bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous lymphocyte antigen and α4β7 T‐lymphocyte responses are associated with peanut allergy and tolerance in children
Authors: Chan S. M. H. , Turcanu V. , Stephens A. C. , Fox A. T. , Grieve A. P. , Lack G. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground:It is unclear whether the initial route of allergen exposure in early life could influence the subsequent development of allergy, with cutaneous sensitization leading to peanut allergy (PA), and tolerance induced by oral exposure. The skin‐ and gastrointestinal (GI)‐homing markers, cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) and α4β7 integrin, are used to determine whether the state of PA correlates with peanut‐specific CLA responses, with tolerance associated with predominant α4β7 responses.Methods:CLA+ and α4β7+ memory T cells were isolated and cultured with peanut extract to assess their proliferation. Stimulation indices were compared in peanut allergic and non‐allergic (NA) groups, and peanut‐specific cytokine production was measured.Results:In peanut allergic patients, peanut‐specific proliferation predominates in the skin‐homing CLA+ subset, whilst peanut‐tolerant groups have a mixed CLA/α4β7 response (P = 0.008). Comparison with a control food antigen (ovalbumin) showed that these differences are allergen specific. Cytokine responses showed trends towards Th1 skewing in the GI‐homing α4β7+ cells of peanut‐tolerant groups and Th2 skewing in the skin‐homing CLA+ cells of peanut allergic patients.Conclusion:The predominance of the CLA+ response to peanut in peanut allergic patients is consistent with the hypothesis that allergic sensitization occurs through the skin. The predominant α4β7+ response in peanut‐tolerant groups suggests that allergen exposure through the GI tract induces tolerance.
Interlaboratory comparison of PCR‐based identification of Candida and Aspergillus DNA in spiked blood samples
Authors: Reichard Utz , Buchheidt Dieter , Lass‐Flörl Cornelia , Loeffler Juergen , Lugert Raimond , Ruhnke Markus , Tintelnot Kathrin , Weig Michael , Groß Uwe 
Published: January 2012

SummaryDespite PCR per se being a powerful and sensitive technique, regarding the detection of fungi in patients’ blood, no consensus for a standardised PCR protocol yet exists. To complement other ongoing or accomplished studies which tackle this problem, the German Reference Center for Systemic Mycoses conducted an interlaboratory comparison starting with blood samples spiked with fungal cell elements. Altogether, six laboratories using in‐house PCR‐protocols from Germany and Austria participated in the trial. Blood samples were spiked with vital cells of Candida albicans or Aspergillus fumigatus. Candida was used in the yeast form, whereas Aspergillus cells were either spiked as conidia or as very young germlings, also known as smoo cells. Spiked blood samples contained between 10 and 10 000 cells ml−1. Depending on the techniques used for fungal cell disruption and DNA‐amplification, detection quality was variable between laboratories, but also differed within single laboratories in different trials particularly for samples spiked with less than 100 cells ml−1. Altogether, at least regarding the detection of A. fumigatus, two of six laboratories showed constant reliable test results also with low fungal cell number spiked samples. Protocols used by these labs do not differ substantially from others. However, as particularities, one protocol included a conventional phenol chloroform extraction during the DNA preparation process and the other included a real time PCR‐protocol based on FRET probes. Other laboratory comparisons on the basis of clinical samples should follow to further evaluate the procedures. The difficulties and problems of such trials in general are discussed.
Taxonomy of the southwestern Atlantic endemic kelp: Laminaria abyssalis and Laminaria brasiliensis (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) are not different species
Authors: Marins Bianca V. , Amado‐Filho Gilberto M. , Barreto Maria B. B. , Longo Leila L. 
Published: January 2012

SUMMARYTwo endemic species of Laminaria, Laminaria abyssalis Joly & Oliveira Filho and L. brasiliensis Joly & Oliveira Filho, from the tropical southwestern Atlantic coast have been described. The aim of this work was to determine the conspecificity of these species based on morphological and molecular analyses (ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxgenase, large subunit (rbcL), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (coxI)). We found an overlap between the morphological characters that are considered taxonomically important for distinguishing these two species; these characters included a differing pattern of blade splitting. In the three molecular analyses, the Brazilian Laminaria specimens were grouped into one clade with maximum support. These data support the hypothesis that the individuals analyzed represent only one species, L. abyssalis. The molecular analysis also showed L. abyssalis to be sister group to L. digitata.
Benthic diatoms of the Vistula River estuary (Northern Poland): Seasonality, substrata preferences, and the influence of water chemistry
Authors: Majewska Roksana , Zgrundo Aleksandra , Lemke Paulina , De Stefano Mario 
Published: January 2012

SUMMARYSeasonal studies of water bodies in separate branches of the Vistula River estuary in Northern Poland were conducted over 30 months from May 2005 to October 2007. Diatom samples were collected from different substrata from two sites located in the river mouth, which has physical characteristics as a result of a complex interplay of natural and human influences that have taken place over the last 100+ years. The diatom flora growing on hard surfaces near the river banks such as sand, muddy sand, rocks, macroscopic green algae and/or vascular aquatic plants was recorded. All diatom taxa collected were distinguished based on their morphological features using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A total of 187 species belonging to 61 genera were identified. A canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the diatom assemblages were definitely associated with salinity as well as nutrient concentrations and substratum type. During the study, malformations of diatom valves were observed in 48% of the microphytobenthos samples. Abnormal outline morphology and ornamentation deformities in several individuals of nine different species were recorded, which were mainly in epilithic and epiphytic communities collected from spring to autumn.
Quantity of food attractant and size of the container orifice affect catch in Carpophilus spp. traps
Authors: Hossain Mofakhar S , Hossain Mamun A B M , Norng Sorn , Williams David G 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAttract‐and‐kill traps containing aggregation pheromone and food attractant have been developed in Australia to control Carpophilus spp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in orchards. Two field experiments were conducted in cherry and stone fruit orchards. One aimed to identify an appropriate size of orifice in co‐attractant containers releasing either of two types of food attractants while keeping the amount of attractant fixed. Initial findings suggested that a 6.0 cm orifice was appropriate so another experiment was conducted to identify an appropriate amount of food attractant to be used in traps while keeping the size of orifice fixed at 6.0 cm. In experiment one, orifice sizes of 2.5 cm, 6.0 cm and 9.0 cm were used in traps baited with 120 mL of either fermented apple juice or liquid synthetic food attractant. Traps with a 6.0 cm orifice caught the most Carpophilus spp. followed by 9.0 cm and 2.5 cm but there were no significant differences in catch between the three orifice sizes. In experiment two, traps were baited with 120, 300 and 500 g or mL of either solid artificial beetle‐rearing medium or liquid synthetic food attractant. Traps baited with synthetic solutions caught significantly (P < 0.05) more beetles than traps baited with solid food medium except for the 500 g solid food traps. There were no significant differences in catch between the three amounts of synthetic solution. Traps with 500 g of solid food medium caught significantly (P < 0.05) more beetles than those with 300 g and 120 g.
Microclimate and production of peat moss Sphagnum palustre L. in the warm‐temperate zone
Authors: FUKUTA EIJI , SASAKI AKIKO , NAKATSUBO TAKAYUKI 
Published: January 2012

AbstractSphagnum palustre L. is one of the few Sphagnum species distributed in the warm‐temperate zone. To elucidate the mechanisms that enable S. palustre to maintain its productivity under warm climatic conditions, we examined the temperature conditions and photosynthetic characteristics of this species in a lowland wetland in western Japan. Moss temperatures during the daytime were much lower than the air temperature, particularly during summer. The optimum temperature for the net photosynthetic rate was approximately 20°C, irrespective of the season, but summer and autumn samples maintained high rates at higher temperatures as well. The net photosynthetic rate at near light saturation was much higher during summer–autumn than during spring–winter. A model estimation in which net production was calculated from the photosynthetic characteristics and microclimatic data showed that both the low temperature of the moss colony and the seasonal shift in photosynthetic characteristics are among the mechanisms that enable this species to maintain its productivity under warm climatic conditions.
Predicting scores for left ventricular dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsushi , Kawano Seiji , Sugiyama Daisuke , Onishi Tetsuari , Hayashi Nobuhide , Takeshima Yasuhiro , Kawai Hiroya , Hirata Ken‐ichi , Matsuo Masafumi , Kumagai Shunichi 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground:  The aim of this study was to predict left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and the timing to perform echocardiography in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We developed a scoring system using clinical parameters and examined its efficacy. It is indispensable to utilize echocardiogram for evaluating myocardial damage of DMD patients, but there is no established guideline for determining the clinical conditions which require echocardiographic examination.Methods:  We retrospectively analyzed 86 patients with DMD who were treated in Kobe University Hospital from 2007 to 2009. The multiple logistic regression analysis on routine clinical data was performed to identify parameters that can find abnormal LV contraction, and to develop a weighted scoring system. Echocardiogram was performed as the gold standard for detecting LV dysfunction.Results:  Four parameters were associated with abnormal LV contraction: (i) brain natriuretic peptide (BNP); (ii) creatine kinase; (iii) scoliosis; and (iv) body surface area. When BNP was used as the only predictor to evaluate LV systolic dysfunction, sensitivity and specificity were 36.4% and 92.1%, respectively. In contrast, abnormal LV contraction was detected in high accuracy (sensitivity: 95.5%; specificity: 68.3%) when we used a two‐step scoring system in which BNP was combined with the other three factors, raising the sensitivity compared to using BNP levels as the single parameter (P= 0.008).Conclusion:  Our scoring system detects the early heart dysfunction of DMD patients, especially when BNP level is not elevated. This system is useful to determine the timing for echocardiographic examination and consulting cardiologists.
Savanna burning for biodiversity: Fire management for faunal conservation in Australian tropical savannas
Authors: ANDERSEN ALAN N. , WOINARSKI JOHN C. Z. , PARR CATHERINE L. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractTropical savannas are the world's most fire‐prone biome, and savanna biotas are generally well adapted to frequent fire. However, in northern Australia there are concerns that recent increases in the frequency and extent of high‐intensity fires are causing substantial declines in regional biodiversity values. In this paper we use two well‐studied and contrasting faunal groups, ants and small mammals, as case studies for reviewing faunal responses to fire in Australian savannas. The Australian savanna ant fauna is dominated by arid‐adapted taxa that are highly resilient to frequent fire and are not considered to be threatened by prevailing fire regimes. Indeed, frequent fire promotes ant diversity because it maintains an open habit that makes the dominant arid‐adapted taxa feel at home. Long‐term fire exclusion reduces ant diversity due to a marked decline in arid‐adapted taxa, and favours highly generalized, more shade‐tolerant taxa. In contrast, many small mammal species of high conservation value are highly sensitive to frequent fire, and there are widespread concerns that their populations are threatened by current fire management. Many of the species have shown dramatic population declines over recent decades, and, although the causes are poorly understood, there is little doubt that fire is an important contributing factor. It is likely that fire is acting synergistically with other underlying causes of decline, particularly predation by feral cats. The overall resilience of most savanna animal species in relation to frequent fire suggests that they are secure under all but the most extreme fire regimes. However, it is clear that more fire‐sensitive groups such as small mammals need special fire management attention. This needs to involve less frequent and finer‐scale burning, along with the protection of some large, infrequently burnt source areas.
Effects of planting method on the recovery of arboreal ant activity on revegetated farmland
Authors: GIBB H. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractEcological restoration aims to re‐establish both biodiversity and ecological function in damaged ecosystems. Ants are important drivers of ecological functions and are early colonizers of restored ecosystems. Rates at which ants perform functions are thought to be fuelled by access to plant sugars. In revegetated farmland in south‐eastern Australia, I tested if ant activity on trees, which reflects use of arboreal sugars, follows a predictable trajectory of recovery towards a remnant‐like state. Additionally, I examined whether planting method alters this trajectory by comparing tube stock (TS), which results in lowEucalyptusdensities, with direct seeding (DS), which results in highEucalyptusdensities. Replicate sites (n = 5) of young (planted between 1998 and 2001) and old (planted between 1989 and 1994) TS and DS revegetation, pastures and remnants were compared. Activity on trunks was significantly positively correlated with ant tending of Hemiptera in young and old revegetation. In DS plantings, activity and estimated liquid loads onEucalyptustrees were low and rapidly approached that in remnants, while TS sites remained similar to high values observed in pastures with trees. Patterns forAcaciawere less clear, reflecting consistent densities for this species between TS and DS. At the whole‐of‐field scale, planting methods did not differ. Importantly, although trajectories differed, neither TS nor DS sites approached the low activity or estimated liquid loads observed in remnants. Rates of ant use of arboreal sugars and associated sugar‐fuelled processes may thus take considerably longer to recover than the period covered by this study. This finding suggests planting method may affect the trajectory and outcome of revegetation for plant health, as well as sugar‐fuelled ecosystem functions performed by ants.
Damage caused by mistletoe Misodendrum punctulatum Banks Ex Dc. on architecture and radial growth of Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. et Endl.) Krasser forests of southern Chile
Authors: HENRÍQUEZ‐VELÁSQUEZ CARLA , HENRÍQUEZ JUAN MARCOS , ARAVENA JUAN CARLOS 
Published: January 2012

AbstractParasitic plants rely completely or partially on host plant, namely holoparasitic or hemiparasitic, respectively. The effect of parasitism on host plants is not fully known. Misodendrum punctulatum (Misodendraceae) is the most common hemiparasite species in the southernmost forests of Chile and Argentina, and it has been identified as an important sanitary problem in forestry. In this study we evaluated the M. punctulatum effect on growth rates and architecture of pure Nothofagus pumilio (Nothofagaceae) forests in southern South America (52°10′S; 71°55′W). We established three plots of 30 × 30 m, and 10 cores were extracted from diameter at breast height (d.b.h. = 1.3 m) from living trees in each plot, using increment borers. Tree rings were measured, and anova was used to compare the annual growth rate of both infected and uninfected N. pumilio. The results showed that N. pumilio trees severely infected by M. punctulatum reduce growth rates in contrast with uninfected individuals (P < 0.05). Besides, trees with high‐infection levels evidenced deterioration in its architecture, showing asymmetric and suppressed canopies, according to ad hoc numerical indexes. This study provides a starting point to understand the parasite–host relationship in the Patagonian forests of southern Chile.
Which trees dominate in savannas? The escape hypothesis and eucalypts in northern Australia
Authors: BOND WILLIAM J. , COOK GARRY D. , WILLIAMS RICHARD J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractIn humid savannas, the transition from juvenile to mature tree sizes is thought to be a major demographic bottleneck because smaller plants are topkilled by frequent fires. Species with the highest net rates of sapling growth should dominate the tree component of savannas by reaching fire‐proof sizes, ‘escape size’, more rapidly than competitors. However, tests of this prediction have failed to explain eucalypt dominance in Australian savannas as eucalypt mean growth rates are low. We tested the escape hypothesis directly by recording the number and identity of tagged individuals reaching escape size in a long‐term study. Results were consistent with the escape hypothesis with greater than six times more eucalypts reaching escape height than non‐eucalypts in frequently burnt savannas. The pattern was reversed where fires were excluded for 5 years, with more non‐eucalypts emerging than eucalypts. We conclude that mean growth rates alone are a poor predictor of the rates at which juvenile savanna trees transition to mature tree size. Only the fastest growing individuals make the transition to mature trees whereas mean values include many suppressed individuals. Measures of maximum growth rates will provide more robust estimators of demographically important effects on mature tree cover. The mechanistic basis for the remarkable ability of juvenile eucalypts to escape frequent fires is not yet understood.
Importance of fire in influencing the occurrence of snakes in an upland region of arid Australia
Authors: MCDONALD PETER J. , LUCK GARY W. , PAVEY CHRIS R. , WASSENS SKYE 
Published: January 2012

AbstractIn arid Australia, changes to historic fire regimes may now produce more large‐scale wildfire events. The impacts of these fires on fauna communities are poorly known. We sought to test the impacts of fire on the occurrence of two arid‐zone snake species, the desert death adder (Acanthophis pyrrhus) and monk snake (Parasuta monachus), specialist inhabitants of hummock grassland and mulga shrubland, respectively. We also examined the influence of fire on the occurrence of a habitat generalist, the sympatric Stimson's python (Antaresia stimsoni). Under an Information‐Theoretic framework we modelled the occurrence of each species with a range of habitat variables, including fire history, using logistic regression. As predicted, the two habitat specialists were more likely to be encountered at locations that had a lower percentage of surrounding area burnt in the most recent wildfires (2002), while fire variables failed to predict the occurrence of the habitat generalist. Acanthophis pyrrhus, already predisposed to endangerment through a suite of life‐history characteristics, may be at increased risk through accidental and deliberate burning and fragmentation of old‐growth hummock grasslands. We stress the importance of prescribed burning and natural fire breaks in maintaining areas of old‐growth hummock grassland across the landscape.
Migration and Credit Constraints: Theory and Evidence from Vietnam
Authors: Phan Diep 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe new economics of labor migration (NELM) frequently emphasizes the importance of migration as a way for rural households to overcome credit constraints. If this hypothesis is correct, then the credit constraint is a motivation for migration (a relaxation of this constraint would encourage less migration). Conventionally, it is believed that migration is costly and has to be financed with borrowed capital, so the credit constraint is a deterrent of migration (a relaxation of this constraint would encourage more migration). In this paper, an agricultural household model is developed to study whether the credit constraint is a motivation for or a deterrent to migration. The model's result confirms the NELM's hypothesis: for households with high demand for agricultural investments and high net migration return, migration is used as a way to finance capital investments. Using data from four provinces in Vietnam, preliminary evidence is found supporting this hypothesis.
Twin Crises in Emerging Markets: The Role of Liability Dollarization and Imperfect Competition in Banking
Authors: Luca Alina C. , Olivero María Pía 
Published: January 2012

AbstractCurrency crises in emerging markets have been accompanied by banking crises, with concentration in the market for bank credit increasing after large devaluations. This paper examines how the presence of imperfect competition and liability dollarization in banking shapes the real effects of the just mentioned twin crises. An important gap in the theoretical literature is filled, by being the first paper to provide a model of twin crises in the presence of imperfect competition in banking, and the changes in market structure that occur in the aftermath of crises. Doing so, the analysis is able to reveal that currency devaluations generate more severe twin crises in economies with less competitive banking sectors. This result is consistent with the empirical evidence on the concentration‐fragility view, and it unveils the importance of prudential regulation that focuses on the market structure in banking.
On the Empirical Evidence of the Intertemporal Current Account Model for the Euro Area Countries
Authors: Ca' Zorzi Michele , Rubaszek Michał 
Published: January 2012

AbstractA simple intertemporal current account model is found to explain successfully the current account configuration in the euro area before the Great Recession. The analysis suggests that consumption smoothing, prompted by expectations of economic convergence and the removal of exchange rate risk, has been an important driving force for the build‐up of current account divergence in the euro area since the creation of monetary union. The model also predicts that current account deficits and surpluses would narrow under a post‐crisis scenario of moderate catching‐up and more segmented bond markets.
Quality and Inclusion of Producers in Value Chains: A Theoretical Note
Authors: Vandemoortele Thijs , Rozelle Scott , Swinnen Johan , Xiang Tao 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThis paper develops a formal theory of the endogenous process of the introduction of high quality production in developing countries. Initial differences in income and capital and transaction costs are shown to affect the emergence of and the size of the high quality economy. Initial differences in the production structure and the nature of transaction costs—as well as the possibility of contracting between producers and processors—are shown to determine which producers are included in the high quality economy, and which not.