks and Geese
Authors: Hinz K.‐H. , Ryll M. , Glunder G. 
Published: March 2011

SummarySeven Vibrio‐like field strains of German origin were isolated culturally from diseased domesticated ducks, muscovy ducks and geese, and were compared with reference strains NCTC 8443 (type strain) and NCTC 11170 of Vibrio metschnicovii using classical phenotypic and chemotaxonomic tests. Some V. cholerae strains were included in the chemotaxonomic tests for comparative purposes. On the basis of the classical phenotypic characteristics studied and the numerical analysis of the whole‐cell fatty acid patterns, the Vibrio‐like field strains were identified as Vibrio metschnicovii. The identification tables and the database of the computer software of two commercial micro‐identification kits (API‐20 NE, ID‐32 E) did not identify the field strains. Of the reference strains used, only NCTC 8443 was correctly identified by the ID‐32 E software.
Psychopathology and working memory‐induced activation of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia‐like psychosis of epilepsy: Evidence from magnetoencephalography
Authors: Canuet Leonides , Ishii Ryouhei , Iwase Masao , Ikezawa Koji , Kurimoto Ryu , Takahashi Hidetoshi , Currais Antonio , Azechi Michiyo , Aoki Yasunori , Nakahachi Takayuki , Soriano Salvador , Takeda Masatoshi 
Published: March 2011

Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate whether magnetoencephalographic oscillations underlying working memory dysfunction in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) are related to psychopathological disturbance in patients with schizophrenia‐like psychosis of epilepsy (SLPE).Methods:  Twelve patients with SLPE and 14 non‐psychotic epilepsy controls participated in this study. Magnetoencephalography was recorded while patients performed a visual working memory (WM) task. Psychopathology was assessed using a four‐factor structure of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and regression analyses were carried out to examine the relative impact of severity of psychopathology on WM‐induced activation of the DLPFC.Results:  We found that activation of the WM‐compromising DLPFC, as indicated by increased alpha desynchronization in patients with SLPE compared with their non‐psychotic counterparts, showed a positive linear correlation with disorganization symptom scores. This association remained significant after controlling for confounding factors, including age, task performance, IQ, and duration of psychosis.Conclusion:  Our results indicate that abnormal activation in prefrontal areas engaged during working memory may be critical to domains of psychopathology, in particular disorganized thought‐processing in patients with SLPE.
Exfoliated colonocyte DNA levels and clinical features in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer: a cohort study in patients referred for investigation
Authors: Mahadavan Lalitha , Loktionov Alexandre , Daniels Ian R. , Shore Angela , Cotter Diane , Llewelyn Andrew H. , Hamilton William 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAim  Selection of patients for investigation of suspected colorectal cancer is difficult. One possible improvement may be to measure DNA isolated from exfoliated cells collected from the rectum.Method  This was a cohort study in a surgical clinic. Participants were aged ≥40 years and referred for investigation of suspected colorectal cancer. Exclusion criteria were inflammatory bowel disease, previous gastrointestinal malignancy, or recent investigation. A sample of the mucocellular layer of the rectum was taken with an adapted proctoscope (the Colonix system). Haemoglobin, mean cell volume, ferritin, carcino‐embryonic antigen and faecal occult bloods were tested. Analysis was by logistic regression.Results  Participation was offered to 828 patients, of whom 717 completed the investigations. Three were lost to follow up. Seventy‐two (10%) had colorectal cancer. Exfoliated cell DNA was higher (P < 0.001) in cancer (median 5.4 μg/ml [inter‐quartile range 1.8,12]) compared with those without cancer (2.0 μg/ml [IQR 0.78,5.5]). Seven variables were independently associated with cancer, including age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02,1.08; P < 0.001) DNA (OR, 1.05; CI, 1.01,3.6; P = 0.01), mean cell volume (OR, 0.93; CI, 0.89,0.97; P = 0.001), carcino‐embryonic antigen 1.02 per μg/l (CI, 1.00,1.04; P = 0.02), male sex (OR, 2.0; CI, 1.1,3.6; P = 0.02), rectal bleeding (OR, 2.4; CI, 1.3,4.5; P = 0.007) and positive faecal occult blood (OR, 6.7; CI, 3.4, 13; P < 0.001). The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve for the DNA score was 0.65 (0.58–0.72) and for the seven variable model 0.88 (CI, 0.84–0.92).Conclusion  Quantification of exfoliated DNA from rectal cellular material has promise in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, but this requires confirmation in a larger study.
Quasi-Experiments on Process Dynervention Noise Process we Arrived at Anamics
Authors: Bisgaard Søren , Khachatryan Davit 
Published: March 2011

SummaryIt is often important to develop an understanding of the dynamic properties of a process. However, it is sometimes difficult if not impossible to conduct deliberate experiments on full-scale industrial plants and processes to gain such insight. Fortunately, intentional or inadvertent process changes that occur in the course of normal operation sometimes offer an opportunity to identify and estimate aspects of the dynamic behaviour. We review the theory of dynamic process modelling based on time series intervention analysis and show how this body of theory can be used for an assessment of the dynamic properties of a process. The ideas are accompanied by a detailed example of the study of a large-scale ceramic plant that was exposed to an intentional but unplanned structural change.
On the relationship between hypsodonty and feeding ecology in ungulate mammals, and its utility in palaeoecology
Authors: Damuth John , Janis Christine M. 
Published: March 2011

High‐crowned (hypsodont) teeth are widely found among both extant and extinct mammalian herbivores. Extant grazing ungulates (hoofed mammals) have hypsodont teeth (a derived condition), and so extinct hypsodont forms have usually been presumed to have been grazers. Thus, hypsodonty among ungulates has, over the past 150 years, formed the basis of widespread palaeoecological interpretations, and has figured prominently in the evolutionary study of the spread of grasslands in the mid Cenozoic. However, perceived inconsistencies between levels of hypsodonty and dental wear patterns in both extant and extinct ungulates have caused some workers to reject hypsodonty as a useful predictive tool in palaeobiology, a view that we consider both misguided and premature.Despite the acknowledged association between grazing and hypsodonty, the quantitative relationship of hypsodonty to the known ecology of living ungulate species, critical in making interpretations of the fossil record, was little studied until the past two decades. Also, much of the literature on ungulate ecology relevant to understanding hypsodonty has yet to be fully incorporated into the perspectives of palaeontologists. Here we review the history and current state of our knowledge of the relationship between hypsodonty and ungulate ecology, and reassert the value of hypsodonty for our understanding of ungulate feeding behaviour. We also show how soil consumption, rather than the consumption of grass plants per se, may be the missing piece of the puzzle in understanding the observed correlation between diets, habitats, and hypsodonty in ungulates. Additionally, we show how hypsodonty may impact life‐history strategies, and resolve some controversies regarding the relevance of hypsodonty to the prediction of the diets of extinct species. This in turn strengthens the utility of hypsodonty in the determination of past environmental conditions, and we provide a revised view of a traditional example of evolutionary trends in palaeobiology, that of the evolution of hypsodonty in horses and its correlation with the Miocene spread of grasslands in North America.
Predicting changes in the abundance of African wetland birds by incorporating abundance–occupancy relationships into habitat association models
Authors: Maclean Ilya M. D. , Wilson Robert J. , Hassall Mark 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAim  To map changes in the abundance of African wetland birds using remotely derived habitat data. We show that abundance–occupancy relationships can be coupled with habitat association models to map changes in abundance. As conservation resources are more easily allocated when spatial and temporal patterns of abundance are known, our method provides guidance for conservation planning.Location  Papyrus, Cyperus papyrus, swamps in east central Africa.Methods  Presence/absence surveys of six bird species in 93 wetlands were used to construct models predicting probability of occurrence from habitat characteristics. Densities were then determined from surveys in 23 additional wetlands and modelled as functions of occurrence probability. We then used satellite imagery to derive habitat characteristics remotely in two time periods (1984–87 and 2000–03) and used the modelled relationships between (1) habitat and occupancy and (2) occupancy and density, to infer changes in abundance in all c. 30,000 wetlands within the study area.Results  Wetlands within the region declined by 8.6% between the two time periods, but by > 75% in regions of high human population density. Bird densities were also highest in these regions, which comprised wetlands subject to high levels of disturbance. The geographical coincidence of high densities and habitat loss and the existence of positive associations between bird density and occurrence meant that birds declined by much more than the average rate of their habitat.Main conclusions  Targeting conservation efforts in areas with high drainage would protect a high proportion of the bird populations. Encouraging people to derive income from disturbance to which the birds are tolerant, rather than drainage, is likely to be an effective strategy. Because habitat characteristics are a key driver of abundance–occupancy relationships, we conclude that there is wide‐scale scope to couple abundance–occupancy relationships with remote habitat mapping to efficiently inform conservation planning.
Mammals of the northern Philippines: tolerance for habitat disturbance and resistance to invasive species in an endemic insular fauna
Authors: Rickart Eric A. , Balete Danilo S. , Rowe Rebecca J. , Heaney Lawrence R. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAim  Island faunas, particularly those with high levels of endemism, usually are considered especially susceptible to disruption from habitat disturbance and invasive alien species. We tested this general hypothesis by examining the distribution of small mammals along gradients of anthropogenic habitat disturbance in northern Luzon Island, an area with a very high level of mammalian endemism.Location  Central Cordillera, northern Luzon Island, Philippines.Methods Using standard trapping techniques, we documented the occurrence and abundance of 16 endemic and two non‐native species along four disturbance gradients where habitat ranged from mature forest to deforested cropland. Using regression analysis and AICc for model selection, we assessed the influence of four predictor variables (geographic range, elevational range, body size and diet breadth) on the disturbance tolerance of species.Results  Non‐native species dominated areas with the most severe disturbance and were rare or absent in mature forest. Native species richness declined with increasing disturbance level, but responses of individual species varied. Elevational range (a measure of habitat breadth) was the best predictor of response of native species to habitat disturbance. Geographic range, body size and diet breadth were weakly correlated.Main conclusions  The endemic small mammal fauna of northern Luzon includes species adapted to varying levels of natural disturbance and appears to be resistant to disruption by resident alien species. In these respects, it resembles a diverse continental fauna rather than a depauperate insular fauna. We conclude that the long and complex history of Luzon as an ancient member of the Philippine island arc system has involved highly dynamic ecological conditions resulting in a biota adapted to changing conditions. We predict that similar responses will be seen in other taxonomic groups and in other ancient island arc systems.
Factors relating to regional and local success of exotic plant species in their new range
Authors: Speek Tanja A. A. , Lotz Lambertus A. P. , Ozinga Wim A. , Tamis Wil L. M. , Schaminée Joop H. J. , van der Putten Wim H. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAim  To estimate invasiveness of exotic plant species, many studies have used the frequency of occurrence within a defined region. This measure is informative on how widespread exotics are, however, it does not inform on their local dominance, which is crucial for conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The aim of the present study is to determine if regional frequency of occurrence of exotic plant species indeed is indicative of their local dominance. We also determined which plant traits and other factors predict regional and local frequencies best.Location  The Netherlands.Methods  We used information on exotic plant species established in The Netherlands and compared traits relating to their frequency of occurrence regionally (the entire country) and their frequency of dominance locally (in 1–100 m2 quadrats). We created minimal adequate models with factors explaining regional frequency and frequency of local dominance of 111 exotic plant species in The Netherlands.Results  The model that used plant traits to explain regional frequency of exotic plant species differed from the models that best explained their frequency of local dominance. Regionally, the factors that correlated with frequency were: life form, height, polyploidy, length of flowering season, residence time, human use and origin. The factors that correlated to frequency of local dominance were lateral vegetative spread and residence time.Main conclusions  We conclude that plant traits relating to the regional frequency of exotic plant species differ from those that relate to their frequency of local dominance. The implication of our results is that predictive studies on plant invasiveness based on regional frequencies may not be indicative of the local impacts. Since the prediction of local impacts is crucial for conservation and risk assessment, our study emphasized the need for better information on the local abundance of exotic invaders.
Light modulation, not choroidal vasomotor action, is a regulator of refractive compensation to signed optical blur
Authors: Murphy Melanie J , Crewther David P , Goodyear Melinda J , Crewther Sheila G 
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The nitric oxide system has two proposed sites and mechanisms of action within the ocular growth/refractive compensation platform‐neuromodulatory effects on retinal physiology, and vascular/smooth muscle effects in the choroid. The relative contribution of these mechanisms are tested here with drugs that perturb the nitric oxide system and with slow flicker modulation of the ON and OFF pathways of the retina.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Intravitreal injection of saline or 900 nmol NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester or L‐arginine in saline was followed by monocular defocus with ±10 D lens (or no lens), from days 5–9 under standard diurnal (SD) or daytime 1 Hz ramped flicker conditions. Biometric, electrophysiological and histological analyses were conducted.KEY RESULTS After 4 days of SD conditions, both drugs enhanced electroretinogram (ERG) b‐wave cf. d‐wave amplitudes compared with saline and reduced refractive compensation to −10 D lenses. Under flicker conditions compensation to +10 D lenses was suppressed. Choroidal thinning was observed in the drug, no lens groups under SD conditions, whereas choroidal thickening was seen in most groups under flicker conditions, irrespective of refractive outcomes.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS As choroidal thickness was not predictive of final refractive compensation across any of the variables of drug, defocus sign or light condition, it is unlikely that choroidal thickness is a primary mechanism underlying refractive compensation across the range of parameters of this study. Rather, the changes in refractive compensation observed under these particular drug and light conditions are more likely due to a neuromodulatory action on retinal ON and OFF pathways.
The SLC23 family of ascorbate transporters: ensuring that you get and keep your daily dose of vitamin C
Authors: May James M 
Published: March 2011

The ascorbate transporters SVCT1 and SVCT2 are crucial for maintaining intracellular ascorbate concentrations in most cell types. Although the two transporter isoforms are highly homologous, they have different physiologic functions. The SVCT1 is located primarily in epithelial cells and has its greatest effect in reabsorbing ascorbate in the renal tubules. The SVCT2 is located in most non‐epithelial tissues, with the highest expression in brain and neuroendocrine tissues. These transporters are hydrophobic membrane proteins that have a high affinity and are highly selective for ascorbate. Their ability to concentrate ascorbate inside cells is driven by the sodium gradient across the plasma membrane as generated by Na+/K+ ATPase. They can concentrate ascorbate 20 to 60‐fold over plasma ascorbate concentrations. Ascorbate transport on these proteins is regulated at the transcriptional, translational and post‐translational levels. Available studies show that transporter function is acutely regulated by protein kinases A and C, whereas transporter expression is increased by low intracellular ascorbate and associated oxidative stress. The knockout of the SVCT2 in mice is lethal on day 1 of life, and almost half of SVCT1 knockout mice do not survive to weaning. These findings confirm the importance both of cellular ascorbate and of the two transport proteins as key to maintaining intracellular ascorbate.LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Transporters. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.164.issue‐7
Bankruptcy and the Collateral Channel
Authors: BENMELECH EFRAIM , BERGMAN NITTAI K. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTDo bankrupt firms impose negative externalities on their nonbankrupt competitors? We propose and analyze a collateral channel in which a firm's bankruptcy reduces the collateral value of other industry participants, thereby increasing their cost of debt financing. We identify the collateral channel using novel data of secured debt tranches issued by U.S. airlines that include detailed descriptions of the underlying collateral pools. Our estimates suggest that industry bankruptcies have a sizeable impact on the cost of debt financing of other industry participants. We discuss how the collateral channel may lead to contagion effects that amplify the business cycle during industry downturns.
Yoked Catheter Positioning in Transseptal Endocardial Left Ventricular Lead Placement
Authors: LAU ERNEST W. 
Published: March 2011

Background: Transseptal (TS) endocardial left ventricular (LV) lead placement may be needed for cardiac resynchronization therapy, and often requires crossing a preformed puncture in the interatrial septum (IAS) with a lead delivery catheter inserted from an upper body vein (UBV), which can be difficult or impossible to achieve by manipulation from its hub. Consequently, yoked superior approach TS catheterization was developed.
Methods: A loop snare housed in a deflectable delivery catheter inserted from an UBV captured the guide wire extending out of a TS sheath inserted from the right femoral vein into the inferior vena cava (IVC). After the IAS had been punctured, the guide wire was left in the left atrium (LA) and the TS sheath withdrawn into the IVC. The delivery catheter was advanced over the snare onto the guide wire, and then pushed by the TS sheath across the IAS puncture into the LA. The snare released the guide wire and was withdrawn. The delivery catheter was manipulated to point toward the LV for lead deployment. If that was not possible, the IAS puncture was dilated with an electrophysiology (EP) catheter housed in a second TS sheath alongside the first one. The EP catheter was captured by the snare and manipulated across the IAS puncture into the LV. The delivery catheter was advanced over the EP catheter directly into the LV.
Results: The technique was tried in four patients with challenging anatomy and allowed successful endocardial LV lead placement in all.
Conclusions: Yoked catheter positioning facilitates TS endocardial LV lead placement. (PACE 2011; 34:884–893)
Normal Pulmonary Veins Anatomy is Associated with Better AF‐Free Survival after Cryoablation as Compared to Atypical Anatomy with Common Left Pulmonary Vein
Authors: KUBALA MACIEJ , HERMIDA JEAN‐SYLVAIN , NADJI GEORGES , QUENUM SERGE , TRAULLE SARAH , JARRY GENEVIÈVE 
Published: March 2011

Background: Pulmonary vein cryoablation (PVC) is a new approach in the treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF). Computed tomography (CT) can be used to evaluate the left atrium anatomy and PVs dimensions to facilitate the procedure. In radiofrequency procedures, some anatomic variants such as common left (CLPV) or right (CRPV) PV were reported as factors associated with technical procedure difficulties and potential long‐term complications. We hypothesized that the absence of CLPV as determined by CT would predict better AF‐free survival after PVC.
Methods and results: We included 118 consecutive patients (mean age 56 ± 10 years; 77% males) with drug refractory paroxysmal (72%)/persistent (28%) AF, with more than 6 months follow‐up, who underwent PVC. On CT scanning images performed within 1 month prior to ablation, we evaluated PV anatomic patterns: presence of CLPV or CRPV. Each patient was evaluated by 24‐hour Holter monitoring within 1 and 3 months and all patients were periodically evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months, and every 6 months thereafter. Patients were asked to record their 12‐lead electrocardiogram whenever they experienced symptoms suggestive of AF. Recurrence was defined as AF that lasted at least 30 seconds. CLPV was present in 30 (25%) patients and no patients with CRPV were identified. At the end of the 13 months follow‐up, patients with normal PVs had significantly better AF‐free survival compared to patients with CLPV (67% vs 50%, P = 0.02). The difference was present in patients with paroxysmal AF (P = 0.008) but not in patients with persistent AF (P = 0.92).
Conclusion: In patients undergoing cryoballoon PV isolation for AF, the presence of normal PVs pattern is associated with better AF‐free survival as compared to atypical PV anatomy with CLPV, particularly in patients with paroxysmal AF. (PACE 2011; 34:837–843)